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".

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH THE ESCALATING WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE STATE HOUSE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP THREATENING TO EXPAND THE USE OF FEDERAL TROOPS NOW DEPLOYED IN DC TO BALTIMORE WHERE HE SAID SOME RESIDENTS WERE BORN FOR CRIMINALS.

GOVERNOR MOORE RETURNING FIRE CALLING THE PRESIDENT IGNORANT.

[♪♪] JOINING US FOR THE POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE ARE ERIN COX OF THE WASHINGTON POST AND BRYAN SEARS OF MARYLAND MATTERS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US AT OUR TAPING TIME THERE ARE NO FEDERAL TROOPS IN BALTIMORE BUT THE WAR OF WORDS DOES CONTINUE.

ERIN YOU HAVE WRITTEN IN THE POST ABOUT A CHANGE IN TONE FROM GOVERNOR MOORE.

HOW DID THAT DEVELOP?

>> LIKE A LOT OF THINGS.

SLOWLY AND THEN ALL AT ONCE.

HE STARTED OUT AT THE OUTSET OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHEN HE -- WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS FIRST GOING TO MAKE SURE TO LOOK FOR COMMON GROUND.

AND HE TALKED ABOUT NOT WANTING TO BE THE LEADER OF THE RESISTANCE WHAT HIS JOB WAS TO BE THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

OVER THE PAST WEEK-AND-A-HALF OR SO WE'VE SEEN LITTLE BITS OF SHIFTS IN TONES.

BUT VERY QUICKLY HE WENT TO FULL COMBATIVE WHERE HE'S TELLING THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD THAT TO KEEP OUR NAME OUT OF OUR MOUTH THAT HE IS GOING ON TALK SHOWS HITTING THAT REPEATEDLY.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING A SIM AND BEING A SOLDIER AND FULL THROATED AGGRESSION AGAINST TRUMP THAT YOU'VE SEEN OUT OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM OR THE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR PRITZKER.

NOW WE'RE SEEING THAT OUT OF WES MOORE.

>> Jeff: YOU THINK THERE WAS A TIPPING POINT?

IT'S HARD TO KNOW THE INTERNAL DELIBERATIONS?

WAS IT A POLITICAL CALCULATION?

OR JUST SOMETHING THAT EVOLVED?

>> TALKING TO HIM AND TALK TO HIS STAFF AROUND HIM WHO WATCHED THIS ESOLVE, THERE WAS -- SEE INVOLVE, THERE WAS A STEP WIDE CHANGE IN WHAT THE GOVERNOR REALIZED WAS POSSIBLE WITH THE TRAUM ADMINISTRATION.

AND HE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND HE SAW THE PRESIDENT DRESSED DOWN THE GOVERNOR OF MAINE AND THREATEN HERTH A ROOMFUL OF GOVERNORS.

HE SAW THE DOGE FOLKS AND THE FEDERAL WORKERS JOBS 12,000 PEOPLE IN MARYLAND.

YOU SAW HIM THE PRESIDENT REVOKE THE FAVMENT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING AND CREATE THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS HE HAS INCREASINGLY KIND OF IMPLEMENTED HIS AGENDA IT'S HIT MARYLAND IN A WAY THAT FRUSTRATED WES MOORE.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS A TIPPING POINT AND THAT WAS THE USE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED POLITICAL THEATER.

IF YOU REMEMBER CORRECTLY HE JOINED THE MILITARY AT 17.

HE WAS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS HE FOUGHT IN AFGHANISTAN AND, YOU KNOW, RETIRED AS AN ARMY CAPTAIN.

SO THE USE OF THE MILITARY TO HIM HE SAID WAS A VERY PERM HIT.

AND IT WAS A PERSONAL THING THAT HE TO OBJECT TO.

AND THE SECOND THING WAS THE WAY THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

>> Jeff: IS IT POSSIBLE AND BRYAN WEIGH-IN ON THIS, TOO, THAT TAKING A FIRMER STAND AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP IS BENEFICIAL FOR ANY NATIONAL POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS, WES MOORE MIGHT HAVE?

BUT CARRIES RISKS FOR THE STATE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE F.B.I., CLOSING THE USDA IN BELTSVILLE.

THE MONEY FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE KEY BRIDGE.

>> LOOK, I DON'T THINK IT'S OVERSTATING IT AT ALL TO SAY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON HAS TAKEN A PUNITIVE APPROACH TO CRITICS.

