1 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: He is a lifelong who's your statesman and passionate steward 2 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: of Indiana's history. Born and raised in Indianapolis, and he 3 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: devoted more than three decades to public service as a 4 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: member of the Indiana State Senate until he stepped away 5 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: in November of twenty twenty. 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 2: Joining us now in the WIBC studio, we have Jim Merritt. Hey, 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: it's nice to see you again. 8 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 3: Very much appreciate being on the air with you today. 9 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: I wanted to talk with you about this book that 10 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: you put out. It's called Lessons Learned? Are we ready 11 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: for the next pandemic? History says no, Okay, So what 12 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: inspired you to write the book? 13 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 4: Well, as you know, I was in the Indiana cent 14 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 4: for thirty years and my last year was twenty twenty. 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 4: And I remember on March third going to the microphone 16 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 4: in the Senate and talking about this flu or this 17 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 4: infection or something that's come to the fore and then 18 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 4: we signed. He died on March eleventh, and yeah, and 19 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 4: we were we didn't know what was coming and because 20 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 4: we being the federal government and state government, really were 21 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 4: flying blind because we never see him like that, like this, 22 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 4: that the governor was trying to get in front of it. 23 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 4: The president of the administration, the Trump administration at the time, 24 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 4: was trying to get in front of it. And there 25 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 4: were just way too many voices, way too many experts 26 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 4: out there, and it was difficult for the American public 27 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 4: to follow it. And so the reason why I wrote 28 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 4: the book is I saw that chaos in twenty twenty 29 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 4: and by no fault of any they were all struggling. 30 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 4: And I started to think about and watching the governor 31 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 4: executive order after executive order, having a legend slative mind 32 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 4: that I felt like I needed to start recording this. 33 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 4: And in twenty twenty two, when I saw there was 34 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 4: no after action report, there was no commission, nothing to 35 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 4: uh say, what the lessons learned available on Amazon dot com? 36 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 5: Uh? 37 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 4: What the what the lessons learned? And how we can 38 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 4: avoid it? How can we how can we guard against 39 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 4: the future and make our make our populace and our 40 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 4: Americans and the world safe coming And I don't I 41 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 4: still don't see it. 42 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: So you're saying that you've been writing this book for 43 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: four years. 44 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:41,079 Speaker 3: Four years. 45 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 4: Four years, Yes, it took four years, and and uh uh. 46 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 4: The book starts out with studying and talking about the 47 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 4: the the pandemics from the beginning of time and and 48 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 4: what how we reacted, how the world reacted to it. 49 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 4: It goes through the Spanish flu, of which not many 50 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 4: people remember, and then America started with FBR started investing 51 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 4: in science, and so it goes through the twentieth century 52 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 4: to the twenty first century, and it seems as though 53 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 4: that every pandemic that we've had, no one really corrected 54 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 4: the record and protected us, and still it's not happening. 55 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: You had mentioned it was chaos when Holcombe was in office, 56 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: and that there were seventy different executive orders. Were you 57 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: surprised that there was never any discussion about removing his 58 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: emergency powers? 59 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 4: You know, if you recall, there was a lot of 60 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 4: discussion between the legislature and the governor's office on a 61 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 4: myriad of power issues, if you will, and the legislature 62 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 4: just does not have the leverage to do that. And 63 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 4: I came up with an idea that we know the 64 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 4: governor as an office is a week a governor position 65 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 4: where you can override the veto really really easily by 66 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 4: majority and not two thirds. And so what I would 67 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 4: have done is I would have traded that for the idea, 68 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 4: if you have an executive order, if you have an 69 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 4: executive order for thirty days, if it continues and he 70 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 4: wants to the governor, he or she in the future 71 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 4: wants to. 72 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 3: Re engage that. 73 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 4: Executive order, he has to call or she has to 74 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 4: call the legislature back into session. 75 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: Jim Merrit is joining us, and we're discussing his book 76 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: Lessons Learned. Are we ready for the next pandemic? History 77 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: says no. Before we get more into the book, I 78 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you one question about that time seventy 79 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 1: different executive orders. Was there one that sticks out in 80 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: your mind as being the most ridiculous? 81 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 3: Well, I think the last one. 82 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 4: When twenty twenty one turned twenty twenty two. 83 00:04:58,640 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 3: There's a lot anngst in. 84 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 4: This world about about COVID, and there still were reported 85 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 4: cases and people were sick, and then all of a 86 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 4: sudden in February, woof, it was gone. The last It's 87 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 4: interesting to see the sixty ninth and seventieth where where 88 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 4: we had it was there, and then all of a 89 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 4: sudden on the seventieth they eliminated all the prerequisites and 90 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 4: all the protocols that had been established for the last 91 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 4: couple of years. 92 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: You were talking about one of the protocols that was 93 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 1: just ridiculous. If you're swimming, you have to swim six 94 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: feet apart. 95 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 3: Yes, there's the clause there. 96 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 4: And you know, and if you look if when you 97 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 4: read the book and you look around the world, they 98 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 4: had different countries. 99 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 6: South Korea did it. 100 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 4: Very well, by the way, but there were a lot 101 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 4: of countries that would allow women to come out out 102 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 4: in public one day and men the other people walking 103 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 4: on different sides of the. 104 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 3: Streets, you know. 105 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 4: And the crazy pictures that I saw of people having 106 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 4: athletic supporters on their face and and uh and water 107 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 4: cooler uh, you know, tanks on their face. 108 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 7: I read the famous pictures of people driving in their 109 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 7: cars with by themselves wearing. 110 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: Masks with bags on their faces, some plastic, I don't know, 111 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: baggage to you know, keep them. 112 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 3: Peace, you know. 113 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: Uh. 114 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 4: What I always say to people is that fear, fear 115 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 4: was present and and uh and the only way that 116 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 4: we're going to understand what happened is number one, have 117 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 4: a complete understanding of it. Bye by government and uh 118 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 4: mix some apologies because they scared the hell out of everybody, 119 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 4: and uh, and and two what we're going to do 120 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:52,119 Speaker 4: forward because this is going to happen again. And uh 121 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 4: and what you know the idea the autoimmune systems of 122 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 4: of Americans and around the world, if you will, Uh, 123 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 4: what are we going to do about that? Because the 124 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 4: idea of COVID itself as well as the the onslaught 125 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 4: of how what that produced in your body? 126 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 3: You know it. 127 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 4: I'm very worried about the about society going forward because 128 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 4: if I told you, Jim, that you've got to go 129 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 4: home and you have to stay there, You're not going 130 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 4: to do it. 131 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 6: Not anymore, that's for sure. Yeah, fool me once. 132 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 4: Anybody listening to this, I think they would agree with me. 133 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 4: If government told you had to stay in place, nine 134 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 4: out of ten people would number one say why and 135 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 4: two they would say no, we're not ready. 136 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 6: Yeah, Jim, I find it fascinating. 137 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 7: I want to go back to the dynamic between the 138 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 7: legislature and Hulcombe and the timing on all of it. 139 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 7: You said that in March of twenty twenty, March tenth 140 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 7: was Sinnee Dice and the legislators go home, and then 141 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 7: it was really that week that everything blew up and 142 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 7: the whole world shut down and former Governor Holcomb starts 143 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 7: issuing all these executive orders. You mentioned about how the 144 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 7: legislature can't call themselves back to an emergency session. That 145 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 7: has to be done by the governor. The governor didn't 146 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 7: do that. So you've got essentially nine months from March 147 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 7: until January of next year. Did the legislature try to 148 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 7: do much once they went back into session, I guess 149 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 7: that would be in January of twenty twenty one. 150 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 4: Well, they did to a certain extent, but just back 151 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:29,559 Speaker 4: up that when March eleventh came and then Trump shut 152 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 4: down the world right, and so the governor is following 153 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 4: the CDC, which should not be in charge next time, 154 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 4: by the way, And you just kind of look at this, 155 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 4: and I always thought that the legislature all one hundred 156 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 4: and fifty sets of boots on the ground, And if 157 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 4: I were in Governor Holcomb's spot, I would be out 158 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 4: talking by zoom or in person to every legislator, reading 159 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 4: by region, communicating because they are going to the gyms, 160 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 4: they are going to church, they're going to groceries, they're 161 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 4: going to the tire store, and and what the governor 162 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 4: was doing was and I can be critical of this 163 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 4: because I felt like this is what he had to do, 164 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 4: but I thought he should do more. If you recall 165 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 4: he had a one thirty Facebook live every day to 166 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 4: talk to citizens. Well, the state of Indiana is a 167 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 4: very rural place and about at that time, we were 168 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 4: about sixty five percent broadband covered. So his message wasn't 169 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 4: getting there. 170 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 3: And he had a built in, a built. 171 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 4: In communication channel with legislators and because we are there, 172 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 4: we are in our homes and and it wasn't utilized. 173 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 4: And so it's all about communication. It's all about fact, 174 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 4: and it's all about people speaking out of the same 175 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 4: out of the same wealth of knowledge that they have. 176 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 4: And we just got we were we as a as 177 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 4: a world. 178 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 3: We were blind. There were crisis communication. 179 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 4: Experts coming in and out the State House in the 180 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,319 Speaker 4: summer of twenty twenty, going into Room two a six 181 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 4: the Governor's office. He was doing his very best to communicate, 182 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 4: and it was really difficult. I just believe that he 183 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 4: could have used the legislature as a friendly word, a tool. 184 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: As an arm of his message. 185 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 7: Yes, yeah, well I've got I want to go back 186 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 7: to something you said, because I found it really interesting. 187 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 7: You talked about how the CDC was in charge last 188 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 7: time and they shouldn't be in charge the next time. 189 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 7: Can you tell us who should without ruining the book, 190 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 7: who do you think should be in charge next time? 191 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,319 Speaker 7: If it's not the Centers for Disease Control, Well, the 192 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 7: CDC looks back. It's a research It was put in 193 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 7: charge by default. And there is an arm. 194 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 4: Of the army that actually and there's a long acronym, 195 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 4: but they are in charge, if you can believe it, 196 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 4: and they've been there for a while. They are in 197 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 4: charge of infection and pandemic and and I believe if 198 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 4: if Trump had given this responsibility meaning uh, communicating and 199 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 4: and and the mask mandate if there was one, Uh, 200 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 4: they didn't even CDC didn't even test masks Japan test 201 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 4: mask and so they didn't even know what to suggest 202 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 4: to the American people. And you'll read that in the 203 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:30,680 Speaker 4: book available on Amazon dot com, Casey Daniels. But but 204 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 4: bottom line is the the c d C was ill 205 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 4: equipped and and the and the support for them is 206 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 4: is not there is vacant and uh and just like 207 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 4: with Operation Warp Speed was done very very well, and 208 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 4: that was kind of an arm of the of the 209 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 4: army that did that, and it was, it was efficient, 210 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 4: and it was it did its shop. I think in 211 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 4: the future that arm of the army, army that actually 212 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 4: study infection and studies pandemics, should be the proper place. 213 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 3: To do so. 214 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: How much do you think political or media communication, or 215 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,599 Speaker 1: rather miscommunication shape the public response during the pandemic? 216 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 3: Well, I think it was large. 217 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 4: However, I think they were They were given information by 218 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 4: all sorts of walks of life, and so they can only, 219 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 4: you know, everybody establish an opinion. But if we were 220 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 4: speaking with one voice in Washington, I think I think 221 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 4: a communication of safety and allaying fears and and and 222 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 4: spending the money that is necessary. It all comes down 223 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 4: to the credibility of the message and the credibility of government, 224 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 4: which is right now vacant. If we were if we 225 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 4: would have to shut down again. 226 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,559 Speaker 1: Jimrit is joining us. We're talking about lessons learned. Are 227 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: we ready for the next pandemic? History says no. He's 228 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: going to stick around with us, and we're going to 229 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: ask the big question, what was this zingis big old, single, 230 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 1: biggest failure and what we need to know going forward 231 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: so that it doesn't happen again, you're. 232 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,479 Speaker 8: Listening to ninety three WIBC. 233 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 1: He is a fierce advocate for historic conservation and education. 234 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,359 Speaker 1: Jim Merritt playing a pivotal role in some of Indiana's 235 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: most significant cultural projects, and he has a new book out. 236 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: It's called Lessons Learned. Are we ready for the next pandemic? 237 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 8: History? 238 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 2: Says no? 239 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: Jim Merritt joining us in this studio before we get 240 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: to the big question about the biggest failure and what 241 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: needs to change moving forward, I'm wondering if you would 242 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: share the story you just told Jim and I off 243 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: the air on the air about how messaging can change 244 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 1: and the effect that it has on Hoosier's messages. 245 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 4: It's all about messaging and the confidence that comes from that, 246 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 4: or the lack of confidence and trust. 247 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:56,599 Speaker 3: Way back in July. 248 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 4: Of twenty twenty, you all recall that we had a 249 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 4: didn't have a mass mandate, that that the Governor Holcomb 250 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 4: had staved it off, had had said no, talked to 251 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 4: the hand everything and uh and and sometimes when you're 252 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,199 Speaker 4: in leadership, you have to turn on a dime. 253 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 3: And uh. 254 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 4: I was caucus chairman of the Republican Caucus in the Indiana Senate, 255 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 4: we were having a caucus and uh. And and right 256 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 4: after that we we were we were going to be 257 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 4: talking with lieutenant governors Suzanne Crouch and uh, she hasn't 258 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 4: been going that long. Suzanne Crouch, my good friend Suzanne Crouch. 259 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 4: And it's well known that she was doing an interview 260 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 4: up and up in Fort Wayne, and it was it 261 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 4: was a tape recorded interview for a radio station. And 262 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 4: she in that interview, she was defending the governor on 263 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 4: on staving off the mass mandate. And then all of 264 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 4: a sudden, a tweet went out from the governor's office 265 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 4: and uh, they were calling for a mass mandate. 266 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 3: And uh. 267 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 4: And during that caucus that day in July mid I 268 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 4: think it was July twenty second, the governor had not 269 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 4: given any of us the inclinate or the message that 270 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 4: he was going to have a mass mandate. So he 271 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 4: took you know, forty members of the of the Senate 272 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 4: by surprise number one, but two he took his lieutenant 273 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 4: governor surprise. And so after she saw the tweet, they 274 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 4: re recorded the interview with Suzanne defending the mass mandate. 275 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 3: Wow. 276 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 4: And so you know, not only that members of the 277 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 4: Indiana Senate were in caucus on July twenty second, were 278 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 4: taken by surprise, so was lieutenant governor and and you know, 279 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 4: something happened quickly in the governor's office and he felt 280 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 4: like he had to he had to turn But the 281 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,400 Speaker 4: bottom line is is communication is everything, and if you're 282 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 4: going to engender trust in society, you've got to speak truths, 283 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 4: and you've got to speak you know, you have to 284 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 4: be clear and and understand that you may scare people. 285 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: But really shows a lack of conviction. Though she recorded 286 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: an interview saying, no, masks don't work, It's not going 287 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: to happen here in Indiana. Tweet comes out mask mandate 288 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: re records the entire interview to defend that position. 289 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, she Susanne Crouch was a soldier and it was 290 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 4: the Holcome team. You don't see a whole lot of 291 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 4: that in the state House right now. And so she 292 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 4: she got her she got her orders, and lieutenant governors 293 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 4: are supposed to follow the team. 294 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: How much of that was because of federal funding? I 295 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: think I how much the change and mask mandates and 296 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: everything that went on in the state, Well, we were. 297 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 4: So discombobulated with masks. You know, I saw good friends 298 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 4: who had scarves on. I saw good friends who refused 299 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 4: to wear masks. And the whole mask mandate ended up 300 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 4: being just an incredible disaster because no one knew Japan, 301 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 4: like I said, had tested it, and they knew what 302 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 4: mask work and did not. 303 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 3: The CDC made an. 304 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 4: Incredible mistake on masks and it really set us back incredibly. 305 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 6: Well. 306 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 7: I remember, specifically in the first month, so we're talking 307 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 7: about like March and April of twenty twenty, I remember 308 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 7: doctor Frauci's standing up there saying, look, masks do not work. 309 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:23,679 Speaker 6: They will not protect you. 310 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 7: Because the concern at the time was having enough ppe 311 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 7: for our healthcare professionals. 312 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 6: And they were worried that we were going to run 313 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 6: out of masks. 314 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 7: So we don't want the public to use masks and 315 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 7: waste them when the doctors could be using them. And 316 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 7: then obviously as time went on, all of a sudden 317 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,880 Speaker 7: that changed dramatically and it was you know, you better 318 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 7: wear a mask, or you know you get a fine 319 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 7: or thrown in jail or worse. 320 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,919 Speaker 4: Well, it goes back to the lesson learned is if 321 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 4: you're going to have a mask, it's got to be 322 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 4: it's got to be sturdy, and it's got to be effective. 323 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 3: And it goes back to the stockpile. We need to. 324 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 4: Make sure we're ready for any emergency in regards to 325 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 4: a pandemic. 326 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 3: And uh and and you. 327 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 4: Know you can't be ultra safe because you don't know 328 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 4: what that pandemic is going to be about. But you 329 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 4: look at history and and and find out exactly what 330 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 4: happened and uh and be ready. 331 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: Okay, Jim Merritt is joining us Lessons Learned? Are we 332 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: ready for the next pandemic? History? Says no. It's a 333 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: new book that he has out. You can find it 334 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 1: on Amazon. In your view, what was the singlest big 335 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: old biggest failure in the pandemic preparedness? 336 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 3: I think the single biggest. 337 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: I mean there were many. There's so many you could 338 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: choose to shoot. 339 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, there were. 340 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 4: There were incredible failures and and I think from the 341 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 4: very beginning was was really the single biggest because we 342 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 4: didn't take it seriously and and our government leaders didn't 343 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 4: take it seriously. And I'm talking about early January twenty 344 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 4: twenty and and uh and and the clearing call did 345 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 4: not take effect. And I think you would share it 346 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 4: with me also that in January and February, we just thought, 347 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 4: you know, it just wasn't going to happen, and some 348 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 4: people get sick and whatnot. I think it just wasn't 349 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 4: a serious communication channel with facts, and I think that 350 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 4: led to so much lack of credibility by the government. 351 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 3: I think a lot of people turned off a. 352 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 4: Government from the very beginning because they just didn't know 353 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 4: how to communicate the seriousness of the situation. 354 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 2: In your book, you. 355 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: Take a look historically at past pandemics and then you 356 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 1: review what happened with COVID nineteen. What is the big 357 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: takeaway moving forward? What needs to change? What are like 358 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: the top things that should be done. 359 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 4: Well, if you look at the Spanish flu. In the 360 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 4: Spanish flu, there was a Philadelphia parade and they're raising 361 00:19:55,160 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 4: money for war bonds. And most people know, uh now 362 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 4: that more people died in World War One from the 363 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 4: Spanish Flu than they died in battle and uh, and 364 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 4: so uh the idea of of the Spanish flu and 365 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 4: and people and lack of knowledge. 366 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 3: Uh. 367 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 4: But but with this Philadelphia parade, Uh, people were falling 368 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 4: down dead and and uh the people in Saint Louis 369 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 4: heard about this, and so they they they shut down, 370 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 4: they didn't have any they they instructed not people not 371 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 4: to gather, and and they did not suffer the same 372 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 4: fate as Philadelphia. 373 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 3: And and you know, wood Wilson. 374 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 4: Was a a a stone that dragged everything down with 375 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:51,959 Speaker 4: with the Spanish flu. And he he actually died from it. 376 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 4: And and uh when when the Spanish flu actually was 377 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 4: active in Washington, d c right under his nos and 378 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 4: he checked out. He was more worried about World War 379 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 4: what we call World War one now, and he left 380 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 4: it to people in the medicine and the science industry 381 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 4: to handle it. And so he worried about global but 382 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 4: forgot about people Americans suffering. 383 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 1: Jamard, it's nice to see you again. 384 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 3: Thank you. 385 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: The book has called lessons learned. Are we ready for 386 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,239 Speaker 1: the next pandemic? History says no. You can find out 387 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: wherever you buy your favorite books, including Amazon. 388 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 3: Thank you. 389 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 8: You're listening to ninety three WYBC. 390 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 1: We're told over and over again that Indiana is one 391 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: of the best places to buy a home because of 392 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 1: the affordability. However, you could say it's also a housing nightmare. 393 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: In America's best state to buy a house, banks are 394 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: suddenly seizing thousands of properties across the state, and Indiana 395 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: has been among the states with the highest foreclosure rates. 396 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: I believe we're actually number one. Foreclosures rising in Indianapolis. 397 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: Also Marian County. You also have pre foreclosure filings. They've 398 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 1: climbed year over year, and this is showing an up 399 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: top uptick even after the pandemic drop has ended. So 400 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,200 Speaker 1: you've got rising housing costs and you've got those rising 401 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 1: property taxes, and they are squeezing homeowners. 402 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 6: Yeah, so yeah, absolutely, Indianapolis. 403 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 7: Actually, the state of Indiana had the highest rate of 404 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,160 Speaker 7: foreclosures in February twenty twenty six, higher than any other 405 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 7: in the country. Now keep in mind that's on a 406 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 7: per capita basis. Obviously, you know, California is the most 407 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 7: populous state in the country, and they're always going to 408 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 7: have the most by sheer raw numbers. But when you 409 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 7: look at it as a per capita basis, Indiana, Indiana 410 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 7: was the number one housing market to have the most 411 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 7: foreclosures in February of twenty twenty six. 412 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 1: So you've got pandemic era Indiana homeowner assistance funds they 413 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: may have help for a little bit. Those programs are 414 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: since closed, so now that's just leaving fewer supports available, 415 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 1: and that is property taxes causing all of these foreclosures. 416 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, and that's certainly a big part of it. 417 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 7: Another big part of it, too, is that we've seen 418 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 7: just a very little wage growth here in the state 419 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 7: of Indiana. 420 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 6: So if you've been here, if you're. 421 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 7: A hoosier your whole life, and your wages really haven't 422 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,399 Speaker 7: gone up in the last ten or fifteen years, but 423 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 7: your property taxes have gone up so much that puts 424 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 7: you in a position where you might not be able 425 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 7: to afford your home. I think that when they talk 426 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 7: about Indiana being so affordable, they're mostly talking to people 427 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 7: that live outside the state of Indiana, where housing may 428 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 7: be more expensive and your wages may be higher. And 429 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 7: so if you want to move to Indiana, it can 430 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 7: be cheaper option for you. But if you've been a 431 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 7: hoosier your whole life. 432 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 2: You don't have the wages keeping up. 433 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 7: You don't have the wages keeping up, and that's where 434 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 7: that affordability crunch. And it obviously is proving out because 435 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 7: we were number one in foreclosures last month, and. 436 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: It was a year ago that we had a little 437 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: rally at the state House. We were told that something 438 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: was going to be done for property taxes to get 439 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: those numbers down, and then there was an ASoP the sleeve, 440 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 1: and then nothing happened. So foreclosures they're not evenly distributed 441 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,439 Speaker 1: across neighborhoods. You've got some lower income areas that are 442 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: seeing higher rates, and you've got other areas that are 443 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: doing okay. Many baby boomers choosing not to sell their 444 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: big homes even as they age and their children are grown. 445 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 1: Boomers now own a major share of US housing stock. 446 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: About sixty one percent of boomers say they don't plan 447 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: to sell their home anytime soon. It used to be 448 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,880 Speaker 1: once you reached a certain age, you would downsize. 449 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course, you get rid of that big house. 450 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: You'd sell off a lot of your stuff, and that 451 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,639 Speaker 1: was to make life easier for you. But the trend 452 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: now is that baby boomers are staying in those big 453 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: homes and that is creating this lack of homes for 454 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:53,440 Speaker 1: younger buyers. 455 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 7: Well, we've seen this in a lot of other data 456 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 7: that Americans just aren't as mobile as we used to be. 457 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:00,479 Speaker 7: For a long time in this country, we would move 458 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 7: anywhere in the country, especially if you've got a better 459 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 7: job across the country, you pack up your family and 460 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,919 Speaker 7: you move there. That is certainly changed dramatically. A couple 461 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 7: of other things. A lot of those boomers don't have 462 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 7: a mortgage, so they're probably sitting back and thinking, oh, 463 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 7: this is great. 464 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 6: I don't have a mortgage. Why would I sell my house? 465 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 7: And if they do have a mortgage, it's probably one 466 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 7: of those dirt dirt cheap mortgages that they were able 467 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 7: to get before the pandemic, something around three percent. So again, 468 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 7: if you've got a three percent mortgage right now, your 469 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,439 Speaker 7: prospect of moving at best. I'm going to get a 470 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 7: six percent mortgage. Oh and I'm going to be paying 471 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 7: a lot more for a house than I did just 472 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 7: five or six years ago. I think this is probably 473 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 7: going to be a trend that is not going to 474 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 7: change anytime soon. 475 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,199 Speaker 1: Some older homeowners they fear that that old capital gains 476 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: tax as well, so if they were to sell, I mean, 477 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,719 Speaker 1: that's just going to discourage them from downsizing, because if 478 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: they do sell, they've got that huge capital gains tax 479 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: as well. 480 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 7: Yeah, and part of this is, you know, I think 481 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,960 Speaker 7: one of the reasons why there's such low inventory in 482 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 7: so many markets across the country. You don't have that, 483 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,199 Speaker 7: As you said before, boomers downsizing. They get to that 484 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 7: stage of life they want a smaller home they're gonna move. 485 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 7: That opens up this home for maybe a first time 486 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 7: home buyer or a second time home buyer that can 487 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 7: go in there. But because we've got and keep in 488 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 7: mind as always, baby boomers are the largest chunk of 489 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 7: population in the entire country. They're more baby Boomers than 490 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 7: anything else out there, and so they're holding an incredible 491 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 7: amount of pieces of real estate and have no interest 492 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 7: in moving out of them many time soon. 493 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 1: Even if they do sell their forever home, sometimes they 494 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 1: sit empty because they're not the type or location of 495 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: home that a younger buyer might want. It doesn't match 496 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: what younger buyers are wanting well in regards to size 497 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 1: or location. 498 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 7: And homeowners have more options because of technology than they 499 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 7: ever had before. I can turn my home into I 500 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 7: may buy a new home and keep this one and 501 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 7: rent it out as an airbnb, or I may hire 502 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 7: a real estate management company and just rent it out 503 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 7: to the general population. So I think a lot of 504 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 7: consumers and a lot of people are much more willing 505 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 7: to be a land lord and rent out their old 506 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:04,160 Speaker 7: home while they move into a new home, and again 507 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 7: that keeps it off the market for a family to purchase. 508 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: America's most expensive zip codes have been revealed. You've got 509 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: coastal areas in California and in New York they dominate 510 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: the top ten list. Also places in Silicon Valley they're 511 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 1: ranking very high, with the medium home price being nine 512 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 1: million dollars. So what is the most expensive zip code 513 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: in the country. Beverly Hills, California, the average home is 514 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 1: ten point five million dollars. You also have a Bridgehampton, 515 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: New York, where the average home is eight point eight 516 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:43,399 Speaker 1: million dollars. It goes down to a place in Arizona 517 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: Paradise Valley. The average home there is five point five 518 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 1: million dollars. Okay, there's a new design for the dime 519 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 1: coming out. The US Mint recently redesigned the dime and 520 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,919 Speaker 1: that's to mark the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary the 521 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: semi quincentennial. And unlike the traditional Roosevelt dime, the new 522 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 1: version does not include the olive branch on the back. 523 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 7: Interesting, now, this design is completely different. I remember when 524 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,160 Speaker 7: they came out with the quarters. Remember when they did 525 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 7: the quarters and the back of the quarter was different 526 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 7: for each state, and each state had a different back 527 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 7: on it, and they would roll them out every couple 528 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 7: of years and you could collect all fifty quarters. I 529 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,400 Speaker 7: think that whenever the Mint does specialty things like that, 530 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 7: it does get people interested in coin collecting, which is 531 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 7: kind of a lost hobby that's been gone for a 532 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 7: long time. 533 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: So historically US coins they've shown an eagle holding both 534 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: arrows for military strength and an olive branch for peace, 535 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: and on the new dime, the eagle is shown in 536 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: flight carrying only arrows and nothing in the talent. Now, 537 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: some people are saying, well, this is because of Operation 538 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: Epic Fury, and that's not the case. The design was 539 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 1: created long before that operation ever began. 540 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 7: Now are they messing with the front of the dime. 541 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 7: We still got FDR on the front of the dime, 542 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 7: or are they changing that too. 543 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: No, they're changing that too, so we're. 544 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 6: Not going to have FDR on the front of the dime. 545 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: The dime is looking completely different now. 546 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 7: That is different because even when they've changed and done 547 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 7: these special things, either with the nickels or the quarters. 548 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 7: In the past, the front has normally stayed the same, 549 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 7: So this is obviously a change in pace for the 550 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 7: mint and what they've done in the past. 551 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: So the redesign of the dime, it's going to revert 552 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: back to its previous design after this anniversary year, after 553 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: this semi quincentennial. There's this woman on the internet and 554 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: she's asking why does nobody want to leave their house anymore? 555 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: And when she asked that question, the floodgates burst open. 556 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: Listen to this, Okay, what is up? 557 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 5: Is not wanting to leave the house like ever for 558 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 5: any reason, work, fun things, nothing, don't want to do it? Like, 559 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 5: isn't an age thing? Is this seasonal depression? Like I 560 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 5: just don't leave my house unless it's a trip. If 561 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 5: it's a trip, I'm there. But anything else I just know. 562 00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:59,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, why does nobody want to go out anymore? She said, 563 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 1: not for work, not for fun, not even for simple things. 564 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: The only thing that she'd like to go out for 565 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 1: is to go on a trip. And the answers were this, 566 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: it costs one hundred time, one hundred dollars every time 567 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: I leave the house. I'd rather stay home than deal 568 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,160 Speaker 1: with people. Covid turned me into a permanent home buy. 569 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 7: I think it's got to be for a lot of people, 570 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 7: a big reason. 571 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: Nothing outside feels worth the effort anymore. 572 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:28,040 Speaker 7: We have made our homes fabulous and wonderful. I mean, 573 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 7: think of all the things that you have there in 574 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 7: a modern home today. You've got Wi Fi, You've got 575 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 7: the Internet, You've got streaming television and movies. I can 576 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 7: basically play any song I want, or watch any movie 577 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 7: or TV show I want. And we've seen this a lot. 578 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 7: It's impacted a lot of sporting events. I mean, attendance 579 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 7: for big time sporting events isn't what it used to be. 580 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 7: They're building stadiums smaller, especially NFL stadiums. We don't see 581 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 7: the type of attendance that we used to see at 582 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 7: Major League Baseball games and even NBA games because the 583 00:30:57,920 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 7: fan experience. 584 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 6: Is pretty aren't good at home. 585 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 7: I got a nice big flat screen TV and surround 586 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 7: sound speakers, and my own private bathroom right there, and 587 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 7: I've got a fridge full of snacks. Is We've made 588 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 7: our homes so cozy, so warm, so inviting, so enjoyable, 589 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 7: that something on the outside has got to be pretty special. 590 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 7: To get me outside of my front door. 591 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 8: Well, you and I we. 592 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: Like to go out to restaurants a lot, But how 593 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: many times now do we say, M, it's just better 594 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:25,880 Speaker 1: to make it at home. Well, we could make it 595 00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: just as good, if not better. And so much service 596 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: is fantastic at home. 597 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:33,560 Speaker 7: So much of doing anything outside your home, it's gotten 598 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 7: so expensive. That's got to be a big part of 599 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 7: it too. So I think we got the double whammy 600 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 7: from COVID. We got the idea that, oh, I don't 601 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 7: have to leave my house for my job. I don't 602 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 7: have to leave my house for anything. I'm going to 603 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 7: hunker down here during COVID. Oh and then because of COVID, 604 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 7: we had inflation go through the roof and everything got 605 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 7: so expensive. So that one two punch has really made 606 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 7: everybody hermits that were just wanting to burrow in our 607 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 7: house and not leave it. 608 00:31:56,440 --> 00:31:58,720 Speaker 1: It does seem like it stopped being an escape and 609 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 1: it started to be a job. Right because you've gotten 610 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: between the traffic and the inflated prices and the pressure 611 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 1: to document everything. 612 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 6: On social media. 613 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: Really it's sometimes it's just not an enjoyable experience, and 614 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 1: staying home is just more peaceful. 615 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 7: I got my slippers, I got some comfortable pants. I've 616 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 7: got you know what, it is tough to beat my couch. 617 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 7: Our couch is very good. It's very comfortable. It's fantastic. 618 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 7: And whatever is on the outside has got to be 619 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 7: better than my couch. 620 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 8: We've got the. 621 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: Best audio of the day coming up. You're listening to 622 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: ninety three WIBC. 623 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 8: Time for the best audio of the day. 624 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: A US service member has a message for well, democrats 625 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: or anybody who doesn't like America. 626 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 8: Hey, I don't know who need to hit is? 627 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 2: You know what I'm saying. 628 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 6: I see a lot of people be talking to America. Hey, 629 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 6: if you don't like America, go to another country. I 630 00:32:58,120 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 6: love this country. 631 00:32:58,800 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 3: I'll partake. 632 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: It's always been the concept, right, I'm always surprised more 633 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 1: people to understand. 634 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 2: Are we a perfect nation? 635 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 1: No? But where the best there is And if you 636 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:12,960 Speaker 1: don't like it, there's the door, find another country. 637 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 7: It gets exhausting listening to how many people just want 638 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 7: to constantly crap on this country every single day. And 639 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 7: so that's why I love that piece of audio, because 640 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 7: he is unabashedly proud to be an American. And if 641 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 7: you see it. He's wearing his military gear, he's got 642 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 7: his helmet on, he's obviously in some sort of US 643 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 7: military equipment. I don't know if it's a truck or 644 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 7: a humby or something like that. And he's like, you 645 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 7: know what, this is the best place ever. And if 646 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 7: you don't like it, too bad. 647 00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 1: And here's the difference. You can like the country but 648 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 1: still just like the government. Just because you don't agree 649 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:47,160 Speaker 1: with who is in office doesn't mean you should be 650 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:51,280 Speaker 1: trashing the entire country. There's the big difference. Regardless of 651 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,400 Speaker 1: who the president is. It goes beyond one term and 652 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: one president. 653 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:57,320 Speaker 7: Well, I mean, and there are people that make their 654 00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 7: entire livings in careers out of crapping all over the country, 655 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,720 Speaker 7: whether they're on TV or whether they're just on social media. 656 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 6: But it does get exhausting hearing everybody. 657 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:07,239 Speaker 7: It seems like every time you turn around, and I mean, 658 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:10,279 Speaker 7: you're right, it's not legitimate criticisms of the government or 659 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 7: the people running it. It always seems to be that 660 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,080 Speaker 7: it like strikes right at our core values, which is 661 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 7: which is awful and terrible. So this was a great 662 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 7: piece of audio for today. 663 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,560 Speaker 1: And I never understood people who are protesting and they 664 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: wave flags of other countries. 665 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:24,879 Speaker 2: If it's so great, there go there. 666 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 7: We have open borders. Hey, actually during Biden we had 667 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,800 Speaker 7: open borders in and out. Thank goodness. You know President 668 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:34,320 Speaker 7: Trump has you know, kept people from coming in illegally. 669 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,319 Speaker 7: But yeah, it's really easy to leave this country and 670 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:38,399 Speaker 7: go somewhere else. And the thing is, you've heard plenty 671 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,200 Speaker 7: of stories people that have, you know, either moved overseas 672 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 7: or moved to South America or Canada, and now they're, 673 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 7: you know, nine months or a year later and they're like, whoa, 674 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 7: this is not what I thought it would be at all. 675 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 2: Maybe I shouldn't have done that. 676 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 6: Grass isn't always greener. 677 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:55,080 Speaker 2: So last night you had the oscars, did you watch? 678 00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 6: No, not one second, No, not one second. 679 00:34:58,080 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 2: You didn't watch. 680 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,799 Speaker 1: I've seen a few clips online and they're just as 681 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 1: gross as you thought they were going to be, just 682 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:07,960 Speaker 1: self serving, narcissistic behavior. Apparently all of the people that 683 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 1: presented at the Oscars they got a really really lavish bag. 684 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 1: The bag was valued between three hundred and forty six 685 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 1: to three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Luxury items, high 686 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,480 Speaker 1: end offerings. Let's talk about some of the things they 687 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,319 Speaker 1: got to go up and talk for thirty seconds. A 688 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 1: thirty five thousand dollars stay at a private villa in Finland, 689 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:34,319 Speaker 1: a luxury villa stay in Costa Rica. A twenty five 690 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 1: thousand dollars voucher for plastic surgery. Also a custom pre 691 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 1: nuptial agreement voucher with a top attorney. Hey, here's a 692 00:35:43,960 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: six hundred dollars coupon for a prenup. I mean, Leonardo 693 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:50,399 Speaker 1: DiCaprio was like, can I have extras of those? 694 00:35:50,680 --> 00:35:54,920 Speaker 7: Just the disgusting display of wealth that is on display 695 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:56,680 Speaker 7: here with these gift bags that they give up to 696 00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:59,360 Speaker 7: these people which are already millionaires or have one hundred 697 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 7: million dollars. I mean, these are all rich celebrities in Hollywood, 698 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 7: and now they're being given a bag worth at three 699 00:36:04,040 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 7: hundred and twenty five thousand dollars, which again go through 700 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:08,880 Speaker 7: that list of things, like those are the most Hollywood 701 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,520 Speaker 7: things ever, twenty five grand for plastic surgery, you know, 702 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,440 Speaker 7: coupon's for a pre nump a for an attorney. I mean, 703 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:19,240 Speaker 7: those are directed right at the Hollywood, at the Hollywood culture. 704 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 7: And I saw the list of winners last night. I mean, 705 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 7: I've never heard of most of these movies. I've heard 706 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 7: of one of these movies, Sinners. That was it, but 707 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 7: one battle after another that was a big winner, Sinners, Hamnett, 708 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:35,200 Speaker 7: a movie called Weapons, I'm not familiar with that. 709 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:37,279 Speaker 6: I'm a movie guy. I love going to the. 710 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:39,680 Speaker 7: Movies, and I just did. The movies just don't offer 711 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:42,160 Speaker 7: me anything. And look, you recognize some of these names 712 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,840 Speaker 7: that won. Paul Thomas Anderson won for Best Director, certainly 713 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:48,279 Speaker 7: know him, Michael b. Jordan, Sean penn Amy, madd again 714 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:51,439 Speaker 7: one for their acting jobs. I just have never heard 715 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:54,720 Speaker 7: of these movies, and apparently most of you haven't either, 716 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:57,319 Speaker 7: because the biggest box office out of all of them 717 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 7: is Sinners and it's only two hundred and eighty million dollars. 718 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 7: It's been out for a while. 719 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:02,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, where is Top Gun? 720 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:03,240 Speaker 2: Maverick? 721 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:06,520 Speaker 7: Give me that and I'm in well but again, But 722 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:08,920 Speaker 7: that has never been the type of movie that the 723 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 7: Oscars have ever recognized. 724 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:11,920 Speaker 6: They've always been above that. 725 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 7: This may be a shocker to you, but the Oscars 726 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 7: kind of an elitist organization, kind of an elitist awards show. 727 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:22,480 Speaker 7: A big surprise coming from a West Coast elitist industry 728 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:25,560 Speaker 7: like Hollywood, but the Oscars are totally elitist. And that's 729 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 7: who they always give out the awards to every year 730 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:30,200 Speaker 7: is who can be the biggest muckety muck in Hollywood. 731 00:37:30,280 --> 00:37:33,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, you've got the metrics showing big drop in live viewership. 732 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:37,560 Speaker 1: And in twenty twenty nine, the Oscars are moving to YouTube. 733 00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:40,799 Speaker 1: They say it's to reconnect with younger, global audiences. I 734 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:43,800 Speaker 1: say it's because and nobody watching it on TV. 735 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:46,399 Speaker 8: You're listening to ninety three WIBC