JOHN YANG: Good evening.

I'm John Yang.# Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz are away.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Negotiations to end# the war with Iran falter and more U.S.

troops## are preparing to deploy to the Middle East.# A look at the United States' latest strategy.

With social media under scrutiny,## Germany considers following Australia's lead# and banning the platforms for most children.

And more states legalize a controversial# practice, medical assistance for dying.

DEL DELASHMUTT, Portland, Oregon,# Resident: I want to go as me,## the guy that can smile and laugh and joke a# little bit, rather than be a pile of pain.

(BREAK) JOHN YANG: Welcome to the "News Hour."

Late today, President Trump said on# social media that he's extending his## ban on bombing Iran's power plants by# 10 days until April 6.

Early this week,## he said tomorrow was the deadline for Iran to# open the Strait of Hormuz or face a resumption## of attacks on energy infrastructure, which# is illegal under the Geneva Convention.

Today's extension came after an# hours-long Cabinet meeting that## included an update on what U.S.

officials# say are ongoing negotiations with Iran.

Lisa Desjardins has our report.

LISA DESJARDINS: Today in the Middle East, still# more civilians paying the price of war.

Emergency## workers rushed to help an elderly woman in the# Arab-Israeli town of Kfar Qasim.

She had just## been spared from an Iranian missile fragment, its# impact in printing a crater and flipping cars.

That strike, part of the Tehran regime's# ballistic attack on Central Israel today,## engulfed cars in the town of Ganei Tikva in# flames.

Rescue workers putting out the fire## revealed charred husks of vehicles.# Iranian missiles also obliterated a## home nearby in Tel Aviv, a fragment# landing in a family's living room.

Israeli rescue services reported one death and 25# injuries from Iranian and Hezbollah attacks today,## as Israel last night killed the head# of Iran's navy, Alireza Tangsiri,## along with other senior naval commanders.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz: ISRAEL KATZ, Israeli Defense Minister# (through translator): Last night, in a## precise and lethal operation, the IDF thwa.. Alireza Tangsiri, along with senior naval# command officials,the man who was directly## responsible for the terrorist operation of# mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz,## and navigation was blown up and neutralized.

LISA DESJARDINS: This as the Strait# of Hormuz remains in Iran's grip,## causing hundreds of billions in# economic blowback and preventing## a fifth of the world's seaborne oil# and natural gas supply from transport.

The U.S.

today continued its bombing,# releasing video of strikes targeting## Iranian military capabilities.# At the White House, a rarity,## a public briefing by special envoy Steve Witkoff# during a Cabinet meeting with President Trump.

He said Iranian officials rejected key# demands, including about its nuclear stockpile.

STEVE WITKOFF, U.S.

Special Envoy to the Middle# East: Throughout our meetings with the Iranians,## we heard the following from them.

The Iranians# have the inalienable right to enrich.

Then we## heard they possessed enough 60 percent enriched# material, 460 kilograms, to make 11 atomic bombs.

LISA DESJARDINS: Even so, Witkoff# conveyed a belief that Iran may## be at a pivot point for a deal with Trump.

STEVE WITKOFF: Your indications that you# are willing to listen to peace proposals## have been well received.

We have delivered# that message, sir, along with the 15 points## for peace.

Finally, we have told Iran# one last day.

Don't miscalculate again.

LISA DESJARDINS: Trump told the room# that Iranians made a goodwill gesture.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# They said, to show you the fact that we're## real and solid, and we're there, we're# going to let you have eight boats of oil.,## eight big boats of oil.

This was two# days ago.

And they'll sail up tomorrow.

LISA DESJARDINS: And he conveyed# his sense of the state of play.

DONALD TRUMP: And they will tell you, we're not# negotiating.

We will not negotiate.

Of course,## they're negotiating.

They have# been obliterated.

Who wouldn't## negotiate?

They are begging to make a deal.# We will see if we can make the right deal.

LISA DESJARDINS: But, yesterday, Iran's foreign# minister publicly denied any direct negotiations.

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, Iranian Foreign Minister# (through translator): Over the past few days,## our American counterparts have begun# sending messages t.. other countries that are our friends.# If there are messages through others to## which we respond with our own position and# demands, that is not called conversation,## nor negotiation, or anything.

This is# simply sending messages through others.

LISA DESJARDINS: Pakistan has emerged# as a key mediator in this conflict.

TAHIR ANDRABI, Spokesperson, Pakistani# Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Pakistan has,## ladies and gentlemen, actively engaged with the# regional actors to de-escalate.. seize hostilities, and move# towards a peaceful settlement.

LISA DESJARDINS: But, for now, the# war, its issues and its grief continue.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.

JOHN YANG: Now for the view from Tehran,## as airstrikes continue and the U.S.

claims# to be negotiating with the Islamic Re.. For that, we turn again to# special correspondent Reza Sayah.

Reza, what's the atmosphere# like in Tehran right now?

REZA SAYAH: John, more airstrikes# on this 27th day of this war,## starting at around 8:00 p.m.# local time here in the capital.

We heard the unnerving roar of jet# fighters above the skies in Tehran,## followed by several earth-shaking explosions.# State media reporting the airstrikes targeted## at least four locations in Tehran, including# some near Mehrabad Airport.

This is the## civilian airport in Tehran that has already been# targeted a couple of times in this conflict.

The Revolutionary Guard continues to# hit back.

State media reporting that,## over the past 24 hours, its forces,# Hezbollah forces, and Iraqi militia## groups launched 230 operations targeting U.S.# interests and Israeli positions in the region.

At this hour, things are quiet in Tehran,# with the exception of numerous major squares,## where Iranians have gathered every# night to show solidarity and support## for Iranian forces.

