>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN COMING UP THE DEBATE OVER NORTH CAROLINA'S BODY KAMALA WHAT TAKE A DEEP DIVE IN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ECONOMIC PLAN AND THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 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 THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION, ROBERT REIVES, THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE HOUSE JONAH KAPLAN WITH ABC NEWS 11, AND NELSON DOLLAR, SENIOR ADVISER TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

ROBERT LET'S BEGIN WITH THE BIG STORY OF THE WEEK, AND THAT'S THE BODY CAM LAW AND THE DEBATE OVER THAT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT MARC.

WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IS A DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO UPDATE THE LAW.

OF COURSE THE EVENTS IN ELIZABETH CITY ARE WHAT GOT US THERE.

WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT THE LAW ACTUALLY PRESENTLY DOES, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THAT.

RIGHT NOW THE LAW SAYS THAT A HEAD OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT AGENCY CAN RELEASE THE VIDEO TO PERSONS IN THE VIDEO, OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IF THEY EITHER BY IMAGE OR BY AUDIO.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE FAMILY WAS SHOWN A REDACTED VERSION OF THE VIDEO THAT'S REALLY WHAT STARTS THE CONTROVERSY.

THE SECOND KIND OF MISUNDERSTANDING IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COURT ORDER TO GET THIS DONE.

OBVIOUSLY POLICE CAN RELEASE IT ON THEIR OWN TO THESE PARTICULAR PEOPLE.

THE COURT ORDER COMES IN IF THERE IS AN APPEAL OF THE CHIEF OR THE SHERIFF'S DECISION.

THAT'S WHEN IT GOES BEFORE COURT.

THERE'S A SEPARATE PROCEEDING THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IF YOU WANT TO HAVE IT RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH NEWS MEDIA SOURCES AND THE THINGS OF THAT SORT.

SO YOU HAD DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE, AND ONE THING THEY'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE TO DO WHAT THE CRUX OF THE BIG ISSUE WAS AT THE TIME WE DEBATED 2016.

2016, SHOULD IT BE PERSONNEL OR SHOULD BE PUBLIC.

WE'RE NOW SAYING IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC RECORD ONLY TO BE HELD IN THE CASE OF THE JUDGE SAYS IT SHOULD BE.

>> NELSON, YOU HAVE FLOOR.

>> WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE KEYS IS TO UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW THESE ARE NOT CELL PHONE VIDEOS.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY OFFICIAL POLICE REPORTS AND THEY'RE PART OF AN INVESTIGATION AND SO THIS IS POTENTIAL EVIDENCE AND THERE IS A CONCERN WHEN EDITED PORTIONS OF THAT EVIDENCE ARE RELEASED IN PUBLIC BECAUSE YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ACTIONS THAT PROSECUTIONS THAT COULD COME FROM THE INCIDENTS IN QUESTION AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE JURY POOL.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DO THINK THAT THE COURTS NEED TO BE MODERATING THIS AND MAKING THE FINAL DECISIONS ON THE ADVISABILITY OF RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.

>> JONAH, IS SELECTIVE EDITING A PROBLEM FOR POTENTIAL JURY POOL, THEY SEE IT THEY DON'T SEE THE WHOLE STORY?

WELL, AND ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EMOTIONAL SITUATION AND THEN TRYING TO BALANCE THAT WITH RATIONAL THOUGHT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SHOOTING THE TRAGIC SHOOTING OF ANDREW BROWN JUNIOR, YOU HAVE A GRIEVING FAMILY, YOU HAVE A HURT AND EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE COMMUNITY AND NATURALLY THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING TO PROVIDE THEM THE CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED, BUT YOU ALSO NEED TIME.

AND WE'RE IN A SOCIETY THAT DOESN'T DO WELL WITH PATIENCE.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.

BY THE WAY, THE BROWN FAMILY IS SUPPOSED TO SEE THE VIDEO THIS WEEKEND, CORRECT?

>> THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SEE IT AND YOU KNOW HOPEFULLY FOR THEM IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE REDACTED 10 SECONDS WHICH THEY SAW AFTERWARDS.

AND LOOK WHEN THIS LAW WAS PASSED MAYBE WAS PASSING A GOOD TIME BECAUSE AT THE TIME THERE WASN'T AS MUCH OF A CONTROVERSY.

