>> David Chanatry: THE MIDEAST IN A SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE, CONGRESS IN A STATE OF DYSFUNCTION, AND NEW YORK STATE TARGETS SOCIAL MEDIA STAY TUNED, "IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

>> David: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER".

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY NINA MOORE, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, SARAH PRALLE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE.

EVENTS ARE SPIRALING IN THE MIDEAST, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A WIDER WAR IS GROWING.

GROWING TOO, IS THE FEAR OF A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE IN THE GAZA STRIP.

ISRAEL APPEARS IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION, NEEDING TO PREVENT ANOTHER ATTACK WHILE HAMAS IS EMBEDDED WITHIN GAZA'S CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WENT TO ISRAEL, EMBRACED BIBI NETANYAHU AND LAST NIGHT MADE HIS CASE TO THE NATION FOR SUPPORTING ISRAEL.

HOW SHOULD THE U.S. HANDLETHIS MESS OF A SITUATION?

>> I THINK THAT THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL, THERE IS FIRST OF ALL AS A SOCIETY WE MUST, MUST CONDEMN UNEQUIVOCALLY THE REVOLTING MASSACRE CARRIED OUT BY THERE FASCIST ORGANIZATION BY HAMAS AND THAT SHOULD BE OUR ENDURING AND UNEQUIVOCAL CONDEMNATION OF ALL SORTS.

NOW, AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST, AS A SOCIAL SCIENTIST, OUR POLITICAL ANALYSIS CANNOT JUST END WITH CONDEMNATION.

AND WE MUST ASK WHAT SORT OF ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT WE NEED IN ORDER TO CREATE LASTING PEACE IN THAT REGION.

AND, YES, ISRAELI MILITARY AID IS IMPORTANT, SURELY, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALSO ASK THAT HOW CAN WE KIND OF END THIS KIND OF SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE AND THINK ABOUT LASTING PEACE IN THAT REGION.

AND WHAT KIND OF CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, WHY WE'RE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, WE SHOULD ALSO LISTEN TO ISRAELIS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO ARE, I WILL NAME SOME.

WE CAN LOOK AT WISEMAN'S WORK, LOOK AT OTHER WORK AND ISRAELI AND PALESTINIANS TOGETHER BRINGING OUT THIS MAGAZINE FROM GAZA 927.

SO I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A NEED TO KIND OF SEPARATE THE STATE FROM THE PEOPLE, AND KIND OF THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHAT KIND OF OTHER VOICES THAT WE'RE NOT HEARING FROM BOTH SIDES, WHO DON'T WANT EXTERMINATION OF ISRAEL OR PALESTINIANS BUT JUST WANTS TO LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE TOGETHER.

AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO ACHIEVE THAT?

THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK DOWN THE LINE, TOMORROW, OR THE DAY AFTER, WE NEED TO FACE THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANIRBAN, FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

I THINK THAT THE INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE IS THAT THERE IS HAMAS.

AND THAT HAMAS IS NOT JUST A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, BUT IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS EMBEDDED ITS INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT GAZA UNDERGROUND WITHIN THE BUILDINGS, AND HAMAS HAS PROVEN ITSELF WILLING TO USE HUMAN SHIELDS, PALESTINIANS IN ORDER TO FURTHER ITS MILITARY EFFORT.

SO THAT IS A SOMEWHAT ENTRACTABLE PROBLEM.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

AND HOW DO YOU IN A HUMANITARIAN WAY AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE ISRAELIS TO ENSURE THAT PALESTINIANS ARE EVACUATED BEFORE FULL-SCALE GROUND INCURTION.

BUT THEN WHERE DO PALESTINIANS GO?

AND FOR HOW LONG?

BECAUSE ALREADY THE UNITED NATIONS HAS HIGHLIGHTED THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 5 MILLION PALESTINIAN REFUGEES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPERSED SINCE 1947.

THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY MUCH GREATER THAN THAT AND HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE ARAB COUNTRIES THAT ARE REALLY BIG ON SORT OF, YOU KNOW, JUST SCREAMING ABOUT HOW WRONG AMERICA IS FOR SUPPORTING ISRAEL.

