Politics. Up next north dakota governor doug burgum talking Artificial Intelligence and■ technological innovation during the National GovernorsAssociation Winter meeting in washington, d. C. Prior to his remarks builder from pollster and Communications Strategist frank lund who discusses the need for depolarization and civility in american politics. Naudibgle conversations] recent settlement may have your attention. Please take your seat. Our program is about t begin. Welcome to the second Plenary Session of national governo mee. Now approaching the podium is the executive director of the National Governors association bill mcbride. Thank you. Morning everyone. [applause] hope youre having a good mo a great evening. Wasnt that session yesterday afternoon just wonderful . That was fantastic, wasnt it . People keep asking me all last night how are you going to top that . I dont know. Thats a challenge, right . Setting the bar real high. We will get there. Anyway, we hope you really enjoyed it, but all of us in the room this morning are aware of emerging advances in Artificial Intelligence has presented to us and quite array of challenges and and territories over the past year and governments are leading to develop policies to address rapidly evolving but we are pleased to Data Technology entrepreneur Marc Andreessen with us. Hes going to delve into this issue further with north dakota, doug burgum and thats in the second part of a program this morning. But first i would like to welcome back to the state are chair, governor spencer cox, is going to introduce our first speaker, an old and dear friend of the National Governors association, frank luntz. Governor cox. Pplause] thank you bill. To see that with assessment. Thank you my fellow governors who are joining us, and im so excited for what we have on the gender this morning. Morning. Now before we introduce frank i do want to make, but each you know in front of you you have a copy of this magazine. This is a full addition based on exactly what were talking about today, the state of disunion in there are some amazing articles by some of the best thinkers in the country today. Im looking forward as well t the second part of the session with a good friend Marc Andreessen and talking about ai. Look, we have this idea that the internet was problems and bringl closer together, and we saw how that turned out. Some sure everything is going to go find with ai, but just some o talk about it. Before we do that, as i mentioned yesterday, we have been talking about this disagree Better Initiative, at the polling trends show how important this is, and one that america is a more partisan than everwo, the two sides distrust each other more than ever. That lack of trust is incredibly dangerous. Yet as image and yesterday the data also show something important that is, that is helpful, this Perception Gap that exists between republicans and democrats. We are really not far apart as we think we are. And i just any Public Opinion trends and whats behind them is critical to solving this polarization crisis before it sp right person you today to talk to us about that. So you wont who use but im inr dr. Frank luntz is a post incompetent and everyone in politics but particularly for the use of his response focus Group Technique which is been coveredng on 60 minutes Good Morning America and the front line. Hes been service more than 2500 surveys focus group, as this and ill session from other two dozen countries and Six Continents and fortune 500 company ceos and for many of you. But heres the thing most frank, by the way he brought his amazing cadets with him today. They have the very best of the bascom were proud to have ys thu guys. [applause] so frank and i dont know each other well. Weve been in the same room and meetings together but exactly two months ago he called me after seeing jared polis and i Governor Polis and i on face the nation and told me that he did know about our disagree Better Initiative but that he believes is one of the most important things happen in america right now. He volunteered his own time, his own money to do one of its language of surveys up us understand how to better talk about depolarization and civility. We are so excited to her from frank. Were going to finish this portion and about a half hour and then will move onto the second one but ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming frank luntz. [applause] im glad you took that photograph. I weight 131 pounds on that day. What a great way to start, reminding me that ive gotten fat. Governor polis, governor cox, im so grateful to be here. I realize that its kind of rare for me to be in the space right now. And i do also not want to come come come to recognize, want to recognize president Glenn Youngkin who sitting right there. There. I thought we would get get a better laugh. [laughing] from now, now ive acknowledged on fat and i told the bad joke. What a great way to get this go. Ive never had a a more import presentation in my life, and im scared and im right now. Ive had some of the most awesome clients in my 35 years of doing this. Ive been able to present to house members, senators, even to president of the United States. Nothing is as important as what i do now. And if you havent realize whats going on at out there, democracy is failing. We have forgotten how to talk to each other. Weve forgotten how tis forgotte each other. And i watch this as a pollster and it just gives me a big fat headache. Because were so angry and we accuse each other. And theres one other gentlemen i want to do before i data, andm shriver. Wonderful fam Amazing Service to the country. But tennis dedicated his life first to Special Olympics and now toni this special thing we call the United States of america ten, i would not be here if youre not help me out, so tim shriver. [applause] this is not a presentation. This is a conversation, so dont wait for me. And by the way, Governor Scott, i have to warn you, youre going to see results onscreen. Of