♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH - RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

WE BEGIN OUR WEEKLY LOOK AT THE MAJOR HEADLINES IMPACTING THE TRI-STATE WITH THE STORY DOMINATING NEW YORK POLITICS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S THE NURSING HOME SCANDAL AND FIRESTORM FACING GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

JUST YESTERDAY THE GOVERNOR ACCEPTED SOME BLAME FOR THE CONTROVERSY OVER HOW THE STATE COUNTED COVID-RELATED NURSING HOME DEATHS, WHILE ALSO FAULTING THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE AND DENYING THAT THERE WAS A DATA COVER-UP.

A DAY LATER, AFTER HIS REMARKS, THEY'RE STILL NOT SITTING WITH THE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S CRITICS, INCLUDING SOME DEMOCRATS, WHO HAVE BLASTED HIS LACK OF A GENUINE APOLOGY AND OVERALL TRANSPARENCY.

THEY'RE ALSO CONTINUING CALLS FOR PROSECUTION AND EVEN IMPEACHMENT FROM SOME REPUBLICANS AS THE STATE ENTERS YET ANOTHER CRUCIAL PHASE IN ITS VACCINE ROLLOUT.

AND IN WASHINGTON TALKS ARE HEATING UP ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S COVID RELIEF PLAN, -RAI LIFE AFTER THE MOST RECENT IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

SO THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT TO DISCUSS AND THANKFULLY TONIGHT, WE'RE JOINED BY THREE FRIENDS OF THE PROGRAM WHO CAN HELP US MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

SO UP FIRST WE'VE GOT BEN MACK, GOTHAM'S EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND HE'S THE HOST OF NEW YORK POLITICS.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> HI, JENNA.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> WE ALSO HAVE JOSEPH PINION, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATIVE COLOR COALITION AND HOST OF NEWSMAX'S "SATURDAY AGENDA."

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE'RE ROUNDING OUT THIS WEEK'S ROUNDTABLE WITH DR. SALEH AN DEAN BAR, RUTGERS ASSOCIATE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, SENIOR SCHOLAR OF THE SCHOOL'S EAGLETON INSTITUTE OF POLITICS AND NOTED AUTHOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS INCLUDING "AMERICAN CICERO, MARIO CUOMO AND DEFENSE OF AMERICAN LIBERALISM."

WELCOME, DR. ANBAR.

>> THANK YOU, JENNA.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>>> GENTLEMEN, THERE'S A LOT TO COVER, AS I SAID.

LET'S START OUT WITH THE FALLOUT OF THE NURSING HOME DEATH CONTROVERSY, WHICH HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS, ALMOST A YEAR, IN THE MAKING.

BEN, YOU HAVE BEEN CRITICAL WITH THE GOVERNOR BEFORE.

WHAT'S YOUR READ ON HOW THE ENTIRE SITUATION HAS BEEN HANDLED, AT LEAST FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

>> WELL, I THINK A FEW THINGS ARE PRETTY MUCH UNDENIABLE AT THIS POINT.

ONE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO HIDE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE THE TRUE DEATH TOLL OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS, WHETHER THEY DIED IN NURSING HOMES OR ANYWHERE ELSE AND DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE BLAME OF THE HIGH DEATH TOLL OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH A MARK RULE FROM THE STATE THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THE NURSING HOMES FROM WHETHER IT WAS INFECTED STAFF OR RESIDENT OR STAFF COMING BACK FROM HOSPITALS WITH COVID-19.

THE GOVERNOR STRUGGLES TOIC TAK RESPONSIBILITY.

THE FURTHEST HE GOT NOW WAS HE SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION SOONER.

THAT'S VERY CLEAR, OBVIOUS.

AND THERE'S QUESTIONS AROUND, A, DID THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM SLIP OFF INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE?

B, WHY WERE THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM NOT AS COMMUNICATIVE TO THE PUBLIC AND LEGISLATURE AS POSSIBLE?

C, WHY WEREN'T THEY WILLING TO QUICKLY OWN UP TO THE DEATH TOLL OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WHEREVER THOSE DEATHS MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED?

BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY A SIGNIFICANT QUESTION AS TO WHY THE STATE AUDIT OF THAT DEATH TOLL WAS TAKING AS LONG AS IT DID AND THEY ONLY PRODUCED INFORMATION WHEN THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL FINALLY ISSUED A REPORT.

SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT WE STILL NEED MORE INFORMATION ON.

AND I WILL JUST ADD ONE MORE THING, WHICH IS THERE'S STILL A REAL ISSUE HERE WITH THE FACT THE GOVERNOR WROTE A BOOK AMID ALL OF THIS.

AND I THINK THERE'S REAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS PRIORITIES, THE WAY HE SPENT HIS TIME, WHILE THERE WERE OUTSTANDING REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH NURSING HOME RESIDENTS.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNOR WAS WRITING HIS BOOK AND PROMOTING IT AMID ALL OF THIS.

>> DR. ANBAR, YOU WROTE THE BOOK AT LEAST ON THE GOVERNOR'S FATHER AND I'M WONDERING, HOW DO YOU SEE ALL OF THIS FITTING INTO THE CUOMO POLITICAL MACHINE?

>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY, AND I HAVE WRITTEN TO THIS EFFECT, THAT THE GOVERNOR'S FATHER AND THE CURRENT GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT POLITICIANS, TWO DIFFERENT MEN.

GOVERNOR CUOMO, ANDREW CUOMO -- PARDON ME, GOVERNOR MARIO CUOMO NEVER HAD A SCANDAL OF THIS MAGNITUDE DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION.

HE WAS NOT NECESSARILY UNIVERSALLY LIKED BUT HE WAS KNOWN AS A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND PERSON OF TREMENDOUS CHARACTER.

IN FAIRNESS, THAT'S NOT BEEN WHAT THE CURRENT GOVERNOR'S BEEN KNOWN FOR.

HE'S BEEN KNOWN AS A PRAGMATIC POLITICIAN, IF NOTHING ELSE.

SOMEONE CONTENT TO GET THINGS DONE, NOT NECESSARILY SOMEONE WHO CARRIES A POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY WITH HIM.

IN TERMS OF LEGACY, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A KIND OF DIVIDE IN UNDERSTANDING WHO THESE TWO CUOMOS, IF YOU WILL, ARE.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, LOOK, THE WORST STATISTIC COMES FROM AN ITALIAN WORD WHICH MEANS STATESMAN.

AND IT IS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST JOB OF THE POLITICIAN, AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO GET THE NUMBERS RIGHT ABOUT THEIR CONSTITUENTS, ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THEIR STATE AND OF THEIR NATION.

IT IS THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNOR TO KEEP STATISTICS, IF NOTHING ELSE.

AND THE SYSTEM DEPENDS ON IT, IN AN EMERGENCY AND CRISIS SUCH AS COVID, WE AGAIN ON THOSE NUMBERS TO MAKE PROPER DECISIONS TO LIVE OR DIE, FRANKLY.

AND WHILE THERE'S NO SENSE OF MANIPULATION OF NUMBERS LED TO ANY DEATHS, I DON'T THINK THAT'S BEEN SAID, I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED, AT LEAST SUGGESTED STRONGLY TO DATE, IS THOSE NUMBERS WERE MANIPULATED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

AND THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, AN AFTMA TO DEMOCRACY, THE KIND OF THING WE SEE IN AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS AND AS FAR AS THE CUOMO'S FAMILY COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, CERTAINLY MY GREAT ADMIRATION FOR MARIO CUOMO'S LEGACY, WE HAVE TO CALL THINGS FOR WHAT THEY ARE.

THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK DESERVE BETTER.

AMERICAN CITIZENS DESERVE BETTER.

AND THAT ALWAYS HAS TO BE THE STANDARD, REGARDLESS OF OUR POLITICS.

CAN'T HAVE THIS IN A DEMOCRACY.

>> JOSEPH, WE ARE HEARING THAT AT LEAST NEW YORK STATE REPUBLICANS ARE CALLING FOR AN IMPEACHMENT OVER THIS.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS THE RIGHT MOVE?

DOES THAT COME ACROSS PERHAPS AS A LITTLE IN TERMS OF PARTY WISE, TIT TIT FOR TAT, CONSIDERING WE JUST HAD AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN WASHINGTON?

DO YOU -- WHAT KIND OF REPERCUSSIONS DO YOU THINK THAT NEW YORK STATE REPUBLICANS SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR?

>> LOOK, I THINK TO MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT, POLITICS IS WHAT GOT US INTO THIS MESS.

THIS NOTION THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO POINT FINGERS IN D.C. OR PEOPLE IN BLUE STATES WANTED TO POINT FINGERS AT RED STATES, AND IT SEEMS QUITE CLEAR TO ME AND MOST PEOPLE THE PRIORITY WAS NOT THE CARE AND THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR STATE, PARTICULARLY THE SENIORS.

SO FOCUS ON THE FACT WE JUST NEED TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

NEW YORK IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A LACK OF DETAIL SPECIFICALLY IN THIS AREA.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES WERE PLACED IN JEOPARDY.

SO I THINK WHEN WE TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ANDREW CUOMO, A FEW THINGS WE HAVE TO RECON WITH.

NUMBER ONE TO THE PROFESSOR'S POINT, HE'S NOT BEEN THE MOST FORTHRIGHT AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

I THINK HE'S ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO BE ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE DOOM THAT WAS ON HIS FOOTSTEPS.

I THINK YOU GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN HE WAS THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, BACK IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, RIGHT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES THAT HE'S HAD WITH ACTUAL -- WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMAGE OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED, YOU TALK ABOUT HIS WORK WITH THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WHICH ACTUALLY DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE THE TRUTH.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE PLAGUING ANDREW CUOMO WHEN IT COMES TO FORTHRIGHTNESS AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS PERILOUS SITUATION WHERE THERE WERE LIES TOLD ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE DEPENDING ON THE STATE TO DELIVER THEM FROM HARM, AND, IN FACT, THEY WERE ACTUALLY THROWN INTO THE ARMS OF THIS PERNICIOUS VIRUS.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO START THERE.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS THERE.

I THINK REPUBLICANS SHOULD JUST BE FOCUSED ON GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE THIS IS EYE GOVERNOR THAT SAID, "BLAME ME.

PUT THE BLAME ON ME.

I SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OF THIS SITUATION FROM WALL TO WALL."

AND NOW WHEN THE PROVERBIAL MESS HITS THE FAN, HE WANTS TO TURN AROUND AND SAY IT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POSITIVE FAULT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE THE PURVIEW WHICH HE HIMSELF DEMANDED THAT HE, AND HE ALONE, HAD AUTHORITY TO CONTROL.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, BEN, JOSEPH BRINGS UP AN EXCELLENT POINT BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR WAS GIVEN EMERGENCY POWERS OVER A LOT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, AND THERE'S BEEN TALK OF STRIPPING HIM OF THOSE POWERS FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

DO YOU SEE THIS AS PERHAPS THE POLITICAL LEAVER, IF YOU WILL, THAT ALLOWS THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO DO THAT, OR DOES HE REMAIN ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL GOVERNORS IN AMERICA?

>> WELL, IT'S A CURIOUS DISCUSSION BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT REVOKING SOME OF THOSE EMERGENCY POWERS.

THE GOVERNOR AND HIS TEAM ARE RIGHT, THAT ANY EXECUTIVE ORDER THE GOVERNOR TAKES, THE LEGISLATURE BY THE LAW WHO GAVE HIM THOSE POWERS, COULD OVERRULE ANY OF THOSE ORDERS BY TAKING A VOTE.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS MOSTLY BEEN HAPPY, IT SEEMS, TO STEP BACK AND LET THE GOVERNOR TAKE CHARGE OF THIS SITUATION.

IT IS HARD IN MANY INSTANCES TO LEGISLATE A RESPONSE TO A PANDEMIC, BUT, AGAIN, WE'RE NOW NEARING A YEAR INTO THIS CRISIS, SO THERE'S A LOT OF ZUKS AROUND THAT, THAT MAKES SENSE.

CONNECTING IT TO THE NURSING HOME ISSUE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S THAT MUCH OF A DIRECT CORRELATION, EXCEPT IF THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TOIC THAT A STAND AND SAY THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD NOT HANDLES HIS POWERS WELL, THE NOTION HE'S BEEN HIDING THEM FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES, AGAIN, MAYBE YOU THINK HE'S GOTTEN A LITTLE TOO HIGH ON THAT HORSE.

BUT THE NURSING HOME ISSUE ISN'T REALLY ABOUT THOSE EXPANDED POWERS, IT'S ABOUT WHETHER THE GOVERNOR WITHHELD THIS INFORMATION TO NOT LOOK BAD PUBLICLY.

THE EXTENDED POWERS ARE ABOUT MANAGING THE PANDEMIC, WHICH, AGAIN, IS NOW ALMOST A YEAR INTO IT AND PERHAPS THERE IS MORE ROOM FOR THE LECTURE TO TAKE A CLEARER ROLE.

>> PROFESSOR ANBAR, WE'RE, AS BEN JUST SAID, ALMOST A YEAR INTO THIS PANDEMIC.

AS A RESULT, WE'VE SEEN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, WHO ALREADY HAS A FAMOUSLY SHORT ATTENTION SPAN, GET SOMEWHAT SHORTER.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THAT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY HOLD ON TO THINGS, INFORMATION THE WAY THAT THEY DID PERHAPS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, DO YOU SEE THIS AS A CONTROVERSY THAT COULD COST THE GOVERNOR ANY KIND OF POLITICAL CAPITAL, OR IS THIS PERHAPS A BUMP IN THE ROAD AS HE MOVES INTO HIS NEXT GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN?

>> WELL, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER IN 1994, SOMEBODY NOBODY HEARD OF UNSEATED ONE OF THE GREATEST GOVERNORS OF ALL TIME, MARIO CUOMO.

SO I REMEMBER GEORGE PATAKI COMING OUT OF NOWHERE TO DEFEAT HIM.

AND THAT WAS ABSENT THE SCANDAL OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

SO ASKING THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK FOR NOT A THIRD TERM BUT A FOURTH TERM IS ALWAYS PERILOUS.

LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE -- YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO GO BACK MANY, MANY DECADES TO FIND FOUR-TERM GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK.

SO EVEN UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, I THINK THERE WOULD BE CAUTION IF YOU ARE ON THE CUOMO TEAM THINKING ABOUT RE-ELECTION.

CERTAINLY SITUATED WELL POST AND PRE THIS CRISIS IT WOULD SEEM BUT NEW YORKERS, LIKE ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN, ARE A BIT WARY ABOUT ANYBODY IN POWER TOO LONG.

SO, YES, THIS IS THE CRISIS THAT COULD PERHAPS HAUNT HIM AND UNSEAT HIM, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

BUT MORE THAN POLITICS, AGAIN, I WANT TO RETURN TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SUGGESTED, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS INFORMATION PEOPLE RELY ON ON A DAY IN-DAY OUT BASIS, IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAD SUCH A REALLY MARVELOUS PERSON AND COMMUNICATOR DURING THE EARLY PERIOD OF THE COVID CRISIS WHEN THERE WAS, FRANKLY, LITTLE, IF ANY, LEADERSHIP EXPLAINING THE CRISIS AND NEW YORKERS WERE COMFORTED BY THE INFORMATION ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO BE AT THIS MOMENT TO SEE THE PUBLIC TRUST APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MISUSED.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MOVE, YES, THE POLITICS OF THE MATTER ARE IMPORTANT.

I LOVE POLITICS AS MUCH AS ANYONE, BUT THIS IS PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT ARE AT STAKE.

AND THE INFORMATION PEOPLE DEPEND ON TO CARRY ABOUT THEIR DAILY BUSINESS HAS TO BE SOLID.

IF IT'S NOT, WE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS, YEAH.

IT COULD COST HIM, IF, IN FACT, WE LEARN MORE AND IF, IN FACT, I THINK AS I SUSPECT, NEW YORKERS AREN'T GOING TO BE SO FORGETFUL ABOUT A CRISIS OF THIS MAGNITUDE THAT'S UPENDED THEIR LIVES.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO JUST MOVE ON AS PEOPLE ARE FOND OF SAYING THESE DAYS.

>> OF COURSE, THAT LEAVES A LOT THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IN TERMS OF WHAT THE POLITICAL FALLOUT MIGHT BE.

>>> BUT LET TURNS FROM ALBANY TO WASHINGTON, THE POLITICAL CENTER THAT HAS CAPTURED EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

AND THERE'S A LOT THAT SEEMS TO BE UP IN THE AIR WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S COVID RESCUE PLAN.

THAT STILL HASN'T GONE THROUGH.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS DEFINITELY A NATIONWIDE UNDERSTOOD DESPERATE NEED FOR RELIEF.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF STICKING POINTS LIKE RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.

BEN, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND JUST ASK, DO YOU THINK THAT IT'S WORTH THE PRESIDENT TO RISK I GUESS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS THE LITTLE BIT OF POLITICAL CAPITAL THAT HE HAS UP FRONT TO DELIVER WHAT A LOT OF ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING IS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF NEED, OR SHOULD THIS PERHAPS BE PLAYED IN A DIFFERENT WAY SO THAT POLITICAL CAPITAL CAN BE STRETCHED OUT FURTHER THROUGHOUT HIS ADMINISTRATION?

>> WELL, I THINK -- I THINK THIS IS A MATTER OF WHAT THE DETAILS ARE AND THERE'S A LOT TO BE NEGOTIATED HERE.

I DO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR BIDEN TO START HIS ADMINISTRATION ON FOOTING, HE NEEDS TO GET SOMETHING DONE FAIRLY SOON AND IT NEEDS TO BE POPULAR TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND HELPFUL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WHAT THE DETAILS ARE, THAT'S ACTUALLY UP FOR A LOT OF POLITICAL NEGOTIATION.

WHERE HE CAN GET BROAD CONSENSUS BEHIND IT IN CONGRESS IS AN IMPORTANT, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE SEEMINGLY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HOLD HIM BACK FOR DELIVERING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF AID FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AS LONG AS WHAT'S IN THE PACKAGE IS POPULAR AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AMONG THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AMONG BIG BUSINESS OWNERS, ET CETERA.

JUST BECAUSE IT STUCK IN SOME OF THE POLITICAL MACHINERY OF WASHINGTON DOESN'T NECESSARILY ALWAYS REFLECT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED AND WANT, AND THAT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE WHAT GUIDES HIM.

BUT I DO THINK PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING HIM TO COME IN AND DELIVER AND IN FAIRLY SHORT TIME HERE, NEEDS TO GET TO A RESOLUTION AND GET THAT AID OUT THE DOOR.

>> AND TIMING, OF COURSE, IS EVERYTHING.

JOSEPH, SINCE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING FOR SOME SORT OF COVID RELIEF PACKAGE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, DO YOU SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT'S TAKING TOO LONG?

IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE, AS BEN SAID, IT'S GETTING MIRED IN THE MACHINERY IN WASHINGTON.

OR ARE THERE REAL CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE FOR WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING FOR?

>> LOOK, THE FAMOUS SAYING IS BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS.

I THINK UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE YEARS OF D.C., THE THINGS THAT WE CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON AND MANY TIMES AT THE REVEAL WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE.

IT IS QUITE CLEAR FOR BETTER AND FOR WORSE THAT THE POWERS THAT BE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND ARGUABLY THE PEOPLE THAT INFLUENCE, THOSE THAT WIELD THE POWER, ARE FOCUSED ON ALL THINGS DONALD TRUMP THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

AND I THINK THAT THE REALITY THAT I HAVE AT LEAST CON FRONTED IS THE AGENDA, TO THE EXCEPT THERE WAS AN AGENDA FOR JOE BIDEN, HAS BEEN SACRIFICED ON THE ALTAR OF IMPEACHMENT, IT HAS BEEN SACRIFICED ON A POLITICAL CALCULATION THAT DEMOCRATS CAN REMAIN ON THE OFFENSIVE TO TETHER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO ALL THINGS DONALD TRUMP IN AN EFFORT TO WIN ELECTIONS FIRST STARTING IN THE MIDTERMS AND THEN TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2024.

AND I THINK IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT IT THROUGH THAT PRISM, BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF A PRESIDENCY FOR A REASON, BECAUSE IT IS THE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANDATE, IT IS THE TIME WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY FREE TO GOVERN BEFORE THEY HAVE TO TURN THEIR EYES BACK TO THEIR DONORS TO START RAISING MONEY FOR THOSE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS THE REALITY WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO RUN FOR OFFICE, PARTICULARLY FEDERAL OFFICE EARLIER AND EARLIER AND EARLIER.

I THINK FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THIS COVID-19 CRISIS.

YES, WE'RE IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO BUT THERE'S STILL A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO.

THERE ARE VACCINATION PROCESS IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THOSE CHECKS TO THE PEOPLE IN GREAT NEED AND NOW THERE IS LESS TIME AND LESS CAPITAL FOR JOE BIDEN TO ROLL OUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MORE ROBUST, BE IT ON CLIMATE.

THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HAVE BIPARTISAN ENGAGEMENT ON CLIMATE.

WE DO HAVE REPUBLICANS IN A BIPARTISAN CLIMATE CAUCUS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE NOW BECAUSE I THINK A POLITICAL DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE THAT WE ARE GOING TO TRIPLE DOWN ON THESE POLITIC DIVISIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS ALSO DONE WHATEVER SOUL SEARCHING THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON DEFENDING THE LEGACY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS DEMOCRATS SEEK TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO WAGE THIS BATTLE.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT LOSE IN THE END ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE WHO HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT IN THE MIDST OF THIS ONCE-IN-A-GENERATIONAL PLAGUE.

>> PROFESSOR, AGAIN, WE'RE ALMOST A MONTH INTO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

AS JOSEPH SAID, A PORTION OF THAT TIME WAS FOCUSED ON THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, THE SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

BUT IS THIS SOMETHING WHERE THEY NEED TO DELIVER SOMETHING VERY SOON?

EVERYONE ON THIS ZOOM CALL IS DEFINITELY STILL IN A SOMEWHAT OKAY PLACE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF AMERICANS WHO ARE IN DIRE STRAITS.

WHAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS DONE TO THE ECONOMY, BY A LOT OF ECONOMISTS, ASSERTIONS WON'T REALLY BE RECOVERED UNTIL ALMOST 2024.

>> WELL, LOOK, JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO BE JUDGED, AND DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE JUDGED SOME TIME AROUND IN THE SUMMER OF OF '22 WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONCERTS, WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT TO DINE, WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT, SOMEWHERE AROUND THE SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR.

IF THE COVID PACKAGE HAS NOT DELIVERED THOSE THINGS, THEN DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO FACE A SEVERE RECKONING AT THE BALLOT BOX.

BUT IF IN FACT BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH A RELIEF PACKAGE THAT DOES IN FACT ALLOW SCHOOLS AND CONCERTS AND ALL OF THE THINGS PEOPLE USED TO LIKE AND ENJOY TO PARTICIPATE IN, TO RETURN TO NORMAL, THEN I THINK THEY HAVE A REAL CHANCE OF DOING VERY WELL.

LOOK, JOE BIDEN IS NOT THE ONE CENSURING REPUBLICAN SENATORS FOR FAILING TO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP DURING THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

THAT'S A REPUBLICAN PROBLEM.

THEY'VE GOT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEIR CAPABLE OF MOVING BEYOND THE LEGACY OF DONALD TRUMP OR NOT.

I THINK BIDEN HAS HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS AT THIS POINT IN HIS PRESIDENCY BECAUSE, IN FACT, I THINK MOST AMERICANS PERCEIVE HIM TO BE INTERESTING IN SOLVING THE NATION'S PROBLEMS.

LOOK, FIVE PEOPLE DIED IN THE CAPITOL.

NOBODY, DEMOCRATS WERE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO MOVE BEYOND THAT.

THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE SENATE SAID IT, THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR AS MUCH.

YOU CAN'T JUST SWEEP AN INSURRECTION UNDER THE RUG.

THAT HAD TO BE DEALT WITH.

IT HAD BEEN DEALT WITH AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

NOW IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON TO SOLVING THE SEVERE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND HEALTH CRISIS THAT CON CONFRONTS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> WE'RE COMING UP ON THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER SO I SORT OF JUST WANT TO GO AROUND THE ROUND TABLE, IF YOU WILL, AND GET A SENSE WHAT ARE THE STORIES YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO AND WATCHING COMING UP.

BEN, I'LL START WITH YOU.

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC ON YOUR HORIZON THAT YOU REALLY SEE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING CLOSELY?

>> WELL, WE'RE FOLLOWING, OF COURSE, THE FALLOUT FROM THIS ANDREW CUOMO NURSING HOME SCANDAL, BUT ALONG WITH THAT, I'M FOCUSED EVERY DAY ON THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR'S RACE.

WE ARE JUST ABOUT FOUR MONTHS FROM THE ALL-IMPORTANT PRIMARY, MOST LIKELY THE WINNER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIME ARY IN THIS HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC CITY WILL MOST LIKELY BE THE NEXT MAYOR.

BUT IT'S REALLY GETTING INTO CRUNCH TIME HERE.

IS ANDREW YANG REALLY THE FRONT-RUNNER?

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF HIS CANDIDACY AND OTHERS ARE FOCUSING A LOT ON THE MAYOR'S RACE, ESPECIALLY THE VERY COMPETITIVE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THAT'S UNDER WAY.

>> JOSEPH, WHAT'S ON YOUR HORIZON?

>> YEAH, I MEAN REALLY JUST TRYING TO SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO GET POLICY THAT COMES OUT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK, AGAIN, TO THE PROFESSOR'S POINT, YEAH, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th.

IT WILL BE A DAY THAT LIVES IN INFAMY.

BUT WHAT NEXT?

WHAT DOES COME NEXT?

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE BIDEN PLAN ON CLIMATE, ON RENEWABLE ENERGY?

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT, YES, CAN PEOPLE GET BACK TO A BALL GAME?

CAN THEY GET BACK TO A MOVIE THEATER?

GREAT.

BUT CAN THEY AFFORD TO DO IT AS MUCH AS THEY DID BEFORE?

HAS THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED?

I THINK IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT IF WE CAN GET BACK TO THE DAILY TICKTOCK OF OUR LIVES WE'LL BE OKAY.

IT'S MORE ABOUT SAYING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT I ENJOYED BEFORE IS SOMETHING I CAN GET BACK TO OR EXCEED?

I THINK THOSE QUESTIONS REMAIN TO BE SEEN.

AND I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT'S A PARTISAN ISSUE.

I THINK ANYBODY IN ANY PARTY THAT CAN FIND SOLUTIONS TO START TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES IN WAYS, IF WE'RE BEING HONEST, HASN'T HAPPENED IN A GREAT DEAL OF TIME, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF THE VOTING STARTING IN 2022 AND BEYOND.

>> AND, BOB, I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEK?

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING ALL I CAN ABOUT WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, STATE OF NEW YORK LETITIA JAMES, WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT DONALD TRUMP, WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT ANDREW CUOMO.

I THINK HOW SHE HANDLES LIFE, THE PEOPLE WE WATCHED IN THE PAST YEAR ON TELL SKRIGS ON A REG TELEVISION ON A REGULAR BASIS, HOW SHE'S HANDLED THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S FINANCIAL RECORDS AND WHAT COMES OF THAT, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING I'M DEEPLY INTERESTED IN.

BUT ALSO HOW SHE DEALS WITH THE EMERGENT CRISIS FACING THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION.

SHE'S A CRUCIAL FIGURE, ONE WITH PERHAPS POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OF HER OWN.

BUT RIGHT NOW SHE HAS HEAVY LIFTING TO DO AND DECISIONS TO MAKE LEGALLY ABOUT TWO VERY IMPORTANT AND OUTSIZED PERSONALITIES.

SO I WILL BE WATCHING HER VERY CAREFULLY.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.