>> COMING UP NEXT, TRUMP'S SECRET MEETING IN SYRACUSE.

ALSO TONIGHT, SHOULD THE PUBLIC KNOW THE DETAILS OF EXECUTIONS?

AND THE TRUMP ACCOUNTS ARE UP AND RUNNING.

THE IVORY PROFESSORS ARE BACK IN A MOMENT.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE: ANIRBAN ACHARYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE AARON STRONG OF HAMILTON COLLEGE NORRELL EDWARDS OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE, AND GRANT REHER OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

A WEEK AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VISIT HERE TO SYRACUSE, THE POST STANDARD BROKE THE STORY OF A PRIVATE MEETING BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND WEALTHY POLITICAL DONORS.

NINE BUSINESSMEN DONATED AT LEAST $100,000 EACH TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

AARON, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET INTO SOME OF THE TAILWINDS OF THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT HERE, BUT FIRST WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH DEEP POCKETS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE WAY TO READ THIS PRIVATE MEETING IS THAT IT WAS A CHANCE TO RAISE MONEY FOR A CAMPAIGN THAT DOESN'T HAVE MUCH.

SO BRUCE BLAKEMAN HAS ONLY $178,000 IN THE BANK.

THAT'S THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF ANYONE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR FROM A MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATE.

AND SO CLEARLY THIS IS A MONEY GRAB.

THE BIG QUESTION IS, IS THE MONEY ACTUALLY GOING TO GO TO BLAKEMAN'S CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THE EVENT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE TRUMP 47 COMMITTEE, AND THE MONEY ACTUALLY IS A JOINT FUNDRAISER BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN SO IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER BLAKEMAN WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT BUT WITH ALL OF TRUMP'S VISIT, THE PUBLIC PART AND CLEARLY THE PRIVATE PART, THE IDEA WAS TO GET SOME NAME RECOGNITION FOR BLAKEMAN'S CAMPAIGN OUT THERE, EVEN THOUGH HE IS TRAILING IN THE POLLS.

>> HE IS TRAILING IN THE POLLS, ANIRBAN, BUT COULD AN INFUSION OF $900,000 DOLLARS HELP THAT CAMPAIGN?

>> I DON'T THINK $900,000 WILL HELP BLAKEMAN MUCH.

I WAS SNRUM FLUMMOXED THAT TRUMP WAS IN SYRACUSE TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I FEEL THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE NATURE OF AMERICAN POLITICS NOW.

MONEY BUYS PROXIMITY TO POWER AND THAT ITSELF IS ATTRACTIVE TO MANY BUSINESS PEOPLE AND SOME OF THE BUSINESSMEN HAD, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT LETITIA JAMES IS LITIGATING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME KIND OF ANGLE THERE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I GUESS SOME POLITICIANS ARE REALLY HAPPY TO MEET THE PRESIDENT AND TALK TO HIM.

THEY HAD A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION.

SOME, ONE OF THE DONORS BROUGHT UP SOMETHING ABOUT ALLERGY MEDICATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> FOR HIS SON.

>> SOME KIND OF SIGN AND HE SAID GET IT DONE.

I GUESS THAT'S WORTH $100,000 TO REACH PEOPLE WHO LIKE TRUMP.

BUT ON THE WHOLE, I DO NOT THINK THIS MONEY WOULD SWAY THE RACE TOWARDS BLAKEMAN IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY.

MAINLY BECAUSE OF HIS LACK OF NAME RECOGNITION AND INCUMBENCY EFFECTS HOCHUL.

>> ASIDE FROM THE MONEY, GRANT, THERE IS ALSO THE ACCESS ISSUE AND THERE WERE SOME 2500 FOLKS WHO WERE STANDING OUTSIDE, SOME OF WHOM HAD SHOWN UP AT 5:30 A.M.

IN THE MORNING.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT MONEY BUYING ACCESS.

>> THAT'S POLITICS.

THAT ASPECT OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WAITING TO SEE A CANDIDATE FOR A TOP POSITION IS SOMETHING THAT GOES BACK DECADES.

CENTURIES PROBABLY.

I HAD A REACTION SIMILAR TO ANIRBAN'S.

I THOUGHT GEE, $900,000 TO CHANGE THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE?

THAT'S CHEAP.

THEY ONLY GOT 15 MINUTES, BUT ONE OF THEM, THE FOOD ALLERGIES I THINK WAS THE CONCERN.

MOST OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I GOT FROM THE MEDIA ON THIS WERE WHY SYRACUSE?

AND I HAVE KIND OF A PET THEORY ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS GOING TO SOUND STRANGE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE KNOW IS THE PRESIDENT LIKES DOING THESE THINGS.

HE LIKES TALKING TO THESE BIG CROWDS.

HE LIKES SAYING OUTRAGEOUS THINGS AND HE LIKES THE REACTIONS HE CREATES.

SO I THINK BASICALLY HE SAID TO HIS TEAM, LOOK, I'M GOING OUT ON THE ROAD.

AND PART OF WHAT I THINK THEY SAID IS WHERE, WITH A 30% APPROVAL RATING, WHERE CAN THIS GUY DO THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE?

AND SO NEW YORK, IT'S A RACE WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS DOWN BY 10 POINTS FOR ALL WE KNOW.

MAYBE IT WILL HELP.

$900,000 IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU MUCH IN THE NEW YORK STATE MEDIA PARKT MARKETS AND RIGHT NOW BLAKEMAN NEEDS MORE ADS ON TELEVISION.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO GET HIM VERY FAR ON THAT BUT MAYBE IT WILL GENERATE SOME MORE CONTRIBUTIONS.

I THINK THAT'S THE THINKING.

>> GRANT, LET ME ASK YOU.

QUITE A FEW REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS DECIDED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE RALLY.

BUT CLAUDIA TENNEY WAS ACTUALLY ON AIR FORCE ONE.

DO YOU THINK SHE MAY HAVE BEEN PERSUASIVE IN GETTING THE PRESIDENT TO COME HERE?

>> WELL, SHE PROBABLY WAS ONE OF THE ONES ADVOCATING FOR HIM TO COME HERE.

I MEAN THEY'RE VERY TIGHT.

HE IS NOT GOING TO HURT HER FOR HER BEING SEEN WITH HIM.

KAILEE BULLER WAS I THINK, A MORE INTERESTING DECISION.

SHE OBVIOUSLY HAD TO EMBRACE THE VISIT.

YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IF HE IS LANDING IN THE MAJOR CITY OF YOUR DISTRICT, BUT SHE HAS DISTANCED HERSELF FROM THE PRESIDENT ON SEVERAL POLICY POSITIONS, IF YOU LOOK AT HER INTERVIEWS AND WHAT SHE HAS PUT OUT THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, YOU KNOW,IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE.

YOU ARE SEEING THAT ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

REPUBLICANS IN CLOSE RACES ARE VERY, VERY, A LOT OF THEM ARE VERY LEERY WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF TRUMP.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE THE COATTAIL HERE MAY NOT HELP AND TO THAT POINT, NORRELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT TRUMP CAME HERE TO SUPPORT BLAKEMAN, WHO IS BEHIND IN THE POLLS, BEHIND IN MONEY?

>> YOU THINK HE HAS HELPED BLAKEMAN?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF HE HAS HELPED BLAKEMAN.

HOWEVER I DO THINK THIS DOES, YOU KNOW, LEVERAGE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AROUND FINANCE AND POLITICS AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, INCREASED SPENDING AROUND POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.

SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE MY WHEELHOUSE BUT I KNOW THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE HAS SEVERAL ARTICLES AROUND RECOMMENDING CONGRESS SUPPORT THE DISCLOSE ACT THAT REQUIRES ALL GROUPS INVOLVED IN POLITICAL SPENDING TO SHARE THEIR DONORS.

