A TRUMP ALLY BOUGHT CBS, NOW HE WANTS CNN.

THE CATCH-HE COULD SAVE HOLLYWOOD IN THE PROCESS.

A BRAVE NEW WORLD IN AUSTRALIA-- NO SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE YOUNG.

SHOULD THE U.S.

DO THE SAME?

AND NEW YORK DOUBLES DOWN ON CASINOS.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

WE HAD BIG MEDIA NEWS THIS WEEK THAT COULD IMPACT MOVIES, NEWS AND AMERICAN POLITICS.

WARNER BROTHERS/DISCOVERY HAD AGREED TO SELL ITSELF TO NETFLIX.

THE DEAL WOULD GIVE IT THE WARNER BROTHERS STUDIO AND LIBRARY, BUT NOT ITS CABLE BUSINESS, INCLUDING CNN.

PARAMOUNT THEN UPPED THE ANTE IN A HOSTILE BID FOR THE ENTIRE COMPANY.

PARAMOUNT RECENTLY BOUGHT CBS, SO CRITICS FEAR A CONSOLIDATION OF NEWS MEDIA IN THE HANDS OF A TRUMP ALLY, DAVID ELLISON.

ON TOP OF THE POLITICAL QUESTIONS, THERE IS A BIG ONE ABOUT WHAT THIS ALL MEANS FOR THE MOVIE BUSINESS.

ANY DEAL HAS TO BE APPROVED BY FEDERAL REGULATORS.

SHOULD THE DEAL GO THROUGH?

EITHER OF THESE DEALS GO THROUGH.

>> WELL, I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT THESE DEALS, THEY'RE VERY CLASSICAL TRADITIONAL ANTITRUST THAT HAVE ISSUES.

LET'S TAKE NETFLIX.

THE BIGGEST OF THE ONLINE STREAMERS AND IT'S GOING TO BUY, I THINK THE FOURTH LARGEST.

FROM THE SUPPLY SIDE, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT IT BECOMES A MONOPOLY, SUCH A LARGE GIANT STREAMING SERVICE, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT CAN RAISE ITS PRICES.

REMEMBER, IN 2013, NETFLIX WAS 7.99.

NOW IT'S 17.99 WITHOUT ADS.

GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH THE PRICE WILL INCREASE AFTER THIS.

THAT WILL BE LESS CHOICES FOR CONSUMERS.

AND ON THE BUYING SIDE, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BEHAVE LIKE A MONOPOLY.

THE SINGLE LARGEST BUYER OF SHOWS SO THAT WILL CREATE A LACK OF NEGOTIATION, A LACK OF LEVERAGE FOR SHOW RUNNERS, ACTORS, WRITERS, AND SO ON.

SO THAT'S WHY HOLLYWOOD DOES NOT LIKE THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE, AS HAS BEEN THE TREND, THAT THEIR NEGOTIATING POWER AS ARTISTS, AS DIRECTORS, AS WRITERS, THAT WILL REDUCE.

NOW PUT ON TOP OF THAT, THE PRESIDENT VERY UNUSUALLY HAS INSERTED HIMSELF INTO THIS DEAL, THE SHAREHOLDERS HAVE TO ANSWER TO THIS WARNER BROTHERS HAVE TO ANSWER TO THIS.

FTC PASS THE REGULATION AND THERE WILL BE LITIGATION SO IT'S ABOUT A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF.

>> SO HOLLYWOOD DOESN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF NETFLIX OWNING WARNER BROTHERS BUT JENNY, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF PARAMOUNT SUCCEEDS?

>> IF PARAMOUNT SUCCEEDS, THEY ARE OFFERING TO TAKE CNN BECAUSE THE DEAL THAT WARNER BROTHERS AND NETFLIX ARE TALKING ABOUT WOULD EXCLUDE CNN SO IT PUTS CNN IN LIMBO IN EITHER DIRECTION.

SO PAIR PARAMOUNT IS OFFERING TO TAKE CNN BUT THEIR PLAN WOULD BE TO CHANGE CNN.

DAVID ELLISON, LARRY ELLISON'S SON, LARRY ELLISON IS THE C.E.O.

AND FOUNDER OF OR ORACLE AND A VERY WELL CONNECTED FAMILY TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, DAVID ELLISON HAS BASICALLY SAID THAT IF WARNER BROTHERS WILL WORK WITH PARAMOUNT, THEY WILL BASICALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT WILL OPEN UP FOR THEM BECAUSE OF THE DIRECT PIPELINE.

