HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP ON FRONT ROW, NORTH CAROLINA'S NONPROFIT HOSPITALS DRAW SCRUTINY.

IT'S BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR REDISTRICTING AND SHOULD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BE BANNED FROM TRADING STOCK?

NEXT!

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING] ♪ A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪ >> WELCOME BACK JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION JAY CHAUDHURI, THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP IN THE SENATE POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR POLITICAL ADVISOR TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH A NORTH CAROLINA TREASURER'S REPORT ON NONPROFIT HOSPITALS.

>> NORTH CAROLINA HAS MORE THAN 100 NONPROFIT HOSPITALS STATEWIDE AND PART OF THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS IS BASED ON THIS IDEA THAT THEY'RE GOING PROVIDE CHARITY CARE BUT A NEW REPORT SUGGESTS THAT THESE HOSPITALS FACED VERY LITTLE ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHARITY CARE AND ALSO BAD THAT IT'S A STUDY THAT CAME OUT THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE HEALTH PLAN RUN BY THE TREASURER DALE FOLWELL AND THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF STATE HEALTH POLICY.

SOME OF THESE HOSPITALS ARE BILLING POOR PATIENTS UP TO 3 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND IF YOU LOOK AT JUST 18 OF THE 100 PLUS NONPROFIT HOSPITALS.

THEY BILLED ALMOST 150 MILLION DOLLARS TO PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE QUALIFIED FOR CHARITY UNDER THE HOSPITAL'S OWN RULES, THE HOSPITAL'S BILLED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12% AND 29% OF THEIR BAD DEBT TO THESE UNDERPRIVILEGED PATIENTS WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO PAY ANYTHING AT ALL, THE PANDEMIC APPARENTLY MADE IT EVEN WORSE THE NUMBERS GOT EVEN WORSE AND SO NOW TREASURE FOLWELL AND SOME STATE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING INTO THIS AND PERHAPS WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ACTION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> WILL WE SEE SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION JAY?

>> WELL THAT QUESTION WAS POSED IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND I THINK IT'S UNCLEAR.

I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WILL BE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HOSPITALS AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IS ONE IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT HOSPITALS ON THE FRONT LINES DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE REPORT DID RACE ALARMING ISSUES SPECIFICALLY.

THE REPORT TALKED ABOUT AGGRESSIVE PURSUANTS OF PATIENTS BASED ON THAT CREDIT CARD DEBT ON DEBT PRACTICES AND COLLECTIONS.

>> [MARC] BILL COLLECTORS.

>> THERE WAS AN EXAMPLE IN WHICH HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN PUSHING A PATIENTS TO ACTUALLY TAKE OUT CREDIT CARDS IN ORDER TO SHIFT THEIR CREDIT TO A CREDIT CARD, BUT THESE HAVE REAL CONSEQUENCES AND MEDICAL DEBT IS IS THE LEADING INDICATOR OF WHETHER A FAMILY WILL FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY IN ANOTHER STUDY HAS FOUND THAT THOSE FAMILIES IN DEBT OR LESS LIKELY TO GO BACK AND SEEK ADDITIONAL MEDICAL HELP.

>> NELSON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> YES, WELL THE TREASURER HAS AN ONGOING FEUD WITH HOSPITALS AND THIS REPORT IS A VERY THINLY VEILED YOU KNOW THINLY SOURCED OPINION THE REPORT DOESN'T CONTAIN -- >> [MARC] EMAILS TO NELSON DOLLAR?

[CHUCKLES] I READ THE REPORT.

IT DOESN'T -- IT'S VERY INCOMPLETE.

IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE CHARITY AND UNCOMPENSATED CARE THAT HOSPITALS ARE PROVIDING, IT DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND THE INVESTMENTS OF HOSPITALS ARE MAKING AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS THIS OUT THAT THE ONLY HOSPITALS ARE MAKING ALL THIS MONEY, A 3RD OF THE HOSPITALS NATIONALLY, OR ACTUALLY FINANCIALLY UNDER WATER AFTER THIS PAST YEAR, YOU'RE SEEING ALL OF THIS CONSOLIDATION CLOSURES OF HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE IN, SO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN WORKING TO KEEP HOSPITALS OPEN.

