HAYNES.

PROSECUTORS ARE CRACKING DOWN ON ONLINE THREATS.

WE WILL DISCUSS HOW MASSACHUSETTS IS BRINGING CHARGES AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS, AND IF THIS WILL CURB THE RISE THREATS.

TWO JEN--- GEN-Z VOTERS ON THEIR PICK FOR PRESIDENT.

FROM THEY LISTERS, A LOOK AT THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.

RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS DENYING ELECTION RESULTS, VIOLENT REACTIONS TO THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR.

COVID-19 AND VACCINE MISINFORMATION, THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND THEY ARE CATALYSTS FOR ARISE IN THREATS AND HATE SPREAD ONLINE.

IT IS A PROBLEM PROSECUTORS ARE TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY.

THAT INCLUDE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE WE ARE SEEING A RISE IN WHITE SUPREMACIST INCIDENTS.

JUST LIKE THE CASE OF A MAN WHO PLED GUILTY FOR SENDING RACIST DEATH THREATS TO AN INTERRACIAL COUPLE ON FACEBOOK.

WHAT PROSECUTIONS DETER, PHILIP MARTIN HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE RISE AND RESPONSE TO IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL THREATS, AND HE JOINS ME NOW TO DISCUSS THIS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT IS CONTRARY TO TO THE RISE IN THESE VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON THREATS?

PHILLIP: YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, IT IS ONLINE.

THAT IS A KEY TERM BECAUSE ONLINE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE ANONYMOUS AND INVISIBLE, AND THEY CAN SAY ANYTHING.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE FIRST MM AND RIGHTS TO THREATEN PEOPLE’S LIVES -- FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THREATEN PEOPLE’S LIVES.

WHEN THESE ARE ON STATUS AND ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THEY ARE EXACERBATED BY A NUMBER OF THINGS.

THE GAZA-ISRAEL WAR, WITHOUT QUESTION THE MAIN MOTIVATOR IS THE BIG LIE, DONALD TRUMP STATING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND MILLIONS OF HIS SUPPORTERS BELIEVING THAT HE WON THE ELECTION OF 2020, AND WAS DISENFRANCHISED BY BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS.

YOU HAVE MANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS WHO SAY, THIS IS PROBLEMATIC, AND I WILL THREATEN A PERSON WHO SUPERVISED THIS ELECTION, OR THIS BLACK COUPLE DOWN THE STREET, OR THE PERSON WHO BELIEVES I SHOULD HAVE A COVID VACCINE.

I’M GOING TO TAKE IT OUT ON THEM VIA A COMPUTER AND SOCIAL MESSAGING, FACEBOOK, X, ANY NUMBER OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

CRYSTAL: YOU MENTIONED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE HAVE A VIDEO POSTED ON TRUE SOCIAL TODAY BEFORE IT WAS TAKEN DOWN THAT SHOWED IMAGES OF A FAKE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE WITH A NARRATOR READING HYPOTHETICAL HEADLINES.

ONE OF THESE HEADLINES REFERENCED, YOU ZOOM OUT IN, AND IT SAYS CREATION OF THE UNIFIED RIGHT.

LET’S LOOK AT THAT.

>> WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DONALD TRUMP WINS?

WHAT IS NEXT FOR AMERICA?

CRYSTAL: YOU CAN SEE IT HIGHLIGHTED THERE, THE CREATION OF THE UNIFIED RIGHT.

THIS, TO ME, IS DISTURBING.

PHILLIP: IT MANIFESTS IN THE TYPE OF DEATH THREATS FROM HIS SUPPORTERS.

THIS IS A MAN TALKING ABOUT CREATING A REICH.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVED THROUGH WORLD WAR II TO UNDERSTAND 50 MILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DIED IN A CONFLICT THAT BEGAN WITH NAZI GERMANY AND FASCISM.

HERE YOU HAVE A MAN, WHO ACCORDING TO HIS EX-WIFE, KEPT A COPY OF "MEIN KAMPF," THE HILLER BIOGRAPHY, AND HERE HE IS THREATENING -- AND I DO CALL IT A THREAT, BUT PEOPLE SHOULD SEE IT AS A PROMISE, THAT HE WOULD CREATE A TYPE OF REICH IF ELECTED.

THIS IS, NOT TO BE OBSCENE IN ANY TYPE OF MINOR CONTEXT, THIS IS A MAJOR POINT.

IT REPRESENTS THE TYPE OF THREAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WHEN PEOPLE START THREATENING ELECTION OFFICIALS, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THIS IS THE TYPE OF GOVERNMENT THEY WOULD LIKE, AUTHORITARIAN COMPRISED OF A SERIES OF REVENGE AND RETRIBUTION.

I SPOKE TO A TRUMP SUPPORTER THE OTHER DAY, AND AT THE END OF THIS INTERVIEW IN A HOMELESS AND CAN’T, HE GAVE ME A BUTTON.

IT SAYS, IT IS A PICTURE OF TRUMP, AND IT SAYS, "REVENGE."

IT SAYS NOTHING ELSE BUT "REVENGE."

PEOPLE SHOULD BE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT THIS IS NOT AN ORDINARY MOMENT WE ARE LIVING IN, THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE DEATH THREATS ARE PER FOOT HAGUE -- PROLIFERATING.

CRYSTAL: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT PROSECUTIONS IN THESE CASES HAPPEN AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A VERDICT?

WE TALK ABOUT THIS CASE AT THE TOP OF THE SEGMENT.

PHILLIP: THIS MAN WITH TWO ADDRESSES IN BOSTON.

THE ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN THE LEVEL OF HATE THAT IS PRESENT RIGHT NOW IN OUR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SINCE HE LEFT THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE 17 YEARS AGO AND RETURNED IN THIS ACTING CAPACITY.

HE SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS, AND IF THEY BELIEVE THAT, IT WOULD PROLIFERATE.

YOU WOULD HAVE MORE DEATH THREATS DIRECTED AT PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, WHO THEY CHOOSE TO LOVE, BECAUSE THEY HAPPEN TO BE A WOMAN, BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENTLY ABLED -- A NUMBER OF FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE RISE IN DEATH THREATS ARE THOSE AS WELL AS THE BIG LIE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NIP IT IN THE BUD, AND NOT ASSUME YOU CAN TYPE ON YOUR COMPUTER, HIT SEND WITH A THREAT TO TAKE SOMEONE’S LIFE, AND ASSUME YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

THIS IS WHY JOSHUA LEVY AND OTHER U.S.

ATTORNEYS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE PUSHING THIS.

IT IS ALSO WHY THE DOJ UNDER THE CURRENT DOJ, UNDER GARLAND IS PUSHING TO ARREST THESE SITUATIONS.

CRYSTAL: THESE MESSAGES ARE NOT ANYTHING TO SCOFF AT, THESE ARE SERIOUS THINGS.

WE HAVE A FEW OF THEM THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY -- WE WANT TO WARN FOLKS -- SOME OF THEM, SNITCHES GET STITCHES, READ UP MORE ON THE LOL, YOU WILL SEE HOW ME AND MY CREW WILL BURN THE N-WORD, A LOT OF TERRIBLE LANGUAGE BEING USED.

THESE ARE THREATS.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS ONE THING, THREATS ARE DIFFERENT.

PHILLIP: SOME OTHER EXAMPLES, AT CORNELL AFTER OCTOBER 7, YOU HAD A SITUATION WHERE A CORNELL STUDENT THREATENED TO KILL JEWISH STUDENTS.

YOU HAD A MEMBER OF THE JDL WHO THREATENED TO HUNT DOWN PALESTINIANS.

YOU HAVE A MAN IN MAINE RECENTLY PROSECUTED AND CONVICTED WHO THREATENED TO KILL HIS BLACK NEIGHBORS.

YOU HAVE A MAN IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY WHO THREATENED TO BOMB AN LGBTQ PRIDE PARADE.

THERE WERE CASES THAT ARE WELL MORE -- THAT ARE MORE WELL-KNOWN THREATENING TO KILL A BLACK WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER IN GEORGIA BECAUSE THEY WORKED AS ELECTION OFFICIALS IN GEORGIA DURING THE 2020 ELECTIONS.

AGAIN, GARLAND AND OTHERS BELIEVE IF YOU DO NOT PUT THIS SITUATION TO REST, IF YOU DO NOT PROSECUTE -- AND IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO PROSECUTE, NOT ALWAYS EASY TO TRACK DOWN THESE IP ADDRESSES, SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE CLEVER THAN OTHERS.

THIS FELLOW THAT YOU REFERENCED USED A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT, HE WAS VERY EXPLICIT ABOUT WHO HE WAS.

THAT LED POLICE TO HIS DOOR MANY MONTHS AFTER HE SENT THE DEATH THREAT, BUT THEY DID ARRIVE AT HIS DOOR, AND HE WAS SHOCKED THEY SHOWED UP TO ARREST HIM AFTER THREATENING TO BURN "THE N’-WORD ALIVE."

CRYSTAL: A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THEY HAVE SOME ANONYMITY ONLINE AND THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT.

PHILLIP: THERE IS THAT ASSUMPTION, THE NOTION OF BEING ONLINE CLOAKS PEOPLE LIKE IT IS AN INVISIBLE CLOAK, OR SO THEY ASSUME, IN NOT BEING DETECTED.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING.

IF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT PROSECUTING, THEY WILL TRACK DOWN THESE INDIVIDUALS.

THERE IS SOME INCONSISTENCY ABOUT WHO GETS PROSECUTED.

THE INCONSISTENCY IS, THE CASE I REFERENCED IN MICHIGAN, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN, WERE A FARMINGTON HILLS MAN, A MEMBER OF THE JEWISH DEFENSE LEAGUE DETERMINED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO BE A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF ITS ROLE IN ASSASSINATING RABIN IN ISRAEL.

THIS MAN WAS ARRESTED BUT NOT BY FEDERAL OFFICIALS BUT BY A LOCAL D.A.

COMPARE THAT TO THE FEDERAL CHARGE AGAINST THE MAN IN CORNELL, WHO THREATENED TO KILL JEWISH STUDENTS.

THAT IS A FEDERAL CASE CONSIDERED A MAJOR CASE.

I SPOKE TO THE DA-US -- THE DA’S ASSISTANT IN MICHIGAN, AND SHE CALLED IT A MINOR CASE.

THE MAN WHO THREATENED TO HUNT DOWN PALESTINIANS.

THIS IS PART OF THE ISSUE FOR SOME THAT THOUGH THERE IS A SERIES FOCUSED ON DEATH THREATS, THERE IS A QUESTION OF WHICH THREATS ARE CONSIDERED MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS.

CRYSTAL: AND VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW YOUR REPORTING.

GEN Z VOTERS ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM CAN AGREE ON A FEW THINGS, INCLUDING THEIR ANXIETY AROUND THE ECONOMY.

IN THE LATEST EDITION OF OUR POLITICS SERIES, DAVID BUCKLEY, A 20-YEAR-OLD REPUBLICAN SAT DOWN WITH CLYVE LAWRENCE, A 21-YEAR-OLD AGGRESSIVE TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY UNDER TRUMP AND BIDEN.

>> YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE DONALD TRUMP’S PRESIDENT, THE ECONOMY WAS AT ONE POINT THE BEST IT HAD EVER BEEN.

>> MY BACKGROUND STARTED SEEING DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCE HIS PRESIDENCY IN 2015.

I WAS ABOUT TO FINISH FIFTH GRADE.

I PLAN 100% VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP IN NOVEMBER.

CLYVE: I AM A LEFTIST AND LIKELY NOT VOTING FOR JOE BIDEN IN NOVEMBER.

HE HAS ALIENATED ME.

I PLAN TO VOTE FOR CORNELL WEST.

DAVID: WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE DONALD TRUMP AS PRESIDENT, THE ECONOMY WAS AT ONE POINT THE BEST IT HAD EVER BEEN.

WE SAW INFLATION SKYROCKET.

CLYVE: I THINK BIDEN’S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY HAS IN MANY WAYS BEEN BETTER THAN I WOULD EXPECT BUT STILL BAD.

BIDEN’S IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO COVID WAS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION HELPED ALMOST SAVE THE U.S. FROM A TECHNICAL RECESSION, SO TO SPEAK.

DAVID: BIDEN’S HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN POOR.

THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT ARE SCREWING THE AVERAGE AMERICAN OVER.

CLYVE: IT IS A GOOD WAY TO ALLOW DISPOSABLE INCOME, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE SEEN PRICE INCREASES AND INFLATION, AND THOSE HAVE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS PROBLEMS.

I’M CONCERNED DEFINITELY FOR WHAT THE FUTURE MAY LOOK LIKE IF BIDEN IS REELECTED.

WHY IS TRUMP POWERFUL FIGURE?

THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE WORKING CLASS AND WHITE VOTERS FEEL THEY SAW TRUMP ADDRESS, THAT DOES NOT MEAN TRUMP IS THE RIGHT FIGURE FOR ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.

I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY THE ISSUES REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE THE SAME IN PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE OWNING CLASS.

THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE SHOULD BE GOING IN A MORE CONSERVATIVE DIRECTION.

DAVID: WE BOTH AGREE THERE IS A YOUNGER PARTY, I THINK THAT TOO.

CLYVE: TRUMP HAS NOT SHOWN AN INTEREST, UNIONS ARE PROTECTED AND APPROVED.

DAVID: I THINK THAT IS VERY FALSE.

THIS YEAR MORE THAN ANY YEAR, UNIONS ARE MORE OPEN TO SUPPORTING HIM THAN EVER.

CLYVE: I DON’T KNOW, I FEEL CONSERVATIVE POLICY DOES NOT FOCUS ON UNIONS AS AN ACTUAL THING.

THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE SEE THE CURRENT INFLATION AND PRICE INCREASES IS BECAUSE WHAT TRUMP ALLOWED COMPANIES TO GET AWAY WITH EXORBITANT PRICE INCREASES.

DAVID: UNDER TRUMP WE SAW A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY.

IF IT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO WORK FOR, WHY NOT DO IT AGAIN WHEN THE POLICIES HAPPENING NOW FAIL US?

CLYVE: I THINK DAVID HAD A FEW THOUGHT-PROVOKING POINTS AROUND THE LABOR MOVEMENT FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IT COMES FROM A MISUNDERSTANDING OF HOW WORKING CLASS MOVEMENTS HAVE OPERATED THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

I WAS ABLE TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVES REGARDING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS REASONS WHY YOUNG VOTERS ARE FEELING ALIENATED.

DAVID: I DID NOT REALIZE COMING IN TODAY THAT HE WOULD BE SAYING HE WOULD NOT VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE AGREED ON THE MOST IS A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY POLICIES ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL FOR THE UNITED STATES AT THIS TIME.

I THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION.

I HAVE THE SAME VIEWS I DID COMING IN.

CRYSTAL: FROM OUR POLITICS ON EVERYTHING FROM ABORTION RIGHTS TO THE WAR IN GAZA, CHECK OUT THE GBH NEWS PAGE.

BOSTON CALLING KICKS OFF THIS FRIDAY, FEATURING STARS LIKE ED SHARON, MEGAN THEE STALLION, BUT AMONG THE A LISTERS ARE PLENTY OF LOCAL ACTS.

GBH ARTS REPORTER HALEY LERNER CAUGHT UP WITH A FEW OF THEM.

SHE JOINS ME NOW.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS OFF-CAMERA.

SUCH AN EXCITING WEEKEND IN BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE.

HALEY: IT IS A FUN WEEKEND, AND IN BRIGHTON.

IT WILL BE A CRAZY WEEKEND, A LOT OF TRAFFIC, AND PEOPLE GOING TO THE FESTIVAL WILL BE A LOT OF FUN.

CRYSTAL: THAT SHOWS YOU HOW HIP I AM, I THOUGHT IT WAS IN CAMBRIDGE.

[LAUGHTER] WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING MOST FORWARD TO?

HALEY: THERE ARE BIG HEADLINERS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

I’M EXCITED FOR OTHER NAMES BUT IT IS THE LOCAL STAGE THAT WILL BRING AMAZING TALENT FROM THE AREA.

THERE ARE ABOUT 17 LOCAL PERFORMERS, A LOT ON THE SET LIST.

THERE WILL BE SO MANY GREAT PERFORMANCES REPRESENTING ALL PARTS OF BOSTON’S MUSIC SCENE.

CRYSTAL: IS IT USUALLY THAT MANY LOCAL ARTISTS?

HALEY: THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO HAVE THE NUMBERS UP IN RECENT YEARS.

LAST YEAR WAS SIMILAR, SO IT IS AN EFFORT AND THERE IS AN EXTREME FOCUS ON HAVING LOCAL ARTISTS.

THERE IS A SEPARATE STAGE FOR LOCAL ARTISTS.

CRYSTAL: I IMAGINE SOMEONE PERFORMING IN AND AROUND BOSTON, IT WOULD BE A HUGE DEAL TO PLAY BOSTON CALLING?

HALEY: I TALKED TO A LOT OF ARTISTS AND THEY SAID IT IS A CRAZY MOMENT FOR THEM, WHETHER THEY GREW UP IN BOSTON, BOSTON CALLING IS THE BIGGEST FESTIVAL IN THE AREA.

IT FEELS REALLY SPECIAL -- REALLY SPECIAL TO THEM, AND THEY KNOW A LOT OF EACH OTHER.

IT IS A TIGHTKNIT MUSIC SCENE, SO THEY COULD TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND PERFORM THEIR MUSIC.

IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR THEM.

CRYSTAL: THE ORGANIZERS ARE THOUGHTFUL OF THAT MIX OF GENRE OF ARTISTS, A LITTLE BIT OF RAP, A LITTLE FOLK, A LITTLE RMVE, THINGS -- A LITTLE R&B.

HALEY: THE DAYS CHANGE BASED ON THE SOUND, YOU CAN TELL BY THE LINEUP.

WITHIN THE LOCAL ARTISTS, THERE IS A LOT OF VARIETY, THERE IS ROCK, RAP, A LOT A VARIETY.

IF YOU WERE GO TO THE LOCAL STAGE, YOU WILL GET THE DIFFERENT GENRES.

CRYSTAL: WAS THERE ANY BIG HEADLINER YOU KNOW OF THAT BOSTON CALLING TRIED TO GET THIS YEAR?

HALEY: I DON’T KNOW, NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF.

THERE WERE CHANGES IN THE SET LIST AND THERE COULD BE A SURPRISE, YOU NEVER KNOW.

ED SHARON IS A BIG NAME, ED SHARON -- ED SHEERAN IS A BIG NAME, YOU GET TO SEE THEM AND OTHER BIG ACTS.

CRYSTAL: THERE ARE A TON OF FESTIVALS THIS TIME OF YEAR.

I HAVE BEEN TO BOSTON CALLING BACK IN THE DAY WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.

NEWPORT IN JANUARY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHERE DOES BOSTON CALLING RANK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FESTIVAL AFICIONADOS.

HALEY: BOSTON CALLING WILL NEVER BE AS BIG AS COACHELLA, BUT IT IS IN MY OPINION A BIG FESTIVAL.

BEFORE I LIVED IN BOSTON, I KNEW ABOUT IT.

I THINK THE LINEUP IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FESTIVALS.

A LOT OF FESTIVALS HAVE OTHER LINEUPS, AND I THINK BOSTON CALLING HAS MORE OF AN ALTERNATIVE AND ROCK ANGLE.

THERE IS THAT DIFFERENCE BUT IT IS A WELL-KNOWN FESTIVAL, THERE ARE FOUR STAGES.

CRYSTAL: WHAT WILL BE YOUR TIPS FOR SOMEONE LOOKING TO GO AND MAXIMIZE THEIR EXPERIENCE?

HALEY: CHECK THE WEBSITE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT THINGS.

THERE WERE STRICT BAG REQUIREMENTS.

YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A FANNY-PACK OR CLEAR BAG.

RING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE -- BRING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE.

BRING EARPLUGS, IT CAN BE LOUD.

AND FIGURE OUT YOUR PASS FOR THE DAY, YOU DO NOT WANT TO RUN AROUND BETWEEN STAGES.

TRY TO FIND A STAGE AND STICK TO IT, BECAUSE YOUR FEET WILL HURT.

WEAR SNEAKERS.

THERE ARE TICKETS AVAILABLE.

ONE DAY TICKETS ARE A LITTLE UNDER $300.

THREE PASSES ARE A LITTLE UNDER $00 -- $400.

YOU CAN STILL BUY TICKETS.

CRYSTAL: I IMAGINE FOR LOCAL FOLKS, THE PREP FOR PERFORMANCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND EXCITING.

HALEY: I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ARTISTS PREPPING, THEY ARE REHEARSING HARD, MAKING SURE THEY GET THE BEST PERFORMANCE AS POSSIBLE.

ONE ARTIST WAS TELLING ME HOW SHE HAS A DANCE STUDIO JOINING HER ON STAGE.

SHE HAS BEEN IN BOOT CAMP MODE.

THEY ARE HAVING A TECH WEEK AS IF IN PRODUCTION.

THEY WANT TO GET THE PERFORMANCES PERFECT.

CRYSTAL: AND TO HAVE THAT AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE THAT FEELS JUST AS GOOD ON THE LOCAL ARTISTS STAGE AS THE MAIN STAGE.

HALEY: THEY ARE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE PROPER SETS AND DANCERS, THEY ARE NOT SCALING IT BACK BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AS BIG AS THE OTHER ARTISTS.

CRYSTAL: WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

HALEY LERNER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

MASSACHUSETTS- BIRTHRATE IS AMONGST THE LOWEST IN THE NATION.

HOW THE DWINDLING POPULATION WILL IMPACT THE STATE IN YEARS TO COME.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

PRES.

BIDEN: I’M JOE BIDEN AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.

>> DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.

AND YOU APPROVE THIS MESSAGE?

SERIOUSLY, WHAT GIVES?

WHY DOES EVERY ANTEDATE SAY "I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE" EVERY CYCLE?

DOES THIS PHRASE PULL WELLER CAST SOME SUBLIMINAL -- DOES THIS PHRASE POLL WELL OR CAST SOME SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE?

OF COURSE NOT, CANDIDATES DO IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BY LAW.

IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE STAND BY YOUR AD PROVISION.

>> IT GOES BACK TO A LAW CONGRESS PASSED IN 2002.

THIS WAS A LARGE OVERHAUL OF FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES.

ONE OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE LAW SAID FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND LITTLE COMMITTEES DOING ADS ON RADIO OR TELEVISION NEED AN AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT THAT SAYS THEY APPROVE THE MESSAGE.

>> IT SHOULD BE NOTED DISCLOSURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REQUIRED.

YOU WATCH ANY POLITICAL AD FROM ANY CAT -- ANY ERA, YOU SEE TEXT FROM VOTERS, ANOTHER THING COMMON IN POLITICAL ADS FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAVE BEEN POLITICAL, GOING NEGATIVE.

HERE IS THE DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER IN ONE OF THE FIRST-EVER TV ADS FOR A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

>> INSTEAD OF ASKING WHAT PARTY WILL BRING PRICES DOWN, WHY NOT ASK WHAT PARTY PUT PRICES UP?

THEN VOTE FOR THE CHANGE.

>> THROUGH THE 1970’S, 1980’S AND INTO THE 1990’S, THOSE NEGATIVE ADS STEADILY BECAME MORE COMMON AND BITING.

>> YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.

>> SO CONGRESS PASSED A NEW LAW REQUIRING NOT JUST TEXT BUT THAT ACCOMPANYING DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATES THAT THEIR CAMPAIGN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AD.

THAT STATEMENT MUST BE IN THEIR VOICE ON RADIO AND ON TV, AND IT MUST INCLUDE VIDEO OF THEM SAYING IT OR THE VOICE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR IMAGE.

>> WHAT WE PUT IN THE ADS ARE DIFFERENT, SOME CANDIDATES ARE LESS LIKELY TO GO NEGATIVE.

IN THOSE AS THEY MAY BE LESS LIKELY TO FOCUS ON CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL AREAS.

>> PROBLEM SOLVED, RIGHT?

WELL.

>> ON ONE HAND THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STAND BY YOUR AD RULE DID LOWER THE AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE ADS RUN BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU ASKED ANYONE ON THE STREET, THEY WOULD SAY NEGATIVE ADVERTISING IN POLITICS IS WORSE THAN EVER.

>> DID YOU CATCH THAT?

BY THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.

CRUCIALLY, THE STAND BY YOUR AD PROVISION APPLIES TO ADS RUN BY THE CAMPAIGNS AND THE CANDIDATES BUT NOT THIRD-PARTY GROUPS, LIKE THE SWIFTBOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH WHO FAMOUSLY CRITICIZED JOHN KERRY’S VIETNAM RECORD IN 2004.

OR PRIORITIES USA WHO SPENT MILLIONS ON ANTI-DONALD TRUMP ADS IN 2020.

>> DONALD TRUMP IS FAILING AMERICA.

>> IN THE 2022 ELECTION CYCLE COME OUTSIDE GROUPS SPENT MORE ON ADS THAN THE CANDIDATES COMBINED IN 54 FEDERAL RACES.

>> THEY CAN TAKE UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY, AND WHEREAS THE CAMPAIGNS ARE LIMITED.

THEY GO TO THE SUPER PAC’S WHO CAN RAISE UNLIMITED MONEY AND SAY THINGS THE CANDIDATES CANNOT.

>> ANOTHER CRITICAL CAVEAT, THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO STAND BY THEIR AD ON THE INTERNET.

>> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW CYCLES AS TARGETING MESSAGES AND TALK TO INDIVIDUAL VOTERS ONLINE AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IS HAVING A BIGGER IMPACT.

>> NOW THAT WE’RE 22 YEARS PAST THE PASSAGE OF THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT, THE INTERNET IS EATING UP MORE CAMPAIGN DOLLARS RELATIVE TO TV AND RADIO.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE PROVISION, SOME BILLS WOULD REQUIRE CEOS OF THIRD-PARTY GROUPS TO APPEAR AND APPROVE LIKE THE CANDIDATES.

OTHERS WOULD EXTEND THOSE REQUIREMENTS TO ADS ONLINE.

>> A LOT OF THOSE ADS ARE 10-15 SECOND ADS, SO IT WOULD BE HARD TO ENFORCE THIS RULE.

NOW YOU’RE CUTTING A 10 SECOND AD TO FIVE SECONDS BECAUSE OF THE DISCLAIMER AT THE END.

>> FOR NOW, ONLINE ADS MUST INCLUDE A VISUAL DISCLOSURE, SO BE AWARE AND DO NOT BE AFRAID TO DO A LITTLE DIGGING TO SEE WHO IS SELLING YOU WHAT.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK BEHIND THE ADS, AND THEY CAN DO THAT THROUGH THIS UTTERLY ELECTION COMMISSION.

ANY POLITICAL COMMITTEE AND CAMPAIGN RUNNING ADVERTISING, YOU CAN SEE WHO THE CONTRIBUTORS ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE SPENDING MONEY ON.

>> ALL THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT FEC.GOB.

>> THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US CURIOUS -- FEC.GOV.

>> I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE.