>> HI I'M MARK ROTTERMAN COMING UP, PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPEACHED AGAIN, BIG TECH FLEXES ITS MUSCLE, AND GOVERNOR COOPER SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM, NEXT!

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARK ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH CAROLINA JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, DONNA KING POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, AND ROBEERT REEVS, THE DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER IN THE STATE HOUSE.

MITCH LET'S BEGIN WITH THE IMPEACHMENT OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> DONALD TRUMP'S TERM AS PRESIDENT ENDS NEXT WEEK.

HE WAS REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY VOTERS IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR MANY IN CONGRESS, PRIMARILY DEMOCRATS THEY BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S CONDUCT ON THE DAY OF THAT MOB ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL MERITED HIS IMPEACHMENT.

SO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO MAKE DONALD TRUMP, THE FIRST PRESIDENT EVER TO BE IMPEACHED TWICE.

THE VOTE WAS 232 TO 197, 10 REPUBLICANS GOING ALONG WITH DEMOCRATS FOR THAT IMPEACHMENT VOTE.

AMONG THE NORTH CAROLINA DELEGATION, THE VOTE WAS COMPLETELY ALONG PARTY LINES, 5 DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR THE IMPEACHMENT, 7 REPUBLICANS VOTING AGAINST IT.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GREG MURPHY WAS NOT PRESENT AND DIDN'T VOTE BUT SAID HE WOULD HAVE BEEN AGAINST THE IMPEACHMENT.

NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, THE ACTUAL TRIAL ON THE IMPEACHMENT CHARGE, THE REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE MITCH MCCONNELL WOULD NOT AGREE TO BRING BACK SENATORS EARLY FOR SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY SESSION, SO THE EARLIEST A TRIAL COULD TAKE PLACE WOULD ACTUALLY BE ON INAUGURATION DAY.

SO THERE WILL BE NO PRACTICAL IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE TRANSITION OF POWER BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN, BUT OF COURSE, IF THE TRIAL GOES FORWARD, AND SOMEHOW THE VOTE IS 2 THIRDS OF THE SENATE TO CONVICT DONALD TRUMP ON THAT IMPEACHMENT CHARGE IT COULD HAVE A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON HIM INCLUDING PREVENTING HIM FROM EVER RUNNING FOR ANY OFFICE AGAIN.

>> ROBERT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE REAL KEY IS THERE IS WHAT THE FUTURE IMPACT WOULD BE OF THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

COMPLETELY AGREE AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THIS IS OVER OBVIOUSLY BY THE INAUGURATION, AND SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT TO DO.

TO ME THE REAL ANALYSIS IS WOULD YOU GO WITH THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN SIDE, AND WHAT YOU HEARD FROM A LOT OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHICHEVER WAY THEY VOTED, WAS A GROWING FRUSTRATION OF NOT BEING ALLOWED ANY WAY OR ANY SHOW BY THE LEADERSHIP OF HOW CAN WE SHOW OUR DISAPPROVAL WITH SOMETHING SHORT OF IMPEACHMENT.

YOU HAD A RESIGNATION WHICH I THINK WOULD HAVE MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY, YOU HAD OPPORTUNITY FOR CENSURE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 25TH AMENDMENT AND NONE WAS TAKEN.

AND SO IT LEFT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A - SPOT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD.

>> HOW WOULD AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, JOE IMPACT BIDEN'S FIRST 100 DAYS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WOULD CAST A VERY LONG SHADOW OVER WHAT PRESIDENT ELECT SOON TO BE PRESIDENT BIDEN WOULD WANT FOR THAT MYSTICAL FIRST 100 DAYS.

IT'S OFTEN HOW WE EVALUATE A NEW PRESIDENT.

THAT FIRST 100 DAY PERIOD WHAT DO THEY GET ACCOMPLISHED.

BUT THE FACT THAT THERE'LL BE AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN THE SENATE IS LIKELY TO DRAW MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE POLITICAL ATTENTION IN THIS COUNTRY AWAY FROM THE INITIATIVES THAT BIDEN WILL WANT TO TALK A LOT ABOUT DURING HIS FIRST DAYS AS PRESIDENT.

IN THE CHALLENGES, IT REALLY WILL CONTINUE TO PICK AT THE SCAB OF THE DIVISIVENESS THAT WE HAVE POLITICALLY IN OUR COUNTRY NOW, BUT WHAT WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE WITH IMPEACHING THE PRESIDENT OVER WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH, IT IS PROBABLY TIME FOR US TO BEGIN A PROCESS OF TRYING TO COME BACK TOGETHER AND FINDING SOME COMMON GROUND TO ADDRESS KEY ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY AND I THINK THE TRIAL IN THE SENATE PROBABLY DELAYS THAT FROM HAPPENING A LITTLE FURTHER.

>> DONNA IS DONALD TRUMP STILL THE MAJOR FORCE IN REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING INTO THE MIDTERMS?

>> I THINK SO AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS REALLY HAVE TO DO SOME SOUL SEARCHING.

DID MILLIONS OF PEOPLE VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP OR DID THEY VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS AND YOU KNOW SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME THING.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS JUMPED ON THOSE COATTAILS FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY HAVE TO DECIDE NOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO NEXT, AND THE TIMING OF HOW THIS RUNS THROUGH THE SENATE IS REALLY INTERESTING.

THE SENATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE DUAL TRACKS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TRYING THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WHILE THEY ARE CONSIDERING THE INCOMING PRESIDENT'S NEXT AGENDA WHICH INCLUDES A TWO TRILLION DOLLAR RELIEF PACKAGE FOR CORONAVIRUS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO BE DOING THESE ON DUAL TRACKS AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THE TRIAL REALLY COULD RUN THE RISK OF ALIENATING MILLIONS OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IS JUST GO AWAY IF HE'S IMPEACHED AND HE'S CONVICTED.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SAID IT TAKES 2 THIRDS OF THE SENATE TO CONVICT.

DONNA I WANT TO COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE BAN BY BIG TECH ON PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> YES, OF COURSE BIG TECH IS DEFINITELY FLEXING ITS MUSCLE.

THIS WEEK, TWITTER HAS NOW MOVED TO PERMANENTLY BAN DONALD TRUMP'S TWITTER ACCOUNT.

IT WAS THE 6TH THE MOST POPULAR ACCOUNT ON THEIR ENTIRE PLATFORM.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO SEE AN IMPACT FROM, FACEBOOK HAS ALSO ELIMINATED DONALD TRUMP FROM ITS PLATFORM AND GOOGLE, AMAZON THEY HAVE MOVED TO START PURGING SOME OF THEIR ROLES AS WELL.

TWITTER AND FACEBOOK THOUGH HAVE SEEN SOME MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THE LAST SAY 48 HOURS BECAUSE OF THAT.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOST VALUE IN THE MARKET AS PEOPLE START TO SELL OFF SHARES.

ONE BECAUSE THEY MAY BE CONCERNED THAT THIS TO FREE SPEECH AND A CENSORSHIP ISSUE BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS THAT TWITTER AND FACEBOOK ARE REALLY GOING TO BE HEADED BACK TO THE CAPITAL IF CONGRESS DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CENSORSHIP.

BUT IT'S REALLY ALSO CREATED THIS PLATFORM TO SPEAK ABOUT FREE SPEECH.

WHAT IS IT, WHO CAN CONTROL IT.

A LOT OF THE BIG TECH INDUSTRY SAY LOOK, JUST GO TO ANOTHER PLATFORM, BUT WHAT THAT ALSO SAYS IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSING ARE SAYING THIS IS WHY MONOPOLIES ARE BAD, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

PARLER IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

THEY WERE TAKEN OFF THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE, THEY WERE ELIMINATED FROM AMAZON, AND THEY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO STAY AFLOAT, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT, BUT A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE TRUMP SUPPORTERS MOVED TO PARLER AFTER TWITTER ELIMINATED DONALD TRUMP.

SO THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING TO GO WELL INTO THE FUTURE, JACK DORSEY GETTING A LOT OF HEAT FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE SAID ABOUT TWITTER SETTING THE STAGE FOR A NATIONAL CONVERSATION.

>> MITCH, BUT THEY'RE NOT REGULATED.

TWITTER, FACEBOOK THEY'RE NOT REGULATED.

THEY'RE PRIVATE COMPANIES SO THEY SET THEIR OWN RULES, RIGHT?

>> THEY REALLY DO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF DISCUSSION IN RECENT YEARS IS WHETHER THESE LARGE BIG TECH COMPANIES WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME OF THE FREEDOMS FROM RESTRICTIONS THAT THEY HAVE HAD THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO OTHER COMPANIES.

NOW ALMOST ALL COMPANIES ARE REGULATED IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT THESE BIG TECH GIANTS HAVE HAD A LOT OF FREEDOMS AND HAVE BEEN EXEMPTED FROM SOME RULES AND SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE SAYING, LOOK IF YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME POLITICAL ACTORS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE JUST MORE THAN JUST A PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT THEN PERHAPS YOU SHOULD LOSE SOME OF THESE EXEMPTIONS.

TO ME ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PIECES THAT'S COME OUT OF THIS IS ELON MUSK WHO IS ONE OF THE HIGH-TECH ENTREPRENEURS HIMSELF HAS SAID THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ANGRY TO SEE THAT THE ARBITER OF FREE SPEECH IN THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE WEST COAST HIGH TECH BIGWIGS.

>> ROBERT DO YOU VIEW THESE COMPANIES UP IS AS MONOPOLIES?

I KNOW ATTORNEY GENERAL STEIN HAS JOINED WITH 48 OTHER AGs AGAINST FACEBOOK BECAUSE THEY DO BELIEVE THEY'RE A MONOPOLY.

>> MARC, I THINK THAT'S THE PROBLEM IS THAT THAT THEY REALLY DO APPEAR LIKE MONOPOLIES.

THEY OPERATE AS MONOPOLIES, THEY MOVE AS MONOPOLIES, AND SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT YOU'VE GOT RIGHT NOW, AND I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID SO FAR THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE DO GOING FORWARD ABOUT COMPANIES THAT GET INTO MONOPOLISTIC POSITIONS, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT TEST CASE, >> JOE JUMP IN HERE.

>> YEAH, THE INTERESTING THING FOR ME IS WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS STANDARD IN AMERICA.

JOURNALISTS HAVE HAD TO OPERATE ON A PROFIT BASIS.

THEY HAVE TO SELL ADS.

THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE INCOME FOR THEIR OPERATIONS WHERE THERE'S A TV STATION AND NEWSPAPER WHATEVER THE FORM AND FORMAT.

THERE WAS A BALANCE IN TERMS OF HOW INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BASED ON A JOURNALISTIC STANDARD AND THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES WHERE THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS RAISED AS TO WHETHER THOSE PLATFORMS WERE OPERATING APPROPRIATELY IN THAT CONTEXT.

WELL OUTLETS LIKE TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND SUCH, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT UNDER THE TERMS OF SERVICE TO DECIDE WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO USE THOSE PLATFORMS BASED ON WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE APPROPRIATE SPEECH.

IT'S SORT OF THAT OLD STANDARD OF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT, BUT YOU CAN'T YELL FIRE IN A CROWDED THEATER, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE, BECAUSE TWITTER AND FACEBOOK AND ALL THESE OTHER ENTERPRISES SELL ADS.

AND SO IF THEY START TO LOOK LIKE CENSORS, I THINK IT'S HARDER FOR COMPANIES TO FEEL COMFORTABLE PURCHASING ADVERTISEMENTS ON THOSE PLATFORMS.

>> OK JOE I'M COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

GOVERNOR COOPER WAS SWORN IN FOR A SECOND TERM.

FILL US IN ON HIS AGENDA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL IN NORTH CAROLINA OUR GOVERNORS ARE LIMITED TO 2 TERMS.

GOVERNOR COOPER NOW STARTING HIS SECOND TERM WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE AS A RESULT A RUN FOR REELECTION AFTER THIS TERM.

IT'S OFTEN SAID THE GOVERNOR'S OF ALL GENERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

WELL, AT LEAST SINCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE GOVERNOR SERVE 2 TERMS, THE FIRST TERM IS REALLY ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER THE KINDS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO RUN ON FOR REELECTION.

AND THE SECOND TERM IS REALLY ABOUT YOUR LEGACY, THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH WHILE YOUR GOVERNOR.

I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING GOVERNOR COOPER'S VERY INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR AN EXPANSION OF MEDICAID THAT'S ALLOWABLE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

HE'S BEEN BLOCKED IN THAT REGARD BY THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ALTHOUGH I THINK THERE'S AN INDICATION THAT SOME CONVERSATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ON THAT VERY TOPIC.

DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS OUT CAMPAIGNING FOR REELECTION TALKED ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND LOOKING AT THE CIVIL UNREST THAT TOOK PLACE IN SOME CITIES FOLLOWING OF THE GEORGE FLOYD SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I THINK THERE'S A DESIRE TO TAKE A WHOLESALE LOOK AT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SEE WHERE SOME ENHANCEMENTS COULD BE MADE AND THE GOVERNOR'S TALKED A LOT ABOUT A BOND FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TRYING TO HELP LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS KEEP UP WITH THE DRAMATIC GROWTH IN OUR STATE BY HAVING THE FACILITIES SUFFICIENT FOR ALL OF THESE NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO NORTH CAROLINA.

NOW THE COVID-19 ISSUE AND HOW THAT IMPACTED THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR STATE AND WHETHER OR NOT FACILITIES OF A CERTAIN TYPE ARE NEEDED IN THE SAME WAY THEY HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> ROBERT WHERE DO YOU SEE REPUBLICANS HAVING BUY-IN?

>> I THINK THE BUY-IN IS GOING TO BE ABOUT GETTING SOME TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE IN PLACE IN SOME TYPE OF EXPANSION IN PLACE BY DIFFERENT NAME THAN MEDICAID.

I DO BELIEVE THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME WITH REPUBLICANS, THE NAME MEDICAID HAS GOT TO BE A STOPPING POINT, BUT I DO THINK THAT EVERYBODY AGREES WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

>> MITCH REALLY THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS GOING TO BE REDISTRICTING CORRECT?

>> REDISTRICTING IS GOING TO PLAY A ROLE.

I THINK WE WON'T SEE IT HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THE NEW CENSUS DATA RIGHT AWAY BUT REDISTRICTING WHEN IT HAS BECOME A FACTOR IN THE PAST HAS OFTEN BEEN A WAY TO TRY TO GET LEGISLATORS TO VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT THEIR DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD, SO THAT CERTAINLY COULD BE AN IMPACT.

I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING WITH THIS NEW TERM IS THAT FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS ROY COOPER'S FOIL HAS BEEN THE FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN FOREST WHO EVERYONE FIGURED WAS GOING TO RUN AGAINST HIM.

NOW HE HAS A NEW FOIL IN THAT OFFICE, REPUBLICAN MARK ROBINSON WHO'S REALLY A NEW PLAYER ON THE SCENE, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, A REAL STRAIGHT SHOOTER, GUY WHO'S NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF HISTORY OF WORKING IN STATE GOVERNMENT, HE'S GOING TO HAVE AN INTERESTING VOICE AND MIGHT OFTEN BE THE VOICE OF OPPOSITION TO ROY COOPER, AND WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

>> DONNA?

>> ONE THING THAT WILL BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR'S HE TAKES A SECOND TERM IS GOING TO BE THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF THE STATE AFTER A YEAR OF PANDEMIC AND LOCKDOWNS AND CLOSED BUSINESSES AND KIDS IN REMOTE SCHOOL AND LIKELY IN MANY CASES FALLING BEHIND, I THINK THAT'S GOT TO BE A PRIORITY MOVING FORWARD.

HE'S HAS LIST HAS SET OUT SOME PRIORITIES, INCLUDING RAISING TEACHER PAY, OF COURSE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AS JOE MENTIONED.

BUT HE'S ALSO TALKED ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM AND SOME CHANGES TO OUR FUNDING SYSTEM, BUT OVERALL ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S REALLY TALKED ABOUT IS STOPPING ANY FURTHER TAX CUTS AND THAT YOU KNOW MAY FALL UPON DEAF EARS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE AT THIS POINT BUT SMALL BUSINESSES, HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES, GETTING PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR FISCAL FEET, HAS GOT TO BE A HUGE PRIORITY.

>> JOE WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> I THINK THE THING WE ALL HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF HIS GOVERNORS HAVE TO DEAL WITH TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES AS COVID-19 HAS PRESENTED BUT THEY'RE ALSO SORT OF GARDEN VARIETY KERFUFFLES THAT OFTEN OCCUR.

THINGS LIKE HURRICANES AND ICE STORMS.

WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT, BUT IT WAS THE MOST ACTIVE HURRICANE SEASON, EVER IN THE HISTORY OF MEASURING SUCH THINGS LAST YEAR I THINK GOVERNOR COOPER'S GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP HIS EYES OPEN FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN IN 2021.

>> THE SECOND SHOW OF THE NEW YEAR, YOU GOT KERFUFFLE IN.

OKAY.

[LAUGHTER] ROBERT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CDC NEWS GUIDE ON NEW GUIDELINES PLEASE SIR.

>> WELL I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REALLY BRIGHT SPOTS THAT WE'VE HAD WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COVID COVERAGE HAS BEEN THE FACT THAT DUKE AND UNC HAD A STUDY THAT WENT OVER 11 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE VARYING SIZES VARYING COMPLEXITIES AND DURING THAT TIME, THE 9 WEEK PERIOD, THAT 90,000 STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT WERE BEING LOOKED AT AND WE ONLY HAD 773 CASES AND 32 MORE THAT WERE FOUND OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL OF ANY TYPE OF COVID TRANSMISSION AND EVEN MORE STARTLING, I THINK IN THAT STUDY THAT DOCTOR BENJAMIN FOUND, WAS THAT NONE OF THESE CASES OF TRANSMISSION WERE FROM CHILDREN TO ADULTS.

AND SO WHAT IT TENDED TO SHOW IS THAT YOU REALLY DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RUN SCHOOLS AND HAVE STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL IF IT'S DONE SAFELY, OF COURSE DOING ALL THE SAME THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE TO PROTECT WASHING HANDS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A CHANCE TO WEAR A MASK AND THINGS OF THAT SORT KEEPING 6, FEET APART.

AND SO WHAT THAT'S DONE, I THINK HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING FORWARD NOW EVEN IN LIGHT OF THE VACCINE WITH SCHOOLS AND WITH STUDENTS, AND I THINK A GREAT THING THAT WAS DONE EARLY ON WITH THIS WITH GOVERNOR COOPER, IS TO ALLOW THE FLEXIBILITY OF EACH OF THE DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO REOPEN AND SO NOW THAT THEY'VE GOT THIS INFORMATION I THINK IT EVEN PUTS US IN A BETTER POSITION.

>> MITCH SO WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE SITES YOU THINK?

SHOULD ANYBODY WHO WANTS A VACCINE BE ABLE TO GET IT?

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S KIND OF TOP DOWN TO ME.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN A BIT TOP DOWN AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE THE PLANS AS YOU GO WHICH AS WE TALKED ABOUT I THINK THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM SHOWS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF CENTRAL PLANNING.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THINGS THAT CROP UP THE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

I THINK ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THIS DUKE UNC STUDY IS THAT IT REALLY WILL HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS COME TO GRIPS WITH THE THIS IDEA OF HAVING TO GET THE STUDENTS BACK INTO CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT ARE CREATED WHEN THE STUDENTS AREN'T IN THE CLASSROOMS.

WE HEARD FROM STATE EDUCATION OFFICIALS LATE LAST YEAR THAT WE COULD HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF RETENTIONS.

IN THE OLD DAYS WE USED TO CALL THAT FLUNKING SCHOOL IN A 100 YEARS AND SO THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE SOME ACTION ON THAT FRONT >> DONNA, YOU ALL FOR GETTING KIDS OUT OF THE HOUSE AREN'T YA?

>> I MEAN [LAUGHTER] THIS WEEK WE HAD EXAMS IN WAKE COUNTY IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF THESE EXAMS ARE STATE REQUIRED SO SOME OF THE KIDS WERE ON CAMPUSES TO TAKE THOSE EXAMS AND IT WAS HANDLED PRETTY SMOOTHLY AT OUR SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW CARPOOL LINES WERE LONG AND EVERYBODY WAS READY TO GET ON CAMPUS, EVEN IF IT WAS JUST FOR A FEW HOURS.

