HEAR WHAT LOCAL PROFESSORS THINK IS THE IMPACT OF THE TRUMP VERDICT.• ALSO -- THE CLASH BETWEEN A SCHOOL BOARD AND THE MEDIA .•AND WHERE IS RACIAL JUSTICE FOUR YEARS AFTER GEORGE FLOYD DIED.

IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK ARE -- ANIRBAN AR CHARRIA FROM LeMOYNE COLLEGE.

AARON STRONG, FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE MICHAEL TILLOTSON, FROM SUNY-CORTLAND, AND LUKE PERRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY MOST OF US WERE SURPRISED THURSDAY AFTERNOON BY THE QUICKNESS OF THE GUILTY VERDICT IN THE TRUMP ELECTION CORRUPTION TRIAL HERE IN NEW YORK.

PANEL, I'M EAGER TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVES.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE REACTION IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHERE -IN THE 5-COUNTY AREA AROUND SYRACUSE IT'S ROUGHLY 1/3 REPUBLICAN, 1/3 DEMOCRAT AND 1/3 NO PARTY.

SO, AARON, WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE IMPACT HERE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY BIG MOMENT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

THIS IS THE KIND OF MOMENT THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE.

I WILL REMEMBER I WAS COACHING MY DAUGHTER'S SOCCER GAME WHEN I FOUND OUT TRUMP WAS GUILTY ON ALL 34 COUNTS.

BUT I THINK POLITICAL PUNDITS LIKE TO TALK A LOT ABOUT VERDICTS LIKE THIS AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WILL TRUMP BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR HIMSELF IN FLORIDA IF HE IS A CONVICTED FELON OR NOT?

I THINK WHAT MATTERS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK IS TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT IN OUR PROBABLY PRETTY TIGHT CONGRESSIONAL RACE.

BRANDON WILLIAMS HAD A TOWN HALL IN CLAY WEDNESDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE VERDICT, OUR CONGRESSMAN.

AND WHAT DID HE TALK ABOUT?

HE TALKED ABOUT I-81.

ONONDAGA LAKE, MICRON.

WHO DID HE NOT TALK ABOUT?

HE DID NOT TALK ABOUT TRUMP.

I THINK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN A VERY CLOSE RACE WHERE WE ARE MOW IN A DISTRICT WHEN NEW YORK 22 THAT LEANS A LITTLE BIT TO THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE REPUBLICANS SHY A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM FOCUSING ON TRUMP AND NOT FULLY HITCH THEIR WAGON TO TRUMP WHEN THEY'RE OUT TALKING IN THE PUBLIC, BUT CONGRESSMAN WILLIAMS HAS MADE A LOT OF STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW, HE DENIES ELEMENTS OF THE ELECTION.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO HITCH HIMSELF TO TRUMP WHEN HE IS TALKING TO HIS BASE BUT WHEN HE IS TALKING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HE IS GOING TO SHY AWAY A LITTLE BIT FROM TRUMP ON THIS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN WHAT A STORMY WEEK FOR TRUMP, RIGHT?

I WAS LISTENING TO A LOT OF NEWS REPORTING AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS WHO, FOR WHOM THE RESOLVE WILL BE MORE HARDENED BECAUSE OF THIS.

THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES TO BE MORE IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP PRIMARILY BECAUSE, LOOK, THIS WAS KIND OF A VERY OBSCURE LEGAL THEORY THAT WAS USED.

THE PERSON PROSECUTING, HIS PREDECESSOR DID NOT WANT TO DO IT AND THERE IS MISSING INFORMATION GOING ON, RIGHT, THE JUDGE APPARENTLY WAS BIASED AND DIDN'T ASK THE JURY TO ACTUALLY VOTE UNANIMOUSLY AND SO ON, WHICH IS WRONG.

SO ON THE WHOLE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL TAKE AWAY MUCH OF POWER FROM TRUMP FROM ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THE TRUMP VOTERS OR TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

BUT IT WAS AN INTERESTING DAY TO SEE LIKE THE UNITED STATES AT LEAST IN SOME WAY, THE RULE OF LAW WORKS EVEN IF IT IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT OPENS UP A SPACE WHERE A PRIMARILY VERY RED, YOU KNOW, COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES CAN PROSECUTE A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT SO THAT'S A PATH THAT ONE CAN... >> AND THE RULE OF LAW IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY.

