1 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:05,800 GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:06,800 I'm Geoff Bennett. 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,933 Amna Nawaz is away. 4 00:00:08,933 --> 00:00:12,800 On the "NewsHour" tonight: IRS whistle-blowers testify before Congress, claiming the Justice 5 00:00:14,166 --> 00:00:17,266 Department slow-walked an investigation into Hunter Biden. 6 00:00:17,266 --> 00:00:22,266 New reporting highlights Donald Trump's plans to expand executive power and limit judicial 7 00:00:23,566 --> 00:00:26,100 independence if reelected. 8 00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:30,566 And Judy Woodruff hears from a panel of Iowa voters about the role of politics in their 9 00:00:30,566 --> 00:00:33,800 lives and their hopes for overcoming divisions. 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,200 SARAH LONGWELL, Longwell Partners: Bluer cities and redder sort of rural areas, and so the 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:42,300 less people talk to each other, the less they have a really good frame of reference for 12 00:00:42,300 --> 00:00:47,266 how somebody might actually think. 13 00:01:08,500 --> 00:01:13,500 (BREAK) 14 00:01:33,033 --> 00:01:38,033 GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "NewsHour." 15 00:02:23,466 --> 00:02:28,466 Tens of millions of Americans have spent another day under heat watches, warnings, or advisories 16 00:02:29,633 --> 00:02:32,266 in this long, hot summer of 2023. 17 00:02:32,266 --> 00:02:35,366 The low temperature in Phoenix early today was 97, a record. 18 00:02:35,366 --> 00:02:40,366 That followed 19 straight days with highs of 110 degrees, also a record. 19 00:02:42,833 --> 00:02:47,333 Billboards around the city displayed the brutally high temperatures, while Arizonans and their 20 00:02:47,333 --> 00:02:51,033 dogs adjusted their schedules to escape the dangerous conditions. 21 00:02:51,033 --> 00:02:52,766 HEATHER MOOS, Arizona Resident: We stay hydrated. 22 00:02:52,766 --> 00:02:54,266 They drink a lot of water. 23 00:02:54,266 --> 00:02:55,966 And then we're inside during the day. 24 00:02:55,966 --> 00:02:57,600 And, when the sun goes down, we're out walking and going to the park. 25 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,600 So I guess we have to be vampires in this kind of weather. 26 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,600 GEOFF BENNETT: Searing heat overseas plagued firefighters in Greece as they battled wildfires 27 00:03:07,566 --> 00:03:09,766 near Athens for a third day. 28 00:03:09,766 --> 00:03:14,033 And the streets in Sardinia, Italy, were deserted as temperatures neared 108 degrees. 29 00:03:14,033 --> 00:03:19,033 A federal judge in New York has upheld a jury award of $5 million against former President 30 00:03:21,100 --> 00:03:23,166 Trump. 31 00:03:23,166 --> 00:03:27,100 The jury found he sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in 1996 and defamed her in his 32 00:03:28,233 --> 00:03:29,700 denial. 33 00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:31,866 Today, the judge ruled the award was reasonable. 34 00:03:31,866 --> 00:03:36,866 He said that it -- quote -- "did not deviate materially from reasonable compensation so 35 00:03:37,733 --> 00:03:39,733 as to make it excessive." 36 00:03:39,733 --> 00:03:43,400 A separate federal judge refused today to take over a state court case involving Mr. 37 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,466 Trump's alleged hush money payments to an adult film star. 38 00:03:47,466 --> 00:03:52,466 In Southern Ukraine, heavy Russian air raids pounded Black Sea port facilities overnight. 39 00:03:54,433 --> 00:03:57,866 Ukrainian officials report dozens of missiles and drones hit Odessa for a second straight 40 00:03:57,866 --> 00:03:59,900 night. 41 00:03:59,900 --> 00:04:03,833 The barrage damaged critical grain and oil terminals and destroyed 60,000 tons of grain. 42 00:04:05,433 --> 00:04:08,700 Russia had suspended a deal allowing Black Sea grain shipments. 43 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:13,700 The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, went before the U.S. Congress today and acknowledged 44 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:16,433 criticism of Israel's far right government. 45 00:04:16,433 --> 00:04:21,433 Herzog's office is nonpartisan, but his appearance was boycotted by a handful of progressive 46 00:04:22,866 --> 00:04:24,833 Democrats over Israel's treatment of Palestinians. 47 00:04:24,833 --> 00:04:29,800 ISAAC HERZOG, Israeli President: I respect criticism, especially from friends, although 48 00:04:30,966 --> 00:04:33,900 one does not always have to accept it. 49 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:38,900 But criticism of Israel must not cross the line into negation of the state of Israel's 50 00:04:40,066 --> 00:04:41,233 right to exist. 51 00:04:41,233 --> 00:04:43,233 (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) 52 00:04:43,233 --> 00:04:46,933 GEOFF BENNETT: Over the weekend, the leading House progressive, Democrat Pramila Jayapal, 53 00:04:46,933 --> 00:04:49,166 branded Israel a -- quote -- "racist state." 54 00:04:49,166 --> 00:04:51,166 She later apologized. 55 00:04:51,166 --> 00:04:55,666 But, on Tuesday, the House overwhelmingly passed a resolution reaffirming U.S. support 56 00:04:56,266 --> 00:04:58,233 for Israel. 57 00:04:58,233 --> 00:05:00,900 The Biden White House proposed new guidelines for corporate mergers today. 58 00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:05,833 It also called for action against junk fees charged by landlords and price-gouging in 59 00:05:05,833 --> 00:05:07,766 the food industry. 60 00:05:07,766 --> 00:05:11,600 The president met his so-called Competition Council at the White House to discuss the 61 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,566 proposals. 62 00:05:13,566 --> 00:05:16,500 They're subject of public comment and revision before taking effect. 63 00:05:16,500 --> 00:05:21,500 And, on Wall Street today, stocks edged higher again after a series of profit reports from 64 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:24,066 major banks. 65 00:05:24,066 --> 00:05:28,133 The Dow Jones industrial average gained 109 points to close at 35061. 66 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:30,166 The Nasdaq rose four points. 67 00:05:30,166 --> 00:05:32,800 The S&P 500 added 10. 68 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:37,600 And Major League Baseball has done something it had not done in 129 years. 69 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,366 On Tuesday, 12 teams scored in double figures. 70 00:05:41,366 --> 00:05:46,366 The Chicago Cubs led the list, routing the Washington Nationals 17-3. 71 00:05:48,366 --> 00:05:51,600 The only day with more offense was July 4, 1894, when 13 teams scored in double digits. 72 00:05:53,900 --> 00:05:58,566 And still to come on the "NewsHour": jurors weigh the fate of the Pittsburgh synagogue 73 00:05:58,566 --> 00:06:03,566 shooter; Germany's standing as an economic powerhouse grows increasingly uncertain; and 74 00:06:05,566 --> 00:06:09,166 author Sally Jenkins talks about her new book on life lessons learned from sports. 75 00:06:15,966 --> 00:06:20,966 A pair of IRS whistle-blowers testified today before the House Oversight Committee about 76 00:06:27,833 --> 00:06:32,200 alleged meddling in the Justice Department investigation of Hunter Biden. 77 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:36,666 You will recall that Hunter Biden reached an agreement to plead guilty to two federal 78 00:06:36,666 --> 00:06:39,666 misdemeanor counts of failing to pay his taxes. 79 00:06:39,666 --> 00:06:44,666 He also agreed to abide by a set of conditions to avoid a separate felony gun possession 80 00:06:45,133 --> 00:06:47,133 charge. 81 00:06:47,133 --> 00:06:50,666 The whistle-blowers say those charges and this case are out of line with the norm. 82 00:06:50,666 --> 00:06:52,733 Democrats dispute that. 83 00:06:52,733 --> 00:06:55,866 Lisa Desjardins was in the hearing room today and joins us now from Capitol Hill. 84 00:06:55,866 --> 00:07:00,100 So, Lisa, what did these whistle-blowers allege were the problems with the investigation? 85 00:07:00,100 --> 00:07:04,233 LISA DESJARDINS: Geoff, this was a long and, for the most part, substantive and serious 86 00:07:04,233 --> 00:07:05,833 hearing from both sides. 87 00:07:05,833 --> 00:07:08,300 These were not just any IRS agents. 88 00:07:08,300 --> 00:07:13,300 These were two IRS investigators who were the chief two investigators in the Hunter 89 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:15,966 Biden case. 90 00:07:15,966 --> 00:07:18,866 They gave a list of things that they said were out of the norm, unprecedented obstacles 91 00:07:18,866 --> 00:07:22,133 and changes in the way that this case worked. 92 00:07:22,133 --> 00:07:26,200 Among a few of those things that they listed, first, at the top, they said that they were 93 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:31,200 not allowed to search Joe Biden's home where Hunter Biden was living, that they were blocked 94 00:07:33,066 --> 00:07:36,566 from interviewing Biden grandchildren, who may have been able to give testimony about 95 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,000 Hunter Biden's tax returns, that they were prominently not -- they did not see the felony 96 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,800 tax charges that they recommended and which they said other prosecutors early in the case 97 00:07:48,533 --> 00:07:50,033 also agreed with. 98 00:07:50,033 --> 00:07:53,666 And they also said they saw outside limits on David Weiss. 99 00:07:53,666 --> 00:07:58,666 He is the U.S. attorney in Delaware who is overseeing the prosecution and this plea deal 100 00:07:59,533 --> 00:08:01,666 in the Hunter Biden case. 101 00:08:01,666 --> 00:08:05,366 One of these two IRS whistle-blowers, Joseph Ziegler, this was his first time talking in 102 00:08:05,366 --> 00:08:06,566 public today. 103 00:08:06,566 --> 00:08:08,933 He said he is a gay Democrat. 104 00:08:08,933 --> 00:08:13,633 He said this is not political, but that he did, in fact, see signs that there was something 105 00:08:13,633 --> 00:08:16,033 stifling that prosecutor. 106 00:08:16,033 --> 00:08:19,566 JOSEPH ZIEGLER, IRS Whistle-Blower: It appeared to me, based on what I experienced, that the 107 00:08:19,566 --> 00:08:24,566 U.S. attorney in Delaware in our investigation was constantly hamstrung, limited, and marginalized 108 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,933 by DOJ officials, as well as other U.S. attorneys. 109 00:08:28,933 --> 00:08:33,933 I still think that a special counsel is necessary for this investigation. 110 00:08:35,933 --> 00:08:38,733 LISA DESJARDINS: There's no reason to believe there will be a special counsel in this. 111 00:08:38,733 --> 00:08:43,266 Ziegler said that, throughout the investigation, they became scared to ask questions that they 112 00:08:43,266 --> 00:08:46,866 thought would lead to the Biden family or Joe Biden or his campaign. 113 00:08:46,866 --> 00:08:51,600 GEOFF BENNETT: Lisa, White House officials point out that there are often disputes, internal 114 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,633 disputes, between investigators and prosecutors. 115 00:08:54,633 --> 00:08:59,233 And a White House spokesperson today said that House Republicans, as I look at my notes 116 00:08:59,233 --> 00:09:04,233 here, were -- quote -- "staging partisan stunts to try to damage President Biden politically." 117 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:06,500 How did Democrats on the committee see it? 118 00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:08,266 LISA DESJARDINS: That's right. 119 00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:10,133 Democrats see this completely differently. 120 00:09:10,133 --> 00:09:11,866 One thing that was unique in this hearing. 121 00:09:11,866 --> 00:09:14,733 Democrats did not question the credibility of these witnesses. 122 00:09:14,733 --> 00:09:18,866 They said these are career professionals, but they said they think they got some things 123 00:09:18,866 --> 00:09:21,766 wrong, that, essentially, these were investigators versus prosecutors. 124 00:09:21,766 --> 00:09:25,300 And there's often a difference of opinion in how a case should be charged. 125 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:29,966 Now, they pointed specifically to a letter from the U.S. attorney in this case, David 126 00:09:29,966 --> 00:09:34,966 Weiss, that came out in the last few weeks, where Weiss was very clear, saying: I followed 127 00:09:36,933 --> 00:09:40,033 the process and I was never the authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction. 128 00:09:41,466 --> 00:09:44,400 The whistle-blowers are saying that he told them otherwise. 129 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,933 So there is a difference here over what he said. 130 00:09:46,933 --> 00:09:51,700 But, right now, that prosecutor says: No, I was never denied any authority that I needed. 131 00:09:51,700 --> 00:09:56,300 Now, some other points that they make, they say that these plea deals often indicate charges 132 00:09:56,300 --> 00:10:01,300 that are graded down from the ideal prosecutor charges because Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty. 133 00:10:03,833 --> 00:10:06,866 They also said Joe Biden was neither president nor vice president for some of this investigation. 134 00:10:06,866 --> 00:10:11,866 Now, Jamie Raskin, the head Democrat on this committee, said, overall, while Hunter Biden 135 00:10:13,766 --> 00:10:16,433 has admitted to doing wrong, and there is a lot to say about Hunter Biden, but nothing 136 00:10:16,433 --> 00:10:20,033 Republicans have shown has led anywhere near Joe Biden. 137 00:10:20,033 --> 00:10:22,100 REP. 138 00:10:22,100 --> 00:10:26,033 JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): One thing you will not hear today is any evidence of wrongdoing by 139 00:10:27,533 --> 00:10:30,600 President Joe Biden or his administration. 140 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:35,600 Like every other try by our colleagues to concoct a scandal about President Biden, this 141 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,800 one is a complete and total bust. 142 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,900 LISA DESJARDINS: Democrats also point out that prosecutor is a Trump appointee. 143 00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:47,133 GEOFF BENNETT: So, Lisa, based on your reporting, where does this head next? 144 00:10:47,133 --> 00:10:48,333 LISA DESJARDINS: Lots to say. 145 00:10:48,333 --> 00:10:50,266 There will be more hearings. 146 00:10:50,266 --> 00:10:54,366 We will see more reports from Republicans, especially on the House side. 147 00:10:56,866 --> 00:11:00,133 We also should be on the watch, because Republicans now are trying to tie this to the attorney 148 00:11:01,733 --> 00:11:03,833 general in this case, his past testimony about how this was handled. 149 00:11:03,833 --> 00:11:08,766 I asked Speaker McCarthy about this today, and he brought up the attorney general saying 150 00:11:10,833 --> 00:11:13,266 perhaps this will lead down the road of questions strong enough to even impeach him. 151 00:11:13,266 --> 00:11:16,066 He's not going there yet, but he's raising that idea. 152 00:11:16,066 --> 00:11:18,166 One last thing, Geoff. 153 00:11:18,166 --> 00:11:21,133 Hunter Biden himself, that plea deal, the hearing, the next hearing in that case is 154 00:11:21,133 --> 00:11:22,800 next week. 155 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,866 The judge, of course, has to approve that deal for it to go through. 156 00:11:24,866 --> 00:11:25,866 GEOFF BENNETT: Lisa Desjardins. 157 00:11:25,866 --> 00:11:26,866 Lisa, thanks, as always. 158 00:11:26,866 --> 00:11:31,866 LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome. 159 00:11:33,966 --> 00:11:38,966 GEOFF BENNETT: Donald Trump and his allies are preparing for a second term in office 160 00:11:42,133 --> 00:11:47,100 that would massively expand the power of the presidency, centralizing control within the 161 00:11:47,733 --> 00:11:48,900 Oval Office. 162 00:11:48,900 --> 00:11:51,000 Laura Barron-Lopez explains. 163 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,900 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Strip tens of thousands of career civil servants of protections and 164 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:59,866 replace them with political hires and exert political influence over the Justice Department, 165 00:12:02,266 --> 00:12:05,166 these are some of the agenda items under discussion among former President Donald Trump and his 166 00:12:05,166 --> 00:12:10,166 allies if he retakes office in 2024, according to recent reports by The New York Times and 167 00:12:10,766 --> 00:12:12,833 The Economist. 168 00:12:12,833 --> 00:12:16,233 For more on what this would mean for our democracy and the power of the executive branch, I'm 169 00:12:16,233 --> 00:12:18,333 joined by Ruth Ben-Ghiat. 170 00:12:18,333 --> 00:12:22,233 She's a history professor at New York University and an expert on authoritarianism. 171 00:12:22,233 --> 00:12:24,300 Ruth, thank you so much for joining us. 172 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:28,766 The New York Times and The Economist spoke to a number of former and current Donald Trump 173 00:12:28,766 --> 00:12:33,400 advisers about this effort to radically expand the executive. 174 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,666 One of them, the former Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, told The 175 00:12:37,666 --> 00:12:42,666 Times this: "What we're trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them." 176 00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:47,933 Ruth, you have said that there is a term for this. 177 00:12:47,933 --> 00:12:50,000 What is that term and what does it mean? 178 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,433 RUTH BEN-GHIAT, NYU History Professional: Yes, in studies of authoritarianism, it's 179 00:12:55,766 --> 00:12:59,333 autocratic capture, autocratic capture. 180 00:12:59,333 --> 00:13:04,300 And what this Trump adviser has described is that. 181 00:13:05,733 --> 00:13:08,466 When you remake government, you remake civil service. 182 00:13:08,466 --> 00:13:12,433 So you purge people who will not be loyal to you. 183 00:13:12,433 --> 00:13:17,433 So, loyalty becomes a requirement, not expertise, and you restaff government with people who 184 00:13:19,766 --> 00:13:23,600 will do your bidding and, in this way, hugely centralizing and increasing presidential power. 185 00:13:26,466 --> 00:13:31,466 And I was also struck by his language, seizing, looking for pockets of independence, and seizing 186 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,466 them. 187 00:13:35,466 --> 00:13:39,400 And this also negates the idea of an independent civil service and independent institutions. 188 00:13:42,166 --> 00:13:44,333 This is a bedrock of democracy. 189 00:13:44,333 --> 00:13:48,800 And the word seizing, this is not the language of democratic reform. 190 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,266 This is the language of authoritarian takeover. 191 00:13:51,266 --> 00:13:56,000 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Trump, as we know, is facing potentially a third indictment in a 192 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,833 matter of days for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. 193 00:14:00,833 --> 00:14:05,833 Much of his campaign has been centered on his plans to go after the Justice Department. 194 00:14:07,833 --> 00:14:09,966 DONALD TRUMP, Former President of the United States: I will totally obliterate the deep 195 00:14:09,966 --> 00:14:12,000 state. 196 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,966 We will find the globalists, warmongers and the bureaucrats who have weaponized our justice 197 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,833 system, and we will escort them from federal buildings. 198 00:14:19,833 --> 00:14:21,866 We're going to get them the hell out of government. 199 00:14:21,866 --> 00:14:26,700 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Now, Ruth Trump's campaign may be the most explicit in their plans for 200 00:14:28,733 --> 00:14:31,600 the Justice Department, but think tanks like the American First Policy Institute and the 201 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:36,600 conservative Heritage Foundation have really crafted blueprints for any Republican that 202 00:14:38,166 --> 00:14:41,466 may win the presidency in 2024. 203 00:14:41,466 --> 00:14:43,433 What's the endgame here? 204 00:14:43,433 --> 00:14:48,433 RUTH BEN-GHIAT: So, strongmen and authoritarians are not like other politicians. 205 00:14:50,466 --> 00:14:55,200 For example, many of them are under investigation when they run for office. 206 00:14:55,200 --> 00:15:00,266 That was true with Berlusconi in Italy, with Putin, with Trump in '16 -- 2016. 207 00:15:01,133 --> 00:15:02,966 And now he has his legal woes. 208 00:15:02,966 --> 00:15:05,566 Netanyahu. 209 00:15:05,566 --> 00:15:09,000 And so the purpose of getting into power becomes to capture the judicial system and make yourself 210 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:13,033 untouchable. 211 00:15:13,033 --> 00:15:16,966 And we have an example in Israel now with Netanyahu facing corruption charges. 