WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT, THIS WEEK’S SHOW IS ALL ABOUT PROVIDING CONTEXT AND SEEKING SOLUTIONS. HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE COMING UP. THE WAR IN ISRAEL AND GAZA IS SPURRING CRIES FOR MORE FOREIGN AID, BUT CONGRESSIONAL INFIGHTING IS CREATING A CHAOTIC RESPONSE. WHAT’S THE POWER OF THE CONGRESS WITHOUT A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE? IF SOMEONE WANTED TO GET UP AND OFFER A RESOLUTION, THE HOUSE COULD DO THAT. AND A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER WITH A PASSION FOR HELPING. I GIVE CHRISTMAS TOYS, BUT IT WAS JUST LIKE, THAT’S NOT ENOUGH NOW HE’S TAKING A DIFFERENT TACK. WE’LL SHOW YOU WHY THAT INCLUDES LEARNING TO FARM. BUT FIRST, HOMELESSNESS IS ON THE RISE, BUT NOT IN TEXAS. THERE’S A MONEY MANAGEMENT CLASS INCOME CLASS. I DID ALL OF THEM. THE APPROACH, THIS SPRAWLING SAN ANTONIO SHELTER SAYS IS WORKING. NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. SHELTER IS A BASIC NEED FOR EVERYBODY, BUT ON A SINGLE NIGHT IN JANUARY 2022, MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT’S ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP AN ORGANIZATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, CALLED HAVEN FOR HOPE SAYS IT’S HAVING SUCCESS BY DOING THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. FIRST, IT FOCUSES ON PROVIDING IMMEDIATE BASIC SHELTER. SECOND, HAVEN FOR HOPE’S FUNDING MAKES IT MORE FLEXIBLE, LEANING ON PRIVATE DONATIONS TO PROVIDE THINGS NOT COVERED BY FEDERAL GRANTS, ALL WHILE SERVING ABOUT 1500 PEOPLE A DAY. OUR CORRESPONDENT DAN LIEBERMAN SHOWS US HOW IT’S WORKING. EVERYTHING IS HERE. TUNA PACKS. CHICKEN PACKS, ELECTROLYTES, FRUIT CUPS. PETE BARRERA’S PICKUP TRUCK IS A LIFELINE FOR SAN ANTONIO’S HOMELESS RESIDENTS. HEY, BRO, LET ME KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO BE STAYING DOWN HERE. IT’S ALSO A WAY TO TRY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO MOVE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO SHELTER IN A STATE WHERE OUTDOOR ENCAMPMENTS ARE AGAINST THE LAW. Y’ALL DID ALL RIGHT TODAY. WHAT ABOUT OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT YOU COMING IN? ARE YOU READY? IT’S GOING TO BE SOMETIME THIS WEEK. OKAY. SOMETIME THIS WEEK, BECAUSE WE’RE JUST RUNNING OUT OF WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS. BARRERA WORKS FOR HAVEN FOR HOPE, A SHELTER THAT SAYS IT’S A ONE STOP SHOP PROVIDING SERVICES TO ABOUT 7000 PEOPLE A YEAR. IF PEOPLE AREN’T ALLOWED TO, CAN CAMP, THEN THEY GET TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT OPTION FOR THEMSELVES. IF THEY WANT TO. KIM JEFFERIES IS HAVEN FOR HOPE’S PRESIDENT AND CEO AT HAVEN. THEY’RE NOT JUST SLEEPING HERE AT NIGHT. THEY’RE WORKING ON THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT HOMELESSNESS WHILE THEY’RE WAITING FOR HOUSING. THE 22 ACRE CAMPUS PROVIDES ON SITE SERVICES, INCLUDING CHILD CARE, A MEDICAL CLINIC, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND JOB PLACEMENT. THERE’S EVEN A HAIR SALON AND PET CARE. WE HAVE TWO UNIQUE SIDES OF OUR CAMPUS AND ONE SIDE. THERE’S SOME REQUIREMENT. SO SOBRIETY REQUIREMENTS ID ON THAT SIDE IS A DORM SETTING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CAMPUS. IT’S LOW BARRIER, SO NO ID REQUIREMENTS, NO SOBRIETY REQUIREMENTS. MOST PEOPLE WILL SLEEP ON A SIX INCH MAT ON THE FLOOR AT NIGHT. THE COURTYARD SIDE OF CAMPUS HAS BEEN CRITICIZED BY SOME HOMELESS