>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, GROWING SUPPORT FOR A NEW POLITICAL PARTY, WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK AND MIXED SIGNALS FROM THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE ON STUDENT DEBT.

NEXT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH CAROLINA JOURNAL, COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, DONNA KING POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH LET'S BEGIN WITH GALLUP POLL ON SUPPORT FOR A NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

>> IN A RECENT GALLUP SURVEY, 62% OF US ADULTS SAID THE 2 MAJOR PARTIES DO SUCH A POOR JOB OF REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT A 3RD PARTY IS NEEDED.

THAT IS UP FROM 57% IN SEPTEMBER.

NOW TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, THAT NUMBER HAS HIT 60% FOR A FEW TIMES 2013 2015 2017, BUT THE CHANGE IN THE SUPPORT IS VERY INTERESTING.

BACK IN SEPTEMBER ONLY 40% OF REPUBLICANS AGREE WITH THIS NOTION THAT NUMBER HAS NOW JUMPED TO 63% OF REPUBLICANS, SO CERTAINLY LOT OF INTEREST AMONG PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN TRADITIONALLY REPUBLICAN IN THIS IDEA OF HAVING A 3RD PARTY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT 62% FIGURE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A 3RD PARTY.

JUST 33% THINK THE 2 PARTIES ARE DOING AN ADEQUATE JOB OF REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE LOWEST POINT SINCE IT WAS 26% BACK IN 2018.

SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE CHANGE.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S INTERESTING IN THIS GALLUP SURVEY, A FULL 50% OF ADULTS IDENTIFY THEM SELVES NOW AS POLITICAL INDEPENDENTS THAT'S THE LARGEST FIGURE THAT GALLUP HAS EVER RECORDED ON THIS FRONT.

>> JOE, WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THIS POLL?

>> THE INTERESTING THING I FOUND WAS WHEN PEOPLE WERE ASKED IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN DO YOU FEEL YOUR PARTY NEEDS TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE OR MORE LIBERAL IN A MAJORITY OF BOTH PARTIES SAY IT SHOULD EITHER BE MORE LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE.

SO EVEN WITHIN PEOPLE THAT IDENTIFY WITH THE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC BRAND THEY'RE NOT SATISFIED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR OWN PARTY OF WHERE IT FALLS ON THE IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM.

YOU KNOW, I'VE LONG SAID THERE IS A 3RD PARTY IN AMERICA NOW IT'S CALLED THE INTERNET.

IN A VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE NOW GET THEIR INFORMATION, INFORM THEIR DECISIONS ABOUT POLITICS BASED ON INFORMATION THEY THEMSELVES GO OUT AND OBTAIN.

THE HALLMARK OF PARTIES WAS THAT IT GAVE YOU A SINGLE SOURCE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN TRUST TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ON THE CANDIDATES THAT YOU FELT YOU WERE GENERALLY SPEAKING MOST ALIGNED WITH BECAUSE YOU SHARED POLITICAL AFFILIATION WITH, BUT I THINK INCREASINGLY VOTERS AND YOUNGER GENERATION VOTERS, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT SOURCES TO GET THIS INFORMATION AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE EDUCATED BASED ON WHAT THEY FIND IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER INTERNET SOURCES.

>> NELSON COULD A 3RD PARTY, PRO TRUMP PARTY EMERGE?

>> WELL IF A PRO TRUMP PARTY EMERGED, IT WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE YOU KNOW IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM IT'S A FIRST TO THE POST WINS, SO REALLY A SUCCESSFUL PARTY HAS TO BUILD A BROAD COALITION IN ORDER TO WIN AND THAT LEADS US TO OUR LONG HISTORY OF ESENTIALLY TWO PARTIES, SO IF ONE WANTED TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO PUSH OUT ONE OF THE EXISTING PARTIES THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY DIFFICULT, ALTHOUGH THE REPUBLICANS DID IT IN 1856 TO THE WHIGS.

>> BUT THERE IS A SCHISM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BETWEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT RIGHT NOW AND THE TRUMP WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CORRECT?

>> THERE IS A SCHISM BETWEEN THE TWO, I DO THINK THAT WITH THE ADVANCE JANUARY 6 THAT CERTAINLY SPIKED THIS POLL IN TERMS OF THOSE WHO'RE LOOKING FOR A 3RD PARTY, SO IT'S NOT SIMPLY THOSE WHO'RE TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND I THINK YOU ALSO PROBABLY NEED TO WAIT 6 MONTHS INTO THE BIDEN TERM INTO THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL, SEE WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE THINKING THEN.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS PLEASE.

>> WELL I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THE TIMING OF THIS POLL THAT CAME OUT THE SAME WEEK AS A REUTERS STORY THAT SAID ABOUT A 100 FORMER MEMBERS OF THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR REAGAN OR BY EITHER BUSH PRESIDENT HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT FORMING ANOTHER PARTY AND THEY SAY THIS ONE WOULD BE CENTER RIGHT THAT STORY COMING OUT THIS WEEK.

BUT AT THE END PEOPLE DON'T VOTE FOR THEM HE REALLY DOESN'T.

JO JORGENSEN GOT ABOUT ONE AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN 16 AND THEN OF COURSE, GARY JOHNSON HE GOT ABOUT 3% OF THE VOTE SO IT REALLY ONLY MATTERS IF PEOPLE GO TO THE POLLS FOR A 3RD PARTY.

>> OK I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS, NELSON FILL US IN ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

>> YES MARC, EDUCATION WAS THE FOCUS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS WEEK WITH TWO KEY PIECE OF LEGISLATION MOVING FORWARD.

THE CONFERENCE REPORT FOR SENATE BILL 37 THE IN PERSON LEARNING CHOICE FOR FAMILIES PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS WITH BIPARTISAN MAJORITIES, AND THIS BILL OF COURSE WOULD FULLY REOPEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE KNOW THE PRECAUTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN TO SAFELY RETURN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO THE CLASSROOM AND WE ALSO KNOW THE HIGH COST OF THOSE KIDS NOT BEING IN THE CLASSROOM THAT FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST YEAR TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS, THAT'S OCCURED, HB 82.

SUMMER LEARNING CHOICE FOR NC FAMILIES WAS INTRODUCED BY SPEAKER MOORE AND CO-SPONSORED BY 82 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.

THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO OFFER A PROGRAM OF A 150 HOURS OF LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER FOR AT RISK STUDENTS.

>> NOW IS THAT VOLUNTARY FOR THE STUDENTS?

>> IT WOULD BE IT'S MANDATORY THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OFFER THIS SUMMER LEARNING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, BUT IT WOULD BE OPTIONAL FOR ALL PARENTS TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING DONNA?

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IS A BILL THAT HAS JUST COME OUT OF THE SENATE OR JUST BEEN PROPOSED IN THE SENATE WOULD IT CUT FUNDING FOR CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEFUND THE POLICE PLAN?

FOR EXAMPLE IN ASHEVILLE, THEY CUT ALMOST $800,000 FROM THE POLICE BUDGET IN THAT CASE PROPORTIONATELY THEY WOULD LOSE TRANSPORTATION MONEY FROM THE STATE IF THEY CHOOSE THAT OPTION TO DEFUND THEIR LOCAL POLICE THAT BILL OF COURSE IS IN THE SENATE NOW I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE.

BUT IT REALLY DOES SPEAK TO PENALIZING STATES AND COUNTIES WHO UNDERCUT SOME OF THEIR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, >> JOE JUMP IN HERE.

>> THAT SENATE BILL 92 TODD JOHNSON REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM UNION COUNTY INTRODUCED A BILL TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF PEOPLE THAT CAN GO TO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC EVENTS LOOKING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE PERFORMING IN SPORTS.

IT SORT OF FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY THE LEGISLATURE REALLY BEING AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY WAYS NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE LOOKING TO GET BACK TO NORMAL NOW THAT THE VACCINES BEING DEPLOYED PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME NORMALITY SEE IN THINGS LIKE BEING ABLE TO WATCH YOUR KID PLAY BASKETBALL FOOTBALL SOCCER, SOME OTHER SPORT.

>> MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT THIS IS THE LONG SESSION YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF IDEAS.