NOW AGAIN IT COMES OUT WHEN WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A TRAGIC SHOOTING.

AGAIN A LOT OF RAW EMOTION.

A LOT OF SALT ON WOUNDS, WHETHER IT'S RACIAL STRIFE, WHETHER IT'S POLICE TRYING TO DEFEND THEIR WAY OF DOING THINGS.

AND THE COURT SYSTEM AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TAKES TIME, SO ABSOLUTELY BY THE TIME THIS GETS BEFORE A JURY, YES, THE PUBLIC WANTS TO SEE THIS AND UNDERSTAND, BUT IF WE WANT TRUE TRANSPARENCY AND WE WANT TO JUSTICE THERE'S A LOT TO BALANCE HERE.

>> MITCH PUT THIS IN CONTEXT PLEASE.

>> I LIKE THE FACT THAT JONAH MENTIONED THE BALANCING ACT BECAUSE I WAS THINKING THAT THE THE BALANCING ACT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT ITS OFFICERS ARE DOING, AND THE NEED TO HAVE A CRIMINAL LAW PROCESS A JUDICIAL PROCESS THAT FOLLOWS A CERTAIN SET OF GUIDELINES, AND WITH BODY CAMS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S RELATIVELY NEW.

WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF THING 20 YEARS AGO.

ALL OF THIS IS STILL EVOLVING AND IT'S EVOLVING DURING A TIME OF STRIFE AND A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

ROBERT CLOSE THIS OUT IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS MY FRIEND.

>> I THINK EVERYTHING YOU'VE HEARD IS WHY SUCH A DIFFICULT DECISION, BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO AND AGAIN, I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LETTING THE FAMILY SEE THE VIDEO AND LETTING THE PUBLIC SEE THE VIDEO, AND I THINK THE FAMILIES NEED TO SEE AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT GIVES EVERYBODY A SENSE OF RELIEF, THAT 2 SIDES HAVE SEEN A VIDEO AND THERE'S BEEN A DETERMINATION.

BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE ONE SIDE HAS SEEN IT AND THAT'S IT.

>> YOU KNOW, MITCH I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BIDEN'S ECONOMIC PLAN WHICH HE'S CALLING TRANSFORMATIONAL.

>> YES, CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL IF IT GETS ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND REMEMBER THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD A 1.9 TRILLION DOLLAR COVID RELIEF PLAN PASSED DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

NOW HE'S COUPLED THAT WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER PLANS, ONE CALLED THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN, MORE THAN 2 TRILLION DOLLARS, AND THE AMERICAN FAMILIES, PLAN 1.8 TRILLION DOLLARS.

YOU PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT 6 TRILLION DOLLARS IN NEW GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE OVER THE COURSE OF 2020 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENT 6 AND A HALF TRILLION DOLLARS TOTAL 3 TRILLION OF WHICH WAS DEFICIT SPENDING.

MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.

THIS IS A LOT OF SPENDING.

FOR THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN, IT'S BEEN BILLED AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT ALSO BROADBAND AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN THOUGHT OF AS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PAST, THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN, THINGS LIKE UNIVERSAL PRE K, CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES, FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE NEW SPENDING WHICH MEANS NEW TAXES, HIGHER CORPORATE TAX RATE UP FROM 21% TO 28%, THE RETURN OF THE ALMOST 40% TOP INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX BRACKET THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN THAT THIS GOVERNMENT SPENDING COULD CAUSE INFLATION TO RISE, EVEN SECRETARY TREASURER, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY JANET YELLEN SAYING INTEREST RATES MIGHT HAVE TO GO UP, ALL OF THIS MEANS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY FOR OUR ECONOMY MOVING FORWARD.

>> ROBERT LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

THEY'RE PROJECTING THAT THE ECONOMY MAY GROW BY 9%.

DO WE NEED ALL THIS SPENDING?

