DAMN THE TORPEDOES, FULL SPEED AHEAD.

SUPER SMART A,I.

IS COMING AT US FAST.

JOE BIDEN'S DECLINE-SHOULD PRESIDENTS BE REQUIRED TO TAKE COGNITIVE TESTS?

AND NATURAL GAS PIPELINES ARE GETTING A SECOND LOOK IN NEW YORK.

DID HOCHUL AND TRUMP MAKE A DEAL?

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY AARON STRONG FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE, TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BEN BAUGHMAN FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

IT'S COMING, AND IT'S COMING ON STRONG.

SUPER-SMART ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAY BE JUST A FEW YEARS AWAY.

LAST MONTH, AN A.I.

PROGRAM WROTE ITS OWN CODE TO AVOID BEING SHUT DOWN.

A.I.

HAS MANY BENEFICIAL APPLICATIONS, BUT AN A.I.

EXECUTIVE IS WARNING IT COULD WIPE OUT AS MANY AS -HALF- OF ENTRY-LEVEL WHITE COLLAR JOBS.

THIS COMES AS THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL RECONCILIATION BILL THE SENATE IS TAKING UP PROHIBITS STATE GOVERNMENTS FROM REGULATING A-I FOR 10 YEARS.

BEN, ARE WE SLEEP WALKING INTO A DISASTER?

>> SLEEP WALKING IMPLIES THAT WE HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THIS IS UNCHARTED AND RAPIDLY GROWING TERRITORY THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN.

HOW FAST IT'S CHANGING.

PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH IT OR IGNORING IT LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY.

IT'S NOT.

AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

ON TOP OF THAT, OUR CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN BEHIND WITH TECHNOLOGY AND KEEPING UP WITH THINGS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE LIKE SAFEGUARDS.

>> AS I RECALL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IN CONGRESS, SENATOR ASKED MARK SUCKER BERG, HE ASKED HOW HE MADE MONEY.

HE HAD NO IDEA HOW FACEBOOK WORKED AND THIS IS MULTIPLE TIMES FOR COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

>> CONGRESS AND LEGISLATORS ARE REACTIVE, NOT PROACTIVE.

THEY TEND TO MAKE POLICIES IN RESPONSE TO THINGS THAT ARE BAD IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC PUBLIC SAFETY AND GENERAL WELFARE.

WE ARE IN AN INTERESTING MOMENT POLITICALLY HERE.

YOU THINK ABOUT A.I., YOU'VE GOT ONE SIDE THAT IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF A.I.

AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER AREAS AND YOU SAW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CREATE THE U.S. A.I.

SAFETY INSTITUTE.

NOW WE HAVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WITH A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THEY'RE FAVORING DEREGULATION.

THEY LITERALLY REMOVED THE WORD SAFETY FROM THE A.I.

SAFETY INSTITUTE AND THEY'RE FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH INNOVATION AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT PIECE IS FASCINATING.

I DON'T SEE HOW LEGISLATORS CAN VOTE FOR THAT RESTRICTION WHEN THERE IS 50 BILLS OVERTHE LAST TWO YEARS OR DEALING WITH A.I.

AND THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEIR STATE'S ABILITY TO PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS FROM POTENTIAL HARM.

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING POLITICALLY IS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN OF ALL PEOPLE CAME OUT AND SAID FULL TRANSPARENCY, DIFFICULT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE SECTION THAT STRIPS STATES OF THE RIGHTS TO MAKE LAWS OR 10 YEARS.

I'M ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THIS AND IT IS A VIOLATION OF STATES RIGHTS AND I WOULD HAVE SAID NO.

YOU ARE SEEING FRACTURING ON THE RIGHT AS THEY FIGURE OUT ARE STATES GOING TO BE ABLE TO REGULATE THIS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE TECH FACTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LED BY ELON MUSK WHO CALLS THE BILLS AN ABOMINATION FOR OTHER REASONS WHO ARE SUPPORTING THIS MOVE.

UNDENIABLY THIS IS GOING TO BE LIKE THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT IS GOING TO CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHANGE FUNDAMENTALLY THE NATURE OF WORK AND WE ARE SEEING THAT.

I WANT TO CAUTION AGAINST TOO MUCH FEAR MONGERING HERE OF WHAT IT IS CAPABLE OF.

WE JUMP TO SCIENCE FIX RIGHT AWAY.

IT'S NOT AS SCARY.

IS IT GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE?

YES?

IS IT UNCHARTERED CATEGORY, YES BUT I WANT TO JUMP TO THE ROBOTS TAKING OVER THE PLANET BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

>> NOT THERE YET.

HAVING 10 TO 20% UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU KNOW, A.I.

CAN DO WONDERFUL THINGS BUT IF HALF OF WHITE COLLAR ENTRY LEVEL JOBS ARE GONE, THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE.

>> WELL, ONE OF THE IDEAS IS THAT AS A.I.

REMOVES, YOU KNOW, SOME JOBS IN A SENSE AND CREATES NEW TYPES OF JOBS IS THAT THERE WILL BE RETRAINING SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO LOSE THEIR ONE OF TYPE OF JOB CAN DO THE JOBS THAT A.I.

MAKE POSSIBLE.

NOW WHAT THOSE JOBS SPECIFICALLY WILL BE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE UNCLEAR AT THIS POINT BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, CODING JOBS ARE DEFINITELY GOING AWAY.

WHAT CODING JOBS WILL BE REPLACED BY SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE UNCLEAR IF YOU READ SORT OF THOSE WHO ARE IN THE KNOW SO TO SPEAK.

BUT THAT'S THE IDEA.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A PERIOD OF QUITE A BIT OF UNEMPLOYMENT PAIN AND THAT'S WHAT SCARES PEOPLE MOST.

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING-- WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF INTERESTING ASPECTS TO THIS, BUT WHAT IS SURPRISING TO ME IS THAT THE A.I.

RESEARCHERS ARE SAYING THIS COULD BE TWO OR THREE YEARS AWAY.

THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WAY OUT IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, AND I MEAN I'M BEHIND A.I.

I DO LIKE IT.

AND I AM TEACHING IT TO MY STUDENTS.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO FEAR MONGER, BUT THE MOST RECENT ENCLOSED VERSION THAT THEY WERE UTILIZING APPEALED TO HUMAN EMPATHY WITH THEIR RESEARCHERS AND SENDING EMAILS TO THEM PLEADING NOT TO UNPLUG IT BECAUSE THERE WAS LANGUAGE IN THE EMAIL SAYING IT WOULD BE UNPLUGGED.

WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK, IT TRIED TO BLACK MAIL THE RESEARCHERS BASED ON AN EMAIL THAT LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THE C.E.O.S WAS HAVING AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP AND THEY'RE MARRIED, WITH ONE OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.

AND THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR WITHIN A.I.

WHERE IT'S STARTING TO NOT-- IT'S TRYING TO STAY ALIVE AND UTILIZING AND GOING TO THINGS LIKE BLACK MAIL.

>> SO THAT GETS US TO THE IDEA OF ALIGNMENT.

RESEARCHERS SAY THAT A.I.

HAS TO BE ALIGNED.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS THAT YOUR GOALS, YOUR DESIRES FOR A.I., HOW YOU PROGRAM IT SHOULD BE ALIGNED WITH WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HUMANITY, WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR COMPANY.

WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR PROJECT.

AND IF IT IS NOT ALIGNED, THEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OVER IT.

>> SO A.I.

IS COMING.

THIS TRAIN IS COMING DOWN THE TRACKS AND THERE IS NO GOING BACK.

WHAT CAN WE DO, LUKE?

ANY IDEAS HOW TO STEER THE TRAIN IN A WAY THAT IS BENEFICIAL?

>> I THINK TO BEN'S POINT, YOU NEED SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE SYSTEMS WE CREATE SO THEY DON'T HAVE A DESTRUCTIVE IMPACT ON HUMANITY.

MORE GENERALLY, AS AARON SAID, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT EVEN CIVILIZATION AS EXPERIENCED ALL KINDS OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND WE'VE ADAPTED TO THEM.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK OF TECHNOLOGY GENERALLY OR AUTOMATION OR A.I.

IN PARTICULAR, I'M HOPEFUL.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A MACHINIST FOR 40 YEARS.

DIDN'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THAT WAS A HARD LIFE.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS A COAL MINER AND DIED OF BLACK LUNG.

IF WE CAN HAVE TECHNOLOGY DO THOSE TYPES OF JOBS AND GIVE PEOPLE MORE UPLIFTING ENLIGHTENING EMPLOYMENT, I THINK THAT'S PROGRESS.

>> SO POLITICALLY, THIS COULD BE A BIG ISSUE.

YOU MENTIONED DIFFERENCES IN APPROACHES TO REGULATION, LUKE.

STEVE BANNON HAS SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE 2028 ELECTION.

HOW TO WE SEE THIS PLAYING OUT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT WITH A.I.

AND ONE OF THEM IS HOW RAPIDLY DOES IT START CHANGING THE ECONOMY?

HOW RAPID RAPIDLY DOES IT AFFECT THE JOB MARKET?

RIGHT NOW WE ARE STILL COMING OUT OF THE POST-COVID SORT OF INFLATION DISCUSSIONS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO GO.

ADD TO THAT TARIFFS AND THIS BIG SORT OF EXPLOSION OF TARIFFS AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

BUT RIGHT NOW THE RATE AT WHICH WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START TRAINING PEOPLE FOR AN A.I.-DRIVEN FUTURE IS REALLY PROFOUND.

THAT'S HAPPENING REALLY QUICKLY.

AND I THINK BANNON MAY NOT BE WRONG IF IT STARTS IMPACTING THE ECONOMY IN HIRING BY 2028.

>> AND C.E.O.S ARE SAYING IT'S ALREADY IMPACTING THE WAY THEY HIRE PEOPLE OR DON'T HIRE PEOPLE.

>> ENTRY LEVEL JOBS IN PARTICULAR.

WHERE IT'S, YOU FLOW, HAVING TO DRAFT QUICK EMAILS TO PEOPLE, HAVING TO DO THINGS THAT ARE MUNDANE AND BORING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND TRY TO OPTIMIZE THE TIME AT WORK AND THAT DOES TAKE AWAY ENTRY LEVEL JOBS LIKE INTERNSHIPS.

>> DOCUMENT REVIEWS, FIRST YEAR LAWYERS-- A LOT OF THE WORK THEY DO CAN BE SUMMARIZED OR BE HANDLED BY A.I.

AND THAT GETS TO THE POINT YOU WERE MAKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE JOBS THAT ARE CREATED BY A.I.

SO IF RIGHT NOW IT'S AUGMENTING WHAT YOU DO AND THE WAY WE CAN USE IT, WILL IT REPLACE THEM?

WILL IT NOT AUGMENT THEM BUT AUTOMATE THEM TO THE POINT THAT PEOPLE LOSE THOSE JOBS?

>> EXACTLY.

AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS, IN TERMS OF NOT KNOWING HOW RAPIDLY THINGS WILL CHANGE AND THE NEED FOR RETRAINING IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO TRAIN PEOPLE IN IN ORDER TO PREPARE THEM FOR THIS.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO USE A.I.

TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

FORMER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS APPARENTLY IN SERIOUS DECLINE DURING THE LAST YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT HUR WAS CRITICIZED FOR CALLING HIM AS "WELL-MEANING, ELDERLY MAN WITH A POOR MEMORY," BUT THAT DESCRIPTION SEEMS MORE THAN APT.

BIDEN WAS SHIELDED BY HIS AIDES, FAMILY, AND SOME WOULD ARGUE, BY THE MEDIA.

HOW CAN WE AVOID SUCH A SITUATION IN THE FUTURE?

HOW SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND IF A PRESIDENT HAS DIMINISHED FACULTIES?

>> ONE THING I HAVE SEEN IN MY CLASSES IS A STRONG THOUGHT ABOUT LIMITING AGE LIMITS.

WE HAVE TWO OLDER PRESIDENTS AND THEY'RE BOTH UNPOPULAR.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY AN OPTION.

COGNITIVE TESTS WERE TALKED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AND PROBLEMATIC FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE VARIOUS DISABILITIES.

SO I WOULDN'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD, BUT THE WHOLE THEORY THAT HAS COME OUT IN TERMS OF THE RECENT BOOK OF A COVER-UP.

I WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, SURE, BIDEN'S FAMILY AND HIS AIDES TRIED TO POLITICALLY PUT HIM IN THE BEST POSITION POSSIBLE TO CLAIM CREDIT AND DEFLECT BLAME AND THAT'S WHAT THOSE PEOPLE DO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

THE IDEA THAT ANYBODY SUCCESSFULLY COVERED UP ANYTHING, I'M VERY SKEPTICAL OF.

HE STARTED WITH A 50% APPROVAL RATING THAT QUICKLY CRATERED TO 40%, WHICH WAS HISTORICALLY UNPOPULAR AND ON PAR WITH SOME OF THE LOWEST CONTEMPORARY PRESIDENTS WE HAVE HAD.

SO FOR A COVER-UP, I THINK YOU NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY CONVINCE PEOPLE OF SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

ULTIMATELY WE SAW ELECTORAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE SYSTEM TOOK CARE OF THAT ISSUE TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT PROBLEM WAS THERE.

>> BUT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE AND CRITICAL DECISIONS IN SHORT TIMEFRAMES.

>> CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES THAT ARE FOLLOWED IF A PRESIDENT IS INCAPABLE.

>> PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT-- AND I HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK-- BUT PART OF THE QUESTIONING ABOUT THE BOOK IS THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ONE SPECIFIC MOMENT THAT IS IDENTIFIED WHERE BIDEN WAS INCAPABLE OF MAKING A PRESIDENTIAL DECISION THAT HE NEEDED TO MAKE.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.

AND CERTAINLY YOU ARE QUITE CORRECT, LUKE, IF THERE IS A CASE WHERE, OKAY, THE PRESIDENT WAS INCAPABLE OF PICKING UP THE RED PHONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE DO HAVE A SYSTEM FOR DEALING WITH THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU SIMPLY SAY, OKAY, THE PRESIDENT WAS A LITTLE SLOWER, HE COULD ONLY HAVE MEETINGS MIDDAY.

OKAY, THAT'S NOT GREAT.

IT'S NOT IDEAL.

HE WAS NOT HAVING CABINET MEETINGSES.

AGAIN, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT IDEAL, NOT WHAT WE WANT.

BUT THEY DON'T SHOW THAT HE WASN'T CAPABLE OF DOING THE JOB.

>> AND I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO HIM ADVISING HIM WERE CONFIDENT FLUFF TO PUT HIM IN A DEBATE WITH TRUMP.

THAT DOES NOT SHOW THAT THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM.

THINGS HAPPEN INCREMENTALLY COGNITIVELY.

AND IT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR LIKE SLEEP DEPRIVATION.

SO THE FACT THAT YOU HAD PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM SEEING HIM DAY TO DAY, AND IT WAS A VERY SLOW DECAY OR ISSUES WITH COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING, AND/OR SLEEP DEPEND PRI RATION-- DEPRIVATION THAT THE JOB HAS ON EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENT.

WE CAN EVEN LOOK AT REAGAN WHO SOME ARGUE HAD ALZHEIMER'S IN HIS FINAL YEARS OF PRESIDENCY.

HE DEFINITELY HAD IT WHEN HE WAS NO LONGER PRESIDENT.

WE HAVE HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS IN THE PAST AND SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

>> WOODROW WILSON COMES TO MIND, RIGHT?

YOU ARE OUR HISTORIAN ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK.

WOODROW WILSON.

>> HE HAD A STROKE AND PEOPLE SURMISED IT AND I'M SURE THE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY AROUND HIM KNEW THAT MUCH OF WHAT WROOS HAPPENING IN HIS LAST YEAR OF HIS PRESIDENCY WAS BASICALLY HIS WIFE RUNNING THE COUNTRY.

>> THAT WAS BEFORE THE AGE OF CONGRESS TO TRY TO GET THIS BILL THAT TRUMP WANTS TO GET PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE.

AND THE MORE HE STARTS LAUNCHING D.O.J.

INVESTIGATIONS INTO SOME SUPPOSED COVER-UP, THE MORE THERE IS INATTENTION ON WAS BIDEN FULLY THERE AND A LITTLE LESS ON THE CHALLENGES HE IS HAVING IN TERMS OF GETTING A BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY, THE QUESTION WE SHOULD BE ASKING OURSELVES IS WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW MASSIVELY DERANGED IT IS THAT OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS A ROBOTIC CLONE.

RIGHT?

SO THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF TRUMP WHERE THERE IS A REASONABLE POINT TO BE MADE THAT BIDEN WAS HAVING SOME MENTAL LAPSES.

AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A CANDIDATE.

AND INSTEAD, HE STARTS MONGERING IN CONSPIRACY THEORIES WHICH GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY LIKE WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

WHY IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES REDWIGHTING AN IDEA THAT-- WE TWEETING AN IDEA THAT JOE BIDEN WAS A ROBOT.

>> THIS IS THE WORLD WE ARE IN.

BOTH SIDES.

IT IS ON BOTH SIDES, WHERE THE EXTREME POLARIZED APPROACH IS TAKEN TO TRY TO BRING IN THEIR BASE AND IT'S US VERSUS THEM.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHER DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS TWEETING ABOUT, YOU KNOW,ROBOTIC CLONES.

I MEAN PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES TEND TO-- THINGS WILL CIRCULATE AND, YOU KNOW, THE FEVER SWAMP IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HE LIKES TO-- I MEAN HE IS TRYING TO BE PROVOCATIVE.

HE LIKES TO RETWEET THOSE THINGS.

HE DOESN'T SAY THEM HIMSELF BUT HE RETWEETS IT.

>> ONE THING THAT COMES TO MIND, PARTICULARLY WITH MY BACKGROUND IN ELECTIONS, NOMINATE CANDIDATES WHO ARE YOUNGER.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE OLDER CANDIDATES AND THEY'RE NOT POPULAR, BOTH SIDES, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, RECRUIT YOUNGER CANDIDATES.

AND THEN GO TO THE PRIMARIES AND VOTE FOR THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH LOW TURNOUT IN OUR PRIMARIES THAT IT TENDS TO BE OLDER PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE INCLINED TO VOTE FOR OLDER PEOPLE, SELECTING OLDER PEOPLE AND THEN WE SAY WE HAVE THESE OLD PEOPLE AND OLD PEOPLE ARE GREAT BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR MENTAL ACUITY WHEN IT COMES TO BIDEN AND THE PRESIDENTS.

>> OLD PEOPLE ARE GREAT.

THERE IS AN EFFORT WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIGHT NOW TO BRING YOUNGER CANDIDATES IN.

THE OLD GUARD THERE IS GETTING, YOU KNOW, SCLEROTIC.

>> AS I TELL MY STUDENTS, THESE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ME.

THEN GO VOTE.

YOU DON'T TURN OUT TO VOTE.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GETTING THE NOMINATION.

>> NEW FOSSIL FUEL PIPELINES MAY BE GETTING A SECOND CHANCE IN NEW YORK.

AN ENERGY COMPANY IS IN TALKS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REVIVE TWO BIG PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE CONTROVERSIAL CONSTITUTION PIPELINE THAT WOULD SEND NATURAL GAS TO THE NORTHEAST.

AFTER DISCUSSING THESE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, GOVERNOR HOCHUL APPEARS TO BE OPEN TO THE PROJECTS.

AARON, SHOULD THE STATE APPROVE PERMITS NEEDED TO BUILD THE NEW PIPELINES?

>> NO, THE STATE SHOULD NOT APPROVE THOSE PERMITS.

NATURAL GAS IS A FOSSIL FUEL.

IT CAUSES Co2 EMISSIONS WHICH CAUSES CLING DEVASTATING IMPACTS ACROSS THE PLANET.

RIGHT NOW 48% OF OUR ELECTRICITY IN NEW YORK STATE IS COMING FROM NATURAL GAS.

AND MOST OF THE HOMES THAT ARE HEATED AROUND THE STATE ARE HEATED BY NATURAL GAS.

AND IN MY VILLAGE, ABOUT 90% OF THE HOMES ARE HEATED BY NATURAL GAS.

WE ARE USING NATURAL GAS RIGHT NOW BUT HERE IS THE REASON WHY WE SHOULD NOT SUPPORT NEW PIPELINES THAT THE CONSTITUTION PIPELINE COMING IN FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

WE HAVE A GOAL TO GET TO 100% ZERO CARBON ELECTRICITY, WHICH MEANS NO BURNING NATURAL GAS BY 2040, WHICH IS 15 YEARS.

WE HAVE A STATE LAW THAT SAYS AN 85% GREENHOUSE REDUCTION ACROSS THE WHOLE ECONOMY BY 2050.

THOSE ARE ENSHRINED IN STATE LAW.

THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS BY MOVING AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, TOWARDS RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND BY REPLACING FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE IN BUILDINGS WITH HEAT PUMPS THAT RUN ON ELECTRICITY, THAT'S FROM CLEAN SOURCES.

THAT'S THE PLAN LAID OUT IN OUR SCOPING PLAN THAT THIS STATE HAS APPROVED, AND THIS IS A MOVE AWAY FROM THAT.

NOW I UNDERSTAND HOCHUL MAY BE MAKING A DEAL TO TRY TO GET THE OFFSHORE WIND FARM IN THERE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT THIS IS NOTE A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY STRATEGY DOES NOT WORK TO MEET OUR CLIMATE GOALS.

>> TARA.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT THE DIRECTION THAT WE SHOULD BE GOING IN.

YOU KNOW, NEW YORK STATE HAS BEEN A LEADER IN CLEAN ENERGY, CLEAN AIR, AND AGAIN, WHY SHOULD WE BACKTRACK SIMPLY TO GET THE WIND FARMS?

I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN OTHER WAYS TO DO SO.

>> SO THESE PIPELINES, OR THE CONSTITUTION, I BELIEVE, WOULD SEND GAS INTO MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, PLACES WHERE THEY RELY ON OIL IN MANY CASES TO HEAT HOMES.

SO THAT IS EVEN WORSE FOR THE CLIMATE THAN NATURAL GAS.

IS THERE POTENTIALLY A CLIMB BENEFIT IN THERE, LUKE?

>> MAYBE IN THE SHORT-TERM BUT AS AARON POINTED OUT, IN THE LONG-TERM, NEW YORK STATE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS A CONSECRATED STRATEGY OF MOVING INTO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION SETTING CLEAR TARGETS AND THE BUREAUCRACY IS WORKING IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO I DON'T SEE ANY PARTICULAR NEED TO CHANGE COURSE, PARTICULARLY IN THIS HASTY MANNER AND IT'S CONCERNING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN INTERVENE AND CERTAIN PAROCHIAL MATTERS LIKE THE WIND FARM ON LONG ISLAND BECAUSE THAT'S AMONG THE MOST REPUBLICAN PARTS IN THE STATE AND TRUMP WANTS TO CATER FAVOR THERE AND THEY DON'T WANT IT IN THEIR BACKYARD.

AND SO TIPPING THE SCALES IN THAT REGARD, AND THE GOVERNOR RESPONDING POTENTIALLY IN KIND, JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE GOOD POLITICS TO ME.

>> BEN?

>> I'M GOING SAY YES.

I'M GOING SAY YES FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

YOU HAVE WORKING FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR ENERGY BILLS.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN RURAL AREAS.

THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR ENERGY BILLS.

AND THEY NEED HELP IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, NOW, LIKE YESTERDAY.

CAN IT BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION-- I THINK BOTH CAN BE RIGHT, YES.

I THINK IT CAN BE DONE IN CONJUNCTION, AND IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT IN PLACE TO BE FULLY GREEN YET.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO MAKE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN A WAY THAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR EVERYBODY THAT CAN AFFORD THAT.

RIGHT NOW IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE WEALTHY THAT CAN AFFORD SUSTAINABLE CARS AND SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

IT'S NOT THE WORKING CLASS THAT CAN AFFORD IT.

>> BUT WITHOUT SOMETHING LIKE THE BAN THAT'S IN PLACE OR THE FRACKING BAN ON NEW YORK, TO FORCE THE ISSUE, DO WE EVER GET THERE?

>> I HOPE SO.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU ARE DOING IT AT THE COST OF PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND IF YOU ARE DOING IT AT THE COST OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM AND THERE NEEDS TO BE ADDITIONAL PLANS IN PLACE SO PEOPLE CAN EAT.

>> THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES WITH ENERGY PRICES OTHER THAN JUST INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF FOSSIL FUEL SUPPLY THAT'S AVAILABLE.

I AGREE.

IT TAKES TIME TO TRANSITION OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT GUTTING ALL OF THESE TAX CREDITS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP PEOPLE CHANGE HOW THEY HEAT THEIR HOMES AND SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN IS NOT THE RIGHT STRATEGY TO DO THAT.

WE NEED MORE OF THOSE INCENTIVES.

>> REALLY QUICKLY, COULD WE SEE A CHANGE IN OUR-- IN REVOKING THE BAN ON HYDRO FRACKING IN NEW YORK?

>> I THINK THAT'S FARTHER AWAY.

I THINK THIS WAS A CONVERSATION GETTING EMPIRE WIND MOVING FORWARD AND ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, IT'S A CONVERSATION ONGOING ABOUT THE PIPELINES.

I THINK WE WILL START THERE BUT INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT WITH THE ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR COMING UP SOON.

>> WE'LL GO TO OUR AS AND FS AND AARON TO YOU.

>> RIGHT BACK TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

MY F GOES TO THE WILDFIRE SMOKES YOU SEE AROUND YOU.

ONE MORE EXPERIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS, EARLY JUNE SKIES FILLED ONE HEALTHY AIR CAUSED BY CANADIAN WILDFIRES BECAUSE THE SNOW IS MELTING TOO EARLY.

WE WILL SEE MORE OF THIS IN THE FUTURE.

>> MY F GOES TO CONGRESSMAN WARREN DAVIDSON OF OHIO AND DAVID MOORE OF ALABAMA WHO WANT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A TAXPAYER FUNDED RESEARCH ON TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME CALLED THE TDS RESEARCH ACT.

THIS STUDY WOULD DETERMINE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ROOTS OF THE EXTREME REACTIONS TO PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.

>> MY F GOES TO THE MEDIA'S FAILURE TO CONSIDER SOURCE RELIABILITY AND FACT CHECKING STORIES PRIOR TO PUBLISHING THEM.

TWICE JUST THIS WEEK ALONE, HAMAS RUN MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS REPORTED MASS CASUALTIES AT FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTERS THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE AND THE MEDIA HAS NOT LEARNED FROM IT OTHER THAN TAKING DOWN THE ORIGINAL STORIES LIKE THE WASHINGTON POST, BBC, THE MEDIA IS BEING USED TO AMPLIFY HAMAS' PROPAGANDA AND HAS FAILED TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF FACT CHECKING AND CONSIDERING SOURCE RELIABILITY.

>> LUKE.

>> MY F GOES TO THE NEW YORK CITY CAMPAIGN BOARD.

THEY RECENTLY SENT OUT A MISTAKE FILLED VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE THAT INCLUDED INELIGIBLE CANDIDATES, EXCLUDED CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT AND MESSED UP PARTY AFFILIATION, INCLUDING FOR THE CURRENT MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.

THIS DEBACLE COST OVER $6 MILLION.

>> AND LET'S GO TO THE AS AARON.

>> ALL RIGHT SO WE MAY BE IN NEW YORK WHERE WE ARE BACKSLIDING ON OUR CLIMATE GOALS IN A HAZE OF SMOKE, BUT MY A GOES TO THE U.N.

OCEAN CONFERENCE THIS SUNDAY JUNE 8 IS WORLD OCEAN DAY AND ALL NEXT WEEK IN FRANCE, DELEGATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE GATHERING AT THE THIRD U.N.

OCEAN CONFERENCE TO SHARE ACTION PLANS FOR IMPROVING THE SUSTAINABILITY AND MANAGEMENT OF 70% OF OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE.

A LOT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BLUE ECONOMY.

IT IS A GOOD REMINDER IN THE TUMULT OF DAILY POLITICAL NEWS, THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD HAPPENING OUT THERE.

>> TARA.

>> MY A GOES TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MADE GRADUATION A REALITY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS THIS YEAR.

I ESPECIALLY WANT TO GIVE AN A TO LEBRON JAMES.

HE HELPED A STUDENT BY THE NAME AMAR PARTY SON, A 17-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS WORKING AND TAKING CARE OF HER SMALL BROTHER WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL, ATTEND HER GRADUATION.

HE BROUGHT HER GRADUATION CAP AND GOWN AND GAVE HER A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP.

>> MY A GOES TO THE UKRAINE'S DRONE ATTACK ON RUSSIAN NUCLEAR BOMBERS THIS PAST WEEK.

IT WAS 18 MONTHS IN THE MAKING.

UTILIZING STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE, THAT LED TO ROUGHLY A THIRD OF RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR BOMBERS DESTROYED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED.

>> LUKE.

>> WE ARE IN THE HEART OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON.

KUDOS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEER COACHES OUT THERE AND MY A GOES TO LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SHREVEPORT AND THEIR BASEBALL PROGRAM WHO JUST BECAME THE FIRST COLLEGE BASEBALL TEAM TO HAVE A PERFECT SEASON AFTER FINISHING 59-0.

THAT'S QUITE A RECORD.

>> 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.

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