>> "DONNYBROOK" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BE.. THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS A BIG "NEWSWEEK" IN ST. LOUIS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.

FIRST LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

SHE'S THE MEDIA VETERAN HERSELF, WENDY WIESE, ALONG WITH BILL MCCLELLAN FROM THE POST DISPATCH.

AND .. TODAY.COM AND ALVIN REID FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN.

BEFORE WE START THE CONVERSATION, ALVIN, WE WANT TO THANK JACKIE SHARONBURG, GREAT LOCAL ARTIST FOR SHARING HER ARTWORK WHICH IS ON TOP OF THE MAN TELL BEHIND ME.

BEAUTIFUL.

THAN.. WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JACKIE GO TO TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM AT JACKIE SHARONBURG.

JOE, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH YOU.

SUNDAY.

WAS IT EASILY VISIBLE BY 5:00 OR 10:00?

>> NO.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NO.

1, ABORTION PASSED IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, NOT RESOUNDINGLY, 53, 54%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION SO THAT NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE DECISION IN 2022, ABORTION IS LEGAL IN MISSOURI OR WILL BE DECEMBER 5th, I BELIEVE.

IS IT KIND OF CURIOUS, THOUGH, THAT THE STATE WHICH LEGALIZED ABORTION ACROSS THE BOARD VOTED FOR ALL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE WHO ARE ALL UNIFORMLY AGAINST ABORTION?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S SURPRISING AT ALL.

WE.. ON THIS SHOW BEFORE.

MISSOURI HAD A HISTORY OF BEING ABLE TO SEPARATE ISSUES FROM CANDIDATES.

NOT .. DAYS AGO TO LESSEN RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION, WE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA.

WE EXPANDED MEDICAID.

WE LEGALIZED GAMBLING.

WE REJECTED RIGHT TO WORK, WHICH ARE ALL THINGS REPUBLICANS ARE FOR.

PEOPLE IN GENERAL ..

CAPABLE THAN WE IN THE MEDIA WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR.

WE LIKE TO FIT PEOPLE IN A BOX AND SAY IF YOU VOTE THIS WAY ON ONE THING, YOU MUST VOTE THIS WAY ON THE OTHER.

PEOPLE SAY I LIKE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES BUT I THINK RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION SHOULD BE LESS.

>> I LIKE TO PUT THEM IN A BOX, JOE.

>> IT REMOVES THAT THINKING PART.

>>.. MISSOURIANS CAN SUPPORT ISSUES THAT DEMOCRATS FAVOR AND YET TOTALLY REJECT DEMOCRATS.

OUR ELECTIONS AREN'T EVEN CLOSE.

>> YOU SAID ONE TIME IT DIDN'T SURPRISE YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE IT WITH RIGHT TO WORK.

>> WE DO IT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT I'M NEVER SHOCKED WHEN IT HAPPENS.

I AL.. >> IT'S CURIOUS BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ELECTED, SOME OF THEM, ANYWAY, ARE VOWING TO REVERSE THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE ON TUESDAY.

THEY CAN DO THAT AGAIN BY PUTTING IT LEGISLATIVELY ON THE BALLOT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> ISSUES THAT WE ARE VOTING ON, THEY DON'T HAVE A RACE, DON'T HAVE A GENDER.

THEY ARE NOT RURAL.

THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE REASONS TO VOTE EITHER REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT THAT WE MAY NOT LIKE, LIKE I CAN'T STAND THEM PEOPLE AND THIS CANDIDATE CAN'T STAND THEM EITHER, SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM OR HER, BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE AMENDMENTS AND WITH THE PROPOSITION.

THEY.. BECAUSE YEAH, THEY ARE NOT A PERSON.

>> MOST OF THE ELECTION POST MORTEM HAD TO DO WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PRESUMPTION IS AS EASILY DEFINED AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN PAST DECADES.

THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE ANYMORE.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER BEEN AS TRUE AS THE MEDIA AND POLITICAL PARTIES WANT TO BELIEVE IT IS.

IT'S JUST A SIMPLIFY EVERYTHING.

WE WANT TO PUT EVERYBODY IN THAT BOX, AND I ALWAYS SAID TO PEOPLE, YOU NAME THREE ISSUES, AND I WILL GIVE YOU WHERE I STAND ON IT, AND YOU WILL THINK I'M A FLAMING LIBERAL.

NAME THREE OTHER ISSUES, AND YOU WILL THINK I'M A ROCK RIVER REPUBLICAN.

>> THAT'..

THOUGH, ARE A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX.

>.. >> WHEN I LOOK AT THE COUNTY BREAKDOWN ON THE ABORTION THE COUNTIES WERE PRETTY MUCH AGAINST IT, AND THE BIG CITIES WERE PRETTY MUCH FOR IT.

>> I THOUGHT ST. LOUIS COUNTY WAS ALSO.

>> LET'S MOVE ALONG.

I WANT TO PUT ALVIN REID I..

BOX.

LIVING LEGEND.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS WILL HONOR YOU WITH THE LIVING LEGEND AWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

>> VERY HONORED.

I JUST HAVE TO STAY ALIVE.

>> THE LIVING PART OR LEGEND PART?

&g.. WHAT DID YOU T..

WRITING THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT ERIERIC SCHMITT IS A TOP CONTENDER FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL JOB IN THE UNITED STATES.

I'M NOT ..

BUT ERIC SCHMITT THE JUNIOR SENATOR FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI IS BEING RUMO..

SOMEONE THAT MIGHT BE THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP.

AND POLITICO HAS ALSO THROWN JOSH HAWLEY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WOULD THOSE GUYS TAKE IT?

>> ONE, I'M SURPRISED THEY NEVER SAW A COMMERCIAL OF LUKE KUNCE OF JOSH HAWLEY RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th.

I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TO NOT BE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THERE ARE ENOU.. OUT THERE THINKING YOU ARE CONSERVATIVE, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU.

I THINK IF OFF.. WILL TAKE THE JOB AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE HE'S KIND OF IN TRUMP'S FAVOR, AND THEY LIKE HIM.

POLITICAL PLAYERS, HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE KNOWN, AND I JUST KNOW THAT HE'S NOT THE SAME PERSON NOW, AT LEAST PRETTY YOU CANNILYOUPOLITICALLYTHAT HE WAS BACK THEN.

YES, IF IT'S OFFERED, I THINK HE WILL TAKE IT.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S UNIQUE TO ANY POLITICIAN.

>> I'M SAYING HE'S THE ONLY ONE I KNOW.

>> A LOT ARE BATHED IN THE RIVER OF REDEMPTION.

I COULD EASILY SEE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERMATH OF TUESDAY, THE -- HE WAS POSTING PICTURES OF HIMSELF PLAYING GOLF WITH THE PRESIDENT ELECT.

HE WAS ON THE PLANE WITH THE VICE-PRESIDENT ELECT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT ERIC SCHMITT WOULD JUMP AT.

I DON'T THINK JOSH HAWLEY -- I THINK JOSH HAWLEY WANTS THE BIG SEAT.

>>.. HISTORY.

WE.. A TRUMP CABINET.

IT'S CHAOS.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT REALLY GOES WELL FOR MOST CAREERS.

WHO WALKS OUT OF A TRUMP CABINET LOOKING GOOD?

IF YOU ARE A U.S.

SENATOR,.. HAVE ONE OF THE 100 BEST JOBS IN THE WORLD.

>> I THINK THEREIN L..

QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT SCHMIDT WANTS IT.

IF THE QUESTION IS COULD HE GET IT?

NOBODY THAT WAS UP FOR ELECTION HAD A BETTER WEEK THAN ERIC SCHMITT.

HE WAS C.. PRESIDENT.

HE W.. ON HEY ON, CAMPAIGNING WITH BERNIE MARINO, AND WENT TO TEXAS FOR TED CRUZ.

TED CRUZ WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN DANGER, WON BIG.

THAT SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GO FROM TOGETHER TO BEING PRESIDENT.

I TH..

DOES ERIC SCHMITT SEE HIMSELF?

IF THE QUESTION IS ERIC SCHMITT A HOT COMMODITY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

THAT'S WITHOUT A DOU.. >> JEFF JENSEN.

JEFF JENSEN WAS TRUMP'S FI.. U.S. ATTORNEY HERE IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI.

HE WAS VERY WELL REGARDED BY THE POLICE BECAUSE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD TO AT THE POINT IN IN KIM GARDNER'S CHAOS.

HE LEFT IN 2020.

HE ALSO -- BILL BARR PICKED JEFF JENSEN AND FLYNN PLED GUILTY TO LYING TO THE F.B.I., AND THEN THE JUDGE WOULDN'T ACCEPT HIS -- WHEN HE WANTED TO PULL THAT BACK.

JENSEN LOOKED ..

DETERMINED THAT YES, HE LIED TO THE F.B.I., AND YES, HE HAD ADEQUATE COUNSEL, BUT HE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DROPPED.

AND THE JUDGE DIDN'T, AND TRUMP HAD TO PARDON HIM.

JEFF JENSEN MIGHT BE A GUY FOR THE F.B.I.

HE WAS.. YEARS BEFORE HE WAS U.S. ATTORNEY HERE.

I THINK THAT JEFF JENSEN COULD BE A NATIONAL NAME.

>> APPARENTLY PRESIDENT ELECT TRUMP IS STILL -- SO UNUSUAL TO SAY, 45, 47.

HE IS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE JOBS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH TREASURY OR THE FED OR WHAT WAS YOU, THEN HE WANTS EXPERTS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO JUSTICE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, HE WANTS LOYALTY WITH CAPITAL L-O, ALL UPPER CASE.

>> I DON'T THINK JENSEN IS A TRUE TRUMP.

>> HE WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL WELL REGARDED U.S. ATTORNEY HERE, AND HE WAS PICKED TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT FLYNN.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MADISON COUNTY IN ILLINOIS DECIDING THE VOTERS, 53, 54, 55%, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE, TO SECEDE FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, JOINING 29 OTHER COUNTIES, BILL, THAT HAVE SAID WE ARE TIRED OF THE INFLUENCE OF COOK COUNTY, DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE STATE IS RUN, AND IN THE NONBINDING SHOW OF DISSATISFACTION SAY HEY, LET'S FORM OUR OWN STATE.

>> UNITED STATES COULD BE LIKE ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

AND WE HAVE 91 MUNICIPALITIES, AND THEY WANT TO EITHER HAVE ITS OWN STATE OR GO WITH IOWA, AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WANTS TO SPLIT OFF.

I HAVE WRITTEN WE SHOULD GO TO ILLINOIS AND WEST-EAST ST. LOUIS.

COUNTRIES.

>> I WOULD WRITE TO THE COUNTY OFFICIALS AND SAY HEY, IT'S FINE WITH US.

BUT FIRST YO.. MONEY FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

FOR TWO YEAR.. MONEY AND THEN YOU GO, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO, STUFF LIKE THIS.

>&g..

VERY STRIDENT LEFT, VERY STRIDENT RIGHT, BUT I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A VERY ANGRY ELECTION CYCLE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TEETH.

SOMEBODY GETS A LOT OF POLITICAL MILEAGE OVER THEM, BUT THEN IT'S LIKE POOF, LIKE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

CANNILY, BUT I DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH.

>> I THINK YOU MEDIA ELITES ARE NOT TAKING RURAL AMERICA SERIOUSLY.

WHEN S.. VOTING 70% TO SECEDE FROM THE STATE, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD GET THAT IN MISSOURI RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S LIKE GOING OUT IN YOUR YARD AND YELLING YOUR COMPLAINTS, AND IT FEELS GOOD.

>> IT'S A DEMONSTRATION.

>> WE HAVE AN ELECTION LIKE THIS WHERE WE HAVE 7 BATTLEGROUND STATES AND THE REST IS LIKE OUR VOTES DON'T REALLY COUNT TOO MUCH.

YOU GO TO UPSTATE ..

THERE WAS NOTHING BUT TRUMP FLAGS, AND THEY KNOW THEIR VOTES DON'T REALLY COUNT BECAUSE THEY GET WASHED OUT BY NEW YORK.

>> ON THAT BALLOT THEY DON'T SAY IF WE SECEDE FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, YOU WILL MOVE OUT OF THIS COUNTY IN DROVES, BUT WE WILL BE BROKE.

>> ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, RAY HARTMANN, WANTED HIS OPPONENT TO HAVE MORE TOWN HALLS, AND PRITZKER SHOULD COME DOWN TO FIND OUT WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.

>>..

ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS GOING TO FACE A $3 BILLION BEV SIT AT TH3$3 BILLIONDEFICIT AT THE END OF 2026.

THE VOTERS SAID THEY WOULD LIKE A MILLIONAIRE TAX, EXTRA 3% INCOME TAX ON THOSE MAKING 7 FIGURES PER YEAR.

WON'T THAT SEND A LOT OF THOSE MILLIONAIRES TO FLORIDA AND MYRTLE BEACH?

>> PERHAPS IT WILL, BUT I'M OF THE MIND THAT IF YOU'RE MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, YOU CAN PAY THAT 3% SUR TAX.

I WOULD HAVE VOTED YES FOR IT.

>> THIS IS GOING TO SOUND STRANGE, BUT THE REASON THAT I -- A MILLION DOLLARS?

THAT AIN'T THAT MUCH MONEY.

I'M SORRY.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY.

A MILLION DOLLARS, NO, THEY NEED TO PAY TAXES.

>> THEY ARE NOT THE WORKING POOR OBVIOUSLY.

TH..

BUT A MILLION DOLLARS WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP WAS LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S JUST NOT ANYMORE.

>> ONE OF THOSE THINGS, TOO, EVERYBODY NOT MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS WILL VOTE TO HAVE THAT TAX, EVERYONE MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS WILL LEAVE.

THEN THEY DROP IT DOWN TO EVERYBODY MAKING 400,000.

IT'S COMING DOWN.

WHAT IT MEANS IS ILLINOIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HIGH TAX STATE.

ILLINOIS LOVES TAXES AND THEY ARE $3 BILLION IN DEBT.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE ONE, IT WOULD HELP THE 3% ON MILLIONAIRES, AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS LIKE I WANT TO SECEDE FROM THE UNION, AND I WANT TO TAX ALL MILLIONAIRES.

I WANT FRE.. >> I DON'T THINK 30 COUNTIES ARE REALLY GOING TO SECEDE.

I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE.

I THINK THIS IS MORE THAN A MESSAGE.

I TH.. TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION TO CUT STATE PENSIONS WHICH I DON'T THINK RETIREES WILL LIKE THAT OR IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE SOME TAXES.

SERVICES.

>.. AREN'T VERY BIG.

>> IT WOULDN'T BE NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER, BUT YOU COULD START GRANDFATHERING.

THERE ARE PEOPLE MAKING BIG, BIG TIME MONEY THAT ARE BIG, BIG TIME OLD.

IT WILL START TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF BUT YOU HAVE TO HANG ON.

>> I WILL BUY A FRONT ROW SEAT FOR WHEN JAMIE PRITZKER HAS TO SELL IN ILLINOIS A DEMOCRAT THAT HE WANTS TO CUT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' PENSIONS.

>> MOST OF THE PUBLIC.. WHO ARE RETIRED, THEY ARE NOW IN FLORIDA.

>.. MILLIONAIRES.

ALWAYS S.. MILLIONAIRES LIVE IN THE STATE.

IT'S ENOUGH THAT WOULD DEFEAT THAT BILL.

>> MILLIONAIRES IS SOMEBODY MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

>> THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MONEY.

>> IF WE FOUND EVERYBODY OUT THERE THAT WAS AROUND THAT $1 BILLION RANGE THEY HAVE ENOUGH INFLUENCE WITH THEIR BILLION DOLLARS THAT THAT WITH A NOT PASS.

EVEN THE ONES MAKING 1 MILLION THEY HAVE TO SQUEEZE.

>> DO ANY OF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO MADE A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR?

>> SURE.

>> CHAFERLY, NO.

>> Y..

THIS TOWN.

>> I KNOW THEM, BUT I DON'T HANG OUT WITH THEM.

>> WENDY WIESE.

WENDY, UNTIL RECENTLY, UNTIL WHENEVER THEY KICK IN THE NEW SPORTS BETTING FOR MISSOURI, ILLINOIS HAS A MONOPOLY AROUND HERE.

1/10 OF 1% MISSOURI APPROVED SPORTS BETTING.

AGAIN, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THIS ONE BECAUSE THEY SAID NO TO A CASINO AT THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS.

THEY APPROVED .. THAT CHANGED THE CONSTITUTION.

IT WILL BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THAT.

GIVEN HOW CLOSE SOME..

AMENDMENTS ARE TO THE CONSTITUTION PASSING BY 50.1% OR 53%, SHOULD WE RAISE THE BAR A LITTLE BIT TO 55 OR 60% SO WE DON'T HAVE A PATCHWORK OF AMENDMENTS IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION?

>> YES.

..

THIS PROGRAM THIS YEAR HAS BEEN JUST A LOWERING OF PREVIOUSLY HELD STANDARDS.

IT DOES MAKE ME UNCOMFORTABLE, BECAUSE A GREAT MANY PEOPLE ARE KIND OF ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AT THE MOMENT.

THEY ARE VERY BUSY WITH THEIR LIVES.

SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RUNNING OKAY.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THESE AREAS OF CONCERN.

SO I ABSOLUTELY THINK THE BAR SHOULD BE HIGHER WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION.

55% OF VOTERS IN FLORIDA VOTED TO BRING BACK REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, THREW THE THRESHOLD IS 60%.

THAT..

IT'S TOO HIGH.

YOU ARE IGNORING A TRUE MAJORITY OF YOUR CITIZENS.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH 50%.

I DON'T.

PLUS YOU HAVE TO GATHER WHATEVER THAT PERCENTAGE IS TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT.

I THINK 50% IS MINE.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> WASN'T FLORIDA THE ONLY STATE THAT HELD BACK?

>> YES, IT WAS, ON TUESDAY.

>> THAT CAN COME BACK TO BITE YOU, BECAUSE IF THE LEGISLATURE PUTS THIS ON THE BALLOT IN TWO YEARS, AND IT CAN DO THAT, I BET IT WILL, TO REVERSE WHAT HAPPENED TUESDAY, THEY WILL JUST NEED 50%.

>.. >> I'M NOT SURE.

ALL YOU NEEDED WAS ANOTHER 5,000 VOTES.

>> ANY T.. RECOUNT, THE ONE WHO WON THE FIRST TIME WINS SECOND TIME AROUND.

..

THEY MIGHT CHANGE LEGISLATIVELY LIKE NO EXEMPTIONS, BUT NOTHING WOULD CHANGE.

>> I AGREE WITH WE.. SHOULD BE A HIGHER THRESHOLD.

I DON'T BELIEVE CONSTITUTIONS AND CERTAINLY THE U.S. CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE CHANGED ON WHAT AT TIMINGS CAN BE WILLMS.

WIMS, AND WHAT.. DO A BETTER JOB OF WRITING LAWS, AND THOSE COULD BE MORE EASILY REVISED, REVAMPED AS TIME GOES ON.

PROVIDE AN OVERALL FRAMEWORK, RELATIVE CONSTANT FRAMEWORK, BUT THE QUESTION WITH ABORTION IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE U.S. CONGRESS JUST CODIFY ALLOWING CERTAIN THINGS BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO, BECAUSE IT'S TOO CONTROVERSIAL.

SO THEN IT ENDS UP BECOMING ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES, AND I THINK LEGISLATORS, BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL, FOUND A LITTLE GUTS, A LITTLE COURAGE, WE WOULDN'T NEED ALL THESE PATCHWORK EVENTS.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT IT ALSO GOES B..

FACT THAT PEOPLE VOTE AGAINST THEIR OWN DESIRES WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATORS.

THE PEOPLE SAY YES, WE WANT ABORINGS WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS TO BE A RIGHT, BUT THEY TURN AROUND AND VOTE FOR LEGISLATORS WHO DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.

>> BUT THOSE LEGISLATORS AREN'T DOING ANYTHING ON THE ISSUE.

I BELIEVE LAWS CAN BE PASSED AND THEN QUITE HONESTLY MAYBE THEY WILL FIND A REASON TO CHANGE IT, BUT THE QUESTION OF EVERY TIME YOU COME UP SOME NEW IDEA THAT THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T WANT TO BUCKLE DOWN AND DO SOMETHING ON THAT WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT NOW, AND IT'S AN AMENDMENT, THAT 50.1 IS GOING TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION AND THEN YEARS LATER THEY CHANGE IT BACK.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IT'S NOT AN ELECTION TOPIC, BUT MONICA IN TODAY'S ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH HAD SOMETHING ON OZEMPIC, BUT THE TEACHERS THAT ARE ON HEALTH PLANS OR THROUGH THEIR WORK WITH THE DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING GETTING PRESCRIBED WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS LIKE OZEMPIC AS PART OF THE HEALTHCARE PLAN.

IT'S EXPENSIVE.

FRANCIS HOWELL, HAVE LOOKED AT THE COSTS.

IN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT THERE WERE 50 PEOPLE ON IT, AND SUDDENLY THERE WERE 334, AND IT'S 1300 A MONTH.

DO YOU THINK WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS SHOULD BE PART OF A HEALTH PLAN FOR THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AT THESE SCHOOLS?

>> IF DRUGS LIKE OZEMPIC ARE BEING PRESCRIBED FOR CONDITIONS OTHER THAN SIMPLY BEING OVERWEIGHT, DIABETES, THINGS LIKE THAT, YES, THEY SHOULD, BUT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE DECIDES I WOULD LIKE TO KNOCK OFF 50 POUNDS, I THINK SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TO LOOK AT BEING FISCAFISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

>> I THINK YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A TOUGH SITUATION OF THOSE WHO NEED IT THAT ARE TRULY DIABETIC.

AND YOU FIND OUT YOU LOSE WEIGHT, KIND OF LIKE THE LIVER MEDICINE THAT THEY FIGURE OUT COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO COVER IT.

I THINK YOU REALLY DO.

>> LOSING WEIGHT HELPS YOU WITH CORONARY HEART DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, KNEE PROBLEMS AND DIABETES.

>..

ANYBODY AT THIS TABLE, I WOULD HAVE FAR MORE EXPERIENCE WITH WEIGHT PROBLEMS.

>> BLESS YOU FOR THAT.

>> AND I DISCOVERED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH ME.

>> PIZZA.

>> I A.. >> ME TOO!

>> THIS IDEA THAT SOMEHOW -- TO QUOTE CHARLIE BRENNEN, HE SAID PEOPLE NEED TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS.

THE ..

HEAVIER THAN I AM NOW 10, 12 YEARS AGO WAS I ATE TOO DARN MUCH.

I QUIT EATING ..

STARTED EXERCISING AND I LOST WEIGHT.

AT WHAT POINT THEN -- WHAT IF IT BENEFITS SOMEONE FOR PLASTIC SURGERY.

>.. SHOW.

LET'S ..

STILL VERY PROUD TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AFTER ALL IN WHAT .. OTHER THAN A FEW BANANA REPUBLICS CAN A CONVICTED FELON BE ELECTED PRESIDENT.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM BOBBY OF ST. LOUIS WHO WROTE CONCERNING A REPORT ON STATE SUPPORT FOR PITTSBURGH'S DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT, MIKE KEHOE WANTS TO END MISSOURI'S INCOME TAX.

THIS WOULD BE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON PLANS TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

I OFTEN HAVE THE SAME URGE TO SLASH TIRES WHEN I PASS CARS PARKED IN HANDICAPPED PARKING PLACES WHEN THE CAR HAS NEW BLUE PLACARD OR MARK PLATE.

AND WE HEARD THIS FROM RICK DORSEY.

>> IT WAS GREA.. EMERSON CALLED FOR THE ST. LOUIS BUSINESS LEADERS TO BAN TOGETHER AND BRING THE AREA FORWARD, BUT I DON'T SEE IN OUR BUSINESS LEADERS TODAY ANOTHER GUSSY BUSH, AND OR BOB HIGHLAND.

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

THEY DON'T GET TOGETHER, AND THEY DON'T EXERT LEADERSHIP TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

>&g.. OF NINE PBS 63108.

DON'T FORGET THE E-MAILS.

"DONNYBROOK" AT NINE PBS.ORG AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA USE HASHTAG "DONNYBROOK" STL.

AND LIKE RICK CALL (314)512-9094.

WHEREVER.. ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST SOURCE.

WELL, WE ARE CELEBRATING TWO GREAT INDIVIDUALS, JOE'S BIRTHDAY AND ALVIN'S, A LIVING LEGEND.

TH.. LET THEM EAT CAKE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME.