>> TONIGHT ON "IVORY TOWER," SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT NON-CITIZENS VOTING IN THE MIDTERMS?

ALSO TONIGHT, DOES THE COLOR OF A MISSING KID MATTER?

AND THE POLITICS OF COUNTING CASUALTIES.

LET'S DIG DEEPER WITH THE PROFESSORS, NEXT.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

WITH ME AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT, THE PROFESSORS: TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANIRBAN ACHARYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE MICHAEL TILLTSON OF SUNY CORTLAND, AND LISA DOLAK OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DEMAND FOR STATES' VOTER DATA WAS BOLSTERED LAST WEEK.

NEW JERSEY'S GOVERNOR REVEALED THAT HER STATE HAD OVER 6,000 NON-CITIZENS ON ITS VOTER ROLLS.

THE PRESIDENT INSISTS THERE ARE FAR MORE, NOT ONLY IN NEW JERSEY, BUT ALSO THREE OTHER STATES.

SO FAR, COURTS HAVE DECLINED TO ORDER STATES TO HAND OVER VOTER DATA.

LISA, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

IS THIS NAKED ELECTION INTERFERENCE, OR IS NEW JERSEY PROOF THERE'S A WIDER PROBLEM?

>> WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PROBLEM IN NEW JERSEY WAS THAT WHEN PEOPLE-- YOU CAN GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE IN NEW JERSEY WITHOUT BEING A TROUBLING.

AND THE REASON IT'S DEEPLY TROUBLING IS BECAUSE NOT BECAUSE IT PROVES ANY KIND OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD BUT BECAUSE IT UNNECESSARILY FUELS SUSPICIONS THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE ABOUT NON-CITIZENS AND OTHER INELIGIBLE VOTERS VOTING.

AND YOU KNOW, MY BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT GOVERNMENT CANNOT AFFORD TO MESS UP LIKE THIS.

THIS IS AN OBLIGATION THE GOVERNMENT HAS BECAUSE TOTALLY ASIDE FROM, YOU KNOW, FRAUD, THE ISSUE IS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ELECTIONS, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, PROBABLY NEVER BEEN UNDER MORE ASSAULT THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S A REALLY BIG PROBLEM THAT THIS HAPPENED.

>> ANIRBAN, SEVERAL STATES, ACTUALLY MORE THAN A DOZEN, MOSTLY IN THE SOUTH, HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO RUN THEIR VOTER ROLLS THROUGH THE SAFE DATABASE.

SO THEY HAVE FOUND MORE THAN HAS BEEN REVEALED THROUGH SOME STUDIES I THINK WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.

SO, AGAIN, GIVEN WHAT THEY FOUND, ISN'T THERE THERE?

>> YES, THERE IS.

DO NON-CITIZENS VOTED, YES BUT IS THAT EXTREMELY MINISCULE NUMBER?

THAT IS ALSO TRUE.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THINK TANKS ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT, BRENNAN CENTER, HERITAGE FOUNDATION, THEY HAVE ALL FOUND EXTREMELY MINISCULE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE.

LIKE OUT OF 1.3 BILLION VOTES THAT WERE CAST BETWEEN 1980 AND 2025 IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS, HERITAGE FOUNDATION ONLY FOUND 100 CASES.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE CASES ARE NOT THERE AND I AGREE WITH LISA HERE, WE NEED CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND THAT HAS BEEN RAISED BY, YOU KNOW, DOUBT HAS BEEN RAISED BY THE REPUBLICANS, ESPECIALLY THE PRESIDENT SAYING THAT 250,000 PEOPLE HAVE VOTED WHO ARE NON-CITIZENS.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT DATA IS BUT YES, THE STATE SHOULD DO A STATE BY STATE AUDIT AND SUBMIT THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT.

WHAT HAPPENS IN NEW JERSEY DOES NOT LOOK GOOD AS WELL.

AND ONE MORE THING, THE LARGEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD, INDIA, HAS 1.4 BILLION PEOPLE, ABOUT 400 TO 500 MILLION PEOPLE VOTE IN A MONTH-LONG ELECTION AND EVERY ONE HAS A NATIONAL VOTER IDENTITY CARD.

SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY DEMOCRATS ARE SUCH RIEBL ROUSERS WHEN WE-- IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE A NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD.

