>> TONIGHT ON "IVORY TOWER" WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT THAT'S NEW.

THE NEW AGREEMENT TO END THE WAR WITH IRAN.

THE NEW FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR.

AND A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR TEENS.

STAY TUNED.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER" NINA MOORE IS AWAY.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS JOINING ME AROUND THE TABLE ARE JENNY STROMER-GALLEY OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY RICK FENNER OF UTICA UNIVERSITY CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY AND BEN BAUGHMAN OF GANNON UNIVERSITY.

WE BEGIN WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING RELATED TO THE WAR WITH IRAN.

WE ARE RECORDING THIS SHOW ON THURSDAY MORNING, SO AS BEST WE KNOW AT THIS TIME, THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES THE END OF MILITARY WARFARE, AN END TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN IRAN, AND AN END TO THE SHIPPING BLOCKADES.

IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS, BEN, AND I'M WONDERING, WHAT IS THE END RESULT?

>> WELL, THE END RESULT IS WE STARTED WITH A TACTICAL RESPONSE TO SOMETHING THAT HAD A TIME SENSITIVE MOMENT, WHERE LEADERS OF WHAT MOST COUNTRIES HAVE DEEMED A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WERE ALL IN ONE PLACE AND WE RESPONDED AND MADE THE DECISION TO TRY TO CUT OFF THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.

THAT, THEN, OF COURSE SHIFTED TO MORE OF A STRATEGIC TYPE OF RESPONSE WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH, YOU JUST BOMBED A COUNTRY.

AND SO I THINK WITH ALL THAT SAID, THE VICTORY IS A MANAGED DEESCALATION IS WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

>> MANAGED DEESCALATION.

>> YES.

WE HAVE SEEN VERSIONS OF IT THAT WERE SIGNED ELECTRONICALLY AND THEN OF COURSE FRIDAY IS WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNED IN PERSON.

AND IT REALLY IS JUST AN MOU, A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

>> I HEARD THIS MORNING THAT THERE MAY NOT EVEN BE A SIGNING BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

MAYBE THEY WILL JUST START NEGOTIATING ON FRIDAY.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD USE THE WORD VICTORY AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AS TO WHETHER WE ARE REALLY BETTER OFF WITH THIS THAN WE WERE IN 2015 WHEN OBAMA HAD NEGOTIATED AND TRUMP WALKED AWAY FROM.

AT LEAST TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCURRED OVER THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT WE SPENT ON THE MILITARY, THE LIVES LOST, THE IMPACT ON INFLATION ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

WE ARE GIVING IRAN ACCESS TO $300 BILLION AT LEAST IN DEVELOPMENT FUNDS.

WE ARE RELEASING $25 BILLION OF FROZEN ASSETS AND WE ARE ALLOWING THEM TO SELL OIL AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DETAILS ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM.

I HAVE A HARD TIME LABELING THIS A VICTORY AT THIS POINT.

>> JENNY, WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPACT THAT THIS HAS BEEN?

>> RIGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL ECONOMICALLY.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SEES WITH THE MID TERMS COMING UP THAT THE PAIN FROM THE INCREASE COST OF LIVING IS REALLY, REALLY HURTING THEIR MESSAGING.

AND SO LISTENING ACTUALLY TO TRUMP'S JUSTIFICATION EVEN YESTERDAY ABOUT SIGNING THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, PART OF WHAT HE SAID IS THAT IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.

THE ECONOMY NEEDS SOME ATTENTION.

AND IT REALLY DOES.

>> THE PHRASING HE USED, SORT OF BAFFLES ME.

I WOULDN'T CALL THIS A VICTORY.

WHO IS CALLING THIS A VICTORY?

IF THERE IS ANY WINNER IN ALL OF THIS, IT'S CHINA AND IN INTERESTING WAYS THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT.

WITH THE DISRUPTION OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ TRAFFIC, EUROPE AND ASIA STARTED TURNING TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES WHICH INCLUDED A LOT OF CLEAN ENERGY, WHICH IS WHAT CHINA PRODUCES.

YOU KNOW, THE EQUIPMENT, THE TURBINES, THE SOLAR PANELS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

AND, YOU KNOW, SO CHINA WINS THERE BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE U.S., YOU KNOW, WE LOOKED WEAK.

WE LOST.

ONE OF OUR GREATEST STRENGTHS WAS THIS ABILITY OF THE U.S.

