>> CORPORATE AMERICA AND TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

DECISION TIME FOR THE SUPREME COURT.

AND EVERYONE LOVED FAYE; BUT IS IT TIME TO FREE THE SWANS.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, SARAH PRALLE FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

NEWS BROKE LAST NIGHT THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN INDICTED IN THE MAR-A-LAGO CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE.

WE'RE TAPING THIS PROGRAM EARLY FRIDAY MORNING, BEFORE A LOT OF DETAILS ARE KNOWN, AS THE INDICTMENT IS STILL UNDER SEAL.

WE'LL DISCUSS THIS STORY IN FULL IN THE WEEKS TO COME, BUT FOR NOW, I'D LIKE TO L GET A QUICK REACTION FROM THE PANEL.

SO NINA, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, I'D SAY THAT WE SHOULD FORGET THE FACT THAT TRUMP IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND FOCUS ON WHETHER THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND ALSO CRIMINAL INTENT BECAUSE I THINK THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT DEMOCRATS WILL PONTIFICATE ABOUT IF AND WHEN BIDEN IS PROSECUTED.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> WELL, I'M FLUMMOXED ABOUT THIS.

BUT I WOULD SAY THERE ARE SERIOUS CHARGES IN HERE, ESPECIALLY STEMMING OUT OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT.

SO, YOU FOE, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS BUT I'M BRACING MYSELF FOR A 247 NEWS CYCLE SURROUNDING TRUMP EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION STARTED.

>> SARAH?

>> I THINK TRUMP IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE MOTIVATED AND DO WHATEVER HE CAN TO TRY TO WIN THE WHITE HOUSE BACK IN 2024 TO KIND OF SHIELD HIMSELF FROM SOME OF THESE LEGAL TROUBLES AND POTENTIALLY JAIL TIME.

>> AND LUKE.

>> THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT WANT TO CHARGE A FORMER PRESIDENT IN THIS CAPACITY AND DONALD TRUMP HAD SO MANY OFF RAMPS AND I'M SURPRISED HE DIDN'T TAKE ANY OF THEM.

>> WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS I'M SURE IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

FOR NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR PLANNED PROGRAM.

TARGET IS THE LATEST COMPANY TO COME UNDER FIRE BY CONSERVATIVE ACTIVISTS BECAUSE OF ITS LGBTQ MARKETING CAMPAIGNS.

THE RETAILER STOPPED DISPLAYING SOME MERCHANDISE AFTER SEVERAL THREATS AGAINST ITS STORES AND EMPLOYEES, EVEN THOUGH D-E-I INITIATIVES ARE A BIG PART OF ITS BUSINESS.

BUD LIGHT FLIP-FLOPPED ON A SIMILAR CAMPAIGN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

MARKETING AROUND PRIDE MONTH HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS •WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE NOW?

SARAH?

>> WELL, I MEAN THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

BECAUSE WE ARE REALLY SEEING THIS INTENSIVE BACKLASH AGAINST LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK IT'S PARTLY DUE TO THE SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT MADE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL.

THE DECISION ITSELF WAS NOT CONTROVERSIAL AMONG THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

BUT THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT HAD WORKED FOR DECADES TO TRY TO PREVENT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

AND IT TOOK THE WIND OUT OF THEIR SAILS.

THEY REALLY NEEDED A NEW TARGET AND THAT NEW TARGET BECAME TRANS PEOPLE, WHICH IS A MINORITY GROUP WITHIN A MINORITY GROUP.

AND I HAVE TO JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF ACTIVISM AROUND THIS, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING INTO TARGET AND HARASSING THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TARGET'S POLICIES, AND REALLY THREATENING THEM.

I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, DON'T THESE PEOPLE HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS TO ATTEND TO?

I JUST DON'T SEE HOW A WATER BOTTLE WITH A RAINBOW ON IT OR A T SHIRT THAT SAYS TRANS PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS EXIST IS REALLY A MAJOR PUBLIC PROBLEM.

AND, IN FACT, THE PROBLEM IS THE KIND OF HARASSMENT AND INTOLERANCE THAT SOME OF THESE TRANS YOUTH FACE WHO HAVE A VERY SUICIDE RATE.

>> I WONDER HOW SHOULD COMPANIES -- IF THEY'RE GETTING THESE THREATS-- HOW SHOULD THEY RESPOND?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT RAN FROM 1955 TO 1956.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRESSING FOR DESEGREGATION, TO END RACIAL SEGREGATION IN THE SOUTH.

AND THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE COST THAT WAS BORN BY THOSE INVOLVED IN THAT MOVEMENT.

THEY HAD TO WALK TO SCHOOLS AND TO THEIR JOBS.

MANY LOST THEIR JOBS.

MANY LOST THEIR LIVES.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT, FOR THESE COMPANIES, THEY'RE AT A PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER PROFIT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRINCIPLE.

IT SEEMS LIKE BUD LIGHT HAS ALREADY MADE THAT DECISION.

AND CERTAINLY IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO DO THAT.

BUT I SEE THAT MOVE TO MOVE TOWARD PROFIT AND AWAY FROM PRINCIPLE AS JUST EMBLEMATIC OF A LARGER PHENOMENON THAT'S I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ON THIS PROGRAM AND THAT'S THE VIRTUAL SIGNALING THAT IS EMPTY THAT ACTUALLY MEANS NOTHING FOR MANY, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY IT, WHITE PROGRESSIVES, THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING THEIR JOBS ON THE LINE, PUTTING THEIR TITLES ON THE LINE, ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN TALK THE TALK.

THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO WALK THE WALK LITERALLY LIKE THE FOLKS AT THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT.

>> SO THE-- YOU ARE SAYING BUD LIGHT DID THAT BECAUSE THEY MADE THEIR INITIAL STATEMENT AND THEN SAID, YOU KNOW, WE RATHER SELL BEER.

>> YEAH, AND THEY BACKED AWAY FROM IT.

THAT IS WHAT VIRTUE SIGNALING IS ABOUT, THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO JUST APPEAR TO BE PRO-EQUALITY, PRO-INCLUSIVITY, PRO-DIVERSITY BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY DOING AND WILLING TO RISK IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THAT, THEN WE SEE THERE IS LITTLE TO IT FOR MOST, NOT ALL.

>> LUKE.

>> IT IS COWARDLY TO TAKE A STANCE AND THEN WHEN THERE IS?

BACKLASH, TO QUICKLY REVERSE COURSE.

AT THE SAME TIME, I DO THINK WE ARE IN A SOMEWHAT UNIQUE POLITICAL MOMENT WHERE EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL AND THE SPEED WITH WHICH ATTITUDES AND COMMUNICATION PLOA PROCEEDS NOW COMPARED TO 50 YEARS AGO IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT.

I EMPATHIZE WITH C.E.O.S AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO JUST WANT TO SELL GOODS, HIRE EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, STAY IN BUSINESS.

AND THEY CAN'T ESCAPE POLITICAL PIT FIELDS EVEN IF THEY'RE TRYING TO.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IN CAPITALISM THE SOLE MOTIVE OF ANY COMPANY IS TO MAKE PROFITS, WHATEVER THEY SAY OTHERWISE IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, NORTHWEST HOG WASH.

BUT YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AT SOME MACRO DATA AND THERE IS A PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND HE LOOKED AT ALL THESE DIFFERENT BOYCOTTS OF COMPANIES OVER THE YEARS.

HE FOUND OUT THAT BASICALLY, THE PROBLEM IS THAT DURING A BOYCOTT, A COMPANY LOSES SHARE BY 1% EVERY TIME THEIR NAME IS GETTING A NEGATIVE ATTENTION IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA.

SO THEIR MAIN GOAL IS TO THE NOT BE IN NEGATIVE ATTENTION IN NATIONAL MEDIA BECAUSE IT HURTS THEIR BOTTOM LINE AND AS A RESULT, TARGET AND BUDWEISER ARE BEHAVING EXACTLY HOW CAPITALISTS WOULD BEHAVE.

IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING STRANGE TO ME.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW, I FEEL THIS VITRIOL TOWARDS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BUY A BEER AND SHOOT IT UP ON TIKTOK.

BUD LIGHT IS A TERRIBLE BEER BUT THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A COMPANY DOING ITS COMPANY THING.

TRYING TO PROTECT ITS PROFIT.

>> OKAY, NOW THE SUPREME COURT TERM IS WINDING DOWN AND A RUSH OF DECISIONS ARE STARTING TO BE RELEASED A BIG ONE YESTERDAY ON VOTING RIGHTS, BUT WE CAN EXPECT TO SOON GET RULINGS ON OTHER CONSEQUENTIAL CASES REGARDING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, STUDENT DEBT RELIEF, LGBTQ RIGHTS AND MORE.

WHICH CASES ARE YOU ESPECIALLY KEEPING YOUR EYES ON, AND WHY?

WILL THIS COURT'S DECISION BE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?

>> I'M KEEPING AN EYE ON THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASE BECAUSE I JUST FINISHED A BOOK ON IT AND MY PUBLISHER IS WAITING ON ME TO INCLUDE THOSE TWO, THE PEPPING DECISIONS.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD START THIS CONVERSATION BY JUST RECOGNIZING THE INCREDIBLE RELIANCE THAT WE HAVE NOW ON THE SUPREME COURT TO TACKLE AND RESOLVE FOR US SOME OF THE MOST DIVISIVE, VEXING AND IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT OF THE DAY.

AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SUPREME COURT THAT IS NOT ELECTED BY DESIGN IT IS A COUNTERMAJORITY INSTITUTION.

NONETHELESS, ALL THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE FACT THAT THE COURT USUALLY OPERATES IN CONCERT WITH THE PUBLIC AND WHEN IT COMES TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT CAUSE IS SORT OF UNIQUE.

IT'S A GROUP OF MOSTLY ASIAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO ARE ARGUING THAT RACE SHOULD NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FOCUSING, OF COURSE, ON HARVARD AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS MORE GENERALLY.

AND THE OTHER THING I FIND INTERESTING IS THAT THEIR ARGUMENT IS HOISTED ATOP THE BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION.

AND SO THEY'RE ARGUING THAT BROWN WAS NOT ABOUT EQUAL RACIAL OUTCOMES BUT RATHER RACIALLY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO JUDGING FROM THE ORAL ARGUMENTS AND ALSO LOOKING AT PUBLIC OPINION, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED-- I DON'T WANT TO PREDICT THIS-- BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THE NOW STRONGER CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY ON THE COURT DECIDES TO ELIMINATE RACE FROM AMONG THE VARIOUS INDICATORS OF DIVERSITY BECAUSE OF BROWN, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTS OF 1964 AND THE 14th AMENDMENT.

>> AND THAT WAS THE POSITION OF THE COURT EARLIER THAT RACE COULD BE CONSIDERED AS ONE FACTOR IN ADMISSIONS.

>> IT HAS BEEN SINCE 1978 UP UNTIL 2016.

>> CAN I JUST ADD, TOO, THAT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THAT ARE PROFOUND FOR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES BECAUSE SOME STATES HAVE ALREADY OUTLAWED RACE CONSCIOUS ADMISSION POLICIES INCLUDING CALIFORNIA AND MICHIGAN.

AND THE DATA FROM CALIFORNIA IS THAT THE NUMBER OF BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY AFTER THAT POLICY CHANGE.

AND THEY HAVE SPENT NEARLY HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TRYING TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THEIR STUDENT BODY AND THEY'RE STILL REALLY FALLING SHORT.

>> LUKE, LET'S GO TO YOU.

WHAT CASE ARE YOU KEEPING AN EYE ON?

>> I'M INTERESTED IN THE CASE COMING OUT OF COLORADO WHERE A WEDDING WEBSITE DESIGNER DOES NOT WANT TO SERVE GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES IN VIOLATION OF STATE AND NON-DISCRIMINATION LAWS.

29 STATES HAVE THE NON-DISCRIMINATION LAWS.

AND AS SOMEONE WHO RESEARCHED RELIGIOUS RESPONSES TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY ESTABLISHED IN 2015 AND TALKED TO CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, INCLUDING PROMINENT SOUTHERN BAPTIST WHO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR VIEW IS COUNTERCULTURE, IT'S AMAZING TO ME, EIGHT YEARS LATER, THAT A SUPREME COURT, WITH A MIND SET FROM ANOTHER ERA MAY CHANGE THAT AND STIFLE 50 YEARS OF SIMPLES ADVANCEMENT.

>> ANIRBAN, WHAT CASE ARE YOU WATCHING?

>> THE CORNERSTONE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS FREE SPEECH.

SO BUT FREE SPEECH HAS A CAVEAT THAT FREE SPEECH EXCLUDES TRUE THREAT.

NOW THERE IS A CASE COMING OUT FROM COLORADO, I THINK IT'S COUNTERMAN VS. COLORADO WHERE THE JUDGES WILL DECIDE-- THIS PERSON STALKED SOMEONE OVER FACEBOOK AND WAS MENTALLY ILL AND THE QUESTION BEFORE THE COURT IS HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND TRUE THREAT.

PREVIOUSLY THE COURT HAD SAID THAT A TRUE THREAT, THE PROSECUTOR HAS TO SHOW THAT THE PERSON GIVING THE THREAT HAS AN EXCLUSIVE INTENT TO KIND OF HURT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE COLORADO IS SAYING IT'S ALSO DEPENDS IF A REASONABLE PERSON THINKS THAT THEY'RE BEING THREATENED.

NOW BOTH SIDES ARE VERY GOOD ARGUMENTS AND WE WILL SEE HOW THAT PANS OUT BUT IT'S AWE VERY IMPORTANT CASE.

>> SARAH, WHICH CASE ARE YOU KEEPING AN EYE ON?

>> I WAS LOOKING AT THE SAME CASE THAT LUKE MENTIONED IN COLORADO, AND YOU KNOW THAT REALLY SETS UP FREE SPEECH AGAINST LGBTQ RIGHTS.

AND THE QUESTION I THINK BEFORE THE COURT, TOO, IS DOES WEBSITE DESTEIN CONSTITUTE EXPRESSION AS THOUGH YOU ARE AN ARTIST WHICH WOULD BE PROTECTED BY FREE SPEECH.

AND I THINK THE WORRY THERE IS THAT WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE.

AND IF THEY FIND IN FAVOR OF THE WOMAN IN COLORADO, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL, WHAT OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS WILL SAY THAT THEY ARE EXPRESSING A VIEWPOINT AND THEREFORE, YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM SOME OF THE ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWS?

>> THEIR ARGUMENT THERE IS THAT THEY SHOULD BE EXEMPT BECAUSE THIS IS SPEECH?

>> THIS IS SPEECH AND SHE IS BEING FORCED TO ADVOCATE FOR GAY MARRIAGE IF SHE WERE TO DESIGN A WEBSITE FOR SAME SEX COUPLES.

THAT'S HER ARGUMENT.

>> THERE WAS A SIMILAR CASE A FEW YEARS AGO, RIGHT?

THE MASTERPIECE BAKE SHOP.

>> YES.

>> AND HOW COME WE ARE REVISITING IT NOW?

>> WELL, THE COURT DECIDED ON VERY NARROW GROUNDS IN THAT CASE.

THEY PUNTED IT SO THIS CASE IS FAKING IT-- TAKING IT UP.

>> THIS BRINGS US TO THE BIG NEWS IN SYRACUSE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THAT OF COURSE IS THE SAD STORY OF FAYE THE SWAN.

THE THREE TEENS ARE ACCUSED OF THE CRIME AND FACE FELONY CHARGES.

PLENTY OF PEOPLE WANT TO THROW THE BOOK AT THEM, BUT THERE HAS ALSO BEEN PUSHBACK AGAINST PRACTICE OF KEEPING THE BIRDS CAPTIVE • CLIPPING THEIR WINGS SO THEY CAN'T FLY AWAY.

THIS STORY HAS PRODUCED PASSIONATE DEBATE IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT IVORY TOWER.

SHOULD THE CENTURY LONG TRADITION OF THE MANLIUS SWAN POND CONTINUE?

ANIRBAN?

>> I PERSONALLY THINK IT SHOULD NOT CONTINUE.

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT IS IT BAD TO BEHEAD A SWAN AND EAT IT?

YES, IS IT WORTHY FOR "IVORY TOWER," RESOUNDINGLY YES.

HOWEVER, AS A SOCIAL SCIENTIST, WE ARE TRAINED TO THINK CRITICALLY, AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WAS TAKEN ABACK ABOUT, THIS SELECTIVE OUTRAGE, THIS DISPROPORTIONAL SENSATIONALISM WHERE THERE ARE STORIES ABOUT CHILD POVERTY, PEOPLE GETTING KILLED IN SYRACUSE PUSHED BACK FOR THIS SWAN-TASTIC CLICK BAIT.

I WENT-- I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAS RESEARCHING THE SWAN.

TWO THINGS HERE IN 1994, THERE WERE TWO KIDS WHO BEHEADED THE SWAN, PUT IT IN FRONT OF THE POLICE STATION STABBED IT 44 TIMES AND TWISTED AND BROKE THE LEGS.

THE POLICE CHARGED THEM WITH CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.

AND THEN THERE WAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, STATE WAS SAYING THAT THIS IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES.

IT MEDDLES WITH AVIATION, DESTROYS THE ENVIRONMENT.

THEY SHOULD NOT KEEP THE SPECIES, IF THEY NEED A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR THAT, AND THEY DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT HAVE SIGNETS.

THAT WAS THEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN.

WHY THEY HAVE THE SIGNETS HERE AND THERE IS A PETITION GOING ON, 15,000 PEOPLE STRONG SAYING NO, KEEPING AN INVASIVE SPECIES, CLIPPING THEIR WINGS, IT'S MORE ABOUT PEOPLE IN MANLIUS AND THEIR NARCISSISM MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

I WOULD SAY THIS.

SWAN KILLING IS BAD, RIGHT?

BUT I WILL ASK PEOPLE TO KIND OF GET OFF THEIR BUSCH BOUSHIE HIGH HORSE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO SAY?

>> WELL, LET'S GO RIGHT TO YOU AFTER THAT?

>> WHAT DO I HAVE TO SAY BEHIND THAT?

I'M GOING TO TREAD CAREFULLY HERE AND SAY WE ALL GET TO CHOOSE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE PRIORITIZE.

WE ALL GET TO SELECT THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO BE OUTRAGED BY.

AND OFTEN THAT'S BASED ON OUR VALUES AND OUR TRADITIONS AND OUR COMMUNES.

BUT IT'S ALSO BASED ON PRIVILEGE.

THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRIVILEGE INVOLVED IN BEING ABLE TO PRIORITIZE AND SPEND TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES TO NOT JUST BE OUTRAGED, BUT TO ACTUAL ACTUALLY MOBILIZE AROUND A SWAN.

NOW, AS A PET OWNER, I HAD A VERY VISCERAL REACTION TO THE FACT THAT THIS SWAN WASN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, KILLED, BUT THAT IT WAS CONSUMED.

AND I DON'T CARE WHAT THE OTHER ARGUMENTS ARE OUT THERE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T BELONG TO THESE INDIVIDUALS.

BUT THE STRONGEST CRITICISM I'VE HEARD IN ALL OF THE BLOGS AND THIS WAS A VERY HEATED DEBATE IN OUR AREA, ARE ALONG THE LINES THAT ANIRBAN MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE, WHO WERE MURDERED ON MEMORIAL DAY, ONE PERSON, THREE OTHER PEOPLE SHOT WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THERE WERE CHILDREN WHO WERE MURDERED, AND HERE THE MANLIUS COMMUNITY IS IN AN UP ROAR ABOUT A SWAN BUT IT IS THE MANLIUS COMMUNITY.

AND THOSE CHERN WHO WERE MURDERED WERE IN THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON THE DO DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND CITY FUNDS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT AND ALSO FIGHT AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN IN SYRACUSE.

WE ALL CARRY THAT RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I SAID LAST WEEK AND I'LL SAY AGAIN, CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.

>> SARAH.

>> I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THIS ISSUE, ALTHOUGH I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

BUT I THINK THIS KIND OF ATTENTION COULD BE CHANNELED TO TALK AND DEBATE AND DO SOME POLICY ACTION AROUND ANIMAL CRUELTY BECAUSE ANIMAL CRUELTY AT LARGE IS A HUGE PROBLEM, NOT JUST IN THIS COUNTRY BUT GLOBALLY.

IF WE LOOK AT HOW FARM ANIMALS ARE RAISED.

8 BILLION FARM ANIMALS ARE SLAUGHTERED EVERY YEAR FOR FOOD SUPPLY IN THE UNITED STATES, 80 BILLION WORLDWIDE AND I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THOSE ANIMALS ARE RAISED AND KILLED ARE WHO ARE REPPED US AND PEOPLE-- ARE HORRENDOUS.

PEOPLE WOULD BE AFALLED-- WOULD BE APPALLED.

YOU CAN FIND UNDER COVER VIDEOS ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE MADE GOING INTO SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND FACTORY FARMS.

IT'S APPALLING.

AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO TO DECREASE ANIMAL SUFFERING, AND, IN FACT, CALIFORNIA, OTHER STATES, SOME COUNTRIES, E.U.

HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS BY CREATING BETTER CONDITIONS FOR FARM ANIMALS, INCLUDING ACTUALLY A RECENT SUPREME COURT CASE THAT LOUED CALIFORNIA TO ENACT A LAW ABOUT REGULATION FOR CONDITIONS OF PIGS AND OTHER ANIMALS.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE PICTURE HERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF ANIMAL SUFFERING IN THE WORLD AND WHY DON'T WE USE EXAMPLES OR CASES LIKE THIS OF FAYE TO TRY TO RAISE BROADER AWARENESS.

>> LUKE.

>> IN ADDITION TO COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS AND COMPASSION FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE GRIEVING.

I HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE TEENAGERS WHO MADE A MISTAKE.

THEY ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE REST OF THEIR LIVES AHEAD OF THEM.

LOTS OF TEENAGERS MAKE MISTAKES.

THAT SEEMS TO BE LOST ON THIS.

THEY DESERVE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES BUT I THINK A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO THAT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE.

>> TO YOUR POINT, LUKE, YES, THEY SHOULD FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS SURELY IN A JUST AND EQUITABLE MANNER BUT THEY'RE GROWING UP IN A CULTURE WHERE HUNTING IS SEEN TO BE MASCULINE, YOU GO AND HUNT DEER AND OSTRICH, OFTEN NOT FOR EATING THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE RAISED IN THAT CULTURE OF, I DON'T KNOW, TOXIC MASCULINITY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CALL IT.

>> THIS WAS NOT THE USUAL HUNTING BECAUSE THEY WERE ENCLOSED IN A FENCE THAT SAID DO NOT TRESPASS.

>> IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE THIS AS HUNTING WHEN YOU HAVE TO CLIMB THE FISH TO GET THERE.

>> IT'S LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL IS WHAT THAT WAS.

>> AS AND F. >> RECENT DATA FROM THE CENSUS BOWER BUREAU SHOWS THE VOTING INFORMATION IN AMERICA DOES NOT REFLECT THE RESIDENTIAL POPULATION.

THE ELECTORATE IS WHITER, OLDER AND LESS HISPANIC THAN THE RESIDENTIAL POPULATION.

A WASHINGTON POST WRITER SPECULATES IF THE ELECTORATE LOOKED MORE LIKE THE POPULATION, DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE MORE OF AN EDGE IN ELECTIONS.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT BUT IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH EXPLORING WHETHER THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF THINGS WERE DIFFERENT.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE STRONG FASCIST TENDENCIES EXEMPLIFIED BY THE LEGALIZATION OF HATRED TOWARD LGBTQ PEOPLE.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN HAS ISSUED ITS VERY FIRST STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR LGBTQ LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AMID AN ON SLAWT ONSLAUGHT OF HATEFUL LEGISLATION, MORE THAN 582 BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND OVER 70 HAVE BECOME LAW.

MANY OBSERVERS HAVE NOTED, SUCH ACTIONS ARE THAT OF THE GERMAN NATIONAL SOCIALISTS OF THE EARLY 1930S AND FOR THRAN FOR TALIBAN FOR THAT MATTER.

>> MY F FOR THIS WEEK GOES TO ALL THE POLITICIANS WHO DENIED CLIMATE CHANGE, DELAYED ACTION OR COMPLETELY IGNORING THIS ISSUE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHILE THEY'RE IN OFFICE.

THIS WEEK MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE EASTERN U.S. AND CANADA WOKE UP TO SKIES THAT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE ON THE SET OF BLADE RUNNER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE WORST AIR POLLUTION EVER RECORDED.

THIS WAS DUE, OF COURSE, TO RAGING WILDFIRES, WHICH ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AND MORE INTENSE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE SHOULD BE ASKING EVERY POLL-- EVERY POLITICIAN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO AND IF THE ANSWERS ARE NOT ADEQUATE THEY DON'T DESERVE OUR VOTE.

>> THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON THE TAX ON MISINFORMATION.

OUR COLLEAGUES DEFENDING DEMOCRACY ARE MALIGNED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

>> As.

>> STUDIES NOW SHOW THAT SWEARING MAY BE A SIGN OF VERBAL SUPERIORITY.

TO QUOTE ONE RESEARCHER, HAVING THE STRATEGIES TO KNOW WHERE AND WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SWEAR AND WHEN IT'S NOT IS A SOCIAL COGNITIVE SKILL.

SWEARING MAY ALSO BE A SIGN OF HONESTY AND CREATIVITY AND IT MAY EVEN IMPROVE PAIN TOLERANCE BECAUSE YOU RELEASE THAT PAIN.

EVEN BEFORE KNOWING ABOUT THESE STUDIES, I ALWAYS KNEW I WAS ON TO SOMETHING.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THAT'S AN A OR AN F. ANIRBAN, YOUR A.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO GOOD TO HEAR THAT.

I'M GOING THE USE THAT RESEARCH IN MY LIFE.

MY A GOES TO LOCAL HEROES ALEX AND SAM WHO CO-OWNERS OF THE BLACK FRIDAY BINS CARING FOR THE SIGNETS FOR THE MANLIUS SWANS AND TRYING TO FIND THEM A HOME WHILE FACING RACIST THREATS AND VIOLENT THREATS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO EVEN IF THEY WERE BORN HERE, WHICH IS THE POINT, ASKED THEM TO GO BACK HOME.

HERE WE HAVE IT, AN A FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SAVED THE SIGNE-- SIGNETS.

>> TRANSFORMING ITS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS SO THAT ALL KID WHO WANT TO PLAY SPORTS CAN DO SO.

FOR A LOT OF KIDS, SPORTS ARE NOT WORKING FOR THEM.

LESS THAN HALF OF KIDS PLAY SPORTS AT ALL AND THOSE WHO DO TYPICALLY QUIT BY AGE 11 SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING FUN.

ONE REASONS BECAUSE KIDS SPORTS HAS BECOME REALLY HYPERCOMPETITIVE.

SO THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING TO CHANGE THIS AND HAVING NON-COMPETITIVE SPORTS LEAGUES AND WE SHOULD FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.

>> MY A GOES TO MIKE PENCE FOR HIS RECENT CRITICISM OF DONALD TRUMP FOR THE DISREGARD OF THE CONSTITUTION.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE LATEST NEWS.

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.