DOES CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RUN THROUGH NEW YORK?

HAS THE MEDIA SANE WASHED DONALD TRUMP.

AND PRESSURE BUILDS ON UKRAINE TO MAKE A DEAL.

STAY TUNED.

"THE IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY SARAH PRALLE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY WELL RUN THROUGH NEW YORK.

IT DID IN 2022, WHEN SEVERAL DISTRICTS FLIPPED FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN.

NANCY PELOSI BLAMED GOVERNOR HOCHUL FOR DRAGGING DOWN THE REST OF THE TICKET THAT YEAR.

THIS TIME AROUND, DEMOCRATS HOPE TO REGAIN THOSE SEATS, AND NY-22 RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

SO LUKE, WILL CONTROL RUN THROUGH NEW YORK STATE?

IS WHAT THE WE EXPECT?

>> YES.

SO WE FIRST HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE 435 HOUSE RACES.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE NOT COMPETITIVE.

ONLY ABOUT 30 OR 40 ARE GOING TO BE TRULY COMPETITIVE TO THIS CYCLE AND THAT'S ABOUT THE AVERAGE.

AND DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THOSE COMPETITIVE SEATS ARE GOING TO BE LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE DEMOCRATS DID WELL IN 2022, THEY DID NOT DO WELL IN NEW YORK OR CALIFORNIA.

SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE REPUBLICAN CONTROL AND TAKE THE MAJORITY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH NEW YORK AND FOUR OF THOSE SEATS RUN THROUGH OUR AREA.

NY 17, 18, 19 AND 22.

SO I THINK OUR DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT'S MOST LIKELY TO FLIP.

AND THEN I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TRY TO PICK OFF MARK MOLINARO OR MARK LAWLER TO GET THREE OF THE FOUR REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS OUT.

>> YOU THINK MOST DISTRICT LIKELY TO FLIP THAT HELPS THE DEMOCRATS?

>> YES.

SO REDISTRICTING IS A BIG, LONG COMPLICATED MESS BUT PARTICULARLY FOR NY-22 THAT THE DISTRICT WAS SLIGHTLY DEMOCRATIC LAST TIME.

IT IS EVEN MORE DEMOCRATIC.

SO THE GROUND HAS SHIFTED SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS TO THE POINT THAT I THINK SENATOR MANNION, EVEN THOUGH HE IS THE CHALLENGER, IS THE FAVORITE.

>> THE OTHER RACES, THE OTHER DISTRICTEDS WITH REDISTRICTING ENDED UP BEING MORE EVENLY DIVIDED WHICH MAKES SENSE, RIGHT?

>> IT IS GOOD TO HAVE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THAT WE HAVE REDISTRICTED SO THAT THEY'RE NOT COMPETITIVE AND I DON'T THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY OR GOOD FOR THE VOTERS, BUT IN TERMS OF WHETHER WE CAN WIN THOSE BACK, IF NANCY PELOSI WAS CORRECT AND I'M NOT SURE SHE WAS IN HER ANALYSIS OF WHY WE LOST SO MANY OF THESE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS, THEN THINGS MIGHT NOT LOOK SO GREAT FOR THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE GUN CONTROL GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS LESS LIKED AND IS LESS POPULAR.

NOW IT'S STRANGE THAT'S VOTERS WOULD SORT OF PUNISH POLITICIANS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, VYING FOR FEDERAL OFFICE BECAUSE OF STATE POLITICS.

THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND THE DISLIKE OF THOSE LEADERS.

BUT YOU KNOW, TO SOME EXTENT, VOTERS FEEL FRUSTRATED, RIGHT?

WHEN THEY'RE FRUSTRATED THEY TAKE IT OUT IN WAYS THAT THEY FEEL THEY HAVE SOME POWER AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE SOME POWER AT THE BALLOTED BOX.

