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

>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

OF COURSE, TOMORROW, THE JOLLY OLD ELF WILL BE COMING DOWN THE CHIMNEY BEHIND ME AND BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S BEEN TESTED OR NOT, WE SET UP SOME COVID FRIENDLY MEASURES JUST IN CASE.

LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS FOR THIS EDITION STARTING WITH THE 50% OF THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW.

SHE'S WENDY WIESE FROM KTRS.

MR. BILL McCLELLAN IN HIS SARTORIAL SPLENDOR.

'TIS THE SEASON.

FROM THE ST. LOUIS TOUCHDOWN.

RAY HARTMANN FROM RAWSTORY.COM, THE BIG 550, AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES.

AND NOT TO BE OUTDONE BY BILL McCLELLAN, MR. ALVIN REID, LOOKING GOOD AND MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> BIG NEWS ON THE REID HOUSEHOLD.

ARE WE SHARING THAT ON THE PROGRAM TONIGHT?

>> I GUESS WE ARE NOW.

>> WE CAN SAVE IT FOR ANOTHER DAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, YEAH.

>> SO SOUNDS GOOD.

THAT'S A CLIFF HANGER FOR NEXT WEEK.

DON'T MISS NEXT WEEK'S SHOW WHEN JOE HOLLEMAN WILL BE HERE, BY THE WAY.

BILL, BEFORE WE BEGIN, I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THE HILL BECAUSE A GOOD FRIEND OF ST. LOUIS NEEDS SOME PRAYERS AND GOOD VIBES OUT THERE, RIGHT?

>> YES, CHRIS COMBARRO, THE PATRIARCH OF THE BAKING COMPANY.

CHRIS WENT IN EARLIER THIS WEEK AT 3:00 A.M. TO FIRE UP THE OVEN LIKE HE HAS DONE THOUSANDS OF TIMES AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND CHRIS WAS BADLY BURNED, AND HE IS NOW BEGINNING A RECOVERY THAT WE HOPE WILL BE COMPLETE, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE SOME TIME AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO CHRIS AND HIS FAMILY.

>> FOR SURE.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE KIND THOUGHTS.

WE'LL STICK WITH YOU FOR OUR FIRST TOPIC, BILL.

THE MAYOR, TISHAURA JONES, AND THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, ALONG WITH ST. PATRICKS CENTER IS PLANNING AN INTENTIONAL ENCAMPMENT JUST NORTH OF THE FOUR SEASONS AND A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY FROM AL'S RESTAURANT, THERE'S GOING TO BE, I GUESS A HOMELESS CAMP WITH ABOUT 40 UNITS HOUSING 40 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.

THE DETAILS HAVEN'T BEEN IRONED OUT, BUT THOSE ARE THE BROAD OUTLINES AS REPORTED LOCALLY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

THAT'S ACTUALLY NEAR WHERE HOPEVILLE, REMEMBER THE UNINTENTIONAL CAMPSITE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE WAS A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SPARTA WAS ANOTHER CAMP RIGHT OUT THERE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO HELP PEOPLE AND TO HAVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND GIVE THE PEOPLE SOME PLACE TO GO RATHER THAN SLEEPING IN PARKS OR UNDER VIADUCTS.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING AND I THINK THE MAYOR IS DOING WELL.

IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.

>> YOU KNOW, I HEAR YOU, BILL, AND I AGREE WITH YOU AND I THINK THAT IT WORKS OUT TO START SMALL AND SEE IF IT WORKS, BUT I ALWAYS DO BRING UP, OKAY, IF I DO LIVE THERE, MY BUSINESS IS THERE, WHATEVER, IT'S KIND OF LIKE I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO WORK OUT FOR ME, SO I CAN'T BE MAD IF SOMEBODY SAID, LIKE, WHY HERE, KIND OF WHY NOW?

>> ACTUALLY, IT'S IN KIND OF AN INDUSTRIAL AREA ANYWAY.

I MEAN, IT ISN'T LIKE THE RIVERFRONT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, AND SO IT'S NOT GOING INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD OR A PUBLIC PARK.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT, LIKE, WE SHOULD BUILD BARRACKS DOWN ALONG THE RIVER FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT -- IT'S FUNNY YOU TO SAY.

IN MY MIND, I DON'T MEAN TO BE LIKE THAT, BUT YOU'RE LIKE, WHAT, BIVOUACKING, THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE SLEEPING ON YOUR COT AND -- >> SURE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S A DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITY NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE.

>> WELL, NOT TOO CLOSE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT I KNOW OF.

THEY BETTER GET THE SECURITY DOWN.

I THINK THAT'S KEY FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE THERE AND AROUND THERE AND THERE ARE SOME BUSINESSES THERE.

>> THE FOUR SEASONS.

>> THEY HAVEN'T HAD MUCH COMMUNICATION WITH SOME OF THE BUSINESSES DOWN THERE, ACCORDING TO BUSINESS OWNERS I TALKED TO TODAY.

ONE TOLD ME SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT BY WATCHING TELEVISION LAST NIGHT.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU THINK OF THE SPIRIT OF THIS PARTICULAR SEASON, I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY ALL TRY TO BE AS OPEN-MINDED AS POSSIBLE AND HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL GO ACCORDING TO PLAN BECAUSE YOU HATE TO -- YOU HATE TO THINK OF THESE PEOPLE AGAIN BEING DISPLACED IF THIS LOOKS LIKE A REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE.

>> AND BOTH CAN BE RIGHT.

I THINK BILL'S RIGHT, IT'S A GOOD -- IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY REASONABLE, YOU KNOW, WELL THOUGHT-OUT -- AT LEAST WELL-INTENDED SOLUTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF "SOLUTION" IS THE RIGHT WORD, BUT IT'S PROGRESS.

AS TO WHETHER THEY COMMUNICATED IT WELL, THAT MAY BE AN ISSUE, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS -- I THINK MAYOR JONES IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HEY, ALVIN REID, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAND OF LINCOLN.

OF COURSE, MANY OF OUR VIEWERS ARE LIVING IN ILLINOIS, BUT THERE WASN'T GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK BECAUSE FOR THE NINTH STRAIGHT YEAR, THE STATE HAS LOST POPULATION.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, LAST YEAR IT SET A RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO MOVED OUT, NORTH OF 120,000, AND YOU TAKE A LOOK AT POPULATION IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH WASN'T GOOD LAST YEAR, THE COUNTRY ONLY INCREASED POPULATION BY ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT LAST YEAR, BUT ILLINOIS LOST MORE PEOPLE IN BOTH ACTUAL TERMS AND IN PERCENTAGE TERMS THAN ALL BUT TWO OTHER STATES.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ILLINOIS?

>> WELL, NOTHING'S GOING ON WITH ILLINOIS.

I THINK WHEN YOU SAY EVERY -- YOU FIND YOUR FLOAT OR WHATEVER.

I THINK ILLINOIS IS FINDING HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE, WANT TO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND IT'S STILL LIKE THE POWERHOUSE OF THE MIDWEST.

I MEAN, I CAN'T SEE HOW I DOUBT ILLINOIS'S FUTURE WITH CHICAGO AND WITH THE CORNBELT INDUSTRY THROUGH THERE AND EVERYTHING GOING ON.

ILLINOIS IS GOING TO BE FINE.

I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BRING UP THE WHOLE GAMBLING AND THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE -- >> MARIJUANA.

>> CANNABIS, BUT LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF US.

IT WILL BE FINE.

>> I THINK THE OTHER TWO STATES MENTIONED IN TERMS OF LOSING POPULATION WERE NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA, AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS PANDEMIC-RELATED.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BIG CITIES, AT LEAST WHAT WE WERE READING EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC, SUGGESTED THAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING, OKAY, I CAN'T -- I CAN HANDLE BIG CITY LIFE DURING THE SALAD DAYS, BUT DURING A PANDEMIC, WE'RE GOING TO RELOCATE.

SO MAYBE THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY ISSUE.

>> AND I THINK THE WEATHER PLAYS A HUGE PART IN IT, TOO.

I MEAN, OHIO, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, ALL LOST POPULATION.

I MEAN, NORTH DAKOTA.

YOU LOOK AT THE WARM WEATHER STATES, THE ONLY ONES WHO LOST POPULATION I THINK WERE LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.

AND I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T TEND TO WANT TO MOVE TO A COLDER CLIMATE.

>> ARE YOU SURE -- >> AND I ALSO -- >> IT'S NOT TAXES?

>> ACCORDING TO THE STORY, IT WAS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND HOUSING COSTS.

>> WELL, CALIFORNIA LOST POPULATION.

YOU CAN SAY CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK ARE BIG DEMOCRATIC STATES.

>> YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A STATE LIKE ILLINOIS THAT HAS HIGH PROPERTY TAXES AND UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEY CAPPED THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DEDUCT AT $10,000, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MONEY MIGHT BE GOING TO STATES LIKE TENNESSEE, TEXAS, OR FLORIDA WHERE THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, GET BY A LOT CHEAPER.

>> I QUESTION THE WHOLE POPULATION TOTAL AS A METRIC OF ANYTHING.

I MEAN, MISSOURI HAS SIX MILLION PEOPLE.

YOU THINK WE'D BE BETTER OFF IF WE HAD SEVEN MILLION?

>> YES.

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T KNOW, IS THIS SOME KIND OF CONTEST?

YOU MENTIONED OUR POPULATION -- >> IT ACTUALLY IS, RAY.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE TENS OF MILLION PEOPLE WE WANT TO GROW AS A COUNTRY.

>> BUT YOU'RE NOT SAYING WE SHOULD WANT TO LOSE?

WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE TAXPAYERS FROM THAT TAX BASE.

>> I THINK QUALITY OF LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS.

>> BUT WE NEED WORKERS WHO PAY TAXES AND WHO TAKE JOBS.

>> I DON'T THINK QUALITY OF LIFE IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED.

>> I THINK ILLINOIS -- OBVIOUSLY EVERY CITY HAS ITS CHALLENGES, BUT I DON'T THINK, LIKE, ILLINOIS IS DOING -- >> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ALONG.

TO WENDY WIESE, THE FRANKLIN COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR RESIGNED, SHE SAID, WENDY, BECAUSE TOO MANY THREATS AND INSULTS WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO ENACT MEASURES TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> WELL, I WISH I KNEW BECAUSE IF ANYTHING THIS PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US IS THAT WE'RE SEEING THE VERY BEST OF HUMANITY AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE SEEING THE WORST OF HUMANITY.

THERE WAS A STORY EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BEING AT SOME PUBLIC GATHERING AND SAYING HE WAS GETTING HIS BOOSTER SHOT AND HE WAS BOOED.

SO THIS FINALLY TRANSCENDS POLITICS, AND I THINK THAT INSTEAD OF BLAMING ANY POLITICAL FIGURE, WHICH I THINK I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE DO IT, I THINK WE HAVE TO HOLD THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS ACCOUNTABLE AND ACCORDING TO TIM BRINKER, HE'S THE PRESIDING COMMISSIONER IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, HE SAID THE HEALTH DIRECTOR HAS DONE A MAGNIFICENT JOB AND IF SHE FEELS THIS IS RIGHT FOR HER AND HER FAMILY, BUT IT'S SAD.

SOMEBODY WHO IS CHARGED WITH ENSURING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF A COUNTY HAS TO LEAVE BECAUSE HER OWN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IS BEING THREATENEDED.

>> LET ME DISAGREE WITH YOU, WENDY.

I THINK IT IS POLITICS AND I BLAME ANN WAGNER AND ERIC SCHMITT AND ALL THESE REPUBLICANS WHO KNEW BETTER, WHO WENT ALONG WITH DONALD TRUMP ON EVERYTHING AND WHEN TRUMP WAS CALLING DR. FAUCI AN IDIOT AND S SUDDENLY AT THE COVID PRESS CONFERENCES, THERE WAS THE PILLOW GUY AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT INSTEAD OF FAUCI AND IT HAS EMPOWERED THESE PEOPLE TO GO AFTER NOT ONLY HEALTH OFFICIALS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT ELECTION OFFICIALS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND LIKE I SAY, I THINK THAT THE ANN WAGNERS AND ERIC SCHMITTS WHO I ONCE ADMIRED AND LIKED AND WHO KNEW BETTER, BUT WHO WENT ALONG WITH TRUMP, I BLAME THEM AND I WISH THEY COULD BE VISITED BY THE GHOST OF AMERICA PAST, AMERICA PRESENT, AND AMERICA FUTURE.

>> AND THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT TRANSCENDS POLITICS BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, IF YOU WILL, WHO HAVE BEEN THREATENING PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS -- >> WELL, HOW ABOUT THIS?

