THE SUPREME COURT AND RACIAL PREFERENCES... TRUMP AND PENCE EACH SAY THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD... AND COMES A TIME WHEN ENOUGH'S ENOUGH--NEIL YOUNG TAKES ON SPOTIFY.

STAY TUNED.

"IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, AND BEN BAUGHMAN CAZENOVIA COLLEGE AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

WE'LL START TONIGHT WITH THE SUPREME COURT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS HE WILL NOMINATE A BLACK WOMAN TO REPLACE THE RETIRING JUSTICE, STEPHEN BREYER.

THIS WOULD FULFILL A CAMPAIGN PLEDGE, BUT IT HAS IGNITED A CONTROVERSY.

BIDEN SAYS THE COURT SHOULD LOOK LIKE AMERICA.

SOME CRITICS ARE SAYING BY LIMITING THE POOL OF POTENTIAL NOMINEES HE WILL CHOOSE A LESS-QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.

AN ABC NEWS POLL SAYS 76% OF AMERICANS THINK ALL POTENTIAL NOMINEES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

SHOULD RACE AND/OR GENDER BE CONSIDERED IN CHOOSING A NOMINEE?

>> WELL, DAVE, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN AN A DEAL WORLD, AND IN WHICH WE ALL REGULARLY JOIN HANDS TOGETHER AND SING KUMBAYA, RACE AND GENDER PROBABLY SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED.

BUT WE DON'T LIVE IN AN IDEAL WORLD.

AND CERTAINLY WOMEN AND MINORITIES DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OR, I SHOULD SAY, THE LUXURY OF BEING ABLE TO IGNORE THE FACT THAT WE DON'T LIVE IN AN IDEAL WORLD.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IT TOOK 175 YEARS FOR THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO BE APPOINTED TO THE BENCH.

AND THEN 200 YEARS FOR THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE APPOINTED TO THE BENCH.

AND UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THAT, FOR SOME 200 YEARS, THE ONLY SMART PEOPLE IN AMERICA WERE WHITE MEN, THEN YOU HAVE TO CONCEDE THAT RACE AND GENDER MATTER.

THE LAST POINT I'LL MAKE IS THAT THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES, BLACK WOMEN IN PARTICULAR, IS DIFFERENT FROM THEIR COUNTERPARTS AND DESPITE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT, IT DOES OPERATE AS A REPRESENTATIONAL INSTITUTION; THEREFORE, BLACK WOMEN SHOULD BE REPRESENTED AND, QUITE FRANKLY, I'M WONDERING WHAT TOOK SO LONG.

NOW I'LL ADMIT THAT BIDEN HAS HANDLED THIS SORT OF CLUMSILY, AS I THINK IT WAS SUSAN WHO SAID SO.

HE COULD HAVE DONE WHAT RONALD REAGAN DID, WHICH WAS TO APPOINT SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR WITHOUT A BUNCH OF HOOPLA.

HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING JUST THE WRONG WAY.

>> BEN, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

>> MY TAKE IS THAT DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND.

AND I THINK THE POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP IS THAT WE HAVE HAD 115 JUSTICES OVER THE HISTORY OF THE COURT.

110 OF THEM BEING MEN.

WOMEN WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO BE LAWYERS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT WASN'T UNTIL 50 YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE THAT WAS CHOSEN TO BE-- TO SERVE ON A FEDERAL COURT SO THAT, I THINK LENDS TO THE ARGUMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE DIVERSE VOICES IN THE ROOM WHEN WE ARE TAKING DECISIONS FOR AMERICA.

>> DOES THIS PUT THE NOMINEE, WHOEVER IT IS GOING TO BE, UNDER A LITTLE BIT OF A CLOUD THOUGH.

THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE PERSON THAT FULFILLED THAT CAMPAIGN PLEDGE INSTEAD OF PERHAPS CONSIDERED ON THEIR OWN QUALIFICATIONS, LUKE?

>> AS NINA POINTED OUT, IT'S NOT IDEAL THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WILL LEAD TO THIS NOMINEE BEING SELECTED.

AT THE SAME TIME, I'M SYMPATHETIC TO BIDEN'S SITUATION IN MAKING THAT CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

CANDIDATES HAVE TO MAKE ALL KINDS OF CAMPAIGN PROMISES.

I WAS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THE NIGHT OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY WHEN THAT SHIP WAS SINKING FAST AND BIDEN LEFT TOWN FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AND HE WAS PERSUADED TO PUBLICLY MAKE THAT PLEDGE IN REGARDS TO NOMINATING A BLACK WOMAN TO SOLIDIFY SUPPORT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THAT VICTORY PUT HIM ON A PATH TO WIN THE NOMINATION.

SO CANDIDATES SAY ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO TRY TO GET ELECTED.

AND BIDEN IS FOLLOWING THROUGH ON A CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

>> YEAH, SO I MEAN THE PRESIDENTS HAVE LONG CHOSEN BASED ON NATIONALITY, RACE, YOU KNOW, ETHNICITY AND GENDER.

AND, FOR EXAMPLE, REAGAN REPORTEDLY SAID THAT WANTS AN ITALIAN AMERICAN FOR THE COURT AND SCALIA GOT NOMINATED, RIGHT?

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW.

SO THE CONTROVERSY, I THINK, IS BASICALLY BECAUSE OF IT'S INHERENT PREJUDICE THAT WE STILL HAVE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE.

DONALD TRUMP OPENLY SAID I'M GOING TO ELECT A WOMAN.

NOBODY, UP KNOW, BATTED AN EYELID AT THAT TIME SO I'M FLUMMOXED WHEN IT CAN UMTION TO A BLACK WOMAN JUSTICE THAT THIS BLACK-- THAT THIS IS ALL SHOWING UP.

I THINK IT IS UNFORTUNATE.

I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BASED ON DEMOGRAPHICS.

THE PRESIDENT HAS VERY LONG DONE THAT AND HE IS JUST FULFILLING A CAMPAIGN PROMISE.

YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD KIND OF REFLECT HOW AMERICA LOOKS LIKE.

>> YEAH, ON THE QUESTION OF QUALIFICATIONS THAT I THINK YOU ARE GETTING AT, DAVE, I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER IS THAT THE PROCESS BY WHICH A PERSON IS NOMINATED TO AND APPOINTED ON THE SUPREME COURT CONSISTS OF ALL SORTS OF HURDLES THAT WE CALL ADVANTAGES.

SIMPLY TO BE ADMITTED TO LAW SCHOOL, TO AFFORD THE ASTRONOMICAL COST OF LAW SCHOOL AT A PRESTIGIOUS LAW SCHOOL; TO THEN TO BE APPOINTED A LAW CLERK AND TO SERVE ON THE D.C.

CIRCUIT COURT, ALL OF THE ADVANTAGES ALONG THE WAY ARE THERE FOR WHITE MEN, SO I WOULD SAY FOR ANY PERSON OF COLOR OR WOMAN TO OVERCOME ALL OF THOSE BARRIERS, MAKES HER MORE QUALIFIED.

>> YOU MENTIONED LIVED EXPERIENCE IN YOUR OPENING COMMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS-- AND THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY PERTAIN TO RACE OR GENDER.

BUT THE SORT OF STRAIGHT LAWYERING EXPERIENCE THAT SEEMS, IN SOME WAYS, TO BE MISSING FROM THE COURT, WHEN I SAY STREET LAWYERING, I MEAN SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY BEEN IN A COURTROOM, ARGUING A CASE, DEFENDING A CASE, PROSECUTING.

SO MANY OF THE JUSTICES SEEM TO BE MORE, YOU KNOW, WHITE-- WHAT IS THE TERM-- WHITE LEATHER LAW FIRM TYPE JUSTICES.

I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF INTERESTING TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO LIKE SOTOMAYOR WHO PRACTICED THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE LAW AND SOME OF THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN NOTED FLOATED HAVE DONE THAT.

>> I'LL GO BACK TO THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN THAT WAS CHOSEN FOR THE FEDERAL BENCH, SHE ARGUED IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT 10 TIMES AND WON NINE OUT OF THE 10 CASES.

SHE CAME WITH THE RESISTANCE OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW, EVEN TODAY.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING PUT FORWARD ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED.

>> NOW CAN I JUST SAY ONE LAST THING, AND I HATE THIS TERM, I REALLY HATE IT.

BUT I'LL USE IT ANYWAY FOR THE SAKE OF BEING SUCCINCT HERE.

I THINK IT HAS TO BE A LEGITIMATE BLACK PERSON WHO DOES, IN FACT, CAPTURE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE MAJORITY OF BLACK AMERICANS.

AND SO IN THIS CASE, I WOULD SAY THAT THE CLARENCE THOMAS COUNTERPART IN THE FORM OF A CLA REESE THOMAS WOULD NOT WORK.

THE LIVED EXPERIENCE DOES MATTER AND I THINK THAT'S CAPTURED IN WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MAJORITY.

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING DISTINCTION THAT YOU ARE MAKING.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

I THINK THAT WOULD PERHAPS NOT FLY WITH-- I THINK THAT COULD GET A LOT OF CRITICISM ITSELF IN A WAY.

THAT IDEA.

>> YEAH, IT PROBABLY WOULD.

BUT AGAIN I THINK RONALD REAGAN WAS ABLE TO APPOINT THE FIRST WOMAN TO THE BENCH, RECOGNIZING ALL OF THOSE THINGS WITHOUT SAYING THAT THOSE PARTS OUT LOUD, RIGHT?

SO I THINK BIDEN SHOULD SIMPLY HAVE DONE THAT HERE AND YOU CAN DO IT THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS.

>> BIDEN SHOULD FOLLOW RONALD REAGAN.

THAT'S ONE FOR THE BOOKS, RIGHT.

NOW... MUSIC AND MISINFORMATION COLLIDED RECENTLY WHEN NEIL YOUNG DEMANDED SPOTIFY NO LONGER STREAM HIS MUSIC IF IT CONTINUED TO HOST JOE ROGAN'S PODCAST.

A FEW OTHER MUSICIANS AND PODCASTERS FOLLOWED SUIT.

AT ISSUE ARE ROGAN'S GUESTS WHO HAVE PUSHED DUBIOUS COVID TREATMENTS AND INFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES.

SPOTIFY TOOK DOWN YOUNG'S MUSIC AND SAID IT WOULD PUT A DISCLAIMER ON COVID-RELATED CONTENT.

BUT THIS RAISES INTERESTING QUESTIONS ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY.

WHAT IS SPOTIFY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO POLICE MISINFORMATION, AND WHAT IS ROGAN'S TO KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT?

HE CALLS HIMSELF A MORON AND SAYS HE'S JUST TALKING TO PEOPLE AND DOESN'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES HE'S DISCUSSING.

SO BEN, WHERE DOES THE RESPONSIBILITY LIE HERE?

>> YEAH, WELL, SO THE RESPONSIBILITY, I THINK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE A BUSINESS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE BETWEEN FREE SPEECH AND KEEPING SOCIETY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

SO YOU HAVE THAT ISSUE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS AN INFOTAINMENT TYPE OF PODCAST.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENTERTAINING AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION.

WHAT THIS HIGHLIGHTS, IN MY MIND, IS OUR PROBLEM WITH JOURNALISM THE WAY IT WAS CONCEIVED AND THE WAY IT USED TO BE VERSUS HOW IT IS NOW AND PEOPLE BEING SILOED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ALGORITHMS AND HEARING WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR AND THAT'S IT.

>> I THINK THE INFORMATION PART YOU GRANTED TO THIS PODCAST IS GENEROUS.

I THINK IT'S MORE ENTERTAINMENT.

AND I LOOK AT PODCASTS AS ON DEMAND RADIO.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, BEN, LARGELY OPERATED WITHIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

IF I WERE RUNNING THIS COMPANY, I WOULD NOT WANT TO PAY JOE ROGUE AN $100 MILLION TO SAY WHAT HE SAYS BUT I DON'T SEE A STRONG ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE.

I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE WHAT IS BEING SAID TO NOT LISTEN AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THAT PLATFORM AND DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF IT, TO BOYCOTT IT.

THAT SEEMS LIKE THE MOST LOGICAL WAY TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> BECAUSE THIS IS A SUBSCRIBER SERVICE, THERE IS NO ADVERTISING, RIGHT?

SO YOU CAN'T HAVE AN ADVERTISER BOYCOTT.

SO ANIRBAN... >> THE $100 MILLION CONTRACT.

IF IT IS A CONTRACT THAT SPOTIFY IS WRITING ALONG WITH JOE ROGUE AN, SO I THINK THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SENSOR SOME EPISODES AND THEY HAVE DONE IT.

HE HAD USED RACIAL SLURS IN HIS EPISODES LIBERALLY AND SPOTIFY TOOK DOWN SEVERAL OF THE EPISODES AND I AGREE FORMATION IS A WORD DOING HEAVY LIFTING WHEN IT COMES TO JOE ROGAN'S SHOW.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO REALLY ASK A SLIGHTLY MORE DIFFICULT QUESTION.

IS IT THAT BANNING JOE ROGAN, WOULD IT SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE?

HERE WE HAVE A COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF-- HIGHEST AMOUNT OF AVAILABILITY OF VACCINATION AND HIGHEST DEATH AND MISINFORMATION IS COMING FROM ALL DIFFERENT QUARTERS.

SO, YES, YOU KNOW, I THINK SPOTIFY HAS THE RIGHT-- IT'S NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S A CONTRACTED PROGRAM.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, ONE CAN ASK, IS IT A SOLUTION TO BANJO ROGAN?

-- TO BAN JOE ROGUE AN?

>> IS THIS A FORM OF CANCEL CULTURE.

WE DON'T LIKE THE SPEECH SO WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DENY IT?

>> WELL, I DON'T THAT THEY THAT IT CAN BE REDUCED TO THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME 200 OR SO MEDICAL EXPERTS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE.

BUT TO ANIRBAN'S POINT, I WOULD DRILL DOWN ON JUST THE BASIC FACT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE KIND OF PUBLIC SCHOOLING SYSTEM THAT EQUIPS PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION AND EVEN IF WE DON'T DO THAT, NOT ONLY IS THERE REASON FOR SPOTIFY TO PAY THEM $100 MILLION.

I AGREE I WOULDN'T, EITHER.

BUT IT IS THE MOST WATCHED PODCAST.

THERE ARE 11 MILLION-- I'M SORRY, MOST LISTENED TO PODCAST.

11 MILLION LISTENERS ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

I'M INCLINED TO, IF PEOPLE WANT TO LISTEN TO AND BELIEVE MISINFORMATION, THEN BY GOD LET THEM DO THAT.

WE ARE SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEM CHOOSING TO NOT GET VACCINES, TO NOT MASK BECAUSE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, MORTALITY IS HIGHER.

BUT THAT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

THERE IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE HERE.

WHO IS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS MISINFORMATION AND WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR DOING SO?

THE PERSON THAT IS BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT HERE, Dr. ROBERT MALONE, I THINK HIS NAME IS, THIS GUY HAS GOT GREAT CREDENTIALS AND HE CLAIMS TO BE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE VACCINE.

SO IF THERE IS A BUNCH OF US SAYING YOU CAN'T SAY WHAT YOU WANT, THEN, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE AND WHO CAN SPEAK AND ON WHAT BASIS?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT.

WHO POLICES SPEECH?

WE DON'T WANT TO REALLY GET INTO THAT SITUATION.

BUT WHAT ABOUT-- I MEAN FROM SPOTIFY'S RESPONSIBILITY HERE.

I MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO SHOULD ARE THEY A PLATFORM, SHOULD THEY BE CONSIDERED PUBLISHER?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS A BUSINESS AND NEIL YOUNG-- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T FORGET THE PROPER PERSON HERE.

BUT HIS ACTIONS IMPACTED ESTIMATED $4 BILLION LOSS ON SPOTIFY.

SO JUST ONE PERSON'S ACTIONS GRANTED, NEIL YOUNG, WAS ABLE TO HELP BALANCE AND SELF CORRECT AND BRING THIS TO LIGHT AS A BUSINESS.

THAT THEY NEED TOIVE AND DEAL WITH-- TO IDENTIFY AND DEAL WITH.

>> I DON'T THINK SPOTIFY IS A SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY.

I DON'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

I THINK PEOPLE OF OUR AGE AND BACKGROUND TEND TO PINE FOR MORE EDITORIAL CONTROL, TO ADDRESS MISINFORMATION.

AND THE COMMUNICATION REVOLUTION IN THE LAST 20 YEARS HAS JUST BLOWN THE LID OFF THAT SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'M INTRIGUED BY WHAT YOUNGER ADULTS ARE DOING TO TRY TO COMBAT MISINFORMATION.

YOU LOOK AT THE BIRDS AREN'T REAL MOVEMENT WHERE YOU'VE GOT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE USING SATIRE AND COMEDY TO PARODY MISINFORMATION AND THEY'RE GOING TO PROTEST THAT PROPAGATING MISINFORMATION AND SAYING ABSURD THINGS LIKE BIRDS AREN'T REAL AND GOVERNMENT HAS KILLED ALL THE BIRDS AND TURNED THEM INTO SPIES.

AND I THINK ON THE SURFACE IT'S VERY FUNNY TO ME.

BUT BEYOND THAT, I THINK IT SHOWS HOW PEOPLE HAVE GROWN UP IN THIS INTERNET WORLD ARE THINKING OF THEIR OWN WAYS TO TRY TO COMBAT MISINFORMATION AND THOSE TYPES OF SOLUTIONS, I'M INTRIGUED LOOKING FORWARD.

>> FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE SAID LAST WEEK, AND I QUOTE... "PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WRONG."

THAT DIDN'T GO OVER WELL WITH HIS FORMER BOSS, WHO ALSO TWEETED RECENTLY THAT HE HAD WANTED PENCE TO "OVERTURN THE ELECTION."

ALL OF THIS HAS GIVEN A RENEWED PUSH TO REVISE THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT OF 1887-THE VAGUE FEDERAL LAW GOVERNING HOW VOTES ARE COUNTED FOR THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

TRUMP SAYS THE FACT CONGRESS WANTS TO CHANGE THE LAW PROVES HE WAS RIGHT-- THAT PENCE HAD LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REJECT THE VOTES?

DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

LUKE, WAS HE?

>> NO.

I ANY IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NOT PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING THE NORMS OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC WHETHER HE WAS THE FIRST RESPONSIBLE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR EXECUTING LAW.

NOW, THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT, I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT VAGUE.

I TRIED TO SIT DOWN AND READ IT THIS WEEK AND IT'S NOT EASY TO DO AND IT IS COMPLICATED AND CONFUSING.

I READ THE CONGRESSIONAL SERVICES SUMMARY.

IT PRESCRIBES IN GREAT DETAIL WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN REGARDS TO COUNTING THE VOTES AND THE CURRENT BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE EFFORT IS NEEDED TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT THE SIMPLE PROCESS OF COUNTING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VOTES BEFORE CONGRESS CAN BE HIJACKED OR SUBVERTED BY THE VICE PRESIDENT OR FACTIONS WITHIN CONGRESS.

I THINK THE ACT NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED TO MAKE SURE PARTICULARLY THOSE TWO THINGS ARE PROTECTED.

>> I WOULD SAY, LUKE, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT EVEN IF THAT IS DONE, WE ARE SQUARELY IN WACKY WORLD, RIGHT?

BECAUSE WHAT TRUMP HAS SAID IS THE FACT THAT YOU ARE CHANGING THE LAW TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT CANNOT OVERTURN THE ELECTION MEANS THAT THE LAW PERMITTED THE VICE PRESIDENT TO DO SO BEFORE THIS LAW.

AND YOU'VE GOT SOME 40% OF ALL AMERICANS WHO STILL BELIEVE THAT BIDEN WAS ILLEGITIMATELY ELECTED AND SOME 80% OF REPUBLICANS WHO DO.

SO I THINK HERE IT'S A MATTER OF , YOU KNOW, FOLKS THINKING DON'T CONFUSE ME WITH THE FACTS.

MY MIND IS ALREADY MADE UP.

SO I THINK NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS HERE, THERE IS STILL GOING TO BE A COMPLAINT IF IT'S NOT TRUMP OR WHATEVER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE THAT ACTUALLY WINS.

>> I THINK IT IS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT TO SAY THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.

AND STILL THINK THAT WE NEED TO CLARIFY SOME PARTS EFFORT ACT, AS YOU ARE POINTING OUT.

IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED ACT AND ADDED TO THAT, WHAT I'VE CALLED DELUSIONAL CAUCUS IN THE REPUBLICANS WHO THINK THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

SO-- AND LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS, RIGHT?

NONE OF THE STATES SEND COMPETING CERTIFICATE.

THE ONLY CERTIFICATE OF VOTE THAT PENCE IS OPENING WAS THE ONLY CERTIFICATE OF VOTE THAT THE STATE HAS SENT.

SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THE COURTS COULD HAVE DONE.

NOW, OF COURSE, TRUMP BEING DICK TORIAL IN HIS ATTITUDE, HE WOULD TRY TO SUBVERT DIFFERENT WAYS TO REMAIN IN POWER IF HE COMES TO POWER NEXT TIME.

SO I DO THINK THAT A CHANGE IS NEEDED ESPECIALLY RAISING THE BAR FOR OBJECTIONS AND CLARIFY THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ROLE IS PURELY MINISTERIAL.

>> SO POLITICALLY, THIS IS SORT OF THE THIRD BITE AT THE APPLE IN TERMS OF ELECTORAL REFORM, RIGHT?

THE DEMOCRATS TRIED A COUPLE OF EARLIER BIDS WHICH FAILED FAIRLY MIZ MISS RABLY MISERABLY.

THEY'RE UP AGAINST THE CLOCK.

>> I THINK LIZ CHENEY HAS OUTLINED SOME OF THE ISSUES QUITE WELL IN HER RECENT EDITORIAL THAT HE JUST RELEASED.

YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE IS, OUR LEADERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING THE CONSTITUTION AND NOT A PERSON.

AND THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING SOMETHING OVER AND OVER AND PEOPLE COGNITIVE FATIGUE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, IT IS THE EXPECTANCY THEORY, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE AND DISCOUNT ANY CONFIRMING EVIDENCE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN OVER THE ELECTION.

HE DID A GREAT JOB EXPOSING SOME PLACES THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON AS A COUNTRY.

>> SO ANDREW McCARTHY AND THE NATIONAL REVIEW, HAS SAID THAT WHILE HE THINKS THIS LAW NEEDS TO BE REVISED, HE IS CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT LEAD TO AN EVENTUAL MOVE TO ABOLISH ISSUE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

>> IF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS ABOLISH ISSUED, I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS WOULD GAIN MUCH SEATS IN THE ELECTION.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY WINNING ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

>> I THINK THAT MAY BE HIS POINT.

OKAY.

WE DO HAVE TO GET TO OUR As AND Fs.

WE'LL GO TO THE Fs.

NINA START WITH YOURS.

>> OKAY.

I'M GIVING AN F TO TWO WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS THAT INSTRUCTED THEIR STUDENTS TO ATTEND A CHRISTIAN REVIVAL ASSEMBLY BEING HELD WITHIN THE SCHOOL DURING THE FREE PERIOD.

IT'S NOT THAT I OPPOSE CHRISTIAN EVANGELICALISM, BUT WHAT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS TEACHERS PROMOTING THEIR BELIEFS AND PUSHING STUDENTS TO EMBRACE TEACHERS BELIEFS AS OPPOSED TO PROMOTING CRITICAL THINKING AND CRITICAL CHOICES ON THE PART OF STUDENTS.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON WHO TURNS OUT IS HAVING WILD PARTIES ON 10 DOWNING WHILE BRITAINS WERE SUBJECT TO STRICT LOCK DOWNS.

FIRST HE LIED, THEN APOLOGIZED ABOUT IT.

NOW EVERYBODY AROUND HIM IS RESIGNING LEFT AND RIGHT AND THE POLICE INVESTIGATION IS NOW GETTING EVER MORE CLOSER TO THE PARTY BOY BORIS.

>> BEN.

>> MY F IS GOING TO CENSORSHIP, TAKEN TOO FAR.

SINCE LAST YEAR, 14 STATES HAVE IMPOSED LIMITS ON WHAT SOME STATES SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS CAN DISCUSS ABOUT THE NATION'S RACIAL PAST.

BROADLY WRITTEN LAWS AND PROPOSEALS WITH STATE OFFICIALS PUNISH SCHOOLS, EDUCATORS FOR DISCUSSING RACISM AND HISTORY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR; FOR EXAMPLE, LIMITS WHAT TEACHERS ARE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT WITH JACKIE ROBINSON, BUT NOT DISCUSSING WHY BLACK PLAYERS WERE BANNED FROM BASEBALL.

>> LUKE, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO SPEAKER PELOSI FOR NOT UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORTING A BAN ON MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM TRADING STOCKS.

THEIR POSITION HAS HAS ABE ABLED THEM TO ROUTINELY OUT PERFORM THE MARKET IN $300 MILLION IN ANNUAL INVESTMENTS.

>> OKAY, As.

>> WELL, MY A GOES TO SENATOR JOE MAN MANCHIN WHO HAS ENDORSED LISA ME WR KOWSKI WHO IS FACING A PRIMARY CHALLENGER SUPPORTED BY TRUMP.

WHAT MANCHIN BASICALLY SAID IT IS HYPOCRITICAL TO WORK WITH THIS PERSON ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HER WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO HER GETTING RE-ELECTED.

GOOD FOR HIM.

>> ANIRBAN, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE VANCOUVER GAMING COMPANY BLACKBIRD INTERACTIVE FOR BEING A VISIONARY IN THIS HIGH CRUNCH GAMING INDUSTRY AS THEY DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK.

THE COMPANY PILOTED THE PROGRAM WITH LESS WORK HOURS, WITH EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS.

EFFICIENCY AND MORALE IMPROVED AND PRODUCTIVITY.

WE SHOULD START THE DELETE FRIDAY MOVEMENT.

>> DELETE FRIDAY.

OKAY.

BEN, YOUR A.

TOP THAT ONE.

>> I CAN'T TOP THAT ONE.

BUT MY A DOES GO TO SOMETHING AS SPECIAL.

IT'S A SWEDISH STUDY IN ALLEVIATING SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC ANXIETY WITHOUT DRUGS AND THERAPY.

EXERCISING AS HARD AS YOU CAN, THE BEST WAY TO ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC ANXIETY WITHOUT DRUGS AND THERAPY ACCORDING TO THIS NEW STUDY.

EVERY PARTICIPANT IN THE SWEDISH STUDY SHOWED IMPROVEMENT REGARDLESS OF INTENSITY WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO PUT OUT THERE, BUT THE CHANCE OF IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF ANXIETY SYMPTOMS INCREASED MORE IN PEOPLE WHO WORKED OUT HARDER.

>> LUKE, YOUR A.

>> WE WON'T WORK ON FRIDAY AND WE'LL WORK OUT INSTEAD.

I LIKE THAT.

MY A GOES TO A PROPAGANDA FILM PUT OUT BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CALLED ZERO TOLERANCE FOCUSED ON CORRUPTION.

IRONICALLY, THE FILM DID AN EXCELLENT JOB DOCUMENTING HOW EXTENSIVE CORRUPTION AND NEPOTISM IS WITHIN THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

>> SO THERE IS OUR A.

JUST QUICKLY, BEN, YOU MENTIONED ON YOUR F CENSORSHIP AND ANOTHER ASPECT OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS THE BOOK BANNING.

WE ARE SEEING QUITE A FEW BOOKS BEING BANNED THESE DAYS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA IN MY VIEW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS, YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

AND IF WOULD YOU LIKE TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN DO SO ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY.

FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER."

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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