>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!

MONEY!

HEY, THANKS FOR -- WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AROUND HERE.

THERE WILL BE SOME FIGHTING AND FUSSING OVER IT, BUT WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK.

ALVIN REID SITTING IN FOR CHARLIE BRENNAN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST UP, WENDY WIESE, KTRS.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> VERY WELL, ALVIN, THANK YOU.

>> ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS, RAY HARTMANN.

GOT YOUR NAME RIGHT THIS WEEK.

ANOTHER FOUNDER, BILL McCLELLAN AND A FIRST-TIME GUEST.

YOU KNOW IT, I HOPE WE DON'T PAY IT FOR TONIGHT.

ELLIOTT DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> NO WORRIES.

MY PLEASURE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALSO.

YOU ARE A 2021 MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR NAMED BY THE ST. LOUIS PRESS CLUB.

>> ONE OF THE HONOREES.

ONE OF FIVE INDIVIDUAL HONOREES, AND KETC, CHANNEL 9.

>> OUR CREW FROM LIVING ST. LOUIS, JIM KIRCHHERR, ANNE MARIE BERGER, RUTH EZELL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL.

IF YOU SAW FOOTBALL SATURDAY, YOU SAW SOMETHING, RIGHT?

>> I'D LIKE TO COMMEND SHARON, OUR LONG-TIME RECEPTIONIST, WHEN WE GOT A PHONE CALL, SHARON WOULD OFTEN SCREAM PHONE CALL FOR US, AND HER GRANDSON PLAYS FOOTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AND HIS TEAM -- THIS IS HIS SENIOR YEAR AND LAST SATURDAY IN THE BIG GAME AGAINST OHIO STATE, HASSAN SCORED NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT FIVE TOUCHDOWNS.

>> UNBELIEVABLE.

>> AN UNBELIEVABLE PERFORMANCE AND THAT IS SHARON HASKINS GRANDSON.

HE'S A SUPER STAR HERE.

>> EASY A SUPER STAR.

>> I WANTEDNEY TO WIN THAT FOOTBALL GAME, BUT THAT WAS SPECIAL.

>> THAT WAS GREAT.

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

>> SO SHE'S BACK IN THE OFFICE NOW, SO WE'RE ALL ONE -- >> AND SHE'S FLOATING.

>> ALL ABOUT THE BIG BLUE.

>> SO WE'RE ALL ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY AND WE HAD $790 MILLION COMING OUR WAY.

WE'RE GOING TO GET $500 MILLION BECAUSE THE ATTORNEYS WHO REPRESENTED US IN THE INDICATE AGAINST THE NFL AND STAND KONG KROENKE -- STAN KROENKE ARE GOING TO BIG CHUNK OF THAT, BUT WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO GO?

DOES THE COUNTY GET ITS SHARE, DO WE ALL LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER, OR ARE THERE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD?

>> WELL, WE ARE NOT ALL GOING TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

THERE WAS A WONDERFUL MOMENT IN TIME WHEN WE GOT THIS AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THE JACKALES ARE GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER THE CARCASS.

SOME SAY THE COUNTY SHOULDN'T GET A THIRD BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE STADIUM.

I THINK, AND MAYBE BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE COUNTY, I THINK THE COUNTY DESERVES ITS FULL THIRD.

>> YEAH, SEE, I KNOW THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE STENGER HAD THE STATE CONSTITUTION BEHIND HIM AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS, ANY KIND OF LAYOUT LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS, BUT I'M ACTUALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH THE ALDERMAN, THAT IF THE COUNTY DID NOT JUMP ON BOARD WITH THIS IN TERMS OF THAT STADIUM, WHICH WAS THE LINCHPIN THAT ENDED UP BRINGING US THE 790 MILLION DOLLARS WINDFALL, I'M OKAY WITH THE COUNTY MAYBE AND I LIVE IN THE COUNTY TOO, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COUNTY NOT GETTING A FULL THIRD.

I KNOW THAT'S -- MY HOUSE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE EGGED BY THE TIME I GET HOME, BUT I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WAY.

>> I PERSONALLY THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR HAVING DON'T RIGHT THING.

THE REASON -- HAVING DONE THE RIGHT THING.

THE REASON ST. LOUIS WON, AND I'M ONE THAT THOUGHT THIS LAWSUIT WAS LUDICROUS -- WAS NOT BECAUSE OF THE CON WE RAN ABOUT THE STADIUM, WHICH WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE WHOLE THING -- BLESS HIS HEART, DAVE PEACOCK, THAT WAS NEVER HAPPENING.

THE ONLY REASON WE WON, JIM BENNETT AND THE OTHERS IDENTIFIED THE FACT THAT THE NFL HAD NOT FOLLOWED ITS RELOCATION GUIDELINES AND WAS VERY VULNERABLE AND THEY IDENTIFIED IT, SEIZED ON IT, AND GIVE THEM CREDIT, THEY PUT IN THE WORK, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO OUTSMART SOME OF THESE NATIONAL -- THE NFL'S LAWYERS.

BUT THE COUNTY NOT BEING WILLING TO VIOLATE ITS OWN ORDINANCES AND HAVE -- AND NOT HAVE AN ELECTION WHEN ITS ORDINANCES AND THE CITY'S CLEARLY CALLED, AS THE FALLOUT OF THE 2000 FIASCO WITH THE CARDINALS STADIUM, CLEARLY CALLED FOR THE VOTERS TO HAVE A SAY.

THE PUNISHMENT FOR THAT IS WRONG.

>> BUT RAY, LET ME ARGUE AGAINST MYSELF HERE.

>> NOW THAT I'M ON YOUR SIDE, YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE -- OKAY.

>> BUT RIVERFRONT STADIUM WAS PART OF THE -- >> THE ARGUMENT, EXACTLY.

>> IN THE SENSE THAT THE NFL'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THEIR RELOCATION GUIDELINES, PART OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT ST. LOUIS WAS MAKING AN EFFORT TO GET A NEW STADIUM.

SO I CAN UNDERSTAND THE ALDERMAN'S POINT OF VIEW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND NOW -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> SO, YEAH.

>> I'M GOING TO BE ON THE SIDE OF THE TAXPAYERS ON THIS.

>> WHO PAID FOR IT?

>> HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.

WE SHOULD USE A LOT OF THAT MONEY TO PAY OFF THE BONDS ON THE DOME.

WE OWE LIKE $100 MILLION, I THINK, STILL ON THE -- REMEMBER THE DOME WHERE THE RAMS PLAYED AT?

I THINK WE STILL OWE $100 MILLION.

THAT MONEY IS COMING FROM STATE TAXPAYERS, CITY TAXPAYERS, COUNTY TAXPAYERS THAT SINCE THE '90s HAVE BEEN PAYING, WHAT, 24 MILLION A YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN PAYING ALL THIS MONEY FOR THIS DOME, SO I THINK AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A BIG STEP BACK AND SAY, WELL, CAN TAXPAYERS RECOUP SOME OF THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE SPENT ON THIS DEAL?

>> DO YOU THINK THE STATE -- OUT-STATE SHOULD BE GETTING SOME OF THIS MONEY, TOO?

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING?

>> WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS WE PAY OFF THE BONDS ON THIS DOME FOR $100 MILLION SO THIS MONEY DOESN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE COMING OUT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS, THE HOTEL -- I THINK IT'S THE HOTEL-MOTEL TAX AND THAT MONEY CAN GO TO SOME OTHER USES.

BUT LET'S BE PRUDENT IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

>> I WOULD SAY LET'S LOOK AT THE BILLS -- >> WE LOOK AT THE BILL THAT WE HAVE AND I THINK THE COUNTY -- I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, TOO, AND I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH BILL HERE.

THE COUNTY SHOULD BE -- GET A HEFTY CHUNK OF IT AS THE STATE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT A PART OF IT.

>> THEY'RE NOT A PARTY TO THE LAWSUIT.

>> BECAUSE ALL THESE GUYS GOT TOGETHER AND AGREED TO FORK OVER ALL THIS MONEY TO MAKE THIS DOME POSSIBLE.

THE DEAL WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN HAPPENED WITHOUT ST. LOUIS COUNTY, WITHOUT THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AND WITHOUT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY DESERVES SOMETHING.

