>> LIVE FROM THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL, THIS IS DONNYBASH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

A WONDERFUL CROWD HERE AT THE SHELDON FOR THE ANNUAL FUND RAISER FOR NINE PBS.

WOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, WHETHER AT HOME OR HERE IN PERSON.

LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS STARTING WITH THE MEDIA VETERAN HERSELF, WENDY WIESE.

ALONG WITH ONE OF OUR FOUNDERS OF DONNYBROOK WAY BACK IN 1987.

GIVE IT UP, FOLKS, FOR BILL MCCLELLAN.

ALSO FROM STL TODAY.COM AND THE POST-DISPATCH, JOE HOLLEMAN.

FROM THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN MR. ALVIN REID.

AND FROM ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE AND THE 314 PODCAST, WE WELCOME SARAH FENSKE.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO HAVE, BEFORE WE BEGIN DONNYBASH, WE HAVE A ROTATING ART EXHIBIT HERE ON THE SET OF NINE PBS.

THIS MONTH WE WANT TO THANK MUCH MAHANTA.

AND YOU CAN FIND HIS WORK ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

BEHIND ME ABOVE THE MANTEL YOU WILL SEE THE CREATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. MAHANTA.

>> THAT'S CALLED DONNYBROOK'S HOT AIR RIGHT THERE.

>> BILL MCCLELLAN, WE HAVE A NEW POPE, AND HE'S FROM YOUR NATIVE CHICAGO.

HE WILL BE KNOWN AS EO THE 14th.

CLEARLY REFERRING TO LEO DEROCHER, AND I SUSPECTED HE WANTED TO BE POPE ERNIE.

THEY SAID NO, THERE'S NO PRECEDENT FOR THAT, NO POPE RHINO.

BUT IT'S NICE TO HAVE A CUB FAN IN THE VATICAN.

>> SARAH FENSKE, THERE IS A LOCAL CONNECTION BETWEEN LEO THE 14th.

>> THEY CALL ST. LOUIS THE ROME OF THE WEST.

WE WERE LOOKING INTO IS THERE A ST. LOUIS CONNECTION FOR THE POPE?

YES, HE WAS IN AN EVITIATE HERE.

HE SERVED IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> DOES THAT MEAN, DO WE HAVE A DESIGNATED HIGH SCHOOL?

>> I HEARD FROM EVERY AUGUSTINIAN GRADUATE.

AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN.

THE LATE TOM VILLA WHOSE WIFE IS HERE THIS EVENING, AND SO YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF AUGUSTINIAN FOLKS HERE.

>> YOU DID MENTION CARA VILLA WHO WAS ONE OF THE GREAT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND BOARD PRESIDENT FOR THE ST. LOUIS BOARD OF ALDERMEN, AND HIS SISTER JANE BOTH IN THE HOUSE, AND BOY, WE SURE MISS TOM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU DID REPORT THIS WEEK THAT THE TIMES OF LONDON ACTUALLY VISITED ST. LOUIS, AND THEY FOUND ST. LOUIS IS A REALLY GOOD PLACE TO VISIT.

AT THE SAME TIME, JOE, HE'S A BIG BOOSTER OF ST. LOUIS.

HE SAID THIS WEEK THAT THE TIMES OF LONDON PRAISED US, HE SAID ST. LOUISIANS BASICALLY ARE THE MOST SELF DEPRECATING I HAVE EVER MET.

WE NEVER BRAG ABOUT OUR CITY.

DO YOU THINK THERE'S A COLONEL TRUTH TO THAT?

AS A TRANSPLANT TO THE CITY, I CAME IN EXCITED TO EXPLORE ALL OF WHAT'S AROUND AND ST. LOUISIANS ARE LIKE YOU MOVED HERE FROM PHOENIX?

WHY?

THIS IS NOT THE METROPOLIS THAT YOU WOULD CLAIM.

THERE'S SO MUCH ABOUT ST. LOUIS THAT HAVE BEEN UNAPPRECIATED.

I'M SO HAPPY HERE, AND GOING ON A DECADE PLUS.

HE TALKED ABOUT HOW GREAT THE ST. LOUIS ART MUSEUM IS.

SHE EVEN TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE WAS WALKING FROM THE ART MUSEUM UP INTO THE CENTRAL WEST END TO HER HOTEL.

ST. LOUIS FELT AS GENTLE AS A VILLAGE.

I THOUGHT I DO FEEL THAT WHEN I'M WALKING IN FOREST PARK AT DUSK, AND YET, DO YOU EVER HEAR A ST. LOUISIAN SAYING THAT IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF ANY OF THE PUBLICATIONS.

>> I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT GROWING UP HERE THAT WE HAVE AT ONCE A SUPERIORITY COMPLEX AND INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

WE DO.

THEY ARE SORT OF GOING AT THE SAME TIME.

WHAT'S REALLY FUNNY IS THOSE OF US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM -- NOT YOU.

HE'S PROBABLY THE ONLY MAN IN THE THEATER TONIGHT WHO JUST HAD AN IPHONE.

HE JUST NOW PURCHASED.

HE'S VERY PROUD OF HIS FLIP PHONE.

SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBER WAS HERE AS WELL AND MADE THE ROUNDS AND WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT A GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS CITY IT IS AND HOW WONDERFUL THE PEOPLE ARE AND THE FACT THAT MAYBE WHEN YOU ARE IN UTOPIA AND DON'T SEE EVERYTHING THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE DO, SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE A RESET, TELLING US HOW GOOD WE'VE GOT IT FOR A CHANGE.

>> SPEAKING AS A PERSON WITHOUT AN IPHONE, LAST WEEKEND I WAS IN CINCINNATI.

I WAS THERE IN 1981, BECAUSE I WAS AN INTERN.

WHEN I WAS IN CINCINNATI, WHEN I WAS THERE -- DON'T GO OVER TO KENTUCKY.

DON'T GO OVER THERE.

THEY TRANSFORMED IT.

ONE THING, THEY MOVED THE AIRPORT OVER THERE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO MEET THAT DEAD COURSE.

IT REALLY SPARKED REVITALIZATION THERE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE FAMILIAR WITH CINCINNATI.

DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED GOING INTO LAST WEEKEND IN CINCINNATI?

WE GOT THERE ON THURSDAY, AND A YOUNG MAN STOLE A CAR AND POLICE WERE CHASING HIM, AND THE YOUNG MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

ON SATURDAY, THE BOY'S FATHER, DISTRAUGHT, RAN OVER JUST A RANDOM POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS ACTUALLY WORKING THE GRADUATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, JUST RAN IT.

IT LED THE NEWS FOR TWO DAYS, AND THAT WAS IT.

YOU WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ALL THIS TRAGEDY WAS GOING ON.

IF THAT HAD HAPPENED IN ST. LOUIS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DRAGGED OUT, STOMPED ON, PLAYED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE ARE RIGHT.

WE BEAT OURSELVES UP FOR THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN LIFE.

AND WE'VE GOT TO GET OVER THAT.

WHEN YOU WITNESS IT, AND YOU ARE LIKE AND THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST WEEK, AND THIS ARTICLE COMES OUT, AND I'M SAYING HE'S RIGHT.

HE'S RIGHT.

THERE'S TERRIBLE, AWFUL THINGS THAT GO ON, BUT THAT DOESN'T DEFINE US.

WE'VE GOT TO START DOING IT, OR ELSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GROW.

[APPLAUSE] >> RECKLESS DRIVING, SPEAKING ABOUT DRIVING, WAS A BIG, BIG ISSUE FOR CARA SPENCER WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS.

WENDY, MAYBE I WILL GO TO YOU ON THIS ONE.

THE MAYOR AGAIN THIS WEEK SAID THAT SHE WANTS TO CRACK DOWN ON RECKLESS DRIVING AND IN A STORY IN ST. LOUIS MAGAZINE, IT WAS ALSO APPOINTED OUT THAT SHE HAD A BOOT BE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLES DRIVING RECKLESSLY AND ENDANGERING LIVES.

PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME IF THEY WERE DRIVING RECKLESSLY.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA?

>> I DO.

I THINK WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY, CHESTERFIELD, MS. FENSKE.

>> I DIDN'T WEAR MY PEARLS TO CLUTCH.

JOE IS WEARING A PEARL BRACELET.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CLUTCH HIS PEARL BRACELET.

WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY OR THE CITY, WE HAVE ALL HAD THESE EXPERIENCES, AND WE HAVE SEEN THE RECKLESS MOTORISTS AND CARA SPENCER HAS SEEN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER PREDECESSOR.

IF THE PERCEPTION IS THAT -- IF THERE'S ANY LAG TIME THEN POLITICALLY THERE ARE GOING TO BE POINTS TAKEN.

I'M HAPPY THAT SHE'S GIVING THESE IDEAS SOME REAL TEETH.

THEY ARE ALREADY GOING TO SOME OF THE HOMES, THE PRIVATE HOMES OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE ORGANIZING SOME OF THESE -- I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE EVENTS ARE -- SLIDE SHOWS.

SHE'S ARRESTING THEM.

I'M GOOD WITH IT.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THE DONUTS.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS ARREST THEM AND IMPOUND A VEHICLE.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN THROW A DONUT ON THERE.

WE KNOW DONUTS GET USED, IF YOU HAVEN'T PAID PARKING TICKETS OR OUTSTANDING TICKETS, THEY WILL COME BY AND SLAP A DONUT ON YOUR CAR, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY VIOLATED SOMETHING.

WHEN YOU GET PULLED OVER, YOU ARE ONLY UNDER SUSPICION OF, SO ARREST THAT PERSON.

LITERALLY IT REQUIRES THAT WE'VE TURNED AWAY FROM SORT OF THE STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE DOING 90 MILES PER HOUR DOWN A 30-MILE PER HOUR STREET DURING THE CITY.

ARREST THEM AND IMPOUND THEIR VEHICLE.

>> BUT YOU IMPOUND THE CAR, AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SOME OF THAT IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

AND IT WAS REPORTED THIS WEEK THERE ARE 567 VEHICLES AT THE CITY'S TOW LOT WHICH ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR.

>> HOW MANY PROBLEMS DO YOU WANT ME TO SOLVE HERE?

>> ONE AT A TIME.

ONE AT A TIME.

[APPLAUSE] >> YOU ALSO HAVE THE FACT THAT IF SOMEBODY IS PULLED OVER, AT LEAST THEY ARE STOPPING.

WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE A NO CHASE POLICY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THESE HIGH-SPEED CHASES.

BUT THE YOUNG KIDS WHO ARE AWARE OF THE NO-CHASE POLICY, THEY WILL OFTEN JUST TAKE OFF.

>> I HAVE GOT TO CHIME IN ON WHAT JOE WAS SAYING HERE.

THIS IDEA OF THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A DUE PROCESS IF YOU'RE JUST TAKING AWAY THE VEHICLE.

THE TOW LOT IS THE REASON CONNECT HAVE A NO DUE PROCESS SITUATION IN THE CITY, HAVE POLICE BE ABLE TO IMPOUND YOUR CAR WITHOUT YOU BEING FOUND GUILTY OF ANYTHING, AND IT ENDS UP ON A TOW LOT WHERE 86 VEHICLES ARE GOING MISSING.

I'M CONNECTING THE DOTS DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU JUST DID, AND IT MAKES ME ALARMED.

>> WHAT CITY HAS HAT THREE TOW LOT SCANDALS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS?

IN A PLACE OF 600 CARS, NOT TO MENTION THE $82,000 IN CASH.

I NEED TO WORK THERE.

THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO DO.

>> MAYOR SPENCER IS TALKING ABOUT TREATING THESE CARS AS A WEAPON, AND I THINK SHE SHOULD.

[APPLAUSE] >> I THINK IT'S A RETURN TO YOU HAVE TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

FOR WHATEVER REASONS, AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF THEM, CERTAIN LAWS WERE JUST LET GO, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.

WE WILL LET THAT SLIDE.

WE WILL LET THAT SLIDE.

YOUR FAMOUS LICENSE PLATES TAGS, AND IT DOES GO TO THE BROKEN WINDOW THEORY.

YOU HAVE TO WRITE THE TICKETS.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE PEOPLE PAY FOR THOSE THINGS.

IF THEY DON'T, THEY WILL JUST KEEP PUSHING THE EDGE OF THE ENVELOP TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH.

ENFORCE ALL THE LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

THEY ARE NOT UNFAIR.

THE SOLUTION TO ALL OF THIS IS PEOPLE DON'T DRIVE LIKE IDIOTS, AND THEN THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> THE MOVE FROM ST. LOUIS TO EUREKA WITH YOU, THE WOMAN WHO HAS A CHICKEN COOP IN HER BACKYARD.

UNFORTUNATELY SHE DIDN'T GET PERMISSION FROM THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.

THE COLOR OF THE COOP DOESN'T MATCH THE COLOR OF HER HOUSE, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE HOA.

IT'S ALSO A LITTLE TOO LARGE AND HER ENTIRE YARD IS NOT SURROUNDED BY THE FENCE TO KEEP THE CHICKENS IN.

SHE'S SAYING THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT STATE LAW SAYS I'M ENTITLED TO HAVE A CHICKEN COOP AND THAT STATE LAW SUPERCEDES THE HOMEOWNERS REGULATIONS.

WHERE ARE YOU COMING DOWN ON THIS?

>> I WISH I WAS AN ATTORNEY BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE FEES GENERATED OVER THIS STORY THAN THERE SHOULD BE.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS WHATSOEVER.

BUT I'VE GOT A FEELING THAT THIS YOUNG LADY WITH THE CHICKENS ISN'T EXACTLY PLAYING BY THE RULES HERE EITHER WHERE IT'S LIKE WELL THE STATE SAYS I CAN HAVE CHICKENS.

YES, BUT THAT'S ALL IT SAYS.

YOU CAN HAVE UP TO 6 CHICKENS.

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS CAN MAKE RESTRICTIONS.

SHE DIDN'T ABIDE BY ANY OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT A 20-FOOT COOP, 40-FOOT?

THERE'S RULES AND THERE'S RULES.

IF YOU MOVED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, AND I'M SURE A BUNCH OF ATTORNEYS WILL WORK IT OUT SOMEWHERE, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE I'M FINDING IT HARD TO FIND A GOOD SIDE TO THIS ARGUMENT.

>> THE GOOD CHICKENS OF KIRKWOOD HAD NO WATER TODAY, BECAUSE WE HAD A BOIL ORDER.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

YOU CAN HAVE CHICKENS IN KIRKWOOD AND IN LINE WITH MUNICIPALITIES.

BUT THERE ARE ZONING THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.

I LIKE JOE.

I CAN'T STAND HOAS, AND I WOULD NOT LIVE ANYPLACE THAT HAVE HOA.

AND YOU HAVE TO LIVE BY THE RULES AND CHICKENS HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

THERE WAS A GRANDFATHER CLAUSE IN THE CHICKEN KIRKWOOD LAW, AND BY NOW EVERY ROOSTER THAT WAS ALIVE AT THAT TIME IS PROBABLY IN ROOSTER HEAVEN, BUT YOU WILL AWAKE SOME MORNINGS TO HEAR ROOSTERS.

I DON'T THINK KIRKWOOD POLICE ARE GOING IN SEARCH OF WHO HAS THAT ROOSTER.

WE KIND OF BREAK THE RULES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CHICKENS, FOLLOW THE CHICKEN RULES.

>> I HAVE TO TAKE THE SIDE ON THE ANTI-CHICKEN RULE.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS YOU FIND IN THIS HOA THEY HAVE WRITTEN THE RULES WHERE NOBODY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE 6 CHICKENS AND THE STATE LAW SAYS YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE 6 CHICKENS.

AND THE WOMAN IN THE POST-DISPATCH STORY IS POINTING OUT IF YOU HAVE A COOP THAT'S AS LARGE AS THE LAW ALLOWS, YOU COULD NEVER FIT 6 CHICKENS IN THERE.

IF I'M A LAWYER, I'M SAYING THIS LAW IS ILLEGAL.

I'M TAKING THIS ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>> THEY HAVE GOT NOTHING TO RULE ON THESE DAYS.

>> NO CHICKENS, NO PEACE.

>> YOU REALIZE THAT'S WHY LAWYERS ARE SO POPULAR.

I HAVE PROBABLY ONE OF YOUR KIRKWOOD CHICKENS IN MY CROCK POT.

BUT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SO FASCINATING, AS JOE SAID, THE WOMAN WHO WAS INTERVIEWED, THE CHICKEN WOMAN, SHE ADMIT THE RIGHT UP FRONT, NO I'M NOT ABIDING BY THIS RULE, NO I'M NOT ABIDING BY THIS RULE.

I THINK FOR THE REST OF US WHO TRY SO HARD TO ABIDE BY RULES, WHO WOULDN'T LOVE IT GRAZING INSIDE THEIR FRONT YARD.

I CAN'T.

BECAUSE I HAVE AN HOA.

IF YOU LIVE THERE, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS: THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION IN QUESTION HAS THREE MEMBERS.

ONE IS A NEIGHBOR, AND THE OTHER TWO ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEVELOPER, MCBRIDE HOMES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

BUT I WILL SAY MCBRIDE IS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN.

I THINK THAT THEY PROBABLY KNOW WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS FEEL OR THINK ABOUT CHICKEN COOPS.

>> I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT.

GOLLY, HOW DO YOU SAY IT?

BUSY BODY.

YOU HAVE ONE AND TWO ARE WITH THE MCBRIDE FOLKS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A CHICKEN POLL, DETERMINE, HEY, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT WITH THE CHICKEN COOP OR NOT?

AND I THINK THE CHICKEN COOP WOULD PROBABLY PASS MUSTER.

>> IT'S THE ROOSTERS.

I KNOW THEY GET GRANDFATHERED IN, BUT I COULD LIVE NEXT TO SOMEBODY THAT HAS CHICKENS AND I DON'T CARE.

BUT A ROOSTER.

>> THAT WOULD BE VERY UNPOPULAR.

>> WHEN WE LIVED IN KIRKWOOD WE HAD A ROOSTER, HE CROWED AT 6:00 A.M. EVERY MORNING.

IT WAS LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR.

>> DAVID HOFFMANN JUST RECENTLY IN NAPLES, FLORIDA PURCHASED AN $85 MILLION HOME.

HE ALSO BOUGHT A LOT OF PROPERTY IN WASHINGTON, MISSOURI AND TURN IT INTO THE NAPA VALLEY OF THE MIDWEST.

IT FLOUNDERED, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYMORE.

HE HAS A LOT OF PROPERTY, CLAYTON AND AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

HE ALSO IS INTERESTED IN OWNING THE MAJORITY OWNERSHIP OF THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH'S PARENT, LEE ENTERPRISES.

IF YOU WERE A NEWSPAPER PERSON, WOULD YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT DAVID HOFFMANN BEING YOUR BOSS?

>> PROBABLY NOT TOO GOOD RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE HIS ASSERTION THAT THE WINE COUNTRY IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI THAT THEY PURCHASED WAS GOING DOWNHILL FAST OR BOTTOMING OUT, I BELIEVE, WAS THE WORD THAT HE USED, THE PHRASE THAT HE USED.

IT WAS BOTTOMING OUT SO QUICKLY THAT WE COULD NEVER FIND A PARKING SPACE ANY TIME THAT WE WENT TO THE WINE COUNTRY, THEY DECIMATED THE TREES AT MONTEL.

I WILL NEVER FORGIVE HIM FOR THAT.

BECAUSE THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL SITTING OUT ON THAT DECK.

I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS MOTIVES AND HIS STAYING POWER BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT HE SUPPORTED NEVER MATERIALIZED.

>> AS A NEWSPAPER PERSON, IF MR. HOFFMANN HAS PLENTY OF MONEY, IF HE REALLY HAS DEEP POCKETS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM COME IN AND HAVE A HOMETOWN GUY WITH A LOT OF MONEY RUNNING THE PAPER.

MY CONCERN IS THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE ALL THAT MONEY, AND HIS PLANS IN AUGUSTA, MISSOURI, WHERE HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A 14-HOLE GOLF COURSE, I REMEMBER THINKING I DON'T PLAY GOLF, BUT YOU HAVE A NOON-HOLE COURSE AND 18-HOLE COURSE.

14 PLUS, I'M THINKING HIS KIDS WERE PROBABLY IN THEIR 50s AND 60s AND WHO GREW UP IN NAPLES, FLORIDA.

AND SPENDING THE ENTIRE FAMILY MONEY, GOING HOME TO WASHINGTON, MISSOURI AND SPENDING MONEY IN AUGUSTA, MISSOURI AND BUYING THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, I DON'T THINK IT'S A REALISTIC PLAN.

IF YOU HAD THE MONEY AND WANTED TO COME AND BUY THE NEWSPAPER, I THINK IT WOULD BE A NICE THING.

>> MAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY DO, AND THEN THEY BUY A SPORTS FRANCHISE AND RUN IT IN THE GROUND, AND EVERYBODY IS MAD AT THE OWNER.

HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL, AND THEY ARE CORRECT.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SEE FOR THE HOFFMANNS IF THEY ENDED UP WITH LEE ENTERPRISES AND NEWSPAPERS.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND THE PERSON AT THE VERY TOP WHO HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING, EVEN THOUGH THEY OWN THIS BUSINESS, THEY CAN SURROUND THEMSELVES BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT.

THEY WON'T LISTEN TO THEM.

I THINK IT WILL BE A DISASTER BILL.

I WILL SAY IT ONCE.

I WILL SAY IT AGAIN.

GET CONNECTED ON THE PHONE, AND BEG THEM TO BUY THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.

>> MAYBE MR. HOFFMANN WOULD BE LOOKING FOR SOME OLDER COLUMNIST.

THERE MIGHT BE A POSITION FOR YOU.

>> $85 MILLION HOUSE, I WILL TAKE AN $850,000 HOUSE TO CHANGE MY MIND.

>> I WILL SAY WHAT I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT HE WOULD OFFER YOU THE $850,000 HOUSE AND THEN NOT MAKE GOOD ON IT.

HE'S RUN UP BILLS AROUND TOWN, AND WE ARE TAKING LIKE A $10,000 BILL, JUST A SMALL CONTRACTOR.

HE DOESN'T PAY IT.

THEY HAVE TO TAKE HIM TO COURT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR AN INDUSTRY LIKE A NEWSPAPER.

>> DO YOU THINK A LITTLE BIT IN THIS TOWN DEVELOPERS COME IN WITH GRANDIOSE PLANS, ALMOST LIKE HAROLD HILL AND THE MUSIC MAN, AND AS MARK TWAIN SAID, YOU CAN SEND A DAMN FOOL TO ST. LOUIS BUT IF YOU DON'T TELL HIM HE'S A DAMN FOOL, HE WILL NEVER FIND OUT.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE COME HERE AND HAVE PLANS, AND I KNOW IT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK CITY WITH CERTAIN DEVELOPERS WHO TALK BIG GAME.

FOR SOME REASON, WE TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.

>> WE HAD MANY INSTANCES AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE GROUP WAS THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE OVER THE MUSIC FESTIVALS IN ST. LOUIS, DESTROYED THREE OF THEM AND NEVER DID HAVE ONE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR.

I'M NOT COMPARING THE HOFFMANNS TO THAT FLY-BY-NIGHT OUTFIT.

AT THE SAME TIME, TO HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY AND HAVE THAT MUCH BAGGAGE, I'M A LITTLE LEERY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT A MEASURE -- WELL, WE HAVE A FEW DAYS LEFT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2025 SPRING SEASON.

THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OPEN ENROLLMENT, ALVIN.

AND THAT WOULD BE THAT LET'S SAY A FAMILY IS IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DON'T LIKE THE SCHOOLS AVAILABLE IN THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IF THIS LAW PASSES, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GO INTO A NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WOULDN'T THAT BE CONTINUOUS?

IT WOULD BE FOREVER, AS LONG AS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCEPTS THEM?

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A FAIR IDEA?

IT MAY BE, BUT I'M ALWAYS ENTERTAINED BY THE FACT THAT EVERY OTHER YEAR OR EVERY YEAR THEY COME UP TO JEFFERSON CITY AND GETS THREE-FOURTHS OF THE DAY DOWN THE PATH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES GET PUT ON IT.

THAT'S BECAUSE A LOT OF DISTRICTS, BE IT WEST COUNTY, BE IT SOUTH COUNTY, BE IT RURAL MISSOURI, ALL OF A SUDDEN REALIZE OPEN ENROLLMENT.

WE CAN'T FILL UP ALL OF OUR SEATS IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, AND WE COULD USE OTHER STUDENTS BUT THE IDEA OF THOSE STUDENTS COMING FROM WHO KNOWS WHERE AND THEY SHOW UP AND WE TAKE THEM, OH, NO, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT.

THEY TALK THE GOOD GAME OF HELPING STUDENTS IN THE CITY, PLACES WHERE SCHOOLS AREN'T PERFORMING UP TO STANDARD.

WE HAVE GOT TO HELP THOSE KIDS.

WE HAVE GOT TO HELP THOSE KIDS ONLY SO MUCH.

AND IT'S JUST -- I THINK IT TELLS THE TRUTH HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION.

>> I THINK IT'S MORE DANGEROUS, TOO, BECAUSE ONCE A COOL DISTRICT LOSES 5%, THEY CAN STOP SO THAT YOU CAN'T PULL EVERY STUDENT OUT OF ONE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER.

WHAT HAPPENS IS IS THAT 5%, YOU END UP LOSING YOUR BRIGHTEST STUDENTS AND YOUR BEST ATHLETES WHO THEN SHOP AROUND AND GO TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

ALL YOU ARE DOING IS MAKING THE DIVISION BETWEEN HAVES AND HAVE-NOTES EVEN WORSE AND KILLS ANY SENSE OF A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AND WE SAW THAT WITHIN THE SMALL DEFINES.

BIG CRITIC OF THE BUSSING PROGRAM IN THE CITY.

HE SAID THERE WERE NO MORE ROOM MOTHERS.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GET DOWN TO THEIR KID'S SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE 20 MILES AWAY?

THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL WENT AWAY.

AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRADE SCHOOL WENT AWAY.

IT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE.

ALL YOU ARE GOING TO DO IS SERVE THE SMART KIDS AND THE GOOD ATHLETES, AND THEY WILL CHERRY PICK THE SCHOOLS OUT, AND THE DIVISION BETWEEN THE TROOPS WILL GET EVEN WORSE.

>> NOT KIRKWOOD.

>> YOU KNOW WHATEVER WE ARE DOING NOW IS NOT WORKING, BECAUSE YOU CAN GO INTO -- I'M SURE YOU HAVE BEEN INTO THE NORMANDY SCHOOLS.

AND MY KIDS WENT TO THE CLAYTON SCHOOLS AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST.

IN 2025 IN ONE REGION, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A GREAT DISPARITY WITH RESOURCES, AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR MANY FAMILIES -- IN FACT, I THINK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE -- WHO MIGHT LIVE IN THE NORMANDY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO RENT OR BUY IN CLAYTON.

WHAT KIND OF THAT AS A SOCIETY IS THAT SYSTEM?

YOU GET A REALLY GOOD SCHOOL WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND AMENITIES IF YOU'VE GOT MONEY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, YOU HAVE A REAL BAD SITUATION.

>> LET'S SAY THE HOFFMANNS WANTED TO USE THE MONEY FOR GOOD.

