>> HI, I'M MARC ROTTERMAN AND THIS IS FRONT ROW.

COMING UP, THE LATEST ON CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, THE DEBATE OVER MASKS IN SCHOOLS, AND CAN THE DEMOCRATS HOLD THE US HOUSE IN THE MIDTERMS?

NEXT!

♪ >> A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪ >> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION, REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE ERIN PARE', JAY CHAUDHURI THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP IN THE SENATE, AND JONAH KAPLAN WITH ABC NEWS 11.

MITCH LETS BEGIN WITH THE LATEST ON CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

>> MARC THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN COMPILES A CONSUMER SENTIMENT INDEX AND ITS PRELIMINARY AUGUST READING WAS 70.2.

THAT IS THE LOWEST SINCE 2011 A FULL DECADE, AND IT'S 13% BELOW THE 81.2 NUMBER THAT WAS A REGISTERED IN JULY.

IT'S LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS LOW OF THE PANDEMIC WHICH WAS ABOUT 71.8 BACK IN APRIL 2020, VERY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC AND THIS WAS A SURPRISE ECONOMISTS HAD ACTUALLY EXPECTED THE NUMBER TO BE MUCH HIGHER, CLOSER TO THE NUMBER THAT THEY SAW IN JULY.

WHEN WE SEE LARGE LOSSES OF THIS TYPE, ECONOMISTS SAY IT'S ALWAYS BECAUSE OF SOME SUDDEN NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY LIKE THE OUTSET OF THE PANDEMIC OR LIKE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT WE'RE PROBABLY SEEING THIS LARGE DROP NOW BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT CONCERNED ABOUT INFLATION AND OTHER MAJOR -- >> WHAT ABOUT THE [INAUDIBLE] OF ALL THIS MONEY?

>> YEAH INFLATION IS A FACTOR, THE FACT THAT WE'RE PUMPING TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS NOW INTO THE ECONOMY, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THIS IS A LONG-TERM IMPACT OR IF THIS IS JUST A BLIP.

>> JAY IS THIS TRANSITORY?

DO YOU STILL THINK IT'S TRANSITORY >> I DO THINK IT'S TRANSITORY AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND YOU EXCLUDE ENERGY AND FOOD PRICES ONLY ROSE BY 0.3%.

I MEAN THERE'S BEEN A TAPERING OFF OF RAW MATERIALS, THE USED CAR MARKET WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT IN PAST SHOWS THAT HAS SEEN AN INCREASE NOW HAS COME BACK.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS I THINK THAT THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE CONSUMER SENTIMENT, WHAT CONSUMERS ARE ACTUALLY DOING BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN WAGES WE'RE SEEING THE STOCK MARKET'S UP AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING ACTUAL JOB GAINS.

WE ADDED ALMOST 943,000 JOBS LAST MONTH.

THIS IS KIND OF A UNIQUE TIME IN THE CALENDAR TO I MEAN I THINK THE TIME TO REALLY WEIGH IN ON CONSUMER CONFIDENCE MAY BE AROUND THANKSGIVING AND AROUND THE HOLIDAYS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE BUYING ALL THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL PRODUCTS BUT IS THIS A TIME FOR GIFT GIVING IS THIS A TIME FOR HOME REMODELING IS THIS A TIME FOR VACATIONS?

NOT IN MY FAMILY.

SO I DON'T -- THESE ARE ONE OF THOSE BUZZWORDS.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE WHERE I THINK YES THEY'RE THEY'RE GOOD FOR ECONOMISTS AND THEY'RE INTERESTING FOR POLITICAL JUNKIES LIKE US, BUT WHAT IS IT TO EVERYDAY AMERICANS AND HOW THEIR LIVES ARE GOING I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GAUGE THAT.

>> ERIN DOESN'T HAVE A POLITICAL IMPACT THOUGH IN THE MID TERMS YOU THINK?

>> WELL I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY DOES HAVE A POLITICAL IMPACT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE THIS POINT THOUGH, IT'S A NOTABLE DROP, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT VERY SURPRISING.

AS A BUSINESS OWNER, MYSELF, SOMEONE ASKED ME WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, 6 MONTHS FROM NOW, YOU KNOW WE HAVE VENDORS THAT ARE HOLDING PRODUCT THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE SELL IN OUR RETAIL STORE.

>> IS THAT SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE?

>> IT'S A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE AND I THINK THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN RESOLVED YET FROM LAST TIME.

AND THERE'S NO INDICATORS GOING FORWARD AT LEAST I CAN SEE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED ANY TIME SOON AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH FURTHER FOR THEIR DIFFICULTIES FOR BUSINESS OR LOCKDOWNS OF COVID.

>> CAN A POLITICAL DISRUPTION OVERSEAS IMPACT, THE SUPPLY CHAIN YOU THINK MITCH?

>> YEAH, IT CERTAINLY COULD AND BACK TO THE POINT ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS TRANSITORY OR SOMETHING PERMANENT I THINK A LOT OF THE REASON YOU SAW THIS DROP IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH COVID AND THE DELTA VARIANT AND SAYING OH NO WE REMEMBER THIS MOVIE WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO LOCKDOWNS IF GOVERNMENTS TELLS US THAT CERTAIN BUSINESSES THEY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN OR HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR HOURS OR IF CONSUMERS BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO COME OUT TO RESTAURANTS THAT DON'T WANT TO COME OUT TO BUSINESSES.

ANYTIME THERE'S UNCERTAINTY THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR BUSINESS AND IF YOU HAVE CONSUMERS WHO ARE BECOMING MORE WARY ABOUT GOING OUT AND DOING SHOPPING GOING TO STORES THAT WILL HAVE A LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCE.

>> JAY YOU HAVE A FINAL WORD ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK MITCH IS RIGHT, I MEAN I THINK THE CONSUMER SENTIMENT IS REALLY TIED TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE SEEING DASHED HOPES ABOUT THE ECONOMY REBOUNDING, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW I THINK MY POSITION WOULD BE THAT THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HOW CONSUMERS FEEL VERSUS WHAT CONSUMERS ARE ACTUALLY DOING.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO CHANGE TOPICS ERIN, THE MASK DEBATE HAS REUNITED IN THE SCHOOLS -- REIGNITED NOT REUNITED.

>> RIGHT NO I THINK THIS DEBATE AS WE'VE SEEN IT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BUT I THINK WE'VE SEEN IT REALLY FLARE UP HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THERE'S A LOT OF PARENTS ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SUBJECT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

SO WE SEE LONG LINES AND PROTESTS AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

PEOPLE WANTING TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT HERE RIGHT HERE IN WAKE COUNTY WITH SOME PARENTS WHO ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT NOT JUST THE LACK OF MASKS BUT MASKS BEING PUT ON THEIR CHILDREN AND SOME MENTAL HEALTH REPERCUSSIONS FOR THAT, SOME HEALTH IMPACTS ON THAT, AND ALSO PARENTS WHO ARE REALLY WORRIED THAT THERE WON'T BE MASKS PUT ON CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACTING OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND WE SEE MORE OF THAT IN CHILDREN AND THAT COMING HOME TO MAYBE AND EFFECT TO GRANDPARENTS OR PARENTS THAT MAY HAVE CO-MORBIDITIES SO I THINK YOU KNOW WE HEAR SOME PARENTS TALKING ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS ON THEIR KIDS AND THEN THE HEALTH IMPACTS EVEN FROM WEARING THE MASK, IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, BUT THE NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED A FREE THE SMILES ACT, A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND BEFORE THE SENATE COULD TAKE IT UP GOVERNOR COOPER ESSENTIALLY MADE THAT POLICY IN THE STATE RIGHT SO THIS FREE THE SMILES ACT WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE MASK MANDATE REQUIREMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR COOPER AND PUT IT DOWN TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD LEVEL WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

>> IS THERE DATA FROM THE CDC THAT SHOWS MASK WORK.

I MEAN THESE ARE NOT THINGS YOU WOULD SEE IN A OPERATING ROOM.

>> THERE'S BEEN MIXED REVIEWS.

THERE ARE SOME STUDIES THAT SAY THAT THE MASKS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING IN COVID-19 ARE VERY EFFECTIVE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT SAY THEY AREN'T.

TO ME THE INTERESTING PIECE ABOUT THIS DEBATE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE OF MORE THAN ONE MIND ON WHAT TO DO.

