>>COMING UP NEXT... CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE AND THEIR SCANDALS.

PAYING SYRACUSE TEACHERS TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR STIPENDS.

AND WHY DID THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BACK OFF THE WEAPONIZATION FUND?

STAY TUNED FOR MORE.

FROM "IVORY TOWER."

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I'M YOUR HOST, NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE OTHER PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE: TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RICK FENNER OF UTICA UNIVERSITY CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY AND JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE MID TERM ELECTION MATCHUPS ARE PRETTY MUCH SET IN ABOUT HALF THE STATES AND THE LINEUPS SO FAR INCLUDE SOME INTERESTING CONTENDERS.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE THAT ONCE SPORTED A NAZI TATTOO FOR 20 YEARS AND ALLEGEDLY SENT SEX TEXTS TO MULTIPLE WOMEN WHILE MARRIED.

THEN THERE'S THE CANDIDATE WITH CLOSE TIES TO THE SHEIKH WHO WAS CONVICTED IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING CASE.

IN THE REPUBLICAN CORNER.

IS A SENATE CANDIDATE INDICTED FOR SECURITIES FRAUD AND IMPEACHED BY HIS OWN PARTY.

PLUS MORE THAN 50 ELECTION DENIERS RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICES.

THIS LIST OF CANDIDATES WITH BAGGAGE AND SCANDALS GOES ON.

WHAT CHAD, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL OF THIS?

WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT ALL OF OUR POLITICS.

>> I DID THE UNTHINKABLE AND I SUBSCRIBED TO THE ATLANTIC BECAUSE I WAS DRAWN IN BY THE HEADLINE THAT SAYS CONDEMNING A NAZI TATTOO SHOULD NOT BE THIS HARD.

WHY AREN'T MORE DEMOCRATS CALLING OUT GRAHAM PLATTER IN.

THE GUY YOU REFERENCED WHO HAD A NAZI TATTOO FOR 20 YEARS AND IN ADDITION TO THAT HE POSTED TO REDDIT THAT COPS ARE BASTARDS, ALL OF THEM IN FACT.

INTO THE SOCIAL MEDIA POST IN WHICH WE BASICALLY BLAMES VICTIMS OF RAPE FOR BEING RAPED.

>> A LOT OF BAGGAGE.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK CHARACTER ISSUES LIKE THIS ARE ACTUALLY A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS BECAUSE IN RECENT YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN BETTER SORT OF PENALIZING THEIR OWN FOR THEIR MORAL FAILINGS.

AND IF THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT HIGH ROAD, AND CONDEMNING, YOU KNOW, TRUMP FOR HIS MORAL FAILINGS, THEY HAVE TO REJECT THIS GUY, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE IS RUNNING AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE SUSAN COLLINS, WHO IS A MODERATE AND IT'S NOT A TOUGH COMPROMISE TO MAKE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM FOR DSP IN THIS ELECTION.

>> YOU ARE SAYING IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO STICK TO ESSENTIALLY A PURITY TEST THAT IS NOT WORKING FOR THEM AND JENNY YOU ARE MAKE NO WAY.

>> NO WAY.

THE REALITY IS THAT DEMOCRATS NEED TO TAKE THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IF WE WANT TO HAVE SOME MEANINGFUL CHECKS ON THIS ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS COMPLETELY GONE ROGUE.

AND WHILE, YES, IT IS THE CASE IN THE PAST-- I THINK OF AL FRANKEN IN MINNESOTA WHO AFTER ACTUALLY STEPPED DOWN AFTER SOME ME TOO ALLEGATIONS BUT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO STOP TAKING THE HIGH RODE AND WE NEED OF HIGH ROAD AND THEY NEED P TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A CHECK.

SO CHARACTER SHOULD MATTER.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I THINK CHARACTER SHOULD MATTER.

BUT THE STAKES ARE SO HIGH THAT I THINK THE ELECTORATE IS GOING TO BE WILLING TO OVERLOOK THOSE THISHES ISSUES.

>> THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CHARACTER AND POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOREVER.

HERSCHAL WALKER, HERMAN CANE, BILL CLINTON, ANDREW CUOMO, YOU MENTIONED AL FRANKEN.

>> WE COULD THROW IN THOMAS JEFFERSON.

>> OF COURSE.

WHEN DOES IT MATTER?

