PBS NewsHour; Thursday, July 21, 2022, 3:00pm-4:00pm PDT

JUDY: GOOD EVENING, I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, THE HEARINGS CONTINUE. THE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION OPUS IS ON THE ACTIONS OF ARMOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AS THE MOB ATTACKED THE CAPITAL. THEN THE INVASION INTENSIFIES. RUSSIA TIGHTENS ITS GRIP ON EASTERN UKRAINE BY OVERHAULING POLICE FORCES AND MAKING PLANS FOR SECESSION REFERENDUMS. AND THE TIPPING POINT. THE MILLIONS WHO RELY ON THE COLORADO RIVER FOR WATER FACE AN UNCERTAIN TEACHER AMID AN UNRELENTING DROUGHT. >> IF CLIMATE CHANGE HADN'T HAPPENED, THE WEST WOULD STILL BE IN DROUGHT BUT THE SEVERITY IS UNDOUBTEDLY WORSE BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. JUDY: ALL THAT AND MORE ON

TONIGHT'S PBS NEWSHOUR. >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY. >> FIDELITY DEDICATED ADVISES ARE HERE TO HELP YOU CREATE A WEALTH PLAN WITH TAX SENSITIVE INVESTING STRATEGIES. PLANNING FOCUSED ON TOMORROW WHILE YOU FOCUS ON TODAY. THAT IS THE PLANNING EFFECT FROM FIDELITY. >> THE KENDEDA FUND, COMMITTED TO RESTORING JUSTICE AND INVESTMENTS AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERS AND IDEAS. MORE AT KENDEDAFUND.ORG. CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. SUPPORTING INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION, DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND

SECURITY AT CARNEGIE.ORG. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND 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. JUDY: PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IT TODAY. THEY SAY THE SYMPTOMS ARE VERY MILD. THE PRESIDENT'S PHYSICIAN SAYS HE HAS A RUNNY NOSE AND A COUGH. HE SAYS HE IS FINE AND KEEPING BUSY.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS BUT I AM DOING WELL. JUDY: MR. BIDEN IS 79 AND IS FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED. HE IS TAKING THE DRUG PAXLOVID TO WARD OFF SEVERE SYMPTOMS. THE COVID RESPONSE COORDINATOR DEFENDED THE WHITE HOUSE PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS. >> WILL WAY SAID THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY. I THINK I EVEN SAID IT FROM THE STAGE THAT IT WAS A POSSIBILITY. AND I THINK THE PROTOCOLS HAVE KEPT HIM FROM GETTING INFECTED, BUT WE KNEW THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY WITH THIS INCREDIBLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT. JUDY: THE PRESIDENT WILL ISOLATE UNTIL HE TESTS NEGATIVE. THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE AND THE U.S. CONGRESS HOLDS THE EIGHTH AND POSSIBLY FINAL HEARING TONIGHT. TESTIMONY WILL FOCUS ON THE THREE HOURS WHEN THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WATCHED THE VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION BUT DID NOTHING TO STOP IT. WE WILL DELVE INTO THE DETAILS AFTER THIS NEWS SUMMARY.

HEAT INDEX IS IN THE U.S. HIT TRIPLE DIGITS TODAY FROM THE DEEP SOUTH TO THE NORTHEAST. FORECASTERS WARNED THE EXTREME READINGS COULD CONTINUE FOR DAYS. A SEPARATE HEAT WAVE MOVED EAST IN EUROPE, SPARKING NEW WILDFIRES IN POLAND PENNSYLVANIA. CREWS ARE STILL BATTLIN FIRES IN ITALY, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL. RUSSIA AND UKRAINE WILL SIGN A DEAL TOMORROW TO RESUME UKRAINIAN GRAIN IMPORTS THROUGH THE BLACK SEAT. SO FAR, KYIV AND MOSCOW HAVE NOT YET CONFIRMED IT. RUSSIAN NATURAL GAS BEGIN FLOWING THROUGH A MAJOR PIPELINE TO EUROPE AT REDUCED LEVELS AFTER A MAINTENANCE BREAK. WE WILL RETURN TO UKRAINE LATER IN THE PROGRAM. THE PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY MARIO DRAGHI RESIGNED TODAY WHEN HIS RULING COALITION FELL APART AFTER 17 MONTHS IN POWER. DRUGGIE WAS ITALY'S SIXTH PRIME MINISTER IN A DECADE. IT LEFT MANY ITALIANS FRUSTRATED

AS THEY FACE A LONG DROUGHT AND A TROUBLED ECONOMIC RECOVERY. >> IT REALLY ISN'T THE RIGHT MOMENT FOR A GOVERNMENT CRISIS. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOMENT TO GET BACK ON HER FEET, NOT THE MOMENT TO STOP. >> AT SUCH A DELICATE MOMENT, I THINK IT WAS A RECKLESS MOVE NOT TO BEAR IN MIND EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING GLOBALLY. JUDY: ITALY'S PRESIDENT RESOLVED PARLIAMENT. BACK IN THIS COUNTRY, NEW YORK STATE REPORTED THE FIRST POLIO CASE IN THE U.S. IS 2013. -- SINCE 2013. IT INVOLVES AN UNVACCINATED ADULT AND MAY HAVE BEEN SPREAD BY SOMEONE WHO RECEIVED A LIVE VACCINE USED OVERSEAS. POLIO LARGELY DISAPPEARED FROM THE U.S. IN THE 1970'S. THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO PROTECT ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION. DEMOCRATS ARGUED IT IS ESSENTIAL NOW THAT THE SUPREME IT HAS

ERASED FEDERALLY PROTECTED ABORTION RIGHTS. REPUBLICANS CHARGE THE BILL GOES TOO FAR. DEBATE ROQUE ALMOST ENTIRELY DOWN PARTY LINES. >> IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS BILL IS WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT IS UNCLEAR THAT IT JUST COVERS TRADITIONAL CONTRACEPTIVES. IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT MY COLLEAGS ACROSS THE AISLE ARE CONTINUING TO PUSH THEIR EXTREME ABORTION ON DAND AGENDA. >>'S IS NOT A SIDE ISSUE THAT ONLY AFFECTS SOME PEOPLE. THIS IS A KITCHEN TABLE ISSUE. THE DECISION ON HOW, IF, AND WHEN TO GROW A FAMILY ARE DECISIONS THAT ARE PERSONAL AND PRIVATE AND SHOULD NEVER BE DECIDED BY THE SUPREME ORDER OR CONGRESS. JUDY: REPUBLICANS BLOCKED ACTION ON A SIMILAR BILL. A JUDGE HAS SENTENCED FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER THOMAS LANE TO 2.5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR VIOLATING GEORGE FLOYD'S CIVIL-RIGHTS.

HE WAS AWAITING SENTENCING ON ESTE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE AND HELD BOYD'S LEGS WHILE ANOTHER OFFICER FATALLY KNELT ON HIS NECK FOR MORE THAN NINE MINUTES AND 2020. -- IN 2020. A MAJOR SCIENTIFIC GROUP IS WARNING THAT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE NOW AN ENDANGERED HE SEES. THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE ESTIMATES MONARCH NUMBERS HAVE DROPPED 22% TO 72% ACROSS NORTH AMERICA OVER 10 YEARS. TH DECLINE IS BLAMED ON PESTICIDE, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND LOSS OF HABITAT. TECHNOLOGY FIRMS LED THE WAY AS STOCKS ROSE FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT DAY. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 162 POINTS TO CLOSE NEAR 32,037. THE NASDAQ ALSO ROSE 162 POINTS, MORE THAN 1%. THE S&P 500 GAINED 1% AS WELL. STILL TO COME, RUSSIA TIGHTENED ITS GRIP ON EASTERN UKRAINE BY

MAKING PLANS FOR SECESSION REFERENDUMS. UNRELENTING DROUGHT IMPERILS THE MILLIONS THAT RELY ON THE COLORADO RIVER FOR WATER. THE DIRECTOR OF A NEW FEATURING A FIRST AWESOME SUPERHERO -- THE DIRECTOR OF A SERIES FEATURING THE FIRST MUSLIM SUPERHERO DISCUSSES THE IMPACT. >> THIS IS THE NEWSHOUR FROM W ETA STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON AND FROM THE WALTER CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. JUDY: HE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE WILL BE HOLDING A PRIMETIME HEARING. THE CASE THEY HAVE LAID OUT PUTS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE CENTER OF THAT CONSPIRACY. HELLO TO YOU. WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT TONIGHT?

REPORTER: WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING A HIGH-STAKES AND HIGH DRAMA MEETING. IT IS THE 187 MINUTES THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL SAY PRESIDENT TRUMP DID NOTHING TO STOP THE RIOT. IF THE TIME FROM WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDED HIS SPEECH AT THE STOP THE STEAL RALLY AND UP TO THE TIME JUST UNDER THREE HOURS LATER WHEN HE SENT OUT A TWEET ASKING THE RIOTERS ESSENTIALLY TO STOP. TONIGHT'S HEARING, WE WILL SEE SOME GRAPHIC PICTURES OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE CAPITOL WHILE WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE TIMETABLE. THIS WILL BE AN EMOTIONAL NIGHT. THE WITNESSES IN PERSON WAS MATTHEW POTTINGER, THE DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR. AND SARAH MATTHEWS THE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY. THOSE WERE PEOPLE SWORN TO SERVE THE PRESIDENT BUT WHO LEFT

BECAUSE THEY FELT, AND THIS IS WHAT THE COMMITTEE WILL SAY TONIGHT, THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER SERVE THE COUNTRY AND SERVE PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE SAME TIME. WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. JUDY: THERE IS A PULL THE NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PART OF. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING ABOUT HOW AMERICANS ARE SEEING THE EVIDENCE THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN BUILDING UP? REPORTER: SO IMPORTANT AS WE PAY ATTENTION TO LAWMAKERS, WHAT IS THE COUNTRY GETTING FROM ALL OF THIS. AS YOU SEE, THE COUNTRY IS SPLIT. ABOUT LEANING TOWARD 50% SAYING YES HE SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH CRIMES. WE ALSO ASKED, WILL THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO BE CHARGED WITH CRIMES. A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THERE YOU SEE ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE ANSWERING SAID NO, THEY DO NOT BELIEVE, THOUGH THEY

THINK HE SHOULD, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE CHARGED. SEE SOME MISTRUST OF INSTITUTIONS. ALSO, DO PEOPLE PERSONALLY BLAME FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6? HERE IS WHAT WE GOT IN THE SURVEY RIGHT NOW. 57% SAID YES. HE IS TO BLAME FOR THE EVENTS OF JANUARY 6. LOOK AT WHAT WE FOUND JUST AFTER JANUARY 6. IN 2021, THOSE FIGURES ARE SIMILAR. A LITTLE BIT LESS OF A VIEW THE PRESIDENT IS TO BLAME. WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THESE HEARINGS, BUT THIS TELLS US AS FAR AS PEOPLE WANTING TO CAST A FINGER OF BLAME, THEY ARE ABOUT WHERE THEY WERE RIGHT AFTER JANUARY 6. JUDY: REALLY INTERESTING. WHAT ARE WE SEEING FROM THESE POLLS WHETHER AMERICANS ARE WATCHING THE HEARINGS OR NOT?

AND HOW THAT BREAKS DOWN ALONG PARTISAN LINES? REPORTER: THE COMMITTEE BELIEVES THAT VIEWERSHIP IS STRONG, EVEN STRONGER THAN THEY EXPECTED. WHO IS WATCHING? WE ASKED PEOPLE IF THEY ARE PAYING SOME MORE A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE HEARINGS. LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN BY PARTY. 80% OF PEOPLE THAT IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRATS ARE WATCHING. INDEPENDENCE, MORE THAN HALF. REPUBLICANS THE SMALLEST NUMBER BUT STILL 44% OF REPUBLICANS. WE KNOW THERE IS A PARTISAN SPLIT WHETHER THEY BLAME PRESIDENT TRUMP AND IF THEY THINK HE SHOULD BE CHARGED BUT 44% ARE STILL WATCHING THE HEARINGS. WE ALSO ASKED THEM, WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK HAPPENED? WHAT ARE THEIR VIEWS AFTER THESE HEARINGS HAVE BEEN GOING FORWARD? WHO THINKS IT IS AN INSURRECTION? ABOUT 50% OF PEOPLE DO BELIEVE IT WAS AN INSURRECTION. THAT'S ABOUT WHERE IT WAS LAST YEAR BEFE THE HEARING STARTED.

BUT LOOK WHAT HAS CHANGED. THOSE THAT SAID PROTECTED POLITICAL SPEECH HAS GONE DOWN. FEWER PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT AND MORE PEOPLE BELIEVE IT WAS UNFORTUNATE BUT IN THE PAST. MORE PEOPLE ARE LESS WILLING TO DEFEND WHAT HAPPENED TO JANUARY 6 AND MORE PEOPLE JUST WANTED TO GO AWAY. THERE YOU SEE FOR MOST AMERICANS, IT'S NOT DEMOCRATS. I DON'T THINK OUR VIEWERS WILL BE SURPRISED BUT AT THE TOP OF THE ISSUE WAS FOR EVERYONE, INFLATION. DEMOCRATS, ABORTION. THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS IS NOT GETTING MORE THAN 17%. JUDY: IN THE MEANTIME, YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH EFFORTS TO ASK, IF YOU WILL, THE ELECTORAL REFORM ACT. WE KNOW THAT WAS A FACTOR IN WHAT HAPPENED.

WHERE DID THAT STAND? REPORTER: THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT, THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE AND NOW IT ISRAEL. LET ME GO THROUGH WHAT THIS WOULD DO. IT WOULD MAKE GOVERNORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BE THE CONUSIVE DECIDERS AND CERTIFYING ELECTORS. IT WOULD SAY THAT DISPUTES FROM CANDIDATES WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A PANEL OF JUDGES. IT WOULD NARROW WHEN CONGRESS CAN OBJECT, UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT WOULD REQUIRE A 1/5 THE VOTE OF EACH CHAMBER TO ADVANCE OBJECTIONS. RIGHT NOW IT JUST TAKES ONE MEMBER FROM EACH CHAMBER. THIS WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO OBJECT AND IT PUTS UP MORE GUARDRAILS TO PREVENT THE QUESTIONS AND MOTIVATIONS WE SAW ATLAY ON JANUARY 6. WE WILL WATCH WHERE THIS GOES INTO IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT. JUDY: WE KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. WE WILL SEE YOU TONIGHT. FOR MORE ON THE UPCOMING

HEARING, WE TURN TO A MEMBER OF THE JANUARY 6 COLLECT -- SELECT COMMITTEE. A CONGRESSWOMANROM VIRGINIA IS CO-LEADING THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT AND JOINS ME NOW FROM THE CAPITAL. CONGRESSWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE COMMITTEE IS SAYING TONIGHT WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DID AND DID NOT DO ON JANUARY 6. WHAT WILL WE LEARN TONIGHT? REPORTER: WE -- >> WE WILL PAINT A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THE TIME HE STEPPED OFF THE STAGE AT THE ELLIPSE. A REMINDER THAT HE HAD JUST GIVEN A SPEECH, A RALLYING CRY TO THIS MOB THAT HE HAD ASSEMBLED IN WASHINGTON AND LED THEM TO BELIEVE HE WAS GOING TO JOIN THEM IN MARCHING TO THE CAPITAL. AND THEN HE WENT BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE. HE REALLY STILL WANTED TO GO TO THE CAPITAL BUT WENT BACK TO THE

WHITE HOUSE. THAT IS MORE THAN THREE HOURS THAT HE SAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND WATCH THE EVENTS UNFOLD. THERE WAS A FLURRY OF ACTION TO TRY TO GET HIM AND STAND UP TO USE THE MICROPHONE TO TELL THE RIOTERS TO STOP. BUT HE DIDN'T DO THAT UNTIL ABOUT 4:17 P.M. IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN IT WAS CLEAR WHAT THE RIOTERS WERE TRYING TO DO TO PRESSURE THE VICE PRESIDENT. SO WE WILL GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL. JUDY: DO YOU KNOW FOR A FACT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP COULD HAVE STOPPED THE RIOTERS FROM THAT ATTACK? >> WHAT I WILL TELL YOU AND WE HEARD LAST WEEK FROM A WITNESS THAT HE SAID WHEN HE GOT A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AT THE 4:17 P.M. SPEECH, WHICH WAS NOT A VERY FORCEFUL MESSAGE TO STOP, PEOPLE WATCHED AND LISTENED.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID GO HOME AND PEACE. HE ALSO GAVE A DISCONCERTING MESSAGE OF LOVE AND COMMISERATION WITH THEM. BUT HE SAID IT'S TIME TO GO AND LEAVE. HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY. JUDY: AS YOU MENTIONED, IT APPEARS THE FORMER PRESIDENT WANTED TO GO TO THE CAPITAL AND COULDN'T. YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THOSE TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN SECRET MEMBERS OF SECRET SERVICE. YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THEM OR ANY SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEM? >> WE ISSUED A SUBPOENA WITH A QUICK TURNAROUND TIME FRAME TO

ASK THE SECRET SERVICE FOR INFORMATION. WE WILL TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. WE CAN'T LOCATE THEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF TECHNICAL EXPERTS THAT ARE ABLE TO RELOCATE DATA WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THAT. JUDY: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A POLL THE NEWSHOUR DID IN COORDINATION WITH NPR. WE ASKED A FEW DAYS AGO, THE AMERICANS THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6 AND WE FOUND THAT SINCE LAST DECEMBER, VIEWS HAVE BARELY CHANGED. HALF OF AMERICANS THEN AND NOW BELIEVE THAT YES THERE WAS AN INSURRECTION WHILE THE OTHER HALF BELIEVES IT WAS JUST A POLITICAL PROTEST AT WORST OR JUST AN UNFORTUNATE THING THAT HAPPENED AND IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON. WHAT DOES IT SAY TO YOU THAT AFTER ALL THE WORK THIS COMMITTEE HAS PUT IN AND AFTER ALL THESE HEARINGS THAT THE NUMBERS REALLY HAVEN'T MOVED AT ALL AND PART OF THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF JANUARY 6?

>> I CAN SPEAK ANECDOTALLY TO THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE WITH PEOPLE ACROSS MY DISTRICT. THEY TELL ME THAT I KNOW IT WAS BAD BUT I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW ALL OF THE PIECES FIT TOGETHER. THIS IS A MULTISTEP PLAN. THERE IS NO DATA MY MIND THAT PEOPLE WILL LISTEN AND HEAR THE FACTS. JUDY: WE WONDER IF PEOPLE BELIEVE PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME IN 50% SAID YES HE SHOULD BE BUT ONLY 28% SAID HE WILL BE. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE CHARGED?

-- HE WILL BE CHARGED? >> THERE IS A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION. THE COMMITTEE IS FORWARD-LOOKING. SO WE WANT TO LAY OUT THE FACTS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS ESSENTIALLY BACKWARD LOOKING. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO DETERMINE IF A CRIME IS COMMITTED AND HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE. I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTE IS CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS, THE LARGEST CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION EVER WITH UNDER 800 DEFENDANTS. I DON'T HAVE EXACT KNOWLEDGE WITH WHERE THAT INVESTIGATION IS PROGRESSING. INDIVIDUALS LOCATED AT THE CAPITAL THAT TRESPASSED, VIOLENCE, DIFFERENT CRIMES LIKE THAT. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS CRIME AND VERY RARELY PROSECUTED WITHIN OUR COUNTRY. WHAT I LIKE THEM TO GO MORE QUICKLY SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS WILL ULTIMATELY GO?

YES. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF IT. I KNOW THEY ARE LISTENING TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. THEY HAVE USED INFORMATION WE HAVE PRESENTED AS A COMMITTEE IN THOSE FINDINGS. JUDY: THE REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE CO-LEADING THE QUESTIONING TONIGHT. A CONGRESSWOMAN, THANK YOU. TONIGHT, WE WILL BE WATCHING. AND FOR MORE OF A PREVIEW OF TONIGHT'S EVENTS, I'M JOINED BY CAROL CLINIC, AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AT THE WASHINGTON POST. AND JAMIL IS A LAW PROFESSOR AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY AND FORMER ASSOCIATE COUNSEL TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU. CAROL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE WATCHING FOR TONIGHT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE WITNESSES? >> THE WITNESSES WE KNOW WILL TESTIFY ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE

REALLY ROOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY AND SERVED IT FROM THE START. THEY FOLLOWED HIM TO THE WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE THEY HED TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE CONSERVATIVE AGENDA ITEMS THAT HE HAD BEEN PUSHING AND PROMISING TO HIS SUPPORTERS. THAT INCLUDES A DEPUTY ADVISOR. AND AN AIDE NAMED SARAH MATTHEWS. BOTH OF THEM WILL TESTIFY THAT DESPITE THEIR DESIRE TO SEE DONALD TRUMP SUCCEED AND SERVE HIS ADMINISTRATION, THE WAY HE ENABLED AN ATTACK AND DID NOT CALL OFF HIS SUPPORTERS WHEN THE VICE PRESIDENT'S LIFE AND OTHER LAWMAKERS LIVES WERE IN DANGER WAS THE FINAL STRAW FOR THEM. IT WAS A BREACH THAT THEY COULD NOT ENDURE. AND BOTH OF THEM RESIGNED WITHIN HOURS OF THOSE EVENTS. THAT IS NOT NEW.

WE HAVE KNOWN THAT ABOUT BOTH OF THEM. BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THEIR TESTIMONY IS ONCE AGAIN THE COMMITTEE IS FOCUSING ON WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE TO SAY AND WHAT TRUMPS OWN FORMER CHEERLEADERS FEEL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY. JUDY: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HEARING FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS? WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM REPUBLICANS, PEOPLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WORKING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP. WE WILL SEE THAT AGAIN TONIGHT. WHY DOES THAT MATTER? >> THE MAIN POINT HERE IS THAT WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID, HIS BEHAVIOR AND ACTIONS THAT DAY CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CAPITAL AS WE KNOW FROM HIS SPEECH ON THE ELLIPSE. HIS INACTION FOR 180 SEVEN MINUTES AS HE SAT WATCHING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON TELEVISION AS HIS AIDES CAME TO HIM AND SAID,

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE. YOU HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING. IN HIS DECISION TO NOT ACT IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY. AND THAT IS INTOLERABLE FOR MANY REPUBLICANS. THEY QUIT THE DAY IT HAPPENED. IT WAS INTOLERABLE FOR A NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN THE CABINET. AND IT SHOULD BE INTOLERABLE FOR ALL REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE WHO SAID IT WAS INTOLERABLE AND SAID IT WAS UNACCEPTABLE. AND SINCE THEN BACKED OFF AND BACKPEDALED. JUDY: YOU WERE TELLING US WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO SEE TONIGHT AS WHAT YOU CALL THE SPLIT SCREEN WHERE ON THE ONE HAND, WE WILL SEE WHA THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS DOING AT THE VERY SAME MOMENT THAT VIOLENCE WAS UNFOLDING AT THE CAPITAL. >> AND I THINK THE CONGRESSWOMAN HINTS AT THAT.

THERE WILL BE TIMESTAMPS WHERE THIS IS WHEN THE CAPITAL WAS BREACHED. LISTEN AS ONE VOICE YOU CAN HEAR THE CHIEF SIGNED BEGGING FOR REINFORCEMENTS, REPORTING THERE WAS A RIOT ON OLD INCUMBENT DURING A RIOT. AT THE SAME TIME ON THE OTHERS THAT SPLIT SCREEN, THE PRESIDENT WATCHING THE TELEVISION, WATCHING THE LIVE COVERAGE FROM VAOUS NEWSCASTS AND BEING IF NOT GLEEFUL, CLOSE TO GLEEFUL THAT HIS SUPPORTERS HAD DONE IT ACKLEY WHAT HE ASKED THEM TO DO. YOU WILL SEE TIMESTAMPS WHERE PEOPLE ARE READING DONALD TRUMP -- A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL IS READING THE RONALD COMP -- DONALD TRUMP'S TEXT WHERE HE

PUTS THE TARGET ON VICE PRESIDENT PENCE AND SAYS HE DID NOT HAVE THE COURAGE. THAT IS AT 2:34 P.M. AS MEMORY SERVES. PEOPLE ARE RUNNING THROUGH THE HALLWAYS. PEOPLE WERE CHANTING ABOUT HANGING MIKE PENCE. YOU WILL SEE ON THE OTHER SIDE DONALD TRUMP DESCRIBING WHAT HE WANTED TO HAPPEN. AND THEN WE WILL SEE THE VIEW OF WHAT WAS WROUGHT. JUDY: JUST FOPURPOSES OF CONTRAST AND COMPARISON, YOU ARE A STUDENT OF HISTORY. THEY HAVE ESSENTIALLY LAID-BACK WHILE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY WAS UNDER ASSAULT. >> I CAN'

AS TO THE CONTRARY, THE HEART OF OUR UNION HAS BEEN CHALLENGED. THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO RESPOND TO THAT. AT TIMES, PRESIDENTS TOOK EXTREME ACTIONS AND DONALD TRUMP DID THE OFFICE IT. NO AMOUNT OF EXCUSING THAT SAY IT'S A SMALL PROTEST. NOBODY CAN TELL US THAT WE DIDN'T SEE WHAT WE SAW ON TELEVISION AND THE PRESIDENT WATCHED LIVE IN ACTION. AND WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL TALKED ABOUT, THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING. HE THINGS THE VICE PRESIDENT DESERVES THE CHANCE -- IT IS UNIMAGINABLE THAT ANY PRESIDENT WOULD SAY THAT ABOUT THEIR VICE PRESIDENT.

IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE. JUDY: YOU REMINDED US TODAY THAT WHEN YOU INTERVIEWED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR YOUR BOOK AND YOU ASK HIM WHAT HE WANTED TO HAPPEN THAT DAY, WHAT HE SAID TO YOU. >> FOR A BOOK, I ALONE CAN FIX IT, MY COLLEAGUE AND I SAT DOWN WITH THE PRESIDENT FOR HOURS IN MAR-A-LAGO ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL. ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE GOALS WAS TO FIND OUT WHAT DID HE WANT. FROM TELEVISION, TRAFFIC ON THE RADIO, IT IS CLEAR WHAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WANTED AND THAT WAS

EITHER TO KILL MIKE PENCE, KYL NANCY PELOSI THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, KIDNAP THEM. AND IN OTHER WAYS, BY VIOLENCE, TO STOP THE CERTIFICATION OF THE PROPER ELECTION OF JOE BIDEN AND TO BLOCK THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER. JUDY: STILL STARTLING JUST TO THINK OF IT. WE THANK YOU BOTH AND WE APPRECIATE IT. PLEASE TUNE INTO PBS TONIGHT FOR OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING ON JANUARY 6. THAT IS AT IT P.M. EASTERN. -- 8:00 P.M. EASTERN. OFFICIALS FROM TURKEY AND THE UNITED NATIONS SAY THEY EXPECT TO SIGN A DEAL WITH RUSSIA AND YOU RAIN TOMORROW TO ALLOW

UKRAINE TO RESUME VITAL EXPORTS. THE COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PROVIDERS OF GRAIN AND OIL. RUSSIA SAID THE GOALS EXPANDED TO THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST AS THE WAR OF ATTRITION CONTINUES IN THE EASTERN DONBASS. >> SOLDIERS AND POLICE DUG THROUGH THE OBLITERATED REMAINS OF A SCHOOL WHERE CHILDREN ONCE LEARNED THE LATEST RUSSIAN ATTEMPT TO ERASE UKRAINE'S FUTURE. AN ENTIRE GENERATION SHATTERED BY WAR. >> I GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL TWO YEARS AGO AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS IS THE REALITY WE LIVE IN. >> RESIDENTS ARE SHELLSHOCKED. THEY KNOW THEY ARE THE FRONT LINES. MISSILES DESTROYED THEIR HOME WHILE THEY WERE INSIDE. >> I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE RUBBLE. WE DUG OURSELVES OUT WITH THESE

HANDS. WHAT ELSE WAS THERE TO DO? >> THIS IS WHAT THE FORCES ARE TRYING TO SEIZE. THE TWO REGIONS MAKE UP THE DONBASS. YESTERDAY, THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAY THE GOALS GO BEYOND THAT. >> THE GEOGRAPHY IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS ALSO THE REGION AND A NUMBER OF OTHER TERRITORIES. >> THEY HAVE BEEN CAPTURED AND OCCUPIED BY RUSSIA. THE COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR JOHN KIRBY SAYS RUSSIA ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THOSE GAINS PERMANENT. >> RUSSIA IS BEGINNING TO ROLL OUT OF WHAT YOU CAN CALL IN ANNEXATION PLAYBOOK. >> AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF WEAPONS.

THE MOST ADVANCED ROCKET SYSTEMS , THE SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS UKRAINE IS USING THEM AGAINST HIGH-VALUE RUSSIAN TARGETS INCLUDING COMMAND POSTS AND OCCUPIED UKRAINE THAT RUSSIA USES TO SUPPLY MILITARY. THE U.S. LIMITED THE AMMUNITION RANGE TO 40 MILES. THE UKRAINIAN MINISTER SAYS THEY AREN'T ENOUGH. >> IT COULD BECOME A GAME CHANGER ON THE BATTLEFIELD. >> THE STRATEGY IS TO GET THE RUSSIANS TO PAY A HIGH PRICE TO ACHIEVE LITTLE PROGRESS. >> IT IS NOT LOST. THE UKRAINIANS ARE MAKING THE RUSSIANS BEG EVERY INCH OF TERRITORY. >> THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CIVILIAN LIVES. FAMILIES CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE FRONT LINES ON TRAINS HEADED WEST. MOTHERS WHOSE CHILDREN MAY NEVER SEE THEIR HOMES AGAIN. >> WE ABANDONED OUR LIFE THERE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP ON

LIVING? >> FOR MORE ON THIS WE TURN TO ANDREW WEISS WHO SERVED IN THE GEORGE H W BUSH AND HUNTON ADMINISTRATIONS AT THE PENTAGON AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THE CARNEGIE A DOWN MEANT, WELCOME BACK TO THE NEWSHOUR. LET'S START WITH A POSSIBLE DEAL OF WHAT HAS BEEN A BLOCKADED PORT OF ODESSA. >> THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO STRANGLE UKRAINE'S ECONOMY. ONE OF THE KEY EXPORTS OF THE UKRAINIAN ECONOMY IS GRAIN WHICH IT SELLS PRIMARILY TO COUNTRIES LIKE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. THE IMPACT ON GLOBAL FOOD AND SECURITY FROM THESE BLOCKADES HAS BEEN QUITE SIGNIFICANT. THE RUSSIANS ALSO BOMBED PORT FACILITIES IN SOUTHERN UKRAINE. THE QUESTION IS IF THE RUSSIANS SUDDENLYAD A CHANGE OF HEART

WHERE THEY NO LONGER WANTED TO DESTROY UKRAINE'S ECONOMY AND THEIR ABILITY TO FEED THE WORLD. I WILL REMAIN SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL ABOUT THAT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DELICATE STAGE ABOUT THAT. WEILL SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT CONSISTS OF. IT DOES REQUIRE A CERTAIN SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF THAT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IS NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH. >> IF THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT? >> WE WILL SEE THE IMPLEMENTATION. RUSSIA HAS BEEN A MASTER OF SAYING IT WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND DOING THE EXACT OPPOSITE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLEX ISSUES BOUND UP WITH OPENING UP THE PORTS. MAINLY IF YOU CAN FIND INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING OPERATORS THAT WILL SEND THEIR RUSE INTO AN AREA THAT IS HEAVILY MINED. AND WILL THE UKRAINIANS BE ABLE TO REMOVE MINDS THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE TO TRY TO PROTECT THE PORT OF ODESSA FROM THE POSSIBLE RUSSIAN INVASION? >> HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT THAT RUSSIA IS NOW OUT LOUD SAYING

THE AIMS GOING BEYOND. >> RUSHES FOREIGN MINISTER HAS INDICATED BECAUSE THE WEST HAS COME TO YOU RAIN'S RESCUE AND PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT MILITARY SYSTEMS, RUSSIA NEEDS TO SEIZE EVEN MORE TERRITORY AND ANNEX PARTS OF UKRAINE ITSELF THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE SOURCE OF THE 2014-2015 TIME. RUSSIA IS GOING TO EXCUSE WHAT IT'S ABOUT TO DOND BLAME IT ON THE WEST. THIS IS CLASSIC RUSSIAN BLAME SHIFTING. BUT ANNEXATION IS A MAJOR ESCALATORY MOVE. >> WE USED THE WORDS ANNEXATION PLAYBOOK. WHAT WILL WE SEE THEM DO? >> RUSSIA IS PREPARING FOR REGIONAL ELECTIONS AND REGULAR PARTS OF RUSSIA. THOSE ARE SET FOR SEPTEMBER 11. CAN YOU DRESS UP WHAT IS

HAPPENING IN THE DONBASS REGION, AS WELL AS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NEARBY REGIONS? CAN YOU COME UP WITH ENOUGH OF A STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE RUSSIA COULD CONDUCT A REFERENDUM? THEY DID THAT IN 2014 IN CRIMEA BUT IT WAS NOT A WAR ZONE. WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTHERN UKRAINE WHICH WOULD BE THIS LAND BRIDGE THAT RUSSIA HAS WANTED TO CONNECT MOTHER RUSSIA TO CRIMEA AS WELL AS WHAT IS GOING ON IN DONBASS IS A HEAVILY FOUGHT OVER VERY DANGEROUS AREA. THAT THERE WILL BE VOTER TURNOUT AND HAVE A LOCAL POPULATION IS TO ME A BIG STRETCH. THIS COMES BACK TO THE LUNACY OF THIS WAR. VLADIMIR PUTIN SEEMS TO WANT SOME SHRED OF LEGITIMACY. HE THINKS IF HE HAS A STAGED VOTE THAT IT WILL BE ENOUGH. >> IS THERE ANYTHING THE ADMINISTRATION CAN BE DOING TO

TRY TO PREVENT ANNEXATION? >> I THINK THE ADMINISATION EVERY DAY IS LOOKING AT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT TO BE EFFECTIVE ON THE BATTLEFIELD. WE HAVE SEEN THE BEGINNINGS OF INSURGENCY TYPE ACTIONS WHERE RUSSIANS ARE DOMINANT. I THINK YOU'RE LIKELY TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION GIVING UKRAINE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THIS INVASION. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BOTH SIDES ARE IN A WAR OF ATTTION AS SECRETARY AUSTEN INDICATED THE OTHER DAY. THIS IS A GRUELING LONG-TERM BATTLE AND I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A NOTION CIRCULATING THAT THOSE SIDES WILL GET EXHAUSTED. IT DOESN'T MEAN THIS CONFLICT IS CLOSE TO RESOLUTION. WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR THAT POINT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

JUDY: THE HEAT WAVE GRIPPING MUCH OF THE IMPACT OF A MEGA DROUGHT OUT WEST THAT HAS LASTED THE BETTER PART OF TWO DECADES. THE DROUGHT IS JEOPARDIZING THE TREE OF THE COLORADO RIVER, A CRITICAL SOURCE OF WATER FOR THE WESTERN STATES AND IS SPURRING MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE RIVER IS USED WHILE THREATENING LONG-STANDING PAYMENTS BETWEEN STATES. HERE IS A SECOND LOOK AT THE DANGER FROM THIS RESOURCE. IT IS PART OF OUR COVERAGE OF HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS CREATING A TIPPING POINT FOR THE U.S. AND THE WORLD. >> THIS IS WHERE THE SHORTAGE MEETS THE SOIL. DOESN'T FARMLAND BETWEEN PHOENIX AND TUCSON. A LIFELONG HOME FOR PHARMA NANCY K WOULD HAVE.

>> MY FAMILY HAS BEEN FARMING IN THIS AREA SINCE 91 YEARS. >> THEY GROW ALFALFA AND COTTON. BOTH THURSDAY CROPS WHICH ARE NOT DOING WELL RIGHT NOW. >> THIS IS THE DROUGHT AND ACTION AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD BEFORE. >> MUCH OF THE WATER COMES FROM CANALS, A TRIBUTARY OF THE COLORADO RIVER. BUT THE WATER STOPPED FLOWING. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHEN WE WILL SEE WATER IN HERE AGAIN. >> THE SAME GOES FOR THOSE THAT DRAW WATER DIRECTLY FROM THE COLORADO RIVER. FARMERS WHO DEPEND ON IT WERE ALSO DRASTICALLY CUT BACK. THE COLORADO WINDS ITS WAY THROUGH SEVEN STATES AND INTO MEXICO. THIS RIVER BASIN IS FILLED WITH LUSH, NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS.

IT TRANSFORMS ABOUT 5.5 MILLION ACRES OF BARREN DESERT INTO FERTILE FARMLAND. 40 MILLION PEOPLE ARE SUSTAINED BY THIS WATER. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY UTILIZED RIVERS IN THE WORLD AND IT STARTS HERE AS A DEEP BLANKET OF SNOW. THIS HYDROLOGIST IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER. >> MOST OF THE TER IN THE COLORADO RIVER STARTS A SNOWPACK. THERE ARE THESE BIG CATCHMENTS OF PRECIPITATION. >> A DROUGHT TOOK HOLD AND HAS NOT LET GO. THAT MEANS LESS SNOW ON THOSE PEAKS YEAR AFTER YEAR AND A STEADY REDUCTION OF WATER TO FEED THE RIVER. THEY CAN MEET IN LAKE POWELL ARE NOW AT ALL-TIME LOW LEVELS. CLIMATOLOGIST PARK WILLIAMS IS

AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT UCLA. HE USES TREE RINGS TO STUDY THE ANCIENT CLIMATE. >> ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES HAS BEEN AS DRY AS ANY OTHER 20 YEAR -- 22 YEAR TIME IN THE LAST MILLENNIUM. A DROUGHT WILL NOT LAST FOREVER. >> THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY HAS CHANGED THE ODDS. THE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE IS TWO DEGREES FAHRENHEIT HIGHER THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. >> IF CLIMATE CHANGE HADN'T HAPPENED, THE WEST WOULD STILL BE IN DROUGHT BUT THE SEVERITY OF THE DROUGHT IS UNDOUBTEDLY WORSE BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. >> HERE IS WHY. WARMER TEMPERATURES MEAN DRIER AIR. AS THE SNOWPACK DURING -- SHRINKS, THERE IS VAPOR INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

IT RAPID EVAPORATES IN THIS CLIMATE. >> THE SOIL CONNECT TO DRY SPONGE. THE NEXT PRECIPITATION EVENT WILL WORK TO REFILL THE SOIL SPONGE AS OPPOSED TO REFILLING OUR RIVERS AND RESERVOIRS. >> THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCES ALLOCATED ON A 1922 AGREEMENT CALLED THE COLORADO RIVER COMPACT. ONCE THE RIVER BASIN STATES AGREED ON THEIR FAIR SHARES, THEY ESTABLISHED A SENIORITY SYSTEM. FIRST IN TIME, FIRST IN RIGHT. >> THERE IS A HIERARCHY OF WATER RIGHTS. PEOPLE WHO GAINED ACCESS TO THE RIVER FIRST HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE A SENIOR WATER RIGHT. >> COLORADO RIVER WATER FIRST CAME TO THE COUNTY IN THE MID-1980'S. UPON COMPLETION OF THE CENTRAL

ARIZONA PROJECT. A NETWORK OF CANALS THAT SPANS 300 MILES OF ROSS THE DESERT. IT PUTS FARMERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SENIORITY LIST, MAKING THEM THE FIRST TO GO DRY IN THE MIDST OF THIS MEGA DROUGHT. >> WE HAVE HAD TO ADAPT TO WHATEVER WE CAN MAKE MONEY AT. THIS IS CLOSE TO A BUNCH OF DAIRY AND A BUNCH OF FEED. >> WILL IS A THIRD-GENERATION FARMER. HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE PART OF AN EXPERIMENT IN USING THEIR DWINDLING ALLOCATION OF WATER ON CROPS THAT DEMAND LESS OF IT. >> HERE IS THE FIELD. SO YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A NICE BLOOM. THIS CROP HASN'T BEEN WATERED IN TWO WEEKS. >> THEY PLANTED A 40 ACRE TRACT OF A PLANT THAT THRIVES IN THE DESERT AND CONTAINS A MILKY LATEX THAT CAN FORMULATE RUBBER.

AN ACRE CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH TO MAKE 50 TIRES. WORKING OUT THE PRODUCTION KINKS , THE LENDER DOES THE SAME AT THIS PILOT PLO >> WITH THIS CROP USING HALF AS MUCH WATER, R WATER WILL LAST TWICE AS LONG HERE. THAT IS WHY IT IS SO PROMISING AND WE HOPE IT TAKES OFF. >> THE STORY IS DIFFERENT. HE CAN'AFFORD THE COST OF THE NEW MENTOR WIRED TO HARVEST CROPS THAT NEED LESS WATER. >> IT IS NOT YOUR BEST INTEREST TO TRY TO KEEP THE LAND. YOUR BEST INTEREST IS TO GO AHEAD AND SELL. >> IT MAY BE THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ONE.

HER NEIGHBORS RECENTLY SOLD THEIR LAND. KAELIN HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY A COMPANY AS WELL. FOR YEARS, HUMANS OVERSPENT THE COLORADO RIVER AND NATURE COVERED THE OVERDRAFT. THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY HAS ENSURED THE BILL HAS COME DUE. FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I'M MILES O'BRIEN IN PHOENIX. A NEW DNEY -- JUDY: A NEW DISNEY PLUS SERIES FEATURES THE FIRST MUSLIM SUPERHERO IN THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE. TALKING TO THE DIRECTOR ABOUT BRINGING THIS CHARACTER TO LIFE AS PART OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES CANVAS. >> THE ORIGIN STORY OF, LIKE ON

-- KAMALA KHAN. MARVEL'S NEWEST SUPERHERO. THE SERIES FOLLOWS A MARVEL COMICS OBSESSED TEEN AND SUPER FAN OF CAPTAIN MARVEL WHO SUDDENLY FINDS HIMSELF THRUST INTO THE SUPERHERO RANKS WHEN AN ANCIENT FAMILY HEIRLOOM GRANTS HER SUPERPOWERS. THIS MARVEL BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE MARVEL SEMANTIC -- CINEMATIC UNIVERSE. THE SERIES IS BASED ON THE FIRST MUSLIM LEAD CHARACTER AND FEATURES THE CULTURE THROUGHOUT. WITH PAKISTAN MUSIC, FOOD, AND DIALOGUE. I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE FILM ON REPRESENTING BOTH HERO AND HERITAGE. >> IF YOU HAD TOLD ME THIS STORY WOULD BE TOLD 20 YEARS AGO WHEN

I WAS GROWING UP, THAT THERE WOULD BE A SUPERHERO THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT. THEY ARGUE ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE WEARING AT WHAT MISS MARVEL DOES IS TAKES AUDIENCES IN AND LETS THEM INTO OUR SECRET. THAT WE HAVE TS BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL, INCREDIBLE CULTURE. >> A PAKISTANI CANADIAN BURST ONTO THE WORLD STAGE WINNING AN OSCAR FOR HER DOCUMENTARY SAVING CE. SHE WON AGAIN IN 2016 FOR A GIRL IN THE RIVER ABOUT HONOR KILLINGS. HOW DOES A DIRECTOR GO FROM ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARIES TO LIVE-ACTION FOR HERO TEEN SERIES? >> I HAVE ALWAYS FILM MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE EXTRAORDINARY, CREATING CHANGE IN THEIR

COMMUNITIES. WORKING ON CLIMATE CHANGE, HEALTH, OR EDUCATION. THEY ARE SUPERHEROES. SO WHEN MISS MARVEL CAME AROUND, I WOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE WOULD MEAN TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THAT WOULD SEE A REFLECTION OF THEMSELVES. AND I KNEW SHE WAS IN THE SAME VEIN AS THE KIND OF LOGIC BUT I HAVE ALWAYS PICTURED. >> THE HEART OF THE SHOW IS THE ACTRESS. >> I HOPE THAT THE SHOW CAN DO FOR PEOPLE WHAT THE COMICS DID FOR ME. >> SHE IS ACTUALLY KAMALA KHAN. SHE GREW UP AS A FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANT AND SHE IS JUST THIS INCREDIBLE ACTRESS AND IS SO EASY FOR THAT ROLE. IN THE FILMING OF THE SERIES, SHE CONNECTED WITH HER OWN CULTURE. >> SHE FINDS HERSELF IN PAKISTAN.

>> WE OFTEN SEE PAKISTAN THROUGH THIS FILTER. IN MY EPISODE, SHE GOES ON A CHASE THROUGH THE STREETS WHERE YOU HAVE TRUCKS AND BUSES AND THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CHAOS OF HER CHASE IS THE BEAUTY THAT I WANTED TO BRING ONTO THE SCENE. >> THAT BELONGS TO MY MOTHER. >> THE ONE WHO DISAPPEARED? >> THERE IS A HISTORY LESSON EMBEDDED IN THE MAGIC. SHE FINDS HERSELF TIME TRAVELING TO 1947 PARTITION, THE DIVISION OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN THAT LED TO ONE OF THE LARGEST AND DEADLIEST MASS MIGRATIONS IN WORLD HISTORY. TELL ME WHY YOU DECIDED TO GO INTO THAT? >> IT ISN'T SOMETHING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT VERY MUCH AND IT IS DEFINITELY NEVER VISUALIZED. I DID NOT WANT TO SANITIZE THE HISTORY OF THE MOMENT.

IT MIGHT BE A SUPERHERO STORY BUT THESE KINDS OF STORIES ARE VERY REAL. MANY FAMILIES LOST EACH OTHER IN THE MOVE. MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE MOVE. SO THAT HAD TO BE KEPT ALIVE. AT THAT YOUTH IS OF 1947 HAD TO BE KEPT ALIVE. >> SHE IS TAKING UP SPACE IN A WORLD THAT IS LONG SIDELINED AND SILENCED VOICES LIKE HERS. FROM THE INCLUSION INITIATIVE, THEY LOOKED AT THE 200 TOP GROSSING FILMS BETWEEN 2017 AND 2019. 90.5% DID NOT FEATURE ANY MUSLIMS SPEAKING ROLES. AMONG THOSE THAT HAD MUSLIM CHARACTERS, LESS THAN ORDER WERE WOMEN. THE REPRESENTATION ON SCREEN IS ROOTED IN THE TEAM OFF-CAMERA. LIKE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, LEAD WRITER AND THEIR TEAMS. >> I REMEMBER WALKING ONSET AND THINKING THAT WHAT I AM

EXPERIENCING IS TRULY HISTORIC. NOT ONLY IS THERE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE HELNG TO TELL THE STORY, BUT THERE IS ALSO REPRESENTATION IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING SEATS IN THE MISS MARVEL STORY. THAT HAS BEEN TOLD WITH A LOT OF LOVE AND A LOT OF ELECTRICITY. >> THAT STORY IS RESONATING. IT BOASTS A 98% SCORE ON ROTTEN TOMATOES, THE HIGHEST-RATED DISNEY PLUS ORIGINAL SERIES EVER AND THE HIGHEST-RATED MARVEL SERIES IN HISTORY. THE CRITICAL ACCLAIM IS HIGH, SOME AUDIENCES ARE JUST NOW CATCHING UP. THERE WERE EARLY REPORTS THAT INITIAL VIEWERSHIP LAGGED SOME OF THESE OTHER BIG SERIES. AND I WONDER WHY YOU THINK THAT IS. >> WE ARE USED TO SEEING SUPERHEROES WHO ARE WHITE.

WE ARE USED TO SEEING BROWN WOMEN IMMIGRANT SUPERHEROES. -- WE ARE NOT USED TO SEEING BROWN, WOMEN, IMMIGRANT SUPERHEROES. IHINK THE IDEA OF MISS MARVEL DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT IILL ALSO SAY THAT IT IS CHANGING BECAUSE AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WATCH IT AND WORD SPREADS, EVEN IF IT IS OUT OF CURIOSITY, THE NAYSAYERS ARE WATCHING IT AND THERE ARE ELEMENTS THAT ARE RESONATING WITH THEM. AT THE HEART, IT IS THE STORY OF ONE FAMILY AND THEIR STRUGGLES AND THEIR LOVE AND THEIR CELEBRATION. CHANGE COMES SLOWLY. IT NEVER COMES EASY. >> KAMALA KHAN HAS FOUND HER PLACE IN THE SUPERHERO WORLD AND SHE WILL BE IN THE FEATURE FILM THE MARVELS IN 2023.

JUDY: LOVE THAT. AND IT IS ABOUT TIME. THAT IS THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. WE WILL BE BACK SOON WITH LIVE COVERAGE OF THE JANUARY 6 HEARING. I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. TO JOIN US ONLINE AND HERE TOMORROW EVENING FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE PBS NEWSHOUR. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND WE WILL SEE YOU SOON. >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR IS PROVIDED BY -- >> AND SUMER CELLULAR HAS BEEN OFFERING NO CONTRACT WIRELESS PLANS TO HELP PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY LIKE. OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM CAN HELP FIND A PLAN THAT FITS YOU. FOR MORE, VISIT CONSUMER CELLULAR.TV. >> THE FORD FOUNDATION WORKING WITH VISIONARIES ON E FRONT LINES OF SOCIAL CHANGE WORLDWIDE. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR.

AND PATRICIA YUAN. IN THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS. AND FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR. THIS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE OPERATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK. -- THANK YOU. ♪ ♪ >>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

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HERE IS WHAT'S COMING UP. >> I THINK WE HAVE TO ADAPT. OUR HOMES HAVE TO CHANGE, OUR WAY OF LIFE HAS TO CHANGE. >> EUROPE SIZZLES. THE CONTINENT CANNOT COPE. WE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT HOW OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS FAILING WITH CLIMATE EXPERT BOB WARD. AND BRISTOL MAYOR MARVIN REESE ON HOW TO TAKE ACTION ON A LOCAL LEVEL. >> THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE FEELING THE IMPACT, THEY ARE IN NO DOUBT AT ALL AS TO HOW SERIOUS THIS IS. >> THE GLOBAL CLIMATE STRUGGLE. A JOURNALIST TELLS US ABOUT WHAT HE HAS LEARNED FROM HIS TRIP AROUND THE WORLD AND HIS BOOK "RACE FOR TOMORROW." THEN FALLOUT FROM BREXIT IN NORTHERN IRELAND CONTINUES. THE U.S. WARNS