MAYBE NOT HEALTH OFFICIALS -- >> THERE'S NO EQUIVALENCY.

>> LOOK AT KRISTEN SINEMA.

PEOPLE FOLLOW HER INTO THE BATHROOM AT WEDDINGS.

LYDA KREWSON, HER HOME, THEY THREW PAINT ON THE HOUSE AND BROKE THE WINDOWS.

>> WAS IT TUCKER CARLSON WHOSE HOME THEY CAMPED OUTSIDE AND IT -- >> I DON'T KNOW.

>> I'M NOT SUGGESTING -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> LIKE JOSH HAWLEY'S HOME, RIGHT?

>> VERY BAD BEHAVIOR ON BOTH SIDES.

>> THAT I AGREE, BUT THIS IS NOT IN THE CASE OF HEALTH OFFICIALS AND MORE BROADLY ELECTION OFFICIALS, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S PLENTY OF BAD BEHAVIOR GOING AROUND, BUT ON THE SUBJECT OF COVID AND HEALTH OFFICIALS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS, THERE IS NO MORAL EQUIVALENCY AND THESE ARE NOT THE SAME.

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, THOUGH.

>> ONE SIDE -- THERE'S ONLY ONE SIDE.

>> THERE'S A FASCINATION WITH -- >> I DON'T KNOW, RAY.

I THINK THE COUNTRY THE OUT OF CONTROL.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> JUST YESTERDAY, A STATE SENATOR WAS CARJACKED AND YESTERDAY A CONGRESSWOMAN WAS ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN PHILADELPHIA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S NOT ALL -- >> THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS NUT.

>> BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE EVERY ONE OF THESE -- >> BUT THEY'RE NOT IMMUNE TO CRIME.

THEY'RE NOT IMMUNE TO CRIME.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT EQUAL.

YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S BEYOND -- IN THE CASE OF COVID AND HEALTH OFFICIALS, IT'S ONE SIDE DRIVING THIS AND THAT'S THE FACT AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THERE AREN'T BAD -- THERE'S NOT A LOT OF BAD STUFF ON BOTH SIDES.

THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF MORAL EQUIVALENCY.

IT'S ONE SIDE.

>> I JUST FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THEY'RE TURNING ON THEIR OWN PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY VOTE THE SAME WAY THEY DO, BUT THEY JUST BASICALLY -- I HAVE A JOB TO DO.

LIKE I'M A DOCTOR AND SO I HAVE A JOB TO DO.

I'VE ALWAYS FOUND THAT INTERESTING.

THEY'LL TURN ON YOU LIKE A SNAKE.

>> LIKE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

>> YEAH.

>> RAY, LET'S MOVE TO ST. CHARLES COUNTY WHERE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE EHLMANN WOULD LIKE TO PASS A CHANGE TO THE CHARTER SO THE NEXT COUNTY EXECUTIVE, COULD BE HIM OR SOMEONE RUNNING AGAINST HIM WORKS NOT BE ABLE TO MOONLIGHT LIKE WE'RE ALL DOING RIGHT HERE, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD A SECOND JOB AND GET MONEY.

AND BOB ONDER, A STATE SENATOR WHO IS A LIKELY CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, IS AN ALLERGIST BY TRADE AND HE WILL LIKE TO CONTINUE IF HE'S ELECTED COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

WHOSE SIDE DO YOU FALL ON OR WHO DO YOU BACK HERE?

>> STEVE EHLMANN IS DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

HE'S PROPOSED A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

IT'S SOMETHING CALLED GOOD GOVERNMENT, OKAY?

WHICH, OF COURSE, BOB ONDER FINDS OFFENSIVE, BUT I MEAN, THIS IS NOT EVEN DEBATABLE.

IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, IT SHOULD BE THE SAME WAY.

THERE IS NO ANALOGY TO LIKE US.

THIS IS A FULL-TIME WELL-PAID JOB RUNNING A MAJOR COUNTY.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS NOT A 50-HOUR JOB AS BOB ONDER SAYS.

IT'S JUST ABSURD, THE APPEARANCES OF A COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOING A SIDE HUSTLE, WHETHER IT'S AN ALLERGIST OR AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST OR WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S ABSURD.

IT MAKES NO SENSE AND IT'S, LIKE STEVE EHLMANN IS COMPLETELY IN THE RIGHT.

BOB ONDER IS DOING THIS FULL OUTRAGE ABOUT IT, LIKE HE CAN'T POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE THIS -- IT'S RIDICULOUS.

>> BUT THE PROBLEM -- GO AHEAD.

>> NO, I WAS GOING TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS HERE.

WHY DON'T THEY JUST VOTE ON IT THERE.

>> THEY ARE.

THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

HE WANTS A CHARTER AMENDMENT.

>> OKAY, LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE, BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM -- LIKE IF THE PEOPLE VOTE NO, THEN THAT'S FINE.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EITHER ONE OF THEM HAVING ANOTHER JOB.

I THINK THAT, LOOK, WE THINK A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY, OKAY?

LOVE THEM, BIG, THEY'RE HUGE, OKAY?

BUT THEY AIN'T THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, OKAY?

>> THEY SHOULD HAVE -- >> THAT'S LIKE TELLING THE MAYOR OF KIND OF A BIG TOWN HE CAN'T BE A DENTIST ANYMORE, HE CAN'T PRACTICE.

I DON'T WANT TO DRAW THAT LINE, RAY.

I THINK THAT GOES A LITTLE TOO FAR.

>> BUT IF JONES GOT ANOTHER JOB -- >> BUT I AGREE WITH YOU AND I AGREE WITH STEVE EHLMANN.

PUBLIC SAFETY FALLS UNDER THAT UMBRELLA NOW AND AS HE POINTED OUT, THIS STUFF, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WILL IMPACT THE JOB OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THOSE OFF HOURS, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS TO ME -- I MEAN, IF MAYOR TISHAURA JONES WAS A TAX PREPARER ON THE SIDE, I WOULD BE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

>> I WOULDN'T, WENDY.

DON'T YOU WANT PEOPLE FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS SERVING ON LOCAL BOARDS?

>> SURE, BUT THEY NEED -- >> IF A PERSON HAS TO GIVE UP A JOB, A PERSON IS NOT GOING TO LEND HIS OR HER TALENTS TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> BUT WHY CAN'T THEY LEND THEIR TALENTS ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL WHERE THAT'S COMPLETELY FINE, BUT IF YOU ARE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, IF YOU ARE THE PERSON IN CHARGE, FRANKLY, I DON'T WANT MY ANESTHESIOLOGIST OR MY ALLERGIST TO HAVE BEEN UP ALL NIGHT BECAUSE THERE WAS A CRASH ON THE INTERSTATE.

I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.

>> THEN YOU PICK ANOTHER ALLERGIST.

>> IF HE WAS A VETERINARIAN, YOU'D BE SAYING IT'S FINE.

>> NO, I WOULDN'T.

YOU WANT THE PERSON -- THE IDEA THAT -- >> OH, RAY.

>> THE GOVERNOR MAY BE LIKE -- >> MAYBE HE CAN SELL LAWNMOWERS ON THE SIDE.

>> YEARS AGO, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WANTED TO HAVE A SIDE JOB BECAUSE HE SAID, I DON'T DO ANYTHING.

>> I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER FULL-TIME HELP.

HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT A FULL-TIME JOB.

NO, THESE ARE FULL-TIME JOBS.

>> REMEMBER WHEN PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS WORKING AS A LAWYER.

>> I AIN'T THE ONLY ONE HERE, WHOA.

>> ON TO WENDY WIESE.

WENDY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT, I GUESS THE FUTURE, WHICH IS HERE.

AND THAT IS ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH EV CHARGING STATIONS IN MISSOURI.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THEM?

SHOULD IT BE AMEREN, SHOULD THERE BE A TAX ON EV CARS?

SHOULD WE TAKE THE NFL SETTLEMENT AND BUY EV CHARGING STATIONS?

>> THERE ARE 2,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR THERE ARE 2,000 CHARGING STATIONS RIGHT NOW, IS THAT RIGHT?

THEY SAID THAT'S ENOUGH FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED 8,000.

BUT I -- WHEN I WAS DRIVING ECONOMY CARS, I DON'T REMEMBER AMOCO OR BP BUYING MY GAS BECAUSE I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE USER SHOULD -- THE USER, IN MY OPINION, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, SEND YOUR HATE MAIL TO CHANNEL 9, BUT THE USER SHOULD PAY FOR THE CHARGING.

THAT IS -- TO ME, THAT'S IT.

>> IF YOU'RE IN A COMMUNITY AND YOU WANT TO DRAW PEOPLE TO, LIKE, YOUR DOWNTOWN AREA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAYBE THE MUNICIPALITY -- >> SURE, OR THE BUSINESS DISTRICT.

>> OR THE BUSINESS CAN COME TO THE CONCLUSION, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THE IDEA THAT THE STATE WOULD PAY TO CHARGE SOMEBODY'S VEHICLE -- >> HUH-UH, BECAUSE WE'RE THE STATE.

WE'RE THE STATE.

>> ISN'T IT PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION IDEA, LIKE IF WE REALLY THINK THIS IS A GOOD PLAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, WE WANT ELECTRIC CARS, I MEAN, SHOULDN'T THE STATE HAVE A ROLE IN IT?

>> BUT UNDER THAT THEORY, MY DAUGHTER'S 1990 BUICK SKYLARK, WE SHOULD ABLE TO TRADE IN FOR A NICE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS -- WE'RE NOT CONTAMINATING THE COUNTRY AND IT'S SAFER AND -- I JUST -- NO.

>> I GUESS WE SHOULD -- MAYBE DONNYBROOK, CENTURIES AGO WHEN THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT THE KANDER MAKERS, WE SHOULDN'T PAY FOR THIS ELECTRICITY.

ASSUMING THE COUNTRY SURVIVES THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, ELECTRIC CARS IS GOING TO BE PART -- THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

THIS IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

NO MATTER -- >> BUT WAIT A MINUTE, RAY.

>> IT'S NOT -- >> WHAT WENDY AND I ARE SAYING, FINE, I HOPE THERE'S A BAZILLION ELECTRIC CARS.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR ELECTRIC FUEL.

I MEAN, WHAT'S -- WHY IS THAT SUCH A BAD CONCEPT?

>> BECAUSE IT'S JUST -- I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF OUR -- >> BECAUSE IT'S REASONABLE.

>> MOST OF THESE VEHICLE OWNERS ALREADY GOT A TAX CREDIT, DIDN'T THEY?

THEIR CAR IS ALREADY SUBSIDIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

>> I DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRIC CAR, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRIVE THAT COLLECTIVELY PAY FOR OUR COSTS ON THE HIGHWAY.

>> BILL McCLELLAN, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WHO YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED IT'S SUING THE STATE, IT'S REALLY UPSET BECAUSE THE STATE HAS THIS NEW LAW, I THINK CALLED THE SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IN HIS WISDOM THAT SAYS STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS CANNOT COOPERATE WITH THE FEDS WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL GUN LAWS, SO NOW THE FEDS ARE JUST WALKING AWAY FROM CASES AND NOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SUE TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT LAW.

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION HERE?

>> IF I WAS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, I WOULDN'T SUE.

I'D SAY IF THE STATE DOESN'T WANT TO HELP US AND DOESN'T WANT OUR HELP, FINE.

IF THE RESULT IS MORE CRIME AND THEN THE STATE CAN CHANGE ITS MIND AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE, BUT I'D LET THE STATE DO WHAT IT WANTS ON THIS.

AND I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A FOOLISH THING AND I THINK IT'S SORT OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, BUT I'D LET THE STATE GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT IT WANTS.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT THERE, BUT THE FEDERAL -- PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GENERALLY ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO -- THEIR ROLE, THEIR JOB IS TO SOLVE CRIMES AND TO ENFORCE LAWS AND PROTECT THE SAFETY, AND JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MORONS IN JEFFERSON CITY THAT HAVE FOR PURELY PARTISAN REASONS, POLITICAL REASONS, THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, HAVE DECIDED THAT WE'RE GOING TO, LIKE, SECEDE FROM THE UNION ON GUNS -- >> LET ALL THE MORONS OUT THERE AND THE STATE WHO DO WHAT IT WANTS.

>> A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON BILL'S SAME SIDE AND MAKING THAT SAME ARGUMENT, BUT I'M FED UP LIKE YOU ARE.

THEY'RE NOT PLAYING IN THE SAME SANDBOX.

>> WASN'T THIS THE MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER THAT WASN'T SOLVED?

THAT WAS THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS -- >> ONE OF THEM.

>> AND THAT'S NOT -- I GUESS -- I'M WITH YOU IN SPIRIT HERE, BUT WE GOT TO SOLVE THESE CRIMES.

>> I AGREE, RAY.

>> IT'S NOT JUST TO MAKE -- WHAT ARE WE, WOULD CRIMES BE UNSOLVED DRG.

>> RAY IS MAKING A LOT OF SENSE TONIGHT.

>> IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

>> SPEAKING OF CHRISTMAS, WENDY, LYNN SCHMIDT OF THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, COLUMNIST THERE, WROTE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY THOUGHTFUL COLUMN ABOUT RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER.

THE LONG TIME SPECIAL ON CBS.

YOU KNOW THE STORY WHERE RUDOLPH HAS A RED NOSE AND HE'S OSTRACIZED AND THE LITTLE ELF WANTS TO BE A DENTIST AND HE'S KIND OF OSTRACIZED.

SHE DOES NOT WANT HER KIDS WATCHING THIS BECAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T SEND A GOOD MESSAGE ABOUT BULLYING AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

>> I HAVE TO COMMEND ONE OF THE LETTER WRITERS, IF YOU WILL, THE RESPONDENTS AFTER THE STORY, WHO WAS SELF-IDENTIFIED AS SOMEBODY WHO HAD A DISABILITY, GREW UP IN THE '60s AND '70s, AND THAT HE OR SHE WAS TEASED MERCILESSLY AS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, HE SAID HE COMMENDED THE MOTHER FOR OBVIOUSLY BEING A GOOD MOTHER, WANTING TO PROTECT HER CHILD, BUT THAT RUDOLPH, WHEN HE WAS -- OR SHE WAS A CHILD GAVE HIM HOPE, YOU KNOW THAT, RUDOLPH WAS THE VICTOR IN THE END.

AND THAT YOU -- AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, SO MUCH OF WHETHER YOU ARE DISABLED OR ABLE-BODIED, SO MUCH OF WHAT HELPS US TO GROW AS INDIVIDUALS COMES FROM ADVERSITY.

I KNOW I'M KIND OF PARAPHRASING, BUT HE COMMENDED HER AGAIN, SAID HER HEART WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT HE HOPED THAT SHE WOULD RECONSIDER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A NICE EXCHANGE ON THE POST-DISPATCH WEBSITE.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A THOUGHTFUL COLUMN AND I DISAGREED WITH IT, BUT I MEAN, IT MADE MORE SENSE THAN A LOT OF STUFF I'VE WRITTEN OVER THE YEARS, SO I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, SHE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT.

I LIKED -- I WENT TO SEE RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER AT THE FOX A FEW DAYS AGO, SO -- >> SO YOU'RE VERY PRO RUDOLPH RIGHT NOW.

>> WE ALL ARE, RIGHT.

OKAY, HAD A LITTLE MESSAGING WHEN I WAS A KID AND IT'S JUST -- I THINK THINGS LIKE THAT AREN'T AS HARMFUL AS THEY ARE MADE OUT TO BE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN INTELLECTUAL DISCUSSION ON THAT, BUT ANVIL FALLS ON THE COYOTE'S HEAD AND EVERYONE IS LAUGHING.

LITTLE KIDS ARE -- THAT WAS KIND OF VIOLENT, YOU KNOW, BUT I -- AND I DON'T THINK IT IS.

I THINK IT'S FUNNY, BUT LIKE I SAY, I THINK SOMETIMES, JUST -- IT IS WHAT IT IS.

HE SAVES THE DAY.

>> HE DOES SAVE THE DAY AND THAT'S THE LESSON.

>> THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS HE SAVES THE DAY.

>> AND SPEAKING OF RUDOLPH, IT REMINDS ME OF THE SONG RUN RUDOLPH RUN BY THE LATE GREAT CHUCK BERRY AND HIS SON JUST RELEASED LIVE AT BLUEBERRY HILL.

THAT MIGHT BE A STOCKING STUFFER AND A BIG SHOUTOUT TO AL SCHWEITZER WHO JUST TURNED 100.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS.

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ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PANELISTS, I'D LIKE TO WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, WHATEVER YOU'RE CELEBRATING, KWANZAA, AND THE BEST IN 2022, BUT WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK, SO DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL.

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