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>> I AM GEOFF BENNETT.

WE BREAK DOWN THE RESULTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC SENATE PRIMARY ELECTION IN MICHIGAN AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR NOVEMBER, WEDNESDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR.

I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT, A MAN SUSPECTED OF STARTING A WILDFIRE IN WASHINGTON STATE IS ARRESTED AS THE BLAZES CONTINUE TO RAGE AT 7:00 AFTER EATING EDITION ON K PBS.

-- EVENING EDITION ON KPS.

>> GOOD EVENING.

I AM ON NONE OF US.

-- AMNA.

GEOFF: AND I AM GEOFF BENNETT.

A MAN IS ARRESTED AS THE BLAZES CONTINUE TO RAGE.

AMNA: ELSEWHERE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS HELPING TO STOP FIRES BEFORE THEY GET OUT OF CONTROL.

>> HAVING THOSE EYES THAT CAN ALERT US WELL IN ADVANCE OF POTENTIALLY A 911 CALL REALLY MAKES IT A VALUABLE TOOL FOR US.

GEOFF: JEANINE PIRRO AND PRESIDENT TRUMP AT ODDS OVER HER DECISION TO DROP CHARGES IN THE D.C.

REFLECTING POOL CASE.

AMNA: THE PRESIDENT OFFICE PAID EARLY ACCESS TO HIS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, RAISING QUESTIONS OF INSIDER TRADING.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ♪ MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS , BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US.

>> THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR INCLUDING KATHY AND PAUL ANDERSON AND GEORGE SMITH.

AND WITH 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.

GEOFF: WELCOME TO THE NEWS HOUR.

FIRE FIGHTERS IN EASTERN WASHINGTON ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO GAIN THE UPPER HAND ON THE WILDFIRE IS DEVASTATING THE SPOKANE AREA.

THE THREE BLAZES KNOWN AS THE SPOKANE COMPLEX FIRE HAVE FORCED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO EVACUATE AND DESTROYED MORE THAN 700 BUILDINGS.

AMNA: AUTHORITIES ARRESTED A 37-YEAR-OLD MAN SUSPECTED OF STARTING ONE OF THOSE FIRES.

THE OLD TRAILS FIRE CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST CONSTRUCTIVE -- DESTRUCTIVE.

THEY CAUGHT THE SUSPECT AFTER A TIP FROM A MEMBER IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE SUSPECT HAS DENIED SETTING THE FIRE.

RESIDENTS LIKE KAMI WHO ARE NOW SEEING THE TOTAL LOSS OF THEIR HOMES SHARED HOW QUICKLY THEY HAD TO GET OUT.

>> ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE IT JUMPS THE RIVER, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE SEEING HOW BAD IT WAS AND WE TOLD THE KIDS WE DON’T WANT TO SCARE YOU BUT WE THINK YOU SHOULD START PREPARING.

TO GRAB SOME THINGS.

I GRABBED MY WEDDING ALBUM.

I GRABBED THE KIDS THEY BECOME -- BABY BOOKS.

WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE POWER WENT OUT AND IT WAS GO NOW.

GO NOW.

AMNA: FOR MORE ON THIS, WE ARE JOINED BY DAVE, THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

COMMISSIONER, WELCOME TO THE NEWS HOUR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

AMNA: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT THIS ARSON ARREST?

IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THE SUSPECT HERE WAS CONTACTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT TWO FIRES LAST YEAR AND WAS NEVER CHARGED IN RELATION TO EITHER BUT HAD OFFICIALS ALWAYS SUSPECTED THIS OLD TRAILS FIRE WAS INTENTIONALLY SET?

>> BECAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THE SPOKANE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS LEADING THAT INVESTIGATION SO I WILL LET THEM SPEAK TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THIS.

IF SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY STARTED A FIRE THAT ENDANGERS HOMES, LIVES, AND FIREFIGHTERS, THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE BETRAYAL OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE LAW.

THE WEATHER THIS FIRE PROVES TO BE HAVE -- SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SET INTENTIONALLY, I HOPE PEOPLE REMEMBER THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO RESPONDED WITH COMPASSION AND COURAGE.

ONE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT DEFINE THIS COMMUNITY THE WAY THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED HAS.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE FIRES IN AND AROUND SPOKANE?

HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONTAINMENT SO FAR?

>> I SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS ON THE GROUND IN SPOKANE MEETING WITH FIREFIGHTERS ON THE FRONT LINE WITH IMPACTED FAMILIES AND OUR INSTANT COMMAND TEAM IS MAKING MEANINGFUL PROGRESS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

IT IS STILL A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT’S ALSO WORTH NOTING THIS IS ONE OF 16 MAJOR FIRES BURNING IN WASHINGTON STATE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE ABOUT 250,000 ACRES CURRENTLY ON FIRE.

WE HAVE 5000 PEOPLE RESPONDING TO THESE WILDFIRES.

FOR MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES, FROM FLORIDA TO ALASKA TO THE NATION OF AUSTRALIA.

IT REALLY IS AN HEROIC EFFORT NOT JUST AROUND THE CITY OF SPOKANE BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> THE 16 FIRES BURNING RIGHT NOW, THE SCALE OF THE DAMAGE HE HAS SEEN SO FAR, HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO YEARS PAST?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST FIRE SEASONS IN DECADES.

WE HAVE BURNED WELL OVER HALF A MILLION ACRES OF THE STATE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

AND THIS COULD GO ON TO BECOME AN HISTORIC FIRE SEASON IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

WE HAVE SOME EXTRA ORDINARY WEATHER CONDITIONS.

WE HAVE THE CONFLUENCE OF FIRES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY REALLY PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE RESOURCES BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY BEHIND EACH OF THESE FIRES, THERE ARE YOUNG FIREFIGHTERS RUNNING INTO THE WOODS WHO ARE EXHAUSTED, WORKING LONG HOURS.

THERE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMING AND PULLING TOGETHER AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

I STILL HAVE HOPE.

AMNA: TELL US MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.

WE ARE SHOWING SOME AERIAL PHOTOS THAT SHOW THE VERY DRAMATIC CONTRAST BETWEEN THE BEFORE IMAGES OF SOME OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND AFTER THE FIRES HIT.

AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE, TELL US ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF BUILDINGS DESTROYED AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

>> IT IS HEARTBREAKING.

WE HAVE AT LEAST 700 HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND PERHAPS MORE.

ABOUT 67,000 PEOPLE HAD TO BE EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES.

WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE AT THE SPOKANE CONVENTION CENTER AND SHELTERS THERE.

IT’S AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT FOR PEOPLE TO PULL TOGETHER.

IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT SPOKANE IS WASHINGTON’S SECOND LARGEST CITY AFTER SEATTLE SO HAVING A WILDFIRE REACH A LARGE CITY LIKE THIS TO HAVE THIS KIND OF IMPACT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN OUR STATE.

AMNA: THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURIES.

HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED THAT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CREDIT THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.

THE LOCAL SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS EVACUATED THOSE AREAS OFFICIALLY AND EFFECTIVELY AND DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO GET 67,000 PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES WITHOUT MAJOR INJURIES.

IT IS EARLY STILL.

THERE’S ALWAYS THE RISK AS THESE FIRES GET FULLY UNDER CONTROL AND FOLKS GET INTO THOSE HOMES.

THIS EVENT IS NOT OVER.

THERE COULD STILL BE INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE.

WE FEEL VERY PROUD OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WORKED SO EFFECTIVELY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

AMNA: EARLIER TODAY, THE PRESIDENT AUTHORIZE FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF FOR THE SPOKANE AREA.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND HOW COULD IT HELP?

>> THIS IS JUST THE FIRST ROUND WHICH WILL ALLOW THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO ACCESS CERTAIN FEDERAL RESOURCES, WHETHER IT IS SEARCH-AND-RESCUE TEAMS, WHETHER IT’S GENERATORS NEEDED TO HELP KEEP WATER SUPPLY MOVING.

IT’S THAT IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO REBUILD THIS COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD IN THE LONG RUN AND WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THESE FIRES AND WORKING ON GETTING THEM OUT.

THERE IS A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO REBUILD.

AMNA: LOOK AHEAD FOR ME.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO GET HOTTER IN THE REGION AND THE WIND SEEMED TO BE DYING DOWN.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OFFICIALS ABILITIES TO FIGHT THE FIRES AND ALSO THE POTENTIAL OF MORE FIRE SPREADING.

>> NUMBER TWO IS THE HUMIDITY AND MOISTURE LEVELS.

WE ARE IN OUR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF EMERGENCY DROUGHT IN WASHINGTON STATE WITH EL NIÑO IN EFFECT.

WE ARE SEEING SOME VERY CHALLENGING WHETHER -- WEATHER SYSTEMS AND PATTERNS ARE IN THE LONG TERM WERE NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

AMNA: THINKING ABOUT YOU WHEN EVERYONE ON THE FRONTLINES IS FIGHTING THESE FIRES.

COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS FOR WASHINGTON STATE.

MEANWHILE, IN OTHER FIRE NEWS IN THE COUNTRY, CALIFORNIA FIRE OFFICIALS SAID THE ORIGIN OF THE 2025 FIRE THAT KILLED 19 PEOPLE AND DESTROYED MOST OF ALL TO TINA WAS TIED TO OUT OF SERVICE EQUIPMENT OWNED BY A UTILITY.

AFTER AN 18 MONTH INVESTIGATION, OFFICIALS RELEASED A REPORT THAT THAT SPARKS FROM A TRANSMISSION TOWER OWNED BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON IGNITED THE BLAZE.

THAT TURNED INTO THE EATON FIRE WHICH BURNED FAR AND WIDE DURING EXTREMELY WINDY CONDITIONS.

>> IN THE DAYS OF THE HEADLINES, TODD BLANCHE IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO SECURING THE JOB PERMANENTLY.

AFTER THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE NARROWLY APPROVED HIS NOMINATION EARLIER TODAY.

>> THE NOMINATION WILL BE FAVORABLY REPORTED.

IT ADVANCE ALONG PARTY LINES AFTER BLANCHE WON OVER TWO REPUBLICAN HOLDOUTS BY RESCINDING THE SO-CALLED ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FONT AND AT PAYING TRUMP ALLIES INCLUDING JANUARY SIXTH WRITERS.

>> IT IS DONE AND IT HAS BEEN RESCINDED AND I AM SATISFIED.

SENATE DEMOCRATS SAY THEY REMAIN CONCERNED THE FUND COULD BE REVIVED AND THAT MR.

TRUMP’S TAX IMMUNITY REMAINS INTACT, RAISING BROADER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NOMINATION OF THE MAN WHO ONCE SERVED AS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PERSONAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

>> HE IS ABOUT BEING DONALD TRUMP’S LAWYER AND NOT THE PEOPLE’S LAWYER.

THIS IS SO DEEPLY WRONG.

WE WILL ROUTE THE DAY THAT WE LET THIS MAN HAVE THIS MUCH POWER UNDER SUCH A CORRUPT PRESIDENT.

GEOFF: HIS NOMINATION NOW HAS TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR A FULL VOTE WHICH COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK.

CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS ARE DEMANDING ANSWERS AFTER A MAN FROM EL SALVADOR DIED IN A NICE CUSTODY OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> WHEN I SAY ICE, YOU SAY OUT.

GEOFF: ACTIVISTS JOINED THE FAMILY OF EDWIN LOPEZ TODAY AND CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.

HIS 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SPOKE ABOUT THE LOSS OF HER FATHER.

>> HIS HEART STOPPED BEATING.

GEOFF: THE 41-YEAR-OLD DIED FOLLOWING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY ALTHOUGH NO OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH HAS BEEN RELEASED.

IT MARKS THE SECOND DEATH IN LESS THAN A YEAR AT DELANEY HALL, ANY NEWARK DETENTION CENTER THAT HAS SEEN MONTHS OF PROTESTS OVER ITS TREATMENT OF DETAINEES.

SEVERAL NATIONS ARE CALLING FOR TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST MIGRANT STRUGGLING AFTER LAST WEEK’S SURGE OF PEOPLE INTO THE NORTH AFRICAN ENCLAVE OF CEUTA.

SPARKING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS WITHIN THE E.U.

AT LEAST 80 PEOPLE DIED IN THE CROSSING.

MOST OF THEM HAVE RETURNED TO MOROCCO.

SPAIN’S INTERIOR MINISTER DEFENDED MADRID’S MEDIA AND EFFICIENT RESPONSE.

>> THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WHERE THERE DOES NOT NEED TO BE SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE.

OR IN EUROPEAN COUNTRY.

WE ARE ALL INVOLVED IN SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE GATHERING INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

GEOFF: IT COMES AFTER 22 NATIONS SIGNED AN OPEN LETTER CRITICIZING SPAIN’S POLICY ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF MIGRANTS WITHIN ITS BORDERS.

IRAN AND OMAN ARE REPORTEDLY NEARING A POTENTIAL DEAL THAT WOULD REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE TWO SIDES ARE IN TALKS ABOUT DESIGNATING SHIPPING LANES IN THE VITAL WATERWAY.

TWO REGIONAL OFFICIALS TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT A POSSIBLE PLAN WOULD HAVE SHIPS ENTER THE PERSIAN GULF THROUGH AN IRANIAN CONTROLLED ROUTE AND EXIT TO A PASSAGE CONTROLLED BY OMAN.

ANY DEAL WOULD REQUIRE THE U.S.

TO END ITS BLOCKADE ON IRAN’S PORTS.

AT AN UNRELATED EVENT TODAY, MARCO RUBIO SAID THE U.S.

IS INVOLVED IN THE TALKS AND STRUCK AN OPTIMISTIC TONE.

>> SUFFICE IT TO SAY, THERE’S BEEN PROGRESS MADE.

GEOFF: ANY DEAL THAT WOULD GIVE IRAN PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WOULD BE A DRAMATIC SHIFT FROM BEFORE THE WAR STARTED WHEN THE WATERWAY WAS COMPLETELY OPEN TO MARITIME TRAFFIC.

IN GAZA, ONE HUNDRED 12 PALESTINIANS WERE LAID TO REST IN A MASS FUNERAL TODAY NEARLY THREE YEARS AFTER THEY DIED IN AN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE ON A RESIDENTIAL AREA SHORTLY AFTER THE HAMAS TERROR ATTACKS ON ISRAEL.

MOURNERS GATHERED FOR THE CEREMONY IN GAZA CITY.

EACH VICTIM’S REMAINS DRAPED IN THE PALESTINIAN FLAG.

GAZA IS A CIVIL DEFENSE SAYS IT TOOK MORE THAN TWO WEEKS TO RECOVER AND IDENTIFY THE REMAINS WHICH HAD BEEN.

ALL THIS TIME BENEATH THE RUBBLE.

157 ADDITIONAL BODIES ARE STILL MISSING.

THE DAY WAS A MIXTURE OF CLOSURE AND OF GRIEF.

>> IT HAS REOPENED OUR WOUNDS THREE YEARS AFTER THIS MASSACRE AND IT BROUGHT SORROW BACK TO OUR CHILDREN, WOMEN, AND SOUNDS BUT OUR CONSOLATION IS THAT WE BELIEVE THEY ARE MARTYRS WITH GOD.

GEOFF: BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID THAT ISRAELI FORCES WILL NOT WITHDRAW FROM THEIR CURRENT POSITIONS IN GAZA UNTIL HAMAS HAS COMPLETELY DISARMED.

IN HIS COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HE SUGGESTED THERE WERE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER A RECENT DEAL ANNOUNCED TO DISARM THE MILITANT GROUP.

IN GUATEMALA, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING EVACUATED FROM VILLAGES NEAR THE FUEGO VOLCANO AFTER IT ERUPTED YESTERDAY.

THE VIDEO FROM THE SITE LOCATED JUST 20 MILES OR SO FROM THE COUNTRY’S CAPITAL SHOWS A FOUNTAIN OF LAVA UP TO 1000 FEET HIGH AND ASH SPEWING FOUR MILES INTO THE AIR.

AUTHORITIES ISSUED A NATIONWIDE ORANGE ALERT ONE LEVEL BELOW ITS MOST SERIOUS EMERGENCY AND CLOSED A MAJOR HIGHWAY NEARBY.

THE VOLCANO WAS PART OF THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE AND IT’S ONE OF GUATEMALA’S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES.

AFTER THE CLOSING BELL ON WALL STREET, SPACEX POSTED HALF $1 BILLION LOSS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND IT WAS THE ROCKET COMPANY’S FIRST SUCH REPORT SINCE GOING PUBLIC IN JUNE BUT THAT LOSS WAS SMALLER THAN EXPECTED IN REVENUES.

MEANTIME, WALL STREET RALLIED TO NEW RECORDS AMID STRONG CORPORATE PROFITS AND COOLING OIL PRICES.

THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE JUMPED 900 POINTS ON THE DAY.

THE NASDAQ ADDED MORE THAN TWO POINT 5%.

THE S&P 500 BEAT ITS PREVIOUS HIGH SET IN JUNE.

STILL ON THE NEWS HOUR, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROVES A PROMISING TOOL FOR STOPPING WILDFIRES BEFORE THEY BURN OUT OF CONTROL.

WE EXAMINE THE SCIENCE BEHIND HOW PRESCRIBING ART HELPS COMBAT LONELINESS.

THE LATEST EPISODE OF OUR PODCAST EXPLORES THE THREATS OF BIOLOGICAL WARFARE.

>> THIS IS THE PBS NEWS HOUR FROM THE RUBENSTEIN STUDIO AT WETA IN WASHINGTON, HEADQUARTERS OF PBS NEWS.

AMNA: JEANINE PIRRO’S JOB IS REPORTEDLY SAFE FOR NOW FOLLOWING A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AFTER SHE DROPPED CHARGES RELATED TO THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL.

MR.

TRUMP REBUKED HER OVER THE WEEKEND AND AGAIN YESTERDAY FOR DETERMINING THAT DAMAGE TO THE POOL WAS NOT CAUSED BY VANDALISM.

THAT CAME IN A MOTION TO DISMISS CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST OLYMPIAN DAVID HEARN.

HE AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE ACCUSED OF RIPPING THE LINING OF THE POOL.

IN THE MOTION, THE OFFICE WITH THE DAMAGE WAS THE RESULT OF FLAWED INSTALLATION BY THE CONTRACTOR AND THE RUSH TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT PRIOR TO EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION.

THAT WAS IN STARK CONTRAST TO WHAT SHE SAID JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> THE EVIDENCE SHOWS AND WE WILL PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT HEARN WILLFULLY DESTROYED PROPERTY AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL.

AMNA: THAT FOLLOWS A PATTERN OF DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THE PRESIDENT AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY IN PUBLIC VERSUS WHAT THEIR LAWYERS SAY IN COURT.

TO DISCUSS, I’M JOINED BY A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

WELCOME TO THE NEWS HOUR.

LET’S JUST START WITH JEANINE PIRRO HERE.

FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, HOW DO YOU SQUARE WHAT YOU HEARD FROM HER IN EARLY JULY RIGHT THERE WITH A DECISION TO DROP THOSE CHARGES JUST UNDER A MONTH LATER?

>> IT APPEARS THAT THEY LEARNED NEW FACTS THAT DRAMATICALLY UNDERMINED THEIR EARLIER ASSESSMENT OF THE CASE.

I HAPPEN TO THINK THEY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE GATHERED THOSE FACTS BEFORE THEY CHARGED THE CASE BUT IT APPEARS THE FACTS THAT THEY GATHERED WERE SO OVERWHELMINGLY AT ODDS WITH THE THEORY THAT MR.

HEARN HAD COMMITTED A CRIME THAT THEY WERE FORCED TO WITHDRAW THE CASE.

AMNA: THEY DID SAY THAT IT WAS NEWLY DISCOVERED INFORMATION THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO VANDALISM.

AS YOU POINT OUT, IS THAT TYPICALLY, ESPECIALLY AT THIS LEVEL, THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT COMES BEFORE CHARGES ARE FILED?

>> IT DOES, PARTICULARLY IN A HIGH-PROFILE CASE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THEM DOTTED.

THERE WASN’T A NEED TO RUSH THIS CASE.

OFTEN WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, IT’S A LITTLE TRICKY GETTING INFORMATION OUT OF OTHER AGENCIES.

YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE ASKING ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT DO THAT AND TRY TO SHIFT THE BLAME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.

>> WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICIALS PUBLICLY SAYING ONE THING AND HAVE LAWYERS IN COURT HAVING TO QUALIFY OR WALK BACK OR EVEN CONTRADICT WAS PUBLICLY SAID.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN WHETHER IT WAS THE PENTAGON AND IF THEY ARE BANNING TRANSGENDER TROOPS OR WHO WAS IN CHARGE OR WHO WAS BEING DEPORTED IN IMMIGRATION RAIDS.

IS IT A CASE OF ONE HAND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE OTHER IS DOING?

>> THIS IS NOT THE WAY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’S LAWYERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OPERATING AND NOT THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM OUR PROSECUTORS.

WE CAN DIAGNOSE THAT IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE ISSUE, MAYBE POLITICAL PRESSURE, BUCKLING TO POLITICAL PRESSURE.

ANOTHER MAY BE THAT THEIR CLIENTS, THE AGENCIES ARE NOT BEING FULLY FORTHRIGHT WITH THEM AND HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME MANAGING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT IS TRUE IN THE CASE OF ICE.

ICE IS BASICALLY RUNNING THE DEPORTATION SHOW AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD BUT NONE OF THESE ARE EXCUSES, JUST EXPLANATIONS.

THE JOB OF A GOOD LAWYER IS TO CORRECT FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS.

THE JOB OF A PROSECUTOR IS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE FACTS TOGETHER BEFORE THEY MAKE SUCH A SERIOUS AND LIFE-CHANGING ACCUSATION TO CHARGE THE CRIMINAL CASE.

>> APPLYING PUBLIC PRESSURE TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU MENTIONED THE BUCKLING THAT SOME LAWYERS MAY FEEL PRESSURE TO DO.

HOW FAR CAN THOSE LAWYERS GO IN GIVING INTO THAT?

DO THEY FACE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR DOING THAT IN COURT?

>> THE LEGAL STANDARD FOR CHARGING A CRIMINAL CASE IS PROBABLE CAUSE.

IT’S A RELATIVELY LOW STANDARD.

YOU CANNOT CHARGE A CRIMINAL CASE THAT DOES NOT HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE.

THERE ARE DOJ POLICIES THAT SAY PROSECUTORS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO CHARGE CRIMINAL CASES UNLESS THEY THINK IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THEY WILL OBTAIN A CONVICTION ONCE THE EVIDENCE COMES IN.

IF YOU FOLLOW A CASE THAT IT -- FILE A CASE THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNJUST, YES.

LET ME -- YOU COULD FACE PROFESSIONAL REPERCUSSIONS FROM BARS AND THE LIKE.

AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, THAT HAPPENS QUITE RARELY.

THE PRINCIPAL DETERRENT TO THIS SORT OF MISCONDUCT EXACTLY JUST PROFESSIONAL EMBARRASSMENT AND ONE WOULD HOPE THE MORAL SENSE THAT YOU SHOULD NOT REALLY GO AROUND RUINING PEOPLE’S LIVES IF YOU KNOW BETTER.

AMNA: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT TODD BLANCHE AS WE REPORTED EARLIER.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DID VOTE TO ADVANCE HIS NOMINATION TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HE IS IN AN ACTING ROLE AND WE HAVE SEEN SUSAN COLLINS COME OUT FIRST AND SAY SHE WILL NOT VOTE YES ON THAT BUT HE’S MOVING FORWARD AFTER HE STRUCK A DEAL WITH SENATORS CORNYN AND TILLIS AND HE WROTE DOWN THIS PLAN THAT HE WOULD KILL THE ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND.

FROM YOUR VIEW, AND I KNOW WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESIDENT SAY HE STILL LIKES THE FUND, I WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU WHAT WE HEARD FROM SENATOR CORNYN EARLIER TODAY ON THAT.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> THERE’S NOTHING WE COULD DO TO REIGN IN THE PRESIDENT.

HE SAYS HE LIKES THE FUND AND HE WISHES IT STILL EXISTS BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER, IT’S DEAD.

AMNA: IS THE FUND STILL DEAD FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN?

>> THAT’S NOT REALLY THE MAIN ISSUE HERE.

THE GOVERNMENT AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT STILL RETAIN THE ABILITY TO MAKE PAYOUTS FOR THE JANUARY 6 DEFENDANTS BY SETTLING CLAIMS THAT THEY BROUGHT UNDER THE FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT.

HUNDREDS OF JANUARY 6 DEFENDANTS HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS OR ARE PLANNING TO DO THIS AND THE GOVERNMENT CAN SETTLE THOSE SORTS OF CLAIMS OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC VIEW WITHOUT JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT.

THEY SETTLED IN LITIGATION WITH MICHAEL FLYNT AND WE DON’T HAVE TO SPECULATE REALLY ABOUT WHETHER THIS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MIGHT SETTLE FRIVOLOUS LITIGATION.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLED FOR -- TRUMP’S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE IRS.

THIS REMAINS A VERY LIVE ISSUE.

THE FUND IS ONE PART OF IT BUT REALLY, AND I JUST HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH SENATOR CORNYN, IT’S NOT THE CASE THEY HAD NO OTHER WAY TO BLOCK THIS FROM HAPPENING.

THE SENATE USED TO PASS LAWS.

MY VERY CRUDE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKS IS THAT THE SENATE IS TO PASS LAWS.

THEY COULD PASS A LAW IF THEY WANTED TO PREVENTING THE DISBURSEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS, FOR INSTANCE, ANYONE CHARGED WITH CONNECTION OF THE JANUARY 6 INVESTIGATION.

THEY MAY NOT WANT TO DO THAT.

THEY MAY FEEL THE LEADER -- REPUBLICAN LEADERS WON’T WANT TO GET SIDE WITH WHAT TRUMP BUT IS NOT THE CASE THEY HAD TO TAKE TODD BLANCHE’S SIGNATURE AND CALL IT A DAY.

>> DO YOU SEE IT CONFIRMED TODD BLANCHE LEADING THE DEPARTMENT DIFFERENTLY THAN THE ONE WHO WAS IN THE ACTING ROLE?

>> A CONFIRMED ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE WILL HAVE BETTER STANDING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

HE WILL HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE.

HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HE HAS LARGELY DONE WHICH AS HE TESTIFIED TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, HE FEELS CONSTITUTIONALLY OBLIGATED TO TAKE THE PRESIDENT’S INSTRUCTIONS.

IT’S NOT JUST THAT HE WAS HIS FORMER LAWYER.

HIS TESTIMONY UNDER OATH IS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE HEAD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS ENTITLED TO DICTATE WHAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DOES.

I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT VIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT BUT HE TOLD US WHAT HE THINKS THE JOB IS.

AMNA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THE U.S.

SENATE IS JUST DAYS AWAY FROM TAKING ITS MONTH-LONG AUGUST RECESS BUT CONGRESS IS RAPIDLY RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THIS FALL AND HANDLE A HOST OF OTHER ITEMS.

LISA DESJARDINS IS JUST BACK FROM CAPITOL HILL AS LAWMAKERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO TAKE ACTION ON EVERYTHING FROM FINDING THAT IRAN WERE TO REGULATING CRYPTOCURRENCY IN A MATTER OF DAYS.

WELCOME BACK FROM THE HILL, LISA.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

REMIND US WHAT IS ON THE PLATES OF LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK BECAUSE EVEN BY D.C.

STANDARDS, IT’S A LOT.

LISA: THIS IS A VERY LONG LIST.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE WATCHING FOR AND WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE HOPING TO PASS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

A LONG LIST.

YOU CAN SEE GOVERNMENT FUNDING.

WE HAVE A SLEW OF NOMINATIONS INCLUDING TODD BLANCHE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

ALSO HEAD OF THE CDC.

74 OTHER NOMINATIONS MOVING RUSSIA’S SANCTIONS BILL.

SORT OF THE CHAOS IN COLLEGE SPORTS.

THERE IS IRAN WAR FUNDING THAT IS ON THE TABLE HERE AND ALSO NOTHING LESS THAN CRYPTO REGULATIONS.

BECAUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME, THEY NEED DEMOCRATS TO AGREE TO SPEED THINGS UP SO THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS OVER WHAT CAN GO NOW AND WHAT CAN’T.

ONE SOURCE AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP TOLD ME THE SENATE IS TRYING TO CRAM ONE MONTH’S WORK OF MAJOR BILLS INTO ONE WEEK.

GEOFF: WITH THE SPENDING BILLS, YOU HAVE ONE AIMED AT FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT, ANOTHER AIMED AT FUNDING THE WAR IN IRAN.

WHY IS ONE MOVING AND ANOTHER IS NOT?

LISA: THAT’S RIGHT.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THESE BILLS, THERE REALLY IS A SPECTRUM OF WHAT IS GOING TO MOVE, WHEN, AND HOW.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR GOVERNMENT IN SEPTEMBER THAT ENDS SEPTEMBER 30, THE ISSUE IS THAT NEITHER PARTY REALLY WANTS A SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS RIGHT NOW SO SENATOR KING THEM AND SENATOR SCHUMER HAVE COBBLED TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT PUSHES THE FUNDING OFF UNTIL DECEMBER 11.

THEY WANT THAT TO MOVE THIS WEEK .

THAT DOES SEEM LIKE IT HAS TRACTION.

IT’S CAUGHT UP IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IRAN MORE FUNDING, WHICH SEEMED TO BE ON TRACK WHEN WE LAST SPOKE ABOUT THIS EVEN LAST WEEK, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS.

SOME REPUBLICANS WANT MORE MONEY FOR IT.

OTHERS ARE RAISING OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING THE SAVE ACT AND ELECTION LAW.

THAT IS GETTING TANGLED UP.

RIGHT NOW, TALKING TO SENATORS, THEY THINK IT CANNOT MOVE AT THIS TIME.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THAT AND I DON’T THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE ACTION NOW AND THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.

GEOFF: WHAT IS THE PLAN TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE?

LISA: I ASKED REPUBLICANS ABOUT THIS EXACT QUESTION.

JOHN KENNEDY OF LOUISIANA PUT IT TO ME THIS WAY.

>> I AM PREPARED AND WILL VOTE TO STAY HERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET OUR WORK DONE.

WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR DOING THAT?

I DON’T KNOW.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

LISA: SO WHAT IS THE PLAN?

TALKING TO REPUBLICAN SOURCES, WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT MORE TOMORROW.

THE IRAN WAR FUNDING BILL, THEY HAVE NOT EVEN PUT OUT THE TEXT YET SO WE COULD SEE TEXT OF THAT TOMORROW AND THAT WILL TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY ARE PLANNING TO MOVE FORWARD BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS ALL MEANS IN TERMS OF THE CALENDAR.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHY THIS IS ALSO SUCH A BIG DEAL.

ALL INNOCENT, HAPPY, LOOKS EASY.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR THE SENATE, HERE IS THAT RECESS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER GOING RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.

THE HOUSE IS GONE MOST OF THAT TIME AS WELL AND HERE IS THAT GOVERNMENT FUNDING DEADLINE IN RED.

YOU SEE IT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

YOU HAVE THE FEW WEEKS ONCE YOU ARE GONE AFTER THIS WEEK TO FIGURE OUT GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND THAT IS NOT A LOT OF TIME AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT ON THE SHOW.

GEOFF: LAST NIGHT, YOU REPORTED ON THE ABUSE LEGISLATION -- ALLEGATIONS HE DENIES.

LISA: HE IS FACING ALLEGATIONS AND DENIES OF A VESTED -- OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.

IT IS INVESTIGATING THOSE ALLEGATIONS.

THAT CAME AFTER MILLER HIMSELF WENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAID HE WANTED THE COMMITTEE TO DO SO.

ALSO TODAY, MAX MILLER WENT ON CNN TO DEFEND HIMSELF.

HE SAID HE SPOKE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS AND THAT TRUMP TOLD HIM OVER THE PHONE, IT’S GOING TO BE A TOUGH RACE IF HE STAYS IN IT FOR THE FALL AND HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PULL THIS ONE OUT.

MILLER SAYS HE RESPONDED TO TRUMP BY POINTING TO TRUMP’S OWN EXAMPLE IN 2016 AS A REASON WHY HE IS STAYING IN.

AT THE SAME TIME, MULTIPLE SENATORS NOW ARE SAYING HE SHOULD RESIGN IN ADDITION TO MILLER’S FATHER-IN-LAW WHO IS THE SENATOR FROM OHIO.

OVERALL, IF MILLER STAYS IN THIS RACE PASSED NEXT MONDAY, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE HIS NAME OFF THE BALLOT.

REPUBLICANS WON’T BE ABLE TO DO IT AND HE SAYS THAT IS HIS PLAN AND HE’S NOT GOING TO PULL OUT OF THE RACE AND HIS NAME WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

GEOFF: LISA DESJARDINS, OUR THANKS TO YOU AS ALWAYS.

AMNA: THE CATASTROPHIC FIRES IN WASHINGTON STATE UNDERSCORE THAT 2026 IS BECOMING ONE OF THE WORST YEARS FOR U.S.

WILDFIRES IN AT LEAST A DECADE.

THERE HAVE BEEN MORE FIRES AND ACREAGE BURNED COMPARED TO ANY YEAR IN THE LAST 10.

EUROPE IS STRUGGLING WITH ITS WORST WILDFIRE SEASON IN RECENT HISTORY.

WITH FIRE SEASONS GROWING LONGER, EARLY DETECTION IS CRITICAL TO PREVENTING SMALL FLAMES FROM TURNING INTO DEVASTATING INFERNOS.

THEN TRACY OF CLIMATE CENTRAL SHOWS US HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS BEING USED TO SPOT FIRES FASTER AND SOMETIMES BEFORE ANYONE EVEN SEE SMOKE.

IT’S PART OF OUR SERIES, TIPPING POINT.

>> WHEN THIS ROCKET BLASTED OFF FROM THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA IN JULY, IT CARRIED A NEW WEAPON AGAINST WILDFIRES.

MINUTES LATER, THREE NEW SATELLITES BEGAN THEIR MISSION.

THEY ARE THE FIRST OF A PLANNED FLEET OF 50 SATELLITES SOLELY DEDICATED TO DETECTING THE WILDFIRES ANYWHERE ON EARTH WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF IGNITION.

EVEN ONE AS SMALL AS A BEACH BONFIRE.

>> YOU CAN CHECK THE GASKET.

>> DOWN HERE ON EARTH BUT STILL HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE DENVER, TWO TECHNICIANS WITH NO APPARENT FEAR OF HEIGHTS ARE CHECKING A PAIR OF EYES IN THE SKY.

>> WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS UP THERE?

>> THERE ARE TWO AI, SITTING ON TOP OF THE CELL TOWER.

>> HE IS CO-FOUNDER OF A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED STARTUP THAT HAS DEPLOYED MORE THAN 1400 HIGH RESOLUTION CAMERAS IN 17 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE CAMERAS.

THESE ARE SIX MEGAPIXEL.

THEY ARE ON A SWIVEL.

>> THEY ARE A POWERFUL NEW TOOL FOR FIREFIGHTERS, USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DETECT FIRE START EARLY SO THEY CAN BE CONTAINED.

>> WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THE AI DOING?

LIKE THE AI ALGORITHM IS BEING RUN CONTINUOUSLY ON THE IMAGERY TO SAY SMOKE, NOT SMOKE.

IN NIGHTTIME, WE ARE LOOKING AT HEAT SIGNATURES SO CUTE VERSUS COLD.

>> A HUMAN ANALYST REVIEWS THE IMAGE AND ALERTS FIRE AGENCIES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

JUST OUTSIDE DENVER, WEST METRO FIRE ASSISTANT CHIEF BRENDAN FINNEGAN SAYS THESE CAMERAS GIVE HIM A CRITICAL ADVANTAGE.

SPEED AND A PRECISE LOCATION.

>> HAVING THOSE EYES THAT CAN ALERT US WELL IN ADVANCE OF POTENTIALLY A 911 CALL REALLY MAKE IT A VALUABLE TOOL FOR US.

>> IS THIS A NICE TO HAVE OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MUST HAVE GIVEN THE NUMBER OF WILDFIRES WE ARE SEEING?

>> IT IS HAVE TO HAVE AN OUR TOOLBOX NOW.

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS FUELING AN INCREASE IN HOTTER, DRIER, WINDIER DAYS, CREATING A POTENT MIX FOR WILDFIRES.

ACCORDING TO CLIMATE CENTRAL, SOME AREAS IN THE WEST NOW EXPERIENCE TWO ADDITIONAL MONTHS OF FIRE WHETHER EACH YEAR COMPARED TO THE 1970’S.

>> THIS IS ALL OF OUR CAMERAS.

>> THEY OVERSEE CALIFORNIA’S OWN SYSTEM OF MORE THAN 1200 AI ENABLED CAMERAS CALLED ALERT CALIFORNIA.

>> THIS IS WHERE THE AI HAD DETECTED SOMETHING.

>> HE SAYS 50% OF THE TIME, THESE CAMERAS DETECTED FIRES BEFORE ANYONE CALLS 911.

>> OUTSIDE RESPONSE.

>> ONE OF THEM SPOTTED THIS FIRE NEAR FRESNO 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRST EMERGENCY CALL CAME IN.

>> A HUGE HEAD START.

THAT FIRE WILL BUILD -- WAS QUICKLY CONTAINED.

>> ONE OF OUR MISSIONS IS TO SUPPRESS 95% OF OUR FIRES ATTENDING IT.

>> THIS SYSTEM HELPS US IN A CALM PUSHING THAT GOAL.

>> HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST THE SYSTEM IN WHICH IT IS TELLING YOU?

>> WHEN WE RECEIVE THAT DETECTION, WE ARE ALREADY STARTING THE PROCESS OF SENDING RESOURCES TO IT.

THE FIGHTERS AT THE SYSTEM HAS HELPED US DISPATCH RESOURCES -- THOSE ARE THE FIRES YOU DON’T READ ABOUT IN THE PAPERS, THE ONES THAT YOU DON’T SEE.

>> BECAUSE THE AI EYES IN THE SKY SAW IT FIRST.

FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR, I AM THEN TRACY WITH CLIMATE CENTRAL.

GEOFF: PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SELLING EARLY ACCESS TO HIS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.

HIS COMPANY RECENTLY LAUNCHED TRUTH API, A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE GIVING BUSINESSES AND TRADING FIRMS A FIRST LOOK AT POSTS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILE ACCOUNTS.

THE PRICE TAG REPORTEDLY UP TO 100,000 DOLLARS A MONTH.

CRITICS ARE RAISING ALARMS BECAUSE THAT HEAD START MEANS PAYING CUSTOMERS SEE MARKET MOVING STATEMENTS FROM A SITTING PRESIDENT BEFORE THE PUBLIC DOES.

FOR MORE, WE ARE JOINED BY BOBBY ALLEN, TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT FOR NPR.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

BREAK DOWN HOW THIS ACTUALLY WORKS.

THIS SERVICE IS ALREADY LIVE.

HOW MUCH SOONER ARE SUBSCRIBERS SEEING THESE POSTS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> IT IS CALLED TRUTH API AND BASICALLY INVESTMENT BANKS, HEDGE FUNDS, AND OTHER INVESTORS CAN GET A SNEAK PEEK AND PRESIDENT TRUMP POSTS ON TRUTH SOCIAL.

MAYBE A COUPLE MILLISECONDS BEFORE THE REST OF THE PUBLIC.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIGH-FREQUENCY TRADING AND OTHER TYPES OF REALLY FAST WALL STREET TRADING.

THE DIFFERENCE OF A FEW MILLISECONDS CAN BE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EASILY.

TRUMP IS REGULARLY TURNED TO TRUTH SOCIAL TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAN, ECONOMIC NEWS, MAYBE SOME KIND OF BIG GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY QUESTION AT THIS IS INFORMATION WALL STREET TRADERS WITH REALLY LIKE TO GET BEFORE ANYONE ELSE AND POTENTIALLY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY LUCRATIVE OF REVENUE FOR THE FAMILY.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE LARGEST SHAREHOLDER IN TRUTH SOCIAL’S PARENT COMPANY WHICH HIS SON, CONTROLS THROUGH A TRUST.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT’S OWN POSTS CAN MOVE MARKETS AS WE KNOW THEY SO OFTEN DO, HOW IS THE COMPANY DEFENDING AGAINST ALLEGATIONS OF INSIDER TRADING?

>> WHAT THE TRUMP COMPANY SAYS IS THAT THEY ARE SHARING WHAT THEY CALL PUBLIC INFORMATION WAS WALL STREET.

THE POSTS HAVE A LOT OF VALUE TO WALL STREET TRADERS AND MAY SOME ARE EVEN WILLING TO PAY THE $1.2 MILLION A YEAR TO GET A JUMPSTART, GET A HEAD START, GET EARLY ACCESS TO SOME OF THESE POSTS.

WHEN I TALK TO THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRUMP MEDIA COMPANY, SHE SAYS ALL THESE ACCUSATIONS OF INSIDER TRADING, ALL THESE ACCUSATIONS THAT WERE OFFERING MATERIAL, NOT PUBLIC INFORMATION TO TRADERS ARE COMPLETELY FALSE BECAUSE IT’S PUBLIC INFORMATION.

AGAIN, I TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO STUDY WALL STREET AND FORMER SEC ENFORCERS WHO SAID, NO, THIS IS NOT PUBLIC INFORMATION BECAUSE THE VERY SERVICE IS OFFERING IT TO PEOPLE BEFORE THE REST OF THE WORLD.

I MEAN, THAT IS THE VALUE ADD.

YOU CAN GET TRUMP POSTS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE.

EXPERTS TOLD ME THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF MATERIAL NONPUBLIC INFORMATION AND ONE EXECUTIVE AT A VERY LARGE WALL STREET FIRM TOLD ME IF THIS WAS ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION, THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED CRIMINAL AND WE PUT THAT TO THE TRUMP MEDIA SPOKESPERSON AND SHE SAID THAT IS ABSURD.

GEOFF: DO YOU KNOW WHICH FIRMS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS SERVICE?

>> IT’S A GREAT QUESTION AND WE DON’T KNOW JUST YET.

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, CITADEL, GOLDMAN SACHS, J.P.

MORGAN, ALL OF THE BIG WALL STREET PLAYERS ARE STAYING MUM ON THIS.

I ASKED WHY THIS MIGHT BE AND THEY SAID, LOOK, NO ONE IS GOING TO STICK THEIR NECK OUT AND POTENTIALLY LAND IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP RIGHT NOW.

BUT ADOPTING THIS IF YOU ARE A BIG WALL STREET BANK, IT REALLY EXPOSES YOU TO POTENTIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION OR SEC PROBE IN THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION IF THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION SEES THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

WHILE THIS DOES FIT INTO THE LARGER NARRATIVE FOR TRUMP, THE TRUMP MEDIA COMPANY OF TRYING TO MONETIZE ACCESS TO POWER, ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT AND THEY ARE HANDLING THIS AS A HUGE WIN FOR WALL STREET TRADERS IN TERMS OF HAVING AN EDGE ON EVERYONE ELSE, BIG WALL STREET BANKS AS FAR AS I CAN TELL ARE NOT WIDELY ADOPTING IT JUST YET BUT IT’S A GOOD QUESTION.

WHO HAS SIGNED UP?

THEY HAVE CUSTOMERS BUT THEY WILL NOT SAY WHO.

GEOFF: WE HAVE NOT HAD A SITTING PRESIDENT WITH HIS OWN SOCIAL MEDIA HE USES.

HOWEVER SEEING A SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY CELL EARLY ACCESS LIKE THIS BEFORE?

>> OFFERING SORT OF API ACCESS IS WHAT IS CALLED SORT OF BACKEND DATA AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL THE MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS OFFER.

MANY OF THE BIG SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES CHARGE A MONTHLY OR ANNUAL FEE FOR THIS.

THE REAL DIFFERENCE IS THIS ISN’T JUST DATA FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY.

THESE ARE POSTS FROM THE SITTING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, SCHOLARS, WHO SAY THAT EVERY TIME TRUMP MAKES A TRUTH SOCIAL POST, THAT IS AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT RECORD AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS BEING VIEWED BY CRITICS OF THE PRESIDENT AS A TYPE OF INSIDER TRADING THAT HE IS BASICALLY MONETIZING THE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OF THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT.

IF HE WAS JUST A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND HE WAS OFFERING EARLY ACCESS TO HIS AND OTHER POSTS, I THINK WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THE SAME DISCUSSION BUT BECAUSE HE IS A SITTING PRESIDENT, THIS IS JUST BEING EXAMINED UNDER A VERY CRITICAL LEGAL LENS RIGHT NOW.

GEOFF: BOBBY ALLEN OF NPR, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR REPORTING WITH US TONIGHT.

BOBBY: THANKS.

AMNA: NOW, FOR A LOOK AT A PROGRAM LOOKING AT THE ARTS.

LOCATED IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, IT REQUIRES A PRESCRIPTION FOR ART INSTEAD OF MEDICINE.

PAUL SOLMAN HAS THE STORY FOR OUR SERIES AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND HEALTH, PART OF OUR CANVAS COVERAGE.

>> I WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE.

I STAYED AT HOME.

PAUL: ALICIA BIGBY WAS TRAUMATIZED BY FAMILY TRAGEDY.

>> I WOULD GET INVITES TO THINGS AND I WOULD SAY I WOULD GO BUT THEN I WOULD KIND OF GET A PANIC ATTACK AND WOULD NOT GO.

AND I WOULD JUST SIT IN THE DARK AT HOME OR SIT ON THE FRONT PORCH.

PAUL: NOW SHE’S GIVING INTERVIEWS TO STRANGERS VISITING MEDIUMS.

ALICIA: GROWING UP -- MUSEUMS.

ONE OF HER FAVORITE PAINTINGS AT THE MOMENT, DAVID MICKEY’S DRUM CALL.

ALICIA: WHEN I CAME HERE AND SAW THIS, I SAID THIS REMINDS ME SO MUCH OF MY MOM AND THE LITTLE FIGURINES THAT SHE KEPT IN HER ARMOIRE AND I JUST IMMEDIATELY GRAVITATED TOWARDS THIS.

PAUL: THIS MUSEUM WAS KEY TO HER TURNAROUND IN DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA AND ITS PROGRAM, ART ON PRESCRIPTION.

>> INDIVIDUALS ARE PRESCRIBED ART AS MEDICINE AND INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE PHARMACY TO HAVE THEIR PRESCRIPTION FILLED, THEY COME TO THE MUSEUM WHERE THEY GET A YEARS WORTH OF ARTS PROGRAMMING FOR FREE.

PAUL: TODD SMITH RUNS THIS CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM.

>> IT’S A WAY TO COMBAT LONELINESS.

THEY TALK ABOUT ART.

THEY SHARE EXPERIENCES AND IN THE END, THEY BECOME FRIENDS.

PAUL: 80 PARTICIPANTS HAVE GONE TO THE BALLET, TAKING ART MAKING CLASSES TO SEE MOST RECENTLY DAVID MICKEY’S RIFFS ON OUR CLASSICS FROM THE PAST.

>> WE WOULD ASK PARTICIPANTS TO START TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE.

WHAT ARE THE COLORS MAKE YOU FEEL?

HOW DOES IT EXPRESS AN EMOTION TO YOU?

IT’S ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE TO TALK.

PAUL: AFTER AN UNMANAGED -- UNIMAGINABLY PAINFUL SERIES OF EVENTS THAT BEGAN WITH THE DEATH OF HER BROTHER.

>> IT EXPLODED.

JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, MY MOM PASSED AWAY.

WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS.

MY OTHER BROTHER, HE JUST WENT TO BED AND DID NOT WAKE UP.

HE PASSED AWAY AND 12 HOURS AFTER MY BROTHER, LARRY, PASSED AWAY, MY DAD PASSED AWAY AS WELL.

>> YOU LOST FOUR FAMILY MEMBERS?

WITHIN THREE WEEKS OR SOMETHING?

>> BIGBY SIMPLY SHUT DOWN AND REALLY LEFT THE HOUSE.

HER THERAPIST SUGGESTED ART ON PRESCRIPTION.

IT’S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND PROGRAM IN THE U.S.

BUT THAT’S HARDLY NEW.

IT’S EVEN GOT A NAME.

A SOCIAL PRESCRIBING.

>> IT GOT ITS START IN THE U.K.

AND DOCTORS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZING HOW LONELINESS WAS A MAJOR SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

YOU HAD PEOPLE COMING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO USE THEIR DOCTOR’S SERVICES MORE OFTEN BECAUSE THEY WERE LOME AND THEY ARE NOW USED TO TREAT A WIDE VARIETY OF AFFLICTIONS.

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ADHD, ADDICTION AND EVEN DEMENTIA.

PAUL: JULIA WROTE THE CONNECTION TO HER.

>> MOST REVOLVE AROUND FIVE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MOVEMENT, NATURE, ART, SERVICE, AND BELONGING.

RESEARCHERS STARTED MEASURING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL PRESCRIPTIONS AND THEY FOUND THAT IT NOT ONLY IMPROVED PATIENTS HEALTH, MOOD, REDUCE THEIR LONELINESS, BUT IT WAS REDUCING PRESSURE ON HEALTH CARE.

IN SOME PLACES, YOU WERE 50% LESS LIKELY TO HAVE TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IF YOU HAD A SOCIAL PRESCRIBING SCHEME IN PLACE AND THAT AMOUNTED IN A PLACE LIKE ENGLAND WHERE HEALTH CARE IS NATIONALIZED TO MAJOR COST SAVINGS FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

>> IT CAUGHT ON HERE TO COMBAT A COMMON CURSE IN AMERICA THESE DAYS, THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC.

>> >> HOW RELIANT WE ARE ON SCREENS AND COMING OUT OF HYBRID WORK SITUATIONS.

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND MANY OF US DON’T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT AND COME BACK TOGETHER.

>> THE PROBLEM SEEMED ESPECIALLY AT TWO IN CHARLOTTE.

>> CHARLOTTE IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

HOW DO WE CONNECT WHETHER YOU ARE A TEENAGER OR SENIOR CITIZEN?

>> JULIE CAME TO CHARLOTTE FOR WORK.

>> I HAD MOVED DOWN HERE AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING KIND OF SHUT DOWN WHICH THEN MADE IT HARD TO MEET PEOPLE.

I MOVED INTO THE COUNTRY SO MADE IT VERY CONVENIENT TO GO TO WORK, COME HOME, STAY WITH THE DOGS, AND NOT VENTURE OUT.

PAUL: THEN SHE LOST HER JOB.

>> I HAD FOCUSED SO MUCH ENERGY INTO WORK.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY OVER 20 YEARS AND SO WHEN THAT WAS NO LONGER PART OF MY LIFE, IT IS WHO AM I NOW?

SO I JUST KIND OF SECLUDED TO ME AND MY DOGS.

PAUL: THROUGH ART ON PRESCRIPTION, SHE MADE CONNECTIONS.

>> WE TALKED OUTSIDE OF THE PROGRAM.

I HAVE MS AS WELL AND IT HAS MADE ME START FACING THAT CONDITION AND GETTING INTO THOSE GROUPS AS WELL.

IT FEELS MUCH LESS ISOLATED DEFINITELY FROM A YEAR AGO BUT EVEN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO.

PAUL: WE DO NOT HAVE CONNECTED WITH AN MS GROUP HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THIS?

>> I DON’T THINK SO.

IT WAS THE FIRST STEP.

IT WAS A SNOWBALL COMING DOWN A HILL.

IT ALLOWED ME TO GET MOMENTUM.

PAUL: TODD SMITH SAYS MOST PARTICIPANTS REPORT FEELING LESS LONELY.

>> THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN PRETTY REMARKABLE.

ABOUT 80% OF PARTICIPANTS ARE SEEING MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN HOW THEY VIEW THEMSELVES ON THAT LONELINESS SCALE.

PAUL: ALICIA BIGBY REDISCOVERED HER VOICE AND NOW GOES TO EVERY ART ON PRESCRIPTION EVENT.

ALICIA: CLAY WORK, DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

YOU HAVE THE CLAY AND YOU GET TO BE MESSY, DIRTY, AND YOU LEARN HOW TO MAKE GOALS -- AND CUPS BOWLS -- BOWLS AND CUPS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

MY MOTHER’S VOICE IS IN MY EAR.

BABY GIRL, SHE WANTS YOU TO LIVE, GET UP, AND TAKE YOURSELF INTO THIS WORLD AND ENJOY LIFE.

PAUL: THE ARTS MEET UPS HAVE HELPED RESTORE JULIE, TOO.

>> THOSE SMALL SHIFTS MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MY MENTAL HEALTH, HOW I FEEL ABOUT MYSELF THAT I CAN -- THAT OLD DOGS CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS, RIGHT?

>> DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING MORE NOW THAN YOU WERE BEFORE?

>> I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE MORE.

I STILL HAVE A MARK TO MAKE.

CLICKS THEY ALREADY HAVE A WAITLIST AND IT IS CERTAINLY ONE WAY TO GET FOLKS OUT OF ISOLATION, INTO MUSEUMS, MAKE FRIENDS.

FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR, PAUL IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

GEOFF: WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE NEXT MAJOR NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT WASN’T A MISSILE OR BOMB BUT A DELIBERATELY ENGINEERED PATHOGEN?

THAT IS THE PREMISE OF THE NEW BOOK BY PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST ANNIE JACOBSEN.

THE BOOK IS CALLED BIOLOGICAL WAR, A SCENARIO.

I SPOKE WITH HER FOR THE PODCAST, SETTLE IN.

WE DISCUSSED AMERICA’S PREPAREDNESS FOR BIOLOGICAL THREATS WITH WHAT RECENT DISEASE OUTBREAKS REVEAL ABOUT VULNERABILITIES IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM AND WHAT SHE BELIEVES KNOWLEDGE, NOT PANIC, IS ONE OF OUR BEST DEFENSES.

HERE IS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> IT’S A FORM OF PLAGUE AND IT’S ENGINEERED BY SOVIET SCIENTISTS DURING THE COLD WAR AND THE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT IF YOU TAKE THE ANTIBIOTIC THAT SHOULD SAVE YOUR LIFE, THAT IS WHAT ACTUALLY KILLS YOU.

EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS.

>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT IT IS TIED TO THE SOVIET BIOWEAPON ENGINEERS OF THE COLD WAR US.

MY BOOKS SOLD IN THE NONFICTION DEPARTMENT.

I WRITE ABOUT SCIENCE FACT EVEN THOUGH IT READS LIKE SCIENCE FICTION AND SO I WANT READERS TO ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE EMBEDDED IN TRUTH AND THERE WAS THIS HORRIFIC BIOWEAPON CREATED BY THE SOVIETS DURING THE COLD WAR AND THIS IS 40 YEARS AGO BEFORE GENETIC ENGINEERING THAT WHAT THEY CALLED A SUPER PLAGUE WEAPON AND OF COURSE MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT PLAGUE, BUBONIC PLAGUE.

THIS IS A FORM THAT GOES IN THE BRONX -- LUNGS CALLED A PNEUMONIC PLAGUE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS WHAT IS CALLED A CHIMERIC PATHOGEN.

CHIMERIC, THAT GREEK MYTHOLOGICAL IDEA OF A BEAST OF MULTIPLE PARTS.

THE HEAD OF A LION, THE BODY OF A SERPENT.

TWO ORGANISMS AT ONCE.

THE CHIMERIC IS A GENETICALLY MODIFIED PATHOGEN SO THAT IT HAS A BOOBY-TRAP EFFECT SO WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO CURE YOU WILL KILL YOU IN AN EVEN MORE HORRIFIC WAY.

GEOFF: FAST FORWARD TO THE CURRENT MOMENT, THERE IS THIS QUESTION.

IF OUR GOVERNMENT CAN’T TRACK A PARASITE IN THE LATEST SUPPLY -- LETTUCE SUPPLY WITH A TWO MONTH HEAD START, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PASSAGE IN -- PATHOGEN IS ENGINEERED AND SOMEONE IS DELIBERATELY HIDING THE SOURCE OF IT?

>> THAT IS A RHETORICALLY GOOD QUESTION.

WHEN I SEE THE KIND OF OUTBREAK OR HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN MAY OVERSEAS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT EBOLA IN WEST AFRICA RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT THE INFORMATION, GOOD INFORMATION COMING OUT OF THOSE OUTBREAKS OR EPIDEMICS, YOU CAN START TO REALIZE SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.

THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING THE WAY IT SHOULD.

AND PEOPLE CAN REALLY KIND OF DEMAND CHANGE BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH MONEY INVOLVED.

YOU KNOW, THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HHS, IS IN CHARGE OF A BIOLOGICAL INCIDENT OR OUTBREAK.

CDC IS BELOW HHS.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD DON’T KNOW WHAT HHS IS AND YET IT HAS A BUDGET TWICE THAT OF THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, TWICE.

SO THAT’S A LOT OF MONEY.

YES, IT INVOLVES MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, BUT THERE’S STILL A PROBLEM THAT WE DON’T KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE OUTBREAK.

GEOFF: YOU SPEND YEARS INTERVIEWING FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY’S, SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, EXPERTS.

WHEN YOU WERE WRITING THE BOOK ABOUT THE NUCLEAR THREAT, THEY WOULD DESCRIBE THE BIOLOGICAL THREAT AS SHARK IN THE WATER.

WHAT WERE THEY MOST AFRAID OF?

>> WELL, YOU CERTAINLY GET THAT SENSE IN THE BOOK BECAUSE I GIVE IT TO YOU IN NO UNCERTAIN DETAIL BUT THE BIG GENERAL IDEA IS ECHOED IN A DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENT I FOUND.

IT IS CALLED A THREAT SPECTRUM.

THIS IS AN UNCLASSIFIED DOCUMENT.

IT LOOKS AT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ON A SCALE AND OF COURSE NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE AT THE FAR END OF THE SCALE AS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE.

NO ONE WOULD ARGUE THAT.

BUT BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ARE A VERY CLOSE SECOND AND EVEN MORE DISCONCERTING, THEY ARE THE GREATEST OVERALL THREAT.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE BARRIER FOR ENTRY IS SO INCREDIBLY LOW.

YOU NEED FISSILE MATERIAL TO MAKE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

YOU NEED A DELIVERY SYSTEM LIKE ICBM.

WE KNOW NOW, PARTICULARLY WITH AI ENABLED BIO, YOU KNOW, THE BARRIER FOR ENTRY IS SO LOW, HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS TO HELP ME A KID IN A BASEMENT WITH A BAD ACTOR WITH A NEFARIOUS MIND IN A BASEMENT WITH VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF BIOLOGY CAN MAKE A BIOLOGICAL WEAPON.

GEOFF: THERE IS THIS IDEA THAT WERE THIS TO HAPPEN, GOD FORBID, NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE US SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE PREPARED APART FROM STOCKPILING DENNIS ALLEN AND RUBBING ALCOHOL AND PEROXIDE IN OUR CABINETS?

WHAT CAN THE AVERAGE PERSON DO TO PREPARE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> YOU HAVE HIT UPON AN INTERESTING CATCH 22 WHERE NO ONE IS COMING FOR US AND DO WE PANIC?

IN ALL THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WARGAMING I CAME ACROSS, FEAR OF INFECTION, THE ACTUAL QUOTE IS REPEATED CONTINUALLY.

FEAR OF INFECTION WILL LEAD TO AND WHAT IT ALWAYS LEADS TO IS ANARCHY AND INSURRECTION AND ALL OF THE PENTAGON WARGAMES KNOW THAT OR ASSUME THAT SO THAT IS WHERE THERE ARE PLANS IN PLACE IF WE HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THAT ARE SHOCKING BUT ON THE FEAR OF INFECTION POINT, I WOULD SAY AS FAR AS THE PUBLIC IS CONCERNED AND THIS IS LIKE ME SPEAKING NOT JUST AS A JOURNALIST BUT AS A MOM THAT THE WAY TO PREVENT FEAR AND PANIC’S KNOWLEDGE.

SO HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF KNOWLEDGE GOES A VERY LONG WAY.

GEOFF: HE CAN WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF SETTLE IN AND MORE ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGE OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

>> THAT IS THE NEWS HOUR FOR TONIGHT.

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