WHAT ARE THE MAIN TAKEAWAYS FROM THE FLORIDA ELECTION RESULTS?

IS THE DEATH OF ROBERT BROOKS A WAKEUP CALL FOR PRISON REFORM?

AND SENATOR BOOKER'S TALKATHON, DOES IT LIGHT A PATHWAY FORWARD FOR THE RESISTANCE?

INSIGHTS FROM THE PROFESSORS COMING UP NEXT ON "THE IVORY TOWER."

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND, WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS JOINING ME AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE: LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY ANIRBAN ACHARYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND .

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JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY THIS WEEK WE SAW THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS SINCE THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS THAT GAVE REPUBLICANS CONTROL OF CAPITOL HILL.

THEY HELD ONTO THE TWO OPEN SEATS IN FLORIDA, BUT BY MARGINS THAT ARE SMALLER THAN BEFORE, AND MAYBE TOO SMALL FOR COMFORT THEIR COMMAND OF DISTRICTS PREVIOUSLY HELD BY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR MIKE WALTZ AND THE ALMOST U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MATT GAETZ WAS CUT IN HALF.

WHAT SHOULD WE TAKE AWAY FROM THESE RESULTS?

ARE THEY A REBUKE OF THE ACTIONS TAKEN SO FAR BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS?

>> I THINK THEY ARE IN PART.

THE REPUBLICANS WERE LEGIT NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FLORIDA SEATS WHICH ACTUALLY SURPRISED ME A BIT BECAUSE THEY HAD 30-POINT VICTORIES A SHORT TIME AGO AND YOU HAD PRESIDENT TRUMP DOING SOME CALLS LAST MINUTE TO TRY TO SHORE THINGS UP.

AND WHAT POLLING WAS SHOWING TO BE MAYBE A SINGLE DIGIT RACE.

I THINK THAT CERTAINLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SO FAR.

HIS HONEYMOON IS OVER.

ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS HE WAS ELECTED IS THE ECONOMY AND HIS RATINGS ARE UNDER WATER WITH THAT ISSUE AND MANY OTHER ISSUES.

SO I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE FACING A CHALLENGING MOMENT HERE.

THAT BEING SAID, DEMOCRATS TEND TO DO WELL IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

THIS WAS A LOW TURNOUT ELECTION WHICH HURTS THE INCUMBENT PARTY AND HELPS THE OPPOSITION PARTY SO THE TURNOUT WAS ABOUT HALF WHAT IT WAS BEFORE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THE DMSZ ARE GOING TO CREWS TO VICTORY IN THE MID TERM BUT IT'S A GOOD START FOR THEM.

>> INS SO MUCH IN WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE EFFORT ON THE PART OF DEMOCRATS TO TIRN OUT THE VOTE THERE AND I BELIEVE THEY SPENT SOMETHING LIKE 20 TIMES MORE THAN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

SO YOU THINK THIS IS A SIGN TO DEMOCRATS OF HOW TO PURSUE MORE OF THE GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT AND PERHAPS ALSO FUNDRAISING?

>> WELL, I THINK IN TERMS OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS, BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIAL ELECTION, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET MONEY FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ALL FUNNELED INTO THIS ONE RACE.

I THINK THAT HELPED THEM WITH THE FUNDRAISING.

BUT I THINK HAVING TRUMP IN OFFICE AS OPPOSED TO BEING AN OUTSIDER CAMPAIGNING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BOON FOR DEMOCRATS AND WE SAW THAT EARLY ON HERE.

>> SO WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT THE DISTRICT THAT WAS MIKE WALTZ, THE 1st DISTRICT IS PART OF THE PANHANDLE AND ONE OF THOSE COUNTIES ACTUALLY WENT DEMOCRAT, MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS ACTUALLY VOTED FOR THE DEMOCRAT AND WHAT IS NOTEWORTHY ABOUT THAT DISTRICT IS IT IS PREDOMINANTLY FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND COMPANIES THAT ARE RELIANT ON THOSE FEDERAL WORKERS AND THE INCOME AND THE EXPENDITURES, RIGHT, THAT THEY BRING.

SO WHAT STRIKES ME COMING OUT OF THIS IS THAT I SEE THAT IN DISTRICTS WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF FEDERAL WORKERS, WE ARE GOING TO SEE, I THINK, CONTINUED ANGER, FRUSTRATION, THAT WILL BE TAKEN OUT STRONGLY AGAINST ANY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> INTERESTING.

SO ANIRBAN, THE DISTRICT THAT JENNY WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT ALSO INVOLVED TWO CANDIDATES THAT WERE ON POLAR OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE GAZA-ISRAEL WAR, THE DEMOCRAT OR LIBERAL CANDIDATE, BECAUSE THEY WERE BASICALLY NON-PARTISAN ELECTIONS.

BUT THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE WAS VERY STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE AND THEN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE NOT SO MUCH.

SO DO YOU THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD CARRY OVER?

OR IS THIS A FLORIDA THING?

>> WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE DOWN THE LINE BUT AT LEAST I KNOW FROM DEMAND GRASK DATA THAT A LARGE PORTION OF THE YOUNG JEWISH POPULATION IF THE UNITED STATES ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF ISRAEL HIECH SHIEF OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF PALESTINE, NOT ISRAEL.

AND WE CAN SEE INCREASINGLY A LOT OF PEOPLE AS WE SEE THE MASSACRE GOING ON.

MANY PEOPLE LIKE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE CHILDREN DIE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE WOMEN DIE AND SUFFER; HOWEVER MUCH, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN THEY MIGHT BE.

THEY HAVE SOME CONSCIENCE.

WE WILL SEE WHAT PANS OUT.

I AM INTERESTING IN THE WISCONSIN ELECTION.

THERE WAS SO MUCH MONEY THAT ELON MUSK POURED INTO, IT FELT ALMOST ILLEGAL TO DO THIS KIND OF STUFF BUT STILL THE DEMOCRATS HAD A WONDERFUL GAME IN RURAL PARTS OF WISCONSIN.

THEY WON IN VOTER TURNOUT, MORE THAN REPUBLICANS AND, YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME COURT SEAT AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHIFT, ALMOST ALL COUNTIES IN WISCONSIN SHIFTED BLUE.

THERE WAS A DEFINITE BLUE SHIFT IN ALMOST ALL COUNTIES.

BUT AGAIN WE KNOW ONE THING THAT WISCONSIN VOTERS WANTED WAS THE I.D., THE VOTER I.D.

THING THEY WANTED IN THE CONSTITUTION SO MIXED RESULT.

BUT AT LEAST IT'S A GOOD BLOW AGAINST THIS IDEA THAT WE CAN WIN ELECTION BY GIVING OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND, YOU KNOW, $100 FOR WHATEVER PEOPLE WANT TO VOTE.

>> A MILLION DOLLARS.

>> FOR CHOSEN PEOPLE.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT UNTIL JUST NOW AND THAT IS THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE IN THAT CASE.

SHE ACTUALLY WAS REALLY PRIORITIZING ABORTION, WHICH DID NOT WORK FOR KAMALA HARRIS AND SHE SAID THE MESSAGE SENT BY WISCONSIN VOTERS IS THAT THEY CANNOT BE BOUGHT.

>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD, YOU KNOW, WIN FOR THE REPUBLIC ITSELF, THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHOICE AND THE PEOPLE SPOKE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS UNDER PERFORMED HUGELY COMPARED TO TRUMP'S TURNOUT, WHEREAS THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T OVERPERFORM BUT GOT A VERY HIGH PORTION OF THE TURNOUT THAT WENT FOR KAMALA HARRIS SO THAT CHANGED THE RESULT.

>> SO THE POLICY DISCUSSION, THE POLICY DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL DON'T NECESSARILY WORK AT THE STATE LEVEL AND VICE VERSA.

SO, YOU KNOW, WISCONSIN CURRENTLY IS A STATE WHERE IT'S HOSTILE TO ABORTION RIGHT NOW AND BASICALLY CONTESTED AND SO I THINK AT THE STATE LEVEL YOU ARE SEEING VOTERS SAYING JUST LIKE WE SAW IN KANSAS AS WELL, WHAT FOUR YEARS AGO, THREE YEARS AGO NOW IN THEIR SPECIAL ELECTION VOTE.

THEY OVERWHELMINGLY SAID NO, WE WANT TO CODIFY ABORTION PROTECTIONS IN LAW.

AND WHEREAS I THINK HARRIS' MESSAGE AROUND ABORTION WAS REALLY HARD TO COUNTER WHEN YOU HAD DONALD TRUMP SAYING HE WAS AGAINST ANY KIND OF FEDERAL BAN ON ABORTION AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY AT THE MOMENT IS STATE FIGHT, WHICH MAKES, I THINK, A MESSAGE BY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AROUND ABORTION A LITTLE HARDER.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I ALSO THINK THE OVERARCHING ISSUE FOR ME IS COMPETENCY, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT DONALD TRUMP'S COMPETENCY NOW THAT HE WAS IF OFFICE.

THERE WAS CONCERNS ABOUT BIDEN'S COMPETENCY WHILE HE WAS IN OFFICE.

THAT'S WHY APPROVAL RATINGS HAVE BEEN SO LOW, TRUMP'S FIRST TERP, BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY AND TRUMP'S SECOND TERM.

IF I WERE DEMOCRATS YES PEOPLE WILL GRAVITATE TATE TO SPECIAL ISSUES IN TERMS OF FOREIGN POLICY OR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS BUT I WOULD HAMMER COMPETENCY.

IS THIS HOW YOU WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RUN?

DO YOU WANT YOUR SERVICES CUT?

DO YOU WANT FEDERAL FUNDING TO YOUR STATE CUT?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BLOWS MY MIND IS THAT LOUISIANA IS MOST DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL FUNDING, OVER HALF OF THEIR STATE BUDGET IS FEDERAL FUNDING AND YET THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FROM LOUISIANA AND MANY OTHER SOUTHERN STATES THAT FALL IN THIS CATEGORY, I DON'T THINK RURAL REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO FLOCK EN MASSE TO THE DEMOCRATS BUT PEOPLE ON THE MARGINS ARE GOING TO SWITCH.

>> YOU ARE SUGGESTING THERE IS BOTH THE COMPETENCY ISSUE, BUT THERE IS ALSO MAKING THE VOTERS PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH IN RED STATES REALIZE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE THE MOST FROM THE CUTS IN FUNDING.

EXCELLENT POINT.

>> AND SENATE WHEN THERE IS A BIPARTISAN BILL COMING OUT NOW BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS AND STUFF.

>> EXACTLY.

>> LED BY RAND PAUL, A LIBERTARIAN.

THAT COULD HAVE LEGS TO GO RP.

WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO AN ISSUE CLOSER TO HOME BUT THAT HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR IN THE BEATING DEATH OF AN INMATE AT THE MARCY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY RECENTLY OFFERED PLEA DEALS TO THE TEN CORRECTIONS OFFICERS CHARGED WITH MURDER.

DETAILS OF THE PLEA OFFER FROM ONONDAGA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILLIAM FITZPATRICK ARE STILL UNDER WRAPS .

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BUT THE GRUESOME DETAILS OF THE BEATING ITSELF WERE CAPTURED IN VIDEO RECORDINGS THEY PROMPTED THE GOVERNOR TO CLEAN HOUSE • AND THE REST OF THE PUBLIC TO HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER MR. ROBERTS' DEATH IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

IF IT IS NOT.

SO WHAT IS THE REACTION TO THIS INCIDENT, ANIRBAN?

ON YOUR PART?

>> THIS IS A VERY GRUESOME INCIDENT AND IT WAS ACCIDENTALLY CAUGHT ON CAMERA, RIGHT?

THIS IS NOT ONE OFF INCIDENT.

MARSHALL PROJECT WITH NEW YORK TIMES DOING THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING A FEW YEARS AGO AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT ABUSE OF PRISONERS BY PRISON GUARDS IS QUITE ENDEMIC AND ONE CAN GO INTO VARIOUS ANECDOTAL STUFF IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN WEST SYRACUSE, A GUARD KICKED A MAN AND CALLED HIM A RACIAL SLUR.

-- WITH THE PRISON GUARD UNIONS AND THOSE CONTRACTS CREATE CERTAIN HINDERANCES TOWARDS PROSECUTING BAD ACTORS.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

WHAT THESE PRISON GUARDS ARE DOING DAY IN AND DAY OUT IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.

THE PRISON POPULATION SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE DONE HEINOUS CRIMES.

THEY'RE NOT IN THEIR SANE MIND.

THEY SOMETIMES ARE CONFRONTATIONAL WITH PRISON GUARDS BUT JUSTICE CANNOT BE SEEN AS WHEN WE DISH OUT A VENGEFUL RETRIBUTION TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CRIMINALS.

AND THAT CANNOT CONTINUE.

SO MAYBE AN OMBUDSMAN, A MORE KIND OF A REPRESENTATION FROM PRISON GUARDS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS, A COMMITTEE, THAT COULD PRODUCE A TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST IN THE SYSTEM.

>> AND PERHAPS WHERE THERE ARE HOTSPOTS, RIGHT, WE TALK ABOUT HOTSPOTS FOR POLICING, BUT YOU MENTIONED THE PRISON PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HERE IN THIS FACILITY, IT WAS FOUND A COUPLE YEARS BEFOREHAND, THAT OVER 80% OF THE INMATES COMPLAINED OF PHYSICAL AND VERBAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE.

60% COMPLAINED OF RACIAL ABUSE.

SO PERHAPS THERE IS A WAY FOR THE STATE TO CHANNEL ITS RESOURCES IN WAYS THAT WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

>> YEAH, COMING BACK OFF OF A COLD, OF COURSE, SO I WOULD SAY THAT THERE REALLY IS SOME NEED FOR BETTER OVERSIGHT OF THESE FACILITIES.

THE CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK IS BASICALLY A NON-PROFIT TASKED TO TRACK THE PRISONER ABUSES THAT YOU MENTIONED.

BUT BEE DON'T HAVE A SIMILAR INDEPENDENT BODY THAT IS ALSO TRACKING VIOLENCE AGAINST CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

THE STRIKE THAT WE-- THAT HAS JUST ENDED, ONE OF THE PIECES OF EVIDENCE CORRECTIONAL OFFICES WERE CITING AS REASONS FOR THEIR STRIKE IS THAT THEY WERE UNDER INCREASED ATTACKS AND ASSAULTS BY PRISONERS.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY UNEVEN.

AND THAT'S, AGAIN, COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY.

THERE ISN'T ENOUGH OVERSIGHT.

THERE HAS BEEN A TURN AS OF LATE IN TERMS OF THE ADMINISTRATION OVERSEEING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

THERE CLEARLY IS A NEED FOR SUBSTANTIAL REFORM.

>> AND WITH OUR POLITICAL CULTURE, WE TEND TO THINK ABOUT THINGS IN INDIVIDUALISTIC TERMS.

AND I THINK THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF PRISONS ARE WORTH CONSIDERING AS WELL.

AS ANIRBAN REFERENCED, IT'S A HARD ENVIRONMENT.

I WOULD SAY IT'S INHUMANE AND THAT IMPACTS NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE INCARCERATED BUT THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THEM ESSENTIALLY IN CAGES.

SO ONE THING WE CAN THINK ABOUT IN ADDITION TO WHAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN STATE LAW, SOME BILLS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED THAT SEEK TO CHANGE THOSE DYNAMICS IN WAYS THAT I THINK ARE PRODUCTIVE.

THE EARNED TIME ACT, FOR INSTANCE, HELPS CREATE INCENTIVES FOR INMATES THAT ALSO BENEFITS CORRECTION OFFICES IN THAT IF INMATES FOLLOW THE RULES, ENGAGE IN TREATMENT, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, EDUCATION, THESE TYPES OF THINGS, THEY COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR EARLY RELEASE.

AND I THINK TRYING TO THINK OF THESE WAYS TO GET COOPERATION AND A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND INMATES, BOTH OF WHOM ARE IN DIFFICULT POSITIONS WOULD HELP EVERYBODY AND HELP THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE RECIDIVISM RATES ARE HIGH AND IF WE CAN GET THE SKILLS WHILE THEY'RE INCARCERATED, IT HELPS FOR THEM AND THE GROUP.

>> IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE LUKE YOU HAVE TOUCHED ON A CRITICAL ISSUE, WHICH IS AS A SOCIETY, HAVE WE FORGOTTEN WHAT THE PURPOSE OF PRISONS IS SUPPOSED TO BOTH PUNISH BUT ALSO TO REHABILITATE.

AND ARE WE POURING NOT ONLY FUNDS INTO THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT; BUT ALSO FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS BECAUSE THE STRIKE THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS BECAUSE OF UNDERSTAFFING AND BEING OVERWORKED, FORCED OVERTIME AND SO THE PLIGHT OF THE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS IS VERY CLOSELY TIED TO THE SAFETY OF PRISONERS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

AND IN GOING BACK TO YOU, THERE ARE STUDIES WHERE IF THE PRISONERS STAY IN A VERY UNSAFE AND HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE FEARING FROM OTHER PRISONERS AND KIND OF AN ENDEMIC ABUSE TOWARD PRISONERS BY BAD ACTORS AMONG PRIS PRISON GUARDS; IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COME OUT AND LEAD A LAWFUL LIFE WHICH LEADS TO RECIDIVISM.

BETTER HUMANE IMPRISONMENT WOULD CREATE BETTER OUTCOMES AND PUT CORRECTION IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN THE CORRECT MANNER.

>> DRUG ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE TWO MAIN REASONS PEOPLE ARE INCARCERATED.

THE MORE WE CAN HELP THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE SITUATIONS THAT ARE INCARCERATED, THE BETTER IT IS FOR THEM AND THE BETTER IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> SO I SAY THIS ON EVERYBODY'S BEHALF.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF Mr. BROOKS AND PERHAPS THIS VERY UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT WILL SPUR THE KINDS OF REFORMS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

WE ARE GOING TO SWITCH TOPICS NOW AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IN YEARS PAST HAS WORKED IN A CERTAIN WAY, RIGHT?

THE FILIBUSTER RULE USED TO BE THE TO GO TOOL OF SOUTHERNERS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION.

BUT THIS WEEK IT WAS A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT .

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SENATOR COREY BOOKER OF NEW JERSEY .

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THAT LEVERAGED UNLIMITED DEBATE TO COMPLETE A MARATHON 25-HOUR SPEECH THAT SET NEW RECORD.

SENATOR BOOKER TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE NEED OF HIS PARTY TO DO BETTER, TO THE THREATS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND MANY OTHER THINGS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE OVER 25 HOURS.

AND SO JENNY, WHAT IS YOUR READ ON WHETHER THIS SPEECH MADE A DIFFERENCE?

>> RIGHT, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE DEMOCRATS, OR THE RESISTANCE, AS YOU FRAMED IN THE INTRO, HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A VOICE TO THEIR GRIEVANCES.

AND YOUY NO,-- AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ALWAYS FOR CONGRESS MEMBERS IS THAT YOU HAVE A MULTIPLICITY OF VOICES WHEREAS THE PRESIDENCY, IT'S ONE VOICE.

IT'S A SINGULAR VOICE.

AND SO THE MESSAGING COMING OUT OF CONGRESS IS ALWAYS MORE CONVOLUTED AND HARDER TO BREAKTHROUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A DOMINATING VOICE LIKE DONALD TRUMP'S AND SO I THINK THE MOMENT THAT BOOKER SEIZED TO ARTICULATE A PERSPECTIVE, A SETS OF ARGUMENTS , A VISION FOR THE WAY THAT HE SEES OR WANTS TO SEAT WORLD AND I THINK BY EXTENSION THE RESISTANCE AS YOU DESCRIBED IT, ALSO ARE LOOKING FOR, I THINK IT WAS QUITE, QUITE POWERFUL BECAUSE IT DID GIVE VOICE.

BOOKER HAD SOME BEAUTIFUL ORATORICAL MOMENTS.

SO I'M A STUDENT OF ORATORY, I HAVE STUDIES SPEECHES SINCE I WAS IN AN UNDERGRADUATE IN UNIVERSITY AND I PERSONALLY CRAVE GOOD ORATORS.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT AT THIS MOMENT.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE IN THE GREEN ROOM ABOUT BARACK OBAMA.

OBAMA HAD A RHETORICAL STYLE THAT WAS.

>> MASTERFUL.

>> PERFECT WORD.

EXACTLY.

AND I THINK ABOUT GEORGE W. BUSH WHO WAS NOT THE MOST MASTERFUL OF ORATORS.

JOE BIDEN WAS NOT A MASTERFUL ORATOR, SO TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE GIFT THAT COMES WITH THOUGHTFUL WORDS PUT TOGETHER TO CONVEY A VISION THAT PEOPLE CAN GET BEHIND, I THINK IT WAS MOVING.

I THINK IT WAS EFFECTIVE.

NOW GOING FORWARD WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW THAT WORKS, I DON'T KNOW.

>> GOING FORWARD.

LUKE WHAT DO YOU THINK GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK SENATOR BOOKER PROVED THE IMPORTANCE OF GARNERING A DIGITAL AUDIENCE.

THAT WAS THE MAIN CONSIDERATION, SOMETHING TRUMP EXCELS AT AND I THINK HE DID THAT QUITE WELL.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT JENNY SAID, PART OF ME AGREES.

I LIKE WELL CRAFTED SPEECHES AND TO BE DAPT VAITED BUT I THINK I'M A BIT NERDY AND THAT APPEALS MORE TO ME THAN MOST.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS IN TERMS OF MESSAGING REALLY NEED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHO CARES.

WHY SHOULD THEY CARE ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING AND THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO HIGHLIGHT EXACTLY HOW THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE.

THEY CAN'T TALK GENERALLY ABOUT LOW INCOME PEOPLE OR MIDDLE CLASS.

THEY NEED TO TALK SPECIFICALLY.

TRUMP DID THIS.

THIS IS HOW IT IS GOING TO HURT YOU IF YOU ARE THIS PERSON IN THIS PLACE.

AND THAT'S WAS WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF.

>> EXACTLY.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 350 MILLION VIEWERS ON TIKTOK AND CATCHING THE END OF HIS SPEECH WERE 100,000.

AND SO PERHAPS DO YOU THINK ANIRBAN, THAT DEMOCRATS WILL THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE FILIBUSTER BECAUSE JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THEY WERE SAYING GET RID OF IT BUT IN LIGHT OF WHAT JENNY AND LUKE SAID, PERHAPS NOW THIS IS THAT PLATFORM THAT THEY NEED.

>> YEAH, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING, RIGHT?

LIKE IF YOU DON'T GET 60 VOTES, YOU CANNOT STOP THE DEBATE.

AND YOU CAN FILIBUSTER.

I DOUBT THOUGH IF THIS WAS A FILIBUSTER BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS-- IF THERE WAS A BILL BEING CONSIDERED BUT ON THE WHOLE, I'M HAPPY TO, WHEN I'M GOING TO TEACH AMERICAN POLITICS NEXT SEMESTER, I CAN SAY THAT THE LONGEST SPEECH IN U.S. SENATE WAS NOT BY A PERSON WHO WANTED TO STIFLE FREEDOM OF OTHERS BUT A PERSON WHO WANTED TO DESCRIBE WHAT FREEDOM MEANS TO US.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

>> NOT STROM THURMOND BLOCKING CIVIL RIGHTS BUT SOMETHING ELSE.

NOW IT'S TIME TO FOR F'S & A'S, STARTING WITH YOUR 'F' • "LUKE >> MY F GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE PROCESS OF CUTTING THEIR STAFF BY 25%.

THIS IS GOING TO REALLY HARM PUBLIC HEALTH REGULATION AND RESEARCH.

>> AND NEXT ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE REGRESSIVE RIGHT RING ATTACK ON PBS AND NPR IN RECENT CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ACCUSING THEIR HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AS COMMUNIST.

I SUPPOSE WE HAVE BEEN OUTED BY THE McCARTHYIST OVERLORDS BUS BUT THIS IS NOT SURPRISING AS FASCIST TENDENCIES USE KNOWLEDGE AS THEIR BOOGIE MAN.

>> WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT COMES FROM?

>> QUESTIONING AUTHORITY, IDEAS OF FEMINISM, IDEAS OF RACE, LIBERATION.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT PBS AND NPR AND AMERICAN HISTORY, EXCELLENT PROGRAMMING, LIKE I GREW UP ON PBS AND NPR, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST FAVORITE THINGS IN MY LIFE.

AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT BECAUSE THEN YOU WILL THINK, THEN YOU WILL THINK ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY AND SO ON AND SO FORDS.

-- AND SO FORTH.

NEWS MAX PROGRAMMING WHAT IS THEY WANT.

>> BUT PBS WAS BORN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE.

>> AND THEY GIVE YOU DIFFERENT THINGS ABOUT WEATHER, ABOUT AGRICULTURAL TIPS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IT HAS A LARGE REACH.

>> GOOD STUFF.

>> JENNY.

I'M IN A SCHOOL OF INFORMATION STUDIES AND MY LIBRARY OF SCIENCE COLLEAGUES RESEARCH WAYS TO IMPROVE LIBRARY SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND THEY TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF LIBRARIANS.

THE SHUTTERING OF THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES BY ELON MUSK GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY PROJECT IS BIZARRE.

THE SMALL AGENCY BUDGET GOES TO GRANTS FOR REFER AND SUPPORT SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR LIBRARIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

ALL 70 STAFF WERE PUT ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AND GRANT ACTIVITY IS IN THE AIR.

IT IS LIKE CANCELING A HOUSE RENOVATION HALFWAY THROUGH WHILE CONTINUING TO PAY THE CONTRACTORS.

I DON'T SEE THE EFFICIENCY IN MUSK'S WORK.

ALL I SEE IS A TERRIBLE WASTE.

>> A TERRIBLE WASTE.

OF COURSE WE COULD GO ON WITH ALL OF THE NEWS STORIES WE HAD THIS WEEK.

WE COULD HAVE LOTS OF FS BUT I BELIEVE WE COULD OFFER LOTS OF GOOD NEWS AND SO LET'S TURN TO OUR AS.

STARTING AGAIN WITH LUKE.

>> MY A GOES TO THE MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM AT UTICA UNIVERSITY.

THEY MADE THEIR FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LAST WEEKEND HOSTED AT THE NEXUS CENTER WHICH WAS GREAT FOR THE CITY OF UTICA.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY LOST THE NAIL BITER IN OVERTIME BUT IT WAS A GREAT GAME AND A GREAT SEASON.

>> WERE YOU THERE?

>> NO, I COULDN'T MAKE IT UNFORTUNATELY BUT I WATCHED THE GAME AT HOME.

>> THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING.

AND YOU WERE CHEERING WHILE YOU WERE WATCHING.

ANIRBAN, GIVE US GOOD NEWS.

>> TO THE 87-YEAR-OLD HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR WHILE PROTESTING AGAINST ISRAEL'S ASSAULT ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN DETAINED BY THE SHAMEFUL MET POLICE IN LONDON.

HE LATER WROTE AN OP SAID SAY-- OP SAID THAT THE ETHNIC CLEANSING HAS MANY DIFFERENCES FROM NAZI GERMANY'S PLAN TO DESTROY THE JEWS IN EUROPE BUT THERE ARE SIMILARITIES SO AS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR HE FELT COMPELLED TO JOIN PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS IN LONDON.

>> JENNY.

>> SO MY A GOES TO THE MONTEZUMA WILDLIFE REFUGE.

OPENING DAY WAS TUESDAY AND I'M RELIEVED TO SEE THAT THE VARIOUS FEDERAL CUTS SO FAR DIDN'T AFFECT ITS OPENING.

SO MONT SUM ARC IS LOCATED BETWEEN ZEUS AND ROCHESTER AND IT'S A NATIONAL TREASURE HOSTING OVER 300 BIRD SPECIES ON ITS 10,000 ACRES OF WETLANDS.

THIS MAGNIFICENT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE IS PART OF A 50,000 ACRE COMPLEX THAT HAS BEEN RESTORED AND PROTECTED BY FEDERAL, STATE AND NON-PROFIT PARTNERSHIPS.

MONTEZUMA IS AN EXAMPLE OF FORWARD THINKING THAT AFFECTS A GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR BIRDS.

>> AND FOR TO US GO THROUGH.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT HERE IN THE STUDIO BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN .

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IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT IVORY TOWER .

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GOOD NIGHT.