>>> DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF 9PBS.

>>> SUNSHINE CAME SOFTLY THROUGH MY WINDOW TODAY.

BEAUTIFUL DAY.

I'M ALVIN REID SITTING IN FOR CHARLIE BRENNAN ON DONNYBROOK.

CHARLIE AND HIS FRIENDS HAD BUSINESS AT THE CAPITOL TODAY I DON'T WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT, BUT HE COULD NOT BE HERE.

BUT JOE IS SITTING IN FOR ME AND I'M SITTING IN FOR CHARLIE SO, LET'S INTRODUCE THE ENTIRE PANEL HERE WE'LL START WITH WENDY WIESE FROM KTRS SHE RUNS THE PLACE AND HAS HER OWN SHOW.

A FOUNDER, BILL MCCLELLAN, ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH COLUMNIST AND ALL AROUND GOOD GUY OTHER THAN THAT CHICAGO CUBS KIND OF STUFF.

ANOTHER FOUNDER RAY HARTMANN.

RIGHT BEFORE THE RIVERFRONT TIMES AND JOE HOLMAN FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH.

THE RACE COMING UP IN APRIL FOR THE MAYORS OFFICE.

FROM THE NUMBERS WHO DO YOU SEE KIND OF BEING AS THE FAVORITE AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO SAY JONES IS THE FAVORITE BECAUSE OF CITY WIDE NAME RECOGNITION.

TREASURER OVER AN ALDERMAN, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A CLOSE RACE.

I THINK IT'S A VERY INTERESTING RACE.

I THINK THE ELIMINATION OF LOUIS REED FOR ONE, WHICH WOULD PRETTY MUCH I WOULD THINK MARK THE END OF LOUIS REED'S ATTEMPTS TO BECOME THE MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS, BUT WHO KNOWS.

THE OTHER THING IS I THINK IT ERASED A COUPLE OF ARGUMENTS THAT I SAW SETTING UP IF ONE BELIEVED IT WAS GOING TO BE REED VERSUS JONES BECAUSE OF RECOGNITION THEN YOU HAD THE ESTABLISHMENT VERSUS PROGRESSIVE AND YOU HAD THE GENDER DIFFERENCE.

THOSE ARE GONE WHEN YOU HAVE KARA SPENCER AND JONES.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL CLOSE RACE.

I THINK THAT JONES PROBABLY WILL DRAW MORE VOTES FROM A VARIETY OF WARDS, BUT I THINK THAT KARA SPENCER SHOWED IN THE BREAKDOWN OF THIS PRIMARY IN THE HEAVY TURNOUT WARDS IN ST. LOUIS, SPENCER DID EXTREMELY WELL.

SO I THINK IT'S A COIN FLIP.

>> WELL JOE, ONE QUESTION I HAVE ON IT AND READING THE STORY UNDERSTAND A LOOKING AT THE MAP TODAY, YOU KNOW, RACE IS ALWAYS PRESENT ALL THE TIME.

AND KARA SPENCER DIDN'T SEEM TO DO WELL AT ALL IN THE NORTHWARDS AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANY PROMINENT BLACK SUPPORT SHE HAS.

SO HOW IS SHE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH JONES?

>> WELL AND I THINK IT COMES FROM THOSE HEAVY TURNOUTS IN WHITE WARDS.

THE 12TH, 14TH, 16TH AND SOUTH ST. LOUIS.

YOU KNOW, THE THING IS FROM COVERING CITY HALL FOR YEARS, YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF YOUR MIND AS TO HOW MANY WARDS YOU WIN IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT'S HOW MANY VOTES YOU GET.

AND SO, YOU CAN WIN FOUR OR FIVE WARDS AND STILL WIN AN ELECTION AND PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT NOW THAT IT'S DOWN TO TWO, I THINK THE FIRST RACE THERE WAS A LITTLE CONFUSION VOTING WISE WHEN PEOPLE WERE LIKE WELL DO I VOTE FOR THESE TWO, DO I VOTE FOR THREE?

DO I ONLY VOTE FOR ONE.

NOW WE'RE BACK TO WHAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT'S A VERSUS B.

AND I THINK -- >> WELL, WITH LOUIS REED REMOVED FROM THE EQUATION, I THINK ANOTHER REALLY INTERESTING COMPONENT HERE IS HOW PROGRESSIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW PROGRESSIVE THESE TWO CANDIDATES ARE.

AND I THINK IF THEY ARE VIEWED IF ONE MAYBE OVER THE OTHER IS VIEWED AS LESS PROGRESSIVE, WHAT IMPACT IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE TURNOUT IN THOSE WARDS THAT YOU MENTIONED JOE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A FASCINATING RACE TO WATCH.

>> WELL I'M GOING TO SAY I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE THAT POINT THAT FIRST OF ALL, TUESDAY WAS A GREAT NIGHT FOR PROGRESSIVES IT CLEARLY WAS.

JUST SORT OF PUSHING THE OLD GUARD AWAY.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING GOING FORWARD WITH THEM BEING SO SIMILAR ON A LOT OF ISSUES.

BY THE WAY ONE OF THE THINGS REALLY EXCITING WOULD BE A DEBATE.

I UNDERSTAND CHANNEL 9 IS HAVING ONE ON MARCH 30TH THE WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS ELECTION VERY WELL COULD BE DECIDED AND I AGREE WITH JOE IT'S GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE, BY PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PROGRESSIVE.

SO THE QUESTION IS LIKE, WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BILL, LOUIS REED'S VOTERS ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO VOTE FOR SOMEBODY AND A LOT OF THEM ARE AFRICAN AMERICANS.

I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE WINNER PROBABLY IS GOING TO BE POSSIBLY GOING TO BE WHO DOES BEST WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR NEITHER OF THEM IN THE FIRST POINT.

>> I THINK YOU CAN'T FORGET ANTHONY JONES ALSO RAN IN THIS RACE.

THAT WAS CLOSE TO 17,000 VOTES.

NOW THAT'S FOR A PERSON WHO IDENTIFIED AS A REPUBLICAN.

SO THE QUESTION IS, THOSE 7,000 PEOPLE, IT WASN'T SOME MOVE ON THE REPUBLICANS IN THE CITY'S PARK TO THINK THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE MAYORS OFFICE, BUT YOU HAD CLOSE TO 7,000 PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE PERSON WHO WAS IDENTIFIED AS A REPUBLICAN.

>> AND THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO VOTE THIS TIME.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> WHERE IS, WHERE IS LOUIS REED AT?

I MEAN, LOOK, IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S NOT USED TO GETTING BEAT IN THE MAYORAL PRIMARY IT HAPPENS EVERY FOUR YEARS.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT WHERE DID HE GO?

