>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" JOE BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATINGS HAVE BEEN DROPPING FOR MONTHS, WITH LOW MARKS ON EVERYTHING FROM HIS HANDLING OF UKRAINE TO THE RISING COST OF JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

SO, IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO TURN THINGS AROUND?

OR WILL IT BE A REPUBLICAN BLOWOUT IN THE MIDTERMS?

PLUS, A LOOK AT THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS PROVIDING UNPAID CAREGIVING FOR AGING OR AILING LOVED ONES, AND THE TYPES OF SUPPORT THEY NEED, NOW MORE THAN EVER.

>> Braude: WITH SEVEN MONTHS TO GO UNTIL MIDTERM ELECTIONS, JOE BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATINGS, OR LACK THEREOF, ARE STARTING TO RAISE SOME WARNING BELLS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

DEPENDING ON THE SURVEY, ANYWHERE FROM 38% TO 42% OF US APPROVE OF THE JOB BIDEN'S DOING THESE DAYS, AT OR NEAR A RECORD-LOW FOR HIS PRESIDENCY.

THE REASON?

DOES JAMES CARVILLE'S 30-YEAR-OLD ANSWER STILL RING TRUE?

IS IT "THE ECONOMY, STUPID?"

BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE FASTEST JOB GROWTH IN ALMOST FOUR DECADES, INFLATION, AND THE RISING COSTS OF FUEL, FOOD, HOUSING-- AS I SAID, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING-- ARE UNDERSTANDABLY GETTING ALL THE ATTENTION.

AND WHILE SOME DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THERE'S STILL TIME TO TURN THINGS AROUND, OTHERS ARE PREDICTING A "BIBLICAL DISASTER."

I'M JOINED NOW BY JENNIFER RUBIN, OPINION COLUMNIST FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST," AND JIM PUZZANGHERA, A REPORTER IN THE "BOSTON GLOBE'S" WASHINGTON BUREAU.

JI AND JENNIFER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> PLEASURE, STARTING WITH YOU, THE MID TERMS WERE TODAY, AND I KNOW THEY ARE NOT, A BLOWOUT FOR THE GOP IN CONGRESS, IS THAT FAIR?

>> ST CERTAINLY THAT THEY WOULD LOSE SUB STACKS VOTES.

I THINK THERE IS A REAL QUESTION BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SO FEW COMPETITIVE SEATS, HOW MANY COULD CONCEIVABLY BE AT RISK.

BUT OBVIOUSLY IF THE DIFFERENTIAL GETS TO BE SO BIG, YES, IT COULD BE DOZENS OF SEATS.

>> Braude: COULD YOU EXPLAIN, YOU MENTIONED THE ENTHUSIASM GAP WHICH IS GAIPING, IF THAT IS NOT REPETITIVE, 20 POINTS N FAVOR OF THE REPUBLICANS, EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS TO PEOPLE, PLEASE.

>> ESSENTIALLY SAN INDICATOR OF WHO IS GOING TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP.

REPUBLICANS GENERALLY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN MID TERM ELECTIONS.

THEY HAVE VERY RELIABLE VOTERS WHO TEND TO BE OLDER, WHITE AND THEY SHOW UP COME HECK OR HIGH WATER.

DEMOCRATS TRADITIONALLY HAVE A PROBLEM TURNING OUT THEIR VOTERS.

AND IF THEY ARE NOT ENTHUSIASTIC TO BEGIN WITH, THAT PROBLEM BECOMES EVEN MORE ACUTE.

>> Braude: JIM OTHER THAN THE USUAL ANTI-INCUMBENTS ECONOMY AND INFLATION AS I JUST MENTIONED, WHAT ELSE IS DRIVING THIS IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> WELL, I THINK AS YOU SAID, IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID AND TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, IT'S INFLATION.

I MEAN INFLATION HITS EVERYBODY.

INFLATION IS AT A FOUR-DECADE HIGH T IS CONTINUING TO GO UP.

YOU HAVE THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS EXACERBATING THE SITUATION AND THAT IS HITTING EVERYBODY.

THEY SEE IT, THEY SEE IT WHEN THEY GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

THEY SEE IT WHEN THEY FILL UP THEIR CAR AT THE GAS STATION, EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO FILL UP THEIR CAR, THEY SEE THE NUMBERS GOING UP ON THE GAS STATION SIGNS WHEN THEY DRIVE BY.

AND THAT IS A HUGE LIABILITY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

YOU SEE IT IN THE POLLING AND WHERE PEOPLE PUT INFLATION IN THE ECONOMY WELL ABOVE UKRAINE OR ANY OTHER ISSUES AS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO THEM.

