>> WHAT'S REALLY ON THE BALLOT FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS?

HOW HARD IS TOO HARD WHEN IT COMES TO GRADING COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMS?

AND, WHY IS THERE A SHORTAGE OF HOME HEALTH AIDES?

STAY TUNED IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

WITH ME IN THE STUDIO TO GIVE AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE ON THIS WEEK'S NEWS ARE: RICK FENNER OF UTICA UNIVERSITY, CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY, BEN BAUGHMAN OF GANNON UNIVERSITY AND TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY, BUT AS YOU KNOW THINGS HAVE BEEN HEATING UP FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE FIGURED NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO DISCUSS NOT ONLY WHO IS ON THE BALLOT, BUT WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT.

IN GEORGIA, IT SEEMS THAT CHARACTER IS A BIG DEAL IN THE SENATE CONTEST BETWEEN HERSCHEL WALKER AND RAPHAEL WARNOCK.

CRUDIT ÉS AND VEGGIE TRAYS ARE BIG DEAL IN THE PENNSYLVANIA BATTLE BETWEEN DR. OZ AND JOHN FETTERMAN.

HERE IN NEW YORK, WITH HER SIZEABLE CAMPAIGN CHEST, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS BANKING ON A SURE VICTORY.

ARE POLICY ISSUES TAKING A BACK SEAT TO CHARACTER AND MONEY IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE?

>> NO, I REALLY DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK YOU HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OF INFLATION, YOU HAVE CRIME AND YOU ALSO HAVE ABORTION LEADING THE TRAIL ON THIS.

I DO THINK WITH YOUR UNDECIDEDS, CHARACTER IS GOING TO MAKE SOME DIFFERENCE THERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE SEEN A LOT MORE, AND NOTICED A LOT MORE DIVISION THAN DIVERSITY.

>> OKAY.

MORE DIVISION THAN DIVERSITY.

SO CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICS AS TO WHICH CAMPAIGNS YOU ARE SEEING THAT IN?

>> YEAH, I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD HONESTLY.

WITH THE IDEA OF SEEING WHAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE, SILOING PEOPLE INTO THEIR OWN CAMP OF WHAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE, WANT TO SEE, AND I THINK THAT IS JUST REINFORCING WHATEVER POINTS THAT THEY HAVE, WHATEVER AREA THAT THEY'RE IN.

I DO THINK THAT WE DO HAVE A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT REMAINS UNDECIDED.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE CHARACTERS.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE CHARACTER ISSUES THAT WE ARE SEEING DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE INFLUENCE IT USED TO DECADES AGO.

>> TARA, DO YOU AGREE THAT CHARACTER IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS IT ONCE WAS?

AND HERE I'M THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE ELECTIONS I JUST MENTIONED LIKE HERSCHEL WALKER AND RAPHAEL WARNOCK.

>> I THINK CHARACTER HAS BEEN DIMINISHED AS A REASON FOR VOTING OR NOT VOTING FOR SOMEONE.

AND YOU WOULD THINK WITH THE REVELATIONS ABOUT HERSCHEL WALKERS, HIS NUMBERS WOULD HAVE PLUMMETED.

HE IS THRAILING BUT NOT AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD THINK.

IN TERMS WHAT HAVE WE KNOW, YOU WOULD THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE TIME FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE HERSCHEL WALKER ASIDE AND SAY YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS RACE.

INSTEAD, WHAT YOU SEE ARE LEADING REPUBLICANS GEORGE W. BUSHING TO-- RUSHING TO HIS AID AND TRYING TO SHORE UP HIS CHARACTER, TRYING TO SHORE UP HIS CANDIDACY BECAUSE THEY NEED THAT SEAT.

>> AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING BECAUSE THE POLLS ARE NARROWING A BIT.

CHAD, YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> I'M REMINDED SOMETHING OUR COLLEAGUE TAUGHT US ONCE WHICH IS EVERY POLITICAL CANDIDATE IS A COMPROMISE AND RIGHT NOW THE DISHEARTENING THING IS I HAVE TO CHOOSE AGAIN A PARTY THAT CAN'T DEFEND AN ECONOMY AND ANOTHER PARTY THAT CAN'T DEFEND DEMOCRACY.

