PBS NewsHour; Thursday, November 17, 2022, 6:00pm-7:00pm PST

HOST: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. JUDY WOODRUFF IS AWAY. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, CHANGING HANDS. SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI WILL STEP DOWN FROM LEADERSHIP AFTER REPUBLICANS WON CO TL NTHEOF MAHOKEUS FOR A R CONTENTIOUS SESSION. THEN THE TIPPING POINT. , CHINA FACES PRESSURE TO REDUCE ITS CARBON EMISSIONS AS GLOBAL LEADERS NEED TO REDUCE THE CLIMATE CRISIS. AND AT THE EXTREME HISTORIC , DROUGHT ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CAUSES MAJOR DISRUPTIONS IN THE SHIPPING AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES. >> BARGE TRAFFICLONG THE MISSISSIPPI IS A HUGE BUSINESS AND MOSTLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES COMES DOWN THE RIVER AT SOME POINT SO IT HAS BEEN GREATLY LIMITED. AMNA: ALL OF THAT AND MORE ON TONIGHT'S PBS "NEWSHOUR."

♪ ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ♪ >> THE KENDEDA FUND COMMITTED TO ADVANCING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE D MEANINGFUL WORK THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERS AND IDEAS. MORE AT KENDEDA FUND.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. ♪ ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR

PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. AMNA: THIS HAS BEEN A DAY OF MOMENTOUS CHANGE IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPUBLICANS BEGIN LAYING PLANS AFR FINALLY NAILING DOWN A MAJORITY WITH AT LEAST 218 SEATS AND WITH THE LOSS OF THE HOUSE CONFIRMED THE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SURRENDERED HER LONGTIME POSITION AS DEMOCRATIC LEADER. CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT LISA DESJARDINS BEGINS OUR COVERAGE. >> THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER. REPORTER: A CHANGING OF THE GUARD. >> WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE AND OUR CAUCUS I WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION. LISA: A POIGNANT MOMENT FOR SPEAKER PELOSI AS SHE ANNOUNCES SHE WILL STEP ASIDE FROM HER LONGTIME LEADERSHIP ROLE. >> IT HAS BEEN WITH GREAT PRIDE IN MY 35 YEARS IN THE HOUSE THAT

I HAVE SEEN THIS BODY GROW MORE REFLECTIVE OF OUR GREAT NATION, OUR BEAUTIFUL NATION. [APPLAUSE] >> THE HONORABLE NANCY PELOSI AS A MEMBER FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. LISA: A TOWERING FIGURE IN AMERICAN POLITICS IN 2007 SHE BECAME THE FIRST AND SO FAR ONLY WOMAN TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER. >> NEVER WOULD I HAVE THOUGHT I HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD GO FROM HOMEMAKER TO HOUSE SPEAKER. LISA AFTER TWO DECADES IN : POWER SHE WILL STEP OUT OF LEADERSHIP BUT REMAIN IN THE HOUSE. DEMOCRATS WILL KEEP HER EXPERTISE AND VOICE. >> FOR MY DEAR HUSBAND PAUL LISA: LAST MONTH HER HUSBAND WAS ATTACKED IN THEIR HOME LEAVING HIM HOSPITALIZED. SHE HAS SAID THE VIOLENCE INFLUENCED HER DECISION. >> YOU SEE THE RHETORIC GOING ON THAT DAY AND YOU SEE WHAT THAT MAN SAID GOING INTO MY HOME. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS A PLACE IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

LISA THE ANTICIPATED AND SO : FAR SOLE CANDIDATE TO TAKE HER JOB IS DEMOCRAT JEFFRIES FROM NEW YORK. HE AND OTHER HOUSE DEMOCRATS FACE A DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE AFTER REPUBLICANS YESTERDAY CLINCHED A MAJORITY OF RACES IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND WILL TAKE OVER IN JANUARY. REPUBLICANS LIKE INCOMING HOUSE OVERSIGHT CHAIR JAMES COMER TODAY PREVIEWING NEW INVESTIGATIONS. >> WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY -- WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO HIDE AND WHY THEY ARE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT. LISA: AS THEY HEAD HOME FROM A HISTORIC WEEK, BOTH PARTIES ARE RECONFIGURING FAST WITH A NEW CAN -- WITH A NEW CONGRESS SET TO BEGIN IN SIX WEEKS. HOST: LISA JOINS ME NOW. A BIG DAY ON CAPITOL HILL. WHAT IS THE MOOD? LISA: I WILL SAY THREE WORDS EMOTIONAL, HISTORIC , AND STILL DIVIDED. THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONS FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATS AND A SENSE OF RELIEF. THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN HOVERING OVER THEM FOR YEARS, THIS IDEA OF GENERATIONAL CHANGE. BUT THERE WAS ALSO DIVIDE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HOUSE CHAMBER.

VERY FEW REPUBLICANS WERE THERE AND NONE OF THEM WERE CLAPPING EVEN GIVING GIVEAWAY LINES LIKE PRAISING THE BEAUTY OF THE CAPITAL. THOSE CLAPPING WERE DEMOCRATS. HOST: TELL US WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP. LISA QUITE A LOT. : LET'S LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP CURRENTLY. THE TOP THREE LEADERS. SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI AND MAJORITY LEADER STENY HOYER AND MAJORITY WHIP, CLYBURN. THESE THREE LEADERS, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY ENTERED CONGRESS. TWO OF THEM ELECTED IN THE 1980'S DURING THE REAGAN ERA AND CLYBURN AS PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS COMING INTO OFFICE. LET'S LOOK AT WHO IS POISED TO SUCCEED THEM. THIS IS NOT JUST THE NEXT GENERATION, BUT ACTUALLY SKIPPING TWO GENERATIONS. JEFFRIES IN THE MIDDLE, KATHERINE CLARK TO BE THNUMBER TWO AND PETER AGUILAR TO BE THE NUMBER THREE IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS WAS A DIFFICULT CHOICE ESPECIALLY FOR STENY HOYER WHO HAS WANTED TO BE SPEAKER FOR SUCH A LONG ME. HE IS STEPPING DOWN BUT LIKE PELOSI REMAINING IN THE HOUSE. CLYBURN IS REMAINING IN LEADERSHIP BUT AT A LOWER POSITION. YOU WILL HAVE THOSE THREE SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS STILL IN CONGRESS BUT THEY WILL BE ADVISING THE LEADERS WHO ARE UNTESTED. BETTER FOR THEM TO BE IN THE MINORITY UNTESTED. I ALSO WANT TO SAY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE DEMOCRATS THAT HOYER AND PELOSI HAVE A LOT OF TENSION BETWEEN THEM AND FOR DEMOCRATS I SPOKE TO TODAY THEY SAY THEY FEEL THIS TEAM IS MORE UNITED AND IT WILL BE EASIER TO GET THROUGH. HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR A SPEAKER TO STAY IN THE HOUSE? DENNIS HASTERT DID THIS IN 2007 FOR 11 MONTHS. LET'S GO BACK TO 1790, THE FIRST SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ACTUALLY STEPPED DOWN AND STAYED FOR TWO

YEARS AND WENT BACK ANFORTH IN LEADERSHIP. AMNA: THE CONTEXT FOR ALL OF THIS IS REPUBLICANS ARE NOW PREPARING TO TAKE CONTROL. WHATRE THEY PLANNING TO DO? LISA LET'S TALK ABOUT THE : MARGIN THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH. LET'S LOOK AT THAT GRAPHIC. 218 REPUBLICANS. AND A TINY AMOUNT OF SIX RACES LEFT TO BE CALLED. IN THE END I THINK WE ARE HEADING TO A MAJORITY OF FOUR OR FIVE SEATS FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS. NANCY PELOSI WORKED WITH THAT SAME KINGI MD N.AR SHE WAS ABLE TO GET SOME LEGISLATION THROUGH. ONE DIFFERENCE IS KEVIN MCCARTHY HAS SAID HE WILL NOT ALLOW PROXY VOTING. NANCY PELOSI WAS ABLE TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO VOTE FROM THEIR HOMES IF THEY WERE SICK OR HAD SOME OTHER OBLIGATION. THEY DID NOT HAVE TO BE IN TOWN. KEVIN MCCARTHY SAYS THEY HAVE TO BE AT THEIR DESKS. THE OTHER THING IS THE HOUSE HAS THE FREEDOM CAUCUS WHICH HAS FORMED AND LIVED WITH 30 OR SO MEMBERS WHICH USES THAT LEVERAGE

SPECIFICALLY TO PRESSURE THEIR LEADERS. THAT IS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC THAN WHAT PELOSI FACED. IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH HARDER FOR KEVIN WITH THOUGHT -- FOR KEVIN MCCARTHY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA. WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE TALKING ABOUT -- INVESTIGATIONS. I TALKED TO THE OVERSIGHT CHAIRMAN COMING IN, JAMES COMBER AND HE SAYS THEY WILL TAKE THEIR TIME BUILDING A CASE. WE DO NOT EXPECT HEARINGS RIGHT AWAY. THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO ROLL BACK SOME OF THE BIDEN AGENDA. WE WILL SEE SOME OF THOSE BILLS PASSED LIKE THE IRS AGENTS ADDING THE ENFORCEMENT LAYER THAT PASSED THROUGH THIS CONGRESS. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL SEE HOUSE REPUBLICANS TRIED TO ROLL BACK. AS FOR THEIR AGENDA, WE ARE WAITING FOR MORE SPECIFICS ON THEIR PROACTIVE AGENDA BUT WE HEAR PHRASES LIKE PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION. THE THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. BUDGETING, THE ECONOMY. HOW WILL THEY HANDLE THINGS LIKE THE DEBT CEILING. ALL OF THOSE ARE IN THE MIX RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL BE

WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY. AMNA: A BIG DAY ON CAPITOL HILL. MANY MORE BIG DAYS. LISA HOW LUCKY I AM TO : COVER HISTORY LIKE THIS. AMNA: HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU. ♪ VANESSA: I'M IN FOR STEPHANIE SY WITH NEWSHOUR WEST. WE WILL RETURN TO THE FULL PROGRAM AFTER THE LATEST HEADLINES. THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD IS ALSO UNDERWAY IN LOS ANGELES WITH VOTERS ELECTING A WOMAN AS MAYOR FOR THE FIRST TIME. DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN KAREN BASS WILL ALSO BE THE SECOND BLACK MAR. SHE WAS DECLARED THE WINNER ON WEDNESDAY, DEFEATING A BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPER WHO CALLED FOR ADDING POLICE AND REMOVING HOMELESS CAMPSITES. IN UKRAINE, AIR RAID SIRENS BLARED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY AS RUSSIAN MISSILES STRUCK MORE POWER AND GAS PLANTS AND CIVILIANS. AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED WITH TWO DOZEN OTHERS HURT. AMATEUR VIDEO CAPTURED ONE

MISSILE STRIKE IN A CENTRAL CITY DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. THE BLAST WOUNDED AT LEAST 14 PEOPLE. A DUTCH COURT CONVICTED THREE MEN OF MURDER AFTER SHOOTING DOWN A PASSENGER JETLINER OVER EASTERN UKRAINE IN 2014. ALL 298 PEOPLE ON BOARD WERE KILLED WHEN THE MALAYSIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT WAS HIT IA -- BY A RUSSIAN MISSILE. RELATIVES OF THE DEAD WELCOMED TODAY'S VERDICT AFTER A TRIAL AT -- AFTER A TRIAL LASTING TWO YEARS. >> IT IS A DIFFICULT DAY. SOME FAMILIES MAY FEEL SOME CLOSURE. I HOPE THEY DO. IT IS A DIFFICULT THING GOING EACH DAY WONDERING WHY THIS HAPPENED. VANESSA THE RUSSIANS AND A : UKRAINIAN RUBBLE WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON BUT THEY WERE TRIED IN ABSENTIA AND ARE BELIEVED TO BE AND RUSSIA. THE KREMLIN HAS DENIED

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK. THFAMILY OF AND A GYPSY AND DISSIDENT SAYS HIS HEALTH HAS DRAMATICALLY WORSENED ALL OWING A HUNGER STRIKE. THEY WERE ALLOWED TO VISIT HIM TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY AONTH. THEY SAID HE ENDED THE HUNGER STRIKE AFTER COLLAPSING IN WHAT THEY CALLED A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE. HE HAS BEEN IMPRISONED FOR MOST OF THE LAST DECADE. THE U.N. CLIMATE CONFERENCE IN EGYPT HAS ONE DAY LEFT OFFICIALLY AT LEAST AND NEGOTIATORS SAY THEY ARE STILL FAR FROM A FINAL AGREEMENT. TODAY PROTESTERS MARCHED IN SUPPORT OF POOR COUNTRIES PUSHING FOR COMPENSATION FROM RICHER POLLUTING NATIONS. AT THE CONFERENCE, THE U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL SAID THE ISSUE HAS DIVIDED THE WORLD IN TWO H ALVES BUT HE PRESSED THE NEED FOR AN AGREEMENT. >> IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY A BREAKDOWN IN TRUST BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH AND BETWEEN DEVELOPED AND EMERGING ECONOMIES. BUT THIS IS NO TIME FOR FINGER-POINTING.

THE BLAME GAME IS A RECIPE FOR MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION. VANESSA: EGYPT AS THE HOST COUNTRY PRESENTED A 20 PAGE DRAFT FOR FINAL APPROVAL BUT OPPONENTS SAID IT WAS TOO LONG AND VAGUE. MEANWHILE ASIAN-PACIFIC LEADERS , BEGAN GATHERING IN BGKOK, HIGHLAND -- IN BANGKOK, THAILAND, TODAY R A REGIONAL SUMMIT AS THE CHINESE LEADER ISSUED A NEW WARNING. PRESIDENT XI CALLED FOR REJECTING UNILATERALIST ACTIONS. HE SAID NO ATTEMPT TO WAGE A NEW COLD WAR WILL EVER BE ALLOWED BY THE PEOPLE. WE HAVE JUST LEARNED NORTH KOREA HAS FIRED A BALLISTIC MISSILE INTO THE SEA, ACCORDI TO SOUTH KOREA'S MILITARY. THE LAUNCH COMES A DAY AFTER THE NORTH RESUMED THE LIST WEAPONS TEST. FEDERAL REGULATORS HAVE APPROVED A PLAN TO DEMOLISH FOUR AGING DAMS ON THE KLAMATH RIVER IN

CALIFORNIA. THIS CLEARS THE WAY TO RETURN THE LOWER HALF OF THE RIVER TO A FREE-FLOWING STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A CENTURY. THAT WOULD REOPEN HUNDREDS OF MILES OF SALMON HABITAT. THIS WAS THE LAST MAJOR REGULATORY HURDLE FOR THE $500 MILLION PROJECT. STILL TO COME, CHINA FACES PRESSURE TO REDUCE ITS CARBON EMISSIONS AMID A GLOBAL SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE. A PUERTO RICAN MUSICIAN CONDEMNS COLONIZATION AND HER ISLANDS POLITICAL LIMBO ON HER NEW ALBUM. AND WE REMEMBER THE LIFE AND CAREER OF LONGTIME NEWSHOUR COMMENTATOR MICHAEL GARSON, AND MUCH MORE. ANNOUNCER: THIS IS THE PBS "NEWSHOUR" FROM WETA STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON AND FROM THE WALTER CRONKITE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. AMNA: THIS WEEK U.S. AND CHINESE CLIMATE NEGOTIATORS MET FORMALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS AT THE 27TH GLOBAL CLIMATE SUMMIT KNOWN AS COP. BEIJING HAD BLOCKED BILATERAL

DISCUSSIONS IN AUGUST BUT THEY RESUMED AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH PRESIDENT XI. NICK SCHIFRIN REPORTS ON U.S.-CHINA CLIMATE COLLABORATION ON THEIR OUTSIZED IMPACT. NICK: WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMAT ANGE, CHINA IS BOTH FIREFIGHTER AND ARSONIST. BEIJING PRODUCES MORE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD COMBINED. BUT ALSO MORE SOLAR POWER, WIND POWR AND ELECTRIC CARS THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY. SO WHEN CLIMATE NEGOTIATORS TRY TO AGREE ON MEASURES TO SAVE THE PLAN AND CAP FORMAL GLOBIN GLOBAL WARMING, ALL EYES WERE ON JOHN KERRY AND HIS FIRST MEETING WITH EMITTER NUMBER ONE WHICH AFTER THE MEETING DID NOT SEEM EAGER TO TALK TO THE PRESS. >> CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES ARE THE WORLD'S LARGEST ECONOMIES AND THE LARGEST EMITTERS OF GREENHOUSE GASES SO WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO COME

TOGETHER ON CLIMATE CHANGE, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. REPORTER: BRENDA LEWIS DIRECTS GEORGETOWN'S INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM AND HAS STUDIED CHINA'S CLIMATE POLICIES FOR DECADES AND SHE SAYS CHINA IS CUTTG OFF CLIMATE DISCUSSIONS AFTER NAY PELOSI'S AUGUST TAIWAN VISIT PREVENTED COLLABORATION FOR CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING AND MUTUAL PLEDGES TO REDUCE METHANE. >> WE ARE CURRENTLY ON PATH TO A 3.6 DEGREE WORLD. WE NEED TO GET MUCH CLOSER TO A 1.5-2 DEGREE WORLD AND CHINA IS PIVOTAL TO OUR ABILITY TO LIMIT EMISSIONS TO AVOID THE MOST DANGEROUS IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. NICK: BEIJING RESISTS U.S. CALLS TO ACCELERATE ITS PLANS TO CAP CO2 EMISSIONS AND BECOME CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2060. IT IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST CONSUMER AND PRODUCER OF COAL AND IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IT HAS , INCREASED COAL PRODUCTION. >> WE SAW XI'S SPEECH, CLIMATE

CHANGE IS IMPORTANT BUT ENERGY SECURITY IS MORE IMPORTANT. NICK: REBECCA NADINE IS THE LEAD ON CLIMATE AND CHINA AND ADVISED CHINA'S GOVERNMENT ON CLIMATE ADAPTATION. SHE SAYS CHINA BELIEVES IN A GREEN FUTURE AND WANTS TO LEAD THE GREEN TECHNOLOGY MARKET BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF LOSING PROFITS OR JOBS. >> THAT RELIANCE ON COAL AS A TRANSITION FUEL WILL STAY AND CHINA'S ENERGY MIX FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. >> AS OUR LAND DISAPPEARS WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BECOME THE WORLD'S FIRST DIGITAL NATION. REPORTER: BUT THE NATION'S MOST VULNERABLE DEMANDS FASTER CHANGE. TUVALA USED A DIGITAL RECREATION OF THE FATE THEY FEAR, THEIR ISLAND NATION SUBSUMED BY THE RISING SEA. DEVELOPING NATIONS ARE DEMANDING MONEY TO ADAPT THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE TO REDUCE FUTURE EMISSIONS BUT THEY ARE ALSO PUSHING THE RICH TO PAY FOR THE LOSS AND DAMAGE OF CURRENT

CLIMATE DISASTERS. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THE ALLIANCE OF SMALL ISLAND STATES INCLUDE IN THE RICH CHINA. ONE PRIME MINISTER TOLD REPORTERS THAT WE ALL KNOW THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, INDIA, THEY ARE MAJOR POLLUTERS AND THE POLLUTER MUST PAY. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY FREE PASS FOR ANY COUNTRY. >> CHINA CLIMATE ENVOY SAID LAST WEEK THAT CHINA WAS WILLING TO HELP BUT BEIJING RULES OUT THE CASH PLEDGES MADE BY SOME OTHER LEADING EMITTERS. >> CHINA IS SAYING WE ARE A HUGE EMITTER BUT WE ONLY HAVE THESE EMISSIONS BECAUSE WE WERE THE MANUFACTURING HUB FOR THE DEVELOPED WORLD. REPORTER: CHINA IS THE WORLD'S MANUFACTURING HUB FOR SOLAR CONTROLLING OR THAN 80% TO THE SUPPLY CHAIN BUT MUCH OF THE MANUFACTURING OCCURS IN A PLACE WHERE THE U.S. ACCUSES CHINA OF USING FORCED LABOR. THE U.S. HAS BANNED IMPORTS AND HOPES TO CREATE A DOMESTIC

SOLAR ENERGY MANUFACTURING SUPPLY CHAIN. >> IF WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE SURE OUR SUPPLY CHAINS ARE SECURE AND DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED, WE MAY BE DOING SO AT THE EXPENSE OF SLOWING THE LOW CARBON TRANSITION. NICK: AND YET, OVERALL, THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO WORK WITH CHINA ON CLIMATE BUT AS THE U.S. CONFRONTS BEIJING ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND MILITARY THREATS TO TAIWAN AND TRIES TO RESTRICT CHINA'S ACCESS WTERN TECHNOLOGY, CHINA RESISTS COLLABORATION. AS A CHINESE OFFICIAL PUT IT -- IF YOU ARE SLAPPING ME IN THE FACE, I AM NOT GOING TO BE YOUR FRIEND. >> THE U.S. AND CHINA WORKING TOGETHER ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN TERMS OF ACCELERATING FINANCING AND ACCELERATING THE MOVE TOWARDS NET ZERO FOR BOTH COUNTRIES, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE TENSIOIN THAT BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. >> AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE

CHINA'S SPECIAL ENVOY. REPORTER: THERE IS NO CLIMATE DECOUPLING. BUT NOW THE U.S. AND CHINA HAVE , TO TURN RAPPROCHEMENT INTO LEADERSHIP REQUIRED TO SAVE THE PLANET. THE PBS NEWSHOUR, IM NICK FOUR SCHIFRIN. ♪ AMNA: WHILE THE HISTORIC DROUGHT IN THE AMERICAN WEST GETS MOST OF OUR ATTENTION, THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY IS SUFFERING AS WELL. UP AND DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL HAS CONSTRICTED ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR ECONOMIC THOROUGHFARES WHICH COULD AFFECT CONSUMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS WILLIAM BRANGHAM REPORTS, SOME AREAS ALONG THE RIVER ARE REPORTING THEIR LOWEST WATER LEVELS IN DECADES. WILLIAM: THIS DRIED SANDY EXPANSE IS NOT A DESERT BUT THE RIVERBED OF THE MISSISSIPPI. IT IS LAYING BARE IN THE SUN AS THE MIGHTY RIVS WATERS HAVE DRIED UP.

IT IS THE SAME IN MULTIPLE STATES. IN TENNESSEE, BOATS ONCE FLOATING IN WATER ARE NOW LOCKED IN MUD. IN LOUISIANA, THE RECEDING WATER HAS REVEALED A CENTURY-OLD SUNKEN SHIP. TOWER ROCK IN MISSOURI, NORMALLY AN ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOWING RIVER IS NOW ACCESSIBLE BY FOOT OR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE. THE MISSISSIPPI IS NORMALLY ONE OF THE BUSIEST CARGO WATERWAYS IN AMERICA, MOVING ROUGHLY 500 MILLION TONS OF GOODS EVERY YEAR. MORE THAN HALF OF ALL U.S. GRAIN EXPORTS ARE MOVED ON THIS WATER SUPERHIGHWAY. BUT THIS DROUGHT WHICH CONSTRICTS THE DEPTH AND THE WIDTH OF THEIVER HAS CAUSED TRAFFIC JAMS. BY SOME ESTIMATES THE FLOW HAS BEEN CUT BY 45%. ALL OF WHICH COULD COST THE ECONOMY $20 BILLION IN DAMAGES AND LOSSES. >> EVERY TIME YOU LOSE A FOOT OF DRAFT ON A BARGE, THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 6000 BUSHELS OF

SOYBEANS. REPORTER: LOU IS THE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ST. LOUIS DISTRICT. HE OVERSEES DREDGING OPERATIONS THERE, REMOVING SEDIMENT FROM THE RIVERBED TO WIDEN OR DEEPEITS CHANNEL. HE SAYS WITH THIS LACK OF RAINFALL IT IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO KNOW WHERE TO DREDGE NEXT. >> BASED ON THE FORECAST YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE NEXT PROBLEM AREA THAT YOU HAVE TO HIT BEFORE ONE OF THEM TURNS INTO A CHANNEL CLOSURE. SO YOU GET THAT OFF THE FORECAST. IT IS REALLY AN ANALYSIS OF WHEN IT WILL BECOME AN ISSUE AND HOW DO YOU GET THERE BEFORE IT BECOMES AN ISSUE. NICK: AS A RIVERS FRESHWATER SHRINKS, SALTWATER FROM THE GULF WHICH IS UPSTREAM THREATENING THE DRINKING WATER. MAYORS OF TOWNS UP AND DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI ARE ASKING FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO WORSEN THROUGH THE WINTER. I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH ONE OF THOSE MAYORS, JIM STRICKLAND. THE MAYOR OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US

TODAY. I KNOW YOU HAVE LIVED MOST OF YOUR LIFE IN MEMPHIS. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RIVER THIS LOW BEFORE? >> NO, I HAVE WORKED DOWNTOWN FOR 35 YEARS AND USUALLY WITH SOME KIND OF VIEW OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT WITH THE SOIL AND THE SAND AND THE DIRT SO PREVALENT. SO OFTEN WE SEE FLOODING SITUATIONS. THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS LOW AT ONLY VISUALLY BUT I HEAR SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT FROM THE FOLKS THAT OPERATE OUR PORTS. REPORTER: WHEN THE RIVER IS LOW, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUR CITY AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS? >> IT NARROWS THE DEPTH OF THE BARGES THAT SHIP GOODS. NORMALLY IT IS ABOUT 14 FEET DEEP. NOW, THEY HAVE TO NARROW IT TO ABOUT SEVEN FEET AND SOMETIMES 10 BUT THAT IS BASICALLY HALF OF THE AMOUNT OF AREA TO SHIP GOODS WHICH DOUBLES THE SHIPPING COST BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAVE TWO

BARGES INSTEAD OF ONE ORIND SOME OTHER WAY TO SHIP THEIR GOODS. AND BARGE TRAFFIC IS A HUGE BUSINESS AND MOSTLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES COMES DOWN THE RIVER AT SOME POINT. IT INCREASES THE COST TO THE SHIPPING COMPANIES WHICH ENDS UP INCREASING THE COST TO YOU AND ME AT THE GROCERY STORE. NICK: DOES THAT HAVE A MORE PRACTICAL IMPACT ON YOUR CITY ITSELF BEING THAT YOU ARE LITERALLY ON THE RIVER? >> NOT NECESSARILY CITY GOVERNMENT BUT FOR OUR EMPLOYERS. OUR DOCKS EMPLOY A LOT OF PEOPLE. THERE IS LESS FOR THEM TO DO. I AM NOT SURE THEY HAVE LAID OFF ANYONE BUT CERTAINLY THEIR PROFITS HAVE DECREASED AND ESPECIALLY WHAT THEY CALL BULK TRANSPORTATION WHICH IS STEEL, GRAINS. THEY ARE MUCH HARDER TO SHIP NOW THAN LIQUIDS. LIQUIDS ARE GOING OK BUT THE HARD ITEMS ARE ALMOST OUT OF BUSINESS. NICK: YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THAT YOU AND ALL CITIES ALONG

THE RIVER HAVE GOTTEN ACCUSTOMED TO FLOODS. BUT THAT HAVING A DUGHT IS A MUCH DIFFERENT THING AND YOU DO NOT HAVE T TOOLS TO DEAL WITH THAT. EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, WHAT KINDS OF TOOLS DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO TRY TO LIVE IN A DROUGHT STRICKEN RIVER? >> DROUGHTS HAPPEN LESS FREQUENTLY THAN FLOODS, OR AT LEAST IN MY ADULT LIFETIME. BUT THE FEDERAL RESOURCES ARE PLENTIFUL WHEN THERE IS FLOODING. THEY WILL COMPENSATE HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENTS FOR THE EXPENSES THAT WE LOSE. DROUGHT, THERE REALLY IS NO COMPENSATION AT ALL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL SO THESE BUSINESSES ARE REALLY TAKING IT ON THE CHIN. WE REALLY NEED A NATIONAL POLICY GOVERNING DROUGHTS. FRANKLY, BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED SO INFREQUENTLY, I'M SURE IT HAS

NOT MADE THE RADAR OF MOST OFFICIALS BUT IT SURE SEEMS IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AND WITH GLOBAL WARMING I THINK WE NEED TO BE PREPARED. THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS SO IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO COMMERCE BUT FOR RECREATION AND THE NORTHERN PART OF THE MISSISSIPPI GETS THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM IT SO IT IS AN IMPORTANT ASSET THAT NEEDS MORE FEDERAL ATTENTION. NICK: AS WE KNOW, A WARMING WORLD WILL MAKE THESE UNPREDICTABLE EVENTS MORE UNPREDICTABLE AND IT COULD BE A DROUGHT ONE YEAR AND A FLOOD THE NEXT YEAR OR SOME MIXTURE OF THE TWO. AS A MAYOR WITH A PLAN FOR NOT AND YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR THAT? >> WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES EVEN IF YOU PLANNED FOR IT. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? WE REALLY NEED THE FEDERAL INTERVENTION. THERE ARE 10 STATES ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 102 CITIES AND MAYORS INVOLVED IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND WE NEED A REGIONAL, NATIONAL POLICY ON

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. IT IS A LIFEBLOOD NOT ONLY TO MIDDLE AMERICA BUT TO THE OLE COUNTRY. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO RAISE THE PROFILE TO GET THAT ATTENTION AND I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE RECENTLY HAS GOTTEN A LOT MORE ATTENTION AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE FORECASTERS ARE NOT PROMISING OVER THE WINTER THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH SNOW OR RAIN TO REALLY RAISE THE LEVEL SIGNIFICANTLY OF THE RIVER. WE ARE HOPING FOR A RAINY SPRING. NICK: MAYOR JIM STRICKLAND FROM MEMPHIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. ♪ AMNA: NOW HOW A CRIMINAL JUSTICE , REPORTER IS USING HER OWN BACKGROUND TO BUILD TRUST WITH

MEN AND WOMEN BEHIND BARS AND TO HIGHLIGHT CONDITIONS INSIDE PRISONS. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT CHRISTOPHER BOOKER REPORTS FROM TEXAS AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES "SEARING FOR JUSTICE." REPORTER: IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IT IS A NIGHT TO CELEBRATE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM. >> SOMETIMES IT IS THOSE INVESTIGATING JOURNALTS THAT ARE THE ONLY MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT THAT EXISTS. REPORTER: AND A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM A RISING STAR. 38 YEAR OLD CARRIE BLANKENSHIP. >> FOUR TEXAS PRISONERS HAVE DIED IN FIRES IN THE LAST YEAR AND WE WOULD KNOW OF NONE OF THEM IF NOT FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND BRAVE SOURCES THAT COME FORWARD TAKING RISKS. REPORTER: SHE COVERS PRISONS FOR THE MARSHALL PROJECT. HER PORTING HAS LED TO REAL CHANGE FOR PEOPLE SERVING TIME. IN 2019 HER EXAMINATION OF THE CONDITIONS INSIDE WOMEN'S PRISONS HELP THE WASHINGTON POST WIN AN AWARD AND THIS 2018 INVESTIGATION INTO DENTAL CARE FOR THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE

SPURRED TEXAS OFFICIALS TO START PROVIDING DENTURES TO INCARCERATED PEOPLE. >> I DID NOT THINK MY REPORTING WOULD HAVE THAT MUCH IMPACT. REPORTER: BUT IN 2010 IT WAS HER OWN STORY TAKING HEADLINES. WHILE A SENIOR AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY SHE WAS ARRESTED IN ITHACA NEW YORK WITH SIX OUNCES OF HEROIN. >> IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THAT DAY WAS A DIFFERENT PERSON. I REMEMBER IT IN THE FIRST PERSON BUT AT THIS POINT IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT WAS STILL ME ANYMORE. REPORTER: LIKE A CHARACTER ALMOST. SHE WAS KICKED OUT OF CORNELL AND CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. DID THE THREAT OF ARREST OR PRISON EVER ENTER YOUR MIND WHILE YOU WERE USING? >> FUNDAMENTALLY, IN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING AS DANGEROUS AS SHOOTING UP HEROIN EVERY DAY YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT ODDS DO NOT APPLY TO YOU. YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON THAT WILL GET ARRESTED OR OVERDOSE AND DIE. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A ADDICTION, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE

THAT THESE EVENTUALITIES ARE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. REPORTER: SHE SAYS SHE FIRST BEGAN USING DRUGS AS A TEENAGER. GROWING UP IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA WHERE SHE EXCELLED AT SCHOOL AND WAS A COMPETITIVE FIGURE SKATER WITH DREAM'S OF MAKING IT TO THE OLYMPICS. >> I HAD AN INTENSE PERSONALITY AND I STILL DO BUT A SPORT LIKE SKATING CAN DRAW IT OUT OF SOMEONE. REPORT: HOW SO? >> THE PERSISTENCE THAT SUCCESS IN COMPETITIVE SKATING REQUIRES IS MIND BLOWING. I STARTED WORKING ON A DOUBLE AXLE IN SIXTH GRADE SO EVERY DAY I WAS FAILING HUNDREDS OF TIMES AT THE SAME THING. I THINK ABOUT ABOUT HOW THAT AMOUNT OF FAILURE EVERY DAY THROUGH ALL OF MIDDLE SCHOOL MUST SHAPE YOUR PERSONALITY. REPORTER: BY HIGH SCHOOL SHE SAYS SHE WAS STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSIONND AN EATING DISORDER. AT 17 SHE SPLIT WITH HER SKATING PARTNER AND STARTED TO UNRAVEL. >> WHEN I DID NOT HAVE THIS ONE THING TO POUR MY SOUL INTO, I WENT FROM BEING DEPRESSED TO

VERY ACTIVELY WANTING TO DIE. I THINK I SMOKED POT ONCE, DID ECSTASY ON AND WENT STRAIGHT TO HEROIN. REPORTER: SHE BECAME HOMELESS. AFTER HER ARREST IN 2010 SHE SPENT TWO YEARS BEHIND BARS. SHE DETAILS THIS IN HER BRUTALLY HONEST MEMOIR WHICH WAS PUBLISD EARLIER THIS YEAR. >> I REALIZED THAT IF I WAS TELLING THE STORY FIRST I COULD TELL IT ON MY OWN TERMS. REPORTER: THROUGHOUT THE BOOK YOU MAKE REFERENCE TO HOW YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BEHIND BARS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN WORSE? >> I THINK MY ENTIRE REACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM WOULD'VE GONE DIFFERENTLY IF I WAS A PERSON OF COLOR. YOU COULD SEE THAT AT ALMOST EVERY STAGE OF THE PROCESS. I THINK I WOULD'VE GONE INTO THE INITIAL ARREST WITH PROBABLY A LONGER CRIMINAL RECORD EVEN FOR THE SAME BEHAVIORS. BUT THEN WHEN YOU GET IN, STATISTICALLY, PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE PUT INTO SOLITARY WHICH MAKES IT HARDER

TO MAINTAIN TIES WITH YOUR FAMILY WHICH CAN HELP YOU REINTEGRATE WHEN YOU GET OUT. AND THEN WHEN YOU DO GET OUT AFTER BEING SENTENCED FOR MORE TIME AND DOING MORE OF THAT TIME, IF YOU ARE A PERSON OF COLOR, YOU ARE GOING BACK INTO DEALING WITH THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE OF PRISON. REPORTER: WHILE LOCKED UP SHE WAS ABLE TO KICK HER ADDICTION BUT SHE SAID IT WAS NOT BECAUSE SHE WAS INCARCERATED. >> PRISONS ARE DRENCHED IN DRUGS. WHEN I GOT TO PRISON I HAD SOMEONE TELL ME THEY COULD GET ME HEROIN AND A NEEDLE IF I WANTED. BUT WHEN I WAS ARRESTED I WAS READY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THAT DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH PRISON. REPORTER: IN 2012 SHE WAS RELEASED AND SHORTLY AFTER STARTED WRITING FOR THE LOCAL ITHACA PAPER. TWO YEARS LATER SHE GRADUATED FROM CORNELL WITH A MAJOR IN ENGLISH BUT HER BREAK CAME WHEN SHE WAS HIRED BY THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE. >> SHE WAS THE HARDEST WORKING PERSON IN THE NEWSROOM PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO PROVE

HERSELF. >> NANCY BARNES IS THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR. SHE SAID SHE SOON BEGAN TO COVER THE TEXAS PRISON SYSTEM. >> SHE UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT FELT KE TO LIVE IN THAT WORLD. AND SHE WANTED TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THAT FOR OTHERS. REPORTER: THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE REMAINS A CENTRAL FOCUS OF HER WORK SAYS SUSAN, THE EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE MARSHALL PROJECT. >> TO GIVE ONE EXAMPLE IN EARLY MARCH OF 2020 BEFORE THE LOCKDOWNS IN NEW YORK CITY, SHE SAID, YOU CANNOT SOCIALLY ISOLATE IN PRISON OR JAIL. ON MARCH 6 SHE AND A COLLEAGUE WROTE A PIECE ABOUT THIS THAT I THINK WAS A FIRST TO MAKE THE POINT THAT COVID WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DESTRUCTIVE FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE. >> I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS LAST SENTENCE. REPORTER: HER GOOD FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE CHRIS TOMLINSON SAYS BECAUSE OF HER PAST HER WORK IS OFTEN UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DISMISS HER AND SAY, WE CANNOT BELIEVE HER BECAUSE SHE IS A

FELON AND FOR HER, THAT MEANS DOUBLING DOWN ON ACCURACY, SHE OVER REPORTS EVERYTHIN >> IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE JUDGE WITHDRAWS THE DATE AND NO ONE APPEALS IT. REPORTER: TODAY SHE OFTEN VISITS PRISONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SHE HAS DONE DOZENS OF INTERVIEWS WITH MEN ON DEATH ROW. >> THIS WAS A MAN THAT WAS EXECUTED IN TEXAS AND HE SENT THIS TO ME A YEAR OR TWO AGO. REPORTER: SHE IS CONSTANTLY RECEIVING MAIL, USUALLY FROM GRATEFUL PRISONERS. >> NOT EVERY STORY I WRITE WILL HAVE IMPACT OR MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT I CAN TELL THEIR STOES AT A BARE MINIMUM AND THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO PEOPLE BEHIND BARS. TWO PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE DON'T HAVE VOICES. REPORTER: FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I AM CHRISTOPHER BOOKER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. ♪ AMNA: AS THE 2022 LATIN GRAMMYS ARE HELD TONIGHT, WE LOOK AT A

LEADING VOICE IN PUERTO RICO AND BEYOND. JEFFREY BROWN TALKS TO A LATIN GRAMMY WINNER WHO IS ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES OF HER HOMELAND STILL SUFFERING FROM THE RECENT HURRICANE FIONA AND LACKING TRUE REPRESENTATION IN U.S. POLITICS. IT IS PART OF OUR ARTS AND CULTURE SERIES, CANVAS. ♪ REPORTER: IN HER SONG, WHERE NO ONE ELSE BREATHES, THE PUERTO RICAN SINGER SINGS OF A PEOPLE LONG SILENCED NOW AWAKENED. HER LANGUAGE IS ELUSIVE AND POETIC BUT THE TARGETS ARE CLEAR, POLITICAL CORRUPTION, OUTSIDE INDIFFERENCE OR WORSE. IT IS WHAT SHE SAYS WAS EXPOSED FOR ALL TO SEE WHEN HURRICANE MARIA DEVASTATED HER ISLAND IN 2017. >> IT WAS AS IF THEY JUST OPENED UP A CURTAIN AND SHOWED HOW FRAGILE THE COUNTRY ALREADY WAS.

IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR US EVEN THOUGH IT WAS VERY SAD AND TERRIBLE. IT IN A WAY MADE US STRONGER. REPORTER: WE MET RECENTLY AT THE BROOKLYN CLUB PUBLIC RECORDS WHERE SHE HELD A RELEASE PARTY FOR HER ALBUM, NO WAY OR NOT AT ALL. HER SONGS ARE A MIX OF THE PERSONAL AND POLITICAL. ♪ ALSO A MIX OF DIFFERENT GENRES AND RHYTHMS. GIVING A TASTE OF THE 33-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN SURROUNDED BY MUSIC HER WHOLE LIFE. >> I AM THE LITTLE ONE FROM THE HOUSE THAT I GREW UP IN, SO I KIND OF ABSORBED ALL OF THE MUSIC THAT WAS HAPPENING IN MY FAMILY. REPORTER: SHE S FIRST KNOWN AS THE LITTLE SISTER. SHE BEGAN PERFORMING AROUND THE WORLD AT AGE 16 WITH HER TWO

OLDER BROTHERS. THEY WERE A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL HIP-HOP GROUP. CALLE 13. THEY WON THE MOST LATIN GRAMMYS IN HISTORY. ♪ REPOER: SHE WORKED WITH THEM FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS BEFORE GOING OFF ON HER OWN VERY DIFFERENT DIRECTION. >> IT WAS SO INTENSE FOR ME IN THE BEST AND BEAUTIFUL WAY POSSIBLE. I WANTED TO START OFF WITH SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT. FOR ME, IT WAS PART OF MY ROOTS, PART OF WHAT I KNEW I ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY WITH BUT I KNEW SOME PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED. THEY WERE EXPECTING MORE HIP-HOP. I WAS NOT FEELING LIKE THAT. I REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ♪ REPORTER: HER FIRST ALBUM FEATURED TRADITIONAL SONGS

INCLUDING BOLEROS, A STYLE THAT ORIGINATED IN CUBA IN THE 19TH CENTURY THAT SHE ALSO GREW UP WITH. HER SECOND ALBUM WAS NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY. HER LATEST WAS WRITTEN DURING THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THE PANDEMIC AND OFFERS A WIDER MIX OF SOUNDS. ♪ REPORTER: BUT ALL WITH A MORE EMPOWERED WOMAN'S VOICE INCLUDING THE BOLEROS. >> I TRIED TO PLAY WITH FINDING A WAY TO KEEP LISTENING TO BOLEROS BUT MORE IN THE WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN TODAY WHERE THE CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFERENT AND THE MINDSET PROBABLY HAS BEEN TRANSFORMING A LITTLE. OR FALTHSOSOE ECS ES M IRYMO NAH HELPING TO BRING CHANGE TO PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. TERRITORY

THAT IS NEITHER STATE NOR INDEPENDENT COUNTRY. ITS CITIZENS WITHOUT REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS OR THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENCY. IT REMAINS A COLONY TO HER AND OTHERS, ONE THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED AS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MARIA WHERE THE RESPONSE FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THE PUERTO RICO GOVERNMENT WAS SLOW AND INEFFECTIVE. >> PEOPLE EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE UNITED STAS BUT I FEEL WE HAD A VERY BAD TREATMENT FROM THEM WHEN WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CRISIS. BUT ALSO THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT AS WELL. SO NOW WE ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND PUT A LOT OF BROKEN PIECES TOGETHER TO SEE WHERE DO WE WANT PUERTO RICO TO GO. REPORTER: IN 2019 SHE AND OTHER LEADING WHERE TO RICAN INCLUDING THE SINGER THAT GOES BY THE NAME

OF BAD BUNNY TOOK PART IN PROTAGNSMASSIVE POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND THE BOTCHED RESPONSE TO MARIA AT LEADING TO THE RESIGNATION OF PUERTO RICO'S GOVERNOR. >> IT WAS INCREDIBLE, HISTORIC. WE DO NOT NEED TO SETTLE FOR LESS AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN OUR BIGGEST MISTAKE. AND I THINK WE HAVE BEEN SETTLING FOR TINY PIECES FOR TOO LONG AS IF THAT IS WHAT WE DESERVE. REPORTER: DID IT CHANGE THE WAY YOU SAW YOUR MUSIC AND WHAT YOU WANTED YOUR MUSIC TO DO? >> OBVIOUSLY, MY BEST WAY TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM FEELING IS COMPOSING AND MAKING MUSIC SO IT HEALS ME AND AT THE SAME TIME I SHARE HUMBLY HOW I SEE THINGS AND HOW I FEEL IT. I TRIED TO FIND NOT NECESSARILY A SOLUTION BUT AN EMPOWERMENT IN A WAY BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IN

PUERTO RICO THAT IS WHAT WE NEED THE MOST. REPORTER: SHE IS SCHEDULED TO START A U.S. TOUR IN MARCH. FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I AM JEFFREY BROWN IN NEW YORK. AMNA: THE NEWSHOUR LOST A FRIEND TODAY. LONGTIME WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST CHAEL GERSON REGULARLY FILLED IN ON OUR FRIDAY POLITICAL ANALYST SEGMENT DIED THIS MORNING AT 58 YEARS OLD. WE TAKE A MINUTE NOW TO LOOK AT HIS LIFELONG CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE. >> THE ANALYSIS OF SHIELDS AND GERSON. HOST: HE BROUGHT HIS DEEP FAITH AND ENDURING BELIEF IN THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT TO MANY DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS AT THE NEWSHOUR TABLE CARRYING WITH HIM DECADES OF WORK AS A PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHWRITER, POLICYMAKER AND COLUMNIST. >> POLITICS IS UNDERMINING AND INVADING THE CREDIBILITY OF

RELIGION ITSELF. HOST: BORN IN BELMAR, NEW JERSEY IN 1964, HE WAS RAISED AND STUDIED IN THE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN FAITH WITH A DEGREE IN UROLOGY FROM WHEATON COLLEGE. IN 1999, HE JOINED THE GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND IN 2001 BECAME THE CHIEF SPEECHWRITER SHAPING AND SELLING PRESIDENT BUSH'S POLICIES AT HOME AND ABROAD. >> OUR GRIEF HAS TURNED TO ANGER. REPORTER: AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS, HE PENNED SPEECHES TO HEAL AND UNITE THE NATION , WRITING THIS FOR SEPTEMBER 14 -- >> THIS WORLD HE CREATED IS OF MORAL DESIGN, GRIEF, TRAGEDY AND HATRED ARE ONLY FOR A TIME. GOODNESS, REMEMBRANCE, AND LOVE HAVE NO END. AND THE LORD OF LIFE HOLDS ALL WHO DIE AND ALL WHO MOURN. HOST: AT TIMES HIS SPEECHES

PROMOTED THE DEBUNKED CLAIMS THAT LED TO THE IRAQI WAR THAT ULTIMATELY COST THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN AND IRAQI LIVES. REFLECTING ON THEIR PARTNERSHIP PRESIDENT BUSH SAID HIS BRILLIANT MIND WAS ENHANCED BY HIS BIG HEART. HE CALLED HIM A KEY CATALYST BEHIND THE ADMINISTRATION'S INTERNATIONAL AIDS PREVENTION PROGRAM WHICH IS CREDITED WITH SAVING 20 MILLION LIVES. BUSH REMEMBERED HIS URGING -- IF WE DON'T DO THIS IT WILL BE A SOURCE OF NATIONAL SHAME. HE LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2006 AND JOINED WASHINGTON POST AS A COLUMNIST WRITING WITH PASSION ABOUT POLITICSRELIGION AND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT. >> I HAVE SEEN WHAT A PRESIDENT LOOKS LIKE AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS. HOST: HE SAW THE RISE OF DONALD TRUMP AS ANTITHETICAL TO HIS OWN CHRISTIAN AND CONSERVATIVE VALUES AND BECAME A VOCAL CRITIC OF HIS OWN PARTY. >> WE ARE DEALING WITH A MAN WHO HAS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE

PRESIDENCY. HE IS NOT QUALIFIED MORALLY, BECAUSE HE PICKS ON MINORITY GROUPS. HOST: HE URGED EVANGELICALS TO REJECT DONALD TRUMP INCLUDING IN IN A PURITANS ON THE NEWSHOU WEEKS BEFORE THE 2016 ELECTION ALONGSIDE THE LATE MARK SHIELDS. >> I THINK EVANGELICALS HAVE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARGUED THAT CHARACTER COUNTS DURING THE BILL CLINTON YEARS. AND NOW, CHARACTER APPARENTLY DOES NOT COUNT AT ALL. I THINK THERE IS A DEEP TENSION HERE. HOST: IN SEPTEMBER IN HIS FINAL APPEARANCE ON OUR PROGRAM HE AGAIN CONDEMNED HIS PARTY, SPEAKING ON ITS APPROACH TO IMMIGRATION. >> THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIAN IN THEIR POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND ONE OF THE MOST BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OUR RELIGIOUS ETHICS IS WELCOMING THE STRANGER. HOW CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN REPUBLICAN IDEOLOGY RIGHT NOW. HOST: HE SPOKE OPENLY AND CANDIDLY ABOUT HIS OWN STRUGGLE

WITH DEPRESSION AND THE PREVAILING POWER OF HIS FAITH THAT SUSTAINED HIM. >> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT I WILL EVENTUALLY REPEAT THE CYCLE OF DEPRESSI. BUT NOW I HAVE SOME SELF-KNOWLEDGE THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY. I KNOW THAT IN MY RIGHT MIND I CHOOSE HOPE. HOST: HE REFLECTED ON THE MOMENT WITH JUDY WOODRUFF. >> EVEN AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR DEPRESSION YOU GET HINTS AND GLIMMERS OF HOPE AND IT IS USUALLY SOMEONE COMING TO YOU AND SHOWING YOU THAT THEY CARE ABOUT YOU DEEPLY AND THEY LOVE YOU DEEPLY. AND REMEMBERING THAT, REMEMBERING THAT YOU ARE AS VALUABLE AS EVERYONE ELSE CAN BE PART OF A RECOVERY AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE. HOST: A STEADFAST BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF RHETORIC AND PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP, MICHAEL

GERSON DIED DUE TO COMPLETIONS WITH CANCER AND IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE AND SONS MICHAEL AND NICHOLAS. HE WAS 58 YEARS OLD. WE ARE JOINED NOW BY TWO OF HIS LONGTIME FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO ARE ALSO FAMILIAR FACES TO "NEWSHOUR" VIEWERS. MY THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON THIS DIFFICULT DAY. I'M SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. DAVID, I WOULD LOVE TO START WITH YOU. MICHAEL WROTE ABOUT POLITICS AND FAITH AND ABOUT HIS DOGS BUT HIS WRITING WAS A GIFT. IT MOVED YOU AND STAYED WITH YOU. WHAT DO YOU THINK MADE HIM SUCH A POWERFUL MESSENGER? >> HE HAD THE MORAL CONSCIOUS WE ALL WANT. HE SORT OF PERFECTLY EMBODIED AND PUT INTO PRACTICE THE BEST OF CHRISTIAN SOCIAL TEACHING. I KNEW HIM 30 YEARS AGO AND HIS PROFOUND MORAL SENSE WAS WITH HIM THEN. HE WROTE THE BEAUTIFUL SPEECHES THAT GEORGE BUSH WROTE AFTER 9/11. I TOURED WITH HIM IN NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND MOZAMBIQUE AND WE WENT TO AIDS HOSPITALS. HE SAT WITH THOSE SUFFERING FROM

HIV AND HE BECAME AN INSTRUMENTAL FORCE IN PUSHING THE AMERICAN PROGRAM THAT SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES ACROSS AFRICA BY CREATING HIV DRUG PROGRAMS. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT MUST BE A TREMENDOUS REWARD TO MICHAEL TO SAY THAT HE CONTRIBUTED TO A PROGRAM THAT SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES. >> YOU AND MICHAEL ARE ON DIFFERENT ENDS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM BUT YOU HAD THIS WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP WHICH IS A RARE THING DAYS. WHAT SUSTAINED THAT FRIENDSHIP? >> I HOPE IT IS NOT RARE AND I'M NOT SURE THESE DAYS THAT WE ARE AT THE ENDS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AND THAT MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF IT BUT WE DISAGREED PROFOUNDLY AND FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS -- HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACT AND WHEN GOVERNMENT COULD ACT. WE COULD DISAGREE ON TAX POLICY AND FOREIGN POLICY BUT THERE WERE TWO WAYS IN WHICH WE AGREED AND THE FIRST WAS ABOUT THE ENDS.

AND THIS PICKS UP WHAT DAVID WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF MIKE'S WORK ON THE HIV-AIDS PROGRAM. WE AGREED THE ENDS WE WERE STRIVING FOR WAS TO LIFT UP THE DOWNTRODDEN AND HELP THOSE THAT ARE MORE UNFORTUNATE AND TO PROVIDE THE QUALITY AND TO ENSURE DIGNITY FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS. WE JUST DISAGREED ABOUT THE MEANS TO GET THERE. THE OTHER FUNDAMENTAL WAY IN WHICH WE AGREED WAS THAT THE WAY TO GET THERE WAS TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD AND TO NOT BELITTLE OTHERS, TO NOT DEMEAN OTHERS OR CAST DOUBT ON OTHERS. YOU COULD DISAGREE WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S VIEWS WITHOUT UNDERMINING AND ATTACKING THEIR MOTIVES AND THEIR HONESTY AND DECENCY. AND SO, THAT MADE IT VERY EASY TO BE MICHAEL'S FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE AND EDITOR. HOW COULD YOU NOT RESPECT SOMEBODY WHO HAD SUCH

FUNDAMENTAL, ENDURING, MANIFESTED MORAL VALUES AND ALSO I HAVE TO SAY SOMEONE WHO WROTE LIKE AN ANGEL. HOST: DAVID, AS YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR DECADES AND YOU TRAVELED WITH HIM AND VISITED WITH HIM THESE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AS WELL. IS THERE A PARTICULAR MOMENT OR STORY THAT STAYS WITH YOU? >> THREE YEARS OR SO AGO WHEN WE HAD DINNER ON CAPITOL HILL AND I LEARNED THAT BASICALLY THE BOOK OF JOB HAD FALLEN TO MICHAEL. HE HAD LONG SUFFERED FROM HEART PROBLEMS BUT HE SUFFERED FROM PARKINSON'S AND HEAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND WADEPRESSED. SO MANY BAD THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A PERSON HAPPENED TO MICHAEL ALL AT ONCE AND I WAS SO PROUD THAT NEWSHOUR HAD HIM ON WITH PARKINSON'S. AND HE HANDLED THAT WITH SUCH INCREDIBLE GRACE AND FORTITUDE AND WROTE SOME OF HIS BEST STUFF

IN GREAT PAIN THE ST FEW YEARS. HE SAW HIS WAY THROUGH IT WITHOUT SELF-PITY SURRENDERING HIMSELF TO HIS FAITH. AND A FRIEND AND I WENT TO SEE HIM NOT LONG AGO. HE KNEW THEND WAS COMING AND HE WAS LOOKING BACK ON HIS LIFE WITH GRATITUDE AT THE MOMENTS WHEN PEOPLE PERFORM KINDNESSES TO HIM. AND HE WAS SERENELY AND GRATEFULLY LOOKING BACK ON LIFE. AND I THINK HIS FAITH -- HE SAID SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL MOMENTS FOR HIM WAS WHEN SOMEONE WOULD READ SOMETHING HE WROTE AND DECIDE THEY WOULD GIVE THAT JESUS GUY ANOTHER CHANCE AND HE SAID THAT WAS PROBABLY AMONG THE MOST FULFILLING THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO HIM. HOST: RUTH, WHAT ABOUT YOU? >> THE THINGS -- WHAT STAYS WITH ME IS THE FORTITUDE -- I THINK DAVID USED THAT WORD, THE WAY IN WHICH HE CONTINUED TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THE TRIALS THAT DAVID TALKED ABOUT AND THROUGH

INCREDIBLE PAIN HE WOULD TALK TO HIS EDITOR AND LET HER KNOW IF HIS MIND WAS CLEAR ENOUGH TO WRITE, IF HIS PAIN WAS ENDURABLE ENOUGH AND YET HE KEPT WRITING WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER MONTH THROUGH TRIALS THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH. HE HAD BEEN TALKING TO JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE HE DIED ABOUT HIS DESIRE TO WRITE ONE LAST COLUMN AND IT WAS ABOUT DEALING WITH CHRONIC PAIN. AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, I IMAGINE, A WAY IN WHICH TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE SAME KINDS OF THINGS HE WENT THROUGH AND GIVE THEM A WAY TO WORK THROUGH IT AND GIVE THEM A WAY TO MANAGE IT MUCH AS HE WROTE THE POWERFUL THINGS AND GAVE THE POWERFUL SERMON ABOUT DEALING WITH DEPRESSION. WHAT A BRAVE, BRAVE AND HELPFUL THING TO DO. BECAUSE MANY OF US GET A LITTLE

SELF-INDULGENT IN OUR COLUMN WRITING AND WRITE ABOUT PERSONAL THINGS BUT WHEN MICHAEL WROTE ABOUT PERSONAL THINGS HE DID IT IN A WAY THAT WAS NOT INTENDED TO INDULGE HIMSELF BUT TO REALLY HELP HIS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. FOR ME ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE IS A BEAUTIFUL COLUMN THAT HE WROTE AND IT IS UP ON THE WASHINGTON POST WEBSITE NOW OUT THE TRAGEDY OF HAVING A CHILD GO OFF TO COLLEGE. THERE IS NO HUMAN BEING ON THE PLANET OR PARENT WHO READ THAT COLUMN AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE JUST WHAT A MAGNIFICENT COLUMN IT WAS AND HOW DEEPLY HUMAN APE PERSON THE AUTHOR WAS OF THAT COLUMN. HOST: THAT COLUMN WAS REPUBLISHED BY THE WASHINGTON POST AND A LINE STUCK WITH ME -- ULTIMATELY, PARENTING IS A LESSON IN HUMILITY. THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE IS A SHORT STAGE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY AND IT IS ENOUGH. HERE IS TO A LIFE WELL LIVED AND THE BEAUTIFUL LEGACY OF WORDS HE LEAVES BEHIND.

DAVID BROOKS AND RUTH MARCUS, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TO REMEMBER MICHAEL GERSON. >> THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. AMNA: IT IS CLEAR THAT MICHAEL WAS NOT ONE TO SHY AWAY FROM DIFFICULT SUBJECTS. AS WE MENTIONED, A FEW YEARS AGO HE MENTION HIS OWN STRUGGLES WITH DEPRESSION WHILE DELIVERING A GUEST SERMON AT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL. CAN WATCH HIS FULL MEMORABLE MESSAGE ABOUT SEEKING HELP, HOPE AND LOVE ON OUR WEBSITE. PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR. AND THAT IS THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. JOIN US ONLINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE PBS NEWSHOUR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE WILL SEE YOU SOON. ANNOUNCE MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> FOR 25 YEARS, CONSUMER CELLULAR HAS BEEN OFFERING NO CONTRACT PLANS DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE DO MORE OF WHAT THEY LIKE. OUR U.S.-BASED CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM CAN HELP THE PLAN THAT FITS YOU.

TO LEARN MORE 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. ANNOUNCER: THE FORD FOUNDATION WORKING WITH VISIONARIES ON THE FRONT LINES OF SOCIAL CHANGE WORLDWIDE. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS. AND FRIENDS OF THE "NEWSHOUR" INCLUDING LEONARD AND NORA AND PATRICIA DOOLING AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE

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