BUT ONE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THINKING ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE DIDN'T BEGIN AS A DEMOCRACY AND WE THIS QUIRKY ELECTORAL COLLEGE CREATED WAS BECAUSE THE FRAMERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MIGHT BE CAPTIVATING AND GENERATE POPULAR SUPPORT BUT NOT ACTUALLY BE A SOUND AND COMPETENT POLITICAL LEADER.

AND HERE WE ARE, WE SAW BOTH DONALD TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS FALL'S ELECTION IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHO SHOULD BE PRESIDENT; OBVIOUSLY.

AND I THINK THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY BECAUSE TRUMP'S FOLLOWING IS BORDER LINE CULTISH WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE IS THE PROBLEM AND NOT HIM.

AND IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTION.

>> MICHAEL, YOU COME FROM A MORE REPUBLICAN COUNTY, CORTLAND COUNTY.

>> I DO.

>> WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT?

>> THE WELL THE FACT THAT SO MANY AMERICANS ARE STILL WILLING TO VOTE FOR A CONVICTED FELON, TO AARON'S POINT, THIS IS AN AMERICAN MOMENT.

THE VERDICT REPRESENTS THE START OF A NEW AMERICAN MOMENT IN THE SENSE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SUCCEEDED IN A RATHER IMAGINESTER MAGISTERIAL WAY IN RECREATING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF SOME AMERICANS INTO THE FRAMEWORK OF ACCEPTING HIS IDEA THAT THE RULES ARE, THERE ARE NO RULES AND THOSE ARE THE RULES THAT THE RULES ARE FALLIBLE, THEY CAN BE BROKEN AND IT'S NORMAL, RIGHT?

THIS GOES ACROSS DEMOGRAPHICS, GOES ACROSS STATES, HIS PARTICULAR SPECIES OF CHARISMATIC POPULISM IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF INFLUENCE IN THE HISTORY OF THE HUMAN STORY.

IT CHANGES NATION STATES.

IT CREATES THE END OF EMPIRES.

IT DISSOLVES REPUBLICS, IT UNDERMINES INSTITUTIONS.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IT SEPARATES PEOPLE FROM THEIR SENSE OF DECENCY AND HUMAN AFFAIRS.

I'M NOT SURE IF THE CONSERVATIVES WANT TO ADMIT THEIR FRANKENSTEIN IS OPERATING WITHOUT THEM OR THEIR ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLE PRINCIPLES IN PLACE.

LONG RANGE ANALYSIS WILL SUGGEST HISTORY WILL ASK ONE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION AND THAT QUESTION IS THIS: WHY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN TO AMERICA.

>> YEAH, THIS IS A VERY GRAVE MOMENT, ALSO.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE ABSOLUTE ELECTION DENIAL.

LIKE THEY DO NOT WANT TO-- THE REPUBLICANS, MANY REPUBLICANS DO NOT WANT TO CONCEDE AN ELECTION.

TRUMP I DON'T THINK WOULD CONCEDE AN ELECTION EVEN IF HE LOSES IN 2025.

THIS MIGHT HELP HIM IN A BIG WAY.

AND ALSO, WHEN IT COMES TO SENTENCING AND STUFF, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

HE HAS NO CRIMINAL RECORD, RIGHT?

HE AN UPSTANDING CITIZEN.

HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

WHAT DOES PROBATION LOOK LIKE OR COMMUNITY SERVICE LOOK FINING FOR DONALD TRUMP?

AND WITH ALL THAT, IF THE JUDGE SAYS DO PROBATION, DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR NEW YORKERS, THAT IS A GOOD PUBLICITY STUNT FOR HIM.

IT MIGHT BE HUGELY BACKFIRING FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN MANY WAYS BUT WE WILL SEE.

THE POINT WELL TAKEN.

THE TRUMP HAS RESHAPED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY-- THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN A WAY THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN WANT TO CONCEDE THAT AN ELECTION HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, RIGHTLY ADJUDICATED.

SO IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR US.

>> LAST WORD, AARON.