WE CAN'T SAY IT HAPPENS FROM THIS ELECTION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN PRODUCE INCENTIVES TORE STATES TO DO THIS AND OVER TIME I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD THAT WILL DISPENSE WITH THE SPECK SPECULATION AND ANXIETY AND SO ON.

>> PART OF THE PROBLEM OR THE ISSUE, ANIRBAN IS THAT WE BELIEVE IN FEDERALISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND STATES RIGHTS.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT, TARA?

>> ABSOLUTELY WE BELIEVE IN STATES RIGHTS, AND THE CONTROL OF STATE ELECTIONS AND, IN A CERTAIN WAY, CONTROLLING, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU VOTE, ET CETERA, WHAT THE RULES ARE FOR VOTING WITHIN A STATE, EVEN FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS, HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE STATES BECAUSE IT IS FELT THAT THE STATES HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PEOPLE AND THEIR PEOPLE'S NEEDS.

THE OTHER REALITY IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT JUST LET'S TAKE NEW JERSEY FOR AN ETCH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT THEY SPOKE ABOUT, IT'S LIKE LESS THAN 1% OF ALL OF THEIR VOTERS.

YES THERE IS A LACK OF VOTER CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM, BUT I ALSO THINK IF VOTERS WERE CONSISTENTLY REMINDED, NOT SIMPLY THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VOTING SYSTEM BUT THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE NO PERFECT SYSTEM, AND THAT'S THE THING THAT I DON'T THINK GETS THE PUBLIC GETS REMINDED OF.

THERE IS NEVER GOING TO BE A PERFECT SYSTEM WHERE SOMEONE, QUITE BY ACCIDENT AS IN THE CASE OF NEW JERSEY, IT APPEARS, DOESN'T SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE BEING HIGHLIGHTED IS THE FACT THAT OF THOSE NUMBERS THAT 6,000 VOTERS, ONLY 400 PEOPLE VOTED.

AND THAT WAS FLAGGED FAIRLY QUICKLY.

>> SO, MICHAEL, TO TARA'S POINT, THE HERITAGE THINK TANK, A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK FOUND THAT ONLY 100 OUT OF 1.3 BILLION ACTUALLY CAST A VOTE.

SO WHY ALL THE UPROAR ABOUT THIS?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE MIKEY SHELL DISCLOSURE AND I ADMIRE HER HONESTY AND GRIT FOR DOING THAT BY THE WAY BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE SLEEPING THE VOTE MOVEMENT BY THE RIGHT.

IT HURTS THE PROSPECT OF THE RIGHT.

THERE IS GROWING DATA THAT LOW VOTER TURNOUT BENEFITS DEMOCRATS.

I'M ALWAYS PUZZLED WHY THEY WANT TO SLEEPING THE VOTE.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THE G.O.P.

IS FOLLOWING IN LOCK STEP WITH THE PRESIDENT, HIS PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST THE 2020 ELECTION BUT I BELIEVE THAT AT SOME POINT SELF INTEREST IS GOING TO OVERTAKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE FALL.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A TURNING TIDE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT AND HIS IDEAS ABOUT SHRINKING THE VOTE.

>> BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

LISA I WANT TO TURN TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE THE LAWYER ON THE PANEL.

TRUMP SO FAR IN THE FEDERAL COURTS 0S-18 AND THAT INCLUDES SOME TRUMP APPOINTEES.

WHY DO YOU THINK COURTS ARE CONSISTENTLY RULING AGAINST THIS PUSH FOR VOTER DATA?

>> THE COURTS HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN THEIR RATIONALE, BASED UPON STATUTORY INTERPRETATION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS POINTING TO SEVERAL STATUTES THAT IT SAYS GIVES IT THE AUTHORITARIAN TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE STATE RECORDS AND THE COURTS HAVE SAID READ THE STATUTES.

THESE STATUTES DON'T SAY THAT.

THEY'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE CONGRESS COULDN'T WRITE A LAW THAT WOULD GIVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE AUTHORITY TO ASK FOR THIS INFORMATION.

>> OVER FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

>> AND IN FACT IT COULD OVER FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

AND LISTS OF VOTERS FOR FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

THE COURTS HAVE SIMPLY SAID CONGRESS HASN'T DONE THAT.

>> YEAH, AND YET THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO PUSH FOR ENACTMENT OF THE SAFE ACT AND SO I'LL GET WE WILL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO OUR NEXT STORY.

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF TEENAGER NOLAN WELLS HAS CAPTIVATED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED BY PROMINENT AND EVERYDAY FOLKS ALIKE, SUCH AS: WHY DID MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT RULE OUT FOUL PLAY BEFORE AN AUTOPSY?

WHY WAS DATA DELETED FROM HIS PHONE?

AND PROBABLY THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION, DOES RACE PLAY A ROLE IN THIS SAGA?

MICHAEL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS CASE, WHAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU?

>> FIRST OF ALL THE QUESTION THAT WE HERE IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE AT TIMES IS WHY DO BLACK PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE?

WHY DO WE MAKE IT ABOUT RACE, RIGHT?

IT WASN'T BLACK PEOPLE IN 1619 THAT CREATE THE ENSLAVEMENT IDEA, THE MOST BRUTAL SYSTEM OF HUMAN EXPLOITATION TO EVER DEVELOP IN THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN STORY.

WHEN EUROPEAN AMERICANS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS CREATED THIS NOTION OF COMMERCE BEFORE CHRISTIANITY, MONEY BEFORE MAN KID AND PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE 18th AND 19th CENTURY, THE PSEUDO SCIENTIST WHO CREATED HUMAN CLASSIFICATION.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT AT LEAST, THE DRED SCOTT DECISION 1857 WHEN THE JUSTICE SAID IN THE CONSTITUTION BLACK PEOPLE HAVE NO RIGHTS THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE BOUND TO RESPECT WHICH LED TO AFTER THE CIVIL WAR THE JIM CROW ERA CODIFIED IN 1896 OF PLACE OF ERGUS FERGUSON SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.

IT WAS NOT BLACK PEOPLE THAT CREATED COLONIALISM AND ENSLAVEMENT AND JIM CROW.

WE SMOND TO IDEAS OF RACE.

WE WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED WHY THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE IS INTERESTED, WHY THE NAACP IS INTERESTED, WHY THE BLACK CAUCUS IS INTERESTED IN THIS CASE BECAUSE IT HAS A MYSTERIOUS TINT TO IT THAT CAN BE HISTORICALLY UNDERSTOOD.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS CASE.

>> OKAY.

AND SO TARA THE HISTORIAN ON THE PANEL, THAT IS WHAT I KEEP HEARING, THERE IS AN EXCELLENT PIECE IN THE GUARDIAN THAT TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, THE MORE CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT AND SEE ECHOS OF EMMETT TILL AND OTHER MISSING BLACK MEN AND REVEREND SHARPTON, TO MICHAEL'S POINT SAID HE WAS TALKING ABOUT NOLAN WELLS, HE WAS ONE BLACK WITH THREE YOUNG WHITE MEN WHO HAPPENED TO END UP WITH HIS PHONE, HAPPENED TO END UP WITH HIS KEYS.

DO YOU SEE THE HISTORY OF RACISM AT PLAY HERE OR IS THIS A BIT MORE COMPLICATED?

>> I SEE IT, I SEE THE HISTORY OF RACE AND I SEE IT AS MORE COMPLICATED.

THE RACIAL ASPECT COMES IN IN THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FROM EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT, EITHER NOLAN WELLS WAS THE ONLY BLACK LITERALLY ON THAT ISLAND OR HE WAS ONE OF FEW.

AND HE SEEMS TO HAVE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON INJURED.

THAT CERTAINLY CONJURES UP THAT LONG HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AMONG EUROPEAN AMERICANS AND THEIR SAFETY IN THAT SORT OF LARGE CROWD.

BUT THE OTHER FACTOR HERE IS THE FACT THAT IT'S ALSO MYSTERIOUS IN THE SENSE THAT, AS YOU SAY, HIS KEYS END UP ONE PLACE, HIS PHONE ENDS UP ANOTHER PLACE.

APPARENTLY DATA HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM HIS PHONE.

ALL OF THAT ADDS TO THE MYSTERY OF THIS AND THE CONCERNS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF CONSPIRACY GOING ON.

>> PEOPLE SURELY READ THINGS THROUGH THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE LENS AND IT'S COLORED.

ANIRBAN.

>> IT'S COLORED EVEN MORE WORSELY BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE THING IN MISSISSIPPI.

MISSISSIPPI HAS-- DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT SCORE CARD IN RACIAL RELATIONS.

LOOK AT 1964 SILLING OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT VISIT, JAMES CHENEY AND ANDREW GOODMAN MICHAEL SWORNER.

I AGREE WITH MOST OF THIS.

IT SMELLS.

WHY?

WHICH TEENAGER FIRST OF ALL, WHO WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO BE PART OF THE GROUP AND NEVER LEAVE THE GROUP, FIRST LEFT THE GROUP AND THEN HIS CELL PHONE AND KEYS END UP WITH HIS FRIENDS.

DATA FROM THE CELL PHONE IS MISSING.

THE MISSISSIPPI DID AN AUTOPSY AND SOME OF THE BONES OF HIS BODY ARE NOW MISSING.

THE SECOND AUTOPSY IS INCONCLUSIVE DOES NOT MEAN IT'S NOT A HOMICIDE.

IT MEANS THERE SHOULD BE MORE YOU KNOW, EXAMINATIONS DONE.

SO ON THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME BECAUSE OF THOSE GLARING DISCREPANCIES AND MIGHT I HAZARD A GUESS IF THIS WAS A WHITE PERSON, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT MAYBE NOT.

MAYBE IN MISSISSIPPI, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PLACES BUT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE.

I'M HAZARDING A GUESS HERE.

I SEEN MORE TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE DYING THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE PART OF THE PATTERN THAT THIS FITS IN, THIS IDEA, LISA, THAT BLACK VICTIMS DON'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION AS WHITE VICTIMS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE TRUTH, UNFORTUNATELY, AND THAT, COMBINED WITH WHAT MY FELLOW PANELISTS HAVE ALLUDED TO, A LACK OF INFORMATION, QUESTIONS, THAT'S WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME.

WHATEVER THE ULTIMATE EXPLANATION IS HERE, THE PUBLIC DESERVES A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED WITH SPECIAL DISPATCH AND TRANSPARENCY.

AND IT'S THE ABSENCE OF INFORMATION HERE THAT IS CONCERNING ME.

THERE WAS A STATE AUTOPSY DONE BUT THE RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.

WHY?

THAT ALONE RAISES QUESTIONS, RIGHT?

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND, THESE KIDS WHO WERE WITH HIM, YOU KNOW, THERE SEEMS TO BE A RELUCTANCE TO SPEAK.

THAT RAISES SUSPICION, RIGHT, EVEN AS I UNDERSTAND TO THE EXTENT THEY'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST POTENTIAL CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

BUT THE PROBLEM HERE IS I GUESS I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHEN I READ THE STATE HAS DONE AN AUTOPSY AND HAS NOT RELEASED THE RESULTS AND TOXICOLOGY, IF I READ ONE MORE TIME TOXICOLOGY TAKES THREE WEEKS.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO.

AND IN A CASE LIKE THIS, WITH THIS KIND OF HISTORY, AND ALL OF THE WEIGHT OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT HAS GOT MY SUSPICIONS UP, IS WHERE IS THE INFORMATION?

>> YEAH MICHAEL.

>> BUT IN THE BROADER CONTEXT WE EXAMINE THIS MOMENT, I THINK SAYING BLACK AMERICANS ARE AT A HEIGHTENED POINT OF TENSION BECAUSE WE THINK OF THE LYNCHINGS TAKING PLACE.

SEPTEMBER OF 2025 A 20-YEAR-OLD BLACK MAN WAS FOUND HANGING FROM A TREE IN CHIEFLAND, MISSISSIPPI.

QUESTIONABLE FINDINGS RULED HOMICIDE.

WE THINK ABOUT THE BLACK TRUCK DRIVER FOUND HANGING FROM A TREE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BELIEVED TO BE SUICIDE.

AND IN MAY AND JUNE OF 2020, TWO BLACK MEN FOUND HANGING FROM TREES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

DOMINIQUE ALEXANDER BACK IN 2020, BLACKMAN MAN FOUND IN THE BRONX FOUND HANGING FROM A TREE.

THESE ARE MOMENTS OF, AS TARA SAID, MYSTERY FINDINGS ABOUT THE LAW THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IN NOTION OF RACE.

>> AND THE FOUR YOUNG BLACK MEN WHO HAVE BEEN MISSING IN THE ATLANTA AREA WITH NO TRACE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

BUT CAN I JUST COME BACK TO THIS OTHER ISSUE OF BOTH WHY THERE IS SO MUCH INTRIGUE HERE AND HOW THIS HAS BECOME SO SALIENT ON THE INTERNET AND NANCY GRACE.

GOD BLESS HER.

NANCY GRACE OF O.J.

SIMPSON FAME HAS BEEN ALL OVER THIS AND SO I WONDER IF THAT'S LESS HELPFUL THAN IF WE WERE, IN FACT, TO JUST WAIT FOR THE FACTS.

>> I MEAN I DON'T WATCH NANCY GRACE.

>> I REMEMBER HER.

BUT I THINK THE INTERNET NOW HAS PUT EVERYBODY IN A TOUGH SPOT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR CERTAIN FACTS.

>> BECAUSE THE INDEPENDENT OP HAS BEEN RELEASED, OF COURSE.

IT'S FINDINGS WERE INCONCLUSIVE.

BUT LEAST THERE IS THAT.

SO, NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.

AND TALK ABOUT ANOTHER SET OF CASUALTIES, I SHOULD SAY.

COUNTING THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES IN THE IRAN WAR HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF A POLITICAL CALCULATION.

FOUR SERVICEMEN KILLED IN ACTION LAST MONTH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PENTAGON'S DATABASE OF IRAN WAR CASUALTIES.

THEY'RE LISTED INSTEAD IN A NEW SEPARATE DATABASE, TITLED "OVERSEAS OPERATIONS."

AS A RESULT, THE OFFICIAL NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM OPERATION EPIC FURY IS PUT AT EITHER 14, NOT 18.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE COUNTING RESTARTED BECAUSE HOSTILITIES RESTARTED ON JULY 7TH.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

THAT DOES A DISSERVICE TO ALL THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED BOTH IN THE ACTUAL FOCUSED OPERATIONS AND AS WELL AS ALL OF THE BASES, IN THE AREA, THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED.

THAT DOES A DISSERVICE TO THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY.

MORE THAN LIKELY THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN KILLED BUT FOR OPERATION EPIC FURY SO FOR YOU TO PARSE OUT, YOU BEING THE GOVERNMENT, TO PARSE OUT WHO DIED AND WHO DIDN'T DIE IN THIS OPERATION IS A DISSERVICE.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

THE SECOND THING IS, THIS IS A WAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BASICALLY OBSCURE THE GROWING NUMBERS OF DEATH IN TERMS OF THIS OPERATION AND THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY CLEAR FOCUSED ENDING.

FIRST IT IS AN OPERATION, THEN IT ISN'T AN OPERATION.

FIRST WE ARE STILL AT WAR, WE ARE NOT AT WAR.

SO IT HIDES FROM THE PUBLIC HOW SERIOUS THIS IS AND HOW IT IS GRADUALLY AND STEADILY ESCALATING.

>> YEAH.

>> AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO -- I CAN SEE NO BENEFIT TO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING OTHER THAN TO HIDE THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS THING AND THAT IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE WIDESPREAD.

>> WELL, PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S RATIONALIZATION IS THAT WHO IS STILTS WERE RESUME-- HOSTILITIES RESUMED JULY 7 AND OVERSHADOWING THIS IS THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION ACT OF 173 WHICH REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT TO DO MORE THAN HE HAS DONE.

AND SO IF YOU START THE CLOCK, YOU START THE COUNTING ALL OVER.

ANIRBAN.

>> YEAH, SO LOOK, I THINK IN THIS CASE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE CRYING FOUL FOR MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEFENSE CASUALTY ANALYST SYSTEM, IT IS DIVIDED UP INTO EPIC FURY WHICH SHOWS 227 CASTS, 14 DEATHS AND THEN IT STOPS AND OVERSEAS OPERATION 417 CASUALTIES, FOUR DEAD F. YOU ADD THAT P, IT'S 18 CASTS WITH ABOUT 644 INJURED.

SO I'M NOT NECESSARILY SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS HIDING IN TERMS OF CAFTSZ.

BUT-- CASUALTIES, BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

THERE IS A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THIS WAR.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE ADMINISTRATION SAID NO GPS SATELLITE IMAGES OF BATTLEFIELD DESTRUCTION CAN BE SHOWN.

WHY NOT?

THESE ARE MONEY THAT OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY THAT ARE BEING USED TO PROSECUTE THIS WAR AND WHY SHOULDN'T WE SEE BATTLEFIELD DAMAGES.

RIGHT?

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THE SOLDIER THAT THEY RESCUED IN THE RESCUE OPERATION.

WE NEVER KNEW HIS NAME OR HER NAME.

WHY IS THAT?

THAT'S A NATIONAL HERO.

WE SHOULD BE KNOWING.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN CASES WHERE ALL THESE KIND OF-- IT'S NOT VERY SURE HOW MUCH CASUALTIES THE U.S.

IS TAKING.

THERE IS THE WORRY OF STOCKPILE OF ARMS, STOCKPILE IS LESS BUT THE PENTAGON DOUBLES UP SAYING THE STOCKPILE IS NOT LESS.

STRATEGIC STUDIES IN ENGLAND SHOWS IT IS LESS.

IN THOSE REGARDS THERE COULD BE MORE TRANSPARENCY BUT WITH THIS, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE JUST CRYING FOUL FOR NOTHING.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF MISLEADING ABOUT WAR.

ABOUT PROGRESS IN WAR, ABOUT WHO COUNTS AS AN ENEMY CASUALTY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT NOT ALLOWING COVERAGE OF THE RETURN CEREMONIES FOR A WHILE AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE.

OF COURSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS TAKEN MISLEADING AND DECEPTION TO NEW HEIGHTS, RIGHT, SO, AND THE OTHER THING IS, THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OR THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR, I GUESS AS IT IS NOW KNOWN, LIMITING ACCESS BY CERTAIN REPORTERS, TRYING TO LIMIT ACCESS THROUGH FOIA REQUESTS AND THIS IS JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE.

>> QUICKLY MICHAEL.

>> I THINK THE ANTICIPATE AS LISA SAID AND OTHERS HAS NEVER BEEN A PERFECT INSTITUTION.

WE READ AND SEEN THE DOCUMENTARIES BUT NOW WE ARE AT A DIFFERENT SPACE, NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO TRANSPARENCY AS ANIRBAN SAID, NO CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP AND NOW SELECTIVE COUNTING OF AMERICAN CASTS.

EVERY LIVING SERVICE MEMBER AND LIVING VETERAN AS TARA SAID SHOULD BE COMPLETELY INSULTED BY THIS TYPE OF NONSENSE.

>> OKAY.

NOW IT IS TIME FOR OUR GRADEBOOKS AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE FS.

AND TARA, CAN WE GET YOUR F?

>> MY F GOES TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION.

FOLLOWING ORDERS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE THE COMMISSION HAS DEMANDED THAT HOSPITALS AT LEAST 100 OF THEM, TURN OVER PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION FROM ALL OF THEIR PATIENTS.

THOSE HOSPITALS WERE ASKED OR REQUIRED TO TURN OVER THIS INFORMATION TO A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR.

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND HOSPITAL ATTORNEYS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE VIOLATION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY.

AND THEY QUESTIONED THE COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY TO EVEN ASK FOR THIS INFORMATION.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO FAST INFORMATION AND OVERPRODUCTION AND AND ENORMOUS WASTE IT ENTAILS.

IN THE CHILE ATACAMA DESERT, A MASSIVE 60,000 TON PER YEAR MOWN TAF OF DISCARDED CLOTHING ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SATELLITES AND IT IS WIDELY KNOWN AS THE CLOTHING MOUNTAIN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR TAKING AWAY THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SUBSIDY FOR MEDICARE.

HURTING SENIORS CATEGORICALLY.

SHAME ON YOU.

>> LISA.

>> MY F GOES TO THE WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION FOR FAILING TO MAKE SURE THAT WASHINGTON'S NEW BAR EXAM WAS ACTUALLY READY TO BE ADMINISTERED THIS WEEK.

OVER 600 ASPIRING LAWYERS SHOWED UP EXPECTING TO TAKE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND STRESSFUL EXAMS OF THEIR LIVES ONLY TO HAVE THE EXAM IT CANCEL BECAUSE THE TESTING SITE INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT SUPPORT THE NEW ONLINE EXAM.

IMAGINE SPENDING THREE YEARS IN LAW SCHOOL AND MONTHS STUDYING FOR THE EXAM THAT STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR LAW LICENSE ONLY TO BE TOLD YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BECAUSE THE WIFI ISN'T READY.

>> AMONG OTHER THINGS NOT BEING READY, RIGHT?

ANIRBAN, I WANT TO QUICKLY GO BACK TO YOU AND YOUR F. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO OKRA AND SEE THE BIGGEST PILE OF WASTE.

IT WAS JUST SHOABLG SHOCKING.

AND I'M NOT NORMALLY A HUG THE TREE PEOPLE BUT AFTER THAT, IT WAS LIKE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

>> YEAH, IT'S TRUE.

NOW WE MOVE ON TO OUR AS AND START WITH YOU AGAIN TARA.

>> MY A GOES TO TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY FOR TAKING THE BOLD AND INSTITUTIONAL STEP OF INTRODUCING A CAMPUS DRESS CODE.

THIS REQUIRES STUDENTS TO HAVE A BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN BUSINESS AND OTHER MEETINGS AND ELIMINATES THE WRAIRING OF REVEALING CLOTHING, BEDROOM SHOES, DOO RAGS AND BONNETS WHILE IN CLASS.

IN CLASS OR OTHER UNIVERSITY SPACES.

THIS IS IMPRESSIVE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND WORKER PROTECTION.

COMMISSIONER SAMUEL LAVINE WHOSE ENFORCEMENT OF LOCAL LAWS AGAINST ANTI-WORKER PRACTICES OF DELIVERY APPS HAVE LED TO WORKERS NOW EARNING 104 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL TRIPS.

DELIVERY WORKERS ARE NOW ON PACE TO EARN AN ADDITIONAL 184 MILLION IN TIPS APPROXIMATELY 2,000 OR MORE PER WORKER, GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE.

WHAT AN IDEA.

>> MICHAEL.

>> MY A GOES TO ALL AMERICANS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE NOLAN WELLS CASE.

>> LISA.

>> MY A GOES TO SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS HEAD COACH KYLE SHANAHAN.

HE WAS PRETTY BADLY INJURED IN A CAR CRASH JULY 14 AND PUBLIC RECORDS INITIALLY INDICATED THAT THE OTHER DRIVER, A 21-YEAR-OLD WOMAN HAD CAUSED THE CRASH.

BUT THIS WEEK SHANAHAN VOLUNTARILY CALLED REPORTERS TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT EXPLAINING THAT HE, NOT THE OTHER DRIVER WAS AT FAULT AFTER TAKING HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD TO REACH FOR HIS PHONE.

ADMITTING YOUR MISTAKES WHEN NO ONE WOULD HAVE BLAMED YOU IS A MARK OF REAL CHARACTER.

GOING OUT OF YOUR WAY TO CLEAR THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO WAS WRONGFULLY BLAMED IS ANOTHER.

>> ANOTHER WONDERFUL THING.

TARA, KEEPING WITH OUR TALK ABOUT CLOTHING, WHERE DID THAT RULE COME FROM BECAUSE WEARING THE BONNET AND WEARING ALL THE OTHER STUFF HAS BECOME LIKE THE THING.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK PROMPTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO PUT THE KYBOSH ON THAT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU SAID IT HAS BECOME A THING.

IT STARTED OUT A PERSON HERE A PERSON THERE AND IT HAS BECOME PREVALENT BUT I THINK IN GENERAL, THERE IS A GROWING SENSE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT STUDENT ATTIRE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE IN CLASS, HAS BECOME TOO LAX.

>> THAT'S A WRAP FOR US HERE IN THE STUDIO BUT LET'S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION OFF LINE.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS WE'VE DISCUSSED.

WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, GO TO WCNY DOT ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

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