>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, ENERGY AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY TAKE CENTER STAGE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

DOCTOR FAUCI CALLS FOR LOCAL VACCINE, MANDATES AND INFLATION SURGES IN JUNE.

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 MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, DONNA KING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL, MORGAN JACKSON CHIEF POLITICAL STRATEGIST FOR GOVERNOR ROY COOPER, JAY CHAUDHRY, DEMOCRATIC WHIP IN THE STATE SENATE, AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

JAY WHY DON'T WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> SO YEAH MARC, THIS WEEK THERE WERE 2 ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANCE FIRST WAS THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY BILL THAT WAS HEARD AND SECOND, THERE WAS A HOUSE ENERGY BILL THAT PASSED.

FIRST DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT SENATOR BERGER HELD THIS WEEK HE ANNOUNCED NUMBER ONE THAT HE WAS INTRODUCING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND SECOND-TEAM REVIVE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAN SO-CALLED CRITICAL RACE THEORY FROM THE CLASSROOMS AT A SENATE HEARING DEMOCRATS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BEEN NO CONCRETE EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN SHARED THAT THEY WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE INSTRUCTION AND CURRICULUM FOR CRITICAL RACE THEORY HAD TO BE SHARED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION BEFORE THEY'RE TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM, AND LASTLY THAT ANY KIND OF THESE VIOLATIONS ALREADY FALLS AS A VIOLATION FOR FEDERAL AS FEDERAL AND STATE VIOLATIONS.

SENATOR BERGER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON, WHO'S LEADING HIS OWN TASK FORCE ON THIS SAID THAT THEY WILL PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF THIS IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THIS WAS ONLY A BILL THAT WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE THERE WERE NO VOTES YET.

I SUSPECT THAT THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE GOING INTO THE 2022 ELECTION.

AND SECONDLY, THE HOUSE PASSED A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY BILL IN A RARE MIDNIGHT SESSION.

THE ENERGY LEGISLATION THAT WAS SHAPED BY DUKE ENERGY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS SEEKS TO RETIRE INEFFICIENT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS, REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS AND KEEP POWER AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE.

DEMOCRATS CRITICIZED THE BILL BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT IT RELIES TOO MUCH ON NATURAL GAS AND NOT ENOUGH ON RENEWABLE ENERGIES TRADE GROUP SUCH AS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HAVE CRITICIZED THE BILL FOR TAKING AWAY DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY FROM THE UTILITY COMMISSIONS.

THEY BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO DRIVE UP COST AND DROP THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY AT A BILL.

IT'S A VERY LENGTHY ENERGY BILL A LOT OF OBSERVERS WERE SURPRISED HOW QUICKLY IT PASSED THE BILL.

BUT THERE'S CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH VOTES FOR THE BILL TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO AND GOVERNOR COOPER'S MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WILL VETO THE BILL.

>> NELSON YOU HAVE FLOOR.

>> ON THE ENERGY MATTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS THE ONE WHO SETS ENERGY POLICY NOT THE UTILITIES COMMISSION.

THEY JUST ADJUDICATE THE CASES AND OF COURSE THE PUBLIC STAFF IS THE ONE THAT THAT IS THERE ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS, THIS POLICY INCLUDES SOLAR, NATURAL GAS AND NUCLEAR, AND AS JAY MENTIONED IT GETS RID OF THE COAL-FIRED PLANTS, LOWER LOWER CARBON EMISSIONS, AND ENSURES THAT WE HAVE RELIABLE CHEAP POWER WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT THE EXPENSE OF POWER THAT YOU HAVE IN CALIFORNIA, AND THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS CONSISTENTLY.

ON A CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THAT IS SIMPLY ONE ANALYTICAL TOOL TO EXAMINE THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN RACE AND POWER AND IT'S BASICALLY AN ACADEMIC FAD I MEAN MUCH LIKE PHRENOLOGY AND SOCIAL DARWINISM WAS THE CRAZE AMONG THE PROFESSORIAL ELITES, IN NOVEMBER, CALIFORNIA ACTUALLY HAD A DIVERSITY REFERENDUM THAT FAILED BY A WIDE MARGIN, AND THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT CRT INFUSED POLICIES ARE UNPOPULAR, EVEN IN A LIBERAL MAJORITY MINORITY STATE.

