WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Good evening.

I'm William# Brangham.

Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett are away.

On the "News Hour" tonight: The Trump# administration conducts strikes in## Nigeria against alleged terrorists# they claim are killing Christians.

A federal judge blocks the detention of a British## social media activist who tracks# online hate and disinformation.

And the White House moves to# dismantle one of the world's## leading climate and weather research centers.

MATTHEW CAPPUCCI, Senior Meteorologist,# MyRadar: The atmosphere does not possess a## voter registration card.

I think it's important# to remember that scientists do.. really the only people doing the politicization# are, for the most part, politicians.

(BREAK) WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Welcome to the "News Hour."

President Trump said today that he# delayed American military strikes## in northwest Nigeria until Christmas Day# to deliver a message to groups he alleges## are targeting Christians in that country.# Meanwhile, the Nigerian government praised## the attacks and said it provided the# U.S.

with the necessary intelligence.

Nick Schifrin is here with the details -- Nick.

NICK SCHIFRIN: William, the area that# the U.S.

bombed in Nigeria is near the## border of neighboring Niger and a part# of Western Africa that suffered from## cross-border terrorism.

Northern Nigeria# has suffered from violence for years.

And while the president describes this# as focus on protecting Christians,## the violence in Nigeria and the groups# committing it are far more complex.

In the Gulf of Guinea, a Tomahawk missile flies to# an area never before struck by the U.S.

military,## Northwest Nigeria, where locals picked# up debris as nearby flames kept burning.

By day, the grass was scorched and police# cordoned off an impact site.

This missile,## at least in this remote rural# area, apparently killed no one.

NUHU UMAR JAGO, Nigerian Resident: There# was no loss of life and no loss of property.

NICK SCHIFRIN: A U.S.

military official tells# "PBS News Hour" a ship off Nigeria's coast## fired more than a dozen Tomahawks at two ISIS# training camps.

Local security analysts say the## missiles hit in at least four locations,# all in Nigeria's northwest Sokoto state.

The area has been plagued by a group known as# Lakurawa that claims affiliation with ISIS Sahel## and exploits poor local governance and access to# terrorist groups that operate in Niger and Mali.## Nigeria declared them a terrorist organization,# but locals say they're connected to bandits and## criminals, who've intimidated local residents,# most of whom are Muslim, preaching radicalization,## kidnapping hundreds of girls and young boys in# an attempt to control and exploit the population.

YUSUF TUGGAR, Nigerian Foreign# Minister: This is what we have## always been hoping for, to# work with th.. NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, Nigerian Foreign# Minister Yusuf Tuggar told Channel TV## that Nigeria provided the U.S.

intelligence.

YUSUF TUGGAR: It is a joint operation# and it is not targeting any religion.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But, last night, President Trump# wrote that the targets were -- quote -- "ISIS## terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria who# have been targeting and viciously killing## primarily innocent Christians at levels not# seen for many years and even centuries."

And today, he told Politico the strike was# supposed to take place on Christmas Eve,## but he said: "Nope, let's# give a Christmas present."

NINA SHEA, Center for Religious Freedom Director,# Hudson Institute: The government doesn't help the## Christians.

They're not protecting them.# They're not protecting their villages.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Nina Shea directs the# Hudson Institute's Center of Religious## Freedom.

She and 30 other advocates,# Christian organizations and think tanks## wrote a letter in October to President# Trump saying the Nigerian government## "demonstrably tolerates relentless aggression# uniquely against Christian farming families."

NINA SHEA: Local Christian leaders# are telling us that they are## trying to cleanse the land of Christians, that# they are establishing the land for Islamic rule.

NICK SCHIFRIN: In reality, Nigerian# violence is more complex.

For years,## Islamist terrorists have plagued Northern and# Northeast Nigeria.

The best known is Boko Haram.## They have targeted the Nigerian military and# violently opposed female education.

It's bombed## mosques.

Boko Haram also targeted Christians,# as I saw in 2015 in the eastern city of Mubi.

Outside the nearby Church of the Brethren,# the damage is everywhere.

Inside,## high above the podium, the fire set by Boko# Haram almost erased the cross from the wall.

ELIA USMAN, Church of the Brethren: When these# people landed in Mubi, they will ask you,## are you a Christian or a Muslim?

When you# say you're a Christian, they will shoot you.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But that's the northeast, far# from today's target.

And then there's the map.## Most Nigerian Muslims live in the north.

Most# Christians live in the south, and in the middle,## the two groups overlap, as do tribes,# farmers and herders, who can clash violently.

For decades, nomadic herders, almost all# of whom are Muslim, have fought farmers,## most of whom are Christian, over# land disputes and scarce resources.## The independent conflict monitor# ACLED tells "PBS News Hour" last## year's data show a rise in Christian# fatalities, mostly in Central Nigeria,## but the vast majority of the incidents were over# land disputes, not targeting because of religion.

YUSUF TUGGAR: You can see how all these things## are interconnected.

So when you try to# reduce.. Muslims killing Christians in Nigeria, you# see how you can get it completely wrong.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And for more perspective on# the U.S.

strike against targets in Nigeria,## we turn to former Ambassador Peter Pham.

He# was U.S.

special envoy for the Sahel region## during the first Trump administration.# He's now a distinguished fellow at the## Atlantic Council and sits on the boards of a# number of companies doing business in Africa.

Ambassador, thanks very much.# Welcome back to the "News Hour."

J. PETER PHAM, Atlantic Council:# Good to be with you, Nick.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Explain who is being# targeted her.. is a group called Lakurawa connected to# terrorists in the Sahel in Western Africa,## but also criminals known as bandits in Nigeria.

J. PETER PHAM: Well, the group that was# referred to in the piece, Nick, Lakurawa,## is a good example, almost a classic one# of the cure being worse than the disease.

