UNEXPECTED RESULTS IN MID TERM ELECTIONS, WHERE DOES THE COUNTRY GO NOW?

DOES THE WAY WE VOTE HURT DEMOCRACY?

AND BOTH PARTIES BEGIN TO SPLIT OVER UKRAINE.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY CHAD SPARBER FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SARAH PRALLE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND TY SEIDULE FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE.

THE BIG STORY THIS WEEK IS OF COURSE THE ELECTIONS-CONGRESSIONAL MID-TERMS AND OUR STATE AND LOCAL RACES.

FIRST, ONE IMPORTANT PROGRAM NOTE: WHILE YOU ARE WATCHING THIS AT THE USUAL TIME ON FRIDAY EVENING, WE HAD TO RECORD THE PROGRAM EARLY THIS WEEK.

WE'RE SITTING HERE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING SO THERE ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL BE SOME RESULTS WE DON'T YET KNOW.

TURNING TO WHAT WE DO KNOW, IT WAS NOT THE NIGHT MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED.

OUR 22ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT APPEARS TO HAVE STAYED REPUBLICAN, BUT THERE WAS NOT A RED WAVE.

WHAT RACE JUMPED OUT AT YOU AND WHAT MESSAGE IS THE ELECTORATE SENDING?

A.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

I THINK WE WERE EXPECKING A RED WAVE OR TSUNAMI.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A RED RIPPLE OR RED GARDEN HOSE BUT DID NOT COME THROUGH LIKE THE PUNDITS THOUGHT.

YOU WOULD THINK WITH A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WHO IS HISTORICALLY UNDER WATER, 40-42%, INFLATION RUNNING AT 8%, THERE WOULD BE A HUGE REPUBLICAN WIN.

AND IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO PREVIOUS MID TERMS ELECTIONS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHY THIS OCCURRED.

AND I THINK CERTAINLY ABORTION MATTERED OVER ARCHINGLY BUT THE BIG STORY, I THINK, IS THAT THE TRUMPIEST OF THE TRUMP REPUBLICANS DID UNDERPERFORM.

AND I THINK THAT'S A STORY.

THE THE UNDER PERFORMING AND THE DEMOCRATS GETTING OUT THE VOTE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A CLOSE IN THE SENATE AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT IN THE HOUSE.

BUT REPUBLICANS UNDER PERFORMED AND DEMOCRATS OVER PERFORMED.

>> TRUMPIAN CANDIDATES THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPLICATION, I WOULD THINK FOR A COUPLE YEARS FROM NOW.

YOU SAW THAT, SARAH IN THE RACE WERE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO.

>> TUESDAY NIGHT I WAS LOOKING AT THE SENATORIAL RACE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT MAGGIE HASSEN AND HER CHALLENGER DAN BOLDOC WHO WAS A TRUMPIAN CANDIDATE.

HE GOT THE ENDORSEMENT OF TRUMP AND THERE WAS TALK ON THE GROUND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ABOUT WHETHER THAT ENDORSEMENT WAS GOING TO HELP HIM OR POSSIBLY HURT HIM.

CERTAINLY LOOKS NOW LIKE IT LIKELY HURT HIM BECAUSE MAGGIE HASSEN REALLY OUTPERFORMED WHAT THE POLLS WERE SUGGESTING.

THE POLLS WERE GETTING QUITE CLOSE DURING THE RUNUP TO TUESDAY.

AND SHE ENDED UP WINNING BY QUITE A LARGE MARGIN.

IT WAS ONE OF THE EARLIER RACES THAT THEY CALLED.

I REALLY HAD MY EYE ON THAT.

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A SIGN THAT THE DEMOCRATS MIGHT BE DOING BETTER THAN WE EXPECTED.

>> THEY MAY NOT HAVE DONE BETTER RIGHT HERE, TARA IN THE 22nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, RIGHT, WHERE BRANDON WILLIAMS-- HE HAS THE LEAD AT THIS POINT.

WE DON'T KNOW.

THERE ARE STILL VOTES TO BE COUNTED IN ONEIDA COUNTY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE AT ONE POINT CANOLE WAS UP BY AT LEAST 5 PERCENTAGE POINTS AND AS THE RACE CAME CLOSER AND CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY, IT BECAME MORE NARROW AND AS YOU SAY, IT REALLY IS IN A SENSE, THE TOSSUP RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IS BOTH MEN, IN A SENSE, ALTHOUGH WILLIAMS PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS THE OUTSIDER, BOTH MEN REALLY WERE NOT EXPERIENCED IN TERMS OF POLITICS.

THEY HAVE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS IN THAT THEY BOTH CLAIM THE NAVAL BACKGROUND.

AND SO IT IS SORT OF INTERESTING THAT REALLY, IN A SENSE YOU HAD SORT OF A SOMEWHAT MODERATE MODERATE REPUBLICAN, MODERATE DEMOCRAT RUNNING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A LOT FOR VOTERS TO JUXTAPOSE IN TERMS OF CHOOSING THESE MEN AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE NUMBERS.

>> AND THIS AREA HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN MODERATE AND CERTAINLY JOHN KATKO, OF COURSE WITH THE REDISTRICTING, HE IS IN THE 24th AND THIS BECOMES THE 22 PPED WITH THE ADDITION OF ONEIDA COUNTY.

THE INCUMBENT IN THE 22nd NOW IS RUNNING IN THE NEW 24th AND WON, CLAUDIA TENNEY.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT LIKE WHAT TY OPENED WITH.

WE DIDN'T SEE THE RED WAVE NATIONALLY THAT PEOPLE EXPECTED BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE ABOUT NEW YORK.

NEW YORK IS THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

WE HAD 10 CONTESTABLE SEATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE LEADING EIGHT OF THEM.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NEW YORK SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT.

COUP-- COULD BE THE WAY OUR DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN DECIDED BY THE COURTS BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN EXPLANATION BECAUSE HOCHUL DIDN'T DO THAT GREAT GIVEN HOW DEMOCRATIC THIS STATED IS.

>> THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING POINT.

IN NEW YORK, THE DEMOCRATS TRIED TO FORCE THROUGH WHAT THEY WANTED AND THE COURTS INTERVENED AND BROUGHT IN SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE TO DRAW THE DISTRICTS.

MAYBE THAT'S WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE DOM PET TIFF DISTRICTS.

>> I AGREE BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IS THE EXPLANATION OF WHY NEW YORK IS DIFFERENT.

I WAS TALKING TO I THINK THE MESSAGING MIGHT BE DIFFERENT IN NEW YORK.

I WAS TALKING TO A STUDENT WHO POINTED OUT THAT DEMOCRATS HERE RAB ON A PLATFORM OF REPUBLICANS BEING EXTREME AND DANGEROUS WHICH THEN ALLOWED REPUBLICANS TO INSTEAD CITE DEMOCRATIC POLICIES AND FAILURES ON INFLATION AND CRIME AND GAS PRICES AND BORDER SECURITY AND AFGHANISTAN AND PROLONGED COVID LOCK DOWNS IN SCHOOLS AND SO, YOU KNOW, WOO ILL PERSONALLY I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VOTING FOR ELECTION DENIERS, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT LOOK AT THAT AND SAY WELL, MAYBE THE DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE EXTREME AND DANGEROUS.

AND VOTE REPUBLICAN.

>> THE OTHER-- I MEAN THE OTHER THING IS A LOT OF THE LOCAL RACES GET NATIONALIZED AND GET NATIONAL THEMES.

I KNOW THAT WAS PART OF THE RACE HERE IN THE 22nd DISTRICT WAS EFFORTS TO TIE THE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES TO UNPOPULAR NATIONAL FIGURES LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHO WE NOAH PROFESSIONAL RATING IS LOW TO NANCY PELOSI AND ON THE OTHER HAND, TYING WILLIAMS TO TRUMP.

SO I WONDER IF SOME OF THOSE EFFORTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL LIKE THE RACES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AT TYING MAGGIE HASSEN TO THE SORT OF NATIONAL POLITICS OTHER STATES DID WELL, FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A RUBY RED STATE AND IF THERE IS ONE PERSON CELEBRATING TODAY, IT IS RON DeSANTIS DANCING IN HIS WHITE BOOTS BECAUSE HE JUST CRUSHED AND HE LOOKS VERY STRONG NOW AND TRUMP IS A BIG LOSER, I THINK AFTER THIS ELECTION AND YOU LOOK AT HOW STRONG DeSANTIS WAS AND I THINK THAT IS SETTING UP A REAL BATTLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE FLORIDA IS LEADING THE REPUBLICAN NATION IN A WAY.

AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT FLAY PLAYS OUT.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT RAISES THE QUESTION IF THIS IS IT FOR TRUMP BECAUSE HIS CANDIDATES DID NOT DO THAT WELL.

DeSANTIS PERFORMED NOT ONLY HIMSELF VERY STRONGLY BUT DeSANTIS IS THE GUY WHO BASICALLY FORCED THE REDISTRICTING IN FLORIDA WHICH LED, MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE HOUSE TURNS OUT TO BE SO CLOSE, MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE.

DeSANTIS IS RIDING PRETTY HIGH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THIS WILL ENERGIZE HIS POTENTIAL CAMPAIGN FOR 2024 AND WILL ENERGIZE HIS ABILITY TO SUPPORT OTHER CANDIDATES.

SO ABSOLUTELY THIS POSITIONS HIM VERY WELL.

THE OTHER THING THAT I NOTICED IS THAT IN ONE OF THE TALK SHOWS THIS MORNING ON CNN, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA ALSO SEEMS TO BE SIGNALING THAT MAYBE THIS IS SORT OF A MOMENT FOR TRUMP TO TAKE A BACK STEP HE WAS CAREFUL IN WHAT HE SAID BUT HE SAID TRUMP WAS IN THE PAST AND TIME TO MOVE ON >> WITH SO MUCH ATTENTION PAID TO THE TIGHT RACE HERE IN THE 22ND AND SOME OTHER CLOSE RACES IN BATTLEGROUND STATES, IT'S EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THERE ARE VERY FEW COMPETITIVE RACES ANYMORE.

GERRYMANDERING AND THE PRIMARY SYSTEM TEND TO GIVE US CANDIDATES ON THE EXTREMES.

IS THE WAY WE VOTE UNDERMINING DEMOCRACY, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

>> I THINK SO.

OF THE 10 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED TO IMPEACH TRUMP AFTER THE CAPITOL HILL RIOTS,THERE ARE ONLY TWO UP FOR REELECTION TO TUESDAY.

ONE WAS FROM CALIFORNIA, ONE FROM WASHINGTON.

THERE IS ALMOST A THIRD ALSO FROM WASHINGTON BUT SHE NARROWLY LOST HER PRIMARY.

ALL RELEVANT BECAUSE CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON ARE THE ONLY TWO STATES THAT HAVE A TOP TWO OPEN PRIMARY FORMAT WHERE THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION ARE THE ONES THAT GO ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THAT VOTING METHOD, I WAS NERVOUS IT WOULD LEAD TO MORE POLARIZATION IF MODERATE CANDIDATES HAD DIFFUSED SUPPORT AND THE EXTREMISTS HAD, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FERVENT SUPPORT BUT I THINK THE EVIDENCE IS KIND OF BORN OUT THAT NO, THOSE SYSTEMS WERE MORE EFFECTIVE AT BRINGING WHAT IS CALLED MODERATE CANDIDATES TO THE GENERAL ELECTORATE.

>> WE WILL SEE THAT IN ALASKA RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

>> SOMETHING SIMILAR.

IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF FORMAT THERE, BUT YEAH.

>> I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE LACK OF COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS.

IT HAS A LOT OF DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS ON VOTERS AND ON THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

SO RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NON-COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS DON'T PARTICIPATE AS MUCH.

THE VOTER TURNOUT IS LOWER; WHEREAS IS IF YOU HAVE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, WE SEE REALLY GOOD THINGS HAPPENING LIKE VOTERS PARTICIPATE MORE BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THEY'RE BETTER POLITICALLY INFORMED, MORE LIKELY TO VOLUNTEER IN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LIFE AND THOSE ARE REALLY MARKERS OF A HEALTHY CIVIC LIFE.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE THESE NON-COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU LIVE IN ONE, YOUR VOTE DOESN'T REALLY MATTER THAT MUCH AND IT'S EASY IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES TO BECOME QUITE DISENGAGED FROM POLITICS.

>> I WORRY THAT WE ARE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT WISCONSIN, THEY ARE CLOSE TO BEING A CLOSED SYSTEM FOR REPUBLICANS EVEN THOUGH IT'S A NEARLY 50-50 BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE LAW.

GEORGIA, FOR INSTANCE, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A RUNOFF FOR THE SENATE.

THE REASON THAT GEORGE AUTO AND OTHER-- GEORGIA AND OTHER FORMER STATES OF THE CONFEDERACY HAVE RUNOFFS, WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONTROLLED IT IF THERE WERE TWO WHITE CANDIDATES, THEY WOULD SPLIT THE VOTE AND A BLACK CANDIDATE WOULD WIN SO THEY CHANGED THE LAW TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE RUNOFFS SO THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HAVING THE RUNOFF IN GEORGIA PROBABLY TO DO THAT VOTE.

AS MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE POSITIVE SIDE THAT WE CAN LOOK TO THAT, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE ARE JUST AS MANY TO MAKE IT LESS COMPETITIVE TO MAKE IT MORE PARTISAN AND TO MAKE IT LESS FAIR.

>> I ALSO THINK IN YOU LOOK AT THE-- IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS THAT EACH PROIPT TENDS TO REPRESENTED-- REPRESENTATIVE TENDS TO REPRESENTED, IT'S OVER 700,000 NOW.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT ONE REPRESENTATIVE CAN TRULY REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE OR EVEN A PORTION OF THOSE PEOPLE.

SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT IS EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE HAVE THAT WAS CAPPED BY CONGRESS IN 1929.

WE MAY NEED TO RETHINK THAT.

>> INTERESTING BECAUSE LIKE I AGREE THAT ON A REPRESENTATIVE SCALE, IT WOULD BE NICER TO HAVE, YOU KNOW-- THERE IS NO CHANCE OF US HAVING FACETIME WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND YOU CONTRAST THIS WITH LIKE THE U.K. WHERE THERE IS ONE PERSON IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR EVERY 100,000 RESIDENTS.

SO ON A REPRESENTATIVE FRAMEWORK, I LIKE THAT.

I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT WILL HELP WITH THE POLARIZATION ISSUE THOUGH BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE A SMALLER COMMUNITY THAT YOU REPRESENT, YOU CAN DIVIDE UP THOSE BLOCKS TO BE MORE HOMOGENOUS.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGER DISTRICT WITH MORE THAN ONE REPRESENTATIVE.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE RECOMMENDING AND WHAT A LOT OF OTHER DEMOCRACIES DO.

THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA TO HAVE MULTIMEMBER DISTRICTS.

MUCH LARGER, HARDER TO GERRYMANDER.

WHERE PEOPLE'S CAN HOPE FOR A REPRESENTATIVE EVEN IF THEY DO NOT GET A PLURALITY OF THE VOTES, RIGHT?

SO EVEN IF THE DEMOCRATS GET 40% OF THE VOTE IN THAT DISTRICT, THEY WOULD STILL GET SOME REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS.

TO ME THAT SEEMS LIKE A SORT OF OBVIOUS STEP TO TRY TO RECTIFY SOME OF THIS OR THESE BIASES.

>> A 50-50 NATION, THAT WOULD GIVE EVERYBODY SOME REPRESENTATION.

HAVE WE HAD-- I NEED A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON HERE.

AMERICAN HISTORY.

HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER TIMES AS I LOOK TO THE HISTORIAN SIDE OF THE TABLE, OTHER TIMES IN OUR HISTORY WHERE WE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE SYSTEM FOR VOTING?

>> I THINK YES, THE SENATE WAS ORIGINALLY NOT AN ELECTED POSITION.

AND IS NOW.

SO WHETHER IT'S THE 14th AND 15th AMENDMENT THAT EXPANDED THE VOTE TO ALL MALE CITIZENS FIRST AND THEM TO ALL WOMEN, SO YEAH, WE INCREASED THE SIZE OF THE SUPREME COURT, WE'VE INCREASED THE SIZE-- WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THESE THINGS BEFORE.

IT'S JUST MUCH HARDER TO DO IT NOW.

AND WE ALSO HAVE CREATED MANY ANTI-DEMOCRATIC FORCES.

AND WE ARE DESIGNED, IN MANY WAYS NOT TO BE A DEMOCRACY.

THE SENATE IS NOT DEMOCRATIC.

THE SUPREME COURT, THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

OUR FOUNDERS WERE VERY WEARY OF DEMOCRACY AND IT SHOWS NOW AND MANY TIMES IN OUR CREEKY SYSTEM.

>> THEY WERE WEARY OF DEMOCRACY BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARY OF THE PASSIONS OF THE MOB?

IS THAT THE IDEA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE WAS A GREAT FEAR THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SET ASIDE THEIR INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE MASSES.

>> ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF THE U.S. STATES, WE HAVE 50 UNIQUE LABORATORIES.

SO WE CAN DO SOME EXPERIMENTATION IN INCREMENTAL STEPS INSTEAD OF GOING WHOLE... >> LABORATORY OF DEMOCRACY.

MAINE DOES IT, NEBRASKA DOES IT.

THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS THERE AND THE PROGRESSIVE ERA IN THE TEENS AND 20s, THERE WERE MANY OF THOSE THINGS, DIRECT PLEBISCITES IN A WAY.

>> AND IN VIRGINIA, THE GOVERNOR WON HIS RACE IN A RANKED CHOICE WHICH PULLED HIM OVER SOME MORE DIVISIVE PEOPLE.

NO MATTER THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF CONTROL OF THE HOUSE IT'S LIKELY UKRAINE POLICY WILL BE ON THE FRONT BURNER WHEN THE NEW CONGRESS IS SWORN IN.

THE U.S. HAS PLEDGED $54 BILLION IN AID TO UKRAINE SINCE THE RUSSIAN INVASION.

KEVIN MCCARTHY HAS ALREADY PUT DOWN A MARKER THAT SUPPORT WILL DECREASE IF NOT DRY UP WITH THE GOP IN CHARGE.

SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE HAS BEEN STRONG SO FAR, BUT HAS THE TIME COME TO PUSH FOR A DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT?

>> YES, IT IS, PARTIALLY BECAUSE IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL FIGHTING.

ALL YOU REALLY HAVE NOW GOING ON IS GAINING, LOSING GROUND ALL DEPENDING ON WHICH SIDE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

AND IT'S BECOME VERY CLEAR THAT, IN A SENSE, RUSSIA CAN'T REALLY WIN THIS WAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, PUTIN IS NOT READY TO GIVE UP ON THIS WAR.

AND SEA SEA LENS CAN I MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY NEGOTIATIONS AS LONG AS PUTIN WAS IN CHARGE OF RUSSIA.

YOU NEED COOLER HEADS TO PREVAIL AND BRING BOTH SIDES TO THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE AND ZELENSKYY HAS SAID PUTIN CANNOT BE IN CHARGE OF RUSSIA.

>> HERE IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THESE TENSIONS PLAY OUT BETWEEN DIFFERENT, THE IDEA IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ALL IN AT THIS POINT.

CHAD IS THAT THE WAY YOU SEE IT?

>> THE WAY THAT I SEE IT IS THAT IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR UKRAINE TO PREVAIL HERE, NOT ONLY TO STAND UP TO BELLIGERENT RUSSIA BUT AS A DETERRENT TO CHINESE AGGRESSION OVERTAIWAN.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE LIKE WANING REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, I DON'T THINK THAT AMERICANS ARE UPSET ABOUT OUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

I THINK THEY'RE UPSET WITH PAYING 75% MORE FOR A GALLON OF GAS THAN THEY DID TWO YEARS AGO AND SO IF I WERE, YOU KNOW, BIDEN AND THE REPUBLICANS, I WOULD BE PUSHING FOR SOME KIND OF A COMPROMISE ON POLICY STEPS TO REDUCE GAS PRICES WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE THINGS LIKE EXPANDED DOMESTIC OIL REFINERY CAPACITY, MAYBE REVISITING THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE ANATHEMA TO WHAT BIDEN WANTS BUT HELP SERVE OUR GEOPOLITICAL AIMS BETTER.

>> I WOULD SAY ANY NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT HAS TO COME FROM UKRAINE, RIGHT.

IT IS UP TO US TO DECIDE.

IT IS UP TO THEM, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY SUPPORT THEM BUT THEY NEED TO DECIDE WHEN AND HOW AND WHAT THE TERMS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND JUST PULLING FUNDING OUT OF THE BLUE AS CHAD HAS SUGGESTED IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD.

I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY BEEN QUITE A BIT OF PUSH BACK ON McCARTHY'S STATEMENT THAT THERE ARE SOME HAWKS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, TRIED TO SOFTEN THAT LANGUAGE QUITE A BIT BECAUSE THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAINTAIN SOME SUPPORT.

>> SO PUSH BACK WITHIN THE G.O.P.

BUT THE G.O.P.

IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THERE IS TENSION ON THIS, RIGHT?

>> NO, BUT I THINK IT IS GOOD TO REMEMBER THIS IS MORALLY CLEAR ISSUE.

THERE IS A TERRIBLE EVIL SIDE, WHICH IS RUSSIA AND THEN THERE IS A GOOD SIDE WHICH IS THE UKRAINE.

AND IT'S WITHIN OUR STRATEGIC INTEREST FOR COLLECTIVE DEFENSE HOW WE HAVE DONE THINGS SINCE 1945 AND IT WORKS.

WE MUST CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT.

AND I THINK BECAUSE WE HAVE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS THAT CAME OUT TALKING ABOUT NEGOTIATION AS WELL.

THEY WERE WRONG.

I THINK LEADER McCARTHY IS WRONG ON THIS, TOO.

SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD, AS AMERICAN PEOPLE, THAT OUR LEADERS NEED TO SELL THIS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS THE BEST THING THAT WE COULD DO IS TO SUPPORT THE UKRAINIANS BECAUSE JUST AS CHAD SAID, THIS IS BEST THING WE COULD DO TO ENSURE PEACE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS TO ENSURE THAT RUSSIA LOSES AS BADLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS BIDEN'S-- I'M CRITICAL OF BIDEN ALL THE TIME.

THIS IS HIS BIG EVIDENT POLICY SUCCESS.

GETTING GLOBAL AGREEMENT AND UNITY IN SUPPORTING UKRAINE.

HE IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO LET THAT GO.

>> UNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE BECAUSE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO LOOK TO US.

I'VE HEARD THAT THE RIGHT WING IN ITALY RIGHT NOW IS ALSO PUSHING BACK AGAINST ITALY'S SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

AND CERTAINLY IF THE U.S.

SEEMS TO BE WAVERING, THAT COULD CREATE A DOMINO EFFECT.

>> DOES THE ELECTION THAT WE'VE JUST HAD SHOW ANY INDICATION THAT THERE IS MAYBE NOT AS MUCH INTEREST IN THIS RULES BASED INTERNATIONAL ORDER THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR THE LAST 75-80 YEARS.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

AS MUCH AS WE CAN TELL IN TERMS OF WHO HAS WON, I THINK THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S POSITION, CERTAINLY IN THE CASE OF UKRAINE.

AND I ALSO THINK THEY DO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN UKRAINE IS GOING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CHINA ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH TAIWAN.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE ELECTED POLITICIANS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT CHINA IS PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION.

>> ARE THERE ANY LIMITS TO THE U.S. SUPPORT, EVEN WITH DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE?

>> I THINK THE LIMITS ARE RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE KNOT GOING TO PUT TROOPS OR ON THE GROUND OR PLANES IN THE AIR UNLESS PUTIN PUTS A NUCLEAR WEAPON IN THERE.

I THINK THERE ARE CLEAR LIMITS BUT THE IDEA THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM WITH FUNDS AND WITH WEAPONS, I THINK, SHOULD CONTINUE.

IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

AND LOOK, EUROPE IS UNITED, IT'S UNITED BECAUSE OF U.S.

LEADERSHIP AND WITH THAT FINLAND IS NOW IN, SWEDE EP IS NOW IN-- SWEDEN IS NOW IN.

THIS IS BIDEN'S GREAT GLORY.

HE SHOULD BE SHOUTING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.

>> NOW ON THAT NOTE, WE HAVE TO GO TO OUR As AND Fs.

WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE Fs, CHAD, FIRST.

>> UNNOPE TEXAS MAN WHO CELEBRATED THE HOUSTON ASTROS WORLD SERIES VICTORY BY FIRING BULLETS INTO THE AIR.

TURNS OUT THE LAW OF GRAVITY IS REAL.

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN AND ONE OF THE BULLETS GRADED A MAN IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD, SENDING HIM TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THANKFULLY HE IS EXPECTED TO SURVIVE.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM WANTS ME TO POINT OUT THAT IT IS UNFAIR CHARACTERIZATION OF YOSEMITE SAM BECAUSE GRAVITY WORKS DIFFERENT IN HIS WORLD.