BUT HOW DO WE GET THEM TO RECEIVE THE PALESTINIAN REFUGEES, OR END EVACUEES ON A SHORT-TERM BASIS OR AN INDEFINITE BASIS.

>> David: IF I REMEMBER, MY HISTORY CORRECTLY, JORDAN AT ONE POINT HAD ITS OWN PALESTINIAN PROBLEM THAT, WHEN IT WAS A THREAT TO THE JORDANIAN GOVERNMENT SO THEY WERE HAPPY TO GET RID OF THAT PROBLEM.

>> RIGHT.

PRECISELY AS OF RIGHT NOW, WELL, I SHOULD SAY THE LAST COUNT BY THE LAND, JORDAN TOOK IN TWO MILLION PALESTINIANS.

AND SO THE CONCERN THAT THEY HAD THEN AND NOW IS HOW TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC WELFARE OF THOSE REFUGEES.

BUT ALSO, TO NOT PERMIT HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS FROM INFILTRATING THEM AND THEN, JUST EXPANDING THEIR DIFFICULTY WITH HANDLING.

>> AND HAMAS, WAR IS POLITICS BY ANOTHER MEANS AND THAT'S THE FAMOUS PHRASE.

AND THEIR POLITICAL GOAL, HAMAS' POLITICAL GOAL IS THE DESTRUCTION OF STATE OF ISRAEL.

SO HOW DO FIGURE OUT THIS?

I MEAN -- >> THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY AS WELL IS, I'M AFRAID THAT ISRAEL MIGHT BE STEPPING INTO A TRAP THAT HAMAS HAS SET FOR THEMSELVES AND IT IS A GREAT OP-ED PENNED BY AN HISTORIAN AT HEBREW UNIVERSITY AND SO, IT WAS A LOT OF WHAT HE SAID WAS THAT, THE GOAL OF HAMAS WITH THIS HO HORRIFIC ATTACK WAS TO CREATE A MASSIVE RESPONSE FROM ISRAEL AND TO STOP ANY KIND OF PEACE PROCESS AND ANY KIND OF NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS.

ISRAEL WAS FINALLY ON THE VERGE OF SIGNING A TREATY, A PEACE TREATY WITH SAUDI ARABIA.

AND THAT IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO HAMAS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT PEACE.

THEY DON'T WANT STABILITY, THEY WANT THE END OF ISRAEL.

AND SO THEY HAVE VERY CLEAR POLITICAL GOALS IN ALL OF THIS WHICH IS TO HAVE THIS MASSIVE REACTION BY ISRAEL, SUCH THAT PUBLIC OPINION TURNS AGAINST THEM, THE ARAB WORLD TURNS AGAINST THEM AND IT STALLS ANY KIND OF POTENTIAL FOR PEACE IN BOTH THE SHORT AND LONG TERM.

AND I THINK THAT, THAT IS THE REAL DANGER HERE AND I THINK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS TRYING TO SPEAK TO THAT IN HIS SPEECH TO BOTH ISRAEL AND TO THE NATION LAST NIGHT.

>> David: GO AHEAD.

>> NO, I THINK THAT PERHAPS, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THE THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS, I THINK THAT THERE IS A POSSIBLY BIGGER DANGER AND THAT IS THAT HAMAS' ATTACK ON OCTOBER 18 WILL BE THE OPENER FOR A STRENGTHENING OF THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH A POLITICAL SOLUTION.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT IN THE IDEAL BUT I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT IT SENDS IS, THAT YOU DO OCTOBER 18 AGAIN IN ORDER TO EXTRACT THE SORTS OF CONCESSIONS THAT A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION OR DISPLACED PERSONS WANT.

I DON'T THINK THAT TERRORISM SHOULD BE THE ENTREE TO ANY SORT OF POLITICAL SOLUTION.

>> I WANTED TO ADDED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HAMAS DOESN'T REPRESENT ALL PALESTINIANS.

>> NO, EXACTLY.

THAT IS WHAT -- RIGHT.

>> RIGHT, BUT THAT'S PRECISELY WHY I SAY THAT HAMAS' ATTACK SHOULD NOT BE -- YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT PIGGY BACKS ON TO VERY SERIOUS AND NEEDFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A PALESTINIAN STATE.

I AGREE.

>> BUT HAMAS IS A BIGGER THREAT -- I THINK THE WAY TO REALLY NEUTRALIZE HAMAS IS TO WORK TOWARD MORE PEACE, A TWO-STATE AND TO GO BACK TO SAUDI ARABIA AND TRY TO NEGOTIATE THIS TREATY BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DON'T WANT, RIGHT.

I THINK THAT WOULD ACTUALLY WEAKEN HAMAS IF ISRAEL CONTINUED TO PURSUE THIS.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT NETANYAHU IS REALLY THE MAN TO DO THE JOB, THAT JOB.

BUT, I DO THINK THAT WOULD BE ACTUALLY A WAY TO UNDERCUT THIS TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

>> >> David: WELL, IN NETANYAHU'S TERM OF OFFICE, IS NOT EXACTLY PUSH FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION, RIGHT.

IS A TWO-STATE SOLUTION EVEN POSSIBLE ANYMORE?

>> LOOK, THE POLITICS IS NOT WITHOUT POSSIBILITY.

PEOPLE THAT WANT ALSO WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER NOT ENSLAVING PEOPLE WOULD BE POSSIBLE ANYMORE, RIGHT, AND THEN WE HAD CIVIL WAR.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT ISRAELIS THINK ABOUT IS HOW TO RID THEMSELVES FROM THIS KIND OF STRANGLE HOLD OF ANIMOSITY, AND ACTUALLY, MANY OTHER ISRAELIS WHO ARE ACTUALLY PEACEFUL.

THEY ARE IN THE U.S., THEY ARE IN ISRAEL.

AND THEIR VOICES ARE BEING STIFLED LIKE MANY OTHER PALESTINIAN VOICES.

>> David: AND PRESIDENT BIDEN DID SAY LAST NIGHT AND SAID IN ISRAEL, DON'T BE CONSUMED BY THE ANGER.

NOW WITH THE WORLD IN CRISIS, IT WOULD BE GOOD, IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT HERE.

RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T.

IT IS MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AND COUNTING SINCE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS HAD A SPEAKER.

IT'S NOT AT ALL CLEAR WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, BUT IS THERE ANY CHANCE WE MIGHT SEE A MODERATE EMERGE AS SPEAKER?

>> I THINK WHAT IS BEST CLEARLY IS THERE TO BE A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET TO THAT.

AND WE HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BEING THE MAIN REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE ONE.

AND THAT IS PARTLY TRUE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 8 PEOPLE TO MOVE TO OUST KEVIN McCARTHY.

BUT I WOULD SAY, HERE IS SOME NAIVETY BUT ALSO REAL THAT I DEMOCRATS ARE TRULY -- REALITY THAT DEMOCRATS ARE COMMITTED TO ALL OF THEIR TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTRY NEEDING TO RESPOND TO CRISES ABROAD AND HERE, AND THE PUBLIC POLICY IMPERATIVE.

DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THAT, THEN THEY WOULD JOIN WITH ENOUGH REPUBLICANS TO HAVE A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY END UP MEANING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A REPUBLICAN SPEAKER WHO IS SUPPORTED BY DEMOCRATS, THAT IS IF DEMOCRATS ARE ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND NOT ABOUT PARTY LOYALTY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD THEM SAYING, WELL, IT IS THE REPUBLICANS' JOB.

NO, IT IS EVERYBODY'S JOB IN THE HOUSE.

>> David: BUT YOU'RE FLIPPING THAT ON TO THE DEMOCRATS AND HASN'T IT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE THAT THE SPEAKER IS -- >> IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE THAT THE MAJORITY PARTY ELECTS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

IT HAS NEVER BEEN THE CASE THAT THE SPEAKER GETS REMOVED.

SO WE ARE IN -- IN UNCHARTED TERRITORIES.

AND YES, IT IS USUALLY REPUBLICANS THAT SHOULD DO THIS.

HOWEVER, AND AGAIN, WE'RE HEARING DEMOCRATS SAY THAT IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THE COUNTRY, IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY AND DEALING WITH BOTH UKRAINE AND ISRAEL, THEN THERE HAS TO BE A SPEAKER.

WELL, DEMOCRATS, YOU CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> David: OKAY, SARAH -- >> I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE DEMOCRATS ARE ALWAYS THE GROWN UPS IN THE ROOM, RIGHT.

AND THAT JUST TAKES A LOT OF THE PRESSURE OFF OF REPUBLICANS.

REPUBLICANS, WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO BEHAVE.

WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO GOVERN.

WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY.

AND SO THEN WE EXPECT THE DEMOCRATS TO COME IN AND TRY TO SAVE THE DAY.

AND LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT THE THREE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN UP FOR SPEAKER, HAVE ALL VOTED AGAINST CERTIFYING THE ELECTION ON JANUARY 6, RIGHT.

McCARTHY HIMSELF WAS STARTING AN IMPEACH PEACHMENT HEARING AGAINST BIDEN AND JIM JORDAN IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW DEMOCRATS COULD POSSIBLY VOTE FOR SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

NOW, JEFFRIES HAS SAID THAT HE'S DRAWING A LINE AT THE POINT WHERE IF YOU VOTED TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION, THEN WE WILL NOT COOPERATE.

I THINK THAT'S A FAIR LINE TO DRAW.

>> David: SO WHEN YOU SAY "DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY," THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE CERTAINLY FEEL WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS RIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY.

I MEAN, THEY JUST FEEL THAT THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG PATH.

>> I'M NOT SURE THEY DO.

SOME OF THEM IN THEIR CONFERENCE SAY THAT THIS IS A HOT MESS, AND AGREE THAT IT IS A HOT MESS, AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF DISSENSION WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BUT, AND THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF EXTREMISTS IN THAT PARTY.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE GROWING FACTION AND IT IS OBVIOUSLY CAUSING REAL PROBLEMS.

>> I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE A COMPROMISE SOLUTION.

ONE WOULD LIKE, HE WAS IN THE SECRET LIST, RIGHT.

THAT McCARTHY CREATED.

CONGRESS STIFFENED UP THE RULE.

WHAT A SPEAKER OR SPEAKER PRO TEM CAN DO.

BUT HE CAN DO THE SPEAKER'S JOB, TO UNTIL A NEW SPEAKER IS BEING CHOSE SON WE CAN STOP GAP DO SOME WORK BY EMPOWERING THE PRO TEM TO DO SOME SPEAKER JOB TO THE -- >> David: THE IDEA ALREADY SEEMS TO BE GOING SOUTH.

>> THAT MIGHT -- SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT IDEA IS GOING SOUTH.

AND IT IS GOING SOUTH THEN I WOULD SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE VOTES, JIM JORDAN GOT 200 VOTES AND JEFFRIES GOT 212 VOTES.

I MIGHT ASK THE REPUBLICANS TO JOIN THE DEMOCRATS TO ADD THE NUMBER OF VOTES AND HAVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES AS THE SPEAKER.

IT IS DIFFICULT FOR DEMOCRATS, I UNDERSTAND JIM JORDAN, HE'S AN ELECTION DENIER, HE SAID ALL KIND OF CRAZY THINGS.

THE GUY BEFORE THAT FROM LOUISIANA, SCALISE.

HE HIMSELF SAID, HE IS DAVID DUKE WITHOUT BAGGAGE.

HE SAID THAT OUT OF HIS OWN MOUTH.

SO THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT -- -->> David: HERE IS A NAME I HAVEN'T HEARD LOADED UNLESS I MISSED IT.

ELISE STEFANIK.

>> THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE.

SHE'S CERTAINLY, I BELIEVE, HAS PROVEN HERSELF TO BE WORTHY OF THEIR SUPPORT, HAVING DIVERSIFIED THE RANKS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE IN THE WAYS THAT SHE DID.

BUT IF I CAN GO BACK TO ANIRBAN'S EXCELLENT COMMENT ABOUT DEMOCRATS CROSSING LINES, SURE, YOU KNOW, WHY NOT.

AGAIN, IF WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS IN A WAY THAT IS SO DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC TO ME, IN THAT, IT IS SIMPLY DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS.

AND SURE, THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

BUT WE'RE NOT LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THINGS ARE OPERATING AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE.

SO AT SOME POINT, ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT BEING PATRIOTS, ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT CARING ABOUT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, AND GOVERNANCE, HAS TO BECOME REAL.

BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, SOMEONE WHO IS THIRD IN LINE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY FEEL.

AND I'LL JUSTED AD THIS ONE OTHER THING THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WORK AROUND OF SORTS.

THE LIST OF POTENTIAL SPEAKERS, THAT'S BEEN TRADITIONAL.

THAT WASN'T JUST McCARTHY BUT YOU ALWAYS HAVE BACKUPS IN THE CASE OF BOTH DISABILITY AND ALSO VACANCIES.

BUT THE RULES COMMITTEE ACCORDING TO HOUSE RULES, THE RULES COMMITTEE CAN DECLARE LEGISLATION PASSED PROVIDED THAT THE HOUSE VOTES FOR A SPECIAL RULE.

SO THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF WORK AROUNDS.

IT IS A QUESTION OF ARE THERE ENOUGH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, WILLING TO SET ASIDE THEIR PARTISANSHIP IN ORDER TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>> SO FAR THE ANSWER IS NO.

OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] A NEW GALLUP POLL SAYS TEENAGERS SPEND ALMOST FIVE HOURS A DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

17-YEAR-OLDS SPEND ALMOST SIX HOURS DAILY ON SNAPCHAT, TIK TOK AND THE LIKE.

NOW, A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ANYONE UNDER 18 FROM USING ALGORITHM-BASED SOCIAL FEEDS UNLESS THEY HAVE PERMISSION FROM THEIR PARENTS.

IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT TEENS MENTAL HEALTH.

OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY IT IS A FIRST AMENDMENT VIOLATION.

SHOULD THIS BILL BECOME LAW?

SARAH, WHEN SOMETHING NEW COMES ALONG, THE OLDER FOLKS SAY IT IS GOING TO RUIN THE WORLD.

ROCK'N'ROLL IS GOING TO MAKE KIDS TURN INTO JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

IS THERE THE LATEST ITERATION OF THAT?

>> AS AN OLDER PERSON, I'LL DEFEND MYSELF AND SAY NO, IT IS NOT.

BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST, LET'S FACE IT, IT IS NOT JUST AFFECTING YOUNGER PEOPLE ALTHOUGH IT AFFECTS THEM TO A GREATER EXTENT BECAUSE OF THEIR, WHERE THEY ARE IN THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE, RIGHT.

BUT IT IS AFFECTING US AS WELL.

AND ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES IS NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH, IT IS NOT JUST THE CONTENT OF WHAT WE'RE BEING EXPOSED TO, ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT IT IS ALSO THE FORM.

IT IS THE WAY THAT CONTENT AND NEWS AND INFORMATION IS BEING DELIVERED TO US.

AND IT IS DELIVERED IN THIS WAY THAT'S FLASHY, THAT'S SHORT BURSTS, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT, RIGHT.

AND THAT GETS REALLY HARD IF YOU'RE USED TO ABSORBING INFORMATION THAT WAY TO REALLY FOCUS AND CONCENTRATE DEEPLY.

AND I DO WORRY FOR MY OWN STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THEY HAVE LOST SOME ABILITY TO SORT OF CONCENTRATE BEYOND TWO MINUTES OR 30 SECONDS THAT IT MIGHT TAKE TO WATCH A TIKTOK VIDEO.

AND I THINK THAT IS AFFECTING US ALL.

I NOTICED WITH IT MYSELF TOO.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE SORT OF FEEDING THIS NEED WHEN YOU JUST GET ALL OF THIS STIMULUS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND IT REALLY, I THINK CHANGING OUR BRAINS IN SOME WAY.

YOU IT FEELS THAT WE'RE SORT OF CONDUCTING THERE BIG EXPERIMENT ON OURSELVES.

>> RIGHT, THERE IS NO CONTROL GROUP I GUESS.

OR MAYBE IT IS THE OLD FOLKS ARE THE CONTROL GROUP.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> NINA.

>> THAT WOULD BE -- AND TO YOUR POINT, SARAH, I AM VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT EXPOSURE TO BLUE LIGHT BUT THAT'S JUST THE EXTENT, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT IS SUPPOSED TO AFFECT YOUR BRAIN, AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE.

THAT'S FOR ALL OF US.

BUT, HERE IS MY QUESTION ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING PROPOSED AND THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ENACTED IN MONTANA UTAH AND ARKANSAS, RIGHT.

ARKANSAS OF ALL PLACES.

HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT ENFORCING IT?

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT PARENTS, IN FACT, DO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MONITORING THEIR TEENS' SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY BECAUSE, I'M ASSUMING THERE IS GOING TO BE A PROMPT THAT ASKS, ARE YOU 18?

HOW MANY PEOPLE OR YOUNG FOLKS USUAL THE AGE OF 18 ARE GOING TO SAY NO, REALIZING THAT IS GOING TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE PLATFORM.

AND THEN, WITH ANY LAW THAT'S PASSED, WHAT ARE THE ENFORCE ENFORCEMENTMECHANISMS OR IF TEED PARENTS FAIL TO DO WHAT THIS LEGISLATION IS EXPECTING THEM TO DO.

>> I WAS READING, I FELT THE SAME WAY.

HOW IS THE ENFORCEMENT OF ALL OF THIS GOING TO WORK?

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IT THOUGH IS LIKE HAVING A WRITTEN PARENTAL CONSENT.

LIKE THE WAY THAT YOU WANT TO GET A TATTOO, YOU NEED A PARENTAL CONSENT IN MANY STATES.

SIMILARLY, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF UPLOAD A DOCUMENT.

EVERYBODY HAS TO DO IT NOW I GUESS BECAUSE, TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE NOT A MINOR, YOU'RE AN ADULT.

BUT, FIRST OF ALL, FULL DISCLOSURE, I HAVE NO SOCIAL MEDIA SO I MAY NOT KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE.

SO, BUT I HAVE VERY HAPPY PERSON WITHOUT IT.

I CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING CRAZY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND I'M LIKE, OH, LOOK AT THEM.

I JUST LIVE IN PEACE.

YOU KNOW, THE THING IS THAT, THIS HAPPENED WITH T.V.

TOO, RIGHT.

MY PARENTS REALLY REALLY AND WANT ME TO WATCH MORE THAN ONE HOUR OF AND THAT WAS ONLY HEEMAN THAT I COULD WATCH ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.

AND I HAVE SEEN GSS, SURVEY DATA THAT AMERICAN FAMILIES WATCH FOUR TO FIVE HOURS OF T.V.

AVERAGE PER DAY WITH ALL SORTS OF HORRENDOUS REALITY SHOWS AND THAT WILL DEFINITELY NUMB YOUR BRAIN NO DOUBT.

SO I DON'T THINK IT IS SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT IT, IT IS KIND OF A DECENTRALIZED, YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE EVERYONE FROM NOWHERE AND EVERYONE, OTHER PEOPLE FROM NOWHERE ARE ABLE TO SEE YOU.

SO IT IS NOT A SOCIAL THING LIKE TESTIFY COST BE IN A WAY.

SO AS A RESULT, I THINK THAT IT CREATES A SORT OF SOCIAL A YOU GET MORE AGGRAVATED BY SOMEONE'S COMMENT AND YOU WANT TO GET ON TOP OF THAT BY GIVING ANOTHER COMMENT.

AND IT IS WORDS VERSUS WORDS RATHER THAN PEOPLE TALKING AND THAT MIGHT HAVE A VERY DETRIMENTAL EFFECT AND I'M SEEING IT IN SCHOOL AS YOU'RE POINTING OUT THAT STUDENTS NEED THREE DAYS TO WATCH A 90 MINUTE FILM.

THEY CAN'T WATCH IT IN ONE GO ANY MORE.

AND THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS BUT WE'LL SEE HOW FEDERALISM WORKS, SEEING WHAT STATES HAVE BETTER LAWS AND -- >> David: NUMBER OF STATES ARE TAKING -- GOING DOWN THIS ROAD SO WE'LL SEE.

IT IS TIME FOR OUR "A"S AND "F"S AND NINA, WE'LL BEGIN YOUR "F"S. >> MAJORITY OF SEATS UP FOR ELECTION IN SYRACUSE AND ONONDAGA COUNTY GENERALLY ARE UNCONTESTED MEANING THERE IS ONLY ONE CANDIDATE RUNNING WITH NO OPPONENT.

OF THE 17 SEATS UP FOR GRABS IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE, ONLY FIVE ARE CONTESTED.

IT IS BECAUSE BOTH PARTIES HAVE FAILED TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES, OR THE OTHER PARTY HAS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

ACCORDING TO THE POST STANDARD, THIS COULD BE THE LOWEST SINCE THE LEGISLATURE WAS CREATED 61 YEARS AGO.

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEMOCRACY, WE HAVE TO HAVE FOLKS RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

>> SARAH?

>> SO, MY "F"S THIS WEEK GOES TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE INSURES.

THESE INSURERS ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MEDICARE BENEFITS TO SENIORS IN PLACE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICARE.

AND, THESE PRIVATE PLANS NOW COVER ABOUT HALF OF THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE BUT THEY ARE OFTEN SLOW TO PAY OR DON'T PAY HOSPITALS FOR THE CARE THAT HOSPITALS PROVIDE.

RURAL HOSPITALS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING THEIR DOORS OPEN AS IT IS.

AND THE GREED OF THESE PRIVATE INSURERS IS MAKING THE SITUATION WORSE.

>> MY "F"S GOES TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DECISION TO WAIVE FEDERAL LAWS IN SOUTH TEXAS TO ALLOW A BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION MAKER MARKING THE FIRST USE OF SWEEPING EXECUTIVE POWER TO PAVE THE WAY FOR BUILDING MORE BORDER BARRIERS.

JUST LIKE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DID.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.

BIDEN MEETS MAGA.

>> David: OKAY, AND "A"S. >> GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT 100% OF THE OVER 500 ELIGIBLE POLICE AGENCIES IN NEW YORK STATE HAVE RECEIVED STATE CERTIFICATION FOR COMPLIANCE UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL POLICING ACT PASSED IN 2021.

THIS MEANS THAT THEY ALL HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN HIRING STANDARDS, AND ALSO REPORTING STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO MISCONDUCT.

THIS IS GOOD FOR BOTH FOR THOSE AGENCIES AND ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC.

>> SARAH.

>> MY "A"S THIS WEEK GOES TO KEN BURNS LATEST DOCUMENTARY ON THE AMERICAN BUFFALO.

IT IS DONE IN THE CLASSIC KEN BURNS' STYLE WHICH IS PREDICTABLE AND SOMETIMES A BIT HEAVY HANDED.

NEVERTHELESS THE TOPIC IS COMPELLING AND IT IS A SWEEPING LOOK AT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AMERICAN BUFFALO TO NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

THE SHOCKING POLICIES THAT BROUGHT THE BUFFALO TO THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION AND THE DETERMINED EFFORTS TO BRING THEM BACK.

I THINK IT IS WELL WORTH A WATCH.

>> MY "A"S GOES TO MOVE MACHINES IN GENERAL, PARTICULARLY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE AND ALLIES INCLUDING 400 JEWISH AMERICANS AND RABBIS WHO GATHERED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. TO PROTEST AGAINST, CONGRESS PASS A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION IN GAZA AND I PARTICULARLY LIKE THE SAYING MY GRIEF IS NOT YOUR WEAPON.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS, YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY DOT ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER", HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.