>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, PRESIDENT BIDEN UNVEILS HIS IMMIGRATION PLAN.

WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK, AND FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER SAYS NORTH CAROLINA IS GROUND 0 IN THE REDISTRICTING FIGHT.

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 THE NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S IMMIGRATION PLAN.

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, JOE BIDEN DIFFERENTIATED HIS IDEAS ABOUT IMMIGRATION FROM THOSE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE NOW PLAYING OUT UNDER A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

YOU'RE SEEING PROPOSALS THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT IN SOME WAYS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF PRIOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND EVEN PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH IN THAT JOE BIDEN SUPPORTS MORE LEGAL IMMIGRATION AND SOME SORT OF PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR MOST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

A PROBLEM FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS LIKE THIS TO PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ANYTHING THROUGH AN IMMIGRATION JOE BIDEN IS TRYING TO MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD WITH A VERY CLOSELY DIVIDED US HOUSE AND A 50-50 SENATE.

AND WHILE HE'S MOVING FORWARD, HE HAS ALMOST NOTHING THAT'S A CONCESSION TO REPUBLICANS, SO IT'S UNLIKELY THAT HE WOULD GET ANY REPUBLICAN VOTES AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE CHARACTERIZED JOE BIDEN'S PLAN ON IMMIGRATION IS BEING TO THE LEFT OF THE PLAN THAT WAS PUT FORWARD BY BARACK OBAMA HE WANTS TO INCREASE THE SO-CALLED DIVERSITY LOTTERY FROM ABOUT 55,000 IMMIGRANTS TO 80,000 HE WANTS TO SEE MORE OF THIS FAMILY BASED IMMIGRATION WHICH HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS.

HE DOES ALMOST NOTHING ON BORDER SECURITY WHICH HAS BEEN A KEY CONCERN AMONG CONSERVATIVES AND REPUBLICANS SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER HE CAN GET SOMETHING FORWARD WITH THE CONGRESS THAT WE HAVE.

A COUPLE OF OTHER INTERESTING NOTES INVOLVING JOE BIDEN AND IMMIGRATION THAT ARE SORT OF DOWNSIDES FOR HIM.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OPENED UP ITS FIRST CHILD IMMIGRANT DETENTION FACILITY IN TEXAS, DRAWING FIRE FOR PEOPLE LIKE US REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO CORTEZ WHO REALLY EXCORIATED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THE SECOND THING IS, A TEXAS JUDGE PUT A HOLD ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO HAVE A 100 DAY MORATORIUM ON DEPORTATIONS SO NOT A GREAT START ON IMMIGRATION FOR JOE BIDEN.

>> THAT'S REALLY GOOD POINTS, MITCH, NELSON IT IS HARD TO GET CONSENSUS ON IMMIGRATION ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S BEEN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT OVER A NUMBER OF DECADES BECAUSE YOU KNOW IF YOU LOOK BACK, THE UNITED STATES ALWAYS HAD SORT OF A DOUBLE MINDED POLICY IT SPOKE OF HAVING A STRONG BORDERS, AT THE SAME TIME YOU NEED AGRICULTURAL WORKERS TO COME IN AND PICK CROPS ON A NUMBER OF STATES INCLUDING NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING I THINK ON THE POLITICAL SIDE THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

DEMOCRAT OBSERVERS, MEDIA PEOPLE THINK THAT THESE FOLKS COMING IN WILL BOLSTER DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT NECESSARILY TRUE IF YOU LOOK AT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PERFORMANCE DOWN IN THOSE BORDER COUNTIES, HE ACTUALLY DID FAR BETTER.

HE DID FAR BETTER WITH HISPANIC VOTERS IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE VALUES OF SECOND 3RD GENERATION, HISPANICS, THEY'RE FAR MORE INTERESTED IN RELIGIOUS VALUES, FAMILY VALUES, AS WELL AS LAW AND ORDER ISSUES, SAFETY AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM.

>> DONNA IS IT WISE TO BE OPENING UP THE BORDER RIGHT NOW ROLLING BACK TRUMP POLICIES DURING A PANDEMIC?

>> WELL I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

OF COURSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD SOMETHING CALLED THE MPP THE MIGRANT PROTECTION PROTOCOL WHICH REQUIRED FOLKS TO STAY IN MEXICO WHILE THEY SEEK ASYLUM UNTIL THE PAPERWORK IS FILED.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ROLLED THAT BACK AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE IMPACT OF THAT.

