>>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.

FIRST, WITH THE INITIAL DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES DONE, WE'LL LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON WOMEN CANDIDATES AND ISSUES IMPACTING WOMEN.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES, NO MORE CABLE NEWS.

ONE FORMER WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT SAYS WOMEN ARE TURNED OFF AND TUNING OUT.

>>> THE FIRST PAIR OF DEMOCRATIC DEBATES ARE OVER AND CANDIDATES BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

HOW IF IT ALL DID IT CHANGE THE RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT.

>> DO YOU AGREE TODAY THAT YOU WERE WRONG TO OPPOSE BUSSING IN AMERICA THEN?

DO YOU AGREE?

>> I DID NOT OPPOSE BUSSING IN AMERICA.

>> IT WAS A FAILURE OF STATES TO INTEGRATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN AMERICA.

>> THE SECOND NIGHT INCLUDED MORE POPULAR CANDIDATES WITH FOUR OF THE FIVE FRONT RIRNS.

20 OF 24 CANDIDATES, SIX OF WHOM WERE WOMEN TOOK TO THE STAGE.

BUT MEN JOINED IN ON SO-CALLED WOMENS ISSUES INCLUDING GENDER EQUALITY AND EQUAL PAY.

>> PASS THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

>> I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS PASSED A LAW PROTECTING A WOMANS RIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

>> THERE ARE THREE WOMEN UP HERE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR A WOMANS RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

>> WE SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE -- ABOUT THE DEBATE AND WHAT SHE HOPED TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> MY MISSION IS TO PUT THE INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOVE ALL ELSE.

PUT SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND BRING ABOUT THE KIND OF STRONG, BOLD LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR FOREIGN POLICY AND TO END THESE WASTEFUL REGIME CHANGE WARS.

END THIS NEW COLD WAR AND ARMS RACE AND INVEST IN SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE.

>> SO CONGRESSWOMAN, HOW DID HAVING SIX WOMEN ON THOSE TWO STAGES CUMULATIVELY TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW CHANGE THE DEBATES?

>> BEFORE A SINGLE WORD WAS SPOKEN IN THESE DEBATES, THE PRESENCE OF SO MANY WOMEN ON THAT STAGE SIGNALLED THAT A WOMAN CAN BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> YEAH.

I KEPT THINKING I WISH A REPUBLICAN STAGE COULD LOOK LIKE THIS ONE.

I WAS DELIGHTED BECAUSE I ALSO THINK THAT THE DIVERSITY OF VIEWPOINTS SHOWED THAT ALL WOMEN DO NOT THINK ALIKE.

>> DEFINITELY NORMALIZE THE PRESENCE OF WOMEN IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

EVEN WHEN -- HE HAS A HUSBAND, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS, WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP.

THEY SHOULD JUST BE ANOTHER CATEGORY OF PERSON WHO IF THEY WORK HARD ENOUGH ARE EQUALLY REPRESENTED.

>> BUT IS IT BECAUSE OF THE DEMOCRATS BEING ABLE TO PUT ON A SHOW LIKE THIS HAVING SIX OUT OF 20 OR 22 CANDIDATES OUT THERE BEING FEMALE, IS THAT WHY THEY USUALLY WIN THE WOMENS VOTE 10 TO 20 POINTS OR AT LEAST THE SINGLE WOMENS VOTE, NOT WHITE MARRIED WOMENS VOTE BY 10 TO 20 POINTS.

>> WELL, IN SMALL PART I THINK THE REPUBLICANS HAVE FAILED TO MESSAGE AND EXPLAIN WHY THINGS LIKE CAPITALISM AND WHY FREE MARKETS WORK.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN LAZY IN MESSAGING SINCE THE BUSH ERA AND DELL DRATS HAVE BEEN BETTER AT CAPTURING THE YOUTH VOTE.

THEY'VE MADE THE AFFIRMATIVE CASE THAT MORE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IS BETTER FOR WOMEN.