>> MY F TO SOMETHING CALLED THE POWER SLAP LEAGUE.

THERE IS A IN YOU SPORT IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A SLAP FIGHTING.

THIS WILL HAVE WEIGHT CLASSES AND CLEAR STRUCTURE FOCUSED AROUND STANDING AND ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BE SLAPPED.

THE NEVADA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HAS APPROVED THIS SPORT FOR COMPETITION.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> I WANT TO STICK WITH OUR ELECTION THEME THIS WEEK AND MY F GOES TO THE MODERATORS IN THE SENATE DEBATES IN ARIZONA, COLORADO, GEORGIA AND PENNSYLVANIA.

THEY DID NOT ASK THE CANDIDATES ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN MANY AMERICANS ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF CATASTROPHIC FLOODS, DROUGHTS AND OTHER DISASTERS.

BUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES DON'T TYPICALLY PLAY A BIG ROLE IN ELECTIONS AND THAT'S PARTLY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BROUGHT UP VERY OFTEN.

SO LET'S HOPE THE DEBATE MODERATORS DO BETTER IN 2024.

>> AND TY YOUR F. >> TO CARRIE LAKE AND THE ARIZONA REPUBLICANS FOR THEIR CRUELTY IN GOING AFTER THE MEDIA AND GOING AFTER OTHER CANDIDATES AND ENJOYING IT.

PARTICULARLY BESMIRCHING THE REPUTATION OF THE LATE JOHN McCAIN.

>> As, CHAD.

>> I NEVER MET MIKE YARTON NO DO I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM EXCEPT HE WAS THE OWNER OF THE BLUE TUSK IN ARMORY SQUARE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE WATERING HOLES AND A PLACE I USED TO TAKE OUT OF TOWN GUESTS TO SAY LOOK, WE HAVE A GREAT BEER SELECTION IN CENTRAL NEW YORK UNTIL IT CLOSED LAST YEAR.

Mr. YARTON DIED OF UNDISCLOSED CAUSES AT AGE 49 LAST SUNDAY.

WOULD I LIKE TO RAISE A GLASS TO HIM FOR THE APPRECIATION FOR THE JOY HE HAS BROUGHT TO MY LIFE.

>> TARA YOUR A.

>> TO LONDON PHYSICIST JESSICA WELTERWEIGHT WHO HAS CREATED MORE THAN 1600 WIKIPEDIA ENTRIES ON WOMEN AND MINORITY SCIENTISTS WHOSE WORK IS EITHER UNKNOWN OR OVER LOOKED.

SOME OF THE ENTRIES HAVE BEEN MODIFIED OR BUMPED OFF THE SITE BY NAYSAYERS INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SHE HAS PERSISTED IN INCREASING THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE LISTED THERE.

>> AND TY, YOUR A.

>>-- I SKIPPED SARAH.

>> I'M GIVING MY A TO THE ELECTION WORKERS WHO SHOWED UP TO ADMINISTER THE MID TERM ELECTIONS.

SINCE 2020, POLL WORKERS AND OTHER ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE FACED TIDE OF INCREASING THREATS BECAUSE OF THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE ELECTION OFFICIALS ARE UNLIKELY TO CONTINUE IN THEIR POSITION.

SO A BIG THANKS TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO DO THIS IMPORTANT JOB.

>> AND TY, NOW YOUR A.

>> AND MY A EXCUSE ME, SAME AS SARAHS.

MINE GOES TO THE ONE MILLION VOLUNTEER POLL WORKERS WHO THE ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION CALLS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE FACE OF DEMOCRACY.

THEY MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK AND I APPLAUD THEM IN MY LOCATION KIRKLAND, NEW YORK AND ACROSS THE NATION.

>> NOW SARAH, YOUR F YOU MENTIONED THE LACK OF DISCUSSION OF CLIMATE IN DEBATES IN A NUMBER OF STATES, WHICH RAISES A POINT HERE IN NEW YORK.

WE DIDN'T MENTION THIS IN OUR ELECTION SECTION BUT THERE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT.

IT WAS ON THE BACK AND IT WAS VERY EASY TO MISS.

THAT'S AN F THAT DESIGN THERE.

BUT THAT BALLOT, THAT REFERENDUM DID PASS.

>> GREAT NEWS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.