THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE BUFFALO KILLER MSNBC CHOOSES NOT TO CARRY TRUMP'S VICTORY SPEECH.

AND WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THE ECONOMY IS SO BAD.

STAY TUNED, IVORY IS NEXT?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, SARAH PRALLE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

LATE LAST WEEK FEDERAL PROSECUTORS FILED PAPERS SEEKING TO EXECUTE THE WHITE SUPREMECIST WHO KILLED 10 BLACK SHOPPERS IN A BUFFALO SUPERMARKET.

TWENTY-YEAR-OLD PAYTON GENDRON CHOSE THAT PARTICULAR TOPS MARKET BECAUSE IT WAS IN A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS SOUGHT THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE PRESIDENT CAMPAIGNED AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

SO DID PRESIDENT BIDEN AND ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND MAKE THE RIGHT CALL IN THIS CASE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE IMMORALITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO MY COLLEAGUES TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS CONNECTS TO THE BLACK VOTERS.

IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE BLACK VOTERS, BIDEN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

HIS CAMPAIGN WAS CIRCLING THE DRAIN BEFORE THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRIMARY.

HE REALIZES THAT AND THAT'S WHY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS MOVED SOUTH CAROLINA UP FIRST.

BUT HERE IS WHAT I'LL SAY.

BLACK VOTERS PRIORITIZE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND THE OVERWHELMING PERCENTAGE OF BLACK VOTERS ARE OPPOSED, ELF TO THE DEATH PENALTY.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE HAVE KNOWN FOR DECADES ABOUT THE RACIAL BIAS, NOT IN REGARD TO THE DEFENDANT, THE PERSON WHO IS ON DEATH ROW, BUT RATHER THE VICTIM.

AND I WANT TO SAY THIS.

THAT BLACKS WHO KILL WHITE VICTIMS ARE 17 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE SENTENCED TO DEATH THAN A WHITE PERSON WHO KILLS A BLACK PERSON.

AND THAT MATTERS.

TO BLACK VOTERS.

WE CAN ADD IN THE REST OF THE STUFF I KNOW YOU ALL WILL TALK ABOUT.

IT'S NOT A DETERRENT.

IT DOESN'T DETER CRIME.

IT IS DEEPLY, DEEPLY FLAWED IN THAT JUST SINCE 1973, ALMOST 200 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXONERATED AND ON ANY GIVEN DAY, 5% OF FOLKS SITING ON THE DEATH ROW ARE NOT DILT GUILTY.

>> THAT'S NOT THE INDICATION, WE CAN SAY WITH SOME CERTAINTY IN BUFFALO.

>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

THIS STRIKES ME AS VERY PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE HE IS USING A RACIST INCIDENT TO UPHOLD A RACIST SYSTEM AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO PULL THE WOOLS OVER PLAQUE FOLKS EYES IN REGARD TO THE FACT THAT HE HAS DONE A BAIT AND SWITCH.

>> I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER REASONS TIED TO THIS CASE.

FIRST OF ALL, NOT ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIM WANT THIS DISEAPT CASE TO GO FORWARD FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

12: THE GENTLEMAN HAS AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY IF HE IS NOT SENTENCED TO DEATH AND SO THEY THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE ORDEAL AGAIN OF A LONG TRIAL.

AND SECOND, SOME OF THE VICTIM'S FAMILIES BELIEVE THAT LIFE IN PRISON IS ACTUALLY A HARSHER PENALTY.

SO IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT THERE IS A CONSENSUS EVEN OF THE VICTIMS FAMILIES HERE.

>> AND HE HAS ALREADY BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON THE STATE CHARGES.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL CHARGES.

>> I WAS JUST SAYING THAT I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH THIS IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, THE DEATH PENALTY HAS REALLY BEEN TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW, WE FIND OUT THEY'RE INNOCENT.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY, THE DISCUSSION REINVOLVES AROUND THAT, WE SHOULD ASK ABOUT NOT WHO THE VICTIMS ARE BUT WHO WE ARE AS A SOCIETY.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE DEATH PENALTY IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL AND, YOU KNOW, 70%-- ACCORDING TO THE DEATH PENALTY CENTER, 70% OF THE WORLD'S COUNTRIES HAVE ABOLISHED IT.

I WOULD RATHER THEY STICK TOGETHER AND WATCH THE SHORT FILM ABOUT KILLING AND THAT WOULD HELP THEM SEE THROUGH THINGS I SUPPOSE.

>> IS THERE NO CASE, IS THERE NO SITUATION IN WHICH THE DEATH PENALTY WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK IT'S LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE MIGHT BE A BETTER CHOICE FOR THAT.

>> IT'S A REFLEXZ AS A SOCIETY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUM.

HE CALLED FOR THE EXECUTION OF DRUG DEALERS, SHOOTING SHOPLIFTERS ON SIGHT, INSISTED THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF SHOULD BE EXECUTED.

THIS IS THE RHETORIC THAT IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND PARTS OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT ARE USING THIS THREATENING LANGUAGE AND ON JANUARY 6, USING THEIR VIOLENCE FOR POLITICAL CHANGE.

AND I THINK THIS KIND OF-- THIS IS A BROADER ISSUE ABOUT LEGITIMATIZATION ABOUT VIOLENCE AND BIDEN COULD TAKE A STRONG STANCE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY AS A CONTRAST TO THIS UNFORTUNATE KIND OF TREND IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT NINA'S POINTS THAT IT IS NOT A DETERRENT AND IT IS IRREVERSIBLE, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER TO ME.

THE CRUEL AND UNUSUAL COMPARE PUT TO DEATH COMPARED TO A VERY SMALL CELL 23 HOURS A DAY POTENTIALLY FOR 50 YEARS, NEITHER ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, ARE THINGS I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO.

THAT DOESN'T HOLD AS MUCH WEIGHT.

WE KILL DURING WAR AND WE DEFEND IT IN SELF-DEFENSE SO THOSE ISSUES ARE NOT AS IMPORTANT AND COMPELLING TO ME.

>> I'M GOING TO GO FARTHER AND SAY THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY BARBARIC; THAT WHEN YOU COMPARE HOW THE U.S.

RANKS WITH OTHER ADVANCED WESTERN COUNTRIES, WE ARE THE ONLY ADVANCED WESTERN COUNTRY THAT EMPLOYS THE DEATH PENALTY.

AND WE ARE IN THE COMPANY ARE FOUR OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WE LIKE TO BEAT UP ON AS BEING SOMEHOW BEHIND US: CHINA, IRAN, SAUDI AND PAKISTAN.

I BELIEVE AMERICA BRAG ABOUT THIS BEING A COUNTRY FOUNDED IN JUDEO CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT OF THOSE PRINCIPLES AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IS LOVE AND FORGIVE 234ES.

AND TAKE THE EUROPEAN UNION STANCE.

YOU CANNOT ENTER THE EUROPEAN UNION UNLESS YOUR COUNTRY DOES NOT HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> GARLAND HAS INSTITUTED A REVIEW OF DEATH PENALTY CASES THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OVERSEAS AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THEY HAVE CALLED FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

SO ARE WE SEEING-- BIDEN CAMPAIGNED AGAINST IT.

IS THERE A MORAL INCONSISTENCY THERE?

YOU ARE SUGGESTING HE IS DOING THIS FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY HE IS DOING THIS FOR POLITICAL REASON BECAUSE IT'S NOT SIMPLY THE CASE DAVE WHETHER THEY HAVE NOT PURSUED IT, BUT OF THE MANY APPEALS THAT WERE ALREADY UNDER WAY WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAME IN.

THEY HAVE, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, CONTINUED TO PRESS FOR THE EXECUTION OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S POLITICAL.

I HOPE THAT BLACK VOTERS ESPECIALLY SEE THROUGH THIS.

>> DONALD TRUMP HANDILY WON THE IOWA CAUCUSES THIS WEEK.

BUT VIEWERS OF MSNBC COULD NOT WATCH HIS VICTORY SPEECH.

MSNBC ANCHOR RACHEL MADDOW EXPLAINED THE DECISION BY SAYING "THERE'S A COST AS A NEWS ORGANIZATION FROM KNOWINGLY BROADCASTING UNTRUE THINGS."

CNN DID CARRY TRUMP'S SPEECH LIVE, BUT CUT IT SHORT FOR ANALYSIS.

NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE "GATEKEEPERS,' BUT AFTER COVERING IOWA FOR WEEKS, SHOULDN'T THEY ALLOW THE WINNER TO SPEAK?

>> YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU: I THINK THE ENTIRE SPEECH SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWN AND THEN YOU CAN GIVE A CONTEXT ABOUT WHAT IS THE TRUTH OR WHICH PARTS OF THE SPEECH ARE FALSE.

AND WE CAN DO ANALYSIS ACCORDINGLY.

IT'S NOT JUST MSNBC AND CNN.

FOX NEWS GOT AWAY FROM TRUMP'S SPEECH FROM CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA WHEN HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE LAST ELECTION BEING STOLEN.

THERE IS ANOTHER ANGLE THAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL IS A LIABILITY AS FOX NEWS HAD TO PAY UP NEAR ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS.

>> SO YOU ARE SUGGESTING THAT PERHAPS MSNBC DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THOSE THINGS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE SUED?

>> THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE REASONS.

BUT I THINK MEADOW, IF SHE MAKES THE ARGUMENT, IT WILL BE IN BAD FAITH.

I THINK THEIR MAIN THING IS THAT WE ARE LIBERALS AND WE CANNOT STAND TRUMP EATS SPEECH AND WE HAVE THE CONTROL OVER IT AND THEY WANT TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE IN THE WAY MEDIA CONTROLS NARRATIVE.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO COVER IT BUT THEY ARE A NEWS ORGANIZATION AND I THINK, WRIEL SHE IS RIGHT THAT MANY OF THE AT THE SAME TIME-- SHE IS RIGHT THAT MANY OF THE STATEMENTS WOULD BE INCORRECT, THERE IS FACT CHECKING.

THIS IS DIFFICULT TO DO ON THE FLY BUT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES; FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, VH-1, SISTER CHANNEL TO MTV, USED TO HAVE VERY POPULAR THING CALLED POPUP VIDEO.

AND THEY WOULD HAVE BALLOONS COME UP WITH FACTOIDS.

WHY NOT COMMIT TO RERUNNING THE SPEECH AFTER THE FACT AND THEN AS THE POLITICIAN IS SAYING THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GLOBAL WARMING, SHOW A POPUP VIDEO OF THE ICE CAPS MELTING.

OR THERE IS NO PROBLEM GOING ON AT THE TEXAS MEXICAN BORDER, SHOWING HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOODING ACROSS THE BORDER.

THAT COULD BE BOTH INFORMATIVE AND PERHAPS ENTERTAINING.

>> SO NEWS AS ENTERTAINMENT IS WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING?

>> BOTH.

I'M NOT SAYING STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE BUT I'M JUST SAYING THERE IS A WAY TO BOTH HAVE THE SPEECH BUT ALSO COVER THE FACT THAT YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> FACT CHECKS DON'T SEEM TO BREAKTHROUGH TO PEOPLE.

>> THERE IS MIXED EVIDENCE ON HOW WELL FACT CHECKING ACTUALLY WORKS.

I THINK IN NON-PARTISAN CONTEXT, IT CAN WORK QUITE WELL WHEN YOU ARE CORRECTING PEOPLE'S INFORMATION, FOR EXAMPLE ABOUT HEALTH INFORMATION.

BUT IN HIGHLY PARTISAN CONTEXT, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MOVE THE NEEDLE THAT MUCH AND EVEN FACT CHECKING IN MORE NEUTRAL ENVIRONMENTS, IS OFTEN SHORT LIVED, RIGHT?

SO IN OTHER WORDS IT'S LONG-TERM EFFECT, WHAT YOU SORT OF OVER TIME FORGET THAT IT WAS FACT CHECKED.

SO THERE IS THIS KIND OF RESIDUAL KIND OF LIE THAT SORT OF LIVES OUT THERE IN PEOPLE'S HEADS, RIGHT?

AND SO I'M NOT SURE THAT JUST FACT CHECKING IT IS THE SOLUTION.

AND I THINK THE MEDIA IS RIGHTLY NERVOUS ABOUT GIVING TRUMP MORE FREE AIR TIME LIKE THEY DID DURING THE 2016 ELECTION.

HE GOT, I THINK, $2 BILLION EQUIVALENT WORTH OF FREE AIR TIME BECAUSE THEY WOULD JUST SHOW HIS SPEECHES FROM BEGINNING TO END, RIGHT?

ANDID THINK THAT THEY ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.

AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE.

>> CNN USED TO DO THAT.

AND JEFF ZUCKER, THE MAN WHO WAS RUNNING CNN WAS ALSO THE MAN WHO PUT HIM ON THE APPRENTICE AT NBC.

>> I WANT TO REACT TO SOMETHING YOU SAID, SARAH, ABOUT 2016 AND 15.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO GIVE TRUMP FREE PRESS BY THIS OBSESSION WITH THE TRIALS AND NOW HE HAS COME TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS HOW HE IS ABLE TO BE IN THE NEWS, TO SUCK ALL OF THE OXYGEN OUT OF EVERY OTHER CONVERSATION.

