AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Donald Trump and# Ka.. as the vice president also sits down for her# first major interview as the Democratic nominee.

AMNA NAWAZ: Israel agrees to pause# fighting in Gaza to deliver polio vaccines,## while its operation targeting militants# in the West Bank turns even more deadly.

GEOFF BENNETT: And health# officials warn of a deadly## mosquito-borne disease that's spreading# in the Northeast United States.

(BREAK) GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "News Hour."

Vice President Kamala Harris# and her running mate, Tim Walz,## are campaigning for a second day in the South,# holding a rally tonight in Savannah, Georgia.

AMNA NAWAZ: Harris and Walz also sat down# for a highly anticipated interview on CNN## this afternoon that will air in prime time# tonight, all that as former President Donald## Trump continues to face criticism for his visit# to Arlington National Cemetery earlier this week.

Laura Barron-Lopez has the latest.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Vice President Kamala Harris## and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz barnstorming# in battleground Geor..

While in Georgia, Harris and Walz also sat down# with CNN for a joint interview.

For Harris,## it's her first major interview since taking# over the Democratic ticket, something her## Republican rivals have criticized, accusing# Harris of shielding herself from scrutiny.

DANA BASH, CNN: How should voters look at# some of the changes that you have made that## you have explained some of here in your# policy?

Should they feel comfortable and## confident that what you're saying now is# going to be your policy moving forward?

KAMALA HARRIS, Vice President of the United States# (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: Dana, I## think the most important a.. aspect of my policy perspective and# decisions is, my values have not## changed.

My value around what we need to do to# secure our border, that value has not changed.

I spent two terms as the attorney general# of California prosecuting transnational## criminal organizations, violations of# American laws regarding the passage,## illegal passage of guns, drugs and human beings# across our border.

My values have not changed.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: That interview and# rally putting a cap on what the Harris## campaign sees as an opportunity to win a state# that President Biden narrowly carried in 2020.

A new FOX News poll shows Harris changing# the race in several toss-up states,## taking a lead over Donald Trump# in Georgia, Arizona and Nevada,## while narrowly trailing Trump in North Carolina,# all of the polling within the margin of error.

As Vice President Harris wraps up in the Sun Belt,## Donald Trump campaigned today at a# steel supplier outside of Lansing,## Michigan.

In an event billed as one about the# economy, Trump railed against recent polling.

DONALD TRUMP, Former President of the United#States (R) ... Donald Trump is tied, tied.# We were up massively by Biden.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: But Trump's campaign# is still dealing with fallout from taking## video for campaign use of the former president's# visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.

It includes moments in Section 60 of the# cemetery, largely reserved for veterans of## the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, where# photos for political purposes aren't## allowed.

The filming at Section 60 led to a# physical altercation with a cemetery staffer.

Today, the U.S. Army responded in a rare# statement, saying Trump's campaign had## been told that "federal laws, army# regulations and DOD policies clearly## prohibit political activities# on cemetery grounds.

An employee## who attempted to ensure adherence to# these rules was abruptly pushed aside."

That cemetery staffer decided not to press# charges.

And the Army defended that employee,## who the Trump campaign accused of# having a mental health episode,## the Army saying: "This incident was unfortunate,## and it is also unfortunate that the employee and# her professionalism has been unfairly attacked."

On the trail yesterday, Trump's running mate,# Senator J.D.

Vance, blasted Harris for the## blowback Trump received, though Harris# has made no statements on the incident.

SEN. J.D.

VANCE (R-OH), Vice Presidential# Candidate: She wants to yell at Donald## Trump because he showed up,# she can -- she can go to hell.

SEN. J.D.

VANCE: Sounds like we# got some fans and some haters.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: And, today, Vance headlined## a Boston firefighters convention just a day# after Tim .. Vance was booed when trying to defend the# Trump administration's record for workers.

SEN. J.D.

VANCE: I want to talk about# why we're fighting for working people,## why we're going to fight for# unions and non-union alike.

(BOOING) AMNA NAWAZ: And Laura Barron-Lopez joins me now.

So, Laura, the full interview there that# the Vice President Harris and Governor Walz,## gave hasn't yet air.

We have only seen# excerpts.

So what stands out to you so far?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: So, in addition to# what she said about her policy positions,## the vice president was also asked whether# or not she would appoint a Republican to## her Cabinet.

And she said that, yes, she# would, that she values diversity of opinion,## that when important decisions are being# made, she wants different perspectives.

In the room, she didn't say which# Republican she's maybe considering.## But I was talking to an Arizona Republican# voter today, a two-time Trump voter, Amna,## a woman in the suburbs who said that she liked# that Harris is considering a Republican for## the Cabinet.

She also likes that Harris is# talking more and more about border security.

She still is not convinced by Harris, though,## Amna.

And a big piece of that is that she# does want more of those policies specifics.## So we will see if she gets into it a bit# more in the remainder of that interview.

AMNA NAWAZ: As you reported there, we saw# Senator Vance saying Harris can go to hell.

We also saw some pretty lewd sexual posts# that Mr. Trump shared online about Kamala## Harris.

And the campaign hasn't really# responded to those.

Do you think they will?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: No, I don't think that# they will, mainly because the campaign has## pretty much clearly said that they have no# plans to respond to any of these attacks.

So far, the vice president herself has# not responded to the Arlington Cemetery## incident.

She has not responded herself# to any of these attacks and neither has## the campaign.

They haven't put out statements# on it.

She was asked -- the vice president was## asked in that interview with CNN about# Trump questioning her Black identity.

And she said: "Same old playbook.

Next question."

AMNA NAWAZ: Meanwhile, she continues# to campaign in Georgia.

They're## going beyond Atlanta to more rural# voters.

What's the strategy there?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Her strategy is twofold, Amna.

She -- Kamala Harris wants to# drive up urban suburban voters,## so get the Democratic base out.

They appear# to be coming home.

But they also say that## they want to cut into Trump's margins in red# counties.

So they went to a red county in## Georgia as well as in Pennsylvania on the bus# tour that they did prior to the convention.

AMNA NAWAZ: You also reported there about that# race tightening in some battleground states like## Arizona and North Carolina.

What are you hearing# from your sources on the ground in those states?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Longtime Republican# strategists that I have talked to in Arizona## and North Carolina say that that polling is# real, that this race has completely shifted.

And I also spoke to a two-time# Trump voter in North Carolina today,## a woman as well who is a lifelong Republican,# and she still is kind of undecided.

And she said## that the recent events at Arlington# National Cemetery, Trump's actions,## she didn't like it.

She said that she felt# as though he wasn't respectful.

She said## that she understands why he went there and the# attention that he drew to Afghanistan withdrawal,## but that she doesn't like that -- his behavior# so far and feels as though that he's spiraling.

So that could be something that shifts her.

And# you're hearing -- I heard also from the Arizona## voter that she didn't like Trump's behavior as# well at the Arlington National Cemetery incident.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, Laura# Barron-Lopez, thanks for your reporting.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: And let's turn now to our Lisa# Desjardins for an update on the .. Lisa, it's good to see you.

So, as we heard, the U.S. Army issued# .. saying that campaign staff -- quote# -- "were made aware of federal laws## regarding political activity at Arlington# National Cemetery," and they're confirming## the reports that Trump campaign workers# abruptly pushed aside a cemetery official.

How's the Trump campaign responding?

LISA DESJARDINS: Let's go through this.

The Trump campaign contended th.. as reported.

They're not backing down# from that, but, at the same time,## they are not supplying the video that they# claim that they have to prove their case.

And I will tell you, I have asked them# a dozen times for that video.

Now,## here's the policy at the cemetery to look at it.# It's very clear.

This is from the U.S. military:## "Filming or photographing will not be permitted if# it conveys the impression that cemetery officials## or any visitor is endorsing any product, service,# or organization.

Additionally, ANC," Arlington## National Cemetery, "will not authorize any filming# for partisan political or fund-raising purposes."

So it really wasn't an issue necessarily about# families being able to do this.

It was the fact## that the Trump campaign had an official# photographer there for campaign purposes.

Now, in response to that, Steven# Cheung, his campaign spokesperson,## put out a post yesterday with an e-mail that# they say supports their case.

It does indicate## that -- it says only Trump may have an# official photographer, but, Geoff, it's## an excerpt.

It could be talking about the visit# to the Tomb of the Unknowns and not Section 60.

There's different sensitivities there.

Section 60# is a place of real-time grief.

It is alive.

It is## a very sensitive area .

And it is something that# those officials protect particularly stringently.

GEOFF BENNETT: I know you have been# talking to Republican operatives and## voters as well.

What are they saying about this?

LISA DESJARDINS: Right.

Campaign staff has told me in the past that# Afghanis.. they think is one of their strongest pieces of# evidence against the Biden/Harris administration.## And they also know that they feel like they have# strength with military, military causes.

So there## is some concern among them in the Trump universe# that this dilutes that case on Afghanistan.

Now, the question is, what do# voters think about this?

And## I also spoke to some voters today.# I talked to some of our deciders,## those undecided voters we have been keeping# track of across the country, those who are in## the military.

I spoke to a retired colonel# from Michigan who told me he didn't really## understand exactly what happened, who was wrong# or right, but that he had one larger takeaway.

COL. DAVE HERRING (RET.

), U.S. Army: The# bottom line for me is why was he there now?## And how is he using it?

I -- it can only be# political.

And that's unacceptable.

Arlington## Cemetery is hallowed ground.

It shouldn't# be used for anything personal or political.

LISA DESJARDINS: Dave Herring says he's still# not all the way on board the Harris campaign,## but this pushes him farther# away from the Trump campaign.

I will say a different retired officer# undecided I spoke to him in Pennsylvania## pointed out, he actually has more problems with# Biden and Harris because of what happened in## Afghanistan.

He actually didn't mind the photo-op# for Trump.

He said, ah, maybe not that great,## but his problem is with the way the Gold Star# families have been treated by the Biden ministry.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, as Amna# and Laura were discussing,## Donald Trump is drawing fresh scrutiny# for a series of lewd and rude posts on## his social media account.

In some ways,# that's not new.

But what sets this apart?

LISA DESJARDINS: That's important.# It's not new.

Trump is instinctual.## He is purposefully offensive when he wants to be.

And what's important now is the timing of# this and the key voter groups that could## be affected.

Particularly, let's talk# about women.

Now, the posts that Laura## and Amna were talking about involved a picture# of Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton together.## And it raised Bill Clinton's affair with a# White House intern when he was president.

And it implied that Harris came into power by# giving sexual favors.

Now, that, of course,## is made up.

It is unfounded.

And it is highly# offensive to many women in general.

Now,## those are not new things for Trump.

But these are# critical weeks.

And we know suburban women are a## group that both campaigns believe are important# everywhere, but especially in those swing states.

So while it's not clear how many# voters are persuadable right now,## this is the kind of thing that# people who would like Trump to win,## but maybe are uncomfortable with him, really# groan about, this sort of unfiltered idea.