ADVOCATES AS HARSH AND PATRONIZING. IS IT SORT OF TREATED LIKE A PRIZE TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE CAMPUS SIDE TO GET THOSE EXTRA BENEFITS? SO I THINK ORIGINALLY THAT WAS KIND OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS. BUT OVER TIME, I THINK HAVEN HAS REALIZED THAT PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES AND THEY’RE AT DIFFERENT PLACES IN THEIR LIFE AND AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE SAME THINGS NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF CAMPUS, JEFFERIES SAYS HAVEN’S UNIQUE APPROACH IS A PRACTICAL RESPONSE TO PEOPLE’S IMMEDIATE NEED FOR SHELTER. YEAH, I THINK THAT’S WHAT’S MISSING IN A LOT OF COMMUNITY IS THEY DON’T HAVE THE SHELTER CAPACITY TO GET INDIVIDUALS OFF THE STREETS. THE FOCUS IS ONLY ON HOUSING, AND IF THE HOUSING INVENTORY ISN’T THERE, THERE’S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO IN THE IN THE INTERIM, NOT HAVING A JOB. I COULDN’T PAY THE RENT NO MORE. SO I GOT EVICTED. READY? GO TO THE ROOM. MELISSA SMITH WAS LAID OFF FROM HER JOB LAST YEAR AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE FOR HER DAUGHTER HAVEN FOR HOPE WAS ABLE TO HELP. GETTING MY DAUGHTER INTO THE DAY CARE SO THAT I COULD GET A JOB THAT PUT ME ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING OUT. BECAUSE AFTER GETTING MY JOB, I WAS ABLE TO APPLY FOR HOUSING THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS ABOUT FOUR MONTHS, BUT MELISSA AND HER NOW TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR. BUT SOON THEY’LL BE MOVING INTO THEIR OWN APARTMENT. HAVEN’S GOING TO HELP WITH MY FIRST MONTH’S RENT AND THEN THEY’RE ALSO GOING TO HELP PROVIDE A BED FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER. HAVEN SAYS. IT REHOUSES ABOUT 1000 CLIENTS A YEAR. 91% OF THEM REMAIN IN THEIR NEW HOME AFTER 12 MONTHS. THERE IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP THAT HAVEN HAS. IF WE WERE ONLY FUNDED BY LOCAL FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT, WE’D ONLY BE ABLE TO SERVE. THE PEOPLE THAT THEY TELL US ARE ELIGIBLE AND IN THE WAY THEY WANT US TO SERVE THEM. I THINK THAT TEXAS DOES HAVE SOME LESSONS FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO BE CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, TO WORK TOGETHER. SHERI GREENBERG AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. SHE STUDIES HOMELESS AND HOUSING POLICY. IT’S NOT JUST ONE POLICY. WE’RE GOING TO NEED SHELTER, BEDS AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. WE NEED IT ALL FOR MELISSA AND HER DAUGHTER HAVING A PLACE LIKE HAVEN IS JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED. I FEEL VERY PROUD THAT I’VE COME SO FAR. AND NOW YOU’RE ABOUT TO ABOUT TO MOVE OUT. AND I’M I’M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. I’M PROUD THAT I HAVE A JOB. I’M PROUD THAT I’M GOING TO HAVE AN APARTMENT THAT I CAN CALL MY OWN. ALL RIGHT. SAY BYE BYE. FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M DAN LIEBERMAN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HAVEN FOR HOPE WAS CREATED BY BILL GREEHEY, THE FOUNDING CEO AND CHAIRMAN OF VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION OPENED BACK IN 2010, ABOUT 60% OF ITS FUNDING CAME FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS. TODAY, ITS BUDGET IS PRIMARILY ABOUT 30% PRIVATE, 33% FEDERAL AND 35% LOCAL LEVEL GOVERNMENT FUNDS. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, THE CAMPAIGN TO ELECT A SPEAKER PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON THE POWER OF THE GAVEL. IT’S NOT A MATTER OF RULES. IT’S A MATTER OF POLITICAL AUTHORITY. HOW THE SPEAKERSHIP BECAME THE AGENDA SETTING ROLE IN WASHINGTON. PLUS, AN MLB PLAYER HELPING FAMILIES PUT DOWN ROOTS. IT’S MY HOUSE. IT’S MY I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. FROM HOMEOWNERS TO FRESH FOOD, HOW HE’S CHANGING LIVES. YOU’RE WATCHING. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. THE CONSTITUTION ARTICLE ONE, SECTION TWO ESTABLISHES THE ROLE OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. BUT THE FOUNDERS DIDN’T SAY MUCH MORE ABOUT THE JOB. NOW, SOME 200 YEARS LATER, THE POSITION HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF DRAMATIC POLITICAL CONTROVERSY ON CAPITOL HILL. SO LET’S GET SOME CONTEXT ON EXACTLY WHAT THE SPEAKER DOES WITH THE POWER OF THE ROLE AND HOW IT’S EVOLVED OVER TIME. CHARLES STEWART IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT MIT. HE’S ALSO THE COAUTHOR OF FIGHTING FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP. IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU IN OUR STUDIO. NICE TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. SO WHAT WAS THE ROLE FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP THAT OUR FOUNDERS ACTUALLY HAD? WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY CREATED THE OFFICE AND THEN DIDN’T SAY MUCH ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS. THERE WASN’T MUCH AUTHORITY IN THE SPEAKER. SO IT’S REALLY BEEN A ROLE THAT’S EVOLVED OVER THE 250 YEARS OR SO OF OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY. HAS THAT EVOLUTION SURPRISED YOU AS A PERSON WHO STUDIES LITERALLY ALL THE SPEAKERS THROUGH HISTORY? IT HASN’T SURPRISED ME IN THE SENSE THAT AS THE FOUNDERS TOLD US IN THE FEDERALIST AND OTHER PLACES THAT POLITICIANS GO FOR POWER. WHAT’S KIND OF SURPRISING, MAYBE, IS THAT IT TOOK SO LONG, LONG FOR THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THE LEADERS THERE REALLY TO TO PUT TOGETHER THE MECHANISMS OF STRONG CAUCUSES OF USED THING THE ASSIGNMENTS TO COMMITTEES AS CHITS TO BE GIVEN OUT PROPOSAL POWERS AGENDA SETTING POWERS. THERE’S A LOT OF ELEMENTS TO EXERCISING POWER IN A LEGISLATURE AND IT TOOK ABOUT A CENTURY TO FIGURE THAT OUT. THERE’S BEEN A FAIR AMOUNT OF REPORTING THAT HAS INDICATED WITHOUT A SPEAKER, CONGRESS IS KIND OF STUCK. IS THAT TRUE THAT CONGRESS REALLY CAN’T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY FILL THAT ROLE OF SPEAKER? THAT’S A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION, AND IT’S ACTUALLY A QUESTION THAT’S BEING BATTED AROUND AMONG EXPERTS IN THE INSTITUTION. MY READING, FOR INSTANCE, OF THE RULE THAT PROVIDES FOR A SPEAKER PRO TEM, THE PLAIN MEANING OF THE LANGUAGE IN THAT RULE IS THAT THE SPEAKER PRO TEM HAS ALL OF THE AUTHORITY OF A SPEAKER. SO THE SPEAKER PRO TEM COULD ASSIGN BILLS. ET CETERA. BASICALLY IS THE SPEAKER TILL THERE’S ANOTHER SPEAKER. EXACTLY. SO THAT’S ONE VIEW. OTHER PEOPLE DON’T TAKE THAT VIEW. ANOTHER THING THAT EXPERTS DISTINGUISH IS THE POWER OF THE SPEAKER AND THE POWER OF THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE HAS ALL SORTS OF AUTHORITY WITH THE SPEAKER JUST SITTING THERE AND POINTING TO PEOPLE. SOMEBODY WHO CAN GET UP AND MAKE A RESOLUTION, MAKE A MOTION. AND SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO GET UP AND OFFER A RESOLUTION OR A BILL TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL, THE HOUSE COULD DO THAT, COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT. SO I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING, THOUGH, IS THAT WITHOUT AN ELECTED SPEAKER THERE, THERE’S NOT THE POLITICAL POWER AND AUTHORITY BEHIND IT. AND SO HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT MOTION IS GOING TO PASS? HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT MOTION WON’T BE VETOED? YOU NEED SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT POLITICAL AUTHORITY AND TRUST IN THE MEMBERS TO MAKE ANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS MATTER. IN ALL THE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN EXAMINING THIS ROLE IN THE CONGRESS AS A WHOLE, WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU THE MOST IN A NATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NAYSAYERS AND DISTRUSTING OF AUTHORITY, DISTRUSTING OF INSTITUTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES? THE AMERICAN CONGRESS REMAINS AS THE MOST CAPABLE PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTION ON THIS PLANET. MOST OF THE COUNTRIES, THE AGENDA IS DRIVEN ENTIRELY BY THE EXECUTIVE. AND HERE FOR THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO DRIVE A LOT OF THAT. AND THAT’S HARD TO DO SOMETIMES. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. AND MAYBE IT’S SORT OF LIKE SAYING I HAVE THE BEST DANCING DOG IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT STILL THEY DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT OTHER PARLIAMENTS JUST WOULD HAVE NO ABILITY TO DO AT ALL. PROFESSOR CHARLES STEWART OF MIT. NICE TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO WITH US. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. NICE TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, CAMPAIGNS SPEND MILLIONS TO TURN OUT THE VOTE, BUT WHO’S ACTUALLY SHOWING UP AT THE POLLS? AND COMING UP NEXT, HE’S A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER TRYING FOR A NEW KIND OF HOME RUN. YOU MOTIVATE A FEW AND YOU CAN CHANGE A WHOLE LOT OF LIVES. WHY? STRANGE. GORDON, IS TRADING THE BALLPARK FOR FARMLAND AND A CHANCE TO GROW VO A STRONGER COMMUNITY. WELCOME BACK TO MATTER OF FACT, ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, STEADY WORK. HOMEOWNERSHIP UP FOR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER DEE STRANGE-GORDON. THESE ARE THE KEYS TO A HEALTHY AND THRIVING COMMUNITY. 80 STRANGE-GORDON HAS HAD STINTS WITH THE LA DODGERS MIAMI MARLINS, SEATTLE MARINERS AND THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS, AND NOW HE’S USING HIS SUCCESS TO CREATE REAL AND LASTING CHANGE FOR THOSE AROUND HIM. THAT INCLUDES LEARNING A NEW SKILL FARMING. OUR CORRESPONDENT JESS GOMEZ TRAVELED TO FLORIDA TO MEET UP WITH A BASEBALL PLAYER WHO’S WORKING ON HIS OWN FIELD OF DREAMS. A DIFFERENT RIDE TO WORK FOR DEE STRANGE-GORDON ON HIS 40 ACRE FARM IN FORT MEADE, FLORIDA. YOU’RE NOT PLAYING LA MIAMI SEATTLE TRACK IS CRAZY. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TRAFFIC HERE. STRANGE-GORDON KNOWN FOR HIS SPEED IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES, IS NOW TRYING TO HIT A NEW HOME RUN. WE ARE BLACK SHEEP FARMS, THE 35 YEAR OLD FREE AGENT TRADING IN HIS BASEBALL GLOVE FOR FOR THESE LATEX ONES. WE HAVE 88 PANELS THAT CAN PUT ABOUT 88 HEADS ON EACH PANEL. BUT THIS IS NO TRADITIONAL FARM INSIDE A 320 SQUARE FOOT SHIPPING CONTAINER THAT IS ALL DAY. STRANGE-GORDON IS LEARNING HOW TO GROW HYDROPONIC VEGETABLES, KALE, OAK LEAF, ROMAINE BIBB BUTTERHEAD, AN IPAD CONTROLLING THE WATER, LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE LEVELS. RIGHT, RIGHT. THERE YOU SEE THAT BROWN RIGHT THERE. TEACHING AND EMPLOYING CHILDHOOD FRIENDS LIKE TAIWAN PERRY. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT FARMING. ALL I KNOW IS MY GRANDDAD USED TO WORK IN THE ORANGE GROVES. THE FATHER OF TWO YOUNG KIDS, STRANGE-GORDON OWN MOTHER WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY HER BOYFRIEND WHEN HE WAS JUST SEVEN YEARS OLD, GROWING UP WITH EXTENDED FAMILY WHO HE SAW HELPING OTHERS INSPIRED HIM TO DO THE SAME. I’M 170 POUNDS PLAYING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, SOMETHING BIGGER THAN ME HELPED THIS SO I NEED TO GIVE BACK. HIS CHARITABLE WORK EARNING HIM FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE ROBERTO CLEMENTE AWARD, WHICH RECOGNIZES PLAYERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ON AND OFF THE FIELD. BUT STRANGE-GORDON SAYS SOMETHING WAS OFTEN MISSING. I COME BACK AFTER THE SEASON AND I HAVE A CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT. I GIVE CHRISTMAS TOYS, GIVE OUT TOYS TO THE KIDS, TOO. BUT IT WAS JUST LIKE, THAT’S NOT ENOUGH. LIKE THE COMMUNITY WASN’T GETTING ANY BETTER. DISHWASHER RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THE STOVE. SO HE PARTNERED WITH A NONPROFIT IN HIS HOMETOWN OF AVON PARK BUILDING HOMES FOR FIRST TIME. LOW INCOME BUYERS LIKE YOLANDA HOWARD WITH FEDERAL LOAN ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE IN RURAL AREAS. SHE’LL SOON PAY LESS IN MORTGAGE THAN SHE DID IN RENT. I CAN GO TO BED AND WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SOMEONE’S NOT TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO MOVE. IT’S MY HOUSE. IT’S MINE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. THERE WE GO. YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING, GOT HVAC IS OUT. WE’RE HVAC GUYS NOW. YOU’RE A MULTIMILLIONAIRE AND YOU’RE CUTTING THE GRASS OUT HERE AND YOU’RE GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY. I LOVE SEEING NOTHING OUT HERE AND KNOWING THAT IT’S GOING TO BE SOMETHING ONE DAY. AND YOU REMEMBER I TALKED ABOUT THE COLLARD GREENS. I WANT THEM HANGING FROM THE TOP. THAT SOMETHING IS ALREADY TAKING ROOT PLANS FOR A MUCH LARGER COMMERCIAL FACILITY HERE. STRANGE-GORDON HOPING IT WILL CREATE JOBS AND A PASSION FOR FARMING. YOU CAN GIVE MONEY, BUT GIVING SOMEBODY THEIR DIGNITY, HELPING THEM WORK FOR IT, TEACHING THEM SOMETHING NEW, BEING ABLE TO LET THEM GROW WITH YOU. I THINK THAT’S MORE DIGNITY AND MORE RESPECT FOR SOMEONE. AS FOR BASEBALL, HE SAYS, IS BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME. HERE WE GO. LOCAL KIDS INVITED TO THE FARM TO PRACTICE WITH THE PROS. YOU SEE? YOU SEE HOW YOUR HANDS WANT TO COME THROUGH AND IT’S JUST GONE. BOOM. IT CAN SHOW THESE KIDS YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. YOU COULD BE A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER OR A FARMER OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN. OKAY. THERE WE GO. IN FORT MEADE FLORIDA FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M JESSICA GOMEZ. AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, HULU WITH A TWIST USING OTHER TYPES OF MUSIC GIVES IT AN OPENING AND EXPANSIVE NEST. HOW HE’S BOTH PRESERVING AND MODERNIZING HIS CULTURAL HERITAGE. AND COMING UP NEXT, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE HELD A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND NO ONE SHOWED UP? WHAT THE NUMBERS TELL US ABOUT WHICH AMERICANS HAVE BECOME CHRONIC NONVOTERS. TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTER OF FACT. WPTV. VOTER PARTICIPATION IS THE HIGHEST IT’S BEEN IN DECADES, AND YET IT’S STILL NOT ENOUGH. 