PBS NewsHour; May 30, 2014 6:00pm-7:01pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> A FEW MINUTES AGO SECRETARY SHINSEKI OFFERED ME HIS OWN RESIGNATION. WITH CONSIDERABLE REGRET, I ACCEPTED.

>> Woodruff: WITH THAT, PRESIDENT OBAMA TODAY ANNOUNCED A MAJOR SHAKE-UP AT THE TOP OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. AS THAT EMBATTLED OFFICE NOW GRAPPLES WITH HOW TO CLEAN UP ITS TROUBLED HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM. GOOD EVENING, I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. TONIGHT, WE TURN TO MARK SHIELDS AND DAVID BROOKS, FOR PERSPECTIVE ON THE TROUBLE AT THE V.A., SECRETARY SHINSEKI'S RESIGNATION, AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS. THEN, PRO BASKETBALL'S PUSH TO TAKE THE L.A. CLIPPERS AWAY FROM OWNER DONALD STERLING, AS THE LEAGUE CONSIDERS A $2 BILLION DEAL TO PUT THE TEAM IN THE HANDS OF A FORMER MICROSOFT C.E.O. PLUS, OPERA LEGEND JESSYE NORMAN, LAUDED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGERS OF HER GENERATION, DISCUSSES HER DECADES ON STAGE, AND HOW SHE LEARNED TO "STAND UP STRAIGHT AND SING."

>> WHAT IS SO WONDERFUL, IS THAT EVERYBODY'S VOICE IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU'RE DIFFERENT ON THE INSIDE. AND THAT'S WHAT CHANGES YOUR VOICE.

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

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: ♪ ♪ MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS. BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US.

>> I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE OWNING IT. THE ONES GETTING INVOLVED, STAYING ENGAGED. THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO QUESTION THE PATH THEY'RE ON. BECAUSE THE ONE QUESTION THEY NEVER WANT TO ASK IS, "HOW DID I END UP HERE?" I STARTED SCHWAB WITH THOSE PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR INVESTMENTS, LIKE THEY DO IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES.

>> UNITED HEALTHCARE-- ONLINE AT uhc.com.

>> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS

>> 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: PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD MORE THAN ONE MAJOR PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY. IN ADDITION TO THE CHANGES AT THE VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, HE'S GETTING A NEW WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN. JAY CARNEY WILL BE STEPPING DOWN AFTER THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

>> YOU KNOW THESE JOBS PUT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STRAIN ON EVERYBODY'S, EVERYBODY'S FAMILY. MINE HAVE BEEN, MY KIDS AND MY WIFE HAVE BEEN, EXTRAORDINARILY PATIENT AND I JUST FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE.

>> Woodruff: CARNEY IS BEING REPLACED BY 38-YEAR-OLD JOSH EARNEST, WHO IS NOW THE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY.

>> Woodruff: A FRIEND OF THE ALLEGED BOSTON MARATHON BOMBERS WAS CHARGED TODAY WITH OBSTRUCTING THE INVESTIGATION. THE 23-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM KYRGYZSTAN, NOW LIVING IN QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, IS ACCUSED OF LYING ABOUT HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH TAMERLAN AND DZHOKHAR TSARNAEV. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE HE KNEW IN ADVANCE ABOUT THE ATTACKS. RUSSIA HAS CALLED AGAIN FOR UKRAINE TO STOP ITS MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST PRO-RUSSIAN REBELS. PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN MADE THE APPEAL IN A PHONE CALL WITH THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE. BUT IN KIEV, THE UKRAINIAN DEFENSE MINISTER INSISTED THE CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE, DESPITE LOSSES. HE SPOKE A DAY AFTER AN ARMY HELICOPTER WAS SHOT DOWN NEAR THE CITY OF SLOVYANSK, KILLING 14 SERVICEMEN. IN SYRIA, THERE'S WORD THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE FLEEING GOVERNMENT-HELD CITIES AHEAD OF NEXT WEEK'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS SAY INSURGENTS ORDERED CIVILIANS TO LEAVE BEFORE THEY LAUNCH ATTACKS TO DISRUPT THE VOTE. PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD IS EXPECTED TO WIN A THIRD TERM, DESPITE DEMANDS BY THE U.S. AND OTHERS THAT HE GIVE UP POWER. OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN INDIA FIRED TWO POLICEMEN TODAY IN THE FACE OF OUTRAGE OVER THE GANG RAPE AND KILLING OF TWO GIRLS, AGES 14 AND 15. IT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY, IN A TINY VILLAGE IN UTTAR PRADESH STATE, INDIA'S MOST POPULOUS REGION. LINDSEY HILSUM OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS FILED THIS REPORT. A WARNING, SOME OF THE IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING.

>> Woodruff: THE CHIEF MINISTER

>> Reporter: THE GIRLS HANGING FROM A MANGO TREE. HORRIFIED VILLAGERS GATHERED TO PROTEST THAT THE POLICE HAD REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE BECAUSE THE FAMILIES WERE CAUGHT.

>> MY SISTER WENT OUT AROUND 8:30, WAS KIDNAPPED BY FOUR MEN WHO DID SOMETHING BAD TO HER, ONE AN ACCUSED POLICE CONSTABLE.

>> UNDER INDIAN LAW, WE CAN'T NAME THE FAMILY OR VICTIMS. THE FATHER SAID, WHEN HE REPORTED THE CRIME, INSTEAD OF APPREHENDING THE CULPRITS, THE POLICE THREATENED TO PUT HIM IN PRISON.

>> LOOK AT THIS, THE ACCUSED HAVE GOT THE PROTECTION OF THE POLICE, AND HERE I AM, A VICTIM LEFT IN THE LURCH. IS THIS JUSTICE? (SHOUTING)

>> Reporter: TODAY, A FEW DEMONSTRATORS CAME. ALL INDIAN WOMEN ARE VULNERABLE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE, THEY SAY, BUT LOWER CASTE WOMEN ARE THE MOST AT RISK. IN UTTAR PRADESH WHERE POLICE, POLITICIANS AND ACCUSER ARE ALL FROM THE SAME HIGH CASTE, THEY DON'T STAND A CHANCE. THEY HAVE BEEN RAPED AND EXHIBITED, SHOWN TO EVERYBODY, TO REINFORCE THE CASTE STRUCTURE. IN DECEMBER 2012, TENS OF THOUSANDS PARTICIPATED AFTER A YOUNG WOMAN -- PROTESTED AFTER A YOUNG WOMAN WAS GANG RAPED AND MURDERED ON A BUS IN DELHI. FOUR WERE CONDEMNED TO DEATH. A CAMPAIGN SHOWN HINDU GODDESS SCARRED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO REPORT SUCH CRIMES. BUT TODAY, IT WAS REPORTED NOT MUCH HAD CHANGED.

>> Woodruff: THE CHIEF MINISTER OF UTTAR PRADESH STATE RIDICULED REPORTERS TODAY FOR FOCUSING ON THE ATTACK. HE DISMISSED THEIR QUESTIONS, AND INSTEAD, ASKED THEM: "WHY ARE YOU WORRIED? WHAT'S IT TO YOU?" BACK IN THIS COUNTRY, THE HOUSE VOTED EARLY TODAY TO BLOCK THE FEDERAL PROSECUTIONS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE, IN STATES WHERE IT'S LEGAL. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS JOINED IN PASSING THE MEASURE, IN A RARE BIPARTISAN MOMENT. CURRENTLY 22 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE. MEDICARE WILL NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY DENY COVERAGE OF SEX-CHANGE SURGERY. AN APPEALS BOARD IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THREW OUT THE 30-YEAR- OLD POLICY TODAY. ACTIVISTS SAID IT COULD PROMPT PRIVATE INSURERS TO FOLLOW SUIT. MEDICARE COVERS 49 MILLION SENIOR CITIZENS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MANY MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE RULING. ON WALL STREET TODAY, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 18 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 16,717, A NEW RECORD HIGH. THE NASDAQ FELL FIVE POINTS TO CLOSE AT 4,242. AND THE S-AND-P 500 ADDED THREE, TO FINISH AT 1,923, ALSO A RECORD HIGH. FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW GAINED A FRACTION OF A PERCENT. THE NASDAQ AND THE S-AND-P ROSE MORE THAN 1%. TWO BOYS, ONE FROM TEXAS, ONE FROM NEW YORK STATE, REVELED IN THE GLORY TODAY OF BEING CO- CHAMPIONS IN THE SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIE IN 52 YEARS, AND IT CAME ABOUT LAST NIGHT AFTER 14-YEAR-OLD SRIRAM HATHWAR AND 13-YEAR-OLD ANSUN SUJOE USED UP THE ENTIRE LIST OF WORDS.

>> ANSUN, IF YOU SPELL THIS WORD CORRECTLY, WE WILL DECLARE YOU AND SRIRAM CO-CHAMPIONS.

>> FEUILLETON. NOW, NO MORE QUESTIONS.

>> FEUILL-WHATEVER. F-E-U-I-L-L-E-T-O-N?"

>> CORRECT.

>> Woodruff: EACH WINNER GETS A TROPHY AND MORE THAN $33,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES.

>> Woodruff: STILL TO COME ON THE PBS NEWSHOUR: SECRETARY SHINSEKI RESIGNS AS HEAD OF THE EMBATTLED VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT; WE GET PERSPECTIVE FROM MARK SHIELDS AND DAVID BROOKS, ON THAT AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS; PLUS, THE $2 BILLION BID TO BUY DONALD STERLING'S L.A. CLIPPERS; AND HOW OPERA LEGEND JESSYE NORMAN LEARNED TO "STAND UP STRAIGHT AND SING."

>> Woodruff: THE STORM SURROUNDING THE EMBATTLED VETERANS ADMINISTRATION REACHED A CRESCENDO TODAY. HEEDING A STEADY DRUMBEAT OF CRITICISM AND CALLS FOR HIS OUSTER, ERIC SHINSEKI, THE 71- YEAR-OLD RETIRED GENERAL WHO HAD BEEN THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST AND ONLY SECRETARY OF THE V.A., OFFERED HIS RESIGNATION THIS MORNING AT THE WHITE HOUSE. OUR JEFFREY BROWN HAS THE STORY.

>> A FEW MINUTES AGO, SECRETARY SHINSEKI OFFERED ME HIS OWN RESIGNATION. WITH CONSIDERABLE REGRET, I ACCEPT IT.

>> Brown: THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME JUST AFTER SHINSEKI LEFT HIS PRIVATE MEETING IN THE OVAL OFFICE, ENDING HIS FIVE-YEAR STINT IN THE VETERANS AFFAIRS POST. PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID THE SECRETARY DECIDED HE COULD NOT EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH THE SCANDAL IN THE V.A. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AMID GROWING CRIES FOR HIS OUSTER.

>> HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE A DISTRACTION, BECAUSE HIS PRIORITY IS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND MAKE SURE OUR VETS ARE GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY NEED. THAT WAS RIC'S JUDGMENT ON BEHALF OF HIS FELLOW VETERANS. AND I AGREE. WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR DISTRACTIONS. WE NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

>> Brown: MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, OF BOTH PARTIES, HAD DEMANDED THE SECRETARY STEP DOWN OR BE FIRED. IN ACCEPTING HIS RESIGNATION, HE HEAPED PRAISE ON THE RETIRED FOUR-STAR GENERAL.

>> RIC'S COMMITMENT TO OUR VETERANS IS UNQUESTIONED. HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY IS EXEMPLARY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR HIS SERVICE, AS ARE MANY VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HE HAS WORKED HARD TO INVESTIGATE AND IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS WITH ACCESS TO CARE, BUT AS HE TOLD ME THIS MORNING, THE V.A. NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP TO ADDRESS THEM.

>> Brown: THE STORM OVER SHINSEKI INTENSIFIED WEDNESDAY AFTER HIS OWN INSPECTOR GENERAL RELEASED A SCATHING REPORT ON THE V.A. MEDICAL CENTER IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. IT FOUND VETERANS THERE WERE WAITING AN AVERAGE 115 DAYS TO BE SEEN, AND 1,700 VETERANS WERE KEPT OFF ANY OFFICIAL WAITING LIST. EVEN MORE DAMNING, THE REVIEW SAID V.A. STAFFERS IN PHOENIX COOKED THE BOOKS TO MAKE DELAYS APPEAR CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF 14 DAYS. TODAY, SHINSEKI GAVE THE PRESIDENT AN INTERNAL AUDIT THAT FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE WIDESPREAD IN THE V.A. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

>> GIVEN THE FACTS I NOW KNOW, I APOLOGIZE AS THE SENIOR LEADER OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

>> Brown: BEFORE GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, SHINSEKI OFFERED HIS OWN PUBLIC MEA CULPA, ADDRESSING THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

>> I SAID, WHEN THIS SITUATION BEGAN WEEKS TO MONTHS AGO, THAT I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS LIMITED AND ISOLATED BECAUSE I BELIEVED THAT. I NO LONGER BELIEVE IT. IT IS SYSTEMIC. I WAS TOO TRUSTING OF SOME AND I ACCEPT IT AS ACCURATE REPORTS THAT ARE NOW KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN MISLEADING WITH REGARD TO PATIENT WAIT TIMES.

>> Brown: HE ANNOUNCED THE REMOVAL OF SENIOR V.A. LEADERS IN PHOENIX AND HE SUSPENDED BONUSES FOR MEETING WAIT-TIME TARGETS. IT'S BEEN ALLEGED THAT POLICY PROVED AN INCENTIVE TO FALSIFY DATA.

>> BUSINESS AS USUAL CANNOT CONTINUE.

>> Brown: IN CONGRESS, REACTION TO THE RESIGNATION POURED IN FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. NEW YORK DEMOCRAT STEVE ISRAEL WAS ONE OF MANY WHO SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE.

>> IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT SECRETARY SHINSEKI HAD TO RESIGN, ALTHOUGH I SUPPORT THAT DECISION, BUT THIS DOES NOT PUT A PERIOD AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE. WE OWE IT TO OUR VETERANS TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM.

>> Brown: REPUBLICANS, LED BY HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER, VOICED SIMILAR SENTIMENTS, BUT IN TOUGHER TERMS.

>> UNTIL THE PRESIDENT OUTLINES A VISION AND AN EFFECTIVE PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THE BROAD DYSFUNCTION AT THE V.A., TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT REALLY CHANGES NOTHING. ONE PERSONNEL CHANGE CANNOT BE USED AS AN EXCUSE TO PAPER OVER A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.

>> Brown: MAJOR VETERANS GROUPS ALSO SUPPORTED THE RESIGNATION, AND CALLED FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OVERALL V.A. SYSTEM. ONE OF THE LARGEST, THE "VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS," SAID IN A STATEMENT: THE PRESIDENT TODAY SAID HE'LL LEAVE IT TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER THE SCANDAL WARRANTS A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, AS MANY IN CONGRESS ARE DEMANDING. IN THE MEANTIME, HE'S APPOINTED SLOAN GIBSON, THE V.A.'S NUMBER TWO, AS ACTING SECRETARY.

>> Brown: WE EXPLORE THE PROBLEM, THE RESIGNATION AND WHAT'S NEXT, WITH PAUL RIECKHOFF, AN IRAQ WAR VETERAN AND FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF "IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA." JOSEPH VIOLANTE IS A VIETNAM WAR VETERAN. HE'S NOW NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR OF "DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS." AND DR. STEPHEN XENAKIS IS A RETIRED ARMY BRIGADER GENERAL WHO HAD A 28-YEAR CAREER AS AN ARMY PSYCHIATRIST. HE'S THE FOUNDER OF THE "CENTER FOR TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE," A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO VETERANS. WELCOME, ALL OF YOU. PAUL RIECKHOFF, LET ME START WITH YOU. YOUR REACTION TO THE RESIGNATION OF ERIC SHINSEKI. WAS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO? IS IT BEST FOR THE V.A.?

>> IT WAS AND IT NEEDED TO HAPPEN. OUR MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN SECRETARY SHINSEKI, THE COUNTRY HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN HIM AND MANY OF THE V.A. EMPLOYEES AS WELL. THIS WAS A DAM THAT BURST. THIS HAS BEEN BUILDING FOR YEARS. I.G. REPORTS HAVE BEEN COMING OUT GOING BACK TO 2007 NOTING THE WAIT TIMES. THERE HAVE BEEN CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONIES, GROUPS LIKE OURS HAVE RAISED THESE ISSUES FOR YEARS. VETERANS HAVE HAD IT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE KNOW THERE ARE MUCH BIGGER INSTITUTIONAL AND BUREAUCRATIC CHANGES THAT MUST TAKE PLACE. THIS WILL NOT SOLVE EVERYTHING BUT A CHANGE IN TONE AND AT THE TOP IS NECESSARY. >

>> Brown: JOSEPH, YOUR GROUP HAD NOT CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION, RIGHT? DID YOU WANT HIM TO STAY ON?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE SUPPORTED SECRETARY SHINSEKI IN THE SESSION HE BROUGHT A LOT OF CHANGE TO THE V.A. WE HAD CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO BRING CHANGE TO THIS ONCE IT CAME TO LIGHT SO WE DID NOT ASK FOR HIS RESIGNATION FOR THOSE REASONS.

>> Brown: WHY DO YOU THINK HE DECIDED TO DO IT?

>> GOOD QUESTION. I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE HE WAS BECOMING A POLITICAL LIGHTNING ROD FOR CRITICISM AND MAY HAVE FELT IT WAS BAD FOR THE V.A.

>> Brown: THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DOES HIS RESIGNATION START TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR WHAT'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RESIGNATION AND THE LARGER PROBLEM, STEPHEN XENAKIS?

>> IT COULD DESTABILIZE THE PROGRAM. IT COULD FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE CLEAR LEADERSHIP HERE AND PEOPLE WILL BE SPENTING SO MUCH TIME -- SPENDING SO MUCH TIME FIGURING OUT WHO SHOULD BE THE SUCCESSOR AND DISCUSSING THE PROBLEMS THAT IT COULD DELAY THERE BEING FIXES THAT HE MAY HAVE ALREADY HAD IN PLACE AND RECOGNIZED THAT HE NEEDED TO MAKE.

>> Brown: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE IT?

>> STARTING YEARS AGO, THE V.A. DID NOT PREPARE FOR NOW WHAT WAS GOING TO BE 2.5 MILLION MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. THE FACT THAT THE POPULATION OF SOLDIERS AND THE VETERANS FROM THE VIETNAM WAR WERE AGING AND HITTING A POINT IN TIME WHERE THEY'LL NEED A LOT MORE MEDICAL CARE, AND THEY DIDN'T MAP OUT WHAT WAS GOING TO BE THE LOAD, THE BURDEN, THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES THAT WERE GOING TO BE REQUIRED. THEY ALSO WERE AN ORGANIZATION THAT DID NOT WELCOME CHANGE AND DID NOT ALLOW THEMSELVES, DIDN'T HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN FIGURING OUT WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO MEET THE MISSION.

>> Brown: JOSEPH VIOLANTE, ERIC SHINSEKI SEEMED TO GO FURTHER AND THE I.G.'S REPORT TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEMIC TOTAL LACK OF INTEGRITY.

>> YES. I'D LIKE TO SAY ONE THING. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WELL BEFORE THESE WARS. BACK IN 2001, PRESIDENT BUSH ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE FOR VETERANS. THIS WAS PRIOR TO THE ATTACK ON OUR NATION. TWO YEARS LATER IN MAY OF 2003, THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN WAS STILL YOUNG. WE WERE JUST GOING INTO IRAQ. THIS TASK FORCE FOUND THAT, AT THAT TIME, THERE WERE 26,000 VETERANS ON A WAIT LIST WAITING SIX MONTHS OR MORE FOR CARE. THEY ALSO FOUND IT WAS A MISMATCH BETWEEN FUNDING AND DEMAND. IF THAT MISMATCH WASN'T ADDRESSED, THE SITUATION WOULD WITH IMPACT ACCESS. HERE WE ARE 11 YEARS LATER AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THOSE PROBLEMS THEN. WHEN THAT REPORT CAME OUT, CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION SHELLED IT. EVEN THOUGH THE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS WANTED THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE LOOKED AT.

>> Brown: PAUL RIECKHOFF, COME IN ON THIS. THOSE PROBLEMS HAVING BEEN THERE, YOU'RE SAYING, FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THIS GOES FURTHER. THIS IS ABOUT FALSIFYING REPORTS AND THE LACK OF INTEGRITY WAS THE WORD USED.

>> RIGHT. IT'S A TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE AND IT STARTED WITH THE REVELATIONS IN PHOENIX FOUR WEEKS AGO AND THE SECRETARY WAS SLOW TO RESPOND AND THE PRESIDENT WAS SLOW TO RESPOND. NOW THE I. DPMENT IS INVESTIGATING OVER 40 DIFFERENT FACILITIES. SO IT'S A SYSTEMWIDE FAILURE, PEOPLE ARE COOKING THE BOOKS, AND WE WANT TO SEE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. IF VETERANS DIED WAITING FOR CARE, THEN PEOPLE NEED TO GO TO JAIL. IT'S GOT TO BE BOILED DOWN INTO HUMAN TERMS. WE HAVE VETERANS WHO SERVED OVERSEAS, MULTIPLE TOURS, COMING HOME, SEEKING HELP. BRAVE RISTEPPING FORWARD, AND GETTING HELP, AND THE V.A. IS STALLING THEM. IT'S BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD PRESIDENT AFTER PRESIDENT, YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT'S TIME FOR THE PRESIDENT TO STEP UP AND MAKE IT A PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY. HE HAS TO INTEGRATE THE OTHER AGENCIES AROUND THE V.A. AND COMMUNICATE THE V.A. CAN'T DO IT ALONE. NONPROFITS, VETERANS' GROUPS ARE OVERWHELMED TRYING TO FILL THE GAP BECAUSE ONLY 55% OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS ARE EVEN USING THE SYSTEM, SO IF THEY COME FORWARD, THE SYSTEM WILL BE STRETCHED THAT MUCH MORE. THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN IN THE YEARS TO COME.

>> Brown: IS IT A FUNDING OR CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT PROBLEM?

>> BOTH. WE ASKED AN INDEPENDENT STUDY, FOR 7. # BILLION MORE THAN CONGRESS HAS PROVIDED FOR MEDICAL CARE ALONE FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS IN CONSTRUCTION THAT'S $9 BILLION OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS THAT V.A.'S BEEN SHORT CHANGED. SO, YES, IT IS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THE V.A. IS SPENDING THIS MONEY PROPERLY. IF THEY AREN'T USING IT PROPERLY TO CARE FOR VETERANS, CONGRESS NEEDS TO STEP IN.

>> Brown: DO YOU THINK IT'S A FUNDING ISSUE?

>> NOT PRIMARILY. I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE OF THE CULTURE. YOU TALKED ABOUT INTEGRITY AND I THINK IT'S PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING FROM THE FRONT LINE DOCTORS AND NURSES TO THE MANAGEMENT OF WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE VETERANS AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF ACCOMPLISHING THEIR OBJECTIVES. I THINK IT'S ORGANIZATIONAL. I THINK IT'S HOW THEY'RE SET UP, WHO HAS WHAT AUTHORITY TO RUN, EXECUTE PROGRAMS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS, AND I THINK THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS. THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE OLD AND CLUMSY AND CLUNKY, SO I THINK IT'S THOSE PROBLEMS. I WOULD FIRST LOOK AT FIXING THOSE, BRING IN THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP, AND THEN, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD FUNDING UP TO NOW, THEN THINK ABOUT WHAT THE FUNDING NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE.

>> Brown: PAUL RIECKHOFF, SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP, NOT EXACTLY WHO, BUT WHAT KIND OF PERSON SHOULD THE PRESIDENT LOOK TO NOW?

>> WELL, WE NEED SOMEONE WHO'S AGGRESSIVE, SOMEONE WHO CAN BE A VETERANS ADVOCATE, NOT ADVERSARY, SOMEONE WHO CAN TEAR THROUGH BUREAUCRACY AND REBRAND THE V.A. THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE WAY THE PUBLIC AND VETERANS AND ALL OF AMERICA THINKS ABOUT THE V.A., BUT IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE AS A TURNAROUND ARTIST.

>> Brown: I JUST WANT TO ASK, SHOULD IT BE SOMEONE INSIDE WHO KNOWS THE SYSTEM OR OUTSIDE WHO CAN COME IN AND TOTALLY CHANGE THE SYSTEM?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S CLEAR IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE BUREAUCRACY INTERNALLY IS WHAT ARE OF WHAT SECRETARY SHINSEKI STRUGGLED WITH THROUGHOUT HIS TERM. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT COMPLICATED TO HAVE A DISABILITY CLAIM GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT OUR VETERANS ARE WAITING SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR BECAUSE UNTIL RECENTLY IT IS A PAPER-BASE SIPPLED. THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT HAS TO BE DRAGGED FORWARD INTO THE 21s 21st CENTURY, EMPHASIZES TECHNOLOGY, RESPONSIVENESS AND MOST ESPECIALLY NOW TRANSPARENCY. SO IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE WHO WILL DO A THOROUGH HOUSECLEANING AND RESTORE CONFIDENCE AT EVERY LEVEL.

>> Reporter:.

>> Brown: WHAT'S THE BEST WAY? I THINK IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE TO COME THIS, LOOK AT THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE, LISTEN TO THE VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE V.A. FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN HAVING THE AUTHORITY FROM THE PRESIDENT TO DO IT.

>> Brown: AND VERY BRIEFLY, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TALKED ABOUT THE CULTURE, THE LEADERSHIP?

>> I THINK IT'S LEADERSHIP. YOU HAVE TO BRING A TURNAROUND ARTIST, A PERSON WHO KNOWS HOW TO CHANGE ORGANIZATIONS. I THINK HE'S GOT TO BE FROM THE HEALTHCARE FIELD AND UNDERSTAND HOW COMPLEX THAT IS, AND HE'S GOT TO BE BOLD, BUT I THINK HE'S GOT TO COME FROM THE OUTSIDE AND BE ABLE TO PUT A FRESH EYE ON IT.

>> JOSEPH VIOLANTE, PAUL RIECKHOFF, STEPHEN XENAKIS, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: AND TO THE ANALYSIS OF SHIELDS AND BROOKS. THAT'S SYNDICATED COLUMNIST MARK SHIELDS AND NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST DAVID BROOKS. WELCOME, GENTLEMEN. SO LET'S PICK UP WITH THE DISCUSSION JEFF WAS JUST HAVING. DAVID, THE RESIGNATION OF ERIC SHINSEKI, WHAT WOULD YOU ADD? WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN IN.

>> I HATE THESE BLOOD LETTINGS. IT'S NEVER OBVIOUS TO ME WHY ONE PERSON IS THE PROBLEM. I'M A BELIEVER IN EXPERIENCE AND IT'S AT LEAST POSSIBLE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THERE FIVE YEARS KNOWS THE ORGANIZATION AND IN A BETTER POSITION THAN THE OUTSIDER. IT SHOULD BE SAID GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY IS NOT MICROSOFT. YOU CAN'T FIRE PEOPLE.

>> Woodruff: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T FIRE --

>> YOU CAN'T DO WHAT A CORPORATE TURNAROUND ARTIST CAN DO. IF YOU'RE IN THE MILITARY OR CORPORATE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF FREEDOM TO GET PEOPLE TO DROP WHOLE ORGANIZATIONS TO SELL OFF YOUR COMPANY. IF YOU'RE IN A FEDERAL AGENCY, I CAN'T THINK OF A TURNAROUND. I'M TRYING TO THOIF ONE THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY BEEN TURNED AROUND JUST BECAUSE THE LEVERAGE IS NOT THERE. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE. SOMETIMES WE BRING IN BUSINESS PEOPLE, BRING IN GENERALS TO RUN AGENCIES AND CABINET SECRETARY HAVE POTENTIALLY VERY LIMITED CONTROL OVER THE AGENCIES.

>> Woodruff: WHAT DO YOU SEE GOING ON HERE?

>> A YEAR DIVISIBLE BY TWO, MEANING IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR. THAT'S WHY ERIC SHINSEKI HAD TO GO. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY A WORD ABOUT HIM. THERE IS NOBODY IN THIS TOWN RECENTLY OR TODAY WHO HAD THE INTEGRITY, HAD THE RESPECT AND AFFECTION OF THOSE WHO WORKED WITH HIM, HE WAS A MAN OF -- IS A MAN OF UNIMPEACHABLE INTEGRITY, A MAN WHO JEOPARDIZED HIS OWN CAREER, PUT HIS ON CAREER, BASICALLY ENDED IT BY TESTIFYING HONESTLY IN THE RUSH TO WAR IN 2003 WHEN DON RUMSFELD AND ALL THOSE WERE TELL US IT WAS GOING TO BE A CAKEWALK, HE SAID, NO, IT WILL REQUIRE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND TROOPS.

>> Woodruff: IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHY DID HE HAVE TO STEP DOWN?

>> HE HAD TO BECAUSE IT'S A TRAGIC SITUATION THERE AT THE VETERANS AFFAIRS WITH VETERANS CARE. THIS IS NOT BENGHAZI OR THE I.R.S. WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY HYPED-UP DIRECT MAIL CONSPIRACY THEORISTS SCANDALS. THIS IS GENUINE. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO SERVED THE COUNTRY, WHO PAID DEALE PAID DEY CASES AND THE MEDICAL CARE IS BEING POSTPONED. IT'S IS ACCESS TO IT AND IT HAS HASN'T BEEN THERE AND HE WAS MISLED BY THOSE HE HAD IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY. HE BELIEVED THEM AS HE BELIEVED THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM HE SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

>> Woodruff: BUT, DAVID, SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING JUST THE FACT ERIC SHINSEKI IS GONE DOESN'T MEAN THE PROBLEMS CAN BE FIXED.

>> NO, THERE IS UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT ON THAT PROPOSITION. I HAVE BEEN STRUCK ABOUT HOW MUCH CONVERSATION THERE IS ABOUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM, JUST IN THE ARTICLES. I'M NOT QUALIFIED TO JUDGE, BUT SHOULDN'T IT RUN MORE LIKE MEDICARE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GIVEN MONEY TO PURSUE HEALTHCARE IN THE PRIVATE SYSTEM? SHOULD THE PENTAGON AND V.A. HAVE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS WHICH OVERLAP THE POPULATION AT DIFFERENT STAGES IN THEIR CAREERS? SHOULD NONWAR WOUNDS BE TREATED BY THE V.A.? THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF PROPOSALS FLOATING OUT THERE. STRIKES ME THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND, A DEMAND OF PRIMARY CARE SERVICES WERE PHENOMENALLY HIGH AND THE DOCTORS WERE NOT THERE AND THE DOCTORS THAT WERE THERE WERE NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH SO THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR THOSE DOCTORS. THIS IS ALL OF THE TIME IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT, SINCE 2001, THE V.A. BUDGET HAS TRIPLED. SO A LOT OF MONEY BY WASHINGTON STANDARDS, A LOT OF MONEY HAS BEEN GOING TO THE V.A. AND SOMEHOW HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

>> IS THE PROMISE OF THE V.A. BIGGER THAN ANYTHING ANYBODY CAN DELIVER?

>> NO, THE QUESTION OF PRIVATIZATION, AND I'M NOT QUALIFIED EVEN TO DISCUSS IT, I WILL SAY VETERANS HAVE OPPOSED IT. VETERANS HAVE BEEN BY THE ACTUAL MEASUREMENT SATISFIED AND MORE SATISFIED THAN AMERICANS WITH PRIVATE HOSPITAL TREATMENT. THEY HAVE BEEN MORE SATISFIED. THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ONE OF ACCESS, BASICALLY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A LOFT SUBURBAN HOSPITALS HERE IN TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES OR POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS. DAVID'S PROBLEM IS A GOOD ONE ABOUT AGING VETERANS, ARTHRITIS, HEARING PROBLEMS, WHATEVER ELSE, WHETHER IN FACT THEY CERTAINLY -- THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, TO ANOTHER SYSTEM, MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, AND VETERANS LIKE TO BE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH AND THAT IS TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE.

>> Woodruff: DOES THIS RAISE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND WHETHER GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE TRYING TO TAKE ON SOMETHING AS MASSIVE AS THIS AS TAKING CARE OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO'S EVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR LIVES?

>> WELL, IT GOES ON TO HOW YOU ORGANIZE A VERY COMPLEX SYSTEM WITH RISING POPULATIONS AND CHANGING POPULATIONS, AND THIS IS SORT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL DEBATE ABOUT ObamaCare AS WELL IS HOW MUCH MARKETING MECHANISM SHOULD YOU HAVE. IT'S NOT A CLEAR ANSWER. BUT THE V.A. SYSTEM IS NOT POORLY THOUGHT OF AND HAS SOME REAL STRENGTHS. NEVERTHELESS WHEN YOU HAVE A SUPPLY AND DEMAND PROBLEM WITH THE PROVIDERS TO THE PATIENTS, THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT AS WELL. MARK'S RIGHT, THOUGH, THERE ARE PROBLEMS A PRIVATE SYSTEM WOULD ALSO V. SO IT'S A COMPLICATED CALCULUS.

>> WE'VE SEEN IT, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS YOU DISPARAGE ObamaCare, IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS A REAL PROBLEM AND THAT IS WE DO RATION MEDICAL CARE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE DO IT ON THE BASIS OF DOLLARS AND HEALTH. IF YOU'RE POOR AND HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION, YOU DIDN'T GET MEDICAL CARE BEFORE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

>> THE COOKING OF THE BOOKS, I HAD NO EXCUSES, NONETHELESS PEOPLE PUT IN CHARGE OF THE SYSTEMS WERE GIVEN TERRIBLE INCENTIVES AND NOT GIVEN THE RIGHT NUMBER OF DOCTORS SO THEY WERE PUT IN IMPOSSIBLE POSITIONS.

>> WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH JEFFREY. ERIC SHINSEKI DID TWO TOURS IN VIETNAM, WOUNDED, TWO PURPLE HEARTS, THIS IS MORE THAN THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT HAD AMONG THEM IN 2012.

>> Woodruff: SOMETHING VERY MUCH ON THE PRESIDENT'S PLATE THIS WEEK, HIS FOREIGN POLICY SPEECH, FIRST ONE IN A LONG TIME, WEST POINT, SPOKE TO THE GRADUATES. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE SPEECH? DID WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENCY VIEWS U.S.'S ROLE IN THE WORLD?

>> THEY SAY THE PRESIDENT'S AN ISOLATIONIST. THAT'S NOT TRUE. HE'S OUT BUILDING RELATIONS IN IRAN, SYRIA. THAT'S CLEAR. TWO ATTITUDES CAME THROUGH IN THE SPEECH, THE FIRST IS WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO FEAR FROM OVERREACH THAN UNDERREACH. THEY'RE LEARNING FROM VIETNAM AND IRAQ, WE TEND TO MESS UP WHEN WE GO TOO FAR. AND THAT'S THE LESSON OF IRAQ AND IRAN. I WOULD SAY THE LESSON OF THE TWENTITIES AND '30s HAS BEEN OVERREACH. WE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE GLOBAL WORLD ORDER, INVOLVING A VERY ASSERTIVE U.S. POSITION. AND SOMETIMES IN THE CLINTON AND GEORGE H.W. BUSH WE HAD INTERVENTIONS EVERY SEVERAL MONTHS TO KEEP THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER. PRESIDENT OBAMA DOES NOT WANT TO LEAN FORWARD IN THE WAY HIS PREDECESSORS DID. AMONG THE MANY STRENGTHS OF THE SPEECH, I THINK LEANING BACK CREATES A VACUUM THAT PEOPLE LIKE PUTIN, PEOPLE LIKE THE CHINESE AT THEIR WORST MOMENTS WILL FILL.

>> Woodruff: A DANGER OF UNDERREACH?

>> I DON'T SEE THAT. THE PRESIDENT WAS CRI CRITICIZEY THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL," "WASHINGTON POST" AND "NEW YORK TIMES" EDITORIAL PAGES. THE LAST TIME THOSE THREE ORGANIZATIONS AGREED ON AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IS WHEN THEY ENDORSED THE UNITED STATES INVASION OF IRAQ IN 2002. THAT OUGHT TO TELL YOU IMMEDIATELY THEY'RE WRONG. I THINK THE PRESIDENT PROVED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THAT SPEECH WHICH WAS PASSIONLESS --

>> Woodruff: REALLY? THERE WAS NO SENSE OF THE LIFT OF AN ABIDING DREAM OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT TO IT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS RATIONAL, THOUGHTFUL AND HE WAS ELECTED TO END WARS, NOT START THEM. IT REMINDED ME OF THE LINE YOU CAMPAIGN IN POETRY AND GOVERN IN PROSE. THIS WAS IN PROSE, IT REALLY WAS. DAVID'S POINT WAS VALID, IT IS ONE OF LIMITATIONS BUT ONE OF COALITION BUILDING AND MULTI-LATERALLISM, IT'S A GEORGE H.W. BUSH POLICY RATHER THAN GEORGE W. BUSH.

>> Woodruff: TOO MANY COALITIONS? AGGRESSIVE --

>> THAT MADE NO SENSE. LAST TIME THEY AGREED WAS TO GO TO WAR IN IRAQ. THEY NEVER AGREE.

>> WHERE WERE WE? GEORGE H.W. BUSH, WE HAD A BIG COUNTRY SEIZE AGO SMALL COUNTRY UNDER GEORGE H.W. BUSH, IRAQ SEIZING KUWAIT, AND WE DID SOMETHING. NOW WE HAD ANOTHER CASE OF RUSSIA SEIZING CRIMEA. NO ONE THINKS WE SHOULD PUT TROOPS ON THE GROUND BUT, NONETHELESS, SOME ASSERTIVE WAY TO CONTROL PUTIN'S AMBITIONS I THINK IS CALLED FOR SOMETHING MORE ASSERTIVE, AND THE ONE THING I ENDORSE AND A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE PROPOSED THAT THE PRESIDENT GO TO KIEV THE WAY TO J.F.K. WENT TO BERLIN JUST TO MAKE A STATEMENT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, YOU'RE MAKING A STATEMENT WE STAND WITH THESE PEOPLE, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF ASSERTIVE U.S. POWER, PRESTIGE AND VALUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PRESIDENT DO A LITTLE MORE OF.

>> Woodruff: SO GO THERE AND SAY...

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA, AND I DO THINK, JUDY, NOT TO ALIENATE BOTH GEORGE H.W. BUSH AND BARACK OBAMA SIMULTANEOUSLY, GEORGE H.W. BUSH IN 1981 WHEN HE PUT THE COALITION TOGETHER PUT A COALITION OF 32 NATIONS TOGETHER, PEOPLE WHO HAD SPOKEN TOGETHER, JOINED ARMS FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE TO DRIVE SADDAM HUSSEIN OUT OF KUWAIT WHICH HE OCCUPIED. GOT IT IDENTIFIED BY THE CONGRESS AND RATIFIED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND PAID FOR BY THE GULF STATES IN GERMANY AND JAPAN. IT WAS A REMARKABLE ACT OF DIPLOMACY AND BARACK OBAMA FAVORS HIM.

>> THE QUESTION IS COULD WE LEAN ON THEM A LITTLE MORE. I DON'T REALLY FAULT THE ADMINISTRATION. I DO THINK THE PRESIDENT IS AWARE BOTH IN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY OF THE LIMITATIONS ON AMERICAN POWER, OVERLLY AWARE. I GO BACK TO THE 2008 CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS A BIG THINKING HOPE AND CHANGE CAMPAIGN, AND THAT CAMPAIGN DOESN'T REFLECT THE PRESIDENT WE'VE SEEN RECENTLY. SO I THINK HE UNDERESTIMATES THE POWER HE DOES HAVE SOMETIMES OR AT LEAST IN AN AMBIGUOUS POSITION HE PLAYS CAUTIOUS, AND SALUTE PRUDENCE, THIS CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT HE MADE THAT WE SHOULD HIT SINGLES AND DOUBLES. I SOMETIMES TOTALLY SEE THE MERIT IN THAT. THAT'S WHAT MOST OF THE GOVERNMENT IS, SINGLES AND DOUBLES, THAT'S FINE. OCCASIONALLY, THERE HAS TO BE A BIGGER HOMELAND VISION FOR THE PEOPLE OF KIEV OR THE PEOPLE AROUND CHINA, THE PEOPLE OF IRAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST, SYRIA.

>> Woodruff: VERY BRIEF -- SINGLES AND DOUBLES ARE FINE. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT THAN OFFENSIVES AND STRIKING OUT. THE FACT WE HAVE THIS OVERLOAD IN THE V.A. HOSPITALS IS THE TESTIMONY TO 17 MILITARY ENCOUNTERS UNDER BOTH PRESIDENTS BUSH AND CLINTON.

>> Woodruff: MARK SHIELDS, DAVID BROOKS, WE THANK YOU BOTH.

>> Woodruff: THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS HAVE GONE, IN JUST A MATTER OF WEEKS, FROM A TEAM WITH A HEAVY CLOUD OVER IT'S HEAD, TO THE MOST HIGHLY VALUED FRANCHISE IN THE LEAGUE AND ONE OF THE MOST VALUED IN ALL OF SPORTS. JAWS DROPPED LAST NIGHT WHEN A POTENTIAL DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED, ONE THAT SET NEW RECORDS FOR THE N.B.A. HARI SREENIVASAN HAS THE STORY.

>> Sreenivasan: HE'S A FORMER C.E.O. OF MICROSOFT, LONG-TIME SPORTS FAN, AND NOW, PERHAPS, THE NEWEST OWNER IN THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION. STEVE BALLMER HAS AGREED TO SHELL OUT $2 BILLION TO BUY THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS, THE MOST EVER FOR AN N.B.A. FRANCHISE. SHELLY STERLING, WIFE OF DISGRACED OWNER DONALD STERLING, ANNOUNCED LATE LAST NIGHT THAT SHE'D SIGNED A BINDING CONTRACT FOR THE SALE. N.B.A. COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER BANNED DONALD STERLING FROM THE LEAGUE LAST MONTH, AFTER A RECORDING SURFACED OF THE BILLIONAIRE MAKING RACIST COMMENTS. SILVER SAID THE N.B.A.'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS WOULD MAKE THE FORMAL DECISION ON STRIPPING STERLING OF THE TEAM.

>> I FULLY EXPECT TO GET THE SUPPORT I NEED FROM THE OTHER N.B.A. OWNERS TO REMOVE HIM.

>> Brown: JUST YESTERDAY, DONALD STERLING'S ATTORNEY SAID HIS CLIENT WILL FIGHT TO KEEP THE FRANCHISE.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY WRONG WHEN SOMEONE IS TALKING TO HIS GIRLFRIEND HAS A PRIVATE CONVERSATION AND WINDS UP LOSING HIS LIFE AND HIS PROPERTY.

>> Brown: DESPITE THAT STATEMENT, SHELLY STERLING ANNOUNCED THE SALE TO BALLMER, HOURS LATER. E.S.P.N. AND "U.S.A. TODAY" REPORTED TODAY THAT SHE WON SOLE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY FOR THE STERLING FAMILY TRUST, WHICH OWNS THE TEAM, AFTER HER HUSBAND WAS RULED "MENTALLY UNFIT." AS FOR BALLMER, HE OUTBID AT LEAST THREE OTHER GROUPS OF BIDDERS. AMONG THEM: MUSIC EXECUTIVE DAVID GEFFEN, ORACLE C.E.O. LARRY ELLISON, AND OPRAH WINFREY. THE DEAL NOW AWAITS APPROVAL BY THE REST OF THE N.B.A. OWNERS. THEY'RE ALREADY SET TO MEET JUNE THIRD.

>> Sreenivasan: A CLOSER LOOK NOW AT THE BUSINESS PIECE OF ALL OF THIS AND THE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER DONALD STERLING COULD SLOW IT DOWN. ROB GLOSTER COVERS SPORTS FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK AND JOINS ME FROM SAN JOSE. I SPOKE WITH HIM A SHORT TIME AGO. PICTURE QUESTION. A LOT OF NBA OWNERS ARE VERY HAPPY, BUT WHAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE MAKES A TEAM WORTH $2 BILLION?

>> WELL, HARI, IT'S CLEARLY TV RIGHTS. EVERY MAJOR SPORTS TEAM AND SPORTS LEAGUE, NOW, IS GETTING TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY FROM NATIONAL AND LOCAL AND REGIONAL TV CONTRACTS AND, IN THE CASE OF THE CLIPPERS, NOT ONLY IS THE NBA GOING TO BE RENEGOTIATING ITS NATIONAL TV CONTRACTS IN 2016, BUT THE CLIPPERS WILL HAVE A NEW REGIONAL CONTRACT THEN. SO THEY CAN ASK FOR A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THE SECOND BIGGEST MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET IT.

>> Sreenivasan: I'M NOT A HUGE NBA FAN BUT THIS IS THE CLIPPERS. SOMETHING I'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THEY DON'T HAVE AN M.V.P. OR A CHAMPIONSHIP. IT WAS WRITTEN WHEN THE L.A. CLIPPERS STEP OUT ON THE FIELD IN DODGERS STADIUM THEY GET BOOED, THEY'RE NOT EVEN THE FAVORITE TEAM IN THEIR OWN HOMETOWN. HOW THAT IS THIS VALUATION INCREASED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS?

>> THEY'RE CLEARLY NOT THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN TOWN, THE LAKERS HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS. THE CLIPPERS HAVE BEEN A PRETTY TERRIBLE TEAM IN THE THREE DECADES DONALD STERLING OWNED THE TEAM, BUT IT'S LOS ANGELES, THE SECOND BIGGEST MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES, I MEAN, THE MOST VALUABLE TEAM IN THE NBA BASED ON FORBES' EVALUATIONS IS THE NEW YORK KNICKS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN PRETTY BAD, TOO. SO IT'S NOT IF IT'S A GOOD TEAM OR THE STARS, IT'S WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED AND WHAT IT'S WORTH.

>> Sreenivasan: SOME SAY STEVE BALLMER OVERBID. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIS MOTIVATION FOR GETTING THE TEAM TODAY?

>> HE'S A SPORTS NUT, VALUED AT $20 BILLION, SO I GUESS HE CAN AFFORD THE $2 BILLION. BASICALLY, HE'S WANTED TO OWN A TEAM FOR A WHILE. HE TRIED TO BUY THE SACRAMENTO KINGS LAST YEAR. HIS PLAN WAS TO MOVE THEM BACK TO SEATTLE, HIS HOMETOWN. THE NBA SAID HE COULDN'T DO THAT AND THE KINGS STAYED IN SACRAMENTO. HE'S CLEARLY WANTED TO BE AN NBA TEAM OWNER FOR A WHILE.

>> Reporter: AS A FORMER SEATTLEITE, IS THERE A CHANCE WE COULD GET A TEAM BACK THERE CULLED THE SONICS?

>> DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S A CHANCE. WHEN THE KINGS WERE UP FOR SALE, THE NBA SAID IT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TEAM BACK IN SEATTLE. THERE'S A BIG SPORTS AND BASKETBALL CULTURE THERE, BUT RIGHT NOW THERE DON'T LOOK TO BE ANY TEAMS THAT ARE READY TO MOVE.

>> Sreenivasan: ANOTHER BIG CHARACTER IS DONALD STERLING. IS THIS THE LAST WE'VE HEARD FROM HIM? THIS IS THE KIND OF RESOLUTION THE NBA WOULD LIKE BUT WE'RE HEARING THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY HE'S GOING TO FIGHT BACK.

>> YEAH, AND DONALD STERLING HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS, HE DOESN'T LIKE THE WAY HE HAS BEEN TREATED BY THE NAVNLT HE FEELS -- BY THE NBA. HE FEELS LIKE A VICTIM IN ALL THIS AND HE'S BEEN KNOWN TO BE LITIGIOUS, SO HE COULD GO TO THE COURTS. THE NBA GOT A HIGH-PROFILE, RICH GUY TO TAKE OVER THE CLIPPERS WITH A GOOD REPUTATION. IT HOPES IT'S DONE WITH THE STERLINGS BUT I'M NOT SURE DONALD STERLING WILL GO THAT EASILY.

>> Sreenivasan: THE LONGER-TERM RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE LEAGUE, THE NBA, HAVE THEY HANDLED THIS WELL AND DO PEOPLE PERCEIVE THAT TO BE THE CASE?

>> YEAH, THE NBA HAS HANDLED IT VERY WELL. ADAM SILVER THE NEW COMMISSIONER TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION, WAS VERY FORCEFUL, AND MADE IT CLEAR THESE WERE THE RACIST RANTINGS OF ONE OWN, ONE MAN AND NOT THE WAY THE NBA FEELS. THIS IS ALMOST A POSITIVE FOR THE LEAGUE BECAUSE THE PLAYERS AND OWNERS HAVE COME TOGETHER. THEY'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS LEVEL OF COOPERATION ON THIS. SILVER MADE IT VERY CLEAR HE WANTED INPUT FROM THE PLAYERS FROM THE START AND THE PLAYERS FEEL HAPPY SILVER TOOK THIS ACTION AND I THINK IT'S A NET POSITIVE IN THE END FOR THE NBA IF THEY GET RID OF BALLMER AND THE STERLINGS.

>> Sreenivasan: OTHER RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT MIGHT AFFECT OTHER SPORTS LEAGUES OR FRANCHISES THAT MIGHT THINK ABOUT LOS ANGELES OR ESCALATE THE VALUE RACE IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THE TEAM OWNERS IN ALL MAJOR SPORTS LEAGUES AROUND AMERICA HAVE TO BE FEELING PRETTY GOOD NOW. WHEN $2 BILLION IS PAID FOR A TEAM IN A LEAGUE WHO NEVER HAD A SALE OF MORE THAN $550 MILLION, THAT MEANS EVERYTHING IS GOING UP, AND LAMB L.A. DOES NOT HAVE AN NFL TEAM. YOU'VE GOT TO THINK THAT THE NFL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TEAM THERE AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OWNERS IN OTHER CITIES SAYING IF I MOVE MY TEAM TO LOS ANGELES, IT COULD BE WORTH A LOT MORE THAN IT IS NOW IN ST. LOUIS, BUFFALO, JACKSONVILLE. SO IT COULD HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT ALL OF SPORTS, THIS $2 BILLION SALE.

>> Sreenivasan: ROB GLOSTER, BLOOMBERG BUSINESS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Woodruff: DONALD STERLING SAID HE WOULD SUE THE NBA FOR $1 BILLION AND STERLING IS CONSIDERING WHAT HIS OPTIONS ARE TO STOP THE SALE TO BALLMER.

>> GRRNTION

>> Woodruff: FINALLY TONIGHT, A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE GREATEST SINGERS OF HER GENERATION, AND HER OWN LOOK BACK AT WHAT MADE HER THE PERFORMER SHE IS. AND AGAIN TO JEFF, HE SAT DOWN WITH JESSYE NORMAN ON A RECENT TRIP TO NEW YORK.

>> Brown: IT'S A VOICE KNOWN ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR ITS SIZE, POWER, RANGE AND BEAUTY. JESSYE NORMAN HAS PERFORMED ON THE GREAT STAGES OF THE WORLD, SINGING IN OPERAS, ALONGSIDE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS AND JAZZ ENSEMBLES, AND BEFORE THE COUNTRY AS A SITTING PRESIDENT RENEWED HIS OATH TO OFFICE. SHE TELLS OF SUCH EXPERIENCES, HER CHILDHOOD, TRAINING AND MORE IN THE NEW MEMOIR, "STAND UP STRAIGHT AND SING." WE MET RECENTLY AT CARNEGIE HALL IN NEW YORK, SCENE OF SO MANY OF HER FAMOUS PERFORMANCES, AND I ASKED ABOUT THE "COMMAND" CONTAINED IN HER BOOK'S' TITLE.

>> IT'S ONE I HEARD WHISPERED VERY GENTLY IN MY EAR BY MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS ABOUT, SAY, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS OLD.

>> Brown: AND YOU'VE BEEN TELLING YOURSELF THAT EVER SINCE?

>> AND I'VE BEEN TELLING MYSELF THAT EVER SINCE. AND WHEN I FIND MYSELF, BECAUSE IT'S TRUE AND I WRITE ABOUT THIS, IT IS A LIFELONG BAD HABIT OF RESTING IN MY RIGHT HIP. AND I FIND MYSELF...

>> Brown: REALLY? YOU'RE A SLOUCHER?

>> MMM HMMM. I'M A SLOUCHER, SORT OF. WHEN NOBODY'S LOOKING.

>> Brown: MAYBE SO, BUT IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A MORE REGAL PRESENCE ONSTAGE FOR A WOMAN WHO'S RECEIVED COUNTLESS AWARDS. INCLUDING IN 2010, AMERICA'S HIGHEST ARTISTIC HONOR, THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF THE ARTS. IT ALL BEGAN IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, WHERE NORMAN GAVE HER FIRST PERFORMANCES IN HER LOCAL CHURCH.

>> I FEEL COMFORTABLE SINGING IN THE GREAT CATHEDRALS OF THE WORLD BECAUSE I SPENT SO MUCH TIME AS A CHILD SINGING IN CHURCH. AND IT ISN'T VERY DIFFERENT. OF COURSE NOTHING LOOKS QUITE LIKE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS AND IT CERTAINLY IS RATHER DIFFERENT FROM MT. CAVALRY BAPTIST CHURCH IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. BUT IT IS STILL A CHURCH, AND

>> Brown: THIS WAS THE SOUTH, IT WAS THE JIM CROW SOUTH.

>> I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE TEACHERS AT MY SEGREGATED SCHOOLS THAT WERE SO INTERESTED IN US AND SO WANTED US TO BE THE BEST THAT WE COULD. EVEN THOUGH ONE IS GROWING UP IN A SEGREGATED SITUATION, YOU'RE STILL BEING OFFERED THE BEST THAT A PERSON CAN GIVE TO YOU. AND THEY WANT THE BEST FROM YOU AND THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME GOOD INSIDE OF YOU THAT THEY'RE GOING HELP YOU FIND.

>> Brown: YOU WRITE ABOUT ONE SUCH PERSON, THE CHORAL DIRECTOR YOU HAD IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, ROSA SANDERS

>> ROSA SANDERS.

>> Brown: AND I ASK YOU ABOUT THIS BECAUSE YOU SAID, "SHE HELPED ME TO FIND AND KNOW MY OWN VOICE." WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT MEANS THAT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME LISTENING TO OTHER SINGERS ON THE RADIO, ALL KINDS OF SINGING, WHETHER IT'S ELLA FITZGERALD OR ROSETTA THORPE, WHO WAS A VERY FAMOUS GOSPEL SINGER, OR MAHALIA JACKSON OR NAT KING COLE OR JOAN SUTHERLAND. AND IT WAS SHE WHO WORKED WITH ME TO SAY THAT NO, YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY SOUND LIKE JOAN SUTHERLAND, SO SOUND LIKE YOURSELF. JUST SING THE SONG. SHE NEVER TRIED TO TEACH ME VOCAL TECHNIQUE, AFTER ALL, I WAS THE 13 YEARS OLD OR SOMETHING, BUT WHAT WE DID TOGETHER WAS TO LEARN A LOT OF MUSIC. AND TO LEARN TO ENJOY IT.

>> Brown: NORMAN ATTENDED HOWARD UNIVERSITY AND THEN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FOR A MASTERS PROGRAM IN VOICE. SHE SAYS SHE KNEW SHE TRULY FOUND HER VOICE WHEN, AT AGE 23, SHE WON AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION IN MUNICH, GERMANY. ONCE YOU FIND THAT VOICE, IS IT THERE FOREVER? OR DO YOU HAVE TO TEND TO IT?

>> YOU HAVE TO TEND TO IT. WHETHER THAT INSTRUMENT LIVES INSIDE OF YOUR BODY OR WHETHER IT SORT OF LIVES AT THE TOP OF YOUR SHOULDER. BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW YOUR VOICE 'FEELS'.

>> Brown: HOW IT FEELS, NOT HOW IT SOUNDS?

>> HOW IT FEELS, NOT HOW IT SOUNDS. BECAUSE WHAT THE AUDIENCE IS HEARING IS NOT AT ALL WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO HEAR, SO YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT IF YOUR VOICE IS FEELING WELL, AND YOUR SHOULDERS ARE RELAXED AND YOUR VOICE SEEMS TO FLOW WITH YOUR BREATH, THEN YOU'RE ALRIGHT.

>> Brown: SO THAT'S THE PRODUCTION OF SOUND?

>> THAT IS THE PRODUCTION OF SOUND, YES.

>> Brown: BUT, THEN, THE ART COMES IN.

>> THEN THE ART COMES IN, OF COURSE THAT IS WITH STUDY AND TRAINING AND PRACTICE. AND THE THING THAT CHANGES, WHAT IS SO WONDERFUL, IS THAT EVERYBODY'S VOICE IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU'RE DIFFERENT ON THE INSIDE. AND THAT IS WHAT CHANGES YOUR VOICE.

>> Brown: I HAD A LAUGH AT ONE LINE WHEN YOU SAID, "I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I CAN BORE A CONDUCTOR TO TEARS WISHING TO REHEARSE A PHRASE MORE OFTEN THAN HE FEELS NECESSARY."

>> YES.

>> Brown: THAT DOES HAPPEN?

>> I'M AFRAID SO. AND, BUT I TRY NOT TO BE COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS. THERE'S ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME ON WHICH THE ORCHESTRA CAN BE WITH YOU. AND SO THEREFORE ONE NEEDS TO USE THAT TIME MORE WISELY THAN REPEATING THE PHRASE THREE TIMES 'BECAUSE THE SINGER WOULD LIKE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY PLEASE'. SO WE TRY TO GET THOSE THINGS KIND OF IRONED OUT AHEAD OF TIME.

>> Brown: BUT YOU DO MENTION THE COMMON USAGE OF DIVA, RIGHT?

>> OH YES, I'M AFRAID SO. I DECIDED THAT I WOULD SIMPLY EMBRACE IT AND THEREFORE CHANGE THE MEANING OF IT. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T THEN OF COURSE IT'S USED IN A WAY THAT IS MOST UNFLATTERING AND IS MEANT TO INDICATE SOMEONE THAT IS CAPRICIOUS AND JUST SO DIFFICULT TO BE AROUND. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT IS NOT TRUE. ♪ ♪

>> Brown: AT 68, JESSYE NORMAN CONTINUES AN ACTIVE SCHEDULE OF TEACHING AND SINGING AROUND THE WORLD. BUT SHE SAYS IT WAS A REVELATION TO STOP AND GATHER MEMORIES OF HER LIFE IN MUSIC AND AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN A LOVING FAMILY.

>> MY PARENTS SAID TO US, PRACTICALLY ON A DAILY BASIS, THAT WE WERE AS GOOD AS ANYONE ELSE ON THIS EARTH AND THAT WE WOULD SIMPLY HAVE TO WORK HARDER IN ORDER TO SHOW THAT. I KNEW THAT I WAS LOVED, AND THAT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT THING. AND OF COURSE, AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. OF COURSE YOUR PARENTS LOVE YOU. OF COURSE MRS. HUBERT ACROSS THE STREET LOVES YOU. AND YOUR GODMOTHER LOVES YOU AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS LOVE YOU. BUT THE LONGER ONE LIVES, THE MORE ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE WAY THAT EVERYBODY ELSE GROWS UP. OR THAT THEY HAVE GROWN UP IN THIS WAY. AND SO I SAY TO MYSELF AS OFTEN AS I CAN, YOU LUCKY DUCK.

>> Brown: GIVING SOME OF THAT BACK, NORMAN HELPED FOUND AND REMAINS DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THE JESSYE NORMAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, FOR TALENTED BUT ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN HER HOMETOWN OF AUGUSTA.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY. ERIC SHINSEKI RESIGNED AS VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY. HE'D BEEN UNDER FIRE OVER REVELATIONS THAT V.A. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS LIED ABOUT WAIT TIMES FOR APPOINTMENTS. THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCED HIS WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY IS LEAVING AFTER THREE AND HALF YEARS, LONGER THAN MOST MODERN PRESS SECRETARIES STAY IN THAT JOB. AND OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN INDIA FIRED TWO POLICEMEN AMID A STORM OF OUTRAGE OVER THE GANG RAPE AND KILLING OF TWO TEEN-AGE GIRLS. ON THE NEWSHOUR ONLINE RIGHT NOW, ONE PHOTOGRAPHER'S MISSION TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE URBAN PLANNING LED HIM TO GREAT HEIGHTS, WHEREBY HIS STUNNING AERIAL PHOTOS REVEAL JUST HOW MASSIVE, AND DESTRUCTIVE, SPRAWL CAN BE. YOU CAN SEE A PHOTO GALLERY OF HIS COLLECTION ON OUR ART BEAT PAGE. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, newshour.pbs.org. AND A REMINDER ABOUT SOME UPCOMING PROGRAMS FROM OUR PBS COLLEAGUES. GWEN IFILL IS PREPARING FOR "WASHINGTON WEEK," WHICH AIRS LATER THIS EVENING. HERE'S A PREVIEW:

>> Ifill: THAT ROCKIN' AND ROLLIN' YOU FEEL IS WASHINGTON DRAMA AT ITS MOST DISRUPTIVE WITH OUTRAGED DEBATE AND HIGH-LEVEL RESIGNATIONS ALL ON DISPLAY. WE DIG INTO WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT'S NEXT TONIGHT ON "WASHINGTON WEEK." JUDY.

>> Woodruff: SUNDAY'S EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND LOOKS AT A RECENT REPORT ABOUT SPECIES EXTINCTION. HARI TALKS TO THE LEAD AUTHOR, BIOLOGIST STUART PIMM FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY. HERE'S AN EXCERPT FROM THAT CONVERSATION.

>> WE ARE THE ULTIMATE PROBLEM. THERE ARE 7 BILLION PEOPLE ON PLANET. WE TEND TO DESTROY CRITICAL HABITATS WHERE SPECIES LIVE, WE TEND TO BE WARMING THE PLANET, WE TEND TO BE VERY CARELESS ABOUT MOVING SPECIES AROUND THE PLANET TO PLACES THEY DON'T BELONG AND WHERE THEY CAN BE PESTS.

>> Woodruff: AND WE'LL BE BACK, RIGHT HERE, ON MONDAY, WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH E.P.A. ADMINISTRATOR GINA MCCARTHY ABOUT THE NEW REGULATIONS FOR COAL POWER PLANTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> UNITED HEALTHCARE, ONLINE AT uhc.com.

>> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org  . >>> THIS IS "NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT," WITH TYLER MATHISEN AND SUSIE GHARIB. BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY.

>> THESTREET.COM, FEATURING HERB GREENBERG WHO REMINDS INVESTORS THAT RISK IS REAL. WITH HERB GREENBERG'S REALITY CHECK, RESEARCHING STOCKS IN TERMS OF RISK. YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT THESTREET.COM/REALITY CHECK. >>> DOUBLE PLAY, THE DOW AND S&P END THE MONTH IN RECORD TERRITORY. WHAT IS NEXT FOR STOCKS AND BONDS? WE'LL TAKE A LOOK. >>> POWER PORTFOLIO, THIS WEEK'S MARKET MONITOR HAS THREE ENERGY KEY ITEMS THAT CAN HELP, BREAK OUT YOUR NOTEBOOK. >>> AND WHY WALMART IS OFFERING CLASSES TO STUDENTS ABOUT LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. ALL THAT AND MORE ON "NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT" FOR FRIDAY, MAY 30