>> HI, I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP THE NUMBER OF HOME SCHOOL FAMILIES IN NORTH CAROLINA DOUBLES DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'LL GET THE LATEST FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THE CRISIS AT THE BORDER ACCELERATES.

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 CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH CAROLINA JOURNAL, COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, DONNA KING POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART AND DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR SIDNEY BATCH.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HOMESCHOOLS NUMBERS, DONNA, WHY DON'T YOU KICK US OFF?

>> VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION COMING OUT.

BACK IN THE SPRING ABOUT 5 AND A HALF PERCENT OF FAMILIES NATIONWIDE IDENTIFIED AS A HOMESCHOOLING FAMILY HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, IT WAS ABOUT 5%.

BETWEEN SPRING AND THIS FALL, IT'S ABOUT DOUBLED NATIONWIDE NOW IT'S 11% OF PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE HOME SCHOOLING HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA ABOUT 9.5%, BUT I THINK WHAT THAT SHOWS IS IT'S REALLY BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME FOR FAMILIES PARTICULARLY WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.

YOU KNOW UNPREDICTABILITY THEY'VE HAD DIFFICULTY AND FIGURING OUT IF THEY SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL WHETHER THEY'RE GETTING THE RIGHT EDUCATION AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY SEEING IS PARENTS DECIDING THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET INVOLVED AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW SOME TEACHERS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL PRIVATE SCHOOL HAVE SAID FOR A LONG TIME THAT PARENTS REALLY NEED TO SHOW THEIR VESTED INTEREST IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IS ANOTHER POLL DONE BY A SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCACY GROUP SAID THAT NOW ABOUT 71% OF AMERICANS SAY THAT THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF SCHOOL CHOICE, OF BROADENING SOME OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS AS THEY EMBARK ON THEIR EDUCATION.

NOW FAMILIES WHO IDENTIFY AS BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN THAT INCREASE IN HOMESCHOOLING WAS 5 TIMES THE NUMBER FROM LAST SPRING, SO WE'RE REALLY SEEING BE SCHOOL CHOICE HOMESCHOOLING MOVEMENT GET REAL TRACTION PARTICULARLY IN THAT COMMUNITY.

>> MITCH IS THIS A TREND YOU THINK?

>> CERTAINLY I THINK IT IS A TREND.

OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE NUMBERS FOR THE PAST YEAR ARE BASED ON COVID AND THE FACT THAT PARENTS HAVE BEEN UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHAT THEIR TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE DOING WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM WORKING COMPLETELY FROM HOME SOME SORT OF MIX.

SO THAT'S AN IMPACT, BUT I THINK WHAT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE IS WHERE THE NUMBERS GO FROM HERE ONCE WE SEE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET BACK TO MORE OF A TRADITIONAL SETTING.

HOW MANY PARENTS SAY HOMESCHOOLING WAS FINE, LET'S GET BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS AND HOW MANY OF THEM SAY YOU KNOW THIS HOMESCHOOLING THING I WASN'T REALLY SURE ABOUT IT.

BUT NOW I LIKE IT.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE ELEVATED NUMBERS FROM WHAT WE SAW BEFORE EVEN AS MANY OF THESE STUDENTS RETURN TO THEIR TRADITIONAL SETTINGS .

>> SIDNEY, WEIGH IN HERE PLEASE.

>> I THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED BY THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE ENROLLED IN HOMESCHOOL, 3 MILLION WOMEN HAVE LEFT THE WORKFORCE SINCE THE PANDEMIC AND SO WOMEN DISPROPORTIONATELY OF COURSE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILD CARE.

MANY OF THE WOMEN LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY WERE LAID OFF.

AND THEN MANY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO STAY AT HOME BECAUSE CHILDCARE CENTERS AND SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.

SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN HOMESCHOOLING, AND TO MITCH'S POINT I'M NOT SURE THAT -- I THINK IT WILL STAY ELEVATED, BUT NOT ELEVATED AS NOW SIMPLY BECAUSE SCHOOLS ARE REOPENING AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC PASSES I THINK WE'LL BE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE BACK TO WORK 3 MILLION WOMEN THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE WORKFORCE WILL GO BACK AND WON'T BE IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

>> JOE PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU THINK?

>> WELL THE NOTION THAT YOU BUILD A FACILITY AND HAVE PEOPLE GO THERE TO BE TAUGHT AND EDUCATION IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE 4TH CENTURY BC.

I MEAN HOPEFULLY WE DON'T WASTE A PERFECTLY GOOD CRISIS HERE AND TAKE A THOROUGH LOOK AT HOW WE'RE PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

ARE WE PREPARING THEM THE RIGHT WAY FOR THE JOBS OF THE 21ST CENTURY?

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT SURVEYS HAVE SHOWN IN THE FUTURE JOBS WITH A TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY WILL BE FAR MORE IN DEMAND THAN WHAT'S NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THROUGH A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE IN COLLEGE.

SO WE PROBABLY NEED TO TAKE A WHOLESALE LOOK NOT JUST AT THE STRUCTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN TERMS OF WHERE WE'RE EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE BUT WHAT THE CURRICULUM IS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY TO COMPETE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS PLEASE.

>> I THINK ALL THOSE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS.

YOU KNOW WE CAN'T LET THAT GO UNNOTICED THAT A LOT OF COMPANIES A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO IMPROVE AND INCREASE THEIR FLEXIBILITY FOR WORKING PARENTS WHO WANT TO PERHAPS CONTINUE BEING THIS INVOLVED IN EDUCATION AND THEY WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FROM HOME AND HELP THEIR KIDS AND ALTER PERHAPS HOW THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING EDUCATED AND SCHOOLS NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT FLEXIBILITY.

SO WE REALLY MAY SEE AN INCREASE AND MORE AUTONOMY WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION AND WOMEN'S WORK.

>> SIDNEY I WANT TO CHANGE TOPICS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

>> YEAH THIS WEEK ACTUALLY A SESSION WAS OUT A VOTE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT BASED ON THE SENATE BILL FILING DEADLINE AND ALL THE BILLS THAT HAVE DROPPED THIS WEEK.

MOST NOTABLY IS A BILL THAT WAS FILED ACTUALLY BY A REPUBLICAN A FRESHMAN SENATOR KEVIN CORBAN AND TWO OTHER REPUBLICANS, IT'S EXPANDING MEDICAID BUT THEY WOULD NOT CALL IT MEDICAID EXPANSION TO BE CLEAR WITH REGARDS TO ALLOWING WOMEN WHO ARE HAVE PREGNANCY MEDICAID RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT 12 MONTHS POSTPARTUM.

CURRENTLY IT ONLY ALLOWS 3 MONTHS POSTPARTUM THIS WOULD ACTUALLY EXTENDIT TO 12 MONTHS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT I WOULD ACTUALLY ADD THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO HAVE TUITION-FREE ENROLLMENT IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES SO THEY CAN FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.

ANOTHER AND ALONG THE SAME LINES AWITHT THE REGARDS TO WOMEN AND HELP ETCETERA I WAS PART OF 2 DIFFERENT BILLS, THE HEALTH CARE PREGNANCY PROTECTION ACT FOR WOMEN AND THEN ALSO THE MOMNIBUS WHICH IS DEALING WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES AND DISPARITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE'RE 40TH IN MATERNAL MORTALITY AND SO THAT WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE DISPARITIES IN ISSUES THAT WE SEE THERE AND HAVE SOME WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANCY.

ANOTHER REALLY INTERESTING BILL THAT WAS FILED ALSO WAS BY SENATOR PERRY, A REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE AND HE FILED A BILL THAT ACTUALLY WOULD PREVENT LOBBYISTS FROM BEING ON THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS WITH REGARDS TO THE UNC SYSTEM.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT WITH A LOT OF LEGISLATION THIS YEAR AND IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT THE HOUSE HASN'T EVEN FILED THEIR BILLS IN AND THE BILL FILING DEADLINE IS WEEKS AWAY.