SO IT'S REALLY THE MEDIA DECIDING WHAT WORKS FOR THEIR PROFIT BOTTOM LINE VERSUS WHAT THE VIEWERS SHOULD HEAR.

FOR ME, THIS IS A NO BRAINER.

LET ME DECIDE FOR MYSELF WHAT I THINK ABOUT TRUMP.

AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT A STANDARD OF NOT OFFERING ONE CANDIDATE UNFILTERED LIVE COVERAGE, THEN DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD.

BUT THIS WAS PROBABLY THE ONE SPEECH THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT FOR BECAUSE TRUMP CALLED FOR UNITY.

HE PRAISED HIS CHALLENGERS.

LET'S SAY IT ONLY LASTED 10 MINUTES, RIGHT?

BUT HE PRAISED HIS CHALLENGERS.

AND ALSO HE SAID THAT BIDEN WAS THE WORST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS COUNTRY.

WELL BIDEN HAS SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT HIM.

AND TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S TRUE IS REALLY IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER BUT FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE LAID OUT HIS POLICY POSITIONS.

ON THE BORDER, ON CRIME, ON ENERGY POLICIES AND ON ELECTIONS AS WELL.

AND SO INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHO WATCH, AS I DO, BOTH SETS, BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM, THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS MAN STANDS.

>> IN THE MEDIA'S DEFENSE THERE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT A SPEECH ON, THERE IS NO HISTORY OF HIM OR NOT MUCH HISTORY OF HIM LAYING OUT POLICY POSITIONS.

THAT'S NOT GENERALLY WHAT HE DOES IN A SPEECH.

>> TO ME, THAT'S NEWS.

TO ME THAT IS NEWS, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S ISSUES.

AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK MEDIA ANALYSIS CAN COME INTO PLAY.

SO THAT AFTER YOU AIR THE SPEECH, GO THROUGH, NOT NECESSARILY FACT CHECK BUT PRIORITIZE OR SAY HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THESE LIBERAL OUTLETS ARE NOT GOING TO COVER HIS SPEECHES.

CONSERVATIVE OUTLETS WILL.

AND THEY WILL FRAME IT IN WAYS OR WORSE, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WILL DO THAT.

>> A REAL ISSUE HERE JUST SELECTIVE EXPOSURE.

WE CAN CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT IN TODAY'S MEDIA ENVIRONMENT, WHAT WE WANT TO WATCH.

THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR MANY OF THOSE IOWA VOTERS IS THE ECONOMY.

THEY THINK IT'S TERRIBLE UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN.

MANY OTHER AMERICANS SAY THE SAME THING.

YET THE ECONOMIC NUMBERS SEEM PRETTY GOOD.

LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, RISING WAGES AND GDP.

INFLATION IS FALLING.

THE STOCK MARKET-- DONALD TRUMP'S FAVORITE METRIC-- IS CLOSE TO RECORD HIGHS.

RICK, WHY THE DISCONNECT?

>> WELL, I THINK FIRST OF ALL, PEOPLE ANCHOR TO CERTAIN PRICES WHEN MAKING PERCEPTIONS ABOUT INFLATION.

WHILE THE INFLATION RATE HAS FALLEN SIGNIFICANTLY, PEOPLE ANCHOR TO THINGS LIKE FOOD AND GASOLINE AND THINGS THEY PURCHASE REGULARLY.

GASOLINE IS COMING DOWN.

FOOD PRICES ARE STILL HIGH AND INCHING UP.

SECOND, ANOTHER PRICE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS THE PRICE OF HOUSING.

AND THE PRICE OF HOUSES HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

NOW IT WAS GOING UP DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, INTEREST RATES WERE LOW, SO FINANCING THESE PURCHASES OF HOMES WAS MUCH EASIER.

INTEREST RATES ARE VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW.

AND SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME ANCHORS, SOME SIGNS THAT SIGNAL WHY PEOPLE ARE THINKING THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOT DOING GREAT.

NOW, LET ME JUST SAY ONE THING THOUGH.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU WATCH WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING VERSUS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE ECONOMY IS POOR, BUT THEY'RE ACTING LIKE IT'S TOTALLY FINE.

THEY'RE STILL BUYING THINGS LIKE THEY'RE GOING THRAFLING, DINING OUT, BUYING CARS.

