Detecting language using up to the first 30 seconds. Use `--language` to specify the language Detected language: English [00:00.000 --> 00:03.260] they need to build a future of unlimited possibilities. [00:03.260 --> 00:04.080] Good evening and welcome. [00:04.080 --> 00:05.960] I'm Omnanova's Judy Woodruff is Away. [00:05.960 --> 00:24.160] On the news hour tonight, a verdict, a jury order's conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to [00:24.160 --> 00:29.760] pay the families of the Sandy Hook massacre nearly $1 billion in damages. [00:29.760 --> 00:31.760] the Saudi connection. [00:31.760 --> 00:36.760] The United States reevaluate the relationship with the kingdom over a cut in oil production [00:36.760 --> 00:38.760] that's pushing up gas prices. [00:38.760 --> 00:44.760] And first time voters, young adults in Wisconsin, discuss their hopes for the country's [00:44.760 --> 00:48.760] future and whether politicians are listening to their concerns. [00:48.760 --> 00:52.760] I've been very politically engaged throughout high school and I'm excited to get my foot in the [00:52.760 --> 00:55.760] door and actually have a voice in my government. [00:55.760 --> 01:08.760] I'm glad and more on tonight's PBS News Hour. [01:08.760 --> 01:13.760] Major funding for the PBS News Hour has been provided by [01:13.760 --> 01:35.760] the United States. [01:35.760 --> 01:45.760] Moving our economy for 160 years, BNSF, the engine met connects us. [01:45.760 --> 01:51.760] Pediatric Surgeon, Volunteer, Tophieri Artist, a Raymond James High Natural Advisor, [01:51.760 --> 01:55.760] Taylor's advice to help you live your life. [01:55.760 --> 02:02.760] Life, well planned. [02:02.760 --> 02:08.760] The Walton Family Foundation, working for solutions to protect water during climate change, [02:08.760 --> 02:14.760] so people at Major Camp thrive together. [02:14.760 --> 02:19.760] Supported by the John D. and Katherine T. McArthur Foundation, committed to building a more [02:19.760 --> 02:27.760] just, verdant and peaceful world, more information at MacFound.org. [02:27.760 --> 02:36.760] That was the ongoing support of these institutions. [02:36.760 --> 02:41.760] This program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by contributions [02:41.760 --> 02:44.760] to your PBS station from viewers like you. [02:44.760 --> 02:49.760] Thank you. [02:49.760 --> 02:58.760] The National Security and Connecticut has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay nearly $1 billion [02:58.760 --> 03:01.760] in damages for defamation. [03:01.760 --> 03:07.760] The host of the Info War Show had claimed the 2012 Sandy Hook School Massacre was a hoax. [03:07.760 --> 03:12.760] Relatives of eight of the 26 victims and an FBI agent brought the suit. [03:12.760 --> 03:15.760] They said today's verdict is a hard fought victory. [03:15.760 --> 03:19.760] What we were able to accomplish was just to simply tell the truth. [03:19.760 --> 03:25.760] And it shouldn't be this hard and it shouldn't be this scary. [03:25.760 --> 03:29.760] I shouldn't have to worry about what my daughters are going to go through. [03:29.760 --> 03:32.760] When I tell them that it's best that they just tell the truth. [03:32.760 --> 03:40.760] Jones already faced a $50 million penalty that a Texas jury imposed in August will return to the story later in the program. [03:40.760 --> 03:47.760] A jury in South Florida has begun deliberating on whether Parkland School Shooter Nicholas Cruz will be sentenced to death. [03:47.760 --> 03:53.760] Cruz already pleaded guilty to killing 17 people at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. [03:53.760 --> 03:55.760] He's now 24 years old. [03:55.760 --> 03:59.760] The defense is asking for life in prison without parole. [03:59.760 --> 04:07.760] In Ukraine, seven more people were killed today as Russia fired more missiles, drones, and artillery rounds into major cities. [04:07.760 --> 04:11.760] In all the new Russian offensive has killed at least 26 people since Monday. [04:11.760 --> 04:21.760] The latest attacks came as U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin and other NATO defense ministers met in Brussels on bolstering Ukraine's weapon supply. [04:21.760 --> 04:32.760] And that resolve has only been heightened by the deliberate cruelty of Russia's new barrage against Ukraine's cities. [04:32.760 --> 04:40.760] The United States and targets with no military purpose. Again, reveal the malice of Putin's war of choice. [04:40.760 --> 04:46.760] Russian fire also knocked out power to the Zaporigen nuclear plant for the second time in five days. [04:46.760 --> 04:54.760] And at the United Nations, the General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia's attempt to annex more of Ukraine. [04:54.760 --> 05:07.760] Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is set to resume natural gas deliveries to Europe. He said today that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany could still be used despite being damaged by explosions last month. [05:07.760 --> 05:13.760] Germany quickly rejected the offer as another attempt to renew Europe's dependence on Russian energy. [05:13.760 --> 05:20.760] New protest swept Iran today despite heavy police presence and an internet outage that hindered communications. [05:20.760 --> 05:26.760] Demonstrators rallied in at least 19 cities over the death of Masa Amini in police custody. [05:26.760 --> 05:30.760] Women marched in the streets defiantly removing their mandatory hijabs. [05:30.760 --> 05:36.760] In Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Kamene blamed foreign elements for the unrest. [05:36.760 --> 05:43.760] Some are either agents of the enemy or they are aligned with the enemy. Others are just excited. [05:43.760 --> 05:48.760] The first group must be dealt with by judicial and national security officials. [05:48.760 --> 05:52.760] The regime has carried out a violent crackdown on the protests. [05:52.760 --> 05:57.760] One human rights group estimated today that at least 200 people have been killed. [05:57.760 --> 06:04.760] Back in this country, the former head of the Los Angeles City Council has resigned her council seat over racist remarks that were leaked. [06:04.760 --> 06:10.760] Nuri Martinez had already stepped down from her post as council president on the leaked recording. [06:10.760 --> 06:20.760] In two other council members talked about protecting Latino voting power and made abusive remarks about other groups. [06:20.760 --> 06:23.760] The California Attorney General has announced he will look into the process for drawing new council districts. [06:23.760 --> 06:28.760] Former President Trump was ordered today to give a deposition in a defamation lawsuit. [06:28.760 --> 06:30.760] A federal judge issued the order in New York. [06:30.760 --> 06:40.760] The vice columnist E. Jean Carroll says Mr. Trump defamed her when he denied raping her in a department store dressing room in the mid 1990s. [06:40.760 --> 06:44.760] The former president's legal team has repeatedly tried to quash the lawsuit. [06:44.760 --> 06:50.760] The CDC today approved updated COVID-19 booster shots for children as young as five years old. [06:50.760 --> 06:58.760] The latest Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are tailored to better provide protection against the highly contagious Omercron variant. [06:58.760 --> 07:08.760] In the year, the former president has announced the order to make sure the government members are aware after the FDA authorized the boosters for the younger age group. [07:08.760 --> 07:12.760] And on Wall Street today, stocks ended slightly lower after news that wholesale inflation rose eight and a half percent in September from a year earlier. [07:12.760 --> 07:19.760] The Dow Jones industrial average lost 28 points to close a 29,210, the Nasdaq fell 9 points in the S&P 500 slipped 11, still to come. [07:19.760 --> 07:24.760] 100 slipped 11 still to come. On the news hour, President Biden's [07:24.760 --> 07:28.760] student loan forgiveness plan faces legal challenges. [07:28.760 --> 07:32.760] Reporters across the country share the latest on the races that could decide [07:32.760 --> 07:35.760] control of Congress, plus much more. [07:35.760 --> 07:43.760] This is the PBS News Hour from WETA Studios in Washington and in the west [07:43.760 --> 07:48.760] from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. [07:48.760 --> 07:53.760] As we reported, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been ordered to pay nearly [07:53.760 --> 07:57.760] $1 billion, $965 million to be exact. [07:57.760 --> 08:02.760] For the lies he spread about the Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre in 2012. [08:02.760 --> 08:06.760] Jones had falsely claimed the attack that left more than two dozen people dead, [08:06.760 --> 08:09.760] including 20 children, was a hoax. [08:09.760 --> 08:13.760] An accused of grieving parent of being an actor in the days after the murders. [08:13.760 --> 08:18.760] A Texas jury awarded nearly $50 million in a separate damages trial this summer. [08:18.760 --> 08:22.760] And Jones likely faces yet another trial before the year is up. [08:22.760 --> 08:26.760] For some perspective on the scope of this award and what happens now, [08:26.760 --> 08:31.760] we turn to Jesse Gesson, a trial lawyer in California who works on both civil [08:31.760 --> 08:33.760] and criminal cases. [08:33.760 --> 08:35.760] Mr. Gesson, welcome to the news hour. [08:35.760 --> 08:36.760] Thank you for joining us. [08:36.760 --> 08:39.760] Let's just start with some context on this verdict. [08:39.760 --> 08:41.760] It is an enormous amount of money. [08:41.760 --> 08:44.760] What did you think when you heard the damages being awarded? [08:44.760 --> 08:47.760] Wow, quite frankly. [08:47.760 --> 08:51.760] It's probably one of the largest defamation verdicts in U.S. history. [08:51.760 --> 08:57.760] Also, it's compensatory, meaning that there's still going to be punitive damages, [08:57.760 --> 09:04.760] which could be up to 10 times as much under the United States Constitution. [09:04.760 --> 09:12.760] So we're going to see probably this verdict at least, I would say at least double or triple [09:12.760 --> 09:14.760] or maybe even up to 10 times more. [09:14.760 --> 09:18.760] For anyone following the trial, I mean, it was an incredibly emotional trial, [09:18.760 --> 09:22.760] emotional testimony from the parents who've lost their children in the most horrific way. [09:22.760 --> 09:29.760] Does that, do you think did that play a role in the size of the verdict that was eventually awarded? [09:29.760 --> 09:35.760] As surely, this verdict says two things. [09:35.760 --> 09:42.760] Number one, it says we hate Alex Jones and number two that we are inflamed, [09:42.760 --> 09:47.760] and we feel that these parents have lost something very, very, very special to them, [09:47.760 --> 09:53.760] and we're going to do our best to give it back to them with our verdict. [09:53.760 --> 09:56.760] We should point out earlier this year in faux wars, [09:56.760 --> 10:00.760] and its parent company did file for bankruptcy protections. [10:00.760 --> 10:06.760] What kind of impact could that have on the amount that's actually paid out? [10:06.760 --> 10:12.760] Well, the verdict is against Alex Jones and the company, [10:12.760 --> 10:16.760] and so Alex Jones may end up filing for bankruptcy protection as well. [10:16.760 --> 10:24.760] His estimated net worth is anywhere between 170 to [10:24.760 --> 10:28.760] 170 million. [10:28.760 --> 10:34.760] So he may declare bankruptcy as well, but it is certainly possible that this verdict [10:34.760 --> 10:37.760] and the Texas verdict could be swept up into the bankruptcy, [10:37.760 --> 10:42.760] and significantly decreased under US bankruptcy law. [10:42.760 --> 10:47.760] You mentioned that Texas verdict, and I want to get your analysis on the difference you see [10:47.760 --> 10:52.760] between that Texas verdict that was around $50 million and was eventually knocked down [10:52.760 --> 10:57.760] because of state limits on those kinds of awards, and the damages we saw awarded today. [10:57.760 --> 11:02.760] How do you see the difference between what unfolded in Texas and what happened in Connecticut? [11:02.760 --> 11:12.760] It's hard not to draw the inference that the two different jury pools are somewhat politically motivated. [11:12.760 --> 11:17.760] The compensatory damages in the Texas verdict was $4 million. [11:17.760 --> 11:24.760] The statutory damages in the Connecticut verdict is $900 and $65 million. [11:24.760 --> 11:30.760] That's a $961 million difference in compensatory damages. [11:30.760 --> 11:38.760] We still have to see Peter and the damages in Connecticut, so that the difference could be even far more striking. [11:38.760 --> 11:46.760] I think it's safe to say that the Connecticut verdict is a far more liberal jury pool. [11:46.760 --> 11:51.760] And that had to have factored into their verdict. [11:51.760 --> 11:57.760] We should also point out we learned later today that Jones's lawyer has said they do plan to appeal. [11:57.760 --> 12:03.760] But Mr. Guesson, we should remind folks, Mr. Jones was spreading these lies for years, right? [12:03.760 --> 12:10.760] Saying that the whole attack was a hoax that, in some cases, parents were responsible for the deaths of their own children. [12:10.760 --> 12:26.760] He's not alone in spreading some of these lies though, and I wonder as you look at this moment what you think this verdict says in the way of a message it sends about the legal landscape surrounding how holding those who spread misinformation accountable in some way. [12:26.760 --> 12:39.760] Well, if you're profiting off of conspiracy theories that are defamatory, they're obviously false, you need to watch yourself. [12:39.760 --> 12:47.760] And a litigant can prosper, clearly prosper in two very separate forms. [12:47.760 --> 12:55.760] And I think that it sends a strong message to people that are making money on lies. [12:55.760 --> 12:59.760] And especially given that this isn't the end. [12:59.760 --> 13:05.760] We have the punitive damages verdict, and then we also have a third Sandy Hook lawsuit. [13:05.760 --> 13:13.760] So I think that it sends a strong message to people who are in the business of pedaling conspiracies. [13:13.760 --> 13:18.760] That is Jesse Guesson, a trial attorney in California, joining us tonight, Mr. Guesson. [13:18.760 --> 13:20.760] Thank you for your time. [13:20.760 --> 13:22.760] Thank you for having me. [13:22.760 --> 13:39.760] Well, relations between the White House and Saudi Arabia's ruling royal family are at a low point. [13:39.760 --> 13:47.760] And maybe set to dive even lower from President Biden's fighting words on the campaign trail to recent Saudi-led cuts and global oil supplies, [13:47.760 --> 13:51.760] the status of the more than 75-year-old alliance is troubled. [13:51.760 --> 13:55.760] And many in the administration and on Capitol Hill want to reset. [13:55.760 --> 13:58.760] Nick Schiffern begins our coverage. [13:58.760 --> 14:04.760] One of the most colorful visits to the presidential cruiser was that of the ruler of Saudi Arabia. [14:04.760 --> 14:09.760] America's longest relationship with an Arab state began 77 years ago. [14:09.760 --> 14:18.760] For time elected U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and Ibn Saud, the warrior monarch, backed by a fanatical clergy, created a fundamental agreement. [14:18.760 --> 14:21.760] American security in exchange for Saudi energy. [14:21.760 --> 14:24.760] But today that agreement must be re-examined. [14:24.760 --> 14:27.760] President Biden told CNN's Jake Tapper last night. [14:27.760 --> 14:30.760] There's going to be some consequences for what they've done with Russia. [14:30.760 --> 14:38.760] What the Saudis did with fellow OPEC leader Russia is the largest oil production cut in more than two years over U.S. warnings. [14:38.760 --> 14:42.760] It was announced by OPEC Secretary General, Hytemal Geese. [14:42.760 --> 14:45.760] We are not in dangering the energy markets. [14:45.760 --> 14:50.760] We are providing security, stability to the energy markets. [14:50.760 --> 14:53.760] Out of price. [14:53.760 --> 14:57.760] Everything has a price, including the U.S. Saudi relationship. [14:57.760 --> 15:02.760] In the 1970s, Saudi Arabia helped lead an oil embargo over U.S. support for Israel. [15:02.760 --> 15:12.760] The kingdom claims it fights the fires of radicalism, but critics call it the arsonist. [15:12.760 --> 15:18.760] The Saudi Osama bin Laden sparked global attacks against the West and its Arab allies. [15:18.760 --> 15:22.760] 15 of 9.11 hijackers were Saudi. [15:22.760 --> 15:27.760] And decades of criticism of Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record crescendoed in 2018. [15:27.760 --> 15:33.760] After journalists Jamal Khashoggi walked into the Saudi Istanbul's consulate, was murdered and cut into pieces. [15:33.760 --> 15:41.760] The U.S. intelligence community assessed the operation was approved by the kingdom's powerful crown prince and future king Muhammad bin Salman. [15:41.760 --> 15:45.760] The following year, candidate Joe Biden promised punishment. [15:45.760 --> 15:51.760] We were going to in fact make them pay the price and make them in fact the pariah that they are. [15:51.760 --> 15:58.760] But that proved to be a speed bump that preceded this year's fist bump. President Biden and his team worked with MBS. [15:58.760 --> 16:03.760] An acknowledgement the kingdom has helped the U.S. for decades across continents. [16:03.760 --> 16:12.760] In the late 70s, Saudi Arabia provided crucial support for the Afghan Mujahideen to defeat the Soviet military and help collapse the Soviet Union. [16:12.760 --> 16:18.760] In the early 90s, Saudi Arabia invited the largest U.S. overseas deployment in decades. [16:18.760 --> 16:22.760] U.S. troops used the kingdom as a base to fight the Gulf War. [16:22.760 --> 16:30.760] After 911, the Bush administration held on to the alliance to cooperate on terrorism and target al-Qaeda. [16:30.760 --> 16:40.760] And in 2017, President Trump made Saudi Arabia his first overseas stop. Saudi Arabia and its allies helped shift U.S. regional policy. [16:40.760 --> 16:49.760] And re-ad Washington cooperation helped lead to historic 2020 normalization agreements between Israel, Array, and the UAE. [16:49.760 --> 16:54.760] Today, the Biden administration is releasing our national security strategy. [16:54.760 --> 16:59.760] Today, the U.S. acknowledges its well aware that the relationship provides benefits. [16:59.760 --> 17:07.760] But the administration will review the relationship and consult lawmakers including Democrats who today called for a one-year block on weapon sales. [17:07.760 --> 17:11.760] Saudi Arabia has broken trust with America. [17:11.760 --> 17:13.760] And it needs to come to its senses. [17:13.760 --> 17:17.760] The U.S. Saudi relationship has survived previous challenges. [17:17.760 --> 17:21.760] The administration says there's no timetable for its review. [17:21.760 --> 17:23.760] For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Nick Schifrin. [17:23.760 --> 17:34.760] Representative Rohkana of California is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and is spearheading the House version of that bill to end U.S. arm sales to Saudi Arabia for one year. [17:34.760 --> 17:37.760] He joins me now. Congressman, welcome back to the NewsHour. [17:37.760 --> 17:38.760] Thank you for joining us. [17:38.760 --> 17:42.760] You have said the U.S. needs to immediately, immediately halt those arm sales. [17:42.760 --> 17:45.760] We should note this has been proposed before. [17:45.760 --> 17:49.760] In many times, by many other people, it has never moved forward. [17:49.760 --> 17:52.760] Why do you think that this moment is different? [17:52.760 --> 17:54.760] This is a defining moment. [17:54.760 --> 18:01.760] Just like the more power is resolution that stopped the refueling of the Saudi planes that's under the Sanders and I led past after [18:01.760 --> 18:08.760] Kashoghi's murder. This is another moment that has really outraged people on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. [18:08.760 --> 18:10.760] It's Saudi Arabia's in gratitude. [18:10.760 --> 18:13.760] We provide them with seventy-some percent of their arms. [18:13.760 --> 18:20.760] We stood up for them when Saddam Hussein was going to invade after Saddam had invaded Kuwait. [18:20.760 --> 18:24.760] And Saudi planes literally couldn't fly if it weren't for American technicians. [18:24.760 --> 18:30.760] Yet they are fleasing the American public, making about $100 billion in 2022. [18:30.760 --> 18:32.760] There need to be consequences. [18:32.760 --> 18:37.760] We provide them with all those things you just listed, but also they provide us with crucial intelligence. [18:37.760 --> 18:42.760] Counter-terrorism intelligence, specifically the U.S. relies on four national security purposes, [18:42.760 --> 18:48.760] could imposing consequences in whatever form compromise, U.S. national security. [18:48.760 --> 18:50.760] No, it will not. [18:50.760 --> 18:52.760] They are far more reliant on us. [18:52.760 --> 18:58.760] In fact, the defense agreements that we have, the joint defense initiatives are more extensive than [18:58.760 --> 19:00.760] almost any other major ally. [19:00.760 --> 19:02.760] And that's all the Saudis benefit. [19:02.760 --> 19:03.760] The production is there. [19:03.760 --> 19:04.760] The jobs are there. [19:04.760 --> 19:07.760] So they are forward-dependent on us. [19:07.760 --> 19:10.760] And they already are making these drastic cuts. [19:10.760 --> 19:17.760] And they're making drastic cuts at a time when they're making 70 percent profit margins on each barrel of oil. [19:17.760 --> 19:18.760] That why are they doing it? [19:18.760 --> 19:22.760] They're doing it to help Putin because Putin doesn't have those profit margins. [19:22.760 --> 19:26.760] He's selling his oil at a discount of $35 a barrel to China and other countries. [19:26.760 --> 19:31.760] So to appease Putin, they're hurting the American consumer at the pump. [19:31.760 --> 19:33.760] And that's just won't stand. [19:33.760 --> 19:36.760] And we have far more leverage over them than they do over us. [19:36.760 --> 19:39.760] We are assuming also that leverage would force them to move away from Russia, [19:39.760 --> 19:41.760] but it is a gamble. [19:41.760 --> 19:42.760] What if it backfires? [19:42.760 --> 19:44.760] What if they further cut oil production? [19:44.760 --> 19:48.760] What if they just end up moving further towards Russia and China? [19:48.760 --> 19:52.760] Well, they cannot move further towards Russia and China in the near term. [19:52.760 --> 19:57.760] They would take almost 10 years for them to be able to get the weapons that we provide, [19:57.760 --> 20:00.760] just because of interoperability of these weapons. [20:00.760 --> 20:05.760] And literally, the Air Force would be grounded to a halt tomorrow if they didn't have American technicians. [20:05.760 --> 20:09.760] And now, maybe it would take years for them to build with Russia and China, [20:09.760 --> 20:11.760] but they simply could not do that. [20:11.760 --> 20:14.760] In terms of cuts, they've cut already so far. [20:14.760 --> 20:17.760] I don't think further cuts would be possible. [20:17.760 --> 20:19.760] They were talking about a million barrels of cuts. [20:19.760 --> 20:25.760] They've cut 2 million barrels and other countries in OPEC, the UAE's Kuwait, [20:25.760 --> 20:29.760] would make up for it if they went for further cuts. [20:29.760 --> 20:32.760] So they already have taken the most drastic action. [20:32.760 --> 20:35.760] What about Iran in all this representative Kana? [20:35.760 --> 20:38.760] I mean, none of this unfolds in a vacuum, the U.S. foreign policy in the region [20:38.760 --> 20:41.760] is structured largely around Saudi Arabia, [20:41.760 --> 20:47.760] just this summer the U.S. approved two new massive arms deals for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, [20:47.760 --> 20:50.760] specifically to help them defend against Iran. [20:50.760 --> 20:54.760] Does cutting Saudi arm sales empower Iran? [20:54.760 --> 20:55.760] No, it doesn't. [20:55.760 --> 20:57.760] And I was opposed to those arm sales. [20:57.760 --> 21:03.760] Let's not forget that the Saudis are responsible for one of the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world in Yemen. [21:03.760 --> 21:06.760] It is appalling what they've done to the children there. [21:06.760 --> 21:08.760] It's appalling this starvation they've caused. [21:08.760 --> 21:10.760] It's appalling that they're continuing to block a. [21:10.760 --> 21:12.760] Now, the hooties are also to blame. [21:12.760 --> 21:15.760] And the Iranians are to blame in Yemen as well. [21:15.760 --> 21:21.760] The Saudis have been the principal perpetrators of that war. [21:21.760 --> 21:27.760] And so I don't think that the balance cutting off these arm sales are suddenly going to make [21:27.760 --> 21:29.760] them vulnerable to Iran. [21:29.760 --> 21:35.760] And I've spoken out very strongly for the students, for the women protesting in Iran. [21:35.760 --> 21:39.760] I believe there are other ways that we can contain Iran. [21:39.760 --> 21:42.760] But we should not use a Kissingerian balance of power. [21:42.760 --> 21:48.760] We end up supporting brutal dictators at the expense of our own public because of some balance [21:48.760 --> 21:50.760] of power politics in the Middle East. [21:50.760 --> 21:54.760] What do you believe the President Biden could have done differently in this moment? [21:54.760 --> 21:59.760] I mean, he went from calling Saudi Arabia a pariah to visiting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [21:59.760 --> 22:02.760] in July at the fist bump scene around the world. [22:02.760 --> 22:06.760] Do you think there's anything that the President of this administration could have done differently [22:06.760 --> 22:08.760] to avoid this moment? [22:08.760 --> 22:11.760] Yes, I don't think he should have gone to Saudi Arabia. [22:11.760 --> 22:17.760] Senator Sanders and I took to the papers to say that there was trip was misguided. [22:17.760 --> 22:24.760] I believe he should have been clear with the Saudis that there would be very drastic consequences. [22:24.760 --> 22:28.760] Both if they didn't lift the blockade, which they still haven't in Yemen. [22:28.760 --> 22:33.760] And now they're talking about actually not following through on the proof in Yemen. [22:33.760 --> 22:39.760] But certainly, extremely drastic consequences if they cut oil production. [22:39.760 --> 22:43.760] So I believe that he could have been clearer on all of those things. [22:43.760 --> 22:46.760] Now I'm glad that he's contemplating action now. [22:46.760 --> 22:52.760] And my belief is if we are tough enough, they will reverse the decision. [22:52.760 --> 22:54.760] He said he's contemplating action. [22:54.760 --> 22:56.760] We've heard the warquences, but no specifics. [22:56.760 --> 23:02.760] In your talks with the administration, how serious are they in imposing serious and immediate consequences? [23:02.760 --> 23:08.760] They have told me that the President is going to take action. [23:08.760 --> 23:15.760] That the President is re-examining this Saudi relationship and that the action is imminent. [23:15.760 --> 23:18.760] And so I believe the President has to act. [23:18.760 --> 23:31.760] How can you allow a country that is a quote unquote ally to continue to profit of the American public and make drastic cuts when we're going through one of the bigger energy crisis we have in recent decades? [23:31.760 --> 23:34.760] Allies don't treat each other that way. [23:34.760 --> 23:45.760] More broadly, US officials did reportedly warn Saudi leaders that a cut in production would be seen as a clear choice they're citing with Russia and the Saudis did it anyway. [23:45.760 --> 23:50.760] What does that say to you about how they view the US right now? [23:50.760 --> 23:59.760] Well, they don't think that they're going to be consequences, but I believe they should take a temperature one of many of the younger members of Congress. [23:59.760 --> 24:12.760] So, aren't steeped in the same traditional relationship with Saudi who basically know Saudi Arabia through the prism of the Yemen war in the humanitarian crisis that they have caused. [24:12.760 --> 24:20.760] They should remember that the war powers resolution stopping our aid past the House and the Senate the only time of war powers resolution has ever passed. [24:20.760 --> 24:34.760] And they should know that now they're going to be consequences, you have not just Senator Blumenthal and I call it for it, but Senator Menendez, a very respected foreign policy boy suit shares the Senate Foreign Relations Committee call it for it. [24:34.760 --> 24:38.760] So they are really hurting their relationship on the Hill. [24:38.760 --> 24:48.760] You can represent it if the Saudis have said this was economic their decision to cut oil production. Do you believe that anything to do with the timing of the upcoming midterm elections? [24:48.760 --> 24:54.760] I don't know, but I know it's not economic when they're baking over 70% profits on your barrels of oil. [24:54.760 --> 25:01.760] Look, I've been critical of Exxon and Chevron, but it pales into the comparison into what the Saudis are making on oil. [25:01.760 --> 25:13.760] What I do know is that they have chosen deliberately to hurt Americans at the pump. Look, I don't think the timing is coincidental, but I have no evidence of why they've taken that decision. [25:13.760 --> 25:16.760] All I know is that they're hurting the American public. [25:16.760 --> 25:23.760] That is representative Rho Khan Democrat from California and member of the House Armed Services Committee. Thank you so much for your time. [25:23.760 --> 25:35.760] Thank you. [25:35.760 --> 25:41.760] President Biden's executive order to cancel student debt is facing its most serious legal challenge to date. [25:41.760 --> 25:50.760] A federal judge in Missouri heard arguments today from six states hoping to block the plan from taking effect to qualify for the student loan program. [25:50.760 --> 25:58.760] Individuals must make less than $125,000 a year or $250,000 for married couples and families. [25:58.760 --> 26:06.760] Eligible borrowers can receive up to $10,000 in forgiveness or up to $20,000 if they are pale grant recipients. [26:06.760 --> 26:13.760] White House correspondent Laura Barone Lopez has been following it all and she joins me now as part of our series, rethinking college. [26:13.760 --> 26:19.760] Good to see you. So let's talk about this case that was heard today in Missouri. What exactly are the states arguing? [26:19.760 --> 26:29.760] So there are six Republican states including Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and they're arguing that the administrations debt relief program is illegal on three fronts. [26:29.760 --> 26:39.760] Those three fronts are that the administration lacks authority that they did not follow administrative procedure and that it harms state revenue. [26:39.760 --> 26:52.760] So today we spoke to Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and she really focused on whether or not the president has authority to do this and took direct aim at him. [26:52.760 --> 27:00.760] The president did not have the authority to make this decision. He made this decision and based it on the Heroes Act, [27:00.760 --> 27:12.760] which essentially was put in place during the Iraq War in order to give relief to our brave men and women in uniform. And it was also as part of it, it could be used during a national emergency. [27:12.760 --> 27:19.760] Unfortunately, President Biden forgot that he declared the pandemic over a few short weeks ago. [27:19.760 --> 27:25.760] As you heard, Attorney General Rutledge there saying that she thinks the president doesn't have this authority, [27:25.760 --> 27:36.760] but what was interesting in the arguments today was that the Missouri Judge Henry Autry essentially really scrutinized that saying why is the president being sued as a part of this lawsuit? [27:36.760 --> 27:46.760] And questioning whether or not the Republican states had standing against the president versus standing against the education department and the education secretary. [27:46.760 --> 27:52.760] So a main part of the argument as the administration doesn't even have the authority to do this, what has the Biden administration been saying about this? [27:52.760 --> 28:01.760] The Biden administration is essentially saying that they were granted this authority under a 2003 higher education law, [28:01.760 --> 28:11.760] also known as the Heroes Act. And so today, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Netter argued that the pandemic gives them this authority. [28:11.760 --> 28:29.760] It's crucial here that this is a statute about emergencies. It's a statute about national emergencies, and it seems hard to fathom that Congress wouldn't have understood at the time that a larger national emergency is going to prompt and necessitate a larger action by the secretary of education. [28:29.760 --> 28:43.760] And so essentially Netter there is saying that as the economic hardships were growing due to the COVID pandemic, so does the power of the education secretary Miguel Cardona, those powers grow as well. They grow with it. [28:43.760 --> 28:57.760] And he specifically argued against this front that the states were bringing forward saying that these national, this national emergency statute only applies to specific military activity. [28:57.760 --> 29:06.760] And it applies to military members, service members, and Netter said no historically that's not the case under this law that look, when you think about a hurricane, [29:06.760 --> 29:24.760] government doesn't provide relief just when the hurricane is spinning. He said that after a national emergency happens or national disaster like that, that the government has to help people come out of that come out of the economic hardships or the infrastructure hardships that are brought upon by national emergencies. [29:24.760 --> 29:32.760] So what about the whole racial equity part of this? We heard the Biden administration message that as an underpinning to why they were rolling out this loan forgiveness plan. [29:32.760 --> 29:37.760] They said it was especially helped black borrowers. How does that factor into their argument? [29:37.760 --> 29:53.760] So the states today were saying this is only going to provide relief to wealthy individuals to hire income individuals and what the administration essentially is saying back is that, well, you have to look at actually who the borrowers are for these loan programs. [29:53.760 --> 29:58.760] And for the loan forgiveness program, it would significantly impact black borrowers. [29:58.760 --> 30:05.760] So specifically the average debt for black borrowers is 10,000 more than for white borrowers. Also, [30:05.760 --> 30:14.760] Pell grant recipients are twice as likely to be black. Now another big piece of this is the federal family education loan borrowers, [30:14.760 --> 30:21.760] which was at first a part of the announcement when the administration said they were going to provide this big cancellation of debt. [30:21.760 --> 30:29.760] Then they ended up taking that out of the guidance saying that these borrowers would not be given this relief. [30:29.760 --> 30:45.760] And that was a big piece of this lawsuit because essentially, you know, the states are arguing that they get state revenues from the companies that take on that those loans from those borrowers. [30:45.760 --> 30:55.760] But the government is saying that ultimately the relief provided to these borrowers is far outweighs the state revenue that would ultimately be lost. [30:55.760 --> 31:09.760] Now again, on the F-E-L borrowers, the federal family loan borrowers, the administration has tried to make clear that, well, they may not receive relief now that ultimately the education department is trying to find an alternative pathway for them. [31:09.760 --> 31:17.760] Well, before anyone can get any relief, they have to fill out an application. We've been anticipating the release of that application form from the White House. What do we know about that? [31:17.760 --> 31:27.760] So they just issued a preview of this application form this week, the White House did. And essentially, what borrowers have to do, they have to give social security numbers, their data, [31:27.760 --> 31:41.760] their email. But they also have to click this box that certifies under penalty of perjury that they meet the income thresholds. Now, some of those borrowers will be provided just based on that certification will be provided relief. [31:41.760 --> 31:52.760] Others are going to have to show more proof that they meet those income thresholds that you outlined earlier. Now, I spoke to White House's assistant press secretary Abdullah Hassan today. [31:52.760 --> 32:03.760] And he said that essentially, as the lawsuit is perceived, as the lawsuits are proceeding, because there's more than just the one we talked about today, that the White House is going to still move forward with implementing this plan. [32:03.760 --> 32:11.760] Now, no relief is going to be felt prior to October 23, but the application process is going to be rolled out this month. [32:11.760 --> 32:28.760] Folks can check that out and start to apply if they are eligible. White House correspondent Laura Brown Lopez following it all. Thank you so much. Thank you. [32:28.760 --> 32:36.760] Election night is less than a month away, and we're digging into some key races that could determine the balance of power in Congress. [32:36.760 --> 32:39.760] Lisa Desjardin has more. [32:39.760 --> 32:48.760] Let's talk about control of the House of Representatives to take over the House Republicans need to gain just five total seats next month net. [32:48.760 --> 32:58.760] Their party may have a slight advantage from redistricting, but there are dozens of competitive races, including more than 30 currently rated as toss ups to take a good look at the map. [32:58.760 --> 33:09.760] I'm joined by three public media reporters, Karen Castler of Ohio Public Radio and Television, Scott Shaffer with KQED in California and Zoe Clark with Michigan radio. [33:09.760 --> 33:12.760] So happy to have all of you together to talk about this. [33:12.760 --> 33:23.760] Each of your states has lost a congressional district because of redistricting, but you also each have a clutch of competitive races that could determine control of the House. [33:23.760 --> 33:32.760] I wonder if you can just set the mood for us. What's on voter's minds? Everything from the weather to redistricting to issues that you think might be affecting their vote. [33:32.760 --> 33:34.760] And let's start out west with you, Scott Shaffer. [33:34.760 --> 33:44.760] Yeah, well, California has an unusual system for creating redistricting. It's a citizens commission. It's not gerrymandering where the districts are designed to protect the incumbents. [33:44.760 --> 34:02.760] For the six competitive house races here in California, including probably two of the ten most vulnerable Republicans, David Valdeo in the Central Valley in Mike Garcia in Los Angeles, both of them running in plus, you know, plus D districts where Democrats outnumber Republicans. [34:02.760 --> 34:13.760] In terms of, you know, the the seat that we lost, Karen Bass decided not to run for reelection. She's the LA Congresswoman. She's not running for mayor of Los Angeles, which of course is dominating the headlines. [34:13.760 --> 34:30.760] That's not in very good ways. But in terms of issues in terms of these congressional races, you know, it's a competing narrative Republicans want to talk about gas prices and the economy and the Democrats want to talk about abortion rights and about threats to democracy. [34:30.760 --> 34:41.760] And so you've got these competing narratives that are playing out on the campaign trail and on television. And in addition, I would say that Republicans also want to talk about crime and immigration. [34:41.760 --> 34:48.760] But much more so than abortion rights. So we're Clark, what's going on in Michigan? I know it's college football season. Are those politics breaking through there in general? [34:48.760 --> 34:56.760] It actually is. If you can imagine it's not just Spartans and Wolverines here in Michigan, although the weather always is something we talked about. [34:56.760 --> 35:03.760] No, much like what Scott said indeed, it is about the economy. It is about inflation. It is about gas prices. [35:03.760 --> 35:20.760] But since the dobs decision here in Michigan, abortion really has become something that has changed the dynamic. We have a amendment that's going to be on the ballot in November that would enshrine reproductive rights, abortion rights into the state constitution. [35:20.760 --> 35:33.760] And so on top of these really must watch congressional seats. Some of the most competitive in the country abortion is sort of overshadowing the conversation when it comes to all of these races. [35:33.760 --> 35:38.760] Karen counselors, that which you're finding next door in Ohio is abortion overshadowing other issues. [35:38.760 --> 35:54.760] I can't let Zoe talk about those teams without mentioning Ohio State book guys and football here is of course dominating conversation. But yes, there's a lot of conversation also about the few competitive districts here are most competitive seat and race really is the Ohio US Senate race. [35:54.760 --> 36:08.760] There in Ohio we're starting early voting today and it's interesting to note that Ohio went from 16 to 15 districts and majority Republicans drew maps that were ruled unconstitutional several times by the Ohio Supreme Court. [36:08.760 --> 36:14.760] We're actually running elections this year on maps that were ruled unconstitutional but put into place by a federal court. [36:14.760 --> 36:24.760] And so while we're electing representatives through these maps this time around those could change based on the results of what happens in the election next month. [36:24.760 --> 36:45.760] So there are only about their 10 safe districts and five democratic seats but only a couple are really considered very competitive. Yeah, Karen I want to come back to you. I'm going to talk to all of you about favorite races, but Karen let's start there in Ohio and your favorite races one that I'm watching there obviously is one of the longest serving women in Congress. [36:45.760 --> 36:56.760] Marcy Captor that's a race where it's not just issues but also the effect perhaps of President Trump and the 2020 election can you talk about that race and which are washing there in that Toledo area. [36:56.760 --> 37:14.760] If that race is really tightened up a lot, Marcy Captor running against a political newcomer J. Armadjuski who really broke out when he got the attention of Donald Trump by painting a picture of Trump on his lawn and trump shouted out to him at a rally he ended up winning beating some other established. [37:14.760 --> 37:28.760] Politicians and now he and Marcy Captor are facing off. Majuski has made headlines recently because he has claimed that he saw combat in Afghanistan but an investigation has shown that that's not the case. [37:28.760 --> 37:41.760] He also has said he was at the Capitol on January 6th he has not been charged with anything but that all of this has made this race a little bit more competitive in house Republicans have actually pulled their ads in this race. [37:41.760 --> 37:52.760] So that really is tightened things up. Also there's an open seat that features two women and millions likes the former Democratic leader of the Ohio House and Madison, Jesse Odo Gilbert, a Trump endorsed Republican. [37:52.760 --> 38:01.760] This will make history and that one of those women and only 12 Ohio women have ever been elected to Congress from the state so that's going to make history there with that race. [38:01.760 --> 38:13.760] That's fascinating. I like that Ohio 13 race too because that's a very rust built seat that might tell us something about the Senate race as it evolves over the night speaking of let's go back to you and Michigan then Zoe. [38:13.760 --> 38:25.760] You have one of the most expensive house races in the country among others that I know you're watching where Alyssa Slotkin the incumbent Democrat is really kind of a must win seat for Democrats if they have any hope of holding the house. [38:25.760 --> 38:37.760] Absolutely and this district is fascinating. So it went for Donald Trump in 2016 it went for Trump in 2020, but Alyssa Slotkin has won it two times. [38:37.760 --> 38:47.760] So she's looking for a third win here now. It's going to be in the now seventh congressional district because of redistricting and she's always outperformed as a Democrat. [38:47.760 --> 38:57.760] But she has a conservative Republican challenger state Senator Tom Barrett. Again, like we've been talking about this narrative he's trying to talk about the economy. [38:57.760 --> 39:09.760] He's trying to talk about inflation. He's trying to talk about Joe Biden and I was just talking to Alyssa Slotkin the Congresswoman today and she's talking fundamentally about rights and what she wants to see happen. [39:09.760 --> 39:22.760] The English in DC including interestingly enough, I thought immigration. She's said in the state of Michigan as well as the cost of child care. Meanwhile, we also have the third congressional district. Now this one is just fascinating. [39:22.760 --> 39:38.760] This is where Peter Meyer, a freshman Republican within the first few days of being sworn in voted to impeach Donald Trump for the second time and Peter Meyer lost his primary in August to a former Trump official. [39:38.760 --> 39:49.760] John Gibbs. And so this really is an open seat now. We have a Democrat running. It looks like it could lean Democrat more because of again this redistricting. [39:49.760 --> 40:01.760] But it probably would have been closer had Peter Meyer won this seat, but again conservative Republicans kicked him out, booted him out and went with this Trump endorsed Republican instead and it looks like this could be a Democratic win. [40:01.760 --> 40:06.760] Scott, you hear Zoe talking about a place that Democrats hope to flip in this year. [40:06.760 --> 40:12.760] You've got one of those two and you just mentioned it earlier. Tell us about Congressman David Valadeo and what you're seeing in California. [40:12.760 --> 40:20.760] Yeah, so he lost this seat in 2018 and then got it back in 2020. So he actually voted to impeach Donald Trump. [40:20.760 --> 40:33.760] But he's getting protection from that Trump hasn't gone after him because his district is right next to Kevin McCarthy infected includes part of Bakersfield his hometown. So he's running against Rudy Salas and a district that is 59% Latino. [40:33.760 --> 40:44.760] Rudy Salas would be the first Latino member of Congress from the Central Valley ever. He's also co-sponsored our proposition one, which would enshrine abortion rights here in California. [40:44.760 --> 40:55.760] One other quickly. Lisa Ray some looking at this the 41st congressional district in Riverside Ken Calvert 30 year Republican incumbent has easily gotten reelected. [40:55.760 --> 41:04.760] But they were districtings taken out some of the most conservative parts of his district and added palm springs and other districts with a lot of LGBT voters. [41:04.760 --> 41:13.760] He has a history of anti gay positions and campaigning and he's running against an openly gay federal prosecutor who prosecuted some of the January six cases. [41:13.760 --> 41:18.760] And of course, Calvert did not vote to certify the election. So lots of interesting cross currents there. [41:18.760 --> 41:26.760] I've been hearing from you all about the 2020 election. Some about former president Trump. I just want to show of hands on this last question, which might be a little unusual. [41:26.760 --> 41:38.760] But have you spoken to any Democrats in tough races in your state who would like president Biden to come and campaign for them? I want to see a hand if anyone has talked to a Democrat like that. [41:38.760 --> 41:52.760] So there we go. Both the former president and the current president seem to be on the ballot this year in the 2022 midterms. We are so grateful to all of you for joining us, Karen Kassler, Scott Schaffer, Zoe Clark. Thank you all. [41:52.760 --> 41:54.760] Thank you. [41:54.760 --> 41:56.760] Great to be here. [41:56.760 --> 42:04.760] And thank you to our Lisa Desjardin in another battleground state with constant the Senate and governors races are in the spotlight. [42:04.760 --> 42:16.760] While younger Americans traditionally show up to the polls at lower rates than older generations, one recent study suggests young voters could play a decisive role in the state's elections this November. [42:16.760 --> 42:23.760] Judy Woodruff recently sat down with a group of high school and college students in Wisconsin will be voting for the first time. [42:23.760 --> 42:29.760] Thank you so much for joining us for this conversation. We really appreciate it. [42:29.760 --> 42:35.760] So the reason we have you here is to talk about the fact that this is the first year you're going to be voting. [42:35.760 --> 42:44.760] And we want to talk about what that means to you. So Ryan, I'm going to start with you. How big a deal is it to you that you're going to be voting for the first time? [42:44.760 --> 42:53.760] I mean, it's a pretty big deal for me. I mean, I sort of see it as sort of like when you're 16, your driver's license when you're 18, you get to vote. [42:53.760 --> 43:01.760] I actually registered to vote in my AP government class on my birthday, which was a fun experience. It's very easy to register online now. [43:01.760 --> 43:08.760] I've been very politically engaged third high school and I'm excited to get my foot in the door and actually have a voice in my government. [43:08.760 --> 43:14.760] And then you're turning 18 just in time to vote in early November. How big a deal for you? [43:14.760 --> 43:26.760] I am very excited to vote. Everyone my family has always voted and although not a ton of people my age do vote as it's one of the lower turnout groups, I'm very excited to vote. [43:26.760 --> 43:31.760] Because I think having that voice in our elections is really important. [43:31.760 --> 43:38.760] What is it that you care about a lot this year that is driving you especially to want a vote in 2022? [43:38.760 --> 43:49.760] I do see the candidates but I see pro choice and pro life. Personally, I am extremely pro choice. I've always grown up with the belief that women should be able to have bodily autonomy in our government. [43:49.760 --> 43:55.760] I agree with the pro choice movement. I think women have been stripped of their bodily autonomy specifically in the state. [43:55.760 --> 44:07.760] And I think that it disproportionately affects women of color and women from more low income communities in the disproportionate effect that that has on their access to health care, their access to reproductive justice. [44:07.760 --> 44:16.760] They're right to be a mother or to choose not to be is frustrating to witness that somebody who can be subjected to these laws. [44:16.760 --> 44:18.760] So that for me is very top of mind. [44:18.760 --> 44:25.760] For me it's our economy. I see on the decline everything seem more expensive or gas is more expensive. It's such a up and down. [44:25.760 --> 44:32.760] You don't know what's going to happen with it. And for me, it's scary. It's especially scary because with everything going on in the rise, I have feelings. [44:32.760 --> 44:39.760] These IRA spend an armament alike for my food that's going to end up hurting people and every they can't afford the food they need to feed their families. [44:39.760 --> 44:49.760] As the son of two teachers, education is a very big issue for me. I personally, I think that everyone should have access to quality education. [44:49.760 --> 44:57.760] Whether that be good schools, good public education or access to college and less college debt. [44:57.760 --> 45:06.760] But I think my biggest issue is voting really in terms of the amount of people that can't vote under our current system. [45:06.760 --> 45:13.760] We have a lot of loss in Wisconsin, especially voter ID laws. They make it very hard to be able to vote. [45:13.760 --> 45:24.760] Another big thing on my mind is health care. Seeing Ron Johnson a vote against the access to insulin was hugely disappointing to me as a diabetic. [45:24.760 --> 45:38.760] Seeing that, well, it does not directly affect me. There's many people in my situation where that bill would have hugely helped them and people are going to die if when people make decisions like that. [45:38.760 --> 45:43.760] Let's talk about the person in office right now, President Biden. How do you think he's doing? [45:43.760 --> 45:54.760] I think that with any president, there will almost always be argument that they are not doing enough. And I think that I can say that about Biden right now. [45:54.760 --> 46:03.760] The new decision to pardon thousands of people on low level federal marijuana charges is a great decision. [46:03.760 --> 46:10.760] I think with his decision to help with student debt, though he campaigned on bigger promises. [46:10.760 --> 46:20.760] I think that at least he fulfilled it somewhat. And I think you can always ask for more, but I will say that I am relatively pleased with how he's doing so far. [46:20.760 --> 46:26.760] I believe that he's not delivering on campaign promises that he made such as protecting our right to choose. [46:26.760 --> 46:30.760] I would like to see him do a bit more to serve the general American people. [46:30.760 --> 46:36.760] Is there one thing you'd like to see him do that he would like to see him codify row or make a more of a effort to. [46:36.760 --> 46:42.760] I know that he can't actually write a lot to do so. I would like to see him protect that right. [46:42.760 --> 46:51.760] I would like to see him ask the Senate and ask the past of representatives to protect that right. I want to see him fight to the nail for that right. [46:51.760 --> 46:53.760] But I haven't seen that so far. [46:53.760 --> 46:57.760] So we're in what about you? What is your sense of how President Biden's doing? [46:57.760 --> 47:01.760] I quite don't like President Biden. Certainly went to Ben my first choice. [47:01.760 --> 47:09.760] For the previous election. I think he's doing well enough for now, but I don't think he is doing enough. [47:09.760 --> 47:12.760] What do you think he should be doing that he's not doing? [47:12.760 --> 47:18.760] Well, for what I think his Afghanistan pull out was a disaster. He left so many people. [47:18.760 --> 47:21.760] It was taxifying. He's not doing enough on the border. [47:21.760 --> 47:28.760] We have almost hundreds of thousands of people getting in and it's scary knowing because you don't know who those people are. [47:28.760 --> 47:32.760] There's so much more that he could be doing that he's not. [47:32.760 --> 47:36.760] I don't know if he's made effort to try or not. [47:36.760 --> 47:39.760] Am I what is your sense of how President Biden is doing? [47:39.760 --> 47:43.760] I think if I voted in the 2020 presidential election, I would have voted for Biden. [47:43.760 --> 47:48.760] I think he is not living up to the promises he made, but I don't know if any president that has. [47:48.760 --> 47:51.760] So I don't think that's a fair standard to hold him at. [47:51.760 --> 47:55.760] I think as a first hand recipient of what the student loan forgiveness was, [47:55.760 --> 47:59.760] my mom fought for the United States Army for four years. [47:59.760 --> 48:03.760] Was a Republican of the GI Bill, got an associate's in nursing and still had loans. [48:03.760 --> 48:08.760] So for her loans to be completely forgiven means an incredible amount. [48:08.760 --> 48:11.760] Well, I would like for Biden to have done more. [48:11.760 --> 48:18.760] We live in such a polarized country right now that despite his efforts to get things done, [48:18.760 --> 48:22.760] it's just so hard right now to get anything through. [48:22.760 --> 48:26.760] Which is like obviously I'd like you know marijuana to be legalized. [48:26.760 --> 48:31.760] I'd like to live in a country where rose codified where abortions are available. [48:31.760 --> 48:39.760] I'd love to live in a country where I don't have to worry about student loan debt. [48:39.760 --> 48:47.760] But it's just hard to get through all of that right now in how the state of America is today. [48:47.760 --> 48:53.760] A couple of you have mentioned or alluded to former president Trump. [48:53.760 --> 48:56.760] Amaya, what's your take on the former president? [48:56.760 --> 48:59.760] I grew up in a very isolated and a very white populated community. [48:59.760 --> 49:04.760] And I had never experienced the difference that I was black and tell Trump was in presidency. [49:04.760 --> 49:09.760] That complete isolation that was brought on just by this political figure. [49:09.760 --> 49:13.760] We had among facilities in my community that were destroyed in the name of Trump. [49:13.760 --> 49:17.760] We had monuments that were destroyed in the name of Trump. [49:17.760 --> 49:19.760] We had people who were attacked in the name of Trump. [49:19.760 --> 49:21.760] And I think he brought out the worst in people. [49:21.760 --> 49:23.760] And he supported it and he didn't crack that behavior. [49:23.760 --> 49:25.760] And I believe no president would ever do that. [49:25.760 --> 49:27.760] Catherine. [49:27.760 --> 49:32.760] He by all accounts disgraced America in the January 6th insurrection. [49:32.760 --> 49:35.760] He though the hearings are still going on personally. [49:35.760 --> 49:42.760] I believe that he incited the insurrection and sent a mob of angry people to the capital, [49:42.760 --> 49:45.760] which is completely undemocratic. [49:45.760 --> 49:49.760] And he also did not facilitate a peaceful transfer of power, [49:49.760 --> 49:53.760] which has been an American tradition for hundreds of years, [49:53.760 --> 49:56.760] which upset me greatly. [49:56.760 --> 49:59.760] I did do sports jump and have for quite a while. [49:59.760 --> 50:02.760] I mean during that time period, he had the nation, [50:02.760 --> 50:05.760] the best economic period we had for quite a long time. [50:05.760 --> 50:07.760] He kept us very well. [50:07.760 --> 50:12.760] Unfortunately, he did have his wrongdoings and has been an nasty person. [50:12.760 --> 50:15.760] And has almost always been. [50:15.760 --> 50:18.760] But he also was the person politically wise. [50:18.760 --> 50:21.760] He ran America as a business, in my opinion. [50:21.760 --> 50:24.760] He ran it as though it's what it was. [50:24.760 --> 50:28.760] And so running like a business, him being a business man, [50:28.760 --> 50:32.760] allowed us to have financial gain, allowed us to prosper in those times [50:32.760 --> 50:37.760] until COVID had hit in which kind of tanked the entire world economy. [50:37.760 --> 50:39.760] Would you like to see him serve it off us again? [50:39.760 --> 50:41.760] I'm also likely not. [50:41.760 --> 50:42.760] Why not? [50:42.760 --> 50:46.760] For the stories in the of just, it comes out to the writing. [50:46.760 --> 50:49.760] It comes out to him being an nasty person. [50:49.760 --> 50:51.760] And I think the first four years is good, [50:51.760 --> 50:54.760] but I don't think another four years would be great. [50:54.760 --> 50:58.760] I will agree on certain that the one thing I could think I think don't remember [50:58.760 --> 51:03.760] about it was with the economy, that is the only good thing I will say about him. [51:03.760 --> 51:07.760] I believe in this country we shouldn't have. [51:07.760 --> 51:11.760] The massive division we have between Republican and Democrat [51:11.760 --> 51:14.760] is working together is how we fix things. [51:14.760 --> 51:19.760] And Donald Trump basically drove a gigantic wedge between people. [51:19.760 --> 51:24.760] He was such a polarizing figure that from 2016 onwards, [51:24.760 --> 51:27.760] country would never get anything done. [51:27.760 --> 51:32.760] As you all know, the percentage of people who vote of your generation, [51:32.760 --> 51:36.760] the youngest generation vote less frequently, [51:36.760 --> 51:42.760] of smaller percentage of you vote than the older folks do in the country. [51:42.760 --> 51:46.760] But I really do want to understand how you see the politicians listening [51:46.760 --> 51:51.760] or not listening to your generation right now. [51:51.760 --> 51:53.760] I do think that there has been efforts. [51:53.760 --> 51:56.760] I know several of candidates throughout the past two years [51:56.760 --> 51:59.760] have been to campuses have literally been outraged. [51:59.760 --> 52:02.760] They sit and they listen, but once they're elected in the office, [52:02.760 --> 52:06.760] that stops in that communication line is you're e-mailing a staffer [52:06.760 --> 52:10.760] or you're e-mailing a secretary and the odds that it actually gets to that person [52:10.760 --> 52:13.760] is so slim to none that the reality that they're actually listening [52:13.760 --> 52:17.760] to the complaints of their own constituents is very like, [52:17.760 --> 52:21.760] I have no faith that they are listening to those. [52:21.760 --> 52:26.760] And so it's hard to say when I don't even know if they're hearing the issues [52:26.760 --> 52:28.760] that are happening in their communities. [52:28.760 --> 52:32.760] I feel like if we had more young voters and more people that voted [52:32.760 --> 52:35.760] as soon as 18 or as soon as they possibly could, [52:35.760 --> 52:38.760] I feel like we would have more politicians listening to our opinions [52:38.760 --> 52:40.760] listening to what we want. [52:40.760 --> 52:44.760] I think that what politicians need to understand is that if you start [52:44.760 --> 52:48.760] politically engaging kids when they're 18 to 21, [52:48.760 --> 52:51.760] when they're just starting to get their foot in the door and politics, [52:51.760 --> 52:55.760] you're more likely to have an engaged audience or an engaged constituency [52:55.760 --> 52:56.760] as we grow up. [52:56.760 --> 53:00.760] And I think that that's a fact that's overlooked to most often. [53:00.760 --> 53:05.760] A lot of these politicians are just so much older than us. [53:05.760 --> 53:10.760] The problems that I see are going to be very different [53:10.760 --> 53:15.760] because for our 80 year old and 60 year old Senate members, [53:15.760 --> 53:19.760] climate change means three or four degrees. [53:19.760 --> 53:23.760] And then they aren't going to be around much longer. [53:23.760 --> 53:29.760] But for me, climate change means I might see the world crumble. [53:29.760 --> 53:32.760] These politicians are so much older than us. [53:32.760 --> 53:36.760] They've been in these offices for so long that they don't need to listen [53:36.760 --> 53:37.760] to us. [53:37.760 --> 53:40.760] They've kind of got their election secured almost [53:40.760 --> 53:44.760] that they just kind of keep coming back in and they don't have to engage anymore. [53:44.760 --> 53:47.760] Well, this has been there so much more I'd love to ask you, [53:47.760 --> 53:50.760] but it's been such a wonderful conversation. [53:50.760 --> 53:55.760] I so appreciate every one of you sharing your thoughts. [53:55.760 --> 53:58.760] Thank you very, very much. [53:58.760 --> 54:01.760] And tomorrow night, Judy will have a report on the Senate race [54:01.760 --> 54:04.760] and Wisconsin between incumbent Republican Ron Johnson [54:04.760 --> 54:08.760] and Democrat Mandela Barnes, one of the critical contests [54:08.760 --> 54:11.760] that will determine control of that legislative body. [54:11.760 --> 54:16.760] Also tomorrow join us right here on PBS for special live coverage [54:16.760 --> 54:19.760] of the January 6th committee's public hearing [54:19.760 --> 54:23.760] beginning at 1 PM Eastern, plus additional analysis on our [54:23.760 --> 54:25.760] regularly scheduled program. [54:25.760 --> 54:27.760] And that is the news hour for tonight. [54:27.760 --> 54:30.760] I'm Amna Nawaz for all of us here at the PBS NewsHour. [54:30.760 --> 54:33.760] Thank you for joining us and we will see you soon. 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[55:22.760 --> 55:26.760] The Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on the front lines of social [55:26.760 --> 55:31.760] change worldwide. [55:31.760 --> 55:36.760] And with the ongoing support of these individuals and institutions. [56:01.760 --> 56:05.760] This program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting [56:05.760 --> 56:09.760] and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you. [56:09.760 --> 56:37.760] Thank you. [56:39.760 --> 56:45.760] This is the story of a woman trying to make it in a man's world. [56:45.760 --> 57:01.760] Other rest as they say is mystery. [57:01.760 --> 57:10.760] I'm a really good detective. [57:10.760 --> 57:13.760] You do not want me as an enemy. [57:13.760 --> 57:15.760] They're just as we do. [57:15.760 --> 57:16.760] No question. [57:16.760 --> 57:18.760] Let's see how this plays out. [57:26.760 --> 57:28.760] Resistance was an necessity. [57:28.760 --> 57:31.760] It was a great opportunity to make it on making Black America. [57:31.760 --> 57:37.760] Slaves were freed, but African Americans have not become truly equal citizens. [57:37.760 --> 57:40.760] Organizing for change and Black life. [57:40.760 --> 57:44.760] Black, you're creating these spaces are on-claves. [57:44.760 --> 57:49.760] That Ohio is to feel good about ourselves and good in the world, even if the world isn't good. [57:49.760 --> 57:54.760] Making Black America through the great plan Tuesday night at night. [57:54.760 --> 58:09.760] Here's tonight's lineup on KQED, made possible by your support. [58:09.760 --> 58:16.760] KQED celebrates Latinx Heritage Month with programs ensure the Latinx experience. [58:16.760 --> 58:24.760] For program listings visit KQED.org slash heritage, celebrating Latinx Heritage Month on KQED. [58:24.760 --> 58:27.760] Are you a check please Bay Area fan? [58:27.760 --> 58:29.760] We want to hear what you think about our show. [58:29.760 --> 58:32.760] Please help us out by taking a brief survey. [58:32.760 --> 58:37.760] KQED.org slash check please survey and sharing your honest thoughts about our program. [58:37.760 --> 58:48.760] Thank you. [58:48.760 --> 58:51.760] This is a battlefield. [58:51.760 --> 59:11.760] It's the most important part of the nature. [59:11.760 --> 59:26.760] It's a real drama and it's unfolding right in front of people. [59:26.760 --> 59:32.760] This will show us so many things that we just haven't seen. [59:32.760 --> 59:47.760] Thank you. [59:47.760 --> 59:53.760] KQED thanks our members and community partners for their support. [59:53.760 --> 01:00:16.760] Thank you. [01:00:16.760 --> 01:00:26.760] More contentious cases on the United States Supreme Court docket after gutting women's rights, [01:00:26.760 --> 01:00:32.760] democracy and voting rights come up for review and I speak to the former Attorney General Eric Holder. [01:00:32.760 --> 01:00:48.760] Then a growing power vacuum how Putin's war in Ukraine is hurting his influence elsewhere plus Iran intensifies its crackdown but protestors show no sign of bowing to that pressure. [01:00:48.760 --> 01:01:02.760] The country's deep culture of protest with Reza Aslan who looks at the historic but little-known role of an American martyr in Persia, also a head.