HI, I'M MARC ROTTERMAN, COMING UP ON "FRONT ROW", SOME NORTH CAROLINA TV STATIONS TAKE DOWN A CONTROVERSIAL REPUBLICAN AD.

ARE TARGETED TAX CUTS ON THE TABLE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

AND GOVERNEOR COOPER LAYS OUT A PLAN TO COMBAT FOREVER CHEMICALS IN OUR WATER.

NEXT.

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[dramatic music] A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT PBSNC.ORG/FRONTROW.

[dramatic music] ♪ - WELCOME BACK JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION MORGAN JACKSON CHIEF POLITICAL STRATEGIST FOR GOVERNOR ROY COOPER POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART.

AND COLIN CAMPBELL, THE EDITOR AT NORTH CAROLINA TRIBUNE MITCH, WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE ATTACK AD THAT SOME NORTH CAROLINA TV STATIONS ARE NOT RUNNING.

- THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE IS OBVIOUSLY INTERESTED IN PUTTING TED BUDD THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN INTO NORTH CAROLINA'S OPEN US SENATE SEAT AND PART OF THAT CAMPAIGN IS ATTACKING THE RECORD OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE CHERI BEASLEY AND SO THEY'RE FOCUSING ON HER RECORD AS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE NORTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT FOR A COUPLE OF ADS, THE FIRST ONE WAS CALLED VICTIMS.

AND IT DEALT WITH SOME ISSUES DEALING WITH SOME CASES THAT INVOLVED IN MURDER AND A CHILD MOLESTER THAT ONE DIDN'T DRAW ANY LEGAL COMPLAINTS BASICALLY THE ONLY COMPLAINT WAS THAT THE AD WAS DISTORTED OR TOOK A RECORD OUT OF CONTEXT.

WELL A SECOND AD THOUGH HAD A DIFFERENT TYPE OF COMPLAINT, THIS AD WHICH WAS CALLED VULNERABLE DEALT WITH 3 DIFFERENT CASES THAT THAT CHIEF JUSTICE BEASLEY WAS INVOLVED IN ONE WAS THE CHILD MOLESTER CASE THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST AT ANOTHER WAS A CASE INVOLVING ONLINE SOLICITATION OF A 15 YEAR-OLD BOY.

BOTH OF THOSE I HAVE TO DISCLOSE WHERE A SITE AID CITED COLUMNS THAT I WROTE IT CAROLINA JOURNAL.

IT WAS ACTUALLY THE CERTAIN RESPONSIBLE IT WAS ACTUALLY THE 3RD CASE THOUGH THAT LED TO THE PROBLEM, THIS WAS A CASE INVOLVING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND THE AD ACCURATELY QUOTED THE OPENING LINE FROM A NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE PUBLICATION, THE WASHINGTON FREE BEACON RIGHT SAID THE SUPREME COURT HAD VOTED TO FREE AN OFFENDER.

THE PROBLEM WAS EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS AN ACCURATE CITATION THAT'S NOT WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID VOTED TO SEND THE CASE BACK TO A TRIAL COURT DEMOCRATIC LAWYERS COMPLAIN AND SOME TV STATION SAID LOOK THERE'S A FACTUAL ERROR WERE TAKING THIS AD DOWN.

NOW WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING NEAR THE END OF THIS WEEK WAS THAT ONE LINE WAS CHANGED IN THE AD, THE ORIGINAL AD SAID SHE VOTED TO SEND FREE AND THE NEW AD SAYS SHE SIDED WITH HIM INSTEAD OF THE POLICE SO NOW THE STATIONS ARE RUNNING THE AD AGAIN IT BASICALLY IS DRAWING A WHOLE LOT MORE ATTENTION TO CHERI BEASLEY'S RECORD AS STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CHIEF JUSTICE THEN IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE HAD THERE NOT BEEN THIS COMPLAINT - WAS THIS POLITICAL MALPRACTICE JOE?

- WELL TO SOME EXTENT ANY TIME YOU RUN A POLITICAL AD WHERE THERE'S LESS THAN FACTUAL CONTENT THAT SOMEBODY HAS MADE A MISTAKE AND YOU DO NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE THE ALLEGATION YOU MAKE AGAINST A POLITICAL CANDIDATE BY HAVING FACTUAL - RESEARCH YOU THINK?

- WELL PERHAPS IT WAS IN THEIR ZEAL TO COME UP WITH THE BEST WAY TO CHARACTERIZE THIS UNFAVORABLY THEY USED A POOR CHOICE OF WORDS ARE REALLY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE A SUPREME COURT A DECISION OVERTURNED A LOWER COURT'S VERDICT ON A PARTICULAR MATTER.

BUT I THINK THIS DOES REALLY ENTER INTO THIS REALM IN THE NEW WORLD OF POLITICS, IT'S ALL OF THESE OUTSIDE GROUPS WITH VAST SUMS OF MONEY PUSHING OUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONTENT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME SORT OF AUTHENTICATION THAT THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF WOULD NECESSARILY HAVE FOR ANY AD ATTACKING AN OPPONENT.

I THINK THIS IS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE AND PROBABLY GET WORSE AS WE SEE WHAT'S LIKELY TO BE 200 MILLION DOLLARS COMING TO THE STATE, RUNNING ADS BY OUTSIDE GROUPS - FIRST IMPRESSIONS DO MATTER DON'T THEY?

THEY DO AND THEY MATTER A LOT, I'LL TELL YOU THE TWO THINGS ABOUT THIS THAT STRIKE ME AS A POLITICAL PRACTICE OR IS FIRST OF ALL IT SHOWS THEY ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT CHERI BEASLEY TO GO THIS STEP TO ACTUALLY PUT NOT ONLY A FACTUALLY INCORRECT BUT A LIE, TO DO THAT IN JUNE WHEN VOTERS AREN'T REALLY PAYING THAT MUCH ATTENTION SHOWS THAT THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HER STRENGTH AS A JUDGE AND VOTERS VIEW JUDGES INDEPENDENT WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT VOTERS LOOK FOR IN CANDIDATES.

THE SECOND THING, I'LL TELL YOU IS IT REALLY WAS A HUGE POLITICAL MALPRACTICE AND MISSTEP.

BECAUSE WHAT YOU DON'T WANT IS TO GIVE THE BEASLEY CAMPAIGN NOW THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO AFTER EVERY AD AND SAY LISTEN THOSE GUYS ARE LYING AND STATIONS TOOK THE TOOK THE AD DOWN FACT CHECKS PROVE THEY WERE LIED BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM AN ABILITY TO DISCREDIT FUTURE ADS.

AND AGAIN THESE ARE THE AD YOU NORMALLY SEE AS JOE SAID IN OCTOBER WHEN MORE VOTERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION, SO I THINK IT'S A HUGE MISSTEP.

YES, THIS WAS INTERESTING RESOLUTION IS TO WFAA REPORTING JUST LAST NIGHT THAT THE AD IS CURRENTLY BACK ON WITH A ONE SENTENCE WORDING CHANGE.

I THINK LIKE OUT THE ASPECT WHERE THAT SHE SET THIS PERSON FREE FROM PRISON AND CHANGE IT TO SIDED WITH THE CHILD PREDATORS, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, SO IT'S VERY MINOR TWEAKS CAN PRESUMABLY SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS FOR THE CAMPAIGNS.

NOW HOW LONG THEY'RE OFF AND WHETHER THE AD GETS DISCREDITED IN THE MEANTIME I THINK STILL TAKES PRETTY BIG HIT ON ON THEIR EFFORTS.

- I'M COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU FILL US IN ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK MY FRIEND, - YES, A BUSY WEEK.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NOTHING TOO MAJOR HAPPENING ON THE SENATE TOOK A FINAL VOTE ON LEGALIZING MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUT THAT BILL SEEMS TO NOT BE GOING ANYWHERE IN THE HOUSE, YOU HAD A BILL OF THIS WEEK IN THE HOUSE ON VIRTUAL EDUCATION, LETTING SCHOOLS USED A VIRTUAL DAYS INSTEAD OF SNOW DAYS WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT TO A LOT OF KIDS OUT THERE.

I WOULD IMAGINE AND THEN AN ISSUE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS.

A BILL THAT WOULD TAKE THE GOVERNOR COOPER'S ABILITY TO PICK MEMBERS OF THE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD AWAY AND REPLACE THEM WITH PEOPLE APPOINTED BY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN INCLUDE SENATE LEADER PHIL BERGER WHOSE FROM ROCKINGHAM COUNTY WHEN I TALK TO HOUSE SPEAKER, TIM MOORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WANT TO DO THAT STATEWIDE WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARDS.

BUT AS LONG AS THEY DON'T HAVE A VETO PROOF MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE, THEY KNOW GOVERNOR COOPER'S GOING TO VETO IT BUT BECAUSE IT'S A LOCAL BILL FROM ONE COUNTY HE DOESN'T GET A SAY ON THIS ONE SO THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE LIKE IT'S A SAILING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

- MORGAN ARE TARGETED TAX CUTS ON THE TABLE WITH THE GOVERNOR SIGN OFF ON?

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

- AS COLIN MENTIONED THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG ISSUES THIS AS WE KNOW THEY THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CLEARLY WANT TO BE OUT BY JULY 1ST THAT'S 3 WEEKS.

SO YOU'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT ONE LONG LIGHTNING ROUND FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND YOU'VE GOT BIG ISSUES OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE UPSET ABOUT 30 BILLION ABOUT 30 BILLION DOLLARS YOU'VE GOT MAJOR HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION GOT MEDICAID EXPANSION IS A PART OF THAT THAT HAS PASSED THE SENATE YOU HAVE IT'S CALLED MENTIONED MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THERE'S A BIG DISCUSSION THAT MAY START MOVING IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE MAY HOLD BILLS HOSTAGE, WE'VE GOT SPORTS BETTING, YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF - WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT.

- YOU KNOW THIS I THINK IT FEELS LIKE IF YOU TALK TO LOBBYISTS THAT SPORTS BETTING IS GETTING TO A PLACE THAT IS GOING TO MOVE.

AND SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME BROAD AGREEMENT.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S POSITIVE MOMENTUM FOR IT, BUT HE WANTS THE STATE TO GET MORE SHARE OF THE MONEY AND THAT'S THAT SOME OF THOSE ARE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW.

- JOE THERE'S A BILL THAT TALKS ABOUT CRIPPLING.

MEDICAL BILLS TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

- YEAH, STATE TREASURER DALE FOLWELL HAD LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF WHEN CONSUMERS ARE CONFRONTED WITH ENORMOUS AMOUNTS THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MEDICAL SERVICES THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED AND HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TRY TO RECOVER THAT MONEY THROUGH COLLECTIONS.

STATE TREASURER FOLWELL, WHO RUNS THE STATE EMPLOYEE'S HEALTH PLAN, HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE, TRYING TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AS IT WERE, TO FORCE ALL CONSUMERS FROM EITHER HAVING THEIR HOMES FORECLOSED ON OR FOR THEIR WAGES BEING GARNISHED AND TO GUARANTEE THAT SOMEBODY GOING INTO A HEALTHCARE FACILITY, A HOSPITAL, THAT'S AT 200% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL ABLE TO GET INDIGENT CARE AS WELL.

I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT DALE FOLWELL WANTS TO CHAMPION.

WE SHOULD ALL KEEP OUR EYES ON TREASURER FOLWELL'S EFFORTS IN THIS REGARD.

HE MAY WELL BE THINKING ABOUT A RUN PERHAPS FOR HIGHER OFFICE IN 2024.

- SO I'M HEARING HE'S THINKING OF RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

- YEAH, SO THIS IS A GOOD POPULIST ISSUE IN MY OPINION, FOR HIM TO TALK ABOUT, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR CREDIT REPUTATIONS DAMAGED AND DESTROYED BY EXORBITANT MEDICAL EXPENSE.

- MITCH, WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS, MY FRIEND.

PUT IT IN CONTEXT.

- I THINK THE BIGGEST THING GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS THE FINAL RESOLUTION ON WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE ABOUT THE BUDGET, 'CAUSE MANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS COULD BE HANDLED AS PART OF THE BUDGET.

WE KNOW THAT GOVERNOR COOPER AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE SENATE LEADERSHIP WOULD BE FINE WITH PUTTING MEDICAID EXPANSION IN THAT DISCUSSION.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY SEE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE HOUSE WANTS TO DO THAT.

THERE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY MUCH AN AGREEMENT AMONG... - IS TIM MOORE IMMOVABLE ON MEDICAID EXPANSION THIS SESSION?

- IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT HE'S GIVEN NO SIGNALS THAT HE IS.

I MEAN, HE BASICALLY DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S MAJOR IN THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND I THINK THAT'S PARTLY BECAUSE OF HIS CAUCUS.

HIS CAUCUS, WHICH HAD BEEN MORE OPEN TO MEDICAID EXPANSION IN THE PAST, I THINK WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT BEFORE THIS BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE THAT WAS SET UP TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THESE ISSUES CAME OUT WITH THE REPORT THAT THE SENATE JUMPED IN AND HAD THIS MEDICAID EXPANSION BILL.

I DON'T THINK THEY WERE THAT THRILLED ABOUT IT.

- I WANNA MOVE ON AND TALK TO YOU MORGAN ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP OUR WATER.

- SO AS YOU MENTIONED, MARK, THE GOVERNOR ROLLED OUT AN ACTION PLAN THIS WEEK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

THIS ISSUE ABOUT THESE FOREVER CHEMICALS, THEY'RE CALLED PFOS, PFOA, THEY'RE CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS THAT ARE IN A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PRODUCED IN THIS STATE IN A LOT OF FACTORIES AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT GET DISCHARGED INTO THE WATER SYSTEM.

THIS BECAME A REAL ISSUE, IT FIRST CAME ON THE FOREFRONT FIVE YEARS AGO WITH CHEMOURS DUMPING GEN X IN THE CAPE FEAR RIVER, WHICH IS A FORM OF PFOS AND PFOA.

AND ULTIMATELY, AND I WOULD TELL YOU WHAT THOSE STAND FOR, BUT I CAN'T PRONOUNCE THEM.

SO I'M GOING WITH THE PFOS AND PFOA.

[LAUGHS] I'LL LET DR. STEWART BE THE SCIENTIST HERE, BUT ANYWAY, SO THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE ACTION PLAN THIS WEEK, IT'S BASED ON SEVERAL THINGS.

AND I SAID, SOME OF THIS IS BASED ON WHAT THEIR WORK HAS BEEN CHEMOURS, THEY'VE HELD CHEMOURS ACCOUNTABLE.

THEY'VE STOPPED THE DUMPING OF THESE CHEMICALS.

- THEY'VE PAID SOME HUGE FINES, RIGHT?

- THEY PAID HUGE FINES AND THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO DO THERE TO PROTECT THE WATER SYSTEM OF CAPE FEAR.

WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS WHILE THE DUMPING HAS STOPPED, THE CONTAMINATION REMAINS.

AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT THESE CONTAMINANTS ARE IN A LOT OF WATER SYSTEMS, IT'S NOT JUST GEN X AND CAPE FEAR, A LOT OF WATER SYSTEMS AROUND THE STATE.

SO THE GOVERNOR DEQ ANNOUNCED AN ACTION PLAN THAT WAS REALLY A THREE PRONG, FOCUSED ON PROTECTING COMMUNITIES, PROTECTING WATER SYSTEMS, AND DEALING WITH THE CONTAMINATION THAT'S OUT THERE.

ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THIS IS ABOUT IS THE EPA ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR, A ROADMAP TO SET A NATIONAL WATER STANDARD FOR THESE CHEMICALS.

AND THIS IS REALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT WHERE DEQ AND THE GOVERNOR AND HOPEFULLY THE LEGISLATURE WILL GET ON BOARD WITH SETTING AN ACTUAL WATER STANDARD FOR THESE CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS.

SO FOLKS NOT ONLY KNOW WHAT'S IN THEIR WATER, BUT THEY HAVE A WAY TO ABATE THAT.

YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THESE CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS WHAT WE'RE SEEING INCREASE CANCER RISK, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN, A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES THAT COME FROM THESE SORT OF CANCER CLUSTERS, ET CETERA.

AND SO THE ACTION PLAN WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK AND THEY'LL BE DOING STUDIES THIS SUMMER.

- GREAT FRAME, MITCH, TED DAVIS, THE REPRESENTATIVE DOWN THERE DOESN'T WANT THE TAXPAYERS TO PICK UP THE TAB, DOES HE?

- NO, HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T.

HE PUT FORWARD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

AND WE SAW AN INTERESTING RESPONSE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT DID NOT WANNA SEE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY STEP IN AND SET THE TYPE OF STANDARD THAT MORGAN'S JUST TALKING ABOUT, TALKING ABOUT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CHEMISTRY COUNCIL, MANUFACTURERS ALLIANCE, THEY'RE SAYING BASICALLY DON'T HAVE THE STATE STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING THAT'S MORE STRINGENT THAN WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT DO BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE BAD FOR BUSINESS.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS.

THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS IS WE STARTED LEARNING ABOUT CHEMOURS AND WHAT IT WAS DOING ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT THIS HAD ACTUALLY BEEN STARTING LONG TIME AGO, PERHAPS AS EARLY AS 1980, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT NOT KNOWING ABOUT IT.

- COLIN, HOW BIG AN ISSUE IS THIS DOWN IN WILMINGTON?

- WILMINGTON IS A BIG ISSUE BECAUSE AS WE MENTIONED, THE RATE PAYERS, PEOPLE PAYING THEIR WATER AND SEWER BILLS DOWN THERE, ARE GONNA SEE THE COST OF THIS CLEANUP IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER IN THAT AREA.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SUCH A BIG ISSUE.

I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU SEE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE TED DAVIS, JOINING IN WITH DEMOCRATS TO SORT OF TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS ISSUE, EVEN AS REPUBLICANS ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE WHO DON'T HAVE AS BIG OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE YET ARE A LITTLE MORE RELUCTANT TO GO THERE AND ANGER THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

- JOE, FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT 40 SECONDS.

- YEAH, AS MORGAN ALLUDED TO, I MEAN, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A KABUKI DANCE HERE.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT REGULATIONS ARE NOT BURDENSOME, MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THEY DO.

COMMUNITIES WANNA KNOW THEY'RE SAFE.

THEY WANNA KNOW THAT THE WATER THAT THEY'RE DRINKING IS NOT GONNA CAUSE CANCER FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

AND SO YOU'VE GOTTA FIND AND STRIKE THAT PERFECT BALANCE.

THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO PULL OFF.

- MORGAN, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS, MY FRIEND?

- LISTEN, I THINK IT IS VERY INTERESTING AS BOTH COLIN AND MITCH AS YOU TALKED ABOUT THE BILL, YOU'VE GOT CAPE FEAR PUBLIC WATER IS PAYING LIKE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO REVERSE OSMOSIS CLEAN THEIR WATER, AND THEY CONTINUE TO PAY THAT, SO IS THE FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS.

AND SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, AS MORE OF THESE CHEMICALS, AS MITCH SAID, THEY'VE BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME AND WE JUST BECAME AWARE OF THEM BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCE ADVENTS IN TESTING.

SO IT'S GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A BIPARTISAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION THROUGH, OVER THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S OBJECTION.

- GREAT JOB, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW POLLS THAT ARE OUT WITH THIS WEEK.

A LOT ON GUNS, A LOT ON BIDEN'S APPROVAL RATING.

- YEAH, ABC NEWS RELEASED A POLL THIS WEEK.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE PRESIDENT STILL GETS HIGH MARKS FOR HIS HANDLING OF COVID 19, BUT HIS APPROVAL RATINGS ON ECONOMIC ISSUES IS AT 37%, WHICH REPRESENTS A 16 POINT DECLINE FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

SO THE PRESIDENT REALLY NOT SATISFYING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH HIS HANDLING OF THINGS LIKE INFLATION.

ONLY 28% SAID THEY FAVORED HIS WORK ON THAT AND GAS PRICES, 27%.

HERE'S THE DYNAMIC THAT MAY IMPACT THE MIDTERM ELECTION.

OF THE VOTERS THAT REPORT THEY'RE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE ELECTION, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT VOTERS IS THEY'RE ALL INTERESTED IN VOTING, JUST SOME ARE MORE INTERESTED THAN OTHERS.

57% OF THOSE WHO SAY THEY'RE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT VOTING ARE REPUBLICANS AND ONLY 44% ARE DEMOCRATS.

OF THOSE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN VOTING SO FAR, 66% SAY ECONOMIC ISSUES WILL BE THE PRIMARY FACTOR THAT WILL DRIVE WHO THEY VOTE FOR IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

A QUINNIPIAC POLL CAME OUT ON GUNS.

OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN RECENT MONTHS IN AMERICA.

- MASS SHOOTINGS.

THIS IS THE INTERESTING DYNAMIC IN THIS POLL.

WHEN ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE TYPES OF EVENTS, REPUBLICANS RESPONDED THEY FELT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WERE THE LEADING CAUSE, 45%, WHERE DEMOCRATS SAID IT WAS THE AVAILABILITY OF GUNS AT ALL AT THE SAME RATE.

BUT INDEPENDENT-MINDED VOTERS SAID THEY AGREED WITH REPUBLICANS.

THAT THEY FELT IT WAS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WAS DRIVING A LOT OF THIS REACTION.

HERE'S THE THING THAT I THINK IS GONNA MATTER THE MOST IN THE MIDTERM.

57% OF PARENTS SAY THEY'RE EITHER VERY CONCERNED OR SOMEWHAT CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF A SHOOTING AT THEIR OWN KID'S SCHOOL.

- MITCH, THEY DO WANT, ACCORDING TO THE POLL, FOLKS TO BE 21 TO BE ABLE TO GET A LONG RIFLE, CORRECT?

- THAT WAS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE.

SOMETHING LIKE CLOSE TO THREE TO FOUR SAYING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AGE RAISED AND I THINK THAT SHOWS THAT THESE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS ARE HAVING AN IMPACT, OTHER MASS SHOOTINGS, THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING, "LOOK AT THESE FOLKS.

WHETHER THEY ARE MENTALLY ILL OR NOT, THEY'VE GOT THE GUNS.

MAYBE IT SHOULD BE CHANGED."

I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S GONNA FLY BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THAT THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO FIND LEGISLATION ON CAPITOL HILL THAT WILL GET SOME SUPPORT.

- TOM TILLIS INVOLVED IN THAT.

- TOM TILLIS, PART OF A BIPARTISAN GROUP ALONG WITH JOHN CORNING, KYRSTEN SINEMA, CHRIS MURPHY.

IT'S A BIPARTISAN GROUP TRYING TO COME UP WITH NOT JUST LEGISLATION, BUT LEGISLATION THAT MIGHT PASS.

- DO ASSAULT-WEAPONS BAN, DO THEY WORK?

THEY TRIED THAT IN '93 TO 2004.

IS THE JURY OUT ON THAT?

- LISTEN, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPHS AND YOU LOOK AT THE ASSAULT WEAPONS WHEN THE BAN EXPIRED AND THE NUMBER OF MASS SHOOTINGS HAS GONE THROUGH THE ROOF AND IT'S GONE THROUGH THE ROOF IN THE LAST 20 YEARS PERIOD.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT THE POLL IS NOT ONLY HAS MITCH TALKED ABOUT FOR RAISING AGE, BUT RED FLAG LAWS, TAKING TAKING GUNS- - GOOD CATCH.

- AWAY FROM DANGEROUS FOLKS.

83% OF VOTERS RESPONDED THAT THEY WERE FOR THAT.

YOU LOOK AT CLOSING THE GUN-SHOW LOOPHOLE AND MAKING EVERYBODY WHO BUYS A GUN HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO A BACKGROUND CHECK HAD UNIVERSAL APPROVAL, NOT JUST WITH DEMOCRATS, BUT WITH UNAFFILIATEDS AND REPUBLICANS.

THIS IS GONNA CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE AS WE SEE THE NUMBER OF MASS SHOOTINGS EVERY YEAR GO UP AND UP AND UP.

AND PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY, YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS, THE FOLKS WHO ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ARE PARENTS IN THE SUBURBS AND THEY'RE GONNA BE A KEY VOTING BLOCK COME THIS FALL.

- IS THIS ABOUT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY, THOUGH, COLIN?

SOCIETAL?

IS THIS A LOT SOCIETAL?

- I MEAN, I WONDER IF THE MENTAL-HEALTH ISSUE HAS BEEN EXACERBATED, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG MEN WHO ARE OFTEN INVOLVED IN THESE MASS SHOOTINGS BY THE STRAIN OF COVID AND ALL THE CRAZINESS OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, MAY BE MAKING IT WORSE.

BUT I MEAN- - BUT THERE'S NO FATHERS IN A LOT OF THESE HOMES THOUGH, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IS THIS SOCIETAL, JOE?

- I THINK TO SOME EXTENT, ONE OF THE DYNAMICS, PARTICULARLY THE SHOOTER IN TEXAS, REPORTED THAT HE HAD BEEN BULLIED AS A YOUNG MAN.

SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME ASPECTS OF OTHER PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY WHERE WE SHOULD BE MORE ATTENTIVE TO TRY TO PRECLUDE PEOPLE FROM BEING SUBJECTED TO BULLYING WHICH LEADS TO MENTAL-HEALTH ISSUES SOMETIMES FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

- OKAY, WE GOTTA MOVE ON.

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

- WE HAVE KNOWN EVER SINCE A CONGRESSIONAL MAP WAS FOISTED UPON THE STATE BY THE COURTS THAT IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE USED FOR THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION.

THEY EVEN SPELLED THAT OUT IN THE COURT ORDER.

WHAT WE BASICALLY JUST LEARNED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED QUITE A BIT IS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MIGHT COME BACK AS EARLY AS THIS YEAR AND DRAW A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION.

TIM MOORE ANNOUNCING THAT IN A TV INTERVIEW.

OF COURSE, BECAUSE REDISTRICTING BILLS DO NOT HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING SUBJECTED TO A GUBERNATORIAL VETO, THEY WOULDN'T NEED ANY DEMOCRATS TO VOTE FOR THEM, BUT IF THERE IS A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WILL SEE OUR FIRST 20, 23 LAWSUITS ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL MAPS PERHAPS IN 2022.

- MORGAN, YOU'RE FOR REDRAWING THESE DISTRICTS, AREN'T YOU?

[LAUGHING] - AM I FOR REDRAWING THESE DISTRICTS?

[ALL LAUGHING] I THINK THEY'RE VERY CONSTITUTIONAL THE WAY THEY'RE DRAWN RIGHT NOW ACCORDING TO THE COURTS.

- UNDERREPORTED, MY FRIEND.

- MY UNDERREPORTED IS A LOOMING TEACHER CRISIS.

WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS THIS WEEK THAT TEACHERS ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION IN RECORD NUMBERS.

IN NORTH CAROLINA ALREADY THIS YEAR, 7% OF TEACHERS HAVE SAID THEY DON'T PLAN TO COME BACK IN THE FALL.

THAT'S DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS PRE-PANDEMIC.

- WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THIS TO?

- SO YOU ATTRIBUTE IT TO SEVERAL THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, PANDEMIC WAS VERY CHALLENGING FOR TEACHERS THAT NOT ONLY THEY HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PIVOT TO VIRTUAL LEARNING, WHICH A LOT OF 'EM DIDN'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, THE SCHOOLS DIDN'T, TO DO THAT.

MENTAL HEALTH FROM KIDS, THEIR STUDENTS, HAVE REALLY BEEN A CHALLENGE.

THEN WHEN THEY HAVE TO PIVOT BACK AND GO BACK TO SCHOOL, THEY WERE TREATED REALLY AS FIRST RESPONDERS AND CRITICAL EMERGENCY EMPLOYEES WHERE THEY HAD TO GO RISK THEIR LIFE EVEN BEFORE THE VACCINES WERE IN PLACE.

THEN LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN SCHOOLS, WHERE YOU HAVE LEGISLATURES TRYING TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY CAN TEACH, WHAT BOOKS KIDS CAN READ AND WHAT PROGRAMS THEY CAN UTILIZE TO HELP WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH.

THEN YOU ADD ONTO THAT, MARK, YOU'VE HAD 27 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR ALONE.

TEACHERS DON'T FEEL SAFE.

THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY UNDERPAID.

AND I THINK THAT'S NOT JUST A NORTH CAROLINA ISSUE, THAT'S AROUND THE COUNTRY.

- QUICKLY.

- AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE KIND OF RESPECT THEY NEED AND IT'S A CHALLENGE.

THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS 1970, WE PRODUCED 200,000 TEACHERS A YEAR.

WE'RE DOWN TO 90,000 TEACHERS A YEAR COMING OUTTA COLLEGE.

- GREAT CATCH.

JOE.

- THAT'S A PROBLEM.

- YEAH, WE MAY BE FACING ANOTHER DOT-COM BUBBLE BURST.

WE EXPERIENCE THIS IN THE ECONOMY FROM TIME TO TIME.

THE PROBLEM IS THESE TITANS OF THE SOFTWARE AND INTERNET WORLD ARE SUCH A MORE SIGNIFICANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY NOW WHERE THE LAST BUBBLE BURST, THESE COMPANIES WERE 2 OR $3 BILLION COMPANIES.

NOW THEY'RE 20, $30 BILLION COMPANIES.

17,000 PEOPLE LET GO OUT OF TECHNOLOGY STARTUPS JUST IN THE MONTH OF MAY.

MICROSOFT ANNOUNCED IT'S GONNA PULL BACK ON ITS HIRING A LITTLE BIT.

AND MAYBE THE ELON-MUSK-TWITTER DEAL IS STARTING TO UNRAVEL.

BUT IF THAT DOES COME TO PASS, IT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN OUR ECONOMY.

- COLIN.

- YEAH, SO MY UNDERREPORTED THIS WEEK, A BILL THAT'S NOT GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION OUT OF LENOIR COUNTY, THE KINSTON AREA, REPUBLICAN SENATOR JIM PERRY WANTS TO INSTITUTE RECALL ELECTIONS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD DOWN THERE.

YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT RECALL ELECTIONS OUT IN CALIFORNIA, THEY HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, INCLUDING I THINK IN THE PAST WEEK OR TWO.

NORTH CAROLINA LAW DOESN'T MAKE THAT EASY HERE BUT HE WANTS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE SPECIFIC TO LENOIR COUNTY AND I THINK WHAT A LOT OF THIS IS ABOUT IS BUYERS REMORSE.

- THAT IT BECOMES STATEWIDE?

- POTENTIALLY, YEAH, IF THE LEGISLATURE CHANGES AND A LOT OF THIS IS BUYERS REMORSE ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD.

PEOPLE ARE MAD ABOUT MASKS, THEY'RE MAD ABOUT VIRTUAL LEARNING, THEY'RE MAD ABOUT CURRICULUM.

AND THAT GIVES VOTERS MORE OF A TOOL TO, YOU KNOW, GET THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE BEFORE THEIR FOUR YEAR TERMS MAY BE UP.

- OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK, MITCH?

- MY UP IS NORTH CAROLINA'S RANKING WHEN IT COMES TO POLICIES DEALING WITH MEDICAL DEBT, IF THAT BILL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THAT TREASURER FOLWELL IS WORKING ON, COMES TO PASS.

THERE'S A GROUP CALLED INNOVATION FOR JUSTICE THAT HAS RANKED THE STATES ON MEDICAL DEBT AND SAYS NORTH CAROLINA'S POLICIES NOW RANK IT 28TH, SO ABOUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK.

IF THIS BILL WERE TO BECOME LAW, WE WOULD JUMP UP TO NUMBER TWO.

MY DOWN, WE'VE ALREADY REFERENCED THIS AS WELL.

SNOW DAYS, KIDS LOVE SNOW DAYS.

SNOW COMES DOWN, YOU DON'T GET TO WORK, BUT NOW THIS BILL THAT HAS GOTTEN THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE WOULD SAY THAT SCHOOLS CAN CONVERT WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE A SNOW DAY INTO A REMOTE DAY, SO YOU MIGHT STILL HAVE TO WORK AT HOME.

- THAT'S SAD, SAD.

- MAYBE THAT KIDS CAN'T VOTE.

[LAUGHING] - MORTON.

- MY UP AS WE TALK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY, FACEBOOK, OR THE PARENT COMPANY META, ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THEY ARE HIRING IN THE TRIANGLE AND GONNA HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE.

WE DON'T KNOW THE JOB NUMBERS YET, BUT THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF GOOGLE, APPLE, MAJOR TECH TITANS.

RALEIGH IN THE RESEARCH TRIANGLE IS REALLY TURNING INTO A HOTBED FOR THESE TECH TITANS, A TECH HUB.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'VE SEEN THE KIND OF INTEREST-- - SILICON VALLEY EAST.

- AUSTIN, BOSTON, SILICON VALLEY, IS YOU'RE SEEING THE KIND OF INTEREST IN RALEIGH, WHICH IS GREAT.

THE DOWN THIS WEEK, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON YET AGAIN IN THE NEWS, CAN'T SEEM TO KEEP HIS FOOT OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

LAST WEEK HE SAID HE WAS GONNA TAKE AR-15S TO SHOW THE GOVERNMENT, IF THEY GET TOO BIG FOR THEIR BRITCHES.

THIS WEEK, HE WENT EVEN FURTHER.

HE ATTACKED WOMEN AND SAID THAT GOD CALLS ON MEN TO LEAD, NOT WOMEN, AND WHEN GOD WANTS SOMETHING DONE, HE SENDS A MAN.

54% OF THE ELECTORATE ARE WOMEN.

I THINK THEY'RE GONNA HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT.

- JOE.

- YEAH, FURTHER-- - YOU WOULDN'T BRING THAT UP, WOULD YOU?

- EVERY DAY.

[LAUGHING] - YEAH, WHAT'S UP?

THE SURF'S UP.

APPARENTLY THERE'S THIS PHENOMENON OF HUNDRED FOOT HIGH PHENOMENAL WAVES THAT COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

WELL, RESEARCHERS THINK THEY'VE IDENTIFIED... JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THE PLANET HATES US APPARENTLY, BUT WAVES APPARENTLY TRAVEL IN CLUSTERS, AND THEY SOMETIMES GET TOGETHER AND FORM THESE HUNDRED FOOT WAVES.

WHO'S DOWN?

IT LOOKS LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CHANCES OF RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

POLLING EARLIER IN THE YEAR SHOWING A MAJORITY OF FOLKS SAYING THEY DON'T THINK THE PRESIDENT'S GONNA RUN AGAIN, AND EVEN A MORE RECENT CNN POLL SAID THAT 51% OF DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATIC LEANING INDEPENDENTS WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE OTHER THAN JOE BIDEN AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

- COLIN, WHO'S UP, AND WHO'S DOWN?

- I'VE GOT THE STATE'S AVIATION INDUSTRY.

THERE'S A BILL MOVING THIS WEEK TO EXTEND THEIR SALES TAX BREAKS THAT THEY GET.

THAT'S TO BRING MORE JOBS IN THE AVIATION SECTOR TO NORTH CAROLINA, BIG BOOST FOR THE GREENSBORO AREA.

DOWN, I'VE GOT A CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE.

BO HINES GOT IN TROUBLE THIS WEEK FOR FAILING TO FILE HIS ETHICS REPORTS ON TIME, AND THEN WHEN HE FINALLY FILED THEM, TURNS OUT MOST OF HIS INCOME IS COMING FROM A FAMILY TRUST FUND AND HE DOESN'T HAVE A JOB.

- HOW COMPETITIVE IS HIS RACE?

- IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN THE STATE AT THIS POINT.

IT'S A 50-50 DISTRICT.

THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF OUTSIDE MONEY COMING INTO THAT ONE.

- DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

- I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE RACES, MAYBE EVEN IN THE ENTIRE SOUTHEAST.

- OKAY, HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, MITCH.

- "US SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS WHETHER "TO TAKE UP NORTH CAROLINA REDISTRICTING DISPUTE."

- HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

- "MORE BOMBSHELLS FROM THE JANUARY 6TH COMMITTEE."

- DID ANYBODY WATCH THAT LAST NIGHT?

- EVERYBODY WATCHED-- - YOU TUNED IN, RIGHT?

HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

- "FIRST NAMED STORM OF THE HURRICANE SEASON, ALEX, "BUT EVERYBODY'S WAITING FOR THE THIRD NAMED COLLIN."

[LAUGHING] - I HOPE I DON'T CAUSE TOO MUCH DAMAGE.

- COLLIN, NEXT WEEK.

- NEXT WEEK, "THE STATE BUDGET TALKS STALL OVER DEBATES "OVER WHETHER TO DO A TAX CUT OR A TAX REBATE."

- ARE WE GONNA GET A TAX CUT?

- ARE WE GONNA GET A BUDGET?

- OKAY.

- THAT'S THE REAL QUESTION.

- STAY TUNED.

GREAT JOB, GENTS.

THAT'S IT FOR US.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON "FRONT ROW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

[dramatic music] ♪ - [ANNOUNCER] MAJOR FUNDING FOR "FRONT ROW" WAS PROVIDED BY ROBERT L. LUDDY.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY PATRICIA AND KOO YUEN THROUGH THE YUEN FOUNDATION, "COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES "IN OUR COMMUNITIES," AND BY... [dramatic music] FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY BODDIE-NOELL FOUNDATION, NC REALTORS, MARY LOUISE AND JOHN BURRESS, RIFENBURG CONSTRUCTION, AND HELEN LAUGHERY.

A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT PBSNC.ORG/FRONTROW.

[dramatic music] ♪