>> IN NORTH CAROLINA, IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM?

WHAT'S THE GOVERNOR'S VIEW?

>> NO IT'S NOT.

LET'S BE CLEAR SOMETHING MARC.

THIS IS A MANUFACTURED ISSUE.

THIS IS A MANUFACTURED ISSUE FOR PARTISAN GAIN.

WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEMOS THAT WERE LEAKED FROM NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE GROUPS FROM NATIONAL REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATIONS, WHO ENCOURAGE LAWMAKERS TO TAKE THIS ISSUE ON, GET IN BETWEEN THE TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S A WAY TO ELECT MORE REPUBLICANS.

AND IT'S NOT AN ISSUE IT IS LITERALLY COMPLETELY MANUFACTURED.

IT IS THIS YEAR'S AS JAY MENTIONED THIS YEAR'S WEDGE ISSUE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE THING THAT FRUSTRATES ME AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS IS REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL SIMPLY ACT LIKE THIS IS A CRISIS IN EDUCATION.

AT SOME POINT I HOPE THEY WILL ADDRESS ACTUAL FUNDING CRISIS IN EDUCATION AND TEACHER PAY AND THINGS THAT ACTUALLY AFFECT STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATION.

>> DONNA WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

THERE IS A LOT OF PUSHBACK AROUND THE COUNTRY ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> THERE IS, I'M HEARING THAT ARGUMENT A LOT.

THEY'RE SAYING DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURED CRISIS.

I THINK THAT'S INSULTING I THINK IT'S INSULTING TO PARENTS, IT'S INSULTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE REAL CONCERNS PARTICULARLY AFTER THEY'VE BEEN YOU KNOW WATCHING WITH THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING AND THE ISSUE IS NOT CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING TAUGHT AS A THEORY IN THE CLASSROOM.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY A BAD THING.

I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO BE TEACHING 1776, AND 1620 AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS, THE GREATEST GENERATION OF WORLD WAR ONE WORLD WAR TWO, TO CIVIL RIGHTS, EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.

THE PROBLEM IS TRAINING THE TRAINERS TO TEACH ALL OF THOSE THINGS THROUGH THE LENS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THAT'S WHAT THE OBJECTION IS.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

GREAT CONVERSATION.

DOCTOR FAUCI WANTS MANDATES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> YES, >> LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANDATE.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING DOCTOR FAUCI HAS SAID.

HE SAID THAT WHILE RIGHT NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT CREATING MANDATES REQUIRING VACCINES, NOT EVEN FOR THE MILITARY WHICH I THINK IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THEY PROBABLY COULD.

HE SAYS THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE A STATE AND LOCAL VACCINE MOVING IT DOWN TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITY TO CREATE THESE MANDATES FOR VACCINES.

RIGHT NOW I THINK YOU SEE SOME HESITANCY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BECAUSE THOSE VACCINES ARE APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY USE RIGHT NOW AS THEY BECOME APPROVED BY THE FDA FOR BROADER USE YOU MAY SEE MORE MANDATES.

THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THAT?

NEW YORK CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE THESE VACCINE PASSPORTS, NORTH CAROLINA HAS A STATE CERTIFIED VACCINE CARD AND IT MAY BE OPENING THE DOOR PAVING THE WAY FOR PERHAPS A MANDATE.

THE PROBLEM THOUGH AS CRITICS OF SUCH A MANDATE AND A PASSPORT OR A VACCINATION CARD SAY IT CAN CREATE A DISCRIMINATORY SYSTEM BETWEEN THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BE.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WEIGHTS TO GO, BUT WE ARE SEEING DOCTOR FAUCI SAYING YOU KNOW WE NEED TO MORE MANDATES.

>> LET ME ASK YOU MORGAN SHOULD IT BE MANDATED OR SHOULD IT BE AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE IN YOUR VIEW?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AND I THINK WHAT DOCTOR FAUCI IS SAYING IS THERE ARE LARGE SWATHS OF THIS COUNTRY THAT EITHER ARE VACCINE HESITANT OR REFUSING TO BE VACCINATED.