I THINK IT MATTERS WHEN THE ELECTION IS GOING TO BE CLOSE AND THAT'S WHY MAINE IS AN ISSUE AND THAT'S IT'S SO MUCH TOUGHER FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN THIS CASE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING MAINE, BUT PLATNER AND COLLINS, IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE AND I IF I THIS.

IF THEY, ON THE ONE HAND THEY HAVE TO STICK WITH HIM BECAUSE HE IS THEIR BEST CHOICE AND ON THE OTHER HAND, ICE GOING TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH THEY'RE LIKELY TO LOSE THIS ELECTION BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTER ISSUES THAT CHAD MENTIONED.

>> WE LOOKED AT A STUDY BY THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION THAT SHOWED CANDIDATE QUALITY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AS YOU SAID, RICK, IN CLOSE ELECTIONS; THAT A POOR CANDIDATE COULD LOSE A WINNABLE ELECTION.

YOUR THOUGHTS, TARA.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK REALLY AFFECTS THIS IS HOW THE PUBLIC SEES WHAT THE FLAW IS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK HAS BEEN BUILDING, QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AROUND BUT CERTAINLY SINCE BILL CLINTON HAS BEEN THE ABILITY OF THE PUBLIC TO COMPARTMENTALIZE WHAT THE FLAW IS.

SO, IF, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE CASE OF GRAHAM PLATNER MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD SAY IF HE WAS SECTIONING WITH WOMEN WHILE HE WAS MARRIED, THEN THAT'S HIS WIFE'S ISSUE.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY MY ISSUE.

AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT MUCH ABOUT HOW HE WILL BE AS A POLITICIAN OR REPRESENT ME.

NOW IF HE WAS DOING THIS WITH, LET'S SAY 15-YEAR-OLDS, THEN ABSOLUTELY THIS WOULD BE A FLAW THAT I THINK WOULD SINK HIS CAMPAIGN.

BUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SO FAR THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY OF THAT.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE MORE ALLEGATIONS THAN, AT THIS POINT PROOF, THEN I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS THE PUBLIC COMPARTMENTALIZES THAT AND SAYS HE MAY BE FLAWED BUT THE FLAWS FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY.

AND I SEE THAT INCREASINGLY AS PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS... >> ON THE PART OF VOTERS.

>> ON THE PART OF VOTERS.

AND I THINK PART OF WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE DOING IS RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS HOW VOTERS ARE SEEING IT SO WE ARE GOING TO ROLL THE DICE AND TAKE OUR CHANCE WITH THESE FLAWED CANDIDATES.

>> HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT STRATEGY THAT I'VE HEARD STRATEGISTS TALK ABOUT IS THAT REPUBLICANS MAY ALREADY HAVE MORE DIRT, RIGHT?

SO DEMOCRATS GET THE BUY-IN.

HE'S ON THE TICKET.

IT'S TOO LATE TO REMOVE HIM.

AND THEN OUTCOMES ALL OF THE OTHER EVIDENCE.

CHAD, YOU WERE GOING SAY P TO SAY.

>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON ONE OF OUR POLITICAL SCIENTISTS GAVE TOO TO ME.

EVERY POLITICAL CANDIDATE IS A COMPROMISE.

KIND OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND JENNY WHY I FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH YOU.

I ACCEPT YOUR IDEA THAT YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS THINK THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE OVER THE SENATE NO MATTER WHAT.

IF YOU HAD THIS PLATNER FACING YOUR MOST REPREHENSIBLE REPUBLICAN, PICK WHO THAT IS, IT'S NOT SUSAN COLLINS AND SO THAT'S-- YOU ARE MAKING A COMPROMISE-- WHEN YOU ARE SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS NAZI IS BETTER THAN SUSAN COLLINS, YOU SUDDENLY ADOPTED A BLUE, NO MATTER WHO PHILOSOPHY, A PHRASE FROM A WASHINGTON EXAMINER AND THAT SHOULD BE FUNDAMENTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

IN THE SAME WAY... GO WE SEE THE SAME THING ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT I'M TALKING... APACSTON OVER TALARICO BUT IT'S THE SAME THING BUT FLIP ADD ROUND.

PAXTON HAS SO MUCH BAGGAGE.

IT'S HARD TO SEE-- P I MEAN REPUBLICANS IN TEXAS ALREADY IMPEACHED HIM.

>> ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.

>> AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO GO AROUND IN ORDER TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, A REPUBLICAN SEAT, THEY'RE GOING HOLD THEIR NOSE AND THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM.

SO IT'S HAPPENING ON BOTH SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE.

IT'S THE MOST FASCINATING RACE TO ME.

DO YOU WANT TO SAY... >> YES, I LOVE THE PENSZ PENCE LINE BUT YOU TAKE IT.

>> THE PENCE LINE IS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE LOST THEIR WAY BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE LOST THEIR MIND.

THE EVIDENCE HE USED TO SUPPORT THIS IS TALARICO'S DECLARATION THAT GOD IS NON-BINARY.

THERE ARE THEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT THAT.

IT STATES THAT MAN IS NEITHER MAN NOR WOMEN.

HE IS PURE SPIRIT AND NO PLACE FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN SEXES.

ALL OF THAT IS COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT TO THE MEDIA AND VOTER WHO DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR THE GENDER IDEOLOGY IN THEIR CANDIDATE AND THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE.

ARE YOU WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON THIS?

IS HE WILLING TO WALK THAT BACK IN ANY SORT OF WAY TO APPEAL TO THE MEDIAN VOTER IN TEXAS AND I THINK THERE IS POSSIBILITY THERE.

I'M NOT COUNTING TALARICO OUT.

>> WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO TARA'S POINT ABOUT VOTERS HAVING THEIR OWN PRIORITIES, AND THE FACT THAT HE WAS IMPEACHED.

AND BY THE WAY, HE ALSO WAS-- HE SETTLED IN HIS CRIMINAL CASE.

SO TO VOTERS, THEY'RE LIKE OKAY, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO MOVE OSM NOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT REPORT IN THE POST STANDARD THAT DETAILED TEACHERS IN THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL NOW TESTIFY A $10,000 TYPE END AS EXTRA PAY FOR PARTICIPATING IN A SPECIAL PROGRAM TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS AT 13 OF THE CITY'S FAILING SCHOOLS.

TO BECOME PART OF THIS VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, WHICH IS KNOWN AS ELEVATE 315, TEACHERS MUST COMPLETE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS AND I AM PLENTY SOMETHING THAT'S CALLED A "PERSONALIZED LEARNING MODEL."

OR BASICALLY A TEACHING STRATEGY THAT IS BASED ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.

SO, RICK, THAT'S A MOUTHFUL.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE OVERALL PLAN?

>> WELL, FIRST I SYMPATHIZE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS BASED ON TEST SCORES.

YOU KNOW WE HAVE SEEN ABSENTEE RATES ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID SKYROCKETING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT.

AND SO WHAT I SEE IS, YOU KNOW, A PROGRAM WITH A CLEVER NAME, ELEVATE 315 AND ABOUT $2.5 MILLION THAT IS GOING TO BE SPENT, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEIR PLAN IS.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE DISCUSSION-- I WENT THROUGH THE POWERPOINT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT GAVE TO THE BOARD ABOUT THIS.

AND IT ALL MENTIONED GREAT THINGS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EMPATHY, ENGAGING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY.

THINGS WE'VE HEARD FOR DECADES.

BUT HOW ARE THEY REALLY GOING TO >> IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

$10,000 PERFECT TEACHER AND THE COACH.

750,000-- >> 160 INDIVIDUALS WILL POTENTIALLY WILL BE GETTING THIS.

>> THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AND THERE IS THE QUESTION OF HOW DOES THE PERSONALIZED LEARNING PLAN BECOME OPERATIONALIZED BECAUSE, LIKE RICK, I STRUGGLE, JENNY TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF STEP ONE?

>> FOR SURE.

THERE IS A VAGUENESS IN THIS THAT IS SURPRISING ACTUALLY THAT IT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED SO STRONGLY BY THE TEACHERS, THE TEACHERS UNIONS, THE BOARD.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT THESE KINDS OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS CAN WORK.

SO THERE WAS A STUDY OUT OF DALLAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT FOUND A VERY SIMILAR SORT OF PROGRAM ACTUALLY DID INCREASE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDED, THEN THE TEACHERS WHO WERE PART OF THE PROGRAM, MOST OF THEM LEFT BECAUSE THEY WERE USED TO THE HIGHER PAY.

AND THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT CAME WITH THAT, WHICH MEANT THEY WERE MORE DESIRABLE.

>> SO TARA, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> THAT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF MY CONCERNS I. WAS VERY UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS $10,000 IS OVER ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS, HOW MANY YEARS IT IS FOR.

ANOTHER ISSUE IS-- AND THIS WAS BRIEFLY REFERENCED IN ONE OF THE ARTICLES THAT I READ-- WAS THAT THERE WOULD BE THESE FIVE STUDENT GROUPS.

AND SO I THOUGHT, OKAY... YOU DECEMBER DESIGNATE P FIVE STUDENTS WHO ARE THE MOST STRUGGLING.

BUT WHAT IF YOU HAVE SIX?

DO YOU START A NEW GROUP?

DO YOU IGNORE THAT PERSON?

THERE IS ALSO THE CONCERN OF CHILDREN BEING CHILDREN.

OKAY, THESE FIVE ARE BEING SORT OF DESIGNATED AS NEEDING THIS SPECIAL ASSISTANCE.

SO, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN BEING CHILDREN, DOES THAT INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF TEASING?

HOW IS THIS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN THE ACTUAL SCHOOL DAY.

AND SO, AGAIN, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOMETHING THAT I PRESUME IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FALL IS REALLY VERY VAGUE AND VERY UNCLEAR.

AND BASICALLY WHAT TWO MONTHS, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS, HOW DO YOU DESIGNATE WHICH TEACHERS ARE GOING TO GET THIS STIPEND AND HOW MUCH TRAINING ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO DO IN THE SUMMER IN ORDER TO BE READY TO GO IN THE FALL?

>> IT ALMOST SEEMS TO-- AND I KNOW WE ARE BEING VERY CRITICAL HERE, BUT TO YOUR EARL YENT POINT HERE RICK, IT'S DOING SOMETHING, BUT IT ALMOST SEEMS THAT THE THINKING IS YOU CAN BRING IN AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT, TRAIN TEACHERS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND THEN THEY CAN TEACH THE MOST DIFFICULT STUDENTS IN A CLASS.

CHAD.

>> MUCH LESS ANIMATED ABOUT THIS TOPIC THAN LAST ONE.

>> DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT STUDENT... >> I DO, BUT THE REASON I'M LESS ANIMATED ABOUT IT IS THE REASONS WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE WHAT FACTS ARE.

IS THE $10,000 AN AUTOMATIC OR AN INCENTIVE TO OPT IN OR IS IT LIKE $10,000 FOR... >> TO OPT IN.

>> SUMMER TRAINING... >> OKAY, SO WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE DETAILS.

IT IS FOR GOING BEYOND YOUR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.

IT'S DOING OVERTIME.

IT'S WORKING DURING THE SUMMER.

IT'S DEVELOPING AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS, BASED ON DATA.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE ABOUT IT.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DATA DRIVEN, CHAD.

>> IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND CLEARLY WHATEVER IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ISN'T WORKING SO TRYING SOMETHING NEW IS FINE.

THE INTERESTING THING TO ME THOUGH IS THIS IDEA THAT THIS INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION WHICH MIGHT INVOLVE SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS, THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME KIDS THAT ARE BETTER AT SIGHT LEARNING AND SOME THAT ARE BETTER AT PHONICS, BUT THEM IN DIFFERENT GROUPS.

BUT THAT REQUIRES A MASSIVE INCREASE OF STAFFING TO MONITOR EACH OF THESE GROUPS AT ONCE.

AND SO I'M ACTUALLY SYMPATHETIC TO THE TEACHERS UNION WHO SAYS WE NEED MORE STAFFING BUT... >> WE HAD INDIVIDUAL LEARNING CALLED SRA READING IN OUR CLASSROOMS IN THE 1960s.

THIS IS NOT NEW.

>> THIS IS DIFFERENT THOUGH.

>> THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER PROGRAMS THAT GEAR TOWARD INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS' CAPABILITIES AND WE DID THIS, AGAIN WHEN I WAS A KID IN 1960s.

>> THANKS FOR SHARING THAT, RICK.

YOU JUST AGED YOURSELF.

WELL, MOVING ON.

IT APPEARS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS ABANDONED PLANS FOR THAT 1.8 BILLION-DOLLAR ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND.

THE FUND WOULD HAVE COMPENSATED VICTIMS OF LAWFARE AND WEAPONIZATION EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND EXACTLY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FUND WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED, THE D.O.J.

SIGNALED IT WAS BACKING OFF, AT LEAST FOR NOW.

IT IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO RETREAT ON ANYTHING.

SO, JENNY, WHY HERE AND NOW?

>> SO THAT ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND MET WITH QUICK RESISTANCE; I THINK ACROSS THE POLITICAL AISLE.

THERE IS THE COURTS.

SO I THINK LAST WEEK A DISTRICT JUDGE RULED THAT IT WAS POTENTIALLY VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION'S APPROPRIATIONS CLAUSE, MEANING THAT ONLY CONGRESS CAN ACTUALLY APPROPRIATE THESE SORTS OF FUNDS.

AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH CANNOT.

SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE SOME DEMOCRATIC STATE GOVERNORS ANNOUNCING THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PUT A 100% TAX ON ANY OF THE PROCEEDS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS, IN GETTING-- >> INCLUDING NEW YORK.

>> NEW YORK WAS ONE OF THEM, TOO.

NOW THAT'S DUBIOUS, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT WOULD LAST IS SMALL.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, ANOTHER SIGNAL BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST IS THE G.O.P.

REVOLT.

SO WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF PROMINENT REPUBLICANS, TILL IS, CRUZ AND OTHERS WHO BASICALLY SAYS P THIS IS A REALLY PROBLEMATIC MATTER.

I THINK IT DIDN'T HELP THE D.O.J.

'S CASE WHEN YOU HAD SOME OF THE JANUARY 6 RIOTERS BASICALLY DECLARING THEY WOULD BE PURSUING FUNDS THROUGH THIS.

AND I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE FACING A VERY CHALLENGING MID TERM ELECTION SEASON.

THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC IS UNPOPULAR BY THE PUBLIC.

AND SO I THINK THE HEAD WINDS WITHIN THE G.O.P.

ARE WHAT REALLY HAS SUNK THIS FOR NOW.

>> ACCORDING TO CRUZ, THERE WAS A SENATE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE AND HALF OF THOSE WHO WERE THERE, HE SAID, WERE QUOTE UNQUOTE, PISSED.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING WHY THIS-- THIS DOESN'T APPEAR MORE AGREENING US THAN MANY THINGS TRUMP HAS DONE.

HE GAVE PARDONS TO THESE PEOPLE, SO WHAT IS GIVING THEM A FEW DOLLARS?

I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED BUT THEY CERTAINLY DO SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THIS.

ONE THING THE P SIENNA POLL THAT LOOKED AT HOW PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

48% OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS WERE AGAINST THIS.

THAT SURPRISED ME AS WELL.

I WASN'T EXACTLY SURE WHY HALF OF THEM WOULD OPPOSE THIS.

BUT IT'S CLEAR WITH THE PRESIDENT'S POLL NUMBERS DOWN, WITH THE MID TERM ELECTIONS COMING UP, THAT PAY BACK MORE LAME DUCK SENATORS OUT THERE WILLING TO SPEAK THEIR MIND, THAT TRUMP AND HIS FOLKS IN THE WHITE HOUSE THOUGHT THEY NEEDED TO BACK OFF ON THIS.

>> BUT LET ME MAKE AN ARGUMENT ON SUBSTANCE.

EFFECTIVELY THIS WAS SETTLEMENTS OF TRUMP'S I.R.S.

LAWSUIT WHICH WAS FOR WHAT, $2 TRILLION, WHATEVER AMOUNT IT WAS.

AND SO THIS HAPPENS ON A REGULAR BASIS, THAT YOU HAVE SETTLEMENTS.

HE HAS REACHED SETTLEMENTS WITH LAW FIRMS, WITH COLLEGES, SO WHAT IS DIFFERENT HERE?

[LAUGHTER] >> I THINK WHAT IS DIFFERENT HERE IS PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS JUST POLITICALLY TOXIC AND DEEPLY UNPOPULAR.

AND YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WANTS TO SORT OF-- SOIR, THE WASHINGTON POST WANTS TO SAY THERE IS A SHIFT IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WILLINGNESS TO CHALLENGE HIM.

P THAT IS WISHFUL THINKING.

