>>> TONIGHT ON THE FRONT PAGE FORECAST, SUPREME COURT FALLOUT.

NEW YORK BRACES FOR A SURGE IN ABORTION PATIENTS AT THE COURT OVERTURNED ROE VS. WADE, AND WHY AOC SAYS SEVERAL JUDGES COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES.

>>> WE ALSO PREDICT TOMORROW'S BIG PRIMARY WINNER AND LOSERS FOR GOVERNOR.

AS "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 THIS "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

IN THIS WEEK'S LOOK HEAD AT THE MAJOR HEADLINES, NEW YORK IS BRAING FOR A SURGE IN OUT OF STATE ABORTION PATIENT AFTER THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE VS. WADE AND ELIMINATED THE FEDERAL RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

IT'S A DECISION THAT'S LED TO MASSIVE PROTESTS AND, REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SAYING SEVERAL JUSTICES COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES.

THERE'S ALSO A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN ALBANY THIS THURSDAY IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL DECISION FROM THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH STRUCK DOWN A STATE LAW REQUIRING PEOPLE TO DEMONSTRATE A NEED FOR CARRYING A CONCEALED GUN IN PUBLIC.

AND WE ALSO CAN'T FORGET ABOUT TOMORROW'S CRUCIAL PRIMARY, THE FIRST OF TWO THIS SUMMER WITH, NEW YORKERS SET TO DECIDE THE DEMOCRAT SBEK REPUBLICAN NOMINEES FOR SEVERAL STATEWIDE POSITIONS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR.

FOR MUCH MORE ON THESE INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED STORIES AND WHAT ELSE COULD POSSIBLY DRIVE THE NEWS THIS WEEK, LET'S BRING IN OUR PANEL OF TRISTATE EXPERTS.

FIRST WE'RE WELCOMING BACK KIMBERLY PEELER.

SHE'S A SENIOR ADVISER TO THE RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES WHO'S RUNNING UNOPPOSED IN THIS PRIMARY.

WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> WE ALSO WELCOMING BACK TOM DOERTY, A VETERAN POLITICAL STRATEGIST AND PARTNER AT MERCURY.

TOM SERVED AS A SENIOR ADVISER TO GOVERNOR PATAKI.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

>> AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME BACK ELLIS HENNYGAN.

A "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLING AUTHOR WHO WRITES FOR THE MARKET WATCH.COM.

WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU GUYS.

>> LET'S START WITH, I GUESS, THE BIG STORY THAT IS LEADING A LOT OF THE NEWS COVERAGE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT WAS SUPREME COURT'S FRIDAY DECISION ABOUT OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE.

KIMBERLY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN YOUR WORK WITH THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN WOMEN, I WANT YOUR TICK ON WHAT THIS DECISION MEANS NOT JUST NATIONALLY BUT FOR A STATE LIKE NEW YORK.

>> WELL, I THINK THIS WAS A DECISION THAT WE ALL EXPECTED.

IT IS JUST AS JARRING -- PROBABLY FOR SO JARRING THAN WE EXPECTED NOW THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY READ IT IN BLACK AND WHITE, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT WOMEN ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY ARE NOW MARGINALIZED, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE BODILY AUTONOMY, AND SIT A SETBACK FOR WOMEN AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OVERALL ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

BUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR STATES LIKE NEW YORK AND ILLINOIS AND CALIFORNIA THAT HAVE CODIFIED ROE AND THE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE AND ABORTION CARE MEANS THAT THERE IS A SURGE IN PEOPLE COMING TO SEEK CARE IN THESE STATES, AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE VOLUME INCREASE TREMENDOUSLY TO THE POINT WHERE PROVIDERS IN NEW YORK AND OTHER STATES ARE SIMPLY NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP.

AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING JUST A -- JUST AN INCREASED INTEREST IN HOW DO WE HELP -- HOW DO PEOPLE HELP THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING REPRODUCTIVE CARE AND ABORTION CARE IN THESE STATES?

HOW DO THEY GET FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER?

WE'RE SEEING ALL SORTS OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND TRANSPORTATION, LODGING.

WE'VE SEEN MANY, MANY CORPORATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SAYING THEY HAVE NOW ADDED THAT TO THEIR BENEFITS PACKAGE, THAT THEY WILL PAY FOR TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION SO THAT AN EMPLOYEE CAN GET REPRODUCTIVE AND ABORTION CARE, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS THOSE PREGNANT PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WORKING FOR ONE OF THESE MAJOR CORPORATIONS THAT HAS ACCESS TO THIS SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE ABORTION CARE IS HEALTH CARE, SO WE'RE REALLY SEEING JUST A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY, AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN NEW YORK, DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR EFFORTS.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED AN ABORTION FUND THAT THE STATE SEEDED WITH $35 MILLION.

