IT'S NOT CAMELOT, BUT RFK, JUNIOR IS TURNING SOME HEADS.

A NEW YORK BILL TO ALLOW MEDICAL AID IN DYING AND HAM OFF THE BONE •SHOULD "CULTIVATED" MEAT BE BANNED?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

ON THE PANEL TONIGHT WE HAVE TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY, AND JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME IS AARON STRONG, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AT HAMILTON COLLEGE.

WELCOME IS TO THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I'M GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

RFK, JUNIOR IS HAVING A MOMENT.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST TURNED VACCINE SKEPTIC TURNED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS POLLING AROUND 10% IN A RACE AGAINST BIDEN AND TRUMP.

KENNEDY RECENTLY CHOSE A WEALTHY LAWYER AS HIS RUNNING MATE AND COULD USE HER MONEY TO HELP GET ON THE BALLOT IN MORE STATES.

LAST WEEKEND, KENNEDY SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN IS A BIGGER THREAT TO DEMOCRACY THAN DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE'S "WEAPONIZED" THE FEDERAL AGENCIES TO CENSOR OPPOSING VOICES.

HOW SERIOUSLY SHOULD EITHER CANDIDATE TAKE KENNEDY-HE WON'T GET ELECTED PRESIDENT BUT CAN HE DETERMINE WHO DOES?

>> HE ABSOLUTELY COULD, PARTIALLY BECAUSE HIS VIEWS SEEM TO PULL A LITTLE FROM TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND PULL A LITTLE FROM BIDEN SUPPORTERS SO HE ABSOLUTELY COULD BE A THREAT IN AN ELECTION THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A VERY THIN MARGIN.

ONE OF THE THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT HIS VIEWS IN TERMS OF BENEFITING TRUMP, HURTING BIDEN IS THE FACT THAT-- VICE VERSA, BENEFITING BIDEN AND HURTING TRUMP IS THAT HE IS VERY PRO-ISRAEL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HE HAS MADE STATEMENTS LIKE PALESTINIANS ARE PAMPERED BY INTERNATIONAL AID ORGANIZATIONS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE HIS ANTI-VACCINE VIEWS.

HE CALLS HIMSELF A POPULOUS BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE SAID ONE OF THE WAYS TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE CHANGE IS THROUGH CAPITALISM.

HE HAS VIEWS THAT FLUCTUATE ON BOTH SIDES AND DEPENDING ON HOW HE PRESENTS HIMSELF AND HOW HIS SUPPORTERS PRESENT THEMSELVES, HE COULD PULL ENOUGH SUPPORTS FROM EITHER CANDIDATE TO AFFECT THE ELECTION.

>> I AGREE WITH TARA, HE IS LIKE A MEDIOCRE DEMOCRAT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A PRINCIPLED STANCE ON ANYTHING.

IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE BUT IT WORKS FOR HIM.

THERE IS NOT MUCH HE HAS SAID ABOUT MANY IMPORTANT THINGS.

HE COMES IN FAVOR OF ISRAEL AND IN FAVOR OF PALESTINIAN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE MADE SOMETHING ABOUT PEDDLING LIES, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT VACCINES HELP AND RESEARCHERS CAME OUT AND SAID HE IS BASESALLY LYING.

BUT HE COULD BE, AS YOU ARE SAYING, AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFENDER IN THE SENSE OF PULLING OUT VOTES FROM BOTH CAMPS AND THAT HAS BEEN PANNING OUT THROUGH ANECDOTAL REPORTS AND THE POLL THAT PUTS BIDEN AT 38, TRUMP AT 39 AND RFK AT 13.

THAT'S NEAR ABOUT ROSS PEROT LEVELS FROM 1996, 1992.

SO HE MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM BOTH VOTES BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN UNPOPULAR THING TO SAY.

I DON'T THINK BIDEN NEEDS MUCH HELP FROM OTHERS AS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HIS OWN PARTY IS CALLING HIM GENOCIDAL JOE.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

>> HE, BIDEN, HAS PROBLEMS AND KENNEDY COULD PULL FROM HIM.

AARON.

>> I MAY BE THE NEW FACE HERE ON "IVORY TOWER," BUT I'M OLD IN YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER 1992 WITH ROSS PEROT, WHO PULLED 19% OF THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE.