I WORRY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT THAT THEY WILL PUNISH KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR THINGS THAT ARE FRUSTRATING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

>> GOVERNOR HOCHUL WAS ON THE TICKET PUSH AND SHE DIDN'T FAIR VERY WELL ON THAT, PELOSI MAY HAVE BEEN RIGHT THAT PEOPLE VOTED THE TICKET AND THEREFORE VOTED REPUBLICAN.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, ANIRBAN BECAUSE LUKE MENTIONED MONEY AND THERE IS A TON OF MONEY COMING IN AND IT'S NOT COMING FROM PEOPLE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> YEAH, THE NEW YORK 19, THE MOLINARO VERSUS RILEY RACE SEEMS TO BE THE COSTLIEST RACE AS BALLOTPEDIA PUTS IT AS ONE OF THE COSTLIEST HOUSE RACES IN THE COUNTRY, BRINGING IN ABOUT $35.5 MILLION AND IT'S ALSO A PLACE WHERE SELL ZELLE DONE DID WIN A LOT OF VOTES AGAINST HOCHUL.

WHAT IS INTERESTING TO SEE IS THAT NEW YORK 19 AND THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PARTS OF IT MOLD NARL OWE WAS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN AND HAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT WITH THE CATS AND DOG EATING IMMIGRANTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL HELP OR HURT HIM BUT A RIGHT WARD MOVE FOR HIM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS THINKING BUT THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT RACES TO WATCH AND A LOT OF MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON IT.

>> IF I RECALL, BIDEN WON THAT DISTRICT, DID HE NOT?

>> I THINK BIDEN WON THE DISTRICT BUT ZELDON WON THE GOVERNOR IN THAT DISTRICT, I THINK, YEAH.

>> TARA.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND VERY INTERESTING IN ALL OF THESE REALLY TIGHT RACES IS THAT YOU FIND THAT THE DEMOCRAT TENDS TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOUNGER VOTERS, BUT IS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH VOTERS 50 AND OLDER.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT LAWLER VERSUS JONES IN NEW YORK 19.

JONES IS RUNNING VERY WELL AMONG YOUNGER VOTERS BUT BEHIND WITH OLDER VOTERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE HAS BEEN PUSHING IS THAT LAWLER HAS KIND OF SHIFTED FROM BEING A MORE MODERATE REPUBLICAN, HE IS LEANING A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS SORT OF PRO-TRUMPISM.

HE WON'T SAY THAT HE WON'T VOTE FOR NATIONAL ABORTION BAN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JONES HAS REALLY PUSHED HAS BEEN LAWLER'S, YOU KNOW, WEARING BLACK FACE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO TO A PARTY.

AND WHAT I THINK IS PARTIALLY HURTING JONES IS THAT JONES FEELS LIKE OKAY, THIS SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY HIM.

BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE 50 AND OLDER VOTERS, THEY'RE ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO SAY WE ALL DO STUPID THINGS AT STUPID TIMES AND MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DISMISS THAT.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JONES HAS NOT BEEN ABLE THOAFER-- TO OVERCOME IS FINDING SOMETHING HE CAN FIND HIS HAT ON WITH LAWLER OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT HE IS MORE PRO-TRUMP.

>> AND IN THAT RACE, LAWLER, FOR A FIRST TIME REPRESENTATIVE, IS INCREDIBLY PROMINENT AND HE IS PROMINENT BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN MODERATE.

HE HAS I THINK THE FOURTH MOST BIPARTISAN VOTING RECORD IN CONGRESS.

SO THAT WORKS IN HIS DISTRICT.

>> LAWLER IS A RISING STAR IN THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY, RIGHT.

AND HE IS QUICKLY ASCENDED.

I THINK TO ANIRBAN'S QUESTION AND POINT ABOUT SORT OF REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN DYNAMICS.

THESE CANDIDATES IN THE CLOSE RACES HAVE THE CHOICE.

THEY CAN EITHER GO DOWN THE ROAD OF DONALD TRUMP AND TAKE THAT TRACK ALONG WITH PEOPLE LIKE ELISE STEFANIK WHO HAS DONE THAT IN THE PAST WITH SUCCESS OR MAKE A MORE MODERATE ROUTE.

AND MOLINARO THINKS HE CAN TURN OUT RURAL REPUBLICANS IN HIS LARGE EXPANSIVE DISTRICT NY 19 BUT LAWLER IS TRYING TO BE MODERATE.

HE THINKS THAT IS HIS BEST CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THE LARGER PICTURE, GETTING TO SARAH'S POINT IS THAT THIS IS NOT A MID TERM ELECTION.

WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF MID TERMS, TRUMP'S FIRST MID TERM, BIDEN'S FIRST MID TERM, THE OTHER PARTY DID WELL.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND IS GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO HOLD ALL THESE SEATS.

>> THE ONE RACE WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED IN CENTRAL NEW YORK IS NEW YORK 24, WHICH IS PRETTY SOLIDLY GOING TO BE CLAUDIA TENNEY AGAIN.

THERE IS NO REAL DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

>> AND STEFANIK.

>> YOU SEE STEFANIK SIGNS AROUND HERE EVEN THOUGH SHE IS NOT IN THIS DISTRICT.

BEFORE BIDEN DROPPED OUT OF THE OF THE ELECTION WE TALKED ABOUT HIS MEDIA ATTENTION HE HAD BEEN RECEIVING.

THERE HAS BEEN INCREASING SCRUTINY ON DONALD TRUMP'S MENTAL STATUS AND I MEANT BIDEN'S MENTAL STATUS AND FITNESS FOR OFFICE.

WE SAW THIS BIZARRE 39-MINUTE TRUMP PLAY LIST INSTEAD OF TAKING QUESTIONS AT A TOWN HALL.

HIS SCOMENTS ABOUT POSSIBLY USING THE MILITARY AGAINST THE RADICAL LEFT ENEMY WITHIN-- THE ENEMY WITHIN, I BELIEVE HE CALLED IT.

TARA, I GUESS HAS THE MEDIA SORT OF-- THE TERM WE ARE HEARING NOW IS SANE WASH. IS THE MEDIA SANE WASHED TRUMP OVER THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK THEY HAVE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BUT HAVE DONE SO IN WHAT THEY DR TO BE FAIRNESS BECAUSE REMEMBER THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG COMPLAINTS OF TRUMP IN THE LAST ELECTION WAS THAT THE MEDIA WAS UNFAIR TO HIM, THAT THEY PURPOSELY USED CLIPS THAT MADE HIM LOOK BAD, ET CETERA.

AND SO I THINK PART OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THE MEDIA NOT WANTING TO BE ACCUSED OF THAT, HAS BASICALLY TRIED TO BE FAIR, NO THE SAY OKAY, HERE IS THIS LATEST BIZARRE THING HE HAS SAID AND DONE.

AND BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH FOCUS ON BIDEN AND QUITE HONESTLY, THERE WERE MOMENTS THAT LENT THEMSELVES TO THAT QUESTIONING, WHEREAS WITH TRUMP, WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT THOSE BIZARRE MOMENTS, THOSE BIZARRE STATEMENTS.

SO THE MEDIA JUST SORT OF LETS IT GO.

BUT I ALSO THINK THERE IS ANOTHER COMPONENT.

I ALSO THINK SOMETIMES THE MEDIA FIGURES THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THERE IS PROBABLY NOT ANY TRUTH TO THIS, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER BIZARRE TRUMP STATEMENT, SO WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO POINT IT OUT.

AND SO THEY ALSO CONSIDER THEMSELVES SORT OF GIVING THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, OKAY, CLEARLY YOU KNOW THIS ISN'T TRUE OR CLEARLY YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS REFERENCING.

AND ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE THE STATEMENT THAT TRUMP SAYS CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL AND COME BACK A DIFFERENT GENDER.

I THINK THE MEDIA KNOWS THAT WHAT HE IS DEFERENCING THE WHOLE ISSUE OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS AND PROTECTION FOR TRANSGENDER RIGHTS, ET CETERA.

>> SO WHAT THAT GETS TO IS IF YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME IS THE QUESTION, THE MEDIA TAKES HIM LITERALLY AND NOT SERIOUSLY.

SO I WONDER IF THAT WHAT IS THIS IS, PEOPLE TODAY SAY OR TAKING HIM LITERALLY WHEN HE DOESN'T MEAN IT LITERALLY.

>> I'M GOING TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS.

WHAT ARE WE SEEING HERE?

AN EXTREMELY HIGHLY QUALIFIED WOMAN HAS TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO PROVE THAT SHE IS SAYING CONTENTFUL THINGS IN FRONT OF ESSENTIALLY A BUM BLING PRO-FASCIST IMMIGRANT.

