
January 28th, 2022 - FRONT ROW with Marc Rotterman
Season 12 Episode 3 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
China's warning to Olympic athletes & Governor Cooper & A.G. Stein on redistricting.
This week on FRONT ROW with Marc Rotterman: China warns Olympic athletes not to protest, Governor Cooper and Attorney General Stein weigh in on redistricting, and President Biden gets mixed reviews from Black and Hispanic voters. This week's panelists are Sen. Sydney Batch, Joe Stewart, Donna King & Nelson Dollar.
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Front Row with Marc Rotterman is a local public television program presented by PBS NC

January 28th, 2022 - FRONT ROW with Marc Rotterman
Season 12 Episode 3 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
This week on FRONT ROW with Marc Rotterman: China warns Olympic athletes not to protest, Governor Cooper and Attorney General Stein weigh in on redistricting, and President Biden gets mixed reviews from Black and Hispanic voters. This week's panelists are Sen. Sydney Batch, Joe Stewart, Donna King & Nelson Dollar.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.
COMING UP CHINA WARNS OLYMPIC ATHLETES NOT TO PROTEST.
GOVERNOR COOPER, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL STINE WEIGHING IN ON REDISTRICTING AND PRESIDENT BIDEN GETS MIXED REVIEWS FROM BLACK AND HISPANIC VOTERS NEXT.
[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING] ♪ A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪ >> WELCOME BACK.
JOINING THE CONVERSATION DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR SYDNEY BATCH, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART.
DONNA KING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISOR TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
LET'S START WITH CHINA STERN WARNING TO OLYMPIC ATHLETES DONNA KICK US OFF.
>> THAT'S RIGHT MARC CHINA IS HOSTING THE OLYMPICS, THE 2022 OLYMPICS IN BEIJING THEY ARE ALREADY ISSUING WARNINGS TO ATHLETES THAT THEY'RE BETTER NOT BE ANY SPEECH OR PROTEST AGAINST THESE ATROCITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS ATROCITIES GOING ON AT THE HANDS OF THE CCP AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
UIGHURS MUSLIM AND OTHER RELIGIOUS MINORITIES ARE BEING CORRALLED INTO CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND WORK CAMPS.
YOU NOT THAT FAR FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND FROM THAT FLICKERING TORCH WE REALLY SEE EVIDENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES HAPPENING THROUGHOUT CHINA ATHLETES ARE BEING TOLD IF THEY PROTEST IF THEY HAVE ANY SORT OF SPEECH DURING THE GAMES THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THINKS IS AGAINST THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT OR IN CRITICISM OF CHINA THAT THEY SAY THERE WILL BE PUNISHMENT SAID THERE WILL BE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST THESE ATHLETES REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY COME FROM THIS IS A TERRIFYING THREAT.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT TEAM USA IS TELLING ATHLETES DON'T BRING YOUR COMPUTER DON'T BRING YOUR PHONE GET A BURNER PHONE BECAUSE ANYTHING YOU HAVE CAN BE TAKEN BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT >> [MARC] THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE ATHLETES DNA TOO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE GATHERING DATA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAPPING INTO THEIR PHONES AND YOUR GOODS, YOUR YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS CAN BE SEARCHED NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT IN A HOTEL ROOM OR LOCKER ROOM OR WHEREVER THIS IS REALLY A FRIGHTENING SITUATION AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE KNOWN WAS COMING FOR A REALLY LONG TIME FOLKS HAVE BEEN SAYING WE NEED TO CANCEL OR MOVE THESE GAMES, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ISSUED A DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE WON'T BE FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES THERE.
>> BUT THERE ARE REALLY ABOUT 60 DIPLOMATS GOING FROM UNITED STATES, I JUST SAW.
>> NELSON, ARE THE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE HELPING SPONSOR THIS SPEAKING OUT?
HOW ABOUT NBC NEWS COVERING IT?
>> NO, I MEAN NBC IS COVERING IT, THEY HAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF BROADCAST RIGHTS, BUT A NUMBER OF THE CORPORATE SPONSORS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RELATIVELY LAY LOW IN THIS PROCESS.
YEAH IN MY MIND, THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY IS THE ABSOLUTE MOST MALIGNANT FORCE IN THE WORLD TODAY FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT DONNA JUST SAID GENOCIDE CONCENTRATION CAMPS, HONG KONG'S BEING CRUSHED TAIWAN IS THREATENED ON A DAILY BASIS.
FOLKS ARE JAIL.
