>> HI I'M MARC ROTTERMAN.

COMING UP THE FBI INVESTIGATES ALLEGED SCHOOL BOARD THREATS, GOVERNOR COOPER SIGNS, A MAJOR ENERGY BILL AND AMERICAN FAMILIES FEEL THE PAIN AT THE PUMP.

NEXT.

[announcer voice over]: ♪ A COMPLETE LIST OF FUNDERS CAN BE FOUND AT: ♪ >> WELCOME BACK.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION, DONNA KING, EDITOR -IN-CHIEF FOR CAROLINA JOURNAL, ROBERT REIVES THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN THE HOUSE, POLITICAL ANALYST JOE STEWART, AND NELSON DOLLAR SENIOR ADVISOR FOR NORTH CAROLINA SPEAKER HOUSE.

DONNA WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD THREATS.

>> YES ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND HAS ASKED THE FBI AND THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICES TO US ATTORNEY'S OFFICES TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED THREATS AGAINST SCHOOL BOARDS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THIS ALL COMES AS SCHOOL BOARDS REALLY HAVE HIT A BOILING POINT WITH PARENTS OF GOING IN AND OBJECTING LOUDLY TO SOME OF THE CURRICULUM, THE COVID LOCKDOWN, SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE STILL RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC THAT'S HAPPENING IN CLASSROOMS, A LOT OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN EMAILED THREATS AGAINST SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY -- >> [MARC] CALLING THEM DOMESTIC TERRORISTS >> CALLING THEM DOMESTIC TERRORISTS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVEN IF YOU SAY, HEY THEY'RE GETTING THREATS YOU COULD PRODUCE THE E-MAILS SAYING THEY'RE GETTING THREATS THE MESSAGE OF THIS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SEEING IS PARENTS BEING DRAGGED OUT OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS BY POLICE, AND THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM BECAUSE PARENTS ARE SAYING THAT AFTER A YEAR OF REMOTE SCHOOL AND WATCHING WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE LEARNING AND HOW THEY'RE LEARNING THEY WANT A BIGGER SAY IN WHAT'S HAPPENING THE CLASSROOMS AND THE WAY TO GET TO IT IS THROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

>> ROBERT IS THIS AN OVERREACH BY THE DOJ?

SHOULDN'T THIS BE HANDLED LOCALLY IF THERE'S A THREAT?

>> WELL AND I THINK THIS BECOMES ABOUT INTERPRETATION BECAUSE THE WAY I READ THE MEMO IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT LOCALLY TRAINING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS HOW YOU RECOGNIZE A THREAT, THIS IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT A THREATENING SITUATION AND THIS IS WHEN YOU NEED TO INTERCEDE, AND THAT IS HOW I READ THE MEMO, AND THAT'S ALL THE MERRICK GARLAND WANTS TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FOLKS ARE PREPARED BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW TERRITORY FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GOING AFTER PARENTS AT ALL.

I THINK WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO STOP IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE NOW FOR INSTANCE, IN ORANGE COUNTY, THAT THE PROUD BOYS SHOW UP AT A MEETING AND I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THOSE PROBABLY IS MAY HAVE HAD KIDS AT THE SCHOOL NOT SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE ORGANIZED GROUPS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF ACTS, SHOW UP AT THESE MEETINGS JUST RANDOMLY OVERWHELMING THE PARENTS BECAUSE THE PARENTS ARE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE HEARD.

NOT OTHER GROUPS.

>> NELSON, CRITICS SAY THIS IS A SUPPRESSION OF FREE SPEECH.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S REAL QUESTION.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MS. JOHNSON WHEN SHE SOCKED IT TO THE HARPER VALLEY PTA?

NOW YOU WOULD CALL IN THE FBI, SO IN 2010, WE HAD PROTESTERS AT CAME AND STOPPED THE WAKE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

THEY HAD ARRESTS THEY HAD SCUFFLES BROKE OUT.

THEY COULDN'T HOLD THEIR MEETINGS BUT AT TIME, ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER DID NOT CALL IN THE FBI TO HAVE A NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATION AND IF YOU LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THOSE EARLIER ERAS, THE SAME PEOPLE THAT SAID IT WAS WRONG FOR J EDGAR HOOVER TO USE THE FBI TO INVESTIGATE PROTEST MOVEMENTS IN THE 60'S AND 70'S, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE FINE NOW WITH SAYING OK WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN THE FBI FOR THESE NATIONWIDE INVESTIGATIONS, AND I THINK WHEN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING THE JUDGMENTS ON WHOSE PROTEST ARE VALID AND WHO'S WRONG THAT'S A DANGEROUS PATH.

>> JOE PUT THIS IN CONTEXT MY FRIEND.

>> DONALD MAKES A VERY GOOD POINT.

A LOT OF TIMES PARENTS FEEL THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR SCHOOL CHILDREN VERY PASSIONATELY.

IN FACT PASSION IS AN ELEMENT OF ALL POLITICS PEOPLE FEEL THE ISSUES, THEY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT VERY PERSONALLY.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

SHOULD PARENTS BE THE DECIDER ON THE CURRICULUM?

WELL, I THINK TO SOME EXTENT WE'RE GOING THROUGH A, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WAY PUBLIC EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE ADMINISTERED.

COVID TAUGHT US A LOT.

A NUMBER OF FAMILIES LOOKING TO HOMESCHOOL NOW THAT DIDN'T BEFORE BUT THAT HAVING BEEN SAID THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A CONVERSATION IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT THE VALUE OF CIVIL DISCOURSE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A ROUGH AND TUMBLE BUSINESS CERTAINLY THERE BEEN OTHER TIMES IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHERE POLITICS WAS AS FRACTIOUS AS IT IS NOW, BUT TO THREATEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OVER PUBLIC SCHOOL POLICIES GOING A LITTLE TOO FAR.

>> DO WE KNOW OF ANY REAL THREATS, DONNA?

>> SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY VERY SPECIFIC THREATS AND CERTAINLY NO ATTACKS THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT I DO THINK IT'S GOING BACK TO THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD EXAMPLE, I THINK PARENTS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND GET GET THEIR THEIR MESSAGING TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO GET IN THERE.

WHAT WE SAW THERE IN THAT CASE ORANGE COUNTY, THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS KIND OF VERY STRICT AGENDA.

IF YOU VEER FROM IT ALL, YOU WERE ESCORTED BY POLICE OUT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

SO THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE CIVILITY ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS.

>> OKAY I WANT TO CHANGE TOPICS.

TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WEEK JOE.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

NO VOTES TAKEN THIS WEEK, BUT STILL A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE DISCUSSION TAKING PLACE BETWEEN REPUBLICAN LEADERS THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR TRYING TO COME UP WITH WHAT THEY'RE DESCRIBING AS A GRAND BARGAIN.

SOME EXPANSION OF MEDICAID IN EXCHANGE FOR AN AGREEMENT RELATIVE TO TAX CUTS AND PAY RAISES FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THE COURSE OF THESE THE CONVERSATIONS IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, A LOT OF DISCUSSION, SOME HOPEFULNESS THAT THEY'RE GETTING CLOSE TO CONCLUDING THIS.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR GOVERNOR COOPER AS WE HEAD INTO THE 2022 MID TERMS, HE NEEDS TO KNOW DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES CAN GO BACK TO THEIR DISTRICTS AND TALK ABOUT POSITIVE THINGS THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED FOR THOSE DISTRICTS IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET.

I THINK REPUBLICAN LEADERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RIGHTFULLY WANT TO GET A BUDGET FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

YOU CAN'T BE GOOD FOR US FROM A CREDIT WORTHINESS STANDPOINT TO GO MUCH FURTHER WITHOUT A BUDGET.

>> ENERGY BILL CAME UP.

WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR CORRECT?

>> WELL THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT ONE MIGHT CONSIDER A KUMBAYA MOMENT TO BE A BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING SOME CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT ON RATEPAYERS FOR UTILITIES TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF TIME OVER WHICH RATES COULD BE SET BY THE UTILITIES COMMISSION.

BUT IT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND THE GOVERNOR SIT DOWN AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH AN ISSUE.

>> NELSON YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MY FRIEND.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW ON THE ENERGY POLICY, I THINK THAT IS, SORT OF IN MINATURE FOR NORTH CAROLINA IS THE TYPE OF RATIONAL POLICY THAT WE COULD USE ACTUALLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BECAUSE IT'S OPENED ALL SOURCES OF ENERGY.

>> SOME CRITICS SAY THOUGH THAT UTILITY THE ENERGY BILL WILL CAUSE AN INCREASE IN UTILITIES AT HOME RIGHT?