NAVY TO ASSURE SAFE PASSAGE ON THE GLOBAL SEAS.

AND WE COULDN'T DO THAT IN HORMUZ AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IRAN COULD AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO MATERIALIZE FROM THIS MOU.

IS IRAN GOING TO HAVE LIKE AN ABILITY TO CHARGE FEES FOR TRANSIT THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ?

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, IRAN, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ALSO COMES OUT AHEAD.

IT WAS UNCLEAR BEFORE THE STRIKES THAT IRAN WOULD OR COULD CONTROL HORMUZ THE WAY THEY HAVE BUT IT'S CLEAR NOW THAT THAT IS A BARGAINING CHIP AT ANY POINT.

AND THE IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL STAGE, YOU KNOW, I THINK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE ARE LUCKY IN SOME WAYS BECAUSE WE ARE RELATIVELY INSULATED, BUT THE IMPACT GLOBALLY TO THIS IS REAL AND IT'S GOING TO LAST.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE POTENTIAL STARVATIONS IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND IN ASIAN COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF NITROGEN AND FERTILIZER.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING OWL IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE OF WHERE THAT IS MANUFACTURED.

IT IS JUST ALL KINDS OF RIPPLE EFFECTS FROM THIS THAT ARE STILL GOING TO BE FELT FOR MONTHS, POTENTIALLY YEARS TO COME.

>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT IN THE SHORT RUN THEY WON BECAUSE THEIR COUNTRY WAS OBLITERATED BUT I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE GOALS THAT THEY WANTED, THEY SHOWED THAT THEY CAN STAND UP TO A MAJOR POWER LIKE THE UNITED STATES.

THEY WERE WILLING TO TAKE THOSE HITS AND THEY'RE GOING TO, I BELIEVE, COME OUT STRONGER ON THE OTHER END OF THIS.

BUT I TOTALLY AGREE WITH CHAD THAT CHINA IS A BIG WINNER IN THIS.

>> I WOULDN'T USE THE WORD AHEAD.

I WOULD USE THE WORD EMBOLDENED BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE G.D.P.

LOSS, LOSS OF THE VALUE OF THEIR CURRENCY, IRAN IS WEAKER.

THE BIGGEST LOSER IN THIS IS ISRAEL WHO IS NOT REALLY A PARTY AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

IRAN IS STILL GOING TO RETAIN THE MISSILES THAT CAN BE FIRED AT ISRAEL.

HEZBOLLAH IS STILL EMPOWERED IN LEBANON.

AND YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS AND AMERICAN PERCEPTIONS OF ISRAEL, THE UNFAVORABLE VIEW OF ISRAEL CLIMBED BY 18 HAPPEN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE MESSY.

THE STRAIT WASN'T AN ISSUE BEFORE AND THEN IT BECAME LEVERAGE POINT FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

I THINK WHAT IS MORE CONCERNING THAT TENDS NOT TO BE ADDRESSED OUT LOUD IS WE HAVE, THE UNITED STATES, HAVE GONE TACTICAL WITH COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT HAVE NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES.

AND I'M CONCERNED AND OTHERS IN THE INTEL WORLD ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A MOTIVATOR FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH OBTAINING THE ABILITY TO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

SO WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MOU IS MY POINT, IS SUPER IMPORTANT THAT THEY STAY ON COURSE WITH THE NUCLEAR ISSUES.

>> JENNY, DAVID IGNATIUS HAD AN INTERESTING POST IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEGOTIATION STRATEGY AND THAT WE HAD REALLY INVESTORS, BUSINESS PEOPLE DOING THE NEGOTIATIONS AND NOT TYPICAL DIM CATS.

DID WE LEARN ANYTHING FROM THAT?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE WHEN OBAMA WAS NEGOTIATING WITH 2014-15, AT THE TABLE WERE POLICY EXPERTS.

SO BASICALLY PEOPLE WITH UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERTISE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN, TO HELP REALLY BRING THAT DEAL TO PASS.

AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, TO YOUR POINT, IS BRINGING BASICALLY BUSINESS INTERESTS TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

AND THAT,-- DIPLOMACY REQUIRES CERTAIN TACT AND STRATEGY AND SKILL THAT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THE ASSEMBLED LEADERS WILL BE AS EFFECTIVE AT.

