PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY PLEASE STAND BY GEOFF: I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

ON THE NEXT "NEWS HOUR" -- THE RESULTS OF SEVERAL KEY PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND WHAT THE OUTCOMES COULD MEAN FOR NOVEMBER.

THAT’S WEDNESDAY ON THE "PBS NEWS HOUR."

GEOFF: I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT ON THE "NEWS HOUR" -- THE DETAILS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SECRET PLANE SWAP -- THAT INCLUDED A RIDE IN A CATERING TRUCK -- TO AVOID AN IRANIAN THREAT.

THAT’S AT 7:00 AFTER "EVENING EDITION" ON KPBS.

GEOFF: GOOD EVENING.

I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

AMNA NAWAZ IS AWAY.

ON THE "NEWS HOUR" TONIGHT -- HOW PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SECRETLY SWITCHED AIRPLANES BEFORE DEPARTING TURKEY LAST MONTH OVER A SECURITY THREAT FROM IRAN.

THE DEATH TOLL RISES AND THE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS CONTINUES IN THE WAKE OF A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN COLOMBIA.

AND -- IN THIS MIDST OF THE WAR, A RARE -- IRAN WAR A RARE AND EXCLUSIVE , INTERVIEW WITH A TOP ADVISER TO THE LEADER OF IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD.

>> THE LONGER THIS WAR LASTS, THE MORE EXPERIENCE WE GAIN.

WE HAD NEVER SEEN A REAL WAR TO GAIN REAL EXPERIENCE, TO LEARN HOW TO FIGHT WITH AMERICA.

♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE "PBS NEWS HOUR" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ♪ >> A LIFE WITH IMPACT IN THIS MOMENT AND INTO THE FUTURE.

A RAYMOND JAMES ADVISOR CAN HELP CRAFT A WEALTH PLAN FOR YOUR GOALS TODAY AND ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OF TOMORROW IN MIND.

RAYMOND JAMES.

>> CONSUMER CELLULAR, THIS IS SAM, HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

>> THIS IS POCKET DIAL, SOMEBODY’S POCKET.

>> WITH CONSUMER CELLULAR YOU GET NATIONWIDE COVERAGE WITH NO CONTRACT.

THAT’S KIND OF EVERYTHING.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> THE GORDON AND BETTY MOORE FOUNDATION, ESTABLISHED TO CREATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR.

AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

♪ ♪ >> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

GEOFF: WELCOME TO THE "NEWS HOUR."

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY, SECRET SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN TO PROTECT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE "NEWS HOUR" HAS CONFIRMED REPORTING BY "THE WASHINGTON POST" THAT MR.

TRUMP SWITCHED PLANES NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE, WHILE LEAVING LAST MONTH’S NATO SUMMIT IN TURKEY.

THE SECOND TRANSFER -- TO A MULLER AIRCRAFT BY WAY OF A CATERING TRUCK -- HAD NOT BEEN KNOWN UNTIL NOW.

NICK SCHIFRIN HAS MORE.

NICK: AS HE FINISHED HIS TRIP TO THE ANKARA NATO SUMMIT LAST MONTH, PRESIDENT TRUMP SWEPT ASIDE A QUESTION ABOUT WHY HE WASN’T FLYING HOME ON THE PLANE ON WHICH HE’D ARRIVED -- A QATARI-GIFTED 747.

>> WHY AREN’T YOU FLYING ON THE NEW AIR FORCE ONE?

PRES.

TRUMP: OH, IT’S FLYING TO BASED EUROPE, TO ONE OF THE BIG BASES, TWO OR THREE OF THE BIG BASES, WHERE WE CAN SHOW IT TO THE PEOPLE.

AND WE’LL BE GOING HOME BY NORMAL METHODS.

NICK: HIS JOURNEY HOME ONLY APPEARED NORMAL.

AT 8:24 P.M.

LOCAL THAT EVENING, PRESIDENT TRUMP BOARDED THE LEGACY AIR FORCE ONE.

HE TURNED AROUND, GAVE A WAVE TO THE CAMERAS BROADCASTING HIS DEPARTURE LIVE, AND DISAPPEARED BEHIND THE CLOSED DOOR.

WHICH IS WHEN THE CAMERA ZOOMS OUT -- BUT DOESN’T FOCUS ON THAT CATERING TRUCK.

IT WAS PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANE, NEAR ANOTHER CATERING TRUCK, AT THE LEVEL OF THE DOORS, TO LET FOOD IN -- OR SNEAK THE PRESIDENT OUT.

AND SIX MINUTES LATER, AT 8:30 P.M.

LOCAL, THE TRUCK THAT USUALLY CATERS TO THE PRESIDENT, NOW SECRETLY CARRYING HIM.

IT BACKS UP AWAY FROM AIR FORCE ONE TOWARD ANOTHER U.S.

GOVERNMENT PLANE, PARKED BEHIND, UNBEKNOWNST TO THE PRESS CORPS.

THE OTHER PLANE, AN AIR FORCE C-32A, USUALLY RESERVED FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE OR OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS, BUT NOT THE PRESIDENT.

AT 8:44 P.M.

LOCAL, THE LEGACY PLANE TAKES OFF -- WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT -- WHO WAS, IN FACT, STILL ON THE GROUND IN THE SMALLER PLANE, AS THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON THE PLANE THAT HAD BECOME A DECOY, FLYING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM’S MILDENHALL ROYAL AIR FORCE BASE.

WHEN THE LEGACY AIR FORCE ONE LANDED THERE, IT TOOK THE PRESIDENT 40 MINUTES TO DISEMBARK -- APPARENTLY THE TIME IT TOOK FOR HIM TO LAND IN THE SMALLER PLANE AND SECRETLY MOVE ONTO THE LEGACY PLANE AND WALK DOWN THE STEPS AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.

HE THEN WALKED TO THE NEW, QATARI GIFTED PLANE, WHERE ON BOARD HE TOLD JOURNALISTS THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL GOING ON.

>> SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE WASN’T A SECURITY CONCERN?

PRES.

TRUMP: NO, NO, NO.

WHY WOULD THERE BE?

>> ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY CREDIBLE THREAT BY IRAN AGAINST AIR FORCE ONE?

PRES.

TRUMP: WELL, I HAVE A THREAT ALL THE TIME.

I’M NUMBER ONE ON THEIR LIST, BEFORE YOU.

BUT IF I GO, YOU GO, RIGHT?

NICK: BUT WE NOW KNOW, IN THE HOURS IT TOOK FOR THE LEGACY AIR FORCE ONE TO FLY FROM TURKEY TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT ON THE PLANE.

INSTEAD, IT WAS FULL OF STAFF AND JOURNALISTS, DESPITE A THREAT FROM IRAN, CREDIBLE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THE SECRET SERVICE TO USE THE PLANE AS A DECOY.

GEOFF: TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS THREAT FROM IRAN.

NICK: THIS EXISTED WELL BEFORE THIS YEAR AND THIS WAR.

IRAN HAS THREATENED TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHER FORMER SENIOR OFFICIALS EVER SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP ORDERED THE KILLING OF CASA HIM SOLEIMANI, THE FORMER PALA FULL HEAD OF THE CODES FORCE.

HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MILITIAS AND TERRORISM.

THE THREAT WAS DEEMED CREDIBLE ENOUGH AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THESE FORMER SENIOR OFFICIALS THAT THEY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL SECURITY DETAILS IRAN HAS FOLLOWED THROUGH ON OTHER THREATS IN THE DECADES PRIOR.

AS FOR THE THREAT LAST MONTH IN TURKEY, WE DON’T KNOW THE SPECIFICS, BUT I TALKED TO FORMER OFFICIALS WHO SAID FOR THE SECRET SERVICE TO TAKE THIS STEP IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS, RELIABLE, AND WELL SOURCED, PART OF A STREAM OF ONGOING INTELLIGENCE OR SOME KIND OF RECENT WALK.

TAKE A LISTEN TO A FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT NOW HEAD OF M SIX GLOBAL DEFENSE.

>> OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS CREDIBLE INTELLIGENCE THAT A THREAT WAS IMMINENT WHICH CAUSED THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE TO INCLUDE THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO MAKE THIS DECISION TO PULL OFF THIS RUSE.

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY COMING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OF IRAN SAYING WE WANT TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS AND ALL THESE MEASURES THAT DOD ARE TAKING ARE ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE.

NICK: THIS HAS BEEN A POWDER KEG GIVEN THE RECENT THREATS.

GEOFF: HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR SECRET SERVICE AND AIR FORCE ONE INTO A DECOY?

NICK: AS FAR AS WE KNOW THE DECOY FACT OF THAT QUESTION HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE.

IN 2000, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON LANDED IN ISLAMABAD IN AN UNMARKED PLANE AFTER AIR FORCE ONE HAD LANDED AND A BODY DOUBLE WHO LOOKS LIKE CLINTON GOT OFF AIR FORCE ONE.

IF YOU GO BEYOND TO INCLUDE SECRET TRIPS, THE SECRET SERVICE HAS TAKEN STEPS LIKE THAT BEFORE.

AS FOR QUESTIONS OF THE VULNERABILITY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DID FLY ON AIR FORCE ONE WITHOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE SECRET SERVICE HAD TO MAKE A TRADE-OFF.

>> I DON’T THINK ANYBODY INTENTIONALLY PUT THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS IN HARM’S WAY, BUT THAT WAS A RISK THAT HAD TO BE WEIGHED.

WE HAD TO LOOK AT CONTINUITY OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND QUITE FRANKLY I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS BUT JUST TO SAY IT IS THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THAT PLANE.

NICK: AGAIN, ALL CREDIT TO THE WASHINGTON POST.

GEOFF: PRESSURE RELEASED ROBERT GILMAN.

NICK: PRESSURE RELEASED GILMAN ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.

HE IS A FORMER MARINE WHO WENT TO RUSSIA TO TEACH ENGLISH, HE WAS FIRST ARRESTED IN 2022 FOR ALLEGEDLY HITTING A RUSSIAN POLICE OFFICER AND WAS SENTENCED TO 4.5 YEARS BUT HIS SENTENCE WAS EXTENDED TO A DECADE.

HIS FAMILY AND ADVOCATES INCLUDING THOSE HE SPOKE TO LAST NIGHT SAID HIS HEALTH WAS BADLY DETERIORATING, HE WAS NONRESPONSIVE, UNABLE TO INTERACT OR EAT, CATATONIC.

SENATOR ED MARKEY EVEN ACCUSED RUSSIA OF TORTURING HIM.

TODAY, HE WAS RELEASED AFTER 1060 SIX DAYS OF DETENTION ON THE LEFT WITH HIS MOTHER RIGHT NEXT TO HIM ON AN AMERICAN PAIN -- PLAN.

HE IS ON HIS WAY TO AN AMERICAN HOSPITAL IN TEXAS WHERE HE WILL BE ASSESSED AND TREATED.

GLOBAL REACH SAYS HE CANNOT TALK -- CANNOT WALK, RATHER, BUT WAS SPEAKING AND THE PRESIDENT SAID HE EVEN ASKED FOR A CHEESEBURGER ON THE PHONE.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYS THERE WAS NO PRISONER SWAP NOR ANY OTHER CONCESSIONS GIVEN TO RUSSIA.

BUT I DID TALK TO U.S.

OFFICIALS TODAY ABOUT ONE OTHER ASPECT.

THEY SAID SHORTLY BEFORE HIS RELEASE HE WAS DECLARED WRONGFULLY DETAINED.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HEARD LAST NIGHT.

THE FAMILY AND ADVOCATES WERE COMPLAINING THAT HADN’T HAPPENED, THEY HAD NOT MADE THAT PUBLIC FOR FEAR IT WOULD IMPERIL THIS RELEASE.

U.S.

OFFICIALS SAY HE HAD BEEN DECLARED WRONGFULLY DETAINED.

THAT WILL CONTINUE MORE TREATMENT FOR HIM WHEN HE IS RELEASED.

GEOFF: NICK SCHIFRIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORTING.

♪ IN COLOMBIA TONIGHT, THE DESPERATE SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS IS ENTERING A CRITICAL PHASE AFTER THE POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE THAT DEVASTATED PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

MORE THAN 180 HAVE DIED, BUT 24 HOUR’S AFTER THE QUAKE, THERE ARE STILL REMARKABLE MOMENTS OF HOPE.

IN COLOMBIA TODAY, NEIGHBORS AND RESCUE WORKERS GATHERED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, CLEARING AWAY MOUNTAINS OF RUBBLE.

WERE DOZENS OF HOMES AND BUILDINGS HAVE COLLAPSED, AT LEAST 86 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE WRECKAGE.

AMONG THEM, THIS SIX MONTH OLD BABY AND THE CHILD’S MOTHER.

RESCUERS SAY THEY ARE THE MOTHERS CRIES BENEATH THE RUBBLE AND DUG THROUGH THE DEBRIS OF THEIR FIVE-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING TO REACH THEM.

MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE REMAINED MISSING AFTER THE 7.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE.

IN PEREIRA, 50 MILES FROM THE EPICENTER, HIRING VARGAS JOINED THE SEARCH, HE TRAVELED HOURS TO REACH HIS BROTHER’S APARTMENT CONVINCED HE IS TRAPPED INSIDE.

>> I’M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN HE IS HERE, ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN.

HIS HORSE SADDLE AND ALL OF HIS BELONGINGS ARE HERE.

HE IS NOT ANSWERING HIS PHONE, THE DOORMAN DIDN’T REPORT HIM LEAVING AND HIS CAR IS RIGHT THERE.

HE IS NOT OUT, HE HAS GOT TO BE THERE TRAPPED.

GEOFF: PEREIRA IS AMONG THE HARDEST HIT AREAS WHERE ENTIRE RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS HAVE COLLAPSED.

THERE IS STILL A CRITICAL WINDOW TO FIND PEOPLE ALIVE.

>> WE STILL HAVE A BIG WINDOW, ABOUT 24 MORE HOURS OF WHICH THERE IS HOPE OF FINDING SURVIVORS.

OUR BIGGEST ADVANTAGES THERE MAY BE ISOLATED AIR POCKETS OR SURVIVABLE SPACES THAT CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY ALIVE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

GEOFF: COLOMBIA IS MOBILIZING RESOURCES FOR A MASSIVE RESCUE AND RECOVERY EFFORT.

SOLDIERS WERE FORCED TO STOP TRAINING AS THE GROUND SHOOK ARE NOW BEING DEPLOYED TO HELP WITH RESCUE AND CLEANUP OPERATIONS.

BUT REACHING THE HARDEST HIT AREAS ITSELF IS THE CHALLENGE.

COLOMBIA’S AVIATION AUTHORITIES HAVE CLOSED SIX AIRPORTS BECAUSE OF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, POTENTIALLY COMPLICATED AND THE DELIVERY OF AID FOR WEEKS.

>> IT WAS A STRONG EARTHQUAKE, MUCH MORE THAN PEOPLE HAD EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

GEOFF: EDWARD TO BERG AS THE SENIOR OFFICER OF GLOBAL SECURITY FOR PROJECT HOPE, A HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION RESPONDING TO DISASTERS AROUND THE WORLD.

HE SAYS THE QUAKE HAS DAMAGED THE VERY INFRASTRUCTURE COMMUNITIES WILL RELY ON IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

>> WHEN A DISASTER OF THIS MAGNITUDE HAPPENS, WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH CARE, HOSPITALS, CLINICS HOUSED IN BUILDINGS ARE AFFECTED LIKE ANY OTHER BUILDING.

WHEN THEY ARE AFFECTED IN A DRAMATIC WAY OR A WAY THAT MAKES SAFETY AND ISSUE FOR ENTERING THEM, THEY TEND TO CLOSE DOWN PRIMARY HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE BECOMES CHALLENGED.

GEOFF: ANOTHER SEARCH UNFOLDED IN AGONIZING FITS AND STARTS.

AT EVEN THE FAINTEST HAND OF SOUND BENEATH THE RUBBLE, RESCUERS STOPPED EVERYTHING AND LISTENED.

OVERNIGHT, THAT PERSISTENCE PAID OFF.

NEARLY 24 HOURS AFTER THE QUAKE FIRST TOOK THE COUNTRY, THEY FOUND A 35 YOUR OLD MAN TRAPPED UNDER THE RUBBLE.

THE CITY’S MAYOR SAID THE MAN SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES -- ONE RESCUE OFFERING HOPE TO THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES STILL WAITING FOR WORD.

SO IN THE DAYS HEADLINES -- OUSTED SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH -- IN ABSENTIA -- FOR WAR CRIMES DURING THE COUNTRY’S BRUTAL CIVIL WAR THAT LEFT ROUGHLY 500,000 PEOPLE DEAD.

THE CAPITAL SENTENCES, READ ALOUD ON STATE TV, WERE THE FIRST AGAINST MR.

ASSAD AND HIS INNER CIRCLE SINCE A REBEL UPRISING TOPPLED HIS GOVERNMENT NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO.

ASSAD AND HIS YOUNGER BROTHER -- WHO WAS ALSO SENTENCED TO DEATH -- FLED TO RUSSIA IN 2024, WHERE THEY WERE GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM.

IN YEMEN, AUTHORITIES SAY AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN IRAN-BACKED HOUTHI REBELS FIRED BALLISTIC MISSILES ON A VESSEL IN THE BAB EL-MANDEB STRAIT.

THE HOUTHIS ALSO CLAIM TO HAVE FIRED ON A SAUDI SHIP IN THE SAME WATERWAY.

THE STRIKES FOLLOW DAYS OF HOUTHI ATTACKS ON LAND AND AT PORTS THAT HAVE KILLED DOZENS OF YEMENI GOVERNMENT FORCES AND CIVILIANS.

THEY THREATEN TO RE-IGNITE A CIVIL WAR THAT’S BEEN UNDER A FOUR-YEAR, TENTATIVE TRUCE.

MEANTIME, U.S.

FORCES FIRED UPON AND DISABLED A PANAMANIAN FLAGGED SHIP IN THE GULF OF OMAN TODAY.

U.S.

CENTRAL COMMAND SAID THE VESSEL TRIED TO PASS THROUGH THE AMERICAN BLOCKADE OF IRANIAN PORTS.

OVER 100 FIREFIGHTERS FROM MEXICO HAVE ARRIVED IN CANADA TO HELP BATTLE A DEADLY BLAZE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT’S FORCED OVER 20,000 PEOPLE TO FLEE THEIR HOMES.

EYEWITNESS VIDEO SHOWED HILLSIDES IN WESTERN CANADA COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

THE BALD RANGE FIRE HAS CONSUMED OVER 60 SQUARE MILES.

AT LEAST 1 PERSON HAS DIED.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY FIREFIGHTING CREWS HAVE FACED CHALLENGING, STEEP TERRAIN, AND WINDY CONDITIONS, AND A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED INTO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

MEANTIME, WILDFIRE SMOKE IS ONCE AGAIN REDUCING AIR QUALITY ACROSS MUCH OF THE WESTERN U.S.

THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO SAYS THE EBOLA OUTBREAK THERE HAS NOW KILLED MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE.

MORE THAN 4000 CASES OF THE DISEASE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN THE DRC.

AND IT’S TAKEN JUST THREE WEEKS FOR THE DEATH TOLL TO DOUBLE -- MAKING IT THE FASTEST-GROWING OUTBREAK ON RECORD.

EFFORTS TO DETECT AND CONTAIN THE DISEASE HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY ARMED CONFLICT, POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND DISTRUST OF HEALTH AUTHORITIES.

THERE IS NO CURRENT TREATMENT OR VACCINE FOR THIS STRAIN OF EBOLA, BUT CLINICAL TRIALS HAVE BEGUN IN EASTERN CONGO TO TRY AND DEVELOP ONE.

ON WALL STREET TODAY -- THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE DROP 180 POINTS.

THE NASDAQ DROPPED ZERO .5% AND THE S&P 500 POSTED A MODEST DIP.

AND SKYGAZERS IN MANY COUNTRIES -- INCLUDING THIS ONE -- ARE ABOUT TO GET A DOUBLE DOSE OF CELESTIAL EVENTS BOTH A SOLAR ECLIPSE AND THE PERSEID METEOR SHOWER WILL BE VISIBLE ACROSS THE SKY TOMORROW.

FROM THE ARCTIC CIRCLE TO SOUTHERN EUROPE, COUNTRIES LIKE GREENLAND, RUSSIA, AND SPAIN WILL SEE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE -- WHEN THE SUN, MOON, AND EARTH ALIGN PERFECTLY IN THE SKY.

26 STATES HERE IN THE U.S., INCLUDING WASHINGTON, D.C., WILL BE TREATED TO A PARTIAL ECLIPSE -- SEEN FROM ALASKA TO NORTH CAROLINA.

AS FOR THE PERSEIDS, THEY WILL BE BEST VIEWED AFTER MIDNIGHT ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

NASA SAYS AS MANY AS 50 TO 100 METEORS COULD BE SEEN EACH HOUR UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS.

STILL TO COME ON THE "NEWS HOUR" -- WE SPEAK WITH A TOP ADVISER TO IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS AS THE WAR WITH THE U.S.

CONTINUES.

A LOOK AT THE NATIONAL GUARD’S CONTROVERSIAL DEPLOYMENT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

ONE YEAR IN.

AND CREDIT CARD DELINQUENCIES RISE IN THE U.S.

AS HIGHER INTEREST RATES MAKES IT HARDER TO PAY OFF DEBT.

>> THIS IS THE PBS NEWS HOUR FROM THE DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN STUDIO AT WETA IN WASHINGTON, HEADQUARTERS OF PBS NEWS.

GEOFF: AS THE WAR WITH IRAN CONTINUES, WE HEAR FROM A TOP ADVISER TO THE IRAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS.

THEY RARELY GIVE INTERVIEWS AND ALMOST NEVER TO WESTERN MEDIA, BUT A COMMANDER SET DOWN IN TEHRAN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT REZA SEYA.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US, IT HAS BEEN A LONG-RUNNING POLICY OF IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD TO NEVER SPEAK TO AMERICAN MEDIA.

WHAT CHANGED.

WHY DID YOU AGREE TO SIT WITH US?

>> IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST MERCIFUL, WE NEVER RECEIVE A REQUEST OR REJECT IT.

WE WOULD LIKE FOR OUR VOICE TO REACH WESTERN COUNTRIES, IT IS WESTERN MEDIA THAT DON’T LIKE OUR VOICE TO BE HEARD.

IT IS NOTHING WE DO THAT IS INDEFENSIBLE AND OUTSIDE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO COVER UP OR NOT DISCUSS.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE IRAN IN THIS JUNCTURE OF THE WAR.

ARE YOU IN CONTROL?

DO YOU SEE IRAN AS WINNING?

>> AFTER THE TOPPLING OF THE LEADERSHIP IN THE BREAKING UP OF IRAN, WE SAW CONFUSION AND BEWILDERMENT IN AMERICA.

IT BECAME A WAR WITHOUT A STRATEGY.

EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS THEY ANNOUNCED AN OBJECTIVE.

THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO INVADE KHARG ISLAND.

THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, THEY MOBILIZED THEIR BATTLESHIPS.

EVERYTHING THEY TRIED WE CAN SHOW HOW WE WERE VICTORIOUS.

>> IN YOUR VIEW IS THAT INEVITABLE THAT IRAN HAS ONE?

>> WE HAVE NOT YET REACHED OUR FINAL OBJECTIVE, THIS IS CLEAR.

UP UNTIL NOW WE ARE VICTORIOUS.

IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VICTORIOUS.

THE LONGER THE WAR LASTS, THE MORE EXPERIENCE WE GAIN.

WE HAD NEVER SEEN A REAL WAR TO GAIN EXPERIENCE TO FIGHT AMERICA.

IN THESE THREE MONTHS, WE HAVE LEARNED HOW AND WE HAVE SEEN HOW THE AMERICAN MILITARY IS WEAKER THAN WHAT WE PERCEIVED.

>> IS IT IRAN’S OBJECTIVE TO DRAG OUT THIS WAR TO WAIT UNTIL MR.

TRUMP IS OUT OF OFFICE?

>> LOOK, WE HAVE TO OBTAIN DETERRENCE SO THE ENEMY NEVER DARES TO ATTACK US ONE WAY IS TO PROLONG THIS WAR UNTIL WE GET TO THE NEXT TERM OF THE PRESIDENCY AND CAUSE ATTRITION SO IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO ATTACK IRAN, THEY WILL KNOW THERE IS A COST.

>> THIS WEEK ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS, IRANIAN FORCES ATTACKED NONMILITARY SHIPS THAT WERE TRYING TO CROSS THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

WHAT IS IRAN’S OBJECTIVE IN ATTACKING CIVILIAN SHIPS?

>> WHEN WE ARE AT WAR, VESSELS NEED TO PASS THROUGH A REGION WE CAN CONTROL.

WHEN THEY LEAVE AN AREA WE CONTROL IT COULD BE THEY ARE TRANSPORTING SUPPLIES FROM THE ENEMY.

>> DO YOU NOT SEE THAT AS A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, ATTACKING CIVILIAN SHIPS?

>> WHEN YOU ARE IN A STATE OF WAR, ANY THOROUGHFARE DEEMED TO BE A THREAT, WE CAN CONTROL IT.

THIS IS INTERNATIONAL LAW.

ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, THIS LAW EXISTS.

>> ONE OF YOUR MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPONS IN THIS WAR HAS BEEN YOUR MISSILES AND YOUR DRONES, REPORTS SAID BEFORE THE WAR YOU HAD ABOUT 3000 TO 4000 MISSILES.

HOW MANY MISSILES DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR STOCKPILE RIGHT NOW?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE NOT RELIANT ON MISSILES AND DRONES, IF WE ARE VICTORIOUS WE RELIED ON OUR FAITH TO BE VICTORIOUS, GOD IS WITH US.

AS FOR OUR MISSILES, THE AMERICANS AND THE ZIONISTS ALWAYS WANT TO COUNTER MISSILES.

THE NUMBER OF MISSILES IS MORE THAN THE NUMBER WE LAUNCH.

IN A COUNTRY THIS VAST WE CAN MAKE THEM WHEREVER WE WANT.

>> WHERE ARE YOU MAKING THEM?

IS IT DEEP UNDERGROUND?

>> WE DO IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS, WE HAVE VARIOUS WAYS TO MANUFACTURE IT.

EVEN IF THIS WAR LASTS FOR YEARS , IRAN’S LOCKET -- ROCKETS WILL BE LAUNCHED.

WHEN IRAN HAS NO MORE MISSILES LEFT, THAT IS WHEN WE WILL BE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS FOR AMERICA?

>> HOW WOULD YOU BE MORE DANGEROUS?

>> AMERICA HAS THOUSANDS OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS THROUGH THE WORLD IN THOUSANDS CAN BE DESTROYED.

>> MILITARY OFFICERS OFTEN PUT THEMSELVES IN THE PLACE OF THEIR RIVALS AND THE ENEMY TO MAYBE PREDICT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO, PUT YOURSELF IN PETE HEGSETH’S PLACE, WHAT IS HE THINKING?

WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION?

>> I WILL NEVER PUT MYSELF IN HIS PLACE, HE’S A CRIMINAL WHO KILLED 168 INNOCENT CHILDREN, NOT ONLY DO THESE PEOPLE NOT WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF HUMANITY, THEY DON’T EVEN WORK FOR AMERICA, THEY WORK FOR THEIR OWN INTERESTS.

AS SOON AS THE STOCK MARKET CLOSES, THEY START HOSTILITIES.

THE STOCK MARKET OPENS, THEY SEND POSITIVE MESSAGES TO RAISE STOCK PRICES.

ALL THE WHILE THEY ARE BUYING AND SELLING THE STOCKS THEMSELVES.

IF I WAS IN THE PLACE OF THE AMERICAN CONGRESS I WOULD CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE TO COMPARE THE ASSETS MR.

TRUMP AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS INNER CIRCLE BEFORE THE WAR TO THEIR ASSETS AFTER THE WAR.

>> MANY OBSERVERS SAY IRAN HAS PUT UP A STRONG FIGHT BUT THAT AMERICA HAS ONE WEAPON THAT IRAN DOES NOT AND THAT IS A NUCLEAR BOMB.

IN YOUR VIEW, HOW LIKELY IS IT FOR AMERICA TO USE A NUCLEAR BOMB?

>> NATURALLY IT CAN END UP BEING A MISTAKE FOR THEM.

THE MORNING AFTER THE USE OF BOMB ALL OF AMERICA’S MILITARY BASES AROUND THE WORLD WOULD BE OCCUPIED.

TODAY THINGS ARE DIFFERENT THAN WORLD WAR II.

THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD HAVE AWAKENED.

NO ONE WILL ALLOW FOR SUCH A CRIME TO BE COMMITTED BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME IT COULD BE THEMSELVES.

>> WASHINGTON HAS LONG CLAIMED IRAN IS A THREAT TO ISRAEL, ISRAEL SAYS IRAN WANTS TO BUILD A BOMB TO DESTROY ISRAEL.

DOES IRAN WANT TO DESTROY ISRAEL?

>> IRAN HAS ONLY ONE THING TO SAY ABOUT OCCUPIED PALESTINE AND THIS IS SOMETHING OUR MURDERED LEADER HAD HIS -- HAS ALSO SAID.

THE LEADERSHIP THERE MUST BE CHOSEN BASED ON A MAJORITY VOTE BY THE PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THAT LAND.

THIS WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE DONE WITH A NUCLEAR BOMB, BUT WE CERTAINLY PREFER THE ZIONIST REGIME DID NOT EXIST.

JUST LIKE AN APARTHEID REGIME DISCARDED BY THE PEOPLE, THE SAME THING MUST HAPPEN IN PALESTINE.

>> IRANIANS ARE OFTEN SEEN SHOUTING THE SLOGAN DEATH TO AMERICA AND MANY AMERICAN POLITICIANS POINT TO THAT AND SAY IRAN WANTS TO DESTROY AMERICA.

>> WE HAVE NO ENMITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.

>> WHAT DOES THAT SLOGAN MEAN?

>> THE MEANING OF DEATH TO AMERICA MEANS DEATH TO AMERICA’S LEADERSHIP THAT HAS INVADED OR VIOLATED 70 COUNTRY SINCE BECOMING A SUPERPOWER.

>> INCREASINGLY MANY OBSERVERS OUTSIDE IRAN SAY IF IRAN HAD A NUCLEAR WEAPON AMERICA WOULD NOT ATTACK IT, THAT IT WOULD BE A DETERRENT.

IS IRAN EVEN DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF PURSUING A NUCLEAR BOMB?

>> I WILL SAY THIS CLEARLY, OUR NUCLEAR BOMB IS THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD THAT WE WON FIGHTING OPPRESSION.

ISLAMIC VALUES AND THE DIVINE VALUES OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION ARE TAKING OVER.

THERE IS NO NEED FOR NUCLEAR BOMBS, NO NEED FOR SLAUGHTER.

>> AFTER THE DEATH OF THE LEIGH SUPREME LEADER, HIS SON WAS APPOINTED SUPREME LEADER, BUT DURING THIS WAR HE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC.

CAN YOU TELL US WHY?

>> THE STRATEGY BELONGS TO HIM.

OUR ENERGY -- ENEMY IS CRIMINAL AND DOESN’T ABIDE BY ANY LAW.

>> SO IS IT BECAUSE OF SECURITY REASONS?

>> NATURALLY IT IS DUE TO SECURITY.

CERTAINLY THERE IS NO OTHER REASON.

>> HAVE >> YOU SEEN HIM?

LET’S LEAVE THIS MATTER ALONE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU’RE WELCOME.

I ALSO THANK YOU.

GEOFF: WE ASKED THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT THE COMMENTS AND THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDED WITH A STATEMENT SAYING IT WOULD BE WISE FOR IRAN TO AGREE TO A DEAL, OTHERWISE THEY KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

♪ GEOFF: IT HAS NOW BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARED A "CRIME EMERGENCY" IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL AND DEPLOYED THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ITS STREETS.

AS LISA DESJARDINS REPORTS, QUESTIONS CONTINUE TO MOUNT OVER THE MISSION’S COST, ITS LEGALITY, AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN FIGHTING CRIME.

LISA: FROM METRO STATIONS TO MONUMENTS, THESE DAYS SOLDIERS IN D.C.

ARE ALMOST AS COMMON AS SIGHTSEERS.

NEARLY 5000 TROOPS FROM 15 STATES CURRENTLY PATROL THE CAPITAL, A CONTROVERSIAL VISION OF THE PRESIDENT’S AUTHORITY IN THIS DEMOCRATIC CITY.

>> I’M ANNOUNCING THIS HISTORIC ACTION TO RESCUE OUR NATION’S CAPITAL FROM CRIME, BEDLAM, AND SQUALOR.

LISA: IT SPARKED PROTESTS AND DREW CRITICISM FROM EXPERTS WHO SAID DATA SHOWED THAT VIOLENT CRIME IN D.C.

WAS AT A 30 YEAR LOW.

>> D.C.

HAS AT ABOVE AVERAGE LEVELS OF CRIME FOR MANY YEARS, BUT CRIME AT THE TIME OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS FALLING QUITE RAPIDLY.

SO THERE REALLY WAS NO URGENT SITUATION THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED.

LISA: TOTAL CRIME IN WASHINGTON HAS CONTINUED TO DROP OVER THE LAST YEAR, DOWN ANOTHER 20% TO THE D.C.

POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE WHITE HOUSE ACCREDITS THE GUARD AND THE MAKE D.C.

SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL TASK FORCE, WHICH THEY SAY INCLUDES 20 FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND IN -- ESTIMATE 15,000 ARRESTS.

THERE IS A DEBATE IF THE GUARD IMPACTS VIOLENT CRIME AT ALL.

YESTERDAY ON TRUTH SOCIAL THE PRESIDENT THREATENED TO SUE THE AUTHOR OF A STUDY: THE RESEARCHER RADICAL LEFT SCAM.

IN JULY, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH SAID CRITICS WERE BLINDED BY IDEOLOGY.

>> THERE IS NOTHING POLITICAL ABOUT THIS EXERCISE.

LAW & ORDER IS SOMETHING ALL AMERICANS DESERVE.

FROM D.C.

OR FAR-FLUNG PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> IT IS REALLY UNNECESSARY.

IT IS KIND OF A HORSE AND PONY SHOW.

LISA: POLLS HAVE SHOWN A MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS DISAGREE WITH THAT AND TOTAL COST TO TAXPAYERS HAS BEEN $666 MILLION.

CARDS OF MEN SARAH BECKSTROM WAS KILLED IN AN AMBER STYLE ATTACK, AN AFGHAN NATIONAL IS CHARGED.

THE PRESIDENT HAS TRIED DEPLOYING TROOPS TO OTHER DEMOCRATIC CITIES IN HIS SECOND TERM LIKE LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO, AND PORTLAND.

COURTS ULTIMATELY BLOCKS THOSE EFFORTS, BUT JOSEPH NUNN SAYS THEY ARE CONCERNING AND UNPRECEDENTED.

>> NO PRIOR PRECEDENT HAS ATTEMPTED TO USE THE MILITARY FOR DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT, USED IT IN A WIDE VARIETY OF WAYS AND SCALED THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS ATTEMPTED TO USE THE MILITARY.

LISA: IN D.C.

WHERE TRUMP HAS DIRECT CONTROL OF THE NATIONAL GUARD, THE PENTAGON SAID TROOPS WILL REMAIN ON PATROL THROUGH THE END OF THE PRESIDENT SECOND TERM.

THE COST OF THE NEXT 2.5 YEARS WOULD BE AT LEAST $1.4 BILLION.

FOR MORE ON WHAT THE DATA SAY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL GUARD ON CRIME IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL, WE ARE JOINED NOW BY BY RICHARD HAHN.

HE IS A SENIOR MANAGER FOR RESEARCH IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AT THE NISKANEN CENTER, A NON-PARTISAN THINK TANK BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE DISCUSSION.

WE WILL BE GETTING INTO SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES.

I WANT TO START WITH SOMETHING CLEAR, MAJOR CRIME IS DOWN IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL.

THIS IS JUST YEAR-OVER-YEAR FROM THE D.C.

POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOMICIDES DOWN 32%, ROBBERIES DOWN 15%, CAR THEFT DOWN 53%.

THAT IS TODAY YEAR-TO-YEAR SINCE THE NATIONAL GUARD ARRIVED.

IN YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT KINDS OF CRIME DO YOU THINK THE NATIONAL GUARD ACTUALLY AFFECTED OR IMPACTED?

RICHARD: THE NATIONAL GUARD SEEMS TO HAVE IMPACTED MOSTLY LOW-LEVEL OPPORTUNISTIC PROPERTY CRIMES LIKE PETTY THEFT, PEOPLE BREAKING INTO CARS, THESE ARE VEXING PROBLEMS FOR RESIDENTS IN D.C., AS A D.C.

RESIDENT, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTHERS ME AND PLAGUES MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS BUT IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THE NATIONAL GUARD HAD MUCH OF AN EFFECT ON VIOLENT CRIME, WHICH IS THE BANNER ISSUE THEY WERE BROUGHT INTO COMBAT.

LISA: THAT IS GOING DOWN, WHY IS IT NOT DUE TO THE NATIONAL GUARD PRESENCE?

RICHARD: IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE SELL THOSE PEAKS IN 2023.

WHAT WE DID IS TRY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE EFFECT THE NATIONAL GUARD HAD AND WHAT WAS ALREADY GOING ON IN D.C.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT NATIONAL GUARD HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON LOW-LEVEL PROPERTY CRIMES, THEY DECLINED BY ABOUT A QUARTER.

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN VIOLENT AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES AFTER THE GUARD HAD DEPLOYED.

THAT IS LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING AND WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE AND AFTER THE NATIONAL GUARD THERE.

YEAR-OVER-YEAR, ALL CRIME TYPES ARE DOWN AND THAT’S A WONDERFUL STORY FOR D.C., BUT IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THE GUARD CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO THAT.

LISA: YOU ARE SAYING THEY DIDN’T HAVE ANY EFFECT OVER AND ABOVE THE TREND THAT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING.

THE WHITE HOUSE ARGUE THAT FEDERAL OFFICERS AND PART OF THE KIND OF PROGRAM THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ONE THING THEY DID WAS TAKE WEAPONS OFF THE STREET.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT KIND OF EFFECT COULD HAVE IMPACTED VIOLENCE IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL?

RICHARD: I ABSOLUTELY THINK IT HAS.

I THINK THE THING IS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT, YOU HAVE TO ZOOM BACK OUT AND LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE LAST THREE YEARS AND GUN ARRESTS HAVE BEEN GOING UP THE LAST THREE YEARS, ARRESTS INVOLVING GUNS BY METROPOLITAN POLICE HAVE BEEN GOING UP THE LAST THREE YEARS AND GUN CRIMES HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN THE PAST THREE YEARS SO THIS IS PART OF A LARGER TREND DRIVEN BY OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS NOT REALLY BEEN MUCH AFFECTED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD PRESENCE.

LISA: YOU STRESS AFTER LOOKING AT ALL THIS IS THE JOHN THE D.C.

POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING AND YOU ALSO FOUND AND CALCULATED THAT THEY HAVE A SMALLER FORCE NOW, BUT YET CRIME HAS BEEN GOING DOWN.

HOW?

RICHARD: THAT’S CORRECT.

OUR THEORY BEHIND THIS GREAT TREND IS POLICE HAVE BEEN BETTER AT BEING MORE PROACTIVE.

A GREATER SHARE OF THEIR ARRESTS HAVE GONE TO CATCHING CRIMES IN THE ACT WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING THE NATIONAL GUARD WOULD REALLY BE GOOD AT.

THEY TEND TO BE UNTRAINED AS PROFESSIONAL POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY TEND TO BE GOOD AT TRAFFIC SAFETY, GREENING AND CLEANING.

AND THEY HAVE NO ARREST POWER, THEY CAN SIMPLY DETAIN SOMEONE.

NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS SHOULD NOT BE JUDGED BY THE SAME STANDARDS AS A POLICE OFFICER.

YOU GET MUCH MORE CRIME PREVENTION OUT OF A POLICE OFFICER THEN A NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIER.

LISA: IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE SEEING LESS REACTIVE POLICING, MORE PROACTIVE POLICING MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WASHINGTON.

RICHARD: THAT’S CORRECT.

LISA: THE NATIONAL GUARD DID HAVE A POSITIVE THING ON CARJACKING, BUT AT WHAT COST?

DID YOU LOOK AT THE EFFICIENCIES AND HOW THAT WORKED?

RICHARD: THE NATIONAL GUARD IS VERY COSTLY.

YES, WE DID.

THE NATIONAL GUARD COSTS $600 A DAY PER PERSON BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PAY THEIR SALARIES AND FEED THEM, CLOTHE THEM, TRANSPORT THEM, AND OUTSIDE OF THAT $600 FIGURE THERE IS A HIDDEN COST TO THE ECONOMY IN TERMS OF PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR CIVILIAN JOBS TO DO THEIR TOUR WITH THE GUARD AND ALSO LEAVING THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT CAN’T BE CAPTURED IN THE FIGURES CONGRESS RELEASED.

LISA: THAT’S EXPENSIVE.

RICHARD: IT’S A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION WHEREAS A POLICE OFFICER IS ABOUT $400 PER DAY AND YOU GET MUCH MORE CRIME PREVENTION OUT OF A POLICE OFFICER THAN YOU DO OUT OF A SOLDIER.

LISA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LOOKING AT THIS.

NOT A SIMPLE TOPIC BUT YOU ARE HELPING US UNDERSTAND IT BETTER.

RICHARD: MY PLEASURE.

THANKS AGAIN.

♪ GEOFF: AMERICANS OWE MORE THAN $1 TRILLION IN CREDIT CARD DEBT, UP 60% FROM JUST FIVE YEARS AGO.

MEANTIME, HIGHER INTEREST RATES MAKE DEBT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO PAY OFF, A DOWNWARD SPIRAL, CAUSING CREDIT CARD DELINQUENCIES TO SURGE.

OUR ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT PAUL SOLMAN EXPLAINS.

PAUL: 435-YEAR-OLD HELENA, IT STARTED INNOCENTLY ENOUGH.

>> MY MOTHER HAD TO LIVE WITH US.

AT THE TIME IT WAS MY HUSBAND AND I. WE HAD A LITTLE BABY AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER BABY ON THE WAY.

THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN OUR HOUSE ALMOST TRIPLED IN A VERY SHORT TIME SPAN AND EXPENSES TRIPLED AS WELL.

PAUL: TO MEET THEM LIKE SO MANY OTHER AMERICANS, SHE TURNED TO CREDIT CARDS.

>> IT IS VERY EASY TO SWIPE AND THIS IS AN EMERGENCY AND EVERYTHING CAN BE AN EMERGENCY RIGHT NOW.

PAUL: BEFORE SHE KNEW IT -- >> I ACCUMULATED ABOUT $20,000 IN DEBT.

PAUL: COMPARED TO ONE ESTIMATE OF AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD DEBT OF ABOUT $10,000.

BUT IT IS THE MOST INDEBTED WHO HAVE DRIVEN CREDIT CARD DELINQUENCIES TO THEIR HIGHEST RATE IN 15 YEARS.

BANKRUPTCIES UP 12% IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE.

>> ONCE YOU START ADDING ALL THAT UP, YOU REALIZE YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR DAYCARE OR YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILL.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THINGS JUST GET UNMANAGEABLE VERY QUICKLY.

PAUL: PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ADEPT SPIRAL.

ASSESS UNFAMILIAR?

>> IT DOES.

I FOUND MYSELF IN AN ENDLESS CYCLE OF TRYING TO PAY SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH IT WASN’T MAKING A DENT IN THE OVERALL AMOUNT I OWED.

PAUL: IT IS NOT JUST HER CAUGHT UP IN THE DEBT WHIRLPOOL.

>> IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

PAUL: THE EARLY LIFE DEBT DILEMMA SINCE, WORSE THAN EVER.

>> WE HAVE SEEN THE RATE OF CREDIT CARD DEBT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE GO UP ABOUT 190% SINCE 2020.

>> LAST I CHECKED IT WAS APPROXIMATELY $17,000.

PAUL: 25 EUROS BRIDGET KLINGER.

>> A LOT OF IT GOES IMMEDIATELY TOWARD PAYING OFF ALL THIS DEBT EVERY MONTH.

>> GEN Z HAS MORE DEBT THAN ANY OTHER GENERATION IN HISTORY.

>> SPOILER ALERT, IT IS A LOT.

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER 18-YEAR-OLDS WAS $6,000 IN CREDIT CARD DEBT?

PAUL: THERE IS A NEW DEBT TRAP FOR THE YOUNG.

>> BY NOW, PAY LATER IS ONE THING THAT WE ARE CALLING FRICTIONLESS FINANCE THAT IS ACTUALLY QUITE PERNICIOUS.

IN GENERAL GETTING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM KNOWING HOW MUCH YOU ARE SPENDING AND WE DON’T EVEN REALIZE WHEN WE ARE SPENDING.

IN THE LAST DECADE WE HAVE CHANGED THE WAY WE MADE PURCHASES.

WE NO LONGER TAKE OUT A WALLET AND USE CASH AND COUNT OUT THE DOLLARS.

>> I WAS DOING A LOT OF BY NOW, PAY LATER AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PAY AND I WAS LIKE I DON’T HAVE IT.

>> THEY SAY THEY WON’T CHARGE YOU INTEREST, BUT THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU ARE LATE, YOU WERE GOING TO BE HIT WITH A BIG FEE.

PAUL: BOTTOM LINE, IF YOU BORROW YOUNG, YOU DIG YOURSELF A WHOLE.

>> WITH MY STUDENT DEAD, MY HUSBAND STUDENT DEBT, CAR LOANS, CREDIT CARDS, IT’S PROBABLY THE AMOUNT OF A MORTGAGE.

LIKE 120 $5,000, ONE HUNDRED $50,000.

PAUL: SO FOLKS LIKE MARJORIE USE CREDIT CARDS, THEIR INTEREST RATES HITCHED TO CREDIT SCORES.

>> THE AVERAGE RATE IS ABOUT 30% AND THAT SEEMS FRUSTRATING TO ME, IT IS QAEDA PREDATORY.

PAUL: 30% WHICH IMPLIES A PRETTY LOW CREDIT SCORE.

>> IF YOU DON’T HAVE A GOOD CREDIT SCORE, YOU CAN’T BUY A HOUSE, YOU CAN’T BUY A CAR.

PAUL: LOAN DEFAULTS, BANKRUPTCIES, AND ANOTHER GRIM ECONOMIC STATISTIC SETTING RECORDS THESE DAYS, LOW CONSUMER SENTIMENT.

NOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ECONOMIC ADVISOR KEVIN HASSETT DISMISSES ITS SIGNIFICANCE.

>> I THINK WE SHOULD CALL A POLITICAL SENTIMENT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A POLITICAL VARIABLE, NOT AN ECONOMIC VARIABLE.

PAUL: AND YES, SAYS JOANNE, THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN A REFLECTION OF WHICH PARTY IS IN POWER, BUT RECENTLY -- >> REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN SHOWING DECLINING SENTIMENT THIS YEAR AS WELL AND THE CURRENT READING FROM A SHOWS BOTH REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AT THEIR LOWEST LEVEL SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2025.

PEOPLE ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM HAVE BEEN FEELING LESS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ECONOMY OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR.

PAUL: COME ON SAYS MARK SANDY, THE REASON IS OBVIOUS FOR SO MANY AMERICANS.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT REAL DISPOSABLE INCOME, AFTER INFLATION, AFTER TAXES, IT IS LOWER TODAY THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO AND THAT IS ECONOMY-WIDE.

THAT MEANS THAT IT STANDS TO REASON THAT ABOUT HALF THE POPULATION IS EXPERIENCING OUTRIGHT DECLINE, SO IF YOU HAVE BEEN SPENDING A CERTAIN WAY FOR A LONG TIME AND YOUR INCOME STARTS TO ERODE, HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

PAUL: WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO THE SUBJECT OF THIS STORY, CONSUMER DEBT.

>> MANY PEOPLE TURN TO LEVERAGING CREDIT AND THE CREDIT CARD BEING THE BEST EXAMPLE TO HELP TIDE THINGS OVER BUT THEN YOU GET NAILED WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES, NO YOU ARE PAYING 20% INTEREST ON WHAT YOU BORROWED AND THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF.

PAUL: AND DEEPER AND DEEPER YOU MAY SINK.

ONE FINAL POINT, IN AN INCREASINGLY CASE SHAPED ECONOMY, WHO IS DOING THE LENDING?

>> THE FOLKS AT THE TOP PART OF THE DISTRIBUTION OWN LOTS OF THINGS, BIG DEPOSITS AT BANKS, THEY OWN BONDS AND STOCKS AND THOSE DEPOSITS AND SAVINGS GO TO PROVIDING THE CREDIT THAT FOLKS IN THE BOTTOM PART OF THE INCOME DISTRIBUTION ARE USING TO FINANCE THEIR SPENDING ON AUTOS AND ON A HOME AND OTHER THINGS.

PAUL: THERE’S AN OLD SAW AND ECONOMICS, IT IS NOT HOW MUCH YOU BORROW, BUT WHAT YOU DO WITH THE MONEY.

IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO INVEST THE MONEY, GREAT.

IF YOU CAN’T AND HAVE TO BORROW TO SURVIVE, YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF LIKE SO MANY OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS, SUCKED UNDER.

FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR, PAUL SOLMAN.

♪ GEOFF: AND WE’LL BE BACK SHORTLY WITH A LOOK AT DIGITAL DRIVER’S LICENSES.

BUT FIRST, TAKE A MOMENT TO HEAR FROM YOUR LOCAL PBS STATION.

IT’S A CHANCE TO OFFER YOUR SUPPORT, WHICH HELPS KEEP PROGRAMS LIKE THE "NEWS HOUR" ON THE AIR.

♪ FOR THOSE STAYING WITH US -- WE GET AN ENCORE OF SORTS FROM A MUSICIAN WHO IS BRINGING THE ORGAN TO A NEW GENERATION OF LISTENERS.

SENIOR ARTS CORRESPONDENT JEFFREY BROWN WENT TO SPEAK WITH HER IN PORTLAND, MAINE, AS PART OF OUR ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES, "CANVAS."

♪ JEFFREY: LOAN MUSICIAN AT THE CONSUL OF AN INSTRUMENT CAPABLE OF ENORMOUS AND ENORMOUSLY VARYING SOUNDS.

♪ HANDS AND FEET FLYING ACROSS THE KEYBOARDS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

[APPLAUSE] JEFFREY: IT HAS BECOME A MOST UNEXPECTED PHENOMENON PLAYING OUT BEFORE PACKED AUDIENCES.

>> I’M HERE AT THE JEFFREY: SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE.

JEFFREY:CONVENING LARGE FOLLOWINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> IT IS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR MY ORGAN SHOES.

♪ JEFFREY: FOR THE TRADITIONAL PIPE ORGAN, SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING.

ANNA LAPWOOD IS HELPING LEAD THE WAY.

ANNA: IT IS A NOVELTY THAT PEOPLE HAVEN’T BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THEM CLOSE.

♪ BUT NOW WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, WE CAN BRING A MILLION PEOPLE CLOSER, JUST THROUGH A PHONE.

♪ THEY COME TO THE CONCERTS.

THEY, AND THEY WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

JEFFREY: THEY WANT TO SEE IT LIVE.

ANNA: AND FEEL IT.

THEY WANT TO FEEL THE ROOM SHAKING.

JEFFREY: WE GOT A GLIMPSE OF THE LAPWOOD EFFECT RECENTLY IN PORTLAND, MAINE.

♪ AS SHE PREPARED FOR THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF A U.S.

TOUR PLAYING AN ORGAN BUILT FOR THE CITY IN 1912.

THERE’S A LOT GOING ON.

ANNA: THERE’S QUITE A LOT GOING ON.

WE HAVE FIVE KEYBOARDS, FIVE MANUALS, THE FULL PADDLEBOARD, ALL THE DIFFERENT STOPS.

THEY CONTROL THE SOUNDS.

♪ JEFFREY: HEAD OF THE PERFORMANCE, SHE SPENT MORE THAN 18 HOURS REGISTERING THE ORGAN.

ANNA: FOR EVERY MOMENT OF THE CONCERT YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE THE SOUNDS YOU WANT.

YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY AUDITION THE DIFFERENT SOUNDS.

FOR THIS PROGRAM ABOUT 350 DIFFERENT SETTINGS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE TO BE PROGRAMMED INDIVIDUALLY.

JEFFREY: AND THIS IS A COMPLETELY NEW ORGAN FOR YOU.

ANNA: IT IS.

JEFFREY: YOU ARE GETTING TO KNOW THIS INSTRUMENT.

ANNA: EVERY INSTRUMENT IS DIFFERENT, IT IS A BIT LIKE SPEED DATING.

YOU HAVE TO GET TO KNOW THE PERSONALITY OF THE ORGAN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WANTS YOU TO SAY WITH THAT MUSIC.

♪ [CHEERING] JEFFREY: LAPWOOD’S CLASSIC MUSICAL CREDENTIALS ARE IMPECCABLE.

♪ NOW THE OFFICIAL ORGANIST AT LONDON’S ROYAL ALBERT HALL, SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE ORGAN SCHOLAR AT MAGDALEN COLLEGE IN OXFORD.

♪ LATER, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AT PEMBROKE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

SHE TRIED MANY INSTRUMENTS IN CHILDHOOD, SOMEHOW IT WAS THE ORGAN WHICH SHE SOMETIMES REFERS TO AS A MACHINE, THAT OFFERED A NEW KIND OF CONNECTION TO AUDIENCES AND MORE.

ANNA: IT IS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH THEM AND FOR ME IT HAS BEEN A WAY TO CONNECT WITH MYSELF AND FIGURE OUT WHO I WANT TO BE ON STAGE.

JEFFREY: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

ANNA: I FEEL THE MOST FREE, NATURAL VERSION OF MYSELF.

♪ I FEEL SO MUCH MORE FREE THAN I DO A NORMAL LIFE TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST.

IT IS THE FREEST VERSION OF MYSELF ON STAGE BECAUSE IT IS THE MUSIC WHICH IS JUST LIKE A GLOVE IN MY MIND.

IT IS JUST ME.

♪ JEFFREY: THE POPULARITY SHE HAS GAINED HAS LED HER TO SOME UNEXPECTED PLACES, PERFORMING WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS FROM OTHER GENRES INCLUDING A COLLABORATION WITH THE ELECTRONIC A MUSICIAN BONOBO.

♪ ANNA: THEY HEARD ME PRACTICING AND CAME ON STAGE AND SAID, THIS IS SO COOL, WOULDN’T IT BE COOL IF WE INCLUDED THE ORGAN AND ARE SET TOMORROW?

I JOINED THE SHOW WITH NO NOTICE.

IT WAS SO FAR OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE.

AND THEN -- ♪ THE SOARING STRINGS AND I JUST STARTED CRYING.

THE WALL HAD BEEN PULLED FROM OVER MY EYES AND I SAID TO COME MUSICAL WORLD IS ABOUT 70 MILLION TIMES LARGER THAN I EVER IMAGINED IT COULD BE.

♪ NO ONE KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE DOING IT AND THE CROWD JUST ERUPTED.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] JEFFREY: CLEARLY BEHIND ALL THIS, LAPWOOD’S PERSONAL EFFERVESCENCE, LOVE OF INSTRUMENT.

ANNA: LORD OF THE RINGS, THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROJECT I’VE EVER DONE.

JEFFREY: AND DESIRE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH HER AUDIENCE INCLUDING REGULAR POSTS OF BEHIND THE SCENES OF HER LIFE AND WORK.

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT REHEARSALS, OFTEN THE ONLY TIME SHE CAN ACCESS THESE SPECIAL AND UNIQUE INSTRUMENTS.

IT IS PAYING OFF WITH MORE THAN 4 MILLION FOLLOWERS ACROSS PLATFORMS.

IS THAT A PHENOMENON THAT STILL SURPRISES YOU?

ANNA: ALL THE TIME.

IT IS SO STRANGE.

I ALWAYS SAY THERE IS ANNA LAPWOOD AND ANNA.

JEFFREY: WHO IS HERE WITH ME?

ANNA: PROBABLY A MIX.

I TRIED TO BRING AS MUCH AS I CAN OVER AND I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LIKE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE IT GIVES THEM PERMISSION TO BE THE MOST AUTHENTIC VERSION OF THEMSELVES AS WELL.

JEFFREY: THE PORTLAND CONCERT HAD TICKETHOLDERS COME FROM 43 STATES AND FOUR FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

ANNA: HELLO.

CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG?

JEFFREY: SHE GREETED MANY FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS AFTER THE CONCERT.

>> SHE EXUDES THIS ENTHUSIASM.

>> HER ENERGY IS JUST MAGNETIC.

>> SHE IS SO ENTERTAINING TO WATCH.

JEFFREY: LAP WOODS GROWING AUDIENCES ONLINE AND IN HALLS AROUND THE WORLD ARE MORE THAN HAPPY WITH WHAT AND HOW SHE IS PLAYING.

FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR, I’M JEFFREY BROWN IN PORTLAND, MAINE.

♪ GEOFF: YOUR OLD PLASTIC DRIVER’S LICENSE COULD SOON BE GETTING A DIGITAL UPGRADE.

DIGITAL REPORTER TIM MCPHILLIPS WALKS US THROUGH FOUR THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW -- INCLUDING SOME OF THE BENEFITS AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS.

TIM: WHAT IS A DRIVER’S LICENSE?

>> IT IS TAKING YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE AND MAKING IT A DIGITAL CREDENTIAL YOU CAN CARRY ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, YOUR WATCH, YOUR TABLET.

TIM: THAT IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATORS.

THEY ARE A TRADE ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES DMV’S WITH BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE AND SOFTWARE AND TECH INFRASTRUCTURE.

20 STATES AND PUERTO RICO OFFER A FORM OF A DIGITAL DRIVER’S LICENSE.

SOME ALLOW YOU TO ADD IT TO YOUR MOBILE WALLET LIKE HER CREDIT CARD AND OTHERS HAVE A STATE CREATED APP THAT STORES YOUR ID.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

THE IDEA IS WHEN YOU NEED TO SHOW YOUR ID, YOU COULD ESSENTIALLY TAP YOUR PHONE ON A READER LIKE AT AN AIRPORT OR DOCTOR’S OFFICE OR WHILE GETTING A SPEEDING TICKET.

>> YOU WOULD NEVER HAND OVER YOUR PHONE.

TIM: THAT CAN LIMIT THE INFORMATION YOU SHARE.

>> THEY DON’T NEED TO KNOW YOUR NAME OR ADDRESS.

TIM: IF LIKE ME YOU HAVE LOST YOUR WALLET OR LEFT IT IN THE TSA BEEN, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE TO GET IN YOUR PHONE AND PICK UP YOUR PLASTIC ID.

>> WHAT YOU HAVE TIME TO DO IS GET TO ANY BROWSER, LOGIN TO YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNT AND SAY, I’VE LOST THAT DEVICE, PULL THAT CREDENTIAL OFF THAT PHONE.

TIM: BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS AROUND THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, TO PROVE WHO WE ARE.

THAT BRINGS US TO GOVERNMENT DATA COLLECTION.

HERE IS THE ACLU SENIOR POLICY ANALYST.

>> ONE PROBLEM IS THE STANDARD FOR DIGITAL ID THAT A LOT OF THE STATES ARE ADOPTING WOULD ACTUALLY LET THE GOVERNMENT TRACK YOU.

TIM: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHEN YOU TAP YOUR MOBILE ID ON A READER, INFORMATION IS SENT FROM POINT A TO POINT B. THAT SIMPLE TRANSACTION INVOLVES MAJOR DECISIONS LIKE DOES VERIFICATION HAPPEN LOCALLY ON YOUR PHONE OR ON A SERVER?

COULD A THIRD ENTITY LIKE A STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACCESS DATA ON WHERE YOU USE YOUR ID?

STANLEY AND THE ACLU HAVE RALLIED AGAINST THAT LAST SCENARIO CALLED PHONE HOME OR SERVER RETRIEVAL.

OVER POTENTIAL ABUSES.

GROSSMAN SAYS STATES THAT MIGHT ALLOW SERVER RETRIEVAL WOULD BE BLOCKED FROM USING THE DIGITAL ID SYSTEMS.

>> WE HAVE PROHIBITED THE ABILITY TO WHAT WE WOULD SAY CALLBACK TO THE AGENCY.

TIM: ALL OF THIS IS PRESSURING STATES TO BUILD SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT PHONE HOME BUT BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND LAWS IN PLACE TODAY, THE RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOT TO FLIP THE SWITCH.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE STATES THAT HAVE PUT IN PLACE SOME VERY GOOD PROTECTIONS.

TIM: IN MARCH UTAH PUT IN PLACE THE FIRST DIGITAL IDENTITY BILL OF RIGHTS THAT MAN’S PHONE HOME ARCHITECTURE.

STANLEY AGREES STATES NEED TO BE PROACTIVE IN CODIFYING A VAN INTO LAW.

>> THE STATES ARE SLEEPWALKING INTO BUILDING THIS AND WE COULD GET STUCK WITH IT AS A TIM: STANDARD FOR GENERATIONS.

AS IT STANDS NOW, SOME STATES HAVE ALLOWED MOBILE DRIVER’S LICENSES, BUT OTHERS HAVE REJECTED THEM, LIKE TEXAS AND MINNESOTA, BUT GROSSMAN SAID WIDESPREAD ADOPTION IS COMING.

>> NOBODY IS FORCING ANYBODY TO DO IT.

TIM: AND THAT SHOULD BE CODIFIED IN LAW, STANLEY SAYS.

>> YOU SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO USE YOUR PLASTIC LICENSE.

TIM: HIS FEAR.

>> THAT WE WILL BE FORCED TO GET THESE THINGS AND THEY WILL BECOME LIKE A VIRTUAL ANKLE BRACELET.

GEOFF: YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THIS ONLINE INCLUDING LIVE ELECTION RESULTS FROM STATE PRIMARIES LATER THIS EVENING AND THAT IS THE NEWS HOUR FOR TONIGHT.

I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE "PBS NEWS HOUR," THANKS FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR EVENING WITH US.

♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE "PBS NEWS HOUR" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ♪ ♪ ♪ >> MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS.

BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US.

♪ >> THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION.

FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, ADVANCING IDEAS AND SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS TO PROMOTE A BETTER WORLD.

AT HEWLETT.ORG.

♪ >> THE CHARLES F KETTERING FOUNDATION, WORKING TO ADVANCE INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACIES.

LEARN MORE AT KETTERING.ORG.

>> FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR.

AND JULIAN ROBERT POWELL, THROUGH FIDELITY CHARITABLE.

♪ >> THE INTER-CARNEGIE FOUNDATION, FORMERLY CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, WORKING TO REDUCE POLITICAL POLARIZATION THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION, DEMOCRACY, AND PEACE.

AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.

♪ >> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >> YOU ARE WATCHING PBS.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.]