>>> 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.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, AND BY JANET PRINDLE SIDELER, JODY AND JOHN AFTERNOON HOLD, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENA FLANNAGAN AND THIS IS OUR FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

NOW, TO START OFF 2021 WE WILL BE LOOKING AHEAD AT NEWS MAKING LOCAL AND NATIONAL HEADLINES THIS WEEK AS WE DO EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AND HOW THEY IMPACT THE TRI-STATE AREA.

SO TONIGHT WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THAT BOMBSHELL REPORTING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP PRESSURING GEORGIA'S SECRETARY OF STATE TO HELP OVERTURN THE ELECTION RESULTS.

WE'LL ALSO BE PREVIEW THE GEORGIA SENATE RUNOFFS WITH THE BALANCE OF THE SENATE AT STAKE AND CONGRESS' ELECTORAL COLLEGE COUNTS HAPPENING LATER THIS WEEK.

AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS THE ROLLOUT OF THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE AND THE FACT THAT THINGS AREN'T MOVING QUITE AS FAST AS MANY PEOPLE HAD ANTICIPATED.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A LOT TO START OUT THE NEW YEAR.

TO HELP US MAKE SENSE OF ALL OF IT I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BACK THREE GUESTS TO THE SHOW.

WE HAVE DR. CHRISTINA GREER AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY.

SHE IS ALSO POLITICS EDITOR AT "THE GRIO" AND CO-HOST OF THE FAQNYC PODCAST.

DR. GREER, WELCOME AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> THANK YOU, YOU, TOO.

>> WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY LAURA NAHMIAS.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, A MEMBER OF THE "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" EDITORIAL BOARD.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, TOO.

>> FINALLY, WE ARE JOINED AGAIN BY OUR GUEST AND FRIEND J.C. POLANCO.

J.C. IS A COMMENTATOR, ATTORNEY, FACULTY MEMBER AT CUNY AND A FORMER PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

WELCOME AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.

HAPPY TO BE BACK.

>> LET'S GET INTO WHAT SEEMS TO BE BIGGEST STORY OF THE, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS MAY GO ON, THAT IT BOMBSHELL RECORDING THAT WE HEARD FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST" OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS I SAID IN THE INTRO, PRESSURING THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE TO FIND HIM AN ADDITIONAL 11,000 PLUS VOTES.

DR. GREER, I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND JUST GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FACT THAT SOMETHING THAT I THINK PERHAPS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT WAS FINALLY SETTLED AND THAT IS THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION, IT SEEMS LIKE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IT IS STILL NOT SETTLED.

IT IS STILL NOT DONE.

>> NOT AT ALL.

THE RECORDING IS SHORT OF CRIMINAL.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A PRESIDENT WHO HAS NO SHAME.

WE SHOULD NOT BE SHOCKED.

I THINK AMERICANS WOULD BE WISE TO SORT OF -- UNTIL JANUARY 6th WHEN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES ARE CERTIFIED BY CONGRESS.

REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE SAYING THEY WILL NOT UPHOLD THEIR DUTY TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE BIDDING OF THE PRESIDENT.

MANY GOP MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WILL DO THE SAME.

SO IF THIS WERE ANY OTHER MAN, ANY OTHER PRESIDENT, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SHAME, THE EMBARRASSMENT WOULD BE TOO MUCH BEAR AND HE WOULD LIKELY RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.

BUT WE ARE NOT DEALING WITH A MAN LIKE THAT.

WE ARE DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO IS VERY FEARFUL OF WHAT HIS LIFE LOOKS LIKE AFTER JANUARY 20th.

HE IS LOOKING AT THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE MANHATTAN D.A.

HE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES THAT WILL BE BROUGHT AGAINST HIM FROM HIS TIME IN OFFICE AND ALSO HIS TIME BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT.

SO THE ACTS OF DESPERATION SADLY WILL GET MORE INTENSE AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO JANUARY 6th AND JANUARY 20th.

>> J.C., I MEAN THIS SEEMS, IT SEEMS TO BE JAW-DROPPING FROM SO MANY PEOPLE, AND YET ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE HEARING NOW FROM A LOT OF POLITICAL COMMENTATORS IS THAT THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SILENCE AND ALMOST DEAFENING SILENCE FROM THE GOP AND MANY PEOPLE ON THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE.