212 00:15:18,900 --> 00:15:22,966 And so he's very focused on judicial reform, and this is why there are enormous protests 213 00:15:24,066 --> 00:15:25,566 against him. 214 00:15:25,566 --> 00:15:28,866 But these are things that autocrats do routinely. 215 00:15:28,866 --> 00:15:33,866 And so it's interesting to me that Trump is able to capitalize on this preexisting discourse 216 00:15:35,866 --> 00:15:40,866 of the deep state that Republicans had peddled for many years. 217 00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:45,133 And now he's personalized it because he has so many legal woes. 218 00:15:45,133 --> 00:15:50,133 And so he needs to get into office and realize the dream of becoming untouchable. 219 00:15:52,066 --> 00:15:54,966 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: That former Trump adviser, Russell Vought, that I mentioned has said 220 00:15:54,966 --> 00:15:57,700 that this plan is now -- quote -- "Republican doctrine." 221 00:15:57,700 --> 00:16:02,366 And we have seen other candidates, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is the leading 222 00:16:02,366 --> 00:16:07,366 challenger to Trump, talk about plans like this as well, wanting to abolish certain agencies 223 00:16:08,333 --> 00:16:09,333 and take more control. 224 00:16:09,333 --> 00:16:11,366 GOV. 225 00:16:11,366 --> 00:16:12,733 RON DESANTIS (R-FL), Presidential Candidate: You're going to see the Justice Department 226 00:16:12,733 --> 00:16:14,300 turned inside out. 227 00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:19,133 For far too long, this bureaucracy has imposed its will on us. 228 00:16:21,166 --> 00:16:23,066 It's about time we impose our will on it, and that's what we're going to do. 229 00:16:23,066 --> 00:16:25,100 (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) 230 00:16:25,100 --> 00:16:27,733 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Ruth, is that also a classic example of autocratic capture? 231 00:16:27,733 --> 00:16:30,066 RUTH BEN-GHIAT: It is. 232 00:16:30,066 --> 00:16:34,633 I mean, federal bureaucracy, you take an oath to the Constitution. 233 00:16:34,633 --> 00:16:39,366 You are serving the public, as well as the administration. 234 00:16:39,366 --> 00:16:44,366 But DeSantis saying there he's going to impose his will is an assertion of executive power 235 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:52,500 beyond and -- beyond what is proper for an independent and democratic political system. 236 00:16:55,366 --> 00:16:57,433 It's the same with Trump. 237 00:16:57,433 --> 00:17:02,033 Trump is not saying that he's going to fire inefficient people, he's going to get rid 238 00:17:03,133 --> 00:17:05,233 of big government because it doesn't work. 239 00:17:05,233 --> 00:17:09,233 Trump is saying he's going to purge -- quote - - "the sick political class that hates our 240 00:17:09,233 --> 00:17:10,400 country." 241 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,866 So political attributes are at stake here. 242 00:17:13,866 --> 00:17:18,866 That's what the criteria is, and that's what's disturbing in terms of the health of our democracy. 243 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:23,933 LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University, thank you so much. 244 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:29,333 RUTH BEN-GHIAT: Pleasure. 245 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:35,700 GEOFF BENNETT: Throughout this year, Judy Woodruff has been examining divisions across 246 00:17:38,266 --> 00:17:40,266 the country. 247 00:17:40,266 --> 00:17:44,266 For her latest story, she listened in on focus groups in Iowa with two-time Trump voters 248 00:17:46,300 --> 00:17:49,100 as they talked about how they feel about the state of the nation, the divisiveness they 249 00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:52,066 see, and who they feel is responsible for it. 250 00:17:52,066 --> 00:17:56,833 A note, we have chosen not to include the participants' full names after some received 251 00:17:56,833 --> 00:17:59,933 harassing calls following an earlier story. 252 00:17:59,933 --> 00:18:04,933 This story was produced with our friends at Iowa PBS and is part of Judy's ongoing series 253 00:18:05,666 --> 00:18:07,733 America at a Crossroads. 254 00:18:07,733 --> 00:18:11,700 ALLAN, Republican Voter: I definitely think the country's headed in the wrong direction, 255 00:18:11,700 --> 00:18:16,700 and, unfortunately, I think we're on that downhill slide, that I'm not sure it can be 256 00:18:17,566 --> 00:18:19,666 turned around. 257 00:18:19,666 --> 00:18:23,400 JUDY WOODRUFF: That was a common feeling among the 16 two-time Trump voters. 258 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:28,400 We gathered recently studio of Iowa PBS in Johnston for a pair of focus groups led by 259 00:18:30,633 --> 00:18:33,866 Republican strategist and pollster Sarah Longwell. 260 00:18:33,866 --> 00:18:38,400 BRENT, Trump Voter: In Iowa, we have a great governor, we have great leadership. 261 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,866 However, when you look at the country as a whole, it just seems like everybody has said. 262 00:18:42,866 --> 00:18:44,933 The country's just going down the tubes. 263 00:18:44,933 --> 00:18:49,933 RON, Republican Voter: I agree with all the different economics and all that, but we are 264 00:18:51,733 --> 00:18:55,566 so polarized that we can't come to common ground. 265 00:18:55,566 --> 00:18:58,833 MATT, Republican Voter: It almost feels a little bit like a civil war. 266 00:18:58,833 --> 00:19:03,533 JUDY WOODRUFF: Following the panels, I sat down with Longwell, who conducts focus groups 267 00:19:03,533 --> 00:19:07,733 with both Republicans and Democrats, to talk through what we heard. 268 00:19:07,733 --> 00:19:10,400 SARAH LONGWELL, Longwell Partners: Mainly, the things that you hear -- and I hear this 269 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:14,300 all the time from Republicans -- is they really feel like the country is going in the wrong 270 00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:15,833 direction. 271 00:19:15,833 --> 00:19:19,033 They want a Republican back in power very badly. 272 00:19:19,033 --> 00:19:24,033 JUDY WOODRUFF: In terms of these Republican voters and their view of how divided the country 273 00:19:25,566 --> 00:19:28,400 is, what came across to you the most about that? 274 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,333 SARAH LONGWELL: Well, everybody does think we're divided. 275 00:19:31,333 --> 00:19:35,433 That is clear in the focus groups we did tonight and in the focus groups I do all the time. 276 00:19:35,433 --> 00:19:39,100 People are -- they talk about things like a national divorce or a civil war. 277 00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:40,666 They feel like we're at each other's throats. 278 00:19:40,666 --> 00:19:43,333 How many of you think we're very divided? 279 00:19:43,333 --> 00:19:47,166 Raise your hands if you think we're an extremely divided country. 280 00:19:47,166 --> 00:19:48,166 Whose fault do you think it is that we're so divided? 281 00:19:48,166 --> 00:19:49,600 WOMAN: The media. 282 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:50,266 SOPHIA, Republican Voter: The media, for sure. 283 00:19:50,266 --> 00:19:51,166 WOMAN: Yes. 284 00:19:51,166 --> 00:19:52,166 (CROSSTALK) 285 00:19:52,166 --> 00:19:53,166 WOMAN: And the politicians. 286 00:19:53,166 --> 00:19:54,366 WOMAN: The politicians. 287 00:19:54,366 --> 00:19:55,300 SOPHIA: And they perpetuate the hate. 288 00:19:55,300 --> 00:19:56,566 I mean, they do it on purpose. 289 00:19:56,566 --> 00:19:58,766 They have an agenda, and it is to divide. 290 00:19:58,766 --> 00:20:01,366 And that's what they seek and that's what they're doing. 291 00:20:01,366 --> 00:20:02,633 WOMAN: That's how they get ratings. 292 00:20:02,633 --> 00:20:04,133 That's how they get money. 293 00:20:04,133 --> 00:20:06,166 SOPHIA: Exactly, because that's where the money is. 294 00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:09,133 SARAH LONGWELL: And I'm curious, where are you getting your information? 295 00:20:09,133 --> 00:20:10,866 Like, where are you -- what are you watching? 296 00:20:10,866 --> 00:20:11,866 What are you reading? 297 00:20:11,866 --> 00:20:13,900 What are you listening to? 298 00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:17,866 SONYA, Republican Voter: I watch BlazeTV and FOX News, and I have TRUTH Social. 299 00:20:19,333 --> 00:20:20,900 And I'm all over Twitter. 300 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:25,200 And I watch Channel 13, NBC, all the time. 301 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:26,466 SARAH LONGWELL: News junkie. 302 00:20:26,466 --> 00:20:29,100 SONYA: I like to know what's going on. 303 00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:33,000 PETER, Republican Voter: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton took over Rush Limbaugh's show. 304 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,566 They are good. 305 00:20:34,566 --> 00:20:37,733 I mean, these guys, they look into things, they know things. 306 00:20:37,733 --> 00:20:39,766 Sean Hannity is really good also. 307 00:20:39,766 --> 00:20:43,533 RON: I think I'm smart enough to understand when I'm being manipulated, all right? 308 00:20:43,533 --> 00:20:45,766 So, all I have to say is, I read everything. 309 00:20:45,766 --> 00:20:50,733 I listen to everything, and then, what goes in, what goes out, and then I just make up 310 00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:55,500 my own decision. 311 00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:59,300 KEVEN, Republican Voter: I'm going to blame the media and also social media. 312 00:20:59,300 --> 00:21:04,266 I think back like 10 years ago, 15 years ago, we didn't -- it didn't seem so divided. 313 00:21:06,333 --> 00:21:10,433 And it's driven me to seek out different news sources now to get my news, so I can compare, 314 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:12,866 like Real America's Voice and Newsmax. 315 00:21:12,866 --> 00:21:14,066 (CROSSTALK) 316 00:21:14,066 --> 00:21:16,100 SARAH LONGWELL: What about you, Mary? 317 00:21:16,100 --> 00:21:18,166 MARY, Republican Voter: So, I was -- I agree with what you were saying. 318 00:21:18,166 --> 00:21:21,666 So social media is a huge thing, in my opinion, because you don't have a personal relationship 319 00:21:21,666 --> 00:21:23,733 with the people mostly online. 320 00:21:23,733 --> 00:21:28,166 Or like what I would say to you right now in person would be completely different than 321 00:21:28,166 --> 00:21:30,266 what I might way on social media. 322 00:21:30,266 --> 00:21:34,666 SARAH LONGWELL: So it sounds like you guys blame the media, social media for the division. 