A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION OUR LATEST CIVITAS POLL TOOK A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE OF MASKING IN SCHOOLS AND YOU FOUND THAT 55% THOUGHT THERE OUGHT TO BE A REQUIREMENT FOR PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOLS, PRETTY STRONG SUPPORT FOR IT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SECOND QUESTION SAID 45%, THE PLURALITY SAID, THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE THE ONES TO DECIDE FIRST AND FOREMOST WHETHER THEIR KIDS SHOULD WEAR MASKS, THOSE ARE 2 VERY DIFFERENT THINGS IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE PARENTS REQUIRING SOME OTHER PARENTS IT'S GOING TO BE A GOVERNMENT ENTITY DOING IT, SO I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A MIX OF VIEWS THEY HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEMSELVES.

THEY ALSO HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR KIDS AND SOMETIMES THOSE ARE DIFFERENT.

>> JONAH.

>> IT'S BECOME THIS PROXY WAR RIGHT SO YES, IT'S THE MASK, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT THE MASK, IT'S ABOUT POWER AND DECISION-MAKING AND SCHOOL BOARDS VERSUS STATE GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WHO ULTIMATELY HAS THAT AUTHORITY.

NORTH CAROLINA, THE GOVERNOR HAS GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO THE SCHOOL BOARDS.

BUT HE'S ALSO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE SCHOOL BOARDS, AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS, I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE TRIANGLE HERE THIS IS WHERE WE'RE BASED, I MEAN PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE RURAL ONES I MEAN LIKE IN JOHNSTON COUNTY AND MOORE COUNTY THEY'VE GOT MASKS.

HARNETT COUNTY IS PROBABLY THE ONLY OUTLIER AROUND HERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT A PLACE LIKE FLORIDA, I MEAN THEIRS ALSO, IS IT REALLY ABOUT THE MASK OR IS IT ABOUT KIND OF USING THAT AS A PARTISAN DEBATE WHERE GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS TELLING ALL THE DISTRICTS, YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS DECISION.

BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S SAYING NO, IT SHOULD BE LOCAL.

SO YOU KNOW IT SHOULD THE SAME PRINCIPLES BE APPLIED TO DRESS CODE IS THAT A PARENT THING OR IS THAT A IS THAT SCHOOL THING IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A DRESS CODE?

SO I THINK THIS IS JUST KIND OF A PROXY MORE EMBLEMATIC I WILL SAY I'M A PARENT.

MY 3 YEAR-OLD NOW HAS TO WEAR A MASK.

I'M NOT THAT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

BUT IF IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD, I GUESS.

>> JAY?

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I THINK ON THE IDEA OF WHETHER MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE, I THINK THE STUDIES -- DUKE UNIVERSITY WITH THE ABC LABORATORY HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS LOOKED AT STUDIES IN NORTH CAROLINA AND OTHER STATES AND THEY'VE SHOWN THAT OUTSIDE OF VACCINATION, UNIVERSAL MASKING IS THE SECOND BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THE VIRUS.

SO THAT'S THAT'S POINT NUMBER ONE.

POINT NUMBER 2 IS THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE ADOPTED VOLUNTARY MASKS POLICIES NOW HAVE GONE BACK AND WE'VE HAD TWO SCHOOL DISTRICT OUTSIDE OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY THAT HAVE DONE SO.

LAST THING I'LL SAY IS I THINK THAT THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE SEEING BY FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AND THE TEXAS GOVERNOR REALLY IS BACKFIRING IN A SENSE THEY ARE LEVERAGING THEIR INFLUENCE OVER LOCAL SCHOOLS.

>> WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT.

SOME INTERESTING THINGS THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.

BY THE WAY THAT IS A NON-PARTISAN REPORT.

>> YEAH, AND IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY TOO, DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL.

I THINK WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT, THE FIRST MIDTERM ELECTION, DEMOCRATS LOST 63 SEATS.

I MEAN THAT IS I THINK THE TERM HE USED WAS A SHELLACKING AND BEFORE THAT WHEN THE DEMOCRATS HELD IN THE 90'S UNDER BILL CLINTON DEMOCRATS LOST MORE THAN 40 SEATS.

IT COULD GO THE OTHER WAY, I MEAN WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BUSH LOST THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, WE KNOW PRESIDENT TRUMP LOST THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.

YOU KNOW ME AND SPORTS ANALOGIES IN VEGAS FOR THE SUPER BOWL THERE 16 PAGES OF THE DIFFERENT BETS YOU CAN TAKE.

VEGAS SHOULD GET IN ON THIS BECAUSE HOW MANY SEATS, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FACTORS, WHO ARE THE DIFFERENT STATES, WHAT IS THE PLAY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF INCUMBENTS THAT ARE NOT RUNNING THAT ARE USUALLY SAFE.

YOU HAVE REAPPORTIONMENT, REPUBLICANS CONTROL MORE STATE HOUSES, WHO CAN NOW REASSIGN OR WHO CAN NOW REDISTRICT, THERE ARE MANY MANY FACTORS AT PLAY BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY GOOD FOR DEMOCRATS AND THAT'S WITHOUT TAKING ANY OF THE ACTUAL ISSUES INTO PLAY.

>> HOW BIG A DEAL OR ISSUE WILL BIDEN'S HANDLING OF AFGHANISTAN BE IN THE MID TERMS?

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE I DON'T KNOW IF THE ISSUE WILL LAST THAT LONG BY THE TIME PEOPLE GET TO VOTE.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WILL THEY BE AS CONCERNED ABOUT AFGHANISTAN, THEN?

MAYBE.

>> WILL HE BE AN ISSUE HIMSELF HIS HANDLING OF THE CRISIS AND HIS HANDLING OF OTHER ISSUES?

I THINK HE WILL BE AN ISSUE BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE THE CRISES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW OR WHATEVER CRISES ARE ON HAND WHEN PEOPLE GO TO VOTE.

ONE OF THE BAD THINGS FOR THE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE DEMOCRATS DO WELL IN THE 2022 ELECTION IS THAT JOE BIDEN'S NUMBERS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN.

WE TALKED IN A PREVIOUS SHOW ABOUT THE NUMBERS AMONG INDEPENDENTS GOING BACK TO THAT LATEST CIVITAS POLL.

PRESIDENT BIDEN BIT ABOUT 50-50 IN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT THE LATEST ONE SHOWS THAT HE HAS ONLY 42% APPROVAL, 53% DISAPPROVAL IN NORTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING 48% STRONG DISAPPROVAL.

IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TIE THEMSELVES TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR THEM.

>> JAY WILL PEOPLE WERE CANDIDATES RUN AS A BIDEN DEMOCRAT YOU THINK?

>> I THINK SO.

A COUPLE OF THINGS I THINK ONE -- >> OR WOULD THEY RUN INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNS?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY'LL DO BOTH, BUT I THINK YES CERTAINLY ATTACHING THEMSELVES TO BEING A BIDEN DEMOCRAT UP UNTIL RECENTLY WAS A GOOD IDEA AND CERTAINLY AS GENERAL RULE THERE'S A PRESIDENTIAL PENALTY FOR THE PARTY THAT HOLDS POWER BUT THAT'S A FEW THINGS NUMBER ONE, MARC AS YOU KNOW, 14 MONTHS IS A LIFETIME IN POLITICS AND SO ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, 2022.

AND THE SECOND THING IS AND WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THIS IS YOU KNOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STILL REMAINS A PARTY OF DONALD TRUMP AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON RELITIGATING THE 2020 ELECTION THAN FOCUSING ON POLICIES GOING FORWARD, AND I STILL THINK THAT THAT'S A LIABILITY FOR REPUBLICANS GOING INTO THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> ERIN, WHAT DO YOU HEAR IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> WELL I THINK THAT THIS UPCOMING ELECTION IS GOING TO BE LESS ABOUT PERSONALITY AND MORE ABOUT POLICY AND THE ISSUES.

AND ONE STATISTIC THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS THE DROP IN INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHO ARE FAVORING OR SUPPORTING JOE BIDEN RIGHT NOW.

BUT NOT JUST JOE BIDEN BUT ROY COOPER.

SO IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

INDEPENDENT VOTERS AT APPROVAL RATING FOR GOVERNOR 31%.

THAT'S PRETTY NOTABLE AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS.

THERE'S A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS THAT REALLY LOOK AT ISSUES THEY LOOK AT THEIR BOTTOM LINE THEIR FAMILY, EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY RISING CRIME RATES NATIONALLY.

THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER OVERSEES THE ECONOMY, ALL THAT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO IT.

I THINK THOSE VOTERS ARE GOING VOTE ISSUES INSTEAD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING WHICH IS MAYBE SOMEWHAT A PERSONALITY.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

BY THE WAY I JUST SAW YOU GOV POLL WHICH IS NON-PARTISAN, THEY HAD ONLY 79% OF DEMOCRATS WOULD VOTE FOR BIDEN AGAIN.

>> AND TURNOUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL BECAUSE >> [MARC] WHO'S MORE MOTIVATED >> WHO'S MORE MOTIVATED OR WILL PEOPLE JUST SIT THIS OUT BECAUSE ONE MAYBE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SAYING "IT'S RIGGED, IT'S RIGGED" AND DEMOCRATS MAY JUST NOT BE INTERESTED WHICH THEY DON'T VOTE WHEN IT'S NOT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

>> GREAT CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO COME TO YOU JAY, THERE WAS A GREAT HUMAN INTEREST STORY ABOUT BUSINESSES BANDING TOGETHER TO GIVE FELONS A SECOND CHANCE TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH I LOVE THIS STORY MARC, SO JUST AS BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW TODAY, ONE IN 3 AMERICANS, MORE THAN 70 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE SOME TYPE OF ARREST OR CRIMINAL RECORD AND TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT THAT'S THE SAME NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES.

THESE AMERICANS CAN'T SECURE GOOD JOBS AND IN FACT, 65 TO 75% OF -- >> [MARC] THEIR RECORD FOLLOWS THEM.

>> THEIR RECORD FOLLOWS THEM AND THEY CAN'T GET A JOB.

FORTUNATELY, WE'VE GOT A BUSINESS COALITION THAT'S COME TOGETHER THAT'S BEEN AS DIVERSE IS THE KOCH INDUSTRIES TO JP MORGAN THAT'S READY TO HIRE THESE AMERICANS AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A JOB AND THERE'S REALLY A 2 PRONGED APPROACH ONE IS THE APPROACH BY BUSINESSES TO RECRUIT AND HIRE AND MENTOR.

THESE INDIVIDUALS, BUT THE SECOND IS THERE'S BEEN A PUBLIC POLICY APPROACH AND THAT IS TO INTRODUCE A SET OF WHAT'S CALLED CLEAN SLATE LEGISLATION SO THAT YOU CAN EXPUNGE THESE RECORDS AND GIVE THESE FOLKS A AN OPPORTUNITY AND SENATOR DANNY BRITT A REPUBLICAN FROM LUMBERTON BEEN A CHAMPION OF THE SECOND CHANCE ACT WE JUST PASSED A BILL THIS IN THE STATE SENATE -- >> THERE'S A TIME ON THAT RIGHT.

>> THERE IS A TIME ON THAT >> [MARC] FIFTEEN YEARS?

>> WELL, IN SOME INSTANCES OF MAYBE 15 YEARS IN SOME INSTANCES MAY BE PERMANENT BECAUSE IT ALSO COVERS MISDEMEANORS.

I MEAN IT'S ALSO NON-VIOLENT FELONIES, BUT IN THE IN THE END, THIS IS REALLY A JOBS ACT AND IT'S A IT'S A RARE INSTANCE, I THINK OF WHERE YOU SEEING REAL BIPARTISANSHIP FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT TO COME TOGETHER.

>> WEIGH IN ON THAT ERIN.

>> WELL I THINK THAT YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN VERY WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THERE'S AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EMPLOYMENT AND DECREASES IN CRIME OR EMPLOYMENT AND REDUCED AND REDUCTION IN RECIDIVISM, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> [MARC] REPEAT OFFENDERS.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THIS HAS BROAD SUPPORT AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SUPPORT THE IDEA OF LOOKING FORWARD AND LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL IN PEOPLE RATHER THAN LOOKING BACKWARD ABOUT WHAT THEY DID BEFORE AND I THINK WE SEE THAT WITH THE HOUSE UNANIMOUS VOTE APPROVING THIS LEGISLATION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH SECOND CHANCE AND EXPUNGEMENT OPPORTUNITY >> AMERICA JONAH, ISN'T A NATION OF SECOND CHANCE.

