>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, A CONVERSATION WITH DAN BLUE THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE STATE SENATE AND LATER THE PANEL WEIGHS IN ON SPEAKER, PELOSI'S PLAN FOR ELECTION REFORM THAT 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: ITS FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

WELCOME BACK TO FRONT ROW SENATOR BLUE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME MARC.

>> REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE PANDEMIC, NORTH CAROLINA'S RESPONSE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET MORE SHOTS IN THE ARMS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS.

>> GREAT TOPIC, MARC.

AS OF YESTERDAY.

NORTH CAROLINA PROVIDERS HAD ADMINISTERED 99.8% OF ALL THE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND SO THE FIRST ISSUE IS WE GOT TO GET MORE VACCINE.

WE'VE GOT TO GET MORE VACCINE, SO THAT ALL OF THESE LINES ARE FORMING ALL OVER THE STATE AREN'T AS LONG.

WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO ARE OVERWHELMINGLY WILLING TO RECEIVE VACCINATIONS.

WE JUST GOT TO GET THE PRODUCT, SO THAT THEN WE CAN GET IT OUT TO GET IT AND PEOPLE'S ARMS.

IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET STARTED, BUT I THINK WE'RE ON A GOOD ROAD NOW GOT MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SO WE JUST NEED MORE PRODUCT, AND AS YOU KNOW EARLIER THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT BIDEN INDICATED THAT IT WAS INCREASING EACH STATE'S SUPPLY BY 16%.

AND THEY WERE DEFINITELY GOING BACK OVER 3 WEEK PERIOD, SO THAT AS YOU PLAN FOR IT, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE PRODUCT, AND YOU DON'T FRUSTRATE PEOPLE IN LINE AND THEN YOU TELL THEM THAT THEY CAN'T GET VACCINATED.

>> DO WE NEED MORE VACCINATIONS SITES?

PHARMACIES, SHOULD THEY BE GETTING THE VACCINE?

BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER?

WHAT ABOUT PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS?

>> I THINK THAT ONCE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A STATE OF SUPPLY OF VACCINE, THE MORE SITES OVER THE VACCINATIONS CAN BE ADMINISTERED THE BETTER OFF WE ARE.

I'VE TALKED TO MANY DOCTORS WHO DON'T HAVE THE REFRIGERATION FACILITIES, THE BACKUP FACILITIES IN CASE THE POWER GOES OFF.

BUT WITH THE NEW VACCINES COMING ONLINE, I THINK THE THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, WHICH WAS REPORTED ON JUST THIS WEEK, BUT WON'T REQUIRE THE REFRIGERATION THE BIG REFRIGERATION.

SO THERE WILL BE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU CAN NOW DO VACCINATION BUT ONCE WE GET THE PRODUCT, EVERYWHERE THAT'S QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER VACCINES AS WE DO WITH THE FLU AND OTHER VACCINATIONS WE OUGHT TO MAKE THEM ELIGIBLE, AND LET THEM DO IT.

NO BETTER PLACE THAN IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, HE HAS YOUR RECORD, HIS ASSISTANT - OR HER ASSISTANT.

AND SO YES, WE OUGHT TO GET IN AS MANY PLACES AS WE CAN THE MASS VACCINATIONS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT VACCINATIONS THE MEDICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CERTAINLY THE DOCTOR'S OFFICES AND PHARMACIES.

>> I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS A LITTLE BIT STAY ON COVID BUT TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAME DOWN FOR COVID RELIEF.

HOW SHOULD BE ALLOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA?

>> THE NEW MONEY AS OPPOSED TO HOW WE DID LAST TIME, I THINK THAT THE SYSTEM THAT WAY IS THE LAST TIME WAS A CLOSE TO PERFECT AS YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

WE REALLY LOOK AT THE MOST PRESSING AND URGENT NEEDS OF THE STATE.

ONE OF THOSE I WOULD SAY RIGHT NOW IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET AGAIN MORE FOLKS VACCINATED SO WE CAN GET OUR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

THAT WOULD BE MY FOCUS.

WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO GET THE SCHOOLS REOPENED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HELP US GET THE ECONOMY GOING AGAIN.

BUT AGAIN THAT GETS BACK TO THE QUESTION OF HAVING THE PRODUCT TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU HAVE LOCKDOWNS WORKED OR HAVE THEY'VE BEEN COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN YOUR VIEW AND IN-SCHOOL TRANSMISSIONS ARE VERY LOW SHOULD THE KIDS BE BACK AT SCHOOL NOW?

WHAT'S THE DOWNSIDE IF THEY'RE NOT?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY THE DOWNSIDE OF THE KIDS NOT BEING IN SCHOOL FOR ALMOST A YEAR IS WE GOT TO TAKE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS TO HELP THEM MAKE UP FOR THE TIME THAT THEY MISSED THAT MIGHT MEAN LONGER SCHOOL YEARS IT MIGHT MEAN SUMMER SCHOOL.

IT MIGHT MEAN LONGER DAYS BUT WE REALLY NEED TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO THESE KIDS SO THAT THEY CAN THEN PERFORM GREAT A PROGRAM.

SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TEACHING THEM AND THEIR INSTRUCTORS AS WELL AS THE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS PERSONNEL.

AND IF THEY FEEL UNSAFE, THEY'RE SIMPLY NOT GOING.

THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN GET A SENSE OF THAT AND A FEEL OF HOW QUICKLY THEY OUGHT TO OPEN PHYSICALLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR TEACHERS THEY KNOW THEIR SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND ALL OF THE OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

BUT EVEN IN ADDITION TO THAT I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL ONCE WE CAN DO IT SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY.

ACCORDING TO WHAT'S COMING FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> SHOULD TEACHERS BE VACCINATED FOR THE KIDS COME BACK TO SCHOOL.

>> WELL, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE TEACHERS OUGHT TO BE VACCINATED AT LEAST BE VACCINATED AT THE SAME TIME THAT FRONT LINE WORKERS ARE BEING VACCINATED BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET MORE FRONTLINE THAN A TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNG KIDS THEIR NOSE RUNNING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE CLOSENESS WITH THEM.

AND SO THE TEACHERS SO THEY GOT SOME SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT THEY'RE SAFE NEED TO BE VACCINATED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PRODUCT, AND WE REALLY GOT TO RAMP UP THE PRODUCTION OF IT.

THE ACTION BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET 200 MILLION MORE DOSES IN THE SHORT RUN, I THINK IT'S POSITIVE BUT WE'VE GOT TO STEP UP MANUFACTURING TO GET MORE VACCINE.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LITTLE BIT IN THE PROCESS.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET DEAL THIS YEAR THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN SIGN?

>> YOU BET, IF YOU BET YOUR LIFE ON IT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET THIS TIME, AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL PARTICIPATE PULL IN SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF IT.

I HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WHEREEVER THE BUMPY SPOTS ARE IN THE BUDGET AND AT THE END OF THE THE YEAR THAT IS THE FISCAL YEAR, BY JULY ONE EARLY THEREAFTER WE WILL HAVE A BUDGET.

>> WELL LET ME LET ME ASK YOU ARE YOU TALKING WITH SENATOR BERGER TIM MOORE AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THE HOUSE AND IS GOVERNOR PARTICIPATING IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS SIR?

>> WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS.

THE GOVERNOR SENATOR BERGER, SPEAKER MOORE, ME AS WELL AS THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE REIVES.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE ELECTION.

SOMETIMES JUST SENATOR BERGER AND ME, I THINK TIMES GOVERNOR COOPER AND SENATOR BERGER AND THE SAME THING WITH THE SPEAKER, SO PEOPLE ARE TALKING, ALL OF US ARE IN OUR TERMS FOR AT LEAST 2 MORE YEARS.

AND ALL OF US GOT TO KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL OF NORTH CAROLINA AND I'M CONVINCED THAT WE WILL AND A BUDGET WILL BE FORTHCOMING FROM THAT PROCESS.

>> ARE WE LOOKING -- >> THE MAGIC ABOUT THIS WHOLE DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAVE IS THAT BUILT INTO IT TO MAKE IT WORK SUCCESSFULLY THERE'S THIS CONCEPT OF COMPROMISE.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET A 100% OF WHAT YOU WANT, AND SO ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE OPEN NEGOTIATIONS.

SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY'S MAJOR CONCERNS.

>> ARE WE LOOKING AT INFRASTRUCTURE BOND THIS YEAR ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF THAT?

>> I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF IT THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO DO IT NOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRESSING NEEDS CROSS STATE IF WE DO ONE INVOLVING COMMUNITY COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER AND SEWER ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK WE GET MONEY CHEAPER THAN WE CAN GET AT ANY OTHER TIME.