HE SAID IDIOTS EATING CATS AND DOGS, PLAYS THE WORST PLAY LIST EVER.

SITS DOWN IN THIS DYSTOPIC CRACKER BARREL CAPTIVE G.O.P.

WOMAN SAYING I'M THE FATHER OF OF IVF.

THESE ARE THE WORDS COMING OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND YET THIS IS PROSECUTOR, THIS PERSON, THIS SELF MADE WOMAN HAS TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO PROVE THAT SHE IS SAYS SOMETHING MEANINGFUL.

THIS IS SEXISM AT ITS BEST AND MISOGYNIST AT ITS WORSE.

I HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT.

MEDIA IS NOT SANE WASHING IT.

I'VE SEEN MANY YOUTUBE CHANNELS TRASHING TRUMP UP AND DOWN AND GUESS WHAT?

TRUMP HAS A SORT OF BRAND OF CRAZE CRAZY THIS IF YOU WILL AND HIGHER EDUCATION IS A PRIVILEGE IN THIS COUNTRY, RIGHT?

ONLY 32% OF PEOPLE HAVE HIGHER EDUCATION.

HE TAPS INTO THE WHITE GRIEVANCE.

OTHER THAN THIS IS A BUM BLING EDOUT VERSUS A PROSECUTOR IN A SEXIST COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHAT I SEE.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THESE YOUTUBE CHANNELS BUT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTUBE CHANNELS EVEN THOUGH YOUNG PEOPLE GET NEWS FROM YOUTUBE CHANNELS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

>> I THINK ANIRBAN'S MOINT IS POINT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHILE VERY FEW PEOPLE READ THE LEGACY MEDIA ANYMORE, MOST PEOPLE ARE GETTING THEIR NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES LARGELY TIKTOK AND YOUTUBE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.

AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY HEAR TRUMP FROM HIS, IN HIS OWN WORDS, THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPTS ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU WANT TO READ THEM.

SO I DO THINK THAT ON THE PART OF LEGACY MEDIA, THERE IS-- I LIKE THE TERM SANE WASHING BECAUSE THERE IS A BIAS TOWARDS COHERENCE, RIGHT?

THERE IS AN IDEA THAT JOURNALISTS ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE SENSE OF A CHAOTIC AND SOMEWHAT INCOMPREHENSIBLE WORLD.

AND THAT'S SORT OF THEY'RE TRAINED DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CONSPIRACY ON THE PART OF JOURNALISTS TO GET TRUMP ELECTED BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MORE MONEY, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT.

I THINK IT'S PARTLY THIS COHERENCE THING.

AND I THINK PARTLY IT'S WHAT TARA WAS SAYING ABOUT QUOTE FAIRNESS.

WHAT YOU GET IS REALLY, I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLINES IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT PEOPLE READ.

AND SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A HEADLINE ABOUT THEY'RE DUALING CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, RIGHT?

SO IT SORT OF MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THEY BOTH HAVE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT WHEN IN REALITY TRUMP'S ANSWER TO A CHILD CARE QUESTION WAS THIS RAMBLING STRANGE THING ABOUT TARIFFS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE SOME OF THESE BIASES KIND OF WORK THEIR WAY IN.

BUT I GUESS I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT ONE THUNK I THINK DOESN'T GET ENOUGH ATTENTION, I WISH JOURNALISTS WOULD JUST ASK HIM ABOUT THE BASICS OF PUBLIC POLICIES, CERTAIN POLICIES AND HOW THEY WORK BECAUSE I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY HE IS EXTREMELY UNFIT BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SEEM TO COMPREHEND OR UNDERSTAND POLICY.

HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE ACTUAL IMPACTS OF POLICY.

HE WAS ASKED ABOUT HIS TARIFFS, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND, YOU KNOW... >> HE NEVER HAS PAID ATTENTION TO POLICY OR BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT, LUKE, SO WHY IS IT ANY DIFFERENT NOW?

>> IT'S NOT.

>> I THINK SOME OF SARAH'S SUGGESTIONS ARE WORTHWHILE.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE HAVING THE CONVERSATION IF HARRIS IS UP 10 POINTS AND LEADING IN THE SWING STATES COMFORTABLY.

THIS IS A MASS FESSTATION OF ANXIETY THAT TRUMP MIGHT WIN AGAIN AND THE CONVENTIONAL NEWS MEDIA IS GETTING SCAPEGOATED A BIT.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, TRUMP HASN'T CHANGED.

MAYBE THE VOLUME, DEGREE OF WHAT HE IS SAYING HAS ESCALATED BUT HE IS A KNOWN QUANTITY, AND I THINK DEMOCRATS IN PARTICULAR CAN'T GET THEIR HEAD AROUND THE FACT THAT 48% OF VOTERS IN THE LAST TWO ELECTIONS VOTED FOR HIM AND THAT AMOUNT IF NOT A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS MORE MIGHT DO SO THIS ELECTION AND AS ANIRBAN SAID I THINK THAT HAS TO DO MORE WITH AMERICAN SOCIETY THAN HOW THIS IS BEING REPORTED BY "THE NEW YORK TIMES" OR WASHINGTON POST OR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE THAT RIGHT THERE.

WE'LL MOVE ON NOW.

IT'S FALLEN OUT OF THE HEADLINES, BUT UKRAINE IS STILL A BATTLEFIELD AND UKRAINIANS AND RUSSIANS ARE STILL DYING IN VLADIMIR PUTIN'S WAR.

SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE HAS BEEN STEADILY FALLING IN THE U.S.

IF HE'S ELECTED, DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE CAN END THE WAR IN A DAY.

PRESSURE IS BUILDING ON UKRAINE PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TO GIVE UP ON WHAT SOME CALL "HOPELESS RESISTANCE" AND ACCEPT A DEAL IN WHICH SOME OF HIS COUNTRY IS LOST.

LUKE, IS AMERICA READY TO SAY, TO ACCEPT A LOSS IN UKRAINE?

>> WELL,-- EXCUSE ME, I MEANT TO ASK THAT QUESTION OF ANIRBAN.

I THREW YOU OFF THERE.

>> ANIRBAN.

ASK ME THE QUESTION AGAIN.

>> ARE WE READY IN THE UNITED STATES TO ACCEPT A LOSS IN UKRAINE?

>> I DON'T THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS READY BUT IF YOU GO BACK JUST AFTER THE WAR STARTED I SAID IN "THE IVORY TOWER" THAT AMERICANS WOULD SOON FORGET THIS AND NOT CARE ABOUT THIS.

ALL THE FLAGS AND PINS WOULD GO AWAY AS FAST AS THEY CAME IN SO YOU ARE WELCOME FOR THAT PREDICTION.

WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY HERE IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A WAR OF ATTRITION.

I DON'T THINK RUSSIA OR UKRAINE MIGHT WIN THIS IN THE BATTLEFIELD.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REVISIT MINSK AND NOT REVISIT THIS WAR.

WHAT PUTIN WANTS IS A GUARANTEE THAT UKRAINE DOES NOT JOIN NATO AND IF IT NEEDS BE, PART OF UKRAINE IS LOST TO RUSSIA.

I CAME FROM INDIA BROKEN UP IN THREE PARTS BY THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND WE ARE DOING ALL RIGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BANGLADESH, INDIA, PAKISTAN.

THIS HAS HAPPENED IN HUMAN HISTORY.

WHAT I DON'T THINK IS THAT UKRAINE WILL BE ABLE TO WIN THIS WAR.

AND RECENTLY A BUNCH OF CORRUPTION STUFF CAME IN, RIGHT, THE GAO RECENTLY SAID THAT MUCH OF THE ARMS THAT IS GOING IN THERE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

THEY'RE GOING INTO OTHER CHANNELS.

SO MY ANSWER WOULD BE THAT WE NEED A NEGOTIATING SETTLEMENT AND NOT TO INCREASE THIS WAR FOREVER.

THIS IS NOT... >> NEGOTIATING A SETTLEMENT MEANS GIVING UP PART OF UKRAINE TERRITORY.

>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO CONSIDERATIONS.

AMERICAN FOR FOREIGN POLICY IS ONE AND WHAT YES LEN SKI SHOULD DO AS LEADER IS ANOTHER.

AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IS VERY TRICKY.

WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY INTO UKRAINE BEFORE THIS WAFER, THE BLACK BUDGET AND WHAT THE CIA DID IN THE ORANGE RECEIVE LUTIONZ OF UKRAINE WAS MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THAT'S ONE THING.

IF I'M SEA LEN ZELENSKYY, THERE IS NO WAY I CONCEDE TO PUTIN.

I HAVE SPENT TIME IN UKRAINE AND IN PARTICULAR WHERE THE RECENT UKRAINIAN INCURSION INTO RUSSIA WAS LAUNCHED.

I SPENT TIME WITH KIDS TEACHING THEM ABOUT DEMOCRACY.

THOSE KIDS ARE BEING SENT INTO UKRAINE GETTING SLAUGHTERED.

WOMEN ARE GETTING RAPED.

CHILDREN ARE LITERALLY BEING ABDUCTED TAKEN IN RUSSIA AND GIVEN TO PARENTS IN FOSTER CARE.

THERE ARE EXTERMINATION CAMPS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND RECENTLY IN RUSSIA WHERE THEY ARE TAKING UKRAINIAN P.O.W.S AND EXECUTING THEM MUCH.

RUSSIA HAS DONE MASS ATROCITIES IN UKRAINE.

HISTORIC SITES I'VE BEEN THERE AND CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

THE IDEA THAT ZELENSKYY AFTER SEVER YEARS IS GOING TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO NEGOTIATE WITH PUTIN WHO HAS WREAKED DESTRUCTION ON A COUNTRY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE OR EFFECTIVE.

THAT'S WHY ZELENSKYY GETTING TO NATO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR UKRAINE.

HE IS JUST TRYING TO HOLD ON UNTIL PUTIN DIES OR IS TAKEN OUT.

>> HE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT WESTERN SUPPORT AND WITHOUT AMERICAN SUPPORT.

ARE AMERICANS GOING TO CONTINUE PONYING UP?

>> AT THIS POINT JUST BASED ON WHAT THEY REALLY ARE HEARING AND UNDERSTAND, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DECREASE.

BUT PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PRESS COVERAGE OF EXACTLY WHAT LUKE JUST SAID.

FOR A WHILE, OUR PRESS COVERAGE OF UKRAINE WAS HOT AND HEAVY AND THEN ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS STARTED HAPPENING, HURRICANES, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

AND SO OUR FOCUS WAS TAKEN AWAY, WHICH PUTIN IS ENJOYING THAT AND APPRECIATING THAT BECAUSE IT HAS WEAKENED SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

SO PART OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IF OUR SUPPORT IS GOING TO CONTINUE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE PRESS COVERAGE AND ZELENSKYY IS GOING HAVE TO REALLY STOP MAKING HIS CASE TO THE PRESIDENT, TO THE U.N., TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> WHY WOULD PUTIN AGREE TO A DEAL THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A STRENGTHENED WESTERN-BACKED NATO UKRAINE ON HIS BORDER?

>> I THINK HE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T AND CERTAINLY HE IS ALSO SORT OF WAITING IT OUT, RIGHT?

HE IS WAITING FOR TO SEE TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT IF THAT'S THE CASE, HE IS ESSENTIALLY WON AND ANY TERMS OF ANY KIND OF SETTLED NEGOTIATION ARE GOING TO BE, I THINK HIGHLY FACIAL TO HIM AND TO TEAR RA'S POINT TARA'S POINT THIS IS WHERE LEADERSHIP IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IN THIS CASE THE PUBLIC OPINION IN THE UNITED STATES PROBABLY MATTERS LESS THAN WHAT WE DO IN UKRAINE, BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSED ON OTHER THINGS NOW.

IT'S NOT REALLY ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA.

BUT LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, BIDEN HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF UKRAINE.

I KNOW HE HAS BEEN CRITICIZED, TOO.

BUT ALSO BUT TRUMP IS NOT GOING TO BE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE THAT THERE AND GO TO OUR As AND FS.

SARAH RIGHT BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR F. >> OKAY, SO ROBERT ROBBER SOUTHERN WAS SCHEDULED TO BE EXECUTED IN TEXAS FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT.

I READ THIS MORNING THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT HAS PUT A STAY ON IT.

MY F IS MORE LIKE A C. ROBERSON WAS CONVICTED OF KILLING HIS TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IN 2022 ON A DISCREDITED THEORY OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME.

THE DETECTIVE THAT PROSECUTED HIM SAID HE IS INNOCENT AND MANY PEOPLE IN THE STATE AGREE.

HIS APPEALS HOWEVER HAVE FAILED UP TO THIS POINT AND IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.

HOW CAN ANYONE TRUST A SYSTEM THAT CANNOT CORRECT ITS OWN MISTAKES AND IT'S LONG PAST TIME WE ABOLISH THIS KIND OF PUNISHMENT.

>> TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE FOR INCREASING ITS RATES ON SELECT PACKAGE SERVICES DURING THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 6 THROUGH JANUARY 19.

THE PRICE INCREASE IS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF UPS AND FEDEX ALLEGEDLY ENSURES THE USPS CAN MEET INCREASED DEMAND ON SERVICES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

HOWEVER, THE INCREASE WILL BE BASED ON WEIGHT AND DELIVERY ZONE OF THE PACKAGE.

IT ALSO COMES ON TOP OF TWO STAMP INCREASES THIS YEAR.

3 FURTHERMORE UPS AND FEDEX ARE NOT INDIRECTLY SUBSIDIZED BY OUR TAXES.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO ISRAELI ARMY SYSTEMATIC USE OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS IN GAZA.

"THE NEW YORK TIMES" FOUND THAT ISRAELI SOLDIERS AND INTELLIGENCE AGENTS THROUGHOUT THE WAR IN GAZA HAVE REGULARLY USED SUCH HORRIFYING AND INHUMAN TACTICS ON CIVILIANS.

>> LUKE.

>> MY F GOES TO MAYOR ERIC ADAMS FOR SEEKING CAMPAIGN MATCHING FUNDS FROM NEW YORK CITY.

ADAMS, PER FEDERAL INDICTMENTS HE ALLEGEDLY INAPPROPRIATELY SECURED $10 MILLION IN PUBLIC FUNDING LAST TIME.

THERE IS NO WAY HE SHOULD EVEN BE PURSUING THIS LET ALONE GRANTED THIS FUNDING THIS TIME AROUND.

>> AND TO OUR AS.

SARAH.

>> EVERYONE LIKES TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SCHOOL LUNCH.

BUT SOME STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF A TREND TOWARD MORE VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DISHES THAT ARE SERVED IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS AND THEY'RE BEING BACKED UP BY REALLY GREAT STATE POLICIES.

THIS TEAMS LIKE A WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND A WIN FOR THE KIDS.

>> AND TARA.

YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE WORK OF TWO ICONS OF SOCIETAL CHANGE, THE LATE ETHEL KENNEDY SCHRIVER AND LATE LILLY LEDBETTER BOTH STARTING WITH THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THEIR OWN FAMILIES MADE LIFE BETTER FOR MILLIONS OF OTHERS.

IN THE CASE OF ETHEL KENNEDY SCHRIVER, SHE BEGAN CHANGING THE WORLD WHEN SHE TOOK OVER HER FATHER'S FOUNDATION WHICH WAS CREATED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF AS POSSIBLE CURES FOR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

60 YEARS LATER, THAT WORK CONTINUES AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE CONTINUATION OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

IN THE CASE OF LILLY LEDBETTER, FED UP WITH MAKING LESS THAN 15 OTHER SUPERVISORS AT GOODYEAR, SHE SUED GOODYEAR, SHE DIDN'T WIN BUT THAT DID LEAD TO THE LILLY LEDBETTER EQUAL PAY ACT.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO JOHN FREDDY KNOLL WHO IS AN EX-PRISONER WHO NEEDS A RIDE AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON.

HE HAS RECRUITED AND PICKED UP 42 PRISONERS IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS AND HELD THEM TO THE BROADER SOCIETY THAT OFTEN SHUNS THEM.

>> MY A GOES TO THE SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK THEY RULED FOR NOW THAT THE E.P.A.

CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH TIGHTER COAL EMISSIONS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY I ENHANCE PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF A VICTORY FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FROM THIS COURT WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN TOO OFTEN.

>> YES.

THERE WILL BE MORE JURISPRUDENCE BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

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

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN DO SO ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY.

FOR ALL OF US AT "THE IVORY TOWER."

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.