FAILING GRADES IN THE NATION'S SCHOOLS, LEE ZELDIN CLOSING FAST.

AND IS BIDEN DRAGGING HIS PARTY DOWN?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, MICHAEL TILLOTSON FROM SUNY CORTLAND, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

THE GRADES ARE IN AND THEY'RE NOT GOOD-COVID DISRUPTION HAD A TERRIBLE IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING.

THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS REPORT OUT THIS WEEK, SHOWED UNPRECEDENTED DECLINES IN MATH AND SIGNIFICANT DROPS IN READING SCORES FOR 4TH AND 8TH GRADERS.

DECLINES WERE FELT ACROSS ALL STATES NOTWITHSTANDING HOW LONG SCHOOLS WERE SHUT DOWN.

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU IN THIS REPORT?

>> THE RESULTS WERE NOT GOOD.

CLEARLY STUDENTS ARE NOT PERFORMING AS HIGHLY AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST AND SELF-THINGS NEED TO BE DONE ABOUT THAT.

I'LL MENTION A FEW.

AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, PRINCIPALS ARE SETTING BUILDING LEVEL GOALS FOR THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.

I THINK THESE NEED TO INCLUDE MEASURABLE TARGET GOALS TO IMPROVE SCORES IN ELA AND MATH IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS SO AS THE YEAR GOES ON, THEY CAN BE REVISITED AND WE CAN SEE WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING.

IN TERMS OF THE APPROACH OF TEACHING THESE SUBJECTS.

YOU NEED HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ALIGNMENT.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS AROUND THE COUNTRY THIS IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR DIFFERENT TEACHERS IN THE SAME GRADES TO TEACH THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND HAVE DIFFERENT LEARNING GOALS.

THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR STUDENTS.

THEY SHOULD HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF APPROACH TO LEARNING MATH AND ENGLISH WITHIN THE SAME GRADE AND ACROSS GRADES SO ONE GRADE CAN BUILD ON ANOTHER.

LASTLY, I THINK YOU ALSO NEED TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHERS AND WHAT THEY DO.

THEY'RE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

THEY HAVE A TOUGH JOB, BUT THEY NEED TO BE PROVIDED THE RESOURCES TO MEET THE GOALS THAT THEY HAVE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT MAKES ME WONDER IF YOU HAVE -- IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TEACHERS UNIONS HERE, THAT THEY DON'T WANT THEM TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT?

>> IT DEPENDS.

I THINK IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME FOR TEACHERS BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, STUDENTS ARE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND I THINK YOU NEED A COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN LAWMAKERS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE TOUGH CHOICES ARE MADE AND TEMPERATURES TO MAKE SURE THE RESULTS ARE THERE.

>> I AGREE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BUT I ALSO THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE LONG SORT OF TELEVISION WATCHING COMPONENT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THAT IS THE REMOTE LEARNING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IS THAT EVEN THOUGH MOST SCHOOLS HAVE ELIMINATED REMOTE LEARNING, STUDENTS ARE STILL IN THE MENTAL FRAMEWORK OF REMOTE LEARNING, SO EVEN WHEN THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOMS, IN A SENSE, THEIR BODY LANGUAGE, THEIR MINDS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY'RE WATCHING TELEVISION.

SO I THINK TEACHERS HAVE A SENSE THAT, YES, I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING THIS BASIC SUBJECT WHETHER IT'S MATH OR READING BUT I ALSO HAVE TO DO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ENTERTAINING OF MY STUDENTS IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR FOCUS AND KEEP THEIR ATTENTION.

SO I THINK THE THINGS THAT YOU SUGGESTED ABSOLUTELY WILL BE HELPFUL.

BUT I'M A LITTLE LEERY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TEACHER ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE HOW WE TAKE-- WE LOOK AT AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT TEACHERS ARE FACING SOMETHING THAT THEY DID NOT FACE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AND THAT IS THIS NOTION THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE BECOME VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE SENSE OF YOU NEED TO ENTERTAIN ME BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINED FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS AND HOW DOES THE TEACHER DO THAT AND TEACH THE SAME SUBJECT?

>> SO LET ME JUMP IN ON THAT.

I DO FEEL THAT THERE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE IN RESOURCE ALLOCATION AMONG DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, RIGHT?

IT ALWAYS BOGGLES MY MIND THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES SO THAT HAS ALREADY CREATED A MASSIVE INEQUALITY AMONG DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

AND THIS TREND OF POOR PERFORMANCE IN MATH AND READING COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, THIS HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A DECADE OR SO.

AND, OF COURSE, THE PANDEMIC AGGREGATE VAITED-- AGGRAVATED IT AND CREATED FURTHER DIFFERENCES.

MY QUESTION IS WOULDN'T THIS BE A GOOD CASE TO BE MADE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME EQUALIZATION OF RESOURCES ACROSS SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES OR, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE YOU ALL KNOW BETTER THAN THIS.

I DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL HERE.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY TO, YOU KNOW, TO DO THAT?

BECAUSE ONE CLEAR THING IS THE LACK OF RESOURCES THAT PROFESSORS WORK WITH.

>> YOU MENTIONED PROPERTY TAXES.

AND OF COURSE THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT-- THE REASON THERE IS NOT.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AND HOW MUCH TAXES ARE BEING RAISED VIA THAT ROUTE THAT ENDS UP GOING TO THE SCHOOLS.

MICHAEL?

>> MY WIFE HAS BEEN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHER FOR 17 YEARS OR SO.

I LIVE WITH THIS THING FOR 18 MONTHS IN MY LIVING ROOM.

EDUCATORS IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY KNEW THAT REMOTE LEARNING WAS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR CHILDREN BUT WHEN FASCINATES ME IS THE POLITICAL SPIN THEY PUT ON IT, LIKE THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

WHAT WOULD THE POLICY MAKERS DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?

WILL THEY USE THE INFORMATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OR USE THE INFORMATION TO PUSH THEIR POLITICAL AGENDAS AND ATTEMPT TO FURTHER DEFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION?

WE TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

WHAT ABOUT THE REALITY OF DEFUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION?

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT IS MY QUESTION.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK THIS POLITICAL SEASON ON VARIOUS CULTURAL ISSUES IN CLASSROOMS AND, YOU KNOW, BEING PUSHED BY CERTAIN POLITICAL AGENDAS.

ARE WE-- IS THAT TAKING AWAY FROM STUDENT LEARNING SOMEHOW?

>> I DO THINK SO.

I MEAN TO BE VERY HONEST, WHAT WE HAVE IS 50 DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS AND THEN MANY OF THEM DO NOT AGREE WITH EACH OTHER.

AND IN SOME STATES YOU CAN READ AND TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND IN SOME STATES YOU CAN'T.

SO, YEAH, I DO THINK IT WILL CREATE A MASSIVE LEVEL OF INTELLECTUAL INEQUALITY ALONG WITH THE DEFUNDING OF EDUCATION THAT MICHAEL IS VERY RIGHTLY POINTING OUT.

I FOUND OUT ONLY 62% OF ENROLLMENT RATE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS AGAIN LOWER THAN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.

SO, YOU KNOW, ON THE WHOLE, I DO THINK THE CULTURAL WARS ARE MAKING EDUCATION OUTCOMES WORSE.

>> MICHAEL... >> I WANT TO SAY EDUCATORS AND TEACHERS BEING INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROGRESS AND HELPING THEM MAKE THE DECISIONS.

>> IS THERE A SILVER LINING TO THE REPORT, TO SHOW SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN MOVE AHEAD?

I KNOW YOU WANT TO MAKE A POINT THERE.

>> I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SILVER LININGS.

I THINK MORE RESOURCES IS MERITED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE RESULTS SHOW THAT ONE IN THREE STUDENTS ARE MEETING THE STANDARDS.

SO THAT GOES ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD AT TRADITIONALLY HIGH PERFORMING DISTRICTS TO DISTRICTS THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT HAVE ALL SEEN A DECLINE IN SCORES.

I DON'T THINK RESOURCES ALONE WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

IT'S THE NITTY GRITTY OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM.

DIFFERENT WAITED EDUCATION.

IF YOU ARE IN FIFTH GRADE AND SOMEBODY IS READING AT SECOND GRADE LEVEL, THAT WON'T WORK.

I THINK THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO DO MORE TO MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE TO HELP THEM MEET THE GRADE LEVEL AND CATCH UP IN WHATEVER WAY THEY NEED TO.

>> TARA.

>> ONE OTHER THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS A GREAT IDEA, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A FEDERAL COMMISSION ON EDUCATION, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

HOPEFULLY INCLUDING MANY TEACHERS AT MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS AMONG OTHERS.

AND ONE OF THE IDEAS ALONG WITH THAT NOTION OF A FEDERAL COMMISSION ON EDUCATION WAS HAVING A VOLUNTEER FORCE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIRED, ET CETERA.

WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO DO TUTORING FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE ALL TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TUTORING STUDENTS, STUDENTS NEED EXTRA HELP AND WE ASSUME THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE CLASSROOM AT THE SAME TIME AS THE TEACHER IS TRYING TO TEACH EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA THAT, GET VOLUNTEERS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MADE IT THROUGH LIFE, AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS, LET THEM VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT REALLY WOULDN'T COST THAT MUCH EXTRA.

AND IT WOULD FREE THE TEACHER UP TO TEACH WHAT THE TEACHER IS SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM BUT ALSO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, AS YOU SAY, WHERE THEY ARE.

>> MAYBE THAT'S THE SILVER LINING.

IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR KIDS AND GOOD FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AS WELL.

THIS WAS A BIG WEEK FOR DEBATES IN NEW YORK WITH ELECTION DAY AROUND THE CORNER GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND HER REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER LEE ZELDIN MET FOR THEIR ONLY DEBATE, AND HERE IN OUR 22ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FRANCIS CONOLE AND BRANDON WILLIAMS ALSO FACED EACH OTHER.

LET'S START WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

POLLS SHOW ZELDIN COMING ON FAST.

DID HE CLOSE THE DEAL??

>> NOT EXACTLY BECAUSE LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE DOWNSTATE VIBE AND POLLS THAT ARE TAKEN DOWNSTATE.

BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS, WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, JAMAICA, QUEENS, BROWNSVILLE.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT FEELING ZELDIN.

HE IS THE GHOST OF GIULIANI.

WHY DO I SAY THAT?

BECAUSE HIS IDEAS ABOUT CRIME TO THEM APPEAR TO BE DRACONIAN.

WHEN THEY HEAR THE NAME ZELDIN, THEY THINK STOP AND FRISK.

THEY THINK ABOUT PUBLIC HARASSMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN.

IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LONG SO THERE IS A WHOLE GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAUGHT ABOUT STOP AND FRISK FROM THEIR PARENTS AND I TALKED TO MY BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AND THEY TALK ABOUT STOP AND FRISK.

CAN VANILLA UPSTATE SAVE ZELDIN FROM CHOCOLATE DOWNSTATE.

WE'LL WAIT AND SEE.

>> THERE IS ALSO NOT ALL OF DOWNSTATE IS CHOCOLATE.

>> I GET THE LONG ISLAND PIECE AND THE STATEN ISLAND PIECE AND NORTHERN SUBURBS BUT THEY BETTER COME OUT STRONG.

>> I WATCHED THE WHOLE DEBATE AND IT BASICALLY LOOKED LIKE AN ANGRY WHITE MAN TRYING TO PEDDLE OLD SCHOOL DOG WHISTLE RACISM ABOUT CRIME AND CRIMINALITY TO, YOU KNOW, A SOCIETY WHICH HAS BEEN PRIMED FOR SEVERAL DECADES ON OVER REPORTING OF CRIME AND PROPAGANDA.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO ALL THE TIME.

SO IT'S EASY FOR ZELDIN TO SELL THAT KIND OF PARANOIA, TINTED WITH DOG WHISTLE RACISM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU MENTION THE MEXICAN CARTEL BUT I ESPECIALLY WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE CRIME REPORT THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS BASED ON A NEW CRIME REPORTING SYSTEM BY FBI WHICH, BY THE WAY, ABOUT 7,000 ONLY OUT OF 18,000 POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SEEN THE CRIME REPORT.

NEW YORK IS NOT IN THERE.

LOS ANGELES IS NOT IN THERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL RECORDS, YOU WILL SHOW THAT THE CRIME REPORT, WE CANNOT MAKE ANY JUDGMENTS BASED ON THE CRIME REPORT.

THE SECOND THING I WANT TO SAY, THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE BY NON-PARTIES AND ACADEMICS OF THE RESEARCH THAT CONNECTS CASH BAIL TO HIGHER CRIME RATES.

THAT'S A LIE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO PEDDLE AND TO SELL.

SO ON THE WHOLE, I FEEL HIM TO BE THIS NATIONAL POPULOUS-- POP LIFT HERO.

I'M AN ANGRY WHITE MAN.

I'M GOING TO SAVE YOU FROM THE BAD CRIMINALS AND AS A RESULT... >> THE VOTERS DO SEEM TO CARE ABOUT CRIME THOUGH.

WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF THE REASONS YOU JUST LAID OUT OR NOT, LUKE... >> THERE IS A SHARED PERCEPTION AMONG BOTH PARTIES THAT CRIME IS A PROBLEM.

STATEWIDE POLLING IT'S A TOP ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

I THINK THE PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW IS THE POLITICAL CONTEXT.

THE BEST THING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN NEW YORK STATE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS WAS DONALD TRUMP.

AND THIS CYCLE, YOU SEE GOVERNOR HOCHUL TRYING TO RUN ON TRUMP.

HE IS NOT IN OFFICE.

DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME TRACTION.

SHE IS ALSO PRIORITIZED REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WHICH IS NOT WORKING FOR DEMOCRATS IN THIS ELECTION.

WE HAVE SEEN A PIVOT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS IN THE HOME STRETCH HERE TO POCKETBOOK ISSUES THAT AFFECT MORE PEOPLE.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO DO THAT EARLY.

I THINK HOCHUL IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO WIN BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSER THAN YEARS PAST BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE.

>> SHE HAS BEEN A LOW KEY GOVERNOR, I WOULD SAY AND SHE WAS PRACTICALLY INVISIBLE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOR MUCH OF THE SEASON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT IS ALSO ONE OF HER PROBLEMS, IS THAT SHE DID NOT GET OUT VERY EARLY, REALLY MAKING THE CASE FOR HERSELF AS THE CANDIDATE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I DON'T THINK SHE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT IS THAT MANY PEOPLE STILL SEE HER SORT OF AS THE POSTED CUOMO ALSO RAN OKAY YES, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RUNS ON THE TICKET BUT YOU DIDN'T REALLY RUN.

AND SO SHE REALLY NEEDED TO MAKE THE CASE FOR HERSELF AS I AM THE GOVERNOR, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE DONE, NOT WHAT I BENEFITED FROM CUOMO AND THERE HAS BEEN A QUESTION ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE DID VERSUS WHAT WAS ALREADY IN THE WORKS.

AND ALSO MAKE THE CASE THAT I AM READY TO BE YOUR GOVERNOR BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR.

I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THESE ARE MY SUCCESSES.

SHE HAS DONE MORE OF THAT LATELY.

SHE DIDN'T DO IT EARLY ENOUGH.

>> MICHAEL.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FEAR AND CRIME.

IT'S NOT LIKE BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND FEAR AND CRIME.

THEY'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESPONSES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

THE PROBLEM WITH ZELDIN IS NOT TRUMP.

THE PROBLEM WITH ZELDIN IS THE GHOST OF VANILLA GIULIANI.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN THE 22nd.

CANOLE AND WILLIAMS HAD THEIR DEBATE, A COUPLE OF DEBATES, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A PRETTY CLOSE RACE, KIND OF SURPRISINGLY SO.

LUKE.

>> INDEPENDENT POLLING FROM SEE ENA HAD WILLIAMS UP FIVE POINTS.

YOU WOULD THINK CANOLE WOULD BE UP 3-5 POINTS BECAUSE IT'S A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT NY-22.

HE HAS A FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE HEAD WINDS OF THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY HAVE BEEN DRAGGING THE TICKET AND SO FAR OUTPERFORMING EXPECTATIONS.

>> WHAT IS THIS RACE KIND OF COMING DOWN TO, TARA?

IS THIS ANOTHER CRIME AND INFLATION PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A CRIME AND INFLATION PROBLEM AS IT IS THAT CANOLE CAME OUT BASICALLY CAMPAIGNING AGAINST TRUMP VIA WILLIAMS.

AND AS THE ISSUES HAVE FOCUSED ON CRIME AND INFLATION, HE HASN'T REALLY PIVOTED WELL ENOUGH TO FOCUS ON THE WEAKNESSES THAT EXIST IN WILLIAMS IN TERMS OF THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH REALLY NEW TO POLITICS.

NEITHER IS AN INCUMBENT.

NEITHER ONE REALLY HAS A RECORD THAT YOU CAN POINT TO.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> WHEN I WATCHED THAT DEBATE, FELT BETTER THAN THE ZELDIN- HOCHUL DEBATE.

AND I DO THINK THAT WHAT CANOLE TRIED TO POINT OUT THAT HE IS KIND OF WILL FOLLOW THE LEGACY OF THIS CENTRIST POLITICIAN LIKE KATKO.

AND ONE GOOD THING IS THAT HE TRIED TO CHECK ON WILLIAMS' KIND OF FLIP FLOPPING ON RIGHT TO LIFE ISSUE AND SO ON.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT ONE THING.

THERE IS ONE POINT IN THE DEBATE WHERE WILLIAMS MAKES THE CLAIM THAT GIVING MONEY TO PEOPLE IN MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUTS ARE THE SAME THING AND LECTURES CANOLE TO LEARN SOME ECONOMICS.

I HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU, Mr. WILLIAMS.

YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR ECONOMICS.

TRANSFER PAYMENTS AND TAX CUTS ARE DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT MULTIPLIER EFFECTS.

IF HE WANTS TO TAKE MY ECONOMICS CLASS NEXT SPRING, I WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP HIM OUT.

>> WELL, IF HE DOES, I WANT TO GO TO SEE THE SHOW ACTUALLY.

IN MANY OF THESE RACES THE DETERMINING FACTOR MAY BE THE UN-POPULARITY OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

REPUBLICANS PORTRAY HIM AS OLD, WEAK, DODDERING AND INEFFECTIVE.

BUT'S ALSO SIGNED SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION AND RALLIED THE NATO IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE.

HE'S BEEN IN CAMPAIGN MODE OF LATE, INCLUDING WITH A STOP IN SYRACUSE YESTERDAY TO TOUT THE NEW MICRON CHIP PLANT.

WOULD YOU SAY HIS ADMINISTRATION, A LITTLE REPORT CARD ON HIS TERM SO FAR?

HAS HE BEEN A SUCCESS, A FAILURE, A TRANSITIONAL FIGURE TO THE NEXT PERSON?

>> I WOULD GIVE HIM THAT HE HAS BEEN A SUCCESS.

SO I PROBABLY WOULD GIVE HIM A B TO A B +.

CERTAINLY AFGHANISTAN WAS A MAJOR FAILURE AND I FELT REALLY IF YOU EVER FEEL SAD FOR A PRESIDENT, I FELT SAD FOR HIM BECAUSE THAT WAS A CASE WHERE THOSE AROUND HIM, I THINK, SORT OF FAILED HIM IN TERMS OF WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES WERE BUT HE SORT OF WALKED IN THE DOOR WITH THAT MAJOR FAILURE AND IT SORT OF DIMINISHED THE SUCCESS OF THE STIMULUS PACKAGE.

THIS HAS BEEN HIS ADMINISTRATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH, SORT OF ONE POSITIVE, THEN A NEGATIVE.

ONE POSITIVE THEN A NEGATIVE.

HE HAS HAD SOME MAJOR SUCCESSES IN TERMS OF WORKING ACROSS ACROSS THE AISLE WITH REPUBLICANS GETTING CERTAIN PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

I WOULD GIVE HIM A B TO B +.

>> BUT HE IS UNPOPULAR.

WHY IS HE SO UNPOPULAR.

>> I WILL USE MY FAVORITE PHRASE.

LET'S DROP SOME PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS KNOWLEDGE HERE.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ONE PRESIDENT AND TWO PRESIDENCIES.

ONE AT LOCAL AFFAIRS AND ONE AT FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

AND THE IDEA THAT PRESIDENTS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DO DOMESTIC AFFAIRS STUFF AND EASIER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS STUFF.

I THINK IN THAT CONTEXT BIDEN DID ACHIEVE A LOT LEGISLATIVELY.

THERE ARE LOTS OF LEGISLATION THAT PASSED.

INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT IN TERMS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, I WOULD SAY THAT I DON'T THINK BIDEN COMES OUT WELL.

AFGHANISTAN WAS A FAILURE, SO WHAT IS THE WAR IS GOING ON NOW WITH NO END.

AND YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT TO SAY THIS.

WHENEVER BIDEN TALKS, I JUST DON'T THINK HE IS A GOOD ORATOR.

HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF ABILITY TO PERSUADE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR, THE POWER TO PERSUADE.

ON THE WHOLE, I WOULD GIVE HIM A B +/A .

>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T FEEL THEY'RE MUCH BETTER OFF THAN THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO AND HIS BIGGEST SUPPORTERS, DEMOCRATS, HAVE NEVER BEEN SUPER ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HIM.

I THINK THAT EXPLAINS HIS POPULARITY.

COMING OUT OF THE 2020 ELECTION, I THOUGHT THAT IF BIDEN WERE ELECTED AND THE ECONOMY STABILIZED AND HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE TURN THE CORNER ON COVID, IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS TO REALLY PROVE THEMSELVES AND CONTINUE TO HOLD POWER.

HERE WE ARE TWO YEARS LATER, THE ECONOMY IS STILL UP AND DOWN, WE HAVEN'T COMPLETELY TURNED THE CORNER ON COVID AND IT'S A TOUGH POLITICAL CLIMATE FOR ALL INCUMBENTS, PARTICULARLY THE PRESIDENT, WHOSE PARTY IS GOING TO LOSE THE HOUSE AND MAYBE THE SENATE.

>> AND MICHAEL, IS THIS JUST A SIMPLE MATTER OF JUST POOR MESSENGERS.

>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO GET A NEW MODEL.

THEY HAVE TO COME OUT OF D.C., GET OUT OF THE LIMOUSINES THEY NEED TO GO TO THE COUNTIESY FAIR AND THE 4H CLUBS AND SHOW THEIR FACES.

THE DEMOCRATS AS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THEY HAVE A GOOD RECIPE, A GOOD MENU.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT COOKS IN THE KITCHEN.

>> THE RIGHT COOKS IN THE KITCHEN.

THAT IMPLIES THERE SHOULD BE A DIFFERENT COOK IS THE WAY I TOOK THAT.

AND WE HAVE SEEN IN RACES ALL AROUND THE KUN COUNTRY THAT DEMOCRATS SEEMS TO BE RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT RUNNING WITH HIM.

WHY NOT IF HE HAS HAD THIS RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT?

TARA YOU DO WANT TO TAKE A SHOT AT THAT?

>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW BEST TO USE THE PRESIDENT.

AND ANIRBAN MENTIONED, I HATE TO COMPARE HIM BUT OBAMA WAS VERY PERSONABLE.

BIDEN IS NOT AS PERSONABLE SO I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW HOW TO USE THE PRESIDENT.

>> QUICKLY.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIS RECORD IN TERMS OF JOBS, INCOME, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, LIFE EXPECTANCY, PRENATAL CARE, HEALTH EDUCATION AND WELFARE.

HE HAS A STELLAR RECORD.

HE CARES ABOUT HOWM AN BEINGS BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE TYPE OF HELP HE NEEDS ON THE MOVEMENT LEVEL.

>> HE DOES SEEM TO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE BUT AS WE'VE SEEM TO HAVE SAID, HE DOESN'T SEEM TO GET THAT ACROSS IN MANY CASES.

NOW WE NEED TO MOVE AHEAD TO OUR As AND Fs.

TAR, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH YOUR F. >> MY F TO THE OIL AND GAS STRE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR ROLE IN MAINTAINING THE MYTH OF RECYCLABLE PLASTIC.

MOST OF US LIKE TO FEEL THAT WE ARE HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT BY RECYCLING AS MUCH OF OUR PLASTIC AS POSSIBLE.

HOWEVER A RECENT REPORT BY GREEN PEACE SHOWED THAT THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT KNEW AND THAT ONLY ABOUT 5% OF PLASTIC IS RECYCLABLE INTO ANYTHING.

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE INDUSTRY HAS KNOWN SINCE THE 1970s THAT MOST PLASTIC COULD NOT BE ECONOMICALLY RECYCLED.

>> ANIRBAN, YOUR F. >> TO EIGHT OF THE 10 BIGGEST MEDICARE ADVANTAGE INSURERS FOR SUBMITTING INFLATED BILLS ACCORDING TO SOME FEDERAL AUDITS.

THE HEALTH SYSTEM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HEALTH SYSTEM KAISER PERMANENTE CALLED DOCTORS IN DURING LUNCH AND AFTER WORK AND URGED THEM TO ADD TO MEDICAL RECORDS OF PATIENTS THEY HADN'T SEEN IN WEEKS.

THIS IS AN F TO THE DOCTORS WHO WOULD THEN FIND A LOT OF DIAGNOSE AND LEARNED BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE AND BONUSES IN THEIR PAYCHECKS.

WITH DOCTORS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS DRUG DEALERS?

>> MICHAEL.

>> MY F TO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE CARRIE LAKE WHO SAID PUBLICLY, PUBLICLY THAT SHE WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IF SHE LOSES AND FOR ME, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ODIOUS ROT OF THE G.O.P.

>> LUKE.

>> MY F TO NEW DATA THIS WEEK THAT THE LEVEL OF GREENHOUSE GAS IN THE ATMOSPHERE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH AND SOME GASES LIKE METHANE EXPERIENCED THE LARGEST ANNUAL GROWTH EVER RECORDED.

>> TO THE As.

TARA.

>> MY A IS A NEW LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS.

TO THE DELI AT 700.

THE NEW BUSINESS IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE STRATHMORE AND GED IS AREA, THE DELLY THAT OPENED LAST WEEK IS AT THE CORNER OF GRAND AVENUE AND PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH A REASONABLY PRICED CARRY OUT DINING OPTION AND BY THE WAY, EVERYTHING SOLD IS LOCAL LOCALLY PRODUCED.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE AMERICAN HISTORIAN WRITER MIKE DAVIS AND HIS LIFE LONG BRILLIANT WORK.

MIKE DAVIS INCISIVELY ANALYZED THE LANDSCAPE AND PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MORE THAN A DECADE AGO WHEN I FIRST READ THE PLANET OF SLUMS, IT IMPRESSED ME GREATLY.

HE PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK AT 76.

MAY YOU REST IN POWER.

>> I CLEARLY SAID YOUR F AND I MEANT YOUR A. I'M GLAD YOU GAVE HIM AN A AND NOT AN F. MICHAEL YOUR A.

>> TO CHUCK SCHUMER FOR DOING THE QUIET SERIOUS WORK AWAY FROM THE CAMERAS AND HANGING IN THERE TO COMPLETE THE MICRON DEAL.

>> GETS AN A PLUS.

RIGHT?

AND LUKE YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO ONEIDA COUNTY FOR SECURING A $2 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP SUICIDE PREVENTION AMONG VETERANS.

UNFORTUNATELY 17 VETERANS A DAY ON AVERAGE TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES.

>> WELL DESERVED A THERE.

I WANT TO JUST ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE.

YOU MENTIONED METHANE EMISSIONS AS YOUR F. AND OF COURSE YOU MENTIONED OIL AND GAS.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES IN TERMS OF RECYCLING.

BUT WE DO HAVE A BIT OF A COMMON THEME HERE.

AND THE METHANE EMISSIONS, MANY OF THEM COME NOT NECESSARILY FROM OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO FROM BIOLOGICAL SOURCES, RIGHT?

SO THIS IS A PRETTY DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO SOLVE.

>> IT IS A PROBLEM.

THE METHANE HEATS THE PLANET 25 TIMES MORE THAN CARBON.

FORTUNATELY THE GAS DOESN'T LAST AS LONG IN THE ATMOSPHERE AS CARBON DIOXIDE BUT VERY POTENT IN TERMS OF GLOBAL WARMING.

>> THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM THIS EVENING.

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS WE DISCUSSED.

YOU CAN WRITE AT THE ADDRESSES ON THE SCREEN OR VISIT US AT ANY TIME ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