"REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY "NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE," THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWS LETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪ >>> OUR DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR POLITICS.

A NEW POLL SAYS WE HATE IT.

BUT WE ALSO KIND OF LOVE IT.

HI, EVERYBODY, IT'S "REPORTERS ROUND TABLE," I'M DAVID CRUZ, WELCOME, OUR PANEL INCLUDES KAREN YEE, REPORTER FROM NYC, AND A REPORTER FOR NJ MONITOR, AND NED ARKO, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WE BEGIN TODAY WITH AN EYE-OPENING LOOK AT HOW WE FEEL ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S BIGGEST CASH CROPS, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT.

A NEW MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY POLL SAYS WE KIND OF HATE IT.

HERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE POLL AND WHAT IT MEANS, AND WHY WE'RE LIKE THIS, IS THE TRERKT OF THE POLLING INSTITUTE, PATRICK MURRAY.

PATRICK, WELCOME BACK TO "REPORTERS ROUND TABLE".

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN, DA DAVID.

>> YOU ASKED FOLKS WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF GOVERNMENT.

LET TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS.

FIRST ONE, ALMOST 80% OF RESPONDENTS SAY THE QUALITY OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS EITHER FAIR OR POOR.

THAT REALLY DOESN'T SURPRISE ME, DOES IT SURPRISE YOU?

>> NOT THAT IT'S LOW.

YOU KNOW, AND THE QUESTION IS HOW LOW CAN IT GO?

SO, YOU KNOW, ONLY ONE IN FIVE SAY GIVE IT WHAT WE CONSIDER A POSITIVE RATING THERE.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD NUMBER.

THAT'S PRETTY BIPARTISAN, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE PRETTY COMPARABLE THERE IN SAYING THAT IT'S -- THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE RATING OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, AND HOW WASHINGTON IS RUN.

>> WHAT IS IT THAT ILLICITS THAT KIND OF A RESPONSE, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S JUST BEEN SO MANY YEARS OF CHAOS, AND THE SENSE THAT THERE'S AS MANY PEOPLE -- AS MANY PEOPLE DOWN IN WASHINGTON IN CONGRESS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO STOP GOVERNMENT FROM ACCOMPLISHING THINGS, AS GETTING SOMETHING DONE.

IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS -- WE POINT TO THIS LIKE WHEN JOE BIDEN'S JOB APPROVAL RATINGS WENT DOWN DURING HIS TERM, THEY WENT DOWN AT THE TIME WHEN THE -- WHEN THEY POLL -- WHEN WE PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

AND YOU THINK WELL, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

IT'S A POLICY PEOPLE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MUCH.

THE SIGNAL THERE WAS THAT IT WASN'T DONE WELL.

JOE BIDEN CAME INTO OFFICE SAYING HE WAS GOING TO FIX THE WAY WASHINGTON RUNS, GET WASHINGTON TO WORK BETTER AND IT WAS A SIGNAL MAYBE THINGS AREN'T GOING TO GET ANY BETTER DOWN THERE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE CONFIDENCE, THAT ANYBODY CAN GET ANYTHING DONE.

AND SO I THINK THESE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE HERE IN NEW JERSEY REFLECT THAT AS WELL.

>> YEAH, LET'S LOOK AT THAT.

ON THE STATE LEVEL THERE'S LIGHTLY LESS DISTASTE, 63% SAY IT'S FAIR OR POOR.

I GUESS THE 36% POSITIVE IS THE SURPRISE FOR ME, OR THAT PEOPLE EVEN SEE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I GUESS THEY DO.

>> YEAH, THAT'S FUNNY BECAUSE YEAH, IT'S KIND OF NEW JERSEY WINS BY DEFAULT HERE.

YOU KNOW, 36% SAY IT'S EXCELLENT OR GOOD, BETTER THAN 21% FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE VAST MAJORITY AND SAY EXCELLENT OR POOR.

