PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

PLEASE STAND BY.

GEOFF: I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

ON THE NEXT NEWS HOUR -- THE LATEST ON THE WAR WITH IRAN AS ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE.

THAT’S TUESDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR.

GEOFF: I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR -- SEATTLE REELS FROM A SHOOTING AT A FOOD FESTIVAL NEAR THE CITY’S SPACE NEEDLE.

THAT’S AT 7:00, AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

GEOFF: GOOD EVENING.

I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

AMNA NAWAZ IS AWAY.

ON THE NEWS HOUR TONIGHT -- SEATTLE POLICE SEARCH FOR ANOTHER SUSPECT AFTER A DEADLY SHOOTING AT A CROWDED FESTIVAL BENEATH THE SPACE NEEDLE.

THE WEEKEND PASSES WITH NO NEW U.S.

ATTACKS ON IRAN.

THAT’S AS EXPERTS WORRY ABOUT AMERICA’S SHRINKING WEAPONS SUPPLY.

AND, MASSIVE YOUTH-LED PROTESTS LEAD TO THE RESIGNATION OF INDIA’S EDUCATION MINISTER, EXPOSING CRACKS IN THE NATION’S GOVERNMENT.

>> HE FEARS LOSING POWER.

THEY KNOW IF THIS PROTEST GOES ON FOR A LONG TIME, THE GOVERNMENT CAN FALL.

♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE "PBS NEWS HOUR" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS AND FRIENDS OF THE "NEWS HOUR" INCLUDING LEONARD AND NORMAN KLORFINE AND THE KOVLER FOUNDATION.

AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

♪ >> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

GEOFF: WELCOME TO THE NEWS HOUR.

SEATTLE POLICE ARE HUNTING FOR A SUSPECT TONIGHT AFTER GUNFIRE ERUPTED AT A FOOD FESTIVAL, YESTERDAY KILLING AT LEAST THREE , PEOPLE, AND WOUNDING AT LEAST FOUR OTHERS.

ONE SUSPECT IS ALREADY IN CUSTODY.

A THIRD SHOOTER IS BELIEVED TO HAVE DIED AT THE SCENE.

TONIGHT, A CITY IS GRIEVING AND ON EDGE.

THE SCENE OF ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING IN AMERICA.

THIS TIME, IN THE SHADOW OF SEATTLE’S ICONIC SPACE NEEDLE.

>> OH MY GOD.

GOTTA GET THE HECK OUTTA HERE.

GEOFF: ON SUNDAY, JUST AFTER 6:00 P.M.

LOCAL TIME, GUNFIRE RANG OUT AT THE POPULAR "BITE OF SEATTLE" FOOD FESTIVAL - A GATHERING THAT DRAWS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR, INCLUDING MANY FAMILIES.

>> WE SUDDENLY HEARD SOME FIRECRACKERS, WHAT I THOUGHT WERE FIRECRACKERS AND PEOPLE STARTED YELLING SHOOTER, SHOOTER AND THERE WAS LIKE A STAMPEDE OF PEOPLE JUST RUNNING.

>> GET DOWN, GET DOWN, GET DOWN!

GEOFF: FOOD VENDORS IN THEIR TENTS, FORCED TO DUCK AND HIDE, AS CROWDS HURRIED TO SAFETY.

A MASSIVE POLICE PRESENCE DESCENDED ON THE SCENE AT SEATTLE CENTER, BACKED BY ARMORED SWAT VEHICLES.

>> PEOPLE WERE FALLING OVER STROLLERS, HIDING.

EVERYBODY WAS FEARING FOR THEIR LIFE.

NEXT I DIDN’T KNOW THE SITUATION.

I RAN OVER THERE AS FAST AS I CAN WITH MY CAMERA, AND THAT’S WHEN I SAW PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

GEOFF: FIRST RESPONDERS TENDED TO MULTIPLE VICTIMS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE, AS INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE TWO SUSPECTS WERE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER.

IN ADDITION TO THE DEAD, FOUR OTHERS WERE WOUNDED, INCLUDING A TWO-YEAR-OLD.

THEY WERE TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL, AND ALL HAVE SINCE BEEN RELEASED, EXCEPT THE TODDLER, WHO IS LISTED IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION.

ONE SUSPECT - A 15-YEAR-OLD - SURRENDERED AT THE SCENE, BUT THE SEARCH IS ON FOR ANOTHER WHO OFFICIALS SAY MAY HAVE FLED.

COURT DOCUMENTS REVIEWED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAY A THIRD DIED IN THE GUN FIGHT.

OFFICERS COMBED THE SITE, SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE, FINDING TWO GUNS.

DESPITE THE ONGOING SEARCH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LOCAL OFFICIALS STRESSED THERE IS NO ONGOING DANGER TO THE PUBLIC.

>> OUR OFFICERS, AS WELL AS MEMBERS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, MEDIC TEAM, RAN TOWARD GUNFIRE IN AN ATTEMPT TO RENDER LIFE-SAVING AID, AND TO DISARM SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTIVELY FIRING A WEAPON INTO A CROWD.

GEOFF: BUT LAST NIGHT, THE CITY’S MAYOR SAID THE SHOOTING REFLECTS A DEEPER PROBLEM -- >> WE HAVE FAR TOO MUCH GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS CITY AND IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE’RE COMING OFF A WEEK IN SEATTLE, WHERE WE’VE HAD THREE MAJOR INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN JUST A FEW DAYS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AS A CITY AND AS A COUNTRY TO MAKE THIS BETTER.

GEOFF: SHIFTING OUR FOCUS OVERSEAS, TODAY FIREFIGHTERS IN SOUTHWEST FRANCE ARE BATTLING A WILDFIRE THAT’S BURNED AN AREA FOUR-TIMES THE SIZE OF PARIS, AND FORCED MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE TO FLEE.

THE COUNTRY’S INTERIOR MINISTER SAID TODAY THE FIRE THAT’S BURNING NEAR THE CITY OF BORDEAUX IS NO LONGER GROWING, BUT REMAINS DANGEROUS.

MORE THAN 100 HOMES IN THIS SMALL COASTAL TOWN WERE BURNED.

MEANTIME, SPAIN CONTINUES TO BATTLE ITS WORST WILDFIRES IN RECENT HISTORY -- INCLUDING ONE THAT’S BURNED AN AREA FIVE-TIMES THE SIZE OF BARCELONA.

SPAIN’S PRIME MINISTER SAYS A CLIMATE EMERGENCY HAS CREATED THE CONDITIONS FOR THE FIRES.

>> WHAT WE ARE LIVING IS NOT A SUCCESSION OF ISOLATED EVENTS.

THIS IS NO LONGER AN EXCEPTION.

IT IS THE NEW REALITY.

SUMMERS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, DESTRUCTIVE AND, THEREFORE, DEADLY.

GEOFF: AROUND A DOZEN COUNTRIES HAVE SENT PLANES, HELICOPTERS AND OTHER HELP TO SPAIN AND FRANCE SO FAR.

FIREFIGHTERS IN BOTH COUNTRIES ARE RACING TO COMBAT THE BLAZE AHEAD OF A HEATWAVE THAT’S EXPECTED IN THE REGION LATER THIS WEEK.

MEANTIME -- NEARLY 100 MILLION AMERICANS ARE UNDER ACTIVE HEAT ALERTS AS CLIMBING TEMPERATURES AND SEVERE HUMIDITY GRIP MUCH OF THE COUNTRY FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT DAY.

EXTREME HEAT WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT TODAY -- FROM CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA IN THE WEST, TO ILLINOIS AND KANSAS IN THE MIDWEST, AND MISSISSIPPI IN THE SOUTH.

THE HEAT INDEX IN PARTS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTHWESTERN U.S.

IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED 105-DEGREES.

THE EXTREME CONDITIONS ARE THE RESULT OF THE LATEST HEAT DOME THAT TRAPS HOT AIR, CAUSING MORE EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

AND IN WISCONSIN, A TORNADO CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TODAY, LEAVING THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER.

>> THIS IS THE MAIN STREET IN MENASHA.

GEOFF: VIDEO SHOWS THE WRECKAGE LEFT BEHIND, WITH DAMAGED HOMES AND CARS FLIPPED OVER.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMED THE TORNADO HIT WINNEBAGO COUNTY, ABOUT 90 MILES NORTHWEST OF MILWAUKEE, AND DESCRIBED IT AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

WEATHER OFFICIALS ARE WARNING THAT DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL COULD CONTINUE AS STORMS MOVE ACROSS THE REGION.

TRAFFIC BEGAN FLOWING OVER A NEW INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CONNECTING THE U.S.

