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

A NORTH CAROLINA COURT GRANTS, VOTING RIGHTS FOR THOUSANDS OF CONVICTED FELONS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED BIPARTISAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, AND THE DEBATE OVER GIVING CHILDREN UNDER 12 THE COVID-19 VACCINE, NEXT.

♪ >> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION.

DONNA KING EDITOR IN CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL.

ROBERT REIVES THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE HOUSE.

>> MORGAN JACKSON CHIEF POLITICAL STRATEGIST FOR GOVERNOR ROY COOPER, AND DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR SYDNEY BATCH.

DONNA, WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE COURT RULING ON VOTING RIGHTS FOR FELONS.

>> YES, A 3 JUDGE PANEL RULED 2 TO ONE.

TOO CREATE A VOTING RIGHTS FOR CONVICTED FELONS BEFORE THEY'VE COMPLETELY SERVED THEIR SENTENCE NOW IN NORTH CAROLINA'S CONSTITUTION.

IT SAYS THAT CONVICTED FELONS CANNOT VOTE AT ALL.

AND THEN THE 1970'S, A DEMOCRAT LED GENERAL ASSEMBLY ROLLED THAT BACK A BIT AND SAID ONCE THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR SENTENCE TO INCLUDE PROBATION PAROLE RESTITUTION, THEN THEIR VOTING RIGHTS COULD BE REINSTALLED WILL THIS THIS THESE 2 JUDGES HAVE NOW ROLLED THAT BACK BASED ON A LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED ABOUT A YEAR AGO BY SOME CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS AND FOR AND CONVICTED FELONS AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT ONCE THEY'RE NOT INCARCERATED ANY LONGER WANTS WHILE THEY WERE STILL SERVING PAROLE OR PROBATION, THOSE VOTING RIGHTS CAN BE REINSTATED NOW THIS AFFECTS ABOUT MORE THAN 50,000 CONVICTED FELONS THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY WANTS THE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOSH STEIN TO APPEAL THE RULING.

HE HAS SO FAR REFUSED SO NOW THEY'RE HIRING SOME OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO TAKE IT BACK TO COURT.

>> ROBERT SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

IS THAT YOUR PURVIEW?

>> WELL IN MY OPINION THIS ISN'T SOMETHING FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THIS IS AN INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE THE COURTS FOR.

WE PASSED THE LAWS THEN THEY INTERPRET WHAT THE PURPOSE OF LAWS WERE AND SO THEREFORE I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR INTERPRETATION SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM, BUT I THINK EVEN AS GOES TO AG STEIN, AT THIS POINT NOT ENTERING AN APPEAL WE KINDA GOT TO WAIT UNTIL THE WRITTEN ORDER IS SENT SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THE DECISION.

>> MORGAN, WHERE IS THIS HEADED?

>> YOU KNOW IT'S CERTAINLY HEADED TO THE COURT OF APPEALS AND SUPREME COURT ULTIMATELY, THEY HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

THERE'S A REALLY BIG DISCUSSION MARC TAKING PLACE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS.

>> MANY STATES HAVE IT.

>> AS YOU SAY, THE LARGE MAJORITY STATES ACTUALLY ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE JUDGES SAID, AND YOU KNOW THAT THE JUDGES OBVIOUSLY GOT A LOT OF CRITICISM FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ABOUT LEGISLATING FROM THE BENCH AND CALLED THEM ACTIVIST JUDGES BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUT OF THIS 3 JUDGE PANEL, THAT MADE THE DECISION, IT WAS 2 REPUBLICANS AND ONE DEMOCRAT.

BUT AGAIN I THINK THAT THE KEY THING TO UNDERSTAND HERE IS THIS BRINGS US IN LINE WITH I THINK 37 OTHER STATES THAT HAVE THE SAME LAW THAT ALLOWS WHAT YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR INCARCERATION, YOUR RIGHTS CAN BE RESTORED.

>> WEIGH IN HERE SYDNEY.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THAT A TIME WHICH FOR THE PAST 4, 5, YEARS WE TALKED ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND WE HAVE THE SECOND CHANCE ACT AND THAT'S BEEN BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION.

SO NOW REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS SAYING IN ONE HAND, YES, WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE, WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW FOR -- >> YOU TO BE TALKING ABOUT SPEAKER, TIM MOORE?

>> YES, HE ACTUALLY WAS THE NAMED DEFENDANT IN THE CAS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID IS YES, WE BELIEVE PEOPLE HAVE A SECOND CHANCE, BUT YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO VOTE, AND SO I THINK THAT THEY'RE FROM ONE HAND THEY SAY OH YEAH, WE'LL GO AND EXPUNGE YOUR RECORDS BUT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE AFTER YOU'VE SERVED YOUR TIME AND WE SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IN THAT MANNER.

>> MORGAN COULD THESE 55,000 VOTERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AN ELECTION?

>> LISTEN, NORTH CAROLINA'S A 50-50 STATE.

YOU WIN THESE ELECTIONS ON THE MARGINS AND SO I THINK EVERYTHING HAS A GREAT IMPACT THE ELECTION.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ALSO REMEMBER JUST BECAUSE YOU RESTORE 55,000 THE RIGHT TO VOTE, DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO TURN OUT.

>> BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T TARGET THEM RIGHT?

WE TARGET EVERY REGISTERED VOTER THAT'S LIKELY TO TURN OUT.

>> DONNA.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ONE VOTER CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS COMING UP VERY VERY SOON.

OUR COURTS ARE DESIGNED TO RULE ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF LAWS AND FELONS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO VOTE IS IN NORTH CAROLINA'S CONSTITUTION.

>> CLOSE AT ABOUT 30 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> AND YEAH, I THINK THE IMPORTANT POINT IS EVERYBODY AGREES ON THESE POINTS.

ONE, THAT FELLOW SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE.

TWO, THE QUESTION IS JUST AS SYDNEY WAS TALKING ABOUT SHOULD IT BE AFTER THEY'VE PAID A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY OR SHOULD BE AFTER THEY'VE SERVED THEIR SENTENCE?

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE COURTS SEEM TO BE CONCENTRATING ON.

SO IF EVERYBODY AGREES ON THAT, AND 3, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, IS THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAD AGREEMENT FROM THE DEFENDANTS THAT THE ORIGINAL BASIS OF SOME OF THESE LAWS WAS BASED IN BAD FAITH AND SO THEREFORE THERE HAD TO BE SOME TYPE OF RECONCILIATION HERE AND TO ME THE COURSE THEM TRYING TO GET A RECONCILIATION.

>> GREAT WRAP.

WANT TO TALK TO YOU SYDNEY ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

>> SO EVERYONE WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT BUT ALAS WE'RE STILL HERE IN SEPTEMBER AND WE'RE GOING FULL STEAM RIGHT NOW AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REALLY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION MOVED THROUGH AND IS HEADING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

HOPEFULLY HE'S GOING TO SIGN IT.

SB 300 WHICH IS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL ACTUALLY INCORPORATED A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HIS TASK FORCE AND ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTS OF IT IS THAT NORTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF THE ONLY STATES THAT ALLOWS 6 YEAR OLDS TO BE CHARGED CRIMINALLY AND ENTERED INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WE'VE NOW RAISED THE AGE TO 10 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 8 TO 9 YEAR-OLD WHO ACTUALLY FOR SERIOUS OFFENSES CAN ACTUALLY STILL ENTER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT LAW IS THAT THEY INCORPORATED A LOT OF THE TRACKING SO FOR BAD ACTING OFFICERS THAT WILL BE TRACKING THAT FOR OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS THAT WILL ALSO BE TRACKED.

IT ALSO HAS AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING FOR CERTAIN OFFICERS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE WERE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IS THAT THERE'S A DUTY TO ACT NOW A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SEES AN EXCESSIVE USE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO INTERVENE.

SO THAT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

>> DONNA, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLWING?

>> WELL, I WAS REALLY FOLLOWING CLOSELY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON CAME TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK TO TO REVEAL HIS REPORT ON THE FACTS TASK FORCE WHICH WAS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE CALLED AN ANTI-INDOCTRINATION PROCESS IN NORTH CAROLINA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HE OPENED UP A LINE TO HAVE TEACHERS PARENTS SUBMIT INSTANCES THAT BOTHERED THEM ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR CHILDREN'S CLASSROOM OR IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOM IN TRAINING.

THIS BILL WAS THEN PASSED BY THE SENATE IT WOULD PROHIBIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM PROMOTING CONTROVERSIAL VIEWPOINTS -- >> IT'S HEADED TO THE HOUSE?

