>> COMING UP NEXT, ONONDAGA COUNTY LAWMAKERS REACH A COMPROMISE.

ALSO TONIGHT, IS IT ETHICAL TO DEPORT IMMIGRANTS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE NO CONNECTIONS?

AND PRESIDENT TRUMP RE-MODELS THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

STAY TUNED, THE IVORY PROFESSORS WILL BE RIGHT BACK ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE NORRELL EDWARDS OF LEMOYNE, AND CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

IT'S OFFICIAL, ONONDAGA COUNTY LAWMAKERS VOTED THIS WEEK, TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE OVER WHETHER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE VETOED A TERM LIMITS BILL, OR NOT.

THE FIX?

TWO SEPARATE PROPOSITIONS WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

ONE THAT LIMITS THE EXECUTIVE AND COMPTROLLER TO THREE TERMS IN OFFICE, AND ANOTHER THAT LIMITS THEM TO FOUR TERMS.

WHICHEVER PROPOSITION GETS MORE VOTES BECOMES LAW.

THIS IS THE FIRST-EVER INSTANCE OF CONFLICTING BALLOT MEASURES IN NEW YORK STATE.

NORRELL, ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT VOTERS MAY BE CONFUSED?

>> I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT VOTERS WILL BE CONFUSED BUT ULTIMATELY I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING.

THAT VOTERS WILL GET A CHANCE TO MAKE THEIR VOTE HEARD.

ULTIMATELY THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS THE FOURTH SINCE JOHN MULL ROY WAS VOTED INTO THE POSITION IN 1962, THAT'S 64 YEARS OF REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND ULTIMATELY THIS IS SHOWING MOVEMENT TOWARD A COMPROMISE THAT WILL NOT COST PUBLIC TAXPAYERS FOR COSTLY LEGAL BATTLE AND SHOW THAT THERE IS A CHANGE IN DEMOCRATIC-- A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GAINED A FOOT HOLD IN THE COUNTY.

>> ON ONE HAND I CAN SEE IT IS A WIN BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMPROMISE AND NOT GOING TO HAVE A LONG LEGAL BATTLE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I STILL HAVE CONCERNS, FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WAS USED HERE, BUT I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS WILL CONFUSE MANY VOTERS BECAUSE BOTH PROPOSITIONS ARE THERE AND THIS IS NOT A CASE OF YOU VOTE FOR ONE OR THE OTHER.

YOU LITERALLY CAN VOTE FOR BOTH SO IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT COULD YOU HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER OF VOTES FOR BOTH PROPOSITIONS.

>> I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.

I MEAN I DO THINK THAT THE VOTERS WILL BE CONFUSED.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT TERM LIMITS.

BUT I CAN IMAGINE PEOPLE KIND OF WRONGLY THINKING THAT THEY COULD ONLY VOTE FOR ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE INITIATIVES SO I CAN IMAGINE A WORLD IN WHICH THE NO VOTES-- UNINTENTIONAL NOS COMBINED WITH THE LEGITIMATE NOS ACTUALLY CAUSES BOTH OF THESE INITIATIVES TO FAIL.

I DO THINK, TOO, THOUGH, I DON'T SHARE THE OPTIMISM ABOUT THIS AVOIDS A LONG LEGAL BATTLE BECAUSE I KIND OF HAVE A FEELING-- EVEN THOUGH I LIKE THE COMPROMISE SOLUTION-- I HAVE A FEELING THAT EVENTUALLY SOMEBODY IS GOING TO LOSE, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET MAD AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO SUE ON THE BASIS THAT THIS IS SO UNUSUAL.

WHAT DID YOU CALL IT?

THE FIRST CONFLICTING BALLOT BOX ISSUE?

>> IT SEEMS TO ME FROM THE MOMENT HE SORT OF SENT A VETO AND THEN HAD TO UNDO IT, THAT WE WERE HEADED TOWARD PERHAPS A COMPLICATED LEGAL BATTLE AT ANY STAGE, RIGHT?

AND ULTIMATELY BECAUSE OF THAT, WANTING TO AVOID SETTING PRECEDENT THAT YOU SORT OF VETO A BILL OR SAY WAIT, THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT, UNDO IT, RIGHT?

IT SEEMS LIKE FROM THAT MOMENT BEE WERE HEADED TOWARDS MURKY TERRITORY.

>> YEAH, MURKY TERRITORY FOR SURE OR, TO GO FORWARD ON PERHAPS A CLERICAL ERROR.

AND SO SOME OF THE TALK IS THAT THIS COMPROMISE WAS REACHED BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY, THE COUNTY BUDGET IS COMING UP.

AND SO I WAS STRUCK THAT DESPITE THE CONTENTIOUSNESS, IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE, TARA.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT?

>> I ABSOLUTELY WAS BECAUSE IN THE EARLY DAYS RIGHT AFTER THE VOTE, YOU KNOW, YES I'M SUPPORTING IT THEN NO, THAT WAS A MISTAKE, YOU KNOW, THE RHETORIC WAS VERY CONTENTIOUS AMONG BOTH SIDES AND SO IT REALLY DID SEEM LIKE, OKAY, THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO A COMPROMISE BUT I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS THAT THEY HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY AND I ALSO THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE ALSO LOOKING SORT OF DOWN THE ROAD AT OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY MIGHT WANT SOME LEVERAGE, SO TO SPEAK, WITH PUBLIC ATTENTION, WITH SUPPORT, AND SO THEY MADE THE DECISION THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT TO HANG OUR HAT ON IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL LEGAL ACTION.

>> AND ALSO LEGISLATIVE ACTION, RIGHT?

I MEAN THIS IS THE FIRST TIME DEMOCRATS HAVE CONTROLLED THE LEGISLATURE IN QUITE SOMETIME.

SO, CHAD, THEY'VE GOT TO PUT SOME POINTS ON THE BOARD, NO, BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S TRUE ABOUT DEMOCRATS NATIONWIDE.

AND.

[LAUGHTER] GOT A LOT OF ISSUES TO SETTLE.

YEAH.

>> SO IT'S SORT OF A WEIRD THING, NOR RELL, THAT-- NORRELL, THAT IF ONE OF THE PROPOSITIONS THAT GETS A MAJORITY VOTE OF YESES, THEN IT PASSES.

BUT IF THEY BOTH GET THE EXACT SAME NUMBER OF VOTES, THEN NOTHING HAPPENS.

SHOULD DEMOCRATS HAVE SETTLED WHEN THEY COULD HAVE ON JUST THE 12 YEARS?

>> HONESTLY, I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF, WITH THE COMPROMISE, IT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT THE COUNTERCOUNTY EXECUTIVE ALSO SUGGESTED, AND I THINK MAYBE IF THIS IS SORT OF LIKE THE EASIEST COMPROMISE, THEN MAYBE THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE ULTIMATELY EVEN THOUGH THERE IS SOME RISK THERE.

>> SOME RISK THERE.

>> THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THAT QUESTION TO ME IS THAT, AS POPULAR AS TERM LIMITS ARE WITH VOTERS, THE ACADEMIC EVIDENCE SUGGEST THEY'RE ACTUALLY A BAD IDEA.

IT BASICALLY REMOVES THE INCENTIVE FOR INCUMBENTS TO DO GOOD POLICY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE RE-ELECTED.

IT INCREASES THE FREQUENCY OF UNACCOUNTABLE FINAL MATERIALS.

AND SO LINDA POWELL, AN EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT ROCHESTER, SHE STUDIED LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS AND ARGUES THAT THEY TAKE POWER AWAY FROM VOTERS, REDUCE INCENTIVES FROM BECOMING EFFECTIVE LAWMAKERS, LITTLE TO REDUCE CORRUPTION AND THEY CAUSE OFFICIALS TO SPEND LESS TIME WITH CONSTITUENTS.

SO AS POPULAR AS THEY ARE, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR KIND OF ISSUE.

>> RIGHT.

AND YET WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND I DON'T KNOW THE YEARS FOR WHICH THOSE DATA ARE RELEVANT.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS AN INFUSION OF NEW IDEAS WITH AT LEAST ON THE LEFT SIDE-- ACTUALLY I WOULD ALSO SAY ON THE RIGHT AS WELL-- OF NEW PEOPLE WITH NEW IDEAS, AND SO THE ARGUMENT IS THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU HAVE TRPTS.

YOU ALLOW GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND CREATIVE.

>> THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT MOST PEOPLE HOPE WHEN THEY SAY THEY'RE SUPPORTING TRPTS.

THEY HOPE THAT-- IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE PERSON WHOEVER HAPPENS TO BE IN THE OFFICE AT THAT MOMENT HAS DONE A BAD JOB BUT PEOPLE SEE IT LIKE PEOPLE WANT A JOB.

UNLESS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN THERE 20 OR THRT YEARS IS RENEWING THEMSELVES MENTALLY AND WITH THE POLICIES AT WORK, AFTER A WHILE YOU GET THE SENSE THAT THEY BECOME MORE BOUND AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC SEE IN TERMS OF POLITICIANS WHO DON'T HAVE TERM LIMITS.

THEY DON'T KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES AND IDEAS.

>> THERE IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE A SHIFT IN PARTISAN CONTROL, RIGHT?

SO THIS SORT OF LEANS IN FAVOR OF DEMOCRATS IN IF TERM LIMITS ARE IMPOSED.

DO YOU HAVE AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT HAPPENS THERE OR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT?

>> TO TARA'S POINT ABOUT SHIFTING POWER AND HAVING POLITICIANS AND THOSE WHO ARE KIND OF CHANGING, CHANGING WITH THE TIMES, I THINK WE MIGHT SEE SORT OF MAYBE PRESSURE ON THOSE TO GET IN THEIR POLICIES FASTER AND SOONER BECAUSE OF THE TERM LIMITS, RIGHT?

SO MAYBE THERE WILL BE A LITTLE MORE PEP IN THE STEP.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.

TO BE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE AT BEING PRODUCTIVE.

CHAD, DO YOU HAVE A FINAL THOUGHT?

>> I DON'T.

>> OKAY.

WELL, WE DO HOPE THAT THE VOTERS WILL DO THEIR RESEARCH.

I'M SURE THEY WILL.

AND I GUESS WE WILL SEE HOW THINGS TURN OUT.

LET'S HOPE ONE OR THE OTHER WINS.

NOW MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS SENT THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO COUNTRIES WHERE THEY WERE NOT BORN, HAVE NO LEGAL TIES, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, COUNTRIES THEY'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF.

IT'S ALL PART OF THE “THIRD COUNTRY DEPORTATION PROGRAM”.

IT IS AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL LAW, BY SOME ESTIMATES, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN USED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MORE THAN ANY OTHER, TO SEND MORE THAN 21,000 INDIVIDUALS TO SOME 30 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

CHAD, IS IT ETHICAL TO SEND IMMIGRANTS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT ARE LITERALLY FOREIGN TO THEM?

>> IT CAN BE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE PRINCIPLE FROM TRUMP POLICY APPLICATION BECAUSE IN PRINCIPLE, THERE ARE MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING MANY IN EUROPE, THAT RECOGNIZE FIRST ENTRY RULES, SUCH THAT ASYLUM SEEKERS HAVE A RIGHT TO SAFETY IN THE FIRST COUNTRY THAT THEY FIND SAFETY OR HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS IN THOSE COUNTRIES.

BUT ONCE THEY MOVE TO A SECONDARY COUNTRY, THEY BECOME ECONOMIC MIGRANTS.

MOREOVER, U.N.

HCR RECOGNIZES THAT RESETTLEMENT IS A DURABLE SOLUTION THAT INVOLVES RELOCATION TO A THIRD COUNTRY.

AND THAT INTEGRATION IS AIDED BY FAMILIAL CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC TIES AND SO LIKE IN THAT SENSE, THIRD COUNTRY DEPORTATIONS CAN BE ETHICAL.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAJORITY OF THE U.S.'

THIRD COUNTRY DEPORTATIONS HAVE GRONE TO MEXICO.

IF THAT-- THAT ITSELF, COULD BE A REASONABLE SOLUTION OR, LET'S CALL IT A REASONABLE RESOLUTION TO ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM LATIN AMERICA.

SO AS I SAY, IN PRINCIPLE, THIRD COUNTRY DEPORTATIONS CAN BE ETHICAL.

DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT IS IN THIS CASE.

>> IT CAN BE BUT NOT NECESSARILY IS.

BUT CHAD TALKED ABOUT LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES AS THE PLACE WHERE CERTAIN FOLKS FROM THERE ARE BEING SENT.

BUT SOME FROM LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES ARE BEING SENT TO AFRICA, INCLUDING PLACES LIKE SIERRA LEONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT, TO ME, IS PROBLEMATIC ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LEVELS.

FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE AS A WHOLE, THERE IS NO CULTURAL TIE FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING SENT TO THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT WHY THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES ARE ACCEPTING THESE PEOPLE.

THEY ARE POOR, THEY ARE DEPENDENT ON U.S.

AID FOR EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, DISEASE CONTROL TO, YOU KNOW, JUST SIMPLY TO BOOST THEIR ECONOMIES SO MANY TIMES THEY'RE ACCEPTING THESE IMMIGRANTS OR EXCUSE ME, MIGRANTS BECAUSE THEY REALLY FEEL THEY HAVE NO CHOICE IF THEY'RE GOING SORT OF STAY IN THE GOOD GRACES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUE TO RECEIVE AID OR GET AID THAT HAS STOPPED OR JUST TO CURRY FAVOR WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SO MANY TIMES THEY'RE ACCEPTING THESE MIGRANTS BUT SOME OF THE REPORTS THAT I'M READING SAY THAT THEY'RE ACCEPTING THE MIGRANTS BUT THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCEPT THE MIGRANTS AND ON THE U.S.

SIDE, IT'S PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THESE COUNTRIES ARE BEING PAID, SOMETIMES OVER A $1.5 MILLION, BUT WITHIN THE COUNTRY, THOSE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTRY, COULDN'T TELL YOU WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING.

SO THIS IS PROBLEMATIC.

AND TO ME, UNETHICAL IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME LEGAL SUPPORT FOR IT IN AMERICA.

>> WELL, IT'S LEGAL UNDER THE IMMIGRATION NATIONALITY ACT.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

>> I WAS LOOKING AND IT SAYS IN THE PROCEDURES FOR THE IMMIGRATION REMOVAL TO THE THIRD COUNTRIES THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE PERSON AFFIRMATIVELY EXPRESSES A FEAR OF REMOVAL TO THE THIRD COUNTRY THEN ICE CAN REFER THEM TO U.S.

IMMIGRATION AND CITIZEN SERVICE IS AND DO AN ELIGIBILITY GREEN FOR WITHHOLDING FOR REMOVAL AND THEN MAYBE PICK A DIFFERENT COUNTRY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN THAT IS HAPPENING IF PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING LIKE WHERE IS THIS PLACE YOU ARE SENDING ME TO AND THEY'RE CONSIDERING ANOTHER OPTION THAT MIGHT BE MORE REASONABLE.

AND GIVEN KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN AROUND THE KIND OF, I WILL SAY PERHAPS UNEMPATHETIC, YOU KNOW, UNSYMPATHETIC RHETORIC AROUND THESE PEOPLE, THAT I CAN IMAGINE THAT MAYBE THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN PRACTICE.

GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS FEAR AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SENT TO ANOTHER THIRD COUNTRY OR EVEN TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE ANOTHER PROCESS TO ARTICLES, THEY BOTHER ME BECAUSE THE MEDIA GETS SENSATIONALISTIC AND THEY LIKE TO DEAL WITH INDIVIDUAL STORIES OR CASE BY CASE OR ANECDOTES, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, THAT ARE HEART BREAKING WHEN YOU READ THEM, LEGITIMATELY BUT I THINK IT'S BORE TO SEPARATE WHAT SYSTEMATICALLY IS GOING ON VERSUS SORT OF INDIVIDUAL.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE BOTH SIDES SORT OF OFFER UP THEIR EXAMPLES OF THE WORST CASES, INCLUDING THE WORST CRIMINALS, RIGHT, THAT ARE BEING DEPORTED.

BUT TO PICK UP ON CHAD'S POINT ABOUT CONTEXT, TARA, WE ARE TALKING ROUGHLY 21,000 PEOPLE OUT OF SOME 14 MILLION UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS.

SO THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET AND NOT EVEN THAT.

COULD THIS REALLY BE ABOUT DETERRENCE, ABOUT LETTING FOLKS KNOW-- BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CARAVANS SINCE TRUMP HAS BEEN IN OFFICE, COULD THIS BE ABOUT THIS IS WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN TO YOU?

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO.

>> THE CRUELTY IS THE POINT.

>> THAT IS THE POINT.

IT IS WHAT HAS STOPPED THE CARAVANS AND MADE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THINK TWICE ABOUT COMING TO AMERICA.

SO ABSOLUTELY THAT IS THE POINT.

AND THE OTHER POINT IS TO REALLY SORT OF, REALLY ALMOST MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAMPAIGN PROMISE HE MADE, KEEP THAT CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO DEAL WITH IMMIGRATION.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN SAY MANY THINGS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT WE HAVE TO SAY HE HAS KEPT HIS PROMISE TO DEAL WITH IMMIGRATION WHETHER HE LIKE IT OR NOT.

>> AND IT'S ONLY ONE PIECE OF HIS DETERRENCE PUZZLE.

I STUDY A LOT OF THE HIGH SKILL HIGHLY EDUCATED IMMIGRANTS.

$100,000 FOR NEW H-1 B VISA ISSUANCES.

THE LATEST IN THE F-1 STUDENT SPACE IS WE ARE TO LONGER ALLOWED TO BASICALLY ALLOW OUR FOREIGN STUDENTS TO HAVE INTERNSHIPS DURING THE SUMMER UNLESS IT'S REQUIRED FOR ALL MAJORS IN THE PROMISE.

HE IS INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO DETER PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD IN THAT IMMIGRATION SPACE.

AND THAT ONE IS NUTS.

>> YOU CAN GET A HIGHER PRICE VISA TO GET IN, RIGHT?

>> THE TRUMP GOLD VISA, YEAH.

>> WE'LL SEE WHETHER THAT STANDS.

I HAVE ASKED THIS TOUGH QUESTION I'LL ASK IT AGAIN.

COULDN'T A LOT OF THIS BE AVOIDED IF SOME OF THE BLUE STATES WHERE THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS WOULD DO WHAT THEY DID DURING THE CLINTON YEARS AND THAT IS TO COOPERATE, SPECIFICALLY IN REGARD TO THOSE WHO ARE CONVICTED, WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH, YOU KNOW, CREDIBLE EVIDENCE.

COULDN'T SOME OF THIS BLAME BE PLACED THERE?

ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO... >> YES, I WILL TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER.

I THINK THE RIGHT IS WRONG TO DEPORT IS THESE IMMIGRANTS.

THEY'RE ENTREPRENEURIAL, THEY'RE INNOVATIVE, RISK TAKERS.

BUT WHERE THE LEFT GETS INTO PROBLEMS IS THE GENEROUS SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE MAD ABOUT LIKE ONCE THE ASYLUM SEEKERS OR IMMIGRANTS COME, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SHELTER OR SOMETHING.

>> WHICH IS WHY AMERICANS PUT THAT AS ONE OF THE TOP THREE ISSUES IN THE LAST ELECTION.

OKAY.

NOW THIS WEEK THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWED CONSTRUCTION ON THE WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM AND MILITARY COMPLEX TO CONTINUE.

COURT RULED THAT PLAINTIFF NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PROTECTION LACKED STANDING TO CHALLENGE THE $400 MILLION PROJECT, BUT THE NATIONAL TRUST IS NOT ALONE, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF OPPOSITION TO ALMOST ALL OF THE PRESIDENT'S MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECTS, THE KENNEDY CENTER, LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL, WHITE HOUSE HELIPAD PANELIST WHY ARE THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE NATION'S CAPITAL SUCH A BIG DEAL?

WHY ALL THE PUSHBACK?

>> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.

AND I WILL USE THE WHITE HOUSE AS AN EXAMPLE, BUT THE SAME THING COULD APPLY TO THE OTHERS AS WELL.

IF THIS HAD SIMPLY BEEN A PRESIDENT COMES OUT, ROLLS OUT WITHOUT CHANGING HIS RATIONALE, YOU KNOW, EVERY OTHER DAY, FOR WHY THERE NEEDED TO BE A RENOVATION OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND WHY WE NEEDED A NEW BALLROOM.

IF HE HAD COME OUT AND SAID OKAY, THE BALLROOM IS DETERIORATING.

THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR, I NEED TO RENOVATE IT AND WHILE I'M GOING TO RENOVATE, I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO ENHANCE SOME PROTECTIONS FOR SPACES BENEATH IT, THE SECURE SPACES BENEATH IT.

SO I'M GOING TO DO X, Y AND Z AND THEN FOLLOWED THE PROPER PROCEDURES FOR DOING THIS, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE TALKING AS MUCH ABOUT IT.

WE MIGHT THINK IT WAS GAUDY OR SPENDING WAY TOO MUCH MONEY BUT HE WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES.

BUT EVERYONE, AND EVEN THOUGH I KNOW HARD CORE MAGA SUPPORTERS SUPPORT HIM, MOST EVEN REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE.

FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE.

>> I'M GLAD YOU USED THE WORD GAUDY THE GUY LOVES GOLD SO MUCH.

I'M SURPRISED HE HASN'T HIRED SHIRLEY BASSY TO SERENADE HIM ONE ENDING HYMN OF PRAISE.

I DON'T THINK HE COULD BE TRUSTED WITH THE ARCHITECTURE OF MONUMENTAL IMPORTANCE.

I WOULD SAD TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

I DON'T THINK TAXPAYERS WANT TO PAY FOR IT AND THEY RECOGNIZE ALSO THAT PRIVATE FUNDING IS A RECIPE FOR GRAFT.

ANY REPUBLICAN WHO HAS GRIPED ABOUT THE CLINTON FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING EFFORTS DURING BILL'S PRESIDENCY OR HILARY'S SECRETARY OF STATE STENT SHOULD BE HORRIFIED BY THE POTENTIAL QUID PRO QUO THAT COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS KIND OF ENDEAVOR.

>> I'M GOING TO DISAGREE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT, TARA.

I MEAN I THINK THAT EVEN WE WOULD BE STILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC REALITY FOR MOST AMERICANS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, HIM WANTING TO DO THESE RENOVATIONS WHEN WE ARE IN A STATE WHEN SO MANY AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING, ACCORDING TO THE URBAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY COURT TRACKER, 49 OF PEOPLE IN AMERICAN FAMILIES DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COVER BASIC ESSENTIALS.

THEY FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE MONTHLY GROCERIES IS 1050 THAT YOU KNOW, CHILD CARE FOR TWO CHILDREN IS AROUND ALMOST $30,000 ANNUALLY.

RENT IS ALMOST 2,000 MONTHLY AND SO TRUMP WANTING TO BUILD THIS BALLROOM IN WHICH THE PRICE TAG HAS GONE UP AND UP AND UP RANGING FROM 200 MILLION TO 400 MILLION AND NOW 600 MILLION, I THINK THAT'S A SORE SPOT FOR AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WILL ADMIT OR NOT, THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP THEM IN THEIR POCKETBOOKS, RIGHT?

>> UNLESS HE IS ABLE TO MAKE THE SALE ABOUT PRIVATE FUNDING WORK.

>> OKAY.

THE PRIVATE FUNDING, AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

YOU HEAR ALL THIS MONEY GOING TO A RECONSTRUCTION OF A BALLROOM, YOU THINK COULDN'T YOU DO SOMETHING FOR ME.

COULDN'T YOU BRING DOWN THE GROCERY PRICES?

>> SURE.

SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARGUABLY MAKE SENSE.

FOR EXAMPLE, TO BUILD MORE FENCING AN EIGHT TO 10-FOOT FENCE AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE TO ALSO INSTALL A VISITOR CLEARANCE CHECK POINT, IF YOU WILL, UNDERGROUND.

THE KENNEDY CENTER NEEDS SOME RENOVATIONS AND THERE ARE OTHER HISTORIC PLACES THAT ARE DETERIORATING, EVEN BY THE ADMISSION OF THE NATIONAL TRUST.

SO SOME OF THAT IS IN THERE AS WELL, RIGHT?

SO, AGAIN, WHY OPPOSE EVERYTHING?

>> WELL, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY HE IS FOCUSING THE BENEFIT OF THE RENOVATIONS.

THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ALL ON HOW IT BENEFITS HIM, NOT HOW IT BENEFITS THE COUNTRY.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PRESIDENTS WHO HAVE MADE MAJOR RENOVATIONS.

BUT THEY HAVE LAID OUT THE CASE FOR THIS IS PRESERVATION.

THIS IS MAINTENANCE, OR THIS IS REASONABLE UPGRADES, YOU KNOW, OBAMA, YOU HAD TO UPGRADE THE PLUMBING AND THE ELECTRIC.

EVERYBODY WHO OWNS A HOUSE FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS KNOWS AT SOME POINT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT SO IT MAKES SENSE.

BUT MANY OF HIS RENOVATIONS DON'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY COMMON SENSE.

AND HE DOESN'T FOCUS ON I'M DOING THIS FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT'S I'M DOING THIS FOR MY LEGACY.

>> YEAH, SO, CHAD, QUICKLY, THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF THIS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC IS A LITTLE SHOCKED.

LIKE THE EAST WING WAS HERE AND THEN IT'S GONE.

THE ROSE GARDEN WAS HERE AND THEN IT'S GONE.

AND SO, YEAH, THERE IS A TRANSPARENCY.

BUT DO WE NEED, LIKE SLOWFULNESS?

QUICKLY.

>> IT'S AN UGLINESS OF ASK FORGIVENESS INSTEAD OF PERMISSION AND SO LIKE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

LEAVE AN EMPTY HOLE MAINTAIN WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS?

YOU CAN'T NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE GRADE BOOKS AND WE'LL START WITH OUR TS.

TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY FOR DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT TO CANCEL OR REDIRECT 1.73 BILLION IN U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANTS AWAY FROM ALLEGEDLY DEI PROJECTS WHICH INCLUDE BIKE LANES AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE BUILD PROGRAM WHICH WAS KNOWN AS THE RAISE PROGRAM UNDER BIDEN ALLOWS FOR MULTIMODAL PROJECT COVERING PORTS, AIRPORTS, ROADS, RAIL TRANSIT, ET CETERA AND APPARENTLY SHARED USE ROAD RAYS ARE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOCUSING ON THE BIKES IS TOO DEI.

I HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT OUT YET.

IT'S TOO EERCH, IT'S TOO EUROPEAN, IT'S TOO SOMETHING BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> NORRELL.

>> MINE IS GOING TO GO TO DHS AND ICE.

IN LATE JULY, PEER PIERRE BELL WAS GIVEN AN ANKLE MONITOR.

HE WAS AN ASPIRING DOCTOR AN YOUNG STUDENT WHO FORTUNATELY COMMITTED SUICIDE AND HAS LOST PROTECTED STATUS AND IT IS ETHICALLY WRONG TO CRIMINALIZE REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> CHAD.

>> LAST WEEK ANIRBAN GAVE A WELL DESERVED F TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR CONDUCTING A TRADE WAR WITH CANADA AND FOR RESPONDING TO SAID TRADE WAR BY RENAMING LAKE ONTARIO.

IN A SIMILAR VAIN THIS WEEK, I'M COMPELLED TO GIVE MY F TO GOOGLE AND APPLE BY LEGISLATIZING THIS BAFOONERY BY CHANGING THEIR MAPS.

KEEPING THE LAKE ONTARIO NAME IS THE MOST DOWNLOADED FREE APP ON APPLES APP STORE.

>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR GOOD NEWS AND WE'LL START AGAIN WITH YOU, TARA.

>> MY A GOES TO CARSON MEYER.

THE 12-YEAR-OLD OUTFIELDER FOR THE MOUNTAIN REGION LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST AMERICAN GIRL TO BE IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES TITLE GAME.

>> NORRELL.

>> A TO MA'AM DAME-- MAMDANI FOR MORATORIUM FOR A.I.

IN THE CLASSROOM.

A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM THAT COMES WITH SCREEN TIME POLICIES AND RESEARCH SHOWS ADULTS NEED TO BE MEDIATING STUDENT AND CHILDREN TECHNOLOGY USE AND DEPENDENCY USE ESPECIALLY AS THEIR BRAINS DEVELOP.

>> CHAD,.

>> MY A GOES TO SOB, IT RECENTLY ASSAULT AND BATTERY, IT RECENTLY OPENED A 50,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IN EAST SYRACUSE DEDICATED TO DEFENSE AND IT WILL COVER SPACE FOR ENGINEERING MANUFACTURING AND TESTING.

WE NEED JOBS LIKE THIS IF WE ARE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND IF IT'S A LITTLE INCENTIVE FOR ME TO SAY SO, TO ALSO ATTRACT STUDENTS TO OUR LOCAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES.

>> YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IN THERE, WOULD YOU QUICKLY?

>> A GOOD ARTICLE ABOUT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND THEIR STRUGGLE TO RECRUIT.

>> OKAY.

WELL, THAT'S IT FOR US IN THE STUDIO TONIGHT.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR DISCUSSION, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN, IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.