>> WHY ARE PRICES RISING AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

ARE DEMOCRATS HEADED FOR A HUGE FALL, NEXT FALL?

AND, A UNIVERSITY FOR CONSERVATIVES.

STAY TUNED IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANK YOU FOR JONING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

IN THE STUDIO WITH ME TO ANALYZE THIS WEEK'S NEWS ARE: LUKE PERRY OF UTICA COLLEGE, RICK FENNER ALSO OF UTICA COLLEGE, BEN BAUGHMAN OF CAZENOVIA COLLEGE, AND TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE I IMAGINE THAT NO ONE NEEDS TO BE TOLD THAT THE COST OF GAS, GROCERIES, RENT AND THE COST OF A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IS HIGHER NOW • 6% HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO.

IN FACT, INFLATION IS AT ITS HIGHEST POINT IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

PERHAPS ALL OF US COULD USE SOME HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING WHY AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

RICK, YOU'RE THE ECONOMIST ON THE PANEL TONIGHT.

WE'VE HEARD LOTS OF EXPLANATIONS OF WHY INFLATION IS AS HIGH AS IT IS: THE PANDEMIC, SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS, WORKER SHORTAGES.

AS BRIEFLY AS YOU CAN, TELL US THE MAIN DRIVERS BEHIND THE PAIN AT THE PUMP.

THEN POINT TO THE MAIN THING THAT POLICYMAKERS CAN DO RIGHT NOW TO MAKE IT BETTER.

>> THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS CHECKS AND THE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM, HAVE ENSURED THAT U.S. HOUSE HOLDS, THEIR FINANCES ARE IN PRETTY STRONG SHAPE.

RECENT REPORTS SUGGEST WE HAVE MORE IN OUR CHECKING ACCOUNTS AND LOWER DEBT THAN WE DID PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO RIGHT NOW OUR ABILITY TO PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES IS AHEAD OF OUR ABILITY TO PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE THOSE GOODS AND SERVICES.

SO IT'S THE CLASSIC CASE OF TOO MANY DOLLARS CHASING TOO FEW GOODS AND THIS LEADS TO INCREASES IN PRICES.

NOW THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS REITERATED THEY BELIEVE THIS IS GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY MEASURE.

AND AS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE SUPPLY SHOCKS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, THAT WE SHOULD PRICES GO DOWN.

BUT I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS TO SUGGEST THAT THE PROBLEMS MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER THAN THAT.

FIRST: PRICES WENT UP BY ALMOST A FULL PERCENT IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER ALONE.

SO THAT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN GOING UP IN PREVIOUS MONTHS.

SECOND: EARLIER ON IN THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS A SMALL NUMBER OF PRODUCTS SUCH AS USED CARS THAT WERE GOING UP BY HUGE AMOUNTS THAT WERE DRIVING CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

AND RIGHT NOW, AS YOU SAID, WE ARE SEEING PRICES GO UP ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND FINALLY, ECONOMISTS ARE LOOKING AT PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS ABOUT FUTURE INFLATION BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CAN TURN INTO A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY IF WEIGH THINK PRICES ARE GOING TO GO UP.

IF PEOPLE THINK PRICES ARE GOING TO GO UP, BUSINESSES ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO OBLIGE US.

AND WHEN WE GO IN AND TALK TO OUR EMPLOYERS, WE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO ACCEPT A 2% RAISE BUT NOW IF I THINK INFLATION IS GOING UP IN THE FUTURE, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A 4 OR 5% RAISE.

AND IT JUST STARTS THAT SPIRAL OF PRICES GOING UP.

SO WHAT SHOULD THE FEDERAL RESERVE DO?

I'M SORRY TO SAY THE ANSWER IS IT DEPENDS.

IT DEPENDS IF PRICES ARE ONLY TEMPORARILY GOING UP, THEN THE FED CAN CONTINUE TRYING TO INCREASE THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY AND LOWER THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THEY SEE SIGNS THAT THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE AND IT HAS BEEN INGRAINED IN THE HOVER ALL ECONOMY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN PUSHING UP TRAWTS INTEREST RATES AND CURRENTLY THEY'VE TAKEN A HALFWAY ROAD.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE YOU SEE SOMETHING UP IN THE ROAD AHEAD OF YOU AND YOU DON'T PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE QUITE YET BUT YOU LIFT YOUR FOOT A LITTLE BIT LESS ON THE ACCELERATOR.

THEY'RE STARTING TO DO THIS IN PARTICIPATION OF POSSIBLY HAVING TO RAISE INTEREST RATES.

>> POSSIBLY HAVING TO RAISE INTEREST RATES, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID BEFORE ABOUT WHAT'S TURNING UP THE ECONOMY.

AND THAT IS INFLATION BASICALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE MORE DEMAND THAN SUPPLY.

TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS CRUNCH RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME A FUNCTION OF THE FACT THAT FOLKS WERE HOLD UP IN THEIR HOMES, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GO OUT AND SPEND MONEY ON, YOU KNOW, GAS AND ON PURCHASING CARS AND SHOPPING AND SO WITH THE LIFTING OF THE COVID CLOSURES, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYONE CAN GO OUT.

DOES THAT FIGURE INTO THIS AT ALL, RICK?

>> THAT PENT UP DEMAND IS REALLY IMPORTANT, PLUS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MEET THAT PENT UP DEMAND BECAUSE OUR FINANCES ARE DOING SO WELL.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THE CONTAINER SHIPS THAT ARE WAITING TO UNLOAD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE FACED WITH NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO UNLOAD THE SHIPS AND NOT ENOUGH TRUCKERS TO GET THE GOODS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO AGAIN, WE HAVE PLENTY OF DESIRE TO SPEND.

IT'S JUST THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH GOODS AND SERVICES RIGHT NOW TO SPEND.

>> IT CAN'T BE UNDERESTIMATED HOW BIG THE SHOCK OF COVID WAS SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

I'M OPTIMISTIC THESE PROBLEMS ARE MORE SHORT-TERM THAN LONG-TERM BUT LIKE RICK SAID, IT DEPENDS.

I THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN AND SHOULD DO THINGS AT THE MARGINS THAT THEY SHOULD DO TO HELP.

ADDRESS SOME OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS THAT WERE MENTIONED, PERHAPS REMOVING THE TARIFFS IMPLEMENTED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

BIDEN HAS LEFT MOST OF THOSE IN PLACE.

AND HOPEFULLY A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW, PARTICULARLY AS COVID HOPEFULLY DIMINISHES, I THINK THE ECONOMIC SITUATION WILL IMPROVE.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN AT LEAST LIFT SOME OF THE REGULATIONS THAT MAY BE STALLING SUPPLIES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE TALK ABOUT TRUCK DRIVERS BEING IN SHORT SUPPLY BECAUSE MOST OF OUR GOODS ARE TRANSPORTED VIA TRUCKS?

SHOULD SOME OF THE REGULATIONS BE LIFTED SUCH AS THE AGE FOR TRUCK DRIVERS, THE LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF HOURS THEY CAN DRIVE?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A VALUABLE CONSIDERATION.

ALL OPTIONS NEED TO BE EXPLORED.

OF COURSE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TRUCKING, AN INDUSTRY I WORKED IN AS A YOUNG MAN.

NOT DRIVING A TRUCK.

I UNLOADED IT WHICH IS A LOT LESS FUN.

HAVE YOU TO CONSIDER PUBLIC SAFETY, TOO.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO DEREGULATE, IT MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS BUT WE CAN'T COMPROMISE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE PROCESS, PARTICULARLY WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TRUCKERS, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY NOW ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO I REMEMBER ALL THE UPROAR WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRED THAT TRUCKERS HAD TO SLEEP A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

THEY JUST COULDN'T KEEP GOING, GOING, GOING AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IS THAT IF TRUCKERS COULD DO MAYBE AN EXTRA HOUR OR TWO IN TERMS OF DELIVERING GOODS AND MOVING THEM BACK AND FORTH, THAT THAT WOULD HELP THE PROBLEM BUT AS YOU CORRECTLY STATE, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND PART OF THE REASON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTED IMPOSING THOSE REGULATIONS WAS THE INCREASING NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS FROM TRUCKERS WHO WERE SLEEP DEPRIVED OR TAKING THINGS TO KEEP THEMSELVES AWAKE.

SO SAFETY CERTAINLY IS A BIG FACTOR IN THIS.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK MAKES THIS POSSIBLY SHORT-TERM, TOO, IS SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF THE PANDEMIC THAT ARE BASICALLY BEGINNING TO WANE.

FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE BEING AROUND ONE ANOTHER, BEING IN PUBLIC PLACES, YOU KNOW, NOT SUPER SPREADER EVENTS, BUT BEING IN PUBLIC PLACES AND SO THAT DEMAND FOR, YOU KNOW, THE NEW CAR SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A FAMILY VACATION OR SO THAT WE CAN GO CAMPING.

>> IT'S EVEN MORE SO BECAUSE OF THE TIMES, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> THOSE ARE ALL GREAT POINTS BUT I HEARD RICK MENTION HOW WELLED WELL OUR FINANCES ARE TWICE.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE 45 MILLION PEOPLE IN AMERICA THAT ARE BURDENED WITH $1.7 TRILLION IN STUDENT DEBT THAT'S GOING TO COME LIVE IN JANUARY.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT IN JANUARY, THAT'S GOING TO HELP FIX INFLATION BECAUSE NOW WE'VE GOT 45 MILLION AMERICANS ALL OF A SUDDEN STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR STUDENT LOANS?

>> NO, NO.

WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY IS TO EXPLAIN WHY PRICES ARE GOING UP RIGHT NOW, WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE GOING OUT AND TRYING TO BUY NEW CARS AND BUY OTHER THINGS?

IT'S BECAUSE OUR BALANCE SHEETS, YOU KNOW, OUR CHECKING ACCOUNTS ARE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THEY WERE PRE-PANDEMIC.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

STUDENT LOAN DEBT WAS FORGIVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START PAYING THAT BACK.

>> PLUS RENT.

>> PLUS RENT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO I EXPECT SOME OF THE PENT UP DEMAND WILL GO AWAY AS WE START SPENDING ON THINGS LIKE STUDENT LOANS AND RENT.

AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER REASON TO THINK THAT PERHAPS IT'S A SHORT RUN PROBLEM AS WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND MEET OTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC, BUT I WILL ADD THIS TO OUR DISCUSSION.

AND IT'S THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE U.S. THAT'S EXPERIENCING INFLATION.

THE U.N. REPORTED THAT INFLATION ACROSS THE GLOBE HAS INCREASED TO ITS HIGHEST POINT IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

NONETHELESS, IN THE U.S.

IT'S USUALLY THE CASE THAT THE PARTY THAT IS IN POWER GETS SORT OF THE HEAT.

AND "THE NEW YORK TIMES" OP-ED WARNED THAT DEMOCRATS SHOULD NOT PANIC ABOUT THE UPCOMING 2022 MID TERM ELECTIONS.

HE SAID THEY SHOULD GO INTO SHOCK AND THIS IS BASED ON RECENT PUBLIC OPINION POLLS WHEREBY DEMOCRATS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE WHAT OBAMA CALLED A SHELLACKING IN THE 2022 ELECTIONS AND POSSIBLY IN 2024 AS WELL.

TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, AN ABC NEWS POLL.

IT INDICATES THAT, IF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WERE TODAY, 51% OF VOTERS WOULD SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND ONLY 41% THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE.

BEN, IS THIS REASON ENOUGH FOR DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS TO START PACKING THEIR BAGS?

OR ARE SOME ANALYSTS BEING TOO PESSIMISTIC?

IS.

>> WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THEY SHOULD TAKE NOTICE OF BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, WE SAW AN INDICATOR THIS NOVEMBER WITH WHAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN AND THAT'S NOT THE PAST.

IN VIRGINIA, THE DEMOCRAT THAT LOST REALLY FOCUSED ON RUNNING TRAMP ADS AND FOCUSING-- TRUMP ADS AND FOLK FOCUSING ON THE PAST AND THE GOVERNOR-ELECT WHO RAN ON FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE, EDUCATION, LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN, AMERICA IN GENERAL.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE POLL NUMBERS ARE REPRESENTING SO YEAH, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE A HISTORIC SWING IN THE PENDULUM COME NEXT NOVEMBER.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE MORE REPUBLICANS TAKING SEATS.

