>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," A TALE OF TWO PRESIDENTS, AND TWO QUESTIONS LOOMING OVER THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

FIRST: IS JOE BIDEN TOO OLD TO RUN AGAIN FOR RE-ELECTION?

IF HE WINS, HE'D BE 86 AT THE END OF HIS SECOND TERM.

"THE ATLANTIC'S" MARK LEIBOVICH AND THE FOUNDER OF THE YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, JEFFREY SONNENFELD JOIN ME.

THEN, WILL DONALD TRUMP HANGING OUT WITH ANTISEMITES AND HOLOCAUST DENIERS, LIKE THOSE HE HOSTED FOR DINNER THE OTHER NIGHT, BE A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR REPUBLICAN VOTERS?

AND HOW DO HIS ACTIONS TRICKLE DOWN FROM MAR-A-LAGO TO THE REST OF AMERICA?

ROBERT TRESTAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE S, HE'LL JOIN ME.

>> Braude: WHEN JOE BIDEN TURNED 80 EARLIER THIS MONTH, HE OFFICIALLY BECAME THE OLDEST SITTING PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY.

IT'S A MILESTONE THAT'S ADDED NEW FUEL TO A LONG-RUNNING DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER HE SHOULD RUN AGAIN IN 2024, A MOVE BIDEN HAS HINTED AT, BUT NOT ACTUALLY CONFIRMED YET.

AND THE ANGST AMONG DEMOCRATS IS PALPABLE, AS MARK LEIBOVICH CAPTURED IT IN "THE ATLANTIC," ARGUING, "THE AGE ISSUE WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF BIDEN RUNS AGAIN.

THE 'WHISPERS' ARE BECOMING SHOUTS."

MARK LEIBOVICH IS A STAFF WRITER FOR "THE ATLANTIC."

JEFFREY SONNENFELD IS THE FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AT YALE'S SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE, JIM.

>> Braude: MARK, YOU WROTE, FIRST LINE OF YOUR PIECE EARLIER THIS YEAR, LET'S PUT IT BLUNLTLY, JOE BIED EVERYONE SHOULD NOT RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

HE IS TOO OLD.

>> WHY?

>> 80.

THAT WAS THE NUMBER.

LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO BE AEGIS HERE, BUT I WILL BE AEGIS, I GUESS.

I THINK, PEOPLE WHO STUDY AGING, PEOPLE WHO STUDY, YOU KNOW, DOCTORS BASICALLY WHO ARE EXPERT IN THIS, SAY THAT IT IS TRUE THAT AGING IS DIFFERENT FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO FINE AT THAT AGE.

BUT I THINK IN MOST CASES, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE BETTER SUITED TO HAVE SOMEONE YOUNGER IN THAT JOB.

AND OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT FOR ME TO DECIDE BUT MY SENSE IS THE DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN VERY RISK AVERSE IN SOME WEIGHINGS.

IN THE AGE OF TRUMP.

TRUMP HAS MADE REPUBLICANS JUST TERRIFIED OF HIM BUT AT THE SAME TIME DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY NERVOUS ABOUT DOING SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THE FUTURE.

LIKE SORT OF TAPPING SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE, MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

SO I THINK THAT IT IS TIME FOR THAT.

BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST ONE PERSON.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY YOU ARE TWO PEOPLE, IN THE SPIRIT OF FULL DISCLOSURE, A SPIRIT I RARELY EMBRACE, JEFFREY.

I'M WITH MARK ON THIS.

BUT YOU WRITE AGE IS A DANGEROUSLY MISLEADING DISQUALIFIER, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> BOTH OF YOU WITH YOUR YOUTHFUL MINDS ARE PERFECT EXAMPLES OF HOW EXPERIENCE DOESN'T GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR FRESHNESS AND YOUR ABILITY TO TO THINK INNOVATIVE THOUGHTS.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT ACROSS FIELDS, BETTY VERDAN, THE GREAT, OF COURSE, FEMINIST TOLD ME AT AGE 67 SHE SAID THAT SHE FOUND THE AGE MISS TEAK TO BE THE MOST FOR MIDDABLE BIAS EVEN MORE THAN THE FEMININE MISS TEAK.

AND AS YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF OUR LEADERS, AS SOMEBODY, ANYBODY WATCHING THE SHOW THINK THAT THEY COULD OUTSMART THE VERY SAVVY NANCY PELOSI AT AGE 82 OR REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HER POLITICS OR HIS POLITICS, MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL CERTAINLY HAS BEEN AWFULLY CLEVER AT EACH STAGE OF HIS LIFE AND HE SHOWS NO SIGN OF WILTING.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WROAD THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AT AGE 70.

THE SECOND WORLD WAR, PEOPLE LIKE CHARLES DEGAL AND HAROMAN, THESE PEOPLE WERE ALL IN THEIR 80S.

>> Braude: BUT JEFF, IF I MAY INTERRUPT YOU, YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY CHERRY PICK AND I DON'T MEAN THAT AS DISPARAGING AS IT SOUNDS.

80 AND 90 YEAR OLDS WHO DO WONDERFULLY WELL.

BUT AS MARK SAID, HERE IS THE STUDY OUT OF THE COGNITIVE DECLINE ON COGNITIVE DECLINE IN JAMA, AND ANOTHER STUDY, THE SECOND NUMBER, THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE.

WHEN YOU ARE OVER 85 YEARS OLD WHICH JOE BIDEN WOULD BE IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS SECOND TERM, 40% OF PEOPLE THAT AGE LIVE WITH SERIOUS COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT JOE BIDEN IS LIKE NOW.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO BE LIKE IN FIVE YEARS, RIGHT, JEFF?

>> JOE BIDEN HAD A STUTTER WHEN HE WAS 70, WHEN HE WAS 40, WHEN HE WAS 30 AND WHEN HE WAS 9, WHEN HE WAS 7 YEARS OLD.

JOE BIDEN WOULD SAY GOOFY THINGS AND SOMETIMES COME OUT WITH CRINGE-WORTHY JOKES AT EVERY STAGE IN HIS LIFE.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AGE.

AS MARK AND YOU SAID, AND MARK SAID I DON'T WANT TO BE AEGIS AND WENT WRITE-OFF TO BE AEGIS.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AEGIS, MARK, I CAN LIBERATE YOU, DROP YOUR CHAINS, STOP BEING AEGIS.

YOU SAID YOU YOU CAN THINK OF ANY DEMOGRAPHIC CATEGORY AND FIND AVERAGE TRENDS TO FAVOR ONE GROUP OR ANOTHER.

HAPPILY WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY BASED ON MERIT AND INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT.

WE DON'T GO FOR WHAT COLOR HAIR SOMEBODY HAS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY FIT A JOB.

>> Braude: JEFF, LET ME STOP YOU THERE FOR A SECOND.

YOU CITE GERIATRICIANS MARK IN YOUR PIECE IN THE ATLANTIC WHO SAY EXACTLY WHAT JEFF IS SAYING.

WHICH IS IT SHOULD BE ON A PERSON TO PERSON BASIS.

BUT YOU SEEM TO BE, OBVIOUSLY IT CAN'T BE A FORMAL AGE LIMIT BECAUSE THE CONSTITUTION SAYS I THINK 35, BORN HERE, NATURALIZED-- BORN HERE AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR AT LEAST 14 YEARS BUT INFORMALLY YOU BASICALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN AGE LIMIT, NO?

>> I MEAN I THINK IT IS A PERSON TO PERSON THING.

AND I THINK THAT VOTERS SHOULD DECIDE.

I MEAN BASICALLY AGE LIMITS ARE A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DICEY.

THERE AREN'T AGE LIMITS FOR AIR-- AGE LISMITIES FOR AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS FOR DRIVERS, THERE PROBABLY SHOULD BE AN AGE LIMIT, A MAXIMUM AGE THAT YOU CAN DRIVE, I I SNI ST VARIES STATE TO STATE.

BUT LOOK, I JUST, I DON'T LOVE AGE LIMITS BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-KNOWLEDGE.

AND BASICALLY SELF-LESSNESS THAT SOME ONE WHO REACHES A CERTAIN STAGE OF HIS OR HER LIFE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF WHEN DECIDING WHETHER THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY, WHETHER THE FUTURE OF THE IMMEDIATE ORBIT IS BEST SERVED WITH HIM STILL IN THE CHAIR.

>> Braude: JEFF, YOU SAY, MARK SAYS HE DNTD LIKE AGE LIMITS.

I KNOW YOU REALLY DON'T LIKE AGE LIMITS BUT MARK SITES IN HIS PIECE, I THINK IT IS AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, 56 OR SOMETHING, PILOTS 65.

AND I ASSUME BOTH BECAUSE IF THEY CAN'T PERFORM ADEQUATELY THEY PUT ME AT RISK.

IF A PRESIDENT CAN'T PERFORM ADEQUATELY, HE PUTS OR SHE PUTS EVERYBODY AT RISK.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY BROAD NUMBERS ABOUT AGE GROUPS DON'T MATTER TO YOU AS MUCH AS YOUR JUDGMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL YEARS BEFORE HE REACHES THAT AGE GROUP.

>> BECAUSE THERE'S NO REAL SCIENCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS.

THAT JAMA STUDY IS BADLY FLAWED.

YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO HEAR THIS, AND MARK WILL ADMIT THIS ON AIR.

HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY READ THE RESEARCH IN THAT STUDY TO SEE WHAT INSTRUMENTS THEY USED.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE WESCHLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE GENT SURVEY WHICH IS WHAT THESE STUDIES RELY UPON, IT TELLS US THE OLDER WE GET, THE DUMBER WE GET.

MARK, WHY IS THAT, JIM, WHY IS THAT, IT IS BECAUSE IT HAS A SPEED VERSUS ACCURACY TRADE OFF BUILT IN.

A YOUNGER PERSON MAKES FEWER MISTAKES IN THE MEASURE THEY USE-- MAKES MORE MISTAKES BUT THEY ARE ARE NOT PENALIZED.

AN OLDER PERSON WAITS MORE, THEY USE WISDOM, THE ERROR PATTERN IN AN OLDER PERSON IN THE SAME MEASUREMENTS ARE VERY LOW BUT THEY DON'T FINISH IT AND THEY ARE SCORED DOWN FOR THAT BECAUSE OF THE INSTRUMENT'S DESIGN.

YOU GO FOR THE AVERAGES AND YOU MISS EVERYTHING.

THE REALITY IS AS AN INDIVIDUAL A A ASSESSMENT, THAT IS WHAT IS LOST HERE.

>> Braude: BUT JEFF, I'M SORRY, YOU ARE STILL NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION.

YOUR ASSESSMENT IS OF THE 80 YEAR OLD JOE BIDEN-- EVEN IF YOU-- LET ME FINISH.

EVEN IF YOU REJECT WHAT JAMA SAYS AND AND REJECT IT FOR THE MOMENT, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT JOE BIDEN IS GOING TO BE LIKE AS AN 85 OR 86 YEAR OLD MAN.

I MEAN THAT'S OBVIOUS, IS IT NOT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF AN OLDER PERSON'S CHARACTER THAN WE DO IN HOW THE C.E.O.

OF FTX, I'M RIGHT HERE, IN AN EVENT WITH SAME BANKMAN, FOOTSTEPS AWAY FROM ME.

TO HAVE A 20 SOMETHING KID-- WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PERSON IS GOING TO DO WOULD HE RATHER HAVE THAT OR ELIZABETH HOLMES.

>> I DON'T THINK IT IS A FAIR CHOICE.

>> THE THERE IF YOU TOOK, IF MARK COMES UP, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CHERRY PICKING, MARK COMES UP WITH AN EXAMPLE OF AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, WHY WOULD THAT BE, YES, BECAUSE SPEED OF REACTION IS LOWER, IF MANUAL DEXTERITY MATTERS, MAYBE ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE, AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, WHERE YOU HAVE SPEED OF RESPONSE.

THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Braude: MARK, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THIS?

>> NOT REALLY.

I MEAN, I AM CHERRY PICKING BUT I THINK THIS IS A VERY NARROW COGNITIVE AREA THAT IS RELEVANT.

CHERRY PICKING IS PICKING EXAMPLES TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARGUMENT.

>> OUR ELDER STATES PERSON-- .

>> Braude: JEFF, LET HIM FINISH, I'M SORRY, MARK, GO AHEAD.

>> LOOK, MY ONLY POINT IS THAT AS A CONSUMER OF POLITICS, AS SOMEONE WHO, IT IS ONE OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO GETS TO PICK A PRESIDENT, I I WOULD PREFER SOMEONE YOUNGER.

AND I WOULD HOPE AND THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD BE BETTER SERVED TO HAVE A BUNCH OF YOUNGER OPTIONS.

>> Braude: MARK, WHEN THE 2024 PRIMARIES APPROACHED IF YOU WERE TO FEEL LIKE I THINK MOST PRIMARY VOTERS CONCLUDED SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT JOE BIDEN AT 82 WAS THE MOST LIKELY DEMOCRAT TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP, WOULD YOU SWALLOW YOUR PRINCIPLE AND SAY HE'S THE MAN.

>> OH YEAH, IT IS NOT A PRINCIPLE.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE WIN, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THE DEMOCRATS WIN.

I THINK THERE IS A VERY STRONG ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY MOST LIKELY TO WIN WITH HIM DESPITE HIS AGE THOUGH.

AND I DO THINK THAT HIS AGE IS A BIG DESPITE.

AND LOOK, I TALKED ABOUT RISK AVERSION BEFORE.

I THINK JOE BIDEN SINGLE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO YOU KNOW LIFE I THINK WAS BEATING DONE ALLEGED TRUMP IN 2020.

BUT I THINK VOTERS, THE DEMOCRAT VOTERS PARTICULARLY IN PLACES LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA DECIDED THAT HE HAD A VERY PRACTICAL CHANCE, OR BEST PRACTICAL CHANCE OF DOING IT.

AND IT WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION.

HE MIGHT BE CALLED UPON TO DO IT AGAIN IF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT HE IS BEST SUITED FOR IT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE ARE BETTER CANDIDATES.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW JEFF, IN MY INTERNAL SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND, WOULD A COMPROMISE POSITION HERE BE THAT THERE SHOULD BE COGNITIVE TESTING OF CANDIDATES FOR HIGHER OFFICE ONCE THEY REACH, PICK ANY NUMBER YOU WANT, 60, 70, 75, 80, EVERYBODY, NO DISCRIMINATION, EVERYBODY OF THAT AGE HAS TO TAKE A COGNITIVE TEST AND THE RESULTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE VOTING PUBLIC.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> IF YOU DO IT AT EVERY AGE, SURE, BUT I WOULDN'T JUST START IT AT A CERTAIN SENIOR'S AGE.

>> Braude: SOMEONE YUS WENT TO THE MEN'S ROOM BEHIND YOU.

>> BY THE WAY, THE HALF A DOZEN TIMES WHEN I INTERRUPTED YOU GUYS ONLY SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE OF MY OBNOXIOUSNESS.

SOME OF IT HAD TO DO WITH JUST BECAUSE THEY KEEP LETTING OUT A CROWD AT AN EVENT WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW.

>> Braude: BUT YOU COULD LIVE WITH COGNITIVE TESTING, CORRECT?

>> IF YOU CAN LOOK AT JOE BIDEN'S SCHEDULE, THERE IS HARDLY ANYBODY, LOOK HOW HE CRISSCROSSED THE NATION JUST IN THE RUN OFF TO THE ELECTION, SEEING PRESIDENT XI JINPING, THE G7 AND ALL THE REST.

GOING TO THE HEADS OF CANADA, UK, GERMANY, RIGHT AFTER.

WHO COULD DO THAT AT ANY AGE THAT IS WATCHING THIS SHOW.

YOU TAKE A LOOK AT COME RAAD ADD AN HOUR AT AGE 87, HE BROUGHT THE MODERN STATE OF GERMANY BACK TO LIFE TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY, AND AT AGE 90 WAS STILL RUNNING THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION, THE PRESIDING POWER.

NOBODY TALKED ABOUT HIS AGE.

LOOK IT UP IN ANY NEWSPAPER.

PEOPLE CELEBRATED HIM, THEY WERE SORRY-- SORRY WHEN HE STEPPED DOWN.

AGE WAS NOT A RELEVANT ISSUE UNTIL NOW WE HAVE BABY BOOMERS WHO ARE BECOMING A QUESTION OF BEING ATTACKED BY OTHER AGE SEGMENTS.

WE SHOULDN'T FALL INTO THIS AGEISM.

THERE IS REALLY NO JUSTIFICATION FOR IT.

IF ANYTHING WE SHOULD RETIRE THE BIAS AROUND AGE.

>> Braude: JEFF SONNENFELD, MARK LEIBOVICH, YOU HAVE A FINAL THOUGHT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD RETIRE THE BIAS AROUND AGE BECAUSE AGE IS JUST A NUMBER.

>> Braude: ON THAT NOTED, >> Braude: MARC LEIBOVICH, JEFFREY SONNENFELD, THANKS.

FROM THE MOMENT HE ANNOUNCED HIS 2016 RUN FOR PRESIDENT, BIRTHER- IN-CHIEF DONALD TRUMP HAS NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT SHOWING US WHO HE TRULY IS, CALLING MOST MEXICAN MIGRANTS RAPISTS AND DRUG DEALERS DURING HIS CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT, AND REFERRING TO WHITE SUPREMACISTS AS "VERY FINE PEOPLE."

AND NOW INTO HIS 2024 RUN, TRUMP APPEARS TO BE DIVING IN EVEN DEEPER, IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE.

JUST LAST WEEK, HE HOSTED A DINNER AT HIS MAR-A-LAGO COMPOUND, AND AMONG THOSE AT HIS TABLE?

FELLOW 2024 CANDIDATE AND MUSICAL ARTIST KANYE WEST WHO HAS BEEN VERY OUTSPOKEN ON HIS ANTISEMTIC VIEWS THESE DAYS.

ALSO WITH THEM?

WHITE NATIONALIST, HOLOCAUST DENIER, FAN OF PUTIN AND HITLER, NICK FUENTES.

IN RESPONSE, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF SILENCE ON THE SUBJECT, HOUSE SPEAKER-TO-BE KEVIN McCARTHY SAID PUBLICLY ON TUESDAY THAT FUENTES' IDEOLOGY "HAS NO PLACE IN SOCIETY," THOUGH HE MISTAKENLY ASSERTED TRUMP CONDEMNED IT, AS WELL, THEN SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL FOLLOWED UP WITH A SLIGHTLY STRONGER "THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR ANTI-SEMITISM OR WHITE SUPREMACY."

BUT AS USUAL, BOTH STOPPED SHORT OF CONDEMNING TRUMP HIMSELF.

AND EVEN AS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE SAID TRUMP SHOULD APOLOGIZE.

HE ADDED HE DOESN'T BELIEVE TRUMP IS AN ANTI-SEMITE.

NO...

HE JUST HOSTS THEM FOR DINNER.. AND ROBERT TRESTAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, I'M ALMOST EMBARRASSED TO ASK THIS QUESTION BUT WITH WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE DINNER.

>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

IT WAS REALLY SHOCKING BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR YOU VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE STILL CARRIES THE WORD PRESIDENT BEFORE HIS NAME.

THAT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY.

AND FOR HIM TO BE BREAKING BRELD WITH ANTI-SEMITES AND-- PUSHING FORWARD AN ANTI-SEMITIC AGENDA AND WHITE SUPREMACY, IT IS JUST SHOCKING.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I EXPECT.

FORGET ABOUT, THAT I AM JEWISH AND ANTI-SEMITISM IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

ST NOT WHAT I EXPECT AS AN AMERICAN OF A FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

>> Braude: YOU DON'T EXPECT IT FROM THIS FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT?

>> NO.

IT IS BELOW ANY SORT OF STANDARD.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING AND TRYING TO ERADICATE HATE FOR YOUR WHOLE CAREER.

WHAT IS-- FORGET WHAT YOU JUST SAID OR PUT IT ASIDE FOR THE MOMENT THE WHOLE NOTION OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE A FORMER PRESIDENT HOSTING THIS KIND OF ABOMINATION.

WHAT IS THE TRICKLE DOWN IMPACT?

IS IT MAINSTREAM HATE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OPEN TO IT?

WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE?

>> WELL, IT IS A CONSISTENT STRATEGY THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> Braude: MEANING WHAT.

>> IT EM POO WE ARES.

IT INCITES AND IT INSPIRES PEOPLE TO COMMIT ACTS OF VIOLENCE, ACTS OF HATE.

AND YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY NOT INTEND THAT.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YE DOESN'T EITHER AND NEITHER DOES FUENTES BUT THERE IS AN IMPACT.

THERE IS AN OUTCOME OF THEIR LANGUAGE, THEIR BEHAVIOR AND THIS COMING TOGETHER.

>> Braude: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT HOW DO YOU SAY THAT HE MAY NOT INTEND THIS.

I MENTIONED BIRTHERRISM, WE KNOW THAT AFRICAN COUNTRIES ARE SHITHOLE COUNTRIES, WE KNOW THAT SOME CONGRESS PEOPLE OF COLOR SHOULD GO BACK TO THE COUNTRIES THEY CAME FROM.

IRMEAN, IT'S HARD FOR ALMOST ANYBODY TO SAY, A FORMER PRESIDENT SAY RACIST.

HIS BEHAVIOR IS THAT OF A RACIST RELENTLESSLY, IS IT NOT?

>> WELL, HIS ACTIONS ARE CERTAINLY QUESTIONABLE.

BUT THE MAIN CONCERN TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THAT IT INSPIRES PEOPLE.

IN THE LAST-- LOOK AT SOME OF THE MASS VIOLENCE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IN COLORADO, KEEP IN MIND, THAT THE WHITE SUPREMACIST WHO MAY BE TARGETING JEWS, WHO ARE TARGETING PEOPLE OF COLOR, THEY HATE PEOPLE WITHIN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY JUST AS MUCH.

THEY'RE NOT DISCRIMINATING.

AND SO YOU KNOW, THERE IS A REAL LIFE IMPACT WHEN PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED.

AND WHEN THEY SEE THIS KIND OF GATHERING, THE FORMER PRESIDENT HOSTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE VIEWS, IT DOES GIVE IF CREDIBILITY.

>> YOU KNOW, ALMOST EVERY TIME I'M IN A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE ABOUT THE APPALLING BEHAVIOR OF DONALD TRUMP, I STEP BACK AND I SAY WHAT IS EVEN MORE UPSETTING TO ME THAN TRUMP'S UNCONSCIONABLE BEHAVIOR IS THAT WHOLE LIST I GAVE YOU A MINUTE AGO ABOUT THINGS THAT TRUMP HAD DONE AND SAID.

AND I COULD GO ON FOR AN HOUR LIKE THIS.

PEOPLE KNEW THAT WHEN 74 MILLION OF THEM VOTED FOR HIM AFTER HE HAD SERVED FOR FOUR YEARS, WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT 74 MILLION PEOPLE, I WOULD ASSUME MOST OF WHOM KNOW AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THESE SITUATIONS, SEEM WILLING TO TOLERATE THAT IN THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD.

>> IT IS PRETTY SCARY.

BUT IT ALSO TELLS, IT'S ALSO A SIGN THAT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BE STANDING UP.

SO WE SEE SOME PEOPLE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY STARTING TO YOU KNOW, SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DINNER.

BUT THE ISSUE IS NOT THAT IT'S NOT CONSISTENT.

THE IDEOLOGY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT REALLY IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH AMERICAN POLITICS.

IT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNANCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE EXTREMISTS MAKING POLICY FOR US.

>> SO WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

I MEAN JUDY WOODRUFF AT PBS SENT HER REPORTERS OUT TO TALK TO 57 REPUBLICANS THE OTHER DAY TO GET THEIR REACTION TO THIS.

MOST OF THEM DIDN'T RESPOND.

THOSE WHO RESPONDED, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, ONLY SENATOR CASSIDY FROM LOUISIANA AND MITT ROMNEY WHO IS NO BIG FAN OF TRUMP'S TO BEGIN WITH, HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY THE NAME "TRUMP" IN THEIR CRITICISM OF THIS.

IF THE GOP AS A WHOLE HAD THE COURAGE, AND MOST OF THEM DO NOT, TO STAND UP TO THIS GUY AND HIS RACISM, AND HIS ANTI-SEMITISM, WOULD THAT NOT HAVE A BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON THE THING YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, THIS IT PEOPLE WAITING FOR HEALTH TO BE PERMISSIBLE AND MAINSTREAMED AND THAT SORT OF THING?

WOULDN'T IT HELP?

>> THE KEYWORD IS COURAGE.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WATCH SOME OF-- THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN COLORADO.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO STOOD UP IN THAT JUST HORRIFIC MOMENT, THEY EXHIBITED COURAGE.

AND IF MORE PEOPLE EXHIBITED THAT COURAGE, WE MIGHT START TO SEE A CHANGE HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF CHANGE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FEAR I FALL INTO IS I SAY TO MYSELF WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WORST OF TRUMPISM, WELL, WHEN TRUMP IS GONE, HE EITHER LOSES BADLY IN THIS PRIMARY HERE OR DECIDES HE DOESN'T WANT TO RUN OR LOSES TO A DEMOCRAT IN 2024.

IT SENDS WITH HIM.

WHICH I REALIZE IS INCREDIBLY NAIVE.

THIS HAS BEEN SO EMBEDDED IN MA AMERICA, IN GREAT PART BECAUSE OF TRUMP, NOT SAYING IT IS THE SOLE REASON, HOW DO YOU, WHAT IS THE ANTIDOTE?

I MEAN WHAT IS.

>> IT HAS BEEN MAINSTREAMED.

WHAT WE SEE TODAY HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

THIS DIDN'T JUST SORT OF HAPPEN.

>> Braude: BUT IT WAS ELEVATED TO AN ART FORM DURING DONALD TRUMP AND EVEN POST PRESIDENCY, HE IS THERE.

SO WHAT IS THE FIX FOR THIS?

WITH OR WITHOUT TRUMP ON THE SCENE?

WHAT IS THE REALISTIC FIX?

>> I THINK IT SAY FULL COURT PRESS ON THAT WE NEED TO REALLY-- WE NEED TO REDEFINE WHO WE ARE.

AND I THINK PART OF THAT COMES WITHIN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL STRUCTURE.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE EXTREMISTS WITHIN THE MILITARY, WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE A POLICE OFFICER WAS PART OF CHARLOTTESVILLE WHICH NICK FUENTES BY THE WAY WHO WAS ONE OF THE PERSON WHO WAS PRESENT.

>> Braude: A POLICE OFFICER FROM BOSTON, JANUARY 6th, HIS SITUATION HAS STILL NOT BEEN RESOLVED ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, BY THE WAY.

>> AND THEN IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR LEADERS.

AND THAT IS WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, OR WHETHER YOU ARE IN CONGRESS OR IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> Braude: SO HOW DO WORLD LEADERS DO A FORMER LEADER WHO HAS AN EVENT LIKE HE HAD THE OTHER NIGHT IN HIS PAL ASHE YAL LANDING.

>> WELL, WE SAW MANY EXAMPLES OF PRESIDENT'S TRUMP'S INTERACTION WITH WORLD LEADERS, YOU KNOW, DURIG HIS TENURE AS PRESIDENT.

I THINK THIS WILL-- THIS MAY BE A DESIGN-- DEFINING MOMENT IN THE CAMPAIGN.

IN THE NEXT 0 TO 24 MONTHS.

>> DO YOU SAY THAT SAME THING WHEN HE GOT OFF THE BUS AND WAS TALKING ABOUT WOMEN'S AGAIN TALES OR WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT MCCAIN OR KEEZER KUAN, DIDN'T HE SAY THOSE SAME THINGS THEN.

HE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY IMMUNE.

>> THE COUNTRY IS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE NOW THAN IT WAS THEN.

AND WE HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED MANY OTHER DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO I'M NOT SURE IT IS A FAIR-- I'M NOT SURE IT IS A FAIR COMPARISON BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE CHANGING DRAMATICALLY ALL THE TIME.

AND WE NEED TO BE MONITORING THOSE CHANGES AND REACTING ACCORDINGLY.

>> Braude: ONE MORE THING BEFORE YOU GO, ROBERT, TALK ABOUT COURAGE.

I MEANT TO MENTION THIS BEFORE BUT I FORGOT.

A LOT OF CONSERVATIVE JEWISH GROUPS HAVE CHOSEN FOR MAYBE SIX YEARS NOW TO IGNORE THE WORST OF TRUMP AS LONG AS HE WAS STEADFAST IN HIS SUPPORT OF ISRAEL.

THAT WALL SEEMS TO BE BREAKING A LITTLE BIT SINCE MAR A LAKINGO, AM I BEING OVERLY-- MAR-A-LAGO.

AM I BEING OVERLY OPTIMISTIC?

>> AFTER THIS DINNER I THINK YOU SAW ACROSS THE SPECTRUM INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, MANY REPUBLICAN JEWS WHO MAY HAVE-- WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF HIM, WERE HIGHLY CRITICAL OF HIM.

AND MANY ORGANIZATIONS.

I THINK THERE WAS AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD RECOGNITION THAT THIS CROSSED THE LINE.

BUT IT DIDN'T JUST CROSS THE LINE, IT WAS DANGEROUS.

>> Braude: AND DO YOU THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR, AND I'M NOT TALKING, I MENTIONED THE 74 MILLION WHO VOTED FOR IT BUT ON MY RARE OPTIMISTIC MOMENTS I SEEM TO THINK THAT EVEN THEY HAVE HAD ENOUGH, NOT JUST OF THIS BUT OF CRAP FROM PEOPLE LIKE LAUREN BO BETTER TALK BEINGS DRAG QUEENS NOT COMING TO HER DISTRICT AND PROFESSING GREAT SYMPATHY OF THE FIVE PEOPLE MURDERED IN CLUB Q, ARE WE FINALLY SAYING WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS?

>> I THINK AMERICANS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE VIOLENCE AND PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE.

AND IT IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED.

AND SO WHATEVER IT TAKES, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY AND DEFINE WHO WE WANT TOK.

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

>> I HOPE YOU ARE RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, GREAT TO SIGH, ROBERT TRESTAN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE, DON'T FORGET ABOUT UKRAINE.

>> What is the difference between A rotary and a roundabout?

What is a cruller?

Is it true that casinos Pump oxygen through the air?

Up, up, up, up, up, Up, up, up, up, up, up.

We have received a lot Of questions from you In recent weeks, And we're GOING TO answer Some of them, right now.

Ryan Neufeld from Milford asks, "What is the difference between A rotary and a roundabout?"

Well Ryan, it's a difference Of size and speed.

Rotaries tend to be larger.

You're allowed to drive More quickly around them, And they usually have more than one lane.

Alternatively, roundabouts are smaller.

You must drive around them Slower, and they are single lane.

Now there's more than a hundred rotaries Here in Massachusetts, But that is changing.

State and municipalities Are trying to convert As many of those rotaries As they can, to roundabouts, Because, not surprisingly, Roundabouts are safer.

An anonymous curiosity Seeker from Lowell asks, "Is it true that casinos Pump oxygen through the air, And if it's not true, where Did the rumor come from?"

Well, it is indeed an Urban myth, and for clarity We reached out to our Local casino, Encore, And they responded with a statement.

Here's what they had to say.

"It is believed that this urban legend Comes from Mario Puzo's Novel, "Fools Die," Where a casino owner Who owns a fictitious hotel in Las Vegas, Pumped oxygen into the casino In order to keep gamblers Awake and spending for longer.

This is absolutely not True of real life casinos.

In fact, as an accelerant, It would be highly dangerous To pump oxygen into any space, As it could cause a fire to spread rapidly Since the flammability of The air would be increased."

Elizabeth Warrior from Cambridge, Massachusetts, asks, "Do people who have Beards retain more germs On their faces, then people who do not."

Well Elizabeth, studies on this very topic Have been published in places Like "European Radiology" And "The Journal of Hospital Infections."

And the conclusion is that yes, People who have beards Retain germs on their faces.

So do people who don't have beards.

And in fact, the amount Of germs, about the same.

Question from John Tobin in Charlestown, A.k.a.

our producer's dad.

"What is a cruller?

What is its history?

And why is it disappearing?"

Well John, we talk about the cruller, We have to make a distinction.

There is the French cruller, And then there is the German/Dutch cruller.

Now some sources will Tell you that the cruller Was introduced here in America, By the Pennsylvania Dutch, Who are in fact German.

Other sources say that the actual Dutch Brought the cruller here to America, Which would make sense Since that word cruller Is from a Dutch word, which means curl.

Either way, they soared in Popularity in the 1800's, In and around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, And of course remain popular today.

Now the big difference between These crullers is the dough.

So the German/Dutch version Is a little bit more Like a traditional donut dough, And their shape is kind Of longer and less twisty.

The French version is round And is made of a choux pastry.

As for your question about Why they are disappearing, I have it on good authority That if they are disappearing around you, It is probably because You are eating them all.

In fact, we see no evidence whatsoever That they are disappearing.

An influential chef from Du's Donuts in Brooklyn, Named chef Wylie Dufresne, Just a few years ago, Said that crullers were "having a moment."

And on a personal note, I was able to, with no Problems whatsoever, Get my hands on a French cruller At my local Dunkin' Donuts this morning.

Um, And now I am going to Have a personal moment With my cruller.

(lively music) >> The "Curiosity Desk" is sponsored By Emerson College,