- HI, I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP ON "FRONT ROW," INFLATION HITS A 40-YEAR HIGH.

WE'LL GET THE LATEST ON REDISTRICTING.

AND DOES NORTH CAROLINA HAVE A TEACHER SHORTAGE?

NEXT.

- [ANNOUNCER] MAJOR FUNDING FOR "FRONT ROW" IS PROVIDED BY ROBERT L. LUDDY.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY PATRICIA AND KOO YUEN, THROUGH THE YUEN FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND BY.

[DRUMMING MUSIC] FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY BODDIE-NOELL FOUNDATION, NC REALTORS, MARY LOUISE AND JOHN BURESS, RIFENBURG CONSTRUCTION, AND HELEN LAUGHERY.

A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT PBSNC.ORG/FRONTROW.

[INVIGORATING MUSIC] - WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, DONNA KING, EDITOR AND CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL.

POLITICAL ANALYST, JOE STEWART, ASHER HILDEBRAND, WITH THE SANFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, AND NELSON DOLLAR, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

NELSON, WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH A HIGH COST OF INFLATION.

- YES, CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ROSE IN THE LAST MONTH, SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT.

PRODUCER PRICES ROSE 9.7%.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT ARE DRIVING INFLATION, SHORT AND LONG-TERM SOARING MONEY SUPPLIES, KICKING IN GREATER DEMAND, THE END OF GLOBALIZATION.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT, AMERICA'S ECONOMY WAS BUILT ON CHEAP AND ABUNDANT ENERGY.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT GASOLINE PRICES THAT HAVE HAVE RISEN BY 40%, NATURAL GAS PRICES ARE UP TO HEAT OUR HOME.

AND A LOT OF THIS IS BASED ON GOVERNMENT POLICY, BOTH HERE AND ABROAD.

WE HAVE A SEVEN YEAR DECLINE IN OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, A DECADES LONG DECLINE IN EXPLORATION WORLDWIDE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS REFUSING NOW TO LEASE FEDERAL LANDS FOR ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION.

- MORE RESTRICTIONS, MORE REGULATIONS.

- MORE RESTRICTIONS, THEY'RE ENACTING RULES RIGHT NOW, OR TRYING TO, THAT WILL DRIVE UP TAXES AND FEES.

AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF STOPPING NATURAL GAS PIPELINE.

SO WHEN THE COST FOR ENERGY AND PETROCHEMICALS GO UP, THAT DRIVES UP FOOD COST, THE COST TO POWER YOUR VEHICLES, THE COST TO HEAT YOUR HOME.

AND FRANKLY, THE GREEN TECHNOLOGY IS JUST NOT THERE YET.

IT'S NOT READY YET.

83% OF WORLD ENERGY IS PRODUCED BY HYDROCARBONS, BY FOSSIL FUELS.

AND UNLESS WE CHANGE OUR POLICY, WE'RE GONNA SEE HIGH ENERGY COST AND HIGH FOOD PRICES SUSTAINED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

- JOE, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

IS BIDEN'S GREEN NEW DEAL DRIVING ENERGY POLICY, ECONOMIC POLICY?

- WELL, I THINK TO SOME EXTENT IT IS A VERY AMBITIOUS PROPOSAL.

BUT PERHAPS AS NELSON HAS POINTED TO IT'S NOT GONNA CAUSE ANY GREAT CHANGE IN THE MARKETPLACE IN TERMS OF ENERGY COST, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THE PRESIDENT, HE NEEDS A STARTING POINT ON THE PUBLIC POLICY THAT HE HOPES TO PURSUE TO TRY TO CONVERT THE UNITED STATES OVER TO A DIFFERENT ENERGY BASIS.

BUT I THINK THE CHALLENGE IN THE SHORT TERM IS WE STILL ARE VERY ENERGY DEPENDENT.

AND IF YOU SAID SUDDENLY WE'RE GONNA PRODUCE ENERGY IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY THAT DOESN'T CREATE THE THE NECESSARY AMOUNT WE NEED, IT'S GONNA CAUSE A EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM.

- DONNA, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT ANALYSIS, I MEAN, COST OF GAS IS WAY UP.

- ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO EVEN HIGHER WHEN WE'RE SEEING NOW OF COURSE, A TRAGIC CRISIS AND WARFARE IN UKRAINE.

WE COULD LOOK AT SEVEN DOLLARS A GALLON.

THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THESE ANALYSTS ARE SAYING.

BUT WHAT THIS REALLY DOES- - IT'S $5.50 IN CALIFORNIA.

- IT'S GONNA GO HIGHER, AND WHO THIS REALLY IS HURTING IS THE POOREST AMONG US.

THOSE WHO PAY RENTS FOR HOUSING, AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER AREA.

THEY HAVE TO COMMUTE IN TO WORK.

THIS IS A RIGHT NOW ISSUE.

AND IT DOES FEEL LIKE PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, A LOT OF THIS POLICY IS BEING DRIVEN BY ISSUES AND PROJECTS LEFT OVER FROM THE GREEN NEW DEAL.

BUT FOLKS ARE WORRIED ABOUT PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE TODAY.

- OKAY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS ASHER, WHAT DOES HE NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THE SHIP?

OR DOES HE NEED THE RIGHT THE SHIP, TO GET THE ECONOMY ON THE RIGHT FOOTING?

- I DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS DO THEMSELVES ANY FAVORS BY IGNORING THE INFLATION THAT'S HAPPENING, OR BY FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE REAL PAIN THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE THINKING.

I THINK FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN ON DOWN, WE COULD DO MORE TO TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PAIN, AND TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS HE IS DOING.

BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF COMPANIES PASSING ALONG HIGHER INPUT PRICES TO CONSUMERS.

CORPORATE PROFITS ARE AT RECORD HIGHS.

- WELL LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IS THE BIDEN BUILD BACK BETTER PROGRAM THE ANSWER?

THAT'S WHAT BIDEN SAYS.

- MOST ECONOMISTS SAY THAT THE BIDEN BUILD BACK BETTER PROGRAM WILL NOT HAVE MUCH IMPACT ON INFLATION, EITHER WAY.

THEY SAY THAT IT HELPS REPLACE SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT ARE EXPIRING, AND THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE THE ISSUE.

BUT I ALSO THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT SOME COMPANIES ARE DOING.

AMAZON'S PROFITS WERE $8 BILLION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER LAST YEAR.

AND YET MY AMAZON PRIME MEMBERSHIP JUST WENT UP, RIGHT?

SO THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT INPUT PRICES.

- YEAH, EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING.

NELSON, DO WE NEED TO JUMPSTART DRILLING RIGHT NOW?

NATURAL GAS.

- WE DO, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO PARTICULARLY, FRACKING.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE, AND A TREMENDOUS CAPABILITY IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE NEED TO RETOOL OUR REFINERIES, AND WE NEED TO GIVE THOSE ENERGY PRODUCERS THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY CAN INVEST.

AND THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE GONNA TO BE HONORED LONG TERM.

- WE NEED TO MOVE ON.

I WANNA GET THE LATEST ON THE GENERAL, NOT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON REDISTRICTING, FROM ASHER.

- SURE, AND EVEN BY NORTH CAROLINA STANDARDS, THIS HAS BEEN A TRULY DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS.

I SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AT THE OUTSET, I ACTUALLY SUBMITTED A BRIEF IN THE CASE THAT JUST WAS DECIDED.

I'M NOT EXACTLY A DISINTERESTED PARTY, BUT I'LL START BY RECAPPING THE BASIC FACTS.

SO ON FEBRUARY 2ND, THE STATE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED THE LEGISLATIVE AND STATE, AND CONGRESSIONAL MAPS ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL PARTISAN GERRYMANDERS.

LAST WEEK, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED NEW REMEDIAL MAPS, INCLUDING BIPARTISAN STATE HOUSE MAP, AS WELL AS STATE SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL MAPS APPROVED ON PARTISAN LINES.

ON WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK, THE THREE-JUDGE PANEL APPOINTED TO HEAR THAT CASE, ACCEPTED THE REMEDIAL STATE LEGISLATIVE MAPS, BUT NOT ACCEPT THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

AND INSTEAD IMPOSED AN INTERIM CONGRESSIONAL MAP DRAWN BY THREE SPECIAL MASTERS.

NOW THIS HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS A SPLIT DECISION.

I FEEL LIKE THAT'S FAIR.

YOU GOTTA HOUSE MAP, MOST PEOPLE AGREE WITH, A SENATE MAP THAT DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR COOPER, STRONGLY CRITICIZED BECAUSE IT'S STILL SKEWED DISPROPORTIONATELY TO REPUBLICANS.

THEN YOU'VE GOT A CONGRESSIONAL MAP THAT REPUBLICANS ARE CRYING FOUL ABOUT IT.

- BUT PROBABLY HAVE TO LIVE WITH, RIGHT?

- WELL, IT WOULD STILL PRODUCE PROBABLY AN EIGHT, SIX REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN 2022, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY FAIRER TO DEMOCRATS THAN EITHER THE ORIGINAL MAP OR THE REMEDIAL MAP THAT THEY PRODUCED.