>> Braude: JIM, BOTH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND DEMOCRATS IN GENERAL ARE SAYING IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MESSAGING.

AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT IS PUTIN'S PRICE HIKE.

BLAME PUTIN FOR THE GAS HIKE.

ONE IS THAT FAIR AND TWO DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

>> WELL, YES, I THINK IT IS FAIR.

THE GAS PRICES WERE STARTING TO GO DOWN, INFLATION OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE LAST SPRING.

BUT THINGS WERE STARTING TO SLOW DOWN.

GAS PRICES WERE ACTUALLY TRENDING DOWN UNTIL THE RUSSIAN TROOPS STARTED AMASSING ON THE UKRAINE BORDER.

AND THAT SENT PRICES UP AND THEY CONTINUED TO GO UP.

SO YOU CAN BLAME THAT AND GAS PRICES HAVE A EFFECT ON ALL OTHER KINDS OF PRODUCTS.

GROCERIES, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN BY TRUCK.

SO THERE IS TRUTH TO IT.

BUT ULTIMATELY IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BLAME THE PARTY IN POWER FOR THIS.

AND INFLATION WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

SO THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE IN WASHINGTON.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE BLAME.

>> YOU KNOW, JENNIFER, ONE OTHER ISSUE JIM MENTIONED IN PASSING, THE WAR.

AND THE NUMBERS FOR BIDEN ON THIS, WHAT I SAW THIS WEEKEND, 45% APPROVAL.

I WOULD HAVE TO SAY AND I HOPE THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE POSITION, IF THE PRESIDENT HAS HANDLED ANYTHING MASTERFULLY, I WOULD SAY ST THE COALESCING OF OUR ALLIES IN AN ATTEMPT TO BOTH SUPPORT UKRAINE WITHOUT GOING INDIRECTLY AND OPPOSE RUSSIA.

DOES HE GET NO CREDIT FOR THAT?

BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT KIND OF ISSUE WHEN THE PRICES AT HOME ARE RIPPING THROUGH THEIR WALLETS?

>> I THINK THE INFLATION PROBLEM CASTS AN UNROSY GLASSES OVER THE ENTIRE POLITICAL SCENE THAT THEY'RE DISSATISFIED AND THEREFORE HE DOES IS INSUFFICIENT OR BAD OR A DISTRACTION OF WHAT THEY THINK HE SHOULD BE DOING.

HE REALLY IS IN A SOMEWHAT OF A NO-WIN SITUATION.

AND OF COURSE THE PROBLEM IS MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT BIDEN REALLY DOESN'T CONTROL INFLATION AT THIS POINT.

THAT IS LARGELY A FUNCTION OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE.

BUT THE PRESIDENT CANNOT OF HIS POLITICAL MATTER TELL VOTERS IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM.

OR I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

AND THEREFORE HE IS STRUGGLING TO APPEAR ENGAGED, TO APPEAR TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH STUNTS, IF YOU WILL, LIKE RELEASING THE BARRELS OF OIL FROM THE PETROLEUM RESERVE.

AND SO HE IS TRY-- FROM SO HE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT HE REALLY CAN'T AND HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON JEROME POWELL AT THE FED TO BRING DOWN PRICES WITHOUT THROWING US IN A RES SESSION WITHIN THE OIL RELEASE IS NOT A STUNT BUT IT HAS MODEST IMPACT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT IS UPSETTING CLIMATE ACTIVISTS WHO SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FOSSIL FUEL IN TE REARVIEW MIRROR, AT THE SAME TIME JOE BIDEN IS URGING PEOPLE TO USE THEIR PERMITS TO DO FRACKING AND DRILLING ON FEDERAL LANDS.

CAN I RUN BY BOTH OF YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS, THAT IN MY ESTIMATION MIGHT CHANGE THE DYNAMIC.

I DON'T KNOW.

STARTING WITH YOU, JENNIFER.

THE GUTTING OF ROE V. WADE IN JUNE LET'S SAY BY THE SUPREME COURT, DOES THAT DRIVE PEOPLE TO THE DEMOCRATS?

>> YEAH, I THINK WE ARE HEADED FOR A CULTURE CLASH OF ALL CULTURE CLASHES DEPENDING ON HOW FAR THE SUPREME COURT GOES.

IT'S NOT JUST ABORTION THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH THAT IS CERTAINLY A HIGH PROFILE ISSUE.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT GUNS, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AND ACROSS-THE-BOARD THERE MAY BE A VERY CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT THAT FROM THE POINTS OF VIEW OF MANY AMERICANS SET THINGS BACK A NUMBER OF DECADESK LEGALLY AND PRACTICALLY IN THEIR LIVES, AND THAT COULD REALLY CHANGE-- .

