>> TONIGHT ON "IVORY TOWER."

WHAT WILL THE EVENTUAL AGREEMENT TO END THE WAR WITH IRAN LOOK LIKE?

AND IF THE DEMOCRATS AUTOPSY OF THE 2024 ELECTION DEAD IN THE WATER?

AND BEN WALSH: WHAT I DID AS MAYOR.

STAY TUNED.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M RICK FENNER OF UTICA UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME TONIGHT LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY MICHAEL TILLOTSON OF SUNY CORTLAND, AND JOSHUA DARR OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THANKS EVERYONE.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON THE U.S.

AND IRAN SAID THEY ARE CLOSING IN ON AN AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THE CEASE FIRE AND REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO HAS SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD END THE CONFLICT WITH IRAN IS IF THERE IS A “GOOD PLAN” IN PLACE.

WHAT EXACTLY IS MEANT BY A “GOOD PLAN”?

MICHAEL, REALISTICALLY SPEAKING, WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE INCLUDED IN AN EVENTUAL AGREEMENT?

WHAT WILL THE U.S.

GET AND WHAT WILL WE HAVE TO GIVE UP IN ORDER TO END THE WAR?

>> LET ME START OUT TO SAY BY CALLING IT A PLAN IS A BIT GENEROUS, RIGHT?

AT SOME POINT, THIS WHACK A MOLE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO HIT A WALL.

AND RIGHT NOW TEHERAN IS THEIR WALL.

WE'VE SEEN THIS TACTIC OF CREATING A PROBLEM, FIXING THE PROBLEM, RIGHT?

TAKING CREDIT FOR THE PROBLEM YOU CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE IS STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OLD.

TEHERAN HAS NOW EXPOSED AND UNDERSTAND AMERICA'S WEAKNESSES.

ALIENATING OUR ALLIES, NEED FOR STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND A HOST OF OTHER MISSTEPS.

OTHER THAN THESE LATE NIGHT RANTS AND MATERIAL THREATS THAT NEVER MATERIALIZE, IN THE REAL WORLD, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY SAVING FACE FOR THIS UNLESS IT IS INVENTED IN THE MIND OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

TEHERAN IS EMBOLDEN AND THEY SHOULD BE.

WHEN I THINK OF OBAMA'S MOVE 10 YEARS AGO OR SO WITH IRAN, IT WASN'T PERFECTLY BY ANY MEANS BUT ALLOWED THE WORLD TO WORK IN SLIGHTLY MORE PREDICTABLE WAYS.

BEST CASE SCENARIO MIGHT BE IF THEY COULD CONSTRUCT A SORT OF STOCKPILE REDUCTION OF THE URANIUM ASSETS AND PERHAPS REINSTITUTE VERIFICATION OF, YOU KNOW, INSPECTORS OF IRAN.

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST THEY CAN HOPE FOR IN THE CURRENT MOMENT SINCE THE TRUST HAS BEEN BROKEN SO MUCH.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO PAY THEM.

THAT'S HOW WE GET THINGS DONE.

WE DROP BOMBS AND PAY PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THAT WE WANT THEM TO DO.

WE WANT THE ENRICHED URANIUM.

IT'S HARD TO GET TO.

WE CANNOT DO THAT WITHOUT A GROUND INVASION.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

THE ONLY WAY IRAN IS GOING TO AGREE TO THAT IS IF WE RELEASE THEIR ASSETS WHICH WE HAVE FROZEN TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEY WANT REPARATIONS WHICH WE WILL CALL AN INVESTMENT FUND AND WE WILL PAY THEM TO HELP REBUILD THEIR STRUCTURE THAT WE DESTROYED AND LIKELY REACH SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT WHERE WE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES AND THEY WILL GIVE US ALL OR MOST OF THEIR ENRICHED URANIUM.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

LONG-TERM THE ONLY BRIGHT SPOT I CAN POTENTIALLY SEE IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO HAVE ECONOMIC INTEGRATION VIA THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC BUT MIGHT BE A PIPE DREAM BECAUSE WHY WOULD IRAN GIVE UP SOVEREIGNTY AND GIVE US A CUT OF THAT.

