GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "NewsHour" tonight: Emergency# workers and civilian.. survivors in the rubble a day after two# devastating earthquakes hit Venezuela.

GEOFF BENNETT: We speak with# Republican Governor Mike DeWine,## who's criticized the Supreme Court ruling# allowing the Trump administration to end## Temporary Protected Status# for thousands of migrants.

AMNA NAWAZ: And a new opera# in Cincinnati celebrates## the resilience and richness of the Black# American experience for a new generation.

MORRIS ROBINSON, Artistic Adviser, Cincinnati# Opera: When are we going to have something in## the operatic world that has the same impact on the# op.. industry?

And that's the idea that kind of started# the ball rolling on the Black Opera Project.

(BREAK) AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "News Hour."

A day after two of the deadliest# earthquakes in Venezuela's history,## the race to save lives is becoming a race# against time.

Rescue crews are digging## through mountains of rubble, searching# for survivors believed to be trapped.

GEOFF BENNETT: More than 900 people are# now confirmed dead, and tens of thousands## remain missing.

As international aid# teams rush into the disaster zone,## the true scale of this unfolding# crisis is only starting to emerge.

Our Nick Schifrin starts our coverage tonight.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Today in Venezuela, the destruction# is debilitating.

Rescue workers drill through## the damage to find the living still pinned# down two days later.

But, in this tragedy,## so many did not survive.

The dead now line# the road because the hospital morgue is full.

The number of missing is overwhelming.# Family members write the name of loved## ones on a hospital door.

And the missing are# also listed online.

This Web site includes## more than 50,000 names, 83-year-old# Ivan Martinez, siblings Crixander,## Elvismar, and Antonella, Jahelys and her# two children, Jorgelis and her son Jadiel.

The grief and desperation feels# insurmountable.

Nazareth Jimenez's## brother and his entire family are# somewhere under their now-pancaked home.

NAZARETH JIMENEZ, La Guaira, Venezuela,# Resident (through translator): My brother,## my sister-in-law, my niece, my.. and friends are in there.

I got here# yesterday at 4:00 in the afternoon,## and nothing has happened.

They haven't cleared# anything.

Where's the help?

I don't see it.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Others have lost everything.# Omar Reyes walks through the devastation## and calls out for his missing wife# and children.

There is no response.## And as he walks on the rubble in his# sandals, there is no home left either.

OMAR REYES, La Guaira, Venezuela, Resident# (through translator): More than 20 of## my relatives have died.

I have been left# practicall.. NICK SCHIFRIN: It is Venezuela's worst natural# disaster in more than a century, twin 7.2## and 7.5 earthquakes that crumbled buildings, the# scenes from the capital, Caracas, apocalyptic,## and the most damage to La Guaira north to# Caracas.

Entire blocks look like they have## been blown apart, entire buildings collapsed,# the state now placed under military control.

The damage appears worst closest to the# coast.

It looks like the city's been bombed,## buildings blown open.

The toll# is immense.

Caracas' hospitals## are now overflowing.

Many patients# are being treated in the courtyard.

BEATRIZ OCHOA, Norwegian Refugee Council:# I grew up in Mexico alongside the Pacific## Ocean.

And I grew up with earthquakes.

And this# was something I have never experienced before,## the magnitude, but also the length.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Beatriz Ochoa is the Norwegian# Refugee Council's Latin America he.. BEATRIZ OCHOA: We just went under the frame of## our bedroom.

It was not stopping.# And I just felt like, this is it.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Already, before the# earthquake, nearly eight million Venezuelans,## or more than one-quarter of the country,# depended on humanitarian assistance,## including food, water, and health.# Now people are sleeping on the street,## either because they're homeless# or too scared to sleep inside.

BEATRIZ OCHOA: People need a safe place# to sleep.

People will need clean water.## We don't want diseases to be spread.

People# need at this moment hot meals, and, of course,## children particularly will need to# recover and to have a sense of normality.

NICK SCHIFRIN: How much need is there right now# in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes?

BEATRIZ OCHOA: There is a lot of need.

The country## was already struggling.

Recovering will# be hard.

And that's why we need support## from all over the world so that people# can recover sooner, rather than later.

NICK SCHIFRIN: That support is beginning to# show up.

Search-and-rescue teams from Spain,## as well as the United States and# a handful of other countries,## arrived today.

And the U.S.

military# is beginning to deliver $150 million## worth of humanitarian assistance# overseen by a two-star Marine general.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: We're helping Venezuela.

They## had a tremendous earthquake,# a lot of people killed and## unbelievable, right in Caracas.

And we# have a lot of people over there helping.

NICK SCHIFRIN: State TV showed acting# President Delcy Rodriguez handing out## local aid.

But the needs are great.# Many places have received no help,## and Venezuelans are overwhelmed# by a wave of devastation.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Nick Schifrin.

GEOFF BENNETT: For more on# the devastation in Venezuela,## we're joined now from Caracas by Feature# Story News reporter Andreina Fermin,## who has been covering the# disaster from the ground there.

So, you are in Caracas, as we said, as# this disaster continues to unfold.

Give## us a sense of what you have seen# and heard on the ground today.

ANDREINA FERMIN, Feature Story News: I have seen# the people on the street trying to find supplies,## trying to find water, trying to find# food.

So they are expecting more help.

That is because Caracas and La# Guaira has received help right now,## but the other states need it the most, because# they haven't received a few help until now.

GEOFF BENNETT: The U.S.

has deployed# elite search-and-rescue teams as part## of the international response.

What impact# is that support having or expected to have?

ANDREINA FERMIN: Well, the people in Venezuela# is really grateful for all the assistance.

We expect from the U.S.

all the help that they can# do, because we need it the most at this moment.## It's no -- it's a reality for Venezuela that# we have been suffering from an economic crisis,## a social crisis, a political crisis that has hit# the country before -- even before this earthquake,## and now the situation is even# worse after the earthquake.

GEOFF BENNETT: How have those challenges,# the economic crisis, the political upheaval,## how have those challenges affected Venezuela's# ability to respond to this current disaster?

ANDREINA FERMIN: It has been really difficult for# Venezuelans to respond to this disaster, because## we have a health care system that has been hit# very hard for the economic crisis in Venezuela.

We have lost doctors who have left the country.# We have to remember that the crisis in Venezuela## is really hard, and now they have to recover# after all this without work or without money## or without savings or without a house to# continue in this -- after this crisis.

GEOFF BENNETT: Feature Story# News reporter Andreina Fermin## reporting tonight from Caracas, Venezuela.

Andreina, thank you for your time.

ANDREINA FERMIN: Thanks, you guys.

AMNA NAWAZ:## A Supreme Court ruling this week cleared the way## for the Trump administration to end Temporary# Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians,## leaving thousands of refugees suddenly# without legal immigration status.

One of the states that could# face the biggest impact is Ohio,## where more than 10,000 Haitian migrants# have settled.

The state's Republican## Governor Mike DeWine has called# the move -- quote -- "a mistake."

For more on the ruling and what it# means for communities in his state,## I am joined now by Governor Mike DeWine.

Governor, welcome back to the# "News Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

GOV.

MIKE DEWINE (R-OH): Good# to be back.

Thank you very much.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, as you know, revoking TPS# is a big part of the Tru.. immigration crackdown.

A court now says# they do have the authority to do that.## Why do you think that's a mistake?

GOV.

MIKE DEWINE: Well, I think the## policy is wrong.

The policy is wrong.

What I'm seeing specifically in Springfield and# in Ohio, you talked about a number of Haitians## who have come in.

You're seeing in Springfield a# city that is coming back.

It's been coming back## for the last few years.

And, frankly, one of# the reasons it's come back is because of the## Haitians who have been there to fill jobs# that were simply not being filled at all.

And that's what the employers will tell you.# That's what the mayor -- the mayor issued another## statement yesterday, and he's consistently# said that these Haitians are buying homes,## they're opening businesses, they're# working, and they're trying to -- some## of them raised raise their family there.# They're contributing to the community.

That's what the mayor of Springfield# is saying.

And my observation is,## he's absolutely right.

So when all of these# individuals who are there with TPS -- now,## not all the Haitians.

Some of# them have other legal status,## but a significant number of them are under the# TPS, which, of course, means, with this ruling,## of course -- now, and I don't -- look, I# don't argue with the Supreme Court's decision.

They were interpreting a statute that was# written by Congress, which basically says that## the courts cannot interfere with# that decision, that designation,## such as the administration made.

My point is# about policy.

And I have consistently said this.

This is bad for Ohio.

This is# a job killer for Ohio.

It's a## job killer for Springfield.# It's not good for our state.

AMNA NAWAZ: Can I put to you, Governor, what# we have heard from the administration on this,## which is something we heard Stephen Miller# of the White House say yesterday when asked## about whether or not it is safe for Haitians# to go back to Haiti.

Here's what he said.

STEPHEN MILLER, White House Deputy Chief of Staff:## The fact that there might be pockets of.. guess what?

There's pockets of Chicago with crime# rates just as high, right?

There's pockets of## cities like St.

Louis with crime just as high,# pockets of Los Angeles crime just as high.

It has never been the case that# having communities that have high## crime rates is a basis for asylum.# Never has been.

It never will be.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, Governor, the White House says# it's safe for Haitians to go back.

And they also## say this was meant to be a temporary status.# It's in the name and it's been in some cases## extended for years and years.

What's# your response to what they're saying?

GOV.

MIKE DEWINE: Well, to say it's# safe to go to Haiti is absurd.

And to## say compare it to Chicago I think is# -- it doesn't make any sense at all.

Look, I have a lot of contacts in Haiti.

We work# with people in Haiti.

We have a school down there,## my wife and I do.

And we have# traveled there 20, 25 times,## and we have a lot of contact there.

It is# worse today in Haiti than it's ever been.

It never was very good.

The only time, frankly,## it was good is when the U.S.

Marines were# down there, and they did a phenomenal,## absolutely phenomenal job.

But the situation# is just absolutely terrible.

People are## killed every single day.

The gangs run --# basically run a good part of the country.

And we're talking now in Port-au-Prince.

We're# talking about the Capitol.

You cannot fly into## Port-au-Prince with a U.S.

carrier because a U.S.# carrier will not go into Port-au-Prince.

Why?## Because the gangs shoot at the planes when they# come in.

No, it's a horrible, horrible situation.

So nobody who knows anything about Haiti can# say that the situation is improved.

In fact,## it's gotten a lot worse.

Good evidence of that is# the Haitians who I have talked to who knew that## they would have to leave or thought they might# have to leave.

There wasn't anybody I have talked## to that said they were going back to Haiti.# They're going to try to find some -- anyplace## else to go to where they can work and support# their family, but they're not going back there.

AMNA NAWAZ: Governor, if I can ask# you as well, you mentioned the mayor## in Springfield.

My colleague William Brangham# was on the ground there a little over a year## ago speaking to folks in the community.

He# met with Haitians who had settled there.

He talked to some companies who said they# were very happy to have people fill the jobs## and to fill communities that had been# somewhat abandoned.

But the mayor also## said at the time that services were being# taxed, right?

