THE STATE OF THE UNION IS •.FEISTY.

SHOULD BIDEN CALL FOR AN PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA?

AND, A MAJOR TRADE FIGHT IS BREWING OVER CHEAP CLOTHES.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, SARAH PRALLE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND BEN BAUGHMAN FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY.

WE'LL BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE STATE OF OUR UNION.

PRESIDENT BIDEN GAVE THE BIG SPEECH LAST NIGHT, WHICH WAS NOT ONLY THE REQUIRED REPORT TO CONGRESS BUT ALSO VERY MUCH A CAMPAIGN SPEECH IN HIS RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

AS WE TAPE THE PROGRAM IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 12 HOURS, SO THIS ISN'T QUITE INSTANT ANALYSIS, BUT CLOSE?

SARAH, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY?

>> OVERALL, IT WAS A GOOD NIGHT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY.

FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

SOME OF HIS CRITICS ON SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE AND AFTER THE SPEECH SAID HE WAS TOO ANIMATED AND I THINK THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS PROBABLY VERY PLEASED BY THAT FEEDBACK.

IT WASN'T JUST THE STYLE OF HIS SPEECH WHICH WAS DEFINITELY FIERY AN FULL OF ENERGY, BUT I THOUGHT THE SUBSTANCE WAS REALLY GOOD.

SOME OF THE-- HE STARTED OUT REALLY STRONG, SETTING UP A CONTRAST BETWEEN HIM AND HIS OPPONENTS AROUND THE COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY I THOUGHT ONE OF HIS FIRST LINES THAT CAME OUT IN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES IS YOU CANNOT LOVE YOUR COUNTRY ONLY WHEN YOU WIN.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS POWERFUL.

THEN HE LAUNCHED INTO A LOT OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHICH IS SOMETHING HE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED TO DO.

THERE IS A RECENT POLLING SUGGESTS THAT MOST OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS COULDN'T NAME ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, SO THAT'S THE REAL BAD NEWS.

THE GOOD NIS IS THAT POLLING ALSO SUGGESTS HIS POLICIES HAVE BEEN POPULAR, ARE REALLY POPULAR WHEN PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THEM.

SOME OF THEM POLLING OVER 60% APPROVAL.

AND HE, YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH THE LITANY OF THINGS LIKE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COSTS, HIS INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, CLIMATE CHANGE, PROPOSALS AND POLICIES, AND SO HE NEEDED TO DO THAT.

THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR HIM WHETHER IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HIM AT THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER, WE'LL SEE.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

>> WAS IT TOO MUCH OF A CAMPAIGN SPEECH?

IT TOOK HIM QUITE A WHILE BEFORE HE SAID THE STATE OF OUR UNION.

>> I DON'T THINK THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS COULD BE TOO MUCH OF A CAMPAIGN SPEECH BECAUSE IT STARTED OUT AS BEING ABOUT INFORMING THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE STATE OF THE UNION BUT STARTING WITH F.D.R., IT BECAME TOUTING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

AND TO PIGGY BACK ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SARAH SAID, HE WAS GOING INTO THIS FACING SOME PRETTY STRONG POLITICAL HEAD WINDS.

70% OF THE COUNTRY OR 70% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND 70% BELIEVE THAT, THEY BELIEVE, I THINK THAT BIDEN WAS NOT UP TO THE JOB BECAUSE HE WAS TOO OLD.

AND SO WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO WERE TWO THINGS: TO PERSUADE THE COUNTRY THAT HE IS ABLE AND SECONDLY, TO LAY OUT A VERY CLEAR AGENDA AS TO HOW HE WOULD MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD.

AND I WOULD SAY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ON BOTH ENDS.

THE ONE CRITICISM THAT-- AND REALLY NOT CRITICISM AS MUCH AS CORRECTIVE IS THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE HIS FOLKS TO THINK ABOUT, THAT HE IS SEEING SLIPPAGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CORE CONSTITUENCIES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SO THOSE HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.

HIS SUPPORT AMONG BLACKS IS DOWN SINCE 2020 AND ALSO AMONG LATINO VOTERS.

THAT'S DOWN SINCE 2020; HOWEVER AND IMPORTANTLY, HIS SUPPORT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT'S ACTUALLY UP.

>> SO, BEN, SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND PLANS JABS LANDED IN THE ROOM.

DO YOU THINK THEY LANDED WITH THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS HE NEEDED TO SWAY?

>> I THINK SO IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE HE CAME OUT HITTING THE HIGHLIGHTS BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE 13 TIMES OF THE PERSON HE DID NOT MENTION.

>> HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED.

>> EXACTLY.

I THINK HE DID A GOOD JOB CONTRASTING, SPECIFICALLY BRINGING UP NATO OUT OF THE GATE THAT FINLAND JOINED LAST YEAR AND SWEDEN YESTERDAY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A REALITY THAT WE ARE A GLOBAL SOCIETY AND THAT WAS A KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND HIM AND HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED.

>> IN SIEL-- IN STYLE AND SUBSTANCE, ONE OF THE MORE POLITICAL SPEECHES I'VE SEEN IN THE STATE OF THE UNION AND HE WAS SHOWCASING IT TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT WERE NOT VERY SURE IF HE IS OR CAN LEAD THE COUNTRY GIVEN HIS AGE.

AT LEAST HE COULD ASSUAGE THAT PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GIVEN THE VERY LIVELY SPEECH, GOING OFF SCRIPT, BANTERING WITH OTHER CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVES WHO WERE TRYING TO HECKLE HIM AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND HE CAME OUT QUITE WELL.

AND I ALSO THINK VERY IMPORTANTLY, TOWARDS THE END, AND THIS MIGHT HAVE SLIPPED A LOT, VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT CALLED FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

A PERMANENT TWO-STATE SOLUTION IN ISRAEL.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE HAS SAID OUT THIS CLEARLY IN THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

I MIGHT BE WRONG ON THAT.

BUT ONE MORE THING THAT STRUCK ME IS THAT THE DIVISION THAT I SAW DURING THE SPEECH.

THERE IS ONLY ONE TIME WHEN JOHN LEWIS' MEMORY CAME UP AND HIS WORK CAME UP THAT WE SAW THE ENTIRE CHAMBER RISE, INCLUDING THE SPEAKER.

ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS, THERE WERE MANY THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS ALSO SUPPORT BUT THEY WERE NOT AT ALL, YOU KNOW, CHEERING OR STANDING OR HELPING THE PRESIDENT WITH THE SPEECH.

SO THAT I SAW VERY DIVIDED CHAMBER AT THE SAME TIME.

>> SO I WONDER, I MEAN, THE ISSUE THAT HE SEEMS TO BE MOST VULNERABLE ON IS IMMIGRATION AND CERTAINLY THAT WAS THE VERY FIRST THING THAT THE SENATOR IN HER G.O.P.

RESPONSE, THE FIRST THING SHE BROUGHT UP, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN DIDN'T GET TO THAT UNTIL PRETTY LATE IN THE SPEECH.

>> RIGHT, BUT HE DID LEAN INTO IT THOUGH.

HE PUT IT BACK TO THE REPUBLICANS.

LIKE WE HAD A DEAL.

THE REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY FOR A POLITICAL REASON.

AND THAT, AGAIN, WENT BACK TO THE 13 TIMES BUT LIKE REAGAN, HE LEANED INTO THE AGE ISSUE, THAT HE IS COMPETENT.

YES, OLD.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

HE IS JUST GOING TO GET OLDER, BUT HE IS COMPETENT AND HE LEANED INTO THAT AND HE HAD TO.

AND THIS WAS A TURNING POINT FOR THEIR CAMPAIGN.

>> YES, BUT I-- >> GO AHEAD.

>> ON THAT NOTE, I JUST HAD A REALLY GREAT QUOTE FROM THE END OF HIS SPEECH.

HE SAID IT'S NOT HOW OLD YOU ARE.

IT'S HOW OLD ARE YOUR IDEAS.

HE SAID THAT BEFORE.

THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME RESONANCE WITH PEOPLE.

>> HE WAS ALSO CALLED YOUNG AT ONE POINT.

TOO YOUNG FOR THE JOB.

>> I THOUGHT TO BEN'S POINT, THAT HE DEMONSTRATED HIS MENTAL ACUITY AND HIS ABILITY TO RESPOND IN THE MOMENT SO THE BACK AND FORTH ON THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE, ALTHOUGH IT CAME LATER IN THE SPEECH, HE BASICALLY SAID TO THEM, I KNOW YOU CAN READ, RIGHT?

AND I THOUGHT ONE OF HIS LINES, WHICH I HOPE WILL BECOME A REGULAR IN HIS CAMPAIGN WAS THAT DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT OVER THE BORDER CRISIS OR DO YOU WANT TO FIX IT.

>> THAT WAS A GOOD LINE.

>> IT HAS BEEN FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL AND THAT NATION'S DEVASTATING RESPONSE MORE THAN 30,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED; ISRAEL SAYS 10,000 OF THEM WERE HAMAS FIGHTERS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS THREE TIMES VETOED IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTIONS AT THE .U.N., PUSHING INSTEAD FOR A TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE, BUT TALKS BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL HAVE APPARENTLY BROKEN DOWN.

SHOULD BIDEN NOW CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE, PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, AS MOST OF THE WORLD AND THE LEFT-WING AND YOUNG PEOPLE OF HIS OWN PARTY WANT?

>> I THINK THAT IS BIDEN AND AMERICA GENERALLY WERE TO CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND LET ALONE A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE, WOULD BE INCREDIBLY HYPOCRITICAL.

WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7, BY WAY OF THE HAMAS ATTACK ON INNOCENT ISRAELIS WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR 9/11.

AND I DON'T RECALL ANY COUNTRY TRYING TO TELL AMERICA HOW TO RESPOND TO THE ATTACK ON THE TWIN TOWERS.

SECONDLY, I'D SAY IS THAT AMERICA HAS ALWAYS HELD THE POSITIONS THAT WE DO NOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS.

AND NOT ONLY HAVE WE HELD THAT POSITION, BUT WE'VE SHOWN IT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TALK TO TERRORISTS, WE ACTUALLY INVADE IT.

IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

AND AS TO THE CLAIMS THAT NOW IT'S TIME TO STOP BECAUSE OF CASUALTIES, THAT DIDN'T STOP AMERICA FROM CONDUCTING AN INCURSION IN AFGHANISTAN FOR 20 YEARS.

THE RESULT OF WHICH WAS ANYWHERE FROM 120,000 TO 200,000 CASUALTIES, INCLUDING 40,000 CIVILIANS, AND THE SAME WITH RESPECT TO IRAQ.

SO NO.

>> SO YOU BROUGHT UP 9/11 IN AND OUR RESPONSE BUT ONE OF THE THINGS PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID TO PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE WE DID BY, I ASSUME, BY GETTING DRAWN INTO THINGS LIKE AFGHANISTAN FOR 20 YEARS.

SARAH.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY AS WELL.

I THINK ONE OF HIS BIGGEST ARGUMENTS COULD BE THAT THAT WAS A MISTAKE, RIGHT?

THAT WE OVERREACHED IN OUR RESPONSE TO 9/11.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SHOW.

AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS, I THINK THE FEAR ALONG A LOT OF PEOPLE WAS THAT ISRAEL WOULD OVERREACH AND IT'S PLAYED OUT EXACTLY HOW SOME PEOPLE PREDICTED WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE TIDE OF PUBLIC OPINION GLOBALLY IS TURNING AGAINST ISRAEL.

THEY'RE BEING MORE ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD.

BIDEN, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATION ITSELF IS GETTING FRUSTRATED AND THERE IS A BIG GAP NOW AGAIN SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AS A COUNTRY AND THEN SUPPORT FOR THE BENJAMIN NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO TO BRIDGE THE GAP?

WHAT LEVERAGING DOES THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REALLY HAVE.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT HE SERVE THOSE AROUND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.

TALK TO THE KNISSET WHICH IS THE ISRAELI VERSION OF OUR CONGRESS.

AND THEN SOME OF THEM ARE TALKING TO DENNY GATZ WHO IS A POTENTIAL RIVAL FOR BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.

HE WENT TO ENGLAND TO TALK TO FORMER PROMISES DAVID CAMERON, HE HAS COME TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND TALKED TO UNITED NATION OFFICIALS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO GO AROUND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.

>> BIDEN IS FAR MORE POPULAR IN ISRAEL THAN NEETANYAHU IS.

DOES THAT GIVE HIM LEVERAGE TO FORCE A DEAL?

COULD HE DO THAT?

SHOULD HE DO THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT AND WHAT THE UNITED STATES DID THROWING POWER AROUND THE WORLD, WE KNOW THAT IS A MISTAKE WE ARE PAYING FOR IT.

I'M GOING TO TAKE IT THIS WAY.

LOOK AT THE INTERNATIONAL CODE OF JUSTICE, WHAT THEY SAID.

THEY CLEARLY SAID ISRAEL HAS THE OBLIGATION TO END VIOLENCE, TO END CIVILIAN VIOLENCE.

LOOK, WE ARE HAVING CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING HAVING TO BE AM PEW AMPUTATED WITHOUT ANESTHETIC.

THERE IS A LITTLE GIRL WHO LOST HER LIMBS AND LOST HER FAMILY AND SAYING PLEASE KILL ME.

GIVEN ALL THESE ATROCITIES, 30,000 PEOPLE KILLED, TWO-THIRDS OF THEM WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THAT LOOKS LIKE REVENGE.

ISRAEL IS LOSING ALONGSIDE THE UNITED STATES, IS LOSING ITS PUBLIC SUPPORT.

ESPECIALLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, THE AD HOC LAWYERS THAT ISRAEL APPOINTED WENT AGAINST ISRAEL; RIGHT?

SO, YOU KNOW 1,000... >> YOU MENTIONED THE U.N.

BUT THE U.N. ALSO THIS PAST WEEK SAID THERE ARE INDICATIONS IT APPEARS THERE WAS SEXUAL VIOLENCE INVOLVED IN THAT ATTACK AS WELL.

>> THERE ABSOLUTELY WAS.

I MEAN HERE'S THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE NEEDS-- IT'S MESSY.

IT NEEDS TO BE A BALANCED AND INFORMED RESPONSE, WHICH AT TIMES IT HAS NOT BEEN.

THE U.S. IS GOING TO TRY TO GET SOME AID TO THE GAZA BANK, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS HISTORICALLY HAMAS HAS TAKEN THE TIME FOR CEASE FIRE TO REGROUP, TO REARM AND RESUME ATTACKS, SO JUST PULLING OUT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

JUST STOPPING IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT IS A COMPLEX ISSUE.

>> AND THEY DON'T APPEAR TO WANT A CEASE FIRE THEMSELVES RIGHT NOW.

>> THEY DON'T.

AND I THINK TO COMPARE WHAT THE U.S. DID DOWN THE LINE TO ISRAEL'S SITUATION, IS A BIT LIKE APPLES AND ORANGE.

AMERICA HAS ON ITS BORDER MEXICO AND CANADA AND WE ONLY KNOW CANADA IS THERE BECAUSE WE HEAR FROM THEM FROM TIME TO TIME.

ISRAEL, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS SURROUNDED NOT JUST BY ENEMIES BUT BY THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE IT WIPED OFF OF THE FACE OF THE GLOBE.

AND TO THE CLAIM ABOUT THE ATROCITIES, WHICH I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT TO POINT OUT ANIRBAN.

WHY IS IT THAT THE UPROAR IS ABOUT STARVATION AND CARNAGE, SPECIFICALLY IN GAZA WHEN THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM HAS SHOWN THAT OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES ARE SUFFERING FAR MORE THAN THOSE IN GAZA.

THAT WE ARE TALKING 20 MILLION ON AVERAGE IN AFGHANISTAN, IN YEMEN AND IN SYRIA, WHO ARE STARVING.

SO WHY ARE WE JUST FOCUSED ON GAZA?

>> AND IT ALSO SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ISRAELI IS NOT JUST ON THE OFFENSE.

THEY'RE ON THE DEFENSE.

THERE ARE TERRORIST GROUPS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON LOBBING MISSILES IN THE HUNDREDS THAT ARE ONLY WORTH A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH THAT THE IRON DOME NEEDS TO SHOOT DOWN OR DECIDE NOT TO AND THAT COSTS $50,000 PER TIME THEY STRIKE DOWN A ROCKET.

>> 234 ANSWER TO NINA'S QUESTION WHICH IS A REALLY FAIR ONE AND GOOD, WHY PAY ATTENTION TO SOME SUFFERING AND NOT OTHERS.

PART OF THE EXPLANATION HERE IS THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THE U.S. IS IMPLICIT IN THIS BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPLYING THE ARMS AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG SUPPORTERS RIGHT NOW.

>> BUT WE TORE AFGHANISTAN DOWN.

>> AND WE CAN ALSO SAY WE ALL CRIED FOR THE UKRAINIAN BABIES AND WE SHOULD CRY FOR UKRAINIAN BABIES BUT I SEE THE TEARS ARE NOT THAT FORTHCOMING WHEN IT COMES TO PALESTINIAN BABIES AND THAT BOTHERS ME QUITE A LOT.

>> IF YOU LIKE TO SHOP ONLINE FOR FASHIONABLE, BUT INEXPENSIVE CLOTHES THAT COME FROM OVERSEAS RETAILERS •.THE PRICE MAY BE ABOUT TO GO UP.

UNDER CURRENT LAW, MOST IMPORTS VALUED AT LESS THE $800 DOLLARS ENTER THE U.S. DUTY FREE, AS LONG AS THEY'RE ADDRESSED TO INDIVIDUAL BUYERS.

GLOBAL ONLINE SHOPPING HAS LED TO AN EXPLOSION IN THIS KIND OF SHIPPING •.ABOUT 2 MILLION PACKAGES COME INTO THE COUNTRY EVERY DAY, MOST OF THEM FROM CHINA.

NOW SOME IN CONGRESS WANT TO CRACK DOWN ON THE PRACTICE.

THAT WOULD MAKE AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS MORE COMPETITIVE BUT RAISE THE COST OF CLOTHING.

SHOULD THIS SO CALLED "DE MINIMUS" RULE BE ELIMINATED OR CHANGED?

>> DE MINIMIS RULE LIKE BELOW $800, YOU CAN SEND SOMETHING TO THE U.S. TO A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, NOT A BUSINESS, WITHOUT ANY IMPORT DUTY.

IT WAS 200 IN 2016 RAISED TO 800 WITH THE LOGIC THAT THE RESOURCES WOULD NOT BE FOCUSED IN SMALL AMOUNT PACKAGES BUT RATHER FOCUSED ON BIG AMOUNT PACKAGES THAT WE CAN COLLECT IMPORT DUTIES.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE WAS SHEIN AND TEMU.

JUST GARBAGE MATERIALS GIVEN AT THROW AWAY PRICES, ROCK BOTTOM PRICES AND CONSTANT MARKETING AND IT SHOWS UP AT YOUR DOORSTEP.

NOW THIS ACTUALLY IS AFFECTING RETAILERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND I THINK UNITED STATES HAS WITHIN ITS RIGHT, TO INCREASE, I KNOW, DECREASE THAT THRESHOLD.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR CHINA, IT'S $7, SO WHY WE CAN HAVE RECIPROCAL ATTITUDE TO HAVE $7 BUT IT INCREASES THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE ABOVE $7 ALSO HAVE TO BE INSPECTED AND THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT.

SO I THINK ONE COULD HAVE A GRADED, YOU KNOW, GRADATION RATE BELOW 200, BETWEEN 200 AND 400 AND SO ON.

>> THIS LAW, IF IT WERE CHANGED OR LOWERED, THE THRESHOLD, IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR U.S. MANUFACTURERS, PROTECT U.S. MANUFACTURERS, ALTHOUGH THE PRICE WOULD GO UP SO YOU HAVE AN INFLATIONARY IMPACT.

SARAH, SHOULD WE?

>> WELL, I MEAN THE QUESTION I THINK FOR ME IS LIKE WHAT ARE WE BUYING AND IS IT REALLY NEEDED?

I UNDERSTAND INFLATION AND THAT IT IS SQUEEZING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WANTING NEW THINGS AND NEW CLOTHES, RIGHT?

I MEAN I HAVE A 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND, YOU KNOW, THEY APPRECIATE THE INEXPENSIVE DRESSES AND SUCH FROM SHEIN.

BUT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, TOO.

THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, THE AMOUNT OF CLOTHES THAT WE ARE PRODUCING GLOBALLY IS OVER 100 BILLION PIECES A PEER.

THAT IS TWO TIMES AS MUCH AS IN 2000.

AND THAT CREATES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WASTE, FIRST OF ALL, A LOT OF THAT IS NEVER SOLD AND IT GOES TO LANDFILLS OR INCINERATORS.

THE OTHER THING IS TO PRODUCE IT, YOU ARE RELEASING A LOT OF CARBON, THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR 10% OF GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS.

THAT'S A LOT.

>> BEN.

>> AGREED.

BUT I ALSO HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT BIDEN'S SPEECH LAST NIGHT AND PART OF HIS MESSAGE WAS THAT BRINGING JOBS TO AMERICA.

SO THAT'S CONFLICTING TO WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED HERE.

BUT I WILL ALSO SAY A BILLION PACKAGES UNDER THIS RULE CAME IN LAST YEAR ALONE AND THAT COUNTED FOR MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF FENTANYL THAT'S GETTING THROUGH UNDETECTED BECAUSE THE U.S. CUSTOMS ARE NOT CHECKING THEELS UNDER THIS RULE, UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.

>> THERE IS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASPECT TO THIS AS WELL.

>> BEN IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IF YOU LOWER THE THRESHOLD, YOU WILL INCREASE THE PRESSURES ON BORDER PATROL BUT LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE NOW.

WE HAVE 9.5 MILLION JOBS THAT ARE UNFILLED EVEN IF ALL 6.5 UNEMPLOYED WORKERS FILL THOSE, WE ARE STILL WORK WITH 3 MILLION.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ADD MORE?

>> ON THAT NOTE, WE ARE GOING TO TURN TO OUR As AND Fs AND NINA YOUR F. >> I'M GIVING AN F TO REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN OF GEORGIA WHO CONTINUALLY SHOUTED AT PUBLIC LIBRARY DURING HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO HER OPINION ON THE BORDER CRISIS, ON PRESIDENT BIDEN AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISRUPT A CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED PROCESS IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

IT IS NOT MARJORIE'S HOUSE.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE U.S. CONGRESS ANDY FOR OPENLY CALLING FOR THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIANS WHEN A PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST PRESSED HIM TO SUPPORT A CEASE FIRE IN GAZA ASKING WHY TAX DOLLARS WERE GOING TO BOMB KIDS HIS REPLY WAS "I THINK WE SHOULD KILL THEM ALL IF THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER."

>> SARAH, YOUR F. >> TO LOCAL ELECTIONS IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.

MANY VILLAGES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE, INCLUDING MY VILLAGE OF FAYETTEVILLE HAVE ELECTIONS IN MARCH RATHER THAN NOVEMBER.

VOTER TURNOUT IN LOCAL ELECTIONS IS TYPICALLY LOW ANYWAY, BUT REALLY BAD WHEN YOU HOLD THEM IN MARCH.

AND IT INCREASES SUBSTANTIALLY WHEN THEY'RE MOVED TO NOVEMBER AS THE GRAPH YOU ARE LOOKING AT SHOWS.

MORE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION MEANS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE.

>> AND BEN, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO THE EXPANSION OF DRIVERLESS ROBO TAXIS IN CALIFORNIA.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, ROBE OWE TAXIS WERE APPROVED FOR EXPANSION.

THERE HAVE BEEN 270 COLLISIONS SINCE 2022 SINCE THEY STARTED.

PART OF THAT WAS CRUISE WHICH WAS SHUT DOWN IN 2023 AND REMAIN INOPERATIVE TODAY.

>> TIME FOR THE As NINA.

>> I'M GIVING AN A TO AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY FOR THE MOST RECENT MILESTONE SHE HAS SURPASSED FIRST SERVING AS THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN A REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN D.C. AND VERMONT.

AND THE ONLY PERSON TO GIVE THE BUSINESS TO DONALD TRUMP BY WINNING ON AVERAGE 20 TO 30% IN THE STATES WHERE SHE RAN.

I CAN SAY SHE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT AND SHE KEPT THE FAITH.

>> AND ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO RUTH GOTSMAN, A FORMER PROFESSOR AT ALBERT EINSTEIN MEDICAL COLLEGE IN THE BRONX, DEVELOPED SCREENING TEST.

RECENTLY SHE DONATED A BILLION DOLLARS TO THE COLLEGE WHICH WILL MAKE EVERYTHING TUITION FREE.

AND THAT'S AMAZING.

>> SARAH, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO ALL THE ART, MUSIC AND THEATER PROGRAMS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UNFORTUNATELY ARTS EDUCATION IS SOMETIMES PERCEIVED AS AN ADD ON AND ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK WHEN BUDGETS ARE TIGHT.

ONE WAY WE CAN SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION IS BY ATTENDING THEIR PERFORMANCES.

AND I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THE FAYETTE BILL MANLIUS PERFORMANCE OF BIG FISH.

>> BEN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE VOTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO WHO PASSED A PROPOSITION CALLED E THIS PAST TUESDAY, WHICH EXPANDS THE POWER OF THE POLICE THERE.

SO THEY CAN USE DRONES, LIMITING PATROL OFFICERS TIME ON ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS.

USE OF BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE TO REPORT REQUIREMENT.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE ABILITY TO USE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS WHICH HAS SHOWN TO REDUCE CRIME OVERALL, SPECIFICALLY WITH REAL TIME INTELLIGENCE CENTERS.

>> SO BEN, BOTH YOUR AS AND YOUR E CAME FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

>> IT'S GOT TO BE EVEN.

IT'S GOT TO BE BALANCED.

THEY DO SOME STUFF RIGHT, SOME NOT SO RIGHT.

>> DRIVERLESS TAXIS, I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD I GET INTO ONE OF THOSE.

>> I WOULD NOT.

>> SARAH, YOUR A TO THE MUSICAL PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY THE FM MUSICAL IS A BIG DEAL.

AND TWO OF MY KIDS THAT DID NOT GO TO FM BUT WERE THEATER KIDS IN THE MUSICALS DO A GREAT SUMMER PROGRAM THERE.

LET'S GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT.

VERY INTERESTING.

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.