WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Good evening.

I'm William# Brangham.

Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz are away.

On the "News Hour" tonight: the latest# release of thousands more files related## to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, files# that include many mentions of President Trump.

The White House recalls dozens of career diplomats## in the latest effort to reshape# U.S.

diplomacy and foreign policy.

And an inside look at Ukraine's# rapidly expanding use of drone warfare.

UNIT COMMANDER, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence# (through translator): We're targeting Russian## fuel bases, logistics hubs, command headquarters,## and this forces them to move all# of this away from the front line.

(BREAK) WILLIAM#BRANGHAM: Welcome to the "News Hour."

The Justice Department released nearly 30,000# more pages of documents related to t.. convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including# many that reference President Donald Trump.## The new batch comes as the DOJ is being# criticized for not releasing all of the## documents by the deadline set by Congress and# heavily redacting many of those they have put out.

Our White House correspondent, Liz Landers,## has been going through the recent# batch, and she joins us now.

Hi, Liz.

What is in this latest release?

LIZ LANDERS: This is 30,000 more pages# that were put up last night, taken down,## and then reposted by the Justice# Department.

This includes photos,## video surveillance, a lot of legal# correspondence between different## prosecuting areas that were prosecuting# the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell case.

There are few pages of this that are fully# redacted, no explanation why.

There's also## an e-mail that mentions 10 co-conspirators# that the FBI was discussing in 2019.

That## is some news that people have picked up on.

And# there's also a few mentions of President Trump.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Let's talk about some# of those mentions of him.

We should say## the president has not been accused of# any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein,## but there are some troubling references in here.

LIZ LANDERS: There is a reference in one# FBI file that includes a rape allegation.## This was apparently made during# the height of the 2020 campaign.

There's also a court document that# talks about a 14-year-old girl who## was taken to Mar-a-Lago in 1994.

She said# that she was there with Jeffrey Epstein,## who introduced her to its owner, Donald Trump.# Epstein apparently elbowed Trump playfully,## asking him, referring to Jane Doe: "This is a good# one, right?"

Trump smiled and nodded in agreement.

They both chuckled and Doe felt uncomfortable, but# at the time was too young to understand why.

There## is another Department of Justice internal e-mail# sent from a U.S.

attorney to an unknown person,## again redacted.

This was sent in January of 2020# talking about Trump being on Epstein's plane.

It says -- quote -- "For your situational# awareness, we wanted to let that the flight## records we received yesterday reflect that# Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private## jet many more times than we previously had# reported or that we were aware of."

And it## said that he is listed as a passenger on at# least eight flights between 1993 and 1996.

Now, the Department of Justice put out a statement# this morning on social media saying that:## "Some of these documents contain untrue# and sensationalist claims made against## President Trump that were submitted to the FBI# right before the 2020 election.

To be clear,## the claims are unfounded and false.# And if they had a shred of credibility,## they certainly would have been weaponized# against President Trump already."

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: But we don't know which# of those documents they're referring to.

LIZ LANDERS: No, there's not# a clear indication in there.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So what is# President Trump saying about all this?

LIZ LANDERS: So President Trump was asked# yesterday at his club in Palm Beach .. some of the release that had come out,# and in particular about former President## Bill Clinton being in some of those images# that we saw last week.

Here's what he said.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: A lot of people are very angry## that pictures are being released of other# people that really h.. Epstein.

But they're in a picture with# him because he was at a party and you## ruin a reputation of somebody.

So a lot of# people are very angry that this continues.

LIZ LANDERS: The president# has repeatedly expressed## his frustration that the Epstein files# story continues to dominate the news,## while he said it's overshadowing some of# the accomplishments of his administration.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: This is not how this was all# supposed to roll out, right?

Congress passed a## law.

Legislators are upset about this, as are# some of the survivors.

What are they saying?

LIZ LANDERS: To put it bluntly, the way that# this has been released by the Department of## Justice has not been in compliance# with the original intent of the law.

The Epstein Transparency Act directed the# Department of Justice to publish all of the## files and materials related to Epstein and# Ghislaine Maxwell.

Flight logs, records, any## grand jury testimony, all of that was supposed to# be released, redactions to protect victims' names,## but that was it.

And anything related to ongoing# investigations, that was supposed to be redacted.

What we have seen is that not everything# has been released all at once.

Instead,## we're seeing this kind of trickle out over the# course of several days now.

We've also seen names## that have been redacted in some of these e-mails# with no apparent reason why between attorneys,## it looks like.

That's not supposed to be# covered up in some of these redactions.

And, also, we've seen that these# files have been posted and then## taken down in two instances now without# explanation from the Department of Justice.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Liz Landers, thanks# for staying on top of all this for us.

LIZ LANDERS: Of course.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## In the day's other headlines: The# Supreme Court has blocked the Trump## administration from deploying National# Guard troops to Chicago for now while## a legal challenge moves forward.

It# leaves in place a lower court ruling## that barred the deployment and marks# a rare setback for President Trump.

The court's conservative majority has frequently# sided with the administration on previous tests of## presidential power.

Trump has utilized the Guard# in Chicago and in other Democrat-led cities to## protect ICE agents and federal buildings over# the objections of state and local officials.

The U.S.

military struck another boat that it# said was smuggling drugs, killing one person## on board.

The latest strike, which occurred# yesterday in the Eastern Pacific, is now the## 29th known boat strike carried out since the# fall.

At least 105 people have been killed.

As with previous strikes, the Pentagon provided# no evidence that the vessel was carrying drugs.## The Trump administration has said these# strikes are part of a push to pressure## Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

That# pressure campaign has also included the## seizure by U.S.

forces of several# oil tankers in the Caribbean sea.

Turning to Ukraine, officials there say# more than 600 Russian drones and dozens## of missiles bombarded the country, killing# at least three people, including a child.## The strikes also hit the power# grids of more than a dozen regions,## triggering widespread outages# amid freezing winter temperatures.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took# to social media, saying this barrage in the## middle of peace negotiations was a -- quote --# "clear signal of Russian priorities."

He added:## "Putin still cannot accept# that he must stop killing,## and that means the world is not putting enough# pressure on Russia.

Now is the time to respond."

The U.S.

economy grew this summer at its# fastest pace in two years.

New GDP data,## which got delayed due to the government shutdown,## showed that a rise in consumer spending helped# to drive 4.3 percent economic growth from July## to September.

That's an acceleration from# the previous quarter.

Some economists expect## GDP growth to slow in the fourth quarter# because of that record government shutdown.

Meantime, those solid GDP figures led to moderate# gains on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones industrial## average added just under 80 points, the# Nasdaq gained more than half-a-percent,## and the S&P 500 rose enough# to reach a new all-time high.

Former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse# revealed today that he has terminal## stage four pancreatic cancer.

In a social media# post, Sasse said the diagnosis came just last## week.

He wrote -- quote -- "Advanced pancreatic# cancer is nasty stuff.

It's a death sentence."

Sasse was first elected to the Senate in 2014# and stood out among Republicans for his vocal## criticism of President Trump.

He resigned in 2023.# Sasse, who is 53, ended his announcement today## on a determined note, writing -- quote -- "The# process of dying is still something to be lived."

And Vince Zampella, the video game# developer behind the mega successful## series "Call of Duty," has died.

The iconic# first person shooter game debuted in 2003,## originally as a World War II simulator,# before delving into more modern warfare.## That franchise has gone on to sell more# than half-a-billion copies worldwide.

Zampella was also behind other# widely popular shooter games,## including "Battlefield" and "Medal of# Honor."

Multiple reports say he was## killed in a car crash in California this# weekend.

Vince Zampella was 55 years old.

Still to come on the "News Hour": a historical# look at the Kennedy Center for the Performing## Arts that's been renamed after President Trump;# who the so-called Trump savings accounts,## which are meant for children, will# benefit most; and the murders of Rob## and Michele Reiner highlight the mental health# struggles that families face, often privately.

In an unusual move, the Trump administration is# recalling the ambassadors from nearly 30 countries## around the world.

According to the Associated# Press, nations in Africa are losing the most## diplomats, followed by Asia, then Europe, the# Middle East, and here in the Western Hemisphere.

The State Department told the "News Hour" in a# statement that -- quote -- "This is a standard## process in any administration.

An ambassador# is a personal representative of the president,## and it is the president's right to# ensure that he has individuals in## these countries who advance# the America first agenda."

So, for one perspective on this move,## we turn to John Dinkelman.

He is the president# of the American Foreign Service Association.## He had a nearly four-decade diplomatic# career with the U.S.

State Department.

John, thank you so much for being here.

JOHN DINKELMAN, President, American Foreign# Service Association: Thank you for having me.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: How unusual is this.. year into an administration?# Is this standard practice?

JOHN DINKELMAN: This is not standard practice.# This is unprecedented.

This is unheard of.

This is a sabotage of the American# diplomatic machine.

This is an## affront to the professional Foreign# Service that we have spent decades,## a century in building in our country.# And I don't know what it foretells.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Sabotage?

JOHN DINKELMAN: Definitely.

When individuals# have spent their lives devoted.. to representing our country overseas, and, en# masse, you tell those who have qualified to## represent our country, to carry out our policies,# to execute any administration, any president's## goals in any given country, when you tell them all# summarily that for some reason they don't qualify,## something is definitely wrong.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, you heard the State# Department's position on this.

They.. this happens with every administration.

Many# of these people were appointed by the Biden## administration, and the president# wants his own people in there.

What do you make of that argument?

JOHN DINKELMAN: This -- it is entirely# incorrect and a misrepresentation of the## reality.

Every American ambassador submits# their resignation to the incoming president,## who either chooses to accept or reject# those resignations at that time.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And all# these ambassadors did that?

JOHN DINKELMAN: All of these ambassadors# did that about one year ago right now.## And the Trump administration not# only refused those resignations,## but actually encouraged the individuals to remain.

Even within the past few weeks,## senior-level Cabinet individuals have visited# with these various ambassadors on trips,## reaffirming the desire of the administration# that they stay in their positions, only to## find them getting a phone call and surreptitiously# being told they haven't until January to get out.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: We know that the U.S.

already# had about 80 vacant ambassadorships before this## event.

Then this comes.

What is your# sense of what the impact is going to## be on our ability to project American power# in ways, soft and hard, all over the world?

JOHN DINKELMAN: Simply put,## we're taking our star play.. These individuals will not be able to exercise the## personal and professional bona fides and# relationships that they have established## over decades.

And what will be very# interesting is who replaces them.

If it's a member of the professional Foreign# Service, I have to worry, as the president## of the Foreign Service Association, what# kind of loyalty oath are they going to## be required to take that demonstrates# their fidelity to the administration,## in addition to the fidelity that they should have# sworn to the Constitution in the first place?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Have you seen any# evidence that there is such a loyalty## oath being passed around to potential candidates?

JOHN DINKELMAN: I have not yet seen# that, and I am looking for it closely.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Have you been hearing -- I# imagine your phone must be ringing off the hook?

JOHN DINKELMAN: Incessantly, yes.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And what are they saying to you?

JOHN DINKELMAN: They're hurt.

They're concerned.# Many of them are afraid.

There.. what in the world they could have done that# would have caused the ire of our leaders.

They have done everything they could to# carry out the policies of the president,## as they would for any elected leader# of our country, because that's what## the Foreign Service does.

But, in this# case, they are left stumped, as am I,## as to what would have caused this en masse# dismissal of our leaders in our Foreign Service.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Is it possible,# just playing devil's advocate, that,## to take the State Department's stated# position, that some of these people were## not enacting what President Trump believes is# an America first agenda in their positions?

JOHN DINKELMAN: I find it inconceivable.

Individuals like myself who have spent# decades trained to make sure that they're## advocating on behalf of our leaders, on behalf# of the elected leaders of the United States,## it is incomprehensible to me# that individuals would do this,## much less 30 or 40 of them en masse# all at once.

It simply cannot happen.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: At the beginning, I# put the list up of all those nations## that were -- where the ambassadors have now# been pulled.

Are there particular nations,## when you look at that list, that you're# -- that concern you specifically?

JOHN DINKELMAN: There's various that concern me,## but I'm particularly interested in what's going# on in Guatemala, where not only our ambassador,## but our deputy chief of mission, both senior# Foreign Service officers with decades of## experience each, have been summarily# told that they are to leave the post.

Given the immigration crisis that the# administration says we are in and the key## role that Guatemala plays in that crisis,# how we could determine that the individuals## in charge of our mission there, on the other# side of that problem, working with the other## side of the equation, are no longer going to be# there and who will fill that gap is beyond me.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: You mentioned earlier to one# of my colleagues the concern that you have that,## if every new administration comes in and# basically guts the corps, civil service,## what that does to America's ability to enact# its foreign policy.

What did you mean by that?

JOHN DINKELMAN: It will politicize us as# a profession.

We come into the service## sworn loyal to the Constitution and nothing# else.

And when presidents change -- I myself## have been through six different presidents and# have served willingly under each one of them.

I know that the thousands of men and women in# the Foreign Service will continue to do so,## because that's what they were sworn to do.

If,# on the other hand, we start to move our people## in and out with every administration, it's going# to deplete our ability as diplomats to get the## job done.

It will hurt our credibility# and it will hurt our nation in general.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: John Dinkelman,# thank you so much for being here.

JOHN DINKELMAN: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Tonight, we give you# an inside look into one of Ukraine's## most rapidly evolving tools in its war with# Russia, drones.

These small unmanned machines## have come to dominate the battlefield from the# front line in the east to long-range strikes## against power facilities to the waters# of the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

Special correspondent Volodymyr# Solohub gained rare access to a## military unit that is responsible for some# of Ukraine's highest-profile drone strikes.

And a note, we allowed them to review some of# our footage before it aired for security reasons.

VOLODYMYR SOLOHUB: On a river outside of Kyiv,## Ukraine's Defense Intelligence is taking# us to one of their most prized weapons.## They have helped push Russia's fleet away from# occupied Crimea, disrupted supply lines, and## changed the balance of power at sea, naval drones# operated by a unit known as Group 13, Magura 5,## a kamikaze boat.

Magura 7 outfitted with American# missiles, inventing new weapons out of necessity.

Ukraine doesn't have its own navy.# When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014,## Ukraine lost almost all of its navy.

So,# when the new invasion in 2022 started,## Ukraine had to rely on unmanned naval drones like# these to fight a more powerful and much better## equipped enemy.

They're fast, effective, difficult# to detect, and has caused Russia a lot of trouble.

Just last week, in a highly produced video,# Ukraine showed off how its naval drone struck## a Russian submarine.

That helps keep the# Western Black Sea open to Ukraine experts,## and forces Russia's ships to dock in# Novorossiysk in their own territory,## well east of the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

Group 13's commander, who we promised to keep# anonymous, explains his unit's core mission.

GROUP 13 UNIT COMMANDER, Ukrainian# Defense Intelligence (through translator):## Little by little, we pushed the most active# and most dangerous part of Russia's Black## Sea fleet off the western part of the# Black Sea.

Right now, Russians do not## keep anything that is valuable or important# in Crimea.

Everything is in Novorossiysk.

VOLODYMYR SOLOHUB: But even in Novorossiysk,## Russia's fleet is not safe.

From summer# of 2023 to the spring of 2024, Ukrainian## naval drones pummeled Russian ships hundreds# of miles from Ukraine-controlled territory,## including the patrol ship Sergey Kotov,# which Ukraine said was worth $65 million.

It's an example of Ukraine using relatively cheap# weapons to take down expensive Russian hardware.

GROUP 13 UNIT COMMANDER (through# translator): In our missions,## we work in flocks if we're talking# .. during the mission on Kotov, we were# working in flocks and were hunting it.## The ship was trying to hide between the commercial# vessels and escape near the Crimea Bridge.

VOLODYMYR SOLOHUB: Group 13 even uses drones# to strike Russian helicopters.

But, recently,## Ukraine's tactics have shifted.

The drones are# now striking Russia's so-called shadow fleet,## the oil tankers Russia uses to# evade sanctions and finance the war.

And Ukraine's drone targets aren't only military.# Kyiv believes that one way to pressure Putin is to## bring the war home to everyday Russians.

Ukraine's# built an army of long-range drones that have also## targeted Russia's economic lifeblood, energy# facilities, some as far as 600 miles away.

At one point this year, long-range Ukrainian# drones took down more than 10 percent of## Russia's refinery capacity.

Just last# week, long-range aerial drones struck## a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean# Sea, 1,200 miles from Ukraine's border.

Inside an unmarked hangar, the Beaver# is a 200-pound kamikaze drone capable of## traveling up to 600 miles.

This commander# also asked us to keep him anonymous.

UNIT COMMANDER, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence# (through translator): With our deep strikes,## we're targeting Russian fuel bases, logistics# hubs, co.. them to move all of this away from the front# line.

And thus their logistics take more time.

VOLODYMYR SOLOHUB: But Russia is# way ahead of Ukraine with its own## deep strikes.

Over the last week alone,# Moscow launched an average of 726 drones,## mostly at energy and infrastructure targets.

And Russia's ability to manufacture drones# exceeds Ukraine's.

At this factory shown on## Russian TV earlier this year, workers claimed# they manufactured more than 400 per day.

But,## at sea, Ukrainians are still on the offensive.

GROUP 13 UNIT COMMANDER (through# translator): We're fighting for our survival.

We have no choice but to fight.

VOLODYMYR SOLOHUB: As the war continues,## unmanned systems are reshaping the battlefield.# And as both sides brace for what co.. Ukraine's unmanned army is now an# increasingly central part of the fight.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Volodymyr Solohub in Kyiv, Ukraine.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## Since returning to the White House earlier# this year, President Trump has made quick## work reshaping Washington, D.C., in his image, in# some cases literally.

That will be on full display## during what he's calling the Trump-Kennedy Center# Honors, which is being broadcast on TV tonight.

The president hosted the event from the recently# and controversially renamed building, one that## has roots tracing back to the Eisenhower# administration more than 60 years ago.

Stephanie Sy takes a closer look# at its history and evolution.

STEPHANIE SY: When the building opened to the# public in 1971, the John F. Kennedy Center for## the Performing Arts stood as a living memorial to# the late president.

That legacy stood untouched## until last week, when the Kennedy Center board,# most of whom were appointed by President Trump,## followed through on the president's wishes and# voted to rename it the Trump-Kennedy Center.

While it takes an act of# Congress to make that official,## construction teams wasted# no time.

Within 24 hours,## President Trump's name was emblazoned# alongside Kennedy's in the marble facade.

For more on this change and how it's# part of a larger effort by the president,## I'm joined by presidential# historian Mark Updegrove.

Mark, it's a pleasure to have you on the show.

Comment on this move.

Is there any president# for a sitting president to have major cultural## buildings named after him, especially ones# in which they themselves control the board?

MARK UPDEGROVE, Presidential# Historian: No, not at all.

I mean, it would be unthinkable, I think,.. chairman of the Kennedy Center board.

That was# unprecedented.

The president is presiding over## the nation.

He has some big problems to# resolve.

And I think the American people## would agree that that is not the function of a# president.

We don't want to see our president## acting as the chairman of the# board for the Kennedy Center.

We want him addressing the challenges and# the problems that come across his desk,## as being not only the president of our# nation, but, for all practical purposes,## the leader of the free world.

So this# is unprecedented on so many levels.

STEPHANIE SY: From a historian's perspective,## why do you think it matters that the# name of this building is being changed?

MARK UPDEGROVE: We shouldn't have our presidents,## I think, thinking about things that# should be named in their honor.

President Trump is barely a quarter into# his second term in office, at a time when## most Americans are worried about affordability.# We saw that as almost -- the off-year elections## as a referendum on the Trump presidency# and his failure to deliver on the promise## of resurrecting our economy, bringing down# inflation, boosting our employment numbers.

He hasn't accomplished that, but what he has# done is renamed institutions in his honor,## not something that we see from a# president.

I think of humility as## an American value and part of the# American brand.

But, of course,## narcissism is really part of the Trump brand.

This# shouldn't surprise us, but it should alarm us.

STEPHANIE SY: Tell me more about this building and## how it originally came to be# named after President Kennedy.

MARK UPDEGROVE: The Kennedy Center# was not something that President## Kennedy had imagined.

Rather, it# was the thinking of Lyndon Johnson,## President Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded# President Kennedy after his assassination.

President Johnson wanted to do something to# reflect the best of the arts in America and## named the Kennedy Center in -- for President# Kennedy, partly to get it through Congress,## but partly to honor the accomplishments# of our 35th president, John F. Kennedy.

STEPHANIE SY: This is not the first time# in recent months that the president has## shown what critics say is disregard# for historical and cultural sites,## the demolition of the White# House East Wing, for instance.

As a historian, how would you frame# all of these changes taken as a whole?

MARK UPDEGROVE: I think it's very concerning,## deeply concerning, to see this# president, I think, overreach.

Fifty years ago, we called the Nixon presidency# the imperialistic presidency, but it really## pales in comparison to what we have seen from# Donald Trump.

The demolition of the East Wing## of the White House is another example of President# Trump just deciding to do something and doing it## without consulting anyone, without looking at# the rules, without looking at the precedents.

And I think that in itself is dangerous.

STEPHANIE SY: Mark, but, of course,# Trump was elected.

He was elected twice,## and he has millions of supporters.

We also know# that, as a real estate magnate, he was long known## to put his name on his properties.

Of course,# we're talking about government buildings now,## including the Institute of Peace# building, which bears his name.

His picture is now, by the way, in front of# many buildings, like at the Department of## Agriculture.

But, as much as Trump critics say# this is something that looks like we'd see in## authoritarian regimes, haven't we seen a lot of# renaming of monuments in the last several years,## for example, to more align with what# is viewed as politically correct today?

I mean, do you see parallels or contrast there?

MARK UPDEGROVE: No, I don't see any parallels.

I think there are renaming of institutions.# And a couple of examples are the JFK Airport,## which was named for President Kennedy, like the# Kennedy Center, after his assassination.

It was## posthumously named for President Kennedy.# The National Airport in Washington, D.C.,## was renamed Reagan National.

Ronald Reagan was# diagnosed with Alzheimer's early in the 1990s,## and so it was renamed for President Reagan in# 1998, when President Clinton was in office.

So President Reagan was still very much# alive, although ailing from Alzheimer's.## We don't generally see these things until a# president has left office and has rendered## a legacy.

In President Trump's case,# he is only one-quarter through his## second term in office.

We have yet to see# the legacy he will render as president.

And I think he would do well to think# that -- not about being remembered for## his name being on a building, but what# he does in the office of the presidency## of the United States to better the American# people in our nation and around the world.

STEPHANIE SY: That is Mark Updegrove,# the president of the LBJ Foundation.

Mark, thank you so much for joining us.

MARK UPDEGROVE: Thank you very much.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: You may have heard in# the last couple of weeks about these new## savings and investment accounts for kids known# as Trump Accounts.

They recently got a big boost## from a philanthropic donation that's among the# largest ever delivered directly to Americans.

The accounts are now available and the accounts# are first expected to open next May.

And the## question is, can they deliver the benefits# over the long haul that are being promoted?

Our economics correspondent, Paul# Solman, dug into that question.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: Trump Accounts will be the first,## I guess you could say, real trust# funds for every American child.

PAUL SOLMAN: To which tech# billionaire Michael Dell added: MICHAEL DELL, CEO, Dell: We believe the smartest## investment that we can make# is an investment in children.

PAUL SOLMAN: So what exactly are these# so-called Trump Accounts?

Part of this## year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, they're# tax-advantaged savings accounts available## for every American child up to the age of 18,# and parents can put in up to $5,000 annually.

For kids born between 2025 and# 2028, Uncle Sam salts away $1,000## no matter what parents do.

And all parents have# to do is opt in through a tax form.

Moreover,## other philanthropists, employers and states# are invited to add to the accounts as well.

Susan and husband Michael Dell are the first## philanthropic contributors of# many, Brad Gerstner thinks.

BRAD GERSTNER, Entrepreneur: Moms and# dads adding five, 10 bucks a week,## kids saving a little money in the summertime.# Philanthropists like the Dells, states like## the state of Texas have said they're# going to add $1,000 to these accounts.

PAUL SOLMAN: Silicon Valley entrepreneur# Brad Gerstner helped make the idea a reality.

BRAD GERSTNER: The objective here is to get# the 70 percent Americans who feel left out## and left behind by capitalism into the game,# to make everybody a capitalist from birth,## sharing in the great upside# of the American economy.

WOMAN: U.S.

savings bonds,# now watch how they grow.

PAUL SOLMAN: Now, putting money# away for a kid was pretty common## back when folks like me and Teresa# Ghilarducci were babes in the woods.

TERESA GHILARDUCCI, Economist:# I used my own example of what## happened when my grandmother# gave me a little baby bond.

PAUL SOLMAN: She eventually became a prominent# economist, a left-wing one, who's long promoted## something like government trust funds from# birth.

She even wrote a proposal for them.

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: Along with Kevin Hassett,## who's on the other side of# me on the political spectrum.

PAUL SOLMAN: Kevin Hassett, President# Trump's top economic adviser.

Given## her politics, how could she pair up with him?

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: We came# together as economists,## and we know that wealth gives# people security and power.

PAUL SOLMAN: She and Hassett,# despite their different politics,## have now been meeting with Brad Gerstner.

That comes as no surprise to# early-wealth-building expert Ray Boshara.

RAY BOSHARA, Aspen Institute: I have been# working on this idea for 20 years and it's## been bipartisan over those 20 years.

It's# important to remember that the bottom half## of the population owns only 2.5 percent of the# nation's wealth and only 1 percent of stocks## and bonds.

We have a long way to go to build# wealth for the bottom half of the population.

Trump Accounts, designed properly, can do that.

PAUL SOLMAN: Designed properly.

But that's only# the first problem, says policy expert Amy Matsui.

AMY MATSUI, National Women's Law Center: We# already have extremely significant wealth## gaps by income, by race, by gender.

And# the way that this policy is structured,## it's not going to narrow them.

It# has the potential to widen them.

PAUL SOLMAN: How so?

AMY MATSUI: Because the practical aspects of# these ac.. that are very well off will benefit# much more than anybody in the bottom## 90 percent.

Most families will not be able to# contribute the $5,000 for the tax advantage.

A family who's been able to steadily# contribute the maximum would have almost## $200,000 in assets.

And, in contrast, a# family that has the $1,000 and has the## 6 percent rate of return may have something# more along the lines of $2,000 or $3,000.

PAUL SOLMAN: But Teresa# Ghilarducci remains hopeful.

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: The Trump# Accounts surely can be restructured.

PAUL SOLMAN: But here's a# real question: Will they be?

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: The technocrats around# populist policies would absolutely endorse## a tweak of these accounts so they don't just# serve the top 1 percent or top 10 percent.

PAUL SOLMAN: Her tweak of choice, eliminates# tax advantage for families earning over $250,000## per year to make the program more progressive.# She expects Brad Gerstner will be sympathetic.## And to listen to him, he may be.

BRAD GERSTNER: I started this when my oldest# child was 13 years old coming out of COVID-19,## 2021.

And I showed them the custodial accounts# that I had opened at birth and added to over the## years.

And they had compounded into a fair# bit of money.

And my oldest son, Lincoln,## said to me: "Dad, this is incredible.

But what# about all the other kids who don't have these?"

And that really was the conversation around## our dinner table that led to# the birth of Invest America.

PAUL SOLMAN: And now here's another problem,## a teenager and money.

What happens when he or# she turns 18 and suddenly there's a windfall?

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: I used to be a Boy Scout# counselor for the Personal Finance Merit Badge.## And I talked to many teenage boys over the years# about their finances.

I bet that 90 percent of## the teenagers that you talk to will say that# they would buy a car or somehow fix their car.

PAUL SOLMAN: What did she# do with the grandma bond?

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: The bond that my grandmother# gave me was cashed in to pay our back rent.

BRAD GERSTNER: As a father of a 17-year-old and# a 14-year-old, I think about that all the time.

PAUL SOLMAN: And so the new law tries# to address the problem, he says.

BRAD GERSTNER: At 18, kids can use up# to 25 percent of this to buy a home,## start a business, go to college.

If they# don't use the money for that purpose,## it automatically rolls into an IRA and is subject# to the IRA rules.

So, yes, you can take it out,## but it will be subject to a stiff penalty# if you take it out at that point in time.

PAUL SOLMAN: But college?

That# isn't for most Americans, right?

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: Two-thirds of people# don't go to college.

And so if they take## the money out to buy a car, they have to pay a# penalty.

So you're actually penalizing people## who don't go right from high school to# college.

And so that has to be changed.

BRAD GERSTNER: They can use this money# to go to a trade school.

They can use## this money to study a profession that# isn't a typical four-year education,## community college, to start a small business.

PAUL SOLMAN: OK, but what about# this potential final snag?

AMY MATSUI: Trust in government# agencies is pretty low.

And for## families who don't have a lot of financial# literacy or a portfolio of their own,## they may be unwilling or reluctant to take# the steps to open accounts for their children,## even if they could receive that $1,000# of seed money from the government.

PAUL SOLMAN: Brad Gerstner says# he's keenly aware of the problem.

BRAD GERSTNER: Failure for me would be if we had# a bunch of accounts that were not claimed by the## bottom third of the economic ladder.

We have# to make sure that we make it seamless for these## people to know about the accounts, to get excited# about the accounts and to claim the accounts.

PAUL SOLMAN: So what's the bottom line right# now?

Pitfalls galore.

But these accounts are,## says longtime proponent Ray Boshara: RAY BOSHARA: The down payment on a big idea# that can and sho.. And it's important to look at history here.# Social Security, one of our most successful## social policies, started out largely# excluding women and minorities.

But,## today, it's one of the most inclusive,# successful programs that we have.

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: These Trump Accounts,# since they are completely wide open for## an 18-year-old to spend, will not achieve# the goals that right now President Trump## and Michael and Susan Dell say they# want it to achieve.

It needs reform.

PAUL SOLMAN: But better than nothing?

TERESA GHILARDUCCI: Better than nothing.

PAUL SOLMAN: And if reforms do happen# in myriad ways and if money pours in## from myriad sources, potentially much better.

For the "PBS News Hour," Paul Solman.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The murders of filmmaker# Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner,## allegedly by their son Nick, have renewed# difficult conversations across the country## for other families who are struggling# with mental illness and addiction.

Nick Reiner had many well publicized struggles# over the years, serious health crises, repeated## treatments for substance use, and recent# reports suggested he was being treated for## schizophrenia.

We still don't know what happened# with the Reiners, but we do know mental illness## and addiction can be profoundly difficult# challenges, even for families with means.

So we turn to someone who has traveled# that difficult path within his own family,## Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds.# In 2013, his 24-year-old son, Gus,## who'd struggled with bipolar disorder for years,# attacked his father, before taking his own life.

Senator, thank you so much# for being here and talking## with us about this very, very difficult topic.

We should say at the outset --# I know you know this -- that## people struggling with mental illness# are not inherently violent.

They're## much more likely to be the victims of# violence than the perpetrators of it.

STATE SEN.

CREIGH DEEDS (D-VA): Absolutely.

have happened with the Reiner# family, what was your reaction?

STATE SEN.

CREIGH DEEDS: Well, just heartbreak# for the family, heartbreak that these beautiful## people were lost, and heartbreak that they# couldn't get the help they needed for their son.

I mean, mental health is so misunderstood, and# we built up this wall of stigma around it for## years and really prevented, put up roadblocks# in the way of people trying to get help.

So I## also thought about the struggle of# trying to care for an adult child.

You know, even -- just because a# child turns 18 doesn't make them## less of a child.

But there's a huge# challenge to try to get services.

You## can lead a horse to water.

You can't make# them drink, as an old saying, I guess,## and the same thing is true when you're trying# to get services for somebody you care about.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I want to ask you# a little bit more about that.

Again,## we don't know the full extent of# what happened with Nick Reiner.## But we also know that mental illness and# substance abuse often go hand in hand.

Can you just tell us a little bit more about the## struggles that you had trying# to get care for your son, Gus?

STATE SEN.

CREIGH DEEDS: Well, that was# a long time ago now, but the reality is## that a lot of people don't understand that# they are ill.

They won't accept the fact## that they are ill.

And they don't want --# there are things they don't want to do.

And as an adult child, you have# to either get them to be treated,## I guess to volunteer at some point, even when# it's involuntary, to try to get them to treatment,## or to get them to sign something that will give# you the authority to help them make decisions,## or you're going to have to# go to court and file suit.

It just -- there's one difficulty# after another one.

And with my son,## we just -- we struggled to get him to# acknowledge the problems and acknowledge## that he needed care.

And, in the end, he# was just ill and delusional and he would## not accept care.

He would not.

So it's not# a laughing matter at all.

It's very tough.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And you're saying that, once# a person turns 18, legally, for all sorts of## medical privacy and autonomy reasons, you as a# parent don't have autonomy over them anymore.

STATE SEN.

CREIGH DEEDS: That's# absolutely true.

I mean, in fact,## lots of cases, under federal law# and state law, once they turn 14,## they have a certain amount of independence.# They don't have to be treated, have to receive## the treatment you prescribe for them, you# think they need, that I think that they need.

I wanted my son to receive care.

I did# the best I could to get him to places## where he could receive that care.

And# he refused.

And that's often the case.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: After your family's tragedy,# you were part of a commission in Virginia to## look at the gaps in mental health care.

That# was over a decade ago.

What has happened in## your state?

What has happened nationally?

Are# we doing a better job now than we were then?

STATE SEN.

CREIGH DEEDS: We're doing# a better job, but the reality is,## we had -- had, we for so long neglected the# issue that we still have so much work to do.

When I was in the hospital for several days after## my son's situation, after he attacked me# and then he died -- I was in the hospital## and I was just scheming up.

I was in# the fortunate position of being in the## General Assembly.

So I was going to be able# to make some change or hope to make change.

I had lots of questions.

I had quite more# questions than answers.

We created this## commission to study mental health.

And out of that# group -- that met for about eight or nine years,## out of that group, the Virginia Behavioral# Health Commission, which is a permanent,## staffed commission that staff is doing research# on figuring out ways to address mental illness.

What we have done in Virginia is, we have# added several hundred million dollars a## year to our public mental health system,# because we have had to build out services.## We have taken the list of mandated# services from public health providers,## public mental health providers, our community# service boards in Virginia, from two to nine.

We are focused on keeping people out# of crisis.

We have done some things,## yes, and I'm proud of that work,# but we have still got a lot to do.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The Reiner family was# very public about their struggles.

They## even made a film that dramatized some# of Nick's experience.

You, as you said,## were in the legislature when this happened.

You# couldn't avoid talking about what had happened.

But a lot of families, as you mentioned,# feel an intense stigma and shame and## blame and struggle to talk openly# about what they're dealing with,## let alone get help.

How much of# an issue is that still today?

STATE SEN.

CREIGH DEEDS: It's a huge issue.# Here's the thing.

There are tragedies every day,## and nearly every family suffers# a tragedy of some kind.

They're## not all on the front page of the# newspaper.

In fact, few of them are.

So you have to have empathy for what# people are going through.

And I think## that you have to show kindness all# the time.

But the reality is that,## historically, we have had walled# stigma up around mental health.## We have made people be -- feel discouraged, feel# embarrassed about mental health, feel discouraged## from seeking treatment, feeling discouraged# from acknowledging that a problem exists.

And the stigma is still out there.

We are slowly# tearing down the walls.

We -- several years ago,## we put in Virginia in the health curriculum of# public -- our public schools some mental health## awareness, particularly in# eighth and ninth grades.## It's true that about 70 percent# of those people that have serious## mental illness first experience a crisis# some time between the ages of 14 or 24.

So you want to build up the knowledge of# mental health and the knowledge of warning## signs for people when they're# in that age group.

In Virginia,## what we have done is incorporate mental health# awareness into our health curriculum in the## public schools for eighth and ninth graders,# so that young people at the age when they might## begin experiencing some mental health crisis# can have some knowledge of what's going on.

Here's the problem.

The brain is part of the body.# Mental health care is health care.

People have to## acknowledge that.

They have to acknowledge that# it's all right to feel bad.

It's all right to## have these -- a mental illness.

It's just -- the# frustrating thing is that we have fund-raisers.

We focus on things like breast cancer or a whole# bunch of other illnesses, but, for mental health,## we use words like crazy.

And it begins by thinking# about the way we talk, thinking about the way we## talk.

We can tear down the walls of stigma# ourselves.

We just have to focus on trying## to make sure that people can get the treatment# they need and can get well in their communities.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: That is Virginia# State Senator Creigh Deeds.

Senator, thank you so much for taking the# time.

Really appreciate your insights.

STATE SEN.

CREIGH DEEDS: Thank# you so much.

Yes, bye-bye.

Watching the classic Christmas movie# "It's A Wonderful Life" is a beloved## tradition for millions.

Its director, Frank Capra,## always said his film was in part about# the beauty of life in small-town America.

One little town in Rhode Island believes it# was the inspiration for this holiday favorite.

Pamela Watts of Ocean State Media has that story.# It's part of our arts and culture series, Canvas.

JIMMY STEWART, Actor: Yes!

Hello,# Bedford Falls!

Merry Christmas!

PAMELA WATTS: The Christmas classic "It's# A Wonderful Life," starring Jimmy Stewart,## was filmed on a Hollywood set.

Seneca Falls,## New York, boasts it's the model# for the beloved movie small town.

ACTOR: Hey, George, don't# take any plugged nickels.

PAMELA WATTS: But whole the popcorn.

Could# Little Compton have also played a big role?

Town historian and native Marjory O'Toole## says clues of the connection are# sprinkled throughout the film.

Is it kind of a given that people# in Little Compton do believe that## they are really a part of "It's# A Wonderful Life," the movie?

MARJORY O'TOOLE, Little Compton Historical# Society: Oh, we're 100 percent in on that.

PAMELA WATTS: That certainty began here.# Hollywood husband and wife scriptwriting## team of Frances Goodrich and Albert# Hackett, who created the screenplay,## often vacationed at the Goodrich family cottage.

MARJORY O'TOOLE: Frances and Albert summered# on Bailey's Ledge in Little Compton,## on the Bailey family farm.

And so I think the fact# that they named their incredibly sympathetic main## character George Bailey is an absolute tie to this# summer home, summer community that they loved.

PAMELA WATTS: Need more proof?

In the church# cemetery on Little Compton's town common,## here lies George Bailey and nearby Mary Bailey.

JIMMY STEWART: Hey, Mary.

(SINGING) PAMELA WATTS: Goodrich and Hackett# borrowed other area names too.

MARJORY O'TOOLE: The folks in Seneca Falls may# argue this, but Little Compton sits in between## two cities, New Bedford and Fall River.# And so I think the fact that the town in## the movie is called Bedford Falls is a direct# combination of the names of those two cities.

PAMELA WATTS: That may all seem a# coincidence until this scene in the movie.

ACTOR: You had me worried, one of# the oldest trees in Pottersville.

JIMMY STEWART: Pottersville?

PAMELA WATTS: There's actually a# Pottersville n.. MARJORY O'TOOLE: Today, it's a perfectly# beautiful little neighborhood in Little## Compton.

But 100 years ago, Pottersville was one# of the poorer neighborhoods in Little Compton,## where working-class people# would have lived and worked.

PAMELA WATTS: Senior digital producer Dan# Medeiros of The Herald News in South Coast,## Massachusetts, has traced# another local tie to the movie.

DAN MEDEIROS, Herald News: I found that someone# from "It's A Wonderful Life" was born in Fall## River.

And I thought, well, who could that be?# I know I have seen the movie a million times.

PAMELA WATTS: Don't blink.

The photo of the# pharmacist's deceased son is the headshot of actor## Glen Vernon.

Medeiros discovered Vernon wasn't# even credited in the movie, but he got paid.

DAN MEDEIROS: That actor from Fall# River was a part of it, a very,## very small part, but he is a part nonetheless.

PAMELA WATTS: At first, Vernon didn't# mention he was in "It's A Wonderful## Life," which flopped at the box office,# winning only one Oscar for special effects.

All the snow in the movie was made of soap# flakes, sugar, water, and fire extinguisher foam.

As for Vernon, was he ever like, I'm# the guy from "It's A Wonderful Life"?

DAN MEDEIROS: Well, kind of, yes.

He# would add that to his credit.

He would## become like a background actor or just# like bit parts.

He was in "Lassie."

He## was in an episode of "Columbo."

He's# in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

PAMELA WATTS: Meantime, Goodrich and Hackett# would go on to write other screenplays,## including the "Thin Man" detective movies,## the characters Nick and Nora based on their# own witty and close marriage.

Eventually,## the couple won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award# for their stage play "The Diary of Anne Frank."

And back in Little Compton... ACTRESS: Every time a bell# rings, an angel gets his wings.

PAMELA WATTS: Even if you're skeptical# about Little Compton being this## prototype for the story, is it a# wonderful life in Little Compton?

MARJORY O'TOOLE: Oh, it's always a# wonderful life in Little Compton.

ACTOR: To my big brother# George, the richest man in town.

(CHEERING) MARJORY O'TOOLE: Every time I watch the movie,# I keep my eyes open for additional connections.

(SINGING) PAMELA WATTS: For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Pamela Watts in Little Compton, Rhode Island.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And that is the "News# Hour" for tonight.

I'm William Brangham.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour"# team, thank you so much for joining us.