
Student Uprisings; Criminalizing the Unhoused; Speaker Johnson
Season 20 Episode 41 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
Student Uprisings; Criminalizing the Unhoused; Speaker Johnson
THe panelists discuss the situation at some college campuses regarding the uprising over Israels treatment of Palestine. Should the National Guard be called in? Next they talk about what should be done with the homeless population in NYS. Some lawmakers want to treat it as a crime Finally, should Speaker Mike Johnson be praised for getting the Ukraine Relief bill passed?
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Ivory Tower is a local public television program presented by WCNY

Student Uprisings; Criminalizing the Unhoused; Speaker Johnson
Season 20 Episode 41 | 26m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
THe panelists discuss the situation at some college campuses regarding the uprising over Israels treatment of Palestine. Should the National Guard be called in? Next they talk about what should be done with the homeless population in NYS. Some lawmakers want to treat it as a crime Finally, should Speaker Mike Johnson be praised for getting the Ukraine Relief bill passed?
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Ivory Tower is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ON IVORY TOWER.
UNIVERSITY STUDENT PROTESTS •.
LAWS CRIMINALIZING THE UNHOUSED AND SPEAKER JOHNSON'S MANEUVERS TO PASS THAT FOREIGN AID BILL •.
STAY TUNED.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.
I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
JOINING ME ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK ARE MICHAEL TILLOTSON FROM SUNY-CORTLAND, NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY CHAD SPARBER FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.
PROTESTS AND ENCAMPMENTS ARE ONGOING ON MORE THAN A DOZEN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES-- AS STUDENTS DEBATE MIDDLE EAST POLITICS, ANTI-SEMITIC AND ANTI-PALESTINIAN RHETORIC, AS WELL AS UNIVERSITY INVESTMENTS.
NINA, HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE PROTESTS.
>> I THINK A BIG PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE PROTEST?
WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?
IS IT TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ULTIMATELY TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO THEIR POINT OF VIEW?
AND ALSO GET POLICIES, SO THAT IS CERTAINLY WAS THE GOAL OF THE BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE 60s, TO BASICALLY RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS TO BRING PEOPLE ALONG BECAUSE WE ARE IN A DEMOCRATIC CONTEXT.
AND SO ULTIMATELY, YOU HAVE TO GET ENOUGH VOTERS TO VOTE YOUR POSITION TO PERSUADE LAWMAKERS TO ENACT THE POLICIES THAT YOU SEEK.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE-- I DON'T WANT TO BE TOO CRITICAL BECAUSE THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE STILL LEARNING, BUT I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THEIR TACTICS ARE PERSUADING THE PUBLIC.
>> THE DISCIPLINE I WORK IN WAS FOUNDED ON STUDENT PROTEST AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE COLLEGE IN 1968 SO I'M SENSITIVE TO THE QUESTION OF FREE SPEECH WHICH IS NOW UNDER CHALLENGE.
SO NOT ONLY CAN YOU NOT YELL FIRE IN A FEHERTY, OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALSO CANNOT PROTEST ON CERTAIN COLLEGE PROTESTS NOWADAYS.
SO ASIDE FROM THE TRAGIC KENT STATE IN 1970 WHEN THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS BROUGHT IN AND ENDED UP KILLING FOUR AND INJURING NINE, GENERALLY SPEAKING IN MOST QUARTERS.
THE UNIVERSITY IS GENERALLY A PLACE WHERE PROTEST WAS ALWAYS ACCEPTED AND SOMETIMES ENCOURAGED.
AND SO THE DECISION BY THE PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA TO CALL IN THE NYPD TO SUPERCEDE THE AUTHORITY OF THE CAMPUS POLICE MAY HAVE BEEN A RESPONSE AND BEING GRILLED ON SEE SPAN WHICH SHE MAY LOSE HER JOB IF MEMBERS OF THE G.O.P.
HAVE THEIR WAY.
FOR ME, IS TO A QUESTION OF RESPONDING TO A SITUATION IN DISPROPORTION TO THE NATURE OF THE THREAT OR A QUESTION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF A REACTIONARY RESPONSE IN THE SERVICE OF SELF INTEREST OF COLLEGE PRESIDENTS TRYING TO KEEP THEIR JOBS.
ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
>> THERE IS A PART OF ME THAT IS SYMPATHETIC WITH THE PROTESTORS.
THE RATIO OF CIVILIAN DEATHS COMBATANTS IN GAZA WERE 2-1.
IN IRAQ WE WERE WILLING TO ACCEPT A 30 TO ONE FROM SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THAT ISRAEL WAS WILLING TO GO TO 100 TO ONE FOR HAMAS SENIOR LEADERS.
IF THAT'S TOO HIGH FOR YOU AND YOUR ANTIWAR, BY ALL MEANS, I GET THE PROTESTS AND WHY YOU ARE UPSET.
BUT I THINK IT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT; THAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT PRO-PALESTINIAN AND ANTI-SEMMIC PEOPLE THREATENING OR COMMITTING VIOLENCE AGAINST JEWISH STUDENTS.
THEY'RE CHANTING THINGS LIKE I AM HAMAS AND GO BACK TO POLAND.
THE SITUATION SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS ENOUGH TO CANCEL CLASS , THEN IT SEEMS DANGEROUS ENOUGH TO CALL IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND PROTECTED THOSE STUDENTS.
>> I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT TO CHARACTERIZE ALL PROTESTS AND ALL PROTESTORS AS ONE WAY, SUCH AS ANTI-SEMITIC.
CERTAINLY THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OF ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS OF ANTI-SEMITIC LANGUAGE BEING USED AND I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT THOSE ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH.
I'M LESS COMFORTABLE DESCRIBING ALL THE PROTESTS IN THAT MANNER, YOU KNOW, IN POLITICAL SCIENCE WE TRY TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR OTHERS.
YOU BEGAN YOUR COMMENTS, BEING AGAINST WAR AND THE VIOLATIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CANS IS A WORTHWHILE CAUSE.
GOING BACK TO NINA'S CAUSE.
IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING STRATEGICALLY EFFECTIVE?
YOU LOOK AT COLUMBIA.
THEY'VE GRADUALLY ESCALATED THEIR TACTICS, RIGHT?
AND THEY'RE NOW AT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS A HIGH RISK HIGH REWARD STRATEGIES WITH THESE ENCAMPMENTS.
THEY'RE CLEARLY VIOLATING SCHOOL POLICY.
THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT.
THEY NEED TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES.
THEY ARE GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION, WHICH I THINK IS GOOD , RIGHT?
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A COLLEGE STUDENT AND NOW EVERYBODY, INCLUDING US, IS TALKING ABOUT THIS, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING BUT TO NINA'S CONCERN, THEY LOSE CONTROL OF THE NARRATIVE AND HOW THAT IS PORTRAYED IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA IS PROBABLY MORE UNFAVORABLE THAN FAVORABLE RIGHT NOW.
>> I THINK WOULD I AGREE WITH YOU, CHAD, THAT HAVING PUBLIC ATTENTION, MEDIA COVERAGE, IS PART OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING FOR.
BUT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS NEGATIVE MEDIA COVERAGE, TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN TURN PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST WHAT YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND JUST TO GO BACK TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THIS IS SORT OF SUPPORTED BY ALL OF THE MOVEMENT LITERATURE, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH PROTESTORS CONDUCT THEMSELVES HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE REST OF THE POLITY.
SO IN THE CASE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, THOSE PROTESTORS WERE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES, THEY PUT ON THEIR, WHAT WE CALL SUNDAY GOING TO MEETING CLOTHES, SO THAT THEY PRESENTED A RESPECTABLE IMAGE, A CREDIBLE IMAGE.
AND, OF COURSE, IT WAS PEACEFUL.
BUT Dr. KING SAID IN ALL OF HIS WRITINGS, THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO EDUCATE AND TO PERSUADE.
HE TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE A LETTER FROM THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL TO THOSE, CLERGY WHO WERE OPPOSED BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THAT HE NEEDED TO PERSUADE PUBLIC OPINION.
THESE ARE STUDENTS-- AND YOU KNOW, MANY OF US AROUND THE TABLE PROBABLY PARTICIPATED IN THE PROTESTS AGAINST APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA.
SO I'M NOT SURE, AS YOU SAID, LUKE, THAT IT'S ENTIRELY ANTI-SEMITIC BUT DO I WONDER ABOUT HOW IT'S BEING PORTRAYED AND WHAT ARE THEY ACCOMPLISHING?
>> LET'S NOT UNDER APPRECIATE THE GROWING NUMBER OF JEWISH STUDENTS WHO ARE ALSO SUPPORTING PALESTINE.
>> IT'S A LITTLE UNCLEAR TO ME WHAT THEY WANT.
EVEN IN THE NEWS COVERAGE SOMETIMES THEY'RE CALLED ANTIWAR PROTESTORS, SOMETIMES THEY'RE CALLED PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTORS.
THESE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
IF THEY'RE TRYING TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF THE PALESTINIANS, THEY HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE HERE BUT THEY'RE ALSO CALLING FOR DIVESTMENT VEST AND THAT'S A VERY BAD IDEA FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
BASICALLY THERE IS A UNIVERSITIES HAVE AT THIS DOUCHERY STUDENT TO PROTECT THE STUDENTS AND ONCE THEY START, YOU RUN INTO FOUR PROBLEMS, ONE IS THAT THEY LOSE SIGHT OF THEIR MAIN GOAL TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE INSTITUTION.
SECOND, THEY UNNECESSARILY TAKE A STAND IN POLITICAL MATTERS WITH WHICH REASONABLE PEOPLE DISAGREE, 3: DIVESTMENT WOULD REQUIRE ABANDONING ASSETS LIKE MUTUAL FUNDS.
>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT FINANCING.
>> AND THE FOURTH ONE IS THAT YOU START TO FORFEIT YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE WHERE YOU COULD ACTUALLY FORCE CHANGE.
>> YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE COULD BE OUT IN THE STREETS.
THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT, ANTIWAR MOVEMENT, THE HISTORY OF MOVEMENT SHOWS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE C SUITE TO EFFECT CHANGE.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE THAT DIVESTMENT HAS HELPED FORCE CHANGE.
>> DIVESTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA... >> UNIVERSITY DIVESTMENT.
THERE WAS A GREAT STORY ON NPR THIS MORNING FROM DAYCARES STUDIES PROFESSOR AT DAVIDSTON COLLEGE-- DAVIDSON COLLEGE WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY WISH.
LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT TOPIC.
IN CAYUGA, ONONDAGA AND OSWEGO COUNTIES, THE NUMBER OF UNHOUSED PERSONS-- THOSE LIVING ON THE STREETS-- DOUBLED LAST YEAR AND NEARLY DOUBLED AGAIN THIS YEAR.
NATIONALLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN PARKS, ON THE STREET, IN THEIR VEHICLES.
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH SHELTERS OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THIS WEEK, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARD A CASE ON TUESDAY.
AT ISSUE IS A LAW FROM A CITY IN OREGON THAT MAKES IT A CRIME TO SLEEP IN PUBLIC PLACES.
AND I'M WONDERING, MICHAEL, ARE SUCH LAWS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY?
>> PUNISHING THE UNHOUSED, RIGHT?
I THINK ONE THING THAT IS WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION IS THE NOTION OF NARRATIVES AND FRAMING AND MESSAGING AND HOW NARRATIVES CAN DRIVE PERSPECTIVE AND PUBLIC POLICY.
WHEN THE UNHOUSED WERE CALLED HOMELESS YEARS AGO, GENERALLY SPEAKING, PARTICULARLY THEY WERE FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS, THERE WAS A NARRATIVE OF EMPATHY, CARE AND CONCERN.
IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THERE HAS DEVELOPED A NARRATIVE ABOUT SHAMING AND SORT OF DEHUMANIZING, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE UNHOUSED, SO MUCH SO THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN AMERICA TODAY THAT GOES SO FAR AS TO CRIMINALIZE THE EVENT OF BEING UNHOUSED TO INCARCERATE AND TO FINE AND TO PUT THEM IN SPACES THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO BE.
INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT FINDING PATHWAYS TO GIVE THEM WAYS TO REENTER SOCIETY.
SO UNTIL THE DEHUMANIZING NARRATIVE IS SORT OF CHALLENGED AND REVERSED, THE UNHOUSED WILL CONTINUE TO BE AT THE MERCY OF THE BLAMERS AND SHAMERS.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW.
EVEN IN PROGRESSIVE BIG CITIES, THERE IS UNHOUSED FATIGUE SETTING IN AS LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS ARE HARD TO FIND AND ACTUALIZE THEMSELVES IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.
>> IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THOUGH, THE SOLUTION IN FRONT OF THE TOWN.
IT'S JUST THERE IS DIVISIONS ABOUT BUILDING CONSENSUS TO DO IT, RIGHT?
IF YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE LIVING IN A PUBLIC PARK AND THE TOWN AT LARGE DOES NOT WANT THEM TO LIVE THERE BECAUSE POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CHILDREN AND PARK USAGE AND ASSOCIATION WITH DRUG USE AND NEEDLES ON THE GROUND, I GET THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT THE MAYOR WHO IS PROPOSING LET'S BUILD A FACILITY SO WE CAN HELP HOUSE THESE PEOPLE.
BUT OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT AND RESIDENTS DON'T WATT THAT IN THEIR BACKYARD SO WE HAVE AN IMPASSE WHERE OTHER MEASURES TO TRY TO FORCE PEOPLE, REALLY, TO LEAVE TOWN.
CITY COUNCIL HAS SAID THAT.
LET'S MAKE IT HARD.
FINE THEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY HAVE TO MOVE THEIR TENTS EVERY 72 HOURS WHICH IS LOCAL ROAD AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GO DOWN THE ROAD QUOTE UNQUOTE, A PHRASE USED BY A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I DON'T SEE HOW PEOPLE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE CAN TRY TO DO THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO HOUSE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHOUSED, INVEST IN A FACILITY THAT DOES THAT SO THEY STAY IN YOUR COMMUNITY BUT THERE IS NOT A CONSENSUS OR WILL TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE INCIDENTS WHERE COMING BEHIND AN ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHO HAS ACTUALLY HAD TO DEAL WITH BUDGET ISSUES AND SO LUKE, I SEE THAT AS AN ISSUE HERE.
AND SO THE PROBLEM IN GRANDPAS OREGON IS IN ITS CURRENT CONSTITUTION.
BUT ACCORDING TO TRENDS, IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.
CITIES AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HOMELESSNESS, CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES PUT IT NOW AT AROUND 600,000.
AND AT LEAST 40% OF THOSE ARE LIVING LITERALLY ON THE STREET AND ROUGHLY 20% HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND SO THAT'S AN ISSUE.
AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE COST OF HAVING TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND/OR SHELTER, SOMETIMES THAT'S BUSTING LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY BUDGETS WHO ARE ALREADY STRAPPED FOR FUNDS AND HAVING TO CUT BACK ON SCHOOL FUNDING AS WELL AS POLICE FUNDING.
AND ROUGHLY 20% OF CITIES, SOME 200 OR SO CITIES ARE PUTTING A GOOD NUMBER OF THEIR HOMELESS FOLKS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH HAS ITS OWN ISSUES.
BUT I AM THOROUGHLY SYMPATHETIC TO THE FACT THAT FINING AND JAILING AND PENALIZING HOMELESS FOLKS NOT ONLY IS UNETHICAL, BUT IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE BECAUSE BY DOING THAT, BY CREATING, BASICALLY, A CRIMINAL RECORD, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO GET HOUSING.
BY IMPOSING FINES THAT GROW OVER TIME, THEY CAN'T SAVE SO THEY CAN AFFORD HOUSING.
AND THEN ON AND ON.
SO IT IS REALLY A QUESTION OF BEING CONSIDERED AND SEEN AS A NATIONAL ISSUE BECAUSE THIS IS SPREADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GETS MY GOAT ABOUT THIS-- AND THIS IS THE LAST POINT HERE-- NOT ONLY IS THIS RIDICULOUS IDEA OF CRIMINALIZING POOR PEOPLE, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE GIVEN HOW MANY BILLIONS TO UKRAINE SO FAR?
$75 BILLION.
SO THIS COUNTRY CAN READILY FIND $75 BILLION FOR FOLKS HOVER OVERSCES AND WE CAN'T FIND A WAY TO HOUSE 600,000 HOMELESS FOLKS?
>> THAT'S THE NEXT TOPIC.
>> ON THIS ONE, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT HALF OF THE GROWTH IN THE HOMELESS POPULATION SINCE 2020 HAS BEEN IN WESTERN STATES.
AND IT'S USEFUL TO TURN TO THEM ON UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.
IN SAN FRANCISCO, ABOUT 40% OF THE HOMELESS ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, EVEN MORE WITH ADDICTION.
AND WHETHER THOSE ARE CAUSES OR CONSEQUENCES OF HOMELESSNESS, IT SPEAKS TO A NEED FOR INPATIENT TREATMENT FACILITIES, BUT WEST COAST PROGRESSIVES ARE VERY RELUCTANT TO FORCE THAT KIND OF CHANGE AND SO THAT IS UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN.
SECOND, HOUSING COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
THE MEDIAN-- IF A MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME-- SORRY, IF A MEDIAN INCOME FAMILY PRICED A MEDIAN PRICED HOME, THEY WOULD SPEND 41% OF THEIR EARNINGS ON HOUSING COSTS, WELL ABOVE THE 30% OF WHAT A PERSON SHOULD BE SPENDING.
EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE WEST.
WHAT YOU NEED IS AN EXPANSION OF HOUSING SUPPLY WHICH YOU GET FROM DEREGULATION AND CHANGING ZONING LAWS AND ALLOWING FOR MORE HIGH DENSITY HOUSING AND THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT THOSE NIMBYISM MENTIONED BEFORE.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT.
THEY WANT TO ZONE POOR PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR DISTRICTS THROUGH ACTUAL LAWS OR HOA AGREEMENTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THOSE ARE THE BIG THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE, WE NEED INCREASE IN HOUSING SUPPLY AND FORCED TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM REAL DISEASE.
>> WE WILL SEE WHAT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAYS ABOUT WHAT IS THE LEGAL TEST FOR WHAT CITIZENS CAN DO-- FOR WHAT CITIES WILL DO.
IT WILL PROBABLY COME OUT IN JUNE.
MOCHG ON MOVING ON.
AFTER THE U.S. HOUSE APPROVED MONEY FOR UKRAINE AND OTHER COUNTRIES, THE WASHINGTON POST RAN DUELING EDITORIALS--- ONE APPLAUDING SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON FOR HIS POLITICAL COURAGE AND LEGISLATIVE SKILL .
BUT ANOTHER COLUMNIST SAID JOHNSON WAS NO HERO AND HIS DELAY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMMENSE DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIFE IN UKRAINE.
SO, LUKE, HOW DO YOU SEE IT?
>> ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME WITH THIS IS THAT SPEAKER JOHNSON WAS OPPOSED TO UKRAINIAN AID LAST YEAR.
AND WHAT CHANGED HIS MIND PER RECENT REPORTING WAS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFINGS THAT CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE PRIVY TO.
SO I THINK IT SPEAKS TO HOW BEING IN A POSITION OF KNOWLEDGE CAN INFLUENCE PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR APPROACHES TO LEADERSHIP, AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS CASE.
THE QUESTION IS WILL HE KEEP HIS POSITION OR NOT?
I THINK IN THE SHORT-TERM, YES, HE WILL.
I THINK FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF CONGRESSIONAL STUDIES, MOST SCHOLARS LOOK AT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AS RATIONAL ACTORS WHO ARE PURSUING REELECTION AND EVEN THE MOST STRONG REPUBLICAN CRITICS OF SPEAKER JOHNSON REALIZE THAT HAVING ANOTHER SPEAKER VACANCY AT THIS TIME WILL NOT HELP THEM AS THE ELECTION APPROACHES.
>> CHAD, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHTS ON JOHNSON?
>> I THINK HE'S SAFE.
YEAH, TO LUKE'S POINT.
81% OF THE PEOPLE DISAPPROVE OF THE WAY THAT CONGRESS IS HANDLING ITS JOB.
REELECTIONS COMING UP, NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO ROCK THE BOAT.
JEFFRIES VOICED HIS SUPPORT.
THE EXCEPTION IS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN WHO IS A TOP 10 FUNDRAISER IN THE HOUSE AND BLUSTER WHAT IS SHE DOES TO PAY HER BILLS.
AND SO, YEAH, SHE'LL COMPLAIN BUT NOTHING IS GOING CHANGES, NOT IN THE NEAR TERM.
>> MICHAEL, WHAT HAPPENED THAT SPEAKER JOHNSON CHANGED HIS MIND AND GOT THIS THROUGH?
>> LET ME SAY THIS, RIGHT.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT SPEAKER, I'M REMINDED OF THE PARABLE BETWEEN THE FROG AND THE SCORPION.
THE SCORPION NEEDS A RIDE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND, Mr. FROG, WILL YOU GIVE ME A RIDE?
NO, YOU ARE GOING TO STING ME.
HE GETS CLOSE.
AND THE FROG SAYS WHAT ARE YOU DOING.
HE SAID I'M GOING TO STING YOU.
IT'S JUST MY NATURE.
LET'S NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT MIKE JOHNSON WHO IS A THERCRAT.
SPEAKER JOHNSON INTERPRETS THE CONSTITUTION THROUGH THE BIBL WHICH MAKES HIM A HERO IN SOME CORNERS AND VILLAIN IN OTHERS.
AS A COROLLARY, THE BEST THING TO POSSIBLY COME OUT OF TEMPORARY SANITY IN THE HOUSE IS THE ISOLATION AND NEUTRALIZATION OF SUPPRESSION OF MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN'S INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN POLITICS.
SHE IS INCREASINGLY ON HER WAY TO BECOMING A STAND ALONE PARIAH AS SHE DOUBLE DOWNS ON THE VACATE IDEA AND MIKE JONNSON.
BUT FOR ME, THE FACES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL, THEY ALL DESERVE EACH OTHER.
THERE IS NO HONOR AMONGST THIEVES.
>> OKAY, MICHAEL, WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO SAY?
I HAVE A SOMEWHAT MORE OPTIMISTIC VIEW ABOUT JOHNSON AND WHERE HE IS HEADED.
PERHAPS AN I.E.
VIEW, AND THAT THIS IS COULD BE A CASE OF Mr. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON.
WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS IDEALISTIC, WHO HAS HIS OWN PLANS, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT, LUKE, WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO AS DID OBAMA AND SO MANY OTHER LEADERS AND THEN YOU GET TO WASHINGTON AND YOU LEARN WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE?
YOU LEARN THE DIFFICULTIES OF ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING, GRIDLOCK.
I WILL SAY THE WAY IN WHICH HE HAS HANDLED IT SO FAR IS WHAT WE SHOULD HOPE FOR FROM MOST OF OUR LEGISLATORS.
BIPARTISANSHIP, WORKING WITH FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND PUTTING THE COUNTRY'S POLICY INTERESTS ABOVE PARTY.
>> MOO I CAL.
>> AS SOON AS HE GETS ONE VOTE IN THE MAJORITY, HE WILL RETURN TO HIS ORIGINALLY.
HE IS A DANGEROUS PERSON UNDERNEATH THEY GALLON TEARIANISM.
>> WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS PROPPING HIM UP?
>> THEY CAN'T GET THEIR OWN GUY IN THERE.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE BILL AFFECTS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY BECAUSE IT'S LOST IN THE NARRATIVE TO.
THIRDS OF OUR UKRAINIAN AID SO FAR HAS COME IN THE FORM OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE LOCKHEED, BOEING, AND BAE SYSTEMS MANUFACTURE WEAPONS IN THE 19th AND 22nd DISTRICTS HERE AND THE WASHINGTON POST HAD A GREAT GRAPHIC TALKING ABOUT HOW WE BENEFIT, OUR DISTRICTS WILL PHENOMENONLY GAIN FROM THIS.
WE NEED TO MAKE THAT CASE STRONGER SO THAT THERE IS INCREASED SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE BECAUSE THAT IS GETTING LOST, I THINK, TOO MUCH.
>> VERY GOOD.
IT IS TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.
MICHAEL, WHO IS GOING TO GET YOUR F TODAY?
>> MY F GOES TO ALABAMA LAWMAKERS FOR ADVANCING LEGISLATION THAT COULD ACTUALLY SEE PROSECUTION FOR OBSCENITY LAW.
WHEN WILL THIS LEGISLATIVE IDEOLOGICAL TERRORISM STOP?
>> AND NINA, YOU ARE NEXT FOR YOUR F. >> SURE.
WHILE THE WAVE OF SQUATTERS WHO ARE PUSHING HOMEOWNERS OUT OF THEIR HOMES LED TO A BRONX WOMAN BEING ARRESTED WHEN SHE CHANGED THE LOCKS ON THE $1 MILLION HOME SHE OWNED IN ORDER TO PROTECT IT FROM SQUATTERS.
OF COURSE NEW YORK HAS PASSED A LAW THIS WEEK THAT PROTECTS HOMEOWNERS FROM SQUATTERS, BUT SQUATTERS RIGHTS REMAIN OUT OF CONTROL IN OTHER STATES, EVEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAID IT'S CRITICAL THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TAKE ACTION.
COULD I NOT AGREE MORE.
>> CHAD.
>> SELF-F. LAST WEEK SHOW A STUDENT ASKED A GREAT QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE U.S. ECONOMY MANAGED A SOFT LANDING WITH REDUCED INFLATION WITHOUT MASSIVE UNEMPLOYMENT.
I FUMBLED THE ANSWER.
WHAT I SHOULD HAVE SAID IS THAT IT'S COMPLICATED.
WE REALLY DON'T KNOW BUT PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SUPPLY FACTORS LIKE MAKE INCREASED IMMIGRATION, WELL VERY PROBABLY UNSNARLED SUPPLY CHAINS.
INSTEAD I RAMBLED ON ABOUT THE FED'S DUAL MANDATE WHICH WAS IRRELEVANT TO THE MOMENT.
GREAT QUESTION, BAD RESPONSE.
>> OKAY.
LUKE.
>> I LOVE THAT.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.
MY F GOES TO BRITISH LAW THAT DEPORTS PEOPLES WHO ARE SEEKING REFUGEE STATUS TO RWANDA TO BE PROCESSED THERE FOR IMMIGRATION-RELATED CONCERNS AND ASYLUM.
I THINK THIS IS UNETHICAL AND POTENTIAL VIOLATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION LAW.
>> WHY DO THEY SEND THEM TO RWANDA?
>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THEM IN ENGLAND.
>> SOMEBODY HAS DONE SOMETHING WELL, MICHAEL.
TELL US ABOUT IT.
>> ARIZONA GRAND JURY FOR INDICTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SUBMITTED A DOCUMENT TO CONGRESS FALSELY DECLARING THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT WON ARIZONA IN 2020.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRAND JURY FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
>> NINA.
>> PUNDITS USE THE OCCASION OF A PRESIDENTIAL FUNDRAISER TO RESTIR THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THE TIE IS DEAD, A FASHION HISTORIAN EXPLAINED IN AN NPR INTERVIEW, THE TIE MAY HAVE STARTED IN THE 17th CENTURY AS A WAY TO KEEP WARM BY KEEPING THE SHIRT CLOSED, BUT IT GREW INTO A MARKER OF TASTE, RESPECTABILITY, SOCIAL CLASS AND INTELLECT.
I MAY BE OLD SCHOOL BUT I BELIEVE IT STILL REPRESENTS RESPECTABILITY AND INTELLECT.
>> THANKS.
>> AND CHAD.
>> A CRICK BUT HEART FELT A FOR THE FUNERAL SERVICES OF LIEUTENANT MICHAEL HOO SABLG AND MICHAEL JENSEN.
THE LOCAL REPORTING ON THOSE SERVICES IS WELL WORTH READING TO HELP APPRECIATE THESE MEN AND THE WORK THEY DID FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
>> IT WAS SKIING THAT THEY WERE STREAMED SO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY COULD PARTICIPATE, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A LOT OF ROOM IN THE SERVICE, AT LEAST FOR THE ONE.
LUKE.
>> IT'S THAT TIME WHERE ACADEMIC YEARS ARE WINDING DOWN AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A HEART FELT A TO ALL THE COLLEGE GRADUATES IN THE COMING WEEKS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEM FOR THEIR WORK AND EFFORTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
I KNOW HIGHER EDUCATION HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL CRITICISMS OF LATE, SOME OF WHICH ARE MERITED.
BUT IT STILL CANNOT BE DENIED THIS THE A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
>> IT IS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
I WAS SAD TO REALIZE THAT U.S.C.
HAS IT CANCEL ITS GRADUATION BECAUSE OF THE PROTESTS.
>> I THINK THEY REACTED EXACTLY WRONGLY TO THESE PROTESTS.
>> WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK.
>> VERY GOOD.
WE ARE GOING TO FINISH TALKING ABOUT THINGS TONIGHT.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
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