37% OF ELIGIBLE AMERICAN CITIZENS VOTED IN ALL THREE OF THE MOST RECENT NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS. THAT’S ACCORDING TO PEW RESEARCH CENTER’S LATEST REPORT ON VOTER PARTICIPATION. PEOPLE AGES 50 AND UP AND WHITE AMERICANS VOTE THE MOST CONSISTENTLY LATINO OR HISPANIC VOTERS ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE NOT VOTED IN ANY OF THE RECENT ELECTIONS, THE SURVEY REVEALED A GOOD CHUNK ABOUT 70% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOT IN AT LEAST ONE ELECTION BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022. RESEARCHERS SAY THOSE OCCASIONAL VOTERS HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON ELECTIONS, EVEN IF IT’S ONLY BY A TINY MARGIN. RURAL VOTERS AND WHITE VOTERS WITH NO COLLEGE DEGREE WERE LIKELY TO SWITCH SIDES. ABOUT 65% OF THOSE POLLED SAID THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY POPULAR VOTE, NOT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE. UNDER OUR CURRENT ELECTORAL SYSTEM, THE WINNER OF THE POPULAR VOTE MAY NOT SECURE ENOUGH ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY. NEE THAT HAPPENED IN 2020 16 WHEN GEORGE W BUSH AND DONALD TRUMP WON, RESPECTIVELY. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, THIS HULA INSTRUCTOR WON THE GENIUS GRANT. I HAVE A DEEP PASSION FOR WHAT I DO, AND IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORKAND FINALLY, THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION HAS ANNOUNCED THEIR LATEST RECIPIENTS OF THE GENIUS GRANTS. THIS YEAR’S WINNERS INCLUDE AN ENGINEER, A BIOLOGIST AND A HULA INSTRUCTOR, PATRICK MAKUAKANE. THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION SAYS MAKUAKANE NEE EARNED THE GRANT FOR HIS WORK AS A GLOBAL RENOWNED CULTURAL PRESERVATIONIST. A NATIVE OF HAWAII, HE’S LIVED AND WORKED IN SAN FRANCISCO SINCE THE 1980S. HE TEACHES TRADITIONAL HULA, THE CENTURIES OLD SPIRITUAL DANCE, BUT THE INSTRUCTION DOESN’T JUST ADHERE TO TRADITION. HE’S WORKING TO BRING FRESH INTERPRETATIONS OF THE DANCE, PAIRING IT WITH TECHNO, CLASSICAL AND HOUSE MUSIC. HIS TEACHINGS HAVE PURPOSE, UPLIFTING HAWAIIAN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE, WHILE CARVING OUT SPACE FOR NEW STORIES TO BE TOLD, INCLUDING FROM THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. I LOVE HAWAIIAN MUSIC. I CHOREOGRAPH AND TELL STORIES A LOT WITH HAWAIIAN MUSIC, BUT THERE’S MORE TO THE WORLD THAN JUST THAT. AND WE HAVE IMPORTANT STORIES THAT NEED TO GET OUT. AND I THINK IN A LANGUAGE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SO THAT IT WILL HIT THEM BETTER. THE GRANT WINNERS GET $800,000 OVER FIVE YEARS. MAKUAKANE SAYS HE’S GOING TO PUT HIS TOWARD COLLABORATING WITH OTHER INNOVATIVE NATIVE HAWAIIAN ARTISTS AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO THEIR WORK AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND ALL THE WINNERS AS THEY CONTINUE TO THEIR IMPORTANT WORK. AND THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS. ANY TIME, HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV.