YCQM: Jan. 14, 2018

Announcer: FROM WCAX, THIS IS

"YOU CAN QUOTE ME.">> Darren: GOOD MORNING,

EVERYONE.

I'M DARREN PERRON.

RIGHT NOW ON "YOU CAN QUOTE ME,"

A SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW WITH

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GOVERNMENT

SHUTDOWN, IMMIGRATION, AND

OPRAH.

ALSO, ABOUT A YEAR INTO DONALD

TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY, A LOOK AT

THE HIGHS AND LOWS WITH AN

EXPERT ON PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

PLUS, ADDRESSING SEXUAL

MISCONDUCT UNDER THE GOLDEN

DOME, AND LEGAL WEED.

VERMONT MAKES ITSELF.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE BEGIN THIS

MORNING.

THE VERMONT LEGISLATURE IS THE

FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO PASS

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

NOW THE BILL HEADS TO THE

GOVERNOR'S DESK AND THIS TIME,

HE HAS SAID HE WILL SIGN IT.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE

SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

>> Darren: THE VERMONT SENATE

APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE

MARIJUANA LEGAL FOR RECREATIONAL

USE.

THE HOUSE HAD ALREADY APPROVED

IT.

HERE'S WHAT THE BILL DOES.

VERMONTERS OVER THE AGE OF 21

ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE UP TO AN

OUNCE OF POT.

THEY COULD ALSO HAVE TWO MATURE

PLANTS AND FOUR IMMATURE PLANTS.

ONLY ONE PERSON CAN CULTIVATE

PLANTS PER DWELLING, AND

LANDLORDS CAN REFUSE TO ALLOW

GROWING.

THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES A CHANGE

DEMANDED BY GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT,

A NEW MISDEMEANOR CRIME FOR

PROVIDING POT TO ANYONE UNDER

21.

OUR POLITICAL REPORTER NEAL

GOSWAMI PICKS UP THE STORY.

>> I THINK IT REFLECTS THE WILL

OF VERMONTERS AND IT'S GOTTEN AN

ONGOING PROCESS FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Neal: THE VERMONT SENATE

APPROVED MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

TODAY WITHOUT ANY FURTHER

DEBATE.

THE HOUSE PASSED THE BILL LAST

WEEK.

>> I'M EXCITED.

I'M EXCITED THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO

THIS POINT AGAIN.

I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT

STEP.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT CRIMINAL

JUSTICE REFORM, IT'S AN

IMPORTANT STATEMENT THAT THE

VERMONT LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZES

THAT MARIJUANA PROHIBITION AS

FAILURE.

>> Neal: NOT ALL MEMBERS OF THE

SENATE AGREE.

>> NO!

>> Neal: REPUBLICAN SENATOR

BRIAN COLLAMORE OF RUTLAND IS

AMONG THOSE WHO VOTED NO.

>> I DON'T THINK IT SENDS A

PARTICULARLY POSITIVE MESSAGE TO

OUR YOUTH, BUT THAT WILL BE

OVERCOME WITH EDUCATIONAL

EFFORTS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Neal: LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO

HAD BEEN PUSHING BACK, ALSO SAY

LEGALIZATION IS TOO MUCH TOO

SON.

>> THE VERMONT ASSOCIATION OF

CHIEFS OF POLICE HAS NOT HE SAID

NO, HELL NO, RESOUNDING NO.

WE'VE SAD NOT YET.

WE'RE NOT READY, WE DON'T HAVE

THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> Neal: THE COLCHESTER POLICE

CHIEF SAYS LAWMAKERS ARE

RUSHING.

SHE WANTED THEM TO WAIT FOR A

REPORT FROM A SPECIAL COMMISSION

CREATED BY THE GOVERNOR LAST

YEAR.

>> THIS IS ARROGANCE TO PRESUME

TO KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS TOPIC

TO TAKE A VOTE WITHOUT ALLOWING

THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION TO

COME FORWARD.

>> Neal: PROPONENTS DISAGREE.

THEY SAY THIS HAS BEEN IN THE

WORKS FOR YEARS.

>> THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF ONE

WEEK'S WORTH OF WORK AS THE

SENATOR FROM BENNINGTON

MENTIONED.

THIS REALLY IS THREE YEARS OF

PRETTY EXHAUSTIVE COMMITTEE

TIME.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A

COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE THAT

HASN'T WORKED ON IT IN GOOD

FAITH.

>> Neal: WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE

GOVERNOR WILL ACT TO THIS BILL.

IT WILL TAKE HIM SOME TIME TO

RECEIVE IT.

HE'LL THEN HAVE FIVE DAYS TO

SIGN IT OR VETO IT.

IF HE DOES NOTHING, IT WOULD

BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS

SIGNATURE.

ADVOCATES SAY THEY'RE COUNTING

ON THE GOVERNOR TO STICK TO HIS

PROMISE TO SIGN IT.

THEN THEY'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT

PHASE.

>> AFTER THAT, WE LOOK FORWARD

TO ADVOCATING FOR FULL REGULATED

MARKETS IN VERMONT.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST

APPROACH FOR VERMONT.

>> Darren: NEAL JOINS ME NOW.

GOOD MORNING, NEAL.

>> Neal: GOOD MORNING.

>> Darren: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN

THE GOMP GETS THE BILL AND SIGNS

IT.

>> Neal: IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL

BE THE END OF THE WE'LL BE RIGHT

BACK, FRIDAY MAYBE BY THE TIME

HE EVEN GETS IT AND THEN HE WILL

HAVE THAT FIVE DAYS PERHAPS TO

DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

HE SAYS HE'LL SIGN IT, SO IT'S

REALLY A MATTER OF WHEN HE GET

MUCH IT AND WHEN HE CHOOSES TO

DO THAT.

TYPICALLY ONCE A BILL PASSING

BOTH CHAMBERS, LEGISLATIVE

LAWYERS LOOK IT OVER AND THEN

THEY'LL DECIDE IF THERE'S ANY

ERRORS THAT NEED TO BE

CORRECTED, LITTLE TYPOS, THINGS

LIKE THAT, AND THEN THEY'LL SEND

IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND

IT'S FIVE DAYS FROM THE MOMENT

HE GETS IT.

HE SAYS HE WILL SIGN IT.

I ASKED HIM ON THURSDAY WHETHER

HE WILL SIGN IT PUBLICLY AND HE

SAYS HE HAS NOT YET MADE UP HIS

MIND.

>> Darren: WILL HE GET A LOT OF

CRITICISM AND WHAT WILL BE THE

ADVANTAGE TO HIM TO SIGN IT

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?

>> Neal: THE ADVANTAGE TO HIM IS

IT'S LESS OFFENSIVE TO SOME,

ALTHOUGH HE'S ALREADY SIGNING IT

AGAINST THE WISHES OF SOME VERY

POWERFUL PEOPLE, LIKE THE POLICE

CHIEFS OF VERMONT, MANY PEOPLE

IN THE STATE POLICE AND OTHER

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

THE IDEA OF SIGNING IT IN

PRIVATE WOULD BE THAT YOU'RE NOT

SORT OF RUBBING IT IN PEOPLE'S

FACES.

IT'S SORT OF -- IT'S SOMETHING

HE SAYS HE'S NOT PHILOSOPHICALLY

OPPOSED TO.

HE TAKES A LIBERTARIAN APPROACH

TO LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

WHERE IF YOU'RE NOT HARMING

OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN HOME,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT

YOU WANT.

SO I THINK NOT SIGNING IT

PUBLICLY IS SORT OF A NOD TO

THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FOR

THIS.

>> Darren: HE CREATED A

COMMISSION TO TAKE A LOOK AT

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA AND THAT

COMMISSION'S REPORT DUE OUT IN

DECEMBER.

SO KIND OF WHAT WAS THE POINT OF

IT AGAIN?

>> Neal: THERE WILL BE AN

INTERIM REPORT, I BELIEVE

JANUARY 15th, THAT COMES OUT,

AND THEN THERE'S A FINAL REPORT

DUE OUT IN DECEMBER.

THIS IS A -- IT'S A PRETTY-WIDE

RANGING COMMISSION WITH A NUMBER

OF SUBCOMMITTEES.

THEY'LL LOOK AT HIGHWAY SAFETY,

THE NEXT STEPS IN THE

LEGALIZATION EFFORT, SUCH AS A

REGULATED MARKET, AND THE POINT

AMONG FOLKS WHO WERE IN FAVOR OF

THIS FIRST INCREMENTAL STEP WAS

THAT WE HAVE TIME IN THIS

LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ACT ON

FURTHER THINGS, SUCH AS HIGHWAY

SAFETY.

IF THEY COME UP WITH A REALLY

GREAT IDEA IN THIS JANUARY 15th

REPORT, WE'LL HAVE TIME TO ACT

ON THAT THIS YEAR.

IN TERMS OF WHAT COMES NEXT FOR

THE REGULATED MARKET, THAT'S

PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN

2019 AT THE EARLIEST.

>> Darren: WHAT DO YOU THINK

THAT LOOKS LIKE?

ANY EARLY INDICATIONS AS TO WHAT

RETAIL SALES OF POT WILL LOOK

LIKE?

>> Neal: WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF

BILLS REALLY COME UP AND SOME

HAVE EVEN PASSED IN THE SENATE.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY UNPOPULAR

IDEA IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK IT GENERATED ABOUT 25

VOTES OUT OF 150 MEMBERS LAST

TIME AROUND.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THERE

SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF

APPREHENSION AROUND EDIBLES,

PRODUCTS -- EDIBLE PRODUCTS WITH

THC, THE MAIN COMPONENT IN

MARIJUANA, IN THEM.

MOST PEOPLE SEEM PRETTY

UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA OF

EDIBLES.

WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE

IN OTHER STATES SUCH AS COLORADO

AND ELSEWHERE, AND MANY PEOPLE

SAY IT HASN'T WORKED WELL THERE

AND IT'S CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS AS

THEY'VE WORKED TO IMPLEMENT THE

SYSTEM THAT SELLS THESE

PRODUCTS.

SO MY GUESS IS THE BIG DEBATE

OVER MOVING FORWARD WILL BE HOW

MUCH DO YOU TAX THE PRODUCT TO

TRY AND UNDERCUT THE UNDERGROUND

MARKET, AND WHETHER OR NOT TO

ALLOW THESE TYPES OF EDIBLES.

>> Darren: WHAT ABOUT THE U.S.

ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS

HAS COME OUT RECENTLY SAYING

HE'S REALLY GOING TO GO AFTER

STATES WHERE POT IS LEGAL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> Neal: SO WHAT ATTORNEY

GENERAL SESSIONS DID WAS RESCIND

WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE COLE MEMO.

IT WAS PUT IN PLACE DURING THE

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND IT

ESSENTIALLY DIRECTED THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT NOT TO TIE UP ITS

RESOURCES CRACKING DOWN ON LEGAL

POT IN STATES WHERE IT HAS BEEN

LEGALIZED.

WHAT'S IN PLACE NOW IS A SORT OF

DISTRICT BY DISTRICT OR

JURISDICTION BY JURISDICTION

PIECE WHERE STATES -- U.S.

ATTORNEY IN THOSE PLACES CAN

DETERMINE HOW MUCH RESOURCES TO

DEVOTE TO IT.

LET'S REMEMBER HERE IN VERMONT,

THE NEW U.S. ATTORNEY, KRISTINA

NOWLAND WAS RECOMMENDED BY

REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT

AND THE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR

PATRICK LEAHY AND IS PROBABLY

MORE IN LINE WITH THEIR VIEWS OF

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION THAN

ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS.

MY GUESS IS HERE IN VERMONT, WE

COULD SEE LESS OF A TOEFRT CRACK

DOWN ON -- EFFORT TO CRACK DOWN

ON A LEGAL MARIJUANA MARKET.

>> Darren: STAY RIGHT THERE.

I WANT TO GET TO HOW STATE

LAWMAKERS ARE TACKLING SEXUAL

MISCONDUCT.

THAT'S COMING UP NEXT, BUT ALSO

A ONE-ON-ONE WITH BERNIE

SANDERS.

WHAT THE SENATOR IS SAYING ABOUT

IMMIGRATION AND OPRAH.

>> Darren: AND WELCOME BACK,

EVERYONE.

SCOTT IS HERE NOW TO TELL US

WHAT'S COMING UP ON THE WEEKEND.

>> Scott: WELL, DARREN, WE'RE

STILL PRETTY MUCH RECOVERING

FROM ALL THE SNOW AND ICE THAT

SATURDAY STORM DUMPED ON US.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON

WHAT TO EXPECT THE REST OF THIS

HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

SPEAKING OF THE SNOW, WE'VE HAD

A BUNCH OF IT, PILED UP,

BUILDING UP.

GETTING IT CLEARED OFF THE ROADS

AND SIDEWALKS IS ONE THING, BUT

HOW ABOUT WHEN THERE'S PILES IN

PARKING LOTS?

WE SPEAK WITH ONE CONTRACTOR WHO

TESS US THE IMPORTANCE OF

GETTING THE SNOW OUT OF THERE

SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF

NEGATIVE REACTION FROM VERMONT'S

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO THE

REPUBLICAN TAX BILL THAT PASSED

AT THE END OF 2017.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A PROVISION IN

THIS TAX BILL THAT MEANS GREAT

NEWS FOR LOCAL BREWERS, NOT JUST

IN THIS STATE, BUT NATIONWIDE.

WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT AND

HEAR FROM CONGRESSMAN PETER

WELCH, ALL COMING UP ON THE

WEEKEND AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR.

>> Darren: WE'LL SEE YOU THEN,

SCOTT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

FOLLOWING THROUGH ON A PROMISE

IN MONTPELIER, LEGISLATIVE

LEADERS GOT UPDATED SEXUAL

HARASSMENT TRAINING.

NEAL GOSWAMI TELLS US WHAT

THEY'RE CHANGING.

>> NOW SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS A

FORM OF SEX DISCRIMINATION.

IT MEANS UNWANTED SEXUAL

ADVANCES, REQUESTS FOR SEXUAL

FAVORS, OR VERBAL OR PHYSICAL

CONDUCT OF A SEXUAL NATURE.

>> Neal: THESE SEXUAL HARASSMENT

BRIEFINGS COME AS LAWMAKERS,

LIKE THE PUBLIC, UNDERSTAND HOW

THE ME-TOO MOVEMENT IS CHANGING

WORKPLACES, INCLUDING THE STATE

HOUSE.

>> IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT'S HERE

AND IT IS PRESENT, AND IT NEEDS

TO BE ROOTED OUT.

>> Neal: BURLINGTON

REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN CENA HOPES

THESE BRIEFINGS HELP CHANGE THE

CULTURE.

>> I'VE BEEN IN SOME SITUATIONS

IN MY FIRST YEAR WHERE I

QUESTIONED SOME OF WHAT WAS

GOING ON AROUND ME AND I THINK

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE JUST JOKING

OR HAVING FUN AND THEY DON'T

REALIZE THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING

IS CONTRIBUTING TO A CULTURE

THAT PROMOTES SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

>> Neal: HOUSE SPEAKER MITZI

JOHNSON HAD LEGISLATIVE LAWYERS

REVIEW THE CURRENT SEXUAL

HARASSMENT POLICY LATE LAST

YEAR.

THEY FOUND SHORTCOMINGS.

NOW THE CHAMBER'S FIVE-MEMBER

SEXUAL HARASSMENT PANEL IS

WORKING ON AN UPDATE, EXPECTED

TO COME WITHIN THE NEXT TWO

WEEKS.

>> DON'T TOUCH ME LIKE THAT

AGAIN, IT'S HARASSMENT.

>> Neal: HOUSE MEMBERS HAD

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS DURING

THE 90-MINUTE BRIEFING.

SOME WANT TO ENSURE THE PANEL IS

PROPERLY TRAINED TO INVESTIGATE

COMPLAINTS.

OTHERS WANT A SINGLE POLICY FOR

THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

OTHERS SAY TRANSPARENCY IS

IMPORTANT.

THE PANEL'S CHAIRWOMAN,

REPRESENTATIVE MOLLY BURKE, SAYS

MOST OF THOSE IDEAS ARE ALREADY

BEING CONSIDERED.

SHE SAYS THE ME-TOO MOVEMENT HAS

CHANGED THE CONVERSATION AND

EMPOWERED VICTIMS TO COME

FORWARD AND THE POLICY MUST

FACILITATE THAT.

>> I THINK OUR INSTITUTIONS NEED

TO REFLECT THAT, AND I'M VERY

POSITIVE, VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE

CAN DO THAT HERE.

>> Neal: BUT WE COULDN'T FIND A

STATE HOUSE REGULAR WHO ISN'T A

LEGISLATOR TO SPEAK TO US ON

CAMERA ABOUT THE CLIMATE UNDER

THE DOME, AN INDICATION PERHAPS

THAT MORE WORK IS NEEDED.

>> Darren: SO, NEAL, WHERE ARE

THEY IN THE PROCESS?

>> Neal: WELL, BOTH THE HOUSE

AND THE SENATE MEMBERS HAVE

RECEIVED UPDATED TRAINING ON

THEIR POLICIES AND IT REALLY

WENT THROUGH PRETTY SPECIFIC

EXAMPLES TAKEN FROM EXAMPLES IN

OTHER STATE LEGISLATURES OF WHAT

CONSTITUTES SEXUAL HARASSMENT AS

IT RELATES TO THEIR OWN POLICY.

SO LINE BY LINE, THEY WENT

THROUGH AND SAID HERE'S AN

EXAMPLE OF A VIOLATION.

SO EVERYBODY SHOULD BE UP TO

SPEED NOW ON WHAT IS AND WHAT

ISN'T CONSIDERED TO BE SEXUAL

HARASSMENT.

BOTH PANELS ARE WORKING ON

LOOKING AT THE POLICIES AND

TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE THEY

CAN BE MADE STRONGER, WHAT SORTS

OF THINGS COULD IMPROVE THE

CLIMATE IN THE STATE HOUSE AND

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EITHER

IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOR OR

IMPROVE THE REPORTING THAT GOES

ON WITHIN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> Darren: WHAT ABOUT THE

PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE?

ANY FEEDBACK FROM LAWMAKERS AT

ALL ON WHAT THEY THINK AND THAT

THIS IS EVEN BEING ADDRESSED?

>> Neal: I THINK THERE'S A

GENERAL GOOD FEELING IN THE

STATE HOUSE THAT IT IS A TOPIC

OF DISCUSSION.

THEY'RE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

A LOT OF NON-LEGISLATORS ARE

ALSO HAPPY WITH THAT, BUT AS I

NOTED IN THE PIECE, I SPENT A

FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME THIS WEEK

TRYING TO FIND LOBBYISTS,

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, OTHERS,

STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT

LEGISLATORS TO DISCUSS THE

CLIMATE IN THE STATE HOUSE, AND

NONE OF THEM WERE INTERESTED,

PARTICULARLY GOING ON CAMERA TO

SPEAK ABOUT IT, AND THAT'S

BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE TO GO

BACK INTO THAT BUILDING AND WORK

WITH THESE LAWMAKERS AND OTHERS,

AND SO THERE IS ROOM FOR

IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF

IMPROVING THE CLIMATE AT THE

STATE HOUSE, BUT I THINK PEOPLE

ARE GENERALLY PLEASED THAT THE

CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING AND

IT'S MOVING FORWARD.

>> Darren: ALL RIGHT.

NEAL GOSWAMI, AS ALWAYS, GOOD TO

TALK TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Neal: GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>> Darren: COMING UP NEXT, WE

TALK TO BERNIE SANDERS AND A

PROGRESS REPORT ON PRESIDENT

DONALD TRUMP WITH AN EXPERT IN

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

>> Darren: WHAT DOES SENATOR

BERNIE SANDERS THINK ABOUT

OPRAH'S POSSIBLE RUN FOR

PRESIDENT?

OUR WASHINGTON REPORTER KYLE

MIDURA ASKS HIM ABOUT THAT,

CHIP, DACA, AND A POSSIBLE

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN A SITDOWN

INTERVIEW WITH THE SENATOR.

>> Kyle: WE'LL START WITH THE

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS LEFT

HERE, BUT A WAR OF WORDS IS

COMING OUT.

HOW MUCH OF A STAND DO DEMOCRATS

HAVE TO MAKE TO FORCE SOME OF

THE ISSUES?

>> Sen. Sanders: I WOULD LOOK AT

IT ANOTHER WAY, KYLE.

REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE WHITE

HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE U.S.

HOUSE AND IF THERE'S A SHUTDOWN,

I THINK IT'S ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

HERE WHERE WE ARE.

REPUBLICANS WANT TO VERY

SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND MILITARY

SPENDING.

OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THEY

WANT TO SPEND ABOUT $100 BILLION

MORES THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE.

HISTORICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENED

OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF BUDGET

NEGOTIATIONS, THERE'S BEEN

PARITY.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND ON

MILITARY SPENDING, YOU ALSO

SPEND ON THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES

AND THE MIDDLE CLASS.

THAT MEANS VETERANS NEEDS, THAT

MEANS MAKING SURE WE PASS THE

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE

PROGRAM, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH

CENTER PROGRAM WHICH IS SO

IMPORTANT IN THE STATE OF

VERMONT, ANNUAL MAKE SURE TO MY

MIND THAT WE DEAL WITH STUDENT

DEBT, WHICH IS JUST AN

OPPRESSIVE BURDEN ON SO MANY

PEOPLE DEALING WITH CHILDCARE,

THE OPIOID CRISIS.

THERE ARE JUST HUGE ISSUES OUT

THERE IMPACTING WORKING FAMILIES

HAVE THAT TO BE DEALT WITH AND

WE JUST CANNOT IN MY VIEW BREAK

THE PRECEDENT THAT WE'VE HAD,

SPEND MONEY ON THE MILITARY AND

IGNORE THE NEEDS OF WORKING

FAMILIES.

THAT IS ONE ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE

RESOLVED.

THE SECOND MAJOR ISSUE DEALS

WITH THE FATE OF 800,000 YOUNG

DREAMERS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE, AS YOU KNOW,

WHO WERE BROUGHT INTO THIS

COUNTRY AT THE AGE OF 2, 3, 5

YEARS OF AGE.

THEY HAVE BEEN VETTED, 91% OF

THEM ARE NOW WORKING.

SOME OF THEM ARE IN THE

MILITARY, SOME OF THEM ARE IN

SCHOOL.

IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY CRUEL AND

IN FACT I CAN'T THINK OF A

DECISION THAT WOULD BE MORE

CRUEL TO SIMPLY TAKE AWAY THE

LEGAL STATUS OF THESE YOUNG

PEOPLE AND SUBS THEM TO

DEPORTATION.

TRUMP STARTED THIS EFFORT WHEN

HE, THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER,

RESCINDED THE DACA PROVISION.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF

TRUMP AND THE RESPECTS NOW TO

MAKE SURE WE -- REPUBLICANS NOW

TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THIS STATUS

LEGAL.

>> Kyle: BUT IS THAT WORTH

SHUTTING DOWN GOVERNMENT?

>> Sen. Sanders: LET'S REMEMBER,

TRUMP PRECIPITATED THIS.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE SHUT DOWN THE

GOVERNMENT OVER IT.

HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, I'M

RESCINDING WHAT OBAMA DID,

CONGRESS HAS TO FIX IT.

WELL, CONGRESS HAS TO FIX IT AND

WE CAN'T LEAVE THE FATE OF THESE

800,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE WITHOUT

A SIGNED AND SEALED AGREEMENT.

>> Kyle: DOES THE CHIP DEBATE

BECOME EASIER GIVEN WHAT

HAPPENED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL

MANDATE AND THE NEW PROJECTIONS

THAT IT TAPERS ITSELF?

>> Sen. Sanders: I WOULD THINK

SO AND AGAIN, HERE'S WHERE WE

ARE, AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE

OVERLY PARTISAN.

YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT

AND LEADERSHIP THAT SPENT MONTH

AFTER MONTH AFTER MONTH FIGHTING

TO GET TAX BREAKS TO

BILLIONAIRES AND THEY ALLOWED TO

EXPIRE THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH

INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR

NINE BILLION CHILDREN.

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?

YOU HAVE FAMILIES ALL OVER THIS

COUNTRY WONDERING WHETHER THEIR

KIDS WILL HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

WE HAVE 27 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

IN WHICH, IN VERMONT, ONE OUT OF

FOUR PEOPLE USE THAT PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REAUTHORIZED.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE GOT TO DO

THAT.

>> Kyle: I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU,

SIR, YOU SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF

TIME ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL OVER

THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE

POSSIBILITY OF OPRAH AS A

CANDIDATE?

>> Sen. Sanders: WELL, I THINK

THAT, YOU KNOW, OPRAH'S

OBVIOUSLY VERY, VERY ARTICULATE,

VERY, VERY SMART, VERY, VERY

POPULAR, AND LIKE ANYBODY ELSE

IN AMERICA, SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO

RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

>> Kyle: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT

THE SHUTDOWN ONE MORE TIME.

YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS

PRECIPITATED BY THE TRUMP

ADMINISTRATION.

HOW FAR ARE DEMOCRATS WILLING TO

PUSH THIS DEBATE, REGARDLESS OF

WHOSE FAULT IT MAY BE?

>> Sen. Sanders: WELL, LOOK,

LET'S BE CLEAR.

I THINK A SHUTDOWN WOULD BE A

TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING.

THAT WOULD MEAN THAT MILLIONS OF

AMERICANS WOULD NO LONGER BE

ABLE TO ACCESS THE SERVICES THAT

THEY NEED.

IT WOULD MEAN THAT GOVERNMENT

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WOULD NOT GET

A PAYCHECK, WHICH THEY DEPEND

UPON TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR

FAMILIES.

IT MEANS IT WOULD IMPACT THE

ARMED SERVICES, SO NOBODY WANTS

A SHUTDOWN.

NOBODY WANTS A SHUTDOWN.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN

TO PREVENT A SHUTDOWN, BUT ALL I

WILL TELL YOU IS YOU HAVE A

REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, A

REPUBLICAN SENATE, AND A

REPUBLICAN HOUSE.

THEY WILL DETERMINE WHETHER

THERE'S A SHUTDOWN OR NOT, AND I

HOPE THAT WE CAN REACH A

BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.

>> Darren: AND NOW TO

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR SINCE

DONALD TRUMP TOOK OFFICE.

HE CAMPAIGNED ON THE PROMISE

THAT HE WOULD BE LIKE NO OTHER

PRESIDENT BEFORE.

HE CERTAINLY PROVED THAT,

BREAKING THE NORMS OF

PRESIDENTIAL BEHAVIOR, PUBLIC

FEUDS, AND MOST RECENTLY

ALLEGEDLY USING A SWEAR WORD TO

DISPARAGING OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT

AS HE ROUNDED OUT THE YEAR, HE

MADE GOOD ON SOME PROMISES,

INCLUDING A MAJOR TAX OVERHAUL.

TO TALK MORE ABOUT DONALD

TRUMP'S FIRST YEAR, I'M JOINED

NOW BY AN EXPERT IN PRESIDENTIAL

POLITICS, MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

POLITICAL SCIENTIST MATT

DICKINSON.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> Dickinson: GO G TO BE WITH

YOU.

>> Darren: HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE

PRESIDENT'S FIRST YEAR?

>> Dickinson: WELL, FROM THE

PERSPECTIVE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

IT'S PROBABLY A MIXED BAG.

I THINK HE MADE A NUMBER OF

MISSTEPS VERY EARLY ON.

HE STARTED OFF IN A WEAK

POSITION, DIDN'T WIN THE POPULAR

VOTE.

HE WASN'T VERY POPULAR ON A

PERSONAL LEVEL AND HE COMPOUNDS

THAT BY STEPPING INTO A MINE

FIELD IN TERMS OF THE MUSLIM

BAN, EXECUTIVE ORDER TRYING TO

PREVENT IMMIGRANTS FROM

PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM COUNTRIES

FROM COMING INTO THE COUNTRY,

AND HE'S SURROUNDING HIMSELF

WITH INEXPERIENCED WHITE HOUSE

STAFFERS AND BASICALLY STEPPING

INTO ANOTHER DEEP PILE OF HIS

OWN MAKING WHEN HE FIRED JAMES

COMEY AS DIRECTOR OF THE FBI.

SINCE THEN, AS YOU POINTED OUT

IN OTHER SEGMENTS, HE SEEPS TO

HAVE STABILIZE -- SEEMS TO HAVE

STABILIZED THE SHIP A LITTLE.

TAX REFORM AS FEATHER IN HIS CAP

AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER HE

CAN BUILD ON THAT MOMENTUM WITH

OTHER LEGISLATION.

>> Darren: HE HAS MADE SOME BIG

PROMISES ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

AND EVEN SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE.

IS HE MAKE GOING ON THOSE

PROMISES, ASIDE FROM TAX REFORM?

>> Dickinson: WELL, ONE OF THE

MAJOR ISSUES HE CAMPAIGNED ON

WAS REPEALING OBAMACARE.

HIS FIRST CRACK AT THAT DIDN'T

GO SO WELL.

HIS OWN PARTY FRACTURED BECAUSE,

ALTHOUGH THEY AGREED ON THE NEED

TO REPEAL IT, THEY COULDN'T

AGREE ON WHAT TO REPLACE IT

WITH.

TAX REFORM, HE'S PARTIALLY

REPEALED IT BY ELIMINATING THE

INDIVIDUAL MANDATE, SO I THINK

THAT SCORED SOME POINTS.

TAX REFORM CERTAINLY AS A LARGER

ISSUE, HIS BASE IS HAPPY ABOUT

THAT, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER

ISSUES HE'S TALKED ABOUT.

WE'LL SEE.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS ANOTHER ONE IN

ADDITION TO IMMIGRATION REFORM.

>> Darren: LET'S TALK ABOUT

IMMIGRATION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG ITEMS ON

THE AGENDA HERE.

>> Dickinson: THE THING WITH

IMMIGRATION IS THERE'S A BASIS

FOR A DEAL, A BIPARTISAN DEAL

HERE.

DEMOCRATS TYPICALLY WANT SOME

PROTECTION FOR THE DREERPS THAT

THEY HAD -- DREAMERS THAT THEY

HAD UNDER DACA WHICH WAS

REPEALED BY TRUMP.

THEY ALSO WANT SOME PATH TO

CITIZENSHIP.

REPUBLICANS WANT STRONGER BORDER

SECURITY, SO IN THEORY, YOU

SHOULD BE ABLE TO BALANCE THOSE

TWO AND GET SOME TYPE OF

BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THROUGH.

HISTORICALLY, THE PROBLEM IS THE

WINGS, THE EXTREME WINGS IN BOTH

PARTIES HAVE OPPOSED THAT, SO

THIS MOST RECENT WHITE HOUSE

SUMMIT WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT

AN IMMIGRATION DEAL, ALREADY THE

DRUM BEATS ON THE FAR RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE.

I'M LESS OPTIMISTIC THAN A LOT

OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO

BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH

ACTUAL LEGISLATION HERE.

>> Darren: AND THE PRESIDENT HAS

REALLY SAID THAT THERE WILL BE

NO DEAL WITHOUT A BORDER WALL.

>> Dickinson: HE HAS SAID THAT.

HE'S SAID A NUMBER OF THINGS.

THE ONE THING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP

IS, UNLESS THE STATUS

POLITICIANS, HE WILL REVERSE

HIMSELF AT THE DROP OF A HAT.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT IS THE ONLY

THING REMAINING FOR AN

IMMIGRATION DEAL, I SUSPECT HE'S

WILLING TO NEGOTIATE THE WALL.

>> Darren: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE

LATEST ON THE RUSSIA

INVESTIGATION.

DO YOU THINK THAT SPECIAL

COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER WILL

ACTUALLY INTERVIEW THE

PRESIDENT?

>> Dickinson: WELL, THE QUESTION

IS WILL HE ASK TO INTERVIEW THE

PRESIDENT AND WILL DONALD TRUMP

GO ALONG WITH IT.

TRUMP IS MAKING NOISES NOW -- I

THINK IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, IF

MUELLER WANTS TO TALK TO HIM,

AND I THINK HE PROBABLY WILL

UNDER PARTICULARLY GUIDELINES

THAT PROTECT TRUMP POLITICALLY,

TRUMP WILL HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH

IT BECAUSE IF HE SAYS NO, IT

WILL BE A POLITICAL STORM THAT

HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND.

>> Darren: LET'S TALK ABOUT

OPRAH WINFREY.

SHE MADE A PRETTY POWERFUL

SPEECH AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT WHETHER THEY

RUNS FOR PRESIDENT.

DO YOU THINK SHE WILL AND WILL

SHE WIN?

>> Dickinson: WELL, IF SHE'S

GOING TO RUN, SHE NEEDS TO START

NOW.

SHE NEEDS TO DECIDE WHY SHE'S

RUNNING, AND THEN PUT HER FOOT

IN THE WATERS AND SAY WILL THE

PARTY ACTIVISTS SUPPORT ME, CAN

I GET MONEY?

SHE'S NOT GOING TO SELF-FUND

THIS CAMPAIGN.

WILL THE DONORS SUPPORT ME?

THESE ARE CRUCIAL DECISIONS.

WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IS

SOMEBODY DOESN'T SAY I'M

RUNNING, BUT THEY DO EVERYTHING

TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE RUN

AND THAT PREPARATION HAS TO

BEGIN NOW.

HOW COULD SHE DO?

SHE HAS GREAT NAME RECOGNITION,

BUT IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT

THING BETWEEN BEING LOVED TO

GIVING AWAY FREE GIFTS ON A TALK

SHOW AND STAKING OUT POSITIONS,

OFTEN CONTROL ONES IN WAYS THAT

GET YOU MAJORITY SUPPORT IN AN

ELECTION.

>> Darren: AND THERE ARE OTHER

NAMES BEING TOSSED OUT,

INCLUDING SENATOR BERNIE

SANDERS.

>> Dickinson: WELL, YOU SAW HIM

DANCE AROUND THE QUESTION SAYING

SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO RUN.

HE DIDN'T FULLY ENDORSE HER.

PART OF IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER

SHE'S GOING TO SUCK UP SOME OF

THE OXYGEN FROM A SANDERS

CAMPAIGN AND A WARREN.

>> Darren: KRISTIN GILLIBRAND A

SIMILAR DANCER AS WELL.

SHE SAYS I REALLY LIKE OPRAH,

SHE HAS A CHANCE TO RUN.

>> Dickinson: EVERYBODY LIKES

HER.

THERE'S NOBODY GOING TO SAY SHE

SHOULDN'T RUN AT THIS STAGE.

>> Darren: LET'S LOOK AT THE MID

DETERMINES.

DEMOCRATS SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF

MOMENTUM.

THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM IN

THE PARTY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS

TRANSLATES INTO?

>> Dickinson: WE KNOW

HISTORICALLY THE PRESIDENT'S

PARTY LOSES SEAT IN THE FIRST

MIDTERM, ON AVERAGE, 20, 25

SEATS.

THAT'S ABOUT THE MARGIN IN THE

HOUSE RIGHT NOW.

HEADING INTO 2018, HISTORICALLY

THE HEAD WINDS ARE AGAINST HIM,

BUT THERE'S ADDITIONAL FACTORS

THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO

WORRY ABOUT.

THEIR PRESIDENT IS HISTORICALLY

UNPOPULAR AND THERE IS AN

ENTHUSIASM GAP.

WE'VE SEEN THIS IN RACES IN

ALABAMA, IN GOVERNOR'S RACES IN

NEW JERSEY, IN VIRGINIA.

THAT'S ALL WORKING AGAINST THE

REPUBLICANS IN 2018.

THE ONE THING THEY HAVE IN THEIR

FAVOR, ECONOMIC GROWTH.

GDP GROWTH HAS BEEN GOOD.

EMPLOYMENT IS -- UNEMPLOYMENT

NUMBERS ARE LOW.

IF TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS CAN

TAKE SOME CREDIT FOR THAT AND

TRANSLATE THAT INTO GETTING

VOTERS OUT, THEY CAN MINIMIZE

THESE LOSSES, BUT THERE'S GOING

TO LOSE SEATS, MAKE NO DOUBT

ABOUT IT IN 2008.

>> Darren: MATT DICKINSON, THANK

YOU SO MUCH.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO TALK WITH

YOU.

THE NEWS CONTINUES NEXT ON THE

WEEKEND, EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND WE'LL SEE

YOU SOON.

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