THAT'S ABOVE WHERE RFK IS PULLING RIGHT NOW AND MY HOME STATE OF MAINE, ROSS PEROT CAME IN SECOND PLACE AND GOT 30% OF THE VOTE.

WE LIKE TO REMEMBER ROSS PEROT AS SOMEONE WHO HELPED RUIN GEORGE H.W.

BUSH'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN AND PULLED VOTES FROM THE RIGHT, BUT A LOT OF THE EVIDENCE SAYS THAT ROSS PEROT PULLED 20% LIBERALS, 50% MODERATES AND 30% FROM CONSERVATIVES.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT KIND OF COALITION IS RSK GOING TO PULL TOGETHER HE PULL CULLS HIMSELF N ENVIRONMENTALIST BUT HE APPOINTED A CAMPAIGN MANAGER WHO IS A CLIMATE DENIER AND ALSO WAS A VOCAL OPPONENT OF BIDEN EESES INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WHICH MANY ANALYSTS AND I AGREE, IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS THAT WE CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE MOST IMPACTFUL CLIMATE LEGISLATION WE'VE EVER HAD.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU AARON BECAUSE YOU ARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST AND RFK, JR. HAS A PRETTY STRONG RECORD.

WASN'T HE ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF RIVER KEEPERS PRESERVING THE HUDSON RIVER AND HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH WHAT YOU SEE NOW.

>> WE TEND TO LIKE TO THINK THAT ALL ENVIRONMENTALISTS THINK THE SAME WAY THE RFK HAS A TRACK RECORD OF HAVING CLEAN WATER AND I RESPECT THE WORK HE DID ON THAT BUT RIGHT NOW THE BIGGEST EMERGENCY WE ARE FACING IS THE CLIMATE CRISIS IF YOU ARE COMING UP AND OPPOSING A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S MAKING A SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCE IN THAT AND APPOINTING CLIMATE DENIERS ON YOUR CAMPAIGN TEAM, THAT DOESN'T HARKEN THAT YOU ARE READY TO ADDRESS THESE BIG CRISES RIGHT NOW.

NOT ALL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME.

YOU CAN BE IN FAVOR OF CLEAN WATERS BUT TOTALLY WRONG ON CLIMATE.

>> RICK.

>> I THINK A GOOD ARGUMENT CAN BE MADE BOTH SIDES AS TO WHETHER HE IS GOING TO HURT BIDEN OR TRUMP.

IF YOU LOOK AT HIS WEBSITE, IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF HIS POLICIES FLR LINE WITH DEMOCRATS, MINIMUM WAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AGAIN, THE ONE THAT'S KIND OF UP IN THE AIR IS THE ABORTION ISSUE BECAUSE HE HAS HAD, FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, A PROABORTION STANCE, BUT THEN HE WENT IN AN INTERVIEW AND SAID HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A 15-WEEK BAN.

AND HE TRIED TO BACKTRACK.

I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO WHETHER HEEM ARE ATTRACTED TO THE ANTI-VAX ARGUMENTS HE MAKES OR WHETHER THEY DELVE MORE INTO SOME OF THE OTHER POLICIES AS TO WHO HE IS GOING TO HELP MORE.

>> AND GET BEYOND POLICY, I MEAN HE SEEMS TO BE A GUY WHO HAS EMBRACED OVER TIME, A LOT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

AND I IMAGINE THAT THE OTHER CANDIDATES, WHILE CERTAINLY BIDE BIDEN, MAYBE NOT TRUMP ARE GOING TO HIT HIM HARD AND DREDGE ALL THIS STUFF UP.

>> TRUMP ISN'T GOING TO BECAUSE HE IS USING THOSE CONSPIRACY THEORIES TO FUEL HIS OWN BASE.

SO I THINK IF SOMEONE IS A CONSPIRACY THEORIST, THEY'VE GOT A TOUGH CALL THIS FALL.

WHO WOULD I VOTE FOR?

KENNEDY OR TRUMP?

>> AND SOMETIMES THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES DO HAVE PURCHASE FOR A LARGER BASE THAT I THINK IS POLITICALLY BENEFICIAL FOR RFK TO SOME EXTENT, BUT POLICY DECISIONS WHEN PRESSED TO SAY THINGS ABOUT MEDICAID AND WHATEVER, HE SLITHERED AWAY.

