>> HI, I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> COMING UP CHAOS IN THE U.S. CAPITOL, GOVERNOR COOPER ANNOUNCES HIS PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE THE COVID-19 VACCINE, AND DEMOCRATS RETAKE CONTROL OF THE U.S. SENATE.

NEXT!

>> 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.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH CAROLINA JOURNAL, MEDIA CONSULTANT, DONNA KING POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, AND ROBERT REEVES THE DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER IN THE STATE HOUSE.

MITCH, LET'S BEGIN WITH THE CHAOS THAT ENSUED AT THE U.S. CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

>> WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6 WAS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT IN A LOT OF RESPECTS ANYWAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE DAY WHEN THE NEW CONGRESS WAS TO RECONVENE AND CONFIRM THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTORS VOTING IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO MAKE JOE BIDEN THE NEW PRESIDENT.

BUT THERE'S BEEN OF COURSE A LOT OF CONCERN, ESPECIALLY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ELECTORAL VOTES AND THE PRESIDENT UP THROUGH AND INCLUDING THAT DAY JANUARY 6 STILL EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS ROBBED, THE ELECTION HAD BEEN STOLEN, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP DECIDED TO GATHER FOR A BIG RALLY BEFORE THE CONGRESS COULD BE TO START DEALING WITH THE ELECTORAL VOTE.

THE PRESIDENT EVEN SPOKE AT THAT RALLY AND WHILE HE DID NOT DIRECTLY INCITE ANYONE TOWARD VIOLENCE.

HE DID STOKE UP THEIR ANGER ABOUT THE WAY THE ELECTION PROCESS IT PLAYED OUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT SPEECH PEOPLE MOVE FROM WHERE THE SPEECH TOOK PLACE TO THE CAPITOL AND THEN SOME PEOPLE DECIDED TO BREAK THE LAW BREAK THROUGH BARRICADES AND ACTUALLY TRY TO TAKE OVER PORTIONS OF THE STATE CAPITOL FORCING THE EVACUATION OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS WHILE LAWMAKERS WERE DEALING WITH ARIZONA'S ELECTORAL VOTES AND THEIR DISPUTES ABOUT THEM.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT WAS VIOLENCE.

ONE WOMAN WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY CAPITOL POLICE, 3 OTHER PEOPLE DIED FROM HIM AT MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER ENDED UP DYING THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF THE INJURIES AND ALL OF THIS ENDED UP BEING NEARLY UNIVERSALLY CONDEMNED EVEN BY THE REPUBLICANS WITHIN CONGRESS WHO HAD SUPPORTED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MEASURES TO TRY TO CHALLENGE THE ELECTORAL VOTES.

NOW, THE GOOD NEWS NEWS THAT CAME OUT OF ALL OF THIS IS EVENTUALLY ORDER WAS RESTORED, THE LAWMAKERS CAME BACK TO THE CHAMBER, THEY CONFIRMED PRESIDENT ELECT JOE BIDEN'S VICTORY IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND EVENTUALLY PRESIDENT TRUMP CONCEDED AND SAID THAT THERE WILL BE AN ORDERLY TRANSITION OF POWER ON JANUARY 20TH.

>> ROBERT YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> AND WHAT I WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE IS THAT WHAT YOU GOT TO LOOK AT AND ANOTHER THING I FEEL LIKE WAS REALLY GOOD, ACCORDING TO WHAT MITCH WAS SAYING, WAS THE UNIVERSAL RESPONSE THAT YOU SAW FROM BOTH REPUBLICAN LEADERS DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AND ALL SAYING THE SAME THING THAT THE IMPORTANT PART HERE WAS THAT WE HAVE A METHOD TO CHALLENGE WHATEVER WE WANT TO CHALLENGE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND THAT'S THROUGH OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

SENATOR BURR SAID IT BEST THAT ONCE THOSE CHALLENGES WERE EXHAUSTED, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DO, AND THAT WE'VE GOT TO RESTORE PEOPLE'S FAITH IN THE SYSTEM AND IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND THAT'S THE HALLMARK OF THE GREATEST DEMOCRACY TO THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER KNOWN.

>> DONNA THIS WAS A MASSIVE SECURITY FAILURE THOUGH.

IT WAS EPIC.

>> IT WAS.

EVEN AS I HEAR MUCH DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED, IT'S STILL CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M HEARING IT WAS CHILLING, IT WAS A TERRIFYING LOOK IN A BREACH IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT AMERICANS WATCHED WITH HORROR, THE ENTIRE WORLD WAS WATCHING THIS HAPPEN, INCLUDING OUR ENEMIES.

EVEN THIS WEEKEND WE'RE SEEING SOME OF OUR ENEMIES MAKING MOVES BECAUSE THEY SAW THAT HUGE HOLE IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE EVEN MORE PEOPLE FIRED OR EXAMINED OR INVESTIGATED OVER THE LACK OF SECURITY AROUND THE CAPITAL AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES DURING THAT TIME.

BUT OF COURSE AT THE END OF THE DAY AND I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT BOTH PARTIES PRESENT A UNIFIED DISGUST OVER WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE VIOLENCE WHETHER IT HAPPENS IN KENOSHA OR PORTLAND OR WASHINGTON D C IS ALWAYS UNACCEPTABLE.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE SYSTEM IN PLACE THAT WE DO AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT I BELIEVE THE VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE SHOWED IN STICKING TO THAT CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS AND GOING BACK THE SAME DAY AND CONTINUING THAT WITH WHICH THEY'RE CHARGED WITH DOING BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF RESOLVING THAT ISSUE THAT DAY.

>> JOE WHAT WAS THE POLITICAL IMPACT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON TRUMP?

IS HE A VIABLE CANDIDATE IN 2024?

>> I THINK THOSE IMAGES JARRING AS THEY ARE IT WILL BE VERY HARD FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO LIVE DOWN, AND LOOK, I WAS MOST STRUCK BY THE FACT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT THE LAST TIME A GROUP OF ANGRY PEOPLE CREATED AN ASSAULT ON THE U.S. CAPITOL WAS WHEN BRITISH TROOPS DID IT IN 1814 TO BURN THE PLACE AND SO I THINK THIS CREATES A TERRIBLE HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE TO THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, IT'S VERY HARD TO IMAGINE HOW THE PRESIDENT RECOVERS FROM THIS GOING FORWARD.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS.

I WANT TO MOVE ON.

DONNA GOVERNOR COOPER ANNOUNCED HIS COVID-19 VACCINE PLAN THIS WEEK.

FILL US IN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THE NORTH CAROLINA DHHS LEADER MANDY COHEN AND GOVERNOR COOPER RELEASED A PLAN IN MULTIPLE PHASES OF HOW PEOPLE WITH RANKIN PRIORITY TO GET THAT VACCINE.

NOW OF COURSE THIS COMES UNDER SHADOW OF THE REPORT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT SAYS NORTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF 7 STATES THAT HAVE THE LOWEST RATE OF VACCINATION RIGHT NOW ONLY ABOUT LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF NORTH CAROLINA'S HAVE BEEN VACCINATED NOW THAT PRIORITY LIST STARTS WITH OF COURSE IT MAKES SENSE IT WOULD BE HEALTH CARE WORKERS THAT COME IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH COVID PATIENTS.

SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN THE HOSPITALS OF THAT WOULD BE DEALING WITH THIS AND THEN IT MOVES DOWN THROUGH THE LIST, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHERE IT'S GETTING SOME PUSHBACK FROM SOME LAWMAKERS WHO SAY THAT THIS PLAN IS OVERLY COMPLICATED AND THEY SAY IT RELIES LESS ON AGE AND POTENTIAL MORTALITY RISK FACTORS THAN IT DOES ON FUNCTION IN THE COMMUNITY FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO WORK AT GROCERY STORES WOULD GET THE VACCINE REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE OR HEALTH CONDITION.

BEFORE PEOPLE SAY BETWEEN 60, 65 AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE BUT THEY'RE SAYING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE DOING AND WORKING THEIR WAY DOWN AGE WISE AND OF COURSE TAKING IN HEALTH RISK FACTORS RATHER THAN LOOKING AT THE FUNCTION OF THAT PERSON, WHETHER THEY'RE AN ESSENTIAL WORKER IN PLANTS ARE AGRICULTURE AND IN GROCERY STORES.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO SAYING WE REALLY NEED TO BE USING OUR PHYSICIANS OUR PHARMACIES MORE THAN THESE PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES AND HOSPITALS TO ADMINISTER IT.

>> JOE WHAT WAS THE REACTION FROM THE GOP LEADERSHIP ON THIS PLAN?

>> WELL, I THINK ALL OF WHAT GOVERNOR COOPER IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH REGARD TO RESPONSE TO COVID-19 IS BEING MEASURED AND WEIGHED IN A POLITICAL WAY.

I THINK REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE WANT TO SEE A SMOOTH AND ORDERLY DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINE.

YOU KNOW, GENERALLY SPEAKING GOVERNORS, WHETHER THEY'RE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS ARE MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE BEST ASPECT OF THEIR TENURE IN HOW THEY DEAL WITH THE WORST OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY'RE HANDED.

AND IN THIS REGARD, NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THROUGH AT LEAST 2020 IN ALL OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US AS A RESULT OF HAVING TO SHUTTER BUSINESSES AND DEAL WITH THE ACTUAL MEDICAL NEEDS OF THIS, GOVERNOR COOPER NOW WILL BE MEASURED IN TERMS OF HOW EFFECTIVELY THE VACCINE IS DISTRIBUTED, AND DO NORTH CAROLINIANS GET THE VACCINE IN A TIMELY FASHION.

I THINK REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE WILL BE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING HIS JOB IN THIS REGARD.

IT WILL MEASURE HIS SUCCESS SPORTING.

>> THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE.

ROBERT IS THE GOVERNOR USING ALL THE TOOLS AT HIS DISPOSAL?

>> MARC, I THINK WHAT'S BEEN GREAT ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT'S DONE, YES, HE IS USING ALL THE TOOLS AT HIS DISPOSAL AND HE'S BEEN FLEXIBLE.

AND SOON AS HE SAW THAT IT WASN'T WORKING THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT BEFORE HE IMMEDIATELY CALLS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD HE'S TRYING TO USE THEM.

AND HE'S ALSO PAYING ATTENTION TO OTHER DISTRIBUTION SITES AND OTHER WAYS OF DISTRIBUTING THE VACCINE WHILE STILL FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES.

AND YOU KNOW I WOULD SAY THAT THERE IS AN IRONY THAT WE NOW WANT TO FOLLOW SOME OF THE GUIDELINES OF OTHER COUNTRIES BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE BEEN DOING AT AN EARLIER TIME FOR OTHER REASONS.

>> OKAY, MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT AND WRAP IT UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD IS WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT NEWS I THOUGHT, "THIS IS GREAT", BUT WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE TO STORM SOME FORTRESS.

CALLING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD SEEMS A LOT MORE SYMBOLIC THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

BUT I WOULD BE REMISS AS AN EMPLOYEE OF A FREE MARKET THINK TANK IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THIS IS SHOWING THE PROBLEM WITH CENTRAL PLANNING.

WHEN YOU HAVE ONE LEADER OF A GOVERNMENT TRYING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT DEALS WITH 10 AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR STATE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT PLAN IS.

>> OK I WANT TO MOVE ON.

IT WAS A BIG RACE, 2 RACES IN GEORGIA AND JOE LOVES POLITICS, DEMOCRATS RAN THE TABLE IN THE RUNOFFS IN GEORGIA, JOE.

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH BOTH JON OSSOFF AND RAPHAEL WARNOCK ONE THE SENATE RUNOFFS IN GEORGIA NOW GIVING DEMOCRATS A 50 SEATS IN THE U.S. SENATE EFFECTIVELY GIVING THEM CONTROL BECAUSE ANY TIE THAT WOULD EMERGE WOULD BE BROKEN BY THE VICE PRESIDENT WHO IS KAMALA HARRIS, A DEMOCRAT.

NOW THAT'S STILL A VERY TIGHT MARGIN IN THE SENATE AND SO THERE WILL BE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME MAKING SURE DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS REMAIN ALIGNED ON ISSUES.

BUT IT DOES OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE A SLIGHTLY EASIER TIME.

FIRST AND FOREMOST WITH THE CONFIRMATION OF POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FILLED BY PRESIDENTELECT BIDEN THAT NECESSITATES SENATE CONFIRMATION, SECOND IT GIVES THE PRESIDENT A LITTLE BIT OF A CLEARER FLIGHT DECK ON HIS PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES MOST NOTABLY OF A FURTHER PACKAGE TO TO DEAL WITH COVID-19, MUCH TALK ABOUT A $2000 STIMULUS CHECK THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND DEBATE OF THE LAST STIMULUS PACKAGE.

OTHER THINGS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE THAT THE PRESIDENT ELECT HAS INDICATED IS GOING TO BE A KEY PART OF HIS ELECTION.

LOOKING AT THE SENATE RACE, THE INTERESTING DYNAMICS ARE ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS WAS SPENT IN THESE RACES BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES AND OUTSIDE GROUPS.

THIS IS AN ABSURD AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I MEAN YOU COULD PUT MANY MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH COLLEGE FOR FREE WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY IN ALL OF THAT GOING INTO THESE RACES IS IS AN INCREDIBLE THING.

FOR NOW SENATOR ELECT WARNOCK THE INTERESTING THING IS HE'S GOT TO RUN AGAIN IN 2 YEARS, HE'S ON THE BALLOT IN 2022 AS WELL.

EVEN WITH THIS DEMOCRAT, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY ADVANTAGE NOW IN CONGRESS 2022 REALLY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND THE U.S. SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL SEATS THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

WE COULD SEE A SHIFT BECAUSE THE MARGINS IN BOTH CHAMBERS ARE VERY CLOSE.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO TALK TO MITCH MITCH.

JOE MANCHIN BECOMES A SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA WHO BECOMES A KEY PLAYER IN ALL OF THIS DOESN'T HE?

>> YEAH, HE CERTAINLY DOES BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT CRITICAL OF THE LEADERSHIP AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITHIN THE SENATE SAYING HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO ALONG WITH SOME OF THE PLANTS, HE'S HEARING, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE LEFT OF CENTER PLANS LIKE THE GREEN NEW DEAL THAT SORT OF THING.

SO HE REALLY DOES BECOME IN SOME RESPECTS A KINGMAKER.

ONE OTHER INTERESTING THING FOR NORTH CAROLINA, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ALMOST 50 YEARS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SINGLE FRESHMAN SENATOR, BOTH OF OUR SENATORS ARE VETERANS UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE STATE THERE ARE NOW VETERANS IN THE MINORITY PARTY, WHICH GIVES THEM LESS CLOUT THAN THEY WOULD HAVE HAD, HAD REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN CONTROL.

>> ROBERT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY DOWN THERE ABOUT UNIVERSAL MAIL IN BALLOTS.

ARE THEY SECURE?

DO THEY NEED ID TO FOLLOW THEM?

>> I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE UNIVERSAL, THAT THEY ARE SECURE AND I DON'T THINK THAT THEY ARE AS PROBLEMATIC AS PEOPLE WERE PUT FORTH IF YOU LOOK THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IF YOU'VE BEEN DOING MAIL IN BALLOTS IN SEVERAL STATES FOR YEARS, AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM, I KNOW THAT THEY GET ATTENTION NOW KNOW THAT THERE'S A DISCUSSION AND THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THINGS MORE SECURE, BUT DEFINITELY IN MY MIND, THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS AT THIS POINT.

>> DONNA THE $2000 THAT WAS THEY TRIED TO GET THROUGH THE SENATE BECAME A HUGE ISSUE IT FAILED AND I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON WHY REPUBLICANS LOST.

>> I THINK SO TOO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT A SIMPLE ISSUE EVEN A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON SOMEONE'S -- LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS THAT WOULD WOULD GET THAT 2000 BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT BE A TOP PRIORITY AS DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER.

NEAR TERM I THINK ONE OF THE BIG BENEFITS FOR DEMOCRATS AND FOR PRESIDENT ELECT JOE BIDEN IS THAT ANY CONFIRMATIONS THAT HE HAS RIGHT OFF THE BAT SHOULD FACE LITTLE OPPOSITION WITH THE DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED CONGRESS, BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THEY'RE GOING TO NEED IS MOVING FORWARD UNLESS THE FILIBUSTER GOES AWAY DEMOCRATS ARE STILL GOING TO NEED 60 VOTES TO GET MOST THINGS THROUGH SO MAYBE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO HAVE A DIVIDED CONGRESS AND THEY REALLY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE FROM BOTH SIDES.

>> YOU KNOW THEY ARE JUST ONE VOTE REALLY AWAY FROM ELIMINATING THE FILIBUSTER.

WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 10, 15 SECONDS JOE.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT WITH CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN, OSTENSIBLY CONTROL OF CONGRESS, DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS THEY THINK POSITION THEIR BEST FOR THE NEXT ELECTION FOR 2022.

WE KNOW HISTORICALLY THE FIRST MIDTERM GOES AGAINST THE PARTY IN CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE, SO IT WILL BE INCUMBENT UPON BIDEN TO MAKE SURE WHAT HIS ALLIES IN CONGRESS CAN GO BACK INTO THEIR STATES AND CAMPAIGN ON 2022 IS GOOD STUFF.

>> DEMOCRATS OWN IT.

OK I WANT TO PREVIEW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ROBERT WHAT'S THE COMING ATTRACTIONS?

>> WITH THE COMING ATTRACTIONS WE HAVE THE FIRST THING YOU KNOW IS GOING TO BE COVID RELIEF AND WE'VE GOT TO GET COVID RELIEF MONEY DOWN TO A SMALL BUSINESSES AND UNEMPLOYED WORKERS.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE GOT TO ATTACK IMMEDIATELY WILL BE THE 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR THAT OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO BECAUSE IT EDUCATIONALLY THEY HAVE STRUGGLED THIS YEAR THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN OR THE EDUCATORS AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO TO STIMULATE THEIR ABILITY TO GET BACK INTO SCHOOL AND GET BACK INTO A REGULAR FLOW.

THE 3RD THING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS MONEY GOING INTO BROADBAND.

NO IF ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT IT A PANDEMIC EXACERBATES PROBLEMS THAT WE ALREADY HAD ONE THE PROBLEMS WE ALREADY HAD IN THIS STATE WAS THE LACK OF BROADBAND THROUGHOUT THE STATE BECAUSE YOU'RE URBAN AREAS HAVE IT YOUR RURAL AREAS JUST DON'T HAVE IT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WE WANT TO GO INTO.

A 4TH AREA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF CONSENSUS IN, IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT HEALTH CARE COVERAGE THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VACCINATIONS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TREATMENT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FULL HOSPITALS, THE UNDERLYING ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IS WE'VE GOT TO GET MORE PEOPLE INSURED WE'VE GOT TO GET MORE HEALTH CARE JOBS FILLED AND WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THESE HOSPITALS AND THESE OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE DOWN IN FRANKLIN COUNTY ARE HAVING A DRIVE TO WAKE COUNTY IN ORDER TO GET ANY KIND OF TREATMENT SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE MAIN AREAS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING DOING, AND FINALLY I THINK YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE INVESTMENT IN THESE PUBLIC HEALTH CENTERS.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CONTROVERSY ABOUT USING THEM FOR THE VACCINATIONS THAT'S WHERE THOSE VACCINATIONS ARE, AND SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM MONEY SO THEY CAN HELP GET THE VACCINES OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

>> GREAT JOB.

DONNA, WHAT WILL YOU BE WATCHING FOR?

>> I THINK EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT DEALING WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR IS SO IMPORTANT.

THERE ARE SO MANY KIDS WHO BECAUSE DIDN'T HAVE BROADBAND OR PERHAPS THEY WERE AT HOME BY THEMSELVES DURING REMOTE SCHOOL A LOT OF KIDS HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS, THEY'VE FALLEN BEHIND.

WE'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON CATCHING THEM UP IF IT'S EVEN POSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE YOU GOT TO REMEMBER ONLY ABOUT 36% OF STUDENTS ARE IN FULL-TIME REMOTE SCHOOL AND A LOT OF THOSE KIDS MAY BE WORKING TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY BECAUSE A PARENT LOST A JOB THEY MIGHT BE WATCHING OTHER SIBLINGS, A LOT OF THEM MAY HAVE FALLEN BEHIND AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IMPACT THAT WILL LAST IN EARNINGS FOR A LIFETIME.

>> BUT WHERE DO YOU THINK WE'LL FIND COMMON GROUND JOE?

>> WELL HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE AROUND BUDGETARY ISSUES.

AS YOU KNOW LAST SESSION THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WERE NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES RELATIVE TO A STATE BIENNIAL BUDGET.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA TO CONTINUE TO BUMP ALONG AND NOT HAVE A BUDGET PLAN IN PLACE.

SEVERAL MANY BUDGETS WERE PASSIONATE DEALT WITH SOME ISSUES, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC EDUCATION TO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WE NEED A CONSISTENT APPROACH IN THE WAY THAT THE BUDGETARY PROCESS WORKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE DOES GIVE US A CHANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE APPROPRIATELY IN THAT BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES.

I DO HOPE THAT THERE IS SOME COMMON GROUND COULD BE FOUND AROUND PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET DOCUMENT FOR THIS YEAR, BUT AGAIN EVERYTHING IN THIS SESSION WILL HAVE THE LONG SHADOW OF REDISTRICTING ACROSS IT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE ISSUE WAS.

EVEN THE BUDGET AS INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE, THOSE ISSUES WILL BE LEVERAGED IN OTHER ISSUES.

SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT AND COME UP WITH A SOLID BIENNIAL BUDGET PACKAGE MATCH.

>> WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS IF YOU WOULD MY FRIEND.

>> WE'VE ALREADY COVERED A LOT OF THE GREAT TOPICS, ONE THING THAT WE HAVEN'T YET MENTIONED, BUT PROBABLY WILL GET SOME ATTENTION IS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE CALL IT THAT WITH THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS LAST YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

THERE WAS A GROUP THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY GOVERNOR COOPER, ANOTHER ONE BY STATE HOUSE SPEAKER TIM MOORE, THOSE GROUPS WILL BE COMING FORWARD, LEGISLATORS WILL PUT FORWARD BILLS THAT WILL EXPAND UPON THIS AND I'M SURE WE'LL SEE SOME SORT OF ACTUAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

>> OK I WANT TO GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> WELL DURING ALL OF THE CHAOS THAT WAS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON DC, A MUCH NICER EVENT TOOK PLACE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THAT WAS THE INSTALLMENT OF 2 NEW MEMBERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT.

AND THE ELEVATION OF LONGTIME ASSOCIATE JUSTICE PAUL NEWBY AS THE NEW CHIEF.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARTISAN BASIS OF OUR STATE SUPREME COURT, DEMOCRATS WILL STILL HAVE A 4-3 MAJORITY AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK OF THIS IS GOING TO MEET A BUNCH OF 4-3 DEMOCRATIC DECISIONS FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

WELL THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT RECENT HISTORY, THE LAST TIME DEMOCRATS HAD A 4-3 MAJORITY WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, 2017 2018 DURING THAT TWO-YEAR PERIOD.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT ISSUED 155 OPINIONS, A GRAND TOTAL OF 3 OF THEM SPLIT WITH THE 4 DEMOCRATS ON ONE SIDE, THE 3 REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER.

AMONG THE 4, 3, SPLIT.

IT WAS MUCH MORE COMMON TO HAVE THE 3 REPUBLICANS AND ONE DEMOCRAT FORMING A MAJORITY SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS NEW GROUP OF STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES WORKS TOGETHER.

>> DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> SO ONE THING THAT CAUGHT MY EYE WAS A STUDY FROM THE UNC SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM.

THEY DID A STUDY ON WHAT THEY CALLED NEWS DESERTS AND THAT IS AREAS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT DON'T HAVE LOCAL NEWS.

THIS STUDY FOUND THAT ABOUT 25% OF THE NATION'S LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS ABOUT 600 DIFFERENT NEWSPAPERS AND LOCAL RADIO LOCAL TV STATIONS HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS IN THE LAST DECADE, OR MAYBE 15 YEARS AND THEY POINT TO THIS AND SAY THAT YOU KNOW REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE DEGRADATION OF ONE MEDIA BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE STARTED TO SEE THAT POWER BE CONSOLIDATED IN JUST A FEW NETWORKS AND WE'RE SEEING THE IMPACT OF THAT EVEN THIS WEEK ON WEDNESDAY.

BUT WHAT THIS ALSO SAYS IN THIS REPORT IS WE COULD SEE A LARGER ROLE FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF US WHETHER IT COMES IN THE FORM OF A STATION LIKE UNC-TV OR IN THE FORM OF GRANTS BUT THEY SAY THAT PUBLIC BROADCASTING COULD GET MORE POWER A BIGGER ROLE AS NEWS DESERTS INCREASE.

>> JOE?

>> WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK DESPITE THE FACT WE'VE HAD SOME TROUBLED ECONOMIC NEWS AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 IN THE JOBS REPORT OUT THIS WEEK NOT ENTIRELY SOLID FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, NORTH CAROLINA CONTINUES TO DO WELL.

OVER 2 BILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS LAST YEAR IN OUR STATE CREATING 20,000 JOBS AGAIN WE'RE RANKED VERY HIGH IN PUBLICATIONS THAT LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SITE LOCATION ACTIVITY AMONG CORPORATE AMERICA, WE HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT A SHOW IN NORTH CAROLINA, HIGHLY TRAINED AND MOTIVATED WORKFORCE, A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE TENDED TO BY LEGISLATORS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED WHAT MAKES NORTH CAROLINA A DESIRABLE PLACE FOR BUSINESSES TO COME AND GROW.

>> ROBERT UNDERREPORTED PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> I'D SAY HIDDEN IN THE EVENTS OF WEDNESDAY WITH ALL THE CHAOS, WHAT YOU DID SEE WAS JOE BIDEN LEADING US INTO A NEW DIRECTION OF LEADERSHIP, WHETHER YOU SUPPORTED DEMOCRATS OR YOU SUPPORTED REPUBLICANS.

I THINK WHAT YOU SAW FROM HIM IN HIS REMARKS AND HIS LEADERSHIP WAS GIVING SPACE TO REPUBLICAN LEADERS ALSO TO JOIN HIM IN SAYING THIS IS NOT THE WAY THAT WE CONDUCT OURSELVES.

THIS IS NOT THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK AND WE'VE GOT TO START A NEW ERA OF TRYING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND I THINK ANOTHER PERSON THAT YOU SAW AT THE SAME TIME WAS GEORGE W BUSH DOING THE SAME THING SAYING, "GUYS WE'VE GOT TO "GET BETTER AT WHAT WE DO AND STOP SOME OF THIS BIPARTISANISM."

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

MITCH?

>> WHO'S UP GOES BACK TO MY UNDERREPORTED STORY THAT IS ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SAM ERVIN THE 4TH ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT WITH A COURT THAT HAS 4 DEMOCRATS AND 3 REPUBLICANS JUSTICE URBAN WHO IS A DEMOCRAT COULD BE AN IMPORTANT SWING VOTE.

HE HAS BEEN ON SOME CASES IN THE PAST.

MY WHO'S DOWN THE MOST FERVENT, MOST ARDENT TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HELD THEIR NOSE AND VOTED FOR HIM IT CHOSE HIM AS THE LESSER OF 2 EVILS DURING THE ELECTIONS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY BOUGHT IN TO DONALD TRUMP AS PRESIDENT.

IT'S BEEN HARDER AND HARDER FOR THEM RECENT WEEKS TO DEFEND HIS ACTIONS AND I THINK ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

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

>> I'M GOING TO SAY MIKE PENCE WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH WHAT HE DID OR NOT ON WEDNESDAY, YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS COMMITMENT HE SERVED DUTIFULLY IN THE SHADOW OF DONALD TRUMP FOR MANY YEARS WITH THIS EYE ON CONSERVATIVE ECONOMIC POLICY.

BUT THEN WHEN HIS FAITH AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS BELIEF UNCONSTITUTIONALISM WAS REALLY PUT TO THE TEST, HE DIDN'T FLINCH.

HE STOOD THERE AND HE BROUGHT THE SENATE BACK, BROUGHT THE HOUSE BACK AND THEY CERTIFIED THE RESULTS FOR PRESIDENT ELECT BIDEN AND HE IS TAKING THE HEAT FOR IT FOR SURE, BUT I THINK THAT HISTORY WILL BE KIND TO HIM.

I THINK MY DOWN IS GOT TO BE TWITTER AND FACEBOOK I THINK WINTER IS COMING FOR THESE MEDIA GIANTS I THINK THAT CONGRESS IT'S GOING TO START HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EDITORIAL ROLES THAT THEY'VE TAKEN AND WE'RE REALLY GOING TO SEE A SHIFT IN THE WAY OUR NATION PERCEIVES THEM AND THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE SHARING.

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

>> UP ARE DISTILLERS.

THEY GOT THE WORD UP BACK BEFORE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR THAT THE FDA WAS GOING TO IMPOSE A $14,000 FEE ON THEM FOR DOING OF ALL THINGS MAKING HAND SANITIZER WHICH THEY'VE DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD RESCIND THAT.

SO DISTILLERS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

WHO'S DOWN.

WELL, THE AMOUNT OF SPACE JUNK ORBITING THE EARTH.

THE JAPANESE HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT USING WOOD FOR SATELLITES, SO THAT IT WILL BURN UP MORE EASILY AS IT RE-ENTERS EARTH'S ORBIT SO I GUESS TO SOME EXTENT EVEN THOUGH JUNK IS DOWN TREES ARE UP.

>> OKAY.

ROBERT WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> WHO'S UP IS THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

>> SUDDENLY THEY'RE THE HALLMARK BATTLEGROUND STATE IN ALL OF THE SOUTH AND THEY'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY GOING FORWARD TO BE WE'RE ALL THE BILLION DOLLARS LIKE JOE TALKED ABOUT GETS SPENT FROM THIS POINT FORWARD GOING INTO 2022.

>> ARE THEY BLUE STATE NOW?

>> NO THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT A BLUE STATE THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THE HALLMARK BATTLEGROUND STATE.

AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY RAN THE TABLE ON THE NATIONAL OFFICES, WHAT THEY DID AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND STATE LEVEL THEY STILL STAYED A RED STATE.

OKAY WHO'S DOWN.

SENATOR HAWLEY AND SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO CONTINUED EVEN AFTER ALL THE CHAOS OF WEDNESDAY TO PUSH THE OBJECTIONS TO THE ELECTION RECOUNT AND I THINK THAT WHATEVER YOU FEEL ABOUT THEIR ACTIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GOING FORWARD WITH PERCEPTION AMONG THE NATIONAL GROUPS.

>> MITCH WHAT'S THE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> PROGRESSIVE PLANS FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL, GREEN NEW DEAL AND OTHER LEFT OF CENTER PRIORITIES.

>> WILL IT WORK?

>> I DON'T KNOW I THINK WITH A 50-50 SENATE IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> WELL, I THINK I JUST LIKE IN 2017 ROY COOPER IS DUE TO BE SWORN IN TO A SECOND TERM, BUT AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS TIME BECAUSE OF COVID NOT BECAUSE OF A SNOW STORM IT WILL BE WITHOUT A PARADE WITHOUT A LOT OF THE FANFARE WE NORMALLY SEE WITH A GUBERNATORIAL INAUGURATION.

>> JOE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK MY FRIEND.

>> THE PRESIDENT ELECT BIDEN INAUGURAL FESTIVITIES MUCH SMALLER AND MORE SECURE AS A RESULT OF JANUARY 6.

>> ROBERT HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> WITH DEMOCRATS TAKING CONTROL OF CONGRESS, THE ELECTION OF 2022 BEGINS NEXT MONDAY.

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

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