>> I JUST SO HAPPEN TO WATCH THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION THE OTHER DAY AND ONE OF THE KEY SCENES FROM MORGAN FREEMAN'S CHARACTER IS WHEN HE'S UP FOR PAROLE AND TALKS ABOUT THE WORD REHABILITATED, AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS THE ROLE OF OUR PRISONS?

YES, US TO KEEP OUR YOU KNOW FELONS OFF THE STREET KEEP AMERICA'S STREETS SAFER.

BUT WE WANT TO REHABILITATE PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM SECOND CHANCES AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO BE BACK AND CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY, AND WE WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF REPEAT OFFENDERS WE WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF AND THE SHOOTINGS ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AND ALL OF THAT IS LINKED TO UNEMPLOYMENT AND WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT HELPS THEM FUEL SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY SUPPORT FOR THEMSELVES, IT GIVES THEM DIGNITY.

>> MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT.

>> NO ONE WANTS MURDERERS AND RAPISTS TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON TO GO OUT AND TRY TO GET A JOB.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRIMES FOR THE MOST PART NONVIOLENT CRIMES, MANY OF THEM FROM THEIR YOUNGER DAYS WHEN THEY DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE AN ADULT IN THE TYPES OF THINGS YOU HAD TO DO.

TO HAVE A RECORD FOLLOW YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE AND LIMIT YOUR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS JUST BAD FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

IT'S BAD FOR THE TAXPAYERS, IT'S BAD FOR THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE PARE, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND GOOD PEOPLE TO WORK FOR THEM SO DOING SOMETHING THAT HELPS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE VIOLENT OFFENDERS GET TO JOBS IS A GREAT IDEA ALL THE WAY ROUND.

>> JAY RIP THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

FINAL THOUGHTS MY FRIEND.

>> WELL I THINK ONE THING TO REITERATE ABOUT WHAT MITCH SAID IS THAT WHEN IN AN ECONOMY, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO FILL JOBS.

I MEAN THIS IS A WIN-WIN.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REHABILITATE FOLKS PUT THEM OUT IN THE JOB MARKET AND HIRE THEM, THAT GIVES THEM A GREAT FUTURE BUT ALSO GIVE OUR STATE AND OUR COMMUNITIES A BETTER FUTURE.

>> OK I WANT TO GO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> IT'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT MASK MANDATES VACCINE MANDATES, ONE PLACE YOU AREN'T GOING TO SEE EITHER ONE OF THOSE IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES OFFICER PAUL COBLE RECENTLY SENT OUT A LETTER, HE WAS RESPONDING TO A LETTER FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE ASKING FOR SOME SORT OF MANDATE AND HE SAID NO, HE'S NOT GOING TO MANDATE EITHER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR STAFF OR ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ACCESS ANY OF THEIR MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE ANY OF THESE MANDATES.

INSTEAD, HE SAYS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO CONTINUE WITH ENHANCED CLEANING, THERMAL CAMERAS THAT ARE MEASURING SUPPOSEDLY THE TEMPERATURES OF EVERYONE COMING IN AND OUT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE CDC GUIDANCE AND STATE HEALTH GUIDANCE OF WHAT TO DO IN TERMS OF QUARANTINES WHEN YOU KNOW OF A CASE OF COVID-19.

BUT FOR NOW NO MASK, OR VACCINE MANDATES AT THE LEGISLATIVE -- >> SO THAT'S SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR YOU THINK THAT'S MADE IN STONE?

>> IT IS PROBABLY MADE IN STONE UNLESS THE PEOPLE WHO CARVED THE STONE TELL HIM TO CHANGE IT.

>> ERIN UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> YES, I HAVE AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST RANKS NORTH CAROLINA, THE SECOND MOST THREATENED STATE BEHIND TEXAS FOR THE RAPID CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO OTHER USES.

POPULATION GROWTH IS A CAUSE FOR THIS AND MORE URBAN AREAS AS WE SEE IN SOUTHERN WAKE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW IF YOU DRIVE DOWN TO WILLOW SPRING, YOU'LL SEE MULTI GENERATIONAL FAMILY FARMS THAT ARE ACTIVE AGRICULTURAL WORKING FARMS, HAVE LITTLE SIGNS OUTSIDE OF THE PROPERTIES SAYING, "STOP THE 401 BYPASS.

PLEASE SAVE OUR FARMS" AND IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THEY JUST CAN'T PACK UP AND LEAVE AND GO FIND ANOTHER FARM AND I THINK AREA PLANNERS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO IMPROVE MOBILITY IN THE FUTURE WITH ALL OF THE POPULATION GROWTH HAPPENING IN NORTH CAROLINA, SO IT'S A BIG DEAL.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW HOW BIG A DEAL IT IS.

>> JAY.

>> THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE RELEASED A REPORT ON THE INCREASING PAY BETWEEN CEOS AND WORKERS SO TODAY, THE CEO TO WORKER PAY GAP STANDS AT A STAGGERING 350 TO ONE RATIO TODAY COMPARED TO JUST 15 TO ONE IN 1965 AND THE OTHER INTERESTING ASPECT OF THIS IS THE AVERAGE CEO TODAY MAKES NEARLY 9 TIMES WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL OWN OVER A LIFETIME IN JUST ONE YEAR.

>> IS THAT AN ISSUE YOU THINK POTENTIALLY COMING UP IN FUTURE ELECTIONS?

>> I THINK THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING ISSUE.

I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S BEING TACKLED BOTH BY REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A REAL BATTLE TO FOCUS ON WORKING CLASS AND SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE MORE THIS COMING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE -- >> HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT CAPITALISM AND FREE MARKETS?

>> I MEAN I DON'T THINK IT WILL IMPACT CAPITALISM AT ALL, BUT I THINK WHAT IT SUGGESTS IS THAT AS WE MOVE INTO A GIG ECONOMY WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE THAT ALLOW TO CREATE A BETTER SAFETY NET AS THE WORKERS BECOME MORE FREE AGENTS A MOVE FROM JOB TO JOB.

>> BUT THEY TALK ABOUT PUTTING MORE WORKERS ON BOARD RIGHT?

>> I MEAN THAT THAT'S BEEN THAT'S BEEN SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE PROGRESSIVES, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE'S AN AGREEMENT ON THAT AMONG DEMOCRATS >> JONAH.

>> UNDERREPORTED MY FRIENDS HERE ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE ARE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF DEBATE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IN BUDGETING FOR EDUCATION, BUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW ACTUALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FLUSH WITH CASH, THANKS TO 3 SEPARATE STIMULUS PACKAGES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

TWO SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE 3RD AND LARGEST THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

4.4 BILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S A 115 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

OF THAT ONLY ABOUT 7% HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SPENT.

THE CARES ACT WHICH WAS THE FIRST BILL PASSED THAT WAS IN MARCH OF 2020, OR SOMEWHERE APRIL 2020, 62% OF THAT CASH HAS BEEN SPENT SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY LEFT OVER FROM THAT.

SO WHAT'S UNDER REPORTED IS JUST WHAT BASICALLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE SITTING ON, WHAT THEY'RE GOING DO WITH THE MONEY.

HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DECIDE HOW TO SPEND IT.

WHAT ROLE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE PARENTS TO TEACHERS TO ADMINISTRATORS, WHO GETS THE FINAL SIGNOFF, IT'S SOMETHING THAT JOURNALISTS WE NEED TO BE FOLLOWING, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO PARENTS SHOULD EMPOWER THEMSELVES TO LOOK AT IT AS WELL.

>> OK, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND, WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MITCH?

>> WHO'S UP IS ELIZABETH BISER WHO IS GOVERNOR COOPER'S CHOICE TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AS THE SECRETARY.

SHE RECENTLY HAD A CONFIRMATION HEARING IN THE STATE SENATE AND UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS NOMINEE, IT WENT MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY.

THE PREVIOUS NOMINEE HAD GOT TRIPPED UP ON SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT ENERGY POLICY AND THE SENATE.

REPUBLICANS DECIDED NOT TO SUPPORT THAT NOMINEE THIS TIME AROUND, NOT AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM.

SO SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

MY DOWN CHILD MARRIAGE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

UNTIL RECENTLY, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE I GUESS, 'TIL THE BILL GETS SIGNED, IT'S STILL TRUE NORTH CAROLINA YOU COULD GET MARRIED AS YOUNG AS 14, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT CHANGING THAT LAW AND SO NOW THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE RESTRICTIONS ON ANYONE WHO WILL GET MARRIED UNDER THE AGE OF 18.

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

>> UP IS THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS, THE UNITED STATES SOUTHERN BORDER TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

SO THE AP REPORTED THAT ON AUGUST 4TH LOCAL OFFICIALS IN MCALLEN, TEXAS ANNOUNCED THAT OUT OF NEARLY 80,000 MIGRANTS RELEASED BY CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL SINCE FEBRUARY, 8% HAD TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.

POSITIVE TESTS RECENTLY SHOW THAT TICKED UP SURPASSING 16% POSITIVE RATE.

>> [MARC] DOWN?

>> DOWN IS AND THIS IS I KNOW WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS AND FEEL FOR THESE FOLKS BUT AS A MILITARY SPOUSE OF THE COMBAT ARMY RANGER FOR 12 YEARS, I REALLY FEEL TERRIBLE FOR WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH OUR COMBAT VETERANS WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN, I MEAN THE LOSS OF LIFE AND LIMB AND NOT JUST THE SACRIFICE ON THE SOLDIER, BUT THE FAMILY AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE TIME THEY SPENT THERE AND WHAT THEY REALLY FOUGHT HARD TO ACHIEVE KIND OF GO DOWN THE DRAIN.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REFLECTION GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S PRETTY SAD.

>> WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK QUICKLY JAY?

>> NUMBER OF HOMES THAT ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED WHICH HAS SOARED SINCE THE HOUSING MARKET CRASH BACK 14 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE 700,000 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN JULY.

WHO'S DOWN, THE STATE'S PISTOL PERMIT THE STATE SENATE VOTED TO ELIMINATE THE PISTOL PERMIT ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE LAWS TO KEEP GUNS OUT THE HANDS OF FELONS, DOMESTIC ABUSERS, AND OTHER DANGEROUS PEOPLE.

I WILL NOTE THAT REPUBLICANS ARGUED THAT THE LAW IS OUTDATED THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK IN PLACE.

>> WHO'S UP AND WHO'S OUT ABOUT HIS WEEK MY FRIEND?

>> WELL I -- LOOK IT'S TOUGH TO FIND THEM UP ON ANYTHING RELATED TO AFGHANISTAN, BUT I'M CHOOSING TO SEE THAT THE RE ENGAGED PUBLIC AFTER WAR FATIGUE, I MEAN THIS WAS A FORGOTTEN WAR FOR A LONG TIME.

NOW PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN, THEY'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT AMERICAN STRATEGY IN FOREIGN POLICY.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR POLITICAL LITERACY.

DOWN LITERALLY JUST RIGHT AS WE ARE TAPING THE SHOW, MIKE RICHARDS, NOW HAS THE RECORD MORE THAN SCARAMUCCI WITH THE SHORTEST TENURE, OF ANY JOB, NO LONGER THE HOST OF JEOPARDY.

>> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH >> LAWMAKERS FINALIZE PLANS FOR REDISTRICTING HEARINGS FOR THE MOUNTAINS TO THE COAST.

>> ERIN?

>> FOLLOWING A SUMMER WHERE DEMONSTRATION TURNED INTO RIOTING IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGES TO BUSINESSES AND LOOTING, THE NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE WILL PASS HB 8.05 NEXT WEEK PREVENTING RIOTING AND CIVIL DISORDER WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE PENALTIES FOR CITING A RIOT AND I HAVE TO MENTION THE ACLU CAME OUT AGAINST THIS BILL.

>> WILL THE GOVERNOR SIGN IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT DO YOU THINK JAY?

[LAUGHS] >> TO BE DETERMINED.

HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> I'M NOT ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.

THE BACKDROP OF MASK MANDATES AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY CHILDREN START BACK AT SCHOOL.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> SCHOOL OPENS AND KIDS ARE THRILLED TO BE THERE.

FIRST TIME EVER!

>> OK THAT'S IT FOR US.

GREAT JOB, PANEL.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ >> A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