GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "NewsHour" tonight: Former President Donald## Trump is found guilty on all counts# in his criminal hush money trial.

DONALD TRUMP, Former President of#the United States (R) ... will keep fighting.

We will fight# until the end.

And we will win.

GEOFF BENNETT: President Biden gives Ukraine# permission to fire U.S. weapons into Russia.

AMNA NAWAZ: And a former senior State Department## official on why she resigned in# protest of U.S. policy in Gaza.

(BREAK) GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "NewsHour."

The verdict is in.

Former President# Donald Trump is found guilty on all## 34 criminal charges against# him in a New York courtroom.

AMNA NAWAZ: An historic moment,## as he becomes the first former president# charged and now co..

The case stemmed from Mr. Trump falsifying# business records to cover up hush money## payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels# ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Mr. Trump reacted after the verdict# and said this case is long from over.

DONALD TRUMP, Former President of the United#States (R) ...

This was a rigged#trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt.

It's a rigged trial, a disgrace.

They# wouldn't give us a venue change.

We## were at 5 percent or 6 percent in this# district, in this area.

This was a rigged,## disgraceful trial.

The real verdict is# going to be November 5 by the people.## And they know what happened here, and# everybody knows what happened here.

GEOFF BENNETT: The judge has scheduled# sentencing for July 11.

That's just four## days before the start of the Republican# National Convention in Milwaukee.

William Brangham spent the day in# the courtroom and joins us now.

So, William, you were our eyes and# ears in the courtroom.

Tell us what## you saw when the verdict came# in and what the mood was there.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Well, Geoff, this whole# afternoon suddenly capsized like the Titanic.

I mean, it was -- we were all expecting that# we were going to go home for the day.

The## judge had just been in the courtroom saying# the jury asked to be done for the day.

They## were going to go at 4:30 and be dismissed.

And# then, minutes later, he came back in and said,## actually, the jury has just passed me a# note saying they have received a verdict.

And the former president was# sitting at his defense table## and had been chatting amiably with# his lawyer.

And when that news came,## he suddenly stiffened very seriously# and sat still until the jury came in.

And then, for 34 distinct counts,# when they kept saying "Guilty,## guilty, guilty," the former president was just# staring straight ahead.

And it was clear then,## once all 34 counts were read,# how serious this all was.

The jury then filed out, went right in# front of the former president.

No one## made eye contact with him.

He seemed# to be staring straight ahead.

And,## as the former president filed out today, he was# as visibly angry as I have ever seen him.

I mean,## I have seen him in a few other# court cases here in New York City.

And he has fought with judges and seemed angry# and frustrated and perturbed.

This was as angry## as I have ever seen him.

He shook his son# Eric Trump's hand quite vigorously and then## walked out the door and stood in front of those# cameras and heard what we just heard from him.

So, just an incredibly striking day# and a very dramatic turn of events.

GEOFF BENNETT: William, does the relative# speed of the jury reaching a verdict,## does that make sense, in light of# what they asked for earlier today?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: It does in some ways,# because the jury this morning heard two## different things at their request.# They wanted to hear jury instructions## and they wanted to hear a certain# type of testimony reread to them.

And both of those, now looking back in hindsight,# gives some clues as to what they were thinking,## because both of those things that they were# read today go right to the heart of this## case.

The first one was jury instructions# which detailed whether a defendant can be## found guilty if they orchestrated acts that other# people did, criminal acts that other people did.

And Donald Trump clearly, they seemed to believe,## is guilty of that.

The testimony that they# asked to relisten to today centered on this## famous 2015 Trump Tower meeting that many people# have pointed to as the sort of original moment## when the entire scheme that eventually undid# the president in this case was concocted.

This is where David Pecker of "The# National Enquirer," Michael Cohen,## his lawyer, and Donald Trump met and# created this scheme to become the eyes## and ears of the Trump campaign,# to look for any negative stories,## to pay people to stay quiet.

And that's what# eventually led to today's guilty verdict.

So, again, hindsight is always 20/20,# but it does seem, based on what they## wanted to hear this morning, that that is the# direction they were pointing.

And now we know.

GEOFF BENNETT: And lastly, William, what more do# we know about the sentencing?

What comes next?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Well, as you mentioned,# the sentencing is right before the RNC## convention.

Each of these counts# carries a four-year $5,000 penalty.

We have no idea whether the former president# will be sentenced to prison.

New York state## judges have a lot of leeway to make that up.# He could very well be sentenced to probation## or house arrest.

I mean, this judge has# repeatedly said that he understands that## Donald Trump is running for president, that# he very well may likely be the next president.

And so he has said he wants imprisonment to# be a last resort.

But he has also said, if## he feels that that is appropriate, that he would# consider that.

So, again, we simply do not know.

The other thing that's important to remember is# that Trump has also been insulting this judge and## attacking him.

We heard a little bit of that# just a few minutes ago.

Every time he leaves## this courtroom, he attacks this judge.

And he# has recently attacked this judge's daughter.

Those things can be factored in as well,# but we won't know until later this summer.

GEOFF BENNETT: All right, that is William# Brangham in New York for us tonight.

William, thanks so much.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Thanks, Geoff.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, for more on the# verdict and the legal fallout,## we're joined now by two former federal# prosecutors who have been following the trial,## Jessica Roth of Cardozo School of Law in New# York and Renato Mariotti, an attorney in Chicago.

