PBS NewsHour; March 26, 2012 3:00pm-4:00pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONSNS

>> IfillllITIT DAY ONE, AND THTH KICKOFF OF F E E BABA OVER THE LANDMARK HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW AT THE SUPREME COURT. GOOD EVENING. I'M GWEN IFILL.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, BETTY ANN BOWSER SETS THE SCENE, AND MARCIA COYLE AND SUSAN DENTZER EXPLAIN THE DAY'S ARGUMENTS, THE LAW, AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

>> Ifill: THEN, WE LOOK AT THE SUMMIT OF WORLD LEADERS IN SOUTH KOREA WITH NUCLEAR SECURITY ON THE AGENDA.

>> Woodruff: MARGARET WARNER EXAMINES ADVANCES IN HEART TRANSPLANT SURGERY AS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY RECOVERS FROM HIS OPERATION.

>> Ifill: JEFFREY BROWN TAKES US TO A CHICAGO THEATER WHERE YOUNG ACTORS AND ACTRESSES TACKLE REAL LIFE ISSUES OF IMMIGRATION, POVERTY, AND RACISM.

>> IT'S MORE THAN JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE ON THE STAGE AND PERFORM AND BE AN ACTRESS. I MEAN WE'RE TELLING THE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN IGNORED OR STIGMATIZED.

>> Woodruff: AND WE CLOSE WITH A LOOK AT FILMMAKER JAMES CAMERON'S JOURNEY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, SEVEN MILES BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S NEWSHOUR. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> BNSF RAILWAY. >. THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION, WORKING TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: THE U.S. SUPREME COURT OPENED THREE DAYS OF ARGUMENTS TODAY ON THE NATION'S HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW. NEWSHOUR HEALTH CORRESPONDENT BETTY ANN BOWSER BEGINS OUR COVERAGE.

>> Reporter: SUPPORTER AND OPPONENTS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TOOK TO THE STREETS EARLY THIS MORNING TO MAKE THEIR CASE TO THE CAMERAS OUTSIDE OF THE COURT. IT WAS A FAR CRY FROM THE SUBDUED ATMOSPHERE THAT WOULD UNFOLD LATER IN THE DAY INSIDE.

>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO ARGUE?

>> Reporter: EMOTIONS HAVE RUN HIGH SINCE CONGRESS PASSED THE LAW TWO YEARS AGO. IN FACT ALMOST BY ENTIRELY BY DEMOCRATS AND PRESIDENT OBAMA.

>> WHAT DO WE WANT?

>> Reporter: ONE OF ITS PRIMARY GOALS: PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO MORE THAN 30 MILLION UNINSURED AMERICANS. THE LAW INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE REQUIRING MOST PEOPLE TO BUY INSURANCE OR PAY A PENALTY. A QUESTION AT THE HEART OF THE CASE. TODAY THE JUSTICES WERE TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY COULD RULE ON THE MANDATE BEFORE IT TAKES EFFECT IN 2014. AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A TAX. THE TONE OF QUESTIONING FROM SEVERAL JUSTICES, INCLUDING STEPHEN BREYER, SUGGESTED THEY BELIEVED SO. SINCE THE TWO SIDES BOTH OPPOSE THE TAX DESIGNATION, THE COURT APPOINTED A WASHINGTON PRIVATE ATTORNEY, ROBERT LONG, TO ARGUE IN FAVOR.

>> WHY IS THIS A TAX? AND I KNOW YOU POINT TO CERTAIN SENTENCES THAT TALK ABOUT TAXES WITHIN THE CODE. AND THIS IS NOT A... ATTACHED TO A TAX. THIS IS ATTACHED TO A HEALTH CARE REQUIREMENT. WHY DOES IT FALL WITHIN THAT WORD?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THE FIRST POINT IS OUR INITIAL SUBMISSION IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO DETERMINE THAT THIS IS A TAX IN ORDER TO FIND THAT THE ANTI-INJUNCTION ACT APPLIES BECAUSE CONGRESS VERY SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT IT SHALL BE ASSESSED AND COLLECTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS A TAX. EVEN IF IT'S A TAX PENALTY AND NOT A TAX. THAT'S ONE ARGUMENT.

>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE A.I.A.APPLIES.

>> Reporter: THE HEARINGS HAVE SET THE STAGE FOR A NEW ROUND OF DEBATE IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.

>> THIS IS A TEACHING MOMENT.

>> Reporter: SUPPORTERS LIKE RON POLLACK OF FAMILIES USA KICKED OFF A THREE-DAY BLITZ BY BRINGING DOCTORS AND NURSES TO THE STEPS OF THE COURT.

>> TWO-AND-A-HALF MILLION YOUNG ADULTS ARE RECEIVING COVERAGE THROUGH THEIR PARENTS AS A RESULT OF THE LEGISLATION. CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS CAN NO LONGER BE DENIED HEALTH COVERAGE BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO THEIR PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.

>> Reporter: A COALITION OF HEALTH REFORM GROUPS HAS TAKEN OVER THIS BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SUPREME COURT. THE GROUPS IT BROUGHT IN NEARLY 30 RADIO TALK SHOW HOSTS TO BROADCAST DURING THE THREE DAYS OF ARGUMENTS. WHEN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS PASSED IN 2010, AMERICANS WERE SHARPLY DIVIDED OVER WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD OR A BAD IDEA. TODAY THAT IS STILL THE CASE. AND THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE UNPOPULAR. A RECENT ABC NEWS/"WASHINGTON POST" POLL FOUND THAT 67% OF THOSE SURVEYED WANT THE SUPREME COURT TO STRIKE THE MANDATE DOWN.

>> REPEAL THE LAW. REPEAL THE LAW.

>> Reporter: NO GROUP IS MORE OPPOSED TO THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE THAN THE COALITION OF CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS HOLDING RAL EYES AND NEWS CONFERENCES THIS WEEK. OVER THE WEEKEND, ABOUT 400 DEMONSTRATORS STOOD FOR OVER TWO HOURS IN THE POURING RAIN NEAR THE SUPREME COURT TO DEMAND THE JUSTICES FIND THE MANDATE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> IF THE JUSTICES DO NOT LISTEN TO... THEY ARE NOT REALLY UPHOLDING THEIR OATH OF OFFICE TO THE CONSTITUTION AND THE PEOPLE THAT EXPECT THE CONSTITUTION TO BE UPHELD.

>> OBAMA CARE IS LIKE CANCER.

>> Reporter: JENNY BETH MARTIN WHO LEADS THE TEA PARTY PATRIOTS SAYS THE WEEK'S EVENTS AREN'T JUST ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT.

>> WE AT TEA PARTY PATRIOTS HAVE PROMISEDED WE WILL FIGHT THIS LAW AND GET IT REPEALED. THAT IS WHAT WE INTEND TO DO. WE'RE NOT PUTTING ALL OF OUR EGGS IN ANY ONE BASKET.

>> Reporter: VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL FILED ONE OF THE EARLIEST LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE MANDATE. THAT CASE IS NOT PART OF THE ONE BEING HEARD THIS WEEK. AND WHILE HE IS TAKING PART IN SOME OF THE MEDIA EVENTS, HE AGREES THAT OPPONENTS OF THE LAW HAVE A BROADER MESSAGE.

>> DO YOU EXPECT ANY OF THIS ACTIVITY, WHETHER ITS SUPPORTERS OF THE LAW OR OPPONENTS TO THE LAW HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE COURT?

>> NO. THAT ISN'T WHY I'M HERE TODAY. BUT I DO EXPECT IT TO HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS. BOTH THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT, THE ELECTIONS FOR THE U.S. SENATE. THIS HAS A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS WELL BEYOND JUST THE CASE. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE GOT HERE BECAUSE OF CHOICES PEOPLE MADE IN ELECTIONS.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE USING THIS MOMENT TO MOBILIZE THEIR BASES. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RICK SANTORUM SHOWED UP OUTSIDE THE COURT TODAY.

>> THERE'S NO MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES OF THE DAY WHICH IS OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY AND STABILITY, JOB GROWTH, THE SIZE AND SCALE OF GOVERNMENT.

>> BARACK OBAMA PROMISED....

>> Reporter: BOTH PARTIES ARE MOUNTING MAJOR CAMPAIGNS ON THE AIR WAVES AND ONLINE. THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE IS AIRING THIS AD IN SIX BATTLE GROUND STATES. AND THE PASSAGE OF THE LAW WAS A MAJOR FOCUS OF A VIDEO PRODUCED BY THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN EARLIER THIS MONTH.

>> WHEN MY MOM GOT CANCER, SHE WASN'T A WEALTHY WOMAN. IT PRETTY MUCH DRAINED ALL HER RESOURCES.

>> SHE DEVELOPED OVARIAN CANCER. NEVER REALLY HAD GOOD, CONSISTENT INSURANCE.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE COURT HEARS THE CASE THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT OBAMA IS ATTENDING A NUCLEAR SECURITY CONFERENCE IN SOUTH KOREA. SO SELLING THE LAW HAS BEEN LEFT TO SURROGATES.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER WHAT THOSE BENEFITS ARE.

>> Reporter: THIS WOMAN WAS A HEALTH POLICY ADVISOR FOR THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. NOW AS PRESIDENT OF THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS, SHE IS TRYING TO PERSUADE PEOPLE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WILL BENEFIT MANY AMERICANS. BUT, SHE SAYS, IT'S A HARD SELL. BECAUSE THE WHITE HOUSE HAD TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT COMPROMISES TO GET THE LAW PASSED AND STILL MANAGED TO GET ONLY ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE.

>> IT HAS BECOME A VERY POLARIZING ISSUE, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LEGISLATION WAS PASSED AND THE PROCEDURAL CHALLENGES. SAUSAGE MAKING IN CONGRESS IS NEVER PRETTY. THAT WAS PARTICULARLY UNPRETTY PARTICULARLY UNATTRACTIVE SAUSAGE MAKING, THE PROCESS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 150 FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE ARGUMENTS TODAY. THE LINES ARE ALREADY FORMING AGAIN FOR TOMORROW.

>> Ifill: FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE IMPACT OF THE LAW

>> Ifill: FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE IMPACT OF THE LAW, AND AT WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THE COURTROOM TODAY, WE'RE JOINED BY THE TEAM COVERING THE ARGUMENTS FOR US THIS WEEK: MARCIA COYLE OF THE "NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL" AND NEWSHOUR HEALTH ANALYST SUSAN DENTZER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE JOURNAL "HEALTH AFFAIRS." BETTY ANNE WAS JUST EXPLAINING THIS IS A BIG, BIG ISSUE BUT TODAY THERE WERE FAIRLY NARROW ARGUMENTS, MARCIA. PRETTY MUCH ABOUT JURISDICTION. WHY WOULDN'T THE COURT HAVE JURISDICTION?

>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A MEAT AND POTATOS ARGUMENT FOR THE SUPREME COURT. WHEN IS A STATUTE A JURISDICTIONAL STATUTE THAT WOULD DEPRIVE THEM OF THE POWER TO CONSIDER THE MERITS OF THE ARGUMENTS HERE? AND ALSO WHEN IS A PENALTY A TAX OR NOT. THIS ISSUE CAME UP IN THE LOWER COURTS. ONE FEDERAL COURT OF APPEALS ACTUALLY HELD THAT THE ANTI-UP JUNCTION ACT OF 1967 DID BAR FEDERAL COURTS FROM CONSIDERING THE MERITS OF THIS LITIGATION. AND A JUDGE ON ANOTHER FEDERAL APPELLATE COURT ALSO RULED THAT WAY. SO THE COURT FELT IT HAD TO ANSWER THIS VERY THRESHOLD QUESTION.

>> Ifill: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PENALTY AND A TAX IS WHAT, ACCORDING TO THE ARGUMENTS TODAY?

>> THERE WERE THREE LAWYERS ARGUING TODAY. THE FIRST LAWYER, THE COURT- APPOINTED LAWYER. HE WAS ASKED BY THE COURT TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS LAW DOES BAR THE FEDERAL COURTS FROM CONSIDERING THE LITIGATION. HE SAID THAT THE PENALTY FOR NOT HAVING MINIMUM ESSENTIAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE REALLY IS IN ALL INTENTS AND EFFECT A TAX. IT OPERATES THAT WAY. EVEN THOUGH IT'S CALLED A PENALTY IN THE LAW, THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE TAX CODE DOES NOT DEFINE TAX. THERE ARE OTHER PENALTIES WITHIN THE TAX CODE THAT OPERATE AS TAXES.

>> Ifill: WE GOT TO HEAR AUDIO FROM INSIDE THE COURT. THEIR ARGUMENTS ONLY YOU GET TO HEAR. LET'S LISTEN TO AN EXCHANGE ABOUT JUST THAT TOPIC RIGHT NOW BETWEEN JUSTICE ELENA KAGAN AND ATTORNEY ROBERT LONG.

>> EITHER BUY INSURANCE OR PAY A PENALTY... OR PAY A FEE. BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE STATUTE READS. CONGRESS, IT MUST BE SUPPOSED, YOU KNOW, MADE A DECISION THAT THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE WAY THE STATUTE READS, THAT IT SHOULD INSTEAD BE A REGULATORY COMMAND AND A PENALTY ATTACHED TO THAT COMMAND.

>> I WOULD NOT ARGUE THAT THIS STATUTE IS A PERFECT MODEL OF CLARITY. BUT I DO THINK THE MOST REASONABLE WAY TO READ THE ENTIRE STATUTE IS THAT IT DOES IMPOSE A SINGLE OBL SGAGS... OBLIGATION TO PAY A PENALTY IF YOU ARE AN APPLICABLE INDIVIDUAL AND YOU'RE NOT SUBJECT TO AN EXEMPTION.

>> Ifill: NOT A PERFECT MODEL OF CLARITY. EVEN JUSTICE SCALIA WAS MAKING THAT SAME POINT IN THIS ARGUMENT. HOW MUCH DOES THAT AFFECT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ARGUING ABOUT, THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY SEEMED TO BE MUDDLING THROUGH THE DEFINITIONS.

>> JUSTICE SCALIA POINTED OUT THAT THE COURT INTERPRETS VERY NARROWLY JURISDICTIONAL STATUTES, STATUTES THAT TAKE AWAY THEIR POWER TO REVIEW. HE SAID IT HAS TO BE CLEAR IN THE STATUTE. AND IT IS IS NOT CLEAR AT ALL HERE. SO THE GENERAL SENSE OF THE JUSTICES WAS THAT THIS ACT WILL NOT APPLY TO THIS PENALTY, EVEN IF IT IS A JURISDICTIONAL STATUTE. AS THE GOVERNMENT ARGUEDED TODAY, THIS PENALTY IS DIFFERENT. IT DOES NOT OPERATE LIKE A TAX.

>> Ifill: THERE'S A PRACTICAL SIDE TO THIS ARGUMENT, SUSAN. IT PLAYED OUT IN ONE INTERESTING EXCHANGE TODAY BETWEEN THE SOLICITOR GENERAL AND JUSTICE....

>> THAT WAS JUSTICE ALITO.

>> Ifill: THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM AND YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID. YOU'RE NOT ON MEDICAID. DOES SOMEONE FORCE YOU TO DO IT?

>> THAT WAS ANOTHER KIND OF CONFUSING MOMENT. JUSTICE ALITO SAID IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID AND YOU'RE NOT ENROLLED IN MEDICAID BUT YOU GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM WHEN THE LAW IS IN EFFECT, WOULD THE HOSPITAL HAVE TO ENROLL YOU IN MEDICAID? THAT'S LITERALLY WHAT HE ASKED. SOLICITOR GENERAL SAID NO. IT SEEMED AS IF HE THOUGHT HE WAS BEING ASKED ABOUT THE PENALTY. THE ACTUAL FACTS ARE UNDER THE LAW YOU ARE OBLIGATED IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO ENROLL IN MEDICAID AS OF 2014. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THE PAY THE PENALTY, HOWEVER, FOR NOT BEING ENROLLED. THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PAYING TAXES, ARE NOT TAX PAYERS, TECHNICALLY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY THE PENALTY.

>> Ifill: EMPLOYERS ARE WATCHING THIS CLOSELY. THIS IS ALREADY LAW, SOMETHING THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IMPLEMENTING. THEY'RE NOT WAITING FOR THE SUPREME COURT TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO.

>> EVERYBODY IS WATCHING THIS CLOSELY BECAUSE ON DAY 3 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER THE ISSUE OF SEVERABILITY APPLIES. THAT IS TO SAY IF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE IS FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL, DOES THE WHOLE LAW GO DOWN ALONG WITH IT? IT DOESN'T LOOK AS IF THE JUSTICES WILL RULE THAT WAY. IT'S A BIG, BIG LAW. THERE ARE MANY MANY SECTIONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EITHER INSURANCE REFORM OR WITH THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE OR EVEN EMPLOYER MANDATES. BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL NERVOUS ABOUT THIS. UNTIL THE COURT ISSUES THE FINAL RULING AND SAYS THIS, THAT OR ON THE OTHER ON THESE ISSUES OF THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE OR SEVERABILITY, PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.

>> Ifill: EVEN THOUGH THE JUSTICES SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE DETAILS, NONE OF THEM SEEMED TO THINK OR SEEMED TO BE BEHAVING LIKE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO TAKE THIS CASEMENT THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MANDATE ARGUMENT WE'RE EXPECTING TOMORROW. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT BUT I ALSO WANT TO PLAY AUDIO FROM AN EXCHANGE BETWEEN CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS AND ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS WHO WAS REPRESENTING THE SMALL BUSINESS FOLKS.

>> THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SUIT IS TO PREVENT THE COLLECTION OF PENALTIES.

>> OF TAXES, MR. CHIEF JUSTICE.

>> PREVENT THE COLLECTION OF TAXES. BUT THE IDEA THAT THE MANDATE IS SOMETHING SEPARATE, WHETHER YOU WANT TO CALL IT A PENALTY OR A TAX, JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE MUCH SENSE.

>> IT'S ENTIRELY SEPARATE. LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY.

>> IT'S A COMMAND. A MANDATE IS A COMMAND. IF THERE'S NOTHING BEHIND THE COMMAND, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE MANDATE? THE ANSWER IS NOTHING. IT SEEMS VERY ARTIFICIAL TO SEPARATE THE PUNISHMENT FROM THE CRIME.

>> Ifill: TALKING ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT AND THE PENALTY WAS LEADING ACTUALLY TO A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A MANDATE OR NOT.

>> A LITTLE BIT. THE CHALLENGERS HERE ARGUE THAT AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE ANTI-INJUNCTION ACT THAT THEY ARE NOT CHALLENGING THE PENALTY. IN THEIR LAWSUIT. THEY ARE CHALLENGING THE MANDATE. CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS DOES NOT SEE HOW YOU CAN SEPARATE THE TWO. HE DID ANNOUNCE AT THE END THAT TOMORROW WE WOULD BE BACK IN THE COURTROOM TO HEAR THE NEXT ARGUMENTS. THEY ARE ABOUT THE MANDATE. JUSTICE ALITO AT ONE POINT DID SORT OF POINTEDLY TEASE THE SOLICITOR GENERAL SAYING, WELL, TODAY YOU'RE ARGUING THAT THE PENALTY IS NOT A TAX. TOMORROW YOU'RE GOING TO ARGUE THAT THE MANDATE IS A TAX. THE GOVERNMENT HAS A VERY CLEAR ARGUMENT HERE THAT IT INVOLVES... THESE INVOLVE TWO VERY DIFFERENT ANALYSES. IN THE CASE OF THE ANTI-INJUNCTION ACT THE COURT IS LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE OF A STATUTE AND HOW IT APPLIES TO PENALTIES AND/OR TAXES. BUT TOMORROW THE COURT IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT. CONGRESS'S TAXING POWER. IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF ANALYSIS.

>> Ifill: AS A RESULT YOU HAD TWO ATTORNEYS VERSUS ONE TODAY. IT WAS UNUSUAL TO HAVE THREE ATTORNEYS ARGUING BEFORE THE COURT.

>> THIS IS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGERS, BOTH AGREED THAT THE ANTI-INJUNCTION ACT DOES NOT APPLY HERE. SO THE COURT WANTED TO HEAR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT. THAT'S WHY THEY APPOINTED MR. LONG TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT.

>> Ifill: WHAT IS ALREADY LAW? WHAT IS ALREADY IN EFFECT? WE KNOW THAT THE LAW IS ENACTED. WE KNOW IT'S ROLLING OUT SLOWLY. BUT AS THIS CHALLENGE GOES BEFORE THE COURT, SOME THINGS ARE ALREADY REAL.

>> YES, INDEED. DOZENS OF PROVISIONS HAVE ALREADY GONE INTO EFFECT BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THERE IS MUCH THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE OR WITH INSURANCE REFORM. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER MEDICARE, SOME CHANGES WERE MADE IN THE LAW THAT ARE ALREADY IN EFFECT. SO LAST YEAR ALONE A NUMBER OF MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WHO HAD HIT THE INFAMOUS DONUT HOLE IN THE MEDICARE DRUG COVERAGE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR 50% DISCOUNTS ON THEIR BRAND NAME DRUGS ONCE THEY GOT THE DONUT HOLE. IN FACT, ABOUT 3.4 MILLION BENEFICIARIES, ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT, GOT ABOUT $2 BILLION OF ASSISTANCE THAT WAY. THERE IS SOME INSURANCE MARKET REFORMS ALREADY IN EFFECT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE KNOW THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN STAY ON THEIR PARENTS POLICIES NOW UP TO AGE 26. AND ALSO THAT PRE-EXISTING CONDITION RESTRICTIONS CANNOT BE HELD AGAINST CHILDREN. ON POLICIES. THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER SET OF PROVISIONS IN THE LAW THAT ARE ALL ABOUT WHAT'S CALLED THE TRIPLE LANE. GETTING US TO BETTER HEALTH, BETTER HEALTH CARE AT LOWER COST. THOSE ARE INNOVATIONS IN THE WAY WE PAY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THE WAY THE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED. AND A NUMBER OF EXPERIMENTS UNDER THAT PART OF THE LAW ARE PLAYING OUT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS, 32 MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MOVED FORWARD AS PIONEER A.C.O.s, AS IT'S CALLED, TO INNOVATE AROUND WAYS OF DELIVERING CARE AND ACTUALLY DRIVE THE COST DOWN. THROUGHOUT THE LAW, THERE ARE OTHER INNOVATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY ROLLING OUT.

>> Ifill: IS THIS ALREADY HURTING OR ARE STATES ARGUING, THESE STATES ARGUING THAT THIS HAS ALREADY CREATED A HARDSHIP FOR THEM FINANCIALLY?

>> NOT AT ALL BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE BIG DOLLARS FOR THE STATES ARE GOING TO COME IN REALLY DOWN THE ROAD AND NOT EVEN, WE JUST STEP BACK ON THE ARGUMENT OF THE MEDICAID EXPANSION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PICKS UP 100% OF THE COST OF THE MEDICAID EXPANSION FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. SO IT WILL BE QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE THE STATES ARE EXPERIENCING EVEN SERIOUS EXPENDITURES ON THE MEDICAID PORTION.

>> Ifill: AREN'T SOME STATES SAYING THEY STILL ARE FORCED TO PICK UP THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT?

>> I THINK SOME STATES ARE SEEING SOME COSTS IN TERMS OF SET-UP, GETTING READY FOR THE ACT. BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY MAJOR COMPLAINTS YET ABOUT STATES EXPERIENCING HEAVY COSTS. EVEN WITH THE MEDICAID, AS SUSAN POINTED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT PAYS 100% UNTIL 2016. AND THEN ITS SHARE DECREASES GRADUALLY UNTIL 2020 WHEN IT STABILIZES AT 90% OF THE COST.

>> Ifill: PEOPLE ARE IN LINE FOR THE BIG MANDATE ARGUMENT TOMORROW.

>> SOME ARE STAYING TODAY SPENDING THE NIGHT HOPING TO GET INTO THE COURTROOM.

>> Reporter: WE'LL BE BACK TO TALK ABOUT IT ALL RIGHT HERE SAME TIME SAME PLACE. WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS WEEK'S ARGUMENTS ONLINE.

>> Ifill: WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS WEEKS ARGUMENTS ONLINE, WHERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO AUDIO ALL OF TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT. TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY, MARCIA'S MORNING BLOG WILL PREVIEW THE DAY'S ARGUMENTS, AND TOMORROW AFTERNOON, YOU CAN JOIN TOP POLICY EXPERTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE FOR A TWITTER CHAT. CLICK ON THE LINKS ON OUR HOMEPAGE, newshour.pbs.org.

>> Woodruff: STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR, THE NUCLEAR SUMMIT IN SOUTH KOREA; A NEW HEART FOR FORMER VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY; YOUNG PEOPLE TELLING THEIR STORIES ON STAGE; AND A DIVE TO THE DEEPEST PART OF THE OCEAN. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: THE SUPREME COURT DEALT WITH TWO OTHER CASES OF NOTE TODAY. THE JUSTICES UPHELD THE FEDERAL COURT'S JURISDICTION OVER A DISPUTED PASSPORT LAW. IT LETS AMERICANS LIST ISRAEL AS THEIR BIRTHPLACE IF THEY WERE BORN IN JERUSALEM. PALESTINIANS CLAIM EAST JERUSALEM AS THEIR CAPITAL. THE COURT ALSO LET STAND A VERDICT OF $28 MILLION AGAINST R.J. REYNOLDS. IT CAME IN THE FIRST OF 8,000 LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST CIGARETTE MAKERS IN FLORIDA. STOCKS ON WALL STREET STARTED THE WEEK POSITIVE, AFTER REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE. IN A SPEECH, BEN BERNANKE REINFORCED PREVIOUS STATEMENTS THAT THE FED WILL KEEP INTEREST RATES LOW THROUGH 2014. THAT SENT THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE UP BY NEARLY 161 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 13,241. THE NASDAQ ROSE 54 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 3122. THERE WERE TWO NEW INCIDENTS OF SECURITY FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN TURNING ON NATO SOLDIERS, KILLING THREE OF THEM. IN THE SOUTH, AN AFGHAN SOLDIER GUNNED DOWN TWO BRITISH SERVICE MEMBERS AT A NATO BASE IN LASHKAR GAH. AN AMERICAN SOLDIER WAS SHOT AND KILLED NEAR A CHECKPOINT IN THE EAST. IN WASHINGTON, THE COMMANDER OF NATO FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN, MARINE GENERAL JOHN ALLEN, WARNED THERE MAY BE MORE TO COME.

>> THE ENEMIES WILL DO ALL THAT THEY CAN TO DISRUPT BOTH THE COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATIONS BUT ALSO DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE INDIGENOUS FORCES THAT DEVELOPED. SO WE SHOULD BE... WE SHOULD EXPECT THAT THIS WILL OCCUR. IN COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATIONS. AS WE SAW IT IN IRAQ AND AS WE'VE SEEN IT IN HISTORICALLY IN COUNTERINSURGENCIES. BUT ALSO IN VIETNAM. IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS KIND OF WARFARE.

>> Sreenivasan: THE TALIBAN URGED AFGHAN TROOPS TO CARRY OUT "REVENGE" ATTACKS AFTER 17 AFGHAN CIVILIANS WERE KILLED TWO WEEKS AGO. THERE WERE NEW DETAILS TODAY ABOUT U.S. ARMY STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT BALES, ACCUSED IN THE MURDERS. AN INTERNAL MILITARY DOCUMENT SAID THAT AFTER THE KILLINGS, BALES RETURNED TO BASE WITH BLOOD ON HIS HANDS, UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT. THE DOCUMENT ALSO SAID INVESTIGATORS FOUND SUSPECTED STEROIDS HIDDEN IN BALES' LIVING QUARTERS. LAWMAKERS IN IRAQ ARE DEMANDING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AFTER AN IRAQI-AMERICAN WOMAN WAS KILLED IN SAN DIEGO. SHAIMA ALAWADI DIED SATURDAY, THREE DAYS AFTER SHE WAS FOUND BRUTALLY BEATEN IN HER HOME. POLICE ALSO FOUND TWO NOTES. ONE READ, "GO BACK TO YOUR COUNTRY, YOU TERRORIST". THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER SAID TODAY THE BODY WILL FLOWN BACK TO BAGHDAD FOR BURIAL. POPE BENEDICT XVI ARRIVED IN CUBA THIS AFTERNOON, BEGINNING A THREE-DAY STAY. CUBAN PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO WAS ON HAND TO GREET THE PONTIFF IN SANTIAGO, THE COUNTRY'S SECOND LARGEST CITY. BENEDICT PLANS TO CELEBRATE AN OPEN AIR MASS THERE TONIGHT BEFORE TRAVELING TO HAVANA, TOMORROW. THIS IS THE FIRST PAPAL TRIP TO THE COMMUNIST-LED ISLAND NATION SINCE POPE JOHN PAUL II VISITED IN 1998. A TRIAL BEGAN TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA FOR THE FIRST U.S. CATHOLIC CHURCH OFFICIAL CHARGED WITH COVERING UP SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN. MONSIGNOR WILLIAM LYNN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO MOVING SUSPECT PRIESTS TO OTHER PARISHES IN THE CITY. THE DEFENSE ARGUED LYNN MAY BE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE PHILADELPHIA ARCHDIOCESE WHO TRIED TO ADDRESS THE SCANDAL. IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNER MITT ROMNEY PICKED UP NEW ENDORSEMENTS FROM CONSERVATIVE LEADERS. THEY INCLUDED UTAH SENATOR MIKE LEE AND CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN KEVIN McCARTHY. THEY URGED THE PARTY TO UNITE BEHIND ROMNEY. BUT RICK SANTORUM INSISTED HE HAD NO PLANS TO STEP ASIDE AFTER WINNING SATURDAY'S PRIMARY IN LOUISIANA. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO JUDY.

>> Woodruff: AND WE TURN TO THE INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT TO REDUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND STOP THE SPREAD OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL. THE VENUE AS MUCH AS THE AGENDA HAS SET THE TONE AS 50 WORLD LEADERS GATHERED IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, JUST DAYS BEFORE THE SUMMIT BEGAN, NORTH KOREA, WHICH MAY HAVE AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN NUCLEAR WEAPONS, ANNOUNCED A MISSILE TEST. IT INSISTED IT WAS TO LAUNCH A SATELLITE. IN RESPONSE, PRESIDENT OBAMA REINFORCEED A U.S. COMMITMENT TO SOUTH KOREA. VISITING THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED DEMILITARIZED ZONE WITH NEARLY 30,000 AMERICAN TROOPS STATIONED NEARBY.

>> THE CONTRAST BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND NORTH KOREA COULD NOT BE CLEARER. COULD NOT BE STARKER.

>> Woodruff: HE CHASTISED THE GOVERNMENT OF KIM JONG UN THE NEW NORTH KOREAN LEADER AT THE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE.

>> NORTH KOREA WILL ACHIEVE NOTHING BUT THREATS OR BY PROVOCATIONS.

>> LAST MONTH THE U.S. ANNOUNCED A DEAL TO PROVIDE FOOD AID TO NORTH KOREA WHILE THE NORTH INSISTED IT WOULD SUSPEND MISSILE TESTS AND URANIUM ENRICHMENT. AND LOY YOU U.N. INSPECTORS BACK IN. THE PRESIDENT RAISED A NORTH KOREAN ISSUE AND IRAN'S NUCLEAR STATUS WITH CHINA'S PRESIDENT TODAY. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAID HE URGED THE CHINESE TO TRY TO DO MORE TO INFLUENCE PYONGYANG. LATER MR. OBAMA MET WITH DMITRI MEDVEDEV, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA THE WORLD'S OTHER MAJOR NUCLEAR POWER. THE PLANS FOR A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IN EUROPE PROMPTED THIS EXCHANGE IN A PRIVATE MOMENT.

>> Woodruff: SLAD MERE IS OF COURSE PUTIN, MEDVEDEV'S PREDECESSOR AND NOW HIS ELECTED SUCCESSOR. RUSSIAN COOPERATION ALSO REMAINS KEY TO AGREEMENTS TO REDUCE SUPER POWER NUCLEAR ARSENALS. AS WELL AS TO RESOLUTION OF THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE. AS THE GUESSING GAME OVER WHETHER ISRAEL WILL STRIKE IRAN CONTINUES. RUSSIAN AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS DID DISCUSS HOW TO CUT THEIR STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL NUCLEAR ARSENAL. THE PRESIDENT, WHO HAS MADE A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD A GOAL, SAID THIS TODAY.

>> WE HAVE MORE NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAN WE NEED. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ENSURE THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES.

>> Woodruff: TOMORROW'S SUMMIT- ENDING COMMUNIQUE WILL FOCUS ON THE DRIVE TO LOCK DOWN NUCLEAR MATERIALE SCATTERED IN COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD BY 2014. AND FOR MORE ON ALL THIS, WE GET TWO VIEWS. JOSEPH CIRINCIONE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE PLOUGHSHARES FUND, A FOUNDATION THAT PROMOTES A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD. HE'S WORKED ON CAPITOL HILL AND HAS WRITTEN EXTENSIVELY ON NUCLEAR ISSUES. STEPHEN RADEMAKER HAS SERVED IN THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF BOTH GEORGE H.W. AND GEORGE W. BUSH, FOCUSING ON ARMS CONTROL AND PROLIFERATION ISSUES. GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Woodruff: STEPHEN, RADEMAKER, TO YOU FIRST. IS THE PRESIDENT RIGHT WHEN HE SAYS THE U.S. AND RUSSIA BOTH HAVE MORE NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAN THEY NEED AND THAT BOTH COUNTRIES CAN AFFORD TO CUT WHAT THEY HAVE WITHOUT DIMINISHING THEIR SECURITY IN ANY WAY?

>> WELL, PRESIDENT OBAMA GAVE A SPEECH IN PRAGUE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC IN WHICH HE SAID HIS VISION IS A WORLD WITHOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT ALL. I GUESS BY THAT STANDARD OF COURSE WE HAVE TOO MANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS. I THINK THE BIGGER QUESTION IS WHETHER RUSSIA BELIEVES WE HAVE TOO MANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THE RUSSIANS HAVE NEVER BOUGHT INTO THE NOTION THAT THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE IS A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD. SO WHILE PRESIDENT OBAMA MAY FEEL LIKE THE UNITED STATES COULD HAVE FEWER WEAPONS, IF THE RUSSIANS DON'T SHARE THAT OBJECTIVE, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF UNILATERAL REDUCTIONS WITH THE RUSSIANS STAYING WHERE THEY ARE.

>> Woodruff: YOU'RE SAYING IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THERE ARE TOO MANY. IF THE RUSSIANS DON'T GO DOWN THEN THE U.S. WOULDN'T BE WILLING TO GO DOWN.

>> I WOULD BE VERY RELUCTANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD AND I THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD BE WELL. IT WASN'T CLEAR THAT HE WAS IN FAVOR OF UNILATERAL REDUCTIONS. HE WAS SAYING THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO LOWER. BUT AGAIN I THINK THE CRITICAL QUESTION IS WHERE DOES RUSSIA STAND ON THIS? I THINK THERE'S LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT RUSSIA WANTS DEEP REDUCTIONS ALONG THE LINES THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA APPARENTLY WOULD FAVOR.

>> Woodruff: JOE CIRINCIONE, WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> IT'S HARD TO SEE WHAT MILITARY MISSION WE NOW HAVE THAT REQUIRES US TO USE EVEN ONE NUCLEAR WEAPON. WE HAVEN'T SINCE WORLD WAR II. LET US ALONE TEN NUCLEAR WEAPONS WHICH WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE UNPRECEDENTED IN HUMAN HISTORY. AND A HUNDRED NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS ALMOST BEYOND COMPREHENSION THAT WE WOULD EVER USE THAT MANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 1800 NUCLEAR WEAPONS ON MISSILES AND BOMBERS READY TO USE. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 5,000 IN OUR ACTIVE STOCK PILE. THE RUSSIANS HAVE SIMILAR NUMBERS. CLEARLY WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE GET DOWN A STOCK PILE THAT EVEN BEGINS TO QUESTION WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH TO DEFEND OURSELVES.

>> Woodruff: WHAT ABOUT MR. RADEMAKER'S POINT IT'S NOT CLEAR AT ALL WHAT THE RUSSIANS WOULD LIKE TO DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS TALKING ABOUT.

>> STEVE SERVED IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING DEEP REDUKESS WITH THE RUSSIANS. THOUSANDS OF WEAPONS WERE CUT UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS STARTED DOWN THAT ROAD. I THINK THE RUSSIANS ARE WILLING TOO. HERE'S THE REALLY GOOD NEWS. RIGHT NOW THE RUSSIANS ARE RETIRING MANY MORE WEAPONS THAT ARE AGING AND HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR ARSENAL.

>> Woodruff: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRATEGIC WEAPONS.

>> STRATEGIC LONG-RANGE WEAPONS. THE WEAPONS THAT CAN REACH OUR SHORES ON LONG-RANGE MISSILES AND BOMBERS. BY THE END OF THIS DECADE THE RUSSIANS WILL BE DOWN TO ABOUT 1,000 NUCLEAR WEAPONS SO WE CAN FOLLOW THEM DOWN SAFELY. WE CAN GO DOWN AND SAFE BOTH OF OUR COUNTRIES MONEY BY NOT REPLACING THOSE SYSTEMS AS THEY AGE AND RETIRE FROM THE FORCE.

>> Woodruff: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I THINK RUSSIA HAS A VERY DIFFERENT NUCLEAR ARCHITECTURE THAN THE UNITED STATES DOES. THEY'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF DISASSEMBLING AND REASSEMBLING NUCLEAR WEAPONS BUT UNDER THE LATEST ARMS CONTROL TREATY BOTH COUNTRIES WILL HAVE 1500 NUCLEAR WEAPONS WHEN THAT AGREEMENT IS ENFORCED. I THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT THE COMMITMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE GLOBAL. OUR ALLIANCE COMMITMENTS TO OUR ALLIES IN EUROPE, OUR ALLIES IN ASIA. WE DON'T HAVE THE GROUND FORCES TO BACK UP THE TREATY OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAVE. THAT'S WHY FOR 50 YEARS WE'VE HAD A NUCLEAR DETERRENT. THOSE OBLIGATIONS HAVEN'T CHANGED. TO THE CONTRARY NEW NUCLEAR FLETS ARE ARE EMERGING IN PLACES LIKE NORTH KOREA AND IF DIPLOMACY DOESN'T SUDDENLY SUCCEED WE'RE GOING TO FACE A NUCLEAR ARMED IRAN AS WELL.

>> Woodruff: YOU'RE SAYING EVEN IF THE U.S. AND RUSSIA WERE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THE QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH U.S. ALLIES.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO TAKE ALL THE OTHER NATIONS INTO ACCOUNT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT NUCLEAR WEAPONS, THE U.S. AND RUSSIA WHERE THE ACTION IS. TOGETHER THEY ACCOUNT FOR 95% OF ALL THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THE WORLD. THERE ARE ABOUT 19,500 IN THE WORLD. WE AND RUSSIA HAVE MOST OF THEM. THE OTHER NATIONS ARE EXPECTING US TO GO DOWN TO LEVELS WHERE THEY CAN THEN JOIN THE CONVERSATION. SO CHINA HAS ABOUT 200. INDIA ABOUT 200. ISRAEL ABOUT THAT NUMBER. SO ONCE YOU GET DOWN, THE U.S. AND RUSSIAN ARSENALS TO ABOUT 1,000 DEPLOYED THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN GET THESE OTHER COUNTRIES IN AND GET THEM NEGOTIATING AS WELL.

>> Woodruff: HOW SIGNIFICANT THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS ALSO TALKING ABOUT REDUCING, STEVEN RADEMAKER, SHORT TACTICAL WEAPONS AND NUCLEAR WAR HEADS IN RESERVE? IS IS THAT SIGNIFICANT?

>> THAT'S A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE RUSSIA TODAY HAS MORE TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAN STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THEY HAVE ABOUT 10 TIMES AS MANY OF THOSE WEAPONS AS THE UNITED STATES HAS. THESE WEAPONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORED IN PREVIOUS ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO VERIFY AND COUNT. SO I THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA IS LISTENING TO WHAT HE HEARD FROM THE UNITED STATES' SENATE IN THE DEBATE ON THE LAST ARMS CONTROL TREATY. HE'S RECOGNIZED THAT IF THERE ARE TO BE DEEPER REDUCTIONS HE HAS TO ADDRESS THE TACK NICKEL NUCLEAR WEAPONS AS WELL. NOW THE PROBLEM THERE IS THAT I USED TO ENGAGE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RUSSIANS. THEY HAVE NO INTEREST OR AT LEAST IN MY... DURING THE TIME I WAS TALKING TO THEM, NO INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THEIR TEN-TO-ONE ADVANTAGE IN THESE WEAPONS. THEY'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT ADVANTAGE. THEY SEE NO REASON TO CHANGE IT.

>> Woodruff: YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE DEAL. WE'RE INTERESTED IN CUTTING THEIR TACTICAL WEAPONS. THEY'RE INTERESTED IN CUTTING OUR BIG RESERVE OF STRATEGIC WEAPONS. IT'S A MADE-FOR NEGOTIATIONS. LET'S MAKE A DEAL HERE. WE CAN CUT THEM AND SO SATISFY EACH SIDE'S SECURITY NEEDS.

>> Woodruff: TWO OTHER NEEDS. THIS PRESIDENT BEING CAUGHT ON CAMERA WITHOUT REALIZING AND SAYING TO MEDVEDEV THAT I CAN BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN EFFECT AFTER THIS ELECTION. WHAT DOES THAT AMOUNT TO?

>> IN PART HE'S TRYING TO GET PUTIN TO SOFTEN UP. HE'S TRYING TO HAVE PUTIN SHOW SOME FLEXIBILITY. PUTIN HAS TAKEN A VERY HARD LINE ATTITUDE ON THIS. IN PART, THIS IS THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE WHEN YOU LET POLITICS DRIVE YOUR MISSILE DEFENSE POLICY. THE PRESIDENT IS NOW SPENDING $10 BILLION A YEAR ON A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM. HE DOESN'T WANT TO APPEAR WEAK ON IT ESPECIALLY DURING AN ELECTION PERIOD. AS A RESULT, THE PRESIDENT IS BUILDING A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T WORK AGAINST AN IRANIAN THREAT THAT DOESN'T YET EXIST WITH MONEY WE DON'T REALLY HAVE. IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO LET THE ACTUAL MILITARY REQUIREMENTS DRIVE MISSILE DEFENSE AND NOT THE POLITICS.

>> Woodruff: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FLEXIBILITY COMMENT.

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS AN ASTONISHING PRESIDENT FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONVEY TO THE RUSSIAN... THAT HE'LL HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY.

>> Woodruff: WHY ASTONISHING?

>> WHAT HE'S SAYING IS I'VE GOT ADDITIONAL OFFERS TO MAKE TO YOU. I CAN'T MAKE THEM BEFORE MY ELECTION BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MIGHT REPUDIATE ME IN THE ELECTION. THIS WOULD CREATE A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR ME TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT I INTEND TO PROPOSE. TRUST ME IN A YEAR I'LL BE BACK WITH A BETTER DEAL. ASTONISHING.

>> NO MATTER WHAT THE PRESIDENT DOES HIS OPPONENTS ARE GOING TO ATTACK HIM FOR BEING WEAK OR NAIVE OR DANGEROUS. THE PRESIDENT MIGHT AS WELL DO WHAT HE REALLY THINKS IS NECESSARY, CUT THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARSENAL.

>> Woodruff: FINAL SHORT QUESTION TO BOTH OF YOU. THIS NORTH KOREA ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS LONG-RANGE MISSILE TEST IN DAYS TO COME, DOES THAT SAY THAT THE AGREEMENT THE U.S. CUT WITH NORTH KOREA LAST MONTH, FOOD AID, AND YOU'LL LET NUCLEAR INSPECTORS IN, IS THAT A MISTAKE, THAT AGREEMENT?

>> WELL, IT'S QUESTIONABLE HETHER THERE ACTUALLY WAS AN AGREEMENT OR THERE WERE TWO SIDES INTERPRETING WHAT WAS SAID IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENCE WAYS. THE EFFORT TO ARRIVE AT SUCH AN AGREEMENT ISN'T A MISTAKE AND CLEARLY NORTH KOREA IS TRYING TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE FOOD AID BY SAYING THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT. AND THEN BEING A LITTLE TOO CLEVER AND SAYING THIS ISN'T A MISSILE LAUNCH. IT'S A SATELLITE LAUNCH. LOOK, IT'S A MISSILE LAUNCH. AND THE U.S. CAN'T TOLERATE THIS. THERE'S NO AGREEMENT IF NORTH KOREA GOES AHEAD WITH THIS.

>> Woodruff: JUST A FEW WORDS.

>> THIS IS THE TYPICAL NORTH KOREAN PATTERN. THEY MAKE PROMISES IN EXCHANGE FOR BENEFITS THAT WE EXTEND TO THEM. THEY POCKET THE BENEFITS AND TRY TO RENEGOTIATE BY TAKING BACK THEIR PROMISES. THEY'VE JUST BEGUN THE RENEGOTIATION EARLIER IN THIS CASE. I THINK THIS IS ALL ABOUT GETTING MORE FOOD AID, GETTING A BETTER DEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES THAN THE ONE THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PROMISED THEM A MONTH AGO.

>> Woodruff: GENTLEMEN, WE THANK YOU BOTH. STEPHEN RADEMAKER AND JOSEPH CIRINCIONE, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, JUDY.

>> Ifill: THE NEWS THIS WEEKEND THAT 71-YEAR-OLD FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY RECEIVED A HEART TRANSPLANT IS RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO GETS ON THE WAITING LIST, AND HOW. MARGARET WARNER HAS MORE.

>> Warner: NOW 71 YEARS OLD, THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF HEART TROUBLES. HE'S HAD FIVE HEART ATTACKS SINCE THE AGE OF 37, AND HAS RECEIVED VIRTUALLY EVERY KIND OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION AVAILABLE, FROM STENTS TO BYPASS SURGERY TO, MOST RECENTLY, AN ARTIFICIAL HEART PUMP. HE WAITED 20 MONTHS FOR THE NEW HEART HE GOT SATURDAY, SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN THE AVERAGE. AND HE'S OLDER THAN MOST TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS. A CHENEY FAMILY SPOKESWOMAN SAID HE IS AWAKE AND TALKING AND DOCTORS ARE PLEASED WITH HIS RECOVERY SO FAR. SOME 3,100 PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A HEART TRANSPLANT. ABOUT 2,000 CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE THEM EACH YEAR. FOR MORE ON ALL THIS, WE TURN TO DR. ALLEN ANDERSON, A TRANSPLANT CARDIOLOGIST AND DIRECTOR OF THE HEART TRANSPLANT CENTER AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE. AND DR. ANDERSON, WELCOME. LET'S START FIRST OF ALL WITH....

>> THANK YOU.

>> Warner:... HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR A 71-YEAR-OLD WITH MR. CHENEY'S HEART HISTORY TO GET A TRANSPLANT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT UNUSUAL ANYMORE. IT USED TO BE UNHEARD OF. I THINK NOW CERTAINLY THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE YOUNGER THAN THE AGE OF 70. THAT IS RIGHT AROUND THE AGE THAT MOST OF US THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND SUITABLE CANDIDATES. BUT THEY DO EXIST. PROBABLY THREE TO FIVE PERCENT OF PATIENTS TRANSPLANTED MIGHT BE AROUND THAT AGE.

>> Warner: THE CHENEY FAMILY SPOKESWOMAN DID SAY THAT THE DOCTORS THINK HE'S DOING WELL. WHAT ARE THE RISKS THAT A DOCTOR LOOKS FOR AND A PATIENT LOOKS FOR RIGHT NOW IN THE COMING DAYS AND REALLY WEEKS?

>> WELL, HE'S CLEARED SEVERAL HURDLES RIGHT NOW. HE SURVIVED TO GET A TRANSPLANT WHICH EVERYONE DOESN'T. HE'S AWAKE AND PRESUMABLY DOING WELL AFTER THE TRANSPLANT. SO THOSE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT HURDLES. THE NEXT THING THAT YOU'LL... THAT PEOPLE WILL BE LOOKING FOR ARE THINGS LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFECTIONS, SIGNS OF EARLY REJECTION WHICH ARE UNCOMMON. BUT DO HAPPEN. AND THEN REALLY JUST TO AVOID THE COMPLICATIONS OF ILLNESS THAT OCCUR IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING.

>> Warner: TRANSPLANTS USED TO BE REALLY QUITE "OUT THERE" IN TERMS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY. NOW YOU'RE DESCRIBING EXPANDING THE UNIVERSE OF WHO GETS THEM. WHEN DID THEY BECOME MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE SO THAT, SAY, 2,000 AMERICANS ARE GETTING THEM EACH YEAR AND WHY?

>> RIGHT. WELL, I THINK THE BIG CHANGE OCCURRED IN THE 1980s WHEN BETTER IMMUNO-SUPPRESSION BECAME AVAILABLE. THAT'S REALLY WHEN TRANSPLANTATION AS A FIELD TOOK OFF BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED TO GET THE ORGAN. AND THE TECHNOLOGY HAS GOTTEN BETTER. SO NOWADAYS IT HAS BECOME, I WOULDN'T SAY A ROUTINE, BUG IT'S WELL WITHIN THE FIELD OF WHAT MODERN MEDICINE DOES. AND NOW THAT WE'RE SEEING PATIENTS WITH HEART PUMPS WHICH IS A VERY RAPIDLY EXPANDING POPULATION, IT CHANGES THE OPTIONS FOR WHAT WE CAN DO FOR PATIENTS WITH VERY ADVANCED HEART FAILURE.

>> Warner: YOU MEAN BECAUSE THEY CAN, AS MR. CHENEY DID, KEEP GOING ON THIS ARTIFICIAL HEART PUMP UNTIL ONE IS AVAILABLE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT. THE ARTIFICIAL PUMPS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN USED TO ALLOW US TO BRIDGE PATIENTS WHO NEED TRANSPLANTATION BUT ARE GOING TO DIE BEFORE THEY RECEIVE TRANSPLANTS. BECAUSE THEY WORK SO WELL IN THAT POPULATION, WE'VE BEGUN-- AND BECAUSE WE'VE GOT BETTER PUMPS NOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY USING THESE PUMPS FOR PERMANENT THERAPY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOOD CANDIDATES FOR TRANSPLANT, WHO WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE A TRANSPLANT. SO IT'S REALLY SEEN A CHANGE IN WHAT WE CAN DO FOR PATIENTS WHO BASICALLY HAVE TERMINAL DISEASE. AND NOW... YES.

>> Warner: I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU. IF A PATIENT AND HIS DOCTOR OR HER DOCTOR DECIDE HE OR SHE WANTS A TRANSPLANT, THEN WHO GETS TO THE TOP OF THE LIST? WHO GETS PICKED AND WHY?

>> RIGHT. WELL, THE TIMING OF TRANSPLANT REALLY DEPENDS ON SEVERAL FACTORS. FIRST OF ALL IT DEPENDS ON THE SEVERITY OF ONE'S ILLNESS. IT DEPENDS ON THEIR BLOOD TYPE AND THEIR BODY SIZE AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE ANY SPECIAL ISSUES THAT MIGHT REQUIRE SPECIAL MATCHING OF DONORS. SO RECIPIENTS. SO CERTAIN BLOOD TYPES ARE MORE LIKELY TO GE TRANSPLANTED. CERTAIN BLOOD TYPES HAVE A LONGER WAIT PERIOD. THE SEVERITY OF ILLNESS REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW THE PATIENT IS DOING. PATIENTS WITH HEART PUMPS ARE GIVEN INTERMEDIATE PRIORITY ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST AFTER 30 DAYS. EVERYONE ON A HEART PUMP WILL GET 30 DAYS OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TIME. THEN THEY DROP TO THE MIDDLE PRIORITY UNLESS THEY DEVELOP A COMPLICATION RELATED TO THE... WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BE AT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.

>> Warner: MR. CHENEY'S DOCTOR SAID THAT HE HAD EXERTED NO SPECIAL INFLUENCE TO RECEIVE THIS HEART. AND THE SYSTEM, THE DONOR SYSTEM COULD NOT BEEN MANIPULATED. IS HE RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK SO. PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT HE WAITED 20 MONTHS ON A VAD OR A HEART PUMP FOR THIS TRANSPLANT. THAT'S LONGER THAN THE TYPICAL PERSON WAITS. THAT'S LONGER, IT'S QUITE VARIABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT IN OUR REGION, THAT WOULD BE A VERY LONG WAIT. IN OUR PROGRAM, THAT WOULD BE A VERY LONG WAIT. WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A PERSON LIKE THAT TRANSPLANTED... SEE THEM TRANSPLANTED IN 6 TO 12 MONTHS DEPENDING UPON OTHER ISSUES. I THINK THAT'S UNLIKELY. TO HAVE HAPPENED.

>> Warner: THE HEAD OF THE ORGAN DONOR NETWORK SAID TODAY OR SAID OVER THE WEEKEND THAT NOW FULLY A THIRD... NO, 15% OF THOSE ON THE LIST, THE WAIT LIST FOR A HEART TRANSPLANT ARE NOW 65 AND OLDER. DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO INCREASE, GIVEN AS BABY BOOMERS AGE AND AS THIS BECOMES MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE?

>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE. I THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT IS THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE TODAY. HE HAS SURVIVED A MUCH LONGER TIME THAN ONE MIGHT HAVE PREDICTED WHEN HE DEVELOPED HIS PROBLEMS. BECAUSE OF THE ADVANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND THERAPIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE. PATIENTS ARE TAKING CARE OF THEMSELVES. THEY'RE LIVING LONGER. THEY'RE GENERALLY HEALTHIER. AND AS YOU GENERALLY SEE AND THE AMERICAN POPULATION, PEOPLE ARE DOING BETTER AT OLDER AGES. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED. THERE IS AN UPPER LIMIT I SUSPECT BUT THIS IS NOT SURPRISING.

>> Warner: DR. ALLAN ANDERSON FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL SCHOOL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: NEXT, TO THE STORY OF A CHICAGO THEATER WHERE THE SCRIPTS COME FROM THE REAL LIVES OF THE YOUNG PERFORMERS. JEFFREY BROWN HAS THE STORY.

>> I DID IT. I RAN AWAY.

>> Brown: IN A NEW PLAY CALLED HOME LAND, TWO YOUNG LOVERS PLAYED BY TWO TEENAGERS LEAVE BEHIND THEIR SMALL VILLAGE IN MEXICO FOR A LONG AND DANGEROUS TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> MOMMY WILL BE SAD. BUT WE'LL GET MARRIED. THEY'LL FORGIVE US.

>> Reporter: HE'S A... IT'S A SCENE THAT TELLS OF THE PAIN AND PROMISE OF ONE KIND OF IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE.

>> TELL ME YOUR STORY. TELL ME HOW THIS HAPPENED. TELL ME HOW WE HAPPENED. TELL ME SO I BELIEVE.

>> Brown: IN THE PLAY SEVERAL CHARACTERS SAY TO ONE ANOTHER, TELL ME OUR STORY. IT'S A LINE THAT REFLECTS THE GUIDING SPIRIT OF AN AMBITIOUS YOUTH THEATER PROGRAM THAT EXPLORES REAL LIFE STORIES FROM THIS DIVERSE CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD. ALBANY PARK IN NORTHWEST CHICAGO IS A CLASSIC GATEWAY NEIGHBORHOOD. HOME TO GENERATIONS OF IMMIGRANTS BEGINNING WITH THE GERMANS AND SWEDES IN THE 19th CENTURY. TODAY MORE THAN 40 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES CAN BE HEARD IN ITS STREETS AND HOMES. IT WAS HERE 15 YEARS AGO THAT DAVID FINER AND HIS WIFE LAWYER WILEY FOUNDED THE ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT.

>> I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THIS PLAY.

>> Brown: THEIR IDEA: TO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MANY BACKGROUNDS WHO WOULD RESEARCH, WRITE AND PERFORM PLAYS THAT TELL THEIR OWN STORIES.

>> THE IDEA OF WORKING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE STORIES THAT CAME FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THAT WERE FRESH WERE, WERE IMMEDIATE. YOU'LL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO CULTURAL TRADITIONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THAT WAS THRILLING.

>> Brown: LAURA WILEY DIED IN 2007 OF OVARIAN CANCER. DAVID FINER HAS KEPT ON. THE ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT, NOW WITH A STAFF OF SIX, AND 23 YOUNG MEMBERS, HAS BUILT A STRONG AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT HAS PRODUCED MORE THAN 50 PLAYS.

>> I WAS BORN IN FOOD STAMPS. WE WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE, SWIPED THE CARD FOR FOOD, PAID CASH FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> Brown: TAKING ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS POVERTY, CHILD ABUSE AND RACISM. ISSUES THAT THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES CONFRONT.

>> SOME OF THEM HAVE LIVED IN POVERTY. THEY UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT AND UNPLEASANT SUBJECTS INTIMATELY AS A THEATER ARTIST, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD TODAY. I WANT TO DO WITH THAT TEENAGERS.

>> AND THANK YOU.

>> Brown: THIS IS THE COMPANY'S ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.

>> WHEN PEOPLE JOIN, THEY COME BECAUSE THEIR FRIENDS EITHER DRAGGED THEM OR THEY HEAR WE HAVE A KITCHEN. OR THERE'S A CUTE GIRL THERE. BUT... THERE'S LIKE....

>> Brown: HIGH SCHOOL AFTER ALL.

>> IT IS AFTER ALL. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME HERE AND THEY SHOW UP AND REALIZE THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE ON THE STAGE AND PERFORM AND BE AN ACTRESS. WE'RE TELLING THE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN IGNORED OR STIGMATIZED.

>> Brown: SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STUDENTS TO JOIN THE COMPANY. HER PARENTS HAD FLED COMMUNIST POLAND AND COME TO CHICAGO IN THE 1970s. HER FATHER DIED WHEN MAGGIE WAS VERY YOUNG AND HER MOTHER, WORKING AS A MAID BATTLED ALCOHOLISM.

>> ARE YOU GUYS READY.

>> Brown: THE THEATER GROUP BECAME FIRST A REFUGE AND THEN SOMETHING MORE. MAGGIE WROTE A PLAY ABOUT HER MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE.

>> SO HER STRUGGLE AND HER TRIUMPH IS SOMETHING WE PUT ON THE STAGE. SEEING THAT WAS... FOR MY FAMILY IT BECAME A HEALING PROCESS. BUT IT WAS THROUGH HER COMING TO SEE THE PLAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANT FOR US AND HOW THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT MADE US A STRONG FAMILY.

>> BOATS ON THE OCEAN. 25 OF US.

>> Brown: THE HOMELAND ALBANY PARK HAS TAKEN ON PERHAPS ITS MOST CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT YET. . ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. IT'S EXPLORED THROUGH A SERIES OF VIGNETTES AND STORIES INCLUDING ONE OF A YOUNG PAAL... PALESTINIAN WOMAN WHO CAME TO THE U.S. AS A CHILD.

>> I HAVE MY STUDENT I.D..

>> BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

>> IT'S FROM JORDAN.

>> PASSPORT.

>> JORDAN.

>> SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.

>> YES. BUT IT SAYS NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.

>> Brown: IN ANOTHER SCENE A MEXICAN-BORN FATHER HELD IN A DETENTION CENTER AND THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION IS VISITED BY HIS SON.

>> WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHY ARE YOU HERE? DID YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG?

>> Brown: THESE EXPERIENCES TOO REFLECT THE REAL LIVES OF THE YOUNG ACTORS. SOME OF WHOM ARE THEMSELVES UNDOCUMENTED OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE. THEY KNOW THIS IS TOUGH TERRITORY. AND THEY SAY THEIR GOAL ISN'T A POLITICAL STATEMENT BUT TO HUMANIZE THE ISSUE. 17-YEAR-OLD VLADIMIR IS ONE OF THE YOUNG WRITER/ACTORS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS. THAT'S WHY WE COME UP HERE AND WE TELL THEM. THAT'S WHY WE GO INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND GATHER THESE STORIES TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.

>> Brown: VLADIMIR WHO WILL ATTEND COLLEGE ON A FULL SCHOLARSHIP NEXT FALL IS HIMSELF AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER KEY GOAL OF THE PROJECT, ONE THAT GOES BEYOND THE STAGE AND INTO THE CLASSROOM.

>> WE'RE GOING TO QUICKLY REVIEW WHAT WE JUST DID.

>> Brown: IT HAS AN AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM AND OFFERS COLLEGE COUNSELING THAT MOST OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE GET.

>> IT REALLY GAVE ME THAT THAT I CAN GO TO COLLEGE. THROUGHOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, YOU KNOW, I STARTED TO DO THE BEST THING I CAN.

>> Brown: WAS THERE THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU'D GO TO COLLEGE BEFORE THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IN MY FAMILY WASN'T IN SUCH A GOOD ECONOMIC STANDPOINT. IT REALLY DIDN'T SEEM LIKE I... I DIDN'T REALLY RECEIVE MUCH THAT I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO GO INTO COLLEGE.

>> Brown: 16-YEAR-OLD LIL I CAN'TEST BAR WHOSE PARENTS ARE FROM MEXICO AND COLUMBIA SAYS SHE PLANS TO GO TO COLLEGE EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT SOMETHING HER FAMILY ENCOURAGED.

>> NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M CAPABLE OF IT ALL. I FEEL LIKE I DON'T EVER HAVE TO BE COMPARED TO MY FAMILY BECAUSE I'M DOING MY OWN THING. I NO LONGER FEEL LIKE THEY'RE KEEPING ME OUT OF ANYTHING BECAUSE NOW I CAN JUST SAY, "THIS IS WHAT I WANT. THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE I CAME HERE. I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> Brown: RANDY DANG WHOSE PARENTS EMIGRATED FROM VIETNAM SAYS THE GROUP PROVIDES A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO THE GANGS AND VIOLENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MYSELF AND WHAT I CAN DO, MY LIMITS. I LEARNED ABOUT THESE PEOPLE THAT I CAN RELATE TO. I CAN TALK TO. I CAN BE MYSELF AROUND.

>> Brown: HOMELAND IS NOW PLAYING TO PACKED HOUSES IN ITS SMALL COMMUNITY THEATER AND WRECKING NATION FOR THE ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT CONTINUES TO GROW. CHICAGO'S SUN TIMES THEATER CRITIC CITING ITS UNUSUALLY HIGH STANDARDS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S THEATER WROTE OF ITS LATEST OFFERING THAT WHERE, QUOTE, POLITICIANS OF EVERY STRIPE HAVE FAILED, THIS GIFTED EXQUISITELY DIRECTED YOUTH ENSEMBLE HAS TRIUMPHED.

>> Ifill: FINALLY TONIGHT, A VOYAGE DEEP INTO THE SEA. A FAMOUS FILMMAKER AND EXPLORER MADE THAT JOURNEY YESTERDAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PACIFIC, A PLACE KNOWN AS THE MARIANA TRENCH'S CHALLENGER DEEP, SOME 300 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GUAM. TOM CLARKE OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS HAS THE STORY. HE'S BEHIND THE TWO HIGHEST GROSSING MOVIES OF ALL TIME, BUT THIS WAS JAMES CAMERON'S MOST AMBITIOUS PRODUCTION YET.

>> HAVE FUN.

>> Reporter: HE SET OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BUT IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU'RE HEADING TO THE DARKEST PLACE ON EARTH. ONCE IN THE WATER, THE SUB TURNS VERTICAL TO DROP LIKE A TORPEDO TO THE BOTTOM.

>> THINKING LIKE A... SINKING LIKE A STONE IT STILL TOOK JAMES CAMERON TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS TO REACH THE BOTTOM. HIS DECENT TOOK HIM STRAIGHT PAST THE DEPTH OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. HE WASN'T HALFWAY WHEN HE PASSED THE DEPTH. TITANIC. MORE THAN TWO MILES. HIS JOURNEY INTO THE ABYSS TOOK HIM BEYOND THE HEIGHT OF A SUBMERGED EVEREST BEFORE HE FINALLY REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE TRENCH, 11 KILOMETERS, NEARLY SEVEN MILES DEEP. HE WAS THREE HOURS AT THE BOTTOM AND AN HOUR COMING BACK. SO WHAT EXACTLY DID THE FILM DIRECTOR SEE? WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE 3-D MOVIE BEING RELEASED SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT THE OCEAN'S DEEPEST SPOT MIGHT NOT BE A BLOCKBUSTER.

>> THIS IS A VAST, YOU KNOW, FRONTIER DOWN THERE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A WHILE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE IMPRESSION TO ME WAS THAT IT WAS VERY LUNAR. VERY DESOLATE PLACE. VERY ISOLATED. MY FEELING WAS ONE OF COMPLETE ISOLATION FROM ALL OF HUMANITY.

>> Reporter: IT MAY BE SPEECHLESS BUT THESE VIDEOS FROM BRITISH RESEARCHERS USING ROBOTIC SUBS HAVE RECENTLY REVEALED REMARKABLE ANIMALS LIKE THESE SNAIL FISH ON A GIANT SHRIMP-LIKE CREATURE FROM FOUR MILES DOWN. WHO KNOWS WHAT CAM CAMERON'S TEAM MIGHT FIND.

>> THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF NEW SPECIES. HE'S SEEN SEA CUCUMBERS VERY SMALL ONES. IT WILL BE FASCINATING. HE'LL GO BACK AND COLLECT SAMPLES WE HOPE. WE SHOULD GET TO SEE DOWN THERE. WHEN WE'RE DEEPER THAN TWO MILES AND THAT'S MORE THAN HALF OUR PLANET IS COVERED BY WATER THAT IS TWO MILES DEEP THERE'S A 50-50 CHANCE WE FIND NEW SPECIES.

>> Reporter: DIVING THE MARIANNA TRENCH IS A BOYHOOD DREAM FULFILLED, HE ADMITS. WHAT LURKS BENEATH CAPTURED THE PUBLIC'S IMAGINATION EVER SINCE THAT RECORD DIVE IN 1960. AND NOW IT'S ATTRACTING SOME OTHER BIG FISH TOO. RICHARD BARANSON AND GOOGLE'S ERIC SCHMIDT ARE NOW BUILDING DEEP DIVING SUBS AS WELL. THE ABYSS SO FAR JAMES CAMERON'S PRIVATE DOMAIN, IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE NEW FRONTIER. PROVIDED YOU'RE RICH ENOUGH.

>> Ifill: IN ADDITION

>> Ifill: IN ADDITION TO THE 3-D MOVIE, CAMERON PLANS TO DIRECT A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SPECIAL USING THE FOOTAGE HE GATHERED IN YESTERDAY'S DEEP DIVE.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY. THE U.S. SUPREME COURT OPENED THREE DAYS OF ARGUMENTS TODAY ON THE NATION'S HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW. AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES SHOT AND KILLED THREE NATO SOLDIERS, ONE AMERICAN AND TWO BRITONS, IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS. POPE BENEDICT XVI ARRIVED IN CUBA. THE FIRST PAPAL VISIT TO THE COMMUNIST NATION SINCE 1998. AND TO THE NUCLEAR SUMMIT IN SOUTH KOREA, PRESIDENT OBAMA PRESSED NORTH KOREA TO PUT ASIDE ITS PLANS FOR NEW MISSILE FIRING. ONLINE, WE HAVE MORE SCENES FROM PERFORMANCES AT THE ALBANY PARK THEATER. HARI SREENIVASAN EXPLAINS. HARI?

>> Sreenivasan: THERE ARE TWO STORIES, ONE OF A SON WHO VISITS HIS FATHER IN IMMIGRANT DETENTION CENTER AND ANOTHER ABOUT A TEEN'S LIFE ON FOOD STAMPS. PLUS, THERE'S MORE OF JEFF'S CONVERSATION WITH DAVID FEINER. ALL THAT IS ON OUR ART BEAT PAGE. AND ON HIS MAKING SENSE PAGE, PAUL SOLMAN PONDERS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS TOO MUCH POWER. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, newshour.pbs.org GWEN?

>> Ifill: AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. ON TUESDAY, WE'LL DIG INTO THE COURT ARGUMENTS OVER WHETHER REQUIRING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE IS CONSTITUTIONAL. I'M GWEN IFILL.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE, AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> BNSF RAILWAY.

>> AND BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. DEDICATED TO THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE A HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE LIFE. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

>> THIS IS "BBC WORLD NEWS AMERICA."

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