IS HE BROKERING A DEAL WITH KARA SPENCER'S FOLKS?

BECAUSE ON THE DEBATE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, HE SAID HE WOULD RATHER SEE TASHARA THAN KARA BE THE MAYOR, BUT HE'S BEEN SUSPICIOUSLY QUIET.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIM ANYBODY GOT AN ANSWER TO THAT?

>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY ONE THING THAT IS WE LEFT OUT ONE OF THE REAL BIG QUESTIONS IS WHERE DOES THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY GO?

I CAN'T REMEMBER A MAYORAL ELECTION THAT GOES BACK DECADES WHERE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DIDN'T HAVE SOMEBODY THEY WANTED TO BE BEHIND.

THESE ARE TWO PEOPLE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY DIDN'T WANT THEY WERE BEHIND LOUIS REED.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH WHERE THE MONEY GOES IN THE NEXT FIVE WEEKS.

>> I THINK, I THINK LOUIS REED ON WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, I WOULD HOPE HE'S GETTING ACCUSTOMED TO BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN.

>> BUT THAT'S NOT NOTHING.

HE'S STILL VERY VIABLE IN A WEAK MAYOR SYSTEM.

>> AND IT'S A RACE THAT HE HAS SHOWN HE CAN WIN EVEN AFTER LOSING A MAYORS RACE.

>> HE'S A YOUNG MAN.

THINGS CHANGE.

HE COULD STILL END UP BEING THE PROM KING HE IS A YOUNG MAN.

HE COULD WIN IT ONE DAY.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

I THINK TIME IS ON THEIR SIDE, BUT THIS I BELIEVE TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON LOUIS REED.

OKAY.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

WHAT DAY GOES BY WHERE THERE IS NOT SOMETHING CRAZY COMING OUT OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY?

THIS TIME, A LOT OF IT IS COMING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONCE AGAIN.

THE CHIEF, MARY BARTON SAYS REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU TO FORGET.

NOW IT'S YOU BETTER BELIEVE THERE IS RACISM IN THE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN DAVID PRICE PROVES THE OLD ADAGE WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, QUIT.

HE'S THE CHAIR, THE DEPARTMENT'S UNDER VARIOUS LAWSUITS THE WHOLE PLACE IS A MESS.

RAY HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIX THE COUNTY COP SHOP?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY FIXABLE UNDER ITS CURRENT MANAGEMENT AND THE POLICE BOARD WHO KNOWS.

RAY PRICE, I THINK HE WANTED TO SPEND MORE.

>> DID I SAID DAVID PRICE I'M SORRY.

>> RAY PRICE WANTED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.

IS THAT WHAT HE SAID?

BUT WHO KNOWS.

WHETHER IT HAD TO DO WITH THE LAWSUIT THAT HE COULD BECOME PART OF AND A WITNESS TO WHEN TROY DOYLES LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY.

I WILL SAY THIS, I KNOW MARY BARTON FINALLY CAME OUT AND TALKED TO THE MEDIA THROUGH THE POST DISPATCH, BUT I CAN SEE PEOPLE DIGGING A HOLE DEEPER.

THE BEST THING SHE COULD POINT TO FOR RACE PROGRESS WAS SOME VERY POULTRY NUMBERS ON HIRING AND THE FACT SHE WAS NOW MEETING MONTHLY WITH THE ETHICAL SOCIETY OF POLICE WHICH REPRESENTS BLACK POLICE OFFICERS, I TALKED TO HEATHER TAYLOR TODAY WHOSE AT LEAST SHE'S THEIR SPOKESPERSON SHE SAID THEY'RE NOT IMPRESSED.

SO JUST THE FACT THAT THEY'RE TALKING ISN'T MEANING ANYTHING.

I JUST THINK SHE'S IN THE WRONG JOB.

I THINK SHE'S I'M SURE A FINE COP AND EVERYTHING, BUT I DON'T SEE THIS RACE PROBLEM, EVERYBODY KNOWS I THINK THAT TROY DOYLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE CHIEF, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DID.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

I THINK SHE'S A FINE PERSON, BUT SHE JUST -- >> PART OF IT IS, CHOICE OF WORDS.

IT WAS JUST UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE SHE TOLD THE EDITORIAL BOARD THAT ANYBODY WHO THINKS I DON'T THINK RACE IS A PROBLEM IS MISINFORMED.

WELL YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SAID THAT CHIEF.

I MEAN YOU KNOW, AND NOW YOU'RE ACTING LIKE WE'RE MISINFORMED THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH GO FOR MARY BARTON.

>> JOE, ANYBODY?

[LAUGHTER] >> I THINK WE'RE SUMMED UP THE SITUATION IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

NOW BRINGS BACK DAYS LONG LOST DAYS OF CITY POLITICS.

WHERE EVERYTHING IS A FIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING EXCEPT ACTUALLY DELIVERING SERVICES TO PEOPLE.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU AND APOLOGIES TO THE DAVID PRICES OUT THERE.

I DID MEAN RAY PRICE.

>> YOU KNOW, I DO THINK IT'S KIND OF FASCINATING THAT IN DAYS GONE BY, YOU WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY WITH A CHIEF BARTON BEFORE A MEETING WITH THE POST DISPATCH TALKING ABOUT JUST THIS KIND OF EXCHANGE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS ANY OUTSIDE HELP IN TERMS OF DELIVERING THE MESSAGE OR PUTTING THE MESSAGE ON PAPER.

WHEN YOU ARE THE CHIEF OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, SOME TYPE OF THIS SORT OF EDITORIAL PREPARATION YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE IN ORDER.

BECAUSE YOU KIND OF WALKED RIGHT INTO THAT RABBIT HOLE HERSELF.

>> YOU KNOW THERE USED TO BE A TIME WHEN THE POLICE CHIEFS DIDN'T REALLY NEED SOMEBODY PREPPING THEM.

LIKE YOU KNOW, TIM FITZ FOR INSTANCE.

TIM FITZ DIDN'T NEED SOMEBODY TO PREP HIM AND SAY DON'T SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND THE OLD CHIEFS IN THE CITY THAT I REMEMBER GOING BACK TO CHIEF CAMP, THEY WERE JUST SO SURE OF THEMSELVES, THEY JUST WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I CAN HANDLE THESE REPORTERS THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

>> ON THE SAME TOPIC OF KIND OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, IT'S JUST ANNOYING TO ME THAT THE POLICE BOARD IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MAYBE IT'S US IN THE MEDIA, BUT IT JUST SEEMS IT'S ELUSIVE AND CLOSED AS ANY COMPANY BOARD.