BUT THE KIDS ARE READY TO GO BACK.

SO IF NOTHING ELSE, THEY'RE GOING TO REALLY APPRECIATE BEING IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN THEY GET BACK.

BUT GETTING TEACHERS VACCINATED IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OF THE NCAE AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE THERE TO KEEP THOSE CLASSROOMS, YOU KNOW KEEP THAT REMOTE SCHOOL GOING AT LEAST IN ROTATION UNTIL THEY CAN GET TEACHERS VACCINATED, BUT THAT STUDY IS REALLY CRITICAL AND GIVES THEM SOME MORE DATA, SOME MORE HARD NUMBERS THAT MIGHT MAKE SOME OF THESE REALLY CRITICAL DECISION.

>> JOE PUT THIS IN CONTEXT PLEASE.

>> AS SURE AS MIRIAM HID MOSES AMONG THE BULRUSH, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES AT ALL LEVELS.

COVID-19 HAS TAUGHT US A LOT NOT JUST ABOUT SCHOOLS DISTRIBUTION, A VACCINE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM EVERYTHING.

TRYING TO TAKE A 30,000 FOOT LOOK AT THIS NOW I HOPE AT SOME POINT WHERE WE FINALLY HAVE CONQUERED THIS, THERE IS A THOUGHTFUL AND THOROUGH CONVERSATION ABOUT ALL OF THE LESSONS WE WEREN'T PUBLIC EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES IN A WAY TO MAKE US BETTER PREPARED TO DEAL WITH A PANDEMIC SHOULD IT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN IN OUR LIFETIME.

>> ROBERT WRAP THIS UP PLEASE IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT JOE SAID IS REALLY THE FASCINATING PART IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THESE LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED AND REALLY SEE A DIFFERENT WAY GOING FORWARD OF OPERATING EVERYTHING.

I WAS ON A BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY AND IT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT THEY SAID, IT'S LIKE LOOK, WE CAN INVOLVE MORE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IF WE CONTINUE TO USE REMOTE ACCESS AND IT'S SAME THING WITH LEARNING.

THINK OF WHAT'S BEEN OPENED UP FOR KIDS RIGHT NOW AND THE OPTION OF HAVING REMOTE LEARNING AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO PLACES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND TEACHERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD.

>> OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE, LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK.

MITCH.

>> IT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN UNDERREPORTED BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR COOPER IS BACK IN OFFICE.

THE MAJOR PLAYERS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE THE SAME WITH PHIL BERGER AND TIM MOORE LEADING THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS.

BUT DESPITE THAT, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE STALEMATE THAT WE SAW BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW ABOUT HAVING BIPARTISAN COOPERATION ON COVID-19 RELIEF, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S COMING IN.

I THINK EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT SAID THEY WANT TO COME TO SOME SORT OF ARRANGEMENT ON THIS THERE'S ALSO BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT GETTING AN EARLY VOTE ON THIS DEAL INVOLVING BROADBAND, SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF COOPERATION AT LEAST DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY ONCE THEY REALLY GET TO WORK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER THAT SPIRIT OF COOPERATION CONTINUES AS THE SESSION MOVES FORWARD.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> SO THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CAME OUT WITH A REPORT THAT SAID IN 2020 20% REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY, SO PEOPLE ARE USING THE HIGHWAYS IN 2020 ABOUT 20% LESS, A LOT OF THAT DUE TO THE REMOTE WORK.

BUT HERE'S THE WEIRD THING: THERE'S BEEN AN 8% INCREASE IN FATALITIES, FATAL ACCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAYS, THEY ATTRIBUTE 2 THINGS ONE THEY SAID IN 2020, WE WERE ALL A LOT MORE DISTRACTED DRIVING THAT WE NORMALLY ARE BUT ALSO PEOPLE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPEN HIGHWAYS AND SPEEDING MORE THAN THEY WERE.

>> JOE UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> YEAH TO MITCH'S, I THERE'S A NEW GUY RUNNING THE DEMOCRATS ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

I CAN'T CALL HIS NAME RIGHT NOW, BUT HE'S REALLY SHARP.

I THINK THAT'S GONNA MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

[LAUGHTER] UNDERREPORTED NORTH CAROLINA FOR LAST YEAR 3.9 BILLION DOLLARS FROM VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDS CAME INTO THE STATE FOR TECH START-UPS MAKING US 6TH IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF RECIPIENTS OF START-UP MONEY FROM VENTURE CAPITAL.

I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE VALUE PROPOSITION IN NORTH CAROLINA AS A PLACE FOR HIGH-TECH LIFE SCIENCE, THE KIND OF NEW ECONOMY JOBS THAT WE WANT IN THIS STATE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH AS PART OF THIS REPORT, YES, PLACES AND BUSINESSES THAT WE USUALLY EXPECT TO BE RECIPIENTS OF THIS MONEY, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, AND CHARLOTTE, THE BUSINESS CAPITAL OF NORTH CAROLINA, BUT CITIES LIKE WILMINGTON ARE BEGINNING TO EMERGE AS MANY HUBS FOR HIGH-TECH START-UPS AND I THINK THAT WILL BE INCREASINGLY THE STORY OF NORTH CAROLINA GOING FORWARD THAT THE ECONOMY WILL BEGIN TO COME TO THESE NEW URBAN CENTERS BEYOND RALEIGH AND CHARLOTTE.

>> ROBERT?

>> I'LL SAY THE MOST UNREPORTED WAS TOUCHED ON BY MITCH EARLIER AND THAT'S THE FACT THAT OUR CENSUS NUMBERS ARE COMING IN LATE AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO MEAN FOR REDISTRICTING.

SO WOULD LATER CENSUS NUMBERS YOU HAVE QUICKER REDISTRICTING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MEANS QUICKER REVIEW BY THE COURTS, AND IT MEANS LESS FLEXIBILITY IF THE COURTS FIND THAT REDISTRICTING HAS BEEN DONE UNCONSTITUTIONALLY IN ORDER TO TRY TO FIX IT.

>> SO HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE?

>> THE PROCESS ITSELF GOING TO GO PRETTY QUICKLY IN THE SENSE OF ONCE WE ACTUALLY GET STARTED ON REDISTRICTING, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WAIT A WHILE FOR THOSE CENSUS NUMBERS CAUSE I REALLY THINK THEY'RE BEHIND >> ARE WE GOING TO PICK UP ONE OR 2 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS?

>> I THINK WE'LL PICK UP ONE.

>> OKAY, MITCH LET'S GO TO THE LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> MY WHAT'S UP IS MASK-WEARING AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT LAST YEAR THERE WAS ALMOST A BIT OF A PARTISAN DIVIDE THAT MOST DEMOCRATS WHO ARE IN THE CHAMBER TENDED TO WEAR MASKS A LOT OF REPUBLICANS DIDN'T.

THIS TIME AROUND ALMOST EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE FOR THE OPENING DAY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS WEARING A MASK SO MUCH SO THAT DAN BLUE THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER ON THE SENATE SIDE WHO HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT PUTTING FORWARD A RULE CHANGE TO MANDATE MASKS DECIDED NOT TO BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT REPUBLICANS WERE ACTUALLY GOING ALONG WITH SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD ALREADY STARTED TO DO.

MY WHO'S DOWN, PEOPLE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

NORMALLY ON THE FIRST DAY A BRAND NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION, YOU'LL SEE LOTS OF FRIENDS, FAMILY, LOBBYIST, OF COURSE TRYING TO GET THEIR WORDS IN THERE, EVEN SOME PROTESTERS, THERE WAS HARDLY ANYONE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT'S A SIGN OF COVID-19.

>> DONNA WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN?

>> UP I'M GOING TO SAY IS THE STATE EMPLOYEES PENSION FUND THERE WAS SOME GOOD NEWS FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, THE PENSION FUND HAS ACTUALLY GAINED VALUE THIS YEAR DESPITE THE ROLLER COASTER MARKET AND NOW WALL STREET THE DOWN I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY IS TRUST IN GOVERNMENT.

A NEW STUDY CAME OUT THAT SAID 54% OF AMERICANS SAY THEY TRUST BUSINESS MORE THAN THEY TRUST GOVERNMENT.

>> I THINK THAT WAS IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL CORRECT?

>> YES, IT WAS.