They originally originated as# self-defense groups in an area## where the Nigerian government and some of# the neighboring countries were unable to## provide protection for local communities.

So# they set up their own self-defense groups.

Unfortunately, over the years, these# groups, their ambitions grew.

And in## the case of Lakurawa, in Sokoto state# and some of the neighboring states,## as well as in Mali and Niger, they have# grown to establish dominion over areas of## territory where the government is -- quite# frankly, it doesn't run and is excluded.

And they have been increasingly imposing upon# the people they were -- started to protect a## harsh vision of Islam and a hard-line vision,# and increasingly kidnapping young people to## fill up their ranks.

So they have become, in# effect, the disease they were there to fight.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And I don't want to conflate# these groups.

The analysts I speak to says## it's not Lakurawa, it's not these bandits# in the northwest who are traditionally## killing Christians.

We see that more in the# northeast and the central area of Nigeria.

J. PETER PHAM: That's very much where# the conflicts between farmer-herders,## between Muslims or those motivated or agitated by## extremist interpretations of Islam# and Christians have occurred.

So I'm not privy to -- I'm a former government# official.

I'm not privy to any current## intelligence on this.

So I can't speak to why the# targeting occurred in Sokoto.

Certainly, it's a## mystery to me.

There are a couple other places I# would have picked to hit extremists in Nigeria.

NICK SCHIFRIN: So let's drill into that.

What impact, if any, could this have,## this strike in Northwest Nigeria,# on violence against Christians?

J. PETER PHAM: As far as I'm aware# of, a very limited impact.

What does## do is send a signal that the U.S.# is willing to act in this area.

But what concerns me is the fact that# all the reporting I have seen on this## has emphasized -- including Nigerian# Foreign Minister Tuggar's statements,## this was coordinated with the Nigerian# government.

And I agree with my friend Nina Shea.

Part of the problem here is actually not# all parts of the Nigerian government,## but certain parts of the# Nigerian government are suspect.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Well, we have also seen# inability by the Nigerian government,## as you were referencing before, to govern some of# these spaces, whether the northwest, the northeast## or some of these farmer-herder# conflicts in the Central Plains.

I mean, how much of this is about# -- how much of the root causes is## about the government not being able# to have governance in these areas?

J. PETER PHAM: Yes it's a matter of,# where does something start and where## something end?

There's certainly# an incapacity or lack of capacity,## but there's also a lack of political will# to put the resources necessary to that.

And in some cases -- one has to# be brutally honest here.

There's## also certain politicians in Nigeria have# their own agendas and their own political## alliances with extremists.

And you sort# of get a mixture of all that.

It's a very## complex situation that doesn't give# -- lend itself to easy solutions.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Absolutely.

And so in that sense, .. or not, that could actually help protect Nigerian# Christians, could get at this lack of governance?

J. PETER PHAM: Well, first, I think# calling attention to it is very,## very important.

Calling it out has# forced the Nigerian government to## take stock of what it is and is not# doing.

So that in itself is effective.

Secondly, I would say that important also in this# is also to be -- is operational security.

Again,## I'm not privy to current planning, but# I certainly, if I were still in there,## I'd be very, very hesitant at sharing# and coordinating if -- what the Nigerians## are claiming is was happening with this# coordination, I'd be very suspect about that.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And the Nigerian government,# as we heard the foreign minister say,## this violence is not about# any particular religion, and,## in fact, the majority of victims# of violence in Nigeria are Muslim.

But we heard President Trump# say this is about protecting## Christians.

So in the time we# have left, about 30 seconds,## do we know anything about why those two# narratives are so different right now?

J. PETER PHAM: I think a lot of it has# to do with it's a matter of perspective.## Both Muslims and Christians are suffering# because of this violence.

And where the## political will is in this in# Nigeria is the real question.

Is there political will to address# the challenges to both communities,## and is there a double agenda# on the part of certain people?

NICK SCHIFRIN: Well, but, again, on the# political will, it seems like so far,## in the past, at least, the Nigerian government# has struggled with that political will.

J. PETER PHAM: Very much so,# both in will and in resources.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Ambassador Peter# Pham, thank you very much.

J. PETER PHAM: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## The day's other headlines begin in California,# where more than 45 million people were under## flood alerts today after relentless rains added# to the state's wettest holiday season in decades.

In some of the hardest-hit areas, the# downpours have died down enough for the## cleanup to begin.

The town of Wrightwood in# the mountains northeast of Los Angeles got## nearly a foot of rain in just three days.# Residents who had evacuated returned to## find their homes buried in mud.

Locals say they# will need to lean on each other to get through.

MICHELLE MEYERS, Wrightwood Resident: I# thought what my son said about this all## happening on Christmas was really poignant.

But# this community, whether it's floods or fires or## now this, they really pull together# and they're out helping each other.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All the way across the# country, millions are bracing for a belated## white Christmas.

Areas north of New York City# and parts of Pennsylvania could see up to a## foot of snow through tomorrow.

Travel# disruptions are also in the forecast,## with more than 1,000 flights already# canceled because of this winter weather.

Officials in Kentucky say a 15th person# has now died as a result of a recent## plane crash at Louisville International# Airport.

In a social media post yesterday,## the city's mayor said Alain Rodriguez# Colina -- quote -- "suffered severe## injuries at the time of the crash and# passed earlier this Christmas Day."

He was one of 12 people killed on the ground# when UPS Flight 2976, bound for Hawaii,## crashed just moments after takeoff.

Three# pilots also died.

In its initial report,## air safety officials said they found cracks where# the plane's engine was connected to its wing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy# says he'll discuss security guarantees## with President Trump when the two meet# in Florida on Sunday.

Zelenskyy told## reporters today that a broader 20-point plan# is -- quote -- "about 90 percent ready."