>> WELL, WE WILL KEEP WATCHING THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN TO BE DEVELOPMENTS AND AGAIN WE ARE RECORDING THURSDAY SO YOU MAY KNOW MORE THAN WE DO AT THIS POINT BY THE TIME YOU WATCH THE SHOW.

OUR SECOND TOPIC IS THE NEW FED CHAIR KEVIN WARSH WHO LED HIS FIRST MEETING THIS WEEK.

WITH TWO ECONOMISTS ON THE PANEL, I THOUGHT WE'D LOOK AT WHAT IS FACING HIM.

WHAT, HOW CHAD, HOW DID HE DID DO.

>> WARSH IS A SOBER PICK.

THIS IS NOT THE HEAD OF WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT OR AN ANTI-VAXER LEADING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS AN EXPERIENCED PERSON.

MY ADVICE IS TO REMEMBER HIS ROOTS BECAUSE HISTORICALLY HE HAS BEEN AN INFLATION HAWK.

AND-- >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY INFLATION HAWK?

>> YOU ATTACK INFLATION.

INFLATION IS BAD, KEEP IT DOWN.

FOCUS, KEEP YOUR EYE ON INFLATION.

AND WE HAVE A TARGET OF 2% INFLATION AND WE HAVEN'T HIT THAT SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2021.

HIS PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, IT REVEALED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT REALLY WELL.

THAT HE SAID INFLATION IS A CHOICE.

HE SAID THIS COMMITTEE IS VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO THAT 2% UNAMBIGUOUS INFLATION TARGET.

KEPT THE INFLATION RATES CONSTANT.

THE COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DO SO.

SO I THINK ALL OF THE SIGNS ARE LOOKING PRETTY POSITIVE.

>> AND WITH THAT UNANIMOUS DECISION, WAS THAT SIGNIFICANT?

DID HE WANT TO SHOW HE WAS LEADING... >> THE DECISION IS TYPICAL AND REASSURING.

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING IS POWELL HAD NOT HAD UNANIMOUS DECISIONS.

HE HAD HAD PEOPLE OBJECTING BOTH TO NOT RAISING RATES AND NOT LOWERING RATES.

SO THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A HONEYMOON PERIOD, BUT I AGREE WITH CHAD, I THINK WASHING ARE WARSH DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF REASSURING PEOPLE THAT THE FED WOULD REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO FIGHTING INFLATION.

HE HANDLED THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN A WAY THAT WAS NON-CONFRONTATIONAL, HAD A VERY GOOD RAPPORT WITH REPORTERS.

SO I THINK IN THE SHORT RUN, THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES SETTING UP A NUMBER OF GROUPS TO LOOK AT A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE CHANGES.

HE IS NOT IN FAVOR OF PROVIDING AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HE IS CALLING FURTHER GUIDANCE WHICH IS PROJECTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S AN ARGUABLE POINT.

>> WHY WOULD HE NOT WANT TO HELP THE MARKETS AND THE BANKING INDUSTRY AND CORPORATIONS KNOW WHAT IS DOWN THE ROAD?

>> HIS ARGUMENT IS THAT THEIR PROJECTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN VERY GOOD AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOU KNOW, THE FED ENDS UP REACTING TO HOW BUSINESSES CHANGE THEIR DECISIONS BASED UPON FED PROJECTIONS; RATHER THAN HAVING COMPANIES LOOK AT THE ACTUAL DATA AND MAKE DECISIONS.

SO YOU GET INTO THIS SORT OF LOOP THAT GETS TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

AND SO I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A PRETTY GOOD ARGUMENT THAT REDUCING SOME OF THE NOISE THAT COMES OUT OF THE FED MAY BE A GOOD THING.

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I THINK STRATEGICALLY THAT ALSO IS BENEFICIAL BECAUSE BY NOT GIVING FORWARD GUIDANCE, HE IS NOT GIVING A HAND OR A PREVIEW TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHERE THE FED IS HEADING SO IT HELPS TO STAVE OFF THE POTENTIAL ATTACKS THAT COME WHEN THEY HINT THAT THEY MIGHT INCREASE INTEREST RATES, WHICH IS OF COURSE WHAT TRUMP REALLY DOES NOT WANT THE FED TO BE DOING.

>> BEN, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO JOE AND JANE CITIZEN?

>> THAT'S A FANTASTIC QUESTION FOR OUR ECONOMISTS?

[LAUGHTER] I WILL SAY WHAT I LIKED.

REAL QUICK BEFORE I KICK IT BACK TO THEM.

HE SEEMS TO APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE A PREDICTION AS A HUMAN.

YOU TEND TO-- IT TENDS TO BE A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY WHEN YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT AND YOU ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT.

SO THE FACT THAT HAVE YOU PEOPLE SIGNING OFF AND SAYING IT'S GOING TO GO-- WE ARE GOING TO-- IT IS LIKELY THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE INTEREST RATES, WELL, IT'S LIKELY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE INTEREST RATES BECAUSE THEY TEND TO GET BEHIND THAT.

AND NOT BE AWARE OF IT.

SO THAT WAS GOOD TO HEAR AND REASSURING FOR ME JUST FROM A NON-ECONOMIST PERSPECTIVE.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

AND TO KIND OF GO BACK TO YOUR EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT WHY DON'T YOU REVEAL MORE ABOUT THIS FORWARD, WHATEVER THE PHRASE FORWARD GUIDANCE.

READING BETWEEN THE TWO LINES, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I WANT TO THINK ABOUT.

ONE OF THE CRITICISMS OF POWELL IS THAT Mr.

TOO SLOW.

HE WAS TOO SLOW TO REACT.

THE MORE YOU RELY ON FORWARD GUIDANCE AND CLEAR LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IN SIX MONTHS, THE MORE YOU ARE HANDCUFFED TO COMMIT TO IT AND HE IS SAYING WE NEED MORE FLEXIBILITY SO WE CAN REACT IN REAL TIME.

THAT WAS ALSO SUPPORTED IN SOME OF HIS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WE NEED A TASK FORCE ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO USE DATA.

A LOT OF THE TRADITIONAL DATA SOURCES THAT ARE USED FOR MONETARY POLICY MAKING LIKE SURVEY DATA THAT'S KIND OF SLOW TO DEVELOP AND IT'S REFORMED OVER TIME.

I THINK HE IS SUGGESTING, LIKE WHAT IF WE USE MORE REAL TIME BUSINESS DATA.

WHAT IF WE USE ZILLOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MORTGAGE MARKETS OR SCANNER DATA TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT GROCERY STORES.

HE DIDN'T SAY THAT EXPLICITLY BUT I THINK THAT'S THAT WHAT IS IS GOING ON.

Mr.

TOO SLOW THING IS GOING O. HE WANTS TO REACT MORE QUICKLY.

>> GET WITH THE TIMES.

>> THAT'S WHAT BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN DOING.

BIG DATA AND PULLING THAT.

YOU CR CIA AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES DOING THAT MORE SO THAN THE BIG CAMERA AND TRADITIONAL STUFF.

THEY'RE STILL DOING THAT.

BUT IT MAKES SENSES THAT OUR THOUGHT-- PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES HELPING US KEEP INFLATION DOWN ARE DOING SIMILAR THINGS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THOSE FIELDS.

>> MOST OF THE CHANGES THAT HE IS GOING TO BRING ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT THE EVERYDAY PERSON ISN'T CONCERNED WITH.

YOU KNOW, THE BALANCE SHEET OF THE FED, YOU KNOW WHETHER THEY HOLD MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES OR NOT.

MEASURING THE IMPACT OF A.I.

ON PRODUCTIVITY.

I THINK WHAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT IS AS CHAD SAID, HE IS SORT OF REAFFIRMING HIS HAWK NATURE, GOING BACK TO THAT SAYING WE ARE GOING GET INFLATION BACK TO 2%.

>> JUST QUICKLY RICK, BRING IT BACK HOME.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE FOLKS.

>> IT MEANS I THINK IN THE SHORT RUN INTEREST RATES ARE GOING TO GO UP AND THAT'S GOING TO MEAN HIGHER COSTS FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO BUY CARS AND HOUSES.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE WILL GET PRICES DOWN FROM 4% CLOSER TO 2% IN THE COMING YEAR OR TWO.

>> WELL, OTHER IN THE UNITED KING BOMB, PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER SAYS THE BRITS WILL BAN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR TEENS UNDER 16 NEXT YEAR.

AT LEAST ELEVEN OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE PASSED SIMILAR BANS.

AND OTHERS HAVE THEM IN THE WORKS.

THE GOAL IS YOUTH SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH.

IN MOST CASES, TEENS CAN'T HAVE AN ACCOUNT, OR THEY NEED PARENTAL CONSENT AND MUST VERIFY THEIR AGE.

THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF A SIMILAR BAN IN AUSTRALIA SHOW MANY TEENS ARE GETTING AROUND IT.

NO SURPRISE.

BUT, JENNY, THIS IS YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE.

IS A BAN WORTH CONSIDERING HERE IN THE U.S.?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I'M GLAD TO SEE COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE REALLY STARTING TO ASK THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

THE RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT BANS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, AUSTRALIA NOW HAS BEEN AT THEIR BAN FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

THE PRELIMINARY DATA, SURVEY DATA, WHICH IS NOT THE BEST BECAUSE YOU ARE OR DEALING WITH SELF REPORTS AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ESPECIALLY ACCURATE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT DOES SUGGEST THAT TEENS ARE STILL ABLE TO GET AROUND THE BANS THROUGH A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES AND IT RAISES, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, OTHER MAYBE DODGES WHAT I THINK THE GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE GLOBE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT MORE ACTIVELY WHICH IS ACTUALLY REGULATING THE CONTENT ON THESE PLATFORMS AND REQUIRING THESE COMPANIES TO DO A MORE RESPONSIVE ETHIC OF CARE APPROACH TO THE COMMUNITIES AND CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY FOR VULNERABLE TEENS.

>> IS IT WORTH TRYING, THOUGH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, STARMER SAID SOMETHING LIKE WE DIDN'T ALLOW KIDS TO DRINK EVEN THOUGH KIDS GET AROUND DRINKING AT AN EARLY AGE.

>> THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

BANS ARE BENEFICIAL WHEN WE THINK PEOPLE ARE NOT READY FOR THE THING LIKE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AS A VICE, WHICH I THINK THERE ARE DESIGNED FEATURES THAT END UP MAKING IT A VICE.

BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, CHANGE THE DESIGN FEATURES.

THERE ARE BENEFITS THAT COME FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE DO FEEL A CONNECTION.

THEY DO GET INFORMATION.

THEY DO HAVE A SENSE OF THEMSELVES AND OTHERS THROUGH THOSE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.

THERE IS GOOD RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL.

SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S NOT BANS.

IT'S DESIGN CHANGES AND CONTENT ATTENTION.

>> BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT WHEN A 14-YEAR-OLD IS ACCESSING THE SAME THING THAT A 44-YEAR-OLD?

I MEAN CONTENT APPROPRIATE FOR ONE AGE IS NOT THE OTHER AND SO I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU GO AND ENFORCE THAT SO THAT YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT BEING AFFECTED?

>> I'LL JUST SAY BRIEFLY THAT INSTAGRAM AND YOUTUBE BOTH HAVE TEEN ACCOUNTS THAT ARE MEANT TO REDUCE THE EXPOSURE TO MORE PROBLEMATIC ADULT CONTENT.

>> HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT TEENS USE TEEN ACCOUNTS AND NOT ADULT ACCOUNTS.

>> THAT'S THE SAME ISSUE WITH BANS.

>> SUPERFICIALLY IT'S GREAT BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO THE EVIDENCE IT IS NOT EFFECTIVE YOU CAN MAKE IT EFFECTIVE BY INTENSE SURVEILLANCE OR DRACONIAN PUNISHMENTS BUT THIS IS BRITAIN AND IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE U.K., THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CRACKDOWNS RECENTLY ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

THE BRITISH POLICE ARREST MORE THAN 30 PEOPLE A DAY FOR ONLINE POSTS.

THE HOME SECRETARY HAS BEEN DENYING PEOPLE ENTRY FOR, PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE CONDUCTIVE FOR-- OR CONDUCIVE FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

AND SO ADDING ANOTHER TOOL TO THEIR CENSORSHIP BELT?

NO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S SHOULD BE OR SHOULD ALARM... >> CENSORSHIP FOR 12 YEAR OLDS IS VERY DIFFERENT.

>> HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THAT.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

>> IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK HERE FIRST OF ALL.

IT IS A FARCE.

IT'S GREAT.

IT SOUNDS FANTASTIC LIKE CHAD SAID.

BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO IMPACT THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF ALL THE ADULTS.

IF YOU ARE HAVING TO VERIFY YOUR AGE, IT'S GOING TO DETRACT FROM THE PRIVACY OF EVERYONE.

