CUOMO LEAVES IN DISGRACE, BIDEN SWINGS FOR THE FENCES AND CLIMATE CHANGER IS LEER IS HERE TO STAY.

STAY TUNED.

"IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY KRISTI ANDERSEN, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, BOB SPITZER FROM SUNY CORTLAND, CHAD SPARBER FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

FOR MUCH OF THE PAST 15 YEARS-FIRST AS NEW YORK'S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THEN HIS 3 TERMS AS GOVERNOR, ANDREW CUOMO HAS DOMINATED POLITICAL LIFE IN NEW YORK.

TWO WEEKS FROM NOW HE'LL BE AN EX-GOVERNOR, BROUGHT DOWN BY HUBRIS, HYPOCRISY, A LACK OF POLITICAL FRIENDS, AND OF COURSE, THAT DEVASTATING REPORT DETAILING HARASSMENT OF ELEVEN WOMEN.

BOB SPITZER, WHAT ABOUT CUOMO'S LEGACY.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, HAS HE BEEN, ASIDE FROM THE HEALTHCARE REFORM SCANDAL, AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNOR FOR NEW YORK?

>> I THINK IF YOU LOOK OVER HIS THREE ALMOST THREE TERMS, THERE IS A LOT TO DIGEST.

I WOULD BEGIN BY SAYING THAT ANDREW CUOMO'S FATHER, MARIO CUOMO USED TO SAY THAT YOU CAMPAIGN IN POETRY, BUT GOVERN IN PROSE AND MARIO CUOMO, THE FATHER WAS GREAT AT THE POETRY BUT NOT THAT GOOD AS A GOVERNOR.

MARIO CUOMO WAS NOT THAT INTERESTED IN THE DAY-TO-DAY MECHANICS OF BEING GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK FOR HIS THREE TERMS.

THE SON, HOWEVER, WAS THE OPPOSITE.

ANDREW CUOMO WAS NOT A GOOD CAMPAIGN, NOT A GOOD SPEECH MAKER IN PARTICULAR BUT HE LOVED THE MECHANICS OF GOVERNANCE.

IF YOU LOOK OVER HIS THREE TERMS, TRUNCATED, OF COURSE, YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH THE POLICY DIRECTION OF ANDREW CUOMO'S GOVERNORSHIP, BUT HE GOT A LOT DONE; ON TIME ANNUAL BUDGETS WE HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

HE BROKE THE LOG JAM ON THE INDIAN NATIONS PAYING TAXES TO THE STATE.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

REPRODUCTIVE AGENT ACT, MEDICAID EXPANSION, THE SAFE ACT, HYDRO FRACKING, REMEMBER THE BAN FROM 2014, MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE AND THERE IS A TON MORE STUFF.

THE FACT IS, HE GOT A LOT DONE.

NOW THE UNDERSIDE OF THAT, FOR ANDREW CUOMO WAS THAT HE WAS AND IS ARROGANT, PETTY, THIN SKINNED.

SOME OF THAT WAS HELPFUL IN GETTING THINGS DONE BUT ALSO ALIENATED NOT JUST POTENTIAL SUPPORT BUT ACTUAL SUPPORTERS AS WELL AND OF COURSE HE LEAVES OFFICE NOW WITH THIS-- AND WOULD I ADD ONE OTHER THING.

IF MARIO CUOMO WAS THE HAMLET ON THE HUDSON, ANDREW CUOMO WAS THE MACBETH OF MANHATTAN.

>> CHAD.

>> WELL, I'M A NEW YORK TRANSPLANT.

I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE 15 YEARS AND IN THAT TIME I HAVE SEEN ONE GOVERNOR RESIGN IN A PROSTITUTION SCANDAL, A SECOND REFUSE TO RUN FOR REELECTION BECAUSE OF WITNESS TAMPERING ACCUSATIONS AND NOW A THIRD STEP DOWN FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND FALSIFICATION OF COVID NUMBERS SO, IN TERMS OF WHAT LEGACY, I'M THINKING WELL, IS THIS WHAT WE COME TO EXPECT FROM OUR GOVERNORS HERE?

AND SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CYNICAL TAKE.

MAYBE FOR A LESS CYNICAL TAKE, I WANT TO THINK ABOUT OPTIMISM MOVING FORWARD AND I'M KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT KATHY HOCHUL AND WHAT SHE MIGHT OFFER.

SHE IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK FROM UPSTATE IN 99 YEARS AND I THINK THAT IS MAYBE ANOTHER STATEMENT ABOUT SOME OF NEW YORK'S POLITICAL PROBLEMS, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

EVEN THE NATIONAL REVIEW IN WRITING ABOUT HER, SAID THAT WHILE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS NO PRIZE, NEITHER IS SHE PART OF THE FAR LEFT WING OF THE STATE PARTY REPRESENTED BY AT THELEY TISCH AJAMES AND A.O.C.

BUT LIKE I SAID, IT GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE MOVING FORWARD.

>> AND BREAKING THE GENDER BARRIER IS SIGNIFICANT AS WELL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT GOVERNOR CUOMO, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT HIS LEGACY IS BIFURCATED BETWEEN PRE-TRUMP AND POST TRUMP.

HE WAS A MORE CENTRIST DEMOCRAT OUT OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO PUT SPENDING CAPS ON THE BUDGET AND PROPERTY TAX CAPS.

THAT CHANGED IN 2016 WHEN HE HEADED INTO A SHARPLY MORE PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION, DEMOCRATS LIKED BUT CONSTERNATION FROM MODERATES INDEPENDENTS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

HE WAS DIFFERENT GOVERNING AND HIS PERSONA THAT WAS CHANGED BY TRUMP BUT HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BULLY AND I REMEMBER READING THINGS ABOUT HIM WHEN HE WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR PRESIDENT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT MAYBE OR THOUGHT ABOUT BACK WHEN HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

AND JUST WHAT A TERRIBLE ATMOSPHERE HE CREATED, HOW HE WAS A BULLY.

HE WAS SECRETIVE.

HE WAS NOT A GOOD MANAGER AT ALL.

I LOOK FORWARD-- KATHY HOCHUL WAS DESCRIBED IN SOME WRITING, I THINK A COLUMN IN THE WASHINGTON POST, AS THE ANTI-CUOMO IN THOSE REGARDS.

I THINK SHE LISTENS TO PEOPLE.

I THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS UPSTATE, WHICH I THINK WILL BE GOD.

BUT SHE IS REALLY A RETAIL POLITICIAN.

SHE CAME UP.

SHE WAS A TOWN BOARD MEMBER, A COUNTER CLERK, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

SHE IS NOW THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WHAT SHE HAS DONE INTERESTINGLY DURING THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION IS DISTANCE HERSELF FROM HIM.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE EACH OTHER.

HE DIDN'T INVITE HER INTO HIS OFFICE AND SHE WAS PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH THAT, BUT SHE DID WHAT HE WANTED IN TERMS OF TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE AND MEETING PEOPLE.

SO SHE HAS A DEEP WELL OF, I THINK, TRUST IN THE STATE.

>> BOB, YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GOVERNOR CUOMO.

BUT YOU LEFT OUT A NUMBER OF THE SCAMS.

AND THIS SCANDALS THAT DID HIM IN IS NOT THE ONLY ONE.

THERE IS A LONG LITANY.

>> CUOMO MANAGED TO SIDE STEP MANY PROBLEMS.

IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

I'M NOT SAYING CUOMO WAS NOT INVOLVED BUT IT SEEMED THAT, THAT CHAPTER SEEMED TO HAVE CLOSED.

THERE ARE OTHER SCANDAL PROBLEMS AS WELL THAT HAVE DOGGED ANDREW CUOMO.

HE IS GOING TO FACE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUDICIAL PROCEEDING IN THE MONTHS TO COME, THERE IS A QUESTION WHETHER THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL OR WILL NOT PROCEED WITH IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS BECAUSE THEY CAN.

THEY MIGHT DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO END UP AT A POINT WHERE THEY SAY THAT CUOMO MAY NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

CUOMO'S POLITICAL CAREER IS OVER.

PERIOD.

HE WILL FIND A WAY TO SPEND THE MONEY BUT NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

>> THE ECONOMISTS WROTE A POLITICAL OBIT FOR CUOMO AND IN IT IT ARGUED THIS IS A REMINDER OF HOW CUT THROAT DEMOCRAT ON DEMOCRAT FIGHTS CAN BE IN A ONE-PARTY STATE.

IT'S INTERESTING IF YOU ACCEPT THIS PREMISE THAT IT IS A ONE PARTY STATE AND WE ARE GOING HAVE A DEMOCRAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IN THE BEGINNING IT SEEMED LIKE CUOMO WAS THE BEST THAT CONSERVATIVES COULD EVER HOPE FOR AND NOT JUST IN SOME OF THE TAX THINGS BUT YOU GO TO 9 DE BLASIO-CUOMO FIASCO WHICH IS REALLY ENTERTAINING AS A CONSERVATIVE TO READ.

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE?

THAT FEUD STARTED IN PART BECAUSE TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN NEW YORK CITY WERE MURDERED EXECUTION STYLE.

THE POLICE BLAMED DE BLASIO FOR HIS RHETORIC AND CUOMO, YOU KNOW, SIDED WITH THE POLICE ON THAT.

>> THAT DISPUTE WAS BAD.

BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW HISTORICALLY THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY AND THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK ALWAYS GO TO WAR AND THAT GOES BACK DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES.

>> THIS IS A LITTLE BIT... >> THIS WAS PERSONAL.

>> THE CUOMO THIN SKIN HATRED AND YEAH, THERE IS NO QUESTION.

>> CUOMO RESIGNED THE SAME DAY THAT SENATE PASSED PART 1 OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH.

PART 2-- WHAT BIDEN CALLS HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE-- IS CONTAINED IN THE $3.5 TRILLION DOLLAR BUDGET WHICH SENATE DEMOCRATS RELEASED THIS WEEK.

THE BUDGET IS A WISH LIST OF EVERY DEMOCRATIC PRIORITY THAT CAN CONCEIVABLY PASS USING THE RECONCILIATION RULE-EVEN AN IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL IS INCLUDED.

IF IT WERE TO PASS SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT, IT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.

BUT IN A GOOD WAY?

>> THINKING ABOUT LINE ITEM OBJECTIONS I MIGHT HAVE TO THE BILL, I'LL THINK OF THE BIGGER PICTURE ECONOMIC ISSUES WHERE RIGHT NOW OUR GOVERNMENT DEBT TO G.D.P.

RATIO IS 110%.

THAT'S HIGH.

THAT'S WORLD WAR II HIGH.

AND THIS BILL WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE THAT NUMBER TO 117% BY 2030.

AND SO LIKE THE CONVENTIONAL ECONOMIC WISDOM IS TO SAY THAT'S REALLY DANGEROUS AND THAT'S WHAT HAS PEOPLE LIKE LARRY SUMMERS, THE FORMER CLINTON TREASURY SECRETARY SAYING THIS IS INFLATIONARY ALREADY AT AN ASTONISHING 5.4%.

THAT'S BAD.

NOW IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME COUNTER ARGUMENTS WITHIN ECONOMICS, THERE IS A NEW LINE OF THINKING THAT SAYS AS LONG AS INTEREST RATES ARE LOW, AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE VERY, VERY LOW AND AS LONG AS THE ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IS HIGHER THAN THAT, THEN MAYBE DEBT IS NOT SO BAD, RIGHT?

THE IDEA BEING THAT AS INCOMES GROW, IT WILL BE EASIER TO PAY OFF THE DEBT BURDEN SO MAYBE THE DEBT IS A LITTLE SUSTAINABLE.

THAT DOESN'T TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT HOW MUCH DEBT IS TOO MUCH DEBT.

AND IF INTEREST RATES RISE, THEN WE ARE IN A WORLD OF PAIN.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF THAT KIND OF ECONOMIC RUSSIAN ROULETTE IS YOUR CUP OF TEA, THEN DRINK UP, BUT IT'S NOT FOR ME.

>> IF I MAY, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX IS UP 5.4%, BUT THE CORE INFLATION RATE IS UP.3% AND IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH IT WAS .9; IN JUNE IT WAS .9 AND IN JULY IT IS .3%.

THE CORE INFLATION RATE IS NOT SURGING UP TO 5%.

>> BUT WE HAVEN'T SPENT THE $3.5 TRILLION YET.

>> THAT'S A MULTIYEAR SPENDING PLAN.

REMEMBER THE BILLION-DOLLAR STIMULUS WAS JUST THAT, A STIMULUS BILL TO PUMP MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY RIGHT AWAY BUT THE 3.5 TRILLION IS A MULTIYEAR PLAN AND INCLUDES TAXES TO PAY FOR IT.

>> LET ME MAKE A COUPLE OF POLITICAL NOT ECONOMIC POINTS ABOUT THIS.

ONE IS THAT IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS IN THIS BIG LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE POPULAR.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

MEDICARE, WHICH IS A GOOD PROGRAM, BUT IT NOW DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY DENTAL OR VISION OR HEARING SERVICES, AND IT WILL.

IT WILL EXPAND MEDICARE TO COVER THOSE THINGS.

I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HAPPY WITH THAT.

THE TWO YEARS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UNIVERSAL PRE-K, AND PARTIALLY PAID LEAVE FOR NEW PARENTS.

AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY PAID LEAVE FOR PARENTS WHEN THEY HAVE NEW BABYIES OR SICK LEAVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THOSE THINGS, IF IT PASSES AND THOSE THINGS ARE INSTITUTED, THAT WILL BUILD SUPPORT FOR THERE THIS BIG PLAN.

THE OTHER THING IS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT A LOT OF THIS STUFF, LIKE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND UNIVERSAL PRE-K IN PARTICULAR, AS INVESTMENTS, NOT GIVEAWAYS, NOT HANDOUTS.

THERE IS PLENTY OF STUDIES THAT SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT IF YOU CREATE BETTER LIFE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, BETTER EDUCATION AND SO ON, THEY'RE BETTER EDUCATED, THEY'RE HEALTHIER, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO BE INCARCERATED AND MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND MAKE MORE CONTRIBUTIONS THEREFORE TO THE ECONOMY AND PAY TAXES.

>> SO IT'S HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> I'M NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THE TERMINOLOGY BUT I'M SAYING-- >> BUT IT WILL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS BUILDING A GOOD ROAD.

ECONOMICALLILY YOU ARE SUGGESTING, LUKE.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT QUALITY OF LIFE RATINGS THROUGHOUT WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS, THEY'RE HIGHEST IN NORTHERN EUROPE WHERE THEY HAVE THE MOST EXPANSIVE SOCIAL SAFETY NET.

I UNDERSTAND CHAD'S CONSTERNATION IN TERMS OF WHAT IT MAY MEAN ECONOMICALLY BUT WE HAVE LICIOUS LOOKING AT UNIFIED GOVERNMENT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE UNITED STATES MORE IN LINE WITH THE ROBUST SOCIAL SAFETY NET WITH MANY ITEMS LIKE KRISTI POINTED OUT THAT ARE VERY POPULAR.

THE PASSING OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT DEMONSTRATED TO DEMOCRATIC LEADERS THAT EVEN IF THERE IS A FIGHT UP FRONT, WHEN THE POLICIES GET PUT IN PLACE, THEY'RE POPULAR AND DEMOCRATS WILL BE REWARDED EVENTUALLY, MAYBE NOT IN THE SHORT-TERM.

THE POLICIES WILL NOT GO AWAY AND THEE WILL BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AMERICAN SOCIAL SAFETY NET.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS TRANSPIRING HERE.

>> ONE OTHER POINT, THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OBJECTIVELY GOOD.

THE POLICY ARGUMENT ON BEHALF OF, YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE, AND YOU DIDN'T-- THE ONE OTHER THING IN THE PLAN IS MONEY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH WILL BE OUR NEXT STORY.

TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE TO CONFRONT-- THIS ISN'T THE CHOICE ANYMORE.

THERE IS NO ARGUMENT TO MAKE TO NOT SPEND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

PERIOD.

THERE IS NO ARGUMENT.

>> THE REASON I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO THE LINE ITEM OBJECTIONS BECAUSE WE COULD SPEND A FIVE MINUTE SEGMENT ON EACH ONE OF THE PROGRAMS TO SEE IF THEY'RE OBJECTIVELY GOOD.

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT ALL OBJECTIVELY GOOD.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT 10 YEARS AGO IN THE WAKE OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, GEORGE W. BUSH 'S FORMER ECONOMIC ADVISOR, WROTE A WONDERFUL NEW YORK TIMES OP-ED PIECE USING FOUR COUNTRIES TO ILLUSTRATE SOME OF THE RISKS OF DIFFERENT FISCAL POLICY MEASURES.

HE SAID JAPAN SPENDS SO LITTLE THAT ITS ECONOMY LANGUISHES, ZIMBABWE SPENT A TON OF MONEY BUT PRINTED MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.

THE THIRD WAS GREECE WHICH SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND RESULTED IN A MASSIVE DEBT CRISIS WITH RISING INTEREST RATES AND RISK OF DEFAULT AND FRANCE SPENDS A TON OF MONEY AND PAYS FOR IT WITH TAXES TO THE TUNE OF 42% OF G.D.P.

WHICH DISINCENTIVIZES WORK.

SO ARE WE ANY OF THOSE FOUR COUNTRIES?

NO, NOT YET.

BUT I THINK THAT ARTICLE IS NONETHELESS A REALLY GOOD READ FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE MACROECONOMIC ISSUES AND THE RISKS THAT SOMETHING LIKE A $3.5 TRILLION SPENDING BILL REPRESENTS.

>> I JUST WANT TO TOUCH, LUKE, YOU SAID UNIFIED GOVERNMENT.

YOU TALKED ABOUT UNIFIED GOVERNMENT BUT THAT UNIFIED GOVERNMENT CONSISTS OF A THREE-VOTE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND A TIE IN THE SENATE.

SO WITH SUCH A NARROW MAJORITY, SHOULD-- IS THAT ANY SORT OF A MANDATE TO TAKE ON SUCH A BIG TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM?

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER DAVE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT COUNTING VOTES.

IF YOU'VE GOT THE VOTES, YOU DO IT.

>> BINGO.

>> TWO YEAR POCKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LAST 20 YEARS WHERE EACH PARTY FOCUSES ON GETTING THINGS DONE.

>> I WOULD ALSO REMIND US THAT GERRYMANDERING AND THE REPRESENTATION, THE MISREPRESENTATION OF THE SENATE HAS OF THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF THE SMALL STATES, MEANS THERE IS CONSENSUS ABOUT A LOT OF THIS STUFF AMONG VOTERS.

I MEAN 70% OF VOTERS THINK CLIMATE CHANGE IS COMING.

IT'S AFFECTING THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE ABOUT IT.

WELL, 70% OF THE SENATE DOESN'T THINK THAT BUT 70 PERT OF THE POPULATION DOES.

>> AND IN IF THIS SUMMER OF FIRES, FLOODS AND EXTREME HEAT HAS NOT MADE IT CLEAR, THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE SHOULD.

FOR THE CLIMATE, IT'S CODE RED--THERE IS NO GOING BACK.

EVEN WITH HERCULEAN EFFORTS TO CUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WE WILL SEE 2.7 DEGREE RISE IN TEMPERATURE OVER PRE-INDUSTRIAL LEVELS.

THAT'S CONSIDERED THE SAFE LIMIT.

THINGS WILL GET FAR WORSE IF THE TEMPERATURE GOES MUCH BEYOND THAT.

LUKE, WILL THIS BE THE MOMENT THAT PEOPLE WAKE UP AND LOOK AROUND AND THEY SAY, OKAY, WE HAVE TO REALLY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY?

>> NO, I'M AFRAID NOT.

I DO THINK WE HAVE SEEN POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS AS KRISTI MENTIONED, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN AWARENESS AND CONCERN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE RISE TO MAJORITY LEVELS IN THE UNITED STATES.

LOCALLY, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION IN RECENT WEEKS, MONTHS ABOUT ISSUES LIKE SOLAR FARMING AND THERE IS DISAGREEMENT IN TERMS OF WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A SOLAR FARM PUT DOWN THE BLOCK FROM YOU BUT THEY'RE SUBSTANTIVE CONSERVATIONS ABOUT THE PROS AND THE CONS AND THAT'S POSITIVE.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I SEE IS THAT THERE IS STILL A PARTISAN DIVIDE IN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE; SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE POLICY.

DEMOCRATS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY AS REPUBLICANS TO THINK THAT POLICIES THAT ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE ARE GOING TO WORK AND IT'S REALLY HAD A GREATER BIPARTISAN FOUNDATION AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS PROBLEM IS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE.

>> I LIKE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BIPARTISAN THING BECAUSE I'M SORT OF FOND OF SAYING YOU CAN TAX GOODS OR YOU CAN TAX BADS.

CARBON IS A BAD, LET'S TAX THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE ARE REJECTING, YOU KNOW, SMART MARKET-BASED SOLUTIONS FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT.

TAKE 2016, WASHINGTON STATE, VERY GREEN STATE.

THEY HAD A BALLOT INITIATIVE SO BRILLIANT ONLY COULD BE DESIGNED BY AN ECONOMIST AND IT WAS DESIGNED BY A ECONOMIST AND IT FAILED.

AND WHAT WOULD IT HAVE DONE?

IT WOULD HAVE TAXED CARBON EMISSIONS AND OFFSET THE REVENUES FROM THAT TAX BY DECREASING THE SALES TAX.

SO IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REVENUE NEUTRAL.

IT LOST 41% SUPPORTED IT.

TWO YEARS LATER THEY TRIED AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY HAD THE FINANCIAL BACKING OF BILL GATES AND MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AND OTHERS AND THEY ALSO EARMARKED THE REVENUES THAT THE TIME TO PAY FOR GREEN INITIATIVES.

SO HOW DID THEY DO THAT TIME?

WENT UP TO 43% OF THE VOTE.

AND SO IT'S A REALLY FRUSTRATING THING WHERE I THINK YOU HAVE THE LEFT THAT'S DISTRUSTFUL THE MARKET-BASED SOLUTIONS AND THE RIGHT THAT IS DISTRUSTFUL OF NEW TAXES AND GOOD IDEAS LIKE-- AND GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS SO GOOD IDEAS LIKE CARBON TAXES OR CAP AND TRADE POLICY OR THAT SORT OF THING, THEY GET LOST, THEY GET REJECTED.

>> SO IS THIS CLEAN ENERGY STANDARDS THAT PROPOSED IN THIS LEGISLATION SOMEHOW TRYING TO GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THAT?

IT WAS DESCRIBED BY, WHO IS THE SENATOR IN MINNESOTA THAT IS-- I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT... >> SMITH?

>> YEAH.

>> AS NOT REGULATORY.

>> I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT... >> TERMINOLOGY.

>> BUT THERE IS, YOU MENTIONED IN THE-- >> BUDGETARY BUT NOT REGULATORY.

I MEAN BASICALLY THEY'RE SAYING THAT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE MONEY TO HELP INDUSTRY MEET STANDARDS, BUT THEY WILL FINE THEM IF THEY DON'T.

IT'S NOT SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T DO THIS BUT BASICALLY IT'S A CARROT AND STICK KIND OF THING.

>> GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY, PRIVATE SECTOR, HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.

THERE IS MONEY TO BE MADE IN NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND THE WAY FORWARD.

COMPANIES IN OTHER NATIONS IN EUROPE ARE TURNING EXPRESSLY TO NON-CARBON-BASED ENERGY SOURCING AND SOURCES BUT THERE IS ALSO A FREE RIDER PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M SITTING AT HOME, AND IF I DRIVE MY GASOLINE-POWERED CAR OR NOT, IT DOESN'T FEEL TO ME AS THOUGH THAT REALLY HAS ANY EFFECT ON THE OVERALL GLOBAL PROBLEM, RIGHT?

BUT THAT'S WHY YOU NEED GOVERNMENT TO COME IN AND SAY THERE IS A PUBLIC GOOD AT STAKE.

I.E.

THE SURVIVAL OF THE HUMAN RACE IN SOME COHERENT LIVABLE FORM.

AND WE NEED THAT AS THE REPORT DEMONSTRATED, MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, THE RISE IN TEMPERATURE IS THE RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY, THE AMOUNT OF CARBON ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE HAS TO BE CURTAILED IN SOME WAY.

THERE ARE STRATEGIES TO DO IT.

GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE A STAND, MUST PLAY A ROLE, MUST PLAY THE LEADING ROLE, EVEN IF IT IS A PARTIAL ROLE, IN PURSUING POLICIES TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS, TO FIND TECHNOLOGIES, TO PERHAPS PULL CARBON OUT OF THE AIR AND BURRY IT.

ALL SORTS OF PLANS ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> THE EUROPEAN UNION-- OH DO YOU NEED TO MOVE ON?

>> YES, YOU PICKED UP ON MY BODY LANGUAGE THERE.

WE DO.

WE THEY'D TO GO TO OUR As AND Fs AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR F FROM KRISTI.

>> I'M GIVING AN F TO FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS.

HE IS REQUESTING 300 VENTILATORS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS COVID SPREADS AROUND HIS STATE AND FILLS ITS HOSPITALS, MORE THAN 28,000 NEW CASES AND AT THE SAME TIME HE IS THREATENING TO WITH HOLD PAYCHECKS FROM SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS WHO REQUIRE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION TO WEAR MASKS.

>> BOB SPITZER.

>> AND HE WOULDN'T EVEN ADMIT THAT HE ADD FOR THE VENTILATORS.

AN F TO NORTH COUNTRY CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK FOR DARING TO CONDEMN CUOMO CALLING FOR CUOMO'S ARREST WHILE SELLING HER SOUL BY CONTINUING TO SUPPORT SERIAL SEXUAL HARASSER DONALD TRUMP.

CUOMO NEEDED TO GO BUT STEFANIK HAS NO BUSINESS THROWING STONES AT CUOMO AS LONG AS SHE WORSHIPS AT THE FEET OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> AND CHAD, YOUR F, PLEASE.

>> I'M NOT DEFENDER OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

TO ME IT'S BASICALLY A SOCIOLOGY IDEA THAT OVER EMPHASIZES RACIAL INJUSTICE AND UNDEREMPHASIZES THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN DETERMINING ONE'S OWN LIFE OUTCOMES.

NOW WITHIN ACADEMIA I'VE ARGUED THAT EFFORTS TO REQUIRE CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR INSTRUCTION LIKE THAT ARE A VIOLATION OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

WELL, THIS WEEK THE SENATE PASSED A BUDGETARY AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PROHIBIT TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN SCHOOLS.

AND TO ME THAT'S AN EQUALLY EGREGIOUS ATTEMPT TO POLICE THOUGHTS AND AN OVER REACH OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

FOR THAT, A LITTLE BIT OF A CURVEBALL, I GIVE MY F TO THE SENATE.

>> AND LUKE, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO THE REESCALATION OF ETHIOPIA'S CIVIL WAR FOLLOWING A SIX-WEEK CEASE FIRE.

THE U.N. REPORTS THAT FIVE MILLION PEOPLE ARE URGENTLY IN NEED OF HUMANITARIAN AID.

>> AND LET'S MOVE TO THE As.

KRISTI.

>> TO THE COOPERSTOWN IT CANCEL LAST SUMMER, THEY GET AN A FOR THEIR INVENTIVE SOLUTION THAT WE ARE STILL NOT SAFE SITTING CLOSE TOGETHER INDOORS AND CONSTRUCTED AN OUTDOOR STAGE AND SOUND SYSTEM.

SEATING ON THE GRASS WHERE SQUARES ARE CLEVERLY MARKED OUT WITH STONES FOR GROUPS OF FOUR PEOPLE AND THEIR CHAIRS, CREATING A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

>> BOB, YOUR A.

>> AN A TO BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA SCHOOL BOARD FOR VOTING TO KEEP THEIR MASKS MANDATE IN DEFIANCE OF GOVERNOR RON DESABT IS' EXECUTIVE ORDER FORCING SCHOOLS TO MAKE MASK WEARING OPTIONAL EVEN THOUGH THE STATE NOW FACES A RECORD HIGH INFECTION RATE.

>> CHAD, YOUR A.

>> TODAY IS FRIDAY THE 13th AND IN MY WORLD THAT MEANS IT'S COLGATE DAY.

IT'S A DAY IN WHICH COLGATE FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS, ALUMNI, PARENTS, WE WEAR MAROON, GIVE A LITTLE MONEY, REALLY JUST CELEBRATE OUR SCHOOL.

SO AT THE RISK OF BEING SELF SERVING AND SELF INDULGENT, AN A TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE COLGATE SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE.

GO GATE.

>> AND LUKE.

>> MY A GOES TO THE PENTAGON FOR REQUIRING THE MILITARY TO BE FACTION VACCINATED FOR COVID FOAFER THE NEXT MONTH.

THIS IS HELPFUL TO SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE OF SHOOM ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

>> AND BOB I JUST WANT TO PICK UP ON SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID, KRISTI'S F TO RON DeSANTIS AND YOU MENTIONED THAT HE DID NOT ADMIT TO ASKING FOR VENTILATORS.

>> HE WAS ASKED IN A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE VENTILATORS AND HE SAID I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT OUR STATE REQUESTING VENTILATORS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> BUT THE REQUEST HAD TO COME FROM THE STATE.

>> BUT NOT FROM HIM PERSONALLY.

>> NOT NECESSARILY, NO.

>> I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP.

IF WE ARE GOING TO THROW STONES AT DeSANTIS.

HE HAS BEEN HIT BY A FEW ON THIS PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

YOU CAN WRITE TO AT DRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN WATCH IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

NEXT WEEK OUR PANEL WILL BE JOINED BY TWO "IVORY TOWER" ORIGINALS.

LISA DOLAK AND DAVID RUBEN WILL BE ON THE PANEL.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THAT.

FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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