BY DAVID CRUZ, THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ I KDEDICATED TO INSIDER NEWS AND GIVING POLITICAL PLAYERS AND INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDER ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX."

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

LISTEN, GIVEN HOW 2021 BEGAN IT'S A WONDER WE MADE IT TO DECEMBER IN ONE PIECE, BUT HERE WE ARE AND WE'LL TRY TO HAVE A LAUGH OVER IT TODAY WITH COMEDIAN CHRIS GEFERT LATER ON IN THE DAY AND WE BEGIN TODAY WITH THE COMEDY THAT IS THE U.S. CONGRESS AND TWO HOUSES OF PER IMENT WITH CONTROL OVER MOST OF OUR LIVES, TRYING TO BRING SOME TRUTH AND JUSTICE TO THE GAME IS THE JUNIOR SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY CORY BOOKER.

>> IT'S A PAINFUL TRANSITION FROM A COMEDIAN TO AN ELECTED LEADER.

>> IT WILL GO THE OTHER WAY AROUND BECAUSE CHRIS IS AFTER YOU.

WE'LL ASK YOU TO GIVE US ONE OF YOUR DAD JOKES BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

>> OH, YOU GOT IT.

>> YOU KNOW I'M ALWAYS READY WITH ONE OF THOSE.

>> SO IT WAS A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WHEN TERRORISTS STORMED THE CAPITOL.

IT IS A BIT OF A MIRACLE THAT WE'RE STILL STANDING, ISN'T IT?

>> IT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE MORE SAD DAYS OF MY LIFE.

I'LL NEVER FORGET BEING PINNED DOWN, LOCKED IN THAT ROOM AND THEN HAVING TO ESCAPE, AND AS I WAS ESCAPING I SAW INJURED POLICE OFFICER AFTER INJURED POLICE OFFICER.

WE GET TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.

EVENTUALLY I CONVINCED THEM TO LET ME GO BACK TO MY OFFICE AND AS SOON AS I HAD TURNED ON THE TV I HAD NOT SEEN WHAT AMERICA WAS WATCHING AND THE FIRST IMAGE I SAW WHEN I FIRST TURNED ON MY TV WAS A LARGE CONFEDERATE FLAG RIGHT OUTSIDE OF SENATE CHAMBERS.

THE CONFEDERATES TRIED TO TAKE OUR CAPITOL, BUT WERE REBUFFED AND TO SEE THESE FOLKS WITH RACIST AND ANTI-SEMITIC AND AWFUL INJURY, AND IT WAS A PAINFUL DAY AND A SHAMEFUL ONE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

>> THE HOUSE HAS RECOMMENDED THAT MARK MEADOWS, I GUESS IS IN CRIMINAL CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS.

IS THAT THE SCAPEGOAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE?

>> I THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF IS THE TRUTH AND I THINK A LOT OF THE E-MAILS THAT WE SAW FROM HIM SEEMED TO INDICATE, I WISH WE SAW IT DURING THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS KNEW WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS DOING AND KNEW HE HAD THE POWER TO STOP IT AND WERE DEMANDING THAT HE DO SO AND CLEARLY, HE WAS NOT ACTING WITH ANY KIND OF SPEED AS YOU SAW FOX NEWS HOST AFTER OFFICIAL AND EVEN HIS SON DEMANDING THAT HE DO SOMETHING TO STOP THE MOB THAT WAS TAKING OUR CAPITOL FOR THE SECOND TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> LET ME MOVE TO BUILD BACK BETTER.

ANY TIME I HEAR ABOUT THIS BILL IS WHEN SOMETHING ELSE IS GETTING STRIPPED OUT OF IT.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT'S IN AND WHAT'S OUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE END OF THIS -- IT THIS YEAR-END DEADLINE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A BILL THAT STILL CONTAINS WITHIN IT, THINGS THAT WILL LOWER YOUR COSTS, PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS, MEDICAL COST, CHILD CARE COSTS, MEDICARE COSTS AND IT'S A BILL THAT WILL TAKE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST, BOLDEST THING WE'VE DONE WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN NEW JERSEY MORE AND MORE FREQUENT STORMS AND FLOODING AND IT IS A BILL THAT WILL EXTEND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT WHICH IS THE BIGGEST STACKS CUT IN OUR LIFE TIME AS MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING CLASS FAMILIES GET MONEY BACK IN THEIR ACCOUNTS.

THERE ARE SOLID THINGS DONE AND IT'S HAVING PAID FOR AND THOSE COMPANIES DON'T PAY TAX AND THE WEALTHIEST GIVING THEM MORE TAX CODES AND THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR RIGHT NOW TO BE CANDID WITH YOU IS WE'RE FITTING TO RE -- AND SEN TON MENENDEZ AND I ARE IN LOCKSTEP WITH MIKE GOT HEIMER AND SHERYL AND ANDY KIM.

THESE WERE ALL PEOPLE THAT WERE SAYING NEW JERSEYIANS DESERVE TO HAVE THAT TAX DEDUCTION BACK.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN JERSEY IS ALL THIS EFFORT FOR THE DEDUCTIONS AND WE CAN'T MUSTER THE VOTE FOR ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM?

WHY?

BECAUSE IT'S TOO HARD?

>> WELL, LOOK, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING WILL TAKE 50 VOTES.

SENATOR AND I ARE TWO OF THE MOST OUTSPOKEN PEOPLE ON IMMIGRATION REFORM.

IT IS AN OUTRAGE THAT IN NEW JERSEY WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DREAMERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE ON TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS AND ARE OUR STATE'S FIRST RESPONDERS AND TEACHING OUR CHILDREN AND WE CAN'T FIND A WAY TO SECURE THEIR CITIZENSHIP?

>> THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

>> YEAH.

AGAIN, IT TAKES 50 VOTES TO DO ANYTHING AND WE DO NOT HAVE 50 VOTES IN THE SENATE.

>> THERE WAS ANY IMMIGRATION REFORM EVEN AROUND THE MARGINS THAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS BILL?

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

RIGHT NOW, AS WE SPEAK THE PARLIAMENTARIAN IS REVIEWING WETH WHETHER ELEMENTS ARE GERMANE AND RELEVANT TO THIS BILL AND WE'RE DOING THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL WHICH IS CALLED RECONCILIATION AND WE LOWERED IT TO THE 50-VOTE THRESHOLD AND THEY'RE RELATED TO TAXES AND RELATED TO THE BUDGET AND THE PARLIAMENTARIAN SO FAR HAS KICKED EVERYTHING OUT OF THE BILL.

SO WE'VE GOT 50 VOTES FOR A LOT OF IMMIGRATION REFORM, BUT RIGHT NOW THE PARLIAMENTARIAN IS NOT ALLOWING IT TO BE IN AND MY COLLEAGUES RIGHT NOW ARE NOT IN FULL AGREEMENT ABOUT OVERRULING THAT PARLIAMENT ARIAN.

>> IT ALSO NOW IT SEEMS ENABLE OR SIGNIFICANTRY ALTER ROE V. WADE.

WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY IS THIS GOING TO BE THAT WOMEN HAVE TO CROSS STATE LINES FOR THE RIGHT TO ACCESS ABORTION SERVICES?

I MEAN, YOU'RE A LAWYER.

HOW DO YOU PUT THAT GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE?

>> FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS IS A VIOLATION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO PRIVACY .

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT ANY WOMAN WOULD HAVE TO MAKE WITH THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHER OR THEIR DOCTOR, BUT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T BE IN THAT DECISION, AND WE'RE SEEING LAWS PASSED RIGHT NOW THAT WOMEN WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF RAPE, SURVIVORS OF INCEST WILL BE FORCED TO CARRY A CHILD UNTO TERM.

THIS IS SO UNCONSCIONABLE AND AGAINST WHAT WELL OVER 70% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE IN.

THIS IS WHY THE SUPREME COURT BATTLES WERE SO IMPORTANT THAT WE NOW SEE THAT MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO SAID THEY WOULD RESPECT ROE V. WADE AND THEY'RE LOOKING IMMINENTLY LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO AND THAT WILL CHANGE THE COUNTRY AND THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FROM WOMEN THAT WERE EARNED THROUGH THE STRUGGLES OF MY MOM'S GENERATION.

>> BECAUSE AS SOON AS THE COURT OVERTURNS OR SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERS ROE V. WADE, EVEN WITHOUT A VOTE OF THEIR LEGISLATURE, THERE WILL BE AN IMPOSITION OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.

AT LEAST A DOZEN STATES, AND SO THAT'S GOING TO CREATE THIS PATCHWORK OF STATES THAT JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT'S 1920.

>> YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THIS, WHY WOULD FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, RIGHTS THAT YOU AND I ENJOY AS MINORITY, WHY WOULD WE ALLOW SOME STATES TO HONOR OUR RIGHTS AND OTHER STATES NOT TO.

SO THIS IS A STUNNING REVERSAL OF WHAT SHOULD BE SETTLED LAW, ROE V. WADE.

WE HAVE FOR YEARS MADE THAT SORT OF THE BEDROCK IDEA OF OUR COUNTRY, AND NOW WE'RE SEEING OURSELVES PUT DISPROPORTIONATELY BOY LOW INCOME WOMEN WHO HAVE NO OPTIONS AND WHO CAN'T JUST PICK UP AND TRAVEL TO ANOTHER STATE.

>> RIGHT.

WE ARE SEEING THEM OFTEN CAUGHT IN HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE SITUATIONS AND HAVING THEIR CHOICES TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND HAVING THEIR FREEDOMS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND I WAS UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THEY ARE FORCING WOMEN TO HAVE TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUNDS WHICH IS A VERY INVASIVE PROCEDURE AND, HAVE THEM HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BEFORE THEY WILL ALLOW THEM AT AN EARLY STAGE ABORTION.

THEY'RE AWFUL AND GRUESOME AND THROW US BACK TO AN ERA THAT MY MOM'S GENERATION KNEW HOW AWFUL THAT ERA WAS, HOW OPPRESSIVE AND HOW IT OFTEN LED TO JUST HORRIFIC OUTCOMES.

>> YEAH.

THANKS FOR MENTIONING NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IT LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION WHICH IS THAT YOU WERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THE HEADLINE, A FUND-RAISER.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU NOW.

I KNOW THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'S RUNNING AGAIN, AND WERE HE NOT TO RUN, YOU SAY YOU WON'T RUN AGAINST THE CURRENT VICE PRESIDENT, BUT IF THERE'S A GANG OF TEN DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT NEXT TIME, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO JUMP IN, DON'T YOU?

>> LET ME SAY THIS.

I WAS UP THERE AT THE REQUEST OF THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IT WASN'T JUST SOME FUND-RAISER.

IT WAS THEIR PARTY THAT IS SEEING REALLY BAD THINGS HAPPENING FROM AWFUL JERRY MAPPEDE GERRYMANDERING AND OTHER VOTING RIGHTS AND I WENT UP THERE TO SUPPORT AND I'M GOING TO BE VERY CLEAR.

I THINK JOE BIDEN WILL BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION WITH HIS RUNNING MATE KAMALA HARRIS AND I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THEM.

I DID SAY TO MAGGIE IMF'M RUNNI FOR PRESIDENT OF HER FAN CLUB, AND I HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND I JUST GOT ELECTED TO A SIX-YEAR TERM AND THANK YOU TO NEW JERSEY FOR GIVING ME THE PRIVILEGE OF A LIFE TIME TO BE A GREAT SERVANT OF THE STATE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> YOU MENTIONED REDISTRICTING.

THAT'S ALSO A DANGER FOR YOUR PARTY IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND NOT ONLY IN NEW JERSEY AND THE MIDTERMS.

NOT ONLY IN NEW JERSEY, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, RIGHT?

NEW JERSEY I DON'T SEE AS A DANGER.

IN NEW JERSEY WE HAVE A BIPARTISAN COMMITTEE THAT DOES IT IT AND IN OTHER STATES IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

IT'S WINNER TAKE ALL.

WHEN I WAS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHEN THEY SHOWED ME THEY TOOK CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES SO THEY CAN COMPLETELY RUN THE TABLE AND THE AMOEBA-LIKE THING THAT THEY DREW TO CARVE OUT A SEAT THAT WOULD BE PACKED UP AND IT'S POLITICIANS CHOOSING VOTERS AND THIS IS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PRACTICE AND THERE ARE'S LOT OF THREATS AND THE VOTING RIGHTS AND THE GERRYMANDERING AND KOCH BROTHERS, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I SAID I'M NOT TAKING CORPORATE, PAC DOLLARS OR LOBBYIST DOLLARS.

WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP OUR DEMOCRACY AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT IT FROM THE VOTING LAWS GOING ON, GERRYMANDERING GOING ON.

WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT LIKE WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE TO THIS DEMOCRACY AND SOME LEADERS WANT TO TAKE US INTO AUTHORITARIAN -- SO THEY CAN HOLD ON AND SEIZE POWER.

>> YOU'VE SHOWN UP AROUND HERE TOWARD THE YEAR END AND THE END OF THE SEASON.

WE'RE GOING ON OUR WINTER BREAK.

SO AS WE A PRECH THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE TO ASK YOU AGAIN, WHAT'S ON YOUR READING LIST AND WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

>> WELL, I TELL YOU, MY READING LIST RIGHT NOW IS A LOT ABOUT FOOD POLICY AND I'M GOING TO START THE BOOK CLUB, AND WE'LL START WITH THE BOOK CALLED THE "OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA."

IT'S ABOUT HOW FOOD IS MAKING US SICK.

ONLY 2% OF THE COUNTRY'S AG NECESSITIES GO TO THE FOOD THAT WE SHOULD BE EATING AND SO I'M REALLY GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT AND I LOOK FORWARD THAT FOLKS WILL FOLLOW ME ON CORY BOOKER AT INSTAGRAM AND IT WILL HELP NEW JERSEY BECAUSEYEAR A STATE THAT HAD PRODUCING THIS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT PEOPLE NEED.

I'M WATCHING LOTS OF GOOD STUFF AND I AM IN THE SECOND SEASON OF TED LASSO WHICH I LOVE AND IT'S REALLY GREAT.

>> MUSIC, I'M A SPOTIFY GUY AND I WAS VERY EXCITED THAT WHEN THEY GAVE ME THE SONGS I LISTENED TO THE MOST.

A LOT OF NOVEL, AND A LOT OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND A LOT OF GOSPEL LAST YEAR, SO I WISH I COULD TELL YOU I'M DISCOVERING NEW MUSIC AND HOPEFULLY SOME PEOPLE CAN RECOMMEND SOME GOOD STUFF AND RIGHT NOW I'M LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS SONGS.

AS SOON AS THANKSGIVING IS OVER I START WITH THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

>> RATHER CONVENTIONAL.

>> I DON'T KNOW -- I CAN BREAK SOME NEWS TONIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ABOUT MARIAH CAREY THAT HER SIGNIFICANT OTHER BOUGHT HER THIS PATCH OF LAND AND THIS UNDEVELOPED PATCH OF LAND AND SHE TURNED AROUND ANGRILY AND SAID I DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS.

I DON'T WANT A LOT, PATCH OF LAND.

I DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS.

>> OH, MY GOD.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I GOT A REAL PAIN IN MY SIDE ALL OF A SUDDEN FROM THAT.

WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE THIS ON YOUR MARIAH CAREY JOKE, I'M SAD TO SAY, SENATOR, BUT LUCKILY, WE'VE GOT AN ACTUAL COMEDIAN COMING UP RIGHT AFTER YOU.

>> I HOPE HE LIKES THE MARIAH CAREY JOKE.

>> OH, MAN.

>> I HOPE IT PASSED MUSTER.

>> I DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS LESS OF YOU.

NO, I'M JOKING.

ALL RIGHT.

SENATOR CORY BOOKER.

>> FORRY CMERRY CHRISTMAS TO YO YOUR FAMILY.

>> MY NEXT GUEST IS FUNNIER THAN CORY BOOKER EVEN THOUGH HE'S HAD ARC DICTION, AND IT'S GREAT TO WELCOME CHRIS TO CHAT BOX.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THINK CORY BOOKER'S PRETTY FUNNY.

HE'S GOTTEN A LAUGH OR TWO OUT OF ME.

>> YOU'LL BE FUNNIER, I THINK.

>> LET'S HOPE.

LET'S HOPE.

YEAH.

>> SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT NEW JERSEY THAT IS SO UNIQUELY HUMOROUS?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF COMEDY TO BE FOUND IN NEW JERSEY AND A LOT OF GOOD COMEDIANS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF NEW MEXICO.

YOU HAVE ALL OF THE STEREOTYPES, RIGHT, OF HOW CRAZY IT CAN BE AND HOW DENSELY POPULATED IT IS AND EVERYONE IS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER AND THAT IN PARTICULAR JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE AND WE'VE ALL SEEN SOMETHING HAPPEN IN PUBLIC OR ON THE PARKWAY OR IN A REST STOP WHERE WE SAY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

SO YOU JUST GROW UP AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I ALSO THINK IT'S A CULTURE THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE AND I'VE ALWAYS FOUND THAT AT LEAST TO WEIGH A LOT OF PEOPLE'S INTERACTIVENESS STATUS, AND THEY CONSTANTLY BUST EACH OTHER'S CHOPS.

I GREW UP IRISH-CATHOLICS AND WHEN YOU GET AROUND ITALIAN CATHOLICS AND EVERYONE IS ON TOP OF EVERYBODY AND IT LEADS TO THE STATE BEING KIND OF NUTS AND ALSO TO LEARN HOW TO BUST CHOPS EARLY WHEN YOU GROW UP HERE.

I THINK THAT LEADS TO A LOT OF COMEDY, HONESTLY.

>> I FEEL LIKE YOUR JERSEY HUMOR IS REALLY A CELEBRATION OF US NOW.

IT'S NOT THE USUAL, HEY, I'M FROM JERSEY BECAUSE NOBODY FROM JERSEY SAYS JERSEY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

IT'S JERSEY AFFIRMING.

>> YEAH.

I'M NOT LOOKING TO, LIKE, SAY THAT THE PLACE IS DIRTY.

IT'S NOT.

I MEAN, THE AREA RIGHT BY THE AIRPORT IS.

THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE SEE, BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN TO HUNTERTON COUNTY AND IT'S ABOUT THE CLEANEST PLACE I'VE SEEN IN MY LIFE AND I GREW UP IN ESSEX COUNTY AND MERCER COUNTY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME NEW JERSEY THAT I GREW UP IN.

I HAVE NO INTEREST IN SLAMMING THE PLACE.

I THINK THE PEOPLE FROM HERE ARE THE BEST.

WHENEVER I DO COMEDY FROM NOOUMG BETWEEN THE PODCAST AND MY OLD ALBUM.

I LOVE DOING COMEDY WHERE I CAN MAKE FUN OF THE CLOWN ON ROUTE 35.

I'LL JUST MAKE A JOKE OUT OF THIS AND ONLY OTHER JERSEY PEOPLE WILL GET IT OR WHY IT'S FUNNY.

I'LL MAKE OTHER JOKES THAT THE WORLD AT LARGE CAN COULD, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I NEED TO MAKE A JOKE JUST FOR THE JERSEY PEOPLE.

>> YOU DID A WHOLE ALBUM OF JUST JERSEY MATERIAL THAT MANY PEOPLE AROUND HERE CONSIDER A CLASSIC.

OUR PRODUCER JEN IS FROM BEOME.

I'M HAVE JERSEY CITY AND YOU SHOUTED OUT ALL OF THOSE TOWNS AND YOU GREW UP IN ORANGE WHICH IT ME IS THE MELLING POT OF ESSEX PARTY.

>> YOU WIND UP A LITTLE ITALIAN, A LITTLE IRE ISSUISH.

EVERYBODY'S EATING EACH OTHER'S FOOD AND EVERYONE IS LEARNING THE HOLIDAYS.

>> ONE OF THE JOKES ON THE ALBUM AND THIS HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM JERSEY PEOPLE WHERE I JUST SAID I'M GOING TO ASK A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED, WHAT'S GOING ON IN BEOME.

THAT'S THE MOST MYSTERIOUS MAJOR CITY IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU'RE FROM JERSEY CITY I KNOW WHAT I'M DEALING WITH WITH A JERSEY CITY PERSON.

YOU WILL BE KIND OF FLASHY AND IT'S A REAL CITY, YOU KNOW?

MY BUDDY MIKE D. CO-HOSTS THE PODCAST.

HIS DAD WAS IN A STREET GANG BASED OUT OF HUDSON PARK, BUT BEONE, IF YOU'RE NOT FROM BEONE, THEY DON'T LET INFORMATION OUT AND THEY DON'T LET PEOPLE OUT IN THE WILD AS MUCH AND THEY'RE, LIKE, THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW.

>> I MEAN, THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT AND THE MIGRATION AND THEN YOU END UP IN STATEN ISLAND.

I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT BEONE WAS ACTUALLY BACK IN THE DAY WAS A RESORT TOWN.

IT WAS A MAJOR WATER PARK IN BEONE, AND YOU CAN STILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF A JERSEY SHORE FEEL WHEN YOU GO TO BEONE.

IT IS AN ODD TOWN, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> IT IS.

THEY DO THEIR OWN THING AND OUT OF NORTH JERSEY IT'S THE ONE I KNOW THE LEAST ABOUT.

PATERSON, NEWARK AND ALL OF THE OTHER CITIES UP NORTH JERSEY, I KNOW WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.

YOU GROW UP AND YOU MEET PEOPLE FROM ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT POCKETS AND BEBEEN.

TIGHT-LIPPED PEOPLE AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN CALLING THAT OUT.

SO I'M GLAD PAUNT -- SHE WILL LET IT BACK OUT ONCE IN A WHILE.

ARE THERE SACRED COWS OR SOMETHING OR SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN'T WRITE A JOKE ABOUT.

>> THAT'S AN EASY ONE.

THE PERSON WE PUT MOST ON A PEDESTAL IS BRUCE.

I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS AND WE MAKE A LOT OF JOKES ON THE PODCAST LIKE IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN ON ROUTE 9, THERE'S A 35% HE PERSONALLY COMES AND CHANGES YOUR TIRE BECAUSE YOU HEAR THE STORIES ABOUT HIM BEING SUCH A HERO.

HE'S PROBABLY THE CLOSEST TO A SACRED COW THAT WE HAVE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT BRUCE.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, PART OF GROWING UP IN JERSEY AND PART OF THE NEW JERSEY ATTITUDE IS SACRED COWS GO RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW.

I THINK WE ARE A STATE WHERE YOU LEARN YOUNG THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY STUFF AND THEY'LL SAY IT LOUD AND PROUD.

THE WHOLED IN OF THE SACRED COW DOESN'T TALK AND YOU CAN OEJ -- OBVIOUSLY, THAT GET PEOPLE MAD, AND IT'S LEGIT.

>> YOU CAN EXPECT THEM TO BILL YOU.

AND PEOPLE GET REALLY ANGRY ABOUT THAT AND I'VE BEEN SURPRISED THAT WHEN YOU MAKE JOKES ABOUT THAT PEOPLE AREN'T MESSING AROUND.

UPON IT INDUCES SOME RALLY FEELINGS OF RAGE.

>> YEAH.

YOU DO A GREAT BIT ON YOUR PODCAST, NEW JERSEY IN THE WORLD, ABOUT ATLANTIC CITY.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT THE PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING DIES, BABY AND THAT'S A FACT.

>> ATLANTIC CITY IS ENDLESSLY FASCINATING.

I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE I KNOW WHO GOES THERE COMES BACK WITH A STORY IN A REAL WAY.

I THINK IT'S SUCH A GOOD COMBINATION OF A FIGHTING TOWN AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO RUN THINGS RIGHT AND IT'S GOT CORRUPTION AND THE REAL ESTATE IBD STRE HAS SUCH A STRANGLEHOLD ON IT AND ALL OF THE NEW JERSEY CORRUPTION IS JUST THERE, BUT I LIKE WHITE HOUSE SUBS.

I LOVE WANDERING THAT BOARDWALK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

I ONCE WENT TO ATLANTIC CITY ON A SUNDAY NIGHT AND DIDN'T GET THERE UNTIL 1:00 IN THE MORNING AND I SAW A GUY GET DRAGGED OUT OF THE POKER ROOM YELLING GOD WILL SLIGHT ME BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> ATLANTIC CITY IS INTENSE AND UNIQUE AND UNDERNEATH THE CRAZINESS OF IT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF HARDWORKING PEOPLE WHO YOU HEAR A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT HOW A LOT OF THAT MONEY SHOULD BE GOING INTO THAT COMMUNITY MORE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE LIGHT OF THAT.

IT IS SECOND TO NONE.

YOU WALK THAT BOARDWALK DURING THE DAY AND THERE'S PEOPLE HUSTLING AND FAMOUSLY THERE USED TO BE PEOPLE OUT -- THERE WAS THE WOMAN WHO USED TO PLAY THE KEYBOARD WITH HER TEETH.

IT'S JUST THAT HUSTLE AND THE GRIND WHERE IT'S, LIKE, LET'S TAKE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S WEIRD ABOUT THE CITY.

I LOVE THAT GATTI WAS KING OF THE BOARDWALK BECAUSE HE AS A BOXING STYLE REPRESENTS REPS IN SO MANY WAYS ABOUT JERSEY AND IT'S THE FUNNIEST, BEST.

>> CHRIS, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THAT'S ALL OF THE CHAT BOX WE HAVE FOR THE WEEK AND OUR THANKS TO CHRIS GATWORTH AND CORY BOOKER.

WE ARE OFF FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND BACK AT IT AGAIN IN JANUARY.

THIS HAS BEEN A TUMULTUOUS YEAR AND THERE'S STILL A COUPLE OF WEEKS LEFT, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, THE CRITICISM AND THE VERY IDEA THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OUR LITTLE PROGRAM EVERY WEEK.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, FOR ALL OF US HERE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A SAFE, PEACEFUL HOLIDAY.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR CHATBOX WITH DAVID CRUZ OF NEW JERSEY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

SERVING THE NEW JERSEY NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDERNJ IS COMMITTED TO D POLITICAL PLAYERS FOR DISCUSSION AND INSIGHT.

INSIDE AT ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