I'M NOT SURE THAT IS LIKELIHOOD THAT WOULD GET ANY PASS AM BUT I DO THINK IT'S MORE TRANSPARENCY TOWARD DONORS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

>> THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALLOWED THIS INFUSION OF MONEY.

AARON, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RACE ITSELF THAT TRUMP CAME HERE TO AT LEAST TRY TO IMPACT.

WHERE ARE THE POLLS SHOWING BLAKEMAN RELATIVE TO HOCHUL?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECENT POLLS COMING OUT OF EMERSON OR OTHER POLLS, 13 POINTS BEHIND.

BLAKEMAN HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

HOCHUL IS AN INCUMBENT.

SHE IS BEING PAINTED BY THE REPUBLICANS AS BEING EXTREME ON THE LEFT.

BUT ACTUALLY SHE APPEALS TO A FAIR NUMBER OF MODERATE VOTERS AND HAS THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY IN A BLUE STATE.

THIS WOULD BE A TOUGH RACE FOR BLAKEMAN TO WIN AND NO SIGNS IN THE POLLS THAT HAVE I SEEN SUGGEST THAT HE IS CLOSING THAT GAP.

THERE WAS ONE POLL THAT SHOWED HIM ONLY FOUR POINTS BEHIND BUT THAT CAME OUT FROM HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> ANIRBAN, DO YOU THINK HE MIGHT MAKE MORE HEADWAY BY PUSHING THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE BECAUSE THAT IS SORT OF HEATING UP IN UPSTATE WHERE YOU HAVE A FEW LOCAL SHERIFFS, COUNTY EXECUTES WHO HAVE SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THE STATE'S ORDER TO NOT PARTICIPATE OR COOPERATE WITH ICE SO BLAKEMAN IS OUT FRONT SAYING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHETHER THAT WILL HELP.

I MEAN HE IS HITTING HOCHUL REALLY HARD ON IMMIGRATION.

>> PARTIALLY IT WOULD HELP BUT IF YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK CULTURE IF THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S A MULTICULTURAL STATE AND PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD COME AND STAY HERE.

EVEN IF YOU GO TO NORTH COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE NOT HOSTILE TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRANT POPULATION.

SO EVEN THOUGH IN SOME CASES IT MIGHT WORK, I DON'T THINK ON A LARGER CASE, THIS IDEA OF UNCONTROLLED IMMIGRATION TAKING DOWN OUR SOCIETY, THAT KIND OF RHETORIC, IT IS HARD TO PASS THROUGH NEW YORK.

AND I AGREE WITH GRANT HERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK TRUMP HERE WAS THERE BECAUSE TO MAKE THE LEAST KIND OF DAMAGE AND ALSO ALTHOUGH THERE WERE 2500 PEOPLE WHO WERE INSIDE, THE WHOLE ARENA WAS ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE.

AND THERE WERE 2500 PROTESTORS OUTSIDE.

SO, YOU KNOW, ON THE WHOLE, IMMIGRATION ISSUE, I DON'T THINK IT WILL SWAY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

MAYBE DOWNSTATE A LITTLE BIT.

MAYBE UPSTATE A LITTLE BIT BUT ON THE WHOLE, I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE THE CASE.

>> I AGREE WITH ANIRBAN.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BLAKEMAN CAMPAIGN, WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS HE HAS BEEN KIND OF POKING AROUND, TRYING TO FIND AN ISSUE THAT WILL GENERATE THE SAME EMOTIONAL RESPONSE THAT CRIME AND SAFETY DID FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND LEE ZELDIN SHOULD NOT, IN ANY NORMAL UNIVERSE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WITHIN FIVE POINTS OF KATHY HOCHUL IN A GOVERNOR'S RACE.

HE WAS LOOKING FOR THAT KIND OF SPARK.

I DON'T THINK HE HAS FOUND IT.

HE ARRIVED AT ENERGY COSTS AS BEING THE EMBLEM OF AFFORDABILITY AND NOW HE IS LOOKING AT IMMIGRATION.

