>> HI I'M MITCH KOKAI SITTING IN FOR MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, PRESIDENT BIDEN MAKES HIS FIRST ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, WE'LL GET THE LATEST FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNOR COOPER GIVES HIS REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE STATE.

NEXT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS TO BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

ASHER HILDEBRAND WITH THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, AND TRAVIS FAIN, STATE GOVERNMENT REPORTER AT WRAL.

ASHER, LET'S START WITH YOUR THOUGHTS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT MITCH, SO THIS WAS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS COINCIDING WITH THE END OF HIS FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE AND IT WAS A WIDE RANGING SPEECH TOUCHING ON EVERYTHING FROM PANDEMIC RECOVERY, TO POLICE VIOLENCE, TO FOREIGN POLICY, BUT THE CENTERPIECE WAS BIDEN'S AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN WHICH IS A SWEEPING 1.8 TRILLION DOLLAR PROPOSAL TO INVEST IN CHILDCARE UNIVERSAL PRE K, PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, TUITION-FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WHICH WAS ENACTED LAST MONTH AND PROVIDES ABOUT 2 TRILLION DOLLARS FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF AND RECOVERY, AND THE PROPOSED AMERICAN JOBS PLAN, WHICH WOULD INVEST ANOTHER 2.3 TRILLION DOLLARS MOSTLY IN PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS NOTABLE ABOUT THE FAMILY'S PLAN IN PARTICULAR; FIRST, NOT MANY OF ITS PROVISIONS ARE BRAND-NEW, IN FACT MOST OF THEM ARE PRETTY COMMON PLACE IN OTHER DEVELOPED A KIND OF ECONOMIES, BUT BY FRAMING THEM AS A PART OF OUR ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS BIDEN IS REALLY SHIFTING THE WAY THAT WE CONCEIVE OF THESE POLICIES.

SECOND MOST OF THEM ARE WILDLY POPULAR.

A POLL OUT THIS WEEK FROM MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY FOUND THAT ABOUT 2 OUT OF 3 AMERICANS SUPPORT HIS PLAN AND AS SIGNIFICANTLY ABOUT 2 OUT OF 3 AMERICANS SUPPORT HIS PROPOSAL TO RAISE TAXES ON THE WEALTHY TO PAY FOR IT.

NOW PUBLIC SUPPORT DOES NOT TRANSLATE INTO VOTES IN CONGRESS AND BIDEN'S BETTING ONCE AGAIN THOUGH, THAT BY TAKING POPULAR POLICIES THAT HAVE BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT HE SORT OF TELLING REPUBLICANS WELL YOU CAN COME ALONG WITH THIS I'D LIKE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IF POSSIBLE, BUT IF NOT WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD ON A PARTISAN BASIS ALONE.

>> THANKS ASHER.

TRAVIS, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS?

>> WELL, I MEAN IT'S A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT, AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING SO WELL IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AS SPENT LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY NOT ALWAYS WITHOUT A PLAN TO PAY FOR IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO IS UNDO THE 2017 TAX CUTS OR AT LEAST SOME OF THEM, PARTICULARLY AS HELP THE WEALTHY AND YOU KNOW, I HOPE PEOPLE REALIZE AT THE TIME THAT THOSE TAX CUTS WERE GOING HELP THE WEALTHY AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THEMSELVES LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID.

I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE WANTS TO CURE CANCER.

YEAH, AND YOU KNOW MAYBE THAT'S A PIPE DREAM, BUT YOU KNOW YOU LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS HERE AND HOW QUICKLY WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP A VACCINE HERE HE WANTS TO COME UP WITH A DARPA FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH THAT'S LIKE A REAL CUTTING EDGE, SCIENTIFIC GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT DEALS WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS, SO KIND OF SHIFTING THE FOCUS THERE ON CANCER SO.. YEAH, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SUPPORT ANY OF THIS IS GOING TO GET FROM THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.