SO TO ME, WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT IS TRUMPISM VERSUS CONSERVATISM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCITING RACES OUT THERE WITH REPUBLICANS WHO AT LEAST HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY THAT BIDEN WON THE 2020 ELECTION AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE ROOTING FOR THOSE PEOPLE AT SOME LEVEL.

I THINK GEORGIA IS SPECIFICALLY AN INTERESTING PLACE TO LOOK BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICAN BRIAN KEMP, CURRENTLY LEADING TO RETAIN HIS GOVERNOR POSITION IN GEORGIA.

CONTRAST THAT WITH HERSCHEL WALKER, WHO IS TRAILING IN HIS SENATE RACE, PRO-TRUMP GUY.

IF KEMP WINS AND WALKER LOSES, I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A POSITIVE SIDE THAT NON-TRUMP REPUBLICANS STAND A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING THESE CONTESTABLE RACE.

>> IN GEORGIA, WHICH YOU SAID IS IMPORTANT, I THINK MOST WILL AGREE, YOU ALSO HAVE STACY ABRAMS IN THE 34EUBGS WHO HAS PLACED QUITE A BIT OF EMPHASIS ON ABORTION AND RECENT POLLS HAVE SHOWN THAT THAT HAS BECOME A MORE IMPORTANT FACTOR.

BUT RICK, WHERE ARE YOU IN THIS DISCUSSION?

>> I UNDERSTAND WHY SO MUCH ATTENTION IS BEING PLACED ON THE SENATE.

BUT WHERE I REALLY THINK THE BALLOT GROUND-- THE BATTLE GROUND IS IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES.

THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO BE HEARING A CASE THAT IS GOING TO DECIDE WHETHER STATE LEGISLATURES HAVE INDEPENDENT POWER, ALLOWING THEM TO REGULATE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

AND THIS MEANS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GERRYMANDER.

THEY WOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO OVERTURN ELECTIONS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE MAY NOT MATTER IF A NUMBER OF THESE ELECTION DENIERS CONTROL STATE LEGISLATORS AND THE SUPREME COURT GIVES THEM THE POWER TO OVERTURN ELECTIONS.

THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE REAL CONCERN IS WITH ME.

>> YOU RAISE AN EXCELLENT POINT RICK BECAUSE NOT ONLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS BUT A LOT OF EYES ARE ON FOUR KEY RACES FOR SECRETARIES OF STATE WHO, OF COURSE, WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE HOW TO COUNT THE VOTES; FOR EXAMPLE, IN MINNESOTA, MICHIGAN, ARIZONA, AND IN NEVADA.

SO YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT SORTS OF THINGS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH RUNS FOR SECRETARIES OF STATE, BEN?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO RATIONALLY LOOK AT THAT BUT ULTIMATELY VOTERS LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THEM DIRECTLY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY VOTE.

>> SO IS IT A MISTAKE, CHAD, FOR DEMOCRATS TO PUSH THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS AS A WAY OF SORT OF RAISING THE ALARMS ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE MID TERM ELECTIONS IF, AS BEN IS SAYING, THAT'S NOT GOING TO REGISTER VERY HIGH ON THE LIST OF PRIORITIES FOR VOTERS?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S A MISTAKE, BUT I'M A LITTLE BAFFLED.

IF I PIVOT MORE TO A LOCAL RACE, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A LOT OF INTERESTING ACTION HAPPENING HERE EXCEPT FOR PERHAPS NEW YORK 22.

THERE ARE TWO RECENT POLLS WHERE FRANCIS CANOLE IS DEADLOCKED OR LOSING TO BRANDON WILLIAMS AND WILLIAMS IS A GUY WHO VOTED AGAINST CERTIFYING BIDEN'S 2020 WIN.

I'M SHOCKED THAT CANOLE ISN'T DOING BETTER IN THAT RACE AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THE POLITICAL SCIENCE GUY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING WRONG BUT CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MESSAGE I THINK HE SHOULD BE GETTING OUT MORE.

>> WELL, I AM THE POLITICAL SCIENCE GUY AND SO IS TARA.

SO TARA, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, MOST OF THE POLLSTERS ARE LOOKING AT A STALEMATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE SENATE, EVEN IN THE POLLS, STILL SEEING A 50-50 SPLIT.