BUT THE PROMISE FOR WHY IT IS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE REGULATORY APPROVALS IS BECAUSE THEY WILL CHANGE CNN TO APPEASE THE PRESIDENT'S CONCERNS.

>> SO THE INTERESTS OF THE PRESIDENT AND OF DAVID ELLISON KIND OF ALIGN HERE, EVEN THOUGH, I MEAN DAVID ELLISON PROBABLY-- I'M GUESSING, I'M SPECULATING, DOESN'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT CNN, WHEREAS PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY NOT CARE ABOUT THE MOVIE BUSINESS, BUT CNN FOR HIM IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ALSO THE FACT THAT THE PART OF THE BACKING FOR THE PARAMOUNT BID COMES FROM-- AND THIS IS WHERE I WONDER IF THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, COMES FROM AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY JERRY KUSHNER CALLED AFFINITY PARTNERS.

IT HAS SAUDI CONNECTIONS, ET CETERA.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THERE IS EVEN MORE OF A CONNECTION.

AND AS YOU SAID, FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE ISSUE IS THAT I WANT TO ELIMINATE OR CONTROL WHAT CNN IS.

SO THAT THEY'RE FRIENDLIER TO ME.

>> ON THE REGULATORY NOTE, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I PICKED UP YESTERDAY LISTENING TO THE NEWS IS THAT THEY HAVE LAWS THAT FORBID FOREIGN INTERESTS OWNING OUR MEDIA ENVIRONMENT AND THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH KUSHNER AND THEN THE SAUDI GROUP ADDS AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY IN THE REGULATORY SPACE.

>> WHAT ABOUT GOING TO THE MOVIES, RIGHT?

IF NETFLIX WINS, I MEAN NETFLIX IS A STREAMER AND THEY DON'T REALLY CARE-- TED, THE C.E.O.

OF NETFLIX DOESN'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE GOING TO THE MOVIE THEATER AND WATCHING IT ON THE BIG SCREEN.

>> NETFLIX HAS PROMISED, FOR NOW, THAT IT WILL KEEP THE MOVIE RELEASED FOR THE NEXT YEAR FOR WARNER BROTHERS, FOR A YEAR.

BUT THEY HAVE NOT SAID ANYTHING BEYOND THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, ON THE WHOLE, PEOPLE HAVE KIND OF STOPPED GOING TO MOVIES AS PROJECTORS HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE SMALLER, AMAZING HOME SCREENS.

SHOOTINGS IN MOVIE HALLS AND SO ON.

ALL THESE DIFFERENT KINDS OF STUFF.

FOR BETTER OR WORSE, MOVIE GOING AS A CULTURE HAS DIMINISHED OVER TIME AND MAYBE NETFLIX IS SEEING OTHER PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE LIGHT ON THE WALL.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT WATCH FILMS.

THEY WILL DEFINITELY WATCH FILMS.

BUT WHETHER THEY WILL GO TO A MOVIE HALL TO WATCH THAT, THAT'S A BIG QUESTION, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

>> SURE.

BUT OUR CULTURE, IT'S SUCH A PART OF OUR CULTURE.

>> IT IS PART OF OUR CULTURE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED AFTER THE PANDEMIC IS THOSE MOVIE THEATERS THAT MANAGED TO STAY OPEN, DID REALLY TRY TO CREATE A MOVIE EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR MOVIE.

YOU HAVE A REAL DINNER, NOT JUST YOUR POPCORN AND HOT DOG.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM EVEN HAVE ASSOCIATED GAMING ROOMS FOR THE KIDS, ETC.

AND SO I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A MOVE-- YOU ARE RIGHT.

THE MOVIES HAVE DIMINISHED IN ERMS THE OF THE EXPERIENCE BUT INCREASED AS MORE OF A BIG FAMILY EVENT, AND/OR THERE OF AN EMPHASIS ON QUOTE UNQUOTE SAFE PLACE WHERE TEENS CAN COME WHEN THEY'RE STARTING TO DATE, ET CETERA.

SO I THINK THERE IS A PUSH TO RECREATE THAT.

PLUS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHILE CERTAINLY STREAMING HAS INCREASED, AND I DO THINK IT'S GENERATIONAL, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO ARE OVER 40, SO TO SPEAK, STILL LIKE GOING TO THE MOVIES.

SITTING IN THE MOVIE THEATER, RELAXING.

NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE PHONE RINGING AND THIS GOING ON AND THAT GOING ON.

AND SO I THINK THERE IS SORT OF A DESIRE FOR THE MOVIES, THAT NETFLIX DOESN'T REALLY CARE ABOUT AND PROBABLY WILL WANT TO ELIMINATE IN A ACCEPTS, AS QUICKLY AS-- IN A SENSE, AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN.

>> A BIG PART OF OUR CULTURE BUT BALANCING THAT AGAINST THIS SENSE OF ALMOST STATE-RUN MEDIA, IF THE ADMINISTRATION ESSENTIALLY HAS CONTROL OF BOTH CBS AND CNN.

>> THAT'S A REALLY BIG CONCERN, THAT WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FEWER AND FEWER OWNERS HAVE A LARGER CONTROL OVER THE INFLUENCE AND ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN AN EROSION OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS ON THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.

ONCE UPON A TIME WE USED TO VALUE THE IDEA THAT LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY INTERESTS, INCLUDING ENTERTAINMENT, NEEDED TO BE REALLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, MEANING THAT YOU COULDN'T HAVE OR SHOULDN'T HAVE CORPORATE OWNERS OF ALL YOUR MEDIA OUTLETS.

>> AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA IS EXPENSIVE.

THAT'S WHY THERE IS SO MUCH CORPORATE MEDIA.

A BRAVE NEW WORLD BEGAN THIS WEEK IN AUSTRALIA-P.

A WORLD WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOUTH.

A NEW LAW TOOK EFFECT THAT BANS ANYONE UNDER 16 FROM VARIOUS SOCIAL PLATFORMS INCLUDING TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM, AND SNAPCHAT.

THE LAW IS MOTIVATED BY THE USUAL CONCERNS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA-BULLYING, INCREASED ANXIETY, LOSS OF FOCUS AND ONLINE PREDATORS.

OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE PLANS FOR SIMILAR LAWS.

SHOULD THE U.S.

FOLLOW SUIT?

IS AN OUTRIGHT BAN THE BEST APPROACH?

>> I'M GLAD WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I THINK THE SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME INCREDIBLY PERVASIVE IN DAILY LIFE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND THERE ARE CLEAR RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT USING SOCIAL MEDIA, ESPECIALLY HEAVY SOCIAL MEDIA USE, AND BY SOCIAL MEDIA WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, YOUTUBE, TWITCH, THAT THEY HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY ON HEAVY USERS AND ESPECIALLY TEENS.

SO A NUMBER OF STUDIES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THAT TEENS WHO ARE HEAVY USERS HAVE MUCH HIGHER REPORTED ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ACCESS-A-RIDEAL IDEATION, BODY DISMORPHIA.

SO IT'S NOT A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

THEN YOU HAVE THE ALGORITHMS.

SO THESE COMPANIES,FACEBOOK,INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, THEY HAVE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED THEIR PLATFORMS TO TRY TO INCREASE YOUR RELIANCE ON THE PLATFORMS AND PART OF THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING EXTREME EMOTIONAL, VIOLENT, ANGRY SORTS OF CONTENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PLAYS ON OUR EMOTIONS AND WHAT KEEPS US THERE.

AND NONE OF THAT IS HEALTHY.

SO-- BUT REGULATION IS TRICKY.

AN OUTRIGHT BAN IS GOING TO BE QUITE TOUGH, EVEN IN AUSTRALIA.

NOW THEY DON'T HAVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IF YOU WISH, BUT IN AUSTRALIA, EVEN IN THAT CONTEXT, TEENS CAN GET AROUND THESE THINGS.

VPN.

THEY DRAW THINGS ON THEIR FACES TO LOOK OLDER.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO GET AROUND IT.

>> SHOW ME A KID THAT CAN'T FIGURE THEIR WAY AROUND A SOCIAL MEDIA OR AROUND SOMETHING THAT THE PARENTS DON'T WANT THEM TO DO, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT.

I WILL ASK AN AUSTRALIAN TEENAGER TO CREATE A VPN ACCOUNT FROM-- IT MASKS YOUR I.P.

ADDRESS TO YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER.

THEN CREATE A FAKE ACCOUNT THROUGH PROTON MAIL, A SWISS-BASED COMPANY AND THEY CAN OPEN THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA AND SURF IT AS LONG AS THEY'RE CONNECTED VIA THE UNITED STATES.

SO THESE KINDS OF BANS WOULD NOT WORK.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH JENNY HERE THAT, YOU KNOW,-- AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS HERE-- THAT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES KNEW ABOUT HOW ADDICTIVE THIS IS AND HOW HARMFUL THIS IS FOR TEENAGERS.

IN A MEMO FACEBOOK SAID AS MUCH AND CONTINUED TO KEEP ON THAT PATH.

AND YES, THE HARM IS TREMENDOUS.

I WANT TO POINT TO THE INTERESTINGLY, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CAME OUT AN OPINION SAYING THAT, YES, THESE ARE HARMFUL FOR YOUNGER TLGERS BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES ONLINE.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION, PARTICIPATE IN DIGITAL TOWN SQUARES AND IN MANY CASES SOCIAL MEDIA PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOCIAL ANXIETY, DISABILITIES OF CERTAIN WAYS, WHO ACTUALLY CREATE A COMMUNITY AROUND THEM THAT THEY CANNOT REALLY ACCESS ON AN EVERYDAY LIFE AND THAT CREATES A HOME FOR THEM, A SENSE OF PURPOSE FOR THEM.

THAT CREATES A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR THEM SO WE CANNOT TAKE THAT AWAY COMPLETELY.

SOCIAL MEDIA YES VAST LEVELS OF VAGUERIES IF YOU WILL, BUT HAS SOME EFFECT ON MANY TLGERS, WHICH I THINK, AS A TEENAGER, ONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT, RIGHT?

TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATES, YOU KNOW, CONTROVERSIAL... >> SOME OF THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT IF THEY'RE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ONLINE, IT JUST GOES TO FIGURE REALLY IS THAT THEY'RE NOT SPENDING IT WITH EACH OTHER IN FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATION.

>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS SO TO SPEAK IN AUSTRALIA, WAS THE FACT THAT YOU HAD REPORTS FROM TEENAGERS WHO TALKED ABOUT YES, IT WAS TOUGH, BUT THESE ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT I DID SINCE I COULDN'T BE ON MY PHONE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT TIKTOK, ET CETERA.

AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, TALK TO FAMILY MEMBERS, HELPED MORE AROUND THE HOUSE.

THAT SORT OF THING.

AND EVEN ONE OF THOSE TEENAGERS-- AND OBVIOUSLY ONE DOESN'T SAY YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.

BUT EVEN ONE OF THOSE TEENAGERS REALIZED AFTER A WHILE, BOY, I'M REALLY SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I DID SORT OF ENJOY NOT CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT MY PHONE AND DOING SOME OTHER THINGS.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN AUSTRALIA.

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN EFFORT.

AND THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IT MAY NOT WORK.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID WAS THEY CREATED A 12-PERSON ACADEMIC PANEL TO REVIEW THIS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

PARENTS ARE SCREAMING, PLEASE HELP US DO SOMETHING.

SO THEY'RE WILLING TO TRY THIS, BUT NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS IT.

IT'S DONE.

WE ARE NEVER GOING TO LOOK AT THIS AGAIN.

THIS IS THE LAW.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO SEE HOW IT WORKS FOR A YEAR.

GET FEEDBACK.

PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, SURVEYS, ET CETERA.

AND THEN MODIFY, IF NECESSARY.

>> NOW IN THE U.S., SEVERAL STATES HAVE PROPOSED LAWS THAT WILL DO SOMETHING SIMILAR AND THAT HASN'T REALLY GONE ANYWHERE, HAS IT JENNY?

>> IT HASN'T.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE FIRST AMENDMENT EARLIER?

>> CORRECT.

SEVEN STATES HAVE PASSED LAWS TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOME STATES, IT'S UNDER 14.

AND OTHER STATES UNDER 18.

BUT IN ALASKA THAT IS NOT TRUE-- ARKANSAS-- THERE WE GO.

AND OHIO.

ONE OF THOSE A.K.

STATES.

IT'S BEEN THE COURTS HAVE RULED IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

YOU CANNOT PROHIBIT AN ENTIRE CLASS OF PEOPLE FROM ACCESS TO THESE PLATFORMS ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FIRST AMENDMENT COMMUNICATION AND THAT'S PROTECTED.

>> REALLY DOES GET DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE LOVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT?

ESPECIALLY WE IN THE MEDIA LOVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

IT'S THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WHOLE SOCIETY AND YET WHEN THAT WAS WRITTEN IN 1787 AND THE CONSTITUTION, OF COURSE THAT CAME A COUPLE YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGY AND IT'S A TICKY WICKET, AS THEY SAY.

I'M QUOTING YOU BECAUSE-- >> YOU KNOW, IT IS A STICKY WICKET FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ON THE ONE HAND THE VERY REAL HARM OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONSTANT SOCIAL MEDIA USE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WHEN I USED TO GO TO MY CLASSES, STUDENTS WOULD CONSTANTLY CHAT WITH EACH OTHER AND WOULD I ASK THEM TO LOWER THEIR VOICES TO START THE CLASS.

AND NOW I GO IN AND EVERYBODY IS ON THEIR PHONE.

NOBODY TALKS TO EACH OTHER AND I HAVE TO CREATE EXERCISES FOR THEM TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

SO THIS SOCIAL ANOMALY, IF YOU WILL, IT IS CONCERNING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU TELL AN 18-YEAR-OLD THAT DON'T GO TO FACEBOOK TO CONNECT WITH YOUR FRIEND OR PARTICIPATE IN A DIGITAL RALLY OR, YOU KNOW,KNOW ABOUT HEALTH INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> THEY'RE NOT ON FACEBOOK BY THE WAY.

BUT I HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.

DEAD SILENCE AND WOULD I POINT THIS OUT TO THEM AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M AN OLD GUY SAYING GET OFF MY LAWN.

BACK IN 2013, NEW YORK VOTERS PASSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION ALLOWING FOR 7 CASINOS IN THE STATE.

FOUR HAVE OPENED UPSTATE, AND NOW A BOARD HAS RECOMMENDED 3 MORE IN NEW YORK CITY.

THE DEVELOPERS PROMISE TOURISM, EVENTS, THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

THEY PROJECT 7 BILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUE OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

BUT THE UPSTATE CASINOS HAVE GENERATED LESS MONEY THAN EXPECTED, PLUS THEY COULD LOSE BUSINESS TO THE CITY CASINOS.

SHOULD THE STATE GAMING COMMISSION LICENSE THE NYC CASINOS?

>> NO.

THEY SHOULD NOT.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HERE-- AND QUITE FRANKLY, AN INUNDATION OF CASINOS.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE SCONE CASINOS THAT ARE ON THE-- CONNECTED WITH THE VARIOUS NATIVE AMERICANS GROUPS AND RESERVATIONS.

>> COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THIS.

>> EXACTLY.

THEN YOU ALREADY HAVE SORT OF THE SEPARATE CASINOS THAT EXIST SO NOW YOU ARE ADD ADDING MORE CASINOS AND AS YOU CORRECTLY POINTED OUT, THESE ARE CASINOS, MANY OF WHOM NEVER GENERATED THE REVENUE IT WAS THOUGHT THEY WOULD GENERATE.

AND YOU FIND THAT AFTER THAT SORT OF INITIAL EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE CASINO, THE PARTICIPATION TYPICALLY DECREASES, THE JOBS DECREASE AND SO IT REALLY IS NOT THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS THAT PEOPLE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE.

ESPECIALLY DOWNSTATE, YOU ALSO HAVE THE FACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT ONE OF THE CASINOS THAT'S ALREADY EXISTING.

SO NO.

>> AS YOU POINT OUT, CASINOS HAVE A POOR RECORD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REALLY.

THEY PUT THEM IN DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES, MOSTLY.

THEY CERTAINLY HAVE UPSTATE.

BUT POLITICIANS, JENNY, THEY KEEP GOING DOWN THIS ROAD.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DELIBERATIONS AND THE VOTING THAT HAS HAPPENED AROUND THE PROPOSED CASINOS DOWNSTATE, THE COMMUNITIES ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY STRONGLY AGAINST HAVING THESE CASINOS COME INTO THEIR TOWNS AND SOME CASES IN THEIR PUBLIC PARK AREAS.

AND BUT THE POLITICIANS KATHY HOCHUL AND MAYOR ADAMS BOTH HAVE BEEN VERY POSITIVE TO THESE INITIATIVES AND I THINK SOME OF IT IS THE ARGUMENT AROUND ECONOMICS.

RIGHT WHILE THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED THE SOURCE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, NEVERTHELESS, IT DOES BRING JOBS, IT DOES BRING CONSTRUCTION IN THE EARLY PHASES AND THERE IS SOME VIBRANCY THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY NOW THAT THERE IS AN EVENT SPACE.

SO ONE OF THE AREAS, ONE OF THE CASINOS IS PROPOSING TO HAVE A CONVENTION CENTER.

SO THERE IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S MEANT TO BRING ADDITIONAL PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY INSIDE THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS BENEFICIAL POTENTIALLY BUT IGNORES SOME OF THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE EFFECTS OF CASINOS, GAMBLING AND OTHER ILLS.

>> THE PEOPLE COMING IN, THE TOURISTS BASICALLY.

NONE OF THESE THREE CASINOS ARE IN MANHATTAN.

>> NO, THEY COULDN'T GET-- >> THERE WAS ONE FOR HUDSON YARD AND ONE FOR TIMES SQUARE AND THE THIRD ONE, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE THIRD ONE WAS BUT THERE WAS LOCAL OPPOSITION.

THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.

YOU WOULD THINK FROM AN ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW, A MANHATTAN CASINO WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD BRING THE IN THE MOST TAX REVENUE.

WHO WANTS TO GO TO QUEENS TO-- >> PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MANHATTAN ARE ALSO VERY RICH SO THEY DON'T WANT-- OF COURSE, I MEAN IF YOU ARE LIVING IN MANHATTAN, I MEAN YOU ARE NOT A POOR PERSON YOU CANNOT AFFORD RENT IN MANHATTAN-- OR MAYBE YOU LIVE IN A RENT CONTROLLED PLACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT MOST PEOPLE LIVE IN BROOKLYN, MIDDLE-CLASS, UPPER... >> THE BROOKLYN ONE, THAT ONE GOT SHOT DOWN BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY PUSHED REALLY HARD.

>> THERE WILL OPPOSITION TO THE ONE IN QUEENS.

>> MAYBE PEOPLE IN MANHATTAN DOES NOT WANT IT FOR SOME REASON, AND MY THOUGHT WAS RICH PEOPLE LIVE IN MANHATTAN.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS HERE AND I DON'T THINK I HAVE VERY MUCH TO ADD ESPECIALLY FOR A PERSON WHO HAS NEVER GAMBLED IN A CASINO.

THERE WOULD BE BAD REPERCUSSIONS FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, RIGHT?

GAMBLING ADDICTION.

YOU KNOW, DESTITUTION OF FAMILIES.

THESE HAVE REMAINED IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE GAMBLE TO MATTER WHAT.

CONGESTION RISING, FOLLOWING LOCAL BUSINESSES DOWNSTREAM UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

WE WILL NEVER KNOW UNTIL IT OPENS.

WE ARE TOLD IT WILL GIVE BILLIONS OF TAX REVENUE COMCOMMING IN AND PEOPLE WILL RIDE FREE BUSS TO GO TO GAMBLE.

THAT'S A WIN-WIN.

I'M NOT VERY SURE.

BUT I'M NOT QUITE AGAINST IT IT WILL OPEN.

PEOPLE WILL GAMBLE ANYWAY.

>> SO-- >> WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

>> STATES NEED REVENUE.

NO DOUBT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M TROUBLED BY THE IDEA THAT THEY GET IT OFF THE BACKS OF PEOPLE WHO, AT THE RISK OF PROBLEM GAMBLING.

I MEAN THIS THERE IS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE ADDICTED TO THIS AND IT DOESN'T JUST WRECK THEM.

IT WRECKS THEIR FAMILIES, TOO BECAUSE THEY GO INTO DEBT.

>> IT IS LIKE A TAX ON THE POOR FRANKLY.

AND THE STATE DOESN'T PUT ENOUGH RESOURCES INTO HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND GAMBLING ADDICTION SERVICES AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS.

PROSTITUTION, FRIENDS, IS SOMETHING THAT ALSO HAPPENS AROUND CASINOS AND SO PROSTITUTION ALSO MEANS HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND SO THOSE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT SEEDY UNDERBELLY BUT THAT'S ALSO A REALITY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CASINOS.

>> AND YOU CAN HAVE GAMBLING ON MY PHONE, ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

SO IT HAS BECOME SO LIKE, YOU KNOW, FLUID INTO OUR OWN LIVES, OPENING ONE MORE CASINO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WILL ACTUALLY LIKE, YOU KNOW, BE WORSE FOR WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

>> MAYBE THAT'S THE SUPREME COURT DECISION-- THAT WAS REALLY ABOUT SPORTS GAMBLING.

>> YOU CAN DO IT FROM YOUR HOME.

>> IT'S VERY EASY TO DO.

YOU CAN MAKE SOME MONEY BUT MORE LIKELY YOU LOSE IT BECAUSE THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AS AND FS.

TAR AR, YOUR F.

>> YES, MY F GOES TO EIGHT SAN JOSE STUDENTS WHO YOU ARE SEEING ON YOUR SCREEN WHO FORMED A HUMAN SWAFT CAY ON THEIR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD.

SWASTIKA.

HENCE THE DANGERS OF INSTAGRAM.

>> ANIRBAN, I'M SORRY.

YOUR F.

>> GOES TO THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE DECISION TO CUT MARTIN LUTHER KING BIRTHDAY ON JUNETEENTH THE TWO HOLIDAYS HONORING BLACK HISTORY FROM ITS LIST OF FREE ENTRANCE DAYS NEXT YEAR.

HOWEVER, VISITORS WILL INDEED GET FREE ENTRY ON JUNE 14, WHICH IS FLAG DAY AND DONALD TRUMP'S BIRTHDAY.

>> OKAY.

JENNY, YOUR F.

>> HARVARD RESEARCHER JEAN BRUG WAS SIX YEARS IN A $7 MILLION NIH GRANT WHEN TRUMP FROZE ALL FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AT HARVARD AS PART OF TRUMP'S WAR ON UNIVERSITIES.

THE TEAM HAD JUST DISCOVERED SEED CELLS THAT MAY HOLD THE KEY TO PREVENTING BREAST CANCER.

NOW INSTEAD OF DOING LIFE SAVING RESEARCH, SHE IS SCRAMBLING TO FIND FUNDING.

HER WORK DELAYED WITH A POLITICAL FIGHT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SCIENCE.

THAT DESERVES AN F.

>> THE AS.

>> MY A GOES TO SENATOR ANGUS KING, WHO IS AN INDEPENDENT FROM MAINE AND HE SITS ON THE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

LAST WEEK SENATOR KING CRITICIZED THE TRANSITION FOR ITS ATTEMPTS TO WHITE WASH HISTORY WITHIN THE NATIONAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

POINTING OUT THAT REMOVING SLAVERY AT HARPER'S FERRY IS LIKE REMOVING MODEL ROCKETS FROM CAPE KENNEDY.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED, IT ONLY CHANGES OUR CITIZENS UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENED.

>> I HAD NOT HEARD THAT ABOUT HARPER'S FERRY.

THAT'S PRETTY SHOCKING RIGHT THERE.

ANIRBAN, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO OUR AFGHAN NEIGHBORS IN SYRACUSE WHO HAVE HELPED THE U.S.

MILITARY IN DIVERSE CAPACITIES AND ARE NOW ENRICHING ALL COMMUNITIES.

ONE SUCH CENTERS, WHO OWNS A STORE WHERE.

200 LOAFS OF AFGHAN BREAD EVERY DAY.

GO AND SUPPORT THEM.

EAT GOOD AFTER GOON FOOD AND BE HAPPY.

>> I USED TO GO TO AN AFGHAN RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY HAVE A PICTURE OF RONALD REAGAN ON THE WALL.

>> MY A GOES TO OXFORD'S 2025 WORD OF THE YEAR RAGE BAIT WHICH BEAT OUT OTHER GREATS LIKE AURA FARMING AND BIO HACK.

THE PHRASE CAPTURES PERFECTLY FOR ME WHAT 2025 HAS BECOME WHERE INFLUENCES, TECH BROS, THE TECH PLATFORMS AND ESPECIALLY OUR POLITICIANS ARE HIJACKING OUR EMOTIONS FOR THEIR OWN GAINS.

MAY WE ALL FIND SOME HOPE PUNK AND JOY BETAS WE HEAD INTO THE NEW YEAR.

>> I HADN'T HEARD OF HOPE PUNK OR JOY BAIT BUT RAGE BAIT AND THAT PLAYS INTO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

THERE WE GO AGAIN.

MY KIDS THINK I'M, YOU KNOW, THE GUY TELLING THEM TO GET OFF THE LAWN.

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.