>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP ON FRONT ROW.

A GAME CHANGER IN THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE.

REDISTRICTING TAKES CENTER STAGE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND THE CDC SIGN-OFF FROM THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR CHILDREN 5 TO 11.

NEXT.

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING] ♪ A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT PBSNC.ORG/FRONTROW ♪ >> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, MITCH KOKAI WITH THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, DONNA KING, EDITOR IN CHIEF OF CAROLINA JOURNAL, AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISOR TO NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

MITCH LET'S BEGIN WITH THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> VIRGINIA HAD BEEN TRENDING BLUER AND BLUER IN RECENT ELECTION CYCLES, NO REPUBLICAN WON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE SINCE 2009 JOE BIDEN WON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE BY 10 POINTS SO YOU WOULD THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN THIS GOVERNOR'S RACE GOING INTO IT, LOOKED EVEN MORE THAT WAY WHEN THE CANDIDATES ENDED UP BEING TERRY MCAULIFFE THE FORMER GOVERNOR RUNNING TO BE BACK IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION AGAINST GLENN YOUNGKIN WHO IS A LITTLE KNOWN BUSINESSMAN PRIVATE EQUITY CEO, NOT MUCH TO SPEAK OF IN TERMS OF A POLITICAL CAREER.

BUT AS THE RACE WENT WITH MOVING ALONG THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE.

THERE WERE WINDS, HEADWINDS AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS AND THEN GLENN YOUNGKIN REALLY LATCHED ON TO THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE DID FAIRLY EARLY ON WAS COME OUT AGAINST CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE SCHOOLS AND THEN TERRY MCAULIFFE HELPED HIM BY SAYING AT ONE POINT DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT PARENTS SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ROLE IN TELLING THE SCHOOLS HOW TO TEACH THEIR KIDS.

SO THE RACE REALLY WENT MOVING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND AS IT TURNED OUT YOUNGKIN ENDS UP WINNING 51 TO 48, BUT NOT ALONE A WIN FOR GLENN YOUNGKIN BUT A BIG WIN FOR OTHER REPUBLICANS IN VIRGINIA, THE FLIP ENOUGH SEATS FOR REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES AND WE SAW WINSOME SEARS WIN THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S RACE, FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO WIN A STATEWIDE OFFICE IN VIRGINIA.

SHE'S A JAMAICAN IMMIGRANT, FORMER MARINE AND WAS WELL KNOWN THE ONE THING THAT PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT HER WAS THAT SHE WAS A BIG SECOND AMENDMENT SUPPORTER, HAD THAT BIG RIFLE IN HER MAIN PICTURE SO BIG NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS IN VIRGINIA.

>> JOE WAS THIS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR DEMOCRATS?

THEY BROUGHT IN ALL THE BIG GUNS DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> WELL, THE THING THAT SHOULD BE MOST TROUBLING TO DEMOCRATS IS THAT THEY BROUGHT IN NOT ONLY THE CURRENT PRESIDENT, BUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP BUILD UP -- >> [MARC] AND THE VICE PRESIDENT >> -- YEAH, IT DIDN'T BUILD UP ANY SENSE OF ENTHUSIASM AMONG BASE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

GIVE YOUNGKIN HIS DUE.

EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT NECESSARILY A POLITICAL VETERAN, HE UNDERSTOOD AT THE VERY LEAST THE PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUES WERE CRITICAL TO VIRGINIA VOTERS.

BY LARGE VOTERS DON'T CAST A BALLOT THINKING, WELL WE NEED TO DO THIS TO SEND SOME MESSAGE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AMONG VOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY VOTE ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM AND YOUNGKIN UNDERSTOOD THAT.

HE ALSO ACCEPTED THE ENDORSEMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BUT DIDN'T CAMPAIGN WITH HIM, WHICH I THINK MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNGKIN WAS IDENTIFIED AS SOMEBODY THAT WAS AN AGENT OF CHANGE BUT NOT TIED TO MAYBE SOME OF THE NEGATIVE SINCE PEOPLE HAVE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> NELSON, WHAT STRUCK YOU ABOUT THIS RACE?

>> WELL DEMOCRATS SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO JOE MANCHIN.

THEY SHOULD HAVE PASSED THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WEEKS AGO AND LEFT IT WITH THAT.

>> [MARC] TAKE THE WIN.

>> TAKE THE WIN, AND THIS WAS A COMPLETE REJECTION OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA.

I MEAN JUST LOOK AT THE VERY BLUE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

AN UNDERFUNDED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE THERE ALMOST BEAT THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR AND THE VERY POWERFUL PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE, ARGUABLY THE MOST POWERFUL DEMOCRAT IN NEW JERSEY LOST TO A TRUCK DRIVER SPENDING LESS THAN $10,000.

SO INDEPENDENTS, THE UNDER 30 CROWD WHICH SHOULD REALLY CONCERN DEMOCRATS SWITCH TO REPUBLICANS IN THIS ELECTION, SO UNLESS DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON REVERSE COURSE ON THEIR AGENDA, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LOSS OF 30 TO 35 SEATS IN THE U.S. HOUSE.

>> I THINK THAT'S A MINIMUM REALLY.

>> WELL I THINK STRUCTURALLY IT'S GOING TO BE IN THAT RANGE PROBABLY A NET OF 2 TO 4 SEATS IN THE SENATE.

YOU KNOW, JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO SIT THERE WITH A VETO PEN AND AND NOT MUCH ELSE.

>> DONNA, THIS REALLY WAS AN HISTORIC RACE WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WINNING HISPANIC ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I THINK THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA MISSED IT.

>> I THINK SO.

WELL THERE IS A STORY, USA TODAY PUT OUT A STORY SAYING, LISTING ALL THE GREAT WINS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN TUESDAY'S RACE NOTABLY LEAVING OUT WINSOME SEARS AND THE NEW HISPANIC ATTORNEY GENERAL IN VIRGINIA.

WHAT WE'RE REALLY SEEING IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THAT THIS IS A BLUEPRINT OF WHAT 2022 COULD LOOK LIKE.

YOUNGKIN LEAD A CAMPAIGN THAT WAS POSITIVE, IT WAS FORWARDLOOKING HE WENT AND ACTUALLY SET FOOT IN SOME OF THESE VERY RED AREAS CAMPAIGNING, SOME OF THEM SAID THEY HADN'T SEEN A CANDIDATE THERE IN YEARS AND YEARS AND WITH PLACES LIKE FAIRFAX COUNTY THAT ARE DEEPLY BLUE, HE DIDN'T HAVE TO WIN IT, HE JUST HAD TO TIGHTEN IT UP AND HE LOST FAIRFAX COUNTY BY ABOUT 10 POINTS WHERE DONALD TRUMP LOST IT BY 25, SO TIGHTENING UP THOSE BLUE AREAS AND SETTING FOOT IN THE RED AREAS IS REALLY HOW THEY WON.

>> OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.

WE'VE GOT MAPS NOW, WE'VE GOT NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS NEW REDISTRICTING, TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT MARC.

SO THIS WEEK, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINISHED ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO REAPPORTION NORTH CAROLINA'S 14 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS NOW A NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND 170 LEGISLATIVE SEATS.

IT WAS THE MOST TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD IN HISTORY.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IT WAS DONE WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION FOR PARTY REGISTRATION, RACE OR ANY OTHER ELECTION DATA, IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND A HOST OF COURT DECISIONS THAT HAVE IMPACTED NORTH CAROLINA OVER THE YEARS.

JUST LOOKING AT THE MAP YOU KNOW FACE ON MY ASSESSMENT IS EXACTLY REALLY THE SAME FOR BOTH PARTIES.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN GOOD YEARS AND CHALLENGES IN BAD YEARS.

I THINK THAT APPLIES EQUALLY TO BOTH PARTIES AND IT'S REALLY JUST LIKE WE SAW IN NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA, PENNSYLVANIA THIS WEEK, BOTH PARTIES NEED TO FOCUS ON THEIR MESSAGE AT LEAST AS MUCH OR MORE THAN THEY FOCUS ON THE MAPS.

>> DONNA, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE AWAY FROM THIS REDISTRICTING.

>> I THOUGHT THE PROCESS WAS TRANSPARENT I LIKED BEING ABLE TO LOOK INTO THE WORKROOM THAT WAS LARGELY EMPTY OF MUCH OF THE TIME AND WATCH WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND I LIKE BEING AND HAVING ACCESS TO THE MAPS EARLY AS A JOURNALIST, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS THAT IT'S KIND OF A STATUS QUO SITUATION.

THIS MAP ISN'T GOING TO BE, ISN'T GOING TO YIELD SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT RESULTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, BUT EACH PARTY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE MAP LOOKS LIKE GETS A MONUMENTAL WIN ABOUT ONCE A DECADE.

THAT HAPPENED IN 2010 FOR REPUBLICANS, IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN IN 22.

I THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ALSO GET THOSE WINS BUT IT JUST MEANS THAT WHILE WE ARE A PURPLE STATE OVERALL, OUR BLUE AND OUR RED ARE CONCENTRATED INTO AREAS WHEN YOU BUILD A MAP, THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA END UP WITH.

>> WILL THIS WITHSTAND A COURT CHALLENGE MITCH?

>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND THE REASON IS THAT THE COURTS KEEP CHANGING THE RULES.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS FRUSTRATED REPUBLICANS EVER SINCE THEY TOOK CONTROL OF THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS IN 2011 IS THEIR GOAL, THE FIRST TIME AROUND WAS DRAW A MAP THAT WOULD ELECT AS MANY REPUBLICANS AS POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO DO IT IN A WAY THAT WOULD SURVIVE A COURT CHALLENGE, BUT THE COURTS KEPT CHANGING THE RULES ON THEM SO I THINK THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING WHAT THE COURTS HAVE TOLD THEM TO DO, IT JUST REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE COURTS STICK WITH WHAT THEY'VE SAID IN THE PAST OR WHETHER THEY CHANGE THE RULES ON THEM AGAIN.

>> JOE WHAT'S THE LIKELY OUTCOME?

HOW MANY REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN HOW MANY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEN AT THE END OF THE DAY?

>> WELL I THINK AS DONNA ALLUDED TO, IT WILL DEPEND SOMEWHAT ON WHATEVER'S HAPPENING IN A PARTICULAR ELECTION YEAR.

I THINK THE WAY THE MAPS ARE DRAWN, IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT A MAJORITY OF THE CONGRESSIONAL STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS ARE WINNABLE BY REPUBLICANS JUST BASED ON THE DEMOGRAPHY WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

>> SO A PICK UP OF ONE YOU THINK?

>> WELL I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

IT COULD BE MUCH BIGGER IF IT IS A HUGE RED WAVE, I MEAN YOU COULD SEE MAYBE ONLY 3 OR 4 OF THESE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS BEING HELD BY DEMOCRATS, AGAIN IT WILL BE IN LARGE PART BASED ON WHO THE CANDIDATES ARE WHAT OTHER FACTORS ARE TAKING PLACE.

NEXT YEAR IT LOOKS VERY FAVORABLE, AT LEAST I THINK SO AT THIS POINT, THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG RED WAVE ELECTION YEAR AND SO WE COULD SEE OUR DELEGATION HAVE 9 OR MAYBE EVEN 10 REPUBLICANS.

>> NELSON CLOSE OUT ABOUT 30 SECONDS FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> WELL, MY THOUGHTS ARE AGAIN IT SHOULD GET BACK TO THE MESSAGE.

THE MISTAKE THAT MCAULIFFE MADE IN VIRGINIA AMONG OTHERS WAS HE NATIONALIZED THE RACE, MAYBE SOME OF THESE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AS WELL SHOULD LOOK TO THE LOCAL ISSUES AND ALSO YOU HAVE TO GET PROGRESS.

I THINK THAT THIS WHAT YOU'VE SEEN RECENTLY WILL ALSO BEAR SOME ON SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET AND OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO GET MOVED FORWARD HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> I WANT TO CHANGE GEARS DONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE CDC'S RULING THIS WEEK ON VACCINE FOR KIDS.

>> SURE.

ON TUESDAY, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL EXPANDED VACCINE ACCESS TO KIDS WHO ARE 5 TO 11 YEARS OLD.

BY THE END OF THE DAY ON TUESDAY, THEY WERE ALREADY BEING ADMINISTERED AND A LOT OF THE PEDIATRICIANS HAD BEEN READY, WALGREENS HAS BEEN READY TO START ADMINISTERING.

THIS DOSE IS LESS THAN WHAT THEY'RE GIVING TO ADULTS IT'S ABOUT A 3RD OF THE CONCENTRATION THAT ADULTS AND TEENAGERS ARE GETTING.

PFIZER SAYS THAT THEY THINK IT'S ABOUT 91% EFFECTIVE IN STUDENTS.

THE REASON THAT THEY'RE GIVING IT WASN'T NECESSARILY THEY SAID ABOUT THE DEATH RATE AMONG CHILDREN, THERE'S BEEN 94 DEATHS AMONG CHILDREN 5 TO 11 DUE TO COVID.

SINCE ALL OF THIS STARTED THEY SAID IT'S MORE ABOUT KEEPING THEM FROM SPREADING IT TO THOSE WHO MAY HAVE A HIGHER DEATH RATE.

YOU KNOW THE COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS ONE WE DON'T HAVE LONG-TERM RESULTS.

CHILDREN ARE NOT SMALL ADULTS HOW THEY RESPOND TO VACCINES IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN HOW AN ADULT DOES AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE LONG-TERM SO SOME FOLKS ARE CONCERNED THAT WITH A VERY VERY LOW DEATH RATES LOW HOSPITALIZATION RATES AMONG CHILDREN ARE WE TAKING A RISK WITH THEIR LONG-TERM WELL-BEING BY GIVING A VACCINE TO A KINDERGARTNER.

BUT THEN AGAIN WE ALSO HAVE THESE VACCINE MANDATES.

ARE THEY GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO GO INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

SAN FRANCISCO'S ALREADY REQUIRING CHILDREN TO BE VACCINATED.

>> [MARC] NEW YORK'S CONSIDERING IT.

>> NEW YORK'S CONSIDERING IT.

YOU KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTAURANTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

CHILDREN.

NORTH CAROLINA HAS A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR IMMUNIZATIONS IN SCHOOLS, NORTH CAROLINA DOES NOT HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL EXEMPTION.

ABOUT 15 STATES HAVE A RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL OBJECTION EXEMPTION FOR IMMUNIZATIONS IN SCHOOLS, NORTH CAROLINA DOESN'T.

SO HOW THIS IS MANAGED IN SCHOOLS AND INDOORS AND FOR MUNICIPALITIES THAT'S GOING TO BE THE QUESTION.

BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY GOING TO SEE MORE PARENTS GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED THAN NOT.

>> YOU KNOW MITCH, TALKING ABOUT MANDATES, OSHA IS COMING OUT FOR BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW, MANDATING THE VACCINE FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OVER 100 EMPLOYEES.

>> YEAH THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTED OSHA TO DO THIS AND WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ON THIS SHOW ABOUT HOW THAT'S A COMPLIANCE NIGHTMARE, HOW DO YOU MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN?

THE MOST INTERESTING THING TO ME ABOUT THIS LATEST ORDER IS THAT IT HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WITHIN GOVERNMENT HAVE FOCUSED ON VACCINES, VACCINES, VACCINES AS THE ANSWER TO THIS RATHER THAN SAYING, LET'S LOOK AT THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THEM, AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT STEP BECAUSE KIDS AS WE'VE SEEN THE FACT THAT THEY'RE 94 DEATHS AMONG KIDS IN THE POPULATION OF 300 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S., THEY ARE NOT THE FOCUS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIGHT COVID-19 AND SO SPENDING SO MUCH TIME ENERGY AND EXPENSE ON THIS SEEMS TO BE A WASTED EFFORT.

>> MANDATES REALLY AFFECT BUSINESSES.

I THINK THERE'S A $13,000 FINE ISN'T THERE PER DAY IF YOU DON'T ADHERE TO THE MANDATE?

>> WELL, THE FINES ARE COMING FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND I CERTAINLY THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD GET VACCINATED WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE THAT, BUT THERE ARE 2 ISSUES THERE.

ONE IS BUT WILL THESE FAXING MANDATES THAT ARE COMING FOR BUSINESSES BEGINNING JANUARY ONE WILL THEY BE EXTENDED TO SCHOOL CHILDREN?

WILL SCHOOLCHILDREN HAVE TO BE VACCINATED.

AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE VACCINE PASSPORTS?

>> RIGHT, GREAT QUESTION.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, IN CALIFORNIA AND HAWAII ALREADY REQUIRE VACCINE PASSPORTS FOR BUSINESSES.

ARE THEY GOING TO EXTEND THOSE TO SCHOOLS, AND WILL THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALSO USE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ED TO SAY OK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A VACCINE PASSPORT FOR YOUR CHILD.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING PUSHED BACK.