THE NUMBER HAS GONE UP A LITTLE BIT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, I THINK ABOUT 24% IF WE GO BACK SOME YEARS AGO, IT'S NOW 36%.

IN NEW JERSEY WHAT WE'RE SEEING, THOUGH, IS A PARTISAN DIFFERENCE THAT WE DON'T SEE IN THE NUMBERS FOR WASHINGTON.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN RATINGS OF TRENTON, DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY A MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY GIVE A POSITIVE RATING TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN TRENTON, HOW TRENTON RUNS.

DEMOCRATS -- REPUBLICANS, EXCUSE ME, AND INDEPENDENTS, NOT SO MUCH.

THERE'S A CLEAR GAP THERE ON TRENTON THAT WE DON'T SEE AS MUCH WHEN WE EVALUATE WASHINGTON.

AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THAT WHO CONTROLS GOVERNMENT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, AND HAS BEEN DOING SO FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> IN THESE STATE RESULTS, IS IT -- OR IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT MAYBE BECAUSE WE'RE CLOSER TO STATE GOVERNMENT, WE SEE THEM THROUGH LESS OF THE TALK SHOW FILTER THAT WE SEE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

I MEAN, DO PEOPLE, I GUESS, RELATE MORE TO NEW JERSEY GOVERNMENT?

>> NO, THAT'S -- THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE YOU CAN USUALLY SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN POINT TO THINGS THAT ACTUALLY GET DONE OR DON'T GET DONE, WITH STATE GOVERNMENT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE CREEPING IN IS THIS PARTISANSHIP THAT WE'VE ONLY -- YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO THE TRUMP ERA, WE ONLY REALLY SAW THAT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

THAT'S WHY WE COULD GET, YOU KNOW, A GOVERNOR OF ONE PARTY AND A LEGISLATURE OF A DIFFERENT PARTY.

>> YEAH.

>> NOW THOSE THINGS LOOK A LOT LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

THEY COULD HAPPEN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE LIKELIHOOD IS LESS BECAUSE THAT PARTISANSHIP HAS CREEPED IN.

AND I THINK THAT HAS AS MUCH TO DO WITH IT AS THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TRENTON IS -- IS WORKING ON OR NOT.

>> ON OUR VIEW OF POLITICS, AND IT'S INTERESTING HOW FOLKS REALLY DON'T MAKE A DISTINCTION IN GENERAL TERMS BETWEEN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT.

BUT OUR VIEW ON POLITICS IS SPLIT, RIGHT?

44% SAY IT'S A DIRTY BUSINESS.

AND THE SAME 44% THINK IT'S HONORABLE.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE NUMBERS SAYING THAT LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE THIS WITH BUSINESS.

NO?

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY A SHIFT OVER JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS, WHEN HONORABLE WAS CLEAR IN THE LEAD THERE.

PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS AN HONORABLE THING TO DO, 55% IF WE GO BACK.

THAT'S A DROP OF 11 POINTS.

WHEREAS, SAYING IT'S A DIRTY BUSINESS WENT FROM ABOUT A THIRD TO NEARLY HALF.

SO THERE'S A QUESTION OF, LIKE, WHY BOTHER GETTING INVOLVED IN POLITICS?

BUT I THINK THERE'S A SILVER LINING IN THE POLLS AS WELL.

WHICH IS THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THEY FEEL THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND GET SOMETHING DONE.

MAYBE IT'S NOT JUST THROUGH STANDARD POLITICS.

MAYBE IT'S NOT THROUGH ELECTIONS, RUNNING FOR OFFICE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND A MAJORITY OF NEW JERSEYENS SAY, AND THIS NUMBER HAS CREEPED UP, SAY THEY FEEL THEY CAN GET SOMETHING DONE AND HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED TO GET SOMETHING DONE AND THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS, THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 35.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT MILLENNIALS, AND GEN-Z ADULTS TODAY, THEY FEEL THAT THEY'RE DOING MORE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND CAN DO MORE IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAN THE COMPARABLE AGE GROUP LESS THAN A GENERATION AGO.

>> DOES THAT EXPLAIN THIS LOW VOTER TURNOUT?

I MEAN, HOW DOES IT MANIFEST IN HOW POLITICIANS ARE RUNNING THEIR BUSINESS, FOR INSTANCE?

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THAT THAT'S QUITE RIGHT, IS THAT NOW WE'RE IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO SAY I'M ONLY GOING TO GO OUT TO VOTE IF YOU CAN REALLY PROVE TO ME THAT YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING ON MY BEHALF.

AND WE SAW THAT IN THE 2021 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION HERE IN NEW JERSEY IN PARTICULAR, WHERE URBAN VOTE, WHICH IS GENERALLY LOWER THAN IT IS IN THE SUBURBAN AREAS, BUT IT WAS PARTICULARLY LOW FOR PHIL MURPHY.

WHERE THERE WAS -- WHERE PEOPLE WHO DECIDED THEY DIDN'T GO OUT TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T POINT TO SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT THEY SAID THEY FELT HE DID FOR THEM.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THAT ELECTION WAS SIGNIFICANTLY CLOSER THAN IT HAD BEEN IN THE PAST.

WHEREAS, OTHERS WENT OUT TO VOTE, BASED ON NATIONAL ISSUES, AND THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THEIR COMMUNITY ISSUES SO MUCH.

AND SO PEOPLE WERE FOCUSED ON THEIR COMMUNITY AND GETTING THEIR COMMUNITY BETTER, SEEMED TO BE TURNING BACK ON POLITICS AND TURNING INTO OTHER TYPES OF ACTIVITY.

>> WE'RE ABOUT TWO YEARS REMOVED FROM A PRESIDENT WHOSE BRAND WAS POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT SUCK.

ARE THERE ANY HOPEFUL SIGNS TO BE FOUND DEEP IN THE NUMBERS HERE?

>> ABOUT POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, NO.

ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, YES, AND I THINK THAT'S THE KEY.

IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMAIN CIVILICALLY ENGAGED.

IN FACT, MAYBE THE FACT POLITICS IS GOING DOWNHILL AND PROMPTING MORE PEOPLE TO SAY I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER.

IF THEY KEEP TURNING THEIR BACKS ON POLITICS WILL POLITICS GET SO MUCH WORSE IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> PATRICK MURRAY, THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.

>> ALL RIGHT PANEL, MATT, IT'S A DIRTY BUSINESS, SOMEONE'S GOT TO COVER IT.

I ASSUME THE POLL NUMBERS ARE NOT A REVELATION TO YOU?

>> NOT A REVELATION.

I THINK THE THING THAT STUCK OUT MORE TO ME WAS THE -- THE LOCAL LEVEL, CONSIDERING THAT THIS NOVEMBER 120 -- ALL 120 SEATS IN THE TRENTON ARE UP ON THE BALLOT.

YOU COULD WITH THE NUMBERS THAT PAT WAS GOING ON THINK, OKAY, DEMOCRATS WHO ARE VERY SCARED AFTER PHIL MURPHY'S LAST ELECTION, THAT REALLY SENT TREMORS THROUGH THEM.

THEY'RE LIKE, WHOA, THIS IS WAY CLOSER THAN WE WANT IT TO BE, AND THEY'RE NOT DOING THE SAME SORT OF PROGRESSIVE THINGS THEY HAD PLANNED, OR SOME PROGRESSIVE THINGS THEY HAD PLANNED TO DO, ASSUMING THAT MURPHY WAS GOING TO WIN IN A LANDSLIDE.

SO THEY CAN LOOK AT THOSE DEMOCRATIC NUMBERS AND SAY, OH, THAT'S SOMEWHAT ENCOURAGING.

BUT WHEN PAT POINTED OUT THE INDEPENDENT FIGURES, YOU KNOW, THAT IS -- THAT'S SOME CAUSE FOR ALARM.

BECAUSE INDEPENDENTS, AND UNAFFILIATED VOTERS IN THE STATE TEND TO BREAK WITH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN GAP IN THE STATE, WHICH IS TO SAY MOST VOTE DEMOCRATIC, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FEWER VOTE REPUBLICAN, JUST BECAUSE THAT'S THE STATE'S MAKEUP.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT SORT OF WISHY-WASHY GAP AMONG INDEPENDENTS, THAT'S PROBABLY STILL SOME CAUSE FOR ALARM.

SO I ANTICIPATE NOT A LOT OF BLOCKBUSTER NEWS COMING OUT OF TRENTON OVER THE NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD SHAKE ANYTHING UP.

>> AND VOTERS ARE SO FICKLE, RIGHT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENS AT THE POLLS COULD BE AFFECTED BY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THREE DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

RIGHT?

>> WELL, WHAT WE SAW WITH PHIL MURPHY'S ELECTION, RIGHT, YOU KNOW, IT -- COVERING THAT, IT WAS HARD TO, BECAUSE WE WERE STILL COMING OUT OF COVID, IT'S HARD TO SEE CROWDS AT SOME OF THESE EVENTS BUT I COULD SEE GOING TO THESE EVENTS THAT THE REPUBLICAN CROWD WAS GETTING A LOT MORE EXCITED THAN THE FOLKS AT DEMOCRATIC EVENTS.

AND THE CONVERSATION AROUND THAT TIME REALLY STARTED TO TURN MORE TO THE ECONOMY, AND I COULD SEE THE SHIFT THEN.

SO TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, IF THAT ELECTION WAS A WEEK OR TWO AFTERWARDS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN CLOSER, COULD HAVE GONE IN JACK'S FAVOR.

>> SOPHIE, WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE COVERING POLITICIANS AND POLITICS, ARE YOU HEARING THIS KIND OF DISDAIN FROM VOTERS?

>> TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, DEFINITELY.

I THINK EVERYONE IS KIND OF FED UP AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON BOTH SIDES, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE SAW IN THE HOUSE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

BUT, YEAH, WHEN IT COMES TO STATE POLITICS, I MEAN, PEOPLE JUST TEND TO FALL IN THE CATEGORY THAT THEY'RE IN, I WOULD SAY.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

KAREN, YOU WORK A LOT WITH IMMIGRANTS AND NEW ARRIVALS.

I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE MORE FAITH IN GOVERNMENT THAN THOSE WHO'VE BEEN HERE LONGER, OR ARE BORN HERE.

DO YOU FEEL THAT?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THEY'RE SO USED TO EXISTING SORT OF IN THE INFORMAL SPACE, THE INFORMAL ECONOMY.

SOME OF THEM CAN'T VOTE SO I THINK THIS LACK OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS RUNS DEEP IN THESE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR MURPHY, WHO HAS REALLY KIND OF SPENT A LOT OF HIS FEDERAL COVID MONEY ON HELPING IMMIGRANT GROUPS AND RECENTLY EXPANDED A HEALTH CARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN, THAT'S HIS HURDLE.

HE HAS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD TRUST IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT HISTORICALLY HAVEN'T HAD A REASON TO TRUST GOVERNMENT AT ANY LEVEL, REALLY.

>> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP ON THAT JUST A COUPLE MINUTES.

MATT, SWITCHING GEARS A LITTLE BIT HERE, MURPHY AND THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS, HE'S BEEN DOWNGRADED.

HE'S NO LONGER AMERICA'S GREENEST GOVERNOR.

SHOULD HE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT KIND OF PUSHBACK THAT HE'S BEEN GETTING OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO, FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS?

>> I THINK MAYBE A SMALL SECTION, MAYBE SOME MINOR CONCERN.

BUT OVERALL, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT OVER THE PAST WEEK AND SINCE HE'S BEEN GIVING A STATE OF THE STATE, SOME THINGS THAT PROGRESSIVE GROUPS HAVE SORT OF CLAPPED BACK.

IT'S SORT OF THEIR JOB TO KEEP ON PUSHING HIM AND PUSHING HIM AND PUSHING HIM.

FOR THE MOST PART.

PHIL MURPHY IS GOING TO ALIGN WITH THEIR CAUSES, NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN.

WE'VE SEEN THAT OVER THE COURSE OF HIS TERM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THESE GROUPS ARE SAYING, NOW LOOK, THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS I REMEMBER EARLY ON IN THE ADMINISTRATION, THE FIRST OF THE PROGRESSIVE GROUPS TO COME OUT AND SAY HEY, YOU NEED TO DO MORE, I LOOK AT THAT IN SOME PART AS THEIR JOB TO CONTINUE TO PUSH HIM.

I WILL JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY THE ENVIRONMENT, I MEAN THE WHOLE THING WITH THE BEAR HUNT, THAT IS A VERY ACTIVE, ACTIVE GROUP.

AND THE FACT THAT MURPHY REVERSED HIS POSITION ON THE BEAR HUNT, I THINK, REALLY STIRRED THE POT ON A LOT OF THIS TOO.

>> YEAH.

WHAT ABOUT THIS THING ABOUT THE WHALES?

I MEAN, THE SUGGESTION THAT OFFSHORE WIND IS KILLING THE WHALES, AND THAT THEY'RE ENDING UP ON OUR BEACHES, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE LEADING THAT CHARGE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN GRAB AND MAKE SOME POINTS WITH?

THAT WAS FOR YOU, MATT.

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOUGH.

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE -- AND THIS IS WHY.

SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, SAYING CUT OFF OFFSHORE WIND, WE EXPECT MORE.

EVEN THOUGH THE NAA IS SAYING THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF IT HAVE BEEN AGAINST THE WIND FARMS FROM THE GET-GO BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN EYESORE.

IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT THOSE GROUPS AND TAKE THEIR ARGUMENTS IN GOOD FAITH, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY IS SAYING THERE'S NO EVIDENCE.

WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT, BUT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE.

AND LASTLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND YOU HAVE NEW JERSEY CAPTAINS THAT GO UP AND DOWN THE COAST THAT ARE SAYING, LOOK, WE'RE SPOTTING MORE OF THESE WHALES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD BE BECAUSE THEIR FOOD IS GETTING CLOSER TO THE SHORE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO IT'S AN INTERESTING DEBATE.

AND IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE HOW EVERYBODY ANGLES THEIR -- OR IS TAKING THEIR OWN POSITIONS, CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES ON BOTH SIDES.

>> I THINK THIS STORY IS JUST -- HAS GOTTEN SO OUT OF HAND.

I MEAN, WE KNOW -- WE DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE TYING THESE WHILE DEATHS TO OFFSHORE WIND ACTIVITY.

THE WIND TURBINES HAVEN'T BEEN BUILT.

THIS IS A BROADER REFLECTION OF, TO YOUR POINT, RIGHT, LIKE WE JOURNALISTS, WE HAVE TO BECOME EXPERTS IN CERTAIN THINGS, AND ALSO DEFER TO THE SCIENCE AND DEFER TO EXPERTS.

THIS STORY, WE'VE SORT OF FANNED THE FLAMES.

I THINK A LOT OF THE HEADLINES HAVE BEEN VAGUE AT BEST, AND MISLEADING AT WORST, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS WHAT IS CAUSING WHALES TO DIE IN THE LONG TERM.

AND WE KNOW CONTEXTUALLY THERE'S A GROWTH IN THE HUMP BACK WHALE POPULATION AND THERE'S BEEN A GROWTH IN WHALE DEATHS.

THIS IS THE CONTEXT IN THE FACTS WE HAVE TO REFER TO.

SO I THINK THIS IS A BROADER REFLECTION OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS A PRESS CORPS.

I JUST HAVE TO MAKE THAT POINT.

>> IT'S A GREAT POINT.

IT'S A GREAT POINT.

MATT, YOU HAD A PIECE ON THIS JUDGE SHORTAGE THAT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE NEW JERSEY'S JUDICIARY, AND A PLAN NOW TO RAISE THE RETIREMENT AGE SO THAT THEY CAN ALLOW JUDGES TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.

TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, MATT.

>> YEAH, SO RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO STATE'S CONSTITUTION, JUDGES HAVE TO -- OR ARE REQUIRED TO RETIRE ONCE THEY HIT AGE 70 AND THERE'S LEGISLATION FLOATING THAT WOULD INCREASE THAT TO 75.

YOU KNOW, THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL SAID THAT THEY'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION IN 1947 OBVIOUSLY THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN TERMS OF LIFE EXPECTANCY.

BUT THE MUCH, MUCH LARGER ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE ARE 66 VACANCIES, AND IN A COURT SYSTEM WHEN THERE'S 20 TO 30 VACANCIES, IT TENDS TO WREAK HAVOC ON THE COURTS IN TERMS OF BACKLOGS OF CASES AND NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE APPROACHING 100,000 BACKLOGGED CASES THAT GO FROM EVERYTHING FROM DIVORCE TO RENTERS, AND LANDLORDS, TO CUSTODY BATTLES.

AND ALL THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, AND ALL THIS IS GETTING PUSHED OUT, STRAINING THE COURTS, TO, YOU KNOW, THE LEGAL COMMUNITY IS SAYING IT'S CATASTROPHIC RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS, PARTICULARLY THE SENATE, WHICH CONFIRMS THESE JUDGES, ONCE THEY'RE NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR NEED TO SIT DOWN AND START MAKING NOMINATIONS.

AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HEARING ABOUT ANYTHING PERCOLATING, AND COMING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, COMING THROUGH THE PIPELINE, WHICH TO THEM IS VERY ALARMING BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING, LOOK, THEY HAVE 66 VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.

SOME PEOPLE ARE RETIRING AT 68 BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST SO TIRED OF THE WORK.

SO THIS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BUMP IT UP, OKAY, IF YOU GOT TO THE BENCH WHEN YOU'RE 65 AND YOU WANT TO BE ON THE BENCH FOR TEN YEARS SO YOU CAN COLLECT YOUR FULL PENSION, MAYBE STAY AROUND UNTIL YOU'RE 75 SO YOU LOOK AT IT AS A GOOD THING.

BUT THE LEGAL COMMUNITY IS SAYING THIS IS WAY TOO LITTLE, WAY TOO LATE, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH BEGGING THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH THESE FOLKS, BEGGING THE GOVERNOR, AND LAWMAKERS TO SIT DOWN AND REALLY GET MOVING ON THIS.

BECAUSE OF THE REAL LIFE EFFECT IT'S HAVING ON NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

>> MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGES ARE STUPID IN MY MIND.

BUT KAREN, YOU HAD -- YOU'VE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER ABOUT THE EXPANDED COVERAGE, HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR UNDOCUMENTED CHILDREN.

I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THE GOVERNOR KIND OF UNDERPLAYS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY IN NEED, AND ARE -- AND OVERPLAYS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY BEING SERVED.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT, WHILE YOU COVER THIS?

>> WELL, THIS WAS AN INTERESTING EXPANSION BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF QUIETLY ROLLED OUT IN THE NEW YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I HAD WRITTEN A STORY ABOUT IT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE GOVERNOR FINALLY HAD HIS PRESS CONFERENCE.

AND MOST ADMINISTRATIONS ARE NOT SHY TO BRAG AND SEND PRESS RELEASES ABOUT THE THINGS THEY HAVE DONE.

IT'S A CURIOUS ROLL OUT OF THE PROGRAM WHEN OTHER STATES DO THIS, DO IT AS WELL SOMETIME THIS MONTH AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT NEED, YOU KNOW, HE -- THIS WAS PART OF AN EXPANSION OF COVER ALL KIDS WHICH BEGAN IN 2021, REACHING UNINSURED ELIGIBLE, BUT UNINSURED CHILDREN, I THINK THE NUMBER WAS 47,000 THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ENROLL.

AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW FIGURE, WHICH IS 16,000 CHILDREN OF -- CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE -- STATUS IN THIS COUNTRY CAN ENROLL IN THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S HUGE.

I THINK THESE ARE LONG-TERM GAINS, LONG-TERM BENEFITS AND WILL REALLY HELP THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

BUT I THINK KEY HERE IS YOU CAN UNDIVIDE THE NEED BUT IT'S HOW DO WE REACH THOSE PEOPLE?

WE TALKED ABOUT TRUST IN GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS BEFORE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT'S THE OUTREACH AND THE EDUCATION THERE IS GOING TO BE PIVOTAL FOR THIS PROGRAM TO ACTUALLY BE A SUCCESS.

>> SOPHIE, YOU HAD AN INTERESTING BILL ON SEXUAL EXTORTION, PARTICULARLY AMONG TEENS AND HOW THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS HOPING TO TRY AND COMBAT THAT.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS A BILL THAT ADVANCED IN THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE, HOMELAND COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE, YESTERDAY.

SO THIS IS A RISING ISSUE.

AND LIKE LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING, THIS IS -- THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING OUR LAWS INTO THE 21st CENTURY.

SO THIS IS A 21st CENTURY ISSUE, FOR SURE.

THERE'S A BIG ISSUE WITH KIDS AND TEENS BEING TARGETED ONLINE BY BAD ACTORS, BEING MANIPULATED INTO SENDING EXPLICIT CONTENT, SEXUAL IMAGES, AND THEN HAVING IT USED AGAINST THEM TO, YOU KNOW, SEEKING MONEY, RUIN THEIR REPUTATION, THREATEN THEM IN SOME WAY.

SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS MAKES IT A THIRD DEGREE CRIME TO DO THAT, SECOND DEGREE IF THE CHILD IS A MINOR, IF IT'S AN ADULT WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AND JUST A FEW DOZEN OTHER STATES HAVE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A NEWER ISSUE.

THE FBI SAID THAT IN BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022 REPORTS OF SEXUAL EXTORTION DOUBLED.

AND IT'S EXTREMELY HIGH AMONG TEENAGE BOYS.

AND THEY'RE EXPECTING IT TO GET HIGHER, PROBABLY AS MORE PEOPLE ARE LOGGING ONLINE.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU TRUST WHO YOU'RE CHATTING WITH.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO COMBAT HERE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> ALL RIGHT, MATT, I'VE GOT JUST A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT FOR THIS QUESTION.

THE GOVERNOR IS SENDING HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, GEORGE HELMY TO THE PORT AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

SHOULD WE READ ANYTHING INTO THAT?

>> UNPRECEDENTED.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, RICH BAGGER, CHRISSIE'S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF WAS APPOINTED TO THE -- MONTHS AFTER HE RESIGNED.

ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS, I MEAN, LOOK, HE'S GETTING HIS FOLKS ON THE BOARD, OR ON THE COMMISSION.

BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS FOR MOST OF HIS FIRST TERM HE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE CONTROL, LIKE MOST GOVERNORS DO, OF THE PORT.

CHRIS CHRISTIE, OLD GUY, OLD PAL, IS -- CONTINUES TO BE THE CHAIRMAN, WAS THE CHAIRMAN THEN AND THIS IS KIND OF FINALLY, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS GETTING REALLY MORE OF HIS PEOPLE MORE CONTROL IN THERE.

AND I FELT THAT -- FIND THAT MOST FASCINATING BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF HARD FEELINGS ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, STEVE SWEENEY, AND KEVIN O'TOOLE WERE WORKING TOGETHER WHEN, YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULD BE THE GOVERNOR TO GET HIS PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY SEGMENT, HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY.

SOPHIE, START US OFF.

>> SURE.

MINE IS A LITTLE MORE -- IT'S GIVING A LITTLE MORE FLOOR -- THAN JERSEY.

IN NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, I BELIEVE, COPS FOUND AN ALLIGATOR THAT WAS ABANDONED IN A PLASTIC BOX CALLED IN BY A GOOD SAMARITAN.

AND IT ENDED UP BEING THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHO PUT THE ALLIGATOR THERE.

THE WHOLE REASON HE ALLEGEDLY ABANDONED THE ALLIGATOR IS BECAUSE HE GOT IT FROM A FRIEND, BROUGHT IT HOME, LIVED WITH HIS PARENTS, AND HIS PARENTS SAID YOU CANNOT HAVE THAT ALLIGATOR HERE.

SO HE ALLEGEDLY STAGED THE WHOLE THING.

A LITTLE HAPPY ENDING FOR THE ALLIGATOR IS THAT HE'S NOW LIVING IN THE CAPE MAY ZOO.

SO THAT IS BEST CASE FOR HIM.

>> MOM, I WANT TO KEEP THE ALLIGATOR.

YOU NEVER LET ME HAVE ANYTHING.

MATT, YOURS IS MINE, I THINK, IT'S THE GOVERNOR WEIGHING IN ON EAGLES/GIANTS THIS WEEKEND.

LET'S LISTEN TO THE SANDWICH YOUR PAL PETE JOHNSON BASED ON WITHOUT CREDITING ME OR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> IMPORTANT FOLLOW UP, CAREFUL HOW YOU ANSWER THIS.

IS IT EAGLES OR GIANTS FOR YOU THIS WEEKEND.

>> DAVID, I KNEW YOU WOULD GO THERE.

I'M STAYING OUT OF IT, PLEASE.

>> YOU ARE KIDDING ME.

>> MATTHEW, NO PROFILES ENCOURAGED THERE, HUH?

>> NO, MASSACHUSETTS MAN DOESN'T TAKE A -- DOESN'T TAKE A STAND.

I'LL SAY, THE ONLY IN JERSEY, IN ALL OF THAT, IS THE RESPONSES, WHICH I WON'T REPEAT ON HERE, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER THAT STORY ARE VERY COLORFUL.

THAT'S VERY JERSEY.

>> THAT WAS IN MORRISTOWN, WHERE THE GOVERNOR SHOWED A GENUINELY JERSEY GIFT FOR SIDESTEPPING THE QUESTION.

ASKED PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION FACING NEW JERSEY THIS WEEK, RATHER THAN BEING THE STATE'S QUARTERBACK, AND BRIDGING THAT GREAT NORTH-SOUTH JERSEY DIVIDE THE GOVERNOR INSTEAD, TO USE A FOOTBALL ANALOGY, FUMBLED, OR TOOK A KNEE, OR SIMPLY CHOSE TO PUNT.

AND THAT'S ROUND TABLE FOR THIS WEEK.

KAREN, SOPHIE, MATT, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANKS ALSO TO PATRICK MURRAY FOR JOINING US.

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON TWITTER AT ROUND TABLENJ AND GET A FIRST LOOK AT ROUND TABLE AND CHAT BOX WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND YOU GET ALL KINDS OF FRESH CONTENT EVERY DAY.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS, THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW JERSEY.

MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJREALTOR.COM.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

ROWAN UNIVERSITY, EDUCATING NEW JERSEY LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES, TRANSFORMING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY "NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE," THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, REPORTING TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.

AND BY POLITICO'S NEW JERSEY PLAYBOOK, A TOPICAL NEWS LETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS, ONLINE AT POLITICO.COM.

♪