Throughout# this conflict, many have been## eager to see if or when anti-government# protesters will show up in the streets.

Four weeks into this conflict,## we have neither seen or heard any reports# of any anti-government protests happening.

JOHN YANG: What's the government there saying# about negotiations with the United States?

REZA SAYAH: Well, there's been so many conflicting# and confusing statements coming from the White## House regarding negotiations, Mr.# Trump saying talks are happening,## the Iranians are begging for an agreement.# This week, he said Iranians gave him a present.

So, sometimes, it's hard for# Iranian officials to make sense## of these statements.

Statements from# the Iranian officials here in Tehran## seem to be more consistent and easy to# figure out.

What Iran's foreign minister,## Abbas Araghchi, confirms is that messages# are being exchanged using intermediaries.

Pakistan is playing a key role.

He says# Tehran has seen Washington's 15-point## proposal.

Tehran has rejected the proposal# and put forth its own proposal, demanding a## guarantee for no more wars, reparations,# and authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

So, both sides are making lofty demands, and# it's not clear how they're going to bridge## their huge gas or if this exchange of messages# is going to continue.

What is clear is that,## as this war drags on, Iran seems# to be getting more confident and## believing that they have absorbed# and survived.

U.S.

and Israeli blows,## and they're at least projecting the# message that they're in the driver's seat.

But, obviously, Washington is# trying to do the same thing.

JOHN YANG: Are there any concerns there# about the possibility of a land invasion?

REZA SAYAH: Tehran says it's taking the# threat of a land invasion seriously.

State## media today quoted military officials# in saying that they have long known## that this was a possibility, and# they have been preparing for it.

And here's another sign that suggests Iran's# confidence has grown.

We're seeing bolder,## more daring statements from Tehran.

State media# reported today, if a ground invasion happens,## Iranian forces have a surprise# in store for American troops,## and the surprise won't be more missiles# and drones.

It'll be something else.

JOHN YANG: Special correspondent Reza# Sayah in Tehran, thank you very much.

REZA SAYAH: Thank you.

JOHN YANG: While President Trump talks about# trying to make a deal with Iran to end.. more U.S.

troops are headed to the region.# The 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Combat## Brigade Team has been ordered to deploy, and# the Marine amphibious warship the USS Tripoli## is expected to arrive in the Middle East in# the coming days, along with other assets.

So what new capabilities do these forces# bring, and how might they be used?

For that, we turn to two people# with extensive military experience.## Retired Army Colonel Joel Rayburn served# in the first Trump administration on the## national security staff with a focus on# Iran in the Middle East.

He's now at the## Hudson Institute.

And retired Lieutenant Colonel# Frederic Wehrey focused on the Middle East during## his two decades in the Air Force.

He's now at# the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Jack Rayburn, let me start with you.

What new## capabilities will the United States# forces have with these new troops?

COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

), Former Trump National# Security Council Staff: Good to be with you.

Well, the troops of the 82nd Airborne# Division that are being deployed,## that's part of the Rapid Deployment Force# that can deploy anywhere in the world with## very short notice.

The 82nd Airborne# Division, the brigades and battalions## of that division are uniquely trained for# forcible entry into contested territory.

So they're the kind of troops that# do rapid insertion into, for example,## strategic infrastructure like an airfield.

If# you think about the war in Grenada back in the## Reagan administration, it was the 82nd Airborne# Division that seized the airfield on Grenada.

And they usually do that in order to pave# the way for, open the way for follow-on,## more robust, heavier forces to come in# after them.

So that's an insertion force.## The Marine forces that are coming,# there are two Marine expeditionary units## that are on their way as part# of amphibious ready groups.

Those are the kind of forces that are trained and# equipped to do amphibious assaults onto islands,## onto ports or to seize vessels.# So, two very similar forces,## move rapidly, be able to be able to# seize key infrastructure quickly.

JOHN YANG: Fred, anything you# don't want to add to that?

LT.

COL.

FREDERIC WEHREY (RET.

), U.S.

Air# Force: I agree.

These are remarkable forces.## They strike deep.

They strike hard.

They're# quick Response Forces.

As was mentioned,## they're designed to seize assets very# quickly so that other forces can flow## into a region as part of a larger assault force.

They're not designed for longer-duration# operations.

And they're also, I should add,## self-contained, especially the Marine# units.

They have their own air support,## their own armor, their own helicopters.# And that makes them able to really go## anywhere in the world and operate autonomously.

JOHN YANG: Jack, how would you# expect these troops to be used?

COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

): Yes, I think# clearly what's happening here is that## the president and Central Command are moving# these assets into the theater to signal that## they have the option, they have the capability of# seizing islands such as Kharg Island or seizing## potentially the islands that the Iranian regime# uses in order to threaten the Strait of Hormuz.

There are several islands closer to the Strait# of Hormuz from which they traditionally have## done that, or also to provide supporting kind# of seizure operations if there's a military## forcing of the strait.

So it really increases# the president and Central Command's options.

JOHN YANG: Kharg Island, of course,## is where 90 -- about 90 percent of# Iran's oil is .. COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

): Right.

JOHN YANG: Fred, are these things a# good idea?

Is it a.. LT.

COL.

FREDERIC WEHREY (RET.

): They're,# quite frankly, fraught with risk.

I mean, very -- obviously, these forces could## accomplish their tactical objectives.# They could seize the island.

They could## destroy coastal missile batteries.

They could# seize various sites along the Strait of Hormuz.

But then the question is, what# next?

And, really, the question is,## does that tactical advantage become# a strategic liability?

