JOHN: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND -- DAY 40 OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AS LAWMAKERS HOLD A RARE SUNDAY SESSION TO TRY TO BREAK THE STALEMATE.

THEN, A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS A TROUBLING CONNECTION BETWEEN MEDICAL IMAGING AND PEDIATRIC CANCER.

AND, THE EFFECT ENDING USAID FUNDING IS HAVING ON COUNTRIES LIKE INDONESIA AND AMERICA'S IMAGE ABROAD.

>> HOW NOW WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAYS TO THE GOVERNMENT OR THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE THAT?

,♪ JOHN: GOOD EVENING.

I'M JOHN YANG.

THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER SWING IN THE SEESAW LEGAL BATTLE OVER THE FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAM KNOWN AS SNAP AS TENS OF MILLIONS OF LOW-INCOME AMERICANS WAIT TO SEE IF THEY GET BENEFIT PAYMENTS THIS MONTH.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DEMANDING THAT STATES THAT FOLLOWED A JUDGE'S ORDERS AND PAID OUT FULL BENEFITS THIS PAST WEEK, UNDO IT BECAUSE THE THE SUPREME COURT LATER BLOCKED THAT RULING FOR THE TIME BEING.

THIS COMES AS THE SENATE HOLDS A RARE SUNDAY SESSION.

MAJORITY LEADER JOHN THUNE OF SOUTH DAKOTA SAID A POTENTIAL DEAL TO END THE 40-DAY SHUTDOWN IS "COMING TOGETHER," BUT WASN'T A DONE DEAL.

AIR TRAVELERS AT 40 BUSY AIRPORTS BASED A THIRD DAY OF REDUCED FLIGHTS.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY WARNED ABOUT IT LASTING UNTIL THANKSGIVING.

>> IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

I LOOK TO, YOU KNOW, THE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THANKSGIVING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AIR TRAVEL BE REDUCED TO A TRICKLE.

JOHN: ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT-TRACKING WEBSITE FLIGHTAWARE, SO FAR TODAY MORE THAN 2000 FLIGHTS AT U.S.

AIRPORTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AND MORE THAN 7000 DELAYED.

SUPER TYPHOON FUNG-WONG HIT THE PHILLIPPINES' NORTHEASTERN COAST TODAY - KILLING AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE AND FORCING THE EVACUATION OF MORE THAN A MILLION FROM AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING AND LANDSLIDES.

THE STORM BATTERED THE REGION WITH STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS, KNOCKING DOWN POWER LINES AS PEOPLE SOUGHT SHELTER.

IT'S THE BIGGEST TO THREATEN THE PHILLIPPINES IN YEARS.

JUST THIS PAST WEEK, ANOTHER TYPHOON CAUSED WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION AND KILLED MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE.

HAMAS HANDED OVER THE REMAINS OF AN ISRAELI SOLDIER KILLED IN 2014 AFTER THE CEASE-FIRE ENDED THAT YEAR'S GAZA WAR.

IT BROUGHT BITTER CLOSURE TO HIS FAMILY WHO CAMPAIGN FOR HIS RETURN.

THEY FOUND GOLDEN'S BODY YESTERDAY IN A TUNNEL IN RAFAH.

ISRAEL AWAITS THE BODIES OF FOUR HOSTAGES TAKEN IN THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACKS.

FORMER LONGTIME NFL COMMISSIONER HAS DIED.

HIS 17 YEAR TENURE WAS AMID GROWING FAN INTEREST AND NETWORK TV REVENUE AS THE VALUE GREW TENFOLD.

HE RESTORED LABOR AFTER WORK STOPPAGES AND IMPLEMENTED A TOUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY BUT CRITICS SAY HE FAILED TO ACT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH PLAYER CONCUSSIONS.

TAGLIABUE'S OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH WAS HEART FAILURE COMPLICATED BY PARKINSON'S.

HE WAS 84 YEARS OLD.

IN SUDAN AID GROUPS SAY TENS OF THOUSANDS HAVE FLED THE VIOLENCE ON THE CITY OF EL-FASHER IN THE DARFUR REGION, WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF A MORE THAN TWO-YEAR CIVIL WAR.

IN MAKESHIFT CAMPS THIS PAST WEEK UP PARAMILITARY FORCE CAPTURED THE CITY.

AND KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE >> FOR FEWER 60 PEOPLE IN A SINGLE STREET OR 10 OR 20 PEOPLE, THEY KILLED THEM, AND THEN THEY WOULD GO TO THE NEXT STREET AND BANG, BANG, BANG.

THAT IS THE MASSACRE I SAW.

JOHN: FOLLOWING AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION FAMINE IS SPREADING THROUGH SUDAN.

EARLIER I SPOKE WITH SHELDON YET, THE UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE IN SUDAN.

SHELDON: I TALKED TO WOMEN WHO HAD WALKED FOR DAYS.

THIS WAS JUST A HUGE EXPLOSION OF VIOLENCE ON OCTOBER 26.

THEY TALKED ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHERE THEIR HUSBANDS OR SONS WERE.

HAVING TO EAT ANIMAL FEET, HAVING NOTHING.

THE CITY HAD BEEN UNDER SIEGE FOR 600 DAYS.

MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEIR CHILDREN, THE REST OF THEIR FAMILY, NO IDEA WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THEM NEXT.

THERE WAS A LEVEL OF ANXIETY, OF FEAR, OF KNOWING THEY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED ONCE, AND HEARING THEY WOULD BE DISPLACED YET AGAIN AS THE CONFLICT CONTINUES TO EXPAND.

JOHN: TELL US WHAT UNICEF IS DOING ON THE GROUND.

WHAT ARE YOUR EFFORTS LIKE?

SHELDON: EFFORTS TARGETED ON THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE THE MASSACRES THAT HAPPENED IN EL-FASHER.

WE HAVE 80,000 PEOPLE WHO LEFT THE CITY, WHO HAVE GONE TO VARIOUS TOWNS AROUND DARFUR.

UNICEF IS SCREENING FOR NOW NUTRITION, GETTING ACCESS TO WATER AND SANITATION, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.

THIS POPULATION HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO HUGE LEVELS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, MANY WOMEN HAVE BEEN RAPED.

THESE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO HORRIFIC VIOLENCE, LOTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCARS.

JOHN: A MONITORING GROUP CONFIRMED FAMINE IN PARTS OF SUDAN.

WHAT IS THIS EXIT THIS --EXODUS DONE TO THAT?

SHELDON: THIS AREA IN EL-FASHER, THIS IS CONFLICT-INDUCED FAMINE.

N THOSE AREAS OF CONFLICT WE HAVE FAMINE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING, AND NOW MALNUTRITION.

JOHN: THE MONITORING GROUP SAYS THAT THEY SEE FAMINE AND RISK OF FAMINE IN SUDAN AS SYMPTOMS OF A BROADER, DEEPENING CRISIS.

IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT AS WELL?

SHELDON: YES, THAT IS RIGHT.

WE ARE 2.5 YEARS INTO THE CONFLICT IN THE FRONT LINES CONTINUE TO MOVE.

THE NUMBER OF DISPLACED CONTINUES TO GROW.

THERE ARE SOME 30 MILLION IN THE COUNTRY THAT NEED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, HALF OF THEM CHILDREN.

AND 80% OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY.

JOHN: IS IT POSSIBLE TO SAY WITH A TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE, OR WHAT UNICEF'S TOP PRIORITY IS?

SHELDON: IT DEPENDS WHERE IN SUDAN.

IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY LIKE EL-FASHER AND NORTH DARFUR, WE NEED TO SEE AN END TO THE VIOLENCE ITSELF, MAKE SURE CHILDREN ARE SAFE, WOMEN, SCHOOLS ARE NOT BEING TARGETED, THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE A NORMAL LIFE AND FEEL FREE TO GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING SHOT.

JOHN: WHAT IS THE LATEST YOU ARE HEARING FROM EL-FASHER AND DARFUR?

SHELDON: THE INSTABILITY AND VIOLENCE IS CONTINUING.

NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW.

PEOPLE ARE WALKING FOR DAYS TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

THEY ARE ARRIVING MALNOURISHED, DEHYDRATED, ON DEATHS DOOR.

WE ARE HEARING OF MANY UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN THAT MUST BE UNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE STILL ALIVE, AND MUST GET THE SUPPORT THEY REQUIRE, TO BE FULL CITIZENS OF THEIR COUNTRY.

JOHN: THERE HAS BEEN INTENSE GLOBAL ATTENTION ON GAZA.

IS THERE ANY SENSE THE ATTENTION HAS BEEN LESS ON SUDAN, OR IT HAS BEEN OVERSHADOWED, THE WORLD IS FOCUSED ELSEWHERE?

SHELDON: IT IS NOT A COMPETITION OF COURSE BUT THIS IS THE LARGEST HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY IN THE WORLD, AND YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT BY LISTENING TO THE WORLD'S MEDIA.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR 30 ODD YEARS AND HAVE NOT SEEN SOMETHING AS SCALABLE AS SUDAN.

I WAS IN RWANDA AND I SEE ECHOES OF WHAT I SAW THERE, THE PATTERNS OF KILLINGS WE SAW THERE.

THIS IS A POLITICAL ISSUE, A WAR.

HUMANITARIANS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH AND WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE GROWING LEVELS OF NEED AFFECTING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

JOHN: SHELDON YETT, UNICEF SUDAN REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU.

STILL TO COME ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND, THE LINK BETWEEN RADIATION FROM MEDICAL IMAGING AND PEDIATRIC CANCER AND WHY GOVERNMENT REGULATORS WANT TO BAN KEY INGREDIENTS AND A POPULAR HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS.

♪ JOHN: MEDICAL IMAGING, LIKE X-RAYS AND CT SCANS, ARE ROUTINE, NON-INVASIVE, AND PAINLESS TOOLS FOR DOCTORS TO MAKE DIAGNOSES.

BUT A RECENT STUDY OF ABOUT 4 MILLION U.S.

AND CANADIAN CHILDREN PUBLISHED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE SUGGESTS THAT THE RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM IMAGING COULD POSE A RISK.

IT ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT 10% OF BLOOD CANCERS, LIKE LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA, IN THE STUDY GROUP MAY HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTABLE TO RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM MEDICAL IMAGING.

DR.

REBECCA SMITH-BEINMAN IS THE LEAD AUTHOR OF THE STUDY, AND SHE'S A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO.

DR.

SMITH-BINDMAN, IS THIS THE FIRST TIME, FIRST STUDY TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND IN SUCH A LARGE SCALE?

DR.

SMITH-BEINMAN: IT IS, IT'S THE FIRST STUDY THAT LOOKS AT CHILDREN AND ALL KINDS OF MEDICAL TESTS THAT THEY OBSERVE, AND THEN WE FOLLOW THOSE CHILDREN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

WE ADDED UP THEIR CUMULATIVE DOSE OF RADIATION FROM ALL THOSE TESTS, IDENTIFIED WHICH CHILDREN WERE DIAGNOSED WITH HEMATOLOGIC CANCER TO ALLOW US TO ESTIMATE THE RISKS OF THOSE EXAMS.

JOHN: ARE CHILDREN PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO EXPOSURE TO RADIATION?

DR.

SMITH-BEINMAN: THEY ARE, THEY'RE VULNERABLE WE THINK FOR TWO REASONS.

FIRST, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LONG LIFE EXPECTANCY IN FRONT OF THEM AND THE RISK OF DEVELOPING A CANCER FROM RADIATION IS CUMULATIVE OVER TIME AND THE RISKS LAST A WHOLE LIFETIME.

BUT ALSO THEIR CELLS ARE RAPIDLY DIVIDING, THEY'RE GROWING AND THAT MAKES THEM PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE KIND OF DAMAGE THAT'S CAUSED BY THE RADIATION.

JOHN: THE STUDY AS I UNDERSTAND IT SAID THAT EVEN LOW LEVELS OF RADIATION FROM ONE OR TWO CT SCANS CAN INCREASE THE RISK.

WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT?

DR.

SMITH-BEINMAN: IT'S NOT JUST CT SCANS THAT INCREASE THE RISK.

IT'S ALL KINDS OF RADIATION.

SO WE USE RADIATION FROM ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF MEDICAL TESTS, FROM RADIOGRAPHS, LIKE YOU WOULD GET FOR A BONE FRACTURE OR TO LOOK FOR PNEUMONIA, ALL THE WAY UP TO HIGHER DOSE STUDIES LIKE FLUOROSCOPY OR CT SCANS.

AND WE FOUND THAT THE RISK OF HEMATOLOGIC CANCER, EVEN AT RELATIVELY LOW DOSES, IS INCREASED.

SO IT REALLY UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO MINIMIZE RADIATION.

JOHN: ARE DOCTORS OVERUSING MEDICAL IMAGING?

IT BECOMES FAIRLY STANDARD, IN MY EXPERIENCE, TO DO EITHER AN X-RAY OR EVEN A CT SCAN VERY EARLY ON.

DR.

SMITH-BEINMAN: A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT AND WHAT OUR RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS IS THE NEED TO JUSTIFY EVERY EXAM THAT USES RADIATION AND ON TOP OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOSES WE USE FOR THOSE EXAMS ARE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

ARE WE HOPING TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS EXAM AND NOT TO SORT OF JUST GET THE EXAMS BECAUSE WE CAN?

PARENTS REALLY NEED TO BE INFORMED THAT THE MEDICAL IMAGING COULD REALLY HELP THEIR CHILD, BUT IT ALSO COULD BE UNNECESSARY.

AND SO REALLY TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY EVERY TIME AN EXAM IS ORDERED AND EVERY TIME YOU ASK FOR AN EXAM.

JOHN: ARE THERE GUIDELINES ABOUT THIS, GUIDELINES THAT PHYSICIANS HAVE TO FOLLOW, OR IF THEY'RE NOT, SHOULD THERE BE?

DR.

SMITH-BEINMAN: I THINK WE NEED MORE RIGOROUS GUIDELINES THAT REALLY HELP GUIDE WHAT TESTS WE DO IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO I CAN GIVE YOU A CONCRETE EXAMPLE.

WE KNOW THAT TO DIAGNOSE APPENDICITIS, WE COULD USE ULTRASOUND INSTEAD OF CT SCANS.

AND FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, WE OFTEN DO START WITH ULTRASOUND, AND IN OLDER CHILDREN, WE OFTEN GO RIGHT TO CT, WHICH HAS MUCH MORE RADIATION THAN EVEN JUST GETTING SOME KINDS OF RADIOGRAPHS THAT ARE UNNECESSARY.

WE NEED MUCH MORE EXPLICIT GUIDELINES AND WE NEED PHYSICIANS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AS PHYSICIANS OF FOLLOWING THOSE GUIDELINES AND AVOIDING THE HIGHER DOSE STUDIES, IF IT'S POSSIBLE.

JOHN: YOU MENTIONED EARLIER PARENTS, WHAT SHOULD PARENTS THINK ABOUT OR DO IF A DOCTOR SUGGESTS OR ORDERS MEDICAL IMAGING FOR THEIR CHILD?

DR.

SMITH-BEINMAN: SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A NUANCED SITUATION.

PARENTS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT REFUSE MEDICAL IMAGING, BUT I THINK THEY CAN OPEN A DIALOG AND ASK, DO WE REALLY NEED THIS TEST?

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXTREME EXAMPLE.

A CHILD WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HAS SEVERE INJURIES.

YOU NEED TO DO THE CT SCAN AND YOU NEED TO IT RIGHT AWAY.

SO IT'S CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THAT, YOU JUST GET THE SCANS.

IN OTHER SITUATIONS, THE DOCTOR ORDERS A TEST IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING.

I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE PARENTS TO DISCUSS IT WITH THE PHYSICIAN, DO WE REALLY NEED THE TEST, DO WE NEED IT NOW AND IF WE DO IS IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE A RADIATION-BASED TEST WITH A NON-RADIATION-BASED TESTS, SUCH AS MRI OR ULTRASOUND THAT DOESN'T USE IONIZING RADIATION.

IT DOESN'T INCREASE THE RISK OF CANCER.

SO I THINK IT'S THAT DIALOG THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

JOHN: DR.

REBECCA SMITH-BINDMAN OF UCSF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DR.

SMITH-BEINMAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COVERING THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

♪ OHN: FOR CENTURIES, SOUTHEAST - - PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAVE USED THE LEAVES OF KRATOM TREES AS A HOME REMEDY TO SOOTHE NERVES AND EASE PAIN.

RECENTLY, IT'S POPULARITY HAS EXPLODED IN THIS COUNTRY AS A WAY TO ALLEVIATE ANXIETY AND THE EFFECTS OF OPIOID WITHDRAWAL.

THESE PRODUCTS ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE AT SMOKE SHOPS AND GAS STATIONS.

BUT KRATOM IS POORLY REGULATED AND SYNTHETIC VERSIONS CONTAIN HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF A POWERFUL COMPOUND THAT U.S.

OFFICIALS SAY SHOULD BE RESTRICTED.

ALI ROGAN TAKES A LOOK AT THIS CONTROVERSIAL HERBAL DRUG WITH KIRBY WILSON, SENIOR POLITICS REPORTER AT THE TAMPA BAY TIMES.

ALI: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT WHAT KRATOM IS, HOW IT'S TRADITIONALLY BEEN USED IN OTHER CULTURES, AND HOW IT SHOWING UP HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

KIRBY: YEAH, SO KRATOM IS A VERY INTERESTING SUBSTANCE WITH A LONG HISTORY.

IT'S A TREE THAT'S GROWN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, PRIMARILY IN INDONESIA.

AND IT'S BEEN USED THERE FOR CENTURIES AS A MEDICINAL SORT OF HOME REMEDY FOR A VARIETY OF AILMENTS FROM AN ANALGESIC PAIN TREATMENT TO CURING INDIGESTION.

AND SO IT'S BREWED INTO TEAS THERE, A LOT OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN INDONESIA SEE IT AS SORT OF A CURE FOR WHAT AILS YA KIND OF THING.

IT IS NOT LEGAL TO IMPORT INTO THE UNITED STATES BUT IT GETS HERE ANYWAY AND PEOPLE USE IT HERE FOR A LITTLE DIFFERENT REASON.

ALI: YEAH, SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

YOU'VE REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON THIS, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW IT'S SHOWING UP AROUND THE TAMPA AREA IN FLORIDA, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND IN THE COURSE OF YOUR REPORTING ON IT?

KIRBY: IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING DOVETAIL WITH THE OPIOID CRISIS IN AMERICA BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SEEKING TREATMENT FOR THAT PARTICULAR AFFLICTION.

THEY GET ADDICTED TO PAINKILLERS AND THEY WANT A WAY OUT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE AN EASY RESOURCE.

PEOPLE HAVE USED IT TO WEAN OFF OF OPIOID ADDICTION, WHICH IS HONESTLY PROBABLY A SOCIETAL GOOD THAT THEY FIND SOMEWHERE TO TURN THAT ISN'T ANOTHER STREET DRUG OR BACK TO OPIOIDS.

BUT THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT THIS IS IN A LOT OF PLACES ENTIRELY UNREGULATED.

PEOPLE ARE USING THIS SUBSTANCE THAT HAD BEEN USED FOR CENTURIES FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PURPOSE IN A WAY THAT AUTHORITIES ARE NOT GETTING THEIR ARMS AROUND OR SORT OF UNDERSTANDING AND THE THERE'S NOT REALLY WELL ESTABLISHED LIMITS ON DOSING OR WHAT HOW MUCH IS WISE TO USE WHAT FORM OF IT IS WISE, TO USE AND IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

ALI: WHY IS IT, KIRBY, SO DIFFICULT TO REGULATE KRATOM PRODUCTS?

KIRBY: REALLY FOR THE SAME REASON IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO REGULATE ANYTHING.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW THE EXACT SCIENCE OF HOW THINGS WORK ON THE BODY.

STILL DOSING LIMITS ARE POORLY UNDERSTOOD IN GENERAL BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S BODY IS DIFFERENT.

SO DOCTORS HAVE SOME SENSE OF HOW MUCH OF A CERTAIN DRUG COULD HARM OR KILL A PERSON, BUT THAT IS ONLY UNDERSTOOD AFTER EXTENSIVE CLINICAL TRIALS, TESTING AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.

THERE IS GREAT PROMISE, DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I AM NOT TOO CONTRIBUTED -- CONTRIBUTE TO PANIC AROUND KRATOM.

SOME PEOPLE ARE USING IT SAFELY AND IT IS BENEFITING THEM, BUT THEY ARE USING IT IN AN OFF-LABEL WAY.

AND WHEN YOU'RE USING ANYTHING IN AN OFF-LABEL WAY, DANGERS ARE PRESENT.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS AN INDUSTRY THAT IS INCENTIVIZED TO CREATE THE MOST CONCENTRATED POSSIBLE ITERATION OF THIS SUBSTANCE THAT PEOPLE ARE USING AS A MEDICINE, THAT'S WHEN YOU RUN INTO TROUBLE.

ALI: SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE ITERATIONS.

LET'S TALK THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KRATOM THE PLANTS AND THE COMPOUNDS IN IT WHICH APPEAR IN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONCENTRATION IN SOME COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER FACTOR OF THIS WHICH IS THE SYNTHETIC VERSIONS OF THOSE COMPOUNDS WHICH I KNOW IS KIND OF IN ITS OWN CATEGORY RIGHT NOW.

WALK US THROUGH ALL THAT.

KIRBY: YEAH, SO THE THING THAT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS MOST RECENTLY IS A PRODUCT CALLED 7-HYDROXYMETRAGININE, OR MITRAGINENE, YOU MIGHT HEAR IT PRONOUNCED, WHICH IS AN ALKALOID OF THE KRATOM PLANT.

BASICALLY, IT'S A CHEMICAL THAT'S FOUND IN THE NATURAL KRATOM PLANT AT VERY LOW DOSES.

SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE STUDIED THIS CHEMICAL ARE WORRIED ABOUT ITS POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE AND ADDICTION.

IT MIMICS OPIOIDS IN THE WAY THAT IT INTERACTS WITH OUR BRAINS AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION WHICH IS ULTIMATELY WHAT KILLS PEOPLE WHEN THEY OVERDOSE ON OPIOIDS SO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND SOME EVEN SOME STATES LIKE FLORIDA HAVE SAID, NO MORE 7-OH, WHICH IS THE STREET NAME FOR IT, WE ARE TAKING IT OFF THE STREETS ENTIRELY.

SET THAT ASIDE BECAUSE THERE IS A WHOLE OTHER LEGION OF KRATOM PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT 7-OH THAT ARE SORT OF AKIN TO WHAT YOU'D FIND IN A TRADITIONAL KRATOM TEA.

IF YOU GO TO A KAVA SHOP, YOU CAN GET A KRATOM TEA AND IT'S MORE OR LESS SIMILAR TO THE PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRINKING FOR CENTURIES IN INDONESIA.

THEN SET THAT ASIDE, AND THERE ARE THESE OTHER KRATOM PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT 7-OH, BUT HAVE HIGHLY CONCENTRATED FORMS OF MITRAGYNINE, THAT IS THE OPERATIVE INGREDIENT IN KRATOM AND THE EFFECTS OF THAT ARE SORT OF UNKNOWN WHEN IT COMES TO THESE HIGH CONCENTRATED PRODUCTS, BUT THEY EXIST AND THEY'RE BASICALLY UBIQUITOUS ANYWHERE.

ANYONE CAN BUY THEM ONLINE IN ALMOST ANY STATE.

ALI: AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SOME OF THESE STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE MADE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE KRATOM PRODUCT ITSELF AND THE SYNTHETIC DERIVATIONS OF IT.

IS THAT THE WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS?

KIRBY: YES, I THINK IT IS WISE TO BREAK OFF AND REGULATE THE TWO AS DISSIMILAR PRODUCTS BECAUSE EVEN THE KRATOM INDUSTRY, WHICH I HAVE REPORTED ON AGGRESSIVELY AND CRITICALLY, SAYS 7-OH SHOULD NOT BE OFFERED AS A PRODUCT.

IF YOU ARE CONCENTRATING THAT AND PUTTING THAT INTO A PRODUCT, ALMOST EVERYONE WHO'S REASONABLE IN THE KRATOM SPACE THINGS THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THAT.

AS FAR AS THE OTHER KRATOM REGULATIONS GO REASONABLE MINDS , CAN DISAGREE ABOUT HOW BEST TO DO THAT, AND THE URGENCY IS CERTAINLY THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE AGAIN ARE USING A PRODUCT THAT IS NOT A DRUG, LIKE A DRUG.

AND SO THERE ARE ALWAYS DANGERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INHERENT WITH THAT.

BUT THE UPTAKE OF KRATOM IS SO WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE HARM THAN WE HAVE FOUND IF IT WERE AS DANGEROUS AS OPIOIDS.

ALI: KIRBY WILSON, WITH THE TAMPA BAY TIMES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KIRBY: THANK YOU!

♪ JOHN: THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ELIMINATION OF USAID ARE BEING FELT IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WHERE THE AGENCY SUPPORTED INITIATIVES RANGING FROM PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS.

ANGELES PONPA FROM NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM TRAVELED TO INDONESIA TO SEE THE EFFECT ON ONE OF THE WORLD'S FASTEST-SINKING CITIES.

ANGELES: OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL JAKARTA, RESIDENTS STRUGGLED FOR YEARS TO GET ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER.

IN 2016, USAID OFFERED A PROGRAM TO HELP DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES OBTAIN CLEAN WATER.

>> FOR ME PERSONALLY IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL.

ANGELES: PRIOR TO THESE EFFORTS, ABDUL PULLED UNSAFE WATER FROM A NEARBY WELL THAT WAS DUG BY HAND.

>> ONCE I USED USAID WATER I STOPPED USING THE PUMP TO EXTRACT GROUNDWATER.

I WAS VERY HAPPY AND GRATEFUL.

ANGELES: DECADES OF GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION HAVE CAUSED RICARDA, THE CAPITAL OF INDONESIA [INDISCERNIBLE] MEANWHILE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, THE SEAS ARE RISING, SENDING SALTY WATER INTO FLOODING WATER.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHIEF -- >> THAT IS WHY THE ONLY OPTION WAS THE INITIATIVE FROM USAID.

WE WERE GRATEFUL TO THEM.

ANGELES: THE PROGRAM INSTALLED A METER TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO THE CITY WATER BUT THE STUDY -- BUT AFFORDABLE RATES, THEY NO LONGER NEEDED TO DRILL WELLS OR RELY ON COSTLY JUGS OF WATER FROM LOCAL SELLERS.

THE CITY WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE TO USAID WAS LIMITED.

THE MASTER METER PROGRAM REACHED ONLY 18% OF FAMILIES IN THE VILLAGE.

>> WHEN THERE ARE COUNTRIES OR POPULATIONS NOT RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT, AND USAID ARE STEPPING IN TO HELP, IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE FOR WORLD LEADERS TO STOP THOSE EFFORTS.

ANGELES: JEFF COHEN WAS USAID'S MISSION DIRECTOR IN INDONESIA.

HE SAID THE DECISION BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO CUT USAID FUNDING WILL HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

>> WITHOUT USAID FUNDING, COMMUNITIES WE WERE WORKING IN WILL HAVE TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN OR FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO BE THE CATALYST.

HONESTLY SOME OF THEM NEVER WILL GET ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER, WILL NEVER GET ACCESS TO SAFE SANITATION, UNTIL SOMEBODY REPLACES US AND I DO NOT THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE WORK INCREASE WATERBORNE DISEASES.

YOU WILL SEE SICK KIDS WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SICK IF THEY HAD ACCESS TO CLEANER WATER.

ANGELES: SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO DEFENDED THE ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO DEFUND USAID IN JANUARY.

>> YES WE CANCELED A BUNCH OF CONTRACTS IN USAID.

SOME WERE STUPID AND OUTRAGEOUS, OTHERS DID NOT SERVE THE NATIONAL INTERESTS.

IT IS NOT CHARITY.

AFTER ANGELES: -- ANGELES: AFTER DECADES, JEFF HAS SEEN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE STRENGTHENING U.S.

INFLUENCE.

HE BELIEVES CANCELING USAID WILL HURT U.S.

RELATIONS WITH COUNTRIES LIKE INDONESIA.

>> HOW NOW WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE U.S.

SAYS TO INDONESIA WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, HOW CAN THEY RELIEVE THAT?

ANGELES: AS INDONESIA CONFRONTS RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBAN GROWTH, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CAN KEEP THE TAPS RUNNING WITHOUT HELP FROM USAID.

FOR PBS NEWS WEEKEND, ANGELES PONPA, IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA.

♪ OHN: AND WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH THE WORLD'S MOST WATCHED E-SPORTING EVENT -- THE LEAGUE OF LEGENDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

18,000 PEOPLE PACKED AN ARENA IN CHENGDU, CHINA, FOR THE 5-HOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE.

TEAM "T-1" DEFEATED TEAM "K-T" - - BOTH FROM SOUTH KOREA -- TO WIN THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE TITLE.

AT ITS PEAK, LAST YEAR'S TOURNAMENT DREW 50 MILLION VIEWERS ACROSS THE WORLD.

THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FOR THIS I'M JOHN YANG.

SUNDAY.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

♪ >> THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

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

THANK YOU.

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

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