>>> EVEN WHEN IT'S SERIOUS, IT AIN'T THAT SERIOUS, FOLKS.

WELCOME TO REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

OUR PANEL TODAY, THE FINAL PANEL OF THE YEAR INCLUDES COLLEEN O'DAY, SENIOR WRITER AND PROJECTS EDITOR FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

KEN BURNS, SOUTH JERSEY REPORTER FROM WHYY.

AND MATT FRIEDMAN, REPORTER FOR POLITICO AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW JERSEY .

BACK TO THE PANEL IN A FEW MINUTES BUT AS WE BEGIN TODAY, 2023 IS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY AND NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON FOR SOME OF US.

WE IN THE NEWS GAMES CAN SOMETIMES MAKE IT SOUND LIKE EVERYTHING IS LIFE AND DEATH WHICH SOMETIMES IT IS.

MOST OF THE TIME THOUGH, THE WORLD CONTINUES TO SPIN DESPITE HER HEADLINES.

STILL SOME OF THOSE HEADLINES ARE JUST TOO FUNNY TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.

THIS YEAR WE WANT TO LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR THROUGH THE EYES OF THE FUNNIEST LAWYER IN NEW JERSEY WHO JUST HAPPENS TO BE A PROMINENT STATE EDITOR.

IS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK TO THE ROUNDTABLE , SENATOR JOHN BROWN NICK.

SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

AS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE TALK ABOUT SERIOUS STUFF, BUT YOU'RE ALSO A WISEGUY AND I DON'T MEAN WISEGUY IN THE SENSE OF THE NEW JERSEY WISEGUY.

BUT WHO MADE YOU FUNNY >> THAT WE DEMAND.

HE WAS IN JAIL FOR 100 DAYS AND IN NOVEMBER, HE GOT A LICENSE.

THAT'S ONLY IN NEW JERSEY.

I GUESS HE'S LIKE ONE OF THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA PEOPLE SO I GUESS HE'S GOING TO GET SOME KIND OF AWARD NEXT YEAR.

YOU SEE HIM IN ONE OF MURPHY'S NEW CONFERENCES AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THE SENATOR WHO PUSHED THE WEED WHICH WAS THE SENATOR, HE DOESN'T SMOKE WEED.

SO HE'S NOT GOING TO GET IT.

I THINK JUNIOR IS GOING TO WIN IT.

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN YOUR ACT OVER THE YEARS.

IS GENUINELY FUNNY AND MUCH MORE REFINED.

YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT BEING A POLITICIAN FROM JERSEY AND ALL THAT THAT IMPLIES IN YOUR ACT.

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

THE FIRST THING I SEE IS YOU CAN TRUST EVERYTHING I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU BECAUSE I'M A NEW JERSEY POLITICIAN.

THEN I TELL EVERYBODY THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO TAKE ETHICS IN ONCE A YEAR .

NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY I WAS CONFUSING TO ME, THERE'S A FULL-TIME'S ETHICS OFFICER IN NEW JERSEY.

LET ME TELL YOU, SHE'S VERY, VERY BUSY.

VERY BUSY.

>> SO HAVE YOU GONE TO THE ETHICS TRAINING?

SEAM I HAVE.

THE FIRST THING I TELL YOU IS YOU CAN TAKE CASH IN AN ENVELOPE.

AND I WOULD SAY I NEVER TOOK THE ENVELOPE.

AND THEN RULE NUMBER TWO, SHE TELLS YOU THERE'S NO JOKING DURING ETHICS TRAINING SHE SAID I'M NOT JOKING.

THE ETHICS PEOPLE , JUST SO YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T LAUGH.

THEY DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR.

THAT'S WHY THEY ARE AN ETHICS TRAINER.

>> YEAH.

SO WHO'S FUNNIER?

YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN, RIGHT?

AND BOTH PARTIES ALWAYS GIVE US SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT.

BUT WHO IS FUNNY IN YOUR BOOK , REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS , WHETHER INTENTIONALLY OR NON-INTENTIONALLY?

>> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT LEGISLATION THEY ARE PUTTING THROUGH.

SO WE HAD STATE ONE AND THAT WAS A BIPARTISAN EVENT.

I WOULD SAY THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS NOT FUNNY AT ALL.

TO ME, HE HAD NO SENSE.

JOHN McCAIN SAID YOU CAN'T WIN A SECOND TERM AS A PRESIDENT UNLESS YOU'RE FUNNY.

SO THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WHO CARRY THE TUNE.

DO A JOKE .

CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

SO I THINK WE ARE EVENLY MATCHED UP ON SENSE OF HUMOR.

>> LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE CURRENT GOVERNOR , HE USED TO BE A COMEDIAN IN COLLEGE.

LEMEY T AN EASY ONE UP FOR YOU.

IS THIS A FUNNY GOVERNOR?

>> SNEAKERS.

HE'S THE SKY .

SNEAKERS, EXPENSIVE.

I KNOW THEY ARE NOT CHEAP.

BUT IT SENDS A MESSAGE LIKE I'M SERIOUS BUT I'M ALSO NOT THAT SERIOUS.

AND SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE TIE AND JACKET THING.

THINK ABOUT MINUTE CAUSE.

HE LOST TO FETTERMAN AND FETTERMAN HAD ALREADY ON.

WHERE HE'S GOT A PERFECT SUIT .

THAT SELLS.

BUT APPEAR LET'S SAY IN THE PURPLE AREA, YOU CAN'T LOOK TOO GOOD.

THAT'S WHY MINUTE WAS LOST IN PENNSYLVANIA.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.

FEMA YOU HAVE TO BE MORE LIKE THE PEOPLE AND IF YOU LOOK TO PERFECT, REMEMBER WHAT MIKE SAID PEOPLE WANT YOU TO BE JUST LIKE THEM, BUT A LITTLE SMARTER.

SO IF YOU'RE TOO PERFECT, I CAN'T RELATE TO YOU.

NOBODY IN MY FAMILY LOOKS LIKE IT.

I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT IT WAS.

THEY SENT A CHRISTMAS CARD OUT AND THE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN WHITE ON THE BEACH.

THIS PERSON CAME TO ME AND SAID, WHY DO YOU THINK I ALMOST LOST?

I SAID BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY LOOKED TOO GOOD.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE DYSFUNCTIONAL EVENT IN YOUR FAMILY SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE JUST LIKE THEM.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT 2022, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FUNNIEST THINGS THAT STAND OUT TO YOU?

>> I WILL TELL YOU WHAT WAS IN THE FUNNIEST.

TOM KANE VERSUS TOM MALINOWSKI RACE.

I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME.

TOM KANE IS A GOOD FRIEND.

A HARD WORKER.

YOU WANT TO SIT NEXT TO HIM AT SCHOOL.

YOU WANT TO MINISTER THE GROUP.

BUT HE'S NOT AN EXTROVERT, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

BUT COMPARED TO TOM MALINOWSKI, HE LOOKED LIKE ROBIN WILLIAMS BECAUSE TOM MALINOWSKI, HE'S ABOUT AS STRAIGHT AS THEY COME.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

THERE WAS NOTHING COMING OUT THERE.

SO THAT WAS THE LEAST FUNNY RACE I'VE EVER SEEN.

>> DID YOU SAY HE MADE TOM KANE JUNIOR LOOK LIKE ROBIN WILLIAMS?

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME MONEY, WE WILL GO INTO BUSINESS AND HAVE A TRUMP-KRISTI PAY PER VIEW.

CHRISTIE STARTS GOING AFTER TRUMP AND SAYS, JUMP SAID WE ARE GOING TO WIN.

IS GOING TO BE WINNING.

THEN HE FORGOT TO TELL YOU IT'S ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS.

SO CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THE FIGHTS THAT WE SEE .

AN HOUR OF CHRISTIE VERSUS TRUMP.

WE WILL MAKE A FORTUNE ON THAT ONE.

>> MAYBE WE WILL SEE THAT IN A YEAR OR SO.

>> I THINK YOU MIGHT.

>> THIS WEEK, THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CALLED ON LAWMAKERS TO BE NICER TO ONE ANOTHER.

YOU HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR YEARS, NO?

>> WHEN I GOT IN THE LEGISLATURE 18 YEARS AGO, I PUT A RESOLUTION AND THAT WE SHOULD BE MORE CIVIL TO EACH OTHER.

IT TOOK 12 YEARS TO GET IT PASSED AND IT WAS ONLY PAST AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAME THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT NOW IT MIGHT BE POLITICALLY CORRECT TO DO THAT.

SO WHEN I PUT THAT BILL IN, INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM THAT BRAM NICK WAS TRYING TO LEGISLATE STABILITY AND THEY SAID THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WE NEED IT MORE THAN EVER.

>> MOST POLITICIANS HAVE WEBSITES WITH A RUN FOR SOMETHING.

TOM KANE JUNIOR HAD TWO.

BUT YOU HAVE A WEBSITE CALLED FUNNIEST LAWYER NEW JERSEY, RIGHT?

>> WHEN I WON AND 1986, I DID TRADE MARKET AND IN MY JUDGMENT, I SAID THIS THE OTHER DAY.

PEOPLE WANT NEW.

NOT TO BE A POLITICIAN.

BECAUSE OF I AM A POLITICIAN, WHAT YOU THINK I WOULD GET?

NOBODY LIKES A POLITICIAN.

THEY LIKE COMEDIANS AND ENTERTAINERS.

THEY LIKE NICE PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T LIKE POLITICIANS.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS I AM NOT A POLITICIAN., POLITICIAN STANDUP COMEDIAN AND LAWYER.

AND LAWYERS THEY DON'T LIKE TOO MUCH EITHER.

>> WHERE CAN SOMEONE GO SEE YOU NEXT?

ARE YOU DIGGING?

I AM >> I AM I WILL BE AT THE STRESS FACTORY NEXT YEAR AND WE WILL HAVE WHAT WILL BE CALLED NEW JERSEY COMEDIAN NIGHT AND ALL THE MONEY IS GOING TO CHARITY.

IS RUN BY VINNY AT THE STRESS FACTORY AND WE WILL GET SOME OF THE FUNNIEST NEW JERSEY PEOPLE AND WE ARE WORKING ON A CHARITY RIGHT NOW.

WE THINK IT WILL BE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AS YOU KNOW, I NEVER GET PAID.

I DON'T ACCEPT FUNDS AS A COMEDIAN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT ETHICS OFFICER.

>> RIGHT.

>> I DON'T GET PAID.

I GIVE THE MONEY TO CHARITY OR I GIVE THE MONEY TO OTHER COMEDIANS.

LET MATT FRIEDMAN ON YOUR PANEL KNOW THAT IF THEY DO AN INVESTIGATION.

>> MATT WILL PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT THE COOL WAY TO TAKE THE MONEY AS IF THEY PUT IT IN ONE OF THOSE COFFEE CUPS.

>> RIGHT.

AND NEVER SEEMS LIKE ANYBODY GETS CONVICTED THOUGH.

>> YOU CAN'T GET CONVICTED.

>> IT GOES AWAY.

>> SENATOR JOHN BRAMNICK, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

ARE COMING ON AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU.

>> SAME TO YOU, DAVE.

>> PANEL, COLLEEN, MATT, KEN, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

MATT, YOU LET OFF YOUR PLAYBOOK WITH A PIECE ON THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CALLING FOR EVERYONE TO BE A LITTLE MORE CIVIL WITH ONE ANOTHER.

YOU JUST HEARD BRAMNICK TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU DON'T SEE THAT A LOT FROM AN ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, RIGHT?

THE DID THIS COME FROM SOMEBODY CALLING SOMEONE ANYONE HOT MIC SOMEWHERE?

>> A NAME I THINK ABOUT ALLOWED TO SAY.

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING.

THERE WAS A DEBATE ON THE LATEST GUN BILL BETWEEN ASSEMBLYMAN DANIELSON , A DEMOCRAT FROM SOMERSET COUNTY, AND ASSEMBLYMAN BERGEN , A REPUBLICAN WHO UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT FROM THE COUNTY BUT MORRIS.

AND BERGEN , DANIELSON WAS VERY DISMISSIVE .

HE DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER BERGEN'S QUESTIONS.

HE WAS VERY FLIPPANT.

HE WAS BEING RUDE TOO, ADMITTEDLY.

AND BERGEN IN A MOMENT OF FRUSTRATION SAID VERY CLEARLY ON THE MIC, GOD, WHAT AN A HOLE.

BUT HE DIDN'T SAY A WHOLE.

HE SAID WHAT A HOLE STANDS FOR.

SHOULD I SPELL IT OUT?

>> YOU ARE OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I THINK THAT'S WHAT SPURRED IT.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER COMMENTS AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT REALLY GOT HIM TO MAKE THE STATEMENTS.

OF COURSE, I'VE BEEN ON THIS SHOW AND RENTED ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS THE PROBLEM WITH OUR POLITICAL RHETORIC NO, AND IT'S NOT CALLING SOMEONE A SWEARWORD.

I THINK IT'S SORT OF ALMOST MILITARIZATION OF POLITICAL RHETORIC.

CALLING PEOPLE ENEMIES .

PUTTING EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF YOUR.

WE ARE AT WAR WITH THEM.

NOT LIKE WE ARE IN A DEBATE WITH THEM OVER POLICY DIFFERENCES.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY DETRIMENTAL.

NOT JUST CALLING SOMEONE THE A WORD.

I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO REFLEXIVELY THINGS BIPARTISANSHIP IS A GOOD THING AND I KIND OF HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO BECAUSE HAVING DONE THIS JOB A LONG TIME, SOME OF THE WORST , MOST EXPLOITIVE, MOST EXPLOITED, EXCUSE ME, POLICIES I'VE SEEN HAVE BEEN PASSED IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

AND OFTEN SORT OF LITTLE DEALS BETWEEN POLITICAL BOSSES.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE CONFUSED WITH BEING BIPARTISAN AND CIVIL.

IS ON THE SAME THING.

>> A GOOD POINT.

COLLEEN, YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF THE SPEAKER ADMONISHING PEOPLE TO BE NICE.

ARE THINGS THAT BAD OR IS THE SPEAKER GETTING GOOD ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO USE A BULLY PULPIT IN CASE YOU WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR?

>> THERE WAS SOME BACK IN THE SPRING, SOME DEBATES AND SOME LEGISLATORS RUNNING IN PRIMARIES WHO SEEM TO NOW BE VERY ACTIVE AND VERY CHATTY IN CERTAIN WAYS .

THIS PERSON DIDN'T WIN .

THE ONE I'M THINKING OF DIDN'T WIN HIS PRIMARY, SO NOW HE'S GONE BACK.

SO THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COVID AND THE FOLKS WHO WEREN'T GOING TO COME IN BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO BE FORCED TO EITHER HAVE A VACCINE .

>> TYRANNY.

TYRANNY.

>> I THINK IT GOES TO WHAT MATT IS TALKING ABOUT.

THE KIND OF RHETORIC THAT MAYBE IS NOT THOSE SWEARWORDS THAT WE KNOW, BUT JUST SHOWS ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.

IT HAS BEEN RAMPING UP IN NEW JERSEY.

>> NOT CONSTRUCTIVE.

ALL RIGHT.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET YOU ALL TO SHARE MAYBE THE STORY OR STORIES THAT YOU COVERED THAT STUCK WITH YOU THIS YEAR , FOR WHATEVER REASON.

KENNY, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, IT'S THE STORY THAT'S GOING TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR IN MERCER COUNTY.

WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE AN EYE ON THAT MORE THAN THE MIDTERMS, ALTHOUGH THE MIDTERMS ARE GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

MERCER COUNTY, WE JUST HAD DOUG PALMER TURN MAYOR WHO IS THROWING HIS WEIGHT BEHIND DAN BENSON AND ASSEMBLYMAN FROM MERCER COUNTY.

AND THEY ARE MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT THE WAY IT GOES, SO DOES MERCER COUNTY.

IT WILL COME DOWN TO WHICH ARGUMENT IS BETTER.

JOBS IN GENERAL OR PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS .

RYAN HUGHES, THE INCUMBENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE HE'S GOING FOR HIS SIXTH TERM, HE IS MAKING THE ARGUMENT, HEY, WE BROUGHT JOBS TO THE COUNTY.

WE WERE EXPANDING THE MERCER COUNTY AIRPORT.

BUT A LOT OF THESE ARE GOVERNMENT JOBS.

PALMER AND BENSON ARE MAKING THE ARGUMENT IN REGARDS TO REALLY BUILDING IT UP FOR PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS.

TALK ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THEY MADE WITH THE ARENA.

THE BALLPARK AND THE NOW SHUTTERED DOWNTOWN HOTEL.

THEY WERE MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT HEY, WE PUT THE STUFF HERE IN THE CITY AND USE DID NOT BUILD UPON THAT.

AS FAR AS THE MIDTERMS, WE WILL SEE , I BELIEVE, WHETHER THE REPUBLICANS WILL ACTUALLY TAKE CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WILL IT BE BASED OUT OF THE SOUTH?

WE HAVE SEEN SOUTH JERSEY BECOME A LITTLE REDDER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS .

MY QUESTION IS, WHAT TYPE OF REPUBLICAN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE?

ARE WE GOING TO THE JERSEY ROUND OF REPUBLICAN THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE , OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MORE OF THE TRUMP BRAND OF REPUBLICAN-ISM THAT QUITE FRANKLY GOT THEIR BUTTS KICKED AT THE POLLS THIS PAST NOVEMBER IF YOU LOOKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> COLLEEN, HE'S ALREADY IN BED HE'S INFORMED, THAT KEN BURNS.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT OR WHAT HAVE YOU HAD THAT YOU HAVE COVERED THIS YEAR THAT STUCK WITH YOU?

>> I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT COVID DIDN'T DOMINATE COVERAGE .

I KNOW IT'S STILL HERE.

I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE IT.

BUT IT'S NOT THE TOP STORY WHICH IS KIND OF NICE.

YOU KNOW, FOR ME, CERTAINLY IT WAS COVERING THE MIDTERMS.

COVERING THAT REDISTRICTING .

CAN JUST ALLUDED TO IT.

WHAT IS THE MAP THAT WAS REALLY KIND OF SHOCKING I THINK WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AGREEING TO A MAP ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME I THINK SINCE I'VE COVERED THIS.

WHAT IS IMAP GOING TO DO TO BALANCE IN ?

I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO SEES THE REPUBLICANS TAKING CONTROL, BUT MAYBE I COULD BE WAY OFF.

AND CERTAINLY ALSO, THE LOSS OF MALINOWSKI TO TOM KANE WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATS AGREED TO .

LET'S KEEP NINE SEATS AND WELL, BYE-BYE, TOM.

WE WILL BE OKAY WITH THAT.

I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW TOM KANE IS GOING TO BE VOTING DOWN IN WASHINGTON.

WILL HE BE VOTING FOR ATTRITIONAL JERSEY REPUBLICAN OR IS HE GOING TO BE GOING WITH WHAT I THINK WILL WIND UP HAPPENING WHERE YOU HAVE THE CONSERVATIVE OR REPUBLICAN TRYING TO DRIVE THAT MESSAGE DOWN THERE.

>> MATT, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

SOMETHING THAT STICKS IN YOUR MIND OR SOMETHING YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2023 >> BOTH.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE A DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL CONSULTANT NAME SEAN CATTELL SHOCKINGLY PLEADED GUILTY TO HIRING MEN TO KILL A DUDE.

AND WHAT HAVE WE SEEN SINCE THEN?

NOT A LOT.

SEAN CATTELL , WE KNOW THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING INTO A NETWORK OF SUPER PACS AND DARK MANY GROUPS THAT SEAN CATTELL LED THAT WERE OBVIOUSLY SET UP TO HIDE THE SOURCE OF DONATIONS THAT WEREN'T MEANT TO HELP SPECIFIC CANDIDATES.

I EVEN WAS ABLE TO GET SOME DOCUMENTS THAT SHOWED A BUNCH OF NEW JERSEY'S MOST PROMINENT LAW FIRMS WERE GIVEN TO A SEAN CATTELL RUN, DARK BUDDY GROUP WHICH WAS GIVEN TO A SEAN CATTELL RUN SUPER PACK AND HIDING THE SOURCES OF DONATIONS WHICH WERE ALSO BEING SOLICITED BY AN ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO WAS AWARDING CONTRACTS TO THOSE SAME DONORS.

WHAT THE FEDS APPARENTLY HAVE CHOSEN TO GO AFTER HIS THESE MIDDLEMEN.

THESE POLITICAL CONSULTANTS WHO ARE WORKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND SETTING UP THESE SUPER PACS FOR PATTING THEM A LITTLE TO STEAL MONEY FROM THEM.

AND ALMOST FITTING -- IF YOU READ THE INFORMATION THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, NICK , WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO TAX EVASION, AND MAKES IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE POOR DARK MANY GROUPS WHICH ARE SET UP TO EVADE SCRUTINY AND POTENTIALLY LAWS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS ARE THE VICTIMS HERE WHICH I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY, BUT ALSO A SAD STATE OF THE FACT THAT A LOT OF WAYS, NOT JUST NEW JERSEY IN THE UNITED STATES , WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY LEGALIZED CORRUPTION.

>> THAT STORY IS GOING TO PERCOLATE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

YOU EXPECT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE FROM THAT, RIGHT?

>> I KINDA FEEL LIKE THIS MIGHT BE IT.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY PATHETIC.

BUT THE THING IS, LIKE HOW DO YOU HAVE A GUY IN HOME CONFINEMENT WHO IS ESSENTIALLY ADMITTED KILLING A PERSON FOR SUCH A SMALL BALL KIND OF CONVICTION OF A POLITICAL CONSULTANT FOR TAX EVASION?

I MEAN YOU WOULD THINK THERE'S MORE, BUT I KIND OF GET THE FEELING THERE ISN'T A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

WE WILL FIND OUT.

>> WAIT FOR THE MOVIE.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

>> KENNY, ONE MORE ELECTION DOWN IN TRENTON AND ONE MORE TO GO .

IS THERE SENSE OF THE CITY MIGHT BE PULLING THROUGH THE CRISIS OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS?

>> I THINK THE CITY WON OUT TO BE HONEST BY THE FACT THAT THE INCUMBENT MAYOR GOT REELECTED.

TWO OF HIS FOES ACTUALLY CHALLENGED HIM IN THAT RACE, LOST BADLY , AND YOU HAVE A WHOLE CITY , A WHOLE NEW CITY COUNCIL THAT'S OF THE MINDSET OF, LET'S GET STUFF DONE.

WE HAVE , FOR THE MOST PART, AS OF RIGHT NOW , THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO COUNT THE REMAINING BALLOTS WHICH AT LAST CHECK, IT WAS ABOUT 40 OR 50.

WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR SOME OF THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS TO COME IN AND THERE'S A CUT OFF OBVIOUSLY.

THE NEXT MONTH, WE HAVE THE AT-LARGE RACES WHICH IS PERSONALLY INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN THERE'S AT-LARGE, THE TOP THREE OR THE TOP VOTE GETTERS USUALLY WIN THOSE SEATS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME BETWEEN MARYLAND AND NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND WHERE I USED TO COVER.

IF NO ONE YOU REACHES A THRESHOLD TO GO TO A RUNOFF.

SO AT LEAST THEY WILL HAVE A FORUM TO START OFF WITH IN JANUARY.

>> TIME FOR OUR ONLY IN JERSEY SEGMENT.

HEADLINES AND NOTES THAT ARE QUINTESSENTIALLY JERSEY.

MATT, YOU GOT ONE FOR US?

>> I GUESS, I DO.

I DO, DAVID.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT TO , THIS IS SUCH A CLASSIC JERSEY THING.

10 YEARS AGO, CHRIS CHRISTIE AND THE SOUTH JERSEY DEMOCRATIC FACTION ALIGNED WITH GEORGE NORCROSS AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT THEY WERE TELLING THE UNIONS ON THE REGULAR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS THAT THEY NEEDED TO CUT BENEFITS.

AROUND THE SAME TIME THEY FROZE EVERYONE'S COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.

THEY CREATED A NEW BOARD CALLED THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS WITH A PENSIONABLE $275,000 SALARY.

THEY CHANGE THE LAW .

TOOK AN EVEN HIGHER PAYING JOB AT A NONPROFIT PUBLIC FUNDED , NOW THAT SHE SECURED HER PENSION AND FREEHOLDER JEFFREY NASH , COMMISSIONER JEFFREY NASH FROM CAMDEN COUNTY WHO'S BEEN IN THE PENSION SYSTEM SINCE 1992 WITH A CURRENT SALARY OF $23,000.

HIS PENSION, IF HE RETIRED TODAY WOULD BE WORTH ABOUT $15,000 A YEAR.

HE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE JOB DANA REDHEAD.

IF HE STAYS IN THAT JOB THREE YEARS AT $275,000 SALARY, COMMISSIONER NASH'S PENSION WILL BE $180,000.

THAT'S A 12 TIME , 12 TIMES INCREASE IN HIS FUTURE PENSION IF YOU TREATED EVEN A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE PENSION SYSTEM THIS WAY.

I RIGGING THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY END THEIR TIME WITHOUT PAYING NEARLY AS MUCH AS THEY GOT OUT .

THE SYSTEM WOULD COLLAPSE TOMORROW.

THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE TELLING EVERYBODY THAT THEY NEEDED TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE AND FOR THEIR FRIENDS, THEY RIGGED THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY CAN DO THIS.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND BY THE WAY, PRODUCT OF BIPARTISANSHIP.

SO THAT'S WHEN I SAY THAT.

I'M A REPORTER, THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR IT.

THEY CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT, BUT THE FACTS ARE THERE.

THEY DID IT WITH DANA RED.

NOW THEY ARE DOING IT WITH JEFFREY NASH AND THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES DOING IT.

THIS HAPPENS ALL OVER THE STATE.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED AND CHANGE THIS, BUT THEY WON'T.

>> MATT BROUGHT IT HOME.

THANKS.

>> THAT'S WHY WE SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER.

>> IN VIEW OF HER ONLY IN JERSEY NO, WE GET TO ENJOY WAS BECOMING A ROUNDTABLE TRADITION.

CALLING OH DAYS EXQUISITE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE DISPLAY.

CALLING, WHAT YEAR IS THIS FOR THIS DISPLAY AND IS THERE A NEW ADDITION THIS YEAR?

>> THIS IS YOUR 30th THING.

AND WE GOT A NEW CHOCOLATE FACTORY , AND WE HAVE A SCIENCE MUSEUM .

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JERSEY, I THINK YOU JUST SAW THAT.

THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE .

THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE OR ONE OF THE ONLY ONES YOU WOULD ONLY FIND IN NEW JERSEY THAT HAS NOT ONE, BUT TWO DINERS.

>> OF COURSE .

THEY ARE OPEN 24 HOURS.

THAT'S AWESOME.

WE LOVE IT.

MINE COMES FROM THE WORLD OF RADIO WERE THIS WEEK, VETERAN HOUSE REPORTER MICHAEL SIMONS TWEETED THAT HE WAS BEING LAID OFF BY TOWNSQUARE MEDIA, OWNERS OF 101.5.

NEVERMIND THAT IT'S TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, BUT ON A RADIO STATION BEST KNOWN FOR ITS ILL AND MISINFORMED, OFTEN RACIST AND MISOGYNISTIC QUOTES .

THE GUY THEY LAY OFF IS THE ONE WITH THE CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP TO TRUTH , RESPECT AND CLASS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, LISTENERS.

AND GOOD LUCK TO MICHAEL SIMONS WHO HAS ALWAYS DESERVED BETTER.

THAT'S ROUNDTABLE FOR 2022.

COLLEEN , KEN, MATT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

YOU CAN FOLLOW THE SHOW ON TWITTER ON ROUNDTABLE NJ AND GET FIRST DIBS IN CHAT BOX WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

INKS FOR HANGING OUT WITH US THIS YEAR, FOLKS.

IT'S ALSO TO OUR NEWSMAKER GUESTS AND TO THE TREMENDOUS PANEL OF JOURNALISTS WHO JOIN US EVERY WEEK.

WE WILL BE BACK IN JANUARY.

HOPE YOU COME BACK TOO.

IN THE MEANTIME, FROM ALL THE CREW HERE AT TWO GATEWAY CENTER, I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>>> MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT NJ REALTOR.COM.

R WJ BARNABAS HEALTH , LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

MGM 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 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 NEWSLETTER ON GARDEN STATE POLITICS , ONLINE AT POLITICO .COM.