JOHN: TONIGHT ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND."

THE ROLE A SMALL BUT VOCAL NUMBER OF SOCIAL MEDIA USERS PLAY IN DISTORTING REALITY AND THE ELECTION YEAR CONSEQUENCES.

THEN, COURTING VOTERS IN OHIO: THE EFFECT THIS FALL'S STATE SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS COULD HAVE ON ISSUES LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS AND ABORTION.

AND, HOW SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING TO BEAT A DEADLY FUNGUS THAT IS DEVASTATING NORTH AMERICA'S BAT POPULATION.

>> WE'RE AT A VERY DIRE POINT NOW BECAUSE SOME SPECIES ARE DOWN OVER 90%.

BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS COULD ACTUALLY HELP TO RESTORE THE BATS.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING, I'M JOHN YANG.

WITH JUST NINE DAYS TO GO UNTIL ELECTION DAY, THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND THEIR RUNNING MATES ARE HEADING INTO THE HOME STRETCH, THEIR TRAVELS DICTATED BY POLL NUMBERS AND THE CALCULUS OF GETTING TO 270 ELECTORAL VOTES.

>> PEOPLE FEEL REAL PAIN.

BUT LIKE PAUL, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT DIVINE POWER WORKS THROUGH OUR ACTIONS.

>> AT THE CHURCH OF CHRISTIAN COMPASSION IN PHILADELPHIA THIS MORNING, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TAPPED INTO HER FAITH TO DELIVER HER MESSAGE.

>> I SEE NATION DETERMINED TO TURN THE PAGE ON HATRED AND DIVISION.

[APPLAUSE] TO CHART A NEW WAY FORWARD.

I SEE AMERICANS FROM RED STATES AND BLUE STATES READY TO BEND THE ARC OF HISTORY TOWARD JUSTICE.

>> PHILADELPHIA IS THE LARGEST CITY IN A STATE CRITICAL TO WINNING THE WHITE HOUSE.

SHE PLANS TO BLITZ ALL SEVEN BATTLEGROUND STATES OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS.

>> WE HAVE A GUY OPENLY SAYING HE WANTS TO BE A DICTATOR, WANTS TO TAKE AWAY REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

>> RUNNING MATE TIM WALZ WAS IN NEVADA PRESSING THE FOCUS ON REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

THAT WAS ALSO PART OF FORMER FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA'S MESSAGE TO VOTERS LAST NIGHT IN MICHIGAN.

>> PLEASE DO NOT HAND OUR FATES OVER TO THE LIKES OF TRUMP WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT US, WHO HAS SHOWN DEEP CONTEMPT FOR US.

BECAUSE A VOTE FOR HIM IS A VOTE AGAINST US, AGAINST OUR HEALTH, AGAINST OUR WORTH.

>> REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE JD VANCE MADE THE ROUNDS OF THE SUNDAY SHOWS.

HE DENIED THE DEMOCRATS' ASSERTION THAT A VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN TICKET IS A VOTE AGAINST WOMEN AND PIVOTED TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

>> AT THIS LATE STAGE, SHE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE CAN LOWER THE PRICE OF GROCERIES BECAUSE SHE RAISED THE PRICE OF GROCERIES.

>> SO, YOU MADE IT UP?

>> NO.

>> HE WAS PRESSED ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REFERENCES TO THE ENEMY WITHIN.

>> THE BIGGER PROBLEM ARE THE PEOPLE WITHIN.

WE HAVE SOME VERY BAD PEOPLE, SICK PEOPLE, RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS.

IT SHOULD BE EASILY HANDLED BY, IF NECESSARY, THE NIONAL GUARD OR THE MILITARY.

I THINK NANCY PELOSI IS AN ENEMY FROM WITHIN.

>> HE IS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE RIOTING AFTER THE ELECTION.

YOU ARE USING TWO SEPARATE PHRASES.

HE SAID ABOUT USING THE MILITARY THAT FAR LEFT LUNATICS, PEOPLE WHO RIOT IN THE WAKE OF AN ELECTION, BURNED DOWN AMERICAN CITIES, YES.

>> THIS AFTERNOON, TRUMP IS TO SPEAK AT A RALLY AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

JOHN: IN THE MIDDLE EAST, EGYPT HAS PROPOSED A TWO-DAY CEASEFIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS, DURING WHICH FOUR ISRAELI HOSTAGES WOULD BE FREED.

THERE'S BEEN NO IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM EITHER SIDE.

IN NORTHERN GAZA, AN ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IS ENTERING ITS THIRD WEEK.

AIRSTRIKES KILLED AT LEAST 22 PEOPLE IN BEIT LAHIYA -- MOST OF THEM WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

HAMAS IS PRAISING AN ATTACK AT A BUS STOP NORTH OF TEL AVIV.

DOZENS OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN A TRUCK RAMMED INTO A BUS.

POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING IT AS A TERRORISM INSTANT INCIDENT.

AND IN JERUSALEM, HECKLERS DISRUPTED A SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AT A CEREMONY HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACKS.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: [ SPEAKING ANOTHER LANGUAGE] JOHN: THOSE PEOPLE WERE SHOUTING "SHAME ON YOU" IN HEBREW.

MANY ISRAELIS BLAME NETANYAHU FOR THE FAILURES THAT LED TO THE ATTACKS AND FOR FAILING TO BRING HOME ALL HOSTAGES.

SEPARATELY, IN HIS FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE RETALIATORY STRIKE ON IRAN, NETANYAHU SAID ISRAEL HAD DISRUPTED IRAN'S DEFENSE AND MISSILE CAPABILITIES.

NEW SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW DAMAGE TO A SECRET MILITARY BASE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN LINKED TO TEHRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.

IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER SAID THE ATTACK SHOULDN'T BE EITHER EXAGGERATED OR MINIMIZED.

HE DID NOT CALL FOR A MILITARY RESPONSE.

THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA IS REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THE RESULTS OF SATURDAY'S ELECTION.

SHE SAID THE COUNTRY WAS THE VICTIM OF A RUSSIAN "SPECIAL OPERATION."

EARLY RESULTS GIVE THE RULING PARTY 53% OF THE VOTE.

BUT EUROPEAN ELECTION OBSERVERS EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT VOTE BUYING, DOUBLE VOTING, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION.

GEORGIA'S RULING PARTY HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY AUTHORITARIAN, CRACKING DOWN ON FREE SPEECH, JUST AS NEIGHBORING RUSSIA HAS.

STILL TO COME, THE IMPORTANCE OF DOWN BALLOT RACES LIKE THE ONE FOR THE OHIO STATE SUPREME COURT.

AND SCIENTISTS SEARCH FOR WAYS TO BATTLE A BAT-KILLING FUNGUS.

JOHN: MARK ZUCKERBERG HAVE BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING SOCIAL MEDIA IS A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY.

BUT RESEARCHERS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY CONCLUDED IT IS NOT AN ACCURATE REFLECTION.

THEY SAY IT IS MORE LIKE A FUN HOUSE MIRROR, DISTORTED BY A SMALL BUT VOCAL MINORITY OF EXTREME OUTLIERS.

IT IS A FINDING THAT HAS SPECIAL RESONANCE IN THIS ELECTION SEASON.

THE PSYCHOLOGY PRESSER IS ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE PAPER THAT REPORTED THE RESEARCH.

ARE THERE PARTICULAR TOPICS THAT TEND TO BE DISTORTED MORE THAN OTHERS?

>> IT TENDS TO HAPPEN FOR ALL KINDS OF ISSUES ONLINE.

THERE ARE MANY ISSUES WITH FLS THE 1% OF PEOPLE ARE SPREADING THE MOST AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION.

JOHN: IS IT POSSIBLE TO CHARACTERIZE WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE AND WHY THEY ARE DOING IT?

>> ONE OF THE BIG FACTORS THAT SEEMS TO BE DRIVING THIS IS IT IS PEOPLE WITH EXTREME BELIEFS OR POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES.

THEY TEND TO BE POSTING BY FAR THE MOST CONTENT.

THEREFORE, WHEN WE TUNE IN WE ARE MAINLY SEEING VIEWS FROM EXTREMES.

JOHN: WHAT MOTIVATES THEM?

WHY ARE THEY DOING IT?

>> THEY ARE MOTIVATED BY A LOT OF REASONS.

THEY MAY BE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT MOTIVATES THEM TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE OTHERS AND PUSH THEIR BELIEFS BUT ALSO A LITTLE LIKE PROPAGANDA.

JOHN: YOU SAY IT IS ALL SORTS OF TOPICS.

ARE THERE SOME PARTICULARLY PREVALENT IN THIS MANNER?

>> ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS POLITICS.

A VERY SMALL PROPORTION OF PEOPLE ARE POSTING VAST MAJORITY OF CONTENT ABOUT POLITICAL ISSUES.

JOHN: WHAT IS THE REAL WORLD EFFECT?

>> WHEN PEOPLE TUNE IN, THEY GET MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON BELIEVES.

IF I LOG INTO SOCIAL MEDIA SEE POST AFTER POST BY PEOPLE WHO ARE EXTREME, IT MISLEADS ME ON WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON BELIEVES.

JOHN: WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THAT?

>> WE THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE EXTREME IN THE REAL WORLD THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE.

THAT CAN LEAD US TO DISENGAGE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US OR BELONG TO DIFFERENT PARTIES OR GROUPS?

JOHN: WHAT IS THE CHICKEN AND THE EGG?

THE POLITICAL DIVISIONS DRIVE THE DISTORTION OR THE DISTORTION DRIVES THE DIVISION?

>> WE THINK IT IS BOTH.

WE ARE AT THE POINT OF POLARIZATION IN AMERICA GREATER THAN ANY POINT IN THE LAST 40 YEARS.

IT IS DRIVEN MORE BY OUT-GROUP HATE THAN IN-GROUP LOVE.

IT CREATES THIS MISPERCEPTION OF REALITY THAT INFECTS THE REST OF OUR MINDS AND MAKES US MISPERCEIVE WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS BELIEVE.

JOHN: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL GOT INTERNAL DOCUMENTS FROM FACEBOOK.

THEY FOUND, THEY WERE LOOKING AT CHANGES IN THE ALGORITHM TO ADDRESS THE DIVISION AND SENSATIONALISM.

IT SAID MARK ZUCKERBERG WAS RESISTANT BECAUSE HE FEARED IT WOULD REDUCE ENGAGEMENT.

THAT THIS SORT OF THING IS WHAT IS DRIVING THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IS THERE A WAY TO CHANGE IT OR FIX IT IF THAT IS THEIR BUSINESS MODEL?

>> YEAH.

I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE STUDY WE FINISHED.

WE PAID PEOPLE A FEW DOLLARS TO UNFOLLOW SOME OF THE MOST HYPER-PARTISAN ACCOUNTS ON TWITTER OR X.

AFTER A FEW WEEKS, WE PAID THEM THEIR MONEY AND SAID YOU CAN READ FOLLOW THESE ACCOUNTS.

MOST PEOPLE CHOSE NOT TO READ FOLLOW.

WE FOUND THE IMPACT LASTED UP TO 11 MONTHS.

THEY HAD LESS PARTISAN ANIMOSITY, THEY WERE SHARING MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION.

IT TURNS OUT IF PEOPLE STOP FOLLOWING THE ACCOUNTS, THEY FEEL BETTER AND BECOME LESS HOSTILE.

GIVEN THE CHANCE, THEY DO NOT WANT TO RE-FOLLOW THEM.

JOHN: IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GRANT TO PAY THEM, HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO STOP FOLLOWING THEM?

>> EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE RESULTS.

I WILL SAY THIS TO MARK ZUCKERBERG.

WE MEASURED ENGAGEMENT AND THIS DID NOT REDUCE ENGAGEMENT.

WE PAID PEOPLE TO FOLLOW ACCOUNTS THAT WERE UPLIFTING AND EDUCATIONAL AND INTERESTING.

PEOPLE ACTUALLY FELT A GREATER SENSE OF WELL-BEING AND WANTED TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THOSE ACCOUNTS.

IF PEOPLE CONSIDER THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED LIKE THEIR DIET AND TRY TO MAKE IT HEALTHIER, IT CAN HAVE A BIG EFFECT ON THEIR WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF INFORMATION THEY GET.

JOHN: WHAT ABOUT THE SUPPLY-SIDE?

YOU TALK ABOUT THE DEMAND FOR THE ACCOUNTS.

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THE INCENTIVES FOR THIS?

A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT GET REPOSTED.

>> THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

IT TURNS OUT EXTREME PEOPLE ARE POSTING THIS AND AMPLIFYING CONTENT SHARED BY OTHERS.

THIS CAN BE REALLY DANGEROUS.

THIS HAPPENED ON FACEBOOK DURING THE PANDEMIC WHERE THEY WERE CALLED THE DISINFORMATION DOZEN.

THE ORIGIN OF OVER 60% OF THE MISINFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES.

FACEBOOK GOT RID OF THEM.

THE INCENTIVE STRUCTURE FOR THOSE ACCOUNTS WAS NOT ONLY ENGAGEMENT BUT THEY WERE MAKING MONEY.

ALMOST ALL OF THEM WERE SELLING DUBIOUS HEALTH PRODUCTS ON THEIR WEBSITES.

THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO PUSH EXTREME AND MISLEADING INFORMATION.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THOSE INCENTIVES FOR THEM.

JOHN: WHAT CAN SOMEONE WHO IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WANTS TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA DO TO AVOID THESE INFLUENCES?

>> YOU CAN LOOK AT OR UPLIFTING INFORMATION AND WHO IS TRYING TO TURN YOU AGAINST OTHER GROUPS OR PEOPLE.

YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BIT TO CURATE IT.

EVERY NEW YEAR'S EVE, MOST PEOPLE SET A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TO HAVE A HEALTHIER DIET OR EXERCISE MORE, SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS.

WE CAN THINK ABOUT MAKING THIS ONE OF OUR GOALS AND RESOLUTIONS.

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY INFORMATION DIET TO MAKE IT HEALTHIER FOR ME, TO CREATE A BETTER SENSE OF WELL-BEING, TO REDUCE THE FEELING OF ANIMOSITY TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE?

JOHN: ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S EVE RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ JOHN: THIS PAST WEEK, A COUNTY JUDGE IN OHIO STRUCK DOWN THE STATE'S NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTIONS.

HE SAID IT VIOLATED A VOTER APPROVED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

THE RULING IS LIKELY TO BE REVIEWED BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT WHICH UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF RACES ON MANY STATE BALLOTS THIS FALL THAT ARE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR.

FIXING THE BORDER IS TOUGH.

SO IS KAMALA HARRIS.

>> HE WILL FIX IT!

JOHN: OHIO'S AIRWAVES ARE FILLED WITH CAMPAIGN ADS.

>> I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR OHIO WORKERS.

JOHN: FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE THREE OTHER STATEWIDE RACES?

DO YOU KNOW WHO IS RUNNING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT?

>> [LAUGHTER] NO.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT?

>> BERNIE MORENO AND WHAT IS HIS NAME?

>> DO YOU KNOW RUNNING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT?

>> NO.

>> SHERROD BROWN.

>> THAT IS ACTUALLY THE U.S. SENATE.

>> THEY ARE NOT GETTING NEARLY THE ATTENTION THE PRESIDENTIAL AND SENATE RACES ARE GETTING AN OHIO.

BUT THE OUTCOME OF THOSE ELECTIONS COULD HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR OHIOANS IN AREAS LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS, REDISTRICTING, AND ESPECIALLY ABORTION.

OHIO IS ONE OF 33 STATES VOTING ON SUPREME COURT JUSTICES THIS YEAR.

CONTESTS USUALLY LOW-KEY AND LOW-PROFILE.

>> I WISH MORE PEOPLE WERE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> THE DEMOCRAT AND FIRST LAP WOMAN ELECTED TO THE COURT IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

>> I WAS IN SIX DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

>> EARLIER THIS MONTH, SHE MET WITH VOTERS AT THE HOME OF A SUPPORTER IN A COLUMBUS SUBURB.

>> WE DRIVE OURSELVES AROUND.

WE HAND OUT OUR CAMPAIGN MATERIALS.

I DOUBT THEY HAVE PLACED A SIGN ANYWHERE.

>> FOR THE POST -- BUT THE POST THEY ARE RUNNING FOR CAN BE VERY POWERFUL.

>> STATE SUPREME COURT'S ARE HEARING MAJOR HIGH-STAKES CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

JOHN: SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE JUDICIARY PROGRAM AT THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NYU LAW SCHOOL AND EDITOR OF THE STATE COURT REPORT.

QUICK STATE SUPREME -- >> STATE SUPREME COURTS ARE REALLY POWERFUL INSTITUTIONS.

THEY ARE BECOMING EVEN MORE IMPORTANT AS THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS INCREASINGLY STEPPED BACK FROM BEING A MAJOR SOURCE OF RIGHTS PROTECTION.

JOHN: IN OHIO, THE SUPREME COURT WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER THE STATE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS IN LIGHT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT APPROVED LAST YEAR WITH 57% OF THE VOTE.

IT SAYS EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS A RIGHT TO MAKE AND CARRY OUT REPRODUCTIVE DECISIONS.

NEXT MONTH'S ELECTION WILL SHAPE THE COURT.

THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES RANGE FROM A COMMANDING REPUBLICAN MAJORITY TO A SLIM DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES THERE WOULD BE MORE LIBERAL JUSTICES THAN CONSERVATIVES.

>> THAT IS UNLIKELY EVEN HOW THE STATE IS LIKELY TO GO IN TERMS OF REPUBLICAN VOTES.

JOAN: SHE IS THE.

CHIEF FORD OHIO PUBLIC MEDIA AND HOSTED THE WEEKLY SHOW "THE STATE OF OHIO."

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE MOTIVATED TO VOTE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, THE PARTY LABEL IS IMPORTANT.

USUALLY, SUPREME COURT RACES HAVE BEEN AT THE BOTTOM AND THERE WAS A LOT OF FALLOUT BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM.

I DO NOT THINK THERE WILL BE AS MUCH FALLOFF THIS TIME.

JOHN: WHILE VOTERS MAY NOT BE PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE RACES, GROUPS ON BOTH SIDES OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE.

>> ALL RACES ARE IMPORTANT.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OHIO SUPREME COURT.

JOHN: IS THE PRESIDENT OF OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE WHICH HAS ENDORSED ALL THREE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

>> WE BELIEVE ON ABORTION WE WOULD WANT A CONSERVATIVE VOICE.

THE COURT, THE THIRD BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, NEEDS TO WEIGH IN.

>> THIS ELECTION IS AN EXTENSION OF THE IMPORTANT PHONE FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AMENDMENT WE PASSED LAST YEAR.

JOHN: SHE IS AN ABORTION PROVIDER WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO WHICH HAS ENDORSED ALL THREE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

>> PASSING THAT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AMENDMENT ALLOWED US TO SLOWLY DISMANTLE THOSE RESTRICTIONS AND RETURN ACCESS BACK TO THE STATE OF OHIO.

I THINK THE TAKE-HOME MESSAGE IS PEOPLE IN OHIO BELIEVE ABORTION IS HEALTH CARE.

JOHN: UNLIKE OTHERS ON THE STATEWIDE BALLOT, COURT CANDIDATES CANNOT SAY MUCH ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

ONE REASON THESE THREE RACES ARE BEING WATCHED SO CLOSELY IS BECAUSE OF ABORTION.

CAN YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

>> ONLY THAT THE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AMENDMENT IS THE LAW IN THE STATE OF OHIO WITH REGARDS TO REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

REALLY, THAT IS ALL THERE IS TO SAY ABOUT IT AT THIS POINT.

JOHN: HER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT DECLINED AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW BUT SAID IN A STATEMENT, "I SWORE AN OATH TO UPHOLD OUR CONSTITUTION AND THAT IS WHAT I DO EVERY DAY.

THERE MIGHT BE ISSUES FROM TIME TO TIME THAT I PERSONALLY DISAGREE WITH, BUT THAT WILL NEVER AFFECT THE DUTY I HAD TO UPHOLD THAT OATH.

IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN JUDGES ARE TAKING PARTISAN APPROACHES TO THE CASES THEY ARE HANDLING."

YET, SO LITTLE ATTENTION IS BEING PAID TO THESE CONTESTS THAT WHEN VOTERS MARK THEIR BALLOTS, MANY MAY NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE CANDIDATES BEYOND THEIR PARTY LABELS.

♪ JOHN: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BATS AND HALLOWEEN DATES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

IT IS BASED ON THE SUPERSTITION THEY ARE OLD AND SOME DEATH.

NOW, NORTH AMERICAN BATS ARE FACING A DEADLY THREAT THEMSELVES.

>> FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, BATS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA HAVE BEEN DECIMATED BY A DEADLY DISEASE CALLED WHITE NOSE SYNDROME.

PATCHES OF PALE WHITE FUZZ CAUSED BY A FUNGUS APPEAR UNINFECTED BATS.

FIRST OBSERVED IN 2006, THE PATHOGEN QUICKLY BEGAN SPREADING AFTER APPEARING IN NEW YORK STATE.

IT HAS KILLED MILLIONS OF BATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ACCORDING TO RECENT REPORTING, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, RESEARCHERS ARE FEELING HOPEFUL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE DISEASE.

CARL ZIMMER IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES AND RECENTLY WROTE ABOUT THIS.

HOW DID THE SYNDROME BEGIN?

WHY DID IT SPREAD SO QUICKLY?

>> IT ORIGINATED IN EUROPE.

IN EUROPE, THE BATS ARE ABLE TO FIGHT IT OFF.

SOMEHOW, THIS FUNGUS WAS ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

IT IS POSSIBLE A TRAVELER WAS EXPLORING A CAVE IN EUROPE AND GOT IT ON HIS BOOTS AND TRAVELED TO NEW YORK AND THE SPORE WAS SPREAD HERE.

WHEN IT GOT TO THE UNITED STATES, THE BATS STARTED TO SPREAD IT ACROSS THE CONTINENT.

>> YOU WRITE ABOUT THE SHOCK SOME RESEARCHERS HAD WHEN THEY CAME UP ON THE FIRST EXAMPLES.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THE RESEARCHERS WHO ENTERED THE CAVES AND SAW THE TOLL THE DISEASE HAD TAKEN ON THE BAT POPULATION?

>> THE FIRST BIOLOGISTS WHO DISCOVERED IT WERE SHOCKED.

THEY WOULD LITERALLY WALK INTO A CAVE THEY HAD BEEN VISITING FOR WINTERS STUDYING HIBERNATING BATS FOR YEARS AND THERE WOULD BE A PILE OF DEAD BATS ON THE CAVE FLOOR.

THEY WOULD SEE CAVES COMPLETELY EMPTY.

AND THEN, THIS FUNGUS MADE ITS WAY ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND FURTHER WEST.

BIOLOGISTS KNEW IT WAS COMING.

ONE WINTER, THEY WOULD GO INTO THEIR CAVES AND SEE THESE HUGE PILES OF BAT BODIES.

MILLIONS OF BATS HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS.

>> IT HAS RUN RAMPANT FOR SO MANY YEARS.

LOG ARE RESEARCHERS NOW HOPEFUL - - WHY ARE RESEARCHERS NOW HOPEFUL?

>> WE ARE AT A DIRE POINT.

SOME SPECIES ARE DOWN OVER 90%.

OVER HALF OF THE SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA ARE AT RISK OF EXTINCTION.

WHITE NOSE SYNDROME IS PART OF THAT THREAT.

BUT IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS COULD HELP TO RESTORE THE BATS.

THOSE PROJECTS ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT SORT OF SOLUTIONS HAVE RESEARCHERS FOUND HAVE BEEN HELPFUL?

>> ONE POSSIBILITY IS TO USE A NON-TOXIC CHEMICAL SPRAY DID ON THE WALZ -- STRAIGHT ON THE WALLS OF ABANDONED MINES WERE THEY LIKE TO ROOST FOR THE WINTER.

THIS CHEMICAL SPRAY ARRESTS THE FUNGUS.

THE SPORES ARE INERT.

PRELIMINARY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THIS ENDS UP ALLOWING MORE TO SURVIVE THE WINTER AND NOT GET SICK WITH WHITE NOSE SYNDROME.

THAT IS ONE SOLUTION.

ANOTHER IS TO BRING IN MORE COLD AIR INTO THESE SHELTERS WHERE THEY HIBERNATE BECAUSE AT COLDER TEMPERATURES, IT SEEMS THE BATS ARE ABLE TO GO INTO A DEEPER STATE OF HIBERNATION AND CAN WITHSTAND THE FUNGUS ATTACK.

IN THE SPRING WHEN THEY COME OUT OF HIBERNATION, THEY CAN REBOUND.

>> LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BATS TO THE ECOSYSTEM AND WHY IT MATTERS SO MUCH THAT THIS MASSIVE DIE OFF BE STOPPED.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF BATS.

THEY WOULD RATHER NOT DEAL WITH THEM NEAR THEM.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT BATS ARE ESSENTIAL TO MANY ECOSYSTEMS.

SOME SPECIES WILL POLLINATE FLOWERS, SO THE FLOWERS TOTALLY DEPEND ON THE BATS TO SPREAD THEM AROUND.

THAT'S ALSO EAST VAST AMOUNTS -- BATS ALSO EAT VAST AMOUNTS OF INSECTS.

IF YOU TAKE THE BATS AWAY, THE INSECTS CAN EXPLODE.

WE HAVE SEEN IN COUNTIES WHERE THERE'S A HIGH LEVELS OF WHITE NOSE SYNDROME, SO BATS ARE DISAPPEARING, THE INSECTS ARE BOOMING SO MUCH THAT FARMERS ARE HAVING TO PUT MORE INSECTICIDE ON THE FARM FIELDS.

THAT CAN LEAD TO HUMAN HEALTH PROBLEMS.

YOU CAN SEE HOW IF YOU LET BATS DISAPPEAR, THERE WILL BE A BUNCH OF PROBLEMS NOT ONLY FOR NATURE BUT FOR US AS WELL.

>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER HOW THIS DISEASE LIKELY STARTED IN EUROPE AND TRAVELED TO NORTH AMERICA.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF TRAVEL IN TERMS OF SPREADING THESE PATHOGENS FAR AND WIDE?

>> WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE ALL LIVE ON THE SAME PLANET.

AS FAR AWAY AS EUROPE MIGHT SEEM, OR CHINA, OR ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH, DISEASES CAN GET AROUND.

IT CAN TAKE JUST ONE FUNGAL SPORE ON ONE BOOT TO ENDANGER ALL OF THE SPECIES OF BATS ON A NEW CONTINENT.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT WITH HUMAN DISEASES AS WELL, WITH COVID FOR EXAMPLE.

COVID STARTED IN ONE PLACE IN CHINA AND IT WAS SOON ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

IF WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO LESSEN THE THREAT OF ALL OF THESE PATHOGENS, WE HAVE TO BE THINKING GLOBALLY.

>> CARL ZIMMER WITH A HOPEFUL STORY ABOUT AN IMPORTANT SPECIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

JOHN: THAT IS "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND" FOR THIS SUNDAY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.