>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP, PRESIDENT BIDEN PLANNING THE FIRST MAJOR TAX HIKE IN 30 YEARS, WE'LL DISCUSS A NEW STATEWIDE POLL, AND GOVERNOR COOPER SEEKS A GRAND BARGAIN ON MEDICAID EXPANSION.

NEXT!

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

>> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH CAROLINA JOURNAL, COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT DONNA KING, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWARTN AND NELSON DOLLARN SENIOR ADVISOR TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TAX PLAN.

>> SHORTLY AFTER CONGRESS FINALIZED AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED A 1.9 TRILLION DOLLAR COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE, WE STARTED HEARING TALK ABOUT THE NEXT MAJOR PIECE OF THE BIDEN AGENDA AND THAT COULD BE AN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE TIED IN WITH WHAT COULD BE THE LARGEST TAX HIKE IN AMERICA IN ALMOST 30 YEARS.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS JUST IN THE REPORT STAGE, BUT IT IS BEING TIED INTO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN WHICH WOULD BE SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE, GREEN ENERGY AND OTHER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES.

WE KNOW SOME OF THE TOP THINGS BECAUSE OF WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT JOE BIDEN WOULD PUT IN HIS TAX PLAN, IT WOULD BE RAISING THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE FROM 21% TO 28% FOR FAMILIES HIGHER TAXES ON ANYONE MAKING $400,000 OR MORE, BOOSTING THE ESTATE TAX AGAIN ALSO RAISING THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX RATE, THE TAX POLICY CENTER HAS SUGGESTED THAT THIS PACKAGE COULD RAISE 2.1 TRILLION DOLLARS OVER 10 YEARS, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT ANY REPUBLICANS WOULD GO ALONG WITH DEMOCRATS.

SO THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT IF IT GETS THROUGH CONGRESS, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO SQUEAK THROUGH, THROUGH SOME SORT OF DEAL THAT WOULD REQUIRE SENATE VOTE OF 50 VOTES PLUS THE TIE BREAKER FROM KAMALA HARRIS.

>> DONNA DO YOU THINK THEY'LL BREAK THE FILIBUSTER RULE GET THIS THROUGH?

>> WELL, THERE IS SOME RUMOR THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT YOU CAN SEE THEM SORT OF YOU KNOW TRYING TO TEST THE WATERS OF THAT ON SOME OF THE NEWS TALK SHOWS, AS EARLY AS LAST YEAR, JOE BIDEN CALLED IT DANGEROUS.

OF COURSE, THE FILIBUSTER OR TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY A TOOL FOR THE MINORITY PARTY TO EXERT SOME POLITICAL MUSCLE IN VOTES WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MAJORITY.

SO IF YOU ELIMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, IT TAKES THAT TOOL FROM THE MINORITY PARTY.

NOW KAMALA HARRIS, CHUCK SCHUMER, BIDEN HAVE ALL AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY WE'RE IN THE MINORITY PARTY SAID NO WE SHOULD ELIMINATE IT, IT REALLY COULD BE DANGEROUS BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO TEST THE WATERS TO SEE IF THEY COULD.

NOW THEY REALLY DON'T NEED TO BECAUSE IF IT'S ABOUT TAX AND SPENDING OR JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS, A FEW OTHER THINGS, THEY COULD JUST MOVE THROUGH WITH ON WHAT THEY CALL RECONCILIATION WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WOULD JUST NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY, BUT THEY MAY EXPAND THE NUMBER OF TYPES OF BILLS THAT WOULD FALL UNDER RECONCILIATION IN LIEU OF ELIMINATING THE FILIBUSTER.

>> NELSON, HOW DO YOU THINK RAISING TAXES ON CORPORATIONS WILL AFFECT OUR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS AND DO YOU THINK POTENTIALLY, CORPORATIONS WILL MOVE BACK OVERSEAS?

>> YOU RUN THAT RISK.

I MEAN THIS MAKES NO ECONOMIC SENSE, MARC.

IN THE LAST YEAR CONGRESS HAS BORROWED OVER 5 TRILLION DOLLARS TO PUT INTO THE ECONOMY TO ADDRESS COVID FOR BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS TO KEEP THEM GOING.

NOW THEY'RE PROPOSING TO TAKE OUT THIS BETWEEN 2, 4, TRILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SPEND MORE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE FED HAS SAID, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RAISE INTEREST RATES UNTIL 2023, BECAUSE THEIR GOAL FOR EMPLOYMENT AND GROWTH HAVE NOT BEEN MET.

SO IF THE NON-PARTISAN EXPERTS ARE SAYING THAT OUR ECONOMIC GOALS HAVE NOT BEEN MET WHY RAISE TAXES, WHY DRIVE THAT CAPITAL OUT?

BECAUSE AT THE VERY TIME THIS IS GOING ON, BABY BOOMERS ARE MOVING THEIR MONIES OUT OF EQUITIES AS THEY RETIRE OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS.

>> JOE HOW DOES THIS EFFECT SMALL BUSINESS?

A LOT OF A SMALL BUSINESSES FILE INDIVIDUAL TAX TAX FORMS.

>> WHATEVER THE TAX CONSEQUENCES ARE OF THIS PROPOSAL WHAT ULTIMATELY GETS PASSED BY CONGRESS, I'M REMINDED US MY FATHER USED TO SAY, THE REASON WHY THE GRAND CANYON IS WHERE IT IS THAT'S WHERE THE COLORADO RIVER FIGURED OUT THE DIRT WOULD GIVE WAY.

SO WHAT WHATEVER YOU PUT IN PLACE IN TERMS OF FORMS OF TAXATION, IF IT'S GOING TO DISCOURAGE THE DEPLOYMENT OF CAPITAL BY BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL, THEY'RE GOING TO WORK TO FIND WAYS AROUND THOSE IMPOSED RULES.

THE TRUTH IS THIS COULD IN EFFECT CREATE AND ENCOURAGE A DISENCOURAGEMENT OF BUSINESSES TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND TO CREATE JOBS, THE THINGS WE NEED IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID-19.

YOU KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT TAXATION IS REALLY GOVERNMENT BORROWING MONEY FROM THE PRIVATE ECONOMY.

IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE FOR THE GOOD PURPOSE OF TRYING TO EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SERVES.

>> OK WANT TO MOVE ALL COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU JOE TALK ABOUT THIS NEW CIVITAS STATEWIDE SURVEY.

>> A SURVEY CAME OUT THIS WEEK, CIVITAS AND THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION NOW MERGED, BUT THERE CONTINUING TO DO THIS PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH.

GREAT INFORMATION.

THE THING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME FROM THIS POLL WHEN ASKED THE QUESTION IF YOU FEEL THE COUNTRY IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR IS ON THE WRONG TRACK, BY 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS PEOPLE ARE PESSIMISTIC THAT THE COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY ON THE WRONG TRACK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE APPROVAL RATINGS PRESIDENT BIDEN ONE PERCENTAGE POINT UNDER WATER IN TERMS OF APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL.

GOVERNOR COOPER, 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE WATER.

SO PEOPLE MORE POSITIVE IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE GOVERNOR, THAN THEY ARE OF THE PRESIDENT.

THE GENERIC BALLOT, WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE IN THE 2022 ELECTION IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CANDIDATES ARE YOU PLANNING TO VOTE FOR EITHER THE DEMOCRAT OR THE REPUBLICAN.

IN BOTH THE CONGRESSIONAL AND THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, PRETTY EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN IN TERMS OF PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF WHO THEY'RE LIKELY TO SUPPORT.

THE THING THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME RELATIVE TO THE 2022 ELECTION WHEN ASKED THE QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THAT ELECTION WILL BE FAIR, 40% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID NO, THAT THEY WERE NOT CERTAIN THAT THE ELECTION OF 2022 WOULD BE FAIR AND THAT SORT OF SPILLS OVER INTO THE ISSUE SETS THAT VOTERS ARE EXPRESSING THEIR GREATEST INTEREST AND LOOKING TO 2022 AND WHAT CANDIDATES WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT CAMPAIGN.

REPUBLICAN LEANING RESPONDENTS IN THE SURVEY SAID FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS WERE A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR THEM, WHERE DEMOCRATS AND UNAFFILIATED VOTERS AND HEALTH CARE AND JOBS IN THE ECONOMY WHERE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT THEY'LL BE THINKING ABOUT HEADING INTO THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> NELSON JUMP IN HERE.

GIVE US YOUR TAKE.

>> WELL THE SURVEY SUPPORTS CERTAINLY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S POLICIES IN THE LAST DECADE, LOWERING TAXES, CONTROLLING SPENDING AND INCREASING STATE SPENDING, BUT TO JOE'S POINT, ON RIGHT TRACK WRONG TRACK WHICH WAS POPULARIZED OF COURSE BY RICHARD WIRTHLIN, PRESIDENT REAGAN'S POLLSTER, THE LAST TRULY HAPPY YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES WAS 2000.

ACCORDING TO GALLUP'S SURVEYS, ONLY 2 TIMES SINCE THEN HAS NATIONAL SATISFACTION BEEN ABOVE 60%.

THOSE WERE THE MONTHS AFTER 9-11 WHEN WE ARE UNIFIED, AND RIGHT BEGINNING OF THE IRAQ WAR IN 2003.

SO REALLY IF YOU LOOK AT IT SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR.

WHAT WE LACK IN THE UNITED STATES IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS A UNIFYING PURPOSE.

>> OKAY, DONNA JUMP IN HERE.

>> WELL ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO BOTH OF WHAT THEY HAVE SAID, I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE SORT OF SHELL SHOCKED OVER THE LAST YEAR 2020, SO I THINK IT'S CREATING A CREATED A MORE CYNICAL APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY DON'T THINK 2022 IS GOING TO BE FAIR AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL ISSUES THAT THEY FOUND TO BE MOST IMPORTANT, ELECTION INTEGRITY JUMPED TO NUMBER 2 OVERALL BEHIND THE ECONOMY AND JOBS.

NOW OF COURSE THAT'S MOSTLY LED BY REPUBLICANS THAT SAID MORE THAT ELECTION INTEGRITY WAS IMPORTANT THEM, DEMOCRATS AND MORE HEALTH CARE, BUT THE NUMBERS ACROSS THE BOARD - ELECTION INTEGRITY BECAME NUMBER 2, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTICE.

THE OTHER THING ENERGY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING PART ABOUT THIS SURVEY, MORE PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING A RELIABLE SUSTAINED SOURCE OF ENERGY AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE WE SAW THIS.

IT WAS A POST APOCALYPTIC YEAR WITH RIOTS AND WIDESPREAD OUTAGES AND ALL THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO THINK WHAT ELSE COULD BE COMING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLY WANTING TO MAKE SURE OUR POWER GRID IS REALLY RELIABLE.

>> OKAY, MITCH WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS PUT IT IN CONTEXT PLEASE MY FRIEND.

>> JOE MENTIONED OFF THE TOP THAT 40% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS POLL DO NOT THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN 2022, THE FLIP SIDE IS THAT LESS THAN HALF BELIEVE THAT WE WILL.

WHAT A BAD SIGN.

ONLY 49% OF THOSE SURVEYED BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND THERE REALLY IS A PARTISAN SPLIT ON THIS ONLY 27% OF REPUBLICANS BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS AND IF YOU THINK WELL, IT'S JUST SOUR GRAPES, ONE PARTY AGAINST THE OTHER, AMONG UNAFFILIATED ONLY 44%.

THEY WE'LL HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU ARE ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, THAT'S A BAD SIGN WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE THE ELECTION SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE FREE AND FAIR.

>> OK I WANT TO MOVE ON.

DONNA, THERE WAS A WIDE RANGING INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR COOPER AND POLITICO THIS LAST WEEK.

FILL US IN.

>> YES, YES, IT COVERED A LOT OF GROUND IN NORTH CAROLINA.

GOVERNOR ROY COOPER SAT DOWN WITH POLITICO THIS WEEK AND IT TALKED ABOUT WIDE RANGING TOPICS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY TOUCHED ON WITH THE IDEA OF MEDICAID EXPANSION.

NOW THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE SENSED THE TIDE IN THE WATER THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME ROOM FOR A BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE ON MEDICAID EXPANSION.

HE CALLED IT, LIKE YOU SAID, HE CALLED IT THE GRAND BARGAIN.

NOW YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT THIS BARGAIN MOOD STARTED REALLY LAST WEEK WHEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR COOPER AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ALL CAME TOGETHER TO ANNOUNCE THE BILL TO REOPEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

NOW IF YOU FOLLOW POLITICS AT ALL, YOU KNOW THAT SEEING ALL OF THEM TOGETHER WAS AN UNUSUAL, REALLY ONE FOR THE BOOKS THERE.

BUT COOPER SAID THAT HE FEELS LIKE THAT GRAND BARGAIN MAY BE IN THE WATER THERE.

HE HAS SAID FOR A LONG TIME THAT MEDICAID EXPANSION UNDER OBAMACARE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIM.

HE VETOED THE STATE BUDGETS THAT INCLUDED TEACHER RAISES BECAUSE IT DID NOT INCLUDE FUNDING FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION.

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER PHIL BERGER HAS SAID THAT HE JUST FEELS LIKE THE EXISTING PROGRAM PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO IT IS JUST BAD POLICY.

SO THE IDEA THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING TOGETHER OVER A CONFERENCE TABLE INSTEAD OF IN A COURTROOM IS A GOOD SIGN, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE REALLY NEED TO WATCH WHAT THEY DO NOT WHAT THEY SAY.

>> YOU KNOW MITCH, THE GOVERNOR DID SPEAK OUT ABOUT ELECTION REFORM AND HE KIND OF DREW A LINE IN THE SAND, DIDN'T HE?

>> YEAH, HE CERTAINLY DID.

HE IS CERTAINLY ON THE SIDE OF THOSE WHO ARE CHALLENGING ANY ATTEMPTS TO INCREASE THE SECURITY OF THE ELECTIONS CALLING IT VOTE SUPPRESSION, THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS CHALLENGING THE LAWS.

GOING BACK TO THE MEDICAID EXPANSION THING, I THINK THIS IS A CASE OF WISHFUL THINKING ON THE GOVERNOR'S PART.

ONE OF THE REASONS YOU MIGHT THINK THERE COULD BE A NEW DEAL ON MEDICAID EXPANSION IS THAT THE CORONAVIRUS FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE HAD MORE INCENTIVES FOR THE STATES THAT HAVEN'T EXPANDED MEDICAID.

BUT AS DONNA ALLUDED TO, SENATOR PHIL BERGER HASN'T BEEN MORE INCLINED TO SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION AND I THINK ALSO IS TELLING, ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WHO HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN EXPANSION REPRESENTATIVE DONNY LAMBETH HAS LOOKED AT THIS FEDERAL RELIEF PACKAGE AND SAID HE'S STILL NOT CONVINCED THAT THIS WOULD DO WHAT NORTH CAROLINA NEEDS TO DO TO HAVE MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> NELSON, WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW MY FRIEND?

>> WHAT STRIKES ME IS AND THIS BUILDS ON WHAT DONNA AND MITCH HAVE SAID.

EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THIS YEAR WE CANNOT GET CAUGHT UP IN ONE ISSUE TO HOLD BACK THE STATE BUDGET.

SO IN MY MIND, THE GRAND BARGAIN IS, PASS A BIPARTISAN BUDGET, HAVE THAT SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR IN JUNE AND THEN BEGIN TO WORK ON THE 15.8 BILLION DOLLARS IN COVID RELIEF THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN SENT TO US BY CONGRESS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DETERMINE THE BEST WAYS TO INVEST THAT MONEY AND TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOLS WITH THEIR SHARE, AS WELL AS COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL STRINGS ATTACHED.

REALLY IT'S THE MOST UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE THAT STATE HAS EVER HAD IN TERMS OF FINANCES, AND THAT IS GOING TO END UP BEING THE MAJOR FOCUS AND THE MAJOR BARGAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> THE GOVERNOR RELEASES HIS BUDGET WHAT NEXT WEEK.

NELSON?

>> YES, HE RELEASES IT ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN IT WILL BE PRESENTED THURSDAY MORNING TO A JOINT SESSION OF THE FULL APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE.

