"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

COMING UP TONIGHT ANALYSIS OF THE SUPREME COURT INSURRECTION CASE THAT IS COMINGS UP.

FIRST TONIGHT, DOES DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME UPSET YOUR SLEEP HABITS?

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND ANSWER YOUR SLEEP RELATED QUESTIONS IS Dr. EMERSON WICKWIRE, PHD., A SLEEP SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER AND PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY AND MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE BACK.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT WHAT [AUDIO INTERRUPTION].

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL CENTER MIDTOWN CAMPUS AND THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WE HAVE A LARGE AND COMPREHENSIVE SLEEP MEDICINE PROGRAM.

WE DO THE SORTS OF THINGS ONE WOULD EXPECT IN AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER.

WE HAVE A BUSY OUTPATIENT CLINICAL PRACTICE.

WE FEATURE AN ACCREDITED SLEEP MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP AND WE DO A GREAT DEAL OF FUNDED SLEEP RESEARCH.

>> Jeff: SO NEXT WEEKEND WE'RE GOING TO SPRING FORWARD AND I DON'T THINK I'M BOTHERED BY THAT.

MAYBE I'M FORGETTING SOMETHING BUT IT BOTHERS SOME PEOPLE.

>> IT DOES BOTHER SOME PEOPLE.

THERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT THE ISSUE.

FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY AN HOUR, QUOTE-UNQUOTE, ONLY AN HOUR, WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT SUBTLE CHANGE AND THE VERY PRECISE FINE-TUNING OF WHAT IS CALLED OUR CIRCADIAN CLOCK, MULTIPLY THAT BY 330 MILLION INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ONE-HOUR TIME CHANGE.

>> Jeff: IT'S SHOCKING.

PEOPLE HAVE HEART ATTACKS.

THEY HAVE CAR CRASHES.

STROKES.

THINGS THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT COULD BE RELATED TO WHAT I FEEL LIKE IS A LITTLE SHIFT.

>> IT'S NOT FLYING TO AUSTRALIA.

>> IT'S NOT.

BUT WHEN YOU FLY TO AUSTRALIA YOU ARE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO CAN EMPLOY A NUMBER OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES FROM GETTING EXTRA SLEEP BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEPING ON THE PLANE.

FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, A THIRD OF AMERICANS ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED TO BEGIN WITH.

WHEN WE TAKE AWAY THAT EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP, IT IS IT INCREASES RISKS SIGNIFICANTLY.

6% INCREASED RISK FOR MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH IN THE SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWING THE TIME CHANGE.

AND OF COURSE WE CHANGE TIMES TWICE PER YEAR, IT'S REALLY THE SPRINGING FORWARD THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCREASED RISKS BECAUSE IN THE FALL BY CONTRAST WE GAIN AN ADDITIONAL HOUR OF SLEEP.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE IDEA OF DOING AWAY WITH THIS?

>> THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO PROCEED.

THE FIRST COULD BE TO ADOPT A PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME APPROACH PROPOSED IN CONGRESS WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS OR ADOPT A PERMANENT STANDARD TIME APPROACH.

THE COALITION FOR STANDARD TIME ADVOCATES ADOPTING A PERMANENT STANDARD APPROACH AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT SLEEP, INSOMNIA RELATED PROBLEMS CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIVE QUESTIONS@MPT.ORG.

YOU SAID A THIRD OF PEOPLE ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED?

>> THE AVERAGE U.S.

ADULT IS SIGNIFICANTLY AT RISK FOR INSUFFICIENT SLEEP OR WHAT WE CALL CHRONIC SLEEP DISORDER.

YOU ASKED ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND THE TWO MOST COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS WE SEE IN OUR CLINICAL PRACTICE AS WELL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UMM SYSTEM ARE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA, A DISORDER OF BREATHING DURING SLEEP.

ONE WAY TO THINK IT'S SEVERE SNORING OR CHRONIC INSOMNIA BY CONTRAST IS DIFFICULTY FALLING ASLEEP OR STAYING ASLEEP.

AND BOTH OF THESE DISORDERS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A NUMBER OF DAYTIME SYMPTOMS AS WELL AS LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS.

>> Jeff: WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.

LET'S GO TO PHONES TO CALVERT COUNTY.

THIS IS SUE.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> HI.

THIS IS SUE FROM CALVERT COUNTY.

I'M CALLING BECAUSE I'M 70 YEARS OLD AND SORT OF STARTING TO HAVE GERIATRIC SLEEP PROBLEMS IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING THAT BIDEN DISCUSSED RECENTLY.

THE SLEEP APNEA AND WAKING AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND I KNOW THEY CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH AGING AND VARIOUS SLEEP PROBLEMS.

SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE INSOMNIA TYPE PROBLEMS THAT GERIATRIC PATIENTS MIGHT HAVE.

>> Jeff: THANKS FOR THE CALL AND GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

ARE THINGS LIKE THAT GETTING OLDER.

>> .

>> THERE ARE CHANGES AS WE AGE.

THE CALLER WILL BE INTERESTED TO KNOW INSUFFICIENT AND DISTURBED SLEEP INCREASE RISK FOR A NUMBER OF AGE RELATED CONSEQUENCES.

NOT ONLY BETTER KNOWN CONSEQUENCES LIKE DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK BUT ALSO PRESENT AN INCREASED RISK FOR DEMENTIA AND COGNITIVE DECLINE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STUDIES THAT STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT CLINICAL SLEEP DISORDERS AND SLEEP DURATION INCREASE RISK FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

>> Jeff: SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE OF WORK THEIR SHIFT WORKERS THEY WILL HAVE PROBLEMS IT'S TOUGH.

I'VE BEEN THERE TO ADJUST TO A DIFFERENT SHIFT AND THEN ADJUST BACK.

BUT YOU IF ARE NOT IN THAT BOAT, GIVE US GOOD ADVICE.

>> I WILL BE HAPPY TO.

BUT I WANT TO BUILD ON SOMETHING THAT YOU MENTIONED.

BECAUSE FOR ONE WEEK EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES IS A SHUFT WORKER OR FOR AT LEAST A FEW DAYS BY HAVING THIS SUBTLE ONE-HOUR SHIFT, AGAIN IN A POPULATION LEVEL THIS IS HOW WE END UP SLEEP DEPRIVED AND WHERE THOSE RISKS REALLY COME FROM.

DEEP INSIDE OUR BRAIN BETWEEN OUR THIRD EYE AND TEMPLE THERE IS A SPECIFIC AND WELL-KNOWN BUNDLE OF CELLS THAT REGULATES IN PART WHAT IS CALLED OUR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM.

IT'S ABOUT A DAY.

OUR INTERNAL BODY CLOCKS FUNCTION ON A 24.2 HOUR CYCLE AND THIS IS VERY PRECISELY AND FINALLY TUNED.

WE HAVE EVOLVED TO BE AWAKE DURING THE DAY AND ASLEEP AT NIGHT.

YOU WILL NOTICE THINGS LIKE LEARNING ABILITY, SEX DRIVE, WHEN WE EVEN FEEL THE NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM OR HUNGRY THESE ALL FOLLOW A SPECIFIC BIOLOGICAL RHYTHM.

AND A ONE-HOUR SHIFT AT A POPULATION LEVEL LEADS TO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASED RISK.

NOW, EARLIER YOU ASKED ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO IN TERMS OF GETTING RID OF THE BACK AND FORTH?

AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT OUR CONVERSATION ON THE DRIVE OVER THIS EVENING.

THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS.

ONE IS STAY WHERE WE ARE WITH A DAYLIGHT SAVINGS SHIFT TWICE A YEAR.

TWO ADOPT A PERMANENT DAYLIGHT APPROACH AND THREE WOULD BE TO ADOPT A PERMANENT STANDARD APPROACH.

AND BY FAR FROM A SCIENTIFIC AND HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, ADOPTING A PERMANENT DAYLIGHT APPROACH IS THE WORST OF THOSE OPTIONS.

AGAIN, FROM A SCIENTIFIC AND HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

THE REASON IS THAT ALTHOUGH MANY OF US ENJOY THE EXTRA HOUR OUTDOORS ON THE BACK PORCH IN THE SUMMERTIME, IN THE WINTERTIME THAT COMES THE A ONE-HOUR COST.

AND HISTORY DOESN'T REPEAT ITSELF BUT IT RHYMES.

AND WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE.

IN FACT, IN 1973, CONGRESS ENACTED A TWO-YEAR TRIAL PERIOD OF PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.

AND IT ONLY LASTED EIGHT MONTHS.

IT WAS SUCH A FAILURE.

>> Jeff: FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT, WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES TO MAKE IT GO MORE SMOOTHLY.

IS IT I READ ONE IDEA YOU ADJUST YOUR MEALTIME BY 10 OR 15 MINUTES IN THE PRIOR WEEK WOULD THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE EXACT SAME STRATEGIES THAT WE WOULD USE IN FLYING TO AUSTRALIA.

AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.

REALLY THREE THINGS.

FIRST, GET MORE SLEEP.

WE KNOW THAT SLEEP BANKING OR OVER SLEEPING IN THE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE TRANSITION CAN HELP MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP LOSS.

NUMBER ONE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE WELL SLEPT.

NUMBER TWO, BEGIN TO FOCUS ON THOSE CIRCADIAN FACTORS OVER THE THREE NIGHTS PRIOR TO SUNDAY, GO TO BED 20 MINUTES EARLIER FOR EXAMPLE.

SO THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SLEEP A TOTAL OF AN HOUR EARLIER OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS TO SOFTEN THE BLOW OF THAT HOUR.

AND THE THIRD THING IS BE CAREFUL ON MONDAY.

WE TELL ALL OUR PATIENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND PHYSICIANS DO IT EVERYWHERE, ALIVE, SAFE, HEALTHY, HAPPY.

AND THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK FOR MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH.

THERE WILL BE DROWSY DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

BE VERY, VERY SAFE ON MONDAY AND THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO TELEWORK IF YOU HAVE THE OPTION.

>> Jeff: THIS IS TONY THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> MOST OF THE DATA YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT REGARDS PEOPLE IN THE TESTIMONY POUR RAT ZONES, AS YOU GO NORTH, THE DAYS GET LONGER AND SHORTER IN THE WINTER.

HAS THERE BEEN DATA ON CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS WAY NORTH AND WAY SOUTH?

>> IT IS.

IT IS AN ASTUTE QUESTION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

THANKS, I APPRECIATE THAT.

AS WE MOVE FARTHER NORTH THE EFFECTS ARE WORSE.

FOR EXAMPLE IN NEW YORK CITY, IF WE WERE TO ADOPT PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME WHICH WAS RECENTLY PROPOSED, AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL, AND HAS BEEN COMBATED OR ACTIVELY BEING COMBATED BY OVER 20 PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE AND OTHERS IN MONTANA FOR EXAMPLE SUNRISE WOULD HAPPEN AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING.

SO FOR ALL YOU PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, DO YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN WAITING AT THE BUS STOP IN THE PITCH DARK UNTIL IT'S 9:30 IN THE MORNING?

MANY OF US SO I UNDERSTAND, HAVE BEEN A FEW MINUTES BEHIND ON THE WAY TO WORK.

AND MAYBE YOU ARE DRIVING TRYING TO MAKEUP THAT TIME.

AND WE REALLY FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE PROBABLY DON'T WANT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN STANDING OUTSIDE AT THE BUS STOP IN THE PITCH DARK.

>> Jeff: I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF PEOPLE NATIVES OF ALASKA SAY FAIRBANKS WHERE YOU WILL HAVE THREE OR FOUR HOURS OF DAYLIGHT IN THE WINTER.

ARE THERE SLEEP HABITS DIFFERENT?

HAVE THEY EVOLVED DIFFERENTLY?

AND THE SUMMER CONVERSELY YOU WILL HAVE 20 SOME HOURS OF DAYLIGHT.

DO THEY STAY AWAKE AND SLEEP LITTLE.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I WILL LOOK UP TONIGHT IN THERE ARE DATA ON ALASKA SPECIFIC SLEEP HABITS.

HAVING BEEN TO ALASKA ONCE AND GO FOR A RUN AT 2:00 A.M. BECAUSE IT WAS PERFECTLY DUSK LIKE OUTSIDE IT IS A FASCINATING QUESTION.

>> Jeff: YOU WERE TELLING ME THERE ARE NO CREATURES THAT DON'T SLEEP.

AN YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE AN EVOLUTIONARY ADVANTAGE IF YOU ARE THE PREDATOR WORKING 24/7, SO SLEEP IS CRITICAL, IT'S HARDWIRED FOR ALL OF US.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHY?

>> WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

BUT WITHIN THE PAST 10 YEARS, SCIENTIFIC DATA EMERGED FIRST IN ANIMALS AND IN HUMANS.

THAT SLOW WAVE SLEEP THE EARLIEST MOST RESTORATIVE STAGES OF SLEEP IN PARTICULAR ARE WHEN THE CELLS IN OUR BRAIN CLEANSE THEMSELVES AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM A COGNITIVE DECLINE PERSPECTIVE.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED CONNECTION TO DEMENTIA BEFORE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE HYPOTHESIS THAT IS BEING EXAMINED IN MULTIPLE STUDIES IN MANY POPULATIONS CURRENTLY, IS THAT WHAT WE CALL GLEM FATTIC CLEARANCE ON THE ABILITY OF CELLS TO RELEASE THEIR TOXINS THE SAME WAY THAT THE PLAQUE ACCUMULATES AND INCREASES CARDIOVASCULAR RISK THERE ARE TOXINS THAT ACCUMULATE IN THE BRAIN AND INCREASE DEMENTIA RISK.

AND THOSE TOXINS ARE CLEARED DURING SLOW WAVE SLEEP.

>> Jeff: ANOTHER REASON TO HELP EVERYBODY WATCHING GET A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP.

HOW DO WE DO THAT IF SOMEBODY IS HAVING A PROBLEM, YOU GO TO A MATTRESS STORE THEY WILL TELL YOU YOU NEED A NEW MATTRESS.

DO YOU NEED A NEW MATTRESS?

>> NOT NECESSARILY BUT IT CAN'T HURT.

YOU WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE CERTAINLY AND BEDDING IS AN EASY PLACE TO START.

THE FOUR TAKE HOME MESSAGES THAT I OFFER TO OUR READERS IS THAT YOU YOUR BEDROOM ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE COOL, IT SHOULD BE DARK, IT SHOULD BE QUIET AND IT SHOULD BE UNCLUTTERED ALMOST A SACRED SPACE FOR SLEEP.

AND JUST THE SAME WAY THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR FAITH BACKGROUND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU ENTER ADD SACRED SPACE THERE IS A RITUAL A MOSQUE OR A SYNAGOGUE OR A CHURCH FOR THAT MATTER.

WE WANT TO CREATE A RITUAL THROUGH WHICH WE ENTER OUR SLEEP ENVIRONMENT.

AND IF YOU WOULDN'T BE GLUED TO YOUR iPAD OR CELLPHONE WHEN YOU ARE AT MASS OR SYNAGOGUE AND SO FORTH YOU SHOULDN'T BE GLUED TO YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICE WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR BED.

>> Jeff: VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW ARE NAPS GOOD OR BAD?

>> IT DEPENDS WHY WE NAP.

THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT AN OLDER ADULTS INCREASED NAPPING INCREASES RISK FOR DEMENTIA FOR EXAMPLE.

HOWEVER, IN HEALTHY SLEEPERS NAPS ARE WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEY ARE ENJOYABLE THEY IMPROVE COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE.

ALL OF US WHO ARE WORKING WOULD HAVE A PRODUCTIVE AFTERNOON IF WE TOOK A BRIEF SIESTA.

>> Jeff: WHAT IMPACT WILL AI ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAVE ON SLEEP SCORING?

WILL IT BROADEN THE AVAILABILITY OF SLEEP MEDICINE SCREENING, SPECIALIST TREATMENTS IMPACT ON INEQUITY AND SO FORTH?

IS YOUR PROFESSION LOOKING AT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

>> WE ARE AS OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND WE COULD HAVE A CHAT ONLY ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SLEEP MEDICINE.

ONE OF THE PROMISES OF AI IN SLEEP WE CAN MAKE EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENTS AVAILABLE TO ALL.

>> Jeff: WHAT ABOUT MEDICATIONS?

EITHER TAKING A SLEEP AID THAT YOU GET AT THE DRUGSTORE I'M SURE THERE'S PRESCRIPTION STUFF WE COULD TALK ABOUT TAKING A PILL THAT MIGHT HAVE DROWSINESS AS A SIDE EFFECT OR OTHER THINGS PEOPLE DO HAVING A GLASS OF WINE OR NOW THAT CANNABIS IS LEGAL, DOING THAT?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ALCOHOL EXAMPLE FIRST.

IT'S BAD.

AND THE REASON IS ALCOHOL DECREASES SLEEP LATENCY IT HELPS YOU FALL ASLEEP FASTER NO QUESTION.

BUT AFTER YOU FALL ASLEEP EVERYTHING ELSE THAT ALCOHOL DOES IS BAD.

ALCOHOL INCREASES THE RELAXATION OR DECREASES THE PAY TENDENCY OF THE MUSCLES IN THE UPPER AIRWAY.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SNORING AND SLEEP APNEA ALCOHOL ALONE WILL CAUSE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA IN PATIENTS THAT DON'T HAVE IT.

THE OTHER THING THAT ALCOHOL DOES AND THIS IS PARTIALLY WHY WE MIGHT FEEL HUNG OVER OR TIRED THE NEXT DAY IT CHANGES OUR SLEEP ARCHITECTURE.

WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT GLEM FATTIC CLEARANCE AND ALCOHOL CHANGES THE WAY OUR BRAIN OSCILLATES IN AND OUT OF DIFFERENT STAGES OF SLEEP.

>> Jeff: YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING A RITUAL AS IF YOU WERE GOING INTO A CHURCH WHEN YOU GO INTO THE BEDROOM TO SLEEP.

HOW ABOUT A MENTAL RITUAL.

YOU PUT YOUR HEAD ON THE PILLOW WHAT SHOULD BE GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

PROBABLY NOT WHAT ANNOYANCES HAPPENED DURING THE DAY?

>> JEFF WHAT YOU DESCRIBED IS SO COMMON IN ALL THE PATIENTS WE SEE.

THE IDEA IS I AM GOING TO GET IN BED AND GET READY TO GO TO SLEEP THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I'M GOING TO GET IN BED AND THEN I WILL GET READY TO GO TO SLEEP.

WHAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO DO IS SWAP THAT ORDER.

FIRST, I'M GOING TO GET READY TO SLEEP AND ONLY WHEN I'M CONFIDENCE THAT I'M READY TO SLEEP DO I GET IN BED.

WHAT SHOULD BE GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND IS ABSOLUTELY ZERO.

>> Jeff: HOUR BRAINS ARE NOT WIRED THAT WAY.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS BUT YOU NEED TO RELAX?

>> BEFORE YOU GET IN BED.

THE IDEA IS I WANT TO GAIN REPETITIONS, PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT.

I WANT TO PRACTICE GETTING IN BED AND FALLING ASLEEP QUICKLY.

GETTING IN BED AND FALLING ASLEEP QUICKLY.

STEP NUMBER ONE GET READY FOR SLEEP.

STEP NUMBER TWO, ONLY GET IN BED WHEN YOU ARE AUTO HIGHLY CONFIDENT THAT YOU ARE READY TO SLEEP.