TO YOUR POINT, ANIRBAN, I MEAN UPSTATE, THERE IS CONCERNS ABOUT IMMIGRATION POLICY BECAUSE OF THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY HERE.

AND THEY CAN'T GET WORKERS.

WHEN THE RAID ON THE CANDY FACTORY NORTH OF HERE, THAT GENERATED BIPARTISAN AND WIDESPREAD OBJECTION.

SO I DON'T SEE THAT AS THE GOLDEN KEY FOR HIM.

>> THAT, PLUS THE IMPACT OF THE TARIFFS AND THE TRADE ARENA.

WE SHOULD CONGRATULATE THE POST STANDARD SPECIFICALLY MARK WEINER FOR BREAKING THE STORY.

SUPER HELPFUL.

NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.

PRESIDENT TRUMP NIXED PLANS FOR A TELEVISED EXECUTION OF NIDAL HASAN, WHO'S ON DEATH ROW FOR KILLING 13 PEOPLE AND WOUNDING 30 OTHERS.

THE PRESIDENT SAID HASAN DESERVED TO DIE, BUT GOOD PEOPLE WOULD RATHER NOT [WATCH] HIM DIE.

BUT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN SUING FOR ACCESS TO EXECUTIONS IN SEVERAL STATES.

THEY SAY THE PRESS HAS A RIGHT TO OBSERVE EXECUTIONS FROM START TO FINISH, AND THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW THE DETAILS.

SO, GRANT, IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE PRESS TO HAVE ACCESS TO EXECUTIONS AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THE DETAILS?

>> I THINK SO, BUT I THINK THEY ALSO HAVE TO EXERCISE SOME SELF-RESTRAINT IN WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT.

AND THE TRACK RECORD OF THE MEDIA IN RECENT YEARS IS NOT GOOD ON THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT.

I THINK YOU ERR ON THE SIDE OF GRANTING ACCESS.

BUT HOPEFULLY THEY WILL EXERCISE SOME RESTRAINT.

I WANT TO JUST COME BACK TO THE FACT THAT THE EXECUTION IS NOT HAPPENING, IF I COULD REALLY QUICKLY.

THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

THIS IS THE KIND OF THING OUR ENEMIES DO.

NOT THE UNITED STATES.

AND THERE WERE SOME REAL INTERESTING POLLING NUMBERS HERE.

A SUPERMARKET OF REPUBLICANS WERE AGAINST LIVE STREAMING THIS.

A MAJORITY OF SELF IDENTIFIED MAGA REPUBLICANS WERE AGAINST LIVE STREAMING THIS.

THE GROUP I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO IS 5% OF THOSE WHO OBJECTED TO THE EXECUTION BY FIRING SQUAD ITSELF, WANTED TO HAVE IT LIVE STREAMED.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THOSE FOLKS.

BUT THOSE NUMBERS ARE VERY, VERY STRIKING TO ME AND I JUST AM GLAD IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> GENERALLY FOR THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, 80% WERE OPPOSED.

20% IN FAVOR.

>> YOU CAN'T GET 80% OF THE COUNTRY TO AGREE ON ANYTHING.

SO THAT'S VERY STRONG TESTIMONY.

>> AND YET, NORRELL, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WAR, PETE HEGSETH HATCHED THIS WHOLE PLAN.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> THE KIND OF SPECTACLE OF THIS DEEPLY CONCERNING.

I IMAGINE IT, YOU KNOW, REEMPHASIZES AN IMAGE OF STRENGTH AND MIGHT, OR TO SOME IT MIGHT.

>> LETHALITY.

BUT AS SCHOLAR OF RACE AND LITERATURE, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE DEATH PENALTY INFORMATION CENTER REPORTS THAT AS OF THIS PAST APRIL, OVER, JUST ABOUT CLOSE TO 55% OF PEOPLE OF COLOR MAKE UP THOSE WHO ARE ON DEATH ROW ACROSS THE U.S.