AND WE'LL HAVE THE STATE POISED TO TAKE OFF ONCE THIS PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US, THIRDLY IT WILL PROVIDE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND EMPLOYMENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> WHEN WILL WE DEAL WITH REDISTRICTING?

IS IT A BASED ON WHEN WE GET THE CENSUS STRAIGHTENED OUT?

>> TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON WHEN THE CENSUS COMES, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE LATER RATHER THAN SOONER, SO IT MAY BE OVER INTO THE SUMMER BEFORE WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE CENSUS NUMBERS ARE, AND IT COULD BE LATE SUMMER EARLY FALL BEFORE WE CAN REALLY GET SERIOUSLY INTO THE REDISTRICTING DISCUSSION.

BUT WHEN WE GET THERE, IT'S GOT TO BE AN OPEN PROCESS SO CITIZENS CAN PARTICIPATE.

>> ARE WE LOOKING AT PICKING UP AT LEAST ONE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, SIR?

>> SHOULD BE BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY CENSUS DATA.

NORTH CAROLINA OUGHT TO BE ASSUERED AN ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL SEAT TAKING US TO 15 -- 14 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE WE CAN ALMOST BET THAT WE WILL GET ONE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

WE'VE GOT TO ROLL IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS SIR.

>> YEAH MARC, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRYING TIME FOR THE STATE.

WE GOT THE MONEY IN THE TREASURY SOME OF IT AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING A BUDGET THE LAST TIME.

BUT WE REALLY GOT TO PUT IN PLACE PROGRAMS TO HELP OUT SMALL BUSINESSES RECOVER, THEY HAVE BEEN TOTALLY KNOCKED DOWN IN THIS PANDEMIC, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT IN PLACE THINGS THAT CAN GET OUR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND THOSE ARE THE 2 PRIMARY FACTORS WILL BE DEALING WITH WE ALSO GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PROCESSES THAT ALLOW US TO GET THE VACCINATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO PRESSING THINGS WE GOT THE RESOURCES TO DO IT.

WE OUGHT TO DO IT EARLY AS WE GET THE SESSION GOING.

>> SIR, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AGAIN TODAY, LET'S CATCH UP SOON.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO IT MARC.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.

>> OK JOINING ME NOW MITCH KOKAI WITH CAROLINA JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, DONNA KING AND POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART.

MITCH, WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH SPEAKER PELOSI'S PLAN FOR ELECTION REFORM MY FRIEND.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BILL CALLED THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021 ITS HR ONE SO ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PIECES OF LEGISLATION ON THE TABLE IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A NEARLY 800 PAGE BILL AND THE MAIN SPONSOR IS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SARBANES OF MARYLAND.

NOW SUPPORTERS SAY THAT THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND STRENGTHEN THE ETHICS RULES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WEAKEN THE ROLE OF MONEY IN POLITICS AMONG THE KEY PROVISIONS ARE SOME NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE WAY THAT ELECTIONS WOULD BE CONDUCTED INCLUDING 15 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THIS SAY THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD WAY TO MAKE SURE ELECTIONS ARE STREAMLINE AND IF THINGS WORK WELL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CRITICS ARE SAYING NO THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC PARTY POWER GRAB, AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TRIED TO FEDERALIZED AND MICROMANAGE ELECTIONS IN A WAY THAT THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT SUPPORT.

THEY SAY IT INTERFERES WITH THE STATE'S IMPORTANT ROLES FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE VOTER ROLLS ARE ACCURATE AND IT ALSO THAT REVERSES THE DECENTRALIZATION OF THE ELECTION PROCESS THAT THE FOUNDERS THOUGHT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO PRESERVING OUR LIBERTY AND FREEDOM.

THIS IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE HOUSE BEFORE BUT DIED IN THE SENATE, I SUSPECT THAT WE MIGHT SEE A SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT THIS TIME AROUND.

>> JOE DOES THIS NATIONALIZE ELECTIONS AND WHERE'S THE ACCOUNTABILITY?

>> PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH ANY FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT COMES OUT REGARDING ELECTIONS IS, AS MITCH NOTED, IT ECLIPSES WHAT HAS BEEN AN HISTORIC ROLE STATES PLAY IN ORGANIZING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS BASED ON THE CULTURE, GEOGRAPHY, THE TEMPERAMENT OF THEIR PARTICULAR STATE.

THE CHALLENGE IS WE'VE GONE THROUGH A CYCLE NOW WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS ABOUT IRREGULARITY OF THE ELECTION.

WE DO ALL AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR SYSTEM IS FAIR AND THAT VOTERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO CAST A BALLOT AND HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT IT'S BEING CALCULATED AND TABULATED ACCURATELY.

WHETHER OR NOT THERE NEEDS TO BE BROADER FEDERAL LEGISLATION OR NOT WE PROBABLY DO NEED TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENTS IN THE SYSTEMS OF OF ELECTIONS JUST TO MAKE SURE VOTERS HAVE THAT ULTIMATE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE BUT EVERYTHING'S BEING RUN SMOOTHLY AND FAIRLY TO SELECT OUR LEADERS.

>> DONNA THIS DOES CALL FOR UNIVERSAL MAIL IN BALLOTS.

I DON'T SEE HOW THAT CAN BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR FOR THE VOTERS FOR THE SYSTEM.

>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY'RE RUNNING INTO IS THAT THERE IS A REAL EROSION OF PUBLIC TRUST IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM.

THIS YEAR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION DOES SAY THAT CONGRESS HAS THE ULTIMATE SUPERVISORY POWER OVER FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND THAT IS CENTRALIZING POWER UNDER WHATEVER PARTY CONTROLS CONGRESS AND I THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO REALLY NOT HELP IN THAT PUBLIC TRUST ISSUE BECAUSE IT DOES CREATE NATIONWIDE MAIL IN BALLOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

EVEN THIS CAMPAIGN FINANCE PIECE WHICH CREATES A MATCHING FUND FOR PEOPLE, THAT'S CONTROLLED BY WHOMEVER IS IS RUNNING THAT MATCHING SYSTEM IN APPROVING WHO GETS IT AND WHO DOESN'T AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE HIRED BY WHOEVER IS CONTROLLING CONGRESS.

SO CENTRALIZING A POWER WHILE IT SEEMS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS MAKE IT MORE UNIFORM, A COP CROSS THE COUNTRY, I'M AFRAID IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO DO MUCH TO REINSTATE OUR PUBLIC TRUST IN THE SYSTEM.

>> MITCH IS THIS AN OVERREACH BY SPEAKER PELOSI?

THEY DO HAVE THE SENATE NOW SO I DO THINK THERE MAY BE A PROSPECT FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> YEAH IT POSSIBLY COULD CERTAINLY IF THE FILIBUSTER GOES AWAY IT WOULD MAKE IT A LOT MORE EASY SINCE YOU HAVE 51-50 WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS BEING ABLE TO CAST THE TIE BREAKING VOTE, BUT IT COULD BRING TO BE AN OVERREACH IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE SO IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY HURT NANCY PELOSI THE LAST TIME SHE TRIED IT.

SINCE IT DIDN'T THEN, I'M NOT SURPRISED HE'S TRYING AGAIN.

ONE OF THE SAD POINTS THOUGH HERE IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSIES OVER THE LAST ELECTIONS PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE ELECTIONS PERHAPS HAVE BEEN RIGGED.

IF YOU HAVE A NATIONAL ONLY ELECTION CONTROLLED BY CONGRESS IT WOULD MAKE THAT PROSPECT MUCH MORE LIKELY.

>> OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.

JOE, LET'S TALK POLITICS.

>> IS THE GOP HAVING A MELTDOWN?

ARE THEY HAVE AN IDENTITY CRISIS?

SOME PUNDITS THINK SO.

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING EVERY TIME A PRESIDENT LEAVES THE WHITE HOUSE, THEY IN EFFECT BECOME TO SOME EXTENT WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE OF PARTY CONTROL THE WHITE HOUSE, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR PARTY BILL CLINTON HAD THAT EXPERIENCE HE LEFT UNDER SOMETHING OF A CLOUD AS WELL AND SO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP NOW IN FLORIDA.

HE STARTED WHAT HE'S CALLED THE OFFICE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHICH IS NOT A THING IN THE SAME WAY THAT PRESIDENT ELECT BIDEN CREATED THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT ELECT WHICH IS NOT A THING, I SHOULD ANNOUNCE HERE ON FRONT ROW, I'M STARTING THE OFFICE OF 'JOE HAS A FULL HEAD OF HAIR, AND IS VERY GOOD LOOKING.'

IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO INVENT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD INVENT.

BUT I THINK FOR THE REPUBLICANS, THAT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE HERE, THAT THE PRESIDENT LEFT UNDER SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS LEFT UNDER SOMETHING OF A CLOUD, AND NOW THE QUESTION IS, IS HE THE TITULAR HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENT TRUMP THERE WAS SOME SPECULATION MIGHT BE PLAYING WITH THE IDEA OF FORMING HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY NOW, HE SAID THAT'S NOT TRUE.

KEVIN MCCARTHY AND THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE HAS GONE TO FLORIDA MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT COHORT WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BASE THAT'S LOYAL TO DONALD TRUMP REMAINS ACTIVE AND ENGAGED BUT THEY'RE SEEING THINGS LIKE IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS REPORTED 10,000 PEOPLE TO CHANGE THEIR REPUBLICAN REGISTRATION AS A RESULT OF THE EVENTS ON THE IN THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH.

BUT I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN IDENTITY CRISIS RIGHT NOW.

WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THERE'S A REAL CHALLENGE GOING ON BETWEEN THE LIBERAL WING OF THE OF THE DEMOCRATS AND THE VERY VERY LIBERAL WING OF THE DEMOCRATS AND IT'S LEAVING MODERATE DEMOCRATS A LITTLE BIT SCRATCHING THEIR HEAD LIKE WHAT IS THE IDENTITY OF THIS PARTY.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT ROLE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP PLAYS IN AMERICAN POLITICS GOING FORWARD, MY BET IS HE WILL BE AN ACTIVE AND VERY OUTSPOKEN FORCE IN OUR POLITICS GOING FORWARD.

>> GREAT POINTS.

DONNA, HE DOES HAVE TRUMP HAS AN 87% APPROVAL RATING AMONG REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED FOR HIM BEFORE AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE HE'S ALREADY STARTING TO ENDORSE HE ENDORSED THE CHAIRWOMAN IN ARIZONA SHE WON THE GOP CHAIRMAN AND HE'S GETTING INVOLVED IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY HE'S ALREADY FLEXING SOME POLITICAL MUSCLE AS A FORMER PRESIDENT AND I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN OFFICE WOULD BE WELL-SERVED TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THAT 74 MILLION PEOPLE IN THEIR PARTY THAT ACTUALLY VOTED FOR HIM NOT TRY AND BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG.

BUT I THINK IN GENERAL THE SOME OF THAT IDENTITY CRISIS IS THAT THE POLICY AND THE GOALS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAVE BEEN VERY REACTIONARY OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS AND INSTEAD OF LOOKING FORWARD THEY'RE REACTING TO WHAT THEY SEE DEMOCRATS DO.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK WITH A CONTRACT WITH AMERICA, IT WAS VERY CLEAR, 10 GOALS VERY POSITIVE MOVING FORWARD AND THEY WON, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY REALLY NEED TO DO IS CREATE A VISION FOR WHAT THEY SAY THEY WANT THIS COUNTRY TO LOOK LIKE AND REALLY SELL THAT VISION AND MAKE IT A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD FOR VOTERS.

>> MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, ONE THING WE DO KNOW, I DON'T THINK TRUMP'S GOING QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT.

>> YEAH, HE DEFINITELY IS NOT, A JOE HAS ALREADY REFERENCED THE OFFICE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHICH SIGNALS THAT HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO PLAY A ROLE, YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE FACT THAT HE SEEMS TO BE IN THE ENDORSEMENT GAME AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN SUP BACK FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SUPPORT HIM ON THINGS LIKE THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT THAT HE MIGHT BE OUT THERE TRYING TO HELP PRIMARY.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OFFICE, ESPECIALLY SENATORS WHO SEEM TO BE AGAINST HIM.

ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES HERE IS IF THE ELECTION TWENTY-TWENTY HAD BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT JOE BIDEN HAD WON, DONALD TRUMP AT LOST, I THINK ALL REPUBLICANS EVEN IF THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP WOULD SAY WHAT WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE TO WIN NEXT TIME AROUND.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT HE ACTUALLY WON THAT THEY ARE ENGAGING IN THAT SELF REFLECTION AND THAT'S GOING TO HURT REPUBLICANS.

>> YET HE ONLY HAS A 40% APPROVAL RATING AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN AMERICA.

>> YEAH, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS NEED TO DEAL WITH.

JUST HOW MUCH DO THEY WANT TO BE TIED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE IS VERY POPULAR AMONG REPUBLICANS.

AMONG UNAFFILIATED THE DEMOCRATS MUCH LESS SO.

OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> WELL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OF CONCERN TO PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT IS THAT THERE IS A DISPUTE ON THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS IN NORTH CAROLINA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SUGGESTED CHANGES AND THE SUPPORTERS OF THEM ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE HEARING FROM MORE VOICES ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE CULTURE AND ESPECIALLY TRYING TO GET MORE MARGINALIZED VOICES THAT'S HOW IT'S BEING PROMOTED.

THE CRITICS THOUGH ARE SAYING THAT THESE STANDARDS ARE BEING REWRITTEN TO PUT IN A POLITICAL AGENDA.

ONE THAT IS ANTI AMERICAN AND ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL IN CRITICIZING THESE STANDARDS IS ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BECAUSE OF HIS JOB LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON.

HE SAYS LOOK THESE THESE STANDARDS ARE BAD.

THEY SEEM TO BE ANTI AMERICAN.

THEY'RE TELLING PEOPLE TO VIEW OUR COUNTRY IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE DEALT WITH THERE SHOULD BE A VOTE ON THIS PERHAPS IN FEBRUARY.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> UNDERREPORTED THIS WEEK THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES IN NEW YORK DUE TO COVID.

A REPORT CAME OUT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK THIS WEEK THAT SAID THAT DEATHS IN NURSING HOMES, OVERALL DEATHS DUE TO COVID MAY HAVE BEEN UNDERREPORTED BY AS MUCH AS HALF.

AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE YOU REMEMBER GOVERNOR CUOMO WROTE A BOOK AND WON AN EMMY OVER HOW DOES HE HANDLE THE PANDEMIC.

SO NOW IF WE FIND OUT THAT PERHAPS EVEN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE GREATEST GENERATION DIED DURING THAT PANDEMIC - REMEMBER THEY WERE ON THE POINTY END, IT WAS HAPPENING THERE FIRST, SO THAT LEARNING CURVE, WELL INTENTIONED OR NOT MAY END UP BEING A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR HISTORY.

>> LITTLE FACTOID HE WROTE A BOOK ON HOW HE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC AND HE ALSO GOT AN EMMY FOR HANDLING THE PANDEMIC OKAY UNDERREPORTED PLEASE JOE.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK OFFICIALS IN GUILFORD COUNTY AND THE CITY OF GREENSBORO AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO LAMENT THE FACT THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO RECEIVE FEWER THAN THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 VACCINES THAT HAVE BEEN PROMISED THEM STATING THAT THE SUPER DISTRIBUTION CENTER THAT WAS BEING FORMED IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY APPEARED TO BE GETTING DOSAGES THAT WERE INTENDED FOR THAT CITY IN THE TRIAD, LAMENTING THE FACT GREENSBORO AND MUCH OF THE TRIAD FEELS LIKE THEY'RE THE RED-HEADED STEPCHILD IN NORTH CAROLINA LONG SHORT OF HELD ON THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.

SO MAYBE THE NEW DYNAMIC THAT'S EMERGING IN ADDITION TO URBAN VERSUS RURAL, IS URBAN VERSUS URBAN-ER >> LET ME ASK YOU BY AND LARGE DO YOU THINK THAT MANDY COHEN AND THE GOVERNOR GETTING GOOD MARKS FOR THE WAY THEY'RE HANDLING THE PANDEMIC?

>> YOU KNOW THAT I THINK THE POLLING SHOWS GENERALLY SPEAKING PEOPLE ARE NOT ON ENTIRELY UNSATISFIED WITH THE SYSTEM.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF KINKS TO WORK OUT.

THIS IS A A BIG UNDERTAKING AND THEY'RE JUST SORT OF WHACK A MOLE IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IT IN FIGURING OUT WHERE THERE ARE HOT SPOTS AND WHERE THE VACCINES NEED TO BE.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ON THE JOB LEARNING IN THIS PROCESS, BUT I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING PEOPLE FEEL AS THOUGH AT THE VERY LEAST GOVERNOR COOPER AND SECRETARY COHEN ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON TOP OF THIS.

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

>> MY WHO'S UP IS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES JOHN ROBERTS, WHO OF COURSE IS TAKING HEAT FROM ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM OVER THE YEARS, BUT I'M SAYING HE'S UP THIS TIME BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY READ THE CONSTITUTION WHICH SAYS THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT ONLY DEALS WITH AN IMPEACHMENT CASE IF THE PRESIDENT IS THE PERSON WHO IS IMPEACHED, DONALD TRUMP'S NO LONGER THE PRESIDENT SO JOHN ROBERTS ISN'T GOING TO TAKE PART IN THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL MY WHOSE DOWN, FUNDRAISERS FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE IN 2022.

34 SEATS RIGHT NOW ARE UP FOR GRABS, 20 OF THEM HELD BY REPUBLICANS SO REPUBLICANS WERE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT MORE WORK TO HELP PRESERVE THEIR SEATS AND THE 4 OPEN SEATS, INCLUDING ONE THAT JUST BECAME OPEN THIS WEEK ARE ALL REPUBLICANS THEY'RE ALL IN TOUGH STATES.

NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN.

AND NOW AS OF THIS WEEK, OHIO.

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

>> UP IS EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

WE SAW NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGN I THINK WE'RE WHAT?

AT 40 EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN THE FIRST >> [MARC] AND COUNTING!

>> 10 DAYS AND COUNTING.

THAT'S SETTING A RECORD OF COURSE THAT NUMBER BUT YOU GOTTA LOOK AT ONE REASON HE'S PROBABLY DOING IT.

THIS IS A STRAIGHT LINE BETWEEN YOU KNOW HIS SUPPORTERS HIS BASE WANTED TO SEE IMMEDIATE ABOUT-FACE FROM DONALD TRUMP AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S GIVING THEM.

THE PRIORITIZING CLIMATE POLICY UNDOING IMMIGRATION POLICY UNDOING SOME OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY.

SO WHETHER HE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT KIND OF FLEX THAT KIND OF MUSCLE WHEN IT ACTUALLY HAS TO GET THROUGH CONGRESS, THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STORY BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM WERE A LITTLE BIT VAGUE AND SOME OF THEM SET GOALS THAT WERE ALREADY ON TRACK TO BE MET SO SOME OF THEM MAY BE MORE SYMBOLIC THAN SUBSTANCE.

MY DOWN PARENTS AND STUDENTS WE'RE REALLY SEEING A BOILING POINT PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT NOT BEING IN SCHOOL.

WE'RE SEEING AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE LEADER PHIL BERGER HAS SAID THEY'RE WORKING ON SOME LEGISLATION THAT MAY GET THOSE KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> JOE WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK QUICKLY MY FRIEND?

>> WHAT'S UP, TOYS AND INCREASE OVER 16% THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN 2020.

25.1 BILLION DOLLARS PURCHASED AS PARENTS TRY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING FOR KIDS TO DO I GUESS THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE A REFRIGERATOR BOX TO GIVE THEM WHICH IS THE UNIVERSAL TOY, THAT'S INTERESTING.

WHO'S DOWN ANYBODY THE TWEETS OR USING SOCIAL MEDIA IS IN A HIGHLY CONSPICUOUS CORPORATE POSITION WE CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS AS RESULT OF ILL-TIMED OR POORLY WORDED STATEMENTS THEY MAKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I THINK THE CAUTIONARY TALE GOING FORWARD IS BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE THINGS YOU SAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR JOB.

>> SO CAN TWITTER BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH?

>> WELL, IT CAN CERTAINLY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR OCCUPATION.

>> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

>> VOTE COUNTING CONTINUES.

AS SENATE PREPARES FOR SECOND TRUMP IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AT LEAST IN A MORE HYBRID IN PERSON REMOTE SYSTEM.

>> JOE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFF TO A FAST START OR NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFF TO A SLOW START.

IT'LL DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE.

>> WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS, JOE FOR A BUDGET DEAL?

I AGREE WITH THE MINORITY LEADER, I THINK THERE'S A GOOD PROSPECT THAT WE'LL HAVE A BUDGET IT APPEARS BECAUSE GOVERNOR COOPER'S NOW IN HIS SECOND TERM CANNOT RUN FOR ELECTION AGAIN AFTER THIS TERM.

HE'S FAR MORE COMMITTED TO GETTING THE WORK DONE AND FIGURING OUT THE BEST WAY TO COMPROMISE WITH REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> OK WE'VE GOT TO ROLL.

GREAT JOB PANEL.

THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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