1
00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:04,133
>> Major funding for "Reporters

2
00:00:04,133 --> 00:00:04,766
Roundtable" with David Cruz is

3
00:00:04,766 --> 00:00:05,833
provided by RWJBarnabas Health,

4
00:00:05,833 --> 00:00:10,066
let's be healthy together.

5
00:00:10,066 --> 00:00:10,500
♪

6
00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:29,633
David: It is true, elections

7
00:00:29,633 --> 00:00:30,433
have consequences, but have you

8
00:00:30,433 --> 00:00:31,033
seen these cabinet picks?

9
00:00:31,033 --> 00:00:34,700
It is "Reporters Roundtable."

10
00:00:34,700 --> 00:00:36,200
I'm David Cruz.

11
00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,333
Colleen O'Dea is the senior

12
00:00:39,333 --> 00:00:40,833
writer and projects editor at NJ

13
00:00:40,833 --> 00:00:41,200
Spotlight News.

14
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:47,133
Mr. Gibson is a reporter.

15
00:00:47,133 --> 00:00:50,700
And Matt Friedman is the author

16
00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:51,333
of "the New Jersey playbook."

17
00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:53,600
We will hear from the panel and

18
00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,533
a little bit, but let's begin

19
00:00:56,533 --> 00:00:58,633
today with the aftermath of last

20
00:00:58,633 --> 00:00:59,066
week's elections.

21
00:00:59,066 --> 00:01:01,500
What happened, what is happening

22
00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:02,033
and what is happening?

23
00:01:02,033 --> 00:01:06,266
We have a professor of political

24
00:01:06,266 --> 00:01:07,300
science at Rutgers University

25
00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:09,566
and a senior scholar.

26
00:01:09,566 --> 00:01:13,666
We are joined now by the

27
00:01:13,666 --> 00:01:13,933
professor.

28
00:01:13,933 --> 00:01:14,900
Welcome back.

29
00:01:14,900 --> 00:01:15,266
Good to see you.

30
00:01:15,266 --> 00:01:18,733
Guest: Always good to see you,

31
00:01:18,733 --> 00:01:19,033
how are you?

32
00:01:19,033 --> 00:01:20,466
David: I'm hanging in there.

33
00:01:20,466 --> 00:01:22,333
These are special days.

34
00:01:22,333 --> 00:01:26,100
Can we start with the que paso?

35
00:01:26,100 --> 00:01:29,100
What happened, was it message,

36
00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:30,200
messenger?

37
00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,333
Guest: I feel like we should

38
00:01:33,333 --> 00:01:34,966
have on a Tara Reid or instead

39
00:01:34,966 --> 00:01:41,033
of a political -- tarot reader

40
00:01:41,033 --> 00:01:42,000
instead of a political

41
00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:42,266
professor.

42
00:01:42,266 --> 00:01:45,300
The polls, Democrats were

43
00:01:45,300 --> 00:01:45,900
mistaken in their belief that

44
00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:47,900
somehow the American electorate

45
00:01:47,900 --> 00:01:52,533
was ready to reject Donald

46
00:01:52,533 --> 00:01:54,100
Trump a second time, and in

47
00:01:54,100 --> 00:01:58,366
hindsight, the favorables for

48
00:01:58,366 --> 00:02:01,200
the Biden administration or the

49
00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:01,766
unfavorable's were two

50
00:02:01,766 --> 00:02:05,300
overweight -- too overwhelming

51
00:02:05,300 --> 00:02:06,033
to overcome.

52
00:02:06,033 --> 00:02:07,533
More significantly is this

53
00:02:07,533 --> 00:02:09,700
reality that the Trump

54
00:02:09,700 --> 00:02:13,700
phenomenon is really a movement

55
00:02:13,700 --> 00:02:16,500
that has altered potentially for

56
00:02:16,500 --> 00:02:18,033
some time but certainly for the

57
00:02:18,033 --> 00:02:19,533
time being altered of the way

58
00:02:19,533 --> 00:02:21,200
the American electorate is

59
00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,833
participating and showing its

60
00:02:24,833 --> 00:02:25,133
displeasure.

61
00:02:25,133 --> 00:02:26,166
That is something that Democrats

62
00:02:26,166 --> 00:02:28,133
are going to have to deal with,

63
00:02:28,133 --> 00:02:28,666
at least for the immediate

64
00:02:28,666 --> 00:02:28,900
future.

65
00:02:28,900 --> 00:02:34,300
David: So a lot of chatting

66
00:02:34,300 --> 00:02:35,900
between and among Democrats over

67
00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:37,900
who was to blame.

68
00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:40,166
I mean, we heard about the Black

69
00:02:40,166 --> 00:02:44,900
male exodus, but 70% of Black

70
00:02:44,900 --> 00:02:47,066
men voted for Harris.

71
00:02:47,066 --> 00:02:47,666
Is it time for a conversation

72
00:02:47,666 --> 00:02:49,966
with white women in the

73
00:02:49,966 --> 00:02:50,366
Democratic Party?

74
00:02:50,366 --> 00:02:57,833
Guest: I've been saying that,

75
00:02:57,833 --> 00:03:00,966
and a lot of my clients have

76
00:03:00,966 --> 00:03:02,166
talked about that effect.

77
00:03:02,166 --> 00:03:04,900
It is hard to go to Black men

78
00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:06,366
and barbershops, not that I want

79
00:03:06,366 --> 00:03:08,500
to go to barbershops these days.

80
00:03:08,500 --> 00:03:09,366
That's besides the point.

81
00:03:09,366 --> 00:03:12,266
It is hard to go up to Black men

82
00:03:12,266 --> 00:03:13,533
in barbershops, and they have

83
00:03:13,533 --> 00:03:15,300
essentially voted the same way

84
00:03:15,300 --> 00:03:15,933
the past elections with slight

85
00:03:15,933 --> 00:03:16,233
slippage.

86
00:03:16,233 --> 00:03:18,966
And then look at white women

87
00:03:18,966 --> 00:03:20,233
around the country, who have

88
00:03:20,233 --> 00:03:22,133
continue to support the majority

89
00:03:22,133 --> 00:03:23,766
of Donald Trump.

90
00:03:23,766 --> 00:03:25,666
That is just the political

91
00:03:25,666 --> 00:03:26,300
reality that Democrats are going

92
00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:28,900
to have to face, and that is a

93
00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:29,233
conversation.

94
00:03:29,233 --> 00:03:31,266
I'm not so sure Democrats would

95
00:03:31,266 --> 00:03:34,700
like to have it's because

96
00:03:34,700 --> 00:03:35,266
they seem to be running away

97
00:03:35,266 --> 00:03:36,300
from that and are far more

98
00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:38,066
comfortable pointing a finger at

99
00:03:38,066 --> 00:03:38,833
Black men.