IN HEALTH CARE, WE DON'T NEED MORE PEOPLE TAKING SHOTS.

WHAT WE NEED ARE PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER FOR SOLUTIONS.

THIS REPORT DOES NOT HELP THEM.

>> JOE YOUR THOUGHTS MY FRIEND.

>> WELL HEALTH CARE IS A COMPLICATED MARKETPLACE AND IN MANY WAYS IT'S IRRATIONAL.

EMERGENCY ROOM AT A HOSPITAL HAS TO TAKE A CUSTOMER THAT WALKS IN AND NEEDS CARE UNLIKE WALMART IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY WAL-MART'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU JUST TAKE THE PRODUCTS AWAY.

SO IT CREATES A KIND OF COMPLEXITY THAT UNDOUBTEDLY IT'S TIME FOR THE STATE TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS DRIVING COSTS IN THE HEALTH CARE MARKETPLACE.

FEDERAL LEGISLATION WAS PUT IN PLACE JANUARY 1ST ON THE ISSUE OF SURPRISE BILLING WHEN PEOPLE SUDDENLY GET A BILL FOR SERVICES BECAUSE A PARTICULAR PRACTITIONER IS NOT WITHIN THE NETWORK.

NORTH CAROLINA'S HEALTH INSURANCE RATES ARE RELATIVELY HIGH BY COMPARISON WITH OTHER STATES A LOT OF FACTORS WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM NEED TO BE EVALUATED.

THE TREASURER PERHAPS SEEING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY AS THE PERSON WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE EMPLOYEES HEALTH PLAN, A SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER OF HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE, ALL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE RETIREES THAT'S A BIG SLICE OF THE MARKET.

>> LET'S TAKE A FULL REVIEW OF ALL OF THE FACTS AND NOT JUST CHERRY PICK, ONE LITTLE SET OF INFORMATION.

>> OK WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.

I TALK ABOUT THE LATEST REDISTRICTING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH REDISTRICTING CASE THE CONTINUING SAGA.

MY FRIEND.

>> YES.

MARC LAST FRIDAY NIGHT RIGHT BEFORE THIS SHOW AIRED THE STATE SUPREME COURT ISSUED AN ORDER THAT THAT RULE THAT THE REPUBLICAN DRAWN CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL THAT WAS WHAT THAT WAS A 4 TO 3 VOTE ON THE ON THE COURT THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

AND ESSENTIALLY NOT SURPRISINGLY ABOUT THE PARTISAN VOTE.

NOT SURPRISING.

THE REPUBLICANS REPUBLICANS ON THE COURT DISSENTED THE 4 DEMOCRATS ON THE COURT SAID THAT THERE WAS A THERE WAS GERRYMANDERING LATE THIS WEEK REPUBLICANS INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD START DRAWING MAPS WE HAVE TO DO SO BY FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18TH OF THE SUPREME COURT DECIDES THAT THEY CAN'T ACCEPT THE MAP PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

THEN THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT A SPECIAL MASTER APPOINTED BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL DRAW THE MAPS.

>> MITCH IS THIS JUDICIAL OVERREACH?

YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS AND COVERED A LOT.

WELL, IT'S NOT OVERREACH IN THE SENSE OF THE SUPREME COURT HAVING A SAY OVER THE STATE CONSTITUTION, BUT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE 3 REPUBLICAN JUSTICES WHO WOULD SAY THAT THE 4 DEMOCRATIC JUSTICES ARE READING INTO THE CONSTITUTION SOMETHING THAT'S NOT THERE.

THE FREE ELECTIONS CLAUSE IN THE CONSTITUTION SAYS ALL ELECTION SHALL BE FREE DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ELECTION MAPS NOR DOES THE FREE SPEECH PROVISION, FREE ASSEMBLY OR EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO SAY GO THROUGH ALL KINDS OF LEGAL SHENANIGANS TO COME UP WITH A RULING THAT SAYS BECAUSE OF THESE PROVISIONS IN THE CONSTITUTION PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING WHICH HAS BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS EVER SINCE THE UNITED STATES WAS FIRST FORMED JAMES MADISON WAS ALMOST GERRYMANDERED OUT OF CONGRESS THAT THAT SOMEHOW IT VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IT AS OVERREACH.

>> NELSON WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION FROM THE GOP LEADERSHIP?

>> WELL JUST CALLING IT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AND THAT'S A DEMOCRAT MAJORITY COURT ISSUED AN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A POLITICAL OBJECTIVE, THAT OBJECTIVE IS TO ELECT MORE DEMOCRATS.

THEIR OPINION ACTUALLY CLAIMS THAT THE STATE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES AND I QUOTE EQUAL VOTING POWER ON THE BASIS OF PARTISAN AFFILIATION.

AS MITCH SAID THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE IN OUR FEDERAL OR STATE CONSTITUTIONS.

VOTER'S AFFILIATIONS CHANGE.

COMMUNITIES, VOTING PATTERNS CHANGE.

THE ONLY LEGAL STANDARD THAT THEY REALLY ESTABLISHED HERE IS.

WE DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE AND IN THE COURT, YOU KNOW IT'S IT IS A VERY UNFORTUNATE DECISION THAT THEY THAT THEY'VE REACHED OBVIOUSLY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL COMPLY WITH.

>> JOE COULD THIS GO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT?

IS IT LIKELY?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S LIKELY AT THIS POINT.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WANTS TO PROCEED FROM THIS POINT FORWARD BUT THE INTERESTING DYNAMIC IN THIS FOR ME IS 2 OF THE JUSTICES IN THIS DECISION FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT ARE UP FOR REELECTION.

ROBIN HUDSON THE JUSTICE DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN SO THAT'S GOING TO BE AN OPEN SEAT RACE JUSTICE ERVIN ALSO A DEMOCRAT, WILL BE RUNNING FOR REELECTION FOR HIS SEAT.

WE COULD SEE A DIFFERENT PARTISAN BALANCE IN OUR STATE SUPREME COURT BY JANUARY OF 2023.

IF THIS LITIGATION CONTINUES, AND I THINK IT'S VERY LIKELY.

WE'LL HAVE A DIFFERENT ARRAY OF STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES MAKING THESE DECISIONS FOR SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS OF THE MAPS FOR THE REST OF THE DECADE.

>> JAY WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> SO LOOK I THINK THAT THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL APPEAL THIS TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

I MEAN THERE IS THERE IS PRESIDENTS TO SAY THAT THE COURT SHOULD NOT TAKE THESE MAPS UP BASED ON WHAT WE SAW IN PENNSYLVANIA.

ALSO SAY THE NELSONS POINTER.

THE POINT IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT TO REACH A DECISION IN 2019 SAID THAT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING CAN BE DECIDED BY STATE SUPREME COURT AND WE JUST SAW THE NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT EXERCISE THAT POWER.

>> BUT WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS OF WHAT THEIR STATE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES FOR WHICH DOESN'T EXIST OR JUST MAKING IT UP OUT OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

>> I THINK THE JUSTICES DISAGREE ON THAT AND I THINK -- >> [MARC INTERRUPTS] OK GREAT CONVERSATION I WANT TO MOVE ON NELSON TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE MOMENTUM THAT SEEMS TO BE BUILDING TO BAN CONGRESSMAN FROM BUYING STOCKS.

>> WELL THAT'S RIGHT SO DURING HER 35 YEARS IN WASHINGTON SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED MEMBERS BEING ABLE TO TRADE STOCKS.

HER AND HUSBAND WHO'S A FINANCIER.

ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, UNUSUAL WALES WHICH YOU OUGHT TO CHECK OUT, NANCY AND PAUL ONCE AGAIN THIS LAST YEAR BEAT THE S AND P 500 ON THEIR INVESTMENTS AND THEIR STOCK TRADES, SO AND ONLY -- >> [MARC] YOU OUGHT TO GIVE HER A CALL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT!

ONLY 5 REPULICANS RANKED AHEAD OF HER IN MARKET PERFORMANCE, SO SHE'S DOING VERY WELL.

LAST YEAR ABOUT 105 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TRADED WITH GAINS OF OVER 464 MILLION DOLLARS IN VARIOUS INVESTMENTS BUT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END AND SPEAKER PELOSI IS FINALLY CAVING INTO DEMANDS FOR HER CAUCUS TO BAN STOCK TRADING, THERE'S A HOST OF PROPOSALS FROM REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS EVERYTHING FROM A TOTAL BAN TO SAYING WELL YOU'VE GOT TO USE MUTUAL FUNDS BLIND TRUST AND THEY'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING IT TO FEDERAL JUDGES -- >> WHY NOW?

>> ONE, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT CHANGES THE CONVERSATION >> BUT IS IT A C.Y.A.

JOE?

TAKE THE ISSUE OFF THE TABLE BEFORE ELECTION?

>> WELL.

I THINK TO SOME EXTENT PROBABLY IS THE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WINS AT THIS POINT.

THEY FEEL A TREMENDOUS HEADWIND APPROACHING IN THIS ELECTION.

SO THEY DO WANT TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND THIS IS MAYBE A GOOD WAY TO SAY WE FINALLY HAVE COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY FROM ALLOWING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO BE ACTIVE INVESTORS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CURTAIL AND QUITE FRANKLY IT'S PROBABLY LONG OVERDUE AND THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION -- >> A LOT OF THESE GUYS COME IN VIRTUALLY BROKE COME OUT PRETTY SUCCESSFUL FINANCIALLY.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT'S A COINCIDENCE TO THEIR SERVICE IN CONGRESS, I DON'T KNOW IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT IT STARTS SNOWING AND RAINING AND THUNDERING AND LIGHTNING ALL AT THE SAME TIME IT'S POSSIBLE.

I WOULD SAY THAT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT SOMEONE IS NOT USING AT LEAST IN SOME PORTION OF THEIR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY TO THEIR BENEFIT ECONOMICALLY.

>> INSIDER INFORMATION IS ALREADY ILLEGAL.

>> WELL IS IT INSIDER TRADING?

JAY?

>> WELL, I THINK TO NELSON'S POINT INSIDER TRADING IS ILLEGAL.

BUT THERE'S BEEN THERE'S BEEN COMPLICATIONS IN TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE BILL THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE THAT PROHIBIT INSIDER TRADING, INCLUDING DISCLOSURE, I WAS A COUPLE THINGS ONE IS I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT NELSON SINGLED OUT NANCY PELOSI BECAUSE PARTY MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE DONE THIS.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT NANCY PEL -- >> [MARC] SHE'S PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

WELL, YEAH, REPUBLICANS HAVE CHARACTERIZED NANCY PELOSI AS BEING A SOCIALIST FROM SAN FRANCISCO, BUT SHE INVOKED THE FREE MARKET ECONOMY WOULD YOU FIRST WITH THAT COMING ON BOARD WITH THIS LEGISLATION WHEN SHE NOW IS DOING AT YOU KNOW, AND AND LASTLY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT SOME QUESTIONS, ONE IS HOW FAR WILL THE PROHIBITION EXTEND?

DOES IT EXTEND TO FAMILY MEMBERS >> WILL IT BE A BLIND TRUST?

>> RIGHT WHAT INVESTMENTS WOULD BE COVERED AND THEN AS NELSON ASKED I MEAN POINTED OUT THE QUESTION IS IS EXTEND TO THE JUDICIARY RIGHT BECAUSE BECAUSE THE WALL STREET JOURNAL HAD AN ARTICLE ABOUT MANY JUDGES PRESIDING OVER COURT CASES IN WHICH THEY ACTUALLY ON STOCKS IN THOSE COMPANIES.

>> MITCH.

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE POINT JAY MADE ARE MAKING ME WONDER WHETHER THIS IS ALSO A POISON PILL.

NANCY PELOSI SAID THAT SHE WAS FOR IT, BUT SHE ALSO SAID HEY THEY SHOULD EXTEND TO THE JUDICIARY AND EVERY OTHER BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

>> KEEP EXPANDING AND SLOW WALK IT?

>> EXACTLY AND SHE ALSO HAS NOT COMMITTED TO BANNING CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS FROM THIS, IT'S HER HUSBAND WHO HAS BEEN THE ONE MAKING THE TRADE.

I'M SURE SHE'S INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION BUT IF IF YOUR SPOUSE CAN DO ALL THESE TRADES IT BASICALLY DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE.

>> BUT YOU KNOW THE AVERAGE GUY DIDN'T HAVE THIS KIND OF INFORMATION AND THEY GET THE PAC MONEY AND WHOLE 9 YARDS.

NELSON WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 60 SECONDS.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU COME BACK AND YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUE IT IS A GREAT DISTRACTION FROM INFLATION.

IT'S A GREAT DISTRACTION FROM THE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, EVERYONE CAN GET ALL THE REFORM TRAINED THEY CAN ALL GO OUT IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND SAY WE'RE MAKING >> [JAY] IT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT.

>> YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD GOVERNMENT AND DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE INFLATION DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON, BUT IT BUT THERE ARE JUST A HOST OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO ABOUT IT AND IT COULD EVENTUALLY AS JAY IS SAYING IT COULD BOG DOWN IN THE DETAILS.

>> OK, LET'S TALK POLITICS.

THE LATEST TRACKING POLL FROM REUTERS JOE.

>> A WIDE ARRAY OF POLLS ACTUALLY HAVE COME OUT RECENTLY.

THINGS DO NOT LOOK GOOD FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE OF POLLING FROM WHEN HE STARTED IN OFFICE A FULL YEAR AGO HE WAS 20 PERCENTAGE POINTS UP AND NOW HE'S ALMOST 20 PERCENTAGE BELOW.

WATER WHAT WE WOULD SAY MORE UNFAVORABLE THAN FAVORABLE PERCEPTION OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

ANOTHER POLL CAME OUT FROM THE PEW CENTER SHOWING VARIOUS SUBGROUPS DEMOGRAPHICALLY BLACK PROTESTANTS WHICH IS A KEY GROUP FOR THE DEMOCRATIC OF THE DEMOCRATIC BASE NOW HAVE FALLEN FROM 92% APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT TO JUST 65% SO THIS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

NOW PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO SWING.

GEORGE BUSH WAS AT A HIGH OF 90% FAVORABLE AT ONE POINT AND THEN A LOW OF 25, ALTHOUGH VOTER ATTITUDES ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE BAKED IN NOW PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HIGH WAS 49 AND HIS LOW WAS 34 SO THE MARGINS ARE NOT QUITE WHAT THEY ONCE WERE, THE PARTISAN DIVIDE REALLY SHOWING.

BUT THE PRESIDENT WHO IS NOW TAKING IT ON THE CHHIN ON THINGS LIKE THE PRICE OF GASOLINE WHICH HAS JUMPED UP $0.20 ON AVERAGE OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT INFLATION HAS BEEN CALCULATED OVER 7%.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO HELP AND I THINK FOR DEMOCRATS LOOKING AND FACING REELECTION OR ELECTION IN THIS CYCLE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S RELATIVE LACK OF POPULARITY AND DECLINING POPULARITY AMONG KEY DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS IMPORTANT TO DEMOCRATS IS VERY WORRISOME.

>> MITCH IS THE BOX OFFICE POISON THEN THE ELECTION THIS TIME?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR ANYONE WHO'S RUNNING ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WANT TO TIE THEMSELVES AT ALL TO JOE BIDEN REALLY COMING OFF WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN POINT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT IN PARTICULAR DISTRICTS.

BUT IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF SWING YOUR DISTRICT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE JOE BIDEN ANYWHERE NEAR BEYOND BY HIMSELF, THOUGH SOME OF THE OTHER RECENT POLLING JUST SHOWS BAD FOR BAD NEWS FOR ANYONE WHO IS AN INCUMBENT OR HAS BEEN SEEN AS THE PERSON IN CHARGE.

WE'VE GOT 63% IN A RECENT IPSOS POLL SAYING WE'RE ON THE WRONG TRACK THAT INCLUDES 67% OF INDEPENDENTS.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE ARE THE ONES ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

IS HILARY GOING TO RUN IN 2024?

[LAUGHTER] YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THS RIGHT?

>> I DON'T THINK HILLARY IS GOING TO RUN, BUT I THINK WHAT DEMOCRATS NEED TO -- >> SHE'S TALKING TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY UP THERE IN NEW YORK.

SHE'S A HEADLINER.

IS SHE TEEING IT UP?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT CONSTITUTES RUNNING, I MEAN LOOK I THINK I THINK WHAT DEMOCRATS NEED TO BE RUNNING ON IS THE ECONOMY AND WHILE INFLATION IS A PROBLEM, I MEAN, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE ON THIS SHOW, JOE BIDEN HAS CREATED MORE JOBS THAN DONALD TRUMP AND BOTH GEORGE BUSHES COMBINED.

>> WHAT DOES HE RUN, WHAT ARE THE TALKING POINTS.

WHAT CAN THEY POINT TO?

>> WELL CREATING CREATING JOBS FOR ONE, I MEAN 40 AT THE LAST 42 MILLION JOBS CREATED SINCE 1989 HAVE HAPPENED UNDER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS AND JOE BIDEN IS G-RATED 3 TIMES MORE JOBS THAN DONALD TRUMP.

AND BOTH GEORGE BUSH'S COMBINED.

>> BUT JOBS LOST IN THE PANDEMIC WHICH WAS DUE TO DONALD TRUMP'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE PANDEMIC AND IS IT WHICH LED US TO THE RECESSION THAT WE'RE GETTING OUT OF RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK AT IT.

THE INDEPENDENTS ARE REALLY A PROBLEM HERE FOR HIM AREN'T THEY?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY AND IN THE CHALLENGES IN ADDITION TO THIS RELATIVE SENSE OF FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE AN INCREASING NUMBER OF UNAFFILIATED VOTERS ARE SAYING THEY EVEN QUESTIONED WHETHER THE PRESIDENT IS CAPABLE OF BEING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE'S TOO OLD MANY OF THEM SAY.

THEY'RE WORRYING ABOUT HIS CAPACITY TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT.

THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR BIDEN NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IF THE ECONOMY SUDDENLY GOT BETTER AND WE SOLVE ALL THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS, THERE IS AN UNDERLYING CONCERN AMONG UNAFFILIATED VOTERS ABOUT BIDEN'S CAPACITY TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S BAD NEWS, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT'S BAD NEWS, I MEAN IT'S KIND OF LIKE SHAKESPEARE IN STEINBECK ONCE SAID, "NOW IS THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT" AND AMERICANS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY FED UP WITH PANDEMIC, INFLATION, CRIME, WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE GALLUP SATISFACTION SURVEY, IT DROPPED IN JANUARY TO 17% THE 3RD LOWEST IN 40 YEARS.

SO I THINK IN TERMS OF BIDEN HE'S LOST THE AMERICAN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND THERE'S NO QUICK FIX.

>> OK, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE, LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> THANK YOU JOE FOR TEASING MY UNDERREPORTED STORY, 3 NORTH CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN HAVE SIGNED ON TO THIS LETTER AMONG 38 TOTAL CONGRESSMAN WHICH -- >> IT'S 40 NOW.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT SAID THAT HE SHOULD TAKE A COGNITIVE TEST AND PUBLICIZE THE RESULTS, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW.

POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA CLAMORED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO DO THE SAME THING, HE DID IT, PASSED THE COGNITIVE TEST AND THE MAIN AUTHOR OF THIS LETTER IS DOCTOR RONNY JACKSON WHO IS NOW A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM TEXAS BUT WAS THE WHITE HOUSE PHYSICIAN FOR BOTH PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND HE'S SAYING LOOK, THE EVIDENCE IS SHOWING THAT YOUR COGNITIVE DECLINE IS HERE THE POLLS ARE SHOWING THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE MENTALLY FIT.

TAKE THE TEST.

PROVE THAT YOU ARE.

>> JAY.

>> THEY ALSO HAVE PHOTOS EVIDENTLY OF REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON BEING HUNG OVER ON MANY TRIPS TOO, SO MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN LET'S TALK ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, A NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER.

>> HAS A NEW BOOK COMING OUT WHICH SHE REPORTS THAT THE WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE PERIODICALLY DISCOVERED WADS OF PRINTED PAPER CLOGGING A TOILET AND IS BELIEVED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD FLUSHED PIECES OF PAPER OF NATIONAL SECURITY PIECES OF PAPER DOWN THE TOILET.

>> WILL IT BE A BESTSELLER?

>> IT'S EXPECTED TO BE A BESTSELLER NOT BECAUSE OF TRUMP DUMP NECESSARILY BUT I THINK OTHER INFORMATION THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT BOOK.

>> DID THEY CHECK THE SILVERWARE WHEN HE LEFT?

>> GO AHEAD JOE.

WAKE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MAY BE MAKING PLANS TO GO TO IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE RIGHT AFTER THE BROADCAST?

[LAUGHTER] >> THE LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY RECENTLY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE SOME SUCCESS WITH FUSION FUEL.

I MEAN THIS IS GOOD NEWS THAT STORY AND OTHERWISE A RELATIVELY DIFFICULT TIME IN HUMAN HISTORY, WE'RE GETTING INCREASINGLY CLOSER TO THESE REMARKABLE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS RELATIVE TO ENERGY.

WHAT'S DRIVES THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IS ENERGY AND IF WE COULD MASTER FUSION FUEL WE MIGHT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS TEST WHILE SUCCESSFUL ONLY GENERATED ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO BE COMPARABLE WITH A 9 VOLT BATTERY, SO YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR COULD BE RUN WITH THIS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE BIGGER PLANS THAN JUST THAT.

>> NELSON UNDERREPORTED.

>> THIS WEEK INFLATION HIT A NEW 40 YEAR HIGH, 7 AND A HALF PERCENT.

THE QUESTION IS WHY.

AND THE 1960'S ECONOMY, ECONOMISTS SAID HIGHER INFLATION WAS A TRADEOFF WITH LOWER UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE 70'S, THE MONITORISTS SAID INFLATION WAS CAUSED BY EXCESS MONEY IN THE MONEY SUPPLY IN THE 80'S OR SINCE THE 80'S, FED CHAIRS SAID FORGET THOSE THEORIES, JUST FOCUS ON KEEPING PRICES AND UNEMPLOYMENT LOW, THE LAST 2 DECADES, THE INTO MONEY SUPPLY HAS SOARED BY 11 TRILLION DOLLARS BUT JUST IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AN ADDITIONAL 6 TRILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN PUMPED IN TO THE MONEY SUPPLY SO THAT IS FROM MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND LIQUIDITY.

THE MONITORS ARE SAYING THAT IS WHAT IS FUELING INFLATION NOW SO THEY'RE SORT OF THE MILT FREEMAN'S THE WORLD HAVE COME BACK THERE GOES TO COME BACK AND IF THEY ARE RIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE JAY INFLATION REMAIN EXCESSIVELY HIGH NO MATTER WHAT THE FED DOES RIGHT UP UNTIL ELECTION DAY AND -- >> THE ONLY TIME THEY BALANCED THE BUDGET WAS UNDER CLINTON AND GINGRICH.

DO YOU EXPECT THAT THE INTEREST RATES WILL GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY THIS YEAR?

>> THEY ARE TALKING TOUGH, IT'S TALKING ABOUT RAISING INTEREST RATES AS MANY AS 5 TO 7 TIMES THE THE HEAD OF THE ST. LOUIS FED IS SAYING RAISE IT A FULL POINT WHICH WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT, HERE'S THE RISK THEY RUN THEY RUN THE RISK OF JUST PUTTING THE BRAKES ON TOO FAST AND DIVING A STRAIGHT INTO A RECESSION, THE HEAD OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK.

LAGARDE SHE SAYING SHE IS GOING TO HOLD OFF ON RATE HIKES RIGHT NOW.

>> OK, LET'S GO LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MITCH?

WHAT'S UP IS TECHNOLOGY IN THE HANDS OF SCHOOL KIDS IN NORTH CAROLINA, THERE WAS A REPORT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK THAT THE STATE HAS SPENT SOMETHING LIKE 230 MILLION DOLLARS IN THIS EFFORT IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH DISTANCE LEARNING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVICES.

HOT SPOTS, TECH SUPPORT AMONG THIS 200,000 DEVICES THAT INCLUDES SOME TABLETS EVEN FOR SOME OF THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT PERHAPS THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS OUGHT NOT TO GET THIS TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE IT'S IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THEM, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO LOOK AT, DOWN THE HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HBCUs NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY HAVE DONE BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO BOMB THREATS SINCE JANUARY 1ST AT LEAST 28 ACROSS THE COUNTRY WAS ENOUGH THAT CONGRESSWOMAN ADAMS FROM NORTH CAROLINA CAME OUT AND SPOKE ABOUT IT.

SHE SPONSORED A RESOLUTION HONORING THE SCHOOL.

>> JAY.

>> WHO'S UP SPORTS GAMBLING LEGISLATION TO LEGALIZE ONLINE SPORTS GAMBLING IS EXPECTED TO -- >> [MARC] NOT IN TIME FOR THE SUPER BOWL.

BUT IS EXPECTED TO PASS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, VIRGINIA AND TENNESSEE ALREADY HAVE PASSED LEGALIZED SPORTS WAGERING AND THIS WEEK GOVERNOR COOPER INDICATED HE WOULD SUPPORT SOME LEGISLATION.

WHO'S DOWN A HEALTH CARE WORKERS, THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS THAT'S PUTTING EXTRA PRESSURE ON NORTH CAROLINA MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS NEARLY 3500 OPEN POSITIONS AND THOSE WORKERS ARE EITHER EARNING MORE MONEY OR THAT ACTUALLY GETTING BURNED OUT LEAVING IN THOSE WORKERS ARE HARD TO REPLACE.

>> JOE.

>> WHO'S UP?

BOOZE!

THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE A ROLLING OUT EFFORTS TO TRY TO EQUALIZE REGULATORY AND DIFFERENTIATED TAXATION SYSTEMS IS CAUSING A REAL CRISIS IN THIS 250 BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY IN AMERICA TO TRY TO SPUR MORE CRAFT BREWERIES IN UNIQUE DISTILLERIES THE CONSOLIDATION IN THE INDUSTRY RECENTLY HAS RAISED SOME CONCERN.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTION IN THIS, WHO'S DOWN, BIG BROTHER.

THE IRS DECIDED THEY'RE NOT GOING TO USE THE FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM THAT THEY DESIGNED OH MY GOSH I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE CONVERSATION AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY WHERE THEY SAID, "HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE A GREAT IDEA TO IMPROVE THE POPULARITY OF IRS.

WHY DON'T WE USE FACIAL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE, SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT.

[ALL TALKING, LAUGHING] >> NELSON, WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN?

>> UP EUROPEAN UNION FOR TAKING WISE IF CONTROVERSIAL STEP OF DECLARING NATURAL GAS AND NUCLEAR ENERGY POWER PLANTS QUALIFY AS GREEN INVESTMENTS, GERMANY, AND SPAIN ARE OPPOSED.

THE FRENCH AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FAVOR THIS, FRANCE ACTUALLY JUST ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK, 14 NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS IN THEIR FUTURE, MAYBE THEY GOT ONTO YOUR STUFF.

DOWN IS THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU WHO HAS LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE TRUCKER PROTEST.

OVER THE COVID MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS THIS WEEK THOSE TRUCKERS HAVE BLOCKED A MAJOR BRIDGE CARRYING TRADE BETWEEN CANADA AND THE U.S.

IT'S AFFECTING US AUTO PLANTS, >> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

>> CASE CHALLENGING VOTER ID AND TAX CAP AMENDMENTS HEADS TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK >> REDISTRICTING REDISTRICTING REDISTRICTING WHEN WILL IT END?

>> WHEN WILL WE VOTE?

>> WE'RE GONNA VOTE TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT WEEK PROBABLY THURSDAY.

>> WHEN WILL WE VOTE IN A PRIMARY, MAY?

>> IT'LL BE BAY.

I THINK THE MAY DATE STILL HOLDS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> NOTHING IN POLITICS MATTER WE'RE ENTERING INTO THE HOMESTRETCH OF ACC BASKETBALL SEASON.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT MATTERS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, >> UNFORTUNATELY PRICES AT THE PUMP CONTINUE TO GO UP.

>> MASK MANDATES OVER NOW.

>> WELL HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE VERY SOON.

WE KNOW THAT IN NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS, IT'S STILL THE SORT OF UP IN THE AIR.

>> OK THAT'S IT FOR US.

GREAT JOB, GENTS.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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