323 00:21:35,866 --> 00:21:37,966 How do you feel about Democrats in general? 324 00:21:37,966 --> 00:21:42,000 MARY: Generally, any time that there's a fight between two people, there's never usually 325 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,066 one side that's like 100 percent right. 326 00:21:44,066 --> 00:21:46,166 It's always somewhere in the middle. 327 00:21:46,166 --> 00:21:49,600 And so I'm not ever going to say like, this side's completely right and this side's completely 328 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:51,633 wrong. 329 00:21:51,633 --> 00:21:52,333 SARAH LONGWELL: Do you guys have friends and family who are Democrats? 330 00:21:52,333 --> 00:21:53,200 MAN: Oh, yes. 331 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,200 WOMAN: Yes. 332 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:55,200 MAN: Yes. 333 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:56,200 (CROSSTALK) 334 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:57,700 MAN: Yes. 335 00:21:57,700 --> 00:21:58,400 SARAH LONGWELL: And how does that -- how do you do with that? 336 00:21:58,400 --> 00:21:59,366 Is it tense? 337 00:21:59,366 --> 00:22:00,266 Can you talk to each other? 338 00:22:00,266 --> 00:22:02,300 Is it -- how is it? 339 00:22:02,300 --> 00:22:05,833 KEVEN: Recently spent some time with some relatives that are Democrat, and you really 340 00:22:05,833 --> 00:22:10,833 can't talk about Trump or Republicans in that house. 341 00:22:12,233 --> 00:22:14,200 I mean, it's just you know tread lightly there. 342 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,400 DANIELLE, Republican Voter: My closest inner circle is mostly like-minded. 343 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:21,400 They vote Republican or pretty conservative. 344 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:26,400 But, outside of that, I try to avoid conversations, because they're just never productive. 345 00:22:27,266 --> 00:22:28,800 No one's changing anyone's mind. 346 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,633 JUDY WOODRUFF: I did hear them say that they blame the media. 347 00:22:31,633 --> 00:22:36,633 I also heard them say that they were reluctant to bring up their views with people who disagree 348 00:22:38,833 --> 00:22:43,833 with them politically, for fear that they would be criticized, they would be called 349 00:22:45,033 --> 00:22:47,066 out. 350 00:22:47,066 --> 00:22:50,266 SARAH LONGWELL: Yes, I do hear this all the time, people feeling like they can't talk 351 00:22:50,266 --> 00:22:54,433 about their support for President Trump or can't say that they're a Republican without 352 00:22:54,433 --> 00:22:57,666 fear of being shouted down. 353 00:22:57,666 --> 00:23:02,633 I think that both parties, members of both parties, sort of feel like it's really hot 354 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,866 out there, and when you sort of wear your politics on your sleeve, that it's inviting 355 00:23:08,733 --> 00:23:10,766 a kind of combative experience. 356 00:23:10,766 --> 00:23:14,900 And I think they feel like a real difference from how people used to be able to sort of 357 00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:17,533 agree to disagree maybe 10 15 years ago. 358 00:23:17,533 --> 00:23:19,500 JUDY WOODRUFF: Yes. 359 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:22,033 SARAH LONGWELL: And now they feel like it gets really personal really fast. 360 00:23:22,033 --> 00:23:25,566 JUDY WOODRUFF: Another key division was over questions of faith and what it means for people's 361 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:28,633 politics. 362 00:23:28,633 --> 00:23:31,066 SARAH LONGWELL: Do you believe that it's possible to be very liberal, very progressive, but 363 00:23:31,066 --> 00:23:33,666 also be of deep Christian faith? 364 00:23:33,666 --> 00:23:35,233 MAN: No. 365 00:23:35,233 --> 00:23:36,800 SOPHIA: No. 366 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:37,800 No. 367 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,733 SARAH LONGWELL: Tell me more. 368 00:23:39,733 --> 00:23:40,733 Go ahead. 369 00:23:40,733 --> 00:23:42,466 SOPHIA: You can't. 370 00:23:42,466 --> 00:23:45,533 Life is, well, very important. 371 00:23:45,533 --> 00:23:50,100 And if you're a liberal, then you are pro-choice, and then you believe that it's OK to kill 372 00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:51,766 a baby. 373 00:23:51,766 --> 00:23:56,100 And I don't believe that you can believe that and be a real Christian. 374 00:23:56,100 --> 00:23:58,633 SARAH LONGWELL: What do you think? 375 00:23:58,633 --> 00:24:02,666 AMANDA, Republican Voter: Technically, I guess you could be, but that would mean you're not, 376 00:24:02,666 --> 00:24:07,666 I don't know, allowing God's love to be in you as much and stuff. 377 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:13,933 RAMONA, Republican Voter: So, I don't think that the Democrats -- and I hate to say it 378 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:16,400 like that. 379 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:20,166 I hate to segregate the party. 380 00:24:20,166 --> 00:24:22,766 They have too many, yes, but what if? 381 00:24:22,766 --> 00:24:26,633 Yes, but what if I don't feel like a girl? 382 00:24:26,633 --> 00:24:31,633 So, whatever, God -- so, God made me a boy, but I don't feel like a boy, and so I'm going 383 00:24:33,366 --> 00:24:36,500 to change that. 384 00:24:36,500 --> 00:24:38,866 It's just messing with creation. 385 00:24:38,866 --> 00:24:42,233 It's just messing with the absolute. 386 00:24:42,233 --> 00:24:46,400 So, when Joe Biden -- I know he's a Catholic. 387 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,866 Do you think that he's not Catholic? 388 00:24:48,866 --> 00:24:53,866 PETER: I mean, you just -- in your original question, God is more of a God of just love. 389 00:24:55,033 --> 00:24:57,033 He's a God of right and wrong. 390 00:24:57,033 --> 00:24:58,933 He's a God of truth. 391 00:24:58,933 --> 00:25:01,100 He's a God of righteousness. 392 00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:05,566 I mean, you can't be liberal and be far left on beliefs and then say, oh, I'm a Christian. 393 00:25:10,266 --> 00:25:11,566 Well, you can say it. 394 00:25:11,566 --> 00:25:13,000 That's the -- that's the worst thing. 395 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,100 People do say it. 396 00:25:15,100 --> 00:25:19,366 JUDY WOODRUFF: There were strong views expressed about whether it's possible to be a Democrat, 397 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,200 to be liberal, and have a strong Christian faith. 398 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:25,700 It's almost a barrier. 399 00:25:25,700 --> 00:25:27,866 SARAH LONGWELL: Yes, people can be really paradoxical. 400 00:25:27,866 --> 00:25:32,866 They can sort of express one thing in thinking about it one way and then express sort of 401 00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:37,100 the complete opposite if they're thinking about something else in a different frame. 402 00:25:37,100 --> 00:25:41,366 You could hear on one hand people saying, well, I'd really like us to get along more, 403 00:25:41,366 --> 00:25:45,366 and I want us to have shared values and have these good conversations. 404 00:25:45,366 --> 00:25:49,966 And then you would also hear them say, but I don't think that you can be a real Christian 405 00:25:49,966 --> 00:25:51,966 and be a progressive. 406 00:25:51,966 --> 00:25:54,000 They didn't think those things were compatible. 407 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:58,500 JUDY WOODRUFF: When it came to the idea of their children marrying someone of the opposite 408 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:00,600 party, feelings were mixed. 409 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:05,566 SARAH LONGWELL: Would any of you or all of you be OK if your child married a Democrat? 410 00:26:07,033 --> 00:26:11,833 RAMONA: My child did marry a Democrat, a Democrat lawyer. 411 00:26:12,633 --> 00:26:13,633 (LAUGHTER) 412 00:26:13,633 --> 00:26:15,633 RAMONA: It didn't go well. 413 00:26:15,633 --> 00:26:18,366 SARAH LONGWELL: Is it still not going well? 414 00:26:18,366 --> 00:26:19,366 RAMONA: No. 415 00:26:19,366 --> 00:26:20,566 We are estranged. 416 00:26:20,566 --> 00:26:21,966 SARAH LONGWELL: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. 417 00:26:21,966 --> 00:26:22,966 RAMONA: Yes. 418 00:26:22,966 --> 00:26:25,033 Yes. 419 00:26:25,033 --> 00:26:28,966 BRENT: My daughters are both very liberal, which pains me, but I support them and their 420 00:26:30,866 --> 00:26:34,766 beliefs and try to have conversations with them about what I believe and why I believe 421 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:36,800 that way. 422 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,100 And so -- but I don't try to change them. 423 00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:42,266 I just let them know how I believe and why I believe that way. 424 00:26:42,266 --> 00:26:45,733 But if they choose to marry a Democrat, I will support them 100 percent. 425 00:26:45,733 --> 00:26:48,500 BRIAN, Republican Voter: And that, in itself, is the root issue. 426 00:26:48,500 --> 00:26:53,366 JUDY WOODRUFF: And there was even some pushback to our framing of some of these questions 427 00:26:53,366 --> 00:26:55,166 along partisan lines. 428 00:26:55,166 --> 00:26:57,766 BRIAN: We're all made in the image of God. 429 00:26:57,766 --> 00:26:59,800 We're all valued by the creator. 430 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,866 Why are we dividing Democrat and Republican? 431 00:27:02,866 --> 00:27:05,333 Like, my mom's a liberal Democrat. 432 00:27:05,333 --> 00:27:10,333 And I work in something completely different, and we have the most loving relationship. 433 00:27:12,233 --> 00:27:16,100 It's because I don't identify by our relationship based on Democrat, Republican. 434 00:27:16,100 --> 00:27:17,600 SARAH LONGWELL: Yes. 435 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,366 BRIAN: And I think that's the problem in the country. 436 00:27:20,366 --> 00:27:22,466 SARAH LONGWELL: Yes. 437 00:27:22,466 --> 00:27:25,566 One of the things about doing the focus groups across the political spectrum every week now 438 00:27:25,566 --> 00:27:30,566 for years is, oftentimes, Americans are closer on a number of things than you might think, 439 00:27:32,466 --> 00:27:36,266 and people tend to overestimate how different the other side is from them or at how mad 440 00:27:37,766 --> 00:27:39,833 they would be. 441 00:27:39,833 --> 00:27:43,533 And some of this comes down to the fact that we are now geographically very segregated 442 00:27:43,533 --> 00:27:45,166 as a country. 443 00:27:45,166 --> 00:27:49,066 We are -- tend to have bluer cities and redder sort of rural areas. 444 00:27:49,066 --> 00:27:51,033 JUDY WOODRUFF: Yes. 445 00:27:51,033 --> 00:27:53,166 SARAH LONGWELL: And so the less people talk to each other, the less they have a really 446 00:27:53,166 --> 00:27:56,766 good frame of reference for how somebody might actually think. 447 00:27:56,766 --> 00:28:01,766 Oftentimes, people are a little more tolerant, and they want us to get along. 448 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,933 Like, they express the fact that they would - - they sort of lament being this divided, 449 00:28:07,933 --> 00:28:12,666 and they talk in terms of wanting America to be a place where you can talk about your 450 00:28:12,666 --> 00:28:16,533 disagreements and not feel like it's going to be so fraught. 451 00:28:16,533 --> 00:28:21,533 JUDY WOODRUFF: And so a mixed picture from these Trump voters in Iowa. 452 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:26,766 Some wish for less division and blame the news media, especially social media. 453 00:28:28,766 --> 00:28:32,266 And yet they have strong views about Democrats, are divided on having one in the family, and 454 00:28:33,766 --> 00:28:38,000 question if progressive politics and Christianity can coexist. 455 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:43,000 For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Judy Woodruff in Johnston, Iowa. 456 00:28:45,433 --> 00:28:50,433 GEOFF BENNETT: The 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh that killed 457 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:01,400 11 people is considered to be the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. 458 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:06,400 A federal jury convicted the gunman of 63 charges, including 11 counts of hate crimes. 459 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:11,900 And, as John Yang reports, the same jury is now deciding whether to recommend the death 460 00:29:11,900 --> 00:29:14,033 penalty. 461 00:29:14,033 --> 00:29:17,900 JOHN YANG: Geoff, this phase of the trial is really what the case has been all about. 462 00:29:19,866 --> 00:29:22,600 Defense lawyers readily acknowledged during the guilt phase that the gunman planned and 463 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,600 carried out the attack. 464 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:28,800 The jury is now in the third day of hearing from the victims' families and friends. 465 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,733 Later, the defense will make its case for a sentence of life in prison. 466 00:29:32,733 --> 00:29:36,500 This phase of the trial is expected to take at least a week. 467 00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:40,333 David Harris is a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh Law School. 468 00:29:40,333 --> 00:29:45,333 He's also an adviser to the 10.27 Healing Partnership, which is a consortium helping 469 00:29:47,233 --> 00:29:50,766 the victims, survivors and broader community deal with the shooting and its aftermath. 470 00:29:52,766 --> 00:29:55,966 To get to this phase, Mr. Harris, they had to go through a phase where they determined 471 00:29:57,300 --> 00:29:59,833 that the shooter was eligible for the death penalty. 472 00:29:59,833 --> 00:30:03,300 Now they're deciding whether or not to recommend the death penalty. 473 00:30:03,300 --> 00:30:08,300 Does the law give them any -- say anything about what factors they ought to be considering 474 00:30:09,033 --> 00:30:10,500 in making this decision? 475 00:30:10,500 --> 00:30:11,900 DAVID HARRIS, University of Pittsburgh: Yes, it does, John. 476 00:30:11,900 --> 00:30:13,900 And it's very clear about this. 477 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:18,800 At this phase, the penalty phase, the jury is to consider evidence of aggravating factors 478 00:30:20,666 --> 00:30:24,033 and mitigating factors. 479 00:30:24,033 --> 00:30:28,700 Aggravating factors are things that would push the jury toward a sentence of death. 480 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:33,700 And they can be things like a killing that is particularly heinous, victims who are particularly 481 00:30:36,300 --> 00:30:38,700 vulnerable, multiple victims. 482 00:30:38,700 --> 00:30:43,666 All of this is spelled out in the law, the statutes that cover the death penalty and 483 00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:46,600 also by court decisions. 484 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:51,133 This is balanced, then, against mitigating factors coming from the defense. 485 00:30:51,133 --> 00:30:56,100 And the defense mitigating factors could be things like brain trauma, mental illness, 486 00:30:58,366 --> 00:31:00,333 adverse childhood events. 487 00:31:00,333 --> 00:31:03,733 All of that will be weighed and balanced by the jury. 488 00:31:03,733 --> 00:31:08,200 And from that weighing and balancing, they will make the determination of whether this 489 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,566 defendant is sentenced to death or life without parole. 490 00:31:11,566 --> 00:31:16,566 JOHN YANG: And what the prosecution is doing now, putting up essentially victim-impact 491 00:31:17,166 --> 00:31:17,966 statements... 492 00:31:17,966 --> 00:31:20,033 DAVID HARRIS: Yes. 493 00:31:20,033 --> 00:31:22,433 JOHN YANG: ... we have heard widows talk about losing their husbands, grandchildren talk 494 00:31:22,433 --> 00:31:27,433 about losing their grandmother, even the girlfriend of one of the police officers who was wounded 495 00:31:28,833 --> 00:31:31,466 talking about what that wound has done to his life. 496 00:31:31,466 --> 00:31:36,466 Is this all in trying to convince the jury that it is worth the death penalty? 497 00:31:37,766 --> 00:31:39,433 DAVID HARRIS: Yes, that's what it is. 498 00:31:39,433 --> 00:31:42,266 This is the prosecution's aggravating evidence. 499 00:31:42,266 --> 00:31:47,233 And nothing is typically more powerful than testimony from people who were victimized 500 00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:52,533 themselves or whose loved ones were the subject of the murder. 501 00:31:52,533 --> 00:31:54,633 That's what we have here. 502 00:31:54,633 --> 00:31:58,633 The Supreme Court allows this kind of victim-impact evidence at this stage to show the jury a 503 00:32:01,433 --> 00:32:03,566 kind of slice of life. 504 00:32:03,566 --> 00:32:06,400 What has it meant that this victim has been lost? 505 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:11,400 What has it meant to the families, to the workplace, to the community at large? 506 00:32:13,466 --> 00:32:16,400 And the court says that the jury can weigh this as part of the aggravating factors. 507 00:32:17,500 --> 00:32:19,600 It is typically very, very impactful. 508 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:24,466 JOHN YANG: And based on what we have heard in the guilt phase of this trial and also 509 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,433 in the phase to determine whether he was eligible, what do we expect the defense, what mitigating 510 00:32:31,566 --> 00:32:33,600 factors do we expect the defense to present? 511 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:38,600 DAVID HARRIS: The defense has treated the entire case front to back as a preview so 512 00:32:39,466 --> 00:32:41,133 far of its mitigating evidence. 513 00:32:41,133 --> 00:32:43,333 So we know pretty much what they're going to bring. 514 00:32:43,333 --> 00:32:48,333 What we will hear about is the fact that they say that the defendant has a series of mental 515 00:32:50,433 --> 00:32:53,900 illnesses, that perhaps he has schizophrenia, that he has epilepsy and other mental disease, 516 00:32:56,433 --> 00:33:00,633 that he had some very terrible things happen during his childhood. 517 00:33:00,633 --> 00:33:05,633 As they said in their opening argument for this phase of the trial, don't add more death 518 00:33:06,766 --> 00:33:08,833 to this, punishment, yes, death, no. 519 00:33:08,833 --> 00:33:13,700 JOHN YANG: And on that point, I know that you live in -- fairly close, relatively close 520 00:33:15,100 --> 00:33:17,333 to the synagogue where this shooting took place. 521 00:33:17,333 --> 00:33:21,633 It's a very tight-knit community, still very much a Jewish enclave. 522 00:33:21,633 --> 00:33:26,633 And I know that there is an array of opinions about whether this man should get life or 523 00:33:27,366 --> 00:33:29,333 get the death penalty. 524 00:33:29,333 --> 00:33:33,833 What do you hear from your neighbors, what do you hear from your fellow congregants to 525 00:33:35,066 --> 00:33:37,166 sort of illustrate this? 526 00:33:37,166 --> 00:33:41,533 DAVID HARRIS: Well, this is the most common question I get asked, as a person who taught 527 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:47,533 classes to help the community come to grips with the trial. 528 00:33:49,466 --> 00:33:52,866 And we're a mixed group of opinions, just like Americans are, on the death penalty. 529 00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:59,233 There are many people who say, if this isn't a death penalty case, I don't know what it 530 00:34:00,466 --> 00:34:01,966 is. 531 00:34:01,966 --> 00:34:04,233 If anybody ever deserved the death penalty, this guy does. 532 00:34:04,233 --> 00:34:09,233 Others are just as opposed to the death penalty under any circumstances, even these. 533 00:34:10,566 --> 00:34:15,100 So there is not a unanimity of opinion on this. 534 00:34:15,100 --> 00:34:20,100 What we are is united in our determination to support the victims, to see the process 535 00:34:22,066 --> 00:34:25,933 through correctly, to see the best we can as human beings that justice is done. 536 00:34:27,366 --> 00:34:30,100 We don't always get what we want out of the legal process. 537 00:34:30,100 --> 00:34:35,100 But what we will get here is, we will know that this case was carried out consistent 538 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:41,166 with our values as a community, whether our values as a Jewish community, an American 539 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:43,766 community, the community of Pittsburgh. 540 00:34:43,766 --> 00:34:45,900 That's what we have going for us. 541 00:34:45,900 --> 00:34:50,133 But what we're seeing here is a city and a community coming to grips with the worst thing 542 00:34:50,133 --> 00:34:54,933 that can happen in very solid way that seeks justice. 543 00:34:54,933 --> 00:34:58,700 JOHN YANG: David Harris from the University of Pittsburgh Law School, thank you very much. 544 00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:03,100 DAVID HARRIS: My pleasure. 545 00:35:03,100 --> 00:35:08,100 GEOFF BENNETT: Germany's economy has been the envy of Europe for decades, but no longer. 546 00:35:14,300 --> 00:35:19,300 The country is now officially in recession, and its people, who've been used to prosperity, 547 00:35:20,166 --> 00:35:22,133 are now losing confidence. 548 00:35:22,133 --> 00:35:25,233 Much of Germany's current troubles have been caused by the war in Ukraine, with Germany 549 00:35:25,233 --> 00:35:28,866 turning its back on Russia, its former trading partner. 550 00:35:28,866 --> 00:35:32,333 Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports from Berlin. 551 00:35:32,333 --> 00:35:36,500 MALCOLM BRABANT: This is the face of Germany's new poor. 552 00:35:36,500 --> 00:35:41,500 Ines, a former nurse and therapist, blames soaring energy costs for making her a client 553 00:35:42,900 --> 00:35:45,600 at one of the country's fastest growing sectors, food banks. 554 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:49,066 Out of embarrassment, she doesn't wish to give her surname. 555 00:35:49,066 --> 00:35:54,066 INES, Food Bank Client (through translator): I never, ever thought it would come to this. 556 00:35:55,500 --> 00:35:58,000 I worked in this country and raised three children. 557 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:02,400 I bought my own house, and I could never have foreseen myself in this situation. 558 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:07,400 MALCOLM BRABANT: Next in line is Alina, a hairdresser from Luhansk, one of the provinces 559 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:11,100 in Eastern Ukraine occupied by Russian forces. 560 00:36:11,100 --> 00:36:16,100 More than one million Ukrainian refugees have taken shelter in Germany since the war began. 561 00:36:18,133 --> 00:36:20,066 ALINA, Ukrainian Refugee: It allows me to eat healthy food, because vegetables and fruits 562 00:36:20,066 --> 00:36:21,700 are very expensive here. 563 00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:23,166 I can cook something. 564 00:36:23,166 --> 00:36:24,633 I can eat. 565 00:36:24,633 --> 00:36:27,900 I can buy meat, for example, because I'm going here. 566 00:36:27,900 --> 00:36:32,733 MALCOLM BRABANT: In this country of 88 million, more than two million Germans are dependent 567 00:36:32,733 --> 00:36:35,233 on food banks. 568 00:36:35,233 --> 00:36:39,100 This one is run by former Dr. Christina Klar in a church community center in what was West 569 00:36:40,366 --> 00:36:42,433 Berlin. 570 00:36:42,433 --> 00:36:44,533 CHRISTINA KLAR, Food Bank Manager (through translator): At the beginning of this year, 571 00:36:44,533 --> 00:36:47,300 we had 100 to 120 households. 572 00:36:47,300 --> 00:36:52,300 A household can be one person or a family with two adults and four or five children. 573 00:36:53,500 --> 00:36:55,966 And the Ukraine war has virtually doubled that. 574 00:36:55,966 --> 00:36:58,600 We are now at 200 households. 575 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:02,866 INES (through translator): As you can imagine, I'm ashamed to be here. 576 00:37:02,866 --> 00:37:04,833 This is society's bottom layer. 577 00:37:04,833 --> 00:37:08,666 But now there are so many middle-class people here. 578 00:37:08,666 --> 00:37:10,866 Yes, and that includes me. 579 00:37:10,866 --> 00:37:14,966 MALCOLM BRABANT: Food banks like this one are a real indication of poverty in one of 580 00:37:14,966 --> 00:37:17,100 the richest countries in the world. 581 00:37:17,100 --> 00:37:20,900 And there are 14 million people who are considered to be in poverty. 582 00:37:20,900 --> 00:37:23,000 That's one in six of the population. 583 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:24,833 MARCEL FRATZSCHER, President, German Institute For Economic Research: Germany and German 584 00:37:24,833 --> 00:37:27,133 citizens are in a state of shock. 585 00:37:27,133 --> 00:37:32,133 The expectation was, even after the pandemic, we will return to the good old past of the 586 00:37:34,100 --> 00:37:38,800 2010s, maximum employment, strongly growing wages, highly -- high competitiveness with 587 00:37:40,066 --> 00:37:41,566 other economies worldwide. 588 00:37:41,566 --> 00:37:45,266 And now people realize the world will never be that way again. 589 00:37:45,266 --> 00:37:49,666 MALCOLM BRABANT: Marcel Fratzscher is one of Germany's most respected economists. 590 00:37:49,666 --> 00:37:54,433 He says that, after decades of growth and strength, the nation's economy is now at a 591 00:37:54,433 --> 00:37:55,900 tipping point. 592 00:37:55,900 --> 00:37:57,400 MARCEL FRATZSCHER: People are worried about their jobs. 593 00:37:57,400 --> 00:37:59,933 People are worried about what they have achieved in the past. 594 00:37:59,933 --> 00:38:03,366 And the first sign of that is high inflation currently. 595 00:38:03,366 --> 00:38:08,366 Most people, in particular, people with low incomes, are experiencing a massive cut in 596 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,200 the purchasing power of their income and the living standard. 597 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,166 So people are scared. 598 00:38:14,166 --> 00:38:17,633 BRIGITTE WEINBECK, Pensioner (through translator): I shop more consciously. 599 00:38:17,633 --> 00:38:21,933 For example, I always make a plan at the beginning of the week about what I'm going to cook and 600 00:38:21,933 --> 00:38:24,200 when, and then I go shopping. 601 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:27,633 Otherwise, one sometimes has impulse purchases in between. 602 00:38:27,633 --> 00:38:29,666 I avoid those now. 603 00:38:29,666 --> 00:38:33,233 MALCOLM BRABANT: Berliners are constantly reminded of the source of their troubles by 604 00:38:33,233 --> 00:38:38,233 the monument commemorating the Russian-dominated Red Army that helped defeat the Nazis in World 605 00:38:38,700 --> 00:38:41,266 War II. 606 00:38:41,266 --> 00:38:46,166 Outside Russia's embassy, Ukrainian folk music plays as a permanent protest against an invasion 607 00:38:48,566 --> 00:38:52,000 which has fueled inflation, created an energy crisis and stripped Germany of its defensive 608 00:38:52,633 --> 00:38:54,600 capacity. 609 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:59,200 Politicians insist that Germany is resolute in its support for Ukraine, but some beg to 610 00:38:59,666 --> 00:39:02,200 differ. 611 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:03,333 ERIC HANSEN, "The George Washington of Achievement": In my conversations with them, they're saying 612 00:39:03,333 --> 00:39:04,266 that things are getting more expensive. 613 00:39:04,266 --> 00:39:06,333 That's what is the main thing. 614 00:39:06,333 --> 00:39:10,566 And I think they would gladly give the Ukraine to the Russian, most Germans. 615 00:39:12,533 --> 00:39:14,600 And they certainly do not want to give more money than they're already giving. 616 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:18,900 MALCOLM BRABANT: American author and social commentator Eric Hansen has lived in Berlin 617 00:39:18,900 --> 00:39:22,100 for decades and has written more than a dozen books in German. 618 00:39:22,100 --> 00:39:24,433 ERIC HANSEN: They want a certain amount of prosperity. 619 00:39:24,433 --> 00:39:28,966 And if you threaten to take it away, that's when they turn into different people. 620 00:39:28,966 --> 00:39:33,966 You could see that in 2015, when the migrants came in, and they were really afraid of losing 621 00:39:35,500 --> 00:39:36,966 prosperity. 622 00:39:36,966 --> 00:39:38,866 And that's when all the morals went out the window. 623 00:39:38,866 --> 00:39:43,366 MALCOLM BRABANT: The Brandenburg Gate was once the Iron Curtain's western frontier. 624 00:39:43,366 --> 00:39:46,533 Today, it's symbolic of Germany's current divisions. 625 00:39:46,533 --> 00:39:50,266 Many in the former communist East believe Moscow's propaganda. 626 00:39:50,266 --> 00:39:55,266 THOMAS WIEGOLD, Defense Analyst: Germans are rather afraid, because remembering the Second 627 00:39:56,633 --> 00:40:00,666 World War Is still very present in the collective memory. 628 00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,966 NARRATOR: More of that captured German film, propaganda pictures, with which the Germans 629 00:40:07,033 --> 00:40:08,566 hoped to prove themselves unbeatable. 630 00:40:08,566 --> 00:40:12,866 THOMAS WIEGOLD: Everybody had a grandfather who was in this war. 631 00:40:12,866 --> 00:40:17,833 NARRATOR: We know how his war machines stabbed into the territory of our ally, but we all 632 00:40:17,833 --> 00:40:19,933 know too what it has cost him. 633 00:40:19,933 --> 00:40:23,700 And he's far from achieving his object,the destruction of the Red Army. 634 00:40:23,700 --> 00:40:28,700 THOMAS WIEGOLD: It's something Germans are aware of and really are afraid that this could 635 00:40:30,100 --> 00:40:31,700 happen again. 636 00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:36,333 NARRATOR: Of course, the Soviet has lost tanks, hundreds of them. 637 00:40:37,233 --> 00:40:39,300 So has Hitler in thousands. 638 00:40:39,300 --> 00:40:43,200 MALCOLM BRABANT: Thomas Wiegold is one of Germany's leading defense analysts. 639 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:48,166 He says the nation's military is alarmed at how support for Ukraine has eroded its own 640 00:40:48,933 --> 00:40:50,966 capabilities. 641 00:40:50,966 --> 00:40:54,900 THOMAS WIEGOLD: It's an open secret that ammunition stocks are running pretty low. 642 00:40:57,066 --> 00:41:02,033 Officially and unofficially, the German armed forces are not in a position to fight a real 643 00:41:04,733 --> 00:41:06,800 war at the moment. 644 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:11,766 MALCOLM BRABANT: How long could Germany defend itself for, do you think, if there was a hot 645 00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:14,433 war? 646 00:41:14,433 --> 00:41:18,300 THOMAS WIEGOLD: If there was a hot war, Germany would have a real problem when it comes to 647 00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:21,666 ammunition, certain types of ammunition. 648 00:41:21,666 --> 00:41:24,500 The stocks are down to a few days' worth. 649 00:41:24,500 --> 00:41:28,666 So this would mean Germany would have to rely on allies. 650 00:41:28,666 --> 00:41:33,666 MALCOLM BRABANT: Besides defense, energy is Germany's most pressing concern. 651 00:41:35,466 --> 00:41:37,533 Despite the war, the country's nuclear power stations have been shut down. 652 00:41:37,533 --> 00:41:41,700 ALBERT STEGEMANN, Christian Democrats (through translator): In the long term, nuclear power 653 00:41:41,700 --> 00:41:45,800 is certainly not the technology of the future, but, at this time, it would have been good 654 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,400 to be able to rely on it. 655 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:51,800 MALCOLM BRABANT: Deprived of Russian gas supplies, Germany is now importing higher-priced liquid 656 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:56,666 natural gas to protect its economy and keep its citizens warm. 657 00:41:56,666 --> 00:41:59,700 Germany's green energy sources aren't sufficient to fill the gap. 658 00:41:59,700 --> 00:42:02,233 Klaus Mueller is the country's energy overseer. 659 00:42:02,233 --> 00:42:03,900 KLAUS MUELLER, President, German Federal Network Agency: So what we need to do is, we need 660 00:42:03,900 --> 00:42:06,600 to be creative and innovative. 661 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:10,400 We need to save energy, and we need to invest in renewables. 662 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:15,400 MARCEL FRATZSCHER: Many companies might not survive the next five years, either because 663 00:42:16,266 --> 00:42:17,466 energy costs are too high. 664 00:42:17,466 --> 00:42:19,400 WOMAN: We're planning a heat pump. 665 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:23,500 MALCOLM BRABANT: Despite boasts about its carbon footprint, the chemical giant BASF 666 00:42:23,500 --> 00:42:28,300 plans to relocate part of its production to China, blaming high energy costs at home. 667 00:42:28,300 --> 00:42:33,300 WOMAN: And to power our own factories, we're building an offshore wind farm, the biggest 668 00:42:33,900 --> 00:42:36,500 in the world. 669 00:42:36,500 --> 00:42:40,000 MALCOLM BRABANT: German prosperity has traditionally been rooted in the power of its motor manufacturing, 670 00:42:41,366 --> 00:42:43,366 but Fratzscher says that's no longer the case. 671 00:42:43,366 --> 00:42:47,100 MARCEL FRATZSCHER: Car companies and other companies are losing out in global competition. 672 00:42:47,100 --> 00:42:48,900 MALCOLM BRABANT: But is he downhearted? 673 00:42:48,900 --> 00:42:50,900 No, he's not. 674 00:42:50,900 --> 00:42:54,866 MARCEL FRATZSCHER: Germany's economic future might look very difficult, but Germany has 675 00:42:56,866 --> 00:42:59,900 a lot of strengths that are underestimated, often not seen, and which have been essential 676 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:05,233 for Germany to manage big transitions, big challenges over the last 70, 80 years. 677 00:43:07,266 --> 00:43:12,266 MALCOLM BRABANT: While Germany is not as badly off as other nations around the world, it 678 00:43:13,633 --> 00:43:17,233 has definitely lost its economic and defensive oomph. 679 00:43:17,233 --> 00:43:19,666 But at least it still got its oompah. 680 00:43:19,666 --> 00:43:21,666 (MUSIC) 681 00:43:21,666 --> 00:43:25,666 MALCOLM BRABANT: For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Malcolm Brabant in Berlin. 682 00:43:29,133 --> 00:43:34,133 GEOFF BENNETT: Elite athletes like Michael Phelps and Serena Williams tend to hold a 683 00:43:40,233 --> 00:43:42,933 special place in America's imagination. 684 00:43:42,933 --> 00:43:47,933 It's almost as if such sports stars are mythical figures capable of executing greatness at 685 00:43:49,100 --> 00:43:51,200 critical moments when the stakes are high. 686 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:55,400 But a new book debunks that and reveals the rest of us can learn a lot from the sports 687 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:57,500 greats too. 688 00:43:57,500 --> 00:44:01,433 Amna Nawaz recently spoke with Sally Jenkins about her new book called "The Right Call: 689 00:44:01,433 --> 00:44:05,300 What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life." 690 00:44:05,300 --> 00:44:07,166 Sally Jenkins, welcome back to the "NewsHour." 691 00:44:07,166 --> 00:44:09,200 Thanks so much for joining us. 692 00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:09,866 SALLY JENKINS, Author, "The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life": Thanks 693 00:44:09,866 --> 00:44:11,900 for having me. 694 00:44:11,900 --> 00:44:14,766 AMNA NAWAZ: So, most of us, I think it's fair to say, are nothing like the elite athletes 695 00:44:14,766 --> 00:44:17,100 and coaches that you feature in this book. 696 00:44:17,100 --> 00:44:21,833 But you write that there are lessons in their process for all of us. 697 00:44:21,833 --> 00:44:22,833 Tell us about that. 698 00:44:22,833 --> 00:44:24,900 SALLY JENKINS: Absolutely. 699 00:44:24,900 --> 00:44:27,800 I think one of the things I have learned in all the years of covering these people is 700 00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:30,666 that they're just as flawed and insecure as the rest of us. 701 00:44:30,666 --> 00:44:35,666 They just do a better job of sort of mitigating that and finding their weaknesses, facing 702 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:38,466 them and curing them. 703 00:44:38,466 --> 00:44:42,566 AMNA NAWAZ: You identify seven key elements in the book for anyone who wants to be able 704 00:44:42,566 --> 00:44:47,266 to, as you put it -- quote -- "act well in the face of extraordinary pressures." 705 00:44:47,266 --> 00:44:49,833 Who among us doesn't want to? 706 00:44:49,833 --> 00:44:53,566 Those seven elements you list are conditioning, practice, discipline, candor, culture, failure, 707 00:44:55,000 --> 00:44:57,066 and intention. 708 00:44:57,066 --> 00:45:00,866 I want to start with practice, because that may seem obvious to many people, but you actually 709 00:45:00,866 --> 00:45:03,366 write there's a lot of bad practice out there. 710 00:45:03,366 --> 00:45:05,433 What did you mean by that? 711 00:45:05,433 --> 00:45:08,533 SALLY JENKINS: Well, there's a lot of purposeless activity, a lot of meaningless activity with 712 00:45:08,533 --> 00:45:10,600 no real measurable improvement. 713 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:15,300 All the people I talked to for the book, whether it was Peyton Manning, the Hall of Fame NFL 714 00:45:17,766 --> 00:45:20,466 quarterback, or Steve Kerr, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, they work with a purpose. 715 00:45:21,700 --> 00:45:24,166 They diagnose a weakness and then they attack it. 716 00:45:24,166 --> 00:45:29,166 Peyton Manning, for instance, early in his career had some unstable feet under pressure 717 00:45:30,633 --> 00:45:32,766 when heavy defensive linemen would dive below his knees. 718 00:45:32,766 --> 00:45:37,366 So one of the things that his coaches did with him was, they started hurling heavy sandbags 719 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,133 at his feet in practice to get him a little more stable under pressure. 720 00:45:41,133 --> 00:45:46,133 Those are the sorts of granular things that athletes do to work on things that are really 721 00:45:48,066 --> 00:45:50,733 kind of marginal weaknesses, but make an incredible difference under pressure. 722 00:45:50,733 --> 00:45:54,966 AMNA NAWAZ: Knowing and studying your own weaknesses too, that seemed to be a big part 723 00:45:54,966 --> 00:45:56,533 of competing at that elite level. 724 00:45:56,533 --> 00:45:58,400 How does that apply to the rest of us? 725 00:45:58,400 --> 00:46:02,033 SALLY JENKINS: Well, we all have a lot of unconscious incompetencies. 726 00:46:02,033 --> 00:46:07,033 A Peyton Manning doesn't really know his feet are an issue until a coach like Tony Dungy 727 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:12,366 gets ahold of him and says, you may have been a top draft pick and a future Hall of Famer, 728 00:46:14,366 --> 00:46:17,933 but right now you're a 32-32 quarterback in your won-loss record and you're leading the 729 00:46:17,933 --> 00:46:21,066 league in interceptions, despite all your talent. 730 00:46:21,066 --> 00:46:22,933 So let's go fix that. 731 00:46:22,933 --> 00:46:24,166 The rest of us, the same thing. 732 00:46:24,166 --> 00:46:26,166 We have unconscious incompetencies. 733 00:46:26,166 --> 00:46:30,666 We're not aware as we work through our own lives of where our weaknesses really are. 734 00:46:30,666 --> 00:46:33,100 And it takes an evaluative eye. 735 00:46:33,100 --> 00:46:37,400 And it also takes a certain amount of sort of personal courage to say, where am I not 736 00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:39,333 great? 737 00:46:39,333 --> 00:46:41,466 AMNA NAWAZ: In the chapter on candor, you write about language, the difference between 738 00:46:41,466 --> 00:46:43,566 blame and critique. 739 00:46:43,566 --> 00:46:46,733 You write -- quote -- "If you want to breed trust, you don't just tell someone what they 740 00:46:46,733 --> 00:46:47,966 did wrong. 741 00:46:47,966 --> 00:46:49,466 You tell them how to do it right." 742 00:46:49,466 --> 00:46:52,100 Who's a good example of that you have seen over the years? 743 00:46:52,100 --> 00:46:56,433 SALLY JENKINS: Well, Pat Summitt was the greatest example I was ever around. 744 00:46:56,433 --> 00:46:59,200 That's where I actually first got that insight. 745 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:03,333 I worked with Pat on some books and hung around her program at the University of Tennessee 746 00:47:03,333 --> 00:47:04,566 quite a bit observing. 747 00:47:04,566 --> 00:47:06,733 And it was really, really striking. 748 00:47:06,733 --> 00:47:11,733 Pat was known as a very demanding coach, as a very disciplined coach and fierce. 749 00:47:13,600 --> 00:47:17,200 But I never heard her criticize a player without immediately offering the fix. 750 00:47:17,200 --> 00:47:19,200 And it bred a great deal of trust. 751 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:23,066 She could then -- she could yell at players because they knew she was going to offer the 752 00:47:23,066 --> 00:47:25,166 solution in the next breath. 753 00:47:25,166 --> 00:47:28,533 AMNA NAWAZ: There's a powerful line from Pat Summitt you have quoted that really resonated 754 00:47:28,533 --> 00:47:30,200 with me. 755 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:34,266 She said: "No one cares how much until they know how much you care." 756 00:47:34,266 --> 00:47:36,333 How did that show up in her leadership? 757 00:47:36,333 --> 00:47:40,800 SALLY JENKINS: Well, followers -- it turns out that teams actually have a lot more power 758 00:47:41,666 --> 00:47:43,700 than the coaches or the leaders. 759 00:47:43,700 --> 00:47:47,933 I have seen countless teams take their coaches down by rebelling quietly. 760 00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:54,166 Quiet mutinies in a locker room is something you see quite a lot in sportswriting. 761 00:47:54,166 --> 00:47:56,300 You know it when you see it. 762 00:47:56,300 --> 00:48:00,533 And Pat Riley, the president of the Miami Heat, has a really great description of what 763 00:48:00,533 --> 00:48:04,900 happens when followers don't trust the intentions of their leaders. 764 00:48:04,900 --> 00:48:09,900 They start doing what Riley called subtly gearing down their efforts and enrolling others 765 00:48:11,066 --> 00:48:13,033 in their own cycles of disappointment. 766 00:48:13,033 --> 00:48:15,866 AMNA NAWAZ: Sally, you write a lot about organizational culture and success. 767 00:48:15,866 --> 00:48:20,766 We are speaking amid a lot of turmoil in the golf world, with the PGA Tour partnering with 768 00:48:20,766 --> 00:48:22,633 that Saudi-funded LIV Tour. 769 00:48:22,633 --> 00:48:24,600 It's under a lot of scrutiny. 770 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:26,600 Should that deal have happened? 771 00:48:26,600 --> 00:48:30,100 SALLY JENKINS: It's an essay in some of the worst leadership I have ever seen. 772 00:48:30,100 --> 00:48:35,100 The hallmarks of really bad leadership are secrecy, lack of transparency, lack of preparation. 773 00:48:36,300 --> 00:48:38,633 All of those things, the PGA Tour was guilty of. 774 00:48:38,633 --> 00:48:43,133 They announced this deal without consulting anybody on the policy board of directors or 775 00:48:43,133 --> 00:48:47,800 any of their players, and their constituency has just absolutely rebelled. 776 00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:52,800 The secrecy led to inquiry from everyone from Senator Richard Blumenthal and his committee 777 00:48:54,066 --> 00:48:56,066 to the Department of Justice. 778 00:48:56,066 --> 00:49:00,800 I mean, there's just fallout after fallout here, because they violated some pretty basic 779 00:49:02,133 --> 00:49:04,400 principles of good organizational leadership. 780 00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:09,400 AMNA NAWAZ: Sally, while I have you, I have to ask you about an incredibly powerful piece 781 00:49:11,866 --> 00:49:14,766 you wrote recently, a joint profile of two tennis greats, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, 782 00:49:16,700 --> 00:49:19,833 not only the fiercest of rivals, but also the closest of friends for decades. 783 00:49:19,833 --> 00:49:22,466 Both ended up battling cancer at the same time. 784 00:49:22,466 --> 00:49:24,566 I want to play just a part of your interview with them. 785 00:49:24,566 --> 00:49:26,933 CHRIS EVERT, Former Professional Tennis Player: Yes, and we went through the -- pretty much 786 00:49:26,933 --> 00:49:29,466 the same things in life. 787 00:49:29,466 --> 00:49:31,600 MARTINA NAVRATILOVA, Former Professional Tennis Player: The trajectory, it's amazing, really. 788 00:49:31,600 --> 00:49:33,633 CHRIS EVERT: And we're going through this together, which is like -- I love the phrase 789 00:49:33,633 --> 00:49:35,266 know we're in the trenches together. 790 00:49:35,266 --> 00:49:37,633 Like, we have been in the trenches together our whole life. 791 00:49:37,633 --> 00:49:41,366 AMNA NAWAZ: Sally, this was a sports story, but it really wasn't. 792 00:49:41,366 --> 00:49:44,400 Why do you think it resonated so much with so many people? 793 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:49,400 SALLY JENKINS: Well, I think that, first of all, the reconciliation between the two of 794 00:49:51,033 --> 00:49:53,066 them after this epic ride rivalry is just - - it's very touching. 795 00:49:53,066 --> 00:49:57,166 There's something moving about the fact that you can be the greatest opponents in the world 796 00:49:57,166 --> 00:49:59,800 and somehow emerge from that friends. 797 00:49:59,800 --> 00:50:04,733 I think there's a real craving for sort of more gentle relationships in the world right 798 00:50:04,733 --> 00:50:05,733 now. 799 00:50:05,733 --> 00:50:07,166 So I think that resonated. 800 00:50:07,166 --> 00:50:10,133 Cancer is certainly such a common experience for Americans. 801 00:50:10,133 --> 00:50:13,566 And, frankly, a lot of people grew up with these two women. 802 00:50:13,566 --> 00:50:15,566 They were revolutionaries. 803 00:50:15,566 --> 00:50:20,333 They established, as Chris Evert so beautifully put it, the right of women, the permission 804 00:50:22,100 --> 00:50:24,866 for women to really compete all out. 805 00:50:24,866 --> 00:50:29,533 So they resonate with people in, I think, probably five or six different faceted ways. 806 00:50:29,533 --> 00:50:34,300 And all of that came together in the perfect storm of this story about their friendship. 807 00:50:34,300 --> 00:50:38,633 AMNA NAWAZ: Sally, it strikes me no one could have written that story but you. 808 00:50:38,633 --> 00:50:40,433 You have covered them for so long. 809 00:50:40,433 --> 00:50:43,000 You have covered all the greats in your book for so long. 810 00:50:43,000 --> 00:50:47,266 What's it like to look back on that and think about that front-row seat to sports history 811 00:50:47,266 --> 00:50:48,833 you have had? 812 00:50:48,833 --> 00:50:50,966 SALLY JENKINS: Well, that's partly why I wrote the book. 813 00:50:50,966 --> 00:50:54,400 I -- it's -- the book is really, in some ways, a letter of appreciation to people like Chris 814 00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:59,366 Evert and Martina Navratilova, who I started covering in 1984, when I was a very young 815 00:50:59,866 --> 00:51:01,166 writer. 816 00:51:01,166 --> 00:51:03,133 I was about 24 years old, 25 years old. 817 00:51:03,133 --> 00:51:07,400 They were just such great examples of how to go about your business, how to strive to 818 00:51:08,266 --> 00:51:09,533 be truly great at something. 819 00:51:09,533 --> 00:51:11,766 I was very lucky to be exposed to them early. 820 00:51:11,766 --> 00:51:14,933 I have been very lucky to have a front-row seat, and I have taken notes. 821 00:51:14,933 --> 00:51:16,433 (LAUGHTER) 822 00:51:16,433 --> 00:51:18,433 SALLY JENKINS: So this is my offering from my notebook. 823 00:51:18,433 --> 00:51:23,166 AMNA NAWAZ: The book is "The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life." 824 00:51:23,166 --> 00:51:24,900 The author is Sally Jenkins. 825 00:51:24,900 --> 00:51:26,200 Sally, great to speak with you. 826 00:51:26,200 --> 00:51:27,400 Thank you. 827 00:51:27,400 --> 00:51:31,100 SALLY JENKINS: Thank you so much. 828 00:51:31,100 --> 00:51:36,100 GEOFF BENNETT: Tanya Aguiniga is a Los Angeles-based artist, designer, and activist who grew up 829 00:51:43,366 --> 00:51:48,333 as a binational citizen of Mexico and the U.S. Much of her work is centered on her dual 830 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:53,733 identity and tells the larger and often invisible stories of her transnational community. 831 00:51:55,733 --> 00:51:59,466 Tonight, she shares her Brief But Spectacular take as part of our arts and culture series, 832 00:51:59,966 --> 00:52:02,066 Canvas. 833 00:52:02,066 --> 00:52:05,666 TANYA AGUINIGA, Artist: I, along with millions of people along the U.S.-Mexico border, grew 834 00:52:07,333 --> 00:52:09,500 up crossing the border every single day to go to school in the U.S. 835 00:52:09,500 --> 00:52:14,433 I would go with my dad at like 3:30 in the morning to get to school by 8:00 because the 836 00:52:14,433 --> 00:52:16,533 border crossing is that long. 837 00:52:16,533 --> 00:52:19,733 I would have to take two buses to the border to wait in line, walk across the border, then 838 00:52:19,733 --> 00:52:24,733 take a trolley to take the train to the town where my high school was or my junior high, 839 00:52:25,900 --> 00:52:28,700 and then take a bus from there over to school. 840 00:52:28,700 --> 00:52:33,700 The majority of us that live in the borderlands on the Mexican side know that crossing the 841 00:52:38,200 --> 00:52:43,200 border and getting a job on the U.S. side is a necessity to be able to survive. 842 00:52:45,233 --> 00:52:48,533 Crossing the border, it's such a stigmatizing experience, and most of us don't really talk 843 00:52:48,533 --> 00:52:49,533 about it. 844 00:52:49,533 --> 00:52:50,800 A lot of us are U.S. citizens. 845 00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:52,933 A lot of people have green cards. 846 00:52:52,933 --> 00:52:54,266 Most people are paying taxes. 847 00:52:54,266 --> 00:52:57,300 But we don't usually express our needs. 848 00:52:57,300 --> 00:53:01,166 In a lot of those difficult times, I would have liked for someone to just check in on 849 00:53:01,166 --> 00:53:03,200 me and ask if I was OK. 850 00:53:03,200 --> 00:53:07,366 So I started AMBOS, which stands for Art Made Between Opposite Sides, in 2016. 851 00:53:07,366 --> 00:53:12,366 The AMBOS project came out of me just wanting to check in on people. 852 00:53:14,266 --> 00:53:18,133 I wanted to come back to the border and do work specifically using the border space as 853 00:53:20,166 --> 00:53:22,200 a place of dialogue. 854 00:53:22,200 --> 00:53:26,266 One of the biggest projects that we did with the AMBOS project was the Border Quipu. 855 00:53:26,266 --> 00:53:31,066 A quipu is an Andean, a pre-Colombian organizational system. 856 00:53:31,066 --> 00:53:36,000 I came up with using the quipu as a way to record our daily migrations to the north. 857 00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:41,000 We went car to car and gave people these postcards and asked people to write a small reflection 858 00:53:42,433 --> 00:53:44,966 of what their thoughts were when they crossed the border. 859 00:53:44,966 --> 00:53:48,966 And the postcards had two strings on them and asked them to please make an emotional 860 00:53:48,966 --> 00:53:51,900 knot that represented any of their emotions. 861 00:53:51,900 --> 00:53:56,400 And then through the joining of these knots, we would be able to see ourselves in connection 862 00:53:56,400 --> 00:54:01,000 with our larger community and that we would understand that we're not alone in this. 863 00:54:01,000 --> 00:54:06,000 We ended up taking three years and traveling across the entirety of the U.S.-Mexico border, 864 00:54:07,100 --> 00:54:09,066 and we engaged over 10,000 people. 865 00:54:09,066 --> 00:54:13,966 I hope that, when people see my work, they feel like there's space within the work for 866 00:54:15,900 --> 00:54:19,166 them to see themselves mirrored in it and that they find some type of little home within 867 00:54:20,600 --> 00:54:23,166 it for themselves and for their own perspectives. 868 00:54:23,166 --> 00:54:27,400 My name is Tanya Aguiniga, and this is my Brief But Spectacular take on using craft 869 00:54:27,400 --> 00:54:30,033 to push back on injustice. 870 00:54:30,033 --> 00:54:34,000 GEOFF BENNETT: And you can watch more Brief But Spectacular videos online at PBS.org/NewsHour/Brief. 871 00:54:37,433 --> 00:54:39,433 And that's the "NewsHour" for tonight. 872 00:54:39,433 --> 00:54:43,300 Remember, there's a lot more online, including a story about the long-term financial and 873 00:54:43,300 --> 00:54:48,300 emotional distress for folks in Missouri a year after catastrophic flooding in St. Louis. 874 00:54:49,566 --> 00:54:51,766 That's at PBS.org/NewsHour. 875 00:54:51,766 --> 00:54:53,033 I'm Geoff Bennett. 876 00:54:53,033 --> 00:54:57,766 Thanks for spending part of your evening with us.