>> DONNA SENATOR PERRY, JIM PERRY, A FRESHMAN INTRODUCED A BILL TO RESTRICT LOBBYIST FROM BEING ON THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AT NORTH CAROLINA.

>> I THINK THAT IS AN INTERESTING BILL PARTICULARLY.

NOW BOARD OF GOVERNORS HAS LONG BEEN A PLACE WHERE SOMETIMES YOU SAW DONORS, LOBBYISTS, SORT REWARDED FOR A POSITION ON THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS REALLY DOES HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER THE DIRECTION OF THE UNC SYSTEM SCHOOLS, TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONTROL AND I THINK THAT THIS BILL IS A STEP TOWARD MAKING THOSE POSITIONS AS BOARD OF GOVERNORS POSITIONS MORE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO MANAGE LARGE ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE BALANCED AND A LITTLE MORE INDEPENDENT.

>> JOE WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING?

>> INTERESTING A BILL INTRODUCED THIS WEEK SENATOR JIM BURGIN REPUBLICAN HARNETT COUNTY.

SENATE BILL 5.34 TO CREATE A COMMISSION TO STUDY AMONG OTHER THINGS LEGISLATIVE SERVICE.

THE TERMS, WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE LIMITS PLACED ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES A LEGISLATOR CAN RUN FOR REELECTION, LIMITING THE DURATION PERHAPS OF THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, LOOKING AT THEIR COMPENSATION AND THE REIMBURSEMENTS THEY GET FOR MILEAGE AND OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

THIS IS NOT A UNHEARD OF IN PAST LEGISLATURES THERE'S BEEN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS, GENERALLY THINKING I THINK LEGISLATORS ARE A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE CONSTRUED BY CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME AS BEING FAVORABLE TO THE TERMS OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICE BUT QUITE FRANKLY WE ASK A LOT OF OUR LEGISLATORS, THIS HUMBLE LITTLE THING WE CALL THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, MORE OR LESS WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY COMBINED A 50 BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR ENTERPRISE AND WE WOULD NEVER IMAGINE 50 BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR COMPANY HAVING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IT DOESN'T PAY ANYTHING MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE, DOESN'T TELL THEM HOW LONG THE MEETINGS ARE GOING TO LAST SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX ISSUES THAT THE STATE'S GOING TO FACE GOING FORWARD, IT'S PROBABLY TIME FOR US TO MAKE SURE THE TERMS OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICE ARE APPROPRIATE.

>> MITCH JUMP IN HERE.

>> BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE WENT ON ITS SPRING BREAK, LEGISLATORS GAVE GOVERNOR ROY COOPER A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT DEALT WITH EDUCATION ISSUES.

ONE, A SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM ANOTHER, THE EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT THAT DEALT WITH EARLY LITERACY.

BOTH OF THOSE HAD SOME PRETTY WIDESPREAD SUPPORT DURING THIS PAST WEEK THOUGH WE ALSO SAW A BILL THAT'S GOING TO GET SOME PARTISAN EDGE TO IT ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, ANOTHER BILL IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD EXPAND BOTH THE ELIGIBILITY AND THE SIZE OF THE AWARD FOR OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ONE'S GOING TO SPLIT PEOPLE R'S AND D'S.

>> OK, I'M CHANGING TOPICS MICHENER'S BEEN A MAJOR SURGE OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

>> 3 MONTHS INTO HIS PRESIDENCY, JOE BIDEN FACES A SURE FIRE CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

WE'VE SEEN THE SURGE IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMING TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER IN MARCH, THERE WAS A 15 YEAR HIGH IN ILLEGAL CROSSINGS, NOW 171,000 PEOPLE IN CUSTODY, INCLUDING A RECORD 19,000 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN REMEMBER DONALD TRUMP GOT A LOT OF CRITICISM WHEN HE HAD ABOUT 2600 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN COMING INTO THE BORDER, SO A MUCH LARGER SCALE ISSUE.

THE SITUATION HAS BECOME SO SERIOUS, THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SUGGESTED HE MIGHT EVEN RESTART SOME OF THE PIECES OF THE HATED BORDER WALL THAT DREW SO MUCH CONTROVERSY.

MEANWHILE, THE POLLS ARE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT IN HIS HANDLING OF IMMIGRATION, A RECENT AP POLL SHOWED 56% OF PEOPLE ARE AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN'S POLICY ON IMMIGRATION 55% AGAINST THE WAY THAT HE'S HANDLED BORDER SECURITY THE NUMBERS ARE EVEN WORSE AMONG INDEPENDENTS, 62% AGAINST HIM ON IMMIGRATION 67% AGAINST HIM ON BORDER SECURITY OF COURSE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEEN VERY HARMFUL FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HAS REALLY FOCUS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION IS ALL THE IMAGES THAT WE'RE SEEING INCLUDING THAT VIDEO THAT I THINK EVERYONE HAS SEEN BY NOW OF THE ONE LITTLE BOY CRYING BY HIMSELF IN THE MEXICAN DESERT, NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> DONNA ARE THE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS WINNING OR ARE THE CARTELS WINNING?

>> WELL LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY THEY DEFINITELY ARE.

ARIZONA GOVERNOR DUCEY AND SHERIFFS THAT MAN AREAS RIGHT ALONG THE BORDER SAY THEY'RE SEEING A TREMENDOUS SURGE AND VERY LUCRATIVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING WORK BY THE CARTELS, THEY'RE CHARGING $1500 PER PERSON AND OFTEN IF FAMILIES ARE TOO POOR TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT, THEIR CHILDREN OR EVEN THEY ARE FORCED INTO A HUMAN TRAFFICKING SITUATION ONCE THEY GET THERE, OR EXTRA MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL ARE BEING PLACED IN WITH FAMILIES TO GET THROUGH NOW ONE OF THE SHERIFF'S DID SAY THAT THEY'RE OFTEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DIRTY, THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE TRAVELED, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MUDDY BOOTS THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING THROUGH HAVE, BUT THEY SAID IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE.

THAT 19,000 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IN MARCH IS HUGE.

THE NEXT CLOSEST WAS ABOUT 11,000 IN 2019, IN MAY OF 2019, BEFORE THAT, IT WAS 10,000 IN 2014 IN JUNE, SO WE'RE REALLY SEEING A MASSIVE INCREASE IN UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.

>> JOE HAS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BEEN TRANSPARENT DURING THIS WHOLE CRISIS?

>> I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE SUCH AS IT IS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING THE NECESSARY HUMANITARIAN SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE THAT CROSSED THE BORDER, BUT I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN PROBABLY IS FACING A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE IN EXPLAINING WHY THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM BY COMPARISON WITH HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP HANDLED A SIMILAR SITUATION.

AGAIN IT COMES BACK TO THIS, THAT HOPEFULLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL PUT FORWARD SOME COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO MORE TO HELP THIS COUNTRY AND SOUTH AMERICA TO KEEP THESE FOLKS FROM COMING TO OUR BORDER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> BUT WAS A REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY WORKING FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS YOU THINK JOE?

>> WELL I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT THIS CRISIS IS SUCH A SCALE THAT EVERY POLICY THEY TRY TO PUT IN PLACE TO STEM THE PARTICULAR ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS ACTUALLY FIXING WHAT'S THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS AND THAT'S WHY I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL PUT FORWARD SOMETHING THAT IS SUBSTANTIVE IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION REFORM.

>> SIDNEY, THE VICE PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF THE BORDER NOW.

WHAT DO WE SEE FROM HER TO DATE?

>> I THINK THAT WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING IS REACHING OUT TO THE POINT WITH 19,000 UNACCOMPANIED MINORS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO TRY AND FIND PLACEMENTS.

WE KNOW THAT THE STADIUM THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY STAYING IN RIGHT NOW ARE NOT APPROPRIATE THEY'RE SUB PAR FOR MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN OBVIOUSLY GET WHAT THEIR NEEDS MET, AND WE KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THE GIRLS WHO ARE COMING UNACCOMPANIED HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND RAPED BY THE MULES THAT BRING THEM OVER HERE AND SO THEY ARE WORKING WITH AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PLACE CHILDREN QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH RELATIVES, AND ALSO IN FOSTER HOMES AND GROUP HOMES.

THAT'S THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW.

>> MITCH WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> WELL CERTAINLY I THINK EVERYONE HAS ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REALLY NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A GOOD PLAN, GET IT IN PLACE, AND CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT HE DOES KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING AT THE BORDER.

I THINK IF IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED FAIRLY QUICKLY, IT'S GOING TO METASTASIZE INTO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A 2022 ISSUE.

LET'S GO TO THE GUN PLAN THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN UNVEILED THIS WEEK, JOE.

>> IN THE ROSE GARDEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCING SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS HE'S GOING TO TAKE TO STEM WHAT HE CHARACTERIZED AS AN EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE SAYING THAT IT WAS AN INTERNATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT TO THE UNITED STATES IN A BLEMISH ON THE CHARACTER OF OUR NATION THAT WE ENDURED SO MANY OF THESE LARGE SCALE SHOOTINGS IN THE COUNTRY.

OF COURSE MOST OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO PURSUE WILL REQUIRE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW WILLING CONGRESS IS TO TAKE UP SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS, BUT THE PRESIDENT FOR HIS PART IS ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON A FEW KEY THINGS, ONE, GHOST GUNS, WHICH ARE THOSE GUNS THAT CAN BE ASSEMBLED BY AN INDIVIDUAL, THEY COME IN A KIT.

CURRENTLY YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A SERIAL NUMBER.

PRESIDENT WANTED TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT.

STABILIZING BRACES WHICH IS A DEVICE THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR WHAT IS A PISTOL TO BE USED MORE OR LESS LIKE A SHORT RIFLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FEW OF THE MASS SHOOTINGS IN RECENT YEARS.

BUT IT'S ALSO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO PROMULGATE A MODEL RED FLAG LAW.

19 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CURRENTLY HAVE THESE PROVISIONS ON THE BOOKS WHERE FOLKS CAN GO TO A JUDGE AND SAY THAT A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL IS EITHER SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL ILLNESS OR IS A DANGER TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS AND SHOULD HAVE WEAPONS REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME.

AGAIN WE'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE NRA WHICH HAS HAD ITS CHALLENGES OF THE LAST COUPLE YEARS FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, DOESN'T HAVE THE POLITICAL STRENGTH CURRENTLY TO DO BATTLE WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS, WIN SOME OF THESE GUN CONTROL PROVISIONS THAT COME BEFORE THE US HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> MITCH IS THE PRESIDENT ATTEMPTING TO LEGISLATE VIA EXECUTIVE ORDER YOU THINK?

HE ISSUED 5 EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON GUNS.

>> THERE'S ACTUALLY A MIX OF VIEWS I HAVE ABOUT THESE.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE TALKED ABOUT ARE WELL WITHIN HIS POWERS, APPOINTING SOMEONE TO HEAD THE ATF THAT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE THAT SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE DOING, I THINK PUTTING FORWARD A RED FLAG LAW WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR NOT FOR STATES TO CONSIDER THAT FITS IN WITH THE WHOLE FEDERALISM BUT BANNING THE GHOST GUNS, BANNING THE STABILIZING BRACES THOSE REALLY SEEM TO BE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY CONGRESS, NOT BY A PRESIDENT, ANY PRESIDENT PRESIDENT BIDEN, PRESIDENT TRUMP ANYONE, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT SHOULD GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS HAVE PLENTY OF DEBATE GET SOME BUY IN FROM ALL SIDES.