>> IT DEPENDSES UPON HOW EXTREME THE RESULTS ARE AND IT DEPENDS UPON HOW DEMOCRATS ARE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT TO VOTERS.

AND WHAT THEY SAY THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT TO PREVENTS THEIR LIVES FROM CHANGING.

>> JIM, HOW ABOUT JANUARY 6th.

THE HEARINGS ARE SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO START IN MAY.

LET'S ASSUME THEY ARE AS DAMNING AS AT LEAST THEY APPEAR TO BE LIKELY TO BE.

TO ME WILL THEY MATTER TO VOTERS OR IS THIS ANOTHER I CAN SHOOT SOMEBODY ON FIFTH AVENUE AND NO ONE WILL GIVE A DAMN.

>> YEAH, WELL, AS YOU INDICATED, THE HEARINGS ARE MORE ABOUT TRUMP.

AND I THINK WE HAVE SEEN FROM MID-TERM ELECTION, MID-TERMS TEND TO BE MORE ABOUT ISSUES.

THE DEMOCRATS TOOK THE MAJORITY IN 2018 BECAUSE THEY FOCUSED ON ISSUES BUT I THINK THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS WILL REVERBERATE IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE PARTICULARLY IF TRUMP IS RUNNINGS.

BUT FOR THE MID-TERMS I THINK IT WILL BE MORE ABOUT THE ECONOMY, INFLATION, THAT'S THE MESSAGE THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO HITCH.

>> JIM, I KNOW IT IS THE HISTORICAL RULE BUT IF YOU HAVE A FORMER PRESIDENT WHO IS IN TOTAL CONTROL OF THAT PARTY, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY, OR VIRTUALLY TOTAL CONTROL, IS BORDERLINE FELONIOUS IN THE MINDS OF THE NOT JUST DEMOCRATS BUT AT LEAST ONE JUDGE AND OTHERS, THAT DOESN'T TRICKLE DOWN IN TO MID-TERM VOTES?

>> I THINK IT COULD IN THE SENATE, THAT'S PART OF THE CONCERN MITCH McCONNELL HAS RAISED, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VERY TRUMPY SENATE CANDIDATES IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES AND SO IF YOU HAD IN THE STATE LIKE PENNSYLVANIA OR MISSOURI, NORTH CAROLINA WHERE YOU HAD INTUN WHO IS VERY, VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED TO TRUMP, I THINK THAT COULD SPILL OVER BUT IN THE HOUSE RACES I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO BE MUCH OF A FACTOR UNLESS IT'S SOMEONE WHO WAS PARTICULARLY INVOLVED IN THE JANUARY 6th-- JANUARY 6th ACTIVITIES.

AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN COMPETITIVE SEATS.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY JENNIFER ON THE TRUMP FRONT, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY, BASED ON YOUR COLUME, YOU DON'T THINK THAT TRUMP WILL DRIVE PEOPLE TO DEMOCRATS, BUT MAY SUR PREES-- SUPPRESS REPUBLICAN VOTES BECAUSE OF THE ROTTEN CANDIDATE HE HAS ENDORSED IN SOME CASES, IS THAT A FAIR SUMMARY OF YOUR POSITION?

>> WELL, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THE TRUMP FACTOR IS MUCH IN PLAY IN THE MID-TERMS.

>> OKAY.

>> I THINK TO THE EXTENT THAT HE HAS PLAYED A HAND IN PICKING SOME REAL DOOZIES AS CANDIDATES IN SOME OF THESE SWING STATE, HE MAY HOBBLE HIS PARTY AND IT WOULD BE IRONIC IF HE WEIGHS IN TO PUSH CERTAIN CANDIDATES AND THOSE TURN OUT TO BE THE CANDIDATES THAT DEPRIVE MITCH McCONNELL ONCE MORE OF THIS SENATE MAJORITY.

>> YOU KNOW, THE COUPLE OF FACTORS THAT I MENTIONED TO YOU THAT I THOUGHT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THIS TREND AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATS, THE ABORTION DECISION, THE JANUARY 6th HEARING, THEY ARE NOT CONTROLLED BY BIDEN OR THE DEMOCRATS.

ONE THING IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MATTERS A LOT THAT JOE BIDEN DOES CONTROL, EVEN IF HE SAYS LEGALLY HE MAY NOT ARE STUDENT LOANS.

CANDIDATE BIDEN PROMISED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT STUDENT LOANS.

ALL IT BE AT A LOWER LEVEL, TEN GRAND AND THE PEOPLE LIKE LIZ BETS WARREN AND EYE YEAHAN PRESSLEY FROM MASSACHUSETTS WANT, AT GRANT.

THEY SAY HE HAS UNILATERAL POWER TO CHANGE IT.

HE SAYS IS HE NOT SURE HE DOES.

THIS PAUSE, JIM, ENDS AT THE END OF AUGUST.

IT SEEMS TO ME HE IS SIGNING HIS OWN POLITICAL DEATH WARRANT IF HE DOES NOTHINGS IN TERMS OF LOAN ANOTHER GIVENESS ON THIS FRONTS.

AM I OVERSTATING THINGS?

>> NO, I THINK THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HIM WITH YOUNGER VOTERS ON THAT ISSUE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SEEN HIM EXTENDING THE PAUSE WITHOUT PULLING THE TRIGGER, AS YOU SAID, HE BELIEVES THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO ACT.

AND HE'S TRYING TO STRING THIS OUT.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE EXTENDS THAT PAUSE AGAIN SO THAT IT IS NOT ENDING RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

BUT HE SEEMS VERY HESITANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE ACTION, THE EXECUTIVE ACTION THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE CONGRESS, CHUCK SCHUMER IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO IS VERY STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, ALONG WITH ELIZABETH WARREN AND OTHERS.

BIDEN JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO GO THERE.

BUT I THINK HE ALSO DOES NOT WANT THIS TO, THE LONES TO, THE REPAYMENTSES HAVE TO START HEADING RIGHT INTO ELECTION SEASON.

>> WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, GENERAL IFER.

BUT MY ASSESSMENT OF ANOTHER PAUSE THROUGH THE ELECTIONS IS IT IS WORTH NOTHING IT WILL JUST REMIND YOUNG VOTERS THAT THE PROMISED FORGIVENESS NEVER HAPPENS.

>> I THINK IT'S NOT A WINNING ISSUE, WHICHEVER WAY THEY GO.

LISTEN, MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT COLLEGE EDUCATED VOTERS AT ALL SO THEY MAY RESENTMENT DOING ANYTHING TO THESE PEOPLE.

AT A TIME WHERE INFLATION IS A PROBLEM.

SO I THINK ALL HE CAN DO IT S MITIGATE THE DAMAGE FROM THIS ISSUE AT THIS POINT.

>> JIM PUZZEN GERA AND JENNIFER RUBIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKSES.

>> NICE TO BE HERE COVID HAS MADE A LOT OF THINGS HARDER OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST?

CARING FOR LOVED ONES WHO NEED IT MOST.

EVEN IN PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES, MANY UNPAID CAREGIVERS WORKED THE EQUIVALENT OF A FULL-TIME JOB PROVIDING HELP TO AILING OR AGING FAMILY MEMBERS.

NOW, AS THE "BOSTON GLOBE" RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED, "THE ROUGHLY 20% OF WORKING ADULTS WHO COMPRISE THIS 'INVISIBLE BACKBONE' OF SOCIETY IS INCREASINGLY BEING PUSHED TO THE EDGE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE, AND HEALTHY."

IT'S A REALITY MY GUESTS KNOW ALL TOO WELL.

PERI BELTREÉ CARES FOR HER MOTHER IN THEIR SHARED HOME IN LYNN.

AND ALEXANDRA DRANE, WHO'S DONE SOME CAREGIVING OF HER OWN, IS THE CO-FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF ARCHANGELS, AN ADVOCACY GROUP WITH ROOTS HERE IN BOSTON.

ALEX AND PERI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> ALEX, A-- AARP SAYS, THE NUMBER I HAD TO DO A DOUBLE TAKE, 53 MILLION UNPAID CAREGIVERS IN THE COUNTRY, A MILLION IN MASSACHUSETTS ALONE.

TOO WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, CAN YOU PAINT A PICTURE OF THE TYPICAL PERSON IN THIS SITUATION.

>> YEAHMENT ABSOLUTELY.

THEY ARE EVERYONE YOU WOULD EXPECT AND EVERYONE YOU WOULD NOT EXPECT AS WELL.

IN FACT, THE LATEST STUDY THAT WE WERE PART OF WITH COVID, THE NUMBER IS HIGHER T IS 43 PERCENT OF ADULTS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE IN THIS ROLE.

ONE IN FOUR MILLENIAL YELL, ONE IN FIVE ARE GEN Z, SO NOT THE PICTURE OF THE 46 YEAR OLD WOMAN CARING FOR HER MOM, ALTHOUGH SHE IS, THERE SAY FAR GREATER POPULATION, AND THE JOB IS INTENSE.

ST ANOTHER JOB AND WE ARE HOPING PEOPLE CAN GET SUPPORT IN THAT JOB.

>> Braude: EVEN THOUGH IT GOES ACROSS-THE-BOARD, ALEX, MY UNDERSTANDING IS PARTICULARLY FALLS ON THE SHOULDER OF WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, THOSE OVER 50.

IS THAT A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION.

>> YOU FLOW, I KNOW THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY TRUE BEFORE COVID.

I THINK AS OF COVID WE ARE SEEING IN ADDITION TO THOSE POPULATIONS, IT IS ALSO FALLING ON YOUNGER-- YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS.

SO FOLKS FIRST GENERATION, SECOND GENERATION, MULTIGENERATION HOUSEHOLD, SANDWICH GENERATION HOUSEHOLDS WHERE THIS INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF CARE IS BEING SPLIT OUT ACROSS THE FAMILY IN ORDER TO DO THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS TO GET DONE.

>> Braude: PERI, IT SOUNDS LIKE ALEX IT IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU AND YOUR SISTER HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> YES.

SO I STARTED SMILING BECAUSE IT HAS EVEN AFFECT MY NEPHEWS WHO ARE 14 AND 15.

WHEN WE NEED A BUFFER SO THAT WE CAN GO DO SOMETHING, THEY HELP OUT AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE A ROTATION WHERE MY SISTER AND I, I DO ABOUT 30 TO 45 HOURS A WEEK.

SHE DOES ABOUT 30 TO 40 HOURS A WEEK.

AND OUR BROTHERS ASSIST WHEN THEY CAN.

AND EVEN AS I SAID MY NEPHEWS WHENEVER THEY ARE AROUND, THEY MAY COVER AND HELP MY MOM OUT FOR A FEW HOURS SO THAT WE CAN DO THINGS IT IS AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING, ALWAYS EXHAUSTING LABOR OF LOVE.

>> Braude: SO 30 TO 45 HOURS TAKING CARE OF YOUR MOTHER, JUST YOUR SHARE.

YOU HAVE A JOB IN ADDITION TO THIS, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

I ACTUALLY JUST WALKED OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE AND I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 9:00.

AND I DIDN'T GET TO MAKE IT TO MY OFFICE FOR THIS-- SO GOES TO SHOW YOU, I AM RUNNING FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER.

I WORK 40 TO 55, 60 HOURS DEPENDING ON A CASE OR MY NEEDS AND BECAUSE OF THE OVERNIGHT SHIFTS THAT WE DO AND MY WEEKEND HOURS WITH MY MOTHER STRKS ANOTHER 35 TO 45 HOURS.

>> Braude: IS THE NURSING HOME SOMETHING YOU EVEN, YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS CONSIDER OR NO?

>> WELL, THAT IS NOT EVEN AN OPTION.

IT IS CULTURAL, IT'S DUTY STRKS MORAL.

THAT IS NOT EVEN AN OPTION.

>> Braude: ALEX, YOU CAN SEE IT IN PERI'S FACE.

I HOPE SHE DOESN'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, THE STRESS, THE FATIGUE.

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A FINANCIAL BURDEN.

LET ME READ ONE PARAGRAPH FROM THE GLOBE STORY, THIS IS DATA THANKS TO THE FAMILY CAREGIVER ALLIANCE.

THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 50 LEAVE ITS LABOR FORCE ARE ESTIMATED TO BE LOSING OUT ON MORE THAN $300 GRAND IN WAGES, BENEFITS, RETIREMENT FUNDS OVER THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIFETIMES.

PEOPLE OF COLOR, COMMUNITIES WERE HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC ALSO BECOME CAREGIVERS.

A DECADE EARLIER ON AVERAGE THAN WHITE CAREGIVERS.

IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL BURDEN WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY IMMENSE, FEWER HOURS RAILROAD NO HOURS, AT THE WORKPLACE, WHAT ARE THE OTHER KINDS OF BURDENS THAT THESE UNPAID CAREGIVERS EXPERIENCE.

>> WELL, IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY TOLL ON YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT.

WE HAVE, THERE IS A METHOD WE USE AT ARCHANGELS CALLED THE CAREGIVER INTENSITY INDEX.

A QUIZ THAT PUTS YOU IN GREEN, YELLOW OR RED.

IF YOU ARE IN THE RED YOU ARE HAVING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTENSITY, BEFORE COVID ABOUT 8% OF US WERE IN THE RED.

AS OF COVID IT WAS 24 PERCENT.

IN THE LAST MONTH THAT NUMBER HAS JUMPED TO 29 PERCENT.

AND WHAT ST INTERESTING IS IF YOU ARE IN THE RED, 91 PERCENT ARE STRUGGLING WITH EITHER ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND OR SUICIDAL IDEATION.

SO WHAT YOU NEED IS A RED PHONE, RIGHT, WHERE HOPING THAT EMPLOYERS CAN STEP UP AND ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME OF THE SUPPORT SO BEAUTIFUL SOULS LIKE YOURSELF CAN BE GETTING MORE HOME CARE, MORE NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE, MORE ABILITY TO GET ACCESS TO A SOCIAL WORKER OR SOMEBODY TO HELP WITH YOUR OWN MENTAL CONDITION.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY WHEN ALEX WAS TALKING ABOUT BEAUTIFUL SOULS LIKE YOURSELF, BELIEVE ME, SHE WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT ME, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT PERI.

I WANT TO BE TOTALLY CLEAR.

ALEX, STAYING WITH YOU FOR A SECOND.

I AM SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE EMPLOYER THING.

HOPEFULLY A MOTIVATION FOR EMPLOYER TO HELP WOULD BE MORALITY, DECENCY, HUMANITY, EVEN IF THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ANY OF THOSE THINGS, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE LABOR SHORTAGE.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THE LABOR SHORTAGE IS WHAT PEOPLE LIKE PERRI AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS ARE DOING.

SO ISN'T IT IN THEIR ECONOMIC SELF-INTEREST TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR WORKERS WHO ARE IN THIS KIND OF A MESS?

>> YES T IS.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS BECAUSE ACTUALLY, WE ARE A STATE WHERE A GROUP OF EMPLOYERS HAVE FORMED, CALLED THE MASS CAREGIVER COALITION WHERE THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY STATING THIS IS AN INVISIBLE BACKBONE, A WORKFORCE THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE PREBT AT WORK.

IN ORDER TO KEEP THE ECONOMY RUNNING IN A COMMONWEALTH.

SO I DO BELIEVE THERE'S FINALLY ATTENTION BY EMPLOYERS TOWARD THIS ISSUE.

>> PERRI, I ASSUME MOST VIEWERS KNOW THAT JOE BIDEN ORIGINALLY PROPOSED 12 WEEKS OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.

THEN FOUR AND THEN IT DISAPPEARED, IT I THE STATE'S YEAR AGO DID DO UP TO 12 WEEKS IN PAID FAMILY LEAVE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO TAKE CARE OF A RELATIVE WHO IS ILL, ARE YOU ABLE TO ACCESS ANY SUPPORT, FRCHTION BENEFITS, THAT SORT OF THING TO HELP YOU IN THIS MESS.

>> ME PERSONALLY, NO.

BECAUSE I'M ALSO MY OWN EMPLOYER.

HAVE I MY OWN LAW FIRM, HAVE I EMPLOYEES.

AND SO IF I AM NOT THERE TO BRING IN THE REVENUE, THEN I CAN'T-- IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

I MEAN I'M ELIGIBLE IN THE SENSE THAT I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF MY FIRM BUT AS FARES ALIKE THE MASSACHUSETTS PAID LEAVE BUT NO, IT'S NOT SOMETHING-- .

>> Braude: HOW ABOUT YOUR SISTER OR EITHER OF YOUR BROTHERS.

>> SO MY SISTER AS THE ARTICLE STATES IS A PROFESSOR AT BENTLEY.

THIS IS I THINK HER SECOND FULL SEMESTER YEAR.

AND SO IT'S NOT TENABLE, NOT FEASIBLE.

SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS IN THE ARTICLE.

WE ARE FOREGOING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, UPWARD MOBILITY, LATERAL MOVE BECAUSE OF OUR OBLIGATIONS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PARENTS.

AND MYSELF AND MY SIBLINGS WAS DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT SO IT MEANS I'M MAKING 20, 30, 40, 50 GRAND LESS A YEAR, I WOULDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT IT, BUT IT DOESN'T COME WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> Braude: ALEX, ARE YOU QUOTED ON YOUR WEBSITE, THE ARCHANGEL WEBSITE OF SAYING UNDERUTILIZED RESOURCES EXIST TO SUPPORT THEM.

MEANING THAT, OBVIOUSLY UNDERYEUT LYZED MEANS WHAT IT MEANS.

WHAT ARE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

I DON'T MEAN SPECIFIC NAMES BUT TYPES OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO THE PERIS OF THE WORLD AND THE OTHER MILLION PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING LIKE WHAT SHE IS DOING IN OUR STATE.

>> YEAH, WELL I WILL ANSWER THAT TWO WAYS.

ONE, I HOPE ANY EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LISTENING RECOGNIZING THE SKILL SET OF A PERI, YOU SHOULD BE RECRUITING UNPAID CAREGIVERS AS FAST AS THEY CAN BECAUSE THEY ARE RESOURCEFUL, THEY ARE MULTITASKERS, INNOVATORS, RIGHT.

THIS SAY WORKFORCE THAT IS HIGHLY TALENTED EVEN THOUGH IT IS INVISIBLE.

IF YOU GO TO MASS OPTIONS OR THE MASS FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, HELP WITH NAVIGATION, HELP WITH GETTING ACCESS TO HOME CARE, RIGHT, THESE ARE THE SORTS OF RESOURCES THAT EXIST.

MOST EMPLOYERS HAVE OR MANY HAVE AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE CHALLENGE IS UNPAID CAREGIVERS DON'T KNOW THEY EXIST BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, PERI, I'M GUESSING BEFORE THIS, YOU DIDN'T THINK OF YOURSELF AS AN UNPAID CAREGIVER, WERE YOU JUST A DAUGHTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND SO WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN EMPLOYERS ARE OFFERING SUPPORT THEY SAY HEY, CAREGIVERS WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF CAREGIVERS WHO NEED THE MOST LIKE WHAT, WHAT IS THAT, THAT IS NOT ME.

SO EMPLOYERS NEED TO CHANGE THEIR LANGUAGE, USE LANGUAGE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND THEN CROSS WALK PEOPLE OVER TO THESE RESOURCES.

>> Braude: PERI, ONLY A MINUTE LEFT.

DO YOU HOPE THAT THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL FOR YOU AND YOUR SIB SIBLINGS OR IS YOUR ATTITUDE THIS SAN OBLIGATION OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOMEBODY I LOVE AND I WILL JUST GRIN AND BEAR IT.

>> NO, I THINK IT IS TWO FOLD.

SO MY MOTHER IS A PATIENT AT DANA-FARBER AND BRINGHAM, AT THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE.

AND THEY SUPPORT US AS THEY CAN.

WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A-- MY MOM IS NOT ELDERLY AND SHE'S NOT-- SHE DOESN'T MEAN CERTAIN AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN ASSISTANCE.

SO WE DO HOPE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME CHANGE AS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FRAIL AND OR SEVERELY DISABLED.

BUT IT IS A TWO-WAY STREET THE I WOULD LIKE MORE HELP BUT WOULD NEVER CHANGE MY SIRKS AND IN AS MUCH AS HELPING HER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SLEEP A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT WE'RE HERE FOR HER.

>> Braude: PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT YOU ARE HERE FOR HER, YOU AND YOUR SIN LINGS.

PERI AND ALEX, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AND GOOD LUCK WITH WHAT YOU ARE BOTH DOING.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW, THE FIRST BLACK DOCTOR THAT HAD THE HEAD THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL SITUATION DR. KIRSTEN BIBBENS-DOMINGO JOINS ME PLUS FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL JULIETTE KAYYEM ON HER TERRIFIC NEW BOOK, THE DEVIL NEVER SLEEP, LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE AGE OF DISASTER, THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, PLEASE STAY SAFE.

6 >> HEY, FOLKS!

EDGAR B. HERWICK III HERE FROM GBH'S "CURIOSITY DESK," WHERE YOU ASK QUESTIONS, AND I FIND ANSWERS.

TODAY, WE'RE AT THE FAMED MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, WHERE THANKS TO A QUESTION FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE'S LORRAINE VON SNEIDERN, WE ARE LITERALLY CHASING RAINBOWS.

>> MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE THE RAINBOWS THAT I SEE OUTSIDE AFTER A RAINSTORM ALWAYS A PERFECT ARC?

>> RAINBOWS ARE, OF COURSE, ONE OF NATURE'S MOST CHARMING TRICKS OF LIGHT.

AND LIGHT IS EXACTLY WHAT SCIENTIST MATHIAS KOLLE SPENDS HIS DAYS PONDERING.

IN ORDER FOR A RAINBOW TO APPEAR IN THE SKY, YOU NEED THREE INGREDIENTS, SO TO SPEAK.

SUNLIGHT, RAIN DROPS, AND YOU.

AND, AS KOLLE EXPLAINS, ALL THREE HAVE TO BE IN A VERY PARTICULAR SPOT FOR THE MAGIC TO HAPPEN.

>> SO, THE SUN HAS TO BE BEHIND YOU.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST THING, THERE'S SUN BEHIND YOU.

THEN THERE HAS TO BE WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND THAT'S USUALLY WHEN IT RAINS, YOU GET THE CONDITION.

AND THEN, WHAT DO YOU ALSO WANT TO DO IS, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE RIGHT SPOT.

>> THESE POSITIONS ARE CRITICAL BECAUSE OF THE TWO PHENOMENA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APPEARANCE OF A RAINBOW-- COUPLE OF OLD FRIENDS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL-- REFRACTION AND REFLECTION.

REFRACTION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A RAINBOW'S COLORS.

WHEN SUNLIGHT ENTERS A RAINDROP, IT BENDS.

WHITE LIGHT, LIKE SUNLIGHT, IS COMPRISED OF A SPECTRUM OF COLORED LIGHT.

NOW, EACH COLOR IS AT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAVELENGTH AND BENDS AT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE WHEN IT ENTERS THE DROPLET.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU GET THIS SPLITTING OF COLORS.

THE REDS AND THE ORANGES AND THE GREENS AND THE BLUES GO IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

>> AFTER THE LIGHT ENTERS THE RAINDROP AND IS SPLIT INTO ITS COMPONENT COLORS, A SMALL PORTION OF IT REFLECTS OFF THE BACK AND HEADS IN A NEW DIRECTION.

WITH EACH COLOR NOW ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PATH, IT REFRACTS ONE MORE TIME AS IT'S LEAVING THE DROPLET AND HEADS BACK DOWN TOWARD THE EARTH AT A VERY PRECISE ANGLE-- 40 DEGREES FOR THE RED, ABOUT 42 DEGREES FOR THE VIOLET, WITH THE OTHER COLORS IN-BETWEEN.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE RAINDROP!

ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING AT AN INCREDIBLE SCALE, WITH LITERALLY BILLIONS OF RAYS OF LIGHT HITTING BILLIONS OF RAINDROPS.

>> IT HAPPENS IN EVERY RAINBOW, AS LONG AS IT SEES THE RAY OF SUN, IT WILL DO THAT REFRACTION, REFLECTION, REFRACTION THING.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT STANDING IN THE RIGHT POSITION, YOU WILL NOT SEE THIS BY MOST OF THE RAINDROPS.

>> BUT IF YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT POSITION, THAT MAGIC ANGLE BETWEEN 40 AND 42 DEGREES, THERE WILL BE RAINDROPS GALORE, THROWING INNUMERABLE BEAMS OF DISTINCT RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, INDIGO, AND VIOLET LIGHT RIGHT AT YOU.

AND THE RAINDROPS THAT ARE AT THAT PERFECT ANGLE-- RELATIVE TO THE SUN, AND YOU-- FORM A DISTINCT SHAPE.

>> ALL THE DROPLETS THAT ARE ON THIS ARC ARE GOING TO SEND THE LIGHT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR ME TO CATCH IT.

>> SO WE HAVE THINK ABOUT IT THREE-DIMENSIONALLY, RIGHT.

SO IT'S LIKE THIS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND MY ELBOW'S KIND OF MY EYES.

>> ELBOWS WOULD BE YOUR EYES IN THE SCENARIO.

EXACTLY.

>> YOU CAN THINK OF IT LIKE A CONE, WITH YOU AT THE POINT, AND THE RAINBOW APPEARING ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BASE.

NOW, AS FOR WHY THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE DOESN'T LIGHT UP LIKE A RAINBOW?

WELL, THE GROUND GETS IN THE WAY.

IF YOU COULD GET UP HIGH ENOUGH, SO THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RAIN BELOW YOUR FEET?

WELL, KOLLE SAYS, "IMAGINE YOU'RE JACK ON A BEANSTALK."

>> AND AS HE CLIMBS UP, THIS ARC WOULD ACTUALLY SHIFT WITH HIM, BUT EXTEND FURTHER AND FURTHER BELOW AND START TO ACTUALLY, ONCE IT'S IN HALF ARC, START TO ARC BACK ON ITSELF.

AND AS HE CLIMBS HIGHER AND HIGHER, THIS ARC MIGHT CLOSE.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU DON'T HAVE AN ARC, BUT YOU HAVE A CIRCLE.

>> A RAIN CIRCLE?

>> A RAIN CIRCLE.

NOT A RAINBOW ANYMORE.

A RAIN CIRCLE.

>> AND IF YOU THINK RAIN CIRCLES ARE COOL, CONSIDER THIS-- ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL RAINDROPS THAT ARE MAKING THE RAINBOW THAT YOU SEE, ARE UNIQUE TO YOUR POSITION, AND THEY'RE CHANGING CONSTANTLY, MOMENT TO MOMENT.

SO, FORGET ABOUT LEPRECHAUNS AND POTS OF GOLD.

THE REAL MAGIC IS IN THE SCIENCE, AND THE FACT THAT ANYTIME YOU SEE ONE, YOU ARE LITERALLY STANDING IN THE CENTER OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL RAINBOW.

DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT!

BECAUSE, NO MATTER HOW COLORFUL THE QUESTION, I MIGHT LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

I'M EDGAR B. HERWICK III.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

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