>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP.

WASHINGTON TAKES ON BIG PHARMA THE NORTH CAROLINA SENATE PASSES A $1500 SIGNING BONUS TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, AND THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS TO SPEND BIG TO DEFEND AGAINST CYBERATTACKS.

NEXT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: IT'S FRONT ROW WITH HOST MARC ROTTERMAN.

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR STDNEY BATCH, AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISER TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH, SPEAKER PELOSI IS WORKING ON A PLAN TO LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> THIS IS A PLAN FROM CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS.

IT WOULD EMPOWER MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE PRICES OF DRUGS PAID FOR IN THE U.S. DOWN TO LEVELS THAT ARE PAID FOR IN OTHER COUNTRIES, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SUPPORTS THIS PLAN HE'D LIKE TO SEE THE BILL ON HIS DESK BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

IT WOULD HAVE EXCISE TAXES THAT WOULD BE LEVIED AGAINST THE DRUG MAKERS WHO REFUSED TO COOPERATE.

NOW SUPPORTERS SAY THIS COULD LEAD TO AN AVERAGE PRICE REDUCTION OF 55% IN THE U.S., BUT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE WHICH CAME OUT WITH THAT PROJECTION ALSO SAYS THAT WOULD MEAN FEWER NEW DRUGS ON THE MARKET, AS MANY AS 8 FEWER THAN 10 YEARS, AND 30 FEWER OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, MEANWHILE, THE DRUG MAKERS ARE RAISING COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT THEY'RE CALLING IT EXTORTION AND THEY'RE WARNING OF MUCH LARGER COSTS IF THIS GOES FORWARD.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP THE AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK COME OUT WITH AN AD BUY, 4 MILLION DOLLARS SO FAR THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR TO RUN ADS ON ABOUT 40 DEMOCRATS IN VERY HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN THEIR DISTRICTS SAYING THAT THIS IS NANCY PELOSI'S SOCIALIST HEALTH CARE PLAN.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DEBATE.

>> SYDNEY, THE HIGH COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS REALLY IMPACT PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES DOESN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND AS WE SEE AN AGING BOOMER - THE BABY BOOMERS ACTUALLY INCREASING IN AN AGING POPULATION.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE COST THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO OF COURSE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO DEAL WITH 2000, $3000 OUT OF POCKET AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE WITH FIXED INCOMES, THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR IT, SO WE REALLY HAVE TO COME UP WITH A CREATIVE WAY TO SOLVE THIS.

IT MAY NOT BE THE PLAN THE THAT NANCY PELOSI IS PUSHING BUT I ALSO FIND IT DISINGENUOUS THAT SOME OF THE COMPANIES STATE THAT THEY DON'T THINK THAT THEY CAN AFFORD IT WHEN THEY WERE PERFECTLY FINE TAKING FEDERAL MONEY WHEN IT CAME TO THE COVID VACCINE, INCLUDING MODERNA TAKING UP TO 3 BILLION DOLLARS ALMOST TO TRY AND SOLVE THAT.

>> NELSON WHAT IMPACT WOULD THIS HAVE AND SOMEBODY LIKE GLAXOSMITHKLINE.

>> IT WOULD HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT.

THE BILL WOULD COST HIGH-PAYING JOBS AS WELL AS INVESTMENT RIGHT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

NORTH CAROLINA'S A LEADER IN BIOTECH AND DRUG MANUFACTURING.

AND IT'S REMARKABLY SHORT SIGHTED.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

SO CONSUMER COSTS WOULD BE TIED TO 120% OF COST IN CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, JAPAN, AND THE UK, BUT ONLY ONE OF THOSE 5 COUNTRIES ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH A VACCINE FOR COVID, SO THE U.S. HAS DEVELOPED MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED 3 VACCINES.

WE ARE AHEAD OF THOSE COUNTRIES IN VACCINATIONS AND SAVING LIVES, SO THE U.S. GETS THE LIFESAVING DRUGS FIRST BECAUSE OF OUR PHARMA SYSTEM IN NORTH CAROLINA AND IN THE UNITED STATES AS A WHOLE, WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF THOSE COUNTRIES, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGING POPULATION OF THE WORLD.

WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS INSTEAD OF ATTACKING PHARMA, WE NEED TO BE FULLY ENGAGING THEM IN THE FIGHT TO FIND THE TREATMENTS IN THE CURES FOR ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA.

>> JOE'S IT'S GOING TO BE A POLITICAL FOOTBALL IN THE MID TERMS.

I THINK SO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TALKED ABOUT HEALTH CARE ISSUES IN THE LAST FEW ELECTION CYCLES AND THIS CERTAINLY FALLS IN THAT CATEGORY OF THINGS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE BECAUSE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES NEED THE KIND OF PROFITS THAT THEY CAN GET SO THEY CAN INVEST MONEY BACK INTO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GETTING THE PRODUCT TO MARKET THROUGH THE FDA APPROVAL PROCESS, IT'S A TRICKY PART OF THE FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN TERMS OF HEALTH CARE, BUT I THINK DEMOCRATS SEE THIS AS A WINNING ISSUE PROTECT PARTICULARLY AMONG SENIORS.

>> MITCH, WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> WELL, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SCARES PEOPLE THE HIGH PRICES OF DRUGS.

IF YOU HAVE TO GET ON ONE OF THESE MAJOR DRUGS YOU MAY BE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY OR AT LEAST YOUR INSURANCE PLAN IS AND PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THIS AND SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A SALIENT POLITICAL ISSUE BUT THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF TAXING BIG PHARMA MORE COULD BE REALLY DEVASTATING FOR THAT PIECE OF OUR ECONOMY.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STORY.

FILL US IN SYDNEY ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

PRETTY INTERESTING LITTLE FIREWORKS.

>> YEAH, LITTLE LITTLE FIREWORKS ESPECIALLY YESTERDAY.

WE STARTED THE WEEK OFF IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION.

WE WENT AHEAD AND PASSED THE BILL FOR $1500 THAT YOU SPOKE OF EARLIER WHICH IS ACTUALLY A $1500 BONUS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT, SO LONG AS THEY GET A JOB AND KEEP IT FOR SUPPLEMENTS AFTERWARD AND THAT HAD A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO APPROVE THAT PLAN BECAUSE THEY'RE USING THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING DOWN FOR US TO SUPPLEMENT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

TO PASS THROUGH THE HOUSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO OF COURSE USE THAT, IT WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET BACK TO WORK.

SMALL BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR REALLY SUFFERING REGARDING NOT HAVING EMPLOYEES TO ACTUALLY HELP REOPEN THE ECONOMY AND WITH THEIR BUSINESSES.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT ACTUALLY ENDS IN SEPTEMBER SO IT'S A SHORT TERM AND CREATIVE FIX TO A LONG-TERM PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN OUR STATE AND THEN THE END OF THE WEEK YESTERDAY WE ENDED IT WITH REGARDS TO SECRETARY OR ACTING SECRETARY DELLI-GATTI'S CONFIRMATION HEARING IN THE SENATE, THAT ACTUALLY WAS A PARTY LINE VOTE, THE REPUBLICANS CHOSE NOT TO CONFIRM HER.

AND AT THIS POINT THEY SAID THAT SHE WAS NOT QUALIFIED DESPITE EXPERTS IN INTEREST IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY SAYING THAT THEY THOUGHT SHE WAS QUALIFIED.

>> MITCH IS THE HONEYMOON OVER BETWEEN SENATOR BERGER AND GOVERNOR COOPER?

>> IF THEY EVER HAD ONE, IT'S PROBABLY OVER AT THIS POINT.

THERE HAD BEEN SOME TALK EARLIER IN THE SESSION ABOUT A LOT OF COOPERATION, BUT WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF SIGNS THAT THINGS ARE NOT AS ROSY AS AS EXPECTED.

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING ON THAT VOTE THAT THIS IS A PROCESS THAT ONLY STARTED SINCE GOVERNOR COOPER CAME INTO OFFICE.

RIGHT AFTER HIS ELECTION, ONE OF THE THINGS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID WAS TO CHANGE THE LAW SO THAT THERE WOULD BE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR CABINET LEVEL SECRETARIES, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE HAD BEEN REJECTED.

15 OR MORE SECRETARIES, EVEN ONES WITH WHOM PHIL BERGER AND HIS COLLEAGUES DISAGREED ON POLICY, THEY LET HIM GO THROUGH.

THIS IS A CASE WHERE THEY SAID YOU KNOW ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE NOT KNOWING ABOUT PIPELINES, WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUR FEET DOWN.

>> WHAT IS THE HOUSE DOING THIS WEEK?

FILL US IN.

>> WELL THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE IS PASSING THE GET NORTH CAROLINA BACK TO WORK ACT, SO A SIMILAR VEIN.

THAT BILL DOES FOUR THINGS.

IT MAKES UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS NON TAXABLE SO THAT HELPS WORKERS, IT WOULD WITHDRAW THE STATE FROM THE ENHANCED FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, IT WOULD ALSO DIRECT 250 MILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL FUNDS TOWARD CHILDCARE TO HELP PEOPLE BE ABLE TO TO COME BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

AND IT WOULD ALSO FORGIVE THOSE SMALL BUSINESS FEDERAL PPP LOANS IN TERMS OF THE STATE TAX BURDEN ON THOSE.

SO ALTOGETHER 1.1 BILLION DOLLAR TAX RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP WORKING PEOPLE AND TO GET FOLKS BACK IN THE WORKFORCE.

WE ARE ACTUALLY SHORT RIGHT NOW IN NORTH CAROLINA'S WORKFORCE, YEAR OVER YEAR, 92,000 FOLKS.

SO WE NEED TO GET THOSE - WE HAVE THE JOB OPENINGS, NEED TO GET THEM BACK TO WORK.

>> JOE SHOULD WE BE PAYING PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO WORK?

>> IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE PRECEDENT, IT'S PROBABLY NECESSARY IN THE SHORT TERM GIVEN THE DYNAMIC I THINK IT'S SOME COMBINATION OF FACTORS.

IT'S NOT JUST THAT PEOPLE ARE UNWILLING TO RETURN TO WORK, THERE'S A LITTLE INHIBITION PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT RETURNING BECAUSE OF COVID EVEN THOUGH WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT GETTING BACK INTO THE WORKPLACE WHERE THEY MAY BE INTERACTING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

IT IS A LITTLE DAUNTING TO THINK THAT THE WORKFORCE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE CAN BE OVERCOME BY STIMULATING PEOPLE'S INTEREST IN WORKING ONE WOULD HELP BECAUSE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE PEOPLE WOULD DESIRE THE JOB AND TO GET OFF OF THE ASSISTANCE -- >> BUT WHAT I NOTICED WAS THAT SENATOR TILLIS AND SEN. >> BYRD WANT US TO CUT OFF THE EXTRA BENEFITS, CORRECT.

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS PART OF A OF A BIGGER COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.

I THINK SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM MADE THE OBSERVATION -- >> ABOUT HALF THE STATES HAVE DONE THAT RIGHT?

>> YEAH, AND NORTH CAROLINA WOULD BE ONE OF SEVERAL THAT HAVE ALREADY GONE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO END THIS PROBLEM BY ENDING THAT BONUS.

>> [MITCH] THE SENATOR NOTED THE BENEFITS GO LATE SEPTEMBER ANYWAY SO BASICALLY IT'S WHETHER YOU CUT THEM OFF EARLY OR NOT.

>> OK I WANT TO MOVE ON, ANOTHER CYBER ATTACK THIS WEEK ON A MAJOR FOOD ENTITY FOR AMERICA.

>> WELL THAT'S RIGHT MARC AND SO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALSO ANNOUNCED IN THEIR BUDGET THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING 9.8 BILLION DOLLARS FOR CIVILIAN CYBER SECURITY THAT'S ABOUT A 14% INCREASE, 750 MILLION OF THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE QUOTE UNQUOTE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RUSSIAN SOLARWINDS HACK THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR THAT AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND ABOUT 9 OR SO FEDERAL AGENCIES.

THIS NEW FUNDING WOULD FOLLOW ABOUT 80 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THE CYBERSPACE SOLARIUM COMMISSION THAT WAS A BIPARTISAN REPORT THAT WAS ISSUED BACK IN MARCH.