>> BUT THE PLAINTIFFS ARE THE ONES WHO GET THE MONEY.

THE PLAINTIFFS ARE THE COUNTY, THE CITY, AND THE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION.

AND I BELIEVE THE BONDS ON ARE ACTUALLY PAID OFF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE THE TAX.

BUT THE -- >> NO, THEY WILL BE PAID OFF IN 2024.

>> OH, OKAY, WELL, FUNDAMENTALLY.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE FADE OFF, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY -- >> MY CAR WILL BE PAID OFF THEN TOO.

THAT'S 100 MILLION BUCKS.

>> BUT WATCH THE FIGHT OVER THIS WILL BE MORE INTERESTING THAN THE LAST DECADE OF THE RAMS EVER WAS.

>> WELL, I'LL LEAVE YOU ON THIS TOPIC, I'LL SAY THIS.

I STILL THINK THIS GOES TO COURT AND WE WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY LOST AT SOME LEVEL IF WE DIDN'T TAKE THAT FOOL OF AN OWNER STAN KROENKE OUT THERE WITH THE RAMS, AND WHEN HE PUT THE NFL ON NOTICE THAT, HEY, I'M NOT PAYING THIS -- >> YEAH, I LIED WHEN I SAID -- >> YEAH, WE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU, BUDDY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> RIGHT?

SO -- >> THE GUY HAS THE WORST CREDIT.

THE DECISION TO SETTLE WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT BECAUSE OUR VULNERABILITY WAS ON APPEAL, AND I THINK IT WAS A GREAT DECISION.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE VINDICATED IN PURSUING THIS THEORY.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH VINDICATING WHAT WAS A PRETTY FACETIOUS PROCESS.

I DON'T THINK IT'S THE SAME THING.

I THINK THE LAWYERS WERE VALIDATED AND VINDICATED FOR SEEING WHAT THEY SAW.

IT REALLY DOESN'T -- AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN GO BACK AND SAY WE SHOULD HAVE GONE ALONG WITH THIS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SPEAKING OF BATTLES, ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE A COLE COUNTY JUDGE HAS DECIDED WHILE RULING ON SOME OTHER CASE THAT THE MASK MANDATES IN ST. LOUIS CITY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHOULD JUST BE THROWN COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WINDOW, THEY DOONT DO ANYTHING, THEY DON'T STOP ANY COVID-19 FROM SPREADING.

JUST REALLY KIND OF QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT BY THE JUDGE.

SAM PAGE REALLY TOOK IT TO THEM BECAUSE THIS JUDGE NEEDS TO GET RE-ELECTED IN A TRUMP-LOVING COUNTY.

WENDY, WHERE ARE WE AT IN ALL THIS?

>> AND THAT WAS L-O-V-I-N-APOSTROPHE, RIGHT?

HE WAS BEING REALLY GLIB FOR A TRUMP-LOVIN' COUNTY.

IF YOU READ THIS STORY, YOU'LL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT WHEN IT COMES TO WHY THIS VIRUS HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO SPREAD AS RAPIDLY AS IT HAS BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WAS QUOTED, EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO WAS QUOTED, HAS A DIFFERENT STORY.

THEY ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT STORY.

JUDGE DANIEL GREEN, AS YOU SAID, CRITICIZED BY SAM PAGE.

SAM PAGE IS SAYING THAT, NO, THE JUDGE'S ORDER DOESN'T STAND IN THE COUNTY.

I BELIEVE ERIC SCHMITT IS -- HE'S ALSO SUED, SO IT'S JUST A HODGEPODGE OF DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, THIS HANDIWORK AND NO WONDER PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED.

SOMEBODY WALKED INTO THE RADIO STATION JUST THE OTHER DAY AND SAID, ARE WE SUPPOSED TO WEAR A MASK OUT IN WESTFORT OR DO WE HAVE TO -- WESTPORT OR DO WE HAVE TO WEAR A MASK IN HERE?

I THINK AT THIS POINT, PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

>> WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS, BUT FIRST, WE HAVEN'T HAD THE PLEASURE OF DOING THIS IN A WHILE.

I THOUGHT I WOULD MISS IT -- >> AND YOU DID.

>> I ACTUALLY DID.

WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP US OUT AT CHANNEL 9.

>> HI, EVERYONE.

I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE TONIGHT WITH YOU AS WE ENJOY THE LIVELY SOUNDS OF THE WITTY POLITICAL BANTER WITH THE DONNYBROOKERS TONIGHT.

NINE PBS WORKS HARD TO BE A TRUSTED NEWS RESOURCE FOR YOU, LIKE DONNYBROOK THAT WE'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW, AND HEARING THE THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS OF THESE JOURNALISTS HERE, BUT ALSO, NATIONAL SHOWS LIKE FRONTLINE OR PBS NEWS HOUR.

THOSE ARE TRUSTED RESOURCES, VALUED RESOURCES OF NEWS THAT WE CAN ONLY PROVIDE TO YOU IF YOU BECOME A MEMBER TONIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT, WE RELY ON VIEWERS JUST LIKE YOU AT HOME.

AND SO WE HAVE AN AWESOME WAY TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, SOME GREAT THANK YOU GIFTS.

LET'S DIVE IN, SHALL WE?

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU WHONE YOU BECOME A MEMBER RIGHT NOW.

AT THE $75 LEVEL, THAT'S ONE-TIME $75, YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

YOU CAN GET THE MUG WHICH YOU SEE EVERY DONNYBROOKER EVERY WEEK HERE AT THE TABLE USING THAT MUG.

IT'S DURABLE, I LOVE THE DESIGN.

AT THE $75 LEVEL, YOU GET THE MUG OR YOU CAN GET A TICKET, ONE TICKET, $75 TO DONNYBASH.

THAT'S GOING TO BE ON JUNE 9th OF 2022, AND OH MY GOODNESS, YOU GUYS, WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE HOSTING THIS IN-PERSON AGAIN.

YOU GET TO BE TOGETHER, SEE THE DONNYBROOKERS LIVE.

AND SO THAT'S NOT ALL, THOUGH, BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE THE CHOICE OF BECOMING A SUSTAINER TONIGHT AT THE $12 A MONTH LEVEL.

SO THE SUSTAINING LEVEL, YOU GET TWO TICKETS TO SEE DONNYBASH LIVE IN-PERSON, BUT ALSO THE EVER SO LOVELY DONNYBROOK MUG HERE, NINE PBS MUG.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S A CAMP MUG, AWESOME, DURABLE, SO HANDY.

I LOVE IT.

BUT YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE DONNYBROOKERS LIVE ON STAGE.

YOU GET TO HEAR THAT WITTY BANTER THAT I REFERENCED THAT YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT HERE TONIGHT.

YOU GET TO HEAR THAT IN-PERSON AND WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO MISS THAT, RIGHT?

AND SO ALSO, WHAT I MEANT TO TELL YOU WAS THAT AT THESE LEVELS, BOTH LEVELS, YOU WILL RECEIVE ACCESS TO NINE PBS PASSPORT.

SO THAT IS -- IT GIVES YOU AN EXTENDED VARIETY OF PBS PROGRAMS ON DEMAND ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

YOU CAN STREAM IT WHENEVER YOU LIKE.

YOU CAN CATCH UP ON LOCAL PROGRAMMING, A LOT OF YOUR FAVORITE NATIONAL PROGRAMMING LIKE MASTERPIECE OR FRONTLIME LINE LIKE I REFERENCED.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAD OVER TO THE TABLE WITH KATE AND A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT NEED NO INTRODUCTION.

>> SO I WON'T.

I WON'T INTRODUCE THEM AT ALL BECAUSE YOU DO KNOW THEM.

YOU COME HERE EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN ST. LOUIS AND WHAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.

AND WHEN YOU GUYS GET TOGETHER EACH THURSDAY AFTERNOON, LATE AFTERNOON, TO TALK ABOUT IT, DO YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE SUBJECTS THAT YOU WANT BROUGHT UP OR DOES CHARLIE TELL YOU WHAT YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT?

SINCE HE'S NOT HERE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT HIM.

>> HE'S NOT HERE, SO -- YOU KNOW, HE DOES KIND OF DOMINATE, DOESN'T HE, GUYS?

>> OH, HE'S A TYRANT.

HE'S A TYRANT.

>> TYRANT, THAT'S THE WORD.

NO, HE'S WONDERFUL.

WE'RE ALL VERY RESPECTFUL, ACTUALLY.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T COME ACROSS AS RESPECTFUL AS WE USUALLY ARE ON THE AIR, BUT WE DO RESPECT EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS.

>> WELL, THE ODD THING, WENDY, IS LIKE TONIGHT WHEN I SAID SOMETHING I THOUGHT I FIRMLY BELIEVED IN AND THEN RAY SAID I AGREE WITH YOU, AND THEN I -- WAIT A MINUTE, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

>> HE HAD A CRISIS IN THAT MOMENT.

I THOUGHT, WAIT A SECOND, RAY AGREES WITH ME.

>> WELL, I LIKE IT WHEN I AGREE WITH RAY, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE -- >> I THINK IT WAS GREAT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY HISTORICAL MOMENTS, BUT I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME IN 35 YEARS WHERE SOMEBODY WAS TOSSED OUT OF THEIR POSITION BECAUSE I AGREED WITH THEM.

WHICH IS -- I THINK HE PROBABLY GOT IT RIGHT THE SECOND TIME, BUT IT WAS -- YEAH, IT WAS AN UNUSUAL THING.

>> WELL, THE LINE OF THE NIGHT WAS WHEN BILL SAID, I'M JUST AGREEING WITH MYSELF.

I'M HAVING A DISAGREEMENT WITH MYSELF.

>> WE ALL HAVE THAT MOMENT WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING AND YOUR BRAIN IS SAYING, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> BY THE WAY, WE DO MISS CHARLIE BRENNAN VERY MUCH, ALTHOUGH MR. REED IS DOING -- >> DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB TONIGHT.

>> AS ONE OF THE TWO PEOPLE AT THE TABLE WHO'S DONE THIS VERY POORLY, THAT JOB, IT'S ALL YOURS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT OTHER PERSON MIGHT BE.

>> I'LL LEAVE THAT ONE ALONE.

I'LL REALLY LEAVE THAT ONE ALONE.

>> DID I DO IT ONCE?

>> ONE.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER I DID IT EVERY YEAR FOR A FEW YEARS AND IT WAS HORRIBLE?

>> OH, IT WAS TERRIBLE.

>> I THINK I WAS WORSE THAN YOU, BUT -- >> I'VE ERASED THAT MEMORY.

>> IT WAS CLOSE.

>> LET'S GET BACK TO WHAT WE DO WELL, OKAY?

WHAT WE DO WELL IS HAVE THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS HERE ON DONNYBROOK AND I THINK MOST OF YOU DO HAVE A POSITION THAT PEOPLE EXPECT YOU START FROM AND YOU -- YOU'RE SAYING WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHAT I MEAN IS THEY EXPECT YOU TO BE LEFT, THEY EXPECT YOU TO BE LEANING RIGHT, THEY EXPECT YOU TO BE LEANING LEFT AND YOU MORE LEFT PROBABLY.

>> ACTUALLY, I GET ALL THE TIME, YOU'RE A MORE CONSERVATIVE PERSON THAN I THOUGHT YOU WERE.

WE HAVE KIDS AND THE WORLD CHANGES, BUT THE FIRST TIME I WAS EVER ON THIS SHOW, MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS A WEEK OLD.

OVER THE YEARS, I WAS LIKE, OH YEAH, I GOT TO BE MORE STERN WITH THE WORLD.

>> I'M A DAD NOW.

>> AIM A DAD NOW.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO ENJOY WATCHING THE SHOW HAVE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO LET THEM KNOW HOW THEY CAN JOIN US AT DONNYBASH RIGHT NOW.

>> SO LET'S DIVE IN, SHALL WE?

YOU CAN JOIN US AT THE $75 LEVEL, ONE TIME, YOU CAN HAVE THE CHOICE OF RECEIVING A TICKET TO DONNYBASH LIKE I SAID, WHICH YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO MISS, BUT ALSO YOU MIGHT BE AT HOME AND YOU'RE REALLY ENJOYING THAT MUG RIGHT THERE ON THE TABLE THAT YOU SEE THE DONNYBROOKERS DRINKING OUT OF AND YOU SAY, I'M QUITE JEALOUS OF THAT.

GO FOR IT.

$75 LEVEL.

AT THE $12 LEVEL, SUSTAINING MEMBER, $12 A MONTH, YOU CAN GET TWO TICKETS TO DONNYBASH AND THAT'S ON JUNE 6th, 2022, NEXT YEAR AT 6:00 P.M. YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT EVENING, HEAR LIVE THE WITTY BANTER THAT WE ENJOY WITH THE DONNYBROOKERS, YOU GET TO SEE IT IN-PERSON, BUT ALSO YOU CAN DRINK HOT COCOA OR TEA OR COFFEE THIS SEASON OUT OF THAT MUG.

THAT'S RIGHT, YOU CAN THINK OF NINE PBS EVERY MORNING WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR COFFEE AND YOU CAN BE JUST LIKE YOUR FAVORITE DONNYBROOKERS WITH THAT MUG.

EACH OF THESE LEVELS COME WITH ACCESS TO NINE PBS PASSPORT AND THAT GIVES YOU EXTENDED ACCESS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF YOUR PBS FAVORITES.

YOU CAN CATCH UP ON LOCAL PROGRAMS OR YOUR NATIONAL FAVORITES LIKE MASTERPIECE, THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

I LOVE THOSE SHOWS.

BUT YEAH, DON'T FORGET, BECOME A MEMBER AT 800-568-9099 OR GO TO THE WEBSITE AT NINEPBS.ORG.

SO ALL RIGHT?

LET'S JOIN THE DONNYBROOKERS AGAIN AND HEAR WHAT ELSE THEY HAVE TO SAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THE MASK DEBATE GOES ON.

THOUGHTS?

>> IT'S GOING TO OPENLY GET SOLVED.

IT'S ALL POLITICAL RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEIR POLITICAL FUTURES, CANDIDATES AND EVERYTHING, BASED ON THE POSITION THAT THEY TAKE ON THIS ISSUE.

AND SO YOU'RE GETTING PEOPLE THAT MAY BE MORE CONSERVATIVE SAYING I BETTER GO WITH THE MASK -- AGAINST THE MASK MANDATES AND ALL OF THAT.

MANDATORY, THAT'S THE KEYWORD, MANDATORY MASK MANDATES, I BETTER GO AGAINST THAT SO I DON'T GET THROWN OUT THE DOOR.

IF YOU'RE IN DEMOCRATIC AREAS, YOU SAY I HAVE THE FREEDOM FOR SUPPORT MASK MANDATES.

I'M IN FAVOR OF MASKS.

THE COVID HAS HIT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY INORDINATELY HARD.

I THINK IN THE CITY, THEY WERE SAYING 70% OF THE NEW CASES WERE AFRICAN AMERICANS.

SO I'M VERY KEENLY INTERESTED IN THAT AND THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND EVERY PLACE.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYONE, BUT I'M LOOKING AT THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON MINORITY COMMUNITIES, SO I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO TRY TO STEM THIS THING.

IT'S GOING TO GET WORKED OUT, YEAH.

WE HAVE TO GET TO A POINT OBVIOUSLY WHERE WE AS PEOPLE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, US AS PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR APART WE ARE, BUT WE GET THE POLITICIANS WHIPPING IT UP BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO GET VOTES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND THEY'RE SAYING -- AND MOST OF THEM WILL TELL YOU, EVEN THE REPUBLICANS THAT I TALK TO IN THE COUNCIL, I INTERVIEW A NUMBER OF THEM, THEY'LL SAY I'M FOR MASKS, NOT FOR MASK MANDATES.

WHY?

BECAUSE THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE SAYING WE DON'T WANT THAT.

>> AND I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT'S GOING TO COME TO AN END.

I THINK VACCINES WILL BE AROUND AS AN ISSUE LONGER THAN MASKS, BUT I THINK THAT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT -- TALKING ABOUT MANDATES.

I FOLLOW MY SIDE ON THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO MANDATES.

THERE ARE ALL DIRECTIVES, REALLY STRONG SUGGESTIONS AS THEY SHOULD BE.

THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE PRO-MASK, WHENEVER YOU CALL THEM -- I WOULD ARGUE PRO SCIENCE, PRO HEALTH SIDE, DON'T FIGHT LIKE THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HAD REPUBLICANS ASKED ON CAMERA, WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION?

OKAY, WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE AGAINST, WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR CALL FOR FREEDOM.

WHAT ARE YOU -- IF YOU WERE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, IF YOU WERE THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID?

BECAUSE YOU NOTICE THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ANSWER.

THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN AND IT BOTHERS ME THEY DON'T GET ASKED.

THIS WEEK FAISAL KHAN GOT THEM ALL MAD AND I I'M GLAD HE CALLED THEM OUT.

HE SAID THEY ACTED LIKE THE LUNATIC FRINGE.

I THINK HE OVERREACTED TO BEING CALLED A LOT OF NAMES, BUT HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IT'S TIME OUR SIDE FOUGHT BACK.

>> BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AS ELLIOTT SAID, THE PEOPLE WILL FINALLY GET TOGETHER AND I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH FAITH IN US, BUT IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO GET TOGETHER, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WITH THE HEALTH DIRECTOR CALLING PEOPLE, HIS OPPONENTS THE LUNATIC FRINGE AND WHEN YOU SAY HE WAS GETTING BUMPED AROUND -- >> I DIDN'T SAY HE WAS.

>> BEING YELLED AT OR SOMETHING.

HE WENT ON NATIONAL TV AND SAID HE'D -- HE LIED ON NATIONAL TV MAKING THE WHOLE REGION LOOK BAD AND NOW HE'S CALLING PEOPLE LUNATIC FRINGE.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE SOMEBODY TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY FAITH THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE BY CALLING NAMES.

>> AND DON'T FORGET THAT SAM PAGE BACKED HIM UP AND ACTUALLY DOUBLED DOWN ON THAT UNTRUTH ABOUT BEING SHOULDER BUMPED WITH ALL THE TELEVISION CAMERAS PROVING THAT HE WAS NOT.

SO -- >> IN FOLLOW-UP TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE OF MASKS AND VACCINES ARE FIGHTING BACK.

WE'VE GOT -- WHAT IS IT?

DR. FAUCI ON ALL THE TIME.

WE'VE HAD A WHOLE TAFRS THAT COMES OUT -- TASK FORCE THAT CONSUMES OUT EVERY DAY AND SAYS HERE WHERE WE ARE ON COVID AND YOU HAVE LYDA KREWSON'S ADMINISTRATION AND SAM PAGE'S ADMINISTRATION AND SO MANY AFRICAN AMERICAN AND OTHER GROUPS OUT THERE ON THIS ISSUE.

SO THEY ARE PUSHING BACK.

>> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT I THINK THE PASSION IS ALL ON ONE SIDE.

IT'S ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO OCCUPY AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THE ALLOTTED 30 MINUTES FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL ONE AFTER ANOTHER, AND RESPECTFULLY, WE'RE NOT COMING TOGETHER.

IT WOULD BE NICE, MAYBE THERE'S OTHER ISSUES WE CAN COME TOGETHER ON.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE FOLKS ON THE PRO SCIENCE SIDE TO HAVE A LITTLE PASSION.

THAT'S ALL.

>> I HEAR YOU.

NOW IF I WERE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR AN APPOINTED OFFICIAL, I WOULD CALL A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF NAMES, BUT I WOULDN'T DO IT PUBLICLY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE DOME EARLIER AND -- >> I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS ONE POINT AND THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE TO THE DOME.

I INTERVIEWED A MOM WHOSE DAUGHTER DIED AT 37 YEARS OLD OF COVID.

SHE DIDN'T GET THE SHOT AND WHAT NOT.

AND ON HER DEATHBED -- I'M SORRY, AS SHE WAS IN THE FINAL MOMENTS OF HER LIFE, SHE WAS TRYING TO MOUTH TO HER MOM, I WISH I HAD TAKEN THE VACCINE.

I DID THAT STORY AND IT ENDED UP GOING NATIONAL, CNN, EVERYWHE PLACE ELSE, IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHATEVER.

YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT LADY IS NOT PASSIONATE, AND GUESS WHAT?

SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S LOST SOMEONE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE PASSIONATE OUT THERE.

>> OKAY, NOW, THE DOME.

PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

WHEN THERE WAS A FOOTBALL TEAM IT IN, WHEN THERE WAS NOT A FOOTBALL TEAM IN IT.

THERE'S STILL SOME FOLKS, BOB CLARK WHO'S NO LONGER HERE, UP IN CHICAGO, BUT STILL HAS OFFICES HERE, HE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE TORN DOWN AND START ALL OVER ON AT LEAST THAT PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND QUIENCH QUITE FRANKLY, I KIND OF AGREE WITH HIM.

ELLIOTT, WHAT DO YOU FORESEE?

.

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S LOGIC TO IT.

I THINK FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO STUDY THIS THING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE HIRED AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY.

ONE, THE COST, AND TWO, WHAT YOU'RE AIMING FOR WITH THIS CONVENTION CENTER.

IT'S GOING TO COST HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS THING, EVERYTHING WITH THE THINGS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO WHAT DO YOU END UP AT THE END?

ONE THING I HAVEN'T SEEN, I DID A STORY ON DOMES SOME COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I COULDN'T FIND A CITY THAT WAS ABLE TO REPURPOSE A DOME WHEN THE TEAM HAD MOVED ON OR THAT DOME GOT OLDER OR WHAT -- I COULDN'T FIND ONE.

MAYBE THERE'S ONE NOW THAT SOMEBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

WE WOULD BE THE FIRST.

BUT THERE'S A REASON PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPURPOSE A DOME, BECAUSE IT'S BUILT TO BE A FOOTBALL STADIUM.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T MAKE YOUR CAR INTO A SEMI-TRUCK NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WORK ON IT.

YOU MIGHT BE AT THIS POINT WHERE THEY WERE SAYING THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER IS NOT UP TO MODERN -- IT'S NOT UP TO SNUFF, THAT IT NEEDS ALL OF THIS STUFF, AND SO SOMETIMES MAYBE YOU'RE BETTER OFF JUST TEARING IT DOWN AND REBUILDING IT AND THEN YOU CAN BUILD IT THE WAY YOU WANT TO BUILD IT.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE COST AND ALL THAT.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, RESPECTFULLY ON THIS, A CONVENTION CENTER IS NICE AND WE HAVE ONE.

IT MIGHT NOT -- IT MIGHT REALLY BE A FOOTBALL STADIUM, BUT IT'S ALSO A CONVENTION CENTER.

I'M JUST AFRAID THAT WITH THIS NEWFOUND WEALTH, WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING WILDLY.

LIKE A NEW CONVENTION CENTER IS WHAT WE NEED, AND IF THEY PAID HALF A BILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY NOW.

WHEN THEY START BUILDING IT -- >> IT'S GOING TO GO UP.

>> IT WILL TURN OUT -- AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS BIG PILE OF MONEY THAT WE HAD THAT WE WERE SO PROUD OF, IT'S GONE AND OUR JAIL STILL DOESN'T HAVE LOCKS.

>> THAT WORK, YEAH.

NO, AND I -- I MEAN, IF IT'S -- WHAT IS IT, DID THEY SAY A MILLION DOLLARS OR $2 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE MAINTENANCE, FOR THE UPKEEP FOR THE DOME?

>> YES.

>> AND I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER SITTING IN THE DOME AND WATCHING AN NCAA EVENT OR TWO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS A FINAL FOUR OR THE ELITE 8 OR WHATEVER IT WAS, AND I'M THINKING OF THE ANCIENT RUINS OF BUSCH STADIUM, REMEMBER, THAT HAD TO BE DUG UNDER BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO OLD.

THEY WERE 40 YEARS OF AGE.

I THINK WE'RE REALLY PAINTING OURSELVES INTO A VERY EXPENSIVE CORNERING, AREN'T WE, IN TERMS OF HOW OLD BUILDINGS ARE AND WHEN THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED?

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> SPEAKING OF OLD, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME.

>> YOU'RE A RELIC.

>> 790 MILLION, BY THE WAY, IS ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO SPEND TO KEEP THE RAMS HERE.

>> YEAH, 750 MILLION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AT LEAST WE RECEIVED IT, BUT THE DOME HAS BEEN SUCH AN INTERESTING THING.

IN '77 WHEN IT WAS BUILT, IT WAS THE STATE-OF-THE-ART CONVENTION CENTER, AND IN '92, WE WERE TOLD, IT WAS OBSOLETE 15 YEARS LATER AND THAT'S WHEN THE ORIGINAL STADIUM WAS SOLD TO PEOPLE LIKE ME.

IT WAS RATIONALIZED THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST 260 MILLION TO EXPAND TO A CONVENTION CENTER.

THEY ALWAYS MORPHED THEM TOGETHER.

I LOVE BOB CLARK.

I THINK HE REALLY IS JUST -- WE SHOULD LISTEN TO HIM GENERALLY, BUT I DON'T THINK -- WE SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING SOMETHING DONE RIGHT AWAY TO UPGRADE WHAT IS A GENUINELY DETERIORATING CONVENTION CENTER.

I THINK THEY'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXISTING CENTER, BUT AT SOME POINT, I THINK IT WOULD BE WORTH STUDIES.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TEARING THE DOME DOWN SO MUCH AS WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE IT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- YOU JUST CAN'T GIVE UP ON CONVENTION BUSINESS IN THIS TOWN.

AS MANY PROBLEMS AS WE HAVE, YOU CAN'T GIVE UP ON THAT.

>> I WASN'T SAYING THAT.

I'M SAYING THE DOME PART -- >> I UNDERSTAND, THE DOME PART.

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THE DOME PART, AND I DON'T THINK -- NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT SPEED.

ST. LOUIS HAS SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS.

WHETHER IT GETS THE CONVENTION CENTER DONE IN TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS, FIVE YEARS, WE'VE GOT A GAZILLION OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH LIKE CRIME AND POVERTY AND SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT'S CONFRONTING ST. LOUIS, THAT WE HAVE TO PAY SOME ATTENTION TO.

>> AND RITA IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY ON THIS NORTH COUNTY RECREATION THAT'S CONNECTED -- >> THAT'S WHERE THAT MONEY FROM THE COUNTY FROM THIS $500 MILLION POT, THAT'S ALL IN THERE.

>> SHE SHOULDN'T GO AWAY.

>> I AGREE, BUT THEY'LL BE HAGGLING OVER THAT MONEY.

SPEAKING OF MONEY, WE NEED IT TO STAY ON THE AIR.

HELP US OUT.

>> THANK YOUING FOR STICKING WITH US AS WE WATCH THIS EPISODE OF -- AND WE LOOK TOWARD TO YOU STICKING WITH US THROUGH THE NEXT SEGMENT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW THE DEAL.

WHEN WE'RE HERE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE GIVING YOU SOMETHING IN RETURN, NOT JUST THE GREAT PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS, BUT ALSO THANK YOU GIFTS.

RIGHT NOW, THIS BEING THE SEASON OF GIVING, A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT WOULD BE TO JOIN US AT THE $75 LEVEL AND IN RETURN, YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO GET THE NINE PBS STORIES THAT MOVE US MUG, WHICH IS A HEFTY SIZED MUG, I MUST SAY, OR ONE TICKET TO JOIN US AT DONNYBASH.

AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT GIFT FOR SOMEONE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO GET.

EVEN BETTER, IF YOU JOIN US AT A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION AT $144 OR AT THE SUSTAINING MEMBER AT $12 A MONTH, YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE TWO TICKETS.

TO THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

HOW ABOUT YOUR DAD OR YOUR UNCLE OR YOUR BEST FRIEND THAT YOU MAYBE HAVE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES WITH.

WOULDN'T IT BE FUN TO GO TO DONNYBASH TOGETHER?

WHEN YOU GO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE PRE-BASH, THE PRE-RECEPTION, AND ENJOY COCKTAILS AND TALK TO THE FOLKS ALL AROUND YOU.

THEN YOU GO IN, SEE THE SHOW, AND AFTER THE SHOW, THERE'S ANOTHER RECEPTION AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.

WE INVITE YOU TO COME WITH A FRIEND, COME WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, BE A PART OF DONNYBASH.

AND IN DOING, SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE PART OF NINE PBS.

GIVE US A CALL RIGHT NOW, WON'T YOU?

>> HI, EVERYONE.

I'M HERE WITH EVERYONE'S FAVORITE DONNYBROOKERS.

SO EVERYONE, TELL ME HOW IT DOES FEEL TO BE BACK LIVE IN STUDIO AGAIN?

>> GREAT.

>> AFTER ABOUT A YEAR.

>> WONDERFUL.

>> 19 MONTHS.

>> 19 MONTHS.

>> AND COUNTING, RIGHT?

>> BUT WHO'S COUNTING.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A NO OR TWO WHEN IT ALL FIRST -- A MONTH OR TWO WHEN IT ALL FIRST STARTED.

IT WAS SO NICE TO BE BACK.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY HOW DOING PLEDGE, YOU THINK, OH, PLEDGE, AND WE'RE SINCERE AND NEED YOUR HELP, IN ALL SINCERITY, BUT YOU KNOW HOW YOU JOKINGLY SAY IF WE NEVER DO ANOTHER PLEDGE, IT'S FINE WITH ME, AND NOW I JUST REGRET THAT BECAUSE I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND TALKING TO YOU AND ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

YOU NEED TO GET THE TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST GET ONE, BUT IF YOU GET THE MUG, THE ONE WITH LIPSTICK ON IT IS WENDY'S.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND BY THE WAY, KATE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT HOW SUBSTANTIAL THESE MUGS ARE.

YOU CAN ALMOST USE IT AS A WEAPON IF YOU HAVE A BREAK-IN IN YOUR HOUSE.

>> DON'T EVEN TALK LIKE THAT, WENDY.

>> I'M JOKING, OF COURSE.

>> NINE PBS PROTECTS YOU.

>> NINE PBS PROTECTED YOU.

YES, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE BACK AND IT WAS SURREAL FOR A WHILE.

IT WAS SURREAL COMING BACK IN THE BUILDING AND REALIZING THAT WHEN ALVIN AND I WERE LEAVING THAT FIRST NIGHT, WE BOTH STOPPED IN THE PARKING LOT AND WE SAID OUT LOUD, IT'S BEEN 19 MONTHS.

IT WAS 19 MONTHS.

SO BEING BACK IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SET AND WITH OUR FRIENDS, I MEAN, AT HOME, IT'S VERY SPECIAL.

>> I THINK THE SHOW IS MUCH BETTER AND IT'S MORE FUN WHEN WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BANTERING WITH EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF ON THE SCREEN.

ALTHOUGH I DO MISS RUBIN.

>> RIGHT, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CAT.

>> SO WHEN WE WERE DOING THAT AT HOME, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS RUBIN.

>> A SPECIAL GUEST.

IT WAS TOO MUCH, THE HALO LIGHT AND THE WHOLE THING AND HE'S LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON?

WHAT IS THIS?

>> AND DON'T FORGET, RAY'S FLY.

FRED THE FLY.

>> I GOT TO TELL YOU, I'M EXCITED ABOUT DONNYBASH FOR REAL BECAUSE WE MISSED THAT.

>> WE DID.

>> AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE IT'S ON A THURSDAY.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT, WE CAN'T DO THAT IT'S -- THEN I THOUGHT, OH, WE'RE ON IT.

WHAT DO THEY GET?

YOU GOT TO COME OUT.

WE REALLY -- THAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR YEAR AS FAR AS DONNYBROOK.

IT'S JUST -- WE REALLY DO -- IT'S JUST A GREAT NIGHT FOR US AND I HOPE FOR OUR VIEWERS.

I MEAN, SELFISHLY, WE GET TO -- FIRST OF ALL, WE GET TIPS OF WHAT TO SAY BEFORE THE SHOW.

>> TRUE.

>> AND THE FEEDBACK IS, YOU KNOW, UNTIL ALVIN JUST TAKES OVER THE SHOW, BUT FOR A WHILE, WE'RE ALL THERE.

NO, I'M JUST KIDDING, BUT WE HAVE FUN.

>> IT'S LIKE MICK JAGGER -- >> WE DO SERIOUSLY HAVE FUN.

>> AND THE AUDIENCE HAS SUCH A BIG PART TO PLAY BECAUSE IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO WANT TO NAY TO PEOPLE.

>> PEOPLE LOVE IT.

PEOPLE FEED OFF THAT.

I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE BEEN IN THAT CROWD.

>> AND THAT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2019 OR MAYBE IT WAS OCTOBER, WE HAD THE LAST ONE.

>> OH MY GOODNESS, THAT WAS THE LAST ONE.

>> AND I GUESS WE WERE TOLD BEFORE, THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS WAS MARCH OF 2020.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> SEEMS SO LONG AGO.

I REMEMBER, I WAS STILL CALLING IT THE ZOOM.

>> THE ZOOM.

>> BUT THE -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A CERTAIN -- AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THIS IS CONVENIENT, YOU JUST SORT OF, YOU KNOW, GO DOWNSTAIRS.

AS BILL SAYS, IT'S REALLY JUST NOT THE SAME.

THE CHEMISTRY OF BEING AROUND EACH OTHER -- IT'S NIGHT AND DAY FOR US.

>> AND I KNOW ALL THE VIEWERS ARE THRILLED TO SEE YOU GUYS BACK, NOT IN YOUR BOXES.

EVERYONE LOVES IT, EVERYONE TUNED IN.

YOU MADE QUITE THE TICKET.

>> AND ANNE MARIE BERGER, THE AWARD-WINNER, DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB IF MY OPINION, JUST -- >> KEEPING US ALL -- >> WELL, FIXING A NEW ENVIRONMENT HERE FOR US.

>> CREATING THIS.

>> AND COMING UP WITH NEXT UP.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THAT WAS SO GOOD.

>> THAT HAS BEEN EXCELLENT.

NOT TO FAT -- NOT TO PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK BECAUSE THAT CAME FROM ANNE MARIE.

YOU KNOW, SOIFR FRIGHTENED OF -- I WAS SO FRIGHTEN OF EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS NEW AND I'M OLD.

BUT THAT WASN'T SO BAD.

AND THEN NEXT UP, THAT WASN'T SO BAD.

>> AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE -- SOCIAL MEDIA IS EITHER A BLESSING OR A CURSE, BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO KEEP UP WITH OUR DONNYBROOK FAMILY, YOU KNOW, THE VIEWERS WHO WERE WANTING TO CONNECT WITH US AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

>> WELL, LET'S HOP ON OVER TO KATE AND SHE'S GOING TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE THANK YOU GIFTS TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN.

>> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND YES, I'M GLAD THEY BROUGHT UP ANNE MARIE AND THE CREW AND HOW GREAT IT IS TO BE BACK IN THE STUDIO BECAUSE WHILE YOU'RE GETTING A GREAT VIEWING EXPERIENCE FROM THAT, YOU KNOW IT COSTS MONEY AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

I'M JUST GOING TO BE DIRECT.

WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

PLEASE JOIN US AT THE $75 ONE-TIME MEMBERSHIP AND YOU'LL RECEIVER THE MUG OR YOU'LL GET -- RECEIVE THE MUG OR YOU'LL GET THE TICKET TO DONNYBASH WHICH IS JUNE 9th BY THE WAY, OR JOIN US AT A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT $12 A MONTH.

YOU'LL GET TWO TICKETS AND ALSO RECEIVE THE MUG.

THINK OF IT THIS WAY.

YOU'LL HAVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT OR HANUKKAH GIFT OR A TICKET TO GIVE SOMEONE TO DONNYBASH AND IT'S A GREAT WAY OF SAYING YOU PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MIND IS, YOU ENJOY THE PROGRAMS ON NINE PBS AND YOU SUPPORT THEM.

WON'T YOU PLEASE GIVE US A CALL OR COME ONLINE AT NINEPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKING OF MONEY, ERIC GREITENS JUST GOT A MILLION DOLLARS OF IT FROM ONE OF THE COFOUNDERS OF HOME DEPOT.

IT DOES CHANGE THE RACE AT ALL?

DOES ERIC SCHMITT NOW NEED TO GO OUT AND GO DOOR-TO-DOOR TO GET MONEY FOR HIS RUN FOR SENATE?

>> HE GOT A QUARTER OF A MILLION FROM SOME WING NUT, I DON'T KNOW THAT WAS -- >> NOTHING LIKE DIALING BACK THE RHETORIC, RAY.

>> HEY, I'M NOT DOING THIS KUMBAYA STUFF.

THIS IS A KNIFE FIGHT AT THIS POINT THE WAY IT IS.

BUT THE FACT IS THAT -- NO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE DYNAMIC OF THIS RACE IS NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED.

ERIC GREITENS HAS AN ALMOST UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF DARK MONEY AVAILABLE TO HIM BY DEFINITION OF WHO HE IS.

YOU CAN'T EVEN LOOKING AT CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE YOU CAN.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO PLAY BY THE NORMAL RULES.

THESE GUYS, IT DOESN'T REALLY -- AND THESE OF LEGITIMATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT WHO KNOWS HOW MANY ILLEGITIMATE ONES THERE ARE.

I THINK IT'S FASCINATING TO WATCH THIS REPUBLICAN THING BECAUSE MOST REPUBLICANS YOU TALK TO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GREITENS BEING THE CANDIDATE, SO IT SORT OF KILLING THE MAN WITH THE BALL, EVERYBODY GANGING UP ON HIM.

BUT THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE IS THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE DIVIDING UP THE NON-GREITENS VOTE.

I THINK WHAT HE'S COUNTING ON IS HE'S GOING TO WIN AND I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYBODY THAT KNOWS HOW TO HANDICAP THIS YET.

>> THE OTHER ONES OUT THERE ARE AN ATTORNEY FROM THE CENTRAL WEST END.

HE'S FALLING OFF A CLIFF OUT THERE.

>> I REALLY WONDER WHAT HE'S EVEN DOING.

>> I THINK THAT WAS A 15-MINUTE -- >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.

>> 15 MINUTES OF FAME.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE -- YOU HAVE TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT POLITICS WHEN YOU ENTER A RACE LIKE THIS.

>> SO IS IT GREITENS-SCHMITT, YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT McCLOSKEY STILL HAS SOME LEGS YET AND I DON'T KNOW THE CONGRESS PEOPLE FROM OUT-STATE WELL.

VICKY -- >> VICKY HARTSELL HAS A VERY, VERY -- >> THEY MIGHT BE SERIOUS.

IT REALLY IS TO ME THIS CONFOUNDING PROBLEM OF ERIC SCHMITT KNOWS BETTER AND STILL DOES THE WRONG THING.

McCLOSKEY DOESN'T KNOW BETTER AND DOES THE WRONG THING.

WHICH ONE WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE FROM A MORAL PERSPECTIVE?

I MEAN, McCLOSKEY, THEY'RE ALWAYS THE HOPE THAT HE WOULD RETURN TO BE WHAT HE ONCE WAS, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK GREITENS IS THE HEAVY FAVORITE BECAUSE HE IS THE BAD GUY AND RIGHT NOW IN MISSOURI, HEY, THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

>> IF HE'S TRYING TO ASSUME THE MANTLE OF THE TRUMP CANDIDATE, THEN I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S GREITENS, BUT IT MAKES ME, ONCE AGAIN, I SURPRISE EVEN MYSELF HOW NAIVE I CAN BE BECAUSE I THOUGHT DISH DECLARED ERIC GREITENS FOREVER DEAD IN POLITICAL CIRCLES AND I WAS WRONG AGAIN.

>> I DON'T THINK A MILLION DOLLARS IS GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THIS RACE.

THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY, A MILLION WILL LOOK LIKE A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS.

>> I HOPE IT'S GREITENS BECAUSE I TELL YOU WHAT.

I KNOW PEOPLE -- THIS MAY SOUND PARTISAN, BUT JASON KANTER DIDN'T LOSE BY THAT MUCH LAST TIME.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> AND ERIC GREITENS CAN BE BEAT.

LIKE I SAID, I GET THE FOLKS HERE MAD LOCALLY BECAUSE SCOTT SIMPSON IS VERY RESPECTED BUSINESS ONE OF THE MATTER SMARTEST GUYS IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT LUCAS KUNZ DOESN'T TALK LIKE A DEMOCRATIC.

>> WHAT DOES HE TALK LIKE?

>> HE TALKS LIKE A NORMAL PERSON.

HE DOESN'T SPEAK ANY POLITICS -- >> THAT WAS ACTUALLY A SOUNDBITE, DOES IT?

HE DOESN'T TALK LIKE A DEMOCRAT, HE TALKS LIKE A NORMAL PERSON.

>> HE TWEETED THIS WEEK ABOUT WEED.

WHAT POLITICIAN UNION THE WORD "WEED" TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA?

>> IF ANYBODY BORN AFTER 1975.

>> NO, NOT A POLITICIAN, IN A TWEET.

>> I THINK TRUMP IS JUST SO POPULAR IN OUT-STATE MISSOURI, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WITH A "D" AFTER THEIR NAME HAS A CHANCE.

>>WELL, WE'LL SEE.

DIDN'T YOU POP UP IN A POLITICAL AD ONE TIME FOR SOMETHING SAID ON THE SHOW OR -- >> NO -- WELL, I -- IT WAS A COLUMN I WROTE ABOUT BECKY COOK WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING AGAINST JOHN HANCOCK AND I CALLED HER BECKY CROOK.

SO JOHN HANCOCK RAN AN AD TAKING THE POST-DISPATCH CALLS MY OPPONENT BECKY CROOK.

AND THE PAPER HAD TO CALL HIM AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR IRRESPONSIBLE COLUMNIST.

THAT'S NOT THE NEWSPAPER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY KIM GARDNER HAD LIKE A TOWN HALL AND ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID WAS, LOOK, LOVE ME, HATE ME, EVERYBODY SEEMED TO BE AGAINST ME AS SOON AS I WALKED IN THIS DOOR.

LIKE I NEVER REALLY HAD A CHANCE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE JUST SO HOSTILE TOWARD ME, STARTING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO BILL, DID SHE NOT KIND OF GET A FAIR SHAKE WHEN SHE FIRST WAS SWORN INTO THE OFFICE?

>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, SHE RAN ON THE PLATFORM THAT THIS IS A CORRUPT SYSTEM AND EVERYBODY IN IT IS CORRUPT AND SHE WON, AND THEN SHE WAS SURPRISED THAT ALL THESE CORRUPT PEOPLE RESENTED IT.

YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T HAVE MUCH SYMPATHY FOR HER AND THE OFFICE HAS BECOME SO DYSFUNCTIONAL AND PEOPLE WHO -- >> THE TURNOVER.

>> -- SHOULD BE CHARGED AREN'T CHARGED AND THERE'S MORE ACQUITTALS THAN WE'RE USED TO.

SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR KIM GARDNER.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO ACCUSE EVERYBODY IN THE SYSTEM OF BEING CORRUPT, YOU CAN'T EXPECT THEM TO SAY, HEY, WELCOME HERE.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THE CIRCUIT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SUFFOLK COUNTY IN MASSACHUSETTS, THIS HAS HAPPENED IN DALLAS, TEXAS, THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

THE WAVE OF PROGRESSIVE CIRCUIT ATTORNEYS CAME IN AND THEY GOT THE SAME AMOUNT OF BLOWBACK WITH THE AGENDA THAT KIM GARDNER HAS HAD HERE.

SO I KNOW THAT IT FEELS UNPRECEDENTED TO HER, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED EVERYWHERE THAT THERE WERE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES VOTED IN.

>> I THINK IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THOSE OTHER CITIES -- SHE WAS THE DISRUPTER AND THE DISRUPTEES DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S CLEAR.

YOU'RE RIGHT, REFORM PROSECUTORS AROUND THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY SOME AFRICAN AMERICANS AND ESPECIALLY SOME AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE RUN INTO THE BLOWBACK.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT SHE'S GOTTEN MORE OF IT, MORE INTENSELY, AND THIS MOVEMENT TO ESSENTIALLY WIN BY DISBARRING HER, WHICH IS GOING TO -- IS A LIVE EFFORT BY THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, IS GOING ON UNTIL AT LEAST FEBRUARY, IS BECAUSE SHE WON 60% OF THE VOTE.

SHE WON RE-ELECTION AND THAT'S NOT A SMALL THING.

>> HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT KIM GARDNER.

SHE'S DRAWN THE IRE OF SO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE WENT AFTER GREITENS.

HAD SHE NOT GONE AFTER GREITENS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD CARE ABOUT KIM GARDNER.

THEY DIDN'T CARE -- I WAS AROUND TO COVER GEORGE FEATURE -- GEORGE PEACH AND HE WAS SLITTING PROSTITUTES.

THERE WASN'T THAT MUCH ANGER AGAINST GEORGE PEACH AND I FORGOT THE NAME HE YOOSH.

>> LARRY JOHNSON.

>> AND THERE WASN'T AS MUCH UPROAR.

>> HE GOT THROWN OUT.

>> BUT PEOPLE STILL DIDN'T HATE GEORGE PEACH.

>> BUT HE DIDN'T DECLARE WAR ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> IN KIM GARDNER'S CASE, I THINK IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL ANGRY THAT SHE WENT AFTER GREITENS.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> AND THEY BELIEVE THAT -- GO AHEAD.

>> NO, I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

NOW, WHAT HAS GONE ON SINCE -- AFTER THAT, HAS NOT ENDEARED HER TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IF THAT CASE HAD NEVER HAPPENED -- >> NOBODY COULD CARE -- >> I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

>> LET ME MAKE THIS OTHER POINT.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE REALLY -- LET ME SAY THIS.

MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN OUT-STATE AREAS, THEY AREN'T GOING TO BED AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT HOMICIDES IN NORTH ST. LOUIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE FIRST THING ON THEIR LIST.

WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT AS MUCH WITH D. JOYCE HAYS OR JENNIFER JOYCE OR ANY OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WAS RAISED ACROSS FROM THE PRUITT PROJECT, BUT NOBODY CRITICIZED KIM GARDNER MORE THAN I DID, AND I DID IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FOUR YEARS.

I WAS THE FIRST REPORTER TO CRITICIZE HER BECAUSE OF HER HANDLING OF THE CASE OF VOO LEE, THE ASIAN IMMIGRANT BEATEN UP IN SOUTH ST. LOUIS AND I CRITICIZED HER ON THAT.

I CRITICIZED HER FOR BEING SOFT ON CRIME, GIVING TOO MANY BREAKS TO CRIMINALS.

ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF, I WAS HER MAIN CRIMINAL -- I MEAN -- >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> OH, ANOTHER SOUND BITE.

>> WE ONLY GOT 30 SECONDS.

>> I'M GOING TO MAKE -- BUT VOTERS VOTED IN THE ELECTION AND VOTERS SENT HER BACK.

>> YES.

>> WITH A 60% MAJORITY.

>> YUP.

>> SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU HAVE TO STEP BACK AND SAY WHAT IS IT THAT VOTERS SEE?

I THINK THAT VOTERS BELIEVE THEY'LL GET A FAIRER SHAKE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH KIM GARDNER.

>> ALL RIGHT THEN.

HEY, IF YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US, PLEASE SEND A CORRESPONDENCE TO DONNYBROOK CARE OF NINE PBS, 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108 OR SEND SOMETHING TO -- AN EMAIL TO DONNYBROOK@NINEPBS.ORG, TWEET #DONNYBROOKSTL.

YOU CAN FIND US AT YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO FIND YOUR FAVORITE PODCASTS.

ELLIOTT DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN WITH US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN A FLOUR.

>> ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND ANNE MARIE BEHIND THE SCENES, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR CREW WITH LIVING ST. LOUIS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY IT, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

WE'LL BE HERE ALL MONTH.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> HI, AGAIN, EVERYONE.

I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT AS WE ENJOY THE LIVELY CONVERSATION THAT OUR DONNYBROOKERS ARE HAVING.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ALREADY MEMBERS AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT IT AND BECOME FUTURE MEMBERS TONIGHT.

WHEN YOU BECOME A MEMBER, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH BY SENDING SOME INCREDIBLE GIFTS YOUR WAY.

SO THAT INCLUDES AT THE ONE-TIME $75 LEVEL, YOU'LL RECEIVE A TICKET TO DONNYBASH.

THAT'S ON JUNE 9th, 2022, SO NEXT YEAR, AT 6:00 P.M. THAT'S A THURSDAY NIGHT, SO YOU'LL HAVE AN ACTUAL LIVE DONNYBROOK THURSDAY NIGHT EXPERIENCE.

BUT YOU'LL ALSO, YOU'LL HAVE THE CHOICE OF GETTING A MUG.

SO YOU GET EITHER THE TICKET OR THE MUG AT THE $75 ONE-TIME LEVEL.

THEN AT THE $12 A MONTH LEVEL, BECOMING A SUSTAINING MEMBER, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BY SENDING YOU PAIR OF TICKETS AS WELL AS THE DONNYBROOK MUG.

THAT'S RIGHT, THE MUG YOU SEE OUT ON THE TABLE TONIGHT THAT YOUR FAVORITE DONNYBROOKERS ARE DRINKING OUT MUCH, ENJOYING THEIR TEA OR WATER, YOU CAN BE JUST LIKE THEM.

THAT'S AT THE $12 A MONTH LEVEL AND THAT'S OUR WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BECOMING MEMBERS RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 800-568-9099 OR LOG ON TO THE WEBSITE AT NINEPBS.ORG.

THAT'S N-I-N-E PBS-DOT-ORG.

LET'S GO OVER TO KATE AND YOUR FAVORITE DONNYBROOKERS.

>> AIM GLAD TO BE HERE AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE GLAD TO BE AT DONNYBASH WHEN YOU JOIN AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING DONNYBROOK FOR A LONG TIME.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO COME BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> OH, IT'S GOING TO BE NICE TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

>> IT REALLY WILL BE.

>> WE HAVE A CROWD FROM GREENFIELD, ILLINOIS.

>> ALMOST LIKE A FLOTILLA.

>> AND IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO SEE THEM.

AND TO HEAR AND TELL GREENFIELD STORIES.

>> IT IS, AND I I -- GREENVILLE STORIES.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY -- JUST AN EXPLOSIVELY FUN NIGHT TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US IN ONE SPACE, AND YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

>> AND BILL, YOU CAN WEAR SHORTS BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST ONE WE'VE DONE IN SUMMERTIME.

>> WELL, I MIGHT WEAR SHORTS.

I KNOW ONE OF HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME IS MY GRANDKIDS COME.

>> OH, THEY'RE THE RINGERS.

>> AND EVIE, WHO IS NOW 11 -- >> OH GOSH.

>> -- SHE GOT ASKED THE LAST QUESTION WHEN THEY COME AROUND AT THE VERYnd AND PEOPLE IN THE ODD -- VERY END AND PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE ARE ASKING QUESTIONS AND SOMEBODY ASKED, WHAT'S THE BEST PIZZA, AND EVE VI HAD A CHANCE FOR THE LAST QUESTION, AND SHE SAID WHAT'S THE BEST ICE CREAM?

I SAID IT'S TED DRUSE AND WE'RE GOING.

>> THAT'S FANTASTIC, RIGHT AFTER THE SHOW.

>> SUCH A BLAST.

>> I DO THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE REALLY DO ENJOY ABOUT COMING TO DONNYBASH.

YOU ALL TALK ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES SO MUCH ON AIR, YOU KNOW, AND FOR THEM TO HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET THEM.

THEIR FAMILIES ARE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO SHOW UP AND BE PUT ON DISPLAY.

>> OH, WELL, MY GRANDKIDS IN PARTICULAR ENJOY IT.

>> YES, THEY LOVE IT.

>> THAT'S GENETIC, I TELL THEM.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT DURING THE LAST BREAK A LITTLE BIT I WANT TO BRING UP AGAIN IS NEXT UP.

I THINK THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A TERRIFIC THING.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS COMING AND THE FIRST TIME I WAS WATCHING AND IT WAS THERE, IT WAS SO TIMELY FOR YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE MEDICAL EXPERTS OR POLITICIANS AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE WERE ALL TRYING TO FIGURE OUR WAY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

AS WE STILL ARE.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS REALLY A GREAT THING.

>> AND WE WISH WE COULD TAKE THE CREDIT, BUT ANNE MARIE, THE AFOREMENTIONED ANNE MARIE WHO HAS WON THIS PRESS CLUB AWARD ALONG WITH THE LIVING ST. LOUIS TEAM, SHE'S GREAT IN A CRISIS AND SHE MOVED US THROUGH THAT CRISIS AND MADE SURE THAT WE HAD EVERYTHING -- OBVIOUSLY NINE PBS SENT EVERYTHING TO OUR HOMES THAT WE HAD TO HAVE, BUT THAT WAS REALLY SOMETHING TO WATCH.

>> WE DIDN'T MISS A WEEK.

>> NOT A WEEK.

>> THAT WAS THE PART THAT I'M STILL AMAZED AT.

>> AND TO WATCH NEXT UP TAKE SHAPE.

>> AND AN I HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME SAY TO ME, I REALLY LIKE THAT NEXT UP BECAUSE I LEARN SOMETHING.

>> EXACTLY.

>> LIKE WE'RE ENTERTAINING, BUT NEXT UP, YOU LEARN SOMETHING.

IT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT.

>> WELL, PEOPLE LOVE THE TED SIMMONS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW -- >> THAT WAS -- I GOT MORE RESPONSE TO THAT.

I GOT THE FAN BOY KIND OF, BUT NO, HE WAS GOOD.

SO MANY OF THE GUESTS WERE REALLY LIKE -- THEY WERE BEYOND KNOWLEDGEABLE.

THEY PRESENTED THINGS IN A WAY THAT YOU COULD REALLY UNDERSTAND.

>> AND THAT IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO EVERY WEEK HERE ON DONNYBROOK IS PRESENT THINGS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> GET DIFFERING OPINIONS AND WE REALLY HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR DONNYBASH ON JUNE 9th.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS DONNYBASH.

I'VE BEEN THERE, IT IS SO MUCH FUN.

AND LIKE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, DONNYBROOK NEXT UP AND THE PIVOT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE AND JUST BRINGING YOU -- CONTINUE TO BRING YOU RELEVANT INFORMATION AND TO KEEP YOU INFORMED DURING THIS CRISIS.

WE ARE ABLE TO ONLY DO THAT KIND OF WORK AND TO BRING YOU THAT TRUSTED INFORMATION BECAUSE OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU AND BECAUSE OF YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION.

SO WHEN YOU MAKE THAT CONTRIBUTION, WHETHER YOU'RE ALREADY A SUSTAINER AND YOU WANT TO DO SO AGAIN OR IF YOU ARE A NEW MEMBER AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE THINKING ABOUT IT, AND YOU'RE LIKE, I WANT THAT MUG OR I WANT TO BE THERE LIVE IN THAT ACTION.

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, SO AT THE $75 MONTH -- ARE A NOT MONTH SORRY, ONE-TIME $75, YOU HAVE THE CHOICE OF GETTING A TICKET TO DONNYBASH, LIKE I SAID, BE THERE LIVE IN ACTION, HEAR THE WITTY BANTER AND JOIN IN ON THE CONVERSATION.

YOU'LL SEE BILL'S GRANDDAUGHTER PROBABLY, SAY HI TO HER.

THAT IS AT THE $75 LEVEL OR YOU CAN RECEIVE THE MUG.

SO YOU HAVE YOURSELF A SOLID CHOICE THERE.

THEN ALSO, BEHIND DOOR NUMBER 2, YOU HAVE THE CHOICE OF BECOMING A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT THE $12 A MONTH LEVEL OR ONE-TIME $144, BUT YOU'LL RECEIVE A PAIR OF TICKETS AS WELL AS THAT AWESOME CAMPING MUG THAT SAYS NINE PBS.

WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF THE NEW BRAND.

I KNOW WE ARE.

YOU'RE SEEING THE STORIES MOVE YOU ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING NINE PBS.

WELL, CARRY AROUND THAT MUG, SHOW YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS PROUDLY, THINK OF US FONDLY WHEN YOU'RE ENJOYING YOU'RE MORNING COFFEE.

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A MEMBER.

THANK YOU, WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THE PROGRAM TONIGHT.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT DONNYBASH ON JUNE NINTH.