HE DOESN'T HAVE PRINCIPLED STANCE.

>> HE SAID BIDEN WAS A BIGGER THREAT TO DEMOCRACY THAN TRUMP.

AND BASICALLY... >> HE SAID I CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT.

HE TRIED TO BACKTRACK ON THAT WHICH IS VERY FUN AGREE HE BACKTRACKED ON SUPPORTING THE RIOTERS, THE JANUARY 6 RIOTERS.

HE ISSUED A CAMPAIGN STATEMENT YESTERDAY BASICALLY SAYING THAT THE RIOTERS SHOULD BE LUMPED TOGETHER WITH THE FIGHT THE POWER, FIGHT THE SYSTEM KIND OF FOLKS AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THAT PLAYS BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF PLAYING TO TRUMP'S BASE, RIGHT?

>> OKAY.

NOW... FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE SESSION OF THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE, A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO ALLOW TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE TO END THEIR OWN LIVES.

THE MEDICAL AID IN DYING ACT IS CURRENTLY IN COMMITTEE.

THE BILL HAS CERTAIN "GUARDRAILS" DESIGNED TO PREVENT ABUSE, INCLUDING THAT THE DYING PERSON MUST BE MENTALLY COMPETENT, REQUEST THE LETHAL PRESCRIPTION AND BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER IT THEMSELF.

A SIENNA COLLEGE POLL LAST FALL FOUND 58% OF NEW YORKERS SUPPORT MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

BUT THE BILL ALSO FACES VOCAL OPPOSITION FROM THE CATHOLIC CONFERENCE AND DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES.

SO AARON, SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE PASS THE BILL?

>> YES, IT SHOULD.

SO ONCE AGAIN I MAY BE THE NEW FACE ON "THE IVORY TOWER" BUT I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE LATE 1990s WHEN OREGON BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO ADOPT THE DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT IN 197.

AND THIS WAS A TIME IN MEDICAL AID IN DYING WAS IN THE NEWS BECAUSE OF Dr. JACK KEVORKIAN ARRESTED AND CONVICTED FOR MURDERING PEOPLE.

HE HAD VIEWS ON MEDICAL AID IN DYING THAT WENT FAR BEYOND THE GUARD RAILS WE ARE SEEING IN THE LAWS AND HE WAS SEEN AS RADICAL.

THE REASON WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THIS THE LAST 25 YEARS IS THAT THE SKY HASN'T FALLEN.

10 STATES HAVE NOW PASSED THE DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT.

WE DON'T SEE AN EPIDEMIC OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GOING AND SIGNING UP FOR MEDICAL AID IN DYING.

AND WHAT WE DO SEE IS THAT A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE RAL REALLY HAD THE DIGNITY AND CARE THAT THEY NEEDED AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES.

I DO THINK WE NEED DIGNITY AND CARE THROUGHOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AS WELL BUT THAT'S ANOTHER TOP GLICK.

>> THAT SIENNA POLL I MENTIONED IF YOU DIG INTO THE CROSS TABS, CATHOLICS, 57% OF CATHOLICS SUPPORT THIS ACT YET THE CATHOLIC CONFERENCE, OF COURSE, IS STAUNCHLY OPPOSED TO THIS.

TARA, WHY-- WHY DO YOU THINK WE SEE THAT DIFFERENCE THERE BETWEEN SORT OF THE OFFICIAL CHURCH POSITION AND WHAT THE CHURCH GOERS ARE SAYING?

>> WELL, THE TYPICAL CHURCH POSITION IS BASED ON, BASICALLY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF BASICALLY CANNON LAW AND CANNON POLICY OVER THE MANY YEARS AND THAT POLICY VALUES LIFE AT ALL STAGES.

WHEREAS THE TYPICAL CATHOLIC, BASICALLY REFLECK REFLECTS THE SOCIETY THEY'VE GROWN UP IN, A SOCIETY THAT LOOKS MORE AT QUALITY OF LIFE RATHER THAN JUST VALUING ALL LIFE AT ALL TIMES.

YOU SEE SORT OF SIMILAR NUMBERS IN TERMS OF ABORTION.

AND SO THAT IS THE DICHOTOMY.

HAVE BEEN IT'S THAT THAT CONFUSES PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, IF YOU HAVE THIS 65% OF CATHOLICS WHO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, AID IN DYING, ET CETERA, WHY DOESN'T THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SO TO SPEAK FOLLOW ITS MEMBERS?

THE CHURCH IS FOLLOWING BASICALLY POLICY BASED, AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED, BASED ON THE BIBLE.

>> IT'S A BASIC VALUE, THE SANCTITY OF LIFE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND THAT IS THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP EACH PERSON HAS WITH GOD.

>> EXACTLY.

>> I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS BUT DO I HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

AND THE FIRST IS THAT IT APPARENTLY TAKES ONE DOCTOR TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION THAT SOMEONE HAS A DIAGNOSIS OF LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE AND THAT THEY'RE MEDICALLY COMPETENT.

IF YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL-- I MEAN IN MANY MEDICAL SITUATIONS, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE ASKED FOR SECOND OPINIONS.

I THINK IT MIGHT ALLAY SOME PEOPLE'S FEARS IF WE HAD A SECOND DOCTOR WHO HAD TO QUALIFY.

THIS THE OTHER THING IS HOW ACCURATE ARE THESE MEDICAL DIAGNOSES.

HOW OFTEN DOES SOMEONE GET DIAGNOSED AS HAVING LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE AND THEY, IN FACTS, LIVE LONGER THAN THAT?

INTERESTINGLY, AS AARON SAID, OREGON HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE 1990S AND THEY FIND VERY FEW OF THE 350 PEOPLE WHO HAD PRECIPITATIONS IN 2022, ONLY 16 ENDED UP LIVING LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS.

SO AT LEAST THAT PART OF MY CONCERN SEEMS TO BE ALLAYED.

>> THE BIGGEST PUSH BACK AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON MANY POINTS, THE BIGGEST PUSH BACK COMING FROM HERE FOR ASSISTED DYING ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED ASSISTED LIVING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CANADA RECORD, IN 2019 CANADA EXPANDED TO SAYING THESE DATES DON'T HAVE TO BE REASONABLY ENFORCEABLE.

MANY DISABILITY ADVOCATES HAVE COME OUT WITH HARSH OPINIONS SAYING IT IS LIKE A NAZI LAW AGAINST JEWS AND IT CREATES POWER INCENTIVE ACTORS FOR ROGUE ACTORS TO STEER PEOPLE TOWARDS AN OPTION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

NOW THERE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, I CAN SEND THE VIEWERS, IF THEY WRITE TO ME, ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PERSON, NOT GIVING THEM A RAMP TO USE BUT WAS QUITE WILLING TO ALLOW HIM FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE.

A LOT OF THIS IS SAYING, AS A ECONOMIST YOU MIGHT AGREE, IT CREATES POWER FORCE INCENTIVES.

SOME PEOPLE ARE TOLD THEY HAVE SIX MONTHS TO LIVE BUT THEY LIVE FOR THREE OR FOUR MORE YEARS.

MEDICAL SCIENCE IS NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE SO I'M CONFLICTED BECAUSE OF THE FACT ONE SHOULD HAVE DIGNITY IN DEATH BUT AT THE SAME TIME THIS SEEMS TO BE, CAN BE A POLICY NIGHTMARE.

AND AGAIN 16 PEOPLE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE DEATH IS IRREVERSIBLE.

16 IS A VERY SERIOUS NUMBER OUT OF 340, RIGHT?

BUT THIS IS NOT A RADICAL POSITION.

IF YOU ARE IN NEW YORK STATE RIGHT NOW LOOK AGO CROSS THE HUDSON VALLEY AT NEW JERSEY, YOU CAN GO THERE AND HAVE DEATH WITH DIGNITY AND MEDICAL AID IN DYING IN NEW JERSEY.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING ACROSS LAKE CHAMPLAIN, YOU CAN GO TO VERMONT AND DO THIS.

WE HAVE 10 STATES THAT HAVE ADOPTED THIS AND A DOZEN MORE CONSIDERING IT, RIGHT?

WE KNOW THIS WORKS.

WE KNOW THAT THESE SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE AND THAT IT REALLY, REALLY DOES HELP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES KNOW THAT THEY CAN DIE WITH DIGNITY.

TO ME IT'S NOT A RADICAL POLICY.

WE'VE SEEN IT AND IT WORKS.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S RADICAL BUT I DO THINK THAT THE CONCERNS OF DISABILITY ACTIVISTS, DISABILITY GROUP ACTIVISTS IS QUITE FAIR IN SAYING THAT IT MIGHT CREATE PERVERSE INCENTIVE FOR MANY PEOPLE TO STEER PEOPLE TOWARDS DEATH RATHER THAN ACTUALLY HELPING THEM LIVE A DIGNIFIED LIFE AND THIS BRUTAL LOGIC OF CAPITALISM.

IF YOU ARE DISABLED, YOU HAVE A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF TAKING YOUR LIFE.

>> NOT ONLY DISABLED.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A TERMINAL UNCURABLE DISEASE WITH LESS THAN SIX MONTHS.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, CONFUSING THINGS BY THROWING THAT IN THERE.

>> IT'S OFTEN BEEN SAID THAT LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES ARE THE BEST.

ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE IS SITTING DOWN AT A BAR FOR A BURGER AND A BEER.

THE BEER UTICA CLUB, THE BURGER MEDIUM RARE.

BUT MEAT GROWN IN A PETRI DISH •.WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

THE FDA HAS APPROVED LAB-GROWN CHICKEN, BUT NOW REPUBLICANS IN SEVEN STATES HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS TO BAN "CULTIVATED MEAT."

THE LAB GROWN VARIETY COULD PROVIDE PROTEIN FOR A HUNGRY WORLD, AND IT HAS CLIMATE BENEFITS AS WELL.

RICK SHOULD NEW YORK JOIN THIS BANDWAGON AND SAY KEEP YOUR CELL-CULTURED FOOD PRODUCT OUT OF OUR STORES?

>> NO, THEY SHOULDN'T BUT LET ME BACK UP.

FIRST, THE CURRENT METHOD OF PRODUCING MEAT AND BEEF IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

AND SO ANYTHING THAT COULD REDUCE THE DAMAGE OF DOING THIS, I THINK, WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT, UC DAVIS STUDY SHOWED THAT CURRENTLY THE PRODUCTION OF THE CULTURED MEAT IS ACTUALLY WORSE AND PRODUCES MORE DAMAGE AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE INEFFICIENCY OF DOING THIS.

RIGHT NOW IT'S COMPARED TO ACTUALLY PRODUCING PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS IN TERMS OF THE HIGH LEVEL ENERGY USE BUT OFTEN WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE TO DO THE TECHNOLOGY FIRST.

CAN WE DO THIS?

AND THEN YOU START WORKING ON HOW TO MAKE IT COMMERCIALLY VIABLE FSM YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE EARLY SOLAR PANELS, THEY WERE ASTRONOMICALLY EXPENSIVE AND MADE NO SENSE.

BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER TIME, WE'VE GOTTEN IT DOWN SO THAT WHERE IT IS AN EFFECTIVE IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF PRODUCING ENERGY.

AND I THINK THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF BEEF.

>> WE CAN'T DO IT AT SCALE YET?

>> NOT YET, NO.

AND SO WE ARE WAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

WHY WOULD YOU BAN SOMETHING WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHETHER IT CAN BE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE OR NOT?

>> AARON, WHAT ABOUT-- RICK JUST MENTIONED, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT OF THIS?

>> SURE.

SO 17% OF GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION COMES FROM ANIMAL AGRICULTURAL, IT'S TRUE BUT AS A CLIMATE SCIENTIST, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE SOLUTION WE SHOULD BE ADVOCATING FOR.

IT'S NOT SCALABLE YET BUT THE REAM PROBLEM IS IF WE FOCUS ON TECHNO FIXES TO GET US OUT OF OUR PROBLEMS, WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON THE SOLUTIONS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WHICH IS GETTING RID OF FOSSIL FUELS AND REPLACING FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY SYSTEM WITH ANOTHER ENERGY SYSTEM F. REPUBLICANS WANT TO FOCUS BANNING LAB GROWN MEAT, THEY SHOULD FOCUS MORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE BUT FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE FOOD THAT'S IN OUR SCHOOLS, RIGHT?

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURRENT LUNCH MENU IN MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS.

CHICKEN NUGGETS, CHEESE BUGGERS, MOZZARELLA STICKS AND PIZZA PART OF THE STANDARD AMERICAN DIET, THE ACRONYM FOR WHICH IS SAD.

THIS IS NOT HEALTHY FOOD.

WE SHOULD FOCUS ON GETTING HEALTHY FOOD IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE TRACTABLE RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BAN LAB GROWN MEAT AND MAYBE IT WILL BECOME THE NEXT SOLAR PANEL BUT SHOULD NOT ADDICT OURSELVES TO TECHNO FIXES TO GET OUT OF THIS PROBLEM.

>> ASIDE FROM CLIMATE, JUST THE ANIMALS.

RIGHT NOW, I LIKE MY BURKER.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY CLEAR.

BUT THERE IS AN ANIMAL RIGHTS ASPECT TO THIS, IS THERE NOT?

>> SURE.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE WAY THE ANIMALS ARE BUTCHERED, QUARTERED OR KEPT IS INOUYE MAIN, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF MEAT EATING AS A MEAT EATING CULTURE, INDUSTRIALIZING MEAT.

THAT'S THE SIDE NOTE OF THAT.

PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT AN INDUSTRY THAT DOES NOT EVEN EXIST.

THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THROWING CONSPIRATORIAL RED MEAT TO THEIR BASE SO THEY CAN CHEW ON IT AGAINST ENVIRONMENTALISM AND SOCIALISM.

GOOD OPIUM FOR THE MASSES, RIGHT?

BUT ON THE WHOLE THOUGH I FEEL THAT THIS IS STRANGE, RIGHT?

IT IS LIKE OKAY, YOU ARE TELLING ME WHAT KIND OF MEAT I CAN OR CANNOT EAT.

SO YOU ARE BEING THE CONSERVATIVE NAN ESTATE.

TELL ME THAT YOU ARE A CONSERVATIVE NAN ESTATE.

NOW YOU CAN SANCTION WHO CAN BE PREGNANT, WHO CAN EAT WHAT KIND OF MEAT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH BUT BROADLY SPEAKING IN FUTURE, I CAN SEE A POLITICAL ECONOMIC FIGHT THAT LIKE IN ITALY WHERE THEY HAD BANNED BECAUSE OF THE FARMING LOBBY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S POLITICAL, RIGHT?

REMEMBER GEORGE WASHINGTON, BEN FRANKLIN, THEY CANDLES FROM SPERM WHALES.

WE MOVED INTO PARAFFIN CANDLES, ARE WE GOING TO CRY BOO HOO AND GET PARANOID ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S STUPID.

>> FOLLOW UP ON THAT?

EXACTLY.

I AGREEY WITH ANIRBAN THIS IS BASICALLY ABOUT POLITICS.

AND THIS IS COMING ABSOLUTELY IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

SO LET'S PULL IN THE FARMERS.

AND LET'S MAKE THEM AFRAID THAT THESE TWO OR THREE FACTORIES THAT ACTUALLY DO THIS ARE REALLY GOING TO THREATEN THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

THE OTHER POINT, THOUGH, THAT I THINK IS A REAL POINT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME IS WE REALLY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HOW WELL THIS IS GOING TO WORK, WHAT IMPACT THIS MAY HAVE ON HUMAN SYSTEM LONG-TERM, YOU KNOW, EATING A LOT OF THIS CULTIVATED MEAT.

AND SO IN A SENSE, HUMAN BEINGS RIGHT NOW ARE BEING TREATED AS GUINEA PIGS TO SEE HOW WELL THIS IS GOING TO WORK, IF IT WILL HAVE ANY SORT OF LONG-TERM IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

SO IN THAT SENSE, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO SORT OF TAKE A STEP BACK, SEE HOW IT WORKS, SEE HOW PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO EAT THIS TYPE OF MEAT, YOU KNOW, DO THEY LIKE IT, DOES IT TASTE THE SAME AS THE REAL MEAT, ET CETERA.

>> I WISHED THE REPUBLICANS CONSIDERING BANNING THIS WOULD THINK ABOUT BANNING OTHER CHEMICALS IN FOOD.

>> WE NEED TO GO TO OUR As AND Fs.

TARA, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO A TEXAS MAN BY THE NAME OF DUSTIN EBE.

HE IS A MATH TEACHER AND HE BECAME FED UP WITH BOTH PARTIES SO WHAT HE DID WAS HE HAD HIS NAME LEGALLY CHANGED TO LITERALLY ANYBODY ELSE AND HE IS ASKING VOTERS TO SIGN A PETITION TO PUT HIS NEW NAME ON THE BALLOT UNDERNEATH DONALD TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN.

WHILE HIS POINT THAT WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THE CURRENT PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IS TRUE, THERE ARE MANY MORE EFFECTIVE AND REALISTIC WAYS TO ACHIEVE CHANGE.

HIS TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY COULD HAVE BEEN USED BETTER BY PERHAPS BEING INVOLVED IN VOTER EDUCATION AND/OR REGISTRATION.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO WHAT THE U.N. CHIEF HAD CALLED AN UNCONSCIONABLE ACT WHERE THE BRUTAL VENGEFUL AND RECKLESS ISRAELI WAR MACHINE KILLED SEVEN AID WORKERS FROM THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN BRINGING FOOD INTO GAZA BY SHIP TO FEED STARVING PALESTINIANS AND CLEARLY MARKED THEIR CONVOY.

>> MY F GOES TO OREGON'S FAILED DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION.

I'M FULLY IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING POLICIES WHERE WE TREAT DRUG ADDICTION RATHER THAN PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR DRUGS BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, HAVE YOU TO DO IT RIGHT AND THEY'VE HAD TO WALK THAT BACK AND THE GOVERNOR JUST SIGNED A LAW RECRIMINALLIZING THE POSSESSION OF DRUGS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO HELP ANYONE IN THE LONG RUN.

>> RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S NEW UNIFORM.

FIRST THERE WAS CRITICISM OF THE LETTERING AND NUMBERS ON THE JERSEYS THEN PROBLEMS AROSE BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE UNIFORM MATERIAL.

NOW THIS WEEK WHEN PLAY BEGAN, WE FIND OUT THE UNIFORMS BECOME STAINED WHEN PLAYERS SWEAT.

IT'S EASY TO SEE FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY THIS IS A MAJOR EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE GRAND OL' GAME.

>> MY A GOES TO 16 YIELD SHANIA MUHAMMAD EARNING HER B.A.

AT 15 IN LANGSTON UNIVERSITY AND ACCEPTED HER FIRST TEACHING JOB.

THEE WILL BE TEACHING THIRD GRADE.

THIS MAKES HER THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO BE THE A TEACHER IN THE MODERN ERA AND SHE IS ALSO EARNING HER MBA AT THE SAME TIME.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE SURGEONS OF MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL WHO PERFORMED THE WORLD'S FIRST GENETICALLY PIG KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, INTO AN AILING 62-YEAR-OLD MAN.

THE SIGNS ARE PROMISING SO FAR AND IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS WILL BE A MASSIVE BREAKTHROUGH FOR THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WHO SUFFER FROM KIDNEY FAILURE AND MAYBE WON'T NEED DIE AL DIALYSIS.

>> AND AARON, YOUR A.

>> TO ASTRONOMERS AND METEOROLOGISTS DOING A GREAT SERVICE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND IN NEW YORK PROVIDING PUBLIC SCIENCE EDUCATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.

I HAVE NOT MET AN ECLIPSE DENIER SO I LOVE SEEING THE SCIENCE OUT THERE.

GET OUT THERE MONDAY AND PUT ON YOUR GLASSES AND GO LOOK AT THE ECLIPSE PT.

>> AND RICK, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE WOMEN'S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS WHICH ARE BEING HELD IN UTICA THROUGH THE 14th OF APRIL.

THE VERY BEST WOMEN HOCKEY TEAMS ARE COMPETING IN THE UTICA AUDITORIUM IN THE PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING WINTER OLYMPICS.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THIS WORLD CLASS EVENT.

>> THE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT SHOULD BE GREAT AND PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR... TOTAL ECLIPSE.

SO I HAVE NOT GOTTEN GLASSES AND NOW I'M REGRETTING IT.

>> GET THEM ON THE THRU-WAY.

>> LAST TIME I DID-- >> THOSE ARE YOURS.

>> LAST TIME I DID THE CEREAL BOX PIN HOLE AND THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT.

>> HAVE YOU TO TAKE OFF YOUR REAL GLASSES.

>> OKAY, WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS, YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.