NO, THAT IS NOT WHAT IT IS.

I THINK THE JUDGE'S DECISION GIVES THE G.O.P.

COVER TO SAY IT'S A RADICAL LEFTIST JUDGE THAT IS KILLING US, NOT PARTY INFIGHTING.

AGREE.

>> WELL, THE D.O.J.

DID COME OUT AND WHEN TODD BLANCHE INITIALLY SAID WE ARE BACKING OFF, HE SAID WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW WHAT THE COURTS HAVE SAID.

THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO COURTS.

AND TRUMP SAID I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WE WILL BUT MAYBE WE WON'T.

SO THIS IS STILL SORT OF UP IN THE AIR, TARA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I HEARD WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, OKAY, SO THIS IS LIKE MANY OTHER THINGS.

HE IS GOING TO BACK OFF AND THEN HIS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THINK TANK CONNECTIONS WILL LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OKAY, HOW CAN WE REWORK THIS AND MAKE THIS WORK FOR HIM.

MAYBE REDUCE THE AMOUNT, ETC.

SO DO I THINK THAT THIS PLAN IS GOING AWAY AS IT EXISTS?

MAYBE.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REDEFINED.

>> I WANTED TO-- CHAD, YOU SAID IT WAS WISHFUL THINKING TO DEMOCRATS THAT THERE IS MORE PUSH BACK.

LOOK AT THE EPSTEIN FILES, THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICANS HELD BACK PASSAGE OF THE IMMIGRATION FUND.

IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE THAT HAVE NOW, THE WAR POWERS LEGISLATION, THERE IS CERTAIN MORE PUSHBACK NOW.

WHETHER IT'S ENOUGH TO GET MORE DEMOCRATS ELECTED, WE WILL SEE BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS A TREND COMING.

>> FOUR REPUBLICANS VOTED ON THAT IRAN THING.

FOUR AND ONE OF THEM WAS MASSEY WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN PRIMARIED SO KEEP HOPE ALIVE BUT DON'T KEEP OPTIMISM GOING.

ON THIS ISSUE THOUGH, WHY IS THIS PARTICULAR THING STILL UP.

YOU CITED THE SURPRISE OF THE 48%... >> TRUMP SUPPORTERS AGAINST THIS, YES.

>> ECONOMISTS POLL, 25% OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORT THIS AND SO TO ME, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING HERE ABOUT THE WORDING, WHICH ASKED RESPONDENTS IF THEY SUPPORT PAYING PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN MISTREATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THEN WHEN YOU START TO TALK TO AND SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHO IS IT SENATOR KENNEDY FROM LOUISIANA, THE PROBLEM THAT SOME OF THEM HAD, HAD TO DO WITH THE CLARITY OR LACK THEREOF OF WHAT THIS FUND WOULD BE FOR.

AND SO IN TERMS OF KEEPING THIS PARTICULAR THING ALIVE, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO SEE A SHIFT IS LIKE, OKAY, IF WE ESTABLISH THE PARAMETERS CLEARLY, THIS THING COULD GO THROUGH.

>> TO GO BACK TO RICK'S LIST OF FAUX PASS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER THE MONTHS OR AMOUNT OF TIME THAT TRUMP HAS BEEN IN OFFICE, I WONDER HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ABOUT THE PROXIMITY TO THE MID TERM ELECTIONS, RIGHT?

THAT YOU LITERALLY COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE STORMING THE CAPITOL, AND HAVE DEMOCRATS RUN THOSE COMMERCIAL ADS AND SAYING THIS PERSON GOT $20,000.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK... >> THERE IS A PICTURE IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES," THIS GUY SITTING IN ONE OF THE OFFICES AND HE WAS HIRED BY THE PENTAGON, SOMEBODY WHO SOMEHOW HE GOT HIRED IN A POSITION.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT THE REPUBLICANS DO FEAR.

>> THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADE BOOKS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR FS AND TARA, CAN WE COME TO YOU FIRST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY F GOES TO ALL OF US, AS U.S.

CITIZENS FOR SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME FOCUSING ON THE SITES OF AMERICAN MEMORY UNDESERVING OF CONTINUED PRESERVATION AND NOT ENOUGH TIME, EFFORT AND ENERGY OF THOSE DESERVING OF PRESERVATION.

EACH YEAR THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION LISTS ITS MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC SITES IN AMERICA.