I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

DO YOU THINK KAMALA HARRIS AS MANY IN THE MEDIA HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES TOWARDS HER ACTUALLY BECAME THE FRONT RUNNER AFTER HER DISPUTE THURSDAY NIGHT WITH SENATOR BIDEN?

>> I THINK WHAT SHE DID WAS FIND A LEGITIMATE WAY TO PUT RACE ON THE TABLE.

REMEMBER THERE'S ANOTHER AT THAT LEAPTED AFRICAN-AMERICAN RUNNING AS WELL AND BY FINDING A WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT BEING DEMIGOGIC ABOUT IT, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING BLACK WOMEN ARE THE LARGEST NUMBER OR THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS, THAT THAT CERTAINLY WAS GOOD FOR HER.

AND IT WAS GOOD FOR HER TOO BECAUSE LOOK WHO SEEMS TO BE CAPTURING THE IMAGINATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

THE FRONT RUNNER.

BIDEN.

NOT THE TWO BLACK CANDIDATES.

>> DO YOU THINK A LOT OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS ABOUT PARTICULARLY WOMEN AFTER THE DEBATES THIS WEEK?

>> I DO NOT.

IN ENACT, I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS -- WHEN YOU SEE WHERE PEOPLE STAND INCLUDING AFRICAN-AMERICANS STAND WATCH OUT JOE BIDEN.

I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING FIRST IMPRESSIONS ONLY.

>> IT'S SO INTERESTING TOO AND I THOUGHT THAT HARRIS SORT OF SURPRISED ME.

I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THE WOMEN ON THE STAGE WERE SAYING LAST NIGHT BUT WHAT CAME THROUGH WAS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE FROM THE LAST ROUND OF THE LAST ELECTION FROM HILLARY CLINTON WAS -- KAMALA OBVIOUSLY NO ONE GOES UP THERE UNPREPARED BUT SHE WAS SPEAKING LIKE A HUMAN BEING AND IT WAS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE REAL AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO RESONATE WITH VOTERS.

I THINK THE REASON DONALD TRUMP DID SO WELL IS HE TAPPED INTO SOMETHING REAL FOR PEOPLE WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREED WITH IT OR NOT AND SHE DID SOMETHING THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY IN THAT WAY.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S SO EXCITING ABOUT THIS IS THAT YOU DO SEE A MULTIPLICITY OF WOMEN ARGUING A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

AND IT IS TRUE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YOU KNOW, IN 2016, THEY PULLED 54% OF THE WOMENS VOTE BUT IN 2018, THEY PULLED 59% OF THE WOMENS VOTE.

WAS THIS SENSE THAT MAYBE THE TRI COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

AND THERE IS THIS SORT OF NOSTALGIA OR BELIEF THAT MAYBE VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN COULD RELITIGATE 2016 AND SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.

BUT AS WE SEE SOMEBODY LIKE SENATOR HARRIS REALLY BREAK OUT, I THINK EVERYONE WILL SORT OF REASSESS THAT INITIAL IMPRESSION.

>> I WOULDN'T CALL BIDEN -- BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN ISN'T A RELITIGATION.

IT'S MORE OF A RETURN TO NORMALCY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT BIDEN'S VERY SMART TO NOT RUN ON TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTION IN 2016 BEING STOLEN.

HE'S SMART NOT TO BRING UPHILLERY BECAUSE THE FACT IS SHE'S TOXIC TO THE STATES HE -- TRUMP IS PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF 80,000 VOTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WISCONSIN.

SO WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER OR NOT KAMALA'S STUNT WORKS, WE'LL SEE.

COREY BOOKER TRIED IT LAST WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND POLLS FOUND THAT BIDEN STILL IS CLEARING SOME SIX OUT OF EVERY TEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS OVER THE AGE OF 45 AND ON AVERAGE CLEARING ABOUT HALF OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTORATE.

BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST DEBATE WAS TECHNICALLY MORE BORING BUT THE REASON WHY HARRIS' ATTACK DIDN'T NECESSARILY STICK BECAUSE WE FELT IT WAS STAGED.

AND WE KNOW IT WAS STAGED BECAUSE THEY WERE SELLING SHIRTS WITH A PICTURE OF HER IN THE SECOND GRADE.