>> WELL, I THINK AS FAR AS THE SPENDING GOES WHAT YOU GOT TO THINK OF IS THIS: TAX MONIES IS AN INVESTMENT, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS OUR PEOPLE GIVE US MONEY TO BE THE STEWARD AND FIGURE OUT WHEN BEST TO INVEST IT, AND WHAT YOU'RE HOPING ON WHAT YOU'RE BETTING ON, IS IF YOU DO THIS SPENDING, THAT WHAT YOU GET IN RETURN IS WHAT BALANCES OUT SO FOR INSTANCE, IF THIS YEAR'S SPENDING THAT GETS NO KIND OF RETURN THAT'S ONE THING; BUT SPENDING THAT YOU PUT IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THINGS LIKE BROADBAND YOU EXPECT TO GET 2 OR 3 TIMES THAT RETURN IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT IS BECAUSE AS YOU SAY THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT THE ECONOMY'S GOING TO GROW, BUT IT'S ALSO AN EXPECTATION THAT IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THE NEEDS THAT WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC THAT IS GOING TO STIFLE AGAIN WE COULD BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER RECESSION.

>> JONAH DO YOU THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PORK IN THIS BILL, AND CANDIDLY, DOES BIDEN HAVE A MANDATE TO DO THIS?

PRETTY CLOSE NUMBERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> PRETTY CLOSE NUMBERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

DOES HE HAVE A MANDATE TO DO THIS?

HE COULD INTERPRET IT HOWEVER HE WANTS.

HE WON THE POPULAR VOTE BY MORE THAN 7 MILLION PEOPLE.

GOT 51% OF THE VOTE THOUGH.

ALL OF THIS COMES DOWN TO WHAT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL ROLE OF GOVERNMENT?

AND LET'S PUT IN THE NORTH CAROLINA CONTEXT.

APPLE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO INVEST A BILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A NEW CAMPUS HERE.

NOW THERE'S PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE AREA, 3,000 JOBS.

DO WE NEED GOVERNMENT TO DO THE SAME THING?

WELL APPLE IS NOT GOING TO EXPAND I-40 OR GLENWOOD AVENUE AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ROADS NOT GOING TO EXPAND THE AIRPORT, APPLE IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE INTERNET TO PEOPLE IN CHATHAM COUNTY OR IN GRANVILLE COUNTY AND HELP THOSE PEOPLE PREPARE FOR MORE TECH JOBS.

SO IT HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, THE QUESTION IS FOR VOTERS WHAT'S THE BALANCE OF THAT PUBLIC-PRIVATE?

MORE PUBLIC?

MORE PRIVATE?

WHAT'S THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT?

>> NELSON, CRITICS SAY THIS IS A MASS DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH.

IS IT?

>> WELL, IT IS.

THE PROGRAMS, MANY OF THEM ARE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM SO WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT BRICKS AND MORTAR.

BROADBAND TRANSPORTATION, THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO EVER INCREASE IN COST AND MAKE THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT FAR LARGER THAN IT IS TODAY AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH LOW INTEREST RATES EASY MONEY.

YOU GONNA HAVE TOO MUCH MONETARY EXPANSION AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TOO MUCH FISCAL STIMULUS SO INSTEAD OF DEMANDING DRIVEN BY THE ECONOMY, INCREASING WAGES AND PRICES WHAT YOU'RE HAVING US DOLLAR DRIVEN WAGES AND PRICE GROWTH AND THAT WILL IGNITE INFLATION DOWN THE ROAD AND WITH ALL THE TAX INCREASES WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING AVAILABLE CAPITAL IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHEN YOU RAISE ALL THESE CORPORATE TAXES AND CAPITAL GAINS.

AT THE EVE OF THE TIME WHEN WE'RE HAVING A LARGE RETIREMENT OF THE CAPITAL CLASS THAT THE BABY BOOMERS, IT'S BAD POLICY.

>> OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.

I'M COMING RIGHT BACK TO YOU, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK.

FILL US IN.

>> THIS WEEK IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS FAST AND FURIOUS, THIS IS THE WEEK BEFORE LEGISLATIVE CROSSOVER SO YOU HAVE A DEADLINE FOR YOUR POLICY BILL AND IF IT WAS NOT MOVING IN COMMITTEE OR ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK, YOU ARE IN IN TROUBLE.

I MEAN NEXT WEEK'S EVEN GOING TO BE WORSE, I FEEL SORRY FOR A FORMER COLLEAGUE THERE REPRESENTATIVE REIVES, HE'S ABLY LEADIING THE DEMOCRATS, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING, THE WORD TRANSPARENCY IS IN ALMOST EVERY OTHER BILL, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN THOSE AREAS, HEALTH CARE AWARENESS AND ACCESS, SO FOR EXAMPLE HOUSE BILL 1.49 INCREASING ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH, THAT'S A BILL THAT'S A MAJOR BILL.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILLS.

THE SENATE HAS SB 300 WHICH IS A MAJOR PACKAGE IN THEIR BODY.

THE HOUSE HAS AROUND HALF A DOZEN OR SO BILLS THAT CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY RELATIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUSTICE.

THAT OF COURSE, THOSE BILLS ARE A MAJOR THEME IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND WE'RE ALSO ADDRESSING SOME ISSUES LIKE THE LONG TERM COVID-19 POLICY.

SO EVERYTHING FROM BEING ABLE TO VISIT PATIENTS AT HOSPITALS TO OPENING COLLEGE CAMPUSES FOR FOOTBALL GAMES.

>> WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE BUDGET?

>> WELL, THE BUDGET IS COURSE WITH THE SENATE THEY ARE WORKING AWAY ON IT.

WE ANTICIPATE THEY WILL RELEASE THEIR VERSION OF THE BUDGET SOMETIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THE HOUSE WILL GO TO WORK.

>> MISTER LEADER YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY IS JUST LIKE YOU HEARD FROM NELSON, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DID DOMINATE A LOT.

SB 300 I THINK SHOULD HAVE A GOOD SPOT LIGHT ON IT BECAUSE IT AGAIN WAS AN AMAZING WORK OF BIPARTISANSHIP.

YOU HAD A BILL TO START OFF ONE WAY AND THEN SENATOR DANNY BRITT TO HIS CREDIT WENT TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.

HE WENT TO DEMOCRATS HE SAYS, "HOW CAN I MAKE THIS A BETTER BILL "SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS OUT OF THIS CHAMBER AND PEOPLE WILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT?"

AND HE TOOK THOSE EXAMPLES.

AND SO THE OTHER THINGS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE HOUSE ARE THE BILLS CAME FROM SPEAKERS' TASK FORCE, YOU'VE SEEN BILLS ALSO FILED FROM THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THAT ON THEIR MINDS.

>> MITCH WE'RE SEEING MORE COOPERATION RIGHT?

>> WE CERTAINLY ARE IN SOME RESPECTS I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO HOLD UP, ONE WOULD HOPE -- >> YOU'RE A PESSIMIST.

I OFTEN AM A PESSIMIST.

ONE WOULD HOPE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE GOVERNOR CAN ALL COME TOGETHER ON SOME MAJOR IDEAS AND SAY, LET'S LET'S JUST FOCUS ON THOSE BUT ALSO WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD AND YOU GET TO THE BUDGET AND YOU YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE DECIDING HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ON THIS VERSUS HOW MUCH DOES THE GOVERNOR WANT US TO SPEND, I COULD SEE SOME AREA OF DISAGREEMENT THERE.

THE ONE THING THAT INTERESTS ME DURING THIS WEEK AND THE NEXT IS THIS IS THE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AMONG THE LEADERSHIP TO GET THEIR BILLS OUT.

THE LEADERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE CAN PASS THEIR BILLS WHENEVER THEY WANT.

THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT AMONG THE LEADERSHIP, THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THEY HAVE TO SCRAMBLE TO GET THEIR BILLS DONE.

>> JONAH.

>> IT'S INTERESTING SITTING BETWEEN MY 2 FRIENDS HERE BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE YOU KNOW FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES, MY COLLEAGUES AND I, HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THE IMPACT OF THIS, AND THE GREATER EFFECT ON EVERYDAY NORTH CAROLINIANS LIVES BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS YOU KNOW INSIDE BASEBALL, IT'S PRETTY WONKY, BUT THERE'S SOME ALSO THINGS THAT ARE IN THERE LIKE WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH PERMITS TO PURCHASE PISTOLS OR WHETHER IT'S THE BODY CAM LAW OR SOME NEW CRACKDOWNS ON DEMONSTRATIONS AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION OR EDUCATION BILLS AND I WILL SAY NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

GIVE CREDIT TO NORTH CAROLINA THAT YOU'RE NOT HEARING SOME OF THE MORE DIVISIVE THINGS COMING OUT OF FLORIDA OR IOWA OR ARIZONA, BUT YOU KNOW YOU SEE HERE BOTH SIDES COMMITTED.

I JUST THINK BACK TO THAT APPLE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAYS, "I TRY TO GET RID OF THEM, THEY TRY TO GET RID OF ME, NORTH CAROLINA SAID NO, SO HERE WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHAT THEY PUT US HERE FOR.

>> NELSON CLOSE THIS OUT IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS.

>> WELL, WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT WEEK AS JONAH WAS ALLUDING TO IS A FULL RANGE OF LEGISLATION IN AREAS LIKE TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, ADDITIONAL COVID RELIEF FUNDING THAT WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD THAT IS COMING THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ALL IN YOUR INDUSTRY YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> WELL THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A TOPIC THROUGH AUGUST RIGHT AND THEN WE GOT TO COME BACK FOR REDISTRICTING.

ALL RIGHT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR.

JONAH, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING TO AN END.

>> SEPTEMBER 11TH.

20 YEARS SINCE THAT ATROCITY AND THE TRAGIC IRONY OF THIS IS THAT MANY OF THE SOLDIERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OVERSEAS THAT HAVE ENLISTED.

SOME OF THEM WERE BORN AFTER 9-11.

THINK OF THE 18 OR 19 YEAR-OLD SOLDIERS, SOME OF THEM FROM FORT BRAGG, FROM CAMP LEJEUNE, SENT OVERSEAS AS PART OF WHATEVER THOUGH LONG-TERM EFFECT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM OR IRAQI FREEDOM BORN AFTER 9-11 OR THEY WERE TODDLERS DURING THAT FATEFUL DAY.

SO PRESIDENT BIDEN SET OUT A GOAL, WITHDRAW ALL TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN, AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, SYRIA, 1.57 TRILLION DOLLARS THAT'S THE COMBINED PAY ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

THAT'S THE COST TO AMERICA BUT IN LIVES MORE THAN 2000.

NOW THAT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO THE 58,000 WE LOST THE WAR IN VIETNAM, BUT THINK OF NOT JUST THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST BUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST LIMBS, THAT HAVE LOST LIVELIHOODS, THE RIPPLE EFFECT ON ALL OF THIS.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND HOW WAR IS FOUGHT BOOTS ON THE GROUND VERSUS DRONES VERSUS PRESSING OF A BUTTON VERSUS OUR INVOLVEMENT OVERSEAS AND WHAT'S THAT GOING TO TAKE, WE GOT BIN LADEN MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO.

WHAT ARE WE STILL DOING THERE?

THERE'S A TREMENDOUS DEBATE, BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME SO 5 OR 600 TROOPS WERE JUST PULLED OUT THERE STILL 7,000 NATO TROOPS THAT ARE STILL IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE PENTAGON THIS WEEK SENDING B 52 BOMBERS MORE TO THE MIDDLE EAST MORE TO THE GULF REGION BECAUSE IRAN OF COURSE CONTINUES ITS NEFARIOUS ACTIVITY.

SO YES, WE'RE PULLING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN THAT'S SIGNIFICANT, BUT YOU KNOW IT'S NOT A FULL RETREAT FROM THE MIDDLE EAST BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE THE TALIBAN IS GOING ANYWHERE.

>> MITCH WAS IT WORTH IT?

>> THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

AND MY FEAR IS THAT IF THERE IS ANOTHER MAJOR EMERGENCY IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE GUN SHY, PARDON THE PUN, ABOUT PARTICIPATING BECAUSE THE LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND SAY, "YOU KNOW IT REALLY WASN'T WORTH IT.

"WE WERE THERE 20 YEARS "AND HOW MUCH DIFFERENT ARE CONDITIONS NOW THAN THEY WERE OTHER THAN GETTING RID OF OSAMA BIN LADEN?"

>> ROBERT IN GENERAL SHOULD WE BE IN A NATION, SHOULD AMERICA BE IN THE BUSINESS OF NATION BUILDING YOU THINK?

>> WELL I THINK IT'S JUST A HARD DISCUSSION BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S BEEN A ROLE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ON AND OFF.

>> WE HAVE HIGHER PRIORITIES AT HOME HERE.