>> WELL, THERE ARE THOSE CONCERNS, BUT THOSE CONCERNS ARE ALSO ADDRESSED -- >> COST PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMERS?

>> WELL RATES STILL HAVE TO BE JUDGED BY THE UTILITIES COMMISSION AND OF COURSE THE PUBLIC STAFF IS THERE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS WHETHER THEY'RE THE INDUSTRIAL CONSUMERS WHETHER THEY'RE REGULAR HOUSEHOLDS.

>> OKAY, DONNA WEIGH IN HERE PLEASE.

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LOT THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS THAT FINDING ENERGY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND WE JUST HEARD CARBON FOOTPRINT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT AND NUCLEAR -- YOU CAN'T REALLY ARGUE WITH THAT WITH THE EFFICIENCY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT THAT HAS I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO THINK MORE ABOUT IN THIS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE BUDGET DEAL.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING MY FRIEND?

>> WELL I THINK I'M HEARING THE SAME THING EVERYBODY ELSE IS THAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO A DEAL.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS I REALLY DO THINK THAT THIS ATMOSPHERE THIS YEAR IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM 2 YEARS AGO, AND I THINK THERE IS A REAL HONEST EFFORT ON EVERY SIDE TO TRY TO COME SOME TYPE OF COMPROMISE TO GET A BUDGET OUT.

GOVERNOR COOPER WANTS TO SIGN A BUDGET, THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT TO HAVE A BUDGET, AND I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME OUT HERE WITH SOME AGREEMENT.

>> REPUBLICANS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY'RE OPEN TO MEDICAID EXPANSION, CORRECT?

THAT IS WHAT I'M READING IN THE NEWSPAPER, YES.

>> NELSON?

>> SOME.. HAVE INDICATED.. [LAUGHTER] OTHERS STILL HAVE SOME CONCERN THERE, BUT IT BUT THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH AT STAKE.

YOU GOT 6 BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS, YOU HAVE 8 BILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL FUNDS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT LITERALLY EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE SO I THINK THAT THERE IS, AS A REPRESENTATIVE REIVES SAID, THERE'S UNDERSTANDING ON EVERYONE'S PART THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND PASS THIS BUDGET AND I DO EXPECT US TO TO GET TO AN AGREEMENT SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>> JOE WRAP THIS UP QUICKLY IN ABOUT 40 SECONDS.

>> WILL THE GREATER COMPLEXITY OF THIS NOW IS WE'RE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF TALKING ABOUT REDISTRICTING.

THE LEGISLATURES HAVING TO REDRAW ALL OF THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE DEALING WITH THESE BUDGETARY THINGS.

IT'S AS IF THEY'RE JUGGLING CHAINSAWS AND SOMEBODY FIRED THEM ALL UP AND SO THEY'RE JUGGLING THESE CHAIN SAWS.

>> WE HAVE GREAT CAPABILITY.

[LAUGHTER] WE CAN GET MORE MORE THAN TWO THINGS.

[ALL TALKING] >> EVERYONE IN NORTH CAROLINA HOPES YOU COME THROUGH WITH ALL 10 FINGERS STILL INTACT.

>> ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ROBERT?

>> ONLY THING IS THAT I AM VERY HOPEFUL.

I THINK THE END OF THE DAY IT WILL REALLY SHOW WHAT WE CAN DO AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING DONE THIS YEAR.

>> OKAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOARING ENERGY PRICES NELSON.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEELING THE PAIN AT THE PUMP.

>> THEY ARE SO ON APRIL OF 2020, THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL WENT TO 0.

NEGATIVE.

NOW IT'S SOARING OVER $80 A BARREL.

NONE OF THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOOD.

THE DRIVER OF THE SHORTAGES RIGHT NOW IS ACTUALLY IN THE NATURAL GAS MARKET, ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE WHERE THEY PURSUED THEIR RENEWABLES POLICY WHICH IS CREATING ISSUES FOR THEM AND OVER DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIAN NATURAL GAS AND COMPETITION FOR THE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS WITH CHINA WHICH IS CREATING A ESSENTIALLY A WORLDWIDE ENERGY CRISIS.

NATURAL GAS PRICES ARE GOING TO BE AS WELL AS GASOLINE PRICES ARE GOING TO BE UP THIS WINTER, BUT IN EUROPE, IT WILL BE 5 TIMES HIGHER.

>> THEY'RE SAYING 50% ON NATURAL GAS HERE RIGHT UP?

>> 50% OR MORE HERE THIS WINTER FOR HOME HEATING BUT IN EUROPE IT'S GOING TO BE 5 TIMES HIGHER.

AND THE PROBLEM IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS ARE TRYING TO PURSUE THE SAME POLICIES THEY'RE LOOKING AT IN EUROPE.

THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN HIGHER COSTS AND SHORTAGES, AND WHAT WE NEED HERE IN THE U.S. IS A RATIONAL POLICY THAT BALANCES YOUR HYDROCARBONS ALONG WITH YOUR RENEWABLES AND NUCLEAR.

>> DONNA IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT INFLATION IS NO LONGER A TRANSITORY?

>> NO I THINK FOR SURE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING CONSUMER PRICES ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST, HAVE HAD THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATE SINCE 2008.

WE'RE COMING UP ON 70 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES WILL BE OPERATING 24/7.

BUT THEN A LOT OF ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING LOOK IT'S TOO LITTLE TOO LATE TO SAVE CHRISTMAS AND THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO STRUGGLE WITH BECAUSE AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF PANDEMICS AND SHUTDOWNS.

IF PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO GET WHAT THEY WANT OR FOOD PRICES ARE TOO HIGH OR SCHOOLS CAN'T PROVIDE THE LUNCH, THAT SUPPLY CHAIN IS GOING TO BE REALLY GOING TO BE WEIGHING HIM DOWN.

>> ARE WE BEGIN TO SEE THIS AS A VERY POTENT ISSUE, JOE IN 2022 IN THE MIDTERMS?

>> ABSOLUTELY I THINK IT'S A TRUISM THAT AMERICAN VOTERS HAVE A TENDENCY TO FOCUS ON 3 PRIMARY THINGS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

ONE, THE RELATIVE RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE OLD SAYING THAT IT'S A RECESSION WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR LOSES A JOB, BUT IT'S A DEPRESSION WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR JOB.

SO IF THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SLOW AND UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO TICK UP, I THINK PEOPLE WILL PERCEIVE THAT UNFAVORABLY WITH REGARD TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THE PRICE OF GAS AND THE STOCK MARKET ARE TWO OTHER BELLWETHER INDICATORS OF THE ECONOMY THAT A LOT OF VOTERS LOOK AT.

I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR BIDEN IS HE NEEDS A WIN.

I MEAN HE'S HAD A LOT OF BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN A ROW NOW ALL THE WAY STARTING IN AFGHANISTAN AND NOW WITH THIS, HE'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AMERICAN VOTERS SOME CONFIDENCE THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION CAN GET ON TOP OF PROBLEMS AND GET THEM SOLVED.

>> BUT IS WIN ROBERT MORE SPENDING IN WASHINGTON?

>> WELL I DON'T THINK MORE SPENDING IS NECESSAQRILY THE ANSWER TO ANYTHING BUT WHAT I DO BELIEVE IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY JUST AS JOE WAS SAYING THAT BIDEN CAN GET INTO POSITION SO THEY CAN AT LEAST SHOW AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WERE ON TOP OF THIS THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN OR IF THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING, WHY NOTHING IS HAPPENING AND WHY WE CAN'T HANDLE THIS BECAUSE LIKE NELSON WAS SAYING IT'S A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM.

>> DONNA THIS IS MORE THAN A MESSAGING PROBLEM FOR THE WHITE HOUSE ISN'T IT?

>> OH ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN IT HITS YOU KNOW KITCHEN TABLES AND POCKETBOOKS THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

BUT THE AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVEN IF YOU GET PRODUCTS INTO THE UNITED STATES WHO'S GOING TO DRIVE THE TRUCKS?

WHO'S GOING TO STOCK THE SHELVES?

WHO IS GOING TO STAFF THAT CASH REGISTER?

THE LABORS, THE OVERALL MISMANAGEMENT OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN LABOR ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES IS GOING TO REALLY CONVERGE HERE AT THE HOLIDAYS.

>> NELSON, IT'S NOT LIKE WE DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND ENERGY DRIVES EVERYTHING IT DRIVES NOT ONLY HEATING YOUR HOME, BUT IT DRIVES IT PROVIDES ALL THE PETRO CHEMICALS THAT GO, INTO THE FOOD THAT YOU EAT SO INFLATION CAN BE DRIVEN BY POOR ENERGY POLICY THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE, AND THE IRONY IS IN THE U.S. WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES WE NEED.

WE HAVE THE MOST RENEWABLE RESOURCES, WE HAVE NATURAL GAS, WE'RE THE LARGEST PRODUCER IN THE WORLD, WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WE NEED TO BUILD PIPELINES PUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE AND SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.

>> I SAW PRESIDENT BIDEN ASK THE PRODUCERS TO START PRODUCING MORE OIL CORRECT JOE?

>> YEAH, I KNOW, AND THE ANSWER WAS " UH, MAYBE NOT."

>> THE IRONY IS HE WAS ASKING OPEC TO PRODUCE MORE WHEN WE COULD PRODUCE MORE SHALE HERE CHEAPER.

>> WE'RE NO LONGER ENERGY INDEPENDENT CORRECT?

>> WELL WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES TO BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE WILL TO DO IT.

>> OKAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A NEW DEAL THAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON ROBERT.

IN NORTH CAROLINA ROBERT, AND THAT'S THE NORTH CAROLINA PROJECT.

IT'S A GET OUT THE VOTE PROJECT.

WHO'S BEHIND IT WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

>> WELL, THE NEW NORTH CAROLINA PROJECT IS BEING HEADED RIGHT NOW BY DOCTOR AMY STEELE WHO IS A PERSON THAT ACTUALLY RAN TWICE FOR THE HOUSE IN 2018 2020 IN CABARRUS COUNTY, WHICH IS OF COURSE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS THAT WE'VE GOT THE COUNTY AND THE IDEA IS THAT YOU IT BY THEIR ESTIMATION YOU HAD ABOUT A MILLION VOTERS OF COLOR WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE LAST ELECTION FOR VARIOUS REASONS, AND I THINK THE MICROCOSM OF WHAT THEY'RE CONCENTRATING ON IS, AND PROBABLY WHAT WE'VE GOT ALL AROUND EVEN THOUGH WE HAD HIGH VOTER TURNOUT IN THE LAST ELECTION IN NORTH CAROLINA AMONG WHITE VOTERS, IT WAS AROUND 75% WHICH YOU HAD AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS AND OTHER VOTERS OF COLOR COLLECTIVELY WAS AROUND 67, 65%, SO WHAT THEY'RE HOPING TO DO IS TO GET THESE PEOPLE ENGAGED TO GET THEM BACK OUT AND GET THEM VOTING AGAIN AND TO GET THEM ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS WHICH I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE IN THIS DAY OF PARTISANISM IS WHAT HAPPENED IS PEOPLE HAVE JUST DIVORCED THEMSELVES FROM THE PROCESS.

COMPLETELY.

>> DONNA THIS IS SIMILAR WHAT HAPPENED IN GEORGIA WITH STACEY ABRAMS?

>> IT IS ACTUALLY AND I THINK THAT POLITICALLY THIS IS PROBABLY SMART OF DEMOCRATS TO DO.

THIS ORGANIZATION IS PART OF ONE THAT WAS ALSO IN GEORGIA AND WHAT THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING AT WITH BIDEN AND CONGRESS HAVING HISTORICALLY DISMAL APPROVAL RATINGS THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS ARE FOCUSING ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND MAYBE THAT'S A BETTER USE OF NATIONAL DONOR MONEY TO GET IN AND TRY AND WORK ON TURNING SOME OF THOSE SEATS BLUE BECAUSE THIS IS BEING HEADED AS YOU SAID DOCTOR STEELE BY FOLKS WHO HAVE RUN FOR STATE HOUSE AND OUR STATE LEGISLATURE AND LOST IN THE PAST, THEY'RE HOPING TO REALLY, TRYING TO GALVANIZE A HIGHER TURNOUT FOR THE STATE HOUSES, THE STATE CHAMBERS AND TURN THOSE TO DEMOCRATS.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WHEN IT COMES BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE VOTERS ARE VOTING FOR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW VERY WELL BECAUSE THE MAP IS SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT.

AND I THINK ANYTIME THAT YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ELECTION LIKE THIS ONE WILL BE, BOTH PARTIES WILL ENGAGE VOTERS THAT HAVEN'T TYPICALLY TURNED OUT.

WE HAVE A U.S. SENATE RACE ON THE BALLOT IN 22, SO THAT MIGHT STIMULATE A LITTLE FURTHER TURNOUT.

GENERALLY SPEAKING MIDTERM ELECTIONS, THE TURNOUTS NOT AS HIGH AS IT IS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.

IT'S JUST PATTERNED HISTORICALLY FOR AMERICAN VOTERS, NOT JUST HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, THEY DO NOT FOCUS ON ELECTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE IN LARGE PART BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY DON'T SEE AS MANY ADS ON TV FOR CANDIDATES, THEY'RE NOT AS AWARE THAT THERE'S AN ELECTION.

BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A REAL CHALLENGE FOR DEMOCRATS TO TURN OUT THE BASE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AND A COHORT OF VOTERS WHO DON'T TYPICALLY PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A MESSAGE THAT GETS THEM ENTHUSIASTIC AND EXCITED ABOUT ACTUALLY TURNING OUT IF THE ECONOMY AND ALL THESE OTHER FACTORS ARE WEIGHING AGAINST THEM.

>> IS 2022, NELSON BEGINNING TO REMIND YOU OF 2010 AND THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT?

>> WELL IT IS.

A COUPLE OF INTERESTING THINGS HERE.

ONE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE FIRST GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THE 137,000 DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE LEFT THE VOTER ROLLS SINCE JUST THE LAST ELECTIONS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE GET THOSE PEOPLE BACK REGISTERED AGAIN, AND THE OTHER INTERESTING THING IS THE MESSAGE THAT THEY'RE SENDING SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE WEBSITE, IT SAYS THAT THEY ARE PROMISING TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE HEALTH, WEALTH AND POWER, AND THAT THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT THAT COMES FROM YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE PARADIGM THAT ALLOWED A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS TO SUCCEED AS WE HAVE, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT MESSAGE.

DO YOU WANT TO EMPOWER THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S YOUR PATHWAY TO WEALTH, HEALTH AND POWER, OR DO YOU YOU KNOW LOOK AT THE MORE CONSERVATIVE MESSAGE, WE WANT TO ENABLE YOU, GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE YOUR OWN WEALTH, YOUR OWN POWER AND CONTROL YOUR OWN HEALTH AND YOUR EDUCATION.

>> GREAT CONVERSATION, I WANT TO GO THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK DONNA.

>> SO GOING BACK TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE MOST UNDERREPORTED THINGS THIS WEEK WAS THE WHOLE STORY BETWEEN THE REALLY PUBLICIZED ARREST OF LOUDOUN COUNTY FATHER SCOTT SMITH.

WE ALL SAW THOSE IMAGES OF HIM BEING DRAGGED OUT OF THE LOUDOUN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IN HANDCUFFS.

WELL IT TURNS OUT AND SOME OUTLETS HAVE BEEN REPORTING IT MANY HAVE NOT, THAT THE REASON HE WAS THERE TO OBJECT TO SOME OF THE SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES IS THAT HIS 9TH GRADE DAUGHTER WAS RAPED IN HER SCHOOL BATHROOM.

THERE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THEY HAVE CAUGHT THE ASSAILANT AND HE WAS ANOTHER STUDENT AND HAVE DONE THAT IN OTHER SCHOOLS.

AND SO THAT IMAGE OF HIM BEING DRAGGED OUT OF SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OBJECTING TO THE BATHROOM POLICIES THERE IS WHAT REALLY MADE NATIONAL NEWS.

>> AND DROVE THE DOJ INVESTIGATION DON'T YOU THINK?

>> THAT'S WHAT SPARKED IT.

I THINK IT REALLY HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT, BUT THEN THE FOLLOW UP, THE REASON THAT HE WAS THERE AND THE REAL STAKE HE HAS IN THIS ISSUE AND HIS FAMILY, THAT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE IT VERY FAR.

>> ROBERT UNDERREPORTED MY FRIEND.

>> THERE'S A NEW TREATMENT THAT'S FINALLY SUCCESSFUL IN DESTROYING TUMORS IN BOTH THE HEAD AND THE NECK AND IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY FASCINATING IT'S COMING OUT OF LONDON AND WHAT IT'S DONE FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THESE TUMORS, TO ATTACK THE TUMORS, ERADICATE THEM, AND THEY'VE HAD AT LEAST ONE PERSON THAT THEY HAD THIS PARTICULAR REPORT THAT IS BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE ANOTHER 5 YEARS AFTERWARDS WITH NO REOCCURRENCE OF THE CANCER >> WHERE IS THIS HAPPENING?

>> THIS IN BRITAIN.

>> OKAY, JOE?

>> WELL ALL THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN THIS WORLD THAT ARE IMMINENT AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PREDICT THEIR OCCURENCE THERE'S ONE IN THE RED SEA, THERE'S AN OIL TANKER WITH 1.1 MILLION GALLONS OF CRUDE THAT'S BEEN SCUTTLED THERE SINCE 2017 IT'S 4 TIMES AS MUCH OIL HAS LEAKED OUT OF THE EXXON VALDEZ AND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR ENORMOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS OFF THE COAST OF YEMEN WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN A HOTLY EMBROILED CIVIL WAR, NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT TRYING TO RESCUE THE OIL, GET OUT OF THERE BEFORE IT LEAKS HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC.

BUT THE IMPACT COULD GO AS FAR AS SAUDI ARABIA OR ERITREA OR DJIBOUTI OTHER AFRICAN NATIONS AND COULD DESTROY DRINKING WATER AND CRUSH THE FISHING THAT'S DONE OFF THAT PART OF AFRICA UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE.

>> WHAT COUNTRIES ARE INVOLVED TRYING TO SOLVE THE SITUATION?

>> THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE REBELS IN YEMEN AND THE U N RECOGNIZED GOVERNMENT IN THAT COUNTRY TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT THAT THEY WILL BRING IN A SALVAGE CREW TO HELP NEXT EXTRACT THE OIL AND REMOVE THE TANKER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE CIVIL WAR, THEY'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT YET.

>> NELSON.

>> ACCORDING TO CONSUMER SENTIMENT, MEASURED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 65% OF FOLKS SAY THAT IT IS A BAD TIME TO BUY A HOUSE OR CAR, 68% BELIEVE THAT INTEREST RATES WILL GO UP THIS NEXT YEAR, 78%, BELIEVE THAT PRICES WILL RISE MORE THAN 3% OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

THE CONFERENCE BOARD, THEIR CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SURVEY FELL IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE 3RD STRAIGHT MONTH.

INDICATING CONCERNS WITH THE LABOR MARKET PRICES, BUSINESS CONDITIONS, CEO CONFIDENCE ALSO DROPPED IN THEIR SURVEY.

AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK, THEIR SURVEY CONSUMER EXPECTATION, SHOWED INFLATION EXPECTATIONS SET A NEW HIGH FOR THAT PARTICULAR SURVEY.

SO WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION, I WOULD SIMPLY SAY THAT UNHAPPY CONSUMERS YIELD ANGRY VOTERS.

>> 2022.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS HOUSING PRICES ARE REALLY GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.

ARE BLUE COLLAR AND AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE LOWER MIDDLE CLASS BEING JUST PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET?

>> YOU ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET AND THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE FURTHER OUT FROM THE CITY CENTER.

YOU HAVE TO MOVE FURTHER OUT FROM YOUR JOB PROSPECTS, THAT CREATES ISSUES AND HOW YOU DO YOUR TRANSPORTATION INCREASE ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

SO I THINK WORKING FAMILIES ARE REALLY SEEING THE PRESSURE WHEN THEY CAN'T REALIZE THEIR THEIR DREAMS IN TERMS OF THEIR THEIR HOUSES AND WHEN THEY SEE WHAT THEY ARE MAKING GOING OUT THE DOOR.

QUICKER THAN THEY CAN BRING IT IN.

>> I THINK IT'S A BIG PROBLEM, LET'S GO TO LIGHTNING ROUND WHO'S UP AND WHO'S DOWN THIS WEEK?

>> I'M GOING TO SAY THE STATE FAIR IT'S SUPER EXCITING BACK THIS YEAR.

IT KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND.

>> [MARC] COTTON CANDY.

>> YES FOR SURE FRIED FOOD, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE THERE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE SPREAD OUT A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU'RE USED TO, MASKS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT REQUIRED, VACCINES, SAME THINGS, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT.

THE QUESTION IS WILL PEOPLE GO BACK, AND THAT'S THAT IS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE SEEING BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE EITHER GOTTEN OUT OF THE HABIT OR THEY MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT OF COURSE COVID, BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY GOING TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE ENJOYING FRESH AIR AND FRIED FOOD.

>> DOWN?

>> MY DOWN MAKERS OF ASPIRIN.

NEW STUDY OUT THIS WEEK SAYS THAT THAT LITTLE DAILY ASPIRIN MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SUCH A GOOD IDEA AFTER ALL.

>> NOW THEY TELL ME.

>> YEAH [LAUGHTER] >> THEY USED TO THINK THAT IT DECREASED YOUR CHANCES OF A CARDIOVASCULAR INCIDENT BY 0.4%.

BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT IT ALSO INCREASES YOUR CHANCE OF BLEEDING DURING A STROKE BY 0.5%.

SCIENCE!

>> ROBERT?

>> WELL BIPARTISANSHIP FROM WHAT WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT ENERGY BILL AND I'M HOPING THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT A GOOD BUDGET, AND I WOULD SAY DOWN CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS IN GENERAL AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THAT.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

THINK WE'RE GETTING PAST THESE MANDATES?

>> I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> OKAY.

ANOTHER COMEDIAN.

JOE?

>> THE DEMOCRATS STEPPING UP THEIR JOB TO TRY TO SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR IN VIRGINIA.

FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA NOW SCHEDULED TO COME IN TO CAMPAIGN FOR TERRY MCAULIFFE THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE THERE.

>> THAT'S A REAL BELLWETHER ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS, AND THE POLLING THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK STILL SHOWS THE RACE VERY CLOSE I THINK IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE DEMOCRAT PULLS OUT A WIN IN VIRGINIA, BUT IT PROBABLY WILL BE MUCH CLOSER THAN IT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BECAUSE IT IS A LITMUS TEST ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

DOWN ANOTHER PERSON WHO USED TO WORK AT FACEBOOK NOW HAVING COME OUT.

SOPHIE ZHANG WHO SAID SHE FEELS LIKE SHE HAD BLOOD ON HER HANDS FROM THE WORK SHE DID AT FACEBOOK, SAYING THAT THEY DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO SQUELCH MISINFORMATION AND HATE SPEECH ON THE SITE HAS PROVIDED INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAYS SHE'S WANT TO TESTIFY TO CONGRESS AS WELL.

>> NELSON?

>> UP, DRUGS AND PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER.

SO FENTANYL SEIZURES ARE UP 4 TIMES WHAT THEY WERE IN 2019, THE MEXICAN CARTELS ARE OVERTAKING CHINESE PRODUCTION OF THESE SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS AND A RECORD 2 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE CAUGHT ILLEGALLY ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ARE UP 3 TIMES WHAT THEY WERE IN 2020.

>> NO I SEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REINSTATE THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY, A FEDERAL JUDGE DID THAT OKAY HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> SO NEXT WEEK I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT STRIKE SEASON.

MORE AND MORE WORKERS SAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON STRIKE RIGHT AT THIS TIME WE'RE HAVING YOU KNOW ENERGY CRISIS AND OF COURSE SUPPLY CHAIN WE MIGHT BE SEEING MORE PEOPLE WALKING OFF THE JOB.

>> ROBERT HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> NEXT STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS REVEALED.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> WELL PERHAPS NOT A GRAND BARGAIN.

BUT A THE TIP OF THE HAT FROM ROY WILLIAMS, A DAD GUM GOOD BARGAIN.

>> HEADLINE NEXT WEEK.

>> STATE FAIR ATTENDANCE WILL BE DOWN >> DID WE MISS YOUR DEADLINE?

YOU'RE DOWN?

>> YOU MISSED MY DOWN.

>> GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> WHO IS DOWN.

UNFORTUNATELY PRESIDENT BIDEN HE'S DROPPED LIKE A ROCK HIS APPROVAL RATING AT 45% AP AT 43.

QUINNIPIAC AT 38% APPROVAL THIS PAST WEEKEND.

IT'S DRIVEN BY THE ECONOMY AND IMMIGRATION FOREIGN POLICY AND ACCORDING TO THAT SAME POLL, 55% OF AMERICANS SAY THAT BIDEN IS NOT COMPETENT AND RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE NUMBER THAT'S GOING TO CONCERN THE WHITE HOUSE THE MOST.

>> YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGISTS ARE VERY CONCERNED.

OK THAT'S IT FOR US, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON FRONT ROW.

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