THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COMING UP ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK, STRIKING PORT WORKERS SEE THEIR SHIP COME IN WITH A BIG SALARY INCREASE.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE COMMITTEE.

AND THE TPRAOEUZ IN HATE CRIMES IN MARYLAND AND BEYOND.

FIRST NEW RESEARCH ON WHAT IS MOTIVATING THE YOUNGEST VOTERS.

ON THE BOOK BEAT THIS WEEK, THE POLITICS OF GEN Z HOW THE YOUNGEST VOTERS WILL SHAPE OUR DEMOCRACY.

WE ARE JOINED BY THE AUTHOR MELISSA DECKMAN THE C.E.O.

OF THE PUBLIC RELIGION RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON MPT.

REFRESH EVERYBODY'S MEMORIES, IF YOU WOULD, WHICH ONE IS GENERATION Z AND WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THEM?

>> IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU JEFF.

GENERATION Z ARE AMERICANS BORN BETWEEN 1997-2012.

ADULTS WHO ARE VOTING AGE POPULATION IT WOULD BE AMERICANS BETWEEN 18 AND 27 ROUGHLY.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THEM IS THAT THEY ARE A GENERATION WHERE THE GENDER DYNAMICS ARE FASCINATING.

MY BOOK EXAMINES HOW GENDER INFLUENCES THE BEHAVIOR OF THIS GENERATION AND FOR THE FIRST TIME GEN Z WOMEN ARE OUTPERFORMING GEN Z MEN IN THE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION.

WE ARE SEEING THE REVERSE HAPPENING WITH THE YOUNGEST AMERICAN CITIZEN IT'S INTERESTING AND HAS PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR POLITICS GOING FORWARD.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS DRIVING THAT.

>> THEY CAME TO AGE AS TEENAGERS AND YOUNG ADULTS DURINGED TRUMP PRESIDENCY.

THE ELECTION FOR DONALD TRUMP WAS SHOCKING TO THEM HERE WAS A MAN WHO WAS SAYING MISOGYNISTIC THINGS WHO BEAT THE FIRST FEMALE NOMINEE IN THE ELECTION AND COUPLE THAT WITH THE ME TOO MOVEMENT.

BECAUSE I THINK BOTH OF THOSE EVENTS TOLD THEM THAT SEXISM ISN'T A THING OF THE PAST AND MADE GENDER EQUALITY A DEFINING PRIORITY.

THEY CARE ABOUT IT MORE THAN YOUNG MEN AND MORE THAN OLDER AMERICAN WOMEN CERTAINLY.

>> Jeff: HOW IMPORTANT WILL THEY BE ON ELECTION DAY?

BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, THE YOUNGEST GROUP OF VOTERS MAY BE ANIMATED, BUT SOMEHOW DOESN'T GET TO THE POLLS THAT MUCH.

>> YEAH, THIS IS ANOTHER FEATURE THAT IS NOTABLE.

THE LAST THREE FEDERAL ELECTION CYCLES WHEN GEN Z HAS BEEN ELIGIBLE TO VOTE THEY ARE OUTPERFORMED SHOWING UP TO THE POLLS.

IN FACT, IN 202050% OF THE YOUTH VOTE TURNED OUT TO VOTE.

50% IS NOT AS HIGH AS OLDER GENERATIONS BUT COMPARED TO THE 2016 IT WAS ONLY 39%.

WE'VE SEEN IN GENERATION Z THE TENDENCY TO OUTPERFORM WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWING UP AT THE POLLS.

AND HOW THEY VOTE THIS IS NOTABLE WHERE THAT GENDER GAP IS SOMETHING TO WATCH.

IN THE LAST ELECTION IN 2022 IN THE MIDTERMS, AN ELECTION THAT WAS LARGELY DEFINED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE ROE DECISION.

WE SAW THAT GEN Z WOMEN 72% CAST THEIR BALLOTS FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

NOW, GEN Z MEN ARE NOT BECOMING A LOT MORE REPUBLICAN NECESSARILY, 54% VOTED FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS.

BUT CERTAINLY THAT GENDER GAP IN PARTICIPATION, WE FINDTH THIS GENERATION EXPECTEDS TO THE WAY THAT GEN Z VOTES IN THIS ELECTION I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT GEN Z WOMEN WILL COME OUT STRONGLY FOR KAMALA HARRIS.

AND I THINK GEN Z MEN IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THEY SHAKE UP.

I SUSPECT THEY WILL BE TRENDING MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN REPUBLICAN.

THEY AS YOU KNOW DON'T TURNOUT AT THE SAME RATES AS OLDER AMERICANS.

>> Jeff: THIS IS A GROUP THAT IS MORE DIVERSE ETHNICALLY AS IS THE NATION, RIGHT?

>> YES.

SO AMONG GENERATION Z, ROUGHLY ONE IN TWO ZOOMERS ARE NONWHITE AND THEIR DIVERSITY IN RACIAL LINES SPEAKS TO THE PRIORITIES THEY HAVE I THINK AS A POLITICAL SACK VISITS.

ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND SHAPERS FOR GENERATION Z WAS THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT 2020.

THAT MOVEMENT HELPEDDED TO GALVANIZE STRONG LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR JOE BIDEN AND IT SENT PEOPLE OUT TO THE POLLS.

>> Jeff: THIS MAY BE A SOCIOLOGY QUESTION, BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN GEN Z IDENTIFYING AS LGBTQ IS OFF THE CHARTS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

>> YEAH.

WE FIND THAT PRI WE DID A STUDY THAT CAME OUT THIS YEAR, AND WE ASKED YOUNG AMERICANS THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION GENDER IDENTITY, ONE IN FOUR IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ.

AT FAR HIGHER RATES THAN OLDER AMERICANS.

IF YOU DIG DOWN DEEPER WE FIND 30% OF GEN Z WOMEN IDENTIFY AS QUEER.

BUT THIS IS ALSO PROFOUNDLY SHAPED THE POLITICAL PRIORITIES OF THIS GENERATION.

GEN Z WOMEN CARE DEEPLY ABOUT EQUALITY AND THERE HAVE BEEN STATE LEGISLATURES REPUBLICANS TO LIMIT DISCUSSION ABOUT LGBTQ THEMES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE'S BEEN HEATED DEBATES WHETHER YOUNG TRANS AMERICANS CAN GET ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.

SO ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS YOUNGER GENERATION BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST DIVERSE AMONG THE LGBTQ LINES.

>> Jeff: ON THE OTHER HAND IS THERE ANYTHING NEW ABOUT THE IDEA OF YOUNG VOTERS BEING MORE PROGRESSIVE, THAT IS AN OLD TRADITION, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT IS KIND OF AN OFTEN STATED TRUISM FOR MANY PEOPLE ISN'T JUST YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LIBERAL AND THEY WILL BECOME MORE CONSERVATIVE.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE YOUTH VOTE AS BEING IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF GENERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE YOUNGER YOU ARE FORMING YOUR CORE POLITICAL IDENTITY IN LOTS OF WAYS.

KNOWING HOW SOMEONE VOTES WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG IT'S PREDICTIVE HOW THEY WILL VOTE IN 20, 30, 40 YEARS.

GENEX MY GENERATION YOU HAVE MORE REPUBLICANS.

AND THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE THEIR FORMATIONAL YEARS WERE DURING THE REAGAN ERA.

MORNING IN AMERICA WAS THE POPULAR THEME THAT REAGAN RAN ON.

I THINK THE WAY THAT YOU FORM YOUR IDEAS AS A YOUNG PERSON THOSE CAN MATTER FOR DECADES TO COME.

NOT TO SAY A DEFINING EVENT MIGHT HAPPEN.

9/11 SHIFTED PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL BRING ABOUT THAT CHANGE.

BUT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE THAT YOUNGER PEOPLE WILL VOTE DEMOCRATIC AND EMBRACE PROGRESSIVE POLITICS THAN CONSERVATIVE ONES.

>> Jeff: IN TERMS OF IMPRESSIONS THEY ARE NOT WATCHING THE NETWORK EVENING NEWSCASTS.

IT'S ALL SOCIAL MEDIA OR CLOSE TO IT.

>> GENERATION Z HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS BEEN CHRONICALLY ON-LINE.

BEING A PARENT OF TWO I CAN ATTEST TO THAT.

WE DO KNOW THAT GENERATION Z IS THE FIRST GENERATION THAT BOTH PRODUCES AND CONSUMES ITS ONUS INFORMATION ON-LINE.

WHICH IS MAYBE BOTH GOOD AND BAD.

I THINK FROM A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE IF YOU THINK ABOUT POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT SOCIAL MEDIA ALLOWED YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED AT HIGHER LEVELS THAN AMERICANS WHEN THEY WERE THEIR AGE.

>> Jeff: THE BOOK IS THE "THE POLITICS OF GEN Z: HOW THE YOUNGEST VOTERS WILL SHAPE OUR DEMOCRACY".

MELISSA DECKMAN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.

>> Jeff: THREE DAYS OF PICKETING PAID OFF FOR STRIKING DOCKWORKERS WITH AN AGREEMENT ON A 62% WAGE INCREASE OVER SIX YEARS.

OTHER ISSUES ARE STILL TO BE NEGOTIATED, INCLUDING THE UNION'S BIG WORRY MORE AUTOMATION.

NANCY AMATA HAS THE STORY.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HOPING WILL COME OUT OF ALL THIS?

>> THE BEST AGREEMENT POSSIBLE.

>> IT'S WHAT ALL OF THE STRIKING PORT WORKERS WANT.

>> JOB SECURITY.

YOU KNOW, PAY RAISE.

BECAUSE WITH THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS TODAY WITH INFLATION, YOU NEED A LIVABLE WAGE.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND DISRUPTION TO THEIR JOBS IN INCOME THIS YEAR.

MOST OF THE WORKERS WERE OUT OF WORK FOR THE BETTER PART OF THREE MONTHS, AFTER THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSED IN LATE MARCH.

>> THEY ARE VERY UNIFIED.

AS YOU'VE SEEN FROM MAINE TO TEXAS.

>> SENATOR VISITED STRIKING WORKERS OUTSIDE THE TERMINAL.

>> I'M WITH THEM.

AS A UNION REP AND IN THE UNION FOR 31 YEARS, I WAS ON STRIKE TWICE WITH THE UNITED STEELWORKERS.

AND WE WERE FIGHTING FOR FAIR WAGES.

AND WE WERE OUT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

IS THERE A LOSS?

YES, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS A WINNER.

AND AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR, AND YOU ARE A GOOD FIGHTER, YOU CAN WIN THIS.

>> THE MESSAGE TO THE MEMBERS HERE IS THE LABOR MOVEMENT IS BEHIND THEM.

>> REAGAN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRANSPORTATION TRADES DEPARTMENT A.F.L.-C.I.O.

HE SAYS THIS IS A LABOR MOVEMENT FIGHT THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

>> THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO WORK-FROM-HOME.

THEY WERE OUT HERE EVERYDAY MAKING SURE OUR ECONOMY WAS RUNNING AND MOVING.

EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE GOODS THEY NEEDED.

AND DURING THAT TIME, THE COMPANIES HAVE MADE RECORD PROFITS THE HIGHEST PROFITSES IN DECADES THEY DESERVE TO BE FAIRLY COMPENSATED FOR THAT.

THEY HAVE BEEN DELIVERING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S TIME FOR THE EMPLOYERS TO DELIVER AUTHORIZE THEM.

>> BESIDES WAGES AND HEALTHCARE BENEFITS THEY WANT MORE GUARANTEES THEY WILL NOT BE REPLACED BY AUTOMATION OR MACHINES.

>> THERE ARE PORTS COMPLETELY AUTOMATED WHERE IT USED TO BE 300-400 PEOPLE AND NOW THERE'S NINE.

THIS IS A WAY TO PROTECT THEIR JOBS.

AUTOMATION IS A FEAR FOR EVERY UNION WORKER.

>> THE UNITED STATES MARITIME ALLIANCE WHICH REPRESENTS THE PORTS SAID IT OFFERED 50% RAISES OVER SIX YEARS AND OFFERED TO PUT LIMITS ON AUTOMATION.

BUT THE UNION IS SAID TO BE ASKING FOR A COMPLETE BAN.

AS FOR STRIKING WORKERS... >> I HOPE IT DON'T GO LONG FOR REAL.

BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT ME.

BILLS, GOT BILLS, YOU'VE GOT FAMILIES YOU NEED TO FEED.

>> RELIEF AFTER A THREE-DAY STRIKE 45,000 DOCKWORKERS ARE BACK TO WORK UNTIL JANUARY 15TH.

AS BOTH SIDES CONTINUE NEGOTIATING A NEW CONTRACT.

I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: JOINING US NOW IS DARAIUS IRANI, THE CHIEF ECONOMIST AT THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC STUDIES INSTITUTE.

DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU BACK ON MPT.

FROM WHAT WE KNOW AT OUR TAPING TIME OF THIS PARTIAL AGREEMENT WITH THE LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S PUSHED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD A BIT.

WHICH IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE IMMEDIATE ECONOMY.

THIS IS CERTAINLY IS GOOD NEWS THE BIG ISSUE THAT THE PORT WORKERS ARE GOING TO FACE IS AUTOMATION.

AND THAT IS REALLY THE BIG CRUX.

IT IS POSSIBLE NOW TO RUN A PORT ENTIRELY AUTOMATED.

BASICALLY FROM CRANES TO TRUCKS AND BASICALLY ALL THAT IS LEFT THERE IS ALMOST LIKE AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER OPERATION.

AND THEN MAINTENANCE KEY JOBS.

SO IT IS POSSIBLE.

NOW, I WILL SAY, IN THE WORLD THERE ARE 63 PORTS THAT ARE FULLY AUTOMATED.

OUT OF 1200 CONTAINER TERMINALS.

THERE'S ONLY THREE IN THE U.S. THAT ARE FULLY AUTOMATED AND THEY ARE ON THE WEST COAST, LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH.

AND THEN THREE ARE SEMI AUTOMATED IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

SO WHAT THEY FOUND SO THEY HAVE DONE STUDIES ON THIS AND WHAT THEY FOUND, THERE IS A INCREASE IMPROVEMENT IN SAFETY AND IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDARDIZED OPERATIONS IN THE AUTOMATED PORTS BUT THERE IS NOT THE MAGICAL COST SAVINGS THAT PORT OPERATORS EXPECT TO SEE BECAUSE OF THE ELIMINATION OF LABOR COSTS.

AGAIN, THESE EQUIPMENTS IS SAID TO BE EXPENSIVE AND THE OTHER THING THAT IS A CHALLENGE IS MUCH-NEEDED EQUIPMENT IS MADE IN CHINA.

AND THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES IS IT BECOMING A SECURITY ISSUE BY HAVING THE CRANES HERE IN CHINA.

>> Jeff: LET'S FOCUS IN ON THE LABOR COSTS FOR A SECOND.

THE 62% NUMBER EVEN OVER SIX YEARS, IS SORT OF AN EYE POPPING NUMBER.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S PLAYING OUT AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE WHERE THEY JUST DECLARE VICTORY OVER INFLATION AND STARTED CUTTING INTEREST RATES?

>> UM, I DON'T THINK IT WILL CAUSE ANY WAGE PUSH UP.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IN NUMEROUS LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, I WOULD SAY EYE POPPING WAGE INCREASES FOR U.P.S.

DRIVERS AND TEAMSTERS.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT MANY FIRMS HAVE ENJOYED RECORD PROFITS DURING THESE TIME PERIODS.

AND AGAIN, LABOR IS SORT OF SAYING HEY, WE WOULD LIKE A SHARE OF THOSE PROFITS SINCE WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THOSE PROFITS.

I THINK THERE IS, AND I THINK WE'RE HAVING A FRIENDLY LABOR ADMINISTRATION IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, I THINK LABOR UNIONS FEEL EMPOWERED TO PERHAPS FLEX THEIR MUSCLES A BIT.

AND SO I THINK THAT IS GOING ON.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO PUSH UP WAGES AS MUCH.

I THINK WE SAW THAT RISE IN WAGES DUE TO THE INFLATION.

AS MANY FIRMS TRIED TO KEEP THEIR EMPLOYEES BY OFFERING MORE MONEY, I DON'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF UNION NEGOTIATIONS.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, THE LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION KIND OF IT IS AN ECHO BACK TO A TIME THAT MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER AROUND HERE WHERE THE STEELWORKERS AT BETH STEEL WERE MAKING GOOD MONEY.

THE AUTO WORKERS ON BURNING HIGHWAY WERE MAKING GOOD MONEY.

THOSE JOBS ARE ALL GONE REPLACED WITH AMAZON WAREHOUSE STUFF.

BUT THE LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION, HAS SERIOUS LEVERAGE.

THIS STRIKE RIGHT BEFORE AN ELECTION, EVERYBODY IS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS ARE ON THOSE BOATS.

SO I MEAN THIS HAD TO GET SETTLED AND IT'S ONLY PARTLY SETTLED BUT IT SEEMS LIKE ON TERMS FAVORABLE TO THE WORKERS?

>> WELL, YES.

AND I WOULD CAUTION ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TOYS.

MANY OF THE BIG BOX RETAILORS LOOKED OVER THE HORIZON AND ACTUALLY ORDERED AHEAD AND FILLED THEIR WAREHOUSES SOONER THAN PERHAPS IT WAS MORE OF THE PERISHABLE GOODS AND ALSO THE FACT THAT HOW LONG COULD THIS GO ON FOR?

THAT WAS A BIG CHALLENGE.

I THINK THE UNION, THEY WANTED 77%.

SO THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN THAT.

THE PORT OPERATORS WANTED 50%.

SO THEY FOUND THE DIFFERENCE.

AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD SETTLEMENT OVERALL.

>> Jeff: I'M MAKING A NOTE TO SELF ASK FOR 77%.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR ECONOMIC OUTLOOK CONFERENCE COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS.

YOU DO THIS PRESENTATION EVERY YEAR.

IT'S AN EVENT OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY FOR FREE.

NOT TO GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY, BUT GIVE US LIKE MAYBE A PREVIEW OF WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AHEAD TO 2025?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT AN ELECTION COMING UP WHICH COULD PLAY INTO THE DECISION HOW THE ECONOMY IS GOING.

BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE IGNORED THE DEFICITS.

AND ARE GOING TO CHARGE AHEAD.

ONE CANDIDATE HAS A LARGER SPENDING PROGRAM THAN ANOTHER CANDIDATE ONE OF THE BIGGER CHALLENGES WE HAVE THE HUGE OUTSIDE EVENTS.

THE EXPANDING WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

WE HAVE THE CONTINUOUS WAR IN UKRAINE; WHICH, AGAIN, COULD IMPACT THE ECONOMY BOTH IN TERMS OF OIL, IN TERMS OF COMMODITIES, SO THERE IS A A LOT OF HEADWINDS AHEAD.

WE'VE SEEN THE FED ANNOUNCE A HALF POINT INTEREST RATE MANY ARE CALLING THAT MIGHT BE A QUARTER PERCENT DROP IN THE NOVEMBER MEETING.

WE HAD A HUGE INCREASE IN LABOR MARKETS UP 254,000 NEW JOBS ADDED IN SEPTEMBER.

THE ECONOMY IS GROWING, INFLATION IS TAMED.

BUT THERE ARE THESE WORLD EVENTS AND MUCH LIKE AND THE STRIKE.

SO THE STRIKE COULD HAVE BEEN A BLACK SWAN EVENT THAT DERAILED THE ECONOMY.

THERE ARE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT WE'RE CONCERNED WITH.

WE ARE TRYING TO AND SINCE OUR EVENTS IS TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION, WE WON'T HAVE A FULL PICTURE UNLESS IT IS ANNOUNCED THE WINNER IS ANNOUNCED SOONER.

BUT WE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE AS MUCH CONTEXT AND AS MANY HANDS AS AN ECONOMIST HAS ON TERMS OF THE OUTCOMES.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO Dr. DARAIUS IRANI THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FORUM WILL BE HELD NOVEMBER THE 7TH.

OCTOBER IS HATE CRIME AWARENESS MONTH.

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN PROTECT HAS SEEN A SURGE IN ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

OUR NEWSMAKER IS RON HALBER, THE C.E.O.

OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER WASHINGTON.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF HATE CRIMES AND ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR SHOW, JEFF.

ANTISEMITISM AND OTHER FORMS OF BIGOTRY WERE PROGRESSING AT A VERY RAPID RATE BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH LAST YEAR OVER THE PREVIOUS FIVE-SIX YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN EXPONENTIAL SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES AGAINST JUICE AND THE ASIAN-AMERICANS AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT IT IS A SAD STATE.

AFTER OCTOBER 7TH THE AMOUNT OF ANTISEMITIC EPB INCIDENTS EXPLODED.

JEWISH COMMUNITIES ABROAD ARE USED TO WHENEVER THERE ARE CONFLICTS IN ISRAEL TO SPILLOVER DIRECTED AGAINST JEWS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Jeff: WHAT KINDS OF INCIDENTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS LIGHTLY ABOVE 2% OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

2%.

YET OVER TWO-THIRDS OF THE RELIGIOUS BASED HATE CRIMES IN THIS COUNTRY WERE CONDUCTED AGAINST JEWS OR THEIR INSTITUTIONS.

SO WE'RE TALKING EVERYTHING FROM VIOLENCE, DIRECTED AT PEOPLE, TO SWASTIKAS PUT ON A BATHROOM WALL TO ANYTHING THAT WOULD QUALIFY AS A BIASED SKEUPBTSD OR MAKE ITSELF FOR THE F.B.I.

SOMETIMES THERE'S REPORTING DIFFERENTIAL BECAUSE STATES SOMETIMES RECORD INFORMATION DIFFERENT THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT WE KNOW THAT BY ALL INDICATORS, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CONSTITUTES TWO-THIRDS OF THE CRIME AND A LOT IS INFORMAL.

IT DOESN'T REACH THE LEVEL OF A CRIME BUT HOSTILITY TOWARDS JEWISH STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR HOSTILITY TO JEWISH EMPLOYEES.

AND CREATED A VERY DIFFICULT SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S SORT OF AN ANTISEMITISM I HAVE NOT SEEN IN MY LIFETIME.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND IT, BOTH THE INCREASE YOU TALKED ABOUT PRELAST OCTOBER THE 7TH, AND SINCE THE HAMAS ATTACK?

>> WELL, I THINK AMERICA TO USE THE WORD FOR THE 1,000TH TIME IS POLARIZED AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE POLARIZED AND POLITICALLY SEGREGATED AND HAVE DEEPLY HELD IDEOLOGICAL BELIEFS IT BECOMES FASHIONABLE TO BLAME SOMEBODY FOR YOUR PROBLEMS OTHER THAN PERHAPS YOURSELF.

AND WHEN COUNTRIES ARE POLARIZED HISTORICALLY MINORITIES JEWS AND OTHERS PAY THE PRICE BECAUSE THEY GET ACCUSED, OTHERRED.

AND THAT IS ONE REASON.

THE SECONDLY, THE COVID EXPANDED IT WHEN PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR A SCAPEGOAT.

WITHIN A WEEK WE SAW PEOPLE SAYING THE JEWS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COVID AND I WAS LIKE THAT ONLY TOOK A WEEK.

AND BUT YOU HAVE THE POLARIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE SORT OF POLITICAL CLASHING THAT IS LOOKING FOR SCAPEGOATS.

YOU AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN DURING COVID AND YOU ALSO HAD THIS WAR.

AND SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE SAYING IT BECAUSE IT COMES ACROSS AS PARTISAN WE ARE A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION BUT TRUMP CONTRIBUTED TO THAT ATMOSPHERE.

>> Jeff: YOU GET IT FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.

>> WELL, I MEAN, ON THE LEFT, IT USUALLY COMES IN THE FORM OF SORT OF IDEOLOGICAL, YOU KNOW, CAMPUSES, SHAMING OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ON THE RIGHT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE.

YOU KNOW, NEITHER SIDE IS EXTREME THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT HASN'T -- IS NOT GUILTY HAVING PLAYED A ROLE IN THE ANTISEMITISM NATURE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Jeff: CAN SOMEBODY BE IN YOUR VIEW, ANTI-ISRAEL, ANTI-NTIRI, OPPOSED TO BUILDING NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK AND NOT BE AN ANTI-SEMITE.

>> ONE OF THOSE TWO.

YOU CAN BE AGAINST SETTLEMENTS AND AGAINST THE PRIME MINISTER BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE A DEEP SEEDED HATRED FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

IF YOU THERE'S PLENTY OF AMERICAN JEWS AND PLENTY OF ISRAELIS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRIME MINISTER GONE.

EVEN NOW THE PRIME MINISTER'S POPULARITY IS INCREASING BECAUSE OF ISRAEL'S MILITARY SUCCESSES HE STILL COULDN'T FORM A GOVERNMENT IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

SO ONE CAN BE AGAINST, I COULD BE AGAINST OR OPPOSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF MY COUNTRY AND BE A PATRIOTIC AMERICAN.

I CAN BE OPPOSED TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AND LOVE MY COUNTRY.

YOU CAN BE AGAINST THE SETTLEMENTS.

A LOT OF AMERICAN JEWS ARE BECAUSE THEY WANT A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

IF YOU ARE AGAINST THE STATE OF ISRAEL EXISTING IN ANY FORM OR AGAINST THE EXISTENCE OF A JEWISH STATE YOU ARE ANTISEMITIC BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER -- IF A GROUP OF PEOPLE IF THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAVE THE CLAD THAT THEY WANT SELF DETERMINATION, THEN BY RIGHT OR THE NATURAL RIGHT, BY RIGHT OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND RIGHT OF EVERY OTHER GROUP THAT HAS A COUNTRY THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THE COUNTRY.

ISRAEL HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 80 YEARS.

ISRAEL WAS OLDER THAN HALF THE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TODAY AND IT'S TIME WE IT IS A SILLINESS ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO EXIST.

EVERYBODY IT HAS A RIGHT TO EXIST TU CAN BE AGAINST POLICIES BUT AGAINST A COUNTRY IS CRAZY TALK.

>> Jeff: BACK ON A LOCAL LEVEL IN TERMS OF HOW YOU'VE TRIED TO RESPOND TO ANTISEMITISM, HATE CRIMES BOTH BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH AND SINCE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR STRATEGY?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN A MULTIFACETED STRATEGY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR ADVOCACY FOR ISRAEL OUT OF IT AND LOCALLY.

IT'S BEEN MULTIPRONGED.

FIRST IT'S BEEN SECURING OUR INSTITUTIONS.

WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LOBBYIED IN MARYLAND, DC AND VIRGINIA MARYLAND OVER $8 MILLION IN PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT OUR AGENCIES WITH THE THAT ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE MAJORITY OF THAT GOES TO SECURITY FOR SYNAGOGUES, THE HIGHER OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICERS FOR SYNAGOGUES, DAYCARE FACILITIES AND SCHOOLS.

WE ACTUALLY LEARNED THIS PAST SESSION TO RECONSTITUTION THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HATE CRIMES COMMISSION SO IT DIDN'T INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS BUT INDIVIDUALS FROM PROTECTED COMMUNITIES THERE WERE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED ON THAT COMMISSION THAT HAD NO RIGHT TO BE THERE.

THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION BUT THEY WERE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SPREAD HATE.

WE ALSO DEVELOPED A PROGRAM PASSED LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE ANTIBIAS TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND THE MARYLAND JEWISH LEGISLATORS ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE.

AND WE DID A LOT OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION.

OUR PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE JEWISH STUDENTS PICKED NON-JEWISH STUDENTS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE JEWISH.

WE HAD 8,000 KIDS SPOKE TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.

AND WE HAVE AN UNUSUAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BECAUSE WE ARE THE THIRD LARGEST JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO RON HALBER AND WE HAVE INTERVIEW REQUESTS OUT TO LOCAL ISLAMIC LEADERS.

WE HOPE YOU TO BRING YOU THEIR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

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