SO EITHER A: YOU ARE HAVING TO PROVE IT IN SOME WAY OR B: THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THEY ARE USING FACIAL RECOGNITION WHICH THEN THINK ABOUT THE PRIVACY THERE WHERE ON YOUR PHONE YOU ARE HAVING TO SHOW YOUR FACE.

HOW LONG DO THEY LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING FROM THERE?

IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

YES, IDEALLY IT SOUNDS FANTASTIC.

IN PRACTICE IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> DO I WANT MY FACE IN A GOVERNMENT... >> HOW ABOUT, LET'S TAKE A REALLY EXTREME THING.

HOW ABOUT BANNING OWNERSHIP OF SMART DEVICES BY PEOPLE UNDER 16?

JUST NOT ALLOW THEM.

>> TIME RESTRICTIONS SO WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO, LIKE IT REALLY MATTERS... >> THAT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN TRYING TO PICK OUT SITES.

>> WHAT TYPE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

JENNY'S RESPONSE WAS ABOUT CONTENT THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU ARE VIEWING BUT LIKE YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALGORITHMS AND THEY'RE ADDICTIVE, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO GET THE DOPAMINE HITS AND THINGS.

YOU CAN RESTRICT HOW MUCH THE ALGORITHM IS IN OPERATION SO YOU ARE NOT CONTROLLING THE CENSORSHIP WAY IN WHAT PEOPLE SEE.

YOU ARE CHANGING HOW THE THING OPERATES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A VERY SHRIMP IS THE INFINITE SCROLL.

INFINITE SCROLL REDUCES OUR ABILITY TO SENSE THE TIME THAT WE ARE SPENDING AND THAT KIND OF CONTINUAL EXPOSURE TO THINGS, THAT'S A DESIGN AFFORDANCE.

IF YOU BAN INFINITE SCROLLS AND REQUIRE BREAKS EVERY 10 MINUTES, THOSE ARE BASIC DESIGN FEATURES THAT DO HELP PEOPLE GO OH GOSH I JUST SPENT 20 MINUTES DOING THIS.

WHAT AM I DOING.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE BY THE PLATFORMS OF THE COMPANIES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S EASE AGREE INSTAGRAM ACTUALLY HAS STARTED TO DO THAT AND IT'S QUITE ANNOYING ACTUALLY.

IT'S REDUCED MY TIME SIGNIFICANTLY ON ANY SOCIAL MEDIA SITE.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T DO IT.

BECAUSE THEY NEED THE SITES TO BE STICKY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY SELL ADVERTISING REVENUE TO ADVERTISERS.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION AND I'M SURE WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IT.

BUT IT'S TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADE BOOKS FOR THE WEEK.

JENNY, WHAT IS YOUR F PLEASE.

>> SO MY F THIS WEEK GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

D.H.S.

USED TO BE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PARTNER IN SECURING OUR ELECTIONS FROM FOREIGN HACKERS AND CYBER ATTACKS BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DEFUNDED THE NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY NETWORK THAT LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS RELY ON TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

AS WELL, THE AGENCY'S SECRETARY HAS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF SPREADING ELECTION MISINFORMATION.

AND WE, I THINK, ARE IN ABINCREDIBLE MOMENT WHERE THE INSTITUTION THAT WE RELY ON TO PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS ARE NO LONGER THOSE INSTITUTIONS WE CAN RELY ON.

>> RICK.

>> A LIGHT HEART THE F TO SAM ADAMS BREWERY FOR RUNNING OUT OF BEER AT ITS FLAGSHIP BOSTON TAP ROOM THIS WEEKEND AS THOUSANDS OF SCOTTISH FOOTBALL FANS INVADED THE CITY TO SEE THEIR COUNTRY COMPETE IN THE WORLD CUP.

REQUIRED EMERGENCY SHIPMENTS OF BEER TO THE BAR.

THE BAR SOLD FOUR TIMES AS MUCH BOSTON LAGGER AS THEY DO OVERA TYPICAL HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

SO IN RETROSPECT INSTEAD OF GIVING SAM ADAMS AN F, I SHOULD GIVE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL FANS AN A.

>> CHAD.

>> I'M THIRSTY.