I'M GOING TO LOAD UP KIDS FROM THE CITY AND TAKE THEM FROM NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL TO CLAYTON AND WHATEVER THE NUMBER OF RESTAURANT THAT THEY WOULD TAKE, WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM THERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, AND IT WOULDN'T WORK BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THEMSELVES WOULD BALK.

THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE.

ALSO, IF YOU ARE 48th IN FUNDING EDUCATION, HOW ABOUT WE FIX THAT FIRST?

[APPLAUSE] >> YOU SPARKED SOMETHING.

MAYBE ELON MUSK WILL MAKE TESLA SCHOOL BUSES, RIGHT?

YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> THEY COULD DRIVE THEMSELVES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THE FIRST STUDENT EXPENDITURE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS IS NOT REALLY LOW BY AMERICAN STANDARDS.

BUT LET'S SAY YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YOU CAN'T AFFORD LIVING IN KIRKWOOD OR SUNSET HILLS, AND YOU'RE THINKING TO YOURSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BETTER GATEWAY TO PROSPERITY.

WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS?

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU READ ABOUT SOME OF THE SHENANIGANS WITH THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS DINING AT 801 CHOPHOUSE AND BUSES DON'T SHOW UP, AND IT'S A QUAGMIRE.

>> I DON'T THINK THE SOLUTION IS LET'S BUS KIDS ALL AROUND THERE.

WE HAD THIS TALK ABOUT CAN WE MERGE THE COUNTY AND THE CITY?

I'M PERSONALLY NOT A FAN OF THIS, BUT WHAT IF WE WOULD DO ONE BIG SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME?

>> I GET THAT KIRKWOOD IS CLAYTON ARE NOT DOWN WITH THE PLAN.

BUT IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TRULY LIFTING UP EVERY KID, WOULDN'T THAT BE THE WAY TO DO IT.

>> WOULDN'T YOU HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS?

>> YES.

>> SAME ADMINISTRATION, SAME SORT OF LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY THE SAME SHOT, YOU KNOW.

>> I'M NOT SURE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS ARE ALL THAT IMPORTANT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN SOME HIGH SCHOOLS, THE KIDS TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO GO TO SLOUGH HIGH.

I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS WHEN THE MOMS AND DADS CAN BE ROOM MOTHERS, ROOM FATHERS AND HAVE EVENTS THERE AT THEIR SCHOOL.

A LOT OF KIDS COULDN'T DO EXTRACURRICULARS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO TAKE A TWO-HOUR BUS RIDE.

THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, YES, IF YOU ARE GOING TO OPT TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL, YOU HAVE CERTAIN MEANS AND YOU OPT FOR THAT TO GET A QUALITY EDUCATION.

NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

MY PARENTS SENT ME TO VI HIGH SCHOOL.

I THINK COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE THE KEY.

INSTEAD OF MOVING PIECES AROUND THE BOARD, FIX THE PIECES WHERE THEY ARE AT.

>> IT HELPS THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHEN I GREW UP IN CHICAGO, EVERYBODY WALKED TO SCHOOL, AND THE GRADE SCHOOL WAS SORT OF THE CENTER OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> BUT YOU HAVE BIGGER FAMILIES THEN.

THE FEEDER SCHOOLS ARE NOT FEEDING ANYMORE.

>> I ACTUALLY DID NOT GO TO A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

I KNOW SARAH DIDN'T GO TO A NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOL.

SOMETIMES PARENTS OR BUSES ARE THE WAY TO GET YOU THERE.

>> IN THIS AREA, THE KIDS THAT WERE PART OF THE PROGRAM, I DON'T THINK WE EVER HONORED THEM.

I DIDN'T LIVE HIM AT THAT TIME.

BUT I DON'T THINK THOSE KIDS WERE EVER HONORED.

THERE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL MEN AND WOMEN NOW THAT MADE THAT HOUR-LONG BUS RIDE TO AND FROM ROCKWOOD.

WE NEVER STOPPED AND SAID YOU DID IT.

YOUR FAMILY DID IT.

WE SHOULD SALUTE YOU.

DID IMMENSELY KIRKWOOD HAD A BOIL ORDER?

QUIT PICKING ON US.

>> ALVIN, SPEAKING OF SCHOOLS, MICHELLE FROM THE POST-DISPATCH HAD A REPORT ON MEASLES.

THERE'S THREE IN MISSOURI RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A GUY FROM SOUTHERN ILLINOIS WHO RECENTLY VISITED THE AQUARIUM.

HE HAS MEASLES.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

IN HER REPORTING, MICHELLE POINTED OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH IT'S REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE INTO KINDERGARTEN, JUST 75% OF KINDERGARTENERS IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS ARE VACCINATED FOR MEASLES.

IF A BABY GETS MEASLES, THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GET A VACCINATION UNTIL YOU ARE 12 OR 15 MONTHS OLD.

DO YOU THINK IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED SOMEONE DIP INTO THAT RAMS MONEY AND PROVIDE FROM CASHOLA FOR FAMILIES SO THEIR KIDS CAN GET VACCINATED?

>> NO.

HOW ABOUT WE GET LEGITIMATE INDIVIDUALS IN CHARGE OF HEALTHCARE IN THIS COUNTRY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WE WERE VACCINATED.

EVERYBODY HERE WAS VACCINATED.

GET VACCINATED.

GET YOUR KIDS VACCINATED AND THEY WON'T GET MEASLES.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT I DON'T FEEL FOR THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET THE MEASLES BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A KID AND YOUR PARENT IS WHATEVER AND YOU DON'T HAVE VACCINES, AT THE SAME TIME, NO, WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR THAT.

SOCIETY SHOULD NOT PAY FOR THAT.

YOU SHOULD NOT PAY FOR PEOPLE'S CRASS IGNORANCE.

I'M SORRY.

>> FOR THE SAKE OF THE KIDS, YOU HAVE TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED, AND WE CAN'T DEPEND ON BOBBY KENNEDY URGING PEOPLE TO DO IT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND SAY HEY, WE WILL GIVE YOU A FINANCIAL REASON TO GET YOUR KID VACCINATED.

>> IF YOUR KID IS NOT VACCINATED, IT'S NOT ROBERT KENNEDY'S FAULT.

IT'S NOT DONALD TRUMP'S FAULT.

IT'S THE PARENTS' FAULT.

>> I AGREE.

>> LET'S PUT THE BLAME WHERE IT LAYS.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR SHOTS, YOU HAVE A PARENT TO BLAME, PERIOD.

THAT'S IT S. >> AND WE ARE GOING TO PAY THEM FOR THAT.

LET'S PAY THEM FOR WHAT?

BRUSHING THEIR TEETH?

>> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE FLUORIDE OUT OF THE WATER.

>> HOW ABOUT A PARENT WITH COMMON SENSE WHO MAKES A KID BRUSH THEIR TEETH AND GET A VACCINATION.

>> ALL PARENTS DON'T HAVE COMMON SENSE.

>> WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LET THE GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED.

>> WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP THE PARENTS DO THE RIGHT THING.

>> GET THE VACCINATION FOR YOUR KIDS.

>> AT MY HOUSE ROBERT KENNEDY SAID DRINKING WINDEX SHOTS WOULD DO THE TRICK.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> WE HAD WINDEX COMING OUT OF THE FAUCET THIS MORNING.

>> SPEAKING OF KIRKWOOD, THE OWNER OF A LEGENDARY PLACE, SUGAR SHACK, BOBBY FRANCIS IS IN THE HOUSE.

THE DAUGHTER IS ON THE NINE PBS TEAM.

BILL, LET'S MOVE TO ROCKHILL WHERE THE CITY IS POLLING THE RESIDENTS, ASKING THEM IF THEY CAN SMELL THE MARIJUANA COMING FROM ONE OF THE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN THE ROCKHILL INDUSTRIAL PARK.

DO YOU THINK, AS I DO, THAT ONE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF LEGALIZED MARIJUANA HAS BEEN THAT JUST THIS AREA REAKS OF MARIJUANA.

>> I WOULD NOT SAY IT REAKS.

I WOULD SAY THERE IS A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

AS FAR AS ROCKHILL, THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I ALWAYS HAVE SYMPATHY FOR SOMEBODY WHO BUYS A HOME AND SOMETHING NEW COMES IN THERE, WHETHER IT'S A STORE OR A METHADONE CLINIC OR WHATEVER.

I THINK IF THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF THE MARIJUANA PLANT, INDUSTRIAL PLANT, I THINK THE CITY OF ROCKHILL IS DOING THE RIGHT THING, ASKING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY FEEL.

>> ARE THERE ANY HOUSES FOR SALE?

>> I THINK THE WORD WE WERE LOOKING FOR WAS AROMA.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR AROMA.

BEING A PROUD SOUTH SIDE, YOU LIVE WITH IT AND HAVE A BEER.

>> WHEN IT USED TO HAVE FUMES COMING OUT.

>> DOWN ON ALABAMA AVENUE, I REMEMBER DRIVING BY, AND WE WOULD ROLL UP THE WINDOWS REAL QUICK, AND YOU WOULD GO BY IT AND EVEN COMPLAIN ABOUT IT, AND MY DAD WOULD GO A COUPLE HUNDRED JOBS IN THERE, SON.

>> AND THAT WAS THEIR REASONING BECAUSE THEY HAD A PAPER MILL THERE.

WOW.

THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU.

>> YOU GUYS PASSING THE MARIJUANA MEASURE DIDN'T TELL US THAT YOU WILL BE WALKING DOWN HANLEY ROAD AND EVERY CAR SMELLS LIKE MARIJUANA.

>> YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

YOU CARE ABOUT THE TEMPORARY TAGS.

>> NOT TO SAY THAT EVERY OTHER CAR HAS GOT MARIJUANA FUMES COMING OUT OF IT.

BUT ONE, THEY DID PAY A TAX FOR THAT RIDE.

TWO, TO GET BACK TO ROCKHILL, THE FACILITY IS THERE.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE ROCKHILL COULD MAKE A DEAL.

WE CAN CHASE YOU OUT OF TOWN AND YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX OR MAKE A DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND.

>> LIKE A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I KNOW THE MAYOR OF ROCKHILL, HE'S A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND, EDWARD MAHAN.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD TALK TO HIM ABOUT A TACO BELL FRANCHISE.

>> I ALSO THINK PEOPLE GO NOW YOU DIDN'T REALIZE WHEN THEY PASSED THE MARIJUANA LAW THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE SMOKING IN THEIR CARS.

PASSING MARIJUANA LAWS DIDN'T CAUSE PEOPLE TO SMOKE IN THEIR CARS.

PASSING THE MARIJUANA LAWS DIDN'T EXPONENTIALLY INCREASE THE USE OF MARIJUANA.

IT MADE A LOT OF LAW BREAKERS LEGAL.

THEY ARE TRYING NOT TO HIDE IT AS MUCH.

>> ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN TO A DISPENSARY, EVERYBODY IS STANDING IN LINE OVER THE AGE OF 65, EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

>> SARAH, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY, SENIOR SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

>> THEY ARE A VERY GREAT ANGRY MOB TONIGHT.

THAT'S AN ANGRY MOB.

>> WE'VE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT SENATOR HAWLEY GETTING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM WHEN IT COMES TO COLD WATER CREEK, URANIUM IN NORTH COUNTY.

THIS WEEK HE DID SOMETHING THAT WAS RATHER QUITE ASTOUNDING.

HE GOT FOUR OF HIS PICKS TO BE NAMED TO THE FEDERAL BENCH IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI HERE IN ST. LOUIS, FOUR CONSERVATIVE YOUNG JUDGES WHO ARE NOW GOING TO BE ON THAT BENCH FOR A LONG TIME UNLESS THEY ARE ELEVATED TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OR SUPREME COURT OR WHATEVER.

DO YOU THINK A CASE COULD BE MADE THAT RIGHT NOW HE'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE, MAYBE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN MISSOURI?

I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE PERSON TO MAKE THAT CASE, SORRY TO SAY.

NO.

I THINK WHAT HE DID WAS HE WAS COMPLETELY STUBBORN, REFUSED TO MEET THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ONE-THIRD OF THE WAY.

SOMETIMES THAT WORKS.

YOU GET YOUR GUY BACK INTO POWER AND YOU LOOK LIKE A GENIUS.

THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK.

THIS IS NOT A GUY THAT FORMS ALLIANCES AND NOT POPULAR WITH HIS OWN PARTY.

YOU THINK HE GOT ON THIS.

FOR ALL I KNOW, THESE JUDGES ARE GREAT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO CREDIT HIM AS THE GENIUS FOR GETTING THINGS DONE.

>> I BLAME THIS ON JOE BIDEN: I REMEMBER TALKING TO RODNEY WHEN HE WAS GETTING READY TO RETIRE AND HOW THEY HADN'T TALKED ABOUT NAMING ANYBODY.

IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE U.S. ATTORNEY.

WHEN JEFF JENSEN, AND WHEN DONALD TRUMP LOST TO JOE BIDEN IN 2020, JEFF JENSEN RESIGNED, AND IT WAS JUST ASSUMED THAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD NAME A NEW U.S. ATTORNEY.

IT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS DONE.

BIDEN DID NOT GET AROUND TO NAMING A NEW U.S. ATTORNEY.

WE HAVE SAWYER FLEMING WHO IS LEFT OVER.

TO SAY JOSH HAWLEY MANEUVERED THIS.

IF JOSH HAWLEY WOULDN'T GO ALONG WITH HIS NOMINEES, HE WILL SAY I WILL GO PUBLIC.

HERE IS THE PEOPLE.

IT WAS GABE GORE AND REGGIE LEWIS AND YOU GO PUBLIC WITH THAT AND SAY HERE IS WHO I WANT AND MAKE IT AN ISSUE.

I BLAME JOE BIDEN MORE THAN I CREDIT ANYBODY.

>> I THINK THE LESSEN OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG AND DOBBS CREATING ONE OF THE POLITICALLY INSULTING SHIFTS AND EVEN THOUGH YOUR ITEMIZED AGENDA.

