>> COMING UP NEXT, ARE MAIL-IN BALLOTS UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

AND, HAS AMERICA GONE FROM BEING THE LEADER OF THE WORLD TO BEING A DANGER TO THE WORLD?

ALSO, COLLEGE PLAYERS EARN MILLIONS TO PLAY BALL.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE, FROM THE "IVORY TOWER".

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

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROFESSORS AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT ARE.

LUKE PERRY OF UTICA UNIVERSITY RICK FENNER, ALSO OF UTICA UNIVERSITY, AND MICHAEL TILLOTSON OF SUNY CORTLAND MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE FRONT-AND-CENTER AT A SUPREME COURT HEARING EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THE CASE INVOLVES THE QUESTION.

OF WHETHER STATES CAN COUNT MAIL-IN BALLOTS AFTER ELECTION DAY, AS LONG AS THE BALLOTS ARE POST-MARKED BY ELECTION DAY.

THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SUED THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

INSISTING THAT FEDERAL LAWS REQUIRE THAT THE STATE'S BALLOTS ARE BOTH CAST AND RECEIVED BY ELECTION DAY.

MISSISSIPPI'S DEFENSE IS THAT THE CONSTITUTION AND FEDERAL LAWS FOCUS ON CASTING BALLOTS, NOT ON COUNTING THEM.

WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE?

WHY IS THIS CASE GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION?

>> I THINK IT'S GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT IS NOT A FAN OF MAIL-IN VOTING AND AS AN EXTENSION AS THE NATIONAL PARTY LEADER TRYING DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE HAVE THIS CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE.

I THINK WHAT IS AT STAKE IS THAT A COUPLE DOZEN STATES PERMIT THIS AND HAVE FOR SOMETIME IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO MAIL IN YOUR BLOTS AS LONG AS IT IS POSTMARKED BY ELECTION DAY, YOUR BALLOTS ARE GOOD.

I DON'T SEE THE REASON TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION AT THIS POINT.

THERE IS NO PERCEIVED PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE JUSTICE GORSUCH WHO SAYS WHAT IF SOMEBODY MAILS IN THEIR BALLOT THE DAY BEFORE AND THEN THERE IS A SEX SCANDAL, THIS IS THE EXAMPLE HE RAISED IN ORAL ARGUMENTS AND THE PERSON WANTS TO RECALL THEIR BALLOT BECAUSE TECHNICALLY I GUESS YOU CAN RECALL A PIECE OF MAIL THAT YOU SENT.

AND YOU KNOW, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF MISSISSIPPI WAS STUNNED BY THE QUESTION BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED, UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN.

I UNDERSTAND EXPLORING DIFFERENT SCENARIOS BUT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THAT IS AN ISSUE NOT ONLY WITH ACCEPTING LATE BALLOTS BUT A PROBLEM WITH ANY MAIL-IN BALLOT.

IF I SENT IN MY LOTT 30 DAYS BEFORE AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE RECEIVED BY, YOU KNOW, ELECTION DAY, IF IN THE MEANTIME SOMETHING HAPPENS AND I WANT TO CHANGE MY VOTE, CAN I DO IT THEN?

SO I THINK LUKE IS OBJECTIONS, JUSTICE JACKSON, WHO ACTUALLY SUPPORTS MAIL-IN BALLOTS WONDERED WHETHER CONGRESS HAS CLEARLY ESTABLISHED WHAT CONSTITUTES ELECTION DAY, RIGHT?

WHEN DOES IT BEGIN AND WHEN DOES IT END?

MICHAEL, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK IN REALITY, DOZENS OF COUNTRIES ALLOW SOME OR ALL VOTERS TO VOTE BY MAIL.

AND NOBODY IN THOSE COUNTRIES OR PLACES ARE TALKING ABOUT MAIL-IN VOTING FRAUD LIKE THIS ADMINISTRATION.

IT WASN'T UNTIL 2020 THAT MANY AMERICANS HAD EVEN HEARD OF MAIL-IN VOTING FRAUD TO THE DEGREE THAT WE DO NOW.

GOPT, WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT IT, IT MAKES IT SOUNDS LIKE THEIR CAUSE IS VIRTUOUS.

IT APPEARS TO ME ONLY PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY HAVE LOST ARE GOING TO LOSE REDUCE THE VOTING POPULATION.

HOW MANY ELECTION DENIERS ARE STILL IN JAIL.

HOW MANY COURT CASES HAVE BEEN LOST.

MY LAST COUNT IS 60 OR SO.

IT IS UNCLEAR HOW ANYBODY BUYS INTO THIS SCHEME OF WIDESPREAD ELECTION FRAUD UNLESS THEIR GOOSE IS COOKED AND THEY HAVE NO OTHER PATH FORWARD.

CASE IN POINT, SHERIFF OF CALIFORNIA RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR WHO SEIZED 2025 ELECTION BALLOTS BECAUSE HE THINKS HE HAS NO PATH FORWARD.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO TERMS, THEY HAVE NO BOTTOM.

IT'S SAD BUT IT'S ALSO VERY DANGEROUS AT THE SAME TIME FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> PART OF IT IS THE CHEATING ARGUMENT THAT LUKE MENTIONED AND WHAT ELON MUSK AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE REPEATEDLY REFERRED TO AS BACK IN 2020, THERE WERE, I THINK 1.8 MILLION BALLOTS THAT WENT OUT AND THEN 2.1 MILLION BALLOTS CAME IN BECAUSE THEY'RE MIXING UP THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION BALLOTS, RIGHT?

BUT, SO DO YOU AGREE, LUKE, THE MOTIVE HERE IS SIMPLY ABOUT WINNING ELECTIONS WHETHER THERE IS A PROBLEM OR NOT?

>> I THINK IT'S MOSTLY STRATEGIC.

BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES ARE TRYING TO ENHANCE THEIR CHANCES TO WIN THE ELECTIONS.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE MISCALCULATING A BIT VIA TRUMP'S LEAD.

THE REALITY IS MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE IS HELPFUL IN STATES WHERE YOU OUTNUMBER YOUR OPPOSING PARTY, RIGHT?

SO IN TEXAS, FOR INSTANCE, THIS ISN'T GOING TO HELP REPUBLICANS.

BUT WHAT PEOPLE LIKE TRUMP SEE IS NATIONALLY THERE IS THE IDEA THAT IF YOU MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE, THAT'S GOING TO HELP REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE STATE WE ARE LOOKING AT.

>> LUKE, YOU LIVED IN OREGON FOR A WHILE.

AND THAT'S 100% MAIL-IN VOTING.

WAS THERE TALK OF FRAUD WHEN YOU WERE LIVING THERE?

>> NO, IT WAS VERY NATURAL.

NOBODY HAD CONCERNSES ABOUT FRAUD WHEN I LIVED IN OREGON AND VOTED.

EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC I WAS A CANDIDATE IN THE LOCAL ELECTION AND IT WAS VOTING BY MAIL PT.

AND NO CONCERNS ABOUT FRAUD.

THE FACTS ARE AND JOURNALISTS HAVE POLITICAL SCIENTISTS HAVE DOCUMENTED THIS, 99.9% APPROXIMATELY OF THE BALLOTS CAST ARE NOT FRAUDULENT AND THE TIMES IT DOES HAPPEN, IT'S USUALLY AN ERROR.

NOT A BIG GRAND CONSPIRACY WHERE LARGE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MESS WITH OUR ELECTIONS.

>> THIS IS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG BECAUSE REMEMBER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING IN PERSON.

THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PASSPORT OR A LICENSE.

SO I REALLY THINK WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VOTES THAT MIGHT BE DEMOCRATIC AND THE DEMOCRATS, AS LUKE SAID, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE SAME MOTIVES THERE.

BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WELL, I MEAN, THE THING IS, CERTAIN GROUPS ARE GOING TO BE MORE IMPACTED THAN OTHERS, CORRECT?

AND SO THE PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THERE SHOULD BE EXCEPTIONS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE MILITARY, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE ILL.

DOES THAT HELP TO MITIGATE THE POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THIS?

YOU ARE SMILING LUKE.

>> IT MAKES IT INCO HESHT.

-- INCOHERENT.

YES, IS IT REASONABLE SERVICE PEOPLE OVERSEAS COULD HAVE EXTRA TIME TO HAVE THEIR BALLOT BE COUNTED IN YES BUT WHY IS IT ANY LESS REASONABLE FOR US IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WHY DRAW THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE?

AND IF WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE BACK END, WHAT ABOUT THE FRONT END.

NOBODY WANTS TO GET RID OF EARLY VOTING.

EVERYBODY THINKS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA AND MAKES IT MORE CONVENIENT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT COHERENCE IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BACK END.

THIS PARTICULAR LAW IN MISSISSIPPI ALLOWS A FIVE-DAY GRACE PERIOD.

ONE OF THE JUSTICES SAID WELL, WHERE DOES IT END?

WHAT STOPS THE STATE FROM SAYING 10 DAYS AFTER, 15 DAYS AFTER?

>> I THINK YOU CAN MAKE A COMPELLING CASE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO HAS WON AN ELECTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN WAS ONLY ABOUT THAT, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CHALLENGE TO MISSISSIPPI AND JUST SAY LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND OUT ABSENTEE BALLOTS EARLIER SO THAT EVERYONE CAN GET IT THERE.

BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THE I.R.S.

, THEY WILL ACCEPT TAX RETURNS THAT ARE POSTMARKED BY APRIL 15 EVEN IF THEY COME AFTER THAT DATE.

SO THERE IS PRECEDENT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTING LATE THINGS AND USING THE POSTMARKED DATE.

>> BUT WITH THE I.R.S.

WE ARE GIVING OUR MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT, RIGHTS?

NOT TELLING THE GOVERNMENT WHAT TO DO.

WELL, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND IF THE 32 STATES WHO HAVE THESE SORTS OF LAWS IN PLACE WILL HAVE TO REGROUP.

MOVING ON NOW TO THE WORLD STAGE.

A RECENT OPINION PIECE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ARGUES THAT.

AMERICA IS NO LONGER LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD AND THAT IT'S BECOME, INSTEAD, A QUOTE “DANGEROUS NATION” END QUOTE.

THE WRITER, CARLOS LOZADA, A PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING JOURNALIST.

ESSENTIALLY CLAIMS THAT THE UNITED STATES IS.

THROWING ITS WEIGHT AROUND IN PLACES LIKE VENEZUELA, THE MIDDLE EAST, GREENLAND AND POSSIBLY CUBA NEXT.

THE WAY LOZADA PUTS IT, U.S.

LEADERSHIP HAS GONE.

FROM PERSUASION TO BULLYING.

AND FROM NURTURING ALLIANCES TO WRECKING THEM.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY DAMNING INDICTMENT.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO LOOK AT IT.

I COME FROM A RACE OF PEOPLE, JUST LIKE YOU DO, NINA, WHO GAVE THIS PEOPLE 246 YEARS OF UNSALARIED LABOR.

I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO ADVANCING THE AMERICAN IDEAL.

MY UNCLE AND COUSIN WERE MARINES.

MY GREAT UNCLE SERVED IN THE NAVY AND ARMY DRAFTED IN WORLD WAR II.

I DON'T THINK ANY REASONABLE RATIONAL PERSON WANTS THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO FAIL BECAUSE WHEN THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT FAILS, AMERICANS FAIL.

HOWEVER,... IF YOU ENGAGE-- IF YOU GAUGE A NATION BY THE STABILITY OF ITS INSTITUTIONS LIKE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION JUDICIARY AND IF YOU METRIC A NATION BASED ON STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THESE LONG-TERM STANDING ALLIANCE AND IF YOU JUDGE A NATION BY ITS AMOUNT OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DEBT, IF YOU EXAMINE THE NATIONAL TEMPERAMENT OF AMERICA AT THIS TIME, IT IS SAFE TO POSTULATE THAT AMERICAN IS NOT JUST HEADING TOWARDS BUT IT IS IN DECLINE.

IT APPEARS EVERYONE KNOWS IT EXECS SEPTEMBER THE WHITE HOUSE WHO PRESENTS US WITH THIS WHOLEHEARTED VERBOSE TESTOSTERONE LACED HYPERBOLIC RHETORIC AND THEY THINK THAT'S ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO QUELL THE CONCERNS OF AMERICA.

WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO US NOW IS INSULTING TO THE INTELLIGENCE OF AMERICANS OF MANY LEVELS.

>> IF YOU ACCEPT THE DECLINE COMMENTS THAT MICHAEL WAS TALKING ABOUT, LUKE, PART OF THE ARGUMENT FOR PULLING BACK ON THE WORLD STAGE IS THAT AMERICA HAS GOT ITS OWN PROBLEMS; THAT THERE IS A TRADE IMBALANCE, THAT SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE AND COLLECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS.

IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE WAY IN WHICH THIS ADMINISTRATION IS APPROACHING INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS?

>> I THINK ALL PRESIDENTS HAVE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEAL WITH DOMESTIC CHALLENGES AND INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGES.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION IS THE ADOPTION OF THE PROACTIVE MILITARY APPROACH IN TRYING TO USE AMERICA'S POWER AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO SOME DEGREE.

WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH GEORGE W. BUSH AND IRAQ.

THE DIFFERENCE I SEE IS THAT AT LEAST WITH THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, THERE WAS SOME OTHER PRINCIPLED ARGUMENT PUT FORTH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PURSUING AMERICAN SECURITY INTERESTS, IN TRYING TO RESHAPE-- USING U.S.

MILITARY TO RESHAPE THE WORLD SPECIFICALLY IN A MORE DEMOCRATIC DIRECTION.

SO MY CONCERN IS THAT PROACTIVE MILITARY APPROACH LEADS TO A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND PROBLEMS AND CLEARLY IT IS NOT GOING SMOOTHLY IN IRAN AND IF WE ARE JUST USING POWER TO ENHANCE OUR INTEREST FOR POWER SAKE WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLE BEHIND IT, THAT IS PROBLEMATIC FOR U.S.

LEADERSHIP.

>> WHEN I HEAR AMERICA FIRST, WHAT I REALLY KIND OF HEAR WHEN YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES IS AMERICA ALONE, THINKS THAT WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT FLYNN ELSE.

I MEAN-- WITHOUT ANYONE ELSE.

WHAT WE ARE DOING ON ANY GIVEN DAY IS SAYING THAT OUR FRIENDS ARE NO LONGER OUR FRIENDS.

OUR ENEMIES MAYBE NOW THEY'RE MORE OUR FRIENDS AND SO THIS INCONSISTENCY, I THINK, IS GOING TO BE VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR US GOING FORWARD.

I DON'T THINK, IF YOU LOOK AT MOST OF THE PROBLEMS FACING THE WORLD TODAY, WE NEED MORE COOPERATION, NOT LESS.

AND WE ARE BURNING A LOT OF BRIDGES.

I'M HOPING THAT THEY'RE TIED TO TRUMP AND THAT WOULD MEAN THEY COULD BE EASILY REVERSED.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR IF I'M BEING NAIVE THERE.

BUT I THINK WE ARE LOSING A REPUTATION.

WE ARE ACTING VERY CAPRICIOUSLY AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE HURT BY THAT.

>> OKAY, BUT YET THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT HE HAS EITHER ENDED AT LEAST EIGHT WARS OR NEGOTIATED WITHIN THAT NUMBER.

COULD I JUST FINISH THE QUESTION.

I ACTUALLY HAVE A LIST HERE THAT I WON'T GO THROUGH, BUT, OKAY, AND CEASE FIRE AGREEMENTS.

SO LET'S SAY THAT HE DIDN'T.

LET'S SAY HALF HE DID AND HALF HE DIDN'T.

ISN'T THE FACT THAT HE IS NEGOTIATING PEACE ACROSS THE WORLD WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT?

>> IT'S FASCINATING TO WATCH THIS GUY, RIGHT?

HE INSULTS HIS ALLIES AND SAYS THEY'RE WORTHLESS AND WE DON'T NEED THEM AND THEN BEGS THEM FOR HELP AND THEN THEY WON'T HELP AND HE SAYS THEY'RE NOT MY ALLIES IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I'M TAKING MY BALL AND GOING HOME.

THE SHORT SIGHTEDNESS OF THIS TRTION IS GOING TO HAUNT THEM AND THE G.O.P.

BUT ON THE ONE HAND HE HAS THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DOMINANCE AND THAT MACHISMO AND VERBOSENESS I THINK IS GOING TO COST NOT JUST THE G.O.P.

BUT IT GOINGS COST AMERICA.

>> AND YET HE MAY HAVE ALL OF THAT, BUT LUKE, WE SAW AN OP-ED THAT WAS WRITTEN BY THE SON OF THE FORMER SHAH OF IRAN THANKING TRUMP.

AND SOME FOLKS IN IRAN ARE THANKING TRUMP FOR STEPPING IN AND DOING SOMETHING.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I PUT BEHIND THAT PARTICULAR OP-ED.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT PERSON LIVES IN IRAN AND I REALLY FEEL FOR THE ROIB PEOPLE BOTH IRANIAN PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE MURDER OF THE REGIME THAT RULES THEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESTRUCTION THAT THE U.S.

HAS BEEN PART OF.

AND I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TEND TO THINK VERY LINEARLY ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY AND WHERE IT'S GOING AND FOR MY VIEW AND PARTY POLITICS, IT'S A BACK AND FORTH.

WHEN WE THINK OF FOREIGN POLICY, I MENTIONED GEORGE W. BUSH AND BARACK OBAMA HAD A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND DONALD TRUMP AND THEN JOE BIDEN AND NOW TRUMP IS GOING BACK IN A MORE CONSERVATIVE DIRECTION.

NOW THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THE SENSE THAT THERE IS A NATIONALIST MOVEMENT OF CONSERVATIVE PARTIES THAT TRUMP IS LEADING VICTOR ORBAN WHO IS FACING A TOUGH REELECTION IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

I'M NOT DISCOUNTING THERE ARE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS BUT I ALSO THINK THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND FLUIDITY PARTICULARLY IN A DEEPLY DIVIDED COUNTRY LIKE WE HAVE NOW AND THAT LEADS TO BACK AND FORTH WITH FOREIGN POLICY.

>> YEAH, AND TO LUKE'S POINT, RICK, JUST BRIEFLY, DO YOU THINK THAT THE U.S.

SNAPS BACK AFTER TRUMP AS HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE 2026 AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN 2028.

IS VANCE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT?

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I'M NOT SEEING A QUICK SNAP BACK.

IF IT'S A DEMOCRAT, THEN PERHAPS THERE WILL BE.

>> WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE DEBT.

THE DEBT IS GOING TO HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON EVERYTHING.

>> THAT $39 TRILLION IS GOING TO BE THERE AND PROBABLY BIGGER.

TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE.

A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER IN TEXAS HAS A. NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS DEAL THAT IS VALUED AT OVER $6.5 MILLION DOLLARS.

IT WAS AT ALMOST $4 MILLION WHEN HE WAS JUST A FRESHMAN.

THIS IS ALL THANKS TO A SERIES OF LAWSUITS AND A CHANGE IN NCAA RULES THAT ALLOW STUDENT-ATHLETES TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF THEIR NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

BUT SOME, INCLUDING PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAY THAT N-I-L, AS IT'S CALLED, IS RUINING COLLEGE SPORTS.

TURNING IT INTO THE WILD, WILD WEST.

THEY ALSO SAY THAT REFORM IS BADLY NEEDED.

RICK, I'M NOT SO MUCH A SPORTS FAN, SO WALK ME THROUGH IT.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE AT ISSUE HERE?

>> FIRST, BIG ISSUE IS MONEY.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REVENUE THAT FLOWS TO THE MAJOR SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.

BIG PROGRAMS LIKE TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, HAVE REVENUE OVER $100 MILLION.

AND UNTIL RECENTLY, PLAYERS WERE LIMITED IN THEIR COMPENSATION TO THE VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS.

THEN NIL WAS ALLOWED.

NOW THAT WAS ORIGINALLY TO BE PAID BY-- NONE EVER THAT MONEY CAME FROM THE SCHOOLS MONEY.

IT WAS ALL FROM OUTSIDE DOING COMMERCIALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FOR ENTICEMENTS FOR STUDENTS TO GO TO A CERTAIN INSTITUTION OR PERFORMANCE.

BUT WE KNOW THAT WAS ALL A SHAM AND THAT ENTIRELY HAPPENED.

NOW WE'VE GONE TO A SITUATION WHERE SCHOOLS ARE ALLOWED TO SHARE SOME OF THE REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MONEY.

SO NOW UP TO $20 MILLION.

SO NOW WHAT WE ARE GETTING IS A SITUATION WHERE PLAYERS ARE FINALLY GETTING SOME DOLLARS THAT THEY HAVE HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO THE COFFERS OF THE INSTITUTIONS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF PLAYERS, HOW LONG THEY CAN STAY AND PLAY.

AND SO THIS IS ALL BEING PLAYED OUT IN THE COURTS.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME REFORM THERE.

LOVE TO HEAR WHAT MY COLLEAGUES THINK.

>> WHAT SHOULD THOSE REFORMS-- I WANT TO ASK YOU.

YOU LAID OUT THE PROBLEM.

WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS?

>> TO ME, IT IS CLEAR THAT EMISSIONED.

I THINK THE SAME THING SHOULD BE DONE HERE AS WELL.

>> MY QAL.

>> I'M COMPLETELY WETTED TO THE CORE MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY, RIGHT?

AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NIL AND GAMBLING IS PROBLEMATIC FOR ME.

I DID UNDERGRAD WORK IN BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

MY FAVORITE PROFESSOR WROTE A BOOK THAT YOU MAY KNOW BEER AND CIRCUS WHEN HE CRITIQUED THE WIN AT ALL COST COLLEGE AT-- ATTITUDE BACK IN THE DAY AND THE MONEY WAS NOT USED PROPERLY.

HE WAS RUN OUT ON THE RAIL.

HE WAS GETTING DEATH THREATS.

FINISHED HIS CAREER AT U.C.

BERKELEY BUT I THINK THE PROBLEMATIC FOR ME IS THE AFFECTS ON THE CORE MISSION.

HOW DO WE GET A GUY TO THINK CRITICALLY, WRITE EFFECTIVELY AND PRESENT IDEAS AUTHORITATIVELY WHEN THEY HAVE A 100,000 DOLLAR CAR PARKED IN THE STUDENT PARKING LOT.

HOW DO WE ENGAGE THE STUDENT IN THAT LEVEL?

IT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR ME AS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR BECAUSE HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE IN THAT CORE MISSION?

I KNOW I'M A LABORER IN THE KNOWLEDGE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

I GET THAT, RIGHT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T-- I CAN'T STOP ANY OF THIS.

I KNOW THAT BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO LIKE IT EITHER.

>> LUKE?

>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES ARE STUDENT ATHLETES.

MOST YOUNG ADULTS WHO PLAY COLLEGE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ARE TRULY STUDENT LEASTS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PROS.

THEY'RE GOOD AT A SPORT, THEY ENJOY DOING IT, ENRICHES THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DOING THEIR STUDIES, PLAYING SPORTS AND FULLY INTEND TO GRADUATE.

THEN THERE IS AN ELITE SLICE OF ATHLETES WHO HAPPEN TO BE STUDENTS TEMPORARILY, WHO, AS RICK SAID, ARE ESSENTIALLY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.

FOR YEARS THEY YOUNG ADULTS WERE PRODUCING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> AND GETTING NOTHING.

>> AND THEY WERE GETTING FLUNG.

SO I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THEY'RE GETTING COMPENSATED AS RICK SAID, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH REGULATION TO SORT THIS OUT AND RAISES QUESTIONS, WHO SHOULD DEVELOP THAT REGULATION.

I'M SKEPTICAL CONGRESS CAN DO A GOOD JOB.

I'M SKEPTICAL A PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER CAN IS GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB BUT THERE HAS TO BE MORE REGULATION IN TERMS OF NAVIGATING THIS BUT WHAT EXACTLY THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHO DOES IT IS TOUGH.

>> IT'S CLEAR THESE ARE NOT STUDENTS.

30% OF DIVISION 1 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS ENTERED THE PORTAL LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO THEIR ACADEMIC ADVISERS AND ASKING HOW MANY OF MY CREDITS ARE GOING TO TRANSFER.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PLAY FOOTBALL.

THEY WANT TO EARN MONEY.

I THINK FIRST OF ALL, IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE HAVING THEM AS STUDENTS, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT BOTH THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS, IN THEIR REFORM PROPOSALS ARE CLEARLY SAYING IS NOT TRUE.

>> NOT TO INTERRUPT.

DOES THAT MEAN THEY SHOULD HAVE UNLIMITED ELIGIBILITY THEN?

IF THEY'RE NOT REALLY STUDENTS... >> I THINK THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS EMPLOYEES.

I THINK WE SHOULD GET THIS AWAY FROM THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION AND SO THEY SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE STUDENTS.

THEY SHOULD BE EMPLOYEES.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

>> COME ON NOW.

>> I UNDERSTAND WE SHOULD GO TO THE EUROPEAN MODEL WHICH, IN EUROPE THEY DON'T HAVE THIS IN THE COLLEGES.

THEY HAVE IT IN THE COMMUNITIES.

I KNOW THAT'S NAIVE.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IF THEY WERE EMPLOYEES, THEN THAT WOULD AT LEAST LEAD TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THERE WOULD YOU AT LEAST-- >> BUT EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE TO EARN MONEY?

>> YES.

>> AND PROVIDING A SERVICE TO THE COLLEGE.

>> FOR THE UNIVERSITY.

I MEAN THE REASON THIS IS SO LUCRATIVE AND BOOSTERS PAY ALL THIS MONEY IS BECAUSE IT IS BRINGING IN A TON OF MONEY TO THE UNIVERSITY.

IT'S WEIRD TO HAVE SOMEONE ELIGIBLE INDEFINITELY AND NOT REALLY BEING BE A STUDENT BUT I AGREE WITH RICK.

>> THEY'RE CUTTING PROGRAMS LEFT AND RIGHT SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING.

>> SOME SPORTS PROGRAMS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF NIL RIGHT?

>> PARTICULARLY LESS LUCRATIVE SPORTS AND WOMEN SPORTS, THAT IS A PROBLEM.

I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE PROTECTION IN PLACE FOR THAT.

>> WE NEED TO SEPARATE THESE TWO: COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL MEN'S AND WOMEN ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ANIMALS.

>> FOOTBALL GETS MOST OF THE MONEY AND THEY TAKE MOST OF THE HITS BUT WHAT DO I KNOW.

IT'S TIME FOR THE GRADEBOOKS.

>> MY F GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THIS WEEK THEY CUT 50 PROJECTS WORTH $350 MILLION THAT HELP UNDER REPRESENTED FARMERS ACCESS FARMLAND INCLUDING BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND VETERAN FARMERS.

>> RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO CHAD BIANCO WHICH MICHAEL MENTIONED EARLIER, SHERIFF OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY AND CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.

HE SEIZED 650,000 BALLOTS FROM THE 2025 STATEWIDE ELECTION CLAIMING POSSIBLE FRAUD WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CLAIMS.

BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS LABELED THIS A POLITICAL STUNT AIMED AT GARNERING SUPPORT FROM TRUMP AND FURTHER UNDERLINE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTORAL PROGRESS MY F GOES TO ANY AND ALL THINGS RELATED TO THIS VERY UNNECESSARY IRAN WAR.

>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO SOME GOOD NEWS AND WE'LL START AGAIN WITH YOU, LARGE MOUTH BASSING LUKE, YOUR A.

>> META LIABLE FOR NEGLIGENT HARM TOWARDS MINORS OPERATING FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

A STORY WE TALKED ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE PROGRAM.

SORT OF UNPRECEDENTED SET OF COURT CONSIDERATIONS.

AND META LOST TWO COURT RULINGS THIS WEEK AND HAVE TO PAY $380 MILLION IN DAMAGES.

>> RICK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW I JUST, YOU KNOW, SAID SOME VERY CRITICAL COMMENTS ABOUT COLLEGE SPORTS AND ALL, BUT NOW MY A IS GOING TO GO TO JERRY McNAMARA HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE PROGRAM HAS HAD SOME LEAN YEARS LATELY BUT McNAMARA A MEMBER OF THE 2003 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, MEMBER OF THE COACHING STAFF FOR 15 YEARS, AND MOST RECENTLY COACHED AT SIE FL NA WHICH TOOK DUKE TO THE WIRE IN THIS GAME, HE IS THE PERFECT PERSON TO PROVIDE ORANGE FANS, INCLUDING MYSELF, WITH HOPE AND OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE.

>> WE ARE CERTAINLY ALL CHEERING FOR HIM.

MICHAEL.

>> MY A GOES TO K-12 TEACHERS WHO ARE HEADING INTO SPRING BREAK WHO DESERVE A BREAK PARTICULARLY IF THE AGE OF LAYOFFS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

KUDOS TO ALL TEACHERS K-12.

>> YES, I ECHO THAT.

LUKE, CAN I GO BACK TO YOUR F CONCERNING THE JURY VERDICT, WHICH WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE.

ALL RIGHT META HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS GOING TO LAY OFF HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES.

DO YOU THIS I THEY'RE BRACING FOR MORE OF THESE LAWSUITS TO GO AGAINST THEM.

>> THEY MADE A STRATEGIC DECISION NOT TO SETTLE UNLIKE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD WIN.

THEY SAID THEY WILL APPEAL.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY DO.

THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL.

CONGRESS IS TALKING ABOUT ACTION TO REIGN IN PROTECTING MINORS.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE-FOR-YOU TONIGHT IN THE STUDIO.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS WE HAVE DISCUSSED TONIGHT PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE.

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

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