Metrofocus: June 21, 2022

> TONIGHT, ON THE FRONT PAGE FORECAST, WHAT'S STILL TO COME FROM THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND MONKEYPOX CASES ARE ON THE RISE IN NEW YORK CITY.

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE?

> PLUS WORK PREVIEW NEW YORK'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS AS 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

> THIS IS 'METROFOCUS' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

'METROFOCUS' IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.

AND BY --

> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE 'METROFOCUS' FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

IN THIS WEEK'S LOOK AHEAD AT THE MAJOR HEADLINE, THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE CONTINUES ITS NATIONALLY TELEVISED HEARINGS INTO THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th AS IT GETS CLOSER TO DECIDING WHAT KIND OF LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS COULD HAVE ON HIM AND PERHAPS OTHERS IN HIS INNER CIRCLE.

THIS AS THE COUNTRY CONTINUES ITS ONGOING FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, AND NEW YORK PREPARES FOR MONKEYPOX, THE POSSIBLE PANDEMIC THAT HAS ALREADY STARTED TO SPREAD HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE'LL PREVIEW THE PRIMARIES TAKING PLACE ON JUNE 28th WITH THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S RACES AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE FRONT-RUNNERS AND AT THE UNDERDOGS HOPING TO PULL OFF SURPRISING UPSETS.

> AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THESE STORIES AND GIVE US THEIR TAKE ON WHAT ELSE COULD DRIVE THE NEWS THIS WEEK ARE -- GLORIA BROWN MARSHALL, A PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND AUTHOR OF 'SHE TOOK JUSTICE KWTS, THE BLACK WOMAN, LAW, AND POWER'. SETH BARREN, THE MANAGING EDITOR OF 'THE AMERICAN MIND', AND GENE MARIE EVERLY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CITY LIMITS.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE AS ALWAYS.

THANK YOU.

JEAN MARIE, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

BEFORE THE START OF THE JANUARY 6th SELECT COMMITTEE HEARINGS, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE RASKIN, A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE SAID THAT THE HEARINGS WOULD, QUOTE, BLOW THE ROOF OFF THE HOUSE, IT WOULD BE COMPARABLE FT.

WATERGATE HEARINGS.

HAS IT TURNED OUT THAT WAY SO FAR?

I THINK IT PROBABLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK, BUT I THINK IT HAS DEFINITELY BEEN INCREDIBLY ENGAGING AND DRAMATIC.

I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF NEW THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN COME OUT, MAYBE NOT AS NEW AS WE THOUGHT OR ANTICIPATED BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT OVER YET, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY COMPELLING TO WATCH AND OBVIOUSLY HAVE REALLY LAID OUT THE CASE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IN TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE KNEW THAT HIS CLAIM OF ELECTION FRAUD ON THE SO-CALLED BIG LIE, THAT THERE WAS NO BASIS FOR THIS.

AND THEY'VE MADE, IN MY OPINION, A PRETTY COMPELLING CASE SO FAR.

SETH, COMPARABLE TO THE WATER HEARINGS?

WELL, YOU KNOW, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, EVEN AT THE TIME, MOST AMERICANS FOUND THE WATERGATE HEARINGS TO BE SOMETHING OF AN INSIDE THE BELTWAY TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, PUSH OR COUP.

I GUESS I'M THE ONLY ONE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THEM HERE, AND I DON'T THINK SO, SETH.

HERE'S THIS THING -- THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS -- IN THAT CASE, THEN, I WOULD SAY NO.

I LIVE IN LOWER MANHATTAN.

I'VE NOT HEARD ANYONE TALK ABOUT JANUARY 6th OR TALK ABOUT THE HEARINGS AS ANYTHING, EXCEPT MAYBE A -- IT DOES SEEM TO HAVE A POLITICAL SHOW TRIAL ASPECT TO IT.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE CONSENSUS.

GLORIA, YOUR TAKE?

WELL, AS SOMEONE WHO WAS A PRECOCIOUS KID WHO WATCHED THE HEARINGS, I CAN SAY BACK THEN AS A CHILD, IT TOOK PLACE, BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE RAMIFICATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE BELTWAY EXCEPT THAT PEOPLE WERE IN TROUBLE.

AS I SAID, I WAS A PRECOCIOUS CHILD WATCHING THE HEARINGS.

WHAT WE HAVE TODAY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BACK THEN, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LYNCH MOB.

WE DIDN'T HAVE GALLOWS ON THE MALL.

WE DIDN'T HAVE RUFFIANS -- I'M NOT GOING TO CALL THEM INSURRECTIONISTS.

THEY ARE CONSPIRATORS AND POSSIBLE MURDER.

THEY WANTED TO KILL THE DEMOCRATS, THE VICE PRESIDENT.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR NANCY PELOSI.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT IN THE WATERGATE HEARING.

IT WAS ABOUT ONE MAN, MR. NIXON AND HIS LITTLE SMALL ENTOURAGE.

IT WAS A PRESIDENT VIOLATING LAWS LEFT AND RIGHT.

I THINK PEOPLE -- EVERY TIME I SEE THOSE MEN -- MOSTLY MEN ATTACKING THE CAPITOL, I THINK OF THE LYNCH MOBS THAT USED TO TAKE PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND IT MAKES MY BLOOD RUN COLD.

AND SO A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN DISMISSED.

ALSO FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, WE USED TO TALK ABOUT THE JANUARY 6th HEARING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BLACK MEN AND WOMEN ARE BEING GUNNED DOWN WITH THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR OR IN THEIR BED SLEEPING, AND HERE YOU HAVE THOSE THOUSANDS OF WHITE PEOPLE ATTACKING ARMED PEOPLE ON THE CAPITOL, AND THEY NEVER THINK THESE CAPITOL POLICE OF EVER TAKING THEIR WEAPONS OUT EXCEPT THAT ONE TIME WHEN PENCE WAS IN DANGER.

ANY OF THEM, NOT EVEN SHOOTING IN THE AIR TO WARN THEM OFF.

AND YET BLACK PEOPLE DIE ALL THE TIME.

THIS IS A POINT OF CONTENTION.

PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY'RE SURPRISED IT HASN'T BEEN COVERED, WHICH IS HOW OVERWHELMED THE POLICE -- THE CAPITOL POLICE WERE, HOW UNPREPARED THEY WERE, EVEN THOUGH LIZ CHENEY HERSELF HAS SAID THAT THERE WAS PLENTY OF ADVANCE WARNING.

SETH, ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THAT ASPECT OF JANUARY 6th HASN'T BEEN INVESTIGATED SO FAR BY THE COMMITTEE?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THERE WAS PLENTY OF ADVANCED WARNING THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A -- YOU KNOW, A RIOT OR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW -- AT LEAST A LARGE CROWD.

THEY TALKED ABOUT JANUARY 6th AS A DEADLY -- A DEADLY DAY, BUT YOU KNOW, FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE DID DIE THAT DAY, BUT ONLY ONE WAS KILLED, AND SHE WAS SHOT, AN UNARMED WOMAN, BY A POLICE THERE WERE NO WEAPONS ON ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE.

I MEAN, STICKS.

NONE OF THE SUPPOSED -- I AGREE WITH YOU, IT'S A STRETCH TO CALL THEM INSURRECTIONISTS, BECAUSE WHAT KIND OF INSURRECTION JUST ENDS WHEN THEY ALL DECIDE TO GO HOME?

I MEAN, THERE WAS NO -- THEY WEREN'T PUSHED OUT OF THE CAPITOL.

THERE WAS NO FIGHTING WITHIN THE CAPITOL.

THEY JUST LEFT.

IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME IT WAS REALLY AN INSURRECTION IN THAT SENSE.

I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?

GLORIA, LET ME GO BACK TO YOU.

IT SEEMS EVIDENCE THAT ABOVE ALL, THE COMMITTEE'S TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, LAYING OUT A ROAD MAP FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO PROSECUTE THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

WHAT WOULD THE CHARGES BE, AND WHO ELSE AMONG TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE COULD FACE SERIOUS CHARGES AS A RESULT OF THEIR ACTIONS AROUND JANUARY 6th?

I THINK THAT'S THE MAJOR QUESTION -- WHAT IS IT THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO LAY OUT THAT THEY WANT TO JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DO?

DO THEY WANT HIM TO BE CHARGED WITH INCITING A RIOT THAT ENDED WITH THE LOSS OF LIFE AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY?

I MEAN, THEY'RE LAYING THIS FOUNDATION TO HAVE HIM CONVICT OFFEND A FELONY SO THAT HE'S INELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR OFFENSE AGAIN AND SO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CREATIVE.

THEY'VE THROWN EVERYTHING ELSE AT THE MAN, AND I WON'T SAY HE'S TEFLON.

I THINK THOSE CONSERVATIVES WHO HAVE SOLD THEIR SOULS ARE TEFLON, AND THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE PROTECTING DONALD TRUMP IN WAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE JUST UNFATHOMABLE BY ANY OTHER POLITICAL STANDARD, AND SO I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT RIGHT NOW.

JEAN MARIE, ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT POP OUT TO YOU THAT WILL LIKELY, IF THE PRESIDENT'S CHARGED, THEY THEMSELVES WOULD BE CHARGED?

I ALREADY KNOW THAT PETER NAVARRO AND STEVE BANNON HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR IGNORING A SUBPOENA BY THE COMMITTEE, BUT ASIDE FROM THAT?

I THINK JOHN EASTMAN, RIGHT, THE ATTORNEY WHO ADVISED TRUMP ON THAT, THERE'S -- OBVIOUSLY THE LAST HEARING WAS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON THE ADVICE HE GAVE TO THE PRESIDENT, AND I THINK THERE WAS -- SOMEONE TOLD HIM TO GET A GOOD CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECULATE, BUT OBVIOUSLY HE DEVISED A PLAN TO REJECT THE ELECTORS, SO I THINK BHELD POTENTIALLY IN THE CROSS HAIR THERE IS.

SETH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE HEARINGS.

ACCORDING TO A 'NEW YORK TIMES' PIECE APPARENTLY BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF LEADING DEMOCRATS, MAYBE IN THE HOUSE AND BEYOND, THE POLITICAL AIM OF THE HEARING IS TO, QUOTE, RECAST THE MIDTERM MESSAGE TO REFOCUS THE VOTERS' ATTENTION ON THE REPUBLICANS' ROLE IN THE ATTACK.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT GOAL IS BEING MET, BEING ACHIEVED?

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

MOST PEOPLE, THE WAY THEY ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE -- OF, YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC POLICY AND SO FORTH, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE PREVAILING -- THAT'S DRIVING PEOPLES' ATTITUDES TOWARDS POLITICS, AND IN THAT SENSE, I THINK THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO TURN THE JANUARY 6th INCIDENT INTO A MAJOR, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL POINT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO RUN ON.

THEIR PRESIDENT IS FAILING.

INFLATION IS EXTREMELY HIGH, HIGHER THAN IT'S BEEN IN MANY PEOPLE'S MEMORIES.

WHAT DO THEY HAVE?

THIS IS THEIR POINT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, JEAN MARIE?

POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE -- IS THERE AN UNDERLYING, PERHAPS, INVISIBLE IMPACT THAT THIS IS HAVING ON THE VOTERS AND PERHAPS THE MIDTERMS?

I MEAN, I THINK WE'LL FIND OUT IN NOVEMBER, BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THEIR OVERARMING GOAL IS TO ONCE AND FOR ALL DISCREDIT DONALD TRUMP AND PUSH HIM OUT AND HIS INFLUENCE OUT.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT MESSAGE COMES THROUGH TO VOTERS, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

I SAW A PIECE BY I THINK IT WAS SOMEBODY FROM THE FEDERALIST THAT SAID IF THE DEMOCRATS ACHIEVE THAT, THE BIGGEST WINNER WILL BE RON DeSANTIS.

I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, JEAN MARIE.

OH, THAT'S A -- I'M NOT SURE, HONESTLY.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW LIKE THE PRESIDENT IS -- BECAUSE HE'S CHALLENGING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, SETH?

I WOULD AGREE ABSOLUTELY, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK TRUMP, TOO, IN A WEIRD WAY IS KIND OF RELISHING THE IDEA OF BEING PUT IN THE DOCK.

YOU KNOW, IT WOULD EXPOSE THE DEMOCRATS' CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT AS, YOU KNOW, THIS SORT OF THIRD WORLD, BANANA REPUBLIC STYLE OPERATION, AND IT WOULD GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE MARTYR.

SO, IT'S A DANGEROUS GAME, I FEEL, BOTH SIDES ARE PLAYING?

MAY I INTERJECT?

YES, PLEASE.

ONE THING I WOULD SAY, THE EFFECTS ON THE MIDTERM ARE, ONE, THAT THE DEMOCRATS WANTED TO DO THIS NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE UNCERTAIN -- FELT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE IN THE MIDTERM, SO IF THEY DIDN'T MAKE THIS STAND NOW THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A CHANCE IN THE FUTURE WHEN THEY HAVE MORE EVIDENCE.

THEY SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THIS IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION WHICH LEAD ONE TO SAY, WHY ARE YOU DOING IT NOW?

BECAUSE IT'S POLITICALLY PRUDENT TO DO IT NOW.

ALSO WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO PROVE TO THE BASE THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING, THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPOTENT IN SITTING BECOME AND LETTING THE VERY WELL ORGANIZED MACHINE OF THE CONSERVATIVES ROLL OVER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHILE THEY NOW HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENCY AND THE HOUSE, I MEAN, FEELING THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE -- AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS COMES FROM -- IN THE MIDTERMS THEY WANT TO SHOW DEMOCRATS DO HAVE SOME POWER AND HE KNOW HOW TO USE IT AND THEY'RE NOT WIMPS.

FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, LET ME FOLLOW UP AND, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS.

IT'S IMPORTANT BEFORE WE MOVE TO ANOTHER SUBJECT.

AS WE KNOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, SPEAKER PELOSI REJECTED TWO OF THE FIVE REPUBLICANS THAT MINORITY LEADER McCARTHY HAD CHOSEN.

A SIGNIFICANT BREAK FROM HOUSE TRADITION, AND IN CONSEQUENCE, McCARTHY PULLED ALL FIVE OUT.

SPEAKER PELOSI HERSELF NAMED TWO REPUBLICANS, LIZ CHENEY AND ADAM KINZINGER, WHO VOTED TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT IN HIS SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

SOME SAY THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL POLITICAL MISTAKE, THAT IT SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED THE COMMITTEE'S LEGITIMACY AND GAVE SOME CREDENCE TO THE REPUBLICANS' CLAIM THAT IT'S POLITICAL THEATER, THAT IT'S A POLITICAL INFOMERCIAL AS SENATOR RUBIO SAID.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

VERY QUICKLY, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, AND TOO OFTEN, THEY WANT TO PLAY NICE IN A GAME IN WHICH NICENESS IS NOT THE RULE OF THE GAME.

BE SO I THINK THEY HAD TO DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THE HEARINGS TOOK PLACE.

I THINK LIZ CHENEY IS A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE AS FAR AS THE DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CONSTITUTION THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWED.

SETH, DO YOU THINK THAT HAVING NOT ACCEPTED SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS' REQUEST AS TAKING AWAY SOME OF THE LEGITIMACY OF THE COMMITTEE?

ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS THE SORT OF THING YOU SEE IN, I DON'T KNOW, THE PHILIPPINES OR PERU, COUNTRY WHERE THE RULE OF LAW ISN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOWED AND WHOEVER'S IN CHARGE GETS TO GO AFTER THEIR ENEMIES.

SO, JEAN MARIE, AS OF THIS TAPING, WHAT ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE IN THE REMAINING THREE -- I THINK THREE -- HEARINGS?

I KNOW THE NEXT ONE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING LARGELY ON TRUMP'S ACTIONS IN PRESSURING REPUBLICANS FROM DIFFERENT STATES, AND PARTICULARLY TRYING TO GET THEM TO REJECT THE ELECTION RESULTS ON A STATE BY STATE CASE.

I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXT MAIN FOCUSLE IT WILL BE INTERESTING THE SEE WHO THEY FOCUS ON FOR THAT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO MONKEYPOX IF YOU WILL.

THAT'S THE LATEST DISEASE THAT IS MAKING WORLD HEALTH OFFICIALS WORRIED.

IT'S A FUNNY NAME, BUT IT'S NOT A FUNNY SUBJECT.

JEAN MARIE, WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?

AND TO DATE, HOW MANY CONFIRMED CASES HAVE THERE BEEN IN NEW YORK CITY?

THIS IS AS YOU MENTIONED A CONTAGIOUS ILLNESS THAT CAUSES LESIONS ON THE SKIN AS WELL AS OTHER SYMPTOMS LIKE FEVER AND CHILLS.