>> I THINK THE THREAT OF AUTHORITARIAN POPULISM IS VERY REAL BUT WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY OF DUELS, GUN SLINGING, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, TERRIFIC CORRUPTION, SO I THINK WE DO WANT TO KEEP SOME PERSPECTIVE.

THIS IS AN AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT.

I'M A SCIENTIST.

AND WHEN YOU DO EXPERIMENTS THEY KEEP GOING AND THIS PROJECT IS GOING KEEP GOING.

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT TAKES US.

WE ARE RIGHT TO HAVE A LOT OF CAUTION BUT 12 STONE FACED JURORS ISSUED A VERDICT OF GUILT OWE 34 COUNTS.

THAT'S ALSO A MOMENT OF PRIDE I HAVE IN AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND RULE OF LAW TO SEE THAT HAPPEN WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

>> WE WILL SEE WHERE THIS EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.

I'M SURE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT AROUND THIS TABLE EVEN MORE.

OUR NEXT TOPIC RELATES TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

SPECIFICALLY, CONFLICT BETWEEN SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE MEDIA.

THE SCHOOL BOARD HAD ITS ATTORNEY SEND A SOMEWHAT THREATENING LETTER TO LOCAL CH.

3 SAYING REPORTERS WERE HARASSING BOARD MEMBERS BY CALLING THEM ABOUT A VIOLENT INCIDENT AT THE SCHOOL.

WHERE A TEACHER WAS BEATEN UP.

THE BOARD'S POLICY IS THAT ONLY THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS FOR THE BOARD.

I UNDERSTAND THAT POLICY.

LUKE, YOU'VE BEEN A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.• HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> I THINK IT IS A COMPLICATED SITUATION FOR SURE.

I THINK REPORT ERTS ARE DOING THEIR JOB TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND INFORMING THE PUBLIC.

I THINK BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER IS A VERY TIME CONSUMING LARGELY THANKLESS JOB WHERE YOU ARE UNPAID OR MINIMALLY PAID.

I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, I THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THE MEDIA.

YOU WANT TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP THERE.

SENDING A LETTER SUGGESTING THERE HAS BEEN HARASSMENT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL TO THAT RELATIONSHIP.

AND SO THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT HARASSMENT ISN'T REAL.

I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AS A BOARD MEMBER.

IT WASN'T FROM THE PRESS.

IT WAS MORE FROM INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS COMING UP, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YELLING AT YOU AND SAYING ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO YOU, TRUE AND UNTRUE, IN A HOSTILE WAY.

SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK IN THIS DAYS, CASE, LETTER WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA AND I THINK THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN I WILL START BY SAYING GOING TO THE BASICS, RIGHT, THE PROFESSIONAL HAZARD OF ANY PUBLIC SERVICE IS SURPRISE, SURPRISE, FACING THE PUBLIC.

AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE TAKING-- EVEN IF THE PUBLIC HAS THE MOST DEPLORABLE, TO USE HILLARY CLINTON'S POLITICAL SUICIDAL COMMENT, YOU SHOULD BE STILL BE OPEN TO IT.

ABLE TO HEAR IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ELECTED AND YOU ARE DRAWING MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC EXCHECKER, RIGHT.

YOU CANNOT RUN A SCHOOL BOARD THE WAY YOU CAN RUN MAYBE A BARBECUE BUSINESS.

AS A RESULT, I DO THINK THIS IS AN AUTHORITARIAN MOVE RATHER THAN A DEMOCRATIC MOVE AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE ANSWERING TO THE MEDIA INDIRECTLY RATHER THAN THIS CORPORATE THING THAT YOU CAN ONLY TALK TO MY PRESIDENT THROUGH WRITTEN EMAILS.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS DEMOCRATIC COMING FROM A SCHOOL BOARD THAT IS PRIMARILY DEMOCRATIC.

IT'S LAUGHABLE TO ME.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT WE ARE IN A MOMENT OF EXTREME THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST PUBLIC ELECTED OFFICIALS INCLUDING LOCAL OFFICIALS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE CASE IN SYRACUSE BUT THEY DID A SURVEY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AROUND THE COUNTRY, ONE IN FIVE LOCAL OFFICE HOLDERS, LARGELY VOLUNTEER PUBLIC SERVANTS JUST TRYING TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY, ONE IN FIVE LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS IS FACING THREATS OF VIOLENCE FROM THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN ACCOUNTABILITY AND HARASSMENT AND ALSO FEAR FOR YOUR OWN, LIKE AM I GOING TO BE SAFE IN MY HOUSE?

I VOLUNTEERED FOR THIS POSITION IN MY COMMUNITY AND NOW PEOPLE ARE THREATENING ME.

>> I HAD TO ACCOMPANY BOARD MEMBERS IN AND OUT OF MEETINGS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN WHO FELT THAT THEY WERE OR DEALING WITH HOSTILITY FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE MALE AND DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING AND GOING FROM MEETINGS.

THAT IS REAL.

ONE THING DIFFERENT ABOUT SCHOOL BOARDS IS THAT INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DON'T HAVE A VOICE.

THAT'S HOW WE ARE TRAINED BY THE STATE ASSOCIATION.

OUR VOICE IS COLLECTIVE.

AND THAT'S WHY MOST POLICIES HAVE A POINT PERSON, PARTICULARLY THE PRESIDENT, WHO IS ELECTED BY THE BOARD, AS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE BOARD AS A WHOLE.

SO I THINK THOSE DYNAMICS ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN YOUR RUN OF THE MILL ELECTED OFFICIAL.

>> MICHAEL, YOUR THOUGHTS ON-- THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THEY'VE JUST HIRED MORE PEOPLE TO DO BETTER COMMUNICATIONS, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S LESS THAN A PERCENT OF THE BUDGET.

WHAT ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION PUBLIC ACCESS.

>> I THIS I WE SOMETIMES LEAVE THE STUDENTS OUT OF THE CONVERSATION.

RIGHT NOW LET'S TAKE A QUICK PEEK AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ABSENTEE RATES AT 48%.

HIGH SCHOOL ABSENTEE RATE AT 58%.

MATH PROFICIENCY IS 16%.

ELA TEST SCORES, GRADUATION RATE WAS AT 70%, WITH THOSE NUMBERS, I THINK WE MEADE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT TWO TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS, SOFT IMPROVEMENTS AND HARD IMPROVEMENTS CLASSROOM FOCUSED INVESTMENTS.

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT PRIORITIZING THINGS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HARD IMPROVEMENTS HALLMARKS PEDAGOGUE, INSTRUCTION, CURRICULUM, SPECIAL NEEDS, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND PRINCIPAL INVOLVEMENT.

SPENDING ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS ON SOFT IMPROVEMENTS, NON-INSTRUCTIONAL INVESTMENTS THINGS LIKE INCREASING FACEBOOK PROFILES, GROWING SOCIAL MEDIA REPRESENTATION, HYPING SPORTS AND CHEERLEADING.

IF THAT DOESN'T INCREASE THESE NUMBERS, IF THEY THINK THEY HAVE HAD A ROUGH TIME NOW, THEY'RE GOING HAVE A ROUGHER TIME NEXT YEAR.

I WISH THEM WELL BUT I'M NOT CLEAR ON THE PRIORITIES OF SYRACUSE AT THIS TIME.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE AND WE'LL TURN TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

FOUR YEARS AGO THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS SET OFF GLOBAL MOVEMENT ---PROTESTS ALL OVER, LAWS TO BAN CHOKEHOLDS, QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE FUNDING, PAIRING MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS WITH COPS.

CORPORATIONS PROMISED 200-BILLION DOLLARS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

BUT WE DON'T HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT THOSE INITIATIVES NOW.

MICHAEL, WHERE ARE WE AFTER FOUR YEARS?

>> I'VE GOT ONE WORD FOR THIS AND IT'S CALLED BACKLASH, RIGHT?

EVERY TIME IN AMERICA, WHEN AMERICA TRIES TO SHOW SOME SENSE OF EGALITARIANISM TOWARD BLACK AMERICANS, THERE IS A BACKLASH.

NOTHING NEW.

COMING OUT OF RECONSTRUCTION 1877, 13th AMENDMENT, 14th AMENDMENT, ALL THOSE IDEA, ENDING ENSLAVEMENT, DUE PROCESS, THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR BLACK MALES.

WHENEVER AMERICA MAKES AN EGALITARIAN MOVE THERE IS A BACKLASH.