100
00:03:38,833 --> 00:03:42,300
David: As a Black friend said to

101
00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:43,533
me the other day, it was "you

102
00:03:43,533 --> 00:03:46,533
people," meaning Latinos, who

103
00:03:46,533 --> 00:03:47,633
went for Trump.

104
00:03:47,633 --> 00:03:52,433
Guest: Look, I think this comes

105
00:03:52,433 --> 00:03:54,133
down to a basic point, and that

106
00:03:54,133 --> 00:03:56,133
is you have to offer something

107
00:03:56,133 --> 00:03:57,966
beyond -- I'm calling it a

108
00:03:57,966 --> 00:04:02,966
comma, a comma beyond the idea

109
00:04:02,966 --> 00:04:04,566
of we are not going back.

110
00:04:04,566 --> 00:04:05,133
You have to offer something

111
00:04:05,133 --> 00:04:07,900
affirmative.

112
00:04:07,900 --> 00:04:09,166
And working-class people, be

113
00:04:09,166 --> 00:04:10,966
they Latino, African-American,

114
00:04:10,966 --> 00:04:13,300
white working-class, whatever

115
00:04:13,300 --> 00:04:13,966
label you put on it, you have to

116
00:04:13,966 --> 00:04:16,366
offer something, a comma, not

117
00:04:16,366 --> 00:04:19,766
a period of we are not going

118
00:04:19,766 --> 00:04:20,933
back, and that was missing from

119
00:04:20,933 --> 00:04:21,366
the Harris campaign.

120
00:04:21,366 --> 00:04:25,533
In the Latino or Hispanic

121
00:04:25,533 --> 00:04:29,100
population, such as it is and

122
00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:29,700
diverse as it is across the

123
00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:31,700
country, nevertheless, we are

124
00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:34,866
looking for more of a

125
00:04:34,866 --> 00:04:35,566
transformation from what we have

126
00:04:35,566 --> 00:04:37,133
been giving over the last four

127
00:04:37,133 --> 00:04:37,400
years.

128
00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,966
That is not to knock with the

129
00:04:40,966 --> 00:04:41,433
Biden administration

130
00:04:41,433 --> 00:04:44,233
accomplished, but if people are

131
00:04:44,233 --> 00:04:45,533
not feeling it, you have to have

132
00:04:45,533 --> 00:04:46,166
a message that makes them feel

133
00:04:46,166 --> 00:04:46,366
it.

134
00:04:46,366 --> 00:04:48,300
David: You have to have it in

135
00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:48,733
the gut.

136
00:04:48,733 --> 00:04:54,000
This cabinet, meanwhile,

137
00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:54,866
Secretary Of State, Marco Rubio,

138
00:04:54,866 --> 00:04:56,200
Attorney General, Matt Gaetz?

139
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:57,700
Tulsi Gabbard heading up the

140
00:04:57,700 --> 00:04:57,866
CIA?

141
00:04:57,866 --> 00:05:01,366
I mean, it feels like The

142
00:05:01,366 --> 00:05:05,633
Apprentice: White House edition.

143
00:05:05,633 --> 00:05:08,633
Guest: It is a bit of a clown

144
00:05:08,633 --> 00:05:12,533
car kind of scenario, if you

145
00:05:12,533 --> 00:05:13,200
have been to the circus and you

146
00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:14,466
see them get out one after the

147
00:05:14,466 --> 00:05:17,366
other, but that kind of -- you

148
00:05:17,366 --> 00:05:20,733
know, I don't know, analysis,

149
00:05:20,733 --> 00:05:24,900
let's call it that, belies a

150
00:05:24,900 --> 00:05:25,800
fundamental point Democrats need

151
00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:26,066
to learn.

152
00:05:26,066 --> 00:05:27,800
That is Republicans go for what

153
00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:28,166
they want.

154
00:05:28,166 --> 00:05:30,033
You know?

155
00:05:30,033 --> 00:05:32,300
Trump certainly goes for what he

156
00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:32,500
wants.

157
00:05:32,500 --> 00:05:36,133
He is not fully around, offering

158
00:05:36,133 --> 00:05:36,633
up some centrist vision.

159
00:05:36,633 --> 00:05:40,600
He is telling you, I have a

160
00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:46,033
clear and distinguished and

161
00:05:46,033 --> 00:05:46,800
discernible vision that is

162
00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:47,366
markedly different from what

163
00:05:47,366 --> 00:05:47,866
Democrats are offering.

164
00:05:47,866 --> 00:05:49,233
And here are my people.

165
00:05:49,233 --> 00:05:52,066
And that kind of strength,

166
00:05:52,066 --> 00:05:55,300
however bizarre and challenging

167
00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:56,133
it may be, I'm using all kinds

168
00:05:56,133 --> 00:05:59,366
of euphemisms, but however

169
00:05:59,366 --> 00:06:03,733
challenging it may be, people

170
00:06:03,733 --> 00:06:04,366
respond to that clarity, and I

171
00:06:04,366 --> 00:06:05,033
was just in Princeton the other

172
00:06:05,033 --> 00:06:07,033
night getting a talk, talking

173
00:06:07,033 --> 00:06:07,366
about clarity.

174
00:06:07,366 --> 00:06:11,366
Voters would like clarification,

175
00:06:11,366 --> 00:06:11,866
they prefer the binary.

176
00:06:11,866 --> 00:06:14,633
If you are going to give them,

177
00:06:14,633 --> 00:06:16,700
particularly when you feel

178
00:06:16,700 --> 00:06:17,833
financial pain, if you are going

179
00:06:17,833 --> 00:06:18,566
to give them a wishy-washy

180
00:06:18,566 --> 00:06:20,666
message, they are going to let

181
00:06:20,666 --> 00:06:21,066
you know about it.

182
00:06:21,066 --> 00:06:27,666
David: Republicans showed a

183
00:06:27,666 --> 00:06:28,433
commitment to the bit.

184
00:06:28,433 --> 00:06:30,333
Guest: Absolutely.

185
00:06:30,333 --> 00:06:32,233
David: They said it and that is

186
00:06:32,233 --> 00:06:34,200
where they went.

187
00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:35,233
Let me get a panel question in

188
00:06:35,233 --> 00:06:35,466
the air.

