>> Renee: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JUNGUS FOR THIS SPECIAL edition ON THIS DAY WHEN WE HONOR LEGENDARY, SLAIN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WE'RE EXAMINING THE STATE OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR NATION THE CELEBRATION OF DR. KING'S BIRTHDAY COMES AMID A TIME OF GREAT STRIFE AND NATIONAL DIVISION IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S APPROACHING TWO WEEKS SIN A VIOLENT MOB OF PRESIDENT TRUM SYMPATHIZERS VANDALIZED OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, LEAVING FIVE AS THE NATION STILL REELS FROM THE RIOT AND THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT COULD HAPPEN, WE EXPLORE HOW DEEP DIVISIONS CAN BE HEALED.

TO DISCUSS THIS, IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO WE HAVE HOLLY HARRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK.

BEN CHANDLER, FORMER CONGRESSMAN IN KENTUCKY'S 6TH DISTRICT AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUC AND RUSSELL COLEMAN, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, A FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT AND FORMER LEGAL COUNSEL AND SENIOR ADVISE TO SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL.

AND JOINING US BY SKYPE, DR. GERALD SMITH, A UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY HISTORY PROFESSOR WATERS AND CO-CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN FAYETTE COUNTY WE'LL ALSO GET REACTION FROM MEMBERS OF KENTUCKY'S FEDERAL DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON.

REPUBLICAN JAMES COMER JOINS TH PROGRAM SHORTLY.

BUT FIRST, MY CONVERSATION WITH CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMUTH, A LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT, RECORDED LAST FRIDAY.

>> CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US TODAY.

WE'VE BEEN THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES THERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

IT'S BEEN A PRETTY ROUGH TIME, BUT I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DO HAVE TO ASK YOU HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO PROCESS THE VIOLENT ASSAULT THAT HAPPENED IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th OR ARE YOU STILL PROCESSING IT?

>> I'M STILL PROCESSING IT.

THE DATE OF EVENT WHEN I DID SOME MEDIA INTERVIEWS, I SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I COULDN'T QUITE FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON, AND THEN THE MORE WE LEARNED DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, IT BECOMES ACTUALLY HEARD TO PROCESS, NOT EASIER.

SO I'M BASICALLY DEALING WITH THE EVENT AND THE AFTERMATH, A LOT OF EMOTIONS, AND THE PRIMARY ONE IS HEART BOAR BROKE.

IT WAS HARD BREAKING TO SEE AMERICANANS -- HEARTBREAKING TO SEE AMERICAN CITIZENS TURN ON THEIR FELLOW AMERICAN CITIZENS, SUCH A VIOLENT AND UNNECESSARY WAY.

>> A PIECE THAT YOU RENTAL PENNED ABOUT THOSE EVENTS THAT DAY, YOU ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN, ABOUT WHY SO MANY WOULD EMBARK ON SUCH A VIOLENT AND DEADLY CRUSADE.

HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS?

AND WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU BELIEVE MUST BE ANSWERED?

>> WELL, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO ASK WHY THERE WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE, A FAILURE OF PREPARATION, FAILURE OF SECURITY, WHAT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT KNEW, WHY THEY DIDN'T INITIALLY AGREE TO HELP, ALL OF THOSE KIND OF LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS.

SECONDLY, WE HAVE TO, I THINK WE HAVE TO TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHY WOULD SO MANY SEEMINGLY NORMAL PEOPLE COME TO THE CAPITOL AND BASICALLY RISK THEIR OWN LIVES ON A FUTILE MISSION.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE REASON THAT MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, EVEN THOUGH VIRTUALLY EVERY -- EVERYBODY WHO HAS LOOKED AT IT AGREES THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE ACTUAL, ACTUALLY FRAUD-FREE ELECTIONS IN HISTORY.

SO THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT.

BUT DID THEY ACTUALLY THINK THEY WERE GOING TO STORM THE CAPITOL AND STOP THE COUNTING OF ELECTORAL VOTES WITH A VIOLENT ACT?

IT JUST KIND OF -- THAT'S WHY IT'S SO HARD TO PROCESS, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS IN THE MINDS OF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A QUESTION.

YOU ALLUDE TO THIS JUST A MOMENT AGO.

ABOUT SECURITY, AND MANY ARE WONDERING WHY WAS CAPITOL SECURITY SO ILL-PREPARED FOR THIS WHEN THERE HAD BEEN SIGNALS AND TELEGRAPHS AND INTEL THAT EVEN POINTED THAT THIS COULD REALLY HAPPEN?

AND DID.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT MYSTERIES.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RITZ EITHER IN THE ADMINISTRATION OR IN THE -- RESISTANCE EITHER IN THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE CAPITOL POLICE THEMSELVES TO RESPOND TO THE EVENT.

AS SOON AS THE CROWD THAT WAS NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE STARTED MARCHING TOWARD THE CAPITOL, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN IMMEDIATE ALERT AND A MOBILIZATION OF FORCES.

SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW AT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER RALLY LAST SUMMER WITH A MASSIVE SHOW OF FORCE.

AND WE DIDN'T SEE THAT.

WE EXPECT THAT I THINK THIS CAPITOL PLACE PROBABLY JUST DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE WHAT THESE PEOPLE DID, THAT THEY WOULD BRAZENLY JUST KIND OF OUTMAN THE SECURITY FORCES, THAT THEY WOULD IGNORE SECURITY OFFICERS', LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WITH WEAPONS.

THEY DID.

I THINK THE CAPITOL POLICE SHOWED REMARKABLE RESTRAINT IN NOT USING DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, BUT BLESS THEM, THEY DID.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU JUST CAN'T GET YOUR HEAD AROUND.

BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED ANSWERS.

AND WE DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO OVERREACT TO SITUATIONS, BUT HERE WE HAVE TO SERIOUSLY RECALCULATE THE WAY WE DEFEND THE CAPITOL AND WHETHER OUR SYSTEMS AND PERSONNEL ARE ADEQUATE.

>> YOU HAD MADE A VERY POINTED STATEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MR. CHAIRMAN, ABOUT HAD THIS BEEN A BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST, THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF SECURITY AND PERHAPS EVEN A DIFFERENT RESPONSE, AND I THINK YOU SAID, AND I'LL PARAPHRASE, THERE WOULD STILL BE BLOOD ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL.

CAN YOU EXPOUND ON THAT THINKING.

>> YES.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF -- THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF SYMPATHY AMONG THE CAPITOL POLICE FOR THE PROTESTORS, AND THAT WOULD BE TRUE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBABLY IN ANY SITUATION.

THEY REACT DIFFERENTLY WHEN IT'S -- WHEN IT'S AN OVERWHELMINGLY WHITE CROWD WAVING AN AMERICAN FLAG, EVEN THOUGH IN THIS CASE AT LEAST ONE AMERICAN FLAG WAS USED TO POUND ON A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER.

BUT IT'S VERY DIFFERENT WHEN THERE IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CROWD, PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CROWD, AND THE PREPARATION AND THE MOBILIZATION WAS DIFFERENT.

LAST SUMMER WHEN YOU SEE PICTURES OF THE CAPITOL FROM LAST SUMMER, THERE WAS AN ARMED OFFICER BASICALLY EVERY THREE OR FOUR FEET ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL.

THEY WERE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING, AND I'M CONVINCED THAT IF THE CROWD HAD REACTED THE SAME WAY, THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE RESTRAINED THEMSELVES THROUGH THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE.

>> DO YOU PUT BLAME SQUARELY AT THE FEET OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOT JUST FOR WHAT HE DID THAT DAY.

HE HAS BASICALLY BEEN RILING UP THESE PEOPLE FOR FOUR YEARS.

BUT THAT PARTICULAR, PRIOR TO JANUARY 6th, HE PUT OUT A NATIONAL CALL FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO WASHINGTON ON THE 6th.

HE SAID IT WOULD BE WILD.

WHEN THEY GOT THERE THAT DAY, HE KEPT SAYING WE NEED TO FIGHT.

I THINK HE USED "FIGHT" A BUNCH TIMES IN HIS SPEECH.

AND THEN HE SAID TO MARCH ON THE CAPITOL.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW CAN BLAME ANYBODY ELSE.

PROBABLY SOME OF THEM COULD HAVE GONE HAVE WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE CAPITOL BY THEMSELVES WITHOUT URGING FROM THE PRESIDENT, BUT CLEARLY NOT ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE, WHO WERE THERE BASICALLY TO SEE HIM AND TO LISTEN TO HIM TALK ABOUT THIS CRAZY CONSPIRACY THEORY AND THE LIES ABOUT THE ELECTION BEING STOLEN FROM HIM.

BUT HE DIDN'T SAY, GO AND PROTEST THE COUNTING OF THE ELECTORAL VOTE.

HEE JUST SAID, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE CAPITOL AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT.

AND, OF COURSE -- [INDECIPHERABLE] >> I WANT TO GO TO A STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED BY SENATOR RAND PAUL WHO VOTED TO ACCEPT THE STATE-CERTIFIED ELECTORS CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE AS HE NOTED.

HE DID DENOUNCE THE VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWED AND HE SAID, IF THE DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY WANT TO LOWER THE DIVISION AND ATTENTION EVER TENSION WITH IMPEACHMENT IS THE WRONG IDEA.

IT'S A PARTISAN EXERCISE THAT WILL FURTHER EM BITTER AND DIVIDE THE COUNTRY.

YOUR RESPONSE TO SENATOR PAUL'S QUOTE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'LL GLAD SENATOR PAUL VOTED THE WAY HE DID LOSING WITH ALL THE KENTUCKY FEDERATION EXCEPT HAL ROGERS SO I WAS PROUD OF HIM IN THAT RESPECT.

BUT RABIDS PAUL WAS ONE OF THOSE ADVANCING THE NARRATIVE THAT THE ELECTION WAS RIPE WITH FRAUD ALL ALONG.

THAT'S BEEN DOING THAT A FEW MONTHS.

SO HIS HANDS AREN'T PARTICULARLY CLEAN IN THIS SITUATION.

BUT AS TO IMPEACHMENT, IN MY OPINION, WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID WAS THE MOST HEINOUS ACT EVER PERFORMED BY A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT BORDERED ON TREES ON IF IT WASN'T TREASONOUS, CERTAINLY WAS DECISION AND CERTAINLY WAS THE INCITEMENT OF AN INSURRECTION WHICH IS WHAT THE ACTUAL CHARGE TERM IS.

WOULD I SAY THAT IF WE DON'T IMPEACH HIM FOR THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT GOING TO GET HIM OUT OF OFFICE ANY EARLIER THEN WE HAVE RENDER THEIM IMPEACH CLAUSE OF CONSTITUTION MEANINGLESS BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS THE WORST ACT EVER COMMITTED BY A PRESIDENT.

IF WE DON'T IMPEACH HIM FOR THIS, WE'LLNER IMPEACH ANYBODY FOR ANYTHING.

AND AGAIN, TREASON IS ONE OF THE SPECIFIC CAUSES GIVEN IN THE CONSTITUTION, AND EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T CHARGE WIM WITH THAT, I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A STRONG CASE THAT WHAT HE DID WAS TREASON.

>> SO AS WE EMBARK ON A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND JUST DAYS FROM NOW, SIR, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION WILL DO TO HEAL THESE DEEP DIVISIONS IN OUR COUNTRY?

>> I THINK THAT JOE BIDEN WILL DO EVERYTHING HE CAN, AND I THINK HIS DEMEANOR, HIS BASIC BELIEF IN THE COUNTRY AND IN EVERYONE, HE IS AN EVERY MAN, AND HE IS A PURELY AMERICAN CREATION.

HE REPRESENTS ALL THE BEST VALUES OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND I HOPE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK IT WILL.

>> WELL, CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, CONTINUED SAFETY AND GOOD HEALTH TO YOU, SIR.

>> THANKS, RENEE, VERY MUCH.

SAFETY TO ALL OF US.

>> Renee: AS WE MENTIONED WE'LL ALSO AVENUE AN INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN CORPORATIONMAN JAMES CORM.

THAT'S COMING UP IN JUST A BIT WE WANT YOU TO JOIN THE CONVERS SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT O SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/ MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE BOX THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT A ROBOT.

OR YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-494 PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM ON ALL MESSAG WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

I THANK YOU NOR BEING HERE AND THANK ALSO CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH AND AS WE SAID CONGRESSMAN CORM WILL COME UP IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY, MR. CHANDLER, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO CALL YOU GENERAL, CONGRESSMAN, AUDITOR.

>> LOTS OF THINGS.

TOO MANY THINGS.

>> LOTS OF TITLES.

WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

AS I MENTIONED, YOU ARE A FORMER CONGRESSMAN.

I WANT TO CAN YOU ASK YOU WHEN YOU SAW THOSE EVENTS ON JANUARY 6th, HAVEN'T SPENT THOSE MANY YEARS IN WASHINGTON, DC, HOW DID IT STRIKE YOU?

AND HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO PROCESS IT?

WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS A CONSEQUENCE OF?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, I WAS APPALLED, LIKE MOST OTHER AMERICANS.

I WAS MORTIFIED BY THE WHOLE THING.

AND IT'S -- I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND I THINK IT RUNS VERY DEEP IT.

RUNS FRANKLY QUITE DEEPLY IN OUR SOCIETY.

THIS GOES BACK NOT JUST FOUR YEARS BUT MANY, MANY YEARS.

WE'VE HAD A SCEPTICISM OF GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'VE ALSO GOT I THINK A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INSECURITY AMONGST OUR POPULATION CAUSED BY LOTS OF THINGS, MOST RECENTLY THE PANDEMIC BUT ALSO CAUSED BY FRANKLY INCOME INEQUALITY.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUG PERCENTAGE NOT OFF THE THEM ARE CERTAIN WHY THEY'RE STRUGGLEING.

YOU'LL HAVE GOT PEOPLE DEALING WITH A LOT OF CHANGE, ENORMOUS CHANGE IN OUR SOCIETY AS IT EXISTS TODAY.

TECHNOLOGY, FRANKLY DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE.

ALL OF THESE THINGS I THINK PLAY A ROLE IN UNSETTLING PEOPLE.

AND THEN COMES A DEMAGOGUE.

AND THIS IS ALWAYS THE DANGER.

WHEN YOU PREY ON THAT KIND OF INSECURITY AMONGST THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS A DEMAGOGUE, NOTHING GOOD CAN COME FROM IT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN GOING FOR QUITE SOME TIME YOU CAN GO BACK TO ANCIENT GREECE.

YOU CAN GO BACK TO ARISTOTLE WHO WAS NO FAN A DEMOCRACY.

THERE I WAS REASON HE WAS NO IN AN OF A DEMOCRACY.

HE THOUGHT THIS KIND OF THING WAS PREY, A DEMOCRACY WAS EASY PREY TO A DEMAGOGUE.

AND WE'VE SEEN IT MANY TIMES IN WORLD HISTORY, AND I THINK WE HAVE JUST SEEN ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF IT.

>> PROFESSOR GERALD SMITH WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US BY SKYPE THIS EVENING, SIR.

I WANT TO ASK YOU A SIMILAR QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE THROUGH LINE IN ALL OF THIS?

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DONALD TRUMP DID SERVE AS AN ACCELERANT TO DIVISION AND DISCORD IN THIS COUNTRY?

AND IS THAT A SURPRISE TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR?

>> NO, IT WASN'T A SURPRISE AT ALL.

THE SEEDS OF DISCORD HAVE BEEN SOWN GENERATIONS A LONG TIME AGO, AND SO WHAT WE WITNESSED WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD BASICALLY BEEN PERCOLATING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE HAD SORT OF LIVED WITH THE UNDERCULTURES THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT FOR GENERATIONS.

WE HAVE SEEN IT ACTUALLY IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT QUESTIONING ELECTION RESULTS.

KENTUCKY IS A STATE THAT'S KNOWN FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE GOING BACK TO THE 19th CENTURY.

WE HAVE ALSO, AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS, EXPERIENCED RACE RIOTS, EVEN RIGHT THERE IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, FOR EXAMPLE, IN JULY OF 1919 THERE WERE A NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO WERE BEATEN AND AND KILLED RIGHT THERE NEAR THE CAPITOL, BASED ON A LICENSE SHE'LL AND EVEN THE ROLE THAT THE MEDIA PLAYED IN PROMOTING THESE SORT OF LIES THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME SORT OF HAINUS CRIME SO WHEN I SEE THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME WAS IT WAS AS IF THE CONFEDERATE STATUES HAD COME ALIVE AND WERE NOW GIVING US A 21st 21st CENTURY OBSERVATION OF WHAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE, WELL, NOW WHEN WE LOOK BACK 20, 30 YEARS FROM NO AND DECIDE TO ERECT A STATUE IN HONOR OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SEIZED THE CAPITOL JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE UNDERSTAND THE MINDSET, THE MISSION, THE HATRED THAT WAS IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE CONFEDERACY IN THE 1860s, EVEN TO THE FACT THAT WE SEE THIS TRAITOROUS FLAG HAS BEING MARCHED AROUND THE STATE CAPITOL.

SO IT CAUSES ONE TO IMPORTANT ABOUT NOT ONLY HOW FAR WE'VE COME BUT HOW FAR WE STILL HAVE TO GO.

WE KNOW THAT WITH THE FOUNDING OF THIS NATION, WITH THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, WITH THIS DEMOCRACY, EVEN THEN THERE WERE IMPERFECT PEOPLE TRYING TO CREATE A PERFECT GOVERNMENT, AND SO THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN HYPOCRISY AND GREED AND THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE LIVES THAT WERE DESTROYED AND DISTORTED THAT CENTERED AROUND THE ISSUE OF RACE.

>> HOLLY HARRIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU'VE BEEN ON BEFORE WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES WITH THE JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION VIEWS THIS MOMENT, AND PARTICULARLY EVEN LOOKING BASKET TO THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO JANUARY 6th WHEN WE HAD THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY AND THOSE INTERFACES WITH POLICE ENFORCEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK HAS BEEN VERY FORTHCOMING ABOUT A POSITION ON THAT, SO YOUR RESPONSE TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, AND SPEAKING FOR THE JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK, WHAT IS IT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE BE CHANGED?

>> ONE THING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION THAN THE BEYOND JUST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AGENDA IS BIPARTISAN COOPERATION.

AND CIVILITY IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

AND WE'RE NOT SEEING MUCH OF THAT THESE DAYS, AND I THINK TODAY, AS WE HONOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT HE STOOD FOR.

YES, HE STOOD FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND YES, HE STOOD FOR RACIAL EQUALITY, BUT HE ALSO CALLED OUT HIS FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST HIS OPPONENTS BUT HE CALLED HIS FRIENDS WHEN THEY WEREN'T DOING ENOUGH.

EVEN AFTER LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNED THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID HE SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER ON HOUSING, AND ON VOTING RIGHTS.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, RENEE, I'VE BEEN A REPUBLICAN ALL MY LIFE.

BEFORE I WORKED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, I WOULD BE HERE TOUTING OUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

AND I HOPE I CAN SPEAK TO ALL OF THE CONSERVATIVES AND THE REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY TONIGHT AND SAY THAT IT'S TIME FOR US TO HOLD OUR PRESIDENT, OUR PARTY, OURSELVES TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCENDIARY LANGUAGE, FOR THE RECKLESS WAY THAT WE TALK TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PLACE NOW WHERE WE'RE HOLDING OUR PRESIDENT TO A LOWER STANDARD THAN I HOLD MY NINE-YEAR-OLD SON.

AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

AND, LOOK, THE PRESIDENT I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, AND CERTAINLY I DO, BECAUSE HE SIGNED MY BILL, THE FIRST STEP ACT, HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS DURING HIS PRESIDENCY AND DURING HIS TENURE.

BUT HIS LANGUAGE AND THE WAY THAT HE TREATS PEOPLE HAS LED TO US A REALLY DANGEROUS PLACE.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HE SHOULD TAKE OWNERSHIP.

>> OF COURSE.

OF THE RIOTS ON JANUARY 6th?

>> OF COURSE.

AND IF WE'RE BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES, I JUST THINK WE'LL HAVE EXPLAINED AWAY AND JUSTIFIED A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S DONE AND SAID BY SAYING, WELL, HE'S NOT A POLITICIAN OR HE'S JUST FROM NEW YORK OR IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, LOCKER ROOM TALK.

AND NOW FOUR YEARS LATER AGAIN WE'RE NOW WATCHING SOMETHING WE NEVER THOUGHT WE'D SEE, WHICH IS A VIOLENT INSURRECTION, AN ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND I WAS JUST WATCHING YOUR VIDEO.

THE CONGRESSMAN, RUSSELL USED TO WORK THERE, MY OFFICE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

AND IT'S REALLY SAD THAT IT TAKES A MOMENT WHERE IT COULD BE YOU, FOR YOU TO SAY NO MORE.

AND I'M THERE.

NO MORE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

WE ARE IN A PLACE NOW WHERE WE HAVE GOT TO HOLD OURSELVES AND OUR FRIENDS TO ACCOUNT, AND WE'VE GOT TO DO THAT BEFORE WE CAN TURN TO OUR OPPONENTS AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT ANYTHING.

>> SO MR. RUSSELL COLEMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US YOU.

MENTIONED ALL YOUR CREDENTIALS AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT, YOU WORKED FOR SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL, U.S. PRESIDENT OUTGOING FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, AND SO I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TO TANK ON HOLLY'S POINT ABOUT THE CULPABILITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

MANY PEOPLE PERHAPS ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM WOULD IS THAT IT REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS COURTED THIS TYPE OF DISSIDENT BEHAVIOR, THIS TYPE OF VILE LANGUAGE AND INCENDIARY REMARK FROM THE HEAD OF THE PARTY BEING DONALD J. TRUMP.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT.

AND HOW DOES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RECLAIM THEIR IDENTITY POST PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> AND I'M CAUTIOUS IN ANSWERING THIS QUESTION, NOT TRYING TO BE A SMART LAWYER OR ATTEMPTING TO BE, BUT I'M A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I'M A PROSECUTOR, AND SO MY JOB IS TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW, NOT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I COME FROM A CONSERVATIVE BACKGROUND PRIOR TO BEING NOMINATED BY THIS PRESIDENT AND CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE BUT I SERVE IN A NON-PARTISAN ROLE.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

ALSO AS LEADERS, LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY PROSECUTOR THAT SERVES UNDER ME.

I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THIS DISTRICT.

I'M ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR SUCCESSES, AND I'M RESPONSIBLE MORE OFTENTIMES THAN NOT FOR THEIR FAILURES.

I'M RESPONSIBLE.

THE LEADER OF THE CAPITOL POLICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE FAILURES IN PROTECTING THAT SACROSANCT BUILDING.

THE SERGEANT AT ARMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAILURES IN LETTING THEIR OWN OFFICERS DOWN.

THERE'S IMAGERY THAT YOU DIDN'T SHOW ON YOUR SCREEN THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DISTURBING IMAGERY I'VE SEEN OUTSIDE OF THE STRICTLY LAW ENFORCEMENT CON, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL POSTED, AND IT SHOWS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A LINE OF POLICE OFFICERS TRYING TO DEFEND A DOOR, AND IT SHOWS A MOB BUSTING, ATTEMPTING TO BURST THROUGH THAT DOOR, AND IN THE MIDST THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER THAT'S BEING CRUSHED TO DEATH.

AND YOU SEE HIM SCREAMING FOR HELP, AND HE'S BEING CRUSHED TO DEATH, AND HIS MASK IS BEING RIPPED OFF HIS FACE AND BEAR SPRAY IS BEING SPRAYED ON HIM.

I SAW THAT SAME VIEW TODAY AND SOME IMAGERY AS TO THE MOCK-UP OF OUR INAUGURATION.

YOU KNOW WHY I SAW THAT TODAY?

BECAUSE THAT SAME SCENE WHERE THOSE OFFICERS WERE LOSING THEIR LIVES, THAT SAME SCENE WHERE AMERICAN CITIZENS WERE ATTEMPTING TO KILL POLICE OFFICERS, BUST THROUGH, THAT'S THE WESTER AS DOOR, THAT'S THE DOOR THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL WALK THROUGH WHEN HE OR SHE IS INAUGURATED.

THAT WAS THE SCENERY WE SAW.

SO WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT OCCURS ON OUR WATCH.

>> AND YOU, EVEN AS THOUGH YOU'RE OUTGOING, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, YOU ARE STILL COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THOSE IN KENTUCKY WHO HAD A PART OF THOSE HAINUS ACTS ARE HELD TO ACCOUNT CRIMINALLY?

>> UNTIL 11:59 ON THE 20th OF THIS WEEK, I SERVE THIS PRESIDENT BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I SERVE THE CONSTITUTION AND I WILL ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW HERE, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE.

I MADE A STATEMENT WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF THE 6th.

I MADE A STATEMENT, AS DID MY FANTASTIC COLLEAGUE ROB DUNCAN HERE, THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN THEEES.

MY STATEMENT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I COMMITTED TO PROSECUTING ANY OF THE CONDUCT THAT LED THAT MOB TO ATTACK OUR CAPITOL, TO ATTACK OUR DEMOCRACY.

BUT I ALSO HARK END ZONE BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED IN LOUISVILLE LAST SUMMER, AND ONE MIGHT SAY THAT'S DANGEROUS TURF AND IS THAT'S DANGEROUS TURF IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

BUT WHAT I SAID WAS THIS.

I HAVE TO CALL IT STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

THERE IS A LINE WHERE FIRST AMENDMENT PREDICT ACTIVITY ONCE CROSSED BECOMES VIOLENCE THAT HARMS PEOPLE.

AND WHETHER THAT WAS IN LOUISVILLE LAST SUMMER AND WE SAW THAT OF ROBBING PHARMACIES FOR PAIN PILLS, WE SAW FELONS BRINGING FIREARMS AND PUTTING PROTESTORS AND POLICE AT RISK.

I PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS THAT CROSSED THAT LINE IN LOUISVILLE LAST SUMMER TO PUT PROTESTORS AT RISK AND POLICE, AND I'LL PROSECUTE THOSE THAT ACROSS THAT LINE IN WASHINGTON, DC.

WE MUST CALL IT STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

WHEN CONDUCT CROSSES THAT BRIGHT LINE AND BECOMES VIOLENCE.

THAT'S WHEN THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS NO LONGER APPLY.

>> AND THERE HAVE BEEN, MR. COLEMAN, PARALLELS DRAWN BETWEEN 2 LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th AND THE BLACK LIVES MATTERS PROTESTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON, DC, RIGHT THERE IN LAFAYETTE PARK, AND SO MANY PEOPLE WILL EXPAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT A LOT, THAT BLACK JUSTICE SEEKERS ARE MET WITH LAW AND ORDER, AND THE FULL FURY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHERE THERE IS MORE GRACE, PERHAPS, GIVEN AND AWARDED TO WHITE PROTESTORS.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT.

>> I'M HORRIFIED BY THAT.

ANY AN EK POETS WHERE THAT OCCURS, IF THAT -- AN EX DOTES WHERE THAT OCCURS, IF THAT OCCURRED ON THE GO 6th THAT ANYONE FRONT FOR TREATING THOSE INDIVIDUALS DIFFERENTLY SHOULD LOSE THEIR ROLES, SHOULD NO LONGER BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE TAKE AN BOTH.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR VIEWERS THAT LOOK MORE LIKE YOU THAN MORE LIKE ME HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCE SO OFTENTIMES, THEY VIEW LAW ENFORCEMENT DIFFERENTLY.

I'VE SPENT THREE YEARS TRYING TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR AND BUILD UPON SOME OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

WE'VE HAD AIR HELL OF A TIME IN -- A HELL OF A TIME IN LOUISVILLE.

PAIN WAS ARTICULATED IN A WAY THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN IN A CONVICTING WAY.

WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD THAT BACK ONE BLOCK, ONE BRICK AT A TIME.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

PROFESSOR SMITH'S COLLEAGUE GEORGEWRIGHT ORIGINALLY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY -- I THINK HE'S BACK HERE AT UK -- WROTE A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN -- THAT I RECOMMEND MORE THAN ANY OTHER, AND THAT IS THE HISTORY -- BEHIND THE VEIL IN LOUISVILLE.

THE HISTORY OF BLACKS IN LOUISVILLE IS 1865 TO 1920, AND WHAT DOES THAT SAY IN A NUTSHELL?

THE VERY SAME NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE'RE STRUGGLENING WITH VIOLENT CRIMES, LOSING OUR NEIGHBORS -- WE LOST 173 FAMILIES, 173 FELLOWS WERE VISITED BY HOMICIDE LAST YEAR -- THOSE ARE THE VERY SAME NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE LIMITED OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE LIMITED INDIVIDUALS AND NOT TREATED THEM LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.

THE VERY SAME NEIGHBORHOODS FROM 100 YEARS AGO.

THAT DOESN'T JUST GO AWAY.

WE HAVE TO BUILD BACK FROM THAT.

WE HAVE -- THE DETERMINE "WOKE" IT CHEAPENS LEARNING YOUR HISTORY.

THE TERM "WOKE" IS A TERM USED AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE SHOULD FEEL CONVICTED.

WE SHOULD LEARN OUR LIFTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I THINK THAT PROFESSOR SMITH WOULD AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

HE KNOWS GEORGE WRITE IS AND IS A COLLEAGUE OF HIS NOW.

NOT TO SHORTCHANGE PROFESSOR SMITH WHO HAS WRITTEN A LOT OF BOOKS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, AN ENCYCLOPEDIA ABOUT IT ALL WHICH I HAVE ON MY COFFEE TABLE.

DO I WANT TO ASK YOU, THOUGH, PROFESSOR SMITH ABOUT THIS SCHISM BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IS IT PERCEPTION OR REALITY?

AND HOW IT REFLECTS A HISTORICAL PAST THAT HASHINGENS AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO BE WEARY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT --, WHETHER IT'S A BENIGN SITUATION OR NOT.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AND GIVES BROADER CONTEXT?

>> YEAH, SURE.

SURE.

I THINK IT'S QUITE CLEAR IN TERMS OF THIS RACIAL DOUBLE STANDARD THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED AND WITNESSED QUITE FREQUENTLY, TO BE HONEST.

JUST THINK ABOUT IT.

WHAT WE SAW ON JANUARY THE 6th WERE WHITE POLICE OFFICERS BASICALLY HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE RIOTERS, ESCORTING THEM DOWN FROM THE CAPITOL STEPS, NOT USING TEAR GAS OR RUBBER BULLETS, BUT ALSO WHAT STRUCK ME IS THAT WHEN ONE OF THE OFFICERS WAS BEING CRUSHED BY THE DOORS, NONE OF THE OTHER OFFICERS PULLED THEIR WEAPONS TO FIRE, TO DO SOMETHING TO EVEN HARM OR EVEN KILL THOSE WHO WERE TRYING TO KILL ONE OF THEIR OWN, AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO WERE KILLED WHO WERE UNARMED.

JACOB BLAKE SHOT SEVEN TIMES IN THE BACK.

AND, OF COURSE, HE WASN'T TRYING TO STORM THE CAPITOL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THAT ONE EXAMPLE IS ENOUGH TO BASICALLY INFORM US THAT CLEARLY THERE IS A DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO POLICING AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND POLICING WHITES.

>> I WITH AN TO GO TO YOU, MR. CHANDLER, AND ALSO YOU CAN COMMENT ON THAT IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT AS ONE WHO IS CHAIR OF THE KENTUCKY STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, THAT YOU WILL STARTED BY PROTESTATIONS BUT I WILL LEGITIMACY OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.

>> I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT BUT FIRST I WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID HERE ABOUT THE DOUBLE STANDARD.

THERE ISN'T ANY QUESTION BUT THAT OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS FACE A TREMENDOUS DOUBLE STANDARD IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I'LL JUST GIVE -- AND IN IN STATE, AND GAVE JUST ONE EXAMPLE CLOSE TO HOME.

MAYBE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE SAW A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN KNEEL BEFORE A BASKETBALL GAME, A GROUP OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUNG MEN KNEEL PEACEFULLY IN PROTEST BEFORE A BASKETBALL GAME.

WE THEN SAW THE LAUREL COUNTY SHERIFF TAKE UK PARAPHERNALIA AND BURN IT BECAUSE HE WAS SO UPSET.

AND ASKED PEOPLE IN HIS COMMUNITY TO BURN IT.

WELL, I'M STILL WAITING TO SEE THE BURN PARTY FOR THE MAGA HAT CROWD.

NOW, TO ME THAT'S A TREMENDOUS DOUBLE STANDARD.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL DOESN'T EVEN COMPARE TO WHAT THOSE YOUNG BLACK MEN DID.

AND WE HAVE SEEN NO SIMILAR PROTEST ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE MAGA CROWD.

>> OKAY.

I WAS GOING TO LET HOLLIE WEIGH IN BEFORE WE GO BACK TO WHAT STARTED ALL OF THIS, THE PREMISE ALLEGEDLY.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO PIVOT OFF THAT, CONGRESSMAN, TO A HOPEFUL MOMENT THAT I SAW ON TWITTER RECENTLY, AND SHE'LL PROBABLY KILL ME FOR CALLING HER OUT, BUT I THINK IN REFERENCE TO, YOU KNOW, THE KNEELING, SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS TALKED ABOUT HOW HURT HE FELT AND GAVE A VERY HEARTFELT SPEECH ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE, TALKING ABOUT HIS SON'S SERVICE.

AND SADIQ IOWA REYNOLDS URBAN LEAGUE WHO IS NO SHRINK VIOLATE, VERY AGGRESSIVE WOMAN, WHO I THINK CERTAINLY WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT PERSPECTIVE, BUT SHE QUOTE TWEETED, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE KIDS SAY, QUOTE TWEETED IS STORY ABOUT PRESIDENT STIVERS AND SAID, WELL, SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, WELL, HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH.

ATE LEAST HE'S TELLING HIS TRUTH, AND THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

MAYBE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.

AND SO I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, THAT IS SUCH A MATURE RESPONSE BECAUSE WE NEVER RESPOND THAT WAY ANYMORE.

IF SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING THAT WE DISAGREE WITH, WE IMMEDIATELY CALL THAT PERSON AN IDIOT OR MUCH WORSE THESE DAYS.

AND THE JUDGES PEOPLE NOW, IT'S ALL SOME SICK BURN ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK OR WHATEVER THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM IS.

WE NEVER -- THE YOUNG PEOPLE NOW.

WE NEVER LISTEN TO ANOTHER PERSON'S EXPERIENCE THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM OURS AND EMPATHIZE WITH THAT PERSON.

WE TOTALLY LOST THAT IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IT'S REALLY SAD.

>> AND SO PERHAPS THERE CAN BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY THOSE BLACK BASKETBALL PLAYERS CHOSE TO KNEEL.

PERHAPS THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, RUSSELL'S DONE WHAT HE'S DONE HIS ENTIRE LIFE, IS TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF THIS COUNTRY.

THEY FELT THEY WERE JUSTIFIED IN DOING SO.

SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU BECAUSE THE WHOLE WAY THIS INSURRECTION STARTED WAS BECAUSE OF STOP THE STEAL, THAT THIS WAS AN ILLEGITIMATE ELECTION OF JOSEPH BIDEN TO THE PRESIDENCY.

FROM ONE OF YOUR OTHER CAPACITIES AS STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS CHAIR FOR KENTUCKY, I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT DOES TO THAT BASIC TENET AND CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY WHEN WE QUESTION IN THAT WAY THIS BASIC PRINCIPLE OF VOTING AND EXERCISE THEREOF.

>> WELL, IT'S A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM AND IT TARGETS, OF COURSE, WITH THE BIG LIE.

DEMOCRACY IS ABSOLUTELY DEPENDENT UPON THE TRUTH.

IF WE CAN'T HAVE THE TRUTH, IF WE HAVE PROPAGANDA THAT TAKES ROOT IN OUR SYSTEM, OUR DEMOCRACY WILL DIE.

LIES ARE JUST DEATH TO A DEMOCRACY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

BUT OUR TRUTH IN THIS COUNTRY IS BASED ON EVIDENCE, AND WHERE THIS ELECTION WAS CONCERNED, AND I THINK JOHN YARMOUTH MAY HAVE ALLUDE TO THIS, THIS WAS ONE OF THE BETTER-RUN ELECTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY'S HISTORY, BY ALL REPORTS AND BY ALL EVIDENCE THAT CAME FORWARD.

WE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ELECTIONS ARE NOT RUN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY'RE RUN BY THE SEVERAL STATES.

50 STATES HAVE 50 INDIVIDUAL ELECTIONS, AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RULES THAT GOVERN THOSE ELECTIONS.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SAY IN THAT.

THOSE STATES THROUGH THEIR PROCESS DETERMINED WHO WON THE ELECTIONS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

THEY REPORTED THOSE RESULTS, AND IT'S UP TO US TO ACCEPT THOSE RESULTS.

INSTEAD, OF COURSE, WE HAD NOT ONLY FRANKLY A PRESIDENT BUT A NUMBER OF OTHER ELECTED PEOPLE, INCLUDING I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER WAS, 137, 147, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS WHO VOTED TO QUESTION THAT ELECTION.

AND I ALSO WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ISSUE OF UNITY.

WHAT SENATOR PAUL SAID WITH THE IMPEACHMENT.

I THINK THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY NEED TO ADMIT THAT JOE BIDEN IS A LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT.

THEY HAVE GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO ESSENTIALLY TELL 40% AND MAKE 40% OF THIS NATION BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN IS ILLEGAL ILLEGITIMATE.

NOW, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY EFFORT AND UNITY UNTIL YOU START THERE BECAUSE IT'S CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE LEGITIMIZE, CRUCIAL.

>> SO NOW WE WANT TO SHIFT AND SHOW YOU AN INTERVIEW THAT I DID WITH CONGRESSMAN JAMES CORM JUST A FEW HOURS AGO TALKING ABOUT THE EVENTS ON JANUARY 6th AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I KNOW YOU'RE REALLY BUSY AND WE APPRECIATE GETTING A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> SO LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THOSE EVENTS ON JANUARY 6th.

I'M SURE THEY'RE STILL FRESH IN YOUR MIND, SIR.

CAN YOU TELL US WHERE YOU WERE AND IF YOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU WERE IN DANGER.

>> WELL, I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

I THINK I WAS POSSIBLY THE ONLY MEMBER FROM CHO WAS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AT THE TIME BECAUSE OF COVID PROTOCOLS.

THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 75 MEMBERS.

SO I WAS THERE AND I SAW THE SECURITY ASK PELOSI TO STEP DOWN AND LEAVE WHILE SHE WAS PRESIDING, AND I REALLY DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SECURITY RUSHED IN AND GOT THE LEADERSHIP, STENY HOYER ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE AND STEVE SCALISE ON MY SIDE.

THEN WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND OF COURSE EVERYONE WAS SAYING JUST SIT DOWN, EVERYTHING'S FINE, BE CALM.

WE HAD NO IDEA THAT THE CAPITOL HAD BEEN BREACHED.

THEY WERE ALREADY AROUND THE SENATE.

AND A FEW MINUTES AFTER THAT, THE CAPITOL POLICE RETREATED BACK INTO THE THREE DIFFERENT DOORWAYS OF THE HOUSE CHAMBER AND SLAMMED THE DOORS AND LOCKED THEM AND STARTED BARRICADING THE DOORS, AND A FEW MINUTES AFTER THAT PEOPLE STARTED BANGING ON THE DOORS.

AND THEN WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A VERY DARK DAY IN THE HISTORY AMERICA.

SO AT THAT POINT THEY STARTED EVACUATING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OFF THE FLOOR.

SO DURING THE EVACUATION ROUTE, WE HAD TO CHANGE THAT ROUTE THREE OR FOUR ADVERTISEMENTS.

I DID GET TO SEE A -- TIMES.

I DID GET TO SEE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THERE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SURREAL, ABOUT IT NEVER THOUGHT I WAS IN DANGER OR ANYTHING.

>> AND YOUR STAFF, ALL YOUR ASSOCIATES, EVERYBODY FINE AND FRYING TO JUST PROCESS IT ALL STILL I'M SURE.

>> THEY ARE.

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT DAY.

I KNEW SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM MY DISTRICT WHO WERE GOING TO BE THERE, SOME OF THE THINGS THEY HAD PUT ON FACEBOOK AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

I HAD ACTUALLY ASKED MY STAFF NOT TO COME IN THAT DAY.

I'M ALSO IN CHARGE OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

I HAVE ABOUT 40 EMPLOYEES OVER THERE AND ASKED THEM NOT TO COME IN THAT DAY.

I HAD A COUPLE THAT ACTUALLY STILL WENT AHEAD AND CAME IN, BUT THEY WERE -- THEY WERE LOCKED UP IN THEIR OFFICES THE WHOLE TIME AND THEY WEREN'T ANYWHERE NEAR ANY OF THE DANGER.

BUT STILL, IT WAS -- IT WAS SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY WE'LL NEVER FORGET AND HOPEFULLY WILL NEVER SEE REPEATED.

>> I KNOW CONGRESSMAN, THAT YOU'VE READ A LOT OF THE ARTICLES AND YOU'VE BEEN INTERVIEWED SEVERAL TIMES YOURSELF ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, AND THE QUESTION THAT ALWAYS COMES UP IS DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS AT FAULT AND THAT HE INCITED THIS MOB ASSAULT ON THE CAPITOL THAT DAY.

>> I DO NOT.

I'VE GIVEN -- I'VE LISTENED TO A LOT OF POLITICAL SPEAKERS OVER THE YEARS SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MARCH MARCH TO THE CAPITOL AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER.

I'VE PLAYED SPORTS AND I WOULD HEAR MY COACHES SAY, WE'RE GOING TO RIP OUR OPPONENTS' HEADS OFF.

AND OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T MEAN THAT LITERALLY, AND I DON'T THINK ANYTHING DONALD TRUMP SAID THAT DAY HE MEANT LITERALLY.

SO IT'S -- IT WAS A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.

BOTH PARTIES HAVE EXTREMISTS ON BOTH SIDES.

AND I FEEL LIKE WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS LEADERS IN AMERICA IS TRY TO TONE THE RHETORIC DOWN, TURN THE VOLUME DOWN, AND THE TEMPERATURE DOWN, AND TRY TO WORK TOGETHER AND DO LIKE CONGRESS DID AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th AND TRY TO COME TOGETHER FOR A FEW WEEKS AND MAYBE EVEN MONTHS AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

>> YOU SAID LAST WEEK WHEN YOU VOTED AGAINST THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP THAT IT WITH ONLY LEAD TO DEEPER DIVISIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.

CAN YOU EXPOUND ON THAT.

>> OH, I SAID THAT THEN, AND I'M SEEING IT TODAY.

PELOSI AND BIDEN AND SCHUMER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO DOWN THIS ROUTE.

THE PRESIDENT ONLY HAS ONE WEEK TO GO.

BUT THE THINGS THAT THEY ACCUSE TRUMP DOING, WHICH WAS INCITING HIS BASE, THEY DID WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH IMPEACHMENT.

IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT, ONCE HE'S OUT OF OFFICE, REALLY DOESN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS YOUR SECOND IMPEACHMENT IN ONE YEAR, SO HALF THE IMPEACHMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY NANCY PELOSI IN LESS THAN 13 MONTHS.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE RIGHT APPROACH.

AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE -- ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE BY DOING THAT IS MADE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT EVEN MORE UPSET.

THEY DISTRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT EVEN MORE.

THEY THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP IS A VICTIM.

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY BY JOE BIDEN, NANCY PELOSI AND CHUCK SCHUMER.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS A PLACE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

WOULD IT BE BETTER OR WORSE OFF WITHOUT HIM INVOLVED IN SOME WAY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, RENEE HE CARRIED BY DISTRICT BY ALMOST 50 POINTS SO I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL FUTURE, BUT THE FACT IS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE, NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT ALL ACROSS AMERICA, THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE PARTY BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP.

THEY EITHER SUPPORTED DONALD TRUMP'S AGENDA OR THEY LIKED THE FACT THAT HE'S NOT A POLITICS AND HE FRIED TO -- POLITICIAN AND HE TRIED TO DISRUPT THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ALWAYS STICK WITH DONALD TRUMP, FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

SO I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE CAN SPECULATE ON THE IMPACT FRUMP'S GOING TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE -- TRUMP'S GOING TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE WHETHER HE SHOULD A PART OF THE PARTY OR NOT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS HE'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> JUST AS THERE ARE FACTIONS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THERE ARE FACTIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

YOU JUST REALLY ALLUDED TO THAT.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HEALING A NATION, DO THE POLITICAL PARTIES THEMSELVES NEED TO HEAL FIRST BEFORE THERE'S A WIDER HEALING OF THE NATION?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I THINK WE'VE GOT A SITUATION IN AMERICA WHERE PEOPLE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE POLITICIANS, THEY'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE PARTIES, AND THEY'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE MEDIA, AND TO HAVE A GOOD, STRONG DEMOCRACY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CREDIBLE MEDIA.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CREDIBLE GOVERNMENT, CREDIBLE POLITICAL PARTY.

SO WE'VE GOT LIGHT OF WORK TO DO IN WASHINGTON -- A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN WASHINGTON AND IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE THE NATIONAL LEADERS TRYING TO BE PEOPLE WHO UNITE, UNITE ALL AMERICANS.

EVEN THOUGH WHAT WE SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHAT WE SEE BEING INTERVIEWED IN THE MEDIA NOW ARE THE MOST EXTREME FROM THE RIGHT, MOST EXTREME FROM THE LEFT, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF AMERICA THAT WOULD STILL CLASSIFY THEMSELVES AS INDEPENDENT OR MODERATE, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DETERMINE THE OUTCOMES IN A LOT OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ON IN EITHER PARTY REALIZE THAT.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOW THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL.

YOU HAVE VERY LIBERAL MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IN THE HOUSE, THE ONES THAT'S CALL THE SQUAD.

THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO PASS A VERY, VERY RADICAL LIBERAL AGENDA.

AND THEY'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE PROCEEDS DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPREAD.

THERE -- PELOSI DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPREAD.

THERE ARE 15 OR 20 MODERATE DEMOCRATS THAT AREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR THINGS LIKE THE GREEN NEW DEAL.

IN THE SENATE WHERE IT'S 50/50 AND YOU HAVE JOE MANCHIN AND SENATOR TESTER IN MONTANA, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PASS THAT RADICAL LIBERAL AGENDA, AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND THE LEFT WING OF THEIR PARTY IS GOING TO BE AS FRUSTRATED AS THE RIGHT WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS RIGHT NOW.

>> CONGRESSMAN COMB WESH THANK YOU FOR A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TODAY.

WE WISH THE BEST AND SAFETY AS WELL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, RENEE.

APPRECIATE THE GREAT WORK YOU DO.

>> SO CONGRESSMAN CHANDLER, I WANT TO COME TO YOU AND HAVE YOU COMMENT ABOUT HOW CAN AN INCOMING ADMINISTRATION IN THE WHITE HOUSE MAYBE HEAL THESE DEEP DIVISIONS?

THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO SPEND OUR NEXT 12 MINUTES.

>> AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT IN MY OPINION, THE DIVISIONS IN THIS COUNTRY WILL NOT BE HEALED UNTIL WE ALL COMMIT TO THE TRUTH, COMMIT TO TELLING THE TRUTH, FRANKLY COMMIT TO TELLING OUR CONSTITUENTS THE TRUTH.

I THINK MITT ROMNEY HAD IT BEST, HE HAD ONE OF THE BEST QUOTES IN THIS ENTIRE AFFAIR WHEN HE LOOKED AT SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES AND SAID "IT'S TIME FOR TO YOU STAND UP AND TELL YOUR OWN STITZ THE CONSTITUENTS THE TRUTH."

WE HAVE HAD A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THE TRUTH HASN'T BEEN TOLD ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FRONTS AND A DEMOCRACY CANNOT SURVIVE UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE POLITICIANS.

IT'S THE MEDIA.

THE MEDIA HAS JUST BEEN -- THAT'S MONETIZE LYING.

PEOPLE ARE NOW REWARDED, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA ARE REWARDED FINANCIALLY FOR TELLING PEOPLE LIES.

NOW, THAT CANNOT BE HEALTHY FOR A DEMOCRACY.

IF WE'RE GOING TO RELY ON THE CITIZENS TO MAKE WISE CHOICES, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM ACCURATE INFORMATION.

IF WE DON'T GIVE THEM ACCURATE INFORMATION, THEY'VE GOT NO SHOT TO MAKE A WISE CHOICE.

SO I JUST THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO MOVING FORWARD THAT WE FIND WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DISCOURSE IS ABOUT THE TRUTH.

THE REFEREES ARE NO LONGER ON THE FIELD.

HOW CAN YOU HAVE A CONTEST WHEN THE REFEREES AREN'T ON THE FIELD?

>> PROFESSOR SMITH, I WANT TO COME TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE DISTRUST IN OUR INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER THAT'S THE MEDIA OR THE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, POLITICIANS.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW THAT TRUST CAN BE RESTORED.

WHAT HAS HISTORY TAUGHT US?

>> WELL, I THINK HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US THAT OUR NATION WAS NOT FOUNDED ON THE TRUTH.

WE LOOK AT OUR DEMOCRACY.

IT WAS EXCLUSIVE AND NOT INCLUSIVE.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE JUST IN TERMS OF OUR DEMOCRACY IN GENERAL.

IT WAS NOT ESTABLISHED TO INCLUDE AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WOMEN OR NATIVE AMERICANS.

THE LIES THAT WE SEE NOW GO BACK TO THE 18th CENTURY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ONCE AGAIN, IT HAS REVEALED TO THE NATION AND TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE A COUNTRY, THAT WE ARE A NATION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED ON UNTRUTHS.

IT HAS REVEALED NOT ONLY WHO WE ARE BUT EVEN, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S ASKING THE QUESTION OF WHO DO WE WANT TO BE.

AND WE STILL STRUGGLE WITH THAT, WITH CHANGE AND WITH TRUTH AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE A TERRIBLE AND DISTORTED PAST.

SO WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AS WE GO FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE TRUTH AS WELL AS RECONCILIATION.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE LEADERSHIP, LEGISLATION.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE LISTENING AS ONE OF THE PANELISTS MENTIONED.

AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO REQUIRE LEARNING ABOUT OUR HISTORY SO THAT WE MIGHT EVENTUALLY RECONCILE WITH OUR OWN PAST IN ORDER FOR US TO GO FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.

>> MR. COMER, I WANT TO ASK YOU THAT QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PATH TOWARD RECONCILIATION?

>> IT STARTS WITH ME AND IT STARTS WITH MY FAMILY.

I'LL TELL YOU, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, AND AS SUCH, I RESIGNED MY OFFICE, A JOB THAT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO SERVE, EFFECTIVE 11:59 ON WEDNESDAY, AND I STAND READY TO SUPPORTED MY SUCCESSOR IN THE ROLE AS U.S. ATTORNEY, I STAND READY TO SUPPORT THE INCOMING JUDGE GAR HANDLED AND MY FRIEND LISA MONACO.

STAND READY TO ASSIST THEM IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.

LOOK, THE LAST TIME I SAT HERE CA YOU ARE THE A HERON, A FRIEND OF MINE FROM THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT AND ACLU IN LOUISVILLE SAT THERE, AND SHE AND I HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE WORLD.

MY SLEW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT IS QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT THAN HERE IS MERPs WE LOOK POLITICALLY AND IDEOLOGICALLY.

BUTTED I LISTEN TO HER.

SHE LIVES LINKS TO ME.

WE SHARE INFORMATION AND WE TRY TO CHART A PATH FORWARD.

WE TRY TO MINIMIZE VIOLENCE.

WE DID SO LAST SUMMER.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE HAVING CONVERSATIONS LIKE YOU HOST AND THIS INSTITUTION THAT YOU'RE THE STEWARD OF AT PRESENT.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE INSTITUTIONS LIKE THIS.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE IDEAS.

AND IT'S NOT POLLYANNA.

WE MAY NOT AGREE ON ANYTHING ELSE BUT WE'RE NOT SWINGING AT EACH OTHER.

WE'RE HERE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER LIKE MEN OR WOMEN OR ONLINE.

ONLINE WE WILL SAY THINGS ONLINE, WE WILL SAY THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE ONLINE THAT WE WOULD NEVER DO STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM.

IT'S A COWARD'S WAY TO ARTICULATE A VIEWPOINT, AND THAT IS OUR WAY OF COMMUNICATING NOW.

IT STARTS AT HOME.

MY GOD TEACHES ME THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON IS HOW WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR, AND HOW DID CHRIST DEFINE THE NEIGHBOR?

THE NEIGHBOR IS SOMEONE THE GOOD SAMARITAN THAT LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT, THAT CULTURALLY WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

WHETHER THAT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT OF DAMN NABIL NINTH STREET DIVIDE IN LOUISVILLE, WHETHER IT'S AN URBAN/RURAL DIVIDE ISSUE, WHETHER IT IS A UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE/UK DIVIDE, WE HAVE THESE DEEP-SEATED DIVISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH.

I'M LOOKING BEHIND ME TO LOOK FOR THAT STATE SEAL.

IT'S NOT BACK THERE.

BUT WE HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING A DIVIDED STATE.

THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THIS STATE GOING BACK TO THE BLACK PATCH TOBACCO WARS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, AS THE CONGRESS WOULD TALK TO ME ABOUT.

WE HAVE A DEEP-SEATED HISTORIES HOW WE TREAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS POORLY, HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER, BUT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH THOSE.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PLACE WE LIVE.

THIS COMMONWEALTH IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY, EXTRAORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY PLACE TO LIVE.

HIGHLY BE A PRIVATE CITIZEN IN A FEW DAYS, BUT A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT I DO IN A LEADER IS WHAT WE DO IN OUR OWN HOMES AND BUILD OUT FROM THERE.

>> YOU KNOW, HOLLY HARRIS, I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE -- >> I LOVED THAT, BY THE WAY.

>> IT WAS VERY NICE.

I APPRECIATE MR. COMER FOR SHARING THAT.

BECAUSE YOU ARE A PART OF A BIPARTISAN COALITION THAT HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER THESE DISPARATE VOICES FOR THE CAUSE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

THE FIRST STEP ACT A LEWDED TO EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM, THE FIRST BILL THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED.

AND SO YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

SO I WANT TO ASK YOU MAYBE PERHAPS YOU'VE GOT THE SECRET SAUCE TO THIS.

BUT ALSO TO THE POINT, HIS A'S QIANA FROM ROBERT COUPLING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET HAVING A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE TO POLITICS IN THIS DAY AND AGE.

SO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL.

>> AMEN, RUSSELL.

WAS THAT RUSS SNELL.

>> ROBERT COUPLING.

>> GREAT COUNTY, THOUGH.

>> GREAT COUNTY, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AMEN.

IT'S INTERESTING.

THE CONGRESSMAN, PROFESSOR, MY FRIEND RUSSELL, EVERYONE HAS ALLUDE TO HISTORY, AND I'M GETTING BACK AGAIN TO, YOU KNOW, TODAY BEING THE DAY THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING AND HIS LEGACY, AND GROWING UP MY MOTHER, YOU KNOW, WOULD TALK ABOUT -- SHE GREW UP IN ATLANTA, AND SHE WAS A TELEPHONE OPERATOR AND SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE WHERE YOU PUT THE PLUG IN THE SWITCHBOARD, AND SHE SAID THE TWO THINGS THAT SHE REMEMBERS WHERE SHE COULD HEAR SIT KNOWLEDGE HER LITTLE CUBICLE WAS WHEN THE BEATLES CAME TO TOWN AND WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING MARCHED AND SHE COULD TELL ME ABOUT THAT FROM A FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE.

AND AS WE GET ANOTHER GENERATION AWAY FROM THE LIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, WE'RE REALLY LOSING A LOT OF HIS LEGACY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO TO SPEAK WITH SUCH A LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE VOICE AND THROUGH THAT VOICE WAS ABLE TO WIN THIS COALITION THAT ACHIEVED SO MUCH IN THE AREA OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AND SO MY GOAL WITH OUR ORGANIZATION IS TO AGAIN GET PEOPLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

I'D AGAIN LIKE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOUR VIEWERS.

I HOPE THAT EACH ONE OF YOU TONIGHT WILL THINK ABOUT THE PERSON THAT YOU MOST VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE WITH, AND INSTEAD OF MAKING A NASTY COMMENT ON THAT PERSON'S FACEBOOK PAGE OR TWEETING SOME KIND OF UGLY COMMENT ON TWITTER, WHY DON'T YOU REACH OUT TO THAT PERSON AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND SPEND 20 MINUTES JUST LISTENING TO WHAT THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS TO SAY.

DON'T TALK.

DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY NEXT.

JUST LISTEN.

AND MAYBE YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH THAT PERSON.

AND IT BUILDS FROM THERE.

WHETHER IT'S A SHARED EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR KIDS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S -- WHETHER YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH A HEALTH ISSUE, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE BUILDING ON THAT, AND THEN START THINKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

WHETHER YOU WANT TO WORK WITH CONGRESSMAN CHANDLER ON WAYS TO MAKE KENTUCKY HEALTHIER.

TONIGHT CONGRESSMAN CHANDLER WAS TELLING ME THAT KENTUCKY IS NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION ON THOSE AFFLICTED WITH CANCER.

I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT.

AND I'LL SHARE WITH YOU CONGRESSMAN, THAT KENTUCKY IS I THINK SECOND IN THE NATION WITH THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE HAD AN INCARCERATED PARENT.

THAT'S HEARTBREAKING.

IS WE HAVE REAL CHALLENGES IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THEM.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT.

IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING AN AMERICAN.

AND I'M HOPEFUL, AND I BELIEVE THAT AMERICA IS RESILIENT AND WE'LL GET BACK TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN TALK TO EACH OTHER AGAIN.

>> THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS I'VE DONE, SERIOUSLY.

PROFESSOR SMITH, I WANT TO GIVE YOU MAYBE A MINUTE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SEE HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE LEFT IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT I ANTOINETTE TO PICK UP WHERE MS. HARRIS LEFT OFF.

-- I WANT YOU TO PICK UP WHERE MS. HARRIS LEFT OFF.

>> YEAH, I WANT -- I WANT TO FOCUS ONCE AGAIN BACK ON THE REALITY OF US ALL KNOWING HOW OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED AND THE CREATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND SINCE THIS IS THE DAY THAT WE CELEBRATE DR. KING'S LEGACY, PLEASE KNOW THAT BY 1966, 63% OF AMERICANS HAD AN UNFAVORABLE VIEW OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SAID THAT AMERICA IS A RACIST COUNTRY, AND HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WROTE THE CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THAT THESE WERE MEN WHO OWNED SLAVES, AND BECAUSE THEY OWNED SLAVES, BECAUSE THE NATION GOT STARTED THIS WAY, AMERICA HAS A LOT OF REPENTING TO DO, AND THAT IS MARTIN LUTHER CASING WORDS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY, THAT AMERICA STILL HAS A LOT OF PRESENTING TO DO.

>> MR. CHANDLER.

>> WELL, ONE THING THAT HAS BOTHERED ME FOR A LONG TIME IS THAT WE SPEND AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE DO IT, BUT WE FOCUS A WHOLE LOT MORE ON THAT THAN WE DO ON THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS THING TOGETHER.

AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES BEING HEALTHIER, OUR COMMUNITIES BEING STRONGER, AND THAT MEANS A WHOLE LOT MORE TO ME IN AN A SIGN THAT SAYS "DON'T TREAD ON ME."

>> I THINK WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY ENLIGHTENING CONVERSATION, CIVIL AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DO HERE.

THANK YOU, MR. COLEMAN, FOR THAT PLUG EARLIER AND I'M GLAD YOU ALL WERE A PART OF IT.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME THAT YOU WERE HERE ON THIS HOLIDAY TO SHARE THESE HEARTFELT THOUGHTS, AND I HOPE IT HOPEFULLY HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU AT HOME.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT MONDAY FOR A KET FORUM ON BUILDINGS KENTUCKY'S WORKFORCE AS WE LOOK ALT WAYS THE STATE IS TRYING STRENGTHEN THE WORKFORCE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, JOIN BILL BRYANT 8:00 EVENING 7:00 7:00 CENTRAL FOR A P.