IF WE COULD PULL THAT OFF SOMEHOW, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

>> JOSHUA, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY UNPOPULAR WAR.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE PANELISTS THAT'S WHAT WE CAN EXPECT AND IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH?

>> I THINK WE ARE CAUGHT IN THE DOLDRUMS OF THE CYCLE RIGHT NOW WHERE OIL PRICES GO UP AND THERE IS TALK OF A DEAL, A DEAL AROUND THE CORNER AND THOSE PRICES CALM DOWN AND THEN A LITTLE MORE WAR AND THEN THE START OF STARTS OVER AGAIN.

AND AS LONG AS THE CYCLE CAN CONTINUE, I THINK TRUMP WILL CONTINUE TO CONTINUE IT BECAUSE IT IS KEEPING OIL PRICES DOWN FROM WHAT IT SHOULD BE KNOWING THAT THE STRAIT IS CLOSED, RIGHT?

SO THE QUESTION IS CAN A DEAL MOVE FORWARD IF THERE IS NO EXPECTATION THAT THE U.S.

WANTS MORE THAN TO SURVIVE THE WEEK ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY.

THE CRED QUESTION DULT OF THE-- CLED DULITY OF THE MARKETS.

IRAN KNOWS THEY CAN CONTROL THE STRAIT AND WAIT THEM OUT AND IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF HOW LONG THE MARKETS TOLERATE IT AND WHETHER THAT LASTS UNTIL THE MID TERMS.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPLICATIONS WILL BE FOR THE MID TERMS IF THIS CONTINUES?

>> IT'S NOT GOOD.

TRUMP'S POPULARITY IS AS LOW AS IT HAS EVER BEEN.

HE SAID HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE MID TERMS.

HE DOESN'T CARE AS MUCH HOUSE MEMBERS DO.

BUT HE CARES ABOUT HIS POPULARITY AND IMAGE.

THE IRONIC THING MICHAEL MENTIONED, THE DEAL OBAMA STRUCK IS WHERE WE GETTING BACK TO.

IT'S THE DIFFERENCE OF BETWEEN ON THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.

OUTSIDE YOU CAN CRITICIZE THE DEEM AND SAY THE U.S.

SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE AND IT HASN'T WORKED OUT PERFECTLY BUT ON THE INSIDE YOU REALIZE YOU CAN'T BOMB IRAN INTO SUBMISSION.

THEY'RE GOING TO MAXIMIZE THEIR LEVERAGE AND THEY'VE DONE SO.

SO AS JOSHUA SAID, DO YOU JUST KEEP GOING WITH THE STATUS QUO OR DO YOU REACH SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT AND MOVE FORWARD?

>> AND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE OBAMA DERANGED SYNDROME, HE WOULDN'T HAVE TOUCHED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

>> SO ARE WE GOING TO BE BETTER OFF AFTER THIS AGREEMENT THAN BEFORE WE WERE WE WE ATTACKED THEM?

>> IT'S HARD TO SEE A WAY THAT WE GET BACK TO THAT.

MAYBE WE WILL GET BACK-- MAYBE THE BEST WE CAN HOPE FOR IS TO WHERE WE WERE WITH A POSITIVE SPIN ON IT.

I THINK THAT BREAKING OUT OF THIS CYCLE IS GOING TO REQUIRE A MEA CULPA THAT MAY NOT BE DOMING.

>> A FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

AMERICANS ARE NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT IRAN GETTING A NUCLEAR WEAPON THAN THE ADMINISTRATION.

THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

SO TO SOME DEGREE, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND $20 BILLION TO OVER A TRILLION, DEPENDING ON THE ESTIMATES ON THIS WAR AND YOU CAN'T CONVINCE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT IT'S IN OUR VITAL INTEREST TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IF YOU ARE A PRESIDENT.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE COSTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LONG LASTING.

>> WHAT ABOUT LEBANON AND ISRAEL.

THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO THE MIX AS WELL.

IS THAT GOING TO BE PART OF THIS AGREEMENT?

>> I THINK IT SPEAKS TO A BROADER PROBLEM WITH THE NOTION OF AN AGREEMENT, WHICH IS THAT WE NOW HAVE TO SOLVE ALL THE THINGS IN THIS AGREEMENT, RIGHT?

THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL THAT JOHN KERRY AND BARACK OBAMA AGREED UPON WAS A NUCLEAR DEAL.

IT WAS ABOUT THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM.

NOW WE HAVE TO SOLVE ISRAEL AND LEBANON, THE NUCLEAR ISSUE, THE STRAITS.

IT'S TOO MUCH FOR ONE DEAL TO SOLVE.

>> AND IN FACT WHAT IS BEING ANNOUNCED NOW IS NOT A DEAL, BUT A CONTINUATION OF THE CEASE FIRE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE.

ANY IDEA OF A TIMELINE WHEN AN END TO THIS CONFLICT WILL ACTUALLY OCCUR?

>> I THINK HE IS SLOWLY TRICKLING OUT HIS ABRAHAM ACCORDS AGAIN.

I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY HE IS GOING TO RECONSTITUTE OR RAILROAD ARTICULATE THE SHIFT TOWARDS THAT.

>> THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY UP TO US.

THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF COOPERATION THAT HE IS NOT DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF COALESCING, IS THAT TRUE?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE GOOD WILL WITH OUR ALLIES IN THE REGION TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

WE CAN'T CONTROL ISRAEL AND WE GOT IN THIS CONFLICT ALONGSIDE ISRAEL AND WE ARE READY TO MOVE ON AND THEY'RE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND EVEN THOUGH WE PROVIDE THEM WITH ARMS AND INTELLIGENCE, A LOT OF THAT IS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW.

EVEN IF WE COULD USE THAT AS LEVERAGE AGAINST ISRAEL, IT WOULD BE CONTRARY TO THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AT THIS POINT.

>> HE HAS GRABBED THE TIGER BY THE TAIL.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

HE GRABBED THE TIGER BY THE TAIL >> LAST SUMMER, KEN MARTIN, CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE, PROMISED THAT A REPORT ANALYZING THE OUTCOME OF THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WOULD BE RELEASED IN THE FALL OF 2025.

JUST THIS LAST WEEK, THE REPORT, OR WHAT MAY BE CALLED A VERY ROUGH DRAFT OF A REPORT, WAS MADE PUBLIC.

AND THE RESPONSE FROM MOST DEMOCRATS WAS UNDERWHELMING, AT BEST.

LUKE, WHY ARE DEMOCRATS SO UPSET?

IS IT WHAT THE REPORT SAID?

WHAT IT DIDN'T SAY?

>> I THINK DEMOCRATS LIKE TO THINK OF THEMSELVES AS COMPETENT, AT LEAST MORE COMPETENT THAN THE OPPOSING PARTY REPUBLICANS.

AND IN THIS CASE THAT CLEARLY DID THOUGHT COME TO BEAR.

AS YOU MENTIONED, ROUGH DRAFT RICK, THAT'S WHAT THIS DOCUMENT LOOKS LIKE.

THERE IS EDITS IN IT, REMINDS ME OF A TERM PAPER I WOULD GIVE BACK TO A STUDENT WITH COMMENTS AND THEN SOMEHOW THAT GETS PUBLISHED.

THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

READING THROUGH SOME ADMITTEDLY NOT ALL OF THE DOCUMENT, I THINK THERE IS SOME GOOD ANALYSIS IN THERE, SOME UNDERSTANDING OF KEY RACES, DEMOGRAPHICS, SHIFTS, AND PARTY SUPPORT.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO REBUILD THE OBAMA COALITION AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT FOR SEVERAL CYCLES AND DOING SOME SOUL SEARCHING IN REGARDS OF HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

DO YOU TRY TO COMPETE IN THE SAME AREAS OF THE KUN-- COUNTRY YOU PRIORITIZED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS OR BREAK NEW GROUND.

THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THE DEMOCRATS ARE WRESTLING WITH AND WE HAVE AN OPEN PRIMARY FIELD HEADING INTO THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SO THE DNC IS TRYING TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO UPSET ANYBODY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND I THINK THAT EXPLAINS THIS MESS.

>> I THINK THAT TO LUKE'S POINT, THIS WAS A TERM PAPER WHERE THEY ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION AND ENDED UP GETTING AN INCOMPLETE.

IT'S NOT WHAT DEMOCRATS WHO WERE HOPING FOR A CONSULTANT-PRODUCED REPORT TO SOLVE THINGS EXPECTED.

BUT I THINK THAT MAYBE CONSULTANT-PRODUCED REPORTS A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THINK MIGHT BE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THERE IS TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON CONSULTANTS FROM THE TOP OF THE PARTY AND NOT ENOUGH LISTENING TO THE VOTERS AT THE BASE OF THE PARTY OR TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE DISCONTENTED WITH BOTH PARTIES, RIGHT?

SO THIS WAS A LATE SUBMISSION BY THE CONSULTANTS AND TOTALLY BOTCHED BY KEN MARTIN IN HOW IT WAS UNVEILED.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS FOR HIM IS THAT LIKE YOU SAID, 2028 IS GOING TO BE THE AUTOPSY.

2027 SPECIFICALLY AS THE PRIMARIES ROLL OUT AND THOSE DEBATES UNFOLD AND THOSE ARGUMENTS UNFOLD, THE PARTY WILL SETTLE WHAT WENT WRONG IN 2024 BY HAVING LIVELY DISCUSSIONS IN A PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY FAR MORE THAN ANY POST ELECTION OP.

THE REPUBLICANS POST 2012 OP WAS MOST FAMOUSLY IGNORED BY THEIR EVENT NOMINEE IN 2016, DONALD TRUMP.

>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.

THIS SO CALLED AUTOPSY WHICH COULD TURN OUT TO BE A DEATH CERTIFICATE AND THE CORONER'S REPORT IS WRITTEN BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THE DEMOCRATS SEE NO FRAMING FOR AVERAGE REGULAR FOLK.

THEY KEEP LOOKING FOR A SILVER BULLET THAT IS GOING TO KILL THE VAMPIRE.

WHERE IS THE COHESIVE MESSAGING THAT WILL BUILD THE COLLECTIVE EFFICACY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THEY CAN'T KEEP LIVING OFF THE BLUNDERS OF THE PRESIDENT.

THAT HAS PROVED TO BE INEFFECTIVE.

AND I THINK AS THE MID TERMS GET CLOSER, IT'S POSSIBLE THINGS MAY CHANGE BUT THE DSP WILL MOST LIKELY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW TO CAPITALIZE.

I REALLY HOPE THE DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRESIDENT'S LATEST VICTIMS, CASSIDY FROM LOUISIANA, CRONIN FROM TEXAS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BAIL THEM OUT AND SAVE THEM.

POLITICS IS A STRANGE MISTRESS AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SOME EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGES HERE.

THEY DOMINATED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR 30 YEARS.

THEY HAD TWO DIFFERENT FIGURES, TWO TERM PRESIDENTS IN BILL CLINTON AND BARACK OBAMA WHO WERE ABLE TO MARSHAL LARGE SCALE SUPPORT.

OBAMA LEFT OFFICE WITH 60% APPROVAL RATING.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT BOTH BIDEN AND TRUMP AND NOW, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICAN MENTIONED MESSAGING.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE FOR SMALLER GOVERNMENT AND LESS TAXES.

THAT RESONATES WITH MOST PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD.

DEMOCRATS CAN'T COME UP WITH A COHESIVE BRAND FOR BUILDING SUPPORT AMONG LARGE SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY.

THEY LOST NATIONALLY IN 2024 AMONG WHEN IT MEN WHITE MEN AND WOMEN, RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES.

I THINK EACH RACE IN CONGRESS AND EVEN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT'S TIED TO GEOGRAPHY BUT THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT AT THEIR DOOR WHAT THEY-- AT THEIR CORE, WHAT THEY STAND FOR.

HEALTHCARE IS THERE BUT THAT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HEALTHCARE AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT MAJOR CHANGES EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PROBLEM THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DON'T AND NEED IT.

>> SO, WHAT I HEAR AND ONE OF THE POINTS THE REPORT MADE IS THAT YOU CAN'T JUST WIN ON ANTI-TRUMP.

DO YOU REALLY AGREE WITH THAT WITH 28% APPROVAL RATING OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS?

AND IF YOU AGREE THAT YOU NEED SOMETHING ELSE, AGAIN, WHAT TOPICS ARE GOING TO RESONATE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO WIN VOTERS IN CALIFORNIA AS WELL AS TEXAS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

WHAT CAN THEY DO.

>> ONE OF THE ODD PARTS OF THE REPORT IS THEY SAID THE DEMOCRATS DIDN'T GO NEGATIVE ENOUGH ON TRUMP.

THAT'S IN THERE.

THAT IS HARD TO BELIEVE IF YOU REMEMBER IT.

BUT PEOPLE ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF IT AND THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS SOURING ON TRUMP.

MAYBE THEY DON'T NEED AN EXTRA PUSH THERE.

BUT ALSO THE REPORT SHOWS THE DEMOCRATS 21293% OF THE BLACK VOTE.

WHITE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM GOT THE CREDIT BUT THAT'S NOT THE REALITY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS MOMENT, HAVE YOU TO FIND A WAY TO MESSAGE EVERYDAY FOLKS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR AND EVERY TIME I HEAR A DEMOCRAT THEY'RE EACH TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CAN'T SIT DOWN AND GET THEMSELVES TOGETHER.

HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

>> I THINK YOU CAN WIN AND BEING AGAINST TRUMP BUT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY HOLD OFFICE.

AND ONE THING THE DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T DONE POST-OBAMA IS NOMINATE POPULAR CANDIDATES.

KAMALA HARRIS THE BIG DEBATE IF SHE HAD MORE TIME SHE WOULD DO BETTER.

SHE DID BETTER THAN BIDEN DID IN THE CAMPAIGN BUT SHE WAS AT 45% APPROVAL RATING DURING HER VICE PRESIDENCY.

ANOTHER FEW MONTHS WOULD NOT GET HER UP TO 55%.

THE POLITICAL CLIMATE BUT HAVE YOU TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE POPULAR AND HAVE MASS APPEAL.

IT IS A CHALLENGE BUT IT'S NECESSARY IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM.

>> AND THEY HAVE SOME CANDIDATES.

THIS YEAR THEY HAVE CANDIDATES.

THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD REGULAR EVERYDAY FOLK.

THEY HAVE THE PEOPLE IN PLACE IF THEY WILL JUST ELEVATE THEM.

>> ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS COMING, THIS IS HOW KEN MARTIN HANDLED THIS FROM THE START.

DOES KEN MARTIN SURVIVE.

>> AGAIN, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SETTLE THIS THROUGHOUT 2027 INTO 2028 IN THE PRIMARIES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF A ROLE THE DNC IS GOING TO PLAY.

YOU DON'T BECOME DNC CHAIR TO BE POPULAR.

IT'S NOT THE WAY TO THAT OUTCOME.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE REAL AUTOPSY IS GOING TO PLAY OUT ON THE DEBATE STAGES AND WHO VOTERS SAY THEY LIKE.

AND I HOPE THE PARTY LISTENS.

>> IT'S A JOB THAT EVERYBODY WANTS WHO IS A PARTY OPERATIVE BUT NOBODY LIKES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE ANYBODY HAPPY.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF REAL POWER.

SO IT'S A BRUTAL POSITION.

>> THE DOG THAT CAUGHT THE CAR.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT MANY OF THESE WOUNDS SEEM SELF-INFLICTED.

HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KILL THIS A LONG TIME AGO AND KEPT PROMISING HE WOULD MAKE IT PUBLIC EVEN WHEN IT WASN'T MOVING AHEAD.

THIS SEEMS TO RAISE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, DOES IT NOT?

>> YEAH, AND HIS APOLOGY I THOUGHT WAS A LITTLE INFECTUAL AS WELL.

TALKING ABOUT INSINCERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT LOOKING AT A CAMERA MEANS.

>> OKAY, IT'S NOT ONLY NATIONAL POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO RETROSPECTIVES.

FORMER SYRACUSE MAYOR BEN WALSH HAS RELEASED A SELF-PUBLISHED LENGTHY RETROSPECTIVE ON HIS TIME IN OFFICE.

THE NAMED ACCOMPLISHMENTS RUN FROM REOPENING THE SLED HILL AT BURNET PARK TO MOVING THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING FROM DOWNTOWN TO READYING THE CITY FOR THE I-81 TAKEDOWN.

JOSHUA, DO YOU SEE THIS KIND OF REPORT AS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST OR MAINLY IN BEN WALSH'S SELF INTEREST?

>> I THINK IT CAN BE BOTH.

I THINK IT'S A BIT OF AN ODD STRATEGY TO WRITE WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A 45-PAGE GOOGLE DOC ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

IT IS VERY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

THERE IS A PROBLEM, OVER, IN JUST HOWEVER, IN GENERAL POLITICS AS LOCAL NEWS DECLINES AND NATIONAL POLITICS TAKES OVER.

WE MOSTLY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS; YOU CAN LOSE THE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN AN ADMINISTRATION.

AND SO I THINK IN AN A.I.

DRIVEN WORLD WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS, AND IF YOU CAN INFLUENCE THE DORP US OF WHAT IS OUT THERE AND PUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE OUT THERE AND SAY WHAT YOU DID, THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WORTH DOING.

NOW PRINTING IT OUT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS USING CAMPAIGN FUNDS LEADS ME TO THINK IT MIGHT BE MORE FOR HIM, BUT HAVING A GOOD RECORD OVER A MAYORAL TERM, I THINK, IS A PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF I HAD A STUDENT WHO WANTED TO WRITE A SENIOR THESIS ABOUT SYRACUSE MUNICIPAL POLITICS, I WOULD PROBABLY DIRECT THEM TO IT.

IT SHOULD BE A USEFUL SOURCE GOING FORWARD.

>> LUKE.

>> EVERYBODY WANTS TO TELL THEIR STORY AND AS JOSHUA POINTED OUT, IT'S AS HARD AS EVER IN THE DIGITAL WORLD.

THIS, TO ME, SEEMS LIKE SOMEBODY WHO WAS FLOATING WITH HOW TO LEAVE OFFICE IN A WAY THAT THERE IS A SCRIPT OUT THERE THAT HE LIKES, THAT HAD EXTRA CAMPAIGN FUNDS, IT SUGGESTS TO ME THAT MAYBE HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN FOR SOMETHING ELSE ANY TIME SOON BECAUSE IT WASN'T CHEAP.

SEVERAL THOUSAND SAND DOLLARS TO DO THIS.

BUT I DO THINK, FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HE DID THAT.

IN TERMS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF OBJECTIVE COLLECTIVE BLUEPRINT OF HERE WHAT IS WE TRIED TO DO, HERE IS WHERE WE SUCCEEDED.

HERE IS WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE AND GET BETTER.

MAYBE SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING ON INTERNALLY.

I DOUBT IT BUT THAT FROM A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE USEFUL.

>> JOSHUA AND LUKE MAKE EXCELLENT POINTS BUT IN THE WORLD WE LIVE, WE ARE CONDITIONED TO NOT TRUST THE MOIFSZ OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY POLITICIANS.

IS THIS A VANITY PROJECT, SELF AGGRANDIZEMENT OR FUTURE POLITICAL MOVEMENTS.

WHO ASKED FOR THIS?

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS.

PERHAPS IT'S A BLUEPRINT FOR THE CURRENT MAYOR.

BEST CASE SCENARIO.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PURPOSE WAS.

>> THAT RAISES A GOOD QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CURRENT MAYOR THINKS OF THIS BECAUSE IT IS CERTAINLY RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE HE HAS BEEN MAYOR.

>> IF I WAS THE NEXT MAYOR, I WOULD LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND IN THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT LAYS IT OUT.

HERE IS WHAT I LIKE, HERE IS WHAT I DON'T LIKE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT CONTINUITY AND CHANGE, RIGHT.

IF YOU ARE THE NEW MAYOR, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE.

BEING A MAYOR IS A TOUGH JOB.

YOU HAVE TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY.

PARTISANSHIP IN MOST CITIES HAS TO TAKE A BACK SEAT AND SO YOU ARE CONSTANTLY ASSESSING AND REASSESSING WHERE YOU ARE AT AND WHERE YOU WANT TO GO AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL REALITIES OF HOW TO GET THERE.

>> I THINK INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY IS IMPORTANT.

SOMETHING YOU CAN LOSE WHEN THERE IS A TURNOVER OF JUST LIKE HERE IS HOW IT WORKED, HERE IS HOW IT WON'T WORK.

THE BEST CASE IF THAT IT IS A GOOD SOURCE OF INSTITUTION TUITIONAL MEMORY FOR THE NEW MAYOR, THAT'S GREAT.

IF IT IS A SELF SERVING QUASI MEMOIR THAT HELPS HIM REMEMBER HIM AS MAYOR, THAT'S NOT BAT THAT BAD.

>> THE INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY POINT IS SO IMPORTANT.

IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IT TOOK ME A GOOD YEAR TO UNDERSTAND IN HAD DETAIL HOW THINGS WORK.

I CAN PICK UP WHAT IS GOING ON BUT REALLY UNTIL YOU ARE IN THE POSITIONS OF MAKING THE DECISIONS, GET A FEEL FOR THE RHYTHM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOSE A LOT WHEN THINGS TURN OVER AND IT'S HARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THAT KNOWLEDGE GOING.

>> DO YOU EXPECT ANY REBUTTAL FROM OPPOSING PARTY OR IS THIS JUST PROBABLY GOING TO DISAPPEAR AS QUICKLY AS IT CAME?

>> I THINK IF THEY WERE GOING TO RIP IT UP, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT ALREADY.

MAYBE THEY'RE HOLDING OUT.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> OKAY.

TELL YOU WHAT, WHY DON'T WE MOVE AHEAD TO OUR GRADEBOOK.

SO IT'S TIME TO GET OUT YOUR RED PENS AND SO LET'S START WITH THE FS.

AND LUKE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON TAP FOR AN F.

>> SURE.

MY F GOES TO AN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE IN ACCESS-A-RIDES AMONG ICE DETAINEES, A RECENT REPORT BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOUND THAT SUICIDES ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH AND ACCOUNT FOR 20% OF DEATHS AMONG ALL ICE DETAINEES.

>> MIKE.

>> MY F GOES TO MARCO RUBIO FOR INTELLECTUALLY KNOWING BETTER AND PUTTING HIS AMBITION AHEAD OF THE INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> COULD YOU FILL US IN A LITTLE BIT ON WHY YOU THINK THAT?

>> WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE THINGS HE SAID ABOUT THE PRESIDENT IN 2016, VERY HARSH, SOUND CRITIQUES.

I JUST WONDER HOW YOU CAN FORGET THOSE THINGS OTHER THAN BLIND AMBITION WHICH IS ALWAYS BAD FOR AMERICA, BLIND AMBITION, IN MY OPINION.

>> JOSH JOSHUA.

>> A SHARP INCREASE IN LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS REFUSING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE INTERNET ARCHIVE.

THEY SAY IT'S ABOUT A.I.

BUT REALLY IT'S ABOUT THE CONTROLLING THEIR OWN CONTENT AND IF THE INTERNET ARCHIVE DOESN'T EXIST, WE ARE GOING TO NOT ONLY HAVE LOCAL NEWS DESERTS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LOCAL HISTORY DESERTS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY, FOR THE KIND OF THINGS THAT MAKE LOCAL POLITICS RUN THAT MAKE LOCAL HISTORY INTERESTING.

SO UNFORTUNATELY LOCAL NEWS IS CONTROLLED BY SO MANY FEWER COMPANIES NOW, THE CHAINS THAT ARE NOT PARTICIPATING, RUN BY HEDGE FUNDS.

A GREAT ARTICLE BY THIS IN NEIMAN LAB.

I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVING IS LOCAL HISTORY.

>> GREAT.

AND NOW ON TO AS.

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THE WEEK LUKE.

>> TO THE NEW YORK KNICKS FOR WINNING THE EASTERN CONFERENCE.

THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1999.

THEY HAVE COMPLETED AN AMAZING OVERHAUL AFTER SEVERAL LACK LUSTER YEARS WHICH IS A REMARKABLE TRANSITION.

NEXT WEEK THEY WILL PLAY IN THE NBA FINALS AND PURSUE THEIR FIRST TITLE IN OVER 50 YEARS.

>> ANY CHANCE THEY DO WELL AGAINST EITHER SAN TON YO' OR OKLAHOMA.

>> THEY'RE COMING IN AS THE UNDERDOG BUT THAT'S NOT A BAD THING FOR NEW YORK CITY.

WE WILL SEE IF THEY CAN RISE TO THE CHALLENGE.

>> GREAT.

LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

MICHAEL.

>> I'M HAPPY FOR SPIKE LEE, BUT MY A GOES TO K-12 TEACHERS, ANOTHER YEAR COMING TO A CLOSE AND KUDOS TO MY WIFE ANDREA FOR HANGING IN THERE PREPARING HER STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> MY A GOES TO THE COMPLETION OF RENOVATIONS AT THE THEATER AT DESTINY USA.

I TAUGHT AN INTRO FRESHMAN CLASS AND IT'S CLEAR ONE OF THE FEW SOURCES OF MASS CULTURE FOR PEOPLE TODAY IS MOVIES.

IF WE CAN HAVE A HIGHER QUALITY SITUATION HERE WHERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET TOGETHER AND EXPERIENCE MASS CULTURE LIKE THIS THE THAT, THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT CAN HELP BRING US TOGETHER BETTER.

EXCITED TO SEE THAT INVESTMENT AND WHAT MOVIES COME THIS SUMMER.

>> AND WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO TO -- WHAT OTHER THINGS COULD HELP IN TERMS OF THE MASS CULTURE?

>> I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LITTLE THEATERS EVERYWHERE.

THERE ARE PLACES TO MEET AND TALK ONLINE ABOUT THINGS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN A WAY THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T QUITE FIGURED OUT.

SO SOME OF THESE OLDER FORMS OF MEDIA THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ARE STILL IMPORTANT TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

I CAN ATTEST TO THAT AFTER TEACHING THAT CLASS.

>> WELL, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, THE MOVIES HAVE BEEN DOING PRETTY WELL.

MONEY IS FLOWING BACK AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING BACK INTO GOING OUT INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING ON THEIR COUCH AND STREAMING.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS TO YOU?

>> I THINK PEOPLE CRAVE THAT KIND OF COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE, GIVES PEOPLE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS NO THE JUST NATIONAL POLITICS AS MUCH AS WE SOMEWHAT ENJOY DOING THAT.

>> WELL, THANKS.

THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT, WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM OUR VIEWERS.

PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M RICK FENNER.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER", HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.