IS THAT ALSO ANOTHER LAYER OF CONCERN?

>> YES, TO BE SILENT IS TO BE COMPLICIT IS WHAT'S GOING ON.

THIS IS AWFUL.

I DON'T THINK YOUR VIEWERS AND MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN POLITICS LOCALLY REALLY TRULY UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CULT OF PERSONALITY THAT HAS TAKEN OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SINCE 2015.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TO ME.

WHEN LIEUTENANT COLONEL VIN MAN TESTIFIED TO CONGRESS, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN OR SHOULD HAVE HEARD, BEEN A FLY ON THE WALL IN SOME OF THESE PARTY MEETINGS.

SOMETIMES I SAY, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE PURPLE HEART, 20 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, SERVED HIS COUNTRY, HOW COULD YOU SPEAK OF HIM THAT WAY?

AND WHAT WE HEARD IN REPLY WAS, HEY, THEY GIVE OUT PURPLE HEARTS LIKE IT'S CANDY.

I MEAN, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THEIS BEFORE.

EVEN NOW IF YOU TAKE LOOK AT TWITTER, EVEN AFTER THE RECORDINGS, WHAT YOU HEAR IS, OH, HE WAS ASKING FOR LEGAL VOTES.

I HAVE NO DEFENSE OF THIS.

THIS JUST AWFUL ON SO MANY LEVELS.

IT'S REALLY AWFUL I THINK IN LOCAL POLITICS.

I WILL TELL YOU WHY.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY USED TO THRIVE BECAUSE IT APPEALED TO CENTRISTS, MODERATE DEMOCRATS, AND INDEPENDENTS.

IN NEW YORK, THAT'S HOW YOU HAD -- RE-ELECTED SEVERAL TIMES.

THE DISTRICTS THAT MAY BE CUT A CERTAIN WAY.

BUT WHEN YOU ASK VOTERS TO CONSIDER VOTING REPUBLICAN IN THE FUTURE, I THINK THESE RECORDINGS AND THESE LAST FOUR YEARS POLITICALLY HAVE WREAKED HAVOC ON ANY HOPE OF REPUBLICANS BEING TAKEN AS CENTRIST AND BEING ELECTED STATEWIDE OR CITYWIDE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THE FACT OF THIS IS MATTER IS THIS IS AWFUL.

WE CAN'T ALLOW FOR SENATORS TO CONTEMPT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE.

WE CAN'T ALLOW FOR OVER 100 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO DO THIS.

THIS IS WREAKING HAVOC ON THE PARTY.

HOW MUCH SO?

WE LOST TEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS SINCE THE PRESIDENT GOT ELECTED IN 2016.

WE LOST THREE MEMBERS FOF THE HOUSE SINCE 2016.

WE LOST TWO COUNTY EXECUTIVES.

LOCALLY IN NEW YORK AT LEAST HERE, THIS HAS BEEN AWFUL.

I THINK THESE RECORDINGS ARE GOING TO DO FURTHER DAMAGE.

I REALLY HOPE THAT THE PARTY DOESN'T STAY SIGH LENTD AND SAYS SOMETHING.

WHO KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN PERSONALLY BECAUSE OF THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF ME EXPRESSING MY DISDAIN FOR THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS BEHAVIOR.

>> AND LAURA, SOMETHING THAT I KIND OF WANT TO BUILD ON WITH THAT, AS J.C.

VERY CLEARLY POINTED OUT, THAT AT LEAST IN NEW YORK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SEEMS TO HAVE PERHAPS PAID A PRICE FOR AN ALLEGIANCE OR FEALTY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY, INCREASINGLY PAINFULLY CLEAR THAT THERE ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REALITIES THAT ARE CREATED BY TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MEDIA BUBBLES DEPENDING WHAT KIND OF NEWS MEDIA YOU ARE CONSUMING.

THAT COULD DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A VALID POINT TO MAKE.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS, I GUESS, ABOUT THE NEWS MEDIA AND HOW THIS IS HANDLED?

>> WHAT'S REALLY CONCERNING IS THAT IT'S AN ACCELERATION OF A TREND THAT I THINK HAS ARGUABLY BEEN IT GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES NOW WHERE IT'S BECOME A PARTISAN ISSUE.

FACTS, EXPERTISE, TRUTHS HAVE BECOME A PARTISAN PROBLEM, AND WE'RE SEEING ONE PARTY REALLY LEONHARD INTO NOT OBEYING THE CONSTITUTION, NOT ADHERING TO OBSERVABLE FACTS, AND IF YOU DON'T AGREE TO NOT AGREE ON THIS SET OF OBSERVABLE FACTS, THEN YOU ARE A TRAITOR.

YOU ARE NOT A GOOD, STRONG MEMBER OF THE PARTY.

YOU ARE NOT WITH US.

YOU'RE AGAINST US.

EVEN IF IT MEANS UNDERMINING THE CONSTITUTION AND THE RULE OF LAW AND PUTTING PARTY OVER EVERYTHING THAT WE STAND FOR AS A COUNTRY AND ALL OF THE RULES THAT GOVERN US AND CREATED THE PARTIES TO BEGIN WITH.

AND FOR THE MEDIA, I MEAN, THIS IS A COMPLICATED CONVERSATION, BUT A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH, I THINK, AND -- THE INTERNET AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING ABOUT WHAT DUTIES OF CARE VARIOUS PUBLISHING PLATFORMS ON THE INTERNET HAVE TO THEIR USERS IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE CONTENT THAT IS SHARED IS TRUTHFUL, IS NOT, LIKE, SPREADING FALSEHOODS LIKE WILDFIRE.

A NEWSPAPER, FOR INSTANCE, HAS A FIDELITY TO TRUTH AND IS HELD TO CERTAIN STANDARDS FOR WHAT THEY PUBLISH UNDER LIBEL LAWS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND OTHER INTERNET PLATFORMS ARE NOT HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD, AND THAT'S BY FEDERAL LAW.

AND THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT REMAINS UNADDRESSED, ALTHOUGH IT IS CIRCULATING, QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.

SHOULD FACEBOOK, SHOULD REDDIT, SHOULD TWITTER, SHOULD PARLOR, SHOULD ANY PLATFORM BE HELD LIABLE FOR THE VERACITY OF WHAT THEY ARE PUBLISHING ON THEIR PLATFORM.

AND IF THEY WERE, WOULD THEY DO A BETTER JOB OF VERIFYING AND TAKING DOWN THINGS THAT ARE JUST ENTIRELY FALSE.

>> WELL, THAT IS CERTAINLY TO BE A SUBJECT THAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING, I THINK EVERYONE, AS THE NEW YEAR UNFOLDS AND A NEW CONGRESS IS SEATED.

BUT SPEAKING OF THE NEW CONGRESS, OF COURSE ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS THAT THERE IS THIS GEORGIA RUNOFF THAT WILL DETERMINE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE SENATE, AND, OF COURSE, AS OF RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE, IF THE TWO CHALLENGING DEMOCRATS ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE SEATS, THEN THAT MEANS MITCH McCONNELL DOES REMAIN THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND, THUS, ONE OF THE MOST, MAYBE EVEN THE MOST, POWERFUL MEN IN WASHINGTON.

HOWEVER, THERE IS ALSO THIS CONFIRMATION OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING, WHICH IS, AGAIN, USUALLY THESE THINGS ARE JUST ROUTINE AND WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

BUT NOW WE ARE SEEING A MOVEMENT OF REPUBLICANS, NOT NEW YORK STATE REPUBLICANS, BUT OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST CONFIRMING THIS VOTE.

DR. GREER, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF PRECEDENT FOR THIS?

ARE WE IN COMPLETELY NEW TERRITORY?

AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE, IF ANY, THE PUSHBACK?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE ARE IN COMPLETELY UNCHARTERED WATERS IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC IS IN PERIL.

I MEAN, WHAT, YOU KNOW, LAURA MENTIONED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE HYPER-PARTISAN SHIP AND THE CONFUSION THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND THIS DISDAIN FOR FACTS FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ESPECIALLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS PUT US TO THIS POINT.

THE ONLY GOOD THING THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE PAST THREE YEARS ARE SO MANY MORE AMERICANS ARE MORE AWARE OF HOW CIVICS OPERATE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT HAPPENS ON THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, OR STATE -- LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL LEVEL.

JANUARY 6th IS A VERY IMPORTANT DATE.

WE CANNOT -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE 1860s WITH THE ELECTION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN OUR MODERN PRESIDENCY.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN AN ENTIRE PARTY ALMOST PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO A MAN AND DISAVOW THEIR DUTY AS MEMBERS OF A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MEMBERS FTS U.S. SMENATE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.

AND SO WE WILL FIND OURSELVES ON JANUARY 6th TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THESE REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE EITHER JUST TRYING TO BLINDLY FOLLOW DONALD TRUMP FOR FEAR THAT HE MAY INTERFERE WITH ELECTIONS IN 2022 AND ALSO 2024.

MANY REPUBLICANS HAVE PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS, SO THEY ARE TRYING TO GET ON HIS GOOD GRACES OF DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE MOST LIKELY WON'T RUN.

HE IS TOO LAZY AND WILL HAVE WAY TOO MANY LEGAL CHALLENGES.

BUT HE DOES STILL MOBILIZE SO MANY AMERICANS, MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A PRESIDENT GO AFTER MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY.

LOOK WHAT HE DID TO JEFF SESSIONS.

SO HE HAS MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY INCREDIBLY AFRAID OF HIM, SO MUCH SO THAT THEY ARE WILLING DO HIS BIDDING LONG AFTER HE HAS NO REAL POWER.

SO JANUARY 6th IS A HUGE DAY FOR AMERICANS WHO MUST BE ON GUARD.

WHAT'S CONFUSING IS THERE ARE GENERALISTS AND PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT POLITICS.

THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT -- GENERALISTS DO HAVE A CERTAIN DUTY TO UPHOLD TRUTH.

WE HAVE SO MANY MEDIA OUTLETS THAT SADLY HAVE DISAVOWED SOME OF THOSE DUTIES.

MEDIA OUTLETS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF JUST, I DON'T KNOW, ADMIRING THE PRESIDENT.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT CERTAIN NEWS NETWORKS, USING THAT WORD IN QUOTES, THAT'S WHO THE PRESIDENT IS GETTING INFORMATION FROM, AND THAT'S WHAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THE VIOLENCE ACROSS THE STATES WITH THE FOLLOWERS WHO REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE AND BELIEVE THAT THIS PRESIDENT ABSOLUTELY DID LOSE THIS ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3rd.

SO, SADLY, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE TYPES OF VIOLENCE THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE, NOT JUST IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SOWING THESE SEEDS OF RACIAL ANIMAS, RACIAL HATRED AND DISSENSION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW, AND I FEAR THAT IT MIGHT COME TO FRUITION IF HE DOES NOT GET HIS WAY ON JANUARY 6th.

>> J.C., YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, ESPECIALLY NEW YORK CITY, BUT DEFINITELY IN NEW YORK STATE, IS NOT AT ALL REFLECTIVE TV THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE CASE WHERE YOU HAVE SO MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS THEIR POLITICAL LIFE, I GUESS, IS ATTACHED TO THE PRESIDENT.

>> YEAH, WE ARE A VERY DIVERSE PLACE.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEW YORK CITY.

I KNOW THAT DR. GREER HAS LIVED IN OTHER PLACES.

I ONLY KNOW THE BRONX.

AND I MUST ADMIT WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS PLACE, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT -- IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT AMERICA, WHONE IN WHI, I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE THAT I CONSIDER RATIONAL, SMART, PEOPLE THAT I TRUST WHO VIEW THE PRESIDENT AS SOMEONE THAT IS JUST REMARKABLE.

AND WHAT I HAVE NOTICED ABOUT HIM, THE PRESIDENT, IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HIS STYLE OF GOVERN R GOVERNANCE AND CAMPAIGNING TO MANY PEOPLE I TEACH IN THE ROOM ABOUT LATIN AMERICA.

HE HAS GIVEN PEOPLE AN IDENTITY THEY NEVER HAD BEFORE, AN IDENTITY I THINK IS ONE OF IMPORTANCE AND SUPERIORITY AND THAT IS PRICELESS.

WHEN YOU CAN CONVINCE SOMEONE THAT THEY HAVE THIS PERSONA THAT IS SUPERIOR TO OTHERS AND THAT THEY MATTER AND THEY ARE NOT WHERE THEY ARE IN LIFE BECAUSE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S -- YOU KNOW, YOU GAIN THEIR TRUST, ADMIRATION, AND THEIR LOYALTY.

AND HE HAS DONE THIS IN WAYS THAT I JUST CANNOT EVEN FATHOM.

74 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED FOR HIM.

IF HE GOES ON TWITTER AND TELLS PEOPLE THIS PERSON IS GOOD, THEN WE WILL VOTE FOR THAT PERSON IN A PRIMARY.

NOW WE HAVE TWO QANON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

HE SAYS THIS PERSON IS TERRIBLE, THEY ARE WEAK, HE IS A NEVER TRUMPER, THAT PERSON WILL ABSOLUTELY LOSE A PRIMARY AND NEVER SEE THE HALLS OF CONGRESS AGAIN.

WHEN DR. GREER MENTIONS THE INFLUENCE HE HAS OVER THE PARTY AND PEOPLE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S FUTURES, PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS, PEOPLE'S POSITIONS IN INFLUENCE, IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF POWER THAT MAN HAS IN HIS TWITTER ACCOUNT AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD ARE OVERLOOKED IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER AND IT'S THE KIND OF SWAY THAT CAN CHANGE LIVES.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE FEAR.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PSYCHE OF SOME OF THE THESE INDIVIDUALS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS AND I THINK LAURA MENTIONED SOMETHING INTERESTING REGARDING, I THINK, SESSION 230 THAT YOU REFERRED TO, LAURA, THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO GET RID OF IT.

>> BEFOR OUR LISTENERS WHO MIGH NOT BE 100% CLEAR, SECTION 230 IS EXACTLY WHAT?

>> WELL, IT'S THE LAW THAT LAURA MENTIONED A LITTLE EARLIER THAT ACTUALLY GIVES SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, INCREDIBLE PROTECTIONS AGAINST BEING LIABLE FOR THINGS THAT ARE UNTRUTHFUL AND PUBLISHED IN THE MEDIA.

SO IF THE DAILY NEWS PUBLISHES SOMETHING THAT IS LIBEL, THEY COULD BE SUED IN COURT.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE 1996 LAW PUT IN PLACE WAY BEFORE INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK, THESE PLATFORMS CAN'T BE SUED EVEN IF IT RESULTS IN DAMAGE, EVEN IF IT RESULTS IN SOMEONE LOSING THEIR JOB OR THEIR LIVES.

SO IF YOU CAN GO ON TWITTER AND SAY SOMEONE HAD PEDOPHILES IN A PIZZA PARLOR SOMEWHERE IN D.C. AND SOMEONE DIES, IF YOU PUT THAT ON FACEBOOK, THEN FACEBOOK CAN'T BE HELD LIABLE FOR ALLOWING THAT PLATFORM TO EXIST FOR BEING USED IN THIS PURPOSE.

"THE DAILY NEWS," HOWEVER, COULD BE SUED.

IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT IS OUTDATED, NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.

YOU CAN DO SO WITHOUT INFRINGING ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF THE PRESS.

BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE, AS YOU HEARD FROM DR. GREER, LAURA, SOME ACCOUNTABILITY OF JOURNALISTS AND WHAT IS A JOURNALIST.

>> LAURA, MOVING ON, I MEAN, AGAIN, ABOUT THIS JANUARY 6th CONFIRMATION, IT'S TURNING INTO SOME SORT OF POLITICAL SHOW CROWN.

.

>> IT'S THEATER AT THIS POINT.

THE SENATORS WHO ARE PROPOSING TO BREAK AWAY AND SAY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE RESULTS ARE ALMOST ASSURED THAT THEIR EFFORTS WILL FAIL BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT IN MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

IT HAS TO GO BACK TO BOTH HOUSES.

BOTH HOUSES HAVE TO APPROVE IT FOR IT TO MOVE FORWARD.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR A COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS OF VOTER FRAUD.

IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN TO FAIL.

