>> TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," CRYSTAL HAYNES IS HOSTING.

WE BEGIN WITH A DISCUSSION ON THE COMMUTE FROM WORCESTER TO BOSTON VIA CAR AND VIA COMMUTER RAIL.

WE WATCH A PACKAGE ON GBH'S BOB SEAY AND SAM TURKEN BOTH TAKING THAT COMMUTE AND THEN THEY JOIN TO DISCUSS.

THEN, GBH'S ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER, HALEY LERNER, JOINS ON RECORDING ARTISTS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST TICKET PRICE SURGES.

FINALLY, GBH'S EDGAR B. HERWICK III EXPLAINS WHY POLITICAL ADS ALWAYS SHARE THE SAME MESSAGE OF APPROVAL.

WHAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO COMMUTE FROM WORCESTER TO BOSTON?

CAR OR TRAIN?

I'M HERE AT WORCESTER#S UNION STATION TO FIND OUT.

GOOD MORNING, SAM.

HEY, BOB.

I'M BETTING ON THE TRAIN.

IN FACT, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE VERY NEXT ONE TO SOUTH STATION IN BOSTON.

OK.

I'M GOING TO HITCH A RIDE WITH THE DRIVER.

LET'S SEE WHO GETS THERE FIRST.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THE LOSER HAS TO PAY FOR BREAKFAST.

YOU'RE ON.

HI SAM.

READY TO GO TO BOSTON?

YAY!

SO I'M HEADING INTO BOSTON TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE MY CLINICAL DUTIES TO SEE SOME PATIENTS.

I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE EARLY ENOUGH TO BEAT TRAFFIC.

WE#RE TRYING TO LEAVE EARLY SO WE CAN BEAT TRAFFIC AND BEAT THIS TRAIN.

THE PHONES START RINGING AROUND 7:30 OR 8.

AND SO THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN GET INTO BOSTON USING THE COMMUTER RAIL TO BE AT MY DESK BEFORE 8:00 IS TO TAKE A TRAIN THAT LEAVES AT A QUARTER TO 6:00.

THE SCHEDULE USED TO BE WE HAD A SORT OF QUASI-EXPRESS THAT LEFT WORCESTER AT 6:30 AND THAT GOT US IN AROUND 7:30.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

IT WAS MUCH MORE REASONABLE IN TERMS OF WHAT HOUR I WOULD GET UP IN THE MORNING.

BUT WE LOST THAT WHEN THEY DID THE LATEST ITERATION OF THE COMMUTER RAIL SCHEDULE.

SO THE EXPRESS TRAIN ENDED IN THE FALL AND THEN I DECIDED TO, LIKE SWITCH IT UP AND START DRIVING MORE IN JANUARY AFTER THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN COVID CASES.

THIS IS NOT GOOD.

THERE'S TRAFFIC.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT WITH ALL THE POLICE CARS.

THAT'S VERY BAD.

THAT'S NOT TYPICAL AT ALL.

IT'S MORE LIKE THIS IS MORE LIKE THIS.

BUT EVEN NOW LIKE, WE'RE STILL MAKING GOOD TIME.

THIS TRAIN MAKES ALL THE STOPS UNTIL WEST NATICK AND THEN IT SKIPS THE WELLESLEY AND NEWTON STOPS OF WHICH THERE ARE SEVERAL AND THEN MAKES THE BOSTON STOPS.

BUT WE ALSO ARE THE SECOND-LARGEST CITY IN NEW ENGLAND SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S UNREASONABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, ONCE A DAY IT SHOULD TAKE AN HOUR TO GET FROM WORCESTER TO BOSTON.

I MOVED UP HERE FOR RESIDENCY.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS TOUTED IT THAT, YOU KNOW WE#RE CLOSE TO BOSTON, WE'RE CLOSE TO NEW YORK, WE'RE CLOSE TO ALL THESE AMAZING THINGS YOU CAN DO.

AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE MAP AND LOOK AT THE TRAIN SCHEDULE AND YOU'RE LIKE YEAH YOU CAN DO IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF EXTRA EFFORT.

LOVELY SUNRISE.

SEE?

THERE YOU GO.

ONCE I STEP ONTO THE TRAIN I REALIZE THAT MY SHOULDERS RELAX BECAUSE IT'S NO LONGER MY PROBLEM AND I'M ABLE TO WORK.

SO I CAN JUST DO MY STUFF HERE.

IT'S ACTUALLY SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB TO GET US THERE.

I WONDER HOW OUR FRIEND SAM IS DOING.

WE ARE ABOUT TO HIT BOSTON LANDING WHICH IS GREAT.

51 MINUTES, WHICH PROBABLY IS A LITTLE LONGER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF THAT EARLIER TRAFFIC.

BUT WE'RE STILL BEATING THAT TRAIN.

WE'RE A ONE-CAR FAMILY.

WE'VE BEEN A ONE-CAR FAMILY FOR 20 YEARS.

PART OF THE WAY THAT I CAN DO THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S THE COMMUTER RAIL.

SO WE ARE, WE ARE GETTING TO SOUTH STATION.

IT'S BEEN 58 MINUTES, AGAIN A LITTLE LONGER THAN IT NORMALLY TAKES.

BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT WE BEAT THE TRAIN.

WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

ONICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M HERE IN SOUTH STATION.

IT#S AROUND 7 O#CLOCK.

BOB IS STILL NOT HERE.

I BEAT HIM.

I'M GETTING MY BREAKFAST.

I THINK HE'LL BE HERE IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

HEY, BOB.

WELCOME TO SOUTH STATION.

NO, YOU'RE WELCOME.

FOR HOW LONG?

>> ABOUT 20 MINUTES, 25 MINUTES.

OH, REALLY?

I GUESS I OWE YOU BREAKFAST.

I GUESS SO.

I'M JOE BIDEN AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

THERE IT IS.

I'M NIKKI HALEY AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

OH, DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.

YUP.

I#M DONALD J. TRUMP AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

AND YOU APPROVE THIS MESSAGE!

OK, SERIOUSLY, WHAT GIVES WITH THIS, RIGHT?

WHY DOES EVERY SINGLE CANDIDATE SAY #I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE# OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT EVERY CYCLE?

DOES THIS PHRASE POLL WELL?

DOES IT CAST SOME SORT OF SUBLIMINAL SPELL ON VOTERS?

READ MY LIPS.

NO.

NO.

OF COURSE NOT.

CANDIDATES DO IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO.

BY LAW.

1 IT'S COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE #STAND BY YOUR AD# PROVISION.

THE #STAND BY YOUR AD# RULE GOES BACK TO A LAW THAT CONGRESS PASSED IN 2002 CALLED THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT.

THIS WAS A LARGE OVERHAUL OF ALL OF THE FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES.

AND ONE OF THE PROVISIONS IN THAT LAW SAID FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL COMMITTEES THAT ARE DOING ADS ON RADIO OR ON TELEVISION THEY NEED AN AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT THAT SAYS THAT THEY APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

NOW, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DISCLOSURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REQUIRED.

WATCH ANY POLITICAL AD FROM ANY ERA AND YOU'LL SEE TEXT ON THE SCREEN AT SOME POINT INFORMING VOTERS WHO PAID FOR THE SPOT.

ANOTHER THING THAT HAS BEEN COMMON IN POLITICAL ADS FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAVE BEEN POLITICAL ADS -- GOING NEGATIVE.

HERE'S DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER IN ONE OF THE VERY FIRST EVER TV ADS FOR A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

INSTEAD OF ASKING WHAT PARTY WILL BRING PRICES DOWN WHY NOT ASK WHAT PARTY PUT PRICES UP?

THEN VOTE FOR A CHANGE.

BUT THROUGH THE 1970S, #80S, AND INTO THE #90S, THOSE NEGATIVE ADS STEADILY BECAME MORE COMMON AND MORE BITING.

YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF FOUR YEARS FROM NOW THAN YOU ARE TODAY.

WELL, IT'S FOUR YEARS LATER.

HOW#RE YOU DOING?

OOH, SICK BURN.

SO CONGRESS PASSED THE NEW LAW REQUIRING NOT JUST TEXT BUT ALSO THAT ACCOMPANYING DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE THEMSELVES THAT THEIR CAMPAIGN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AD.

THAT STATEMENT MUST BE MADE IN THEIR VOICE ON RADIO.

AND ON TV, IT MUST INCLUDE VIDEO OF THEM SAYING IT OR THEIR VOICE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR IMAGE.

I THINK WHAT WE PUT IN THOSE ADS IS DIFFERENT.

SOME CANDIDATES ARE LESS LIKELY TO WANT TO GO NEGATIVE AGAINST THEIR OPPONENTS IN THOSE ADS.

THEY MAY BE LESS LIKELY TO WANT TO FOCUS ON CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL AREAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO THAT.

PROBLEM SOLVED, RIGHT?

WELL -- ON THE ONE HAND, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT PURPORT TO SHOW THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STAND BY YOUR AD RULE DID LOWER THE AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE ADS RUN BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK IF YOU ASKED ANYONE ON THE STREET THEY WOULD SAY NEGATIVE ADVERTISING IN POLITICS IS WORSE THAN EVER.

DID YOU CATCH THAT?

#BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.# CRUCIALLY, THE STAND BY YOUR AD PROVISION ONLY APPLIES TO ADS RUN BY THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE CANDIDATES, NOT ANY THIRD PARTY GROUPS.

LIKE THE SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH WHO FAMOUSLY CRITICIZED JOHN KERRY'S VIETNAM RECORD IN A SERIES OF ADS IN 2004.

CAN AMERICA TRUST A MAN WHO BETRAYED HIS COUNTRY?

OR PRIORITIES USA, WHO SPENT MILLIONS ON ANTI-DONALD TRUMP ADS IN 2020.

DONALD TRUMP IS FAILING AMERICA.

IN THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE, OUTSIDE GROUPS SPENT MORE ON ADS THAN THE CANDIDATES COMBINED IN 54 DIFFERENT FEDERAL RACES.

THEY CAN TAKE UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHERE THE CANDIDATES AND THE CAMPAIGNS ARE LIMITED BY CAMPAIGN FINANCE REGULATIONS.

IT#S JUST NATURAL FOR THE TV AD BUY TO GO TO THESE SUPER PACS WHO CAN RAISE UNLIMITED MONEY AND CAN SAY THINGS THAT THE CANDIDATES CAN'T.

ANOTHER CRITICAL CAVEAT NOW THAT WE'RE IN THE 21ST CENTURY: THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO STAND BY THEIR ADS ON THE INTERNET.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING OVER THE LAST FEW CYCLES IS THAT THE ABILITY TO TARGET MESSAGES AND TALK TO INDIVIDUAL VOTERS ONLINE AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND OTHERS IS HAVING A BIGGER AND BIGGER IMPACT.

NOW THAT WE ARE TWENTY-TWO YEARS PAST THE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT THE INTERNET IS EATING UP MORE AND MORE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS RELATIVE TO TV AND RADIO.

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE STAND BY YOUR AD PROVISION.

SOME BILLS WOULD REQUIRE CEOS OF THIRD PARTY GROUPS TO APPEAR AND APPROVE, JUST LIKE THE CANDIDATES.

OTHERS WOULD EXTEND ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS TO ADS ONLINE.

A LOT OF THOSE ADS ONLINE ARE 10- OR 15-SECOND ADS.

AND SO IT WOULD BE VERY VERY HARD TO HAVE ENFORCED THIS RULE.

I MEAN, NOW YOU'RE CUTTING A TEN-SECOND AD DOWN TO FIVE SECONDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE FIVE-SECOND DISCLAIMER AT THE END.

FOR NOW, EVEN ONLINE ADS MUST STILL INCLUDE A VISUAL DISCLOSURE.

SO, BE AWARE AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO DO A LITTLE DIGGING TO SEE WHO IS SELLING YOU WHAT.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK BEHIND THE ADS AND THEY CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

ANY POLITICAL COMMITTEE, ANY CAMPAIGN THAT IS RUNNING ADVERTISING YOU CAN SEE WHO THEIR CONTRIBUTORS ARE AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY ON.

ALL THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT A PRETTY EASY-TO-REMEMBER URL: FEC.GOV.

WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT, FOLKS.

OUR THANKS TO EMERSON COLLEGE FOR ALWAYS KEEPING US CURIOUS.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I#M EDGAR B. HERWICK III.

AND -- COME ON, SAY IT!

SAY IT!

AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE!

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

CRYSTAL CRYSTAL HAINES CRYSTAL HAYNES CRYSTAL HARRIS CRYSTAL HAYNES CRYSTAL HAYNES CRYSTAL HAYNES CRYSTAL HAYNES CRYSTAL HAYNES EDGAR EDGAR HARDWICK CRYSTAL HAYNES "UFC FIGHT NIGHT" "GREATER BOSTON" "GREATER BOSTON" WGBH CRYSTAL LERNER CREEP CRYSTAL LERNER BOB SHAE TURKEN CRYSTAL: HI, EVERYBODY, I'M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," WHAT'S WORSE?

THE COMMUTE TO BOSTON VIA CAR AND VIA COMMUTER RAIL.

WE WATCH A PACKAGE ON GBH'S BOB SEAY AND SAM TURKEN BOTH TAKING THAT COMMUTE AND THEN THEY JOIN TO DISCUSS.

THEN MAGGIE ROBERTS SOLD TICKET TO HER TOUR IN PERSON TO BY PASS BOTS, FEES AND SCAMS.

SO, YOU NEED TO GET FROM WORCESTER TO BOSTON DURING RUSH HOUR?

WHAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO GO.

BOB SEAY AND SAM TURKEN SET OUT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION EARLY ONE MORNING.

>> WHAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO COMMUTE FROM WORCESTER TO BOSTON?

CAR OR TRAIN?

I'M HERE AT WORCESTER#S UNION STATION TO FIND OUT.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAP.

>> HEY, BOB.

>> I'M BETTING ON THE TRAIN.

IN FACT, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE VERY NEXT ONE TO SOUTH STATION IN BOSTON.

OK.

I'M GOING TO HITCH A RIDE WITH THE DRIVER.

LET'S SEE WHO GETS THERE FIRST.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THE LOSER HAS TO PAY FOR BREAKFAST.

>> YOU'RE ON.

>> SO I'M HEADING INTO BOSTON TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE MY CLINICAL DUTIES TO SEE SOME PATIENTS.

I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE EARLY ENOUGH TO BEAT TRAFFIC.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO LEAVE EARLY SO WE CAN BEAT TRAFFIC AND BEAT THIS TRAIN.

THE PHONES START RINGING AROUND 7:30 OR 8.

AND SO THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN GET INTO BOSTON USING THE COMMUTER RAIL TO BE AT MY DESK BEFORE 8:00 IS TO TAKE A TRAIN THAT LEAVES AT A QUARTER TO 6:00.

THE SCHEDULE USED TO BE WE HAD A SORT OF QUASI-EXPRESS THAT LEFT WORCESTER AT 6:30 AND THAT GOT US IN AROUND 7:30.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

IT WAS MUCH MORE REASONABLE IN TERMS OF WHAT HOUR I WOULD GET UP IN THE MORNING.

BUT WE LOST THAT WHEN THEY DID THE LATEST ITERATION OF THE COMMUTER RAIL SCHEDULE.

>> SO THE EXPRESS TRAIN ENDED IN THE FALL AND THEN I DECIDED TO, LIKE SWITCH IT UP AND START DRIVING MORE IN JANUARY AFTER THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN COVID CASES.

>> THIS IS NOT GOOD.

THERE'S TRAFFIC.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT WITH ALL THE POLICE CARS.

THAT'S VERY BAD.

>> THAT'S NOT TYPICAL AT ALL.

IT'S MORE LIKE THIS IS MORE LIKE -- BUT EVERYONE NOW WE'RE STILL MAKING GOOD TIME.

>> THIS TRAIN MAKES ALL THE STOPS UNTIL WEST NATICK AND THEN IT SKIPS THE WELLESLEY AND NEWTON STOPS OF WHICH THERE ARE SEVERAL AND THEN MAKES THE BOSTON STOPS.

BUT WE ALSO ARE THE SECOND-LARGEST CITY IN NEW ENGLAND SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S UNREASONABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, ONCE A DAY IT SHOULD TAKE AN HOUR TO GET FROM WORCESTER TO BOSTON.

>> I MOVED UP HERE FOR RESIDENCY.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS TOUTED IT THAT, YOU KNOW WE#RE CLOSE TO BOSTON, WE'RE CLOSE TO NEW YORK, WE'RE CLOSE TO ALL THESE AMAZING THINGS YOU CAN DO.

AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE MAP AND YOU LOOK AT THE TRAIN SCHEDULE AND YOU'RE LIKE YEAH, YOU CAN DO IT BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF EXTRA EFFORT.

>> LOVELY SUNRISE.

>> ONCE I STEP ONTO THE TRAIN I REALIZE THAT MY SHOULDERS RELAX BECAUSE IT'S NO LONGER MY PROBLEM AND I'M ABLE TO WORK.

SO I CAN JUST DO MY STUFF HERE.

IT'S ACTUALLY SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB TO GET US THERE.

>> I WONDER HOW OUR FRIEND SAM IS DOING?

>> WE ARE ABOUT TO HIT BOSTON LANDING, WHICH IS GREAT.

51 MINUTES, WHICH PROBABLY IS A LITTLE LONGER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF THAT EARLIER TRAFFIC.

BUT WE'RE STILL BEATING THAT TRAIN.

>> WE'RE A ONE-CAR FAMILY.

WE'VE BEEN A ONE-CAR FAMILY FOR 20 YEARS.

PART OF THE WAY THAT I CAN DO THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S THE COMMUTER RAIL.

# >> SO WE ARE, WE ARE GETTING TO SOUTH STATION.

IT'S BEEN 58 MINUTES, AGAIN A LITTLE LONGER THAN IT NORMALLY TAKES, BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT WE BEAT THE TRAIN.

WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

ONICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M HERE AT SOUTH STATION.

IT'S AROUND 7:00.

BOB IS STILL NOT HERE.

I BEAT HIM.

I'M GETTING MY BREAKFAST.

I THINK HE'LL BE HERE IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

HEY, BOB.

>> WELCOME TO SOUTH STATION.

>> NO, YOU WELCOME.

I'VE BEEN HERE.

FOR HOW LONG?

>> ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

>> I GUESS I OWE YOU BREAKFAST.

CRYSTAL: SAM AND BOB JOIN ME.

SAM, WHEN YOU SET OUT ON THIS CHANNEL, DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO BEAT THE TRAIN?

BOB: I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DECIDED WHO WAS GOING TO TAKE THE TRAIN OR THE BUS BUT YEAH, I THINK WE HAD A FEELING, BASED ON TALKING WITH RESIDENTS WHO TAKE THE TWO EVERY DAY.

THERE USED TO BE AN EXPRESS SERVICE AND NOW IT'S NO MORE AND SINCE IT WAS PHASED OUT, THE TRAIN REALLY DOES TAKE LONGER.

CRYSTAL: A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE IN WORCESTER TO SAVE MONEY BUT THEN THE EXPRESS WENT AWAY AND THE COMMUTERS WENT UP.

THE M.T.A.

IS GOING TO HEAR FROM RIDERS.

>> YEAH,ER IN AND IT'S A BALANCING ACT.

YOU DO WANT TO PROVIDE EXPRESS SERVICE BUT YOU DO WANT TO PICK UP ALL THE PASSENGERS THAT YOU CAN IN BETWEEN THOSE STOPS.

WE'VE HEARD ANECDOTALLY, AT LEAST, THAT RIDERSHIP HAS INCREASED ON THE COMMUTER RAIL EVEN WITHOUT THE EXPRESS BUT IF YOU HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN DRIVING IN, WHICH TAKES AN HOUR AND AN HOUR AND A HALF ON THE TRAIN, IT'S A BIG DISINCENTIVE NOT TO TAKE THE TRAIN BUT TO DRIVE.

CRYSTAL: THAT'S FOR SURE, AND SAM, AS YOU EXPERIENCED, TRAFFIC CAN REALLY CHANGE UP THOSE VARIABLES, RIGHT?

>> EVERYONE THOUGH DRIVING WAS THE WINNER, IT IS FAR FROM AN IDEAL OPTION.

AS ONICA DEMONSTRATED, SHE HAS TO LEAVE BEFORE 6:00 A.M. EVERY DAY.

SHE HAS TO LEAVE SO EARLY BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TO AVOID TRAFFIC ON PIKE.

IF SHE LEAVES AT 6:30, 7:00, SHE GETS CAUGHT UP IN TERRIBLE TRAFFIC AND IT COULD TAKE HER UPWARDS OF TWO HOURS TO GET TO BOSTON.

THIS WHOLE ISSUE DOES SEEM TO UNDERCUT WHAT WORCESTER HAS BEEN TOUTING ITSELF OVER THE YEARS AS BEING THIS PLACE THAT'S MORE AFFORDABLE THAN BOSTON AND JUST A COMMUTE AWAY AND AS WE'RE SEEING, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST A COMMUTE AWAY.

IT'S DIFFICULT.

CRYSTAL: WORCESTER HAS BEEN IN A HUGE REDEVELOPMENT SPACE, TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE FOLKS TO LIVE THERE.

THEY'RE BUILDING THINGS, WE KNOW THE WOO-SOX ARE THERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU HAVE MAJOR MEDICAL CENTER, LIKE ONICA, THINGS TO WANT TO WORK IN BOSTON LIVE IN WORCESTER.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THING WITH THAT WHOLE CONVERSATION AROUND LIVE HERE, WORK?

BOSTON?

SAM: AS BOB KNOWS, WORCESTER LEADERS WERE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE BY IN DECISION LAST FALL.

THEY DID NOTE SEE IT COMING AND DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THEY REALLY PROTESTED THIS OPEN HOPING THE COMMUTER RAIL OPERATOR WOULD REVERSE IT AND CHANGE THEIR LINES.

NOW, THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE THIS EXPRESS SERVICE NEXT MONTH, THIS SPRING AND IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER THEY ACTUALLY DO THAT.

WORCESTER LEADERS HAVE CREATED THIS NEW TASK FORCE TO TRY TO URGE THE T AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS TO RESTORE THE LINE AND MAKE OVER IMPROVEMENTS BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

CRYSTAL: BOB, WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE TO COMMUTER RAIL RIDERS TO RIDE IT WHEN, ONE, IT'S MORE SUSPENSIVE AND TWO, IT TAKES MORE TYPE.

WE HAVE SOME NUMBERS ON THIS.

A ROUND TRIP COSTS BY CAR, $22.02.

COMMUTER RAIL, $24.50.

THE TOTAL TIME FOR THE CAR IS 58 MINUTES 45 SECONDS.

FOR THE COMMUTER RAIL IT'S AN HOUR AND 27 MINUTES.

BOB: FOR PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE COMMUTER RAIL, THE BIG ATTRACTION IS IT'S NOT DRIVING.

PEOPLE CAN DO WORK.

TRACY WAS AMAZING HOW MUCH WORK SHE GOT DONE.

SO FOR HER THAT WAS A VALUABLE ENOUGH TRADEOFF.

PLUS, HER FAMILY ONLY HAS ONE CAR SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT SHE WOULD TAKE COMMUTER RAIL BUT IT INCONVENIENCED HER BECAUSE SHE HAD TO LEAVE SO EARLY TO GET TO WORK.

CRYSTAL: ANY CONVERSATION THAT THIS EXPRESS MIGHT COME BACK?

BOB: I THINK THERE IS BUT THE BIGGER PICTURE IS THE BOSTON TO WORCESTER SERVICE HAS TO BE IMPROVED.

THE TRACKS HAVE TO BE IMPROVED SO SPEEDS CAN BE GREATER BECAUSE WHAT'S COMING IS THE I-90 AUSTIN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE VERY DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS ON TRAFFIC ON THE PIKE AND THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A VERY GOOD COMMUTER RAIL ALTERNATIVE TO GET AROUND THAT PLUS, WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT WEST-EAST RAIL AND THAT, OF COURSE, THE WORST -- WORCESTER TO BOSTON LINK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THAT IT'S A KEY PIECE OF TRACK THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO CHANGE THE SCHEDULE.

MAYBE NOT THE WHOLE SCHEDULE BUT AT LEAST PROVIDE A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE A QUICKER TRIP.

SAM: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE EAST-WEST RAIL WORK IF BOSTON SO WORCESTER DOESN'T EVEN WORK?

CRYSTAL: THAT'S RIGHT AND YOU KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO COMMUTE FROM WORCESTER.

WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT PROJECT HAVE ON FOLKS?

SAM: IF WE THINK TRAFFIC IS BAD DURING RUSH HOUR NOW -- AND BOB KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I THINK DISRUPTIVE WOULD BE EVEN AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

BOB: [LAUGHTER] OPTIMISTIC.

NOBODY IS QUITE SURE BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE RAIL OPTION IT'S GOING TO BE THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

CRYSTAL: THIS ISSUEAROUND WORCESTER TO BOSTON.

I'M FROM SPRINGFIELD AND WE'VE LONG SUFFERED THAT LOSS OF CONNECTION TO BOSTON.

IS A CONNECTION FROM SPRINGFIELD TO BOSTON IN THE WORKS AT ALL?

BOB: IT IS BUT I WOULD NOTE THAT THE TRAFFIC FROM SPRINGFIELD SOUTH TO HARTFORDED AND NEW HAVEN IS ACTUALLY GROWING SO THERE SEEMS TO BE MORE INTEREST IN BE A PA -- THAT BUT FOR MASSACHUSETTS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST A LINE THAT GOES FROM SPRINGFIELD TO BOSTON AND ALSO A LINE TO PITTSFIELD, TOO, FURTHER OUT.

CRYSTAL: THERE'S AN ISSUE ALSO ABOUT THAT CORRECTION FROM SPRINGFIELD TO BOSTON AND VICE VERSAAS PARENT HAVE A TOP -- STOP ON ALL LINES AND THAT MIGHT BE ALSO AN ISSUE FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM WORCESTER TO BOSTON OR ON THE BUS, RIGHT, SAM?

SAM: THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE A COMPLETE WASTE IF THERE WAS NO STOP.

THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN NEW ENGLAND.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES OF THIS STORY.

THESE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST CITIES IN NEW ENGLAND, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT ABOUT WORCESTER.

HOW ARE THEY NOT EASIER TO CONNECT WHEN THEY'RE 47 MILES APART?

CRYSTAL: BOB, IS THIS JUST SORT OF SYMPTOMATIC OF WHAT A LOT OF, WE'LL SAY SKEPTICS OF THE MBTA AND ITS WORK, ANOTHER INSTANCE OF THEM NOT THINKING ABOUT RIDERS IN THIS SPACE?

BOB: I THINK THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IT BUT ACCOMPLISHING IT IS A WHOLE OTHER QUESTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SERVICE AND THEY -- SAY NOBODY'S RIDING, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK FOR THEM.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY ESTABLISH A SERVICE THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE AND LET'S WAIT AND -- AND SEE WHAT IT PRODUCES.

YOU CAN SOMETIMES MAKE A DECISION TO ABANDON SOMETHING TOO QUICKLY.

CRYSTAL: WHAT'S THE NEXT RACE?

CAR VS.

BUS?

[LAUGHTER] BOB: I WAS THINKING OF SOME KIND OF DRONE RACE.

[LAUGHTER] SAM: BOB HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIGH ON THE PROVIDENCE LINE.

WE WERE INITIALLY COMPARING THE PROVIDENCE LINE TO THE WESTERN LINE BECAUSE AS BOB ALWAYS SAYS -- YOU TAKE THE PROVIDENCE LINE PERSONALLY AND YOU TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT IT WORKS.

BOB: IT REALLY WORKS WELL AND THEY DO HAVE A COUPLE OF EXPRESS TRAINS IN THE MORNING, AND THEY'RE PACKED, THAT BYPASS SHARON, CANTON JUNCTION, HYDE PARK, ALL OF THOSE STOPS AND PEOPLE RESPOND TO THAT.

IF THE SERVICE IS GOING TO BE EFFICIENT AND, OF COURSE, THE ALTERNATIVE IS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR ON I-95 OR ROUTE 94.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK PEOPLE WILL RESPOND TO IF THE SERVICE IS RELIABLE AND FAST AND IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN DEPEND ON.

CRYSTAL: ESPECIALLY AS YOU SEE POPULATION SHIFT WITH HOUSING MARKETS AND CHANGES.

I'VE BEEN TO WORCESTER.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD RESTAURANTS GOING IN THERE.

SAM: THE WHOLE SYSTEM BENEFITS FROM MORE PEOPLE TAKING THE COMMUTER LINE.

BECAUSE THE ODDS ARE MORE PEOPLE ARE RIDING THE RED LINE AND ORANGE LINE BECAUSE ODDS ARE THEY'RE NOT WORKING RIGHT OUT OF SOUTH STATION.

BOB: SAM BRINGS UP A VERY GOOD POINT.

THAT SOME OF THE REASONS PEOPLE DON'T RIDE THE TRAIN IS THEY CAN'T MAKE THE CONNECTIONS ON TIME.

IF THEY TAKE A RED LINE TRAIN AND IT'S DELAYED, THEY HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER HOUR OR MORE.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE T. UP AND RUNNING RELIABLY.

CRYSTAL: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT, SINGER MAGGIE ROGERS CAME TO BOSTON FOR A POP-UP CONCERT LAST WEEK.

>> THE IF YOU ARE AT THIS CONCERT TONIGHT, YOU GOT UP INCREDIBLY EARLY.

CRYSTAL: SHE ANNOUNCED THE PARADISE ROCK CLUB JUST DAYS IN ADVANCE AND SOLD TICKET IN PERSON AT THE VENUE THAT DAY ONLY AND ALSO STOLE THICKETS -- TICKETS FOR HER OCTOBER SHOW AT T.D.

GARDEN IN AN EFFORT TO SKIP THE TICKET COMPANIES AND THE EXORBITANT FEE THAT IS COME WITH IT.

HALEY LEARNER WAS THERE AND JOINS ME NOW.

I WOULD IMAGINE THE VIKE -- SAUDI ARABIA WAS AMAZING.

HALEY: WHEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT HOURS AND HOURS TO GET TICKETS, IT'S GOING TO TURN OUT SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED FANS.

CRYSTAL: THIS WAS REALLY AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE, CUTTING OUT ALL YOU THE MIDDLEMEN.

HALEY: ROGERS HAS DONE IT BEFORE.

FOR THESE POP-UP SHOWS THAT WERE IN NEW YORK, D.C., BOSTON AND PHILLY, SHE ANNOUNCED JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE HER LATEST ALBUM WAS COMING OUT, SHE WAS GOING TO DO LITTLE SMALL-VENUE SHOWS AND WAS GOING TO SELL THE TICKETS IN PERSON.

IT WAS A COOL CHANCE FOR FANS TO GATHER TOGETHER AND GET A CHANCE TO SEE HER UP CLOSE.

CRYSTAL: THIS, WITH ALL OF THE FEELS CONNECTED WITH BUYING SHOWS AND ANY SHOW LIKE TICKET MASTER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND IT LOOKS LIKE MORE AND MORE ARTISTS ARE STARTING TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT.

HALEY: AN EVENT COMPANY AND TICKET MASTER MERGED TOGETHER I THINK IN ABOUT 2010 AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED IT BECAME WHAT MANY CONSIDERRD A MO NONLY BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE BULLIED INTO HAVING ALL OF THEIR TICKETS BEING SOLD ON TICKET MASTER.

THE OTHER OPTIONS WERE AXS AND EVENT BREAK BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW SHOWS SOLD THROUGH THERE INSTEAD OF TICKET MASTER.

CRYSTAL: HOW DID FANS FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SHOW?

HALEY: SHE JUST ANNOUNCED IT ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SHE'D BE SELLING TICKETS.

SHE SAID LINE UP AT 8:00 A.M. PEOPLE SHOWED UP EARLIER, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

EVEN IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TICKETS FOR THAT SMALL POP-UP SHOW, THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A Q.R.

CODE TO TICKET MASTER BUT WITHOUT ANY FEES OR EXTRA SERVICE CHARGES INFLUENCE A SPECIFIC LINK FOR HER OCTOBER SHOW AT T.D.

GARDEN.

CRYSTAL: I WOULD IMAGINE FOLKS WERE REALLY EXCITED.

WE HAVE SOME SOUND FROM EXCITED FANS.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> I THINK IT'S SO AWESOME, TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BOTS AND EVERYTHING AND SEEING US IN PERSON, IT JUST NATION YOU APPRECIATE THE LIVE MUSIC INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY'RE SELLING.

>> I'M JUST EXCITE TO BE IN A ROOM WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SUCH MATCH FANS OF HERS.

>> TICKET MASTER IS SO COMPETITIVE AND LIKE, I'VE GOTTEN REALLY LUCKY I FEEL LIKE IN THE PAST YEAR BUT I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN WAIT LISTED FOR SO MANY SHOWS AND I THINK THIS GIVES MORE BACK TO THE FANS TOO.

CRYSTAL: I'M SO THOUGHTFUL OF TAYLOR SWIFT AND WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED HER TOUR AND HOW MANY BROKENHEARTED FANS THERE WERE MANY -- WHEN THEY MAYBE PURCHASED FAKE TICKETS OR THE TICKET MASTER SITE COLLAPSED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DO YOU FIND THAT FANS AND ARTISTS WOULD REALLY LIKE A DIFFERENT WAY TO BE ABLE TO SELL TICKETS?

HALEY: I THINK FANS FOR SURE WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO GET TICKETS WITHOUT THESE CRAZY FANS.

THE SHOW-UP CLUB COST $20 FLAT.

NORMALLY A CHEAP SHOW THAT MIGHT BE A $20 SHOW, YOU KNOW YOU'RE PAYING AT LEAST $50 IN FEES.

A LOT OF ARTISTS DON'T WANT THAT HAPPENING.

PEOPLE LIKE MAGGIE ROGERS WANT FANS TO COME SEE THEIR SHOWS, NOT FANS WHO PAY THE HIGHEST PLIES.

IT'S IN THE FANS' AND ARTIST' BEST INTERESTS.

CRYSTAL: DO YOU SEE OTHER ARTISTS DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT ROGERS DID HERE?

HALEY: POP-UP VENUES ARE A TREND BUT IT IS REALLY HARD FOR ARTISTS WHEN IT COMES TO TICKET MASTER BECAUSE THEY CONTROL I THINK OF ALL BIG VENUES, 80% AND OVERALL VENUES, THEY HAVE ABOUT A 70% HOLD ON THE MARKET.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FEES AND DYNAMIC ARTIST PRICING WHERE, BASED ON COMMANDS -- DEMAND THE PRICES CAN GO UP.

IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING FOR FANS.

CRYSTAL: WHAT DO TICKET MASTER AND OTHERS SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

HALEY: TICKET MASTER PUT OUT A STATEMENT ABOUT A MONTH AGO SAYING THEY ARE NOT A MONOPOLY.

PEOPLE THINK THAT WAS IN DEFENSE OF THE D.O.J.

BUT ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT IS THAT THEIR TEAMS ARE OFTEN RUN BY LIVE NATION.

BECAUSE IT'S A VERY TIED-TOGETHER INDUSTRY, IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE WHOSE FAULT IS IT THAT THEY'RE SO HIGH?

CRYSTAL: AND THE FANS ARE THE ONES CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

HALEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I'M CRYSTAL HAYNES, GOOD NIGHT.

# # I'M JOE BIDEN AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

THERE IT IS.

I'M NIKKI HALEY AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

OH, DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.

YUP.

I#M DONALD J. TRUMP AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

AND YOU APPROVE THIS MESSAGE!

>> AND YOU APPROVE THIS NEW ENGLAND -- MESSAGE?

OK, WHAT GIVES WITH THAT?

WHY DOES EVERY SINGLE CANDIDATE SAY #I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE# OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT EVERY CYCLE?

DOES THIS PHRASE POLL WELL?

DOES IT CAST SOME SORT OF SUBLIMINAL SPELL ON VOTERS?

>> READ MY LIPS.

>> OF COURSE NOT.

CANDIDATES DO IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO.

BY LAW.

IT'S COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE #STAND BY YOUR AD# PROVISION.

>> THE "STAND BY YOUR AD" RULE GOES BACK TO A LAW THAT CONGRESS PASSED IN 2002 CALLED THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT.

THIS WAS A LARGE OVERHAUL OF ALL OF THE FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES.

AND ONE OF THE PROVISIONS IN THAT LAW SAID FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL COMMITTEES THAT ARE DOING ADS ON RADIO OR ON TELEVISION THEY NEED AN AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT THAT SAYS THAT THEY APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

>> NOW, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT DISCLOSURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REQUIRED.

WATCH ANY POLITICAL AD FROM ANY ERA AND YOU'LL SEE TEXT ON THE SCREEN AT SOME POINT INFORMING VOTERS WHO PAID FOR THE SPOT.

ANOTHER THING THAT HAS BEEN COMMON IN POLITICAL ADS FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAVE BEEN POLITICAL ADS -- GOING NEGATIVE.

HERE'S DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER IN ONE OF THE VERY FIRST EVER TV ADS FOR A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

>> INSTEAD OF ASKING WHAT PARTY WILL BRING PRICES DOWN WHY NOT ASK WHAT PARTY PUT PRICES UP?

THEN VOTE FOR A CHANGE.

>> BUT THROUGH THE 1970'S, 1980'S AND INTO THE 1990'S, THOSE NEGATIVE ADS STEADILY BECAME MORE COMMON AND MORE BITING.

>> YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF FROM NOW IN FOUR YEARS THAN YOU A -- ARE TODAY.

>> WELL, IT'S FOUR YEARS LATER.

HOW YOU DOING?

>> OOH, SICK BURN.

SO CONGRESS PASSED THE NEW LAW REQUIRING NOT JUST TEXT BUT ALSO THAT ACCOMPANYING DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE THEMSELVES THAT THEIR CAMPAIGN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AD.

THAT STATEMENT MUST BE MADE IN THEIR VOICE ON RADIO.

AND ON TV, IT MUST INCLUDE VIDEO OF THEM SAYING IT OR THEIR VOICE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR IMAGE.

>> I THINK WHAT WE PUT IN THOSE ADS IS DIFFERENT.

SOME CANDIDATES ARE LESS LIKELY TO WANT TO GO NEGATIVE AGAINST THEIR OPPONENTS IN THOSE ADS.

THEY MAY BE LESS LIKELY TO WANT TO FOCUS ON CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL AREAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO THAT.

>> PROBLEM SOLVED, RIGHT?

WELL -- >> ON THE ONE HAND, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT PURPORT TO SHOW THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STAND BY YOUR AD RULE DID LOWER THE AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE ADS RUN BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK IF YOU ASKED ANYONE ON THE STREET THEY WOULD SAY NEGATIVE ADVERTISING IN POLITICS IS WORSE THAN EVER.

>> DID YOU CATCH THAT?

#BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.# CRUCIALLY, THE STAND BY YOUR AD PROVISION ONLY APPLIES TO ADS RUN BY THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE CANDIDATES, NOT ANY THIRD-PARTY GROUPS.

LIKE THE SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH WHO FAMOUSLY CRITICIZED JOHN KERRY'S VIETNAM RECORD IN A SERIES OF ADS IN 2004.

>> CAN AMERICA TRUST A MAN WHO BETRAYED HIS COUNTRY?

>> OR PRIORITIES U.S.A., WHO SPENT MILLIONS ON ANTI-DONALD TRUMP ADS IN 2020.

>> DONALD TRUMP IS FAILING AMERICA.

>> IN THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE, OUTSIDE GROUPS SPENT MORE ON ADS THAN THE CANDIDATES COMBINED IN 54 DIFFERENT FEDERAL RACES.

>> THEY CAN TAKE UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHERE THE CANDIDATES AND THE CAMPAIGNS ARE LIMITED BY CAMPAIGN FINANCE REGULATIONS.

IT#S JUST NATURAL FOR THE TV AD BUY TO GO TO THESE SUPERPACS WHO CAN RAISE UNLIMITED MONEY AND CAN SAY THINGS THAT THE CANDIDATES CAN'T.

ANOTHER CRITICAL CAVEAT NOW THAT WE'RE IN THE 21ST CENTURY -- THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO STAND BY THEIR ADS ON THE INTERNET.

>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING OVER THE LAST FEW CYCLES IS THAT THE ABILITY TO TARGET MESSAGES AND TALK TO INDIVIDUAL VOTERS ONLINE AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND OTHERS IS HAVING A BIGGER AND BIGGER IMPACT.

>> NOW THAT WE ARE 22 YEARS PAST THE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT THE INTERNET IS EATING UP MORE AND MORE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS RELATIVE TO TV AND RADIO.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE STAND BY YOUR AD PROVISION.

SOME BILLS WOULD REQUIRE CEOS OF THIRD PARTY GROUPS TO APPEAR AND APPROVE, JUST LIKE THE CANDIDATES.

OTHERS WOULD EXTEND ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS TO ADS ONLINE.

>> A LOT OF THOSE ADS ONLINE ARE 10- OR 15-SECOND ADS.

AND SO IT WOULD BE VERY VERY HARD TO HAVE ENFORCED THIS RULE.

I MEAN, NOW YOU'RE CUTTING A 1046 SECOND AD DOWN TO FIVE SECONDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE FIVE-SECOND DISCLAIMER AT THE END.

>> FOR NOW, EVEN ONLINE ADS MUST STILL INCLUDE A VISUAL DISCLOSURE.

SO, BE AWARE AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO DO A LITTLE DIGGING TO SEE WHO IS SELLING YOU WHAT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK BEHIND THE ADS AND THEY CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

ANY POLITICAL COMMITTEE, ANY CAMPAIGN THAT IS RUNNING ADVERTISING YOU CAN SEE WHO THEIR CONTRIBUTORS ARE AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY ON.

>> ALL THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT A PRETTY EASY-TO-REMEMBER URL: FEC.GOV.

WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT, FOLKS.

OUR THANKS TO EMERSON COLLEGE FOR ALWAYS KEEPING US CURIOUS.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I#M EDGAR B. HERWICK III.

AND -- >> COME ON, SAY IT!

>> AND -- AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.