BUT BIDEN'S BUDGET PLACE DEFENSE AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

BUT I THINK CONGRESS WANTS TO GET ON OFFENSE, THEY'RE LIKELY TO INCREASE ABOVE THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST IN THE AREAS OF HOMELAND SECURITY OBVIOUSLY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WHERE YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE FULL BUDGET IS ON CYBER AS WELL AS I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS REGULATORY ISSUES AROUND CRYPTOCURRENCY WHICH IS THE WAY THAT THESE RANSOM ATTACKS OR ARE PAID OFF.

UNDER CENTER KING WHO WAS THE CO-CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMISSION SAID THAT WE NEED TO MAKE OUR ADVERSARIES THINK TWICE BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO ATTACK US.

FBI COMMISSIONER RAY HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF 9/11 STYLE THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES.

SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE AND FRANKLY, WE HAVE TO ENGAGE RUSSIA WITH MORE THAN WORDS GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

>> MITCH, THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE'S A SUMMIT HAPPENING BETWEEN PUTIN AND BIDEN COMING UP HERE MID JUNE.

IS PUTIN TESTING BIDEN YOU THINK?

>> I'M SURE HE IS.

HE CERTAINLY HAS HIS WAY IN ANY WAY HE WANTS WITH THE PARTICULAR PRESIDENT WHOEVER IT HAS BEEN.

HE TRIES TO BE A DISRUPTOR IN MANY WAYS IN EUROPE IN THE UNITED STATES, IN ASIA -- >> BUT THIS CAN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT PUTIN'S SIGN OFF, CAN IT?

HE'S GOT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS RIGHT?

>> HE KNOWS ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE SIGNS OFF ON ANYTHING BUT ANYTHING THAT HURTS HIS ADVERSARIES IS GOOD FOR HIM SO IF IT'S JUST RUSSIAN HACKERS OPERATING ON THEIR OWN, THAT'S GOOD FOR HIM, IF THEY'RE OPERATING UNDER HIS AUTHORITY THAT'S GOOD FOR HIM, BUT CERTAINLY JOE BIDEN'S GOING TO NEED TO SHOW VLADIMIR PUTIN THAT HE MEANS BUSINESS.

>> SHOULD HE SKIP THE SUMMIT YOU THINK?

>> NO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO ENGAGE ON THIS.

WHETHER OR NOT PUTIN IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE DECISION AS TO WHETHER HACKS ARE MADE, THIS IS THE NEW THREAT THAT WE ALL FACE.

IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE THIS IS NOT ATTACKING PEOPLE FROM ELECTRONIC MEANS SO THAT WE OR INJURING THEM, IT'S SHUTTING DOWN KEY PARTS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WERE CRIPPLED ECONOMICALLY THE COLONIAL PIPELINE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE WHERE A CYBER ATTACK MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET FUEL FOR THEIR VEHICLES.

I THINK PUTIN RECOGNIZES HE BENEFITS ECONOMICALLY IF THE UNITED STATES STRUGGLES AND THAT'S WHERE THE ATTACKS WILL COME THE FUTURE TO THINGS THAT ARE KEY TO OUR ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> AND BANKING INDUSTRY AND BY THE WAY I THINK SYDNEY THEY'RE HITTING US WHERE WE LIVE IN OUR POCKETBOOKS WITH ENERGY AND FOOD.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IF YOU SAW TO THAT POINT, PEOPLE CAN FIND GAS.

THE KIDS DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH GAS WHEN THE COLONIAL PIPELINE SHUT DOWN.

>> AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A TIME WHICH WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO ACT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING ALL THE PLAYERS TOGETHER AND AT LEAST PUTTING THEM ON NOTICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME MORE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE ROBUST AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE A HECK OF A LOT MORE COMPLICATED FOR US TO HANDLE AND TO ADDRESS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY SAVVY AND IF WE CONTINUE TO WAIT AND CONTINUE TO PUSH THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE ANY PROGRESS.

>> WE NEED TO GO ON OFFENSE NELSON?

>> WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO GO ON THE OFFENSE AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO CONTEMPLATE THIS, BUT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO USE HARD POWER WITH RUSSIA.

I MEAN THIS THIS MAY TAKE ACTUAL PHYSICAL ACTION.

>> [MARC] THIS MEAN COLD WAR?

IT COULD BE A NEW COLD WAR, BUT IT COULD BE A HOT COLD WAR OR LIMITED ACTION.

WE KNOW WHERE THE SERVERS ARE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

>> MITCH WRAP IT UP ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

>> WELL, THE INTERESTING THING TO ME IS ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING AS CHINA IS ALSO AN ADVERSARY.

BACK IN THE OLD COLD WAR, IT WAS BASICALLY THE U.S., THE SOVIET UNION AND THEIR ALLIES, BUT YOU'RE BASICALLY AT THE 2 POLES.

CHINA'S SITTING OFF ON THE CORNER WATCHING ALL OF THIS HAPPENING AND HOPING THAT IT HELPS ITS CARS TO BECAUSE CHINA IS OUR OTHER ADVERSARY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

>> OKAY, YOU KNOW I WANT TO GO TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE'S BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS WEEKEND, JOE WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

>> WELL VERY INTERESTING, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SPEAKING TO THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION DOWN IN GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

FIRST TIME, HE'S SPOKEN PUBLICLY SINCE FEBRUARY WHEN HE ADDRESSED AN AUDIENCE OF THE CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

TWO THINGS THAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN, ONE LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AMBITIONS MIGHT BE WITH REGARD TO RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AGAIN IN 2024.

WILL HE COME INTO THE CONVENTION AS THE MUSIC MAN, CERTAINLY HE'LL BE TOOTING HIS OWN HORN.

BUT THE QUESTION IS DOES HE HAVE THE BE SURE TO PLAY A TUNE THAT'S RESONANT TO THE BASE EAR OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

>> USING THOSE BIG WORDS AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] >> I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE ALL OF THAT TIME I SPENT STUDYING FOR SAT.

[ALL LAUGHING] >> BUT THE SECOND THING IS LARA TRUMP THERE'S BEEN SOME SPECULATION SHE MIGHT BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE U.S. SENATE IN 2022.

THE KEY WILL BE IS SHE IN ATTENDANCE WITH HIM?

DOES HE REFERENCE THE FACT?

SHE'S NOT FORMALLY SAID WHETHER SHE'S RUNNING OR NOT, IT'S JUST BEEN SPECULATED AT THIS POINT.

BUT IF SHE IS RUNNING, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT FORUM FOR THE PRESIDENT TO SAY SHE'S RUNNING.

THE OTHER 3 PRIMARY CANDIDATES, TED BUDD, CURRENT CONGRESSMAN MARK WALKER, FORMER CONGRESSMAN, FORMER GOVERNOR, PAT MCCRORY IN ALL LIKELIHOOD WILL BE PRESENT TOO.

WE'LL SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS.

>> MITCH IS THE GOP ROLLING THE DICE GETTING THE PRESIDENT - FORMER PRESIDENT INVOLVED IN THE MIDTERMS?

>> TO SOME EXTENT, YES, BUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS HUGELY POPULAR AMONG REPUBLICANS AND SO EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ROLLING THE DICE IT MIGHT BE LOADED A LITTLE BIT IN THE GOP'S FAVOR THIS IN THE SENSE.

I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AT MOST RISK AT THIS POINT ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT ESPECIALLY CRITICAL OF DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK THEY FIGURED THAT ONCE DONALD TRUMP WAS GONE FROM THE SCENE THEY BE ABLE TO STEP BACK IN AND PLAY AS LARGER WELL AS THEY DID IN THE PAST BUT THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKELY AS LONG AS THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE WAS SITTING HOW DO YOU THINK HE'LL PLAY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN THE SUBURBS.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

WE SAW IN 2016 AND 2020 THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS A SELECT GROUP OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE TRUMP VOTERS WHO CAME OUT WHO DIDN'T VOTE PREVIOUSLY WERE NOT CONSISTENT THAT THEY CAME OUT FOR HIM, SO IT'LL BE REALLY INTERESTING IN THIS NEXT ELECTION 2022 AND 2024 IF THEY CONTINUE TO COME OUT AND STILL VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS IF HIS NAME'S NOT ON THE BALLOT OR TO YOUR POINT IF LARA TRUMP'S NAME IS ON THE BALLOT.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE HE DID BRING PEOPLE OUT THAT HADN'T COME UP FOR RIGHT NELSON?

>> HE DID AND HE'S REALLY TRANSFORMED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY INTO A WORKING CLASS PARTY THAT ADHERES TO TRADITIONAL VALUES, AND HE ALSO MADE A VERY STRONG APPEAL AND GREW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WITH LATINO AND HISPANIC VOTERS AS WELL BASED ON THOSE TRADITIONAL VALUES, SO PRESIDENT TRUMP IS CERTAINLY STILL A DISRUPTER IN CHIEF.

HE IS STILL A FOCAL POINT OF RALLYING POINT FOR BOTH PARTIES.

BUT I DO THINK AT SOME POINT IN TIME DOWN THE ROAD THAT SORT OF A NEWLY RECONSTITUTED REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT IS SORT OF MORE OF THE WORKING CLASS PARTY AS WELL BRINGING BACK SOME SUBURBAN VOTERS WILL BEGIN TO TRANSITION TO FIGURES LIKE GOVERNOR DESANTIS IN FLORIDA.

>> DOES HE FREEZE THE FIELD UNTIL HE MAKES A DECISION?

>> ABSOLUTELY FREEZES THE FIELD.

>> LET ME ASK YOU JOE.

IF HE RERUNS THE 2020 ELECTION, COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RACE WAS STOLEN FROM HIM HOW DOES THAT HELP?

>> WELL I THINK THAT'S RED MEAT TO THE REPUBLICAN BASE, I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THAT CONVEYS INTO A CAMPAIGN ISSUE BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES THE PRESIDENT FORMER PRESIDENT RELEVANT BECAUSE HE CAN CONTINUALLY REFER TO THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T THAT HE LOST THE ELECTION, THAT IT WAS STOLEN FROM HIM.

>> THAT'S ABOUT THE PAST BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FUTURE IS IT MITCH?

>> WELL DEFINITELY ISN'T ABOUT THE FUTURE AND SO HE DEFINITELY IF HE WANTS TO RUN AGAIN, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER MESSAGE OTHER THAN THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM ME.

BUT I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IN THIS SPEECH WHAT IS THAT MESSAGE?

HOW MUCH OF IT IS LET'S GET BACK ON THE TRACK OF MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN?

>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING HE CAME TO NORTH CAROLINA TO DO HIS FIRST ROLLOUT, DON'T YOU SYDNEY?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT LARA TRUMP WILL ACTUALLY BE A CONTENDER FOR A SENATE RACE AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A RUMOR THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AND IT MAY ACTUALLY COALESCE AROUND HIM ACTUALLY COMING HERE AND DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT HE CAN WE HAVE A GRAVITAS.

>> WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID IS TEASE THAT.

[ALL COMMENTING] >> LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE MOST UNDERREPORTED THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PURSUING THIS 2.3 TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT.

BUT ONE PIECE THAT WE'VE HEARD LESS ABOUT AND THAT IS WITHIN THIS LEGISLATION VERY LONG LEGISLATION LIKE MUCH OF WHAT WE SEE FROM WASHINGTON DC IS A PUSH FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ALLOW APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN WHAT HAD TRADITIONALLY BEEN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THERE'S TALK OF INCLUSIONARY VERSUS EXCLUSIONARY ZONING THERE WILL BE SOME GRANTS AND TAX CREDITS BUILT INTO THIS SORT OF THE CARROT AND STICK TO TRY TO GET LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GO ALONG WITH THIS, IT'S TOUTED AS A WAY TO BOOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOME AREAS AND TO FIGHT THE RACIAL INJUSTICE IN HOUSING PATTERNS.

BUT CRITICS ARE SAYING THAT THIS WOULD TORPEDO THE AMERICAN DREAM BECAUSE IT WOULD STOP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM BEING ABLE TO SAY WHERE HOUSING COULD BE WHERE OTHER TYPES OF ZONING CAN TAKE PLACE, AND SO ONE TEXAS REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BETH VAN DYNE, CALLED IT A PLAN TO DESTROY SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO CERTAINLY IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES.

>> CAN THAT BE DONE BY A RULE OR DOES IT NEED TO BE DONE BY LEGISLATION?

COULD HUD DO THAT?

THEY MIGHT TRY TO DO SOMETHING AS PART OF A RULE, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE LEGISLATION THAT BIDEN WANTS PASSED.

>> JOE UNDERREPORTED.

>> YEAH AS STATE LEGISLATION ACTUALLY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BELL IN THE HOUSE PUSHING FOR SOME FUNDING FOR MITIGATION OF CERTAIN STORM ADVERSE AREAS IN THE STATE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A HURRICANE AND IT'S INEVITABLE AREAS THAT ARE PRONE TO FLOODING TO TRY TO BUILD IN NEW SYSTEMS TO AVOID THE LOSS OF PROPERTY AND THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE.

VERY FORWARD THINKING IN FACT THAT THE HURRICANE SEASON JUST STARTED THE FIRST OF JUNE, THE PREDICTING A BUSIER THAN USUAL STORMIER AGAIN.

THESE KIND OF FORWARD THINKING THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO A STATE LIKE NORTH CAROLINA THAT'S SUSCEPTIBLE TO THESE STORMS EVEN AS WE FACE THE PERIL OF THINGS LIKE CYBERSECURITY, MOTHER NATURE STILL IS A SERIOUS THE THREAT TO NORTH CAROLINA.

>> ARE THEY PREDICTING A STRONG STORMS SEASON THIS YEAR?

>> ABOVE AVERAGE IS WHAT THEY SAY MAY BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 20 NAMED STORMS.

>> SYDNEY UNDER REPORTED.

>> THAT LAWMAKERS THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ARE CONSIDERING A COVID-19 VACCINE LOTTERY.

WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN OHIO TO TRAIN ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS THEIR IDEAS OUT THERE ABOUT IF YOU'RE 18 AND YOUNGER BEING ABLE TO GIVE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO THOSE KIDS TO STATE SCHOOLS TO A CERTAIN NUMBER AND THEN ALSO USING SOME TYPE OF ARP FUNDING OR SOMETHING ELSE TO MILLION DOLLARS FOR CERTAIN AMOUNT AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH SO THEY'RE TRYING TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

>> NELSON UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> WHY CHINA'S 3 CHILD POLICY WON'T MATTER.

THEY THEY HAVE ORIGINALLY WERE HAD A CHINA ONE CHILD POLICY WHERE MARRIED COUPLES WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE CHILD JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THEY CHANGED THAT TO A 2 CHILD POLICY AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THEY HAVE LOST AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF YOUNG CONSUMERS AND EVEN THEIR 2 CHILD POLICY DID NOT INCREASE BIRTH RATES OVER THE LAST 5, 6, YEARS IN FACT THEY'VE GONE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY CRASHED SO YOU HAVE A DEMOGRAPHIC IMPLOSION ESSENTIALLY IN CHINA AND THEY WERE ALREADY THE WORLD'S FASTEST AGING POPULATION, SO IF THE RECENTLY RELEASED DATA IS ACCURATE THEN HALF OF THE CHINESE POPULATION WILL ESSENTIALLY BE RETIREES ABOUT 2045.

JAPAN IS THE ONLY MAJOR COUNTRY SO FAR TO MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A POST CONSUMER GROWTH ECONOMY.

THEY GOT RICH LONG BEFORE THEY GOT OLD CHINA WILL GET OLD LONG BEFORE THEY EVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET RICH.

EUROPE IS BEHIND THE CURVE ON THAT TOO RIGHT.

THEY ARE YOU HAVE POPULATIONS IN GERMANY THAT ARE AGING.

RUSSIA WILL BE A MAJORITY ACTUAL MUSLIM POPULATION BY 2050.

FRANCE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW COUNTRIES IN EUROPE THAT DOES HAVE A STRONG YOUNGER MILLENNIAL GENERATION CONSUMER BASE, THEY ARE SIMILAR TO THE UNITED STATES.

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

>> MY WHO'S UP IS DOCTOR JAY SINGLETON WHO IS A NEW BERN EYE SURGEON AND HE IS CHALLENGING NORTH CAROLINA'S CERTIFICATE OF NEED LAW BECAUSE OF ITS RESTRICTIONS ON HIM, YOU MIGHT THINK HE'S DOWN BECAUSE A JUDGE DISMISSED HIS CASE THIS WEEK BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY, IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO GO TO APPEAL SO HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE GOING FORWARD.

MY WHO'S DOWN VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN EARLIER HAD MADE HER THE FACE OF THE BORDER ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A NEGATIVE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS HER TO HEAD UP THE ELECTION REFORM BILL THAT HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS SO BASICALLY PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SAYING, "VICE PRESIDENT YOU TAKE ALL OF THIS ON!"

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

>> UP THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION ANNOUNCED THE TOTAL FOR SPENDING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS IN 2020, 14 BILLION DOLLARS UP FROM A LITTLE OVER A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS JUST IN 1998 TO 2 DECADES WE'VE SEEN THAT DRAMATIC INCREASE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS REVEALED - OVER 9 MILLION TELEVISION ADS WERE FOR ALL THE FEDERAL RACES IN AMERICA, INCREASINGLY THE PORTION OF FUNDS THAT ARE SPENT ON DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS GOING UP NOT CONVENTIONAL TELEVISION.

WHO'S DOWN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BLOG SHUT DOWN AFTER JUST 29 DAYS, I SAW ONE PUNDIT SAID THAT'S 3 SCARAMUCCI'S.

SO UNDOUBTEDLY THE PRESIDENT IS STILL OFF OF FACEBOOK AND TWITTER WILL BE BACK IN SOCIAL MEDIA SOMEHOW.

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

>> WHO'S UP IS THE ATTENDANCE AT THE INDY 500 IT WAS ACTUALLY THE 135,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THAT EVENT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND WHO IS DOWN IS PRIME MINISTER BIBI NETANYAHU AFTER A VERY TENUOUS DEAL IS REACHED BY HIS RIVALS TO REPLACE HIM.

>> HE IS THE LONGEST-SERVING PRIME MINISTER IN ISRAEL'S TIME THERE ISN'T HE?

>> YEAH.

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

>> WHO'S UP OIL PRICES TOPPING $70 A BARREL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 THAT'S BOTH CONFIDENCE IN THE RECOVERY AND A MAJOR BOOST FOR US SHALE PRODUCERS.

HOWEVER, THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY'S ROAD BACK TO NET 0 CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050 COULD DRIVE THOSE PRICES TO OVER $200 A BARREL.

WHO'S DOWN, FACEBOOK HAVING TO ADMIT THAT THEIR CONTENT MONITORS WERE WRONG IN BANNING AN ARTICLE CITING THE WUHAN LAB AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF THE VIRUS AND THE EU AND THE UK ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK ANTI-TRUST ACTIONS AGAINST FACEBOOK, AND CONGRESS IS NOT FINISHED WITH THEM YET EITHER.

>> WILL GAS PRICES BE AN ISSUE IN 2022?

>> I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE AN ISSUE IN 2022.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT RAISING CARBON TAXES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IF THEY CONTINUE TO SHUT DOWN PIPELINES AND DISRUPT DISTRIBUTION AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT DOING IT NOT THE CYBERATTACKS, YOU CAN SEE PRICES GO UP CONSIDERABLY FOR GASOLINE.

>> MITCH HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> HOUSE PROCEEDS WITH FULL BUDGET PLAN BUT SENATE TURNS TO MINI BUDGETS.

>> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, JOE.

>> TRUMP SAYS X AT GOP CONVENTION TO THE DELIGHT OF REPUBLICANS AND DISMAY OF DEMOCRATS.

>> THINK IT'LL GET NATIONAL HEADLINES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK SYDNEY?

>> THEY'RE SIMILAR TO MITCH, WHICH IS THE HOUSE AND SENATE MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR OWN BUDGETS, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT REACH A SPENDING - CONSENSUS ON A SPENDING.

>> WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE A A BUDGET?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

NELSON WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE A BUDGET?

[LAUGHTER] >> OH, WE'LL HAVE A BUDGET.

[ALL LAUGHING] HEADLINE NEXT WEEK NELSON?

>> TEMPERS FLARE IN WASHINGTON.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> CAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NORTH CAROLINA.

[LAUGHTER] >> GREAT JOB PANEL.

THAT'S IT FOR US.

>> THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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