A LOOK BACK AT 2021-- THE EVENTS, ISSUES AND NEWS THAT SHAPED OUR PERSPECTIVES.

PLUS WHAT GIVES US HOPE FOR 2022.

THAT'S NEXT, ON IVORY TOWER.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME TONIGHT ON THE PANEL ARE BEN BAUGHMAN, FROM CAZENOVIA COLLEGE; ANIRBAN ACHARYA, FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE; CHAD SPARBER, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY; AND RICK FENNER, FROM UTICA COLLEGE HAPPY NEW YEAR - ALMOST THIS IS OUR YEAR-END SHOW LOOKING BACK AT 2021 AND AHEAD TO 2022.

AND LET ME NOTE THAT WE ARE TAPING THIS TWO WEEKS AHEAD.

I'M SURE YOU DIDN'T THINK WE'D BE LIVE IN THE STUDIO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE SO YOU'LL UNDERSTAND IF WE TALK ABOUT SITUATIONS AND THEY'VE THAT HAVE CHANGED.

LET'S START BY TALKING ABOUT THE KEY ISSUES, THE EVENTS OR THE TRENDS THAT CHANGED OUR PERSPECTIVES THIS PAST YEAR.

RICK, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU DID LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.

>> I'M SORRY TO SAY THE ISSUE IS THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

IT STARTED WITH THE ATTEMPTS BY TRUMP AND SUPPORTERS TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION LATE IN 2020, WHEN THE COURTS WOULDN'T GO ALONG, YOU KNOW, THEY CAME UP WITH I THINK MORE DESPERATE SCHEMES.

AND MANY REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING THE VICE PRESIDENT, AGAIN PUT A STOP TO THAT.

AND SO I WAS FEELING A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC BUT THEN CAME THE ATTACK ON JANUARY 6 AT THE CAPITOL.

I HAPPENED TO BE WATCHING TELEVISION AT THE TIME SO I SAW THOSE EVENTS UNFOLD LIVE AND IT REMINDED ME HOW I FELT WHEN I SAW THE TWIN TOWERS FALL DURING AT TACKS ON 9/11.

BUT THEN IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THAT, I GOT A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC AGAIN AS TOP REPUBLICANS REPUDIATED THE MOB, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY PERHAPS FOR BRIDGES TO BE MENDED BUT THAT WAS SHORT LIVED AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, REPUBLICANS HAVE GONE BACK TO SPREADING MYTHS THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE MOB AS PATRIOTS.

SO WHILE I USED TO TAKE THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY FOR GRANTED, I DON'T ANYMORE.

I THINK IT IS SERIOUSLY BEING THREATENED.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT HORRIBLE TERRORIST ATTACK AT THE CAPITAL THAT REALLY CHANGED OUR PERSPECTIVE BUT I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST U.S. DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK.

A LOT OF COUNTRIES THAT WERE DEMOCRACIES HAVE BEEN DOWNGRADED BY THE FREEDOM HOUSE INDEX AND THE U.S. HAS FALLEN FROM 94 TO 83 WHICH IS A HUGE REGRESSION IN TERMS OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

AND I AM WORRIED THAT THERE IS A BACKLASH ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO DISCREDIT LEGITIMATE VOTES TO MAKE IT HARDER TO VOTE AND SO ON SO YES, I BELIEVE THE U.S. IS STILL VERY RESILIENT AND ROBUST ECONOMY BUT THERE ARE CRACKS THAT ARE TERRIFYING.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT?

>> I THINK COVID, ONHEFTLY I THOUGHT AND I REMEMBER A MOMENT IN CLASS WHERE I SAID THIS, TOO, WILL PASS, YOU KNOW, THAT FAMOUS SAYING.

IT'S GOING TO PASS BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AROUND MUCH LONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

>> RIGHT.

CHAD.

>> I'M MORE ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, ALTHOUGH FOR ME IT'S THAT I SOURED ON BIDEN.

BIDEN WAS SOMEBODY THAT I BROADLY SUPPORTED DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, DESPITE OUR POLICY DIFFERENCES BUT IT ALL CHANGED WITH THE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR ME.

BACK IN SEPTEMBER, I CALLED THAT THE U.S.' BIGGEST FOREIGN POLICY DISASTER IN MY LIFETIME.

THAT RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS HERE AND RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS WITH THE PEOPLE AT HOME.

BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT HIS POLL NUMBERS, THEY WERE JUST ON THE SCREEN.

YOU SEE THAT AT THE TIME OF THE FALL OF KABUL, HIS APPROVAL RATING AT 50% FELL PRECIPITOUSLY SINCE THEN.

IT HAS BEEN FLAT EVER SINCE THEN.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT TO CLAIM CAUSALITY IN THAT BUT I DO THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A TALKING POINT FOR WHOEVER RUNS THE REPUBLICAN EQUITY IN 2024.

>> YOU BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE OF HOW HE DID IT?

BECAUSE I MEAN YOU GO BACK AND OBAMA AND TRUMP, HE WAS DOING WHAT HIS PREDECESSORS SAID THEY WOULD DO AND DIDN'T DO.

>> I KNOW.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY TO PUNT ON THE ISSUE, RIGHT?

THAT TRUMP SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT OR WHATEVER.

BUT I THINK WHEN YOU GO AND YOU LOOK AT ALL OF BIDEN'S WHOAS WHOAS, COVID, INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT HE HAD THE MOST DIRECT CONTROL OVER.

THIS IS THE ONE WHERE HE COULD HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE TIME ISN'T RIGHT.

THAT'S WHERE HE DISAPPOINTED ME.

>> THAT AND BUILD BACK BROKE.

WE KEEP DOING ALL THIS TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE ARE THROWING AT THINGS, IS IT REALLY GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT?

>> I SLIGHTLY DISAGREE AGREE THERE.

THE UNITED STATES IF WE STUDY THE WAR THEATER CLOSELY.

THE U.S. WAS OUTSOURCING ITS OPERATIONS TO THE LOCAL WAR LORDS CALLING IN THE U.S. ARMY TO SETTLE THEIR PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, VENDETTA AAGAINST OTHER WAR LORDS SO U.S. WAS NEVER IN CONTROL IN THAT COUNTRY AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA THAT U.S.

REMOVED THEMSELVES AND POLITICAL SCIENCE LITERATURE SHOWS THAT BASICALLY UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT VOTERS ARE GENERALLY WORRIED ABOUT IN TERMS OF VOTING.

I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD COME TO BITE BIDEN.

SOME OTHER THINGS MIGHT COME TO BITE HIM THOUGH BUT THE U.S. WAS FAILING HORRIBLY IN THAT THEATER SO IT IS BETTER THEY GOT OUT.

>> HOW THE PEOPLE WILL VOTE ON THAT MATTERS LESS TO ME THAN THE SORT OF MORAL OBLIGATION THAT WE HAD THERE AND THE AMERICA ON THE WORLD STAGE.

HERE IS A QUOTE FROM ECONOMISTS LAST MONTH.

Mr. BIDEN'S DEBACLE WITHDRAWING FROM AFGHANISTAN LED SOME TO WONDER ABOUT AMERICA'S DEFENDING ITS FRIENDS.

THAT WORRIES ME.

FOREIGN POLICY.

>> AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WORLD EVENTS, WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST THREATS THAT WE SAW IN 2021 ON THE WORLD FRONT?

WE'LL START WITH BEN ON THAT ONE.

>> YEAH, AND WE DIDN'T PLAN THIS BUT IT'S AFGHANISTAN.

THE FALLOUT FROM THAT.

THE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THAT WE DID HAVE IS NON-EXISTENT IF IT'S THERE, IT'S ALMOST NON-EXIPT.

OUR DRONES ARE FANTASTIC BUT AGAIN WE NEED HUMAN INTELLIGENCE IN ORDER TO UTILIZE THEM AND THE TRAIN THERE IS NOT GOOD FOR THAT.

KIDS ARE STARVING WITH THE CURRENT CONDITIONS THERE.

WOMEN ARE NOT ABLE TO GET EDUCATED.

THEY'RE HAVING TO GED EDUCATED IN THE SHADOWS THERE.

ISIS IS NOW A SAFE HAVEN THERE.

SO I SEE IT AS BEING A HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUE THIS UPCOMING YEAR THAT THEY HAVE THE SAFE HAVEN THAT I COMPLETELY DISAGREE THAT OUR PRESENCE THERE WAS NOT A GOOD THING WE HAD THE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MIGHT BE COMING TO OUR LAND.

>> THERE IS AN ECONOMIST ARTICLE AGAIN THE ECONOMIST IS MY GO TO.

BUT VERY RECENTLY, THE TITLE WAS AMERICA RETREATS, REGIONAL ROADS ARE ON THE RISE.

WHAT IT IS TALKING ABOUT IS IN THE ABSENCE OF U.S.

WILLINGNESS TO EXERT ITS HEDGE MONIC POWER, WE HAVE SEEN A CIVIL WAR IN ETHIOPIA WITH ARMS SUPPLIED BY TURKEY, IRAN AND ISRAEL AND THE UNITED EMIRATES.

BELARUS DESTABILIZING THE E.U.

IRANIAN MENTORSHIP OF VENEZUELA, TURKEY DEPLOYING WAR SHIPS TO THE WATERS CONTROLLED BY CYPRUS AND GREECE AND A WAR AGAINST ARMENIA.

THERE IS A QUOTE IT CLOSES WITH FROM THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE THAT SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER IS GOING TO GET MESSIER AS A RESULT OF U.S.

BEING LESS INVOLVED.

>> YOU CAN'T PUT ALL THE BLAME ON BIDEN.

TRUMP STARTED THIS, MANY REPUBLICANS HAVE BACKED AWAY AND PROPOSING ISOLATIONIST POLICIES.

I'M TARIFF MAN CROAT QUOTING TRUMP: I AGREE HOW PEOPLE VIEW THE UNITED STATES ON THE WORLD STAGE IS VERY IMPORTANT CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE WAITING FOR TO US CONTINUE TO STUMBLE.

YOU KNOW, WE CAME CLOSE TO DEFAULTING ON OUR DEBT.

SO I WOULD BE CAREFUL ON PUTTING TOO MUCH OF THE BLAME ON PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> THE BUCK STOPS WITH HIM ON HOW IT WAS DONE.

HOW IT WAS DONE WAS A COMPLETE TRAIN WRECK.

>> I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THIS PROLIFERATION OF DRONES, RIGHT.

THE LONDON BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM ESTIMATED 6900 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY U.S. DRONES AND AMONG THEM HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN.

WE KEEP SEEING POSITIONED DRONES AND YET PEOPLE DIE AND RECENTLY THERE NO, SIR ACCOUNTABILITY.

U.S. MILITARY, WE ARE GOING TO KILL WHOEVER WE WANT WITH COMPLETE IMPUNITY AND SECRECY.

I LIKE THE AMERICAN RIGHT WING ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE AND THEIR ANALYSTS BUT YOU KNOW, HOW DO THIS HAPPEN IN AFGHANISTAN?

OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CREATED BY SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR AND THE U.S.

THE ENTIRE WAR THEATER THERE WAS CREATED BY THE U.S. DURING THE COLD WAR.

SO NOW TO CLAIM THAT U.S. HAS TO BE THERE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT BETTER, U.S. WAS THERE AND MADE IT WORSE.

SO I DON'T-- I MEAN HISTORY GIVES ME A DIFFERENT READ ALL TOGETHER.

>> NOT HAVING HUMAN INTELLIGENCE IS GOING TO INCREASE WHAT YOU ARE EXPRESSING WITH THE DRONE STRIKES.

IT'S GOING TO INCREASE INNOCENT CIVILIANS BEING STRUCK VERSUS THE INTENDED TARGET.

>> I AGREE.

HUMAN INTELLIGENCE ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.

EXCELLENT FBI PERSON TALKED ABOUT THIS BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN BEE HAVE TO HAVE ARMY THERE.

WE CAN HAVE GATHERING INTELLIGENCE THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS, RIGHT?

I'M WORRIED ABOUT PROLIFERATION OF DRONES.

NOT JUST U.S. CHINA WILL BE USING IT.

SAUDI ARABIA HAS BEEN USING IT.

SO IT'S BASICALLY A WORLDWIDE MANHUNT WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSIONS.

AND THAT'S TERRIFYING FOR ANY FORMATIONS OF DEMOCRACY.

>> AFGHANISTAN AND MILITARISM.

SOME ISSUES THIS PAST YEAR MIGHT HAVE SIMMERED UNDER THE SURFACE A LITTLE BIT AND I'M WONDERING WHAT THE PANELISTS THINK ABOUT WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE MAYBE MORE UNDERREPORTED INSTANCES?

ANIRBAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND UNDER REPORTED IS A STATISTICAL CATEGORY SO I HAD TO GO CHECK THAT I'M THINKING WHAT IS REALLY UNDERREPORTED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I AND RICK WERE TALKING ABOUT, POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IS HIGHLY UNDER REPORTED.

BUT ONE THING REALLY UNDERREPORTED WAS THIS WAVE OF WILD CAT STRIKES BY WORKERS AND CHILD CAT STRIKES ARE WHEN WORKERS SIMPLY STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF SOME ISSUE AND THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED AND SO ON AND SO FORTH AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT 600 OF THOSE STRIKES WERE IN SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THAT, AGAIN, WHEN WE COME TO THE OPTIMISM PART I MAY TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNDERREPORTED ASPECT OF THE LABOR UNREST, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FINDING JOBS TO BE HORRIBLE IN THIS KIND OF LOW ROAD CAPITALISM KIND OF DEMOCRACY.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS UNDERREPORTED?

>> BECAUSE GENERALLY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT LABOR STRUGGLE.

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT STRIKES.

THEY MIGHT HAVE OTHER, THOSE WHO CONTROL THE MAINSTREAM NEWS MAY THINK YOU KNOW, IF YOU REPORT THIS TOO MUCH, WE WILL HAVE PROBLEM IN OUR OWN BACKYARD BUT, YOU KNOW, THE CENSORSHIP PROJECT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A GREAT WEBSITE.

OUR VIEWERS MAY BENEFIT FROM IT TO GO AND SEE WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT NEWS THAT ARE UNDERREPORTED.

>> WHAT DOES THE ECONOMIST THINK ABOUT UNDER REPORTING THAT, THE WORKER UNION STRIKES.

>> I'M NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT ONE.

THE UNDER REPORTING I'M INTERESTED IN AND I WANT TO FEED OFF OF WHAT RICK SAID IN THE OPENING WHICH IS THE DEMOCRACY THING, THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT BEING A HUGE DRET AND THE RIGHT BEING VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH THE JANUARY 6 UPRIDESSING OR COUP OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT BUT I DON'T WANT TO LET THE LEFT OFF THE HOOK AND I DATABASING AN ARTICLE OF FAITSD AS ECONOMIST THAT MON MONOPOLIES ARE BAD IN THE WAY THAT THEY DESTROY COMPETITION AND PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW IDEAS.

HERE I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE STATE OF ACADEMIA, THAT THE LEFT SORT OF HAS A MONOPOLY ON ACADEMIA AND MORE TO THE POINT, THE WAY THAT SOME PROGRESSIVES ARE WILLING TO EXERT CONTROL IN A WAY THAT STIFLES FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OPEN DEBATE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND IF WE ARE IN THAT KIND OF WORLD I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN EXPECT DEMOCRACY TO SURVIVE OUTSIDE OF ACADEMIA.

TO BE CLEAR, THIS SHOW IS AN EXCEPTION TO THOSE CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS SHOW FANTASTIC.

WE DISAGREE FOR 25 MINUTES AND IF OUR VIEWERS DISAGREE-- IF THE VIEWERS WATCH THROUGH THE CREDITS THEY SEE WE LAUGH AND JOKE WITH EACH OTHER.

>> WHAT SPECIFIC CAN YOU NOTE HERE.

>> I TALK ABOUT-- >> I WAS NOT TAYEING ATTENTION, SORRY.

>> I THINK SO BROADLY WHAT YOU SEE IN THE NEWS SOME REFERENCES TO CANCEL CULTURE OR CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND THOSE ARE BUZZ PHRASES THAT GET THE DEEPER ISSUES THAT GET LOST BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK AT THERE IS AN OP-ED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IN OCTOBER CALLED HOW DIVERSITY TURNED TYRANNICAL.

THE ECONOMIST SEPTEMBER COVER STORY ON THE THREAT FROM THE LIBERAL LEFT AND FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT, PURITY TESTS FROM THE LEFT THAT TRY TO QUASH DISSENT A DISSENTING OPINION AND IT'S ALARMING.

>> GO AHEAD, RICK.

>> A FEW WEEKS AGO WE TALKED ON THE SHOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CONSERVATIVES, YOU KNOW, PUTTING BIG MONEY INTO OPENING UP THEIR OWN UNIVERSITY IN FLORIDA.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA OR WON'T THAT JUST PROMOTE A WHOLE OTHER SET OF INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE JUST AS UNOPEN TO DIALOGUE BUT JUST COVERING THE OPPOSITE VIEW POINT?

>> THERE ARE SOME NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH, I THINK IT'S AUSTIN COLLEGE THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO.

>> YES.

>> THERE ARE SOME NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT THAT I REALLY, REALLY RESPECT.

AND ARE GOOD THINKERS.

SO I DON'T WANT TO TRASH THAT INSTITUTION SPECIFICALLY.

BUT BROADLY WHAT YOU ARE SALKING ABOUT IS DO WE HAVE-- WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS DO WE HAVE INSTITUTIONS THAT SPECIALIZE IN IDEOLOGICAL CAMPS.

THAT WOULD BE ALARMING.

MONOPOLY BAD.

>> I THINK THAT FEEDS INTO WHAT I THINK HAS BEEN UNDERREPORTED, WHICH IS THE TRUTH DECAY THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THERE IS AN ARTICLE, A JOURNAL ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT.

KAVANAUGH IN 2019 BY THE RAND CORPORATION THAT THE GROWING USE OF OPINION AND SUBJECTIVENESS IN THE PRESENTATION OF NEWS HAS CONTINUED TO GROW.

AND I THINK THAT IS POINTING INTO THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE ARE HAVING AND THE SILOED ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN.

THIS YEAR, WHICH I THINK IS MAGNIFIED OR BEING MAGNIFIED BY THE FACT THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, AT HOME MORE.

WE ARE 3 NOT INTERACTING AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD AS A SOCIETY.

AND I THINK THAT FEEDS INTO IT.

>> ASSERTION IS FACT, I WOULD SAY IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT GOING FORWARD.

PEOPLE ASSERT THINGS AND THAT MAKES IT A FACT.

AND AGAIN, YOU GO BACK TO THE STATEMENTS THAT I MENTIONED IN MY FIRST PIECE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE STEALING OF THE ELECTION.

SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES AND PEOPLE BELIEVE IT, EVEN IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE.

>> RICK, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

MY MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY GOES BACK TO THAT AND THE FACT IS THAT IN MANY STATES, YOU HAVE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO OVERTURN ELECTIONS AND I THINK THIS IS GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WAS WE NEED TO DO.

YOU KNOW, SENATOR JOHNSON OF WISCONSIN IS ASKING FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO ABOLISH ISSUE THEIR BIPARTISAN COMMISSION OF ELECTIONS AND ALLOW ONE PERSON OR THE REPUBLICAN ELECTED LEGISLATURE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO THROW OUT ELECTIONS.

SO I WILL SAY THAT'S THE WRONG DIRECTION TO GO INTO AND I THINK WE NEED A VERY ACTIVE PRESS AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE MORE OPEN.

AND THAT GOES TO WHAT CHAD SAID, I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT'S LEFT OR RIGHT UNIVERSITIES.

WE NEED TO HAVE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE STATING THE TRUTH AND DISAGREEING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

>> I REALLY TAKE YOUR POINT ABOUT THE CANCEL CULTURE AND THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME, RIGHT.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A RATIONAL DELIBERATIVE DISCUSSION AND DISAGREE AND STILL BE FRIENDS AND COLLEGIAL AND THAT KIND OF VIRULENT ATTACK THAT I WOULD TAKE OVER THE ENTIRE, THAT'S REVENGE, NOT DIALOGUE.

THAT POINT IS VERY WELL TAKE GLENN RICK, WHAT ABOUT THE INCOME INEQUALITY?

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED.

>> IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE MOST UNDERREPORTED BUT I THINK UNDERACTED UPON.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS REALLY MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THE INEQUITIES OF OUR TAX SYSTEM AND INCOME INEQUALITY.

BEN MENTIONED BILL BUILD BACK BETTER AND WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR IT.

WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR IT BY RAISING TAXES ON THE WEALTHY IN A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WEREN'T ALLOWING THAT TO GO FORWARD AND I THINK THAT WAS A VERY MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLIC PUTS INCOME INEQUALITY AND INCOME INSECURITY NEAR THE TOP OF THE LIST OF THINGS THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> CREDIT AND BLAME WORTH.

BIDEN'S 600-DOLLAR TAX CREDIT, ALLEVIATED CHILD POVERTY.

ABSOLUTELY HIS SIGNATURE SUCCESS AND GOOD JOB.

THE BLAME, HOUSE DEMOCRATS JUST PASSED AN INCREASE IN THE STATE AND LOCAL TAX CREDIT.

YEAH, SO THAT'S A TAX POLICY THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT.

>> EXCEPT US IN NEW YORK.

>> 70% OF THE BENEFITS GO TO THE TOP 5% OF WAGE EARNERS PRIMARILY IN BLUE STATES.

SO DEEPLY HYPOCRITICAL.

>> EXCEPT I AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT THE OTHER ISSUE, IT WAS A WAY OF DEALING WITH THE FACT THAT THE BLUE STATES REALLY SUBSIDIZE RED STATES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT BLUE STATES SEND TO WASHINGTON VERSUS WHAT THEY RECEIVE, THE SAME WITH RED STATES, YOU ARE GOING TO FIND THAT NEW YORK, WE SEND ABOUT 1.30 TO WASHINGTON FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE GET BACK.

JUST ABOUT-- >> OKAY.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE ALONG BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FUN SEGMENT HERE.

I WANT TO DO A QUICK WHIP AROUND THE CIRCLE.

IF YOU COULD PARTY WITH ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF YOUR CIRCLE OF FAMILY AND FRIEND THIS NEW YEAR'S, EVE, WHO WOULD THAT BE.

>> PAUL Mc MCCARTNEY AND DAVE GROLL.

ELDER STATESMEN OF ROCK.

PAUL NEED NO INTRODUCTION TO THIS AUDIENCE.

DAVE GROLL IS 1990S KIND OF GUY.

BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A PARTY, MAYBE A LITTLE LIQUID COURAGE INSIDE OF ME, I PLAYED BAD GUITAR FOR 25 YEARS.

WOULD I LOVE A CHANCE, EMBARRASS AGO IS IT MIGHT BE TO PLAY WITH THEM.

>> OKAY, RICK, PARTY ANIMAL, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO GO WITH?

>> BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.

FIRST TIME I SAW HIM WAS 1977 IN BINGHAMTON AND FOR THE LAST 50 OR SO YEARS, HIS MUSIC HAS BEEN INSPIRATIONAL AND UPLIFTING TO ME.

WHEN I'M DOWN, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE CRANKING THOSE TUNES.

AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT AFTER SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, MY RIDE BACK TO UTICA GOING TO RUN BAD LANDS BLARING FROM MY SPEAKERS AND HE JUST SOLD RIGHTS OF HIS MUSIC TO SONY FOR HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

SO THAT WHEN WE PARTY, YOU CAN BE SURE I'M GOING TO LET HIM PICK UP THE CHECK.

>> RIGHT.

BEN, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO PARTY WITH BARACK OBAMA.

HIS INTELLECT AND HUME HUMOR AND GOING TO PLAY SOME BASKETBALL.

DISCUSSIONS, RATIONAL DISCOURSE AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.

>> THIS IS A LITTLE SECRET.

YOU ARE A BASKETBALL PLAYER.

>> NOT VERY GOOD BUT HE IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE KNOW WHO WOULD WIN THERE.

ANIRBAN, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO PARTY WITH?

>> THE PARTY QUESTION WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME.

>> YOU ARE NOT A PARTY ANIMAL.

>> I KNOW, RIGHT.

I WOULD SAY THAT MUSIC WISE I WOULD LIKE TO PARTY WITH THIS AMAZING RAPPERS, KILLER MIKE AND L.P., BUT I ALSO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO PARTY WITH ALL THE "IVORY TOWER" PEOPLE HERE, MAYBE YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE AFTER PARTY.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I'M GOING TO SURPRISE YOU MAYBE.

IF I COULD PICK SOMEBODY TO PICK SPEND AN EVENING WITH, I WOULD PICK DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE AS A JOURNALIST I FIND HIM SUCH AN INTERESTING PERSON AND WOULD I LOVE FOUR HOURS TO SIT AND WATCH HIM AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS.

WELL, INSTEAD OF OUR USUAL AS AND FS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD CLOSE WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

WHAT GIVES US HOPE FOR 2022?

BEN, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WHAT GIVES ME HOPE, IT GOES BACK TO COVID HONESTLY.

ONE, HOW QUICKLY WE GOT THE VACCINE OUT AND WE CONTINUE TO STRETCH THE BOUNDS OF SCIENCE TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET IT BETTER.

BUT ALSO WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS WHAT IT'S DONE TO US INTROSPECTIVELY THAT WE HAVE GONE BACK TO NOSTALGIA.

THAT WE HAVE GONE AND STARTED TO LOOK INTO FAMILY TREES AND WE'VE STARTED TO DIG OUT OLD PHOTOS AND THAT'S WHAT GIVES ME HOPE.

GOOD.

ANIRBAN.

>> I LOVE THAT.

COVID HAS CHANGED US A LOT.

REGARDING OPTIMISM AND WHEN YOU ARE PARTYING WITH OBAMA, TELL HIM THAT YES, WE CAN BUILD BACK BETTER.

AND THE OTHER OPTIMISM IS THAT WHEN-- AND THIS HAS CONTINUED SINCE LAST YEAR-- I SAW FOR THE FIRST TIME AGAINST POLICE ATROCITY, WHITE AND NON-WHITE PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT COLORS, SHAPES, ETHNICITIES COMING OUT ON THE STREETS.

SO THAT KIND OF CIVIL SOCIETY SOLIDARITY THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE, WHEN SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, GIVES ME OPTIMISM THAT MAYBE THE NEW, YOU KNOW, YOUNGER GENERATION MIGHT BE SEEING THESE THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY.

>> AND IS IT MORE THE YOUNGER GENERATION THAT IS LEADING THIS?

>> FROM WHAT WE SAW IN THE TV, IT SEEMS A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALL DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES AND RACE COMING DOWN ON THE STREETS, YOU KNOW, PROTESTING AGAINST USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST PROTESTORS AND SO ON.

I THINK IT'S HOPEFUL.

>> GREAT.

>> DHAD.

>> I THINK ABOUT WHAT 2021 GAVE ME.

THE VACCINE ALLOWED US TO TRAVEL AGAIN.

MY CHILDREN GOT TO SEE THEIR GRANDPARENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS.

I GOT TO EAT IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS AGAIN.

I GOT TO ATTEND MASS.

I GOT TO TEACH IN PERSON.

OMICRON IS GENERATING NEW FEARS.

BUT RISK OF SERIOUS DISEASE, AT LEAST AT THIS TIME, SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY LOW.

AND TRIALS OF FIEZERS PFIZER'S ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL REDUCE THE RISK AND DEATH.

SO I'M HOPING THINGS WILL STILL GET BETTER.

>> I THINK THINGS WILL GET BETTER.

RICK, WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE FOR THE NEW YEAR.

>> A SLIGHTLY BROADER VIEW AND SAY SCIENCE IN GENERAL, NOT ONLY THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH VACCINES AND NOW EVEN TREATMENTS, BUT YOU KNOW, AS BAD AS THE DEVASTATING TORNADOES WERE IN KENTUCKY, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF NOT FOR THE ABILITY OF SCIENTISTS TO HAVE PREDICTED AND WARNED ABOUT THEM.

WE ALSO SEE THAT SCIENCE IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT IN GOING FORWARD WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I BENEFIT FROM ADVANCEMENTS THAT KEEP ME ALIVE AND KICKING.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS AMAZING WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR AND THE HOPE WE HAVE IN THE FUTURE WITH ALL THAT MEDICAL SCIENCE HAS BROUGHT TO US.

MY SENSE THAT GIVES ME HOPE IS THAT I JUST GENERALLY BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE GOOD HEARTED, GENERALLY.

WE'VE SEEN, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE TORNADO RESPONSE.

ALL THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND HOW DILIGENT THEY HAVE BEEN, THE SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THEM.

THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS THAT EVERYBODY DONE IN THIS COUNTY.

PEOPLE REALLY ARE GOOD AND THAT GIVES ME HOPE FOR THE NEW YEAR.

WELL, WE HOPE THAT YOU BRING HOPE INTO THE NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING US.

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.

YOU CAN WRITE US.

ADDRESSES ARE ON THE SCREEN.

IF YOU MISS THE SHOW ANY FRIDAY NIGHT, TUNE US IN SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30.

OR WE ARE STREAMING ANY TIME AT WCNY.ORG.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND STAY SAFE AND GOOD NIGHT.