AND SO THAT MEANS BLACK INDIVIDUALS IN PARTICULAR ARE OVERREPRESENTED AT 40%.

SO THERE IS A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE IF WE ARE WATCHING AN EXECUTION OF SOMEONE ON DEATH ROW, IT IS SOMEONE WHO IS BLACK OR RACIALIZED SO THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT IS LIKE WHO IS IT THAT WE ARE SEEING BRUTALIZED, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT STRIKES, STANDS OUT FOR ME.

>> I MEAN THE HISTORY ON THIS IS REALLY FASCINATING.

WE WERE TALKING IN THE GREEN ROOM, ANIRBAN, ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LYNCHING AND THE FACT THAT THE LAST PERSON TO HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY EXECUTED WAS A BLACKMAN MAN-- A BLACK MAN WHO WAS HUNG IN THE SOUTH AND THE COUNTRY MOVED AWAY FROM THAT BECAUSE OF THE BRUTALITY.

AND SO THE ARGUMENT THAT IT WOULD BE A DETERRENT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

THE ARGUMENT THAT IS SHOWING WHAT HAPPENS WILL DETER FOLKS FROM COMMITTING CRIMES.

>> THIS HAS BEEN DEBUNKED BY SOCIOLOGISTS AND ALL KINDS OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS THAT DEATH PENALTY DOES NOT DETER CRIME.

CRIMES OF PASSION HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY OF PATHWAYS WHERE PEOPLE COME TO THAT DECISION TO MAKE THAT FATEFUL DECISION.

THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REGULATIONS EXPLICITLY PROHIBIT RECORDING AND BROADCASTING EXECUTIONS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT CAN BE HAPPENING IN THE MILITARY, WE DON'T KNOW.

THE SUPREME COURT IS VERY-- NO OTHER COURT HAVE RULED.

BUT IT IS DEFINITELY WHAT WE FORGET IS THAT-- AND I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP, THAT THE CENTCOM AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAD SOMETIMES PUT ON X ABOUT THESE VIDEOS OF AMERICAN PLANES BOMBING THESE BOATS IN THE CARIBBEAN WHO ARE SUSPECTED OF BEING CARRYING DRUGS.

THESE ARE ALSO PUBLIC EXECUTIONS IN SOME WAY.

AND WE FORGET THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY LIVE STREAMING THEM ON THE INTERNET.

WE SEE THEM EVERY NOW AND THEN, 223 PEOPLE KILLED AS A RESULT.

SO I WANT US TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DELIBERATE ABOUT THIS NUANCE.

YES, OF COURSE, WE SHOULD NOT LIVE STREAM PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.

WE SHOULD NOT MAKE A PICNIC OUT OF IT EVEN THOUGH HEGSETH WANTS IT TO BE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ALSO SEEING IT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES.

SHOULD WE HAVE A MECHANISM TO SAY DON'T POST THESE THINGS.

THESE ARE, FIRST OF ALL IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, WE DON'T WANT TO GET THERE.

IT IS NOT GOOD BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S, YOU ARE ACTUALLY HAVE IT LIVE STREAMED THAT WE ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

THE BOTCHED EXECUTION OF KRISTA PIKE AND CLEARLY IN MY OPINION, UNCONSTITUTIONAL CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT SHE WENT THROUGH OF HAVING A FAILED EXECUTION.

AND NOW THIS LIVE STREAMING QUESTION ABOUT HASSAN, HAVE MADE US START THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE WE REALLY WANT WITH THE DEATH PENALTY.

WE ARE THE ONLY MAJOR DEVELOPED COUNTRY OTHER THAN JAPAN, THAT STILL HAS THE DEATH PENALTY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, BASICALLY NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS THE DEATH PENALTY.

ALL OF EUROPE NO DEATH PENALTY.