AND CANADA TODAY, EVEN AS TRADE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO TRADING PARTNERS REMAIN HIGH.

FOOTAGE OF THE FIRST TRUCK CROSSING THE MILE-AND-A-HALF-LONG SPAN WAS POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE GORDIE HOWE BRIDGE WAS NAMED AFTER THE CANADIAN HOCKEY ICON, AND IS MEANT TO SERVE AS A VITAL ROUTE FOR TRADE AND TOURISM.

LAST WEEK PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO PLACE 50% TARIFFS ON A RANGE OF CANADIAN GOODS.

TODAY HE WAS JUST SOUTH OF THE CANADIAN BORDER IN MICHIGAN MAKING HIS ECONOMIC CASE.

PRES.

TRUMP: MICHIGAN FINALLY HAS A PRESIDENT WHO STANDS UP FOR MICHIGAN AUTOWORKERS.

GEOFF: MR.

TRUMP TOLD A CROWD AT A GM FACILITY THAT HIS POLICIES ARE GOOD FOR THEIR BUSINESS.

MICHIGAN’S ECONOMY -- AND ESPECIALLY THE AUTO INDUSTRY -- RELIES HEAVILY ON CANADA.

IN GERMANY CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH , MERZ IS CALLING FOR TOUGHER SECURITY LAWS, AFTER IT EMERGED THAT THE SUSPECT FROM THIS WEEKEND’S BERLIN PRIDE ATTACK HAD TRIED TO JOIN ISIS.

FLOWERS AND CANDLES MARK THE SCENE WHERE ONE WOMAN WAS KILLED AND MORE THAN TWO-DOZEN OTHERS WERE INJURED ON SATURDAY WHEN THE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY DROVE A VAN INTO A CROWD AND STARTED ATTACKING PEOPLE WITH A MACHETE.

THE 21-YEAR-OLD GERMAN CITIZEN WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON SUNDAY, FOLLOWING A 24-HOUR SEARCH.

HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SENTENCED TO PRISON, AND HAD ONLY BEEN RELEASED TWO MONTHS AGO.

MERZ CALLED HIS ACTIONS AN ATTACK ON OUR FREE SOCIETY.

GEORGIA’S OKEFENOKEE SWAMP IS THE NEWEST U.S.

LOCATION ADDED TO THE LIST OF UNESCO-PROTECTED WORLD HERITAGE SITES.

THE OKEFENOKEE IS THE LARGEST BLACK WATER SWAMP IN NORTH AMERICA, AND THE LARGEST FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM -- MAKING IT AN IDEAL SANCTUARY FOR WILDLIFE.

ALSO ADDED TO THE LIST -- >> ON BEACHES CALLED UTAH AND OMAHA AND SWORD AND GOLD AND JUNO, THEY COME ASHORE.

GEOFF: THE FAMOUS D-DAY LANDING BEACHES IN NORTHERN FRANCE.

THEY WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CENTRAL ROLE IN LIBERATING WESTERN EUROPE FROM NAZI OCCUPATION.

AND MOUNT OLYMPUS IN GREECE WAS ALSO SELECTED.

IT’S THE COUNTRY’S HIGHEST PEAK AND THE MYTHICAL HOME OF THE 12 OLYMPIAN GODS.

IN BUSINESS NEWS THE CEO OF , CRACKER BARREL IS STEPPING DOWN, NEARLY A YEAR AFTER A REBRANDING EFFORT SPARKED A NATIONWIDE BACKLASH.

JULIE MASINO WAS BEHIND THE MOVE TO REPLACE THE CHAIN’S LONG-TIME LOGO FEATURING AN OLDER MAN IN OVERALLS, WITH A MORE STREAMLINED IMAGE.

FANS OF THE RESTAURANT CHAIN WERE OUTRAGED.

EVEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WEIGHED IN.

THE COMPANY QUICKLY REVERSED COURSE AND RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL LOGO.

SHARES OF CRACKER BARREL FELL MORE THAN 2% TODAY.

ACROSS THE REST OF WALL STREET STOCKS ENDED MIXED.

THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED AROUND 260 POINTS.

THE NASDAQ FELL AROUND 40 POINTS.

THE S&P 500 ENDED ROUGHLY FLAT TO START THE WEEK.

STILL TO COME ON THE NEWS HOUR, THE ONGOING CYCLOSPORIASIS OUTBREAK AND RISING NUMBER OF MEASLES CASES RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH.

TAMARA KEITH AND AMY WALTER BREAK DOWN THE LATEST POLITICAL HEADLINES.

AND A NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES WHY MOTHERS IN THE U.S.

LACK THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOUND IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

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

GEOFF: THE HIGH INTENSITY EXCHANGE OF FIRE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN HAS PAUSED OVER THE WEEKEND AND TODAY PRESIDENT TRUMP PLAYED UP THE PROSPECTS FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

NICK SCHIFRIN REPORTS ON THE STATE OF THE WAR.

REPORTER: TODAY ON THE WATERS WHERE 1/5 OF THE WORLD’S OIL AND NATURAL GAS USED TO FLOW, SHIPS ARE STUCK AND THERE IS AN EERIE QUIET.

A VERY DIFFERENT SOUND IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF NIGHTLY U.S.

FIRE AND IRANIAN MISSILES AND DRONES LAUNCHED AT U.S.

GULF ALLIES.

TODAY PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THE RECENT SOUND OF SILENCE WAS GIVING DIPLOMACY A CHANCE.

PRES.

TRUMP: WE ARE HAVING GOOD TALKS SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN AND IF IT DOES, GOOD.

IF IT DOESN’T, WE GO BACK TO WHAT WE WERE DOING TWO DAYS AGO.

REPORTER: AN IRANIAN SPOKESPERSON SAID THERE WERE NEURAL -- THERE WERE NO DIRECT TALKS.

>> MEDIATORS MAY CONVEY MESSAGES TO THE AMERICAN SIDE FROM US REGARDING CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION BUT AT PRESENT WE HAVE NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE AMERICAN SIDE.

REPORTER: THE U.S.

PAUSES NOT ONLY ABOUT DIPLOMACY, IT IS ABOUT DIPLOMACY.

OFFICIALS TELL ME LATE LAST WEEK THE MILITARY PRESENTED THE PRESIDENT WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS, THE MILITARY ARGUED IF THE PRESIDENT DECIDED TO ESCALATE THAT WOULD ERODE IRAN’S CAPABILITY TO ATTACK SHIPS AND U.S.

BASES AND THEREFORE SAVE PRECIOUS AMERICAN AIR DEFENSE INTERCEPTORS BUT THE U.S.

GULF ALLIES WERE WARNING THE PRESIDENT AGAINST ESCALATION FEARING IRANIAN ATTACKS ON THEIR CAPITALS, DESALINIZATION PLANTS AND COMMERCIAL CENTERS THE U.S.

COULD NOT PREVENT.

THE MILITARY TOLD THE PRESIDENT IF INSTEAD THE STRIKES WERE CONTINUED, THE SAME LEVEL THEY HAD BEEN OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, IRAN WOULD CONTINUE MISSILE AND DRONE ATTACKS AND THAT COULD CHALLENGE THE U.S.

ABILITY TO DEFEND ITS OWN BASES FROM IRANIAN ATTACKS.

THE PRESIDENT OPTED TO PAUSE ENTIRELY.

AND TODAY HE DENIED THE PAUSE WAS BECAUSE OF WEAPONS SHORTAGES.

PRES.

TRUMP: WE ARE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE BUT FOR SOME OF THE MORE SOPHISTICATED STUFF, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE.

REPORTER: WAR HAS ITS OWN MOMENTUM AND THIS ONE IS THREATENING TO ESCALATE.

TODAY THE IRAN-BACKED WHO THESE SHARED VIDEO -- HOUTHIS SHARED AN ATTACK ON DRONES, ON SAUDI FACILITIES ON OPPOSITE COASTS SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY 900 MILES.

EARLIER THIS MONTH THE SAUDIS BOMBED A HOUTHI CONTROLLED AREA.

TODAY HOUTHIS THREATENED THE WAR WOULD WIDEN.

>> WE WILL NOT HESITATE TO EXPAND OUR MILITARY MOVEMENTS AND ESCALATOR ACTIONS IN THE COMING HOURS AND DAYS IN LINE WITH OUR POLICY OF BLOCKADE FOR BLOCKADE AND ESCALATION FOR ESCALATION.

REPORTER: SAUDI ARABIA LEADING THE MILITARY RESPONSE OF THE HOUTHI WITH U.S.

ENCOURAGEMENT.

PRES.

TRUMP: WE ARE NOT INVOLVED WITH THAT BUT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GET IT.

REPORTER: THE U.S.

MILITARY IS STILL INVOLVED IN AN ONGOING IRANIAN PORT BLOCKADE, MILITARY SAID IT BOARDED TWO SHIPS AND REDIRECTED A DOZEN AFTER THEY DID NOT COMPLY DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS.

IN A STATEMENT SENT TO THE "NEWS HOUR," A WHITE HOUSE CAN INDICATION’S DIRECTOR SAID QUOTE THE U.S.

MILITARY HAS ENOUGH WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS TO SERVE ALL OF THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’S GOALS.

IT WOULD BE WISE FOR IRAN TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL, OTHERWISE THEY KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE LOOK NOW AT ONE CHALLENGE THE U.S.

CONFRONTS IN THE WAR WITH IRAN AS WELL AS OTHER CONFLICTS THE LAST FEW YEARS, SHORTFALL IN AIR DEFENSE.

FOR THAT WE TURN TO A FORMER SENIOR OFFICIAL IN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICE OF MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL BASE POLICY WHO ALSO WORKED FOR DEFENSE CONTRACTORS AND IS A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

GEOFF: PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY DENIED SHORTAGES HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PAUSE BUT DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE U.S.

WANTED MORE QUOTE SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS, PRESUMABLY A REFERENCE TO THE PATRIOT AIR DEFENSE.

THE U.S.

HAS USED PATRIOTS FOR YEARS IN MANY PLACES BUT IS THERE A SHORTAGE TODAY AND WHY?

>> WE HAVE DONE ANALYSIS IN IRAN AND OTHER AREAS.

THERE HAS BEEN, WE USED A LOT OF NEW MISSIONS AS YOU HAVE SEEN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, PARTICULARLY INTERCEPTORS BY -- LIKE PATRIOTS AND MISSILE DEFENSE BUT WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE CURRENT CONTINGENCY.

THE RISK IS IN, A SITUATION WHERE IT HAPPENED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.

NICK: MEANING WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE IRAN WAR BUT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED ELSEWHERE THAT IS WHERE THE U.S.

WOULD BE SHORT.

WHY CAN’T AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS BE MADE LIKE TRUCKS WHERE THEY COME OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE IN HIGH BATCHES QUICKLY?

JERRY: GREAT QUESTION.

THE PATRIOT AMMUNITIONS USED TODAY WERE PRINCIPALLY DESIGNED FOR PERFORMANCE, FOR HAVING DRAMATIC EFFECTS ON TARGETS AND THEY ARE TREMENDOUS, EXQUISITE WEAPONS.

HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT BUILT AND DESIGNED LIKE FORD TRUCKS, THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY HANDMADE IN A LOT OF WAYS AND IT TAKES 24 MONTHS TO CREATE FROM CONTRACT AWARD TO DELIVERY TO CREATE A PATRIOT MISSILE.

LIKEWISE, HAWKS TAKE ABOUT THREE YEARS.

YOU CAN’T CRANK THEM OUT IN A QUICK MANNER.

NICK: PERHAPS THIS IS A STUPID QUESTION BUT IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE THEM MORE LIKE FORD TRUCKS THAN FABERGE EGGS?

JERRY: THAT IS WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO DO, TO BUILD LOWER-COST INTERCEPTORS THEY CAN BUILD QUICKLY AND A WHOLE NEW CLASS OF MUNITIONS.

NICK: BUT IT IS STILL THE CHALLENGE THAT THE DEPARTMENT FACES THAT THE U.S.

MILITARY FACES THAT SIMPLY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BUILD MORE QUICKLY FOR THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TODAY?

JERRY: IT IS BUT YOU HAVE TO BUILD MORE PATRIOTS IN DIFFERENT PLACES, OTHER FACILITIES, OTHER COUNTRIES SO YOU CAN GET THERE, IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO RAMP UP.

LIKEWISE WITH THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING IS BUILDING THE BREADTH OF MUNITIONS, LOWER-COST OPTIONS TO DELIVER SOONER.

NICK: WE HAVE HEARD EFFORTS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COMPANIES LIKE LOCKHEED OF A CHEAPER VERSION OF THE FABERGE EGG STYLE PATRIOT AIR DEFENSE MISSILE.

HOW MUCH IMPROVEMENT HAS THERE BEEN BETWEEN THE PENTAGON AND INDUSTRY TO MAKE MORE FASTER?

JERRY: I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT SINCE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARRIVED IS THE SCALE.

THEY HAVE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND MONEY THROUGH PRODUCTION, THE AGREEMENTS TO BUILD MORE PATRIOTS IN THESE EXQUISITE MISSIONS TO BUILD THE FAMILY OF AFFORDABLE MASS MUNITIONS.

SIMPLER DESIGNED MUNITIONS THAT ARE LESS EXPENSIVE BUT HAVE ABOUT 85%, 95% OF THE CAPABILITIES.

THIS WAS EXPECTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 OR 28.

NICK: WHEN I TALKED INDUSTRY THEY COMPLAIN BUDGETS ARE NOT GUARANTEED FOR LONG ENOUGH.

IS THAT A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT THAT THE PENTAGON CAN’T GUARANTEE A STEADY ORDER STREAM FROM INDUSTRY OR IS INDUSTRY BEING GREEDY?

JERRY: BOTH ARE CORRECT.

THE DEMAND SIGNAL FOR A COMPANY IS A CONTRACT BUT THE PENTAGON CAN ONLY OBLIGATE THE MONEY IT HAS.

CONGRESS HAS TO APPROPRIATE MONEY.

THESE LONGER-TERM DEALS THE PENTAGON IS SIGNING WITH COMPANIES ARE SEVEN YEARS BUT THEY ARE NOT GUARANTEED.

THEY ARE NOT CONTRACTS.

THEY ARE BEST EFFORT AGREEMENTS SO THEY ARE ABOUT AS GOOD AS THE GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE THE DEMAND SIGNAL FOR COMPANIES AND COMPANIES ARE MAKING THE BEST OF THIS, RTX ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK ALMOST $700 MILLION IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THIS QUARTER ALONE.

A 26% INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

NICK: HOW WOULD IT IMPROVE THINGS OF CONGRESS WERE ABLE TO PASS BUDGETS SO WE HAD LESS FLUCTUATION AND LONGER-TERM EXPECTATIONS?

JERRY: A COUPLE THINGS.

CONGRESS CAN GRANT MULTIYEAR APPROPRIATIONS WHICH THEY HAVE DONE ON A NUMBER OF UNITS AND, -- MUNITIONS, THAT ALLOWS FOR LONGER TO YOUR -- TWO Y CONTRACTSEAR -- TWO YEAR CONTRACTS.

PASSING BUDGETS ON TIME IS CRITICAL.

IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

NICK: THANK YOU.

♪ GEOFF: ON CAPITOL HILL IT IS A SPLIT SCREEN.

THE HOUSE IS OUT FOR SUMMER RECESS BUT THE SENATE IS VERY , MUCH IN SESSION, WORKING THROUGH A PACKED AND COMPLICATED AGENDA.

THAT INCLUDES A FIRST VOTE, TONIGHT, ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PICK AS THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

LISA DESJARDINS IS HERE WITH MORE TO UNTANGLE IT ALL.

LISA, LET’S START WITH THE ACTION TONIGHT, THIS KEY VOTE ON TRUMP’S VOTE FORDNI.

LISA: IT IS ABOUT THE POSITION CREATED AFTER 9/11 TO COORDINATE INTELLIGENT SO IT IS A BIG DEAL THE PAST FOUR MONTHS THIS AGENCY HAS BEEN RUN BY ACTING AND CONTROVERSIAL SELECTION WHO HAS FOCUSED ON SHRINKING THE AGENCY WOULD LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PERMANENT NOMINEE, JAY CLAYTON, HE IS RIGHT NOW THE U.S.

ATTORNEY FOR MANHATTAN AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SENATE FLOOR YOU CAN SEE THE VOTE UNDERWAY.

IT IS SEEN AS AN EXPERIENCED NOMINEE AND HAS JUST GOTTEN ENOUGH VOTES TO ADVANCE.

WE EXPECT’S FINAL CONFIRMATION TOMORROW BUT UNTIL THEN BILL POSEY IS THE ACTING DNI.

HE IS CONTROVERSIAL FOR A FEW REASONS BUT ONE, HE CONTINUES TO MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS EVEN NOW.

LAST NIGHT HE POSTED ON X, WE FINISHED A FOURTH ROUND OF THOUGHTFUL, MEASURED LAYOFFS, THE AGENCY DID NOT RESPOND TO MY REQUEST FOR EXACT NUMBERS BUT SOURCES TELL ME PULTE HAS LAID OFF 200 OR MORE PEOPLE IN THE FEW WEEKS HE HAS BEEN ACTING DIRECTOR.

IF JAY CLAYTON IS CONFIRMED TOMORROW THIS WILL BE PULTE’S LAST FULL DAY ON THE JOB.

GEOFF: PRESIDENT TRUMP PUBLICLY CRITICIZING REPUBLICAN LEADER JOHN THUNE.

THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY NEW THAT THE FACT THAT THUNE IS PUSHING BACK IS UNUSUAL.

LISA: IT IS RARE EXCEPT FOR THE TRUMP FACTOR.

THIS TENSION IS IN PART BECAUSE THUNE IS A DEFENDER OF THE SENATE BUT HE CAN COUNT, HE KNOWS THERE ARE NOT 60 VOTES FOR MUCH OF THE TRUMP AGENDA SO LET’S DIAL BACK TO WHAT WE SAW, TRUMP HAD IMPORTANT JOCKEYING THIS MORNING, HE WROTE ON TRUTH SOCIAL I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW LUCKY THE DEMOCRATS GOT WITH SENATE LEADERSHIP, THAT IS A JOB BUT THUNE HAS RESPONDED CONSISTENTLY TO ME AND OTHERS INCENTIVE PRESIDENT TRUMP ONCE THE VOTE, HE NEEDS TO WORK THE PHONES AND TRY TO GET THE VOTES WHICH SOUNDS UNUSUAL.

IT IS INTERESTING LATE TODAY TRUMP HAD A DIFFERENT TUNE ON AIR FORCE ONE WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THUNE.

PRES.

TRUMP: IT IS FINE, ITS FINE.

HE HAS GOT TO GET HIS JOB DONE.

I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH JOHN THUNE.

LISA: GOOD RELATIONSHIP, HAS GOT TO GET HIS JOB DONE.

TRUMP KNOWS HE CAN’T GET THE 60 VOTES HIMSELF BECAUSE HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THOSE SENATORS CAREERS ENDING BECAUSE HE ATTACKED THEM.

GEOFF: WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE?

WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS TRAINED TO DO?

LISA: IT CAN LOOK LIKE A BLURRY PICTURE.

THE SENATE HAS A STACKED AGENDA, NOT MUCH TIME.

THEY ARE HERE JUST THIS WEEKEND NEXT.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS ON THE TO DO LIST AND SIMPLIFY THINGS.

THERE ARE SIX ITEMS ON REPUBLICANS TO DO LIST, FUND GOVERNMENT BY OCTOBER, FIND THE IRAN WAR, REAUTHORIZED BY POWERS UNDERFISA, PASA KEY DEFENSE BILL, A FARM BILL, THE ELECTIONS BILL, THE SAVE ACT.

THAT IS A LOT.

LET’S PUT THEM IN THREE COLUMNS.

ON THE LEFT YOU SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN I TALK TO REPUBLICANS, THEY THINK THEY CAN GET BIPARTISAN FUNDING, THEY THINK SOMEHOW THEY CAN FIGURE OUT AN IRAN WAR FUNDING FORMULA BUT THAT IS IN LIMBO UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION.

WHAT IS LEAST LIKELY IS THE SAVE ACT AND THAT IS THE THING PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HAS TO PASS OR HE WON’T SUPPORT ANYTHING ELSE SO TRUMP IS THE THREAT TO A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA.

THE QUESTION IS HOW FAR WILL HE GO.

GEOFF: REPUBLICANS HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE, THE PROLONGED ABSENCE OF KENTUCKY SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL.

THERE WAS AN UPDATE TODAY?

LISA: THERE WAS.

FIRST, HE IS NEEDED FOR THE FARM BILL TO MOVE OUT OF COMMITTEE.

WE GOT A NEW PHOTO FROM HIS TEAM.

IT SHOWS HIM IN REHAB.

THE STATEMENT FROM MCCONNELL SAYS HE IS INTENSELY WORKING THROUGH REHAB, TRYING TO WORK AS HE CAN.

THE CAPITOL’S ATTENDING PHYSICIAN SAID THE REHAB IS DUE TO HIS FALL AND MCCONNELL’S RELATED CHILDHOOD POLIO.

BUT SOMETHING I HAVEN’T SEEN, THEY NOTED MCCONNELL HAS DOCTORS FROM THE CAPITOL VISITING HIM EVERY DAY.

THERE IS NO WORD ON WHEN HE WILL RETURN.

GEOFF: THANKS AS ALWAYS.

♪ GEOFF: THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE COCKROACHES -- AFTER A TOP OFFICIAL COMPARED INDIA’S JOBLESS YOUTH TO THE PESTS.

NOW, DAYS AFTER THEIR PROTESTS TOPPLED THE EDUCATION MINISTER, STUDENTS SAY POLICE ARE COMING FOR THEM.

WHAT STARTED AS OUTRAGE OVER LEAKED MEDICAL ENTRANCE EXAMS HAS TURNED INTO ONE OF INDIA’S LARGEST YOUTH-LED PROTEST MOVEMENTS CHALLENGING INDIA’S PRIME MINISTER.

PRODUCER ZEBA WARSI REPORTS ON HOW INDIA’S GEN Z TOOK ON ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL LEADERS -- AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE COUNTRY’S FUTURE.

REPORTER: THE WORLD’S LARGEST YOUTH POPULATION JUST MADE THEIR POWERFUL GOVERNMENT BUCKLE UNDER PRESSURE.

THEY NEED THE CELEBRATION FOR SOMETHING REMARKABLE.

INDIA’S YOUTH DISCOVERING THE POWER OF THEIR OWN VOICE.

>> THE GOVERNMENT HAVE MESSED WITH THE WRONG GEN Z PEOPLE.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] REPORTER: THAT IS A GRADUATE STUDENT AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY WHO SPARKED A MOVEMENT FROM AN INSULT.

AFTER INDIA’S CHIEF JUSTICE COMPARED UNEMPLOYED YOUNG PEOPLE TO COCKROACHES.

HE LAUNCHED THE SATIRICAL COCKROACH PARTY OR CJP, A PLAY ON NARENDRA MODI’S RULING BJP.

TODAY ITS INSTAGRAM PAGE HAS GROWN TO OVER 25 MILLION PHOTOS, MORE THAN TWICE THAT OF THEBJP.

IT BEGAN WITH THE LEAK OF A NATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM TAKEN BY 2 MILLION ASPIRING MEDICAL STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AN EXAM THEY CAN PREPARE TO TAKE FOR YEARS WITH PRIVATE TUTORS, AND OFFERS A WAY OUT OF POVERTY FOR THOSE WHO DO WELL.

THE DECISION TO INVALIDATE TEST RESULTS WAS UNBEARABLE FOR MANY STUDENTS.

HIS MOTHER SAYS HER SON WAS SO DISTRESSED HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.

>> HE FELT IF THE EXAM WAS HELD AGAIN THAT HE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO SO WELL.

THERE WAS ALREADY SO MUCH DEBT BURDEN ON HIS FATHER HE JUST DECIDED TO DIE.

REPORTER: MORE THAN 20 OTHER YOUNG STUDENTS MADE THE SAME TRAGIC DECISION, THEIR UNFULFILLED DREAMS HAVE BECOME A GENERATION’S GRIEF.

THAT TURNED TO ANGER.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS TOOK TO THE STREETS CALLING THEMSELVES COCKROACHES, DEMANDING THE DISMISSAL OF EDUCATION MINISTER.

LAST WEEK THEY MARCHED TOWARD PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED WITH A VIOLENT CRACKDOWN, BEATING UNARMED STUDENTS WITH BATONS, USING TEAR AND EVEN PELLET GUNS.

STUDENTS, JOURNALIST AND WITNESSES GATHERED VIDEO TO DOCUMENT AND VERIFY THE ATTACKS ON A DIGITAL PLATFORM THAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE PROTEST RECORD.

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CALLED OUT THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT FOR USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.

AND IF THE GOVERNMENT’S GOAL WAS TO EMPTY STREETS, IT HAD THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.

THE PROTEST STARTED IN NEW DELHI AND QUICKLY SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

INDIAN POLITICIANS WHO OPPOSE PRIME MINISTER MODI INCLUDING THEIR OPPOSITION LEADER BACKED THE STUDENTS, DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHAT THEY CALLED A CLAMP DOWN.

FOR WEEKS THE REVOLUTION WAS NOT TELEVISED AS MOST MAINSTREAM MEDIA IN INDIA SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT BUT NEWS SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF INSTAGRAM REELS WATCHED BY MILLIONS.

STUDENTS CAN BE SEEN MOCKING THE POLICE FORCE THAT BEAT THEM, AND PROTESTERS TURNED INTO INSTAGRAM CELEBRITIES.

ANALYSTS SAY INDIA HAS WITNESSED WIDESPREAD PROTEST BEFORE, BUT THIS MOMENT FEELS DIFFERENT.

[CHANTING " WHO LET THE DOGS OUT"] REPORTER: INDIA’S GEN Z ARE BLAMING HIM FOR THE POLICE VIOLENCE AND CRITICIZING HIS POLITICS.

IT TOOK SEVEN WEEKS OF PROTEST, BUT MODI FINALLY RELENTED AND PROMISED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MEDICAL EXAM LEAKS.

THIS WEEKEND THAT EDUCATION MINISTER RESIGNED.

>> HE FEARS LOSING POWER.

THEY KNOW IF THIS PROTEST GOES ON FOR A LONG TIME THE GOVERNMENT CAN FALL.

REPORTER: RAISED IN A FAMILY OF DEVOTED MODI SUPPORTERS, THIS 22-YEAR-OLD ONCE LETTER UNIVERSITY’S CHAPTER OF THE BJP PARTY, BUT ITS CRACKDOWN ON THE COCKROACH PROTESTERS CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR HER.

>> I HAVE JOINED THE PROTEST AGAINST MY PARENTS WISHES.

SO MANY KIDS HAVE STOOD UP TO THEIR PARENTS AND THEY ARE GETTING BEATEN UP, CALLED TERRORISTS.

REPORTER: SHE SAID INDIA’S YOUTH IS NO DETERMINED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST WHAT THEY SEE AS DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING.

>> WHEN THERE IS A FIRE WITHIN, WE CAN STAY HUNGRY, TOO.

WHEN THERE IS COURAGE WITHIN, WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE.

THAT IS THE POWER OF EVERY YOUTH.

THE YOUTH IS THE FUTURE.

REPORTER: THE COCKROACH MOVEMENT MAY BE OVER FOR NOW BUT TODAY ITS LEADERS SAID DOZENS OF STUDENTS ARE STILL BEING TARGETED BY POLICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PARTICULARLY FROM MINORITY GROUPS.

STUDENTS SAY PROTEST WILL RESUME UNLESS THOSE CASES ARE DROPPED.

>> NOBODY BELIEVES THIS VICTORY IS BECAUSE OF THE BENEVOLENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

PEOPLE ARE VERY FRUSTRATED EVEN NOW.

REPORTER: THIS STUDENT LEADER SPENT 23 DAYS ON A HUNGER STRIKE.

AND EMERGED AS ONE OF THE MOVEMENTS LEADING VOICES.

>> THIS DEEP WOUND, DEEP FRUSTRATION, FOR THE WAY THINGS WERE, ALL OF THAT, BEING HANDLED WITH BRUTE FORCE,.

WE ARE TIRED OF THE SAME OLD SCRIPT REPORTER: SHE SAID PRIME MINISTER MODI MAY HAVE FIGURED A WAY TO SLIP OUT OF THIS CRISIS, BUT STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD HIM TO ACCOUNT.

>> IT IS A GOOD THING THAT HE ACCEPTED ONE DEMAND OF OURS, BECAUSE THE NEXT MAN DOES HIS RESIGNATION.

REPORTER: INDIA’S YOUTH HAVE MADE THEMSELVES IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE, AND THEY HAVE SHOWN THAT EVEN THE MOST POWERFUL GOVERNMENTS CAN BE FORCED TO BEND TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR.

♪ GEOFF: PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS ARE GROWING AS CYCLOSPORIASIS CASES SURGED AND NOW A SALMONELLA OUTBREAK ACROSS 17 STATES HAS MANY AMERICANS RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT U.S.

FOOD SAFETY.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM TELLS US MORE.

REPORTER: GEOFF, THESE BACK-TO-BACK CASES WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK FROM FOOD HAVE PUT MANY PEOPLE ON EDGE, AND RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NATION’S FOOD SUPPLY.

WITH NEARLY 4,200 CONFIRMED CYCLOSPORA CASES NATIONWIDE ACROSS NINE STATES AND MORE THAN 7,400 ADDITIONAL UNCONFIRMED CASES, PLUS A SALMONELLA OUTBREAK LINKED TO EGGS THAT HAS SICKENED ALMOST 100 PEOPLE SO FAR, CONSUMERS ARE WONDERING IF ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO KEEP UNSAFE FOODS OUT OF STORES.

FOR MORE ON THESE CONCERNS WE ARE JOINED AGAIN BY CAITLIN RIVERS.

SHE’S AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SO NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE PROGRAM.

LET’S START OFF WITH THIS TROUBLING PATTERN WOULD WE HAVE A VERY, VERY BIG CYCLOSPORA OUTBREAK, REALLY CONCENTRATED IN MICHIGAN BUT WE ARE ALSO SEEING THE SALMONELLA OUTBREAK.

IS THIS A PARTICULARLY BAD YEAR OR SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON HERE?

CAITLIN: I THINK BOTH ARE TRUE.

THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT THIS IS A VERY LARGE OUTBREAK OF CYCLOSPORIASIS.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT’S THE LARGEST ON RECORD.

AND SO THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CONSEQUENTIAL.

THE ADDITION OF THE SALMONELLA OUTBREAK IN EGGS IS UNSETTLING, BUT ACTUALLY NOT UNCOMMON.

THERE ARE ONE TO TWO LARGE OUTBREAKS OF SOMETHING, SOME SORT OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS EACH MONTH AND SO CURRENTLY IT’S SALMONELLA AND SHELLED EGGS.

BUT THE EXISTENCE OF A SECOND SIZABLE OUTBREAK IS NOT IN ITSELF NOTABLE.

WILLIAM: IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE TWO?

CYCLOSPORA, WE HAVE SEEN THAT LINKED TO CONTAMINATED WATER BEING SPRAYED ONTO LETTUCE AND IN SOME CASES BERRIES, BUT WE’RE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE ROOT CAUSE OF THAT OR THE ROOT CAUSES.

SALMONELLA, AS YOU MENTIONED, LINKED TO EGGS.

IS THERE ANY LINKAGE BETWEEN THESE THINGS OR THEY JUST SEPARATE OUTBREAKS?

CAITLIN: THEY ARE JUST SEPARATE OUTBREAKS CAUSED BY DIFFERENT , PATHOGENS, DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS, DIFFERENT STATES ARE AFFECTED.

WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT OUR FOOD SYSTEM IS VERY INTERCONNECTED.

THERE ARE VERY LARGE FOOD PRODUCERS THAT DISTRIBUTE TO MANY, MANY STATES, REACH OFTEN MILLIONS OF CONSUMERS.

AND SO WHEN WE SEE OUTBREAKS LIKE THIS, IT’S BECAUSE WE WE LARGELY SHARE A FOOD SUPPLY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.

WILLIAM: THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A SERIES OF CUTS MADE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO SOME SPECIFIC SURVEILLANCE MONITORING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS MUCH, MUCH BROADER CUTS THAT HAVE TRICKLED DOWN TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORLD WRIT LARGE.

IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THOSE CUTS ARE SOMEWHAT COMPLICIT IN THIS OR NOT.

CAITLIN: IT’S HARD TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE BECAUSE WE DON’T NECESSARILY SEE THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE PEOPLE WHO USED TO WORK THERE BUT ARE NOW RIFT, THAT IS TO SAY LAID OFF, OR THE DIRECT CUT LINE TO BUDGET CUTS.

BUT I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN YOU LOSE A QUARTER OR A THIRD OF YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE, WHEN YOU ARE UNDER STRAIN FOR COMING UP ON SIX-PLUS YEARS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DO , MATTER.

THEY DO MANIFEST.

AND WE LIKE TO SAY IN PUBLIC HEALTH THAT WHEN WE DO OUR JOBS RIGHT, NOTHING HAPPENS.

AND WE ARE SEEING NOW THE OPPOSITE OF THAT, WHERE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO, WHICH IS TO SAY INVESTMENTS AND SUPPORT THAT CAN HELP TO REVERSE THAT TREND.

WILLIAM: CYCLOSPORA IN PARTICULAR IS IS HAMMERING MICHIGAN.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE AS TO WHY IT IS SO BAD IN THAT STATE?

CAITLIN: I THINK THERE ARE TWO PROBABLE REASONS.

ONE IS THAT THEY RECEIVED THE CONTAMINATED PRODUCT, RIGHT?

THEY HAD THE SHREDDED LETTUCE, THE ICEBERG LETTUCE FROM TAYLOR FARMS.

BUT I ALSO THINK MICHIGAN HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB ALERTING THE PUBLIC TO THE EXISTENCE OF THIS OUTBREAK AND EDUCATING PROVIDERS ON THE NEED TO IDENTIFY AND TEST CASES.

THOUGH YOU MAY SEE HIGHER NUMBERS AND THINK, OH DEAR, THAT’S WORSE, IN SOME WAYS IT’S BETTER BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE AND TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

WILLIAM: ALONGSIDE THOSE TWO OUTBREAKS, WE’VE ALSO SEEN ANOTHER VIRUS RE-EMERGE, AND THAT IS MEASLES.

AND WE HAVE GOT THIS RECORD NUMBER OF CASES THIS YEAR.

I BELIEVE IT’S 2,300, WHICH IS, I THINK, THE WORST IN 35 YEARS, I BELIEVE, IT IS.

THIS WAS A VIRUS THAT WE HAD ONCE BASICALLY ERADICATED IN THE U.S.

WHY ARE WE SEEING A RETURN OF THAT VIRUS?

CAITLIN: IT’S TRUE.

THIS IS ALREADY A RECORD YEAR FOR MEASLES.

WE HAVE SURPASSED LAST YEAR’S TOTAL ALREADY IN JULY, AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST YEAR SINCE THE VIRUS WAS DECLARED ELIMINATED IN 2001.

WE HAVE A SAFE AND VERY EFFECTIVE VACCINE AGAINST MEASLES, AND SO THE REASON THAT WE’RE SEEING THESE INCREASED CASES IS BECAUSE THAT VACCINE COVERAGE IS FALLING.

THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THAT THE TREND IS REVERSIBLE.

IF WE ARE ABLE TO INCREASE VACCINE COVERAGE, THEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO A STATE WHERE WE CAN SAY MEASLES NO LONGER CIRCULATES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY TODAY THAT’S NOT THE CASE.

WILLIAM: SOME OF WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT IS, I THINK, DRIVEN BY SOME MESSAGING THAT WE’VE BEEN HEARING COMING OUT OF HHS AND THE HEALTH SECRETARY, MR.

KENNEDY.

DO YOU THINK, THOUGH, THAT STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE ABLE TO STEP IN WHEN YOU’RE TAKING ABOUT SALMONELLA AND CYCLOSPORIASIS AND MEASLES AND THE MESSAGING INVOLVED IN THAT?

ARE THEY UP TO THAT TASK?

CAITLIN: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

STATE AND LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE ACTUALLY THE FRONT LINES.

MANY PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES IS FEDERATED, WHICH MEANS IT’S THE STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO HAVE THE POWER AND THE ABILITY TO ACT, WHEREAS FEDERAL OFFICIALS, AT LEAST ON THE CDC SIDE, IT’S DIFFERENT FOR FDA, BUT THEY ACT IN A MORE ADVISORY, TECHNICAL CAPACITY.

AND SO I HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY, OUR STATE AND GLOBAL OFFICIALS’ -- LOCAL OFFICIALS’ ABILITY TO COMBAT THESE THREATS.

BUT THEY DO NEED RESOURCING AND SUPPORT.

THEY CAN’T IT IN THE ABSENCE OF MONEY AND PEOPLE.

AND SO THAT REALLY COMES BACK TO THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND GIVE OUR SYSTEMS WHAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

WILLIAM: CAITLIN RIVERS OF JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CAITLIN: THANK YOU.

♪ GEOFF: WITH FEWER THAN 100 DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE MIDTERMS, BOTH PARTIES ARE GEARING UP FOR A COMBATIVE AND EXPENSIVE BATTLE FOR CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

FOR MORE ON WHAT COMES NEXT, WE’RE JOINED NOW BY OUR POLITICS MONDAY DUO, AMY WALTER OF THE COOK POLITICAL REPORT WITH AMY WALTER AND TAMARA KEITH OF NPR.

WE ARE OFFICIALLY INSIDE 100 DAYS UNTIL THE MIDTERMS.

ARE YOU EXCITED?

>> SO EXCITED.

>> CAN’T CONTAIN IT.

GEOFF: WHAT DOES EACH PARTY NEED TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER AND WHICH SIDE HAS THE HARDER JOB?

TAMRA -- TAMARA: THEY BOTH HAVE A HARD JOB BUT THERE IS A HUGE ANTI-INCUMBENT ANTIESTABLISHMENT MOOD IN THE COUNTRY COUNTRIES CAN -- DEMOCRATS CAN IN THEORY RIDE.

REPUBLICANS NEED TO MOTIVATE VOTERS WHO ARE NOT TYPICALLY MOTIVATED IN MIDTERM YEARS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WON WITH A VERY BROAD BASE OF PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM ONLY VOTED IN PRESIDENTIAL YEARS AND POSSIBLY ONLY FOR PEOPLE NAMED TRUMP SO THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REBUILD THEIR 2024 BASE IN 2026, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT YEAR INCLUDING CHALLENGES LIKE THE IRAN WAR, THE COST OF THINGS AND GENERAL VOTER ANGST AND FRUSTRATION.

GEOFF: AMY?

AMY: FOR DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS?

GEOFF: FOR BOTH.

AMY: IT IS REALLY A CLASH BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE STRUCTURAL REALITIES.

THE ENVIRONMENT BENEFITS DEMOCRATS.

THE PRESIDENT IS UNPOPULAR, PEOPLE ARE UPSET, INFLATION.

ENTHUSIASM IS A FACTOR, DEMOCRATIC VOTERS ARE MORE FIRED UP TO GO TO THE POLLS.

BUT THE STRUCTURAL PIECE IS REAL AND A BIG CHALLENGE FOR DEMOCRATS.

THERE ARE NOT MANY COMPETITIVE SEATS HELD BY REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, ENOUGH FOR THEM TO WIN BACK.

THEY ONLY NEED THREE SEATS TO WIN BACK THE HOUSE BUT ON THE SENATE SIDE THEY STILL HAVE TO WIN IN THESE VERY DARK RED STATES.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE POLLING RIGHT NOW IS, EVEN AS THE PRESIDENT IS UNPOPULAR, THE DEMOCRATIC IMAGE REMAINS ALSO PRETTY TOXIC IN THOSE RED STATES.

TO ME THAT IS THE CHALLENGE DEMOCRATS HAVE.

THE ENVIRONMENTS I DON’T THINK WE’LL GET BETTER FOR REPUBLICANS BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION.

GAS PRICES WILL GO UP AND DOWN BUT OVERALL VOTERS ARE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THE WAY THE PRESIDENT IS HANDLING THE ECONOMY AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING AS WE MOVE FROM PRIMARIES TO THE GENERAL ELECTION IS, HOW MUCH THIS DEBATE WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ABOUT WHO ARE WE, ARE WE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST, OR WE OVERHEAR ON THE LEFT, THE CENTER, WILL THAT CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE AS WE GO INTO THE FALL CAMPAIGNS?

REPUBLICANS ARE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO PAINT EVERY DEMOCRAT AS FAR LEFT.

WILL THAT WORK FOR CANDIDATES THAT DON’T TAKE THAT ADDITION?

GEOFF: DEMOCRATS ARE NOT HELPED AT ALL BY THE LATEST TURMOIL SURROUNDING THE DNC CHAIR KEN MARTIN.

HE IS FACING RENEWED CRITICISM OVER FRESH MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT FUNDRAISING STRUGGLES, INTERNAL FINANCIAL PRESSURES, HAVING TO PUT UP THE DNC HEADQUARTERS AS COLLATERAL TO OBTAIN A LOAN.

A CONFRONTATION WITH STAFF, HE ALLEGEDLY THREW A PHONE AT A YOUNG AIDE.

QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS LEADERSHIP WHEN DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO REBUILD FOR THE MIDTERMS.

TAM, DEMOCRATS SPENT MONTHS ARGUING ABOUT HOW THEY NEED THE STRONGER MESSAGE AND WHAT SHOULD THAT MESSAGE BE.

THEY ARE NOT HELPED AT ALL BY WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE DNC.

TAMARA: THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE IS TURFING SOME OF THAT OUT TO THE STATES.

THAT IS WHERE SOME OF THAT MONEY HAS GONE.

TO GIVE A PICTURE OF THE FINANCIAL SITUATION, WHEN YOU SUBTRACT DEBT, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE HAS -$2 MILLION.

COMPARE ALL OF THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEES AND THE SUPER PAC’S TO ALL THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEESAND PRESIDENT TRUMP’S MAGA PAC, AND THERE IS A DEFICIT OF 700 MILLION -- $700 MILLION FOR DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE WAY BEHIND REPUBLICANS IN FUNDRAISING.

WHAT ALL THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEES WILL SAY IS YES, BUT THEIR CANDIDATES ARE RAISING THE MONEY AND ABSOLUTELY, JON OSSOFF IN GEORGIA, JAMES TALARICO IN TEXAS, THEY ARE RAISING PILES OF MONEY AND THAT IS ALSO A REFLECTION OR THE MONEY IS FOLLOWING WHERE DONORS THINK THEY ARE MAKING A GOOD INVESTMENT.

THEY DON’T THINK THE DNC IS A GOOD INVESTMENT.

IF THEY DID, IT WOULD NOT BE IN A $2 MILLION HOLE.

AMY: THE CHALLENGE SINCE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON CAMPAIGN-FINANCE MAKES THIS CHASM EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC FOR DEMOCRATS.

BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT GAP WOULD BE IMPORTANT BUT BOTH OF THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES WERE PROHIBITED FROM CONTRIBUTING DIRECTLY TO CAMPAIGNS SO THEY BOTH HAD TO SPEND A LOT OF THEIR MONEY ON OVERHEAD ESSENTIALLY.

NOW THEY CAN FUNNEL IT DIRECTLY TO THE CAMPAIGN SO WHAT IT ALLOWS REPUBLICANS TO DO IS HELP SHORE UP SOME OF THEIR MOST VULNERABLE INCUMBENTS OR CANDIDATES WHO IN YEARS PAST MIGHT HAVE FALLEN OFF BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HELP THEM.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT.

IT MIGHT BE ENOUGH IF YOU TALK ABOUT SHORING UP THE WALL THAT IS PROTECTING THEM, THE SEAWALL, FROM THE STORM THAT IS COMING.

THIS IS A LITTLE MORE CEMENT ON THAT SEAWALL, BUT IT WILL STILL BE TOUGH TO HOLD.

GEOFF: I LIKE THAT IMAGERY.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE PROPOSED 2028 PER PRESIDENTIAL CALENDAR FOR DEMOCRATS.

RIGHT NOW IT STARTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MOVES TO NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW MEXICO, VIRGINIA, AND THIS MAP LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE OLD MAP WOULD WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT DEMOCRATS PRIORITIES?

AMY: RIGHT NOW IT SAYS THAT WITH NEVADA AND SOUTH CAROLINA THEY ARE PUTTING A PRIORITY ON VOTERS OF COLOR EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, IOWA, 90% WHITE.

SOUTH CAROLINA, NEVADA, NOT.

AS WE ALSO KNOW, THE FIRST TWO STATES MAY NOT BE DETERMINATIVE OF WHO WINS THE NOMINATION.

BUT THEY DO WINNOW THE FIELD A LOT SO THE KIND OF CANDIDATES THAT CAN APPEAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND NEVADA WHICH ARE DIFFERENT STATES IN THE SAME WAY IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WERE.

ALL THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TO -- MY NUMBER ONE ADVICE TO CAMPAIGNS IS, UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE RULES AND DELEGATE MATH AROUND THE MAP, NOT JUST THOSE FIRST TWO STATES.

BECAUSE IT IS THE NUMBER OF DELEGATES YOU WIN, NOT JUST WHO WINS THE FIRST STATE.

GEOFF: EVEN AS SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE THIS RECKONING ABOUT WHAT WILL THE PARTY BE, SOUTH CAROLINA GOING FIRST IN 2028, MUCH IN THE SAME WAY IT DID IN 2020 FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN, IT IS BECAUSE SOUTH CAROLINA HAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND VOTERS.

TAMARA: SOUTH CAROLINA CHOOSES RESIDENCE AS THE SAYING GOES.

IT IS A STATE THAT HAS A LOT OF BLACK VOTERS, BLACK DEMOCRATS TEND TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN WHITE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS IN OTHER STATES.

IT IS A DIFFERENT ELECTORATE.

GEOFF: THANK YOU BOTH.

♪ GEOFF: A NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES THE REALITIES OF MOTHERHOOD IN AMERICA, FROM THE HIGH COST OF CHILD CARE TO THE CULTURE WARS OVER PARENTING AND RAISING A FAMILY.

AMNA NAWAZ RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE FILM’S CREATORS.

FOR OUR ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES, CANVAS.

AMNA: THE DEBATE OVER MODERN MOTHERHOOD IS OFTEN FRAMED AS A CHOICE BETWEEN CAREER AND FAMILY.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY FILM CALLED NO COUNTRY FOR MOTHERS DIVES DEEP INTO THE SO-CALLED MOMMY WARS UNPACKING SYSTEMS THAT EXPLOIT AND PERPETUATE THOSE DIVIDES AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE END THEM.

HERE IS A CLIP.

>> WORKING MOMS VERSUS STAY-AT-HOME MOMS.

>> YOU HAVE WORKING MOMS, STAY-AT-HOME MOMS, AND WORK FROM HOME STAY-AT-HOME MOMS.

>> EVERYTHING THAT STRUCTURALLY IS SET UP IS SET UP TO MAKE MOTHERHOOD SO DAMNED HARD.

>> DOES HOUSEWORK COUNT AS REAL WORK?

>> CULTURALLY WE HAVE NEVER TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT MOTHERHOOD.

>> IF WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE CULTURE WAR, WE HAVE TO START AT HOME.

AMNA: THE FILM IS MADE BY THE CEO OF MOMS FIRST, RESHMA SAUJANI, AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY TAN FRANCE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU MEET WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOMS IN THE FILM AND SHARE YOUR OWN STORY AS A WORKING MOM.

WHAT DID YOU FIND AS YOU DUG INTO THIS WORK, THE STRUGGLES OF THESE MOMS UNIVERSALLY?

RESHMA: THIS FILM WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LIES WE TELL ABOUT MOTHERHOOD TO DISTRACT AND DIVIDE US FROM GETTING THE THINGS WE NEED TO MAKE MOTHERHOOD TENABLE IN AMERICA WHICH IS PAID LEAVE AND CHILDCARE.

I FOUND ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING BUT WE ARE BEING TRICKED INTO THINKING [INDISCERNIBLE] OR GIRL BOSS NOBODY WANTS TO SPEND TIME HUSTLING SO HARD THEY CAN’T SEE THEIR KIDS OR MILKING A COW.

WE ALL WANT SOMETHING IN BETWEEN BUT IT IS CULTURE WARS PREVENTING US FROM MAKING AMERICA AND AMERICAN MOTHERHOOD TENABLE.

I ENTERED THIS FILM WITH A WHOLE LOT OF HOPE THINKING, IF WE CAN COME TOGETHER, WE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.

AMNA: TAN, WE SHOULD NOTE OF COURSE YOU ARE ALSO APPARENT BUT THIS IS A CONVERSATION MOMS OFTEN HAVE AMONG THEMSELVES.

MEN AND FATHERS CAN BE EXCLUDED OR WE EXPECT THEM TO NOT BE PART OF THIS SOLUTION SO WHY DID YOU WANT TO GET BEHIND THIS FILM?

TAN: FOR SO MANY REASONS, I’M A PARENT, A GAY PARENT.

UNDERSTANDING EVEN TO A TINY EXTENT WHAT MOTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING IN AMERICA.

MOST IMPORTANT, I WAS RAISED IN THE U.K.

WHERE THE LAWS ARE DIFFERENT.

ALSO I’M SURROUNDED BY MOMS.

ALL MY WOMEN, MOMS, AND I SEE THE STRUGGLE AND IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY SAD TO SEE THAT WE ARE IN THIS POSITION.

WE WANT OUR COUNTRY TO BE GREAT, IT STARTS WITH TAKING CARE OF THEIR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.

AMNA: YOU TALK ABOUT THIS MOMENT AND HOW WE GOT HERE AND THERE IS A TURNING POINT, YOU TALK ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, WHAT IT DID TO AMERICAN MOTHERS, THE IMPACT IT HAD OR SING WOMEN OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

EVERY RECOVERED FROM THAT YET?

WHERE ARE WE NOW.

RESHMA: NO, WE HAVEN’T PEERED IN SOME WAYS THE PANDEMIC IS A GIFT BECAUSE IT SHOWED WHAT WAS POSSIBLE.

WE INCREASED BENEFITS ON CHILDCARE, OFFERING REMOTE WORK, OFFERING MOTHERS GRACE.

MOST MOTHERS ARE BOTH WORKING IN CAREGIVING AND SHOULDN’T HAVE TO HIDE EITHER IDENTITY.

WE WERE ABLE TO FINALLY BUILD A WORKPLACE THAT WORKED FOR MOMS.

BUT AFTER THE PANDEMIC WE PULLED ALL THAT PROGRESS BACK.

MOST RECENTLY DELOITTE AND ZOOM REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF PAID LEAVE BENEFITS.

YOU SEE COMPANIES PULL BACK AND THE REASON WE HAVE THIS PULLBACK IS CULTURE WARS.

EVERY TIME WOMEN START MAKING PROGRESS, WE HAND THEM A CULTURE WAR.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY 51% OF THE LABOR FORCE WAS FEMALE.

AND LAST YEAR, 500,000 WOMEN LEFT THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE THEY HAD CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE AND COULDN’T AFFORD OR FIND CHILDCARE.

IT IS STRUCTURE, AND STRUCTURAL OBSTACLES IMPEDING THE PROGRESS OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES.

AMNA: THE CULTURAL WARS, POLITICAL WARS AT THE HEART OF IT YOU TRACE TO, IT WELL PREDATES THE PANDEMIC.

YOU DIVE INTO THE HISTORY ABOUT HOW THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT HAD BEEN ON BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES PLATFORMS AT ONE POINT UNTIL IT WASN’T.

HERE IS A CLIP OF HOW THAT HAPPENS.

>> 1980 RONALD REAGAN DROPS THE E.R.A.

PLATFORM AND THEY TAKE UP THE CAUSE IN THEIR PLATFORM OF BEING PRO-LIFE AND IT IS FAMILY VALUES AND IDENTITY STRUCTURE, WHAT A GOOD WOMAN IS.

THE DEBATE GETS FRAMED ASAN US VERSUS THEM.

THAT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS WE GO INTO THE BATTLES WE ARE HAPPY -- HAVING NO.

AMNA: TAN, HOW DOES THAT HISTORY HELP US UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE BATTLES RESHMA WAS MENTIONING, THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING A TRAD WIFE AND STAYING AT HOME WITH NO KIDS, NO CAREER OR BEING A GIRL BOSS.

WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE?

TAN: WHAT WE SEE HISTORICALLY IS THAT THERE WAS NEVER REALLY A CHOICE, YOU WERE FORCED INTO A SITUATION, SO MANY WOMEN HAVING TO LEAVE THE HOME BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO STAY AT HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT TAKING CARE OF THEM.

OR THEY HAVE TO STAY AT HOME BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE CHILDCARE.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS DECADE AFTER DECADE.

THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR DECADES NOW, SINCE TIME BEGAN.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR CONTEXT TO SHOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEW, IT IS NOT GOING TO END, AND DOES REQUIRE MASSIVE CHANGE.

BUT IT REQUIRES BIPARTISAN BUY-IN.

AMNA: THERE IS AN AHA MOMENT IN THE FILM.

YOU SPEAK TO MOTHERS OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, POLITICAL PERSUASIONS, ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOU’RE WATCHING A FOCUS GROUP.

AND THESE WOMEN FROM VARIED BACKGROUNDS COALESCE AROUND THE IDEA OF WHAT WOULD HELP THEM, AND THAT IS UNIVERSAL FREE CHILDCARE REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND AND HOW THEY COME TO THIS ISSUE.

YOU ACTUALLY ASKED THEN -CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD DO AS PRESIDENT TO TRY TO WORK TOWARDS AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN 2024.

DO YOU SEE ANY SIGNS OF A COUNTRY WORKING TOWARDS THAT, WHEN IT IS SO WIDELY SUPPORTED?

RESHMA: WHEN I ASKED PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT QUESTION WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE HE ACKNOWLEDGED IN AN INTERESTING ANSWER THAT CHILDCARE IS CHILDCARE, YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE IT.

MOST RECENTLY AT A BREAKFAST OR AT EASTER, HE ANNOUNCES, CHILDCARE IS TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE NEED TO SPEND RESOURCES QUITE FRANKLY ON PROTECTING THE HOMELAND RATHER THAN DAYCARE.

IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE, WE CAN’T DO IT.

TO ME THAT MESSAGE WAS SO OFF THE MARK OF UNDERSTANDING WHERE AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE.

50% OF AMERICANS CAN’T AFFORD THE BASICS, ESSENTIALS LIKE DIAPERS, FOOD.

CHILDCARE IS THE LINCHPIN OF AFFORDABILITY, THE ONE LINE ITEM ON MOST FAMILY BUDGETS THAT IF YOU SHIFTED IT, MADE IT CHEAPER, IT WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING FOR THEM.

AMNA: THE WAY IN WHICH YOU ARE ROLLING OUT THE FILM IS AS MUCH A PART OF THE STORY IS ANYTHING.

IT ALREADY MADE HISTORY, SET RECORDS FOR THE MOST PRODUCERS CREDITED ON A FILM, OVER2500 MOTHERS, CAREGIVERS AND ADVOCATES LISTED IN THE CREDITS.

YOU ARE ALSO NOT STREAMING IT.

IT IS NOT ON YOUTUBE OR NETFLIX.

THE ONLY WAY TO SEE IT IS IN COMMUNITY SCREENINGS.

YOU HOSTED OVER A THOUSAND SO FAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WHY THAT DECISION?

TAN: RESHMA AND THE TEAM TALKED ABOUT IT SOME TIME AGO AND I LOVE THE IDEA.

I COME FROM A TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT BACK RENT.

I HAVE BEEN ON STREAMERS FOR MANY YEARS AND I FIGURED WE WOULD SELL THIS DOCUMENTARY AND IT WILL GET SEEN BY MILLIONS.

HOWEVER, AFTER HEARING THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING THIS THIS WAY WHERE WE ARE DOING PRIVATE SCREENINGS, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO SCREENINGS WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES, IT IS SO WOMEN ARE NOT WATCHING ON THEIR OWN IN SILENCE THINKING HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT THIS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

WE WANT YOU TO DO SCREENINGS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

RESHMA: WE DIDN’T GO TO A STREAMER BECAUSE WE DIDN’T WANT MOMS TO WATCH IT BY THEMSELVES AND THINK IT IS THEIR PERSONAL PROBLEM, I’M JUST A BAD MOM, I CAN’T MAKE IT WORK.

WE WANTED YOU TO WATCH IT IN COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE GET PAID LEAVE AND CHILDCARE.

LET’S BE HONEST.

WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE WE ARE SUPPRESSING WOMEN’S CONTENT AND I WAS WORRIED IF WE GIVE IT TO A STREAMER IT WOULD GET BURIED.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE PAST FOUR WEEKS IS LIKE NOTHING I’VE EVER SEEN.

THESE ARE MOMS COMING TOGETHER, SOMETIMES AT CHURCH, THEIR LIBRARY, SOMETIMES RENTING OUT THEIR OWN THEATERS.

THEY ARE STAYING UNTIL MIDNIGHT TALKING, CRYING, HOLDING EACH OTHER, HUGGING EACH OTHER, TALKING ABOUT THE LAWS THEY WILL CHANGE, THE POLICIES THEY WILL PASS, THE NEIGHBOR THEY WILL HELP.

THIS IS THE MATCH WE NEEDED TO QUITE FRANKLY BURN IT ALL DOWN AND FINALLY BUILD THE COUNTRY FROM OTHERS.

AMNA: THE FILM IS "NO COUNTRY FROM OTHERS."

TWO FORCES BEHIND IT ARE TAN FRANCE AND CEO OF MOMS FIRST RESHMA SAUJANI.

PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

GEOFF: AND THAT IS THE NEWS HOUR FOR TONIGHT.

I’M GEOFF BENNETT.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE PBS NEWS HOUR, THANKS FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR EVENING WITH US.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR PROVIDED BY -- >> THE JUDY AND PETER BLUM KOVLER FOUNDATION UPHOLDING FREEDOM BY STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACIES AT HOME AND ABROAD.

FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR INCLUDING ROBERTS.

KAPLAN THROUGH THE RAYMONDJAMES ENDOWMENT FUND.

THE ARTHUR D. COLLINS JUNIOR FOUNDATION AND GEORGE B. HANBY III.

THE FORD FOUNDATION WORKING WITH VISIONARIES ON THE FRONT LINES OF SOCIAL CHANGE WORLDWIDE.

THE JOHN D. AND CATHERINE T. MACARTHUR COMMITTED TO WORKING -- COMMITTED TO A MORE JUST, VERDANT AND PEACEFUL WORLD AT MACFOUND.ORG.

AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS.

THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

♪ >> YOU ARE WATCHING PBS.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.]