WHAT STORIES DID WE MISS HEARING ENOUGH ABOUT IN 2022?

THAT-- AND MORE-- COMING UP NEXT ON IVORY TOWER.

3.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO OUR YEAR-END SHOW FOR IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME TONIGHT ON THE PANEL ARE NINA MOORE, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY BEN BAUGHMAN, FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY ANIRBAN ACHARYA, FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND TARA ROSS, FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS WE START OUT ON OUR RETROSPECTIVE OF 2022 WE'VE COVERED A LOT OF ISSUES THIS YEAR • BUT I'VE ASKED THE PANELISTS TO PICK ONE THAT EITHER WE OR THE MEDIA MISSED, OR DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH.

SO, ANIRBAN, START US OFF.

>> SO, YEAH, FULL DISCLOSURE, EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE A GROUP OF ACADEMICS AND JOURNALISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THEY VET THE 25 MOST UNDERREPORTED NEWS.

SO DOING THAT IS EASY.

I WENT THERE AND WENT THROUGH ALL OF THESE.

THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD ONES BUT ONE I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING IS THE UNITED STATES IS SITTING ON ONE OF THE HIGHEST POVERTY LEVELS IN RECENT DECADES.

16.9% UNDER 18 POVERTY, NATIONAL POVERTY IS 12.8% AND YET A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDS, WHICH IS CALLED THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REACH FAMILIES IN NEED ARE NOT.

AND STATES ARE KIND OF SIPHONING AWAY THAT MONEY TO DO OTHER THINGS.

SO, IN FACT, THE STATE IS-- DIFFERENT STATES ARE SITTING ON ABOUT 5.2 BILLION OF UNDISTRIBUTED FUNDS.

AND THIS WAS REPORTED LATE 21 AND ALL THROUGH 22, ONLY TWO CASES NPR AND THANK GOD FOR PBS ONLY PICKED UP THE STORY AT SMALL CHUNKS.

OTHER THAN THAT THERE, WAS NO REPORTING ABOUT THIS.

>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE A HIGH POVERTY LEVEL IN SYRACUSE.

IS NEW YORK SITTING ON THIS MONEY AS WELL, DO YOU KNOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS FOR NEW YORK BUT ALL STATES AFTER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WELFARE REFORMS IN 1996, WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT STATES COULD USE THE BLOCK GRANT MONEY NOT ONLY FOR HELPING, STAYING NEED STAWS ASSISTING NEEDY FAMILIES BUT IN OTHER AREAS AND THAT HAS BECOME THE MAYBE ASPECT OF: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT NEW YORK BUT I IMAGINE IT FOLLOWS THE SIMILAR TREND.

>> YOU WERE INTERESTED IN MORE ATTENTION TO ONE OF THE DRUG ISSUES.

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY.

THE FENTANYL CRISIS, WHICH I HAVE TO SAY ISN'T ONE OF THOSE, BUT EVERYONE RECOGNIZES, EVERYONE WHO IS SORT OF IN THE PROFESSION, RECOGNIZES THAT THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST LETHAL DRUG CRISES IN ALL OF AMERICAN HISTORY; PARTLY BECAUSE IT'S NOW CLAIMING THE LIVES OF WELL OVER 100,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR AND THAT IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE.

WE ARE TALKING NOW ROUGHLY 200 PEOPLE ARE DYING OF FENTANYL EACH DAY.

AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS WORKS IN THE SHADOWS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING FENTANYL DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY'RE TAKING IT BECAUSE IT'S LACING OTHER COMMONLY USED DRUGS AND IT'S SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT FENTANYL DRUG DEATHS ARE OR FENTANYL IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PERSONS AGE 18-49.

THAT'S MORE THAN CAR ACCIDENTS.

THAT'S MORE THAN SUICIDE, AND GUN VIOLENCE, WHICH WE TALK A LOT ABOUT.

AND SO PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT WE NEED GOVERNMENT TO PAY MUCH MORE ATTENTION TO THIS AS WELL AS THE MEDIA; AND TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE NATIONAL STRATEGY THAT DEALS WITH IT; INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WHERE IT'S HITTING PARTICULARLY HARD AS IN OTHER URBAN AREAS.

>> TARA, HOW ABOUT YOUR UNDERREPORTED STORY?

>> FOR ME, THE UNDER REPORTED STORY WAS WAS IS HAPPENING IN PUERTO RICO.

AS WE ALL KNOW, PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN HIT OVER THE LAST PROBABLY THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN HIT BY HURRICANES AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR.

SOME WITH MORE DAMAGE, SOME LESS.

BUT YET MUCH OF THE MONEY THAT HAS-- THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO PUERTO RICO, $20 BILLION FOR THE LAST HURRICANE HAS BEEN COMMITTED BUT ONLY A PORTION OF IT HAS BEEN USED.

IN ADUGS, THERE IS THE STATUS OF PUERTO RICO.

PUERTO RICO, THE CITIZENS OF PUERTO RICO BASICALLY ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, YET THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THEY DON'T PAY INCOME TAX, BUT THEY DO PAY OTHER TAXES, CERTAINLY PAYROLL TAXES, ET CETERA.

AND RECENTLY CONGRESS WAS LOOKING AT WHAT THEY CALL THE PUERTO RICO STATUS ACT WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND PROBABLY WILL NEVER BE HEARD IN THE SENATE BECAUSE THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.

NOW PART OF THE OPPOSITION IS THE FEELING THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE CONGRESSIONAL DISCUSSION.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF THE OPPOSITION REALLY, TO ME, SMACKS ALMOST OF INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE BECAUSE THE PUERTO RICO STATUS ACT WOULD GIVE PUERTO RICANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHETHER THRE WANT TO REMAIN A TERRITORY, WHETHER THEY WANT TO BECOME A SOVEREIGN TERRITORY WHERE THEY'RE INDEPENDENT BUT THEY'RE STILL PART OF THE UNITED STATES OR WHETHER THEY WANT STATE STATUS.

AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND A MOVEMENT IN PUERTO RICO FOR YEARS BUT YET YOU CANNOT GET CONGRESS TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS IT AND ALLOW THE PUERTO RICAN CITIZENS TO VOTE ON IT OR CONGRESS TO ACT UPON IT.

SO, FOR ME, THAT'S THE UNDER REPORTED STORY.

>> COULD I ASK A QUESTION?

SO TARA AND I WAS STRUCK BY THIS BACK IN THE TRUMP YEARS.

DO YOU THINK THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT PUERTO RICO ACTUALLY IS PART OF THE U.S.?

OUR FORMER PRESIDENT ALMOST TREATED IT AS IF IT WAS A FOREIGN COUNTRY.

>> NO, I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ASSUME THAT PUERTO RICO IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE COUNTRY AND I THINK IN THEIR MINDS, IT'S LIKE HAITI.

IT'S THIS MINORITY COUNTRY THAT CAN'T SEEM TO GOVERN ITSELF, NEVER SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE ITS OWN PROBLEMS AND SO FOR THAT PRPB REASON I THINK MOST AMERICANS THINK, LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ON THAT PROBLEM.

>> BEN, WHAT IS YOUR MOST UNDER REPORTED STORY THIS YEAR?

>> IT'S CLEARLY POLICE SHORTAGES THAT HAS NOT BEEN MAKING THE NEWS, WHICH SPEAKS TO TWO OF OUR PANELISTS POINTS.

FIRST OF ALL, ANIRBAN WAS SPEAKING TO POVERTY AND LAPD ARE DOWN 650 POSITIONS WHICH THEY HAD TO THEN FIND PLACES WHERE THEY WOULD NOT STAFF.

AND ONE OF THOSE PLACES WAS THE OUTREACH POLICE OFFICERS, THAT'S 80% DOWN FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY, TO NINA'S POINT, THEY HAD TO CUT DETECTIVES IN NARCOTICS AND GUN DETAILS AND THEY HAD TO CLOSE THE ANIMAL CRUELTY UNIT COMPLETELY CLOSE IT.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT HITTING THE NEWS.

AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUPPORTIVE OF POLICE IF THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS THAT SOME OF THE POLITICAL RHETORIC AROUND POLICING CAME TO LIGHT OF WHAT THAT REAL IMPACT IS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THAT?

IS IT THAT GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND?

THAT POLICING IS NOT AN ATTRACTIVE CAREER RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME DEMONIZING OF POLICE OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THERE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY AWFUL CASES.

SO ANECDOTALLY, YOU CAN POINT TO THOSE AWFUL CASES.

BUT THAT'S NOT 99.9% OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN THE 18,000 JURISDICTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT IS SPEAKING TO IT ARE MOVEMENTS LIKE DEFUND THE POLICE, VIOLENCE AGAINST THE POLICE AND YOU HAVE THIS WORKING WAGE ISSUE THAT, IF YOU WORK IN A BIG CITY LIKE NEW YORK POLICE OR L.A., YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE CITY WITH YOUR INCOME.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS WORKING AGAINST IT.

BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO SERVE AND PROTECT AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE IN.

>> WE DO OWE A LOT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

WELL, 2022 BROUGHT OUT A LOT OF NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.

WE SAW THOSE WELL STAGED TV HEARINGS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, AND LET ME NOTE THAT WE ARE TAPING THIS SHOW ON DECEMBER 16 SO WHEN THIS AIRS, YOU LIKELY WILL HAVE HEARD THE FINAL REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE.

ALSO WE SAW RIOTERS SENTENCED TO TIME IN PRISON TO NEW TESTIMONY ON JUST WHAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP KNEW.

SO I WANT TO GET A SENSE OF THE PANEL NOW NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER THE EVENT.

WHAT'S BEEN THE IMPACT OF ALL WE'VE LEARNED THE PAST YEAR?

HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN JANUARY 6.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I FELT STRONGLY THEN THAT HE CERTAINLY KNEW THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN INSURRECTION; THAT HE ENCOURAGED THE VIOLENCE.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH INVOLVEMENT HE HAD IN THE PLANNING, BUT CERTAINLY I FELT HE WAS INVOLVED.

THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

THE COMMITTEE ONLY REINFORCED THAT INFORMATION.

WHAT IS STILL BOTHERING ME THOUGH IS I KEEP WONDERING, HAVING HEARD OF ALL THE TESTIMONY AND SOME OF IT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, DAMAGING TO HIM, HAS THERE BEEN ENOUGH OF A CONNECTION MADE SO THAT HE CAN BE ACCUSED OF CONSPIRACY OR THAT THERE IS A CLEAR LINE OF CAUSALITY.

AND THAT, I DON'T THINK THE COMMITTEE, WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION, I JUST DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WOULD BE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, VOTE FOR ANOTHER IMPEACHMENT OR THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY BRING HIM TO TRIAL.

AND WHEN I SAY THERE ISN'T ENOUGH, BECAUSE HE IS A FORMER PRESIDENT, THERE IS THAT CONCERN ABOUT CHARGING A FORMER PRESIDENT WITH CRIMES, IT ALMOST HAS TO BE A CLEAR DIRECT LINE AND I JUST DON'T THINK THE COMMITTEE HAS GOTTEN THERE.

>> ANIRBAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING BUT WE HAVE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.

IS THERE ENOUGH TO CHARGE TRUMP, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T THINK TRUMP WILL BE CHARGED BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, RIGHT?

WHAT WE SAW IS REMARKABLE, RIGHT?

LOOK, WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND FROM THE JANUARY 6 IT WAS A MAINSTREAM IDEA WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

140 REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WAS IN FAVOR OF DECERTIFYING THE ELECTION, ESSENTIALLY TAKING THE PRESIDENT'S POSITION.

JOSH HAWLEY IS GIVING A CLINCHED FIST WELCOME TO THE RABBLE ROUSING CROWD AND TRUMP EGGING ON THE ARMED MASS OF WHITE PEOPLE TO GO AND ATTACK AND KILL OTHER PEOPLE.

ANYWHERE, ANY OTHER OBSERVERS IN ANY OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND SEE THAT THIS IS A TERROR ATTACK AND IT IS ATTEMPTED COUP.

BUT THE MEDIA DOESN'T CALL IT A TERROR ATTACK.

WE CALL IT A MOB, AN INSURRECTION.

WHY IS THAT?

THE SECOND THING THAT CAME WITH ME AS AN INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER, NON-PARTISAN, NON-NATIONALIST OBSERVER IS THAT ULTIMATELY IT MIGHT BE THE CASE THAT THE UNITED STATES IS GETTING A TASTE OF ITS OWN MEDICINE.

JOHN BOLTON OPENLY SAYS THAT WE HAVE COUPED OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD.

Ms. SAID IN TWITTER, WE CAN COUP WHOEVER WE WANT, BUT GUESS WHAT, CHICKENS SOMETIMES DO COME HOME TO ROOST AND THERE WAS NO MEDIA IN THE UNITED STATES THAT MADE THAT CONNECTION; EXCEPT DEMOCRACY NOW.

THANK GOD FOR IT NOW.

AND ME.

>> ARE YOU ANYMORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY NOW?

I MEAN AFTER JANUARY 6 PEOPLE WERE REALLY SCARED, BUT HAS THAT DIMMED SOME?

IS IT BETTER NOW AFTER THE ELECTIONS?

>> YES, I WILL SAY THAT I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE SOME OF THE THREATS THAT THE FBI WAS RECEIVING WITH ELECTION VIOLENCE IN THIS PAST ELECTION.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

WHAT I DO WANT TO DO THOUGH IS TO SHIFT TO WHAT'S NOT BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND I REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS OF BEING THE UNDERREPORTED ISSUE.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT LED TO JANUARY 6?

THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE FOCUS SHOULD BE RATHER THAN KEEP COMING BACK TO TRUMP.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE TRUMP, YOU WANT HIM CHARGED.

IF YOU LIKE TRUMP, YOU DON'T WANT HIM CHARGED.

GOT IT.

BUT WHAT TRUMP DID REALLY, REALLY WELL IS EXPOSE SOME WEAKNESSES THAT WE HAVE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS AND RULES THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE SO THERE IS NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO IS GOING TO BE A DEMOCRAT THIS TIME, IS GOING TO SAY YES, THAT IS HOT PEOPLE VOTED FOR.

-- THAT IS WHO THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE TWO YEARS LATER?

>> I THINK WHAT WE ARE HEARING FOLKS TALK ABOUT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF WHETHER THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND CRIMINAL CHARGES AND CERTAINLY THEY'RE FREE TO DO THAT, ANIRBAN, BUT THEN ULTIMATELY IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ACTUALLY PURSUE CHARGES IF THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE THERE.

BUT I THINK TO YOUR POINT, BEN, AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL OF THIS IS WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL SELL BOTH TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO A SUPREME COURT ON WHICH YOU HAVE A 6-3 MAJORITY.

BUT BARBARA, IF I COULD QUICKLY, GO BACK TO THE OTHER POINT THAT YOU WERE MAKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS.

I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE WHAT THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THOSE HEARINGS WERE AND WILL PERHAPS CONTINUE TO BE.

AT THE VERY LEAST THOUGH, WE CAN SAY THAT IT'S BROUGHT THE THREATS TO DEMOCRACY INTO SHARPER VIEW, MORE SPECIFICALLY ELECTION DENIALISM.

BUT AS FAR AS THE MID TERM ELECTIONS GO, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THOSE HEARINGS HAD AN IMPACT BECAUSE THE MOST RECENT MAJOR EXIT POLLS THAT MEDIA COMPANIES CONTRACTED SHOW THAT NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO ON VOTERS EXPLANATION OF THEIR VOTE CHOICES WERE NUMBER 1: INFLATION AND NUMBER 2: ABORTION.

BUT I THINK THAT THE GROUND HAS BEEN LAID TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM RECURRING IN THE FUTURE.

FINGERS CROSSED.

>> FINGERS CROSSED.

WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEW YEAR AND IN NEW YORK, A RECENT IN A RECENT SIENA COLLEGE POLL, ABOUT HALF OF REGISTERED VOTERS SAID THE STATE WAS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

AMONG REPUBLICANS -- 85% THINK WE'RE HEADED THE WRONG WAY.

AS NINA SAID, THE TOP TWO PRIORITIES ALL RESPONDENTS SET FOR NEW YORK FOR DECREASING CRIME WAS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING YEAR?

>> I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE ON TO SOMETHING.

IF YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK CITY ALONE, CRIME IS UP ALMOST 25%, OVERALL CRIME.

THAT IS THE VOLUME CRIME, THAT'S THE LARCENIES, THAT'S EVERYTHING.

NOW THE ONE CRIME THAT IS ACTUALLY GONE DOWN, THANKFULLY, WE HAVE HAD THIS YEAR, 52 LESS SOULS TAKEN FROM NEW YORK CITY IN MURDERS.

EVERY OTHER CRIME IS UP.

IN PARTICULAR ROBBERY WENT FROM BEING AT 16, 500 PEOPLE THIS YOUR COMPARED TO 13,000 PEOPLE ROBBED LAST YEAR.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO KNOW THE CRIME LEVEL LOCALLY BECAUSE THE STATISTICS NATIONALLY ARE ALWAYS A COUPLE YEARS BEHIND.

BUT DO YOU THINK IT'S CRIME IS REALLY UP OR PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF IT IS UP BECAUSE THE MEDIA PLAY IT UP A LOT?

>> I THINK CRIME IS ABSOLUTELY UP AND NEW YORK CITY IS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF BEING TRANSPARENT AND THEY HAVE A SITE THAT ANYBODY CAN GO TO ANY TIME TO SEE WHAT CRIME IS HAPPENING.

AND IT IS COMP STAT 2.0.

AND THEY'RE THE LEADERS OF COMING OUT WITH THE IDEA OF INTELLIGENCE-LED POLICING OR INTELLIGENCAGE ANALYSTS-- INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS THAT CAN FOCUS WHERE TO PUT POLICE OFFICERS, PUT IS COPS ON DOTS, WHERE CRIMES HAVE OCCURRED.

TRANSPARENCY, HAVING THAT ABILITY THAT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS BEING SERVED CAN GO TO AND SEE IF CRIME IS REALLY UP.

AND IT IS REALLY, REALLY UP IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> BUT I WANT TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THAT BEN AND SAY THAT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THE FBI YOU SEE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY RELIED UPON ARE NO LONGER THE GO TO BECAUSE THE FBI HAS SWITCHED TO WHAT THEY CALL AN INCIDENT-BASED REPORTING SYSTEM, WHICH REQUIRES LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTING AGENCIES TO GIVE ALL OF THE DETAILS OF THE CRIME.

AND SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A SENSE, OTHER THAN WHAT WE HEAR IN THE MEDIA AND OTHER THAN ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF EXACTLY HOW MUCH CRIME IS OCCURRING BECAUSE ONLY HALF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE REPORTING.

TO THE IDEA THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP, THAT NEW YORKERS HAVE PRIORITIZED CRIME, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE THAT 90% OF AMERICANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT CRIME.

IT'S ALSO ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE THAT ONLY 2% OF AMERICANS ARE AFFECTED, RIGHT?

AND SO IN MY BOOK CALLED THE PL POLITICAL ROOTS OF RACIAL TRACKING IN AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, I TRACK HOW THE CONCERN FOR CRIME IS UNRELATED TO ACTUAL CRIME TRENDS.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

IS IT THE MEDIA?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

I WON'T SAY IT'S YOUR PROFESSION BECAUSE YOU DO A PERFECT JOB BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE LOSS OF NEWSPAPERS HAS PIVOTED US TO THE EVEN MORE SO, IF IT BLEEDS, IT LEADS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT LOCAL NEWS, IT VASTLY OVEREXAGGERATES THE EXTENT OF CRIME.

AND SO YET YOU NOTICE HOW FEWER CRIME STORIES WE HAVE NOW BECAUSE THERE ARE POLITICS.

THE ELECTION IS OVER AND SO CERTAIN PARTIES, A CERTAIN PARTY, CAN MOVE ON.

>> AND YOU CAN ADD TO THIS THE WHOLE RANGE OF PROPAGANDA SHOWS THAT COME OUT THROUGH DICK WOLF'S UNIVERSE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST PROPAGANDA THOUGH.

I MEAN BURGLARIES, WE COULD ARGUE IS NOT VIOLENT.

THAT'S UP 24% IN NEW YORK CITY.

SO CRIME IS UP ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> BUT I THINK AGAIN WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION?

AND I THINK THAT'S KEY.

WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE HALF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REPORTING, YOU GOT TO WONDER WHY THAT HALF VERSUS NOT THE OTHER HALF AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE NOR RELIABLE PICTURE.

>> LET'S MOVE FROM CRIME TO TARA, COST OF LIVING WAS ANOTHER BIG WING THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

IS THAT A VALID PRIORITY THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IN NEW YORK STATE?

>> IT IS.

AT LEAST EVER SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF CITIZENS THAT THE COST OF LIVING IN NEW YORK STATE CERTAINLY THE COST OF LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY AND SOMETIMES WE FORGET TO DIFFERENTIATE THERE ARE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, THAT THE COST OF LIVING IS TOO HIGH; THAT IT MAKES IT TOUGH FOR INDIVIDUALS, AS BEN POINTED OUT, FOR POLICE OFFICERS, TO LIVE IN THE SAME-- IF YOU ARE IN NEW YORK CITY, IT MAKES THEM TOUGH TO LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE THEY WORK.

OTHER FIELDS HAVE CERTAINLY SAID THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE THE ISSUE OF OUR SERVICE WORKERS NOT BEING PAID ENOUGH TO HAVE A COMFORTABLE LIFE.

SO THIS IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

AND CERTAINLY I THINK THIS IS A CONTINUING CONCERN FOR GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SHE HAS PUT IN THE 2023 BUDGET THAT SHE WANTS TO INCREASE, ADD A COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR FRONT LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, FOR SERVICE WORKERS, SO THERE IS A RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS AN EFFORT BEING MADE TO DEAL WITH IT.

THE SAD REALITY, HOWEVER, IS WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE NEW YORK CITY GRITTY AND YOU GET-- NITTY GRITTY AND YOU GET INTO THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE FINAL BUDGET OFTEN THAT COST OF LIVING INCREASE GETS DECREASED BY A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

>> ANIRBAN, A COUPLE OF THE OTHER PRIORITIES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR WHICH MAY TRANSFER INTO THE NEW YEAR, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, RACIAL JUSTICE.

WHAT SHOULD THE STATE GOVERNMENT BE DOING IN THE COMING YEAR?

>> SO WHILE RESEARCHING I FOUND SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING THAT IN THIS YEAR'S BALLOT THERE WAS THIS INITIATIVE ABOUT 4.2 BILLION-DOLLAR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT FUND OR BONDS THAT THE NEW YORK STATE WOULD ISSUE AND THAT PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY IN THE BUDGET SO I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF IMPORTANT MONEY COMING IN THROUGH THIS ENVIRONMENTAL BOND INITIATIVE REGARDING FLAT RESILIENCY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BUT IF YOU GO TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S PAGE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE IS AN INITIATIVE OF IMPROVING THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS OF NEW YORK.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF FUNDING THAT WILL BE COMING FOR STEM EDUCATION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THAT'S A HOPEFUL MOVE THAT NEW YORK CAN MOVE TOWARDS.

>> SOME HOPE AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEW YEAR AND WHAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND GOVERNOR CAN DO.

SINCE IT'S THE YEAR END SHOW, I'VE MODIFIED THE AS AND FS A BIT.

FIRST, PANEL WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE SO READY TO SAY GOOD-BYE T •.

AS THE YEAR CLOSES.

NINA, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> WELL, I'M READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE FACT THAT FOLKS IN WASHINGTON HAVE BASICALLY HAD THEIR HEADS STUCK IN THE SAND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

ENCOUNTERS AND APPREHENSIONS ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.

AND EVEN THOUGH HOMELAND SECURITY AS SECRETARY MENTIONED IT IS UNPRECEDENTED.

WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH THE END OF TITLE 42, NOR, FOR THAT MATTER, THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS SO I HOPE WE CAN SAY GOODBYE TO THIS AND HELLO TO STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH IT.

>> AND BEN...?

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OR AT LEAST FOR NOW, MASK COVID RESTRICTIONS SO THAT IS VERY EXCITING TO ME.

I'M HOPEFUL AND THANKFUL TO OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY THAT HELPED MAKE THAT MAP.

>> FOR SURE.

>> I SECOND THAT, BEN.

MY F GOES TO THE EROSION OF DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND PRESS FREEDOM AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS IN DEMOCRACIES AROUND THE WORLD, MAINLY PERPETRATED BY RIGHT WING AUTHORITARIAN LEADERS IN INDIA, ISRAEL, HUNGARY, POLAND, U.K. TO NAME A FEW.

I'M READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO THAT RULE.

>> AND MORE PRESS FREEDOM.

I CAN SUPPORT THAT.

TARA, WHO DO YOU WANT TO SAY GOODBYE TO?

>> THE ROYALS, PARTICULARLY MEGHAN AND HARRY FROM THE OVER HYPED INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIP AND THE EXIT OF RACISM TO THEIR BEING HELD AS THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS ACT VISITS THEY HAVE WORN OUT THEIR RELL WELCOME IN MY WORLD.

TIME WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO PULL BACK THE VEIL ON THEIR FANTASTIC P.R.

SCHEME, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO CRITIQUE THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THEIR WHOLE SELF PRESENTATION.

>> SO GOOD.

>> WELL, INSTEAD OF AS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHO SHOULD WE BE WATCHING IN 2023, SOMEBODY THAT WILL MAKE A SPLASH, SHAPE THE ISSUES OR A NEW TREND?

QUICKLY?

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY RISE FROM THE ASHES.

I THINK THERE IS SOME REAL SERIOUS CHALLENGES-- CHALLENGERS TO TRUMP, INCLUDING DeSANTIS, NIKKI HALEY AND MIKE PENCE AND MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I THINK TRUMP IS GOING TO FINALLY GO OFF THE RAILS BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO NOT ONLY CALL FOR SUSPENDING THE CONSTITUTION BUT PROBABLY GETTING RID OF PARTS OF AMERICA.

>> AND BEN?

>> I AM GOING TO GIVE MY A, IF THAT VERSION OF IT, TO OUR GIS STORY MAPS.

IT'S A NEWER PART OF THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT MAPS, STORIES, VISUALIZATION, SO PEOPLE CAN TAKE IF A LOT MORE INFORMATION AND WE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM TEXT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS LIKE TIKTOK.

>> ANIRBAN?

>> MY A GOES TO THE EXCELLENT AND FEARLESS JOURNALISTIC WORK THAT EXPOSES THE TRUTH TO THE WORLD AND STRUGGLES OF JOURNALISTS AGAINST RIGHT WING ATTACKS AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

THE FACE OF THE STRUGGLE MUST BE AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST WHO WAS GUNNED DOWN BY THE I.D.F.

ON MAY 11, 2022, MAY SHE REST IN POWER.

>> AMEN.

AND TARA.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO WATCH FOR IN 2023?

>> U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS.

FOR THE PAST DECADE, THE UNITED STATES HAS BASICALLY BEEN ON THE SIDELINES WATCHING AS CHINA AND RUSSIA HAVE INVESTED HEAVILY IN AFRICA.

WHILE WE HAVE BEEN GIVING AID, IT HAS BEEN SPORADIC AND UNCLEAR WHAT AMERICA'S POLICY WAS IN TERMS OF FOREIGN RELATIONS AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS DOING IS TRYING TO REPAIR THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND COME UP WITH A PARTNERSHIP THAT IS EQUAL AND DOES RECOGNIZE AFRICAN AGENCY.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

>> AND IT'S TIME FOR AFRICA TO GET SOME ATTENTION.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH US THROUGH ANY OF THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU MISS THE SHOW ANY FRIDAY NIGHT, IT REPEATS SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30 • OR YOU CAN FIND THE SHOW ONLINE ANYTIME AT WCNY.ORG.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS.

GOOD NIGHT