I MEAN IN OTHER WORDS -- >> THAT'S TRUE.

>> IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE -- IT'S NOT JUST ANY BOARD.

I MEAN I MAY HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH THE LIBRARY BOARD.

THIS IS THE POLICE BOARD AND POLICING AND CRIME IS A TOP ISSUE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AND THIS IS OUR CITIZENS BOARD THAT REPRESENTS A MILLION PEOPLE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND THEY DON'T ACT LIKE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND -- >> IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA.

PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO DEATH OF ONE MISSTEP OR ONE MISSPOKEN WORD.

>> I AGREE I KNOW.

>> OKAY.

THE LAST TIME I SAW ERIC GREITENS WAS THE DAY THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED AGAINST HIM BY KIM GARDNER AND WE WERE ON THE STEPS OUTSIDE AND HE WAS YOU KNOW, VINDICATED AND IT WAS TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE I'M GOING TO GO ON AND NEXT THING WE KNOW HE HAD RESIGNED AS GOVERNOR.

HE'S HINTING THAT HE MIGHT TAKE ON SENATOR ROY BLUNT IN TWO YEARS FROM NOW AND THE SENATORIAL RACE AND WENDY IS THE PAST ALL FORGOTTEN ABOUT MR. GREITENS AND HE CAN GO FORWARD AND WIN THAT SEAT OR TOO MUCH BAGGAGE.

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE CONNECTION, IT'S THERE.

I THINK WE ALL SEE IT.

BETWEEN ERIC GREITENS PROJECTTORY AND TO SEE BOTH OF THESE MEN ARGUING OVER THE TABLE SCRAPS OF WHAT IS LEFT OF THE PRESIDENCY OF DONALD J. TRUMP IS SOMETHING TO BEHOLD.

WHEN YOU PUT ALL OF YOUR STOCK IN A CANDIDATE OR IN A FORMER PRESIDENT AS MR. GREITENS IS THAT'S A DANGEROUS THING TO DO, BUT HE SEEMS TO BE ALL IN CRITICIZING SENATOR BLUNT FOR NOT STICKING UP FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND CRITICIZING HIM FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT POLITICIANS HAVE DONE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IN TERMS OF INAUGURATION DAY AS IF HE WERE BEING DISLOYAL.

I KIND OF LIKE TO SEE IT HAPPEN, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO END WELL FOR MR. GREITENS.

>> WENDY I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT YOU WISH THERE WAS RATHER THAN THE ONE THAT WAS.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S TABLE SCRAPS IN MISSOURI.

I THINK THE TRUMP PARTY IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL IN MISSOURI.

AND ERIC GREITENS TO ME COULD BE A VERY VIABLE VERY I GUESS DANGEROUS I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS, OPPONENT TO ROY BLUNT IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

I THINK THAT GREITENS WITH A MINDSET OF THIS REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND OBVIOUSLY I ACTUALLY LIKE ROY BLUNT PERSONALLY, BUT I DISAGREE WITH HIM AND I THINK HE'S THE KIND OF REPUBLICAN IF LEFT TO HIS DEVICES WE NEED IN THE COUNTRY, BUT I THINK ERIC GREITENS WOULD HAVE A VERY REAL CHANCE IF TRUMP CAME DOWN HIS ESCALATOR.

I THINK HE COULD GIVE HIM A RUN.

>> HERE HE CAN RUN.

PERSONALLY AS A REPORTER I WOULD LOVE -- >> WE ALL WOULD.

[LAUGHTER] >> THERE'S ALL THAT BACKGROUND YOU CAN JUST KEEP BRINGING UP.

I MEAN SO FROM THAT SELFISH POINT OF VIEW, GOSH, I HOPE HE RUNS AND I ALSO THINK TOO, I REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE OF 2024 AND WE'VE JUST STARTED 2021.

YOU THINK OVERNIGHT IS A LONG TIME IN POLITICS AND WHERE WAS DONALD TRUMP THREE AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE HE WON.

NOBODY EVEN THOUGHT OF HIM.

IS HOLLY OUT.

IS GREITENS OUT NO.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE IN.

CAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AT SOME POINT SAY GEE WE WOULDN'T WANT A GUY LIKE ROY BLUNT WHO IS A CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE.

WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIM.

AND THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION OR THAT DETERMINATION WHAT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE ELECTION.

SURE THERE IS STILL THE TRUMP HANG OUT.

WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE TWO YEARS FROM NOW I THINK IS MORE INDICATIVE OF WHERE THE TRUMPS AND THE GREITENS AND THE HOLLIES OF THE WORLD WILL BE.

NOT TO SAY THEY WON'T GO FOR IT.

ABSOLUTELY IF THERE'S NOTHING LEGALLY PROHIBITING THEM FROM DOING IT, THEY CAN GO FOR ANY OFFICE THEY WANT.

I JUST THINK ITS WAY TOO EARLY TO TELL.

>> IT IS KIND OF STARTLING TO THINK THAT WE COULD HAVE SENATORS JOSH HOLLY AND ERIC GREITENS.

YOU KNOW, I HATE TO BE OLD FASHIONED AND THINK OF THE OLD DAYS THE EAGLE TON, DAN FORTH WE COULD HAVE JOSH HOLLY AND ERIC GREITENS AND MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS VERY LIBERAL, KNOWS THAT I VOTED FOR ROY BLUNT LAST TIME.

SAID TO ME DAD, WHO WOULD EVER THINK THAT I, HER COULD BE ROOTING FOR ROY BLUNT AND ALSO THINK LIZ CHENEY IS A HECK OF A PERSON.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A STRANGE WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN.

>> AND LET'S NOT BE SURPRISED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN POLITICS.

>> NOT TO BELABOR THAT, BUT HE LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND NOBODY KNEW IT.

YOU KNOW IT WAS ALL OUT THERE, BUT HE JUST LIKE OKAY I'M DONE.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE OTHER THAN THAT I'M QUITTING.

>> JOSH HOLLY SPOKE LAST WEEKEND AT THE CP AC CONVENTION.

GAVE A SPEECH ALL THAT WAS MISSING WAS THE AXE HANDLES AND PILLOWCASES HE ONLY GOT ABOUT 3% IN THE PRESIDENTIAL POLL OF THOSE THAT YOU KNOW WERE IN THAT POLL DOWN THAT WAY.

THE SAME ABOUT AS TUCKER CARLSON AND I GUESS TED CRUZ.

IS IT OVER FOR JOSH HOLLY NATIONALLY?

HE IS JUST KIND OF OUR SENATOR NOW OR, AS JOE SAID, NO YOU KNOW CAN'T COUNT HIM OUT YET.