>> >> Jeff: Dr. EMERSON WICKWIRE, PHD.

SLEEP SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THANK YOU.

>> A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Jeff: THE SUPREME COURT TODAY QUASHED A MOVE TO KEEP DONALD TRUMP OFF PRESIDENTIAL BALLOTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION'S INSURRECTION CLAUSE.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH MARK GRABER REGION EBTS -- REGENTS PROFESSOR AT THE MARYLAND CARRY SCHOOL OF LAW.

LET'S START WITH THE OPINION.

PROFESSOR WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THE OPINION TODAY THAT SURPRISED YOU?

>> I THINK THIS WAS THE OPINION THAT MOST EXPERTS THOUGHT WAS COMING DOWN BASED ON THE QUESTION.

THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED IN THE ORAL ARGUMENTS THAT CONGRESS HAD TO PROVIDE RULES FOR DISQUALIFYING FEDERAL OFFICES.

MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] BUT THAT.

>> Jeff: ANYTHING ABOUT THE MANNER OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY?

NOT FROM THE BENCH THAT SURPRISED YOU?

>> I WAS SURPRISED THEY DIDN'T SIT IN COURT AND SAY THINGS.

I THINK AS BOTH THE BARRETT AND THE OTHER CONCURRING OPINION THAT THERE WAS SOME DISSENT ON THE COURT.

THEY WERE WORRIED THAT PEOPLE MIGHT GET ANGRY WITH EACH OTHER AND BETTER NOT TO WASH THE DIRTY LAUNDRY IN PUBLIC.

>> Jeff: I THINK MANY PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING A PARTISAN DECISION SIX REPUBLICAN APPOINTEES AND THREE DEMOCRATIC APPOINTEES.

BUT IT WAS NOT 6-3.

BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE NUANCED THAN THAT.

EXPLAIN WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC APPOINTEES WERE THINKING?

>> WELL, WHAT THE MORE LIBERAL MEMBERS OF THE COURT SAID WAS YES STATES CAN DISQUALIFY AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, BUT THAT IS ALL THE COURT NEEDED TO SAY.

THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT CONGRESS COULD DO.

THEY DIDN'T NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A LAWSUIT FROM A COURT.

THEY COULD HAVE JUST SIMPLY SAID COLORADO CANNOT DISQUALIFY ABSENT A FEDERAL STATUTE.

>> Jeff: NOR DID THEY MAKE ANY RULING ON THE LOWER COURT DECISION IN COLORADO THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD IN FACT PARTICIPATED IN AN INSURRECTION.

>> WELL, THEY LET THAT ONE IN SOME SENSE STAND.

THIS IS THE INTERESTING FEATURE THAT THREE JUSTICES CALLED TRUMAN OATH BREAKING INSURRECTIONIST AND NO JUSTICE THOUGHT THE NEED TO DENY IT.

>> SO THEY HAVE BASICALLY PUNTED IT TO CONGRESS WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE SORT OF IN CONTROL OF THE SENATE AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE KIND OF SORT OF IN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

AND ALMOST CERTAINLY NOTHING WILL BE DONE ON THIS?

>> I GATHER THERE'S SOME LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO BE INTRODUCED TOMORROW, BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE CROSSOVER APPEAL TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND AS YOU POINTED OUT THAT IS RATHER DOUBTFUL.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE COURT TAKING UP THE OTHER TRUMP APPEAL OF THE IMMUNITY CLAIM THAT HE IS PURSUING IN I GUESS ONE OF THE CRIMINAL CASES AND BY TAKING UP THE APPEAL, WHICH I THINK WAS A DECISION BY A UNANIMOUS MAYBE A PARTIAL UNANIMOUS APPELLATE COURT, CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS THAT BY DOING SO THE SUPREME COURT HAS ESSENTIALLY GRANTED TRUMP A DELAY IN THE TRIAL.

>> WELL, TRUMP'S STRATEGY IS TO DELAY AGAIN WHEN YOU CALL DONALD TRUMP A CRIMINAL HE SAYS MY INNOCENCE IS IRRELEVANT.

THERE ARE PROCEDURAL REASONS THE GOAL HERE IS TO DELAY, IF TRUMP IS ELECTED PRESIDENT AND HE WILL PARDON HIMSELF OR FIND REASONS WHY A STATE CAN'T CONVICT HIM.

ONE MIGHT SAY THE ISSUE IS SERIOUS.

THE SUPREME COURT OUGHT TO TAKE IT UP.

IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO SEE HOW EXPEDITED THE SUPREME COURT DECIDES THIS RULING SHALL BE.

THE PENTAGON PAPERS THEY TOOK IT UP AND THEY DECIDED LIKE THE WEEK LATER.

WILL THEY DO IT FOR THIS ONE?

>> Jeff: WELL THEY'VE SET THE DEADLINE FOR APRIL NOT MARCH, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

THAT IS INTERESTING AS WELL.

ALL WE CAN DO ON THIS IS WAIT FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Jeff: AND ON THE MERITS OF THE ARGUMENT THERE?

>> WELL, NOBODY I'M AT A CONFERENCE NOW WITH ACADEMICS OF ALL STRIPES POLITICAL PERSUASIONS AND NOBODY THINKS THERE'S MUCH IN THE MERITS.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CASES NOBODY THINKS THERE'S MUCH IN THE MERITS WHERE THE SUPREME COURT SURPRISED US.

>> Jeff: REGENTS PROFESSOR MARK GRABER JOINING US FROM A LAW CONFERENCE SOMEWHERE IN THE HINTTER LANDS, RIGHT?

>> OKLAHOMA.

SAM NOBLE MUSEUM IN MUSEUM.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL MUSEUM IF YOU COME OUT HERE.

>> Jeff: THANKS FOR MAKING A FEW MINUTES FOR US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: THE CIAA TOURNAMENT WRAPPED UP THIS WEEKEND.

CHARLES ROBINSON WAS THERE.

[*] >> Reporter: WELCOME TO THE CIAA TOURNAMENT.

>> I CAME BECAUSE OF MY SON.

BUT ALSO I LOVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

I LOVE BALTIMORE AND I LOVE THE FOOD.

>> EVERYBODY THIS IS GOVERNOR MOORE IN MARYLAND AND WELCOME TO THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

>> THE HBCU BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IS BECOMING A FAN FAVORITE AND A PLACE TO BE SEEN.

WHO KNEW THAT DION SANDERS SON PLAYS QUARTERBACK FOR COLORADO WAS A FAN.

AND GETTING TO DANCE WITH AN R&B STAR, WELL, THAT'S PRICELESS.

SO THIS IS THE CIAA TOURNAMENT AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BASKETBALL.

IT'S ABOUT THE BANDS, IT'S ABOUT THE CHEERLEADERS, AND, OF COURSE, IT'S ABOUT THE FANS.

>> TO SUPPORT THE KIDS IN A NICE ATMOSPHERE.

>> I'VE BEEN COMING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A JOY EVERY YEAR.

I LOVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THE HISTORY IS RICH.

>> THIS CONFERENCE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR $30 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OVER 40,000 FANS ARE COMING TO BALTIMORE FOR THIS CONFERENCE OVER 1500 PEOPLE WILL BE EMPLOYED BECAUSE OF THE CIAA.

AS I GOVERNOR I LIKE THOSE NUMBERS.

>> THE WINNERS FOR THE WOMEN WERE FAYETTEVILLE STATE AND LINCOLN UNIVERSITY FOR THE MEN.

BUT REAL WINNERS WERE THE HUNDREDS WHO SAW BASKETBALL AT ITS BEST.

FOR POTENTIAL STUDENTS IT'S THE EXPOSURE OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

IN BALTIMORE I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> Jeff: FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THE CIAA.COM.

>> AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE".

THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS ON-LINE AT VIDEO.MPT.TV.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT I'M JEFF SALKIN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.