PBS NewsHour; Monday, December 19, 2022, 3:00pm-4:00pm PST

JUDY: GOOD EVENING. I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. ON THE "NEWSHOUR" TONIGHT. THE FINAL REPORT, THE CONGRESSIONAL JANUARY XTH COMMITTEE HOLDS ITS LAST SESSION AND RECOMMENDS CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TMP FOR THE CAPITOL ATTACK. THEN. A DEAL FOR THE EARTH, NATIONS REACH A HISTORIC AGREEMENT TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY AND ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES, BUT THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE STILL LOOMS LARGE. D. RETROGRADE, A NEW FILM CHRONICLES THE CHAOTIC UNITED STATES WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN WHEN AFGHAN FORCES WERE LEFT TO TAKE ON THE TALIBAN THEMSELVES. >> POLITICIANS SAY THE AFGHAN ARMY DIDN'T FIGHT. WE FOUGHT AND WE FOUGHT VERY HARD. WE PAID A LOT OF SACRIFICES. JUDY: ALL THAT ANDORE ON TONIGHT'S "PBS NEWSHOUR." ♪

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BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. JUDY: THE COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING THE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL IS WRAPPING UP ITS INVESTIGATION AFTER 18 MONTHS, MORE THAN 1000 INTERVIEWS, AND 10 PUBLIC HEARINGS. TODAY THE MEMBERS VOTED TO APPROVE THEIR FINAL REPORT. AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CHARGE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WITH FOUR CRIMES INCLUDING AIDING AN INSURRECTION. LISA DESJARDINS WAS IN THE HEARING TODAY AND JOINS ME FROM THE CAPITOL. LET'S START WITH THE NEWS, LISA. THESE CRIMINAL WERE FOUND THEM AND TO WHOM ARE THEY AIMED? LISA: LET'S LOOK AT THOSE FOUR CRIMINAL REFERRALS, RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. FIRST, OBSTRUCTION OF AN OFFICIAL PROCEEDING. THAT'S FOR OBSTRUCTING THE

ACTUAL JANUARY 6 COUNT OF THE ELECTORAL VOTES BY CONGRESS. THEN, CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES. THAT REFERS TO SEVERAL INSTANCES THE COMMITTEE SAYS, INCLUDING THE SO-CALLED BIG LIE, AS WELL AS THE IDEA THAT FORMER PRESIDENT -- FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE COULD STOP THE ELECTORAL COUNT. NEXT, CONSPIRACY TO MAKE ALL STATEMENTS. THAT SPECIFICALLY IS ABOUT THE SCHEME AS THE COMMITTEE PUTS IT, TO TRY TO PUT FALSE ELECTOR SLATES ON THE BOARD, OVERTURNED THE ACTUAL ELECTORS FOR EACH STATE, AND FINALLY, ASSISTING AND AIDING OR COMFORTING AND INSURRECTION. THESE ARE ALL CLEARLY VERY SERIOUS CHARGES. HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE GETTING A CRIMINAL REFERRAL FROM E JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE. ANOTHER TRUMP ALLY INVOLVED, ATTORNEY JOHN EASTMAN IS BEING REFERRED FOR TWO CHARGES, OBSTRUCTION AND CONSPIRACY. IN ADDITION TO HIM, THERE ARE THREE OTHER NAMES I WANT TO BRING UP, POTENTIAL CO-CONSPIRATORS THAT THE COMMITTEE SAID IT IS NOT

REFERRING FOR CHARGES, BUT IT IS CALLING THEM CO-CONSPIRATORS, BASICALLY SAYING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SHOULD LOOK INTO THEM. MARK MEADOWS, AND RUDY GIULIANI, A WELL-KNOWN NAME, PRESIDENT'S FORMER ATTORNEY. TALKING ABOUT WHY THEY MADE THESE REFERRALS, AND UNDERSTANDING THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN U.S. HISTORY. HERE IS JAMIE RASK FROM THE COMMITTEE. >> WE UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF EACH AND EVERY REFERRAL WE ARE MAKING TODAY, JUST AS WE UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CRIME AGAINST DEMOCRACY THAT WE DESCRIBE IN OUR REPORT. WE HAVE GONE WHERE THE FACTS AND THE LAW LEAD US, AND INESCAPABLY, THEY LEAD US HERE. LISA: IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE COMMITTEE SAYING THEY BELIEVE THERE'S CLEAR EVIDENCE THEY HAVE OBTAINED ON THOSE REFERRALS TO PROSECUTE AND CONVICT ON THOSE FOUR CHARGES FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

BUT THEY ARE SAYING THEY DON'T THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS LIMITED. THERE MAY BE OTHER CRIMES AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHO SHOULD BE CHARGED. THEY ARE JUST SAYING THESE ARE THE CRIMES FOR WHICH THEY BELIEVE THERE IS INDISPUTABLE EVIDENCE THEY HAVE GATHERED. JUDY: WE KNOW THERE WERE OTHER LAWMAKERS WHO WERE NAMED IN THIS. FILL IN THAT PART OF THE STORY FOR US. LISA: LET'S LOOK AT THESE NAMES, THEY ARE BEING REFERRED FOR AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION. KEVIN MCCARTHY, JIM JORDAN, THE MAN WHO IS LIKELY TO BE THE HOUSE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT PERRY AND ANDY BIGGS OF ARIZONA. ALL FOUR OF THEM BEING REFERRED BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SUBPOENAED. THIS RAISES SOME PUSHBACK FROM REPUBLICANS. THEY SAY THE COMMITTEE IS POLITICAL, THAT IT HAS ALWS TARGETED ONE PARTY AND IS NOT

DONE ENOUGH TO LOOK AT THE SECURITY QUESTIONS INVOLVED. I SPOKE TO RODNEY DAVIS, HE WAS APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE AT ONE POINT, AND REFUSED TO SARE BECAUSE HE SAID NANCY PELOSI WAS TWO POLITICAL -- TWO POLITICAL AND REJECTING OTHERS FOR THAT COMMITTEE. >> NANCY PELOSI NEW WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO DENY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WANTED, AND SHE IS GETTING WHAT SHE WANTED. THAT IS A ONE-SIDED REPORT. UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY APPARATUS HERE IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL COMPLEX, IN MY OPINION. LISA: WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMITTEES IN CONGRESS AND ITS FINDINGS ARE DIVISIVE. JUDY: WE KNOW YOU WERE UP VERY LATE LAST NIGHT INTO THE WEE HOURS OF THIS MORNING READING THIS ENTIRE 160 PAGE REPORT IN DETAIL. STEP BACK AND GIVE US A SENSE OF

THE BIGGER PICTURE IT PAINTS. LISA: I THINK IF YOU'RE LOOK AT ASH IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, THERE ARE THREE BROAD CATEGORIES AND WHAT THEY ALLEGE. FIRST THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BIG LIE ITSELF, SAYING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, IT WAS PREMEDITATED IN SETTING UP THE IDEA THAT THE ELECTION COULD BE STOLEN AND THEN HE DID INDEED SAY IT WAS STOLEN EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW OTHERWISE. THE SECOND THING THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IS PRESSURE CAMPAIGNS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, AND ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRYN STATES. AND THE BIG CRUX OF THE REPORT IS TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S REFUSAL TO STEP IN AND TRY AND TELL THE CROWD TO STOP ON JANUARY 6. IF YOU LOOK, THAT WAS PART OF THE VIDEO THE COMMITTEE SHOWED TODAY IN ITS SUMMARY, HIGHLIGHTS . LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CLIP WHICH STARTS WITH MARK MILLEY. >> AASSAULT GOING ON ON THE CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

NOTHING. NO CALL, NOTHING. ZERO. >> I REMEMBER PAT SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF MARK, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING MORE ERE, LITERALLY CALLING FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT TO BE HUNG. AND MARK HAD RESPONDED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF YOU HEARD OF PAT? HE THINKS MIKE DESERVES THAT. HE DOESN'T THINK THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING WRONG. LISA: THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE SUMMED UP THERE APPROACH AGAINST WHAT THEY SAW AS A HISTORIC THREAT. LET'S LISTEN TO THOSE SOUNDBITES. >> EVERY PRESIDENT IN OUR HISTORY HAS DEFENDED THIS ORDERLY TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY, EXCEPT ONE. JANUARY 6, 20 21, WAS THE FIRST TIME ONE AMERICAN PRESIDENT RESED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO TRANSFER POWER PEACEFULLY TO THE NEXT. IN OUR WORK OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, THE SELECT COMMITTEE HAS RECOGNIZED OUR OBLIGATION TO DO

EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. >> THAT FAITH IN OUR SYSTEM IS THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. IF THE FAITH IS BROKEN, SO IS OUR DEMOCRACY. DONALD TRUMP BROKE THAT FAITH. HE SUMMONED A MOB TO WASHINGTON AND KNOWINGLY THEY WERE ARMED AND ANGRY. POINTED THEM TO THE AND TOLD THEM TO FIGHT LIKE HELL. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. LISA: TODAY WE SAW THAT LARGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE REPORT. SOMETHING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WANTS TO SEE VERY MUCH, TRANSCRIPTS OF THE 1000 OR SO INTERVIEWS THE COMMITTEE CONDUCTED. THOSE WILL PLAY A VERY BIG ROLE IN WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DOES NEXT. JUDY: WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF THAT. LISA, THANK YOU. WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS NOW THAT THE COMMITTEE IS SENDING

CRIMINAL REFERRALS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE? I'M JOINED BY MARY MCCORD, DIRECTOR OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY AND PROTECTION. SHE'S ALSO A FORMER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL. AND JAMIL JAFFER, A LAW PROFESSOR AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY AND FORMER ASSOCIATE COUNSEL TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH. HELLO TO BOTH OF YOU. YOU WERE HERE WITH US TODAY WE COVERED THE LIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. I WILL START WITH YOU, MARY. WHAT IS THE OVERALL SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THESE 18ONTHS AND TODAY'S RECOMMENDATIONS? MARY: WE'VE SEEN A MASSIVE INVESTIGATION AND BRINGING TOGETHER SO MUCH EVIDENCE, TESTIMONY, MANY OF THOSE HEARINGS ALWAYS IN THE STUDIO WITH YOU, TWO HOURS AND SOMETIMES THREE HOUR HEARINGS. THAT HAS ALL CULMINATED IN REPORT AND OF COURSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE FULL REPORT, BUT EVEN JUST THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REALLY PAINTS A PICTURE THAT

THIS WAS NOT A ONE-OFF, THIS WAS NOT A SPONTANEOUS DEMONSTRATION AT THE U.S. CAPITOL THAT TURNED VIOLENT. THIS WAS A CONCERTED EFFORT BY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, STARTING EVEN BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND IT BUILT THROUGH THESE MULTI-FACETS OF THE CONSPIRACY AS LISA WAS JUST DISCUSSING BETWEEN THE BIG LIE, TO THE PRESSURE CAMPAIGN AND ULTIMATELY TO THE VIOLENCE. WHAT IS SO UNPRECEDENTED IS ACTUALLY MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO BRING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT IN OUR HISTORY, BUT IT SHOWS HOW STRONGLY THEY FEEL AND HOW MUCH ACCOUNTABILITY IS IMPORTANT HERE. JUDY: HISTORICALLY WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE. WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF WHAT THIS REPORT IN THESE REFERRALS SAY TO US RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THEY TELL US A STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6, AND THE LEAD UP TO THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY. AND THE TROUBLING ROLE THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES PLAYED IN THOSE EVENTS, STOKING THEM, ENCOURAGING THEM AND ULTIMATELY BRINGING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BY CALLING PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE ELLIPSE WHERE HE WAS SPEAKING TO THEM AND TO TRAVEL UP TO THE CAPITOL, KNOWING THEY WERE ARMED. OBVIOUSLY AROUBLING SET OF CIRCUMSTCES, ENOUGH OF THE CONGRESS TO RECOMMEND THESE CRIMINAL CHARGES. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS CONGRESS ALSO SOUGHT TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT PREVIOUSLY. THEY ULTIMATELY HAD A MAJORITY OF VOTES IN THE SENATE BUT NOT ENGH TO CONVICT. THE QUESTION NOW FOR THE COUNTRY IS, WHAT HPENS NEXT? THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS RUNNING AGAIN, SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THAT, FIRST IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES AND THEN AGAIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IF HE IS THE NOMINEE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

JUDY: WE KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS ALREADY LOOKING INTO SO MUCH OF THIS. WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT AND WHAT THEY CAN DO AS THEY LOOK AT THESE REFERRALS? MARY: THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL BE EAGERLY LOOKING THROUGH EVERYTHING THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES TO THEM. THEY HAVE ALREADY IMPANELED A GRAND JURY, A BODY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO REVIEW THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AND ULTIMATELY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO VOTE TO RETURN AN INDICTMENT. IN THE COURSE OF PRESENTING EVIDENCE TO THE GRAND JURY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CAN SUBPOENA ADDITIONAL WITNESSES, INCLUDING PROBABLY MANY OF THOSE WHO TOOK THE FIFTH AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE. IF THE DEPARTMENT AGREES WITH THEIR ASSERTION OF THE FIFTH AMENDMENT, THEY CAN APPEAL TO A JUDGE SAYING WE DON'T THINK THE PERSON -- THEY SHOULD HAVE TO TESTIFY. THEY ALSO HAVE THE POWER IF THEY SEE FIT TO GRANT IMMUNITY TO A WITNESS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN TESTIMONY.

THEY CAN ISSUE SEARCH WARRANTS ON PROBABLE CAUSE. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THEY CAN DO THAT THE COMMITTEE DID NOT HAVE THE SAME POWER TO DO. JUDY: SO THEY HAVE SOME DIFFERENT TOOLS. ALSO, WHAT IS THE STANDARD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER SOMETHING NOT ONLY IS CRIMINAL, BUT THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO GO FORWARD AND PROSECUTE? >> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. PROSECUTORS MAKE THESE ASSESSMENTS ALL THE TIME. IN THIS CASE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS APPOINTED A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO MAKE THAT EVALUATION. TO MAKE THAT JUDGMENT AND DECIDE WHETHER TO BRING CHARGES. THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE HERE, BUT THE QUESTION IS, IS IT ENOUGH TO BRING A CASE AND GET A CONVICTION? OF COURSE THE JUSTIC DEPARTMENT WANTS TO AVOID BEING VIEWED AS POLITICAL AND ANYTIME YOU'RE PURSUING A PRESINT OR HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATES ON CRIMINAL

CHARGES, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THAT CHALLENGE, AND WE KNOW THAT IS ALREADY COMING FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE FOLKS AROUND HIM. JUDY: ARE THE CRITERIA DIFFERENT FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN DECIDING WHAT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AND WHAT SHOULD NOT? MARY: IT IS CERTAINLY DIFFERENT FOR WHAT IT NEEDS TO MAKE A REFERRAL. YOU CAN PURSUE AN INDICTMENT BASED ON PROBABLE CAUSE. IT IS NOT BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT AT THIS STAGE. BUT THAT IS NOT THE LEVEL OF PROOF YOU WANT, BECAUSE TO GO ON TO TRIAL, YOU NEED PROOF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT OF EVERY ELEMENT OF EVERY CRIME CHARGE. SO THE GUIDELINES ARE THAT YOU DON'T BRING A CASE UNLESS YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN MEET THAT STANDARD, THAT YOU HAVE ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE THAT WILL MEET THAT STANDARD BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, AND ALSO IF THERE IS AN IMPORTANT FEDERAL INTEREST. HERE IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS THERE IS AN IMPORTANT FEDERAL INTEREST. JUDY: HOW ARE THE CRITERIA GOING TO BE DIFFERENT WHEN THOSE FINAL DECISIONS ARE MADE AT JUSTICE?

>> THE ONE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT HERE IS THE POLITICAL LAYERING ON TOP OF IT. THE PRESIDENT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL CHALLENGE HERE, KNOWING IT HAS ALREADY BEEN POLITICIZED BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND THE FOLKS WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIM. NOW THE QUESTION BECOMES WILL THE COUNCIL MAKE INDEPENDENT JUDGMENTS AND WILL THEY BRING E CHARGES ULTIMATELY? JUDY: ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS, HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, DOES THAT GIVE HIM A LAYER OF PROTECTION? MARY: THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN CLEAR SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING IN THE INVESTIGATION THAT THEY WILL FOLLOW THE FACTS AND EVIDENCE WHERE IT LEADS, NO MATTER HOW HIGH. IT HAS POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT. BUT THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S REPORT WILL GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL

ULTIMATELY MAKE THE CALL. IF THE EVIDENCE IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SAY NO. JUDY: IT IS PART OF THE PROCESS, WE MAY NOT HEAR AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON AS THE COURSE OF DECISION-MAKING TAKES LACE THERE. THANK YOU BOTH. ♪ JUDY: IN THE DAY'S OTHER NEWS, THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, JOHN ROBERTS, HAS TEMPORARILY BLOCKED AN END TO RAPID EXPULSIONS OF MIGRANTS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. LOWER COURTS HAD ORDERED THE PANDEMIC-ERA POLICY, "TITLE 42", TO CEASE THIS WEDNESDAY. REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS IN 19 STATES CHALLENGED THAT ORDER. ROBERTS' MOVE IS TEMPORARY, WHILE THE FULL SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS THE CASE. JURY SELECTION BEGAN IN WASHINGTON TODAY, IN THE JANUARY 6TH TRIAL OF ENRIQUE TARRIO, THE FORMER "PROUD BOYS" NATIONAL CHAIRMAN. HE AND 4 OTHERS ARE CHARGED WITH SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY.

DEFENSE LAWYERS WANTED A DELAY UNTIL AFTER THE CONGRESSIONAL JANUARY 6TH REPORT COMES OUT. THE JUDGE REFUSED. THE FBI IS WARNING OF A SPIKE IN ONLINE SEXUAL EXTORTION OF TEEN-AGE BOYS. THE BUREAU ESTIMATES AT LEAST 3,000 TEENS WERE TRICKED THIS YEAR INTO SENDING EXPLICIT PICTURES OF THEMSELVES, AND THEN, BLACKMAILED. THE SCAMS ARE LINKED TO MORE THAN A DOZEN SUICIDES. IN UKRAINE, KYIV WAS TARGETED AGAIN BY EARLY MORNING RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACKS. OFFICIALS REPORTED DAMAGE, BUT NO DEATHS. LATER, PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY MADE A VIDEO APPEAL TO NORTHERN EUROPEAN LEADERS MEETING IN LATVIA. >> I ASK YOU TO INEASE T SUPPLY OF AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS TO OUR STATE AND HELP SPEED UP THE RELEVANT DECISIONS OF PARTNERS. A 100% AIR DEFENCE SHIELD FOR UKRAINE WILL BE ONE OFHE MOST SUCCESSFUL STEPS AGAINST RUSSIAN AGGRESSION. JUDY: MEANWHILE, RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT PUTIN VISITED BELARUS

TO MEET WITH HIS COUNTERPART ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO. BELARUS IS BELIEVED TO HAVE WEAPONS STOCKPILESHAT RUSSIA COULD USE. SOUTH AFRICA'S PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA WON REELECTION TODAY AS LEADER OF THE RULING "AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS" PARTY, DESPITE A CORRUPTION SCANDAL. SUPPORTERS BURST INTO CELEBRATION AS THE RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED. THE VICTORY PAVES THE ROAD FOR RAMAPHOSA TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2024. CHINA S CONFIRMED TWO COVID DEATHS, THE FIRST OFFICIAL FATALITIES IN WEEKS. THAT COMES AS OUTSIDE EXPERTS SAY THAT THE TRUE NUMBERS OF CASES AND DEATHS ARE LIKELY MUCH HIGHER. THERE WERE SCENES OF MOURNERS GATHERING TODAY AT FUNERAL HOMES IN BEIJING. IT WAS UNCLEAR IF THOSE DEATHS WERE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO COVID. BACK IN THIS COUNTRY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A NEW PUSH TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. NEW DATA SHOWS THE NUMBER INCREASED SLIGHTLY SINCE 2020. THE NEW INITIATIVE AIMS TO CREATE MORE HOUSING AND LOWER HOMELESS RATES 25% BY 2025.

"EPIC GAMES" WILL PAY $520 MILLION TO SETTLE FEDERAL ALLEGATIONS THAT IT VIOLATED CHILDREN'S PRIVACY AND TRICKED PLAYERS INTO UNFAIR CHARGES. THE COMPANY MAKES THE POPULAR "FORTNITE" VIDEO GAMES. THE AGREEMENT COVERS REFUNDS AND A RECORD FINE. AND, WALL STREET'S WEEK BEGAN WITH MORE LOSSES, AMID WORRIES ABOUT FUTURE INTEREST RATE HIKES. MAJOR INDEXES SLID HALF A PERCENT TO 1.5%. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST 163 POINTS. THE NASDAQ FELL 159 POINTS. THE S&P 500 DROPPED 34. STILL TO COME ON THE "NEWSHOUR". AMY WALTER AND ANNIE LINSKEY CONSIDER THE LATEST POLITICAL HEADLINES. A NEW FILM CHRONICLES THE CHAOTIC UNITED STATES WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN. ARTS ORGANIZATIONS RALLY TO REBUILD A CREATIVE OASIS IN WICHITA, KANSAS.

PLUS MUCH MORE. >> THIS IS THE PBS NEWSHOUR, FROM W ETA STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON, AND IN THE WEST, FROM THE WALTER CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. JUDY: A HISTORIC AGREEMENT WAS REACHED TODAY AT THE UNITED NATIONS BIODIVERSITY CONFERENCE IN CANADA THAT AIMS TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS FOR THE WORLD'S LANDS AND OCEANS. AS WILLIAM BRANGHAM REPORTS, IT COMES AS THE PLANET CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE A STAGGERING DECLINE IN BIODIVERSITY, DRIVEN IN LARGE PART BY HUMAN BEHAVIOR. WILLIAM: JUD ROUGHLY 200 COUNTRIES AGREED TODAY TO A SET OF MEASURES THAT TRY TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE VULNERABLE HABITATS THAT ARE CENTRAL TO LIFE ON EARTH. UNDER THE AGREEMENT, BY 2030, WORLD NATIONS HAVE PLEDGED TO PROTECT 30% OF THE LAND AND WATER CONSIDED VITAL FOR BIODIVERSITY. THEY'LL OFFER SOME $200 BILLION PER YEAR TO HELP FUND THESE

INITIATIVES AND WEALTHIER NATIONS WILL PAY $30 BILLION ANNUALLY TO DEVELOPING NATIONS. LIKE MANY OF THESE AGREEMENTS, THESE ARE NOT LEGALLY BINDING. SO HOW EFFECTIVE WILL THIS BE IN SAVING SPECIES THAT ARE AT RISK, AND PROTECTING OUR LANDS AND WATERS? FOR ONE TAKE ON THE AGREEMENT, I'M JOINED BY COLLIN O'MARA, HE'S PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. BEFORE WE GET TO THIS AGREEMENT, I WONDER IF YOU COULD HELP EXPLAIN THE EXTENSION AND BIODIVERSITY CRISIS WE ARE FACING AND WHY THAT MATTERS. >> RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE ALMOST A MILLION SPECIES AROUND THE GLOBE THAT WE THINK ARE AT HEIGHTENED RISK OF EXTINCTION. WE ARE SEEING ACCELERATION OF THE RAPID DECLINE OF SPECIES POPULATIONS. THERE IS 70% LESS WILDLIFE THAN THERE WAS 40 YEARS AGO. ONE THIRD OF ALL SPECIES IN THE U.S. ALONE OR AT HEIGHTENED RISK OF EXTINCTION. SMALL SPECIES LIKE NATIVE BEES AND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, THAT

HABITATS THAT SUPPORT THE SPECIES AND PROVIDING FLOOD ABATEMENT IN TERMS OF WETLANDS AND FOREST, IT'S KI OF A CANARY IN THE COAL MINE. OUR FUTURE IS SO LINKED TO HAVING HEALTHY WHILE I POPULATIONS ACROSS THE BOARD. WILLIAM: WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPAL DRIVERS OF THOSE LOSSES? >> THE BIGGEST ONE IS REALLY HABITAT LOSS. WE HAVE DECIMATED FORCE AROUND THE GLOBE AND DESTROYED A LOT OF WETLAND CAPACITY. YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEAR OCEAN ENVIRONMENT. THAT LEVEL OF DEGRADATION IS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR A LOT OF SPECIES. DESTRUCTION AND FRAGMENTATION IS THE BIG ONE. ANOTHER ONE IS DISEASE. THERE ARE ISSUES WITH INVASIVE SPECIES THAT COME INTO A

DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN CAUSE CHALLENGES. IN CLIMATE CHANGE ACCELERATES ALL OF THAT, SO IT IS A PERFECT STORM FOR THIS MASS EXTINCTION WE ARE SEEING RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. WILLIAM: LOTS OF HUMAN FINGERPRINTS ON THIS CRISIS AS WELL. SO 200 OR SO COUNTRIES COME TOGETHER AND SAY WE WILL PLEDGE GOING FORWARD TO TRY TO PROTECT 30% OF THE OCEANS IN THE LAND. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS AGREEMENT? >> IT IS A HUGE STEP TO HAVE THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF I/O DIVERSITY DURING THE TIME OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND PANDEMIC. IT IS A HUGE DEAL. AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S NOT ENOUGH. THIS IS A COMMITMENT THAT 100 COUNTRIES HAVE MADE BEFORE THEY GOT TO MONTREAL FOR THE MEETING. PRESENT BIDEN HAD ALREADY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IN HIS FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF OFFICE TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT.

WILLIAM: AS WE SAW WITH THE CLIMATE AGREEMENTS, MONEY IS ALWAYS A BIG HANG UP ON THESE. WE KNOW THERE ARE NATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT DEPEND ON THE LOGGING AND THE FISHING TO FEED THEIR PEOPLE AND ALSO WHICH EXACERBATES AND FEEDS THIS CRISIS. DO YOU THINK THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN PLEDGED SO FAR IS UP TO THE TASK AT HAND? >> IT IS A HUGE FIRST STEP. HAVING A $200 BILLION COMMITMENT ANNUALLY BY 2030 IS A HUGE DEAL. SOME OF THE MORE DEVELOPED ECONOMIES -- IT'S A BIG DEAL, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. WE NEED $880 BILLION OF INVESTMENT PER YEAR. AGAIN, IT IS A HUGE FIRST STEP, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THOSE FINANCIAL

COMMITMENT NOT MATERIALIZE AFTER PEOPLE LEAVE THE WHAT MAKES OR S WHETHER THIS IS A SUCCESSFUL MEETING. WILLIAM: THE COLD WATER TO THROW ON THIS IS THE LAST MAJOR YOU IN AGREEMENT ON BIODIVERSITY WAS, BY MOST ACCOUNTS, A BIT OF A BUST. THIS CURRENT AGREEMENT, THERE ARE NO BINDING MECHANISMS HERE. DO YOU WORRY THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE COUNTRIES ARE PAYING LIP SERVICE TO THIS BUT WON'T ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SUBSTANTIVE ACTION? >> EVERYONE ASSUME SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO ACT. THE COMMITMENTS ARE REAL, WE HAD A LOT OF SENIOR LEADERS FROM DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS COME IN. AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE SEEN PLEDGES FALL OFF THE PLATE WHEN LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN COUNTRIES. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THESE COMMITMENTS BECOME REAL. THE TRACK RECORD ISN'T GREAT,

BUT THIS IS OUR LAST BEST SH TO TRY TO SAVE THE FULL DIVERSITY OF WOLOF AROUND THE GLOBE. WE DON'T ACT WITH URGENCY, WE WILL MISS THAT. THE GREATEST ALLY OF EXTINCTION AT THIS POINT IS INACTION. WILLIAM: THE CONVENTION THAT COVERS THIS AGREEMENT, DO YOU THINK IT HARMS OUR ABILITY TO CAJOLE OTHER NATIONS TO ACT AND OUR ABILITY TO ACT IN AND OF OURSELVES? >> I DO, IT IS KEY TO BE AT THE TABLE. IT IS ONE THING TO BE AN OBSERVER, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE IS NOTHING LIKE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND BEING A FULL-BLOWN PARTICIPANT. WILLIAM: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. ♪ JUDY: A HIGH STAKES WEEK AHEAD IN CONGRESS, AS THE FULL

JANUARY 6TH REPORT WILL BE RELEASED IN THE COMING DAYS, AND CONGRESS LOOKS TO PASS A MASSIVE FUNDING BILL TO PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. HERE TO DISCUSS IT ALL IS AMY WALTER OF THE COOK POLITICAL PORT WITH AMY WALTER AND ANNIE LINSKEY OF THEALL STREET JOURNAL. TAMARA KEITH IS AWAY. HELLO TO BOTH OF YOU, IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ON THIS MONDAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IN THE PROGRAM, A MAJOR REPORT TODAY BY THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE, CRIMINAL REFERRALS OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, FOUR SIGNIFICANT CHARGES. WE TALKED ABOUT THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS AND SOME OF THE POLITICAL, BUT FROM A POLITICAL STANDPNT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN? >> WE CAN LOOK AT IT TWO WAYS. WILL IT BE SUCCESSFUL IF THE COMMITTEE DOES BRING THOSE FOUR

CONGRESSMEN AND ACTUALLY FOLLOWS THROUGH AND INVESTIGATES THEM? IF THEY FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE AND INDICT THE PRESIDENT, OR WE CAN LOOK AT IT THIS WAY WHICH IS TO SAY, EVEN IF THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN, WHATMPACT DID? MORE YOU TALK TO STRATEGIST, ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS WHO WERE CONCERNED THAT THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS WERE NOT MOVING VOTERS, THE IDEA ABOUT SAVING DEMOCRACY WASN'T REALLY AS CRITICAL AN ISSUE, IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THIS WAS BOTH A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR DEMOCRATS AND THE POLLS THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES LOST WERE ALL THOSE WHO ASSOCIATED WITH DONALD TRUMP IN THE ELECTION DENIAL. EVEN IN TALKING TO A STRATEGIST RIGHT BEFORE I CAME ON, THE IMPACT ON INDEPENDENT VOTERS WHO REALLY DID SEE THE IDEA OF

PREVENTING SOMETHING LIKE A JANUARY 6, NOT WANTING TO SEE CANDIDATES EMBRACE THIS KIND OF CHAOS AND DENIAL IS A FINDING THEIR WAY INTO CONGRESS. JUDY: HOW DO YOU SEE THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS AND REPERCUSSIONS? >> I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT ANALYSIS, AMY. OF COURSE DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN A VERY POLARIZING FIGURE IN OUR POLITICS, TO PUT IT LIGHTLY. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE HIM TO GO AWAY. AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO THIS REPORT AND LOOKING TO EACH OF THESE STEPS -- JUDY: WHEN YOU SAY PEOPLE, YOU MEAN REPUBLICANS? >> THERE IS A NEVER TRUMP WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE HIM TO GO AWAY. CERTAINLY WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THERE IS A STRONG CZAR TO MOVE ON FROM TRUMP, -- STRONG DESIRE TO MOVE ON FROM TRUMP.

WILL IT BE A CRIMINAL REFERRAL? TALKING TO STRATEGISTS, REALLY IN THIS COUNTRY IT IS VOTERS THAT MAKE THIS DECISION. DONALD TRUMP HAS ESSENTIALLY BEEN ON THE BALLOT FOR THE LAST FOUR ELECTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. HE WON IN 2016, IN 2020 HE LOSES TO JOE BIDEN, AND IN THE MOST RECENT MIDTERMS, YOU SEE A SIMILAR RESULT. REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND SO ARE DEMOCRATS. THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE IT HAS PLAYED INTO THAT ATMOSPHERE THAT HAS ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN IN THE MOST RECENT ELECTION, BUT IT WOULD BE REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN THE PRIMARY. >> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SO OFTEN, THE ERA WE ARE LIVING IN,

THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS DID NOT CHANGE MANY PEOPLE'S MINDS. THEIR MINDS WERE MADE UP LONG BEFORE THOSE HEARINGS BEGAN AND DURING THE ELECTION THEY DIDN'T CHANGE MUCH, EITHER. THE IDEA OF GETTING ANYTHING MORE THAN 51% OR 52% SUPPORT, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOW. THIS ISSUE MATTERED IN STATES LIKE ARIZONA AND NEVADA AND GEORGIA, BUT IN STATES LIKE OHIO AND FLORIDA AND NORTH CAROLINA IT DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME RESIDENCE. WE ARE COURY WHERE THESE ISSUES ARE GOING TO HAVE INCREDIBLE RESONANCE IN SOME PLACES, AND IN OTHERS IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A TOPIC THAT'S GOING TO INFLUENCE VOTERS TO WORK AGAINST DONALD TRUMP'S BENEFIT. THEY HAVE BIG BOATS TO TAKE THIS WEEK.

JUDY: THE BIG SPENDING BILL, THE SO-CALLED OMNIBUS BILL, A TERRIBLE NAME FOR IT. ARE WE LOOKING AT ANYTHING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THAT WILL TELL YOU WHERE WE WILL END UP? THEY HAVE EXTENDED FUNDING FOR CHRISTMAS DAYS -- TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. >> DEADLINES FOCUS PEOPLE, AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE NO DIFFERENT. THERE ARE FINAL THINGS BEING HAMMERED OUT BUT MY REPORTING IS NOT SHOWING THAT WE ARE EXPECTING A GRINCH TO STEAL CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, THAT THESE FINAL THINGS REALLY ARE FINAL AND EVERYBODY WILL GO HOME. >> AND THE ONE THING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE ATTAED IN THIS OMNIBUS IS REFORMING THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED BY THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE THOMAS O THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE DATE ANY LONGER ABOUT THE ROLE THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT CAN PLAY IN DETERMINI WHICH ELECTORAL VOTES ARE VALID AND

WHICH ONES ARE NOT. JUDY: SO THIS IS A WEEK OF HOLIDAY SPIRIT, TO BOTH OF YOU, WHETHER PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS OR HANUKKAH OR ANOTHER HOLIDAY, I WANT TO JUST CONCLUDE THIS HOLIDAY BY ASKING BOTH OF YOU ABOUT WHAT GIFT YOU THINK SHOULD BE GIVEN TO A PARTICULAR POLITICIAN, OR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PARTIES GET. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, AMY? >> I THINK WE HAVE LEARNED THIS ELECTION AND FROM A SERIES OF ELECTIONS, IF WE ARE GOING TO REFORM THE SYSTEM, WE WANT A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON TO COME TO WASHINGTON, THERE IS NOT ONE ANSWER AND NOT ONE SILVER BULLET. BUT UNDER MY TREE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CHOICE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE KIND OF CANDIDATE WHO NEEDS TO PUT TOGETHER A COALITION TO WIN.

YOU CAN'T RELY JUST ON YOUR HARD-CORE BASE. GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE DIVERSITY HERE. >> THAT WAS A WONDERFUL ANSWER, AND I WAS SAYING JUST IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR ELECTION CYCLES I HAVE GONE THROUGH, THEY HAVE BEEN SO DIFFICULT. THE GIFT I WISH I COULD GIVE ORG IT WOULD BE A CRYSTAL BALL. [LAUGHTER] IT HASN'T COME MY WAY. SO I WOULD KNOW THE ANSWER AND NOT MAKE THE MISTAKES I HAVE MADE IN THE PAST. JUDY: WHEN IT COMES TO PREDICTIONS, WE ARE ALL HOPEFUL. >> IF ANYBODY IS LOOKING FOR A GIFT, I WOULD SAY A NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION. IT COULD BE THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, OR YOUR LOCAL PAPER.

JUDY: THAT'S A VERY GOOD ONE. THANK YOU BOTH, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> THANK YOU. ♪ JUDY: IT HAS BEEN 16 MONTHS SINCE THE UNITED STATES PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, WHAT THE U.S' TOP MILITARY OFFICER CALLED A STRATEGIC DEFEAT. THIS MONTH, A NEW FILM DOCUMENTS THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL, THE AFGHAN FORCES LEFT TO FIGHT ON THEIR OWN, AND THE CHAOTIC CONCLUSION TO 20 YEARS OF WAR. NICK SCHIFRIN SAT DOWN WITH THE FILMMAKER AND ONE OF HIS CENTRAL CHARACTERS. NICK: THE U.S. CALLED IT A RETROGRADE. THE MILITARY LEAVING AFGHANISTAN AFTER TWO DECADES OF WAR. WE COVERED THE FINAL DAYS OF THE US PRESENCE AS WELL AS THE DEADLY AND DISORDERLY EVACUATION. BUT THE NEW NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

DOCUMENTARY FILM RETROGRADE TAKES US INSIDE THE ROOMS OF DISAPPOINTED US SOLDIERS, FRUSTRATED AFGHAN SOLDIERS, MANY OF WHOM STRUGGLED FOR THEIR COUNTRY UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT. AND THE HEARTBREAKING EVACUATION FROM KABUL. THE FILMMAKER IS OSCAR NOMINATED AND EMMY WINNING MATTHEW HEINEMAN. AND ONE OF THE MAIN SUBJECTS OF THE FILM IS FORMER AFGHAN GENERAL SAMI SAADAT. AND BOTH JOIN ME NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU TO THE NEWSHOUR. MATT, LET ME START WITH YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU STARTED THIS FILM EXPECTING IT TO BE ONE THING ABOUT US SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN. IT BECAME SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. IN THE END, WHAT STORY DO YOU THINK YOU TOLD ABOUT THE END OF THE US'S LONGEST WAR? MATT: YOU OW, I THINK WE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THE FINAL EIGHT MONTHS OF THE WAR, FIRST THROUGH THE EYES OF THE GREEN BERET TEAM THAT WE WERE WITH AND THEN ULTIMATELY THROUGH GENERAL SADAT AND HIS MEN. UP UNTIL THE FINAL DAYS, THE AIRPORT, IT'S REALLY A PORTRAIT OF THIS FINAL EIGHT MONTHS IN AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO HUMANIZE AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN SO RELEGATED TO STATS IN THE HEADLINES. NICK: SO, SAMI, DO YOU FEEL LIKE

THE FILM ALLOWED YOU AND YOUR MEN TO BE HUMANIZED AND THE EFFORTS THAT YOU GUYS MADE UP UNTIL THE LAST MOMENTS? SAMI: YES, NICK. I THINK TWO THINGS ARE VERY CLEAR IN THE FILM. ONE IS THE BOND BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND AFGHAN MILITARIES. FOR 20 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER, TRYING TO BOND, WORK TOGETHER, TRAIN TOGETHER AND FIGHT TOGETHER. THE SECOND ONE IS REALLY SHOWS THE STRUGGLE OF THE AFGHAN SOLDIERS UP TO THE LAST BULLET, AND THIS DEFIES THE VERY STATEMENT, OFTEN, POLITICIANS SAY THE AFGHAN ARMY DIDN'T FIGHT. WE FOUGHT AND WE FOUGHT VERY HARD. WE PAID A LOT OF SACRIFICES. BUT THERE IS SO MUCH AN ARMY CAN DO WHEN THE POTICAL MASTERS GO IN THE OTHER SIDE. NICK: LET ME SHOW A CLIP THE MOMENT WHEN US SOLDIERS WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO LEAVE AFGHANISTAN, STARTING WITH THE GREEN BERETS BLOWING UP THEIR OWN AMMUNITION. >> FIRE.

>> EXPEND ALL LOOSE AND NON-FACTORY PACKED AMMUNITION. NICK: YOU HEAR SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION THERE. MATT HEINEMAN, HOW FRUSTRATED WERE THE US SOLDIERS THAT THEY HAD TO LEAVE? MATT: I MEAN, I THINK DEEPLY. OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO VERBALIZE THAT, AND IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, THEIR FACES SPEAK MORE THAN ANY INTERVIEW COULD EVER SPEAK. YOU KNOW, THEY DEVELOP THIS BOND WITH THEIR AFGHAN COUNTERPARTS, SOME CASES OVER DECADES, SOME CASES OVER A SINGLE DEPLOYMENT. BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A SENSE OF ABANDONMENT THAT THEY WERE

LEAVING THEIR AFGHAN BROTHERS TO FIGHT ALONE. NICK: SAMI SADAT, HOW ABANDONED DID YOU, DID YOUR MEN FEEL? >> I THINK IT BEGS THE QUESTION, NICK. WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR NON-MAJOR NATO ALLIANCESHIP? WE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE MISTAKES THAT HAPPENED ON THE GROUND, BUT THERE'S OTHER INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY ON THE AMERICAN SIDE, WHO ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE. AND WE'RE ASKING FOR SOME ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO COME FORWARD. WE HAVE HANDED OVER AFGHANISTAN TO THE ENEMIES. TALIBAN ARE THE ENEMIES, NICK. THEY'RE NOT ONLY THE ENEMIES OF AFGHANISTAN. THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE ENEMY OF AMERICA. THEY ARE GIVING REFUGE TO AL QAIDA. THEY HAVE EXPANDED THE PRESENCE OF ISIS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CONTROL IT. NICK: SAMI SADAT I'M GOING TO STAY WITH YOU BECAUSE THE RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT ONLY FALL ON THE UNITED STATES. OF COURSE, I WANT TO SHOW A SCENE IN WHICH YOU ARE ON YOUR CELL PHONE WITH THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND YOU DESCRIBE HOW YOU PUT IN ORDERS FOWEAPONS IN THE MORNING AND THOSE ORDERS ARE

CANCELED BY THE EVENING. THOSE OF YOUR MEN LISTENING TO YOU ON THE PHONE, TALKING TO THE MINISTER THERE, AND YOU TELL THE MINISTER, I CAN'T BE FIGHTING THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE TALIBAN AT THE SAME TIME. WERE YOU FIGHTING YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT AND THE TALIBAN AT THE SAME TIME? >> I WAS, NICK. AND THERE IS THIS CONSTANT POLITICAL FIGHT WITH OUR CAPITAL KABUL, FOR MORE ASSETS AND LOGISTICS AS OTHER CORPS WERE ALSO COMPETING FOR IT. THE THREE THINGS THAT CONSTANTLY WERE HELD BACK WERE THE COMBAT LOGISTICS, WHICH WAS HANDLED BY THE UNITED STATES AND BECAUSE OF COVID, SO MANY THINGS DIDN'T ARRIVE ON TIME. THE SECOND THING WAS MORE NON-COMBAT LOGISTICS, WHICH WERE AUTHORIZED BY OUR PALACE, AND THEY WERE CONSTANTLY HELD BACK BECAUSE OF BUREAUCRACY, BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION, BECAUSE OF OTHER MATTERS. AND AT TIMES IT WAS REALLY, REALLY FRUSTRATING FOR US TO FIGHT ON THE GROUND AND COME BACK TO THE HEADQUARTER AND ONLY TO GET ON THE PHONE AND FIGHT AGAIN WITH SOME BUREAUCRAT IN KABUL,SPECIALLY LIKE OUR TOP POLITICAL LEADERS, THEY DO HAVE

A RESPONSIBILITY, THEY HAVE FAILED US, TOO. NICK: AND AFTER THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL, AFTER THE AFGHAN ARMY WAS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE TALIBAN AND AFTER PRESIDENT GHANI LEFT THE PALACE, WE SAW THE EVACUATION, THE CHAOS AT THE AIRPORT. MATT HEINEMAN, YOU WERE BACK TO DOCUMENT SOME OF THOSE SCENES. LET ME JUST SHOW ONE OF THEM. >> PEOPLE WERE TERRIFIED. PEOPLE WERE SCARED. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CHAOTIC. NO MATTER YOUR BELIEF ON THE WAR, IT WAS REALLY CHAOTIC. THE LONGEST WAR IN U.S. HISTORY.

I FOUND MYSELF CONSTANTLY WIPING TEARS FROM MY FACE AS WE WERE FILMING THE SCENES OF SHEER DESPERATION. I HOPE THAT AMONGST MANY, MANY THINGS, WE SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS WAR. I HOPE THE FILM RE-INITIATES THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE PEOPLE WE LEFT BEHIND. NICK: INCLUDING THE LAST IMAGE YOU SHOW OF A YOUNG WOMAN. WHAT DO YOU SEE IN HER FACE? MATT: DETERMINATION, FEAR, STRENGTH, PLEADING WITH THE U.S. MILITARY. YOU KNOW, IT'S SO EASY, AS HUMAN BEINGS, AS WESTERNERS, TO DISENGAGE WITH THESE TOPICS, TO KEEP THEM AT ARM'S LENGTH, AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S MY JOB TO, YOU KNOW, GET YOU CARE A LITTLE BIT MORE, FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND CREATE A RATIONAL DIALOG AROUND THESE EXTREMELY COMPLICATED SUBJECTS THAT ARE OFTEN RELEGATED TO STATS AND

HEADLINES. D I HOPE THAT THIS FILM AGAIN CREATES A CONVERSATION AROUND THIS FINAL CHAPTER OF THE LONGEST WAR IN U.S. HISTORY. NICK: FORMER AFGHAN GENERAL SAMI SADAT, FILMMAKER MATTHEW HEINEMAN. THE FILM IS RETROGRADE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO BOTH. MATT: [00:26:13]THANKS FOR -- THANKS FOR HAVING US. JUDY: 'TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES. AND IT'S ALWAYS A KEY TIME FOR ARTS GROUPS RELYING ON HOLIDAY FARE TO BRING IN CROWDS. BUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON COMES AS ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN SMALLER AND MID-SIZE CITIES, CONTINUE TO WRESTLE WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT. JEFFREY BROWN TRAVELLED TO WICHITA, KANSAS, TO SEE HOW SOME ARE ADAPTING AND APPLYING LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE SHUTDOWN. IT'S FOR OUR ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES, CANVAS. JEREY: THE CAST OF MUSIC THEATRE WICHITA'S HOLIDAY SHOW,

REHEARSING FOR THE BIG EVENT. THE 51 YEAR OLD COMPANY, ONE OF THIS CITY'S LEADING ARTS GROUPS, IS KNOWN FOR ITS EXTENSIVE SUMMER SEASON. BUT TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS SCHEDULED TO HOLD ITS FIRST WINTER HOLIDAY SHOW. THEN CAME THE PANDEMIC. NOW, WHAT WAS ONCE A DREAM TO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BRIAN MARCUM WAS FINALLY READY FOR ITS DEBUT. >> IT'S A HUGE SHOW WITH OVER 100 PEOPLE IN IT AND A GREAT ORCHESTRA ON STAGE. AND WE'RE HOPING THAT IT WILL DRAW THE PEOPLE IN. JEFFREY: WICHITA, IN THE HEART OF THE GREAT PLAINS AND, WITH A POPULATION NEAR 400,000 THE LARGEST CITY IN KANSAS, IS KNOWN FOR ITS AGRICULTURE, AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES AND MORE. IT'S ALSO HOME TO A LONG-THRIVING ARTS COMMUNITY. MUSIC THEATRE WICHITA ATTRACTS ACTORS FROM FAR AND WIDE. IT'S A PLACE MANY COME THROUGH AND OFTEN RETURN TO, EVEN IF THEY BUILD CAREERS IN NEW YORK AND OTHER LARGE CITIES.

THE PANDEMIC BECAME A STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE. AND RAISED FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF THEATER, AUDIENCES AND PERFORMERS. >> PEOPLE WEREN'T BUYING TICKETS TO COME TO SEE THE SHOWS. THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE WE HAD TO LOOK AND GO LIKE, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS THIS WAY FOR 50 YEARS AND THE SHOW HAS TO GO ON. BUT IS THERE A WAY WHERE WE CAN DO IT, WHERE PEOPLE FEEL MORE SUPPORTED AND IT'S MORE EQUITABLE FOR PEOPLE? THERE WAS A TIME IN THE THEATRICAL COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALL STOPPED AND LOOKED AND THOUGHT, IS THIS IS THIS GOOD FOR EVERYONE'S MENTAL HEALTH? LIKE, DO WE NEED TO REEVALUATE HOW WE DO THINGS? JEFFREY CHANGES WERE MADE -- : SPACING OUT PRODUCTIONS AND LENGTHENING THE SEASON, PUTTING ON SHORTER SHOWS WITH SMALLER CASTS. AN OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE AT A NEARBY AMPHITHEATER. AFTER A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN IN AFTER A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN IN 2020, MUSIC THEATRE WICHITA IS

BACK, BUT ATTENDANCE IS DOWN NEARLY A THIRD SINCE 2019. MARCUM, WHO JOINED THE ORGANIZATION JUST MONTHS BEFORE IT CLOSED ITS DOORS, WANTS TO BUILD EXCITEMENT WITH NEW PRODUCTIONS. >> WE ARE REALLY KNOWN FOR DOING THE RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S AND ALL THE CLASSICS. ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR SHOWS THIS SUMMER WAS KINKY BOOTS, AND EVERYONE LEFT THE THEATER ON A HIGH. AND THEY WERE ALL SO EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW SHOWS. AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND THAT CREATES NEW AUDNCES AND AND BRGS IN PEOPLE WHO MAYBE THEY'RE NOT SO INTO THE CLASSICS. THEY WANT TO SEE THE NEW, MORE CONTEMPORARY SHOWS. JEFFREY: HARVESTER ARTS PRESENTS A DIFFERENT KIND OF WICHITA TS VIBE, A SMALL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON BRINGING INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS TOGETHER. IT OFFERS STUDIO SPACES AND EXHIBITIONS IN ITS GALLERY, AND HOST EVENTS LIKE PUPPET KARAOKE, AND HUNGRY, HAVE A SNACK. WHERE ARTISTS CAN TRY OUT WORKS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND GET FEEDBACK. >> FROM THE KIND OF 1000 FOOT VIEW, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ESTABLISH IS THIS SORT OF COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

WHERE WE CAN CREATE PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS TO HAVE THOSE SORTS OF COLLISIONS WITH OTHER CREATIVE'S. JEFFREY: KRISTIN BEAL CO-FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION IN 2014. DESPITE BEING SHUT DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC, SHE FOUND A NEW WAY TO BRING ARTISTS TOGETHER WHILE ALSO IMPACTING OTHER RESIDENTS, RECLAIMING AN EMPTY DOWNTOWN LOT AS A COMMUNITY ARTS SPACE. >> IT'S BECOME A SORT OF OUTDOOR DOWNTOWN STUDIO FOR LOCAL ARTISTS. IT'S BEEN REALLY INCREDIBLE TO WATCH. >> IT'S DEFINITELY CHANGED OUR, OUR MISSION AND VISION. IT WAS JUST A REAL BLESSING FOR THAT TO COME TO US IN A TIME WHERE THERE WERE SO MANY UNKNOWNS. JEFFREY: DANCER MINA ESTRADA SAYS SHE WAS FIRST DRAWN TO HARVESTER ARTS BECAUSE OF ITS FOCUS ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION. NOW SHE WORKS THERE AS MANAGING DIRECTOR. >> A PART OF MY JOB WAS MEETING WITH ARTISTS AND AND GETTING FEEDBACKROM THEM ABOUT WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW? AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THEY WANTED JUST MORE PROGRAMMING BACK I IMMEDIATELY STARTED ENGAGING WITH ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY

AND JUST RALLY OUR COMMUNITY TO GET BACK AT IT, LIKE GET BACK AT MAKING ART AND WHATEVER THAT'S GOING TO BE NOW. JEFFREY: A LONG-ESTABLISHED STAPLE OF THE LOCAL ARTS SCENE, THE WICHITA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, HAS BEEN AT IT FOR 78 YEARS, BUT IT TOO HAS TO FIND A NEW WAY FORWARD. >> THERE WAS NOTHING WE HAD STUDIED OR LEARNED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY THAT WOULD PREPARE US FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. IT WAS BOTH A CRISIS, BUT WAS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY. JEFFREY SYMPHONY CEO DON : REINHOLD FACED A CHANGED BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE WHILE , MUSICIANS, WHO ARE PAID PER PERFORMANCE, FACED UNCERTAIN TIMES. ONE ANSWER, NEW COLLABORATIONS, WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BOTANICA, THE WICHITA GARDENS, AND WICHITA PARKS AND RECREATION TO HOST OUTDOOR CONCERTS. THOSE ARE CONTINUING.

LIKE GROUPS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE SYMPHONY HERE FILMED PERFORMANCES TO MAKE AVAILABLE ONLINE, IN ITS CASE, USING A LOCALLY ICONIC SPOT, THE OLD COWTOWN MUSEUM. THEY ALSO ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH AUDIENCE MEMBERS THROUGH WEEKLY ZOOM WELLNESS WEDSDAY MEETINGS TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH MUSIC THERAPY. AND OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES TO HEAR NEW MUSIC AND SPEAK WIT MUSICIANS AND CONSUMERS. >> I STARTED A WEEKLY ZOOM RECITAL THINKING, WE WILL GET 18 PEOPLE. WE WERE WE WERE REACHING PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND MAKING FRIENDS AROUND THE COUNTRY. JEFFREY THE IDEA STARTED WITH : CONCERTMASTER AND VIOLINIST HOLLY MULCAHY, WHO SAYS REACHING THE AUDIENCE SO PERSONALLY HAS CHANGED HER VIEW FROM THE STAGE. >> IT MAKES US EXTREMELY AWARE THAT PEOPLE ARE PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE. I THINK THE PANDEMIC DID THITO JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY, REALIZING HOW DESPERATELY WE NEED THE AUDIENCES AND HOW, YOU KNOW, PLAYING FOR AN EMPTY HALL IS DIFFICULT AND WHAT AN ABSOLUTE PARTNER THE AUDIENCE IS.

AND SO THAT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR OPINIONS AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP CAN BE AMPLIFIED BY INTRODUCING COMPOSERS WHO ARE STILL WITH US. IT REALLY ACCENTUATES THE EXPERIENCE. JEFFREY: T PANDEMIC, SAYS DON REINHOLD, EXACERBATED TRENDS THAT HAD BEEN UNDERWAY FOR YEARS, ADDING AN EXTRA DOSE OF URGENCY. >> THE WORLD HAS CHANGED ON US IN SO MANY WAYS. THERE'S MORE COMPETITION HERE FOR ENTERTAINMENT. SO WE HAVE TO SOMETIMES TWEAK THE PRODUCT, THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT THEM. ALWAYS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO CREATE DIVERSITY IN OUR AUDIENCE AND DIVERSITY IN OUR PROGRAMING. LIVE MUSIC WILL FIND A WAY TO SURVIVE BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE HEARING A LIVE SYMPHONY. JEFFREY: BACK AT MUSIC THEATER WICHITA THE ENERGY WAS HIGH AND , BRIAN MARCUM, TOO, WAS

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. >> I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE, THAT WE'LL GET BACK TO THOSE 2019 NUMBERS. I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE. IT'S GOING TO BE LOTS OF HARD WORK FOR US TO DO THAT AND TO REACH OUT TO THOSE THOSE PEOPLE. BUT I DO THINK WE'LL GET THERE. JEFFREY FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, : I'M JEFFREY BROWN INICHITA, KANSAS. JUDY: GOOD TO SEE. AND A LATE-BREAKING NEWS ITEM, HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER HARVEY WEINSTEIN HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY ON AT LEAST ONE COUNT OF RAPE BY A JURY AT THE LOS ANGELES TRIAL. ONE HE HAD NOT -- -- HE HAD PLED NOT GUILTY. HE WAS ACQUITTED OF A SEXUAL BATTERY ALLEGATION. HE STILL HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF PRISON LEFT FROM PREVIOUS CONVICTION. ON THE NEWSHOUR ONLINE RIGHT NOW, MISSOURI IS ONE OF THE LATEST STATES TO LEGALIZE THE USE OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA. THE AMENDMENT ALSO SETS IN MOTION THE PROCESS FOR THOUSANDS OF MISSOURIANS TO HAVE THEIR

CRIMINAL RECORDS EXPUNGED. LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR. AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. JOIN US ON-LINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. FOR ALL OF US AT THE PBS NEWSHOUR, THANK YOU, PLEASE STAY SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON. >> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> FOR 25 YEARS, CONSUMER CELLULAR GOALS HAS BEEN TO HELP PEOPLE COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT. OUR TEAM CAN HELP FIND ONE THAT FITS YOU. VISIT CONSUMER CELLULAR.TV. >> THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED, AND NOT FOR THE LAST TIME. THE RULES OF BUSINESS ARE BEING REINVENTED WITH A MORE FLEXIBLE WORKFORCE, BY EMBRACING INNOVATION, BY LOOKING NOT ONLY AT CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT

AHEAD TO FUTURE ONES. RESILIENCE IS THE ABILITY TO PIVOT AGAIN AND AGAIN, FOR WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT. >> PEOPLE WHO KNOW, KNOW BDO. >> THE KENDEDA. SUPPORTED BY THE JOHN T AND CATHERINE T MACARTHUR FOUNDATION , COMMITTED TO BUILDING MORE JUST, VERDANT, AND PEACEFUL WORLD. MORE INFORMATION AT AMCFOUND .ORG. 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. [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,

WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.] ♪ A WARM WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

UKRAINIANS ARE TAKING COVER AMID FRESH MISSILE STRIKES. I DISCUSS THE LATEST WITH THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE. >> THEN, TWITTER RISKS EU SANCTIONS AFTER ABRUPTLY BLOCKING JOURNALISTS. I SPEAK TO ONE OF THOSE REPORTERS, CNN'S DONIE O'SULLIVAN. >> ALSO AHEAD. >> THE WORLD HAS BECOME MUCH LOUDER AT A TIME THE YOUNG BRAIN IS VERY SENSITIVE AT AN EARLIER AGE. >> AMERICA'S INNER PANDEMIC. "NEW YORK TIMES" JOURNALIST TALKS TO MICHEL MARTIN ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AMONG U.S. TEENS. >> AND FINALLY -- ♪ DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LOVE ♪ >> A FLAMBOYANT BREATH OF FRESH AIR. WE LOOK BACK TO