THIS YEAR'S LIST INCLUDES THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, WHEN HAS A BACKLOG OF OVER $10 MILLION IN NEEDED MAINTENANCE, PUEBLO NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK FACING A PROPROPOSED EXPANSION OF OIL AND GNARL GAS DEVELOPMENT ON AND ACTUALLY LAKE SEGREGATION JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMP WHICH IS PARTIALLY RESTORED AND THREATENED BY THE BUILDING OF AN AIRPORT FENCE.

>> RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HIG SETH FOR REJECTING ALL OF THE WOMEN AND HALF OF THE WOMEN CANDIDATES THAT RECOMMENDED FOR PROMOTION TO THE ONE-STAR ADMIRAL OF THIS SEEMS TO BE PART OF THE ANTI-DIVERSITY STRATEGY HE HAS BEEN WAGING.

HE HAS DISMISSED OVER 30 MILITARY SEEN YOUR OFFICERS, 60% OF WHICH ARE WOMEN OR BLACK.

>> CHAD.

>> MY F GOES TO JOE BIDEN WHO TOLD NBC THIS WEEK THAT WE COULD NOT LET OUR SON HUNTER BIDEN GO TO JAIL ON A CHARGE FOR A GUN WHEN HE HAD IT FOR 11 CASE WHICH HE THINKS IS A STATEMENT CONCERNED BY CONSERVATIVES AS EVIDENCE THAT THE BIDENS DON'T THINK THAT THE RULES APPLY TO THEM.

AND THAT IT IS FODDER FOR GUN CONTROL OPPONENTS LIKE THE NRA WHO ARGUE WE DO NOT NEED NEW GUN LAWS.

WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE EXISTING ONES.

>> JENNY.

>> MY F GOES TO THE DRACONIAN CUTS TO SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS PUSHED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

CUTS TO SNAP ARE TAKING EFFECT JUST AS KIDS LOSE ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS.

NEARLY THREE AND A HALF MILLION FAMILIES ARE CUT OFF FROM FOOD AID.

I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES AT 12 AND 13, I LIVED WITH A SINGLE MOM P WITH ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND EVEN BACK THEN, SNAP WAS NOT ENOUGH, BUT IT HELPED.

THE WHITE HOUSE CALLS IT SELF SUFFICIENCY.

I TELL IT CALLING HUNGRY KIDS TO EAT DIRT.

>> THAT'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

WE ARE GOING TO NOW MOVE ON TO SOME GOOD NEWS.

AND WE ARE GOING START AGAIN WITH YOU, TARA, IF WE CAN.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO HEALTHCARE WORKER LILLY WHO POSTED HER ENCOUNTER WITH A SELF DESCRIBED CHINESE MAN ON TIKTOK.

HER RESPONSE TO HIS INQUIRY WHETHER SHE WAS AN UBER DRIVER AND WHETHER SHE WAS LOITERING WERE EDUCATIONAL.

SHE WAS IN HER CAR DRINKING HER COFFEE BEFORE HER SHIFT STARTED AND SHE WAS ACCOSTED BY THIS MAN.

INSTEAD OF SHOWING ANGER, SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE WAS ON A GOVERNMENT STREET AND NOT IN THE MAN'S PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.

SHE ALSO REMINDED HIM OF THE DANGER TO HIMSELF BECAUSE SHE HAD NO IDEA OR WHETHER HE HAD NO IDEA WHO SHE WAS OR WHAT SHE MIGHT DO.

>> RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO MARCO RUBIO FOR ANNOUNCING HE IS TAKING BACK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE U.S.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR VACCINES AND IMMUNIZATIONS FROM ROBERT F. KENNEDY AND THE U.S.

MAY RESUME ITS FUNDING.

>> WE DISCUSSED THE RISE OF DATA CENTER ON THIS PROGRAM A MONTH AGO.

OPPONENTS ARE MOTIVATED BY NIMBYISM OR FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ENERGY CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED THROUGH PRIVATE DISCRIMINATION BUT THERE WAS ARTICLE RELEASED ABOUT A 26-YEAR-OLD LAW THAT ALLOWS DATA CENTER TO AVOID MILLIONS IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, THOSE BREAKS NEED TO GO.

>> MY A GOES TO THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE FOR DOING SOMETHING RARE AND