AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm# Amna Nawaz.

Geoff Bennett is away.

On the "NewsHour" tonight:# President Trump threatens to## intervene in Iran if the regime cracks down# on protests sparked by economic turmoil.

Canceled performances and plummeting ticket# sales roil the now renamed Kennedy Center.## We speak with the man President Trump# handpicked to lead the institution.

And why this flu season is so bad and# what you can do to protect yourself.

ANDREW PEKOSZ, Johns Hopkins University:# Even if you're in a part of the country## that's starting to experience a rise in# influenza cases, not a bad.. get vaccinated because it'll protect you# against the tail end of the flu season.

(BREAK) AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "News Hour."

President Trump today threatened to intervene# in Iran if the regime kills peaceful protesters,## which it has already done.

Over the past six days,# demonstrations that started in Tehran have spread## throughout the country.

The Iranian government# has cracked down, as it has in the past.

Protests in Iran are now in their sixth day.# What began as a response to skyrocketing## inflation has now transformed into# a national call for systemic reform,## expanding from Tehran's Grand Bazaar to# nearly 17 provinces across the country.## At least 44 people have been arrested so# far, Including Kurdish activist Mahsa Zarei.

And at least eight people have been killed,# including a 15-year-old child.

In the streets,## protesters chant "Death to the dictator."

And# students have now joined the demonstrations.## As in recent uprisings, young# Iranians are on the forefront.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian# says he has -- quote -- "tasked the## minister of interior to hear the legitimate# demands of protesters through dialogue."

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas# Araghchi and President Trump traded statements.

Trump posting this morning -- quote -- "If# Iran violently kills peaceful protesters,## which is their custom, the United# States of America will come to their## rescue.

We are locked and loaded and ready to go."

Araghchi responded, calling Trump's# statement "reckless and dangerous."

For more on the protests, we turn now to two# people who follow developments in Iran closely.## Roya Boroumand is the co-founder and executive# director of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center.## That's a nonprofit promoting human rights and# democracy in Iran.

And Holly Dagres is a senior## fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East# Policy.

That's a think tank in Washington, D.C.

Welcome to you both.

And, Holly, I will begin with you# be.. demonstrations in Iran before.

How# do these protests today compare to## those we have seen in the past in terms of# the scale?

And, also, what sparked them?

HOLLY DAGRES, Senior Fellow, The Washington# Institute for Near East Policy: Well, these## protests are significant.

They're the largest# since the 2022.. And while they were triggered by# a different event, in the economic## one related to the collapse of the Iranian# rial against the U.S.

dollar on December 28,## the grievances of the Iranian people taking# to the streets are very much the same,## which is systemic mismanagement,# corruption, and repression.

And, for them, they see that all their woes and# problems are with the Islamic Republic itself.

And## that's why you're seeing all these anti-regime# trance coming from the people, because they## believe that the Islamic Republic needs to go.# And they felt this way for a very long time now.

AMNA NAWAZ: Roya, what about you?

As you watch# these unfold, what stands out to you about how## the protests are evolving, especially the fact# that they're coming online now just a few years,## as Holly noted, after those 2022 Woman, Life,# Freedom protests after the death of Mahsa Amini?

ROYA BOROUMAND, Co-Founder and Executive Director,## Abdorrahman Boro.. The intensity of the repression of the 2022# protests and following the 2022 .. that one would expect people to need a few years# before forgetting and recovering before coming out## in the streets.

So it is early, if you will, based# on the experience we have from previous years.

But, at the same time, the situation,# the economic situation is so bad.

The## inflation is so bad, and so many people# are living under the poverty line that## these outbursts are not surprising in that sense.# And the fact that they happen more in areas where## the people are much more vulnerable economically# and socially is also significant, I think.

AMNA NAWAZ: Holly, Roya mentioned there the# brutality of the crackdown to those 2022 protests.

Are you worried and do you expect that we# will see the same from the Iranian regime## this time?

And, also, are there demands from the# protesters that this regime can actually meet?

HOLLY DAGRES: Well, we have seen the brutality of## the Islamic Republic for 46 years.# We talked about the 2022 uprising.

And the U.N.

fact-fighting mission at# the time found that the Islamic Republic## had committed crimes against humanity# against the protesters during Woman,## Life, Freedom.

So they do have that# ability to crack down on in same manner.

And one of the tools of repression that the# Islamic Republic uses is mass executions.

We## have seen that, in 2025, they had the highest rate# of executions in over a decade with 200 -- 2,045.## And so this is a tool that they use to silence# dissent and exactly what they will be doing.

And in terms of addressing the needs of the# protesters, we have seen President Masoud## Pezeshkian tweet on X, which is blocked by# the Islamic Republic, and Iranians have to## use circumvention tools to get online, that# they would meet the needs of the protesters.

But the truth is, their needs cannot# be met by the clerical establishment## because they have not had opportunity# for years to make changes and they## have not.

And Iranians believe that# reform has been dead for a long time.

AMNA NAWAZ: Roya, what about the# reaction that we have seen from the U.S.,## specifically from President Donald Trump# threatening U.S.

intervention if peaceful## protesters are killed?

Is that kind of# response something that protesters want## to see?

And you think there's a real# possibility there for U.S.

action?

ROYA BOROUMAND: Statements by# a U.S.

president matter a lot.

And they matter, in the sense that you also have# to understand that the battle that the Iranians## are fighting is a battle that is physical in# the street, in which they have their lives to## offer and some stones probably.