THEY HAVE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED INTERNAL SECURITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD AND ON TOP OF THAT WHAT WE LOST 6 MILLION PEOPLE TO COVID WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO TRANSPARENCY FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, THEY OBVIOUSLY CHOSE CHINA, THIS A HUGE MISTAKE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.
>> JOE LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
SHOULD OUR ATHLETES BOYCOTT THIS?
>> BOY THIS IS A TOUGH CALL.
THE SPIRIT OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS THAT WE TRY TO SET ASIDE ALL OF OUR GEO POLITICAL DIFFERENCES IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION COME TOGETHER AND SEE THE BEST IN THE POSSIBLE OF ALL OF THESE ENDEAVORS, THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT NOT TO MAKE A CASE THAT CHINA GIVEN ITS HUMAN RIGHTS REPUTATION SHOULDN'T IT DOES HAVE SOME CONSEQUENCE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR IN TERMS OF THIS INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH A HOST OF THE OLYMPICS IS REALLY AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION FOR THESE COUNTRIES >> [MARC] THIS IS A SHOWCASE FOR CHINA.
>> WELL, THEY NEVER GET BACK THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY MAKE IN BUILDING THE FACILITIES AND MANAGING THIS MOST OF THE MONEY FROM THE BROADCAST GOES TO THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IT MAY BE TIME TO LOOK AT HOW WE DO THE OLYMPICS FIND ONE LOCATION IN THE WORLD, WHERE WE ALWAYS HOLD THESE THINGS SO THESE DISCUSSIONS AREN'T NECESSARY GOING FORWARD.
>> SYDNEY, YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S SHAMEFUL THE IOC IS IN A POSITION IN WHICH THEY KNEW IT'S NOT LIKE CHINA AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED HAVING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THE TABLE IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR HOSTING THE GAMES AND NOW WE SEE OLYMPIANS WHO HAVE WORKED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE TO GO AHEAD AND FINALLY BE IN A POSITION TO COMPETE AND ARE BEING ASKED TO STEP DOWN, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM, IT'S NOT FAIR TO US AND CERTAINLY NOT FAIR TO THE UIGHUR PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN CHINA WHO ARE IN A OPPRESSED IT WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO FOR FREE SPEECH AND IT'S REALLY CONCERNING BECAUSE JAPAN SHIFTED AND SAID SO LONG AS YOU WEREN'T ACTUALLY DISRUPTIVE YOU COULD ACTUALLY MAKE SOME POLITICAL STATEMENTS SO LONG AS IT WASN'T DISRESPECT OR DISRUPTIVE CHINA HAS GONE TO THE ENTIRE EXTREME AND SAID EVEN THINGS THAT POTENTIALLY ARE ON YOUR PHONE YOU CAN BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED WITH, SO YOUR SPEECH ON YOUR PHONE OR TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS PRIVATELY COULD ALSO BE AT RISK.
>> GREAT CONVERSATION, COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND GOVERNOR WEIGHED IN ON REDISTRICTING WITH A PLAN THIS WEEK.
TALK TO US ABOUT IT.
>> YEAH, SO GOVERNOR COOPER AND AG STEIN FILED AN AMICUS BRIEF WITH THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE WE KNOW THE REDISTRICTING CASE HAS FINALLY MOVED ITS WAY UP TO OUR NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT ORAL ARGUMENTS WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 3RD.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THE CASE IS THAT OF COURSE THE 3 JUDGE PANEL STATED THAT WHILE THE MAPS THAT WERE ENACTED IN DECEMBER OF THIS PAST YEAR OR POLITICAL GERRYMANDERS OUR NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT THAT.
THEIR BRIEF SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THEY DISAGREE.
THEY'RE SAYING THAT SPECIFICALLY THAT THE POWER RESTS WITHIN THE PEOPLE IN OUR CONSTITUTION THAT POLITICAL POWER IS FROM NORTH CAROLINIANS AND ITS PEOPLE AND THAT BY ALLOWING POLITICIANS AND PARTIES IN PARTICULAR THE PARTY IN POWER TO DRAW THE MAPS IN A WAY IN WHICH IT GIVES A LOT OF POLITICAL POWER TO THEM AND POWER TO CONTINUE OVER POTENTIALLY YOU KNOW CYCLES IN GENERATIONS OR DECADES IS REALLY PROBLEMATIC AND THEREFORE LESSENS THE POWER OF INDIVIDUALS TO CHOOSE THEIR LEGISLATORS INSTEAD OF LEGISLATORS CHOOSING THEIR PEOPLE.
>> WHERE IS THIS HEADED NELSON?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING FROM STEIN AND THE GOVERNOR OR THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR RESTRICTIONS ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO DRAW THE MAPS.
THEY'RE ASKING THE STATE SUPREME COURT ON THE FLY IN A VERY FEW DAYS TO COME UP WITH A NEW COMPLEX TEST THAT THE COURTS WOULD APPLY TO EACH AND EVERY DISTRICT WHEN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT WHO HAS ANALYZED THIS ISSUE FOR DECADES, HAS SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN IT'S SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE.
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS REALLY WANT WHAT THEY'RE REALLY ADVOCATING FOR HERE IS PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION WHICH IS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL, EITHER STATE OR US CONSTITUTION.
IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD WHAT YOU WOULD END UP WITH IS A EUROPEAN STYLE MULTI PARTY SYSTEM.
YOU WOULD SEE THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES OVER TIME SPLINTER INTO A DOZEN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE POLITICAL CHAOS FOR A COUNTRY OF OUR SIZE AND WOULD BE A BAD ROAD TO START TO GO DOWN FOR AMERICA.
>> TALKING ABOUT CHAOS HOW JOE HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE CANDIDATES?
>> WELL IT MAKES IT HARDER BECAUSE THERE'S LESS PREDICTABILITY WE ALREADY PUSHED BACK THE PRIMARY TO MAY, THE LEGISLATURE'S NOW ENACTED A PROPOSED CHANGE TO PUSH BACK EVEN FURTHER TO JUNE.
IT MAKES IT VERY -- >> [MARC] THE GOVERNOR MAY VETO THAT RIGHT?
>> THE GOVERNOR MAY VETO IT AND NOW THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ACCOUNCED IT WILL GOING TO REOPEN CANDIDATE FILING HERE IN A COUPLE WEEKS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR A CANDIDATE TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY A CAMPAIGN LIKE ANY OTHER ENDEAVOR HAS TO HAVE THE CAPITAL NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL BURN RATES BECOME VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU DEPLOY THOSE ASSETS TO COMMUNICATE WITH VOTERS IF THEY KEEP EXTENDING THE PRIMARIES VERY HARD TO KNOW WITH SOME PREDICTABILITY WHEN IT IS YOU SHOULD DEPLOY YOUR CAPITAL IN YOUR CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE THE VOTERS KNOW WHO YOU ARE I THINK IT MAKES IT PROBLEMATIC FOR THE VOTERS TO OUR INCREASINGLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS WHEN THE PRIMARY GOING TO BE WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES THAT THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERING UNTIL ALL OF THIS GETS RESOLVED.
NONE OF THOSE ANSWERS ARE KNOWN.
>> DONNA.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS WAS FILED LIKE LATE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, IT'S BASICALLY A ROAD MAP FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE GOVERNOR HER BEST DEMOCRATS TO THE DEMOCRAT LED A NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT TO SHOW THEM THAT THERE ARE AVENUES TO GO AROUND THE REPUBLICAN LED LEGISLATURE TO GET THESE MAPS DOWN AMONG THEM SOME OF THE OPTIONS THEY PRESENTED WAS USING A YOU KNOW, A 3RD PARTY, A SPECIAL MASTER TO DO THIS OUTSIDE OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM TO EXTEND THE THE THE PRIMARIES, THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THEY WADE, BUT OVERALL THEY'RE SAYING LOOK THE LEGISLATURE BURNED THEIR CHANCE TO DO THIS AND THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND HERE'S A WAY YOU CAN GET AROUND THEM.
AND THE BIGGEST THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IS THE SEPARATION OF POWERS THAT WE HAVE BUILT INTO OUR FOUNDATION.
IT'S REALLY ONLY AS GOOD AS THAT THOSE WHO STILL HOLD THESE OFFICERS AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DEFEND THEIR BODY NOT NECESSARILY JUST THEIR PARTY.
>> SYDNEY DO WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO DO REDISTRICTING SOME DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY I MEAN IF ANYONE WATCHED THE VIDEOS OF PEOPLE LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES GOING IN AND DRAWING LINES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MAGICALLY PUTTING A PRECINCT THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM IT DEMONSTRATES THAT YOU ARE A SELF INTEREST INDIVIDUAL.
IT'S ALL MAGIC.
>> OK MOVING ON, CHANGE TOPICS.
JOE HISPANICS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE GIVING THE PRESIDENT MIXED REVIEWS.
