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

>> FOR SURE.

HOT TEMPERATURE HERE IN ST. LOUIS, BUT DON'T WORRY, JANS ONLY SIX AND A HALF MONTHS AWAY.

LOTS OF HOT TOPICS TO DISCUSS ON THIS EDITION OF DONNYBROOK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

SHE'S SITTING IN FOR WENDY WIESE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE.

SARAH FENSKE FROM ST. LOUIS ON THE AIR ON ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO.

MR. BILL McCLELLAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH AND STLTODAY.COM.

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

AND FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, WE WELCOME ALVIN REID.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ON NEXT UP, WHICH IS HALFWAY THROUGH THIS HOUR, BILL AND I WILL TALK TO THREE MEMBERS FROM THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY ABOUT PRIDE MONTH.

SHOULD BE AN EXCELLENT HALF HOUR AND TURNS OUT I LEARNED THAT TWO OF OUR VIEWERS WERE MARRIED ON JUNE 17th, 1947, 75 YEARS AGO, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ROLAND AND LORNA HARRIS OF HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS.

APPARENTLY THAT'S SUCH A RARE FEAT THAT THE CENSUS BUREAU DOESN'T EVEN KEEP TRACK OF MARRIAGES THAT LAST 75 YEARS AND APPARENTLY ROLAND IS STILL WRITING FOR THE -- I GUESS IT'S THE NEWS LEADER, THE PAPER OUT THERE IN HIGHLAND, AND HE'S BEEN DOING IT SINCE 1971.

SO YOU WRITERS ON THE PANEL, YOU MUST BE IMPRESSED.

>> THAT'S HEARTENING TO KNOW.

>> RAY, THE HEALTH DIRECTOR FOR ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS GIVEN HIS NOTICE.

HE'S ON THE JOB UNTIL SEPTEMBER THE 2nd.

YOUR OPINION, HE WAS HEALTH DIRECTOR DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> I LIKE HIMD.

I THOUGHT HE GAVE GOOD ADVICE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE ALL KNOW HE HAD A VERY BAD DAY AND ENDED UP GOING ON THIS NATIONAL TOUR THAT WAS PRETTY BAD.

I FELT LIKE WE WERE TOO QUICK TO CUT SLACK TO THE MAGA MOB THAT WAS ACCOSTING HIM, BUT HE CLEARLY HAD A BAD DAY.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW -- WELL, I THINK OVERALL, THAT HE WAS A GOOD GUY THAT MEANT WELL.

I THINK HIS GENERAL ADVICE ON THE PANDEMIC WAS GOOD, BUT HE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED WHEN THE COUNTY COUNCIL REJECTED HIM AS HEALTH DIRECTOR, THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO -- SAM PAGE IS GOING TO NOMINATE HIM TO THE BOARD AND THEN THEY SAY, NO, AND HE SAYS, WELL, HE'S STAYING ANYWAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT MADE SENSE.

>> WELL, I DON'T FEEL I OUGHT TO KICK THE GUY AS HE'S LEAVING, HOWEVER, WHEN YOU SAY HE HAD A BAD DAY, HE WENT ON NATIONAL TV AND WAS UNTRUTHFUL ABOUT ST. LOUIS AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY, AND SAID THAT HE WAS PHYSICALLY JOSTLED AND HE WASN'T, AND YOU KNOW, AT A TIME WHEN YOU WANT YOUR HEALTH OFFICIALS TO BE BELIEVABLE AND PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO THEM, AND YOU HAVE A GUY GO ON NATIONAL TV AND BE UNTRUTHFUL, THAT'S A VERY BAD DAY.

>> IT'S NOT A GOOD DAY, NO.

>> WELL, RAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU, DID ROY BLUNT HAVE A GOOD WEEK?

THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI HAS SIGNED ON TO THIS GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS WOULD ALLOW FOR RED FLAG MEASURES, MEANING THAT AUTHORITIES COULD TAKE AWAY FIREARMS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE PERCEIVED OBJECT DANGEROUS AND THAT'S GOT ROY BLUNT IN SOME TROUBLE WITH AT LEAST 50 REPUBLICANS WHO SIGNED A LETTER CRITICIZING THAT MOVE.