BUT WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS THESE SENATORS ALL OF THEM VERY AMB BISHS TO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE POSITIONING THEMSELVES TO CAPTURE THIS MANTLE OF ALTERNATIVE FACTS.

AND LEAD THE PARTY THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS ESSENTIALLY CRAFTED AT THIS POINT AND BE IN SHAPE TO BE THE NEXT LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IF DONALD TRUMP IS NOT THE PERSON WHO IS EFFECTIVELY IN CHARGE IN FOUR YEARS.

AND IT'S A VERY -- IT IS A CYNICAL, ABSOLUTELY CYNICAL AMBITIOUS CON KNIFING MANEUVER FROM THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

IT IS ENTIRELY, I THINK, DRIVEN BY THEIR DESIRE TO POSITION THEMSELVES TO BE IN CHARGE.

AND I DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH ANY OF THEM ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY REAL FRAUD.

NONE OF THEM HAVE OFFERED ANY PROOF OF IT.

IT'S A BIZARRE CIRCULAR LOGIC THAT THEY HAVE OFFERED SAYING THAT THERE IS STRONG SUSPICIONS AMONG THE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE BY POLLS SHOW THAT PEOPLE THINK THERE IS A LOT OF FRAUD, BUT THOSE ARE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN WHIPPED UP BY THE POLITICIANS THEMSELVES AND THE PRESIDENT, WHO ENCOURAGED, JUST SAID BROADLY THAT THERE WAS FRAUD AND REPEATED IT ENOUGH THAT IT MADE PEOPLE THINK THAT MAYBE THERE WAS WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OR REAL PROOF OF IT.

IT'S SORT OF THE WORST OF POLITICAL WE WILL SEE.

I THINK ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE A FAILURE ON THE MERITS.

OF COURSE.

GOING BACK TO THE EARLIER POINT OF THE TWO DIFFERENT MEDIA SPHERES, A LOT OF POLLS ARE SHOWING WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK IT'S FRAUD DEPENDS VERY HEAVILY ON WHERE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR INFORMATION FROM.

IT CIRCLES BACK TO THAT LAW THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO.

I WANT TO TURN THE CONVERSATION TO ANOTHER PRESSING ISSUE THAT'S FACING US, AND THAT IS THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE.

NOW, INITIALLY, ONCE THE VACCINES WERE GETTING APPROVED, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT, YOU KNOW, 20 MILLION PEOPLE MIGHT GET VACCINATED IN DECEMBER ALONE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT JUST OVER 4 MILLION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS A LOT OF HESITANCY AND RESERVATIONS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.

LAURA, I WANT TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND YOU UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF HOW THIS IS WORKING IN NEW YORK AND PERHAPS WHY IT'S NOT MOVING AT THE WARP SPEED, AS THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

REQ >> I THINK AT THE 30,000 FOOT LEVEL I THINK AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT WE ARE MOVING SLOWER THAN COUNTRIES LIKE ISRAEL OR THE U.K.

IN FARTHER BECAUSE AMERICA HAS BY DESIGN A FRACTURED SILOED HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT IS SO PRIVATIZED THAT HOSPITALS DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

THEY DON'T SHARE INFORMATION WITH OTHER URGENT CARE CENTERS.

THEY DON'T SHARE ENOUGH INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE INFORMATION AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE NATIONALIZED SYSTEMS OF HEALTH CARE THAT AT LEAST HAVE A BASIC SET OF OPERATING SYSTEMS AND CAN SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO IS GETTING WHAT DOSES.

WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN -- STARTED TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE SHARING THAT KIND OF INFORMATION, BUT ALSO HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT CIVIL LIBERTIES AND PRIVACY THAT HINDERS SORT OF NATIONAL EFFORTS TO DO ANYTHING.

THAT'S ONE THING.

THING SECOND THING IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PURSUED A SORT OF STATE-LED ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AT THE LAST MILE, AND THEY, UNTIL THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE COVID R.E.L.I.E.F.

ACT AFTER CHRISTMAS, STATES GOT VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF ADDITIONAL HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL VACCINATORS OR PLANNING TO HELP ACTUALLY DELIVER THE VACCINES INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS ONCE THEY ARRIVED AT HOSPITALS OR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

AND SO WE HAVE AT THIS POINT TASKED OUR HOSPITALS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN GOING 90 TO NOTHING SINCE MARCH DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS WITH ALSO TAKING ON A SECOND JOB FULL TIME OF DELIVERING THE VACCINE, WHICH IS A LOT TO ASK.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TRAINED A LOT OF ADDITIONAL VACCINATORS.

SO YOU WONDER WHY WE ARE NOT GETTING THAT MANY SHOTS INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON.

AT THE NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK STATE LEVEL, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE OBSERVED WE DIDN'T DELIVERY ANY VACCINE DOSES ON CHRISTMAS.

WE DIDN'T DELIVER VACCINE DOSES ON THE HOLIDAY.

WE GAVE THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS THE DAY OFF.

THEY ARE EXHAUSTED.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE A SYSTEM SET UP TO DELIVER VACCINES 24/7 IN NEW YORK CITY AND NEW YORK STATE.

WE MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE WORK FORCE TO DO IT.

THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

>> DR. GREER, WE ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF OUR TIME.

I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SLOW PACE OF THE VACCINES ROLLOUT AND ALSO THE HESITANCY ON THE PARTS OF MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO GET THIS SHOT.

>> SADLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE ROLLOUT WOULD LOOK LIKE WELL BEFORE WE HAD A VACCINE THAT CAME TO MARKET.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS THE MAYOR PROMISED, MAYOR DE BLASIO PROMISES 1 MILLION VACCINATIONS BY FEBRUARY 1st AND WE HAVE VACCINATED ROUGHLY 32,000 PEOPLE THUS FAR, I DON'T KNOW WHY HE OVERPROMISES AND UNDERDELIVERS CONSISTENTLY BECAUSE COORDINATION EFFORTS HAVE TO BE THERE.

AND BECAUSE THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR CAN'T SEEM TO EVER GET ALONG, EVEN WHEN LIVES ARE AT STAKE, HERE WE ARE IN NEW YORK CITY.

I THINK IT'S ALSO THERE IS GOING TO BE A LARGE EDUCATIONAL CONVERSATION AND PSAs THAT NEED TO HAPPEN.

THE HISTORY OF BLACK AMERICANS IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION HAS BEEN WROUGHT WITH DISTRUST, WITH BRUTAL, BRUTAL SYSTEMIC WAYS THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY HAS ABUSED THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

SO THERE IS A DISTRUST OF CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN NOT WANTING TO TAKE A VACCINE.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE EDUCATION ON WHAT EXACTLY THE VACCINE IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T AND WHY IT SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED, WHY WE SHOULD TAKE IT AS A SOCIETY.

WE NEED TO RELY ON BLACK HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALSO UTILIZING CELEBRITIES TO GET OUT ACCURATE MESSAGING, NOT PERSONAL OPINIONS, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD AND NOT SIT IN OUR LIVING ROOMS ON ZOOM FOR THE NEXT TWO TO FIVE YEARS.

>> J.C., THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD.

I HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE VACCINE ROLLOUT?

>> THIS IS WHY WE NEED ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO HOLD THEIR POSITIONS.

THAT'S WHY THE NEXT MAYORAL ELECTION IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.

HAVE YOU EVER RUN AN ORGANIZATION, HAVE YOU MANAGED PEOPLE, DONE ANYTHING WITH LOGISTICS AND WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AND CAN YOU SHOW US SOME PROOF AS TO HOW YOU HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST.

WE HAVE HAD THOSE QUESTIONS OF MAYOR DE BLASIO.

WE SEE HE DID NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO WALK US THROUGH AND CARRY THE CITY THROUGH A PANDEMIC LIKE THIS.

THE LOGISTICS AREN'T THERE AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT THROUGHOUT OUR POLITICS.

IT GOES BACK TO THE WHOLE ANTI-INTELLECTUAL NONSENSE.

WE NEED ELECTED PEOPLE IN OFFICE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE, WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, A THE THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A PANDEMIC WILL BRING CALM TO THE CITY AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE VACCINES AND ROLLOUTS IN PLACE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LISTEN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY GUESTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.

BUT J.C. POLANCO, DR. CHRISTINA GREER, AND LAURA NAHMIAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

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

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

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