>> JOSH HAWLEY RUNNING OUT THE BACK, THAT'S ALL I NEED TO SAY ABOUT JOSH HAWLEY.

[APPLAUSE] >> THE THINGS THAT JOSH HAWLEY HAS DONE -- AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THIS SHOW BEFORE -- HE'S DONE AS MUCH AS ANYBODY FOR UNIONS LEGISLATION FOR THE LAST TIME, FORTUNE COMPANIES TO NEGOTIATE WITH UNIONS OVER NEW CONTRACTS.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS, AND I UNDERSTAND IT, IF I LISTED ALL THE THINGS I WROTE THAT WERE JOSH HAWLEY INITIATIVES, ONE SAYING HE'S OPPOSED TO CUTS IN MEDICAID.

IF I TOOK JOSH HAWLEY'S NAME OFF OF IT AND SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME ON IT, YOU WOULD BE APPLAUDING, BUT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE JOSH HAWLEY, AND I GET THAT.

BUT DO YOU WANT SOMEONE YOU LIKE FAILING ON YOUR BEHALF OR DO YOU WANT SOMEONE YOU DON'T LIKE SUCCEEDING ON YOUR BEHALF?

>> POPULARITY ISN'T THE ONLY BAROMETER.

DONALD TRUMP IS ONE OF THE MOST HATED REVILED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HE IS THE PRESIDENT.

SO JOSH HAWLEY'S CAREER, AS YOU'RE SAYING.

>> THE THING THAT SEEMS TO GET IGNORED, ESPECIALLY WHEN LIBERAL LEANING PEOPLE GET TOGETHER, OH, THESE PEOPLE WON WITH MAJORITIES OF THE VOTE.

THEY ACT LIKE THEY GOT IN ON SOME TECHNICALITY.

>> NOBODY DISPUTES HOW THEY WON, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IS MADNESS.

EVERYBODY WON FAIR AND SQUARE, UNLIKE 8 YEARS AGO -- OR FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE ARE RIOTING BECAUSE SOMEBODY LOST FAIR AND SQUARE.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO STAND UP AND SAY I DON'T LIKE ANYTHING YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST YOU AND I THINK YOU HAVE ULTERIOR MOTIVES, I STAND BEHIND THAT.

>> IT'S NOT HOW MORE THAN HALF THE COUNTRY WOULD DEFINE IT.

>> 51% OF AMERICANS AGREE WHAT'S GOING ON IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.

I DOUBT THAT'S SERIOUS.

>> ONCE BIDEN GOT ELECTED 51% OF AMERICA DIDN'T AGREE WITH HIM.

NOBODY IS MORE POPULAR THAN ON THE DAY THEY ARE ELECTED.

>> THE DAY AFTER HE GOT ELECTED, I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING HOME AND GETTING SNATCHED OFF THE STREET.

>> HAVE YOU MADE IT HOME EVERY NIGHT?

IT TURNS OUT THAT BILL MCCLELLAN, ED MARTIN, HE RAN FOR CONGRESS HERE, RAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE GOP PARTY IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, HEADED UP THE EAGLE FORUM.

HE WAS THE NOMINEE OF THE U.S. ATTORNEY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE PRESIDENT HAS YANKED THAT NOMINATION.

HAVE WE SEEN THE LAST OF ED MARTIN?

>> NO, WE HAVEN'T.

I KNOW ED, AND HE HAS THE HABIT OF FALLING UP.

BY THE WAY, TALKING ABOUT JOSH HAWLEY, JOSH HAWLEY VOTED TO CONFIRM ED MARTIN, AND JOSH HAWLEY HAS TO KNOW ED.

I KNOW ED MARTIN AND I'M SURE JOSH HAWLEY KNOWS HIM.

THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT JOSH HAWLEY, I THINK.

WHEN ED LEFT ST. LOUIS AND WENT OFF TO VIRGINIA OR MARYLAND AND RAN FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THEY CALLED HIM A RIGHT WING CARPET BAGGER AND HE GOT CRUSHED, I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE THE END OF ED MARTIN.

HE RISES AGAIN.

>> AS A REPORTER, I HOPE ED MARTIN NEVER GOES AWAY.

>> HE'S A GOOD GUY TO HAVE A BEER WITH.

I REMEMBER HOW I MET HIM.

IT WAS AT A SEMINAR ABOUT HOW TO FIRE PEOPLE WITHOUT GETTING SUED.

I WENT JUST TO REPORT ON WHAT COMPANIES WERE THERE SO I COULD SAY HEY, IF YOU WORK FOR SO-AND-SO BE CAREFUL.

ONE OF THE FIRST GUYS I MET WAS ED MARTIN.

AND I SAID WHO DO YOU WORK FOR, ED?

HE SAID THE ARCH DIOCESE.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS THEY HAD A HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION AND SURE ENOUGH THAT GOT RID OF HIM.

>> I THINK ED WAS ON DONNYBROOK ONE TIME.

>> HE WAS.

HE WAS.

>> ED BEING REJECTED BY THAT GROUP, IS THE LIBERATION ARMY REJECTING SOMEBODY.

HEY, YOU'RE TO RADICAL.

>> WE DO WANT TO SET ASIDE TIME FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ASSOCIATES WHO ARE WALKING AROUND WITH MICROPHONES.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO POSE A QUESTION, RAISE YOUR HAND, AND WE WILL MEANDER IN YOUR DIRECTION.

I WANT TO MENTION THAT COLLEEN FROM STL TODAY AND THE POST-DISPATCH IS HERE WITH HER MOM JENNI.

WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE COLLEEN AND JENNI, WHENEVER YOU MIGHT BE.

BILL FROM ROCKHILL IS WITH US.

DO WE HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> MY NAME IS MARION.

I'M A JUNIOR AT KIRKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND NEWS EDITOR FOR THE KIRKWOOD CALL.

I KNOW FUNDING WAS RECENTLY CUT FOR PBS.

I'M WONDERING HOW THAT WILL AFFECT US AND OUR EDUCATION AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DO TO PROTECT OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> AIN'T IT WONDERFUL BEING FROM KIRKWOOD?

[APPLAUSE] >> THERE IS A WEBSITE THAT I THINK WE CAN LOG ON TO IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND PRESERVE PBS FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT'S PROTECT MY PUBLIC MEDIA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE HAVE BILL FROM ROCKHILL.

>> I WASN'T AT THE DISPENSARY BEFORE I CAME HERE TONIGHT, BUT I HAVE SMELLED IT.

I NOTICED EARLIER WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE LATEST PROBLEMS IN THE CITY, PARTICULARLY THE BAD DRIVING AND THE PROBLEMS THAT THAT'S CREATING, THERE SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS LEFT OUT, AND THAT IS THE NEED FOR MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT UNFORTUNATELY SPEED BUMPS, TRAFFIC LIGHT CAMERAS, SECURITY CAMERAS, THEY CAN'T MAKE ARRESTS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE NEED OF MORE ACTUAL POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY ON THE STREETS?

BY THE WAY, FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM A CIVILIAN MEMBER OF BACK STOPPERS.

>> WE USED TO HAVE 1600 POLICE OFFICERS IN THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NOW WE ARE DOWN TO 850.

IT IS TRUE THAT POPULATION HAS GONE DOWN BUT NOT THATCH.

NOT ONLY WOULD I LIKE TO SEE MORE UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TWO OF THEM PER PATROL CAR, WHICH I HAVE SEEN IN SOME OTHER CITIES.

>> YES.

[APPLAUSE] THIS IS ANOTHER KIRKWOODIAN.

HE'S BEEN TO 320 COUNTRIES.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WERE THAT MANY.

GO AHEAD.

>> WE GOT A HOT MIC HERE, CHARLIE?

IT'S VACATION TIME IN ST. LOUIS.

WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH IN ST. LOUIS TO STILL HAVE AN AIRPORT BIG ENOUGH TO GET YOU ALMOST ANYWHERE IN 24 HOURS IN THE WORLD.

I'M CURIOUS.

IS ANY MEMBER OF THE PANEL GOING ON ANY INTERESTING TRIPS THIS SUMMER?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

>> I'M NOT.

>> MY HUSBAND FOR SOME REASON IS INSISTING ON A BOURBON TRAIL TRIP.

WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR ALMOST 38 YEARS, SO I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

>> I'M GOING TO BE ON THE BOURBON TRAIL AT THE RECEPTION AFTER THIS.

>> JOE JUST GOT BACK FROM SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> HOW DID YOU FLY?

>> THROUGH LAMBERT TO MINNEAPOLIS, MINNEAPOLIS TO ETHRO.

>> THAT'S A GOOD AIRPORT, MINNEAPOLIS.

>> I DON'T HAVE A GOOD AIRPORT ANSWER HERE, BUT I WILL SAY MY 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER CECILIA IS HERE AT HER FIRST DONNYBASH [APPLAUSE] IT'S A LONG HELD DREAM OF MINE THAT SOMEHOW I CAN GET HER TO WATCH THE SHOW AND SEE HER MOTHER ON TV.

EVERY SUMMER MY FAMILY HAS TO GO TO NORTHERN WISCONSIN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE CECILIA GETS TO SEE HER COUSINS.

[APPLAUSE] >> I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO STAY HOME AND MAYBE GO CAMPING NEAR THE ROCKHILL FACILITY.

[LAUGHTER].

>> ANOTHER QUESTION BEFORE WE GET TO THAT.

BILL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNEW THIS, BUT I FOUND OUT THIS AFTERNOON AT THE RECEPTION BEFORE THE BROADCAST THAT THE SHELDON'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS JOHN PETE, WHOSE GRANDFATHER WAS LOBBYIST TO JOHN BRITAIN.

>> I'M A BIG JOHN BRITAIN FAN, AND I USED TO WRITE THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT MAN IN JEFFERSON CITY.

JOHN BRITAIN, HE GOT STUFF PASSED YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.

NOT ALWAYS GOOD, BUT PEOPLE COULD DRIVE AROUND WITH AN OPEN CONTAINER OF BEER WAS JOHN BRITAIN.

HE WAS A LOBBYIST FOR THE BREWERY AND HE USED THE PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH DEFENSE.

IF YOU CAN DRIVE WHILE YOU ARE EATING A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH, YOU OUGHT TO DRIVE WHILE YOU ARE HAVING A BEER.

THEY LISTENED TO HIM AND SAID BR BRITAIN, YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT.

HE WAS GREAT.

>> WHEN HE RETIRED, THEY NAMED A CLYDESDALE AFTER HIM.

HE DIDN'T DRINK, WHICH IS KIND OF FUNNY.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE SMOKED.

WHEN THEY STOPPED SMOKING, AT THE CAPITOL IN JEFFERSON CITY, THEY HAD A JOHN BRITAIN EXEMPTION.

THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT LOBBYIST.

>> I WANT TO THANK PETE AND THE TEAM AT THE SHELDON.

WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION IN THE AUDIENCE.

DO WE HAVE A MICROPHONE?

SECOND ROW.

>> I THINK HE'S GOT TO COME ALL THE WAY AROUND.

HERE HE COMES.

BY THE WAY, ALSO, DENNIS SPARGER WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE MOX SOCIETY IS WHERE US IN THE HOUSTON.

>> FIRST I WANT YOU TO KNOW I AM A BIG FAN.

I WATCH ALL THE TIME FOR MANY YEARS.

MY QUESTION IS -- YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT EDUCATION AND WE WERE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE CITY, COUNTY MERGER AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOU ALL'S POSITIONS ON POSSIBLY A JOINT PROJECT OF A SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS.

MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHEN THEY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS AND THE CITY HAS TO PAY FOR CHILDREN WHO WE HAVE TO SEND TO OTHER DISTRICTS TO GET THE NEEDS MET, AND I THINK IF EVERYONE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY-COUNTY MERGER TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL NEED MIGHT BE AN IDEA.

>> WE HAVE A PANELIST, JASON ROSENBAUM, WHO SAID HE MOVED OUT OF THE CITY FOR THAT VERY REASON.

>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT WAS ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO WHEN TISHAURA JONES WERE RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

THE LAST TIME AROUND, THAT'S WHAT WE ASKED ALL CANDIDATES.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT EXTENDING IT TO THE CITY?

THEY SAID YES.

GUESS HOW MUCH PROGRESS WAS MADE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS?

NONE.

SUPPOSEDLY PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS.

BUT I GET THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

>> MY WIFE'S CAREER IS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SHE DID VISION IMPAIRED.

SHE WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY FOR 24 YEARS.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT WASN'T THE SAME IN THE CITY.

I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT'S -- BECAUSE IT WORKS SO WELL -- AND I KNOW THERE'S BUDGET AND STUFF AND ALL KINDS OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHATEVER, BUT THE IDEA THAT THE COUNTY HAS THAT AND THE CITY DOESN'T IS ONE THING THAT COULD BE FIXED IF THE EFFORT WERE PUT FORTH.

>> I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN STORIES ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.

WE'VE GOT TO RESOLVE ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, BECAUSE THE KIDS DESERVE.

>> TEACHERS WORKING WITH KIDS IS AN EVERYDAY THING.

>> A MINUTE TO GO.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SNEAK IN ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION OR COMMENT.

YES.

>> THANK YOU ALL.

THIS IS PROBABLY MY 12th TIME HERE AT DONNYBASH.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOUR LAST TIME.

>> DON'T TEMPT ME, ALVIN, PLEASE.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW POPE AND YOUR FORMER HEAD OF THE CHANNEL 9 WAS JACK.

JACK WAS ALSO A MEMBER.

IN HIS HONOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU.

>> NEATLY WOVEN QUILT, OUR SHOW, FROM BEGINNING TO END.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE FOR DONNYBASH 2025.

I DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY AV CAPTIONING WWW.AVCAPTIONING.COM