>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTERS ROUND TABLE IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AND BY MJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE, THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

>>> WELCOME TO "REPORTERS ROUND TABLE," I'M DIVIAVID CRUZ.

THE RACE FOR REPUBLICAN NOMINATION HAS NARROWED SIGNIFICANTLY.

DOUG STEINHART SURPRISED MOST EVERYBODY BY DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE THIS WEEK LEAVING A CLEAR PATH, IT WOULD APPEAR, FOR OUR GUEST TODAY, FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN JACK.

ASSEMBLYMAN, WELCOME.

>> DAVID, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO, DOUG DID YOU A FAVOR.

YOU WANT TO TAKE 30 SECONDS TO SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT HIM?

>> I APPRECIATE DOUG'S COMMITMENT TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I APPRECIATE THE DJOB HE'S DONE AS STATE AREA.

MY FOCUS HASN'T CHANGED FROM THE DAY I DECLARED, MY FOCUS IS PHIL MURPHY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE OF THE FEATURES OF DOUG'S CAMPAIGN WAS GOING TO BE THAT HE WAS THE BIGGEST TRUMP SUPPORTER IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THAT YOU WERE NOT A TRUMP SUPPORTER.

YOU WANT TO TELL US THAT HE WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG OR DO YOU WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON TRUMP?

>> WHAT I WANT TO DO IS FOCUS ON NEW JERSEY.

PHIL MURRPHY WANTS IT TO BE ALL ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, WHICH IS A DISTRACTION FROM HIS FAILED POLICIES.

BUT MY FOCUS IS ON NEW JERSEY.

THERE WERE REPUBLICANS WHO CONSTANTLY POKED THE PRESIDENT IN THE EYE.

THERE WERE CANDIDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN'S SIDE THAT RUN IN A 24/7 TRUMP LANE.

MY FOCUS IS FIXING NEW JERSEY.

I BELIEVE IT'S BROKEN.

I BELIEVE IT'S HOLDING BACK THE MIDDLE CLASS AND I HAVE SPECIFIC IDEAS ON HOW TO FIX NEW JERSEY.

>> LET ME TRY TO GET YOU ON THE RECORD.

DID YOU SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT?

>> THE PURPOSE OF IMPEACHMENT, DAVID, IS TO REMOVE A PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE.

THAT HAPPENS IN A FEW DAYS, SO WITH ALL THE DIVISIVENESS AND UNREST THERE IS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE AS WE SAW LAST WEDNESDAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., I DON'T THINK IMPEACHMENT IS THE WAY TO GO.

WE'VE GOT A FEW DAYS LEFT IN THIS PRESIDENCY AND THEN WE HAVE PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> YOU'VE BEEN A KEEN OBSERVER, THOUGH, OF POLITICS IN THIS STATE FOR MANY YEARS NOW.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE GOP IN NEW JERSEY?

IS THERE A TRUMP RECKONING NOW IN THE PARTY, IN NEW JERSEY?

>> LISTEN, I THINK IT'S HEALTHY WHEN A PARTY DOESN'T HAVE COMPLETE AGREEMENT ON ANY ONE ISSUE AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE KICK PEOPLE OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HERE'S WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, DAVID.

ALL 1.4 MILLION REPUBLICANS IN THIS STATE AGREE ON ONE THING AND THAT'S THAT PHIL MURPHY SHOULDN'T GET A SECOND TERM.

WE DON'T BELIEVE HE'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF NEW JERSEY AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY, THAT WE NOW HAVE A TWO-HORSE RACE AND A TEN-MONTH RUNWAY TO THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

>> WHO'S THE LEADER OF YOUR PARTY IN NEW JERSEY?

>> WELL, LISTEN, IF I'M THE NOMINEE AND EVERY INDICATION IS, AND I ACCEPT THAT VERY HUMBLY, THAT WOULD MAKE ME THE LEADER, AT LEAST UNOFFICIALLY.

WE HAVE A STATE GOP CHAIR.

WE HAVE A CHAIR OF THE 21 COUNTY CHAIRS, SO LISTEN, BUT, I THINK IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY, AS THE NOMINEE, TO ASSUME THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE.

>> YOU WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO GIVE US SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, I THOUGHT THERE WAS JUST A BIT TOO MUCH CHOREOGRAPHY.

IT SEEMED VERY, VERY STAGED, DAVID, AND LISTEN, YOU DIDN'T BLAME ANY GOVERNOR FOR TAKING CREDIT FOR WHAT HE OR SHE BELIEVES ARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR, BUT THE GOVERNOR FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CRISES THAT PERSIST IN THIS STATE WITH REGARD TO THE PROPERTY TAX CRISIS, THE BUSINESS CLIMATE CRISIS, THE PUBLIC PENSION CRISIS, AND THE WAY WE DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS STATE IS JUST NUTS.

WE NEED LOW-INCOME HOUSING, DAVID, BUT NOT THE WAY WE DO IT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

AND THEN OF COURSE IT'S HANDLING THE PANDEMIC.

WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE NURSING HOMES.

WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINATIONS.

WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT HOW THESE POLICIES HAVE RUINED THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY MOM AND POP SHOPS ON MAIN STREET, AND I ALSO THINK THE GOVERNOR'S FAILED US WITH REGARD TO SCHOOLS.

I'VE SAID ALL ALONG WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR K-5.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN POVERTY THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND CAN'T REMOTE LEARN, AND WE'VE GOT TO GET SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS JUST NOT LED IN THESE AREAS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

LET'S LEAVE THE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY DECISION OUT OF IT, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT'S A BIG PART OF YOUR CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNOR.

WHERE ELSE WOULD YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY?

>> CERTAINLY I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE PPEs AND TEST KITS TO THE NURSING HOMES.

THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TREATED JUST LIKE HOSPITALS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND I KNOW YOU ASKED ME TO KIND OF GO TO THE OTHER AREAS, BUT LISTEN, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY I WOULD NEVER HAVE ORDERED COVID-19 PATIENTS INTO THE NURSING HOMES.

NEW JERSEY LEADS THE NATION ON A PER CAPITA BASIS IN NURSING HOME DEATHS AND THAT WAS UNNECESSARY.

I WOULD HAVE GIVEN MORE LEEWAY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN HOSPITALITY AND MORE SPECIFICALLY RESTAURANTS.

334,000 PEOPLE IN THIS STATE WORK IN HOSPITALITY, MOSTLY RESTAURANTS.

THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THEM TO BE AT 25% INDOOR CAPACITY ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER AND FALL, WHICH WAS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A BUCK IF THERE WAS, IN FACT, GOING TO BE A SECOND WAVE THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS, AND EVERY INDICATION IS THAT THERE IS.

IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

SO, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WANT TO SAVE LIVES.

THIS IS A VERY CONTAGIOUS AND DEADLY VIRUS, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE MOST VULNERABLE, AND WE KNOW WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO SAVE LIVELIHOODS, AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING THAT WELL.

>> HOW IS THE GOVERNOR DOING, IN YOUR MIND, ON VACCINE DISTRIBUTION?

>> LISTEN, HERE'S HOW I WOULD HAVE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY, DAVID, AND I THINK THAT THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH PHIL MURPHY JUST NOT UNDERSTANDING NEW JERSEY.

HE WASN'T BORN HERE.

HE WASN'T RAISED HERE, NEVER WENT TO SCHOOL HERE, NEVER WORKED HERE, NEVER OWNED A BUSINESS HERE.

I DON'T EVEN THINK HE REALIZES WHAT IT IS THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT DOES.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN THIS STATE, ALL 21 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, ARE THE ONLY REGIONAL SERVICE PROVIDER WE HAVE.

AND THEY HAVE, WITH THEIR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THEIR OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THEY'RE THE FIRST RESPONDERS FOR NATURAL DISASTERS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PARALLELS BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC AND A NATURAL DISASTER.

SO, WHAT I THINK THE STATE SHOULD DO IS SECURE THE VACCINES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, GIVE THE GUIDELINES AND THE VACCINES TO THE 21 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR OFFICES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHICH CAN WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AND THE VNA AND THEN THE STATE SHOULD GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE THE ROLLOUT HAS BEEN A DISASTER.

I THINK COUNTY GOVERNMENTS CAN HANDLE IT MUCH BETTER THROUGH THEIR OFFICES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, JACK CIATTARELLI, THE FRONT RUNNER FOR THE NOMINATION FOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES WITH US.

>> DAVID, THANK YOU.

>>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S BRING IN OUR PANEL HERE.

COLLEEN DAY IS WITH US, THE SENIOR WRITER FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

JUSTIN IS STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR THE RECORD, "USA TODAY" NETWORK, AND DANIEL MUNOZ COVERS POLITICS AND STATE GOVERNMENT FOR NJ BIZ.

PANEL, WELCOME.

HERE WE WERE EXPECTING A BIG REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FIGHT, AND NOW IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE THAT INTERESTING.

DUSTIN, WHAT HAPPENED TO DOUG STEINHART?

>> THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING.

HE REALLY DIDN'T GIVE ANY OFFICIAL EXPLANATION BEYOND SOME VAGUE COMMITMENT THAT HE ABRUPTLY HAD RELATED TO WORK.

SO, THAT JUST SETS OFF ALL THE SPECULATION.

GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITOL LAST WEEK AND THE BACKLASH THAT THAT HAS CREATED, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY SAFE TO ASSUME, AND AGAIN, IT'S AN ASSUMPTION, THAT HIS LAW FIRM WHERE HE'S A PARTNER WITH FORMER GOVERNOR JIM FLORIO, PROBABLY GOT A LOT OF PUSHBACK AND A LOT OF PRESSURE AND PERHAPS HE FACED A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE WHETHER TO KEEP HIS LIVELIHOOD OR CONTINUE ON THIS VENTURE FOR GOVERNOR.

>> YOU WOULD THINK, THOUGH, THAT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JIM FLORIO KNOWS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY.

SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE?

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU CAN ONLY PREPARE SO MUCH WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING TRUMP-RELATED.

HE, YOU KNOW, NORM SHATTERING IS THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN CHARACTERIZED THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, BUT HE ALWAYS PUSHES THINGS SO MUCH FURTHER, SOMETIMES BEYOND WHAT ANYBODY CAN COMPREHEND OR EVEN FORESEE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF JIM FLORIO HAD ON HIS BINGO CARD INCITEMENT TO INSURRECTION AND PEOPLE DYING AT THE CAPITOL TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PRESIDENT LEAVES OFFICE.

>> RIGHT.

COLLEEN, IS THIS A PARTY IN FLUX IN NEW JERSEY, THE REPUBLICANS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE, ALTHOUGH I THINK WE JUST HEARD JACK CIATTARELLI KIND OF TAKE CONTROL OF THE PARTY.

WHETHER THAT'S ACTUALLY THE CASE, YOU KNOW, OR NOT, WHETHER OTHER REPUBLICANS FEEL THAT WAY.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S BEEN A PARTY IN FLUX, REALLY, SINCE CHRIS CHRISTIE LEFT THE GOVERNORSHIP.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY, YOU KNOW, REAL LEADERSHIP FROM ANYONE -- I MEAN, OTHER THAN DOUG STEINHART WAS REALLY THE BIG, THE MOST VOCAL CRITIC OF THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION, BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TWO SENATE RACES, U.S. SENATE RACES, WHERE THE REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, EVEN BOB HUGHEN, WHO RAN AGAINST BOB MENENDEZ AND SPENT $36 MILLION, THE REPUBLICANS REALLY, YOU KNOW, BARELY REGISTERED.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY IS, FRANKLY.

I'M NOT SURE REPUBLICANS DO THESE DAYS.

>> UNFORESEEN PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS.

DANIEL?

UNFORESEEN PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS OR TOO MUCH TRUMP FOR STEINHART?

>> I AGREE WITH DUSTIN WHEN HE SAID THAT HE WAS THIS SORT OF ROCK AND A HARD PLACE WHERE HE COULD RISK HIS LIVELIHOOD OR HE COULD RISK ALIENATING THE GENERAL ELECTORATE FROM HIS -- ALIENATING HIMSELF FROM THE GENERAL ELECT ELECTORATE.

THE MURPHY CAMPAIGN WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT ANGLE OF ATTACK AGAINST HIM.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE EASIER FOR CIATTARELLI TO WALK BACK HIS SUPPORT OF TRUMP WITHOUT DOUG STEINHART BEATING THAT DRUM EVERY WEEK, RIGHT?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

YOU JUST GAVE HIM A PRIME OPPORTUNITY AND HE DIDN'T TAKE IT.

HE STILL SEEMS TO BE WALKING THAT FINE LINE, YOU KNOW, WHERE HE MAYBE SUPPORTS TRUMP BECAUSE HE'S THE PRESIDENT AND HE SEEMS TO BE TAKING THAT LINE THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE, THAT IMPEACHING HIM WOULD BE DIVISIVE, AS IF PEOPLE GETTING KILLED AFTER A MARCH THAT THE PRESIDENT DIRECTED IS NOT DIVISIVE.

BUT THIS IS CLEARLY GOING TO HANG OVER THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR JACK CIATTARELLI.

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE WILL BE ABLE TO BALANCE THAT.

YOU KNOW, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO SAY, CLEARLY, AT SOME POINT WHERE HE STANDS ON TRUMP AND WHATEVER HIS RESPONSES, PHIL MURPHY IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

>> YOU THINK WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TRUMP IN FOUR MONTHS, COLLEEN?

>> OH, I THINK SO.

YOU KNOW, THE SENATE IS NOT GOING TO GET TO IMPEACHMENT UNTIL AFTER JOE BIDEN TAKES OFFICE.

THAT'S CLEAR.

BECAUSE MITCH McCONNELL IS NOT BRINGING THE SENATE BACK IN.

SO -- AND THERE'S BEEN A CALL FOR THE SENATE TO KIND OF SPLIT ITS TIME WORKING ON JOE BIDEN'S AGENDA, YOU KNOW, HE UNVEILED THIS MASSIVE AID PACKAGE OR A AID PROPOSAL YESTERDAY SO THEY'RE GOING TO SPLIT THEIR TIME BETWEEN THAT AND THE IMPEACHMENT, SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO DRAG OUT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

>> IT WAS STATE OF THE STATE WEEK.

DANIEL, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED.

NO NEW INITIATIVES.

BUT KIND OF A LAUNDRY LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY?

>> I THINK IT WAS A CHANCE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO, AGAIN, AS YOU SAID, LIST OFF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

HE'S RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, SO IT'S SORT OF ONE OF HIS FIRST STUMP SPEECHES, ONE OF HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN SPEECHES, AND THE RESPONSE WAS FAR MORE MUTED.

WE GOT ONE RESPONSE, ONE STATEMENT FROM I WANT TO SAY SEVERAL DOZEN DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AS OPPOSED TO PREVIOUS YEARS WHERE EVERY SINGLE LAWMAKER, THE SENATE PRESIDENT, THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, WOULD PUT OUT THEIR OWN STATEMENT.

SO IT WAS VERY NONAFFAIR.

>> COLLEEN, NOT A LOT OF APPLAUSE.

WHAT'D YOU THINK ABOUT THE SPEECH?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS JUST THINKING, BASED ON WHAT DANIEL SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN, IN FACT, DUELLING RESPONSES IN THE PAST WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE IN POWER IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS IT SEEMS TO BE THESE DAYS.

SO -- AND THAT WAS VERY UNUSUAL, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BEFORE.

SO, YEAH.

MUCH -- A MUCH, MUCH QUIETER RESPONSE.

IT WAS CLEARLY AN ELECTION YEAR SPEECH.

AS YOU NOTED, THERE'S NO NEW INITIATIVES IN THERE, AND CERTAINLY, I THINK HE TOUTED EVERYTHING THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

>> I WANT TO PLAY THIS SOUND FROM JEFF, IF ONLY TO SHOWCASE HIS DARING SARTORIAL DISPLAY.

THIS IS FROM THE IMPEACHMENT DEBATE THIS WEEK.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AND A LISTEN.

>> WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.

THIS HAS FAILED BEFORE.

WE FRACTURED OUR NATION USING THE SAME PROCESS BEFORE.

CONGRESS MUST BE THE GLUE THAT STARTS UNIFYING EVERYONE.

BY THE TIME THIS PROCESS WOULD CONCLUDE, THE MAN THEY WANT OUT OF OFFICE WILL NO LONGER EVEN BE THE PRESIDENT.

IF WE WANT UNITY, THIS IS NOT THE WAY.

>> DUSTIN, WHICH WILL BE THE BIGGER REGRET, THAT SUIT OR HIS UNDYING SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> THE -- THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE LASHED THEMSELVES TO DONALD TRUMP AND COME OUT ALIVE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE -- I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HIS UNDYING SUPPORT OF TRUMP, BUT THEN AGAIN, I COULD BE COMPLETELY WRONG.

HE'S IN A TRUMPY DISTRICT.

HE SWITCHED PARTIES FOR POLITICAL CALCULATIONS AND IT'S PAID OFF FOR HIM SO FAR.

BUT IF PAST IS PROLOGUE, YOU KNOW, THE SUIT WILL BE THE BETTER-LOOKING THING ABOUT JEFF VAN DREW WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.

>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLING THAT A ZOOT SUIT.

IT'S NOT A ZOOT SUIT BUT IT IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

>> ONLY A FEW PEOPLE IN THE WORLD CAN PULL THAT OFF.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, AND WE SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME HE'S ROCKED A SUIT THAT HAS BEEN THAT LOUD.

SO, HE GETS CREDIT FOR AT LEAST BEING BRAZEN ENOUGH TO ROCK THAT LOOK.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S -- ANY OF YOU HEAR THIS DEBATE?

>> HE HAS A POCKET SQUARE.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN?

>> I SAID, HE HAS A POCKET SQUARE.

THAT'S HIS KIND OF SIGNATURE POCKET SQUARE ARRANGEMENT.

IT'S DARING.

IT'S BOLD.

>> IT'S DARING.

>> I GUESS GOVERNOR MURPHY IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PULL OFF THE POCKET SQUARES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE, LIKE, HE SHOULD PUT OUT A LINE OF POCKET SQUARES, YOU KNOW?

THE VAN DREW POCKET SQUARES.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH OF VAN DREW.

I WONDER IF ANY OF YOU HEARD THIS DEBATE IN THE STATE SENATE OVER THIS RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE STORMING OF THE CAPITOL LAST WEEK.

ALMOST NO REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR IT AND IT ACTUALLY GOT A LITTLE HOT.

DANIEL, DID YOU HEAR THIS?

>> I DID HEAR IT.

I THINK THEY'RE WALKING THE SAME FINE LINE AS CIATTARELLI AND AS JEFF VAN DREW, THAT THEY'RE IN HEAVILY PRO-TRUMP DISTRICTS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO ALIENATE THE VOTING BASE AMONG THOSE CONSTITUENTS WHO MIGHT FEEL AS IF THEY BETRAYED TRUMP, SO LIKE VAN DREW AND CIATTARELLI AND STEINHARDT, THEY'RE WALKING A VERY FINE LINE, AND VERY NERVOUS, I THINK, ABOUT HOW TRUMP'S INFLUENCE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO PLAY OUT OVER THE NEXT MONTHS AND YEARS.

>> COLLEEN, I MEAN, THE SENATE PRESIDENT GOT ON THE FLOOR TO MAKE COMMENTS.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN A LOT.

>> THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN AT ALL.

IT WAS VERY SURPRISING.

SENATOR SWEENEY TOLD US THAT HE WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THERE WAS THAT KIND OF DEBATE, AND HE WAS NOT PREPARED FOR IT.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH COMMENT ABOUT IT.

SENATOR DOUGHERTY MADE AN ESPECIALLY LARGE STATEMENT ABOUT HIS BELIEFS AND SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP, SO IT WAS VERY -- IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL.

>> DUSTIN?

>> YOU KNOW, ON THE ONE HAND I THINK THE WAY THAT THE REPUBLICANS SPOKE ABOUT, VOTED ON IS THIS RESOLUTION JUST ILLUSTRATES THE -- THE GRIP THAT TRUMP HOLDS ON THE PARTY AT LARGE, EVEN ON HIS WAY OUT, EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR, AND BEING IMPEACHED FOR THE SECOND TIME, MAKING HISTORY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, TO BE A LITTLE BIT CONTRARIAN, YOU KNOW, AS SOME REPUBLICANS HAVE POINTED OUT, LIKE GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE HAS, THERE IS A VIEW THAT DEMOCRATS CHEAPENED IMPEACHMENT LAST YEAR WHEN THEY IMPEACHED HIM OVER THE UKRAINE PHONE CALL.

AND AS MIKE DOUGHERTY SAID WHEN HE WAS SPEAKING, HE LISTED A NUMBER OF INSTANCES WHERE LIBERALS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE USED LANGUAGE IN WAYS THAT COULD INCITE VIOLENCE.

THERE'S NO -- THAT'S A FALSE EQUIVALENCE, IN MY VIEW, BUT IT JUST SHOWS HOW ON THE OTHER SIDE, ON THE LEFT, THERE HAS -- THERE HAVE BEEN ACTIONS AND RHETORIC THAT GIVES ADMISSION TO REPUBLICANS WHERE THEY STAND THEIR GROUND AND THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRIBALIST THAN, YOU KNOW, MORALIST.

SO IT COMES DOWN TO POLITICS.

I'M NAIVE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING AND THERE'S VIOLENCE IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

BUT POLITICS CLEARLY PLAYS INTO THIS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, DAVID, I WAS SURPRISED, THE ASSEMBLY VOTED ON A SIMILAR -- YOU KNOW, THE SAME RESOLUTION, ONLY ITS VERSION, AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE WERE NO VOTES AT ALL IN SUPPORT FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, INCLUDING FROM A JOHN BRAMNICK, WHO REALLY HAS BEEN A STRONG OPPONENT, VOCAL OPPONENT OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> YEP.

GOOD POINT.

ALL RIGHT, LASTLY, SENATOR LORETTA WEINBERG ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT AT THE END OF HER CURRENT TERM.

SHE LEAVES US WITH WHAT'S GOING ON A PRETTY GOOD PRIMARY FIGHT TO SUCCEED HER BUT FOR NOW, COLLEEN, SOME THOUGHTS ON THE STATE'S TOUGHEST JEWISH GRANDMOTHER?

>> IT'S HARD TO EVEN IMAGINE THE SENATE WITHOUT LORETTA WEINBERG.

SHE HAS REALLY BEEN INVOLVED -- NOT JUST INVOLVED BUT A LEADER IN SO MANY ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY, WE SAW THE RESULTS OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP THAT SHE PUT TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT IN MISOGYNY IN POLITICS.

SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED -- SHE'S BEEN A FORCE, CERTAINLY, TO HELP, WELL, ALL PEOPLE, BUT JOURNALISTS TOO IN TERMS OF THE STATE'S OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.

THERE'S JUST -- YOU NAME AN ISSUE AND SHE'S REALLY KIND OF BEEN ONE OF ITS CHAMPIONS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO IMAGINE HER NOT OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE.

>> DUSTIN, YOU COVERED HER FOR SOMETIME.

IT'S A PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A PROGRESSIVE, OBVIOUSLY.

ANY THOUGHTS ON WEINBERG?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, SHE'S BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS THE PROGRESSIVE OR THE LIBERAL CONSCIENCE OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND I THINK HER RECORD CERTAINLY REFLECTS THAT.

I, TOO, YOU KNOW, AS A REPORTER, THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE WHO YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON, WHO'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR CALL OR CALL YOU BACK, AND SHE'S AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST.

SHE'S EXTREMELY POLITICAL, AS YOU ALL KNOW.

IT IS TOUGH TO IMAGINE THAT SHE WON'T BE THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, SHE STILL HAS SOME TIME LEFT.

SHE STILL HAS THINGS LEFT UNDONE.

THERE'S SOME SMART GUN LEGISLATION THAT SHE HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND YOU KNOW, IF SHE REALLY WANTED TO CEMENT THE LEGACY WITH THE MEDIA, SHE COULD MAYBE INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN THE LEGISLATURE SUBJECT TO OPRAH.

>> SO, WE DID THE TWITTER POLL, YOU KNOW, VERY SCIENTIFIC AND ALL THAT.

ASKING READERS WHO THEY THOUGHT SHOULD SUCCEED WEINBERG AS MAJORITY LEADER.

HERE'S WHAT WE GOT.

SENATOR VITALI, SENATOR RON RICE AT 5.3%, SENATOR RUIZ AT 36.8%, AND SHIRLEY TURNER AT 5.3%.

DANIEL, LET'S START WITH YOU.

GIVE US A PICK REAL QUICK.

>> I'D GO WITH -- YOU WANT ME TO PICK WHO I THINK SHOULD BE HER -- TAKE WEINBERG'S PLACE?

>> OR COULD BE OR WOULD BE OR COULD BE.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I PERSONALLY GO WITH SENATOR RUIZ.

I MEAN, I THINK, LIKE WEINBERG, SHE'S BEEN A VERY BIG ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND WOMEN'S ISSUES AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

SO I THINK THAT RUIZ IS POISED TO FOLLOW IN WEINBERG'S FOOTSTEPS.

>> COLLEEN, YOU GOT A PICK FROM THE LIST OR FROM OFF THAT LIST?

>> YOU KNOW, I LIKE SENATOR RUIZ AS WELL.

SHE'S WELL SPOKEN.

SHE'S OBVIOUSLY A WOMAN, AND YOU KNOW, IT TENDS TO BE MORE OF A BOY'S CLUB DOWN IN THE LEGISLATURE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S 2021 NOW.

AND SHE IS A PROGRESSIVE, SO YEAH, SHE WOULD KIND OF HELP, I THINK, TO BALANCE OUT STEVE SWEENEY'S, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT MORE -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY CONSERVATIVE, BUT HE'S NOT QUITE AS -- >> MODERATE.

>> MODERATE, THANK YOU.

>> DUSTIN, I GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS FOR YOUR ANSWER.

I THINK I SAID -- DID I SAY MAJORITY LEADER?

I MEANT TO SAY MAJORITY LEADER.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY RON RICE WOULD BE A HUGE UPSET GIVEN HIS STATUS RIGHT NOW IN THE SENATE.

I WOULD ADD PAUL SARLO BUT PROBABLY TERESA RUIZ.

>> INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL THE ROUNDTABLE WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

THANKS TO OUR GUEST, JACK CIATTARELLI, AND TO OUR PANEL.

COLLEEN, DUSTIN, DANIEL, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>>> DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT LIKE NJ BUSINESS BEAT, CHAT BOX, AND NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, WHICH YOU CAN WATCH LIVE EVERY DAY.

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WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTERS ROUND TABLE WITH JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

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