JUNE 22, 2024

MATTER OF FACT, THE FIRST 2024 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IS JUST DAYS AWAY. BUT CONSIDERING WE’VE SEEN THESE CANDIDATES GO HEAD TO HEAD BEFORE AND WE KNOW MOST OF THEIR POLICIES, WHY IS THIS DEBATE IMPORTANT? THE ABILITY TO HANDLE ALL UNEXPECTED CURVEBALLS THAT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY. THE MESSAGE CANDIDATES HOPE TO SEND TO YOU ON THURSDAY, PLUS, MEDICAL EDUCATION IN AMERICA HAS CHANGED IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURN TURNED ROE V WADE, MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE AVOIDING THESE STATES WHERE ABORTION IS BANNED. OUR CORRESPONDENT DAN LIEBERMAN EXPLAINS THE IMPACT ON EMERGENCY AND CANCER CARE AND FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE FACING A SHORTAGE. THERE’S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH VETS TO COVER EVERYBODY IN THIS INDUSTRY. A LACK OF VETERINARIANS IS RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY. WE NEED TO DO BETTER. COULD THIS SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENT BE THE START OF THE SOLUTION? THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V WADE. AT LEAST 14 STATES NOW COMPLETELY BAN ALL ABORTIONS. ANOTHER FIVE HAVE BANS IN PLACE AFTER 6 TO 12 WEEKS, AND IN SOME CASES, THAT’S BEFORE A WOMAN MIGHT EVEN KNOW SHE’S PREGNANT. BUT THE RULING HAS ALSO HAD A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN THESE STATES AND WHERE OUR NATION’S FUTURE DOCTORS ARE DECIDING TO STUDY. OUR CORRESPONDENT DAN LIEBERMAN, HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY FOR US. DAN, ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO. THANK YOU. SO THERE’S BEEN A STUDY OF APPLICATIONS TO MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. WHAT’S THE DATA SHOWING US? WELL, THE DATA IS PRETTY ALARMING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS TO THESE PROGRAMS, THEY’RE DROPPING. 4.2% DROP IN STATES WHERE ABORTIONS HAVE BEEN BANNED. COMPARE THAT TO STATES WHERE ABORTION IS STILL LEGAL. IT WAS A DROP OF JUST 0.6%. WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT? WELL, IT MEANS THAT MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE AVOIDING THESE STATES WHERE ABORTION IS BANNED BECAUSE IT MEANS THEY CAN’T GET THAT TRAINING IN ABORTION CARE. IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS IS REALLY JUST SPECIFICALLY IMPACTING STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING AT OB-GYN RESIDENCIES? NOT AT ALL. BECAUSE THIS TRAINING IN ABORTION CARE, IT COULD BE EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS, IT COULD BE A CANCER DOCTOR WHO MAY NEED TO USE THIS TRAINING IN THEIR CAREER. SO IT MEANS THAT THESE STUDENTS AREN’T GOING TO GET THAT TRAINING AND THEY’LL HAVE TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE WHERE ABORTION IS STILL LEGAL, TO GET IT. IN THE WAKE OF THE DOBBS DECISION, YOU WENT TO A OB-GYN RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN CHICAGO. I WANT TO PLAY A CHUNK OF THAT AT RUSS UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL IN CHICAGO. DOCTOR SADIA HAIDER OB-GYN RESIDENCY PROGRAM IS FEELING THE PRESSURE FROM OUT OF STATE APPLICANTS SEEKING TRAINING, REFUGE IN A STATE WHERE ABORTION IS STILL LEGAL. SO YOU HAVE SIX SPOTS FOR RESIDENTS HERE. I THINK WE’RE OVER A THOUSAND APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR. FOR THOSE SIX SPOTS. IS IT HARDER THAN EVER TO TURN AN APPLICANT AWAY KNOWING THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THIS TRAINING ANYWHERE ELSE? IT FEELS TOUGH TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. OTHER PROGRAMS REACH OUT TO US AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT NEED TRAINING. CAN YOU TAKE THEM? THERE ARE ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER WE CAN WORK WITH OR TRAIN, BUT WE DO FEEL VERY COMPELLED TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROVIDERS TO GET THIS TRAINING ACROSS THE STATE LINE. IN WISCONSIN, WHERE ABORTION IS NOW EFFECTIVELY BANNED, DOCTOR LAURA JACKIE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT OPTIONS FOR HER STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON, WHEN JUST OVER HALF OF THE COUNTRY HAS TRAINING SPOTS AVAILABLE IN THE OTHER HALF NEED AS THEIR RESIDENTS TO TRAIN IN THOSE SPOTS, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH AVAILABLE, DOCTOR JACQUES ARGUES. RESTRICTING ABORTION TRAINING THREATENS THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS FACING HIGH RISK PREGNANCIES AND THOSE WHOSE PREGNANCY ENDS IN MISCARRIAGE. IT’S INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED FOR THE SCHOOLS AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER IT’S GOING TO BE LEGAL FOR THEIR TRAINEES TO GO INTO ANOTHER STATE, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO POUR RESOURCES INTO FIGURING OUT HOW TO CREATE TRAINING PROGRAMS. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOLUTIONS, WHAT DO YOU THINK A SOLUTION COULD BE? THE SOLUTION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IS REALLY TO HAVE A FEDERAL PROTECTION OF ROE. THAT REALLY IS THE ULTIMATE ST SOLUTION FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS TO BE REALLY AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE RESTRICTIONS FOR PRO-LIFE DOCTORS, FOR PRO-LIFE RESIDENTS IN STATES WHERE ABORTION IS BANNED, WHO SAY THERE’S OTHER WAYS, THERE’S OTHER MEANS TO TO DEAL WITH THESE EMERGENCIES. OTHER THAN ABORTION. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM? WHAT I SAY IS THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THERE’S A NEED FOR THIS SERVICE OR THIS PROCEDURE TO SAVE A PERSON’S LIFE, POTENTIALLY IN THE SETTINGS OF INFECTION, BLEEDING. AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE TRAINED PROVIDERS, THAT CAN BE A REAL PROBLEM. SO THAT WAS A YEAR AGO. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE RIPPLE EFFECTS SINCE THEN? WELL, THERE ARE QUITE SIGNIFICANT RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT ARE JUST STARTING TO TRICKLE IN. I SPOKE WITH DOCTOR JACQUES RESNICK. HE’S THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. HERE’S WHAT HE SAID HE’S SEEING WHEN HE TRAVELS THE COUNTRY. WE’RE SEEING PHYSICIANS AND STUDENTS LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF EMERGENCIES WHEN SECONDS COUNT, HAVE TO CALL HOSPITAL ATTORNEYS TO SAY, OKAY, IS A 40% CHANCE OF DEATH. IS A PREGNANT PATIENT WHO’S ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR KIDNEY FUNCTION AS A RESULT OF US NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE CARE THAT WE NEED TO DO DURING THEIR MISCARRIAGE, IS THAT ENOUGH TO QUALIFY UNDER THESE NEW STATE LAWS TO PROVIDE THE CARE SO STUDENTS ARE JUST BEFUDDLED AND RESIDENTS ARE FEELING THE SAME WAY AND IT’S PART OF WHY WE’RE SEEING A REDUCTION, I THINK, IN THEIR DESIRE TO TRAIN IN THESE STATES THAT HAVE PUT IN THESE DRACONIAN RESTRICT LAWS. SO WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THAT, IT’S QUITE ALARMING. AND THE STATES THAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT, THESE ARE ALREADY MATERNAL HEALTH CARE DESERTS WHERE THERE ARE TOO FEW DOCTORS FOR THE POPULATION. AND WE’RE SEEING SIGNIFICANT ISSUES IN STATES LIKE IDAHO WHERE PATIENTS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ARE HAVING TO TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES TO GET CARE. DAN LIEBERMAN ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTING. APPRECIATE IT. THANKS. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, WHETHER YOU WATCH THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OR JUST SEE CLIPS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AS A HISTORIAN, I DON’T PREDICT THE FUTURE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT EACH SIDE WILL CLAIM TO WIN. BUT FIND OUT HOW THE DEBATE HELPS YOU ELEVATE ISSUES THAT RESONATE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND FINDING A VET FOR YOUR PET IS NOT EASY. AMIDST A NATIONAL SHORTAGE, BUT IT’S EVEN HARDER TO FIND ONE WHO CAN TREAT LIVESTOCK. THERE’S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF US THAT ARE INTERESTED IN RURAL AREA VETERINARY MEDICINE. WHY? SO FEW ARE TAKING ON THIS IN-DEMAND JOB. PLUS, YOUR GOOGLE SEARCHES COULD BE FEEDING THIS ONLINE DATABASE. WE’LL TELL YOU WHAT IT’S TRACKING AND WHY YOU’RE WATCHING. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. TWO MEN WHO AGREE ABOUT ALMOST NOTHING HAVE AGREED TO SQUARE OFF ON THURSDAY, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TAKE CENTER STAGE FOR THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE AND THERE ARE A FEW UNUSUAL THINGS ABOUT THIS ONE. IT’S TAKING PLACE BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTIONS, MEANING BEFORE BIDEN OR TRUMP ARE OFFICIALLY NOMINATED AS THEIR PARTY’S CANDIDATES AND WITHOUT THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENT FINAL DEBATES, THE BODY THAT HAS LONG OVERSEEN SCENE AND SET THE RULES FOR THESE EVENTS, KATHRYNBROWNELL IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY. SHE SPECIALIZES IN THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE MEDIA AND THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY. IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU, PROFESSOR BROWNELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, TAKE US BACK TO THE VERY FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. WHAT WAS THE THE FOCUS AND THE GOAL OF THAT FIRST DEBATE? SO THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE HAPPENS IN 1960 BETWEEN RICHARD NIXON AND JOHN KENNEDY. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THE TWO MEN LOOKED REALLY DOMINATED INTERPRETATIONS OF THAT ELECTION. AND SO THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY JOHN F KENNEDY WON THE 1960 ELECTION THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TV DEBATES. BUT IN THE MIND OF RICHARD NIXON AND POLITICAL CONSULTANTS AND MEDIA ADVISERS, THEY ARGUED THAT IT’S THE DEBATES AND NIXON’S POOR PRESENTATION HAS POOR IMAGE THAT REALLY HE LOST THE ELECTION FOR HIM. AND SO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THESE DEBATES, THIS EFFORT TO CONTROL TELEVISION IMAGE BECOMES A POLITICAL PRIORITY IF WE FAST FORWARD, IT’S NOT ONLY CONTROLLING THE IMAGE, IT’S ALSO CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE OUT OF IT. ABSOLUTELY. AND THIS IS, AGAIN, A HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 1976 ELECTION. THERE’S THIS ONE MOMENT WHERE GERALD FORD TALKS ABOUT THE SOVIET DOMINATION OF EASTERN EUROPE AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT IMMEDIATELY WASN’T A DEFINING MOMENT. BUT CARTER’S MEDIA TEAM REALLY GRABBED A HOLD OF THAT, AND IT REALLY INTRODUCED THIS IDEA THAT THAT WINNING THE NARRATIVE MATTERED MORE. DO YOU THINK, UM, PEOPLE TAKE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE DEBATES AS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE OF HOW THEY SHOULD THROW THEIR VOTE, OR ARE PEOPLE WATCHING THE DEBATES PRETTY MUCH WHO’VE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MIND? I THINK, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH KIND OF SHOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE PRETTY ENTRENCHED IN TERMS OF THEIR POLITICAL THINKING AND THAT THEY THEY TUNE IN REALLY TO CHEER ON THEIR CANDIDATE AND TO PERHAPS JEER THE, THE OPPONENT. SO IT’S UNLIKELY THAT THE DEBATES WILL CHANGE MINDS. HOWEVER. JR, I DO THINK THAT IT IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT DOES BRING THE CANDIDATES INTO A CONVERSATION WITH ONE ANOTHER. IT DOES KIND OF CREATE A NATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE SAME CONVERSATION AT THE SAME TIME. THAT BEING SAID, WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THESE DAYS, YOU DON’T HAVE THE SPIN ROOM THAT’S HAPPENING AFTER THE DEBATES. YOU HAVE IT HAPPENING IN REAL TIME. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT CAN KIND OF UNDERMINE THIS EFFORT TO HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE HOW PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND VIEWING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE DEBATE IS ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND SO THEY’RE PICKING UP CERTAIN THINGS, UM, IN REAL TIME. HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY CHANGED THIS ENTIRE GAME SINCE THE 1960S, WHEN THERE WAS NONE? WELL, I THINK IT DOES BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE CONVERSATION. RIGHT? SO IT’S NOT JUST SOMEONE ONE SAYING THIS WAS WHAT WAS IMPORTANT FROM A PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN, BUT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO COULD CALL ATTENTION TO CERTAIN ISSUES THAT RESONATED WITH THEM. SO I THINK IT’S IT’S BROADENED THE PARTICIPATION TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO TO KIND OF SHAPE THAT THIS IS WHAT MATTERED TO THEM. BUT EACH OF THESE CANDIDATES HAS THEIR OWN PLATFORM. AND I’M CURIOUS IF YOU THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE MODERATED OFFICIAL DEBATES ARE EVEN IMPORTANT ANYMORE WHEN THEY CAN CREATE THEIR OWN CONTENT AND THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. I THINK THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT. STILL, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS ARE SUPPORTING BIDEN MAY NOT ACTUALLY SEE WHAT TRUMP IS SAYING BECAUSE IT IS ON SUCH A DIFFERENT PLATFORM. AND AND THE REVERSE IS TRUE AS WELL. AND SO I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUPPORTERS OF EACH CAMPAIGN TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER CANDIDATE IS SAYING. KATHRYNBROWNELL FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY, NICE TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME COMING UP. HER SKILLS ARE SO IN DEMAND THAT SHE WAS RECRUITED FOR A JOB BEFORE FOR STARTING COLLEGE. JUST HOLD OUT FOR ME. I’M COMING. BUT SHE’LL GRADUATE WITH $200,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP MORE PEOPLE BECOME VETS? PLUS, WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMMUNITY THIS ELECTION SEASON? WHY YOU CAN NOW GOOGLE THAT ANSWER. WELCOME BACK TO MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA HAS A SHORTAGE OF RURAL VETERINARIAN AS THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DESIGNATES MORE THAN 230 REGIONS ACROSS 47 STATES AS VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE AREAS. THAT’S THE MOST EVER SOLUTIONS ARE IN THE WORKS OF A BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXPAND A LOAN REPAYMENT PLAN FOR VETS IN REMOTE AREAS WAS INTRODUCED TO CONGRESS IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. HASN’T YET PASSED OUR CORRESPONDENT JESSICA GOMEZ TAKES US TO SOUTH DAKOTA, WHERE FOR ONE COMMUNITY, THE HELP CAN’T COME SOON ENOUGH. WE’RE USUALLY OUT AS THE SUN COMES UP AND WE’RE USUALLY BACK AFTER THE SUN GOES DOWN. I, DOCTOR PAT PRUSHA, OWNER OF THE OAHE VETERINARY HOSPITAL, USUALLY PUT ABOUT AT LEAST 200 SOME MILES ON A DAY. TODAY WILL BE A SHORT DAY. WE’RE ONLY GOING ABOUT 4 TO 8 MILES. HE’S ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF VETS AROUND. WE’VE HAD CALLS SOME PEOPLE 120, 130 MILES AWAY BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T GET AHOLD OF ANYONE ELSE. SOMETIMES THEY’LL JUST SHOW UP AT OUR DOOR. TODAY, AN APPOINTMENT AT GIL RED ANGUS, AN 18,000 ACRE CATTLE RANCH. GOOD MORNING. BRIAN. HOW YOU DOING TODAY, DOCTOR PAT, WILL PREGNANCY CHECK SOME 300 COWS ABOUT TO GO FOR SALE. HE’LL BE HERE UNTIL DARK. I HAD TO SCHEDULE HIM OUT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO GET HIM HERE TODAY. SO THEY’RE SO BUSY. THERE’S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH VETS TO COVER EVERYBODY IN THIS INDUSTRY. IT’S NOT AN EASY JOB OR ONE FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. AS WE QUICKLY DISCOVERED THE BABIES. YOU SEE IN PART OF IT RIGHT THERE AT NEARLY 63, DOCTOR PAT THINKING ABOUT WHAT’S NEXT. YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT FOREVER? AND THEN ONCE YOU REACH A CERTAIN AGE AND MAYBE YOU CAN’T DO IT FOREVER, IT’S BEEN A DREAM. THAT’S BEEN 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING. ENTER HAYLEY BENTZ THE SOUTH DAKOTA NATIVE IS A THIRD YEAR STUDENT AT THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. I HAVE SUCH A PROFOUND RESPECT FOR FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS. THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST KIND AND RESILIENT AND HUMBLE PEOPLE YOU WILL EVER MEET. GROWING UP ON HER FAMILY’S RANCH WITH A PASSION FOR ANIMALS, HAYLEY HAS WORKED FOR DOCTOR PAT SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. THEIR PLAN FOR HER TO EVENTUALLY TAKE OVER THE CLINIC, DESPITE A HEFTY $200,000 IN STUDENT LOAN DEBT. IT’S A VERY HIGH DEBT TO INCOME RATIO, AND IT’S REALLY SCARY. SO IF IF IT’S A COURSE, WE WANT TO ADJUST THEIR DIET, THE 27 YEAR OLD AMONG THE FIRST GROUP OF STUDENTS IN A PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, YOU ALL LEARNED THAT WE START AT THE HEAD AND GO TO THE TAIL, RIGHT, WHICH UP UNTIL NOW DIDN’T HAVE A VET PROGRAM. STUDENTS SPEND THEIR FIRST TWO YEARS IN SOUTH DAKOTA WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON RURAL VETERINARY MEDICINE. AND THEIR FINAL TWO IN MINNESOTA. WE’RE GOING TO START CODDLE AND WORK OUR WAY. CRANIAL. THE HOPE THAT THE SOUTH DAKOTA STUDENTS LIKE HAYLEY WILL GO BACK TO THEIR RURAL COMMUNITIES, BUCKING THE NATIONAL TREND. I BELIEVE PROBABLY 85 TO 90% OF MY CLASS IS SMALL ANIMAL FOCUS, BUT THERE’S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF US THAT ARE INTERESTED IN FOOD, ANIMAL OR RURAL AREA, VETERINARY MEDICINE. IT’S A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE NEED TO TO CONSIDER REALLY CAREFULLY. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION VETERINARIAN DOCTOR RUSS DALY AS OUR SMALL TOWNS GET SMALLER, OUR SMALL COUNTIES GET SMALLER. THERE’S FEWER YOUNG PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT LIFESTYLE AND WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT CREATING, NOT ONLY AN ECONOMIC RISK. DALY SAYS TO SOUTH DAKOTA’S $1 BILLION BEEF INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO A RISK TO FOOD SAFETY BY NOT HAVING VETERINARIANS THERE TO GUIDE PRODUCERS ON SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS MEANS THAT THAT FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM HAS TO WORK HARDER, AND THERE’S MORE OF A CHANCE THAT SOMETHING WILL FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. VERY NICE. HAYLEY BENTZ ALREADY THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO FIX THOSE CRACKS. JUST HOLD OUT FOR ME. I’M COMING IN SOUTH DAKOTA. FOR MATTER OF FACT, I’M JESSICA GOMEZ AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, WE’LL GIVE YOU A TOUR OF THE SITE THAT SHEDS LIGHT ON THE ELECTION ISSUES PEOPLE ARE MOST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT AND COULD SHARED HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS BE THE WAY OF THE FUTURE TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTEROFFACTTV TV. THERE ARE MORE THAN 300 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, SO THAT’S 300 MILLION DIFFERENT IDEALS AND GOALS AND CONCERNS. SO ASKING AMERICANS WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT THIS ELECTION IS BOUND TO GIVE YOU LOTS OF ANSWERS. GOOGLE IS TRYING TO NARROW THAT DOWN. THEY PARTNERED WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR A LOOK AT ELECTION RELATED TOPICS THAT PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING NATIONWIDE, AND THEY BREAK IT DOWN BY EVERY STATE. THE TOP THREE SEARCHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS OF RIGHT NOW ARE CRIME, SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTH CARE. THERE’S A DROP DOWN MENU WHERE YOU CAN SEARCH BY STATE, SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER. YOU CAN SEARCH BY ISSUE. SEE HOW IT RANKS IN EACH COUNTY. THE MOST SEARCHED TOPICS ARE SCALED FROM 0 TO 100, WITH 100 REPRESENTING THE MOST SEARCHED TOPIC. OR SIMPLY PUT, THE MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE ISSUE, THE BIGGER THE CIRCLE. BE SURE TO CHECK IN OFTEN BECAUSE THE SITE GETS UPDATED EVERY WEEK OR SO. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, WE’RE GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW THIS PILOT PROGRAM COULD BECOME THE FUTURE TO CURB ELECTRICITY BILLS AND SLOW DOWN CLIMATEFINALLY, A NEIGHBORHOOD IS PILOTING A FIRST OF ITS KIND COMMUNAL GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM. IT’S HAPPENING IN FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS THAT’S ABOUT 20 MILES OUTSIDE OF BOSTON. THE PROJECT, LED BY THE ENERGY COMPANY EVERSOURCE, CONNECTS MORE THAN 30 HOMES AND BUSINESSES. NOW, HERE’S HOW IT WORKS. A GIANT LOOP WAS BURIED UNDERGROUND, WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS A STEADY 55 DEGREES. THAT LOOP IS FILLED WITH WATER AND ANTIFREEZE, WHICH CIRCULATE EACH HOME AND BUSINESS HAS ITS OWN HEAT PUMP THAT CAN TAKE HEAT FROM THE LOOP AND THEN BUMP IT UP TO THE DESIRED TEMPERATURE. THIS SHOULD MAKE THE COMMUNITY’S HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM MORE SUSTAINABLE AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE, REDUCING A CUSTOMER’S CARBON EMISSIONS BY UP TO 60% AND ELECTRIC BILLS BY 20%, WHILE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME, IT’S TRADITIONALLY INSTALLED BY INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS, WHICH CAN BE COSTLY. THE HOPE IS THAT THIS PROVES TO BE A BUSINESS MODEL TO SCALE UP THIS SUSTAINABLE HEATING METHOD IN A MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY, SO POTENTIALLY A WIN WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO PEOPLE’S MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS. 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.