PBS NewsHour; Friday, December 30, 2022, 6:00pm-7:00pm PST

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. ON THE NEWSHOUR, TRUMP'S TAXES. A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE MAKES SIX YEARS OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S TAX RETURNS PUBLIC. DER SCRUTINY. THE FDA CRITICIZED FOR BREAKING PROTOCOL DURING ITS APPROVAL PROCESS R A NEW ALZHEIMER'S DRUG. >> IT ISNCLEAR WHY THE AGENCY, KNOWING HOW CONTROVERSIAL THE DRUG WAS AT THE TIME, WOULD CHOOSE TO IMPROVE IT FOR SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. >> IT IS FRIDAY. DAVID BROOKS AND JONATHAN K PARTWAY IN ON THE BIGGEST POLITICAL HEADLINE OF 2022. AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE NEW YEAR. ALL THAT AND MORE ON TONIGHT'S PBS NEWSHOUR. ♪ >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY.

>> PEDIATRIC SURGEON, VOLUNTEER, TOPIARY ARTIST, A RAYMONDJAMES FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO HELP YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE. >> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR, INCLUDING JIM AND PATSY BILLMAN AND PAUL ANDERSON. >> THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED, BUT NOT FOR THE LAST TIME. THE RULES OF BUSINESS HAVE BEEN REINVENTED WITH A MORE FLEXIBLE WORKFORCE. BY EMBRACING INNOVATION. BY LOOKING NOT ONLY AT CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT AHEAD TO FUTURE ONES. RESILIENCE IS THE ABILITY TO PIVOT AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT. >> PEOPLE WHO KNOW KNOW BDO. ♪ >> THE JOHN S.

AND JAMES LK NIGHT FOUNDATION FOSTERING INFORMED AND ENGAGED COMMUNITIES. >> AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR. THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE SSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. >> A SUSPECT IS FINALLY IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION WITH THE MURDERS OF FOUR UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO STUDENTS IN NOVEMBER. HE WAS ARRESTED THIS MORNING IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND CHARGEWITH FOUR COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

>> OVER SIX WEEKS OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AND ANXIETY CULMINATED IN AN ARREST IN PENNSYLVANIA. >> WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL IN CUSTODY WHO COMMITTED THESE HORRIBLE CRIMES. I DO BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE. >> 28-YEAR-OLD BRIAN KOBER IS A GRADUATE STUDENT AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, LOCATED LESS THAN SEVEN MILES AWAY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO CAMPUS. POLICE DID NOT SHARE A MOTIVE. THE COLLEGE TOWN OF MOSCOW IS REELING FROM THE KILLINGS OF FOUR STUDENTS ON NOVEMBER 13. ETHAN AND MADISON MOGEN, 20-YEAR-OLD ZAYNA, AND KAYLEE GONZALEZ WERE FOUND STABBED TO DEATH IN AN OFF-CAMPUS RENTAL HOME. AUTOPSY SHOWED ALL FOUR WERE ASLEEP WHEN THE ATTACK OCCURRED. THE COMMUNITY GATHERED LAST MONTH TO REMEMBER THE VICTIMS. >> WHEN I LOOK AT ALL OF YOU GUYS, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY FOR THIS TO GET A LITTLE BETTER, TO

HEAL A LITTLE BIT. THERE IS PAIN EVERYWHERE. YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LOVE EACH OTHER. >> THE CASE ALSO BECAME A NATIONAL SPECTACLE AS MORE TIME PASSED WITHOUT A SUSPECT. A WEAPON STILL HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. OFFICIALS THANKED THE PUBLIC FOR THE 19,000 TIPS THEY GOT DUE TO STATE LAW. NO FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE ARREST WILL BE RELEASED UNTIL HE IS EXTRADITE >> THIS IS NOT THE END OF THIS INVESTIGATION. THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING. >> FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, STEPHANIE SY. >> SOUTHWEST AIRLINES BACK TO A RELATIVELY NORMAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE AFTER DAYS OF WIDESPREAD CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS. THEY PLEDGED TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR EXTRA EXPENSES DURING THE TRAVEL DISRUPTIONS AND IS STILL REUNITING PASSENGERS WITH THEIR MISSING LUGGAGE. BOB JORDAN SAID THE COMPANY IS WORKING TO WIN BACK ITS CUSTOMERS TRUST. >> A STORM HAD AN IMPACT, WE HAD

IMPACTS BEYOND THE STORM THAT IMPACTED STHWEST VERY DIFFERENTLY. IT WAS THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEMS ATTEMPTING TO BE SOLVED JUST TO MOVE CREWS AROUND AND KEEP THE AIRLINE MOVING. IT HAS IMPACTED SO MANY PEOPLE AND CUSTOMERS OVER THE HOLIDAYS. IT HAS IMPACTED OUR EMPLOYEES. I'M EXTREMELY SORRY FOR THAT. >> TEMPERATURES WARMING IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK DAYS AFTER THE DEADLY BLIZZARD. MOUNTING SNOW RAISING THE RISK OF FLOODING. RESIDENTS ARE WORKING TO PLOW AWAY THE SNOW TO PREVENT THEIR HOMES FROM BEING INUNDATED FROM WATER. WALL STREET HAS CLOSED O ITS WORST YEAR SINCE 2008. IN ITS FINAL TRADING SESSION, THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 73 POINTS. CLOSING AT 33,140 SEVEN. THE NASDAQ FELL 20 POINTS, THE S&P 500 SHED 10. THE DOW LOST 9%. THE NASDAQ FELL 33%. THE S&P 500 DROPPED 19%. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FINALIZED REGULATIONS TO PROTECT

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STREAMS, MARSHES, AND OTHER WATERWAYS. THE MOVE REPEALS A TRUMP ERA RULE THAT ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE LEFT THE NATION'S WATERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO POLLUTION. IT COMES AS THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IS ON A CASE IT COULD LIMIT THE POWER TO REGULATE WETLANDS. RUSSIA LAUNCHED A NEW WAVE OF DRONE AND ROCKET ATTACKS OVERNIGHT IN UKRAINE. A DAY AFTER ONE OF THE BIGGEST RUSSIAAERIAL ASSAULTS SINCE THE WAR BEGAN. THE LAST SHARD LITTERED THE STREETS OF KYIV AFTER THE BLAST BROKE WINDOWS IN MANY BUILDINGS. ONE RESIDENT SAID HIS FAMILY WAS LIKELY TO SURVIVE THE ATTACK. >> AT AROUND 2:20 A.M., LD EXPLOSIONS WERE HEARD. OUR AIR DEFENSE FORCES WERE SHOOTING DOWN DRONES. THEN WE HEARD A NOISE FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION. MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE ROOM. WE JUMPED OUT INTO THE CORRIDOR, WE WERE LUCKY WE WERE NOT HIT. IN THE CHILD'S ROOM, WE WERE LUCKY THEY WERE NOT HERE. >> RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN AND XI JINPING VOWED TO

DEEPEN THEIR COOPERATION. IN A VIDEO CONFERENCE, THEY AGREED TO STRENGTHEN THE STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC TIES. PUTIN ALSO SAID HE EXPECTED XI TO VISIT MOSCOW IN THE SPRING. A MILITARY COURT IN MYANMAR HAS CONVICTED OUSTED LEADER OF A STRING OF NEW CORRUPTION RELATED OFFENSES. THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HER SINCE THE ARMY SEIZED POWER IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR. SHE WILL FACE A COMBINED 33 YEARS IN PRISON. THE LEGAL TEAM HAS CALLED THE PROSECUTIONS A SHAM. >> BRAZIL BEGAN THREE DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURING TO REMEMBER PELE, ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC SOCCER LEGENDS OF ALL TIME. HE DIED THURSDAY AT THE AGE OF 82 AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER. IN SAO PAU, FANS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE PROLIFIC GOAL SCORER WHO DAZZLED THE WORLD WITH HIS ATHLETICISM.

>> PELE IS TREASURED, A HERITAGE BRAZIL HAS. ALL PLAYERS WILL MISS HIM. THEY WILL NEVER FORGET HIM. >> HE WAS AN IMPECCABLE PLAYER. HE PLAYED A LOT OF SOCCER AND WAS THE KING. HE WON THREE WORLD CUPS AND WAS UNBEATABLE. >> PELE'S FUNERAL WILL BE HELD EARLY NEXT WEEK IN HIS HOMETOWN OF SANTOS. STILL TO COME, A FORMER OBAMA STAFFER FIGHTS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ALS AFTER RECEIVING A DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS. NEWSHOUR VIEW REFLECTING ON THE BIGGEST NEWS STOES OF THE YEAR. DAVID BROOKS AND JONATHAN K PARTWAY IN ON THE POLITICAL HEADLINES OF 20. PLUS MUCH MORE. >> THIS IS THE PBS NEWSHOUR, FROM WETA STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON, AND IN THE WEST FROM THE WALTER CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. >> FOLLOWING A LONG LEGAL BATTLE AND PUBLIC DEBATE, HOUSE DEMOCRATSS RELEASED SIX YEARS OF

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FEDERAL TAX RETURNS. DOCUMENTS TOTALING THOUSANDS OF PAGES. HERE'S MORE. >> THESE ARE TRUMP'S PERSONAL AND BUSINESS TAXES FROM THE YEARS HE RAN FOR AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT. DEMOCRATS DEFEND THE RELEASE AS PART OF A PROBE INTO WHETHER THE IRS DELAYED AUDITING HIM. IN A VIDEO, TRUMP BLASTED THE MOVE AS A POLITICAL HIT. >> ALTHOUGH THESE TAX RETURNS CONTAIN RELATIVELY LITTLE INFORMATION AND NOT INFORMATION THAT ALMOST ANYBODY WOULD UNDERSTAND, THEY ARE EXTREMELY COMPLEX. THE RADICAL DEMOCRATS BEHAVIOR IS A SHAME UPON THE U.S. CONGRESS. >> WHAT INFORMATION DID WE LEARN? TO DISCUSS, I'M JOINED BY RUSS BUETTNER AND NINA OLSON. LET ME START WITH RUSS. YOU HAVE LOOKED THROUGH THESE, BEEN PORING OVER THEM ALL DAY. WE ALREADY KNEW A BIT ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE. THE COMMITTEE RELEASED THESE TOTAL TAXES THE PRESIDENT PAID AS PRESIDENT FROM $1 MILLION TO NOTHING IN TAXES.

HOW MUCH MORE DO THESE DOCUMENTS TODAY TELL US ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT? >> I THINK WHAT THEY DO IS PROVIDE A CONTINUUM FOR REPORTING WE HAD DONE TO TAKE 20 YEARS OF HIS TAX RETURNS FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AND YOU SEE MORE OF THE SAME. THE BUSINESSES HE RUNS GENERALLY REPORT MASSIVE LOSSES, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR. THE BUSINESS IS TIED TO HIS ENTERTAINMENT AND LICENSING OPERATIONS DO OK. THERE IS NO EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING THOSE. DOESN'T REALLY REQUIRE MUCH IN THE WAY OF BUSINESS EXPERTISE. HE CONTINUES TO BENEFIT FROM THE INHERITANCE FROM HIS FATHER. THE ONE BIG YEAR HE HAD IN 20, HE REPORTED A 24 MILLION DOLLAR POSITIVE TAXABLE INCOME. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE HE REPORTED A POSITIVE TAXABLE INCOME. UNDERLYING THAT WAS THE SALE OF $26 MILLION WORTH OF ASSETS HE HAD INHERITED FROM HIS FATHER.

THAT IS WHAT MADE A TYPICAL YEAR FOR HIM LOOK LIKE A WINNING YEAR. HIS INHERITANCE WHEN HE IS A 70 PLUS-YEAR-OLD MAN SITTING IN THE WHITE HOUSE. >> AMONG THE REASONS WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS, HE'S KENNEDY AGAIN FROM PRESIDENT. ONE THING YOU NOTICED IN THESE PAGES WAS THE SHEER NUMBER OF ENTITIES MR. TRUMP HAS SET UP AS PART OF HIS BUSINESS. HUNDREDS OF THEM COME UP MORE THAN 400 LISTED IN 2015. HOW UNUSUAL IS IT. HOW UNUSUAL ARE THESE RETURNS R A MULTIMILLIONAIRE? >> I THINK FOR REAL ESTATE, THERE IS A REASON TO HAVE MULTIPLE ENTITIES TO HOLD THE ASSET AND TO HOLD MANAGEMENT TO HOLD IF YOU ARE DOING HOTEL MANAGEMENT. YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ENTITY DOING SERVATIONS. WHAT IS FASCINATING IS THE BREATH OF THEM, MANY COUNTRIES. SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CONCERNING FOR THE NATIONAL

SECURITY ISSUE. I THINK THESE ARE NOT ON THE SCALE FOR 100 DIFFERENT PASS-THROUGHS. GENERALLY WEALTHY PEOPLE WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF PASS-THROUGH ENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. THESE ARE VERY MANY. >> THE BIG QUESTION WE KEEP COMING BACK TO, PUBLIC DEBATE OVER HOW SOMEONE LIKE DONALD TRUMP PAYS ZERO DOLLARS IN TAXES DURING SOME YEARS. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THESE DOCUMENTS, AND WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE OVERALL TAX SYSTEM? >> WHAT YOU REALLY SEE IS THE ROLE OF THE NET OPERATING LOSSES CARRIED FORWARD FOR YEARS, KEPT CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION DEDUCTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN AT A GIVEN YEAR AND EAT UP YOUR INCOME AND YOU CAN CARRY IT BACK OR CARRY IT FORWARD. THE TRUMP HOTEL HAD A REHABILITATION CREDIT CARRIED BACK A YEAR AND CAN GO FORWARD FOR 20 YEARS. IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. CONGRESS IN 1967 TRIED TO DEAL

WITH THE FACT THERE WERE MILLIONAIRES THAT HAD NOT PAID ANY TAXES AND CREATED THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX. IN MANY OF THESE YEARS, PRACTICALLY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS HIT WITH THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX BECAUSE IT MEANS IF YOU USE THESE PREFERENCES, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE TAXES. SO THEY MAKE YOU ADD THINGS BACK IN. OTHER CREDITS ATE AWAY AND OFFSET THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX. THAT IS CLEARLY SOMETHING CONGRESS NEEDS TO LOOK AT. >> I WONDER WHAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE TAX SYSTEM IN THE MODERN AGE? >> A GOOD POINT. THERE ARE WAYS WEALTHY PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF ASSETS CAN GET OUT OF PAYING TAXES. ONE OF THE BIG ONES DONA TRUMP IS USING EQUALLY -- UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO BENEFIT FROM IS USING LOSING MONEY TO WRITE OFF YOUR INCOME TAX, REDUCE INCOME TAXES ON SOMETHING LIKE A JOB ON

TELEVISION. A JOB ON TELEVISION HAD NO EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH IT. HE JUST SHOWED UP AND WAS FILMED AND EDITED TO LOOK LIKE HE LOOKED. SOME YEARS HE MADE $20 MILLION FROM THAT. 200 MILLION DOLLARS FROM BEING ON TELEVISION. HE WAS ABLE TO USE THE LOSSES FROM HIS GOLF COURSES AND HOTELS TO REDUCE THE TAXABLE INCOME. THAT IS NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE TO MOST OF US. NINA MENTIONED THE CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS. THAT IS ANOTHER CASE. HE BOUGHT LAND AND TRIED TO DEVELOP . HE PLACED A VALUATION ON IT WITH A CREDIBLE APPRAISER AND ACCOUNTANT AND SAID IT WAS WORTH $21 MILLION. MADE IT SOUND LIKE HE COULD BE DEVELOPED AND IT COULD NOT. THE IRS AFTER SOME PRESSURE DECIDED TO LOOK AT THAT AND DECIDED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ZERO DOLLARS AND $8 MILLION AS A TAX WRITE OFF. THINGS MOST PEOPLE COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO DO THAT CAN REDUCE INCOME TAX BURDEN DOWN TO ZERO. >> IN 30 SECONDS, IT WAS

UNPRECEDENTED. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE IDEA OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE RELEASING THE TAXES OF ANY INDIVIDUAL? >> I'M VERY WORRIED IT BECOMES A PATTERN IN THE FUTURE. THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF TAX RETURNS IS VERY IMPORTANT GETTING PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO FILE TAX RETURNS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TAX RETURNS ARE A ROADMAP TO WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR TAX SYSTEM AND WHAT WE NEED TO REFORM THAT YOU MIGHT NOT GET FROM SOME ABSTRACT DISCUSSION. >> NINA OLSON AND RUSS BUETTNER, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US. GOOD LUCK READING THROUGH THESE. ♪ ♪ >> NEW FINDINGS FROM A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE FDA AND THE BIOTECH COMPANY BIO JEN FOUND THE FDA BROKE ITS OWN PROTOCOLS TO APPROVE A NEW

ALZHEIMER'S DRUG LAST YEAR. THE FINDINGS CONCLUDE THE REGULATOR WORKED TOO CLOSELY WITH THEM, DESPITE THE BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS OF THE NEW DRUG. GEOFF BENNETT HAS THAT. >> WHEN THE FDA APPROVED THE DRUG IN JUNE OF 2021, BIO JEN HOPED TO EARN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITHIN A FEW YEARS. A CONGRESSIONAL REPORT FOUND NUMEROUS PROBLEMS IN THE LEAD UP TO THAT APPROVAL, INCLUDING THE FDA'S INTERACTIONS WITH BIOGEN WORK ATYPICAL AND INCLUDED COLLABORATION IN AT LEAST 150 MEETINGS, CALLS, AND EMAILS. THE FDA APPROVED THEM FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS DESPITE THE LACK OF LINEKER TRIAL DATA AND CONCERNS OF FDA ADVISORS. AND THEY SAID AND UNJUSTIFIABLY HIGH PRICE OF $56,000 A YEAR FOR PATIENTS IN ORDER TO "MAKE HISTORY." THEY HAVE WORKED ON THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO ALL OF THIS.

REPORTER DAMIEN CARB DAY JOINS US. THIS REPORT IS THE RESULT OF AN 18 MONTH INVESTIGATION BY TWO HOUSE COMMITTEES. INVESTIGATORS REVIEWING SOME 500,000 DOCUMENTS FROM THE FDA. INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDED THE FDA WENT WAY BEYOND ITS NORMAL PROTOCOL IN BRINGING THE DRUG TO MARKET. TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT. >> AS THEY CONCLUDED, THE PROCESS WAS RIFE WITH IRREGULARITY. WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IS IN THE NORMAL PROCESS BY WHICH DRUGS ARE APPROVED, THE FDA IS A NEUTRAL REGULATOR, AN OPPOSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP THEY MIGHT HAVE WH THE DRUG COMPANY SEEKING APPROVAL. IT WENT TO THE DATA VERY SERIOUSLY AND VERY EARNESTLY. A PERSON OR DOCTOR PRESCRIBING A DRUG CAN BE CERTAIN BENEFITS AND RISKS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT BODY. IN THIS CASE, WHAT WE HAD REPORTED PREVIOUSLY IS THE FDA WORKED MORE LIKE A COLLABORATOR. WORKED HAND IN GLOVE WITH BIOGEN

PREPARING THE MATERIALS FOR THOSE INDEPENDENT ADVISORS AND WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO FIND A WAY TO APPROVE THE MEDICINE OVER THE CONCERNS ON THE COMMUNITY HAD VOICED AT THAT POINT. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRICE. THEY HAVE AN ANNUAL PRICE TAG OF $56,000, WHICH EXECUTIVES PREVIOUSLY CALLED FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE. HOW DID THEY ARRIVE AT THAT PRICE? >> THAT IS FASCINATING. WE HEARD SO MUCH BACKLASH TO DRUG PRICING AND THE RISING COSTS OF NEW MEDICINES, AND EVERY CONCEIVABLE DEFENSE FROM DRUG COMPANIES. THINGS TO THE INVESTIGATION, WE GOT A LOOK AT HOW THE COMPANY ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH IT. WHAT WE LEARNED IS THEY SURVEYED INSURANCE COMPANIES AND NEUROLOGISTS TO TEST A RANGE OF PRICES TO SEE HOW PEOPLE FELT ABOUT THEM. THEY CCLUDED CHARGING ABOUT $20,000 OR $15,000 A YEAR WOULD BE A WAY TO MAXIMIZE THE MOST NUMBER OF PATIENTS WHO COULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE DRUG. ANYTHING OVER $40,000 A YEAR WAS

GOING TO RUN INTO PUSHBACK AND BACKLASH. THEY CHOSE $56,000 A YEAR IN THE NAME OF WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS REVENUE MAXIMIZATION. THE GOAL TO MAKE HISTORY WITH WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BY THEIR CALCULATIONS THE LARGEST PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT IN HISTORY. >> THE REPORT ALSO DELVES INTO THE INITIAL DECISION TO APPROVE THEM FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS ACROSS THE BOARD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REALLY INDICATED FOR PEOPLE WITH MILD EARLY STAGES OF THE DISEASE. TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT. >> THAT IS ESPECIALLY FASCINATING. EVEN BIOGEN WAS SHOCKED THEY WERE CONSIDERING AND DECIDED TO APPROVE IT FOR ALL 6 BILLION AMERICANS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RATHER THAN THE SUBSET IN WHO THE DRUG HAD BEEN STUDIED. THEY DID NOT PUSHBACK AGAINST IT, WHICH THE CONGRESSIAL COMMITTEES KIND OF KNOCKED THEM FOR. THE MYSTERY REMAINS WHY DID THE FDA DO THIS? YOU HAVE SEEN INTERNAL DOCUMENTS, THEIR JUSTIFICATION

FOR IT. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THE AGENCY, KNOWING HOW CONTROVERSIAL IT WAS AT THE TIME, CHOSE TO APPROVE IT FOR SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. >> IN RESPONSE, THEY REFUTED THE IMPLICATIONS, SAYING IT STANDS BY THE INTEGRITY OF THE ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN. THE FDA PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED IN ITS OWN REVIEW OFFICIALS ACTED APPROPRIATELY AND STARTED IMPLEMENTING THE REPORTS RECOMMENDATIONS. THE FDA IS NOW EVALUATING TWO OTHER ALZHEIMER'S DRUGS FOR POSSIBLE APPROVAL EARLY NEXT YEAR. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS REPORT ON THAT PROCESS? FASCINATING TIMING. ANY DAY NOW, PROBABLY NEXT WEEK, WE WILL LEARN ANOTHER ALZHEIMER'S TREATME, A DIFFERENT ONE WITH LESS BAGGAGE ATTACHED, WILL LIKELY WIN FDA APPROVAL. THAT PROCESS IS TECHNICALLY SEPARATE FROM THE ONE THEY HAD. BUT THE TIMING IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE FDA. THE WORLD HAS SEEN THEM REBUKE THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THE

REPUTATION REALLY BEGINS TO NEUROLOGIST, PATIENTS, EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE FDA APPROVAL MEANS IT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD AND THE LABEL REFLECTS THE EVIDENCE BEHIND THE GIVEN TREATMENT. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE NEXT APPROVALS WILL BE RECEIVED AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHTS. APPRECIATE IT. >> WHEN A FORMER OBAMA CAMPAIGN STAFFER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PROGRESSIVE NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE, ALS, HE WAS GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE. FIVE YEARS LATER, BRIAN WALLICK IS STILL FIGHTING THE DISEASE RAISING AWARENESS THAT HELPS ONE DAY FINDING A CURE. BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THIS STORY

FROM WTTW IN CHICAGO. >> DESPITE HIS INABILITY TO USE ALMOST EVERY LIMB OF HIS BODY, BRIAN WALLICK IS MAKING NO SMALL PLANS. >> I FEEL OK. I'M A BIT TIRED. BUT FROM ALL OF THE THINGS, MY MIND IS RACING. AT FULL SPEED. >> HIS WIFE OF NINE YEARS TRANSLATES ALMOST HIS EVERY WORD. HE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS. >> AND THINKING ABOUT HOWE DO A SCREENING FREELY COMMUNITY. >> THE WORK HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH. >> AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE IMPROVE. OUR CARE DELIVERY FOR SYNAPTIC CARE. >> IN THE FAMILY HE ADORES. >> I'M THINKING ABOUT OUR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES. WHERE AM I IN THIS? >> IT IS HIS WARES IT

HIS WAY OF RESPONDING TO THE ILLNESS, WHICH SLOWS HIS BODY, BUT NOT HIS MIND. >>ITH EVERY STRESSFUL SITUATION, MY RESPONSE IS TO GO TO WORK. AND I DO THAT. BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF PURPOSE. THAT ALS IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY. IT ALSO GIVES ME A SENSE OF POWER WHEN I HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE DISEASE. SO FOR ME, I WANT TO GO TO WORK BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ME TO SAY NOT TODAY, ALS. >> I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ANNOUNCE MY CANDIDACY. >> THEY MET WORKING ON BARACK OBAMA'S HISTORIC 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. BRIAN SAYS THEY APPLIED THAT ORGANIZING KNOW-HOW TO THEIR FIGHT AGAINST ALS. MUCH OF THEIR JOURNEY IS DOCUMENTED IN THE FILM NO ORDINARY CAMPAIGN. >> THIS IS -- THAT I HAD TO.

>> THE PAIR STARTED THE NONPROFIT I AM ALS WITH THE SUPPORT OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND COLLEAGUES. THEN THEY TOOK THE FIGHT FROM CHICAGO TO THEIR OLD STOMPING GROUND. >> 17. GETTING CLOSE. >> BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021, THEY SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED CONGRESS TO INCREASE GOVERNMENT SPENDING O ALS RESEARCH FROM $10 MILLION TO $80 MILLION A YEAR. THEY CONVINCED CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION, ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH ALS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO BENEFITS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY WITHOUT THE REQUISITE FIVE-MONTH WAITING PERIOD, A TIME WINDOW THAT CAN CLOSE QUICKLY ON AN ILLNESS LIKE ALS. THE GROUP PUSHED THE FDA TO ALLOW PATIENTS EARLIER ACCESS TO PROMISING BUT EXPERIMENTAL DRUG TREATMENTS. >> IF YOU COULD TAKE ONE TREATMENT, AND SLOW DOWN YOUR PROGRESSION BY 20% AND TAKE

ANOTHER TREATMENT AND SLOW IT DOWN BY 10%, YOU HAVE TAKEN A DISEASE MOST PEOPLE PASS AWAY FROM IN TWO TO THREE YEARS AND MAKE IT A DISEASE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE SEVEN TO 10 YEARS. THAT IS EVERYTHING. AND THAT IS HOW WE END ALS. >> ALONG THE WAY, KATIE COURIC JOINED THE LIST OF SUPPORTERS, BECOMING AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON THE FILM. SHE'S ALSO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO CARE FOR A HUSBAND FACING TERMINAL ILLNS. >> WHAT IS REALLY TOUGH IS WHEN YOU HAVE A DEBILITATING ILLNESS, THERE ARE FEW SURVIVORS. SO YOU DON'T HAVE A BUILT-IN NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVOCATING. BUT THEY HAVE BUILT A NETWORK. AND THEY HAVE JUST BROUGHT TOGETHER THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. AND WHATEVER HAPPENS, HIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO KEEP

FIGHTING. >> IN EVERY VICTORY HAS GIVEN THEM HOPE THEY CAN DO MORE THAN BEAT THE ODDS. >> I THINK WE STILL DO AUTHENTICALLY BELIEVE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SURVIVE IT. >> A CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL AND A CHANCE HE CAN SEE HIS DAUGHTERS GROW UP. >> I WANT TO BE THERE TO SHARE WITH THEM HOW WE FOUGHT AND HOW WE MADE ALS A DISEASE PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WILL GROW UP TO BE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE, AND I WANT TO BE HERE. ARE YOU SAYING I HAVE A LOT MORE BA DAD JOK TO TELL? [LAUGHTER] >> DESPITE THE ODDS, THEY BELIEVE THE FIGHT FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR MANY OTHERS. FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN. ♪ ♪

>> AS WE CLOSE OUT ONE YEAR AND LOOK TO THE NEXT, WE BRING YOU SOME REFLECTIONS FROM OUR VIEWERS. SOME OF THEIR HIGH MOMENTS AND LOW ONES IN 2020 TWO. AS WELL AS HOPES FOR THEMSELVES AND THE COUNTRY IN 2023. COLLECTED BY OUR PRODUCER, FRANK CARLSEN. >> THE BEST PART OF MY 2022 WAS VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME IS MAKING THE MOVE FROM PUGET SOUND OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TO NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. >> THE BEST THING WAS MY SON FROM L.A. CAME TO VISIT ME FOR A WHOLE WEEK. >> MY ELDEST NIECE WHO IS 17 YEARS OLD HAS APPLIED TO MANY UNIVERSITIES. SHE'S HAD A POSITIVE ANSWERS FROM SIX UNIVERSITIES. >> I WENT TO MARYLAND TO SEE RELATIVES I HAD NOT SEEN IN A LONG TIME, HAD TO TRAVEL AROUND, IT WAS AWESOME.

>> IT WAS MY MOTHER'S DEPRESSION. SHE HAD GONE WAY DOWNHILL AND HER DOCTOR THOUGHT IT WAS DEMENTIA. BUT SHE CAME BACK. ITAS AMAZING. >> AND I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY. >> MY NAME IS ROBERT STUART, I'M 39 YEARS OLD. >> MY NAME IS GRACE FRIEDMAN. I'M A FRESHMAN 18-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. >> I LIVE IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA. >> MY NAME IS DANIELLE SACRED. I AM A PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS ASSIST, MOM, MILITARY SPOUSE, AND I LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. >> I'M NANCY FERNANDEZ, I AM AN 81-YEAR-OLD LADY LIVING HERE IN SENIOR HOUSING JUST TRYING TO MANAGE LIFE. >> THE MOST DIFFICULT THING FOR ME AND 2022, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING WITH COVID, THE

ENDING OF SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS. LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS I HAD. >> PERSONALLY THERE WERE DEATHS IN THE FAMILY, AND IT IS A VERY SAD TIME DURING COVID. >> I WOULD SAY THE HARDEST PART OF 2022 WAS WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE SHOOTING AT THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE IN HIGHLAND PARK. I LIVED RIGHT THERE. >> ON SEPTEMBER 20, HURRICANE CAME THROUGH HERE. IT DEVASTATED AND WIPED OUT THE BEACH TOWN. ALSO CAUSED SOME DAMAGE INLAND WHERE WE LIVED. THE GENERATOR WAS FAULTY SOMEHOW. THEY GOT IT IN THE HOUSE. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED SEVERE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. >> I LEFT THE WORKFORCE IN 2022 TAKE CARE OF MY MOM. I HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR JOBS WHICH I'M OVERQUALIFIED. NOT GETTING ANYTHING BUT A

SINGLE PHONE CALL. >> THE BIGGEST NEWS ON THE YEAR WAS THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND THE YOUTH VOTES CHANGING THE OUTCOME OF IT. >> THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE TWO BIGGEST STORIES. >> I REALLY HAVE TO ADMIRE THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE. THEY ARE LIKE ROCKS. I THINK THEY WILL PREVAIL. >> DESPITE THE WORK, I PAID MOST ATTENTION TO THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE MEETINGS. >> FOR ME PERSONALLY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH POLITICS TO KEEP DOING SCHOOL I LOVE COLLEGE SO FAR. >> I HOPE BUSINESS GOES WELL FOR MY COMPANY, AND SECONDLY, I HOPE I WILL PURSUE MORE ACADEMIC INTERESTS FOR MYSELF. >> FOR THE COMING YEAR, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MY PLANS MOVING BACK TO NEW YORK STATE. >> I HOPE IN 2023, I CAN REACH MY LIFELONG GOAL OF OWNING AND OPERATING MY OWN BOOKSTORE.

>> I WISH TO CONTINUE TO VISIT MORE RELATIVES. MY WIFE WANTS ME TO VISIT AS MANY OF THE NATIONAL PARKS THAT WE CAN. >> ONE OF MY BIG HOPES FOR THE COUNTRY, AND I KNOW IT IS A PIPE DREAM, WOULD BE A UNIVERSAL COVID VACCINE. MANY FAMILIES ARE REALLY LIVING ISOLATED. >> I HOPE IN 2023, THE WHERE YOUNG VOTERS DID IN 2020 OFF. >> MY HOPE WE WILL PREVAIL AND REMAIN A THRIVING DEMOCRACY FOR YEARS TO COME. >> I HOPE THE POLITICAL PARTIES COULD LEARN BETTER TO COOPERATE. >> I HOPE EVERYONE HAS MORE UNDERSTANDING OF ONE ANOTHER. AND WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM, WE ARE IN IT TOGETHER. WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOALS. EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY. >> AND NOW, WE CONTINUE REFLECTING ON 2022 IN THE NEW

YEAR AHEAD WITH THE ANALYSIS OF BROOKS AND CAPEHART. NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST DAVID BROOKS AND JONATHANAPEHART, ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR THE WASHINGTON POST. HELLO TO BOTH OF YOU ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT. DECEMBER THE 30TH. VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU. JONATHAN JOINING US FROM ITALY. A LOT TO LOOK BACK ON. WE HAVE HEARD SOME OF OUR VIEWERS JUST NOW. IF YOU LOOK BACK ON 2022, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT POSITIVELY, OR OTHERWISE? THE NEWS IS HAPPENING RIGHT UP UNTIL TODAY. KEVIN MCCARTHY, REPUBLICAN LEADER AGREEING TO SECURE THE SPEAKERSHIP. >> OF ALL THE BIG THINGS IN 2022, THE BIG THINGS FOR ME WHERE THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS OVER THE SUMMER. THEY WERE AS MANY TIMES ON

FRIDAY NIGHT. IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR HISTORY. I THINK GOING THROUGH NINE HEARINGS, PLUS THE FINAL REPORT, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THESE HEINGS WE A SLOW BURN. THEY CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BY THE WAY THEY WERE HANDLED. THIS LEADS TO THE SECOND THING OF A BIG STORY FOR ME. IT IS THE RESULTS OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. I THINK THOSE HEARINGS DEMONSTRATING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE JUST WHAT WAS DONE BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED HIM TO SUBVERT A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION DROVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST DEMOCRATS. A LOT OF REPUBLICANS JOINING INDEPENDENCE AND DEMOCRATS PUSHING BACK AGAINST EXTREMISM WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND REJECTING A BIG. THE FOLKS WHO WERE CONSTANTLY SAYING THE 2020 ELECTION WAS

STOLEN. AND SUPPORTERS WHO WERE SUPPORTED BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT. THOSE PEOPLE WHO WENT OUT TO VOTE IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS SAVED OUR DEMOCRACY. FOR ME, THAT IS THE BIGGEST STORY AND THE BIGGEST RESULT OUT OF 2022. >> SO MUCH TO LOOK BACK ON. >> THE FIREPLACE, THE BEST FIREPLACE. I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO GET LIT. I LOOK BACK, BAD YEAR FOR AUTHORITARIANS. RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE. FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE OF UKRAINE FOUGHT BACK. RUSSIA WAS REVEALED AS NOT ONLY MALEVOLENT, BUT INCOMPETENT IN A REGIME THAT IS ROTTING FOR THE INSIDE. THINGS DID NOT GO WELL IN CHINA. THEIR COVID POLICIES HAVE BEEN WORSE. IT REMINDS YOU OF THE TENDENCIES AS THEY AGE, THEY GET MORE RIGID AND MORE CORRUPT. FOR OUR SYSTEM D ITS MANY FLAWS, IT TAKES IT FULL

ADVANTAGE OF ITS PEOPLE. IT WAS NOT ONLY BAD FOR AUTHORITARIANS ABROAD, IT WAS THE JANUARY 6 LEADING UP TO THOSE MIDTERM RESULTS. TO ME, NOT A 100% PROOF OF DONALD TRUMP REENTERING THE WHITE HOUSE. I DO THINK AT THE MOMENT THERE IS AN ANTI-TRUMP MAJORITY THAT WANTS TO KEEP HIM OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE. >> ANYTHING ELSE POSITIVE YOU WANT TO SAABOUT 22? >> I'M LOOKING -G E - GTHBIIN T. >> LET'S PICK IT UP. >> WHAT ABOUT THE YEAR AHEAD? IT IS TWO DAYS FROM NOW. WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE? >> I DON'T KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT HOPE, BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS THE BIG VOTE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON TUESDAY ON JANUARY 3. THE VOTE FOR THE NEXT SPEAKER. A LOT HINGES ON HOW THE VOTE GOES.

KEVIN MCCARTHY, HE ACTUALLY GETS THE 218 VOTES. HOW MANY COMPROMISES AND CONCESSIONS HAS HE MADE TO THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, TO OTHERS IN ORDER TO GET THOSE VOTES. WILL HE BE A WEEK SPEAKER? THAT GETS TO MY BIGGEST FEAR. THIS COMING REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS EVEN MORE EXTREME THAN THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN 2011 THAT PLAYED GAMES WITH THE DEBT CEILING. YOU CAN'T PLAY GAMES WITH THE DEBT CEILING. NOT IN 2011, AND YOU SHOULD NOT DO IT IN 2022. THAT IS WHAT I'M AFRAID WILL HAPPEN WITH THE INCOMING REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE. THAT IS THE BIG THING I'M WATCHING. IF THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT PAY ITS BILLS, PAY ITS BILLS ON TIME AND THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE U.S. IS DESTROYED, WE CATCH HELL IN THE U.S., BUT

THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM COULD COLLAPSE. NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT. >> WHAT ARE YOUR WORRIES AS YOU LOOK AHEAD? >> I'M ALWAYS IRRATIONALLY OPTIMISTIC. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN UKRAINE WINS THE WAR. BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE A MASSIVE DEFINING MOMENT FOR THE DECADE. I AM HOPEFUL WE ARE IN A MOMENT THAT ECONOMY WILL REMAIN STRONG, PENETRATION SEEMS TO BE COMING DOWN. A GREAT BURDEN OFF OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. I'M HOPING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REPUBLICAN RUN-UP TO THE PRIMARIES, A LOT OF CANDIDATES STEP FORWARD. YOU SEE THE WANING OF DONALD TRUMP. THOSE ARE THE THINGS I AM HOPEFUL ABOUT. ONE THING I'M CERTAIN ABOUT FOR THE YEAR. THAT YOUR JOURNALISM WILL BE MORE EXCITING AND BETTER THAN EVER.

WE HAD THIS PHASE IN LIFE FOR A FEW MINUTES. PEOPLE STEP DOWN FROM A JOB THEY GOT MANY YEARS OF VITALITY AND VITAL SERVICE AHEAD OF THEM. I'M CALLING IT THE PRIME OF LIFE. I AM ENTERING THE PRIME OF LIFE. I KNOW THE JOURNALISM YOU ARE GOING TO DO IN THE COMING YEARS WILL BE SO REWARDING FOR YOU AND REWARDING FOR US. AND IT IS A MOMENT THE FULL-TIME ANCHOR TO REFLECT ON GRATITUDE. I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING. YOU HAVE SET A TONE OF CULTURE AND A SET OF VALUES. IT IS EASY TO BE BETTER WHEN YOU ARE AROUND. THAT INVOLVES THE VALUES OF DEDICATION, HARD WORK, YOU ARE THE HARD-WORKING PERSON I KNOW IN JOURNALISM. A SPIRIT OF KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY, AND A SPIRIT OF HUMILITY. AND THAT RADIATES FROM YOU. YOU HAVE DONE IT IN A DIFFICULT MOMENT OF JOURNALISM.

WHEN WE HAD TO BE FAIR, OBJECTIVE, NOT BE MORALLY NEUTERED, NOT REACT WITH CRUELTIES HAPPENING. IT HAS BEEN HARD TO WALK THAT LINE. AND I THINK JONATHAN -- >> THAT TOUCHES MY HEART. >> YES. I'M RELATIVELY N TO THE TABLE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE TABLE FOR TWO YEARS. BUT YOU HAVE WELCOMED ME WITH OPEN ARMS. THE PERSONAL HISTORY AND STORY THAT DAVID DOES WITH YOU. YOU ARE SUCH AN AVATAR FOR THE PROFESSION. YOU ARE INSCRUTABLE. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE COUNTRY OR THE WORLD WHO WATCHES YOU CAN TELL WHAT YOUR VIEWS ARE. LET ME TELL YOU FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING, WHEN I'M SITTING AT

THE TABLE, AND I'M GIVING MY OPINION, SHE GIVES ME THIS FLAT LOOK WHERE I'M THINKING DOES SHE THINK I'M AN IDIOT -- OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S THINKING. >> NEVER. >> BUT THAT IS QUINTESSENTIALLY YOU. I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND -- I AM ON THE OPINION SIDE, DAVID IS ON THE OPINION SIDE. OUR JOB IS TO TELL YOU WHAT WE THINK. JUDY IS ON THE NEWS SIDE. HER JOB IS TO TELL YOU WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHY IT IS HAPPENING IN THE CONTEXT OF HISTORY AND OF THE MOMENT. HER JOB IS NOT TO TELL YOU WHAT SHE THINKS. SO IF YOU DON'T THINK FOR REAL, AND THEY DON'T TAKE THE JOB SERIOUSLY, LOOK AT JUDY WOODRUFF. HER WORK NOT JUST AT PBS, WHEN SHE WAS AT CNN, AND OTHER PLACES. AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR RERTING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY, WHAT

PEOPLE ARE REALLY THINKING. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE BETTER FOR PEOPLE TO TALK TO AND REALLY TALK TO AND SHARE WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT THE COUNTRY THAN YOU. >> MY GOSH. WE DON'T HAVE A GLASS. WHAT I'M WONDERING IS WHY DIDN'T I ASK YOU ABOUT THIS A LONG TIME AGO? I COULD HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS FOR YEARS. INSTEAD I WAITED UNTIL MY LAST NIGHT AS THE ANCHOR. WHAT A JOY IT IS TO SIT ACROSS THE TABLE OR ACROSS CONTINENTS AND OCEANS FROM THE TWO OF YOU. WE READ YOUR COLUMNS, WE GENERALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. BUT TO HAVE YOU HERE, THE BENEFIT OF YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS, YOUR HUMANITY AS YOU THINK ABOUT AND SHARE WITH US YOUR IDEAS AND WHAT YOU FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT AND WHAT MATTERS TO YOU, OUR AUDIENCE IS SO TAKEN BY THAT. AND WE KNOW THAT BY THE ENORMOUS RESPONSE. >> JUST SOME PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. WHEN I THINK OF THE SCENES WE HAVE SHARED.

FIRST SITTING IN THE ROOM, AND YOU COME OVER TO WHERE WE ARE SITTING, YOU HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS. YOU HAVE DONE THIS A FAIR BIT. YOU WERE ALWAYS SO PREPARED. I THINK OF A SCENE THAT LEADS TO MY MIND AFTER ONE OF THE CONVENTIONS. WE COVERED -- MAYBE IT WAS THE LAST CONVENTION. YOU GUYS HIGH-FIVING AFTER THE FOUR HOUR BROADCAST. THE CAMARADERIE BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU. I CAN'T NOT REMEMBER THE TIME YOU SAYING AT MY BACHELOR PARTY. RUTH MARCUS AND JUDY AND TWO OTHER FRIENDS SANG AT MY BACHELOR PARTY. >> NOW WE KNOW WHAT I DON'T SING FOR A LIVING. >> THEN THE FINAL THING THAT LEAPS TO MIND IS IN THE MAKEUP ROOM, THERE IS OFTEN A SUITCASE. IT IS YOUR SUITCASE. IF YOU ARE OFF TO HOST AN AWARD SHOW FOR YOUNG JOURNALISTS OR SOMETHING IN HONOR OF JOURNALISTS UNDER FIRE AND UNDER THREAT, YOU ARE FLYING OFF

SOMEWHERE TO DO SOMETHING. THAT IS PART OF THE WIDER SERVE. >> THAT IS INCREDIBLY OVER-THE-TOP. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE TWO OF YOU. I BARELY KNOW WHAT TO SAY. COMPLETELY EMBARRASSED AND HUMBLED BY THIS. BUT THE AUDIENCE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS. I HAVE TO COME BACK TO BOTH OF YOU. WHAT A TREASURE THAT I CONSIDER IT TO WORK WITH YOU. WORKING BACK TO THE PEOPLE AT THE DESK, JIM IN WASHINGTON, GWE N, WHO BOTH OF YOU KNEW SO WELL AND THE AMAZING HUMAN SHE WAS. AND WE HAVE LOST HER. THERE'S A LOT OF MEMORIES TONIGHT. I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE FANTASTIC FUTURE OF THIS PROGRAM OF OUR FUTURE CO-ANCHORS. THEY WILL BE HERE, THE SAME TEAM OF CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE HERE. THE NEWSHOUR WILL GO ON. I'M STEPPING AWAY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. VERY EXCITED OF THAT REPORTING ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHAT THEIR HOPES, DREAMS, AND

ASPIRATIONS ARE, HOW THEY THINK WE CAN HEAL SOME OF OUR DIVISIONS. AS I WILL SAY IT, EVEN LONGER SPEECH. HOW MUCH MY HEART IS FULL TONIGHT. WHAT A TREASURE FOR ME, WHAT A GIFT FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> AND NOW I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING UNUSUAL. I'M INTRODUCING A VIDEO THAT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. IT WAS PRODUCED AS A SURPRISE FOR ME ON THIS LAST NIGHT OF THE ANCHOR CHAIR BY MY COLLEAGUES. LISA DESJARDINS, DANCE A GALLON, AND AMADA HER NEW A. >> JUDY WOODRUFF IS THE BEST OF US. >> JUDY WOODRUFF IS A TOTAL PRO. >> AND I COME. >> FAIR AND BALANCED. >> TENACIOUS. >> A MODEL, NOT JUST IN THE NEWSROOM, BUT IN LIFE. >> JUDY IS TIRELESS.

SHE MUST HAVE SOME SORT OF SECRET NUCLEAR CORE POWER SOURCE LIKE IRON MAN. >> I AM AMAZED AT YOUR STAMINA. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT. >> EVERY TIME I WALK OUT OF JUDY'S OFFICE, I THINK I'M SO LUCKY TO WORK WITH THIS WOMAN. >> JUDY WOODRUFF IS A NATIONAL TREASURE. >> THE GOLD STANDARD OF TRUSTWORTHY JOURNALISM. >> THE NORTHSTAR JOURNALISM. >> TRIUMPH MARKED BY STRUGGLES AGAINST ADVERSITY. >> JUDY WOODRUFF IS RUNNING LATE. >> BUT SHE IS GOING TO MAKE HER FLIGHT. PROBABLY. >> JUDY WOODRUFF IS A CHAMPION FOR JOURNALISM. >> AND YOUTH VOICES. >> HER REPORTING IS VALUED AND RESPECTED BY SO MANY AMERICANS ALL OVER. >> YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON. >> JUDY WOODRUFF IS ONE OF MY ROLE MODELS. >> INCREDIBLY GENUINE AND DOWN TO EARTH. >> THE NICEST GIRL'VE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. >> EXACTLY THE SAME PERSON ON CAMERA AS SHE IS OFF.

OUTSTANDING. >> INCOMPARABLE, GENEROUS. >> JUDY IS JUDY. NOT MANY PEOPLE LIKE HER. SHE IS PRETTY SPECIAL. >> MY GRANDFATHER IS HER NUMBER ONE FAN, WHICH I HAVE TOLD HER MANY TIMES. SHE WAS SO KIND HIS PAST BIRTHDAY TO RECORD THREE TAKES OF HER WISHING HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. IT MEANT THE WORLD TO HIM. SHE HAS BEEN A CHEERLEADER FOR ME THROUGH HERE, AND AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT FOR MY FAMILY PERSONALLY. >> I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH JUDY, GWEN, ROBIN, AND JIM. >> I NEVER MET SOMEONE WHO WORKS AS HARD AS JUDY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. >> JUDY, YOU ARE A MENTOR, ROCKSTAR IN THE WORLD OF JOURNALISM, BUT MOSTLY A LOT OF FUN, LIKE 2008. >> WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF ACINAV IROG ANSSI WILL ALWAYS RE GOERING -- JUGGLING CALLS. >> IN LAS VEGAS, IN FLORIDA,

STILL IN AWE OF HOW SHE COMBINES STRENGTHND KINDNESS. >> SHE'S WAYS LOOKING TO GET DEPTH AND PRECISION AND FACTS AND EMPATHY FROM THE PEOPLE SHE'S REPORTING ON. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF DEADLINE PRESSURE SHE'S UNDER, OR WHAT THE SCHEDULE IS LIKE. >> THE KIND OF WORK I DO THAT WE DID WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT ALL OF THE BARRIERS YOU BROKE, THE PATHS YOU PAVED, AND THE REPUTATION YOU BUILD. >> WORKING WITH JUDY ON THE OBITUARIES FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HIECOVID-19, I GOT D THE AMOUNT OF CARE AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL SHE PUT INTO CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF EVERY PERSON WE PROFILED. >> I REMEMBER THE MOST DIFFICULT NIGHT OF TELEVISION I EVER HAD TO MAKE.

THE NIGHT OUR FRIEND GWEN PASSED AWAY. WE HAD JUST FINISHED A WHOLE PROGRAM LISTENING TO ALL OF THESE DEAR FRIENDS OF GWEN AND WHAT SHE MEANT TO THEM. IT WAS DIFFICULT. BUT JUDY DID. >> SHE TOOK THE TIME TO STOP WHAT SHE WAS DOING AND SHAKE MY HAND AND SAID WELCOME TO THE NEWSHOUR. I WAS STARSTRUCK LAND, AND HONESTLY I'M STILL STARSTRUCK NOW. >> SHE WOULD ALWAYS TAKE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU AND A ME HOW I WAS DOING. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD EVEN COMPLEMENT MY SWEATERS. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND MY WARDROBE, THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ACHIEVE MY GOAL AND CUTTING YOUR HAIR. I'M SO HAPPY. >> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR

SUPPORT THROUGH THE YEARS. >> TNK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> JUST THANK YOU. >> WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. >> THANK YOU, JUDY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERY THING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, JUDY. >> I CAN BARELY HOLD IT TOGETHER. BUT AS I TURN OVER THIS SPECIAL ANCHOR DESK WITH ITS REMARKABLE HISTORY TO THE NEW TEAM, JUST A FEW WORDS TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT WHAT IT HAS MEANT TO SIT HERE VERSUS A SUBSTITUTE ANCHOR IN THE 1980'S AND 1990'S, AND FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST TUMULTUOUS EVENTS OF OUR TIMES, SEVEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, AND A COLD WAR. THE START OF MANY HOT ONES. MOST FRESH IN MY MIND, THE COVID PANDEMIC. RECKONING OVER RACE IN AMERICA.

MASS SHOOTINGS IN SCHOOLS AND GROCERY STORES. AND OUR NATION'S DEEPENING POLITICAL DIVIDE. THROUGH IT ALL, I HAVE TRIED TO STAY TRUE ABOUT THE WHAT THE PROGRAM FOUNDERS BELIEVED SO FIERCELY THAT WE ARE HERE TO REPORT AND TELL YOU AS ACCURATELY AND FAIRLY AS WE CAN WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND TO LET YOU MAKE OF YOUR MINDS ON WHAT TO THINK. AND HAVE THE COURAGE AS MY BELOVED COANCHOR TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS TO HOLD PEOPLE IN POWER ACCOUNTABLE. AND I WOULD ADD TO CAREUG EHNOAB YOU AND YOUR BELIEFS WHAT YOUR LIVES ARE LIKE. IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME TO BE IN THIS CHAIR, TO TELL THESE HUGELY IMPORTANT STORIES, TO SHARE TH WORST AND THE BEST OF HUMANITY, ALL OF WHICH WE NEED TO HEAR TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE CITIZENS WE CAN BE. AND OF COURSE, TO SUPPORT THE WORK DONE BY MY REMARKABLE NEWSHOUR COLLEAGUES. I'M JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. THEY DO THE WORK DAY IN AND DAY

OUT THAT GETS THIS PROGRAM ON THE AIR. THEY RESEARCH, THEY WRITE, THEY PRODUCE, TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEO, ADJUST LIGHTING AND AUDIO, EDIT, FIX, DIRECT ALL THE THINGS WITHOUT WHICH THERE WOULD BE NO PROGRAM. ON THE DIGITAL SIDE ONLINE, THEY DO ALL THAT AND MORE, PLUS STREAMING AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY DON'T SLEEP. THAT IS WHY I KNOW WITH ALL OF MY BRILLIANT ON-AIR COLLEAGUES AND NEWCO ANCHORS, THE NEWSHOUR WILL NOT ONLY THRIVE, IT WILL SOAR. AND JUST A REMINDER, I'M NOT LEAVING THE NEWSHOUR, I WILL STILL BE AROUND AS A CORRESPONDENT. TAKING ON A BIG PROJECT CALLED AMERICA AT A CROSSROADS. TRYING TO UNDERSTAND OUR COUNTRY BETTER AND HOW WE AMERICANS SEEM SO DIVIDED. I ALSO PLAN TO DO REPORTING ON WHAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FACE. FINALLY, THANK YOU WATCHING IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, THE BEST VIEWERS ANYWHERE , CONCERNED CITIZENS WHO HOLD US TO A HIGH STANDARD EVERY SINGLE

DAY. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US TO TELL IT STRAIGHT. I STEPWAY NOW WITH A HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE FOR THIS SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE MOST CRITICAL STORIES OF OUR TIME. AND AS WE SAY EVERY EVENING, THAT IS THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. I'M. JUDY WOODRUFF FOR ALL OF US AT THE PBS NEWSHOUR, THANK YOU, STAY SAFE, AND WE WILL SEE YOU SOON. [APPLAUSE] >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY. ♪ >> MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS.

BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US. ♪ >> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS. AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR, INCLUDING KATHY AND PAUL ANDERSON, AND CAMILLA AND GEORGE SMITH. THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION, WORKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT WATER DURING CLIMATE CHANGE SO PEOPLE AND NATURE CAN THRIVE TOGETHER. >> THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION, FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, ADVANCING IDEAS AND SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS TO PROMOTE A BETTER WORLD. ♪ >> AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR. THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC

BROADCASTING, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. ♪ ♪ ♪♪ >> Hello, and welcome

to "GZERO World." I'm Ian Bremmer, and today we are looking at tough months ahead for Europe. An escalating Russia-Ukraine war has mobilized almost all of Europe to Kyiv's cause, but it's also destabilizin the region, bringing with it economic, political, and social challengethat will last long after the war is over. And let's face it, who knows when the war's going to be over. Out of this climate of fear and instability, the far right has become resurgent, making political gains in many national elections. And then there's China, intent on reshaping the global order in its favor. It's a lot to chew on, and chew I shall with German diplomat Christoph Heusgen. He served as his country's ambassador to the United Nations and is now chairman of