But## he acknowledged that Ukraine and Russia have# yet to reach agreement on territorial issues.

Meantime, Russia carried out# a number of strikes today,## including one on Ukraine's second# biggest city, Kharkiv.

Local officials## say at least two people were killed and# six others injured, including a baby.

In Northern Israel, officials say a# Palestinian man from the West Bank## killed at least two Israelis there# today and injured two more.

Police## say the suspect ran over a pedestrian in the# city of Beit She'an and then fatally stabbed## a young woman nearby.

He was then shot# and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Authorities are describing the incident# as a -- quote -- "rolling terror attack.

"## In response, Israel's defense minister# has ordered troops to crack down on what## he called terrorist infrastructure in# the assailant's West Bank hometown.

On Wall Street today, stocks ended just a# touch lower to wrap up the holiday-shortened## week.

The Dow Jones industrial average# slipped just 20 points on the day.

The## Nasdaq also fell by 20 points.

The# S&P 500 ended virtually unchanged.

Still to come on the "News Hour": David Brooks and# Kimberly Atkins Stohr weigh in on the events of## 2025; leading film critics offer their choices# for the best movies of the year; and we take a## look at a British pantomime theater that blends# holiday tradition with Muslim culture and humor.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump# administration from detaining or deporting Imran## Ahmed.

He's a British-born researcher who focuses# on countering online hate and misinformation.

But## the Trump administration accuses him of trying# to censor viewpoints that he doesn't agree with.

Ahmed leads a group called the Center for# Countering Digital Hate.

And he is one## of five European nationals recently barred# entry to the U.S.

by the State Department.

Imran Ahmed is in the U.S., and he joins us now.

Thank you so much for being here.

As I mentioned, the U.S.

government,# specifically Secretary of State Marco Rubio,## accuses you of trying to censor social# media companies and to pressure them## into taking viewpoints that you find# objectionable off their sites.

Rubio## called you and these other individuals foreign# censors.

What do you make of that accusation?

IMRAN AHMED, CEO, Center for Countering# Digital Hate: Well, thank you.

I mean,## it's terribly confusing.

The work that the center does, looking into# things as divers.. hatred against Jews, antisemitism on social media# platforms, which we worked on with the first Trump## administration in 2020, and we have continued# to work on a bipartisan basis globally,## including in the United States with both the# federal and state governments, and the work that## we do protecting children online, looking at the# spread of eating disorder and self-harm content,## this is, first of all, important work that# needs to be done to protect the public.

But, second, we're a nonprofit, and we# can't therefore be censoring things,## which is, of course, something# that the government does.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, you seem to be# arguing that your free speech rights are## being violated, which is precisely what# the administration argues you are doing.

Do you have a sense as to why your organization# and why you in particular were targeted?

IMRAN AHMED: Yes, I mean, one of the issues that# we have had is that we take on, of course, some## of the biggest corporations in America, companies# like X, Elon Musk, Meta, and others, and ChatGPT,## so OpenAI, and these companies which typically# aren't able to be held accountable properly,## whether that is through the courts because# of the way that U.S.

law is structured,## that they are the only companies in America whose# products really aren't subject to any liability if## they cause harm to people, even when they persuade# kids to take their own lives, for example.

But we think that this is another example of these# companies which have tried to evade responsibility## using their big money to try and influence things# in politics.

And we have seen companies like X,## for example, suing us before because# they didn't like being held accountable.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, in 2023, your# organization was sued by X after you## reported a rise in hate speech on# that platform after Musk bought X. Musk, again, he argued that you were trying# to destroy the First Amendment because you## didn't like particular viewpoints# that were being floated on X. Again,## that case was dismissed, I know, and there's# an appeal under way.

What do you make of that## argument that they are making that you are# simply trying to come in and censor them?

IMRAN AHMED: Look, people can say things as# they wish, and Mr.

Musk says a lot of things.

Now, what the courts actually found was that# his lawsuit, which basically said you're not## allowed to research our platform and# doing so is a breach of the contract## that you have with X when you sign up to it,# they found that he was trying to impinge on## our First Amendment rights to research and# communicate that research, which we did.

And that research went all around the world.# It led to advertisers leaving his platform.## It led to his trust and safety council# resigning.

He sued us for $10 million,## and it was dismissed with prejudice with# a SLAPP ruling, a costs awarded to CCDH.

So that's another example# of how these people simply## don't like being transparent or accountable.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The court, a federal# judge, has temporarily stopped this## deportation or expulsion on your part.

And# we should say, you are a legal resident.## You have a green card.

You are married to an# American.

You are the father of an American.

How comfortable are you that the U.S.# justice system will continue to protect you?

IMRAN AHMED: Look, I have lived in# America for over five years now.

I## love America.

I love the idea of America,# the idea that laws are made by people,## not by kings, that we have checks# and balances on every place of power.

And I have faith in the justice system.# I know that the justice system works,## because when the world's richest man took# on my small nonprofit and tried to sue us## out of existence, it actually protected us# and made sure that our costs were covered.

And I think, in this instance, what we're seeing# is America working just as it was intended to.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: But we have# seen the Trump administration,## particularly when it comes to# deporting foreign nationals,## move very quickly, sometimes seemingly# in contradiction to judicial orders.

Do you have a sense as to how close you were# to being deported before this judge stepped in?

IMRAN AHMED: Well, we haven't received any# notification of any actual action by the## U.S.

government.

The State Department# put out a press release, I believe,## that Mr.

Musk was celebrating# online, saying this is great.

But there's no actual correspondence with me,# as a legal permanent resident of the United## States.

So we don't know.

But that's why I# assembled an extraordinary bunch of lawyers,## everyone from the ACLU, to Roberta Kaplan, our# lead counsel, Chris Clarke (ph), and others,## to make sure that there wasn't any chance# of an arbitrary detention and being spirited## away hundreds or thousands of miles away from# my friends, family, and my support network.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is Imran# Ahmed, the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Thank you so much for being here.

IMRAN AHMED: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## The Trump administration says it plans# to dismantle the National Center for## Atmospheric Research in Colorado, which is the# nation's premier atmospheric science center.

In announcing the closing, Budget# Director Russell Vought called## the center -- quote -- "one of the largest# sources of climate alarmism in the country."

NCAR, as the center is known, was# founded in 1960 and has facilitated## generations of breakthroughs in climate# and weather science.

The announcement## has drawn outcry from meteorologists and# climate scientists across the country.

Earlier this week, I spoke with two of them# who are very familiar with the center's work.## Brown University's Kim Cobb is a climate# scientist and director of the Institute at## Brown for Environment and Society, and Matthew# Cappucci is senior meteorologist at MyRadar.

Thank you both so much for being here.

Kim Cobb, to you first.

What is NCAR and why,## as a climate scientist, is it so important# and seemingly precious to this community?

KIM COBB, Brown University:# Thanks for having me, William.

NCAR is a really historic# institution in our field.

It,## of course, dates back decades now.

And, over# that time, it has really woven itself into the## fabric of both weather and climate science# across the country and around the world.

We're talking about unique, one-of-a-kind# facilities like supercomputers, ticked-out## airplanes, and most importantly, a staff of over# 800 people who are at the top of their game in## innovating in weather and climate science for# public good, putting out data that is on every## single climate scientist's computer around the# country, if not around the world, and a nexus of## collaboration as well that is important training# grounds for the next generation of leaders.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And, Matthew# Cappucci, as a meteorologist,## how important is NCAR to your profession?

MATTHEW CAPPUCCI, Senior Meteorologist,# MyRadar: I mean, NCAR is really the## birthplace of all the tools# we use, both technologically.

And, really, the discoveries that are made# at NCAR are crucial to our understanding## of how the atmosphere works.

That's# where we first learned about the MJO,## the Madden-Julian Oscillation, one of# the biggest overturning circulations in## the atmosphere that governs how so many# things, for example, hurricanes behave.

It's where we first created a special product# used by airplanes when they're landing to avoid## wind shear, disruptive changing winds with# height that could cause plane crashes.

They## invented a system there to prevent that.# That's where dropsondes were invented,## those little probes that are dropped# out of the belly of airplanes in the## middle of hurricanes to figure# out how strong the hurricanes are.

So, so many different tools and# discoveries have come from NCAR.## In addition, the modeling is incredibly# important.

And if we're sort of putting## the brakes on that, I worry about the# implications for weather forecasting.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Kim Cobb, well, what more on# that?

Well, let's say NCAR is broken up.

What## are the impacts, both for the scientific community# and for Americans who benefit from its research?

KIM COBB: I think what's really important# to remember is that NCAR focuses on the## entire continuum from weather that ranges# over hours and days that's designed to## aid the forecasts that keep people safe# and protect infrastructure and our economy.

But they also go all the way out# to looking decades into the future## and really understanding that most# important intersection right now,## how weather is responding to ongoing# climate change.

It's these kinds of## questions at the very forefront of our# field that they're focused on right now.

And these are innovations that are going to reap# absolutely untold dividends through time.

So, by## breaking this -- these up and its component parts,# if you will, first of all, the administration has## made clear that it's the climate portion of the# portfolio which they are taking squarely in aim.

And, of course, that is the portion that# is right now so important to invest in## as we seek to understand more about the coming# threats and impacts of ongoing climate change,## 2025, of course, wrapping up to be# tied for the second warmest year ever.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And, Matthew, the White House# has argued that NCAR and its undertakings and## its work is somehow contaminated with# woke ideology or climate alarmism.

Is there research or data that is coming out## of NCAR that is politicized# or ideological in any way?

MATTHEW CAPPUCCI: Truth be told, no.# The atmosphere does not possess a voter## registration card.

I think it's important# to remember that scientists do science.

And,## really, the only people doing the# politicization are, for the most part,## politicians and the general public and the media.

It worries me, though, that this fits into# an overall pattern of the demonization of## both science and academia.

The idea that# we're trying to shut down science that## produces results we don't like, it's# a very worrisome trend.

And we have## seen this other times in history,# and it never really ended well.

And I'm just very concerned about the tone that's# being taken that simply because one political## party or even one political person doesn't like# the fact that we're learning about the atmosphere.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean,# Kim, as Matthew is saying,## we know that President Trump has called climate# change a hoax.

He believes it's nothing that## we need to focus on.

He has directed so# much of the administration to move away## from climate research, from renewable# energy, doubling down on fossil fuels.

I'm just curious as to what -- are you# worried similarly about the future of## climate research if we continue to chip# away at these foundational projects?

KIM COBB: Well, obviously, as Matthew said, we# turn our backs on science to great risk and peril.

And I think most Americans get it right now.# In the headlines every year are these horrific## climate-fueled disasters that have taken such# a toll on communities and our national economy,## to the tune of billions of dollars per year.# So this is not a controversial subject in that## regard.

People do want the best available# science information to protect themselves.

And that's exactly what NCAR and its# scientists are focused on.

And I think the## Trump administration is just not understanding# how long an investment has been made to get us## to this point and the many dividends that we# have already reached and that, once you break## something like this, it's really going to be hard# to put it back together again.

That's my concern.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Matthew, the OMB# director in his announcement said## they will do a systematic review of the# work that NCAR does, and critical weather## information and research will just get sent# somewhere else or done in another location.

How confident are you that a breakup of NCAR could# still keep some of the critical elements intact?

MATTHEW CAPPUCCI: I think so many times# this administration has historically put## the cart before the horse.

And what I mean# by that is, it seems like just a year ago,## they were cutting a huge chunk of# National Weather Service forecasters.

And then, after they were laid off, the government# realized, oh, wait, we kind of need them, and## brought them back.

This seems like another really# shortsighted decision made by the administration## without realizing or fully researching the# potential implications of what could happen.

And I also just sort of think this strikes the# wrong tone for just about everybody.

Weather## and climate affect everybody.

And, realistically,# you're much more likely to be hit by a tornado or## hurricane in a red state.

And so I'm surprised# by sort of Trump and his administration doing## something that could potentially have negative# impacts on his own core audience and following.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that# is Matthew Cappucci and Kim Cobb.

Thank you both so much for being# here.

We really appreciate it.

President Trump's return to the White House# has seen several significant changes from his## first term, turning this into a consequential# year for the presidency and for the country.

So, to reflect on it all, we turn now to# the analysis of Brooks and Atkins Stohr.## That's David Brooks of The New# York Times and Kimberly Atkins## Stohr of The Boston Globe.# Jonathan Capehart is away.

Welcome to you both.

Thank you for being here.

KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR, The# Boston Globe: Good to be here.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Da.. what Trump 2.0 was going to look like# compared to the first version.

And we## have now seen a year of it, an incredibly# aggressive flexing of executive authority.

When you look back on this year,# what really stands out to you?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I tell two stories.

The first is that since 1945, the American# establishment, if you want to put it that way,## has built a series of institutions,# things like the Western alliance, NATO,## the Department of Justice, USAID, and all of those# things have been hollowed out over the last year.

And so we have seen a great decline# in state capacity.

You have to worry## about if we're a nation in decline,# because China is investing in science,## they're investing in technologies, they're# kicking our butts.

And so they tell the## decline.

This has been a tragedy,# an error of historic proportions.

The other story is that, since 1945, the# American establishment has lost touch## with American workers.

And they have# passed trade and immigration policies## that immigration workers didn't like.

They# have -- frankly, in the cultural institutions,## the media, the universities, they have kicked# working-class and conservative voices out.

And so a lot of people feel, I'm# invisible to these people.

And then... WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And, ergo, we get Trump.

DAVID BROOKS: And so we get Trump.

And# so I think both those stories.. And so, as much as we lament the horror# of what's happened over the last year,## it's much more horrible than I anticipated,# for people like me, we have to ask ourselves,## what do we do to bring this about?

And# I think both those stories are true.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: What do you think?

KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR: Yes,# two .. at me.

And one is the erosion of the rule of law.

And I see the Trumpification of the# Department of Justice, for example,## as a key role in that right alongside the White# House.

He came in pardoning the January 6 rioters,## everyone who participated in that# horrific day, but, at the same time,## weaponizing the Department of Justice# to go after his political enemies.

I mean, just today, when he was posting# on TRUTH Social about the Epstein files,## he's directing people just to look at the# Democrats that are in these files and not## the Republicans, because everything about# what the Democrats are tagging is a hoax,## and that he has an attorney general now and an FBI# director that are willing to go along with that.

As an attorney, this is not how I learned in# law school that the rule of law is supposed to## be implemented.

Another thing I think# you see a great through line, whether## it's its immigration policies or the# decimation of the federal government## with the purging of workers to the attacks# on universities, is a through line of race.

It is this idea that people within the country# who are Black or Latino or also Muslim,## the Islamophobic aspect of it, or immigrants,## it's only those that are deemed the ones# that are a danger to the country.

We will## open white South Africans -- open our arms to# white South Africans, but at the same time,## the denigration of other countries as Third# World, as less than, as hellholes and worse.

You see this real idea that there is# a white Christian nationalism that has## taken over the federal government in a way# that I never thought I'd see in my lifetime.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, as you're both# describing what we have been seeing unfolding,## this is -- none of this should# come as a surprise.

I mean,## this is what candidate Trump promised# on so many different levels.

I will be## your retribution.

I will -- I want my# Roy Cohn in the Department of Justice.

I will deport, I mean, those signs# that the rallies.

To this question## you were asking before, David, about# how -- what we ought to look at as far## as whether we got ourselves here,# how do you answer that question?

DAVID BROOKS: The surprise# or how we got ourselves.

I mean, my simple answer is#that we live in a country where people with## high school degrees die 10 years sooner than# people with college degrees, where people with## high school degrees are five times more likely# to die of opioids, where people with high school## degrees are much less likely to get married,# much more likely to have kids out of wedlock.

People with high school degrees are 2.4# times more likely to say they have no## friends.

People with high school degrees are# less likely to go to parks.

And so we have## created an inherited meritocratic# system, an inherited caste system.

And if you tell successive generations that your# kids are not going to have an equal shot because## your kids by eighth grade have fallen five# grades level below the educated class, well,## if you know your kids are going to have# no shot, they're going to flip the table.

And that's why it's always important# to see this phenomenon as a global## phenomenon.

It's not just Donald Trump.# It's Nigel Farage in Britain.

It's the## right in France.

It's the AfD# in Germany.

It's in Poland.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: South and Central America.

DAVID BROOKS: It's South and# Cent.. This is a global phenomenon.

It is a phenomenon of# the information age.

That information age reco.. people with money, with education, with money,# and it creates this class system.

And just as## in the 1880s and 1890s, we screwed up responding# to industrialization, we have over the last 20 or## 30 years not adequately responded to the shifts# that the information age has brought about us.

And so I look at this as a moment of rupture# and repair, that it's ugly to live through.## I hate what Donald Trump is doing, but every# time America or any country or us personally,## think of your own personal life, life moves# forward through a process of rupture and## repair.

Something falls apart, something# terrible happens, but you are strong enough## as a nation to ask yourself honest questions,# what part of this problem am I responsible for?

And when you do that, then repair begins to# happen.

And America's been through this so many## times, 1830s, 1890s, 1860s, 1960s.

I'm confident# that America will go through this horrible period## of rupture and something will come out the# other end if we're creative enough to adjust.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Kimberly, do you -- who do you# see as the repairers that David is yearning for?

KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR: Well, I think that it's# going to be many of the same repairs that we## saw those periods that you talked about.

We# didn't just come through the rupture on our## own.

We came through with a sustained# plan of how to get ourselves out of it.

After the Civil War, there was Reconstruction.# That was meant to heal some of the wounds and## bring up the formerly enslaved African Americans# to a place where they can participate fully in## society.

And what did we get?

We got a# vicious blowback to it with Jim Crow,## a rejection of it, this idea that politically# people thought it was better to say, hey,## these are people taking something that# belongs to you,rather than saying,## hey, let's look for a way to bring up# everyone and to protect everyone's rights.

That's exactly what Donald Trump is doing.# He could be talking to the people that you## talked about being left behind, but instead# he's saying that these immigrants or these## Black folks or these other people are# taking something that belongs to you.

And that's what's giving people the idea that this# is unfair.

But one thing that I think, this can't## happen without institutions allowing it.

And I# think this year we saw the biggest institution,## the Supreme Court, basically allowing Trump,# before the actions that he has taken has even## been deemed to be constitutional or legal, in# the short term allowing them to go in place.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: On the shadow# docket, all these emergency orders.

KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR: On the shadow# docket, thes.. And so by the time the legality or# the constitutionality has decided,## very little has been so far, the damage has# already done.

And USAID is already gone.

The## Education Department's right next to it.

You're# seeing people who have been deported to countries## that they don't have family, they have never# been to before.

How do you make them whole?

That's too late.

So the# fact that the Supreme Court,## as the unelected independent branch of# our government, has basically been more## often than not a rubber stamp for him is a real# problem.

We need our institutions to step up.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, earlier# this spring, David, you will remember,## you called for arguing that all of# these little protests, pushbacks that## are happening against the Trump administration# were insufficient for what you're diagnosing.

And you called for a civic -- collective# civic action.

I don't think I'm breaking## any news to you that I don't think# that has happened in the country.

DAVID BROOKS: Yes.

No, I mean, I was reading all these#lefty revolutionaries and I'm like,## yes, yes, let's go, get them.

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: I think it has n.. because they fear their# organization will lose money.

But one of the reasons it has not# happened, if you look at around## the world where it has happened, where# people rose up against authoritarianism,## they had strong civic structures.

Let's# say in the Philippines in the 1980s,## when they rose up, Ferdinand Marcos was# elected, but then he tried to steal power.

And so what happened was, the students rose.# The transportation workers arose.

The business## community arose.

The Catholic Church rose.

It# happened with the institutions of civil society,## through them.

And our institutions# of civil society may be too weak.

And so every institution, whether it's a# university or a business or a law firm, faces## a collective action problem.

If I stick my head# up, I'm going to get shot down.

And without strong## civic institutions where people can move as one,# it's super hard for rare individuals to stand up.

And I'm afraid that's part of what's# happened.

The second thing that's happened is,## there has been such a decay of moral norms# that it's hard for any institution to say,## no, we are going to stand up for this.

You# are not going to talk about Rob Reiner the## way you did.

You're not going to use the# racial language that is omnipresent now.

And it's hard to articulate when the corrosion# is not only in our laws, but in our minds,## in our language.

That's a hard thing to# challenge.

But I'm hopeful in the long## term it will happen.

In the 1890s, we had a# civic renaissance.

We had the creation of the## Boys and Girls Clubs.

We had the creation# of the NAACP, the unions, the Sierra Club.

All these civic organizations were created by# a group of people who said, we can't go on this## way.

And once you had the civic institutions,# then, in around 1900, you had the progressive## movement.

You get a cultural shift, you get a# civic renaissance, and then political reform.

We're still waiting for the civic renaissance.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, in just the last 30# seconds we have, Kimberly, the Democrats have## been one of these institutions that seemingly# have been kind of feckless in pushing back.

They have a midterm coming up.

Do# you think what we have seen in the## recent elections will be echoed?

You# have hope that they will be there?

KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR: I hope so.

I mean, I think that it is imperative tha.. going to be -- we always say it's the most# consequential coming up.

I'm afraid of the## voter information gathering that# the federal government is doing,## trying to consolidate voter lists and be# in charge of who gets purged from them.

I see that the obstacles are already being put up# for a free and fair election.

Democrats have to## say clearly that this is not acceptable and put# forward an agenda that Americans can get behind.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Kimberly# Atkins Stohr, David Brooks,## so nice to see you both.

Thank you very much.

DAVID BROOKS: Thank you.

KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The holidays are a great# time to catch up on the year's best films,## whether streaming at home or# heading to a movie theater.

Jeffrey Brown recently sat down# with two film critics who shared## their top picks of the year.

It's part# of our arts and culture series, Canvas.

JEFFREY BROWN: It's that time of the# year when we spotlight some of 2025's## best movies from big blockbusters to a few# hidden gems that you might have missed.

For that, I'm joined by Linda Holmes, host of# NPR's "Pop Culture Happy Hour," and Mike Sargent,## host of the podcast "Brown & Black" and# co-president of the Black Film Critics Circle.

And it's nice to see both of you# again.

Thanks for joining us.

Let's start with some of the# bigger movies of the year.

Linda, you want to start?

LINDA HOLMES, Pop Culture# Correspondent, NPR: Yes.

To me,## movie of the year in a few ways is "Sinners,"# which is from Ryan Coogler.

It's about .. brothers played by Michael B. Jordan who# end up having to battle some vampires.

ACTRESS: The vampires is different, maybe the# worst kind.

The soul gets stuck in the body.

LINDA HOLMES: Not only do I think# it's a really, really good movie,## but it's also a really good story of a movie.# It's really a situation where Coogler, I think,## was able to get the deal that he wanted to# make the movie he really wanted to make.

It is original.

It is not from# existing intellectual property.## It felt completely fresh to me.

JEFFREY BROWN: OK, how about one more# while you're at it, of a big movie?

LINDA HOLMES: Yes.

I always try# to give a little bit of love to## the superhero genre when it does a good job.

JEFFREY BROWN: Why not?

LINDA HOLMES: I .. the best movie of the year?

Maybe not.

But I think## this is truer to who I think Superman is# than some of the other recent efforts.

DAVID CORENSWET, Actor: Everybody OK?

Hey, buddy, eyes up here.

LINDA HOLMES: Good film.

Enjoyed it.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right.

Mike Sargent, what did you.. MIKE SARGENT, Co-President, Black Film# Critics Circle: "Wake Up Dead Man:## A Knives Out Mystery," which is the third#.. Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc.

This is# written and directed by Rian Johnson.

And this is actually, I think, maybe the best# of the three.

It's an interesting premise.

It's## about a priest who's killed and everybody in# the parish is potentially a subject.

This leans## strong into character.

And it really shows# that this series could go on for a long time.

The other film I have to mention is# "Weapons."

And this is a film by Zach## Cregger.

It stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner.# And what this film reminds me as a storyteller## and a lover of stories is, it's not just# the story.

It's how the story is told.

ACTRESS: You're either negligent or complicit.

MIKE SARGENT: Yes, there are plot points,## there are plot holes and things,## but you don't care because it's so much fun# to sit.. JEFFREY BROWN: All right, well, that# leaves us wanting more.

Thanks for that.

So, Linda, how about it among the indie or# smaller films.

Pick one that's stuck with you.

LINDA HOLMES: It's hard to define# indie and small for me sometimes.

But I did think one of the quieter#films that I very much enjoyed this year was## "Blue Moon," which is directed by Richard# Linklater, and it stars Ethan Hawke as... JEFFREY BROWN: The two of them# back together again, right?

LINDA HOLMES: Back together again# after a number of proj.. Hawke plays the lyricist Lorenz Hart, and it's# set on the night that "Oklahoma" opened.

And## "Oklahoma" is when Richard Rodgers, who had# been Hart's songwriting partner, was pairing## up with Oscar Hammerstein.

And obviously they# went on to have a lot of success together.

So this is sort of the night# that Hart feels his partnership## slipping away from him.

And it's just# very moving and it's very much about## art and people who make art.

And I enjoyed# it a great deal.

And I really recommend it.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, Mike,# have you got a smaller film for us?

MIKE SARGENT: I do.

Actually, it's a film called "The# Secret.. writer-director Kleber Mendonca Filho.# And it's about a tech specialist who's## in his early 40s.

He's on the run from an# authoritarian regime.

Takes place in Brazil.

ACTOR (through translator): This is the person.

ACTOR (through translator):# I want a hole in his mouth.

; MIKE SARGENT: Now, what makes this# film work besides Wagner Moura's## award-winning performance is that --# how it's shot.

This -- you almost feel## like you're watching a documentary.

It's# very little artifice.

Things are dirty.## It seems very real.

Every single actor,# you completely believe them in their role.

This is one of those films when you watch# it and then you go and you watch some kind## of Hollywood movie, it just seems --# like, wow, seems like totally false.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, so# speaking of documentaries,## it was a good year for documentaries.

Linda,# what -- give us a couple that you liked.

LINDA HOLMES: There's one that I# really liked called "The Perfect## Neighbor," which is a very upsetting film,# I will say, out of the gate.

It is about.. white woman who lived near a Black woman and# her kids and a lot of other people's kids.

And this woman just became very agitated# by the kids and was harassing them.

And## ultimately it ends in this tragic,# violent end.

And it's just a terrible## story.

It was mishandled, but# it's just an awful situation.

MAN: Sheriff's office!

Come# outside with your hands up!

LINDA HOLMES: The other one that I would# mention on a kind of a happier note... MARISKA HARGITAY, Actress: I have spent my whole## life distancing myself from# my mother, J.. LINDA HOLMES: It is a documentary that the# actress Mariska Hargitay, who is on "Law & Order:## SVU," made about her mother, Jayne# Mansfield.

It's called "My Mom Jayne."

I'm so skeptical when famous people# make documentaries about their families.

But she absolutely redeems#the whole project.

It's very honest.

It's## very fair to everybody.

It's a beautiful story# with some surprises, but also a lot of just very## heartfelt storytelling about her mother and her# kind of relationship with her mother's memory.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, Mike, what jumped# out at you in the documentary world this year?

MIKE SARGENT: Two documentaries I will mention.

One is called "Sly Lives!

(AKA The Burden of Black# Genius)," .. this is a documentary about Sly of Sly and the# Family Stone.

And they are a band that fused funk,## soul, rock, and they broke racial and gender# boundaries in the late '60s and early '70s.

MAN: Guys and girls and black and# white.

So you get all that input.

MAN: They sounded like nothing else sounds.

MIKE SARGENT: This goes beyond just the# usual musical doc.

It explores the emotional,## cultural burden placed on Black genius in America.

And it really paints a very# vivid portrait and really## makes you appreciate the genius of Sly Stone.

The other documentary by the great Raoul# Peck is a documentary called Orwell:## 2+2=5."

And it's about George Orwell and# his life.

And what's interesting about this## documentary is that it juxtaposes what's going# on today along with his writings from over 67## years ago and what was inspiring him to write the# pieces he wrote like "Animal Farm" and "1984."

And this is really life is like science# fiction, because what you see him talking about,## what he was writing about, what he's# saying is disturbingly prescient today.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right.

I want to give you both# a shot at a film to see with the whole family.

LINDA HOLMES: Absolutely.

If you're looking for# a movie for kids, "Zootopia 2" is out.

And even## though it's big, it's Disney, I do think# it's visually inventive and a lot of fun.

The other one I would mention, there's a film# coming out at Christmas called "The Choral,"## which stars Ralph Fiennes as the director of a# community chorus during World War I. Some people## absolutely are going to find it a little bit# corny, but I found it beautiful and really moving.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, Mike Sargent,# what do you have in the family fair?

MIKE SARGENT: There's a film called "Arco.

"# It's about a little boy who travels from the## future into our future and meets a little# girl.

And he needs to get back home.

And without saying much more, the animation# is terrific, very much a beautiful film worth## watching.

And I have to say another film that# I did not expect much from is "The Bad Guys 2."

ACTOR: How are we supposed# to get a fresh start when## we get blamed for every bad thing that happens?

MIKE SARGENT: It's a sequel to the DreamWorks# animated heist comedy.

And this is really such## an enjoyable film.

It's really -- I# think it sets the bar pretty high.

JEFFREY BROWN: A good list for all of us.

Mike Sargent and Linda Holmes,# thank you both very much.

LINDA HOLMES: Thank you.

MIKE SARGENT: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## We end this holiday week with a very British# tradition, pantomime, but with a modern twist.

For those less familiar, a pantomime, or panto,## is a family holiday comedy show# filled with fairy tales, music,## slapstick, and audience participation,# and it's a seasonal staple across the U.K.

This year, one production is selling out.

It's# a retelling of the fairy tale "Snow White" that## blends classic panto with Muslim culture and# humor and even teases at its online trolls.

From Britain, Minnie Stephenson the Independent# Television News brings us this story.

MINNIE STEPHENSON: 'Tis is the season# of glitter, goodwill and glorious panto,## where the jokes are loud and# the costumes are even louder.

Introducing the Muslim panto, "Snow Brown# and her Seven Uncles," or "Chachay" in Urdu,## a fairy tale flipped and served with enough# one-liners to derail even the grumpiest uncle.

LUBNA SALEH, Actor: I am so glad I'm in# this role.

And having the previous shows,## honestly, I started tearing up at one point,# because the little girls were running up to## me and they looked like me.

And I looked like# them.

And they were like: "I love your hijab,## oh, my God, you look like me, I have your name."

And it's just really heartwarming# to see and be the representation I## wish I would have had when we grew# up.

We just want everyone to enjoy## the fun.

And you don't have to# be Muslim to come and watch it.

MINNIE STEPHENSON: Its creator, Abdullah Afzal,## is on a mission to spread Muslim joy in the# festive season.

From Glasgow to Notting Hill.. across 11 cities, the Muslim panto# has sold over 24,000 tickets.

ABDULLAH AFZAL, Creator and Actor:# When it comes to the pantomime,## it's a British institution.

It's very# important .. something that families go out to, but# it's my history, the upbringing I had,## the conflicts between being a British and# Muslim at the time when I was growing up.

But I'm proud of both those things, I'm proud of# being Pakistani.

I'm proud of being British.

And## I'm bringing it to the stage.

And people# like me are coming and enjoying the show.

MINNIE STEPHENSON: Of course, not everybody# is a fan.

And satire is not dead.

The panto## has become embroiled in its very own culture war# with some online trolls seizing upon the show.

ABDULLAH AFZAL: We have got to use# it as fuel and inspiration to better## ourselves.

And I have just enjoyed it.

And# I'm being attacked by a right-wing fly here.

Actually, the Snow Brown name actually came from# a right-wing troll.

One of the comments was,## Cinder Allia?

What's next, Snow Brown?

I went, all right, OK.

MINNIE STEPHENSON: Now you# have.. ABDULLAH AFZAL: Because of# them, their inspiration.

MINNIE STEPHENSON: The comedy is# halal and the joy unmistakable.

WOMAN: It makes me feel proud to be Pakistani and## Muslim and British and have all# those cultures kind of combined.

MAN: It's a twist to a typical panto,## but it's still a panto at heart# with all the fun associated with it.

BOY: I like the atmosphere of the Muslim pantos# and the funny -- and the humor and the acting.

GIRL: It just reminds me about something# that I would watch when I was little.

MINNIE STEPHENSON: The ultimate unifier# in the festive season, you may ask,## kebabs, of course.

Enter the kebab queen.

NOOR-AL-WAHID, Actor: Everyone loves the kebab.

MINNIE STEPHENSON: Wherever you're from.

NOOR-AL-WAHID: Yes.

And do you know.. when we have met the audience, I have had# a few comments where people have said:## "You know what, I'm going to# go home and have a kebab."

NOOR-AL-WAHID: "It really made# me want to have a kebab now.

": (LAUGHTER) MINNIE STEPHENSON: In a world# that often feels divided,## this panto offers something simple,# a stage big enough for everyone and## a reminder that sometimes the best# magic is seeing yourself center stage.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Be sure to watch "Washington# Week With "The Atlantic" tonight on PBS.

Host## Jeffrey Goldberg and his panel break down# what's left on President Trump's Project## 2025 to-do list and what it could portend# for the new year.

That's tonight here on PBS.

And on the next "PBS News Weekend": how# researchers in Yellowstone National Park are## using A.I.

to try to one day decode the language# of wolves.

That's Saturday on "PBS News Weekend."

And that is the "News Hour" for# tonight.

I'm William Brangham.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour" team, thank# you so much for joining us.

Have a great weekend.