Good to see you both.

And I just want to start with ea..

I know we have talked about this before,# just to get your brief reaction to the## historic news that we have today of the first# former president now convicted of a felony.

Jessica, why don't you begin?

JESSICA ROTH, Yeshiva University Cardozo# School of Law: It is an extraordinary day.

This was the first trial of a former# president charged with crimes, and,## therefore, it is the first conviction of# a former president charged with crimes.

I thought that the jury's deliberations, the# speed with which the jury returned this unanimous## verdict on all 34 counts, spoke to how they really# didn't think this was a difficult case.

They asked## for testimony and for jury instructions to# be read back to them, as William was saying,## that highlighted that they essentially had no# trouble finding that these records were false.

And what they were interested in was finding out# if these records were falsifying a conspiracy,## intended to further and conceal a conspiracy# to promote Trump's candidacy for office.## That's what David Pecker's testimony# went to most clearly.

And David Pecker's## testimony corroborated Michael Cohen's account# of essentially how this conspiracy was launched.

So I thought it was very telling that# they asked for Pecker's testimony and## that they asked for the jury instruction# about accomplice liability.

That is the## mechanism that holds Donald Trump accountable# for the falsification of business records,## even if it was done through# the hand of other people.

AMNA NAWAZ: Renato, what about you?# What stands out to you on this day?

RENATO MARIOTTI, Former Federal Prosecutor: Well,## first of all, I should.. And it really, I think, is a day in which the# criminal justice system in the state of New## York worked.

Despite how difficult this was,# we did have a completed trial from beginning## to end.

The judge's rulings were within the# zone of what I would expect a judge to rule.

And, ultimately, the jury stayed together.

And we## had a full jury here and they# rendered a verdict at the end.

Regarding the verdict itself, I actually think it# was a case that was very winnable for the defense.## But they ended up losing this case because# they adopted their client's strategy.

I mean,## Trump likes to deny everything and attack# everyone.

And that's what they did here.

They denied the fact of an encounter between# Trump and Stormy Daniels.

They denied the hush## money scheme itself.

They claimed that all this# money was actually payment for legal services.## And they really didn't focus the jury on the# very technical legal defenses that they had,## instead mounting this sort of# attack-all-things defense that may## work in a rally or on a political program,# but does not work in a Manhattan courtroom.

GEOFF BENNETT: Jessica, tell us# more about the judge in this case,## Judge Juan Merchan.

He served# on the bench for some 17 years,## but this is by far the most high-profile# case to ever cross his courtroom.

Tell us about him and how he's# handled himself during this case.

JESSICA ROTH: I thought he# handled himself remarkably well,## despite being tested during# the course of this case.

Mr. Trump was attacking not only# the judge, but the judge's daughter,## which led to one aspect of the gag order,# which was to preclude Donald Trump from## speaking about the judge's family members.

And# despite those provocations, the judge remained,## I thought, remarkably calm on the# bench, even-handed in his rulings,## and really ran the courtroom in such# a way that there were no disruptions.

There was one defense witness called, Mr.# Costello, who was clearly disrespectful to## the judge, and the judge shut that# down immediately, but, notably,## did that outside the presence of the# jury, so that he would not be in any## way communicating to the jury his# views -- view about this witness.

So I thought he really did a remarkable job# controlling the courtroom, maintaining order,## and also running things very efficiently.

This## trial concluded far sooner than# many of us anticipated it would.

AMNA NAWAZ: Renato, walk us through what# happens next logistically, at least.

We're talking about a former president who's# under Secret Service protection.

After a## conviction like this, what normally happens?# What do we expect to happen in this case?

RENATO MARIOTTI: Well, he is out on# bond.

He is not imprisoned.

There## will be a sentencing.

That date has# been set, July 11, by the judge.

That## is, of course, in the midst# of the presidential election.

The judge will have that sentencing# in courtroom -- in the courtroom,## and Donald Trump will need to be there in court# again.

I do not expect that the former president## will be sentenced to a sentence of imprisonment.# I would be very surprised if that's the case,## given the sort of punishments that have been doled# out for the same charge in Manhattan in the past.

But, nonetheless, I believe he will# receive some punishment as a sentence,## and it remains to be seen what exactly that is.## It could range from anything from house# arrest to something much less than that.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, Jessica, in# the couple of minutes that remain,## Donald Trump's legal team can appeal this# verdict.

One imagines they will appeal it.

Did anything happen over the course of this trial## that would work to Donald# Trump's advantage on appeal?

JESSICA ROTH: There are a number of bases# on which I'm sure he will assert an appeal,## including some of the evidence that# came in, most notably, some of the## details that Stormy Daniels testified# about with respect to their encounter.

That might be the basis for an appeal, but# I don't think that it would prevail.

I think## the judge actually made sure that overly# prejudicial testimony did not come in.

And,## moreover, Trump didn't object# in a timely way to much of that.

I think there are some interesting# legal questions that could provide## the basis for appeal, including the use of# this New York conspiracy election statute## incorporating by reference other unlawful# means.

That is something that I'm sure will## be tested on appeal and that I'm sure# appellate judges would take seriously.

AMNA NAWAZ: Renato, what about you?

Do# you agree with that when it comes to a## potential appeal ahead and how it could play out?

RENATO MARIOTTI: I think that's right.

