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

>> HEY, GO SEE HAMILTON, IT IS FANTASTIC.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN IT, GO BACK.

I ENJOYED IT THAT MUCH ON EASTER NIGHT AND I DO HAVE TO HAVE ONE SELFISH NOTE HERE.

IT'S BEEN 43 YEARS AGO TODAY, ALVIN REID BECAME AN A-FI-A.

SHOUTOUT TO MY FRATERNITY BROTHERS OUT THERE AND SHOUTOUT TO YOU JOINING US HERE ON DONNYBROOK.

WE HAVE TO WELCOME JASON ROSENBAUM FROM ST. LOUIS FROO.

WENDY WIESE FROM KTRS, RAY HARTMANN FROM RAW STORY AND KTRS, AND CHRISTINE BYERS FROM 5 ON YOUR SIDE, CHANNEL 5.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WELL, WENDY, ONE YEAR, I GUESS TODAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND MAYOR JONES HAD HER STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, FIRST ONE ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF IT AND WHERE ARE WE HEADED AND JUST YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF WHAT SHE WANTS TO GET DONE, INCLUDING $150 MILLION GOING TOWARD NORTH CITY AND SOME RAISES AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE LIKE THE FIRST YEAR.

WE HEAR MAYOR JONES, HER PLANS, AND THEN WE HEAR LEWIS REED TAKE HER TO TASK FOR THOSE PLANS, AND I -- YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S OBVIOUSLY WELL WITHIN THE WHEELHOUSE AND IN ASKING FOR SPECIFICS BECAUSE $150 MILLION, THAT'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND IT IS THE -- I BELIEVE ISN'T IT THE TAIL END OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN?

>> YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THOSE FUNDS.

BUT WHAT I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING WAS THE THREE PILLARS, ESSENTIALLY.

SHE DIDN'T GET INTO THE SPECIFICS, AS I SAID, BUT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT AND CHANGING THE WAY WE APPROACH REDEVELOPMENT OR DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD -- NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND WHILE BE YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE VERY LAUDABLE, SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET INTO THE DETAILS IF SHE'S GOING TO WIN PEOPLE OVER.

AND THE ONLY PART OF THE STORY THAT I READ ON YOUR WEBSITE, JASON, WAS THAT REALLY KIND OF AMUSED ME WAS WHEN SHE TOUTED THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH THE 911 CALL SYSTEM.

AND I THOUGHT HOW NICE IT WOULD BE IF THE 911, THE EMERGENCY CALL CENTER WORKED THAT WAY FOR EVERYBODY.

AND YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RAISES FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND INTERESTING WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE, WHICH REPRESENTS PRIMARILY BLACK OFFICERS, AND THEY CAME OUT WITH A PRETTY STRONG STATEMENT CRITICIZING HER AND SAYING THIS PROPOSED RAISE HA SHE'S GIVING POLICE OFFICERS JUST ISN'T ENOUGH.

WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE COSTS GOING UP AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THE RAISE THAT SHE'S PROPOSING FOR THEM STILL DOESN'T PUT THEM ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY ARE MAKING, SO YEAH, THEY CAME OUT PRETTY STRONG, STRONGLY CRITICAL OF HER.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT I WOULD BE SHOCKED THAT A LOT OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO NORTH -- TO ST. LOUIS CITY.

WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT ST. LOUIS WAS GETTING OVER $500 MILLION, THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS THAT MONEY COULD DO A LOT OF GOOD TOWARD TRANSFORMING NORTH ST. LOUIS INTO SOMETHING A LOT BETTER.

I THINK IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE MAYOR IS ABLE TO AVOID WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST YEAR WHERE SHE AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN LEWIS REED GET INTO, LIKE, VERY HEATED DISAGREEMENTS OVER HOW THAT MONEY SHOULD BE DOLED OUT.

I DON'T THINK DISAGREEMENT IS NECESSARILY A BAD THING BECAUSE MAYBE SHE HAS A BETTER IDEA OF WHERE THAT MONEY SHOULD GO, BUT I EXPECT THIS TO BE THE FIRST SALVO IN A LONG PROCESS.

>> I THINK THE DISAGREEMENT IS GREAT.

I MEAN, IT'S -- I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED -- WELL, OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A RACIAL PRISM, ALWAYS A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM, WHITE DEMOCRATS AND BLACK DEMOCRATS.

NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING I DIDN'T THINK I'D EVER SEE, WHICH IS ALL THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY A WEAK MAYOR SYSTEM, AND THAT'S NOT AIMED AT TISHAURA, THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED, A WEAK MAYOR SYSTEM, IT FUNCTIONS LIKE A MAYOR DOES IN MANY OTHER CITIES AND THE FACT WE HAVE THREE VERY QUALIFIED AFRICAN AMERICANS RUNNING IT, REMOVES SOME OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A RACIAL ELEMENT.

I THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE ETHICAL SOCIETY, IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME AT ALL.

I'M SYMPATHETIC TO THEM, BUT I THINK TISHAURA HAS HAD A FIRST GOOD YEAR REPRESENTING THE CITY AND SETTING A NICE TONE, BUT LIKE ON THE 150 MILLION FOR NORTH CITY, JUST SAYING IT ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> IT'S JUST A NUMBER.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE AND I -- IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HER RELATIONSHIP ALSO WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS BEEN MUCH LESS CONTENTIOUS THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED.

>> BECAUSE SHE WASN'T PART OF THE OLD POLITICAL FACTION WHICH MERGED TOGETHER, BUSINESS LEADERS AND TRADE UNIONS WAS WHAT BROUGHT FRANCIS SLAY TO POWER.

>> SHE WAS MUCH MORE CRITICAL OF THEM AS TREASURER.

>> BUT THE STAKES ARE VERY, VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW.

I THINK IN A POST PANDEMIC CITY, I JUST WONDER HOW MUCH TIME SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET INTO THOSE DETAILS.

>> AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS, A LOT OF PROMISES BY HER ADMINISTRATION ALREADY IN THAT FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE SEEN NOT QUITE COME TO FRUITION.

>> RIGHT.

>> I BELIEVE THE SECOND YEAR IS MORE IMPORTANT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY TALKED ABOUT GETTING A NEW POLICE CHIEF.

THEY'VE GOT TO GET A NEW POLICE CHIEF.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT -- AND IN FAIRNESS, IT IS A HARD JOB.

THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS IS NOT EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, THE EASIEST THING TO GOVERN, AND I MEAN, IT'S A HUGE -- YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S 300,000 PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO WHERE THERE USED TO BE 800,000, OKAY?

IT'S GOT A LOT OF STRUCTURAL ISSUES, A LOT OF LONG-TERM ISSUES THAT ARE WAY BEYOND ANY MAYOR'S CONTROL, SO I THINK IT'S -- I DO THINK THE SECOND -- I THINK SHE'S OFF TO A DECENT START, BUT SECOND YEAR IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE TELLING, I THINK.

>> WELL, IF I WERE MAYOR, THE ONE THING I WOULD APPLAUD IS 14 ALDERPEOPLE ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR HERE IN A FEW YEARS AND I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE THE JOB A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

NOW, THERE WILL STILL BE MORE TO E&A, BUT YEAH.

>> I'VE BEEN MORE IMPRESSED WITH LEWIS REED THIS YEAR THAN I HAVE IN THE PAST, PARTICULARLY THE WAY THEY GOT THROUGH -- I WAS ASTONISHED HOW WELL THEY GOT THROUGH REDISTRICTING.

>> IF THERE WAS A REDISTRICTING HALL OF FAME, LEWIS REED MAY BE AN INDUCTEE BECAUSE IT'S THE SECOND TIME THAT IT'S BASICALLY UNANIMOUS.

>> I WAS SHOCKED AND -- WE'LL SEE.

>> WE'LL END THIS SUBJECT ON THIS.

I THINK SOME OF THE DEBATE AS TO WHERE THIS 150 MILLION IS POLITICAL, NOT ECONOMICAL.

I THINK THAT THESE -- I DON'T KNOW THAT LEWIS REED WANTS TO RUN FOR MAYOR AGAIN, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME POLITICS.

>> THAT NEIGHBOR -- THAT MAY BE AN UNDERESTIMATE.

>> SPEAKING OF WHICH, POLITICS, ECONOMICS, THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PLAN THAT WILL FUND THE NORTH SIDE REC CENTER AND AS A RESULT, THE STALEMATE INVOLVING THE CONVENTION CENTER.

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT EITHER COMPLEX IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BUT JASON, GOOD THING, BAD THING, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THING?

>> I THINK IT'S A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THING.

I SPENT A LOT TIME TALKING WITH KITTY RADCLIFFE, IN CHARGE OF THE AGENCY THAT OVERSEES THE CONVENTION CENTER.

I'VE WALKED THROUGH THE SEQUENCE CENTER MANY TIMES WHERE SHE'S POINTED OUT THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE CONVENTION CENTER COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES.

I THINK WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A PUBLICLY FUNDED CONVENTION CENTER, LIKE RAY WAS TELLING ME EARLIER, BEFORE I WAS BORN, EVENTUALLY YOU'RE REQUESTING TO HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO RENOVATE IT.

SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THIS THING THAT DOESN'T SEEM USEFUL TO ME, BUT THAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE OF A LONG-TERM DECISION.

NOW, I READ THAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN EXPECTED AND I THINK THAT THAT COULD BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FACT THAT CONSTRUCTION COSTS EVERYWHERE ARE REALLY HIGH, AND I THINK THAT THE NEXT STEP IS GOING TO BE EITHER YOU SCALE DOWN THE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE YOU FILL THAT GAP OR DO YOU FIND MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE?

WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.

AS FAR AS THE RECREATION CENTER, I THINK THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF A TIME-HONORED TRADITION IN LEGISLATIVE POLITICS, SOMEBODY WHO CONTROLS A LEGISLATIVE BODY OR WHO'S AN INFLUENTIAL PERSON LIKE RITA DAYS, THE COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRWOMAN, USING LEVERAGE TO GET SOMETHING SHE THINKS IS IMPORTANT TO THE FIRST DISTRICT AND AS YOU MENTIONED, I THINK SOME OF THE DETAILS STILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN ON THAT.

>> WELL, THAT LEVERAGE MAY HAVE ROSE THE PRICE TAG ON THE CONVENTION CENTER, SO TO ME, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A FAIR TRADEOFF.

>> WELL, THERE'S ALSO THE FACT THAT THERE'S -- LAST TIME I CHECKED, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHO COULD HAVE BEEN MORE, YOU KNOW, FORCEFUL ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IT'S LIKE HER LEVERAGE WAS BECAUSE SAM PAGE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS HE GENERALLY SUPPORTS THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT HE CLEARLY WASN'T WILLING FOR WHATEVER HIS REASONS WERE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO THE $40 MILLION REC CENTER, WHICH PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER IS A BIG PRIORITY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT ST. LOUIS.

>> WHICH BY THE WAY, I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF UMSL, BY VIRTUE OF BEING ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO, SO CONTINUE.

>> YOU GET FREE MEMBERSHIP, OR WHAT?

>> I GO TO THE Y IN BRENTWOOD.

>> BUT THERE ARE GOOD THINGS THAT UMSL WANTS TO DO, THAT IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT IT'S DOING.

IT RAN IT THROUGH THE BOARD OF CURATORS.

WE TALK ABOUT NORTH COUNTY.

IT'S RIGHT UP HIGHWAY 70.

IT IS A GREAT IDEA FOR TOURISM AND THE FACT THAT THE DETAILS HAVEN'T BEEN DEVELOPED DON'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT -- >> TOURISM?

