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

>> I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE OUT THERE THINKING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK AND WE PUT IT OFF FROM LAST WEEK AND I DOESN'T INVOLVE CHARLIE.

HE'S JUST OFF TONIGHT AND I'M GOING TO HELP BRING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH MY FRIENDS HERE AND THAT ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT MY OLDEST DAUGHTER IS ENGAGED TO A NICE GENTLEMAN NAMED TYLER.

>> YAY!

>> SO WE'RE VERY PROUD IN THE REID HOUSEHOLD AND ALL THE FAMILY OUT THERE AS WELL.

SO SITTING IN FOR CHARLIE AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH WENDY WIESE, WONDERFUL SHOW ON KTRS.

A FOUNDER, BILL McCLELLAN, FORMERLY OF THE POST-DISPATCH.

ANOTHER FOUNDER, RAY HARTMANN.

ALSO FROM KTRS AND RAW NEWS.COM.

AND SITTING FOR ME, KIND OF, JOE HOLLEMAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AS A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR COMING UP.

WE'RE GOING TO KICK AROUND SOME TOPICS, WHAT A YEAR IT WAS.

BIGGEST NEWS STORY BECAUSE IT'S THE BIGGEST PAY DAY, THE LARGEST OF THIS KIND FOR ANY METROPOLITAN AREA IN HISTORY.

JOE, WE TOOK STAN KROENKE TO THE CLEANERS.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO WRINKLE OUT THIS MONEY, WHERE IS IT GOING?

>> THAT WILL BE A DISASTER, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE STORY FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

ONE, IT'S $790 MILLION, MONEY A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE A COUPLE YEARS AGO THOUGHT WE WERE NEVER GOING TO GET.

THERE WERE NAYSAYERS ALL ALONG THE WAY AND ALSO AT THE BOTTOM LINE, STAN KROENKE HAS TO GIVE US $790 MILLION, SO THERE'S ALSO THAT REVENGE FACTOR TO IT, BUT I THINK AS FAR AS -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A HANDFUL OF STORIES THAT COULD QUALIFY AS THIS WAS BIG, THIS WAS BIG, BUT I THINK ONE THAT ACTUALLY HAS A CONCRETE POTENTIAL FOR MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA, $790 MILLION IS SERIOUS MONEY.

SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE BIGGEST STORY OF THE YEAR AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WAS GOOD NEWS AND I THINK ANYTHING WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO KNOCK THAT OUT OF A NUMBER ONE SPOT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT.

THERE'S SOME CONTENDERS, BUT THE IDEA THAT WE GOT ANY MONEY AT ALL OFF STAN KROENKE, I THINK SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS ROUGHLY CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> A BIGGER STORY, ANYBODY?

>> NO, I'D SAY -- I WAS AN ANYWAY SAYER.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, THE FIGHT NOW OVER THE MONEY, BUT YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH.

I WAS GOING TO SAY I DIDN'T THINK THAT WE COULD WIN THE CASE AND I WILL STI THOUGHT IT WAS IN DOUBT UNTIL MR. KROENKE PULLED HIS DEAL WITH THE FELLOW NFL OWNERS AND SAID NONE OF THAT, I'M GOING TO PAY FOR ALL THESE LEGAL CHALLENGES.

I THINK THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON HIM AND THE FIRST PART WAS YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THAT MONEY, YOU'RE GOING TO SETTLE THIS CASE, AND I STILL THINK HE FACES EVEN BIGGER JUDGMENT BY HIS NFL OWNER PEERS.

>> AND LET'S HOPE FOR A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS VERY SIMILAR TO "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE."

HE'S ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF MR. POTTER.

HE'S ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF MR. POTTER.

BUT THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AFTER THE LAWYERS GET THEIR CUT, ABOUT HALF A BILLION DOLLARS, AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT THERE WILL BE SOME CONSENSUS AND HAPPINESS AND, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT IT IS DISTRIBUTED, BUT I AM ALSO CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT.

>> CERTAINLY IT'S A HUGE STORY.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW -- I THINK IN ST. LOUIS, LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE, THAT IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO US, YEAR TWO OF COVID IS A PRETTY BIG STORY AND ALL OF THE COROLLARY, THE MASK WARS AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT -- >> WE'RE GETTING THERE.

>> I'M JUST SAYING, YOU TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE BIG STORIES ARE.

THAT'S ANOTHER BIG STORY.

AS FAR AS THIS PARTICULAR ONE, I'M THE ONLY ONE I THINK IN PRINT THAT'S PROPOSED A $393.46 SOLUTION, WHICH IS TO SIMPLY TAKE THE TOTAL REVENUE AND DIVIDE IT BY THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY AND EVERYONE GETS $393.46 PER PERSON, WHICH WILL PROBABLY -- WOULD BE MORE STIMULUS TO THE ECONOMY.

I THINK THE STORY OF 2022, ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE HOW THIS -- >> IT'S DIVVIED UP?

>> THIS INCREDIBLE BATTLE.

I WOULD ADD THIS.

I'M TORN BECAUSE ON ONE HAND, ST. LOUIS HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF, I THINK, NATIONALLY AS THE CITY WITH THE SMARTEST LAWYERS IN THE COUNTRY AND MOST UNDERRATED BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE NAYSAYERS, BUT PART OF THEM BEING SO SMART WAS THERE'S NO WAY THEY SHOULD HAVE GOT 35% OF THE ENTIRE SETTLEMENT, AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE SO SMART THAT -- BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S FINE WITH EVERYBODY BECAUSE THE AREA GOT OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

SO HAT'S OFF TO THE LAWYERS, BUT PART OF THEIR BEING SMART WAS THE ABILITY TO GET THE FULL COMMISSION.

>> WE SHOULDN'T BEGRUDGE THEM THAT.

>> I'M GIVING IT TO THEM.

I'M SAYING THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE, BUT THANK YOU FOR GETTING IT.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT THE MONEY WITHOUT THEM, BUT IT'S UNCOMMON FOR LAWYERS FOR GET THAT THIGH A PERCENTAGE OF THAT BIG A SEMGT -- THAT HIGH A PERCENTAGE OF THAT BIG A SETTLEMENT.

>> SINCE WE'RE LOOKING AT $500 MILLION, I THINK THEY'RE WORTH IT.

I JUST HOPE WE DON'T SQUANDER IT.

>> KEEP IN MIND, EVEN THOUGH I THINK IT'S THE BIGGEST STORY OF THE YEAR, I'M SURE THE BIGGEST STORIES OF 2022 AND 2023 WILL BE HOW THE FUNDS ARE MISMANAGED.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WE ARE HANDING THEM OVER TO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SQUANDERING GOING ON, BUT AT LEAST FOR NOW, WE'VE GOT THE MONEY.

>> THAT'S OPTIMISM.

>> THAT'S REALITY.

>> WE CAME INTO 2021, A MAYORAL ELECTION WAS ON THE CUSP, A FEW MONTHS AWAY.

THE ADMINISTRATION DID CHANGE AND TISHAURA JONES WAS ELECTED MAYOR AND AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH, WE'VE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, DISRUPTION AT THE JAIL SITE.

WE'VE HAD SOME, ACTUALLY, WARD REDUCTION WENT SMOOTHLY.

IT'S BEEN QUITE A YEAR IN THE CITY, AND BILL, OBVIOUSLY CRIME IS STILL OUT THERE AND STILL A PROBLEM, BUT JUST STARTED DISCUSSION ON ROUNDING UP, WHERE WE AT AS WE HEAD ON INTO '22 IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS?

>> ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE MONEY FROM STAN KROENKE.

IT WAS AN OKAY YEAR, I THOUGHT.

LIKE YOU SAID, CRIME CONTINUES TO BE THE BIG SHADOW OVER THE CITY, BUT SQUARE ESTABLISHING ITSELF IN THE OLD POST-DISPATCH BUILDING SEEMED GOOD AND A GOOD SIGN.

AND CORTEX CONTINUES TO HUMP ALONG, SO -- AND I THOUGHT THAT MAYOR JONES DEALING WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND ASKING THAT MONEY BE PUT TOWARD THE NORTH SIDE AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR WAS A GOOD THING OVERALL.

IT'S JUST, LIKE I SAY, CRIME IS SUCH A HEAVY CLOUD OVER THE CITY THAT UNTIL THERE'S SOME KIND OF HANDLE ON THAT, THINGS AREN'T GOOD.

>> AND I DO THINK -- IT WAS HISTORIC, FIRST OF ALL, THAT WE HAD THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE MAYOR.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK TISHAURA JONES HAS DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY GOOD.

ONE OF THE THINGS, AND IT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, SHE'S REALLY STANDING UP FOR ST. LOUIS AGAINST WHAT IS, I THINK, AN OPPRESSIVE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND IT'S A BIT OF A TWITTER WAR SHE'S GOT WITH ERIC SCHMITT -- >> A BIT?

>> BUT I MEAN GOOD FOR HER BECAUSE ST. LOUIS NEEDS SOMEBODY THAT'S WILLING TO GET IN THEIR FACE, AND KEEP IN MIND, IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO BEFORE SHE GOT IN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AIRPORT PRIVATIZATION, A LOT OF STUFF THAT WAS PRETTY DISTRACTING AND I THINK SHE'S MADE -- NOBODY IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL OVERNIGHT IN THAT JOB, BUT I THINK IN GENERAL, SHE'S MADE GOOD JUDGMENTS AND IS DOING A BETTER JOB OF STRIKING A BALANCE, AS BILL SAID, WITH DEVELOPERS AND STUFF, SO I THINK SHE'S OFF TO A GOOD START.

>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, THOUGH, ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS AS THE FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS BECAUSE I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED OR CONCERNED, I THINK, FLAT-OUT CONCERNED ABOUT THE POST EDITORIAL BECAUSE THEY SEEMED TO IMPLY THAT WITH ALL OF THE VIOLENCE THAT COULD BE TRACED TO RAIN, THE NOW CLOSED NIGHTCLUB, RESTAURANT, BAR, WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT THEY WERE IMPLYING THAT SHE DID THE RIGHT THING IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT RAIN WAS OWNED BY A -- REIGN WAS OWNED BY A BLACK FEMALE, AND I JUST REALLY COULDN'T BELIEVE THE INFERENCE THAT SHE EVEN DID THE RIGHT THING, AS IF THE SISTERHOOD WOULD PRECLUDE HER FROM MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.

THAT SURPRISED -- THAT FRANKLY SURPRISED ME.

>> YOU KNOW, I READ IT AND I -- YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.

FOR SOME REASON, I JUST DIDN'T -- IT DIDN'T REFLECT ON ME LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> AND THAT SHE WAS A WOMAN, SERIOUSLY.

>> IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE POST-DISPATCH HAS WRITTEN ABOUT TISHAURA JONES, AND YOU TALK ABOUT A WAR, THEIR EDITORIAL PAGE HAS BEEN AT WAR WITH HER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> AND THEY EVEN MADE THAT POINT.

>> I KNOW.

>> I THINK THAT'S A HEALTHY THING, RAY.

I THINK WHEN THE EDITORIAL PAGE IS AGAINST -- IS ACTIVELY OPPOSING POLITICAL LEADERS, THAT'S GENERALLY A GOOD THING.

>> NOT IF THEY'RE UNFAIR TO THEM.

I'M NOT ABOUT TAKING THEM ON ONCE THEY'RE MAYOR, AND IN FACT, I THINK THEIR TONE CHANGES WHEN SOMEBODY HAS POWER, I'M TALKING ABOUT HOW UNFAIR THEY WERE TO HER IN -- >> I'M NOT SURE THEY'VE BEEN UNFAIR, BUT THEY MOST RECENTLY POINTED OUT TWO FACTS THAT I THINK WERE EMINENTLY FAIR.

TWO OF HER SUCCESSES HAVE BEEN, MAYOR JONES IS SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO CARRY THROUGH WITH BAD PROMISES YOU MADE DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

PROMISED TO DEFUND THE POLICE, AND THE EDITORIAL CLOSED ON IT THAT SHE'S ADDING MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE.

WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE WORKHOUSE.

THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

WELL, THE WORKHOUSE IS STILL OPEN A LITTLE BIT.

I WILL GIVE HER CREDIT FOR REALIZING THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

ONE, GETTING ELECTED WHEN YOU MAKE ALL THE PROMISES TO GET YOUR SUPPORTERS OUT, AND THEN THERE'S THE ONE WHERE YOU HAVE TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT AND SHE SEEMS EQUIPPED TO DO THAT AND WILLING TO DO THAT.

>> I'M GOING TO YOU, RAY.

YOU MENTIONED THE EDITORIAL IN THE POST-DISPATCH AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID, ONE OF THE GROWN-UPS IN THE ROOM WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS IN THE REGION, ARE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AND MEANWHILE IN THE COUNTY, IT WAS A DEAL A DAY, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN QUIET THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.

I KNOW COVID PLAYED A ROLE AND PEOPLE ARE JUST KIND OF LIKE OUT OF CONTROL, BUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS WE HEAD INTO 2022.

>> SELFISHLY, I LIKE IT BECAUSE ON TUESDAY -- I'M ON EVERY NIGHT AT 9:00 AND THE MICROPHONE COMES ON AND YOU GOT TO SAY SOMETHING.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS FULL OF -- >> IT KEEPS YOU GOING.

>> GOOD CONTEND PROVIDER.

>> GIVES YOU A LOT OF CONTENT.

>> I CAN REMEMBER YOU, WE GO DECADES ON THIS SHOW WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND NOW IT'S A LAUGH A MINUTE.

I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT -- I THINK COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAM PAGE HAS REALLY -- ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THIS.

HE IS GETTING ALONG GREAT WITH TISHAURA JONES AND THAT'S A GOOD THING IN GENERAL FOR CITY-COUNTY COOPERATION, BUT I THINK HE HAS CONTINUED TO BE DISINGENUOUS.

I THINK HE'S CONTINUE TO BE INACCESSIBLE, AND FOR A GUY THAT RAN THE COUNTY COUNCIL AS THE COUNTY CHAIR, HE'S UNBELIEVABLY DISRESPECTFUL OF THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL, AND I THINK THE STORY OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN HOW TWO DEMOCRATS, RITA HEARD DAYS, COUNTY CHAIRWOMAN WHO GOT ELECTED OVER HIS -- >> DESPITE.

>> DESPITE HIS EFFORTS, AND THAT WEBB, TWO WOMEN OF COLOR JOINED WITH TWO WHITE REPUBLICAN MEN, TIM FITCH AND MARK HARDER AS A VOTING BLOE ING BLOC AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THAT IN OUR AREA.

AND I THINK IT'S A HEALTHY THING, FRANKLY.

>> AND WE'LL SEE IF THE SAM PAGE-TISHAURA JONES PARTNERSHIP, HOW WELL IT LASTS WHEN THIS KROENKE MONEY STARTS GOING ON.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

>> WHEN THE COUNTY IS ALREADY SAYING THAT MAYBE A THIRD ISN'T QUITE ENOUGH FOR THE COUNTY.

>> THAT WAS ONE -- THAT WAS A -- >> AND FOR MANY YEARS, THE FEUD BETWEEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS REPUBLICAN.

>> RIGHT.

>> THROUGH THE YEARS -- >> AND THE MAYOR WAS DEMOCRAT.

>> AND THE MAYOR WAS DEMOCRAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO WHEN YOU HAVE BOTH DEMOCRATS OR BOTH REPUBLICANS, THERE'S AT LEAST GOING TO BE A VENEER OF SOCIABILITY OR SOCIAL FRIENDLINESS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, BUT ONCE YOU START THROWING THAT $500 MILLION ON THE TABLE, WE'LL SEE WHOSE FRIEND IS WHOSE.

>> THAT'S FUNNY, A YEAR AGO ON THIS SHOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT A BAD IDEA BETTER TOGETHER WAS.

>> OH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU TALKING ABOUT IRONY.

IF JEAN McNAIRY, A REPUBLICAN, AND VINCE SHEM IMMEDIATELY HASN'T BEEN FIGHTING WHEN WE CAME ON THE AIR IN '87 -- >> FOOTBALL.

>> OVER A FOOTBALL STADIUM, RIGHT, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ROOTING FOR THE ST. LOUIS FOOTBALL CARDINALS, A, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE WON A SUPER BOWL, AND B, WE WOULDN'T HAVE AUDIENCES GOING NUTS FOR THE KURT WARNER STORY IN ST. LOUIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT'S TWO YEARS NOW, WENDY, AND COVID IS STILL WITH US.

WHAT DO YOU FORESEE?

>> OH MY.

>> THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WE'RE FINALLY OVERCOMING IT, OR ARE WE STILL GOING TO BE IN THE MIDST OF IT AND WILL PEOPLE FINALLY SEE THE LIGHT AND GET VACCINATED?

>> ANYBODY THAT LISTENS TO OUR PROGRAM KNOWS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS.

YESTERDAY, WE VISITED WITH ABC CORRESPONDENT AARON KATERSKI AND HE DELIVERED A REPORT FROM NEW YORK, AND THE TONE IN HIS VOICE, IT WAS SUCH A TONE OF RESIGNATION.

HE SAID THERE'S REALLY NOTHING MORE TO SAY.

WE HAVE -- WE'VE SAID IT UNTIL WE'RE ALL BLUE IN THE FACE.

THE HOSPITALS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED.

YOU HAVE THE RARE BREAKTHROUGH CASE, OF COURSE, WITH THIS OMICRON AND, YOU KNOW, DELTA BEFORE IT, BUT THE STORY IS THE STORY IS THE STORY.

GET VACCINATED OR DON'T GET VACCINATED AND STAY IN YOUR HOUSE.

I MEAN, UNTIL WE FIGURE THAT OUT, I HAD MY THIRD SHOT A WEEK AGO AND YOU FEEL GREAT BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

NOT JUST YOURSELF, BUT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

POLITICALLY, I THINK IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE ERIC SCHMITT IS -- HE IS THE FOUNDATION OF HIS CAMPAIGN IS COVID.

REALLY AND TRULY, AND DENOUNCING THE REACTION OR THE RESPONSE OF THE GOVERNMENT TO IT.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A PRECARIOUS HOOK TO HANG YOUR HAT ON BECAUSE THINGS COULD CHANGE AND THEY COULD CHANGE FOR THE WORSE.

>> IN MISSOURI, I'M AFRAID IT'S A GOOD SOLID HOOK.

>> MAYBE IT IS.

>> IN THE PRIMARY TO PUT YOUR HAT ON.

IT'S STRANGE AND CRAZY, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD POLITICS, BAD GOVERNANCE.

>> I THINK THERE'S ALSO A CASE OF THE COVID SITUATION, CORONAVIRUS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO LABOR IT, NEEDS TO BE DIVIDED INTO A QUESTION WHERE I THINK THE QUESTION IS COMING FROM, IS I THINK FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED BY NOW, IT PROBABLY MEANS YOU DON'T WANT TO OR YOU CAN'T BE.

IT'S A MEDICAL CONDITION.

SO IT'S NOT A CASE OF, HEY, IS THERE A VIRUS GOING AROUND THAT I NEED A VACCINE FOR?

YOU'VE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO GET VACCINATED OR TO NOT GET VACCINATED.

THE QUESTIONS THAT COME FROM THAT THEN, SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE YOU SAY, WELL, YOU'RE OPPOSED TO VACCINE.

NOT AT ALL OPPOSED TO VACCINES AND I THINK MILLIONS OF OTHERS ARE NOT OPPOSED TO VACCINES.

WHERE THE OPPOSITION STARTS COMING IN IS ON THESE MASK MANDATES WHICH ARE WILLY-NILLY, PIECEMEAL, SOME HERE, SOME THERE, THAT SEEM INEFFECTIVE UNLESS EVERYONE'S GOING TO DO IT OR NO ONE'S GOING TO DO IT, AND WHAT I SEE OUT IN PUBLIC, MASK MANDATES ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR SIMPLY EVENTUALLY, AND YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN IT HAPPEN, PEOPLE ARE JUST NOT WEARING THEM.

YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED AND YOU HAVE YOUR BOOSTER AND YOU SAY I'VE DONE EVERYTHING THE GOVERNMENT ASKED ME TO, I'M NOT GOING TO WEAR THIS MASK ANYMORE.

ARE YOU GOING TO ARREST ALL THOSE PEOPLE?

>> RIGHT.

>> SO AT SOME POINT IT BECOMES A LAW YOU CONDITIONS ENFORCE AND IT -- YOU CANNOT ENFORCE AND IT BECOMES LIKE BOOTLEGGING, SO EVENTUALLY IT JUST GOES AWAY.

>> WELL, I LOOK AT THAT AS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VACCINATIONS AND MASK-WEARING MANDATES.

THOSE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT ARE PULLING APART NOW.

>> WELL, THE STAT THIS MORNING WAS THREE COVID POSITIVE TESTS PER SECOND.

PER SECOND IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S AMAZING.

>> AND I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, JOE, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ARGUE THAT THE MASKS ARE INEFFECTIVE UNLESS EVERYBODY WEARS ONE.

I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU GO TO A STORE AND MOST PEOPLE ARE WEARING ONE, IT'S STILL MORE EFFECTIVE THAN IF NOBODY'S WEARING ONE.

>> I THINK IT'S EFFECTIVE -- >> I JUST DISAGREE WITH YOU.

I MEAN, THERE'S A WIDE GIANT SWATH OF THE MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY THAT JUST DOESN'T AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID.

THEY BELIEVE THAT MASKS DO PREVENT THE SPREAD.

AND IT DOESN'T -- WHAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THE ARGUMENT, AND I -- IF THERE WERE MANDATES, REAL MANDATES, I PROBABLY WOULD AGREE WITH YOU, BUT THERE AREN'T.

WHAT THEY REALLY -- WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE IS ISSUE MASK GUIDANCES, AND IN A WORLD -- IF WE HAD THE WORLD WE HAD IN THE 1940s DURING WORLD WAR II WHERE THERE WAS A SENSE OF SHARED SACRIFICE AND PATRIOTIC DUTY TO ONE ANOTHER NOT TO INFECT EACH OTHER, THIS WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE.

BUT WE DON'T LIVE IN THAT WORLD, WE LIVE IN A VERY PARTISAN, YOU KNOW, DIVIDED COUNTRY, AND THE FACT IS THAT MASKS ARE IMPORTANT AS A TOOL TO STOP THE SPREAD OR SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

AND JUST SAYING THAT YOU'RE AGAINST MASK MANDATES ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THAT FACT.

>> AND I BELIEVE THAT THE LACK OF THE SHARED SENTIMENT IS WHAT -- IS THE ONE THAT'S BEING HELD BY PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED, NOT ON THE PEOPLE WHO REFUSE MASKS.

I WANT SOMEONE TO TELL ME WHAT THE MASK WILL -- >> I THINK IT'S BOTH.

>> -- WILL PREVENT ME FROM GETTING.

>> THE CDC -- >> THE CDC JUST CUT DOWN THE ISOLATION PERIOD.

>> I UNDERSTAND THEY DID THAT, BUT THE CDC -- >> AND THEY'RE GETTING CRITICIZED BY ONE SIDE BECAUSE OF THE SCIENCE.

>> YOU FIND ME A PHYSICIAN OR EXPERT AT WASH-U, SLU, ANY OF THEM, THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT MASKS AREN'T AN EFFECTIVE PART OF THE STRATEGY.

NONE OF THEM SAY THEY'RE GOING TO PREVENT THE -- >> AND THEY ALSO SAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HELP THE OTHER PEOPLE THAN YOU, JOE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO IF SOMEBODY -- >> EVERYBODY KNOWS THEY REDUCED THAT INCUBATION PERIOD BECAUSE THE NFL PLAYOFFS ARE ABOUT TO START.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> WE CAN'T HAVE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OUT OF THE GAME.

>> I THOUGHT FOR 18 MONTHS, THEY MADE DECISIONS BASED ON SCIENCE, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OTHER SIDE SAYS THEY ABANDONED SCIENCE.

>> THEY'RE BASING ON IT AARON RODGERS.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT ON THE QUESTION OF HOW THE CDC JUST OVERNIGHT CHANGED IT.

>> MAYBE THE SCIENCE IS COMING IN AND PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT IT.

>> ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE BEING TOLD HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT AS SEVERE -- >> Y'ALL, IT'S -- >> I THINK IT'S WIDESPREAD AND CONTAGIOUS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE SAY THAT THE OMICRON IS AS DANGEROUS AS THE ORIGINAL VIRUS.

>> MORE CONTAGIOUS, LESS DANGEROUS.

>> WHICH IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF A VIRUS, THAT THEY BECOME MORE EASILY CAUGHT AND LESS DANGEROUS -- >> LESS SEVERE.

>> AS IT GOES ALONG.

>> WE GOT TO MOVE ON.

WE GOT TO MOVE ON, ALL RIGHT?

[ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> WE ARE A COUPLE DAYS, 2022, OKAY?

I WAS GOING TO SAY, LIKE, THE NFL HAS THE SCIENCE THAT THEY HAVE TO FIND $780 MILLION SOME PLACE, SO LET'S CUT DOWN THE INCUBATION PERIOD.

LET'S GO TO 2022.

I'LL START WITH YOU, RAY, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE AS FAR AS 2022?

>> AS FAR AS COVID, IT WILL BE THE BIG STORY AGAIN, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN RATIONALLY SAY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND BEAN KNOWN FOR BAD PREDICTIONS, I'M NOT GOING TO TRY.

I THINK MY BOY LUCAS KUNZ WILL SHOCK THE WORLD THIS YEAR.

IF HE CAN GET THE NOMINATION ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AT THE RATE HE'S RAISING MONEY, I THINK HE CAN, I THINK HE CAN BEAT EITHER OF THE ERICS IN THE SENATE RACE.

I COULD BE WRONG, I REALIZE THAT, BUT HE SPEAKS AMERICAN, SPEAKS MISSOURIAN, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN A DEMOCRAT DO THAT AS WELL AS HE DOES SINCE MEL CARNAHAN.

HE'LL SEE.

HE'S AN OUTSIDER, HASN'T BEEN TESTED, ALL THAT, BUT -- AND EVERYBODY SAYS A DEMOCRAT WANT WIN MISSOURI.

JASON KANTER ONLY LOST BY THREE POINT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP IN A YEAR THAT -- >> VICKY HARTZLER, JOHN HEWITT, EVERYBODY IS SAYING THAT ERIC GREITENS DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE WITH WOMEN.

PLENTY OF WOMEN VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

HE'S CLEARLY HANGING ON TO THE BACK OF THE TRUMP TRAIN STILL, SO AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT HE WAS OVER WHEN WE FOUND OUT WHAT WE FOUND OUT, HE IS -- I THINK HE'S THE FAVORITE, ISN'T HE?

>> YEAH, MY -- I THINK THAT GREITENS IS GOING TO WIN THE NOMINATION AND THEN I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAY A DEMOCRAT CAN'T WIN IN MISSOURI ANYMORE, AND I THINK THE BIG STORY IN THE CITY IS GOING TO BE EARLY ON WHEN THE SUPREME COURT HAS TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT KIM GARDNER AND WHETHER THERE WAS PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT THERE.

>> RIGHT, THAT IS A PERFECT -- >> AND THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS MISCONDUCT THERE AND I THINK THAT IF THE SUPREME COURT COMES DOWN HARD ON KIM GARDNER, THERE WILL BE HUGE RACIAL PROBLEMS AND IF THEY TRY TO FINESSE IT AND JUST SAY, WELL, SHE DID SOME THINGS WRONG AND SHE'S ON DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION, MAYBE IT WILL GO AWAY, BUT TOUGH TIMES ARE COMING.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, BILL?

I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> I REALLY DO.

I THINK EVEN, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, I THINK THERE COMES A TIME WHERE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND -- >> REALLY?

>> AND ON FAIRNESS OR WHATEVER, I'M JUST SAYING IF IT COMES TO THAT, I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE, LIKE, JUST HUGE ON THE STREET PUBLIC OUTCRY.

>> I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> I REALLY DON'T.

>> SPEAK OF THAT POST-DISPATCH EDITORIAL, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN CLEARER, THAT WAS A VERY PUBLIC THWACK OF KIM GARDNER AND WHILE THEY ARE EXALTING MAYOR JONES, SO MAYBE -- >> ALL RIGHT, JOE.

ANYTHING?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I QUIT MAKING POLITICAL PREDICTIONS ONCE DONALD TRUMP GOT ELECTED BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING IN A MILLION YEARS.

BUT I'M WILLING TO SAY THAT AARON RODGERS WILL RETURN TO GREEN BAY.

>> THERE YOU GO, CHEESEHEAD.

>> I CAN TOP THAT BECAUSE IT WAS BEFORE DONALD TRUMP, HEY, I'M WITH JOHN EDWARDS.

I WAS LIKE, AIN'T NOBODY NAMED BARACK OBAMA GOING TO GET ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN 2008.

SO I WAS WRONG ABOUT THAT, I GAVE IT UP TOO.

REAL QUICK ONE, I THINK THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS WILL RUE THE DAY THAT THEY FIRED MIKE STEELE, SO I THINK THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

I THINK IT WILL START PLAYING OUT NEXT YEAR AND WE WILL SEE.

NOW, I'M SURE THE NEW MANAGER IS WATCHING THE SHOW RIGHT NOW -- >> WELCOME TO ST. LOUIS.

>> YEAH, WE'RE KIND OF TOUGH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CARDINALS AND THE REIDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A SUITE OF YOUR CHOICE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GET WITH US.

WELL, ANYWAY, TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN WATCHING ALL YEAR LONG, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR, IT'S COMING TO AN END, BUT HEY, THE BEST THING ABOUT 2022 COULD BE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DONNYBASH AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOT ANY LETTERS THIS WEEK, BUT IN CASE YOU WANT TO SEND ONE, SEND IT TO DONNYBROOK CARE OF NINE PBS, 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108.

YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL TO DONNYBROOK@NINEPBS.ORG OR SEND A TWEET TO #DONNYBROOKSTL.

FOR THOSE OF US TO CHECK US OUT ON THE PODCAST, YOU HAVE YOUR CHOICE THERE.

I ALWAYS FORGET THE NAME OF ONE, SO YOU KNOW THEM BETTER THAN I DO, YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLD PEOPLE AND ALL PEOPLE.

JOE HOLLEMAN, THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN WITH US, BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR WATCHING.

WE DO APPRECIATE IT.

LOOK FORWARD FOR BEING HERE ALL THROUGHOUT 2022 AND BEYOND.

AND WHAT YEAR IS THIS, RAY AND BILL?

WHAT YEAR ARE WE ABOUT TO START?

>> I GUESS IT'S -- WE'RE FINISHING 34.

MARTIN WOULD ALWAYS SAY WE'RE IN OUR 35th SEASON NEXT YEAR, I GUESS, BECAUSE IT WAS '87.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WITH NO BROADCAST -- >> MY SON WAS BORN AND RAISED THROUGH THE SHOW.

>> THAT'S HOW I KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN TO THE SHOW BECAUSE OF MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER.

WE'RE OUT OF HERE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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