PBS NewsHour; June 26, 2014 3:00pm-4:00pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Woodruff: THE SUPREME COURT TODAY CURBED THE PRESIDENT'S POWER TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS WHEN THE SENATE IS IN RECESS. AND IN A SEPARATE CASE, SIDED WITH ANTI-ABORTION PROTESTERS, STRIKING DOWN BUFFER ZONES OUTSIDE CLINICS. GOOD EVENING, I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL. ALSO AHEAD THIS THURSDAY, THE CRISIS IN IRAQ. HOW SUNNI MILITANTS AND THEIR ASSAULTS ON CITIES AND OIL FIELDS ARE SOWING WORRY ABOUT GAS PRICES, WELL BEYOND THE COUNTRY'S BORDERS.

>> Woodruff: AND FROM THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION OF CAMBODIA. THE STORY OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST VIBRANT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS. AND HOW DEVELOPMENT AND OVERFISHING COULD BE SPURRING ITS DECLINE.

>> THIS IS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE FISHERY IN OUT WORLD. ALL THESE FISH ARE DISAPPEARING.

>> Woodruff: THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE STORIES WE'RE COVERING ON TONIGHT'S PBS NEWSHOUR.

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>> Ifill: THE U.S AND BRITAIN MADE FRESH DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TODAY TO ADDRESS THE GROWING TURMOIL IN IRAQ. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY URGED LEADING ARAB STATES TO FORM A UNITED FRONT AGAINST THE ISLAMIST INSURGENCY IN BOTH IRAQ AND SYRIA. AND IN BAGHDAD, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE MET WITH SHIITE PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL- MALIKI AND PRESSED HIM TO BRING SUNNIS AND KURDS INTO A NEW GOVERNMENT.

>> WE BELIEVE THE URGENT PRIORITY MUST BE TO FORM AN INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING ON FROM THE RECENT ELECTIONS THAT CAN COMMAND THE SUPPORT OF ALL IRAQIS AND WORK TO STOP TERRORISTS AND THEIR TERRIBLE CRIMES.

>> Ifill: AND ON SYRIA, PRESIDENT OBAMA ASKED CONGRESS FOR $500 MILLION DOLLARS TO TRAIN AND ARM WESTERN-BACKED REBELS FIGHTING THE ASSAD REGIME. THEY'VE BEEN LOSING GROUND TO ISLAMIST FACTIONS, AND THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN UNDER PRESSURE TO DO MORE.

>> Woodruff: THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS RUSHED TO CROSS INTO RUSSIA TODAY, A DAY BEFORE A WEEK-OLD CEASE-FIRE EXPIRES. THEY WERE THE LATEST IN AN EXODUS OF CIVILIANS TRYING TO ESCAPE FIGHTING. MEANWHILE, IN PARIS, SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY WARNED RUSSIA TO MOVE QUICKLY ON RESTORING PEACE IN UKRAINE. HE SPOKE AS EUROPEAN LEADERS PREPARE TO CONSIDER NEW SANCTIONS ON MOSCOW.

>> WE ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT THAT IT IS CRITICAL FOR RUSSIA TO SHOW IN THE NEXT HOURS, LITERALLY, THAT THEY ARE MOVING TO HELP DISARM THE SEPARATISTS, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DISARM, TO CALL ON THEM TO LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS AND TO BEGIN TO BECOME PART OF A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL PROCESS.

>> Woodruff: LATER, A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN SAID KERRY WAS NOT SUGGESTING ANY SPECIFIC TIMELINE ON POSSIBLE SANCTIONS.

>> Ifill: INVESTIGATORS HAVE A NEW THEORY ON WHAT HAPPENED TO MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 370. THEY SAID TODAY THE PLANE FLEW ON AUTOPILOT FOR HOURS BEFORE CRASHING IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, OFF AUSTRALIA. AND, THEY SAID, THAT SUGGESTS THE CREW WAS INCAPACITATED BY A LOSS OF OXYGEN. NOW, THEY'RE SHIFTING THE SEARCH SOUTHWEST, TO A PRIORITY ZONE WITHIN A NEW AREA THAT COVERS ABOUT 23-THOUSAND SQUARE MILES. AUSTRALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WARREN TRUSS.

>> WE EXPECT THAT THE UNDERWATER SEARCH ELEMENT WILL COMMENCE IN AUGUST AND TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE. IN ADDITION, THE SEARCH EFFORT WILL INCLUDE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY MALAYSIA WHICH INCLUDES VESSELS FITTED WITH SEARCH EQUIPMENT INCLUDING TOWED SONAR SYSTEMS WHICH WILL BE USED TO SEARCH THE SEA FLOOR.

>> Ifill: THE SEARCH AREA HAS BEEN COVERED FROM THE AIR AND ON THE SURFACE. THE EFFORT WILL NOW MOVE DEEP UNDER WATER.

>> Woodruff: NEW YORK CITY'S BAN ON BIG SODAS IS DEAD. THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT REFUSED TODAY TO REINSTATE THE RESTRICTION. IT HAD BARRED RESTAURANTS, MOVIE THEATERS AND OTHER BUSINESSES FROM SELLING SUGARY DRINKS LARGER THAN 16 OUNCES. THE COURT RULED THE CITY HEALTH BOARD HAD OVERSTEPPED ITS AUTHORITY. THE BAN ORIGINATED UNDER FORMER MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG.

>> Ifill: IN ECONOMIC NEWS, CONSUMER SPENDING ROSE JUST TWO- TENTHS OF A PERCENT IN MAY, SUGGESTING GROWTH MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS HOPED IN THE SECOND QUARTER. AND WALL STREET HAD A SUB-PAR DAY, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 21 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 16,846; THE NASDAQ FELL A FRACTION, TO CLOSE AT 4,379; AND THE S&P 500 DROPPED TWO POINTS, FINISHING AT 1,957.

>> Woodruff: FORMER SENATOR HOWARD BAKER, WHO FAMOUSLY POSED THE CENTRAL QUESTION FOR PRESIDENT NIXON DURING WATERGATE, DIED TODAY AT HIS HOME IN TENNESSEE. HE'D SUFFERED A STROKE LAST WEEKEND. THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN CAPTURED THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE 1973 WATERGATE HEARINGS, AS HE REPEATEDLY ASKED, "WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT KNOW, AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?" HERE, HE QUESTIONS THEN-ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN MITCHELL.

>> IS THERE SUCH AN AURA OF MAGNIFICENCE ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY? IS THERE SUCH AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS AND UNDERTAKINGS OF THIS NATION THAT THE PRESIDENCY IN SOME INSTANCES MUST BE SPARED THE DETAIL, MUST BE SPARED THE DIFFICULTY OF SITUATIONS WHICH IN ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT BE CONSIDERED BY SOME AT LEAST TO BE FRANK, OPEN DECLARATIONS OF CRIMINAL EVENTS? IS THE PRESIDENCY TO BE PROTECTED IN THAT WAY? IS THE SPLENDOR OF THE ISOLATION SO GREAT THAT THE PRESIDENT MUST BE PROTECTED? AND IF SO, IN WHAT CASES?

>> Woodruff: BAKER SPENT 18 YEARS IN THE SENATE AND SERVED BOTH AS MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER AT VARIOUS TIMES. LATER, HE BECAME CHIEF OF STAFF TO PRESIDENT REAGAN IN THE WANING YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION. MOST RECENTLY, BAKER SERVED AS THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN. HOWARD BAKER WAS 88 YEARS OLD.

>> Ifill: STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR. THE SUPREME COURT DELIVERS A BLOW TO THE PRESIDENT'S POWER TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS. AND IT STRUCK DOWN A LIMIT TO SIDEWALK ABORTION PROTESTS. THEN, WHAT THE CRISIS IN IRAQ MEANS FOR OIL PRICES. THE DECLINE OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST VIBRANT FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS. MORE GRIM DETAILS ABOUT TROUBLES AT V.A. HOSPITALS. TEAM U.S.A. DOWN BUT NOT OUT IN THE RACE FOR THE WORLD CUP. PLUS, A PROFILE OF THIS YEAR'S PULITZER PRIZE WINNER IN POETRY.

>> Woodruff: THE U.S SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN A PAIR OF UNANIMOUS DECISIONS TODAY IN TWO HIGH-PROFILE CASES. IN ONE, THE COURT REINED IN THE APPOINTMENT POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT. THE JUSTICES RULED THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS TO THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD IN 2012 WERE ILLEGAL BECAUSE CONGRESS WAS NOT IN RECESS. THE JUSTICES ALSO STRUCK DOWN A 35 FOOT BUFFER ZONE PROHIBITING PROTESTS OUTSIDE ABORTION CLINICS IN MASSACHUSETTS FINDING THE LIMIT VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF DEMONSTRATORS. MARCIA COYLE OF THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL WAS AT THE COURT THIS MORNING, AND SHE JOINS US NOW. SO LET'S TAKE THIS CASE INVOLVING PRESIDENTIAL POWERS FIRST. THE CASE WAS BROUGHT BY A CANNING COMPANY, AND AS WE SAID, IT HAD TO DO WITH THE PRESIDENT MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. AND DID HE THAT PURSUANT TO HIS POWER UNDER THE RECESS APPOINTMENTS CLAUSE IN THE CONSTITUTION. JUDY, IT'S SURPRISING THAT IN MORE THAN 200 YEARS, THE SUPREME COURT HAS NEVER LOOKED AT THE SCOPE OR MEANING OF THE RECESS APPOINTMENTS CLAUSE. THEY HAD REALLY NO PRIOR DECISIONS TO RELY ON IN THIS CASE, BUT THEY HAD THREE QUESTIONS THEY HAD TO ANSWER BECAUSE OF A LOWER COURT RULING THAT REALLY WAS IN FAVOR OF THE WASHINGTON STATE BOTTLING COMPANY THAT WAS FIGHTING A RULING BY THE NLRB THAT IT HAD ENGAGED IN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE WITH ITS UNION. SO THE JUSTICES IN -- EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION, JUDY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT WAS ONLY UNANIMOUS IN THE END RESULT. THAT THESE THREE APPOINTMENTS WRIN VALID. THE JUSTICES WERE SPLID 5-4 ON HOW YOU REACH THAT RESULT. AND IT WAS A VERY SHARP 5-4 SPLIT. JUSTICE BREYER WROTE FOR REALLY -- WROTE THE MAIN OPINION FOR THE MAJORITY THAT INCLUDED THE COURT'S MORE MODERATE LIBERAL MEMBERS AS WELL AS JUSTICE KENNEDY. AND WHAT HE DID WAS HE LOOKED AT THE MEANING OF THE WORDS IN THE RECESS CLAUSE, THE RECESS. AND ALSO LOOKED AT THE PURPOSE OF THE CLAUSE, WHICH WAS TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT WHEN THERE ARE VACANCIES AND GAVE CONSIDERABLE WEIGHT TO HISTORICAL PRACTICES OF PRESIDENTS AND THE SENATE.

>> Woodruff: IT REALLY DID COME DOWN TO THE DEFINITION THAT THEY COULD AGREE ON OF WHAT IS A RECESS.

>> RIGHT. EXACTLY.

>> Woodruff: WHAT DOES IT MEAN JARKS IS THE SENATE DOING OR NOT DOING DURING THAT PERIOD SO THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITHOUT SENATE CONFIRMATION?

>> EXACTLY. AND WHAT THE MAJORITY HELD HERE WAS, ONE, THE PRESIDENT CAN MAKE APPOINTMENTS DURING ANY RECESS THAT IS AT LEAST TEN DAYS OR LONGER. THE ISSUE CAME UP THAT -- OR THE LOWER COURT HAD HELD ONLY BETWEEN ANNUAL SESSIONS OF CONGRESS, NOT INTERCESSION, RECESSES. BUT THE COURT SAID ANY RECESS THAT'S AT LEAST TEN DAYS OR LONGER. THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS PARTICULAR CASE WAS WHETHER THE PRESIDENT COULD MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO FILL VACANCIES DURING BREAKS BETWEEN RO FORMA SESSIONS OF -- PRO FORMA SESSIONS OF CONGRESS. IN THIS CASE, THERE WERE THREE-DAY BREAKS. AND THE SENATE SAID IT WAS IN SESSION. IT WAS NOT IN RECESS. BUT THE MAJORITY HERE HELD AND ACTUALLY THIS WAS UNANIMOUS THAT THE SENATE DETERMINES WHEN IT IS IN RECESS AND AS LONG AS IT'S CAPABLE OF BEING ABLE TO DO BUSINESS, IT'S IN SESSION. AND THAT WAS THE CASE WITH THESE THREE APPOINTMENTS, CONSEQUENTLY, THE APPOINTMENTS WERE INVALID.

>> Woodruff: AND IT WAS UMAN MUSS AND THE RESULTS OF THE JUSTICES DIFFERED IN THEIR REASONING. SOME TOUGH LANGUAGE FROM THE CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES.

>> VERY TOUGH. JUSTICE SCALIA READ A SUMMARY WHAT WOULD BE THE DISSENT FROM THE BENCH. AND HE SAID -- HE DISAGREED COMPLETELY WITH THE MAJORITY'S VIEW HALF THE MEANING OF THE WORDS RECESS WERE OR WHEN DOES A VACANCY ARISE? THAT WAS ANOTHER KEY ISSUE IN THE CASE. THE MAJORITY SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN FILL SAKENCIES THAT OCCUR DURING THE RECESS AS WELL AS PREEXISTING VACANCIES. AND HE DISAGREED STRONGLY WITH THE INTERPRETATION OF THE HISTORY OF PRACTICES OF PRIOR RES. AND HE ACCUSED THE MAJORITY OF MAKING UP RULES HERE AND OF JUDICIAL ADVENTURISM. BUT JUSTICE BREYER SAID UNDER THE DISSENTING VIEWS, THOUSANDS OF RECESS APPOINTMENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN INVALIDATED UNDER THAT VIEW.

>> Woodruff: IT'S INTERESTING. THE OTHER BIG DECISION THEY HANDED DOWN TODAY, ALSO UNANIMOUS, BUT THE REASONING DIFFERED AGAIN. THIS ONE OF COURSE HAD TO DO WITH MASSACHUSETTS LAW, A BAN ON ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVISTS BEING ABLE TO BE IN AN AREA OUTSIDE OF ABORTION CLINICS.

>> IT ACTUALLY WAS A 35-FOOT BUFFER ZONE, SO IT WASN'T JUST ANTI-ABORTION PROTESTERS. IT COULD BE PROABORTION RIGHTS PROTESTERS AS WELL. BUT IT KEPT OUT EVERYBODY EXCEPT CLINIC EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO WALK THROUGH THAT AREA IN ORDER TO GET TO ANOTHER DESTINATION. AND HERE JUSTICE ROBERTS WROTE THE OPINION, WHICH WAS A SURPRISE AS WELL, BECAUSE HE DID NOT ASK ONE QUESTION DURING THE ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THIS CASE. BUT HE SAID IN HIS OPINION THAT WHERE MASSACHUSETTS WENT WRONG HERE WAS THAT IT DID NOT NARROWLY TAILOR WHAT IT WAS DOING TO THE PROBLEM IT WAS TRYING TO SOLVE. IT WANT YOUD TO HAVE ORDER ON THE STREETS. IT WANTED TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY AS LONG AS WOMEN'S SAFETY, BUT THE BUFFER ZONE BURDENED TOO MUCH SPEECH, AND THESE WOMEN WHO BLOCKED THE CHALLENGE, WHO REALLY WERE ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVISTS, THEY WERE NOT PROTESTERS, HE SAID. THEY WANTED TO ENGAGE IN QUIET COUNSELING OF THESE WOMEN, AND THE BUFFER ZONE PREVENTED THEM FROM THEIR TWO PRIMARY TOOLS WHICH WERE FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATIONS AND DISTRIBUTING LEAFLETS AND INFORMATION.

>> Woodruff: BUT THE LIBERAL JUSTICES AGREED WITH THE FINAL DEFINITION.

>> THEY DID. AND I THINK HERE WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS THE SUPREME COURT WAS URGED BY ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS BUT DID NOT OVERRULE A PRIOR 2000 PRECEDENT ON BUFFER ZONES. AND ALSO, THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID THE LAW ITSELF DID NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF VIEWPOINT. IT DIDN'T FAVOR ANTI-ABORTION OR PROABORTION OVER ONE OR THE OTHER. JUSTICE -- THE DISSENTERS AGAIN, JUSTICE SCALIA WRITING, SAID THAT IT DID DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF VIEWPOINT AND THE COURT SHOULD HAVE STRUCK IT DOWN ON THAT BASIS AND SHOULD HAVE THROWN OUT THAT 2000 PRECEDENT.

>> Woodruff: IT'S STILL UNUSUAL I GUESS TO GET TWO UNANIMOUS RULINGS ON THE SAME DAY. YOU'RE THE EXPERT. MARCIA, VERY QUICKLY. ONE MORE DAY, WHEN THIS TERM THE JUSTICES CAN HAND DOWN.

>> THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT UNION CASE AND THE OTHER IS THE CHALLENGE BY THE RELIGIOUS OWNERS OF FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS TO THE CONTRACEPTIVE REQUIREMENT IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

>> Woodruff: I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK HERE ON MONDAY. MARCIA COYLE. THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE, JUDY.

>> Ifill: AS IRAQ CONTINUES TO FRACTURE, THERE ARE NEW CONCERNS ABOUT THE SECURITY OF ITS CONSIDERABLE OIL PRODUCTION FACILITIES. ONLY LAST MONTH, THE COUNTRY'S CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION REACHED 3.6 MILLION BARRELS A DAY, THE MOST SINCE SADDAM HUSSEIN TOOK OVER IN 1979. THAT MADE IRAQ THE SEVENTH- LARGEST PRODUCER IN THE WORLD. FIGHTING AT IRAQ'S BIGGEST OIL REFINERY HAS RAGED FOR A WEEK, WITH THE GOVERNMENT ARMY BATTLING FIGHTERS FROM ISIL-- THE ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ AND THE LEVANT. BOTH SIDES HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND AT BEIJI, LOCATED ABOUT 130 MILES NORTH OF BAGHDAD, AN IRAQI MILITARY SPOKESMAN YESTERDAY.

>> THE REFINERY IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF OUR VALIANT ARMED FORCES ISIL MILITANTS COULD NOT IMPOSE CONTROL OVER A METRE, ACTUALLY THE FIGHTING HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR SEVEN DAYS NOW AND THE RESULT IS 92 DEAD BODIES OF ISIL MILITANTS SCATTERED IN THE VICINITY OF THE REFINERY. THE TRIBES IN BAIJI PROVIDED US WITH PRECISE INFORMATION ABOUT LOCATIONS OF ISIL MILITANTS AND ABOUT THE SLEEPER CELLS, SO WE HANDLED THEM THROUGH RAIDS AND AIR STRIKES.

>> Ifill: THE CLASHES HAVE STOPPED OIL PRODUCTION AT THE BEIJI COMPLEX, WHICH HAD BEEN ABLE TO REFINE UP TO 300,000 BARRELS A DAY. TODAY, YET ANOTHER SITE CAME UNDER ATTACK. ISIL FIGHTERS ASSAULTED THE TOWN OF MANSOURIYAT AL-JABAL, HOME TO FOUR, CURRENTLY INACTIVE, NATURAL GAS FIELDS. BUT AMID THE GROWING CHAOS, THE PRICE OF CRUDE EXPORTS HAS RISEN BY ONLY $2.35 A BARREL, CLOSING JUST UNDER $106 DOLLARS TODAY. FUEL SUPPLIES WITHIN IRAQ ARE ALSO UNDER STRAIN. IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF ERBIL, LINES FOR GASOLINE STRETCHED MORE THAN A MILE ON SUNDAY.

>> ( translated ): THE CURRENT SITUATION AFFECTS THE PEOPLES' LIFE AND THEIR WORK. PEOPLE HAVE BUSINESS TO DO. I HAD TO LEAVE MY SHOP AND QUEUE HERE TO SUPPLY MY CAR WITH FUEL.

>> Ifill: THE TURMOIL COMES JUST FOUR MONTHS AFTER IRAQI OIL PRODUCTION HAD REACHED ITS HIGHEST LEVELS IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS. JOINING US FOR SOME ANALYSIS OF WHAT THIS FRESH UPHEAVAL IN IRAQ MEANS FOR THE ENERGY MARKETS, IS GREG PRIDDY, DIRECTOR OF THE GLOBAL ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT EURASIA GROUP, A POLITICAL RISK RESEARCH AND CONSULTING FIRM. AND, GIANNA BERN, THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF BROOKSHIRE ADVISORY AND RESEARCH. HOW NERVOUS DOES THIS UPHEAVAL MAKE YOU ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH OIL PRICES AND WITH GAS PRICES?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MARKET HAS INITIALLY PROBABLY OVERESTIMATED THE IMPACT OF THIS A LITTLE BIT IN SENSE THAT MOST OF THE IRAQ'S OIL PRODUCTION IS IN A SMALL AREA AROUND BASRA.

>> Ifill: IN THE SOUTHERN PART. WHICH IS OVERWHELMINGLY SHIITE POPULATION. SO THE MILITANTS FIGHTING IN THE NORTH WOULD HAVE VERY LITTLE LOCAL SUPPORT THERE, AND THERE'S REALLY NOWHERE FOR THEM TO HIDE OR OPERATE. IN THE NORTH, YOU'VE HAD THE KIRKUK VOLUMES THAT GO OUT TO TURKEY TO THE MEDITERRANEAN. IT'S ABOUT 230,000 BARRELS A DAY. THAT'S BEEN OFFLINE SINCE EARLY MARCH. SO THAT LOSS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.

>> Ifill: GIANNA BERN, HOW MUCH OF THIS OIL PRODUCTION IS INTENDED FOR INTERNAL USE, DOMESTIC USE IN IRAQ, AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS INTENDED FOR EXPORT?

>> WELL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF IRAQ'S PRODUCTION IS INTENDED FOR EXPORT. YOU JUST MENTIONED IN YOUR -- JUST A MINUTE EARLIER IRAQ'S PRODUCTION HAS REACHED ABOUT 3 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY AND IT'S COME A LONG WAY FROM WHERE ITS PRODUCTION WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS A GOOD 3.3 MILLION BARRELS FOR EXPORT. MOST OF WHICH IS COMING OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> Ifill: OKAY. SO WHERE IS THAT -- LET ME STAY WHEN YOU FOR A MOMENT. WHERE IS THAT GOING? IT'S COMING FROM THE SOUTHERN PART AND GOING TO -- NOT TO THE U.S. WHERE'S IT GOING?

>> ASIAN MARKETS ARE BIG IMPORTERS, SO CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA, YOUR ASIAN MARKETS ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT. EUROPEAN MARKETS ARE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED SHOULD THIS SPREAD FURTHER. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO MENTION RIGHT NOW IS THAT WHERE IT'S AT AND WHERE CRUDE OIL PRICES ARE AT TODAY, THE MARKET HAS CONTAINED THIS IMPACT. SO THE MARKET HAS ABSORBED ALL THIS INFORMATION, ALL THIS ACTIVITY, AND REALLY THE MARKET HASN'T REACTED THE WAY WE MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, SO -- BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HERE THE ACTIVITY AND THE FIGHTING HAS NOT REACHED SOME CRITICAL AREAS. SO FOR NOW, IT'S WAIT AND SEE. AND THE MARKET HAS DIGESTED ALL OF THIS INFORMATION PRETTY NICELY IN FACT. CRUDE OIL PRICES -- AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT ONE TO KEEP IN MIND HERE IS THE BRUNT, BRUNT PRICES COST ABOUT $113 PER BARREL TODAY. SO WTI CLOSED AT ABOUT $16 PER BARREL FOR TODAY. SO BRUNT IS MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY ANY ACTIVITY IN IRAQ.

>> Ifill: HOW DIFFERENT IS THIS FROM WHAT WE SAW LAST TIME? WE'RE GOING TO THROUGH A LOT OF DEJA VU HERE WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IRAQ MILITARILY AND INTERNALLY. BUT IS THERE ANY DEJA VU, ANY LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN BEFORE?

>> WELL, WITH THE PREVIOUS CRISES IN IRAQ, WITH THE INVASION, IT WENT OFFLINE FOR QUITE A WHILE. BUT THAT WAS IN AN ERA WHEN THE MARKET ALSO WAS RISING FOR OTHER REASONS, BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF NEW PRODUCTION COMING ONLINE AND SPARE CAPACITY WAS THINNED OUT BY THAT. WHAT WE'VE HAD NOW IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS A SITUATION WHERE U.S. PRODUCTION'S BEEN RISING VERY STRONGLY AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING IRAQ, AND THOSE -- IN THE SOUTHERN IRAQ PRODUCTION, AND THAT HAS KIND OF OFFSET THE LOSSES THAT WE'VE HAD FROM PLITICALLY DRIVEN EVENTS WITH IRAN SANCTIONS, WITH THE LOSSE LOSSES FROM LIBYA ANDW WITH THE LOSSES FROM NORTHERN IRAQ. IT'S ESSENTIALLY BALANCED IT. AND CRUDE PRICES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY STABLE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Ifill: WHEN YOU SAY U.S. PRODUCTION HAS BEEN ON ON THE RISE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SHALE PRODUCTION, FRACKING PRODUCTION?

>> YEAH, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF OFFSHORE.

>> Ifill: OUR RELIANCE THEREFORE?

>> IT'S REALLY ONE-WORLD MARKET. SO THE PRICE IS SET GLOBALLY. IT DOESN'T MATTER -- IT'S FUNGIBLE. SO IT DOESN'T MATTER VERY MUCH WHO IMPORTS FROM WHERE EVEN IF THE U.S. WASN'T BUYING THAT MUCH FROM IRAQ AND IT DOES BUY A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, AN OUTAGE IN IRAQ WOULD STILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT IF IT HAPPENED.

>> Ifill: LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE AREA IN THE NORTH, GIANNA BERN, ABOUT THE KURDISH AREA AND THE AREA AROUND KIRKUK WHICH THE KURDS WANT TO CONTROL. IF THEY MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THESE OILFIELDS, DOES THAT CHANGE THE FACE OF THE MARKET?

>> WELL, IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW THIS PLAYS OUT. I MEAN, RIGHT NOW THIS IS ALL HYPOTHETICAL, BUT I MEAN, THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE HERE IS THAT IRAQ IS NOW THE SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER IN THE OPEC ORGANIZATION. SO THAT PLACES THEM IN REALLY A VERY UNIQUE SPOT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY'VE BEEN AND HOW THEY'VE PROGRESSED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN IRAQ WAS PRODUCING AS MUCH AS KUWAIT WHICH IS ABOUT 2 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY, AND WITH SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN INVESTMENT, THEY'VE REALLY GROWN THEIR POSITION. THEY'VE GROWN THEIR PRODUCTION, AND NOW HERE WE HAVE THEM AT THE SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER IN OPEC. AND THAT'S A REMARKABLE STORY FOR THEM BY ITSELF. SO AS THEY MOVE INTO THE NORTH AND AS THE FIGHTING AND THE INSURGENCE BEGINS TO SPREAD, REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW MUCH WILL GO OFFLINE. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE HOLDING STEADY, AND IT LOOKS -- IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS BEING ABLE TO CONTAIN ANY SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTION FROM BEING ABLE TO GO OFFLINE.

>> Ifill: GREG PRIDDY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION ABOUT THE KURDISH. IF THEY MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THOSE AREAS AND -- THEY HAD A DEAL WITH BAGHDAD ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD SHARE THIS AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME SORT OF PAYMENT FOR IT. NOW THEY'RE SAYING THAT DEAL IS OFF. IS THAT THE PRODUCTION LINE AT ALL?

>> I THINK THE KURDS ARE THE BIG POLITICAL WINNERS HERE BECAUSE THIS INCREASES THEIR LEVERAGE WITH BAGHDAD A LOT. THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE CONTROL OVER SECURITY AT THE MAIN KIRKUK OILFIELDS NOW AND THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP THAT, THAT MEANS THAT GIVEN THAT THE PIPELINE OUT TO TURKEY THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW IS NOT GOING TO COME BACK OUT BECAUSE IT'S IN ISIL HELD AREAS, IT COULD EVENTUALLY GET THAT VOLUME BACK ONLINE, AND THAT DEFINITELY ADDS TO THEIR NEGOTIATING LEVERAGE IN DEALING WITH BAGHDAD ON THEIR OWN EXPORTS. SO THERE'S NO GUARANTEES THERE, BUT THAT MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT YOU WOULD SEE SOME SORT OF A DEAL, BECAUSE BAGHDAD NEEDS THEM AT THIS POINT.

>> Ifill: LET ME ASK YOU BOTH ONE FINAL QUESTION ABOUT THE FUTURE. GIANNA BERN, DOES THE TRAJECTORY THAT YOU SEE HERE WITH THE UPHEAVAL, WITH THE DISRUPTIONS, DOES DOES IT CHANGE THE PATH THAT IRAQ WAS ON TO GREATER -- EVEN GREATER OIL PRODUCTION? THERE WERE HIGH HOPES AND HIGH NUMBERS ATTACHED TO THE POTENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE.

>> I THINK FOR THE MOMENT, IT DEFINITELY BRINGS THAT BACK INTO QUESTION, HOW MUCH THEY CAN REALLY INCREASE GIVEN THE CURRENT DYNAMICS IN THE COUNTRY AND THE INSTABILITY, SO, YES, I THINK IT WILL -- WE ALL HAVE TO ASK, WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE? AND ARE THEY ABLE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION, HOLD IT STEADY? AND I THINK IF THEY WERE ABLE TO HOLD IT STEADY, IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE -- THAT MAY BE AS GOOD AS WE COULD HOPE FOR THE MOMENT.

>> Ifill: GREG PRIDDY, IS THERE A LONG-TERM CONCERN?

>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHILLING IMPACT ON THE WILLINGNESS OF COMPANIES TO GO INTO SOUTHERN IRAQ, BUT THE SECURITY SITUATION THERE, WE DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PROHIBITIVE. NOT ONLY DO WE THINK THAT THE OIL IS NOT GOING TO GO OFFLINE IMMEDIATELY AS A DISRUPTION EVENT, BUT THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE ONGOING ACTIVITY THERE. SO LUKE OIL, FOR EXAMPLE, IS BRINGING ON A LOT OF NEW PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTH THIS YEAR. AND I THINK PRODUCTION IF THERE'S NOT A BIG DISRUPTION EVENT, PRODUCTION COULD ACTUALLY END THE YEAR UP AND YOU COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF GROWTH IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, NOT ANYWHERE AS CLOSE AS THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ IS PREDICTING.

>> Ifill: GREG PRIDDY AND GIANNA BERN. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: NOW TO CAMBODIA AND AN INSIDE LOOK AT EFFORTS BY U.S. SCIENTISTS TO SAVE A CRITICAL WATER SYSTEM. THIS REPORT, PREPARED BY JOURNALISTS CHRIS BERDICK AND STEVE SAPIENZA AND NARRATED BY OUR HARI SREENIVASAN WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PULITZER CENTER ON CRISIS REPORTING. Reporter: ON CAMBODIA'S LAKE LAKE TONLE SAP, IN ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE FRESH WATER ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. THIS FISHERMAN STARTS HIS DAY MUCH LIKE HIS NEIGHBORS, WITH FAMILY BREAKFAST. THEN THE FATHER OF FIVE PADDLES A NEARBY MAN GROVE TO REACH THE GILNET HE SET THE NIGHT BEFORE. HE AND OTHERS CATCH ABOUT 350,000 TONS OF FISH FROM THIS LAKE EVERY YEAR, A VITAL RESOURCE IN A COUNTRY WHERE 75% OF THE PROTEIN PEOPLE EAT IS FISH. AT A NEARBY FISH LANDING, WORKERS SORT THE DAY'S CATCH. MOST OF THE HAUL IS MINNOWS KNOWN AS MONEY FISH WHICH GO FOR 25 TO 50 CENTS A KILOGRAM. THEY'RE USED TO MAKE FERMENTED FISH PASTE, A STAPLE IN CAMBODIAN COOKING. THE IMPORTANCE OF FISH IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE CAMBODIAN CULTURE. CHISELED INTO THE MEDIEVAL TEMPLE ARE MANY OF THE SAME FISH THAT ARE HARVESTED FROM THE TONLE SAP TODAY. THE ASTOUNDING NUMBER AND DIVERSITY OF FISH HERE HAS LONG ATTRACTED RESEARCHERS LIKE AMERICAN BIOLOGIST LES KAUFMAN.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN THE COLOR PATTERN LIKE THIS.

>> Reporter: HE ENJOYS EVERY SECOND HE SPENDS ON THE WATER.

>> HEY. (LAUGHTER).

>> Reporter: THERE ARE PLENTY OF SMALL FISH AT THIS LANDING, BUT WHAT WORRIES KAUFMAN IS WHAT HE DOES NOT SEE.

>> THIS IS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE INLAND FISHERY IN THE WHOLE WORLD. AND YET WE'VE SEEN MOST OF THE LARGE FISH DISAPPEAR FROM THE LAKE. THE GIANT CATFISH, THE GIANT STINGRAY, THE GIANT NIGHT FISH, ALL THESE FISH ARE DISAPPEARING. AND THAT'S AN OBVIOUS SIGN THAT FISH SOMETHING TAKING A TO.

>> Reporter: TO PROTECT THE FISHERY, THE LAKE IS DIVIDED INTO HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY-MANAGED FISHERIES ALONG WITH NEWLY FORMED CONSERVATION AREAS. BUT ILLEGAL FISHING IS COMMON AND MOST VILLAGES LACK THE RESOURCES TO STOP IT.

>> VILLAGERS HERE FISHING WITH NETS USE ABOUT 200 METERS BUT THE OUTSIDERS WHO COME HERE USE BIGGER NETS AND CATCH LOTS OF FISH.

>> Reporter: AT THE END OF MAO'S VILLAGE, RANGERS READY BOATS TO PATROL THE NEARBY CONSERVATION AREA.

>> FROM JANUARY TO EARLY FEBRUARY, WE CONFISCATED FISHING NETS, SOME 8,860 METERS AND WE DESTROYED THEM.

>> Reporter: OUT ON THE LAKE, THE PATROL BOAT PICKS UP SPEED. THE RANGERS HAVE SPOTTED SOME FISHERMEN WHO HAVE SLIPPED INTO THE RESERVE. THEIR BOAT IS INTERCEPTED IN SEARCH FOR ILLEGAL FISHING GEAR. THE NETS ARE LEGAL, SO THE RANGERS SIMPLY ESCORT THEM OUT OF THE RESERVE.

>> WE TOOK THEM TO OUR OFFICE AND MADE A REPORT. INFORMING THEM ABOUT FISHING LEGALLY OUTSIDE THE PRESERVATION AREA.

>> Reporter: OVERFISHING IS JUST ONE THREAT TO THE TONLE SAP. CAMBODIA IS A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NATION. IT HAS ENORMOUS PROMISE, TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S DEVELOPING WITHOUT A CLEAR PLAN THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE TRADE-OFFS.

>> Reporter: OFTEN CALLED THE BEATING HEART OF CAMBODIA THE TONLE SAP IS POWERED BY A MASSIVE ANNUAL PULSE OF WATER, THRODING AND RECEDING IN THE LOWER RIVER BASIN TO WHICH IT'S CONNECTED BY THE TONLE SAP RIVER. TODAY, THE FLOODED FORESTS AND NURSERY FOR YOUNG FISH ARE BEING CUT DOWN FOR COOKING FUEL AND FARMLAND. A CHANGE IN CLIMATE WILL LIKELY BRING MORE EXTREMES OF FLOOD AND DROUGHT AND SCIENTISTS WORRY THAT PLANS TO BUILD MORE THAN 100 HYDROPOWER DAMS UPSTREAM ON THE MA KONG, DAMS THAT WOULD GENERATE POWER FOR THE GROWING ECONOMIES FOR THE REGION WOULD CUT OFF BOTH THE FLOOD PULSE AND FISH MIGRATION. KAUFMAN AND AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL FISHERMEN AND CAMBODIAN AUTHORITIES TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE. KAUFMAN'S MODELING WORK BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO WITH THE COASTAL EKEY SYSTEMS OF MASSACHUSETTS. NOW HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES ARE IN CAMBODIA TO DEVELOP A MASSIVE DYNAMIC COMPUTER MODEL OF THE LAKE'S ECOSYSTEM.

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY AND GET A BIG PICTURE VIEW OF THE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE FUTURES FOR THE TONLE SAP AND THE WIDER LOWER MEKONG.

>> Reporter: LOCAL FISHERMEN ARE ALSO PART OF THE EFFORT. HE WORKS PART TIME FOR THE NGO INTERNATIONAL, THE HEALTH OF THE LAKE. HE COLLECTS FISH FROM SAMPLING NETS, RECORDS THE SPECIES, SIZE AND WEIGHT AND SNIPS OFF A BIT OF THE TAIL FOR DNA ANALYSIS. THE SAMPLES COLLECTED BY MAO AND OTHERS WILL HELP THE RESEARCHERS CONSTRUCT A CONNOLLY SAP FOOD REG WHICH WILL BECOME THE BASIS FOR ALGORITHMS OF WHAT EATS WHAT IN THE ECOSYSTEM MODEL. KAUFMAN BELIEVES ECOSYSTEMS ARE NETWORKS OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LIVING THINGS AND THE HABITAT THEY SHARE THAT INCLUDES HUMANS WHO ARE A PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM AND PROFIT FROM ITS CONTINUED HEALTH.

>> SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TREAD A CENTRAL PATH WHERE WE DON'T FORGET THAT PRESERVING THE WEALTH OF CREATION IS CRITICAL TO HUMAN SURVIVAL IN THE LONG TERM AND, AT THE SAME TIME, WE DON'T FORGET THAT FOOD AND JOBS IMMEDIATELY ARE WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: VILLAGERS WHO LIVE IN THE FLOOD ZONES OF PROPOSED HYDROPOWERED PROJECTS ARE ALREADY FACING TOUGH CHOICES. AS DESIGNED, ONE NEW DAM WILL BE ALMOST 250 FEET HIGH, AND ITS RESERVOIR WILL FLOOD DOZENS OF VILLAGES FORCING NEARLY 5,000 PEOPLE TO RESETTLE. DENSE BROADLY FOREST ONCE FLANKED THIS ROAD TO THE BALL SPAIN ONE OF THEVISMS THAT WILL BE UNDERWATER WHEN THE DAM IS BUILT. THIS AREA WAS RECENTLY CLEARCUT FOR A RUBBER TREE PLANTATION. VILLAGERS LIKE 61-YEAR-OLD TASAN HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MOVE IN EXCHANGE FOR COMPENSATION, BUT THEY'RE RESISTING. DURING THE TERROR-FILLED REIGN, THEIR VILLAGE WAS ORDERED AT GUNPOINT WHERE THEY BECAME FORCED LABOR, PLANTING RICE AND DIGGING IRRIGATION CANALS.

>> DURING THE POL POT REGIME IN 1976, WE WERE EVACUATED TO THIS NORTHEAST REGION.

>> Reporter: SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT MOVING AGAIN TO MAKE WAY FOR THE DAM.

>> I THINK I WOULD NOT BE ALIVE IF THEY MOVED ME TO A NEW LOCATION. I DO NOT THINK I WOULD SURVIVE.

>> Reporter: VILLAGERS WHO LIVE UPSTREAM FROM THE PROPOSED DAM DO NOT FACE RELOCATION. INSTEAD, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT FLOODING AND DECLINING FISH STOCKS.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LOTS OF FISH. BUT IF THEY BLOCK THE RIVER WITH THE DAM, FISH WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MIGRATE HERE.

>> Reporter: CAMBODIA NEEDS MORE POWER TO FUEL ITS EMERGING ECONOMY AND EASE WIDESPREAD POVERTY. BUT IT ALSO NEEDS THE FISH, CLEAN WATER, AND THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE TONLE SAP.

>> BY SELECTING ONE DAM SITE OVER ANOTHER, IT CAN MAKE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE FISHERS TO SPAWN, AND THAT COULD BE 30 OR 40% OF THE FISH FOR THE WHOLE FUTURE OUT OF TONLE SAP.

>> Reporter: THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS. BUT AS THE PLANET WARMS, THE DAMS RISE AND MORE FISH VANISH. KAUFMAN AND HIS COLLEAGUES ALSO BELIEVE THE TIME FOR WISE DECISIONS IS NOW. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LAKE TONLE SAP, VISIT OUR WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO CHRIS BERDICK'S ARTICLES ON THE WATER SYSTEM FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES AND VIRGINIA REVIEW QUARTERLY.

>> Ifill: EVEN IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RESIGNATION OF ITS CABINET SECRETARY, SCRUTINY CONTINUES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. JEFFREY BROWN HAS THAT.

>> Reporter: FOR WEEKS THE V.A. HAS BEEN ROCKED BY REPORTS THAT SCHEDULING CLERKS WERE FORCED TO FALSIFY RECORDS ABOUT HOW LONG PATIENTS HAD TO WAIT FOR APPOINTMENTS. THE DEPARTMENT'S OWN AUDITS FOUND SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. LAST MONTH, PRESIDENT OBAMA ACCEPTED SECRETARY ERIC SHINSEKI'S RESIGNATION. THIS WEEK SAW SEVERAL NEW DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING ACCUSATIONS FROM A WHISTLE- BLOWER AT THE V.A. HOSPITAL IN PHOENIX. TO BRING US UP TO DATE, WE TURN TO DENNIS WAGNER. AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER WITH "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND "U.S.A. TODAY." HE BROKE THE ORGINAL STORY. DENNIS, THIS NEW WHISTLE-BLOWER, PAULINE DEWENTER, SAYS SHE KEPT A SECRET LIST OF VETERANS WHO WERE WAITING MONTHS FOR TREATMENT. TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> BASICALLY WHAT SHE SAID WAS THEY DIDN'T -- THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET PEOPLE IN TO SEE THE DEPOSITION WITHIN A CERTAIN PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF TIME, SO RATHER THAN PUT THEM ON THE LINK, THE ACTUAL OFFICIAL LIST, SHE WOULD TAKE SCREENSHOTS OF THE APPOINTMENT REQUESTS THAT WEREN'T RETAINED IN THE COMPUTER, PLACE THEM IN HER DESK DRAWER AND HOLD THEM THERE UNTIL THEY COULD GET AN APPOINTMENT WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME PERIOD.

>> THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS ISSUE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT PATIENTS DIED WHILE THEY WERE WAITING FOR TREATMENT. SHE'S SUGGESTING THAT RECORDS WERE TAMPERED WITH TO MAKE KNOWING THAT MORE DIFFICULT?

>> WHAT SHE SAYS IS AFTER SHE SPOKE WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE AND TOLD THEM WHAT SHE KNEW AND PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION WITH THEM, THERE WAS A CHECK OF THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. AND IN AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN CASES, SHE HAD TYPED IN WHERE IT ASKED WHY THIS APPOINTMENT WASN'T KEPT BECAUSE THE APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELED, WHY IT WASN'T KEPD KEPT. SHE TYPED IN DECEASED. WHAT SHE SAID WAS THAT WAS REMOVED. THE WORDS WRITTEN IN ERROR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WAS PLACED IN THE SLOT WHERE THE DISPOSITION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER DISPOSITION WHICH SAID NO LONGER NEEDED, MEANING THE APPOINTMENT WAS NO LONGER NEEDED. WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE BECAUSE THEN THE WHOLE THING STARTED WHEN SHE WOULD ACTUALLY CALL PATIENTS TO TELL THEM THAT THEIR APPOINTMENT TIME WAS AVAILABLE AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD SAY, SORRY, YOU'RE TOO LATE.

>> Brown: WHAT YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT HER? WHAT DOES SHE SAY ABOUT HER OWN EXPERIENCE?

>> WELL, SHE JUST -- JUST EMERGED AS A PUBLIC WHISTLEBLOWER ALTHOUGH SHE'S BEEN SPEAKING TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR SOME TIME NOW. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING IN TERMS OF RETALIATION. IN FACT, I'VE HEARD THROUGH CHANNELS A THE V.A. THAT THEY'RE CONFIRMING WHAT SHE SAID AND NOT DISPUTING ANY OF IT.

>> Brown: THERE WAS ALSO A SECOND WHISTLEBLOWER THAT CAME FORWARD THIS WEEK, K.J. SLOAN. SHE SAYS SHE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WAS FIRED FROM HER JOB. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> BLACK IN JULY, AN EMPLOYEE AT THE V.A. SENT AN EMAIL TO SEVERAL TOP EXECUTIVES SAYING, HEY, THE WAY WE ARE REPORTING THAT WE'RE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING THE WAIT TIME SLOTS HERE IS COMPLETELY INACCURATE, AND HE SAID IT'S UNETHICAL, AND IT'S A DISSERVE SERVICE TO VETE. AND THAT EMAIL PROMPTED ETHICS CONSULTATION, A REVIEW PANEL LOOKS AT THE ETHICS OF IT. K.J. SLOAN WAS THE HEAD OF THIS ETHICS REVIEW PANEL. SHE ISSUED A REPORT THAT BASICALLY SAID THE WAY WE'RE DOING THIS -- THESE REPORTS OF DATA ON WAIT TIMES IS A SHAM, AND AFTER SHE -- AND MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. WHAT SHE SAYS IS NONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE CARRIED OUT. WHAT DID CHANGE WAS SHE WAS DISMISSED AS THE ETHICS COORDINATOR.

>> Brown: NOW, ALSO THIS WEEK, THE U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNCIL RELEASED A REPORT CRITICIZING THE V.A. BUT ALSO ITS INVESTIGATIVE OFFICER FOR NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY THE INTERNAL COMPLAINTS, PROBABLY OF THE VERY KIND THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

>> RIGHT. NOW, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LEVELS. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'VE GOT THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAD DONE QUITE A NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS AND FOUND THIS WAIT TIME PROBLEM EXISTED AND THEN IT'S COME POUNDED BY THE -- COMPOUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL INSPECTOR WHICH LOOKS AT COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE V.A. THAT ARE SAID TO DIRECTLY IMPLICATE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PATIENTS. AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT THESE AND COMING BACK WITH REPORTS THAT BASICALLY SAID, WELL, WE CAN'T PROVE FOR A FACT THAT THE PATIENT'S DEATH OR ILLNESS OR WHATEVER IT WAS WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. WE'RE FINDING AN UNFOUNDED COMPLAINT OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. AND THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL'S BASICALLY RAISED A RED FLAG ON THAT AND DID SO IN A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.

>> Brown: SO LET ME JUST ASK YOU IN OUR LAST MINUTE, IN THE MEANTIME, SINCE THE SCANDAL HAS COME TO LIGHT, WE KNOW OUR VETERANS ARE GETTING THE CARE THEY NEED, THAT'S SOMETHING THE V.A. SAID WOULD START TO HAPPEN.

>> I THINK THERE MAY BE TRENDS IN THAT DIRECTION. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AS A JOURNALIST RELYING ON CALLS FROM VETERANS AND CALLS FROM EMPLOYEES, YOU'RE STUCK WITH ANECT TOTAL EVIDENCE. THERE ARE SOME AUDIT REVIEWS COMING OUT AND SOME NUMBERS COMING OUT FROM V.A. SHOWING THAT MANY OF THE PATIENTS WHO WERE ON SECRET WAITING LISTS ARE NOT -- OR SIDETRACKED OFF THE SYSTEM HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND HAD APPOINTMENTS SET UP. A DRAMATIC NUMBER OF THEM HAVE HAD THAT ACCORDING TO THE V.A. THE PROBLEM THE V. AT HAS AT THIS POINT IS NO ONE'S SURE WHEN ITS CREDIBILITY IS VALID.

>> Brown: AND ARE YOU EXPECTING TO HEAR FROM MORE WHISTLEBLOWERS IN COMING DAYS AND WEEKS, MORE TO COME?

>> FIVE MINUTES BEFORE I WALKED INTO THIS ROOM, I GOT A CALL FROM A WHISTLEBLOWER.

>> Brown: AND ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST HEARD?

>> NOT THE SPECIFICS, BUT IN GENERAL, THIS WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S EMPLOYED BY THE V.A. IN ARIZONA WHO CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT WHERE HE WORKS, THEY ARE TELLING HIM TO BASICALLY KEEP PATIENTS OFTEN THE ELECTRONIC WAITING LIST OR TO NOT FIND THEM APPOINTMENTS AT ALL BECAUSE THEY ARE SIMPLY OVERLOADED. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PHYSICIANS TO HANDLE FIRST-TIME PRIMARY CARE APPOINTMENTS AT HIS CLINIC, AND HE'S NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY GUIDANCE ON WHAT TO DO WITH THESE PATIENTS.

>> Brown: ALL RIGHT, DENNIS WAGNER. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Woodruff: AN IMPORTANT MOMENT FOR THE U.S. SOCCER TEAM TODAY. IT ADVANCED TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 16 TEAMS IN THE WORLD CUP. THAT'S JUST THE FIRST TIME THE U.S. MEN'S TEAM HAS EVER DONE THAT IN SUCCESSIVE CUPS BUT IT CAME ONLY AFTER A BIG ASSIST FROM PORTUGAL. IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY CHEERED ON THE U.S. TEAM AGAINST GERMANY. FROM CHICAGO, TO NEW YORK, TO SEATTLE, THOUSANDS OF FANS TOOK A CUE FROM U.S. COACH JURGEN KLINSMANN. THE TEAM TWEETED A TONGUE-IN- CHEEK NOTE FROM HIM, EXCUSING EMPLOYEES FROM WORK AND IMPLORING BOSSES TO BE UNDERSTANDING AND EVEN TO TAKE THE DAY OFF THEMSELVES TO WATCH. FOR MANY, AT THIS OUTDOOR WATCH PARTY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH ENCOURAGEMENT TO CHUCK WORK FOR THE DAY.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY KNOW I'M HERE, BUT I DON'T CARE. ITS WORTH IT! GO UNITED STATES!

>> Reporter: INDEED, THE WORLD CUP HAS GENERATED MUCH MORE BUZZ IN THE U.S. THAN EVER BEFORE, WITH RECORD TV RATINGS. EVEN TODAY'S ONE-NIL LOSS TO GERMANY PROVED ONLY A MOMENTARY DISAPPOINTMENT. THANKS TO PORTUGAL'S WIN OVER GHANA, THE U.S. ADVANCED ANYWAY, TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND OF 16 TEAMS. THE AMERICANS PLAY AGAIN NEXT TUESDAY.

>> Woodruff: MORE ON THIS MOMENT FOR THE AMERICAN TEAM AND THE WORLD CUP FEVER AMONG FANS IN THE U.S. MATT FUTTERMAN WAS AT THE MATCH AND JOINS US FROM RECIFE, BRAZIL. THE AMERICANS ADVANCED, BUT THEY DID LOSE TO GERMANY TODAY. WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, IT TH IS JUST ONE OF THOSE WEIRD THINGS IN SPORTS. TO BE FRANK, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WEIRDEST DAYS IN SPORTS. THERE ARE -- THERE WERE FLOOD-LIKE RAINS HERE IN BRAZIL. THE AMERICANS PLAYED THIS GAME AGAINST GERMANY. NOBODY WAS ALLOWED TO WARM UP ON THE FIELD BECAUSE IT WAS SO FLOODED, AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GET DAMAGED. THEY CAME OUT. THEY HELD ON FOR A 1-0 LOSS, BUT THIS IS A SITUATION IN INTERNATIONAL SOCCER WHERE A LOSS IS ALMOST AS GOOD AS A WIN. THEY'RE MOVINGEN TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND. THE FINAL 16. THAT'S THE FIRST GOAL THAT EVERY TEAM THAT COMES TO THE WORLD CUP WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH. THEY PULLED THAT OFF.

>> Woodruff: SO EXPLAIN QUICKLY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T FOLLOW SOCCER WHY THEY MOVE ON.

>> THEY MOVE ON BECAUSE IN WORLD CUP SOCCER, YOU PLAY A ROUND ROBIN IN YOUR GROUP. YOU GET THREE POINTS FOR A WIN, ONE POINT FOR A DRAW, NO POINTS FOR A LOSS. THEY HAD A WIN AND A DRAW, THAT GAVE THEM FOUR POINTS. THEY -- THAT TIED THEM WITH PORTGAL FOR SECOND PLACE. BUT THEY HAD A BETTER GOAL DIFFERENTIAL THAN PORTUGAL, WHICH GOT SLAUGHTERED IN ITS FIRST GAME BY GERMANY, 4-0. TODAY THE PORTUGUESE WON 2-1. THAT ELIMINATED GHANA. AND IT TIED THEM WITH THE U.S., BUT THE U.S. HAD A BETTER GOAL DIFFERENTIAL. SO THE U.S. MOVES ON TO SALVADOR TO PLAY WHAT MIGHT BE BELGIUM, WHAT MIGHT BE ALGERIA.

>> Woodruff: TALK ABOUT THIS TEAM, THIS U.S. TEAM. WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THEM? HOW ARE THEY EVOLVING?

>> WELL, THEY ARE EVOLVING. THEY STOOD TOE TO TOE WITH GERMANY. THEY DIDN'T DOMINATE THE GAME IN ANY WAY. IN FACT, THEY GOT DOMINATED. BUT WHEN YOU LOOKED UP AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY WERE ONLY A GOAL -- THEY WERE ONLY A GOAL DOWN. AND THEY ACTUALLY NEARLY SCORED TO TIE IT UP IN THE FINAL SECONDS. AND THE INTERESTING THING IS THEY'VE MOVED ON BUT THEY'RE REALLY NOT SATISFIED. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN DO MORE. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN WIN MORE GAMES, AND THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR RESPECT. THIS IS THE UNITED STATES. IT'S NOT REALLY HISTORICALLY A GREAT SOCCER COUNTRY. THEY WANT TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES. THEY WANT TO DO WHAT THEY'VE DONE THE LAST FEW DAYS, WHICH IS GO TOE TO TOE WITH THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD. THEY THINK THEY CAN.

>> Woodruff: WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKING THE DIFFERENCE? YOU'VE SAID IT TWICE. THEY'VE GONE TOE TO TOE. WHAT'S GIVING THEM THE CONFIDENCE? WHAT'S CHANGED?

>> JUDY, I THINK THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS THEIR COACH, JURGEN KLINSMANN, WHO WAS A SUPERSTAR FOR GERMANY IN HIS PLAYING CAREER. HE BECAME THE COACH OF GERMANY FOR THE 2006 WORLD CUP, AND HE REALLY REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY GERMANY PLAYS SOCK HE. THEY USED TO BE VERY DEFENSIVE. NOW THEY'RE VERY OFFENSIVE MINDED. AND HE TOOK ON THE U.S. JOB IN 2011 AND HE REALLY CHALLENGED THESE PLAYERS TO SORT OF GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL, AS HE ALWAYS TELLS THEM. HE'S NEVER SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE. NO SOONER HAD THEY QUALIFIED FOR THE KNOCKOUT ROUND, THEN HE'S TELLING THEM, THAT'S FINE, BUT NOW THE TOURNAMENT REALLY BEGINS. THAT'S KIND OF GOING TO BE A BIT OF A SHOCK TO MOST AMERICAN SPORTS FANS, MOST AMERICAN SOCCER FANS WHO HAVE BEEN ON TOOTH AND NAIL THE LAST TEN DAYS WATCHING THIS TEAM. BUT IN KLINSMANN'S MIND, HE'S A WORLD CHAMPION. THIS ISN'T WHAT HE CAME HERE FOR. THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU PLAY THE GAME FOR, JUST TO QUALIFIFOR THE NEXT ROUND. YOU PLAY TO PLAY AGAINST THE BEST TEAMS ON THE BIGGEST STAGE IN THE WORLD.

>> Woodruff: THERE'S ALSO AN EVOLUTION AMONG THE FANS, MATT FUTTERMAN. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE AMERICANS WHO ARE THERE TO WATCH THESE GAMES?

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF AMERICANS WHO CAME HERE TO -- WHO ACTUALLY COULDN'T GET TO THE GAME BECAUSE THE FLOODING WAS SO BAD. SOME OF THE PLAYERS' FAMILIES DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME APPARENTLY. BUT THE ONES WHO DID GET HERE -- AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS WHO DID GET HERE -- THEY'RE LOUD. THERE ARE SCREAMS OF USA, USA THROUGHOUT THE STADIUM. NOT QUITE AS LOUD AS THE SCREAMS OF THE GERMANS, BUT THEN AGAIN THEY WERE WINNING. BUT WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER, IT WAS A REAL CELEBRATION BY A SORT OF NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT YOU JUST WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN FROM THE U.S. 20 YEARS AGO.

>> Woodruff: AND A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AMONG FANS HERE IN THE U.S. PEOPLE AS WE JUST SAW REALLY DID TAKE OFF FROM WORK TO WATCH THIS GAME TODAY. DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF EXCITEMENT THAT LASTS, THAT'S SUSTAINABLE?

>> I THINK IT'S SUSTAINABLE AS LONG AS THIS TEAM KEEPS WINNING. JURGEN KLINSMANN HAS A CONTRACT TILL 2018. I THINK WHATEVER HAPPENS NOW THAT THEY GOT OUT OF THIS SO-CALLED GROUP OF DEATH WHICH GERMANY, THE SECOND-RANKED TEAM IN THE WORLD, PORTUGAL, THE FOURTH-RANKED TEAM IN THE WORLD, AND GHANA, PROBABLY THE BEST TEAM IN AFRICA, IS, YOU KNOW, IS THEY NEED TO JUST -- THEY NEED TO GIVE IT A GOOD FIGHT AND SHOW THAT THEY ARE AS GOOD AS SOME OF THESE GREAT TEAMS. AND IF THEY CAN DO THAT AND HOLD THEIR HEADS HIGH, I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS SPORT FOR A LIGHTNING TIME TO COME.

>> Woodruff: ON TO THE NEXT ONE. MATT FUTER MEN COVERING THE WORLD CUP FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TODAY IN RECIFE, BRAZIL. THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, JUDY.

>> Ifill: FINALLY TONIGHT, BECOMING AN AMERICAN BECOMING A POET AND NOW A PULITZER-PRIZE WINNER. JEFFREY BROWN IS BACK WITH THE STORY. Reporter: FIRST I HAD THREE APOCALYPTIC VISIONS. EACH MORE TERRIBLE THAN THE LAST. THE GRAVES OPEN AND THE SEA RISES TO KILL US ALL. THEN THE DOORBELL RANG, AND I WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND SIGNED FOR TWO PACKAGES. ONE JUST AN ENVELOPE BUT THE OTHER LONG AND BULKY, DIFFICULT TO MANAGE. BOTH FOR MY NEIGHBOR GUS.

>> Reporter: THE FANTASTIC AND THE EVERY DAY. VIJAY SESHADRI USES DISPARATE WORLDS TOGETHER IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS POEM "THIS MORNING." IT'S PART OF THE COLLECTION "THREE SECTIONS" WHICH WON HIM THIS YEAR'S PULITZER PRIZE FOR POTTERY. FOR A QUARTER CENTURY, HIS POEMS HAVE APPEARED IN THE PAGES OF "THE NEW YORKER" MAGAZINE WHERE HE ONCE SERVED AS A COPY ED OR IT. -- EDITOR FOR. OF THAT TIME HE'S ALSO TAUGHT AT SARA LAWRENCE COLLEGE IN BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK. IN FACT, NEW YORK, ESPECIALLY THE BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE SESHADRI'S LIVED FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS SERVES AS THE SETTING FOR. OF HIS WRIGHT.

>> I'M ALWAYS KIND OF LOOKING AT THINGS AND I MEAN, DETAIL SERVES TWO FUNCTIONS IN POETRY, RIGHT? IT KIND OF -- IT ALLOWS TO YOU CREATE A WORLD AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE TO KIND OF RE-CREATE THE WORLD. AND THAT'S AN OLD RHETORICAL OBLIGATION OF ALL WRITERS.

>> Reporter: WHAT AM I SEEING HERE? WHAT AM I OBSERVING? GO WHAT ARE YOU OBSERVING?

>> Reporter: FOR A POET, THE DETAILS OF THE WORLD ARE SUFFICIENT IN AND OF THEMSELVES. JUST THE BEAUTY OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD.

>> Reporter: THAT WORLD WASN'T ALWAYS THE CITY OF NEW YORK. SESHADRI WAS BORN IN INDIA IN 1954. HIS FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO THE U.S. WHEN HE WAS 5 YEARS OLD SO THAT HIS FATHER COULD PURSUE A POST-DOCTORATE FELLOWSHIP IN CHEMISTRY, FIRST IN CANADA AND THEN AT OHIO STATE.

>> IT WAS THE AMERICA OF THE '60s, AND THE NEW ASIAN IMMIGRANTS TENDED TO BE CLUSTERED AROUND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, WHICH WE WERE, AND SO THE INITIAL EXPERIENCE WAS ONE OF ISOLATION, AND THEN THE EXPERIENCE BECAME OUT OF THAT ISOLATION DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP TO SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: AFTER GRADUATING FROM OVERLAND COLLEGE, SESHADRI SAIDED TO THE NORTHWEST WORKING IN THE FISHING INDUSTRY FOR FIVE YEARS AND FOR TWO MONTHS DOING RESEARCH ON A BOAT IN THE BERING SEA. HE EVENTUALLY FOUND HIS WHICH TO NEW YORK TO STUDY WRITING AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND SETTLED THERE. THE DETAILS FROM THOSE YEARS OF ADVENTURE AS WELL AS THOSE SPENT RAISING A FAMILY ALL FIND THEIR WAY INTO HIS POETRY.

>> THE POEM IS A PROCESS OF DISCRUFER. I SOMETIMES YOU KIND OF KNOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE END AND THE END IS LIKE A MOMENT. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO BUILD THE POEM TO THAT. BUT MOST TIMES YOU JUST SORT OF GO ON YOUR INSTINCTS, AND I THINK THIS GOES BACK ALSO TO MY BEING AN IMMIGRANT THAT I TEND TO SORT OF GRAVITATE TO THE BIG PICTURE. BECAUSE IF YOU'RE AN IMMIGRANT, YOU'RE SORT OF ON THE FRINGE OF SOCIETY. YOU SEE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. YOU SEE PANORAMAS. YOU KIND OF WANT TO TAKE IN THE WHOLE THING, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY PLACE IN ANY PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE SOCIETY YOU'RE IN, BUT YOU CAN EMBRACE ALL OF IT. THERE WAS DROUGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN. WILDFIRES SCOUR THE HILLS SO THE MAMMAL CRAWLS DOWN THE DESCATED RAILS SEARCHING FOR THE FOUNTAIN, WHICH IT FOUNDS BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OR SORT OF FINDS, THE THIN, SILVER SLIVER RISES FROM AN UNDERGROUND RIVER AND MAKES A FEW OF THE HOT ROCKS STEAM AND THE PEBBLES HISS. SOON THE MAMMAL WILL DRINK, BUT IT HAS FIRST TO STOP AND THINK ITS REFLEXIVE IMPECCABLE THOUGHT. THE THINKING COMES DOWN TO THIS, MYSTERY, LONGING, THIRST.

>> Reporter: JUST THINKING ABOUT THE PULITZERS, ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF POETRY IN AMERICA. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> WHAT I SEE IS THIS INCREDIBLE EXPLOSION OF WRITING, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD WRITING IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND IT'S VARIOUS. IT'S AS VARIOUS AS IT'S COUNTRY ITSELF. THIS IS A GOLDEN AGE FOR AMERICAN POETRY.

>> Reporter: VIJAY SESHADRI. THANKS AGAIN AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY. THE SUPREME COURT CURVED THE PRESIDENT'S POWER TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS DURING A CONGRESSIONAL RECESS. THE JUSTICES ALSO RULED AGAINST SETTING FIXED BUFFER ZONES TO KEEP ABORTION PROTESTERS AWAY FROM CLINICS. ASKED CONGRESS FOR 500 MILLION TO TRAIN IRAQI FORCES. HOWARD BAKER DIED AT 88.

>> Ifill: ON THE NEWSHOUR ONLINE RIGHT NOW, IN 2008, TWO FILMMAKERS SPOTTED THE MAKINGS FOR A PERFECT DOCUMENTARY. FIVE YEARS LATER THEIR STORY CULMINATED WITH A MONUMENTAL SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA. WE TALKED TO THE DIRECTORS OF "THE CASE AGAINST EIGHT" ON ART BEAT. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, newshour.pbs.org.

>> Woodruff: BEFORE WE GO, AN EDITOR'S NOTE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, I MISTAKENLY SAID THAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND HIS WIFE CORETTA SCOTT KING HAD BEEN AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. THEY WERE HONORED POSTHUMOUSLY WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. ON FRIDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT A PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA THAT IS DESIGNED TO MANAGE MEDICAL PLANS FOR THOSE ELDERLY WHO QUALIFY FOR BOTH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL. WE'LL SEE YOU ON-LINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING WITH MARK SHIELDS AND RAMESH PONNURU AMONG OTHERS. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE PBS NEWSHOUR, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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