ONE OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES THINGS THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS THAT WE LEARNED THAT SOMETHING CALLED THE PROGRAM EVALUATION DIVISION, WHICH IS A PART OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT'S LOOKED AT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO TRY TO FIND WASTE FRAUD AND ABUSE THAT'S GOING TO SHUT DOWN AND SOME PEOPLE WERE SAYING WHAT DOES THIS MEAN THAT LEGISLATORS AREN'T INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT FRAUD WASTE AND ABUSE ANYMORE?

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE SAYING NO IT'S JUST TIME FOR US TO RETHINK HOW WE DO THIS.

WE'VE ACTUALLY WE CREATED A BUREAUCRACY WITH THE PROGRAM EVALUATION DIVISION.

IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO STEP BACK AND SAY IS THAT THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THESE THINGS THEY SAY NO YOU COULD PROBABLY JUST HANDLED THIS WITH A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TACKLING THE SAME ISSUES.

>> NELSON WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS.

FINAL THOUGHTS PLEASE.

>> WE ALSO RECEIVED A MORE FORMAL REPORT FROM OUR ECONOMISTS THIS WEEK IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT REVENUE, TALKING ABOUT THE PROSPECTS FOR NORTH CAROLINA'S ECONOMY.

ONE OF THE VERY BRIGHT SPOTS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT IS THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE ECONOMY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THAT HAS ALLOWED OUR BOTH JOBS TO RIP DOWN AS WELL AS REVENUES TO REBOUND, BUT WE STILL NEED AS JOE WAS MENTIONING TO OPEN BUSINESSES AND GET A LARGE SEGMENT AND TOURISM AND LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES BACK TO WORK.

>> OKAY, DONNA, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THEY'VE BEEN SENDING MIXED SIGNALS ON CANCELING STUDENT DEBT.

FILL US IN.

>> YES, THIS IS GOT A LOT OF AIR TIME THIS WEEK PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYING THAT HE WAS GOING TO NOT REALLY SUPPORT OR COULD NOT SUPPORT GIVING $50,000 PER BORROWER IN DEBT FORGIVENESS FOR STUDENT LOANS.

HE SAID THAT HIS CAP ON WHAT HE COULD DO THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS ABOUT 10,000 AND THEN HE WAS GETTING A LOT OF HEAT FROM CHUCK SCHUMER AND FROM ELIZABETH WARREN WHO'VE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO FORGIVE $50,000 PER BORROWER IN STUDENT DEBT.

SO THIS IS SHOWING A KIND OF AN ABOUT-FACE LITTLE BIT OF MIXED MESSAGING BUT IT'S REALLY SPARKED SOME ANGER WITH A LOT OF MILLENNIALS TO BACK BIDEN BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

THERE'S BEEN BE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE DID A STUDY AND THEY SAID THAT IF THEY WERE TO DO THIS IT WOULD BE A TRILLION DOLLARS.

IT WOULD COST A TRILLION DOLLARS TO DO THIS AND BE ONE OF THE LARGEST TRANSFER PROGRAMS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> MITCH CAN HE DO THIS BY EXECUTIVE ORDER.

I'VE SEEN SOME SCHOLARS THINK HE CAN, SOME OTHERS THINK HE CAN'T.

>> THERE'S STILL A DEBATE ABOUT THAT BIDEN HIMSELF AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT SAID HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT PERHAPS COULD FORGIVE UP TO ABOUT $10,000 WORTH OF STUDENT DEBT.

BUT IF HE WANTED TO GO TO THAT $50,000 LEVEL, THAT SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER AND SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT HE PROBABLY COULDN'T.

THE BIGGEST STORY OUT OF THIS TO ME IS THE SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS IN CONGRESS, THE PEOPLE WHO'RE REALLY PUSHING JOE BIDEN TO DO THIS ARE THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE SENATE AND A HIGH-PROFILE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR.

IF THEY REALLY WANT THIS PASSED, PASS A BILL.

THAT'S CONGRESS'S JOB IS TO PASS THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION.

DON'T BEG PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DO SOMETHING YOU CAN'T DO YOURSELF WHEN IT'S YOUR OWN JOB.

>> NELSON, IS SCHUMER - THAT'S A POINT BY MITCH - SENATOR SCHUMER TRYING TO PROTECT HIS LEFT FLANK FROM AOC WHO MAY PRIMARY HIM IN NEW YORK?

>> WELL, I THINK HE IS AND IT ALSO SHOWS THAT AS MITCH SAID IF CONGRESS WANTS TO ACT THAT'S WHO SHOULD ACT.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO CONTROL THE PURSE STRINGS.

AND IT ALSO BEGS THE QUESTION I MEAN YOU'RE SHIFTING AS DONNA SAID A TRILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS ON TO THE BACKS OF US TAXPAYERS WITHOUT ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUE OF SOARING UNIVERSITY COST.

>> IS THIS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY JOE YOU THINK?

>> THE CHALLENGING PART OF THIS FOR ME IS THAT THE INTENTION OF FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS IS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND COLLEGE, THE IDEA BEING THAT THE EDUCATION THEY OBTAIN THERE WOULD MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT THEY COULD SUSTAIN THEMSELVES ECONOMICALLY BY GETTING A BETTER JOB AFTER COLLEGE.

THE FACT THAT YOU MIGHT BE FORGIVING MONEY FOR SOMEONE WHO PAID FOR AN EDUCATION THAT'S NOT PROVEN TO BE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO REPAY THE LOANS, IS KIND OF AN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE HERE.

LISTEN, I KNOW DUKE ENERGY HAS PLENTY OF OPEN POSITIONS FOR WELDERS.

GO TO WAKE TECH, GO TO ANY OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES GET A CERTIFICATE TO BE A WELDER.

YOU HAVE A JOB, GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED IN OUR SOCIETY, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO HAVE TOO MUCH SYMPATHY FOR SOMEONE WHO CHOSE A MAJOR THAT'S SIMPLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE INCOME NECESSARY TO REPAY THESE LOANS.

FORGIVENESS LOOKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE YOU'RE REWARDING A BAD DECISION.

>> MITCH THIS IS GETTING A LITTLE SYMPTOMATIC OF HOW THE WHITE HOUSE NOW THEY'RE JUST AN EARLY DAYS, IS MESSAGING THOUGH ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, YOU'RE SEEING SOME INTERESTING BACK AND FORTH COMING OUT OF THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE AND PROBABLY A LOT OF THAT IS EARLY GROWING PAINS.

BUT ONE OF THE INTERESTING POINTS THAT I SAW WAS THAT THE CHIEF SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE PRESIDENT CAME OUT AND BASICALLY SAID THE SAME THING THAT I DID TO SCHUMER AND WARREN, "HEY IF YOU WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, PASS A BILL.

IT'S YOUR JOB TO DO IT."

I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS PLEASE.

>> WELL I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IF YOU'RE SITTING THERE ON A PILE OF STUDENT LOANS, YOU CAN BET THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOME STRINGS ATTACHED TO WHO GETS FORGIVENESS AND WHO DOESN'T.

IT'S GOING TO DEPEND LARGELY ON WHERE YOU WENT TO SCHOOL, EVEN WHETHER YOU'RE DOING VOLUNTEER WORK AND SO I THINK -- AND HOW MUCH YOU'RE MAKING NOW, TO JOE'S POINT.

SO THOSE WHO MAYBE MADE A DIFFERENT MAJOR DECISION MAKING A LITTLE MORE MONEY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE AMOUNT OF RELIEF AS THAT IS YOU ARE NOT MAKING AS MUCH WITH THEIR DEGREE.

>> JOE LET'S TALK ABOUT GAVIN NEWSOME.

HE'S FEELING A LITTLE POLITICAL HEAT IN CALIFORNIA, ISN'T HE?