NEITHER PARTY RUNNING AWAY WITH THE WIN.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S ABOUT?

I MEAN WHY IS IT THAT EITHER PARTY, ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS HAVING COME OUT WITH THIS WHOLE COMMITTEE OR WHAT DID THEY CALL IT?

IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF THE 1994 AGENDA.

WHY IS NEITHER PARTY RUNNING AWAY WITH THE SENATE WITH ALL THAT'S HAPPENED?

>> PARTIALLY, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF A BALANCE IN PEOPLE'S MINDS.

AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANTIABORTION DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT, THAT SAME PERSON IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND SO I THINK WHAT YOU SEE IS PEOPLE SORT OF WAITING TO SEE, AND BALANCING, OKAY, IS THE ECONOMY GOING TO IMPROVE ENOUGH THAT MAYBE I'LL FEEL A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT IT BY THE TIME I VOTE?

I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT ABORTION, BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT MORE EMPHASIS IN THE STATES AND MAYBE WE WILL SEE THE STATES, LIKE NEW YORK STATE, INDIVIDUALLY OVERTURNING THIS ISSUE.

AND SO I THINK PEOPLE IN THEIR HEADS ARE UNSURE WHICH PARTY THEY SHOULD SUPPORT.

>> JUST ONE LAST THING.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE ABORTION ISSUE HAS IMPROVED DEMOCRATS CHANCES A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE DOBBS DECISION?

DO YOU THINK THEY'RE SITTING BETTER?

>> I THINK THEY'RE SITTING BETTER BECAUSE I THINK MOST INDIVIDUALS ACCEPTED SOME REGULATION OF ABORTION.

THEY DIDN'T EXPECT THIS SORT OF VERY FIRM ANTIABORTION DECISION THAT CAME OUT.

SO ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT CAME OUT.

WE DO HAVE TO MOVE ON.

I'M SORRY FOR THAT.

WE WILL BE BACK IN THREE WEEKS WHEN THE ELECTION HAS TAKEN PLACE.

NOW WE TURN TO SOMETHING THAT IS RIGHT UP OUR ALLEY.

WHO BETTER TO EXAMINE THE FIRING OF A COLLEGE PROFESSOR THAN A PANEL OF PROFESSORS?

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY FIRED ONE OF ITS INSTRUCTORS BECAUSE STUDENTS COMPLAINED THAT HIS CLASS WAS TOO HARD.

IT HAPPENED AFTER 82 STUDENTS SIGNED A PETITION THAT SAID THE HIGH NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED LOW GRADES OR DROPPED OUT OF HIS CLASS WERE PROOF THAT LEARNING WAS NOT A PRIORITY.

SO, THIS, PLUS BAD COURSE EVALUATIONS LED TO HIS DISMISSAL.

TARA, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A CASE OF LOWERING ACADEMIC STANDARDS OR SOMETHING ELSE?

WHAT IS THIS A CASE OF?

>> IT IS A CASE OF LOWERING ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND A GROWING SENSE OF ENTITLISM ON THE PART OF STUDENTS THAT BECAUSE I PAID MY MONEY, I HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF HOW YOU ARE GOING TO TEACH ME, WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO PROVIDE ME SO THAT I CANNOT ONLY PASS THIS CLASS-- BECAUSE REALLY THERE ARE TWO THINGS HERE.

ONE IS PASS THE CLASS.

BUT THESE STUDENTS ARE SAYING PASS THE CLASS WITH A CERTAIN GRADE.

NOW PART OF THE REASON THESE PARTICULAR STUDENTS NEED THAT CERTAIN GRADE IS BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE COURSES THEY NEED IF THEY WANT TO GO ON TO MEDICAL SCHOOL.

SO FOR MOST OF THEM, THAT'S THEIR CONCERN, IF I DON'T DO WELL IN THIS CLASS, I MIGHT NOT GET INTO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL SCHOOL OF MY CHOICE.

BUT IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT THEY NOW HAVE COME FROM HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE PRETTY MUCH EVERY TOOL THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR THEM.

THEY HAVEN'T REALLY HAD TO DO THE WORK THEMSELVES, FIGURE IT OUT THEMSELVES.

AND SO A LOW GRADE TO THEM IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A NON-PASSING GRADE.

>> OKAY.

AND I WAS GOING TO SAY I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW ALL THE FACTS HERE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE STUDENTS DID NOT ASK FOR THIS FACULTY MEMBER TO BE FIRED.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND SO THIS WAS TAKEN ON BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS.

THERE SEEMS TO BE, ON THE ONE HAND, I'M GOING TO BE A GOOD TWO-ARMED ECONOMIST HERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VIDEOS.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT METHODS THAT THE COURSE IS BEING TAUGHT IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT LEARNING NEEDS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROFESSORS TEACHING THIS.

AND MUCH OF THE ATTENTION HAS BEEN PLACED ON THIS ONE PROFESSOR.

SO I JUST GET THIS FEELING THAT THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY THAT WE DON'T KNOW.

CERTAINLY STUDENTS ARE FEELING EMBOLDENED TO SPEAK THEIR MIND, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD.

BUT HOW THIS CARRIES OUT, I'M NOT QUITE CONFIDENT.

>> SO YOU THINK A LOT OF INFORMATION HAS YET TO BE REVEALED, BUT CHAD, WAS WE DO KNOW IS THAT THIS INSTRUCTOR WON A LOT OF TEACHING AWARDS.

[LAUGHTER] LIKES THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

HE ALSO PUBLISHED A LIVELY YOUTH TEXTBOOK.

YOU ARE NOT BUYING IT.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> RICK IS RIGHT.

THERE IS A LOT MORE THAT WE DON'T KNOW.

THE PART OF THE MOTHER THAT I MIGHT BUY IS THAT STUDENTS HAVE SHORTER ATTENTION SPANS AND COVID MADE IT WORSE.

THE PART THAT I DON'T BUY IS THAT HE THOUGHT PRERECORDED LECTURES WERE GOING TO SOMEHOW SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

COMPLICATED IDEA EXCHANGE REQUIRES FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION.

LIKE HE IS BASICALLY OFFERING A UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX TYPE INSTRUCTION FOR NYU STUDENTS, OF COURSE THEY'RE ANGRY.

SO WHAT I WOULD WANT TO KNOW BEFORE FULLY CASTING JUDGMENT, IS I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HIS WHOLE GRADE DISTRIBUTION WAS LIKE.

COVID WAS TERRIBLE IN TERMS OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES BUT TOP STUDENTS ARE STILL TOP STUDENTS WHETHER BECAUSE THEY'RE RESILIENT OR SUPER INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS OR WHATEVER.

SO IF YOU TELL ME THE BOTTOM END OF THIS DISTRIBUTION HAS GOTTEN WORSE, THAT STRIKES ME AS A COVID ERA THING YOU CAN DO SOME ADJUSTMENT BUT IF YOU TELL ME EVEN HIS TOP END IS FAILING AND GETTING BAD GRADES, THAT SUGGESTS TO ME THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

>> SO IN ADDITION, CHAD... >> I WANT TO HEAR FROM BEN.

>> THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES GOING ON HERE.

THIS WAS THE GATE TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, THIS COURSE, ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AND HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN.

BUT THINGS HAVE EVOLVED AND WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS EVIDENCE-BASED EXAMPLES OF IF THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A GOOD MEDICAL DOCTOR.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REASSESSED, I THINK, ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ARGUMENTS ACROSS THE MEDICAL FIELD YES, THAT'S WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH TO GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL BUT DOES IT MAKE A BETTER MEDICAL DOCTOR?

I WILL SAY, I WOULD MUCH RATHER MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY THAT DIDN'T HAVE A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN BECAUSE THEY GOT A BAD GRADE IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY ARE NOT DOING SURGERY, BRAIN SURGERY ON ME, RIGHT?

SO I DO THINK THAT IF THAT'S THE STANDARD IN PLACE, THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SUPPORT BEHIND HIM, KNOWING THAT HE IS THE WRITER OF THE FIFTH EDITION OF THE TEXTBOOK THAT'S WIDELY USED ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH CHAD.

HAVING BEEN A DEAN AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH STUDENT EVALUATIONS, TO ME, THEY'RE A PIECE OF INFORMATION, AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION BUT NOT SOMETHING YOU TAKE NECESSARILY ON FAITH.

I WOULD HOPE, AND WE DON'T KNOW FROM THE STORIES HERE, THAT NYU TOOK THESE COMPLAINTS AND THEN TRIED TO CONFIRM THEM OR DENY THEM.

HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE TEACHING THIS COURSE.

IS HIS DELIVERY SUBPAR ACCORDING TO THE OTHERS, COMPARE GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS, AS CHAD SAID.

USE THIS INFORMATION BUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH EVERYTHING ELTS YOU KNOW.

I'M HOPING THEY DID THIS.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

>> LAST WORD, TARA.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER CONCERNS IS THAT THERE HADN'T BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION AND PART OF WHAT IS BEING SPOKEN ABOUT IS THE DUE PROCESS.

AND THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DUE PROCESS COMPONENT ON HIS SIDE.

AND THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.

>> THE DUE PROCESS, WHAT WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED IS THAT THIS IS A NON-TENURED CONTRACT FACULTY MEMBER THAT CLAIM A LARGER PERCENT OF FACULTY AND ALSO WAS 80 OUT OF 350 STUDENTS SO I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS TOPIC ANY TIME SOON.

A ROCHESTER, NEW YORK NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT NEW YORK STATE HAS ONE OF THE WORST PROJECTED SHORTAGES OF HOME HEALTH AIDES IN THE NATION.

THREE OUT OF FOUR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WERE UNABLE TO FIND A HOME CARE ASSISTANT IN 2021.

THIS PUTS OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS AT EVEN GREATER RISK.

AND, THE SHORTAGE OF HOME AIDES IMPACTS MORE THAN JUST THOSE IN NEED OF CARE.

OFTEN SPOUSES, PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS MUST MAKE SACRIFICES TO FILL IN THE VOID.

SO CHAD, TALK TO BUS SOME OF THE DYNAMICS HERE.

WHAT IS DRIVING THIS PROBLEM?

>> IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, I'VE LOOKED AT THE DATA FROM CENSUS AND CURRENT POPULATION IS THAT.

SURE, HOME HEALTH AIDES IS A SHARE OF EMPLOYMENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN ON A STEADY DECLINE SINCE 2013 BUT IT'S NOT PRECIPITOUS NOR IS CENTRAL NEW YORK DOING WORSE THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS.

WHAT IS UNUSUAL ABOUT OUR REGION IS THAT WHEREAS NATIONWIDE, ONE OUT OF FOUR HOME HEALTH AIDE WORKERS IS FOREIGN BORN.

THAT FIGURE IS JUST ONE IN 10 HERE.

THE POINT BEING IS THAT THIS IS AN OCCUPATION THAT IS VERY WELL REPRESENTED BY IMMIGRANTS AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT MANY IMMIGRANTS UP HERE.

FORTUNATELY, IF YOU GO DOWNSTATE, YOU'VE GOT MAYOR ADAMS WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING 13,000 REFUGEES THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.

AND MIGHT I SUGGEST THAT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING AND SOME SHELTER MIGHT MAKE VERY GOOD HOME HEALTH AIDE WORKERS UP HERE.

AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS FLIPPANT BUT I'M ACTUALLY SERIOUS.

YOU ARE TELLING ME UPSTATE THERE IS A LABOR SHORTAGE PROBLEM AND DOWNSTATE THERE IS A SURPLUS?

I TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A SOLUTION STARING US RIGHT IN THE FACE.

>> CHAD, I DIDN'T SEE YOU SAYING THAT.

>> I SEE THIS AS A MATHEMATICS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE HOME HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY COMPETES FOR FAST FOOD WORKERS.

THEY'RE BOTH RELATIVELY LOW SKILLED.

THE PROBLEM IS FAST FOOD IS PAYING $15 AN HOUR.

THE HOME HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, THE PROBLEM IS IT'S VERY LABOR INTENSIVE.

THIS IS NOT AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN USE TECHNOLOGY TO REPLACE PEOPLE.

NOW IF YOU DO THE MATH, SO YOU ARE GOING TO PAY THE HOME HEALTHCARE AIDE $15 AN HOUR, YOU REQUIRE SOMEBODY WHO HAS $24 HOUR ASSISTANCE, THAT'S $360 A DAY OR OVER $130,000 A YEAR.

EVEN IF THEY HAVE MORE MODEST NEEDS AND THEY ONLY NEED FOUR HOURS A DAY, THAT'S OVER $23,000 A YEAR.

WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS?

IS IT GOING TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RECIPIENT?

INSURANCE COMPANIES?

OR THE GOVERNMENT?

WE HAVE NOT COME TO GRASP WITH THE COST OF DEALING WITH A POPULATION THAT'S GETTING OLDER, THAT LIVING LONGER AND HAS A CERTAIN EXPECTATION ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> AND BEN, WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT, ACCORDING TO THE DATA, PAYING HOME AIDES WHAT, SO ABOUT 50% ARE NOT LIVING BELOW OR NEAR THE POVERTY LINE.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, THERE IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING AT THAT TIME WAS MADE AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2020 THAT IS NOT BEING PROPERLY LEVERAGED.

BUT TOP OF THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGY AND MONITORING DEVICES.

I MEAN AS EASY AS A SMART WATCH THAT CAN MONITOR A LOT OF THE STUFF TO HELP REINFORCE AND SUPPORT THE HUMAN TOUCH.

SO SOME TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT HUMAN TOUCH.

>> MORE TECHNOLOGY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ANOTHER SUGGESTION TO RELAX REGULATIONS SUCH AS THAT COVID VACCINE REQUIREMENT AND OTHER SORTS OF THINGS THAT ARE FURTHER SHRINKING.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HIGH RISK PEOPLE THAT HAVE AN ACUTE ILLNESS THAT BEING PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE-- THEY'RE AROUND PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE SOME THINGS IN PLACE TO MITIGATE SOME ILLNESS THAT THEY MAY GET ON TOP OF WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

I WOULD NOT AGREE WITH THAT BUT I DO THINK THEY SHOULD GET MUCH BETTER PAID THAN SOMEBODY THAT IS WORKING AT McDONALD'S.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TARA.

>> I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO SEE THIS AS PART OF STEM PROGRAMS.

WHEN WE THINK OF STEM, WE THINK OF MORE TECHNICAL AREAS.

I THINK WE NEED TO START SEEING THIS AS PART OF STEM, TOO.

AND REALLY START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO INTO THIS FIELD, BECAUSE IT IS A VERY CHALLENGING FIELD.

BUT THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT SAYS I WANT TO HELP CHILDREN IS THE SAME ATTITUDE THAT WOULD SAY I WANT TO HELP THE ELDERLY.

WE NEED TO THINK OF WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE IT AS AN ACTUAL WAY OF LIFE, PROFESSION FOR PEOPLE FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON UP.

>> AND TARA, THERE IS A HUGE SHORTAGE OF CHILD CARE WORKERS.

THE PROBLEM REALLY COMES DOWN TO , AND BEN, TECHNOLOGY CANNOT BELITTLE IT BUT TECHNOLOGY IS NOT GOING TO BATHE SOMEONE, IS NOT GOING TO FEED THEM OR COOK OR CLEAN FOR THEM.

THIS IS A VERY LABOR INTENSIVE, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, LABOR INTENSIVE FIELD, WHICH DOES NOT LEAD ITSELF TO EFFICIENCIES AND INCREASES IN PRODUCTIVITY.

>> LET'S CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE CAN GET THERE SOONER RATHER THAN LEADER.

WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

I'M SORRY.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.

IT'S THE PERSON IN MY EAR, OKAY?

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADE BOOKS STARTING WITH YOUR F, RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS.

IT WAS INITIALLY REPORTED THAT DRAMAN GREEN FORCIBLY PUSHED POOL IN A RECENT PRACTICE.

A LEAKED VIDEO SHOWS HE VIOLENTLY PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE.

HOW DID THE WARRIORS DEAL WITH THIS?

THEY SAID NO NEED FOR SUSPENSION.

WE'LL FINE HIM.

THE WARRIORS ALSO SAID THEY WERE AGGRESSIVELY INVESTIGATING THE LEAK AND WOULD TAKE EVERY LEGAL COURSE OF ACTION POSSIBLE.

CLEARLY THEY CARE LESS ABOUT ASSAULT BETWEEN PLAYERS AND MORE ABOUT PEOPLE FINDING OUT ABOUT IT.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF LET'S SHOOT THE MESSENGER.

>> CHAD.

MY F GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR CONTEMPLATING A BAN ON U.S. CRUDE OIL EXPORTS.

THE POLICY WOULD DO NOTHING TO HELP REDUCE GAS PRICES IN THE U.S.

BUT WOULD FREEZE OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES AS WE FACES DOWN PUTIN.

IF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO EASE PAIN AT THE PUMP, IT WOULD DO BETTER BY INCREASING REFINING CAPACITY OR WORKING TO REPEAL THE JONES ACT WHICH IS A CENTURY OLD POLICY THAT MAKES IT PROHIBIT LIVE EXPENSIVE TO SHIP GOODS STATE TO STATE BY BOAT.

>> BEN.

>> YES, MY F IS GOING TO TWO FRAUDULENT FISHERMEN IN OHIO.

THEY WERE FISHING IN A TOURNAMENT IN THE ERIE LAKE FOR A GRAND PRIZE OF $29,000.

THEY PUT LEAD BALLS INSIDE THE FISH SO THEY WOULD WEIGH TWICE AS MUCH AS WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE.

THEY HAVE BEEN INDICTED THIS WEEK FOR MANY CRIMES IN ADDITION TO ATTEMPTED GRAND TEST THEFT.

>> WEIGHTED BALLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THEY WERE CAUGHT.

TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IT AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS TO UNDERMINE THE UPCOMING MID TERM ELECTIONS.

THEY HAVE POURED MILLIONS INTO RECRUITING AND TRAINING POLL VOLUNTEERS AND OBSERVERS.

THIS IS A COMMON POLITICAL PARTY MOVE, SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN ELECTION CONSPIRACY GROUPS ARE INCREASINGLY HECKLING, THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO ASSAULT, THEY'RE DEMANDING PICTURES OF VOTING MACHINES.

THEY EVEN HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF GROUPS STAND IN THE DOOR WAY OF VOTING PLACE WHILE THEY PRAYED.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S DANGEROUS.

>> WELL, LET'S SEE WHO HAS DONE SOMETHING WELL.

AND SPEAKING OF HARD PROFESSORS, LET'S LOOK AT OUR As, STARTING WITH YOUR A, RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO THE JURY IN THE ALEX JONES CASE THAT AWARDED FAMILIES OF THE SANDY HOOK SHOOTING VICTIMS $1 BILLION IN DAMAGES.

JONES REPEATEDLY INSISTED THAT THIS WAS A HOAX P; HARASSED THE FAMILIES AND PROFITED GREATLY FROM THIS.

NOW IT'S UP TO THE COURTS TO ENSURE THAT HE DOESN'T HIDE, CONCEAL OR TRANSFER THE MONEY THAT SHOULD RIGHTLY GO TO THESE VICTIMS FAMILIES.

>> CHAD.

>> SO MY A GOES TO NEW ZEALAND FOR PROPOSING A COW BURP TAX TO HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS WOULD BE THE WORLD EATS FIRST TAX ON ANIMAL EMISSIONS.

WHAT DOES POLICY-- WHAT THIS POLICY IS IS A WAY FOR TERMS TO INCORPORATE POLLUTION COSTS INTO THE COST OF PRODUCTION.

IT IS NOT AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON PRODUCTS THAT CONSUMERS ENJOY.

UNLIKE NEW YORK'S RECENTLY PASSED BAN ON GAS POWERED CARS, THIS IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DONE RIGHT EVEN IF THERE ARE SOME FREE RIDER ISSUES.

>> MY A IS GOING TO THE RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY RESPONDED TO AN ACTIVE SHOOTER LAST NIGHT.

SEVEN PEOPLE WERE SHOT, FIVE KILLED, ONE OF THEM BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN RALEIGH.

>> WONDERFUL.

>> MY A IS GOES TO A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN BUT VERY IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS ACT VISIT CHARLES SHIRAD.

HE DIED THIS WEEK, A YOUNG CIVIL RIGHTS ACT VISIT IN THE ALBANY GEORGIA CAMPAIGN.

UNLIKE MANY OTHERS, HE STAYED THERE AND WORKED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS FOR MANY YEARS.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME IN THE STUDIO.

BUT LET US CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

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I'M MEAN THEY-- I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," GOOD NIGHT.