>> LIZ CHENEY TAKES ON THE G.O.P.

HOW TO HANDLE POLICE MISCONDUCT.

AND SHOULD THE STATE HAVE SHUT DOWN INDIAN POINT?

STAY TUNED.

"IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

NET ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

I'M DAVID CHANATRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY BOB SPITZER FROM SUNY CORTLAND, KRISTI ANDERSON FROM THE MAXWELL SCHOOL AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME TO THE PANEL, BEN BAUGHMAN, PROFESSOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND HOMELAND SECURITY AT CAZENOVIA COLLEGE.

REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIS WEEK REMOVED LIZ CHENEY FROM HER LEADERSHIP POSITION.

IT LOOKS LIKE HER REPLACEMENT WILL BE OUR NORTH COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE ELISE STEFANIK.

ALTHOUGH THAT COULD CHANGE BY THE TIME THIS PROGRAM IS BROADCAST.

CHENEY ACCUSED HER COLLEAGUES OF ABANDONING OF RULE OF LAW AND UNDERMINING DEMOCRACY BY THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CLAIM THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

SHE HAS PROMISED TO LEAD THE FIGHT TO MAKE THE G.O.P.

WORTHY AGAIN.

AND CAN SHE SUCCEED, KRISTI ANDERSON OR IS THAT A LOST CAUSE IN YOUR VIEW?

>> IT MAY BE A LOST CAUSE BUT I THINK IF ANYBODY CAN DO THAT, CAN ACCOMPLISH PULLING THE REPUBLICANS BACK FROM THE PIRE FIRE, IT'S LIZ CHENEY.

SHE HAS A GOOD REPUTATION.

SHE HAS HER CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS AND SHE IS WILLING TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS.

IF WE LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE, MITT ROMNEY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO HAVE WANTED TO BUSH THEMSELVES AWAY FROM DONALD TRUMP, THEY'VE NEVER QUITE-- MANY OF THEM HAVE NEVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO SAY, LOOK, THIS IS THE BIG LIE.

THIS LIE IS HUGELY DANGEROUS TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND LIZ CHENEY TELLS IT LIKE IT IS.

I THINK THAT-- AND SHE HAS PROMISED TO STAY WITH THE FIGHT.

SHE IS NOT-- HE MAY NOT BE THE THIRD IN LINE IN THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, BUT I THINK SHE IS GOING TO STAY AROUND AND KEEP TELLING HER COLLEAGUES WHAT THE TRUTH IS.

>> THIS IS ALL, ON ITS SURFACE, PRETTY APPALLING, BECAUSE THE LITMUS TEST IS NOW TO ACCEPT THE ABUNDANT LIES REPEATED BY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ABOUT THE ELECTION AND ABOUT A ZILLION OTHER THINGS, FRANKLY.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HUMILIATION ELISE STEFANIK FEELS THESE DAYS FOR THE ABRUPT CHANGE SHE MADE IN HER POLITICAL CALCULATIONS AND RHETORIC WHEN SHE SORT OF SQUARELY ALIGNED HERSELF WITH DONALD TRUMP, BUT BEHIND THIS ALL IS SORT OF OLD FASHIONED POLITICAL CALCULATION.

AND FOR LIZ CHENEY'S PART, YOU CAN'T BUT HELP ASSUME SHE WANTS TO SET HERSELF UP AS A LEADER IN THE POST-TRUMP REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IF THE REPUBLICANS TAKE A DRUBBING IN 2022, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS WILL WIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NEXT YEAR.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S IN THE CARDS, BUT IF THEY DON'T AND IF THE REPUBLICANS STUMBLE IN 2024, SOMEONE LIKE LIZ CHENEY WOULD BE WELL POSITIONED TO BE A LEADER OF THE POST--TRUMP REPUBLICAN PARTY AND SHE IS SETTING HERSELF UP AS SOMEBODY WHO STANDS FOR WHITE IS WHITE AND BLUE IS WHETHER YOU IS UP IS STILL UP AND GRAVITY STILL WORKS.