>> YES, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, WE'VE GOT HIGH PRIORITIES HERE.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE SEA IS AFFECTING US TO SUCH A POINT THAT WE CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON PRIORITIES HERE AND THAT'S A QUESTION WE DON'T KNOW WHEN I THINK IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

>> NELSON DO WE NEED A RESIDUAL FORCE THERE?

LIZ CHENEY, LINDSEY GRAHAM SAY WE DO.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU KNOW AFGHANISTAN IS KNOWN AS THE GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, THE BRITISH AND THE SOVIETS BOTH INVADED 3 TIMES EACH IN AFGHANISTAN.

WE ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH REALLY IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONFLICT.

SO WHY ARE WE STILL THERE WHEN IT DOESN'T ADDRESS OUR STRATEGIC NEEDS?

I MEAN WHEN YOU LOOK AT COUNTRIES LIKE GERMANY, KOREA, JAPAN WHERE WE HAVE HAD A 70 YEAR CONTINUING PRESENCE THERE, WE'RE NOT BLEEDING AND THOSE FORCES ARE SERVING OUR STRATEGIC INTEREST.

SO I THINK WITH THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO DO IS, IT HAS TO FOCUS ON ITS STRATEGIC INTEREST WHICH FRANKLY ARE NOT IN AFGHANISTAN AND WE CAN AS HAS BEEN SAID, WE CAN USE DRONES WE CAN USE OUR TECHNOLOGY WHERE EVER AL QAEDA OR ANY OF THESE OTHER TERROR GROUPS ATTEMPT TO SET UP CAMP ANYWHERE IN THE GLOBE.

WE CAN STRIKE THEM.

>>OK I WANT TO MOVE ON TO GO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> AS ECONOMIES ARE RECOVERING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE STATES WITH THE LOWEST NUMBER OF REGULATORY BURDENS OR ENTREPRENEURS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST SUCCESS.

SO THE LIBERTARIAN CATO INSTITUTE JUST CAME OUT WITH ITS ENTREPRENEUR OR REGULATORY BARRIERS INDEX RANKING THE STATE'S.

NORTH CAROLINA RANKS NUMBER 12.

NUMBER ONE, GEORGIA.

THEY NEED SOME GOOD NEWS.

SO IT'S GOOD FOR THEM TO BE AT NUMBER ONE.

THE 2 DAKOTA'S, COLORADO, NEW HAMPSHIRE ROUND UP THE TOP 5.

JUST AHEAD OF US AT NUMBER 11 IS VIRGINIA SO MAYBE THERE ARE SOME PLACES WHERE WE CAN LEARN FROM GEORGIA AND VIRGINIA OF OUR OTHER NEIGHBORS, SOUTH CAROLINA'S NUMBER 28, TENNESSEE NUMBER 31, SO NORTH CAROLINA, NOT TOO BAD A SHAPE.

>> ROBERT, YOUR MOST UNDERREPORTED.

>> SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH WHAT MY EXPECTATION WAS COMING OUT OF COVID IS MAYBE A BABY BOOM, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A BABY BUST.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TELLS US THAT BIRTHS IN THE U.S. HAVE DROPPED TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE 1979 AND WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT LONG TERM EFFECT IS GOING TO BE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LONG-TERM EFFECT WILL BE?

>> WELL I THINK -- >> WORK IMPACT ON THE WORKFORCE.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS WE GET PLACES LIKE APPLE AND AT SOME POINT TIME THEY'RE GOING TO NEED PEOPLE TO WORK THERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO HOPE THAT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET WORK FORCE.

>> WE HAD A BABY IN NOVEMBER.

SO MY FAMILY'S DOING -- [LAUGHTER] WE HAD OUR OWN CORONA BABY.

YEAH FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> UNDERREPORTED STORY.

SORRY TO BE A BUZZ KILL HERE.

BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE TRAGEDY IN ELIZABETH CITY RIGHT ANDREW BROWN JUNIOR, YOU KNOW POTENTIALLY UNARMED BLACK MAN WHO I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU ALLEGEDLY DID OR DIDN'T DO YOU DON'T DESERVE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, A JUDGE AND JURY ON THE SPOT.

BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE, WE HAD 2 POLICE OFFICERS TRAGICALLY KILLED AND LET'S SAY THEIR NAMES TOO, OK, CHRIS WARD AND LOGAN FOX.

AND YOU KNOW THESE ARE 2 INDIVIDUALS THAT ALSO HAD FAMILIES AND WHAT WERE THEY DOING?

THEY GOT A CALL, GO CHECK ON THIS HOUSE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE GUY DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR WORK.

THEY WENT TO GO KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND THEY WERE BOTH SHOT.

AND THEN ANOTHER OFFICER WAS ALSO SHOT, BUT IT WAS HIS KEVLAR HELMET THAT SAVED HIS LIFE.

SO YOU KNOW, YES, EGREGIOUS BEHAVIOR BY SOME POLICE OFFICERS, BUT THE MAJORITY -- >> DID YOU SAY THEY WERE MINORITY?

THE POLICE OFFICERS WITH EGREGIOUS BEHAVIOR?

>> GOD, I HOPE SO YEAH.

I MEAN LOOK I CAN'T SPEAK I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR PERSON OF COLOR RIGHT?

I CAN HIDE MY JEWISHNESS.

MY FRIEND HERE CAN'T HIDE WHO HE IS AND THAT WAY.

BUT YOU KNOW THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT I'VE SEEN AND I'D LIKE TO THINK THE PREDOMINANT, YOU KNOW AMOUNT OF OF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE ARE HONORABLE NOBLE MEN, AND THESE WERE 2 OFFICERS THAT WERE DOING THEIR JOBS.

>> [MARC] AND WOMEN, >> AND WOMEN, AND THESE WERE 2 OFFICERS THAT WERE DOING THEIR JOBS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE TO NEGATE ONE BY IGNORING THE OTHER.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT AND BY THE WAY 120 OR SO AT LAST COUNT OFFICERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN THIS COUNTRY.

UNDERREPORTED PLEASE?

>> YES, WHAT DO RUSSIA CHINA AND IRAN HAVE IN COMMON?

WELL THEY'RE ALL CIVILIZATION STATES WITH ANCIENT HISTORY, STIR EXPORT DRIVEN ECONOMIES.

THEY HAVE DECLINING BIRTH RATES FAR MORE SO THAN UNITED STATES.

NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY REALLY MAJOR POWER ALLIES, ALL 3 ARE COURSE IN CONFLICT WITH THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS A HOST OF THEIR OWN NEIGHBORS, AND NONE OF THE 3, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SOME COMMERCIAL MILITARY TIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES, NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY FORMAL TREATIES OR FORMAL TIES BETWEEN THEM.

SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT SO MUCH AN AXIS OF EVIL BUT AN AXIS OF COUNTRIES THAT ARE IN TROUBLE IN TROUBLING PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THE BEST STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES REALLY IS TO BOLSTER OUR TIES WITH KEY REGIONAL PLAYERS IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS, POLAND, TURKEY AND ESPECIALLY THE PHILLIPINES.

>> IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOING THAT?

>> WELL, I HOPE THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD.

AS WE MENTIONED LAST WEEK THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID SAY THEY'RE SUPPORTING THE 3 SEAS INITIATIVE THAT IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO POLAND.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO REPAIR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY THAT WE CAN DO.

AND WE HAVE SOME OPENINGS RIGHT NOW WITH HOW CHINA IS TREATING THE PHILIPPINES I HOPE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL EXPLOIT THAT.

>> OKAY, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND.

WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MITCH?

>> MY WHO'S UP SUPPORTERS OF A CONVENTION OF STATES THAT WOULD PROPOSE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

>> THAT BILL BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE 60-57 VOTE, THE BAD NEWS FOR THEM 10 REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE VOTED AGAINST IT, AND MORE BAD NEWS SENATE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THAT INTERESTED.

MY WHO'S DOWN HERTFORD COUNTY.

HERTFORD COUNTY LOST 2.3% OF ITS POPULATION IN THE LATEST CENSUS COUNT.

THAT WAS THE LARGEST DROP BY PERCENTAGE OF THE 31 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES THAT LOST POPULATION.

ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM, WAKE OVERTAKES MECKLENBURG AS THE LARGEST COUNTY >> ROBERT WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK PLEASE SIR.

>> JEFF BESOS LITERALLY IS UP WITH BLUE ORIGIN HIS ROCKET COMPANY IS GOING TO OFFER IT'S FIRST SUBORTABLE SIGHTSEEING TRIP ON HIS NEW SHEPPARD SPACECRAFT.

IT'S A BIG LEAP FOR PRIVATE COMMERCIAL SPACE TRAVEL.

>> OKAY DOWN?

>> MY DOWN IS VACCINATIONS AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY SO MANY NORTH CAROLINIANS GETTING THE VACCINE RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LEFT THE PLAN GET IT'S BEGINNING TO DWINDLE.

AND SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THOSE PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> JONAH WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK.

MY FRIEND, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S UP.

FRONT ROW WITH MARC ROTTERMAN LOOK AT US HERE AT THIS TABLE.

OKAY?

FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

WHY GET A CAR IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DRIVE?

>> THIS IS A LINDSEY BIERMAN SET.

LINDSEY BIERMAN, OUR GM BUILT THIS AND DESIGNED IT.

>> JUST SAYING, OK?

EVIDENCE.

THE VACCINE WORKS.

WHAT'S DOWN IS BASICALLY THE SUPPLY OF EVERYTHING.

>> DIAPERS, GASOLINE BECAUSE TRUCK DRIVERS ARE DOWN.

RESTAURANT WORKERS, LUMBER, WHO KNOWS WHAT'S NEXT?

I'M HEARING KETCHUP, BECAUSE - THIS IS SERIOUS - RESTAURANTS REOPENING ARE NOW BASICALLY HOARDING ALL OF THE CONDIMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, "WE HAVE ALL THESE NEW PEOPLE."

>> YOU DON'T NEED THE FRIES.

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

>> WHO'S UP, ELON MUSK.

RISING TESLA SALES OBVIOUSLY SUCCESSFUL SPACE X MISSIONS, AND A NEW NASA CONTRACT AND STARLINK WHICH IS PROBABLY THE FUTURE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AROUND THE WORLD AND ALSO ELON IS LEAVING CALIFORNIA FOR THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.

SO THAT MAKES HIM UP.

WHO'S DOWN IS ALL BROADCAST AND CABLE NEWS NETWORK RATINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, CNN.

[ALL GROANING] WAIT A MINUTE, FOR EXAMPLE, CNN WAS DOWN YEAR OVER YEAR 47%.

BUT I'M HAPPY FOR JONAH HERE THAT THAT LOCAL BROADCAST NEWS IS ACTUALLY UP.

>> OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK MITCH?

> LONG NIGHTS, BLEARY EYES AND HUNDREDS OF VOTES BEFORE THE CROSSOVER DEADLINE.

>> MISTER LEADER HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> AND THAT LATE NIGHT LEGISLATING LEADS TO NEXT DAY LEGISLATIVE HANGOVERS.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK?

>> LIZ CHENEY OUSTED FROM THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP.

>> WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT TRANSPIRES?

>> COULD START AS EARLY AS WEDNESDAY.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

IS THAT BECAUSE SHE'S GONE AFTER TRUMP PRETTY MUCH?

>> LOOK, I THINK TRUMP -- >> STILL DOMINATES THE PARTY?

>> WELL LOOK HE HAS A DOMINANT PERSONALITY.

THAT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE WHAT -- IT WASN'T HIS POLITICS IT WAS WHO HE IS AS A PERSON, AND HIS ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE.

IF PEOPLE GO AGAINST THAT, THEN YES, THEN HER ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IS NOT GOING TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL.

>> AND I DON'T THINK PELOSI STANDING UP FOR HER HELPED EITHER.

THE HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN OVERDRIVE >> OVERDRIVE?

>> OVERDRIVE.

>> WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

>> YOU CAN EXPECT 100'S AND 100'S OF BILLS, MOST OF THEM MY COLLEAGUE OVER HERE WILL VOTE FOR BUT HE WILL BE VERY PASSIONATE ON PROBABLY A HANDFUL OF THEM IN OPPOSITION.

WE MISS ANYTHING QUICKLY MITCH?

>> NO, THIS IS A BIG WEEK FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, LOTS OF IDEAS FLOATING AROUND THIS IS WHEN YOU GET TO SEE THE SAUSAGE MADE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

>> THAT'S IT FOR US.

GREAT JOB, PANEL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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: ♪