AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

Geoff Bennett is away.

On the "NewsHour less than three months into the war.

A recording surfaces of former President Trum not certify the 2020 vote.

What it means for his 2024 campaign and the nati And ever wondered where lost luggage ends up?

During the busy travel season, we visit the store that sells all the unclai BRYAN OWENS, Owner and CEO, Unclaimed Baggage: What our guests have in common is, is, they love the thrill of the hunt.

I mean, you never know what (BREAK) AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "NewsHour."

The United Nations Security mo re humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza after a week of delays.

The U.S. abstained from the vote, which did not demand a cease-fire.

In the meantime, American officials are saying Iran was deeply involved in attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

JOHN YANG: Bodies and burials overwhelm Gaza.

Officials of the Hamas-run Health Ministry say the death toll has passed 20,000.

After another airstrike, Anwar Dhair buried the next generations of his family.

ANWAR DHAIR, Gaza Strip Resident (through translator): My daughter, her husband.

This is my grandson.

He was a baby, 4 months JOHN YANG: Those lucky enough to survive still Th e few remaining hospitals don't have enough staff or supplies for meaningful treatment This school has been turned into a field hospital.

DR. BASHIR AL-HOURANI, Deir bu t gauze and disinfectant.

We don't have anything else.

We call on everyone, the whole world, to su medicines, lifting the siege on Gaza.

JOHN YANG: Staff at the Al-Zawayda clinic provide what care they can, but with early childhood vaccines, these children will be far susceptible to illnesses like polio or measles.

Lama Al Afesh is a nurse.

LAMA AL AFESH, Nurse (through translator): We have especially those who are newborn babies aged 1 and 1 months JOHN YANG: Clinic psychologist Waleed Omar Hamdan said he worries about the long-term consequences, mental, as well as physical.

WALEED OMAR HAMDAN, Clinic Psychologist (through transl the war, and, during this war, things became even worse.

The number of psychiatric cases among children, adolescents and adul JOHN YANG: But even with the best medical care, Gazans can't recover without food and water.

International and say the situation could collapse into famine.

MAHMOUD AL-QISHAWI, Pious Projects: Even if we provide food, but we have like we have no access to gas.

So we go to streets to gather some wood to burn a huge number of families, and we don't have food that is enough for them.

JOHN YANG: Aid trickles through the Rafah Crossing and newly open Kerem Shalom crossing.

But once inside Gaza, aid workers struggle to reach those who need it.

Israeli officials say there is no shortage.

COL. MOSHE TETRO, for the near-term.

MAN (through JOHN YANG: After many delays, the United Nat for much more humanitarian aid for Gaza.

MAN: Abstentions?

JOHN YANG: T for a cease-fire.

LINDA THOMAS that the council spoke out on this hum actually, that, once again, the council was not able to condemn Hamas' horrific terrorist attack on October 7.

JOHN YANG: Today, a Southern Israel kib an American-Israeli citizen, was killed in the initial Hamas attack October 7.

Kibbutz Nir Oz said Hamas took 73-year-old Gad Haggai's body to Gaza.

In a statement, President Biden said: "I reaffirm the pledge we have made to all the families of those still held hostage.

We will not stop working to bring them home."

With American support, the Israeli offensive pushes forward, determined mission.

As Christmas nears, the region prepares for Ne ar Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, revered by Christians as the traditional birthplace of Christ, rubble takes the place of Christmas lights, a gesture of solidarity with Gaza.

REV.

ISSA THALJIE Whether it is a painti And this message is that people can see the real scene, that Christmas comes during war and hardship.

JOHN YANG: For the "PBS NewsHour AMNA NAWAZ: In the day's other headlines: The Supreme Court won't expedite a ruling on former President Trump's claim of presidential immunity for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

Special coun trial could begin in March, ahead of next year's presidential election.

The issue will now be left to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

It could still work its way up to the Supreme Court eventually.

Wisconsin's Supreme Court today overturned the state's Republican-drawn legislative maps.

They ordered new district boundary lines be drawn ahead of the 2024 election.

Democrats had argued that the maps were unconstitutional because they weren't contiguous and gave Republicans an unfair advantage.

President Biden issued pardons for thousands of people convic marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia.

It expands on a similar move he made last year, part of his pledge for crimin reform.

Mr. Biden al sentences for nonviolent drug offenses."

A fierce Pacific storm unleashed downpours and strong winds on the desert California today.

The same system inundated the cl osures and wreaking havoc on holiday travel plans.

The storm is expected to move into Southwest Arizona and taper off.

The Czech Republic is reeling after its deadliest shooting in history.

A gunman opened fire yesterday at a university in Prague, fatally shooting 14 people, before killing himself.

Dozens more were wounded.

Mourners gathered today at a Th ey lit candles and reflected on the shooting's impact.

DANIEL BROZ, Czech Student (through translator): What happened yesterda in the city center, hearing -- I was on the other side of the river, and hearing gunshots, pops, not knowing what's goi surreal for me, as a Czech.

AMNA NAWAZ: Authoritie trying to piece together a motive.

They believe he killed his father beforehand In Ukraine, Russian drones pounded buildings in the capital overnight and regions farther south.

The strikes Officials say more than two dozen drones flew towards the city, though most were shot down.

More were intercepted in Odesa and Mykolaiv, where debris damaged a granary and other port facilities.

Back in this country, tradin The Dow Jones industrial average lost 18 points to close at 37386.

The Nasdaq rose 29 points, and the S&P 500 added eight.

And nothing spreads holiday cheer quite like a winning ticket in Spain's annual Christmas lottery.

In Madrid, cro This year's total prize pot reached a record-breaking $2.8 billion The top winning ticket holders took home $440,000 apiece.

Confetti fell and champagne flowed as the lucky numbers were announced.

The Spanish Christmas tradition dates all the way back to 1812.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on this week's political headlines; a review of films that stood out in a year plagued by the writers and actors strikes; and U.S. troops spread some Christmas joy in the form of a song.

A report out of Michigan further pulls back the curtain on former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The Detroit News listened to a partial recording of a phone call between Trum National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, and two local election officials from late November of that year.

In it, Trump and McDaniel can an other member of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers not to certify the election results there, despite no evidence of fraud.

William Brangham has been tracking this story today and jo William, it's good to see you.

WILLIAM BRANGH AMNA NAWAZ: call?

And what kin WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Here's what we know.

Joe Biden won Michigan by about 154,000 vo But at the time of this call, Michigan had not certified those votes.

And so imagine you're these two local elections officials, and the phone rings, and it's the president of the United States and the chairman of the Republican National Committee.

And they're saying, don't certify those results.

It's crooked.

We will send There's been rigging goi Just imagine the power dynamic difference you to do this.

I mean, as w voting in Detroit, which is where Wayne County is, saying that dead voters had been voting.

None of that was true.

Michigan was about to announce An d these two canvassers did try to rescind Mi chigan was declared for Joe Biden.

Michigan was critical for Joe Biden's And this effort, this phone call, seems to be another effort by the former president to stop that fact from becoming reality.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, we know there are a lot of ongoing efforts to h his political allies accountable for their efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

How does this episode fit into those larger efforts?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: This effort, this phone call is similar, in a way, came out of Georgia, where there's a state case against the former president in F County, Georgia, where he called election officials there and said, can you guys find me 11,000 votes?

We also know the federal case being br Smith charges him with four felonies.

And in that indictment, it does cite Trump's use, alleg and persuade state elections officials to overturn elections.

Wayne County is not in that indictment.

We don't know if that's going to end up in evidence i One former prosecutor that I talked to today did suggest that Ronna McDaniel coul a co-conspirator in the federal case in one count of that case if it could be proven that she knew that there was, in fact, no voter fraud, but yet was urging these elections officials to not certify alleging that fraud existed, so still waiting to see on that.

AMNA NAWAZ: And have we heard anything from Ronna McDaniel or President Trump on that phone call?

WILLIAM BRAN A spokesman for President -- former President Trump re election was rigged and stolen, and thus he had every reason to make a call to elections officials to try to stop that.

Ronna McDaniel made a somewhat similar argument.

She argued -- we can show her quote here.

She said: "What I said publicly that warranted an audit of that vote."

Again, at the risk of repeating myself, there was no evide No court case that was brought ever showed that that was the case.

A state review run by Republicans in the state legislature found the same.

Joe Biden won Michigan fair and square.