WHY DO WE STILL HAVE THIS AND WHAT, AS A SOCIETY DO WE WANT FROM IT GIVEN THAT IT DOES NOT DETER CRIME, GIVEN THAT IT COSTS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND GIVEN THE HORRORS OF HOW RACIALIZED IT IS AND THE PERMANENCE OF THE DEATH PENALTY, WHY DO WE HAVE THIS?

I THINK THAT THESE EVENTS FROM CENTCOM TO KRISTA PIKE TO NOW THIS NICKED LIVE STREAMING, ARE MAKING US TALK ABOUT SOMETHING AND I HOPE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH, AND THE ACTUAL, ACTUALLY THE LETHAL INJECTION ROUTE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MORE HUMANE.

AND SO NOW THAT'S BACK ON THE TABLE, THE TENNESSEE GOVERNOR HAS STAYED ALL EXECUTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION.

DO WE WANT TO HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY AND HOW DO WE WANT FOLKS EXECUTED?

SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

TO THE TRUMP ACCOUNTS.

THE TRUMP ACCOUNTS ARE UP AND RUNNING.

THANKS TO THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL MORE THAN 60 MILLION CHILDREN ARE BEING AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM THAT GIVES ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN 2025 AND 2028.

THE MONEY IS DEPOSITED IN AN INVESTMENT ACCOUNT THAT THE CHILD CAN ACCESS WHEN THEY TURN 18.

NORRELL, HOW IS THE ROLLOUT GOING SO FAR?

YOU ARE A MOTHER OF YOUNG KIDS TALK ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, THE ROLLOUT IS GOING QUITE SWIFTLY.

FASTER THAN PERHAPS SOME OF US CAN KEEP UP WITH AND WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS TO BE BELIEVED, THE TRUMP ACCOUNTS HAVE EXPANDED SUCH THAT DONORS CAN NOW PUT INDIVIDUAL STOCKS IN THESE ACCOUNTS; HOWEVER, THESE STOCKS PARENTS DON'T HAVE ANY SAY IN WHICH AND I FIND THAT STRANGE AND PERPLEXING.

AND ULTIMATELY YOU CANNOT REJECT THEM AND THEY STAY FOR FIVE YEARS.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A QUESTION AROUND, I THINK, AUTONOMY AND ACCESS.

>> YEAH, AARON, YOUR REACTION.

>> YEAH, SO I HAVE THREE KIDS WHO HAVE TRUMP ACCOUNTS NOW APPARENTLY.

THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T BORN IN THAT WINDOW.

THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OLDER.

AND I THINK WHAT IS REALLY FLUMMOXING HERE IS THE LACK OF ABILITY TO OPT OUT.

I WANT TO BACK UP AND SAY I THINK THE STRATEGY HERE IS NOT INHERENTLY A BAD ONE, RIGHT?

THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE INVESTING IN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

WE WANT TO CREATE AVENUES FOR MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS HAVE CREATED THESE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR KIDS AUTOMATICALLY BEFORE.

SO THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY NEW.

IT'S VERY TRUMPIAN.

GIVE THEM THE MONEY.

WE REMEMBER THE CHECKS DURING COVID-19 BUT NOW WE HAVE KATHY HOCHUL HANDING OUT $200 CHECKS FOR REBATES FOR HIGH ENERGY COSTS.

THE GIVE US THE MONEY IDEA HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, TRIED MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

I WISH THEY WEREN'T CALLED TRUMP ACCOUNTS.

I THINK THAT IS FRUSTRATING FOR SOME FOLKS AND I WISH THERE WERE WAYS THAT PEOPLE COULD KIND OF OPT OUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, I ACTUALLY THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, THIS IS NOT A BAD ONE TO GET MORE AMERICANS TO SAVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HALF OF AMERICANS HAVE BASICALLY NO RETIREMENT SAVINGS AT ALL AND THAT IS A VERY DEVASTATING THING.

THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS FOR THAT, BUT THIS MIGHT HELP IN THE FUTURE.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ANIRBAN.

>> YOU KNOW, I WILL CONFESS I DIDN'T READ UP MUCH ON THIS.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

IF THIS ACCOUNT MY KID OPENS AT THE AGE OF 18, RIGHT, WHEN SHE GETS TO 18, WE DON'T OPEN AN ACCOUNT, WE DON'T LOOK AT IT.

WE DON'T OPEN IT.

SHE GOES IN BY HERSELF.

SHE IS 18 AND GETS INTO THE ACCOUNT.

WHAT WOULD SHE ACTUALLY SEE?

LIKE WOULD THERE BE MONEY IN IT WOULD THERE BE LIKE-- >> STOCK MARKET.

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE STOCK.

>> IS IT BASED PURELY ON PHILANTHROPY.

SO LIKE LOCAL EMPLOYERS LIKE MICRON?

>> YOU CAN PUT MONEY IN IT YOURSELF AND YOU ALSO CAN ACTIVATE IT.

IF YOU DON'T ACTIVATE IT, IT JUST SITS THERE AND THEN THERE IS A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME ON IT THAT COULD BE ACCRUING SHARES AND ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

IT FEELS A LITTLE SCAMY TO ME.

KIND OF LIKE SIMILAR TO OPENING A CREDIT CARD IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S NAME.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> AND WE ALSO HAVE THIS 529 AND THERE ARE OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION AND SO ON.

>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ROLL THESE OVER TO ANY OTHER ACCOUNT.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WILL COMPETE WITH VERY WELL ESTABLISHED, YOU KNOW, PLANS THAT, YOU KNOW, PARENTS LEARN FROM OTHER PARENTS AND SO ON.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TRUMP ACCOUNT WOULD COMPETE WITH THOSE KINDS OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS.

>> I THINK THE CRITICS ARE LETTING THE PERFECT BEING THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.

THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

AND IF YOU WANT-- IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO OPT OUT, JUST DON'T USE THE DAMN MONEY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT THE SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK.

YOU CAN PUT THAT IN THE GARBAGE TOO, YOU WANT.

WE ARE ALL IN SOCIAL SECURITY.

WE ARE ALL AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED.

SO I SEE THIS AS GOOD IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

WAS WE KNOW FROM BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS AND AARON MADE THIS POINT IS THAT IT IS MUCH BETTER TO AUTOMATICALLY PUT PEOPLE IN THAN TO HAVE IT BE A VOLUNTARY THING.

WE SEE THIS WITH 140*7B K IS AND -- 401(K) FROM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEE.

THE OTHER THING I LIKE ABOUT, THIS IT IS A SLIGHT WAY TO DO.

THIS IT COULD BE MORE SUBSTANTIAL, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY OTHER DONORS GET ATTRACTED TO PUT MONEY IN.

MAYBE TO BURNISH THEIR IMAGE, WHO CARES.

IT'S A SLIGHT TO SLIGHTLY REDISTRIBUTE THE WEALTH.

THE WEALTHIEST WILL BENEFIT MOST FROM THIS.

>> BECAUSE THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE UP TO $5,000.

>> THAT'S NOT A REASON NOT TO DO IT.

AS AARON SAID, THIS WILL BE A WAY-- YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO OPEN THIS UP AT 18 AND IF THE MARKET DOES WHAT IT HAS BEEN DOING IN THE PAST, THERE THEY WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT WHAT THEY HAVE IN THAT ACCOUNT.

IT'S A WAY TO SLIGHTLY REDISTRIBUTE WELL WEALTH AND TRANSFER SOME MONEY FROM WEALTHY DONORS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

>> OKAY.

PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN, LOOK IN THOSE ACCOUNTS.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADEBOOKS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH FS AND I THINK TONIGHT WE ARE STARTING WITH YOU, ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE SHAMEFUL CONDUCT OF KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE WHERE SHE SOLICITED $100,000 FROM A REPUBLICAN DONOR TO PAY FOR HER AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD AS THE AMBASSADOR TO GREECE.

>> MY F GOES TO THE AMERICA'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

YOU ARE IN A HOSPITAL OR DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND WONDERING, WILL INSURANCE COVER THIS?

HOW WILL I PAY FOR IT?

HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST?

IF YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT THOSE QUESTIONS, THOSE ARE SIGNS OF A BROKEN SYSTEM IN WHICH ONE OUT OF FOUR PEOPLE ARE IN MEDICAL DEBT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

WE NEED TO HAVE POLITICAL ATTENTION ON THIS ISSUE.

>> NORRELL.

>> F TO VAHINI VERA FOR THE ARTICLE ATLANTIC.

THIS IS THE THIRD BLACK AUTHOR IN RECENT WEEKS TO FACE ACQUISITIONS WHICH SUGGEST RACIAL BIAS IN A.I.

DETECTION.

>> GRANT.

>> FOR HIS STUNNING INSENSITIVITY AND BAD JUDGMENT IN HIS OCTOBER 7 STATEMENTS I'M GIVING A RESOUNDING F TO NEW YORK CITY MAYOR MAMDANI.

YOU HAVE ALL THE PLATFORM AND THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO CRITICIZE ISRAEL'S CONDUCT IN THE WAR.

YOU DID NOT NEED TO DO THAT ON OCTOBER 7.

>> AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME GOOD NEWS.

AND WE'LL START AGAIN TONIGHT WITH ANIRBAN.

YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE LIFE AND WORK OF ISRAELI ACADEMIC AND INDEPENDENT ANALYST ORI GOLDBERG WHO DIED FROM CANCER AT THE IJ OF 50 THIS WEEK.

HIS INTELLECTUAL JOURNEY HAS GIVEN US IN HIS SON'S WORDS, A LIGHT WHERE THINGS LOOK DARK.

REST IN POWER.

>> MY A GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION EARN A SECOND BUCK PROGRAM.

IF YOU ARE NOT A HUNTER, WHAT THIS MEANS BASICALLY IS THAT BY HARVESTING A DOE, YOU CAN GET A TAG TO HUNT A SECOND BUCK.

SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

BECAUSE WE HAVE FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR TOO MANY DEER IN THIS STATE.

AND NATURAL BALANCE WOULD REQUIRE REINTRODUCING WOLVES.

SO SHORT OF THAT, WHICH I DO SUPPORT, BUT SHORT OF THAT IN THE MEANTIME TO MANAGE THIS PROBLEM, WE NEED TO ENABLE OUR HUNTERS TO INCREASE THEIR HARVEST.

>> NORRELL.

>> A TO THOSE INCLUDE ANDREWS WHO HAVE BROUGHT A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST EXPEDIA CLAIMING HOTELS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO INFLATE PRICES TO MATCH EXPEDIA AND THAT THIS WILL BRING UP NECESSARY DISCUSSION ON MONOPOLIES AND INFLATION.

>> GRANT.

>> I'M HAPPY TO GIVE A BIPARTISAN A TO ONONDAGA COUNTY EXECUTIVE RYAN McMAHON AND NICOLE WATTS AND THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE FOR COMING TOGETHER AND COMING ON A COUNTY BUDGET WHICH PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

ECONOMIC GROWTH ALWAYS HELPS THE BUDGET PROCESS AND IT HASN'T STOPPED OTHER GOVERNMENTS FROM BEING DYSFUNCTIONAL.

IT'S REFRESHING.

>> AARON, I WANT TO GO BACK QUICKLY TO YOUR A FOR SHOOTING BUCKS.

WE HAVE LIKE SO MANY CATS.

THIS WEEK I DISCOVERED THERE IS A CAT AND HER FOUR CAN IT-- KITTENS UNDERNEATH MY SHED AND EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE CAT EXMOTION IN SYRACUSE.

THOUGHTS ABOUT IF WE CAN DO... >> DEER SPREAD DISEASE AND CAUSE CAR ACCIDENTS.

>> WELL, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.

PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

INCLUDING FOR THE CATS.