AND SO THERE IS A DISCONNECT AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE SUGGESTING THAT IT IS PART OF OUR PARTISANSHIP AGAIN THAT DOESN'T MATTER HOW GOOD THE ECONOMY IS, RIGHT WINGERS ARE GOING TO SAY IT'S TERRIBLE AND BLAME BIDEN.

>> COULD THAT BE A PART OF SELECTIVE EXPOSURE, THE TONE OF MEDIA COVERAGE?

>> PARTLY.

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING FACT THAT IN 2008 WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS LITERALLY COLLAPSING, ACTUALLY REPUBLICANS FELT MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ECONOMY THEN THAN THEY DO NOW, WHICH IS CRAZY, WHICH IS SUGGESTING IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTALS AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE DATA.

AND THIS IS A WELL KIND OF KNOWN FACT THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED AND GETTING WORSE OVER TIME WHICH IS THE PARTISAN COMPONENT AND SO WHEN DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND THE EFFECT IS MUCH LARGER, TWO HALF TIMES LARGER.

AS SOON AS THERE IS A DEMOCRAT IN OFFICE, SENTIMENT AMONG REPUBLICANS SWITCHES BY A LARGE MARGIN AND SUDDENLY THEY FEEL VERY NEGATIVE ABOUT THE ALMOST EXACT SAME ECONOMY THAT WAS UNDER THE REPUBLICANS.

>> WE ALSO-- WE CAN'T DISCOUNT INFLATION.

INFLATION IS HIGH.

IT HAS BEEN HIGH.

IT'S FALLING.

>> THE IDEA OF THE PARTISANSHIP COLORING ONE'S PERCEPTION OF THE ECONOMY IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED.

THERE IS ANOTHER PART OF THE VOTING NATURE, TWO WAYS PEOPLE VOTE.

POCKETBOOK VOTING WHERE IT'S ABOUT THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF A PERSON'S PERSONAL PREDICAMENT.

ANOTHER WHERE THE VOTER LOOKS AT THE BROADER IDEAS OF THE ECONOMY AND SO ON.

ECONOMISTS AND OTHERS WE TOUT DIFFERENT GROWTH RATES AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS LOW, BLAH BLAH BLAH BUT PEOPLE ARE ALSO SEEING MASSIVE POVERTY, MASSIVE INEQUALITY.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HIGHEST CHILD POVERTY IN SYRACUSE.

LACK OF HOUSING.

PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS CONSTANTLY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAY HOW DO YOU THINK THE ECONOMY IS DOING, ONE MIGHT TAKE THE IDEA INTO ACCOUNT NOT JUST EFFICIENCY, BUT THE IDEA OF EQUATING AMERICAN ECONOMY WHICH IS NOT VERY GOOD, RIGHT?

WE ARE REACHING IN FIVE OR SEVEN YEARS AGO THE LECTURE WHERE IT SHOWS U.S. IS REACHING THAT KIND OF GUILDED AGE ERA, POST GUILDED AGE ERA.

>> THEY'VE GONE DOWN AND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC SUPPORT INEQUALITY IS AT LOWER LEVELS THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> BENEFICIARIES HAVE BEEN PEOPLE IN THE LOWER... >> POVERTY IS STILL VERY HIGH.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CPI, POVERTY RATES, 30%, BRONX COUNTY AND OTHERS.

PEOPLE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT BROADER IDEAS OF THE ECONOMY OF INEQUALITY AND LACK OF HOUSING, POVERTY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

>> RICK MENTIONS GAS PRICES HAVE FALLEN.

THEY'VE GONE DOWN 70 CENTS A GALLON IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.

PEOPLE SEE THE PRICE EVERY DAY.

IT HAS TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

>> THEY'VE GONE DOWN BUT THEY'VE GONE DOWN FROM WHERE?

AND HAVE WE GONE BACK TO PRE-INFLATION DOLLARS ADJUSTED OR NOT, AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVEN'T.

FOOD PRICES HAVE CONTINUED TO GO UP EVERY YEAR SINCE 2020.

2022 WAS THE WORST YEAR, BUT TO ALL OF THE OTHER POINTS, EXCELLENT POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS, HERE IS WHAT I SAY TO THAT.

IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST AND THERE IS NO ONE THERE TO HEAR IT, DOES IT REALLY MAKE A SOUND?

I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SEE THE NEWS TALKING ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MILLION JOBS BEING ADDED THINKING THAT'S WONDERFUL.

SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A JOB, EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T AFFORD EGGS AND SUGAR AND BASIC THINGS THAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS.

I BELIEVE WHAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DO IS THEY HAVE TO SAY, YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MESSED UP.

WE ARE NOT EVEN SO MUCH THAT WE HAVE MESSED UP BUT THAT THINGS ARE BAD.

WE HEAR YOU.

BUT ALSO LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD AND MAYBE SAY I'M SORRY THAT WE HAVEN'T PAID AS MUCH ATTENTION.

>> THEY SHOULD NOT SAY THEY HAVE MESSED BUT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID COMPARED TO THE PANDEMIC THEY'VE DONE VERY GOOD I WOULD SAY.

>> A AND F. >> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DUSTING OFF HIS MOVEMENT CONTACTS FALSELY CLAIMING THAT NIKKI HALEY WAS NOT ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE HER PARENTS WERE NOT U.S. CITIZENS AT THE TIME OF HER BIRTH.

HE DIDN'T STOP THERE.

BUT HE ALSO USED HALEY'S NATIVE NAME AS A SORT OF DOG WHISTLE TO MAKE HER "OTHER."

TRUMP USED BOTH TACTICS AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

I SUPPOSE WE WILL HAVE TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> SARAH.

>> MY F THIS WEEK GOES TO ELISE STEFANIK WHO APPEARED ON MEET THE PRESS AND REFERRED TO THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTIONISTS AS HSES HIGH SCHOOLS.

HOSTAGES.

SHE DENOUNCED THE ATTACK SAYING VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM IS UNACCEPTABLE AND CALLED ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PROSECUTE THOSE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

SHE WAS RIGHT THEN AND WRONG NOW.

SHE IS INACCURATE IN HER STATEMENT AND INSULTING TO THE ACTUAL HOSTAGES BEING HELD AROUND THE WORLD.

>> WELL, MY F GOES TO THE CONTINUING DEBACLE CALL BOEING ESPECIALLY WITH THE 737 MAX 9 SEAR SEERYS.

THEY SETTLED A LARGE NUMBER OF LAWSUITS WITH SHAREHOLDERS AND KNEW THE FUSELAGES ARE FLYING AWAY ALONG WITH BOEING'S REPUTATION OR WHATEVER IS LEFT OF IT.

>> ONEIDA COUNTY, TURNING STONE CASINO PICTURED HERE LIES IN THE FIRE DISTRICT.

THE ABILITY TO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT IT IS COMING INTO QUESTION.

ONEIDA COUNTY RECEIVES A PERCENTAGE OF THE GAMBLING REVENUE AND SHARES IT WITH OTHER AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUT STOPPED FUNDING THE VOLUNTEER DISTRICT BACK IN 2017.

WHY ISN'T MONEY FROM THE SETTLEMENT GOING TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED FIRE PROTECTION FOR THE CASINO?

>> AND As.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO THE SYRACUSE COMMON COUNCIL AND ALSO MAYOR BEN WALSH FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL APPROVED A NEW ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS A BUILDING OF LARGER BHILDING BUILDINGS.

LAST NIGHT THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED A PLAN THAT WILL CREATE 600 NEW RESIDENCES.

THIS, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT ALL OF THESE NEW BIGGER PROJECTS HAVE TO INCLUDE 12% SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEANS IT'S A WIN-WIN ALL AROUND.

>> AND SARAH, YOUR A.

>> SO MY A GOES TO THE NON-PROFIT GROUP CALLED TOO YOUNG TO WED.

THIS ORGANIZATION WORKS IN AFGHANISTAN TO COMBAT THE GROWING AND ALARMING PROBLEM OF CHILD MARRIAGES.

WIDESPREAD POVERTY AND HUNGER HAVE LED MANY DESPERATE FAMILIES TO SELL THEIR DAUGHTERS INTO MARRIAGE, SOME AS YOUNG AS SIX YEARS OLD AND THIS GROUP WORKS TO COUNTERACT THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO READ SOME OF THESE COMPELLING STORIES AND SEE SOME POWERFUL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THESE FAMILIES IN THE WASHINGTON POST ONLINE.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> TO A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CALLING TO PASS MEASURES THAT WOULD PUT $500 MILLION INTO A PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP WORKERS WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR JOBS BUT CANNOT AFFORD NORMAL INSURANCE BENEFITS.

>> AND MY A GOES TO CHARLES SCHUMER AND MARK JOHNSON FOR AVERTING ANOTHER POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS.

>> MAYBE THEY SHOULD GET AN F FOR NOT PASSING-- >> WE ARE GOOD TO GO UNTIL MARCH >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.