IT IS REALLY RARE THAT A REPUBLICAN WOULD SIGN ON TO SOME PIECE OF GUN CONTROL.

HE'S IN FAVOR OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT.

DO YOU GIVE HIM SOME PROPS ON THIS ONE, OR IS IT KIND OF A LITTLE BIT LATE IN THE MAN'S CAREER TO BE PROPOSING GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION GIVEN THE VIOLENCE THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, RACKING AMERICA?

>> NO, GOOD FOR HIM THAT HE'S TAKING PART IN THE FIRST -- BY THE WAY, THE RED FLAG LAWS JUST INCENTIVIZES STATES TO HAVE RED FLAG LAWS.

IT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM, THEY CAN HAVE THEM ALREADY.

BUT THIS INCENTIVIZES STATES THAT -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT.

REALLY ENCOURAGES HIM, AND FOR ME, THIS GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION IS ABOUT 1/1,000th OF WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE UNTIL WE'RE READY TO TAKE MILITARY WEAPONS OUT OF CIVILIAN HANDS.

GIVE THEM CREDIT, THE TEN REPUBLICANS WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES ARE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING.

WHAT I FOUND REALLY GREAT ABOUT THE COMPROMISES IF LIBERALS OR DEMOCRATS HAD JUST COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF LET'S FUND MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, THE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN AGAINST IT.

IT'S TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT MONEY.

WELL, THAT WAS THEIR COUNTEROFFER.

THAT WAS WHAT THEY WANTED AND GOOD FOR THEM THEY WANTED TO FUND MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, WHICH WE REALLY NEED, AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE DOING ANYTHING TO CUT THIS IS FINE AND SURE, I THINK ROY BLUNT HAS A MIXED LEGACY POST-TRUMP.

VERY FEW -- REALLY, THE ONLY REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE STOOD OUT HAVE BEEN LIZ CHENEY AND ADAM -- >> THAT'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

THAT'S NOT GUN CONTROL.

BUT THE GUY'S BEEN IN THE U.S. SENATE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT ISN'T IT REASONABLE TO SAY, MY GOODNESS, AS YOU'RE WALKING OUT THE DOOR ON THE 11th HOUR, YOU'RE ON THE 18 ET GREEN AND NOW YOU'RE FINALLY GETTING THROUGH THIS MENTAL HEALTH MEASURE THAT YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO DO AFTER SANDY HOOK AND HERE WE ARE IN 2022 AND WE'RE FINALLY GETTING IT?

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE FINALLY DOING IT, BUT I HAVE TO WONDER IF ROY BLUNT IS JUST TRYING TO STAY ON THE SIDE OF RESPECTABILITY SO HE CAN GET GOOD LOBBYING JOBS ONCE HE'S OUT OF THERE.

HE DECIDED NOT TO SUPPORT TRUMP'S KOUP, YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THAT.

GOING ALONG WITH THIS, THIS MAKES HIM MORE PALATABLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO WANT A GOOD HAND IN WASHINGTON.

>> I'VE ALWAYS LIKED ROY BLUNT AND I THINK THE FACT THAT HE'S LATE TO THE PARTY, AS YOU MIGHT SAY, CHARLIE, YOU STILL HAVE TO WELCOME PEOPLE IN.

IF YOU WANT YOUR VIEWS TO BE PREVAIL, YOU CAN'T BE UPSET BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS FINALLY COMING OVER.

I THINK GOOD FOR ROY BLUNT.

>> RIGHT.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, PRESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY SERVE TWO TERMS, PARDON PEOPLE ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR, IF THEY PARDON THEM THE SECOND DAY THEY WERE PRESIDENT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER TO THAT, BUT ON YOUR WAY OUT, BULLY FOR YOU.

I JUST LEARNED THIS YESTERDAY BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY SAW IT AND THEN I WENT AND LOOKED.

SEVEN OF THE TEN MOST VIOLENT STATES ARE RED STATES, SO -- >> YEAH.

>> LET'S -- >> INCLUDING THIS ONE WE'RE IN RIGHT HERE.

>> IF YOU GIVE THE CHANCE FOR A STATE, IF A STATE WANTS TO TAKE ALL THESE MEASURES AND THEY CAN NOW DO IT, THEN I HAVE TO APPLAUD ROY BLUNT.

>> I WOULDN'T APPLAUD THEM BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MANY HOMICIDES IN THIS CITY, WHICH IS IN HIS STATE AND WHERE HAS HE BEEN WHERE HAS HE BEEN?

>> HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE BEST -- EXCUSE ME, HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY FUNDED REPRESENTATIVES BY THE NRA THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AND I THINK IT'S -- AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO -- I DON'T THINK HE NEEDS IT, HE DOESN'T MEAN ANY HELP GETTING LOBBYING JOBS, HE'S GOING TO BE JUST FINE, BUT I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING STATEMENT.

I BET NO ONE OF THOSE TEN HAS BEEN SUCH A NRA-FUNDED GUY AND TO BILL'S POINT, AT LEAST YOU CAN BE MAD AT WHAT HE DIDN'T DO ALL THESE YEARS AND I VERY MUCH DICE AGREED WITH HIM.

HE WAS A GREAT CONSTITUENT TORNADO FOR MISSOURI, BUT GOOD FOR HIM THAT HE FINALLY CAME AROUND.

>> LET'S GO FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO THE COUNTY LEVEL.

WOW, WHAT A WEEK WE HAD, ALVIN REID, WHEN IT CAME TO SAM PAGE.

FIRST OF ALL, HE SENT LETTER CRITICIZING REPUBLICAN COUNCIL MEMBER TIM FITCH AND HIS OPPONENT JANE DUECKER, IN A LETTER SENT TO ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY HAL GOLDSMITH.

THERE WAS THAT LETTER AND IMMEDIATELY IT ENDED UP IN THE PRESS AND THAT WAS QUITE THE KERFUFFLE AND JANE DUECKER RETORTED BY PRODUCING EMAILS BY ONE DARBY HOWARD WHO USED TO BE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE JAIL IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, WHO IN APRIL OF 2021, WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE APPOINTEE OF SAM PAGE, DR. SAM PAGE, TONY WEAVER 14 MONTHS AGO, SAYING HIS ACTIVITY AND HIS BEHAVIOR WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

MAYBE FOR OUR VIEWERS YOU CAN START THIS OUT.

WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT HERE?

>> ONE, I WOULD START WITH SENDING THE LETTER TO HAL GOLDSMITH.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE IN A SITUATION LIKE HIM WHERE YOU'VE JUST INDICTED POWERFUL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT PUTS YOU IN A GOOD MOOD OR A BAD MOOD, BUT I THINK THAT THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS A LETTER FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TELLING YOU THAT, HEY, YOU NEED TO DO THIS OR YOU NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE HE MIGHT FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO?

YEAH, RIGHT.

SO THAT, I HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR WHATSOEVER.

>> HERE'S THE EXPLANATION.

THEY WANTED TO GET THAT LETTER INTO THE MEDIA AND IT WORKED.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GETTING ALL THESE BANNER HEADLINES, HERE'S WHAT SAM PAGE WRITES IN THIS LETTER.

THAT LETTER WASN'T FOR HAL GOLDSMITH.

THAT WAS LETTER WAS FOR ALL OF US.

I THINK IT'S HILARIOUS THAT THEY WROTE TO IT HAL GOLDSMITH OF ALL PEOPLE, BUT -- >> WELL, IT DID HAVE THAT LETTER FROM THE BUNKER MENTALITY TO IT, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN HE SAID, NOTIFY FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS, BUT I'LL SAY THIS ABOUT TIM FITCH, AND I HAVE NO FIRSTHAND OF THIS AND I'LL SAY THIS ABOUT JANE DUECKER.

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

IT.

>> READ LIKE -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THOUGHT THE MOST IRONIC -- THE STUFF ABOUT FITCH, WHEN ONE THINKS IT, HE WAS TELLING HAL GMS WHAT WAS GOING ON AT A TIME THAT STEVE STENGER WAS BASICALLY IN A FISH BOWL IN HIS OFFICE.

HE KNEW WHAT CEREAL STEVE STENGER WAS HAVING THAT MORNING AND HE'S TELLING THEM WHAT TIM FITCH WAS ALLEGEDLY DOING, WHICH I THINK WAS MADE UP, SO THE IDEA DMP THE PREMISE WAS JUST CRAZY AND THEN AS YOU POINT OUT, IT READ MORE LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOME KID -- MIDDLE SCHOOL KID GOING, YOU KNOW, SALLY WAS KISSING, YOU KNOW, STEVE AND SO-AND-SO SAW IT.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY TOLD ME THIS.

IT'S LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER, AND HAL GOLDSMITH HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY GOOD PROSECUTOR AND HE'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THE WAY I TOOK IT, HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE DRAGGED INTO ANY POLITICAL ARGUMENT.

HE DIDN'T EVEN RESPOND.

NOW, HAD -- THE LETTER SAID, LOOK, WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM COUNCILMAN FITCH, SHOULD WE RELEASE THESE SUBPOENAS, ONE-LINE LETTER, THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

BUT ON COUNTY EXECUTIVE STATION STATIONE STATIONERY, THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN -- >> BUT HE DID IT AS A THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT, THE -- >> WELL, IT'S GOSSIP.

>> IT WOULD HAVE WORKED.

IF HE HAD SAM PAGE AND THE -- >> RAY IS SAYING THAT SAM PAGE WAS USING GOVERNMENT FACILITIES FOR CAMPAIGN -- >> NO, NO.

>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, HAL GOLDSMITH, I THINK THERE'S A CLUE HERE, HE DIDN'T DIGNIFY IT WITH A RESPONSE.

HE SENT A LETTER TO -- HE RESPONDED TO BETH ORWICK WHO HADN'T EVEN WRITTEN TO HIM, SAYING IF I THINK THAT SAM PAGE WAS TALKING ABOUT, LET HIM KNOW YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU -- THEN THE ANSWER, YOU'RE TRYING TO USE THEM FOR COVER FOR NOT BEAL BEING WILLING TO -- ONE OTHER DETAIL, INDICATED THAT THE INVESTIGATION OF STCT -- INVESTIGATIONS, PLURAL, ARE ONE GOING.

SO STAY TUNED, FOLKS, HE'S SAYING THERE'S MORE.

WHAT A TIME TO BE SENDING A LETTER TO HAL GOLDSMITH.

>> AS FOR DARBY AND HIS COMPLAINT, YOU KNOW, 14 MONTHS AGO, THIS IS 2020 HINDSIGHT.

TURNS OUT THE GUY WAS A SCOUNDREL, BUT SOMEBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT SOMEBODY TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, I DON'T THINK THE FIRST -- OR ANY PERSON IN GOVERNMENT OR BOSS, THEIR FIRST IMMEDIATE THING SHOULD BE LIKE, YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M GOING TO FIRE HIM TOMORROW.

>> THEY DIDN'T EVEN INVESTIGATE THIS, THOUGH.

THAT'S WHAT'S CRAZY.

THEY KNEW THEY HAD THIS POLITICAL APPOINTEE WHO HAD NO BUSINESS BEING THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT ADVISOR AT THE JAIL.

THEY GET A COMPLAINT ABOUT HIS CHANGE MANAGEMENT ADVISING, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR SAYS, THIS IS A WEIRD AREA, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER POLITICAL APPOINTEES.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM.

>> BUT WHAT ALVIN IS POINTING OUT, THE JAILS DID HAVE FIVE MYSTERIOUS DEATHS, SO AT THAT TIME, PEOPLE WERE SAYING, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE JAIL, TONY WEAVER IS ON TO SOMETHING.

>> WELL, HE WAS ONE OF THOSE AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK THEY'VE BEEN SUED OR LOST AND SETTLED ON AT LEAST ONE OF THEM.

>> THEY WERE BIG PROBLEMS AT THE JAIL AND THEY WERE SAYING, THIS GUY IS GOING ABOUT THINGS IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE UNABLE TO GET THE CHANGE WE NEED BECAUSE THIS GUY IS IN HERE MEDDLING IN SUCH A WAY -- >> BUT TONY WEAVER WAS A CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENT AGAIN.

HIS BACKGROUND WITH WALTON, YOU WOULD THINK THAT SAM PAGE GOT A NOTE THAT SAID, HEY, THIS GUY IS A PROBLEM -- >> BUT HE WASN'T GOING TO LOOK AT THE DUDE.

LET'S NOT FORGET TO CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVE WALTON, WALTON GREY VOTING, STAYING OVER PAST THEIR TERM TO VOTE AGAINST RITA HEARD DAYS, HIS POLITICAL ENEMY, BEING COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, SO THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP TO THE COUNTY THAT'S THEY'RE UNWILLING -- >> THAT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO CONNECT -- THE REASON THAT SHE STAYED ON WAS SO I COULD HIRE TONY WEAVER BECAUSE I KNEW HE WAS A CROOK AND I'M A CROOK AND EVERYBODY'S CROOKED, NO -- >> I'M NOT SAYING THAT.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO CONNECT NAMES AND -- >> BUT DID HE GO TOO FAR WHEN HE SAID, OH, EVEN MEMBERS OF THE WALTON FAMILY ARE CONTACT TRACERS FOR THE COUNTY.

I'M LIKE, SO WHAT.

>> THAT WASN'T A PROBLEM -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> ALVIN, ALVIN, THAT TRADEOFF -- >> OKAY, OKAY.

>> -- WAS HIM GETTING A JOB AND HER DOING THAT VOTE.

>> ALL RIGHT, BILL McCLELLAN, CORI BUSH, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ST. LOUIS AREA, WAS ONE OF 27 DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEN TO VOTE AGAINST A MEASURE WHICH WOULD BEEF UP SECURITY FOR THE FAMILIES OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

AS YOU KNOW, A GUY WAS JUST ARRESTED LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE FOR TRYING TO KILL JUSTICE BRETT CAVANAUGH, AND SO CONGRESS IS, YOU KNOW, RAISING THE MONEY TO PROTECT THE JUSTICES' FAMILIES.

DO YOU THINK THAT SHE WAS IN THE RIGHT TO DO THAT?

>> NO, AND WHENEVER I TALK ABOUT THIS CONGRESSIONAL RACE, LET ME PREFACE IT BY SAYING I'M FRIENDS OF STEVE ROBERTS' FAMILY, SO I HAVE A BIAS IN THIS, BUT I THINK CORI BUSH WAS TOTALLY WRONG.

THESE ARE CRAZY TIMES AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO -- THE JUSTICES NEED PROTECTION AND I THOUGHT THAT HER LANGUAGE IN THE EXPLANATION OF HER VOTE WAS VERY DISTURBING.

I MEAN, WHEN SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THEY DON'T NEED -- THE JUSTICES DON'T NEED PROTECTION, WE NEED PROTECTION FROM THEM.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MIRROR OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE PRO LIFE EXTREMISTS SAY WHEN THEY'D SAY I DIDN'T SHOOT A DOCTOR, I WAS PROTECTING BABIES.

YOU GO, NO, NO, NO, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND I THINK THAT YOU CAN DISAGREE WITH THE SUPREME COURT AND I DO AND I DON'T THINK VERY HIGHLY OF THEM, BUT THEY NEED PROTECTION AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I THINK SHE WAS MAKING A -- MAYBE NOT WORDING IT RIGHT, NO, WE NEED PROTECTION FROM THEM JUST BECAUSE OF THE VOTES THEY MADE.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH VIOLENCE OR -- >> IT'S A DANGEROUS PATH TO GO DOWN, ALVIN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF -- I JUST -- >> OKAY, I -- >> BUT I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IT BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING PIECEMEAL?

THAT'S AN AMERICAN PROBLEM.

LOOK, IT'S BEEN PROVEN, TIMES WHAT ARE THEY ARE AND THE EASIEST THING TO SAY IT'S THEIR FAULT, BOUGHT IF YOU'RE A SITUATION LIKE THAT, YOU, YOUR FAMILY, HOW MUCH DOES IT TAKE FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO BE PROTECTED AND I'M FINE WITH THAT.

LET'S JUST PAY THE PRICE FOR THE IGNORANCE THAT IS BEING SPREAD THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY AND MAYBE MORE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS AND WHATNOT SAY THE ONLY REASON WE'RE HAVING TO SHELL OUT ALL THIS MONEY FOR SECURITY AND ALL THAT IS BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH VIMEZ AND TOO MUCH IGNORANCE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO COMBAT THAT AND MAYBE WE WON'T HAVE TO SPEND ALL THIS MONEY.

BUT FOR NOW, WE HAVE TO SPEND IT.

>> A LOT OF VOTES AGAINST THIS BILL WERE PEOPLE SAYING IT DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

RIGHT NOW THERE ARE JUDGES BEING KILLED.

THERE WAS ONE IN WISCONSIN, ONE IN NEW JERSEY.

THIS IS SAYING WE NEED TO PROTECT ALL FEDERAL JUDGES.

IT'S CRAZY THAT WE DON'T.

>> I DISAGREED WITH THE VOTE AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD POLITICS, BUT IN AN ELECTION YEAR WHERE SHE HAS AN OPPONENT, SHE'S STILL AUTHENTIC.

>> SHE'S STILL HERSELF.

>> CORI BUSH MARCHES TO THE BEAT OF HER OWN DRUM, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, AND IN AN AGE WHEN SO FEW PEOPLE THINK INDEPENDENTLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, I LIKE THAT ABOUT HER.

AGAIN, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE VOTE.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THE VOTE.

>> I JUST DIDN'T LIKE THE LANGUAGE IN IT.

I DIDN'T LIKE THE REASONING, AND I JUST FOUND IT DISTURBING.

I THINK THE JUDGES NEED -- AND MAYBE ALL THE JUDGES NEED PROTECTION.

>> THEY DO NEED PROTECTION, THERE'S NO QUESTION.

>> THE FEDERAL MARSHALS PROTECT THE FEDERAL JUDGES.

>> BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO HOME?

>> SHE SPENT HER OWN MONEY ON HER OWN SECURITY, THAT'S WELL DOCUMENTED.

>> GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ONE OF THESE JUSTICES, IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN HARDEST ON THE OTHER SIDE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHOEVER IS GOING TO BE BLAMED FOR IT.

LET'S JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND I'M ALL FOR SECURITY.

>> BY THE WAY, BILL AND I ARE NEXT UP ARE GOING TO BE TALKING TO JAMES ROBINSON, WHO DIRECTED HARVEY MILK, THE OPRAH, AT OPRAH THEATER ST. LOUIS, TALKING ABOUT TRAGEDIES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

WE'LL GET INTO THAT AT HALF PAST.

FIRST, RAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE TRASH IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

A COUPLE OF ISSUES HERE.

JOE VACCARO, MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN SAID IT'S SO BAD THAT HIS CONSTITUENTS ARE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY TRYING TO FIND A FREE DUMPSTER WHERE THEY CAN PUT THEIR GARAGE, AND SHARON TYUS, A SUPPORTER OF THE MAYOR, SAID TISHAURA JONES MIGHT BE A ONE-TERM MAYOR IF THEY DON'T FIX THIS PROBLEM.

TYUS TOLD FOX THAT SHE'S READY TO START DRIVING A TRUCK HERSELF.

DO YOU THINK THAT TRASH PICKUP IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS WHERE THEY'RE MISSING 12 TO 15 ROUTES EVERY DAY, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THE ACHILLES HEEL OR THE WATERLOO FOR MAYOR JONES?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, FIRST OF ALL.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM, BUT I MEAN -- >> SHARON TYUS SAID IT.

>> SHARON TYUS, OKAY.

NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE, BUT I THINK THE CITY -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THE CITY -- I DON'T THINK THERE'S A RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.

SOME MUNICIPALITIES, YOU KNOW, OUTSOURCE IT AND OTHERS DON'T.

I THINK IT REALLY WOULD DEPEND ON, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYBODY, STAFFING ANY KIND OF SERVICE RIGHT NOW IS DIFFICULT.

AND SO THEY JUST GOT TO MAKE A CALCULATION -- I HATE TO SAY ANOTHER STUDY, BUT THEY GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER -- REED McCLELLAN MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT ON IT.

>> BUT JUST GO TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR A PRIVATE -- >> WELL, READ THE STUDY FIRST WHETHER THEY SHOULD DO THAT.

REALLY, I DON'T MEAN TO BE WISHY WASHY, BUT IT DEPENDS -- >> THEY CAN'T HIRE ENOUGH PEOPLE AND THE CITY HAS THIS BIZAR E RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.

YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY AND IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO THIS.

NOW THEY HAD TO ADD RECYCLING BACK.

PEOPLE WERE REALLY WOUND UP ABOUT THE FACT THAT CITY WASN'T PICKING UP RECYCLING, SO THEY TRIED TO MAKE SPACE TO MAKE THAT PROGRAM WORK AND THERE'S NOT QUITE ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.

IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE TO MODERNIZE THAT PERSONNEL OFFICE.

>> THE IDEA GOT FLOATED THAT KIRKWOOD WAS GOING TO DROP RECYCLING AND OVERNIGHT, I'M NOT KIDDING, IT WAS JUST WAS SHAKE NG, WHAT IS GOING ON?

I THINK WHAT THE CITY COULD DO, ONE THING T OKAY, IT WORKS IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE PAY FOR IT, OKAY?

I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT, ALL RIGHT, IF WE WERE GOING TO INCREASE WHATEVER PEOPLE -- I GUESS YOU ALREADY PAY -- >> WE PAY.

WE PAY $14 A HOUSEHOLD.

>> SO IF YOU TOOK AWAY THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AND INSTEAD OF $14, IT BECAME 18 AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM, DO YOU THINK -- I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

>> NO, PEOPLE WOULD PAY THAT.

>> THAT'S WHAT IT GOING TO SAY.

I THINK PEOPLE WOULD PAY THAT ADDITIONAL FOUR DOLLARS.

>> THIS IS WHY THE CONSULTING SERVICE -- >> HIT ON ME.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT MAIN STREET IN ST. CHARLES.

THERE'S A MEASURE THERE THAT THE MAYOR OF ST. CHARLES CITY SUPPORTS AND THAT WOULD SAY THAT RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN 50% OF YOUR GROSS RECEIPTS FROM A RESTAURANT BE FROM LIQUOR, BUT THEY WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

BUT THERE ARE SOME BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET THAT SAY, NO, THAT'S GOING TO RUIN THE FAMILY ASPECT THEREFORE TOWN.

WHEN YOU GO TO MAIN STREET IN ST. CHARLES, YOU DO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE PUSHING STROLLERS.

SHOULD THEY LOOSEN THE REGULATIONS ON THESE BUSINESSES SO BARS WITH THRIVE, OR SHOULD THEY KEEP THE FAMILY FEEL?

>> I THINK THERE'S A GA CASE TO BE MADE FOR CHANGING THE RULES.

IF YOU HEAR THE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY'RE SAYING IT'S VERY COMPLICATED AND THERE'S WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND IT AND IT'S NOT BEING ENFORCED.

THE CITY SPENDS $500,000 A YEAR TO AUDIT THESE BUSINESSES FOR SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SKIRT.

THERE'S A WAY FOR THE CITY TO COME DOWN ON A BAR THAT'S BAD OR CONTRIBUTING TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGES IN THIS PROPOSAL THAT WOULD DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK THIS 50-50 RULE NEEDS TO STAY ON THE BOOKS.

>> I'M PRO BAR.

I THINK -- >> NO ONE LIKES BARS MORE THAN ME, BUT I AGREE WITH THE PRESENT OWNERS WHO SAY DON'T CHANGE THE RULES.

IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOU BUY A HOUSE NEAR THE AIRPORT AND THEN YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT NOISE.

THE CONDO OWNERS WHO BOUGHT CONDOS NEXT TO NEW LIFE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HOMELESS.

IT'S A QUESTION OF WHO'S THERE FIRST, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INVESTED MONEY IN THEIR LITTLE BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE AMBIENCE OF THE STREET, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY TO THEM, WE'RE CHANGING THE RULES AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A NIGHTCLUB DISTRICT.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT FOLKS SAY ST. CHARLES IS GOING TO BE DEAD DRUNK AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING IF YOU CHANGE THIS REGULATION, STROLLER TIME IS OVER AT 8:00.

COME ON NOW.

>> AND I GOT TO SAY, THE REPORTING THAT RIVERFRONT TIMES DID ON THIS, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE AGAINST THIS CHANGE ARE SAYING THIS COULD BRING PEOPLE FROM NORTH COUNTY.

IT COULD BRING THE ELEMENT -- >> THAT WAS REGRETTABLE, AND NONETHELESS, I WILL SAY ALONG WITH KIRKWOOD AVENUE IN KIRKWOOD, SOUTH GRAND IN SOUTH ST. LOUIS, MAIN STREET IN ST. CHARLES IS A SPECIAL STREET AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RUIN IT.

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK.

>> I HAD A BUSINESS THERE AND I -- >> AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES WAS -- >> WE CAME IN AND GOT A YEAR AND THEN WE LEFT AND IT WAS LIKE CARPETBAGGING.

>> WE HAVE A MINUTE OR SO TO GO.

THIS WEEK, ALVIN REID, THE HISTORY MUSEUM, A COUPLE MEMBERS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT WERE IN TOWN TALKING ABOUT AN EXPO, A WORLD'S FAIR FOR MINNEAPOLIS IN 2027.

ACTUALLY, THE CO-CHAIR OF THAT EFFORT IS BOB CLARK OF CLAYCO, FORMER GUEST OF OURS HERE.

DO YOU THINK AS SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE DID, THAT IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR ST. LOUIS TO GET ANOTHER WORLD'S FAIR?

>> TO TRY.

I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH TRY.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH TRYING TO GET THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS TO MOVE TO ST. LOUIS.

THEY'RE MAD, FAMILY'S TEARING THEMSELVES APART.

WE SHOULD TRY TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TRY, YOU WILL NOT SUCCEED.

>> AND WE GOT $500 MILLION FROM -- >> THERE'S NO REASON TO NOT TAKE THAT REASON AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

>> I'M JUST KIDDING.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE A DISASTER TO GET THE WORLD FAIR HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D DO, BUT WE WOULDN'T HANDLE IT WELL.

I CAN JUST SAY GOVERNOR PARSON ADDRESSING THE WORLD.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL WORK.

>> I WILL SAY, ADAM KLOPPE FROM THE HISTORY MUSEUM WAS THERE AND HE SAID IN 1904, BECAUSE OF THE WORLD'S FAIR, WE PUT IN THE PIPES TO GET CLEAN WATER AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AT THAT TIME THAT TIME IF NOT FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR.

>> ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

>> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR THAT SEGMENT.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE VIEWERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S DONNYBASH.

HOW ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE COMFORTABLE RIDING THE EXISTING METROLINK FIRST BEFORE EXPANDING IT, LIKE NOT HAVING TO WORRY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARASSED, MUGGED OR SHOT.

MONEY FOR THAT FIRST.

THAT WAS TWEETED BY KIROK31.

KATIE FISHER WROTE SINCE 1987, IT'S THE ONLY PLACE TO BE ON THURSDAYS AT 7.

ENJOYED BEING PART OF THE LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE AT DONNYBASH LAST NIGHT.

THANK YOU.

TELEVISION OBSOLETE?

RAY HARTMANN, SERIOUSLY.

I WATCH CHANNEL 9 PBS ALL THE TIME.

THAT STATE REPRESENTATIVE TRACY McCAREREEcCREERY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU CAN WRITE IT, DON'T FORGET THESE EMAILS AND THOSE TWEETS.

YOU CAN FIND US WHEREVER YOU FIND YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST.

THANKS TO SARAH FOR SITTING IN FOR WENDY WIESE ON THIS EDITION.

DON'T GO AWAY, EVERYBODY, BECAUSE BILL AND I WILL BE TALKING TO A PANEL ABOUT PRIDE MONTH HERE IN ST. LOUIS.

HOPE YOU JOIN US.

DON'T GO AWAY.

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