>> YES, SPEAKING OF REPUBLICANS, NELSON DOLLAR YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> YES, SENATOR TIM SCOTT'S RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS WAS CERTAINLY A VERY PERSONAL ONE BASED ON HIS LIFE EXPERIENCES AND HIS CHALLENGES GROWING UP.

HIS THINGS WERE A COMBINATION OF NATIONAL CONSERVATISM, THANK TEDDY ROOSEVELT, RACIAL RECONCILIATION AND TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS VALUES.

I THINK IT WAS A POWERFUL REJOINDER TO THE PROGRESSIVES RETURN TO THE ERA OF BIG GOVERNMENT COUPLED WITH A RADICAL WOKE SOCIAL AGENDA AND ON THE FINANCING PART YOU KNOW LAST YEAR OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR CONGRESS HAS SPENT OVER 7.2 TRILLION DOLLARS ON COVID RESPONSE AND RELIEF RAISING THE NATIONAL DEBT, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PROPOSAL IS FOR ANOTHER 4 TRILLION DOLLARS THAT'S 11 TRILLION DOLLARS OR 7 TIMES WHAT WE ANNUALLY SPEND ON DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS.

SO FOR HIGHER TAXES AS WELL.

>> YEAH WE'RE TALKING VERY BIG MONEY AREN'T WE JOE?

>> YEAH, REALLY BIG MONEY AND IT'S APPARENT THAT'S PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLAN IS TO GO BIG.

IN SOME WAYS THIS WAS THE FINAL REPUDIATION OF THE REAGAN DOCTRINE OF GOVERNMENT'S NOT THE SOLUTION, GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM AND MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT A PRESIDENT LIKE FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT PROPOSED IN THE GREAT DEAL.

THE INTERESTING THING TO ME IS OF COURSE THESE ARE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, BUT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF THE FIRST MIDTERM ELECTION.

IT'S CRITICAL FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO HOLD CONGRESS.

IF THEY HOPE TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT ANY NUMBER OF THESE PROPOSALS AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT DELIVERABLE DOES COME OUT OF THIS PACKAGE THAT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES CAN GO BACK TO THEIR HOME STATES AND CAMPAIGN ON IN THE REELECTION OF 22 WHEN THEY'LL BE IN ALL NEW DISTRICTS AS A RESULT OF REDISTRICTING.

THE ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ONE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL... >> JOE WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THIS AS TIME GOES ON WE NEED TO MOVE ON AT THIS POINT.

ANOTHER BUSY WEEK AT THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS TIME, LET'S START WITH NELSON.

>> YES THIS WEEK GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOCUSED ON STRUCTURAL ISSUES.

THE SENATE PASSED 2 BILLS, SB 346 WHICH IS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT REVISIONS AND THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE COUNCIL OF STATE HAVE A VOICE WHEN THE GOVERNOR DECLARES AN EMERGENCY.

THE BILL ALSO ENGAGES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE PROCESS FOR EXTENDED EMERGENCY.

SENATE BILL 360 PROHIBIT COLLUSIVE SETTLEMENTS BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AGAIN THIS WOULD ENGAGE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHEN ITS LEADERSHIP IS PARTY TO A LAWSUIT.

YOU KNOW IF SOMEONE SUES YOU, YOUR ATTORNEY IS OBLIGATED TO GET YOUR APPROVAL ON ANY SETTLEMENT.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE'S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, DESERVE THE SAME.

THE HOUSE WAS WORKING ON HJR 330 WHICH CALLS ON CONGRESS TO OPPOSE HR ONE AS AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF THE STATE'S AUTHORITY TO TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS.

>> VERY INTERESTING STUFF.

ASHER WHAT SORTS OF THINGS WERE YOU FOLLOWING FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK?

>> WELL ON TUESDAY GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS RENEWED THEIR CALL TO AMEND STATE LAW GOVERNING THE RELEASE OF POLICE WEARING BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE IN RESPONSE TO THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN ELIZABETH CITY.