I do think that there was a numb.. regarding some pretrial motions, as well as# his ruling regarding the jury -- or his jury## instructions that he gave regarding the# agreement of the jury as to the unlawful## means by which the election was sought to# be influenced in the underlying campaign## finance crime that was allegedly law -- or now,# I should say, proven to have been concealed here.

I do think that there is -- there are some issues# there that there could be room for disagreement## and you could see some potential merit on appeal.# That said, I have to think that prosecutors are## very pleased right now, because, regardless of# what happens on appeal, they did prevail at trial.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is Renato Mariotti# and Jessica Roth joining us tonight.

Thank you to you both.

We appreciate your time.

JESSICA ROTH: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: And we are, of course,## watching this historic verdict against the# backdr..

Joining us now are our politics team.

That's# Lisa Desjardins, who covers the Trump campaign,## and Laura Barron-Lopez, who covers the# White House and the Biden campaign.

AMNA NAWAZ: Great to see you# both.

Thank you for being here.

Lisa, kick us off here.

We heard President Trump's immediate# reacti.. been talking to your Republican# sources.

What are you hearing?

LISA DESJARDINS: Well, the Trump# campaign and Republicans are using## a single word over and over again# right now.

They're saying shameful.

I'm going to point to the statement# by House Speaker Mike Johnson,## who is the top elected Republican# in the United States right now.

He wrote: "Today is a shameful day in# American history.

This was a purely## political exercise, not a legal one.# The weaponization," as he calls it,## "of our justice system has been a# hallmark of the Biden administration."

So, obviously, they have the first president# ever convicted of felonies.

They're going to## say this was wrong and they're trying to put# the blame back on the Biden administration.

But when you go a little deeper# and talk to other Republicans,## some who opposed former President# Trump, like Asa Hutchinson,## the former governor of Arkansas, I spoke to# him a short time -- while -- a while ago.

And he said, no, this speaks to confidence in# the justice system.

He told me that this is a## very serious moment and he felt like# this was a very serious decision.

He## said he's not sure if this will make# a difference in the campaign.

It is,## however, potentially making a difference# in the dollars for the Trump campaign.

We have already seen just in the last hour since# the verdict was announced the WinRed site that## Republicans use for fund raising crashed because# of interest.

And a source tells me that, just## in the time it crashed, they believe they would# have raised half-a-million to a million dollars.

GEOFF BENNETT: So, Laura, how# is the Biden campaign reacting## to this?

One imagines they had a# plan for this potential outcome.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: So, first, I want to# address how the White House is reacting.

What the White House is essentially saying# that, my sources there, that President Biden## is not expected to address this verdict today# in any type of official form.

That could change## in the coming days, as -- if he gets questions# from reporters that are with him as he travels.

And White House Counsel's Office# spokesperson Ian Sams said that,## essentially, the White House respects the# rule of law and we have no additional comment.

But a Biden campaign aide that I spoke to# said that they never expected that any result## in this would ultimately help or hurt Trump.# Now, when it comes to the official statement## that the Biden campaign put out, they said# that: "In New York today we saw that no one## is above the law.

There is still only one way# to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office,## at the ballot box.

Convicted felon or not, Trump# will be the Republican nominee for president."

So, again, they're saying right# there that they think that they're## going to persuade swing voters based on# issues much more than on this verdict.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, Lisa, you have been# reporting on the potential impact,## right, as this trial coverage unfolds.

AMNA NAWAZ: This is against the backdrop# of a major presidential election.

Some of the polling has shown that some of# the -- most of the support for Mr. Trump## is baked in.

But do we have any idea what# this guilty verdict means for his support?

LISA DESJARDINS: Right.

Up until now, there's been real divide# over the bringing of these charges and## whether politics was involved or not.# And I know we have discussed that on## this program.

But as far as what they will# do, I want to point back to our polling.

We asked American voters, registered voters,# if the former president was found guilty,## would they be more likely or not to vote for him?# And among all registered voters, just 15 percent## said they would be more likely, but the same# amount said, about, 17 percent, said less likely.

Two-thirds of those said that it would make no# difference.

Let's look at Republicans, though,## in that same survey.

If Donald Trump is# found guilty, 25 percent of Republicans## said it would make them more likely to# vote for him, 10 percent less likely.

These are folks who identify as Republicans.# And what's happening there when you talk to## Republican sources is, this is Republicans# who believe that this was a setup,## a political event, and that's why they say it# would make them more likely to vote for him.

What does it mean to vulnerable Republicans,# especially?

I talked to Dave Schweikert,## this congressman from Arizona in# a toss-up critical seat that could## control the direction of the House.

He said# he doesn't think there will be a difference,## mainly, from voters.

He thinks that# voters are locked in right now,## that Trump has brought support downballot,# but he doesn't think that's changing.

There is some question from some deeper Republican# sources I talk to about the folks that Laura has## done great reporting on, the Haley voters,# those unhappy Republicans, independents,## who may secretly be Republicans, but aren't# comfortable saying they're Republicans anymore.

This is something Republicans will watch, is this# a kind of verdict that will affect those voters,## take them away from Trump or bring them to Biden?

GEOFF BENNETT: And picking up on your point,# Lisa, Laura, how is the Biden campaign -- how## does this affect their outreach to those# moderate Republicans and those voters who## supported Nikki Haley, who said they will never# support Donald Trump under any circumstances?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: The Biden campaign is# actively courting those Nikki Haley voters,## independents that lean to the# right, Republican moderates.

And one source close to the campaign told# me that they think that this would have an## impact at the margins and this election# is going to happen at the margins, that,## ultimately, that this creates a new# barrier for those moderate Republicans## to vote for Donald Trump.

Are they going to be# comfortable voting for now a convicted felon?

But I have some new reporting from# outreach by the Biden campaign,## specifically on this voter group.

The Biden# campaign held a call last night with roughly## a dozen or so former Republican lawmakers,# and specifically saying that they needed## their help with outreach to these voters# that they think are true persuasion voters.

And these Republican lawmakers told, former# Republican lawmakers told them on the call## to really enlist them and use them.

And# they agreed that they were going to create## essentially working groups where they were going# to -- some of these Republican lawmakers were## going to be tasked with trying to get bigger-name# Republican endorsements for the Biden campaign.

Some were going to be tasked as key surrogates# for the Biden campaign.

Some were going to be## working on trying to get local state Republicans# to swing over to Biden.

So this is -- just goes## to show you that the Biden campaign, with# the help of former Republican lawmakers,## is really trying to reach out# to these moderate Republicans.

And they think that the three areas# that they could potentially do this## on aggressively are threats to democracy# and extremism -- this verdict feeds into## that extremism -- reproductive# rights, as well as the economy.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, Lisa, look ahead for# us now and what we see ahead in the## campaign.

Is this a message# that you see former President## Trump leaning into?

Because it could# potentially motivate his base more?

LISA DESJARDINS: Absolutely, and not just him.

Let's talk about people like Elise Stefanik, the# chairwoman of the House Republican Confe.. her job to try and keep the majority# there.

She came out with a statement## quickly.

Her job is also to raise# money.

And we know that Republicans,## RNC, has had trouble keeping# pace with the Democratic Party.

This is something that we have already# seen as a fund-raising boon to them.## And you know that former President Trump# does well when it's us against the world,## when he paints it as though all of his# supporters are being attacked by someone.

This is an example of where you should# expect him to say that even more.

GEOFF BENNETT: Lisa Desjardins# and Laura Barron-Lopez,## our great thanks to you both# for that incredible reporting.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, let's return now to William## Brangham in New York, who has been inside# the courtroom today on this historic day.

William, how does all of this fit into the broader## legal landscape that the# former president now faces?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Well, as you say,# Amna, this is the first trial of his## to go to actual -- to trial and# to be heard in front of a jury.

There are, as we have reported, three other# major cases that Donald Trump is facing.## There is the Georgia case, the Fulton County# case that alleges election interference with## state officials in the 2020 election, Trump# and many other co-defendants in that case.

But that trial has no date set.

The# lead prosecutor on that, the DA there,## Fani Willis, has a court that is# looking into whether or not she## should be removed from that case.# So there's no progress on that.

The second case is, of course, the January 6 case,## major federal case being brought# against Donald Trump for his role## in the January 6, 2020, election,# insurrection, trying to overturn that election.

That case, we know, is also going nowhere.# It is waiting on the ruling from the Supreme## Court as to whether or not Donald Trump# has immunity for any actions that he took.

The third case is the classified# documents case down in Florida## that is also a federal case.

The judge in# that case has postponed that indefinitely,## and it is on a fast track to nowhere.

So it is very likely that what has just# transpired here will be the only case## that Donald Trump faces a jury before the# election.

And many people have argued it's## inappropriate that voters will go to# the polls not knowing whether or not## the leading candidate is actually guilty on any# of these major cases that he is charged with.

We heard at the top of the program that# Donald Trump said that the real verdict## will be November 5.

And that is, in one way,# incredibly true, because, if he is reelected,## two of those three cases will go away, because# he is likely to appoint an attorney general who## will take over the Department of Justice and# eliminate those cases or dismiss them entirely.

That's the January 6 case and# the classified documents case## in Florida.

Both of those would likely# go away if Trump is president.

Georgia,## we're not so sure about, so a still very# uncertain future legally for Donald Trump.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is William# Brangham joining us in New York.

William, thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: And we will be back in a# mome.. For those of you watching the "NewsHour," we will# be right bac.. Amna Nawaz: And another major story we're watching# today.

There's been a major change in U.S. policy## on arming Ukraine, in particular how the weapons# that Washington provides are used.

For the first## time, the white House will allow some U.S.# weapons to be used to strike inside Russia.## For more on that now I'm joined by Nick Schifrin.# So, Nick, tell us, what did the president decide?

Nick Schifrin: For the last two years, President# Biden has had two goals in Ukraine, not## necessarily complimentary, one, to try and prevent# Russia from taking over Ukraine and therefore send## U.S. weapons and money into Ukraine.

The second# is to avoid direct U.S. Russia confrontation,## and that led him to restrict the use of those U.S.# weapons so that Ukraine could not fire them into## Russia.

But in the last few weeks, some 30,000# Russian troops gathered on the border bombarded## Ukrainian towns like this one in the hard Kiev# district, and seized 12 villages around the## buffer zone.

Or what Russia is trying to create is# a buffer zone.

They've also bombarded Hakim City,## the second largest city in Ukraine.

Despite the# fact that Ukrainians were watching the Russian## troops gather right on the border and launch# this attack that everyone knew was coming.

And## yet Ukraine couldn't use those weapons to# try and prevent it.