People needed some support,## language translation services in the# schools and the hospitals and the clinics.

And he said it was stretching resources.# So what's the balance there to you?

GOV.

MIKE DEWINE: Well, look, that's true.# It was a big influx within a relatively## short period of time.

And we have worked# with the mayor to try to try to help them.

So, certainly, schools have Haitian children# in there, and that is an additional cost if## they don't speak the language.

But the# interesting thing about the employers,## despite the fact that there was a language# barrier, despite the fact there's a culture## barrier, employers were hiring them, and they# were hiring them because they had jobs to fill.

And there's a multiplier effect.

Some of these# companies told me, we were able to put on a second## shift because of the Haitians.

Some had told me# that we're able to take on bigger projects, sell## more goods, whatever it is that they were selling.# That has a multiplier effect in the economy.

Because of that economic activity, other# people will get jobs because of that.

So,## yes, it is a challenge that the city of# Springfield has taken on.

They've done a very,## very good job.

But I think if# you ask the businesspeople,## if you ask the mayor what is going to happen,# the answer is, when these individuals who no## longer have TPS status, when they don't# have TPS status, they cannot be employed.

So, they're not -- they're going to be unemployed,## and many of them have already left.

Some# of them the -- rest of them will have to## leave at some point and try to find some# country where they can actually work.

I mean, the big picture for Ohio is this.# We are a red-hot state.

We are bringing in## companies all the time to Ohio.

The real# question today is, do we have the people## to fill them?

So we've put a great deal# of effort on education, on job training.

We have put a great deal of effort on career# tech, as well as focusing on colleges,## because they need all of the above.# But without immigrants coming in,## it's going to be hard.

It's going to be harder# for us to fill these jobs.

If you look at the## increase in population in Ohio -- and we are now# going up for the first time in a number of years.

If you look at that, probably three-fourths of## that is a direct result of immigrants.

If# you look at some of the people who are... AMNA NAWAZ: Governor, well, there's so# much more to talk about around this.

GOV.

MIKE DEWINE: Yes, I'm sorry.

AMNA NAWAZ: No, I really appreciate your time.

GOV.

MIKE DEWINE: Yes.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I hope you'll come bac.. us as we follow the impact.

We'll# have to leave it there.. That is Republican Governor Mike# DeWine of Ohio joining us tonight.

Thank you, sir.

GOV.

MIKE DEWINE: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: Our Nick Schifrin is back with# us n.. where the U.S.

conducted new strikes in response## to what President Trump said was# Iran's violation of the cease-fire.

Nick, what more can you tell us?

NICK SCHIFRIN: Geoff, a U.S.# official tells me toni.. six U.S.

aircraft attacked four Iranian# targets, Iranian radar installations,## as well as missile and drone storage# in Sirik on the Strait of Hormuz.

Now, the military calls the strikes a response to# an Iranian attack yesterday on the container ship## Ever Lovely south of Sirik off Oman's coast.# You see it, the red dot right there.

And now,## tonight, Iran vowing another response that# in their words would be swift and decisive.

GEOFF BENNETT: So does this threaten to# derail the effort at U.S.

and Iran diplomacy?

NICK SCHIFRIN: I mean, the memorandum# of understanding says hostilities will## stop.

So the more military action you get,# clearly, the more that challenges diplomacy.

Iran called tonight's action a reckless# violation of the cease-fire.

The U.S.## says Iran violated the cease-fire by attacking# that ship.

But there's a bigger problem here,## Geoff.

Iran is trying to maintain its choke# hold on the strait, not only by attacking that## ship yesterday, but also demanding that other# ships use a route through the strait close to## its border in the north, that's in orange there,# instead of the route the U.S.

wants near Oman.

That route is in yellow.

So President# Trump's trying to use these military## strikes tonight to convince Iran to# open the strait once and for all,## as President Trump warned that he would.

But# it is not clear if it's enough.

It's not clear## if Iran is even interested in giving up the# leverage that it has gained during the war,## which is that -- its ability to open# and close the strait whenever it wants.

Tonight, just now, Vice President Vance sent a# message, look, if Iran has a problem -- quote## -- "Pick up the phone," but -- quote --# "Violence will be met with more violence."

GEOFF BENNETT: All right, Nick# Schifrin, thanks, as always.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: In the day's other headlines:# Former U.S.

National Security Adviser John## Bolton pleaded guilty today to a single count# of illegally retaining classified information.

The former Trump administration# official turned Trump critic## appeared at a federal court in Maryland# and said he was sorry for his actions.## Bolton faced 18 counts related to his# handling of classified information,## including accusations that he shared notes# with family members while writing a memoir.

Outside the courthouse, prosecutors said,## Bolton -- quote -- "put our# national security at grave risk."

KELLY O. HAYES, U.S.

Attorney For the# District of Maryland: No one is above## the law.

And I hope that this prosecution# sends a clea.. investigate and prosecute individuals# who violate our national security laws.

AMNA NAWAZ: As part of the deal, Bolton will# pay more than two million dollars in fines and## could face up to five years in prison.# His sentencing is set for October 28.

The House Oversight Committee has served# subpoenas to billionaire investor Leon## Black after he refused to answer some# questions during voluntary testimony## today about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.# The former head of Apollo Global Management## denied any criminal wrongdoing, saying# he was deceived by the late sex offender.

Black maintained a years-long relationship# with Epstein and paid him a reported $158## million in fees between 2012 and 2017.

But in his# opening statement, Black said he was unaware of## Epstein's nefarious activity until later, saying# -- quote -- "I knew Jekyll.

I didn't know Hyde."

Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement# today aimed at ending the fighting between the## Israelis and Hezbollah.

No details were# made public, but an Israeli official told## the Associated Press that talks have addressed# a redeployment of Israeli forces inside Lebanon## after the territory is cleared of Hezbollah# infrastructure and the militant group is disarmed.

Flanked by the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors# in Washington today, Secretary of State Marco## Rubio called the new document a first step# toward peace.

Israel's representative agreed.

YECHIEL LEITER, Israeli Ambassador to the# United States: In this performance-based## trilateral framework agreement,# Iran is out, Hezbollah is out,## and the road to peace between# Israel and Lebanon is in.

AMNA NAWAZ: Earlier in the day, plumes of smoke# could be seen near the Lebanese city of Nabatieh## after the latest Israeli airstrikes there.

That# is in spite of a cease-fire with Hezbollah.## The Iran-backed group has not been a# party to the U.S.-mediated talks and## has said it will not agree to any plan that# would include its disarmament or removal.

Russia's military says it intercepted# more than 600 Ukrainian drones overnight,## as Kyiv launched one of its largest attacks since# the start of the war.

Drones targeted more than a## dozen regions and Russian-occupied Crimea seen in# this footage released by the Ukrainian military.## Russian officials in Crimea declared a state# of emergency amid a rise in Ukrainian attacks.

In the meantime, in Eastern Ukraine, local# officials say a Russian attack injured at## least seven people and damaged several# buildings in Zaporizhzhia.

Also today,## there were scenes of joy and relief, as# the latest prisoner swap saw 160 service## members head home from each side.# President Volodymyr Zelensky says## almost all of the Ukrainian prisoners# had been in captivity since 2022.

The heat wave sweeping Europe this week is# the most severe and widespread ever recorded.## That's according to a study published today# by the World Weather Attribution Group made## up of scientists and climate experts.# The U.N.

'S weather agency says the## deadly heat wave will move east this weekend,# carrying more record-breaking temperatures.

CLARE NULLIS, Spokesperson, World Meteorological# Organization: Just to remind you, we're in June.## We are in June.

We're seeing heat levels which# would be more typical of late July, of August.

AMNA NAWAZ: And the records keep falling, with# the U.K.

breaking its June temperature record## for the third strait day.

Spain also saw# new all-time June highs this week.

Health## authorities there estimate more than 300 deaths# could be attributed to heat.

The Netherlands## closed many schools and some government# operations to avoid unnecessary heat exposure.

And at Rome's famous Colosseum,## local authorities are using mist to# try to bring some relief to visitors.

In World Cup action, all three host nations,# Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., are advancing## to the knockout round, even though Team USA# lost to Turkiye late last night.

France and## Norway are also moving forward.

They played each# other this afternoon, with France winning 4-1.

Also today, Senegal easily defeated Iraq# 5 goals to none to stay in the running for## a place in the Round of 32.

The knockout# stage of the tournament starts on Sunday.

On Wall Street today, stocks ended slightly# lower, as A.I.

shares continue to weigh on the## markets.

The Dow Jones industrial average slipped# just over 40 points.

The Nasdaq fell 60 points,## or about a quarter of 1 percent.

The S&P 500# also closed out the week just to touch lower.

Still to come on the "News Hour": more public# school districts across the country limit screen## time for students; David Brooks and Jonathan# Capehart weigh in on the week's political## headlines; and the WNBA suspends a player# for a foul against league star Caitlin Clark.

GEOFF BENNETT: This week, the nation's second# largest school district, Los Angeles Unified,## imposed strict new limits on screen# time for its roughly 400,000 students.

As William Brangham reports, it's# just the latest example of a growing## backlash against technology in# classrooms across the country.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: That's right, Geoff.

L.A., for -- like many districts, for years# worked aggressiv.. the hands of students to get Chromebooks and# iPads into the classrooms.

But this new policy,## one of the most aggressive in the# country, marks a dramatic shift.

No screen time will be allowed before# second grade, and older students will## see sharp limits, six hours per week# for middle schoolers and 10 hours,## including homework time, for high schoolers.

So to help understand these new rules and the# rationale behind them, we are joined by Nick## Melvoin.

He's a member of the Los Angeles School# Board, and he sponsored this new screen time rule.

Nick, thank you so much for being here.

Just a decade ago, Los Angeles was spending# hundreds of millions of dollars to get## technology into the classrooms.

And now there is# this abrupt shift.

How did we get to this point?

NICK MELVOIN, Board Member, Los Angeles Unified# School District: Well, thanks for having me.

And I think, as policymakers, particularly when# it comes to students' educations and livelihoods,## we have an opportunity when we know better# to do better.

And like you mentioned,## L.A.

was a real pioneer when it came to trying## to bridge the digital divide with# laptops and devices and Internet.

And it was a blessing that we were, because,# during COVID, of course, that was a lifeline## for the hundreds of thousands of students who rely# -- who relied on those in L.A.

for any education.

But since we returned to school in person,# and I spend time every week in classrooms,## I was struck by kind of the overreliance# we had on technology in schools.

First,## students who were on their cell phones, I# brought the resolution to ban smartphones## in L.A.

Unified a couple years ago, and# we just actually had the results of a## survey of our teachers that came back this# week that said over 90 percent of teachers## report that engagement is up, mental health# challenges are down when it came to cell phones.

But I still was seeing so many kids# on screens for hours a day.

And so## I just thought it was important for us to# recalibrate and reset students' relationship## with technology as we return to school# and as we think about the next 10 years.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So, how will# these limits work in practice?## Are teachers going to keep a stopwatch# of how much screen time is going to## happen for the young students?# How are they going to do this?

NICK MELVOIN: Well, so the idea, not unlike# our cell phone policy, is not to start with## the punitive, but really the instructive and# try to win hearts and minds, if you will.

And this was developed with educators in# mind.

You know, we are a first mover here.## It was after my resolution came out that# the surgeon general's office had suggested## screen time limits.

But other than that, there's# really no district that has a policy like this.

And so it was an iterative process# with our teachers.

And, again,## the idea is not to be punitive, but# to recalibrate and revert back to## not technology being the default, but# being an instructional tool, just that.

And so, at elementary school, it is# more restrictive.

In high school,## it presumes the fact that you're# going to have certain classes,## like a computer science or graphic# design, that may require more## screen time.

But the idea is that teachers just# need to think about that more holistically.

And if they're assigning research# that's going to be online for homework,## they should limit the amount of time that kids# are on screens during the day.

There's not a## punitive piece in place like a teacher log.

We# want to respect educators are professionals.

This is about the amount of time that kids are# sitting with a screen, knowing how much screen## time they may be getting outside of the school# day.

We want to make sure that we take a -- put## a stake in the ground in how much they should be# sitting in front of screens during the school day.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, some of your# critics have argued that this doesn't## make a clear distinction between harmful# screen time, playing games or apps or## things that are not educational, and# screen time use that is educational.

And it goes back to this original# question.

Do you worry that this could## exacerbate the digital divide# between wealthier districts,## where kids could have access to screens# more often at home, and poorer districts?

NICK MELVOIN: Well, what I was responding to# -- and my teaching career began in South L.A.,## where we saw this digital divide.# And I should be clear that this## policy still encourages families who# need devices and Internet to opt in.

The district will continue providing that# for families who need it, but it won't be## the default option.

And what we see is that# students from lower-income backgrounds,## because their parents are working multiple jobs,## they're the ones who are, outside of the school# day, actually spending more time on screens.

They get home and there's a lot of# whether that's TV time or iPads or## devices.

And so there's an irony here,# because, from an equity perspective,## it's actually those students who are seeing the# deleterious effects of screens throughout the day.

And so I think this policy strikes the# right balance between saying we still## want to make sure that students who need# it have access to devices and Internet,## but we know that those students in need are# the ones who actually will benefit the most## from a new renewed focus on hands-on learning,# less time in front of a screen, going outdoors,## at the elementary school level, in# particular, more play-based learning.

That was my hope of this.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: More than a dozen# states have been following your lead## here.

The previous surgeon general warned# against screen time for young people.

Do you think this is the beginning of a vanguard,# of a pushback against technology in classes?

NICK MELVOIN: I do.

I think, like I said at the .. I think that L.A.

Unified is leading what# will be a nationwide, if not global charge## to recalibrate and think differently about# the promise of ed tech and focus on that## tactile hands-on learning and the mental health# benefits for kids when they're off of screens.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is Nick Melvoin# of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Thank you so much for being here.

NICK MELVOIN: Thanks for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT:## President Trump once again upends# the GOP's agenda in Congress,## and progressive Democrats swept the# Democratic primaries in New York.

To discuss that and more,## we turn tonight to Brooks and Capehart# .

That's "The Atlant.. who joins us tonight from the Aspen Institute's# Ideas Festival, and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW.

It's great to see you both.

So, Congress passed the most significan.. overwhelming bipartisan support in the House# and Senate.

President Trump abruptly cancels## the ceremonial bill signing because he's upset# that Congress won't embrace his elections bill.

With affordability being the defining issue# of both parties heading into November, what is## it -- what do you make of this president walking# away from what could have been a victory lap?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: And let's not forget just# how big the vote was for this housing bill in## the Senate, 85-5.

When was the last time# you heard of any bill passing the Senate,## especially the configuration# of this Senate, by that much?

This was something Republicans desperately# wanted.

It was something that they would be## able to run on in the midterms.

Some were# already crowing about it on social media,## and then the president lowers the hammer over a# fit of pique over whatever it was in that moment.

And now they all have to run away from it.# There's -- we don't even know if the speaker## has or when he's going to transmit the bill# to the White House so that the 10-day clock## can start ticking.

This, to me -- I# can't remember who I heard say this.## But they said it seems that the president doesn't# care that much about a Republican majority.

What he cares about is dominance# over the Republican Party,## whatever the size of it is.

And if that's# the case, he very well might get his wish.

GEOFF BENNETT: David, what about that, the# president really being focused on being## the dominant player here, trying to use# this refusal to sign the housing bill as## leverage for this voter I.D.

bill that# is stalled in a Republican-led Senate?

DAVID BROOKS: Are you asking me if# Donald Trump is concerned about himself?

GEOFF BENNETT: Yes.

(LAUGHTER) DA.. I have been trying to go back through# history and think of a time where## somebody who -- an impulsive narcissist# got less chaotic or less impulsive as he## aged.

And I can't think of any times in# history.

The course of the behavior is## toward decay, and Trump is moving from# impulsivity to just chaos on that day.

And I think it's part of just the natural# process of the psychological deterioration## that happens to a lot of presidents.

But it's# also part of what's happened over the last## six months.

I don't think, that day, that# day when he canceled the signing ceremony## with like 90 minutes before it was supposed# to happen, when he ran off -- went off on a## tear about the things he's obsessed with,# I don't think it it's unrelated to Iran.

I think he understands, as everybody# within the administration must understand,## that this was one of the big defeats of# the last many decades.

Republicans know## it.

Democrats know it.

People in# the White House know it.

And so he## senses things sliding away from him, his# power weakening, his stature humiliated.

And I think it's leading him to behave in## much more obsessive ways than# even he has the last decade.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, let's shift our focus# to the outcome of the New York primaries,## because the candidates who were backed# by New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani## ousted two sitting House Democrats, to include# the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

And the House Democratic leader, Hakeem# Jeffries, he campaigned aggressively against## Mamdani's candidates and ended up losing.

So,# Jonathan, is this a genuine realignment of## the Democratic Party, or is this in many# ways specific to New York City politics?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: I think it's very specific# to New York City politics.

And let's have the## realignment conversation once we get# through the November general election.

But, even then, let's keep in mind, this# -- we're talking about congressional seats.## We're talking about seats within the five# boroughs of New York City.

If anything,## this shows that, yes, Mayor Mamdani is a# political force in New York City.

But is## Mayor Mamdani a political force outside# of the five boroughs of New York City?

Is he a political force in, say Maine or Iowa# or Michigan, Minnesota, in a purple district?## If a Democratic socialist wins in a non-blue# majority district or a purple district or even## in a red state, then let's have the conversation# about a realignment of the Democratic Party.

But this could -- this makes me think Speaker# Tip O'Neill's -- I think it was Speaker Tip## O'Neill who said all politics is local.

If# you are a politician right now in New York## City and you have got DSA behind your# name, your chances of getting elected## are much greater than they were when# I lived there 20-something years ago.

GEOFF BENNETT: And let's talk# about that label DSA, because,## David, for a generation, a socialist was# the attack that Republicans hoped that## Democrats would walk into.

And now you have a# generation of Democrats, progressive Democrats,## who are claiming this title, this# Democratic socialist title outright.

They're declaring it with no apologies.

What# do you make of that generational split here?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I think there's# somewhat of a realignment going on.

The Democratic Party's heart and soul used# to be the labor movement.

It used to be the## unions.

It's not anymore.

The heart and soul# of the Democratic Party is the universities## and especially the elite universities.

And# so the candidate who won in New York 13,## Darializa Avila Chevalier, went to# Columbia, was an activist in the## Gaza protests.

She is a sociology Ph.D.,# or I think she's trying to get her Ph.D.

And she grows out of that place.

And# if you look at all the candidates## that -- the DSA candidates, where they# did well, they did very well in the## more affluent, the whiter and the better# educated parts of New York City.

And the## traditional candidates did well in the poorer# and more multiracial parts of New York City.

And so the faculty lounge has become# a strong part of the Democratic Party## and faculty lounge politics have become a# strong part of the Democratic Party.

And## that I think extends somewhat beyond New York# City.

You have Democratic socialist candidates## in Washington, D.C., mayoral race, around# the country.

You have other DSA candidates.

I don't think it's going to totally realign# the party.

There just aren't that many people## with sociology doctorates and people who respond# to this faculty lounge politics.

But there are## enough.

And I think one of the things that will# shift within the Democratic Party as a whole## is I think Israel will become a flash point# for whoever wants to be the nominee in 2028.

I think the Democratic Party is# really shifting strongly on that one,## I think on some of the economic issues.# Where I'm curious to see, if we go back to## no fund of police.

Avila Chevalier is a prison# abolitionist, and she's been asked repeatedly,## do you think murderers should serve time in# jail?

And she refuses to answer that question.

Democrats did very poorly a couple of years# ago because of the defund the police.

That## just seemed out of touch to a lot of people,# including a lot of Democrats.

And will the## party make that mistake again because the# -- where the energy is in the party is in## the DSA wing?

But hope for the long-term# elections is the traditional parts of the## party somehow getting some mojo and some# energy to match what they're up against.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, as you have got some# Democrats embracing the socialist title## and far left policies, you have got# J.D.

Vance embracing Richard Nixon.## He said this past week that# if Watergate happened today,## it would be a 12-hour news story and that# the idea it took down a presidency is crazy.

Listen to this.

J.D.

VANCE, Vice President of the United# States: I think that his historical legacy## is enjoying a bit of a renaissance, but I think# deservedly so.

As I joked with Robert backstage,## if Watergate happened tomorrow,# it would be like a 12-hour news## story.

The idea that it would have# taken down a presidency is crazy.

GEOFF BENNETT: Thoughts?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: So many, we don't# have an we don't.. Look, this isn't -- Nixon did not# fall because of the deep state,## which is what he said in another part of# that answer.

His presidency fell because## he had the one thing that Donald Trump has# never had, and that's a sense of shame.

When fellow Republicans went to President Nixon# and said, because of all the stuff you did,## bugging the DNC and all these criminal# acts, we are going to impeach you,## and rather than President Nixon suffering# the shame of being at the time what would## have been the first president impeached# in a very long time, he decided to resign.

That's not what we're dealing with here# with President Trump.

And certainly Vice## President Vance wrapping his arms around# Nixon is a very curious thing to do.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, he also# drew an explicit parallel## between himself and Richard# Nixon.

Here's another clip.

J.D.

VANCE: At a personal level,# OK,young senator, vice president,## writes some bestselling books, is hated by# the media, it kind of sounds like J.D.

Vance.## So I'm a little -- I have always liked# -- I have always liked Richard Nixon.

GEOFF BENNETT: David, in the minute we have left.

DAVID BROOKS: They both have a 5:00 shadow.

I -- first, Watergate was a serious criminal# business.

Dozens of people went to jail,## Haldeman and Erlichman, the two top White# House aides, John Mitchell, John Dean,## Jeb Stuart Magruder.

Dozen -- more than a dozen# people went to jail.

It was a criminal enterprise.

But having said that, J.D.

Vance is absolutely# right.

It would be a one-day story today,## because you define deviancy down.

The standards# of the entire country have been deteriorating## because of what we have had lived through# over the last decade.

And for that reason,## the Republicans would not do what Republicans# did in 1974, which was to tell him you got to go.

And so it would -- he is right.

It would be an# absolute one-day story, and we would all move on.

GEOFF BENNETT: David Brooks joining# us from the Aspen Ideas Festival,## Jonathan Capehart joining us from# this very desk, thank you both.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: I was just wondering,# is Vice President Vance a bestselling## author?

I don't know.

I would# just throw that out there too.

(LAUGHTER) JONATHAN CAPEHART: Sorry, Geoff.

AMNA NAWAZ: A couple of heated# games and some rough plays this## week have sparked a new controversy in# the WNBA around superstar Caitlin Clark.

On Monday, her Indiana Fever played the Phoenix# Mercury in a game with six technical fouls,## including one for Clark and an ejection.

Their# second meeting on Wednesday brought this moment,## when the Mercury's Alyssa Thomas pressed her# fist into Clark's neck during a loose ball,## and no foul was called.

Clark left# the game early with a back injury.

After the game, fever coach Stephanie# White called it unacceptable.

STEPHANIE WHITE, Head Coach, Indiana Fever: We# have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar## who had two cheap shots right there that# weren't called.

We spent all off-season## looking at officiating, all off-season.

And# I still say the one thing that we keep asking## for is consistency.

She is not called# the same way everybody else is called.

AMNA NAWAZ: A day later, the league# retroactively gave Thomas a flagrant## foul and suspended her for one# game.

But the questions around## Clark's treatment and the WNBA's# officiating have not quieted.

For more, we're joined by Seerat# Sohi.

She covers the WNBA, NBA,## and women's college basketball for The# Ringer and she hosts their WNBA podcast.

Seerat, welcome to the "News# Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

SEERAT SOHI, The Ringer:# Thanks for having me, Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: So why do you think the reaction# to that foul a.. why has it been as fiery as we have seen it?

SEERAT SOHI: Well, I think because# fans are starting to see a pattern## where there have been cheap shots against# Caitlin Clark that have gone uncalled.

Forget a flagrant foul.

We have seen some of# these cheap shots not even get a regular foul.## Fans will remember, in 2024, Chennedy Carter# hip-checked Caitlin Clark on an out-of-bounds## play where she didn't even have the ball# in her hands, and it wasn't called a foul.

The WNBA, I think, needs to reckon with# its history of inconsistent refereeing,## and it hasn't up to this point.# So now, when these things happen,## they hearken back pre to previous instances,# and at this point I think fans are just fed up.

AMNA NAWAZ: There's a lot of# complicated narratives at play## here.

You outline them really well# in your latest piece for The Ringer.

And you put it this way.

You say: "Outside# the arena, the league is filtered through two## polarized narratives, both of them unflattering.# One, the league is stacked against Clark.

Players## resent her, referees won't protect her, and league# leadership has been reluctant to acknowledge her## obvious mistreatment.

And, two, the league is# a hotbed of racism, homophobia, and misogyny."

So let's just take those one at a time here,## Seerat.

The narrative that Clark is treated# differently and unfairly, is there truth to that?

SEERAT SOHI: I do think that there are stars,# because of the magnitude of Caitlin Clark stardom,## that were questioning her entry into the# league and why she had such a big spotlight.

At the same time, I do think that refereeing# issues are consistently bad across the WNBA.## I don't think that the WNBA really has a# standard for or a vision for how they want## the game to look.

They are very reactionary.

I# think that's why you saw this flagrant foul and## suspension issued after the game, when the public# pressure was really starting to get to them.

You can see that with previous instances# with really every crisis the WNBA has## dealt with.

I think the best way to# look at it is that Caitlin Clark is## a magnifying glass to a lot of issues that# have been plaguing the WNBA for a long time.

A lot of mainstream sports fans# are just now finding out about## things that have bothered players# for quite a while.

And, to me,## really, a lot of it just comes# down to the league's leadership.

AMNA NAWAZ: There's a second point you# raise here, which brings together a lot## of very difficult topics, which is the fact# that Clark is a straight white woman in a## league that was built largely on the backs# of Black women, many of them queer and out.

How is all of that playing into the# conversation and the way it's being looked at?

SEERAT SOHI: Well, I think there# are a number of nuances here.

The WNBA has had white straight stars# before.

They have never had a white## straight star with this magnitude of fame,# and who has come in to the WNBA at a time## where social media is very prevalent and in a# very charged political moment in this country.

So there have been people who have# used Caitlin Clark as an avatar to## express their racial grievances, their# homophobia, and often the WNBA players## that she is faced against are the targets of# those attacks.

So, you can understand from the## perspective of those stars why they would, of# course, take issue with something like that.

AMNA NAWAZ: There was a lot of controversy too# I'm sure you saw with this new poster the league## revealed, their 30th anniversary celebration,# and Caitlin Clark is not on the poster.

Do you feel like that controversy was warranted?## Is the league fumbling how they're# handling one of its biggest stars?

SEERAT SOHI: Well, the reality with# that controversy is actually that## the group that made that poster# actually just does not have the## licensing rights to Caitlin# Clark's image and likeness.

For most organizations that aren't# the WNBA or Nike, they only have## the rights to her name and number.

Now,# you could say, why didn't the WNBA go to## a different organization to do this?# I think that's a very fair question,## especially for -- when you're trying to# celebrate the 30th anniversary of the league.

There are also prominent Black players# that weren't on this list as well,## such as Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker, two# of the biggest legends in the game.

And, again,## it just to me goes back to the WNBA's leadership.# This is a rocket ship that has a bad captain.

It's an airplane flying in the sky,## and there's a ton of turbulence, and# they do not know how to navi.. AMNA NAWAZ: What does all this mean for# the fans?

I mean, yourself, you cover this,## but you're also a fan.

What does it mean for# the people who love the game and the league?

SEERAT SOHI: It's incredibly frustrating.

I think that most fans would like to# celebrate great basketball alongside## all of the other things that the WNBA brings# to the table that, frankly, don't necessarily## exist in other sports.

The WNBA is a -- it's a# cheaper ticket with a more connected fan base## that from my experience has had a# genuine impact on my life as far## as creating community at a time when I# think a lot of people are seeking that.

So there's so many beautiful things# about the WNBA as it stands right now,## but the frustrating thing is that# the mainstream stories that come out## about the league often have to do with# racial strife and incompetence, truly.

And that I think has just been a frustrating# dynamic for the last three years.

AMNA NAWAZ: Seerat Sohi of The Ringer,## thank you so much for joining us# tonight.

Real pleasure to talk to you.

SEERAT SOHI: Thank you for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: Imagine a world 400 years in# the future where a young woman is forced into## exile after discovering she carries a rare gene# linked to extraordinary power and immortality.

That is the premise of a new opera# opening in Cincinnati next month.## PBS stations CET and ThinkTV take us behind# the scenes for a look at the project and the## new direction it's taking opera for# our arts and culture series, Canvas.

MORRIS ROBINSON, Artistic Adviser, Cincinnati# Opera: Well, the Black Opera Project was birthed## out of necessity.

I was here in Cincinnati Opera# starring as Porgy in "Porgy and Bess.. always loved what "Porgy and Bess" has done for# our community.

And this is not an attack on it,## but it's also just to notice that traditionally it# has been an opportunity for African Americans to## get on operatic stages at a time where we weren't# allowed to sing the traditional opera canon.

We were afforded the opportunity to see "Porgy# and Bess."

But as proud as I was to do that,## with all the greats that have gone# before me that I honor and treasure,## it bothered me that that was the# only thing that was considered a## Black opera.

It wasn't even composed by# a Black person.

But it's what we had.

And we had a meeting to discuss how we# all felt about being on this stage and## being in its production.

And I raised# a question.

And it was basically,## when are we going to have something in# the operatic world that has the same## impact on the opera world that "Black# Panther" had on the movie industry?

And that's the idea that kind of started# the ball rolling on the Black Opera## Project.

We're going to do three operas# in three consecutive seasons composed by,## directed by, libretto written# by all African American artists.

The stage designs will be# by African American artists.## Costuming will be designed by African# American artists.

First one out of## the gate is entitled "Lalovavi," which# stands for love in the language of Tut.

KEVIN DAY, Composer, "Lalovavi": This# opera is really, it's an epic journey,## and I don't use that word lightly, because it is.# We're going on a journey, postapocalyptic world.

TIFARA BROWN, Librettist, "Lalovavi" is# an Afrofuturist opera set 400 years in the## future in a city that was formerly known# as Atlanta, but now it's called Atlas.

So## this opera is centered on a central# character.

Her name is Persephone.

She is the daughter of the leader of Atlas, a# man known as Titan.

And in Atlas, there is a## caste system.

And power and wealth is divvied# out based on one factor.

It's a genetic code## known as the Syndica gene.

And the more Syndica# you have, the higher in Atlas' society you are.

Titan has been on a mission to find this one# variation of the Syndica gene known as the## Tree of Life gene.

And he plans on extracting# this gene to make himself immortal.

It turns## out that Persephone is the only one in the# world that has this variation of Syndica.

So -- and she has to run for her life.

Most# of the opera is in English, but we -- there## are sections and songs, especially# when we talk about the rebel nation,## which is called Nunewaks.

Tut is their language.

Tut is a living language.

It's indigenous to# Black American slaves in the Deep South.

So## this language was a secret language, and it# was a code used to teach enslaved people how## to speak English and how to read and write# English, at a time where that was illegal.

To our knowledge, there has# never been a media production## in history that incorporates the Tut language.## In our story, there is a resistance# movement that is pushing up against## the Atlas regime.

And this is exactly how# Tut was used to push against enslavement.

KEVIN DAY: When I think of Afrofuturism, a# lot of my research and work has been mostly## on the jazz side of things.

Having all# the crazy eccentric costumes and music## that was also very eccentric and more# based in technology and free improv,## I thought that's where we# were going with this concept.

But as I began to get the libretto and# begin to see what's going to be happening,## this -- from the page, it read like# a movie.

And so that's what kind of## shifted my approach to keeping the elements of# Afrofuturism in terms of, like, the costumes,## in terms of the place, in terms of the themes# of liberation and freedom and all of that.

But the sound world of this opera was shifted# into one that is meant to feel like a movie.

MORRIS ROBINSON: We can't keep trying to# feed the younger generation the older menu.

KEVIN DAY: I think it's a chance, as we're# pushing the boundaries of the medium,## as we're writing these new works, to# bring people who would not necessarily## go to an opera concert normally to# feel welcomed to come into this place,## again, for like three hours to hear# something they have never heard before.

(CHEERING) TV journalist, educator, and civil rights# advocate.

His family announced his passing today.

GEOFF BENNETT: He was perhaps best known# as the host and executive producer of "Tony## Brown's Journal," recognized as a landmark# long-running PBS public affairs program.

Brown was also an author, speaker, and# media entrepreneur.

His family said he## died peacefully last week at his home in Newport# News, Virginia.

Tony Brown was 93 years old.

And that is the "News Hour"# for tonight.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour" team,# than..