CURRENTLY THE LAW MAKES BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE, PRIVATE BY DEFAULT UNLESS A JUDGE ORDERS ITS RELEASE WHICH IS WHY THE FOOTAGE IN THIS CASE OF THE PASQUOTANK COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES KILLING OF ANDREW BROWN JR. HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY FROM THE SHERIFF, TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, TO THE CITY COUNCIL, TO THE GOVERNOR, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE VICTIM'S FAMILY HAS CALLED FOR ITS RELEASE THE DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL WOULD JUST SHIFT THE DEFAULT TO MAKE THAT FOOTAGE PUBLIC AFTER 48 HOURS UNLESS A JUDGE RULES THAT HIS RELEASE WOULD NOT SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT WOULD BRING NORTH CAROLINA IN LINE WITH A LOT OF OTHER STATES INCLUDING VIRGINIA THAT TREAT BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE HAS PUBLIC RECORD.

>> AND THAT STORY OF COURSE IS GETTING A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION.

JOE WHAT SORTS OF THINGS ARE YOU FOLLOWING?

>> YES STILL FOLLOWING A LOT OF WHAT HAS COME OUT OF COVID-19 IN TERMS OF THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE IN OUR STATE.

SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY ON THINGS LIKE TELEHEALTH MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR PATIENTS TO VISIT WITH DOCTORS REMOTELY WHICH WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HOW SERVICES HAD TO BE PROVIDED DURING COVID-19.

SO SOME ISSUES SPECIFIC TO WHAT WE LEARNED AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT SOME OTHER LINGERING HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE RELATED ISSUES LIKE THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED LAW, THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PROVIDER SECURE FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA PERMISSION TO HAVE A FACILITY OPENED IN A PARTICULAR PART OF THE STATE.

SOME PEOPLE FEEL AS THOUGH THAT'S HOLDING BACK THE BENEFIT TO CONSUMERS OF HAVING COMPETITION AMONG HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

OTHER PROVIDER SAYING IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS NECESSARY TO HAVE FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE CENTRAL CARE IN PARTS OF OUR STATE.

HEALTH CARE IT SEEMS WILL BECOME A RESIDUAL PART OF EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM THIS POINT GOING FORWARD, IT'S JUST A LOT OF COMPLICATED ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING TO SORT THROUGH.

>> TRAVIS, YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THIS WEEK THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF TRANSGENDER BILLS THAT DEAL ONE WITH SPORTS, AND ONE THAT WOULD BASICALLY SAY TEACHERS HAVE TO TELL THE PARENTS IF THEY THINK THE KID IS TRANSGENDER.

LEADERSHIP INDICATING NEITHER OF THOSE ARE GOING TO MOVE SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO PUT THAT IN A SHELF FOR NOW.

THE 2 THINGS THAT NELSON MENTIONED, THE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENTS BILL AND ALSO THE EMERGENCY POWERS BILL THOSE LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO PASS, BUT THEN THE GOVERNOR IS PROBABLY GOING TO VETO THEM.

WE'VE SEEN THIS BACK AND FORTH OVER SEPARATION OF POWERS AND THEN THE POLICE BODY CAMERAS VIDEO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DOES HAVE SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS LEADERSHIP INDICATING THAT'S AN ISSUE THEY'RE GOING TO GO SLOW ON, NOT NECESSARILY MOVE QUICKLY ON REFORMS AND THOSE PARTICULAR REFORMS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAJOR POLICE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILLS WITH REPUBLICAN BACKING BUT I DO EXPECT TO MOVE.

>> WELL OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT STUFF GOING ON AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT BACK TO TRAVIS BECAUSE SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS GOVERNOR COOPER'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> HE GAVE THAT SPEECH MONDAY NIGHT LAYING OUT HIS VISION FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

REAL SIMILAR TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID THIS WEEK.

IF YOU FOLLOW STATE POLITICS CLOSELY, THERE WASN'T REALLY ANYTHING NEW.

BUT THEN THERE WOULDN'T BE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET HIS AGENDA THROUGH A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.

SO HIS AGENDA REALLY HAS NOT CHANGED.

