>> TONIGHT ON "IVORY TOWER" WE'RE DISCUSSING POWER - ON THE WORLD POLITICAL STAGE, IN THE FINANCES OF CONGRESSMEMBERS AND AMONG RIVALS IN ONLINE SEARCH.

STAY TUNED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME IN YOUR DAY FOR IVORY FOR "IVORY TOWER."

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE PANELISTS JOINING ME TONIGHT ARE: TARA ROSS, FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SARAH PRALLE, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ANIRBAN ACHARYA, FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

WE'LL START IN CHINA -- THIS WEEK LEADERS OF MORE THAN 20 COUNTRIES MET FOR A SUMMIT, THE CHINESE SHOWED OFF THEIR MILITARY MIGHT IN AN IMPRESSIVE PARADE --- AND THE SIGNATURE PHOTO OF THE WEEK WAS THE INDIAN PRIME MINISTER AND THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT HOLDING HANDS.

I'M WONDERING, SARAH, ARE THE CHINESE TRYING TO BUILD A BLOCK IN THE EAST AGAINST THE U.S.?

>> I THINK TRUMP IS ACTUALLY PUSHING THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, TO A PLACE WHERE THE UNITED STATES IS NO LONGER SORT OF FIRST AMONG EQUALS ON THE GLOBAL STAGE.

AND YOU KNOW WHATEVER PEOPLE MIGHT THINK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT WE HAVE PLAYED, I THINK THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT IT'S HELPED US AND IT'S HELPED OUR ALLIES.

SO I THINK THIS MATTERS A GREAT DEAL.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

I THINK IF IT WAS HAPPENING UNDER A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, FOX NEWS WOULD BE LOSING THEIR MINDS AND THIS WOULD BE ON THE CRYIONS AND THE REPUBLICANS WOULD BE SAYING THIS IS THE END OF U.S. DOMINANCE ON THE U.S.

STAGE.

I THINK THE OTHER SORT OF IMPORTANT POINT HERE, TOO, IS THAT IT IS TURNING THESE COUNTRIES MORE TOWARDS ANTI-AMERICAN STANCES WHICH SOME OF THEM WERE ALREADY ON THAT TRAIN, BUT THEY CAN USE THIS KIND OF, THE TARIFFS, ETC., TO PUT OUT ANTI-U.S.

PROPAGANDA.

THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES SOMETIMES ARE MORE PRO-AMERICAN THAN THEIR LEADERS.

IRAN MIGHT BE AN THAT PART OF THE WORLD AND BECAUSE TRUMP IS BEING, YOU KNOW, PETTY ABOUT WANTING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE INDIA-PAKISTAN REDUCTION IN TENSIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, INCREASING THE TARIFF BECAUSE THEY BOUGHT SOME RUSSIAN OIL, HE IS PUSHING THEM AWAY FROM US AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR CHINA TO DEVELOP THIS ANTI-U.S.

COALITION AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO PAY THE PRICE.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, ISOLATIONISTS IN THE UNITED STATES MUST BE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE IS DOING.

HE IS PUSHING US INTO OUR OWN LITTLE WORLD.

AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO PAY A PRICE FOR THAT.

>> ANIRBAN, I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH INDIA AND CHINA.

>> LET ME PUT THIS IN A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, PART OF THE SHANGHI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION THAT WAS BUILT WAY BACK AND INCLUDED RUSSIA, CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES, SIRRING STAN, TURKMENISTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN AND BELARUS LATER ON JOINED.

LAST YEAR INDIA DIDN'T G. IT SENT ITS MINISTER, A REGULAR AFFAIR, SECURITY AND TRADE AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE CENTRAL ASIAN NATIONS, BUT THIS YEAR, OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THIS KIND OF ATTACK AGAINST INDIA'S USE OF RUSSIAN OIL, WHICH INDIA SAID THEY WERE BEING ASKED TO BUY FROM RUSSIA BY AMERICA AND THEY POINTED OUT EUROPE IS BUYING OIL, SO WHY SINGLE THEM OUT.

AND INDIA FOR BETTER OR WORSE HAVE REMAINED WITHIN THE WOT FRAMEWORK SO FAR, WTO, MAINTAINING THEIR FAVORED NATION STATUS IN TERMS OF TARIFFS AND NOW THEY'RE SEEING ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS A COMPLETELY ABOUT TURN IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY.

HE WAS HOLDING HANDS WITH TRUMP IN THE MODI RALLY.

THEY ARE HUGE, YOU KNOW, THEY SAW THEM AS NATURAL ALLIES, BOTH STRONG MEN IN THEIR OWN AREAS.

AND INDIA IS HEDGING SAYING IF WE FEED TO REMAIN FIERCELY INDEPENDENT IN SOME WAY OR THE OTHER, I GUESS WE SHOULD WARM UP TO CHINA.

AGAIN, THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEMATIC ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS BORDER DISPUTES IN CHINA.

INDIA DOESN'T WANT ANYBODY TALKING ANYTHING ABOUT KASHMIR AND THE OCCUPATION THERE, SO EVEN THOUGH THERE IS INTERNAL DISPUTE WITHIN THIS GROUP, THERE IS SOME SHOW OF UNITY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF ALIENATION THAT THEY FEEL BECAUSE OF THE ATTACK AND THE TARIFFS AND THE ATTACK ON INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY AND SO ON.

>> DO YOU SEE INDIA MOVING CLOSER TO CHINA?

>> NOT REALLY.

I SEE THERE MIGHT BE A SIGNIFICANT DETACH IN THE RELATIONS.

THAWING OF RELATIONS.

INDIA WAS IN THIS KIND OF BORDER DISPUTE, RIGHT, A HUGE FIGHTING THAT BROKE UP BETWEEN INDIANIAN AND CHINESE FORCES ON THE BORDER.

INTERESTINGLY THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE WEAPONS BY LAW SO THEY FIST FOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME, EXTREME COMBED.

SO THERE ARE SKIRMISHES BUT FROM WHAT WE ARE SEEING, THERE MIGHT BE SOME THAWING OF THE RELATIONS OVERALL AGAIN, WHICH IS SPAWNED FROM, YOU KNOW, THIS IDEA OF TRUMP ATTACKING WORLD LEADERS.

>> LET ME ASK TARA OUR HISTORIAN.

SHE SEEMED TO SAY THAT:WAS A BIG FACTOR IN WORLD WAR II AND THE UNITED STATES WASN'T MUCH.

IS LEE TRYING TO REWRITE HISTORY P?

>> PART OF WHAT HE IS FOCUSING IS ON IS THE FACT THAT BECAUSE OF LONG HISTORIC ISSUES WITH JAPAN, BASICALLY CHINA AND JAPAN HAD BEEN FIGHTING BEFORE WORLD WAR II ACTUALLY BREAKS OUT.

AND SO WHEN HE MAKES THAT ARGUMENT THAT CHINA HAD BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST BASICALLY THIS WORLD DOMINATION, THIS WORLD ANTIFASCIST MOVEMENT, HE IS CORRECT IN THAT.

BUT OFFICIALLY, CHINA DOESN'T ACTUALLY JOIN THE EFFORT TO FIGHT AGAINST THE AXIS POWERS UNTIL DECEMBER 9, 1941.

SO HE IS MORPHING TWO REAL OCCURRENCES IN HISTORY AND MOVERRING THEM TOGETHER FOR CHINA'S BENEFIT.

BUT WHAT P HE IS ALSO DOING IS RECOGNIZING THAT AS AMERICA IS ALIENATING PEOPLE, COUNTRIES THAT HAVE LONG FELT THAT SINCE WORLD WAR II, AMERICA HAS REALLY ALMOST BEEN A BULLY IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT AMERICAN INTERESTS WERE FIRST AROUND THE WORLD; HE IS RECOGNIZING THAT IF WE CAN BEGIN TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE, COUNTRIES THAT HAVE FELT THAT ALIENATION FOR A LONG TIME-- AND CERTAINLY THEY'RE MORE ALIENATED NOW-- THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO SUPPORT WHAT CHINA IS TRYING TO DO.

THE OTHER THING THAT CHINA IS DOING, WHICH I THINK IS VERY SMART, CHINA IS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHERE AMERICA, AS IN PART BECAUSE OF ISOLATIONISM AND BECAUSE OF THIS EFFORT TO UNDERFUND AGENCIES OR ELIMINATE AGENCIES, IS ALSO OPENING UP AREAS WHERE CHINA CAN LEAD IN AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT.

>> AFRICA?

>> AFRICA.

IN TERMS OF AREAS DEALING WITH ENERGY, GREEN INDUSTRY, WHICH WE KNOW WE ARE DEFUNDING; GREEN INDUSTRY.

TECHNOLOGY, MAKING DIGITAL ACCESS EVEN BETTER.

AND CHINA SEES THAT OPENING AND IS SEIZING IT AND AT LEAST RHETORICALLY IT SOUNDS LIKE CHINA WANTS TO SHARE WHATEVER IT LEARNS AND DEVELOPS WITH THESE OTHER AREAS.

SOMETHING AMERICA IS SAYING WE WANT TO BACK OFF FROM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT.

>> SARAH, DOES THE U.S.-- WHAT DOES THE U.S.

NEED TO DO, BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THIS?

>> VOTE TRUMP?

I MEAN MAKE SURE THAT TRUMP DOESN'T RUN FOR A THIRD TERM?

MAKE SURE WE GET SOMEONE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO BETTER UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT TARA WAS SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THESE RACES FOR TECHNOLOGY, GREEN TECHNOLOGY IS A REALLY GOOD POINT, RIGHT?

THAT IS THE FUTURE.

AND INSTEAD, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS LIKE TRYING TO GO BACKWARDS, MEANWHILE, THE REST OF THE WORLD-- CHINA IS CERTAINLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS, RIGHT?

AS WELL AS A.I.

IT IS, WE STILL LEAD THE WORLD IN A.I.

DEVELOPMENT BUT CHINA IS COMING UP RIGHT BEHIND US VERY CLOSE AND THESE KINDS OF PROTECTIONISM POLICIES ARE JUST GOING TO MAKE THAT GO FASTER, ESSENTIALLY.

>> NEED TO MOVE TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

WE'VE TALKED MANY TIMES AROUND THIS TABLE ABOUT ETHICS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

IT APPEARS CONGRESS MAY BE CLOSER-THAN-EVER TO BANNING MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM TRADING INDIVIDUAL STOCKS.

THE BILL HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT •..WITH POLAR OPPOSITES IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN JOSH RILEY AND DEMOCRAT ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ AS CO-SPONSORS.

LIKEWISE SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE SIGNED ON.

TO THE SENATE BILL.

TARA, IF IT PASSES, WOULD THIS REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> IT WILL IF THERE IS ENFORCEMENT BEHIND IT, AND THAT'S REALLY THE BIG THING BECAUSE PART OF WHAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO DO IS BASICALLY SAYS THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CANNOT BENEFIT FROM INFORMATION THAT THEY OBTAIN AS PART OF THEIR JOBS AND USE THAT TO PURCHASE STOCKS, NOR CAN THEIR SPOUSES OR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

SO, AGAIN, IT SOUNDS GOOD.

AND BECAUSE 70% OF VOTERS SUPPORT THIS.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE DOZENS OF CONGRESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A KILLING ON STOCKS BASED ON SOMETIMES INFORMATION THEY GET IN COMMITTEE, SOMETIMES INFORMATION LOBBYISTS SORT OF SHARE.

AND SO THIS REALLY WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

BUT, AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE ENFORCEMENT.

AND ONE OF THE POINTS THAT OPPONENTS MAKE TO THIS IS THAT THERE WAS THIS, WHAT THEY CALL THE STOCK ACT AND YOU THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS THE SAME ISSUES AND HAS NOT BEEN WELL ENFORCED AT ALL.

>> ANIRBAN, WOULD A BLIND TRUST BE SOMETHING BETTER?

DO YOU THINK THIS BILL GOES FAR ENOUGH?

>> I DON'T THINK THE BILL GOES FAR ENOUGH IN THE WAY I WANT TO SEE IT BECAUSE HERE THEY'RE SAYING THAT EVERY LAWMAKER HAS TO SELL THEIR INDIVIDUAL STOCKS WITHIN 180 DAYS.

NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO DIVEST OF INDIVIDUAL STOCK HOLDINGS BEFORE BEING SWORN IN.

AND THE MEMBERS WHO FAIL TO DIVEST WOULD FACE A FINE EQUAL TO 10% OF THE VALUE OF THE STOCK.

SO IF I'M WILLING TO PAY THAT FINE, THEN I CAN APPARENTLY TRADE?

SO I'M NOT VERY CLEAR EXACTLY ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATION WOULD DO.

SECONDLY, WHY DOESN'T IT EXTEND TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND PEOPLE WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE, BUT IT IS VERY MUCH-- I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE A BIPARTISAN EFFORT AS NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED, THAT P THERE WERE ABOUT 90% OF THE POLITICIANS WERE IN DIFFERENT COMMITTEES GETTING INFORMATION, WHICH COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF HOW THEY USE IT TO INCREASE THEIR WEALTH TO STOCK TRADING.

SO I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT THIS BUT IT COULD GO FAR.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT ONE THING TO CORRECT YOU.

THEY HAVE TO PAY A 10% FINE PLUS THEY HAVE TO FORFEIT ANY PROFITS THEY MAKE OFF THE SALE.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN YOU ARE SUGGESTING.

AND ACTUALLY THERE IS A BETTER BILL IN THE SENATE, A TOUGHER ONE, INTRODUCED BY HAWLEY AND SOME OTHERS, WHO WOULD APPLY IT TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, ALTHOUGH NOT THE CURRENT ONES, FUTURE PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS.

AND I THINK LIKE THAT'S THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM HERE, RIGHT?

THAT THE-- PRESIDENT TRUMP, THERE IS A STUNNING LEVEL OF SELF-DEALING AND PROVE ITING OFF THE PRESIDENT.

I MEAN THERE WAS A REPORT THAT SHOWED 3700 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN HIS FIRST TERM AND THAT'S ACCELERATED IN THE SECOND TERM.

THE NEWS WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY SOLD HIS WORLD LIBERTY FINANCIAL, TRUMP CRYPTOCURRENCY.

THEY MADE $5 BILLION OFF OF THAT.

I MEAN THIS IS INSANE, AND SO I THINK LIKE CONGRESS, YES, WE NEED THIS.

IT'S FAR OVERDUE AND THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS THROUGH FOR A LONG TIME BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

>> LET ME CORRECT MYSELF.

I SAID JOSH HAWLEY IS A REBBE.

HE IS A-- >> HAWLEY IS THE ONE-- I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE COMPETING BILLS HERE.

HAWLEY IS MUCH TOUGHER AND DOESN'T ALLOW BLIND TRUST WHICH I THINK IS GOING A LITTLE TOO FAR.

IF YOU TAKE ALL YOUR STOCK HOLDINGS AND SEPARATE AND AN INDEPENDENT PERSON RUNS THEM, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T GOING TO NECESSARILY BE IN CONGRESS FOR A LONG TIME, I THINK THAT'S FINE.

THE OTHER ISSUE THOUGH SARAH BROUGHT UP, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THIS THAT CONGRESSMEN CAN USE THEIR SPECIAL STATUS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, WHETHER IT BE CRYPTOOR OR REAL ESTATE OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT SURE IT IS GOING TO GET THROUGH BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS ARE BEING REALLY QUIET BUT THEY'RE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES SO IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT EITHER OF THESE BILLS ARE GOING TO PASS.

>> AND ANIRBAN, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BILL IS THAT IT WOULD BE A DISINCENTIVE.

CANDIDATES WOULDN'T WANT TO RUN IF THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS LAW.

IS THAT AN ISSUE?

>> CORRUPT CANDIDATES WOULD NOT WANT TO RUN BUT HONEST ONES WOULD AND WEEK SEEK OUT THE CORRUPT FROM THE HONEST ONES.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS, IF I SELL MY STOCKS TO MY BROTHER AND MY BROTHER TRADES IT WITH MY INSIDER INFORMATION, HOW DO THEY CATCH THIS?

SO I'M NOT-- I'M UNCLEAR ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

>> THIS WEEK --BACK IN 1998-- TWO PHD STUDENTS AT STANFORD STARTED A COMPANY.

WHAT WAS IT?

IF YOU SAY "I'LL GOOGLE IT" - WELL, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWER -- GOOGLE.

IT'S GROWN SO UBIQUITOUS THAT LAST YEAR A JUDGE FOUND IT VIOLATED THE ANTITRUST ACT.

THIS WEEK THE JUDGE CAME OUT WITH SANCTIONS -- BUT SOMEWHAT WEAKER THAN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ASKED FOR.

RICK, DID GOOGLE NEED TO BE TRIMMED BACK?

>> THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A MONOPOLY IN SEARCH ENGINE, ABOUT 90%, MORE THAN 90% OF SEARCHES GO THROUGH THEIR SEARCH ENGINE.

BUT I AGREE THAT THE JUDGE WAS RIGHT IN NOT SPLITTING THE COMPANY UP.

I THINK IT'S ININSTRUCTIVE TO GO BACK P TO ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO WHEN MICROSOFT WAS THE BIG BAD INTERNET COMPANY AND THEY ACTUALLY WERE FOUND TO HAVE A MONOPOLY OVER BOTH OPERATING SYSTEMS AND, YOU KNOW, THE SEARCH ENGINE, THE BROWSER, INTERNET EXPLORER, IF YOU REMEMBER.

THEY WERE FOUND TO HAVE A MONOPOLY AND THE INITIAL FINDING IS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE BROKEN UP INTO TWO COMPANIES, THE WAY MANY PEOPLE WANT GOOGLE TO BE BROKEN UP.

THEY APPEALED.

THEY CAME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT CALLED FOR CHANGING THEIR BEHAVIOR.

VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THE JUDGES RULED IN THE GOOGLE CASE.

COME AHEAD 25 YEARS FROM NOW.

IS MICROSOFT RULING THE WORLD WE FEARED IT WOULD BE 25 YEARS AGO?

NO.

BOTH THEIR BROWSER AND SEARCH ENGINE ACCOUNT FOR LESS THAN 5% OF THE MARKET SHARE.

THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE ISN'T THAT MONOPOLIES DON'T MATTER.

BUT IN THE WORLD OF HIGH TECH, YOU KNOW, MONOPOLY POWER CAN BE VERY FLEETING.

MICROSOFT WAS VERY POWERFUL, NOT ANYMORE.

I.B.M., INTEL WAS THE BIG BAD CHIP COMPANY NOW IT'S INVIDIA.

I THINK THE MARKET DEALS WITH THESE ISSUES OVER TIME BETTER THAN A JUDGE GOING AND TRYING TO MICROMANAGE THE BUSINESS.

>> THE THING WITH TECH COMPANIES IS THE ECONOMY OF SCALE AND THE INVESTMENT IS SO LARGE THAT SOME COMPANIES TEND OUT-- END UP BEING MONOPOLIST IN THOSE AREAS.

BUT RICK AND I WOULD AGREE AS ECONOMISTS THAT MONOPOLY CREATES LESS OF THE PRODUCT AT A HIGHER PRICE AND IT CREATES, YOU KNOW, A WELFARE LOSS IN THE SOCIETY.

SO AS A RESULT, I MEAN, IF GOOGLE NOW SHARES ALL THIS INFORMATION AND THERE SHOULD BE ANTITRUST LAWS AND LITIGATION, IF THEY SHARE THE INFORMATION AND IT HELPS OUT IN ACTUALLY REDUCING THE MONOPOLY OVER SEARCH ENGINES, THAT WILL HELP.

BUT I WOULD TELL THE VIEWERS, LOOK, IF YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING FOR FREE, IF YOU USE SOMETHING FOR FREE, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT AND WE ALL KNOW THAT.

SO IF YOU DON'T WANT THE HOLD OF GOOGLE, THERE IS A WONDERFUL BROWSER CALLED VIVALDI MADE IN EUROPE AND ONE CALLED BRAVE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON GOOGLE.

YOU CAN PAY FOR YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT.

THERE ARE WONDERFUL PLACES LIKE >> WON'T A.I.

TAKE THE PLACE OF SEARCH ENGINES AND THEN THUS DIMINISH GOOGLE'S POWER?

>> WELL, IT COULD, RIGHT?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDE, NOW FIND SOME A.I.

PROGRAMS ACTUALLY MUCH MORE USEFUL FOR RESEARCH THAT I WANT TO DO, MUCH EASIER, MUCH QUICKER, MUCH MORE PRECISE THAN A GENERAL GOOGLE SEARCH WHICH OFTEN INCLUDES ADS AND THINGS I'M SUPPOSED TO BUY WHICH IS NOT WHY I'M ON THERE TYPICALLY.

>> CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU USE A.I.

THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL?

>> YEAH, FOR A CLASS I'M TEACHING, I WAS LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC QUOTES ABOUT HOW LIBERAL COMDATORS WERE TALKING COMMENTATORS WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MAGA MOVEMENT.

P AND I WANTED TO SEE THE EVOLUTION OVER TIME AND I USED CHATGPT AND CAME UP WITH NOT ONLY GREAT QUOTES BUT THE TIMELINE AND AN ANALYSIS OF HOW THOSE HAVE CHANGED AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DO WITH A GOOGLE SEARCH, TO TRY TO FIND THOSE QUOTES, TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE EVOLUTION OF THEM.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THEY'RE FACING SOME COMPETITION, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT MORE COMTITIONZ-- COMPETITION.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF EFFORT THOUGH-- I WOULD DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES A LITTLE BIT IN THE SENSE THAT THESE TECH COMPANIES ARE HUGE AND HAVE TONS OF MONEY.

SO WE MIGHT SAY YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO FACE SOME COMPETITION BUT THEY'RE STILL AMASSING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WHICH THEY POUR BACK INTO LOBBYING WHICH AFFECTS THE REGULATIONS OR LACK THEREOF THAT WE ARE GETTING AROUND THESE VERY TECH ISSUES.

SO I STILL THINK THERE IS A ROLE TO PLAY TO SORT OF TRY TO BREAK THEM UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> TARA, WHAT ABOUT BREAKING THEM UP A LITTLE BIT MORE?

>> I WILL BE HONEST.

I'M NOT SURE IF BREAKING THEM UP A LITTLE MORE WILL SOLVE ANYTHING BECAUSE AS LONG AS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF, YOU KNOW,WHAT YOU SEARCH FOR AND YOUR DATA, SOMEONE OUT THERE IS GOING TO FIND IT.

THE OTHER THING IS IS THAT-- AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT ANIRBAN WAS SAYING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BROWSERS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

LET'S BE REALISTIC ABOUT MOST OF US AS HUMAN BEINGS.

OTHER THAN SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY FRUSTRATED BY THE ADS WHO MAY GO LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, DUCK, DUCK, GO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO USE WHATEVER IS THE SEARCH ENGINE ON WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THEIR COMPUTER CAME WITH.

>> WHAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND THAT'S WHERE ONE OF THE RULINGS-- THEY CAN'T REQUIRE THAT GOOGLE BE THE ONLY BROWSER ON THERE.

THEY CAN STILL PAY, BUT THEY CAN'T USE THEIR POWER TO-- >> GOOGLE CAN PAY TO HAVE-- >> TO BE PREFERRED BUT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO TO SOMEONE AND SAY YOU CANNOT CARRY SOMEBODY ELSE'S BROWSER, WHICH WILL AT LEAST GIVE PEOPLE MORE CHOICE.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT THERE REALLY WILL COME SOME CHOICE OUT OF THIS AND THAT PEOPLE WILL UTILIZE THAT CHOICE BECAUSE I THINK THE MORE CHOICE PEOPLE UTILIZE, THE MORE GOOGLE WILL BE A LITTLE LESS WILLING TO MAYBE SELL PEOPLE'S DATA, ET CETERA, BECAUSE IT BEGINS TO LOSE MARKET SHARE.

>> AND ANIRBAN, GOOGLE HAS REALLY BECOME A BIG PART OF OUR CULTURE THOUGH.

>> YEAH, I MENTAL HYGIENE I-- I CANNOT IMAGINE LIVING MY LIFE WITHOUT GOOGLE, ALL THIS STUFF ABOUT GOOGLE WAS SEARCHING IF GOOGLE.

BUT ON THE WHOLE, I WOULD ASK PEOPLE IF YOU WANT TO AVOID BIG BROTHER SURVEILLANCE, USE VPN.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER OPTIONS YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN WATCH THINGS AND REALLY SECURE YOUR DATA OVER THE LONG RUN.

>> WELL, WE HAVE WE HAVE WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS TURNPIKES OUT.

IT IS TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.

P AND TARA, WHO IS GETTING YOUR F THIS WEEK.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

LAST WEEK THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FORMALLY REQUESTED THAT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA TURN OVER THE PATIENT RECORDS FOR ALL CHILDREN CONNECTED TO GENDER TRANSITION SURGERY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FURTHER REQUESTED EVERY WRITING OF WHATEVER KIND CONNECTED WITH EACH SURGERY, INCLUDING EVERY DETAIL OF PATIENTS MEDICAL HISTORY.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE HOSPITAL IS LEGALLY OPPOSING THIS VIOLATION OF PATIENTS PRIVACY.

>> MY F GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUT FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

THEY ASKED MISSOURI ELECTION OFFICIALS TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE STATE'S VOTING MACHINES IN A PATHETIC ATTEMPT TO FIND EVIDENCE OF ALLEGED VOTER FRAUD IN 2020.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE ELECTION OFFICIALS DID NOT HAND OVER THEIR MACHINES.

BUT TRUMP AND THE D.O.J.

ARE SIGNALING THEIR INTEREST IN INTERFERING WITH STATE AND LOCAL ELECTION PROCESSES.

THEY'RE NOT JUST LOOKING BACK TO 2020 BUT FORWARD TO THE 2026 MID TERMS, AND WE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THEY MITE MIGHT DO NEXT.

P. >> D.O.J.

ANIRBAN OR SOMEBODY ELSE?

>> MY F GOES TO F-FOR-FLORIDA.

SURGEON GENERAL MOVE TOWARD ELIMINATING ALL VACCINE MANDATES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

SURELY THERE WILL BE LONG-TERM PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES AND THIS WILL LEAD TO AVOIDABLE SPREAD OF DISEASE AND FATALITIES.

>> RICK.

>> STEVEN MORAN GETS MY F, CURRENT CHAIR OF THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS.

TRUMP HAS NOMINATED HIM FOR AN OPENING FOR THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD.

MORAN STATED HE WOULD KEEP HIS CURRENT JOB AT THE WHITE HOUSE IF CONFIRMED.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ATTACK ON THE INDEPENDENCE OF FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD AND IS A BIG, BIG PROBLEM.

>> THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT THE LAST WEEK.

TARA AN A.

SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING WELL.

>> AN A TO THOSE WHO PUT THE GREAT IN THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

TO HONOR THOSE WORKERS FROM THE DAIRY BARN QUOTE UNQUOTE MILK MAIDS TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO MADE THOSE 13 DAYS AND PROBABLY EVEN MORE IF YOU INCLUDE THE TRAINING, GREAT FOR ALL OF US.

>> THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

SARAH, HOW ABOUT YOUR A.

>> TO THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION FOR ADDING THE ATLANTIC COAST LEOPARD TBROG TO ITS ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST THE FIRST ADDITION SINCE 1999.

THIS AUNASSUMING FROG CAN BE FOUND IN STATEN ISLAND AND LIVES IN THE WETLANDS NEXT TO IKEA AND AMAZON WAREHOUSES.

THE DESIGNATION OF THE FROG WILL HELP THE FROGS BUT ALSO HELP PRESERVE THIS IMPORTANT AND FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE LEOPARD FROG ANIRBAN, YOUR A.

>> TO ALEX SCOTT KING, 25-YEAR-OLD GRADUATE RESEARCHER FROM M.I.T.

WHO PUBLISHED A NEW WAY TO RESTORE PAINTINGS WITH THE HELP OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THIS NEW A.I.

METHOD WOULD PRINT A CLOSE ORIGIN OF A SUPER THIN MASK YOU CAN PUT ON THE ORIGINAL WITHOUT RETOUCHING THE PAINTING AND PEEL THE MASK OFF TO SEE THE OLDER PAINTING BENEATH IT.

IT HAS COMPLETELY TAKE N THE RESTORATION WORLD BY SURPRISE AND IT'S A GREAT DEVELOPMENT.

>> IT LOOKS FASCINATING.

THAT VIDEO IS SO INTERESTING.

>> MY A GOES TO FEDERAL COURTS FOR RECENT RULINGS THAT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD BROKEN THE LAW BY A: FREEZING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF RESEARCH FUNDING TO HARVARD.

B: USING THE ALIEN ENEMIES ACT TO DEPORT VENEZUELANS AND C: FOR IMPOSING SWEEPING TARIFFS ON MOST GOODS IMPORTED TO THE UNITED STATES.

WHILE THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.S AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO STAND UP TO THE PRESIDENT, AT LEAST A NUMBER OF JUDGES HAVE BEEN UP TO THE TASK.

LET'S HOPE THE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS THEIR RULINGS.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO ANIRBAN.

THAT IS A FASCINATING TECH NEONIC.

>> A LOT OF-- TECHNIQUE.

THERE IS A LOT OF DISPUTE AMONG RESTORATION PEOPLE THAT DO YOU ACTUALLY RESTORE THE PAINTING OR P ALLOW IT TO DECAY IN THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO DECAY.

THIS TAKES THE MIDDLE GROUND.

THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE A FILM YOU CAN PUT ON THE PAINTING AND LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL, NOTHING CHANGES IN THE PAINTING AND TAKE IT OFF.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

WE HAVE TO CLOSE WITH THAT.

WE'D BE GLAD TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS DISCUSSION OR YOUR IDEAS FOR OTHER TOPICS.

THE ADDRESSES ARE ON THE SCREEN.

THE SHOW AIRS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8 AND SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30• OR STREAM IT ANYTIME ON WCNY.ORG.

FROM ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER," GOOD NIGHT.