AS ABOUT SUNDAY, MOST OF THE UNACCOMPANIED MINOR SHELTERS WERE ABOUT 93% CAPACITY, GETTING ABOUT 250 MINORS EVERY DAY.

SO I THINK THAT BEYOND POLICY THIS IS AN EVERYDAY PROBLEM THAT THE FENCE THERE IN TEXAS AND THE BORDER PATROL ARE REALLY HAVING TO DEAL WITH.

BUT I ALSO, TO NELSON'S POINT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO PERHAPS CULTURALLY MIGHT LEAN MORE CONSERVATIVE AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT AND IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR MANY PRESIDENTS.

>> JOE WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS QUICK PLEASE.

>> I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS THE U.S. SENATE.

YOU HAVE RAZOR THIN MARGINS FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND THAT MEANS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN ONLY GET PASSED THINGS THAT ARE RAZOR THIN WIDE, AND SO ANY DISSENSION AMONG DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE WOULD MAKE A BILL IMPASSABLE HE'S GOT TO APPEASE ALL 50 OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

>> OKAY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY I WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK NELSON.

>> YES, MARC SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES CONTINUE TO BE A FOCUS THIS WEEK IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HB 82 SUMMER LEARNING CHOICE FOR NORTH CAROLINA FAMILIES, A BILL THAT PROVIDES LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR AT RISK CHILDREN PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, 120 TO 0 IN THE HOUSE.

TWO BILLS, HOUSE BILL 79 AND HOUSE BILL 78, STUDENT DIGITAL LEARNING ACCESS AND A REPORT ON K 12 COMPUTER SCIENCE DATA ALSO PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE.

THOSE ARE FOCUSED ON PREPARING OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN EXPANDING DIGITAL ECONOMY.

THE SENATE PASSED A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THIS WEEK.

SB 52 SEX OFFENDER RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS.

AND WHAT THIS DID WAS CLOSE A LOOPHOLE AND ENSURE THAT SEX OFFENDERS CANNOT RESIDE IN ANY WAY CLOSER THAN A 1000 FEET TO A SCHOOL OR A DAY CARE CENTER.

THE SENATE ALSO MOVED THROUGH COMMITTEE A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT WILL BE COMING UP NEXT WEEK THAT WOULD OPEN UP ATHLETIC EVENTS PARTICULARLY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS TO MORE STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS THIS SPRING.

>> JOE WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING MY FRIEND?

>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN VERY THOUGHTFUL AND I'D SAY IN A VERY BIPARTISAN WAY OF LOOKING WHAT LESSONS HAVE BEEN LEARNED THROUGH COVID-19 AND THE ONE THAT INTERESTS ME THE MOST IS THE EXPANSION OF RURAL BROADBAND, MAKING SURE THAT PARTS OF THE STATE THAT HAVE NOT HISTORICALLY ENJOYED THE BENEFIT OF HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS ARE GOING TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

WE FOUND SCHOOLS HAD TO MOVE TO A REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND WORKERS WERE WORKING FROM HOME.

THE LACK OF THAT ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATES WAS PROBLEMATIC FOR PEOPLE IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA.

THE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRY TO ACCELERATE THE EXTENSION OF THAT BROADBAND TO ALL PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

>> DONNA WEIGH IN HERE PLEASE.

>> I THINK BROADBAND IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS, BUT THEN OF COURSE SO IS GETTING STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL.

I'M WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE WHAT GOVERNOR COOPER'S GOING TO DO ABOUT THE BILL TO GET STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL AT LEAST IN A HYBRID WAY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HIS HESITATION HAS BEEN IS THAT HE SAID WE REALLY JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA ON WHAT THESE OLDER GRADES, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WHAT THE TRANSMISSION RATE OF CORONAVIRUS IS AMONG THOSE GRADES WE MOSTLY DON'T HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

HAVING A STUDENT MYSELF, THE HYBRID ONE WEEK IN TWO WEEK OUT IS NOT WORKING EITHER.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESOLUTION TO THAT WILL BE BUT I'M CERTAINLY WATCHING THAT.

>> PUT THIS IN CONTEXT MITCH.

>> WELL, THERE WERE LOT OF INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS.

YOU'VE HEARD MANY OF THEM.

I THINK ONE WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED YET THAT DOES NEED TO BE MENTIONED IS THIS WAS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO GRILL THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ABOUT JUST WHAT HAPPENED WITH ALL OF THOSE SETTLEMENTS THAT AFFECTED THE RULES FOR THE 2020 ELECTION, AND YOU COULD TELL THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS WHO REALLY WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE WAY THAT PLAYED OUT WITH THE BACKROOM SETTLEMENT INVOLVING MARC ELIAS AND SO THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS ABLE TO DO GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD HAVE PUT IN SOME NEW REINS ON THEM.

>> JOE WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 25 SECONDS PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> YOU KNOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CLEARLY GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS LOOKING AT THE FISCAL FORECAST FOR THE STATE, WE'RE SORT OF GETTING INTO THAT USUAL PART OF THE LONG SESSION WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S PUT TOGETHER ITS BIENNIAL BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNOR.

>> OKAY DONNA I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS HERE TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND I SEE THAT FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER IS WEIGHING IN THIS FIGHT.

>> YES SAID IN A SPEECH GIVEN AT UNC SCHOOL OF LAW HE SAID NORTH CAROLINA WAS GROUND 0 ON SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT HIS ORGANIZATION IS INTERESTED IN GOING AFTER, OF COURSE HOLDER LEADS AN ORGANIZATION THAT BANKROLLS A LOT OF THE LAWSUITS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN NORTH CAROLINA, SO I WOULD SAY HANG ON TO YOUR HAT CAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE LEGAL ACTION AS HE'S GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON AND HIS ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON GETTING NORTH CAROLINA'S DISTRICTING PROCESS THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM ONCE AGAIN.

OF COURSE, ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE THE 2020 CENSUS DATA IS DUE TO COME OUT, IT'S BEEN PUSHED BACK, IT'S GOING TO NOT REALLY COME UNTIL SEPTEMBER WHICH REALLY IS GOING TO DELAY PERHAPS SOME OF THE PRIMARIES THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BECAUSE REDRAWING THOSE DISTRICT LINES IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME PARTICULARLY IF THERE'S LEGAL WRANGLING AND THAT CENSUS DATA IS ALSO REALLY EVEN AFFECTING SOME MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO GET PUSHED AS WELL BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING FOR THAT 2020 CENSUS DATA TO COME IN SEPTEMBER, BUT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF LEGAL ACTION AS HOLDER AND SOME OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TRY TO PUSH THROUGH IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> MITCH HOW MUCH WEIGHT DOES HOLDER BRING TO THE TABLE?

HOW MUCH JUICE CAN HE BRING TO THE TABLE?

>> WELL CERTAINLY A LOT BECAUSE HE IS TIED TO NOT ONLY HIS NATIONAL REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, BUT HE WITH HIS OTHER TIES IS ABLE TO PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO UP INTO THIS PROCESS AS WELL.

HIS GROUP, THE PAC ASSOCIATED WITH HIM PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IT SPENT THE MAX TO HELP BUT TRY TO GET ANITA EARLS ON THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE SUPREME COURT OF COURSE HELPS DECIDE REDISTRICTING LAWSUITS THAT ARE BASED ON THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ME THAT ERIC HOLDER IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS BECAUSE LAWSUITS INVOLVING HIM HELPED FLIP NORTH CAROLINA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FROM 10-3 REPUBLICAN TO 8-5, NOW WITH THE LIKELY 14TH SEAT, I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET AN EVEN BETTER SPLIT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE DELEGATION.

>> NELSON WEIGH IN HERE.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A RACE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS BETWEEN TEXAS AND NORTH CAROLINA AS TO WHO'S GOING TO HAVE THE MOST SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON REDISTRICTING.

IN FACT, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALITO OBSERVED, COUPLE OF CASES BACK THAT IN ONE OPINION ONE NORTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF 3 SEPARATE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS.

SO NORTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY REGULATED STATES IN TERMS OF ITS LEGISLATIVE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING AND IT REALLY IS TIME FOR THE COURTS TO LET THE PEOPLE'S ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LEGISLATURE DO THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY WITHOUT THE COURTS CONSISTENTLY CHANGING THE RULES.

>> JOE WEIGH IN HERE PLEASE.

>> YES, THE DANISH PHYSICIST AND POET PIET HEIN WROTE THAT "LOVE IS LIKE A PINEAPPLE SWEET AND UNDEFINABLE."

WELL, THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER DISTRICTS IS UNLIKE LOVE BECAUSE NEITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS APPLY.

IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE FORMULA.

YOU HAVE TO PUT THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN STATE HOUSE STATE SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS HONORING EXISTING BORDERS AND COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST.

THE CHALLENGE BECOMES MAKING SURE THAT THOSE MAPS CAN WITHSTAND A COURT CHALLENGE AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RELATIVELY SPEAKING THE INTEREST PARTICULAR INCUMBENTS THAT MAY BE SERVING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE TIME.

THIS PROCESS HAS BECOME SO HOPELESSLY COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS LITIGATION.

I THINK IT ONLY EXACERBATES AND FRUSTRATES VOTERS WHOM OVER THE COURSE OF 2 OR 3 ELECTION CYCLES HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT CANDIDATES FOR THE SAME OFFICE BECAUSE THE DISTRICT LINES HAVE BEEN MOVED.

HOPEFULLY SOMEONE IS GOING TO DESIGN A PERFECT COMPUTER PROGRAM AT SOME POINT THAT CAN DRAW MAPS THAT SUSTAIN A COURT CHALLENGE SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM DRAWN ONCE AND USE THEM FOR THE ENTIRE DECADE.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP PLEASE IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SEASON 2 OF THIS DRAMA.

HOLDER HAS ALREADY.

HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE IN THE REDISTRICTING FIGHTS EARLIER, DEMOCRATS PICKED UP 2 SEATS, REPUBLICANS HELD ON TO THE REMAINDER AND I THINK THIS TIME AROUND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IT HARD AND SENATE LEADER PHIL BERGER WHEN A SPOKESMAN FROM HIS OFFICE HAS ALREADY CALLED HOLDER A PHONY POLITICAL OPERATOR.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF DRAMA MOVING FORWARD.

>> SO NO LOVE LOST BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND HOLDER?

>> YES, I THINK NOT.

MORE OF THE SAME.

>> I WANT TO CHANGE HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT.

LOOKS LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S RELAXING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.

JOE.

>> YES, AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK GOVERNOR ROY COOPER, SAYING THAT HE'S USING THAT DIMMER SWITCH TO MODIFY THE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED UPON BUSINESSES AS A RESULT OF WHAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE FAVORABLE METRICS RELATIVE TO COVID-19, FEWER POSITIVE TEST FEWER EMERGENCY ROOM ADMISSIONS FOR SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 AND SO LIFTED SOMEWHAT THE RESTRICTIONS ON BARS NOW THEY CAN SERVE ALCOHOL UNTIL 11:00PM, THE CURFEW THAT WAS IN PLACE FOR THE STATE HAS NOW BEEN LIFTED AS WELL, CAPACITY WITHIN THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS INCREASE TO 30% OF THE MAX, OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL STILL REMAIN AT A 50% CAPACITY, BUT SOME OTHER LIFTING OF THESE IS REALLY AN EFFORT I THINK ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR TO BRING SOME GOOD NEWS TO CITIZENS WHO HE FEELS HAVE TOWED THE LINE AND DONE THE RIGHT THINGS TO ENSURE THAT THESE METRICS REMAIN ON THE DECREASE AND SO THERE'S A PSYCHOLOGY TO IT.

THE CHALLENGE WILL BE AS THESE BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS NOW CAN GET BACK UP CLOSER TO FULL SPEED, THEY'LL NEED TO BRING WORKERS BACK ONLINE AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO COME BACK INTO THE EMPLOYMENT OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS AND FOR THE BARS, THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THEIR PREDICTIONS OF WHAT BUSINESS THEY'LL GET NECESSITATE THE PURCHASE OF ALCOHOL FOR WHICH THEY MUST SPEND CASH UP FRONT.

AND SO THAT MAGIC MIXTURE AND THE COCKTAIL OF BUSINESS FOR A BAR, HAVING EMPLOYEES, HAVING THE RIGHT PURCHASED AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL AND KNOWING THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP TO YOUR ESTABLISHMENT TO PURCHASE YOUR WARES MAKES THIS A VERY COMPLICATED THING AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM.

>> MITCH HAVE THE LOCKDOWNS WORKED?

ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS IN GENERAL CEDING TOO MUCH AUTHORITY TO GOVERNMENT YOU THINK?

>> WELL THEY CERTAINLY ARE CEDING TOO MUCH AUTHORITY TO GOVERNMENT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE STEPPING BACK AND LOOKING AT THIS AND SAYING WE NEED TO HAVE A CHANGE.

IN FACT, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS LIKELY TO HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT WHICH GIVES THE GOVERNOR A LOT OF POWERS.

I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS LATEST ORDER IS THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR THE GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT USING SCIENCE AND DATA WHEN HE COMES UP WITH HIS VARIOUS PRONOUNCEMENTS.

BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK MORE CLOSELY YOU ALSO SEE A BIT OF A POLITICAL DANCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COURTS BECAUSE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS COMING UP WITH BILLS THAT WOULD OPEN THINGS UP MORE QUICKLY THAN THE GOVERNOR WANTS AND THE COURTS ARE DEALING WITH LAWSUITS THAT WANT TO SEE THINGS OPENED UP.

IN FACT THE LATEST ORDER MAY PUT A NAIL INTO THE SUIT THAT A BAR FILED AGAINST THE SHUTDOWN ORDERS SO LOOKS LIKE THERE'S MORE THAN JUST SCIENCE AND DATA BUT SHOCK POLITICS INVOLVED HERE.

>> NELSON EXPAND ON MITCH'S THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS DOING.

>> WELL, I THINK MITCH IS RIGHT, YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY A WELCOME MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT SO FAR THE GOVERNOR'S NOT FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE DEVELOPED BY THE CDC ON SAFELY REOPENING PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT IN PERSON LEARNING, YOU KNOW, HE'S PUSHED UP TEACHERS AND THE PRIORITY LIST FOR VACCINATIONS AHEAD OF PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND THE LIKE, BUT HE STILL NOT AS OF THIS SHOW BEEN WILLING TO SIGN SENATE BILL 37 TO FULLY OPEN THE SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE KNOW WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE, THEY'VE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE STRONG SCHOOLS, NC PUBLIC HEALTH TOOLKIT, SO WE CAN DO THIS SAFELY AND WE NEED TO GET THESE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

IT'S JUST AS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREERS, FOR THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE, AND FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS PLEASE.

>> I THINK ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES RESTAURANTS.

THE QUESTION IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST MARCH.

IS IT TOO LITTLE TOO LATE?

HAS THE DAMAGE BEEN DONE?

YOU KNOW KIDS ARE ALREADY BEHIND ALTHOUGH SUMMER SCHOOL SHOULD HELP US MITIGATE SOME OF THE DAMAGE THERE.

BUT FOLKS ARE ALSO CHANGING THEIR HABITS.

THEY MAY HAVE LEARNED TO COOK DURING THIS TIME.

THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN USED TO WATCHING THEIR FAVORITE BASKETBALL TEAM ON TV RATHER THAN GOING TO PNC.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE REALLY GOING TO TAKE A HEAVY LIFT TO REALLY GET PEOPLE OUT AND EVEN IF THEY HAVE MONEY TO SPEND TO GO OUT IF THEY HAVEN'T LOST THEIR JOBS DURING ALL THE SHUTDOWNS.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT I KNOW PEOPLE ARE EXCITED.

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

>> I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS KAREN BRINSON BELL GOT KIND OF A CHILLY RECEPTION FROM SOME STATE LAWMAKERS WHEN SHE WENT BEFORE THEM AND TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS HAPPENING ON THE ELECTIONS FRONT.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO WIN ANY MORE FRIENDS FROM THE THE ITEM THAT I LABEL AS AN UNDERREPORTED STORY AND THAT IS PROPOSED RULE CHANGES THAT WOULD DEAL WITH RESTRICTING POLL WATCHERS DURING ELECTIONS AND ALSO TURNING CAMPAIGN FLAGS AND OTHER A LITTLE HANDOUTS AS BILLBOARDS THAT WOULD REQUIRE NEW PAPERWORK AND REALLY MAKE A HIT ON GRASS ROOTS ACTIVISM TIED TO THE ELECTIONS.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT HAS GENERATED COMPLAINTS FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND MY GUESS IS THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS NOT GOING TO BE TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT EITHER.

>> IS THAT A FREE SPEECH ISSUE IN YOUR VIEW?

>> YEAH, IT CERTAINLY IS IN A LOT OF RESPECTS THAT'S ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF OUR ELECTION CAMPAIGN WHETHER YOU LIKE THOSE SIGNS AND LITTLE FLAGS, THEY ARE PART OF THE PROCESS AND THEY HELP PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> THIS ONE REALLY WAS DISTURBING TO ME.

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN SAY THE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF ONLINE ENTICEMENT PEOPLE TRYING TO REACH UNDERAGE CHILDREN ONLINE HAS DOUBLED SINCE 2019, PERHAPS EVEN MORE.

THEY JUST HAVE A DOUBLE IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTS.

THAT'S SOMETHING SUPER ALARMING AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING AS PARTICULARLY AS KIDS ARE SPENDING MORE AND MORE TIME ONLINE THROUGH SCHOOL PARENTS NEED TO BE MORE AWARE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.

>> OKAY, JOE.

>> THE PAYROLL PROTECTION ACT, PART OF WHAT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE COVID RELIEF BILL PASSED BY CONGRESS LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME AT A GLITCH IN IT RELATIVE TO THE DEDUCTIBILITY OF USUAL BUSINESSES EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WHEN THE COMPANIES TRIED TO ADMINISTER THESE FUNDS.

CONGRESS CORRECTED THAT PROBLEM ON THE FEDERAL TAX LEVEL WITH ACTION LAST DECEMBER, NOW IT'S UP TO THE STATE TO TAKE SIMILAR ACTION.

LEGISLATION HAS BEEN FILED SENATE BILL 104 TO BRING THE STATE IN LINE WITH THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENT, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WORKING ON THIS, TRYING TO OVERCOME SOME OPPOSITION SOME LEGISLATORS SEE IT AS PERHAPS DOUBLE DIPPING BY COMPANIES GETTING A DEDUCTIBILITY AT THE SAME TIME THEY RECEIVE FEDERAL MONEY FOR THIS PROGRAM, EMPLOYERS SAY THEY REALLY WERE ADMINISTERING THIS AS A WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE PUBLIC UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND SO AS A RESULT IT PROBABLY DOES CONSTITUTE A USUAL BUSINESS EXPENSE THAT SHOULD BE DEDUCTIBLE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> NELSON UNDERREPORTED PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> THE UNITED STATES, ITS ALLIES AND IRAN HAVE BEEN IN A UNDECLARED TANKER WAR FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS AND IN JANUARY IRAN SEIZED A SOUTH KOREAN OIL TANKER, THE CREW WAS RELEASED, BUT NEGOTIATIONS FOR RETURN OF THE SHIP AND THE CAPTAIN HAD DRUG ON.

THIS WEEK IRAN ANNOUNCED IT MIGHT RELEASE THE SHIP IF THE KOREANS UNFREEZE AT LEAST 1 BILLION DOLLARS IN IRANIAN ASSETS FROZEN AS A RESULT OF US SANCTIONS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS APPARENTLY AGREED TO THE EXTORTION PAYMENTS WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY TOTAL 7 BILLION DOLLARS.

ALSO ASSETS IN IRAQ, OMAN AND JAPAN MAY ALSO BE UNFROZEN, TEHRAN IS DEMANDING THAT THESE FUNDS BE PAID IN CASH.

SO THIS IS CERTAINLY FAR MORE IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT THAN, A FEW US AIRSTRIKES IN SYRIA.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK.

MITCH?

>> WHAT'S UP IS BIPARTISAN INTEREST IN RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THIS OF COURSE HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT WE SAW IN CONGRESS A BILL FILED BY 2 REPUBLICAN SENATORS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOM COTTON AND MITT ROMNEY THAT WOULD RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10 AN HOUR BY 2025.

THE CATCH?

THEY WOULD ALSO MANDATE THE USE OF E-VERIFY, SO AN IMMIGRATION PIECE.

WHO'S DOWN?

BELK.

TALKING ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT STORE CHAIN THAT HAS 290 STORES, IT'S 16 STATES, 17,000 EMPLOYEES.

A JUDGE HAS APPROVED CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY FOR BELK WHICH HAS BEEN STRUGGLING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

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

>> SO UP BY FRIED FOOD FANS OF AGRICULTURE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER STEVE TROXLER ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT WE WILL HAVE THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR COMING IN THIS OCTOBER, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, OF COURSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT LAST YEAR AMID THE PANDEMIC.

DOWN?

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENROLLING IN, AND APPLYING FOR COLLEGE IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE EXCEPTION TO THAT OF THE 3 SCHOOLS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN NC PROMISE PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS REDUCED TUITION.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT AND APPLICATIONS IN MAGNET SCHOOLS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

>> IS THAT BECOMING A BIG TREND, YOU THINK?

DECREASED ENROLLMENT?

>> I THINK SO, AND I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MAGNETS, I THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WHERE THEY ARE, I THINK IT'S THAT THOSE WHO COULD SOUGHT OUT MAGNET PROGRAMS PREVIOUSLY OR THEY'RE MOVING ON TO CHARTER OR PRIVATE SCHOOL.

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

>> WHO'S UP, STATE SENATOR VICKIE SAWYER REPUBLICAN IREDELL COUNTY JUST APPOINTED THE CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS REPLACING LEGISLATIVE ICON THREE-DECADE TERM INCUMBENT, JULIA HOWARD IN THAT ROLE, MAY BE SOME INDICATION OF A GENERATIONAL SEA CHANGE TAKING PLACE IN KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITHIN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHO'S DOWN, EXPECTED THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP NOW SUBJECT TO MANY DIFFERENT LAWSUITS WILL FACE A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE TRYING TO OVERCOME THAT BURDEN TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS A CONTINUED NATIONAL POLITICAL FIGURE NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH THE SUIT AGAINST HIM THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE RELEASE OF HIS TAX RETURNS, THOSE HAVE NOW BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

MY BOTTOM LINE?

TRUE, TRUMP SUPPORTERS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, NONE OF THAT MATTERS TO THEM.

THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO TRUMP.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE PRESIDENT DOES TRYING TO MAINTAIN A PRESENCE IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS GOING FORWARD.

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

>> FLORIDA.

FLORIDA'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE CERTAINLY FAR FROM PERFECT, BUT IT'S MORE TARGETED APPROACH ALLOWING SCHOOLS TO OPEN SOONER, MORE BUSINESSES TO OPEN WITH FEWER OUT OF WORK EMPLOYEES HAS FARED FAR BETTER THAN STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA IN TERMS OF INFECTION RATES THE PER CAPITA DEATH RATE AND THEIR ECONOMY IS RECOVERING MUCH FASTER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

WHO'S DOWN?

REPUBLICAN SENATORS IN FLORIDA.

AN EARLY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY POLL IN FLORIDA.

REPUBLICAN VOTERS GAVE GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS 64% OF THEIR SUPPORT COMPARED TO SENATOR MARCO RUBIO AT 12% AND SENATOR RICK SCOTT AT 10%.

>> DESANTIS REALLY IS COMING ON ISN'T HE IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS?

>> I THINK DESANTIS IS AND I DO THINK THAT A GOVERNOR MAY WELL BE THE NEXT NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

THERE'S A LOT OF STRONG GOVERNORS WITH A LOT OF STRONG RECORDS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

LATEST COOPER, ORDER DOESN'T STOP LAWMAKERS FROM PUSHING REOPENING BILLS.

>> WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

WILL HE SIGNS SOME OF THOSE BILLS OR DO YOU THINK HE'LL JUST VETO THEM, OR JUST LET THEM GO INTO LAW?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AS WE'RE TALKING OF COURSE WE'RE WAITING ON THE SCHOOL REOPENING BILL, BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING THAT I SUSPECT THAT THEY WILL PASS, BECAUSE REMEMBER COOPER COULD ALWAYS GEARS AND CLOSE THINGS DOWN AGAIN.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK QUICKLY?

>> JOHNSON AND JOHNSON'S ONE SHOT VACCINE COMES TO NORTH CAROLINA.

THE FDA SAYS IT'S ABOUT 85% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING SERIOUS ILLNESS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK QUICKLY, JOE.

>> YES ATTEMPTS TO STUDY THE INCIDENT ON JANUARY 6TH AT THE CAPITOL DEVOLVE INTO PARTISAN NAME CALLING.

>> HEADLINE QUICKLY.

NELSON.

>> TRUMP RE-EMERGES ON THE NATIONAL STAGE WITH A FIERY SPEECH AT CPAC.

>> GREAT JOB PANEL, THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> 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: ♪