I-81, IMPEACHMENT AND ELON MUSK - THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON IVORY TOWER.

STAY TUNED.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

OUR PANEL OF PROFESSORS TONIGHT INCLUDES - TARA ROSS, FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE TY SEIDULE, FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE RICK FENNER, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY, AND ANIRBAN ACHARYA, FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE.

LET'S START WITH I-81.

IT'S FUTURE ROUTE IS STILL BEING REVIEWED BY THE COURT, BUT MANY ENTITIES ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 15-ACRES UNDER THE VIADUCT, PRESUMING IT COMES DOWN.

THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION RECENTLY HELD A RALLY SAYING THE STATE, NOT THE CITY, SHOULD BE IN CHARGE.

THE STATE SAYS IT WILL GET ALL PARTIES TOGETHER FOR INPUT.

BUT THE CITY WANTS TO BE THE LEAD DEVELOPER.

AND A SOUTH SIDE GROUP HAS CALLED FOR A LAND TRUST.

TARA, WHO SHOULD DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS LAND?

>> THEY ALL MAKE GOOD ARGUMENTS BUT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LAND DETERMINED BY THE CITY BECAUSE THE LAND WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE CITY TO BUILD I-81 AND I THINK THE CITY, YOU KNOW, WHILE CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF REZONING AND REZONING IN A WAY THAT SEEMED TO BENEFIT DEVELOPERS MORE THAN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THE CITY IS CLOSER TO THE HEART OF THE CITY AND CLOSER-- WILL BE MOST MORE LIKELY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY AND CAN BE REQUIRED TO DO THOSE THINGS BY THE STATE.

SO I THINK THE CITY PROBABLY SHOULD BE THE ONE TO DECIDE.

AND I DON'T REALLY SEE WHY, IF THE CITY IS THE ONE TO DECIDE, THE CITY CAN'T STILL SET UP A LAND TRUST.

SO THERE IS NO REASON YOU CAN'T DO BOTH.

SO, TO ME, THE CITY IS THE BEST PLACE.

>> ANIRBAN, WHY IS THIS TENSION THAT THE LOCALS WOULD WANT THE STATE OVER THE CITY?

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

WHEN I WAS STUDYING THIS KIND OF MISTRUST BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE CRUX OF IT.

BUT IT MIGHT BE THE CASE THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THE REASON I-81 IS COMING DOWN-- ONE OF THE REASONS, IS TO KIND OF MAKE CORRECT PAST HISTORICAL INEQUITIES AND THESE INEQUITIES, AS YOU POINT OUT HAVE BEEN BY THE STATE, NOTED THE CITY.

IT MIGHT BE TIME TO RETURN TO THE CITY.

BUT MY BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.

WHATEVER BE THE CASE, I DON'T WANT THIS-- I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS PLACE DOLED OUT TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO SHAPE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE WAY THEY WANT TO IN TERMS OF THE PROFIT.

AND THEN SQUEEZE OUT THE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY STAYED THERE, ESPECIALLY THE 15th WARD.

AND THEN THE HOUSING IN 15th WARD WOULD BE DEVELOPED SEPARATE FROM I-81.

SO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, MORE PUBLIC CITY, MORE WALKING CITY, AND A CITY THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ARE KEPT UNDER CONTROL AND CONSTANT WATCH.

>> I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART REALLY IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF A MIX YOU HAVE BETWEEN LOWER AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER USES BECAUSE I THINK ONE-- YOU CAN GO AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THERE ARE PROBABLY MORE EXAMPLES OF FAILED ATTEMPTS TO DO THIS TYPE OF THING THAN SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AND SO I AGREE WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

I THINK THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY PUTTING UP AND OR DEALING WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT WOE HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT RULES SO THAT WE HAVE THE CORRECT MIX OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.

>> I OFTEN OPINE ON THINGS I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT AND THIS IS ONE I KNOW EVEN LESS ABOUT.

BUT I THINK TARA HAS THE BEST ANSWER THERE, WHICH IS THIS IS A CITY ISSUE.

LET'S GIVE IT TO THE CITY.

AND I THINK THAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TRUST THE CITY AND THE STATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING 60 YEARS AGO DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN'T DO THE RIGHT THING NOW.

AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE OVERSIGHT AND WE CAN HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE CAN HAVE GREEN SPACES AND TO QUOTE THE OLD CARPENTER: MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE.

WE SHOULD COME UP WITH A GOOD PLAN AND EXECUTE IT BOLDLY AND I THINK IT WILL IS GOING TO HELP SYRACUSE AND HELP THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THAT WE CAN TRUST THE CITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THE LOCALS ARE GOING TO DO BETTER JOB THAN THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I THINK WE SHOULD GET STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE.

WE HAVE A SKETCH THAT WOULD SHOW YOU THE ERIE CANAL MUSEUM IS RIGHT THERE IN THE BOTTOM LEFT AND THAT IS THE CORNER OF PEARL AND ERIE BOULEVARD IF PEOPLE KNOW THE CITY AND YOU ARE LOOKING INTO DOWNTOWN AND IN THE FAR DISTANCE IS CLINTON SQUARE.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF PARK LAND.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BIG BUILDINGS ARE BUT TARA, WHAT SHOULD GO IN THERE?

>> THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE DEBATE HERE AND CERTAINLY THE FEAR, I THINK, AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE AT THAT TIME, THAT THE RESIDENTS, THAT'S PART OF THEIR FEAR, IS THAT WHAT IS POTENTIALLY BEING PROPOSED IS CERTAINLY A FAIR SHARE OF GREEN SPACE BUT ALSO WHAT THEY CALL THESE MIXED USE BUILDINGS WHERE ON THE BOTTOM HALF YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL EATERIES, RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA, YOU KNOW, LITTLE UNIQUE SHOPS.

AND THEN ABOVE, THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR MIXED RESIDENCES, SOME WOULD BE LOW INCOME, SOME WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE AND UPPER INCOME RESIDENCES.

AND SO PART OF THE FEAR IS THAT THE PERCENTAGE FOR ONE, WOULD BE MUCH MORE THE MIDDLE AND UPPER INCOME RESIDENCE, FEWER LOWER INCOME RESIDENCES.

ANOTHER FEAR IS WHILE YES THERE IS SOME GREEN SPACE, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT A LITTLE CLOSER DOWNTOWN ALREADY, BASICALLY THEY LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT I GO GRAY RED AND YELLOW BOXES.

AND AND SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT'S VERY ESTHETICALLY PLEASING.

OTHER PEOPLE NO, THAT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A REAL COMMUNITY.

IT FEELS LIKE YOU LIVE IN A SORT OF A BIG WAREHOUSE OR YOU LIVE ABOVE A BUSINESS WHICH MIGHT BE FINE IN SOME PLACES BUT REALLY DOESN'T GIVE THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE FEAR HERE AND PART WHAT HAVE NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED.

SO IT'S HOW YOU PUT IN THAT MIX, YOU KNOW, A BIG RESIDENCE VERSUS MAYBE A COUPLE OF THOSE BIG BUILDINGS AND THEN AN AREA WHERE HAVE YOU SOME SMALLER ONE AND TWO-FAMILY HOMES.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE BIG QUESTION COMES IN.

>> RICK, I'M WONDERING, ABOUT HALF OF THE PROPERTY IN THE CITY IS NOT TAXABLE BECAUSE OF CHURCHES AND THE UNIVERSITIES AND GOVERNMENT.

SO THE CITY COULD USE SOME PROPERTY TAX INCOME.

HOW DO YOU DO THIS BALANCE OF WHAT SHOULD BE IN THAT AREA?

>> WELL THERE IS ONE OF THE TENSIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, YOU ARE GOING TO DO WHAT ANIRBAN IS AFRAID OF, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE IT TO DEVELOPERS TO PUT UP HIGH INCOME HOUSING AND THOSE USES THAT WILL PRODUCE THE MOST PROPERTY TAX.

BUT THAT'S COUNTER TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK IS THAT SYRACUSE NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND SO I'M AFRAID THAT THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE A SOLUTION, WHETHER YOU ALLOW THE STATE OR THE CITY OR HAVE THIS TRUST.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLEASE EVERYONE HERE.

>> DON'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD HERE.

WE NEED A PLAN AND WE NEED TO EXECUTE IT QUICKLY.

NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE HAPPY.

BUT MAYBE TARA SHOULD BE ON THE COMMISSION THAT'S PLANNING IT.

>> LET'S MOVE TO OUR SECOND TOPIC.

ELON MUSK HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK THIS TIME RELATED TO THE UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR.

HE TOLD HIS BIOGRAPHER THAT HE WOULDN'T EXTEND HIS SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO CRIMEA LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY WANTED THE COMMUNICATION FOR A DRONE ATTACK ON THE WHOLE RUSSIAN FLEET THERE.

MUSK SAID HE FEARED IT WOULD LEAD TO A NUCLEAR WAR.

SHOULD A PRIVATE BUSINESS OR PERSON HAVE THAT UP INFLUENCE ON THE CONDUCT OF WAR.

>> GOVERNMENT IS AN INSURANCE AGENCY WITH TANKS AND PLANES AND SATELLITES.

WE DO THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SATELLITE AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT PUTS THOSE UP.

THE U.S. MILITARY SHOULD PROVIDE THIS AND IN FACT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE THIS AND I THINK IS DOING THAT NOW.

SO THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD RELY ON MUSK-- THIS ISN'T MUSK'S FAULT.

THIS IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THAT SHOULD PROVIDE THAT TO THE UKRAINIANS AND I THINK IS DOING THAT NOW.

THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T DO THAT EARLIER IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD LOOK AT CLOSELY.

>> BECAUSE APPARENTLY MUSK'S COMUPTION SYSTEM WAS THE ONLY ONE OF MANY THAT WORKED WHEN RUSSIA INVADED AND I GUESS CREDIT TO MUSK THAT HE PUT IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF TERP NATIONALS THAT REALLY SAVED THE UKRAINIANS IN THOSE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

>> THAT'S TRUE BUT THE FACT THAT HE DID THAT WAS GREAT THAT HE DID THAT AND HE HAD THAT CAPABILITY BUT IT IS AN INHERENTLY A GOVERNMENT FUNCTION TO DO THAT AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE INHERENTLY GOVERNMENT AND WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL SECURITY, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CAPABILITY AND IF WE DON'T HAVE IT, WE NEED TO GET IT FAST.

>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ACADEMIC WORK ON HOW THE MILITARY HAS MOVED ON TO PRIVATIZE A BUNCH OF THEIR FUNCTIONS, PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTOR, A LOT OF WORK ON THAT.

AND THAT IS WHERE I THINK MUSK IS PLAYING THIS LEGALLY GRAY AREA.

HE IS A CAPITALIST WHO IS PUTTING A THUMB PRINT ON THE WAR AND IS KIND OF MICROMANAGING IT SAYING I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANY ESCALATION BUT HE IS NOT AN INTERNATIONAL POLICY EXPERT, NEITHER IS HE A MILITARY GENERAL.

SO I THINK HE IS OPERATING IN A LEGALLY GRAY AREA WHERE HE IS NOT-- IT'S NOT A PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTOR WITH, YOU KNOW, CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OR MILITARY OVERSIGHT AND YET IS BEING ABLE TO DICTATE OR MICROMANAGE THE WAR.

SO YOU KNOW, LACK OF A BETTER PUN, WHEN MUSK MASQUERADES AS A FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT, IT TERRIFIES ME FROM WITHIN.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, UKRAINE HAS NO POUTER POWER.

IT'S COMPLETELY RELIANT ON MUSK'S LARGESS AND BENEVOLENCE.

IT'S A STRANGE WAR.

IT'S A STRANGE WAR AND THIS ARRANGEMENT IS-- I'M VERY AFRAID OF THIS KIND OF ARRANGEMENT WHERE A CAPITALIST KIND OF CAN PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERSTATE WAR WITHOUT CIVILIAN CONTROL OVER HIS, YOU KNOW, HIS LARGESS.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD AGREE HE IS MICROMANAGING THE WAR.

HE IS MANAGING HOW HIS PRIVATE RESOURCES ARE GOING TO BE USED.

THERE IS AN ABILITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN.

THERE IS THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO GO IN AND COMPEL PEOPLE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS WITH THEIR RESOURCES.

TRUMP HAD 3 PM CORPORATION PRODUCE THE N95 MASKS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO THE U.S. DID HAVE THE ABILITY TO STEP IN AND FAR BE IT FROM ME TO DEFEND MUSK, YOU KNOW.

I THINK I HAVE BEEN PRETTY CRITICAL OF HIM IN THE PAST.

BUT IN THIS DAYS, HE WAS-- IN THIS CASE HE WAS DECIDING WITH HIS CRITERIA, WHAT HE WANTED TO DO WITH HIS RESOURCE.

I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD BE OVERLY BLAMED FOR DOING THAT.

>> AND YET, IF HE HAD GIVEN THE UKRAINIANS THAT SATELLITE COMMUNICATION AND THEY HAD DESTROYED THE RUSSIAN FLEET, WE MIGHT BE CLOSER TO PEACE?

>> OR WE MIGHT BE CLOSER TO WAR.

WHAT IF HE HAD ALLOWED THEM AND THEN RUSSIA DID RETALIATE AND STARTED A NUCLEAR WAR, PEOPLE WOULD BE ALL OVER MUSK FOR WHY DID YOU LET THEM DO THAT?

>> WELL, AND MAYBE SOMEONE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK, WAS IT THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, USING ANOTHER COMMUNICATION COMPANY THAT IS NOT BEING NAMED BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT PROBLEMS WITH, YOU KNOW, RUSSIA, ET CETERA, BASICALLY THEY DID GET THE ABILITY TO USE ANOTHER DRONE AND DID ATTACK THE RUSSIAN FLEET AND IT DIDN'T-- THE WAR DIDN'T ESCALATE.

AND REALLY THAT'S PART OF MY CONCERN IS THAT,YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MUSIC, YOU HAVE WHOMEVER OWNS THIS OTHER COMMUNICATION COMPANY.

HAVING THE ABILITY TO SORT OF DECIDE, AND WHEN YOU DON'T USE MY BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR.

AND BECAUSE THESE ARE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO HAS INFLUENCE OVER THEM BECAUSE THERE IS SOME INFERENCE THAT PART OF WHAT MAY HAVE INFLUENCED MUSK'S DECISION WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH PUTIN, POSSIBLY HIS RELATIONSHIP SOME CONSERVATIVE, SOME OTHER CONSERVATIVE MILLIONAIRES.

AND WE DON'T KNOW OFFICIALLY IF THAT REALLY DID INFLUENCE HIM OR NOT OR IF HE SIMPLY JUST, AS HE SAID, JUST DIDN'T WANT TO ESCALATE INTO FURTHER PROBLEMS, FURTHER WARFARE.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT CONCERNS ME.

THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME , HOWEVER, IS THAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BECOME MORE AND MORE A PART OF WARFARE.

AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO STEP IN AND TAKE MORE CONTROL, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S JUST CONTROL DURING A WAR TIME SITUATION OR WHETHER IT'S CONTROL IN GENERAL.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS NEED TO STEP IN AND TAKE MORE CONTROL AND HAVE MORE REGULATORY POWER.

>> THE GOVERNMENT IS DEPENDENT ON MUSK FOR ROCKET LAUNCHING.

I WONDER HOW THIS AFFECTS NATIONAL SECURITY AND HIS BEING INVOLVED IN TWO DIFFERENT SPHERES.

>> I THINK THIS IS TRUE.

IT IS A GOVERNMENT FUNCTION, IF WE MEADE THIS, TO FIGHT OUR WARS, WHICH WE DO.

WE ARE THE BEST AT STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION IN THE WORLD.

WE FIGHT OUR OWN WARS WITH THIS AND WE CAN HELP UKRAINE.

AND IF WE CAN'T, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEFENSE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT PASS, THE DEFENSE BILL, HAS ENOUGH MONEY IN IT TO CREATE THAT CAPABILITY FOR US.

>> I DON'T THINK THE X MAN SHOULD HAVE THIS MUCH IN WAR MAKING.

>> WE DON'T PRODUCE OUR OWN FIGHTER PLANES OR ANYTHING.

WE CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES TO DO THIS.

SO THIS IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF THAT.

>> SO SHOULD THERE BE SOME LIMITS ON HOW MANY FINGERS ONE PERSON CAN HAVE IN THE PIE?

>> THIS IS A CONTRACT, AS YOU ARE SAYING.

WE HAVE MILITARY CONTRACTORS BUT HE IS NOT WORKING, AS FAR AS I KNOW, HE IS NOT WORKING UNDER ANY CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES WHICH IS THE PART OF MY-- >> WE COULD HAVE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT THAT SAYS UNDER THESE SETS OF CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU WILL PROVIDE YOUR SATELLITE SERVICE TO US AND WE DIDN'T.

>> AND JUST AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE THAT WOULD HELP DO THAT.

I MEAN WE CAN TAKE OVER THE CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY IF WE NEED TO.

SO THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS WE CAN DO THIS.

I THINK JUST THE GOVERNMENT, AT THE TIME, DID NOT THINK THIS THROUGH ENOUGH AND I THINK WE ARE NOW.

I DONE THINK IT'S AN ISSUE NOW.

I THINK IT WAS AN ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK IT IS NOW.

>> WE HAVE TO MOVE TO OUR THIRD TOPIC.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY CHANGED HIS MIND THIS WEEK AND DIDN'T ASK FOR A HOUSE VOTE ON WHETHER TO LAUNCH AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

HE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S AND IT'S TO BE RUN BY THREE COMMITTEES WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN IS THERE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO LAUNCH THIS INQUIRY?

>> THERE IS CERTAINLY SOME SMOKE THERE.

WE HAVE THINGS WITH THE LAPTOP STORY WITH THE WHISTLEBLOWERS AND THE I.R.S.

AND THE PHONE CALLS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS FIRE.

BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS THE WORD EVIDENCE THAT YOU MENTIONED BECAUSE McCARTHY ON TUESDAY SAID "WE WILL GO WHEREVER THE EVIDENCE TAKES US."

AND TO ME, THAT'S A LAUGHABLE LINE.

I MEAN WHERE DOES THE EVIDENCE TAKE US ON CLIMATE CHANGE?

ALMOST EVERY REPUTABLE SCIENTIST BELIEVES THE EARTH IS GETTING WARMER AND MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT YET REPUBLICANS CLAIM IT'S A HOAX.

WHERE DOES THE EVIDENCE TAKE US WITH RESPECT TO THE 2020 ELECTION IN CLEARLY THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE EVIDENCE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

REPUBLICANS STILL MAKE THE CLAIMS.

SO WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE OR FACTS OR LACK THEREOF IN THIS CASE?

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WILL.

>> MANY OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE VACCINATED AGAINST TRUTH UNTIL OR UNLESS THEY NEED IT TO INDICT SOMEONE.

THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE A FISHING EXPEDITION TO ME.

BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THOUGH.

SO JOE BIDEN LIED SAYING THAT HIS SON DIDN'T MAKE ANY MONEY IN CHINA.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

BUT HIS SON DID MAKE MONEY IN CHINA.

ALSO WHY HE WAS PREACHING ABOUT ANTICORRUPTION IN UKRAINE, HIS SON WAS SITTING WITH ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT UKRAINIAN OLIGARCHS.

SO THAT DOESN'T LOOK WELL.

BUT WHATEVER EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SHOWN, AND YOU KNOW, THE I.R.S.

RECORDS OR RECORDS OF MONEY LAUNDERING DIDN'T TURN UP ANYTHING AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S A STRATEGY OF THE REPUBLICANS TO KIND OF START THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE NEWS CYCLE, SO THAT ATTENTION GOES AWAY FROM THE CRIMINAL INDICTMENT THAT DONALD TRUMP IS FACING.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, TRUMP IS ACTUALLY HELPING ADVISING PEOPLE TO DO SO.

>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE IS ADVISING IS OUR OWN ELISE STEFANIK; THE CONGRESSWOMAN HERE.

SHE AND CLAUDIA TENNEY AND BRANDON WILLIAMS, TAR, THEY ALL VOTED TO SUPPORT THIS.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT OUR LOCAL CONGRESS PEOPLE AND WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE DOING THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK LET'S START WITH STEFANIK.

SHE HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR SHE IS IN THE TRUMP CAMP.

SHE HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR SHE DIDN'T THINK THE ELECTION WAS LEGAL; THAT THERE HAD BEEN ALL SORTS OF TAMPERING WITH IT AND SHE HAS STUCK TO THAT LINE SINCE THE ELECTION.

SO SHE DID NOT SURPRISE ME AT ALL.

I THINK THE OTHERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE JUNIOR, I THINK THEY'RE SORT OF FOLLOWING HER LEAD BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WILL PROBABLY, AT SOME POINT, NEED HER SUPPORT AND THEY WILL NEED POSSIBLY TRUMP'S SUPPORT.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.

>> AND I THINK THAT WHY IS HE DOING THIS?

WELL, 1: HE IS DOING AN INQUIRY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO GET THE ENTIRE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

THERE ARE 12 PEOPLE THERE THAT IN DISTRICTS THAT BIDEN CARRIED, THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO VOTE IN THIS WAY.

APPEASEMENT FOR THE HARD RIGHT MAX GATES BECAUSE HE CAN TRY TO GET THE BUDGET PASSED.

IT'S REVENGE FOR THE LAST TWO IMPEACHMENTS AGAINST TRUMP.

IT'S TO MITIGATE THE TRUMP INDICTMENT, TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THEY'RE BOTH THE SAME THING.

AND MAYBE IT'S A FISHING EXPEDITION TO ENSURE THAT MAYBE THEY'LL FIND MORE EVIDENCE.

CAN KEVIN McCARTHY KEEP HIS JOB FOR ANOTHER WEEK IN HIS INCREDIBLY SHRINKING SPEAKERSHIP.

>> AND RICK, DOES THIS CHANGE WHAT IMPEACHMENT MEANS NOW?

THAT WE JUST DO IT TO EVERYBODY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS THAT DANGER.

THIS, IN THE PAST, WE REALLY WAITED UNTIL THERE WAS HARD EVIDENCE AND WE DIDN'T USE IT AS THE FISHING EXPEDITION, SO THE FEAR IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS DOWN THE ROAD AND EVERYONE WILL DO THIS.

>> AND THERE WERE MORE THAN FIVE ARTICLES-- I MEAN TRYING TO IMPEACH THE DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OTHER PEOPLE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS POLITICS NOW AND GOING FORWARD.

>> THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> IT'S NOT GOOD BUT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE NOT GOOD.

IT'S HARD TO JUST SELECT ONE THAT IS NOT GOOD.

I MEAN OUR SYSTEM IS CREEKY NOW.

WE ARE-- OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IS CREEKY OF SOMETHING MADE IN THE 1780S, IT DOESN'T REALLY FIT IN MANY OF THE WAYS THAT WE ARE TODAY.

>> AND ALSO LIKE I WAS LOOKING AT THE DATA, THERE HAVE BEEN 16 IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AND OUT OF THE EIGHT IMPEACHMENTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESS IN I REMOVED FROM OFFICE AND THEY WERE ALL FEDERAL JUDGES.

I DON'T THINK THIS WILL COME TO THE IMPEACHMENT OF BIDEN RATHER THAN JUST A SHOW BIZ FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GARNER MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I MEAN THIS AGE OF IMPEACHMENTS AS HISTORIANS WILL POINT OUT MANY YEARS LATER.

>> IT WILL SHUT DOWN THE REST OF GOVERNING THOUGH.

IT TAKES SO MUCH ENERGY TO DO THIS THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GOVERN.

>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT McCARTHY BEING IN A HARD PLACE BUT ARE THE REPUBLICANS BETTER WITH HIM IN CONTROL THAN SOMEBODY ELSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE-- THEY'RE UNCONTROLLABLE.

CHAOS CAUCUS, THEIR HARD RIGHT, ININTENT TO BURNING THE PLACE DOWN F. THAT'S TRUE, WHO IS GOING TO LEAD THEM?

>> WE NEED YOUR F PLEASE.

>> MY F GOES TO FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY RUDY GIULIANI.

AFTER HE LEFT THE RECENT 9/11 COMMEMORATION CEREMONY EARLY, HE BLAMED HIS EARLY DEPARTURE ON THE FACT THAT VP KAMALA HARRIS WAS THERE.

APPARENTLY HE WAS ANGRY BECAUSE THE VP COMPARED JANUARY 6 WITH 9/11 AS BEING A MEMORABLE DATE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS, SHE MADE THAT COMPARISON BACK IN EARLY 2022.

SO I GUESS IT TOOK A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME FOR HIS ANGER TO COME FORWARD.

>> OKAY, TYE, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE TO BE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

I SPENT FOUR DECADES IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE MAINLY IN THE MILITARY AND I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IN THE GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW IS PLANNING HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THE MISSION WITH ONE TENTH, ONE 20th OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY REALLY NEED.