all the peoe this effort, and there have been 16, 17 governors, we tested them all, no message did better than ee in a few minutes. I know this about horrible. I have my back to the chairman, which is why my better side, and he only came in third. Thats why you can trust it because most people would say the person in charge was the best speaker, the best communicator. Hes actually thirdbest. But heres the good news for you. You beat your wife by one position. I dont think that is good news for me, frank. [laughing] well, you haveoour way back. So the language of respect, and want you to see this because even in putting together this presentation, it was so hard because i was getting so agitated, so angry as i was reading the data. As bad as it is for people in this room, the worst generation, the generation most likely to angry, to be dismissive, to cancel people is not your generation. It is your kids. And t problem. And thats why im so glad to the west point cadets here, whay where there is no cancel culture. There is one university that still treats each other with respect. There was one university that believes in courage, character, sacrifice and service, if thats the cadets from west point over [applause] so Governor Polis got good news for you. Ive never gotten any mail from a focus group in my life, other than to yell at me. This was very special. The more that they learn about this initiative, the more positive they got, the more hopefully got. We have a high degree of peopl who believe that this country is headed in the wrong direction than ever before. We have a high degree people who believe that this is a most dis before. And most importantly since you all believe in the american dream, we have for parents who worst life than they did than ever before. And so much of that is tied to politics. Now heres the good news. The more vocal you get to them, the close of the government gets, the more faith they have an effect it is met with republican independent democrat. This place that youre meeting in right now has failed them, butou havent. My favorite sli, and te a picture ofhis, governors come in first. In your ability to relate to people. They have moreth, trust, and confidence in goverrshan any other position. Its close but you are number one. This is whats really cool about. Republicans choose governors more than anyone else. Democrats cose their president. But when you then ask him most favorable, its working. You are working. You are succeeding over all in the way that congress is not, and other forms of government is not, so its very■ impressive. And as you can see the older that you get, the more favorable you are. So this is the good news. Now, most from here. So if you scare easy, i suggest this is a part where you escape, becaus o bad. Three out of four americans say they are mad as hell. Ive been tracking this since 1992. 1992. This is the line from the movie network, thank you very much. Dont do that again. [laughing] back in 1992, im not going to be heckled by a lobbyist. [laughing] the only profession that has lower credibility in america is a pollster. And thats because we do the polls. Mad as hell means you cant negotiate. Mad as hell means you are not losing. Madison out thisboh 32 are made have a problem. And by the way i encourage you if you have a question or comment jumping as i go through this. It gs even worse. This is the polling data that i care most about. Because this is a nightmare. You ask people, are younvested in your country . And twthirds a yes, which is not a great number. Ask them to use your country is invested in you . And only a thi say yes. When you think about the consequences of that, when they think that the country doesnt care about them, doesnt believe in them, doesnt try to lift them up. ■zfits. This is not about welfare or education. Their government, that the country doesnt care. And when i saw these numbers i had to stop. I got up and startedv. Walking around. Because all he i could thinks oh, my god, it really is this bad. He government to forget this number. I hope you take photographs of it. Because if your state if your people believe that only a4n■ td are invested in them, thats not a crisis. Thats actual failure. So you can see some numbers, 70 of our democracy is under threat. Almost twothirds believe theres more that divides us than unites us. And half believe there could be violence in 2024. If i could get on my knees and he knew i could get back up again, i would save you how important this is. Ive done 2000 surveys in my life. Ive done groups, youve probably seen them on tv. Ive never been more frightened in my life and i cant see how to present is to show my respect for you and to basically beg you that you are the answer. We know what the problem is, enjoy the answer. Let me show you how worse, how much worse it has actually gotten. Half of americans will not state the point of view because they are afraid of being punished. Not just look down uponut actually punished. And more than a third path that this hapne multiple times, look at below that number. Twothdsf young people have opd using their freedom of speech. Thats a failure. Do you realize how awful our universities are right now . Im looking around and i know ■6its going on in pennsylvania, the universe of pennsylvania, up at harvard, stanford, schools across the country. The kids are afraid. And it seems like nothing is happening. It seems like no one is protecting them. This is a number that shows you have that its got its not just been. Onethirfsk you guys, theres no cameras back there. Im going to ask you, how many of you, the honest with me now, how many of you stop talking to someone because you found their politics offensive . Raise your hands. I appreciate the honesty. Look at that number. Its awful. And its happening in our own families. of the public stop talking to a parent, and mother, a child. I dont want to use bad language because youre from utah. [laughing] i need help. Can a governor to whats a better phrase forhi show that will not turn them off . [laughing] rank, we call those farm words. [laughing] okay. I do the jokes here. [laughing] so lets get to numbers, 83 is a country mortified that inifet. If you see the numbers below, on age, among those 555 and older who remember the cities burning in the 1960 can remember the protests on vietnam. 