>>> TONIGHT, ON THE FRONT PAGE FORECAST, NEW YORK ON HIGH ALERT AFTER PUTIN'S NUCLEAR THREAT.

THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO WARN UKRAINE.

PLUS, A HISTORIC FIRST FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

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

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE FORECAST SPECIAL REPORT.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

TONIGHT, NEW YORK IS ON HIGH ALERT, AS THE WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA SPILLS OVER INTO THE SECOND WEEK.

NOW, AS OF OUR TAPING TODAY, THE TWO SIDES WERE BEGINNING PEACE TALKS, AFTER RUSSIA MOVED TO INCREASE READINESS OF ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS, RAISING FEARS OF A NUCLEAR WAR.

NEW YORK HAS RESPONDED TO THE CHAOS BY DIRECTING ALL STATE AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES TO DIE VEST PUBLIC FUNDS FROM RUSSIA.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS ADDING THAT THE STATE REMAINS PREPARED TO WELCOME UKRAINIAN REFUGEES, WHICH NUMBER IN AT LEAST HALF A MILLION AS PROTEST EFFORTS CONTINUE IN NEW YORK.

WE'RE ALSO TRACKING TWO OTHER MAJOR STORIES, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HISTORIC NOMINATIONLE OF JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON TO THE SUPREME COURT.

NEW YORK IS ALSO POISED TO REMOVE SCHOOL MASK MANDATES AND VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTAURANTS, GYMS, AND MOVIE THEATERS BY NEXT WEEK, IF CASE NUMBERS REMAIN LOW.

SO, FOR MUCH MORE ON WHAT'S AHEAD THIS WEEK, LET'S WELCOME IN TONIGHT'S EXPERTS.

JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME IS ANDRIJ DOBRIANSKY.

HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE UKRAINIAN CONGRESS COMMITTEE OF AMERICA.

THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RAISING HUMANITARIAN AID AND REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF UKRAINIANS IN THE U.S.

WELCOME, ANDRIJ.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME BACK GLORIA BROWNE-MARSHALL, PROFESSOR BROWNE-MARSHALL IS AUTHOR OF "SHE TOOK JUSTICE: THE BLACK WOMAN, LAW, AND POWER."

PROFESSOR MARSHALL, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME BACK OUR RETURNING PANELIST, J.C. POLANCO.

J.C., OF COURSE, IS AN ATTORNEY, AS WELL AS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, WHO NOW TEACHES AT CUNY-BMCC.

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND ALL.

>> SO, FIRST, WE WANT TO START, OF COURSE, WITH THE CRISIS, THE ONGOING CRISIS IN UKRAINE.

AND ANDRIJ, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND JUST GET YOUR TAKE ON WHAT AT LEAST WE'VE SEEN FROM PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A DEFINITELY A SIGN OF RESISTANCE AND YET DEFIANCE FROM THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT.

HOW DO YOU SEE THINGS PLAYING OUT THERE?

>> WELL, YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE ARE DEFIANT.

THE PRESIDENT REFUSES TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, EVEN AS WESTERN NATIONS ARE SUGGESTING IT MIGHT BE SAFER FOR HIM.

IN IN FACT, WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT EUROPE, WHO HAVE MOVED THERE FOR WORK, THEY HAVE NOW RETURNED, ESPECIALLY ANYBODY WHO CAN BE CONSCRIPTED, COMING BACK TO UKRAINE INTO THE FIGHT.

UKRAINIANS, AS I WOULD EXPECT NEW YORKERS, IF TANKS WENT UP THE STREET OF NEW YORK AND A FOREIGN INVADER SAID, GET OUT OF HERE, IT'S OUR TOWN NOW, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN ANY OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN UKRAINE, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT UP UNTIL NOW.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HUMANITARIAN NEEDS IN UKRAINE.

THESE ARE BEING DEALT WITH ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

THE UNITED STATES SENT U.S. AID ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER TO VISIT THE REFUGEE CAMPS ON THE POLISH BORDER.

THERE ARE CAMPS BEING SET UP IN MOLDOVA AND MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING -- NOT BEING JUST STUCK AT THE BORDER, BUT ARE BEING ACCEPTED BY THOSE NATIONS FURTHER IN.

>> OF COURSE.

I WANT TO BRING UP THE FACT THAT I MENTIONED IN THE INTRO, VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS SAID THAT HE'S MAKING RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS READY, AT LEAST.

J.C., NEW YORK SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE A VERY VULNERABLE TARGET AND I'M WONDERING, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS FOR THIS POSSIBLE ESCALATION OF TENSIONS?

>> FOREIGN MANIACS HAVE MADE NEW YORK CITY A TARGET.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT LEVEL.

IF YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS BEING USED WOULD MEAN, REALLY MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION, AS WE ALL KNOW.

I JUST DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING IN ANY WAY.

IF IT DID, IT WILL BE THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT I DO BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT HE IS A CAGED ANIMAL.

I THINK THE SANCTIONS ARE C CRIPPLING HIM AND THE OLIGARCHS.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY THAT YOU CAN HAVE THESE TYPES OF SANCTIONS WORLDWIDE.

THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE WILL BE IMPACTED AND THEY WILL DEMAND A NEW GOVERNMENT AND THAT'S THE GOAL OF THE SANCTIONS.

THE GOAL OF SANCTIONS AT THE END OF THE DAY IS NOT JUST TO PUNISH SOMEONE FOR WHAT THEY DID, BUT IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE TO DEMAND CHANGE AND TO GET RID OF ITS LEADERSHIP AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO END UP HAPPENING PEER.

>> WELL, GLORIA, I WANT TO BRING YOU IN TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THE LEGAL ASPECT OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND AT LEAST WHAT AMERICA IS DOING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, AMERICA BEING APART OF NATO AND UKRAINE NOT BEING APART OF NATO MEANS THAT THERE ISN'T AN IMMEDIATE RUSH TO ARMS FOR THE U.S., BUT LEGALLY, HOW DO YOU SEE THE -- I GUESS, YES, LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OR AT LEAST THE ACTIONS TAKEN THUS FAR BY OTHER COUNTRIES.

>> WELL, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE INTERNATIONAL LAW, THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT A NATION STATE THAT'S PART OF A PARTICULAR TREATY DOESN'T MEAN THAT OTHER COUNTRIES CAN'T JOIN IN TO ASSIST.

AND THEY COULD HAVE A ROLE IN ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, BUT THE RULE OF LAW IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER AND LAW WAS WHAT THE CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY SAID AND, I QUOTE, AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER POWER CAN BREAK THE LAW.

AND THAT IS WHAT VLADIMIR PUTIN IS DOING, AS THE LEADER OF RUSSIA, INVADING UKRAINE.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF LEGAL OBLIGATIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW OTHER COUNTRIES FEEL, AND THEIR PRESSURE, OBLIGATION, TO STEP IN AND ASSIST, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN UNWRITTEN LAW, AND THE UNWRITTEN LAW IS, IF YOU'RE A NATION STATE AND YOU SEE ANOTHER NATION STATE BEING INVADED IN AN UNPROVOKED WAY IN THIS MANNER, THE SENSE IS, THIS COULD BE YOU NEXT.

IT REMINDS PEOPLE OF 1939 GERMANY.

SO MANY COUNTRIES SAT BACK AND DID NOTHING AND EVEN KNOW THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE PRESSURE ON THEM OR NO LEGAL OBLIGATION AT THAT TIME, IT WAS THOUGHT OF THE -- THE REASON WHY WE HAD A LEAGUE OF NATIONS, THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE UNITED NATIONS IS BECAUSE WE WANTED COUNTRIES TO COME TOGETHER, HAVE A SECURITY COUNCIL AND PUT A RESPONSIBILITY ON EACH NATION, BY INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTATION CALLED A TREATY, BUT ALSO WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT NATIONS ARE SOVEREIGN AND UNPROVOKED WARFARE IS SOMETHING THAT NO NATION SHOULD TOLERATE.

>> OF COURSE, WE -- WELL, YOU KNOW -- J.C., YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> I WANTED TO POINT OUT THE BRAVERY OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND THEIR PRESIDENT -- I'M 44, I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE.

I KNOW THIS HAPPENED A GREAT DEAL IN HISTORY, WE COULD POINT TO SEVERAL INSTANCES, BUT TO SEE A PRESIDENT WHO IS MARKED FOR DEATH BY A GOVERNMENT THAT IS INVADING SAY BRING IT AND I'M HERE WITH MY PEOPLE, THIS IS INCREDIBLE WHAT WE'RE WATCHING.

SO, THE BRAVERY THAT WE'RE WATCHING, MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, ALL THE CASUALTIES THAT WE'RE WATCHING LIVE ON TELEVISION.

WHAT HURTS SO MUCH ABOUT ALL OF THIS, JENNA, IS THAT WE HAD THIS INFORMATION.

PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THIS AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

I MEAN, WE REALLY ALLOWED FOR PUTIN, WE ENABLED HIM TO GET TO THIS POINT.

WE SAW HIM INVADE AND TAKE OVER CRIMEA.

WE SAID THERE WAS A RED LINE, OUR LEADERS DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.

SINCE CRIMEA, THE MAN HAS BECOME RICHER AND MORE POWERFUL.

WOULD YOU LEAVE THAT HE'S STILL NOT BANNED FROM FACEBOOK PERSONALLY?

IT'S JUST INSANE TO ME THAT FACEBOOK WOULD GO AHEAD SAY, YES, TRUMP, YOU'RE BANNED, JANUARY 6th, WE'RE GOING TO BAN YOU, BUT PUTIN IS ALLOWED TO BE ON FACEBOOK.

SO, WE'VE ENABLED THIS TO HAPPEN.

IT'S A SHAME.

AND I WANT TO SEE WHAT OUR LEADERS ARE GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST INSANITY WHAT WE'RE WATCHING ON TELEVISION.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ANDRIJ, I THINK WHAT J.C.

BRINGS UP IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M SEEING MY GOVERNMENT DO EITHER ISN'T ENOUGH, WASN'T ENOUGH, SOMEHOW, SOMETHING COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT FOR INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS, FOR INDIVIDUAL NEW YORKERS, WHAT IS IT THAT THEY CAN DO SO AT LEAST THEY CAN FEEL THEY'RE HELPING AND SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR SUPPORTIVE WORLDS AND THE AMAZING RESILIENCE OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SEEING IS SOMETHING THAT'S FELT ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

YES, MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, THAT IS TRUE.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE INVASION, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE STEPPED UP IN A WAY THAT THEY DIDN'T IN 2014, AS WE COULD IN 2008 WHEN GEORGIA WAS INVADED AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND THAT IS THAT THEY ARE RAMPING UP PRESSURE EVERY DAY.

SO, IT'S NOT JUST ONE PENALTY, AS AMBASSADOR McFAUL SAID IN A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING, PENALTIES NEED TO BE INCREASED EVERY DAY, BECAUSE AN INVASION DOESN'T TAKE PLACE JUST ON ONE DAY, BUT THE LONGER THEY SAY THERE, THE MORE PENALTIES NEED TO BE PUT ON.

AS FAR AS WHAT LOCAL NEW YORKERS ARE DOING, THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY GIVING A LOT OF MONEY TO HUMANITARIAN NEEDS, SO, FOR INSTANCE, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS ON ITS WEBSITE UCCA.ORG A COLLECTION FOR HUMANITARIAN NEEDS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAVELING THE GREAT DISTANCE OF THIS LARGEST COUNTRY IN EUROPE.

IF THEY HAVE BEEN MARKED, IF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE FIGHTING ON THE FRONT, THE WIVES AND CHILDREN OR THE HUSBANDS AND CHILDRENS ARE MOVING TOWARDS THE POLISH BORDER.

AND WHAT THEY NEED ARE BASIC SUPPLIES, PHARMACEUTICALS, BLANKETS, MAYBE BABY DIAPERS, MAYBE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

THINGS THAT WILL MAKE SURE, IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IN A HURRY, YOU CAN BE COMFORTABLE FOR THAT 10, 12-HOUR TRAVEL TO THE POLISH OR MOLDOVAN BORDER.

THE OTHER THING WE CAN DO, AS THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK HAS ALREADY MENTIONED AND I KNOW THAT THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT, THE MAYOR HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS, IS MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT SENDING ANYBODY BACK WHO IS ALREADY HERE TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO A WAR ZONE.

PROTECTIVE STATUS, ABSOLUTELY.

SOME WAY OF FAMILY UNIFICATION, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY ARE CALLING OUR OFFICE, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T WELL COMMUNICATED WHAT IS AN OPTION FOR THOSE PEOPLE, AND THEN WE SHOULD ALSO BE CON CONSIDERATE ABOUT CITIZENS IN UKRAINE THAT MIGHT BE TARGETED.

THOSE MIGHT BE UKRAINIANS ON KILL LISTS, DISSIDENTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN PROTECTION.

A PROTECTED CLASS OF CITIZENS, MAYBE IT'S LGBTQ PEOPLE.

THEY SHOULD BE CARED FOR WHEN THE UNITED STATES IS ACCEPTING ASYLUM.

>> I WANT TO TURN BACK TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AT LEAST THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT.

NOW, WE DO KNOW THAT WHILE J.C. HAS POINTED OUT A LOT OF THINGS HAVEN'T HAPPENED, WHAT DOES LOOK LIKE IS DEFINITELY HAPPENING ARE TOUGHER AND TOUGHER SANCTIONS.

AND SO, GLORIA, I WANT TO TAKE YOUR TAKE ON, ARE THESE SANCTIONS TOUGH ENOUGH, BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS IF NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PUTS ON VLADIMIR PUTIN, HE SOMEHOW IS ABLE TO WIGGLE OUT OF IT.

>> WELL, I MEAN, HE IS A DICTATOR, AND SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF HAVING TO FOLLOW THE CONSTRAINTS OF LAW WITHIN HIS OWN CAN OUNTRY, BECAUSE HE IS T LAW OF HIS COUNTRY AND HE'S SHOWN AN IRON HAND AND A MURDEROUS SPIRIT WHEN IT COMES TO ANY OPPOSITION.

SO, I THANKINK THE INTERNATIONA SANCTIONS ARE NECESSARY.

YES, HE'S ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST MEN IN THE WORLD, BUT EVEN A WEALTHY MAN DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE MONEY.

AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HIS COUNTRY ARE GOING TO RISE UP AS THOSE SANCTIONS BEGIN TO AFFECT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES AND REQUIRE MORE OF HIS TIME AND ATTENTION DOMESTICALLY.

I THINK ALSO THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SIGNED ONTO NUCLEAR TREATIES OR ANTI-NUCLEAR TREATIES, AND HE HAS STATED THAT HE WOULD USE A NUCLEAR WEAPON IN THIS INSTANCE MEANS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND JOIN THE SANCTIONS THERE ARE MANY OTHER COUNTRIES THAT CAN HAVE ECONOMIC PRESSURE AND PLACE THAT PRESSURE ON RUSSIA, ON THE GOODS THAT RUSSIA SELLS OR NEEDS, IN MANY OTHER WAYS IN WHICH ECONOMIC PRESSURE CAN BE PLACED ON RUSSIA AND FORCE PUTIN TO COME TO BEAR.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT HAVING DEALT WITH A MAN WHO WAS PROBABLY QUESTIONABLY MENTALLY ILL, WE HAVE A PERSON THAT COULD BE A MAD MAN IN OFFICE.

SO, WHAT DOES HE CARE ABOUT THESE PRESSURES?

WHAT DOES HE CARE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE STARVING?

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE TO COME INTO PLAY AND THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO, BUT ALSO, GERMANY, HUNGARY, JAPAN, OTHER NATIONS, ARE PLAYING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE AND THIS HAS TRIGGERED THEM, AND MANY NATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SILENT TO THIS POINT, TO STAND UP AND THINK AND ASK THAT VERY SAME QUESTION, WHAT CAN I DO?

WHAT MORE CAN WE DO?

AND I THINK THERE IS MORE THAT CAN BE DONE AROUND SANCTIONS AND OTHER WAYS TO BRING PUTIN INTO AT LEAST -- HAVE HIM UNDERSTAND THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO SIT BACK AND ALLOW HIM TO DO THIS.

>> CAN I RESPOND TO THAT JUST QUICKLY?

>> YEAH.

>> THE PROFESSOR RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT THE HUNGER THAT MIGHT HAPPEN, AND THAT IS PRECISELY WHY YOU'RE HEARING COUNTRIES LIKE JAPAN, LIKE THOSE WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, ALSO AFRICAN COUNTRIES SPEAKING VERY LOUDLY ABOUT THIS.

IN THE ACTIVIST COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHY, FOR INSTANCE, THE CONFLICT IN YEMEN OR THE CONFLICT IN YOUTETHIOPIA ISN'T FOCUSED ON ENOUGH, AND JUST LIKE THE INVASION OF GEORGIA IN 2008, THE TRADE IMPLICATIONS AREN'T AS REPPER US CANNIVE IN THOSE AREAS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD AS THIS CONFLICT IS NOW, SO AS UNFORTUNATE AS IT SOUNDS, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GENOCIDE AND THE LOSS OF LIFE, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR HUNGER IN A LOT OF PARTS OF THE WORLD, THAT INCLUDES LEBANON GETTING 70% OF ITS GRAIN FROM UKRAINE.

EGYPT, ISRAEL, MOST OF NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTH ASIA GETTING THEIR GRAIN FROM UKRAINE.

IF THAT IS DISRUPTED, THE UNITED NATIONS IS VERY FEARFUL, AND ALL OF THOSE MAJOR COUNTRIES WE MENTIONED, VERY FEARFUL THAT THERE WILL BE FOOD RIOTS IN THOSE COUNTRIES, LEADING TO MORE INSTABILITY IN THOSE COUNTRIES AND THEN ECONOMIC -- SORRY, GOVERNMENTAL CHANGE IN THOSE COUNTRIES AND THEN CONFLICT SPILLING OVER BORDERS.

THAT'S THE WORLD WAR III SCENARIO THAT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY THINK OF NUCLEAR WAR, WHICH IS THE LAST THING ANYBODY WANTS, BUT THE FOOD CONFLICT IS REALLY A MAJOR ISSUE HERE.

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING I THINK WAS PROBABLY NOT ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S RADAR AND J.C., THAT WAS ACTUALLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT.

DO YOU SEE THE RIPPLE EFFECT, THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THESE KNEW SANCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED -- ARE THEY ARE A NECESSARY EVIL IN THIS CONFLICT?

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT ALL OVER, IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, THE PRICE OF FOOD, ENERGY WORLDWIDE.

SO, THE SANCTIONS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, BECAUSE IT'S EITHER THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO GET IN THERE MILITARILY TO PROTECT THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND REALLY THIS IS ABOUT STOPPING PUTIN FROM REALLY TAKING OVER, NOT ONLY UKRAINE, BUT WHAT STOPS HIM AT UKRAINE, RIGHT?

IF WE'RE BEING HON ELS AND WE'RE SO FEARFUL OF NUCLEAR WAR, WHAT STOPS PUTIN AFTER UKRAINE?

THE ONLY THING THAT STOPS HIM IS NATO, RIGHT, AND THE WESTERN ALLIANCE.

SO, WE HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE PRICE WE'RE GOING TO PAY AT THE PUMP, THE PRICE WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR BREAD IN THE SHORT-TERM MATTERS, AND THE SOMETHING THAT IS A NECESSARY EVIL AND THAT WE ALL HAVE TO PAY FOR.

AND I THINK THAT AMERICANS ARE 100% BEHIND ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO TO HURT PUTIN AND HIS REGIME.

AND I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO HURT A LOT OF AMERICANS AT THE PUMP, WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN INFLATION.

I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD ON A LOT OF AMERICANS, BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF STOPPING SOMEONE FROM REALLY TAKING OVER ANOTHER PART OF EUROPE AND PERHAPS CAUSING WORLD WAR III.

SO, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, WHETHER IT'S MORE WEAPONS, MORE MONEY, MORE INTELLIGENCE INTO UKRAINE, MORE SANCTIONS, BUT ALL OF THAT, WE'RE GOING TO END UP PAYING FOR IT SOMEHOW, EITHER THROUGH TAXES OR AT THE PUMP.

>> OF COURSE.

I WANT TO PIVOT TO THE OTHER BIG STORY THAT IS HAPPENING AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS THE SUPREME COURT NOMINATION OF JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON.

GLORIA, I WANT TO TURN TO YOU AND JUST GET YOUR TAKE ON THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY HAS A BLACK WOMAN BEEN NOMINATED, BUT ALSO SOMEONE WHO WAS A FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER.

>> I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC THAT A BLACK WOMAN, WHO IS SO APTLY QUALIFIED.

HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, I THINK IT'S NECESSARY THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT SHE IS VERY WELL CRE CREDENTIALED AND SHE'S A BLACK WOMAN AND SHE IS A PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND A PUBLIC DEFENDER IS ONE WHO DEFENDS PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCUSED OF CRIMES AND WHO ARE TOO POOR TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY.

AND SHE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SENTENCING COMMISSION.

SHE WANTED TO UNDERSTAND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

AND THIS IS SO NEEDED ON THE BENCH, WHERE WE HAVE, AT THIS MOMENT, JUSTICES WHO ARE, OF COURSE, OF HIGH WENT ELECT, BUT HAVE NO BACKGROUND IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

AND WITH 18,000 JURISDICTIONS, 18,000 POLICE JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LAW MEANS AND HOW TO BEST APPLY IT.

AND SO, WE NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS THAT DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE, WE ALSO NEED SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, IS FOLLOWING IN THE NATURAL PROGRESSION FROM 1872 WITH OUR FIRST BLACK FEMALE LAWYER, CHARLOTTE RAY, TO 1939, OUR FIRST BLACK FEMALE JUDGE, HERE IN NEW YORK, BROOKLYN, AND THEN TO GO TO CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY AND UP TO EMAIL YALIA KAURS.

THAT WAS 1979.

THINK ABOUT HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN SO QUALIFIED FOR THE BENCH.

I THINK HER CRIMINAL JUSTICE BACKGROUND IS JUST A PLUS TO HER STELLAR QUALIFICATIONS.

>> J.C., WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE NOMINATION?

>> I LOVE WATCHING HISTORY.

THIS IS GREAT.

I THINK HAVING A BLACK WOMAN ON THE COURT, FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

FOR MY STUDENTS, AS THEY ARE GOING TO READ THESE HISTORY BOOKS LATER ON, I WONDER HOW THIS WEEK IS GOING TO LOOK.

WE SEE THE INVASION OF A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO THE SUPREME COURT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THIS APPOINTMENT TO THE SUPREME COURT HAS BECOME POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.

IT USED TO BE, YOU GET NOMINATED, YOU SAY, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, THIS IS IT.

AND PEOPLE WOULD GET NOMINATE AND GET RIGHT INTO THE COURT WITH 90-PLUS VOTES IN THE SENATE.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYMORE.

SO, ALTHOUGH SHE'S BEEN CONFIRMED BEFORE AND CONFIRMED AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF XHESHLS ATTACKING HER RECORD AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE COMMERCIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE SUPPORTING AND THOSE AGAINST, AS IF IT'S A RACE FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

BUT I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE VOTES NECESSARY.

THIS IS INTERESTING, I THINK THAT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, SHE HAS FAMILY MEMBERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S KEY, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ONE THING.

THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS REALLY LOOKING AT CRIME IN OUR CITIES AS SOMETHING THAT IS -- IS W WEIGHING HEAVILY IN POLITICS, THE WORLD THAT I'M COMING FROM.

SO, I WONDER WHAT THE MOVE IS GOING TO BE ON THE ANTI-JUDGE BROWN COMMERCIALS, SHOWING HER TO BE A PUBLIC DEFENDER, MAYBE SOFT ON CRIME.

YOU CAN SEE THE COMMERCIALS TAKING PLACE, TO PUT PRESSURE ON MODERATE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE TO VOTE NO.

SO, YOU KNOW, IS THAT -- BUT THE DEMOCRATS DO HAVE THE VOTES THERE, AND SHE'S BEEN CONFIRMED BEFORE, STELLAR PEDIGREE WITH HER LAW DEGREE AND EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING CAMPAIGN TO GET HER ON THE BENCH.

>> OF COURSE, WELL, THAT CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING SENDING MUNITIONS TO UKRAINE AND SO, ANDRIJ, I WONDERING, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WASHINGTON, THIS TIME, CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME, IE, CAN THEY GET TWO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT INITIATIVES OVER THE FINISH LINE OR DO YOU SEE ONE OUTWEIGHING THE OTHER IN GUMMING UP THE WORKS OF ACTION FINALLY HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY FOR UKRAINE?

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR A LONG TIME NOW AND FRANKLY, WHEN CONGRESS WENT ON RECESS FOR MOST OF FEBRUARY, THE MAJOR STICKING POINTS HAVE BEEN RENDERED MOOT NOW.

ONE OF THE MAJOR STICKING POINTS WAS PUTTING SANCTIONS ON NOW, BEFORE AN INVASION, AS OPPOSED TO AFTER.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY MOOT.

THERE WAS A BIG CONTENTION ABOUT SANCTIONS AGAINST THE NORD STREAM 2 PIPELINE PROJECT.

THAT AGAIN HAS BEEN RENDERED MOOT BY THE FACT THAT GERMANY HAS DECIDED TO STOP IT AND THE UNITED STATES HAS -- THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS LIFTED THE WAIVERS FOR THOSE SANCTIONS.

WE ANTICIPATE A MORE SMOOTHER PROCESS AS THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN DRAFTED, BOTH ON REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC SIDE, IN FACT, AT THE END OF JANUARY, A MAJORITY OF THE SENATE VOTED FOR SANCTIONS NOW, INCLUDING SENATOR WARNOCK, INCLUDING MANY DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WHO WERE GIVEN A LOT OF PRESSURE BY THE WHITE HOUSE NOT TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.

SO, WE ANTICIPATE THAT A LOT OF MOVEMENT CAN HAPPEN FOR THE UKRAINIAN LEGISLATION AND SUPPLYING THEM, HOWEVER, THE ONE THING ON MY MIND IS ALWAYS THE CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR.

THERE WAS ALSO TALK DURING THE FEBRUARY, MAYBE CONGRESS CAN COME BACK TO SESSION AND VOTE ASAP FOR UKRAINE.

A LOT OF THEM ARE BACK IN THEIR DISTRICTS, BECAUSE THEY NEED PETITIONS TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

WE HAVE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS BEING DRAWN.

AND BECAUSE OF THE NEW FEDERAL LAWS, THEY NEED TO BE READY FOR A PRIMARY IN JUNE.

THAT MEANS IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS, WHAT WE MENTIONED ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT PICK, WHAT WE MENTIONED ABOUT UKRAINE, THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN A -- PEOPLE IN A PRIMARY, THE FRINGER CANDIDATES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY FRINGE, BUT THEY ARE CANDIDATES ON ONE SIDE OF THE EXTREME OR ANOTHER FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT.

IN FACT, IN CONGRESS, THERE WAS A LETTER THAT WAS CO-DRAFTED BY REPRESENTATIVE OCASIO-CORTEZ AND MATT GAETZ OF FLORIDA, MAKING SURE THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T GET INVOLVED IN WAR.

SOMETIMES THE FURTHER SIDE OF THE PARTY GETS IN THE WAY OF LEGISLATION, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN A PRIMARY SEASON.

>> OF COURSE.

WELL, I DO WANT TO TURN TO THE OTHER BIG THING THAT HOPEFULLY, DEPENDING ON HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, WILL BE HAPPENING IN NEW YORK, AND THAT IS THE DROPPING OF THE MASK AND EVENTUALLY THE VACCINE MANDATE.

AND SO, J.C., I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS MOVE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND MAYOR ADAMS.

>> WELL, I CONTINUE TO BE A BIG FAN OF MAYOR ADAMS.

I THINK HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB AND THIS IS AN INDICATION HE'S THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

WE'VE LOWERED THE NUMBERS.

NEW YORK CITY IS HIGHLY VAXED AND MANY OF US ARE BOOSTED.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT A CITY THAT NEEDS TO NOT ONLY STAY SAFE, WHICH WE ARE, BUT GET BACK TO WORK AND GET BACK INTO THOSE BODEGAS TO ORDER YOUR YLUNCH AN GET YOUR SODA AND GET BACK TO YO YOUR OFFICE.

THE TAXES PAY FOR OUR TEACHERS, PAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS, COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS AND THOSE MOM AND POP SHOPS ALL OVER THE CITY.

WE SEE THE STORE FOR RENT SIGNS, WE SEE THE EMPTY RESTAURANTS.

WE KNOW THE RESTAURANTS THAT USED TO BE THERE ARE NEVER COMING BACK.

WELL WE HAVE TO GET BACK INTO THE OFFICE AND GET TO WORK AND I'M GLAD THAT MAYOR ADAMS IS SAYING, LET'S DO IT FOR NOW.

BUT HE SAYS, IF THE NUMBERS GO UP, WE'LL HAVE TO REVISIT THIS, WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THING TO DO.

>> AND GLOURRIA, YOUR TAKE ON T DROPPING OF THE MANDATES?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, THE REASON WHY THE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS.

SO, I THINK WHAT COMPLICATES THIS FOR ME IS THAT THERE'S SO MUCH ECONOMIC DRIVE FOR THIS.

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT, WE HAVE TO GET THOSE BUSINESSES GOING, SO THEREFORE, WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THOSE BUSINESSES AND BUY, BUY, BUY.

YES, THIS IS A CAPITALIST COUNTRY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST AND MAYBE THE REASON WHY THE NUMBERS WENT DOWN IS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE WEARING MASK.

AS MORE PEOPLE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY COMING INTO NEW YORK, IS THAT GOING TO INCREASE THE RATE OF THIS -- IS THERE ANOTHER V ANOTHER VARIANT AROUND THE CORNER?

WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY IN THE SUMMER LED TO PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THAT NO ONE DISCUSSES, AND THAT IS WHAT THE CERTAIN CONSERVATIVES HAVE BEEN TOUTING THE WHOLE TIME, THAT MASKS WERE NEVER NECESSARY.

AND I THINK THAT -- THIS GOES TO THAT POINT.

AND ALSO, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING SUPPORT PUTIN.

SO, WE HAVE A WHOLE BACKGROUND NOISE OF THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID THAT ARE DRIVING SOME OF THE POLITICAL GOALS AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CONSERVATIVES, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ANTI-EVERYTHING AND PRO RUSSIA, AREN'T THE ONES WHO ARE HAVING THEIR WAY AT THIS TIME.

ARE THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT?

AND I WANT IT TO BE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY, AND THAT MEANS PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILDREN, SO WE CAN ALL BE HEALTHY WHEN WE GO TO THAT BODEGA -- >> WELL, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY GUESTS TODAY.

ANDRIJ DOBRIANSKY, FROM TALSO LIKE TO THANK GLORIA BROWNE-MARSHALL, AUTHOR OF "SHE TOOK JUSTICE B", AND J.C. POLAN, NOW A PROFESSOR AT CUNY-BMCC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --