>> TONIGHT, WE EXAMINE THE PRESIDENT'S GOALS IN VENEZUELA, A BILL THAT CODIFIES THE RIGHT TO DIE IN NEW YORK, AND THE HONEYMOON THAT NEVER WAS, IN THE NEW ONONDAGA COUNTY LEGISLATURE, INSIGHTS FROM THE PROFESSORS COMING UP NEXT ON "IVORY TOWER."

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

AND AS OF TONIGHT, I'M ALSO YOUR NEW PERMANENT HOST OF "IVORY TOWER," AS A PANELIST FOR SEVEN YEARS UNDER DAVE CHANATRY'S LEADERSHIP, I REALIZE I HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL.

I PROMISE YOU I'LL DO MY VERY BEST, AS WILL ALL OF THE PANELISTS AT THE TABLE, WHICH INCIDENTS?

>> WELL, I JUST HAVE TO SAY IT IS A BIG, BIG TRAGEDY THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

AND IT'S AN EVOLVING SITUATION.

A LOT OF MISSING PARTS OR MOVING PARTS IN THIS.

BUT ON THE WHOLE, A LARGE GROUP OF MASKED MEN COMING INTO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY DON'T INCREASE THE FAITH OF AMERICANS ABOUT SECURITY, ABOUT SAFETY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO THIS KIND OF MOVEMENT IS KIND OF ANTITHETICAL.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS IN THE RIGHT OR WHO WAS IN THE WRONG BUT THIS KIND OF STUFF SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN THE UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY SAD ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

>> JENNY?

>> I THINK MY CONCERN IS THAT BASIC PROTOCOLS ARE NOT FOLLOWED AND I WORRY ABOUT THE TRAINING AND THE BACKGROUND BY THE ICE AGENTS.

WE KNOW THAT THE RECRUITING STRATEGY AND THE TRAINING IS FOR SHORTENED AND THAT IS PLAYING OUT IN REAL TIME WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> SARAH.

>> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK THIS KIND OF INCIDENTS ARE KIND OF INEVITABLE WHEN YOU BRING IN THESE LARGE FORCES WITH LOTS OF MONEY, LOTS OF ABILITY AND BACKING BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO BE TOUGH ON PROTESTORS.

IN FACT, JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEY SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO ALL THE ICE AGENTS WARNING THEM ABOUT PROTESTORS.

AND SO IN SOME SENSE, THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THE DANGER HERE, TOO, IS THAT THEY CAN'T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT.

WE CAN'T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED OR THAT ANYONE IS GOING TO BE HELL ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO BE VERY WORRISOME THAT MINNESOTA LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THIS SEPARATELY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME IS HOW THIS IS AN EXEMPLAR OF HOW LOOKING AT THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE WILL PRODUCE A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION.

WELL, THANKS FOR THE.

NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO ON TO OUR MAIN ITEMS.

ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THE U.S.

IS NOW IN CHARGE OF VENEZUELA.

WHAT STARTED AS BOAT STRIKES, ESCALATED TO A MILITARY INCURSION INTO THE COUNTRY, THE ARREST OF ITS PRESIDENT, AND NOW CONTROL OF VENEZUELA'S OIL INDUSTRY AND, ONCE AGAIN, VENEZUELA AS A WHOLE.

AS FOR WHY ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING... THE REASONS WE'VE HEARD RUN THE GAMUT FROM DRUGS TO AUTHORITARIANISM, OIL, AND AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY.

ARE ANY OF THESE REASONS ENOUGH, ALL OF THEM, SOME OF THEM, NONE OF THEM?

>> WELL, FROM THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU TAKE THE 1823 ADDRESS BY JAMES MONROE TO THE CONGRESS, WHICH STARTS THE MONROE DOCTRINE, IT WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE IDEA THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD HAVE AN IMPORTANT CONTROL OVER LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPEAN POWERS WOULD STAY OUT OF LATIN AMERICA.

AND U.S.

WOULD ALSO STAY OUT OF EUROPEAN ACTIVITIES AND ADVENTURES.

FROM THEN ON, THERE WERE A LOT OF COROLLARIES THAT WERE PUT IN.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT BEING ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT COROLLARIES WHERE HE SAID YES, WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT EUROPEAN EMPIRES IMMEDIATE LING HERE ANYMORE IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY BUT WE SHOULD USE OUR POWER IN ORDER TO SHAPE GOVERNMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA, SUCH THAT IT SERVES THE STRATEGIC AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND FROM THEN ON, IF YOU LOOK AT SANDANISTA AND PANAMA, THIS HAS BECOME THE TRADE.

IT IS WITH SURPRISING CANNES DOOR THAT HE SPEAKS.

HE SAYS LOOKS, MY NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY, THE DOUBLED DOCTRINE, IS THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD REGAIN-- THIS IS WHAT HE IS SAYING, SHOULD REGAIN PREEMINENCE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

THEY ARE LOOKING-- THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT VERY POPULAR BUT AT THE SAME TIME QUITE STABLE, RIGHT?

LIKE SO AS A RESULT, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, MARCO RUBIO, THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIA AND CHINA PEDDLING INFLUENCE HERE, SO THEY WANT TO HAVE A NEW REGIME, BUT THEY ALSO DON'T WANT TO DO A REGIME CHANGE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY DO THAT, THERE WOULD BE NO REALLY LIKE OIL BUSINESS AND SO ON IF THE COUNTRY FALLS INTO CHAOS.

>> SURE, BUT COULD WE DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE MONROE DOCTRINE AND THE DONROE DOCTRINE BASED ON TRUMP ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT HIS GUIDING LIGHT IS HIS OWN MORALITY, HIS OWN MIND AND THAT NOTHING ELSE CAN STOP HIM, INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL LAW.

DOES THAT DISTINGUISH THIS FROM THE HISTORY THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS TOO MUCH OF A CHANGE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN BIG POWERS, ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES, HAVE TRIED TO MEDDLE IN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, THERE HAS BEEN BLOW-BACK, THE BAY OF PIGS BUT IT DIDN'T HOLD ANYONE BACK FROM DOING THIS.

I DON'T THINK TRUMP IS TOO LEFT FIELD IN THIS THING.

ALSO, OF COURSE, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY DON'T OBEY INTERNATIONAL LAW.

INTERNATIONAL LAW HOLDS US TOGETHER, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND IN PURSUING THIS.

>> SARAH, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WE ARE IN REAL TROUBLE IN THE ONLY THING STOPPING TRUMP IS HIS OWN MORALITY WHICH HE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH OF, SO...... >> DON'T HOLD BACK, SARAH.

>> THERE IS THAT.

I THINK IT'S EASIER TO SAY WHAT THIS THING IS NOT ABOUT VERSUS WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ABOUT HUMANITARIAN ITCH, IT'S NOT ABOUT BRINGING DEMOCRACY BACK TO VENEZUELA.

WE HAVE SOME THE SAME PEOPLE IN THERE.

IT IS NOT ABOUT REGIME CHANGE OR HUMANITARIANISM.

IT IS NOT ABOUT DRUGS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REALLY INVOLVED IN THE DRUG TRADE IN THE U.S.

SO IT'S NOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, AND YOU KNOW, FOR TRUMP, HE JUST TALKS ABOUT OIL CONSTANTLY, RIGHT?

AND HE SEEMS TO THINK THAT THAT IS LIKE A POPULAR REASON TO GO IN.

LIKE THAT IS A GOOD REASON BECAUSE SOMEHOW THAT'S AN IN AMERICA'S BEST INTEREST TO GET OIL FROM VENEZUELA.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OIL COMPANIES ARE EVEN GOING TO WANT TO INVEST IN VENEZUELA WITHOUT HUGE, LIKE SUBSIDIES PERHAPS FROM THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THIS IS HEAVY CRUDE OIL.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO EXTRACT.

THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE IN VENEZUELA RIGHT NOW.

AND SO I GUESS THEY'RE MEETING TODAY WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF RELUCTANT FOR THE OIL COMPANIES TO MOVE IN THERE.

>> THE AMERICAN OIL INDUSTRY IS IN A POSITION TO PROCESS AND REFINE THAT OIL BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

>> THE BENEFICIARIES WOULD BE THE REFINERIES.

MUCH OF THEM ARE IN THE SOUTH AND THE GULF.