THERE IS SOME MORE OPTIMISM NOW THOUGH THAT THERE'S COMPROMISE TO BE HAD BETWEEN THE 2 SIDES, YOU KNOW THEY TRIED TO GET RID OF EACH OTHER, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, IN THE ELECTIONS LAST YEAR.

THE POWER DYNAMIC STAYED THE SAME, REPUBLICAN CONTROL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE GOVERNOR IN THE MANSION.

SO THEY GOT TO WORK TOGETHER.

HE TICKED THROUGH HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL MONDAY NIGHT, YOU KNOW HE WANTS TO EXPAND MEDICAID, EXPAND PRE K, INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES, PASS A BOND TO FUND SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, ROADS, BRIDGES, TRANSIT, WATER AND SEWER, BROADBAND INTERNET.

HE WANTS TO DO A GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, OTHERS HURT BY THE PANDEMIC, HAD A SECTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND RACISM.

RACISM WAS SOMETHING THAT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, TIM MOORE MENTIONED IN HIS RESPONSE TO THE SPEECH DIRECTLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE LAST YEAR BROUGHT, AND I QUOTE, "LONG IGNORED DISPARITIES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE TO THE SURFACE."

LIKE I SAID THERE ARE SOME REFORM BILLS THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND WHILE THE REPUBLICAN'S ONES DON'T GO AS FAR AS ADVOCATES ON THE LEFT WOULD LIKE, THERE IS INTEREST AND ROOM FOR COMPROMISE THERE.

>> JOE, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS?

>> WELL, THE MOST INTERESTING THING WAS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE CAME ON THE HEELS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT APPLE WAS GOING TO LOCATE A HEADQUARTERS FACILITY IN RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK BRINGING A BILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENT TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND 3,000 MORE JOBS.

IT'D BE VERY HARD FOR GOVERNOR COOPER, NOT TO HAVE AN IRREPRESSIBLE SMILE ON HIS FACE WHILE HE'S TALKING TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF NORTH CAROLINA WHEN SUCH A SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT HAD JUST BEEN MADE.

CLEARLY NORTH CAROLINA REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION FOR BUSINESSES LOOKING TO EITHER EXPAND A FACILITY THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE IN THE STATE OR TO BRING A NEW FACILITY AS APPLE WILL TO NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT IN TIME AND THE GOVERNOR'S CALLED FOR BIPARTISANSHIP TO TRY TO GET A STATE BUDGET ENACTED WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT BIG CORPORATE INTERESTS ARE VERY KEEN ON, SEEING THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S WELL RUN IN NORTH CAROLINA AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING OUR WORK DONE BY HAVING IN PLACE A REVENUE AND SPENDING PACKAGE FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

>> THANKS JOE.

ASHER YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF THE STATE.

>> YOU KNOW THIS IS A GOVERNOR WHOSE ENTIRE FIRST TERM WAS DEFINED BY CRISIS FIRST FROM NATURAL DISASTERS THAN FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT HE'S EAGER TO GET DOWN TO WORK BOTH ON THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS LIKE MEDICAID EXPANSION AND TEACHER PAY BUT ALSO ON CHALLENGES THAT HAVE SEEN A RENEWED FOCUS LIKE SYSTEMIC RACISM AND RACIAL DISPARITIES.

NOW THE QUESTION QUITE FRANKLY IS WHETHER HE'LL HAVE A GOOD-FAITH NEGOTIATING PARTNER IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND IF YOU WATCHED THE SPEECH ON MONDAY, AND IF YOU WATCHED SPEAKER MOORE'S RESPONSE AS TRAVIS SAID, YOU SAW A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP AND COMMON GROUND AND HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST TALKING THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET DOWN TO WORK.

BUT AS NELSON ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME WEEK THE SENATE PASSED 2 BILLS THAT WOULD RESTRICT THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS, AND SO FORGIVE ME IF I'M A LITTLE CYNICAL ABOUT WHETHER WE'VE ENTERED A NEW ERA OF BIPARTISAN COMEDY.