IT REALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE NOT TRUSTING THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY'RE NOT TRUSTING SOMETIMES THEIR MEDIA SOURCES AND THEY TRUST BUSINESS MORE WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE A GOVERNMENT IN MANY CASES IS ELECTED.

>> JOE WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> WHO'S UP THE NATIONAL GUARD WITH A LONG HISTORY IN FACT IT PREDATES THE COUNTRY ITSELF.

1639 IS NATIONAL GUARD'S BIRTHDAY.

THEY HAVE ONCE AGAIN STEPPED INTO THE BREACH TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THIS COUNTRY AS MANY OF US SAW THE IMAGES OF GUARDSMEN SLEEPING IN THE CAPITAL AS THEY ARE THERE TO HELP PROTECT AND PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE INAUGURAL FESTIVITIES.

BUT THESE CITIZEN SOLDIERS THEY ARE MEN AND WOMEN LIKE YOU AND I THAT LIVE AND WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY OFTEN KNOWN FOR RESPONDING IN THE AFTERMATH OF A NATURAL DISASTER, SO HATS OFF TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD.

WHO'S DOWN UNFORTUNATELY, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT LIKELY TO ENJOY A HONEYMOON PERIOD AS NEW PRESIDENTS OFTEN DO.

WAS SORT OF KUMBAYA MOMENTS FLOWING BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS I THINK THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AND SOME OTHER FACTORS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CAST A LONG SHADOW OVER THE EARLY DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> JOE I THINK THERE'S 20,000 NATIONAL GUARD IN DC RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, 20,000 TO 25,000 THAT HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED SPECIFICALLY TO TRY TO HELP PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE INAUGURATION.

>> D.C'S LIKE AN ARMED CAMP.

THAT SAID OKAY UP AND DOWN THIS WEEK ROBERT.

>> MERRICK GARLAND IS MY UP FOR THIS WEEK.

I THINK HE'S MOST FAMOUS POTENTIAL SUPREME COURT NOMINEE EVER AND HE'S JUST BECOME THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL OR POTENTIALLY THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE UNITED STATES AND HE'S TAKING OVER IN THE MOST TUMULTUOUS TIME THAT WE'VE HAD FOR AN ATTORNEY GENERAL SINCE WATERGATE, AND HE'S GOT A LOT OF BIG DECISIONS TO MAKE HE'S GOING TO PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN VOTING RIGHTS AND THINGS OF THAT SORT AND SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HE DOES MOVING FORWARD.

>> WILL HE CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE THE HUNTER BIDEN CASE YOU THINK?

[LAUGHING] SERIOUSLY.

>> I THINK THAT'S A REAL QUESTION AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING ONE AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT'S A DECISION HE'S GOT TO MAKE AS SOON AS HE GETS IN OFFICE IS WHAT IS GOING TO DO WITH THE SON OF HIS NEW BOSS.

>> OK DOWN?

>> DOWN I WANT TO SAY INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THE CONGRESSMAN WHO VOTED TO DECERTIFY THE ELECTION RESULTS.

I REALLY THOUGHT THAT AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE IMPEACHMENT TRIALS THAT YOU WOULD REALLY SEE A LOT OF THAT NEWS FADE TO THE BACKDROP OF BUT YOU STILL SEE THE CONTINUED BACKLASH AND IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING GOING INTO 2022 TO SEE HOW THAT SUSTAINS ITSELF.

>> MITCH HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> HEIGHTENED SECURITY AND HIGH TENSION FOR A LOCKDOWN INAUGURAL.

>> I THINK THAT'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY DON'T YOU?

AND A LOT OF THE STATE CAPITALS.

>> YEAH AS WELL AS A LOT OF HEIGHTENED SECURITY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT SOME RIOTS OR THE POTENTIAL OF OTHER VIOLENCE.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK QUICKLY.

>> I THINK FIRST WEEK IN OFFICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN REJOINS THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, JOE.

>> ALL EYES IN ANTICIPATION ABOUT BIDEN'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

CAN THE NEW PRESIDENT'S WORDS BEGIN TO HEAL A DIVIDED NATION?

>> HEADLINE ROBERT?

>> UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REINTEGRATE STUDENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM LIFE.

>> GREAT JOB PANEL THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARK ROTTERMAN.

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