Because those## forces are now exposed.

We know that Iran# has trained for this sort of scenario.## There's a saying among military planners# that the enemy always gets a vote, right?

And so the Iranians may have multiple# retaliation options against these forces,## against staging areas, against the# supply lines.

The other big risk is## that it will not completely free the Strait# of Hormuz, right?

It will certainly degrade## Iran's ability to disrupt the traffic coming# in, but it won't solve the problem completely.

And then I should also add,# we have seen this before,## where there's an initial# force, and because it doesn't## achieve its strategic objectives, it# may achieve its tactical objectives,## those strategic objectives remain unobtained# or unfulfilled, that requires more forces.

You have to set up a buffer zone to# protect those forces.

And very quickly,## you're in a situation of mission creep.

JOHN YANG: Jack, what do you think of --# make of the fact that these forces were## not in the region when this war# began?

What does that tell you?

COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

): I think it# means these were an option.

I mean,## look, military planners plan everything to the# nth degree.

I used to be one.

I think Fred did## too.

You planned scenarios in branches# and sequels to all of your base plans.

I just think it just means this was an option# that they maybe hoped not to have to employ,## but also they adapted to the situation.# I think, look, as far as whether it's a## good idea, it's a high-risk tactical# operation, but the payoff is huge.

If there's a U.S.

seizure of Kharg Island,# if there's a U.S.

forcing of the strait,## militarily forcing of the strait, sort of game# over for Tehran at that point.

They're pretty## much -- they're out of strategic military# options.

They have been quite degraded.

We are the enemy that has gotten a# vote in their game plan.

They are## off their game plan.

I don't think their# command-and-control is coherent enough## to be able to adapt.

I think our forces# are inside their OODA loop, if you will.

So, as I say, tactical risk of# that kind of operation is high.## The payoff strategically would also be quite high.

JOHN YANG: And, Joel, I# apologize for calling you Jack.

Fred, are these troops, do you think that# they are leveraged for negotiations?

Or## are the -- is the United States looking# to change the trajectory of this war?

LT.

COL.

FREDERIC WEHREY (RET.

):# I think both could be at play.

And I agree with Joel that the military has# obviously thought through multiple scenarios,## but I'm just very concerned that the Iranians have## thought this through before.

And we# don't know their strategic calculus.

You seize a critical oil terminal like# Kharg, you could empower hard-liners.## You could really force the regime to dig# in even deeper.

I don't think it's game## over for them.

I think they have got# redundancy.

They have got resilience.## They could open conflict in another# theater.

They could engage proxies.

So we don't know their retaliation options.# I think they see this as a long game,## right?

I mean, you're talking about a# generation of leadership that weathered## the Iran-Iraq War.

This is very short term# for them, right?

And so simply seizing these## islands and these assets, I don't know# if it's -- I don't think it's going to## change their strategic calculus about# suddenly giving in to Trump's terms.

JOHN YANG: Fred, I want to stay with you for# a second.

There's been a lot of talk about## the rhetoric of the secretary of defense,# Pete Hegseth.

He talked about no quarter,## no mercy for our enemies.

He said there# would be no stupid rules of engagement.

Early this week, he prayed that every# round find its mark against the enemies## of righteousness.

What do you make of this?

LT.

COL.

FREDERIC WEHREY (RET.

): Well, it's,# quite frankly, shocking.

It's irresponsible,## strategically reckless, ethically# problematic on multiple fronts.

I mean, look, the Constitution specifies# a separation between religion and state,## between church and state.

And so# public officials are not supposed## to use their office to push a particular# religious vision.

And that's exactly## what the secretary is doing with this very# apocalyptic Christian nationalist vision.

The second issue is, the U.S.

armed forces# are very diverse.

You have men and women## of diverse faiths or no faiths at all.# And that's going to create frustration## or alienation.

It's not a good leadership# strategy.

You're not building inclusion.

I mean, the other problem with framing this... JOHN YANG: Fred, I'm going to interrupt# you, because w.. and I'd like to hear Joel's thoughts on this.

LT.

COL.

FREDERIC WEHREY (RET.

): Yes.

JOHN YANG: Sorry.

LT.

COL.

FREDERIC WEHREY.. COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

): Yes, and I think# Secretary Hegseth is the secretary at.. He's trying to explain to his forces who are# engaged while they're fighting.

And he's trying## to inspire them.

He's trying to -- he's trying# to get -- show them confidence in the campaign.

And I think he's also -- he's also a little bit# frustrated about the depiction of a campaign## which is a one-sided contest being --# as being something other than that.

JOHN YANG: Joel Rayburn and Fred# Wehrey, thank you both very much.

We start the day's other headlines in# the nation's capital, where pressure is## mounting on Congress to end the Homeland# Security funding fight.

Senate Majority## Leader John Thune says he's given Democrats# what he called a last and final offer.

SEN.

JOHN THUNE (R-SD): Enough is# enough.

Republicans have bent over## backward to negotiate with Democrats.# And now Democrats need to get serious## about funding the Department of Homeland Security.

JOHN YANG: A vote to advance a bill to fund# DHS was halted while senators discussed the## latest Republican offer behind closed# doors.

Democrats have said the proposals## so far don't do enough to put guardrails# on immigration enforcement officers.

Meantime, airport chaos continues across# the country as TSA agents are poised to## miss another paycheck tomorrow.

Nearly# 500 officers have quit the job altogether.## Officials said TSA lines at George Bush# Intercontinental Airport in Houston took## up to four hours and warned they could# only get worse as the weekend approaches.

Florida Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,# who's been indicted for allegedly stealing## millions in taxpayer money, faced a# rare public Ethics Committee hearing## in Congress today.

The bipartisan panel,# which hasn't held a public hearing against## a sitting member of the House in more than# 15 years, began this investigation in 2023.

Members questioned why they should# delay their conclusion as she requests.

REP.

MARK DESAULNIER (D-CA): And the American# people are entitled to demand accountability of## all of us when they're -- if their elected# representatives are without integrity.

JOHN YANG: Cherfilus-McCormick's lawyer# joined the case less than three weeks ago.## The congresswoman has denied any wrongdoing# and has pleaded not guilty to the federal## charges against her.

The result of the ethics# process could bring political consequences,## including possibly getting# expelled from the House.

New York's LaGuardia Airport has reopened# the runway that was the scene of this week's## deadly collision of an Air Canada jet# and a fire truck.

Crews hauled away the## wreckage last night.

The mangled plane# was taken to a hangar for passengers to## reclaim their belongings.

The regional Port# Authority said clearing the runway will help## one of the nation's busiest airports# return to full operational capacity.

Most of the roughly 40 people who were injured in# the crash have been released from area hospitals.

A federal judge says he will not dismiss the case# against ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro## and his wife because of a dispute involving# their lawyer's legal fees.

Maduro's attorney## said the U.S.

government was violating his# client's constitutional rights by blocking## the Venezuelan government from paying those fees.# The judge said he will rule on the issue soon.

The deposed leader and his wife, Cilia Flores,## have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking# and weapons charges.

President Trump said today## that the Justice Department will bring other# cases against Maduro, but did not elaborate.

The International Olympic Committee has banned# transgender women from competing beginning with## the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.# This aligns the IOC with President Trump's## executive order barring transgender# athletes from women's college sports.

Athletes wanting to compete in women's events will# have to undergo a one-time genetic test.

Today,## only one openly transgender woman# has competed at the Olympics,## a weightlifter from New Zealand# in 2021, who did not medal.

On Wall Street today, stocks suffered their# biggest loss since the beginning of the war## with Iran.

The Dow Jones industrial leverage# fell by more than 450 points, or 1 percent.

The## Nasdaq plummeted by more than 2 percent and# the S&P 500 had its worst day since January.

And as the men's and women's NCAA basketball# tournaments continue tonight and tomorrow,## there is only one perfect bracket# left among the 40 million entries## tracked across all the major sites.

It# belongs to 14-year-old Otto Schellhammer,## an eighth grader from the Pittsburgh area.

In the ESPN women's March Madness Challenge,# he's correctly picked all of the 48 games## played so far.

There are no perfect men's# brackets.

What makes Otto's achievement## all the more remarkable is that he says he# knows basically nothing about basketball## and doesn't even watch the games.

But now his# mother says he will be watching very intently.

Still to come on the "News Hour": how# climate change has powered a heat wave## that blanketed the West Coast; Germany# debates whether to ban social media for## children; and the newest umpires# in Major League Baseball, robots.

A massive heat dome has been spreading# across much of the United States,## with temperatures reaching historic highs, but# it's not an isolated spike.

In recent weeks,## the country has grappled with a# series of extreme weather events.

Ali Rogin more for our# periodic series Tipping Point.

ALI ROGIN: John, this heat is not just notable for# nearly unprecedented early spring temperatures,## but also for the amount of ground it's# covering.

Temperatures have been 20 to## 40 degrees above normal in the Great# Plains, and it's been moving east.

Some cities are already seeing record-breaking# streaks, and the heat is expected to last into## early April.

That's because a high-pressure# system is acting like a lid, trapping hot air## underneath and allowing temperatures to rise day# by day.

The Southwest registered triple digits,## with temperatures reaching# 101 degrees in New Mexico.## Kansas also set a march record with# 102 degrees twice in four days.

For more on what we can expect in the coming days,## I'm joined by Bernadette Woods Placky,# chief meteorologist at Climate Central.

Bernadette, thank you so much for being here.

How unusual is it for us to see this type of# heat in March, and has this ever happened before?

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY, Climate# Central: This is wildly unusual.

And,## no, it has not happened to this level before.

I do think people are used to# seeing temperatures spike 100## degrees in Phoenix and Las Vegas, but that's# usually May, June, July.

It's not in March.

ALI ROGIN: And how far has this# heat spread in the country so far,## and what can we expect in the coming days?

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY: Sure, so there's a# lot of ways to put together these numbers, and,## any way you look at them, they are breaking# records like we have never seen before.

One is, we broke an all-time temperature# record for March for the country.

We also## have had multiple states break their# all-time March temperature record.

We## have seen hundreds of records a# day happen over this past week.

And when you break down the balance# of record highs to record lows,## we took it back all the way to the# beginning of the year, because,## remember, there were some cold stretches.

But# since the beginning of the year, 85 percent of## our records have been warm or hot records,# and only 15 percent have been cold records.

So there's a lot of coverage# in that early season cold.## It's nothing compared to what# we're experiencing right now.

ALI ROGIN: So you mentioned we're# seeing record heat, record cold,## but why is it that we are seeing# more record hot weather than cold?

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY: Well,# that's because of climate change.

Now, one is the weather pattern.

It's# extraordinary for this time of year.

It## looks more like a weather pattern we'd see# in July.

But that weather pattern alone,## combined with the additional fossil fuel# pollution we put into our atmosphere,## is why we're breaking records to this level.

And one way you can look at that, right,# is, we understand the greenhouse effect.## This is science that goes back to the# 1800s that really isn't challenged.

And## we can measure those greenhouse gases in the# atmosphere, and we know we're putting more of## those into our atmosphere from the burning# of fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas.

So when you thicken that blanket around our# atmosphere, it traps more heat.

The most obvious## and direct way that we experience that extra# warming on our planet is through extra hot days.

ALI ROGIN: And, now, we have been# experiencing these heat domes.

For## the last 10 years, they have been on# the rise.

What makes them different,## though, from just other types# of early spring warm weather?

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY: Well, we have had## heat domes before.

We .. But what happens underneath those, when you add# those extra greenhouse gas in the atmosphere,## it allows our temperatures to go to levels# we have never experienced.

So that's the## big difference right now, is that every time# we're using the word unprecedented or record,## and it feels like it's getting# a little old to some people,## but it's happening that frequently right now# that we're pushing record highs to this level.

ALI ROGIN: This hot weather is also# having implications for things like## snowpack and water resources out West.# How is this going to affect communities## not just in the present,# but in the months to come?

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY: This is a really# important part of this conversation,## because the West as a whole has been# really low on its amount of snow this year.

And you got to remember that's water.

That's# water for the warmer months.

That's how we water## our plants and our crops.

That's also our water# resources.

So, on April 1, this is a really big## day out West, where we take these measurements# across many different areas in the mountains and## get an assessment of where that snowpack is for# the year as we head into these warmer months.

We are so low.

We're at record lows.

And# it really varies from state to state.

But## it's not only that it's record# low.

This March heat has forced## melting earlier than usual.

So we're not# going to have that water in the same ways## at the times that we need it.

And then# that really ups our risk for wildfire.

ALI ROGIN: The weather just seems# to get worse and worse every year,## but it's not just extreme heat.

It's# also things like flooding in Hawaii,## rare snow in Alabama, shifting# temperatures in the Northeast.

What else can we expect in terms of# extreme weather for the rest of this year?

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY: Well, it's# interesting to look at this as a full pattern.

One thing we do know is that we are shifting# into what's called an El Nino year.

And there## have been discussions of this in the past, and# people have followed along.

But what happens## during El Nino years is, we get this extra# boost of heat in the water that translates## into our atmosphere, and it usually pushes our# temperatures overall for the planet higher.

So that is one thing.

And then that shifts# our weather patterns a little bit more.

But## what we also know is that, when you add more# heat to this atmosphere, it's like a boiling## pot of water, right?

And so things get more# turbulent.

And when we have more rain events,## when they do actually trigger, there's# more precipitation for them to come down.

And when we get these heat events, it# pushes to higher levels.

And that's## what we're experiencing right# now.

And that will continue.

ALI ROGIN: In the 40 seconds we have left, I# want to ask you about these floods in Hawaii## that seem to be really unusual.# What can you attribute that to?

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY: Well,# one way we have looked at that## is the water temperatures.

These are# islands.

And the storms are coming off## of the water.

And the water around the# islands right now is higher than usual.

And there is a climate change fingerprint in# that also.

And we can look at that through## what we call attribution science, and# we can tease out that role of climate## change in those water temperatures.

So it's# adding more fuel and more moisture for these## storms.

It's adding an extra little boost to# the already wet pattern that was setting up.

ALI ROGIN: Bernadette Woods Placky with Climate# Central, thank you so much for joining us.

BERNADETTE WOODS PLACKY: Thanks for having me.

JOHN YANG: The debate over social# media use by teens is raging on.

In the United States, tech giants Meta and Google# were just handed back-to-back losses in lawsuits## against them in New Mexico and California.# Overseas, Germany is looking to ban social## media or at least make it harder to access for# young people, something Australia did last year.

From Berlin, special correspondent# Malcolm Brabant reports.

MALCOLM BRABANT: These bright young students# in a top Berlin high school reach for their## smartphones as soon as there's a break# in lessons.

They head straight to social## media sites that might soon be outlawed# if Germany's governing party has its way.

This 21st century version of prohibition is a## timely subject for the English# class of teacher Dhara Chaikh.

DHARA CHAIKH, Teacher: What did you# learn?

What are strong arguments in## favor and strong arguments in opposition of# a social media ban?

What do you feel like?

MATHILDE, Student: I often see girls# that look perfect.

And, sometimes,## I think, yes, I would love to look# like them, or they look like they## have features I don't have and stuff like# that.

So, yes, I kind of compare myself.

AMELIE, Student: Some people can then feel, like,## depressed because they don't have, like,# such a perfect life or selfies like that.

MIA, Student: Even I know how bad and# how they affect my mental health and how## much time they take away from things# that are more important in my life.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Experts say# these experiences are just## the tip of a more sinister psychological iceberg.

RALPH HERTWIG, Max Planck Institute for Human# Development: People younger than 13 years old,## they should not be on social media.

Their# brain, their ability, their resilience,## their ability to deal with the content and# the functionality is just not in place yet,## and therefore they shouldn't be on social media.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Professor Ralph Hertwig# is a psychologist who specializes in## human judgment and decision-making.# He's a leading advocate for a ban.

RALPH HERTWIG: Think about this endless# scrolling, for instance, but also the content,## if you think about pornography, if you think# about violence, cruelty, hate, et cetera.

Then## this comes at a point where there are critical# developmental windows for the developing brain.

And we have to think about and there is increasing# evidence that there is a negative association## between social media use on the one hand and# the psychological healthiness of young people.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Those sentiments align with# the stance of Germany's governing party,## the Christian Democrats.

Chancellor# Friedrich Merz led the calls for a## social media ban for the under-14s, who, on# average, spend 5.5 hours online each day.

FRIEDRICH MERZ, German Chancellor (through# translator): Do we want to allow our society## to be disintegrated internally, and in this# way our youth, our children are enda.. We have to deal with this question because it is# the enemies of our freedom, the enemies of our## democracy, the enemies of an open and free# liberal society who are undertaking this.

(APPLAUSE) MALCOLM BRABANT: But education professor Nina# Kolleck doubts that a ban will solve the problem.

NINA KOLLECK, Potsdam University: If we ban it,## we even make it more attractive and# pr.. they will even show more addictive behavior when# they use it.

If we want to solve the problem, we## have to ban the algorithms which are so harmful,# and we have to introduce digital literacy.

MALCOLM BRABANT: So just how effective are# social media bans?

Australia was the first## country to enforce an age limit, and# its latest data suggests that social## media companies have been forced to close down# 4.7 million accounts belonging to teenagers.

Nevertheless, it is estimated that# 20 percent of Australian adolescents## still manage to access forbidden# sites like TikTok and Snapchat.

Big tech companies oppose governmental# bans on social media for teenagers.

They## argue that such restrictions are# difficult to implement and risk## pushing adolescents towards less# regulated, more dangerous content.

BENNO FLUGEL, Anti-Social# Media Activist: Smartphones,## they distract us.

Smartphones# have apps that are very addictive,## and so smartphones poison our individual life.# And, furthermore, smartphones poison our society.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Anti-social media activist# Benno Flugel claims that his campaign## against the big tech behemoths# is gaining traction in Germany.

BENNO FLUGEL: I'm aware that I'm in a small# minority, but I think smartphones will have a## similar career like smoking.

As years went# by, there was more evidence that smoking## is actually very harmful.

I think we see the# same development with social media right now.

You see the rise in depression, you see# the rise in anxiety.

Reading skills of## schoolchildren are deteriorating.

And I think# the more evidence we get over the years,## the more people will see that# our position is actually right.

ANNA, Student: OK, so my pros are social# media is harming children and teenagers.## Teens using social media three hours per daily# have higher risk of anxiety and depressions.

STUDENT: Double risk of anxiety.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Dhara Chaikh has# only been teaching for two years,## but in that time she's# noticed some alarming trends.

DHARA CHAIKH: I can see that the children# compare themselves to each other.

And I do## feel like depression is on the up.

There's# a lot of children that deal with that,## but also comparing themselves to# unrealistic body types.

There's a## lot of body dysmorphia going around.

I have# a lot of students who are bulimic, actually.

MALCOLM BRABANT: And where do the students# stand?

Leading the opposition is Elias,## who admits to watching TikTok# for two to three hours a day.

ELIAS, Student (through translator):## I'm against getting such a media ban because it's# something to do in your free time and because you## also get information that you don't get at school.# And, no, I don't think it's harmful to me because## I'm still getting good grades.

And that's why# I wouldn't be able to say anything about it.

CHARLIE, Student: If something is,# like, banned or you can't use it,## like, it's forbidden, then it's# more interesting.

I don't know## how to say it, but it's like something# is banned and then I want it even more.

MIA: I think that it would be good to# ban it, to ban social media as well,## but I feel like it is definitely up to the# parents and not the government to enforce the ban.

MALCOLM BRABANT: Germany's coalition government# has yet to draft the relevant legislation.## In the meantime, education experts# say it's imperative that schools## teach students how to become more# resilient to social media pressure.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Malcolm Brabant in Berlin.

JOHN YANG:## New York has become the 13th# state, along with Washington,## D.C., to legalize medically assisted# suicide.

More than a dozen other states## are also considering legalizing the practice,# what supporters call medical aid in dying.

Stephanie Sy traveled to both coasts to# reexamine an issue that for decades has## divided Americans along moral and political lines.

DEL DELASHMUTT, Portland, Oregon, Resident: I# have a brain tumor in my right frontal lobe.

STEPHANIE SY: Del DeLashmutt envisions# a celebration for the day he dies.

DEL DELASHMUTT: We're going to have a fire going# that day.

I have my little guitar over there and## pick it up and strum it a little bit.

My sister's# going to be here.

My son's going to be here.

There## will be people here.

And I don't want it to be# a sad day.

I just want it to be a day, you know?

STEPHANIE SY: The Portland, Oregon,## resident says he's planning to take a# lethal dose of medication on April 1.

Why did you choose April 1?

DEL DELASHMUTT: April 1.

No greater fool am# I, says I. So I thought that would be perfect.

STEPHANIE SY: He was diagnosed with# stage four prostate cancer in 2017.## Now 67 years old, he's undergone# near constant chemotherapy and## more than 50 radiation treatments.# He had a compelling reason to fight.

DEL DELASHMUTT: I have a granddaughter.# And she was 3 at the time.

STEPHANIE SY: And you have# had almost a decade with her.

DEL DELASHMUTT: Yes.

And I see her every## Wednesday.

So -- and I have# since she was 3 months old.

STEPHANIE SY: But tumors have now# spread to his brain and spine.

And## he's worried they will lead to a grueling death.

DEL DELASHMUTT: It's funny.

Everybody says, you're# so brave.

And it's like, no, I'm being -- I'm## not brave, because, if I was brave, I would die# painfully.

So I would rather not die painfully.

STEPHANIE SY: DeLashmutt meets the requirements# of Oregon's death with dignity law.

Since 1997,## the option has been available# to adults who have a medical## prognosis of six months or less to# live from at least two doctors and## are deemed mentally competent.

They must# also be able to take the drugs themselves.

DR.

CHARLES BLANKE, Oregon Health and# Science University: Remember, there's## no pressure to ever take.. STEPHANIE SY: Dr.

Charles Blanke wrote# the prescription for DeLashmutt.

Blanke## was one of the first physicians in the# U.S.

to practice medical aid in dying.## An oncologist by training,# he says demand has grown.

DR.

CHARLES BLANKE: More and more# of my patients seem to want this## option.

And I probably write between# 100 and 150 prescriptions per year.

STEPHANIE SY: Acceptance for# legalizing what's also known## as medically assisted suicide has been# rising steadily in the U.S.

Polling in## recent years has shown that more than# 70 percent of Americans support it.

ANITA HANNIG, Author, "The Day I Die: The Untold# Story of Assisted Dying in America": The idea of## authoring the end of your own life# is becoming less a.. STEPHANIE SY: Anita Hannig is a# cultural anthropologist and the## author of "The Day I Die: The Untold# Story of Assisted Dying in America."

ANITA HANNIG: Medical aid in dying is actually# increasingly being seen as a medical treatment## that some -- and we're talking about a very# small subset of the population -- choose to## avail themselves of when they reach the end of# their life and they have a terminal condition.

STEPHANIE SY: Since Oregon became the first state# to allow assisted dying nearly 30 years ago,## 12 more states and Washington, D.C., have passed# similar laws.

Roughly 13,000 Americans have used## medical aid in dying, according to# a nonprofit that tracks this data.

GOV.

KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): Who am# I to deny you or your loved one## what they're begging for at the end of their life?

STEPHANIE SY: New York just# approved legalization last month,## reigniting opposition from longtime# opponents, including the Catholic Church.

FATHER PETER CLARK, St.

Joseph's University:# So, since the beginning of Christianity,## it was very clear that God gives# life, only God can take life away.

STEPHANIE SY: Father Peter Clark is the director# of the Institute of Clinical Bioethics at St.## Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

He says even# the phrase medical aid in dying is misleading.

FATHER PETER CLARK: You're committing suicide.# Medical aid in dying sounds very different.

It## sounds like the doctors are helping you# in the last stages of death and dying,## but the help is intentionally terminating you.

So,## I mean, you can play semantics all# you want.

It's still the same thing.

STEPHANIE SY: But Clark says the Catholic Church## is not against taking someone off of# a ventilator or removing a pacemaker,## and he believes more options could be offered# to make patients suffer less at the end of life.

DANIESE MCMULLIN-POWELL, Disability Rights# Advocate: People are going to die needlessly.

STEPHANIE SY: It's a perspective# that 80-year-old Delaware resident## and disability rights advocate# Daniese McMullin-Powell shares.

DANIESE MCMULLIN-POWELL: I am shocked society is# so accepting of this, and their assumption of what## suffering is by offering you death, instead of# better health care, instead of a better life.

STEPHANIE SY: McMullin-Powell had polio# as a child, which has left her with## long-term disabilities.

She's joined a# lawsuit against the state of Delaware,## which passed a medical aid in dying law last year.

Among other concerns, she fears# that people with disabilities will## cut their lives short to spare their# families the expense of their care.

DANIESE MCMULLIN-POWELL: For them# to have that option puts pressure## on people with disabilities and# makes us feel an obligation to die.

STEPHANIE SY: Opponents of assisted dying also# often point to other countries as a warning,## including Canada, where next year people whose## sole underlying condition is a mental# health disorder will become eligible.

FATHER PETER CLARK: There's a slippery# slope.

I mean, if you allow for this,## what comes next?

I mean, look at the# Netherlands.

Look at Luxembourg.

Look## at Belgium.

Look at Switzerland.

They now# allow people who are mentally ill to do this.

STEPHANIE SY: Oregon has had these laws in place## for decades and they have not# gone down the slippery slope.

FATHER PETER CLARK: Correct, because# -- but that's not to say we can't.

So,## I mean, it may not have happened in Oregon,# but it's -- our closest neighbor, Canada,## is allowing for it.

The church is very# concerned that could come next here.

STEPHANIE SY: Researcher Anita Hannig# doesn't see the U.S.

going down that road.

ANITA HANNIG: Among all the jurisdictions# that have legalized assisted dying,## the U.S.

model is actually the most# restrictive.

And the gains that have## been made in this country are hard-won.

And,# today, I would say very few advocates of these## laws are willing to push the envelope on# them, for fear of losing them altogether.

DR.

CHARLES BLANKE: There have been a whole host# of reasons put forward by opponents to death with## dignity.

They believe that this is harming the# patient.

I feel the situation is the opposite.

STEPHANIE SY: Dr.

Charles Blanke says he sees# people suffering in ways that can't be relieved.

DR.

CHARLES BLANKE: What my# patients want, for the most part,## is control.

They cannot control their life# at all.

They can't control their cancer.## But I can, because of these drugs, offer them# essentially 100 percent control over their death,## pretty much when and certainly how.

And I can# say that it's going to happen without suffering.

STEPHANIE SY: When we met Del DeLashmutt, he was# preparing to pick up his prescription and trying## to make the most of the time he has left.

He took# one last trip to the beach on Oregon's coast,## wrote love letters to the# people he will leave behind.

DEL DELASHMUTT: "And we had so much fun.

We did."

STEPHANIE SY: And pulled out old photos.

Are you scared?

DEL DELASHMUTT: There's a part# of me that's scared.

But there's## a part of me that something profound# is going to happen to me on April 1.

STEPHANIE SY: Is there anything that# would change your mind at this point?

DEL DELASHMUTT: No, no, because I# want to go as me, the guy that can## smile and laugh and joke a little bit,# rather than be a pile of pain, whereas,## this way, there's a good chance# that I may be having a good day.

(LAUGHTER) DEL DELASHMUTT: And they can see me like that.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Stephanie Sy.

ANNOUNCER:## We have had our first ABS challenge, ABS pow.. ANNOUNCER: Low sinker up and in.

ANNOUNCER: ... has been confirmed.

JOHN YANG: That was a bit of baseball history# being made last night in San Francisco,## the first regular season challenge# using Major League Baseball's new## ABS system.

That's Automated Ball-Strike.

In every Major League ballpark now,# new camera technology will track the## precise location of pitches.

Teams can# challenge up to two ball or strike calls## made by an umpire in an nine-inning# game.

It's the start of a new era.

So, on this Opening Day, let's bring# in Dan Evans, a former general manager## at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He's also# had key roles with four other teams,## most recently as a scout# for the Toronto Blue Jays.

So, Dan, help us understand this.# Give us the ABCs of ABS here.

How## does this work?

Who can make a challenge and when?

DAN EVANS, Former General Manager, Los# Angeles Dodgers: First of all, John,## just so we need in our life, another .. For the fans, the key thing is, the game is trying# to get it right and working on getting it right as## well as possible.

What this does is, twice a game,# a batter, catcher, or pitcher can ask within two## seconds of a pitch for a clarification,# is the call overruled or does it stand?

There's going to be real alacrity to this.# And I think the key to know for the fans## is that a manager, a coach, someone in the# ballpark can't really influence the batter,## the catcher, or the pitcher to ask for the appeal.

JOHN YANG: It's only those three.

Don't just take some managers# are going to figur.. to get one of those three to make a call?

DAN EVANS: I wouldn't be surprised, but# I think there will be penalties.

What## we have already learned, John, is the# pitchers and the catchers -- actually,## the catchers and the pitchers are# better at this than the hitters are.

So there's already a little bit of peeling# behind the curtain with a brand-new rule.

JOHN YANG: You know, all this brings up# the question, the age-old question of,## what is the strike zone?

I think, over# the years, a lot of players have said## that umpires -- it can vary from umpire to# umpire.

They have personal strike zones.

What does the ABS system say is the strike zone?

DAN EVANS: Well, you're a fan.

You# know, John, that there were hundreds## of different interpretations at the little# league level all the way up.

Now they're## using a percentile of the player's height# for the top and for the bottom of the zone.

I have the numbers nearby because they# don't just roll off my tongue, but 55.6## percent of the batter's height and 24.2# percent of the batter's height are used as## the top and the bottom of the zone.

So, if you# crouch, if you get into a exaggerated stance,## like a Rose or a Rickey Henderson,# it could adversely affect you.

But, in reality, what we have is, every player# should be consistently hauled by the ABS system.

JOHN YANG: Now, this system's been used# in spring training for the last two years## and in the minor leagues since I think 2022.# What have players been saying about it?

DAN EVANS: Every player in the big leagues# who's played in the minor leagues has played## under this situation in their career.

So it's not# going to be real new, just like the pitch clock.

The Atlantic League started it in 2019 as an# experiment for Major League Baseball.

This has## been seven or eight years in the works, John.

As# a result, many of the bugs are out.

The players## understand it.

The fans have been overwhelmingly# in favor of it, almost to an 80 percentile rule.

I think what they have done from# a Competition Committee down is,## they have done a good job tweeting# it, making changes that identify## the problems that they had.

I think the# fans will benefit, the game will benefit,## but I think the biggest thing we will see is, we# will see a comprehensive plan for people to use## this system as a strategic move in the first# eight innings and then in the ninth inning.

You mentioned the two challenges.

I# don't think very many people will use## their second challenge before a key# segment of the late part of the game.

JOHN YANG: Well, what has experienced taught us,## or what do we know from it being used in# the minors and in spring training?

How## often are calls overturned and when do they# use -- when is it tended -- tend to be used?

DAN EVANS: Around 50 percent of the calls# are overturned.

So, what you believe to## be a strike is probably a better chance# of being a strike if you're the catcher,## a lesser chance if you're the pitcher,# and a much less chance if you're a hitter.

John, what we have learned is that pitchers# and catchers are right about 60 percent of## the time.

Hitters are right 45 percent of# the time.

That's a real big difference in## decision-making.

And I think what you# will see is managers put a throttle on## some of the players on their teams and ask# their pitchers to not be the point person## and try to channel their energy into the# catcher, let the catcher make the decision.

I think it's going to be a fascinating thing# to watch in the -- really the first month of## the season as people orient towards it.# And I think it's going to be seamless.## What we have really learned too is, it# doesn't add to the length of the game,## simply because they have been doing it# long enough.

The guys know how to use it.

And the umpires and the people in# stadium are also very good at it too.

JOHN YANG: In the long run, do you see a day# coming where this is the way they call balls## and strikes, that the home plate umpire# will no longer call balls and strikes?

DAN EVANS: No, I sure hope not.# And I think all the people that## are decision-makers in the game hope not too.

I think this is a happy medium between the way# the game's been umpired since the 1800s to a## point now where it could be full ABS.

I think# this is the compromise, and I think it's a good## one.

Umpires are such a great fabric of the game.# They love the game just as much as you do at home.

And I think the important thing for them is,# we have found out they're right far more than## they're wrong.

We saw that in replay.# And now we're already seeing it in the## ABS.

I think what we have here is a happy# medium that works for everybody involved.

JOHN YANG: Former baseball executive# Dan Evans, thank you very much.

DAN EVANS: Thanks, John.

JOHN YANG: And that is the "News Hour"# for this.. For all of us here at "PBS News# Hour," thanks.

See you soon.