>> BUT THERE IS A HUGE PART OF THE PARTY THAT WOULD BE SO UPSET ABOUT THAT THAT THEY WOULD NEVER BE IN HER CAMP.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE TOM RIDGE AND LIZ CHENEY THAT ARE REACHING FOR GETTING BACK TO WHAT RONALD REAGAN STOOD FOR, WHAT HONEST ABE STOOD FOR.

AND THAT IS TRUTH, RIGHT?

SO ALTHOUGH TRUMP EXCELLED AT REACHING OUT, LIKE REAGAN REAGAN DID, WITH PEOPLE IN THE WITH RONALD REAGAN DID WITH PEOPLE IN THE PARTY, WHAT RONALD REAGAN DID WAS NOT BUILDING A WALL AND PROMOTING DIVISION BUT TEARING DOWN THE WALL AND PROMOTING UNITY.

I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TRYING TO GO IN AND IT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE OF WHAT WE SAW WITH VOICE VOICE RATHER THAN THREE MONTHS AGO WITH FOUR HOURS AND KEEPING CHAIN NECESSITY POWER.

I THINK CONFLICT AND STRUGGLE IS PART OF LIFE.

IT'S ALSO PART OF POLICE DETECTIVE LIFE.

>> TARA.

>> WELL, SHE IS WELL POSITIONED FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS, TO LEAD THIS OTHER FACTION, IF WE CALL IT, OF THE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND GROW THE FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY THAT, IN ESSENCE, SHE DIDN'T START OUT ANTI-TRUMP.

SHE BECAME ANTI-TRUMP WHEN HE KEPT PROMOTING THE LIE THAT HE WON THE ELECTION.

AND SHE CAN POINT TO THE FACT THAT IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, WHEN HE WAS SAYING BARACK OBAMA WAS NOT BORN IN AMERICA, I WAS RIGHT ON BOARD WITH HIM.

BUT AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY THERE ARE JUST SOME LIES THAT ARE TOO BIG AND TOO HARMFUL AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

SHE ALSO BRINGS THE CREDENTIALS OF HAVING VOTED WITH TRUMP 93 PERFECTS OF THE TIME.

SHE HAS SOMETHING IN HER ARSENAL THAT SHE CAN PROMOTE TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY LISTEN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT CONTINUING A BIG LIE THAT IS HARMFUL TO US AS A PARTY, HARMFUL TO US AS A NATION, NOT SO MUCH AS BEING ANTI-TRUMP AND HERE IS WHY I'M NOT ANTI-TRUMP.

THAT PUTS HER IN A GOOD POSITION.

BUT THE OTHER ISSUE, AND FOR ME THIS IS THE BIGGER ISSUE, CAN SHE FIGHT THE TRUMP CULT OF PERSONALITY.

AND WHAT I'VE SEEN OF LIZ CHENEY'S PERSONALITY SO FAR, I DON'T THINK SHE IS THERE YET.

SO THAT WILL BE THE BIG THING FOR HER IN TERMS OF ORGANIZING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT THREE TO SIX MONTHS IS CAN SHE REALLY BEGIN TO CHIP AWAY AT THAT CULT OF PERSONALITY.

>> THE QUESTION IS WILL OTHER REPUBLICANS, OTHER REPUBLICANS OF STANDING, OTHER REPUBLICANS WITH FOLLOWINGS GO ALONG WITH HER?

IS SHE GOING TO BRING OTHER PEOPLE INTO THIS PLACE?

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE IS 100 REPUBLICANS THAT JUST SIGNED, INCLUDING TOM RIDGE AND CHRISTINA TODD WHITMAN WHO JUST SIGNED, I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER POSITION PAPER SAYING THEY DIDN'T STAND WITH TRUMP AND I DON'T KNOW HOW OUT FRONT IT WAS ABOUT HIS LIES BUT MORE HAVE TO JUMP ON TO LIZ CHENEY'S SIDE OF BEING VERY CLEAR, AS YOU SAID, TARA, THERE ARE CERTAIN LINES THAT WE WON'T CROSS.

AND YOU KNOW, THIS SORT OF DESTRUCTION OF DEMOCRACY IS ONE OF THEM.

>> BUT THE ONE PROBLEM IS THOUGH VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY SIGNED IT ARE FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEY'RE OUT THE DOOR AND THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT ELECTORAL CONSEQUENCES.

MY BIG CONCERN IS WHAT THIS STRUGGLE FOR IS A HASH HARBINGER FOR IN 2024, THE REPUBLICANS ARE PREPARED TO SCARED RULES, TO PAK VOTES, TO STUFF BALLOT BOXES, TO CHANGE LAWS AS A WAY TO TRY TO WIN 2024, TO SWEEP ASIDE RULES BECAUSE OF THE WAY TRUMP'S RHETORIC AND FOLLOWERS HAVE UNDERMINED THE WHOLE NOTION OF A FAIR ELECTION.

>> THIS INTERPARTY FIGHTING IS VICIOUS BUT IS IT USUAL IN THE SCOPE OF AMERICAN HISTORY?

HAVE WE HAD THIS BEFORE?

>> WE HAVE HAD ARGUMENTS ABOUT POLICIES, BUT NOT THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT THAT IS A LIE.

THAT WHETHER ABOUT THE TRUTH, ABOUT WHAT THE TRUTH IS.

AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY DAMAGING.

AS BOB SAYS, THE STEPS THAT REPUBLICANS EVEN NOW HAVE TAKEN IN THE VARIOUS STATES, NOT ONLY TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE, BUT TO GIVE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS POWER TO OVERRIDE NON-PARTISAN OR BIPARTISAN ELECTION OFFICIALS IN TERMS OF COUNTING THE VOTES AND, YOU KNOW, CERTIFYING THE OUTCOME IS JUST FRIGHTENING.

>> NOW LET'S TURN TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

SOME ASPECTS OF THIS WERE DISCUSSED ON THIS PROGRAM A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT NOW IT APPEARS A BILL BEING NEGOTIATED IN CONGRESS MAY BE COMING DOWN TO HOW TO HAM POLICE MISCONDUCT, STICKING POINT HAS BEEN THE CONCEPT OF QUALIFIED I IMMUNITY.

REAPT SAID HE IS WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON THAT FOR THE TIME BEING.

SO, BEN, LET'S DEFINE THAT FOR THE AUDIENCE.

WHAT IS QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AND SHOULD NAT SORT OF PROTECTION FOR OFFICERS BE REMOVED?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE REMOVED.

I THINK OFFICERS, FIRST OF ALL, THEY DON'T HAVE ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT IT MEANS.

THEY CAN BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANYTHING THEY VIOLATE THAT CLEARLY ESTABLISHES CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT IS MISUNDERSTOOD AND I AGREE WITH THE CONGRESSMAN PUTTING FORWARD-- IT IS A GREAT BILL BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH THE IMMUNITY COMPONENT OF IT BECAUSE THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES NEED THE TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WORK FOR.

SO IF THE DEPARTMENT IS FAILING AT THAT, THAT'S REALLY WHO SHOULD BE THE ONES THAT ARE HELD TO THE STANDARD OF MAKING SURE THOSE OFFICERS DO GET THE TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO MAKE EFFECTIVE DECISIONS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.

>> SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF THE BILL.

I THINK SENATOR SCOTT SUGGESTED THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER BE LIABLE UNDER THE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, IF THAT WERE ELIMINATED, A DEPARTMENT COULD BE SUED.

THIS IS ABOUT LAWSUIT.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

THIS IS ABOUT A CIVIL LAWSUIT.

>> WHICH IS A GREAT POINT BECAUSE THE STANDARD OF PROOF IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT IN CIVIL LAW VERSUS CRIMINAL LAW.

CRIMINAL LAW YOU NEED BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT.

CIVIL LAW YOU NEED PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE OR 51% SHOWING SOMEBODY IS MORE RESPONSIBLE THAN ANOTHER.

I THINK ABSOLUTELY THE DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE MORE MOTIVATED, YOU KNOW, BY BEING CHALLENGED AND BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR CHOICES THAT ARE MADE THAT ARE POOR.

AND MOST OF THOSE DO COME BACK A LACK OF TRAINING, EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE; NOT BAD PEOPLE.

>> I AGREE WITH BEN THAT IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO JUNK QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, BUT I THINK THE BAR CAN AND SHOULD BE LOWERED IN TERMS OF WHAT THE LEGAL STANDARD IS.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER QUALIFIED IMMUNITY DOESN'T APPLY JUST TO POLICE OFFICERS, IT APPLIES TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING, PERHAPS, OUR COLLEAGUE KRISTI.

YOU ARE STILL AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, ARE YOU NOT?

I HAVE SERVED ON LOCAL BOARDS, PLANNING BOARDS, YOU GET ANGRY LOCAL PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOU TO COURT TO MAKE YOUR LIFE MISERABLE.

AND SO THERE IS A GOOD REASON TO HAVE A LEGAL STANDARD THAT SAYS PUBLIC OFFICIALS OUGHT NOT TO BE HARASSED BY LAWSUITS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS LITIGIOUS SOCIETY.

SO THAT NOTION IS IMPORTANT.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER ASPECTS TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT; SUCH AS, SYSTEMATIC DATA COLLECTION.

FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS?

THE FBI REPORTED YEARLY FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS THAT THERE WERE 400 CIVILIANS KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN A GIVEN YEAR.

AND WITHIN THE LAST DECADE OR SO, NEWS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEGAN TO LOOK INTO THOSE NUMBERS AND FOUND OUT IT WAS MORE THAN TWICE THAT.

THE NUMBER IS ACTUALLY ABOUT A THOUSAND PER YEAR, JUST BECAUSE STATES AREN'T REQUIRED TO REPORT THE DATA TO THE FBI.

I MEAN THAT'S STUPID.

GETTING THE DATA IS SO BASIC THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THAT SHOULD BE MADE A MATTER OF LAW, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

DATA IS WHERE IT'S AT.

THE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES IS WE HAVE 18,000 JURISDICTIONS WITH AN AVERAGE DEPARTMENT OF 20 OFFICERS.

SO YOU HAVE 18,000 DIFFERENT R.M.S.

SYSTEMS, RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, COLLECTING VARIOUS THINGS OF WHAT IS REPORTED AND RECORDED IS DEPARTMENT ENT ON THAT AGENCY'S POLICIES.

SOMETHING MORE UNIFORM BUT WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS DEFINITELY WHERE IT'S AT.

COLLECTING THE DATA SO WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND TRPT ON HOW TRANSPARENT ON HOW WE ARE HANDLING IT.

>> IF THERE ARE 18,000 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE AVERAGE SIZE IS 20 OR 30, THAT GOES BACK TO THE TRAINING ISSUE YOU JUST MENTIONED EARLIER.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

EXPERIENCE IN PARTICULAR.

WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS OFFICERS BEING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER, YOU KNOW, OUT ON THE STREETS.

YOU HAVE YOUNGSER OFFICERS TRAINING OTHER YOUNGER OFFICERS, AND SO TYPICALLY WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THIS PATTERN RECOGNITION PROCESS.

THE SYSTEM ONE TYPE OF DECISION THAT AN OFFICER HAS TO MAKE IN A SPLIT SECOND.

THEY HAVE TO PULL FROM SOMETHING.

AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OR THE TRAINING OR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS TO PULL FROM, THEY TEND TO PULL FROM STEREOTYPES THAT MAKE BAD DECISIONS.

>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

I RECENTLY SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO WAS A TRAINING OFFICER, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR TRAINING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, RIOT PREVENTION AND THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW TO IDENTIFY WHAT APPEARS TO BE MORE OF A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE THAN GOING AT IT IN TERMS OF HOW TO PREVENT THIS FROM ESCALATING INTO A BIGGER PROBLEM.

AND SO YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT ABOUT THE TRAINING.

BUT WHAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT COMPLETELY JUST MAINTAINING QUALIFIED IMMUNITY VERSUS MODIFYING IT IN SOME WAY, IS THE FACT THAT TO THE PUBLIC, THEY SEE THIS AS SOMETHING ALMOST LIKE A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE OF THE POLICE AND PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY LOOK AT IT AND SAY, YES, I CERTAINLY CAN UNDERSTAND WHY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, BUT THE REST OF US DON'T HAVE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, AND WE DO HAVE TO DEAL WITH DISGRUNTLED NEIGHBORS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS HOW TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THAT THERE IS A REAL BENEFIT TO THIS AND I DON'T SEE THAT IN ANY OF THE DISCUSSION.

I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE POINT THAT REPRESENTATIVE CLYBURN WAS MAKING.

WE HAVE A GOOD BILL AND SHOULD NOT GET HUNG UP ON QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

BUT TO THE PUBLIC, ALL THAT SAYS IS MORE OF THE STATUS QUO, MORE OF INJUSTICE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT, UNLIKE THE PUBLIC, YOUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE OBLIGATED TO RUN TOWARDS DANGER RATHER THAN AWAY FROM.

AND SO THERE ARE SOME PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOU HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE RESPONDING TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION AT A SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE OBLIGATED TO GO IN.

REMEMBER RECENTLY IN FLORIDA, WHERE THE OFFICER DIDN'T GO IN IMMEDIATELY, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS IN FLACE TO HELP PROTECT POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE FOULABLE LIKE ALL OF US AND MAKE MISTAKES.

>> LET'S MOVE ON.

THIS WEEK SAW THE RETURN OF GAS LINES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE RESULT OF THAT CYBER ATTACK ON A MAJOR PIPELINE RUNNING FROM TEXAS REFINERIES UP THE EAST COAST.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS APPETITE FOR ENERGY.

AND HERE IN NEW YORK, WE NEED CLEAN ENERGY TO MEET THE GOAL OF BEING 100% RENEWABLE SET FOR 19 YEARS FROM NOW.

BUT AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO, WE NO LONGER HAVE THE INDEPENDENTIAN POINT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

THAT WAS TAKEN OFF LINE FOR GOOD.

WAS THAT A WISE DECISION TO REMOVE INDIAN POINT FROM THE ENERGY MIX.

>> I WOULD ANSWER THAT BY SAYING 60-25.

THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WAS 60 YEARS OLD AND 25 MILES FROM MIDTOWN MANHATTAN.

SO, YES, IT WAS TIME.

IT IS TIME TO SHUT DOWN THAT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

HAVING SAID THAT, I HAVE READ STUDIES THAT HAVE SAID THAT WE CANNOT GET TO THE ENERGY PRODUCTION POINT WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT INCLUDING NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION IN THE MIX IN ADDITION TO SOLAR, WIND, WATER, ET CETERA.

SO WE'VE GOT TO BE THINKING MORE SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT SOME RELIANCE ON NUCLEAR POWER, BUT THERE IS NEW GENERATIONS, THERE ARE NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH SAFE WAYS TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR POWER THAT WE NEED TO THINK SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT INCLUDING IT IN THE ENERGY MIX BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND HAVE I TO ADD ONE OTHER THING ABOUT P THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY BECAUSE DETROIT HAS BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT THIS.

THE FORD F-150 PICKUP IS THE MOST POPULAR VEHICLE IN AMERICA, HAS BEEN FOR 44 YEARS AND THE F-150 PICKUP IS A GAZ GUZ LING BEHEMOTH BUT FORD IS ROLLING OUT A NEW PICKUP THAT IS GOING TO BE AN ELECTRIC PICKUP AND THEY'RE DOING THAT NOW.

THEY'RE PUSHING AHEAD WITH THAT AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT DETROIT NEEDS TO GO.

THAT'S THE DIRECTION THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO GO, TO GET AWAY FROM CARBON GENERATED ENERGY.

>> THAT'S JUST ONE ASPECT, OF COURSE.

THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE ENTIRE MIX.

I THINK NUCLEAR IS ABOUT 20 OR A LITTLE BIT MORE-- >> ITS 20% OF WHAT WE USE NOW.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DISADVANTAGES AND PROBLEMS WITH EVERY KIND OF ENERGY GENERATION.

SO I'M ON A LOCAL TOWN BOARD AND WE ARE NOW FIGURING OUT HOW TO REGULATE HOW TO DEAL WITH PROPOSED HUGE SOLAR ARRAYS, HUGE SOLAR FARMS, NOT THE SOLAR PANELS ON YOUR ROOF.

THE SAME THING WITH THE WIND ENERGY.

EITHER ON THE GROUND OR IN THE OCEAN.

I MEAN THERE IS GOING TO BE PUSHBACK AND THERE IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, PROBLEMS RAISED WHETHER IT'S KILLING BIRDS OR IN THE OCEAN TURBINES, THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY FISHERMEN A BUNCH OF COMPENSATION BECAUSE IT WILL DISRUPT THEIR BUSINESS.

AND NUCLEAR SHOULD BE LOOKED AT THAT AS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC.

CERTAINLY THE SITING SHOULD BE CAREFULLY LOOKED AT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT IT IN A PLACE THAT IS SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKES OR OTHER GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS.

BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE-- AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT AN EXPERT, BUT IT SEEMS THAT ALREADY WAYS TO USE NUCLEAR POWER THAT ARE LESS DANGEROUS THAN WE IMAGINE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHICH YOU ARE CHURN OBELISK, WHICH ARE-- CHURN OBELISK, NUCLEAR POWER SHIPS ARE IN THE MILITARY.

>> IF WE DON'T WANT TO SITE A PLANT DOWN BY A POPULATION CENTER LIKE INDIAN POINT OR NEAR A FAULT ZONE LIKE THE DIABLO CANYON IN CALIFORNIA YEARS AGO.

WHAT ABOUT OUR EXISTING PLANTS PUTTING A REACTOR THERE, ADDITIONAL REACTOR IN OSWEGO OR SOME OTHER PLACE?

IF WE HAVE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION, THAT MIGHT BE A QUICKER WAY TO DO IT.

WIND IS THE SECOND LEAST EXPENSIVE PRODUCT TO PUT OUT THERE.

I WASN'T SURE-- I WASN'T SURE WHY WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING IT IN THE WATER VERSUS ON LAND, BUT BEHIND THE WATER POWER, IT IS THE CHEAPEST AND SUSTAINABLE WAY TO GO.

>> AND WE DID JUST HAVE APPROVED THIS WEEK, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR APPROVED THE MARTHA VINEYARD TURBINE, THAT WILL BE ONLINE IN SEVERAL YEARS IT WILL TAKE TO BUILD IT BUT IT'S COMING.

>> ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAD WHEN I FIRST STARTED LOOKING INTO THIS WAS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN A HURRICANE COMES THROUGH THIS FIELD OF WIND POWER THAT THEY HAVE THERE?

NOW THERE HAS BEEN MODELS OUT OF STANFORD THAT THEY'VE DONE WHERE IF YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF WIND MILLS, THAT IT DOES DISSIPATE OR IT IS ANTICIPATED, BASED ON THE MATHEMATICAL MODELING THAT IT WILL HELP DISSIPATE THE HURRICANE ABOUT 50%.

BUT THEN I'VE ALSO SEEN RESEARCH WITH CATEGORY 3 LEVEL HURRICANES THAT IT WON'T STAND UP TO THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MATHEMATICAL, YOU KNOW, PROGRAM ACTUALLY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF.

>> WE'LL CERTAINLY SEE MORE OF THAT WIND IN THE FUTURE.

WE NEED TO GO TO OUR As AND Fs.

BOB SPITZER YOUR F PLEASE.

>> ANIVE TO MAJOR FARM EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS LIKE JOHN DEERE AND A.G.C.O.

WHICH REFUSE TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO FARMERS, SCHEMATICS, REPAIR PARTS, DIAGNOSTIC REPAIR INFORMATION WHEN FARM EQUIPMENT BREAKS DOWN.

AS A CONSEQUENCE, FARMERS HAVE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE COMPANIES, LONG DELAYS, HIGH FEES, INSTEAD OF MAKING AVAILABLE TO FARMERS THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR OWN REPAIRS OR HAVE LOCAL REPAIR PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THINGS.

>> KRISTI, YOUR F. >> TO THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE TWO MILLION BALLOTS CAST IN PHOENIX WERE COUNTED BY ELECTION OFFICIALS IN NOVEMBER.

THEY WERE VALIDATED IN A PARTIAL RECOUNT, CERTIFIED BY THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR BUT NOW A BUNCH OF RANDOM CONSPIRACY THEORISTS ARE INSPECTING THE BALLOTS LOOKING FOR FRAUD.

CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE WATER MARKS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS AND THIS IS SCARY.

>> BEN, YOUR F, PLEASE.

>> YOU KNOW, I GIVE MY F TO THE G.O.P.

'S DECISION TO REMOVE CHENEY, OR TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE HER.

AFTER THREE MONTHS LATER, WITH A FOUR-HOUR VOTING PROCESS, THIS TIME ONLY TAKING 16 MINUTES, THEY DO A VOICE TALLY ONLY-- THERE WAS NO TALLY.

IT WAS VOICE ONLY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR SHOWING DIVERSITY IN COUNCIL AND UNITY IN COMMAND FOR THE G.O.P.

>> TARA, YOUR F. >> TO GOVERNOR CUOMO AND MAYOR DE BLASIO FOR ALLOWING HUNDREDS OF BODIES TO REMAIN IN REFRIGERATED TRUCKS.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

AND EITHER THEIR BODIES WERE SIMPLY UNCLAIMED OR LITERALLY THEIR FAMILIES ARE BASICALLY LEAVING THEM TO THE CITY AND THE STATE TO DISPOSE OF.

AND THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT RIGHTLY THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR WANTED TO GIVE FAMILIES TIME TO CLAIM BODIES, MAKE ARRANGEMENTS BUT HOW MUCH TIME WAS TOO MUCH TIME BECAUSE BASICALLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THE COST OF BURYING THE BODIES HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES TO THE CITY AND THE STATE.

>> LET'S GO TO THE As, BOB SPITZER.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO NEW YORK STATE SENATOR RACHEL MAY FOR PROPOSING LEGISLATION CALLED THE REPAIR FARM EQUIPMENT ACT WHICH WILL REQUIRE COMPANIES THAT SELL FARM EQUIPMENT TO FARMERS TO PROVIDE OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT REPAIR SCHEMATICS, ET CETERA.

>> AND QUICKLY KRISTI.

>> AN A A TO THE NEW YORK TIMES GIVING ENDORSEMENT FOR THE PERSON I THOUGHT WAS THE BEST CANDIDATE EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT, NOT BEEN ON TV, NOT CHARGED WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

CATHERINE GASSER YARKS HEAD OF THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT.

>> BEN, YOUR A PLEASE.

>> MY A TO PAGE WILDLIFE CENTER AND SAFE HAVEN WILDLIFE REHAB, THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE CLINICS FOR HEALING DISTRESSED WILDLIFE AND RELEASING THEM BACK INTO THE WILD.

>> TARA, YOUR A.

>> TO SIX-YEAR-OLD LILLY.

SHE HAS BECOME THE YOUNGEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR IN HISTORY.

SHE HAS A LINE OF HAIR ITEMS CALLED LILLY FRILLY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DON'T OVER LOOK THE SEARCH FOR THE BAMBOO FIBER THAT WERE IN THE BALLOT.

THAT IS AN ASTONISHING DEVELOPMENT THERE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

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FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.