BILL WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I AGREE WITH JOE IT'S A LITTLE EARLY TO TALK ABOUT 2024, BUT I THINK JOSH HOLLY SEES HIMSELF IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION.

THE RACE HAS JUST GUN.

HIS NAME IS IN THERE AND HE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES IT WOULD BE A REAL MISTAKE TO COUNT JOSH HOLLY OUT OF ANYTHING.

>> I AGREE WITH BILL AND THIS IS THE GOPQ.

YOU CANNOT PREDICT I MEAN AS HEINOUS AS WHAT I THOUGHT, YOU GOT TO CONSIDER THE AUDIENCE AND EVERYBODY'S STILL HAVING TROUBLE FIGURING OUT HOW TRUMP IS ABLE TO DO THIS AND HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR SPELL, BUT EVERY TIME SOMEBODY SPEAKS UP AGAINST HIM, LOOK AT MITCH MCCONNELL HE BASICALLY CALLED FOR HIM TO BE CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED AFTER THE IMPEACHMENT ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE AND LAST WEEK HE WAS SAYING HE WOULD VOTE FOR HIM IN HE'S A CANDIDATE.

I AGREE IT'S TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT 2024, BUT IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT THE SENATE RACE IN 2022.

>> I THINK THEY KIND OF IGNORE THE FACT THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING HALF THE COUNTRY DOESN'T AGREE WITH THEM.

THAT'S A FACT THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT.

IT'S LIKE HOW CRAZY IS THAT OTHER HALF HALF THE COUNTRY DOESN'T AGREE WITH YOU.

OTHER THAN THROWING DONALD TRUMP OUT THE LAST ELECTION SHOWED THAT.

EVERYBODY GOES I DON'T SEE HOW HE DOES IT MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE HALF THE COUNTRY DOESN'T AGREE WITH THE LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

>> I STILL THINK GO AHEAD ALVIN.

>> GO AHEAD WENDY.

>> I STILL THINK IT WAS SURPRISING AND I'M NOT AS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HOLLY'S CHANCES WHICH MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

BUT THAT HE ONLY RECEIVED 3% AT CPAC AFTER JANUARY 6TH.

AND THE HIGH VISIBILITY HE HAD UNLESS THERE ARE STILL SOME RHINOS WHO MEANDERING AROUND CPAC GATHERING, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT AFTER JANUARY 6TH, THAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER THAN THAT AT CPAC.

>> AND SEE I THINK THAT HOLLY MUCH LIKE GREITENS MIGHT BE IN A SENATE RACE, IF HE WERE TO GET THE NOMINATION, I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO, BUT HE'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE, BUT HE WOULD BE MUCH MORE BEATABLE FOR THE DEMOCRATS THAN A NORMAL PERSON.

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

I KEEP SAYING ABOUT GREITENS IN MISSOURI I THINK HE WOULD BE A LOT MORE BEATABLE.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT RONALD REAGAN.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO DONALD TRUMP WAS ABOUT TO GIVE THE STATE OF UNION AND THE REPUBLICANS HAD THE SENATE AND THE OVAL OFFICE.

THEY HAVE NONE NOW.

I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GAVE A LITTLE HINT WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THIS RIDICULOUSNESS.

>> AND THE PANDEMIC.

>> A RARE RADIO TRAIN.

MARK REARDON IS TRADED FROM KMOX AND DAVE GLOVER IS NOW AT KMOX IS THIS A SIGNAL THAT THE WORLD IS CHANGING OR THE MIGHTY MOX OR JUST EVERYDAY RADIO STUFF?

>> YES.

YES.

[LAUGHTER] >> TO ALL OF THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU NAILED IT COMPLETELY.

I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS, BUT I THINK FROM MY POINT OF VIEW BEING AN OLD RADIO PERSON STARTING IN RADIO, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING AS TO WHAT THE RIPPLE EFFECT IS GOING TO BE OF RUSH LIMBAUGH DYING.

I KNOW THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T LIKE HIM, AND DIDN'T LISTEN TO HIS SHOW, PROBABLY UNDERESTIMATE WHAT A POWERFUL PRESENCE HE WAS ON RADIO.

HE AND HOWARD STERN ARE PROBABLY THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT RADIO PEOPLE OF THE LAST 40 YEARS AS FAR AS CHANGING THE MEDIUM.

AND I THINK POSSIBLY IT COULD SIGNAL THAT KMOX NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH NO LONGER HAVING A RUSH LIMBAUGH LEAD IN TO MARK REARDON'S CONSERVATIVE SHOW, THEY MOVE INTO KFTK WHICH IS AN ALL CONSERVATIVE TALK STATION BILLED AS SUCH.

THEY MOVE DAVE GLOVER SHOW TO KMOX AND DAVE'S SHOW IS A LITTLE MORE MAINSTREAM THOUGH IT DID TOUCH ON CONSERVATIVE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE STATION IT WAS ON, IT WAS MORE OF A "OLD FASHIONED" RADIO TALK SHOW.

AND SO I THINK MAYBE KMOX IS HINTING THEIR BEST THINKING THAT ONCE RUSH, THEY GET DONE PLAYING THE BEST OF RUSH OR WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING TO FILL THAT TIME WHATEVER THEY FILL IT WITH I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WILL NOT BE AS STRONG AS RUSH LIMBAUGH BECAUSE HE JUST DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BE AS STRONG AS RUSH LIMBAUGH MADE HIMSELF TO BE.

IT WAS A UNIQUE RADIO PHENOMENON AND HE CHANGED THE WAY RADIO WAS.

THERE IS CONSERVATIVE STATIONS IN CITIES NOW BECAUSE OF RUSH LIMBAUGH.

I SEE THAT AS BEING A CHANGE IN MAYBE THE FORMATS WILL FIT BETTER.

I ALSO THINK THAT WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT THEY THINK OF IT AS A BEING MOVED LET'S SAY A REARDON FROM A STATION THAT DOMINATES THE RATINGS TO ONE THAT DOESN'T.

AND THE RATINGS SHOW THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE.

KMOX IS NOT THE NUMBER ONE STATION IN ST. LOUIS.

MONTH IN AND MONTH OUT.

IT'S NOT COUNTING WHEN CARDINAL BASEBALL IS ON AND KFTK RADIO IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH THEM.

RATINGS WISE WE THINK OF KMOX THEY DOMINATE THE RATINGS THEY DON'T ANYMORE.

IT'S CHANGED.

ONCE AGAIN IT'S A WAIT AND SEE, BUT I THINK IT'S KMOX TRYING TO MAYBE HEDGE THEIR BEST ON THE FALLOUT AFTER RUSH.

>> WENDY YOUR THOUGHTS REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GO TO OUR LAUGH LAST TOPIC?

>> I THINK DAVE GLOVER IS THE ONE TO WATCH.

I KNOW HE SAID AT SOME POINT THIS WEEK THAT HE WAS NOT THAT HIS SHOW WAS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

AND IF THAT'S TRUE, THEN YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S, IT'S DAVE GLOVER AND THE LISTENERS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN COEXIST.

[LAUGHTER] >> VERY GOOD.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK THAT JOE, I HATE TO DO THIS TO YOU I THOUGHT IT WAS JOE SPOT ON AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY, THERE'S NO WAY THAT IT WON'T IMPACT RUSH LIMBAUGH, I'M CERTAINLY NOT A FAN, WAS BY FAR AND AWAY THE MOST I THINK THE MOST CORRESPONDENCE IS A CONSEQUENTIAL FIGURE IN RADIO HISTORY.

THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER'S KMOX OBVIOUSLY.

I HAD A SOFT SPOT FOR OUR GUY CHARLIE BRENNAN AND SOME FOLKS ON THERE, BUT IT'S JUST NOT.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS DOWN IN FLORIDA PREPARING FOR THE SEASON.

OPENING DAY I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FANS IN THE STANDS, BUT BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE MIDDLE OF JULY THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FULL STADIUM.

A FULL STADIUM I'M NOT READY FOR.

OKAY.

AND I DON'T THINK MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS EITHER.

DO ANY OF YOU ALL THINK THAT THE CARDINALS COULD POSSIBLY PULL THAT OFF?

>> LET ME SAY I THINK BY THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON WITH THE CARDINALS SOLIDLY IN SECOND PLACE, TRAILING THE CUBS BY 5 OR 6 GAMES IT WILL BE HARD TO FILL THAT STADIUM.

[LAUGHTER] >> OH.

BILL I WOULD SAY THAT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE OPTIMISTIC.

I'M FINE WITH THEM BEING OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK WHERE AS IN OCTOBER, WE PLAY BASEBALL IN OCTOBER WHICH THE CUBS WON'T BE DOING THIS YEAR AND BY OCTOBER, I THINK IT'S VERY REALISTIC AND THE PLAYOFFS TO SEE THE STADIUM FULL BY THEN.

I THINK JULY IS A LITTLE OPTIMISTIC, BUT I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR TRYING.

>> DR. GAZA WAS VERY OPTIMISTIC YESTERDAY IN HIS MESSAGE OF THE SUMMERTIME I THINK IT WAS JUST WHAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO HEAR AND SO LET'S ALL BE OPTIMISTIC.

THE SUN IS SHINING THE COLD WEATHER IS BEHIND US PLAY BALL.

>> YEAH.

IN ALL HONESTY I'M THE SAME WAY I'D LIKE TO SEE IT, BUT ONLY, YOU KNOW THE VACCINATIONS ARE COMING, JOHNSON AND JOHNSON TOO SO I'M GOING TO BE OPTIMISTIC ON THAT.

MAYORAL DEBATE ON PBS CHANNEL 9 MARCH 30TH.

CHECK THEM OUT JUST TWO CANDIDATES THEY WILL BE THERE IN PERSON.

THAT WILL BE GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH US.

COMING UP ON NEXT UP, ARREY OBENSON CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS.

THANK YOU JOE HOLE MAN FOR SITTING IN.

ALVIN REID SIGNING OFF ON A BEAUTIFUL LATE WINTER DAY.

>>> DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE MEMBERS OF 9PBS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO NEXT UP.

WE'RE JOINED RIGHT NOW BY ARREY OBENSON.

HE IS CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ST. LOUIS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

THESE ARE VERY INTERESTING TIMES THAT WE LIVE IN.

SO I'M GOING TO START JUST KIND OF WITH A GENERAL QUESTION OF WHAT IS OUR NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA AND ARE THEY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

PRIMARILY FROM LATINO COUNTRIES OR JUST KIND OF A GENERAL MAKEUP OF WHO'S HERE IN ST. LOUIS FROM OTHER NATIONS.

>> WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE NOTICED COMING INTO THIS POSITION BEEN HERE SINCE THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY.

AND WHAT I FOUND REALLY EXCITING IS THAT THERE IS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY HERE OF IMMIGRANTS.

AND CURRENTLY YOU KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT AN AVERAGE OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3 TO 5,000 IMMIGRANTS COMING TO THE ST. LOUIS AREA EVERY YEAR.

IT HAS BEEN A MIX, BUT IN MORE RECENT TIMES IT'S BEGINNING TO SEE A LOT MORE IMMIGRANTS COMING IN FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.

BUT THERE QUITE A GREAT MIX OF THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA.

>> SO MANY OF THEM ARREY ARE OBVIOUSLY RUNNING AWAY FROM INHUMANE CONDITIONS.

WHAT OTHER, WHAT OTHER REASONS DO PEOPLE CHOOSE THE MIDWEST AND THIS CITY ON THE RIVER?

>> YEAH THAT'S A VERY VERY INTERESTING QUESTION TO ASK WHY PEOPLE COME.

SO IMMIGRANTS COME HERE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

SOME OF THE REASONS BEING THAT THEY MOVE AWAY FROM ADVERSE CONDITIONS AND ADVERSE CONDITIONS WOULD RANGE FROM TYPICALLY WOULD BE BEING AWAY FROM CONFLICTS THAT IS EFFECTING THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

AND I WOULD SAY, I AM AN IMMIGRANT MYSELF.

I CAME HERE BECAUSE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND WORK FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT'S BASED HERE.

BUT ONCE YOU ARE HERE AS AN IMMIGRANT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALL IMMIGRANTS YEARN FOR IS TO BE PART OF AMERICA LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS COUNTRY, ABOUT AMERICA THE AMERICAN IDEAL THAT EVERYBODY WILL MIX INTO THIS SHOW WANTS TO BE PART OF THAT.

NOW WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO THE MIDWEST OR WHY DO IMMIGRANTS GO TO ANY PARTICULAR PLACE?

TYPICALLY TO FOLLOW SOMEBODY WHO CAME HERE FIRST.

ALL RIGHT.

IF SOMEBODY IF A GROUP, A FAMILY WAS SENT HERE FIRST, AND THE CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR THEM, THE WORD GOES OUT INTO THE SUDAN COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE BEGIN TO MOVE.

THAT'S WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE.

AND PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO COME HERE AS LONG AS THE CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THEM TO COME.

YOU KNOW I CAME HERE ON A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAN MOST OF THE IMMIGRANTS THAT WE DEAL WITH IN THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE.

AS I HAVE SETTLED HERE MYSELF PEOPLE ARE CALLED FOR LOOKING FOR JOBS AND ASK ME HOW IS IT LIVING IN ST. LOUIS AND I'M ALSO OVER THE YEARS ENCOURAGED MANY CAMAROONIANS.

IT'S TYPICALLY SOMEBODY LEADING ANOTHER PERSON.

>> CHARLIE BRENNAN A COLLEAGUE OF OURS WHO IS NOT ON THE SHOW TONIGHT HAS A RADIO PROGRAM ON KMOX.

AND REGULARLY FEATURED SOME SYRIAN REFUGEES WHO CAME HERE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATION AND THEY WERE PUT IN A VERY POOR NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH CRIME.

THERE WEREN'T ANY GROCERY STORES NEARBY.

IT SEEMED LIKE JUST A PROBLEM WITH BRINGING REFUGEES HERE.

HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU CAN PUT THEM WHERE IT WON'T BE TOO EXPENSIVE, BUT THEY CAN WALK TO GROCERY STORES AND IT'S NOT A HIGH CRIME.

DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOUSING?

>> HOUSING GENERALLY IS A PROBLEM IN THE CITY.

THAT, AND I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS CHALLENGE THAT HAPPENED WITH THE SYRIAN GROUP.

AND HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY, OUR GOAL AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS SO THAT THEY CAN BE PRODUCTIVE, GET INTEGRATED, BE CONNECTED TO THIS COMMUNITY.

WILL THAT BE EASY ALL THE TIME CERTAINLY NOT.

BUT OUR GOAL IS TO WALK WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS NEW ARRIVALS THAT ARE BEFITTING FOR THEM TO INTEGRATE AND BE CONNECTED AND BE PRODUCTIVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT I COMING IN FROM THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY LOOKING FORWARD TO.

AGAIN I'M SAYING THIS AS AN IMMIGRANT THAT CAME HERE, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY MY FIRST CAR AT 23% INTEREST RATE.

THAT WAS TOTALLY A RIPOFF I KNOW BETTER NOW.

BUT I HAD NO CREDIT HISTORY AT THE TIME.

SO THE CHALLENGE IS THAT IMMIGRANTS FACE WHEN THEY COME HERE.

STILL VERY COMPLEX AND VERY COMPLICATED.

THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES I WOULD ALWAYS SAY AND THOSE CHALLENGES WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE.

AND IF THERE WAS CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THAT THAT AROSE IN THE PAST THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY IMMIGRANT THAT COMES HERE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE CAN WALK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THEM THE SERVICES AND MEET THEIR NEED TO FEEL LIKE AMERICA WELCOMES THEM.

>> FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW JOB YOU'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A MONTH AND YOU'RE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE.

I READ THAT YOUR PREDECESSOR ANNA, HAD HELD THE POSITION FOR 42 YEARS.

THAT'S MUST BE, I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE TO COME IN AFTER, I DON'T THINK I CAN THINK OF A TIME WHEN SOMEBODY'S HAD TO COME INTO A NEW POSITION.

YOU WERE SELECTED IT'S GREAT, BUT TO FOLLOW SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN THERE 42 YEARS IS IT TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT KINDS OF NEW DIRECTIONS OR WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING TO BRING TO IT.

TALK ABOUT TAKING OVER THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE AFTER SUCH A YOU KNOW, LONG RUN FOR ANNA AND VERY RESPECTED ANNA.

>> YES THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

IT'S DAUNTING TO IMAGINE HOW ONE COULD MATCH UP TO 42 YEARS, BUT I'M VERY CONSCIOUS THAT MY GOAL WILL NEVER BE TO REIMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.

I'M REALLY VERY FOCUSED ON WHAT THE FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE AND THE ROLE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE WILL PLAY.

SO HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT I DON'T SEE THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE JUST AN INSTITUTION OF ITS OWN.

I SEE THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE AS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THAT WE WILL SUCCEED OR WE WILL FAIL DEPENDING ON HOW WE WALK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESOURCES THAT LIE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.

I ALSO KNOW THAT THE NEXT 100 YEARS WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST 100 YEARS.

THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE, WILL COME FROM DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS.

ONE THING THAT I'M CERTAIN ABOUT IS THAT THEY WILL COME.

AND WHEN THEY COME, THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH THEM?

OF COURSE TIMES ARE CHANGING AND TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING.

SO FOR ME, THIS YEAR COMING IN THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY THAT I SEE IS WORKING WITH THIS COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE, BUT A PLAN THAT IS THIS COMMUNITY'S PLAN.

WHY DO I SAY THAT?

BECAUSE I WANT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE TO WORK TO BUILD THE KIND OF ST. LOUIS THAT THIS COMMUNITY WANTS.

WHAT WILL OUR FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY DO WE WANT?

HOW CAN WE DO IT TOGETHER AND WHO DO WE NEED TO GET THERE?

SO THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I'M LOOKING FOR HAVING THIS EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DESIGN THE STRATEGY PLAN FOR THE NEXT THREE, FIVE, TEN, 15 YEARS FOR THE INSTITUTE.

THAT'S ONE.

SECONDLY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.

THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITH IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE WHY OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IS BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO BE PART OF THIS SOCIETY.

WE WANT TO INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE SOCIETY.

SO WE CAN'T FOCUS ON THEM AND NOT FOCUS ON THE WIDE SOCIETY.

PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE COMING HERE AND HOW MUCH VALUE THEY CAN BRING TO OUR EXPERIENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

HOW CAN WE CAPITALIZE ON THAT.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT THEY COME HERE AND STAYED FREE IN SOCIETY.

THAT THEY BECOME MAIN STREAM AND PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERY LEADER OF AN ORGANIZATION, THINKING HOW DO WE DESIGN AND MODEL FOR THE FUTURE THAT RELIES UNDER THE RESOURCES PROVIDED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AS A WAY TO BUILD THE NEXT 100 YEARS.

>> ARREY WISCONSIN TO ST. LOUIS.

I TALKED TO ANNA EARLY LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN THE CORONA VIRUS SITUATION HAD CAME UP.

I TALKED TO HER AND THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANT SUPPORT GROUPS ABOUT THE ADDED PROBLEM OF COMING TO THE U.S. DURING THE CORONA VIRUS SO WITH A MAYBE NOT A COMMAND OF ALL OF ENGLISH.

NO KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH, NOT SPEAKING ENGLISH, THERE WERE ALL OF THESE FARMS THAT WERE ONLINE AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT WAS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT A NEW ARRIVAL HAS TO DEAL WITH AS FAR AS FILLING OUT FORMS BECAUSE WE LOVE FILLING OUT FORMS HERE.

THERE WAS ALL THIS CORONA VIRUS INFORMATION ON TOP AND THEY NEEDED TRANSLATORS HAS THAT LESSENED, HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> THAT'S A VERY I'M SURE THAT IF WE WENT BACK A YEAR AGO AND ASKED US WHETHER WE WERE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND DO ALL OF THIS THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING NOW WE WOULD HAVE SAID NO.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF COURSE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, WE HAD TO LOCK DOWN, BUT HOW DO YOU LOCK DOWN WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THIS ACTIVITIES THAT WERE DONE IN PERSON, CITIZEN CLASSES, NEW ARRIVALS THERE WERE 44 PEOPLE THAT JUST CAME IN BEFORE THE LOCK DOWN.

AND WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE THEY HAVE 90 DAYS WITHIN WHICH YOU HAVE TO INTEGRATE THEM WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A DOCTOR'S VISIT.

THEY HAVE TO THE CHILDREN HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR SCHOOL.

ALL OF THIS THEY DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AND THEN THERE IS A PANDEMIC THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS.

SO IMMEDIATELY LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GO ONLINE.

SO YOU KNOW, WE DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATION THAT IS USING PHONES WHERE IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS USE OF SNOW DAYS, BUT USING THAT SYSTEM THEY WERE ABLE TO BROADCAST IN ABOUT EIGHT DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

INFORMATION AND IT WAS NECESSARY FOR IMMIGRANTS TO UNDERSTAND AND ALSO PLAY A PART IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC.

THAT GOES TO 800 OF THEM, EVEN SOMETIMES THE CITY HAD HAD TO COME TO THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE TO BROADCAST SOME MESSAGES THAT THEY WANTED TO BROADCAST.

AND I THINK WE ALSO WENT ONLINE SOME ENGLISH CLASSES, CITIZEN CLASSES AND TO GO ONLINE OF COURSE THE OBVIOUS CHALLENGE YOU MAY HAVE TECHNOLOGY ON ONE END, BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TECHNOLOGY ON THE OTHER SIDE WHICH WE'RE BEGINNING TO DISCOVER THERE WAS A LOT OF LIMITATIONS.

BUT THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COPE.

TAKING ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS TO ONLINE FORMATS.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO EVEN IN PERSON ENGAGEMENT WHERE A SOCIAL WORKER GOES TO THE HOUSE AND WOULD SEEK OUTSIDE OF THE IMMIGRANT WOULD SIT ON THE FRONT PORCH AND THEY WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

ALSO GUIDELINES DEMAND THERE HAS TO BE A VISIT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMMIGRANT IS SETTLED IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT AND YOU HAVE TO GO PERIODICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE THE THINGS EVEN WITHIN THE HOUSE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT WE COULDN'T DO SO WE HAD TO COME UP WITH SIGNS THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY DEMONSTRATE TO THEM FROM A DISTANCE WHAT THIS SHOULD DO, HOW TO USE A DISHWASHER.

MAYBE NORMAL FOR US, BUT IT'S NOT NORMAL FOR PEOPLE WHO COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS A STRUGGLE IN THE BEGINNING EVEN WITH THE MESSAGES THAT WERE SENT BY TEXT MESSAGES.

JUST ABOUT 30% WERE USING IT IN THE BEGINNING, BUT NOW IT'S UP TO 380% -- UP TO 80% WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOU KNOW THE PAST 100 YEARS.

THE FUTURE 100 YEARS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

OKAY.

IF YOU THIS COUNTRY ALL OF US I THINK STILL CONSIDER IT THE SHINY BEACON OF LIGHT, BUT QUITE FRANKLY NOT WELCOMING TO IMMIGRANTS.

NOT WELCOMING TO PEOPLE OF COLOR FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

ARE YOU EXPLAINING THAT TO NEW IMMIGRANTS AND ALSO, ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW OUR STATE IS NOT WELCOMING AND THEY WON'T SHY AWAY FROM THAT.

OUR LEGISLATURE WILL TELL YOU YOU'RE NOT WELCOME.

HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THAT AND ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW TO OUR CITY, WHICH ALSO MEANS PROBABLY NEW TO THE COUNTRY ARE THEY UNDERSTANDING THAT?

>> YEAH.

SO LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY AND I'LL, I HAPPEN TO BE FORTUNATE TO BE AN IMMIGRANT AS WELL FROM A COUNTRY CALLED CAMAROON.

AS BAD AS IT MAY SEEM OUT HERE, IT'S STILL MUCH BETTER THAN WHERE I CAME FROM.

SO FROM AN IMMIGRANT PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS STILL THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THIS COUNTRY AS STILL SOMETHING THAT WE YEARN OR ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE.

SECONDLY HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT IT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO DO, IN MY POSITION, IS SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON WHAT IS WRONG.

I REALLY WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON WHAT IS RIGHT OR WHAT COULD BE RIGHT.

AND IN THAT REGARD, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST SURPRISES THAT I FOUND IN GETTING THIS POSITION AND ONE MORE THING, IS IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT WE HEAR IN THE NEWS.

IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THE POLITICS IS, THAT THERE IS A VIBRANT COMMUNITY OF AMERICANS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, IN ST. LOUIS, THAT ARE EXTREMELY WELCOMING TO IMMIGRANTS.

THAT ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO COME HERE.

THAT THEY MAY NOT WEAR IT ON THEIR POLITICAL SLEEVES, BUT THEY ARE DOING IT.

THAT WAS MY GREATEST SURPRISE AND THAT IS REALLY REASSURING.

WHAT WE MUST DO, WHAT WE MUST DO, IS CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THE POLITICS LOOKS LIKE.

THAT PEOPLE WHO COME HERE YOU CAN LABEL THEM FOR WHAT COUNTRY THEY COME FROM.

YOU CAN LABEL THEM AS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW, IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND THAT THAT'S WHAT REALLY, REALLY MATTERS.

AND AS HUMAN BEINGS, THEY ARE ENTITLED, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO SAME OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE EVERYWHERE.

THAT A CHILD WHO WAS BORN DOESN'T PICK WHAT COUNTRY AND IN THIS COUNTRY WE HAVE THE BIG DEBATE ABOUT CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN AND NOT A DEBATE ABOUT A CHILD THAT IS BORN AND HERE.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF WE START LOOKING AT THIS AS HUMAN BEINGS, WHO ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY FIND THEMSELVES, AND WILL BE HERE BECAUSE THEY WILL BE HERE, THEY ARE HERE ALREADY AND THEY WILL BE HERE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WALK TOGETHER AS A SOCIETY TO WELCOME THEM.

AND YES, I THINK THAT IMMIGRANTS KNOW NOT THAT I THINK, IMMIGRANTS KNOW THAT IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THEM TO GET INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S THAT THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T WANT THEM.

I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T NOT NECESSARILY THOSE THAT SPEAK ABOUT IMMIGRANTS AS BEING A PROBLEM MAY NOT NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND THE TREMENDOUS VALUE THAT IMMIGRANTS BRING TO THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE.

AND MY JOB AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE HAS TO BE ALMOST AS EXPLAINER AND CHIEF OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE IMMIGRANTS HERE.

>> SUCH A GIFT TO HEAR YOU EMPHASIZE EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD ABOUT THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE HAVE FOR A VERY LONG TIME [LAUGHTER] TAKEN UP TOO MUCH TIME AND I'M TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE NATION WITH EMPHASIZING ALL THAT IS WRONG.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THE 9PBS VIEWERS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP.

IS THERE ONE AREA OF CONCERN THAT OUR VIEWERS COULD MAKE A SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO KNOW ABOUT TONIGHT?

>> YES.

WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

WE KNOW THAT IN THE NEXT HOPEFULLY THAT WE -- THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'RE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN IMMIGRANTS COMING TO THE AREA, BUT ONE THING WE'RE HOPING FOR IS THAT THE NEXT TWO YEARS AT LEAST WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN IMMIGRANTS COMING BACK BECAUSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS BUILDING BACK THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO WELCOME IMMIGRANTS INTO THE COUNTRY.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR WHAT TO GETTING ABOUT 1,250 COMING INTO THE ST. LOUIS AREA.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE NEED TO BE AROUND CAPACITY.

WHAT CAPACITY AM I TALKING ABOUT?

WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS.

VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN HELP IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE, IN HELPING IMMIGRANTS.

GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE.

WHAT TO BUY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO.

HOW DO YOU YOU KNOW HOW DO YOU TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR?

HOW DO YOU TALK TO NURSE?

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THERAPISTS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO VOLUNTEERISM IS GOING TO BE WHICH HAS REALLY GONE DOWN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE REALLY NEED TO RAMP THAT UP SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

VOLUNTEERS WE'RE LOOKING FOR EXPERTS AND EXPERTS USUALLY SOCIAL WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP WITH THERAPIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN LIKE EVERY OTHER ORGANIZATION WE'RE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES?

WHEN IMMIGRANTS COME HERE WE SET THEM UP IN APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

WE YOU KNOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS LIKE THAT THAT COULD HELP THEM START UP SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, IISTL .ORG AND CLICK ON VOLUNTEERISM SECTION AND SUPPORT.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR FINANCIAL RESOURCES SO ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO DONATE WE JUST KICKED OFF A PROGRAM THAT IS CALLED NEIGHBORHOOD OF NATIONS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF NATIONS NOW ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE WITH A MONTHLY DONATION.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE ALSO ACCEPTING DONATIONS ALL THROUGH THE YEAR.

>> ARREY THERE ARE OF COURSE TWO CATEGORIES OF IMMIGRANTS.

THERE ARE THE ONES WHO COME HERE LEGALLY AND THEN TRADITIONALLY FOR YEARS AND YEARS WE'VE HAD ECONOMIC REFUGEES COMING FROM THE SOUTH.

MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS, AND THEY'RE OFTEN AFRAID TO SEEK SERVICES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES.

AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE INSTITUTE WORKS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE LEGALLY AND ARE SPONSORED.

DO YOU DO ANY WORK WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE UNDOCUMENTED?

>> NO.

AT THIS TIME I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE.

I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT.

THE PEOPLE WE DEAL WITH AT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE PRIMARILY THREE CATEGORIES.

THEY'RE THE REFUGEES WHO COME HERE, THEY'RE IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE GOING ON FIVE YEARS SO LEGALLY HERE, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE STILL NEED SUPPORT AND THEN WE ALSO DEAL WITH ASSIGNEES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLIED FOR ASYLUM AND IN THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING THEIR ASYLUM AND TYPICALLY THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALSO REGISTERED EVEN THOUGH NOT LEGALLY RESIDENT, BUT RECOGNIZED TO BE HERE AND USUALLY GET UNTIL THEIR ASYLUM CASES ARE DETERMINED.

SO THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HERE.

WITH REFERENCE TO I CANNOT SPEAK OF AT THIS TIME ABOUT THE UNDOCUMENTED BECAUSE AS YOU SAID TYPICALLY THEY ARE IN THE SHADOWS WE DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE OUT THERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE CLEARLY THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS WHO CAME AS WAR REFUGEES.

ONE OF THE BIG ROLES THAT THE INSTITUTE PLAYED BEFORE THAT IT WAS VIETNAMESE IN SOUTH ST. LOUIS.

AND SO MANY THERE WAS LIKE I THINK IT WAS 70,000 BOSNIANS.

>> YOU GOT ABOUT ONE MINUTE OKAY WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

>> QUICKLY THAT NUMBER HAS DECREASED A LOT AND PART OF THAT IS NORMAL ONCE YOU GET PEOPLE RESETTLED, BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF KEEPING THOSE YOU KNOW, IN THE CASE OF BOSNIAN MUSLIMS THAT NUMBER DECREASED A LOT HOW DO YOU FACE THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING TO KEEP THE PEOPLE THAT GET HERE.

>> THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

IS WE HAVE TO CREATE A ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

WE HAVE TO WELCOME THEM WE HAVE TO INTEGRATE THEM AND WE HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS HOPE.

FOR ME THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY THAT PRESENTS ITSELF.

THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS TALENT HERE AND WE CAN BUILD A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT GIVE ME THAT WEBSITE AGAIN WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND YOU AND FIND OUT HOW TO VOLUNTEER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HOW TO SEND YOU SOME MONEY.

>> IISTL .ORG.

>> OKAY.

YOU ARE DOING SOME GREAT WORK AND I KNOW IT'S CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE AND WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU GET TO ST. LOUIS FROM CAMAROOON.

>> 2002.

>> AND IN 18 YEARS YOUR IMPRESSION OF ST. LOUIS AND UNITED STATES?

>> WELL THIS IS HOME.

I KNOW THE STORY OF AMERICANS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS PERFECTION.

>> WELL THANK YOU.

VIKING TO BE A MORE PERFECT NATION AS WE SAY.

YOU ARE ALL PERFECT FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

ALVIN IN FOR CHARLIE BRENNAN.

JOE THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN.

YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT WEEK WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON DONNYBROOK AND UP NEXT.

NEXT UP.