>> YEAH, IT IS HEADED TO THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT CHANGED WHEN IT CAME OVER, BUT BASICALLY IT DOESN'T MENTION CRITICAL RACE THEORY BUT A LOT OF THE ISSUES A LOT OF THINGS THAT IT WOULD BAN ARCE DO STEM FROM CRITICAL RACE THEORY AMONG THEM THAT ONE RACE OR SEX IS INHERENTLY SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTS OF THESE 13 POINTS OF WHAT HE SAID WERE DISCRIMINATORY VIEWPOINTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF KNOW FIRE, A LOT OF HEATED DEBATE ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE OVER THE THIS, THERE'S SOME CRITICISM OF HOMESCHOOL PARENTS SAYING THAT THIS DOESN'T REALLY APPLY TO THEM BUT REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS IS STEMMING FROM A LOT OF PARENT AND TEACHER COMPLAINTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, BUT WITH WITH IT PASSED PURELY ON PARTY LINES, REPUBLICANS VOTING IN FAVOR DEMOCRATS VOTING AGAINST.

>> HOSPITAL REFORM CAME UP TOO AS WELL CORRECT?

>> YES HOSPITAL REFORM IS SOMETHING HAS BEEN OUT THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'VE STILL GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE WITH HOSPITAL FORM IS WE ARE GETTING INTO A HEALTH CARE CRISIS AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN APPROACH SOME OF THESE AREAS -- [MARC] CERTIFICATE OF NEED HAS BEEN ADJUSTED?

>.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED HAS BEEN ADJUSTED AND IT'S GOING CONTINUE TO GET LOOKED AT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO SERVE RURAL AREAS AND URBAN AREAS IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE WAY.

>> THERE WAS AN ANTI RIOT BILL I THINK PASSED THE SENATE LATE THIS WEEK MORGAN?

>> YES, IT DID AND I THINK IT IT BASICALLY PASS ALONG PARTY LINES AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT STEMS FROM A LOT OF THE PROTESTS THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND YOU KNOW REPUBLICANS MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT IT PROTECTS BUSINESSES, I THINK AT THE SAME TIME DEMOCRATS MADE THE ARGUMENT A LOT OF OTHER OPPONENTS MADE THE ARGUMENT THAT IT QUELLS FREE SPEECH AND IT IS REALLY AIMED AT CERTAIN FOLKS, SOME OF THE BAD THINGS IN HERE ARE LIKE JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN A MARCH YOU COULD GET HELD FOR 48 HOURS AND NOT EVEN CHARGED.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY QUESTIONABLE TYPE PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND I DON'T SEE THIS GAINING SUPPORT AND BECOMING LAW.

>> WILL IT HEAD TO THE HOUSE?

IN OTHER WORDS THE GOVERNOR WILL VETO IT?

>> I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S A BAD BILL.

>> WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE?

>> WELL, IT'S GOT TO COME BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR CONCURRENCE BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY VOTED AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE AND THEN ABOUT CONCURRENCE AND THEN IT'S GOT TO GO TO THE GOVERNOR DESK.

>> IS THERE A VETO PROOF MAJORITY YOU THINK?

>> I WOULD EXPECT SO.

>> OK I WANT TO TALK TO COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU TALK ABOUT COVID-19 A DEBATE OVER GIVING CHILDREN UNDER 12 THE VACCINE.

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING DEBATE BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENED THIS WEEK IS THAT PFIZER HAS BEEN GIVEN FULL APPROVAL BY THE FDA WHICH ALLOWS FOR WHAT THEY CALL OFF LABEL USAGE AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF US WEREN'T FAMILIAR WITH UNTIL WE HEARD ABOUT THIS.

SO WITH OFF-LABEL USES THAT MEANS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN APPROVED FOR 12 AND UP THIS WOULD ALLOW LEGALLY FOR DOCTORS BE ABLE TO GIVE THE VACCINE TO PEOPLE 12 AND UNDER.

BUT GROUPS OF DOCTORS HAVE SAID 'PLEASE DON'T DO THIS YET.'

YOU ALSO HAD GROUPS OF -- WELL THEY'RE NOT GROUPS, BUT THE FDA SAYING THE SAME THING IS LIKE LET'S FINISH UP THESE TRIALS BEFORE YOU MAKE THAT DECISION AND IT REALLY BECOMES A BALANCE BETWEEN SAFETY AS OPPOSED TO PARENTS CONCERNS ABOUT COVID.

AND THE PARENTAL CONCERNS ABOUT COVID ARE REAL.