189
00:06:35,466 --> 00:06:39,800
>> The question that I have here

190
00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,633
is how do you think this date,

191
00:06:43,633 --> 00:06:46,566
Craddock party here reckons with

192
00:06:46,566 --> 00:06:48,766
its reputation for political

193
00:06:48,766 --> 00:06:51,733
corruption at the intersection

194
00:06:51,733 --> 00:06:54,600
of voter apathy and some

195
00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:55,733
demoralization?

196
00:06:55,733 --> 00:07:00,900
Guest: Well, A, let's hope they

197
00:07:00,900 --> 00:07:01,300
do reckon with it.

198
00:07:01,300 --> 00:07:05,733
There is a lot of heads being

199
00:07:05,733 --> 00:07:08,500
put in the sand on these kinds

200
00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:10,800
of questions over the last

201
00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:11,800
number of years, and I think

202
00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,033
Democrats in the state are going

203
00:07:14,033 --> 00:07:17,500
to have to, again, have an

204
00:07:17,500 --> 00:07:18,133
affirmative and clear vision of

205
00:07:18,133 --> 00:07:18,933
how they are going to be

206
00:07:18,933 --> 00:07:19,566
markedly different from what has

207
00:07:19,566 --> 00:07:20,633
come.

208
00:07:20,633 --> 00:07:23,500
And I would suggest that whoever

209
00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:25,100
is running for the governorship

210
00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:25,933
is going to have to take a

211
00:07:25,933 --> 00:07:30,066
strong outsider's approach to

212
00:07:30,066 --> 00:07:30,700
absolving issues of corruption

213
00:07:30,700 --> 00:07:32,266
in New Jersey.

214
00:07:32,266 --> 00:07:35,733
It does present an opening for

215
00:07:35,733 --> 00:07:36,366
someone on the Republican side

216
00:07:36,366 --> 00:07:37,233
to step in.

217
00:07:37,233 --> 00:07:41,400
So the language Democrats uses

218
00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:42,033
important.

219
00:07:42,033 --> 00:07:43,766
People would like to be talked

220
00:07:43,766 --> 00:07:44,066
to straight.

221
00:07:44,066 --> 00:07:47,066
That has always been clear.

222
00:07:47,066 --> 00:07:47,633
It has never been more clear

223
00:07:47,633 --> 00:07:47,900
that now.

224
00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:52,600
-- than now.Hanging

225
00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,933
gold bars around your neck is a

226
00:07:55,933 --> 00:07:57,100
party is not where you would

227
00:07:57,100 --> 00:07:57,733
like to be in 2025.

228
00:07:57,733 --> 00:08:01,733
David: Republican president is

229
00:08:01,733 --> 00:08:03,800
supposed to be good for Democrat

230
00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:04,333
's run for governor the

231
00:08:04,333 --> 00:08:06,800
following year, but there is an

232
00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,433
interesting dynamic in the way

233
00:08:08,433 --> 00:08:08,866
both parties think.

234
00:08:08,866 --> 00:08:12,333
The GOP contending with its

235
00:08:12,333 --> 00:08:14,300
right wing and the Democrats

236
00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:16,233
contending with their left wing.

237
00:08:16,233 --> 00:08:20,366
Is that something we are going

238
00:08:20,366 --> 00:08:20,966
to see manifest over the next

239
00:08:20,966 --> 00:08:21,166
year?

240
00:08:21,166 --> 00:08:26,933
Guest: Well, it appears to be

241
00:08:26,933 --> 00:08:27,200
the case.

242
00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,133
People are throwing around the

243
00:08:28,133 --> 00:08:31,333
term populism, and I think that

244
00:08:31,333 --> 00:08:31,866
is sort of where we are.

245
00:08:31,866 --> 00:08:36,333
Voters would like clear,

246
00:08:36,333 --> 00:08:37,133
discernible choices.

247
00:08:37,133 --> 00:08:40,566
That may be further to the left

248
00:08:40,566 --> 00:08:42,133
then what we are use to, and it

249
00:08:42,133 --> 00:08:42,933
may be further to the right than

250
00:08:42,933 --> 00:08:43,766
what we are used to.

251
00:08:43,766 --> 00:08:49,066
So I think the positioning for

252
00:08:49,066 --> 00:08:51,166
the center, which normally and

253
00:08:51,166 --> 00:08:52,566
ordinary politics may say great

254
00:08:52,566 --> 00:08:53,700
deal of sense, we talk about the

255
00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:56,300
median voter and political

256
00:08:56,300 --> 00:08:56,966
science all the time, I don't

257
00:08:56,966 --> 00:08:59,966
know where the hell the median

258
00:08:59,966 --> 00:09:00,433
voter is anymore.

259
00:09:00,433 --> 00:09:03,966
That is something Democrats and

260
00:09:03,966 --> 00:09:04,600
Republicans are reckoning with.

261
00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:09,233
And identify not so much the

262
00:09:09,233 --> 00:09:11,066
centrist edition but finding

263
00:09:11,066 --> 00:09:12,100
where the people are.

264
00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:13,833
That median voter has shifted,

265
00:09:13,833 --> 00:09:16,666
and we have got to be honest

266
00:09:16,666 --> 00:09:17,966
about that and find a way, both

267
00:09:17,966 --> 00:09:20,900
parties and certainly Democrats,

268
00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:21,633
will have to find a way to meet

269
00:09:21,633 --> 00:09:23,300
voters where they are.

270
00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:25,266
That is at a high level of

271
00:09:25,266 --> 00:09:25,766
dissatisfaction with the

272
00:09:25,766 --> 00:09:26,166
political system.

273
00:09:26,166 --> 00:09:28,900
David: And that is going to make

274
00:09:28,900 --> 00:09:29,466
for some interesting debates

275
00:09:29,466 --> 00:09:31,700
going forward, particularly with

276
00:09:31,700 --> 00:09:33,233
the lineup on the Democratic

277
00:09:33,233 --> 00:09:34,433
side and Republican side.

278
00:09:34,433 --> 00:09:36,833
I mean, the Republicans have

279
00:09:36,833 --> 00:09:40,566
some, you know, right wingers

280
00:09:40,566 --> 00:09:43,200
ready to capitalize off the

281
00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,300
Trump affect, and the Democrats

282
00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:48,033
have some progressives who are

283
00:09:48,033 --> 00:09:49,033
ready to embrace that side of

284
00:09:49,033 --> 00:09:50,133
the party.

285
00:09:50,133 --> 00:09:54,266
Guest: It is true.

286
00:09:54,266 --> 00:09:56,966
Although, I will say for New

287
00:09:56,966 --> 00:09:57,800
Jersey, I don't think we are

288
00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,533
going to see the kind of

289
00:09:59,533 --> 00:10:01,666
gubernatorial candidates emerge

290
00:10:01,666 --> 00:10:04,600
that did in Georgia with

291
00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:05,533
Herschel Walker or Robinson in

292
00:10:05,533 --> 00:10:06,266
North Carolina.

293
00:10:06,266 --> 00:10:10,700
We are still the state of New

294
00:10:10,700 --> 00:10:12,500
Jersey, and it is still going to

295
00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:15,533
be closer to what Jack

296
00:10:15,533 --> 00:10:16,466
represented the last go around

297
00:10:16,466 --> 00:10:18,633
then Herschel Walker or someone

298
00:10:18,633 --> 00:10:22,066
really, you know, far field.

299
00:10:22,066 --> 00:10:22,566
That would be my guess.

300
00:10:22,566 --> 00:10:27,266
I should do a shot here for all

301
00:10:27,266 --> 00:10:27,900
the times I've been wrong and

302
00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:32,733
maybe this video will be burned

303
00:10:32,733 --> 00:10:34,500
a year from now.

304
00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:38,366
But I do suspect however far

305
00:10:38,366 --> 00:10:40,566
right the Republicans go, it

306
00:10:40,566 --> 00:10:41,766
will not be to that degree we

307
00:10:41,766 --> 00:10:43,100
have seen in other places south

308
00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:43,300
of us.

309
00:10:43,300 --> 00:10:46,566
David: Interesting, Saladin

310
00:10:46,566 --> 00:10:49,900
Ambar, always good to see you.

311
00:10:49,900 --> 00:10:50,433
Thank you for coming on.

312
00:10:50,433 --> 00:10:52,733
Guest: I appreciate you having

313
00:10:52,733 --> 00:10:52,966
me.

314
00:10:52,966 --> 00:10:53,400
Have a good one.

315
00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,866
David: Panel, welcome to you

316
00:10:57,866 --> 00:10:58,100
all.

317
00:10:58,100 --> 00:10:58,666
We've had another week of

318
00:10:58,666 --> 00:11:04,900
analysis and pundantry on

319
00:11:04,900 --> 00:11:05,200
the results.

320
00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:10,400
Is there any sense of the theory

321
00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:11,100
that one Democrat is winning

322
00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:11,733
over the other, Matt?

323
00:11:11,733 --> 00:11:15,000
Matt: there is never going to be

324
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,666
a simple explanation.

325
00:11:16,666 --> 00:11:19,233
I think it was interesting the

326
00:11:19,233 --> 00:11:22,233
professor mentioned people want

327
00:11:22,233 --> 00:11:24,400
binary, there's no simple

328
00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,000
explanation but it is telling

329
00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,533
and it is an unfortunate state

330
00:11:28,533 --> 00:11:29,333
of affairs because I think

331
00:11:29,333 --> 00:11:30,533
Democrats are doing what you

332
00:11:30,533 --> 00:11:32,566
hope the party would do, look at

333
00:11:32,566 --> 00:11:33,166
their loss, try to figure out

334
00:11:33,166 --> 00:11:36,000
why, try to figure out what

335
00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,133
message they are not sending,

336
00:11:38,133 --> 00:11:39,866
policy wise with a miss, what

337
00:11:39,866 --> 00:11:42,333
they emphasized, what they did

338
00:11:42,333 --> 00:11:45,900
not, there is finger-pointing,

339
00:11:45,900 --> 00:11:46,533
but that is democracy and it is

340
00:11:46,533 --> 00:11:46,800
messy.

341
00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,566
Four years ago, Trump lost the

342
00:11:49,566 --> 00:11:51,266
election, refused to acknowledge

343
00:11:51,266 --> 00:11:54,933
that, double down on it, fought

344
00:11:54,933 --> 00:11:56,266
it, rioted, attempted to

345
00:11:56,266 --> 00:11:56,833
overturn the election from

346
00:11:56,833 --> 00:12:01,033
lawful and peaceful means to

347
00:12:01,033 --> 00:12:02,866
what we saw January 6.

348
00:12:02,866 --> 00:12:06,133
And it is not what you would

349
00:12:06,133 --> 00:12:07,333
hope to see in democracy, but it

350
00:12:07,333 --> 00:12:07,533
works.

351
00:12:07,533 --> 00:12:07,800
[LAUGHTER]

352
00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,000
And here they are.

353
00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,600
So, I think we have to look at

354
00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,266
that and get past the idea that

355
00:12:14,266 --> 00:12:15,633
-- we are trained as journalists

356
00:12:15,633 --> 00:12:15,933
to be fair.

357
00:12:15,933 --> 00:12:18,300
But being fair, you are not

358
00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:20,066
being fair if you are treating

359
00:12:20,066 --> 00:12:22,066
both sides that are not the

360
00:12:22,066 --> 00:12:22,333
same.

361
00:12:22,333 --> 00:12:25,400
One party is acting like this is

362
00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:25,666
democracy.

363
00:12:25,666 --> 00:12:28,433
The other did not.

364
00:12:28,433 --> 00:12:29,000
But that is the thing about

365
00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,100
democracy, they won

366
00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:32,600
legitimately.

367
00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,866
Also, I'm so sick of people lift

368
00:12:34,866 --> 00:12:37,466
these French-French voices off

369
00:12:37,466 --> 00:12:40,433
twitter and whatever -- fringe,

370
00:12:40,433 --> 00:12:42,700
fringe voices off twitter and

371
00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:45,366
whatever saying Democrats

372
00:12:45,366 --> 00:12:46,000
are denying the election, too.

373
00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:46,566
You are not.

374
00:12:46,566 --> 00:12:50,566
It is the fringe voices versus

375
00:12:50,566 --> 00:12:51,233
the whole apparatus of the party

376
00:12:51,233 --> 00:12:51,500
last time.

377
00:12:51,500 --> 00:12:55,466
David: Colleen, anything new

378
00:12:55,466 --> 00:12:56,133
that you learned over the past

379
00:12:56,133 --> 00:13:00,366
two weeks from the conversations

380
00:13:00,366 --> 00:13:00,966
, particularly Democrats, are

381
00:13:00,966 --> 00:13:02,033
having?

382
00:13:02,033 --> 00:13:05,566
Colleen: I think Matt is right

383
00:13:05,566 --> 00:13:08,333
on target when he says, it is

384
00:13:08,333 --> 00:13:09,733
like you could have a dartboard,

385
00:13:09,733 --> 00:13:12,633
throw a dart and see where it

386
00:13:12,633 --> 00:13:13,666
sticks because there are so many

387
00:13:13,666 --> 00:13:14,066
potential factors.

388
00:13:14,066 --> 00:13:17,733
Ultimately, it wound up being

389
00:13:17,733 --> 00:13:21,566
the economy and we do not know

390
00:13:21,566 --> 00:13:24,600
what to say, but I just saw that

391
00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,500
Frank Pallone, a congressman,

392
00:13:28,500 --> 00:13:29,733
put out a statement moments ago,

393
00:13:29,733 --> 00:13:31,566
saying that talking about money

394
00:13:31,566 --> 00:13:33,666
coming in from the inflation

395
00:13:33,666 --> 00:13:36,300
reduction act, I think Democrats

396
00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:39,733
thinking that those kinds of

397
00:13:39,733 --> 00:13:40,300
expenditures would help when

398
00:13:40,300 --> 00:13:43,366
people were having trouble

399
00:13:43,366 --> 00:13:47,733
putting milk and bread and eggs,

400
00:13:47,733 --> 00:13:48,766
just certainly, that was kind of

401
00:13:48,766 --> 00:13:49,233
a crazy way to think.

402
00:13:49,233 --> 00:13:53,766
David: A lot of about identity

403
00:13:53,766 --> 00:13:55,133
and all of that stuff, but,

404
00:13:55,133 --> 00:13:57,933
ultimately, if it costs too much

405
00:13:57,933 --> 00:14:00,166
to put Breck on the table, that

406
00:14:00,166 --> 00:14:02,200
it -- breakfast on the table,

407
00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:03,366
that is what people are going to

408
00:14:03,366 --> 00:14:03,766
vote with, right?

409
00:14:03,766 --> 00:14:15,666
Jelani: to be frank, one could

410
00:14:15,666 --> 00:14:17,000
argue that it is identity

411
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:17,566
politics, structured around

412
00:14:17,566 --> 00:14:20,000
people who have grievances that

413
00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,033
belong to either a certain

414
00:14:22,033 --> 00:14:24,566
ideology or community or

415
00:14:24,566 --> 00:14:24,833
identity.

416
00:14:24,833 --> 00:14:27,533
And the interesting thing about

417
00:14:27,533 --> 00:14:29,766
politics here is that being a

418
00:14:29,766 --> 00:14:31,500
Republican and being a Democrat

419
00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:35,100
within this spectrum and

420
00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:36,033
political polarization has

421
00:14:36,033 --> 00:14:37,700
essentially become a form of

422
00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:40,033
identity politics all unto

423
00:14:40,033 --> 00:14:41,766
itself.

424
00:14:41,766 --> 00:14:46,633
Republicans are doing this, the

425
00:14:46,633 --> 00:14:49,733
liberals are doing that to you,

426
00:14:49,733 --> 00:14:52,300
all of those things in and of

427
00:14:52,300 --> 00:14:54,633
themselves are, indeed,

428
00:14:54,633 --> 00:14:55,200
political identity politics.

429
00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,833
Identity politics are quite

430
00:14:58,833 --> 00:14:59,433
frankly very hard to separate

431
00:14:59,433 --> 00:15:04,633
from economic issues because you

432
00:15:04,633 --> 00:15:05,233
may have different identities

433
00:15:05,233 --> 00:15:08,633
that experience different

434
00:15:08,633 --> 00:15:10,733
spectrums of the economy that

435
00:15:10,733 --> 00:15:12,366
are tied to the way they are

436
00:15:12,366 --> 00:15:12,600
living.

437
00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,366
You go down south, which is

438
00:15:16,366 --> 00:15:17,900
where I'm from, and you speak to

439
00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:21,666
a conservative Christian, their

440
00:15:21,666 --> 00:15:22,300
religion is important to them.

441
00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:24,733
Their grocery store is important

442
00:15:24,733 --> 00:15:24,966
to them.

443
00:15:24,966 --> 00:15:27,866
And how they perceive things are

444
00:15:27,866 --> 00:15:32,333
going on, both of them are

445
00:15:32,333 --> 00:15:32,933
intrinsically attached to one

446
00:15:32,933 --> 00:15:33,166
another.

447
00:15:33,166 --> 00:15:36,866
David: Meanwhile, these cabinet

448
00:15:36,866 --> 00:15:38,533
picks, Colleen, I mean,

449
00:15:38,533 --> 00:15:40,866
Secretary Of State -- [LAUGHTER]

450
00:15:40,866 --> 00:15:43,600
Marco Rubio?

451
00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,366
Colleen: Little Marco.

452
00:15:45,366 --> 00:15:47,600
How long ago was it?

453
00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,433
It seems like it was not that

454
00:15:50,433 --> 00:15:53,966
long ago, that Rubio and Trump

455
00:15:53,966 --> 00:15:56,066
were just butting heads and say

456
00:15:56,066 --> 00:15:56,700
nasty things about one another.

457
00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:59,300
And now we think he is Secretary

458
00:15:59,300 --> 00:15:59,700
Of State material.

459
00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:02,566
I think we knew that Robert

460
00:16:02,566 --> 00:16:05,833
Kennedy Junior for Health and

461
00:16:05,833 --> 00:16:06,366
Human Services was coming.

462
00:16:06,366 --> 00:16:10,533
David: That is like the least,

463
00:16:10,533 --> 00:16:11,566
that is the least shocking I

464
00:16:11,566 --> 00:16:11,933
think of --

465
00:16:11,933 --> 00:16:13,066
Colleen: It is.

466
00:16:13,066 --> 00:16:14,533
David: Of the picks.

467
00:16:14,533 --> 00:16:17,666
I mean Congressman Matt Gaetz

468
00:16:17,666 --> 00:16:18,233
for Attorney General?

469
00:16:18,233 --> 00:16:20,500
I mean, Matt?

470
00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:25,766
Colleen: It looks like he gets

471
00:16:25,766 --> 00:16:32,600
out of a house investigation for

472
00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:33,266
an underage person and drug use?

473
00:16:33,266 --> 00:16:35,566
David: Loyalty, oathDavid:s are

474
00:16:35,566 --> 00:16:38,833
one thing, but the palace

475
00:16:38,833 --> 00:16:39,633
intrigue alone, it would be

476
00:16:39,633 --> 00:16:41,000
delicious if it was not so

477
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,033
Frank.

478
00:16:42,033 --> 00:16:45,100
Matt: Our information

479
00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:46,200
environment is so broken, and

480
00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,366
this election was a failing for

481
00:16:49,366 --> 00:16:51,333
the media, and I don't mean

482
00:16:51,333 --> 00:16:53,433
journalists but the news media

483
00:16:53,433 --> 00:16:53,833
in general.

484
00:16:53,833 --> 00:16:54,433
We don't know where we are.

485
00:16:54,433 --> 00:16:55,933
It is hard to discover the

486
00:16:55,933 --> 00:16:56,133
truth.

487
00:16:56,133 --> 00:16:58,733
The fact that we spent how many

488
00:16:58,733 --> 00:17:02,766
years with QAnon conspiracies

489
00:17:02,766 --> 00:17:04,300
and six offenders, and everybody

490
00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:06,633
is a six offender it seems, --

491
00:17:06,633 --> 00:17:09,500
and with sex offenders, everyone

492
00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:14,900
is a sex offender it seems, and

493
00:17:14,900 --> 00:17:15,833
except for Matt Gaetz, who will

494
00:17:15,833 --> 00:17:17,366
potentially be the nation;s top

495
00:17:17,366 --> 00:17:20,366
law -- nation's top law

496
00:17:20,366 --> 00:17:20,666
official?

497
00:17:20,666 --> 00:17:21,966
What are we getting to?

498
00:17:21,966 --> 00:17:24,533
It is completely diffused and

499
00:17:24,533 --> 00:17:26,200
there is no kind of standard of

500
00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:26,800
anything resembling the truth

501
00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:28,500
now, and I think that is kind of

502
00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:30,733
hard of how authoritarians are

503
00:17:30,733 --> 00:17:30,933
built.

504
00:17:30,933 --> 00:17:35,633
You just throw so much crap out

505
00:17:35,633 --> 00:17:37,066
there, and Steve Bannon

506
00:17:37,066 --> 00:17:37,566
articulated this theory.

507
00:17:37,566 --> 00:17:41,866
You throw so much crap out

508
00:17:41,866 --> 00:17:42,533
there, that whatever truth there

509
00:17:42,533 --> 00:17:42,933
is, it gets lost.

510
00:17:42,933 --> 00:17:45,166
The idea that we just spent all

511
00:17:45,166 --> 00:17:48,600
this time with these sex

512
00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:49,200
offender conspiracy theories,

513
00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:50,733
and then you put this guy, with

514
00:17:50,733 --> 00:17:51,266
a very credible accusation

515
00:17:51,266 --> 00:17:56,900
against him into a top law

516
00:17:56,900 --> 00:17:57,300
enforcement spot?

517
00:17:57,300 --> 00:17:57,566
[LAUGHTER]

518
00:17:57,566 --> 00:18:02,266
By the way, did he practice law

519
00:18:02,266 --> 00:18:03,433
two years I think it was?

520
00:18:03,433 --> 00:18:09,966
And people like Tolson Gabbard

521
00:18:09,966 --> 00:18:10,866
-- Tolson Gabbard, who is just

522
00:18:10,866 --> 00:18:18,266
-- Tulsi, why would you do that?

523
00:18:18,266 --> 00:18:18,900
Answer for this person in charge

524
00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:19,333
of our intelligence?

525
00:18:19,333 --> 00:18:22,166
Trump won the election.

526
00:18:22,166 --> 00:18:24,033
He gets to nominate the cabinet,

527
00:18:24,033 --> 00:18:24,833
and he has senators who are

528
00:18:24,833 --> 00:18:27,366
going to be inclined to lay down

529
00:18:27,366 --> 00:18:27,933
for him as much as possible.

530
00:18:27,933 --> 00:18:32,033
But, these are wild pigs.

531
00:18:32,033 --> 00:18:34,600
David: Let's bring it back to

532
00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,000
Jersey and the 2025 governors

533
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:36,266
race.

534
00:18:36,266 --> 00:18:42,433
Jelani, one poll shows that

535
00:18:42,433 --> 00:18:43,066
nobody knows who these governor

536
00:18:43,066 --> 00:18:43,433
candidates are.

537
00:18:43,433 --> 00:18:47,533
As we go to press today, Josh

538
00:18:47,533 --> 00:18:51,933
Gottheimer is announcing his

539
00:18:51,933 --> 00:18:52,600
candidacy.

540
00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,066
We know him, but by and large,

541
00:18:55,066 --> 00:18:55,700
voters outside of his district

542
00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:55,966
do not.

543
00:18:55,966 --> 00:18:59,066
It is really anybody's race at

544
00:18:59,066 --> 00:19:00,700
this moment, one year out, no?

545
00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:02,966
Jelani: Correct.

546
00:19:02,966 --> 00:19:07,133
It does seem -- the field is

547
00:19:07,133 --> 00:19:07,600
going to be crowded.

548
00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,100
There are some who argue that

549
00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:11,966
the fields being crowded is

550
00:19:11,966 --> 00:19:15,400
going to provide more candidates

551
00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:16,000
, it is going to provide more

552
00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:20,666
space for the Democratic Party

553
00:19:20,666 --> 00:19:21,633
to basically iron out the kinks

554
00:19:21,633 --> 00:19:22,466
and how they would like to

555
00:19:22,466 --> 00:19:22,900
perfect messaging.

556
00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:25,333
And there are other insiders who

557
00:19:25,333 --> 00:19:28,266
are arguing they are afraid that

558
00:19:28,266 --> 00:19:30,133
the political warfare that is

559
00:19:30,133 --> 00:19:33,466
about to take place between all

560
00:19:33,466 --> 00:19:34,166
of these candidates is basically

561
00:19:34,166 --> 00:19:37,433
going to clear a path for

562
00:19:37,433 --> 00:19:39,866
Republican candidates to take

563
00:19:39,866 --> 00:19:42,233
over whatever ashes are left of

564
00:19:42,233 --> 00:19:44,600
things if it gets too

565
00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:44,900
contentious.

566
00:19:44,900 --> 00:19:46,000
David: Interesting point.

567
00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,433
You political dudes are going to

568
00:19:48,433 --> 00:19:49,733
be all up in this for the next

569
00:19:49,733 --> 00:19:50,066
year.

570
00:19:50,066 --> 00:19:53,033
What is going to be the biggest

571
00:19:53,033 --> 00:19:53,900
issue on the Democratic side and

572
00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:55,400
on the Republican side?

573
00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,000
I know I'm asking you to

574
00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:58,700
prognosticate a little bit.

575
00:19:58,700 --> 00:20:01,000
Right now?

576
00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:04,333
Matt: It's harder to stay on the

577
00:20:04,333 --> 00:20:05,633
Democratic side with the biggest

578
00:20:05,633 --> 00:20:06,266
issue is going to be with so

579
00:20:06,266 --> 00:20:06,633
many candidates.

580
00:20:06,633 --> 00:20:09,066
There may not be one defining

581
00:20:09,066 --> 00:20:11,233
issue, and on the Republican

582
00:20:11,233 --> 00:20:11,966
side it is obvious what the

583
00:20:11,966 --> 00:20:12,433
issue is going to be.

584
00:20:12,433 --> 00:20:16,833
Trump's going to be able to play

585
00:20:16,833 --> 00:20:20,400
a big role as King -- pin maker.

586
00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,600
Unlike the Senate endorsement

587
00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:24,266
last time, it will make a huge

588
00:20:24,266 --> 00:20:28,100
difference, and the question is,

589
00:20:28,100 --> 00:20:31,433
he may be inclined to back

590
00:20:31,433 --> 00:20:32,100
whoever says the nicest things

591
00:20:32,100 --> 00:20:32,366
about him.

592
00:20:32,366 --> 00:20:34,600
But there is an effort to make

593
00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:36,333
contacts with his people.

594
00:20:36,333 --> 00:20:40,166
As far as Gottheimer, who was

595
00:20:40,166 --> 00:20:42,133
declaring his candidacy today,

596
00:20:42,133 --> 00:20:42,933
it is hard to see the path

597
00:20:42,933 --> 00:20:44,833
because Gottheimer made a

598
00:20:44,833 --> 00:20:46,366
last-ditch attempt to keep

599
00:20:46,366 --> 00:20:46,933
political losses in place.

600
00:20:46,933 --> 00:20:49,766
He was really banking on that

601
00:20:49,766 --> 00:20:50,333
system to get him through.

602
00:20:50,333 --> 00:20:52,366
And he is not going to have the

603
00:20:52,366 --> 00:20:52,566
line.

604
00:20:52,566 --> 00:20:56,233
It has lost its biggest tool.

605
00:20:56,233 --> 00:20:58,533
David: But he has $20 million.

606
00:20:58,533 --> 00:21:00,600
Matt: That is the counterpoint.

607
00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,633
In the absence of the County

608
00:21:04,633 --> 00:21:06,666
line, money may take it, but

609
00:21:06,666 --> 00:21:07,900
there is a decent theory that

610
00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:08,466
money will take on a bigger

611
00:21:08,466 --> 00:21:08,666
role.

612
00:21:08,666 --> 00:21:11,200
He cannot use that $20 million

613
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,066
legally to just shovel into his

614
00:21:14,066 --> 00:21:15,233
campaign, but he has the ability

615
00:21:15,233 --> 00:21:17,333
to raise a hell of a lot of

616
00:21:17,333 --> 00:21:17,766
money really quick.

617
00:21:17,766 --> 00:21:21,200
There are a lot of -- there is a

618
00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,700
lot of progress -- progressive

619
00:21:24,700 --> 00:21:26,033
anger at the boss system that we

620
00:21:26,033 --> 00:21:27,166
saw, and it will be a lower

621
00:21:27,166 --> 00:21:27,666
turnout than the federal

622
00:21:27,666 --> 00:21:29,166
election.

623
00:21:29,166 --> 00:21:30,166
Those people will probably be

624
00:21:30,166 --> 00:21:31,866
more represented.

625
00:21:31,866 --> 00:21:34,533
It is a tough path for him,

626
00:21:34,533 --> 00:21:35,166
especially with everything, but

627
00:21:35,166 --> 00:21:36,366
he's going to have it, a lot of

628
00:21:36,366 --> 00:21:38,000
money.

629
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,900
And politics is completely

630
00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:42,566
unpredictable, and it would be

631
00:21:42,566 --> 00:21:45,766
ridiculous of me to try to

632
00:21:45,766 --> 00:21:46,066
counted out.

633
00:21:46,066 --> 00:21:49,733
David: Colleen, the numbers

634
00:21:49,733 --> 00:21:50,366
game, everything that you love

635
00:21:50,366 --> 00:21:52,566
so much, from who raised what

636
00:21:52,566 --> 00:21:53,533
money and who got which

637
00:21:53,533 --> 00:21:56,700
endorsement, voter trends, Mikey

638
00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:58,966
Cheryl probably joining the race

639
00:21:58,966 --> 00:21:59,766
next week.

640
00:21:59,766 --> 00:22:02,300
What are the statistics that you

641
00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:03,233
are going to be watching with

642
00:22:03,233 --> 00:22:03,933
the most interest?

643
00:22:03,933 --> 00:22:07,033
Colleen: Yeah, you know, I think

644
00:22:07,033 --> 00:22:09,966
money is going to play a part,

645
00:22:09,966 --> 00:22:10,800
but we have seen in the past

646
00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,033
that money does not necessarily

647
00:22:13,033 --> 00:22:16,466
buy you a seat.

648
00:22:16,466 --> 00:22:24,100
Look at how Steve Sweeney was

649
00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:26,900
unseated back in 2021.

650
00:22:26,900 --> 00:22:29,400
I do think the Democrats are

651
00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,966
going to be largely looking for

652
00:22:31,966 --> 00:22:35,600
the same demographic in terms of

653
00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,900
voters, and without the line, it

654
00:22:38,900 --> 00:22:39,533
will be interesting to see who

655
00:22:39,533 --> 00:22:39,900
comes forward.

656
00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:43,233
Mikey Cheryl, I think, has the

657
00:22:43,233 --> 00:22:44,266
best name recognition at this

658
00:22:44,266 --> 00:22:44,466
point.

659
00:22:44,466 --> 00:22:47,466
The candidates, everybody is

660
00:22:47,466 --> 00:22:48,133
going to have to do a heck of a

661
00:22:48,133 --> 00:22:49,600
lot more work to get people to

662
00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:50,233
know who they are.

663
00:22:50,233 --> 00:22:53,333
I was kind of shocked to see

664
00:22:53,333 --> 00:22:56,266
from that poll how low the

665
00:22:56,266 --> 00:22:58,433
numbers were just with

666
00:22:58,433 --> 00:22:58,733
recognition.

667
00:22:58,733 --> 00:23:01,266
So I think we are expected to

668
00:23:01,266 --> 00:23:03,266
see a lot of ads coming in.

669
00:23:03,266 --> 00:23:05,966
David: Speaking of ballots and

670
00:23:05,966 --> 00:23:09,166
candidates, I would like to play

671
00:23:09,166 --> 00:23:10,300
this little sound from Attorney

672
00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:12,233
General Matt plaque in -- Matt

673
00:23:12,233 --> 00:23:16,100
Platkin and then bring you in,

674
00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:16,700
Matt, to talk about context.

675
00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:18,633
You had an interesting item

676
00:23:18,633 --> 00:23:18,966
about it.

677
00:23:18,966 --> 00:23:22,333
>> The one thing that I will say

678
00:23:22,333 --> 00:23:24,100
is that I think it is time for

679
00:23:24,100 --> 00:23:24,766
people in positions of authority

680
00:23:24,766 --> 00:23:28,166
in this state to spend a little

681
00:23:28,166 --> 00:23:28,800
more time questioning their own

682
00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,700
role in creating a system or

683
00:23:33,700 --> 00:23:36,266
enabling a system of corruption,

684
00:23:36,266 --> 00:23:36,933
and a little less time

685
00:23:36,933 --> 00:23:38,933
threatening those of us who are

686
00:23:38,933 --> 00:23:39,533
trying to do some thing about

687
00:23:39,533 --> 00:23:39,700
it.

688
00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:42,366
David: So, Matt, who is he

689
00:23:42,366 --> 00:23:42,666
talking to?

690
00:23:42,666 --> 00:23:46,200
Not Governor Murphy.

691
00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,366
And what is the angle here for

692
00:23:48,366 --> 00:23:49,200
him?

693
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,933
Matt: He is talking to Governor

694
00:23:51,933 --> 00:23:53,966
Murphy, he's talking to the

695
00:23:53,966 --> 00:23:57,266
Democratic legislative leaders,

696
00:23:57,266 --> 00:24:01,533
to George Norcross, to Joe

697
00:24:01,533 --> 00:24:01,733
Cryan.

698
00:24:01,733 --> 00:24:04,433
David: Towards what end?

699
00:24:04,433 --> 00:24:06,000
Jelani: --

700
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,533
Matt: Well, he could be an

701
00:24:08,533 --> 00:24:10,333
idealist.

702
00:24:10,333 --> 00:24:12,000
He came up with Governor Murphy.

703
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:13,300
He was one of the absolute

704
00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,400
closest to Governor Murphy.

705
00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:18,300
Granted, he did spearhead a lot

706
00:24:18,300 --> 00:24:18,566
of things.

707
00:24:18,566 --> 00:24:21,633
He was heavily involved in the

708
00:24:21,633 --> 00:24:22,100
investigation into tax

709
00:24:22,100 --> 00:24:22,533
incentives.

710
00:24:22,533 --> 00:24:26,733
A lot of the pushback, Trump has

711
00:24:26,733 --> 00:24:28,566
counsel to the governor, and the

712
00:24:28,566 --> 00:24:29,333
obvious question, is he running

713
00:24:29,333 --> 00:24:29,700
for something?

714
00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:32,933
I was not at that press

715
00:24:32,933 --> 00:24:34,500
conference to ask him that, but

716
00:24:34,500 --> 00:24:35,333
I don't think he's running for

717
00:24:35,333 --> 00:24:37,033
governor this year, but it seems

718
00:24:37,033 --> 00:24:37,600
clear that he has political

719
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:37,866
ambitions.

720
00:24:37,866 --> 00:24:40,100
That is also what pretty much

721
00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:44,100
everyone is assuming, how that

722
00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:44,666
winds up, if you get Mikey

723
00:24:44,666 --> 00:24:47,200
Cheryl as governor and her

724
00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,000
congressional seat opens up,

725
00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,366
does he run for that?

726
00:24:51,366 --> 00:24:52,133
I don't know, that is one

727
00:24:52,133 --> 00:24:52,433
possibility.

728
00:24:52,433 --> 00:24:56,166
I'm honestly not sure if he

729
00:24:56,166 --> 00:24:57,633
lives in the 10th District or

730
00:24:57,633 --> 00:24:58,366
the 11th part of it, but it

731
00:24:58,366 --> 00:24:58,866
doesn't really matter.

732
00:24:58,866 --> 00:25:00,300
You can run in either.

733
00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:04,233
Yes, I think he is positioning

734
00:25:04,233 --> 00:25:06,800
himself for a run for office,

735
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,700
but I also think that is not

736
00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:10,833
mutually exclusive of generally

737
00:25:10,833 --> 00:25:11,433
believing in what he says,

738
00:25:11,433 --> 00:25:15,933
despite the cynical takes by

739
00:25:15,933 --> 00:25:16,600
Trenton insiders, who correctly

740
00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:18,766
note that he came up in this

741
00:25:18,766 --> 00:25:19,233
part of the machine.

742
00:25:19,233 --> 00:25:21,333
David: All right.

743
00:25:21,333 --> 00:25:25,900
A programming note, next week's

744
00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:30,166
"Chat Box" is one hour-long,

745
00:25:30,166 --> 00:25:30,666
featuring questions with

746
00:25:30,666 --> 00:25:31,600
declared candidates for governor

747
00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:32,933
in front of a live audience in

748
00:25:32,933 --> 00:25:36,033
the exhibit hall at the annual

749
00:25:36,033 --> 00:25:37,933
legal municipalities conference.

750
00:25:37,933 --> 00:25:39,066
We will try to get them all.

751
00:25:39,066 --> 00:25:43,400
We have Sweeney, Philip, spill

752
00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,333
er, Spady right, and who are we

753
00:25:46,333 --> 00:25:46,600
missing?

754
00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,200
Let's see who declares over the

755
00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:49,633
next couple of days.

756
00:25:49,633 --> 00:25:51,633
We will bring extra chairs just

757
00:25:51,633 --> 00:25:51,866
in case.

758
00:25:51,866 --> 00:25:54,433
It is a special "Chat Box" next

759
00:25:54,433 --> 00:25:54,666
week.

760
00:25:54,666 --> 00:25:56,466
Make sure you are around to two

761
00:25:56,466 --> 00:25:56,700
men.

762
00:25:56,700 --> 00:25:59,300
That is "-- tune in.

763
00:25:59,300 --> 00:26:02,100
That is "roundtable."

764
00:26:02,100 --> 00:26:04,466
Thank you to all of you and to

765
00:26:04,466 --> 00:26:06,733
Saladin Ambar For joining us.

766
00:26:06,733 --> 00:26:09,066
You can follow the show on X --

767
00:26:09,066 --> 00:26:15,400
@Roundtable.

768
00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:17,800
You can also subscribe to the

769
00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:18,700
YouTube page.

770
00:26:18,700 --> 00:26:21,600
I'm David Cruise.

771
00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:22,866
For all the crew here at Gateway

772
00:26:22,866 --> 00:26:25,533
Center in downtown, thank you

773
00:26:25,533 --> 00:26:25,900
for watching.

774
00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:26,433
We will see you next week.

775
00:26:26,433 --> 00:26:29,200
>> Major funding for "Reporters

776
00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:30,000
Roundtable" with David Cruz is

777
00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:31,100
provided by RWJBarnabas Health,

778
00:26:31,100 --> 00:26:36,033
let's be healthy together.

779
00:26:36,033 --> 00:26:36,233
♪