AND BY THE WAY, EXTREMELY DIRTY INDUSTRY.

OFTEN IN POOR, BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, THESE REFINERIES ARE HUGE POLLUTERS AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A GREAT THING FOR THE UNITED STATES EITHER, OR AT LEAST FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE NEAR THEM.

>> IT'S PER THAT ROLL BACK THAT TRUMP HAS BEEN UNDERTAKING ON THE ENVIRONMENT, GETTING RID OF SUBSIDIES AROUND ELECTRIC CARS AND REALLY PUSHING GAS AND OIL AS THE MAIN INDUSTRIES THAT WILL POWER OUR ECONOMY.

I THINK WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS A NEW IMPERIAL ITCH.

I THINK WE BELIEVE-- IMPERIALISM.

WE BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS ARE NOT IMPERIALISTS BUT WE HAVE BEEN IMPERIALISTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NOW IN OUR OWN HEMISPHERE AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE RHETORIC THAT TRUMP PRODUCED DURING THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FORECAST ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

AND SO IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THE PUBLIC IS REALLY BEHIND THIS ; THAT THE RATIONALES MAKE SENSE.

AND THIS COULD BECOME AN ISSUE IN THE '26 MID TERMS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS, AT LEAST FIVE OF THEM, ARE SORT OF TUNED INTO THIS BECAUSE THEY PASSED THE RESOLUTION YESTERDAY, LIMITING TRUMP'S WAR POWERS.

DO YOU THINK PERHAPS THE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT ARE IN PLACE WILL KICK IN TO CURB AN IMPERIALIST THRUST, THE KIND YOU TALKED ABOUT?

>> GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT, FROM TRUMP'S PERSPECTIVE, THE ONLY THING HOLDING HIM BACK IS HIMSELF.

WE HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT TRUMP WILL MOVE VERY QUICKLY AND THEN BE CHALLENGED LATER.

BUT THE CHALLENGES IN THE COURTS, ESPECIALLY ON FEDERAL POLICY, I'M-- I'M SORRY ON FOREIGN POLICY, DON'T HAPPEN.

THE COURTS DO NOT STEP IN ON FOREIGN MATTERS.

SO IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME UNLESS CONGRESS REALLY DOES START TO ACTIVELY CHECK, TRUMP IS STILL GOING TO ACT AS THE IMPERIALIST.

>> IT'S NOT ALSO JUST ABOUT OIL.

LET'S MAKE SURE.

THERE IS COAL, GOLD, COBALT, ALL THE RARE EARTH MINERALS AND CONCRETE FEAR ABOUT RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVING A FOOT HOLD IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

WHAT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THOUGH IS THAT RAD RIG EASE, THE SECOND IN COMMAND TO MADURO, SHE CHANGED HER KIND OF-- SHE WAS BELLICOSE IN THE BEGINNING AFTER THE CAPTURE BUT LATER ON SAID I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THIS AND HAD A LONG CARRIER IN THE SHAVES, I WOULD PREDICT THAT THE MAIN IDEA WOULD BE TO KEEP STABILITY IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT COMPLETELY BREAKING IT APART AND SLOWLY, SLOWLY MAYBE INVESTING IN OIL BUT THAT MIGHT NOT GO WELL WITH A LOT OF REPUBLICAN BASE SAYING WHY ARE YOU-- >> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.

SO LET'S SEE IF DELCE WILL WORK WITH TRUMP IN THE U.S.

TO MAINING THAT HAPPEN.

UNFORTUNATELY WE DO HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

NEW YORKERS WILL SOON HAVE THE RIGHT TO DIE, THANKS TO AN AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALBANY, THE GOVERNOR WILL SOON SIGN THE, "MEDICAL AID IN DYING ACT" IT LEGALIZES MEDICALLY ASSISTED DEATH FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL, HOCHUL SAYS IT'S NOT A MATTER OF ENDING LIFE EARLY, BUT OF ENDING DYING EARLY.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ON THE OTHER HAND, BELIEVES, IT'S LEGALLY ASSISTED SUICIDE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS SOON-TO-BE NEW LAW AND, MORE GENERALLY, THE RIGHT TO DIE?

JENNY?

>> RIGHTED, ABSOLUTELY.

SO, IN NEW YORK THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN IN NEW YORK TO PUSH FOR SOME SORT OF LEGAL OR ASSISTED DIEING.

IT IS AMAZING IT HAS COME TO FRUITION BECAUSE IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.

IT IS INTERESTING.

THE ACTUAL FINAL BILL THAT SHE IS SIGNING HAS A NUMBER OF CONSTRAINTS TO IT.

PEOPLE MUST BE TERMINALLY ILL.

IT MUST BE IN THEIR LAST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE.

THERE MUST BE THREE PHYSICIANS THAT SIGN OFF ON THIS.

THEY MUST PUT IN WRITING THAT THEY REQUEST THESE MEDICATIONS-- >> THE PATIENT.

>> YES, THE PATIENTS NOT THE DOCTORS.

IT'S ONLY PERMISSIBLE FOR NEW YORK RESIDENTS TO TRY TO RESTRICT PEOPLE FROM SAY NEW JERSEY OR PENNSYLVANIA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

AND SO THOSE SAFEGUARDS, I THINK, ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

STILL MISSING IS ANY SORT OF ASSESSMENT AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.

SO I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO FACE A TERMINAL CONDITION, WHO MAY BE IN A DEPRESSIVE STATE AND RASHLY MAKE A CHOICE THAT THEY MIGHT ULTIMATELY REGRET.

>> YEAH, SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP.

THERE ARE 10 OR 11 OTHER STATES THAT HAVE THESE-- >> 13.

>> THAT HAVE THESE LAWS IN PLACE, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE MORE EXTENSIVE WAITING PERIODS, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CASES, FIVE DAYS, A WEEK.

NEW YORK ONLY HAS 24 HOURS.

AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS WORRIED THAT FOLKS CAN BE DESPERATE AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS UNDER THE GUN.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO MY READ WAS THAT IT IS ACTUALLY A FIVE-DAY WAITING PERIOD.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, I THINK IT DOES-- EVEN FIVE DAYS, IF YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS REALLY RIGHT TO DIE ON THE TERMS THAT THEY CHOOSE, WITH ENSURING THAT WE DON'T HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE END UP MAKING CHOICES THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE REGRET.

>> YEAH, SARAH, SOME FOLKS WORRY THAT THE CHOICE WILL BE UNDULY INFLUENCED BY THINGS LIKE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, BY FOLKS WHO ARE TIRED OF PLAYING THE ROLE OF CAREGIVER.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT UNDUE PRESSURE, EVEN GIVEN THE KINDS OF CONTROLS THAT JENNY TALKED ABOUT?

>> NOT A LOT.

I'M NOT SAYING IT DOESN'T EXIST.

THERE ARE SOME STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE OF THESE OTHER STATES, WHERE THERE ARE SOME CASES.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MAKE POLICY BASED ON THESE KIND OF OUTLYING CASES.

I THINK INSTEAD THE IDEA IS TO PUT IN THOSE SAFEGUARDS THAT JENNY WAS TALKING ABOUT IN ORDER TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT.

AND I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING TO IS SOMETHING MAYBE LARGER THAT IS WRONG WITH OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IF PEOPLE ARE FEELING PRESSURE, OR THERE ARE CAREGIVERS THAT ARE TAKING ON THESE HUGE BURDENS.

I THINK THIS RIGHT TO DIE DISCUSSION CAN REALLY LEAD TO MORE OF A BROADER DISCUSSION ABOUT PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS NOT GREAT COMPARED TO OUR PEERS.

WE RANK 43 OUT OF 81 COUNTRIES IN TERMS OF OUR QUALITY OF END OF LIFE CARE.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS THERE FOR FAMILIES, FOR THE PATIENTS THEMSELVES.

SOME OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS WITH OUR OWN LOVED ONES.

AND IT'S JUST COMPLETELY INADEQUATE.

AND SO MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A BROADER DISCUSSION.

AND, IN FACT, OREGON, WHICH, YOU KNOW, HAS THE LONGEST LASTING RIGHT TO DIE PROGRAM, ALSO RANKS VERY HIGH IN PALLIATIVE CARE QUALITY AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO RIGHT TO DIE; WHICH IS A DIGNIFIED WAY TO DIE.

>> ANIRBAN, THERE ARE SOME MINORITY GROUPS THAT WORRY THAT THERE IS INEQUITY IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO PALLIATIVE CARE.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT UNEVENNESS HERE EITHER ALONG RACIAL AND ETHNIC LINES OR ALONG ECONOMIC LINES?

>> I ABSOLUTELY WORRY ABOUT THIS.

I'M VERY AMBIVALENT ON THIS.

ON THE ONE HAND, YES, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID SHE AS A CATHOLIC STRUGGLED WITH THIS IDEA AND HAVE SEEN HER MOTHER PASS AWAY WITH TREMENDOUS LEVELS OF PAIN.

AND I AGREE WITH SARAH, WE SHOULD PROP UP THE PALLIATIVE CARE.

WE SHOULD PROP UP MAKE MORE ADVANCES IN SOCIAL CARE FOR OUR CITIZENS RATHER THAN GIVING THEM QUICK OPTION, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO DIE.

AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY SAD ANECDOTES, EVEN IN CANADA-- I'M NOT BRINGING THOSE UP.

BUT FOR THE U.S., STEPHANIE PACKER FROM CALIFORNIA, BARBARA WAGNER FROM OREGON, HERE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WERE DENYING $4,000 CANCER COVERAGE OR AM I CHOOSING THIS BECAUSE OF LACK OF ALTERNATIVES OR AM I CHOOSING THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO DO THIS, RIGHT?

SO I AMBASSADOR BIFF LENT ABOUT THIS.

I THINK IT CREATES PERVERSE INCENTIVE FOR SEVERAL ACTORS, ESPECIALLY INSURANCE COMPANIES.

I AM NOT 100% ON BOARD WITH THIS I'M SORRY TO SAY.

>> I WOULD SAY IN OREGON ONLY 1% OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIE ANNUALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TO DIE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO INITIALLY WANT TO DO IT, END UP NOT DOING IT, RIGHT?

BUT IT GIVES THEM A PSYCHOLOGICAL PEACE OF MIND KNOWING THAT THAT IS AN OPTION.

>> AND THAT THEY HAVE THE CHOICE.

>> OKAY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS, CONTROL OF THE ONONDAGA COUNTY LEGISLATURE IS IN THE HANDS OF DEMOCRATS, AND, ALREADY, ACCORDING TO THE POST STANDARD, THE POLITICAL HONEYMOON IS OVER BEFORE IT BEGINS.

DEMOCRATS HAVE REPLACED REPUBLICAN STAFFERS WITH HIRES OF THEIR OWN.

REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS SAY THESE AND THE MAJORITY'S COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS, "SIGNAL, FAR-LEFT CHAOS", IN SHORT: THINGS ARE NASTY, AND IT'S ONLY JANUARY.

IS THIS KIND OF PARTISAN BICKERING OF A PIECE WITH THE HYPER-PARTISANSHIP WE SEE IN NATIONAL POLITICS OR IS 'JUST THE WAY IT IS?'

>> I GUESS I WOULD SAY, ALL RIGHT, I DON'T LIKE THE NASTINESS.

NONE OF US LIKE THAT KIND OF RHETORIC BUT DISAGREEMENT AND DEBATE ARE GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN LACKING ON THE ONONDAGA LEGISLATURE FOREOVER 50 YEARS.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DOMINATED THAT.

THEY HAVE HAD LITTLE INPUT; THE DEMOCRATS.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW ARE A PLURALITY OF VOTERS HAVE A MAJORITY OR PLURALITY OF VOTERS IN ONONDAGA COUNTY, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE SOME PUSH BACK, TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.

I HAVE TALKED TO SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS ON THE ONONDAGA COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY WERE SHUT OUT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS.

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OVERSIGHT OVER THE BUDGET, AND THAT'S THE MAIN THING THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES, IS THE BUDGET.

AND SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY, MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

I THINK THERE IS REAL SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES HERE, TOO.

IT'S NOT JUST RHETORIC AND POSTURING.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A HUGE DEBATE OVER WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE SPENT $80 MILLION ON THE AQUARIUM.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE ROOT OF SOME OF THIS DISAGREEMENT.

>> YEAH, AND A LOT OF PLACES WHERE THE COUNTY IS REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED, IT'S CITIES THAT USUALLY GET THE SHORTENED OF THE STICK.

SO DO YOU THINK THAT BALANCE OF POWER WILL SHIFT NOW HERE IN ONONDAGA?

>> IT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AS WELL; THAT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE IS GOING HAVE MORE OF A SAY.

OF COURSE THAT'S WHERE THE MOST POPULATION IS.

>> OF COURSE.

JENNY.

>> WELL, SO, I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE FUSSING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY WERE SURPRISED.

I DON'T THINK THEY EXPECTED TO LOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD A COUPLE OF VULNERABLE SEATS BUT NOT THE EXTENT.

BUT-- AND THEY ALSO ENGAGED IN SORT OF UNDERHANDED DEALINGS RIGHT BEFORE THEY STEPPED OUT, THEY APPOINTED A NUMBER OF POSITIONS OVERSEEING AGENCIES ON THEIR WAY OUT THE DOOR, HAMSTRINGING THE INCOMING DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF GOES BOTH WAYS IN TERMS OF THE CHALLENGES HERE.

THE ISSUE OF TRANSPARENCY I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND NICOLE WATTS WHO IS NOW LEADING THE ONONDAGA LEGISLATURE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WILL BE PUSHING FOR IS GREATER TRANSPARENCY ENSURING EVERY AGENCY ACTUALLY REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD, OR THE LEGISLATURE SO THAT THEY CAN HEAR EXACTLY HOW TAXPAYERS DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT, AND THAT, I THINK, WE DO NEED GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE HEALTHY TO HAVE THESE CHANGES.

>> TO HAVE THAT, AND INPUT ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT ANIRBAN, NICOLE WATTS IS A NEWCOMER TO POLITICS.

AND YET, SHE HAS BEEN ELECTED CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO NEWNESS SEEMS TO BE IN THE AIR.

BUT DO YOU THINK WHAT THE POST STANDARD CALLS A POLITICAL NEO-P HYTE CAN LEAD?

>> EVERYBODY STARTS NEW.

I DON'T PUT TOO MUCH CREDENCE WITH THAT.

BUT I WOULD TAKE A MORE HARD LINE STANCE.

I THINK POLITICS IS WAR BY OTHER MEANS AND THE WAY THE REPUBLICANS HAVE UNLEASHED A SORT OF WAR ON ITS OPPONENTS, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, SAYING TERRIBLE THINGS ABOUT DIFFERENT LAW MAKERS, ARRESTING THEM FOR JUST SAYING THINGS.

AND THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ALL ALONG, THEY SEEM TO BE GOING ALONG WITH THIS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, RHETORIC OF NO GROUND SEEDED AT ALL AND JUST COME THROUGH AND RAM THROUGH WHAT THEY WANT.

DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE A POWER-- IF I WERE A DEMOCRAT WHICH I'M NOT, I SUPPOSE.

I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING, I WOULD PARSED THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP AND MADE THE LEGISLATURE IN MY OWN EYES.

POLITICS IS WAR BY OTHER MEANS, ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN WE ARE SEEING THESE KINDS OF RHETORIC AND TREMENDOUS LEVELS OF PARTISANSHIP.

AND HURTFUL PARTISANSHIP.

>> JENNY, CAN I COME BACK FOR YOU.

WE JUST HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

>> SURE.

>> DO YOU THIS I THAT SOME OF WHAT ANIRBAN JUST DESCRIBED IS WHY DEMOCRATS HAD A BIT OF A BLUE WAVE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK?

>> YEAH, FOR SURE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THAT IN THESE OFF MAJOR ELECTIONS, LOCAL, STATE, THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A ROUGHLY 13% SORT OF SURPLUS IN VOTING.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A BLUE WAVE.

>> OKAY.

THANKS FOR THAT.

>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR Fs AND OUR AS.

STARTING WITH YOUR F, ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE U.S.

DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM 66 INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR STUDY OF RESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY, GLOBAL POPULATION FUND, GLOBAL FORUM ON MIGRATION DEVELOPMENT AND SO ON.

THIS MAKES US WEAKER IN THE GLOBAL STAGE.

>> SARAH.

>> THIS WEEK SEESAW THE DISSOLUTION OF THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING BECAUSE CONGRESS STRIPPED ITS FUNDING.

THE DEATH OF THE CPB MIGHT SEEM LIKE SMALL POTATOES COMPARED TO THE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED THIS WEEK BUT THEY FUND NPR, PBS, HUNDREDS OF LOCAL PUBLIC AND TV STATIONS ACROSS THE U.S.

AND THESE ARE PUBLIC STATIONS THAT ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO SHAREHOLDERS, NOT OWNED BY HUGE CORPORATIONS.

AND SO THESE ARE IMPORTANT INDEPENDENT SOURCES OF NEWS.

AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO GREW UP WATCHING PBS PROGRAMS, IT WAS JUST A SAD DAY.

>> JENNY.

>> WITH THE CHAOS BROUGHT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S POSSIBLE TO LOSE SIGHT OF A LONG SIMMERING POX ON THIS NATION.

I'M TALKING ABOUT MASS SHOOTINGS.

THIS WEEK MY HIGH SCHOOL DAUGHTERS EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND WHAT A SCHOOL LOCK DOWN WITH A REAL SHOOTER FEELS LIKE.

IMAGINE PACKING YOUR THINGS TO MOVE TO THE NEXT CLASS WHEN AN OVERHEAD ANNOUNCEMENT DECLARES LOCK DOWN.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

TEACHERS LOCK THEIR DOORS AND HERD STUDENTS INTO CLOSETS UNDER SHELFING, GRAB BASEBALL BATS PREPARING TO BATTLE AGAINST THE UNTHINKABLE.

TEENS IN THE COMMON AREA LOCKED OUT OF CLASSROOMS, BANGING ON THE DOOR OF A FAVORITE TEACHER ONLY TO BE MET WITH SILENCE AND UNBRIDLED FEAR.

SCREAMS RING OUT IN THE FIRST MINUTE AND THEN ALL IS QUIET AS EVERYONE WAITS IN THE DARK AND WONDERS AND WORRIES.

BUT MY GIRLS AND MY COMMUNITY, WE GOT LUCKY.

THE MONSTER INSIDE WAS NOTHING MORE THAN JUST A SYSTEM GLITCH.

THE REALITY OF THAT MOMENT WILL HAUNT ME AND MY GIRLS.

WHY IN THIS NATION OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY DO WE CONTINUE TO LET THIS REALITY CONTINUE?

I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF SENSIBLE GUN RIGHTS, BUT WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS NOT JUST A RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS BUT A RIGHT TO TERRORIZE COMMUNITIES.

WHEN DOES IT END?

>> I'M SO SORRY THAT HAPPENED.

ANIRBAN, CAN WE MOVE ON?

>> YEAH, MY A IS GOING TO GO TO THE INCOMING SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF SALINA WHO CONVINCES THE TOWN BOARD TO SLASH HIS SALARY BY NEARLY 34%.

75-YEAR-OLD RETIRED COLLEGE ADMINISTRATOR BUT CAMPAIGNED FOR CUTTING HIS SALARY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A LARGER SALARY WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT PAY THEIR BILLS.

>> OKAY, SARAH.

>> MY A GOES TO JACOB FRAY, THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF MINNEAPOLIS WHO DOESN'T MINCE WORDS AT THE SHOOTING FROM ICE AGENTS.

OTHER DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SHOULD TAKE POINTERS HOW TO RESPOND TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> HE HAD SOME WORDS TO SAY.

>> HE DID.

>> THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO-- JENNY, I'M SORRY, I SKIPPED OVER YOUR A.

>> SO, MY A GOES TO THE WONDERFUL NEWS THAT SYRACUSE HOMICIDES HAD A DECADE LOW IN 2025.

JUST 14 PEOPLE FEEDLESSLY LOST THEIR LIVES WELL BELOW THE 35-YEAR AVERAGE OF 20.

IT'S NOT JUST HOMICIDES.

CRIME IS DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY, WE ARE REALLY GLAD.

>> WE ALL ARE.

THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT HERE IN THE STUDIO, BUT WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN, IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT IVORY TOWER, GOOD NIGHT.

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