>> YOU THINK THERE CAN BE BUY IN DONNA AS CLOSE AS THE NUMBERS ARE IN THIS CONGRESS?

>> WELL, IT'S VERY VERY TIGHT IN A IN A VERY CLOSELY SPLIT CONGRESS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING IS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE EXECUTIVE ORDERS MAKES SOME CONCRETE CHANGES.

HE SAID IN HIS STATEMENT AT THE ROSE GARDEN YESTERDAY, HE'S ASKED ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND TO IDENTIFY THOSE CONCRETE THINGS THAT HE CAN DO BY EXECUTIVE ORDER WITHOUT MEETING CONGRESS SO HE'S MADE THAT THE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW, AND OF COURSE DAVID CHIPMAN HE'S NOMINATED FOR ATF WHO IS 25 YEAR VETERAN OF THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL TOBACCO AND FIRE ARMS.

CHIPMAN HAS A WEALTH, A DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE HANDLING HIGH PROFILE ILLEGAL GUN OPERATIONS, HE WAS ONE OF THE CASE ANALYSTS IN WACO AND TO DAVID KORESH, BRANCH DAVIDIANS HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE REALLY SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS ADVOCATES, THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT SECOND AMENDMENT BALANCE THAT PERSPECTIVE.

HE HAS THE EXPERIENCE, BUT MAYBE NOT THE PERSPECTIVE THAT A LOT OF RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

>> SIDNEY, CLOSE THIS OUT ABOUT 30 SECONDS IF YOU WOULD PLEASE.

>> YOU KNOW I THINK THAT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO STICK OUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND ACT LIKE THIS IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTUALLY PROBABLY GONNA TAKE UP LEGISLATION ON GUNS, THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, IN PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE IS INTERESTED IN PASSING LEGISLATION IN REGARDS TO JUST SIMPLE MEASURES THAT WILL PROTECT CHILDREN SUCH AS SAFETY LOCKS ON GUNS, ET CETERA, THERE ARE SOLUTIONS, BUT IT'S A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY ARE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS PRESERVED, BUT THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN STEM THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT IS PLAGUING OUR COUNTRY.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> IT'S BEEN WIDELY REPORTED MARC THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SOME INTERESTING IDEAS MOVING FORWARD ON NOT DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

ONE PIECE OF THIS DEBATE THAT HAS GOTTEN VERY LITTLE ATTENTION IS A STATE LEVEL CAP AND TRADE DEAL CALLED THE TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE INITIATIVE.

THIS STARTED WITH THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS AND THE IDEA INITIALLY WAS TO GET ABOUT 12 OR 13 NORTHEAST AND MID ATLANTIC STATES TO SIGN ON TO THE STATE LEVEL DEAL AT THIS POINT ONLY 3 STATES HAVE SIGNED ON MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND PLUS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH GOVERNOR ROY COOPER HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS SIGNED ONTO A LETTER NOT JOINING THE GROUP BUT SUPPORTING SOME OF ITS IDEAS BUT DIDN'T GET ANY PUBLICITY FOR THIS.

HE'S NOT TOUTED THIS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, NOT SAID MUCH ABOUT IT, NOT ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, SO WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS STATE LEVEL TRANSPORTATION AND CLIMATE INITIATIVE.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> THE PASSING OF A DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ALCEE HASTINGS OF FLORIDA.

HE WAS 84 YEARS OLD PASSED AWAY, LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANT.

NEARLY 3 DECADES IN CONGRESS REPRESENTING HIS STATE OF FLORIDA, HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED THERE, THAT BRINGS DEMOCRATS EDGE IN THE HOUSE TO A 7 SEATS AND 6 HAVE BEEN VACATED BY APPOINTEES OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> SO IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY CLOSE ELECTION IN 2022.

>> IT'S GETTING TIGHTER EVERYDAY, >> JOE UNDERREPORTED MY FRIEND.

>> WE'RE FOLLOWING UP ON AN UNDER REPORTED STORY THAT I OFFERED A FEW WEEKS BACK.

SENATOR TODD JOHNSON, A REPUBLICAN FROM UNION COUNTY INTRODUCING LEGISLATION SENATE BILL 5.48 TO BRING UNDER THE JURISDICTION IN EFFECT OF THE STATE AUDITOR THE ENTITY THAT SANCTIONS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS IS INVOLVING THE NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY THAT SERVES THAT ROLE.

WHEN SOME OF THE DISCUSSION WAS BEING HELD ABOUT HOW TO GET FANS BACK IN THE STANDS FOR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS.

LEGISLATORS DISCOVERED THAT THIS SANCTIONING BODY IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS A SURPLUS FUND OF ABOUT 40 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH INCLUDES FUNDS IT'S COLLECTED FROM PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AS A RESULT OF THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE SPORTS OF THE STATE AND SO LEGISLATORS WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT, THE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PUSHED BACK AND SO THE NATURAL RESULT, LEGISLATORS HAVE INTRODUCED A BILL AND I THINK WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS NEXT WEEK IN TERMS OF THE DESIRE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS 40 MILLION DOLLARS.

>> WILL THEY CALL PEOPLE TO TESTIFY, YOU THINK?

>> I'M NOT SURE ENTIRELY WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE BUT AS MY MAMA ONCE SAID, "GOSH IT FEELS LIKE IT MUST BE JULY 4TH CAUSE I SUSPECT THERE'S GOING TO BE FIREWORKS."

>> SIDNEY, UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> BROADBAND USAGE HAS ACTUALLY GONE UP 30% SINCE THE PANDEMIC, NONE OF US ARE SURPRISED BY THAT, THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS THAT MANY NORTH CAROLINIANS STILL DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND KIDS ARE GOING TO MCDONALD'S AND OTHER PARKING LOTS IN ORDER TO BE ON VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK FROM HOME DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY HERE IN RURAL PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN FILED IN THE CHAMBERS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE ADDRESS THIS AS AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE BECAUSE BUSINESSES WANT TO COME TO NORTH CAROLINA THEY WANT TO ACTUALLY PUT NEW BUSINESSES IN RURAL AREAS, BUT THEY NEED THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND BROADBAND IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO BROADBAND.

>> SYDNEY WHAT'S THE TIMING ON THAT?

SO IN THE HOUSE THERE'S A SIMILAR BILL THAT WAS FILED LAST SESSION THAT IS MOVING THROUGH AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE FILED AND THE SENATE HAS A SIMILAR VERSION.

I'M HOPING THAT IT'S GOING TO MAKE THROUGH CROSSOVER MAY 13TH AND SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY START HAMMERING OUT DEALS.

BUT THERE ARE SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ABOUT HOW TO GET THAT DONE.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MITCH?

>> WHAT'S UP IS POTENTIALLY POLITICAL BALANCE IN THE CLASSROOM.

THERE'S A BILL IN THE STATE SENATE, SENATE BILL 700 THAT WOULD GUARANTEE THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE POLITICAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STANCES OF PARTIES IN SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS OR A CLASS OF THAT SORT THAT YOU WOULD GET BOTH SIDES.

THERE ARE 3 REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO ARE CONCERNED THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING A ONE-SIDED VIEW OF POLITICAL ISSUES, THEY'D LIKE TO SEE MORE BALANCE.

MY WHO'S DOWN ARE THE CRITICS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THAT A VERY POWERFUL STATE SENATOR, THE HEAD OF THE RULES COMMITTEE BILL RABON HAS FILED A BILL, HE'S ONE OF THE LEAD SPONSORS SUPPORTING MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THAT'S A MAJOR STEP FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PUSH IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> DONNA WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK PLEASE?

>> I HAVE TO SAY RELATIVELY MINOR VACCINE REACTIONS TO THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT AT PNC ARENA THEY HAD TO BRIEFLY DISCONTINUE ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE BECAUSE ABOUT 18 PEOPLE HAD HAD REACTIONS TO IT 14 WERE TREATED ON SITE.

4 OTHERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL AND RELEASED.

BUT THAT 18 IS ONLY OUT IS OUT OF ABOUT THE 2300 VACCINES THAT WERE ADMINISTERED THAT DAY.

DOWN I'M GONNA SAY ANDREW CUOMO AGAIN.

HE'S NOW GOT A REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER WHO IS A PRO TRUMP REPUBLICAN.

HIS NAME IS LEE ZELDIN IN NEW YORK AND HE IS POINTING TO CUOMO'S SEXUAL HARASSMENT PROBLEMS AND THEN OF COURSE THE NURSING HOME DEATHS AND A LOT OF OTHER CRISES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN NEW YORK.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT REPUBLICANS MAY BE SEEING A FIRST IN A DECADE OPPORTUNITY IN NEW YORK.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR THERE SAYS GEORGE PATAKI IN 2004.

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

WHO'S UP FOR THE NUMBER OF CHARLOTTEANS THAT AIN'T FROM CHARLOTTE.

ZILLOW, THE WEBSITE, DID A SURVEY AND FOUND THAT CHARLOTTE WAS SECOND ONLY TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF NON NATIVE RESIDENTS MOVING INTO THE METROPOLITAN AREA OVER THE LAST YEAR.

WHO'S DOWN?

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA THAT IDENTIFY AS REPUBLICANS.

A GALLUP POLL CAME OUT THEY'VE TRACKED PEOPLE'S IDENTITY FROM A PARTISAN BASIS OVER THE YEARS, CURRENTLY 49% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THEY IDENTIFIED AS DEMOCRATS ONLY 40% AS REPUBLICANS THAT'S THE BIGGEST GAP IN THE PARTISAN INDEX SINCE 2012.

>> YOU THINK THAT'S A TRUMP EFFECT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE SUBURBS?

>> I THINK A LITTLE BIT THAT EFFECT.

ALTHOUGH IT'S INTERESTING IF YOU LOOK WITHIN THE NUMBERS THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY ARE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS VERSUS THEY'RE INDEPENDENTS LEANING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THE PORTIONS ARE MORE OR LESS EQUAL IN THE 2 SIDES.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS A REFLECTION OF THE POST TRUMP ERA.

>> SIDNEY, WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> BIPARTISANSHIP HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP WITH GOVERNOR COOPER ACTUALLY REPORTED A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT URGING NORTH CAROLINIANS TO GET VACCINATED AND STATING ROLLING OUT THERE, EVERYONE HAS A SPOT SO TAKE A SHOT.

DOWN IS GEORGIA, OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH, FACING BOYCOTT, AND LOSS OF BUSINESS OVER THEIR VOTING LEGISLATION THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO THE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

>> THANKS IN PART TO A SENATOR BATCH IS UP, I THINK THE HEADLINE WILL BE NORTH CAROLINA VACCINATIONS SURGE AS ALL ADULTS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

>> DONNA WHAT'S THE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> WELL NORMALLY I WOULD SAY WITH APRIL 15TH TAX DAY, BUT THE IRS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE PUSHING THAT PAPERWORK DEADLINE TO MAY 17TH THIS YEAR, BUT THEY'RE NOT PUSHING THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE DUE.

>> GREAT.

OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, JOE?

>> ALL IS NOT LOST.

LEGISLATORS PROVE THEY STILL HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR BY INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO MAKE ACC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT A STATE HOLIDAY.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK SYDNEY.

>> THE FOCUS SHIFTS FROM HOW TO FIND A SHOT TO HAVE TO GET AND TAKE YOUR SHOT NOW AND CONVINCE OTHERS TO DO SO.

>> MITCH WE MISS ANYTHING?

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FIREWORKS COMING UP AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMES BACK.

THEY'LL BE GETTING DOWN TO THE DETAILS OF THE BUDGET I THINK THAT WILL BE A PART OF OUR DISCUSSION FOR WEEKS TO COME.

>> OK THAT'S IT FOR US.

GREAT JOB GUYS AND GALS.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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