THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT.

RON DESANTIS TAKES AIM AT COLLEGE PROFESSORS.

AND IF THIS ISN'T A CLIMATE EMERGENCY, WHAT IS?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE THIS WEEK BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, TY SEIDULE FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

A LOT OF INK IS BEING SPILLED THESE DAYS WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT.

WE DO SEEM TO BE LIVING IN AN ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOMENT.

A RECENT POLL FOUND A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM FELT OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WORK.

ANOTHER POLL FOUND 35 % OF DONALD TRUMP VOTERS IN RED STATES THOUGHT THEIR STATE WOULD BE BETTER OFF LEAVING THE UNION.

IS THE AMERICAN SYSTEM DYING?

>> NO.

BUT ARE WE IN AN ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOMENT?

YES.

WE HAVE ONLY BE A DEMOCRACY FOR 50 YEARS, REALLY SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

SO WE HAVE, MOST OF OUR EXISTENCE HAS NOT BEEN A DEMOCRATIC EXISTENCE.

AND SO WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT THAT.

WE SHOULD WORRY THAT WE ARE IN THE GOING TO BE DEMOCRATIC BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM WITH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND SENATE IS NOT DESIGNED THAT WAY BUT THE SECOND POINT IS, IS THERE SECESSION COMING?

NO.

THERE IS NO ISSUE THAT BIG LIKE SLAVERY WAS IN 1861 AND SECOND, THERE IS THE U.S. MILITARY AND THERE IS A HOST OF OTHER REASONS, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MORE REPUBLICANS IN CALIFORNIA THAN THERE ARE IN ALMOST ANY OTHER STATE.

IS THERE SECESSION COMING?

NO BUT SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT?

ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WOULD PUSH BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THAT, TY, AND SAY THAT WE ARE IN AN ANTI-REPUBLICAN MOMENT OR PERHAPS A MOMENT WHICH I THINK YOU ARE WERE ALLUDING TO IN THE SENSE THAT THE FRAMERS REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THAT THE THAT THEY WOULD BE TERRIBLY SMART.

THEY WERE WORRIED THAT VOTERS WOULD ACT ON EMOTION AND PASSION AND PUT IN PLACE ALL THESE INSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS, CHECKS, BALANCES, SEPARATED POWERS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, A SCHEME OF REPRESENTATION WITH A CHOSEN BODY OF CITIZENS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO REFINE AND ENLARGE PUBLIC VIEWS.

WE DON'T HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS NOWADAYS WHO DO THAT.

WHO ACTUALLY ARE WILLING TO HAVE THE MORAL CONVICTION AND COURAGE TO NOT BOW TO PUBLIC PRESSURE.

SO IN THAT SENSE, I DO THINK OUR SYSTEM IS IN TROUBLE.

>> I THINK THE ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST IS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T RESPECT THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU KNOW, IT STARTED WITH THE VIEW THAT BIDEN WAS NOT A LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT AND THAT DEMOCRATS STOLE THE ELECTION BUT NOW WE ARE SEEING AT REPUBLICANS ARE PREYING ON REPUBLICANS.

IN THE PRIMARIES, IN ILLINOIS, THE CANDIDATE COMING IN FOURTH PLACE WITH 9% OF THE VOTE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS STOLEN, AND THAT VOTES WERE FLIPPED.

AND YOU KNOW, I FEAR THAT IF BEER IN A SITUATION WHERE-- IF WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT TRUST ELECTIONS, ALL OF OUR POLICY DEBATES, EVERYTHING ELSE, REALLY THOSE QUESTIONS ARE MOOT.

>> IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE A CANDIDATE THAT'S ONLY GETTING 9% OF THE VOTE AND THEY'RE CLAIMING IT WAS STOLEN, THAT SEEMS TO BE SO OFF THE-- OFF THE CHARTS, YOU KNOW, IN A SENSE, THAT WOULDN'T THAT MAKE PEOPLE THINK OKAY, THIS IS CRAZY?

>> WELL, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, TRUMP CLAIMING THAT SIX, SEVEN STATES WHERE HE LOST SOMETIMES BY MILLIONS OF VOTES, WERE ALL STOLEN FROM HIM WAS TOO CRAZY BUT WE ARE FINDING OUT THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL REPEATING THOSE CLAIMS.

WHERE IS THE BOTTOM?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> SO ANIRBAN, SCHOLARS HAVE SEEN THIS SORT OF THING BEFORE, RIGHT?

WE SEEM TO HAVE A TREND TOWARD A MORE, AT LEAST ACCEPTANCE OF SOME SORT OF AUTHORITARIANISM?

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I AGREE WITH TY.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A FEAR OF SECESSION BUT THE SYSTEM WAS BUILT IN A WAY THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE RAPID FAST RAPID CHANGES IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND SO ON.

I CAME ACROSS A BOOK WREENTLY THAT CLAIMS THE UNITED STATES HAD 11 DISTINCT CULTURAL REGIONS AND YOU CAN SEE THE MAP ON THE SCREEN WHEN IT IS PUT UP AND BASICALLY, THE NORTHERN COALITION AND SOUTHERN COALITION THAT VY FOR SOCIAL SUPREMACY BUT THEY HAVE TO KIND OF CONVINCE WHAT HE CALLS THE MIDLAND REGIONS, YOU KNOW, AND WHOEVER CONTROLS THE SWING, CAN IMPOSE THEIR WILL UPON THE ENTIRE NATION STATE.

NOW I SEE THAT HAPPENING OFTEN, BUT RECENTLY JAMES MONROE FROM BROWN SAID NO, THERE IS SOMETHING VERY DISTINCT THAT HAS HAPPENED WHICH IS THAT THE TWO PARTIES ARE NOW DIVIDED INTO THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAYS, AND I QUOTE, THE MOST PASSIONATE DIFFERENCES RINGING THROUGH AMERICAN HISTORY ARE ORGANIZED DIRECTLY INTO THE PARTIES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, ALL THE SO CALLED MINORITIES ARE ON THE ONE SIDE, BOTH PARTIES ARE DEEPLY ENMESHED IN THE FEELING OF IDENTITY BECAUSE EACH DRAWS UPON PEOPLE WHO SEE THE OTHER TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFERENT FROM THEM, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT BRINGS US WHERE WE SEE PEOPLE COMPLETELY DENYING ELECTIONS GOING AGAINST TRUTH OR, YOU KNOW, AGAINST ANY FACT.

>> SO I THINK THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT PARTISAN POLARIZATION MEASURED AS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER CURRENTLY; HOWEVER, AGAIN, TO RETURN TO THE EARLIER POINT ABOUT HOW REPRESENTATION IS TO WORK IN BOTH PARTIES, WE HAVE PEOPLE, RIGHT?

AND I THINK YOU WERE TOUCHING ON THAT.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC THAT WANTS TO HEAR WHAT THANKS THEM FEEL GOOD.

WE HAVE TO HAVE LAWMAKERS AND A MEDIA THAT IS WILLING TO TELL THEM SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T LIKE BUT THAT IS IN FACT, TRUE DISL.

SO WE HAVE A MEDIA SEPARATED INTO DIFFERENT CAMPS, IT SEEMS LIKE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL NOW JUST IGNORE WHAT THEY THINK-- WHAT WE GENERALLY THINK OF AS THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND THINK OF AS ACCURATE REPORTING AND THE POST, THE TIMES, THOSE KINDS OF NEWSPAPERS AND MANY PEOPLE JUST IMMEDIATELY DISMISS THAT.

>> THAT'S REALLY TURNED TO FACEBOOK AND OTHER UNRELIABLE SOURCES BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND OUR MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS SPLIT ALONG POLITICAL LINES AND FOR WHATEVER REASONS, AS A COUNTRY, WE HAVE BECOME AVERSE TO SIMPLY TELLING THE TRUTH AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.

>> PART OF THAT TRUTH IS IDENTITY AND THE IDENTITY NOW USED TO BE THAT YOU COULD HAVE-- THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE CONSERVATIVES AND LIBERALS, DEMOCRATS CAN CONSERVATIVES AND LIBERALS.

THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

THE IDENTITIES ARE PARTIES, WHEN YOU GO AFTER IDENTITY, PEOPLE FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE GOING AFTER THEM PERSONALLY.

>> SOY IF WE DON'T HAVE TRUTH AS LIZ CHENEY WAS SAYING IN THE HEARING, IF WE DON'T HAVE TRUTH, THEN DEMOCRACY WILL DIE.

DO WE THINK THAT IF WE AGREE, WE DON'T HAVE TRUTH RIGHT NOW, YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING, IT'S NOT DYING BUT MAYBE WE ARE-- MAYBE IT'S SICK.

SO I THINK WE ARE SICK TO A DEGREE BUT I SEE SOME POSITIVE LINES.

I SEE THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ARE ACTUALLY HELPING SLOWLY MOVE SOME OF THE PEOPLE TOWARDS FINALLY SEEING THAT WHAT IS THE TRUTH AND WE ARE BUILDING A COALITION WHICH IS WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GIVING RESPECT TO THE OUTCOMES OF THESE ELECTIONS.

YOU SAW THE GENERALS COME OUT IN THE OP-ED PIECE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.

YOU ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BEING WILLING TO QUESTION THE BASIC FOUNDATION BEHIND THE TRUMP LIES.

SO I'M A LITTLE BIT OPTIMISTIC IN THAT ENDEAVOR.

>> IT HAS NOT EVEN PASSED YET BUT THE ELECTORAL COUNTING, THERE IS MOVEMENT ON THAT FRONT.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS POPULAR IN HIS STATE AND AMONG NATIONAL REPUBLICANS.

HE HAS AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED THE CULTURE WAR DEBATES, INCLUDING TAKING ON WHAT'S TAUGHT IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS.

NOW HE HAS HIGHER EDUCATION IN HIS SIGHTS.

HE'S CHANGING THE TENURE SYSTEM IN HIS STATE AND MANDATING VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY SURVEYS FROM STUDENTS AND FACULTY.

HE SAYS HE WANTS TO REVIEW TENURED PROFESSORS TO KEEP FACULTY FROM INDOCTRINATING STUDENTS.

IS HE JUST POSTURING OR DOES HE POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO HIGHER ED?

>> I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

THERE IS A THREAT HERE BUT I THINK HE IS GOING TO FIND THAT IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAN K-12 EDUCATION.

K-12 IS MUCH MORE LOCAL.

YOU HIRE YOUR TEACHERS LOCALLY.

STUDENTS COME FROM LOCAL DISTRICTS.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO FIND MUCH GREATER BACKLASH WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THESE CHANGES AT HIGHER EDUCATION THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HIRES NATIONALLY TRYING TO GET THE BEST TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THEY ARE ATTRACTING STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE ISSUES.

CREDITING BODIES HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

THE ABILITY TO GET RESEARCH GRANTS.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO FIND ACADEMIC FREEDOM ARGUMENTS.

HE IS GOING TO RUN INTO A LOT MORE TROUBLE TRYING TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAN HE IS... >> LET ME ASK, RICK BROUGHT UP ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND WE DISCUSSED THIS IN THE GREEN ROOM BEFORE WE CAME OUT HERE TODAY SO THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU THINK IS CRITICAL TO HIGHER ED?

>> IT'S REAL AND I WAS AT WEST POINT FOR TWO DECADES AND THERE WE DIDN'T HAVE ACADEMIC FREEDOM SO I WAS INVESTIGATED FOR SAYING THE CIVIL WAR IS ABOUT SLAVERY AND MY STUDENTS WERE, YOU KNOW, I WAS BROUGHT IN ON THE CARPET FOR WHAT THEY WERE RESEARCHING, WHAT MY OTHER FACULTY WERE WRITING.

SO, YEAH, IT'S REAL THAT WE HAVE THAT.

AND ONE OTHER POINT WOULD I MAKE ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE THE GREATEST HIGHER ED SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME TO SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES.

I GOT TO THINK THAT THE FACULTY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

WE ARE THE MOST COMPETITIVE IN THE HIGHER ED FIELD AND I THINK THAT GOES TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITION, THAT STATES ARE-- THAT WILL DO THIS AT THEIR PERIL BECAUSE WHAT ES ESSEX ACT LIP IS GOING TO TAKE THE PLACE OF TENURE?

NO ONE HAS COME UP WITH ANYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD THAT WOULD REPLACE IT.

SO WHETHER IT'S ACADEMIC FREEDOM, RETAINING TALENT OR FACULTY GOVERNANCE OR COLLEGE GOVERNANCE THAT FACULTY PLAY A ROLE IN, ALL REQUIRE TENURE TO OPERATE.

>> I AGREE.

AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION IS A BEACON AROUND THE WORLD.

AND I MEAN I WAS TAUGHT ABOUT MY PROFESSORS WHO STUDIED IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO I DON'T THINK THIS WILL PLAY OUT IN THE GLOBAL WORLD MARKET.

WE NEED TEACHING ASSISTANTS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

IN THAT WAY IT IS A TERRIBLE STRATEGY.

I WAS GOING THROUGH THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND THEY'RE VAGUE.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, MY COLLEGE OUR UNIVERSITY IS DOING A GOOD JOB WHEN IT COMES TO ENCOURAGING DIVERSE VIEW POINTS.

THIS IS EXTREMELY VAGUE.

LIKE I DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE A VIEW POINT WHERE SOMEONE IS SAYING THE ELECTION IS STOLEN.

I DON'T WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT VIEW POINT BECAUSE IT'S A FACTUALLY WRONG VIEW POINT AND I'M NOT BEHOLDEN TO A PARTY.

I'M BEHOLDEN TO SCHOLARSHIP.

THAT'S MY HIDDEN OATH.

SO I THINK THE QUESTIONS ARE REALLY, REALLY VAGUE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO AFTER FACULTY FOR WHATEVER THEY ACTUALLY SAY AND YES, YOU HAVE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT WITHIN LIMITS, SURELY.

DEPENDING UPON IF IT'S A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR PRIVATE SCHOOL, BUT YOU ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM CRITICISM.

>> INTERESTING THAT YOU USE THAT EXAMPLE.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE UNITED STATES THAT WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT SO HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION IS THAT I FEEL THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS MY VIEW POINTS WITHOUT FEAR OF NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE.

IS CRITICIZING YOU ON FACT BASED ON NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE?

YOU MAY FEEL THE PROFESSOR CRITICIZED MY IDEA.

A STUDENT A LONG TIME BACK I REMEMBER WAS MAKING A CLAIM THAT SLAVES WERE BASICALLY IMMIGRANTS AND IT'S GOOD THAT THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE OTHERWISE LOOK AT AFRICA NOW, RIGHT?

HOW BAD BADLY THEY LIVE.

THAT'S A TERRIBLE VIEW POINT AND I PUSHED ARD AGAINST THAT.

NOW IF HE THINKS OR SHE THINKS THAT THIS IS A NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE FOR THEM, THEY CAN WRITE SO IN THAT WAY OTHER PROFESSORS ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WOULD BE IN PERIL.

I THINK IT IS A TERRIBLE MOVE AND HAS A CHILLING EFFECT.

>> I THINK IT POTENTIALLY HAS THE CORRECTIVE EFFECT ON WHAT IS A SMALL BUT GROWING PROBLEM WITH INSTRUCTORS WHO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE MORAL AND ETHICAL AND POLITICAL AND SOMETIMES POLICY CHOICES FOR STUDENTS.

I MEEB MEAN WE SEE THAT ON ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES; HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IDEA OF VIEW POINT DIVERSITY NOT JUST THE MEASUREMENT, BUT THE VERY CONCEPT, IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE, FOR SOME ISSUES, THERE IS NO DIVERSITY OF VIEW POINTS.

SLAVERY AND THE HOLOCAUST, THOSE THINGS ARE REAL.

THE WORLD IS ROUND.

IT'S NOT FLAT.

TRUMP'S INAUGURAL CROWD WAS SMALLER THAN OBAMAS.

THESE ARE FACTS.

SO I THINK WHERE THE DEBATE SHOULD OCCUR IS ON THE QUESTION OF WHY.

AND THERE IS WHERE I BELIEVE OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EQUIP STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ANSWER TO THE WHY QUESTION IS.

BUT BEYOND THAT, I WOULD SAY SOME OF THE CORRECT ITCHES ARE NOT THIS-- CORRECTIVES ARE NOT THIS INSTRUMENT BECAUSE OF THE REASONS ANIRBAN POINTED TO.

RATHER THE CORRECTIVE ARE PARENTS WHO HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE BEING TAUGHT.

ALUMNI CANNOT BLINDLY DONATE AND THEREBY ENABLE WHAT, AGAIN, IS A SMALL BUT GROWING PROBLEM.

BUT THEN MOST OF ALL, EMPLOYERS WHO SHOULD NOT HIRE SOMEONE WHO STILL BELIEVES THAT THE WORLD IS FLAT.

>> BUT YOU USE THE WORD CORRECTIVE A COUPLE OF TIMES.

I WONDER IF THAT IS REALLY WHAT GOVERNOR DeSANTIS IS TRYING TO DO BECAUSE THE EXAMPLES OF SLAVERY AND THE HOLOCAUST ARE SO OBVIOUS, THAT I DON'T THINK YOU ARE REALLY IN MOST CLASSROOMS GOING TO GET A LOT OF SERIOUS PUSH BACK BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES WHERE THERE CAN BE -- >> IT IS HIS ORIGINAL STATEMENT, HE WANTED TO PREVENT FACULTY FROM RAISING THE ISSUE OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

SO THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH-- THAT IS IMPEDING ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND SQUELCHING DISCUSSION, NOT OR DEALING WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT NINA WAS BRINGING UP.

>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DAVE, I DO THINK THAT DeSANTIS' MOTIVES ARE NOT UPRIGHT.

I THINK HE IS PANDERING TO THE BASE.

WE SAW THAT WITH DISNEY WORLD ALSO.

BUT THIS IS A BROADER PATTERN THAT DeSANTIS IS ONLY THE WORST EXAMPLE OF.

BUT WE SHOULD NOT POOH-POOH THE IDEA THAT THERE IS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, STUDENTS SAYING, I AM AFRAID TO SPEAK.

AND WHEN WE REACH THE POINT WHERE THAT HAPPENS, WE CAN'T HAVE A ROBUST EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

>> I SUSPECT WE HAVE ALL HEARD THAT.

>> WE IN HIGHER ED NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN DIVERSE VOICES BASED ON EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE.

WE SHOULD ALL WANT THAT, TO HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS THAT COME FROM THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT.

THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO MODEL THAT BEHAVIOR.

>> AND DeSANTIS AIN'T GOING TO GET... >> MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ENDURING TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK.

ENGLAND ROADS BUCKLED AND TRAIN TRACKS BENT FROM THE HOTTEST WEATHER EVER RECORDED THERE.

ACROSS THE CHANNEL, FRANCE HAS BEEN ON FIRE, PARTS OF IT.

AFTER SENATOR JOE MANCHIN ESSENTIALLY KILLED ANY CHANCE FOR A CLIMATE BILL, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE WOULD USE EXECUTIVE EFFORTS TO COPE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE BUT NOT PREVENTING IT.

SO IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, ANIRBAN, SHOULD PRESIDENT BIDEN BE TAKING EMERGENCY ACTIONS?

LEE DID NOT DECLARE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

HE SHOULD TAKE EMERGENCY ACTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH POWER HE HAS BECAUSE ON THE GROUND HIS POLICIES ARE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE N. JANUARY WE LERD THAT BIDEN HAS OUTPACED DONALD TRUMP IN ISSUING DRILLING PERMITS ON PUBLIC LAND.

IN JULY, A REPORT CAME OUT THAT JOE BIDEN'S ADMINISTRATION PUT OUT A DRAFT PLAN TO OPEN UP OIL AND GAS DRILLING OFF THE COAST OF ALASKA AND GULF OF MEXICO.

HE SAYS ALL THIS STUFF BUT IT'S COMPLETELY HYPOCRITICAL BECAUSE ON THE GROUND HE IS DOING EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF IT.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE FAMOUS, YOU KNOW, BUSH SR. QUOTE THAT AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE IS NOT UP FOR NEGOTIATION.

PERIOD.

AND THAT'S HOW MOST POLITICIANS BEHAVE.

AND I'M AFRAID TO SAY BUT THAT'S HOW MOST ALL OF US BEHAVE IN A WAY COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE WORD.

COMPLETELY EMPTY BAND-AID PROMISES.

MAKES NO SENSE.

>> RICK, YOU ARE DYING TO JUMP IN HERE.

>> I AGREE THAT THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR HIM TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

1: I DON'T THINK WOULD IT FLY POLITICALLY.

YES, ABOUT 60% OF AMERICANS HAVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD FAVOR HIM CALLING THIS AN EMERGENCY AND TAKING ACTION, BUT AGAIN, FROM A POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE, I DON'T THINK THIS WILL FLY.

WE ALSO KNOW FROM A JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE, THE SUPREME COURT, YOU KNOW, JUST LIMITED THE E.P.A.

'S ABILITY TO DEAL WITH CARBON EMISSIONS.

I THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE LAWSUITS AND THIS COULD END UP HURTING IN THE LONG RUN.

I DO THINK USING THINGS LIKE THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT, WHICH HE IS CURRENTLY USING TO TRY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SOLAR PANELS BUILT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT HE COULD CHANNEL FUNDS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE LIKE.

BUT IN TERMS OF JUST ISSUING, USING EMERGENCY POWERS IS NOT... >> YOU ARE SAYING NO.

TY, SHOULD IT BE AN EMERGENCY AND IF IT IS, WOULD THAT BE AN OVERREACH?

>> WHY IS HE EVEN THINKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE TRUMP DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY ON THE MEXICAN SOUTH WESTERN BORDER.

THAT'S WHY HE IS EVEN THINKING ABOUT DOING THIS.

AND THAT STARTED SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE AGAIN AND AGAIN IS EVERY TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM LIKE THIS, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WILL DECLARE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD DO IF HE DID THAT.

I AGREE THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY OF DOING THAT.

AND WE HAVE HEARD SENATORS SAY HE SHOULD GO INTO EXECUTIVE BEAST MODE, OF IS DOING BUT THEY DON'T SAY EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE WITH THE UKRAINE WAR, MEANS THAT THERE IS SO MUCH LESS GAS AND OIL.

ANYTHING THAT THEY DO TO STOP IT HERE MEANS THAT THE PRICE RISES EVERYWHERE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY HE CAN DO BUT I DO WORRY THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO EMERGENCY AFTER EMERGENCY AND EMERGENCY ON THIS.

>> YEAH, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, AND IN TERMS OF BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY, I THINK THIS IS THAT MOMENT WHERE THEY CAN SEE LONDON LITERALLY, NOT THE LONDON BRIDGE BUT LONDON BURNING DOWN TO SEE THIS HAPPENING IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

WHAT BETTER TIME?

IS IT PREFERABLE?

NO.

BUT SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING AND WITH CONGRESSIONAL GRIDLOCK, SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING TO.

THE CHALLENGE IS TO STRIKE THE CHALLENGE BETWEEN SAVING THE POLAR BEARS 30 YEARS FROM NOW AND PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE TODAY.

>> WE HAVE TO GO TO OUR As AND Fs, NINA BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR F. >> OKAY.

SO MORE AMERICANS ARE TURNING TO ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FINANCE THEIR HOMES.

INSTEAD OF A BANK LOAN, THEY'RE RELYING ON RISKY LAND CONTRACTS OR RENT TO OWN CONTRACTS AND OTHER PERSONAL DEALS.

THESE OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION AGAINST SELLERS WHO END UP SKIPPING OUT ON THE DEAL AND TAKING THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT THEY WERE PAID, PAID USUALLY BY LOW INCOME MOSTLY RURAL, AND MOSTLY MINORITY BUYERS.

LAWMAKERS MUST DO BETTER TO REGULATE THESE DEALS.

>> TY.

>> MY A GOES TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PARTICULARLY 47 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

AND WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY, MANY OF MY FELLOW SOLDIERS-- >> YOUR F. SORRY.

WE KNOW YOUR A NOW.

>> MY F TO JACK RABBIT JACK HAWLEY WHO PUT FIST BUMPED BEHIND THE CAPITOL POLICE AND THEN WHEN WE SAW HIM LAST NIGHT, SCATTERING WHEN HE WAS THREATENED SO JACK RABBIT JOSH HAWLEY.

>> ANIRBAN YOUR F. >> TO THE RAMBLING 27 MINUTE RECORDING WHO SERVED AS AN AIDE TO PETER NAVARRO AFTER ONE OF THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS.

HE SAID THIS: THEY'RE BOLSHEVIKS SO THEY PROBABLY HATE AMERICAN FOUNDERS AND MOST WHITE PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

THIS IS A BOLSHEVIK WHITE CAMPAIGN.

IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT, YOUR EYES ARE FREAKING CLOSED SO AS A YOUNG CHRISTIAN WHO CAN TRY TO BASICALLY SCARE AND THEN HE GOES ON INTO A HOMOPHOBIC RESISTANT FOR 27 MINUTES.

>> RICK, YOUR F. >> TO THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE WHICH THIS WEEK ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD PERMANENTLY DELETED ALMOST EVERY TEXT MESSAGE AGENTS MADE ON JANUARY 6, 2021.

THEY SAID THIS WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE BUT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED HERE.

>> NOW TO THE As.

>> LET'S GO BRANDON IS A DISPARAGING PHRASE THAT ORIGINATED WHEN A REPORTER MISUNDERSTOOD A CROWD CHANTING AT A NASCAR RACE LAST FALL.

BUT WHEN A NINE-YEAR-OLD AUTISTIC BOY NAMED BRANDON SAW THE PHRASE EVERYWHERE ON BUMPER STICKERS, ON BANNERS AND ON OTHER SIGNS, HE BELIEVED THEY WERE ABOUT HIM AND NOT JOE BIDEN AND HE THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE CHEERING HIM ON TRYING TO SUPPORT HIM SO MUCH SO THAT HIS MOTHER HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT IT.

>> TY, THE REST OF YOUR A.

>> THE FACT THAT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ACT ACT PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND ALLOWS PEOPLE PARTICULARLY IN THE MILITARY TO SERVE WITH DIGNITY AT THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIE.

I HOPE IT PASSES THE SENATE.

>> MY A FOR THE 23-YEAR-OLD BLUES GENIUS SINGER, HE IS AMAZING AND ROLLING STONES HAVE GIVEN GREAT REVIEWS ABOUT HIM.

GET THE ALBUM, PUT IT ON SPOTIFY, LISTEN TO BLUES.

>> RICK.

MY A GOES TO EIGHT NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNISTS WHO WROTE ADMITTING TO ERRORS THEY PREVIOUSLY WROTE ABOUT.

THE TIMES SAID "IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EASY FOR TIMES OPINION COLUMNISTS TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC SELF REPROACH BUT WE HOPE THAT IN DOING SO, THEY CAN BE MODELS OF HOW VALUABLE IT CAN BE TO ADMIT WHEN YOU GET THINGS WRONG."

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

>> THAT WAS QUITE INTERESTING AND GO BACK AND READ ALL THOSE EIGHT COLUMNISTS AND REMEMBER THOSE COLUMNISTS THAT THEY INITIALLY TOOK ONE POSITION AND NOW THEY'RE MITT ROMNEY'S DOG ON TOP OF THE CAR.

>> AND INFLATION THAT HAVE I TO ADMIT THAT I ALSO... >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN DO SO ON WCNY ORNT ORG.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.