WHAT THAT IS DOING IS PUTTING EVERYBODY IN DANGER.

AND HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY?

YOU'VE GOT STATES THAT HAVE 30% VACCINATION LEVELS AND AND FRANKLY ARE NOT MOVING UP.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF LOT OF DIFFERENT GENERAL ASSEMBLYS OUT THERE A LOT OF LOCALS.

WHO ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE NOT TO GET VACCINATED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S A MISTAKE.

WITH THE DELTA VARIANT ON THE RISE, IN NORTH CAROLINA BY THE WAY, HAD 1000 CASES YESTERDAY POSITIVE.

MOST WE'VE HAD IN 2 MONTHS.

YOU SEE A LOT OF THESE SPIKES THE GOOD NEWS IN NORTH CAROLINA IS ABOUT 60% OF NORTH CAROLINIANS OVER 18 ARE VACCINATED.

GUYS AT LEAVES 40%.

SO THINK ABOUT IF YOU GO TO TARGET OR WALMART RIGHT OVER 50% OF PEOPLE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

>> JAY WEIGH IN HERE.

>> MORGAN'S RIGHT.

YOU GOT THE DELTA VARIANT FIRST THAT'S MORE CONTAGIOUS AND MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, SECONDLY WE'VE GOT VACCINE HESITANCY IF WE'RE GOING TO IF WE'RE GOING REBUILD THE ECONOMY DEAL WITH THE ECONOMY LONG TERM WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

I THINK SOME OF THE MOST COMPELLING EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW IT'S COME FROM THE ABC COLLABORATORY WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UNC AND DUKE AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH THE VACCINES FOR KIDS IN SCHOOL AS AN EXAMPLE IS TO WEAR A MASK, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE SEE LOW VACCINATION RATES.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO LIFT THE MASK MANDATE ISN'T HE?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CDC LIFTING THE MASK MANDATE AND THE GOVERNOR AND DHHS IS REVIEWING THAT.

THIS IS AN EVOLVING SITUATION.

>> HAS FAUCI, YOU THINK NELSON LOST STREET CRED?

>> I THINK HE HAS THE GOVERNMENT HAS SENT MIXED MESSAGES ON THIS THEY TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, VACCINE PASSPORTS, AND THEY ARE CAUSING GREATER DIFFICULTIES BY CALLING FOR MANDATES.

ALL YOU DO IS YOU EXACERBATE THE DISTRUST THAT'S OUT THERE AND THAT'S THE WRONG ENVIRONMENT.

THE FAR BETTER COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO DESTIGMATIZED THE ENTIRE SITUATION, GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD NOT REQUIRE VACCINATIONS TO GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIFE.

BUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE AND ENCOURAGING CONFIDENCE IN OUR COVID VACCINES AND PUT ALL OF THESE VARIANTS AND THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

>> DONNA TO WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.

>> SO I THINK THAT THE NEXT MONTH 30 DAYS IS GOING MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE REALLY PERCEIVE THIS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO WHAT ARE THESE KIDS GOING TO DO WHEN THEY GET TO SCHOOL?

ARE THEY GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS?

ARE THEY GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO HAVE VACCINE?

>> WHAT AGES ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

>> WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT -- THE BIGGEST CONCERN OF ANYBODY UNDER 12 WHO ISN'T VACCINATED AT ALL, I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

THOSE WHO ARE OVER 12 HAVE THE OPTION, THE CHOICE IN THEIR PARENTS TO GET THE VACCINE OR NOT THOSE YOU MAY SEE FEWER MASK REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE OF THAT, AND SOME COUNTY SOME LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS ARE ALREADY TAKING THAT MANTLE UP AND DECIDING THAT THEY'RE GOING MAKE IT OPTIONAL.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT INFLATION IT'S REALLY SURGING.

>> IT IS THIS WEEK, THE LABOR DEPARTMENT RELEASED THE JUNE INFLATION NUMBERS AND AGAIN CONSUMER PRICES ROSE HIGHER THAN EXPECTATIONS AT 5.4%.

CERTAINLY THE CORE INFLATION RATE, INCLUDING OR WHEN YOU EXCLUDE FOOD AND ENERGY WAS AT 4.5% AND THAT'S THE LARGEST SPIKE SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 1991.

SO NUMEROUS ECONOMISTS INCLUDING THE FED CHAIRMAN POWELL THIS WEEK SAID THEY SEE THE BOUT OF INFLATION AS A TEMPORARY PHENOMENON AS PRODUCT OF REOPENING, SUPPLY CHAINS, PENT UP DEMAND.

BUT OTHERS LIKE LARRY SUMMERS, FOR EXAMPLE, DO FEAR -- >> LARRY SUMMERS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT HE IS THE FORMER TREASURY SECRETARY UNDER CLINTON WAS ALSO AN ECONOMIC ADVISER UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA.

AND THEY FEAR THAT THE INCREASES IN THE FED'S BALANCE SHEET WHICH THEY CONTINUE TO BUY EVERY EVERY MONTH AS WELL AS THIS MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, WILL CAUSE LASTING INFLATION.

AND HERE'S THE WORRY FOR LOW WAGE WORKER INFLATION AND CONSUMER GOODS IS NOW RISING FASTER THAN THEIR WAGES.

>> JAY, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SUGAR HIGH, THE STIMULUS WEARS OFF AND THERE'S NO MONEY COMING IN?

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK THAT THE ARGUMENT IS THAT THE STIMULUS IS CAUSING INFLATION AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PEEL BACK AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND INFLATION AND NELSON MENTIONED ONE PART, BUT I THINK THE OTHER PART IS IF YOU TAKE AWAY PANDEMIC-RELATED SERVICES AND THE AUTOS AND CAR PARTS OF INFLATION.

YOU'RE ONLY LOOKING AT A 0.2% INCREASE IN INFLATION.

SO I MEAN I THINK I THINK THAT'S NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER 2 IS DONALD TRUMP'S APPOINTED FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR JEROME POWELL SAID THAT THE INFLATION.

>> HE WAS WITH OBAMA FIRST AND HE MOVED UP THE LADDER >> BUT HE WAS KEPT ON BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HE HAS SAID AS HAS JANET YELLEN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TREASURY SECRETARY THAT THE INFLATION IS DUE TO BE TRANSITORY RIGHT NOW AND SO I THINK THAT I THINK SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS WE THAT WE'RE SEEING I THINK OR OVERINFLATED NO PUN INTENDED BUT I THINK IN THE MEDIUM TERM AS TREASURY SECRETARY YELLIN TALKED ABOUT, WE'LL GET BACK TO - INFLATION WILL COME BACK AND RECEED.

>> IS INFLATION A TOP TIER ISSUE, MORGAN IN 2022 IN THE MIDTERMS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A LIFETIME AWAY.

>> YOU TRACKING THAT?

>> YEAH, BUT WE'RE NOVEMBER 22 IS FIVE LIFETIMES AWAY FROM RIGHT NOW I THINK THEY BOTH MADE SOME IMPORTANT POINTS HERE AND I'LL ADD A COUPLE OF THESE YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY.

WHAT HAPPENS IS INFLATION DECREASES AT THE BEGINNING OF A RECESSION AND IT ALWAYS SPIKES AT THE END OF A RECESSION, WHICH IS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN POST COVID I THINK JAY'S EXACTLY RIGHT, LOOK AT THE AUTO INDUSTRY AS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

YOU SEE USED-CAR INFLATION BY 35% BECAUSE THERE ARE NO USED CARS ON THE MARKET, SAME THING FOR APPLIANCES, SAME THING FOR LUMBER.

IT IS A SUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUE NOT -- >> AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE TOO.

>> CORRECT.

AND I THINK THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE IS FOLLOWING CLOSELY, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT WALL STREET AND THE FED CURRENTLY SAY THIS IS A THIS IS A SHORT-TERM ISSUE AND THAT WE WILL GROW OUR WAY OUT OF THIS, BUT AGAIN I THINK EVERYBODY'S AND CONTINUE TO FOLLOW IT.

>> ARE YOU BETTING, WE'LL GROW OUR WAY OUT OF IT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK INFLATION'S GOING TO BE AROUND NEXT YEAR.

>> DONNA, HOW'S THIS IMPACTING YOUR FAMILY BUDGET?

>> WE'RE CERTAINLY SEEING IT AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT IS REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG IT IS I THINK IT'S ALREADY A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN PEOPLE WERE HOPING IT WOULD BE.

BUT IT HITS THE POOREST AMONG US AND THE MIDDLE CLASS THE HARDEST BECAUSE THEY JUST GO DOWN.

AND PRICES GO UP AND BUT I THINK THAT'S THE NOISE AND THE NUMBER WE SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKING AT.

WAGES ACTUALLY DROPPED IN MAY.

INFLATION WENT UP, BUT WAGES DROPPED AND THAT'S THE NUMBER WE REALLY NEED TO BE WATCHING AS HOW THOSE 2 MIX TOGETHER FOR FAMILY POCKETBOOKS.

>> NELSON, CLOSE THIS OUT FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> WE ARE EXPERIENTS OF MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN, NOT EVEN IN THE HEAT OF WORLD WAR 2.

AND ALL THAT FLOOD OF MONEY TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS PLUS THE FED CONTINUING TO BUY A 120 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES EVERY MONTH, YOU CAN'T PUMP THAT MUCH MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY AND THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSITORY AND OVER BY DECEMBER.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO TALK TO MORGAN, I THINK THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING RESULT IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN NEW YORK CITY FOR MAYOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY SO FORMER CURRENT BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT AND FORMER NEW YORK CITY POLICE CAPTAIN ERIC ADAMS HAS KNOCK ON WOOD, WON THE PRIMARY IS AND I'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN A MINUTE WHAT NOBODY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

THERE ARE A COUPLE BIG TAKE AWAYS FROM THIS.

FIRST OF ALL IS HE RAN ON REDUCING CRIME.

THIS IS IN THE MOST LIBERAL CITY OR ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, DEMOCRATIC VOTERS REWARDED THE CANDIDATE WHO WANTED TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME.

NEW YORK CITY SEEN A SPIKE WE'VE SEEN DURING COVID IN A LOT OF CITIES SPIKES IN VIOLENT CRIME.

HE ALSO RAN ON LISTEN, WE'VE GOT TO REFORM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE GOT TO INVEST MORE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MORE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND I THINK A COUPLE OF MY TAKE AWAYS FROM THIS.

IT'S A BLUEPRINT FOR DEMOCRATS TALKING ABOUT -- >> [MARC] BIG CITY.

>> IT'S ALSO A BLUEPRINT FOR DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AND FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

IS YOU'VE GOT A DEMOCRAT IN THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAN TALK ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME HOW TO DEAL WITH VIOLENT CRIME AND BE REWARDED BY A VERY PROGRESSIVE, VERY LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC ELECTORATE.

AND SO THE OTHER THING I THINK THIS DOES IS IT REALLY SORT OF DEBUNKS THE WHOLE REPUBLICAN ATTACK OF DEMOCRATS WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

>> BUT HE DID TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE DIDN'T HE?

HE SAID WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT WE OUGHT TO TAKE THAT OFF THE TABLE.

>> HE DOESN'T WANT IT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PLAYBOOK >> LISTEN MOST ALL DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT IT.

MY POINT ABOUT WHY THIS DEBUNKS IT, IS AGAIN, LOOK AT HOW LITTLE THAT ELECTORATE IS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE AND SO THIS IS A SMALL SEGMENT OF LEFT AND NOT REAL VOTERS.

>> JAY, IS HE A PROGRESSIVE OR IS HE A PRAGMATIC PROGRESSIVE?

>> HE'S A PRAGMATIC PROGRESSIVE AND I THINK MORGAN IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I MEAN I THINK NUMBER ONE, I THINK THE ELECTION TELLS US THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN URGENT TOP ISSUE.

I THINK NUMBER TWO IT IS THE PLAYBOOK BECAUSE HE TALKED ONE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT 2, TALKING ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND 3, I'LL SAY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE SENATE IN THE U.S. SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUPPORTED THE BILL WAS SPONSORED A BILL CALLED SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT BOTH INVEST IN SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT ALSO CARRIES OUT A LOT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TALKED ABOUT SO YOU CAN DO BOTH AND STILL BE APPEALING TO THE VOTERS.

>> NELSON, IS PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE BALLOT IN 2022?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT'S GOING TO BE A CRITICAL ISSUE.

I MEAN YOU JUST LOOK AT NEW YORK RIGHT NOW.

IN MAY SHOOTINGS WERE UP 73% OVER MAY OF 2020 JUST A LITTLE OVER YEAR.

AND I DO THINK THAT ERIC ADAMS DOES HAVE A PRAGMATIC STREAK, HE IS FOCUSING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT LOOK THIS ELECTION WAS A HUGE MAJOR DEFEAT FOR PROGRESSIVES ON THEIR HOME TURF.

AND THE PROOF IS GOING TO BE IN THE PUDDING AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF DEMOCRATS WHO STILL ARE PUSHING THIS DEFUND THE POLICE AGENDA >> HE'S GOING TO BRING BACK TOO PLAINCLOTHES POLICE WHICH DEBAZIO SHUT DOWN.

>> DONNA?

>> SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW MOST WHEN I WAS READING SOME OF THE BACKGROUND ON HIM.

HE SAID THAT HE HE THOUGHT THERE WAS AN INPROPER DEPLOYMENT OF OFFICERS.

I THINK THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO COMMUNITY POLICING AND WE'RE SEEING MORE CALL FOR THAT I THINK THERE WAS A MOVE AWAY FROM THAT FOR A LONG TIME IN POLICING NEIGHBORHOODS AND CITIES COMMUNITY POLICING PUTTING MORE COPS ON THE STREET MORE PEOPLE ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD BE WHERE HE TOOK NEW YORK.

I WAS JUST THERE THIS WEEK I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A REAL MISSING, HE DID NOT SEE A POLICE PRESENCE ON THE STREETS.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK DONNA.

>> ONE OF MY MOST UNDERREPORTED THIS WEEK IS THAT A STATISTIC THAT 93,000 AMERICANS HAVE DIED IN THE LAST YEAR IN DRUG OVERDOSES AND I THINK OF A LOT OF THE REASON WE'RE SEEING THAT IS THE OPIOID CRISIS, I THINK DRUG CARTELS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CRISIS THAT THE CHAOS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND WE'RE SEEING YOU KNOW CHINESE-MADE FENTANYL AND THEY'RE REALLY GETTING INTO THE STREETS AND COVID IS EXACERBATED THAT AS PEOPLE WERE AT HOME, AND SO WE LOST ALMOST A 100,000 AMERICANS THE LAST YEAR TO DRUG OVERDOSE.

>> I THINK THE CARTEL IS FLOODING THE ZONE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

I READ SOMETHING THAT SAID THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FENTANYL IN THIS COUNTRY TO KILL EVERY MAN WOMAN AND CHILD RIGHT NOW.

UNDERREPORTED MY FRIEND.

>> UNDERREPORTED IS WE TALKED ABOUT 2022 ELECTIONS EARLIER.

THEY'RE ALREADY STARTING.

THEY'RE STARTING IN THE BATTLE FOR THE SUBURBS AND THE SUBURBS ARE GOING TO DECIDE WHO CONTROLS CONGRESS, WHO CONTROLS THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN 2022, YOU'RE SEEING MAIL, DIGITAL ADS, DIFFERENT THINGS DROPPING >> [MARC] TARGETED.

>> TARGETED EITHER PROMOTING BIDEN AGENDA OR ATTACKING BIDEN'S AGENDA RIGHT NOW, AND I WOULD TELL YOU YOU KNOW THE REASON SUBURBS ARE SO IMPORTANT IS DONALD TRUMP WON THE SUBURBS IN 2016, IN 2020, THEY LEFT TRUMP IN DROVES AND BY 54% OF THE VOTE IN THE SUBURBS.

THAT'S WHY HE'S PRESIDENT I STATES RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE AS YOU SEE BIDEN HOLD HIS OWN CURRENTLY WHICH IS A GOOD THING FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2022, BECAUSE OF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE ON PANDEMIC, AND I THINK YOU'D HEAR A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO TELL YOU OFF THE RECORD THEY REALLY WISH TRUMP WOULD STAY OUT OF THE LIMELIGHT AS HE GOES AND DOES RALLIES AND TALKS ABOUT STOLEN ELECTIONS -- >> [MARC] THEY DON'T WANT IT TO BE THE ISSUE.

>> THEY DON'T WANT IT TO BE THE ISSUE AND PRAISING PEOPLE AS GREAT PEOPLE WHO ATTACKED THE CAPITOL BECAUSE THEY LOVE OUR COUNTRY.

THAT'S THAT KIND OF RHETORIC AND IF THAT'S THE FOCUS FOR REPUBLICANS THE SUBURBS ARE GOING TO STAY BLUE IN 2022.

>> UNDERREPORTED JAY?

>> THERE'S A NEW GALLUP POLL THAT ACTUALLY ILLUSTRATED THE MASSIVE GAP IN TRUST WE HAVE WITH INSTITUTIONS.

THERE WAS A 45 POINT SPLIT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND HOW THEY VIEW LAW ENFORCEMENT, A 49 POINT SPLIT BETWEEN HOW DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS VIEW THE PRESIDENCY, NOT SURPRISING.

MORE THAN HALF OF DEMOCRATS TRUST THE MEDIA COMPARED TO REPUBLICANS AND THE SAME HOLDS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, SO IT SEEMS LIKE IN MANY WAYS WE'RE LIVING IN DIFFERENT WORLDS.

>> WELL WE'RE STILL SEGREGATED RIGHT WHO WATCHES FOX WHO WATCHES AND MSNBC WHO WATCHES CNN.

>> AND SORTING BY NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE'S A BOOK CALLED THE BIG SORT THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW NEIGHBORHOOD SELF SORT THEMSELVES TOO.

>> UNDERREPORTED NELSON.

>> SOUTH AFRICA'S DESCENT INTO VIOLENT CHAOS, THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN GRIPPED BY RIOTOUS MOBS SINCE JULY THE 9TH AND THAT'S WHEN EX-PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA WAS JAILED FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT AFTER HE FAILED TO SHOW UP FOR CORRUPTION INQUIRY.

SO IT'S A MIXTURE OF ZUMA'S ANC SUPPORTERS AS WELL AS OPPORTUNISTS WHO ARE BASICALLY CREATING A WAVE OF LOOTING AND RIOTING IN THE EASTERN PROVINCES AROUND DURBAN AND JOHANNESBURG, SO HUNDREDS OF MALLS, FACTORIES, HOMES, GAS STATIONS HAVE BEEN LOOTED AND BURNED.

AS WE SPEAK 117 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED SO FAR 2200 ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT IN CONTROL.

SO THIS SITUATION REMAINS CHAOTIC AND SOCIAL ORDER IN THAT COUNTRY IS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING DOWN WE'RE SEEING THAT A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES.

>> HAS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TALKED ABOUT THIS?

>> THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT VERY LITTLE, BUT I THINK THE LARGER POWERS, NEED TO SPEAK TO THIS AND NEED TO BE HELPING THAT GOVERNMENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF -- >> IS IT UNDERREPORTED BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CUBA YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT WELL COULD BE PLUS YOU KNOW THE UNITED STATES IS FOCUSED VERY MUCH INTERNALLY NOW WITH ITSELF AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING OUTWARD AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, >> OK, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND DONNA, WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> UP, I HAVE TO SAY NORTH CAROLINA'S BUSINESS CLIMATE.

CNBC DID A STUDY A RECENTLY AND RANKED NORTH CAROLINA NUMBER 2 OF ALL THE STATES IN BUSINESS CLIMATE I THINK IT'S LARGELY DUE TO OUR CURRENT TAX CODE AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THAT COMING.

MY DOWN FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS.

THERE'S A STUDENT GROUP ON UNC CAMPUS THAT IS CALLING TO BRING BACK THE SPEAKER BAN IN THE 1960'S WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO PREVENT COMMUNIST SPEECH ON CAMPUS AND NOW THEY WANT TO USE IT TO PREVENT WHAT THEY SAY IS WHITE SUPREMACY SPEECH NORMALLY AFFECTS CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS.

>> MORGAN UP AND DOWN PLEASE.

>> A SIMILAR TO WHAT DONNA -- RALEIGH DURHAM THIS WEEK WAS RANK SECOND FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW AS THE BEST PLACE IN THE U.S. TO LIVE, WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE BUT AS PART OF THAT.

WILDLIFE CLEARLY THINKS RALEIGH DURHAM IS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE.

WE HAD THIS HALF WIT IN THIS FAMILY THAT HAD THE 40 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE SPITTING COBRA THEN WE'VE GOT WOLF-DOG HYBRIDS RUNNING AROUND IN THE TRIANGLE AND NOW WE'VE GOT A BEAR HANIGING OUT IN -- [ALL TALKING, LAUGHING] AT REX HOSPITAL.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON PEOPLE?

>> SO DOWN I WILL SAY.

TENNESSEE.

SO TENNESSEE THIS WEEK, THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WALKED BACK THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND ANY COMMUNICATION WITH TEENS ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE UNDER PRESSURE FROM REPUBLICANS IN THEIR GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE IS NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY SAID YOU CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH TEENS ABOUT A FLU VACCINE OR HPV VACCINE.

SO I'LL TELL YOU A PRO TIP, NO TRAVEL IN TENNESSEE Y'ALL.

>> UP AND DOWN PLEASE.

>> UP IS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, A REPLICA OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WAS UNVEILED AT THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR'S HOME IN WASHINGTON DC, FRANCE GAVE US A STATUE OF LIBERTY IN 1885.

SO THIS IS WASHINGTON'S OWN STATUE OF LIBERTY, WE DON'T NEED TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK ANYMORE FROM NORTH CAROLINA WE CAN GO TO WASHINGTON DC.

WHO'S DOWN, SOMEWHAT WHAT MORGAN SAID LITERALLY THE BLACK CAME DOWN FROM REX HOSPITAL.

THE WILDLIFE RESOURCE COMMISSION BIOLOGIST SAID THAT THE BEAR WANTED TO GET OUT OF THIS TOWN AS AS MUCH AS THE PEOPLE IN RALEIGH WANTED IT OUT OF TOWN SO THE BLACK BEAR IS DOWN.

>> UP AND DOWN NELSON.

>> KRISPY KREME TO THE RESCUE.

WHO'S UP, ITALY AND SOCCER THE ITALIAN TEAM DEFEATED ENGLAND TO WIN THE MUCH-DELAYED EURO 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT IN POLITICS RIGHT OF CENTER PARTIES ARE UP IN ITALY, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG ITALIANS WHERE A MAJORITY NOW SUPPORT THE RIGHT.

WHO'S DOWN THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT WITH ROLLING BLACKOUTS SHORTAGES IN FOOD, MEDICINE GASOLINE, THOUSANDS ARE TAKING TO THE STREETS IN HAVANA AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY EXPRESSING ANGER AT THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT, THE INTERNET WAS SHUT OFF BY THE GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS ARE BEING ARRESTED BUT THIS UPRISING HAS STAYING POWER.

>> WILL THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LIFT THE TRUMP EMBARGO?

>> I HOPE THEY DO NOT I HOPE THEY KEEP THE PRESSURE ON.

WE NEED THAT GOVERNMENT CHANGED THERE'S NO FREEDOM THERE.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> I THINK NEXT WEEK WE ALL TALK ABOUT MARK ROBINSON'S FACTS COMMISSION, THEY'RE GOING TO RELEASE THEIR REPORT AND WHAT THEY FOUND ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> I KNOW MORGAN WILL.

HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> [LAUGHTER] WON'T BE READING THAT.

>> SO NEXT WEEK US SENATE TAKES UP BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

BE A BIG BIG VOTE NEXT WEEK.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> I WILL BE READING THAT REPORT.

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE PASSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL MOVES TO THE HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE OPEN QUESTION OF WHETHER GETS A VOTE ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I HOPE SO.

I MEAN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE POWERFUL RULE CHAIR BEING A WAVE IN PUSHING THIS BILL >> QUICKLY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> CUBA LIBRE FREEDOM FOR CUBA.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO REALLY BUBBLE UP.

OKAY, THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GREAT JOB PANEL.

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: ♪