AND ASIDE FROM MARYLAND BEING A COMPANY TOWN IN TERMS OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THIS STATE GOVERNMENT WANTS INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE KEY BRIDGE WHICH IS FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL.

AND WHILE SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE ADMINISTRATION REPEATEDLY TELL ME THIS IS STUFF THAT IS CODIFIED IN FEDERAL LAW, WE HAVE ALSO SEEN THIS ADMINISTRATION TENDS TO VIEW STATEMENTS THE LAW AS A POLITE SUGGESTION RATHER THAN A REQUIREMENT AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO TO COURT AND FIGHT IT OUT WITH YOU.

WHICH COULD TAKE YEARS TO GET THE MONEY.

THERE IS RISK.

AND ALSO, I THINK, IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVES THAT MARYLAND THE MARYLAND GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO BURNISH HIS RECORD TO RUN FOR FEDERAL OFFICE AND HE WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT BAD FOR THE DEMOCRATIC BASE AND IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING I WOULD SAY IT'S KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES BUT KEEPING UP WITH THE GAVIN NEWSOM'S RIGHT NOW.

>> Jeff: KEEPING UP CAN THE CLOONEYS.

BRYAN YOU REPORTED ON THE REPORT FROM A BRITISH TABLOID THE DAILY MAIL, THAT SPOTTED GOVERNOR MOORE IN ITALY ON A BOAT.

THE BOAT BELONGING TO GEORGE CLOONEY, A DEMOCRAT KING MAKER AND WE FOUND OUT THE GOVERNOR WAS IN EUROPE.

WHAT DID WE KNOW AND NOT KNOW ABOUT THE TRIP?

>> WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS THE SUBJECT OF CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE ACTOR AND DEMOCRATIC FUNDRAISER.

WE KNOW THAT CLOONEY WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN RAISING MONEY FOR JOE BIDEN THAT HE HAS SAID A LOT OF THINGS THAT INDICATE HE HAS SOME MEASURE OF SUPPORT FOR WES MOORE, IF WES MOORE WERE TO DECIDE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

AND I SHOULD STOP HERE AND SAY THAT WES MOORE HAS REPEATEDLY OF LATE SAID HE IS NOT RUNNING.

SOMETIMES ALL APPEARANCES TO THE CONTRARY.

AND WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS PAID FOR AND BY WHOM ON THIS TRIP.

SO I THINK THERE IS -- THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS HERE.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THIS TABLOID REPORTING IT, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN HE WAS IN ITALY HANGING OUT WITH CLOONEY AT ALL.

>> Jeff: ERIN HAS THE WASHINGTON POST PICKED UP THE PAPARAZZI PICTURE?

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DO THAT.

BUT THERE ARE MORE PAPARAZZI IN THE VICINITY OF THE CLOONEY VILLA THAN REPORTERS IN THE STATE HOUSE BASEMENT IN ANNAPOLIS.

IT CAN'T BE A SURPRISE THIS GOT OUT AND IT MAYBE DOESN'T HURT HIM IN ANYWAY, DOES IT?

>> I WOULD TAKE THE UNDER ON REPORTERS IN THE STATE HOUSE VERSUS PAPARAZZI WATCHING GEORGE CLOONEY'S BOAT.

AND WONDER IF I MISS CAST MYSELF IN MY PROFESSION HERE I COULD HAVE BEEN HANGING OUT AT THE LAKE INSTEAD.

>> Jeff: THERE'S NEXT SUMMER.

>> YES.

TO YOUR BROADER POINT, I THINK PART OF WHAT WES MOORE TALKS ABOUT EVEN IN THE SAME BREATH AS HE SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT HE TALKS ABOUT WANTING TO BE PART OF SHAPING WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECOMES AND SHAPING WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GOES.

THE AND PART OF HIS NATIONAL BRAND, WHICH TO THE POINT THAT BRYAN MADE GETS ELEVATED EVERY TIME HE BELONGS WITH THE PRESIDENT.

PART OF HIS BRAND IS KIND OF SOMEONE WHO CAN BE BOTH DORKY AND COOL.

SOMEBODY WHO IS A RHODES SCHOLAR AND HANGS OUT WITH GEORGE CLOONEY ON SOME LEVEL IT ELEVATES HIS RELEVANCE AND ELEVATES THE WAY THAT PEOPLE THINK OF HIM AS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF POLITICIAN.

WHICH HAS LOTS OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL BENEFITS FOR HIM.

RIGHT?

HE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION A YEAR FROM NOW.

IF HE HAS TO GET THROUGH THAT BEFORE HE CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT, AND HE HAS TO DO THAT WELL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

SO IN SOME WAYS, EVEN SOME OF THE OPPOSITION THAT WAS CREATED AFTER THIS CLOONEY EPISODE AND SOME OF THE GENERATIVE A.I.

STUFF HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS POINT OUT THEY PAINT SOMEBODY WHO IS COOL ENOUGH TO HANGOUT WITH GEORGE CLOONEY WHICH ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BIGGEST HIT.

>> Jeff: BRYAN, MOVEMENT IN THE NEXT GUSH ELECTION ON THE COMPANY SIDE WITH SENATOR STEVE HERSHEY EXPRESSING INTEREST THIS WEEK.

>> HERSHEY SAID HE STARTED RECEIVING CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES FROM REPUBLICANS TO GET IN BECAUSE OF THE ENTRANCE INTO THE REPUBLICAN FIELD BY ED HALE, SENIOR.

I GUESS I SHOULD CAVEAT SAYING ED HALE IS NOW RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN HE IS NOT FORMALLY FILED.

SO HE'S AN ANNOUNCED CANDIDATE BUT NOT AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.

AND HERSHEY HAS VERY QUICKLY COME OUT AND PORTRAYED HALE AS SOMEONE WHO IS NOT REALLY A REPUBLICAN IN THINK SENSE OF THE WORD AND IS A CANDIDATE OF OPPORTUNITY RATHER THAN CONVICTION.

>> Jeff: THE BIG QUESTION IN THAT RACE IS WHETHER FORMER GOVERNOR HOGAN MIGHT WANT TO GIVE IT A GO AND WES MOORE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE A TON OF MONEY.

NO INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR LOST A RACE IN MARYLAND IN 75 YEARS.

ANY INDICATION THAT HOGAN IS THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT IT?

>> I MEAN THERE IS AN INDICATION THAT LARRY HOGAN WANTS EVERYBODY TO THINK HE MIGHT BE THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT IT.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO HE POSTED SOMETHING ON FACEBOOK JOKING ABOUT HIS RV FOR SALE THAT HE HAD USED ON THE CAMPAIGN STUFF AND SAYING MAYBE I SHOULD WRAP IT UP AGAIN AND GO OUT IN THE STATE.

HE KEEPS DROPPING LITTLE BREADCRUMBS TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION ALIVE ABOUT WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO.

I MEAN, THERE IS NOT ANOTHER POLITICAL FIGURE IN MARYLAND WITH THE ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY THAT COULD COMPETE WITH MOORE ASIDE FROM HOGAN.

IF THERE IS A CHALLENGER THAT CAN COLLECT MONEY AND REALLY GIVE WES MOORE THE SORT OF COMPETITIVE CAMPAIGN THAT I THINK A LOT OF HIS DETRACTORS WOULD LIKE TO SEE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A POLITICIAN BETTER POSITIONED THAN LARRY HOGAN.

THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO HOGAN TO GET INTO THE RACE NOW TO TELL PEOPLE HE IS GOING TO DO THAT TO TELEGRAPH THAT.

I HAVE A FEELING BASED ON 10 YEARS OF WATCHING LARRY HOGAN MOVES THAT WE WON'T KNOW WHAT HIS PLANS ARE UNTIL CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

>> OFF OF WHAT ERIN SAID TO THE STEVE HERSHEY QUESTION, I THINK THAT HERSHEY WHILE BEING WELL RESPECTED IN ANNAPOLIS HE REPRESENTS A DISTRICT THAT IS VERY RURAL AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW STEVE HERSHEY OUTSIDE OF THAT UPPER SHORE DISTRICT.

IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A GUY CRISSCROSSING THE STATE SINCE THE END OF THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE AND MAKING INROADS AROUND THE STATE THIS WOULD BE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

BUT, THE OBSTACLE HE FACES IS NAME RECOGNITION AND DOES HE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOUNT BETWEEN NOW AND THE START OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION WHERE HE CANNOT RAISE MONEY, CAN HE MOUNT A STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGN WITH A STATE-WIDE FUNDRAISING APPARATUS THAT WOULD ALLOW HIM TO CHALLENGE WES MOORE?

>> Jeff: AND TO BE CLEAR AT OUR TAPING TIME NEITHER SENATOR HERSHEY NOR FORMER GOVERNOR HOGAN HAVE BEEN SPOTTED ON LAKE CUOMO WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE OUT.

YOU CAN READ BRYAN'S WORK AND ERIN AT WASHINGTON POST.COM.

>> Jeff: AND SENATOR HERSHEY THAT WAS INDEED DECIDED TO FORM AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FOR A CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC KICKS OFF TOMORROW IN BALTIMORE AMONG THE RIDERS THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME AN AFRICAN FEDERATION WILL FIELD A FEMALE SQUAD FOR A MAJOR RACE AS NANCY AMATA REPORTS.

>> SHE SAID THAT THE BIKE HELPS HER UNDERSTAND HERSELF BETTER.

AND THE BIKE ALSO ENABLES HER TO GO ON DIFFERENT VOYAGES.

>> THROUGH THE HELP OF AN INTERPRETER, TWO PEPS OF THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ARE SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT CYCLING AND TRAINING IN WYATT EVERHART IN PREPARATION FOR THE MARYLAND CYCLES CLASSIC IN BALTIMORE.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AN AFRICAN WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM HAS RACED ON AMERICAN SOIL OUTSIDE OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2015 IN RICHMOND.

SO THIS IS GROUNDBREAKING.

>> KIMBERLY IS THE C.E.O.

OF TEAM AFRICA RISING A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO AFRICAN CYCLING DEVELOPMENT SHE FIELDED THIS TEAM FROM A SMALL COUNTRY IN WEST AFRICA IN HOPES OF GROWING THE SPORT AND GIVING WOMEN MORE ACCESS.

>> SOME OF THE WOMEN COME FROM LESS THAN IDEAL MEANS.

BUT THEY HAVE A CYCLING FEDERATION ORGANIZATION, THE PRESIDENT THAT LEADS THE CYCLING FEDERATION IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE GROWTH OF THE SPORT.

THE GOVERNMENT IS STARTING TO INVEST IN THE SPORT.

AND WE AS TEAM AFRICA RISING COME ALONG SIDE KIND OF KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.

AND REALLY OUR BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS THAT WE PROVIDE ACCESS.

WHETHER THAT'S ACCESS TO SPONSORS, ACCESS TO EVENTS SUCH AS THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, TRAINING.

>> AMONG THE MANY CHALLENGES THEY FACED, GETTING VISAS AND SECURING FLIGHTS TO COME TO THE U.S. AND ADJUSTING TO THE HEAT AND ALTITUDE OF BY OWE MING.

GETTING A TEAM READY AND COMPETITIVE HAS BEEN A CLIMB.

>> IN 2020 I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY WERE ON THE TOUR RANKINGSES AND NOW THEY ARE 11TH FOR THIS RACE AND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT FOLLOW BEHIND IT, IS THAT WE JUST WANT THEM TO FINISH THE RACE.

HAIR NOT GOING TO MEDAL THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PODIUM BUT THEY ARE HERE.

AND THEY'VE EARNED THE PLACE.

THEY'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE.

>> THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THE WORLD STAGE IS NOT LOST ON THE ATHLETES WHO TOLD ME THEY ARE NERVOUS BUT EXCITED AND HOPE TO INSPIRE OTHERS.

>> SHE SAID THAT THEY NEED MORE WOMEN IN THE SPORT TO GET ENCOURAGED ALSO THAT THEY CAN DO IT.

AND THAT THEY NEED SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE.

>> I THINK EXPOSURE FOR THESE WOMEN IS SO CRITICAL.

I HOPE THAT THESE WOMEN ROCK UP AND OTHER YOU KNOW GIRLS OF COLOR IN BALTIMORE SEE THEM GOING BINGO, I CAN DO THIS.

>> I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: MPT'S RACING COVERAGE BEGINS AT 8:00 A.M. WITH THE MPT SPORTS DESK.

GO TO... FOR ALL THE INFORMATION.

[♪♪] AND NEXT WEEK, IS HBCU WEEK ON MPT FOR NATIONAL VIEW OF THE TREND HBCU'S WE SPOKE WITH MARYBETH GASMAN THE AUTHOR OF "HBCU: THE POWER OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES".

SHE IS AN ASSOCIATE DEAN AND PROFESSOR AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.

PROFESSOR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOOK AND ALSO TELL US ABOUT YOUR SCHOLARSHIP?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I ALWAYS LIKE TALKING ABOUT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

SO THIS BOOK IS COAUTHORED WITH A TWO-TIME HBCU GRAD HE WENT TO FLORIDA A AND M AND NORTH CAROLINA UNIVERSITY.

AND THE BOOK IS REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE POWER AND VALUE OF HBCU'S.

EVERYTHING FROM THEIR POWER IN TERMS OF PROPELLING STUDENTS UP THE SOCIOECONOMIC LADDER WHICH THERE IS EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT THE INSTITUTIONS DO A GOOD JOB OF THAT TO NURTURING THE IDENTITY AND THE AWARENESS OF STUDENTS AS THEY GO THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS TO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL.

WHICH HBCU'S ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT GETTING BLACK STUDENTS INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL, INTO LAW SCHOOL, PHARMACY SCHOOL, GRADUATE SCHOOL OVERALL.

JUST DO AN AMAZING JOB.

SO THE BOOK IS ABOUT THAT.

AND WE DRAW FROM MANY, MANY, MANY INTERVIEWS THAT WE DID WITH HBCU GRADS AND PEOPLE AFFILIATED WITH HBCU'S.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOOK.

AND MY RESEARCH FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN A SCHOLAR WHO DOES RESEARCH RELATED TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

I AM TRAINED AS A HISTORIAN AND I STARTED DOING HISTORY BUT GOT INTO CONTEMPORARY WORK AND VERY INTERESTED IN THESE INSTITUTIONS AND HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE.

>> Jeff: WELL, THESE INSTITUTIONS AS A GROUP HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGE IN JUST THE PAST FIVE YEARS OR SO.

MAYBE SINCE THE GEORGE FLOYD HOMICIDE.

ATTENTION, FUNDING, ENROLLMENT TRENDED UP.

AND NOW WE HAVE IN WASHINGTON AN ANTI-D.E.I.

ADMINISTRATION.

JUST TELL US WHAT TRENDS YOU'VE SEEN LATELY?

>> SO I'D SAY WITHIN THE PAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT HAPPENING.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU'VE SEEN INCREASED ATTENTION UP UNTIL I WOULD SAY IT'S WANING A BIT RECENTLY BUT THERE'S BEEN INCREASED ATTENTION FROM CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO YOU SAW A LOT MORE CORPORATE GIVING TOWARD HBCU'S.

A LOT MORE FOUNDATION AND INDIVIDUAL GIVING.

YOU HAD PEOPLE LIKE MCKENZIE SCOTT GIVE TO HBCUS IN LIFE CHANGING WAYS.

YOU HAD ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NETFLIX AND GOOGLE ALL GIVING TO HBCU'S.

SO THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND THEN YOU ALSO HAD A LOT OF INCREASED ATTENTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO HBCU'S THAN ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

AND I'VE BEEN STUDYING THAT FOR A LONGTIME.

SO THAT REALLY, REALLY HELPED TO OPEN DOORS, TO OPEN OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE MORE EQUITY IN TERMS OF WHO GETS GRANTS AND CONTRACTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF EQUITY.

I'D SAY SINCE DONALD TRUMP HAS BECOME PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEEN HIM SUPPORT HBCU'S THROUGH REISSUING THE WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON HBCU'S.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY MONEY COME AFTER THAT.

SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT I AM LOOKING FOR AND I'M SURE HBCU FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR THAT.

YOU ALSO HAVE SEEN SOME CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS THAT MADE PROMISES SORT OF PULLBACK ON THOSE PROMISES.

YOU'VE SEEN OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE ANTI-D.E.I.

STANCE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, LUMP HBCU'S INTO THAT AND I'M NOT ANTI-D.E.I.

IN ANYWAY, BUT I WILL SAY THAT HBCU'S REALLY AREN'T WHAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK OF AS D.E.I.

THEY ARE A GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS THAT WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT AND EDUCATE BLACK PEOPLE WHEN WHITE INSTITUTIONS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THEM AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO BE EDUCATED.

THEY ARE NOT A FORM OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL D.E.I.

>> Jeff: ANY OTHER MISCONCEPTIONS MAYBE EVEN WITHIN ACADEMIA ABOUT HISTORICALLY BLACK INSTITUTIONS?

YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT.

A LOT OF TIMES, I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP HBCU'S INSTEAD OF ASKING WHAT COULD WE LEARN FROM HBCU'S.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WROTE THIS BOOK IS BECAUSE WE WANTED PEOPLE TO REALIZE THERE IS SO MUCH THAT OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COULD LEARN FROM HBCU'S, BECAUSE OF THE APPROACH AT THAT TIME THEY HAVE OF -- THAT THEY HAVE OF CARING ABOUT THE ENTIRE STUDENT FOR EXAMPLE.

OR HERE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK HBCU'S DO BETTER THAN ALMOST ANYONE AND THAT IS FOSTERING AAN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS COLLABORATIVE OVER COMPETITIVE.

AND THAT MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN YOU ARE SAYING TO STUDENTS, YOUR SUCCESS IS LINKED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU.

IF YOU HELP THAT PERSON, IF YOU SUPPORT THAT PERSON AND THEY DO THE SAME YOU ARE BOTH GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE IS WE PIT STUDENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

WHO IS THE BEST?

RIGHT?

HBCU'S ARE GOOD AT SAYING YOU ARE ALL THE BEST AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER THAT IS AN AMAZING THING THEY DO THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DO, ESPECIALLY IN THE SCIENCES WHERE WE REALLY NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THE SCIENCES BUT WE'RE WEEDING THEM OUT INSTEAD OF BRINGING THEM IN.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF A NUMBER OF HBCU'S SO YOU ARE NOT JUST AN OBSERVER HERE.

YOU HAVE BEEN AN INSIDER.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE HBCU'S?

>> WELL, CAN YES, I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF THREE HBCU'S.

AND I'M ON THE BOARD OF PAUL GWYNN COLLEGE RIGHT NOW IN FULL DISCLOSURE.

HERE IS THINGS.

ONE IS A BIG CHALLENGE CONTINUES TO BE FUNDRAISING.

WHAT YOU SEE ARE A LOT OF MAJORITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES GETTING VERY LARGE GIFTS AND THEN HBCU'S WILL GET A SMALLER VERSION OF THAT GIFT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE SUPPORT FOR FUNDRAISING INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOR GRANT WRITING, GRANT PROCUREMENT INFRASTRUCTURE.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS A BIG DEAL.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE FORGET AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I CAME UP WITH, A MAN GARY SAID THIS IN FRONT OF ME AND IT'S IMPORTANT.

WE SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY ON THE STUDENTS THAT NEED IT THE LEAST.

WE DON'T SPEND THE MONEY ON STUDENTS THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

AND THE THING ABOUT HBCU'S IS 70% OF THE STUDENTS ARE PELL GRANT ELIGIBLE.

AND ALMOST 90% ARE RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID.

THAT TELLS US THAT THESE STUDENTS NEED SUPPORT.

THEY NEED SAFETY NETS.

THEY NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO EDUCATE STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME BACKGROUNDS, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE SAFETY NETS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF AN INFLUX OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.

AND NOT JUST THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS AND NOT JUST THROUGH FINANCIAL AID FOR EXAMPLE, BUT IN TERMS OF SAFETY NETS AND SORT OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S AN AREA THAT HELPS TO STRENGTHEN HBCU'S.

>> Jeff: LONG-TERM FUTURE OF HBCU'S THERE ARE ABOUT 100 NATIONALLY.

MOSTLY BELOW THE MASON DIXON LINE EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOLS HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND SEEMS SECURE.

THEY ARE ALL STATE SCHOOLS WITH STRONG ALUMNI BASES, STRONG POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL.

NATIONALLY, WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE?

>> I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT MARYLAND HBCU'S.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOME EXCELLENT HBCU'S IN MARYLAND.

AND SO HERE'S WHAT I ALWAYS SAY WHEN I'M ASKED THIS QUESTION.

I'VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH SINCE 1994 WHEN I ENTERED GRADUATE SCHOOL RELATED TO HBCU'S AND 25 YEARS AS A PROFESSOR.

AND PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME THAT QUESTION OVER AND OVER.

I CAN TELL YOU YES THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW HBCU'S THAT WE'VE LOST.

BUT OVERALL, HBCU'S ARE INCREDIBLY RESILIENT AND I THINK OF HBCU'S AS BEING LIKE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION.

IMAGINE THE RESILIENCE THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE GIVEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR NATION.

EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO ERASE THAT.

>> Jeff: MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT MPT.ORG/HBCU.

AND 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".