I MEAN THOSE OF US THAT HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY SMALL CHILDREN WITH ANY KIND OF ILLNESS, IT'S A SCARY THING AND REALLY YOU DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT, 'MAN IF I'VE DONE THIS NOW THEN YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU WOULD'VE BEEN SAFE 3 MONTHS NOW BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO EXPOSE YOUR CHILDREN TO SOMETHING THAT COULD BE NOT READY FOR -- >> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

IS THERE ENOUGH DATA OUT THERE YOU THINK, MORGAN?

>> LISTEN I THINK LIKE EVERYTHING.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD BETWEEN DOCTORS PEDIATRICIANS AND PARENTS ABOUT THEIR KIDS.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ANXIETY WITH PARENTS RIGHT NOW, I'M VERY FORTUNATE.

OUR KIDS ARE 12 AND OVER AND THEY'VE BEEN DOUBLE VACCINATED BUT FOR FOLKS THAT ARE NOT 12 OR NOT GOING TO BE 12 ANY TIME SOON, YOU'VE GOT THE TREMENDOUS RISE IN THE DELTA VARIANT YOU'VE GOT ICUs IN NORTH CAROLINA MOST HOSPITALS ARE 90, 95% FULL THEIR ICUS ARE, AND I THINK MARC THE SALIENT POINT REALLY HERE IS THIS IS ALL PREVENTABLE, WE'VE GOT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOLKS THAT I SEE RIGHT NOW 90 TO 95% OF THEM WERE ALL UNVACCINATED AND SO MY REAL POINT IS TO ADULTS OUT THERE AND PEOPLE OVER 12, LIKE YOU CAN PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THIS BY GETTING THE VACCINE.

IF YOU WON'T DO IT FOR YOURSELF.

>> DO IT FOR YOUR KIDS FOR DO FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR'S KIDS WITH THE WHO THEY GO TO SCHOOL WITH THE GOVERNOR PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS SO FAR.

>> YOU KNOW I THINK WE HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON VACCINATIONS AND WE'VE SEEN A REAL SPIKE IN VACCINATION SINCE THE DELTA VARIANT HAS COME UP, BUT WITH SCHOOLS GOING BACK COLLEGE IS GOING BACK IN SESSION AND ALL THE CONGREGATE LIVING SOME AREAS YOU ARE SEE BREAK OUT TO THE OUTBREAKS A LOT OF THESE COLLEGES BUT WITH WITH SCHOOLS GOING BACK IN SESSION THAT'S WHAT'S GOT PARENTS ANXIETY AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AND I UNDERSTAND.

DONNA, YOU HAVE CHILDREN AROUND THAT AGE.

>> I DO AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THEY ARE NOT LITTLE ADULTS THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM DEVELOPS VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN THAN ADULTS, DO NOT USUALLY DOESN'T COMPLETELY KICK IN THEIR RESPONSE TO VACCINES IS DIFFERENT DOESN'T KICK IN UNTIL AFTER PUBERTY OR SO, BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT MORGAN SAID THIS IS REALLY A CONVERSATION FOR PARENTS TO HAVE WITH THEIR DOCTORS NOT WITH SCHOOLS, NOT WITH EMPLOYERS NOT CERTAINLY NOT THE GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PARENTS NEED TO CONSIDER AND OF COURSE THE ADVICE OF THEIR DOCTOR IS CRITICAL TO THAT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF FOLKS COMING BACK FORTUNATELY, AND THEY IN SOME OF THESE CONGREGATE LIVING SITUATIONS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, VAST MAJORITY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC AND THE HOSPITALS WHILE THEY ARE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY CHILDREN AND EVEN USE THAT ARE IN IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO STEP BACK WITH A LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WITH THAT OUR SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY HAS HAS PROVIDED FOR US AND PARENTS REALLY NEED TO TALK TO THEIR DOCTORS ABOUT THIS >> SYDNEY, PUT THIS IN CONTEXT PLEASE.

>> I'M A PARENT OF 2 KIDS WHO ARE TOO YOUNG TO GET VACCINATED JUST LIKE ROBERT AND I HAVE ANXIETY ABOUT SENDING BACK TO SCHOOL.

BUT WE DO KNOW THAT KIDS NEED TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL THEY KNEW THAT SOCIALIZATION AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PART SAYS IT'S ALREADY BEEN POINTED OUT IS THAT YOU DO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR DOCTORS AND PEDIATRICIANS BUT WE JUST NEED TO STAY THE COURSE AND WAIT UNTIL THE INFORMATION COMES OUT.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE INFORMATION FOR THE COVID AND ALL THE DATA THAT THE FDA IS REQUIRING TO ACTUALLY AUTHORIZE IT WILL BE OUT IN SEPTEMBER OCTOBER, SO THEY WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVALABLE TO REVIEW ALL THE DATA AND HOPEFULLY BE IN A POSITION IN WHICH BY THIS FALL KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 12 CAN FINALLY GET VACCINATED.

>> ROBERT WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> I THINK THAT WHAT EVERYBODY SAID IS WHAT IT IS WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO ALLEVIATE THEIR CONCERNS AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS FOR ALL THE REST OF US THAT CAN GET VACCINATED TO GET VACCINATED STOP THE SPREAD BECAUSE AGAIN THE HOSPITAL PROBLEM IS A REAL PROBLEM.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE REAL ISSUES THAT CAN'T GET SEEN BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON WITH COVID AND IF WE CAN STOP THAT SPREAD AMONG CHILDREN I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BIG WIN FOR EVERYBODY.

>> OKAY MORGAN I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DEVASTATION OF FLOODING IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> IT IS TRAGIC AND I THINK OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO FAMILIES IN WESTERN COUNTY COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN SO DEVASTATED.

THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM FRED CAME THROUGH, DROPPED 10 INCHES OF RAIN WHICH IS A TON OF RAIN BUT YOU ALSO GOT A LOOK AT THE TOPOGRAPHY UP THERE AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOWHERE FOR IT TO POOL.

AND SO IT RUNS DOWN THE MOUNTAIN, IT TAKES -- THESE RIVERS ARE SWELLING YOU'VE GOT DEBRIS IN ROADS, BLOCKING ROADS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE HAYWOOD AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY.

>> [MARC] THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY >> THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, HE'S BEEN OUT THERE A COUPLE TIMES TOURING DAMAGE AND IT IS DEVASTATING.

HE'S GOING TO BE ASKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DECLARE A FEDERAL DISASTER WHICH YOU'VE SEEN TENNESSEE HAS JUST GOT THEIRS A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS IT UNLOCKS FEMA FUNDS FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES, FOR BUSINESSES, FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP CLEAR DEBRIS TO HELP INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR HOMES OR REBUILD HOMES OR TEMPORARY HOUSING AND IT'S REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT IS GOING INTO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WE SPEAK.

>> ROBERT IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GOING TO WEIGH IN ON THIS WITH FUNDING?

>> I WOULD EXPECT SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

I THINK IT IS AGAIN IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH FEMA, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DEVASTATION ITSELF, BUT I THINK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS DEFINITELY READY TO STEP IN IF NEED BE.

>> DONNA HAS THIS BEEN A UNDERREPORTED STORY LARGELY IGNORED BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA YOU THINK?

I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT ON IT.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT EITHER ALTHOUGH WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS REALLY DRAMATIC AND IT'S ALARMING -- >> [MARC] HAS IT BEEN ISOLATED TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA?

>> I THINK THAT THE FLOODING WAS CERTAINLY ISOLATED AND I THINK THE COVERAGE PROBABLY WAS TO SOME DEGREE.

I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY DO GET YOU KNOW SOME ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY THESE BUSINESSES THAT REALLY SPENT A LIFETIME BUILDING THEM AND NOW THEY ARE MORE OR LESS GONE.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHEN WILL THEY GET -- WE STILL HAVE BUSINESSES - TALK TO EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

THERE'S STILL FOLKS THAT ARE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM FLORENCE SO THE BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS OF GETTING THEM THE ASSISTANCE IS THE BIG -- >> IS THE DELIVERY SYSTEM SYDNEY, A REAL PROBLEM, YOU THINK?

>> AT THIS POINT AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE ARE HURRICANES AFTER HURRICANE AFTER HURRICANE AND THAT THIS ISN'T JUST BEING SEEN IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHETHER IT BE DROUGHTS, WHETHER IT'S FIRES OUT WEST.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DEALING WITH UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNTS OF ASKS FRANKLY AND STATES OF EMERGENCY FROM EVERY SINGLE PLACE IN THE COUNTRY SIMPLY BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS A THING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO BUY INTO IT, THAT WE ARE NOW IN A POSITION WE HAVE TO MAKE SMART DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TRY AND STAVE OFF ALL OF THE OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS THAT WILL OCCUR.

>> WHAT IS THE EXTENT ARE THEY ESTIMATING THE DAMAGE.

>> THE NUMBERS ARE STILL COMING IN IN HAYWOOD COUNTY ALONE.

