THE SUPREME COURT REJECTS A CASE ON TRANSGENDER RIGHTS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FACE EVICTION AS THE RENT MORATORIUM WILL SOON END, AND NEW YORK'S REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION FROM A CERTAIN SOMEONE IN FLORIDA.

STAY TUNED, IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

I'M JOINED THIS WEEK BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, BEN BAUGHMAN FROM CAZENOVIA COLLEGE, ANIRBAN ACHARYA, FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE AND LUKE PERRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE THIS WAS A BUSY WEEK AT THE SUPREME COURT.

BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BUSIER.

THE COURT DID NOT TAKE UP AN APPEAL IN A CASE OVER TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

INSTEAD THE JUSTICES LET STAND AN APPEALS COURT RULING THAT SAID TRANSGENDER PEOPLE CAN USE PUBLIC BATHROOMS OF THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.

THIS STEMS FROM CASE IN VIRGINIA IN WHICH A TRANSGENDER BOY WAS REQUIRED TO USE THE GIRL'S RESTROOM.

THE COURTS IN-ACTION IS BEING SEEN AS A VICTORY FOR TRANSGENDER RIGHTS.

BEN, CAN THIS ISSUE NOW BE PUT TO REST?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS TO ADDRESS.

THE FIRST THING IS THE SUPREME COURT GETS ABOUT 8,000 TO 10,000 INDICATION CASES EACH YEAR BROUGHT TO THEM AND CAN ONLY TAKE ON 1% OF THEM, 80 TO 90 CASE EACH YEAR.

THAT'S THE FIRST PART.

THE SECOND PART IS WESTERN SOCIETY IS REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL ISSUES.

AND FOR, I THINK PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT REALLY THERE ARE THREE FACETS OF HUMAN SEXUALITY.

YOU HAVE THE BIOLOGICAL COMPONENT OF WHAT YOU ARE BORN, MALE OR FEMALE.

AND VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS WHERE THERE IS CHROMOSOME GENE ISSUES THERE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE GENDER IDENTITY, WHICH MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN THE BIOLOGICAL WAY THAT YOU ARE BORN AND THEN YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

THOSE THREE FACETS CONFUSE PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE GENDER LABELS.

THIS TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUAL, I THINK IS THE FIRST THING TO DEFINE FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO MAY BE UNAWARE WHAT HAVE THIS MEANS.

BUT REALLY IT'S A PERSON WHO THEIR PERSONAL IDENTITY DOES NOT MATCH WITH THE WAY THAT THEY WERE BORN; THAT THEY WERE BIOLOGICALLY DETERMINED TO BE.

AND I THINK WITH THAT YOU MAY HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS BORN A MALE BUT THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THEY ARE A MALE; THAT THEY HAVE GENDER DYSPHORIA IS WHAT IT'S CALLED AND THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE A MALE.

THEY FEEL LIKE A FEMALE.

BUT THEY MAY BE ATTRACTED TO FEMALES, RIGHT?

SO YOU HAVE MALE-FEMALE-FEMALE AND WHAT THIS IS SAYING IS THAT THEY HAVE A FEW OF THEMSELVES AS A FEMALE AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WANT TO USE THE RESTROOM.

>> SO THE COURT GOT THIS RIGHT?

>> I THINK IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED TO TAKE ON AT THE MOMENT.

I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE CASES THAT THE SUPREME COURT TAKES ON, THEY FEEL YOU HAVE CASE LAW THAT THEN TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER OTHER CASES THAT CAME BEFORE IT.

SO I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S THE CASE THAT THEY WANTED TO TAKE ON AT THE MOMENT TO ADDRESS TRANSGENDER ISSUES.

>> YOU KNOW, SURE, THE THING IS THOUGH, CERTAINLY PRECEDENT MATTERS, BEN, AS YOU RIGHTLY POINTED OUT.

BUT IT MIGHT SURPRISE SOME I.T.

VIEWERS TO KNOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT REGULARLY RULES IN WAYS THAT ARE IN SYNC WITH PUBLIC OPINION AND AS ROBERT D. McKLOSS CAN HE AND HIS CLASSIC WORK NOTED, THE COURT IS NEVER TOO FAR AHEAD NOR TOO FAR BEHIND PUBLIC OPINION.

AND IN THE CASE OF THIS TRANSGENDER RIGHT NON-RULING, WHAT WE SEE IS THE COURT GRADUAL LY MOVING TOWARD EXPANDING LGBTQ RIGHTS STARTING IN 1996 AND CONTINUING IN 2003 BY STRIKING DOWN A TEXAS LAW THAT CRIMINALIZED SAME SEX RELATIONS TO THE BOY SCOUTS CASE.

THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS THE 2008 CASE INVOLVING THE BAKER WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE A CAKE TO A SAME SEX COUPLE AND THE COURT DID NOT SIDE WITH THE BAKER.

HOWEVER, THE REASON WAS NOT THAT THE COUPLE DIDN'T HAVE A RIGHT, BUT RATHER THE WAY IN WHICH THE ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWED HIM TO DO THAT WAS COUCHED WAS DIRECTLY PITTING RELIGIOUS RIGHTS AGAINST EQUAL PROTECTION RIGHTS.

AND SO I THINK WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN HERE IS THE COURT WILL TAKE ON A CASE, THE RIGHT KIND OF CASE, RULE IN FAVOR OF TRANSGENDER BATHROOM RIGHTS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE PUBLIC OPINION HAS BEEN MOVING.

>> I AGREE.

>> THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT CASE IN WHICH TO MAKE A... >> ALWAYS THE RIGHT CASE.

>> I ALSO THINK IT MATTERS THAT FEDERAL COURTS HAVE RULED IN A UNIFORM FASHION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT MARRIAGE EQUALITY, FOR INSTANCE, THE SUPREME COURT DID NOT GET INVOLVED UNTIL YOU HAD LOWER FEDERAL COURTS WITH DIFFERENT RULINGS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ABOUT WHETHER MARRIAGE EQUALITY EXISTS.

SO I THINK THAT WE ARE MORE INCLINED TO SEE THE SUPREME COURT TAKE UP THIS ISSUE IF AND WHEN THERE IS A LOWER FEDERAL COURT RULING THAT CONTRADICTS WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

>> SO I AGREE WITH THE FACT THAT SUPREME COURT DOESN'T DEVIATE TOO MUCH AWAY FROM PUBLIC OPINION.

LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS OF THE CASE.

GAVIN HAD BEEN USING THIS BATHROOM FOR SEVEN WEEKS.

THERE WAS NO PROBLEM ABOUT THAT UNTIL THE PARENTS INTERVENED AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IT WENT THROUGH THE COURTS.

THERE WAS A STAY ORDER DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CHANGING RULES.

BUT THE FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT, JUSTICE FLOYD CLEARLY SAID THAT AT THE HEART OF THIS APPEAL IS WHETHER EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND TITLE IX CAN PROTECT TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FROM SCHOOL BATHROOM POLICIES THAT PROHIBIT THEM FROM AFFIRMING THEIR GENDER.

THAT'S THE MAIN QUESTION.

AND THE COURT SAYS THAT WE JOIN A GROWING CONSENSUS OF COURTS IN HOLDING THAT THE ANSWER IS RESOUNDINGLY YES, RIGHT?

AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ALSO TRIED TO GIVE HIM A SEPARATE BUT EQUAL NEUTRAL BATHROOM AND FLOYD ALSO SAID THIS IS A SPECIAL DISCRIMINATION FOR A CHILD THAT HE WOULD CARRY WITH HIM FOR LIFE.

SO THE TITLE IX AND PROTECTION IRON CLAD PROTECTION THAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE IN FUTURE, MY PREDICTION WOULD BE AND I WOULDN'T PREDICT TOO MUCH, THAT THE SCHOOL WOULD AFFIRM THESE RIGHTS.

>> YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SORTED OUT ON ITS OWN BY THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, HAD THE SCHOOL BOARDS NEVER GOTTEN INVOLVED AND THE STATE LEGISLATURES IN THIS CASES.

I KNOW NORTH CAROLINA WAS ONE, THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE DIDN'T NEED TO GO DOWN THE LEGAL ROUTE.

>> IN SOME CASES THOUGH, I THINK IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THIS WOULD END UP WITH THE COURTS BECAUSE THIS IS A MONUMENTAL SHIFT IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE LIVED AS SOCIETY.

PUBLIC OPINION IS GRADUALLY RECOGNIZED THAT IN THE FOURTH CIRCUIT CASE THAT WAS MENTIONED, THE FOURTH CIRCUIT IS KNOWN AS BEING VERY CONSERVATIVE AND SO I THINK YOU WILL SEE MORE AND MORE CIRCUIT COURTS WHO ARE GOING TO BECOME MORE LIBERAL IN THEIR INTERPRETATION FOR THE REASONS THAT WE'VE MENTIONED.

>> DOCUMENTED IN THE OP-ED IN THE WASHINGTON POST IT HAS TAKEN YEARS FOR HIM TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS ISSUE AND HE HOPES THERE WILL BE CHANGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND POLITICALLY IT IS AN ISSUE THAT REPUBLICANS WANT TO MAXIMIZE ON.

THEY WANT TO USE SOCIAL ISSUES TO DRIVE A WEDGE AND HELP TURNOUT.

I DON'T THINK THAT PART OF IT IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

>> OKAY, NOW, WHEN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOST JOBS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND COULDN'T PAY RENT, THEY GOT SOME WELCOME HELP FROM A GOVERNMENT MANDATED MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS THIS STARTED UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND WAS CONTINUED WITH THE CDC ORDER TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE PROGRAM WILL END AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WILL NOT BE EXTENDED.

NINA, SHOULD THAT MORATORIUM BE EXTENDED?

I MEAN PEOPLE ARE REALLY IN A PICKLE.

>> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE MORATORIUM SHOULD BE EXTENDED BECAUSE OF TWO REASONS S. ONE IS THAT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE FEDERAL AID THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DISBURSED TO HELP RENTERS, AND BY THE WAY, LANDLORDS, HAVE NOT, IN FACT, BEEN DISBURSED.

TAKE THE CASE OF WASHINGTON D.C., WHICH WAS ALLOTTED $200 MILLION.

ONLY JUST OVER 10 MILLION OF WHICH HAS BEEN DISBURSED TO RENTERS AND SO RATHER THAN EXTEND THE MORATORIUM, PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE FOR DISBURSING THOSE AIDS.

THE OTHER PROBLEM IS IF THE MORATORIUM WERE EXTENDED, THERE ALREADY IS A LOWER FEDERAL COURT IN TENNESSEE THAT HAS STRUCK DOWN THE MORATORIUM.

AND I EXPECT THAT OTHERS WILL DO THAT.

SO I THINK THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO USE THE MONEYS THAT ARE THERE.

BUT SECONDLY, TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDS BUT MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE TARGETED TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED AND THAT INCLUDES BOTH RENT EARS AS WELL AS LANDLORDS MANY OF WHOM HAVE HAD TO TAKE OUT LOANS TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTIES, HAVE HAD TO PAY THE UTILITY BILLS, SWAMPED WITH OTHER THINGS THAT WE OFTEN DON'T TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL REPERCUSSIONS TO LANDLORDS IN THIS ISSUE.

>> WELL, THAT IS CERTAINLY PART OF THE EQUATION, TOO.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

THEY GET OVERLOOKED IN THIS DISCUSSION.

>> I JUST WANT TO REMIND-- I MEAN OUR VIEWERS HERE THAT, YES, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVICTION NOW.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG BREWING CRISIS, RIGHT?

IN 2018, THERE WAS A PUBLISHED REPORT SAYING THAT 47% OF RENTERS ARE UNDER DURESS BECAUSE THEY SPEND ABOUT 30% OR MORE ON RENT, RIGHT?

ABOUT ONE IN FOUR, 25%, PAY ABOUT MORE THAN 70% IN RENT, RIGHT?

NOW THE PANDEMIC HIT.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE BREWING ALREADY HIVE HIF THIS IS NOT A NEW CRISIS, IT WAS ALREADY THERE AND I AGREE WITH NINA, THE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WERE $46 MILLION.

IT IS ONLY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.

THERE IS A RECENT DEVELOPMENT FROM THE SUPREME COURT WHERE KAVANAUGH SAID IN JULY 29 THAT CDC HAS EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY IN EXTENDING THIS MORATORIUM.

BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TO STOP.

THEY SAID OKAY, THE MONEY SHOULD BE DISBURSED SO THERE WERE I FEW MORE WEEKS.

EVEN IF IT IS THE CASE, THERE IS LEGAL TROUBLE IN EXTENDING IT.

KAVANAUGH SAID THERE WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE ACT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BMPLET OF.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS AN EVICTION PREVENTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS WHICH ARE VERY CREATIVE AND THEY DON'T PITT THE LANDLORD AGAINST THE RENTER BUT WHETHER THEY WORK TOGETHER IN TERMS OF COUNSELING LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND CASH ASSISTANCE WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AND THOSE COMBINATIONS OF MEDIATIONS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES.

SO GOING THE MEDIATION ROUTE WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

>> I THINK THE MONEY IS THERE, WHICH IS REMARKABLE.

USUALLY THAT'S THE ISSUE.

BUT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO QUICKLY DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMS AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

AND I THINK THAT HELPS EXPLAIN THE BACKLOG.

THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS AN ESTIMATED FOUR MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE EVICTED.

THEIR CREDIT SCORE IS GOING TO BE MESSED UP AND THEY'LL HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING A NEW PLACE.

SO MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE A CREDIT HOLIDAY COULD HELP PEOPLE IN THESE SITUATIONS WHO ARE EVICTED SO THEY CAN FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO RENT AND ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE.

>> I THINK ALL THE POINTS ARE SPOT ON, RIGHT?

I MEAN WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME WHERE WE HAVE HAD THIS PANDEMIC FOR OVER A YEAR.

I THINK THE LANDLORDS HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED IN THIS PROCESS.

WE HAVE TAKEN THE BEST CARE WE CAN OF OUR TENANTS BUT OUR LANDLORDS THAT ARE STRUGGLING, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE THINGS IN PLACE FOR THEM.

>> I THINK THE POINT THAT YOU ARE MAKING ANIRBAN, ESSENTIALLY IS THAT THE LARGER ISSUES THAT THIS HAS THROWN INTO RELIEF, THESE ARE YOUR WORDS I THINK, IS PRETTY CRITICAL HERE.

WE HAVE THE INEQUALITY PROBLEM.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE A HOUSING-- A LARGER HOUSING PROBLEM, TOO, RIGHT?

>> DEFINITELY.

THERE IS A MASSIVE HOUSING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN BREWING AS I MENTIONED, RIGHT?

A LOT OF-- ABOUT 6 MILLION PEOPLE, FOUR TO 6 IS THE NUMBER WE ARE HEARING, WOULD BE RENT STRICT AND WHAT HAPPENS WHETHER YOU LOSE A JOB, WHEN YOU LOSE HOURS, RIGHT?

THERE IS A STORY ON NPR ABOUT THIS SINGLE FATHER WHO WAS DRIVING UBER AND HAD A CHILD AND JUST COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE, RIGHT?

AND IT'S 15,000 BACK IN RENT.

SO WITH THIS DIVERSION AND MEDIATION, THEY'RE GIVING $5,000 BACK BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL CAPS.

IT WILL BE RECKLESS TO PUT THESE PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET AND SAY THAT OKAY, NOW EVICTIONS GO ON, RIGHT?

IT WILL BE VERY HARMFUL.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL LOSE HOMES.

CHILDREN WILL LOSE HOMES.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE IS A LEGISLATIVE ACT-- THE SUPREME COURT THINKS THERE SHOULD BE LEGISLATION.

BUT I THINK AS LUKE IS POINTING OUT, THE DISBURSEAL OF THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS ALREADY THERE AND ALL IT NEEDS IS TO SEND IT TO RENTERS AND LANDLORDS, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS, THEY TRY TO GET IT OUT OF THE COURT AND COME TO A SETTLEMENT.

NOW I THINK THAT SINCE MANY LANDLORDS ARE SEEING A REALLY LARGE LEAD TIMES FOR EVICTING, IT IS MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE TO SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE RATHER THAN GO THE EVICTION ROUTE.

BUT I DO THINK IT WILL BE A DISASTER IF, YOU KNOW, WE JUST-- >> IT IS ALMOST UNIMAGINABLE IF ALL OF A SUDDEN FOUR OR 5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE EVICTED AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S ALMOST INIMAGINABLE HOW THAT WOULD BE SOLVED.

THERE ARE NO RESOURCES RIGHT NOW.

>> I DON'T SEE HOW THERE ARE NOT ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS SO THAT IT TAKES YET ANOTHER DING IN THE ECONOMY BECAUSE IF YOU ARE HOMELESS AND HAVE YOU CHIRP, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO?

ARE YOU GOING GO TO WORK?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO WORK, PUT GAS IN THE TANK, FOOD ON THE TABLE?

>> NOW OUR LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE GENERALLY SEEN AS MODERATE, BUT LATELY THE GROUND HAS SHIFTED.

CONSERVATIVES ARE ASCENDANT, MODERATES ARE NOT.

AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT WHO HE WANTS TO SEE IN OFFICE.

SO LUKE, ARE THE POLITICS OF A DISTRICT REALLY CHANGING OR IS THIS A ONE-OFF RIGHT NOW?

>> THIS IS A FASCINATING TIME FOR HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL POLITICS IN SERN NEW YORK.

HAVE YOU JOHN KATKO IN NY 2440 HAS LOST THE CONSERVATIVE ENDORSEMENT AND ESSENTIALLY HIS RIGHT FRANK PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF HIS IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN REGARDS TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND THEN NEIGHBORING NY 22, YOU HAVE ANTHONY BRINDISI WHO WON IN 2018, LOST A VERY CLOSE RACE IN 2020 DECIDING NOT TO RUN AGAIN THIS CYCLE AND THE DEMOCRATS REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO FILL THAT GAP.

SO I THINK IT MAKES SENSE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE UNIFYING, MOVING TO THE RIGHT IN CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION OF DEMOCRATS CONTROLLING CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THIS COULD BE FLEETING BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO GO BIG WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRICTING THIS FALL.

SO THE 24th AND THE 22nd COULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT AS DEMOCRATS IN ALBANY TRY TO PICK UP THREE, FOUR, MAYBE FIVE SEATS NEXT ELECTION.

>> NOW NINA, WILL THE INTERVENTION OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT IN NEW YORK'S RACES SOLIDIFY THAT CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT OR MAYBE BACKFIRE?

>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO DEFER TO LUKE ON THIS BUT I'LL OFFER THIS.

I THINK IN SOME CASES TRUMP MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

HE MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE MARGIN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN NY-22 WHERE CLAUDIA TENNEY WON BY ONLY 109 VOTES.

WITH QUITE A BIT OF, YOU KNOW, UPSET AROUND THE VOTE COUNTING PROCESS.

SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SHE REALLY DIDN'T WIN.

BUT I THINK IN THE CASE OF NEW YORK 24 WITH KATKO, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A DISTRICT THAT HAS SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES OR SO, IT'S NOT QUITE-- IT DOESN'T HAVE QUITE THE HISTORY OF CONSERVATISM THAT NEW YORK 22 WITH TENNEY AND POSSIBLY NEW YORK 21 WITH ELISE STEFANIK HAS HAD.

AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO SOLIDIFY CONSERVATIVES IN NEW YORK 24, BUT I WILL SAY THIS.

TO MY UNDERSTANDING A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DISTRICTS IS THE DEEPENING OF THE RURAL VERSUS URBAN DIVIDE THAT WE HAVE SEEN SORT OF MANIFEST ITSELF ACROSS THE COUNTRY; BUT ESPECIALLY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WHERE MUCH OF THE GROWTH IN THE STATE HAS OCCURRED IN URBAN AREAS VERSUS RURAL AREAS AND THAT UNDERLINES-- UNDERLIES, I THINK, A LOT OF THE INTENSE PARTISAN POLARIZATION.

>> WE CAN SEE THAT IN THE WAY THE VOTES TURNED OUT IN ONEIDA COUNTY, FOR INSTANCE.

>> ANIRBAN?

>> I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE TO SAY.

CLAUDIA TENNEY, AGAIN WON BY 109 VOTES, NOT REALLY A VERY STRONG SHOW THERE.

SO I MEAN SHE MIGHT BE ON VERY THIN GROUND.

THE THREE DISTRICTS ARE COMPARABLE.

12 TO 13% POVERTY RATE, 57,000 ARE IS THE MEDIAN INCOME.

25 TO 30% PEOPLE HAVE QUALITY EDUCATION OR HIGHER.

SIMILARLY SITUATED DISTRICTS AND YOU CAN SEE THAT MANY OF THESE,-- ALL THESE DISTRICTS ACTUALLY HAVE VOTED VERY STRONGLY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS ALSO.

NOW LOOKING ATE ELISE STEFANIK.

IF YOU LOOK AT OVER TIME THE VOTE SHARE, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN LOSING VOTES.

THEY DIDN'T GAIN THAT MUCH VOTE THAT THEY LOST IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.

SO I THINK ELISE STEFANIK MAY ALSO NOT BE IN VERY STRONG POSITION.

>> A LOT HAS CHANGED IN HER DISTRICT AND WITH HER SINCE THE LAST ELECTION CERTAINLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

DIVISION DOES HELP DRIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE EMOTIONALLY CHARGED TO THE POLLING PLACES AND TO VOTE, RIGHT?

BUT THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT IT MAY BACKFIRE THE SUPPORT BEHIND TRUMP WHEN YOU HAVE SO MUCH PUT ON ONE HUMAN BEING THAT'S ALIVE.

HUMANS ARE FALLIBLE AND THEY MAKE MISTAKES.

AND WHEN YOU PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET BEHIND ONE PERSON, THAT CAN SERIOUSLY BACKFIRE.

>> BEN, ARE YOU SAYING THAT TRUMP IS FALLIBLE?

>> I AM SAYING THAT TRUMP IS FALLIBLE, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON.

AND WHEN YOU PUT YOUR BACKING BEHIND ONE PERSON RATHER THAN THE PARTY'S VIEWS, I THINK THAT CAN BE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD.

CAN IT WORK VERY WELL IN THEIR FAVOR AND IT HAS.

BUT I THINK WE ARE AT A TURNING POINT WHERE IT IS GOING TO BACKFIRE.

>> LUKE, LET ME ASK YOU.

YOU ARE OUR RESIDENT EXPERT ON THESE DISTRICTS.

HOW DOES THE REDISTRICTING WORK IN NEW YORK?

THERE IS A COMMISSION, RIGHT, THAT CAN TAKE-- THAT CAN DO THE ACTUAL DRAWING OF THE LINES?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS THERE IS A NEW PROCESS WITH A 10-PERSON NON-PARTISAN COMMISSION.

POLITICAL SCIENTISTS KNOW THAT THESE TYPES OF COMMISSIONS ARE NOT THAT MUCH BETTER AT AVOIDING GERRYMANDERING THAN STATE LEGISLATURES.

YOU TYPICALLY DRAW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

THERE IS A WRINKLE IN THE LEGISLATION WHERE IF THE STATE LEGISLATURE TWICE REJECTS THE PLANS OF THE COMMISSION, THEN THEY CAN AMEND THE BOUNDARIES THEMSELVES AND ESSENTIALLY REDRAW THEM.

YOU NEED TWO-THIRDS VOTE TO DO THAT.

DEMOCRATS HAVE IT.

I THINK THEY WILL PROBABLY GO THAT ROUTE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF NATIONAL PRESSURE FOR DEMOCRATS TO TRY TO GAIN HOUSE SEATS IN WHAT IS GOING TO BE A CLOSE HOUSE ELECTION NATIONALLY NEXT FALL.

>> THEY'LL TRY AND GET RID OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION OR AMEND IT TO CHANGE THE DISTRICTS TO GET MORE DEMOCRATS.

IN ESSENCE WE ARE GOING TO LOSE A SEAT, OR TO GET A REPUBLICAN OUT, TO HELP THE NUMBERS ON THE NATIONAL SCALE.

>> VERY POSSIBLE.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO RESHAPE MANY DISTRICTS INCLUDING THE ONES IN OUR REGION.

>> I REALLY HOPE THAT THEY DON'T DISTRICT OUT KATKO THOUGH BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN PART OF THE SENSIBLE MODERATE VOICES IN CONGRESS.

AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT.

>> OKAY.

AND NOW WE DO NEED TO GET TO OUR As AND Fs.

NINA BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR F. >> FITNESS EXPERTS ARE WARNING OF A RISE IN CASES OF A RARE BUT POTENTIALLY FATAL CONDITION THAT RESULTS FROM TOO MUCH EXERCISE.

MUSCLE CELLS ARE STRESSED SO MUCH THAT THEY DIE, WHICH THEN POTENTIALLY LEADS TO KIDNEY FAILURE IN MOST INSTANCES.

MANY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC STAY AT HOME ORDERS AND THE FACT THAT WE NOT ONLY GOT WISER, BUT ALSO WIDER.

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET MORE NEWS STORIES ABOUT THIS AND OTHER KINDS OF CONSEQUENCES THAT WE CAN LOOK OUT FOR.

>> BEN, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO THE OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL WHO SLASHED THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET BY OVER $17 MILLION.

THEY'RE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CITIES.

IN FACT, OAKLAND HAS APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF CRIME, RANKING AT 99% OF THE U.S. CITIES OF THE MOST CRIME COMPARED TO A CITY LIKE NEW YORK CITY, WHICH HAS ABOUT 1.2 TIMES SMALLER AMOUNT OF U.S. AVERAGE.

THIS COMES DOWN TO INTELLIGENCE LED POLICING CONCEPT AND SO FORTH.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY, SAFELY AND TO HELP MITIGATE CRITICAL... >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> BY $17 MILLION.

ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO ALL THE 120 LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR A BILL TO REMOVE THE CONFEDERATE STATUES AND FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE RACIST PEOPLE BELONG TO CLOSETS METAPHORICALLY OF HISTORY.

>> LUKE, YOUR F AGREE MY F GOES TO THE HEDGE FUND DOWNSIZING OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, THE PAPER OF MY YOUTH.

THIS WEEK 40 MORE JOURNALISTS TOOK BUYOUTS INDICATIVE OF NEWSPAPER NEWSROOMS BEING CUT IN HALF OVER THE LAST DECADE.

>> OKAY.

AND As.

EL NINOA.

DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN WHO SUPPORTS REMOVING SCAWT CASES FROM THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM.

STATISTICS DON'T LIE.

ABOUT 20,000 SERVICE MEMBERS ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED EACH YEAR AND THAT PACE HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY STEADY.

UNDER SENATOR GILLIBRAND'S PROPOSAL, INDEPENDENT MILITARY PROSECUTORS WOULD DECIDE HOW CASES ARE TRIED INSTEAD OF THE COMMANDERS WHO WORK WITH THE ACCUSED OR WHO ARE THEMSELVES THE ACCUSED.

>> BEN.

>> MY A TO GOOGLE AND HARVARD.

THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAP PART OF THE BRAIN CONNECTIONS IN UNPRECEDENTED DETAIL.

IN A 2015 JOURNAL ARTICLE THEY RELEASED THIS PICTURE DEPICTED IS OF A FRUIT FLY'S BRAIN.

BUT OBVIOUSLY IF WE USE THE HUMAN BRAIN AND WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT, THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP, WE MITE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THINGS LIKE SCHIZOPHRENIA AND OTHER MENTAL CONDITIONS.

>> FOR MY A, I'M GOING GLOBAL.

TO THE DUTCH PRIME MINISTER WHO CLEARLY AND CORRECTLY STATED THAT HUNGARY BECAUSE OF ITS CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT BANS LGBTQ CONTENT IN SCHOOLS, HAS NO PLACE IN THE E.U.

>> AND LUKE, YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO KLEIN VISION WHO SUCCESSFULLY TESTED THEIR FLYING CAR IN A 35-MINUTE TRIP EXCEEDING 100 MILES PER HOUR, 8,000 FEET AND ALTITUDE AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP WATCHING THE JETSONS, I GEEKED OUT AT THIS.

>> OKAY.

NOW, JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, LUKE.

YOUR F TO THE HEDGE FUND THAT PURCHASED THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS A TOUGH ONE AND THAT'S A PROBLEM WE ARE SEEING A LOT IN THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY NOW.

HEDGE FUNDS ARE COMING IN AND CUTTING THEM APART AND SOMETHING WE HOPE WILL END.

NOW THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR YOUR COMMENTS, YOU CAN WRITE TO AT DRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

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

I'M DAVID CHANATRY.

AND FOR ALL OF US AT "IVORY TOWER."

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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