>> JOE WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WERE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER RELATIVE TO SCHOOL REOPENING THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD START PLAYING THE PINA COLADA SONG YET.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S HARMONY HERE IN A WAY THAT WE CAN EXPECT EVERYTHING WILL NOW COME TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.

CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET WILL BE A BIG INDICATOR OF WHETHER THERE'S A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO WORK COOPERATIVELY, AND AS NELSON TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF MONEY HAS YET TO COME AND SOME SPECULATION THAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO LOOK AT WAYS TO RESHAPE THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY IN A DISASTER SITUATION, EMERGENCY SITUATION SUCH AS COVID-19 WAS.

WE'LL SEE IF THEY'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT FRIENDLINESS THAT WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THE SCHOOL REOPENING AGREEMENT.

>> OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE GEARS.

NELSON LET'S TALK ABOUT GOVERNOR NEWSOME, THE RECALL OUT THERE IN CALIFORNIA IS GETTING REAL.

>> YES MARC, CALIFORNIA'S HAD UNTIL SAINT PATTY'S DAY TO COLLECT AT LEAST 1.5 MILLION SIGNATURES TO RECALL GOVERNOR NEWSOME.

THEY COLLECTED OVER 2 MILLION SIGNATURES, THE LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS HAVE UNTIL APRIL 29TH TO VERIFY THE SIGNATURES.

CURRENTLY THE VERIFICATION RATE IS RUNNING ABOUT 80% THEY NEEDED TO RUN ABOUT 75% IN ORDER TO MAKE THE THRESHOLD.

IF THEY MAKE THAT THRESHOLD THEN THE PROCESS WILL MOVE TOWARD AN ELECTION LATER THIS FALL.

THERE'LL BE 2 QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT.

YES OR NO ON RECALLING GOVERNOR NEWSOME AND THEN WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO REPLACE HIM, WHICH WOULD BE OPEN TO ANY CALIFORNIAN PAYING THE FILING FEE.

THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED OVER A 100 PEOPLE FILED.

IT WILL PROBABLY COME DOWN TO PROBABLY 3 OR 4 MAJOR CANDIDATES.

SHOULD GOVERNOR NEWSOME BE SUCCESSFULLY RECALLED, AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE LATEST U C BERKELEY POLL HAS SHOWN THAT NEWSOM CONTINUES TO LOSE SUPPORT.

HE IS NOW DOWN TO 44% FAVORABLE 49% ON TRIBAL.

>> I'VE SEEN A LOT OF POLLS ON THIS MITCH, BUT ONE POLL STRUCK ME THAT ONE IN 3 INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS WANT HIM RECALLED.

>> YEAH, THAT'S CERTAINLY BAD NEWS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND WE'VE SEEN A STATEWIDE POLL THAT SAID 58% OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT HIM TO HAVE A SECOND TERM, THAT OF COURSE IS DIFFERENT FROM A RECALL, I THINK THE ONE THING THAT HELPS HIM AT THIS POINT IS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE EMERGENCE OF THE ANTI- NEWSOM.

LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA OF COURSE WHEN GRAY DAVIS WENT OUT, THERE WAS THE ARNOLD, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER AS AN ALTERNATIVE, AND IF SOME BIG NAME PERSON WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA POLITICAL SCENE COMES FORWARD AND IS SEEN AS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO NEWSOME THAT WOULD BE REALLY BAD NEWS FOR HIM.

AT THIS POINT THOUGH I THINK HIS HIS BEST BET IS TO RELY ON PEOPLE SAYING WELL, LET'S STICK WITH THE DEVIL WE KNOW RATHER THAN THE ONE, WE DON'T KNOW.

>> DONNA, I THINK MITCH IS CORRECT AND THAT THERE'S NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME THAT COME FORTH YET BUT RICK GRENELL THE FORMER DNI TO TRUMP IS CONSIDERING CORRECT?

>> YES, HE IS, AND I THINK THAT IS ONE THING THAT WILL REALLY TURN THE TIDE FOR NEWSOM.

IF HE DOES COME OUT AND DOES SAY IT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT HE HAS THE NAME RECOGNITION AMONG YOUNGER VOTERS, BUT CERTAINLY HE WOULD DRAW IN VOTES FROM OLDER FOLKS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO NEED TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT POLL, THE YOUNGER VOTERS WERE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF OF HIS RECALL.

