"DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> HI.

CHARLIE BRENNAN TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO HEAR OLD FOLKS TALK NONSENSE, YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE, AT LEAST WITH THREE OF US ANYWAY.

>> THESE TWO ARE NOT HAPPY.

>> GOT SOMETHING THAT I PROVIDED FOR THE SET.

I'M REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

BEHIND ME WE HAVE A BOTTLE OF FRIENDSHIP 7 WHICH WAS MADE HERE IN ST. LOUIS BY MCDONALD DOUGLAS.

.. JOHN GLENN FIRST ORBITED THE EARTH IN.

WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT IN ST. LOUIS AND MAKE A BIGGER TEAL AT THAT.

VIEWERS FOR LETTING US KNOW THAT MAYBE THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA.

SHE WILL ORBIT "DONNYBROOK" AS LONG AS THERE'S A "DONNYBROOK".

JOINING US TONIGHT, WENDY WIESE FROM THE WENDY WIESE SHOW, KTRS.

AND JOE HOLLEMAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH SITTING IN FOR BILL TODAY.

AND ROTATING GUEST, SARAH FENSKE, EXECUTIVE EDITOR ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE AND JACOB MANAGING EDITOR OF THE ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL.

WELCOME ALL.

WE ARE COMING UP ON THE ELECTION SEASON PRETTY QUICKLY WITH THE PRIMARIES BEING IN AUGUST.

A POLL HAS COME OUT THAT WESLEY BELL HAS PULLED WITHIN ONE POINT OF CORI BUSH.

THIS WAS.. KNOW, FRIENDS OF ISRAEL, KIND OF AMERICAN DEMOCRATS FOR ISRAEL.

BUT JOE, THEY WERE CORRECT ON A POLL IN NEW YORK, WHICH PREDICTED THAT THE CITY CONGRESSMAN THERE WOULD LOSE BY DOUBLE DIGITS AND HE LOST BY DOUBLE BY THIS ITS.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT OUR RACE HERE IN THE MISSOURI FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> IT CERTAINLY IS AN ATTENTION GETTER FOR THE REASONS YOU MENTIONED.

TH.. DEMOCRATIC FACE FOR MODERN ISRAEL.

AND THEY ARE.. ISRAEL AND ANTI-CORI BUSH.

AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO PUT A POLL OUT, AND ANY REPORTER I KNOW YOU TAKE POLLS WITH A HUGE GRAIN OF SALT BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS COMMISSIONED BY ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

THAT SHOWS ME LOSING.

IF I HAVE A POLL, I WANT IT TO SAY I'M WINNING.

WHEN I HEARD THEY WERE PUTTING A POLL OUT, OKAY, AND THEY PUT OUT THE ONE THAT SAYS 1%.

I WAS LIKE OKAY.

THEN I FOUND OUT THEY HAD DONE ONE ON THE GEORGE LATIMER JOHN BOWMAN RACE IN NEW YORK.

AND THEY WERE FAVORING LATIMER BY 17%.

IT ENDED UP BEING LI..

IT DOES SAY AT LEAST WHOEVER IS DOING THEIR POLLING WAS PRETTY RIGHT ON THERE, SO I THINK IT AT LEAST -- I GUESS WHAT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IN MY GUT, LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN MISSOURI, ALSO, I THINK THERE'S HORSE RACES.

ANYT.. 2016.

.. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THE GENERAL FEELING IS YOU GET OUT 4 OR 5 MONTHS IN, IT BASICALLY BECOMES NAME RECOGNITION.

AS TIME GOES ON IT GET..

I THINK WE ARE IN FOR TWO VERY CLOSE RACES THAT DEPEND ON FACTORS THAT WON'T BE DETERMINED UNTIL ELECTION DAY, WHO SHOWS UP AND WHO DOESN'T.

>> PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT JOHN BOWMAN'S RACE SAYING IT COULD BE A BELL WEATHER FOR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN MISSOURI'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THEY ARE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S AN EXACT MIRROR.

THIS IS THE ONLY OTHER MEMBER OF THE SO-CALLED SQUAD FACING A CHALLENGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGE.

NOW THAT.. YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES, ACTIVISTS WHO WANT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO BE PRO ISRAEL AND THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE COMING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO FIGHT THIS YEAR.

THERE'S DEFINITELY RESIDENCES BETWEEN THOSE TWO RACES.

>> DOES COREY ALTER HER MESSAGE?

I DON'T SEE HER ALTERING HER MESSAGE AT ALL.

>> SHE HAS PRETTY MUCH DOUBLED DOWN.

&g.. SHE IS WHO SHE IS.

WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED ABOUT COREY, SHE'S REALLY SINCERE IN HER BELIEFS.

THAT'S ALSO WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE ABOUT COREY.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE EVEN SOMETHING LIKE HER COMMENTS ON ISRAEL THAT COST HER SO MUCH WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN HER DISTRICT.

SHE'.. WHO'S GOING TO BE TAKING HER FINGER IN THE WIND AND SHOWING WHICH WAY IT'S GOING.

>> AS I WROTE A STORY ABOUT THE FIRST COMMERCIAL COMING OUT, BECAUSE I WAS CURIOUS WAS SHE GOING TO MODULATE HER MESSAGE ON ISRAEL, SHE DID NOT.

GO WITH WHAT GOT YOU THERE IS PROBABLY A GOOD WAY TO GO.

YOU GET ACCUSED OF SWITCHING THEN.

SO IF YOU'VE ALREADY STAKED OUT THAT POSITION WHICH HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED, TO SWITCH IT NOW MAKE IT LOOK EVEN WORSE.

>> SHE HAS MAJOR LIABILITIES, THOUGH, LIKE BOWMAN.

UNDER INVESTIGATION BY DOJ.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THAT.

SHE HAD THIS BIZARRE THING RESURFACE WHERE SHE SAID THAT SHE HEALED SOMEONE WITH HER HANDS.

GETTING A LITT..

TOWARDS THE BOWMAN COMMENT, HE HAD THE 9/11 TRUTHER MOMENT, BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY DIFFERENT ON NEW YORK IS THAT IT HAD GOTTEN REDISTRICTED INTO WHAT IS A MORE MODERATE AREA UP THERE.

ONE HERE.. LITTLE BETTER FOR CORE CORPS CORI BACK A LITTLE BIT.

>> SEVERAL OTHER POLLS, ONE OF WHICH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS PRETTY CLOSE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

SOME OTHER RAC.. LUCAS KUNCE, WHOA.

I WENT BACK IN TIME.

A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO JOSH HAWLEY THAN MAYBE WE MAY HAVE THOUGHT.

>.. POSSIBLE?

>..

WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.

>> I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE POLL SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT ASHCROFT HAD YOUNGER SUPPORT AND EIGEL HAD THE OLDER SUPPORT.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS THE.

>.. ME.

EIGEL KIND OF STANDS..

POLITICS OF 1950.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TURNED OFF BY THE ANTI-GAY POSITION.

AND NICE TO SEE MIKE KEHOE SURGE.

HERE IS .. OF US KNEW THREE YEARS AGO.

STAKED HIS CLAIM AS A REASONABLE PERSON.

>>..

THE NAME ASHCROFT RINGS A BELL.

WHEN SOMEONE CALLS YOU 6 MONTHS BEFORE AN ELECTION AND SAY ASHCROFT, I DON'T KNOW THAT NAME.

.. KNOW EIGEL.

ASHCROFT, SURE, I WILL VOTE ..

HIM.

AS YOU.. KEHOE'S CAMPAIGN, THEY HAVE A TON OF MONEY.

>> HE HAS THE ST. LOUIS RECOGNITION.

THER.. LOUIS, A LOT OF SUBURBAN VOTERS.

50% OF ST. LOUIS AREA VOTERS ARE REPUBLICAN.

A LO.. THAT AREA.

>> AND HE'S THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS KID, WHICH IS UNUSUAL.

ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY OUT OF STATE.

I THINK HIS APPEAL IS CERTAINLY TO THE URBAN AREAS OF MISSOURI WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, AND HERE IS A PERSON WITH MORE OF A CITYFIED URBAN OUTLOOK ON THINGS.

>> AND KEHOE AND ASHCROFT COMMERCIALS I DON'T THINK HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

>.. SARAH, YOU MENTIONED GAY ISSUES.

A RESTAURATEUR HAS CLOSED HIS RESTAURANT ON POLICIES OF GAY ISSUES.

I KNOW H.. LIKE WHY QUIT.

I KIND OF FIND MYSELF IN THAT CAMP, BE ACTIVE, BE AN ACTIVIST, BUT WHY STOP.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> ROB CONNELLY, HE WAS A JAMES BEARD FINALIST JUST THIS YEAR CAME FROM NEW MEXICO BACK FROM NATIVE MISSOURI AND WANTED SO MUCH CLAIM ON THE RESTAURANT.

HE'S A BELOVED FIGURE, SUCH A NICE GUY.

ANYONE WHO I.. JUST ADORES HIM.

HE SAID I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF MISSOURI AND I CAN'T LIVE IN A STATE THAT HATES PEOPLE LIKE ME AND DISCRIMINATES AGAINST USES.

HE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

I HEARD FROM FRIENDS IN THE GAY COMMUNITY AND SAY TO COME OUT SO PUBLICLY, IT'S ALREADY BEEN SUCH A TOUGH YEAR FOR THEM.

IT HURTS THAT HE'S LEAVING.

ON THE OTHER HAND, NOBODY COULD REALLY BLAME HIM.

>> ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS ODD ON THE TIMING AS WE WERE DISCUSSING IS THAT THESE PROPOSALS FROM ANDREW BAILEY, THEY ARE NOT EXACTLY ACTIVE.

THE ONE IN TERMS OF CHILDREN GETTING THE GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, THAT WAS TOSSED BY THE COURT.

ADULT ON..

IT FELT A LITTLE LATE TO ME TO TAKE A HUGE STAND, THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR.

>>..

CLIMATE IN MISSOURI.

HE DID MENTION THE TRANS ISSUES WHERE SOME OF THAT BATTLE MOVED ON TO A DIFFERENT BATTLEFIELD.

MISSOURI IS STILL A STATE WHERE EVERY YEAR PEOPLE INTRODUCE A BILL TO SAY LET'S GIVE GAY PEOPLE THE RIGHT NOT TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN-HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT.

THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR GIVING GAY PEOPLE IN MISSOURI THAT.

AND THEY CONSENT CONNELLY TO LONDON TO PROMOTE THE STATE.

WHILE HE WAS THERE HE FELT QUEASY, HOW COULD HE BE THERE FOR THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM WHEN THEY DON'T BELIEVE HE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS?

>> I GET THAT, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS A COSMO POLIC COMES COSMOPOLITAN STATE BEFORE HE OPENED BULL RUSH, AND HE HAS THE DESIRE TO BE A RESTAURATEUR, I WOULD HOPE HE WOULD STAY OPEN AND BE A BEACON TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT THAT'S HIS PREROGATIVE.

>> ONE LITTLE THING THAT I KIND OF THOUGHT, ON ALL THESE ISSUES THROUGH TIME AND PEOPLE HAVE ULTIMATELY BEEN VINDICATED BY HISTORY BUT THEY WERE IN THE SUPER MINORITY BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR, WHAT IF THEY HAD SAID I'M GOING TO LEAVE, GO TO CANADA, GO TO THESE PLACE ?S I DON'T LIKE THAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

>> IT'S HIS BUSINESS.

IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE HERE, BEST OF LUCK TO WHEREVER YOU GO.

IT DIDN'T GIVE ME A REACTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I'M SORRY HE FELT BAD AND DIDN'T FEEL WELCOMED HERE.

BUT EVERYBODY HAS GOT TO DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITH THEIR MONEY, LIVELIHOOD, IF HE THINKS HE WOULD BE HAPPIER SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUST O BEST OF LUCK.

>> FLORIDA HAS GOT ALL KINDS OF ANTI-DEI AND WOKE AND ALL OF THAT.

THER.. TELL YOUNG BLACK KIDS GOING THERE ON A FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP, DON'T GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND TELL THEM WHY.

DON'T PUT THAT ON THE KIDS.

HEY, NO, THE KIDS COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I'M ..

I'M IN THE MIDDLE, AND I'M NOT TELLING YOU NOT FOR GO TO SCHOOL THERE.

BUT IF Y..

THERE, YOU COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I WISH HE COULD STAY.. USE THAT VOICE TO MAYBE POSSIBLY CHANGE SOME MINDS HERE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

>> I FEEL LIKE THE INTERVIEWEE GAVE WHERE HE SAID IT GOT SO MUCH PUBLICITY, GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING.

I HOPE SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT DON'T WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE EQUAL RIGHTS, THAT IT'S GOT THEIR ATTENTION.

>> WE COULD HOPE, BUT I DOUBT IT.

ON A SOMBER NOTE, TWO GENTLEMEN -- TWO MEN WERE SENTENCED TO CONSECUTIVE LIFE CENTSS FOR A MURDER FOR HIRE SCHEME THAT LEFT A YOUNG TEACHER AND HER UNBORN CHILD DEAD.

WHEN I READ THE STORY, I HAD NO UNDERSTANDING WHY THE DEATH PENALTY WAS NOT PURSUED IN THESE CASES.

WENDY, I MEAN, IF ANYTHING SCREAMED DEATH PENALTY, IT WAS THIS CASE.

IT WAS NOT IN THE COUNTY.

AND WESLEY BELL SAID HE WAS NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE DEATH PENALTY CASES, BUT THIS WAS IN THE CITY.

I'M FLABBERGASTED THAT WE'RE NOT THERE.

&g.. BECAUSE THE CASE OF COREY HILL GREEN, AND HIRED A FRIEND PHILIP CUTLER TO DO AWAY WITH HIS PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND, IT WAS JUST CHILLING.

IT W.. READ.

I KN.. REPORTERS ARE COVERING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I HAVE NO IDEA IN TERMS OF THE LEGALITY BEHIND IT, AND YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS.

ONCE THE PROCESS BEGINS, YOU CAN'T THEN MAKE IT A CAPITAL CASE.

BU.. BEEN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS CASE.

..

PREGNANT YOUNG WOMAN SNUFFED OUT IN THE PRIME OF HER LIFE.

IT'S HORRIBLE, TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

HOWEVER, THIS CASE BEGAN WHEN JENNIFER JOYCE WAS CIRCUIT ATTORNEY AND MY FORMER PAPER, RIVERFRONT TIMES INTERVIEWED ABOUT HER FEELINGS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR HER TALK ABOUT THIS.

SHE WAS A "LAW AND ORDER" KIND OF PERSON.

WE THINK OF HER AS DIFFERENT THAN KIM GARDNER WHO FOLLOWED.

SHE SAID SHE NEVER WANTED TO TAKE THE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE.

SHE WO..

ANNOUNCEMENT LIKE WESLEY BELL MADE AND SAY SHE WOULD NEVER.. FOR IT.

BUT CITY JURIES WEREN'T THERE.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY THAT I MYSELF SHARE.

SHE TRIED FOR IT A COUPLE TIMES.

JURY SAID NO.

THERE ENDED UP BEING NO ONE IN HER TENURE THAT WAS CONVICTED IN A CAPITAL CASE.

AND THAT CONTINUED IN KIM GARDNER'S CASE AND IN THE LATER YEARS THEY DID NOT EVEN TRY.

THEY ARE ELECTED PROSECUTORS WHO REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS, AND THESE ARE CONSTITUENTS THAT AREN'T DOWN FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> I THINK.. DECISION.

IF Y.. COUNTY OR CITY THAT WOULD HAVE A LIBERAL BASE.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE MOST OF YOUR JURORS ARE COMING IN OR AT LEAST TO A LIBERAL SIDE, MORE THAN CONSERVATIVE.

AND THEN..

COMPLICATIONS.

IF YOU E..

SELECTION NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE REGULAR QUESTIONS BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK THEM HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY.

IT BECOMES A MUCH MORE DRAWN OUT CASE WHERE YOU SAY I'M BASICALLY GOING, AND WHEN YOU HAVE TWO LIFE SENTENCES CONSECUTIVE TALKING ABOUT LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

JURY A LOT O..

EVEN THOSE THAT SAY THEY ARE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

AND VETERAN COURT REPORTERS THEY GET IN THERE AND SAY YEAH, I'M FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

THEY START TO THINK ABOUT IT.

I'M FOR IT IN GENERAL.

I DON'T WANT TO BE ONE OF THE 12 SAYING BOOM.

IT PROBABLY WAS A STRATEGIC DECISION.

I AG.. YOU COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANYMORE -- IF YOU WERE LOOKING TO DESCRIBE A HEINOUS CRIME, THIS FITS EVERY SINGLE BOX, CLICKS EVERYONE.

BUT IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A STRATEGIC DECISION, AND THEY DID GET THE CONVICTIONS.

NOW BOTH THESE GUYS WILL BE IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

>.. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIG OUTCRY.

WE ARE TALKING BEFORE ABOUT YES, WE HAVE PUT THESE PEOPLE TO DEATH.

WH.. THAT, JOE, I'M A REMINDER OF ALL THE STUDIES SAYING ULTIMATELY SOCIETY PAYS MORE TO KILL SOMEONE.

..

THINK, AGAINST IT FOR ME.

>> I GOT MY ISSUES WITH THE DEATH PENALTY.

SOMETIME.. AND SAY ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS IS ONE.

ABSOLUTELY, ONCE.. COVID HIT US.

WE SHUT DOWN IN 2019.

HERE WE ARE IN 2024, AND TEST SCORES ARE LOW IN MISSOURI AND IN KANSAS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEING ASSESSED TO THESE LOW TEST SCORES IS THE PANDEMIC.

I MYSELF THINK IT'S TIME TO QUIT PLAYING THE COVID CARD AS FAR AS ALL THE AILMENTS THAT SOCIETY HAVE.

SARAH, AM I MEAN SPIRITED?

>> YES, YOU ARE, ALVIN.

THANK YOU FOR FRAMING THAT QUESTION RIGHT.

I WILL SAY I HAVE GOOD FRIENDS THAT ARE SCHOOLTEACHERS, AND THEY ARE VERY FIRMLY OF THE BELIEF THAT COVID JUST BROKE SO MANY KIDS, THAT WHAT WE DID TO KIDS DURING THE PANDEMIC WHERE WE SENT THEM HOME AND PUT THEM IN FRONT OF SCREENS WHEN KIDS NEED INTERACTION WITH OTHER KIDS, NEED TO BE THERE WITH THE TEACHER IN PERSON, THEY BECAME SO FAR BACK FROM THAT NOT JUST EDUCATIONALLY BUT EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT ALL RIGHT.

I 100% BLAME COVID, WHICH WAS JUST IN THE YEAR 2020 FOR THE RECORD, LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AGO THAT EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.

AND IT STAYED SHUT DOWN FOR A LONG TIME.

>> THE THING TO ME IS NOT THAT WE HAVE AN ASTERISKS ANYMORE, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NOW A COLLECTIVE RECKONING THAT WHAT HAPPENED IS WRONG, AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE HARD RIGHT BUT PEOPLE ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM REALIZING WHAT WE DID TO KIDS WAS THE WRONG THING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO LESSON THIS GAP BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT.

>>.. HAVE BEEN HARD RIGHT.

EARLY ON LOGICAL MODERATE PEOPLE STARTED GOING AREN'T WE GOING A BIT OVER BOARD ON THIS?

THE IDEA KIDS WERE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS WAS RIDICULOUS.

THE MOST PEOPLE WITH ANY MOTIVE OF COMMON SENSE SAID TO TAKE KIDS WHO ARE 7, 8, WHO ARE LEARNING EVERY MINUTE THEY ARE IN SCHOOL AND LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY, TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THAT AND BASICALLY LOCK THEM IN THE HOUSE, PEOPLE EARLY ON WERE SAYING THIS IS TOO LONG.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

I THINK OUR TEST SCORES WEREN'T THAT GREAT TO START WITH.

PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT DECLINING TEST SCORES.

IT'S NOT LIKE OH, MY GOD WE WERE SHOOTING TOWARDS GENIUS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN COVID HIT.

BUT TO SAY WE ARE BLAMING IT ON COVID, I THINK NOT COVID, BUT OUR REACTION TO COVID DESERVES BLAME IN SOME AVENUES, AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM.

>> HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20.

AND YOU SAY IT WAS AN OVERREACH.

>> I'M SAYING EDUCATION.

KIDS ARE THE LEAST AFFECTED BY COVID.

THEY WERE THE ONES MOST AVAILABLE TO GO BACK OUT TO WHO SHOULD BE THE CHILDREN.

>> LOOKING FORWARD AND SAYING WE NEED TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES TO TRY TO LESSON THIS GAP.

>> I HEAR THAT.

FIRST, WHAT WENDY SAID.

WE WERE DEALING WITH SOMETHING WE HAD NEVER DEALT WITH BEFORE.

IT'S EASY TO SAY WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS, DONE THAT.

AND WLUCKILY, I THINK, AND I'M NOT MAKING A POLITICAL STATEMENT HERE, BUT PEOPLE DID GET VACCINATED.

I DON'.. IS A OH, GOLLY.

AND 2, ALL RIGHT, IT HAPPENED.

YOU WERE OUT OF SCHOOL, NOT FOR TWO YEARS, BUT TWO SEMESTERS OR WHATEVER.

IT'S.. AT SOME POINT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY HEY, WHEREVER WE ARE AT, WE'VE GOT TO IMPROVE.

START TODAY.

AND QUIT BLAMING THE PANDEMIC ON EVERYTHING.

>> ONE O..

I SAW, IT DEALT WITH CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.

AND IT BEGAN WHEN ..

VIRTUAL PEOPLE APPARENTLY STARTED THINKING THAT SHOWING UP TO THINGS WAS OPTIONAL.

YOU HAVE SO MANY KIDS THAT ARE MISSING SO MANY DAYS IN SCHOOL.

I'M WITH YOU THERE.

I DO THINK COVID BROKE THESE SCHOOLS.

.. BACK IN THE MINDSET NO, YOU CAN'T STAY HOME BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET IN OR FEEL THAT WELL.

>..

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

IT WAS A KEY POINT OF THE STUDY.

HABITUAL TRUANCY BECAME A THING.

JACOB, SUPREME COURT DECIDED THAT MISSOURI WAS WRONG.

IT WAS PART OF THE CASE THAT CHASTISED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEIR ROLE AND DEALING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ENTITIES.

THE SUPREME COURT BASICALLY DIDN'T RULE THAT YOU'RE WRONG, THEETHEY'RE RIGHT.

>> I THINK MISSOURI SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN INVOLVED BUT MAYBE FOR A DIFFERENT REASON THAN CERTAIN PEOPLE WOULD THINK.

I'M WANTING TO BE AN ABSOLUTIST ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT FREE SPEECH AND THAT IF THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS WANT TO HAVE WHATEVER KIND OF CONTENT OR NOT ON THEIR PLATFORMS, GOD BLESS, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU CAN GO AND START A FACEBOOK 2.0 AND YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE WHATEVER YOU WANT.

TO THESE COMPANIES JUST LIKE THEY SPEAK TO THE MEDIA ALL THE TIME.

THE GOVERNMENT OFTEN SAYS YOU'RE WRONG, WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

PULL THE STORY.

AND WE DON'T.

I DON'T SEE THAT BIG A DIFFERENCE THERE.

>> I SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOIN.. THAT.

I DISAGREE WITH THE FACT -- I BELIEVE THAT THE CASE -- I HOPE THAT SOMEHOW SOMEONE DOES GET A STANDING SO THEY LOOK AT IT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE CASE OF THE GOVERNMENT SAYING WE DON'T LIKE YOUR STORY.

THIS IN SOME CASES WAS FAIRLY HEAVY HANDED PRESSURE, E-MAILS WHERE THEY WERE CUSSING AND THREATENING PEOPLE OFFER THE STORIES, AND A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED COVID.

WHICH YOU AGREED TO JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, THAT THERE WAS VAST OVER REACTION OF COVID.

THEN YOU HAVE THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES THAT WERE GETTING IT FROM 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS.

THE GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY HAS A ROLE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY TO TALK TO SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES.

AT MY TIME WITH THE POST DISPATCH I NEVER HEARD THEM SAYING YOU MUST PULL THE STORY.

THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE IN THE CASES THAT DIDN'T GET HEARD BY THE JUSTICE WHERE IT WAS BORDERLINE THREATENING YOU GUYS ARE WANTING CHANNEL ACCESS.

YOU GUYS ARE WANTING BROADCAST SPACE.

THAT WAS THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO TAILER A MESSAGE AND THEY PICKED ON A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO THEY KNEW PROBABLY WEREN'T USED TO STANDING UP TO THEM OR IN A POSITION TO STAND UP TO THEM.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CASE HEARD.

WHAT THE JUSTI..

DECIDE.

IF.. FINE.

WHAT I D..

GOING THEY SAID MISSOURI WAS WRONG.

NO THEY SAID.. HAVE STANDING, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

>> TALKING WITH LEGAL EXPERTS ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID MISSOURI BROUGHT A VERY WEAK CASE, THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A GOOD CASE HERE.

>> WHAT EL.. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MISSOURI GET OUT OF TRYING TO MAKE THE NATIONAL HEADLINES AND TRYING TO SHAPE POLICY.

LET THE GOOD LAWYERS HANDLE THIS STUFF.

>> HERE WE ARE.

IT'S SUMMERTIME.

AND IT'S SOMEBODY'S BIRTHDAY.

>> NO.

>> IT WAS.

IT'S NOT YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY BUT IT WAS YESTERDAY.

>> WOW, WOW, WOW.

>> ARE WE GOING TO SING?

>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO SING.

>> NO TV SHOW COULD HANDLE THAT.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

WENDY IS LIKE 47?

>> THAT'S IT.

47.

>> HEY, YOU CAN WRITE TO US AND TELL ME HOW FULL OF STUFF I AM AT "DONNYBROOK" IN CARE OF NINE PBS 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS MISSOURI 631 ON 08.

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THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN WITH US TODAY.

..

SPINNING AROUND THE ORBIT WITH FRIENDSHIP 7.

YOU GUYS HAVE .. WE'RE BETTER THAN THE DEBATE.

THAT'S NOT UP FOR DEBATE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.