THEY WERE LOOKING AT A COUPLE DAYS AGO, 350 MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT GROWS MARKETS, YOU KNOW THAT EVERY DAY THAT GROWS AS YOU AS YOU GET DEEPER OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY FIND MORE BUSINESSES MORE HOMES.

MORE INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE.

THE DEBRIS REMOVAL BY ITSELF IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AGAIN THEM THAT'S THE LANDSCAPE OF THE MOUNTAINS TOO.

BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS, 100'S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE.

LARGELY IN HAYWOOD AND TRANSYLVANIA.

>> SO THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO ASK THE PRESIDENT FOR FOR MONEY.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT PROCESS WILL TAKE?

>> SO THE PROBLEM IS EVERYBODY IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS, AS SYDNEY TALKED ABOUT YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR THE MONEY FROM THE FED'S ONCE THE FEDS GRANTS IT, IT GOES TO THE FEDERAL REGISTER AND THEN THERE'S AN ENTIRE PROCESS A GRANT PROCESS.

THE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE CAN COME A LITTLE BIT FASTER SOMETIMES FOR HOME REPAIRS FOR SORT OF TEMPORARY LIVING SITUATION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KEPT OUT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON MOVES SLOW AND PART OF IT IS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE GETTING THE MONEY QUALIFY FOR THE MONEY AND THERE IS SO MUCH RED TAPE IN DC TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKS.

>> ROBERT CAN IT BE FAST TRACKED IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY YOU THINK?

>> WE'VE SHOWN THE ABILITY TO FAST TRACK A LOT OF THINGS SO WE CAN.

[LAUGHTER] >> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE EXACTLY LIKE EVERYONE SAID THAT WE ARE GETTING HIT PARTICULARLY NORTH CAROLINA WITH STORM AFTER STORM IT FEELS LIKE.

BUT THE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE FOLKS ARE WITHOUT A BUSINESS WITHOUT A ROOF IN MANY CASES AND WHILE WE SIT HERE AND SAY OK LET'S GO GET MONEY AND WILL BRING IN FEMA AND ALL THAT THEY'RE STILL LIVING DAY TO DAY THAT WAY SO GETTING THAT MONEY GETTING THEM ASSISTANCE TO MISS CRITICAL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS AND LIKE SAMARITAN'S PURSE OR OTHER GROUPS TO COME IN THERE, IT'S RELIED ACTUALLY PRIVATE GROUPS PROVIDE SERVICES IN VERY QUICKLY FOR YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS MAN A LOT OF THESE GROUPS GO IN THERE QUICKLY AND HELP AND I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHO WE ARE.

>> OKAY I WANT TO GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK DONNA.

>> SO MY MOST UNDERREPORTED IS BURIED DEEP WITHIN THE WHITE HOUSE BY THIS PROPOSAL IS REINSTATEMENT OR AT LEAST EXPANSION OF THE DEATH TAX THAT THAT MONEY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAXED AND EARNED THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE THAT PROPOSAL WOULD SHIFT >> 3.5 TRILLION?

>> IT'S A BIG CHUNK.

SO WHAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER THIS CASE IS YOUR CHILDREN WOULD NO LONGER BE CHARGED CAPITAL GAINS WHEN THEY SELL THEIR INHERITED PROPERTY.

NOW THEY VIEW INHERITANCE AS A TRANSACTION AND THEY WOULD BE CHARGED CAPITAL GAINS AT THE POINT WHERE THEY INHERIT IT.

AND THAT IS A -- IT COULD BE DEVASTATING FOR FAMILY FARMS, FAMILY BUSINESSES.

>> OK, ROBERT.

>> UNDERREPORTED IS THAT SHANGHAI RANKING CONSULTANCY HAS RANKED UNC NUMBER 30 IN WORLD UNIVERSITIES.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG HONOR, IT'S GOT US EVEN AHEAD OF DUKE AND SEVERAL THE OF THE TRIANGLE SCHOOLS AND SO WE'RE PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> ALL EMAILS ABOUT DUKE GO TO ROBERT REIVES.

[LAUGHTER] UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> [MORGAN] I LOVE IT, YOU LOVE THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO THERE'S BEEN A BIG DISCUSSION THIS COUNTRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT STATES SHOULD OPT OUT OF FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANTCE PRIOR TO WHEN IT EXPIRES AND SET IN SEPTEMBER A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT STUDIES CAME OUT FROM ECONOMIC ANALYSTS THIS WEEK SHOWING THAT STATES THAT OPTED OUT IN JUNE.

