>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," AS UKRAINE FENDS OFF RUSSIAN TROOPS ON THE GROUND, THE KREMLIN IS TARGETING POWER STATIONS FROM THE SKY, EXACERBATING THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

CAROL SAVIETZ, OF THE HARVARD UKRAINIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTER MISSY RYAN JOIN ME WITH THE LATEST ON THE WAR.

THEN LATER, POLLS ARE POINTING TO A REPUBLICAN TAKE-BACK OF CONGRESS IN NOVEMBER, DESPITE ELECTION DENIALISM AND THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION, THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE, AND MORE.

WHERE HAVE DEMOCRATS GONE WRONG, AND IS IT TOO LATE TO FIX IT?

TWO DEMOCRATIC STRATEGISTS WEIGH IN.

AND FINALLY, CONFUSED ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BALLOT QUESTIONS?

YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

WE'LL BREAK DOWN THE INS AND OUTS OF QUESTION 2.

>> Braude: IN THE NEARLY EIGHT MONTHS RUSSIA HAS BEEN ASSAULTING UKRAINE, UKRAINIAN FORCES HAVE MOUNTED A REMARKABLE DEFENSE, HOLDING BACK INVADING FORCES IN MUCH OF THE SOUTH AND EAST FROM ADVANCING TOWARDS KYIV.

EVEN MAKING ADVANCES, RECLAIMING SOME TERRITORY.

BUT IN RECENT WEEKS, THE KREMLIN HAS BEEN BOMBARDING THE CAPITAL AND OTHER STRATEGIC UKRAINIAN CITIES FROM ABOVE WITH A STOCKPILE OF IRANIAN DRONES.

ONE OF THE LATEST ATTACKS KILLED AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE IN A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE TARGETED WATER SUPPLIES, ELECTRICITY FACILITIES AND OTHER KEY INFRASTRUCTURE.

ALL OF IT IS PROMPTING RENEWED WAR CRIME ALLEGATIONS AGAINST RUSSIA.

AND THE U.N.'S ON-THE-GROUND COORDINATOR IN UKRAINE IS CALLING THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND "UTTER DEVASTATION," TELLING CNN SHE IS "ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED [OF] A HIGH RISK OF MORTALITY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

I'M JOINED NOW BY "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTER MISSY RYAN, JUST BACK FROM UKRAINE, AND CAROL SAIVETZ, A SENIOR ADVISOR FOR M.I.T.

'S SECURITY STUDIES PROGRAM AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT HARVARD'S DAVIS CENTER FOR RUSSIAN AND EURASIAN STUDIES, AND THE HARVARD UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE.

CAROL, MISSY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CAROL, STARTING WITH YOU, MORE AND MORE ANALYSTS I FOLLOW ARE SAYING RUSSIA IS LOSING THE WAR.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN?

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY.

>> I'M JUST REPEATING THE WORDS.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT RUSSIA HAS LOST CERTAINLY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS ASPECT OF THE WAR, I MEAN WITH THE UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE AND THE SUCCESSES THAT THEY'VE HAD.

AND WITH THE WORLD CONDEMN NATION OF THIS INTENSIVE BOMBING AND MISSION IL ATTACKS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I THINK THE QUESTION THAT WE ALL NEED TO GRAPPLE WITH IS WHETHER RUSSIA THINKS IT CAN CONTINUE THESE ATTACKS IN ORDER REALLY TO HURT THE UKRAINIANS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER AT WHICH POINT THEY ARE HOPING EITHER THE UKRAINIAN POPULATION WILL SAY WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OR WHETHER BY TURNING OFF THE ENERGY SPIK ET THERE WILL BE A SPLIT IN THE NATO-U.S. ALLIANCE IN TERMS OF CONTINUING TO SUPPORT UKRAINE AND PROVIDING WEAPONS.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW MISSY, MOST OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE HEARD SAY THAT HAVE NOT DONE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, BEEN ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE.

YOU ARE JUST BACK A COUPLE OF DAYS, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THOSE KINDS OF STATEMENTS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN I THINK IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO QUESTION THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF THESE BREAKS ON KYIV, AS YOUR VIEWERS KNOW IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY QUIE ELEVATOR FOR MONTHS AS THE FIELTING HAS GONS ON IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN UKRAINE BUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WHEN THE CURRENT WAVE OF STRIKES HIT DOWNTOWN KYIV, CRUISE MISSILES AND OTHER KINDS OF ATTACKS, IT REALLY WAS I THINK I WAKE-UP CALL TOO RESIDENTSES OF THE CAPITOL.