>> YES, TOURISM.

YES, IT WILL -- THE IDEA OF THE REC CENTER, PART OF IT, IS TO HAVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART TRACK FACILITY THAT WILL DRAW TRACK AND FIELD.

>> OH, EVENTS, OKAY.

>> TOURISM IS A FORM OF PEOPLE COMING TO OUR CITY FOR TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS.

IT'S -- FROM SOMETHING -- IT HAPPENS TO BE THE KIND OF PRACTICAL -- >> I THOUGHT YOU WERE INFERRING THAT PEOPLE WOULD COME FROM OUT OF TOWN TO USE THE REC CENTER.

>> WELL, THEY WILL AS PART OF THE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY.

>> OKAY.

>> SO I THINK IT'S -- IT MAKES SENSE.

TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER, I MEAN, IT WAS BEFORE YOU WERE BORN.

IT WAS STATE OF THE ART IN '77.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IN 19 1992, I THINK IT WAS, WHEN THEY WENT TO SELL THE FOOTBALL STADIUM, IT WAS STATE OF THE ART AND BY '92 -- >> IT WAS OBSOLETE.

>> I WISH I HAD THE TAPE.

I WAS ON DONNYBROOK SAYING I WISH WE COULD COME BACK IN 30 YEARS -- >> AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT $800 MILLION WORTH OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE DOME?

>> PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DOME, ZERO.

THE DOME IS GOING TO BE -- WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE DOME OR NOT DO, IT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THE RSA PROCESS FOR THE RAMS MONEY.

>> BUT SAM PAGE DOES NOT HAVE A WORKING MAJORITY ON THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COUNCIL, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, EVEN IF HE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, HE NEEDS EITHER RITA DAYS OR SHALONDA WEBB TO GO ALONG WITH LISA CLANCY OR KELLI DUNAWAY, NOMINAL ALLIES ON THE BOARD.

I THINK THAT HAS TO BE REMEMBERED.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TISHAURA JONES, I WOULDN'T EVEN ARGUE THAT IT'S A VERY STRONG MAJORITY ON THE BOARD OF ALTER MEN.

IT'S KIND OF A FRAGILE ONE, BUT IT'S A LOT LESS SHAKY THAN SAM PAGE.

>> BUT SAM PAGE WANTED THIS DONE AS A PRIORITY, HE HAD ALL THE VOTES.

HE HAD CERTAINLY THE FOUR YOU JUST MENTIONED AND POSSIBLY TIM FITCH.

I MEAN, HE CERTAINLY WAS FOR IT AT THE END.

MAYBE TIM FITCH WOULDN'T BE FOR ANYTHING THAT HE WAS, BUT HE HAD THE VOTES TO BE FOR IT.

HE WASN'T WITH RITA ON THE PROJECT, AND SO TO BLAME RITA ALONE FOR THE DELAY, SHE WAS HOLDING OUT, BUT SAM PAGE, HAD HE BEEN FOR THAT PROJECT, THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A DELAY.

>> BUT HE COULD HAVE PUSHED IT, COULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.

>> HE COULD HAVE BEEN FOR IT.

>> BUT RITA DAYS COULD SAY I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THO NOW AND MOVE IT DOWN THE LINE.

>> WHY WOULD HE SQUANDER THAT KIND OF CAPITAL.

>> WHY DIDN'T HE JUST SUPPORT IT?

>> WHY WOULD SHE SQUANDER THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO NOW ADDITIONAL PAY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> SHE COULDN'T FORESEE THAT.

>> NOW, RAY, THOSE STORIES GO BACK TO NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2021 AS TO HOW MUCH THAT WAS GOING TO COST.

>> THAT'S NOT HER RESPONSIBILITY.

>> I'M JUST SAYING, SHE WAS FOREWARNED THAT THIS WOULD COST MONEY.

>> WHY DIDN'T SAM PAGE SUPPORT THIS VERY GOOD IDEA?

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

WHY?

>> WASN'T HE -- HE DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT.

>> HE DID, TOO.

>> OKAY.

>> HE HAD SHALONDA AND LISA AND -- >> SPEAKING OF VOTES, ROBERTS IS ELECTED, NO PUN INTENDED, TO RUN AGAINST CORI BUSH FOR HER CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

THIS WEEK, HE CAME OUT AND DEFENDED HIMSELF ON TELEVISION STATIONS, PRINT NEWSPAPERS, AND CHRISTINE, YOUR THOUGHTS AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THIS STORY AS WELL.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO MY INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN ROBERTS WILL AIR TONIGHT ON 5 ON YOUR SIDE AT 10:00, AND IT WASN'T JUST ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT.

THESE WERE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THEY INVOLVED TWO SEPARATE WOMEN, TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS.

AND SO HE DECIDED THIS WEEK TO COME OUT PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, REALLY, AND ADDRESS THEM HEAD ON.

ONE OF THE ACCUSERS WAS CORA FAITH WALKER.

SHE, AS WE KNOW, SUDDENLY PASSED AWAY.

THE FINAL AUTOPSY FOR HER CAUSE OF DEATH IS STILL PENDING.

BUT FOLLOWING HER DEATH JUST WEEKS AGO, HE DECIDED THAT HE WOULD RELEASE THE TERMS OF THE CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT THEY REACHED IN WHICH SHE WAS FORBIDDEN FROM CALLING HERSELF A SURVIVOR AND THERE WAS A PREPARED STATEMENT WITHIN THAT SETTLEMENT ALSO THAT MR. STEPHEN ROBERTS WAS ABLE TO RELEASE SHOULD SHE BREAK THIS AGREEMENT THAT WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, TO THE EFFECT OF I NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT I WAS TOO INTOXICATED FOR CONSENT, AND SOME VERY DAMAGING THINGS FOR HER.

SO I RELEASED THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

THAT HAS PROMPTED THE SECOND ACCUSER TO COME FORWARD AS WELL AND REVEAL THE TERMS OF HER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY FOR $100,000.

NOW, THE SETTLEMENT WITH CORA FAITH WALKER, THERE WAS NO MONEY INVOLVED, AND HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS TAKING STEPS TO GET THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT RELEASED BEFORE SHE DIED BECAUSE HE SAID THAT SHE VIOLATED ITS TERMS BY GOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND CALLING HERSELF A SURVIVOR AND TWEETING #METOO AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH WERE ALL FORBIDDEN BY THIS AGREEMENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO OUR POLITICAL ANALYST FOR SOME IDEA, IS THIS A GOOD MOVE, SMART MOVE ON HIS PART POLITICALLY, IS THIS GOING TO HELP HIM, HARM HIM?

AND REALLY, SHE BELIEVES IT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY HARM HIM AND DO MORE HARM FOR HIM RATHER THAN GOOD.

>> BUT IT -- >> GO AHEAD.

>> JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT POINT, STEVE ROBERTS' CHALLENGES, HE'S RUNNING AGAINST CORI BUSH WHO IS GOING TO HAVE BASICALLY UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND ORGANIZATIONAL FOUR AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE -- POWER AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN STL THAT WILL WALK BURNING STOLES TO MAKE SURE SHE'S RE-ELECTED BECAUSE THEY AGREE WITH HER EITHER ON POLICY OR THEY ARE REALLY DRAWN TO HER STORY, ESPECIALLY HUR FERGUSON ACTIVISM.

AND THIS RACE IS REALLY SIMPLE.

IT'S WHETHER CORI BUSH CAN WIN THE BLACK VOTE IN NORTH CITY AND NORTH COUNTY, AND SHE DIDN'T DO THAT IN 2020.

AND I THINK THAT THE REASON WHY SHE'S FACING A CHALLENGE FROM ROBERTS IS ROBERTS IS CLEARLY BANKING ON THE POSSIBILITY THAT THAT SUPPORT EITHER REGRESSES OR DOESN'T GO UP OVER A MAJORITY.

SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT THIS REALLY HELPS HIS CAUSE OF THAT, WHICH IS HE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WINS THE BLACK VOTE OF A MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND BE ABLE TO USE THINGS LIKE THIS TO MOVE VOTERS.

>> AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BLACK VOTE, OUR POLITICAL ANALYST POINTED OUT THAT IT'S ACTUALLY MAJORITY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN THAT TURN OUT IN THE HIGHEST NUMBERS IN THESE TYPE OF ELECTIONS, SO SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S REALLY TREADING -- >> DID SOMEBODY CORROBORATE HIS -- THAT INTENTION TO RELEASE THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT BEFORE CORA FAITH WALKER'S DEATH?

>> YES, HIS CAMPAIGN PRODUCED DOCUMENTATION SHOWING, YOU KNOW, HE WAS FILING MOTIONS WITH THE COURT, FILINGS WITH THE COURT SAYING -- ACCUSING HER OF BREACHING THIS AGREEMENT AND TRYING TO SEEK SOME REMEDY.

>> AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S COMMON FOR PEOPLE WHO STILL MAINTAIN THEIR INNOCENCE TO SETTLE, PER PERCEPTION IS GOING TO BE REALITY HERE, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT, THIS IS NOT GOING TO HELP AT ALL.

>> AND TO THE POINT OF CAMPAIGN MONEY, HIS CAMPAIGN POINTED OUT HE'S ONLY $40,000 BEHIND HER IN CASH ON HAND CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> I THINK THIS IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR HIM.

KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW, I MEAN, WHAT WE KNEW AHEAD OF TIME, I WAS SURPRISED HE GOT INTO THE RACE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST -- THERE'S NOTHING SURPRISING ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

>> IN FACT, SOME OF HIS DENIALS WERE SOME OF THE SAME ARGUMENTS HE'S MAKING IN 2016 WHEN THE CORA FAITH WALKER STORY CAME OUT.

>> AND SO I THINK IT WAS -- I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD STRATEGY TO ENGAGE THIS.

I THINK THE BEST THING WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLY TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUT THERE, THE ALLEGATIONS ARE THERE, PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR DECISIONS, TALK ABOUT IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, AND I THINK FIGHTING BACK WHILE HE HAS A RIGHT TO DO IT IS NOT A VERY GOOD STRATEGY POLITICALLY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT TURNS OUT -- SO I THINK IT DOESN'T TURN OUT WELL FOR HIM TO ENGAGE THIS TOPIC.

>> I COULD SEE, THOUGH, THE DESPERATION BECAUSE YOU CAN CONTROL THE MESSAGE ON TRADITIONAL MEDIA, BUT WHEN YOU'RE INTO SOCIAL MEDIA NOW, IT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED.

>> CORI BUSH HAS BECOME A NATIONAL FIGURE.

I THINK THE ONLY CHANCE THAT THE MODERATE WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, BASICALLY, HAD TO WIN, AND I THINK IT IS PRETTY -- IT'S PRETTY UPHILL AT THIS POINT, IS TO ARGUE THAT HER VIEWS ARE TOO PROGRESSIVE, AND I DON'T -- >> AND THAT'S NOT UNHEARD OF FINANCIALLY.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER POLITICIAN WITH A MUCH TROUBLING PAST.

ERIC GREITENS IS RUNNING FOR THE NOMINATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE U.S. SENATE AND HE VOWS HE IS NOT DROPPING OUT.

JASON, DOES HE HAVE ANY CHANCE TO ACTUALLY WIN?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY HE HAS A CHANCE TO WIN.

>> DIDN'T I EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU BEFORE ON THIS SHOW?

>> AND -- LOOK, HE IS MAKING A CALCULATED DECISION BY THE TYPE OF CAMPAIGN THAT HE'S RUNNING, OF APPEALING TO, LIKE, THE STEVE BANNON WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE POPULACE WING.

JOHN LAMPING AND I WERE TALKING THIS WEEK, THE NATIONALIST POPULIST WING, THAT THAT MESSAGE IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO WIN A PLURALITY IN A 21-PERSON REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

SO IT'S UP TO PEOPLE LIKE CONGRESSWOMAN VICKY HARTZLER, DAVE SCHOTZ WITH $2 MILLION AT HIS DISPOSAL TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT GREITENS IS NOT FIT AS A U.S.

SENATOR AND IF THEY CAN'T DO THAT WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT NOT ONLY RECENTLY WITH SHEENA GREITENS' AFFIDAVIT THAT SHE DID UNDER OATH, BUT ALSO THE 2018 SITUATION WHERE K.S.

ALSO WAS UNDER OATH MULTIPLE TIMES, I THINK IT'S -- THERE'S CERTAINLY, LIKE, THINGS THAT ARE EXPLOITABLE, BUT I THINK IF YOU GET COMPLACENT AND SAY HE CAN'T WIN, IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO WIN A SMALL PLURALITY.

>> WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID ABOUT DONALD TRUMP RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> EXACTLY, AND I'LL ALSO SURPRISED THAT HIS FEELINGS ABOUT UKRAINE HAVEN'T BEEN EXPLORED MORE.

>> WELL, THEY -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THIS IS ALL RED -- IT'S JUST RED MEAT.

THIS IS TODAY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND SO THE PEOPLE THAT -- AMONG THE BASE, THERE ARE TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

ONE, THE LARGE ONE THAT WILL NEVER HEAR -- THEY'RE NOT WATCHING US TONIGHT, THEY WILL NOT HEAR ABOUT THESE ALLEGATIONS AT ALL IN THEIR CYCLE, IN THEIR SILOS, AND THE OTHER HALF IS THE ONES THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT IT.

SO THE IDEA HE MIGHT HAVE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF A FEW POINTS, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DOUBTING THAT, BUT IN A -- WHAT COULD BE A FIVE- OR SIX-WAY RACE, I THINK THEY ONLY HAVE FOUR OR FIVE WEEKS TO TAKE THEIR NAMES OFF THE BALLOT.

>> IT'S NOT GOING TO LAP BECAUSE HARTZLER AND SCHOTZ FEEL LIKE HE ONLY HAS A CHANCE, SO THERE'S NO REASON FOR THEM TO DROP OUT.

>> AND THE LATEST SCANDAL WITH SHEEN NA GREITENS GAVE THEM MORE HOPE THAT THEY COULD BE THE ONE.

THEY'RE STILL WAITING FOR TRUMP TO ENDORSE SOMEBODY.

I HAVE TO SAY, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT AND I'VE BEEN SAYING IT ON THE AIR, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THIS IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GOT TO BE HOPING THAT ERIC GREITENS GETS THE NOMINATION.

I WOULD -- IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANY EFFORT BY THE DEMOCRATS TO CROSS OVER AND HELP THEM, ALA TODD ACHENS BECAUSE HE KREERL GIVES THEM THE BEST RACE.

>> BUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE -- >> THEY'RE ALL GOING TO VOTE WRONG IN THE SENATE.

>> THE DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW HAVE -- IN MISSOURI, HAVE NOT PROVEN TO ME THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO WIN A STATEWIDE ELECTION.

>> SURE, THEY DO.

JASON KANTER CAME VERY CLOSE.

>> THEY WOULD HAVE TO PIECE TOGETHER AN URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL COALITION.

THEY'RE GETTING 20% IN AREAS RIGHT NOW.

THEY CANNOT WIN A STATEWIDE ELECTION.

>> I THINK HOPEFULLY SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY I JUST CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS PERSON AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC.

THEY JUST HAVE TO NOT -- LEAVE IT BLANK.

OKAY, IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES HERE, RAY, THERE WAS UNFORTUNATELY ANOTHER SHOOTING AND DEATH ON A METROLINK CAR.

WE DON'T HAVE TURNSTILES.

TO ME, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT HAS CHANGED.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

ARE TURNSTILES THE ANSWER, MORE POLICE?

>> LET'S LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

OBVIOUSLY METROLINK HAS GREAT PERCEPTION PROBLEMS ON SECURITY AND REAL PROBLEMS, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THIS ONE HAPPENING ON THE MORNING OF EASTER SUNDAY, OKAY, LITERALLY NO ONE ELSE ON THE TRAIN.

IT'S ANOTHER TRAGIC STATISTIC IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS OF A MURDER, AND PEOPLE CAN -- THE IDEA THAT AT MIDNIGHT, SOMEHOW TURNSTILES WOULD HAVE KEPT THESE TWO GUYS OFF THE TRAIN OR KEPT THEM FROM ARGUING TO THE POINT WHERE ONE OF THEM SHOT THE OTHER ONE IN THE HEAD, IS JUST -- IT'S LIKE BLAZING SADDLES AND THE TOLL BOOTHS IN THE DESERT.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING -- >> BUT THE TWO OF THEM WERE HAVING AN ALTERCATION ON A PARKING LOT.

THAT'S ONE THING.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MASS TRANSIT.

EVEN ON EASTER MORNING, EVEN IF THEY WERE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE ON THE TRAIN.

>> AND A TURNSTILE WOULD HAVE KEPT THEM OFF THE TRAIN?

ARE YOU KIDDING?

>> IT COULD HAVE.

>> IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET ON.

>> BUT WHO'S GOING ON TO -- >> NO, LET'S TAKE IT TO -- ALL RIGHT, I LIVED IN D.C., WE HAD METRO.

IF I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, DON'T HAVE A CARD, I CAN'T GET ON THE TRAIN, SO THUS THE MURDER DOESN'T HAPPEN ON THE TRAIN.

>> SO IT HAPPENS ON THE PLATFORM.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

>> WE'RE ASSUMING THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T PAY.

>> WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY DIDN'T PAY.

>> MY GUESS IS THEY DIDN'T.

>> EXCUSE ME.

DO YOU THINK HOPPING OVER A TURNSTILE AT MIDNIGHT ON EASTER -- >> I DON'T THINK YOU'RE HOPPING OVER TURNSTILES WITH MURDER ON YOUR MIND.

I REALLY DON'T.

>> THAT'S NOT THE POINT.

WHATEVER ARGUMENT CAUSED ONE OF THEM TO APPARENTLY MURDER THE OTHER, WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS, IS -- IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE PLATFORM.

WE'D BE HAVING THE SAME THING ABOUT -- IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH METROLINK'S MANAGEMENT.

I THINK THEY'VE TRIED.

>> IT'S NOT MANAGEMENT.

I'M JUST SAYING -- >> NO, BUT THAT GOES -- AND THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE TURNSTILES.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, PERSONALLY, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS TRAGEDY ON THE TRAIN.

THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYMORE.

>> IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED ANYMORE, BUT IT HAPPENED ON THE TRAIN.

>> BUT IT ZINT.

>> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH -- ARE YOU SERIOUSLY SAYING.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.

>> ARE YOU SERIOUSLY SAYING BECAUSE OF TURNSTILES, THE GUYS COULD HAVE BEEN HOLDING HANDS AND HUGGING?

>> NO, IT COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO STOP IT.

>> IT COULD HAVE STOPPED THE KILLING.

>> YOU MEAN THESE GUYS COULDN'T HAVE KILLED EACH OTHER -- >> ON THE TRAIN.

>> WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF THESE GUYS KILLED EACH OTHER ON THE PARKING LOT?

>> ALL RIGHT, WE GOT TO GO.

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CHRISTINE BYERS, THANK YOU.

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WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON THE SHOW AGAIN BECAUSE YOU ARE MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN WE ARE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ON NEXT UP, OUR GUEST WITH RAY AND WENDY WILL BE SAM FIORELLO, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CORTEX INNOVATION COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON DONNYBROOK.

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