NOT ONLY DID FOLKS NOT GO BACK INTO THE EMPLOYMENT ROLE, 7 OF 8 ACTUALLY STAYED UNEMPLOYED, BUT IT TOOK A 2 BILLION DOLLAR HIT TO THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES BECAUSE THAT MONEY WAS NOT BEING SPENT AT RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT, NOT BEING SPENT AT GROCERY STORES AND PHARMACIES AT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND I THINK WHAT THIS HAS SHOWN IS ULTIMATELY THAT THIS FEDERAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN PROPPING UP THE ECONOMY A LOT AREAS AND THOSE STATES TOOK A BIG HIT 2 BILLION DOLLARS OTHER ECONOMY IS TO NOT GET MORE PEOPLE EMPLOYED WAS A BIG MISSTEP.

>> WELL WOULD YOU SUPPORT EXTENDING THE A $300 A WEEK.

>> YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S - I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO EXTEND I THINK BY THIS IT IS NOT SO I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T THINK IT'S REAL IT'S IT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION ANYMORE THINK IT'S ENDING IT IN SEPTEMBER.

>> IS BIDEN LOSING SOME OF HIS MOJO YOU THINK BECAUSE OF AFGHANISTAN AND OTHER THINGS I MEAN YOU LOOK AT THAT 3.5 TRILLION DOLLARS IS REALISTIC AND RECONCILIATION?

>> I DO I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE.

ABSOLUTELY SEGMENT.

>> SO MY UNDERREPORTED IS THAT THE CEO OF PFIZER CAME OUT THIS WEEK AND STATED THAT AT SOME POINT THEY BELIEVE THAT ANOTHER VARIANT OF COVID WILL ACTUALLY BE VACCINE RESISTANT AND SO THEY ARE SPENDING ALL OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY NOW SHIFTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN MAKE TAILORED DESIGN VACCINES WITHIN A 90 AND ON THE 95TH DAY OF THE TIME WHICH THEY ACTUALLY IDENTIFY IT.

95 DAYS LATER THAT ACTUALLY HAVE A VACCINE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BE TAILOR-MADE FOR LAMBDA OR WHATEVER VARIANT.

>> WILL PEOPLE BE GETTING BOOSTERS YOU THINK?

>> YEAH I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE BOOSTERS I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE FLU VACCINE.

>> SO IT'LL BE EVERY YEAR YOU THINK?

WELL, AT THE RATE AT WHICH WE'RE GOING RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY SAY THAT HERD IMMUNITY WE HAVE TO HAVE 90% OF AMERICANS VACCINATED?

YES WE WILL BE DOING THIS YEARLY UNLESS WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FINALLY GET TO A POINT WE HAVE HERD IMMUNITY, BUT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT IN THE STATE OR ANYWHERE TO THE HIGH DEGREE OF 90%.

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

>> SO UP, I'M GOING TO SAY STUDENTS.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNIVERSITIES ARE FINALLY BACK ON CAMPUS.

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL STAY THERE.

I THINK THAT I'M HEARING THAT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS REPORTED THAT MORE THAN 60% OF THE STUDENT BODY IS VACCINATED UNC IS SAYING ABOUT 80%.

I THINK THAT'S ENCOURAGING, THEY ARE SEEING OF COURSE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BACK ON CAMPUS.

WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN DIAGNOSES BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE ON CAMPUS BUT THE VAST MAJORITY ARE ASYMPTOMATIC I THINK THE SYSTEM IS DOWN.

I AM HEARING ANECDOTALLY THAT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF ANXIETY ON CAMPUS, PARTICULARLY AMONG FACULTY AND THAT A LOT OF THE KIDS ARE REPORTING THAT THERE IS SOME CONCERN THEY'RE HEARING IT FROM TEACHERS AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ALARMING THAT IF TEACHERS ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW ANGER AND FEAR IN THE CLASSROOM, IT'S JUST TO MAKE IT WORSE.

>> UP AND DOWN MY FRIEND.

>> KATIE HOCUL IS THE NEW GOVERNOR FOR NEW YORK AND SHE IS THE VERY FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY IN THAT SENSE AND I WOULD SAY DOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUING ITS DOWNWARD TREND, WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THAT FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> DOWN IS ANDREW CUOMO OKAY.

[ALL LAUGHING] I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPORTING HIM FOR PRESIDENT.

>> [MORGAN] THE VEXING ANDREW CUOMO IS HIS FRIENDS DON'T LIKE HIM.

[LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHY NOBODY SUPPORTS THE GUY.

UP SO I WOULD SAY BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, PASSED A MAJOR HURDLE IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK I THINK IT IS FAST TRACK FOR APPROVAL IN SEPTEMBER.

DOWN I WANT TO GET OUT OF POLITICS AND TALK ABOUT CHARLIE WATTS ROLLING STONES DRUMMER THE ROLLING STONES HAVE DEFIED GRAVITY AND CLEAN LIVING FOR OVER 80 YEARS AND THESE GUYS ARE STILL ROCKING.

I TELL YOU CHARLIE WATTS DYING AT 80 -- >> HE WAS THE DRIVING FORCE OF THE STONES.

SAW THEM TWICE.

I GOT TO TELL YOU MAN, THEY DEFY THE THE OLD ADAGE THAT ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG THOSE GUYS ARE STILL GETTING IT.

>> WE'LL YOU KNOW ON RECONCILIATION SINEMA, SENATOR FROM ARIZONA MANCHIN ARE THE KEYS RIGHT?

YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING ALONG WITH THIS PROGRAM?

>> I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A BILL PASSED IN SEPTEMBER.

>> WE NEED TO DECIDE THAT.

UP AND DOWN THIS WEEK SYDNEY.

>> HOSPITALIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE DUE TO COVID ADMISSIONS AND DOWN IS HUNGER IN AMERICA BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION OF THE FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS OF UP TO 25% WHICH IS THE LARGEST EXPANSION SINCE ITS CREATION AND THEN ALSO THE COMBINATION OF THOSE EARLY CHILD TAX CREDITS WE SEE THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL HELP WITH REGARDS TO FOOD AND HUNGER ISSUES.

>> WHAT'S THE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, DONNA?

>> GONNA MIX IT WITH MY DOWN ACTUALLY BECAUSE I THINK APPROVAL RATINGS ARE DOWN FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN ABOUT 45% APPROVAL RATING OR LESS PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S GOING ON AFGHANISTAN RIGHT NOW MY HEADLINE FOR NEXT WEEK.

I THINK MORE OF THE SAME I THINK WE'RE SEEING JUST THE BEGINNING OF CRISIS, HOSTAGE SITUATIONS, I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO LAND SQUARELY ON BIDEN'S SHOULDERS.

>> YOU THINK THERE'S A CRISIS CONFIDENCE IN PRESIDENT BIDEN?

I DO I THINK SO FOR SURE BECAUSE I THINK THAT HIS STATEMENTS THIS WEEK HAVE SHOWN THAT HE SEEMS OUT OF CONTROL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> ROBERT?

>> BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS FINALLY START TO RAMP UP IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TOWARDS GETTING A BUDGET SIGNED.

>> HOW INVOLVED IS THE GOVERNOR IN THAT MORGAN.

>> VERY INVOLVED.

>> THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR -- >> ARE WE GOING TO GET A BUDGET THIS TIME?

>> I THINK WE'RE MORE OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A BUDGET TIME THAN WE HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST 4 YEARS, I WILL TELL YOU, THAT'S PART OF MY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PROGRESS ON THE BUDGET AND YOU MAY SEE PROGRESS ON AN ENERGY BILL.

SO WHAT DOES THE GOVERNOR, WHAT IS HIS FEELING ON ENERGY BILL WHAT DOES HE WANT TO SEE CHANGED?

>> THE GOVERNOR LAID OUT VERY STRONGLY EXECUTIVE ORDER 80 THAT GETS US TO 70% CARBON REDUCTION ABOUT 2030.

HE ALSO FEELS VERY STRONG THAT UTILITIES COMMISSION SHOULD BE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT AND ALL SORTS PROCUREMENT AND WE SHOULD NOT BE MANDATING DIFFERENT ENTITIES LIKE NATURAL GAS FOR THE FUTURE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY.

THERE HASN'T BEEN A PIPELINE COMING.

DUKE CANCELED ACP.

IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A NEW WAY TO HAVE NATURAL GAS.

NATURAL GAS IS PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT IT CAN'T BE MANDATED IS THE SOLUTION.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK QUICKLY.

>> LOW CENSUS POPULATION COUNTS PROMPT NORTH CAROLINA, RURAL NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES TO RECONSIDER AND CHALLENGE THE CENSUS RESULTS, >>REALISTICALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN THERE?

>> NOTHING.

[LAUGHTER] >> OKAY, THAT'S IT FOR US.

>> SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW AND PLEASE KEEP OUR SOLDIERS IN YOUR PRAYERS.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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