THIS HALLOWEEN WEEKEND, THERES NOTHING SCARY ABOUT IVORY TOWER.

NO TRICKS, BUT WE DO HAVE A TREAT: SOME INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEWS THATS COMING UP NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER."

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS ON THE PANEL TONIGHT ARE: MICHAEL TILLOTSON, FROM SUNY-CORTLAND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY, AND AARON STRONG, FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE.

EARLY VOTING FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS IS UNDERWAY - WITH ELECTION DAY NEXT TUESDAY.

I'VE ASKED THE PANELISTS TO BRIEF US ON SOME SIGNIFICANT RACES.

IN ONONDAGA COUNTY PROPOSITION ONE ASKS VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER LEGISLATORS' TERMS SHOULD GO FROM 2 YEARS TO 4 YEARS •AND THEN BE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 12 YEARS IN THE JOB.

AARON, IN GENERAL, DO YOU THINK TERM LIMITS ARE A GOOD IDEA?

>> TERM LIMITS ARE A GOOD IDEA AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.

REPUBLICANS LIKE TERM LIMITS, DEMOCRATS LIKE DRM DRMS.

ONE OF THE REASONS IS WE WANT NEW IDEAS INTO THE COMMUNITY LEGISLATORS AND IT'S HARD TO CHALLENGE INCUMBENTS.

12 YEARS IS A GOOD COMPROMISE.

GIVING ENOUGH TIME FOR A LEGISLATOR TO COME IN AND MAKE A MARK BUT WE NEED NEW IDEAS.

I DO WISH THEY HADN'T COMBINED THE EXTENSION FROM TWO YEAR TERMS TO FOUR YEAR TERMS WITH TERM LIMITS BECAUSE THOSE ARE REALLY SEPARATE ISSUES BUT THE PROPOSITION YOU WILL SEE IF YOU ARE AN ONONDAGA COUNTY VOTER COMBINES THOSE TOGETHER.

I THINK HAVING TERM LIMITS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

>> MICHAEL, HOW ABOUT TERM LIMITS.

>> I LIKE TERM LIMITS BECAUSE BEING A A POLITICIAN IS NOT A LIFE LONG PURSUIT.

YOU COME IN WITH FRESH IDEAS AND GO BACK TO PRIVATE LIFE.

>> AARON, TELL BUS STATEWIDE, EVERYBODY WILL BE VOTING ON THIS PROPOSITION RELATED TO ADIRONDACK LAND.

>> PROPOSITION 1, A STATEWIDE PROPOSITION WOULD AMEND THE CONSTITUTION, AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH A SKI AREA IN THE ADIRONDACKS.

YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, WHY DO WE NEED TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO DEAL WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF ACREAGE, 300 ACRES OF SKI TRAILS IN THE ADIRONDACKS.

THE REASONS THAT ARTICLE 14 OF THE CONSTITUTION SAYS STATE FOREST PRESERVED LAND MUST REMAIN FOREVER WILD.

THERE WAS A BIT OF A MIXUP WHEN THE OLYMPIC CENTER THAT WAS USED IN THE 1932 AND 1980 WINTER OLYMPICS WAS BUILT, SOME OF THE SKI TRAILS WERE ACTUALLY BUILT ON STATE FOREST PRESERVE LAND WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED.

SO THIS IS RETROACTIVELY AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION TO PERMIT THAT USAGE OF FOREST PRESERVED LAND FOR THE SKI AREAS.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS IN HERE IS THAT THE PROPOSITION ALSO REQUIRES 2500 ADDITIONAL ACRES OF FORESTED LAND BE BROUGHT INTO THE STATE FOREST PRESERVE.

PROPOSITION HAS WIDE SUPPORT.

IT'S GONE THROUGH BOTH THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY WITH ONLY ONE ASSEMBLYMAN VOTING AGAINST IT ONCE IT HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT.

HAS ALMOST UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AND BROAD BASED SUPPORT IN THE ADIRONDACK.

IT IS WORDED KIND OF FUNNY SO DO KNOW THE SKI TRAILS ALREADY EXIST AND THIS IS MAKING THE SKI AREA COMPLY WITH THE CONSTITUTION.

THE SIMILAR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS HAVE HAPPENED FOR WHITE FACE, GORE MOUNTAIN, BELLAIRE, IF YOU HAVE EVER SKIED AT ANY OF THOSE.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE SKI A LOT WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS PROPOSAL?

>> THIS IS FIXING A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

UNFORTUNATELY UNFORTUNATELY YOU HAVE TO GO TO THESE EXTENTS TO DO THAT.

OTHER THAN THAT, I AGREE.

IT HAS VERY WIDESPREAD SUPPORT.

I EXPECT IT TO PASS EASILY.

>> IS THIS NOT A PRECEDENT FOR, OKAY, I'M A DEVELOPER, I'LL ENCROACH IN THE LAND AND WE'LL MAKE IT UP?

>> AGAIN, THIS IS CARVING OUT AN EXCEPTION FOR SOMETHING THAT ALREADY HAPPENED.

COULD THERE BE AN INCENTIVE FOR SOMEONE TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN GO BACK AGAIN AND GET THIS?

I THINK THAT, IN TODAY'S WORLD WITH THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION WE HAVE, IS LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

I'M NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THAT HAPPENING WITH THIS CASE.

>> MICHAEL, YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT GOVERNOR RACES.

>> I HAVE, BROADLY SPEAKING, BASHAARA.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO CYCLE TO NOT ONLY RECAST THEIR FRAMING ON THE MESSAGE BUT ALSO TO DEVELOP A REFRESHING NEW OPERATIONAL PARADIGM THAT SUITS THE EGALITARIAN CENTER.

FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WE HAVE MIKEY SCHELL, FORMER NAVAL OFFICE, FORMER PROSECUTOR, GRADUATE OF THE NAVAL ACADEMY.

SHE CHECKS A LOT OF CENTRIST BOXES WITH HER MESSAGING.

MAKING PEOPLE COMFORTABLE WITH DEMOGRAPHICS, WE HAVE THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S RACE WITH ABBAIL.

HER FATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER, SHE WORKED AS A POSTAL INSPECTOR FOCUSING ON MONEY LAUNDERING AND NARCOTICS CASES.

WORKED AT THE CRAW LOOKING AT NUCLEAR FLIF RATION.

SHE HAS BELT WAY APPEAL.

BOTH OF THESE CANDIDATES, FOR ME, QUITE POSSIBLY ALIGN WITH THE ANDY BESHEAR MODEL, CENTRIST DEMOCRAT MODEL IN KENTUCKY SERVING HIS SECOND TERM IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE.

THESE ARE THINGS TO WATCH.

BEYOND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEW YORK CITY WITH THE YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS.

>> I THINK WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH IN THE RACE IN NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA AND PARTICULARLY IN NEW JERSEY, IS WE SAW A BIG RIGHT WARD SHIFT IN NEW JERSEY IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTRICS AMONG LATINO VOTERS AND ACROSS THE STATE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING TOWARD TRUMP THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T EXPECT TO MOVE TOWARDS TRUMP.

THE DEMOCRATS CARRIED NEW JERSEY BUT BARELY WHICH IS ASTONISHING.

WHAT DO WE SEE IN 2025 IN THIS OFF CYCLE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

THAT WILL GIVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE SOME OF THE VOTERS WHO SWITCHED TO 2RU678, WHAT ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES NOW ESPECIALLY WITH THE CENTRIST CANDIDATES THAT ARE THERE.

THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL BE WATCHING TUESDAY.

>> IS THIS A BELLWEATHER FOR THE COUNTRY?

>> IT IS FOR THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE IF THEY UNDERPERFORM IN BOTH NEW JERSEY AND VIRGINIA, EVEN WINNING BUT BY LOWER, SMALLER AND SMALLER MARGINS, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE PANIC FOR 2026 DEFINITELY.

>> LET ME GO BACK AND IT'S MIKEY SHERYL AND THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS JACK CITTARELLI.

ACCOUNTANT, LONG TIME HOLDING POLITICAL OFFICES BUT TRADITIONALLY A DEMOCRATIC STATE BUT AARON SAID COULD BE UP FOR GRABS.

HOW ABOUT VIRGINIA?

IS IT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I BELIEVE IS RUNNING?

>> SHE, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS SOME WEAKNESSES.

SHE IS BOMBASTIC, OVER THE TYPE, HYPERBOLIC AND MAKES ACCUSATORY STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT PROVEN BY DATA SOMETIMES SO I THINK SHE HAS WEAKNESSES THERE.

>> TRADITIONALLY-- I THINK I READ-- CHECK ME ON THIS.

VIRGINIA SINCE 197, ALWAYS ELECTS THE PARTY OPPOSITE THE PRESIDENT.

>> YEAH, THAT SEEMS TO BEAR ITSELF OUT.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES THIS TIME.

>> VERY GOOD.

RICK, HOW ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION THAT IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION?

>> CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 50 IS TO COUNTER ACT THE GERRYMANDERING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN RED STATES.

IT READS THIS AUTHORIZES THE TEMPORARY CHANGES TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS IN RESPONSE TO TEXAS PARTISAN REDISTRICTING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS REGRETTABLY THE DIRECTION THAT BLUE STATES, SUCH AS CALIFORNIA AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT, NEW YORK STATE AS WELL, HAVE TO GO IN ORDER NOT TO UNILATERALLY DISARM AGAINST WHAT IS GOING ON WITH TEXAS.

IN FACT, IF THIS PASSES IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH I SUSPECT IT WILL, THE REDRAWING OF THE DISTRICTS WILL PROBABLY CREATE FIVE MORE DEMOCRATIC SEATS, THAT WILL JUST COUNTERBALANCE THE FIVE REPUBLICAN SEATS THAT ARE GOING TO BE GAINED PROBABLY IN TEXAS.

THIS IS NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN GERRYMANDERING, BUT I THINK IT'S LEGAL.

AND SO THE DEMOCRATS, AT THIS POINT, HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO KEEP THE HIGH MORAL GROUND OR PLAY BY THE SAME SET OF RULES THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE PLAYING.

AND I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND DO WHAT THE REPUBLICANS STATES ARE DOING.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU, RICK, BUT I THINK THE PROBLEM HERE IS WHERE DOES THIS END?

NORTH CAROLINA JUST DID A PARTISAN REDISTRICTING, WHICH IS REALLY GOING TO ABSOLUTELY WRECK THEIR DISTRICTS, PARTICULARLY TAKING AWAY POWER FROM BLACK VOTERS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS WE ARE SLOWLY GUTTING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, RIGHT, SO THAT SUPREME COURT DECISION AFTER SUPREME COURT DECISION IS REALLY LIMITING THE POWER OF THAT SEMINAL PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTS FROM FIVE DECADES AGO.

TO PRESERVE AND MAKE SURE THAT VOTING IS FAIR.

PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE AND CONTINUE AND BARRING ANY LARGE SCALE INTERVENTION, WHICH I DON'T SEE WHERE IT COULD COME FROM, I THINK WHAT CALIFORNIA IS DOING MAKES SENSE RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S ON THE PATH TOWARDS DOING THIS FOREVER AND EVER.

IT'S HARD TO SEE US EVER GETTING BACK FROM IT.

>> IF CALIFORNIA DOESN'T DO THIS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHAT REPUBLICAN STATES DO.

SO I THINK THE ONLY SOLUTION IS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> LET'S TURN TO WHAT HAS BEEN BIG NEWS ALL WEEK.

THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

AND THAT MEANS BARE CUPBOARDS IN MANY HOMES.

IT APPEARS - AS OF FRIDAY MORNING WHEN WE ARE RECORDING --- THAT SOME 100,000 PEOPLE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WON'T GET THEIR SNAP BENEFITS STARTING TOMORROW.

WHICH IS SATURDAY.

I'M WONDERING HOW DO WE EXPLAIN CONGRESS' LACK OF ACTION, RICK?

>> WELL, FIRST, IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE EMERGENCY FUNDS AVAILABLE THAT WOULD AT LEAST EXTEND THE ABILITY TO MAKE THESE PAYMENTS FOR A MONTH OR SO.

AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS, A SHUTDOWN OF THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY AT LEAST NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO RELEASE THE FUNDS.

AND WHAT IS KIND OF HYPOCRITICAL HERE IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS USED EMERGENCY TO REALLY JUSTIFY A WHOLE SET OF ACTIVITIES.

THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO DO THIS IN THIS CASE, I THINK, IS FAIRLY CLEAR WHY.

THIS IS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON DEMOCRATS AND EVEN THOUGH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAPS, THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF SNAP RECIPIENTS ARE IN STATES LIKE TEXAS.

AND EITHER THEY THINK THAT VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO CARE OR THEY'RE GOING TO PUT MORE OF THE BLAME ON DEMOCRATS FOR THE SHUTDOWN, OR THE LEGISLATORS IN THOSE STATES DON'T CARE ABOUT THOSE VOTERS.

>> MICHAEL, I'M THINKING, IF FEEDING HUNGRY PEOPLE ISN'T ENOUGH TO GET CONGRESS TO ACT, WHAT WOULD BE?

>> I MEAN IT'S A VEXING QUESTION ON A LOT OF LEVELS AND I'M STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.

WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP FEED THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU, TO RICK'S POINT, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH, I'M NOT SURE HOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE G.O.P.

CAN LIVE THIS ONE DOWN IN THE LONG-TERM.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A HAUNTING HALLOWEEN.

HAUNTING TALKING POINT THAT IS GOING TO GET TONS EVER MILEAGE DOWN THE ROAD BY DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS AND SOME LIBERTARIANS.

AND THE PRESIDENT, I'M SURE, MAY NOT KNOW THAT HIS POLLING IS DROPPING LIKE A BROKEN ELEVATOR ON THIS ISSUE AND BY ALL APPEARANCES HE IS IS LOOKING THE OTHER WAY.

ON THE OTHER HAND, GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS STEPPING UP WITH STATE FUNDING FOR THIS STATE, EVEN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR HER.

AND FOR ME, THAT'S PURE POLITICAL MATURITY.

WHAT A PUBLIC SERVANT IS SUPPOSED TO DO IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

SHE IS A GOVERNOR FOR ALL OF NEW YORK STATE, EVEN FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT ADMIT IT.

SHE IS A MODEL FOR PUTTING PEOPLE BEFORE POLITICS AND I SALUTE HER FOR THAT.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF GOVERNORS THAT WON'T DO THIS.

>> THE USDA SAID IT WON'T PAY FOR THE SNAP BENEFITS THAT 3 MILLION NEW YORKERS DEPEND ON, $8 BILLION MONTHLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

$600 SOME ODD MILLION IN NEW YORK STATE, AND GOVERNORS OF STATES CAN STEP UP AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS STEPPED UP.

BUT WITH THE INITIAL PLEDGE OF $42 MILLION.

THAT COVERS A FEW DAYS OF THE NEED.

YOU KNOW THESE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS, ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY RELY ON SNAP BENEFITS.

THESE ARE YOU.

AND I THINK ACTUALLY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE FROM THIS IS THAT SNAP IS GOING TO SNAP THE SHUTDOWN.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MODERATE DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE BE TOO AFRAID OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS AND THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE WITH THE REPUBLICANS TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.

I REALLY DO THINK THAT THIS IS THE CRISIS THAT IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THE SHUTDOWN.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT AND HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

THERE HAS BEEN A NUCLEAR OPTION THAT WAS JUST-- MULTIPLE OPTIONS DROPPED FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ONE OF THOSE WAS A CALL TO END THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE OVER THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

THAT NEWS JUST CAME OUT IN THE LAST DAY.

AND I THINK THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS BRINKSMANSHIP ARE STILL REALLY MURKY BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO SUFFER ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOU.

>> BUT AARON, YOU THINK DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO CAVE ON THIS AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE COSTS OF HEALTHCARE UNDER OBAMACARE HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND THOSE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

AND THAT WAS WHAT DEMOCRATS WERE SAYING THEY NEEDED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SOME AGREEMENT ON EXTENDING THE SUBSIDIES BEFORE THEY WOULD SIGN OFF ON A BUDGET.

DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THAT NOW?

>> I THINK A HANDFUL OF THE MODERATE DEMOCRATS ARE TOO SICK OF THE SHUTDOWN AND THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

IT'S NOT DEMOCRATS AS A WHOLE.

IT'S JUST A HANDFUL OF SENATORS ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT 60 VOTE MAJORITY.

EITHER THAT OR MAYBE WE DO LOSE THE FILIBUSTER.

I DOUBT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO-- A HANDFUL OF MODERATE DEMOCRATS WILL CAVE ON THIS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, MICHAEL?

>> BOTH SIDES ARE GOING TO BE HURT DOWN THE ROAD.

THIS IS NOT A WINNER TAKES ALL.

>> PEOPLE WHOSE SNAP CARDS WON'T WORK NEXT WEEK, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO WILL BE HURTING AND WHO WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT.

>> MICHAEL, TELL US MORE.

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS A HISTORY TOO, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FOOD SUBSIDIES, SNAP, AND THAT SORT OF THING.

I REMEMBER BILL CLINTON A LONG TIME AGO REDID THE SNAP PROGRAM.

COMING OUT OF THE REAGAN ICONOGRAPHY ABOUT WELFARE QUEENS AND BIG BLACK BUCKS GETTING VODKA AND STEAKS AND ALL OF THAT.

SO IT HAS A HISTORY THAT I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO AND THEY LATCH ON TO THAT ISSUE IN THAT WAY EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES THEY MAY NOT PUBLICLY TALK ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

SO WE'LL SEE.

I THINK BY NEXT WEDNESDAY, TO AARON'S POINT, WE'LL KNOW SOMETHING.

>> PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED THOUGH THAT 40% OF THE RECIPIENTS ARE CHILDREN.

18% ELDERLY.

AND 11% ARE DISABLED.

THE IDEA OF THE ABLED-BODIED INDIVIDUAL WHO IS RECEIVING THESE BENEFITS MAKES UP LESS THAN SO% OF THE POPULATION.

SO THIS ARGUMENT THAT WE ARE CUTTING SOMETHING THAT HAS ALL THIS WASTE OR UNDESERVING PEOPLE, IS REALLY A MYTH.

>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

JOSH HAWLEY, A VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM MISSOURI RECENTLY CALLED FOR, IF WE CAN'T BREAK THE SHUTDOWN, LET'S AT LEAST PASS A SEPARATE BILL TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOOD STAMPS, GIVEN HOW MANY PEOPLE IN MISSOURI RELY ON SNAP BENEFITS.

SO THIS IS MESSY AND UGLY POLITICS.

AND I THINK, AS MICHAEL SAID, NEXT WEEK, WE ARE GOING SEE WHERE THIS RESOLVES TO AND WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE.

>> LET ME JUST NOTE THAT THERE IS A CASE PENDING, WHICH A JUDGE DO COME OUT ON FRIDAY AND SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NEED TO OPEN UP AN EMERGENCY RESERVE.

BUT THEN ALSO THAT JUDGE COULD BE OVERRULED AND EVEN IF SHE WANTS THAT, TO FIGURE IT OUT, IS GOING TO TAKE A SEVERAL DAYS TO GET THE MONEY TO PEOPLE.

SO THE NEWS MAY HAVE CAUGHT UP WITH US BEFORE YOU VIEWERS SEE THIS SHOW.

BUT LET ME MOVE US ON TO OUR LAST TOPIC.

THE PRESIDENT IS BACK FROM A SIX-DAY TRIP TO ASIA -- MEETING WITH LEADERS OF CHINA, MALAYSIA AND JAPAN AMONG OTHERS.

THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL TALKS WERE WITH CHINA'S XI JIN PING.

THE TWO AGREED TO LOWER TARIFFS.

THE U.S.

GETS MORE SOY BEANS.

GETS TO BUY MORE RARE EARTH MINERALS AND HOPEFULLY LESS FENTANYL COMING TO OUR SHORES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, CHINA CAN BUY OIL AND GAS FROM ALASKA, GETS NEW BUSINESS WITH SOME U.S.

COMPANIES.

MICHAEL, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THIS AGREEMENT?

>> THE ASIA TRIP KNOWN AS THE FIX WHAT YOU BROKE TOUR, I'M SURE MOST AMERICANS ARE SLIGHTLY AREY LEAVED ABOUT THIS, WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE UP TO THIS POINT, IT'S ALL BEEN POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

IT'S ALL BEEN SORT OF PUBLIC THEATER, STEAK DINNERS AND PROMISES AND POLITICAL INNUENDO.

ALL THOSE SUNDAY SHOW APPEARANCES BY THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY SCOTT BESSON USING BIG WORDS LIKE FRAMEWORK AND BUILDING BLOCKS AND THINGS WILL BE SET IN MOTION, ALL THESE EMPTY SORT OF WORD SELLERS AT THAT TIME THAT HAD NO TANGIBLE MEANING TO EVERYDAY FOLK WHO VOTED FOR LOWER PRICES.

SO TRYING TO MAKE A POLITICAL SPECTACLE FOR SEVEN MONTHS LOOK LIKE PINNED AGREEMENTS WOULD ONLY LAST SO LONG WITH THE AMERICAN PSYCHE.

AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE CRACKS IN THE ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA BECOME TALKING POINTS AMONG DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS AND EVEN LIBERTARIANS BUT THERE IS A GROWING CRANE US CADARETRY OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE G.O.P.

WHO ARE STARTING TO MAKE SOME NOISE, SO I THINK THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR SO IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE G.O.P.

IS GOING TO START.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IT WAS A 12 ON A SCALE.

THIS IS A GOOD GREA.?

IS THERE ENOUGH SUBSTANCE THERE?

>> CALEB RAGLAND IS THE AMERICAN SOY BEAN ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND HE SAID THIS IS A MEANINGFUL STEP TOWARD REESTABLISHING A STABLE LONG-TERM TRADING RELATIONSHIP THAT DELIVERS RESULTS FOR FARM FAMILIES.

KEY WORD, REESTABLISHING.

WE HAD THAT JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

AND I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PUT PRESSURE ON TRUMP TO DELIVER AN AGREEMENT SO THAT WE CAN SELL 12 MILLION TONS OF SOY BEANS TO CHINA NEXT YEAR WAS THE PRESSURE HE IS RECEIVING FROM MIDWEST REPUBLICANS IN SENATE AND ELSEWHERE SAYING HEY, YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR US.

TRUMP HAS THIS SENSE THAT HIS BASE IS DRIVEN BY THE MILITARY AND BY FARMERS AND THE HEARTLAND.

AND HE KNOWS THAT HE NEEDED TO DELIVER FOR THAT.

BUT HE DIDN'T-- WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING NEW FROM THIS.

WE PUT TARIFFS SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM WHERE THEY WERE IN EXCHANGE FOR REESTABLISHING WHAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE.

AND JUST TO KIND OF COUNTER MICHAEL A LITTLE BIT, THERE WAS A LOT OF POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, A LOT OF MEETING THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN.

A LOT OF GOLD PLATED DINNERS.

AND A LOT OF SHOWMANSHIP FOR ULTIMATELY SOMETHING THAT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO TALK EACH OTHER BACK FROM THE EDGE.

BUT IN TYPICAL PRESIDENT TRUMP FASHION, RIGHT AS HE WAS GOING TO MEET XI JI PING.

HE ANNOUNCES THE U.S.

WILL RESTART NUCLEAR TESTING OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT.