AND THERE IS ADDITIONAL MONEY COMING IN FROM PRIVATE PARTIES AND CORPORATIONS TO SUPPORT THIS.

BUT I THINK IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK ACROSS THE STATE, AND IN ALL THOSE STATES, YOU KNOW, THAT STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION IN STATE.

>> TOM, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THIS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE OTHER BIG ISSUES THAT THIS RULING HAS SORT OF UNEARTHED IS THE LEGALITY OF ALL OF THIS.

NOW, SOME STATES WILL HOLD JUST THE PROVIDERS ACCOUNTABLE.

SOME STATES, IF IT BECOMES A -- OR IF IT IS ILLEGAL, IF YOU RETURN TO THE STATE, THE PATIENT SEEKING THE ABORTION CAN BE HELD LIABLE.

DOES HELPING PEOPLE CROSS STATE LINES, THAUZ BECOME A LEGAL ISSUE?

HOW MANY DIFFERENT LEGAL ISSUES DOES THIS UNEARTH?

>> WELL, I AM NOT A LAWYER.

I'M CERTAINLY NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE READ, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT LAWS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT THE ONLY THING THAT THIS -- OBVIOUSLY IT AFFECTS WOMEN.

IT AFFECTS WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE.

IT IS CHAOS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE ALL GRAPPLE WITH THE PAIN THIS IS CAUSING A LOT OF PEOPLE, THE POLITICIANS -- THE PEOPLE WHO DO POLITICS NEED TO STOP THE WHINING ABOUT THIS AND FIGURE OUT HOW DO THEY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR THE NATION?

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY, LIKE GAY MARRIAGE, FOR INSTANCE, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LAW OF THE LAND SHOULD AFFECT EVERY AMERICAN.

ABORTION RIGHTS SHOULD AFFECT EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN, AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO FROM ARKANSAS AND GET ON A BUS TO NEW YORK TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

THAT'S CHAOS.

AND SO THEY NEED TO ALL FIGURE THIS OUT QUICKLY.

AND I'M DISAPPOINTED OVER THE YEARS NOW.

THIS IS 50 YEARS WHERE MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THAT SHE HAD THIS IS A BAD CONSTITUTIONAL CASE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE KNEW THIS.

AND SO WHILE EVERY'S GRAPPLING TO MAKE SURE WOMEN ARE PROTECTED, SOME GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, ARE WE ARRESTING DOCTORS?

ARE WE ASSISTING THEM TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE TO HAVE AN ABORTION?

THERE ARE JUST WAY TOO MANY ISSUES CONFRONTING US RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THERE'S ONE ISSUE, ONE LAW OF THE LAND.

AND I RECOGNIZE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BUT OTHERWISE WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> TOM, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT THAT YOU MAKE.

SOME OF THE REPORTING THAT'S COME UP SEVERAL TIMES NOW IS EVEN THE LATE JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG POINTED OUT THAT ROE VS. WADE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECIDED ON, I BELIEVE HE SAID, THE BASIS OF EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW AND NOT NECESSARILY PRIVACY.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT MOVING FORWARD, ELLIS, I GUESS WE'RE ALSO HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE IN PRIMARY SEASON.

THIS IS A MIDTERM YEAR.

YOU SHOULD GO AND VOTE, AND VOTING IS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FIX THIS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING, WAIT A SECOND, THIS IS A RIGGED SYSTEM.

AT LEAST A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IT IS AND THAT A LOT OF STATES HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CREATE DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OR LOCAL DISTRICTS THAT WOULD INVALIDATE VOTES THAT MIGHT SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO WOULD SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO A NATIONAL RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

>> RIGGED, MAYBE, JENNA, BUT IT'S THE SYSTEM WE HAVE.

SO WHAT IS NEW YORK'S ROLE?

HOSPITALITY AND MONEY.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT.

WE CAN WELCOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN STATES WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ABORTION TO COME HERE AND HAVE THEIR ABORTIONS HERE.

SAFE HARBOR.

THAT'S THE TERM GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS USING.

AND IT'S APT.

NOW, WE ALSO NEED TO HELP -- BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SITTING SOMEWHERE LIKE MY HOME STATE OF LOUISIANA, WHERE ABORTION IS LEGAL EVEN FOR RAPE AND INCEST VICTIMS WE HAVE TO GET AT PEOPLE.

ONE THING NEW YORK IS GOOD AT IS MONEY.

WE'LL PRODUCE MONEY TO GET PEOPLE THEORY.

NEW YORKERS WILL RUN THE CAMPAIGNS OF LEGISLATORS AND CANDIDATES ACROSS AMERICA WHO, AS YOU POINT OUT, ARE REALLY THE ULTIMATE ANSWER HERE.

THIS HAS NOW BECOME A POLITICAL VOTING AND LEGISLATING ISSUE, GERRYMANDERED LEGISLATION ACROSS AMERICA.

WHILE THE LAW IS CLEAR AND SOLID IN NEW YORK, NOBODY'S TALK ABOUT OVERPUSHING ANYTHING HERE, HOSPITALITY AND MONEY, THAT'S WHAT WE DO WELL HERE.

>> OKAY, SO MAYBE TURNING TO A DIFFERENT ANGLE OF THE ROE V. WADE ISSUE, THAT IS OF COURSE WHAT BRONX CONGRESSMAN ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ BROUGHT UP, AND THAT IS THAT SHE BELIEVES SOME OF THESE SITTING SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ACTUALLY COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES, IMPLYING THEY LIED UNDER OATH WHEN THEY WERE HAVING THEIR HEARINGS THERE, HEARINGS IN PREPARATION TO BE VOTED ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'D SIT ON THE SUPREME COURT.

SO I WANT TO ASK, IS THAT CORRECT, OR WERE THEY PERHAPS VERY GOOD AT USING LANGUAGE AND LEADING OR GIVING SENATORS IN THOSE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ROOM TO BELIEVE WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANT TO BELIEVE?

TOM, I'LL GO BACK TO YOU.

>> NO, LOOK, THIS IS AGAIN JUST THIS POLITICAL, YOU KNOW, SEND ME A $15 CHECK, WE GOT A CRISIS.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE WORDS.

AND EVERY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO GOES FOR A CONFIRMATION HEARING, PARTICULARLY THOSE ON THE RIGHT WHEN THE ABORTION ISSUE HAS COME UP, KNOWING THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS PREFER SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTIONS -- YOU KNOW, THEIR ANSWER WILL BE, LOOK, I CONFRONTED A DIFFERENT CASE, THERE WERE A DIFFERENT SET OF FACTS I HAD NO INTENT OF OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE, BUT I WAS CONFRONTED WITH A NEW SET OF FACTS.

THIS IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE, WE'VE SEEN HOW HARD IT IS TO IMPEACH ANYBODY, LET ALONE A PRESIDENT OR -- POLITICIANS NEED TO FIND A WAY FORWARD AND STOP WITH THESE TERMS THAT REALLY JUST DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.

THEY'RE SILLY.

>> KIMBERLY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD ON THIS, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE WE HAVE TO LEAVE THIS SUBJECT.

BUT THE RESPONSE AT LEAST THAT HAS COME FROM DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS LIKE AOC, ET CETERA, IS THAT MEETING THE URGENCY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING OR PERHAPS ARE THEY NOT READING THE ROOM, AS PEOPLE WOULD SAY?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S HIT OR MISS WHETHER OR NOT FOLKS ARE MEETING THE MOMENT AND MEETING THE ENERGY.

I THINK ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS, TO YOUR EARLIER QUESTION ABOUT, HOW DO WE FIX THIS SYSTEM THAT WE'RE IN, I'M SEEING MORE AND MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT NOW HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY PRESIDENTS WHO DID NOT WIN THE POPULAR VOTE.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE SUPREME COURT BEING THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OR BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE IF THE PEOPLE DID NOT ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE FOLKS WHO WERE THERE, WHO APPOINTED THEM?

SO I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY A CONVERSATION AROUND COURT EXPANSION THAT IS STARTING TO REALLY HEAT UP AGAIN.

WE SAW THAT AROUND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE ALSO TALKING -- HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT FILIBUSTER REFORM, BECAUSE THINKING ABOUT WPHA, WOMEN'S HEALTH PRODUCTION ACT THAT DIED IN THE SENATE MULTIPLE TIMES HAVING PASSED THE HOUSE, IT NEEDS 60 VOTES IN ITS CURRENT CONFIGURATION, AND IF WE HAD FILIBUSTER REFORM, WE COULD CODIFY REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND ABORTION RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY BY HAVING THE SENATE PASS WHPA.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT, YES, THEY'RE CALLING PEOPLE -- CALLING TO QUESTION OF WHAT WAS APPROPRIATE AND WHAT WASN'T APPROPRIATE.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND JUSTICE THOMAS AND HIS WIFE'S ADVOCACY ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT SHOULD, YOU KNOW, PRECLUDE HIM FROM WEIGHING IN ON ANY NUMBER OF CASES IN THIS COURT.

SO I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY THE SOUND BYTES THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING OUT THERE THAT ARE GETTING A LOFT ATTENTION, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME SUBSTANTIAL RUMBLINGS AROUND OVERALL SYSTEMS REFORM, AROUND A COURT EXPANSION, FILIBUSTER REFORM, AND OTHER REMEDIES TO REALLY TRY AND, AS THEY SAY, BALANCE THE POWERS.

THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, AND THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, WORKING TOGETHER OR WORKING AS THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND WHAT THEIR INTENT WAS, DEFINITELY THE SUBJECT OF THE DAY.

BUT HOW THESE THREE BRANCHS HAVE BEEN OPERATING HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN WHAT I THINK THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS.

>> WELL, I CANNOT BELIEVE IT BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE THAT THERE AND TURN TO THE OTHER BIG ISSUE, AND THAT OF COURSE IS THE SPECIAL SESSION GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS CALLING IN ALBANY IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER DECISION.

WHAT IS IT THAT NEW YORK STATE CAN POSSIBLY DO GIVEN THE FACT THAT IF ANOTHER CASE IS BROUGHT TO THE SUPREME COURT, THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE COURT MIGHT JUST REINFORCE THE DECISION THAT IT'S MADE?

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A CONCEALED WEAPON IN NEW YORK, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLY DENSELY POPULATED URBAN AREAS.

>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR CAN DO ON THIS.

IT REALLY INVOLVES DRAFTING LEGISLATION THAT FINDS A WAY AROUND THE SPECIFIC ARGUMENT THAT JUSTICE THOMAS ARTICULATED IN HIS OPINION IN THIS CASE.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER SOMEONE NEEDS TO SHOW A PARTICULAR NEED IN ORDER TO GET A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT.

WHILE, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, GUNS MAY MAKE PERFECT SENSE OUT IN THE HUNTING LANDS OF AMERICA, I DON'T KNOW MANY NEW YORKER WHO IS THINK WHAT WE NEED ON THE "A" TRAIN ARE MORE CONCEALED HANDGUNS.

SO THERE'S TREMENDOUS PRESSURE IN ALBANY TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A TECHNICAL LEGISLATIVE FIX.

MY GOODNESS, THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL THIS SESSION TOGETHER ON THURSDAY -- WHEN DID ALBANY MOVE THIS QUICKLY ON ANYTHING?

THAT'S LIKE THE BLINK OF AN EYE ALBANY TIME.

THEY'LL BE BACK HERE, THE LAW WILL BE CHALLENGED AGAIN, IT WILL BOUNCE BACK UP TO THE COURT, AND THE DEBATE WILL CONTINUE.

>> TOM, YOUR TAKE ON ALBANY MOVING THIS FAST AND THEIR ABILITY TO GET SOMETHING DONE, SOMETHING CONCRETE DONE?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY WILL GET SOMETHING CONCRETE DONE, AND I DO THINK THAT AS ELLIS POINTED OUT, THEM MOVING THIS QUICKLY SIGNIFIED THEY WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

I MEAN, LOOK, THE LAW WAS IN EFFECT 111 YEARS OR SO, AND THE ARGUMENT AS ELLIS AND OTHERS WILL SAY IS, DO WE NEED MORE GUNS ON THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY SYSTEM?

THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO SAY, CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL, AND MAYBE THE PERPETRATOR WILL HAVE FEAR KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, GRANDMAER AN UNCLE BOB IS CARRYING A WEAPON.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN EFFECT THINGS THAT SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE A CONCEALED WEAPON ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO BACKGROUND CHECKS EVERYONE FURT WE ARE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ET CETERA.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO PUT EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO LIMIT PEOPLE'S ABILITY THE GET A LICENSED GUN IN NEW YORK.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH.

NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THAT HOLDS UP AGAIN IS ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DO.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE TAPING EARLIER IN THE DAY ON MONDAY, BUT THE SUPREME COURT ALSO JUST DETERMINED THAT A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH DID IN FACT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRAY ON THE 50 YARD LINE AFTER A FOOTBALL GAME.

I BELIEVE IT WAS A CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND THE OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO RIGHT TO JOIN IN.

NOW, PART OF THE PUSHBACK WAS THAT A LOT OF -- NOT A LOT OF, BUT PERHAPS SOME OF THE STUDENT WORS WERE SAYING THEY FELT PRESSURED TO PARTICIPATE IN A RELIGIOUS PRAYER THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IN, ASCRIBE TO, ET CETERA.

NOT NECESSARILY THIS CASE, BUT IS THIS SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?

BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PRAYING ON THE 50 YARD LINE OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD.

KIMBERLY, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH MANY OF THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE SUPREME COURT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, THAT THE LINES ARE DEFINITELY GETTING BLURRED.

BETWEEN THE GUN DECISION ON THURSDAY AND THE ROE DECISION ON FRIDAY, THE BLUR BETWEEN STRAITS RIGHTS AND FEDERAL RIGHTS IS DEFINITELY VERY MUDDY, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THE LINE BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE ALSO BEING -- THOSE TWO THINGS BEING CONFLATED, AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY CHALLENGING TIME FOR US AS A COUNTRY BECAUSE THERE IS DEFINITELY A FONT THAT THOUGH THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED TO ESCAPE THE CHURCH AND ESCAPE A MONARCHY AND WHERE WE'RE BUILT ON, SO WE SAY, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, THAT THOSE STUDENTS FELT THAT THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PARTICIPATE IN A PRAYER AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND THERE'S -- THIS HAS BEEN JUST KIND OF -- YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE REALLY KIND OF IN THIS CRISIS OF, WHAT DOES THE FOUNDING FATHERS MEANT AND AS THE CURRENT COURT IS INTERPRETING, THEY WERE -- THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT WHERE YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE.

IT SEEMS TO BE LOST IN THE ARGUMENT.

>> RIGHT TO REFUSE IS GETTING LOST?

>> WELL, I GUESS THAT'S TRUE, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PATTERN HERE, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME TRYING TO WEIGH THESE COMPLEX PHILOSOPHIES.

THIS IS A POWER PLAY.

CONSERVATIVES WHO CONTROL THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT NOW, THEY HAVE CONSOLIDATED THAT CONTROL, AND WHILE THE PHILOSOPIES BEHIND THESE DIFFERENT ISSUES, WHAT SEEM TO BE IN CONFLICT, THE GUN CASE SEEMS TO BE AGAINST STATE RIGHTS, THE ABORTION CASE IS FOR STATE RIGHTS.

THIS IS JUST A MATTER OF THE SUPREME COURT BEHAVING MORE AND MORE LIKE ANOTHER POLITICAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, WE ALL KNOW WHO'S IN CHARGE.

>> TOM, YOUR THOUGHTS?

IS WHAT ELLIS SAID FAIR?

IS THIS POWER PLAY?

>> THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN COMING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THE REASON THAT THE SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT IN PARTICULAR, THAT THESE ELECTIONS MATTER, IS BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME COURT, THE DIRECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT.

I MEAN, LOOK, IF YOU TAKE THE THREE CASES, YOU LOOK AT A COURT THAT HAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT, BUT WHERE I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THEM PERSONALLY IS ON THE PRAYER ISSUE.

IF JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ON A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FIELD AND NO ONE IS BEING TOLD THEY HAVE TO BE THERE, AND WE'RE HAVING A BUNCH OF KIDS SAY A PRAYER TOGETHER THAT AT THE END OF THE GAME EVERYBODY WALKED AWAY HEALTHY, ET CETERA, THAT'S THE LEAST OF OUR PROBLEMS.

WE'RE SAYING A PRAYER.

WE CAN DISAGREE ON THAT, BUT WE DO IT EVERY SPORTING EVENT AT THE NBA LEVEL, THE NFL LEVEL WORK GET AT MIDFIELD WE CAN SAY A PRAYER, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SAYING A PRAYER.

I THINK THERE ARE TIMES WE NEED TO PICK OUR FIGHTS AND THERE ARE OTHER MOMENTS WE NEED TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE KNEELING, SAYING A PRAYER, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

SO CLEARLY WHAT ELLIS SAID, SIT A POWER PLAY, A CONSERVATIVE COURT THAT'S LOOKING TO MOVE THIS COUNTRY, IN MY ESTIMATION, BACK A FEW YEARS AND IN MANY CASES NOT GOOD, BUT ON THE PRAYER ISSUE, I'M OKAY WITH PRAYING.

>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT THREE MINUTES LEFT, BUT I WANT TO ASK THE ENTIRE PANEL THEN, WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE THE MIDTERMS THAT WE'RE GOING INTO?

OF COURSE NEW YORK JUST WENT THROUGH, I GUESS, THE FIRST ROUND OF PRIMARIES, WHICH I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE.

BUT TOM, I'LL GO BACK TO YOU WITH ABOUT 45 SECONDS OR SO.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHERE THIS LEAVES THE MIDTERMS?

DO WE SEE AN ENERGIZED TURNOUT OR PRESS TURNOUT LIKE WE NORMALLY DO?

>> I LOOK AT ABORTION, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF POLLS OVER THE YEARS, AND ULTIMATELY I THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO BE THAT IF ABORTION HAS BEEN YOUR BIG ISSUE, YOU'VE ALREADY MADE A DETERMINATION WHERE YOU'RE VOTING.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF CHANGED VOTES THERE.

AND VOTERS TEND TO COME, THIS NO, ARE GOING TO WORRY ABOUT INFLATION, GAS PRICES, THEIR OWN POCKETBOOKS, AND THAT'S THE WAY ELECTIONS ALWAYS TURNED OUT.

I MADE THE POINT EARLIER, THE ONLY TIME YOU EVER SAW THE ENVIRONMENT SHOW UP IN A POLL IS WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS BOOMING.

EVERYBODY HAD A LOT OF MONEY, THINGS WERE GOING GREAT.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

IN NEW YORK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HOCHUL, ZELDIN, AND THEN THEY'LL BATTLE IT OUT THERE.

BUT I'D BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE COME NOVEMBER IF ABORTION MOTIVATED ENOUGH PEOPLE TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF WHAT I THINK WILL BE A REPUBLICAN HOUSE WIN BY AS MANY AS 25, 30 SEATS.

>> ELLIS, YOUR THOUGHTS?

EVEN JUST THE PRIMARIES IN NEW YORK IS GOING TO BE PRETTY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY TURN OUT.

WE'VE GOT SOME -- WITH THE REDRAWN DISTRICT LICENSE WE HAVE CONTENTIOUS RACES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, SAFE IN NEW YORK, BUT WHEN YOU ARE AS BEHIND NATIONALLY AS DEMOCRATS ARE, CHAOS IS GOOD.

TURN OVER THE FURNITURE, THROW A BOMB IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISCUSSION.

ABORTION DOES THAT.

NOW, WILL DEMOCRATS BE EFFECTIVE AT CHANNELLING THE ENERGY, ALL PROTESTS YOU'RE SEEING OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS TO ACTUAL VOTES OR REACHING OUT TO SWING VOTERS?

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THE ANSWER YET, BUT IT'S CLEARLY GOOD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS.

MAYBE THEIR LAST GASP OR HOPE BEFORE NOVEMBER.

>> KIMBERLY, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT.

>> I HAVE TO SAY, I AGREE WITH BOTH TOM AND ELLIS THAT THIS IS -- THERE'S CHAOS.

WHETHER OR NOT THE DEMOCRATS CAN CHANNEL THIS TO STEM THE BLEEDING THAT IS GOING TO COME IN NOVEMBER, YOU KNOW, WE WILL SEE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO A COMBINATION OF POCKETBOOK ISSUES AS WELL AS OUR RIGHTS, AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING IN -- WE'LL SEE IN THE PRIMARIES AND THOSE PRIMARIES THAT ARE LEFT, THEY GO THROUGH -- ACTUALLY THROUGH EARLY SEPTEMBER ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, HOW PARTICULARLY AS IN THE CONTESTED PRIMARIES, YOU KNOW, HOW POLARIZED DO THESE CANDIDATES END UP GETTING?

HOW DRAWN TO THE POLLS DO THEY END UP GETTING, AND WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR NOVEMBER AND THE ABILITY TO GOVERN MOVING FORWARD?

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE, AND I THINK TIME WILL REALLY JUST HAVE TO TELL, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH THIS ENERGY AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

AND LET'S RE-ASK THE QUESTION THIS TIME IN OCTOBER AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.

>> OF COURSE.

AND WE WILL DEFINITELY BE RE-ASKING THE QUESTION AFTER AUGUST AND THEN OF COURSE SEPTEMBER AND OF COURSE OCTOBER.

I WANT THE THANK MY ROUND TABLE OF EXPERTS FOR TONIGHT.

KIMBERLY PEELER ALLEN, TOM DOERTY, ELLIS HENNIGAN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NICE MEETING EVERYBODY.

>>> "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.