BUT WHAT WE HAD HEARD RATHER THAN FEAR OF FOR PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THE DESIRE TO LEAVE WAS DEFIANCE ON THE PART OF UKRAINIANS.

AND THEY REALLY EXPRESSED MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE TALKED TO, A DESIRE TO STAND UP TO PUTIN AND NOT ALLOW HIS INTIMIDATION CAMPAIGN TO COW THEM.

>> Braude: MISSY, STAYING WITH YOU, I HAVE SEEN THAT GALLUP POLLING WHICH SAYS A HUGE MAJORITY OF UKRAINIANS SAY WE SHOULD FIGHT UNTIL WE WAYNE BUT PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SAYS 30% OF THE POWER STATIONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN THE LAST WEEK.

I THINK HE SAID EIGHT DAYS, ACTUALLY.

IS THERE FEAR AMONGST UKRAINIAN LEADERSHIP THAT THE SUPPORT FOR FIGHTING TILL THEY WIN WILL ERODE-- ERODE IN COLD WINTER WHEN THEY ARE COLD?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK IF THERE ARE CONCERNS RELATED TO ENERGY, IT IS MORE ABOUT SUPPORT IN EUROPE AND AS CONSUMERISM COUNTRIES LIKE GERMANY AND SLOVAKIA AND POLAND FACE HIGHER ENERGY PRICES, WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL ERODE THE SUPPORT THERE.

UKRAINIANS ARE ALREADY TAKING MEASURES TO RAISE THEIR ELECTRICITY.

WE SAW THAT ACTUALLY IN THE DAYS AFTER THE FIRST ATTACK WHEN I WAS STILL THERE.

WAS YOU KNOW, MUCH OF THE CITY WAS DARK.

AND THEY WERE DEPLOYING ADDITIONAL POLICE PATROLS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE IN THOSE CONDITIONS.

AND UKRAINIANS, WE SAW PEOPLE RUNNING OUT TO BUY POWER BANKS AND THINGS THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY WILL NEED IF THERE ARE THESE ROLLING POWER CUTS THAT WERE IMPOSED TEMPORARILY AND REALLY COULD COME BACK IN FULL FORCE.

>> Braude: CAROL, DO YOU SHARE THAT PERSPECTIVE, THE SO CALLED WEAPONNIZING OF WINTER STRATEGY OF PUTINS, I FEAR WOOD BE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE THAN MISSY SUGGESTION IT MAY BE, WITHIN UKRAINE, I'M TALKING ABOUT.

DO YOU SHARE HER ANALYSIS?

>> I THINK I AGREE.

I THINK THE UKRAINIANS FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING AMONG, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS HER REPORTING, I THINK THAT IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT FOR THE MOMENT AT LEAST THERE IS TREMENDOUS UKRAINIAN RESOLVE.

I DO WORRY THAT IF IT IS A PARTICULARLY HARSH WINTER THAT IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE UKRAINIANS AND FOR THE EUROPEANS FOR THAT MATTER.

>> BUT CAROL, THE EUROPEANS, BILL McGIBBON, ENVIRONMENTSALLIST WITH US ON THE RADIO YESTERDAY, HE MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE FEW GOOD THINGS THAT COME FROM THIS HORROR SHOW IS THAT THE EMBRACE OF RENEWABLES IN WESTERN EUROPE IS ON THE UPTICK IT IS INCREASING DRAMATICALLY.

BUT HOW ABOUT EUROPEAN, WESTERN EUROPEAN ALLY SUPPORT FOR THE UKRAINIANS WHEN AN ENERGY CRISIS SETS IN THERE?

>> WELL, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN SURPRISED AT THE RESOLVE DEMONSTRATED THUS FAR BY ALL OF OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES.

MUCH MORE THAN I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED, ACTUALLY.

AND I ALSO HAVE TO SAY MAYBE IT'S PUTTING ON THE KREMLINOLOGICAL HAT A LITTLE BIT.

I WORRY THAT SOME OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS WE'VE SEEN AS IN FROG AND IN SEVERAL OTHER CITIES ARE SHOW INSTIGATED BY THE RUSSIANS BECAUSE IF THERE IS ANY TEPTION AT ALL, IT COULD BE PLAYED TO THEIR VAFNLGT AND WE KNOW THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD AT THAT.

SO I WORRY THAT THE EUROPEANS ARE GETTING HIT IN A SENSE BOTH WAYS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT KREMLINOLOGICAL HAT SOME TIME, CAROL BY THE WAY.

>> ANY TIME.

>> YOU KNOW, MISSY, YOU WROTE A DAY OR TWO AGO ABOUT THE CONCERNS IN UKRAINE ABOUT THE MID TERMS BACK HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

I THINK MOST OF US KNOW THE RESOLVE OF REPUBLICANS TO SUPPORT UKRAINE IS NOWHERE NEAR AS LONG AS THAT OF JOE BIDEN AND HIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

HOW WORRY READY THEY ABOUT THIS SUPPORT DISSIPATING COME JANUARY IF THE REPUBLICANS AT LEAST TAKE OVER THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES?

>> YEAH, WELL, THE UKRAINIAN POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT IS INCREDIBLY ATTUNED TO THE DYNAMICS WITHIN THE U.S. CONGRESS AND THEY'RE TRACKING IT EXTREMELY CLOSELY.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW THERE IS CERTAINLY CONCERN THAT IF REPUBLICANS, CERTAIN REPUBLICANS WIN CERTAIN RACES, THAT THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS FOR THEM AHEAD.

AT THE SAME TIME, THOSE CONCERNS ARE LAID TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BY THE RELATIVELY STRONG BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS THAT WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS REMARKABLE IN AND OF ITSELF AT THIS TIME OF PARTISAN DIVISION.

BUT THE ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS SAY EVEN THOUGH THAT THERE IS THIS CHORE US FROM THE FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS MOSTLY IN THE HOUSE, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN BOTH CHAMBERS IS STILL STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF UKRAINE.

SO I GUESS THERE IS A QUESTION OF HOW THOSE REPUBLICAN LEADERS IF THEY DO TAKE CONTROL OF ONE OR BOTH CHAMBERS MANAGE THAT.

>> YOU KNOW CAR WILL O, I WOULD WORRY ABOUT WHERE THE FAR RIGHT GOES IN THE HOUSE, AND THE INFLUENCE THEY WILL HAVE WITH THE POTENTIAL SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY.

SO IF ONE DOES WORRY ABOUT THAT, IS ONE OF THE GOALS TO SPEED UP WHATEVER SHIPMENTS OF WEAPONRY OR ANY OTHER KIND OF AID WERE PROVIDED AIR SHEELSD, WHATEVER THE HELL IT IS, THAT THE U.S. HAS PLEDGED TO DO FOR UKRAINE?

>> I AM SURE THAT THERE SAY PUSH IN THIS CON TELL PLACE OF TRYING TO SPEED UP DELIVERIES OF WHATEVER WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING TO THE UKRAINE NAN-- UKRAINIANS, WE SEE EVERY DAY THERE IS ANOTHER ARTICLE IN THE PAPER OR IN WHAT I AM READING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SHIPPING EXTRA.

WE'RE SHIPPING, WHY, AND THE LATEST DISCUSSION OF COURSE IS ABOUT AIR DEFENSES AFTER THIS MASSIVE ATTACK ON KYIV AND SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES OVER THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF.

>> YOU KNOW, CAN WE GO FROM D.C. TO RUSSIA, MISSY, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES.

I READ THESE STORIES THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS ABOUT PUTIN GRABBING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET, OUT OF CAFES, THEY ARE BUSKING IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES TO BRING THEM INTO THE MILITARY, WHICH NOT ONLY SUGGESTS TO ME A SENSE OF DESPERATION THAT IS EPIC.

I SAY TO MYSELF WHAT KIND OF CITIZENRY SUPPORTS THIS KIND OF THING.

DO THEY?

ARE THEY WILLING TO TOLERATE THIS, THIS ACTION ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE FROM PUTIN AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIS INITIATIVE?

>> I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO UKRAINIANS ABOUT THIS TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE SPEAKING TO RELATIVES, AND YOU KNOW, ANALYZING THE RUSSIAN SENTIMENTS.

ST DIFFICULT TO KNOW BECAUSE THERE IS LITTLE RELIABLE POLLING AND PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO SELF-CENSOR.

BUT TO A LARGE EXTENT BUT WE REALLY HAVE SEEN IT BREAK INTO THE OPEN IN A VERY USUAL WAY FROM CERTAIN INFLIENGS COMMENTATORS AND POLIT IN THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT IN RUSSIA WHICH DOES SUGGEST THAT YOU KNOW THERE IS THIS GROWING DISSATISFACTION WITH THE WAY THE WAR IS GOING.

AND CLEARLY THE MOBILIZATION IS DEEPLY UNPOPULAR.

SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY-- I THINK WHAT IS HARDER TO KNOW IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH RUSSIAN, WE'RE OKAY WITH THE WAR BEFORE THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A SORT OF APATHY, PEOPLE FEEL CHECKED OUT FROM POLITICS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY DISEMPOWERED FOR SEVERAL DECADES NOW.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO KNOW JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF RUSSIAN SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT KIND OF VULNERABILITY DOES THIS CREATE FOR PUTIN, CAROL?

>> I THINK IT IS A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION.

CAN I GO BACK TO SOMETHING MISSY SAID.

>> Braude: YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT, SURE.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK THAT ON THE ONE HAND WE KNOW THERE IS A MOBILIZATION HAS REALLY BEEN A DISMASS FAILURE BECAUSE OVER 300,000 PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED TO HAVE FLED RUSSIA, MANY OF THEM ARE IN KAZ AK STAN AND GEORGIA, ANY PLACE THEY COULD GO WHERE THEY DIDN'T NEED A VISA.

SO I THINK THAT EVEN IF PEOPLE AREN'T PUBLICLY CRITICIZING PUTIN OR THE WAR ERTS, THAT PEOPLE WHOSE SONS, HUSBANDS, WHATEVER ARE SUDDENLY NO LONGER IN THE COUNTRY OR ARE CAUGHT ON THE FRONT LINES WILL BE VERY UPSET ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

BUT WE DO NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE THAT FROM THE PUBLIC CRITICISM THAT MISSY WAS ALSO REFERRING TO BECAUSE THOSE ARE COMING FROM MILITARY BLOGGERS AND FROM REALLY HARD-LINERS.

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT, WHO SUPPORT THE WAR EFFORT BUT DON'T THINK THAT PUTIN HAS BEEN TOUGH ENOUGH.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION THAT THIS WAVE OF ATTACKS ON UKRAINE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS ARE SQUARED BY PUTIN'S DESIRE TO SAY SEE, I'M REALLY TOUGH AND I'M DETERMINED TO PURSUE THE WAR EFFORT TO SORT OF SHUT UP THE DISSENT ON THE HARD LINE.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ST RIGHT OR LEFT.

>> Braude: MISSY, ONLY A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT BUT ORDINARILY WHEN I TALK ABOUT UKRAINE ON THE SHOW, I DO IT WITH CAROL AND TOM NICHOLS WHO WRITES THE NEWSLETTER FOR THE ATLANTIC.

WHEN I ASKED HIM WHEN IS THIS WAR OVER, THEY BOTH SAID IN SYNC, IF IS OVER WHEN PUTIN IS OVER.

IS THAT THE PERSPECTIVE THAT UKRAINIAN LEADERS AND PEOPLE FEEL, THAT UNTIL PUTIN IS GONE, RUSSIA WON'T BE GONE?

>> I THINK MANY UKRAINIANS SHARE THAT SENTIMENTS.

IN FACT, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS EXPLICITLY COMMITTED HIMSELF TO THAT GOAL, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ANYTHING COULD CHANGE BUT YOU KNOW HE HAS SAID THAT HE WILL NOT HOLD TALK WITH PUTIN UNTIL THERE SAY DIFFERENT LEADER.

SO I-- THAT SORT OF CREATES ALL THESE COMPLICATIONS WITH ZELENSKYY'S BACKERS WHO ARE NOT COMMITTING TO THE GOAL OF REGIME CHANGE.

>> MISSY, REPORTING IS TERRIFIC, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT, AND CAROL GREAT TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANKS, JIM.

>> Braude: THANK YOU.

IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE HEADING TOO THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS GIVEN EVERYTHING REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

FROM TOP GOP LEADERS BACKING TRUMP'S EFFORTS TO STEAL THE TO 20 SELECTION, DEFENDING HIS ROLE AND INCITING VIOLENT INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL, TO THE MANY REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS REPEATEDLY VOTING AGAINST RELIEF BILLS AIMED AT HELPING AMERICANS GET THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AND THE RIGHT-WING SUPREME COURT MAJORITY, STRIKING DOWN ABORTION RIGHTS-- RIGHTS THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT, OVERWHELMINGLY.

GIVEN ALL THAT, YOU MIGHT THINK DEMOCRATS WOULD BE IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION RIGHT NOW, BUT A NEW POLL FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES" IS TELLING A DIFFERENT STORY.

THE SURVEY FINDS THAT 49% OF LIKELY VOTERS PLAN TO VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN TO REPRESENT THEM IN CONGRESS, WITH JUST 45% WHO PLAN TO VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRAT.

AND THE TREND IS RED.

HOW DID DEMOCRATS FUMBLE THIS ADVANTAGE?

AND IS THERE HOPE FOR A COMEBACK?

I'M JOINED NOW BY LATOSHA BROWN, CO-FOUNDER OF THE BLACK VOTERS MATTER FUND.

AND FORMER CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE JESSE MERMELL, NOW THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF DEWIT IMPACT GROUP.

LATOSHA, JESSE, GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH, LATOSHA LET ME START WITH YOU AND ADD A COUPLE OF MORE ITEMS TO THAT LIST.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE POVERTY ELIMINATING CHILD TAX CREDIT.

WE KNOW ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE FOR THE NEARLY TWO TRILLION DOLLARS IN COVID RELIEF INCLUDING 1400 DOLLAR CHECKS.

SO WITH THAT MASS OF BAD NEWS FOR TO THE REPUBLICANS AND GOOD FOR THE DESM KRAT WHYS ARE THINGS TRENDING AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT MY THOUGHTS AROUND WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

ONE IS THE REPUBLICANS ARE USING AN AGE OLD TOOL THAT HAS BEEN EFFECT NIF CONSOLIDATING POWER IN THIS COUNTRY STRKS CALLED RACE, YOU CAN GO BACK FROM RECONSTRUCTION ALL THE WAY UP TO WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY NOW.

AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER, AT TIMES IT HAS BEEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AT TIMES IT HAS BEEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THAT RACE HAS A WAY OF REP SIZING AND CONSOLIDATING WHITE SUPPORT REGARDLESS, PARTICULARLY IF IT IS ROOTED IN WHITE FEAR AND THIS IDEA, THIS IDEA THAT WHITE PEOPLE PARTICULARLY WILL LOSE POWER IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SO I THINK THAT THAT IS ONE LEVEL, THE SECOND LEVEL IS I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY BE FAIR AROUND MESSAGING.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS WE HAVE SEEN ONE PARTIES THAT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR, ALIGNING ITSELF WITH WHITE NATIONALISM AND A PARTICULAR SET OF INTEREST.

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER PARTY THAT WHAT YOU SEE IS YOU SEE THIS PARTY HAS PEOPLE OF COLOR, THIS PARTY IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT LGBTQ PARTY, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT A BROADER BASE INCOMES ANY OTHER NATION WOULD YOU HAVE A MULTIPARTY SYSTEM WITH COALITION POLITICS.

SO YOU HAVE A PARTY THAT HAS A MUCH, MUCH MORE DIFFICULT JOB TO CREATE, REALLY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO A MESSAGE THAT SPEAKS TO A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHERE YOU HAVE ONE PARTY THAT LITERALLY HAS DOUBLED DOWN AND SAID THAT THEY WILL ONLY SPEAK TO THOSE WHO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHITE FEAR.

>> DO YOU BUY IT.

>> I BUY IT LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME DOUBLES DOWN ON FEAR.

THAT FEAR MORE TIMES THAN NOT IS ROOTED IN RACISM AS LATOSHA POINTED OUT.

THEY ARE DOING THAT IN SPADES IN THIS ELECTION.

AND HAVE I TO SAY, THE POLLS OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES" OBVIOUSLY GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

WHAT WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT SINCE JOBS CAME DOWN, ROE WAS OVERTURNED IN JUNE, WOMEN ARE SHOWING UP AND REGISTERING IN HUGE NUMBERS, MOTIVATED BY ROE, MOTIVATE BID ABORTION WHICH BY THE WAY IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE, EVERYONE FORGETS TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

THOSE WOMEN AREN'T CAPTURED IN THESE POLLS.

AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE GROUND IS ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM AROUND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PARTICULARLY DRIVEN BY ROE, PARTICULARLY WHAT THAT MEANS FOR WOMEN AND PEOPLE WHO NEED REPRODUCTIVE SERVICES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR.

AND THAT POLL, YES, WE WOULD BE FOOLS NOT TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY BUT WE ALSO KNOW THERE IS A STORY THAT IS IMPORTANT AND NOT BEING TOLD IN THOSE NUMBERS.

>> Braude: THERE IS A GUY BY THE NAME OF BERNIE SANDERS IN YOUR PARTY WHO SAYS IN THE GUARDIAN THAT THAT STORY SHOULDN'T BE TOLD RIGHT NOW, JESSE.

IN FACT, HE SAYS THAT WHILE PROTECTING ABORTION RIGHTS IS CRITICAL SAYS SANDERS, DEMOCRATS FIRST, DO YOU AGREE.

>> I AM NOT, I DISAGREE WITH SENATOR SANDERS ABOUT WHOM I AGREE ON MANY MANY THINGS BUT THIS HAS TO BE BOTH AND, ABORTION IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN AN ECONOMIC ISSUE THE.

I HAVE BEEN IN THIS WORK AROUND ABORTION RIGHTS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

AND MI DONE WITH ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISTS ON THE GROUND WHO HAVE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ON THIS ISSUE FOR DECADES NOT BEING LISTENED TO.

WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED IN THIS ELECTION.

WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP TO VOTE ON THIS, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO SENATOR SANDERS AND PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH HIM, THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE IN NOVEMBER.

>> Braude: STAYING ON IT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE SAME ISSUE BUT STAYING ON AN ISSUE THAT ONE WOULD THINK VL IMPORTANT TO WOMEN, THE MOST SUNNING THING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES POLL TO ME WITHOUT A CLOSE SECOND WAS IN ONE MONTH SWING INDEPENDENT WOMEN WHICH ARE BEING TARGETED BY DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AS MUCH AS ANY GROUP, INDEPENDENT WOMEN, A 14 PERCENT MAJORITY FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN SEPTEMBER, 18 PERCENT MAJORITY FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN OCTOBER, A 32 POINT SWING IN ONE MOPTD, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS REALLY NUANCED.

I THINK THREE THINGS.

THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT WHITE WOMEN DID NOT VOTE, MANY WHITE WOMEN DID NOT VOTE FOR HILARY CLINTON.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT.

SO I GO BACK TO WHAT HAS BEEN SHOWN HISTORICALLY, THAT RACE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ORGANIZING TOOL USED BY THE ELITE.

THE SECOND THING AND I WILL DOUBLE DOWN ON THIS, THAT IT IS FAR, FAR EASIER TO BE EXCLUSIVE THAN IT IS TO BE INCLUSIVE.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THIS SOPHISTICATED MESSAGING THAT THEY ARE USING.

THEY HAVE BEEN CLEAR ABOUT ONE MESSAGE, THAT THEY ARE LITERALLY CONSOLIDATING AROUND A RACIST AGENDA THAT ACTUALLY HATES EVERYBODY, RIGHT, OTHER THAN THOSE WHO ARE MAINSTREAM WHITE AMERICA SO IT IS FAR, FAR MORE NUANCED WHEN YOU HAVE A PARTY THAT HAS TO CREATE A MESSAGE TO BE INCLUSIVE OF A BROADER GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A BROADER SET OF NEEDS AND ISSUES.

>> I ASSUME MOST PEOPLE WATCHING ARE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR WORK BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S OVERBROAN TO SAY THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES IN GREAT PART ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING A DEMOCRATIC SENATE IN LIGHT OF THE WORK THAT YOU DID IN GEORGIA.

I KNOW THIS ROUND YOU ARE IN PLACES LIKE GEORGIA, FLORIDA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, I'M SURE ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED OF THIS QUESTION, SO ONE MORE TIME, THERE IS A GROWING BODY OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM THAT BLACK VOTERS WHO DELIVERED THAT VICTORY TO THE DEMOCRATS IN 2020 FEEL IGNORED IN BETWEEN AND WON'T TURN OUT IN SIMILAR NUMBERS IN 2020-- 2022.

ARE THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT?

>> LET ME SAY AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISAPPOINTMENT, THERE HAS BEEN DISCONTENT.

THE BOTTOMLINE IS HOW DO YOU USE THAT ENERGY.

DO YOU USE THAT ENERGY JUST TO IGNORE PEOPLE AND NOT DOT HARD WORK?

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS DOING THE HARD WORK TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR DISCONTENT AROUND THE ECONOMY, IS OF CONCERN.

THERE SIN EQUITY IN TERMS OF RESOURCES IN THIS NATION.

WE DO HAVE WAGES THAT HAVE BEEN STAGNANT WHILE WE ARE SEEING 68 PERCENT OF BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE WAGE WORKERS AND ARE BASICALLY UNDEREMPLOYED.

THOSE ARE REAL ISSUES, BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS LITERALLY LEANING TOO THEM, NOT ABOUT PARTICIPATION BUT ABOUT THE BUILDING OF POWER TO HELP PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT PART OF WHERE WE ARE IN THIS MOMENTS IS IN A TRANSITIONAL MOMENT, THAT WE HAVE TO LEAN INTO PUTTING PEOPLE IN PLACE THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO US SO THAT WE CAN CHANGE THE POLICY THAT IS GOING TO SERVE US.

>> SPEAKING OF CHANGE N THREE WEEKS TO GO, I THINK THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY, JESSE, HOW DO THE DEMOCRATS CHANGE THIS TREND OF THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

>> ACTION, ACTION, ACTION, ACTION RESPONDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE BP TALKING ABOUT, AND ARE YOU STARTING TO SEE T TODAY JOE BIED EPP GAVE A SPEEMP THAT THE FIRST THING WILL DO THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION AFTER A DEMOCRAT IG CONGRESS AND SENATE ARE SWARNED IN WITH TWO NEW DEMOCRATIC SENATORS, FILE LEGISLATION CODIFYING ROE, PARDONED PEOPLE WITH SIMPLE MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ABLE TO GET HOUSING, ABLE TO PURSUE JOBS.

WE HAVE SEEN HIM CANCEL STUDENT DEBT UP TO 20,000, $FOR PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS LARGELY TO MOVEMENT-- THAT IS DELIVERING A TYPE OF THING THAT LATOSHA IS TALKING ABOUT, THAT HAS BEEN DISAPPOINTING OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS FROM SOME LEADERSHIP FROM CENTRIST AND CORPORATE DEMOCRATS, THE PROGRESSIVES IN D.C. ARE PUSHING US TOWARDS ACTION, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT AND KEEP DOING OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS TO DELIVER FOR VOTERS, TO SHOW THAT WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY NEED AND ARE OUT THERE TO TRY AND FIX IT AND THAT IS WHAT GETS US TO WIN.

>> Braude: WHEN DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES OR CAMPAIGNS SAY TO YOU WHAT ARE WE FOCUSED ON FOR THE TIME THREE WEEKS, WHAT IS YOUR GUIDANCE?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT POLLS DON'T WIN ELECTIONS, PEOPLE DO.

THIS SAY GROUND GAME.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY LET ME JUST SAY GEORGIA, WHILE THIS NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE CAME OUT, YESTERDAY WAS ITS FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA WHERE THIS SAUL THIS MESSAGE.

WHAT WE SAW IS WE SAW A RECORD-BREAKING TURNOUT AND 40% OF THE VOTERS THAT CAME OUT, GUESS WHAT, THEY ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHICH MEANS AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS ARE OVERPERFORMING.

SO IT IS NOT POLLS THAT WILL REALLY WIN THIS ELECTION T WILL BE PEOPLE.

THEY SHOULD BE PUTTING ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES ON THE GROUND.

THIS IS NOT AN AIR WAR, STH A GROUND WAR.

>> Braude: WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, STARTING WITH YOU, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS DEPRESSED ABOUT TODAY WAS THIS PIECE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES POLL THAT SAID PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT DEMOCRACY WAS AT RISK, BUT IT WASN'T A PRIORITY FOR THEM.

QUICKLY IF YOU CAN, LATOSHA, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> YOU KNOW T IS REALLY SAD BUT I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE MADE DEMOCRACY BE SOMETHING THAT IS ACTUALLY BEEN SEPARATE FROM PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO LITERALLY DO THE WORK WE ARE DOING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HAVING AGENCY AND SHAPING THE KIND OF AMERICA WE WANT AND WE DESIRE AND REALLY REDEFINING WHAT DEMOCRACY IS, BECAUSE DEMOCRACIES HAS BEEN FOR ELITE AND HAVE BEEN USED IN SUCH A WAY THAT OTHERS HAVE NOT HAD FULL ACCESS TO IT.

SO FOR US IT IS REALLY AROUND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS THE KIND OF DEMOCRACY WE DESIRE, DESERVE AND HOW CAN WE TRULY MAKE THIS NATION BE A DEMOCRACY.

>> LAST 30 SECONDS.

>> I WILL PULL ON THAT THREAT ABOUT AGENCY, PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL LIKE NOT JUST THEIR VOTE MATTERS BUT ACTIVISM MATTERS, THAT THEY HAVE A REAL STAKE AND DEMOCRACY.

NOT JUST PUTTING ON A COOL T-SHIRT AND RUNNING AROUND BUT THAT THEIR WORK CAN HELP US SAVE HEALTH CARE, ABORTION RIGHTS, CAMP SELL MORE STUDENT DEBT, MAKE MORE PRESCRIPTION DUGS AFFORDABLE.

WHEN PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY ARE HEARD AND THE ACTIONS THEY TAKE YIELD REAL CHAININGS THEN THEY UNDERSTAND THAT DEMENT OCTOBER SEE IS MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO IN A BALLOT BOX EVERY TWO OR FOUR YEARS AND THAT IS HOW WE GET THAT POLL TURNED AROUND.

>> Braude: LATOSHA BROWN, JESSE MERMELL, THANKS.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING I SAID LAST WEEK, IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PARDON OF FEDERAL CANNABIS POSSESSION CONVICTIONS.

IN THE DISCUSSION, I REFERENCED A SIMILAR MASSACHUSETTS PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES THAT PEOPLE APPLY TO GET SUCH CONVICTIONS EXPUNGED AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND I SUGGESTED THAT BIDEN'S PARDON WAS AUTOMATIC, NOT REQUIRING AN APPLICATION.

I WAS WRONG.

A ACCORD TOGETHER DEPARTMENT OF JUTION TIS, PEOPLE MAY NEED PROOF THAT THE PROCLAMATION APPLIES TO THEM ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE FULL BENEFITS OF A PARDON.

THE OFFICE OF THE PARDON ATTORNEY IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO DEVELOP PROCEDURES FOR ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF PARDON TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

BLOT OM LINE THEY NEED AN APPLICATION, BUT LET'S STREAM LINE IT FEDERALLY AND HERE AT HOME SINCE THOSE WHO SUFFERED BECAUSE OF RACIALLY BIASED DRUG LAWS DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER AGAIN.

AND FINALLY THE INS AND OUT OF THE QUESTION.

>> WHAT IS QUESTION 2 ON THE MASSACHUSETTS BALLOT DO QUESTION 2 IS ALL ABOUT HOW DENTAL INSURANCE COMPANIES IN THE STATE SPEND THE MONEY THEY GET FROM PATIENT PREMIUMS.

A YES VOTE WOULD RAMP UP REGULATION OF THOSE INSURERS BY REQUIRING THEY SPEND AT LEAST 83 PERCENT OF PREMIUM DOLLARS ON PATIENT CARE.

AS OPPOSED TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS T WOULD ALSO FORCE ENSURERS TO SHARE FINANCIAL DATA WITH STATE REGULATORS AND GIVE REGULATORS POT WE ARE TO VETO SOME RATE INCREASES.

QUESTION TWO SUPPORTERS SAY THE PROPOSED CHANGE WAS STREET DENTAL INSURERS LIKE MEDICAL INSURER AND IF THEY ARE LOOKING TO KEEP A LID ON KORPT GREED.

QUESTION TWO OPPONENT WARN OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES INCLUDING REDUCED CONSUMER CHOICE AND ININCLUDED PREMIUMS, SPENDING SUGGEST ULTIMATELY A BATTLE BETWEEN INSURERS AND PRACTITIONERS OVER WHERE PATIENT'S MONEY ULTIMATELY GOES.

THE BIGGEST YES FUND CERTIFICATE ORTHODONTIST WHO SPEND UPWARD OF $2 MILLION, ON NOT SIDE DELTA DENTAL MASSACHUSETTS SUBSIDIARY HAS SPENT ATLY 4.5 MILLION.

SO IF YOU WANT MORE REGULATION OF HOW DENTAL INSURANCERS SPEND PATIENT MONEY VOTE YES ON QUESTION 2, IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE THINGS AS THEY R VOTE NO.

>> Braude: THAT WAS ADAM REILLY REPORTING.

STAY TUNED, WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE OTHER 2022 BALLOT QUESTIONS TOMORROW, HERE ON GBH 2 AND AT GBHNEWS.ORG.

A REMINDER, EARLY VOTING KICKS OFF THIS SATURDAY.

IF YOU PLAN ON VOTING BY MAIL, DON'T FORGET TO REQUEST YOUR BALLOT.

YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE IN TO YOUR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICE BY 5:00 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 1st, AND YOUR FILLED OUT BALLOT MUST BE RETURNED TO THAT OFFICE OR TO A BALLOT DROP BOX OR POSTMARKED BY THE TIME POLLS CLOSE ON ELECTION DAY.

AND IF YOU'RE VOTING THE TRADITIONAL WAY, POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 10:00 AND CLOSE AT WILL P.M FOR MORE INFORMATION SED TO SEC.STATE.MA.US.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

GBH DEPUTY INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR JENIFER McKIM JOINS ME ON HER TEAM'S LATEST REPORT ON THE TROUBLING VOLUME OF LABOR TRAFFICKING IN GREATER BOSTON.

PLUS: ANAND GIRIDHARADAS ON HIS NEW BOOK ON THE LOST ART OF PERSUASION IN OUR CALL-OUT CULTURE.

THAT AND MORE, TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET UKRAINE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org