I'M THAT KID ON THE BUS.

>> THE MOST AUTHENTIC MOMENT IN ANY DEBATE DID COME FROM A WOMAN WHO -- HER PASSION SHOWED.

>> TALK ABOUT BREAKOUT IN A VERY STRANGE WAY, WHEN WE INTERVIEWED HER, SHE'S ACTUALLY THE CONSERVATIVE BREAKOUT.

>> IT'S MORE THAT SHE -- >> A LOT, SHE GOT VERY POSITIVE REVIEWS FROM SOME EXTREME RIGHT WEBSITES AND COMMENTATORS AFTER WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

>> AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS I'M STRUCK BY THIS IN THE INTERVIEW HERE ON TO THE CONTRARY WAS THAT SHE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT WOMENS ISSUES ONLY REFERRING TO REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OR WORKPLACE ISSUES.

SHE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO FOREIGN POLICY WHICH I THINK SHOWS A TREMENDOUS SENSITIVITY TO WHAT WOMEN VOTERS ARE INTERESTED IN AND WHILE I THINK THE LEFT DESERVES THE WOMEN VOTERS THEY'RE GETTING BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT THE TIME AND RESOURCES AND MONEY INTO GETTING THEM, THE RIGHT HAS SEEMED TO FAIL TO REALIZE THAT GENDER DIFFERENCES ARE REAL AND THAT, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IS DETERMINED ON FOREIGN POLICY, TAX AND BUDGET, HEALTHCARE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WOMENS ISSUES.

>> BUT SHE TOLD ME SHE'S RUNNING ON FOREIGN AND MILITARY POLICY BECAUSE SHE FEELS THAT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DOING RIGHT NOW BY TAUNTING LEADERS OVERSEAS LEADERS WHO ARE CLEARLY MENTALLY UNSTABLE NOT THAT HE MAY NOT BE HIMSELF BUT TAUNTING PEOPLE LIKE IRAN -- COUNTRIES LIKE IRAN AND SEEMING TO BE A FAN OF GETTING INTO THESE REGIONAL COMPLETELY UNWINNABLE MIDDLE EASTERN CONFLICTS THAT HE IS THE GREATEST DANGER TO THE PLANET.

>> BUT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE'S A MILITARY VETERAN.

SHE HAS SERVED.

>> BECAUSE I DIDN'T FINISH.

BUT IS THAT A WAY -- BECAUSE YOU'RE SUCH AN EXPERT VOTER ANALYST, IS THAT A WAY TO APPEAL TO WOMEN VOTERS?

>> WELL, LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS ZE TO REMEMBER.

WOMEN ACTUALLY DID NOT COME OVER TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WOMEN NEVER LEFT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THEY HAVE BEEN A PART OF IT SINCE FDR AND THEY NEVER LEFT.

IT WAS MEN WHO, IN FACT, POPULATED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THE GENDER GAP CAME ABOUT BECAUSE MEN MOVED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES SOMETHING OF A GENDER WAR AROUND WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF OUR NATIONAL POLICY.

AND THAT INCLUDES TO A CERTAIN DEGREE FOREIGN POLICY.

I DO THINK IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S KIND OF SKITTISHNESS, HIS ASK IN KIND OF A MORE ISOLATIONIST PRESIDENT AND IN FACT HE OPENS UP A DIFFERENT AVENUE -- BECAUSE THEY CAN ACTUALLY SAY, LOOK, THISMENT, MAYBE HE WANTS TO TUBE.

HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND HE'S SURROUNDED BY CHICKEN HAWKS.

>> I WOULD LIKE ALL YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO EVERYONE WAS SAYING HEALTHCARE WAS THE BIGGEST ISSUE ON AMERICAN VOTERS PARTICULARLY DEMOCRATIC VOTER MINDS.

HAS THAT CHANGED?

DID THIS WEEK'S SERIES OF EVENTS CHANGE IT AT ALL.

>> I THINK THE DEBATES REFLECT THE NEWS CYCLE AND RIGHT NOW A LOT OF FOREIGN POLICY IS HAPPENING.

I DON'T THINK HEALTHCARE IS GOING AWAY.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

I THINK THAT THE CANDIDATES WANT IT TO BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S A SIGNATURE PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

SEEING THIS IS THE FIRST DEBATE I DON'T THINK WE CAN WRITE IT OFF.

>> YOU'RE SO RIGHT.

HEALTHCARE IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

IT'S CLEAR TO ME IT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

I WAS PLEASED TO SEE SO MUCH INTEREST IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MILITARY POLICY BUT PARTICULARLY AFTER PEOPLE HAVE CLUNG TO THE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT EVEN AFTER THE REPUBLICANS DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO UNDERMINE IT THANK YOU, MR. TRUMP.

>> THIS DEBATE SHOULD HAVE AMERICANS SHAKING IN THEIR BOOTS WHEN THEY HEAR SERIOUS FRONT RUNNERS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENCY CLAIMING THAT THEY WILL OUTLAW PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE.

RIGHT NOW MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE 40% LOWER ON AVERAGE THAN PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SO RIGHT NOW PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IS SUBSIDIZING MEDICARE WHICH IS NOT A BAD THING.

WE WANT TO HELP OUT SENIOR CITIZEN AND PEOPLE ON MEDICAID.

IF YOU OUTLAW PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AND IF YOU'RE ISSUE HADDING THOSE LEVEL OF REIMBURSEMENT RATES, WE ALREADY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.

IT WILL GET SO MUCH WORSE.

IT WILL BE -- AND THAT'S IGNORING ALL THE DEVELOPMENT, THE PHARMACEUTICAL PROBLEMS THAT WILL COME INTO THE FACT THAT WE'LL RELY ON CHINA.

JUST THAT ALONE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY SOMEONE I THINK, LIKE, MAYOR PETE CAN MAKE A LOT OF GROUND.

HE WANTS A PUBLIC OPTION BUT STILL THAT IS NOT OUTLAWING PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE WHICH RIGHT NOW BERNIE CARE ALTHOUGH SMILIE HARRIS SIGNED ONTO IT, IT WILL BE ILLEGAL.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT HURT HER?

>> YES.

I THINK IT WILL HURT HER.

>> MEDICARE FOR ALL IS MAYBE 10% OF THOSE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ON OUR SIDE BUT IT IS LARGER THAN LIFE BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SGLOON AND THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED IN THE FIRST DEBATE ABOUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL REMAINS THE MAJORITY LEADER, MEDICARE FOR ALL IS GOING NOWHERE.

I THINK THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE TIME IN THIS ELECTION TO FIND OUT WHERE THE VOTERS ARE AND WHERE THE ISSUES LAND.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK IT WORKED WITH VOTERS TO SEE, OH, THE WHITE MALE DEMOCRATS TRYING TO OUTWOMEN THE WOMEN.

I VOTED FOR EQUAL PAY.

I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO -- >> I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE AN EPISODE OF VEEP.

YOU CAN'T GET ANY SILLIER THAN THIS.

EVERYONE WAS LIKE NO I LIKE WOMEN MORE.

>> THE WOMAN HAD TO SAY BY THE WAY I'M A WOMAN.

>> I KNOW.

>> I REALLY THINK IT SHOWS THAT ON OUR SIDE WE KNOW WHERE THE VOTERS ARE.

AND WE KNOW THAT NOBODY CAN WIN THIS PRIMARY WITHOUT GETTING MOST OF THE WOMEN, I WOULD SAY EVEN MAJORITY OF WOMEN IN THAT PRIMARY ON THEIR SIDE.

THEY KNOW IT NOW AND THEY'RE GOING AFTER THEM FROM THE GET GO.

>> I HOPE THAT DEMOCRATS IF THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE WORK PLACE ISSUES WHICH I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT ARE VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN MOVE OUT OF SORT OF A 1970 STYLE FEMINISM AND INTO SOMETHING MORE CONTEMPORARY WHERE WE TALK ABOUT WOMEN OWNING AND CONTROLLING DOLLARS WHETHER IT COMES TO PAID LEAVE OR CHILD CARE AND LESS ABOUT IMPOSING A GREATER TAX BURDEN ON WOMEN SO THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO INCOME EARNER FAMILIES WHICH THIS IS GOING TO SORT OF STRAP WOMEN DOWN AS OPPOSED TO ALLOWING PEOPLE MORE FREEDOM.

>> ONE THING THAT DRIVES ME NUTS ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE IS THE FACT THAT WILL -- AND IT'S REQUIRED, YOU KNOW, IN SO MANY WORDS BY OUR SYSTEM WHERE YOU HAVE TO RUN TO THE EXTREME BE IT LEFT OR RIGHT DURING A PRIMARY SEASON AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CHANGE COMPLETELY WHO YOU ARE.

PRETEND TO NOBODY NOTICES YOU'RE SWITCHING POSITIONS AND BECOME MORE OF A MODERATE DURING THE ELECTION EXCEPT THIS TIME I THINK WE'RE SEEING TWO CANDIDATES, JOE BIDEN AND GABBARD WHO ARE NOT USING THAT PLAYBOOK.

WILL THAT HAVE AN IMPACT?

>> I WOULD STILL DISAGREE JUST BECAUSE RANDOM FRINGE PEOPLE, GABBARD IS STILL HARD CORE LEFTIST.

VIEWS SOCIALISM WITH A LOT MORE POSITIVE VIEW.

I WOULD ALSO -- THAT'S WHY I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED WHEN SHE DECIDED TO COSPONSOR THE GREEN DEAL.

SHE'S CLEVER.

HAS THE IT FACTOR.

DOESN'T COME ACROSS AS SHRILL.

NONE OF THE NEGATIVE ADJECTIVES APPLIED TO WOMEN APPLIES TO AMY.

BUT BIDEN IS VERY SMART AND HE HAS TO STAND HIS GROUND.

HE HAS TO STOP APOLOGIZING.

SECOND HE STARTS APOLOGIZING THE KEYS FIRST CANDIDACY IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNDERMINED.

THERE'S NO REASON TO VOTE FOR HIM IF HE'S ANOTHER OLD WHITE GUY LEFTIST.

>> LOOK AT THE ELECTORATE.

ISN'T IT AMAZING I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTORATE LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN THE MIDDLE AND IS NOT GOING FOR THE FAR, FAR SIDE.

>> YES.

>> THIS IS WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ITSELF AND THAT IS BEFORE JOE BIDEN WAS CLEARLY IN THE RACE.

I'M NOT SURE HE'S GOING FOR THAT.

I THINK HE'S SIMPLY GOING FOR WHO HE IS BUT I THINK ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES BETTER LOOK AT WHERE THE ELECTORATE IS AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT IN FACT BEEN MOVED BY EITHER MEDICAID FOR ALL OR MEDICARE FOR ALL OR ANY OF THE REST OF THE FAR LEFT OF WHAT THE FAR LEFT IS SAYING.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY CAN I JUST ADD THIS ONE THING.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN INCUMBENT ELECTION AND THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY A REFERENDUM ON THE INCUMBENT.

THERE IS ONLY -- >> VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

>> THAT'S NOT -- ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IT'S ONLY IN THE MODERN ERA THAT WE DO TYPICALLY RE-ELECT INCUMBENTS.

THAT IS NOT TRUE OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR HISTORY.

>> THE ONLY TIME WE HAVEN'T WAS GEORGE H.W.

BUSH WHO BECAUSE OF -- >> JIMMY CARTER.

>> ALSO BUT IN HIS CASE, BECAUSE OF A STRONG INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE SIPHONING VOTES.

>> THERE'S A BUNCH OF REASONS WHY SOME OF THOSE ANALOGIES HOLD AND SOME DON'T SO I WON'T TAKE ALL THAT ON.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO LOOK AT AS YOU LOOK AT THIS ELECTION.

ASK YOURSELF IN THE STATES WHERE DONALD TRUMP WON WHAT HIS DISAPROVELL RATING WAS IN 2016 AND IN FACT IT WAS IN THE MID 30S.

HIS APPROVAL RATING STILL IN THE MID-40S.

HIS DISAPROVELL AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ODDLY ENOUGH WEIRDLY INDIFFERENT TO HIM.

AND IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE HIS DISAPROVELL RATE IS IN THOSE SAME STATES MICHIGAN AND IOWA AND PENNSYLVANIA AND THE LIKE YOU SEE THAT HIS DISAPROVELL RATING IS NOW UP IN THE 55%.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT TURNING OUT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE POSSIBLY CAN TO TRY TO OVERWHELM A TURNOUT.

>> ALREADY ENFORCED THE POINT BY FLIPPING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> AND ALSO BUT IT'S ALWAYS, IT'S ALWAYS LAST MINUTE GOTV, GET OUT THE VOTE.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY BUT ARE THEY ANGRY ENOUGH TO GET OFF THEIR COUCHES INTO THE VOTING BOOTH?

THAT'S ALWAYS A MAJOR QUESTION.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES, DO YOU FEEL THE NEWS MEDIA ARE TOO LOUD AND CONFLICT DRIVEN?

YOU'RE NOT ALONE ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A WOMAN SAYS JESSICA YELLEN WHO WAS CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR CNN UNTIL 2013.

>> WHEN I'VE TALKED TO WOMEN IN SURVEYS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT FROM THE NEWS, A BIG THING A LOT OF THEM SAY IS JUST STOP SHOUTING AT ME.

THERE'S A LARGE AUDIENCE THAT DOESN'T REGULARLY WATCH THE NEWS.

OR NEWS SAHH VIEDERS WHO SEEK OUT NEWS, PUT IT DOWN, PICK IT UP AND TURN IT OFF.

THEY JUST REACT NEGATIVELY TO THE TONE.

WHEN I GIVE SPEECHES TO WOMEN A LOT OF TIMES I'LL ASK THEM THEIR USE HABITS AND THEY GO I CAN'T EVEN.

I CAN'T LISTEN TO THE SCREAMING.

I CAN'T TAKE THE OUTRAGE.

>> YELLEN SAYS HAVING MORE WOMEN IN NEWSROOMS COULD BE THE TONIC FOR THIS KIND OF COVERAGE.

>> SO A POLITICAL STORY THAT WOULD BE ABOUT RHETORIC AND COMPETITION SUDDENLY BECOMES HOW IS THIS POLICY GOING TO IMPACT YOU AT HOME.

AND THAT RESONATES DIFFERENTLY.

AND IT'S ALSO FRAMED IN A MORE OF A -- I WOULD SAY WITH LESS OF THE CONFLICT THAT'S IMPLICIT IN A LOT OF OUR POLITICAL REPORTING.

MY SUSPICIOUS IS WERE WE TO ALTER IT A BIT THE APPETITE FOR POLITICAL COVERAGE AMONG WOMEN WILL RISE.

>> SHE SAYS THERE ARE CALLS FOR A QUIETER APPROACH WERE SHOT DOWN BY HER MALE BOSSES SO SHE LEFT CNN AND TOOK TO INSTAGRAM TO DELIVER NEWS IN A WAY THAT'S MORE LEVEL HEADED AND MORE INFORMATIVE.

>> I CALL IT NEWS WITHOUT A PANIC ATTACK.

MY GOAL IS TO LEAVE YOU WITH A GREATER SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING.

AND IF YOU UNDERSTAND BETTER WHEN YOU'RE DONE, THERE'S A BETTER CHANCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ENGAGE ON THAT STORY IN THE FUTURE, PICK UP A PAPER OR WATCH A SHOW ABOUT IT.

THAT YOU'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

AND THAT YOU'LL FEEL CONFIDENT AND EMPOWERED TO ACT.

>> A SURVEY OUT LAST YEAR BY THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM SAID HORSE RACE COVERAGE INCREASES CYNICISM BUT DOESN'T INFORM VOTERS BUT FOUND IT DOES NOT DECREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION IN FACT AMERICANS ARE BECOMING MORE INTERESTED IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

A NEW NBC "WALL STREET JOURNAL" POLL SHOWS ALMOST SEVEN IN TEN AMERICANS RATE THEIR INTEREST IN THE ELECTION AS A NINE OR A TEN OUT OF TEN.

THAT'S UP FROM SIX IN TEN IN THE PREVIOUS CYCLE.

>> SO LAURA BROWN, ARE IN FACT WOMEN TUNING OUT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW AND IS IT BECAUSE OF THE SO-CALLED HORSE RACE STYLE COVERAGE?

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

ONE, WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS.

I THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR IT.

THERE'S A VACUUM IN THE SPACE THAT JESSICA IS TRYING TO PROVIDE WHICH IS INFORMATION.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED, HOW DO WE INFORM WITHOUT BEING IN THIS WORLD OF KIND OF OPINION EDITORIAL ALL THE TIME.

THAT'S ONE ASPECT.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE WHY THE MEDIA DOES WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE THIS CONFRONTATION CONFLICT GAME FRAME IS IN FACT VERY ENTERTAINING TO A HUGE NUMBER OF AMERICANS >> IT'S ALSO WAY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN INVESTIGATIVE OR EVEN JUST FULL BACKGROUND REPORTING AND THEY'RE ALL UP AGAINST IT FINANCIALLY.

THAT'S ANOTHER REASON AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THE THING THAT SHE DID SAY THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS PEOPLE LIKE PEOPLE.

SO I DO THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MEDIA IS RIGHT ABOUT IS EVEN IF THE HORSE RACE COVERAGE IS NOT SO GREAT FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE, SHE IS RIGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE'S STORIES MATTER.

AND I THINK THERE IS A LONG WAY THAT THE MEDIA COULD GO TOWARD ENGAGING PEOPLE AROUND PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING AND I THINK WE MIGHT BE IN A PERIOD OF SORT OF A CHANGE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE WAS A PERIOD NOT VERY LONG AGO WHERE RESEARCH WAS SHOWING THAT WOMEN WERE DEFINITELY TUNING THINGS OUT IN FACT IT WAS HAVING A DISTINCT IMPACT ON WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT THE NOISE OF THE 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE WOULD MEAN THEY COULD NOT GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT.

CERTAINLY THAT WAS NOT THE CASE IN 2018.

RECORD NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC WOMEN RAN FOR OFFICE.

RECORD NUMBER OF WOMEN RAN OUT TO VOTE.

SO WE MAY BE SORT OF EXPERIENCING A CHANGE AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS ALSO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY MORE NEWS OUTLETS SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOME OF THE CABLE NEWS SHOWS, TURN TO THE CONTRARY WHERE WE HAVE MORE CIVILIZED CONVERSATIONS.

THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE.

I THINK MAYBE THAT IS SORT OF HELPING SHIFT IT A BIT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'M NOT SURE I AGREE HERE.

I THINK THAT, YES, WOMEN DON'T LIKE THIS FIST FIGHTING AS MUCH BUT GIVEN THE LAST ELECTION, I DON'T THINK THEY WERE TUNED OUT BY IT.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT THE NOTION OF THE COMPETITION, IT RILES PEOPLE UP AND THAT'S WHAT POLITICS IS ALL ABOUT.

THE COMPETITION IS ALL ABOUT IN THE FOOTBALL GAME AND IT'S ALL ABOUT COMPETITION IN THE GIRLS SOCCER GAME TOO.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET RID OF THAT AND AMERICAN POLITICS.

>> MAYBE I'M THE ANOMALY BUT I LOVE THE FIGHT.

MY ISSUE WITH CABLE NEWS IS NOT ABOUT THE BELLIGERENCE.

I LOVE THAT.

I WANT BLOOD.

IT'S MORE THE ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, I TURN ON CNN AFTER THE REPORT CAME OUT AND READ ALL FOUR PAGES OF IT.

WHY WERE THERE NINE PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT READ THE MUELLER REPORT REPORTING ON IT?

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR SEE AN ONLINE EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY," PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.