BUT FIRST RIBLG, YOU ARE THE ECONOMIST.

WHAT IS THE TARIFFS ON THE DEAL.

>> COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE A MONTH AGO, WE ARE BETTER OFF WITH THIS DEAL BUT WHERE WE WERE AT THE GIBBING OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS BOTH MICHAEL AND AARON SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TOE-- CHINA IS GOING TO START BUYING SOY BEANS AGAIN, NOT AT HIGHER RATES BUT WHERE THEY WERE EARLIER.

TARIFFS ARE DOWN BUT NOT AS LOW AS THEY WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SO AGAIN, WE HAVE WALKED BACK FROM THE BRINK, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH CHINA AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CREATED PROBLEMS W. THE OTHER WORD IS EXAGGERATION.

AND YOU GO AND JUST SEE WHAT TRUMP SAID WHEN HE WAS IN JAPAN.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE COMPANIES HAVE PROMISED TO PUT IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INVESTMENTS AND THEN, ESPECIALLY TOYOTA, $10 BILLION.

AND TOYOTA SAYS WE NEVER SAID THAT.

NISSAN, SAME THING.

HE IS MAKING BIG PROMISES.

IN REALITY, FIXING PROBLEMS THAT WERE MADE IN THE FIRST PLACE THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE PROBLEMS IS HOW I SEE THIS.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO EXAMINE THE DATA CLOSELY.

THE RHETORIC DOESN'T MEET THE REALITY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE METRIC TONNAGE THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED BY CHINA THIS TIME, IT'S ALMOST THE EXACT SAME METRIC TONNAGE FROM A YEAR AGO.

THERE IS MORE OF THE RHETORIC DOES NOT MEET THE REALITY, MORE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE AND BRAG DOSH YO'.

AND HE SAID WE ARE GOING TO START NUCLEAR TESTS AGAIN.

WAS THAT NEGOTIATION STRATEGY TO SCARE CHINA?

TO SCARE RUSSIA.

>> JUST TO THROW PEOPLE OFF BASE.

TO GET THE MEDIA, LIKE THROWING THING THING TO THE MEDIA THAT WE ARE GOING TALK ABOUT AND THINK ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF SORT OF A DISTRACTION, LIKE HEY, YOU ARE PLAYING WITH A CAT AND THERE IS THE CAT TOY, GO LOOK AT IT AND BAT IT AROUND FOR A WHILE.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A LOT BEHIND IT.

AND IT CAUGHT HIS ADVISERS OFF GUARD WHICH MAKES ME THINK YEAH, IT REALLY WAS JUST A NEGOTIATING TACTIC, TRY TO THROW THE WORLD OFF BASE WHEN WE MEET WITH CHINA SO HE CAN CLAIM THIS VICTORY.

THE REAL QUESTION IS DOES ANYTHING COME OF THIS?

WE STOPPED TESTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS A LONG TIME AGO FOR A WHOLE HOST OF INCREDIBLY GOOD REASONS.

BUT THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL OF THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE SORT OF STRUCTUREDS IN OUR GEOAND POLITICAL SYSTEMS CAN BE SWEPT OUT FROM UNDER US LIKE PULLING OUT A RUG IN A SECOND AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT.

NOTABLY HE DID NOT MEET WITH THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY THAT DOES HAVE NURNLSZ NUCLEAR WEAPONS, KIM JONG UN.

SO NORTH KOREA WAS ON THE SIDELINES OF THIS ASIA TOUR.

>> IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHETHER HE MEANT TEST THE MISSILE OR DO EXPLOSIVES AND IT'S ALL DONE ON COMPUTER NOW RIGHT?

>> WHETHER IT IS A TRIAL BALLOON OR AN IDEA THAT JUST POPS IN HIS HEAD AT THE MOMENT.

I CAN'T GUESS THE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THE STATEMENT.

>> CHANGE THE SHINY OBJECT.

EVERY TIME.

>> THIS IS TIME FOR OUR FAVORITE SUBJECT.

I'M GOING TO MORPH OUR FS INTO WHAT WAS SCARY INTO THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

>> MY F GOES TO SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MIKE JOHNSON FOR DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

HE IS A PROTOTYPE FOR POLITICAL SELF PRESERVATION.

>> AND RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION.

LAST WEEK THE PROVINCE OF CANADA RAN A TV AD THAT I'M SURE MANY OF YOU SAW OF RONALD REAGAN STATING THAT TARIFFS WERE HARMFUL TO CONSUMERS AND A COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IT WAS A FAKE AND THAT RONALD REAGAN LOVED TARIFFS.

WHAT DID THEY DO, THEY AUSED ONTARIO OF MISREPRESENTING REAGAN AND THREATENED TO SUE WITHOUT EVER MENTIONING TRUMP'S RIDICULOUS CLAIM THAT REAGAN LOVED TARIFFS.

REAGAN WAS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF FREE TRADE AND THE BOARD OF HIS FOUNDATION HAVE FAILED FOO THEIR GOAL TO PROTECT HIS LEGACY AND SHOULD RESIGN.

>> AARON.

>> MY F GOES TO THE REAL MONSTER THAT IS COMING BACK FROM THE DEAD.

MEASLES.

AFTER BEING MEASLES FREE TWO DECADES AGO, MEASLES MAKING A COMEBACK, 1500 CASES, DEATHS, KIDS GETTING SICK AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THANKS TO VACCINATION WEE ELIMINATED THIS DISEASE IN 2000 BUT THANKS TO VACCINE HESITANCY, WE HAVE SICK KIDS AND DEATH.

A REAL SCARY HALLOWEEN FOR SOME FAMILIES.

>> GIVE US A TREAT, MICHAEL.

>> MY A GOES TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO COME TO WORK WITHOUT PAY.

GOING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

>> AND IT'S-- EVERYBODY IS WONDERING WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE.

I'M TRAVELING FOR THANKSGIVING AND I'M THINKING OH MY.

RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO REPUBLICAN SENATORS RAND PAUL, SUSAN COLLINS, LISA MURKOWSKI AND MITCH McCONNELL FOR VOTING WITH DEMOCRATS ON A RESOLUTION TERMINATING THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED TO IMPOSE GLOBAL TARIFFS.

SELDOM HAVE REPUBLICANS BEEN WILLING TO STAND UP AND DIRECTLY CONFRONT TRUMP'S POWER GRABS.

THIS HAS NO CHANCE OF BEING UP IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BUT IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE SOME REPUBLICANS VOTING AGAINST SOME OF THE TRUMP ACTIONS.

>> AARON.

>> LIKE MICHAEL, MY A IS GOING TO STICK WITH AVIATION AND IT GOES TO FRANK MARKS, A RETIRED HURRICANE HUNTER FROM THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION WHO IS VOLUNTEERING HIS TIME TO FILL IN THE GAPS CAUSED BY THE DOUBLE WHAMMY OF TRUMP'S CUTS TO THE WORKFORCE AT NOAA AND THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THE FORECAST OF HURRICANE MELISSA WHICH HAS WREAKED HAVOC ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN, TRAFT WAS REALLY SPOT ON, BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF THE VOLUNTEERS ADDING IN THEIR EXTRA TIME TO FILL IN THE GAPS FROM THE CUTS, THIS DID HELP SAVE LIVES SO THANKS TO Dr.

MARKS AND THE VOLUNTEERS.

>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND FILLING IN THE GAPS, NOT JUST FLYING THE PLANES.

HE GETS A LOT OF THE NOTORIETY BECAUSE HE IS DOING THE HURRICANE HUNTING BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, RUNNING THE MODELS.

WE NEED THOSE VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE WE'VE LOST THEM.

>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS DISCUSSION OR YOUR IDEAS FOR OTHER TOPICS.

THE ADDRESSES ARE ON THE SCREEN.

REMEMBER THE SHOW AIRS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8 AND SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30• OR STREAM IT ANY TIME AT PNS.ORG.

GOOD NIGHT.