MY F GOES TO HILLARY CLINTON AND HER LACK OF SELF AWARENESS CRITICIZING THE UFC CAGE MATCH BY SAYING NO MATTER WHAT, IT'S NOT HIS HOUSE.

IT'S OUR HOUSE.

SHE REMINDS US AND INVITES US TO REMEMBER THAT HER HUSBAND ONCE RENTED OUT THE LINCOLN BEDROOM TO POWERFUL DONORS AND MORE ACCURATELY HIS GUESTS GAVE $5.4 MILLION TO THE DNC IN 95 AND 96 BEFORE ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION.

I AGREE IT WAS CRASS BUT SAVE US THE SAINGT MOAN.

>> BEN.

>> MY F GOES TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ENTERING THE NEW YORK CITY SEWERS, PROVING THAT SOME URBAN EXPLORERS HAVE HIT ABSOLUTE ROCK BOTTOM.

TWO OF THEM HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN, ONE IN QUEENS.

ANYWHERE BETWEEN SEVEN PEOPLE AND THREE PEOPLE, ONE CASE THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT THEY WENT IN AROUND 11 P.M.

AND CAME OUT 2 A.M.

CARRYING SHOVELS AND FLASHLIGHTS AND ALL SORTS OF RIDICULOUS THINGS.

SO TO OUR MIDNIGHT SEWER EXPLORERS.

NEXT TIME YOU FEEL THE URGE TO CONNECT WITH THE NEW YORK CITY'S DEEP HISTORY, TRY A MUSEUM.

IT SMELLS SO MUCH BETTER.

THERE ARE NOT FLASH FLOODS OR A SEVERE CASE OF PINK EYE.

>> AND LET'S MOVE QUICKLY TO AS.

JENNY.

>> SO MY A THIS WEEK GOES TO THE "NEW YORK TIMES" MAGAZINE FOR DEEP DIVE INTO THE DEATH OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND SUBPOENAED RECORDS, THE TIMES METHODICALLY WORKED THROUGH THE EVIDENCE AND THEY UNDERSCORED THAT WHAT WAS REALLY AT THE CONSEQUENCE HERE WAS EPSTEIN DIED BY SUICIDE.

GOOD INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM DOESN'T ALWAYS GIVE US A BOMBSHELL BUT IT DOES GIVE US THE TRUTH.

>> RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO THE NEW YORK KNICKS FOR WINNING THE NBA TITLE ENDING THE 53 YEAR CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT AND SENDING NEW YORK CITY INTO A FRENZY AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLOODED THE STREETS SATURDAY NIGHT TO CELEBRATE.

THE KNICKS TRAILED BY DOUBLE DIGITS IN EACH OF THE FOUR GAMES THEY WON INCLUDING OVERCOMING A RECORD 29-POINT DEFICIT IN THE FOURTH GAME.

KNICKS ARE NEW YORK'S TEAM.

>> CHAD.

>> MY A GOES TO THE EARLVILLE OPERA HOUSE THAT RECEIVED A 95,000 GRANT TO INSTALL AIR CONDITIONING AND REPAIR ITS ROOF.

1892 HISTORIC LANDMARK THEATER HOSTED VAUDEVILLE ACT IS IN THE 20th CENTURY AND HOSTS MUSICAL PERFORMANCES AND OTHER ARTS EVENTS.

IT IS HOT IN THE SUMMER.

WITH THIS NEW INVESTMENT, THE OPERA HOUSE WILL BECOME A COOL SPACE NOT JUST FIGURATIVELY BUT LITERALLY AS WELL.

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR CONCERT DETAILS.

>> AND BEN?

>> MY A GOES TO A BANGLADESH ZOO FOR MAKING BUFFALOES GREAT AGAIN.

THERE WAS A RARE ALBINO BUFFALO-- IT IS STILL THERE, BECAME A SENSATION WHEN A FARMER NOTICED THAT HIS BLONDE TUFT RESEMBLED A U.S.

PRESIDENT.

SO AFTER THE VIDEO WENT VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP AT THE FARM.

SO, A.

>> AND AS WE CLOSE, WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

CONTACT US AT THE ADDRESSES ON THE SCREEN.

REMEMBER THE SHOW AIRS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8:00 AND SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30.

AND IT STREAMS ANY TIME ON WCNY.ORG.

HAPPY JUNETEENTH.

AND REMEMBER, TUESDAY IS A PRIMARY ELECTION.

FROM ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER" GOOD NIGHT.