WHY IS THE MURDER RATE IS SPIKING?

HEALTH CARE WORKERS DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEIR MEDICINE AND MAPMAKING, ALBANY-STYLE.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BOB SPITZER, FROM SUNY CORTLAND.

I'M JOINED BY THIS WEEK'S PANEL, KRISTI ANDERSEN FROM THE MAXWELL SCHOOL AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, BEN BAUGHMAN FROM CAZENOVIA COLLEGE, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

MAJOR CRIME DECLINED LAST YEAR, BUT THE MURDER RATE WAS UP.

WAY UP.

FBI CRIME STATISTICS SHOW MURDERS SPIKED ALMOST 30% IN 20-20.

THAT'S THE LARGEST YEAR TO YEAR INCREASE SINCE RECORD KEEPING STARTED 60 YEARS AGO.

AND IT'S GONE UP ANOTHER 10 PERCENT THIS YEAR.

SEVERAL MID-SIZE CITIES INCLUDING SYRACUSE, RECORDED THE MOST HOMICIDES EVER LAST YEAR.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE SPIKE SOME THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19, GUN SALES, CALLS TO DEFUND THE POLICE?

BEN, HOW DO YOU DIAGNOSE THIS?

>> I'LL ANSWER QUICKLY YES TO THAT.

BUT I THINK THE INITIAL DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD THAT MURDERS ARE UP WITH POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL.

52% INCREASE IN FELONIOUSLY KILLED OFFICERS JUST THIS YEAR.

AND WE HAD A 300% INCREASE IN OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY DUE TO COVID LAST YEAR AS WELL.

HOMICIDE RATED ITSELF IS PROBABLY THE HIGHEST PROPORTIONALLY WELL REPORTED CRIME.

OUT OF ALL THE CRIMES.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF UCR, FBI AND THE CDC REPORTS IT.

SO YES, DEFUND THE POLICE IS PART OF IT BUT IT'S NOT ALL OF IT.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE OF INCREASED SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE DURING COVID, 60% INCREASE IS WHAT THE ESTIMATE IS.

AND THAT HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO IT.

NOW GUN ACCESS, IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT AND I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME ADDITIONAL STUFF TO ADD TO THAT, BUT WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING IS THAT IN 2016, IT HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST RATE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS BUT THE LOWEST RATE WHERE GUNS WERE USED AS A METHOD TO KILL.

>> I TRIED TO LOOK UP OTHER COUNTRIES TO SEE WHAT HIVE LIFE WHETHER THE CRIME RIGHT RATES OR USE OF GUNS OR HOMICIDE RATES HAD INCREASED SIMILARLY AND I COULDN'T FIND TOO MUCH, BUT I DID READ SOME REPORTS FROM ENGLAND AND ONE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION MORE GENERALLY.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT THERE, BOTH IN BRITAIN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION MORE GENERALLY, IS THEY DID NOT HAVE AN INCREASE IN MURDER.

THEY SAW INCREASES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND IN ALL KINDS OF SORT OF CYBER CRIMES AND SCAMS.

MANY OF THEM CONNECTED TO COVID, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FAKE CURES OR THINGS LIKE THIS.

AND A LOT OF MONETARY SCAMS.

SO THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME, THAT WE WERE ALL GOING THROUGH COVID BUT THE U.S.

SEEMED TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT FACTORS PLAYING INTO THIS.

GUNS AND GUN AVAILABILITY IS ONE AND OUR LACK OF A SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND THE CUTBACKS IN WHAT DOES EXIST FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SO ON DURING COVID CONTRIBUTES TO IT.

>> YEAH, AND WOULD I LOVE TO QUICKLY ADD TO THAT.

THE UNITED KINGDOM-- I DID THAT AS WELL.

THE U UNITED KINGDOM HAS HISTORICALLY NOT HAD A LOT OF GUNS AND HAVE HISTORICALLY HAVE HAD LESS VIOLENT CRIME AND MORE PROPERTY CRIME THAN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT THEY ALSO HAVE INTELLIGENCE STUDIES UTILIZED IN THE 43 JURISDICTION.

WE HAVE 18,000 JURISDICTIONS HERE.

WE SAW OUR BIGGER INCREASE WITH THE SMALLER AGENCIES THAN WITH THE LARGER AGENCIES THAT UTILIZE INTELLIGENCE, UTILIZE CRIMAGIST AS, INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS THAT TAKE CALL THE DATA THAT'S COMING IN AND ARE ABLE TO THEN HELP THE DECISION MAKERS MAKE BETTER EFFECTIVE DECISIONS.

>> LUKE.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ADDITION TO THE APPROXIMATE AT CAUSES YOU'VE MENTIONED IS ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND KRISTI REFERENCED THIS A LITTLE BIT.

THE UNITED STATES HAS THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF INEQUALITY COMPARED TO OTHER WESTERN NATIONS.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT MURDER RATES AND COMPARE THEM BASED ON COMMUNITY TYPE AND LEVELS OF AFFLUENCE.

THERE ARE NOT HIGH MURDER RATES IN THE AFFLUENT AREAS.

THAT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.

AND SO WHEN I THIS I BACK OF PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, SOME OF WHOM ARE GANG MEMBERS, THEY WERE NOT THAT DISSIMILAR TO ME IN A LOT OF WAYS, HARD WORKING, CARED ABOUT FAMILY, LIKED TO HAVE FUN, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT I DID AND THEY HAD NO SAY IN THE SYSTEM.

STATUS QUO WAS NOT WORKING FOR THEM AT ALL.

UNTIL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS CHANGE, WE WON'T MAKE SERIOUS PROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS TYPE OF PROGRESS.

>> LET ME EDITORIALIZE A MOMENT IF I MAY REGARDING GUNS.

HISTORICALLY 60% OF ALL MURDERS ARE COMMITTED WITH FIREARMS.

LAST YEAR, 2020, WHEN WE SAW THE BIG SPIKE IN MURDERS, 77% OF ALL MURDERS WERE COMMITTED WITH GUNS.

AND THE REASON THAT MATTERS IS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING CALLED THE WEAPONS INSTRUMENTALITY EFFECT.

NO INTERPERSONAL DEVICE IS MORE EFFECTIVE AT KILLING A HUMAN BEING THAN A GUN.

THAT'S A KEY REASON THE UNITED STATES MURDER RATE HISTORICALLY IS HIGHER THAN OTHER WESTERN DEMOCRATIC NATIONS AND IT DOES SUGGEST THAT WITH THE INFUSION OF GUNS, ESPECIALLY HANDGUNS INTO SOCIETY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN EXPLOSIVE INCREASES IN GUN PURCHASES AND SOME OF THOSE GUNS MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO DO BAD THINGS WITH THEM, THE MERE PRESENCE AND GREATER EXISTENCE OF GUNS IN CIRCULATION CLEARLY, I THINK, ACCOUNTS FOR AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE RISE IN MURDER.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I'LL PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE GUNS HAVE ALSO-- THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOGUNS SHOW GUNS DECREASE OTHER CRIME AS WELL.

THERE IS CONFLICTING RESEARCH.

OF COURSE IT IS THE METHOD THAT IS MOST PROPORTIONALLY USED IN MURDERS.

WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE IN AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS AS WELL AND THAT'S A SERIOUS INJURY WHERE THE PERSON DOESN'T PASS AWAY.

SO ACCESS TO HOSPITALS AND GOING BACK TO LUKE'S POINT, HOT SPOT POLICING AND DIVERTING LOCAL AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE CRIME REALLY IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT CRIME AND MURDERS.

>> I THINK THAT ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT PROGRAMS, THOSE VIOLENT INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS AND SO ON AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES WERE HURT IN THE PANDEMIC, WERE CUT BACK, WERE CLOSED.

AND I THINK THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE GUNS, CAN EXPLAIN A LOT.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT STORY.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S MANDATE THAT ALL HEATH CARE WORKERS MUST GET VACCINATED IN NEW YORK HAS LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FIRING OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS WHO STILL REFUSE TO GET THE SHOT.

THEY'VE BEEN SUSPENDED AND HAVE UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO GET VACCINATED BEFORE GETTING THEIR PINK SLIPS.

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE WARNING OF STAFF SHORTAGES AND SOME ELECTIVE SURGERY HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

THE GOVERNOR HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO ALLOW NURSES FROM OTHER STATES TO FILL IN, AND HAS EVEN SUGGESTED THE NATIONAL GUARD MAY BE CALLED UPON TO HELP.

IS THIS MANDATE CAUSING MORE HARM THAN GOOD?

KRISTI?

>> I WOULD SAY NO, IT'S NOT.

JUST TO BEGIN WITH, I THINK THAT THE BAD EFFECTS OF ALL THESE PEOPLE LEAVING HAS BEEN LESS THAN EXPECTED.

SO THE STUFF I READ MOST RECENTLY, THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS EXPRESSED HAPPINESS THAT NOT AS MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE FIRED OR LET GO AS THEY THOUGHT.

SO THIS WAS IN NEW YORK CITY.

I THINK "THE NEW YORK TIMES" COVERED THIS FAIRLY EXTENSIVELY.

NEW YORK CITY AND HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND BUFFALO THAT THEY HAD SEEMED TO BE SAYING THAT THIS WORKED MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN THEY HAD EXPECTED; THAT BY, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK, BASICALLY, THE RATES OF VACCINATION WERE QUITE HIGH AND THE RATES OF PEOPLE WHO-- THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAD TO BE LET GO WERE LOWER THAN THEY THOUGHT.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES HAVE KIND OF JUMPED ON THIS BANDWAGON AS WELL.

SO RHODE ISLAND, MAINE, OREGON, D.C., HAVE ALL INSTITUTED MANDATES SIMILAR TO HOCHUL'S AND A BUNCH OF OTHER STATES, CALIFORNIA, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, HAVE HAD TESTING MANDATES BUT ALLOW PEOPLE-- VANE MANDATES BUT ALLOW PEOPLE TO ALTERNATIVELY GET TESTED FREQUENTLY.

SO MY SENSE IS IT'S WORKING AND WORKING BETTER THAN THE PESSIMISTS THOUGHT IT MIGHT.

>> AND I AGREE 100%, KRISTI.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS BOTH HARD AND SOFT MANDATES.

THE HARD MANDATES BEING THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT OUT NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GET AT LEAST YOUR FIRST VACCINE AND WE SAW THINGS ACROSS THE STATE SUCH AS THE NURSING HOME STAFF GOING FROM 71% OF BEING VACCINATED TO 92%.

SO I MEAN WE ARE SEEING THE EVIDENCE, THE DATA BEING SUPPORTED WITH THE NUMBERS AS WELL THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS MANDATE.

>> IT'S ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO SHORTAGES AT THE SAME TIME.

I THINK THE GREATER GOOD IS BEING SERVED.

I EMFER EXAMPLE EMPATHIZE WITH PATIENTS WHO MAY NOT GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF CARE IN A TIMELY MANNER BUT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF EMPLOYER MANDATES.

I THINK LAWMAKERS ARE FOCUSED ON AREAS AND INDUSTRIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE VULNERABLE AND HEALTH IS A CONCERN AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL DOWN, CONTINUE TO BROADEN THIS OUT TO TRY TO GET MORE AND MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED BECAUSE THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH INTEREST OF THE NATION.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE COURT DECISIONS ARE.

I MEAN THERE ARE SEVERAL CHALLENGES TO THIS MANDATE IN NEW YORK ON THE BASIS OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND SO ON AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW THAT WILL TURN OUT?

>> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE STATE IS ON PRETTY FIRM FOOTING IN TERMS OF THEIR POLICIES BECAUSE THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT BEING ABLE TO REQUIRE HEALTH-RELATED MEASURES UNDER, ESPECIALLY UNDER TIMES LIKE THESE.

HAVEN'T WE SEEN AN UPSURGE IN RECRUITING TO FIND REPLACEMENTS FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT OF HEALTHCARE WORK?

>> I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SEEN-- SOME PLACES HAVE BEEN GIVING OR MOST PLACES, I SHOULD SAY, HAVE BEEN GIVEN UNTIL OCTOBER 8 AND THEY'RE SEEING MOST PEOPLE COMPLYING WITH THAT, GOING AND GETTING THEIR FIRST SHOT.

SO THEY'RE NOT-- MOST PLACES THEY WEREN'T TERMINATED.

THEY WERE PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THAT ADDITIONAL STRAIN.

BUT IT HAS TO BE WEIGHED WITH THE REWARD OF THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE FRAIL, THAT HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS, THAT PUT THEM MORE VULNERABLE AND YOU ARE COMING IN CONTACT WITH A LOT MORE PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE.

I MEAN YOU THINK OF CANCER PATIENTS, FOR INSTANCE, WHO NEED TO HAVE WEEKLY CHEMOTHERAPY TREEPTS, WHO ARE ELDERLY.

THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED IN THE HEALTHCARE CONTEXT?

THAT MAKES LITTLE SENSE TO ME FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

THIS ADDRESS THIS.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHY THIS IS BEING DONE, RIGHT?

THE STAKES ARE VERY HIGH.

>> I WAS STRUCKLY THE NORTH COUNTRY HOSPITAL, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS, WHERE THEY STOPPED DOING DELIVERIES OF CHILDREN BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE NURSES OR THE OPERATORS IN THAT AREA WERE NOT VACCINATED.

AND I THOUGHT WHAT WERE THESE PEOPLE DOING DELIVERING BABIES WHO, YOU KNOW, NON-VACCINATED PEOPLE DELIVERING BABIES, SIMILAR TO LUKE'S POINT ABOUT NON-VACCINATED PEOPLE GIVING, YOU KNOW, TREATMENTS TO CANCER PATIENTS?

WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE CASE.

>> AND WHAT WOULD SERVICE BE LIKE IF YOU ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN NATIONAL GUARD PEOPLE?

HOW WOULD THAT ACTUALLY WORK?

>> YEAH, SO I DID THE BEST I COULD TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

SHE SPECIFICALLY SAID-- THE GOVERNOR SPECIFICALLY SAID NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS THAT HAD MEDICAL TRAINING RATHER THAN JUST NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS BECAUSE THAT-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD DO.

USUALLY WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING PEOPLE IN POSITIONS WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE, IT DOESN'T END UP WELL.

BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE LEGAL QUESTION WHERE THERE IS PRECEDENT BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT OF MANDATING VACCINES AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO IT IS UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL STATE LEVEL AND THAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGED BEFORE WITH SMALL POX AND HAS BEEN HELD IN PLACE.

>> GEORGE WASHINGTON VACCINATED HIS TROOPS IN THE 1770s AGAINST SMALL POX.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ACTUALLY AN OLD IDEA.

WELL, WE ARE JUMPING TO OUR THIRD STORY.

AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SEASON OF REDISTRICTING, AND HERE IN NEW YORK WE THOUGHT WE HAD A SOLUTION TO PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING.

BUT OUR BIPARTISAN COMMISSION CHARGED WITH REDRAWING LEGISLATIVE MAPS COULD NOT AGREE ON ONE.

SO IT RELEASED TWO MAPS-- A REPUBLICAN ONE AND A DEMOCRATIC ONE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THIS MIGHT GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AFTER ALL-WHAT DO WE EXPECT A NEW MAP WILL LOOK LIKE?

LUKE.

>> I THOUGHT THE DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMISSION MITE HAVE CONSULTED WITH YOU AND THE OTHER HOSTS OF THE SHOW BECAUSE THE CENTRAL NEW YORK DISTRICT, PER THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD INCLUDE UTICA, SYRACUSE, ITHACA AND CORTLAND AND CREATE A COMPLETELY NEW DISTRICT THAT WOULD BASICALLY HAVE JOHN KATKO PITTED AGAINST CLAUDIA TENNEY.

THAT'S THE STARTING POINT ABOUT DEMOCRATIC IDEAS WHAT THE HOUSE MAP WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ADOPTED.

I THINK IT WILL ULTIMATELY GO TO THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE I THINK LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN THE STATE WANT TO HAVE EVEN MORE SEATS GERRYMANDERED THAN THAT PARTICULAR MAP DID.

IT GAVE THE DEMOCRATS MAYBE A ONE OR TWO-SEAT ADVANTAGE, DEPENDING ON THE ESTIMATES.

AND I THINK NATIONAL PRESSURE IS GOING TO PROMPT NEW YORK TO TRY TO DRAW A MAP THAT CAN NET THEM 3, 4 OR EVEN FIVE SEATS AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK HIVE HEARD FROM AND READ ABOUT MANY DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY AND IN NEW YORK WHO ARE SAYING WE WOULD LIKE TO PASS HR-1.

WE WANT A NATIONAL BAN ON GERRYMANDERING.

THAT'S THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT WON'T PASS, BUT THAT DOES MANDATE, YOU KNOW, REALLY INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS AND BANS PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING.

BUT IF THEY SAY, IF THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT, ALL THESE REPUBLICAN STATES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE GERRYMANDERING GERRYMANDERING, GERRYMANDERING AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT BACK AND NEW YORK IS THE PLACE WE CAN FIGHT BACK AND CREATE, AS LUKE SAYS, MAYBE THREE MORE DEMOCRATIC SEATS, WHICH IS CRITICAL OR MAY BE CRITICAL IN TERMS OF THE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

I MEAN THE IDEA OF CREATING-- I MEAN IT'S AN INTERESTING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION, WHICH SOME STATES HAVE TRIED TO CREATE , NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFULLY, THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER IN SOME CASES LIKE ARIZONA BY PARTISANS AND OURS WAS MORE OF A BIPARTISAN ONE AND THAT WAS NEVER GOING TO END WELL-- WAS NEVER GOING TO END IN A NON-PARTISAN WAY.

>> WHY NOT?

>> BECAUSE THE PARTIES ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE-- >> WHO HAS FINAL SAY?

>> THE LEGISLATURE.

>> OKAY.

>> THE LEGISLATURE IS CONTROLLED BY SUPER MAJORITIES OF DEMOCRATS.

>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PARTY POLITICS.

IS IT NOT COMPLETE HYPOCRISY FOR THE DEMOCRATS THROUGHOUT THE LAST DECADE TO SAY ALL THE HOUSE SEATS, MANY HOUSE SEATS NATIONALLY WERE GERRYMANDERING.

THAT'S WHY REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED THE HOUSE.

DEMOCRATS COULD NEVER WIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

THEN THEY DO AND STILL FEDERAL LEGISLATION AGAINST GERRYMANDERING BUT THEY'RE PLAYING THE GAME OF POWER POLITICS.

IT SEEMS VERY HYPOCRITICAL TO ME.

>> IT IS.

WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS SOME ACTUAL WORK PUT INTO THIS AND LOCK AT WHERE THE-- LOOK AT WHERE THE POPULATION DIMINISHED AND BASE THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICTS OFF WHERE THE POPULATION IS.

AND HAVE THE REPRESENTATION THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE.

>> DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THERE IS A BILL IN CONGRESS, WHICH IS -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO IT IS SPONSORED BY, BUT JAMIE RASKIN IS ONE OF THEM, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS-- I DIDN'T WRITE THIS DOWN, I DON'T THINK.

THIS IS PIE IN THE SKY STUFF, BUT IT'S INTERESTING.

WE WOULD HAVE DISTRICTS THAT WERE LARGER, MULTIMEMBER AND THEY WOULD-- PEOPLE WOULD BE ELECTED-- MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WOULD BE ELECTED BY RANK CHOICE VOTING.

>> MULTIMEMBER DISTRICTS?

>> MULTIMEMBER DISTRICTS ARE GREAT.

>> THAT'S LIKE FRANCE.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT I LIVED IN ILLINOIS FOR SOME OF THE BRIEF TIME THAT THE ILLINOIS STATE LEGISLATURE, AT LEAST ONE OF THE HOUSES, I THINK THE LOWER HOUSE, HAD MULTIMEMBER DISTRICTS SO I LIVED IN IN A CHICAGO AREA HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC AREA BUT WE HAD THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE REPUBLICAN.

TWO DEMOCRATS AND A REPUBLICAN AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT ALLOWED FOR A BIPARTISAN SITUATION REPRESENTING US, WHICH WAS A BETTER REPRESENTATION OF NORMALLY, IN A ONE-MEMBER DISTRICT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL DEMOCRATS ALL THE TIME.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN ONLY A POLITICAL SCIENTIST COULD LOVE I'M CURIOUS THOUGH-- >> OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE... >> FAIR ENOUGH.

I'M CURIOUS ALSO, WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED TOM REED'S DISTRICT IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

HE IS A REPUBLICAN.

HE IS LEADING THE HOUSE.

IS THAT A DOUBLE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S A VACANCY?

>> BOTH PLANS DID AWAY WITH IT.

IF YOU HAVE A CURRENT SEAT NOBODY TO DEFEND IT BECAUSE THE PERSON IS RESIGNING AMONG MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS, THAT'S LOW HANGING FRUIT.

SO THAT'S GONE.

I THINK ELISE STEFANIK'S DISTRICT IS GOING TO STAY SAFE.

CLAUDIA TENNEY IS A MAJOR TARGET.

VULNERABLE, LOST ONCE, WON NARROWLY.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE EFFORT TO PIT JOHN KATKO AND TENNEY AGAINST EACH OTHER.

THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE DEMOCRATS TRY TO PICK UP A COUPLE OF SEATS IN THE AREA.

>> FOLLOWUP QUESTION.

KATKO-TENNEY IN A PRIMARY, WHO WINS?

>> I THINK KATKO MIGHT NOT ENGAGE IN THAT.

HE MIGHT PULL A RICHARD HANNAH AND SAY I DON'T WANT TO BOTHER, PARTICULARLY IF THE DISTRICT IS OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRATIC.

IT'S UNLIKELY THE REPUBLICAN WHO WINS THE PRIMARY IS GOING TO WIN THE GENERAL ANYWAY SO SOMEBODY MIGHT BAIL OUT.

>> HE HAS DONE WELL IN THE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

HAD NO PROBLEM.

>> IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE DEMOCRATIC.

IT WOULD BE LIKE A D PLUS 13 FOR THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT WHEREAS NOW HIS DISTRICT IS JUST A LITTLE BIT DEMOCRATIC.

SO WHOEVER COMES OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE HAS A VERY UPHILL BATTLE.

>> IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE A FASCINATING ELECTION IN 2022.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME FOR As AND FS SO WE OPEN THE GRADEBOOK.

WE BEGIN WITH Fs AND KRISTI, YOUR F LEASE.

>> AN F TO THE SAD ANNOUNCEMENT BY U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SAYING IT PLANS TO TAKE 23 SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS OFF THE LIST OF ENDANGERED SPECIES NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE REESTABLISHED BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE EXTINCT.

THIS IS ANOTHER WAY WE HAVE FAILED TO CARE FOR THE EARTH, HABITAT CLIMATE DESTRUCTION HAS PRODUCED AN ACCELERATING RATE OF EXTINCTION WORLDWIDE.

>> BEN.

>> I'M GIVING MY F TO A GUY IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, HIS IDENTITY I DON'T KNOW YET.

BUT HE WAS ON PATRIOT TAKES ON TWITTER ON THE 27th AND IT WAS GOING VIRAL WHERE HE WAS WALKING AROUND AND ASKING PEOPLE WHERE HE COULD FIND COVID.

WHILE THE HOSPITALS IN THE AREA WERE OVERWHELMED.

SO I CAN TELL YOU WHERE YOU CAN FIND COVID.

>> LUKE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOR HIS PUBLIC SERVICE.

THE F IS NOT FOR HIM PERSONALLY.

IT'S FOR HIS LOSS, TO BE CLEAR, WITH THE PICTURE.

HE WAS A UTICA COLLEGE GRADUATE AND ARMY VETERAN WHO REPRESENTED THE MOHAWK VALLEY IN CONGRESS FOR 24 YEARS.

>> HE WAS-- HE WILL BE MISSED.

MY MOTHER IN UTICA WORKED NEAR HIM BACK IN THE 1960s.

IN 2005, CNN ANCHOR CHRIS QOAMY CUOMO ATTENDED A PARTY FOR ABC WHERE HE WORKED AT THE TIME.

AT THE PARTY HE HUGGED HIS RECENT FORMER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, A WOMAN NAMED SHELLY ROSS AND GRABBED HER BUTT.

NOW HER HUSBAND WAS SITTING IMMEDIATELY BEHIND HER.

WITHIN HOURS, HE SENT THE WOMAN AN EMAIL SAYING HE WAS "ASHAMED" APOLL NIEZING, BOTH TO HER AND TO HER HUSBAND FOR "EVEN PUTTING YOU IN SUCH A POSITION."

NOW THIS WEEK AFTER THESE MANY YEARS, MISS ROSS WROTE ABOUT THIS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYING TO CHRIS CUOMO NOW, WAS HE REALLY ASHAMED?

WAS HIS APOLOGY REALLY SINCERE?

AND WAS CUOMO MERELY TRYING TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY?

WELL CUOMO APOLOGIZED, HE DID SO IMMEDIATELY.

HE DIDN'T MAKE EXCUSES.

AND NOW 15 YEARS LATER SHELLY ROSS IS TRYING TO MAKE HAY OUT OF THIS.

THIS IS THE KIND OF BACKFILLING AND QUESTIONABLE FINGER POINTING THAT DOES NOT HELP THE ME TOO MOVEMENT.

As.

>> TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN IMPORTANT CHANGE IN IMMIGRATION POLICY.

THAT IS BEING UNDOCUMENTED WILL NOT ALONE MEAN A PERSON WILL BE DEPORTED.

HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY SAID ICE WOULD NO LONGER ATTEMPT TO DEPORT FARM WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO SPEAK OUT AGAINST UNFAIR TREATMENT BY EMPLOYERS AND OTHER VULNERABLE PEOPLE TO DEPORTATION DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> MY A GOES TO SENATOR McCONNELL.

ME WROTE ON TWITTER A FEW DAYS AGO HE FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF EXPERTS AND HIS DOCTOR.

HE RECEIVED A BOOSTER FOR COVID AND HE SAID MOUNTAINS OF EVIDENCE TELL US THAT THE SHOTS ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

HE ENCOURAGED ALL MRNS TO AMERICANS TO SPEAK WITH THEIR DOCTORS AND GET VACCINATED.

THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN A POLITICAL ISSUE AND I THINK THIS LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND GETTING OUT THERE, GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE TO PEOPLE THAT ARE REPUBLICANS THAT MAY OTHERWISE NOT HAVE GOT THE SHOT, EARNED HIM AN A THIS WEEK.

>> AND LUKE.

>> MY A GOES TO MAJOR AIRLINES INCLUDING DELTA AND JETBLUE WHO ANNOUNCED A GRADUAL TRANSITION TO BIOFUELS FROM SPEED STOCKS.

THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY 5% OF GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS.

THIS IS A WELCOME CHANGE.

>> AND I'M GIVING AN A TO THE CONVICTION OF THE RAPPER R KELLY FOR HIS CHRONIC SEX TRAFFICKING, SEXUAL ABUSE, INVOLVING NUMEROUS WOMEN OVER THE SPACE OF AT LEAST 20 YEARS.

UNFORTUNATELY IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO BRING HIM TO JUSTICE.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

GLAD TO SEE HIM GOING TO THE BIG HOUSE.

ALL RIGHT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR TIME.

AND I WANT TO 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 ON WCNY.ORG.

I'M BOB SPITZER, AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.