WE HAD JIM CROW IN RESPONSE TO RECONSTRUCTION, THEN SEPARATE BUT EQUAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT, 1954, BROWN V BOARD de SEGREGATING AMERICAN SCHOOLS AND THEN THE BLOODY RIOTS IN ARKANSAS WHEN THEY TRIED TO INTEGRATE SCHOOLS.

THE PASSING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACTS, DEADLY RIGHTS IN THE SOUTH.

SOUTH SWINGS FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN.

FOR THE SAKE OF TIME I GO TO THE ELECTION OF BA BARACK OBAMA, GEORGE FLOYD, AT TACK ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY, DISMANTLING OF DEI, DISMANTLING OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, RECONFIGURE OF A.P.

COURSE IS, SETTING THE BACKDROP OF THINGS WE DON'T APPRECIATE.

SET THE IDEA THAT RACE IS NO LONGER AN APPROPRIATE DISCUSSION FOR POLICY NATIONAL SIS.

SO, OF COURSE, THE ENTITIES THAT DID NOT WANT TO DO THESE THINGS IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEY ARE RENEGLECTING ON THEIR PERFORMATIVE IDEAS AT THE TIME, THE PERFECT CRIME SCENE WITHOUT THE TAPE.

THE ONLY GOOD THING TO COME OUT OF THIS IS BLACK AMERICANS BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THE INVISIBLE JIM CROW WHICH MAY LEAD TO A MORE PRONOUNCED EFFICACY IN THE BLACK EXPERIENCE.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT COMES OUT OF THIS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD NUMBERS OF ENROLLMENTS FOR HBCUs THAT'S A BELLWEATHER TO LET YOU KNOW THAT BLACK AMERICA IS PAYING ATTENTION.

>> BECAUSE ENROLLMENT IS GOING UP.

>> OFF THE CHARTS.

>> YOU SUMMED UP EXACTLY WHAT I WROTE THERE AND I WILL SUM IT UP WITH LEON BRIDGES SONG FROM GOLD DIGGERS.

HOPING FOR A LIFE MORE SWEETER, INSTEAD I'M JUST A STORY REPEATING AND THAT'S THE STORY THAT'S REPEATING THAT EVERY TIME BLACK AMERICANS HAVE GAINED AN IOTA AND THEIR ALLIES HAVE FOUGHT FOR A LITTLE FREEDOM, WHITE SUPREMACY BACKLASH AGAINST BLACK AMERICANS AND WOMEN AND POOR PEOPLE, LIKE IT'S A NO BRAINER.

SO WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS ACUTE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE.

WE ARE GOING WRITE IN SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS THAT SLAVERY WAS BENEFICIAL TO A PERSON BECAUSE THEY GAINED SKILLS, LIKE IF PHYSICAL ABUSE MAKES YOU STRONGER, THAT KIND OF A WEIRD ARGUMENT.

AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS HEADED TOWARDS THAT, RIGHT?

REPUBLICAN PARTY NOW, BY ALL OBJECTIVE COUNTS, THEY RESEMBLE THE FAR RIGHT NAZI OUTFITS LIKE AFD IN GERMANY THEN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN BRITAIN.

WE HAVE ONE PART OF THE UNITED STATES AS A BACKLASH OF PROTEST AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY, TREMENDOUS LEVELS OF POLICE BRUTALITY IN THE UNITED STATES WHICH STILL CONTINUES.

POLICE KILLED 1150 PEOPLE LAST YEAR.

BUT I DO THINK THAT SINCE THE MATERIAL CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED, LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE AGAINST THESE KINDS OF PATRIARCHY, THIS WHITE SUPREMACIST, YOU KNOW, VITRIOL FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THAT IS MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED.

I SAW THE MOST WONDERFUL MULTIRACIAL PROTEST BY YOUNG PEOPLE AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, WHICH WAS NOT SEEN BEFORE, RIGHT?

SO I THINK THERE IS SOME IMPORTANT CHANGE HAPPENING.

BUT THE BACKLASH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WOULD BE WILL.

THAT'S PART OF THE AMERICAN DNA.

>> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS IS THAT'S WE HAVE SEEN THIS BACKLACK, WHITE SUPREMACIST BACKLASH AGAINST BLACK LIVES MATTER AND POLICE REFORM AND WE HAVE SEEN SOME INCREMENTAL POLICE REFORMS THAT HAVE LARGELY NOT GONE TO ENDING RACIAL PROFILING OR RACIALIZED VIOLENCE OR TARGETING OF BLACK AMERICANS.

THEY HAVE GONE TO DO THINGS LIKE SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TEAMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED.

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

WE WANT THAT.

SO WE HAVE SEEN SOME INCREMENTAL CHANGES.

DENVER, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS THIS SUPPORT TEAM ASSISTED RESPONSE IF SOMEONE IS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, ARMED POLICE ARE NOT THE FIRST RESPONDERS ANYMORE.

PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEND HOURS HELPING TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR SOMEONE ARE COMING IN AND HELPING.

THAT CAME OUT OF, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING IS HOW SOME OF THESE INITIAL EXPERIMENTS PLAY OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO THINK HOW POLICING CHANGES OVER TIME BUT I COMPLETELY DEGREE AGREE WITH MICHAEL AND ANIRBAN WHAT IS HAPPENING.

>> IT'S A LOCAL PREROGATIVE, RIGHT IN FROM THE MACRO PERSPECTIVE YOU DID A GREAT JOB LAYING OUT THE HISTORICAL CONTOURS BUT LOCALITIES, THERE HAS BEEN SOME 340DEST PROGRESS MENTAL HEALTH.

USE OF POLICE CAMERAS.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THOSE HAVE GROWN, GREATER DOCUMENTATION OF INSTANCES OF BRUTALITY.

AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS RELATED TO THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE.

IT HAS LED TO BETTER HANDLING OF MISCONDUCT, RIGHT, MORE TRAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

IT'S LED TO THE LESSENING OF RACIAL DISPARITY AND THE RESOLVING OF MISCONDUCT, THE USE OF CAMERAS.

THAT WON'T FIX ALL THE PROBLEMS BUT I THINK THERE SOMEBODY SOME SMALL POLICY GAINS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> SOME GAINS, CORPORATIONS DOING SOME THINGS.

>> POLICY GAINS, OKAY, FINE, BUT WE STILL HAVE GOON SQUADS IN MISSISSIPPI AND HAVE I TO LIVE IN THAT REALITY AS SOON AS I WALK OUT OF THE STUDIO EVERY DAY.

>> CAMDEN DID SOME GOOD JOB.

THERE IS A GOOD FILM OF POLICE REFORM PROGRESS BUT THE GOON SQUAD, LIKE HERE IS A SQUAD OPERATING IMPUNITY BY TORTURING BLACK PEOPLE.

WITH NO CONSEQUENCES AND EVEN THE NEW RECORDS THAT CAME OUT, MANY ARE STILL IN THEIR JOBS.

AND IT'S UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THESE PEOPLE DID FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

>> VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK AMERICANS IS AN INTRACTABLE PART OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT AND AS SOON AS WE ACCEPT THAT REALITY, SOMETHING REAL CAN HAPPEN.

>> AND LET'S HOPE SOMETHING REAL WILL HAPPEN TO CHANGE THOSE THINGS.

WE HAVEN'T COME AS FAR AS WE WANTED.

I HEAR YOU SAYING SOME GOOD THINGS AND SOME THINGS, MANY THINGS YET TO WORK O.

IT IS TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.

ANIRBAN, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO NIKKI HALEY'S RECKLESS AND INHUMAN ACTIONS OF WRITING FINISH THEM ON ISRAELI'S ARTILLERY.

THIS ONLY GOES TO SHOW THE UNDERLYING GENOCIDAL FANTASIES ONE REFLECTS.

THE MEANING IS POLITENESS AND HUMILITY AND BENEVOLENCE.

SHAME ON YOU, NIKKI.

>> AARON, WHO GETS YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO CARBON OFFSETS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

YOU CAN CLAIM YOU ARE REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS BY PAYING SOMEONE ELSE TO REDUCE THEIR EMISSIONS.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

MANY THINGS PAID FOR ARE NOT ACTUALLY REAL.

REPORT JUST RELEASED BY CORPORATE CTBILITY NON-PROFIT WATCH DIAGNOSE, MANY.

CARBON OFFSETS USED BY DELTA, DISNEY ANDNESS AND NESTLE ARE LIKELY JUNK.

DO BETTER.

>> SO LIKELY JUNK, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO?

>> BASICALLY TREES ARE BEING PLANTED AND THE FORESTS ARE NEVER GROWING AND YOU ARE SAYING LOOK AT ALL THIS CARBON WE STORED IN THE TREES.

THE TREES NEVER GREW.

THEY'RE NOT REAL.

>> MY F TO THE COLORADO G.O.P.

CALLING FOR CHILDREN TO BE PULLED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN COLORADO.

>> SAY MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> THEY WANT THE AMERICAN-- HOW CAN I PUT THIS.

THEY ARGUE THE AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM IS IS AN INDOCTRINATING INSTITUTION AND THEY WANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED.

>> LUKE.

WHO ELSE?

>> RECENT REPORTING THAT THOUSANDS OF NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED AFTER BEING FORCED INTO CATHOLIC BOARDING SCHOOLS IN THE 150s AND 60s.

THE CHURCH NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS THIS.

>> LET'S HOPE SOMEONE HAS DONE SOMETHING WELL.

ANIRBAN.

HAVE YOU GOT AN A FOR US.

>> GOES TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SAMARITAN CENTER WHO STRIVE EVERY DAY TO FULFILL THE CENTER'S MISSION TO SERVE THE HUNGRY AND THOSE IN NEED TO PROMOTE WELFARE, DIGNITY AND SELF SUFFICIENCY.

THE CENTER SERVES WELL OVER 100,000 MEALS ANNUALLY AND OPERATION RELIES ON UPWARDS OF 1500 VOLUNTEERS.

LeMOYNE COLLEGE AWARDED HER WITH AN HONORARY DEGREE.

WELL DESERVED.

>> VERY NICE.

AARON.

>> MY A GOES TO THE LEGACY OF BILL WALTON WHO PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK.

HE WAS AN ABSOLUTE ONE OF A KIND LEGEND, EPITOMIZED MARCHING TO YOUR OWN DREAM ON THE BASKETBALL COURT.

AS SOMEONE WHO FOCUSES ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE POLICIES AND CELTICS FAN I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK BILL WALTON FOR HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS AS A CHAMPION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKING TO MAKE THE ENERGY TRANSITION FOR AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE.

YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT ABOUT BILL WALTON.

>> HE WROTE ALL THESE LETTERS IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT THE SOLAR ENERGY TRANSITION MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

HE WAS A REAL CHAMPION.

>> VERY GOOD.

MICHAEL.

>> MY A TO BARRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CORTLAND WHO HELD A FANTASTIC KINDERGARTEN TO SECOND GREAT ART SHOW.

ESPECIALLY MY WIFE'S SECOND GRADE CLASS.

>> WHAT KIND OF ART DID YOUR WIFE'S CLASS DO.

>> ALL KINDS OF ART ABOUT DOGS AND PARROTS AND BALD HEADED CHICKENS.

ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

>> HUMOR IS GOOD AND I'M SURE-- >> IT WAS CUTE.

>> AND MY MOM WENT WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN.

>> LUKE, HOW ABOUT YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE NEGRO LEAGUES STATISTICS BEING INCORPORATED INTO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

PHENOM CATCHER JOSH GIBSON IS NOW THE ALL TIME LEADING HITTER.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING THAT WHAT TOOK SO LONG FOR THOSE THINGS-- THEY HAD THE SAME STADIUMS, SAME RULES, SAME EQUIPMENT AND ALL?

>> I THINK IT TOUCHES ON THE RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

LONG OVERDUE AND I THINK NOW THESE PEOPLE WHO PLAYED IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES ARE GOING TO BE REMEMBERED AS THE GREAT ATHLETES THEY WERE.

>> GREAT BOOK CALLED RACE BALL WRITTEN BY A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITS GURGLE.

>> VERY GOOD.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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AND SOMETHING NEW - WE'RE ON YOU TUBE.

THERE'S A PLAYLIST FOR IVORY TOWER -EACH SHOW SEGMENT, THE AS AND FS, AS WELL AS THE FULL SHOW.•LOOK FOR W-C-N-Y'S YOUTUBE PAGE.

OF COURSE YOU CAN SEE US ON TV FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8, SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30 OR STREAM US ANY TIME AT WCNY.ORG.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.