THE OLDER VOTERS ARE THE ONES THAT WANTED HIM TO STAY IN PLACE.

SO I THINK IT'S INTERESTING.

IF THEY BRING SOMEBODY IN WHO CAN APPEAL TO THAT YOUNGER VOTER THEY WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO DRAW IN THEIR FRIENDS AND CONTINUE SIGNING THOSE PETITIONS TO RECALL.

>> ONE THING WE KNOW JOE THIS IS GOING TO BE A CONSULTANT'S DREAM.

THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEDIA MARKET IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL, THAT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE AND I THINK EVEN WITH RECALL ELECTIONS IN CALIFORNIA AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE OFTEN ON THE BALLOT.

IT DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO LURE IN A LOT OF CONSULTANTS WHO MAKE BIG BUCKS OFF OF THIS, ALTHOUGH I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE IS CALIFORNIA MAY HAVE GOTTEN TOO BIG TO BE ONE STATE.

IT'S ONLY LIKE THE 13TH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, IF YOU TOOK IT AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES.

SO I PROPOSE THAT WE DIVIDE CALIFORNIA INTO 3 STATES AND NORTHERN TIER WOULD BE SACRAMENTO, THE MIDDLE PART WE WOULD CALL SAN FRANCISCO AND THE SOUTHERN END OF CALIFORNIA I WOULD CALL THE STATE OF ROTTERMAN.

>> OKAY, BUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS I'VE SEE THE WHOLE OBAMA TEAM AND SOME OF BIDEN'S TEAM, NELSON ARE SIGNING ON WITH NEWSOM.

>> THEY ARE.

THEY HAVE TO RESCUE HIM, I MEAN THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE REPUBLICANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REGAIN ANY POWER IN THE STATE AND POTENTIALLY REVERSE THEIR FORTUNES.

ONE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED TO REPUBLICANS OVER THE LAST 10, 12 YEARS IS THEY HAVE DROPPED IN REGISTRATION FROM AROUND 35% TO 25% SO THEY HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

>> OKAY WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> IF THE U.S. SENATE DOES GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER, THE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE WOULD STILL NEED TO HAVE A UNITED FRONT ALL 50 VOTES TO COUNTER THE 50 REPUBLICAN VOTES TO PASS MAJOR PIECES OF CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION THAT INCLUDES HR ONE THE BIG NATIONALIZED ELECTION OVERHAUL.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ALONG WITH THIS FOR DEMOCRATS TO GET IT THROUGH IS WEST VIRGINIA'S SENATOR JOE MANCHIN.

BUT THE UNDERREPORTED PIECE OF THE STORY IS THAT A RECENT POLL CAME OUT FROM MCLAUGHLIN ASSOCIATES THAT SHOWED THAT WEST VIRGINIANS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST THIS IDEA.

79% AGAINST HR ONE.

MEANWHILE, 77% SUPPORT VOTER ID WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE THROWN OUT BY HR ONE ALSO 7 IN 10 VOTERS IN WEST, VIRGINIA SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE FILIBUSTER.

DONNA UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> SO JUST IN TIME FOR EASTER, ISRAELI ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY THEY HAVE FOUND BRAND-NEW FRAGMENTS OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS, ABOUT 2000 YEARS OLD AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT THESE THIS BIBLICAL TEXT IS REALLY STARTING TO UNCOVER SOME OF THE EARLY EARLY HISTORY OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT IT.

>> THAT'S A GREAT CATCH.

I THINK IS VERY INTERESTING JOE UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> YEAH IN A 75 MINUTE VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK THE NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, THE GOVERNING BODY OVER SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOLS, EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION WITH LEGISLATIVE INQUIRIES ABOUT ITS OPERATION.

SOME SENSE OF TENSION BETWEEN THAT BODY LEGISLATORS LOOKING TO TRY TO GET HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC SPORTS AUDIENCES BACK UP.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS REVEALED IS THE ENTITY IS HOLDING ON TO ABOUT A 40 MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS, AND IN PART LEGISLATORS WERE QUESTIONING WHERE DOES THIS MONEY COME FROM?

IF IT COMES FROM HIGH SCHOOLS ARE PAYING FEES TO BE PART OF THE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, THOSE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

LEGISLATORS WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW THAT MONEY IS MANAGED AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE USED FOR.

I THINK THIS STORY WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT IN THE COMING WEEKS.

>> NELSON UNDERREPORTED PLEASE.

>> YES IN NOVEMBER, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT PULLED THE MEGA IPO FOR JACK MA'S ANT GROUP.

WE NOW KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR INVESTORS IN THAT WAS THE GRANDSON OF FORMER CHINESE LEADERS XIAO-XU-MING WHO WAS A MAJOR OPENER OF CHINA BACK IN THE 90'S.

ANOTHER HIGH-TECH BILLIONAIRE WAS ALSO OUSTED FROM HIS COMPANY THIS WEEK, THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY IS SYSTEMATICALLY CRACKING DOWN ON BUSINESS LEADERS, FORMER PARTY LEADERS MINORITY GROUPS, AUTONOMOUS REGIONS LIKE TIBET AND OF COURSE, HONG KONG HAS NOW ESSENTIALLY LOST ITS SPECIAL STATUS.

THIS CRACKDOWN IS BECAUSE CHINA IS IN CRISIS.

PRESIDENT XI HAS FAILED TO MANAGE THE U.S.

RELATIONSHIP AND CERTAINLY PUBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA, THEIR LARGEST CUSTOMER HAS TURNED MARKEDLY AGAINST CHINA.

THIS IS NOT THE SIGNS OF A CONFIDENT RISING POWER, BUT REALLY SYSTEM THAT IS DESPERATE TO HEAD OFF AN IMPLOSION.

>> DO YOU SEE THEM TESTING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EARLY THEY DID HAVE A MEETING IN ALASKA THIS WEEK.

AND I UNDERSTAND IT WAS VERY TESTY.

>> IT WAS TESTY AND GOING TO BE COMING UP AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN.

EARLY IN TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION, XI WENT TO MARA LAGO HAD A FACE TO FACE MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS GIVEN NO INDICATIONS OF HAVING ANY FACE TO FACE MEETINGS WITH XI RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS REALLY A PROBLEM FOR THE CHINESE.

>> THEY REALLY WANT THE TARIFFS LIFTED, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE TARIFFS LIFTED, BUT THEY'RE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF YOU KNOW GENOCIDE WITH THE UIGHUR PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY THEY ARE STILL MINING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FROM THE UNITED STATES AND THEY ARE ON A DAILY BASIS THREATENING THE AIRSPACE AND THE SECURITY OF TAIWAN, WHICH IS A KEY ALLY OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK.

MITCH?

>> WHO'S UP WOUNDED HEROES.

THE STATE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD SET APRIL 24TH AS OF WOUNDED HEROES DAY HONORING ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HURT OVERSEAS AND ESPECIALLY HONORING ARMY SERGEANT MICHAEL VERARDO WHO LOST AN ARM AND A LEG, SUFFERED A SERIOUS BRAIN INJURY BUT HAS BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME THIS AFTER HIS SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN.

SO WOUNDED HEROES.

WHAT'S DOWN NORTH CAROLINA'S LITERACY TEST.

IT HASN'T BEEN ENFORCED FOR DECADES, BUT OUR STATE CONSTITUTION STILL REQUIRES A LITERACY TEST FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AND A NEW BIPARTISAN GROUP WITHIN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TALKING ABOUT FINALLY GETTING RID OF THIS FROM THE STATE CONSTITUTION, A RELIC OF THE JIM CROW ERA.

>> DONNA WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN?

>> SO UP, I'M GOING TO SAY MOVING VAN RENTALS.

PEW RESEARCH JUST PUT OUT A STUDY THAT SAID 25% OF PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY EITHER HAVE ALREADY MOVED OR PLAN TO MOVE AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

JUST CHANGE THEIR RESIDENCE ALTOGETHER.

AND THE TOP 10 BEST STATES FOR A POST-PANDEMIC LIFE.

WELL RALEIGH CAME IN AT NUMBER 9, ATLANTA WAS NUMBER ONE AND TAMPA WAS NUMBER 10.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HITTING THE ROAD AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

DOWN, THE WASHINGTON POST.

EDITORS THERE HAD TO ISSUE A CORRECTION AFTER AN ARTICLE JUST FLEW THROUGH THE MEDIA.

AND IT SAID THAT THEY CLAIM THAT DONALD TRUMP HAD SAID TO GEORGIA OFFICIALS TO GO FIND THE FRAUD.

TURNED OUT AFTER LISTENING TO THE TAPES OF THESE CONVERSATIONS HE DIDN'T SAY THAT, AND THE WASHINGTON POST WAS FORCED TO ISSUE A RETRACTION.

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

>> WHO'S UP IS THE FLOW OF CAMPAIGN CASH OUT OF WALL STREET.

MANY FIRMS ANNOUNCING THEY WOULD NOT GIVE MONEY TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO DIDN'T DENOUNCE DISRUPTIONS THAT TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 6 IN THE U.S. CAPITOL.

THEY RETURN NOW TO THAT PACE OF GIVING MONEY TO THOSE CANDIDATES.

WHO'S DOWN, REALLY THE LURE OF BIG CITIES, PLACES LIKE NEW YORK WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF COVID-19 AS WELL AS CIVIL DISTURBANCES LAST SUMMER.

BUSINESS LEADERS IN THOSE PLACES SAYING THEY THEY WANT TO SEE INTO DISORDER IN THE CITIES, A WORD THAT THEY'RE USING RELATIVE TO THE OPERATION OF THE CITIES.

NORTH CAROLINA MAY BE A CONTINUED BENEFICIARY OF THE FLEEING FROM NEW YORK CITY AS NEW YORKERS MOVE INTO NORTH CAROLINA.

WILL SEE, DOES THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR POLITICS MAKING OUR PURPLE STATE MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE MORE BLUE.

>> NELSON WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN?

>> WHO'S UP?

THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE BEST SIGNING A NEW SEVEN-YEAR TV CONTRACT WITH THE ABC ESPN DISNEY.

THE NHL WILL DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THEIR AUDIENCE REACH AND THE REVENUES AND THIS IS COURSE PERFECT TIMING FOR THE CAROLINA HURRICANES ARE WHO ARE IN THE TOP 3 OF THE NHL'S POWER RANKINGS.

THAT COULD BE THEIR YEAR FOR ANOTHER STANLEY CUP THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR UP.

WHO'S DOWN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, REALLY FOR HALTING THE USE OF THE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE WHICH THE EU MEDICAL AUTHORITY CLEARED AGAIN THIS WEEK.

THOSE COUNTRIES ON THE CONTINENT ARE TRULY FALLING FURTHER BEHIND THE UNITED STATES AND THE UK IN VACCINATIONS, AND THEIR CASES ARE ALSO RISING AS A RESULT.

>> WILL WE BE SENDING THEM SOME OF OUR VACCINE YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WE WILL ONCE WE GET THE UNITED STATES VACCINATED IT'S LIKE YOU SAID BEFORE MARC.

THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN VACCINE DIPLOMACY ALL ACROSS THE WORLD AND POSSIBLY HELP A FEW SELECTED FRIENDS IN EUROPE.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK QUICKLY, MITCH.

>> JOB APPLICATIONS CONTINUE TO TICK UP AS WORK REQUIREMENTS KICK IN FOR NORTH CAROLINA UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> DONNA HEADLINE NEXT WEEK PLEASE.

>> GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY JUMPS IN THE SENATE RACE.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK JOE.

>> BLIZZARDS, TORNADOES AND A CALL FOR AN INCREASED ACTIVITY OF HURRICANES THIS SEASON, 2021 SHAPING UP TO BE 2020'S, EVIL TWIN.

>> QUICKLY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK, NELSON.

>> NO CLEAR WINNER IN THE ISRAELI NATIONAL ELECTIONS AND THIS IS THEIR 4TH TRY IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.

>> OK, THAT'S IT FOR US.

WE'VE GOT TO ROLL.

GREAT JOB PANEL HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR FRONT ROW IS PROVIDED BY: ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY: FUNDING FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND PROVIDED BY: A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