AMNA NAWAZ: In this case, the ef But if there was a similar pressure campaign in our upcoming presidential election, is our election system better prepared in any way to handle it?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: This is an enormous ongoing concern.

In Michigan, last year, they passed a ballot measure that said, c these two officials, can only certify an election based on the actual vote tally.

So Michigan seems to have headed this off.

But people who study elections worry that No rth Carolina, Wisconsin, where similar rules are not being enacted and chicanery could occur.

AMNA NAWAZ: legal matters around Mr. Trump -- as we reported ea to fast-track consideration of Mr. Trump's immunity claim related to charges brought against him for January 6.

What does that mean for that case?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: This is a huge As you mentioned, special counsel Jack Smith had asked the Supreme Court to basically leapfrog over an appeals court that was ruling on this motion, that the president had made this sweeping assertion that, because he was president, he was immune from any alleged crimes he might have committed.

Jack Smith said, I know Court to look at this more quickly, because this is an urgent matter for the nation.

The Supreme Court said, we're not going to do it.

The appeals court must rule.

The reason this is a victory for his legal team has wanted to do in all of these cases, delay them as long as possible.

So, the appeals court will rule.

It may end up before the Supreme Cour AMNA NAWAZ: William Brangham, thanks for unpacking it and making sens Appreciate that.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: My pleasure.

AMNA NAWAZ: Award-winning Gazan poet Mosab Abu Toha lost his home, some of his friends and family members in the last two months.

On November 19, he himself was detained by Israeli forces o as he tried to evacuate Gaza with his family, and was released only after international outrage.

He's now in Cair he left behind and what the future holds for his homeland.

Mosab, welcome to the "NewsHour."

Thank you so much for joining us.

MOSAB ABU TOHA AMNA NAWAZ: Take us back, if you can, Your son is an American citizen, so you and your family we down to the Rafah border.

You were stopped by Israeli forces.

What did they tell you about why you were detained MOSAB ABU TOHA: Well, I was be en safe passage for people to evacuate from the northern part of Gaza to the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

And on the way, there was a line, and there's Th ere was an Israeli soldier calling people by description.

So when it came to me, he said: "The young man with a black pack -- backpack and with a red-haired boy, put the boy down and drop all your things and come join the line.

There were about six snipers aiming at me."

So I put the boy down, I dropped everything, and then I joined the li And then I was undressed in front of a jeep behind a wall.

Everything was confiscated from me, including my -- all of the passports.

And then I was blindfolded and handcuffed.

Later, I knew that I was taken to Be'er Sheva about two hour knowing anything, without having the blindfold or the handcuffs removed.

So, we spent -- I spent personally about 50 hours without seeing anything, without being able to remove -- to move my hands.

AMNA NAWAZ: Mosab, you were taken, we know as you say.

You were kep What was that treatment like?

And, at any poin MOSAB ABU TOHA: Well, they first accused me of being a Hamas activist.

I was beaten very hard.

I was slapped across the face.

I asked them if they have any pr And he slapped me across the face.

He said: "You give m Then they didn't have any evidence.

I asked them if they have a photograph, a video, a sat that's what they are saying is correct.

But it turned out to And they knew who I was, because my son was -- is an American citizen, and we are his family.

So the names They were just taking me to just treat me as bad as they could.

AMNA NAWAZ: Mosab, were you alone during this whole time?

MOSAB ABU TOHA: No.

So, when I was et cetera, there were about at least 70 to 100 people.

And then, when we were taken to Be'er Sheva, in that detention center, there were about 116 people.

And then, the next day, on An d the soldiers next door were making fun of the detainees.

They were asking them to repeat Arabic children's songs.

My wife told me that she used my phone, which she kept with her.

She used my phone to contact my friends, friends from CNN, friends from "The New Yorker," The Washington Post, The New York Times.

Every one of them wrote abou And I would like here to thank everyone who helped me get out as soon as possible.

And I ask everyone in the world to work very hard to get everyone out.

AMNA NAWAZ: Mosab, we are speaking today as the home you left behind is virtually unrecognizable.

And it's now at the grim milestone of over 20,000 people killed.

What is it like for you to hear that number?

MOSAB ABU TOHA: I can't believe what I see.

I can't believe what I hear.

So I'm now here in Cairo, unab And the fact that I was unable to do anything while I was in Gaza, and now I'm also again helpless to do anything to help and support my family in Gaza, is very, very devastating.

It's really very hard.

With each step I took outsid in Gaza.

AMNA NAWAZ: You posted a video of you reading part of a poem by one of those friends, a man named Refaat Alareer, a very famous poet and essayist.

The poem is called: "If I Must Die."

Here's a clip of you reading part o MOSAB ABU TOHA: "If I must die, you If I must die, let it bring hope.

Let it be a tale."

AMNA NAWAZ: So, Mosab, Gaza's storytellers an d photographers and journalists.

What's the impact of that?

MOSAB ABU TOHA: neither they are Gazans or international journalists.

They want to kill people in Gaza, and they don't want the people to descri So they want just to bury the story and bury the people with it, which is, I think, the worst crime that could happen in history.

AMNA NAWAZ: As you know, Israeli officials, and with say they cannot go back to the way life was before October 7, having lived through those October 7 Hamas attacks, and they want to see Hamas gone.

How does this end?

What do you MOSAB ABU TO and to the whole world that we have been unable to live at all.

I mean, in Gaza, in the West Bank, Palestinians in the diaspora, they live at all.

We need to live a decent l us.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I wonder what it is you brought with you.

MOSAB ABU TOHA: Well, I brought collection, one -- only one copy.

I lost every book that Every time I traveled to the United States -- I went there three times.

Every time I went, I went -- I came back to Gaza with dozens of English books, especially ones signed by friends, author friends.

But now, when I got out of Gaza, I only had one copy of my book, which I published last year in San Francisco.

And I only got out only with my clothes.

AMNA NAWAZ: You're in Cairo now.

What's next for you and your fami Where will you go?

MOSAB ABU TO One is going to the United States, now, because my family and also my wife's family are still in mortal danger.

Any moment, we can hear about something bad from them, just like I learned today about the death of, like, a very close friend of mine who used to be a farmer and a very excellent soccer player.

The second option is being h And the third one, which I hope will happen soon, is returning to Gaza and reuniting with my family.

And, hopeful AMNA NAWAZ: Mosab Abu Toha, joining us tonight from Cairo.

Mosab, thank you so much for your time.

We're thinking about you and your f Please stay safe.

MOSAB ABU TO AMNA NAWAZ: This year, the Transportation Security Administration says it's screened a record number of passengers and, if the past is any guide, will handle millions of bags this holiday season.

But a small fraction of them will go mi Where do all those lost bags end up?

Stephanie Sy has this story.

STEPHANIE SY: Stuffed bunnies, fancy suits, We lcome to the country's only retailer of lost baggage.

Just off the road in the small city of Scottsboro, Alabama, the Unclaimed Baggage store has everything anyone would need, except almost all of this once belonged to someone else.

JENNIFER KRITNER, Unclaimed Baggage: I love to see the items that come from all over the world.

Some of the STEPHANIE SY: Jennifer Kritn She encourages shoppers to check out the store's museum, where some of the more eccentric items found in baggage are displayed.

JENNIFER KRITNER: An autograp I'm a huge basketball fan, so that stands out in my mind.

STEPHANIE SY: She says almost all checked bags, 99.5 p owners after the flight.

But some bags don't.

After airlines launch a three-month search th e store steps in to purchase that fraction-of-a-percent of bags that are orphaned.

JENNIFER KRITNER: Our team of openers, that's what we call them, they open the suitcases and they really mine and explore those bags for treasures.

These items, they're lost and they're unclaimed.

And we need to figure out, can we resell this Do we need to recycle this item, or is this an item that can be donated?

STEPHANIE SY: Nashville resident Sheila Allen has been shopping here for o She says the discount prices keep her driving back.

SHEILA ALLEN, Shopper: It amazes me the things people put in their luggage.

Like, this d It is a cluster of stones.

A year or so ago, I bought a I paid 20 bucks for them.

And when I looked the brand up online, they started at $120.

BRYAN OWENS, Owner and CEO, Unclaimed Baggage: What our guests have in common is, is, they love the thrill of the hunt.

I mean, you never know what yo STEPHANIE SY: Bryan Owens is the owner and CEO of Unc In 1970, his father, Doyle, started the company, borrowing a pickup truck to transport his first load of unclaimed bags.

BRYAN OWENS: Our inventory, I have always The bags and the lost-and-found items that were seeing now are different in many ways than we saw, say, 10 or 15 or 20 years ago.

We are seeing more bags come thro seen in the company's history.

STEPHANIE SY: Last year, some 26 the highest number in a decade.

NICOLE HOGG, Baggage Portf shortages, a lot of expertise lost in the industry.

And we've seen a surge in the mishandled baggage rate.

STEPHANIE SY: Nicole Hogg is the director of baggage She says, after high lost luggage rates the last few years, new data shows signs of recovery.

NICOLE HOGG: What airlines are doing is investing in tracking devices, which gives full visibility of the bag throughout the whole journey from the time that the bag is checked in to when it arrives and is in the hands of the customer or the passenger.

You can track your pizza.

You can trac And customers have put a lot of pr have that visibility available.

STEPHANIE SY: Still, f the feeling of dread doesn't easily subside.

BRITTANY LOUBIER-VERVISCH, Teacher: I have neve They were just everywhere.

STEPHANIE SY: Last was canceled.

While at the Tampa to help others find theirs.

Brittany texted around 70 people after finding ac t of service that got her anointed online the Luggage Angel.

On the receiving end of one of those messages was Taira Meadowcroft, a Missouri-based librarian.

TAIRA MEADOWCROFT, Librarian: I get this text message and I'm like, that's weird.

I was staring at it, like, who is this?

And so I texted back and I was like, I'm very thankf Here is a gift card, because I was, like, freaking out.

BRITTANY LOUBIER-VERVISCH: I could have been scrolling through my phone the wh that I was waiting there.

But, instead Travel is so stressful for so many people.

So I did what I could to help.

STEPHANIE SY: Now, a BRITTANY LOUBIER-VERVISCH: The easiest thing really is to have something, like one of these little Velcro things that goes on your handle.

You can get these straps.

Like, this is ju your name.

That was the STEPHANIE SY: Back in Scottsboro, Alabama, Sheila Allen is still shopping ha ve left behind.

She has this travel advice: SHEILA ALLEN: I make sure, my suitcase, but I have tags on the inside of my suitcase as to where I'm going, where I can be contacted.

So, yes, I don't want to find my (LAUGHTER) STEPHANIE SY for it.

For the "PBS AMNA NAWAZ: An overwhelmed immigration system, a court ruling to keep Donald Trump off the ballot, and new details about his efforts to overturn the last election.

To discuss it all, we turn now to the analysis of Brooks and Capehart.

That is New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart, associate ed The Washington Post.

Good to see you both.

JONATHAN CAP DAVID BROOKS AMNA NAWAZ: again.

The Senate w In the meantime, immigration as an issue, as a concern for Americans, has been risin In some recent polling by Gallup, you see, when people are asked what they think the most important problem the country is facing right now, the top one is le adership at 19 percent.

Immigration a second at 15 perc Jonathan, the negotiators from the Senate who went home still have a chance to continue talking.

Do you see t JONATHAN CAPEHART: In the spirit of Christma something done, Christmas will have come and gone.

And so, look, this much, I know.

They are trying.

They are tryin This much, I also know.

If they do indeed co are going to hate, because it doesn't go far enough from their perspective, and those on the left and within the Democratic Party, their hair is going to be on fire, because it probably will go too far.

But because it is attached to aid to Ukraine and Israel and Taiwan, the th is done is so high that I think the negotiators are going to come up with a bill that is going to require a lot of people on both sides of the aisle to swallow a bitter pill if they want to get this done.

AMNA NAWAZ: DAVID BROOKS we have been since the Bush administration.

Just a lot of people have a lot they need from this bill The Biden administration is now just way behind Bi den was slightly behind immigration in 2020.

Now he's like 30 points behind.

Among immigrants themselves, people who perso lead.

Among immigr And so the political pressure is just awes And then you look at Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, Kyr Everyone is sort of saying the right things.

And, of course, the details are Bu t I just think so many different constituencies get something out of this that I think it's I don't know more likely than not, but more than we have seen in decades.

AMNA NAWAZ: The cynical view here is, the longer it's can leverage it and say it's Biden's problem and not want to fix it.

Do you see any truth to that?

DAVID BROOKS: Ye Well, obviou But I think, for Kyrst or the individual House members, and you look at how people are reacting on the border where they go to the grocery store and there's no food because they have been swamped, they can't get in the yard, like, people are having real difficulties on the that are overwhelmed, to me, those people are not looking for an issue.

Those are looking for some help.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: And I agr But let's talk about an even more cynical view.

And that is Republican governors sending migrants from their states to that are run by Democratic mayors, and thus using immigrants and using human beings for political purposes, using them as pawns in their political games.

And I think that's also why we see concern about immigration rising up to the top, including in places like New York City, which Republicans like to deride it as, well, you're a sanctuary city, well, you should take care of this.

But in order for those things to work, things need t And so this is a problem that is not one of President Biden's making.

To your point, this is something -- we haven't been this close to an immigration deal since President George W. Bush, the Republican, but this is something that has bedeviled both Republican and Democratic presidents, simply because the incentives have not really there to do anything about it.

AMNA NAWAZ: And we cannot say Co ngress acts.

JONATHAN CAP AMNA NAWAZ: Meanwhile, a on a lot of the anti-immigrant messaging.

He has been employing, he's been echoing Nazi ar e -- quote -- "poisoning the blood of our country."

We have got just over three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses.

And I need to point out that that language is actually reso Take a look at this latest poll from The Des Moines Register and NBC in Iowa.

They found 42 percent say those comments actually make them more likely to vote for form Trump.

Jonathan, wh JONATHAN CAP It takes me back to the 2016 campaign, when wh o went to his rallies: Why do you like Donald Trump?

He says what we're all thinking.

He says what I can't say.

And left me to wonder, well, what can't you sa He's called Mexicans rapists.

He's called for a Muslim ban.

This was during his campaign.

He's been -- he was president for four y So we know what his thinking is.

And in these rallies where he talks about bl ood of our country, and he spells out they're coming from Africa, they're coming from Asia, they're coming from South America.

What he doesn't say is, they're Fo r him, immigrants are people who come from anywhere that's basically Black An d let's not forget what he said when he was president of the United States, how he derided immigrants from country from -- quote, unquote -- "S-hole countries."

So we know what his viewpoint is.

And so the fact that he is us we should take that very seriously.

He's saying it over and over And it is terrible for political discourse.

It is terrible for a country that is built by AMNA NAWAZ: David.

DAVID BROOKS And Donald Trump has a talent for tapping of American history, America first, nativism, Know Nothing-ism.

And this is an example.

But we shouldn't ignore the hi s support among immigrants themselves is surging.

And so there's an actual issue here.

And so, in my view, anytime he talks abou going to get that 42 percent number.

And then you got to remember 42 percent, a Trump supporters.

So they're going to be pro-Trum So, A, I think it's abhorrent.

But we shouldn't reduce the whole issue to th comments, that there actually is a core problem here that people are really resonating w AMNA NAWAZ: I do want to get you both to weigh in on the issue out of Colorado as well, Supreme Court there weighing in and basically saying Mr. Trump is not eligible on their primary ballot, citing the Insurrection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

We know there's similar legal efforts under way in a number of states.

So this is likely headed for the Supreme Court.

But, Jonathan, is this an issue that y JONATHAN CAPEHART: Yes.

(LAUGHTER) JONATHAN CAP In the short one, the guy is at least right now leading in the polls.

He is on his way, quite possibly, to become the next Republican nominee.

And we're less than a year out.

So the voters should have At the same time, I say, yes, that the courts should have a say, because this is that has not been tested yet.

And I don't think, even though the framers -- at least trying to come into power in American politics, that person has never tested the system the way Donald Trump has.

The system has never been required to answer And so I think, just for the good of the country, let's have this conversation.

These two things can happen at the same time.

AMNA NAWAZ: You agree with that, DAVID BROOKS: No.

(LAUGHTER) AMNA NAWAZ: DAVID BROOKS AMNA NAWAZ: DAVID BROOKS Well, why is Why are ther It's because cohort of, in this case Americans, have created a hereditary meritocratic class.

They have too -- they have a lot of education.

They now have a lot of cultura They control the media.

They control They increas And a lot of Americans say We're going to be populists.

We're going And then you have say, sorry, we're taking your guy off the ballot?

That would explode this country and, i circumstances, for kicking off for the Insurrection Act.

Has he been convicted of the -- of offending the Insurrection Has he been even charged with violating the Insurrection Act?

No.

And so, to m people their democratic rights.

I assume the Supreme Court wil But that's my view.

AMNA NAWAZ: who don't believe that he should not be president, he's unfit t So I'm sure it's something we're going to continue to cover.

You have a quick point to make?

Yes, please.

JONATHAN CAP Yes, the qui Just make that clear.

AMNA NAWAZ: Worth noti Thank you fo Look, we are issues of our time, which we so appreciate, every week, but it is the season of pe goodwill towards men and women, also the season of hope.

I need to ask you both, what is it that gives you hope in this moment?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Oh, I was going to go to David first.

But I... (LAUGHTER) JONATHAN CAP For me -- an I know that there's some folks who don't -- who might not agree with that, but the American electorate in 2022, during the midterm elections, they showed us that they are nuanced and sophisticated and can walk and chew gum at the same time.

They might not like the economy, the country and they blunted the red wave.

It is my sincere hope that the American ele democracy, will have saved the idea of democracy for the rest of the world.

That is my hope.

AMNA NAWAZ: Da DAVID BROOKS (LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS when you got, like, Santas swinging their hips around?

So I'm just filled with ecstatic exuberance.

(LAUGHTER) AMNA NAWAZ: For that, I am grateful.

David Brooks, Jonathan Capehart, thank you so much.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Thanks, Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: Over the holidays, you might have some time to catch up on new films at home or to venture out to the theaters.

To help guide us on the best ones to add to critics on their top picks of the year.

It's for our arts and culture series, Ca JEFFREY BROWN: Union strikes caused delays and other bumps in year, but some films still stuck out from the crowd.

To tell us about this year's best films, I'm joined by Justin Chang, film Los Angeles Times, and Linda Holmes, host of NPR's "Pop Culture Happy Hour."

Nice to see you both.

Justin, why Why don't you give us a couple JUSTIN CHANG, The Los Angeles Times: Yes, hi, Geoff.

My favorite movie of the It's called "All of Us Strangers."

And it's the latest from the English writer-dir It tells the story of a lonely screenwriter who's played in a quietly gut-wrench by Andrew Scott.

ACTOR: Are you ready?

I'm going to press ACTRESS: Merry Christmas.

ACTOR: Merry Here you go.

ACTRESS: Mer JUSTIN CHANG It's a gay love story.

It's a drama about -- it's a ghost story.

I haven't seen a more in What makes it work, I think, is that it's really hauntingly ambiguous it's completely emotionally direct and satisfying on the other.

And it features what is for me the acting ensemble of the year, with not only Andrew Scott, but also Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell.

A very different movie that I also loved is "The Zone of Interest," which is Jonathan Glazer's chilling and searing drama about a Nazi commandant and his family living next door to Auschwitz.

This is a movie I hesitate to desc subverts what we have been conditioned to expect about Holocaust dramas.

It is very much about the banality of evil, but the movie itself is never banal.

And it's the opposite of holiday cheer this season, but it is a movie that I hope audiences will embrace the challenge of, because I think it's rewarding to watch.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right.

So, Linda Ho Those were two independent and pretty heavy films.

What's on your list?

LINDA HOLMES but I'm also happy to provide a couple that I am one of the many people who enjoyed "Barbie."

I very much admired all the crafts that were on display i the scoring, the costuming.

All of that stuff I thought was wonderful.

And I think the story in the end just was much more Greta Gerwig, in writing and directing that, just did much more wit expected.

And another JEFFREY BROW LINDA HOLMES JEFFREY BROW LINDA HOLMES That's still a really good thing for theaters.

And I was really happy to see that happen.

Another one I would mention is "The Holdovers And it's about these three people who are stuck over the holiday break in a school.

And it is Paul Giamatti as this very grumpy teacher, and then one of the kids that is in his class, and then the woman, played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who plays the woman who runs the food service.

And they all get stuck there.

I think it's a beautiful movie.

It's very generous to its characte And, to me, it's warm without being cloying.

That was how I responded to it.

JEFFREY BROWN: You know, Ju small and that moment of "Barbie," and I think you had "Oppenheimer" as one of from the year.

That moment of "Ba Was it a one-off?

Did it have JUSTIN CHANG: It's I mean, it did feel like o I remember going into a theater, not even to see "Barbie" or "Oppenheimer," both of which I enjoyed very much in different ways.

I went to see another movie and just seeing theaters, like, cr And I think the lessons of both these movies is that personal vision and big-budget blockbuster filmmaking can and should merge together in a way that they so rarely do.

My concern about it is that it was so heartening to see two filmmakers that I respect as much as Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan succeed in this way.

My fear is that it just contributes to the eventization of movies.

I love event movies.

I love being in th But, as a film critic, I'm concerned with the audience going to movies on a regular basis to make it a regular part of their entertainment diet, rather than just an exception.

But what a glorious exception it was.

JEFFREY BROWN: You want to give I mean, what are you telling people at this time of year that they should see?

LINDA HOLMES: I cannot resist bringing up one that I really liked that I know Justin didn't like at all.

JEFFREY BROW LINDA HOLMES which is this very extravagantly vulgar, loopy thriller that wa who made "Promising Young Woman" a couple of years ago.

ACTOR: My parents, they have got problems.

ACTOR: What kind of -- what do yo ACTOR: I don't think I will ever go home again ACTOR: Well, why don't you come ho LINDA HOLMES: Very divisive movie.

I knew walking out of the An d I have actually really enjoyed talking to people about it.

I have heard a lot of smart people who can't stand it and really smart people it was terrific.

It's my favorite thing that happen things.

(LAUGHTER) JEFFREY BROW Well, OK. Justin, you one that divided people, but you liked.

JUSTIN CHANG: In a spirit of holiday charity, as Linda says, I do think that Rosamund Pike gives one of the great comic of the year in it.

And Jacob El work in "Saltburn" as well.

So, but another movie... LINDA HOLMES: That's (LAUGHTER) JUSTIN CHANG Another favo and maybe the last, although we have heard that before, from the 82-year-old Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki.

If you like "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke Miyazaki films, it's a safe bet you will like this one too.

It's a gorgeously drawn and surreal and inventive piece of animation.

But what makes it so moving is, it's also very much the story of an older man, perhaps Miyazaki himself, looking back at a younger version of himself and asking questions like, how do we reconcile the pain of the real world and the escapism of fantasy?

It's a beautiful film, and I think a profound one too.

JEFFREY BROWN: And just in our last minute, ye ar without, of course, thinking about the strike.

Do you see any impact now, or are you looking for it to come, or LINDA HOLMES: You will see some films that are delayed.

There are some that are already So it's going to take a while for the But I was so heartened by the fact that we have mentioned just a handful of movies here, but there are so many that were great this year that are still coming out.

"American Fiction" is great.

I like "The Iron Claw," wh JEFFREY BROWN: Justin, brief last word?

JUSTIN CHANG: I am just think writers and actors are happy to return to work.

And I think they have seen the power that solidarity and should be remunerated in accordance with their work.

I mean, they make this business run.

And so I -- it's just a shame that i strike in order to accomplish that.

So -- but, hopefully, this season will be JE FFREY BROWN: All right, Justin Chang of The Los An "Pop Culture Happy Hour," thank you both very much.

LINDA HOLMES: Thank you.

JUSTIN CHANG AMNA NAWAZ: We close tonight's program, heading into Christmas weekend, with a "NewsHour" tradition.

Each year, t holiday song with members of the military singing.

Tonight, we have "O Come, All Ye Faithful" with a bit of a twist.

(SINGING) AMNA NAWAZ: How's that for holiday spirit?

Well, ever wonder what our favorite You can find out by going to our TikTok account.

My colleagues and I weigh in on everything from caroling to fru And be sure to tune in to "Washington Week With The Atlantic" tonight right here on PBS.

Jeffrey Goldberg and his panel discussed the Colorado Supreme Court decision to leave Trump off the ballot and what 2024 could bring.

And, tomorrow, on "PBS News Weekend": the promise shown by one transa that could help the aviation industry lower emissions.

And that is the "NewsHour" for tonight.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

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