>> LET'S GO TO NELSON NOW YOUR BOSS HAD THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE.

WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS SAYING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE?

>> WELL OF COURSE WE NEED TO BALANCE OUR POWERS AMONG THE BRANCHES, BUT THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE BY HOUSE SPEAKER MOORE DID TOUCH ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE SHARED GOALS THAT EVERYBODY HAVE - GOOD JOBS, SAFE HOMES, BETTER QUALITY EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THE SPEAKER ALSO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF RECOVERING FROM THE PANDEMIC, GETTING STUDENTS BACK IN CLASSROOMS, PROVIDING SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND GETTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES FULLY OPENED AND EVERYBODY BACK TO WORK, SO REPUBLICANS WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO SOUND BUDGETING AND LOW TAXES AND WORK ON THOSE SHARED PRIORITIES WHICH ARE INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, AND OF COURSE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE BROADBAND ACCESS WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS AND TRANSPORTATION.

>> MORE TO COME ON ALL OF THESE TOPICS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD I'M SURE, LET'S NOW SWITCH GEARS.

NEW CENSUS DATA OUT THIS WEEK NORTH CAROLINA'S GOING TO GET ANOTHER SEAT IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THAT MEANS BIG ISSUES FOR REDISTRICTING.

TELL US ABOUT IT JOE.

>> YEAH, THE NUMBERS ARE IN.

AND NORTH CAROLINA HAS 10 MILLION 453 THOUSAND 948 PEOPLE LIVING IN IT, ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS.

THAT WAS THE SIXTH-LARGEST GROWTH OF ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE 15TH - NORTH CAROLINA, THE 15TH FASTEST GROWING STATE.

NOW THESE NUMBERS HAVE TO BE PLUGGED IN TO TRY TO PROVIDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE BASIS THAT THEY NEED TO RE APPORTION THE CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS LOOKING AT THE NEW POPULATION DATA TRYING TO CREATE DISTRICTS WHERE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVE IN EACH OF THOSE DISTRICTS.

NOW THE THINGS TO WATCH ARE THIS; ONE, THE FULL CENSUS DATA HAS NOT YET BEEN REVEALED, THAT COMES IN A FEW MORE MONTHS; TWO, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ALREADY ANNOUNCED THEIR PLANS TO ONCE THEY GET THROUGH WITH THE PRIMARY ISSUES OF THIS SESSION, THEY'LL RECESS AND COME BACK IN THE FALL, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDRAWNING THESE LINES.

THE KEY FACTORS TO WATCH: WHAT INCUMBENT LEGISLATORS ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO RUN FOR REELECTION IN 2022.

WHY DOES THAT MATTER?

WHEN YOU'RE DRAWING MAPS TO SOME EXTENT, THE INCUMBENTS ARE INTERESTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW DISTRICT LINES, AT LEAST IN PART, PROVIDE A DISTRICT THEY CAN RUN AND WIN IN, AND SO IF YOU'RE AN INCUMBENT AND PARTICULARLY IN THE MAJORITY PARTY, YOU'RE VERY KEY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW MAP FAVORS YOUR REELECTION CHANCES, IF A SEAT IS OPEN, MAYBE THE DRAWING OF THE MAP IS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT REALLY AN INCUMBENT WHO HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS.

>> VERY INTERESTING ISSUES.

NELSON, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE AS A LEGISLATOR, WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT THE THE LIKELY REDISTRICTING BATTLE COMING UP?

>> WELL, I THINK THE CONCERN IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CONGRESS WHERE THEY'RE PUSHING HR ONE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT UNLESS THEY STRIP THE LEGISLATURE'S OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO DRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, THEY'RE LIKELY TO LOSE MORE SEATS IN REPUBLICAN LEANING STATES IN THE SUN BELT AND THE WEST.

AND THERE'S ALSO MADE A MAJOR MOTIVATION FOR THE DEMOCRATS WANTING TO ADD MORE JUSTICES TO PACK THE SUPREME COURT WITH BIDEN APPOINTEES BECAUSE NUMEROUS REDISTRICTING CASES WILL FIND THEIR WAY TO THE COURTS IN THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE UNFORTUNATELY NATIONALLY A RAW BATTLE FOR POWER BETWEEN THE 2 MAJOR PARTIES AND OUR CONSTITUTION IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE TESTED IN THE BALANCE.

>> TRAVIS, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ISSUE.

>> IN NORTH CAROLINA, I'M INTERESTED WHO THEY DRAW THAT 14TH SEAT FOR RIGHT, I MEAN, WHO WANTS TO MOVE UP?

DOES IT GET DRAWN IN A WAY THAT PERHAPS HELPS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, TIM MOORE RUN FOR CONGRESS AND MAKING WAY FOR YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY ALL THOSE LIEUTENANTS UNDER HIM TO MOVE UP IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION LIKE SOMEWHAT, BUT REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL SAID IT'S GOING TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT PROCESS, MORE LIKE WHAT WE SAW A YEAR OR 2 AGO, SORRY IT ALL BLENDS TOGETHER.

WHEN THE COURTS FORCED A REDRAW AND IT WAS DONE WITH CAMERAS LITERALLY POINTING AT THE COMPUTER AS THE MAPS WERE DRAWN.

SO THIS IS ONE AREA WHERE PROCESS IS JUST SO IMPORTANT AND TRANSPARENCY IS REAL IMPORTANT TOO.

>> ASHER ARE WE IN FOR ANOTHER LONG SLOG OVER THE DECADE OVER REDISTRICTING?

>> HERE TOO I WISH I COULD BE MORE OPTIMISTIC, BUT I THINK PROBABLY SO.

YOU KNOW LOOK IN 2020.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR THE UNITED STATES HOUSE ONE ABOUT 30,000 MORE VOTES THAN REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR THE UNITED STATES HOUSE, YET REPUBLICANS HOLD A TO THE STATE'S 13 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GROWING.

A MAP THAT FAVORS REPUBLICANS 9 TO 5 OR EVEN 10 TO 4.

SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED ANY OUTCOME THAT'S NOT YOU KNOW 7 - 7 OR AT WORST 8 - 6 IT'S PROBABLY A DISTORTION OF THE WILL OF NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS, BUT I'M ALSO NOT NAIVE ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS WILL LOOK LIKE OR WHAT IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE AND AS TRAVIS SAID THAT PROCESS IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT EVEN WITH THAT ADDED TRANSPARENCY WE STILL HAVE A CURRENT MAP THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY FAVORS ONE PARTY AND THAT IN MY VIEW IT DOES NOT REFLECT SMALL D DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> WELL, WE ARE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING THIS OF COURSE AS THE WEEKS AND MONTHS GO FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR US TO TURN TO THE UNDERREPORTED STORIES OF THE WEEK AND LET'S START THIS TIME WITH NELSON.

>> YES, THE 3 SEAS INITIATIVE.

THIS WAS STARTED IN 2015 BY 12 COUNTRY ALLIANCE FROM THE BALTIC SEA IN THE NORTH TO THE ADRIATIC AND BLACK SEAS IN THE SOUTH, THE INITIATIVE IS ANCHORED BY POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND ROMANIA.

THE STATED GOAL IS TO CREATE A NORTH SOUTH CONNECTIVITY IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THE UNSTATED GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A CENTRAL EUROPEAN CHECK ON RUSSIA'S WESTWARD EXPANSION.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SUPPORTED THE INITIATIVE CONVINCED CONGRESS TO PROVIDE A BILLION DOLLARS IN THEIR INVESTMENT FUND AND MORE MILITARY AID, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOW ANNOUNCED THEY ARE REAFFIRMING US SUPPORT FOR THE 3 SEAS INITIATIVE.

>> ASHER YOUR MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK.

>> MY UNDERREPORTED STORY COMES FROM TEXAS WHERE THE FALLOUT CONTINUES FROM THE WEEKLONG POWER GRID FAILURE IN FEBRUARY.

ACCORDING TO A REPORT THIS WEEK BY NBC NEWS PROPUBLICA AND THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, THE BLACKOUT LEAD TO THE WORST THE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING OUTBREAK IN RECENT US HISTORY, AS TEXANS TURN TOWARD THEIR CARS, THEIR GAS GRILLS, AND OTHER UNCONVENTIONAL SOURCES OF HEAT TO STAY WARM IN THE FREEZING COLD.

LED TO AT LEAST 11 DEATHS AND OVER 1400 TRIPS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE OF THIS POISONING.

ALSO SHED LIGHT ON THE FACT THAT TEXAS IS ONE OF ONLY 6 STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS ON A STATEWIDE BASIS IN HOMES AND SO IT'S HARD TO FIND A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF STATE IN ACTION ON AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY NON-CONTROVERSIAL LEADING TO SOME TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES.

ALSO GOOD REMINDER FOR THE REST OF US CHECK THOSE BATTERIES IN YOUR ALARMS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THEM.

>> YES, STARK NUMBERS, STARK NUMBERS THERE.

JOE YOU'RE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY THIS WEEK.

>> A POTENTIAL LOOMING CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE SHORTAGE OF GASOLINE THIS SUMMER.

PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS WANTING TO TAKE VACATIONS MAY FIND IT HARD TO PURCHASE GASOLINE.

NOT AS A RESULT OF PRODUCTION ISSUES, BUT AS A RESULT OF A LACK OF PEOPLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCKS TO DELIVER THE GASOLINE TO GAS STATIONS, THE NATIONAL TANK TRUCK CARRIERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED THEIR ESTIMATES ARE 25% OF THE DELIVERY FLEET NOW IDLE AS A RESULT OF A LACK OF DRIVERS, AND LOOKING BACK TO 2019 THAT RATE WAS ONLY 10%.

THIS IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES EMERGING FROM COVID-19 WHERE THE WORKFORCE IS NOT PRESENT FOR THE JOBS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IT MAY RESULT IN MUCH HIGHER PRICES FOR GASOLINE AND EVEN SHORTAGES AT SOME POINT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

>> GLAD I DRIVE A HYBRID.

TRAVIS, HOW ABOUT YOUR MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK.

>> MINE IS THE STORY FROM THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER DURING LAST YEAR'S PROTEST, ASHEVILLE POLICE OFFICERS WERE FILM SLASHING WATER BOTTLES AND DESTROYING MEDICAL SUPPLIES THAT HAVE BEEN STOCKPILED ON THE STREET BY PROTESTERS.

THE DEPARTMENT DECIDED IT NEEDS SOME PUBLIC RELATIONS HELP AFTER THAT, SIGNED A $60,000 CONTRACT WITH A GROUP CALLED COLD PRO MEDIA.

THE COMPANY DESCRIBES ITSELF AS TRANSPARENT, EXCUSE ME, TRANSPARENCY ENGAGEMENT ADVISORS.

BUT IN A NOW DELETED FACEBOOK POST THEY OFFERED POLICE DEPARTMENTS A STREET-SMART CLASS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS DESIGNED TO, AND I QUOTE, "OUTSMART REPORTERS".

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WORKED.

DOESN'T SOUND SMART OR - TRANSPARENT - TO - ME.

>> IF IT ENDED UP IN THE STORY THEN I DON'T THINK THEY OUTSMARTED THEM.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND WHEN WE HAVE THE WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN.

SO LET'S START WITH WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN FROM NELSON.

>> YES, UK PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON ONE PASSAGE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OF A TRADE DEAL THIS WEEK WITH 0 TARIFFS AND 0 QUOTAS.

EUROPE ESSENTIALLY CAVED ON THE DEAL WHILE JOHNSON AND BREXIT SUPPORTERS CHALKED UP ANOTHER VICTORY FOR BRITISH COMMERCE.

WHO'S DOWN ALSO THE EUROPEAN UNION FALLING FURTHER BEHIND IN VACCINATIONS.

THE UK AND US HAVE ADMINISTERED SOME 70 DOSES PER 100 PEOPLE.

THE EU LAGS FAR BEHIND AT 29 DOSES PER 100 PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE UNFORTUNATELY, CHINA AND RUSSIA LAG EVEN FURTHER BEHIND.

>> WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN ASHER?

>> UP, I'M GONNA SAY FORMER NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE CHERI BEASLEY WHO ENTERED THE U.S. SENATE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WITH A BURST OF MOMENTUM THIS WEEK AIDED BY AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS THAT INCLUDED SOME 25 SITTING STATE LEGISLATORS, AND THAT RAISED MY EYEBROWS BECAUSE HER 2 BEST KNOWN PRIMARY OPPONENTS ARE A CURRENT STATE LEGISLATOR AND A FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR.

WHO'S DOWN, I'M GOING TO SAY THE SERVICE ECONOMY.

NOW THIS WEEK'S QUARTERLY GDP REPORT SHOWED GDP APPROACHING PREPANDEMIC LEVELS WHICH IS A GREAT THING OVERALL, BUT THAT POSITIVE GROSS MASKED A PRETTY DRAMATIC SHIFT AWAY FROM SERVICE SPENDING IN TOWARDS DURABLE GOODS LIKE CARS OR RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT.

NOW IT'S NO SURPRISE THE IMPACT THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON THE SERVICE SECTOR.

THAT'S BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED, BUT THIS REPORT OFFERS SOME PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE THAT THE IMPACT COULD BE FELT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN JOE?

>> UP, ECONOMIC OPTIMISM.

A GALLUP POLL JUST CAME OUT SHOWING THEIR ECONOMIC SENSITIVITY AMONG NORTH AMERICANS IS AT PLUS TWO, HAVING REBOUNDED FROM NEGATIVE 32 A YEAR AGO.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, 57% OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THE SURVEY INDICATED THEY HAD AT LEAST SOME OR A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE DIRECTION PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS TAKEN THE U.S. ECONOMY.

WHO'S DOWN?

A WASHINGTON POST, ABC POLL ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE PERSONAL FINANCES FOUND OVERALL 22% OF AMERICANS SAID A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT HIT THEIR POCKETBOOK AS A RESULT OF COVID-19.

WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR REPORTED SLIGHTLY HIGHER LEVELS OF IMPACT THAN THE OVERALL STANDARD.

WE'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THE RECOVERY FAVORS EVERYBODY IN THE UNITED STATES >> WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN TRAVIS QUICKLY PLEASE.

>> VOTER TURNOUT THE CENSUS CONFIRMED WHAT WE ALREADY KIND OF KNEW, 2020 ELECTIONS SET A RECORD.

67% OF U.S. CITIZENS, 18 YEARS OR OLDER VOTED DOWN.

FOR A LITTLE WHILE THERE WAS A BILL ON OFFER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WOULD REQUIRE PRINTERS TO BE CLEARLY LABELED IN STORES TELLING PEOPLE HOW MUCH IT COST TO BUY THE INK.

HOW LONG A CARTRIDGE IS GOING TO LAST, I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO SAID I LOVE MY PRINTER AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT INK COSTS.

SOME SAD REPORT TODAY THAT AS OF THIS WEEK, THE BILL IS DEAD.

BIG PRINTER WINS AGAIN.

>> WELL THAT'S BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION OF THE UNDERREPORTED STORIES.

THE LIGHTNING ROUND OF DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TIME TO GET TO THE HEADLINES.

I LET YOU GO A LITTLE BIT LONGER AT SOME OF THOSE TOPICS BUT IT'S A GREAT JOB PANEL AND THAT'S IT FOR US, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WITH THE MARC ROTTERMAN BACK IN THE CHAIR ON FRONT ROW.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS TO BE FOUND AT: ♪