92 say people over age 65 say its more divided than ever evie have to resolve this, i dont know what is. Some want to start to do language with you, and i welcome want to. The two words that matter most, divided and toxic. I want you to note that partisan is almost at the bottom. This is no longer about politics. This is now about life itself. Disagree with how you live. I disagree with how you look. I disagree with what you say. I hate you for being different. Thats what this gets a republican or democrat. Its not liberal, conservative. Its the we are as people. And by the with the most powerful word of all is that we are dehumanizing people. I know youve had this fight in colorado. You probably had in most states. So heres my phrase for you and, in fact, i hope the governors of the purchase of it in this will deliver a message, will give this a try. Our country crossroads. They see this intersection right now. We have to do something for things get worse. Too much distance between friends, neighbors, coworand evl of us around us reject the status quo, we must begin by listening and i was shocked at how powerful listening has become, but its not listening. Its understanding. And asked the people who sit in the back over there who have interest in putting pressure on the people in the front of this room, understanding is what americans are seeking. They will not yell if they think you understand them. So we asked them the question that this initiative. 8 are hostile. 65 are supportive. You cant get safety 5 initiative anymore. And only 8 are negative. Either way, look at the parties. Among democrats only 3 have a negative reaction. Among rublicans 12 . And now i about to get myself done in. So i wil talk to the here because youre going to hate me an y are going to hate me, and youre goingo hate me. Oh, god. This is not a bipartisan problem. There are plenty of people on th who yell and are disrespectful, but the people and shout, more the people who from the right than from the left. The people who are disruptive and hostile are more likely than to be republican than the art■ democrat. I dont know how to handle this because i dont want to shoot myself. But i cant stay qui a asked thn this room to search your souls and to recognize that the levele within to many in the gop has gone overboard. And some of you know this from their legislatures. Some of you know this from your actist not getting democrats a pass. Baking the republican to stand up and speak out and say enough is enough begging please. Whats the biggest problem . Its not the soft stuff. Its about results. They believe things are not getting done. And i will say to you that the number one priority for your voters, and meaningful, measurable track record of success, and results. Thats the phrase the looking for. King reelection right now. Thats the phrase the want from you more tha anything else. I meaningful, measurable track record of success. And the problem is they dont see it when this anger cause a stuff not to happen in the best example of that isheon right here in washington. The public has said fix the border. Three months ago we had an agreement. And now we dont because of politics. Thats what the public hates so much. So lets do language. I will stop. Has any governor got any question . Am i dead to you . [laughing] i keep waiting for some to step up behind me and just pop me. You guys have to save me over here. Its why youre sitting in the so heres the language behind it. Heres your phrase. Everything in this works, im not going to take it it. Imagine its the most powerful word in the english language. If you ask people to imagine democracy at its best, they would support this■ initiative five to one, six to one. A united United States is going to be taken by three or four of you who realize what a powerful statement that is, to reunite the United States of america is. Youll see that in a moment. Its not just about listening. Its listening with an open mind. That phrase really does matter. The fact that you have made up your mind, the fact that youre stening. I want to understand when you us that language, i want to understand, explain it. A geisha the right oppose pick a geisha the right, right to disagree. The fact that youre trying to understand allows you to say no, we have a different point of view. Thats how you disagree better. A couple more from up here. Its factbased, not evidencebased. How many of you in this room are lawyers, raise your hand. If youre a lawyer rse [laughing] by the way the guy who last the loudest is the biggest lawyer in the room. It■x you protest. Theres evidence for the prosecution. There defense. We argue over evidence, but we dont argue over fact. You take up backbench approach to anying, the public is much more likely to trust you and follow you. And if theres any of the phrase that doesnt work nearly as well. The last phrase, healthy, honest, respectful conversations and discussions, that is the sentence, governor, but Everything Else i should lea ale that we need a healthy environment, we need a healthy schoolhe tied the people lying to us. Respect the because thats the highest value. Conversations and discussions, thats the best price possible for this. In terms of the want you to stop saying something, its not on empathy. Its not about empathy and is not even about listening. It is about understanding. Its not about consensus. It is about Common Ground and partisan and polarized doesnt actually matterd9 to people divided and toxic does. One other set. Cooperation and compromise is good. But listening with an open mind allows you to disagree better. I urging you because ive been to your website as i put