>> THIS IS SORT OF AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC WITH THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST OFFICIALLY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE COMING UP ON A LOT OF POLLING AND I'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT RESULTS FROM DIFFERENT OUTLETS THAT MAKE POLLING AVAILABLE THE PRESIDENT IN HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN 2020 RECEIVED BY ALL OF MEASURES AND EXIT POLLING ABOUT 92% OF ALL OF THE BLACK VOTE THAT WAS CAST OF SIGNIFICANT ALIGNMENT BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BUT POLLING NOW SHOWS THAT AMONG BLACK VOTERS WERE 6 MONTHS AGO, 83% HAD A VERY HIGH REGARD FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT'S DROPPED NOW TO 64.
>> THAT WAS AN AP POLL RIGHT?
>> YES THAT'S FROM THE AP POLL.
THE THING THAT'S INTERESTING TOO IS AMONG HISPANIC VOTERS WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP DID SLIGHTLY BETTER IN 2020 THAN HE DID 2016, THIS IS ANOTHER COHORT OF VOTERS THAT I THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE HISTORICALLY COUNTED ON THAT IT'S NOW REALLY UP FOR GRABS THERE NOT NECESSARILY ALIGNED WITH EITHER PARTY AND EVEN IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE HISPANIC VOTERS CONSTITUTE A LITTLE OVER 4 AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE TOTAL REGISTERED VOTERS.
6 OUT OF 10 HISPANICS IN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY ARE NATIVE BORN NORTH CAROLINIANS.
I MEAN THAT POPULATION OF HISPANICS IN 1990 WAS ONLY 75,000 IN THE STATE AND NOW IT'S ALMOST 400,000 A DRAMATIC INCREASE, AND THAT SPHERE OF INFLUENCE WITHIN OUR ELECTORATE WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO NORTH CAROLINA POLITICIANS, BUT THE PRESIDENT'S GOT TO HOPE THAT THE COALITION HE BUILD IN 2020 WHERE HE DID SLIGHTLY BETTER IN THE SUBURBS THAT HILLARY CLINTON HAD DONE 4 YEARS PREVIOUSLY IN AMONG INDEPENDENT MINDED BUT WITH DEMOCRATIC LEANING VOTERS.
>> HE'S HURTING NOW IN THE SUBURBS, I SEE THAT TRUMP IS ACTUALLY BEATING HIM IN A POTENTIAL MATCH UP.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT HE'S GOTTA HOLD THAT COALITION TOGETHER THEY'VE GOT TO REMAIN HOPEFUL ABOUT BIDEN FOR THEM TO WANT TO TURN OUT AND VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2020, IT'S JUST ANOTHER SIGN THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME 2022 IF BIDEN CAN'T HOLD COALITION VOTES THAT HE GOT IN 20.
>> SYDNEY DID THE PRESIDENT OVER PROMISE AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE OVER PROMISED, I THINK THE ISSUES MESSAGING, AND I THINK THAT WE TALKED ABOUT -- >> WAS HE DELIVERING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS?
WELL, I MEAN I CAN'T, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT A MONOLITH SO I CAN''T SPEAK FOR ALL AFRICAN-AMERICANS OR HISPANICS.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS AND OTHER THINGS.
>> WITH REGARDS TO VOTING RIGHTS NO, BUT HE ALSO ISN'T THE ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY ABLE TO PASS LEGISLATION.
THAT SHOULD REST SQUARELY AT THE FEET OF PEOPLE IN OBVIOUSLY THE LEGISLATURE AND IN CONGRESS.
I THINK THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH HIS POLLING NUMBERS AND EVERYONE ELSE'S BUT IN PARTICULAR DEMOCRATS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED, BUT LIKE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
ALL VOTERS ARE FRUSTRATED AS MY CLIENT ASTUTELY SAID THIS WEEK SHE SAYS WE'RE GOING INTO 2022 COVID THE TRILOGY.
NO ONE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE HERE 3 YEARS LATER AND I THINK THAT THAT DEMOCRATS WE KNOW ARE NOT THEY'RE GREAT AT A LOT OF THINGS NOT AT MESSAGING AND ONE OF THE TIMES IN WHICH LAST YEAR WE KNOW 5.7% OUR ECONOMY GREW NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THAT WHY BECAUSE HE IS NOT TAKING CREDIT FOR THAT HE IS NOT MESSAGING IT IN A CONCISE WAY AND PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SECURE.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE NUMBERS SHOW SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
>> DONNA ARE EXPECTS THE NEW SWING VOTE.
>> I THINK THAT THEY ARE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
POTENTIALLY THEY ARE, BUT I THINK IN GENERAL HISPANIC AND BLACK AMERICANS ARE JUST LIKE ALL AMERICANS THEIR FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY VERY FOCUSED ON PRICES AND WHAT TO THEIR KITCHEN TABLE BEING ABLE TO EDUCATE THEIR KIDS THE WAY THEY WANT TO BUT WE ARE SEEING IN HISPANIC MEN -- >> SAFETY, CRIME, >> -- SAFETY CRIME OF COURSE IT'S WHAT EVERY AMERICAN IS CONCERNED ABOUT.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING HISPANIC MEN NOW SAY COMPARED TO IN THE LAST ELECTION THAT 56% OF THEM WOULD VOTE FOR TRUMP.
SO THAT IS A BIG IT VERY MUCH THE OPPOSITE WHAT I WHAT I THINK A LOT OF THE MESSAGING HAS BEEN FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND FEWER THAN A QUARTER OF HISPANIC MEN SAY THAT THE ECONOMY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO THE END OF THE DAY REGARDLESS OF MESSAGING, REGARD REGARDLESS OF POLLS.
IT'S ABOUT EDUCATING YOUR CHILDREN FEEDING THEM AND BEING ABLE TO GAS IN YOUR CAR.
>> WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS MY FRIEND.
PUT IN CONTEXT.
>> IN CONTEXT, IT'S REALLY ABOUT BIDEN'S JOB APPROVAL.
HE HAS TANKED.
IF YOU LOOK AT 10 OF THE LAST 12 POLLS -- >> IS HE DRAGGING DOWN TICKET?
>> HE IS COMPLETELY DRAGGING DOWN THE TICKET, I MEAN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MORNING DIP SURVEYS, GALLUP AND HARRIS.
THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN BIDEN'S ABILITY TO THE TO DO THE JOB.
NO PRESIDENT IN MODERN TIMES HAS SUNK THIS FAR THIS FAST AND IT'S CAUSING BIDEN DILEMMAS ALL ACROSS WASHINGTON.
IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR POLICY AGENDA WHICH IS DEAD.
BRYAR MOVING FORWARD WITH HIS RESIGNATION.
DEMOCRATS ALSO MOVING UP THEIR RETIREMENT DATES.
IT'S -- I SAW THE TITANIC 4 TIMES AT THE THEATER.
IT ALWAYS ENDED THE SAME WAY.
THE USS BIDEN HAS HIT THE ICEBERG.
>> OKAY I WANT TO COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S ENERGY PLAN, LAWMAKERS QUESTION.
YES, THE GOVERNOR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER EARLIER THIS MONTH ESTABLISHING A GOAL OF 1.2 5 MILLION.
0 EMISSION VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAYS BY 2030 AND ALSO ABOUT 2030 HAVING THESE EMISSION-FREE VEHICLES MAKE UP 50% OF ALL NEW CAR SALES.
SO THAT PROMPTED SEVERAL ARE STATE SENATORS SENATORS COLLEAGUES US OR YOU'RE MCGINNIS AND NEWTON TO SEND A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR ASKING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, INCLUDING HOW THE STATE WOULD ACTUALLY PAY FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES GOING FORWARD WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT IS LARGELY BASED ON THE GASOLINE TAX IF YOU'RE MOVING TO ALL OF THESE -- >> WOULD THERE BE A MOVETO INCREASE THE GAS TAX?
>> WELL, OUR GAS TAX IS ALREADY ONE OF THE HIGHER GAS TAXES AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE DO NOT, UNLIKE A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES WE DON'T RELY ON THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES.
WE HAVE A COORDINATED STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF ROADS, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.
AND SO YOU WOULD EITHER HAVE TO LOOK AT RAISING LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES AND CHANGING THE FINANCE STRUCTURE FOR THE STATE OR YOU WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT SAYING OKAY VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED AND IN NEITHER CASE, HE'S THE GOVERNOR WEIGHED IN AND THAT'S THE REAL QUESTION HOW CAN YOU SET A GOAL OUT HERE, A VERY AMBITIOUS GOAL FOR ALL OF THESE 0 EMISSION VEHICLES ON THE ROADS AND NOT THINK THROUGH FIRST HOW YOU'RE GOING TO IMPACT GOING ARE WE LOOKING FOR A TAX INCREASE, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD TO PAY FOR THIS.
>> I THINK IF YOU SET A GOAL LIKE THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO SEE IT SOMEWHERE IN OR AT LEAST THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON THE TABLE IF THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS IS TRYING TO SET GOALS BUT THIS IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH MEANS THAT THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY IT NEEDED TO START WORKING TOWARD IT AND WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION E-MAIL BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION HOW MUCH TO THESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT THEY WANT THE STATE TO BUY COSTS.
HOW MUCH THE COST TO MAINTAIN THEM HOW MANY DO WE HAVE NOW NONE OF THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED SO TO START THE PATH OF MARCHING TOWARD US WITHOUT HAVING ANY IDEA HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO START REALLY SEEMS TO BE A CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
>> JOE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER COULD BE CHANGED IF THERE'S A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION CORRECT.
YEAH, I THINK SO ABSOLUTELY AND ANOTHER GOVERNOR MAY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT DISPOSITION IN TERMS OF TIMELINE AND THE TYPES OF CHANGES THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO PUT IN PLACE SO SOMETHING THE NELSON SAID IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF NORTH CAROLINA, THE 20TH CENTURY WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAD A STATE REP MAINTAIN ROAD SYSTEM IT REALLY MADE US A DISTINCTIVELY GOOD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS AND PART OF THE ORIGIN OF THAT WAS THE DESIRE FOR FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR PRODUCT OUT OF THE FIELDS INTO THE MARKETPLACE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION UL SYSTEM STEPPING BACK A LITTLE BIT FROM THE POLITICS OF THIS THAT'S STILL WHERE WE ARE AS A STATE WE NEED TO TRANSPORTATION ALL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES US A DESIRABLE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.
SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION HAS TO BE MORE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL COST OF MAKING THESE TRANSITIONS WILL BE BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FOCUS SHOULD BE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE NORTH CAROLINA HAS AN INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE AND FOR PRODUCTS TO GET FROM MANUFACTURER OR GROWTH IN THE FIELD TO THE MARKETPLACE SHOULD THE RAPTORS HAVE ABOUT 40 SECONDS MY FRIEND SO THE GOVERNORS.
>> SAID AND I HAVE NOT MISSED GETTING HIM IS THAT HE ACTUALLY SAID HE DOESN'T WANT A DISPROPORTIONATE TAX AND RAISE THE GAS TAX BECAUSE IT'S BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY AFFECT PEOPLE THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY DRIVING GUESSING CARS AND THAT HE WANTS TO BRING THE SMARTEST PEOPLE INTO A ROOM TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING DO WITH REGARDS TO THESE TAXES.
LAST YEAR WE SAW A BIPARTISAN CLEAN ENERGY BILL WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND IN THE COUNTRY THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE CLEAN ENERGY.
WE'RE ABLE TO BRING THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TOGETHER AND FIGURE THAT OUT I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT WE CAN DO THE SAME.
NELSON IS ISO 169 INDIVIDUALS, THEY KNOW WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.
>> IT'S THE POLITICAL WILL TO SAY WHETHER YOU'RE FOR VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED TAX NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS WITH THE VERY FEW OPTION.
>> BUT I THINK THAT I MEAN THERE HAS GOT TO MOVE OKAY.
THEY'RE THEY'RE CLEARLY OPTIONS I AM CONVINCED THAT OF A 169 LEGISLATORS AT LEAST 3 OF THEM KNOW EXACTLY OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY THE WEEK'S END.
SO MY UNDERREPORTED IS THAT A STUDY JUST CAME OUT SUGGESTING THAT IF YOU GIVE CASH PAYMENTS TO LOW INCOME MOTHERS INCREASES THE BRAIN ACTIVITY OF CHILDREN.
THE STUDY BASICALLY DESPERATE TO FIND LOW INCOME US $20,000 FOR A FAMILY HOUSEHOLD.
THEY WENT AHEAD AND THEY PROVIDED $333 TO SOME MOMS THEY PROVIDE A 20 TO THE OTHER.
AFTER THE STUDY ENDED THAT AND THEN THE INFANTS WHO ARE ABOUT ONE YEARS OLD HAD HIGHER BRAIN ACTIVITY IN THE HOUSEHOLDS WHERE THEY HAVE $333.
THE STUDY SUGGESTS THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES AND THERE WAS NO PARAMETERS ON HOW THEY COULD SPEND THAT MONEY BUT WE KNOW THAT WITH BRAIN ACTIVITY IN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN 0, 3, WHICH IS THE MOST RAPID BRAIN DEVELOPMENT THAT STRESSORS WITHIN A HOME ACTUALLY CAN DECREASE BRAIN ACTIVITY SO BY INCREASING THE ABILITY TO HAVE A FAMILY HAVE MORE INCOME TO PAY FOR FOOD INSECURITY, BETTER JOB OR A BETTER JOB OR APPROPRIATE CHILD CARE OR CENTER OR TO PAY HER RENT DECREASES THE STRESS WITHIN THE HOME INCREASES THE ABILITY FOR A CHILD TO ACTUALLY HAVE RAPID BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION JOE.
>> YEAH UNDER THE BANNER OF THE WORLD IS JUST A SCARIER AND SCARIER PLACE FEDEX IS NOW APPLIED TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FOR PERMISSION TO EQUIP SOME OF ITS AIRPLANES WITH ANTI MISSILE COUNTERMEASURES AS THEY HAVE TO FLY OVER SCARY PARTS OF THE WORLD TO DELIVER PRODUCTS.
THEY WANT LASERS THAT WILL DEFER CONFUSE THE MISSILES THAT ARE BEING FIRED AND AIRPLANES MY GOODNESS I CAN REMEMBER ONE FEDEX FIRST GAME ON LOT AND IT WAS JUST REMARKABLE THAT YOU GET SOMETHING OVERNIGHT AND NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO DEFEND THE PLAINS FROM AN ATTACK OVER HOSTILE AIRSPACE, THE FAA NOTED, DRYLY IN RESPONSE TO THIS APPLICATION THAT THOSE TYPES OF AIRPLANES 8 REALLY DESIGNED FOR MILITARY-STYLE EQUIPMENT BUT.
>> KEEP TRYING FEDEX.
DONNA SO ALSO IN THE WORLD OF AVIONICS OF COURSE OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK BRINGING THE NEW GENERATION OF FLIGHT TO NORTH CAROLINA COURT.
THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, BIG NEWS.
BOOM SUPERSONIC SO START BUILDING HIS OVERTURE JET.
I JUST OUTSIDE OF GREENSBURG PTI THE AIRPORT THERE WERE WE WATCHING THAT CLOSELY THEY HAVE A GRANT FROM THE AIR FORCE VENTURES PROGRAM WHICH COMMITS ITSELF TO INVESTING IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT IS IT'S GETTING A BIG BUNDLE OF INCENTIVES FROM LOCAL COUNTY AND STATE WITH THE STATE, HERE'S THE 7 THAT 87 MILLION OVER 20 YEARS.
SO I THINK IT'S EXCITING I'M LOOKING FOR TO SEEING WHAT WHAT HAPPENS NOW SON.
>> WELL, INCLUDING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR POWELL.
THE PRESIDENT HAS NOMINATED.
5 MEMBERS TO THE FED BOARD INCLUDING 2 MEMBERS FROM NORTH CAROLINA THAT WOULD BE FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO BLACK ECONOMIST AND IT WILL RESULT IN A MAJORITY OF WOMEN ACTUALLY RUNNING THE NATION'S MONEY SUPPLY IF EVERYONE IS CONFIRMED THE CONFIRMATION FIGHT ITSELF WILL BE OVER SARAH BLOOM RASKIN WHO IS THE PROPOSED A CHAIR FOR THE SUPERVISION REGULATORY CONGRESSMAN FROM MARYLAND.
YES, AND RESCUE.
SHE IS A PROGRESSIVE WHO WANTS TO INCREASE BANKING REGULATIONS REGULATE CRYPTO CURRENCY AND MOST CONCERNING SHE ACTUALLY ADVOCATES USING THE POWER OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO DIRECT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS INTO POLITICALLY.
FAVORED ASSET CLASSES LIKE NEVER BEFORE, BUT KNOW IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE WE'LL BE BREAKING NEW GROUND IN PARTICULAR SHE HAS ADVOCATED FUNDING MORE FOR THE GREEN ECONOMY AND PUSHING INVESTMENTS OUT OF FOSSIL FUELS WHICH IS ACTUALLY A MISTAKE THAT WE'VE BEEN IN FOR SOME TIME IT WOULD BE AS YOU SAY MARC NEW AND HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL POLICY DURING WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE THINGS YOU COULD HAVE GOT TO HAVE A HARD TIME.
LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK SON.
>> UP IS YOU AND SEES LINEBERGER CANCER CENTER IF THEY ACTUALLY GOT AN ANONYMOUS 25 MILLION DOLLAR DONATION.
PART OF THAT WILL START TO FIND IT.
YOU KNOW FRONT ROW NEEDS.
HAHA AND SAID THEY ACTUALLY WILL HAVE A NEW CANCER CENTER WHICH WILL FOCUS ON TRIPLE NEGATIVE B#*#*#*#*#* CANCER, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE B#*#*#*#*#* CANCERS, 10 TO 20% OF WOMEN ARE DIAGNOSED WITH IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR ALSO SOME OF THAT MONEY WILL GO TO THE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL AND ALSO TO RESEARCH ASCETIC B#*#*#*#*#* CANCER AND THEN MY DOWN FOR THIS.
FOR FOR TODAY IS ACTUALLY THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, NORTH CAROLINA IN DECEMBER, IT DROPPED TO 3.7 AND WE ARE ACTUALLY LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 3.9 JOE.
>> YEAH UP IS THE WAIT TIME FOR THE PROCESSING OF IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTATION, KANSAS CITY HAS APPARENTLY THESE UNDERGROUND LIMESTONE VAULTS WHERE ALL OF THE PAPER APPLICATIONS FOR IMMIGRATION OUR PROCESS IS UP 3 MONTHS AND FOR TERMS OF THE TOTAL TURNAROUND TIME.
SO JUST SINCE 2019 THE ENTIRE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF LAWFUL IMMIGRATION IS STILL PEN AND PAPER BASED AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WE PROBABLY SHOULD CHANGE WHO'S DOWN BITCOIN DOWN ABOUT 50% OF ITS HIGH OF ABOUT $70,000.
SO SOME PART OF THIS IS THE REALIZATION IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT REGULATING BITCOIN THE PRESIDENT WEIGHING IN SAYING WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO REGULATE THIS.
THE RIGHT THIS STRANGE NEW CURRENCY, I MYSELF, I'M INVESTING IN MARC BUCKS WHICH IS A NEW CURRENCY BASED ON THE RELEVANT POPULARITY OF FRONT ROW AND ITS WAY UP RIGHT, YEAH.
>> GAS PRICES, 7 YEAR HIGH IN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW PRICE AVERAGE PRICE IS UP $0.5 A GALLON FOR REGULAR KIND OF IN LINE WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING MORE TRANSPORTATION INCREASES LIKE WITH THIS INCENTIVE FOR SUPER SONIC BOOM, NORTH CAROLINA IS A GREAT PLACE TO START A BUSINESS AND LIVE AND WORK WITHOUT INCENTIVES ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE MONEY GOING TO SOME OF THESE TRANSPORTATION IN THE SET OF PROJECTS WELL MY DOWN SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTION IN UKRAINE ONLY ABOUT 31% OF THOSE POLLED SO THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND MILITARY INTERVENTION IN UKRAINE AND THAT WAS ARREST ME SOME POLLS.
>> YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS IS IN THE UKRAINE NELSON.
>> ECONOMIC NUMBERS THIS WEEK SO UP GDP WAS UP 6.9% UNFORTUNATELY MOST OF THAT WAS REPLACING INVENTORIES THE PERSONAL CONSUMPTION, A INDEX INFLATION INDEX WAS UP 5.8% THAT'S A 40 YEAR HIGH WAGE INFLATION UP 4% FOR THE YEAR.
FEDERAL CHAIRMAN POWELL INDICATED THAT INTEREST RATES ARE ALSO GOING TO BE GOING UP FROM MARCH AND DOWN DOWN A CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS DOWN CONSUMER SPENDING IN DECEMBER WAS DOWN ECONOMIC GROWTH WAS DOWN THE STOCK MARKET IS ON TRACK FOR ITS WORST JANUARY IN HISTORY.
>> SIDNEY, HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?
>> NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT TAKES UP THE DREAMER CASE WITH NO JUDGES RECUSED.
>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HOPES THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL IN TERMS OF HIS POPULARITY ISSUES.
>> HOW DOES HE CHANGE THE EQUATION?
>> WELL, MAYBE THE NOMINEE TO THE SUPREME COURT HELPS CHANGE THAT AT LEAST THE NARRATIVE A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE IF WE DON'T GO TO WAR WITH RUSSIA THAT LOOKS GOOD FOR THE PRESIDENT TOO.
>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?
>> THE OLYMPICS GET UNDERWAY.
BUT WHILE YOU'RE WATCHING, KEEP IN MIND THE 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS WHEN ADOLF HITLER WAS USING IT AS A PLATFORM TO PRESENT A DIFFERENT FACE FOR GERMANY IN THE WORLD.
WE'RE SEEING IT HAPPEN.
AGAIN.
>> NELSON HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.
>> RUSSIA CONTINUES ITS PREPARATIONS FOR INVASION.
OKAY, GREAT JOB GUYS AND GALS THAT'S IT FOR US.
HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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