NOW 21 STATES HAVE A BAN ON VACCINE PASSPORTS, THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

>> JOE WRAP THIS UP IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS.

>> I THINK THIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF COVID.

I MEAN WE'RE FINALLY SEEING VACCINATIONS NOW AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN, WILL THIS BEGIN TO BE A PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE SEEING WRAPPED UP?

WILL THESE FEATURES OF WELL HAVING TO CLOSE OR RESTRICT BUSINESS HAVING TO MANDATE MASKS, WILL THOSE START TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE?

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

WILL NORTH CAROLINA'S EMERGENCY ORDER BE FINALLY ENDED WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL?

SOME PART OF IT IS NOT JUST FROM THE EPIDOLOGICAL STANDPOINT ARE WE OVER THE DISEASE, BUT HOW IS IT IMPACTING OUR CULTURE AND SOCIETY AND POLITICS TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS AND WHAT WE KNOW TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME?

>> GREAT JOB, I WANT TO COME RIGHT BACK TO YOU NPR AND PBS HAD A VERY INTERESTING POLL APPARENTLY AMERICANS ARE PRETTY PESSIMISTIC.

ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A RAFT OF POLLS HAVE COME OUT RECENTLY.

SORT OF A NATURAL FEATURE OF THIS VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE BEING CONSIDERED A BELLWETHER FOR HOW THINGS ARE LIKELY TO SHAPE UP IN THE 2022 MIDTERM ELECTION.

DOES IT MATTER THAT THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE CAME OUT A CERTAIN WAY, YES BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT DOES.

WHETHER OR NOT IT ACTUALLY DOES WE WILL SUE THE TEST OF TIME.

BUT POLLING SHOWS PRESIDENT BIDEN IS REALLY TAKING IT ON THE CHIN.

HIS SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT EVEN POLLS HAVE SHOWED NOW PEOPLE BEGINNING TO AGREE IN EQUAL NUMBERS WITH THOSE THAT DISAGREE TO QUESTIONS LIKE DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT IS TOO OLD, DO YOU THINK HE'S REALLY UP FOR THE JOB, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE REALLY DIFFICULT ISSUES FOR PRESIDENT WHO BY ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES IS TO BE THE STANDARD BEARER FOR HIS PARTY IN AN ELECTION.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS OWN CAPACITY TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THAT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR DEMOCRATS IN 2022, BUT THE THE ONE THAT I'M MOST INTERESTED IN MARC IS THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY'RE BEGINNING TO BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL FINANCIAL FUTURE.

THAT IS A REAL CRITICAL FACTOR AMONG VOTERS.

THEY CAN SAY THEY FEEL LIKE THE ECONOMY IS NOT DOING WELL, AND THAT'S ONE THING BUT WHEN THEY START TO THINK LIKE THINGS MIGHT BECOME REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, THAT'S WHEN THEY START TO BECOME ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN ELECTION THAT THEY FEEL IT'S GOING MAKE A CHANGE.

>> YOU KNOW ONE OTHER THING I SAW MITCH WAS THAT BY PARTY PEOPLE DEMOCRATS TRUST ELECTIONS MORE THAN REPUBLICANS.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT VARIES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BASED ON THE OUTCOME, I'M GUESSING THAT THEY PROBABLY TRUST THE OUTCOME OF THAT VIRGINIA ELECTION A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN REPUBLICANS DO.

BUT YES THAT IS AN INTERESTING THING.

ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING PIECES ALSO OF EVIDENCE THAT'S COME OUT LATELY IS AMONG DEMOCRATS.

ONLY 36% OF THEM WANT BIDEN TO RUN AGAIN IN 2024, THAT'S BAD.

I'M SURE THAT THE REPUBLICAN NUMBER IS LESS BUT YOUR OWN PARTY ONLY BASICALLY A 3RD OF THE PEOPLE THINK YOU SHOULD RUN -- >> IS HE A LAME DUCK YOU THINK?

>> HE COULD VERY WELL BE UNLESS SOMETHING TURNS AROUND.

THERE'S A YEAR BETWEEN NOW AND THAT MID TERM, BUT HE'S GOT TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

IF NOT HE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A LAME DUCK.

>> DONNA, YOUR SENSE ON THESE POLLS.

>> I THINK SO I ACTUALLY I'M SURPRISED IT WASN'T MORE PEOPLE BEING PESSIMISTIC FRANKLY BECAUSE ANECDOTALLY I'M HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED AS WE GO INTO THE HOLIDAYS.

THEY FEEL LIKE COVID HAS STRETCHED ON AND ON AND ON AND SOME OF THAT IS DUE TO EXTENDED EMERGENCY ORDERS AND EXTENDED EFFORTS TO PULL MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS INTO VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND THE RECOVERY PART OF COVID.

BUT WITH A 42% RATING, IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR BIDEN.

OBAMA LOST THE MID TERM HIS PARTY LOST THE MIDTERMS IN 2010 AND HE WAS AROUND 45%.

BILL CLINTON LOST MIDTERMS IN 97 AND 98 AND HE WAS ABOUT 45% AS WELL.

SO IT DOES NOT LOOK GOOD FOR THE DEMOCRATS GOING INTO THE MIDTERMS.

>> NELSON DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE TIME TO TURN THOSE NUMBERS AROUND?

>> HE DOES, BUT YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY BROADER THAN THE PRESIDENT.

TO PARAPHRASE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE NOW IS THE -- >> [MARC] HERE WE GO AGAIN.

[PANELISTS LAUGHING] >> NOW IS THE CENTURY OF OUR DISCONTENT.

REALLY IF YOU GO BACK ON THE GALLUP POLL'S LAST 21 YEARS OF SURVEYS, ONLY 2 TIMES HAS NATIONAL SATISFACTION BEEN ABOVE 60%.

ONE OF THOSE WAS IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS AFTER 9.11 AND THEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE IRAQ WAR IN 2003, SO YOU'VE REALLY HAD -- I MEAN THE LAST HAPPY YEAR IN THE U.S. WAS 2000.

NONE OF OUR 4 PRESIDENTS IN THIS CENTURY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TELL THEM.

I THINK AGAIN AS WE SAID EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION, BIDEN WILL PROBABLY BE A A TRANSITIONAL FIGURE HE IS NOT A TRANSFORMATIONAL FIGURE.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THAT PERSON TO ARRIVE ON THE NATIONAL SCENE.

NO REAGAN YET.

>> OK LET'S GO TO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK MITCH.

>> IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ABOUT REDISTRICTING, THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, SORT OF LOST IN THE SHUFFLE IS THE THE START OF THE NEW GROUP THAT HAD ITS FIRST MEETING THIS WEEK, THIS IS A GROUP THAT'S GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO THE USE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ALL THAT MONEY COMING FROM THE FEDS TO DEAL WITH COVID-19.

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FLOWING INTO THE STATE.

REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR CHUCK EDWARDS, WHO'S ONE OF THE LEADERS ON THIS SAID THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN OPERATING BASICALLY BUILDING AN AIRPLANE WHILE FLYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC AND SO WE REALLY WANT A THOROUGH AFTER ACTION REVIEW AND I THINK THIS GROUP HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DO SOME GOOD THINGS IF IT SAYS, 'ALL RIGHT THIS IS HOW WE'VE USED THE MONEY HOW CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS MOVING FORWARD?'

>> JOE?

>> IN THE LINE OF POLICE FUNDING AS AN ISSUE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUST CAME OUT WITH A SURVEY THAT SHOWED 47% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS NEED INCREASED FUNDING, UP FROM 31% IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

I THINK AS WE MOVE INTO THE 2022 CAMPAIGN ELECTION CYCLE, THIS IS AN ISSUE MUCH LIKE WHAT WE SAW PLAY OUT IN VIRGINIA, WHERE CANDIDATES CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF PEOPLE WANT POLICE.

THEY WANT THE RESPONSE WHEN YOU CALL 911 - >> [MARC] WE SAW THAT IN SEATTLE.

>> AND I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE AND PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES IS WHAT JAMES CARVILLE SAID ABOUT DEMOCRATS NEEDING TO GO TO WOE DETOX AFTER THIS ELECTION CYCLE OF STOP TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN A WAY THAT ARE SO DERISIVE IN THE MINDS OF INDEPENDENT AND SUBURBAN ORIENTED VOTERS.

>> YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF DEMOCRATS PARTICULARLY FROM THE OLD SCHOOL THINK PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE LISTENING TO CARVILLE MORE.

DONNA?

>> SO THE STORY THAT I THOUGHT WAS MOST INTERESTING THIS WEEKEND REALLY HASN'T BEEN WILL VERY WIDELY REPORTED.

SOMETHING BROKE THIS WEEK THAT SHOWED THAT STATE AGENCIES AND THE COOPER ADMINISTRATION HELPED PAY FOR THE WEST ED REPORTS.

NOW THE WEST ED REPORT IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE LEANDRO LAWSUIT WHERE JUDGE LEE AND UNION COUNTY IS TELLING THE LEGISLATURE HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO SPEND AND WHERE THEY CAN SPEND IT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION DURING THIS LAWSUIT.

BASICALLY THE JUDGE TELLING THE LEGISLATURE HOW TO SPEND EDUCATION MONEY.

THE FOUNDATION OF HIS DECISION THE WEST ED REPORT WAS ACTUALLY PAID FOR BY STATE AGENCIES AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS ALONG WITH 7 FOUNDATIONS, WHICH MEANS THAT JOSH STEIN OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL IS DEFENDING THE STATE AGAINST A DECISION THAT IS BASED ON A BUDGET THEY PAID FOR.

>> DONNA LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.

HAS THE GOVERNOR OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TALK ABOUT THIS?

>> IT'S BEEN VERY QUIET.

I THINK THERE'S A COMBINATION OF PROBABLY DON'T LOOK AT IT TOO HARD BECAUSE IT'S VERY COMPLICATED AND MAYBE PEOPLE WON'T NOTICE.

BUT THE IDEA OF HOW OUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL DEFENDING THE STATE AGAINST SOMETHING THAT THEY FUNDED IS IS ALARMING FOR SURE.

>> NELSON.

>> THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S FIRST OFFICIAL DELEGATION VISITED TAIWAN THIS WEEK.

THE DELEGATION PLAYED SUPPORT FOR THE ISLANDS FREEDOM.

AND IT REALLY SHOWS THE SPLIT BETWEEN THE EU AND CHINA THAT'S GROWING.

EUROPEAN UNION, ESPECIALLY THE WESTERN COUNTRIES, THE FRENCH, THE DUTCH, THE GERMANS, THEY'RE REALLY FED UP WITH CHINA RIGHT NOW.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT, COVID, THE REFUSAL TO REFORM A STATE-SPONSORED ECONOMY AND AGGRESSIVE ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL SOUTHEAST ASIA BY CHINA AS A REGIONAL HEGEMON.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THE GREATEST POTENTIAL GROWTH IN THE WORLD IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES IS GOING TO BE SOUTHEAST ASIA.

GLOBALISM IS OVER.

THIS IS A RETURN TO HISTORY AND GREAT POWER COMPETITION.

THINK.

1871 TO 1914 THAT'S THE ERA PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK BACK ON FOR SIGN AND YOU KNOW HOW THAT ERA ENDED.

>> YOU APPRECIATE THE HISTORY LESSON, DON'T YOU JOE?

[PANEL LAUGHS] OKAY, LET'S GO LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK MITCH?

>> MY WHAT'S UP IS SOMETHING CALLED RISK LIMITING AUDITS.

AND FOR PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN ELECTION INTEGRITY, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.

IT'S A TOOL THAT'S DESIGNED TO HELP REVIEW BALLOTS CAST, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND UP.

IT WAS TESTED IN 15 COUNTIES THIS TIME AROUND AND THAT NORTH CAROLINA ELECTIONS, IT WOULD TAKE A CHANGE IN STATE LAW TO MAKE IT SOMETHING HAPPENING STATEWIDE.

MY WHOSE DOWN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN TRADITIONAL DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE DPI PUT OUT SOME NUMBERS SHOWING THAT ENROLLMENT IS UP ABOUT 0.8% FROM LAST YEAR, BUT STILL DOWN MORE THAN 4% FROM PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

MEANWHILE, CHARTER SCHOOLS, UP 4% LAST YEAR UP 12% SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> JOE.

>> WHO'S UP, MITCH MENTIONED THIS EARLIER.

UP THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SAYING SOMEONE OTHER THAN JOE BIDEN SHOULD BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024.

IF IT'S A BAD YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS AND 22 IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE.

BUT US THE WISE PHILOSOPHER NELSON DOLLAR ONCE TOLD ME ABOUT THINGS IN POLITICS, THEY'RE RARELY AS GOOD AS THEY SEEM AND THEY'RE NEVER AS BAD AS THEY SEEM.

NOW DOWN IS REALITY.

AS MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE TO A STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN ADOPTING MORE OF THE METAVERSE, THIS ARTIFICIAL REALITY THAT COMPANIES LIKE FACEBOOK AND APPLE ARE ADOPTING SO WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE FRONT ROW VIRTUALLY.

>> DONNA.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

OK. UP I'VE GOT TO SAY WINSOME SEARS.

SHE'S JUST SO IMPRESSIVE.

VIRGINIA LIKE A ROCK STAR LIEUTENANT GENERAL - LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THIS WEEK.

SHE IS A FORMER MARINE.

IF YOU'VE HEARD HER -- >> [MARC] SHE WAS A MARINE BEFORE SHE WAS A CITIZEN, >> YES, I MEAN, SHE IMMIGRATED AS A CHILD FROM JAMAICA, A REAL GOOD BOOTSTRAPS AMERICAN DREAM STORY AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES.

MY DOWN IS USA TODAY WHO DID NOT INCLUDE HER IN THEIR LIST OF BIG WINS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THEY LISTED LOTS OF MAYORS IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON.

THEY NEGLECTED TO INCLUDE HER, THEY GOT A LOT OF HEAT ON TWITTER AND KIND OF ADDED HER AFTERWARDS.

>> NELSON.

>> UP THE CAROLINA HURRICANES HOCKEY CLUB.

THEY WERE UNDEFEATED IN OCTOBER FREDDY ANDERSON IS THE LEAGUE'S LEADING GOALIE AND THE CANES ARE THE TOP SCORING TEAM IN THE LEAGUE SO FAR SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL KEEP THAT GOING THIS WEEKEND.

IN A RECENT GAME TONY DE ANGELO SCORED A GORDIE HOWE HAT TRICK.

AND THAT'S THE GOAL AND ASSIST AND A FIGHT AND HE WON THE FIGHT.

WHO'S DOWN.

THE CLIMATE CONFERENCE AT THE G 20 COUNTRIES ISSUED A VERY WEAK PRE CONFERENCE COMMUNIQUE ON GLOBAL WARMING.

THE RUSSIANS AND THE CHINESE LEADERS PUTIN AND XI FAILED TO ATTEND, AND THE COMMITMENT SO FAR HAVE BEEN MARGINAL AT BEST.

>> [MARC] HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> LAWMAKERS REACH FISH OR CUT BAIT POINT IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH GOVERNOR OVER BUDGET.

>> [MARC] IS THERE GOING TO BE A DEAL?

THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUDGET.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE A DEAL BUT THEY'LL HAVE A BUDGET SOON.

>> JOE HEADLINE.

>> HURRICANES, SEE THAT NELSON DOLLAR GAVE SHOUT OUT AND HE GETS TO CRANK THAT WARNING THING AT THE START OF THE NEXT HURRICANES GAME.

[ALL LAUGHING] >> DONNA?

>> I THINK I'M MORE COUNTIES MUNICIPALITIES START LIFTING MASK MANDATES AND OTHER COVID ERA RESTRICTIONS.

>> HAS THE GOVERNOR INDICATED WHEN HE MIGHT LIFT THE MANDATE?

>> I THINK THAT IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DEFEND PARTICULARLY NOW THAT WE'VE GOT VACCINES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 11.

>> NELSON.

>> COUNTRIES PUT A HAPPY FACE ON CLIMATE CONFERENCE FAILURE.

>> NOT MUCH CAME OUT OF IT DID IT?

>> NOT SO FAR.

I MEAN THEY HAVE MORE TO DO THIS UPCOMING WEEK AND THEY WILL HAVE A COMMUNIQUE.

THEY WILL TRY TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE OUT OF THIS BUT YOU'RE NOT SEEING THE FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENTS TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE.

>> [MITCH] THE PRESIDENT MIGHT GET A NAP.

>> [DONNA] YEAH.

[PANELISTS CHUCKLING] >> OK, WE GOTTA ROLL.

THAT'S IT FOR US.

GREAT JOB GANG.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

♪ A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT PBSNC.ORG/FRONTROW.

♪