And so a U.S. official## confirms tonight, quote, the president recently# directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able## to use U.S. supplied weapons for counter fire# purposes in the Kyiv region so Ukraine can hit## back.

Kharkiv region is part of this statement.# This, a U.S. official who told me went on to say## our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of# long range strikes inside Russia has not changed.

Amna Nawaz: The very specific guidance there.# But this didn't happen in a vacuum.

There's## been a lot of international pressure on# President Biden.

What do we know about that?

Nick Schifrin: The British government# lifted its restrictions a month ago.

This## past week, the French president, Emmanuel# Macron, and the NATO secretary general,## Jens Stoltenberg, also said that Ukraine# should be allowed to use Western weapons## to fire into Russia.

But a U.S. official# tonight said that President Biden actually## made his initial decision on this two# weeks ago, May the 15th.

And so clearly## the international pressure has has increased.# But the U.S. decided this before that happened.

Amna Nawaz: Great reporting# from Nick Schifrin tonight on## this major change in U.S. policy.

Nick, thank you.

Nick Schifrin: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## In the day's other news: Israel's prime minister# is facing new pressure from within his own ranks.

The national unity party of Benny Gantz, who# sits on Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet,## said today that one of its lawmakers filed a# motion to dissolve Parliament.

In a statement,## the party said -- quote -- "Netanyahu, it's not# too late to come to your senses.

Either together,## we are victorious, or you continue alone# with the method of divide and rule."

The move follows an ultimatum that Gantz issued# in May demanding that Netanyahu lay out a postwar## plan for Gaza by June 8.

Back here, the U.S. State# Department today renewed its own calls for a plan.

VEDANT PATEL, Principal Deputy State Department# Spokesperson: It is imperative that our partners## in Israel have a vision for what the day# after this conflict is going to look like and## steps are taken to do whatever we can to help get# the region out of this endless cycle of violence.

AMNA NAWAZ: In the meantime, Slovenia's# government endorsed a plan to recognize## the Palestinian state today.

It requires# approval by the country's Parliament to## take effect.

That comes just two days after Spain,## Norway and Ireland officially recognized the# Palestinian state, which Israel has condemned.

Police in Detroit dismantled a pro-Palestinian# encampment at Wayne State University this## morning.

Officers arrested at least 12 people# after organizers refused to leave and declined## offers to meet with university officials.# The university's president cited health## and safety concerns and disruption to campus# operations as justifications for the crackdown.

The U.K. has joined the European Union# and human rights groups in criticizing## the conviction of 14 democracy activists in# Hong Kong.

They are among 47 people charged## under a 2020 national security# law that was drafted by China.

Several of the activists were seen entering court## ahead of the ruling.

They were# convicted of conspiracy to commit## subversion for their involvement in an# unofficial primary election in 2020.

Britain's minister for the Indo-Pacific said# today that the verdict -- quote -- "sends a## message that Hong Kongers can no longer# safely and meaningfully participate in## peaceful political debate."

The convicted# face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Boeing officials spent three hours today# presenting the Federal Aviation Administration## with steps they will take to address safety# and quality issues.

The FAA gave Boeing 90## days to come up with a plan after a door plug# blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight in## January.

Since then, company whistle-blowers have# raised concerns about Boeing's safety culture.

The plan has not been made public,## but the FAA administrator said today# that it checks his agency's boxes.

MICHAEL WHITAKER, Administrator, Federal Aviation# Administration: What we were looking for was## a plan that's comprehensive, that's detailed,# and th.. addressed, like quality management, a more robust# safety management system, an environment where## employees feel that they can speak up and raise# safety issues, and better manufacturing processes.

And those are all elements of the plan.

AMNA NAWAZ: The FAA said it will not yet allow# Boeing to increase production of its best-selling## 737 MAX jets.

The company was ordered to slow# down output after the incident in January.

The Supreme Court sided with the# National Rifle Association today in## a case involving First Amendment# rights.

In a unanimous ruling,## the justices said that the NRA can sue a# former New York official who encouraged## companies to stop doing business with the# NRA after the 2018 Parkland school shooting.

In her opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor# wrote that -- quote -- "Ultimately,## the critical takeaway is that# the First Amendment prohibits## government officials from wielding their power# selectively to punish or suppress speech."

However, she added that the ruling does not# shield the NRA and others from regulation.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has# declined an invitation to meet with Senate## Democrats to discuss flags flown outside Justice# Alito's homes.

His response came in a letter in## which he said that -- quote -- "Participating# in such a meeting would be inadvisable."

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin and# Senator Sheldon Whitehouse had asked## for the meeting.

They want Alito# to recuse himself from any cases## involving the January 6 attack or the 2020# election after The New York Times reported## two instances in which flags associated with# insurrectionists were flown at Alito's houses.

The U.S. economy grew less than previously# thought in the first quarter of the year.## New Commerce Department data shows that U.S. GDP# expanded at an annual rate of 1.3 percent from## January to March.

That is down from an initial# reading of 1.6 percent.

That's also the weakest## quarterly growth since the spring of 2022.# Consumer spending also grew at a slower pace,## at just 2 percent for the quarter, amid# high interest rates and lingering inflation.

And on Wall Street, stocks fell as investors# digested that economic data.

The Dow Jones## industrial average dropped 330 points to# close at 38111.

The Nasdaq fell 183 points,## or more than 1 percent.

The# S&P 500 gave back 31 points.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": rising costs and# a supply shortage limit first-time buyers' ability## to purchase a home; and Nobel Prize winner Maria# Ressa on the future of journalism and democracy.

Another U.S. government official announced today## she has resigned to protest the Biden# administration's policy toward Israel.

At least half-a-dozen officials in the# State, Defense, Education and Interior## departments have done so since the war in# Gaza began following Hamas' October 7 attack.

The latest official is Stacy Gilbert leaving# the State Department after a 20-year career.

Nick Schifrin is back now with that story.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The officials who# helped shape America's national## security policy often disagree on# key decisions, sometimes publicly.

But the war in Gaza has created# more internal dissent and public## resignations than perhaps any# recent U.S. policy challenge.

And, today, Stacy Gilbert, former senior civil# military adviser in the State Department's Bureau## of Population, Refugees and Migration, wrote# -- quote -- "I cannot continue working for a## government that denies and enables Israel's# deliberate carnage in Gaza" -- unquote.

And Stacy Gilbert joins me now.

Thanks very much.

Welcome to the "NewsHour."

Why have you chosen to resign, rather than# fight for policy within the State Department?

STACY GILBERT, Former Senior State# Department Official: This follows## a lot of frustration about the policy, but# especially seeing what's happening in Gaza.

When this national security memo# directive came out in early February,## which directed the State Department and Department# of Defense to write a report to Congress assessing## countries on two things, their ability to# adhere to international humanitarian law,## also known as the law of war or the Geneva# Conventions, and whether they facilitate## and not block humanitarian assistance -- I# have worked in government for a long time.

I'm not one who relishes getting tasked with# more reports, but I thought, this is a report## that actually could have some impact.

I was# mostly focused on humanitarian assistance.

So, when the report came out on May 10,# and I read the conclusion, especially## the conclusion on -- that Israel was not blocking# humanitarian assistance, I decided I would resign,## because that was absolutely not the opinion of# subject matter experts in the State Department,## USAID, the humanitarian community,# organizations that are working in Gaza.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And those subject# matter experts included you,## because you were participating in the report.

STACY GILBERT: Yes.

Yes.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Let me bring it up.

Here's the quote from the State Department repor.. that the Israeli government is prohibiting or# otherwise restricting the transport or delivery## of U.S. humanitarian assistance within the meaning# of Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act."

That's a reference to a law about# humanitarian assistance.

Now,## as you say, that was not the opinion# of you, your other colleagues,## some of your other colleagues, in# the State Department and USAID.

And you write this -- quote -- "There# is abundant evidence showing Israel## is responsible for blocking aid.

To# deny this is absurd and shameful."

What is your evidence for that?

STACY GILBERT: There are databases.

For any day, you could get quantifiable data# about ho.. how many tons of flour have not been allowed in.# And, sometimes, things get in, but, most often,## things are delayed, blocked.

There are other# bureaucratic impediments to delivering that aid.

We have the data.

It is known.

The# organizations working on the ground## in Gaza have sent numerous reports# detailing those obstacles.

So to## look at that information and assess that# Israel is not blocking aid is ludicrous.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The report does criticize Israel# for -- quote -- "not fully cooperating" with## U.S. efforts to maximize aid delivery,# but it goes on to point out that Hamas## is embedded in the civilian population and# appropriated aid for military purposes.

And it points out that Israel substantially## increased aid in early to mid-April# as the report was being released.

So,## doesn't that mean that Israel was not blocking# aid at the time the report was released?

STACY GILBERT: Israel has been blocking# aid throughout this.

And it's like turning## on and off a spigot.

Sometimes, aid# comes in.

Often, it gets turned off.

And it is simply not enough to address the needs## in Gaza.

It hasn't been.

That's why# there is a famine.

Famine is not... NICK SCHIFRIN: The U.N. has not declared a# famine.

They have said famine is looming.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The World Food Program executive# director has declared famine in Northern Gaza.

STACY GILBERT: There is -- the# conditions for famine are there,## widespread.

It is severe malnutrition.

And the remedy for that is certainly more food.# The assistance that Israel allows in has been## minimal.

It has been turned on, turned# off.

And it's not just assistance going## in.

It's things like visas for aid workers.# It's a range of obstacles they have posed.

NICK SCHIFRIN: We should say that# Israel has said it doesn't block aid,## and it actually has blamed the U.N., as you know,## for the ability or inability, as Israel# has argued, in order to deliver that aid.

And you accused officials in the United States# State Department of denying the facts.

That's## a quote from your letter.

And here's what# deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said today.

VEDANT PATEL, Principal Deputy State# Department Spokesperson: We stand by## the National Security Memorandum 20 report.

We are not an administration or a# department that twists the facts,## and allegations that we have are unfounded.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Did the State# Department twist the facts?

STACY GILBERT: They did.

Again, I -- the subject matter experts# are in consensus on this that.. has blocked humanitarian assistance in many ways.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The report that# you drafted, that you saw,## the version of the report that you saw# was changed, you told me earlier today,## by undersecretary-level, kind of number three# level, underneath the secretary of state.

Isn't that normal, though?

Isn't it# normal for people like you to draft## things and then the ultimate decision goes to# high-level people, including the secretary?

STACY GILBERT: What typically happens# is, the subject matter experts draft## the report and it goes through a# clearance process.

That's very common.

In this case, subject matter experts# were removed from the report and it## was drafted at a higher level.

That's not to# say there aren't other constraints that the## humanitarian aid organizations face, but I'm# also resigning in part to speak up for them.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Stacy Gilbert, former# senior civil military adviser in the## State Department's Bureau of Population,# Refugees and Migration, thanks very much.

STACY GILBERT: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: The cost of housing is a top# financial concern for voters this election## year, second only to inflation.

That's# according to a Gallup poll this month.

It comes as home prices in the U.S. jumped 6.5# percent in March compared to a year earlier,## making it the sixth time over the past year# that home price indexes hit a new record high,## all of this as interest rates remain at their# highest levels in more than two decades.

I spoke earlier with Alex Horowitz.# He's project director of the Housing## Policy Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Alex Horowitz, thanks so much for being with us.

ALEX HOROWITZ, Housing Policy Initiative Project# Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts: Hey.

Gla.. be here.

GEOFF BENNETT: So one indi.. the number of first-time homebuyers# who are relying on their parents to## co-sign loans or to help with down# payments, it's as high as it's been## in at least 30 years.

That's according to a# Freddie Mac analysis of loan applications.

What are the implications?

ALEX HOROWITZ: So, right now, home prices are# about the highest they have been .. income.

And with interest rates being this# high and a structural shortage of housing,## housing affordability has gotten awfully tough.

And it is very tough to crack into# this market as a first-time homebuyer.

GEOFF BENNETT: And it strikes me# it also widens the divide between## those who can afford a home and those who can't.

ALEX HOROWITZ: So, we see that people# who are previously homeowners have## equity in that home.

And so it's much# easier to trade up to another home,## because the value of the home they're# in has been increasing as well.

But if somebody hasn't been in the market before,# then it's tough to break in, and rents are also at## an all-time high as a share of income.

So saving# up for a down payment has gotten the hardest that## it's ever been because residents are spending# so much on rent while they're waiting to buy.

GEOFF BENNETT: The U.S. is in a# long-term housing shortage right now,## with the construction of new# homes failing to meet the demand.

They also have people who locked in record# low interest rates during the pandemic who## are reluctant to move, for obvious reasons, all# told, a shortage of some seven million homes.

What does a viable policy solution look like?

ALEX HOROWITZ: So there are places# in the U.S. that have succeeded in## adding to their housing supply, even while# home construction in the U.S. is awfully## low and not keeping up with population# growth and the need for more housing.

And the places that have been successful have# made it easier to build.

That's true in cities,## it's true in towns, and it's true in states.

And# in those places that have added a lot of supply by## updating their zoning, by allowing townhouses,# duplexes, apartments, we see real results.

Affordability is improving in places# like Minneapolis.

It's improving in## places like Houston, even while it's# getting worse in most of the U.S. GEOFF BENNETT: What about California?# Because California lifted restrictions## to encourage more multifamily housing and# alleviate the state's housing shortage.

But two years after that law went# into effect, according to state data,## as reported by The Wall Street Journal,## the number of housing units completed is in# the dozens.

What went wrong in California?

ALEX HOROWITZ: That California# duplex law hasn't worked yet,## and it often takes more than one# try to get a state law right.

California enabled duplexes.# They're technically allowed,## but they left jurisdictions lots# of ways to block them.

And, again,## we're talking about at this point individual# homeowners looking at duplexes.

And so it## doesn't add enough to the housing supply only# to allow duplexes.

That's not a viable solution,## but really it's local regulatory barriers to those# duplexes that haven't been fixed in the state law.

When California first legalized accessory# dwelling units -- so that's a basement apartment,## a backyard apartment, a garage conversion --# they didn't get many.

And it took until 2017,## after they started trying in the '80s,## until they started getting serious# building of accessory dwelling units.

Now more than 100,000 of those# have come online in California,## but they needed a very strong# state law in order to produce them.

GEOFF BENNETT: So those states and# cities that have seen success in## encouraging more supply and density# of housing, what are they doing?

ALEX HOROWITZ: The foremost tactic that has# worked has been to make it easy to build## apartments near commerce or near transit, because# builders are ready to build apartment buildings.

They know how.

The main obstacle is that the# permitting is very difficult because most land## doesn't allow apartment buildings because of# local regulatory barriers.

But we see that## the cities that have made the most progress in# improving affordability have said yes to apartment## buildings.

They have said yes to it as a matter of# right in their zoning, so that builders know, if## they submit an application to build an apartment# building, they're going to be able to do so.

And now we're seeing states start to model their# laws on the success of those localities, with five## states now making it easier to build apartments# on land that zone commercial.

And that has a lot## of potential to add to the housing supply, even# though all of those state laws are very recent.

So we haven't seen them have a big effect yet.

GEOFF BENNETT: Alex Horowitz# is the project director of## the Housing Policy Initiative# at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Thanks so much for being with us.

ALEX HOROWITZ: Thanks a lot.

AMNA NAWAZ: Amid a rise of authoritarians# and crackdowns on press freedom worldwide,## the future of news and democracy# are inextricably linked.

Nobel Prize-winning journalist# Maria Ressa, author of the book## "How to Stand Up to a Dictator" and# CEO of the digital news site Rappler,## has spent nearly 40 years on the front lines# of the battle for press freedom in her home## country of the Philippines and around the world.# She joins us now here for a deeper discussion.

Maria, welcome back.

Great to see you.

MARIA RESSA, CEO, Rappler: Thanks for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, you are in town because# you're being honored by the .. Voices for your commitment to press freedom# in the Philippines and around the world.

On the press freedom front, I want# to ask you about what Reporters With## Borders recently shared from their# annual World Press Freedom Index.

They found that political pressure on media has## increased at an alarming rate.

Tell us# about why we're seeing this right now.

MARIA RESSA: I mean, it's hand in## hand with the deterioration, the# degradation of democracy, .. And you compare RSF with Freedom House, which# is a decline of seven -- in the last 17 to 18## years.

And then you put that together with the# Committee to Protect Journalists numbers.

The## attacks on journalists have increased as the# quality of democracy has gone down globally.

We have to sacrifice more to keep doing our jobs.

AMNA NAWAZ: When you look at the stakes, we# talk a lot about the U.S. election this year,## but this is really a key election# year around the world, right?

Globally, more voters than ever are heading to# the polls in 2024, representing some 49 percent of## the world's population.

When journalists# themselves are under this kind of political## pressure and under these kinds of attacks,# what's the potential impact on elections?

MARIA RESSA: This is let -- me throw another quick# stat, which is that Sweden has said -- there's a## think tank there that said 71 percent of the# world is now under authoritarian rule, right?

We are electing illiberal leaders# democratically, because journalists are## attacked, not just in the business model, not# just the government that wants to grab power,## but also the people, the trust of# the people in the news organization,## right, all this coming through information# warfare, information operations on social media.

And it is about to get worse, because# you now have generative A.I.

coming in,## so you're going to get industrial-grade propaganda## coming at you, and you won't be able to# tell the difference from fact and fiction.

AMNA NAWAZ: On that tech front, because# you focus a lot there on the intersection## between big tech and journalism,# you wrote recently, and you said:## "What's clear is that journalism won't# survive if we don't build our own tech."

What should journalists be# doing now that we're not?

MARIA RESSA: So, look, essentially, democratic# governments, including the United States,## have outsourced technology for the public# sphere to private companies driven by profit.

And this business model, surveillance# capitalism, Shoshana Zuboff# wrote about it.

That book didn't come# out until 2019.

We didn't even know.## Our data is being collected, we're being cloned,## and microtargeted.

It's a different business# model from a news organization, right?

You're going to different the personalization# of your reality.

But the difference with that,## though, is if you have 100 people and they have# their own personalized realities, they would be## in an insane asylum.

So, globally, this is what# we're creating because of surveillance for profit.

And that surveillance for profit has# to stop.

Impunity must be stopped,## because it has been used by China, Russia,# Iran to microtarget the cellular level of## democracy.

This is why, starting in 2016 in the## United States, you have had Russia -- Russian# disinformation touch 126 million Americans.

This is data that was released by the# Senate Intelligence Committee in 2018.

AMNA NAWAZ: At the same time,# what we're seeing is really a## coming together of some news companies# and big tech firms with A.I.

technology.

We just saw in the last couple of days,# last week, "The Atlantic," Vox Media,## and Wall Street Journal owner News Corp# making deals with OpenAI to develop products,## to access their archives.

What do# you think the future holds there?

MARIA RESSA: Generative A.I.

has not been# proven.

It is still speculative, at best.

And neither A.I.

of social media nor generative# A.I.

are anchored in facts, right?

So what we are## doing when we cut deals with these companies is# the same mistake we made with social media when we## took the share button and put it on our Web sites.# We're giving away valuable, our -- in that case,## our relationships with our community to social# media that allowed the growth of Facebook.

Meta, the world's largest distributor# of news now, just last year decided they## were going to choke traffic to digital# news sites, right?

So you lose control.

On generative A.I., by giving that,# right, you're going to get a fraction## of the kinds of investments that# are walking into these companies,## right?

And, again, it will# not be anchored on facts.

AMNA NAWAZ: Maria, you spoke# recently at Harvard's commencement,## and there was a powerful moment you pulled# from your own experience as a journalist## under attack in the Philippines and# the advice that you gave to them.

And you said this: "These times# will hopefully teach you the same## lesson I learned.

You don't know# who you are until you're tested,## until you fight for what you believe# in, because that defines who you are."

What do you hope this next generation of# journalists and leaders takes away from that?

MARIA RESSA: You know, I speak# with both our young journalists,## because Rappler is a young organization.

Our# median age is 25 years old.

We're about 100,## 120 people, right?

Median age is 25.

And when we came under attack,# it wasn't just the -- our young## reporters, but it was also their# parents you have to deal with,## right?

And the question they always ask# is, why do you want to be a journalist?

But you know what?

When we came under attack,# all the friction of a news organization,## running a news group fell away.

The mission# became everything.

This is the time that will## define whether facts, evidence-based# thinking, whether that will win.

AMNA NAWAZ: Maria Ressa, we are so# grateful for your leadership in this## space and for making time to come# talk to us.

Always great to see you.

Thank you.

MARIA RESSA: Thanks for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: And before we go, an# update to our lead story tonight.

Donald Trump has become the first former president# to be convicted of felony crimes.

A New York jury## today found him guilty on all 34 counts of# falsifying business records and covering up## hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy# Daniels as he was running for president in 2016.

GEOFF BENNETT: Mr. Trump's sentencing# is scheduled for July 11, just days## before the Republican National Convention begins.

And that is the "NewsHour" for# tonight.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the entire "NewsHour"# team, thank you fo..