IT IS SPREAD BY DIRECT CONTACT WITH THOSE LESIONS AND ALSO THEY BELIEVE THROUGH -- AND I DON'T KNOW, I'M IN THE A SCIENTIST, SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN, BUT THROUGH SHARING OF PERSONAL OBJECTS, AND THERE IS SOME BELIEF IT CAN ALSO SPREAD THROUGH DROPLETS, BUT AS FAR AS WHAT THEY'VE SAID SO FAR, MUCH LESS CONTAGIOUS THAN COVID-19, WHICH IS AT LEAST ENCOURAGING.

SO FAR, NUMBERSWISE, I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE MOST UP TO DATE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 100 CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HERE IN NEW YORK, A COUPLE DOZEN, SOMETHING IN THE MID TO LOW 20s, AND THERE WAS NEWS THIS MORNING THAT NEW JERSEY HAS ITS FIRST DETECTED CASE.

HOW DANGEROUS IS IT?

HOW LETHAL?

AND DOES IT, LIKE COVID, ATTACK A PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE POPULATION MORE THAN OTHERS?

ANYONE CAN GET IT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, BUT IT HAS BEEN SPREADING PRIMARILY AMONG GAY MEN SO FAR, SO THIS IS WHY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OUTREACH AND PUSHING AWARENESS AROUND THOSE PARTICULAR POPULATIONS, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN WHERE PRIMARILY MOST OF THE CASES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

IN TERMS OF LETHALITY, IT IS -- I THINK MOST PEOPLE CAN RECOVER AT HOME.

THEY RECOMMEND ISOLATING BUT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAVE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS IT CAN GET --

GLORIA, IF CASES BEGIN TO INCREASE QUICKLY HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, DO YOU FORESEE THAT WE'LL LIKELY SEE A CONCERTED EFFORT BY CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BEGIN TO TRY TO CONTROL THIS PANDEMIC?

AND HOW WILL THE POPULATION HERE IN NEW YORK CITY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, HOW WILL THEY RESPOND?

ARE THEY READY TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT AGAIN FROM GOVERNMENT, OR NOT?

WELL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE HAVE STILL WEST NILE VIRUS.

WE HAVE LEGIONAIRE'S DISEASE.

WE HAVE SO MANY DISEASES TAKING PLACE HERE.

THIS IS THE ONE IN THE NEWS NOW.

I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNMENT'S IN THE PLACE WHERE IT'S GOING TO MAKE THIS THE DISEASE THAT'S GOING TO ARM PEOPLE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUSH FORWARD.

IT IS ONE THAT HAS WITH IT A SENSE OF MISERY, BUT NOT DEATH.

SO I THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S A WAIT AND SEE SITUATION, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE LOW, ABOUT 25, 26 -- 23 IN NEW YORK CITY, MY LAST COUNT, AND THEN ONE IN WEST CHESTER AND ANOTHER IN SULLIVAN COUNTY, AND AS IT WAS POINTED OUT, NEW JERSEY.

SO IT'S NOT AS WIDESPREAD AS MANY DISEASES IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

SETH, DO YOU AGREE WITH GLORIA?

OH, YEAH.

IT'S NOT A PANDEMIC.

IT'S NOT EASILY SPREAD.

YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO HAVE SKIN TO SKIN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH LESIONS.

SO, IT SOUNDS TERRIBLE, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT SPREADS QUICKLY.

JEAN MARIE, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT A DOCTOR, BUT LET ME ASK YOU ANY WAY -- ABSENT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION OR ASIDE FROM GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, DO WE KNOW YET -- HAVE WE BEEN TOLD WHAT WE AS REGULAR FOLKS CAN DO TO PREVENT CATCHING MONKEYPOX?

I THINK AT THIS POINT MOST OF THE MESSAGING I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN AROUND AWARENESS AND JUST PEOPLE BEING MINDFUL OF THEIR SYMPTOMS.

LESIONS SEEM LIKE A MORE OBVIOUS ONE TO SPOT, THOUGH -- I'M SURE THERE ARE CASES THAT CAN BE MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S AWARENESS IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND ALSO, AGAIN, ISOLATE AND DO YOUR BEST NOT TO SPREAD THAT TO OTHER FOLKS.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE PRIMARIES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE A WEEK FROM TODAY, ALTHOUGH EARLY VOTING IS ALREADY UNDER WAY.

THESE PRIMARIES ARE ON JUNE 28th.

THEY'RE ONLY THE FIRST SET OF PRIMARIES HAPPENING THIS SUMMER.

THE SECOND SET WILL TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 23rd.

JEAN MARIE, FIRST OF ALL, WHY ARE THERE TWO SEPARATE SETS OF PRIMARIES THIS YEAR?

THIS HAS BEEN THE ONGOING NEW YORK SAGA.

THIS IS BEEN A BUSY LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AND THIS IS A RESULT OF THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

WE HAVE A CENSUS COUNT IN 2020.

THE REDISTRICTING IS BASED ON THE NEW LINES OF EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND STATE ASSEMBLY AND STATE SENATE DISTRICTS REDRAWN.

THOSE MAPS WERE KIND OF LATE IN THE GAME TOSSED OUT BY A JUDGE FOR BEING TOO PARTISAN THIS TIME ON THE PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS WHO DREW THEM UP AS OPPOSED TO IN THE PAST IT WAS THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN CHARGE OF THE PROCESS, HAVING DRAWN MOST LINES IN A PARTISAN WAY.

THIS WAS IN MAY THEY BASICALLY KIND OF THREW OUT MAPS WE THOUGHT WE WERE WORKING WITH AND HAD A SPECIAL MASTER -- WAS THE NAME OF THE PERSON CHARGED WITH REDRAWING THEM.

AND THAT WAS ONLY FOR THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, SO THIS IS WHY WE'VE NOW GOT TWO PRIMARIES, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING, I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO MEAN FOR TURNOUT.

I THINK IT'S HARD ENOUGH SOMETIMES TO GET FOLKS TO SHOW UP FOR ONE PRIMARY, SO HAVING TWO, IT'S AGAIN TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT AS YOU NOTED, EARLY VOTING IS UNDER WAY ALREADY, AND THIS IS RACES FOR STATE ASSEMBLY, GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND CONGRESSIONAL --

GLORIA, THE LIEUTENANT -- THE GOVERNOR'S RACE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS BEING CHALLENGED ON THE LEFT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE YUMANY WILLIAMS AND FROM THE RIGHT BY LONG ISLAND CONGRESSMAN TOM SWAZY.

DO EITHER OF THESE CHALLENGERS HAVE A SHOT AT BEATING GOVERNOR HOCHUL, DO YOU THINK?

I THINK THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T GET HIS NAME DIRECTLY ON YOUR TONGUE --

I HOPE HE'S NOT WATCHING BECAUSE I'VE INTERVIEWED HIM MANY TIMES.

WELL, I THINK THAT KIND OF TELLS YOU RIGHT THERE THAT VOTING IS LOW TO START WITH, NOW AS POINTED OUT BY JEAN MARIE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE TWO DIFFERENT PRIMARIES.

THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE WORLD WITH COVID AND GETTING BACK TO WORK AND WAR IN UKRAINE THAT I THINK VOTER TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE EVEN LOWER AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO FOR THE NAMED COMMODITY, AND THAT'S HOCHUL.

THAT'S MY IDEA, BECAUSE THE OTHERS REALLY HAVEN'T GAINED TRACTION.

AND PEOPLE REALLY -- I THINK THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE MIDTERMS TO ACTUALLY BECOME ENGAGED.

SETH, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

YEAH, I WOULD SAY SO.

JUMAANE WILLIAMS HASN'T REALLY RAISED ANY MONEY, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD SHOT.

AND LOOK, BEING ENCUMBENT, EVEN IF YOU WEREN'T ELECTED TO THE POSITION CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT.

SO, SETH, ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THE GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY IS MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE.

THE TOP CONTENDERS ARE ANDREW GIULIANI, THE FORMER MAYOR'S SON, LONG ISLAND CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN, FORMER WEST CHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND BUSINESSMAN JAMES WILSON.

WHO'S GOT THE EDGE IN THIS RACE RIGHT NOW?

IT LOOKS LIKE ZELDIN FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND WHAT I'VE SEEN.

I'M NOT, LIKE, A PROGNOSTICATOR OR NOT TRA DA MUST, BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE ZELDIN HAS THE INSIDE TRACK.

DO YOU AGREE, JEAN MARIE?

YEAH, HE'S GOT THE PARTY'S BACKING, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, SO WELL KNOWN NAMEWISE COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHERS, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE KIND OF MAIN KIND OF CANDIDATE THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING ON.

EVERY INDICATION, AS WE'VE KIND OF TOUCHED ON THROUGHOUT THIS CONVERSATION, POINT TO A HUGE RED WAVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DO YOU SEE THAT RED WAVE POSSIBLY INCLUDING THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE IN NEW YORK IN NOVEMBER, JEAN MARIE?

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY UNLIKELY.

NEW YORK HASN'T HAD A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN A LONG TIME, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A TALL ORDER, BUT WHO KNOWS?

SETH, YOU'RE CONSERVATIVE BUT YOU'RE IN THE AN OPTIMIST NECESSARILY.

WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THIS?

I THINK IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IT COULD BE THIS YEAR.

I THINK HOCHUL IS A WEAK CANDIDATE.

I THINK HE WAS INSTALLED AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BY ANDREW CUOMO SIMPLY TO HOLD THE PLACE.

SO I THINK SHE'S VULNERABLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT COULD.

OKAY.

SO, FINALLY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC ENCUMBENTS IN THE ASSEMBLY WHO ARE HAVING CHALLENGED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BY CANDIDATES INDOORS BY THE SOCIALIST CANDIDATES OF AMERICA OR THE WORKING CLASS PARTY.

SETH, IS IT POSSIBLE THE ALBANY LEGISLATURE WILL BECOME EVEN MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN IT ALREADY IS?

I THINK THAT IS THE DIRECTION THE STATE IS HEADING.

IN A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM LIKE WE HAVE IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE EFFECTIVELY WHOEVER WINS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION WINS THE ELECTION, THERE IS A TENDENCY TO KEEP PUSHING FARTHER AND FARTHER LEFT BECAUSE THERE'S NO GENERAL TOUGH SWING TO THE CENTER FOR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, GLORIA?

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ALLEGED RED WAVE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE SCARINESS OF IT.

IF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE -- WHO WANT TO HAVE LESS LIBERAL POLITICS IN GOVERNMENT -- IF THE OPTION IS A RED WAVE BASED ON PEOPLE'S SUPPORT OF THIS SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP ATTACKING THE CAPITOL -- I MEAN, WHERE ARE THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE STANDING UP SAYING, WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th IS WRONG?

AND SO IF THAT'S THE RED WAVE THAT'S GOING FORWARD, THEN YES, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK AT A BANANA REPUBLIC, THE IT'S CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE LEADER OF THIS BANANA REPUBLIC, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF COUNTRY WE WANT.

IF WE HAVE TO SAY MORE LIBERALISM OR PEOPLE WHO WON'T STAND UP TO DONALD TRUMP OR SAY WHPD ON JANUARY 6th IS WRONG, THEN THE CHOICE IS GOING TO BE MORE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS.

GLORIA, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THIS IS -- PEOPLE SEEM, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, SEEM TO BE FOCUSED ON INFLATION, ON OTHER THINGS.

IN FACT, THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE HAD ITS PRIMETIME PROGRAM.

THE NEXT DAY WAS WHEN INFLATION ROSE AND THE STOCK MARKET TANKED.

IS IT REALISTIC TO EXPECT THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE -- REMOVE THEIR FOCUS TO THAT EVENT?

BUT EVEN BEFORE THE ECONOMY WENT DOWN, THE CONSERVATIVES WERE STILL BEHIND DONALD TRUMP, AND SO YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE MOIRES OF THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DOES JANUARY 6th MEAN TO CONSERVATIVES?

IF THEY'RE NOT GOING STAND UP AND SAY IT WAS WRONG, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS WRONG IN LEADING THIS, THEN YES, INFLATION AND ALL THESE OTHER CONCERNS WILL BE IN THE FOREFRONT, BUT THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY IS BEING DIVIDED HERE, AND I DON'T THINK THE CONSERVATIVES HAVE STOOD UP, SO THAT GIVES ROOM FOR LIBERALS TO COME IN THE WAKE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THE CONSERVATIVES TO SAY SOMETHING, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN, AND IT'S REALLY DISTRESSING.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A CONSERVATIVE.

I'M NOT ANTI-REPUBLICAN, BUT -- PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING.

ALL RIGHT, GLORIA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO END IT THERE BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

THANK YOU.

> 'METROFOCUS' IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION.