PBS News Hour full episode, June 1, 2026

[0:03] Good evening. I'm Jeff Bennett. Amna Nawaz is away. On the NewsHour tonight, [0:07] the Justice Department hits pause on a so-called anti-weaponization fund [0:12] for people who claimed they were unfairly targeted by past administrations. [0:16] Israeli forces launched their deepest incursion into Lebanon in decades, [0:21] complicating already fragile negotiations aimed at ending the U.S.-Iran war. [0:26] And a new report examines just how secure the voting process is [0:31] for this year's hotly contested midterm elections. [0:34] The real risk that we're facing is misinformation and confusion, [0:37] which ultimately erode the trust of the American people. [0:52] Major funding for the PBS NewsHour has been provided by [0:56] the ongoing support of these individuals and institutions, [1:00] and friends of the NewsHour, including Leonard and Norma Klorfein, [1:05] and the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation, [1:16] and with the ongoing support of these individuals and institutions. [1:20] This program was made possible by the contributions to your PBS station [1:49] from viewers like you. Thank you. [1:52] Welcome to the NewsHour. President Trump's nearly $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund [2:02] just hit a setback today. The Justice Department says it will comply with a court order temporarily [2:08] blocking payments from the program, money that could have gone to January 6th defendants and other [2:13] Trump supporters. Beyond that, some Republicans on Capitol Hill expressed concerns about the fund and how [2:19] the money would be handed out. Our White House correspondent Liz Landers is here to explain what [2:23] we know. So, Liz, what exactly has the Trump administration decided to do? What does this [2:27] pause effectively mean? So there's a lot here that we still don't know. I will add that. But last week, [2:32] a judge here in Virginia said that there needed to be a pause for about two weeks until June 12th [2:38] before they could disperse any money from that fund. In addition to that, another judge in Miami [2:43] said that they wanted to re-look and re-examine the IRS settlement, which was what precipitated all [2:49] this when the president settled with the IRS. The Department of Justice says today that they [2:53] strongly disagree with that ruling from the judge in Virginia, but they will abide by it. But that's [2:59] only for two weeks. So I asked the White House, is this temporarily paused or is this final? And will the [3:06] fund no longer exist? They have not responded to that. [3:09] And as we sit here and speak, the Associated Press citing a single source familiar with President [3:13] Trump's thinking says that he is now reconsidering this pause, so certainly more to come. But the [3:18] other dimension here, as we mentioned, the Republicans on Capitol Hill who run uneasy about this because [3:24] they were set to take a vote on this fund. Republicans have apparently been outraged about this [3:29] sort of behind closed doors. There has been a funding process that they have been hammering out on [3:35] the Hill to fund ICE and other agencies, and this was becoming a snag in those negotiations. Our [3:40] congressional colleague Lisa Desjardins had spoken with one Republican senator who told her that there [3:46] were only one or two of their Republican colleagues in the Senate that were happy or were comfortable [3:51] with this fund. Today, the president met with Speaker Johnson at the White House. We believe that this [3:56] came up in conversation. And then the majority leader, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, told reporters [4:02] today that he wanted this weaponization fund dropped from that immigration bill. [4:05] And this fund is part of a larger effort to rewrite what actually happened on January 6th. I know, [4:11] as part of your reporting, you've been speaking to people on both sides of that debate. What are they [4:15] saying? I spoke last week with D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Dan Hodges. He was pinned and stuck in the [4:22] tunnel on January 6th defending the Capitol. And I asked him about his reaction to the formation of the fund. [4:28] Why should the government try to pay these people that attacked it? Why would we try to pay the [4:37] people who tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power? If these people were given money, then it would [4:44] empower them, give them the resources and make them feel like they're untouchable to [4:50] carry out their threats and any potential further violence. [4:53] I also spoke with Brandon Fellows. He was convicted for his participation in January 6th. [4:59] He wants up to 30 million dollars from the federal government from this fund. [5:03] And although he has not been convicted of abusing cops or beating up cops on that day, [5:10] I asked him, what about the people who did? Do they deserve to get money from this fund? [5:15] He thinks most should. I think there's a very select few that should not get money. [5:20] Now, as far as assaults, you have things ranging from people throwing a water bottle and hitting a [5:26] shield and then they ended up pleading to that. I think they should be rightly compensated. [5:31] Enrique Tarrio, who was considered to be one of the planners of January 6th, [5:36] he was convicted for seditious conspiracy. He told me just this afternoon, he said he doesn't think [5:41] that this is an abandonment of the fund, adding, quote, I believe even if this fund is killed in [5:46] courts or at a congressional level, the president will find a way. There are other options. They can [5:51] just settle the tort claims and lawsuits. That has no judicial review or congressional oversight, [5:56] and it would mean a lot more money in compensation, Jeff. [5:59] LIZ LANDERS, our thanks to you, as always. [6:14] There were conflicting signals today from the U.S. and Iran over the status of negotiations to extend [6:19] the ceasefire and begin talks on ending the war. Meantime, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah [6:25] has all been but shattered as Israel presses deep into Lebanon. That spiraling situation is where Ali [6:31] Rogan begins our report tonight today in Beirut, another challenge to a brittle truce, chaos and [6:39] confusion as thousands flee the capital, displacing again many people who'd already fled their homes. [6:47] This is the third time we were displaced, moving from a place to another. [6:51] Now I'm heading to Tripoli, to the kind people of Tripoli. [6:54] They brace for more Israeli bombing after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered more strikes, [7:00] despite a struggling ceasefire between the two countries. [7:04] I have instructed the IDF to strike terrorist targets in Beirut. [7:07] There will not be a situation in which Hezbollah attacks our cities and our citizens, [7:12] and its terrorist headquarters in Beirut, in Dahyeh, remains out of bounds. [7:16] The Iranian state media released this video claiming to show a ballistic missile launch, [7:23] stamped with a caricature of President Trump targeting a U.S. military base in Kuwait. [7:29] In Kuwait City, air raid sirens warned of incoming Iranian drones and missiles, [7:34] which U.S. Central Command says were intercepted. [7:37] It follows a back-and-forth skirmish over the weekend along the Strait of Hormuz. [7:42] The U.S. says Iran downed an American drone, and CENTCOM responded by targeting air defenses [7:48] and a ground control facility along the coast. [7:51] Such exchanges have become increasingly common, as diplomacy between Tehran and Washington languishes. [7:57] But after weeks of attempts to get back to the bargaining table to address the closure [8:02] of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program, today the Islamic Republic said [8:06] it suspended indirect talks between the two countries. [8:10] Tying the war in Iran to Israel's widening invasion of Lebanon, [8:16] insisting that any peace between the U.S. and Iran must include Lebanon. [8:20] When asked about Iran halting negotiations, President Trump told NBC, [8:25] quote, I think we've been talking too much if you want to know the truth. [8:29] I think going silent would be very good, and that could be for a long time. [8:34] Then telling CNBC, I really don't care. [8:37] I couldn't care less. Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring. [8:42] But just hours later, Trump wrote on social media, quote, [8:45] talks are continuing at a rapid pace with the Islamic Republic of Iran. [8:51] For its part, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned the people of northern Israel, [8:56] as read by state media. [8:57] JOSEPH NADER, Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran [8:58] Given the regime's repeated violations of the cease-fire, if this threat is carried out, [9:03] we warn the residents of the northern areas and military settlements in the occupied territories [9:08] to leave the area if they do not want to be harmed. [9:10] JOSEPH NADER, Islamic Republic of Iran But President Trump today, after speaking with Netanyahu, [9:14] claimed that Hezbollah agreed that all shooting will stop, [9:18] that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel. [9:22] The heightened tensions come as Israeli troops pushed past the Latani River last week, [9:26] the deepest occupation of the territory in over 25 years. [9:31] Footage released by the IDF shows infantry seizing Beaufort Castle over the weekend, [9:36] a 900-year-old Crusader fortress, a strategic stronghold Israel fled from in 2000, [9:43] which Firas Maksad, a Middle East expert at the Eurasia Group, [9:46] says Israel will not want to give up easily. [9:49] Firas Maksad, Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, [9:49] Beaufort Castle, the Crusader Castle, a linchpin strategic choke point in southern Lebanon. [9:55] In the past 24 hours, Israel was again able to occupy that strategic hilltop. [10:00] JOSEPH NADER, Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, [10:01] The rising violence comes as Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to meet tomorrow in D.C., [10:06] for U.S.-brokered peace talks, which Maksad said could be the breakthrough President Trump needs. [10:12] It's very clear here that President Trump has an interest in trying to avert the worst in Lebanon. [10:18] What's happening in Lebanon is not independent from what is actually happening between the U.S. and Iran. [10:24] Trump very much stepped in, tried to get a ceasefire in Lebanon. [10:28] It would be a win for his efforts to try and continue talks with Iran. [10:33] It's also a win from Hezbollah that is weakened and very much wants a reprieve from Israeli action. [10:38] Until a deal is agreed upon. [10:40] It's the war-weary Lebanese people who are left hoping talks will bring about a lasting truce. [10:46] Even within Hezbollah's own community, much tired and fatigued by war, [10:51] there is now pressure to bring diplomacy to bear and bring this conflict to a close. [10:55] MEANWHILE, IN NORTHERN ISRAEL, SMOKE CAN BE SEEN RISING FROM LEBANON AS BOTH SIDES CONTINUE TO TRADE CROSS-BORDER BLOWS, [11:03] WITH A RESOLUTION TO THE WAR NO CLOSER. [11:06] FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I'M ALI ROGAN. [11:09] In the day's other headlines, New Jersey's Attorney General says a group of individuals was arrested [11:23] last night for breaking a curfew near an ICE detention facility that has seen days of unrest. [11:29] Demonstrators clashed with police this past weekend outside the privately run Delaney Hall [11:34] Detention Facility in Newark, seen here pushing against barricades. Federal and state officers [11:39] used riot shields and tear gas to disperse the crowds. The protests were sparked by reports of [11:44] poor conditions inside the 1,000-bed facility, including concerns about food quality. The wife [11:51] of one detainee spoke with the NewsHour earlier today. Her face is blurred at her request. [11:57] It's not because they don't want to eat it because they don't like it. It's because it's rotten. [12:02] It's because when they go downstairs to lunch, there was an incident about their beans with worms in it. [12:09] In the breakfast, their milk is chewy, so how do they think they're going to be able to eat their cereal? [12:15] But when they pour that milk in the cereal, the cereal is expired too. [12:20] House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic lawmakers have called for [12:25] Delaney Hall's closure over the reported conditions. In response, Department of Homeland Security posted [12:31] on social media, everyone being held inside Delaney Hall broke the law. This is a detention center. [12:37] We do not provide luxury accommodations. In Colorado, election denier Tina Peters was released from prison [12:44] today after serving less than a quarter of her nine-year sentence. The former elections clerk was [12:49] convicted in 2024 for her involvement in a plot to show that voting machines in the 2020 election [12:55] were rigged against Donald Trump. Joe Biden was the winner of that election. Last month, Colorado's [13:01] Democratic governor, Jared Polis, commuted her sentence amid pressure from President Trump. Soon after [13:07] her release, Peters appeared on right-wing podcaster Steve Bannon's program, where she accused Democrats [13:13] of trying to cheat in this year's midterms. Colombia's presidential election is set for a runoff [13:19] later this month, with a pro-Trump candidate enjoying a surge in the polls. Supporters of [13:29] Abelardo de la Espia celebrated his strong showing in Sunday's first round of elections, where he got [13:35] nearly 44 percent of the vote. That's thanks largely to his promises to crack down on violent crime. He beat [13:42] out progressive opponent Ivan Cepeda, who initially questioned the validity of the results, but then [13:48] today backed away from such claims. Since neither candidate won 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election [13:54] will be held on June 21st. In Kenya, hundreds of young people protested today against plans by the [14:00] U.S. government to set up an Ebola quarantine facility for Americans exposed to the virus. [14:09] They marched to the gates of the airbase, where U.S. officials hoped to establish the center. On Friday, [14:15] Kenya's high court temporarily blocked the plan. Then on Monday, Kenya's health minister said the facility [14:20] would serve everyone and not be reserved exclusively for U.S. nationals. But protesters remained [14:26] unconvinced, arguing that Kenya should not host foreign patients when the country itself is not [14:32] facing an active outbreak. We want to tell the president he cannot be making such a decision [14:39] to people of Kenya without even considering what will be the effect of what they are doing. We feel [14:46] that we are being shortchanged because they didn't even come for public participation. Meantime, [14:53] in Democratic Republic of the Congo, the outbreak continues to spread across three [14:57] eastern provinces with more than 280 confirmed cases so far and at least 1,000 suspected cases. [15:05] AI giant Anthropic is moving forward with an initial public offering. The company behind the [15:10] Claude Chatbot submitted a confidential filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. [15:16] Anthropic is looking to get out ahead of rival OpenAI, which is preparing its own filing as the [15:21] companies look to tap investor enthusiasm in artificial intelligence. Meantime, on Wall Street today, [15:27] stocks inched higher amid ongoing uncertainty over Iran. The Dow Jones industrial average added nearly [15:33] 50 points to start the week. The Nasdaq gained more than 100 points. The S&P 500 also ended in positive [15:39] territory. And Serena Williams is returning to professional tennis after a four-year absence. [15:45] The 44-year-old will play doubles at the Queens Club tournament later this month, an event that leads up to [15:51] Wimbledon. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion confirmed the news in a social media video. Williams [15:57] bid farewell to the sport after the 2022 U.S. Open, though she herself never used the word retirement. [16:04] Still to come on the NewsHour, a promising new treatment for pancreatic cancer doubles survival rates [16:09] and trials. The risks, AI and misinformation pose in this year's midterm elections. And Tamara Keith and [16:16] Jasmine Wright break down the latest political headlines. This is the PBS NewsHour from the David [16:25] M. Rubenstein Studio at WETA in Washington, headquarters of PBS News. A medical breakthrough in the fight [16:35] against pancreatic cancer is showing promising results after decades of research. The experimental drug [16:41] taken once a day extends patients' lives by slowing the progression of one of the deadliest cancers. [16:47] Stephanie Sy has more. [16:48] STEPHANIE SY, JR.: Jeff, it's called Duroxon Rasib. And put simply, it targets mutations of the KRAS gene, [16:57] a common driver of pancreatic cancer that chemists viewed for a long time as undruggable. [17:03] Pancreatic cancer is expected to kill more than 52,000 Americans this year. It's often diagnosed [17:10] after it's already spread, putting the five-year overall survival rate at a meager 13 percent. [17:17] For most advanced patients, there's no cure. And standard treatment has been chemotherapy. [17:22] Experts say that could be about to change. [17:26] For more on what this means for patients and the future of cancer treatment, [17:30] I'm joined by Dr. Roshna Shroff, associate director of clinical investigations at the [17:35] University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center. [17:38] DR. Roshna Shroff, this is hopeful, to say the least. And before we get into the details, [17:44] I imagine you have treated and lost many pancreatic cancer patients over the years. [17:49] I lost my own mother to the disease very quickly a few years ago. [17:53] What was your reaction when the results were read to the room over the weekend? [17:57] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, You know, I think, like you said, [18:00] this was a monumental day in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. I have been using the word [18:04] game changer. And that is not a word that we use lately when it comes to treating this disease. [18:10] And the honest truth is, is it was tears, tears of joy. You know, 16 years of treating this disease. [18:17] And like you said, countless lives lost to this horrible, horrible cancer. And so to see the results [18:24] and to be in that room with a number of people who have that same drive to kind of improve cancer [18:32] outcomes for patients, it was an incredibly emotional moment. [18:36] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, The study's participants were looking for a Hail Mary. They'd all undergone [18:41] at least one round of chemo, from what I understand. And the results [18:45] showed those put on this new drug lived an average of 13 months compared to those who lived only about [18:51] six months without it. How significant is that, Dr. Shroff, in the world of oncology? [18:56] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, You know, I would say that having the ability to have a pill [19:02] double survival in patients who have already had one prior type of treatment for pancreatic cancer [19:09] and have stage four disease is so far unprecedented. We have not ever seen a doubling of survival when [19:18] it comes to treating this disease. And, you know, that is incredibly impactful, of course, just from [19:24] a numbers sake, but also is so meaningful to patients who, you know, are hopefully going to see more [19:30] milestones, more important moments in their life. [19:32] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, This is the same experimental drug that [19:35] former Senator Ben Sasse has been on since his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Here's what he said [19:40] to 60 Minutes' Scott Pelley in April about why he's still alive. [19:45] DR. SCOTT PELLY, Let's go with Providence, prayer and a miracle drug. [19:51] In mid-December, I was given a three to four month life expectancy. I am on extended time already. [19:58] I have much, much less pain than I had four months ago when I was diagnosed, [20:02] and I have a massive 76 percent reduction in tumor volume over the last four months. [20:08] AMNA NAWAZ, Now, we should also say that Sasse said to a different journalist that the side [20:13] effects have been pretty nasty, that his skin bleeds and sometimes feels nuclear were his words, [20:19] Dr. Straff. But what else should people know about side effects of this drug and who it can and can't help? [20:26] DR. REBECCA PELLY, Well, you know, so far from the results that we've seen, in terms of who it [20:32] can and can't help, we think it really is a drug that should be offered to all patients who have had [20:38] one prior line of chemotherapy. While we recognize that this drug specifically targets the KRAS mutation, [20:46] or the KRAS pathway, rather, over 90 percent of pancreatic cancer patients have KRAS mutations, [20:52] and this study included all comers. It seems to work regardless of KRAS mutation status, [20:59] and so it really hopefully will become the standard of care for all patients after one prior line of [21:04] chemotherapy. Now, as you mentioned, things to know, yes, with every drug comes side effects and [21:10] toxicities. But I will say that there is a learning curve for all of these drugs, and all of us who, [21:17] once we get our hands around it, once we work with some of our multidisciplinary colleagues, for instance, [21:22] with the rash, you know, working closely with our dermatologists, we're learning. We're learning how [21:27] to be preemptive and prophylactic about trying to prevent such severe side effects that the patient's [21:33] quality of life is affected. You know, for the rash, avoiding sunlight, using oral antibiotics and topical [21:42] steroids, I mean, those things seem to be helping, seem to be mitigating the rash. And, you know, [21:47] I think the other thing I will say is, is that when you look