But the state has# resources and has arms and has foreign support.

And, in that sense, when leaders of# democracies pay attention to what's## happening, it strengthens the morale of the# population.

So it has to be clear what the## statement of the president means.

Does# this mean that they're going to bombard## somewhere?

Does this mean that the endgame# would be to overthrow the Islamic Republic?

I think these are very sensitive times.# Iran has passed laws to punish with## deaths very peaceful activities# that are related to protests,## are related to information about protests# as acting in coordination with a foreign## state and a hostile state, basically# can lead any action to the gallows.

So, in that context, these kind of statements# have to be not vague and very clear about what## consequences the leaders of a country will# face if they continue to shoot people.

But## attention to victims is good.

That is something# that the state doesn't want, because the state## wants to say to the people fighting in the# streets that you are alone, no one cares.

AMNA NAWAZ: Holly, I will# give you the last word here.

How do you look at the threats made by President## Trump?

And do protesters want to# see some kind of U.S.

intervention?

HOLLY DAGRES: It's really hard to interpret what## the Trump administration actually wants# to do with any action, if at all any.

And I think that if they were not to act on# their words and there was a mass crackdown,## this could very much be similar to the# Obama administration's red line for Syria.## So, I mean, it's a really mixed bagged# about how the president wants to respond.

But we've also seen precedent where he has# responded by assassinating being Quds Force## commander Qasem Soleimani, January 3 being# its six-year anniversary, attacking the## country's nuclear facilities.

So he's a real# maverick when it comes to this sort of thing.

AMNA NAWAZ: Holly Dagres and Roya Boroumand,# we thank you so much for joining us.

(CROSSTALK) ROYA BOROUMAND: .. AMNA NAWAZ:## We begin the day's other headlines in Switzerland.

Investigators say they believe sparklers# started the deadly fire inside a ski resort## bar packed with people ringing in the new# year.

At least 40 people were killed and more## than 100 injured when Le Constellation# bar I Crans-Montana went up in flames.## Officials say the handheld sparklers# were placed on champagne bottles and## raised too close to the ceiling, which# was coated with sound dampening foam.

BEATRICE PILLOUD, Valais, Switzerland, Attorney# General (through translator): These are birthday## candles that you can buy in shops and .. they can be used in enclosed or confined# spaces, the investigation is ongoing.

AMNA NAWAZ: Authorities are also looking into# safety measures on site like fire extinguishers## and proper escape routes.

Meanwhile, a memorial# has been set up in town to honor those lost,## even as the painstaking task of# identifying the victims continues.

Many were in their teens and 20s.

For# this mother wanting to learn the fate## of her 16-year-old son, the weight is agonizing.

LAETITIA BRODARD-SITRE, Mother of# Missing Fire Victim (through translator):## It's unimaginable to tell ourselves that we# will live without our children, that our child## has burned in a fire on New Year's Eve.

We don't# know how and when they will be identified.

We gave## our DNA.

Now it's a question of waiting long# hours to try to know where our children are.

AMNA NAWAZ: The majority of those who were# injured are Swiss nationals.

Others are from## neighboring France and Italy and elsewhere# in Europe.

Six have yet to be identified.

In Mexico, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck# outside the resort city of Acapulco today,## leaving at least two people dead.

The quake struck## as President Claudia Sheinbaum was giving# her first press briefing of the new year.## She called for calm and exited the# room with aides and journalists.

Elsewhere, footage shows cars# shaking as the tremor struck,## while eyewitness video caught parts of buildings# falling to the ground.

In Acapulco itself,## tourists and workers evacuated hotels# and found themselves on the streets.## Mexican authorities reported at least# 500 aftershocks after the initial quake.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has# named the country's military intelligence## chief as his new chief of staff.# Zelenskyy says the appointment## of General Kyrylo Budanov is meant to# emphasize Ukraine's focus on its security,## defense and diplomatic efforts.

Budanov is one of# Ukraine's most recognizable wartime figures and## has frequently warned of Russia's long-term# intentions towards Ukraine and the region.

Also today, two Russian missiles struck# a multistory building in Kharkiv in## Northeastern Ukraine.

At least 19 people# were injured, including a six-month-old baby.

The FBI says it's thwarted a potential New Year's# Eve attack in North Carolina, arresting a man who## had allegedly pledged loyalty to the Islamic State# group; 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant has been## charged with attempting to provide material# support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Officials say Sturdivant shared his plans to# attack a fast-food restaurant and a grocery## store with undercover FBI agents.

A search of his# home uncovered further evidence of his intentions.

RUSS FERGUSON, U.S.

Attorney For Western# District of North Carolina: They found## hammers and knives hidden under his bed.

They# found .. detailed his attack.

He was preparing for# jihad and innocent people were going to die,## and we are very, very fortunate they did not.

AMNA NAWAZ: According to court documents,## Sturdivant faces up to 20# years in prison if convicted.

We have an update now on a story we reported# last month on tariffs.

The Trump administration## is now backing off plans to impose steep levies on# Italian-made pastas.

Italy's Foreign Ministry says## the U.S.

will now impose tariffs of between# 2 and 14 percent on more than a dozen pasta## producers.

That is a far cry from the 92 percent# rate that the U.S.

had threatened in October,## which would have come on top of the existing# 15 percent on most European Union imports.

The Commerce Department says that the lower## rates come after Italian exporters had# addressed concerns about unfair prices.

Tesla is no longer the world's# bestselling electric vehicle maker,## as sales declined for the second straight year.# The automaker says it delivered 1.64 million## vehicles in 2025.

That's down 9 percent from# 2024.

And that lags behind Chinese rival BYD,## which sold more than two million# vehicles to take the top spot.

Analysts say that Tesla suffered# from ongoing consumer backlash## over CEO Elon Musk's political# activity, plus the expiration of a## $7,500 E.V.

tax credit.

Tesla shares fell# around 2.5 percent following the news.

As for the broader markets, stocks on Wall Street# posted an uneven start to the new trading year.## The Dow Jones industrial average added more than# 300 points.

The Nasdaq ended just a touch lower,## slipping about six points.

The S&P 500# posted a modest gain of around 13 points.

Still to come on the "News Hour": what's behind# a dangerous spike in flu cases this year; plus,## David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on the# latest news and they look ahead to the new year.

First, a takeover of leadership, then a# renaming as the Kennedy Center became the## Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the# Performing Arts, and now canceled performances.

Amid all that, ratings for the televised Kennedy# Center Honors, hosted by the president himself,## showed a big drop in viewership, and overall# ticket sales are reportedly way off.

In short,## the turmoil continues at one of the# nation's preeminent arts centers.

Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown# begins our update.

It's part of our Art in## Action series exploring the intersection of art# and democracy and part of our Canvas coverage.

JEFFREY BROWN: Chuck Redd on the vibraphone,# he was scheduled to perform with his band at## the Kennedy Center on Christmas Eve,# but decided to cancel the concert.

Within days, others followed, including# The Cookers, a jazz ensemble scheduled## for New Year's Eve show.

In a statement,# the group said they remain committed to## music that -- quote -- "reaches across# divisions, rather than deepening them."

Also canceling a January performance,# Alabama folk singer Kristy Lee, stating:## "When American history starts getting# treated like something you can ban, erase,## rename or rebrand for somebody else's ego, I can't# stand on that stage and sleep right at night."

And the New York dance company Doug Varone# and Dancers canceled a planned April show.## The moves followed the mid-December renaming of# the Kennedy Center and after President Trump's## appointment of a new board and leadership# last February, naming himself as chair.

At that time, prominent artists, including# Renee Fleming and Ben Folds, resigned from their## positions at the Kennedy Center.

And others,# including Rhiannon Giddens, canceled shows.

In response to the recent# cancellation by Chuck Redd,## Center president Richard Grenell# threatened a $1 million lawsuit.

Earlier this week, I spoke with choreographer and## dancer Doug Varone and asked# about his decision to cancel.

DOUG VARONE, Doug Varone and Dancers: It wasn't# an easy decision, and it was, I felt, a long time## coming.

We watched all the changes that occurred# when the Trump administration took over the## Kennedy Center, the releasing of the bipartisan# board, the firing of many employees, including## the entire dance staff.

Yet I still believed# that bringing the art was important for us.

The Kennedy Center has always stood for excellence# in the arts, was named after President Kennedy.## And he believed that the arts were at the center# of all of our culture, all of our nation.

Renaming## it Donald Trump Center, it seems to go completely# against every principle and every mission that## the center stands for.

I couldn't put myself# or my dancers into that building right now.

JEFFREY BROWN: But where is the balance# for you in bringing your art to people,## which is presumably what you# do, what it's all about... DOUG VARONE: Absolutely.

JEFFREY BROWN: ... people at the Kennedy... DOUG VARONE: Well, you know,## I -- in the conversations that I have# had over the.. I sort of have always believed# that the art should be paramount.

It was the reason why we didn't# cancel a long time ago, that## the power and the truth of the art was# what I wanted to put on the Kennedy## stage.

And the audiences that would come to# it would hopefully take that strength away.

But it is this act from this president# that has pushed me off the cliff## and has made it impossible for me to do that.

JEFFREY BROWN: A statement we received# from the Kennedy Center accuses you and## others who have canceled of doing# this for political differences and## of failing to meet the basic duty of a# public artist to perform for all people.

What's your response to that?

DOUG VARONE: I think that he probably has not# done this research on myself and my c.. We have been performing nationally and# internationally for the last 40 years.## Many of our international tours have been# supported by the State Department under## presidents both Democratic and Republican.

I am# honored as an artist to bring my work all over## this country to red states, blue states,# rural, urban areas, and to have that art## be part of a dialogue of how we talk about our# differences and share the way we live and think.

I have been dedicated to# that for the past 40 years.

JEFFREY BROWN: You will take a financial hit from# this.

What's the impact on you and your dancers?

DOUG VARONE: We will be losing about# $40,000 from this engagement.

And that## equals about three weeks of work for# my dancers.

So I will have to let## them go in April, unless we can find# some monetary form to replace that.

That's not good.

It's not good## allowing my dancers to go back on unemployment# in these really tenuous economic times.

JEFFREY BROWN: And what kind of# response have you had from them,## from others around the world,# and from the other arts groups?

DOUG VARONE: Well, the dancers were part# of this decision.

Everyone supports it.## We have had a tremendous outpouring of support# from the dance community, from other artists## from all around the world, actually, people# I have never met, people who have never seen## the dance company itself congratulating us on our# integrity to pull out at this particular moment.

So I'm proud of the decision that we have made.

JEFFREY BROWN: And have you# heard from the Kennedy Center?## And do you anticipate legal action from them?

DOUG VARONE: I do not anticipate legal action.

The# dance companies that were part of the presenting## series this year all included a clause in our# contracts that allowed us, at our discretion,## if we felt that our reputation was being# affected, to pull out without cause.

So that is in our contract.

If they want to## legally take us to task for that, I'm# happy to have lawyers look at that.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, choreographer and# dancer Doug Varone, thank you very much.

DOUG VARONE: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: And joining me now from Hermosa Beach,# California, for an e.. Grenell.

He's president of the newly renamed# Trump-Kennedy Center.

Last February, he was named## interim president by the board that was appointed# by President Trump.

Grenell also served in Trump's## first term, including as ambassador to Germany# and acting director of national intelligence.

Ambassador Grenell, welcome to the# "News Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

RICHARD GRENELL, President, Kennedy# Center: Thank you for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: I want to begin by just giving you#.. there from Doug Varone, from others# in the piece reported by Jeff Brown,## a number of artists who chose to cancel or# pull out of performances, citing both the## president's takeover of the board and also the# renaming of the center.

What's your response?

RICHARD GRENELL: Well, first of all, I would note# that, in the entire package and in the questions,## there wasn't a single question about# the finances of what's going on.

And I have noticed at PBS, for instance,# you all haven't covered any of the finances## in terms of the situation that the# Kennedy Center has found itself.

The## Trump-Kennedy Center is in a very different# position than the previous center was.

And I would say that we have a# phenomenal situation financially## with the current Trump-Kennedy Center,# because President Trump is a phenomenal## fund-raiser.

And what we have been able# to do is look at ticket sales, donors,## as well as corporate sponsors, and come up with# a holistic approach to how you look at the arts.

When I arrived at the Kennedy# Center, the then-Kennedy Center,## we were paying staff with debt reserves.

Now, I# understand that there's a lot of reporters who## don't understand finance and who don't understand# what paying for staff with debt reserves mean.

But it seems to me that reporters who# are interested in the full story should## look at the full story of what's been# happening in the arts.

I don't quote## The New York Times that often, but just# about two months ago, The New York Times## did a front-page story saying that Broadway# was dying, ticket sales were in the tank.

This is a phenomenon that's# been going on for decades.## Arts centers are struggling.

And the only way that# you can go forward and have an arts institution## that's financially secure is to look at the# holistic aspect.

At the Trump-Kennedy Center,## we have 19 unions.

It's incredibly# expensive to go and put on performances.

We cannot have unpopular programming that doesn't# pay the bills.

What I said when we came -- and,## by the way, I didn't cancel a single show at# all at the now Trump-Kennedy Center.

I simply... (CROSSTALK) AMNA NAWAZ: Well.. RICHARD GRENELL: When you look at ticket sales# -- when you look a.. at donors and you look at corporate sponsors, you# have to come up with revenue-neutral programming.

We live in a world where you have to think# about finances.

We don't have unlimited funds.

AMNA NAWAZ: I appreciate that response.# And I want to ask you more about both that,## the programming and the finances, because,# as you have noted, there's been a lot of## reporting around the ticket sales.

There have# been specific ticket sales windows that were## reported on The Washington Post that, at# one point, the ticket sales in September## and October were at a 43 percent unsold rate,# as compared to just 7 percent the year before.

RICHARD GRENELL: Not true.

AMNA NAWAZ: That's not true, you're# .. RICHARD GRENELL: It's not true.

AMNA NAWAZ: OK, .. RICHARD GRENELL: So, here is... AMNA NAWAZ: If I may, let me.. a different revenue model, is what I'm hearing.

So# are ticket sales down?

Is that confirmed or not?

RICHARD GRENELL: Well, first of all, let me just# say this.

I find it to be outrageous that PBS is## not reporting on the phenomenon that arts# institutions have been having for decades.

Now, I do note... AMNA NAWAZ: Ambassador, I will say,## we have expansive arts programming#.. (CROSSTALK) RICHARD GRENELL: That's not what I said.# You may have e.. but you don't consider the finances.

But let me just note one thing.

The previous# chairman of the now Trump-Kennedy Center is## David Rubenstein, and I understand# that he's given you millions and## that the room that you're sitting in is# named after David Rubenstein.

So I don't## begrudge you that you can't go after# a big donor and say that his financial## management of the then-Kennedy Center was# something to look at.

You can't touch that.

I get that, because he's a very big donor.

AMNA NAWAZ: Ambassador Grenell, let# me make clear this.. with any of our donors or the fact that the studio# is named for David Rubenstein.

Please continue.

(CROSSTALK) RICHARD GRENELL:.. When you -- when I arrived# at the then-Kennedy Center,## we had no money in the bank, and we# -- again, we were paying staff with## debt reserves.

That's immoral.

You cannot run an# institutional.

Let me give you one more example;## 94 people were employed in the development# department, which is how you raise money.

Since President Trump has arrived at the now# Trump-Kennedy Center, we have raised more than## $130 million, blowing away all other fund-raising,# and that's corporate donors who are coming back## because they trust the programming.

We have got# the Stuttgart Ballet and the Vienna Philharmonic.

We -- I will give you -- the individual that# you just interviewed, I will give you that we## cannot do programming that loses money.

He# was losing money.

The $40,000 that he was## talking about was what we were paying him, and# he didn't have ticket sales that were proper.

Again, though, I didn't cancel# him because he was scheduled by## the previous regime, who had a different criteria.

AMNA NAWAZ: Understood.

RICHARD GRENELL: My criter.. have arts institutions that lose# money because you have programming## that is woke or not popular.

We need popular# programming to sustain arts institutions.

AMNA NAWAZ: Ambassador, your# team has -- I understand.

And your team has made it .. in this Trump-Kennedy Center.

You pointed out# -- and your team, rather, in a note to us... RICHARD GRENELL: We have a# lot of artists that want to... AMNA NAWAZ: Mira.. For those artists who are pulling out# themselves, citing the renaming of the center,## citing the fact that the president took# over the board and made himself chairman,## are you saying that all of those performances# were losing money for the Kennedy Center?

RICHARD GRENELL: No.

I don't# really understand that question.

What I'm saying is, we have changed the# programming so that, with ticket sales,## you have to combine donors and corporate# sponsors.

In today's world, let me just## educate you about arts institutions.

No art# institution is able to pay for programming## with ticket sales alone.

That's not how the# future is going to be for arts institutions.

It's extremely expensive.

You need to have donors# in corporate America who come forward and say,## we like this programming, we# want to write a big check,## and we want to support it.

Again, we have# 19 unions at the Trump-Kennedy Center,## and it is incredibly difficult to pay for# any programming with just ticket sales alone.

AMNA NAWAZ: The fact that... RICHARD GRENELL: So all I'm telling you is that we are in great financial shape# since President Trump came.

AMNA NAWAZ: Yes.

RICHARD GRENELL:.. AMNA NAWAZ: Yes.

RICHARD GRENELL:.. AMNA NAWAZ: You have made that point, sir.

RICHARD GRENELL: And we're# going to blow the fund-raising## records off the doors.

We're just# raising more than we ever have.

AMNA NAWAZ: The fact that the viewerships were the# Kennedy Cent.. some 35 percent in terms of viewership# -- this was the Honors that President## Trump himself said he handpicked most# of the honorees.

He hosted himself.

Does that -- as a steward of this institution,## does all of this, the backlash, the# headlines about artists pulling out,## the fact that so few people paid attention# to the Honors, does that worry you?

RICHARD GRENELL: Well, let me# challenge you on that again,## the biased fact that you just# thought that you were giving.

If you go to CBS, they will tell you that the# CBS Trump-Kennedy Center Honors this year tied## for number one in its demographic.

I looked# at the numbers for PBS' "News Hour" last year.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is separate from the fact# that the numbers dropped from last year,## which is what I asked in my question, sir.

(CROSSTALK) RICHARD GRENELL: No, no, this is -- no, this is what I'm trying to say to# you, if you will understand this.

TV viewership, year after year, is dramatically# going down.

Your programming has lost a ton of## viewers.

CBS, ABC, NBC every year are losing# viewers.

More people are going online.

So all I## can tell you is, is that this year, CBS said that# the Honors tied for number one in the demographic.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, the drop in viewership# does not bother you, is what I'm hearing.

(CROSSTALK) RICHARD GRENELL:.. and we were the most popular for that# night.

That was on a Wednesday night.

What you're trying to compare is# apples and oranges to a Sunday night,## which is different, which was last# year, when there were a lot more## viewers on television.

In case you don't# realize, television is a dying medium,## and every single year, if you look at the# numbers, viewers are dropping dramatically.

I have got nephews and nieces who won't even# watch television because they're just doing## things on their phone.

So the digital content is# different, and you didn't quote that, because,## digitally, President Trump, the Trump-Kennedy# Center, and the Kennedy Center Honors this year,## which is now the Trump-Kennedy# Center honors, did phenomenally well.

AMNA NAWAZ: How did they do# online?

Can you give us a number?

RICHARD GRENELL: Well, I would just refer# you to CBS.

Don't take my numbers.

CBS is## saying that it was tenfold compared to what# any other year that they compared it to.

So, digitally, it really took off.

AMNA NAWAZ: Ambassador Grenell, there# is so much to talk about here.

And,## as I mentioned, we do cover the# arts quite a bit.

So I will just## say we do welcome you back any time# as we continue our coverage of this.

But while I have you, I do want to ask you# about another part of your previous portfolio,## and that was related to Venezuela.

I# know that you did work on the Venezuela## file earlier in the year for President# Trump.

You have met with Nicolas Maduro.

Holistically, when you look at the# actions of this U.S.

government,## what do you think the goal of the policy# is?

Is it to remove Maduro from power?

RICHARD GRENELL: Well, look, I work# for President Trump, and on this issue,## I'm going to give him maximum flexibility, and# I'm not going to say anything about the policy.

AMNA NAWAZ: OK.

Ambassador Ric Grenell is currently president# of.. We thank you for joining us.

Please# do come back and join us again soon.

RICHARD GRENELL: I definitely# will.

Thanks for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: We are entering peak flu season,# and a new flu variant known as subclade K is## spreading quickly across the country, driving# a sharp rise in illness and hospitalizations.

Public health officials say this# current wave may last for weeks to come.

William Brangham has the latest.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: That's right, Amna.

Just this week, according to the CDC, f.. and jurisdictions.

That's nearly double from# the week before.

More than seven million people## nationwide have been infected, and over 3,000# have died so far this season.

Only about a quarter## of adults and just 17 percent of children# have received the flu shot as of November.

So, for more on the variant and what# to look out for this flu season,## I'm joined by Andrew Pekosz.

He's a virologist at# Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Andrew Pekosz, thank you so much for being here.

We know flu is a shape-shifter.

It's why we# have to design a new vaccine every single year.## But this particular strain, this subclade# K, is proving to be quite a challenge.## Tell us a little bit about it.

Is it# more contagious?

Is it more dangerous?

ANDREW PEKOSZ, Johns Hopkins University: Yes,# well, the first thing we know about this subclade## K virus, which is part of a larger group of# viruses we call H3N2 viruses, is, we know that it## has mutations at a couple of what I call hot spots# on the virus that are the targets of your immune## system and that can generate those protective# antibodies that minimize infection and disease.

So, this clade K virus has changed from# the viruses that circulated last year.

And,## importantly, it also has changed based# on the vaccine that was distributed## earlier this fall and is still available.

So# we think that the first thing that's going## on with this clade K virus is, more people are# susceptible because it's found a way to evade## that preexisting immunity in the population that# is induced by either infection or by vaccination.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So is that why we are hearing# reports that the current flu shot that people## can get at the drugstore is considered not# as effective against this particular strain?

ANDREW PEKOSZ: Yes, this year is# what we call a mismatch between## the vaccine strain and the circulating virus.

We know there's a few mutations that will# cause some of that vaccine-induced immunity## to not recognize the currently circulating# virus.

And what usually results from that is,## we end up seeing a drop in the vaccine# efficacy, particularly against infection.

Now, it's important to note that, even in a# year when there's a mismatch of this sort,## we oftentimes still see a signal of protection# against severe disease that's associated with## vaccination.

So just because there's a mismatch# in this clade K virus doesn't mean you shouldn't## take the vaccine.

If you haven't gotten the# vaccine already, still a good idea to take it.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: It's still --# there's still time to get some## protection out of it for the rest of this season?

ANDREW PEKOSZ: Yes, the influenza vaccine# takes about two weeks for you to generate a## strong immune response to it.

Flu seasons usually# last anywhere from four to six weeks or longer.

So, even if you're in a part of the country that's# starting to experience a rise in influenza cases,## not a bad idea to go get vaccinated because## it'll protect you against the# tail end of the flu season.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I want to ask you a# question about public health messaging.

Recently, Dr.

Mehmet Oz, who runs the# Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services,## one of the most prominent doctors in the Trump# administration, was on TV and he was asked about## flu prevention.

And he ticked off a whole slew# of things that people should do, getting more## exercise, getting more sunlight, eating well,# taking vitamin D, sneezing into your elbow.

The only thing he said about the vaccine,# the flu shot, was something like,## we know it doesn't always work# that well and it's controversial.

What do you make of that as a messaging strategy?

ANDREW PEKOSZ: Well, certainly,# the healthier that you are,## the better are you will be# at fighting off an infection.

But there's nothing really controversial about# the influenza vaccine.

We know that it works.## We know that it's safe.

It does vary from# year to year in terms of its efficacy.

But## that's primarily because we have to choose# a flu vaccine six to nine months before our## flu season in order to have enough time to# manufacture enough vaccine to distribute.

And with this clade K variant, for# instance, it emerged after the vaccine## was chosen for the Northern Hemisphere last# February.

So there really was no chance for## us to make a better matched flu vaccine# because of that -- manufacturing issues.

So, again, the vaccine works.

It could# be better, but certainly it works.

And## there's no reason why most individuals# shouldn't take the influenza vaccine.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So who is most# at risk from this flu right now?

ANDREW PEKOSZ: Well, everyone can get infected,# but, when it comes to that severe disease, we're## seeing a typical pattern, which is, individual# -- young individuals, pediatric populations,## kids under the age of 11, are one prime# area that is suffering from severe disease.

And then individuals over the age of 65 are# also suffering from more severe disease.

Now,## it's important to note that right now the data# is saying that we're seeing a lot of flu cases## and a proportionate rise in the amount of severe# cases.

So, we're not seeing any data so far that## says the clade K variant is more dangerous to# people than other H3N2 viruses that we have seen.

It's just that more people are susceptible.# And, therefore, we will be seeing more cases## and a corresponding or proportionate# rise in the number of severe cases.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Do we know why some areas# seem to be having bigger outbreaks than others?

ANDREW PEKOSZ: Yes, we think that, every year,# influenza, particularly here in the U.S.,## it appears in different states at# slightly different times of the year.## New York was unfortunate to be one of the first# states that really got hit by this clade K virus,## and so we have seen the most experience# in the U.S.

in New York in terms of how## quickly that virus can spread# and how many cases it can cause.

Over the last two weeks, we have# seen many states that have gone## from basically no cases or very few# cases to a very high number of cases.## And we will probably see the rest of the country# see the same thing over the next two weeks## or so.

So it's not uncommon to see influenza# appear in different states at different times.

Sometimes, that's just bad luck.

That's# where the virus lands first and starts## spreading first.

And then it moves from# that area into other parts of the country.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is Andrew Pekosz## of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg# School of Public Health.

Thank you so much for being here.

ANDREW PEKOSZ: My pleasure.

AMNA NAWAZ: 2026 is expected to be an# eventful year, both at home and abroad.

For more on what's ahead and to# look at this past week of news,## we turn now to the analysis of# Brooks and Capehart.

That is New## York Times columnist David Brooks# and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW.

Great to see you both.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Happy new year.

AMNA NAWAZ: Happy new year.

DAVID BROOKS: .. AMNA NAWAZ: All right, let's# kick this of.. the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine.

We# have seen a lot of headlines this wee.. and I need to start there because that war# is about to mark four years in February.

We saw the new year begin with a massive# Russian drone barrage in Ukraine,## hundreds of strikes in that country.

We# saw President Zelenskyy and President## Trump meet at Mar-a-Lago last weekend,# say there's progress on a peace plan.

This week, we saw special envoy Steve# Witkoff continue to hold calls with## Zelenskyy and other European officials.# And in his own New Year's address,## Zelenskyy said that the peace# plan is 90 percent ready.

So, David, when you take all# of this and you look ahead,## do you see progress being made?

Is# 2026 the year that the war ends?

DAVID BROOKS: Possibly, but# I'm -- color me skeptical.

I mean, this is the year we will find out# whether the international community can## respond with -- effectively when one nation# tries to conquer another.

And, unfortunately,## what the Trump administration has done recently# has been pressuring Zelenskyy to make concessions,## slow-walking the weapons we have been providing# for them, putting him in a tough position.

He makes some concessions.

And then,# in theory, we give him, in turn,## security guarantees.

And it's supposed# to be like Article 5 of the NATO treaty,## security guarantees of some# number of years, 15 or 20 or 30.

AMNA NAWAZ: Article 5, an attack# on one is an attack on all.

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, attack on -- if the -- if Putin# attacks Ukraine, then we're at .. AMNA NAWAZ: Right.

DAVID BROOKS: Th.. troops or airports -- or airplanes, well, I'd# ask you to talk to people who've done business## with Donald Trump before, because he will# break that.

That is a purposeless guarantee.

And Putin didn't like the way NATO was stretching# eastward anyway.

Why would he accept Ukraine## to have an effective NATO guarantee?

He will# not accept this.

One of the things that it's## reminding people of is, at the end of the Clinton# term, the second Clinton term, he really wanted## to have a peace with Israel and Palestine,# which was absolutely the right thing to do.

But Yasser Arafat was never interested# because he didn't think Israel was a## country.

Vladimir Putin does not think Ukraine# is a country.

And so you can't argue people## into a peace they do not want to have.

So I'm# extremely dubious that this is going to work.

AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan, are you any more# optimistic about what's ahead in this year?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: No, especially picking# up on something David just talked about,## that you said at the very beginning# about the international community## being able to help Ukraine, or I can't# remember exactly what you thought.

But I immediately wrote down, how does the# international community, and particularly the## Europeans, how do they respond to all of this# and come to Ukraine's aid without an effective## partner in the United States, without an effective# partner in the president of the United States?

To David's point, Donald Trump, President Trump,# is not the most reliable negotiator.

If he tells## you at 9:00 that this is the deal, by 9:15, it# could be something completely different.

And so,## in the end, I will be keeping my eye on# whether the Europeans can stand on their own,## and on their own in a way that can effectively# help Ukraine without any kind of solid## commitments or assistance from the United States.

AMNA NAWAZ: When you step back and# look at this war for just a moment,## because there's been a lot of questions about# to whom President Trump has been listening,## right -- he changes his tack based on# the last phone call he had, it appears,## sometimes, and also the amount of influence that# President Putin clearly has over the process.

Is there credit to be given to# the White House here, David,## at least for keeping talks going, for keeping# some kind of process on some sort of rails?

Is## that something they should be given credit for?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I think they# really want peace.

I think Trump## genuinely wants peace.

And I think he's# obtuse about who Vladimir Putin is.

I think, as we saw in the Oval# Office months and months ago,## he's morally uninvolved in the# stakes of this contest.

Like,## Zelenskyy is a democratically elected leader# whose country was invaded.

And he just doesn't## seem like there's one side that's kind# of on the side of right in this war.

But I do think they have tried hard.

I do think# all the envoys, Jared Kushner, all these guys,## Witkoff, all these people who've been# there are probably sincerely motivated.## I just don't think you can have# peace with Vladimir Putin.

And so,## to me, it's a characterological# misdiagnosis of who this person is.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: I just wonder if President# Trump really wants peace or surrender,## or is there a distinction?

Does he# see a distinction between the two?

AMNA NAWAZ: In terms of what# Ukraine is willing to concede to?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Right, or -- no, what he wants.

I mean, David just said, they're really# pushing hard for peace.

And, sure,## but at what cost?

Does it require# -- would peace require surrender## on Ukraine's part of territory already# taken by Putin, taken by the Russians... AMNA NAWAZ: Yes.

JONATHAN CAPEHAR.. Ukraine would have to take in# order for there to be peace?

AMNA NAWAZ: They say the plan's 90 percent# there.

We will see in the weeks and months ahead.

I do want to turn to some of the political# pressures President Trump has been managing## here at home as well, because he did issue# his first two vetoes of his second term this## week.

Both are bills, we should point out,# that passed Congress unanimously.

One was## funding a clean water pipeline in Colorado,# the other protected tribal land in Florida.

And you have probably seen# there have been some lawmakers,## including Republican Colorado# Congresswoman Lauren Boebert,## who suggested that the vetoes could have been# some kind of political retaliation.

She was one## of the only Republicans to sign a petition that# forced a vote on releasing the Epstein files.

And a very strong Trump ally, a former elections# clerk official in Colorado, is still in prison## in her state, in Colorado, convicted of state# crime, so his federal pardon does not apply.

Jonathan, I will come to you first on# this.

Do you believe the president is## vetoing unrelated bills for political retribution?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Gee.

Yes.

(LAUGHTER) JONATHAN CAPEHART: Yes, I do.

From the reporting I saw, this -- the# bill that he vetoed, that water project,## $555,000, so not even a drop in the bucket of# federal spending.

But, also, let's not forget## that Congresswoman Boebert was that one member# of Congress back in November who was called to## the White House Situation Room and talked to# about her signature on that discharge petition.

She left and said, no, I'm still -- I'm not# removing my name, I'm still doing this.

So... AMNA NAWAZ: That was the petition# to release the Epstein files.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: To release -- yes, I'm# sorry.

Yes, to release the.. AMNA NAWAZ: Yes.

Yes.

JONATHAN CAPEHAR.. could I not view that as retaliation?

How# could she not view that as retaliation,## even though she asked the question rhetorically?

AMNA NAWAZ: David, what do you make of this?

DAVID BROOKS: One thing I like about# Donald Tru.. (LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: It's not.. In the other case, the Florida case,# it was extending rights to a tribe of## Native Americans whose name I will# now will not try to pronounce.

But## he said it out loud.

He said, this group of# people has opposed my immigration policies.

AMNA NAWAZ: Yes.

DAVID BROOKS: An.. And so it's not only retribution,# though.

It's the cash register.## How do you get people to give you money so you can# have Lee Greenwood perform at the Kennedy Center,## for example?

It's you give them, people# who give what you -- who do what you want,## you give them reward.

People who don't# do what you want, you punish them.

So you have to have the cards# and leverage.

So it's not only## retribution.

It's about leverage.

It's# about doing things not only in this regard,## but in all sorts of regards, that will# punish people who oppose Trump policies.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, what about Congress' role?# These were unanimous bills in Congress.## Do you see Republicans moving# to override those vetoes, David?

DAVID BROOKS: Again, I have been waiting.

I# mean, we have seen some profiles in courage## microscopically around the Republican# Party, but not so much in Washington.

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: There have been a few cases.

AMNA NAWAZ: Yes.

DAVID BROOKS: An.. are Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren# Boebert.

These are the hardcore.

Like,## they are out there doing what they want# to do.

And God bless them, I guess.

But I don't see this getting... AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Congress has .. Trump took the oath of office.

So I don't see# Congress doing anything to roll this back.

And,## if they do, great, I would love for them to prove# me wrong, Speaker Johnson, if you're watching.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, look, it's our first# time getting to sit down and chat in## 2026, which promises to be a very, very busy year.

I'm going to ask a very dangerous# question, which is whether either## of you care to look ahead and make a bit# of a prediction in terms of what's ahead## in terms of the big stories you think# we will be paying most attention to or## one we don't even see coming around the# corner just yet.

Who wants to go first?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Jump ball.

Go, David.

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: No, you go first.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Oh,.. Look, I am a perennial optimist.

We are# rolling into a midterm election year where## my optimism demands that I see a future where# Democrats retake the House, suddenly turn the## engine of the Article I powers of the House# back on with oversight and accountability,## that -- finally doing things to# not just rein in this president,## but to also exercise their powers# as a co-equal branch of government.

That is what I'm looking forward to# in this year.

And also I'm looking## forward to the American people making their# voices heard at the ballot box in November,## but throughout the weeks and months ahead# as things happen in their communities and## in their states that they like or don't like# and take to the streets and make sure that## people are watching and people know that they# either like or don't like what's happening.

AMNA NAWAZ: David?

DAVID BROOKS: Ye.. out what the A.I.

effect does on the labor# markets.

It'll be the ye.. why China is beating the world in industry# after industry and what are the effects of that.

I agree with Jonathan, the Democrats will# agree to take the House.

But I would say the## thing I'm most interested in and most excited# about is that 2025 was a pretty bad year for## those of us who sit around talking about# politics, but it was OK for the economy.## The last quarter three growth rate was 4.3# percent, but socially it was a very good year.

So we saw suicide deaths down.

We saw violent# crimes down.

We see opioid addiction down.

We see## obesity down.

We see social isolation# down, social media use down.

So a lot## of the damage that happened to the fabric# of American society over the last 10 years,## people are beginning to respond, and# they're beginning to figure stuff out.

So longevity was going down.

Now longevity is# going back up again.

And so I think America## is socially healing.

And those are# the things you can extrapolate from,## because those trends are not just blips.

Those# trends, I think, are longstanding.

And we could## see 2026 as a year of more political# depression.

Don't get too cheered up.

(LAUGHTER) JONATHAN CAPEHART: No, I was going to say.

DAVID BROOKS: Bu.. AMNA NAWAZ: Here's to a little# more social healing for us all.

David Brooks, Jonathan# Capehart, thank you to you both.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Thanks, Amna.

DAVID BROOKS: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## And be sure to watch "Washington Week# With The Atlantic" tonight right here## on PBS.

Moderator Jeffrey Goldberg# and Thomas Friedman of The New York## Times discuss why 2026 could be a# dangerous year on the world stage.

And watch "PBS News Weekend" tomorrow for a look## at San Francisco's lawsuit# over ultra-processed foods.

And that is the "News Hour"# for tonight.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour" team, thank# you for joining us, and have a great weekend.