>> AND JUST TO UNDERSTAND, YOU ARE EXPECTING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN CHIEFLY BECAUSE OF THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT VOTERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND DEMOCRATS PUT OUT IN THE LAST ELECTION.

SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS GET IT NOW OR ARE THEY IN DENIAL?

>> I THINK THEY'RE IN DENIAL BECAUSE LAST NIGHT, THEY'RE EVEN TRYING TO DO THE BUILD BACK BETTER, $2 TRILLION MORE ON SPENDING ON TOP OF THE 1.2 TRILLION-- I'M STARTING TO LOSE COUNT HONESTLY WITH HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR LET ALONE-- WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND I THINK THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON A LOT OF AMERICANS.

WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE BURDENED WITH PAYING FOR THAT.

AND I'M SURE RICK IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US SOME INSIGHT ON HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT TAXES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS USUALLY A POPULAR APPROACH FOR AMERICANS.

>> DOESN'T NORMALLY WORK.

>> CONVENTIONAL UNDERSTANDING THAT ELECTIONS TEND TO FOCUS ITS CONTEST AS HORSE RACES BETWEEN TWO PARTIES OR CANDIDATES.

ELECTORAL SCHOLARS LOOK AT LARGER PATTERNS IN VOTING BEHAVIOR.

POLICY IS IMPORTANT, MESSAGING IS IMPORTANT.

BUT AS AN ELECTORAL SCHOLAR, IT IS RELATIVELY CERTAIN THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO LOSE THE HOUSE AND WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS AND DOES IS NOT NEARLY AS IMPACTFUL AS EMPIRICAL DATA ON HOW PEOPLE VOTE IN MID TERM ELECTIONS.

ON AVERAGE THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY LOSES NEARLY 30 SEATS.

AND IF POPULARITY IS BELOW 50% FOR THE PRESIDENT, THAT GOES UP.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

IT'S NOT A SHOCK TO ME THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO LOSE.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE AS BADLY AS THEY DID IN OBAMA'S FIRST MID TERM OR CLINTON'S FIRST MID TERM.

THOSE WERE HISTORIC LOSSES.

THERE ISN'T A GALLON GALVANIZING POLICY ISSUE SUCH AS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN 2010 AND THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT TO PROPEL REPUBLICANS FORWARD 40, 50, 60, 70 SEATS BUT I THINK THEY'RE ON TRACK TO BEGAN 20 OR 30 SEATS.

THIS IS NOT SURPRISING.

THIS IS THE NORM OF ELECTIONS IN THE U.S., PARTICULARLY WHEN WE LIVE IN A HYPERPARTISAN ERA WHERE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN THE NORM THIS CENTURY.

WE ARE NOT IN AN ERA WHERE ONE PARTY CONTROLS THE HOUSE FOR 40 YEARS LIKE WE WERE LAST CENTURY.

>> BUT CAN I PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THAT, LUKE, AND BORROW FROM ROBERT SHAPIRO OF COLOMBIA UNIVERSITY WHO BASICALLY SAID YEAH, THIS IS THE NORM, THE PARTY IN POWER LOSES IN MID TERM ELECTIONS, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE IS YOU HAVE A SLEW OF PROBLEMS CONVERGING ON ONE ANOTHER.

SO DOES THAT MAKE THINGS BETTER?

ADD TO THAT ALSO THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS ARE, ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC, MORE LIKELY TO DO BETTER ON PRECISELY THESE ISSUES, RATE?

INFLATION, CRIME AND THE ECONOMY OVERALL.

SO DOES THAT GIVE YOU REASON TO THINK THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE LOSSES WILL BE GREATER?

>> REPUBLICANS ARE DOING WELL ON THOSE ISSUES IN THE MOMENT BUT THINGS ALWAYS CHANGE, RIGHT?

OBAMA WAS PROPELLED ON OFFICE ON THE ECONOMY IN RESPONDING TO THE GREAT RECESSION.

NOW BIDEN ISN'T RECEIVING THE SAME TREATMENT FROM THE PUBLIC IN THAT REGARD.

BUT IF COME NEXT FALL, THE INFLATION IS DOWN AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO BE STRONG, COVID IS UNDER CONTROL LIKE WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, KIDS AREN'T MASKED IN SCHOOL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MAKE FOR A DISASTER FOR DEMOCRATS EVEN THOUGH I DO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO WHAT BEN SAID ABOUT, WELL FIRST OF ALL I DO WORRY THAT THESE BIG PACKAGES ARE NOT BEING PAID FOR.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MISSED A BIG OPPORTUNITY IN DEALING WITH WHAT IS A VERY UNFAIR TAX SYSTEM.

AND THEY BACKED OFF SOME OF THE PROPOSALS I THINK WOULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE SPENDING THEMSELVES, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THE MESSAGING.

BIDEN IS SELLING THIS AS, AGAIN, BRINGING BACK BIG GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THE INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF HIS PACKAGES, WHICH ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO SOMEONE IN GEORGIA OR VIRGINIA OR FLORIDA AND YOU ASK THEM DO THEY WANT UNIVERSAL PRE-K OR DO THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, MORE HELP WITH CHILD CARE, THEY'LL SAY YES.

IF YOU ASK THEM DO YOU WANT BIG GOVERNMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY NO.

WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST TO THE DEMOCRATS AND LUKE IS MUCH, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH MORE EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA THAN I DO, BUT I WOULD BE PUTTING UP BILLBOARDS IN EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> BILLBOARDS AND WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE HERE?

>> ONE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO SIT DOWN AMONG THEMSELVES AND IT CONNECTS WITH THE ISSUE OF PACKAGING AND SAY LISTEN, WE CAN FIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER INTERNALLY BUT THE SQUABBLING PUBLICLY PLEADS TO NEEDS TO STOP BECAUSE IT MAKES THE DEMOCRATS LOOK LIKE THEY'RE NOT REALLY IN CHARGE OF THE PROBLEM.

>> WHICH I THINK FEEDS INTO THE POLLING NUMBERS FOR BIDEN AND APPROVAL RATING.

HE SOLD HIMSELF AS A CENTRALIST, BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLING AND THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

INSTEAD, WE ARE ALSO SEEING A COMPETENCY ISSUE.

WE SAW IT IN AFGHANISTAN.

WE ARE SEEING IT IN INFLATION.

WE ARE SEEING IT WITH ALL SORTS OF ASPECTS THAT, YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S RIGHT.

IF WE ARE ABLE TO FIX ALL THAT LAUNDRY LIST OF STUFF THAT'S GONE BAD IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, YEAH, THAT MAY BE A BETTER TURNOUT THAN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

"IVORY TOWER" HAS SOLVED THIS PROBLEM: BETTER MESSAGING, LOOKING AT THE LAUNDRY LIST OF PROBLEMS, NOT PANICKING AND ALSO GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND MENDING THE FISH YOU ARES WITHIN FISHURES WITHIN THE PARTY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

A GROUP OF MOSTLY CONSERVATIVE ACADEMICS, INTELLECTUALS AND PROFESSIONALS GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AS THE LIBERALISM AND CENSORIOUSNESS OF AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ...

IN SIMPLER TERMS, THEY'VE HAD ENOUGH OF WHAT THEY SEE AS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND CANCEL CULTURE.

SO THEY'VE ESTABLISHED A NEW UNIVERSITY - THE UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN ...

IT IS VERY MUCH IN THE STARTUP STAGES AND WILL NOT OFFER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES JUST YET.

BUT, THIS COMING SUMMER IT WILL OFFER A SUMMER PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS CALLED "FORBIDDEN COURSES" TARA, GIVE US YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THIS VENTURE.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING AND A TIMELY IDEA.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TRIED OVER THE YEARS.

THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF EFFORTS TO CREATE AN ALL CONSERVATIVE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.

SO IT HAS POTENTIAL.

AND I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE GROWING DESIRE OF MANY PARENTS TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO AN EDUCATION THAT DOESN'T SEE RELIGION AS A NEGLECT-- AS A NEGATIVE THING AND THAT PROVIDES A MORAL FOUNDATION AS THEY'RE GETTING THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION.

IT IS ALSO FRAUGHT WITH MANY PROBLEMS.

ONE OF THOSE BEING THAT IF THIS IS JUST ABOUT WHAT THESE ACADEMICS DON'T LIKE ABOUT LIBERAL EDUCATION, IT'S VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN A UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE ON THAT.

THERE HAS TO BE A BIGGER FOCUS ON WHAT THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES WANT, WHAT THEIR FAMILIES WANT.

>> THERE HAS TO BE A BIGGER FOCUS.

BEN, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> MY THOUGHTS ARE, YOU KNOW, AT FIRST I THOUGHT FOOT LOOSE.

I REALLY THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE RIDICULOUS.

BUT ONCE I REALLY DUG IN IT, I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THEY'VE GOT SOME STRONG SELLING POINTS.

IN PARTICULAR CIVIL DISCOURSE AND OPEN INQUIRY BEING BACK IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM AT A LEVEL WHERE YOU CAN BE PUBLICLY WRONG AND TALK ABOUT IT.

AND THERE ACTUALLY BE A DISCUSSION RATHER THAN BEING DEMONIZES FOR BEING WRONG.

>> YOU ARE SUGGESTING THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS.

RICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE OPEN MINDED.

BUT IF YOU READ SOME OF THE OTHER STATEMENTS BY SOME OF THE FOUNDERS, THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING, IN MY VIEW, CANCEL CULTURE BUT FROM THE OTHER POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE.

THEY'RE SAYING WE HAVE TO NOT ALLOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN, YOU KNOW, THESE MORE LIBERAL INSTITUTIONS AND IT GOES TO WHAT TARA IS SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT'S BEHIND THIS WHOLE THING.

YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE CONSERVATIVE INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER IT BE BOB JONES UNIVERSITY, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY.

WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE VERY LIBERTARIAN THAT I THINK GO TO A TRUER VIEW OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, SUCH AS THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM... >> MY ALMA MATER.

>> THEY'RE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN TERMS OF ECONOMICS BUT I THINK COMPARED TO MOST UNIVERSITIES, I THINK THEY REALLY TRY TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND ALLOW ARE, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, OPEN DISCOURSE, THAN OTHER PLACES.

>> HANGS ON A SECOND BEN, I WANT TO HEAR FROM LUKE AND IF WE HAVE TIME WE'LL COME BACK.

>> IT IS TRUE THE MORE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT YOU HAVE THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO BE LIBERAL BUT THERE IS AN OVER GENERALIZATION THAT ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE LIBERAL.

IT DEPENDS WHERE YOU ARE.

I WORKED AT SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY BEFORE I CAME HERE.

MY COLLEAGUES WERE PREDOMINANTLY OLDER, WHITE, CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS MEN PACKING HEAT WITH CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT LEGAL AT THE TIME.

I DON'T THINK THAT WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WERE STILL VERY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, TEACHING MOTIVATION, DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT.

SO I THINK THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A LOT OF US DO, WHICH IS TROUBLESOME.

>> AND I'LL GO BACK TO RICK'S POINT.

THE PRESIDENT OF THIS COLLEGE ACTUALLY GOT HIS Ph.D. FROM CHICAGO AND WAS THE PRESIDENT OF ST. JOHN'S FOR FOUR YEARS RECENTLY FROM 2017-2021.

THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ROBERT ZIMMER?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

PANO CANALES.

>> MAYBE ROBERT ZIMMER ON THE EDITORIAL BOARD AND SOME FOLKS HAVE DECIDED TO RESIGN FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD.

WE ARE ALL ACADEMICS AND WILL COME BACK TO THIS AT SOME POINT BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S TIME TO GO TO THE GRADE BOOKS AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH LUKE.

>> MY F TO THE INADEQUATE RESPONSE OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO TOXIC AIR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR DUE TO BURNING COAL FOR ENERGY.

INDIA IS HOME TO 15 OF 20 CITIES WITH THE MOST HAZARDOUS AIR IN THE WORLD CAUSING EXTENSIVE SUFFERING AND EARLY DEATH.

>> RICK.

>> MY F TO TRIAL COURT JUDGE CHARLES D. WOOD U.S. STATE SUPREME COURT FOR TEMPORARILY BLOCKING "THE NEW YORK TIMES" FROM PUBLISHING OR SEEKING DOCUMENTS ON THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO PROJECT BARATIS, A CONSERVATIVE GROUP THAT CLAIMS VOTER FRAUD IN MINNESOTA .

LIMITING "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ABILITY TO GATHER NEWS IS ALARMING.

>> BEN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE WYOMING G.O.P.

FOR BEING TONE DEAF ON THE RECENT ELECTIONS, FOR TAKING AWAY REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CHENEY'S STANDING AS A G.O.P.

MEMBER IN WYOMING.

ONLY BECAUSE OF HER STANDING UP AGAINST THE ANTI-ELECTION CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND PUSHING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

NOW WHAT THEY FORGOT IS CHENEY VOTED 93% OF THE TIME IN LINE WITH TRUMP, WHICH IS MORE THAN A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS DID.

>> TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS FOR ITS DANGEROUS LACK OF OVERSIGHT AND FAILURE TO INVESTIGATE CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BOTH ITS GUARDS AND ITS ADMINISTRATORS.

AN ASSOCIATED PRESS STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ARE OFTEN SIMPLY IGNORED AND EVEN WHEN THEY'RE REPORTED, OFTEN THE PERSON THAT THE ALLEGATION GOES TO, IS A PERSON AGAINST WHOM THE ALLEGATION HAS BEEN MADE.

>> WOW.

BEN, I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY GO BACK TO YOUR POINT AND SAY I SEE IN THE FUTURE LIZ CHENEY FOR PRESIDENT.

>> I THINK SO.

>> NOW TO GO TO STARTING AGAIN WITH LUKE.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF SHE WILL BE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN.

>> EXACTLY, RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] >> MY A GOES TO PFIZER FOR ITS DECISION TO ALLOW OTHER COMPANIES TO SHARE IN THE LICENSING OF THE COVID-19 TREATMENT PILL.

THIS WILL ENABLE ACCESS TO THE PILL FOR OVER FOUR BILLION PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS LIFE SAVING MEDICATION AT THEIR DISPOSAL.

>> MY A GOES TO THE OWNERS OF THE STAPLES CENTER AFTER THEY ANNOUNCED A NEW 20 YEAR 700 MILLION AGREEMENT TO RENAME THE VENUE CRYPTO.COM ARENA AFTER THE SINGAPORE BASED CURRENCY EXCHANGE COMPANY.

NOT BECAUSE THEY NOACIALTED THE RICHEST NAME IN SPORTS HISTORY, IT'S BECAUSE AAG REQUIRE THAT THE PAYMENT BE ENTIRELY IN CASH.

NO CRYPTOCURRENCY INCLUDED IN THE DEAL.

>> MY A GOES TO CHRIS CHRISTIE AND HIS CHANCE ON THE DIRECTION OF THE G.O.P.

LOOKING FORWARD RATHER THAN BACK WARDS, HE HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF DONALD TRUMP FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HE IS STANDING UP AGAINST THE RHETORIC THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGING TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> AND HE HAS POINTED OUT IN HIS NEW BOOK HOW HE DIDN'T JUST START DOING IT NOW THAT TRUMP IS OUT OF OFFICE.

HE HAS ALWAYS DONE IT AND TO MY MIND, THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY MATTERS.

STAND UP WHEN IT MATTERS.

>> TARA YOUR A.

>> NEW YORK DISTRICT ATTORNEY CY VANCE FOR MOVING TO HAVE VACATED THE WRONGFUL MURDER CONVICTIONS OF OF MEMBERS OF THE ISLAM.

CONVICTED OF MURDERING MALCOLM X AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THEY BOTH HAD SOLID ALIBIS.

THE NYPD AND THE FBI DID NOT SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH EITHER THE DEFENSE OR THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

>> YES, AND WE SAW ANOTHER COMMUTATION OF A DEATH SENTENCE TO LIFETIME PAROLE.

THIS WAS A WEEK OF VERY INTERESTING NEWS.

WE COULD EASILY KEEP GOING, AS ALWAYS, BUT THAT'S ALL WE TIME FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU SO PLEASE WRITE TO AT DRESS ON YOUR SCREEN TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," GOOD NIGHT.