THEY COULD STILL APPEAL IT TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

THE STATE COURTS HAVE SPOKEN THEIR- - WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT, THOUGH REALLY?

- I'M PROBABLY NOT THE BEST PERSON TO ASK, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S STILL VERY POSSIBLE.

BUT THE LONGER WE GET, FILING STARTED YESTERDAY, THERE ARE CANDIDATES LINING UP TO RUN IN THESE DISTRICTS.

SO THE LONGER WE GET INTO THE FILING PERIOD, THE LESS LIKELY IT BECOMES.

- JOE ARE THE COURTS, THE NEW POWER BROKERS IN NORTH CAROLINA?

- BOY, THEY CERTAINLY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE THESE DAYS IN THIS.

AND A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE JUST, IN EFFECT DISPUTES, BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT ALL OF THIS TO ME, IS THE ACTUAL IMPLICATION ON THE 2022 ELECTION.

FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A HIGHLY COMPRESSED PRIMARY CYCLE NOW, WITH THIS BEING RESOLVED, THE REDISTRICT, I MEAN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR CANDIDATES REOPENED.

IT RUNS THROUGH MARCH 4TH, BUT THE PRIMARY IS MAY 17TH.

THAT'S A VERY SHORT OF TIME FOR CANDIDATES TO TURN AROUND AND CAMPAIGN.

THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS IS AS LEGISLATURE RETURNS FOR THE SHORT SESSION, WHENEVER THAT IS AFTER THE PRIMARY, LEGISLATORS WILL WANNA GET THEIR BUSINESS DONE QUICKLY, IN MY OPINION, SO THEY CAN GET HOME, AND RUN FOR REELECTION IN DISTRICTS WHERE THEY MAY NOT KNOW ALL OF THE VOTERS BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING.

- DONNA, TALK TO US ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

WHAT ARE THE COMPETITIVE RACES IN THE PRIMARIES NOW?

- WELL NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY REAL COMPETITIVE ONE WOULD BE THIS BIG SLICE OF WAKE COUNTY, JOHNSTON COUNTY.

FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYTHING'S BEEN LOCKED DOWN AND PROMISED, AND SAFER FOR KATHY MANNING, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO WAS IN SORT OF A SWING DISTRICT IN GUILFORD COUNTY.

- WHAT ABOUT CAWTHORN?

WE HAVE AN OPPONENT?

- SO MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT HE'LL MOVE BACK TO THE 11TH, WHERE SENATOR CHUCK EDWARDS IS CONSIDERING RUNNING IN THAT SEAT.

CHUCK EDWARDS, CAWTHORN BRINGS IN A WAR CHEST THOUGH.

YOU KNOW, HE'S VERSED WITH A TON OF MONEY, HE'S SUPPORTING THROUGH IT.

- BUT EDWARDS HAS MONEY TOO.

RIGHT NOW.

- EDWARDS HAS MONEY AS WELL.

YEAH, HE DOES.

HE HAS MONEY TOO.

CAWTHORN HAS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION THAT HE'S RAISED, BUT HE'S ALSO BURNING THROUGH IT.

SO CASH ON HAND, THEY'RE PROBABLY CLOSE TO SIMILAR.

I WOULD EXPECT THAT, BUT WE YOU KNOW, WE ALSO SEE A LOT MORE LOCKDOWN PROMISE DISTRICTS, WHICH MAKES YOU WONDER DO WE REALLY WANT COMPETITIVE?

DO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DRAWING IT REALLY WANT COMPETITIVE SWING DISTRICTS, OR DO THEY WANT ONES THAT ARE PROMISED RESULT?

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS UP FOR DEBATE IN MANY OF THESE CASES, AS WE TALK ABOUT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING.

- WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS, NELSON.

- WELL, WEDNESDAY WAS SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE.

I MEAN, THIS SPLIT THE BABY THING IS COMPLETELY IRRATIONAL.

THAT'S NOT WHAT COURTS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO APPLY APPROPRIATE PRINCIPLES.

THIS WAS SIMPLY A POLITICAL DECISION THAT WAS MADE.

WE WENT FROM THE MOST COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL MAP, PROBABLY IN THE COUNTRY, TO NOW ONE OF THE AT LEAST, PROBABLY THE LEAST COMPETITIVE.

SO UNDER THE ORDER IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE'RE JUST LIKE MARYLAND, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, CALIFORNIA WHERE YOU'RE LOCKED INTO THE RESULTS.

SO CLEARLY ERIC HOLDER, I GUESS GIVE HIM CREDIT, HIS LAWSUITS AND HIS EFFORTS, HE'S GOTTEN WHAT HE WANTS.

- SO EVERYBODY'S NOT HAPPY.

OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

THE POTENTIAL TEACHER SHORT JOE, IN NORTH CAROLINA.

- INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, UNDER THE STATUTE, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION'S REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE STATUS OF TEACHING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THE MOST RECENT REPORT, IT TRAILS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE SO COMPREHENSIVE, BUT IN 2019/2020 SCHOOL YEAR, WE SAW AN ATTRITION RATE OF ABOUT 7.5% OF SCHOOL TEACHERS, SLIGHTLY LOWER AMONG LONGER TENURED TEACHERS, SLIGHTLY HIGHER AMONG NEW TEACHERS, BUT IT WAS TRENDING DOWNWARD PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE NOW SAYING, AS A RESULT COVID-19, THE STRESSING FACTORS ON THE TEACHING PROFESSION, THE IN AND OUT OF CLASSROOM, IN PERSON VERSUS REMOTE, MASKING ISSUES, THE TEACHERS- - [MARC] CURRICULUM.

- YEAH, THE TEACHERS FEELING AS THOUGH THEY'RE ON THE FRONT LINES OF A DEBATE BETWEEN PARENTS ON WHAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE WAY AND MANNER TO RETURN STUDENTS TO THE CLASSROOM.

SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS THE STATE SAY THEY FEEL LIKE THE ATTRITION RATE WILL BE EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT NOW.

SHORTAGE OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AND EVEN BUS DRIVERS NOW.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE.

A LOT OF INITIATIVES TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE COMPREHENSIVE ISSUE OF WHAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO COMPENSE PEOPLE TO MAKE THEM STAY IN THE CLASSROOM AND BECOME PROFICIENT TEACHERS.

BEST NC, AN ADVOCACY GROUP, HAS AN INITIATIVE CALLED NC STRIDE TO PUT IN PLACE A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS.

THERE'S A SPECIAL HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE LOOKING AT A COMPLETE REVISION OF THE WAY WE MANAGE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.

IT CERTAINLY IS STRESSING COVID-19 ON PUBLIC EDUCATORS, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR A LOT OF INDUSTRIES, BUT LET'S HOPE WE GET BACK ON TRACK TOWARD A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO REFORM HOW PUBLIC EDUCATION IS PROVIDED IN NORTH CAROLINA.

- THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DONNA, WANTS MORE TRANSPARENCY, MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.

- YES, YES, THAT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF HIS PLATFORM AS NORTH CAROLINA'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

HE HAS A TASK FORCE THAT IS WORKING ON THAT, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO CURRICULUM AND TRANSPARENCY.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IS THAT THE POLICY OF SHUTTING DOWN CLASSROOMS FOR AN ENTIRE YEA WAS DISASTROUS, NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY, BUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND PUTTING KIDS WHO WERE ALREADY IN RISKY SITUATIONS AT HIGHER RISK.

BUT WHAT IT REALLY DID ALSO WAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSE THE TRUST BETWEEN PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES AND THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

AND TEACHERS ENDED UP BEING THE FRONT FACING PART OF THAT.

THEY WERE OUT ON THE POINTY END.

THEY HAD TO ANSWER THOSE EMAILS.

THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH THE KIDS IN REMOTE SCHOOL.

AND THERE'S A HIGH LEVEL OF STRESS FOR THAT.

THEY'RE REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL BUREAUCRACY TO PARENTS WHO ARE ANGRY AND MISTRUSTFUL AND LOSING THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON, TEACHERS WERE RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT LINE.

MEANTIME, THEY'RE HEARING THE NCAE CALL LEARNING LOSS A FALSE CONSTRUCT, AND THEY KNOW IT'S NOT, THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS, THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOM.

IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN A PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO BEING IN THAT CLASSROOM AFTER THE TWO YEARS THEY'VE HAD.

- NELSON, THE GOVERNOR VETOED THE SMILES ACT.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

- WELL, HE DID.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE INITIATIVE TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF THE MASK IN SCHOOLS.

WE'VE SEEN THAT IN EUROPE AND IN OTHER PLACES TO TRY TO GET THE CONNECTION BACK.

I KNOW DONNA'S GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT LEARNING LOSS, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT.

IT'S ALL ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY TEACH IN THE CLASSROOM AND FOR THOSE CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO LEARN AND TO INTERACT SOCIALLY, NOT ONLY WITH THE TEACHERS, BUT ALSO WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF HOW YOU LEARN IN A CLASSROOM SETTING.

AND WHEN THAT SORT OF THING IS RESTRICTED, WHEN YOU YOU CAN'T SOCIALIZE, YOU CAN'T EFFECTIVELY LEARN AS A CHILD COMING ALONG, IT HAS LONG TERM IMPACTS.

- ASHER, WEIGH IN HERE, MY FRIEND.

- THINK ABOUT A TEACHER WHO JOINED THE PROFESSION A DECADE AGO, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE TEACHER WE NEED TO BE KEEPING IN THE CLASSROOM RIGHT NOW.

FIRST THEY ENDURED BUDGET CUTS.

THEN THEY ENDURED A PANDEMIC, ASKING THEM TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, EITHER TEACHING REMOTELY OR TEACHING IN PERSON AND RISKING THEIR HEALTH.

AND I AGREE WITH DONNA THAT THEY WERE UNFAIRLY BLAMED FOR THE FAILURES OF OUR LEADERSHIP TO REOPEN THE SCHOOLS.

NOW THEY'RE ENDURING ATTEMPTS BY POLITICIANS TO POLICE WHAT THEY TEACH AND TO WEIGH IN ON THEIR CURRICULUM WHEN THEY'RE THE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.

I WOULDN'T BLAME A TEACHER WHO'S THINKING TWICE ABOUT THE PROFESSION.

I THINK WE NEED TO INVEST MORE IN TEACHER TRAINING.

I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP 'EM IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THE POLITICIANS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

- QUICKLY, NELSON, QUICKLY.

- BUT THE UNION ALSO TWO YEARS AGO TURNED DOWN A 5% RAISE AND A THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUS.

SO THEIR UNION HAS NOT BEEN SERVING THEM WELL AT ALL.

THEY'VE BEEN DENIGRATING THE PROFESSION, AND THAT'S ALSO DISCOURAGING STUDENTS FROM GETTING IN THE PROFESSION.

- OKAY, I WANNA STAY ON THE TEACHER THEME, I MEAN ON THE EDUCATION THEME, TALK TO DONNA ABOUT SCHOOL CHILDREN, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO ARE FALLING BEHIND.

- SURE, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT RECENTLY IN THE LAST YEAR, PARTICULARLY FOR THAT YEAR IN ACADEMICS THAT WAS ENTIRELY REMOTE AS TEACHERS, OF COURSE, ARE NOW FACED WITH BRINGING THOSE KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM DURING THIS SCHOOL YEAR, FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE, CATCH THEM UP.

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT K THROUGH SECOND GRADE.

THAT GROUP HASN'T SEEN A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR YET.

THEY HAVE HAD TO TRY AND LEARN REMOTELY.

AND FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A KINDERGARTNER, YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW CHALLENGING THAT WAS.

THEY'RE NOW TRYING TO CATCH THEM UP.

THOSE READING FLUENCY IN SECOND AND THIRD GRADERS, WHO IS SOME OF THE GROUP THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IS DOWN ABOUT 30% COMPARED TO 2019 BEFORE THIS ALL HAPPENED.

AND THOSE KIDS WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR ENTIRE LIFE IN THE PANDEMIC, THEIR ENTIRE ACADEMIC LIFE IN THE PANDEMIC, ARE REALLY LOSING OUT.

IT'S WHETHER THEY HAVE TIME TO CATCH UP IS WHAT EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

AND HOW DO WE INVEST IN THAT?

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO REGROUP SOME OF THOSE SKILLS, OR ARE THEY GONE FOR GOOD?

AND THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR PARENTS, A HUGE CONCERN FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND WE'RE SEEING A MASS EXODUS, REALLY, OF PARENTS WHO ARE LEAVING, FINDING SOMETHING ALTERNATIVE, TEACHING THEM AT HOME, SENDING THEM TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILD TO BE THAT SOCIAL EXPERIMENT ABOUT HOW A PANDEMIC TREATS THESE CHILDREN.

WITH AS MUCH GROWTH AS NORTH CAROLINA HAS HAD, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM ENROLLMENT IS ACTUALLY DROPPING.

- ASHER.

- I'M A PARENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND SO THIS IS A PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME, BUT I THINK I SPEAK FOR A LOT WHEN I SAY IF WE HAD JUST PRIORITIZED AS A SOCIETY REOPENING SCHOOLS WITH THE SAME EMPHASIS THAT WE PRIORITIZED REOPENING BUSINESSES AND MAKING THE INVESTMENTS WE NEEDED IN FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL AND HVAC SYSTEMS, ALL OF THE THINGS, THEN THERE MIGHT BE A LOT LESS YELLING ABOUT MASK MANDATES RIGHT NOW AND A LOT MORE STUDENTS LEARNING.

AND THEN HINDSIGHT'S 2020.

BUT I DO THINK WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THIS PANDEMIC, THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY HAUNTS US.

- NELSON, THAT'S LESSONS LEARNED, REALLY.

WHERE WAS THE NCAE ON ALL THIS?

- WELL, THEY WERE DEMANDING IN MANY CASES TO CONTINUE LOCKDOWNS, AND THIS WAS A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.

SO GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE WORLD, AND PARTICULARLY IN EUROPE THAT I WATCHED FOR A LOT WERE BATTLING WITH TEACHERS UNIONS OVER LOCKDOWNS AND THE ABILITY TO REOPEN SCHOOLS.

NOW, MOST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES OPENED THEM IN THAT SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2020.

AND THEY STAYED OPEN DURING THE VARIOUS COVID WAVES.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT CLOSURES WERE PERHAPS THE LEAST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC.

FINNISH GOVERNMENT, THEY STUDIED THIS.

THEY CAME OUT AND SAID, "LOOK, A CHILDREN'S RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION OUTWEIGHS THE RISK TO GOING BACK TO SCHOOL."

AS DONNA SAID, WE SAW THE RESULTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

NOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNMENTS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE HAVING TO PUMP MONEY IN FOR REMEDIATION PROGRAMS, SUMMER PROGRAMS, ALL SORTS OF INITIATIVES TO GET KIDS BACK ON TRACK.

- JOE, PUT THIS IN CONTEXT.

- WELL, THE INTERESTING PHENOMENA OUT OF ALL OF THIS MAYBE IS HOW DOES IT PLAY OUT IN THE 2022 ELECTION?

WE REMEMBER JUST LAST YEAR IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN VIRGINIA PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUES PERCOLATED UP AND WERE SIGNIFICANT IN THAT CONTEST.

- PARENTAL RIGHTS IS PERKING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

- WELL, AND I'M VERY CURIOUS, NOW THAT THE CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD'S OPEN AGAIN, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FILING FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD RACES, I MEAN, THERE'S A THRESHOLD DRUG INTO POLITICS MANY TIMES OF SERVING ON A SCHOOL BOARD AND YOU GET FIRED UP AS A PARENT AS A RESULT OF SOME ISSUES THAT YOU FEEL VERY POIGNANTLY FOR YOUR OWN CHILDREN.

WE MAY SEE THIS BECOME A HOT TOPIC AMONG CANDIDATES IN ALL RACES IN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE FALL JUST BECAUSE IT'S SO INCREDIBLY POIGNANT AND TOPICAL.

- DONNA, WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

- WELL, I THINK, JOE MAKES AN EXCELLENT POINT, BECAUSE NONE OF THIS HAS ESCAPED THE ATTENTION OF THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WHETHER IT'S FOR SCHOOL BOARD OR FOR PRESIDENT.

I MEAN, THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND YOU HAVE PARENTS REALLY KNOWING THE NAMES, THE FACEBOOK PAGES OF THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

THEY'RE TAPPING INTO THEIR BONDED INSURANCE.

I MEAN, THIS IS A HUGE DEAL, AND WE'RE GONNA SEE MORE OF THAT GOING INTO 2022.

- OKAY, COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU, WHAT'S THE MOST UNREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK?

- OKAY, SO ONE OF THE STORIES I REALLY LIKED FROM THIS WEEK I DIDN'T SEE IN A LOT OF PLACES WAS, BACK TO EDUCATION, OF COURSE, AND REBUILDING, TRYING TO REBUILD THAT TRUST BETWEEN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PARENTS, OUR STATE DPI, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, CATHERINE TRUITT, IS FORMING A 48-MEMBER PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.

IT'S GOING TO PULL FROM PARENTS WHO ARE IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR IN CHARTER SCHOOLS, PRIVATE, HOMESCHOOL TO GIVE THEM A VOICE AND SKIN IN THE GAME TO REALLY HELP BE A VOICE AT THE TABLE THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE.

- [MARC] WILL THEY HAVE REAL AUTHORITY?

>> WELL WE'LL FIND OUT, I MEAN I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS ARE REALLY DOING THERE TO DO IT AND BE AN ADVISOR THEY PARENTS REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A ROLE BEFORE LIKE THIS AND I THINK THAT'S A SHAME THEY HAVEN'T, BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT AND I THINK THAT THEY ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS NOW AT DPI'S WEBSITE JOE UNDERREPORTED.

>> WELL IN RECOGNITION OF THIS WEEK, INCLUDING PRESIDENT'S DAY A LITTLE BIT OF TIDBITS ABOUT THE 3 PRESIDENTS THAT NORTH CAROLINA'S GIVEN TO OUR NATION ANDREW JACKSON KILLED A MAN AND A DUEL THAT WAIT A MINUTE TO FUNNEL IT MARRIED HIS WIFE RACHEL A LITTLE BIT BEFORE SHE WAS ACTUALLY DIVORCED FROM HER HUSBAND, THAT'S A LITTLE SCANDALOUS.

JAMES K. POLK SERVED ONLY ONE TERM BUT BY INCREASED THE SIZE THE UNITED STATES BY A FULL 3RD, HIS WIFE SARAH BANNED, THE USE OF ALCOHOL IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHICH IS PERHAPS WHY POLK ONLY SERVED ONE TERM HAHA ANDREW JOHNSON HAD NO CONVENTIONAL PET WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT STATES BUT HE DID KEEP A LITTLE FAMILY OF MICE APPARENTLY THAT HE REFERRED TO AS THE LITTLE FELLOWS HAHA REPORTED USHER NOT THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ROSTER UNFORTUNATELY >> WE'VE HEARD A LOT IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS ABOUT QANON CONSPIRACY THEORISTS JOINING THE RANKS OF CONGRESS AND - TELL PEOPLE WHAT Q ANON IS.

- QANON IS THAT WHAT WAS ONCE A FRINGE CONSPIRACY THEORY WHICH MAY BE MORE MAINSTREAM NOW THAT CONTAINS A NUMBER OF BOTH OF BELIEFS INVOLVING A PEDOPHILIA AND SATAN WORSHIP AND OTHER THINGS IT'S BEEN DEBUNKED A MILLION TIMES OVER AND YET ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES THIS WEEK 2 TEAMS OF RESEARCHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PERSON LIKELY TO BE Q, HE'S NOW RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN ARIZONA, A MAN NAMED RON WATKINS THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY THE NEWS HE'S LONG LONG BEEN SUSPECTED OF BEING Q, BUT THESE 2 DIFFERENT TEAMS HAVE PRODUCED REALLY COMPELLING EVIDENCE THAT HE'S A LYING WHEN HE DENIES IT BY COMPARING HIS TEXT TO THE MESSAGES POSTED BY Q AND THIS ISN'T JUST A STORY ABOUT SMART SCIENTISTS.

YOU KNOW APPLYING A CREATIVE TECHNIQUE TO IDENTIFY THIS.

YOU KNOW THE THE SCIENTISTS REALLY BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN UNMASK THE IDENTITY OF Q, THEN MAYBE THAT WILL HELP DIMINISH HIS APPEAL THE FBI CONSIDERS QANON A TERRORIST THREAT AND MAYBE IT TURNS OUT HE'S JUST A ANOTHER WANNABE POLITICIAN THAT IT WON'T BE THAT APPEALING.

>> WELL SO I'M GLAD I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE LITTLE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IN ANY WAY.

SO KIND.

RUSSIA'S WAR ON UKRAINE HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES IN 2 WAYS FIRST IF THE U.S. AND EUROPE AHEAD OFFERED A UKRAINE SERIOUS MILITARY SUPPORT BEFORE THE INVASION MAY BE 60,000 HEAVY FORCES AND POLAND AND ROMANIA, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NO FLY ZONE OVER UKRAINE AND THEN FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH ADDRESS, RUSSIA'S NUMBER ONE SECURITY CONCERN AND THAT IS RESCINDING THE OFFER FOR FUTURE NATO MEMBERSHIP TO UKRAINE AND THEN JOINTLY DECLARE UKRAINE AS A AS A NEUTRAL COUNTRY THE WAY THEY DID AUSTRIA DURING THE COLD WAR INSTEAD ON DECEMBER 8TH.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED NO U.S.

TROOPS ON THE GROUND AND REFUSED TO GIVE PUTIN PUBLIC GUARANTEE THAT NATO WOULD NOT EXPAND EAST INTO UKRAINE AND FRANKLY AT THAT POINT SADLY ALL THE TALK ABOUT SANCTIONS ALL THE TALK ABOUT STANDING UP WITH UKRAINE PEOPLE WAS SIMPLY LEADING THE LAMB TO SLAUGHTER WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT LET'S GO TO THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

>> WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK.

THEY WANT TO SAY UP IS THE NUMBER OF REBUTTALS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS ACTUALLY SCHEDULED TO GO.

ON MARCH 1ST AND A MEMBER OF THE SQUAD MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE RASHIDA TLAIB WE'LL DELIVER THAT LEAVE THAT STUMBLE OVER THAT.

THANK YOU SHE'S GOING TO DELIVER THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE UNION REALLY HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THAT SPLIT BETWEEN THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY AND SOME OF WHAT BIDEN HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH LIKELY I WOULD EXPECT SOME OF THOSE POLICIES TO BE OBJECTING TO NOT BE ABLE TO GET SOME OF THEM THROUGH DOWN I'M GOING TO SAY THAT THE CANADIAN TRUCKERS WE'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED IN RECENT YEARS ON CHINA, SOME OF THE RIGHTS ABUSES THERE AND IT'S HAPPENING JUST OVER BORDER.

>> JOE IS UP THE PROSPECTS FOR TAX CUT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SENT FROM CONGRESS IN COVID RELIEF TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WHAT MANY ARE LOOKING FOR THE REDUCTION IN TAXES AS A RESULT OF THIS OF COURSE WE TALKED ABOUT INFLATION.

THIS IMPACTS THE STATE IS INTEREST RATES HAVE TO GO UP.

THE BORROWING GOES UP TO A STATE TREASURER DALE FOLWELL HAS A ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE STATE'S CAPACITY TO BORROW AS BUT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ALL THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO OUR ECONOMY THROUGH TAX CUTS.

DOWN, VIEWERSHIP OF THE OLYMPICS.

NBC REPORTED A 42% DROP FROM 4 YEARS PRIOR.

I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE THAT WE SHOULDN'T JUST HAVE THE OLYMPICS MAY BE IN SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF KINSTON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND ALWAYS HAVE IT THERE.

- UP, DEMOCRACY IN NORTH CAROLINA BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR ALONG DOWN THE HORSE RACE OF WHO'S RUNNING AND WHAT DISTRICT WHETHER IT'S GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT, JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THAT OUR STATE'S HIGHEST COURT HAS RULED THAT EVERY NORTH CAROLINIAN HAS A RIGHT TO POLITICAL EQUALITY IN THE FORM OF FAIR DISTRICTS.

DOWN, DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.

WE'VE BEEN IN THE DEMOCRATIC SLUMP WE'VE KNOWN THIS FOR THE LAST DECADE, COUNTRIES LIKE TURKEY, BRAZIL, HUNGRY - MOVING TOWARDS AUTHORITARIANISM.

BUT THIS RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE FEELS LIKE THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR THIS ERA OF DEMOCRATIC OPTIMISM.

- NELSON?

- UP, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS REPORTED THAT BORDER ENCOUNTERS ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ARE ON PACE TO EXCEED 2021'S RECORD YEAR.

DESPITE A SLIGHT DECREASE IN JANUARY.

MORE DISTURBINGLY, FENTANYL SEIZURES ON THE BORDER ARE UP 57% - DID YOU SEE THAT THE 2 BIGGEST CARTELS ARE EMERGING NOW?

- YES, YOU KNOW, CORPORATE MERGERS IN THE NORTHERN MEXICO.

AND IT'S YES, IT'S DANGEROUS.

AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS REALLY NOT ADDRESSING IT.

DOWN, TRUDEAU'S LIBERAL PARTY IN CANADA, CONSERVATIVES WHO RECENTLY ELECTED A NEW PARTY LEADER CANDICE BERGEN HAVE NOW SURGED IN SUPPORT OVER THE LIBERALS THEY'RE NOW LEAVING THEM BY 8 POINTS IN THE MOST RECENT POLLS AND BERGEN HAS BEEN RALLYING CONSERVATIVES TO SUPPORT TRUCKERS RIGHTS TO PROTEST.

- WE HAVE A TRUCK CONVOY COMING TO RALEIGH.

- ON FRIDAY.

THEY'RE DRIVING FROM MEBANE TO THE NORTH CAROLINA CAPITOL.

THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE LARGER CONVOY, THAT'S GOING CALIFORNIA TO D C, BUT I THINK WE'VE SEEN A BIG - THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG TURNOUT, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEADLINE.

MY NEXT WEEK IS REALLY JOHN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN GIVES HIS SECOND STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO FACE SOME EXPLANATION FOR THE INCREASING COST OF LIVING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT I WOULD ALSO EXPECT HIM TO TALK ABOUT THE MONUMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL - HEADLINE QUICKLY.

- YES, THE WORDS "LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR" AND "DONNA" WERE USED IN FRONT ROW AND SPECULATION STARTS ABOUT A POSSIBLE RUN IN 2024.

- HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

- WORLD CONFRONTS FIRST TRULY GLOBAL CYBER WAR.

- DO YOU THINK THAT THE RUSSIANS ARE GOING TO ATTACK ON CYBER?

- I THINK THEY'RE ALREADY - OKAY, HEADLINE?

- BIDEN'S CHOICE FOR SUPREME COURT WILL WIN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

- LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.

I THINK LINDSEY GRAHAM'S GOING TO SUPPORT HIM, AND SEVERAL OF THE REPUBLICANS.

WE'VE GOT TO RUN THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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