Now, we know Trump cares because# today he also announced that he## would like government or insurance# companies to pay for IVF services,## something else that is thought of to be a# concern for suburban women.

So they know## there's an issue there.

They're trying to# figure out how to get back on their feet.

GEOFF BENNETT: OK. Lisa# Desjardins, thanks so much.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

GEOFF BENNETT: We start the day's other# headlines with the war in Ukraine.

Russian missiles and drones rained down# on the country for a third time this week,## causing minor damage to civilian infrastructure# in Kyiv.

It comes as Ukraine's top commander## described fighting on the eastern front as# exceptionally tough.

Russia has ramped up its## assault there since Ukraine's surprise# offensive in Kursk earlier this month.

Video released yesterday by Ukraine's# military showed grenades dropping onto## Russian targets.

The E.U.

's# top diplomat today supported## efforts to take the fight to Russia,# including the use of Western arms.

JOSEP BORRELL, European Union Minister for Foreign# Affairs: The weaponry that we are providing to## Ukraine has to have full use, and the restrictions# has to be lifted in order for the Ukrainians## to be able to target the places where Russia is# bombing them.

Otherwise, the weaponry is useless.

GEOFF BENNETT: Also today, Ukraine's# military confirmed that one of the## F-16 warplanes that Western nations provided# to Kyiv has crashed.

It's the first reported## loss of an F-16 since a handful of# them arrived in Ukraine last month.

In Hong Kong, two editors of a now-defunct news# outlet that were convicted of sedition today.## Former chief editor of Stand News Chung# Pui-kuen was seen leaving court after the## ruling.

He was arrested back in 2021 along with# his colleague Patrick Lam.

Their outlet openly## criticized the government during a crackdown# that followed pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Both had pleaded not guilty to the charges.# They face up to two years in prison each.

The## trial was seen as a test case for the# future of press freedoms in the city.

A listeria outbreak connected to Boar's Head# deli meats has now claimed the lives of nine## people across the country.

That's according to# the CDC.

Six new fatalities have been confirmed,## including two in South Carolina and one# each in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico,## and New York.

Three deaths had already# been reported in Illinois, New Jersey,## and Virginia; 57 others have been sickened,# and Boar's Head has recalled seven million## pounds of its products in what is now# the largest listeria outbreak since 2011.

The FBI is failing to report all suspected# child sexual abuse cases to law enforcement## agencies.

That's according to a report out# today from a Justice Department watchdog.## A review of more than 300 cases between the# years 2021 and 2023 found the agency did not## appear to comply with mandatory reporting# requirements about 50 percent of the time.

And when the FBI did file a report, it only# did so in a timely manner in 43 percent of## cases.

The inquiry stems from the FBI's failure# to properly investigate former USA gymnastics## team doctor Larry Nassar.

A senior FBI# official acknowledged some mistakes,## but said that -- quote -- "The vast majority# of the work has been handled appropriately."

The Pentagon said today that Defense Secretary# Lloyd Austin has agreed to provide the Secret## Service with military support for presidential# and vice presidential candidates.

That comes after## the assassination attempt last month on former# President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.

At the briefing today, spokesperson Sabrina# Singh said that U.S. Northern Command would## provide support at various locations# during the election and a bit beyond.

SABRINA SINGH, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary:# The Department of Defense will provide protective## support and will continue -- and that will# continue through the election November 5,## 2024, with anticipated continued# support to the president-elect and## vice president-elect through the# inauguration of January 20, 2025.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Secret Service has# come under heavy scrutiny for its failure## to prevent the July 13 shooting that also# resulted in a fatality.

Its director stepped## down last month and a number of officials have# reportedly been placed on administrative leave.

Fewer Americans filed for unemployment# benefits last week.

It's the latest## sign that the labor market remains# strong despite high interest rates.## The number of jobless claims slipped by# 2,000 from the week before to 231,000.## That's a bit below expectations and# still low by historical standards.

A separate report out today showed# the overall economy grew at a solid## 3 percent rate last quarter.

That was# revised up from an initial reading of## 2.8 percent thanks to strong consumer# spending and investments by businesses.

That economic data failed to lift spirits on# Wall Street today, with stocks ending mixed.## The Dow Jones industrial average gained more# than 240 points, to close at a new record,## but the Nasdaq dropped nearly 40# points as major tech companies## took a breather from recent gains.

The# S&P 500 ended the day virtually flat.

And, in Paris, dozens of athletes competing# in the Paralympics officially became medalists## today in the first full day of the Games.# The first gold went to Caroline Groot of## the Netherlands and her classification of the# women's 500-meter track cycling time trial.

But## China dominated the day, winning multiple# golds in track cycling and para Swimming.

And a tae kwon do bronze went to Zakia Khudadadi,# earning the first ever Paralympics medal for the## Refugee Team, which represents more than# 120 million displaced people worldwide.

Still to come on the "News Hour": criminal charges## against the founder of the messaging app# Telegram raise questions about free speech;## Nebraska's highest court weighs whether# some felons can vote this November;## and a guitar virtuoso from the Sahara gets# political after a coup in his home country.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause# fighting in Gaza to allow hundreds of## thousands of children to receive polio# vaccinations.

Those pauses will occur## in specific locations for eight to nine# hours a day over three days beginning on## Sunday.

The World Health Organization aims to# vaccinate 640,000 children under the age of 10.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, at least# 16 people have been killed in what the## Israeli military calls counterterrorism raids# that began Wednesday in the cities of Jenin,## Tulkarm, and the al-Fara'a refugee camp.

Among five militants Israeli forces say# they killed today in the city of Tulkarm,## Mohammed Jaber, a local commander they long# pursued.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the## militant force backed by Iran, confirmed Jaber's# death.

Israeli officials say Jaber was linked to## -- quote -- "numerous terror attacks," including# the June death of an Israeli man, Amnon Muchtar.

Jaber was killed in an overnight gun battle near a## mosque which left residents# caught in the crossfire.

Khaled Abu Al-Ghiyab says he and his# wife barely escaped their home alive.

KHALED ABU AL-GHIYAB, West Bank Resident# (through translator): The house went up in## flames as they shot three, four ro.. got out.

My wife's shoulder and arm were# burned.

Thank God it only came to that.

AMNA NAWAZ: Meanwhile, families at the# al-Fara'a refugee camp buried their dead,## four killed in an Israeli raid yesterday.# Masoud Naaja's survived that raid.

Today,## he buried his two children, who did not.

The IDF released this drone footage today# they say showing a militant base inside## a mosque in the camp.

Their forces have# now withdrawn from al-Fara'a.

Also today,## Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said returning# Israeli citizens to their homes along the Lebanese## border, where fighting with Hezbollah# continues, must be a goal of the war.

Just yesterday, rescued hostage Qaid Farhan# Alkadi returned to his village home near Rahat.

QAID FARHAN ALKADI, Rescued Hostage (through# translator): I feel 100 percent and next to you## another 200 percent.

Do everything# you can, if it's demonstrations,## everything to bring the people home from this# side to the other, and from the other side,## to bring them back as well.

For me, they# are all human beings, no matter what.

AMNA NAWAZ: His return is bittersweet.

Israel# has said that his bedouin Arab village was built## without permits and has plans to demolish# 70 percent of homes there.

Alkadi's home## has not received a demolition notice.

For perspective on Israel's operation in# the West Bank, we turn to Steven Erlanger,## chief diplomatic correspondent for# The New York Times.

He previously## met with the Islamic Jihad leader# who Israeli forces killed today.

Steven, welcome and thanks for joining us.

So these Israeli forces had been trying to kill# Mohammed Jaber for a very long time.

They actua.. thought that they'd done so back in April,# and then he emerged alive three days later to## kind of cult status among people# there for surviving.

But tell us,## who was Mohammed Jaber and why was# he one of Israel's most wanted men?

STEVEN ERLANGER, The New York Times:# Well, he was the leader of a group of## militants in the Tulkarm refugee camp.# And he'd organized them very well.

So there was a collective of militants# from Fatah, from all the other factions.## And after the October 7 invasion by Hamas,# they started to recruit more people.

And,## spirited by that, encouraged by that invasion,# many of them, like this kid Abu Shuja'a turned## to Islamic Jihad or to Hamas away from# Fatah, because they felt that Hamas had## actually broken through a complete stagnation# in the prospect of Palestinian nationhood.

And so for a lot of people, he was a# hero because he kept surviving Israeli## efforts to kill him.

But he represented# a new generation of young Palestinian## militants willing to fight and die for# their dream of a free and independent## Palestine and to drive Israeli occupiers,# as they see them, out of the West Bank.

AMNA NAWAZ: And Steven, just to clarify,# Abu Shuja'a, who you referenced there,## that's the nom de guerre of Mohammed Jaber.# It translates to father of the brave.

But when you met with him in person a# reporting trip to Tulkarm in the West## Bank earlier this year and he told you# he'd switched allegiances from the more## moderate Fatah to the more extremist# Islamic Jihad, what was the reason for## that?

Was that just because of October# 7 or had that been building for a while?

STEVEN ERLANGER: He switched to Islamic Jihad# partly because everyone among his peers have## lost faith in the Palestinian Authority.

They# regard them as collaborating with Israel.

And they have been very offended# that the Palestinian security forces,## whenever Israel would come to attack people# like Abu Shuja'a, did not fight the Israelis,## but either collaborated with# them or actually stayed at home.

So there's also been a growing dissatisfaction# with the leader of the Palestinian Authority,## Mahmoud Abbas, and also the feeling that the# Palestinian state was really going nowhere,## that there was a stagnation,# that life looked hopeless.

And as ugly as the Hamas invasion# was, for many young Palestinians,## it expressed a degree of hope that their# own situation was not hopeless forever.

AMNA NAWAZ: We just saw today the United# Nations secretary-general, Antonio Guterres,## say that these Israeli raids are fueling what# he called an already explosive situation in## the West Bank, but he also said they could# further undermine the Palestinian Authority.

What do you make of that?

STEVEN ERLANGER: Well, I think the Palestinian# Authority is pretty well undermined in .. partly through its own faults, but also# through the Israeli government's decision## to withhold taxes from them, and also after# October 7 they have closed the West Bank.

So Palestinians who had legal permits to work# in Israel could no longer go to Israel to work,## and Palestinians living in Israel could no# longer go to places like Jenin and Tulkarm## to even shop, so the economy crashed.

And the# Palestinian Authority was already weakened.

Now you have these far right ministers inside# the Israeli government who talk about annexing## the West Bank who are encouraging settlers to# take more ground.

So all of this does fuel more## militancy and creates anxiety among the Israeli# military that there will be a new wave of suicide## bombings and explosives used against Israelis# in Israel proper, let alone among the settlers.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, Steven, as you know,## Israel says the goal of this operatio.. as you have reported on, has taken hold in many# of the refugee camps there in the West Bank.

Knowing what you know about that# force, is that goal attainable?

STEVEN ERLANGER: Well, it's impossible# to defeat an idea.

This, we understand,## whether it's expressed by Hamas# or by Fatah or by these kids.

They have a dream of an independent Palestine.# They have a dream of their land taken back,## of Israeli settlers and occupiers gone.

And# there's going to be very little that Israel## can do to destroy that.

The idea of# a two-state solution, I have to say,## seems farther away than ever.And it would require# giving Palestinians authority and sovereignty and## control over their own lives that Israel, for its# stated security reasons, is not prepared to give.

So I see this third-front# war going on indefinitely.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is Steven Erlanger, chief# diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times.

Steven, thank you so much.

Good to speak with you.

STEVEN ERLANGER: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: Parts of New England are# on high alert after health officials in## New Hampshire this week confirmed the first death## from the rare mosquito-borne virus# known as eastern equine encephalitis.

It brings the total number of confirmed human# infections in the U.S. this year to six,## including cases in Wisconsin, New Jersey# and the neighboring states of Vermont and## Massachusetts.

Meantime, hundreds of# cases of another illness transmitted## by mosquitoes -- that's West Nile virus# -- have been confirmed across 33 states.

It paralyzed a teenager in Missouri# and hospitalized Dr. Anthony Fauci.## The country's former top infectious# disease expert told the outlet STAT:## "I have never been as sick in my life."

To help us understand more about these viruses,## the risks they pose and how they spread,# we're joined now by Dr. Peter Hotez,## dean of the National School of Tropical# Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Welcome back to the "News Hour."

DR. PETER HOTEZ, Baylor College of# Medicine: Thanks for having me, Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: We have now seen the first death# from the eastern equine encephalitis v.. Tell us more about this disease, how it spreads,# and why New England seems to be affected by it.

DR. PETER HOTEZ: Yes, it's called an alphavirus.

And we do see cases periodically, including# human cases and deaths.

And it tend.. disproportionately affect horses.

And that's# where the equine part comes into the name.## It circulates among birds.

And there's a# specific mosquito for the birds.

And then,## once it gets hold in the birds, different# mosquitoes can bite and transmit to humans.

So we don't usually see a lot of# cases.

I think my big concern is,## we're starting to see not only the eastern# equine cases, but, as you mentioned,## the West Nile virus cases.

And there's a bigger# problem going on in the Western Hemisphere,## where there's this big uptick in dengue# cases in Brazil, this other virus Oropouche.

We're seeing an expansion of yellow fever,# geography in Brazil to the fringes of the## Amazon.

So the big picture, I think, is that# we're seeing a general surge in vector-borne## diseases across the hemisphere.

Brazil and# parts of the Caribbean are ground zero,## but it's starting to filter in,# particularly in Texas and the Gulf Coast.

And this is -- could be a new normal for# us during this time of climate change,## together with urbanization and other factors.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, in parts of Massachusetts,# health officials there are telling people to## avoid outdoor activity between dusk and# dawn.

They're conducting pesticide sprays.

How concerned should folks in that region be# and what more can they do to protect themselves?

DR. PETER HOTEZ: Well, the problem is, there's# not much room for error.

This is -- has a high## percentage of encephalitis and fatalities,# perhaps as high as 30 percent of the cases.

So this is definitely not one you want to# get.

I think the most important thing is,## if you do go outside, especially early# in the morning or in the evening,## you want to be fully covered with# long pants or sweatpants and socks## and sneakers and a hooded sweatshirt# if you're out in the morning and a hat.

And then, on the exposed parts, make# certain you use a good insect repellent,## preferably one with a high percentage# of DEET that you put on the dorsal and## palm or surface of your hands# and around your neck.

I mean,## that's what I do.

I like to get my 10,000# steps in and I do walks early in the morning,## sometimes before sunrise and in the evening, which# is a maximal time when mosquitoes are biting.

And, sometimes, my neighbors who are out in# shorts and T-shirts will look at me like I'm## a bit nuts.

And I use that as a teachable moment.# And I will explain to them, look, you have to be## really careful because West Nile is accelerating# right now, as well as other vector-borne diseases.## And there's risk now for ones transmitted by# the Aedes aegypti mosquito, including dengue.

And also we have ones that are arising# from Brazil.

So this is the peak time of## year for vector-borne disease, and it's# probably going to become our new normal.

GEOFF BENNETT: You mentioned West# Nile.

Let's talk more about it,## because we have seen nearly# 300 cases across the country.## What should we know about the spread# and severity of the West Nile virus?

DR. PETER HOTEZ: Well, Texas is getting# hit very hard.

So what we usually see in## the United States is a big peak in Texas# and the adjoining states in the southeast,## Mississippi and Louisiana, and then# going up into the Great Plains.

And there's North Dakota and Nebraska.# And then you also sometimes see foci in## New York and New Jersey, where the virus was# first discovered.

You have bad years and good## years for reasons that we don't entirely# understand.

2012 was a terrible year,## for instance.

And this one's looking like# it could be a pretty bad year as well.

And I'm worried that it's going# to become more and more like this,## that every year is going to become a# bad West Nile year, just like we could## see dengue coming into the U.S. Gulf Coast and# other diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.

So the West Nile is transmitted by the Culex# mosquitoes.

That's why we do insecticidal## spraying in the evening and the morning.

Aedes is# a little more difficult to control.

It requires## going house to house.

And we tend not# to do that much in the United States.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, if this is the new normal,## mosquito-borne illness made# worse by climate change,## what more should we be doing to protect ourselves?# What more could the federal government do?

DR. PETER HOTEZ: Yes, it's a good question.

I think we need to up our game in terms of doin.. our surveillance system in the U.S. is# extremely fragmented.

So, for instance,## if a patient comes into an emergency room# or a clinic and has what kind of looks like## it could be an arbovirus infection, a# mosquito-transmitted virus infection,## they will present with fever and rash and headache# and photophobia, being afraid of the light.

And the physician kind of shrugs his shoulders# and say, hmm, maybe it's an arbovirus infection,## maybe it's something else.

And by# the time you get the test back,## it stays later and sometimes even longer than that# because you have to send it to specialty labs.

So we don't have the point-of-care diagnostics# that we need.

And what we really need to do is## have a detailed map at a county-by-county# level of what's in our particular county.

And so one of the things that we're doing here# at Baylor College of Medicine and our National## School of Tropical Medicine, we're undertaking a# pretty sophisticated metagenomics project where## we're doing full sequencing of mosquitoes,# the full genome together with their viruses,## and also pairing it with wastewater testing, so# we can get that very detailed map of what's there,## so when a physician sees a patient that they# suspect could have one of these infections,## they will already know what's in the# flora and fauna of our local area.

And we don't do that currently.

GEOFF BENNETT: Dr. Peter Hotez, thanks, as# always, for your insights.

We appreciate it.

DR. PETER HOTEZ: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## The arrest of Telegram's CEO and founder# this week has reignited concerns about the## balance of free speech and the responsibility# that comes with running social platforms.

Telegram, founded in 2013, now# has more than 900 million users,## making it among the most popular# messaging services in the world.

Stephanie Sy has the latest.

STEPHANIE SY: French authorities have charged# Telegram founder Pavel Durov with several## offenses related to his messaging app.

The charges# include complicity in the distribution of child## abuse images, drug trafficking and failure# to comply with law enforcement requests.

Durov, who operates Telegram from Dubai,# was apprehended over the weekend and was## ordered to pay five million euros for bail.

The# arrest of the Russian-born tech billionaire has## sparked a free speech rallying cry in some# circles and has raised questions about how## other social media executives may be# held accountable for their platforms.

Joining me to discuss the implications# of this arrest is Pranshu Verma,## technology reporter for The Washington Post.

Pranshu, thank you so much# for joining the "News Hour."

Before we get into the ramifications of# this arrest, tell us why Telegram is in law## enforcement's bullseye and what brought about this# unprecedented arrest of the company's founder?

PRANSHU VERMA, The Washington Post: So# Telegram is a wildly popular messaging app,## mostly in places like Russia,# the Middle East, and South Asia.

About 950 million people use it.

And it's a way# to send private chats or public broadcasting## messages to large -- hundreds of thousands# of people.

And it's also a way to send## individual kind of encrypted chats as well.

So# it melds two types of messaging into one app.

And now this kind of app is pretty# good in some ways, for example,## if you're a dissident and you want to organize# a protest against an authoritarian government.## But it's also become an app where some# of the worst activity online kind of## has become a haven for it, such as the# sharing of child sexual abuse imagery.

And so that's kind of what's made Telegram into# the bullseyes of the French authorities now,## is that they are basically saying that the owner# of Telegram, Pavel Durov, is complicit in making## Telegram spread child sex abuse imagery, kind of# spread organized crime, and also not complying## with law enforcement when law enforcement# wants user data about criminal activity.

And so, as you saw this weekend, this# all culminated into a head when Pavel## Durov landed in France outside of# a Paris airport and was arrested## and has now been issued charges# around these types of activities.

STEPHANIE SY: But the other platforms, as# you know, including platforms like Facebook## and Instagram, have also been accused# of having nefarious activities,## including sexual abuse imagery# of children, extremism, scammers.

How is this different?

How does Durov differ# from his peers when it comes to that?

Do the## other platforms, for example, cooperate much# more with governments and law enforcement?

PRANSHU VERMA: There's no# doubt that platforms like## Meta and Twitter do host similar types of content.

But what Telegram is very specifically# known for, it actually boasts about is## its reluctance and often complete noncompliance# with law enforcement in sharing user data.

So## even if a law enforcement official comes to# Telegram, it is their policy as they boast## about even on their own site to not share# zero bytes of data with government to date.

And that's what makes it really# different from all the other tech## companies is that kind of strong noncompliance.

STEPHANIE SY: Elon Musk and other tech giants have# posted their support of Mr. Pavel on X. Musk did.## And a lot of people are asking what his arrest# means for the heads of other similar platforms.

Should folks like Mark Zuckerberg, for example,# be concerned about facing similar accusations?## And could you see him being arrested# if he travels to Europe?

And do you## see these charges being levied against# a tech executive in the United States?

PRANSHU VERMA: Yes, this is the big question# here.

It's opened up a can of worms.

Are the people who own the tech companies liable# for the content that is on their platforms?

Now,## in the United States, there's a rule# in law that shields companies from## being held liable for the content# that they have put on their sites.

But in Europe, there is a little bit more# of a strength around holding tech companies## accountable.

And you have seen now, in this# case, kind of the most muscular act to date## of a government official -- of a government# holding a private official of a company## to account.

And it is unlikely that we# would see it in the United States where## somebody like a Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk is# detained for what is on Facebook or on Twitter.

But now the question becomes, what happens if# that activity happens in Europe or elsewhere,## and will governments kind of respond in# kind?

And we don't know the answer yet.

STEPHANIE SY: That is The Washington# Post's Pranshu Verma joining us.

Thank you so much.

PRANSHU VERMA: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT:## The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments# this week on whether a recently passed law## which allows former felons to vote# violates the state's constitution.

John Yang is here with more.

JOHN YANG: Geoff, last month, just before this law# was to take effect, .. Hilgers said in a written opinion that lawmakers# do not have the authority to restore the voting## rights of felons who've completed their sentences.# He said only the state Pardon Board can do that.

In response, the Nebraska secretary of state# told local election officials to stop registering## voters who've been convicted of felonies, but# not pardoned.

Now the state's highest court## will have the final say.

Nebraska is one of 26# states and the District of Columbia that have## restored former felons' right to vote to some# extent or another over the past three decades.

Kassidy Arena is a senior# reporter at Nebraska Public Media.

So, Kassidy, we have the oral arguments the## Supreme Court on Wednesday.# Where do things stand now?

KASSIDY ARENA, Senior Reporter,# Nebraska Public Media: Well, John,## that's probably a question..

There's a lot up in the air right# now, and especially as we wait for## the Supreme Court decision.

As of right# now, though, the secretary of state,## Bob Evnen, has told registration offices# to stop registering people who have been## convicted of felonies, whether or not they# have completed the two-year wait period.

So the question really is where are we now for# a lot of the folks that these laws apply to,## for people, Nebraskans who have been# convicted of felonies?

It's kind of up in## the air on whether or not they will be able to# register to vote and to vote in this election.

JOHN YANG: Any indication when the Supreme# Court's going to hand down their decision?

KASSIDY ARENA: It's hard to tell.

The secretary## of state's office obviously has some# deadlines that it has to comply with,## and those are coming up in October.

So that's# the only thing that the secretary of state's## office really needs to know in order to# meet those voter registration deadlines.

Other than that, more of just a waiting game.

JOHN YANG: You mentioned voters# who've registered in 2005.

In 2005,## there was a law passed that allowed former# felons to register to vote or to vote after a## two-year waiting period.

And the attorney# general's opinion also addressed that,## saying the legislature didn't# have the right to do that.

So you have had this two decades almost## of people registering to vote.# What's going to happen to them?

KASSIDY ARENA: So, John,# just to really outline that,## there is -- there are two laws that are kind# of up for question right now.

The one that's## 19 years old, LB 53, it basically said if# you have completed your felony sentence,## you have completed it entirely and you# wait two years, you can register to vote.

Then LB 20 came in, which is the big one that# really caused all of the conversation.

That## eliminated that two-year waiting period.

So# we have two then that the attorney general## did publish his opinion saying that# both of them were unconstitutional.

Now, the secretary of state's office has# said that the individuals who registered to## vote under that previous law, that two-year# waiting period law, they're not going to go## and back and roll out on all of those people# who registered to vote.

So all of the people## who registered to vote under that law, they# should still be able to vote in this election.

However, it is on pause for anybody# who didn't get in during that kind of## loophole time.

So the people that already# registered, they should be good to go.

JOHN YANG: Despite all this court fight,# this law actually passed the legislature## by a large margin.

It was 38-6.

Was# there much debate over it there?

KASSIDY ARENA: So there was some debate.# Obviously, it did pass with a big majority.

It seemed that many lawmakers did think the# two-year waiting period was fine to begin with,## but then with some spearheading from some other# lawmakers, they decided to eliminate that.## But the big thing here is -- and I'm# sure you all have already done your## research on this as well -- is the bill# actually passed and became law because## Nebraska allows a bill to become law# without the signature of the governor.

And that's kind of -- that was where# the questions started to sprout from.

JOHN YANG: Now, you mentioned# the sort of uncertainty over## what's happening with these former felons.

What's the -- what effect is this# having on them, do you think?

KASSIDY ARENA: Yes, so there has# been some estimates that around## 7,000 formerly incarcerated people who've# been convicted of felonies are kind of## just up in the air.

They really don't# know if they can vote in this election.

And we're getting really close to the election# at this point.

So it's probably a little bit## disconcerting to be like, hey, do I get to# vote in this election that's coming up very## soon or can I not?

And so it's been a little bit# disheartening for some people who this LB 20,## eliminating that waiting period, it was really# exciting for them to know that they could vote.

And now they just don't know if that# excitement was warranted or not.

JOHN YANG: The election is# coming up, as you mentioned.

Is anyone saying that the outcome of# this case could have a political effect?

KASSIDY ARENA: It's really# hard to say.

So, District 2,## which is the area of Omaha,# the biggest city in Nebraska,## it's hard to tell where that district will go.# It can kind of go back and forth.

Occasionally,## it's known as the blue dot in the typically red# Nebraska.

But, sometimes, it can go red as well.

I believe in the -- let's say, I# believe in -- Biden won District 2## by over 2,000.

So it's hard to tell where --# what effect it will have this election year.

JOHN YANG: And, of course, this is# important because Nebraska splits## its electoral votes by congressional district.

Kassidy Arena of Nebraska Public# Media, thank you very much.

KASSIDY ARENA: Thank you, John.

AMNA NAWAZ: Guitarist Mdou Moctar# has been bringing a new kind of## music to the world steeped# in his cultural heritage.

Now his latest album strikes# a decidedly political chord,## a response to upheaval in his home country of# Niger, including a military coup last year.

Special correspondent Christopher Booker caught up## with him on tour through the U.S. for# our arts and culture series, Canvas.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: The reviews of Mdou Moctar's# new album are filled with incendiary adjectives,## words like fiery, blazing, and screaming, all# appropriate descriptions of an album which, to## Western ears, offers an entirely new demonstration# of what's possible with an electric guitar.

When I first sat down with Moctar three years ago,## there was an effort under way among the press# to find a proper description of this guitar## prodigy from Niger.

Was he the Hendrix of the# Sahara or an African an African Eddie Van Halen?

MDOU MOCTAR, Musician: For me,# it doesn't matter.

They call me## whatever they need.

But I am still Mdou# Moctar.

And then I try all to be me.

I support, absolutely, I support# Jimi Hendrix.

I love what he do.## And then I love Eddie Van Halen too., all the# famous artists, very talented.

I love them,## but I love myself more.

And then I try# all the time to, like, have my own style.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: Sung in his native# Tamashek and French, Moctar's music is## a contemporary iteration of what's been# nicknamed desert blues, guitar-driven## music performed by the Tuareg people, a# traditionally nomadic group from the Sahara.

Do you worry that there's a rush to label# you, to almost Westernize your sound?

MDOU MOCTAR: No.

The music, like, it's# -- I feel the music, it's like ocean.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: Three years later, after a# near constant tour through the U.S. and Europe,## Moctar now stands as a singular player.# Comparisons are no longer necessary.

MDOU MOCTAR: The most important for me to saw# those people happy.

That, it's the most important,## because we do the same when we have 30 person.# We use the same energy with like 30,000 person.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: Despite growing recognition,# Moctar's musical ocean has grown more agitated,## reflected both in the intensity of his# playing and in the title of this new album## surrounded by the incendiary# descriptions, "Funeral for Justice."

When you say funeral for justice,# what justice is being lost or buried?

MDOU MOCTAR: For me, when I say# the funeral for justice, I mean,## like, justice doesn't exist# anymore.

Every country, like,## try to be strong than his neighbor.

Just# for what reason?

Just to hurt him.

To make## him say, I am stronger than you, I can say# whatever I need to say.

No one can stop me.

It is what happen in this world, and# that is not justice.

That is not fair.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: This album, though, was# written and recorded before the recent upheaval## in Moctar's native Niger.

On July 26, the Northern# African country saw its democratically elected## president, Mohamed Bazoum, a politician Moctar# publicly supported, overthrown in a military coup.

This happened as Moctar was on tour.

MIKEY COULTON, Musician: It was like,# OK, we're going to take this day by day,## hour by hour.

And, finally, when# we finished the last shows, like,## yes, you guys can't go back# home.

The borders are closed.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: Mikey Coulton plays bass in# the band.

He started playing with Moctar in 2017.

MIKEY COULTON: And so everyone was stuck# in New York for a while and freaking out,## calling their families.

Like, they just want to go## home to their families.

And it was# a very scary thing for these guys.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: Moctar and drummer Souleymane# Ibrahim and rhythm guitar player Ahmoudou## Madassane spent nearly six weeks in a holding# pattern in the United States.

But in October,## they were able to return home, staying# home through the winter and early spring,## before the summer's tours of# the U.S. and Europe resumed.

Were worried they wouldn't# be able to get back here?

MIKEY COULTON: Yes, of course, always.# There's always that fear.

Even pre-coup,## there's always the visa fear.# There's, yes, we get the visa,## but then what happens?

Can they get# inside of the country?

And there's## never that sign of relief until you see# them walking through the airport gates.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: They did make it# through this time, and the first stop## was a single-day rehearsal in Brooklyn,# a warmup before two shows at Coachella,## California's annual mega-festival# in desert outside of Palm Springs.

You sing about many things about what's going on## at home.

Do American audiences# know what's happening back home?

MDOU MOCTAR: Some of them, they know today# what is going.

Here in the unites states,## the people love the music,# like, very loud and crazy.

MDOU MOCTAR: And then I am trying again to make# them happy by what I am playing.

Later, some of## them, like, are curious and then they're going to# say, I have to know what he's thinking about it.

And then, in the same time, we have the# translator for our track in the album,## and then they're going to see it and ten# understand what we're talking about it.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: On the opening track of# "Funeral for Justice," also called "Funeral## for Justice," Moctar asks African leaders: "Why# does your ear only heed France and America?## They misled you into giving up your lands.

They# delightfully watch you in your fraternal feud."

MDOU MOCTAR: This album, it's, like, more# serious than all the albums I did before,## because the problem is going, like,# bigger than bigger.

We have, like,## to be honest and, like, punch in the face# for the colonialism and tell them the truth.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: What would# justice look like for you?

MDOU MOCTAR: The first thing is, don't# hurt someone because you're stronger than## him.

Don't drink his water because you# are thirsty.

It is what I call justice.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: While, personally and# artistically, Moctar wrestles with the complicated## geopolitics of the world, the spirit of the# effort is, at its core, still pure rock 'n' roll.

You're a touring rock star at# this point.

You're playing all## over the world.

You're playing Coachella.# People see you.

Your life is on the road,## and then it's home.

Do you feel# like you live in two worlds?

MDOU MOCTAR: It's not I feel.

I do.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: This certainly may be true# for Moctar the man, but, with his guitar in hand,## the contours between these two worlds are# becoming just a bit more difficult to see.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Christopher# Booker in Brooklyn, New York.

GEOFF BENNETT: And there's a lot more online,# including a look at financial advice on social## media, when it can be helpful and when you should# be skeptical.

That's on our Instagram page.

AMNA NAWAZ: And that is the "News# Hour" for tonight.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

For all of us here at the "PBS News H..