GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Congress returns# to Washing.. to avoid a government shutdown and# tension over the Epstein files.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Pentagon authorizes hundreds# of military lawyers to serve as immigration## judges in the Trump administration's push# to deal with a massive backlog in cases.

AMNA NAWAZ: And we speak to the wife of a# woman who came to the U.S. as a child and## is now being detained by immigration authorities.

DESIREE MILLER, Wife of Catalina# "Xochitl" Santiago: It should be## very concerning to everyone that ICE# is knowingly h.. protection from deportation under DACA and is# claiming that their DACA status doesn't matter.

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

Congress is back in Washington# tonight, and the clock is already## ticking.

Lawmakers have less than one# month to avoid a government shutdown.

GEOFF BENNETT: On the table, a fierce fight over# billions in spending cuts, a push to release the## Jeffrey Epstein case files, and Senate Republicans# moving to fast-track President Trump's nominees.

Our congressional correspondent,# Lisa Desjardins, joins us now.

Lisa, it's always great to see you.

So let's start with this possible government# sh.. is possible the right word still?# I mean, how likely is this?

LISA DESJARDINS: Yes, I think possible is the# right word.

And I would say it's very possible,## whatever that means, but it is something# that is clearly in the air over at Congress.

Now, let's take you through exactly how this# would work, where we are right now.

Now,## Congress has until September 30 to fund most# of government.

Any deal needs 60 Senate votes.## That means at least some Democrats,# probably at least seven Democrats.

So what's happening now is Democrats in the# House and Senate are working together to see## what they might be able to extract in order to# get on board some kind of funding deal.

Hakeem## Jeffries, who is the Democratic leader# in the House, today spoke to reporters.## He said he wants a bipartisan bill.

What he# really means is Democrats want concessions.

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): That# spending bill has to be both bipartisan,## a product of negotiation, and it's got# to serve the interests of the American## people in terms of their health, safety,# national security, and economic well-being.

LISA DESJARDINS: Those are a lot of criteria,# but it really comes down to what this man,## Chuck Schumer, the leader in# the Senate for Democrats, wants.

The pressures on him and Jeffries to stand up# to Trump.

Democrats have almost no leverage## anymore in Washington.

This is one instance# where they do.

So that's why they are moving## toward maybe a potential shutdown.

On# the other hand, some Democrats say,## no, a shutdown actually would help Trump.# So they have some real decisions to make.

GEOFF BENNETT: And they have until the end of## the month.

So why are lawmakers# feeling the pressure t.. LISA DESJARDINS: You know, time, place,# space, all of that doesn't make sense## in Congress.

They live in a different# world than we do in terms of physics.

But the time is actually much# more constrained, much tighter than we think.

Let me take folks through that.

So, if you look# at today, the beginning of the month, then the## deadline being September 30 at the end of the# month, oh, but, wait, in the middle of the month,## there's a congressional recess.

And that third# week, entire week, Congress will be on recess.

So that means that really the middle of the# month is a key date if Congress wants to get## out on time.

Really, they just have a couple# of weeks if they want to make that deadline.

GEOFF BENNETT: And the other issue# that Congress is juggling right now,## including one that brought# protesters to the Capitol today,## is the demand for the release of the Jeffrey# Epstein case files.

Tell us about that.

LISA DESJARDINS: We're in a day-to-day# watch on this issue right now.

So, Jeffrey Epstein, of course, we're# talking about the financier who was## charged with sex crimes and was connected# with many high-profile individuals,## at one point friends with President Trump.

And# in the past month, there's been more questions## about exactly what the president knew when.# There's no evidence of wrongdoing, but there## are more questions about what he knew and what# the Justice Department is willing to release.

So one thing going on right now is we had# -- we faced protesters today that Congress,## Republicans themselves saw.

This is video I# took today outside a Republican news conference,## all of these folks asking for the# Jeffrey Epstein files to be released.

Now, at the same time, there is a bipartisan# movement in Congress from two members,## Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna.# These are one Republican,## one Democrat.

They today filed what's# called a discharge petition to try and## force a vote that would require all# of the Epstein files to be released.

Now, the pressure is on.

Speaker Johnson# spoke to reporters a few minutes ago -- I## was there -- about this discharge petition and# he says he's not on board this particular idea.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): The reason that I# was not comfortable with that and still am## not comfortable with the discharge petition is# because it was inartfully drafted.

It does not## adequately protect the innocent victims,# and that is a critical component of this.

LISA DESJARDINS: Johnson says they will release# the documents.

I asked the man who's overseeing## that, House Oversight Chairman James Comer.# He said they have 34,000 pages.

I said,## will you release these in weeks or when?# And he said to me, he hopes sooner.

GEOFF BENNETT: He said 34,000 pages?

LISA DESJARDINS: Thirty-four thousand pages# they have gotten from the Ju.. GEOFF BENNETT: Well, let's shift our focus# over to the Senate because there's a battle## brewing right now over President# Trump's nominations.

Is that right?

LISA DESJARDINS: Right.

I will summarize this# quickly, but essentially there is a backlog there## in the Senate of Trump's nominations because# Senate Democrats are not going along with just## confirming a big loads of them by voice# vote, uncontroversial nominees.

They're## not allowing them to go through, again,# because they're trying to get leverage.

So Senate Republicans, sources tell# me, including John Thune, the leader,## are willing to change the rules.

That's# called going nuclear, and it really sets## up some existential questions for the Senate.# So we're going to be following that very,## very closely.

I think they are going to# change the rules.

We just don't know how.

GEOFF BENNETT: Lots to track.

Lisa Desjardins, thanks, as always.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

AMNA NAWAZ: President Trump announced# late today that the United States has## sunk a boat after it left Venezuela carrying# drugs.

It is the first known military strike## in the region since President Trump ordered an# increased military presence in the Caribbean.

Nick Schifrin's following# all this and he joins me now.

So, Nick, tell us, what do# we know about this strike?

NICK SCHIFRIN: President Trump said that# the U.S. Navy operated against that boat## that you said that was operated# by Tren de Aragua.

That has been## designated by the administration as# a foreign terrorist organization.

And the president posted this video# on TRUTH Social this afternoon,## saying 11 members of the group were sailing# toward the United States carrying illegal## drugs.

And attached to the video, he wrote --# quote -- "Please let this serve as notice to## anyone even thinking about bringing drugs# into the United States of America.

Beware.## Thank you for your attention to this# matter," multiple exclamation points.

Now, as you said, Amna, President Trump this# summer ordered a large Navy and Marine deployment## to the area.

You see some of the ships there.# A Navy official says it includes destroyers,## cruisers, as well as smaller ships# capable of launching Marines onto shore.

In total, it's thousands of service members,# including submarines.

The administration describes## it as a drug mission and uses the language of# war, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio did today.

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. Secretary of State: We# destroyed a drug boat that left Venezuela## operated by a designated narco-terrorist# organization, which is what these are.

And he's been clear that the days of acting# with impunity and having an engine shot down## or a couple drugs grabbed off a boat, a take# -- those days are over.

Now it is, we are## going to wage combat against drug cartels that are# flooding America's streets and killing Americans.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Now, that said, Amna,## regional experts tell me the drug trade# is hig.. is not usually a military effort.

It is# traditionally seen as law enforcement.

So there are economic tools.

There are# diplomatic political tools and tools## used by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

So# that is what fundamentally has changed,## that it is the U.S. Navy, not the Coast# Guard and the DEA, taking these steps.

The nature of the military deployment,# though, means that some experts believe## this is a message or a threat to# Nicolas Maduro, the head of Venezuela,## whom Trump accused of controlling# multiple gangs, including Tren de Aragua,## and whom Trump tried to depose during the# first term by backing an opposition figure.

Reporters asked Rubio that# specific question today,## whether the U.S. would operate# against Maduro.

He said, look,## this is a counterdrug operation, but he# wouldn't discuss any future operations.

AMNA NAWAZ: And has there been any response# from the Maduro government in Venezuela?

NICK SCHIFRIN: There has not been today to this# strike, at least not in a couple hours.

But,## just yesterday, Nicolas Maduro gave a rare# press conference.

He described the military## deployment by the Trump administration as proof# the administration was seeking regime change.

And he tried to paint Rubio,# not Trump, as the aggressor.

NICOLAS MADURO, Venezuelan President (through# translator): Mr. President Donald Trump,## you must be careful, because Marco Rubio wants# to stain your hands with blood, South American,## Caribbean, Venezuelan blood.

They want to# drag you into a bloodbath to tarnish the## Trump name forever with a massacre against the# Venezuelan people, with a terrible war across## South America and the Caribbean.

This# would be a full-scale continental war.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Maduro trying to paint# this clearly, Amna, as an inevitable U.S.## military effort against Venezuela, which the Trump# administration says is not on the cards right now.

AMNA NAWAZ: Nick Schifrin, thank you, as always.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: We start the day's# other headlines in California.

A federal judge ruled today that the Trump# administration's deployment of thousands of## National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June was# illegal.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer found## that the administration -- quote -- "willfully# violated the law," adding that the government knew## -- quote -- "They were ordering troops to execute# domestic law beyond their usual authority."

The White House has signaled that# it will appeal.

The ruling comes as## President Trump told reporters that# he plans to send forces to Chicago,## saying -- quote -- "We're going# in," but provided no timeline.

Trump said Illinois' governor# should call him to ask for help.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# If the governor of Illinois would call up,## call me up, I would love to do it.# Now, we're going to do it anyway.

We## have the right to do it because I have# an obligation to protect this country.

AMNA NAWAZ: Governor Pritzker immediately# fired back, saying Chicago does not need## federal troops and bristling at the# idea of calling the president for help.

GOV.

J.B. PRITZKER (D-IL): When did# we become a country where it's OK for## the U.S. president to insist on# national television that a state## should call him to beg for anything,# especially something we don't want?## Have we truly lost all sense of sanity in# this nation that we treat this as normal?

AMNA NAWAZ: President Trump has pointed to# gun violence over the weekend in Chicago## as a rationale for why the city needs federal# assistance.

Governor Pritzker said today that the## president would look for -- quote -- "any excuse"# to put active-duty military on Chicago's streets.

The president's comments about sending troops to# Chicago came during an event where he announced## the relocation of U.S. Space Command.

It's moving# its temporary home in Colorado Springs to a new## one in Huntsville, Alabama.

The announcement# reverses the decision by former President Joe## Biden to keep it in Colorado and ends a four-year# battle between the two states over its location.

Huntsville is already home to NASA's Marshall## Space Flight Center and the Army's# Space and Missile Defense Command.

In Afghanistan, the death toll from Sunday night's# earthquake has risen to more than 1,400 people.## At least 3,000 more were injured in the 6.0# magnitude quake.

U.N. officials warned that## those numbers could rise.

Authorities are# using helicopters to evacuate the wounded,## but rough terrain makes# many victims hard to reach.

In rural villages, many were crushed# where they slept, as homes made of mud,## brick and wood collapsed.

Survivors say# they have now been forced to sleep outside.

ABDUL BASIR, Earthquake Survivor (through# translator): Suddenly, there was an earthquake## and people were screaming.

When we came out,# we saw that my bro.. My brother's three children were buried# under the rubble.

Now we are very scared.

AMNA NAWAZ: This is the third major# earthquake since the Taliban took## power in 2021.

Authorities have asked the# international community for assistance.

In Sudan, an entire village in Darfur is# gone after a landslide devastated the region,## killing as many as 1,000 people.

It happened# after days of heavy rainfall Central Darfur's## remote Marrah Mountains.

Photos of the rocky# aftermath showed where the village once stood.## The Sudan Liberation Movement Army that controls# the area says only a single villager survived.

Sudan is already suffering from a humanitarian# crisis following two years of Civil War,## with famine conditions in parts of the# Darfur region.

U.N. officials say they're## mobilizing to provide support to# those affected by the landslide.

In the Middle East, Israel is mobilizing# tens of thousands of reservists as part## of its expanded military offensive in Gaza# City.

Newly released footage by the Israel## Defense Forces shows army tanks being# prepared.

Some 40,000 reservists were## due to report for duty today.

That's# according to Israeli army radio.

In the meantime, Gaza health officials# say Israeli strikes today killed at least## 47 people across the territory.# Israel also repeated evacuation## warnings to Palestinians in Gaza City,# but residents say there's nowhere to go.

MUSAB SHBAT, Gaza City Resident (through# translator): We ask for the war to stop.## We have reached a point where death is# better than displacement.

We will die## in turn.

I think we are moving dead bodies.

We# are dead already, just waiting for our turns.

AMNA NAWAZ: Also today, the Hamas-run# Gaza Health Ministry said that 185## people died of malnutrition in August.# That's the highest total in months.

Back here at home, a federal judge ordered# Google to share its search results and some## data with its rivals.

The ruling is part of# a landmark antitrust case aimed at addressing## accusations that Google acts as a monopoly.# Judge Amit Mehta also put restrictions on## payments that Google uses to ensure its# search engine is the default option on## smartphones and other devices, but he stopped# short of banning those payments outright.

And Google won't have to sell off its popular# Chrome browser.

The move to cut into Google's## operation is expected to ripple across the# tech industry and the company plans to appeal.

American "Vogue" has a new editor# for the first time in 37 years,## though, fashion legend Anna Wintour will# still be calling many of the shots.

Chloe## Malle will be head of editorial content,# overseeing day-to-day operations at the## famed magazine.

She's worked at "Vogue" since# 2011, most recently as the editor of Vogue.com.

Malle will report directly to Wintour,## who no longer holds the editor in chief title.# But as chief content officer at Conde Nast,## Wintour will still oversee more than two# dozen brands, as well as the annual Met Gala.

On Wall Street today, stocks ended lower# following the long holiday weekend.

The## Dow Jones industrial average dropped nearly 250# points.

The Nasdaq also fell around 250 points,## as tech stocks cooled after recent gains.# The S&P 500 posted its worst loss in a month.

And actor Graham Greene has died.

GRAHAM GREENE, Actor: We# have come far, you and me.

KEVIN COSTNER, Actor: I will not forget you.

AMNA NAWAZ: Greene is perhaps best# known for his role as Kicking Bird## opposite Kevin Costner in the 1990 epic# "Dances With Wolves," which earned him an## Oscar nomination.

As a member of# the Oneida First Nation himself,## Greene played many other indigenous roles in# films like "Maverick" and "The Greene Mile."

Over his nearly five-decade career, Greene racked# up nearly 200 film and TV credits.

Along the way,## he broke barriers for other Native# actors and often advocated for## their greater representation in the# arts.

Graham Greene was 73 years old.

Still to come on the "News Hour": advice# on accessing COVID vaccines after the CDC## changed its recommendations; a look at# the career of former FOX host turned## U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro; and# Lebanon works to disarm Hezbollah.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Trump administration will## temporarily assign military lawyers# to act as judges in immigration cases.

A statement released by the Pentagon spokesperson# says: "At the request of the Department of## Justice, the Department of Defense is identifying# qualified judge advocates and civilian attorneys## for details to serve as temporary immigration# judges.

These DOD attorneys will augment existing## resources to help further combat a backlog of# cases by presiding over immigration hearings."

There are a number of questions about# the implications of this novel move.

And, for that, we turn to James McPherson.## He was the undersecretary of the Army during# the first Trump administration and also had a## 25-year career in the Navy, where he served# as that service's top lawyer in uniform.

Thank you for being with us.

And before we get to the implications, I# have to as.. the expansion of the U.S. military# into a civilian judicial process?

REAR ADM. JAMES MCPHERSON (RET.

), Former U.S.# Undersecretary of the Army: Well, there's## certainly a lot of l.. not the least of which is whether or not it's# appropriate to appoint a commissioned officer## in the military to these positions, whether# or not it violates the Posse Comitatus Act.

There are some old Office of Legal Counsel# opinions out of the Department of Justice## that indicate it is legal, but in a very# narrow sense.

And whether that narrow sense## is met by appointing them as temporary# immigration judges is yet to be seen.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, how do the courtroom# and administrative law skills that JAG## lawyers develop in the military, how does# that translate into serving as temporary## immigration judges, when immigration# law is so specialized and complex?

REAR ADM. JAMES MCPHERSON (RET.

): As you# said, it is very specialized and complex.

What's very interesting is, Thursday of last# week, the Department of Justice changed the## rules with regard to who's qualified to be a# temporary immigration judge.

Prior to Thursday## of last week, it required that they be# a retired immigration judge or retired## administrative law judge or have 10 years# experience in practicing immigration law.

As of Thursday of last week, the new rule# is any licensed attorney can be appointed## as an immigration -- a temporary immigration# judge.

I think, if a JAG is assigned to that,## they will come to it with a skill set that they# have as an attorney.

But they're certainly going## to need to have some training, have some# time to learn the various intricacies of## immigration law, because, as you said,# it's a very specialized practice area.

GEOFF BENNETT: And NPR is reporting that# these military lawyers will receive some## two weeks of training.

There is this# question, though, could their dual role## as members of the armed forces and now as# adjudicators of civilian immigration cases,## will that raise questions about# their independence and partiality?

REAR ADM. JAMES MCPHERSON (RET.

): It certainly# could raise questions along those lines.

Again, I would hope that any officer,# any commissioned officer would go into## that job understanding that their job is to# administer justice and would do just that,## and if they felt that they were being# pressured to do anything other than that,## they would step away from that# job and say, I can't do this.

GEOFF BENNETT: And immigration judges, as you# know, they have the power to revoke green cards,## to order deportations.

What concerns you# about assigning that authority to people## without significant, as we said,# immigration law experience?

REAR ADM. JAMES MCPHERSON (RET.

): Well, what# concerns me is that they could inadvertently## make mistakes, and those mistakes would# affect people's lives and would also## create issues on appeal to the# appellate courts, immigration courts.

I just don't think it's a very good idea.

I# find it ironic that they would utilize JAGs,## when our secretary of defense holds# them in such low esteem.

Indeed,## during his Senate confirmation hearing# before the Senate Armed Services Committee,## he referred to uniformed military attorneys# in very derogatory and quite obscene terms.

I'm surprised now that they view# them as having this skill set so## that within two weeks they can# learn this intricate area of law.

GEOFF BENNETT: The backlog that we mentioned is# nearly four million cases' long.

Do you see this## as a sustainable fix, even if it's a temporary# one, or is this a politically expedient move?

REAR ADM. JAMES MCPHERSON (RET.

): I# don't think that it's attainable to## get through that backlog.

As you said, in January,## when this administration came in office,# there were over four million cases pending.

There are six -- their authorization for# 600 immigration judges -- many of them have## either quit or took advantage of the early# retirement plan under this administration,## and now there are great holes in that# court system that they hope to fill## by a temporary basis.

I'm not sure they# will be able to get through that backlog.

GEOFF BENNETT: James McPherson, thank you so much## for sharing your perspectives on this# late-breaking news.

We appreciate it.

REAR ADM. JAMES MCPHERSON (RET.

): Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Many Americans who want to get the# newest COVID vaccines may now have## a harder time doing so after the Food and# Drug Administration limited approval for## the shots to adults 65 and older# or those who are at high risk for## severe disease.

The vaccine was previously# available to anyone 6 months and older.

People have questions and we're going to try to# answer some of them now with Katelyn Jetelina,## adjunct professor at the Yale School# of Public Health and the author of## the Substack column Your Local Epidemiologist.

Welcome back to the "News# Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

KATELYN JETELINA, Your Local Epidemiologist# Substack: Thanks for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: Let's just start with the basics he..

Right now, according to the FDA, who is# eligible to get the COVID-19 vacc.. KATELYN JETELINA: That's right.

So FDA narrowed its la.. those 6 months through 64 years with at least one# high-risk condition.

This is a big departure from## past years, and it is quite unusual for# the FDA to restrict a vaccine this way.

Meanwhile, medical groups don't necessarily# agree with the FDA label.

Pediatricians,## for example, recommend all kids under 2 get# vaccinated, whether they have a high-risk## condition or not, plus high-risk kids and# those living with vulnerable family members.

And so, as you can imagine, this is# starting to get confusing pretty quickly,## because you can end up with scenarios# where on one hand pediatricians say## a healthy 1-year-old should get a# COVID vaccine this fall because of## their little vulnerable immune systems,# but on the other hand FDA label says no.

And so that means, for some families,## they could be pushed onto getting# off-label COVID-19 vaccines this fall.

AMNA NAWAZ: Just one more definitional question# here.

When you're talking about high-risk,## what are we talking about?

What does that include?

KATELYN JETELINA: Yes, so FDA didn't spell this# out last week, but they did defer to CDC's list.## And this is good news because it's very broad.# High-risk includes everything from pregnancy## to those with diabetes or obesity and cancer,# disabilities, or even mental health conditions.

And so, by some estimates, that covers# nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults.

AMNA NAWAZ: And as folks are trying# to understand this change, I mean,## you mentioned it's not typical for these kinds## of policy changes to happen.

There's# disagreement in the medical community.

What is your understanding of what led to## the change?

Did something change# with the vaccines or COVID itself?

KATELYN JETELINA: Yes, so science hasn't# changed, right?

The vaccine is still## effective at providing additional protection,# and it's also safer than the virus itself.

What has changed is, one, the environment,# right?

Most of us now have some level of## immunity.

And our ICUs aren't overflowing.# We're not in the middle of an emergency,## which is great.

And so on one hand it does make## sense to prioritize pregnancy and kids# under 2 and older adults, for example.

But the way this policy is being rolled out,# it's out of order, it's inconsistent, it's very## unclear, it's not transparent, has left a lot of# pharmacies and physicians and families scrambling,## mainly because RFK, our health and human services# secretary, doesn't believe that this process## was evidence-based, although it's been the# process we have used for the past 90 years.

AMNA NAWAZ: So you mentioned the# pharmacy piece of it there.

People## have probably seen both CVS and# Walgreens are now limiting access## to the COVID vaccine in some states,# requiring prescriptions in others.

If people want to get the shot,# are they going to be able to get## it through their local pharmacy,# and is insurance going to cover it?

KATELYN JETELINA: Yes, this is# like the billion-dollar question,## right?

And this is critical, because 90 percent# of COVID vaccines are given at pharmacies.

So, right now, two things are happening.

One# is, in about 16 states, pharmacies like CVS## or Walgreens have paused COVID-19 vaccines# altogether because their state's authority## depends on very clear guidance, which we# haven't really gotten from CDC.

We were## supposed to get it in June.

It still hasn't# come out yet, so those states are in limbo.

The second thing that's happening is that,# in other states, pharmacies may still offer## the vaccine, they may still have them in# stock, but for people who only fit the FDA## label.

Pharmacists generally cannot give# vaccines off-label.

So if you're a healthy## 40-year-old who wants to get the shot, you will# probably be turned away from your pharmacy.

Insurance coverage is also in# limbo.

It's not entirely clear## whether health insurance is going# to cover the cost of your vaccine,## and this uncertainty makes it very difficult# for families who want to protect themselves.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, a lot of questions, we don't# yet have the answers to, it seems like.

But, as you mentioned, pretty much anyone# 6 months and over could get the shot before## this policy change, but we should also point# out uptick of the vaccine has been very low## among adults.

CDC data showed that less than a# quarter of adults received the shot last year.

So,## for most people, if you have the original# shots, if you have got some boosters,## if you have had COVID, should they# still be getting the COVID vaccine?

KATELYN JETELINA: What we're seeing# is that the data is consistent that,## if you get a COVID-19 vaccine, you have# additional protection against COVID infection,## albeit not perfect, but also severe disease, for# at least four to six months after the vaccine.

It is getting really confusing.

For my family,# I'm going to still follow the evidence-based## guidance from medical societies.

I am young, but I# also have a chronic condition.

So I will still be## getting this vaccine this fall.

Also, the vaccines# aren't the only tool we have in our tool box.

I'm sure people are really sick of the Swiss# cheese model, but there's also other steps## to take not to get sick, like wearing a mask in# crowded indoor spaces, testing before you visit## grandparents in the nursing home.

There's# many ways to balance risk at this moment.

AMNA NAWAZ: If I ask you to take -- kind of step# back and look at the bigger picture right now,## we saw last week Health and Human Services# Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fire the## CDC director, Dr. Susan Monarez.That also# then led to the resignation of multiple## other senior CDC officials, who all said# they were concerned about his leadership,## concerned about his stance on vaccines.

I just want to get your response to that# as someone who tracks this very closely.## What are your concerns?

And are you worried about# the CDC losing its credibility in this moment?

KATELYN JETELINA: Last week was# a huge week in public health,## because, essentially, CDC imploded, right?

Like you said, the director and four senior# leaders were basically -- were pushed out.## And these are not just bureaucrats.

They# were very steady hands who guided us## through crises after crises with clarity,# compassion, and were evidence-informed.

And when leaders like this are forced out, it is# not just the agency that suffers.

It is all of us,## right?

A weaker CDC means communities# are more vulnerable, from outbreaks,## to chronic diseases, to even basic health# data.

The foundation of public health is## eroding faster than I ever thought possible.

And I don't say this lightly, but if# we do not change the ship's direction,## I truly think our nation's# health security is at risk.

AMNA NAWAZ: Katelyn Jetelina, author of the# Substack column Your Local Epidemiologist,## always good to speak with you.

Thank you.

KATELYN JETELINA: Thanks for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: In President Trump's continued# push for greater control over Washington, D.C.,## he's relying more on his friend and# former FOX News host Jeanine Pirro.## She's the new U.S. attorney# for the District of Columbia.

And, as William Brangham reports,# she brings her outspoken,## controversial style to one of the top law# enforcement jobs in the nation's capital.

JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. Attorney for# the District of Columbia: No more## tolerance of hatred.

No .. WILLIAM BRANGHAM: She's often one# of the loudest voices in the room.

JEANINE PIRRO: I see too much violent crime# being committed by young punks who think## that they can get together in gangs and crews# and beat the hell out of you or anyone else.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Jeanine Pirro, the former# FOX News commentator, has emerged as one of## the central figures in the federal takeover# of Washington, D.C.'s law enforcement.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# Today, we're honored to swear in Jeanine Pirro,## somebody I have known for a long# time, and she's an incredible person.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: A close friend of the# president, Pirro was appointed the city's interim## U.S. attorney in May after Trump was forced to# withdraw Ed Martin, his first choice for the job,## after pressure from Senate Republicans.

Pirro# was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August.

GLENN THRUSH, The New York Times: She is unique.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Glenn Thrush of The New# York Times has covered Pirro.. GLENN THRUSH: Pirro, unlike a lot# of these other folks, has had a 30-,## 35-year history with Trump.

She comes# from a time and a place where he is from,## New York in the '80s and '90s.

I was there# too.

And there's not much of a learning curve.

MAN: The Honorable Judge Jeanine Pirro presiding.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Pirro first rose# to national fame as a TV judge... JEANINE PIRRO: The Washington, D.C., swamp.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: ... and then on FOX News as a# political commentator known for her blunt talk.

JEANINE PIRRO: We need to kill# them.

We need to kill them.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: She vigorously# attacked Democrats like Hillary Clinton.

JEANINE PIRRO: The woman's either had a lobotomy# or she's been out in the woods too long.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: President Joe Biden.

JEANINE PIRRO: You might as well# put the president on a milk carton,## because Joe Biden is nowhere to be found.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And President# Obama's Justice Department.

JEANINE PIRRO: The stench coming out of the# Justice Department and the FBI is like that## of a Third World country, where money# and bullies and clubs decide elections.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Her in-your-face demeanor earned## her a legion of adoring conservative fans# and a skewering on "Saturday Night Live."

ACTOR: Judge Jeanine, I have# not seen you in a while.

ACTRESS: Oh, I'm still here.

ACTRESS: My show on FOX is# on every Saturday at 9:00,## a full hour before the nursing# homes turn off the TV in the lobby.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: But Pirro's rhetoric# has also gotten her in trouble.

JEANINE PIRRO: Is her adherence to this Islamic## doctrine indicative of her# adherence to Sharia law?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: In 2019, Pirro was suspended# by FOX after she suggested the Democratic## Representative Ilhan Omar's wearing of# a hijab was un-American and her repeated## promotion of groundless conspiracy# theories about the 2020 campaign.

JEANINE PIRRO: The president's lawyers# alleging a company called Dominion,## which they say started in Venezuela with# Cuban money and with the assistance of## Smartmatic software, a backdoor# is capable of flipping votes.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Comments like that are# why she was one of the defendants in the## successful defamation lawsuit brought by# Dominion Voting Systems against FOX News,## which the network settled# for $787 million in 2023.

GLENN THRUSH: Jeanine Pirro was informed multiple# times, according to the Dominion affidavit,## that things she was saying on the air were# not supported by fact.

FOX had an in-house## fact-checking organization that was in contact# with Pirro's producer and the producer was## in touch with Pirro.

She was armed with the# information, which we should call the truth,## and she chose to go on the air and# spout falsehoods in support of Trump.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Pirro's# deposition in another lawsuit,## one brought by a different voting machine# company, showed Pirro acknowledging that,## contrary to what she said on air, she# knew the 2020 election was free and fair.

But long before television, Pirro had# a legal career, first as a prosecutor## and then New York county judge.

In 1983, she# was elected district attorney for Westchester## County after running as a moderate Republican.# She was beloved by the tabloids and cable TV## for her quotability.

In 2006, she lost a# bid to be New York state attorney general.

GLENN THRUSH: She was a serious prosecutor,# viewed as an effective and serious prosecutor,## who began her career at a time when# prosecutions for domestic violence## and sexual abuse against women and children were# not prioritized.

She was a real pioneer in that.

JEANINE PIRRO: And on May 22... WILLIAM BRANGHAM: As the new U.S.# attorney for Washington, D.C.,## Pirro has moved quickly to beef up her office... JEANINE PIRRO: If you want a# job in the nation's capital,## in the premier office, the largest# U.S. attorney's office, contact me.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: ... and immediately implement# Trump's law and order campaign.

She ordered## her prosecutors to seek the maximum possible# criminal charges for anyone arrested in D.C. and## has repeatedly called for changes to local laws# she says are too lenient on juvenile offenders.

JEANINE PIRRO: And I want to send a message that# we are going to catch you, that we are going to## change the laws, that if you're 14, 15, 16, 17,# we're going to bring you into the justice system.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: She's also# embraced social media in her new job.

JEANINE PIRRO: So it is a coordinated effort.## We are in full throttle right now# trying to make the District safe.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: But it hasn't all been# successful for Pirro.

D.C. grand juries,## seemingly angry at the federal takeover of# their city, have refused to approve charges## against some defendants, including Sean Dunn,# the man who became a symbol of the anti-Trump## resistance when he threw a sandwich at# a federal agent in the nation's capital.

JEANINE PIRRO: And we're going to# back the police to the hilt.

So,## there, stick your Subway sandwich somewhere else.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So why did she leave a## multimillion-dollar TV job# to come back to government?

GLENN THRUSH: I think there are two reasons why# she's back in the game.

First, Trump needed her.## But I think -- on another level, I think she# wants to have circularity in her career.

She## began as a serious prosecutor.

And I think,# kind of confounding the caricature of her,## she perhaps wants to conclude# her career doing the same thing.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: For the "PBS# News Hour," I'm William Brangham.

AMNA NAWAZ:## As the Trump administration continues to# pledge to target the worst of the worst## criminals in its immigration crackdown, many# others are getting caught up in that crackdown.

Last month, 28-year-old community organizer# Catalina "Xochitl" Santiago was detained by## Customs and Border Protection.

Despite living# legally in the U.S. for years under the Deferred## Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA,# she remains in ICE detention in Texas today.

I spoke with her wife, Desiree# Miller, a few days ago.

Desiree Miller, welcome to the "News# Hour."

Thank you for joining us.

DESIREE MILLER, Wife of Catalina "Xochitl"# Santiago: Hi.

Thank you for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, your wife, Xochitl, is# currently in ICE detenti.. there since she was detained back on August# 3.

What can you tell us about where she is,## about what you know about the conditions# inside, and also how she's doing?

DESIREE MILLER: Yes, thank you for that question.

I'm able to speak to her every day.

So, we usually# talk every morning.

And, obviously, the.. really concerning things that she's told me# about the conditions inside of the detention.

I think some of the main ones are that people# don't receive the medical attention that they## need.

In particular, there are some pregnant women# who don't get medical attention.

And a lot of the## times, when people ask for medical attention,# they're just given water.

The water smells weird## in there.

They have been given food multiple times# that it's either expired or makes people sick.

There's a lot of talk about whether or not the# conditions are humane or not, but I think that## there's no way to make that situation humane when# you have ripped someone away from their family.

All of these things that they do# to make it seem as if it's humane,## letting people talk to their families,# having video calls and having these -- quote,## unquote -- "mental health checkups," I think# that no mental health checkup is going to make## up for the amount of trauma that has been# inflicted by being ripped away from their## families and trying and having my wife and other# people -- trying to deport them without cause.

AMNA NAWAZ: I mean, you two have been separated# for weeks now.

What has that been like?

DESIREE MILLER: It's a# really difficult experience.

I think that knowing also that a lot of times# the conditions that she's in, that she's not## able to sleep well because they have the lights# on all night and the guards are very loud and## walk very loudly throughout the whole night, so# that they're not able to sleep, it's really hard## for me to be out here trying to go about my day,# because I still have to take care of her stuff and## I still have to work while I'm also trying to just# live with this fact that she's in their suffering.

AMNA NAWAZ: Take us back if you can, Desiree.# She was detained before boarding a domestic## flight.

She was approached by someone wearing a# Border Patrol uniform in the airport.

There is## this video of that moment when the officer# seems to be checking her identification.

MAN: I'm asking some immigration documents here.

AMNA NAWAZ: Where did the video come from?

And# just tell us about that moment.

What happened?

DESIREE MILLER: On that day, August 3, she sent# me a video of that officer questioning her,## the one that is now all over social media,## and told me that they had taken her DACA# card and were refusing to give it back.

So, after that, I was obviously very concerned.

I# was texting her and calling her, and I didn't get## any response after that.

So, for several hours,# I didn't know where she was, if something had## happened to her, if everything was fine and# she was just on the plane, until around 8:30.

One of our friends here received a call# from her, and she let our friend know## where she was being detained.

And that's# how we found out where she was at.

AMNA NAWAZ: We should underscore here, she's# 28 years old.

She has valid DACA status,## right?

She's renewed that# several times over the years,## which does require verification# and background checks and the like.

We did ask DHS about her case.

They gave us a# statement in which they called her a criminal## illegal alien and they also said this in# part -- quote -- "Her criminal history## includes charges for trespassing,# possession of narcotics and drug## paraphernalia.

She will remain in ICE# custody pending her removal proceedings."

So, Desiree, I just want to get# your response to that.

And, also,## is it your understanding that these charges# that they reference in the statement,## that is the basis for her arrest# and potential deportation?

DESIREE MILLER: So, DHS in that statement# and since then has blatantly lied to try## and justify the fact that they are detaining# her unlawfully.

Her legal team has confirmed## multiple times that she has not been# convicted of any crime that would cause## her to lose her DACA status, nor are there# any pending criminal charges against her.

She to this day holds a valid work permit# that allows her to work and travel within## the United States legally.

So, DHS and I don't# have any legal basis for why they detained her,## why they are holding her or why they are# trying to initiate deportation proceedings.

And I think it should be very concerning to# everyone that ICE is knowingly holding someone## who has protection from deportation under DACA and# is claiming that their DACA status doesn't matter.

AMNA NAWAZ: You know, the administration,# as you have probably seen regularly,## puts out information about who they're# taking into immigration custody,## who they're working to deport.

Violent criminals# are usually who they highlight in those messages.

And there are absolutely violent convicted# criminals among those they're working to## deport.

That they continuously say that they are# working and targeting the worst of the worst,## what does that mean to you?# What's your reaction to that?

DESIREE MILLER: There's a lot.

There's a lot# of -- a lot going on inside me to hear that.

Xochitl is really an example of how they are# using this language of calling people criminals,## illegal aliens as a way to distract from# what the reality is of what they're doing,## which is that these are people who# they are taking and detaining and## trying to deport their people's wives,# brothers, sisters, mothers, grandparents.

I think Xochitl is really an example# of that, in that she has dedicated her## entire life to improving her community in so many# different ways, to -- to protect people who have## immigrated to this country.

And# now she works in our community.

AMNA NAWAZ: It's also worth noting, Desiree,# there's over 500,000 people with DACA status## in the United States.

That was obviously set# up as a program that was meant to shield from## deportation people who were brought to this# country without documentation as children.

But the government's also said that# DACA, they say, does not confer any## form of legal status in this country.

What# do you think happens next for Xochitl?

DESIREE MILLER: I'm definitely not an illegal# expert.

I'm just Xochitl's spouse, who's## obviously trying to understand all of this that is# national policy unfolding within our daily lives.

I think that we are fully anticipating her# to come home to her family, to her community,## where she belongs.

I think it's horrible# that my wife has been used as an example,## but I hope that it helps bring# light to the reality of what is## happening and the dangers that we# are facing in this administration.

AMNA NAWAZ: Desiree Miller,## thank you so much for joining us tonight.# I really.. DESIREE MILLER: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT:## The Lebanese government is close# to approving an American plan to## disarm the U.S. designated-terrorist# group Hezbollah.

The decision marks an## historic first to dismantle the Iran-backed group.

The agreement proposes an aggressive timeline to# complete Hezbollah's disarmament by the end of## the year in return for Israel's withdrawal from# Lebanon's south, plus an end to hostilities.

Special correspondent Simona# Foltyn has more from Beirut.

SIMONA FOLTYN: A new order is taking shape in# the ruins of Lebanon's latest war.

Last year,## Israel killed almost the entire# leadership of Hezbollah and thousands## of its fighters.

Now there is a plan# to take what remains of its weapons.

Not far from where Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's# leader for 30 years, was killed with U.S.-made## bunker-busting bombs last fall, I sat down# with one of the group's Parliament members.

HUSSEIN HAJJ HASSAN, Hezbollah Member of Lebanese# Parliament (through translator): This was an## American paper that was ..

The paper is a complete submission from# the Lebanese to the American government.

SIMONA FOLTYN: The so-called American# paper was presented by President Trump's## special envoy Tom Barrack.

The backlash was# further fueled last week when he called the## Lebanese press corps animalistic# during a chaotic news conference.

TOM BARRACK, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria: And I# want to tell you something.

The moment that this## starts becoming chaotic, like animalistic, we're# gone.

So you want to know what's happening, act## civilized, act kind, act tolerant, because this is# the problem with what's happening in the region.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Barrack later# apologized for those comments.

The plan he is pushing wants the Lebanese# government to first disarm Hezbollah, and## only then would Israel consider withdrawing from# the areas it still occupies in Lebanon's south.

TOM BARRACK: Is, they will meet tit for tat,# in exact cadence, what we will do in an effort## to make sure that Hezbollah is not# armed as an adversary against them.

SIMONA FOLTYN: If you reject this agreement,# what is the alternative that you are proposing?

HUSSEIN HAJJ HASSAN (through translator):# The alternative is for Israel and America to## comply with the cease-fire agreement# that was signed on November 27,## 2024.

Why is the United States not insisting# on Israel's obligations under that agreement?## Why is the United States imposing things on# Lebanon, but not imposing anything on Israel?

SIMONA FOLTYN: That November cease-fire# was also guaranteed by the United States,## as well as France.

But according to the# U.N. peacekeeping mission called UNIFIL,## Israel has committed around 8,000# violations since it went into effect,## including drone surveillance,# airstrikes and ground operations.

I'm headed towards the border# with U.N. peacekeepers who are## monitoring the situation on the ground.

So, on the other side of that wall, that's Israel?

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI, U.N. United# Nations Interim Force In Lebanon: Yes, on## the other side, we have Israel.

SIMONA FOLTYN: And what's# the closest IDF checkpoint?

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: On the right,## you can see the tower.

The red and white .. SIMONA FOLTYN: Have you seen any# Hezbollah activity in recent months?

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: Personally, no, we# don't have -- see any kind of this activity.## Some violations, there is from IDF side,# more or less, not from Lebanon's side.

SIMONA FOLTYN: The IDF carries out near daily# bombardments, like these airstrikes captured on## video on Sunday.

Israel has also built at# least five new outposts on Lebanese soil.

My understanding right now is# that you cannot drive on some## parts of the roads that is on the Lebanese side.

LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: OK. SIMONA FOLTYN: What is the re.. LT. COL. MAXIMILIANO LASI: Because, at the moment,## there is an IDF position close to# this position, but we .. to regain freedom of movement and to remove any# kind of roadblock that are in this position.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Meanwhile, Lebanon has# largely complied with the cease-fire,## with only 21 projectiles fired from# Lebanese territory since November.## Hezbollah has surrendered more than 500# weapons stores and military installations## in Southern Lebanon, taking steps for# the first time to fulfill its obligations## under a U.N. resolution that ended the# 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

The new agreement has moved the goalposts,# requiring Hezbollah to also give up weapons## elsewhere in the country.

For decades, Hezbollah's# military capabilities have far exceeded those of## the Lebanese armed forces, earning it a reputation# of a state within a state.

While Hezbollah's## Shia constituents see Washington's plan as an# affront to Lebanon's sovereignty, Hezbollah's## detractors see it as an historic opportunity# to weaken the group's influence over the state.

Within the Lebanese government, the# effort is championed by U.S.-backed## President Joseph Aoun, a Christian# and former Lebanese Army commander.

JOSEPH AOUN, Lebanese President (through# translator): We urge, without hesitation,## to affirm that weapons are exclusively in# the hands of the army and security.. in order to restore the world's# confidence in us and in the ability## of the state to maintain its security# in the face of Israeli aggressions.

SIMONA FOLTYN: But the push for# Hezbollah's disarmament by the end## of the year risks leaving Lebanon# with few means to defend itself.

Dr. Mohammad Haider is one of four Shia# Cabinet members who oppose the plan.

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER, Lebanese Minister of# Labor (through translator): We know that,## when the Lebanese Ar.. out the tasks required.

At the moment, when# Israel decides to strike any area in Lebanon,## it has no ability to prevent any plane from# reaching its target, let alone shoot it down.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Why is it that until# now, the Lebanese Army is so weak?

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER (through translator): This is# a political and diplomatic decision.

Until now,## there has been an international decision not# to supply the Lebanese Army with weapons.## Whenever we try to find a country that# is willing to provide weapons to Lebanon,## the Americans decide that it's forbidden to# arm Lebanon except through American channels.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Washington provides around# $150 million annually to the Lebanese army,## most of which goes towards non-lethal# equipment.

That's around 1 percent of## the $12.5 billion in military# aid given to Israel last year.## The U.S. has promised Lebanon to increase military# aid to $1 billion per year for the next 10 years.

Do you believe that this is a firm commitment?

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER (through translator):# There are no guarantees.

Who can guarantee## its continuity for 10 years?

And will this# money give the army the ability to defend,## or will it just be used for symbolic# things like vehicles and other devices?

SIMONA FOLTYN: On the ground, the Lebanese army is# spread thin, a lone vehicle here and there; 4,500## additional troops should be recruited and trained# by December.

Many Christians support the idea.

Chadi Sayah is the mayor of Alma El Chaab,## a Christian village less than a# mile from the border with Israel.

CHADI SAYAH, Mayor of Alma El Chaab, Lebanon# (through translator): The Lebanese government## includes different sects, religions and components# of Leb.. the government decides.

We believe in Lebanese# institutions.

We believe in the Lebanese army.

SIMONA FOLTYN: Some fear that Washington's plan# could pit the Lebanese army against Hezbollah,## while fueling tensions between# Lebanon's different sects.

DR. MOHAMMAD HAIDER (through translator):## Israel's goal is to turn the battle into# an int.. be easier for it to keep the southern# lands or invade other lands under the## pretext that the Lebanese people are distracted# with each other and unable to provide security.

SIMONA FOLTYN: It's all part of a broader# reshuffle taking place in the Middle East, but, in## Lebanon, it risks upsetting the delicate balance# of power that has kept internal conflict at bay.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Simona Foltyn in Lebanon.

GEOFF BENNETT:#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, thank yo..