at the study, only a small percentage [21:52] of patients actually discontinue taking the drug because of side effects. And so, you know, I think [21:58] if we're able to provide clinically meaningful improvements for our patients, as long as we learn [22:05] how to manage side effects, we can hopefully handle those tradeoffs. [22:07] AMNA NAWAZ, And that KRAS pathway, those mutations, I understand, [22:12] are also involved in other cancers, including those of the colon and the lung. [22:16] So, what potential does this drug hold for those patients? [22:20] DR. ANNA NAWAZ, Well, you know, I literally keep saying that the RAS revolution is here. [22:26] You know, this has been historically undruggable. This has been the holy grail for cancer, because, [22:30] like you mentioned, KRAS mutations are ubiquitous. We see them across all kinds of different tumor types. [22:36] And so, now, now that we have proof of principle that we know that targeting this pathway provides [22:42] meaningful outcomes and improvements in patients with pancreatic cancer, the next obvious question [22:48] is, is what can this drug and other RAS inhibitors do? And, you know, we have other KRAS inhibitors [22:53] that are already available in colon cancer and lung cancer. So, now we're kind of in this next wave, [22:58] where we're going to see what Diraxon RASib can do in colorectal cancer, lung cancer, [23:04] but a number of other cancers in which KRAS mutations exist. And this is just the first [23:09] of many drugs and many more trials that will hopefully answer those questions. [23:12] AMNA NAWAZ, And we should note, the FDA has granted some patients early access to the drug, [23:17] while the company seeks expedited approval from the agency. [23:21] That is Dr. Roshna Shroff with the University of Arizona. Thank you. [23:25] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, University of Arizona, Thank you. [23:26] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, University of Arizona, Thank you. [23:26] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, University of Arizona, The U.S. Postal Service has proposed [23:40] new rules that would require states to hand over data on voters who receive mail-in ballots [23:45] for federal elections. It comes after President Trump signed an executive order earlier this year, [23:50] tightening mail-in voting rules with a stated goal of making elections more secure. [23:55] But, a report out today says the most likely threats to election security this November [24:00] come from other sources. Our Liz Landers recently sat down with one of the authors of that report. [24:06] Members of the Trump administration are ramping up warnings about election security as the midterms [24:11] draw closer, citing conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines, voter fraud, and more. [24:17] The president himself repeated those claims from the Oval Office last month, [24:21] urging Congress to pass legislation he says will secure elections. [24:25] DR. ROSHNA SHROFF, University of Arizona, I think the elections are so rigged, [24:28] and we have to do something about it, and we're going to do something about it. [24:31] But we cannot continue to have it. Frankly, the Senate and the House, they ought to get [24:36] together and they ought to pass the Save America Act so that you have a voter ID. And it's so [24:41] important you have proof of citizenship, a little thing like proof of citizenship, [24:46] and also mail-in voting, which is so crooked. [24:49] A new report first shared with PBS News by the cybersecurity company Checkpoint Software Technologies [24:54] outlines what should and should not be a concern for voters going into the midterms. [24:59] It also analyzes threats from foreign actors, artificial intelligence, [25:03] vulnerabilities for voting machines, and more. Joining me now to discuss that report is Aaron [25:08] Rose, a security expert with Checkpoint Software. Aaron, thanks so much for joining us. [25:12] Thanks for having me. [25:13] PBS News had a poll from March that found that 85 percent of registered voters say it's likely that [25:20] political content generated by AI will spread misinformation related to these upcoming November [25:26] elections. How is artificial intelligence accelerating those vulnerabilities and misinformation [25:31] about our elections here? Now that we're in the age of AI, it can consume and take so much data [25:37] and learn so much about us that it can generate things that are believable, not just things that [25:42] are like a phishing email, but content that's shared on social media or deep fake videos, you know, [25:48] that are getting harder and harder to actually tell what they truly are. So AI is accelerating, [25:53] unfortunately, all of this misinformation that we're seeing, especially when it comes to, [25:57] you know, the elections coming up. Your report details how foreign adversaries like Iran, [26:02] Russia and China will likely want to try to influence these midterm elections. [26:07] What are they interested in and what are their objectives? Yeah, so finding their objectives, [26:12] I think the objectives in a lot of way are clear. They want to either steer it or they want to cause [26:16] confusion. So when we're talking about the election, what a lot of people are concerned with when it comes to [26:22] security is the electronic ballots, right? They're thinking, okay, somebody's going to hack a voting [26:26] machine. Now, I'm not saying that that's implausible. It is very possible for that to happen. In fact, [26:31] it's been proven, but it does require physical access to the machines. It's very complicated to do [26:35] that and especially do that at scale. You start to think about the United States, how many people we [26:40] have, how many congressional districts, etc. That is a lot of machines that they would have to have [26:44] physical access to to actually be able to, you know, change the outcome of the election. However, if you think [26:50] about on the flip side of kind of misinformation and confusing people and essentially eroding the [26:56] trust in the system, that is something that they can do just by spreading misinformation. [27:01] So if they can just confuse, I don't know, 10,000 voters, maybe in a swing state or area, [27:06] that alone could shape and change, you know, the outcome of the election. [27:09] This administration and the president in particular talk a lot about issues that they perceive with the [27:15] elections in this country. Not a lot of what I've heard from the president and what I've heard from [27:19] the administration overlap with the concerns that are outlined in your report. Is the administration [27:25] focused on the right problems? You know, I think there's a lot of issues that we need to address. There's [27:30] there's questions of integrity when it comes to our election systems. And I'm not going to say either [27:35] way. I think that, you know, they can be valid in a lot of ways. But for us, we're focusing more on the [27:40] technological, but also the psychological side of things and how they're using technology to do so. [27:45] Are social media companies paying attention and taking responsibility for their role in how [27:53] misinformation and disinformation in particular can be spread to influence these elections? [27:58] They're starting to, you know, I'll definitely, you know, give some applause or give some positive [28:02] feedback to them. I'm starting to see more and more of, you know, like labels that are being applied to [28:08] videos and images that may or may not be AI generated. There's community notes by several of the [28:14] platforms now to where people can kind of validate the facts. So it appears that they are they're [28:18] making an effort. And, you know, it's not an easy problem to solve. Unfortunately, there isn't a band [28:23] aid. There isn't a, you know, a silver bullet to solve all of this at once. So I think that every step [28:28] that we make in that direction is a good step to make. What are your recommendations for jurisdictions [28:34] and for people that implement elections in this country and also for voters to be aware of going into [28:40] the midterms? So when you think about like individual jurisdictions and kind of like smaller [28:44] counties, municipalities, et cetera, the data that they have or the ability to influence the election [28:51] is still very high. And, you know, the risk against them is the same as the risk against some of the [28:56] largest, you know, federal agencies that we might have here in the United States. Unfortunately, there's [29:01] a disparate, you know, there's a problem between those two where one has a much larger budget than the [29:06] other, right? So they need to, unfortunately, they're going to have to do more with less. [29:10] They're going to have to pay attention. They're going to have to implement cybersecurity controls [29:13] in all areas, physical access controls as well. Now, when it comes down to the individual voters, [29:19] this gets a little bit more difficult because what I would ask everyone is that when you're seeing [29:24] information, so if you're seeing a new news story that's shared maybe on Facebook or some other [29:28] platform, stop for just a moment and and really analyze it. Say, you know, maybe this agrees with [29:34] everything that I feel, you know, politically or not, before I repost that, I want to make sure [29:39] that it's coming from a reputable source. I want to look and pay attention to that URL and make sure [29:43] it's, you know, something that's legitimate. Is the federal government educating the public [29:48] on this? And are you working with agencies like CISA, which is the cybersecurity agency that has [29:54] typically handled the hardening of election infrastructure in this country in the past? [29:59] Yeah. So the federal government has actually done quite a bit. And I think education is the key. [30:03] We've got to educate people to become trained professionals in cybersecurity, but we also need [30:08] to be able to train consumers and educate them on the risks that are associated. So I think the federal [30:13] government is doing quite a bit. Now, whether or not that's enough, that's a great question. [30:17] Unfortunately, we'll we'll kind of see that, you know, after the fact or in the future. [30:21] Do you think that the Trump administration in particular is doing enough to educate the public [30:26] on these election security concerns? [30:29] I do believe the current administration, though, has brought up the topic around election security [30:33] quite a bit. It's been top of mind for a lot of people. But the real risk that we're facing is [30:38] misinformation and confusion, which ultimately erode the trust of the American people. And I think that [30:44] area needs a bit more focus at this at the present time. [30:47] Bottom line here, should Americans have trust in the election system going into November? [30:51] I'm a I'm a very hopeful person. So I'm going to say, yes, I think so. We haven't seen hard evidence [30:58] or anything that shows that the the back end systems at the voting machines, the ballot counting, [31:02] et cetera. We haven't seen anything like that to say that that has definitively been breached or [31:06] manipulated in any way. Aaron Rose, thank you for your time. [31:09] Thank you. I appreciate it. Let's delve deeper now into the political headline shaping this week so [31:25] far with today's Politics Monday duo. That's Tamara Keith of NPR and Jasmine Wright, [31:30] White House correspondent for Notice. Amy Walter is away this evening. It's good to see you both. [31:34] So, Tam, we spent all last week talking about how the latest primaries show President Trump's grip [31:40] on the GOP. This latest development where he is now tabling, at least for now, this $1.8 billion [31:47] compensation fund for his supporters, it really shows the limits of his influence over congressional [31:52] Republicans in many ways. Well, in some ways, his great victory in in defeating Republicans [32:00] who were not loyal enough now creates a larger what at NPR we're calling YOLO caucus. You only lose [32:08] once and then you are a little bit more free to do whatever you want after that. But it's not just [32:14] them. There's a large number of Republicans. Ted Cruz on his podcast said something like 20 Republicans [32:20] in a closed door meeting with Todd Blanch were pushing back really hard on this so-called anti-weaponization [32:27] fund. And the bigger issue is that there are very few Republicans, very few, who want to go out into [32:35] swing districts and campaign on this or have to answer for it. And so there is a very big political [32:42] problem for this fund, which is why you see this quiet backing away, though it's not clear, like until [32:49] the truth social post is out and until the president says it with his own mouth, it's not clear really [32:56] whether they're doing anything more than following what a judge says they need to do for the next two [33:00] weeks. What's your latest reporting on this? Yeah, backing away for how long I think is kind [33:04] of the question that not just we at NewsHour are asking, but folks on the Hill are starting to ask. [33:10] We know, according to my colleagues at notice, that the president met with Speaker Mike Johnson [33:14] today at the White House. And an issue like this was raised, obviously, you know, I think for a long [33:19] time, Republicans, particularly John Thune, has been saying that they don't have the votes for this. [33:23] Mike Johnson expressed that this was in trouble and kind of tried to convince Trump, according to a [33:29] source told notice, to back away from it. And that factored into this decision, which led to that tweet [33:35] by the Justice Department. We'll see how long that lasts. But, you know, this is something that the [33:40] president wanted. This is something that other officials within the administration talked about. [33:45] But it's not something that necessarily resonates with the base. They don't, you know, they are [33:49] supportive of January 6 folks who believe in the MAGA effort. But do they really need to see folks [33:55] getting paid, one source told me? Probably not. And so it's going to a question of it is where it's going [34:01] to go still remains. But I think a larger question is, how does this represent the people that President [34:07] Trump is supposed to be representing going into the midterm elections? And I think folks have [34:10] questions on that part, too. Well, the president spent part of the weekend, Saturday, [34:15] posting on Truth Social more than 60 times over a six-hour stretch, Tam, a slew of AI images [34:21] celebrating himself. He described himself at one point as being bigger than Elvis. And this had to do [34:26] with the unceremonious collapse of this America 250 concert, where you saw artist after artist after [34:32] artist drop out. The president is now proposing replacing all of it with the political [34:36] rally. What's your read on what happened? Well, you're just describing an average weekend [34:42] on President Trump's True Social feed, which is a lot of stuff. You know, what happened here is that [34:49] Freedom 250 is actually a Trump-affiliated organization that was created to plan, among other things, [34:57] the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, which was supposed to be like a World's Fair [35:03] modeled after the Chicago World's Fair with a giant Ferris wheel and, you know, and some acts that [35:09] you'd see at a state fair or maybe a county fair in the 90s. And then they announced these acts. It [35:14] wasn't a big concert. It was just like acts scattered over this two-week period. And all of a sudden, [35:20] these people who were on the list of artists were both being mocked and being criticized for doing [35:27] something too closely affiliated with President Trump. These artists came out and said, [35:30] we didn't know this was a Trump thing. And it completely imploded. I think the bigger issue [35:35] here is that in this current era of American politics with a president who's putting his face [35:42] on money or wants to, his name on buildings, there is not seemingly a safe space where you can just have, [35:51] you know, the president be the president for all Americans and, you know, a patriotic moment for the [35:57] 250th birthday of America. Instead, it all comes back to politics and this division that it seems no one [36:05] really likes and yet everyone continues to feed. Well, on that point, I mean, the 250th birthday is [36:12] supposed to be a bipartisan celebration of this country and all that it has stood for. Are we at a point now [36:18] where you can't really separate a national celebration from partisan politics in this Trump era? [36:23] I think that people would hope not. But, I mean, after the imploding of this Freedom 250 state fair, [36:31] the question is perhaps. Obviously, the president has said that he wants it to be the greatest birthday [36:36] celebration for the country ever. And that is why Freedom 250 was commissioned by that executive order. [36:42] And so you're seeing the president do so much across the city of D.C., using about $100 million of taxpayer [36:50] money to beautify D.C. ahead of it. And so I don't think you're going to see the president step back [36:55] from trying to make sure this is the greatest American birthday, regardless of if people feel [36:59] that it is becoming politicized with his involvement. [37:02] JASMINE WRIGHT, Tamara Keith, thank you both. [37:04] You're welcome. [37:05] There has been a sharp rise in so-called nudification technology. These AI-powered tools can generate [37:27] realistic fake images and videos that depict people as undressed, often without their knowledge or consent. [37:32] William Brigham reports on the growing concern over that technology and efforts to rein it in. [37:39] As the types and uses of this technology have grown, lawmakers at both the state and federal level [37:45] have tried to draft laws to curtail it. But that has proven to be very difficult. [37:50] So to help us understand this current landscape, we are joined by Kolina Kotai. She's an investigative [37:56] journalist for the news site Bellingcat, and she has been covering this issue closely. Kolina, [38:02] thank you so much for being here. Could you help us just understand, at first, [38:07] what these technologies are, what they do and how they do it? [38:13] Yeah, thanks for having me here. It is a little bit of a complicated topic, but, essentially, [38:18] there are a range of services, apps, products out there, from websites to an app you can download [38:24] on your phone, that allow you to essentially take a photo of someone's face and make a pornographic [38:32] image and a now pornographic video of that person. So this might be, say, something as simple, [38:38] where the term nudify comes from, is just removing the clothing digitally from a photo. So it takes a [38:43] real photo, removes the clothes, and so the body is completely AI generated. But you might also have [38:49] technology nowadays that allows you to upload a face of someone from, like, imagine on Facebook or [38:55] from Instagram, and it creates a whole brand new image. The entire image is AI generated based off [39:01] that person. So it makes a fairly convincing image or video that is sexual in nature based on that. [39:07] And there's even apps where you can face swap. So you might have a video clip, and in some cases, [39:12] a pornographic video clip, and you upload someone's face, and it just essentially swaps that person's [39:17] face onto another actress's body. So while the face itself and the video itself might be real, [39:22] they're from two different sources. And these all kind of fall under the range of sort of what you [39:25] might call it AI notification, AI deepfake, AI-powered, nonconsensual intimate imagery. [39:31] WILLIAM BRANGHAM, And how widespread are these technologies? Who's making them and who is using them? [39:38] Yeah, the technology is, unfortunately, incredibly widespread. It's something that is a global issue, [39:44] not just here in the U.S., but it's something that is definitely plaguing, say, like, U.S. high schools. [39:49] There is case after case of this kind of technology being spread about being used by students. [39:54] I think some of the recent surveys that have been done is that, one, about, like, I think, [39:58] 50 percent of students are familiar with the technology. I have seen someone use the technology, [40:02] something along those numbers. And I think it just keeps on rising and rising. And as far as the [40:07] prevalence and availability of these kind of apps and technologies, you know, you can find technology [40:12] that does something similar available on the Google and Apple Play Store, which people have access to [40:16] their cell phones. But we also can think about really name-brand platforms like Grok on X. [40:23] So Grok is one of the platforms that is widely available, although not billed as a notification [40:28] or an AI deepfake app. It is an app that has been consistently used to generate nonconsensual [40:33] intimate imagery of both adults and of minors. But you also will see the prevalence of websites. [40:38] So you might go to a particular website. You don't have to do anything fancy or use a Google search [40:44] platform or your search platform of choice to be able to put in something like a deepfake generator, [40:49] a nudify app, something to remove clothes, things of that nature. And you find easily access to this. [40:55] And particularly, these are cheap services to use. I say that, you know, with a dollar in five minutes, [41:02] you can create, unfortunately, a really convincing, nonconsensual intimate imagery of someone. [41:07] WILLIAM BRANGHAM, Ph.D.: Can you talk a little bit about the efforts [41:09] that have been made to try to curtail this? I know there's been federal action, state-level action. [41:15] What kind of things have they done? And how successful have those been? [41:18] CATHERINE RAMSEY, Ph.D.: Yeah, we have seen some really great federal action that's taking place. [41:22] So, if you're familiar with something that's called the Take It Down Act, I believe we have [41:26] actually seen now three people charged and arrested under that act. But this is something that has been a [41:31] big shift, because, normally, what we have seen is a lot of laws at the state level. So, [41:36] each state is having to put in their own laws, either be it's revenge porn or synthetic imagery [41:41] or nonconsensual imagery. But the federal act, or this federal act or the Take It Down Act, [41:46] puts them a little bit more widespread. So, it involves everything from criminalizing the creation [41:49] of the images. So, you'll have, actually, deepfake laws that now apply across the country. [41:56] You'll have it applied to platforms. So, platforms have 48 hours to take down the image once they've been [42:02] notified and a variety of other things. So, you're also being penalizing people who are also using [42:07] it to threaten. So, sometimes, people will threaten, I will create this image of you. [42:11] And that could even be counted under the Take It Down Act. So, it is a big change in legislation. [42:17] In Minnesota, they recently passed a bill that actually prevents the technology itself. So, [42:21] one thing that I've often talked to and tell people is one of the big gaps we have is that the [42:25] technology itself didn't seem to be illegal. So, while creating the imagery is now considered [42:31] like universally across the U.S. against the law, the technology itself is now beginning to, [42:35] in August, the law will go into effect, banning the technology of notification apps. [42:40] Right. Because I know a lot of your reporting has been looking at the [42:43] financial incentives here. And it seems like, if people are able to make money [42:47] making these products and selling those products, that's the essential nut to crack here. [42:52] Yeah. I often like to say, I don't think the people who create the technology, [42:57] make the websites, the apps, and the services, are necessarily always in it for the love of the [43:01] game. There are... It's a little bit of a whack-a-mole situation. And the kind of reporting that we do, [43:06] we try to identify the people who are behind those websites, who are profiting off the websites, [43:11] people paying for those services, to get them shut down. Because it's still a very taboo topic to say [43:17] that I own one of those websites, right? So, our reporting hopefully gets so shut down. But, [43:22] ultimately, at the end of the day, if people are no longer able to make money off of these sites, [43:26] and they're not pulling in the, unfortunately, multi-million dollar industry that is [43:32] non-consensual deepfakes, I think they go on to something else. We've seen this time and time [43:36] again, particularly with a lot of people who are trying to get into the scene. They're getting into [43:40] it because they think they can make money from it. So, the harder we're able to crack down, or a term I [43:46] like to say is creating friction, we add friction to the process. The harder we make it for people to be able to [43:51] access that technology, to pay for that technology, for people to profit off that technology, [43:55] we're going to be able to continue to, like, try to nip this problem in the bud. [43:59] That is Colina Koltai of Bellingcat. Thank you so much for sharing your [44:03] very troubling journalism with us. Thank you for having me. [44:08] We'll be back shortly with a Brief But Spectacular take from Chef Melissa King, [44:23] but first, take a moment to hear from your local PBS station. It's a chance to offer your support, [44:28] which helps to keep programs like the NewsHour on the air. For those of you staying with us, [44:48] returning now to our problem facing coastal areas across the world that's rising sea levels. [44:53] One of those places is the world's largest city, Jakarta, Indonesia, home to some 42 million people. [44:59] As Fred to Sam Lazaro reports for our climate series, Tipping Point, [45:03] the Indonesian capital is rapidly sinking as climate change and overdevelopment collide. [45:12] In Jakarta's north, only a seawall stands between this mega city and the Java Sea, holding back the [45:19] tides, but not always, especially between October and April, as the rainy season and rising seas collide. [45:28] Entire neighborhoods are submerged, motorbikes stall in water, and children find new joy in the streets, [45:37] filled with contaminated floodwaters. For millions, like 35-year-old Ratini, who, [45:43] like many Indonesians, goes by just one name, this flooding is now routine. [45:48] The water can reach thigh-high. Cars and motorcycles can't enter the area. [45:53] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, She's spent her entire life here and cares for a family of seven. [46:00] It's difficult for everyone, because when there's a flood, it's hard to make a living for me and the [46:05] children. FRED DE SAM LAZARO, When we visited, one son was sick, a reminder of the flood's season's impact. [46:11] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, We often get sick during floods. [46:16] Everything becomes chaotic. Sometimes electricity goes out as well. [46:19] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, Her husband, like many here, support the family by collecting scrap, [46:25] earning roughly $6 a day. During floods, that's slashed in half. [46:30] About 40 percent of Jakarta is below sea level, and it's estimated nearly half of the city could be [46:37] inundated and uninhabitable by 2050. Water is everywhere in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 [46:47] islands. Farmers here depend on the rains to flood rice paddies that help feed the world's fourth most [46:53] populous country. But in the densely populated capital, water is no longer a lifeline. It's a threat. [47:00] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, It's reached the second floor. [47:04] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, M. Abdul Bayit, with one of Indonesia's most prominent environmental groups, [47:09] showed us the impact years of flooding has had in Ratani's neighborhood. [47:13] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, This is proof that Jakarta has sunk below sea level here. [47:18] This used to be a two-story house. [47:20] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, Nearby, this submerged mosque has become a symbol of what's been [47:25] lost in the world's largest Muslim-majority country, its dome disappearing over recent years. [47:32] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, The capital city has been sinking as much as six inches per year, [47:37] and at the same time, sea levels have risen about four inches in the last three decades. [47:43] That's led to more severe flooding, in 2020 reaching record levels that killed more than 60 [47:50] and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. Decades of growth has depleted groundwater, [47:56] slowly hollowing out the land and causing it to sink. [47:59] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, During the 1970s and 80s, there was massive development, [48:05] especially in industrial and commercial areas. That level of construction required huge amounts [48:11] of water. FRED DE SAM LAZARO, And the glittering high-rises that now stretch out for miles [48:16] add to the burden. FRED DE SAM LAZARO, Most structures are made of concrete. [48:21] The weight of those buildings adds significant pressure to the land. [48:24] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, This construction covered wetlands and mangrove swamps. [48:28] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, It is no longer ecologically functional. Jakarta is like a sponge. If the [48:35] sponge is sealed, it can no longer absorb water, and, eventually, it collapses. [48:40] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, By law, a third of Jakarta is supposed to be green open space. [48:45] In reality, Bates says it's less than 5 percent, leaving rainwater nowhere to go. Trash and debris [48:53] often block existing drainage points. [48:55] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, Flooding in Jakarta has a huge [48:59] impact on people, especially those living in slums and densely populated areas. [49:04] This is deeply unfair. They are not the ones causing the flooding, yet they suffer the most. [49:09] Tidal flooding is the worst. Luckily, this house is on stilts now. [49:16] We couldn't cook at all. We even had to boil water using candles. [49:20] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, Karitem, Atini's mother, lost her nearby home to flooding [49:25] and moved in with her daughter. They feel safe, for now, a level above the street. [49:30] TALIA TALIA, After the embankment was built, [49:35] we don't get flooded as much. The water is black now, so it feels much safer. [49:39] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, The government began building coastal defenses and pumps in the early 2000s. [49:46] Today, roughly nine miles of seawall protect parts of the shoreline. [49:51] The government announced plans for a massive 435-mile seawall project. [49:57] And in 2019, Indonesia also announced plans to move its capital, now on the island of Java, [50:04] to Borneo, a transition scheduled for 2028. [50:08] Pitched as a green, futuristic city by former President Joko Widodo, [50:13] it was meant to ease Jakarta's burden. But progress has been slow. Only parts are built, [50:19] mainly government offices and housing, with few residents so far. And environmental and [50:26] indigenous groups warn the project could endanger one of the world's largest surviving tropical [50:31] rainforests. Bayits wants to see existing laws about green space enforced and local communities [50:38] consulted to find the solutions, instead of what he calls top-down big infrastructure projects. [50:44] BAYIT SAYS, This is not a long-term solution. [50:49] Sea water gradually erodes concrete. And over time, it will weaken and fail. In fact, [50:55] it could become a time bomb. People may feel safe because the wall is there, [50:59] but it does not eliminate the risk. If a larger disaster happens, the impact could be far worse. [51:05] FRED DE SAM LAZARO, In a city that has adapted to the sea since its very beginning 500 years ago, [51:12] BAYIT SAYS THAT SKILL WILL BE PUT TO ITS SEVEREST TEST IN GENERATIONS TO COME. [51:18] FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR, I'M FRED DE SAM LAZARO. [51:20] FROM MICHELIN-STARRED KITCHENS TO GUEST STARRING ON SESAME STREET, [51:38] CHEF MELISSA KING HAS DONE IT ALL, INCLUDING BREAKING RECORDS ON TOP CHEF. [51:42] TONIGHT, SHE SHARES HER BRIEF BUT SPECTACULAR TAKE ON FOOD IDENTITY AND THE FAMILY RECIPES BEHIND HER DEBUT BOOK, [51:49] COOK LIKE A KING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MOM GIVES THEIR CHILD A CHINESE PEAT CLEAVER FOR THEIR BIRTHDAY, [51:55] BUT MY MOM GAVE ME ONE WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD. I REMEMBER DOING EVERYTHING WITH THAT KNIFE. [52:04] THAT WAS WHAT I WOULD SLICE BOK CHOI WITH AND JULIA AND GINGER. I WAS LIKE, I AM GOING TO BE A CHEF. [52:10] I KNOW THAT I WANT TO COOK. I LOVE FOOD SO MUCH. I NEVER REALLY SEEN ANYONE THAT LOOKED LIKE ME [52:20] THAT COOKED OTHER THAN JULIA CHILD AND MARTIN YEN. I WATCHED THEM OBSESSIVELY ON PBS AS A KID. [52:28] AND IT WAS SEEING A WOMAN AND AN ASIAN MAN COOKING. THAT WAS EVERYTHING. BY LIKE AGE 10 OR SO, [52:35] I WAS COOKING FOR THE FAMILY. MY PARENTS WOULD COME HOME LATE FROM WORK. I WAS PUTTING DINNER ON THE TABLE. [52:41] I WENT TO A TRADITIONAL COLLEGE. THEN I WENT TO CULINARY SCHOOL AND THEN MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO, [52:46] BUILT MY CAREER IN MICHELIN STAR KITCHENS OUT HERE AND I NEVER LOOKED BACK. I WENT ON A SHOW [52:53] CALLED TOP CHEF. I COMPETED TWICE. AFTER I CAME OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE, SO MANY PEOPLE REACHED OUT AND [53:00] THEY TOLD ME HOW THEY WERE SO PROUD OF ME AND THEY SAW AN ASIAN WOMAN COOKING IN A KITCHEN, A QUEER WOMAN. [53:09] YOU KNOW, THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYONE LIKE ME ON TELEVISION. AND SO IT KIND OF GOT ME THINKING BACK TO [53:16] MARTIN YEN AND JULIA CHILD AND WHEN I WAS A KID AND SEEING THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATION. [53:20] MY COOKBOOK IS CALLED COOK LIKE A KING AND IT'S EMBRACING CHINESE CALIFORNIAN DISHES. [53:26] A LOT OF THESE DISHES ARE THINGS THAT I MADE WITH MY GRANDMA. YOU KNOW, I WOULD [53:29] CRIMP DUMPLINGS WITH HER IN THE KITCHEN AND HANG OUT WITH MY MOM AND WE WOULD STEAM [53:36] A CHINESE EGG CUSTARD WITH CLAMS. THERE'S A TAIWANESE POPCORN CHICKEN DISH IN THERE AND THAT'S [53:41] SOMETHING THAT I USED TO EAT AT BOBA SHOPS IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WON THE COOKBOOKS HERE. [53:48] I HAVE WANTED A COOKBOOK SINCE I CAN REMEMBER. I REMEMBER RECEIVING IT IN THE MAIL AND I OPENED [53:56] IT UP AND I JUST LIKE STARTED CRYING. JUST CRIED BECAUSE IT'S A JOURNEY FIRST OF ALL TO EVEN MAKE THE [54:02] BOOK BUT TO BE ABLE TO TELL A LITTLE BITS OF MY LIFE AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE A FOOD MEMOIR. [54:09] YOU SEE THE JOURNEY AND THE LIFE THAT I'VE LIVED THROUGH THE RECIPES. I HAD THESE FOODS IN MY [54:15] LUNCHBOX AS A KID THAT OFTENTIMES MADE ME A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO BRING, YOU KNOW, DUMPLINGS TO [54:21] SCHOOL OR MY MOM'S LEFT OVER FRIED RICE AND HERE I AM EMBRACING IT AND FEELING PROUD AND BEING IN A [54:29] POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. MY NAME IS MELISSA KING AND THIS IS MY BRIEF BUT SPECTACULAR TAKE [54:37] ON COOKING WITH PRIDE. YOU CAN WATCH MORE BRIEF BUT SPECTACULAR [54:42] VIDEOS ONLINE AT PBS.ORG SLASH NEWSHOUR SLASH BRIEF. AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. I'M JEFF BENNET. [54:48] FOR ALL OF US HERE AT THE NEWSHOUR, THANKS FOR SPENDING PART OF YOUR EVENING WITH US. [54:51] MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE JUDY AND PETER BLOOM KOVLER FOUNDATION, [55:00] UPHOLDING FREEDOM BY STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACIES AT HOME AND ABROAD. FRIENDS OF THE NEWSHOUR, [55:07] INCLUDING ROBERT S. KAPLAN AND WENDY J. SELBIN THROUGH THE RAYMOND JAMES CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT FUND. [55:14] ART COLLINS AND SOFIA SHAW THROUGH THE ARTHUR D. COLLINS JUNIOR FOUNDATION AND GEORGE D. HANBY III. [55:22] THE FORD FOUNDATION, WORKING WITH VISIONARIES ON THE FRONT LINES OF SOCIAL CHANGE WORLDWIDE. [55:28] THE JOHN D. AND CATHERINE T. MCARTHUR FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO BUILDING A MORE JUST, [55:39] VERDANT, AND PEACEFUL WORLD. MORE INFORMATION AT MACFOUND.ORG. [55:46] AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS. THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE [55:56] BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.