>> YEAH, THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA GAVIN NEWSOM FACING A RECALL PROPOSITION IN THAT STATE ONE OF 19 IN THE COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP ON A PETITION TO ORDER THE RECALL OF A STATE ELECTED OFFICIAL WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA NEWSOM CATCHING A LITTLE FLAK IN THE AFTERMATH OF HIS ANNOUNCED A SHUTDOWN OF RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES A FEW MONTHS BACK AND THEN CAUGHT AT THE NAPA VALLEY RESTAURANT CALLED THE FRENCH LAUNDRY WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE KIND OF PLACE YOU'D WEAR SOMETHING LACEY IN FRILLY TO EAT AT, BUT HE GOT CAUGHT IN THERE, REALLY IN DEFIANCE OF THE ORDER THAT HE HAD JUST ISSUED IN TERMS OF SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR COVID-19.

THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN THE STATE 18 YEARS AGO, GRAY DAVIS THE THEN GOVERNOR WAS RECALLED AND IT BROUGHT RISE TO THE GOVERNATOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE PETITIONS HAVE A SUFFICIENCY OF OF SIGNATURES, THEY NEED 1.5 MILLION OR SO, THOSE ARE DUE BY THE MIDDLE OF MARCH.

IF THE RECALL GOES ON TO THE BALLOT, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 90 DAYS AFTER THE PETITIONS ARE VERIFIED, IT WILL SAY 2 QUESTIONS REALLY ONE, DO YOU WANT TO RECALL THE GOVERNOR AND TWO, IF YOU RECALL THE GOVERNOR WHO DO YOU WANT?

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH DONALD TRUMP IS SORT OF PLAYING FOOTSIE WITH GETTING INVOLVED WITH THIS.

ONE OF HIS FORMER CABINET OFFICIALS RICHARD GRENELL WAS THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER HAS TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING INTO THIS THING AS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES TO GAVIN NEWSOM IF HE IS RECALLED.

>> NELSON IS THE FIRST SCRIMMAGE POST TRUMP?

>> WELL IT MIGHT BE, BUT YOU KNOW IN CALIFORNIA WE'VE HAD 54 ATTEMPTS TO RECALL A GOVERNOR SINCE 1913 SO THIS IS SORT OF A PARLOR GAME OUT THERE THEY HAVE FUN WITH.

AS JOE MENTIONED, ONLY ONE OF THEM HAS EVER ACTUALLY MADE IT TO THE BALLOT THAT WAS GRAY DAVIS AND ALSO I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT GAVIN NEWSOME HIS SUPPORT HAS CERTAINLY DROPPED, BUT HE STILL ABOVE 50% AND WHEN YOU GO BACK TO 2003 GRAY DAVIS WAS DOWN IN THE MID 20'S.

SO UNLESS NEWSOM DROPS CONSIDERABLY MORE, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SUCCEED.

>> MITCH, THIS IS A CULMINATION OF A LOT OF THINGS.

IT'S SECURITY IN THE STREETS, IT'S HIGHER TAXES, BY THE WAY THEY DO ALREADY HAVE 1.5 MILLION SIGNATURES.

I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO GET 2 MILLION SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE BUFFER CORRECT?

>> WELL, IT'S AMAZING MARC THAT YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN A STATE THAT HAS SO MANY NATURAL ADVANTAGES IF YOU WOULD, THINK; IF YOU'RE THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, YOU COULD JUST KIND OF SHOW UP BUT JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING REALLY STUPID AND YOU'LL PROBABLY SUCCEED, BUT CALIFORNIA HAS ADOPTED SO MANY BAD POLICIES, AND COMING FROM GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S PARTY THAT IT'S COMING HOME TO ROOST.

THE MOST INTERESTING PIECE TO ME IS PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IF HE DOES GET INVOLVED THIS WOULD BE PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE REALLY SEEN HIM GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON HIM.

WHEN HE'S GOT INVOLVED IN CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS, IT'S BECAUSE CONGRESS HE HAS SEEN COULD SUPPORT THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO.

IF HE GETS INVOLVED IN THIS, IT'S BASICALLY JUST SOMETHING THAT WOULD SUPPORT ONE OF HIS FORMER WORKERS OR HIS PARTY RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS HIM.

>> DONNA STILL RISKY FOR TRUMP TO JUMP IN THOUGH, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT IS BECAUSE IT CAN'T FAIL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF THEY WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY RECALL NEWSOME EVEN THOUGH IN THIS CASE, THESE PARTICULAR POLICIES HAVE REALLY HAVE BEEN HITTING EVERY CITIZEN.

IN MANY CASES, BAD POLICY ONLY AFFECTS YOU KNOW A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IN THIS CASE, EVERYBODY'S HIT BY IT.

BUT IF TRUMP GETS INVOLVED AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO RECALL HIM, HE CAN'T REALLY STAND A FAILURE THIS EARLY IN TRYING TO EXERCISE THAT POLITICAL MUSCLE.

>> OKAY WRAP THIS UP IF YOU WOULD JOE IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> WELL, I THINK AS NELSON SAID I MEAN THIS IS HIGH THEATER IN CALIFORNIA THEY'VE HAD PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT IS A REAL POLITICAL CONSULTING INDUSTRY AROUND THIS I THINK IT'S A SOLID BLUE STATE.

IT SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY TO ME THAT NEWSOM WELL ACTUALLY BE RECALLED.

THE CHALLENGE HERE IS IT'S AN EXPENSIVE THING FOR THE STATE TO HAVE TO PUT ON AN ELECTION THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS STILL COVID-19 AND THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.

IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS HAS COME UP AT THIS TIME IN MY OPINION, >> BUT I THINK THERE'S A 20% RULE OUT THERE, JOE, I MEAN IF YOU HAD 10 OR 15 PEOPLE IN THE PRIMARY THERE'S A POSSIBILITY REPUBLICAN COULD WIN.

OK I WANT TO MOVE TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> A NUMBER OF CITIES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE ELECTIONS THIS YEAR AND MANY OF THOSE CITIES HAVE DISTRICTS THAT CANDIDATES, RUNNING DISTRICTS, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS WITH THIS IS A YEAR FOR REDISTRICTING AND WE HAVE LEARNED THAT CENSUS DATA WITH DISTRICT LEVEL INFORMATION ISN'T GOING TO BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH.

WELL, THERE ARE SOME PLACES LIKE RALEIGH THAT HAVE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED OCTOBER 5TH, SO LOOKS INCREASINGLY UNLIKELY THAT THESE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN PLACES THAT HAVE DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR.

IT'S LIKELY THAT THAT THEY WOULD BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE PRIMARY DATE BUT EVEN THEN, GIVEN SOME DELAYS IN THE CENSUS DATA IT'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR IF YOU COULD HAVE THESE ELECTIONS TAKING PLACE ON THE MARCH 2022 PRIMARY DATE.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RALEIGH, CHARLOTTE, GREENSBORO, WINSTON-SALEM, CARY, A LOT OF BIG PLACES WHERE ELECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE FALL, BUT THEY MIGHT NOT TAKE PLACE.

>> GREAT CATCH.

UNDERREPORTED PLEASE DONNA.

>> SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT VACCINE TOURISM A LITTLE BIT.

WE MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE JUMPING THE LINE TO GET A VACCINE, WELL NOW THE STATE DHHS HAS LIFTED THAT REQUIREMENT THAT LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE TO GIVE THE VACCINE TO WHOEVER CAN TAKE IT AND QUALIFIES FOR THE AGE LIMIT.

THEY ESTIMATE THAT AROUND 30,000 OF OUR FIRST MILLION DOSES WENT TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO, THAT OUR DOSES ARE GOING TO OUR CITIZENS.

>> THAT WAS THE FIRST BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION I THINK BY OUR COLLEAGUE TRAVIS FAIN AT WRAL.

UNDERREPORTED PLEASE, JOE.

>> YEAH, THE STATE'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITHIN THE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SOUGHT FROM THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR THOSE INSTITUTIONS, AN INCREASE ON THE LIMITATION OF THE NUMBER OF OUT OF STATE STUDENTS THAT IT CAN ATTEND THOSE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

CURRENTLY CAPPED AT 18% SEEKING TO FIND A WAY TO BRING IN MORE HIGH QUALITY STUDENTS FROM OUT OF STATE TO ATTEND THESE FINE INSTITUTIONS IN LARGE PART, THEY PROVIDE A GREAT EDUCATION AND THEY'RE FINDING THAT THEY NEED TO BOLSTER THEIR UNDERGRADUATE POPULATIONS.

I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM LOOKING AT PERHAPS THE NEED TO INCREASE THAT LIMITATION.

MORE STUDENTS NEED TO COME FROM OUT OF STATE, MAYBE EVEN FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD GET A TASTE OF NORTH CAROLINA, RECEIVED A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, I KNOW THAT THE DESIRE IS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF SPACE FOR IN-STATE STUDENTS TO ATTEND THESE INSTITUTIONS BUT FOR NOW THE HBCUS ARE LEADING THE CHARGE TO BRING IN MORE OUT OF STATE STUDENTS.

>> NELSON UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> WELL WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON THE WORLD ECONOMY.

WHAT'S UNDER REPORTED IS THAT GLOBAL CONSUMPTION ACTUALLY PEAKED IN 2019 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TREND DOWNWARD FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS CENTURY.

SO, IF YOU LOOK AT IT ONLY ONE MAJOR INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY JAPAN HAS ACTUALLY SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED TO A POST GROWTH ECONOMY.

NOW WITH MOST OF THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD AGING INTO MASS RETIREMENT, EXPORT LED ECONOMIES LIKE GERMANY AND CHINA IN PARTICULAR ARE REALLY FACING AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT THAT HAS BEEN ACCELERATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE UNITED STATES WE WILL BE INSULATED FROM THIS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT COUPLE OF DECADES WITH A MUCH YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC AND OUR TRADE CONNECTION WITH MEXICO'S YOUTHFUL CONSUMERS ARE ALSO GOING BEEN BENEFIT THE UNITED STATES.

>> SO WHAT'S THE SOLUTION FOR EUROPE AND OTHER COUNTRIES?

>> WELL, THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT MAKING FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THEIR ECONOMIC MODELS, I MEAN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE JUST HAVEN'T CONTEMPLATED AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS THE SOLUTION YET, BUT IT WILL BE A WORLD CHANGING PHENOMENON OVER THE BALANCE OF THIS DECADE.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MITCH?

>> WHAT'S UP IS BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO LITTER.

THERE'S A NEW PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CALLED THE HIGHWAY CLEANUP ACT WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS WOULD DOUBLE THE STATE FINE FOR LITTERING.

AMONG ITS MAJOR SPONSORS, THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADERS SO ONE OF THE TOP REPUBLICANS JOHN BELL AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT PRICEY HARRISON TO A NEWS REPORT ABOUT THIS SAID THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST BILL SHE AND REPRESENTATIVE BELL EVER CO SPONSORED.

MY WHO'S DOWN, I'VE GOT TO GO WITH RICHARD BURR, WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT HIS VOTE ON THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, IT'S NEVER GOOD FOR A SENATOR TO HAVE THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF HIS PARTY VOTE UNANIMOUSLY TO CENSURE HIM.

THE ONE GOOD THING PROBABLY HE SENDING A LITTLE CARD THANKING SENATOR TED CRUZ FOR GETTING HIM OUT OF THE HEADLINES BECAUSE OF CRUZ RECENT TRIP TO CANCUN.

>> DONNA WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN?

>> I'M GOING TO SAY WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS COHORT TO THE FIRST GROUP OF KIDS TO GET INTO THE BUILDING THIS YEAR STARTED ON WEDNESDAY, ONLY TO GET A SNOW DAY ON THURSDAY.

SO THEY SPENT ONE DAY IN, ONE DAY OUT, NOW THEY'RE BACK.

NEXT WEEK STARTS COHORT 3 THESE KIDS ARE SUPER EXCITED, I THINK ABOUT GETTING BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

BUT OF COURSE PARENTS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO KEEP THEIR KIDS REMOTE IF THIS BILL MOVES FORWARD, WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT.

MY DOWN, GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

THE HEAT IS REALLY ON THE NEW YORK GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW THERE SO I BIPARTISAN MOVE TO AT MINIMUM REMOVE HIS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY DURING THE PANDEMIC MAYBE EVEN ROLL TOWARD IMPEACHMENT AND MAKE HIM GIVE UP HIS EMMY THAT THAT HE WON FOR HIS BOOK ON HOW WELL HE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC.

OF COURSE THIS IS ALL ABOUT THOSE NUMBER THE NUMBER ABOUT 15,000 ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT DIED IN NURSING HOMES AFTER A DIRECTIVE THAT HE GAVE THAT REQUIRE THOSE NURSING HOMES TO TAKE THEM BACK INTO THEIR POPULATION.

EVEN IF THEY HAD COVID OR AN EXPOSURE TO COVID.

>> AND BY THE WAY THERE'S A MOVE TO TAKE HIS EMMY AWAY FROM HIM.

JOE WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> A PLAY OFF OF MITCH.

WHAT'S UP.

I THINK IS THE AMOUNT OF SCRUTINY THAT WILL BE APPLIED TO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, HOPING TO REPLACE RICHARD BURR IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN THE 2022 ELECTION AS A RESULT OF SENATOR BYRD'S GUILTY VOTE IN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

I THINK HAVING TRUMP BONA FIDES WILL BECOME AN IMPORTANT THING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES SEEKING THAT OFFICE.

WHO'S DOWN?

WELL THE EFFORT TO DISTRIBUTE THE VACCINE, NOT JUST HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THIS ADVERSE WINTER WEATHER THAT WE'VE HAD.

PLACES LIKE TEXAS AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE LONE STAR STATE ARE BATTLING A TERRIBLE WINTER CALAMITY RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT OF OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING SHOTS IN THE ARM.

>> LONG-TERM JOE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE POLITICAL DAMAGE IS TO SENATOR BURR?

IS THERE ANY LONG TERM?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I MEAN THE CENSURE OF YOUR PARTY IS KIND OF LIKE THE BRITISH POLICE "STOP, OR I'LL SAY STOP AGAIN!"

I MEAN IT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE THE KIND OF IMPACT I THINK, AND BURR'S NOW LEAVING PUBLIC LIFE TO A LARGE EXTENT SO I DON'T THINK IT HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF IMPACT ON HIM.

>> NELSON WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> WHO'S UP FRANCE.

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON HIS EDUCATION MINISTER AND A RANGE OF FRENCH INTELLECTUALS AND ACADEMICS ARE WARNING AGAINST THE IMPORTATION OF CANCEL CULTURE FROM THE UNITED STATES.

IN THEIR VIEW AMERICAN "WOKENESS" IS ACTUALLY A THREAT TO BOTH FRENCH SOCIETY AND THEIR HERITAGE AT A TIME WHEN THEY SEE FRANCE POISED TO REALLY REASSERT ITSELF ON THE WORLD STAGE, SO THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR CULTURE STRONG.

WHO'S DOWN IS WIND ENERGY IN TEXAS.

AS JOE MENTIONED THE WEATHER DOWN THERE, THE ICING AND THE SUPER COLD CONDITIONS LED TO A FREEZING OF WIND TURBINES, BASICALLY TAKING AT LEAST HALF OF THAT POWER PRODUCTION OFF THE GRID AND IT SHIFTED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXTRA BURDEN ON TO GAS GENERATED POWER WHICH ALSO HAD SOME WEATHER ISSUES AS WELL, I WOULD SAY IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL TO GET TO NEWLY ADVANCED POWER TECHNOLOGY BACK ON THE AGENDA.

HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH QUICKLY.

>> TWO ALTERNATIVES COOPER, SIGNING DELAYS FIRST VETO TEST OR COOPER VETO PUTS PRESSURE ON DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS.

>> DONNA, QUICKLY.

>> FED CHAIRMAN JEROME POWELL SPEAKS TO THE SENATE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY.

>> JOE HEADLINE QUICKLY.

>> COOPER FINISHES FILLING ALL OF HIS CABINET SECRETARIES POSITIONS, FULL STEAM AHEAD ON THE COOPER LEGACY AS GOVERNOR >> NELSON, QUICKLY.

>> FACEBOOK AND GOOGLE DECLARE WAR ON AUSTRALIA.

>> OK THAT'S IT FOR US GREAT JOB, PANNEL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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