Detecting language using up to the first 30 seconds. Use `--language` to specify the language
Detected language: English
[00:00.000 --> 00:03.000]  they need to build a future of unlimited possibilities.
[00:03.000 --> 00:16.880]  Good evening and welcome.
[00:16.880 --> 00:17.880]  I'm Amna Nawaz.
[00:17.880 --> 00:19.080]  Judy Woodruff is away.
[00:19.080 --> 00:21.320]  On the NewsHour tonight, a verdict.
[00:21.320 --> 00:26.760]  A jury orders conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay the families of the Sandy Hook massacre
[00:26.760 --> 00:29.760]  nearly $1 billion in damages.
[00:29.760 --> 00:34.880]  In the Saudi connection, the United States reevaluates its relationship with the kingdom
[00:34.880 --> 00:39.440]  over a cut in oil production that's pushing up gas prices.
[00:39.440 --> 00:41.280]  And first-time voters.
[00:41.280 --> 00:46.440]  Young adults in Wisconsin discuss their hopes for the country's future and whether politicians
[00:46.440 --> 00:48.920]  are listening to their concerns.
[00:48.920 --> 00:52.400]  I've been very politically engaged throughout high school, and I'm excited to get my foot
[00:52.400 --> 00:55.600]  in the door and actually have a voice in my government.
[00:55.600 --> 01:09.600]  All that and more on tonight's PBS NewsHour.
[01:09.600 --> 01:27.640]  Major funding for the PBS NewsHour has been provided by...
[01:27.640 --> 01:44.560]  Moving our economy for 160 years, BNSF, the engine that connects us.
[01:44.560 --> 01:52.480]  Pediatric surgeon, volunteer, topiary artist, a Raymond James financial advisor, Taylor's
[01:52.480 --> 01:56.480]  advice to help you live your life.
[01:56.480 --> 01:57.480]  Well-planned.
[01:57.480 --> 02:08.320]  The Walton Family Foundation, working for solutions to protect water during climate
[02:08.320 --> 02:15.000]  change so people and nature can thrive together.
[02:15.000 --> 02:18.000]  Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
[02:18.000 --> 02:22.520]  Committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world.
[02:22.520 --> 02:36.760]  More information at MacFound.org and with the ongoing support of these institutions.
[02:36.760 --> 02:41.560]  This program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by contributions
[02:41.560 --> 02:45.560]  to your PBS station from viewers like you.
[02:45.560 --> 02:49.440]  Thank you.
[02:49.440 --> 02:55.360]  A jury in Connecticut has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay nearly $1 billion
[02:55.360 --> 02:57.480]  in damages for defamation.
[02:57.480 --> 03:02.400]  The host of the Info War show had claimed the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre was a
[03:02.400 --> 03:03.400]  hoax.
[03:03.400 --> 03:08.520]  Relatives of eight of the 26 victims and an FBI agent brought the suit.
[03:08.520 --> 03:12.440]  They said today's verdict is a hard-fought victory.
[03:12.440 --> 03:17.880]  All I can really say is that I'm just proud that what we were able to accomplish was just
[03:17.880 --> 03:26.200]  to simply tell the truth and it shouldn't be this hard and it shouldn't be this scary.
[03:26.200 --> 03:30.800]  I shouldn't have to worry about what my daughters are going to go through when I tell them that
[03:30.800 --> 03:33.320]  it's best that they just tell the truth.
[03:33.320 --> 03:38.840]  Jones already faced a $50 million penalty that a Texas jury imposed in August.
[03:38.840 --> 03:41.440]  We'll return to this story later in the program.
[03:41.440 --> 03:45.940]  A jury in South Florida has begun deliberating on whether Parkland school shooter Nicholas
[03:45.940 --> 03:48.240]  Cruz will be sentenced to death.
[03:48.240 --> 03:52.800]  Cruz already pleaded guilty to killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
[03:52.800 --> 03:54.240]  in 2018.
[03:54.240 --> 03:56.080]  He's now 24 years old.
[03:56.080 --> 04:00.080]  The defense is asking for life in prison without parole.
[04:00.080 --> 04:04.800]  In Ukraine, seven more people were killed today as Russia fired more missiles, drones
[04:04.800 --> 04:07.760]  and artillery rounds into major cities.
[04:07.760 --> 04:12.560]  In all, the new Russian offensive has killed at least 26 people since Monday.
[04:12.560 --> 04:17.880]  The latest attacks came as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other NATO defense ministers
[04:17.880 --> 04:22.120]  met in Brussels on bolstering Ukraine's weapons supply.
[04:22.120 --> 04:27.440]  And that resolve has only been heightened by the deliberate cruelty of Russia's new
[04:27.440 --> 04:32.560]  barrage against Ukraine's cities.
[04:32.560 --> 04:39.640]  Those assaults on targets with no military purpose again reveal the malice of Putin's
[04:39.640 --> 04:41.460]  war of choice.
[04:41.460 --> 04:45.940]  Russian fire also knocked out power to the Zaporizhia nuclear plant for the second time
[04:45.940 --> 04:47.640]  in five days.
[04:47.640 --> 04:53.080]  And at the United Nations, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia's attempt
[04:53.080 --> 04:55.560]  to annex more of Ukraine.
[04:55.560 --> 05:00.000]  Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is set to resume natural gas deliveries to
[05:00.000 --> 05:01.000]  Europe.
[05:01.000 --> 05:05.540]  He said today that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany could still be used, despite being
[05:05.540 --> 05:08.160]  damaged by explosions last month.
[05:08.160 --> 05:12.880]  Germany quickly rejected the offer as another attempt to renew Europe's dependence on Russian
[05:12.880 --> 05:14.040]  energy.
[05:14.040 --> 05:19.400]  New protests swept Iran today, despite heavy police presence and an Internet outage that
[05:19.400 --> 05:21.080]  hindered communications.
[05:21.080 --> 05:27.280]  Demonstrators rallied in at least 19 cities over the death of Massa Amini in police custody.
[05:27.280 --> 05:31.760]  Women marched in the streets, defiantly removing their mandatory hijabs.
[05:31.760 --> 05:36.440]  In Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei blamed foreign elements for the unrest.
[05:36.440 --> 05:39.880]  AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, Supreme Leader of Tehran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Some are
[05:39.880 --> 05:43.120]  either agents of the enemy, or they are aligned with the enemy.
[05:43.120 --> 05:44.560]  Others are just excited.
[05:44.560 --> 05:48.360]  The first group must be dealt with by judicial and national security officials.
[05:48.360 --> 05:51.480]  AMNA NAWAZ, PBS NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT The regime has carried out a violent crackdown
[05:51.480 --> 05:52.520]  on the protests.
[05:52.520 --> 05:57.760]  One human rights group estimated today that at least 200 people have been killed.
[05:57.760 --> 06:01.920]  Back in this country, the former head of the Los Angeles City Council has resigned her
[06:01.920 --> 06:05.120]  council seat over racist remarks that were leaked.
[06:05.120 --> 06:09.280]  Nuri Martinez had already stepped down from her post as council president.
[06:09.280 --> 06:13.320]  On the leaked recording, Martinez and two other council members talked about protecting
[06:13.320 --> 06:17.400]  Latino voting power and made abusive remarks about other groups.
[06:17.400 --> 06:21.400]  The California attorney general has announced he will look into the process for drawing
[06:21.400 --> 06:23.640]  new council districts.
[06:23.640 --> 06:28.160]  Former President Trump was ordered today to give a deposition in a defamation lawsuit.
[06:28.160 --> 06:30.680]  A federal judge issued the order in New York.
[06:30.680 --> 06:35.520]  Advice columnist E. Jean Carroll says Mr. Trump defamed her when he denied raping her
[06:35.520 --> 06:39.160]  in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
[06:39.160 --> 06:43.880]  The former president's legal team has repeatedly tried to quash the lawsuit.
[06:43.880 --> 06:50.040]  The CDC today approved updated COVID-19 booster shots for children as young as 5 years old.
[06:50.040 --> 06:55.000]  The latest Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are tailored to better provide protection against
[06:55.000 --> 06:57.760]  the highly contagious Omicron variant.
[06:57.760 --> 07:03.640]  CDC approval came hours after the FDA authorized the boosters for the younger age group.
[07:03.640 --> 07:08.240]  And on Wall Street today, stocks ended slightly lower after news that wholesale inflation
[07:08.240 --> 07:12.200]  rose 8.5 percent in September from a year earlier.
[07:12.200 --> 07:17.440]  The Dow Jones industrial average lost 28 points to close at 29210.
[07:17.440 --> 07:22.040]  The Nasdaq fell nine points, and the S&P 500 slipped 11.
[07:22.040 --> 07:27.520]  Still to come on the NewsHour, President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan faces legal
[07:27.520 --> 07:29.160]  challenges.
[07:29.160 --> 07:33.680]  Reporters across the country share the latest on the races that could decide control of
[07:33.680 --> 07:50.160]  Congress, plus much more.
[07:50.160 --> 07:55.600]  As we reported, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to pay nearly $1 billion,
[07:55.600 --> 08:00.720]  $965 million, to be exact, for the lies he spread about the Sandy Hook Elementary School
[08:00.720 --> 08:03.000]  massacre in 2012.
[08:03.000 --> 08:07.480]  Jones had falsely claimed the attack that left more than two dozen people dead, including
[08:07.480 --> 08:13.160]  20 children, was a hoax, and accused a grieving parent of being an actor in the days after
[08:13.160 --> 08:14.160]  the murders.
[08:14.160 --> 08:19.320]  A Texas jury awarded nearly $50 million in a separate damages trial this summer, and
[08:19.320 --> 08:23.460]  Jones likely faces yet another trial before the year is up.
[08:23.460 --> 08:27.980]  For some perspective on the scope of this award and what happens now, we turn to Jesse
[08:27.980 --> 08:28.980]  Gessen.
[08:28.980 --> 08:33.880]  He's a trial lawyer in California who works on both civil and criminal cases.
[08:33.880 --> 08:35.840]  Mr. Gessen, welcome to the NewsHour.
[08:35.840 --> 08:36.920]  Thank you for joining us.
[08:36.920 --> 08:40.000]  Let's just start with some context on this verdict.
[08:40.000 --> 08:41.960]  It is an enormous amount of money.
[08:41.960 --> 08:45.080]  What did you think when you heard the damages being awarded?
[08:45.080 --> 08:46.080]  Wow.
[08:46.080 --> 08:52.400]  Quite frankly, it's probably one of the largest defamation verdicts in U.S. history.
[08:52.400 --> 08:57.880]  Also, it's compensatory, meaning that there's still going to be punitive damages, which
[08:57.880 --> 09:05.760]  could be up to 10 times as much under the United States Constitution.
[09:05.760 --> 09:12.660]  We're going to see probably this verdict at least, I would say at least double or triple
[09:12.660 --> 09:14.740]  or maybe even up to 10 times more.
[09:14.740 --> 09:19.040]  For anyone following the trial, I mean, it was an incredibly emotional trial, emotional
[09:19.040 --> 09:23.200]  testimony from the parents who've lost their children in the most horrific way.
[09:23.200 --> 09:28.040]  Does that, do you think, did that play a role in the size of the verdict that was eventually
[09:28.040 --> 09:29.040]  awarded?
[09:29.040 --> 09:30.040]  Assuredly.
[09:30.040 --> 09:35.440]  This jury, this verdict says two things.
[09:35.440 --> 09:44.620]  Number one, it says we hate Alex Jones and number two, that we are inflamed and we feel
[09:44.620 --> 09:49.000]  that these parents have lost something very, very, very special to them and we're going
[09:49.000 --> 09:53.840]  to do our best to give it back to them with our verdict.
[09:53.840 --> 09:59.820]  We should point out earlier this year, Infowars and its parent company did file for bankruptcy
[09:59.820 --> 10:01.320]  protections.
[10:01.320 --> 10:06.480]  What kind of impact could that have on the amount that's actually paid out?
[10:06.480 --> 10:13.520]  Well, the verdict is against Alex Jones and the company.
[10:13.520 --> 10:18.160]  And so Alex Jones may end up filing for bankruptcy protection as well.
[10:18.160 --> 10:29.760]  His estimated net worth is anywhere between $135 to $270 million.
[10:29.760 --> 10:32.120]  So he may declare bankruptcy as well.
[10:32.120 --> 10:37.080]  But it is certainly possible that this verdict and the Texas verdict could be swept up into
[10:37.080 --> 10:43.480]  the bankruptcy and significantly decreased under U.S. bankruptcy law.
[10:43.480 --> 10:47.220]  You mentioned that Texas verdict and I want to get your analysis on the difference you
[10:47.220 --> 10:52.600]  see between that Texas verdict that was around $50 million and was eventually knocked down
[10:52.600 --> 10:57.540]  because of state limits on those kinds of awards and the damages we saw awarded today.
[10:57.540 --> 11:03.540]  How do you see the difference between what unfolded in Texas and what happened in Connecticut?
[11:03.540 --> 11:11.600]  It's hard not to draw the inference that the two different jury pools are somewhat politically
[11:11.600 --> 11:13.760]  motivated.
[11:13.760 --> 11:17.400]  The compensatory damages in the Texas verdict was $4 million.
[11:17.400 --> 11:25.200]  The compensatory damages in the Connecticut verdict is $965 million.
[11:25.200 --> 11:31.000]  That's a $961 million difference in compensatory damages.
[11:31.000 --> 11:33.460]  We still have to see punitive damages in Connecticut.
[11:33.460 --> 11:39.120]  So the difference could be even far more striking.
[11:39.120 --> 11:48.320]  I think it's safe to say that the Connecticut verdict is a far more liberal jury pool and
[11:48.320 --> 11:52.040]  that had to have factored into their verdict.
[11:52.040 --> 11:56.140]  We should also point out we learned later today that Jones' lawyer has said they do
[11:56.140 --> 11:57.920]  plan to appeal.
[11:57.920 --> 12:03.160]  But Mr. Gesson, we should remind folks Mr. Jones was spreading these lies for years,
[12:03.160 --> 12:08.680]  right, saying that the whole attack was a hoax, that in some cases parents were responsible
[12:08.680 --> 12:11.360]  for the deaths of their own children.
[12:11.360 --> 12:14.000]  He's not alone in spreading some of these lies, though.
[12:14.000 --> 12:17.920]  And I wonder, as you look at this moment, what you think this verdict says in the way
[12:17.920 --> 12:24.200]  of a message it sends about the legal landscape surrounding holding those who spread misinformation
[12:24.200 --> 12:26.520]  accountable in some way.
[12:26.520 --> 12:37.000]  Well, if you're profiting off of conspiracy theories that are defamatory, that are obviously
[12:37.000 --> 12:39.800]  false, you need to watch yourself.
[12:39.800 --> 12:49.000]  And a litigant can prosper, clearly prosper, in two very separate forums.
[12:49.000 --> 12:56.120]  And I think that it sends a strong message to people that are making money on lies.
[12:56.120 --> 13:02.480]  And especially given that this isn't the end, we have the punitive damages verdict, and
[13:02.480 --> 13:06.040]  then we also have a third Sandy Hook lawsuit.
[13:06.040 --> 13:11.800]  So I think that it sends a strong message to people who are in the business of peddling
[13:11.800 --> 13:14.000]  conspiracies.
[13:14.000 --> 13:18.320]  That is Jesse Gesson, a trial attorney in California, joining us tonight.
[13:18.320 --> 13:21.400]  Mr. Gesson, thank you for your time.
[13:21.400 --> 13:27.600]  Thank you for having me.
[13:27.600 --> 13:39.200]  Well, relations between the White House and Saudi Arabia's ruling royal family are at
[13:39.200 --> 13:42.680]  a low point and may be set to dive even lower.
[13:42.680 --> 13:46.960]  From President Biden's fighting words on the campaign trail to recent Saudi-led cuts in
[13:46.960 --> 13:52.400]  global oil supplies, the status of the more than 75-year-old alliance is troubled.
[13:52.400 --> 13:56.480]  And many in the administration and on Capitol Hill want a reset.
[13:56.480 --> 13:58.080]  Jake Schifrin begins our coverage.
[13:58.080 --> 14:05.560]  One of the most colorful visits to the presidential cruiser was that of the ruler of Saudi Arabia.
[14:05.560 --> 14:10.000]  America's longest relationship with an Arab state began 77 years ago.
[14:10.000 --> 14:15.120]  Four-time elected U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and Ibn Saud, the warrior monarch
[14:15.120 --> 14:20.840]  backed by a fanatical clergy, created a fundamental agreement, American security in exchange for
[14:20.840 --> 14:21.840]  Saudi energy.
[14:21.840 --> 14:25.120]  But today, that agreement must be reexamined.
[14:25.120 --> 14:27.600]  President Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper last night.
[14:27.600 --> 14:31.600]  There's going to be some consequences for what they've done with Russia.
[14:31.600 --> 14:36.340]  What the Saudis did with fellow OPEC leader Russia is the largest oil production cut in
[14:36.340 --> 14:39.240]  more than two years over U.S. warnings.
[14:39.240 --> 14:43.160]  It was announced by OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghaith.
[14:43.160 --> 14:46.240]  We are not endangering the energy markets.
[14:46.240 --> 14:50.640]  We are providing security, stability to the energy markets.
[14:50.640 --> 14:54.480]  At a price?
[14:54.480 --> 14:55.960]  Everything has a price.
[14:55.960 --> 14:58.160]  Including the U.S.-Saudi relationship.
[14:58.160 --> 15:03.400]  In the 1970s, Saudi Arabia helped lead an oil embargo over U.S. support for Israel.
[15:03.400 --> 15:07.200]  You have declared a jihad against the United States.
[15:07.200 --> 15:09.080]  Can you tell us why?
[15:09.080 --> 15:13.900]  The kingdom claims it fights the fires of radicalism, but critics call it the arsonist.
[15:13.900 --> 15:19.840]  The Saudi Osama bin Laden sparked global attacks against the West and its Arab allies.
[15:19.840 --> 15:23.520]  Fifteen of 9-11 hijackers were Saudi.
[15:23.520 --> 15:28.600]  And decades of criticism of Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record crescendoed in 2018
[15:28.600 --> 15:33.240]  after journalist Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi Istanbul's consulate, was murdered
[15:33.240 --> 15:35.080]  and cut into pieces.
[15:35.080 --> 15:39.520]  The U.S. intelligence community assessed the operation was approved by the kingdom's powerful
[15:39.520 --> 15:43.040]  crown prince and future king, Mohammed bin Salman.
[15:43.040 --> 15:46.580]  The following year, candidate Joe Biden promised punishment.
[15:46.580 --> 15:51.600]  We were going to, in fact, make them pay the price and make them, in fact, the pariah that
[15:51.600 --> 15:52.600]  they are.
[15:52.600 --> 15:56.840]  But that proved to be a speed bump that preceded this year's fist bump.
[15:56.840 --> 16:01.080]  President Biden and his team worked with MBS in acknowledgment the kingdom has helped the
[16:01.080 --> 16:04.080]  U.S. for decades across continents.
[16:04.080 --> 16:09.440]  In the late 70s, Saudi Arabia provided crucial support for the Afghan Mujahideen to defeat
[16:09.440 --> 16:13.640]  the Soviet military and help collapse the Soviet Union.
[16:13.640 --> 16:19.080]  In the early 90s, Saudi Arabia invited the largest U.S. overseas deployment in decades.
[16:19.080 --> 16:24.160]  U.S. troops used the kingdom as a base to fight the Gulf War.
[16:24.160 --> 16:28.840]  After 9-11, the Bush administration held on to the alliance to cooperate on terrorism
[16:28.840 --> 16:32.080]  and target al-Qaeda.
[16:32.080 --> 16:36.480]  And in 2017, President Trump made Saudi Arabia his first overseas stop.
[16:36.480 --> 16:41.800]  Saudi Arabia and its allies helped shift U.S. regional policy.
[16:41.800 --> 16:46.840]  And Riyadh-Washington cooperation helped lead to the historic 2020 normalization agreements
[16:46.840 --> 16:50.160]  between Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE.
[16:50.160 --> 16:54.800]  Today the Biden administration is releasing our national security strategy.
[16:54.800 --> 16:59.520]  Today the U.S. acknowledges it's well aware that the relationship provides benefits.
[16:59.520 --> 17:04.240]  But the administration will review the relationship and consult lawmakers, including Democrats,
[17:04.240 --> 17:07.800]  who today called for a one-year block on weapons sales.
[17:07.800 --> 17:12.560]  Saudi Arabia has broken trust with America.
[17:12.560 --> 17:14.480]  And it needs to come to its senses.
[17:14.480 --> 17:18.200]  The U.S.-Saudi relationship has survived previous challenges.
[17:18.200 --> 17:21.720]  The administration says there's no timetable for its review.
[17:21.720 --> 17:25.040]  For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Nick Schifrin.
[17:25.040 --> 17:28.840]  Representative Ro Khanna of California is a member of the House Armed Services Committee
[17:28.840 --> 17:33.880]  and is spearheading the House version of that bill to end U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia
[17:33.880 --> 17:35.160]  for one year.
[17:35.160 --> 17:36.160]  He joins me now.
[17:36.160 --> 17:37.720]  Congressman, welcome back to the NewsHour.
[17:37.720 --> 17:38.940]  Thank you for joining us.
[17:38.940 --> 17:43.160]  You have said the U.S. needs to immediately halt those arms sales.
[17:43.160 --> 17:47.880]  We should note this has been proposed before and many times by many other people.
[17:47.880 --> 17:49.880]  It has never moved forward.
[17:49.880 --> 17:53.440]  Why do you think that this moment is different?
[17:53.440 --> 17:58.120]  This is a defining moment, just like the War Powers Resolution that stopped the refueling
[17:58.120 --> 18:04.240]  of the Saudi Plains that Senator Sanders and I let pass after Khashoggi's murder.
[18:04.240 --> 18:08.800]  This is another moment that has really outraged people on both sides of the aisle on Capitol
[18:08.800 --> 18:09.800]  Hill.
[18:09.800 --> 18:11.080]  It's Saudi Arabia's ingratitude.
[18:11.080 --> 18:14.480]  We provide them with 70-some percent of their arms.
[18:14.480 --> 18:21.200]  We stood up for them when Saddam Hussein was going to invade after Saddam had invaded Kuwait.
[18:21.200 --> 18:25.640]  And Saudi planes literally couldn't fly if it weren't for American technicians, yet they
[18:25.640 --> 18:31.080]  are fleecing the American public, making about $100 billion in 2022.
[18:31.080 --> 18:32.640]  There need to be consequences.
[18:32.640 --> 18:36.600]  We provide them with all those things you just listed, but also they provide us with
[18:36.600 --> 18:42.320]  crucial intelligence, counterterrorism intelligence specifically the U.S. relies on for national
[18:42.320 --> 18:43.520]  security purposes.
[18:43.520 --> 18:48.920]  Could imposing consequences in whatever form compromise U.S. national security?
[18:48.920 --> 18:50.980]  No, it will not.
[18:50.980 --> 18:52.680]  They are far more reliant on us.
[18:52.680 --> 18:58.600]  In fact, the defense agreements that we have, the joint defense initiatives are more extensive
[18:58.600 --> 19:02.280]  than almost any other major ally, and that's all to Saudi's benefit.
[19:02.280 --> 19:03.280]  The production is there.
[19:03.280 --> 19:04.860]  The jobs are there.
[19:04.860 --> 19:10.960]  So they are far more dependent on us, and they already are making these drastic cuts,
[19:10.960 --> 19:16.400]  and they're making drastic cuts at a time when they're making 70 percent profit margins
[19:16.400 --> 19:18.400]  on each barrel of oil.
[19:18.400 --> 19:19.400]  Why are they doing it?
[19:19.400 --> 19:22.640]  They're doing it to help Putin, because Putin doesn't have those profit margins.
[19:22.640 --> 19:27.640]  He's selling his oil at a discount of $35 a barrel to China and other countries.
[19:27.640 --> 19:33.600]  So to appease Putin, they're hurting the American consumer at the pump, and that just won't
[19:33.600 --> 19:34.600]  stand.
[19:34.600 --> 19:36.800]  They have more leverage over them than they do over us.
[19:36.800 --> 19:40.800]  We are assuming also that leverage would force them to move away from Russia, but it is a
[19:40.800 --> 19:42.040]  gamble.
[19:42.040 --> 19:43.040]  What if it backfires?
[19:43.040 --> 19:44.840]  What if they further cut oil production?
[19:44.840 --> 19:48.760]  What if they just end up moving further towards Russia and China?
[19:48.760 --> 19:53.480]  Well, they cannot move further towards Russia and China in the near term.
[19:53.480 --> 19:58.320]  It would take almost 10 years for them to be able to get the weapons that we provide
[19:58.320 --> 20:02.800]  just because of interoperability of these weapons, and literally the Air Force would
[20:02.800 --> 20:06.080]  be grounded to a halt tomorrow if they didn't have American technicians.
[20:06.080 --> 20:10.640]  And now maybe it would take years for them to build with Russia and China, but they simply
[20:10.640 --> 20:12.380]  could not do that.
[20:12.380 --> 20:15.120]  In terms of cuts, they've cut already so far.
[20:15.120 --> 20:17.600]  I don't think further cuts would be possible.
[20:17.600 --> 20:20.520]  They were talking about a million barrels of cut.
[20:20.520 --> 20:22.200]  They've cut two million barrels.
[20:22.200 --> 20:29.160]  And other countries in OPEC, the UAE, Kuwait, would make up for it if they went for further
[20:29.160 --> 20:30.160]  cuts.
[20:30.160 --> 20:33.240]  They already have taken the most drastic action.
[20:33.240 --> 20:35.520]  What about Iran in all this, Representative Khanna?
[20:35.520 --> 20:37.400]  I mean, none of this unfolds in a vacuum.
[20:37.400 --> 20:41.840]  The U.S. foreign policy in the region is structured largely around Saudi Arabia.
[20:41.840 --> 20:46.800]  Just this summer, the U.S. approved two new massive arms deals for Saudi Arabia and the
[20:46.800 --> 20:51.520]  United Arab Emirates, specifically to help them defend against Iran.
[20:51.520 --> 20:54.720]  Does cutting Saudi arms sales empower Iran?
[20:54.720 --> 20:56.480]  No, it doesn't.
[20:56.480 --> 20:58.040]  And I was opposed to those arms sales.
[20:58.040 --> 21:02.600]  Let's not forget that the Saudis are responsible for one of the biggest humanitarian crisis
[21:02.600 --> 21:04.240]  in the world in Yemen.
[21:04.240 --> 21:06.620]  It is appalling what they've done to the children there.
[21:06.620 --> 21:09.160]  It's appalling the starvation they've caused.
[21:09.160 --> 21:11.160]  It's appalling that they're continuing to blockade.
[21:11.160 --> 21:15.480]  Now, the Houthis are also to blame, and the Iranians are to blame in Yemen as well.
[21:15.480 --> 21:21.920]  But the Saudis have been the principal perpetrators of that war.
[21:21.920 --> 21:27.700]  And so I don't think that the cutting off these arms sales are suddenly going to make
[21:27.700 --> 21:30.080]  them vulnerable to Iran.
[21:30.080 --> 21:36.240]  And I've spoken out very strongly for the students, for the women protesting in Iran.
[21:36.240 --> 21:40.240]  I believe there are other ways that we can contain Iran.
[21:40.240 --> 21:44.800]  But we should not use a Kissingerian balance of power where we end up supporting brutal
[21:44.800 --> 21:50.080]  dictators at the expense of our own public because of some balance of power politics
[21:50.080 --> 21:51.320]  in the Middle East.
[21:51.320 --> 21:55.240]  What do you believe that President Biden could have done differently in this moment?
[21:55.240 --> 21:59.880]  I mean, he went from calling Saudi Arabia a pariah to visiting Crown Prince Mohammed
[21:59.880 --> 22:03.360]  bin Salman in July at the fist bump scene around the world.
[22:03.360 --> 22:07.360]  Do you think there's anything that the president of this administration could have done differently
[22:07.360 --> 22:08.640]  to avoid this moment?
[22:08.640 --> 22:12.040]  Yes, I don't think he should have gone to Saudi Arabia.
[22:12.040 --> 22:17.960]  Senator Sanders and I took to the papers to say that the trip was misguided.
[22:17.960 --> 22:23.760]  I believe he should have been clearer with the Saudis that there would be very drastic
[22:23.760 --> 22:29.240]  consequences, both if they didn't lift the blockade, which they still haven't in Yemen.
[22:29.240 --> 22:34.000]  And now they're talking about actually not following through on the truce in Yemen, but
[22:34.000 --> 22:40.000]  certainly externally drastic consequences if they cut oil production.
[22:40.000 --> 22:43.400]  So I believe that he could have been clearer on all of those things.
[22:43.400 --> 22:46.520]  Now, I'm glad that he's contemplating action now.
[22:46.520 --> 22:52.640]  And my belief is if we are tough enough, they will reverse the decision.
[22:52.640 --> 22:54.320]  You said he's contemplating action.
[22:54.320 --> 22:56.360]  We've heard the consequences, but no specifics.
[22:56.360 --> 23:01.680]  In your talks with the administration, how serious are they in imposing serious and immediate
[23:01.680 --> 23:02.680]  consequences?
[23:02.680 --> 23:10.800]  They have told me that the president is going to take action, that the president is reexamining
[23:10.800 --> 23:16.240]  the Saudi relationship, and that the action is imminent.
[23:16.240 --> 23:18.960]  And so I believe the president has to act.
[23:18.960 --> 23:25.920]  How can you allow a country that is a quote-unquote ally to continue to profit of the American
[23:25.920 --> 23:30.200]  public and make drastic cuts when we're going through one of the bigger energy crises we
[23:30.200 --> 23:32.400]  have in recent decades?
[23:32.400 --> 23:35.800]  Allies don't treat each other that way.
[23:35.800 --> 23:41.280]  More broadly, U.S. officials did reportedly warn Saudi leaders that a cut in production
[23:41.280 --> 23:43.000]  would be seen as a clear choice.
[23:43.000 --> 23:46.320]  They're siding with Russia, and the Saudis did it anyway.
[23:46.320 --> 23:51.680]  What does that say to you about how they view the U.S. right now?
[23:51.680 --> 23:55.660]  Well they don't think that there are going to be consequences, but I believe they should
[23:55.660 --> 24:02.520]  take a temperature one of many of the younger members of Congress who aren't steeped in
[24:02.520 --> 24:07.040]  the same traditional relationship with Saudi, who basically know Saudi Arabia through the
[24:07.040 --> 24:12.320]  prism of the Yemen war and the humanitarian crisis that they have caused.
[24:12.320 --> 24:17.200]  They should remember that the War Powers Resolution stopping our aid passed the House and the
[24:17.200 --> 24:21.160]  Senate, the only time a War Powers Resolution has ever passed.
[24:21.160 --> 24:25.120]  And they should know that now there are going to be consequences.
[24:25.120 --> 24:29.120]  You have not just Senator Blumenthal and I calling for it, but Senator Menendez, a very
[24:29.120 --> 24:33.560]  respected foreign policy voice who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee calling
[24:33.560 --> 24:34.560]  for it.
[24:34.560 --> 24:38.320]  So they are really hurting their relationship on the Hill.
[24:38.320 --> 24:42.660]  Briefly if you can, Representative, the Saudis have said this was economic, their decision
[24:42.660 --> 24:43.920]  to cut oil production.
[24:43.920 --> 24:48.540]  Do you believe it had anything to do with the timing of the upcoming midterm elections?
[24:48.540 --> 24:52.680]  I don't know, but I know it's not economic when they're making over 70 percent profits
[24:52.680 --> 24:54.440]  on your barrels of oil.
[24:54.440 --> 24:59.200]  Look I've been critical of Exxon and Chevron, but it pales into the comparison into what
[24:59.200 --> 25:01.360]  the Saudis are making on oil.
[25:01.360 --> 25:07.360]  So what I do know is that they have chosen deliberately to hurt Americans at the pump.
[25:07.360 --> 25:12.480]  Look I don't think the timing is coincidental, but I have no evidence of why they've taken
[25:12.480 --> 25:13.480]  that decision.
[25:13.480 --> 25:16.560]  All I know is that they're hurting the American public.
[25:16.560 --> 25:21.080]  That is Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat from California and member of the House Armed
[25:21.080 --> 25:22.300]  Services Committee.
[25:22.300 --> 25:24.380]  Thank you so much for your time.
[25:24.380 --> 25:36.800]  Thank you.
[25:36.800 --> 25:41.200]  President Biden's executive order to cancel student debt is facing its most serious legal
[25:41.200 --> 25:42.360]  challenge to date.
[25:42.360 --> 25:46.920]  A federal judge in Missouri heard arguments today from six states hoping to block the
[25:46.920 --> 25:48.600]  plan from taking effect.
[25:48.600 --> 25:56.720]  To qualify for the student loan program, individuals must make less than $125,000 a year or $250,000
[25:56.720 --> 25:58.840]  for married couples and families.
[25:58.840 --> 26:04.680]  Eligible borrowers can receive up to $10,000 in forgiveness or up to $20,000 if they are
[26:04.680 --> 26:06.520]  Pell Grant recipients.
[26:06.520 --> 26:10.320]  White House correspondent Laura Barone Lopez has been following it all and she joins me
[26:10.320 --> 26:13.160]  now as part of our series, Rethinking College.
[26:13.160 --> 26:14.320]  Laura, good to see you.
[26:14.320 --> 26:15.320]  Good to see you.
[26:15.320 --> 26:17.880]  So let's talk about this case that was heard today in Missouri.
[26:17.880 --> 26:20.020]  What exactly are the states arguing?
[26:20.020 --> 26:24.960]  So there are six Republican states, including Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and they're
[26:24.960 --> 26:30.300]  arguing that the administration's debt relief program is illegal on three fronts.
[26:30.300 --> 26:36.560]  Those three fronts are that the administration lacks authority, that they did not follow
[26:36.560 --> 26:40.380]  administrative procedure, and that it harms state revenue.
[26:40.380 --> 26:47.040]  So today we spoke to Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and she really focused on
[26:47.040 --> 26:53.280]  whether or not the president has authority to do this and took direct aim at him.
[26:53.280 --> 26:57.400]  The president did not have the authority to make this decision.
[26:57.400 --> 27:03.280]  He made this decision and based it on the HEROES Act, which essentially was put in place
[27:03.280 --> 27:08.640]  during the Iraq war in order to give relief to our brave men and women in uniform.
[27:08.640 --> 27:12.960]  And it was also, as part of it, it could be used during a national emergency.
[27:12.960 --> 27:18.600]  Unfortunately, President Biden forgot that he declared the pandemic over a few short
[27:18.600 --> 27:20.400]  weeks ago.
[27:20.400 --> 27:24.600]  As you heard Attorney General Rutledge there saying that she thinks the president doesn't
[27:24.600 --> 27:28.960]  have this authority, but what was interesting in the arguments today was that the Missouri
[27:28.960 --> 27:35.700]  judge Henry Autry essentially really scrutinized that, saying why is the president being sued
[27:35.700 --> 27:41.080]  as a part of this lawsuit and questioning whether or not the Republican states had standing
[27:41.080 --> 27:46.240]  against the president versus standing against the education department and the education
[27:46.240 --> 27:47.240]  secretary.
[27:47.240 --> 27:51.160]  So a main part of their argument is the administration doesn't even have the authority to do this.
[27:51.160 --> 27:53.440]  What has the Biden administration been saying about this?
[27:53.440 --> 27:59.360]  The Biden administration is essentially saying that they were granted this authority under
[27:59.360 --> 28:03.960]  a 2003 higher education law, also known as the HEROES Act.
[28:03.960 --> 28:10.440]  And so today, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Netter argued that the pandemic gives
[28:10.440 --> 28:13.320]  them this authority.
[28:13.320 --> 28:16.160]  It's crucial here that this is a statute about emergencies.
[28:16.160 --> 28:18.500]  It's a statute about national emergencies.
[28:18.500 --> 28:23.280]  And it seems hard to fathom that Congress wouldn't have understood at the time that a larger
[28:23.280 --> 28:27.880]  national emergency is going to prompt and necessitate a larger action by the Secretary
[28:27.880 --> 28:29.920]  of Education.
[28:29.920 --> 28:35.320]  And so essentially, Netter there is saying that as the economic hardships were growing
[28:35.320 --> 28:41.440]  due to the COVID pandemic, so does the power of the Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.
[28:41.440 --> 28:42.600]  Those powers grow as well.
[28:42.600 --> 28:43.760]  They grow with it.
[28:43.760 --> 28:52.480]  And he specifically argued against this front that the states were bringing forward, saying
[28:52.480 --> 28:57.680]  that this national emergency statute only applies to specific military activity.
[28:57.680 --> 29:00.800]  It applies to military members, service members.
[29:00.800 --> 29:05.200]  And Netter said, no, historically, that's not the case under this law, that, look, when
[29:05.200 --> 29:10.160]  you think about a hurricane, government doesn't provide relief just when the hurricane is
[29:10.160 --> 29:11.160]  spinning.
[29:11.160 --> 29:17.120]  He said that after a national emergency happens or a national disaster like that, that the
[29:17.120 --> 29:21.200]  government has to help people come out of that, come out of the economic hardships or
[29:21.200 --> 29:24.400]  the infrastructure hardships that are brought upon by national emergencies.
[29:24.400 --> 29:27.040]  Laura, what about the whole racial equity part of this?
[29:27.040 --> 29:31.000]  We heard the Biden administration message that as an underpinning to why they were rolling
[29:31.000 --> 29:32.960]  out this loan forgiveness plan.
[29:32.960 --> 29:35.240]  They said it would especially help black borrowers.
[29:35.240 --> 29:37.480]  How does that factor into their argument?
[29:37.480 --> 29:44.080]  So the states today were saying this is only going to provide relief to wealthy individuals,
[29:44.080 --> 29:45.580]  to higher income individuals.
[29:45.580 --> 29:50.560]  And what the administration essentially is saying back is that, well, you have to look
[29:50.560 --> 29:54.700]  at actually who the borrowers are for these loan programs.
[29:54.700 --> 29:59.560]  And for the loan forgiveness program, it would significantly impact black borrowers.
[29:59.560 --> 30:05.720]  Specifically, the average debt for black borrowers is 10,000 more than for white borrowers.
[30:05.720 --> 30:09.600]  Also, Pell Grant recipients are twice as likely to be black.
[30:09.600 --> 30:15.680]  Now, another big piece of this is the federal family education loan borrowers, which was
[30:15.680 --> 30:19.640]  at first a part of the announcement when the administration said they were going to provide
[30:19.640 --> 30:22.240]  this big cancellation of debt.
[30:22.240 --> 30:28.200]  Then they ended up taking that out of the guidance, saying that these borrowers would
[30:28.200 --> 30:29.960]  not be given this relief.
[30:29.960 --> 30:35.580]  And that was a big piece of this lawsuit, because essentially, you know, the states
[30:35.580 --> 30:44.160]  are arguing that they get state revenue from the companies that take on those loans from
[30:44.160 --> 30:46.720]  those borrowers.
[30:46.720 --> 30:52.100]  But the government is saying that ultimately the relief provided to these borrowers is
[30:52.100 --> 30:55.880]  far outweighs the state revenue that would ultimately be lost.
[30:55.880 --> 31:01.860]  Now, again, on the FFEL borrowers, the federal family loan borrowers, the administration
[31:01.860 --> 31:06.580]  has tried to make clear that while they may not receive relief now, that ultimately the
[31:06.580 --> 31:09.920]  education department is trying to find an alternative pathway for them.
[31:09.920 --> 31:12.720]  Before anyone can get any relief, they have to fill out an application.
[31:12.720 --> 31:16.700]  We've been anticipating the release of that application form from the White House.
[31:16.700 --> 31:17.800]  What do we know about that?
[31:17.800 --> 31:23.240]  So they just issued a preview of this application form this week, the White House did.
[31:23.240 --> 31:27.200]  And essentially what borrowers have to do, they have to give Social Security numbers,
[31:27.200 --> 31:32.080]  their date of birth, their email, but they also have to click this box that certifies
[31:32.080 --> 31:35.560]  under penalty of perjury that they meet the income thresholds.
[31:35.560 --> 31:41.400]  Now some of those borrowers will be provided just based on that certification, will be
[31:41.400 --> 31:42.480]  provided relief.
[31:42.480 --> 31:47.440]  The borrowers are going to have to show more proof that they meet those income thresholds
[31:47.440 --> 31:49.040]  that you outlined earlier.
[31:49.040 --> 31:53.880]  Now I spoke to White House Assistant Press Secretary Abdullah Hassan today, and he said
[31:53.880 --> 31:58.600]  that essentially as the lawsuits are proceeding, because there's more than just the one we
[31:58.600 --> 32:02.880]  talked about today, that the White House is going to still move forward with implementing
[32:02.880 --> 32:03.880]  this plan.
[32:03.880 --> 32:09.740]  Now, no relief is going to be felt prior to October 23rd, but the application process
[32:09.740 --> 32:11.640]  is going to be rolled out this month.
[32:11.640 --> 32:15.320]  So folks can check that out and start to apply if they are eligible.
[32:15.320 --> 32:18.240]  White House correspondent Laura Barron-Lopez following it all.
[32:18.240 --> 32:19.240]  Thank you so much.
[32:19.240 --> 32:30.240]  Thank you.
[32:30.240 --> 32:34.240]  Election night is less than a month away, and we're digging into some key races that
[32:34.240 --> 32:37.500]  could determine the balance of power in Congress.
[32:37.500 --> 32:40.160]  Lisa Desjardins has more.
[32:40.160 --> 32:43.280]  Let's talk about control of the House of Representatives.
[32:43.280 --> 32:48.760]  To take over the House, Republicans need to gain just five total seats next month net.
[32:48.760 --> 32:54.000]  Their party may have a slight advantage from redistricting, but there are dozens of competitive
[32:54.000 --> 32:57.880]  races, including more than 30 currently rated as toss ups.
[32:57.880 --> 33:02.160]  To take a good look at the map, I'm joined by three public media reporters, Karen Kastler
[33:02.160 --> 33:07.760]  of Ohio Public Radio and Television, Scott Shafer with KQED in California, and Zoe Clark
[33:07.760 --> 33:09.700]  with Michigan Radio.
[33:09.700 --> 33:12.880]  So happy to have all of you together to talk about this.
[33:12.880 --> 33:18.100]  Each of your states has lost a congressional district because of redistricting, but you
[33:18.100 --> 33:23.520]  also each have a clutch of competitive races that could determine control of the House.
[33:23.520 --> 33:26.480]  I wonder if you can just set the mood for us.
[33:26.480 --> 33:27.820]  What's on voters' minds?
[33:27.820 --> 33:31.780]  Everything from the weather to redistricting to issues that you think might be affecting
[33:31.780 --> 33:32.780]  their vote.
[33:32.780 --> 33:34.320]  And let's start out West with you, Scott Shafer.
[33:34.320 --> 33:35.320]  Yeah.
[33:35.320 --> 33:38.840]  Well, California has an unusual system for creating redistricting.
[33:38.840 --> 33:39.980]  It's a citizen's commission.
[33:39.980 --> 33:44.240]  It's not gerrymandering where the districts are designed to protect the incumbents.
[33:44.240 --> 33:48.880]  And so we have four to six competitive House races here in California, including probably
[33:48.880 --> 33:54.600]  two of the 10 most vulnerable Republicans, David Valdeo in the Central Valley and Mike
[33:54.600 --> 34:01.320]  Garcia in Los Angeles, both of them running in plus D districts where Democrats outnumber
[34:01.320 --> 34:02.980]  Republicans.
[34:02.980 --> 34:08.640]  In terms of the seat that we lost, Karen Bass decided not to run for reelection.
[34:08.640 --> 34:09.800]  She's the L.A. Congresswoman.
[34:09.800 --> 34:14.880]  She's now running for mayor of Los Angeles, which, of course, is dominating the headlines,
[34:14.880 --> 34:16.540]  not in very good ways.
[34:16.540 --> 34:20.840]  But in terms of issues, in terms of these congressional races, you know, it's a competing
[34:20.840 --> 34:21.840]  narrative.
[34:21.840 --> 34:26.680]  Republicans want to talk about gas prices and the economy, and the Democrats want to
[34:26.680 --> 34:30.760]  talk about abortion rights and about threats to democracy.
[34:30.760 --> 34:34.800]  And so you've got these competing narratives that are playing out on the campaign trail
[34:34.800 --> 34:39.120]  and on television, and in addition, I would say that Republicans also want to talk about
[34:39.120 --> 34:43.560]  crime and immigration, much more so than abortion rights.
[34:43.560 --> 34:45.320]  Zoe Clark, what's going on in Michigan?
[34:45.320 --> 34:46.760]  I know it's college football season.
[34:46.760 --> 34:49.240]  Are those politics breaking through there in general?
[34:49.240 --> 34:50.240]  It actually is.
[34:50.240 --> 34:54.320]  If you can imagine, it's not just Spartans and Wolverines here in Michigan, although
[34:54.320 --> 34:57.080]  the weather always is something we talk about.
[34:57.080 --> 35:01.280]  No, much like what Scott said, indeed, it is about the economy.
[35:01.280 --> 35:02.760]  It is about inflation.
[35:02.760 --> 35:04.840]  It is about gas prices.
[35:04.840 --> 35:09.560]  But since the Dobbs decision here in Michigan, abortion really has become something that
[35:09.560 --> 35:11.960]  has changed the dynamic.
[35:11.960 --> 35:17.360]  We have an amendment that's going to be on the ballot in November that would enshrine
[35:17.360 --> 35:21.560]  reproductive rights, abortion rights, into the state constitution.
[35:21.560 --> 35:27.360]  And so on top of these really must-watch congressional seats, some of the most competitive in the
[35:27.360 --> 35:32.640]  country, abortion is sort of overshadowing the conversation when it comes to all of these
[35:32.640 --> 35:33.640]  races.
[35:33.640 --> 35:37.560]  Karen Counselor, is that what you're finding next door in Ohio, is abortion overshadowing
[35:37.560 --> 35:38.560]  other issues?
[35:38.560 --> 35:42.240]  Well, I can't let Zoe talk about those teams without mentioning the Ohio State Buckeyes
[35:42.240 --> 35:45.240]  and football here is, of course, dominating conversation.
[35:45.240 --> 35:50.020]  But yes, there's a lot of conversation also about the few competitive districts here.
[35:50.020 --> 35:54.680]  Our most competitive seat and race really is the Ohio U.S. Senate race.
[35:54.680 --> 35:58.760]  But there in Ohio, we're starting early voting today.
[35:58.760 --> 36:04.320]  And it's interesting to note that Ohio went from 16 to 15 districts, and majority Republicans
[36:04.320 --> 36:09.060]  drew maps that were ruled unconstitutional several times by the Ohio Supreme Court.
[36:09.060 --> 36:12.960]  We're actually running elections this year on maps that were ruled unconstitutional but
[36:12.960 --> 36:15.140]  put into place by a federal court.
[36:15.140 --> 36:20.040]  And so while we're electing representatives through these maps this time around, those
[36:20.040 --> 36:25.240]  could change based on the results of what happens in the election next month.
[36:25.240 --> 36:31.080]  So there are only about- there are 10 safe districts and five Democratic seats, but only
[36:31.080 --> 36:32.960]  a couple are really considered very competitive.
[36:32.960 --> 36:33.960]  Yeah.
[36:33.960 --> 36:34.960]  Karen, I want to come back to you.
[36:34.960 --> 36:39.180]  I'm going to talk to all of you about favorite races, but Karen, let's start there in Ohio.
[36:39.180 --> 36:44.040]  And your favorite race is one that I'm watching there, obviously, is one of the longest serving
[36:44.040 --> 36:47.700]  women in Congress, Marcy Kaptur.
[36:47.700 --> 36:51.100]  That's a race where it's not just issues, but also the effect, perhaps, of President
[36:51.100 --> 36:52.880]  Trump and the 2020 election.
[36:52.880 --> 36:57.000]  Can you talk about that race and what you're watching there in that Toledo area?
[36:57.000 --> 36:58.880]  That race has really tightened up a lot.
[36:58.880 --> 37:01.600]  Marcy Kaptur running against a political newcomer, J.R.
[37:01.600 --> 37:08.000]  Majewski, who really broke out when he got the attention of Donald Trump by painting
[37:08.000 --> 37:10.320]  a picture of Trump on his lawn.
[37:10.320 --> 37:12.360]  And Trump shouted out to him at a rally.
[37:12.360 --> 37:16.600]  He ended up winning, beating some other established politicians.
[37:16.600 --> 37:19.600]  And now he and Marcy Kaptur are facing off.
[37:19.600 --> 37:27.020]  Majewski has made headlines recently because he has claimed that he saw combat in Afghanistan,
[37:27.020 --> 37:29.480]  but an investigation has shown that that's not the case.
[37:29.480 --> 37:32.880]  He also has said he was at the Capitol on January 6th.
[37:32.880 --> 37:34.720]  He has not been charged with anything.
[37:34.720 --> 37:38.560]  But that, all of this has made this race a little bit more competitive.
[37:38.560 --> 37:42.140]  And House Republicans have actually pulled their ads in this race.
[37:42.140 --> 37:43.800]  So that really has tightened things up.
[37:43.800 --> 37:48.080]  Also, there's an open seat that features two women, Amelia Sykes, the former Democratic
[37:48.080 --> 37:53.160]  leader of the Ohio House, and Madison Jesse Odo Gilbert, a Trump-endorsed Republican.
[37:53.160 --> 37:57.760]  This will make history in that one of those will win, and only 12 Ohio women have ever
[37:57.760 --> 37:59.520]  been elected to Congress from this state.
[37:59.520 --> 38:01.880]  So that's going to make history there with that race.
[38:01.880 --> 38:02.880]  That's fascinating.
[38:02.880 --> 38:06.740]  I like that Ohio 13 race, too, because that's a very rust belt seat that might tell us something
[38:06.740 --> 38:09.960]  about the Senate race as it evolves over the night.
[38:09.960 --> 38:13.920]  Speaking of, let's go back to you in Michigan then, Zoe.
[38:13.920 --> 38:17.960]  You have one of the most expensive House races in the country, among others that I know you're
[38:17.960 --> 38:23.160]  watching, where Elissa Slotkin, the incumbent Democrat, is really kind of a must-win seat
[38:23.160 --> 38:26.000]  for Democrats, if they have any hope of holding the House.
[38:26.000 --> 38:27.000]  Absolutely.
[38:27.000 --> 38:28.660]  And this district is fascinating.
[38:28.660 --> 38:31.500]  So it went for Donald Trump in 2016.
[38:31.500 --> 38:33.980]  It went for Trump in 2020.
[38:33.980 --> 38:37.400]  But Elissa Slotkin has won it two times.
[38:37.400 --> 38:40.680]  So she's looking for a third win here now.
[38:40.680 --> 38:45.280]  It's going to be in the now seventh congressional district because of redistricting.
[38:45.280 --> 38:48.300]  And she's always outperformed as a Democrat.
[38:48.300 --> 38:53.320]  But she has a conservative Republican challenger, state Senator Tom Barrett.
[38:53.320 --> 38:57.920]  Again, like we've been talking about this narrative, he's trying to talk about the economy.
[38:57.920 --> 38:59.400]  He's trying to talk about inflation.
[38:59.400 --> 39:01.500]  He's trying to talk about Joe Biden.
[39:01.500 --> 39:06.200]  And I was just talking to Elissa Slotkin, the congresswoman, today, and she's talking
[39:06.200 --> 39:11.680]  fundamentally about rights and what she wants to see happen, change in D.C., including,
[39:11.680 --> 39:15.840]  interestingly enough, I thought, immigration, she said, in the state of Michigan, as well
[39:15.840 --> 39:17.960]  as the cost of child care.
[39:17.960 --> 39:21.120]  Meanwhile, we also have the third congressional district.
[39:21.120 --> 39:23.160]  Now, this one is just fascinating.
[39:23.160 --> 39:30.960]  This is where Peter Meijer, a freshman Republican, within the first few days of being sworn in,
[39:30.960 --> 39:34.240]  voted to impeach Donald Trump for the second time.
[39:34.240 --> 39:40.960]  And Peter Meijer lost his primary in August to a former Trump official, John Gibbs.
[39:40.960 --> 39:43.800]  And so this really is an open seat now.
[39:43.800 --> 39:45.960]  We have a Democrat running.
[39:45.960 --> 39:51.160]  It looks like it could lean Democrat more because of, again, this redistricting.
[39:51.160 --> 39:54.480]  But it probably would have been closer had Peter Meijer won this seat.
[39:54.480 --> 39:57.960]  But again, conservative Republicans kicked him out, booted him out, and went with this
[39:57.960 --> 39:59.600]  Trump-endorsed Republican instead.
[39:59.600 --> 40:02.040]  And it looks like this could be a Democratic win.
[40:02.040 --> 40:06.680]  Scott, you hear Zoe talking about a place that Democrats hope to flip in this year.
[40:06.680 --> 40:09.880]  I know you've got one of those, too, and you just mentioned it earlier.
[40:09.880 --> 40:12.960]  Tell us about Congressman David Valadao and what you're seeing in California.
[40:12.960 --> 40:18.560]  Yeah, so he lost this seat in 2018 and then got it back in 2020.
[40:18.560 --> 40:21.300]  So he actually voted to impeach Donald Trump.
[40:21.300 --> 40:22.880]  But he's getting protection from that.
[40:22.880 --> 40:26.240]  Trump hasn't gone after him because his district is right next to Kevin McCarthy.
[40:26.240 --> 40:29.760]  In fact, it includes part of Bakersfield, his hometown.
[40:29.760 --> 40:34.520]  So he's running against Rudy Salas in a district that is 59 percent Latino.
[40:34.520 --> 40:39.680]  Rudy Salas would be the first Latino member of Congress from the Central Valley ever.
[40:39.680 --> 40:44.120]  He's also co-sponsored our Proposition 1, which would enshrine abortion rights here
[40:44.120 --> 40:45.320]  in California.
[40:45.320 --> 40:52.040]  One other quickly, Lisa Race, I'm looking at the 41st Congressional District in Riverside.
[40:52.040 --> 40:56.280]  Ken Calvert, 30-year Republican incumbent, has easily gotten reelected.
[40:56.280 --> 41:00.840]  But redistricting has taken out some of the most conservative parts of his district and
[41:00.840 --> 41:05.080]  added Palm Springs and other districts with a lot of LGBT voters.
[41:05.080 --> 41:09.520]  He has a history of anti-gay positions and campaigning, and he's running against an openly
[41:09.520 --> 41:14.240]  gay federal prosecutor who prosecuted some of the January 6th cases.
[41:14.240 --> 41:17.100]  And of course, Calvert did not vote to certify the election.
[41:17.100 --> 41:19.440]  So lots of interesting cross-currents there.
[41:19.440 --> 41:23.480]  I've been hearing from you all about the 2020 election, some about former President Trump.
[41:23.480 --> 41:27.040]  I just want to show of hands on this last question, which might be a little unusual.
[41:27.040 --> 41:33.120]  But have you spoken to any Democrats in tough races in your state who would like President
[41:33.120 --> 41:35.480]  Biden to come and campaign for them?
[41:35.480 --> 41:39.680]  I want to see a hand if anyone has talked to a Democrat like that.
[41:39.680 --> 41:40.680]  So there we go.
[41:40.680 --> 41:44.560]  Both the former president and the current president seem to be on the ballot this year
[41:44.560 --> 41:46.240]  in the 2022 midterms.
[41:46.240 --> 41:48.840]  We are so grateful to all of you for joining us.
[41:48.840 --> 41:52.920]  Karen Kasler, Scott Shafer, Zoe Clark, thank you all.
[41:52.920 --> 41:53.920]  Thank you.
[41:53.920 --> 41:54.920]  Thanks.
[41:54.920 --> 41:56.960]  Great to be here.
[41:56.960 --> 41:59.280]  And thank you to our Lisa Desjardins.
[41:59.280 --> 42:03.760]  In another battleground state, Wisconsin, the Senate and governor's races are in the
[42:03.760 --> 42:04.760]  spotlight.
[42:04.760 --> 42:08.920]  While younger Americans traditionally show up to the polls at lower rates than older
[42:08.920 --> 42:14.440]  generations, one recent study suggests young voters could play a decisive role in the state's
[42:14.440 --> 42:16.200]  elections this November.
[42:16.200 --> 42:20.840]  Judy Woodruff recently sat down with a group of high school and college students in Wisconsin
[42:20.840 --> 42:24.040]  who will be voting for the first time.
[42:24.040 --> 42:27.860]  Thank you so much for joining us for this conversation.
[42:27.860 --> 42:29.680]  We really appreciate it.
[42:29.680 --> 42:34.360]  You all, the reason we have you here is to talk about the fact that this is the first
[42:34.360 --> 42:36.560]  year you're going to be voting.
[42:36.560 --> 42:38.880]  And we want to talk about what that means to you.
[42:38.880 --> 42:41.500]  So Ryan, I'm going to start with you.
[42:41.500 --> 42:44.840]  How big a deal is it to you that you're going to be voting for the first time?
[42:44.840 --> 42:46.480]  I mean, it's a pretty big deal for me.
[42:46.480 --> 42:51.780]  I mean, I sort of see it as sort of like when you're 16, you get your driver's license.
[42:51.780 --> 42:53.760]  When you're 18, you get to vote.
[42:53.760 --> 42:59.680]  I actually registered to vote in my AP government class on my birthday, which was a fun experience.
[42:59.680 --> 43:02.020]  It's very easy to register online now.
[43:02.020 --> 43:05.640]  I've been very politically engaged throughout high school, and I'm excited to get my foot
[43:05.640 --> 43:08.760]  in the door and actually have a voice in my government.
[43:08.760 --> 43:13.880]  And Ben, you're turning 18 just in time to vote in early November.
[43:13.880 --> 43:15.200]  How big a deal for you?
[43:15.200 --> 43:17.160]  I am very excited to vote.
[43:17.160 --> 43:19.440]  Everyone in my family has always voted.
[43:19.440 --> 43:25.040]  And although not a ton of people my age do vote, as it's one of like the lower turnout
[43:25.040 --> 43:30.720]  groups, I'm very excited to vote because I think having that voice in our elections is
[43:30.720 --> 43:32.480]  really important.
[43:32.480 --> 43:36.920]  What is it that you care about a lot this year that is driving you especially to want
[43:36.920 --> 43:38.920]  to vote in 2022?
[43:38.920 --> 43:42.160]  I do see the candidates, but I see pro-choice and pro-life.
[43:42.160 --> 43:45.480]  Personally, I am extremely pro-choice.
[43:45.480 --> 43:49.000]  I've always grown up with the belief that women should be able to have bodily autonomy
[43:49.000 --> 43:50.080]  in our government.
[43:50.080 --> 43:52.720]  I agree with the pro-choice movement.
[43:52.720 --> 43:56.640]  I think women have been stripped of their bodily autonomy specifically in this state.
[43:56.640 --> 44:00.920]  And I think that it disproportionately affects women of color and women from more low-income
[44:00.920 --> 44:01.920]  communities.
[44:01.920 --> 44:06.320]  And the disproportionate effect that that has on their access to healthcare, their access
[44:06.320 --> 44:12.200]  to reproductive justice, their right to be a mother or to choose not to be is frustrating
[44:12.200 --> 44:17.660]  to witness as somebody who can be subjected to these laws, so that for me is very top
[44:17.660 --> 44:18.660]  of mind.
[44:18.660 --> 44:19.660]  For me, it's our economy.
[44:19.660 --> 44:22.200]  I mean, I see on the decline everything seems more expensive.
[44:22.200 --> 44:23.580]  Our gas is more expensive.
[44:23.580 --> 44:25.800]  It's such a up and down.
[44:25.800 --> 44:27.520]  You don't know what's going to happen with it.
[44:27.520 --> 44:29.440]  And for me, it's scary.
[44:29.440 --> 44:33.040]  It's especially scary because with everything going on the rise, I have celiac disease.
[44:33.040 --> 44:35.480]  I already spent an arm and a leg for my food.
[44:35.480 --> 44:39.360]  It's going to end up hurting people whenever they can't afford the food they need to feed
[44:39.360 --> 44:40.640]  their families.
[44:40.640 --> 44:45.520]  As the son of two teachers, education is a very big issue for me.
[44:45.520 --> 44:50.320]  I personally, I think that everyone should have access to quality education, whether
[44:50.320 --> 44:58.280]  that be good schools, good public education, or access to college and less college debt.
[44:58.280 --> 45:05.680]  I think my biggest issue is voting, really in terms of the amount of people that can't
[45:05.680 --> 45:07.440]  vote under our current system.
[45:07.440 --> 45:12.880]  We have a lot of laws in Wisconsin, especially voter ID laws, that make it very hard for
[45:12.880 --> 45:13.880]  people to vote.
[45:13.880 --> 45:20.640]  Another big thing on my mind is health care, seeing Ron Johnson vote against the access
[45:20.640 --> 45:27.440]  to insulin was hugely disappointing to me as a diabetic, seeing that it, while it does
[45:27.440 --> 45:32.080]  not directly affect me, there's many people in my situation where that bill would have
[45:32.080 --> 45:39.280]  hugely helped them and people are going to die when people make decisions like that.
[45:39.280 --> 45:42.840]  Let's talk about the person in office right now, President Biden.
[45:42.840 --> 45:44.280]  How do you think he's doing?
[45:44.280 --> 45:50.180]  I think that with any president, there will almost always be the argument that they are
[45:50.180 --> 45:51.900]  not doing enough.
[45:51.900 --> 45:54.900]  And I think that I can say that about Biden right now.
[45:54.900 --> 46:02.280]  The new decision to pardon thousands of people on low level federal marijuana charges is
[46:02.280 --> 46:03.620]  a great decision.
[46:03.620 --> 46:10.740]  I think with his decision to help with student debt, though he campaigned on bigger promises,
[46:10.740 --> 46:13.560]  I think that at least he fulfilled it somewhat.
[46:13.560 --> 46:19.200]  And I think you can always ask for more, but I will say that I am relatively pleased with
[46:19.200 --> 46:20.520]  how he's doing so far.
[46:20.520 --> 46:25.360]  I believe that he's not delivering on campaign promises that he made, such as protecting
[46:25.360 --> 46:26.680]  our right to choose.
[46:26.680 --> 46:31.140]  I would like to see him do a bit more to serve the general American people.
[46:31.140 --> 46:32.880]  Is there one thing you'd like to see him do that he's not doing?
[46:32.880 --> 46:37.120]  I would like to see him codify Roe or make more of an effort to.
[46:37.120 --> 46:40.240]  I know that he can't actually write a law to do so.
[46:40.240 --> 46:42.800]  I would like to see him protect that right.
[46:42.800 --> 46:48.000]  I would like to see him ask the Senate and ask the House of Representatives to protect
[46:48.000 --> 46:49.000]  that right.
[46:49.000 --> 46:52.480]  I want to see him fight tooth and nail for that right.
[46:52.480 --> 46:53.960]  But I haven't seen that so far.
[46:53.960 --> 46:55.400]  Soren, what about you?
[46:55.400 --> 46:57.680]  What is your sense of how President Biden's doing?
[46:57.680 --> 46:59.600]  I quite don't like President Biden.
[46:59.600 --> 47:03.120]  It certainly wouldn't have been my first choice, nor would have Donald Trump been my first
[47:03.120 --> 47:05.960]  choice for this election or for the previous election.
[47:05.960 --> 47:09.960]  I think he's doing well enough for now, but I don't think he is doing enough.
[47:09.960 --> 47:12.880]  What do you think he should be doing that he's not doing?
[47:12.880 --> 47:17.640]  Well, for one, I think his Afghanistan pullout was a disaster.
[47:17.640 --> 47:19.180]  He left so many people.
[47:19.180 --> 47:21.080]  It was petrifying.
[47:21.080 --> 47:22.680]  He's not doing enough on the border.
[47:22.680 --> 47:28.040]  We have almost hundreds of thousands of people getting in, and it's scary knowing because
[47:28.040 --> 47:29.920]  you don't know who those people are.
[47:29.920 --> 47:34.800]  There's so much more that he could be doing that he's not.
[47:34.800 --> 47:37.400]  I don't know if he's made effort to try or not.
[47:37.400 --> 47:40.560]  Amaya, what is your sense of how President Biden's doing?
[47:40.560 --> 47:44.520]  I think if I had voted in the 2020 presidential election, I would have voted for Biden.
[47:44.520 --> 47:48.680]  I think he is not living up to the promises he made, but I don't know of any president
[47:48.680 --> 47:50.360]  that has.
[47:50.360 --> 47:52.920]  So I don't think that that's a fair standard to hold him at.
[47:52.920 --> 47:57.400]  I think as a first-hand recipient of what the student loan forgiveness was, my mom fought
[47:57.400 --> 48:02.160]  for the United States Army for four years, was a recipient of the GI Bill, got an associates
[48:02.160 --> 48:04.640]  in nursing and still had loans.
[48:04.640 --> 48:09.200]  So for her loans to be completely forgiven means an incredible amount.
[48:09.200 --> 48:14.800]  While I would like for Biden to have done more, we live in such a polarized country
[48:14.800 --> 48:21.820]  right now that despite his efforts to get things done, it's just so hard right now to
[48:21.820 --> 48:27.480]  get anything through, which is like, obviously, I'd like marijuana to be legalized.
[48:27.480 --> 48:32.840]  I'd like to live in a country where Roe is codified, where abortions are available.
[48:32.840 --> 48:40.800]  I'd love to live in a country where I don't have to worry about student loan debt.
[48:40.800 --> 48:47.720]  But it's just hard to get through all of that right now in how the state of America is today.
[48:47.720 --> 48:52.800]  A couple of you have mentioned or alluded to former President Trump.
[48:52.800 --> 48:56.280]  Amaya, what's your take on the former president?
[48:56.280 --> 49:01.920]  I grew up in a very isolated, in a very white populated community, and I had never experienced
[49:01.920 --> 49:06.840]  the difference that I was black until Trump was in presidency, that complete isolation
[49:06.840 --> 49:09.840]  that was brought on just by this political figure.
[49:09.840 --> 49:13.740]  We had Hmong facilities in my community that were destroyed in the name of Trump.
[49:13.740 --> 49:16.040]  We had monuments that were destroyed in the name of Trump.
[49:16.040 --> 49:20.040]  We had people who were attacked in the name of Trump, and I think he brought out the worst
[49:20.040 --> 49:23.600]  in people, and he supported it, and he didn't correct that behavior, and I believe no president
[49:23.600 --> 49:25.160]  would ever do that.
[49:25.160 --> 49:33.120]  He, by all accounts, disgraced America in the January 6th insurrection.
[49:33.120 --> 49:38.160]  Though the hearings are still going on, personally I believe that he incited the insurrection
[49:38.160 --> 49:47.440]  and sent a mob of angry people to the Capitol, which is completely undemocratic, and he also
[49:47.440 --> 49:53.040]  did not facilitate a peaceful transfer of power, which has been an American tradition
[49:53.040 --> 49:56.960]  for hundreds of years, which upset me greatly.
[49:56.960 --> 49:59.920]  I do support Trump and have for quite a while.
[49:59.920 --> 50:05.080]  I mean, during that time period, he had the nation, the best economic period we had for
[50:05.080 --> 50:06.480]  quite a long time.
[50:06.480 --> 50:08.360]  He kept us very well.
[50:08.360 --> 50:14.960]  Unfortunately, he did have his wrongdoings and has been a nasty person and has almost
[50:14.960 --> 50:18.800]  always been, but he also was the person politically wise.
[50:18.800 --> 50:22.140]  He ran America as a business, in my opinion.
[50:22.140 --> 50:27.920]  He ran it as though it's what it was, and so running it like a business, him being a
[50:27.920 --> 50:33.760]  businessman allowed us to have financial gain, allowed us to prosper in those times until
[50:33.760 --> 50:38.520]  COVID had hit and which kind of tanked the entire world economy.
[50:38.520 --> 50:40.640]  Would you like to see him serve in office again?
[50:40.640 --> 50:41.640]  Most likely not.
[50:41.640 --> 50:42.640]  Why not?
[50:42.640 --> 50:47.140]  For the sole reason of just it comes down to the rioting.
[50:47.140 --> 50:52.880]  It comes down to him being a nasty person, and I think the first four years is good,
[50:52.880 --> 50:55.520]  but I don't think another four years would be great.
[50:55.520 --> 50:59.920]  I will agree on Soren that the one good thing I think Donald Trump ever did was with the
[50:59.920 --> 51:00.920]  economy.
[51:00.920 --> 51:04.520]  That is the only good thing I will say about him.
[51:04.520 --> 51:10.680]  I believe in this country, we shouldn't have the massive division we have between Republican
[51:10.680 --> 51:15.280]  and Democrat because working together is how we fix things.
[51:15.280 --> 51:20.400]  And Donald Trump basically drove a gigantic wedge between people.
[51:20.400 --> 51:26.480]  He was such a polarizing figure that from 2016 onwards, the country would never get
[51:26.480 --> 51:27.480]  anything done.
[51:27.480 --> 51:33.560]  As you all know, the percentage of people who vote of your generation, the youngest
[51:33.560 --> 51:40.640]  generation vote less frequently, a smaller percentage of you vote than the older folks
[51:40.640 --> 51:42.920]  do in the country.
[51:42.920 --> 51:48.720]  But I really do want to understand how you see the politicians listening or not listening
[51:48.720 --> 51:52.440]  to your generation right now.
[51:52.440 --> 51:54.080]  I do think that there's been efforts.
[51:54.080 --> 51:59.120]  I know several candidates throughout the past two years have been to campuses, have literally
[51:59.120 --> 52:00.120]  been outreached.
[52:00.120 --> 52:05.200]  They sit and they listen, but once they're elected into office, that stops and that communication
[52:05.200 --> 52:09.680]  line is you're emailing a staffer or you're emailing a secretary and the odds that it
[52:09.680 --> 52:14.280]  actually gets to that person is so slim to none that the reality that they're actually
[52:14.280 --> 52:20.040]  listening to the complaints of their own constituents is very like, I have no faith that they are
[52:20.040 --> 52:22.380]  listening to those.
[52:22.380 --> 52:27.640]  And so it's hard to say when I don't even know if they're hearing the issues that are
[52:27.640 --> 52:29.380]  happening in their communities.
[52:29.380 --> 52:35.040]  I feel like if we had more young voters and more people that voted as soon as 18 or as
[52:35.040 --> 52:38.520]  soon as they possibly could, I feel like we would have more politicians listen to our
[52:38.520 --> 52:40.920]  opinions, listening to what we want.
[52:40.920 --> 52:46.000]  I think that what politicians need to understand is that if you start politically engaging
[52:46.000 --> 52:51.200]  kids when they're 18 to 21, when they're just starting to get their foot in the door in
[52:51.200 --> 52:56.360]  politics, you're more likely to have an engaged audience or an engaged constituency as we
[52:56.360 --> 52:57.360]  grow up.
[52:57.360 --> 53:00.720]  And I think that that's a fact that's overlooked most often.
[53:00.720 --> 53:06.280]  A lot of these politicians are just so much older than us.
[53:06.280 --> 53:14.280]  The problems that I see are going to be very different, because for our 80-year-old and
[53:14.280 --> 53:21.080]  60-year-old Senate members, climate change means three or four degrees, and then they
[53:21.080 --> 53:23.740]  aren't going to be around much longer.
[53:23.740 --> 53:29.920]  But for me, climate change means I might see the world crumble.
[53:29.920 --> 53:34.900]  These politicians are so much older than us, they've been in these offices for so long
[53:34.900 --> 53:38.080]  that they don't need to listen to us.
[53:38.080 --> 53:42.240]  They've kind of got their election secured almost, that they just kind of keep coming
[53:42.240 --> 53:45.000]  back in and they don't have to engage anymore.
[53:45.000 --> 53:50.200]  Well, this has been, there's so much more I'd love to ask you, but it's been such a
[53:50.200 --> 53:51.600]  wonderful conversation.
[53:51.600 --> 53:56.360]  I so appreciate every one of you sharing your thoughts.
[53:56.360 --> 53:59.480]  Thank you very, very much.
[53:59.480 --> 54:04.320]  And tomorrow night, Judy will have a report on the Senate race in Wisconsin between incumbent
[54:04.320 --> 54:09.640]  Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes, one of the critical contests that
[54:09.640 --> 54:12.880]  will determine control of that legislative body.
[54:12.880 --> 54:18.760]  Also tomorrow, join us right here on PBS for special live coverage of the January 6 committee's
[54:18.760 --> 54:24.160]  public hearing beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern, plus additional analysis on our regularly
[54:24.160 --> 54:25.800]  scheduled program.
[54:25.800 --> 54:27.740]  And that is the news hour for tonight.
[54:27.740 --> 54:29.040]  I'm Amna Nawaz.
[54:29.040 --> 54:32.240]  For all of us here at the PBS NewsHour, thank you for joining us.
[54:32.240 --> 54:34.600]  We will see you soon.
[54:34.600 --> 54:38.640]  Major funding for the PBS NewsHour has been provided by...
[54:38.640 --> 54:42.720]  For 25 years, Consumer Cellular's goal has been to provide wireless service that helps
[54:42.720 --> 54:44.680]  people communicate and connect.
[54:44.680 --> 54:48.600]  We offer a variety of no-contract plans, and our U.S.-based customer service team can help
[54:48.600 --> 54:50.160]  find one that fits you.
[54:50.160 --> 54:54.080]  To learn more, visit ConsumerCellular.tv.
[54:54.080 --> 55:01.000]  And with the ongoing support of these individuals and institutions, and friends of the NewsHour,
[55:01.000 --> 55:05.520]  including Jim and Nancy Bildner, and Kathy and Paul Anderson.
[55:05.520 --> 55:08.480]  These are people who are trying to change the world.
[55:08.480 --> 55:13.880]  Startups have this energy that energizes me.
[55:13.880 --> 55:17.080]  I'm thriving by helping others every day.
[55:17.080 --> 55:22.800]  People who know, know BDO.
[55:22.800 --> 55:32.160]  The Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on the front lines of social change worldwide.
[55:32.160 --> 56:01.960]  And with the ongoing support of these individuals and institutions.
[56:01.960 --> 56:06.760]  This program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by contributions
[56:06.760 --> 56:09.800]  to your PBS station from viewers like you.
[56:09.800 --> 56:33.120]  Thank you.
[56:33.120 --> 57:00.360]  This is the story of a woman trying to make it in a man's world, and the rest, as they
[57:00.360 --> 57:26.680]  say, is a mystery.
[57:26.680 --> 57:29.280]  Resistance was a necessity.
[57:29.280 --> 57:31.400]  On making Black America.
[57:31.400 --> 57:37.080]  Slaves were freed, but African Americans have not become truly equal citizens.
[57:37.080 --> 57:42.440]  Organizing for change, and Black life, Black joy.
[57:42.440 --> 57:47.720]  Creating these spaces or enclaves that allow us to feel good about ourselves and good in
[57:47.720 --> 57:50.520]  the world, even if the world isn't good.
[57:50.520 --> 57:55.000]  Making Black America, through the grapevine, Tuesday night at 9.
[57:55.000 --> 58:04.280]  Here's tonight's lineup on KQED, made possible by your support.
[58:04.280 --> 58:17.200]  KQED celebrates Latinx Heritage Month with programs that share the Latinx experience.
[58:17.200 --> 58:22.000]  For program listings, visit kqed.org slash heritage.
[58:22.000 --> 58:25.880]  Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month on KQED.
[58:25.880 --> 58:27.960]  Are you a Check Please Bay Area fan?
[58:27.960 --> 58:30.240]  We want to hear what you think about our show.
[58:30.240 --> 58:35.640]  Please help us out by taking a brief survey at kqed.org slash check please survey and
[58:35.640 --> 58:38.400]  sharing your honest thoughts about our programming.
[58:38.400 --> 58:43.400]  Thank you.
[58:43.400 --> 58:52.480]  This is a battlefield.
[58:52.480 --> 59:03.120]  The river is the most important part of nature.
[59:03.120 --> 59:08.200]  Humans have never done this before.
[59:08.200 --> 59:10.600]  So many senses have come alive.
[59:10.600 --> 59:13.680]  We go with what the environment gives us.
[59:13.680 --> 59:15.680]  We are supposed to protect it.
[59:15.680 --> 59:22.960]  It's a real drama and it's unfolding right in front of you.
[59:22.960 --> 59:47.960]  This will show us so many things that we just haven't seen.
[59:47.960 --> 59:54.520]  KQED thanks our members and community partners for their support.
[59:54.520 --> 59:58.600]  Xfinity Home helps customers keep their home and everything in it more protected.
[59:58.600 --> 01:00:05.320]  From 24-7 live and recorded video to controlling their smart home devices.
[01:00:05.320 --> 01:00:09.040]  Learn more at xfinity.com slash Xfinity Home.
[01:00:09.040 --> 01:00:15.920]  Hello everyone and welcome to Amanpour & Company.
[01:00:15.920 --> 01:00:21.480]  Here's what's coming up.
[01:00:21.480 --> 01:00:26.680]  More contentious cases on the United States Supreme Court docket after gutting women's
[01:00:26.680 --> 01:00:27.680]  rights.
[01:00:27.680 --> 01:00:32.400]  Democracy and voting rights come up for review and I speak to the former Attorney General
[01:00:32.400 --> 01:00:33.400]  Eric Holder.
[01:00:33.400 --> 01:00:40.280]  Then a growing power vacuum, how Putin's war in Ukraine is hurting his influence elsewhere.
[01:00:40.280 --> 01:00:48.960]  Plus, Iran intensifies its crackdown but protesters show no sign of bowing to that pressure.
[01:00:48.960 --> 01:00:54.360]  The country's deep culture of protest with Reza Aslan who looks at the historic but little
[01:00:54.360 --> 01:01:14.440]  known role of an American martyr in Persia also ahead.