COMING UP NEXT, WE REMEMBER THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT 9/11.

ALSO TONIGHT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SIDES WITH MICRON, AND NEW YORK'S SUPERFUND LAW IS STRUCK DOWN.

STAY TUNED FOR THE PROFESSORS OF "IVORY TOWER".

THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER" THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE SARAH PRALLE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY, ALSO OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY NORELL EDWARDS OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE, AND AARON STRONG OF HAMILTON COLLEGE.

THE TERROR-IST ATTACK ON 9/11 IS COUNTED AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS, IN THE LIFETIME OF AMERICANS WHO WERE AT GROUND ZERO OR SAW THE TRAGEDY UNFOLD ON THE NEWS.

TONIGHT, ON "IVORY TOWER" AND THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11, WE REMEMBER WHAT WE SHOULD “NEVER FORGET”.

I RECALL WHERE I WAS WHEN THE TWIN TOWERS CAME DOWN THE STUDENTS WHO CAME INTO MY OFFICE, THE PANIC ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEIR LOVED ONES DIDN'T ANSWER THE PHONE.

I ALSO REMEMBER THE FEELING THAT SOMETHING FUNDAMENTAL IN AMERICAN LIFE HAD JUST CHANGED.

WHAT DO YOU MOST REMEMBER ABOUT 9/11?

AND WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF WHAT HAS CHANGED?

>> YEAH, YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THAT FEELING THAT SOMETHING HAD FUNDAMENTAL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED IS SUCH A GOOD DESCRIPTION.

I WAS A DOCTORAL STUDENT IN PHILADELPHIA AND I LIVED FOUR BLOCKS FROM THE LIBERTY BELL AND THE INDEPENDENCE HALL, AND THAT FEELING OF UNCERTAINTY OF WHERE AND WHEN AND HOW AND WHO WAS PROFOUND.

AND ON THE ONE HAND, THE DAY BROUGHT PHILADELPHIANS TOGETHER.

I STILL REMEMBER THAT NIGHT EVERYBODY PUT CANDLES IN THEIR WINDOWS IN SORT OF MEMORY FOR WHAT HAD BEEN LOST, THE 3,000 LIVES THAT HAD BEEN LOST, THE MANY FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SACRIFICED AND LOST THEIR LIVES, THE BRAVE PEOPLE BUT ALSO THE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY AND I THINK THAT'S SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE LOST IS THAT FEELING OF, I DON'T KNOW, INNOCENCE, FOR A LITTLE MOMENT.

>> INNOCENCE.

SARAH.

>> YEAH, I MEAN I REMEMBER I WAS LIVING IN PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, ACTUALLY, AND VISITED THE SITE A COUPLE WEEKS LATER SO IT WAS REALLY PROFOUND LIKE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WAS HOW MUCH THE WORLD WAS REALLY BEHIND THE UNITED STATES AND SUPPORTIVE, OUR ALLIES, IN FACT, WENT ON TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE, SEND THEIR OWN TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN AND DIED THERE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE TODAY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS JUST ALIENATED A LOT OF THOSE ALLIES AND IS ACTUALLY COZYING UP TO SAUDI ARABIA, WHO WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR SPONSORS OF THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS.

SO THAT KIND OF SHIFT 25 YEARS LATER, IS REALLY PROFOUND.

AND IS SADDENING.

I REMEMBER FEELING REAL SHOCK AND HORROR BUT ALSO DREAD ABOUT WHAT THE RESPONSE WOULD BE FROM THE UNITED STATES.

AND I THINK THAT DREAD WAS WELL FOUNDED, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> SO I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM AND I REMEMBER SEEING THE TWIN TOWERS HIT ON TV AND I WAS TWO WEEKS INTO BEING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND IT WAS A REAL JOLT.

A TOTAL JOLT BEING SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND SO YOUNG.

AND AT THE TIME, I WAS ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERING AFTER SCHOOL TEACHING ENGLISH IN AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM WHERE EVERY SINGLE KID WAS OF MOROCCAN DESCENT.

AS A RURAL KID FROM MAINE, I GREW UP IN MAINE.

I HAD NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO ISLAM AT ALL.

AND TALKING WITH THESE KIDS WHO WERE ABOUT THE SAME AGE AS ME, RIGHT AFTER THOSE EVENTS, WAS REALLY PROFOUND.

IT MADE ME REALLY, REALLY SCARED LATER WHEN I REALIZED HOW VILIFIED MUSLIMS WERE IN THIS DONE COUNTRY.

BECAUSE WHAT I HEARD FROM THOSE KIDS, RIGHT AFTER 9/11 WAS, THEY WERE NOT ANGRY WITH THE WEST.

THEY WERE AS SHOCK AND HORRIFIED AS ANYONE ELSE AND THEY WERE SCARED WHAT EVERYBODY WOULD THINK OF THEM AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THAT DID COME TO PASS.

I ALSO JUST REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS THE LAST TIME WE REALLY HAD A UNIFIED COUNTRY AND THERE IS REAL NOSTALGIA FOR THAT, BUT IT DIDN'T LAST LONG.

A YEAR AND A HALF LATER WE HAD FREEDOM FRIES INSTEAD OF FRENCH FRIES BECAUSE THE FRENCH DIDN'T WANT TO BOMB A COUNTRY THAT SHOE TO DROP.

FOR A WHILE, MY FAMILY FELT LIKE IT WASN'T SAFE TO GO BACK INTO MANHATTAN, INTO THE CITY AND FELT THIS KIND OF LIKE TENSION AND,YOU KNOW, SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY.

AND I THINK FOR ALL OF US, THERE IS, IT CHANGED OUR PERCEPTION OF SAFETY IN THE COUNTRY, RIGHT?

I THINK WE STILL CONTINUE TO FEEL THE AFTERSHOCKS OF THAT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE AARON'S POINT ABOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW OTHERS HAVE BEEN ALIENATED AND THE RISE OF ISLAM PHOBIA IN THIS COUNTRY AS WELL.

>> I SAID INNOCENCE BEFORE BUT I WANT TO TAKE THAT BACK BECAUSE IT WASN'T INNOCENCE.

IT'S NAIVETE.

I THINK THERE WAS A RECOGNITION, AT LEAST FOR ME, IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, OF WHAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE UNITED STATES WAS DOING GLOBALLY.

AND ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THAT WOULD GENERATE THE SORT OF ANIMOSITY AND HATRED FOR AMERICANS; SOME OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND IS FOUNDED.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE MASS SURVEILLANCE STATE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WE NOW HAVE FOLLOWING THE USA PATRIOT ACT, THEVILLEFICATION OF MUSLIMS OR PEOPLE WHO WEAR TURBINES.

I STILL REMEMBER AN INNOCENT SIKH MAN WHO WAS A GAS STATION ATTENDANT WHO LOST HIS LIFE.

>> I REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE HE WAS CONFUSED WITH BEING MUSLIM.

>> THERE WAS A REAL EFFORT TO SQUELCH ANY DEFENSE OR DISSENT OR CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT.

I REMEMBER PEOPLE JUST BEING VERY FEARFUL OF BEING, YOU KNOW, TREATED AS TRAITORS OR CALLED TRAITOR IF THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT ESSENTIALLY EVERYTHING THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION DID.

AND I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF IS A POLITICALLY REPRESSIVE CLIMATE AND YOU SEE DEMOCRATS VOTING FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF WAR IN IRAQ WHO LATER, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY REGRETTED THAT VOTE.

BUT THAT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH FEAR THERE WAS TO REALLY CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT AT ALL.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS AN UNFORTUNATE LEGACY.

>> WELL, THE THING IS, JENNY, THERE WERE INNOCENT VICTIMS, 2977 PEOPLE WERE KILLED THAT DAY BECAUSE OF IDEOLOGY, NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY HAD DONE.

AND TO THE POINT THAT EVERYONE HAS MADE ABOUT THE LASTING CONSEQUENCES, IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S MADE US MORE FEARFUL, IT'S ALSO MADE US MORE WILLING TO SACRIFICE OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, TO TOLERATE MORE OF A MASS SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY.

AARON, YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> I REALLY THINK THE LEGACY OF THIS IS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR BEST WHEN THEY HELP EACH OTHER WHEN THEY RISE TO A CAUSE TOGETHER, WHEN THEY WORK TOGETHER, BUT THAT SOMETIMES OUR LEADERS AND PROPHETTEERS ARE PROFITEERS ARE AT THEIR WORST WHEN THEY PREY ON THAT.

THE HEROES OF 9/11 SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED BECAUSE THEY CAME TO OTHER PEEP'S AID AND THEY FOUGHT HARD TO HELP EACH OTHER AND THAT'S WHEN AMERICANS ARE AT THEIR BEST.

IF WE CAN TAP INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT MOVING FORWARD.

>> I THINK THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE LESSON, IF I WERE TO ASK THAT QUESTION-- WE ARE OUT OF TIME HERE-- BUT IF THE LESSON IS THAT WE HAVE COLLECTIVE INTERESTS AND WE SHOULD, AS YOU SAY, TAP INTO IT, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING TO MAKE AS MUCH OF IT MEANINGFUL AS WE CAN.

WE TURN NOW TO, THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND ITS DEFENSE OF THE MICRON CORPORATION.

IN A LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, THE DEPARTMENT FILED A STATEMENT OF INTEREST THAT CLAIMS, THE SEMI-CONDUCTOR PLANT THAT MICRON IS BUILDING HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, IS ESSENTIAL FOR NATIONAL WEAPONS SYSTEMS, AND THAT DELAYING THE PROJECT DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THREATEN NATIONAL SECURITY, BUT PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE SAY THE PERMITS ISSUED FOR THE PLANT ALLOW POLLUTION OF LOCAL AIR AND WATER.

SO SARAH, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?

AND BOTH SIDES CLAIMS?

>> WELL,I'M A LITTLE PUZZLED AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO THINK OF THIS LAWSUIT.

THE PLAINTIFFS ARE ONE LOCAL GROUP BUT ALSO AN OUTSIDE NON-PROFIT FROM CALIFORNIA THAT IS MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT LABOR AND JOBS ISSUES.

SO IT'S KIND OF CURIOUS WHY THEY'RE ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS.

I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MICRON.

I MEAN ESPECIALLY THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING , THE POTENTIAL CHEMICALS THAT MIGHT GET INTO OUR WATER SYSTEM WITH PFAS CHEMICALS, ET CETERA.

HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE ENERGY WOULD BE BETTER FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT THEY ABIDE BY OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS THAT ARE THERE FOR A REASON, RIGHT?

ONE OF THEM WE FORTUNATELY IN NEW YORK STATE DO REGULATE PFAS CHEMICALS AND THERE IS A BILL UP NOW.

PEOPLE SHOULD CALL IF THEY SUPPORT IT, TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE REGULATIONS MORE STRICT.

SO THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT MICRON LIVES UP TO THE PROMISES THAT IT MADE AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT AND I'M NOT SURE A LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED ON THE DAY THAT THEY BROKE GROUND IS REALLY THAT PRACTICAL OF A WAY TO HANDLE THIS.

SO I'M A LITTLE PUZZLED BY THE WHOLE THING, AND CERTAINLY BY THE D.O.J.

INVOLVEMENT I ASSUME MY PANELISTS WILL TALK ABOUT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TURN AND ASK JENNY ABOUT, THE NATIONAL SECURITY PIECE OF THIS BECAUSE THE D.O.J.

HAS FILED A STATEMENT OF INTEREST, ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT THE JUDGE SHOULD IGNORE THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS AND TO ELEVATE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS OVER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY, AND IT'S NOTEWORTHY BECAUSE THIS IS UNUSUAL, QUITE UNUSUAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO GET INVOLVED IN CASES LIKE THIS.

BUT KIND OF GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD, WE HAVE SEEN AN EXPANSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AROUND NATIONAL SECURITY CLAIMS.

WE'VE SEEN IT AROUND IMMIGRATION.

WE'VE NOW SEEN IT AROUND VOTING AND NOW AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

THE ARGUMENT THE D.O.J.

IS MAKING IS THAT BECAUSE THESE CHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL TO WEAPONRY AND OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS, THAT SUPERCEDES ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS; WHICH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IF NATIONAL SECURITY TRUMPS ALL, THEN THAT MEANS THE EXECUTIVE, THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH BASICALLY DOMINATES EVERY ASPECT OF U.S.

CITIZENRY AND POLITICAL AND CORPORATE LIFE.

>> AND IN A WAY, AARON, THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT IS AT ISSUE HERE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPER INTENDS THE ENVIRONMENT VERSUS THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND IN THIS CASE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP.

>> SO I'M REALLY SICK OF THE HYPOCRISY COMING FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS IN PARTICULAR.

FOR MANY DECADES IT WAS SORT OF UNDERSTOOD THAT CONSERVATIVES WERE GENERALLY OPPOSED TO EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS BECAUSE THEY WOULD SLOW DOWN PROJECTS, BECAUSE THEY WERE SEEN AS RED TAPE AND NOT NECESSARY.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN TWO YEARS AGO, WE STARTED HEARING FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY LOVED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND THEY WERE REOPENING ALREADY FINISHED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS FOR WIND PROJECTS FOR SOLAR PROJECTS FOR ANYTHING THEY DON'T LIKE.

AND SO WHAT I THINK IS REALLY AT STAKE HERE IS A MOCKERY OF THE RULE OF LAW.

WE HAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL RULES OF LAW IN PLACE, THE JUDGE CAN MAKE A RULING ON THIS.

INSERTING THE NATIONAL SECURITY RULE IS AN ATTEMPT TO SUPERCEDE THE "BALANCING ACT" THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN VARIOUS INTERESTS, RIGHT.

FUNDAMENTALLY PEOPLE WANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THEY WANT CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER AND WE CAN HAVE ALL OF THOSE AND WE HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HAVE ALL OF THOSE, RIGHT?

AND JUST THROWING THAT OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, WHICH HAS BECOME EXACTLY WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

BUT THE HYPOCRISY HERE IS UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT AN OFFSHORE WIND FARM AND WE WANT TO REVIEW THAT EXTENSIVELY AND FIND EVERY SINGLE WHALE THAT MIGHT BE BUMPING INTO A WIND TURBINE OUT THERE BECAUSE BY GOLLY WE DON'T LIKE THIS PROJECT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT.

SO WE CAN DO THIS.

WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE.

AND THAT MIGHT MEAN THAT THE JUDGE THROWS THIS OUT.

THAT'S FINE, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS THAT ARE BEING COOKED UP HERE.

>> ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING IS THAT ECONOMIC INTERESTS ARE IN FACT NATIONAL INTERESTS BECAUSE THESE SPECIAL CHIPS ARE NEEDED FOR WEAPONS SYSTEMS, FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND FOR OTHER EVERYDAY ITEMS THAT WE NEED AND SO IN THIS CASE, COULD IT BE ARGUED THAT INDEED THIS IS THE CASE, THAT THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE FOR SETTING ASIDE, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS THAT ARE BEING DEMANDED?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING THIS SORT OF NATIONAL SECURITY IS ECONOMIC SECURITY BECAUSE IT THEN BEGS THE QUESTION ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR WHO?

ECONOMIC SECURITY IN FAVOR OF THE LARGE CORPORATIONS BUT NOT ECONOMIC SECURITY IN TERMS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY SUFFER BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD HAVE REAL MATERIAL,YOU KNOW, IMPACTS FOR THEM IN TERMS OF SORT OF LIKE HEALTHCARE, LONG-TERM IMPACTS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, ELECTRICITY BILLS, ALL OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO IT'S A VERY KIND OF, AGAIN, MAYBE HYPOCRISY AS WELL AS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SHIFT LITTLE GOAL POSTS IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC SECURITY.

>> SARAH IF I COULD COME TO YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME LEFT.

I DO WANT TO COME AT THIS A DIFFERENT WAY AND ASK ABOUT THE $100 BILLION INVESTMENT THAT MICRON IS MAKING INTO THIS AREA WHICH COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE, WHICH IS NEEDED, FOR THIS AREA.

AND ALL OF THE JOBS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT.

SO ISN'T THAT AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION OF WHO IS GOING TO BENEFIT?

CENTRAL NEW YORK WILL.

>> WELL ALL OF THESE THINGS INVOLVE TRADE-OFFS, RIGHT?

SO, YES, I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE REAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE AREA, AND HONESTLY, I THINK IF THIS HAD TAKEN PLACE NOW, PEOPLE WOULD BE REALLY OPPOSED TO IT PARTLY BECAUSE OF ALL THE OPPOSITION TO A.I.

DATA CENTERS AND THERE IS A FEELING IN THIS COUNTRY THAT THINK, YOU KNOW, HOSTILITY A LITTLE BIT TO THESE LARGE TECH COMPANIES.

SO IN SOME SENSE MICRON IS LUCKY THEY DID THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

BUT I GUESS I WOULD COME BACK, TOO, TO THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN PLACE.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO ENFORCE THEM AND MAKE SURE MICRON LIVES UP TO ITS PROMISES OF THINGS USING RENEWABLE ENERGY, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT?

OF REDOING WETLANDS, RIGHT?

THEY'RE DESTROYING 200 ACRES OF WETLANDS BUT THEY'RE REBUILDING THEM ELSEWHERE.

SOMETIMES THAT WORKS.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT SO DONE VERY WELL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DO WELL.

ONE LAST THING ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY THING.

IT'S A PRETEXT.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS SELLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN MADE A.I.

CHIPS TO SAUDI ARABIA AND THE U. ARIGHT, THESE ARE COUNTRIES WITH STRONG TIES TO CHINA.

IF HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

>> AND MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT WE ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO PRODUCING THESE CHIPS AND YET SELLING THEM ELSEWHERE.

IT IS A BALANCING ACT AND WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GETS BALANCED OUT IN THE END.

BUT AS YOU SAID, SARAH, THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN.

SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.

NEW YORK STATE'S CLIMATE “SUPERFUND” LAW WAS RECENTLY STRUCK DOWN BY A FEDERAL JUDGE.

THE LAW REQUIRED ENERGY COMPANIES TO HELP PAY FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT ARE TIED TO FOSSIL FUELS.

THE JUDGE RULED THAT THE LAW CLASHED WITH FEDERAL LAW BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY IT WAS MODELED AFTER THE FEDERAL SUPERFUND LAW.

MEANWHILE OPPONENTS SAY IT PUNISHED BUSINESSES FOR OTHERWISE LAWFUL CONDUCT.

AARON, WHO'S RIGHT IN HIS FIGHT?

>> THE JUDGE IS NOT RIGHT IN THIS FIGHT AND THAT'S BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS DOING REAL MATERIAL HARM TO NEW YORK STATE IN NEW YORK STATE THAT NEW YORKERS ARE SUFFERING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE FROM EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT ARE CAUSED BY FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTION.

THE SUPER FUND, NEW YORK STATE CLIMB SUPER FUND LAW IS A POLLUTER'S PAY LAW.

WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT CLIMATE POLLUTION CAUSES REAL DAMAGE AND THOSE WHO ARE CAUSING THE CLIMATE POLLUTION NEED TO PAY $75 BILLION OVER 25 YEARS.

THAT'S A TRACTION OF THE DAMAGE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS DOING TO OUR STATE.

AND THE SCIENCE IS VERY CLEAR.

WE CAN ATTRIBUTE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTION.

AND SAYING THAT IT IS SUPERCEDED BY THE FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT IS A BIT IRONIC RIGHT NOW WHEN WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT, THROUGHOUT THE ENDANGERMENT FINDING OF THE E.P.A.

AND SAID THE CLEAN AIR ACT DOES NOT NEED TO REGULATE HARMFUL GREENHOUSE POLLUTION WHEN THE SCIENCE SAYS THE EXACT OPPOSITE THERE IS AN IRONY WHEN IT SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TAKING THE LEAD ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS WHAT THE JUDGE IS SAYING.

AND THE HARM NEW YORKERS ARE DEALING WITH EXTREME FLOODS, SMOKE INHALATION, TICK BORN ILLNESSES, SEA LEVEL RISE.

PEOPLE'S HOMES ARE BEING DESTROYED, CROPS ARE FAILING AND THAT IS ENTIRELY BECAUSE OF FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTION AND THIS IS A MISREADING OF THE FEDERAL STATE BREAKDOWN HERE IT.

>> IT IS NOT NEW YORK BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT IS IMPACTED BY FOSSIL FUELS AND HENCE THE FEDERAL JUDGE'S ARGUMENT THIS HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN AN AREA THAT IS SUPER INTENDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT IF IT IS NOT JUST NEW YORK STATE.

>> STATES HAVE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION.

THIS IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM, BUT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ARE BEING FELT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THE LOCAL HARMS.

AND ESSENTIALLY, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING LIKE A. NEW YORK TAXPAYERS OF NEW YORK STATE HAVE TO PAY WITH THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR FOSSIL FUEL ECONOMY KEPT IN PLACE BY THE LARGE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES THAT HAVE KNOWN FOR SIDE OF THIS AND SAY THAT WE KEEP THOSE CORPORATIONS IN BUSINESS, RIGHT, THE COLLECTIVE PUBLIC, AND SO TO AN AN EXTENT WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM.

WHY NOT MAKE REMEDIATION ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS OPPOSED TO FOCUSING ON BIG CORPORATIONS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING THE ECONOMIC STRUGGLES OF EVERYDAY AMERICANS, RIGHT, I MEAN I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE, PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY CAN ADD ANOTHER THING TO THEIR PLATE.

HOWEVER, I DO THINK IT MAKES SENSE RIGHT, THAT THIS IS HISTORICALLY SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAYBE THEN, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT, WHO WILL?

HOW WILL WE FIND OTHER WAYS OF RAISING THIS REVENUE?

IF YOU SAY THE STATES CAN'T DO IT, THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS NOT STATES RIGHTS NOW, ENVIRONMENTALISM IS NOT A STATES RIGHT ISSUE, FINE.

GIVE THEM ANOTHER OPTION HOW TO GENERATE REVENUE NOT ON THE BACKS OF TAXPAYERS.

>> QUICKLY.

>> I WANT TO SAY IT DISAPPOINTS ME THIS IS A PARTISAN ISSUE.

IT WAS REPUBLICAN A.G.S WHO BROUGHT THIS AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS AFFECTING ALL OF US FULL STOP NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADEBOOKS, STARTING WITH F'S SO SARAH.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP LIKES TO PROJECT DOMINANCE, BUT LATELY HE JUST LOOKS DESPERATE AND DELUDED.

THIS WAS ON FULL DISPLAY THIS WEEK AT THE G.O.P.

MID TERM CONVENTION WHICH GETS MY F THIS WEEK.

THE CONVENTION WAS THE BRAIN CHILD OF A PRESIDENT WHO DOES NOT SEEM TO GRASP THE FACT THAT HE IS HISTORICALLY UNPOPULAR AND IS HURTING NOT HELPING HIS PARTY BY THROWING A BIG PARTY FOR HIMSELF.

HE TRIED TO BRIBE VOTERS BY PROMISING TO SEND $5,000 TO EVERY CITIZEN IF REPUBLICANS KEEP CONTROL OVER HOUSE AND SENATE.

SOME REPUBLICAN BUDGET HAWKS CALLED IT A GIMMICK THAT SMACKED OF SOCIALISM.

>> MY F GOES TO THE UNREGULATED A.I.

COMPANIES ADVANCING EVER MORE DANGEROUS A.I.

MODELS FOR COMMERCIAL GAIN.

ANTHROPIC RESEARCHER ON TUESDAY QUIT IN PROTEST.

THE A.I.

COMPANIES ARE IN AN ESCALATING RACE TO SEE WHO CAN GET SUPER INTELLIGENCE THAT, WHILE TELLING THEMSELVES THAT ONLY THEIR COMPANY WILL BUILD A.I.

TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

BUT MANY WORKERS WITHIN THESE COMPANIES SEE THAT THEY'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE.

A.I., AN INDUSTRY THAT CAN'T TRUST ITSELF TO PUT THE MATCH DOWN SHOULD NOT BE THE ONE DECIDING WHEN TO STOP IT.

>> F TO THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL'S IMPACT ON SNAP BENEFITS ESTIMATED BETWEEN MAY 2025 AND 2026 THAT 5 MILLION FAMILIES LOST BEN BENEFITS AND THIS COULD EXTEND TO THE SCHOOL YEAR TO SCHOOL MEAL PLANS.

FLORIDA'S BIGGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MIAMI COUNTY WILL ONLY HAVE 121 OF ITS 500 SCHOOLS ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE MEALS WHEREAS BEFORE ALL 500 SCHOOLS WERE ABLE TO OFFER FREE MEALS TO STUDENTS.

>> AARON.

>> SO MY F GOES TO ALL THESE WARS.

BACK IN 2002 WHEN GEORGE W. BUSH LED US INTO WAR IN IRAQ, BARACK OBAMA SAID I DON'T OPPOSE ALL WARS.

WHAT I'M OPPOSED TO IS A DUMB WAR.

WHAT I'M OPPOSED TO IS A RASH WAR.

FLASH FORWARD TO 2026, THE WAR ON IRAN IS A DUMB, RASH WAR THAT NOBODY WANTS AND NOBODY LIKES AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY WE MIRED OURSELVES IN ANOTHER CONFLICT.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

THE TRADE WAR WITH CANADA IS NOT SMART POLICY.

IT'S EGO AND BRA VOD OWE RUNNING ROUGHSHOD OVER PEEP'S BUSINESSES AND LIVES.

COUNT ME HAPPILY OPPOSED TO ALL THESE DUMB WARS.

>> QUICKLY TO THE TABLE WITH GOOD NEWS.

>> MY A GOES TO THE BILLIONSTER" PROJECT, A NON-PROFIT NEW YORK CITY THAT IS RESTORINGR BY USING WASTEDSTER" SHELLS FROM CITY RESTAURANTS.

THESE OFFER A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.

THEY'RE FILTER FEEDERS, SO THEY SERVE AS NATURAL WATER FILTERS, CREATE HABITAT AND PROTECT THE SHORELINE FROM STORM SURGE.

>> ON TO JENNY QUICKLY.

>> MY A GOES TO CONGRESS FOR BRIDGING THE PARTISAN DIVIDE TO TEMPORARILY BLOCK AN EFFORT TO INFUSE PARTISANSHIP INTO THE FEDERAL GRANT MAKING PROCESS.

THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE BEEN FELT BROADLY AND 170,000 PUBLIC COMMENTS AGAINST AN EFFORT TO PARTISAN BASICALLY DRIVE PARTISANSHIP AND GRANT MAKING SAYS IT HAS TO STOP.

>> ADELANI BRUNCH FOR HIS TENURE AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN.

>> BACK TO SCHOOL HEROES, TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, CROSSING GUARDS, COACHES CUSTODIANS AND SCHOOL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU.

>> THAT'S A WRAP FOR US HERE IN THE STUDIO TONIGHT BEFORE WE GO, A SHOUT OUT TO ROGER, WHO WROTE TO SHARE HIS SHOTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND ALSO TO ROBIN WHO VOTE TO GIVE AN A PLUS TO "IVORY TOWER" FOR THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION RESPECTFUL DISAGREEMENT AND A CHANCE TO HEAR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

HER WORDS NOT MINE, WE'D ALSO LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN, IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER" HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.