SO IT IS TIME TO STOP THIS SYSTEM.

WE HAVE ONLY HAD FOUR TIMES WHERE OUR GOVERNMENT HAS PASSED A BUDGET ON TIME IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

WE NEED A NEW SYSTEM AND GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS NOT HELPING THAT.

>> RICK.

MY F GOES TO A COLD SNAP IN MAY THAT IS BEING BLAMED FOR SOME LOCAL ORCHARDS LOSING UP TO 95% OF THEIR APPLE CROP.

A GREAT RITUAL FOR FAMILIES IN UPSTATE IN IN THE FALL IS GOING OUT AND PICKING APPLES BUT BECAUSE OF THE FREEZE SIX MONTHS AGO, IT IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THIS YEAR.

>> AND ANIRBAN.

>> WELL, MY F GOES TO THE PRAGERU UNIVERSITY WHERE KNOWLEDGE GOES TO DIE ON A BED OF LIES.

IT'S NOT AN ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY BUT A PROPAGANDA MACHINE BANK ROLLED BY THE REGRESSIVE RIGHT, NAMELY DONOR DENNIS PRAGER.

PRAGERU IS CREATING DOZENS OF VIDEOS CALLED PRAGER KIDS WHICH PEDDLE CLAWNG DENIAL AND OTHER THINGS TO THEIR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

THEY'RE NOT PARANOID BY KIDS GETTING ATTACKED BY PRONOUNS.

>> TIME FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE.

TARA YOUR A PLEASE.

>> TO INTERIOR SECRETARY DEB HEY LAND AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR THE INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORP GRANTS.

EIGHT PROJECTS WILL AWARDED AND WILL INVOLVE 20 NATIVE AMERICANS TRAINING EDUCATION AND CLIMATE PROJECT.

>> MY A GOES TO MITT ROMNEY, GOVERNOR, SENATOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 77.

AS HE LEFT HE SMOKED THE MAGA WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR THEIR BAFOONERY THAT HURTS THE NATION HE LOVES.

I DON'T AGREE WITH ALL OF HIS POSITIONS BUT I ADMIRE SOMEONE WHO SERVED SO WELL SORE FOE LONG.

>> AND RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO JEFF LYNCH, A SECURITY OFFICER SHOT IN THE HEAD SATURDAY BREAKING UP A FIGHT AT THE FOOTBALL GAME AT PROCTOR HIGH SCHOOL IN UTICA.

HE SAID I WAS GIVEN A BLESSING.

LUCK IS WHEN YOU SCRATCH A LOTTERY TICKET AND WIN 50 BUCKS.

THIS ISN'T LUCK, THIS IS A LOT HEAVIER.

I HAVE AN OBLIGATION.

HE IS WORKING TO TRY TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH GUNS.

>> VERY ADMIRABLE.

>> AND ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE EXTRAORDINARY SPATE OF STRUGGLE SOLIDARITY AMONG THE NEWLY MINTED AUTOWORKERS.

THE PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED IN MARCH ON A SLATE MOVEMENT UNITE ALL THE WORKERS FOR DEMOCRACY.

ON A PLATFORM THAT SAID NO CORRUPTION, NO CONCESSIONS AND NO TEARS.

ENDING EARLY NEARLY 80 YEARS OF ONE PARTY RULE IN THE UNION.

IF NOT THE WORKERS OF THE WORLD, AT LEAST THE WORKERS OF THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY ARE UNITED.

>> AND RICK, FROM AN ECONOMIST VIEWPOINT, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STRIKE?

>> I THINK THIS IS COMING AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH INFLATION.

THIS IS SHOWING THAT WORKERS DO HAVE POWER NOW AND THEY'RE USING THIS IN ORDER TO INCREASE WAGES.

BUT IT TURNS OUT WAGES ARE NOT THE BIG PROBLEM HERE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER SIDE ISSUES THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

>> AND IT'S AN INTERESTING STRIKE BECAUSE THEY'RE STRIKING AGAINST ALL THREE COMPANIES, WHICH WE ARE NOT SURE HOW THAT IS GOING TO END UP.

>> WHAT I LIKE IS A LOT MORE TRANSPARENCY, YOU KNOW, AS ANIRBAN MENTIONED HERE, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE WORKERS.

HOPEFULLY IT DOES NOT LAST LONG.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

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