GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "NewsHour" tonight: Ukraine's# president visi.. tensions over long-range missiles# and discussions with Vladimir Putin.

GEOFF BENNETT: The disfigured, injured,# and deeply traumatized children and## parents of Gaza are beginning a long road# to recovery as the fragile cease-fire holds.

EID AFANA, Uncle of Injured Child (through# translator): I saw many horrific scenes that broke## my heart when I entered the hospital, children# with limbs amputated.

What do those children do?

AMNA NAWAZ: Despite major cuts# to critical government agencies,## the Trump administration provides a $20 billion# lifeline to Argentina's flailing economy.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned# to Washington today .. who is continuing his efforts to bring an# end to Russia's nearly four-year invasion.

GEOFF BENNETT: But Mr.

Trump didn't seem# willing to give Ukraine what it really wanted## from the visit.

That's long-range U.S.

Tomahawk# missiles that could strike deep into Russia.

And, late today, while Zelenskyy# was speaking with reporters,## Mr.

Trump posted on social media that# Russia and Ukraine should -- quote -- "stop## where they are.

Let both claim# victory.

Let history decide."

For the second time in as many months, Ukrainian# President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was back at the## White House today pressing President Trump for# greater U.S.

assistance in the war with Russia.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President: I# think that I'm confident that, with your help,## we can stop this war.

And we really need it.

GEOFF BENNETT: This time, the aid request centers# on long-range U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles,## the kind of weaponry Ukraine first sought# under the Biden administration and now## seeks again from President Trump, who for# months has sounded reluctant to provide it.

DONALD TRUMP, President of# the United States: Hopefully,## we will be able to get the.. it could mean big escalation.

It could# mean a lot of bad things can happen.

GEOFF BENNETT: Today's meeting comes on# the heels of a lengthy phone call yesterday## between President Trump and Russia's# Vladimir Putin.

In that conversation,## Mr.

Trump floated his openness to# giving Ukraine the long-range weapons.

DONALD TRUMP: I did actually say: "Would you# mind if I gave a couple of thousand Tomahawks## to your opposition?

"I did say that to him.

I# said it just that way.

He didn't like the idea.

GEOFF BENNETT: Putin, according to a# top adviser, warned President Trump## during their call that Tomahawks wouldn't# change the situation on the battlefield,## but would cause substantial damage# to the U.S.-Russia relationship.

The two leaders have planned a possible second# summit in Budapest, Hungary, after their initial## Alaska summit back in August failed to advance# peace talks.

The fight itself has long been in## a stalemate.

This map shows Ukrainian territory# Russia controlled exactly one year ago.

And this## map shows what Russia controls today.

Neither# side has made substantial territorial gains.

MAJ.

GEN.

DAVID BALDWIN (RET.

), U.S.

National# Guard: The Ukrainians understand that no single## weapon system is going to be a game changer# or, more importantly, a game ender for the war.

GEOFF BENNETT: Retired Major General David# Baldwin was recently adjutant general of## the California National Guard, which has# been training Ukrainian troops since before## the full-scale invasion by Russia.

He says# the U.S.

weapons would make a difference.

MAJ.

GEN.

DAVID BALDWIN (RET.

): It# will change sort of the strategic## effects of what's going on in the negotiations,# because now the Ukrainians will be able to## have enhanced capability to reach# out and strike targets in Russia.

GEOFF BENNETT: Designed to fly below radar# detection, the weapons can strike targets## more than 1,500 miles away, deep into# Russian territory well beyond Moscow,## targets like key military sites,# oil and energy infrastructure.

For months and as recently as# yesterday, Russia has bombarded## Ukraine's energy infrastructure with# hundreds of drones and missiles,## causing widespread blackouts.

Zelenskyy today said# the weaponry would help compel Putin to negotiate.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: I think that Russia# is afraid about Tomahawks, really afraid,## because it's a strong weapon.

And they know# what we have, what kind of weapon we have, our## production, and they understand that combination# with Tomahawks, because we speak about it.

GEOFF BENNETT: To help dissect the current# state of affairs, we turn to Jon Finer.

He## was the deputy national security adviser during# the Biden administration.

He's now a distinguished## visiting fellow at Columbia University# School of International and Public Affairs.

Welcome back to the program.# It's good to have you.

JON FINER, Former U.S.

Principal Deputy National# Security Adviser: Thanks.

Great to be here.

GEOFF BENNETT: So, in recent days, President# Trump has sent mix.. Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

Today, he# sounded disinclined to do so.

Zelenskyy## made the same request of the Biden# administration and was turned down.

What's the dilemma this current White House## faces when deciding whether or# not to provide these weapons?

JON FINER: Well, to be honest, I wish# I didn't have to say this, but I'm not## terribly surprised that it looks like the White# House is moving away from providing Tomahawks.

And that's because, if anything, since the# White House -- this White House inherited## Ukraine policy from the Biden administration,# they have done less for Ukraine over time,## not more.

So the idea that they would# have handed the Ukrainians an even more## advanced system than was provided during the Biden# administration, I think, always seemed unlikely.

But, in some ways, what's even more damn much# more than damaging then the idea that they're## not going to be providing the Ukrainians,# a system the Ukrainians believe they need,## is that it appears that President Trump has# basically acknowledged asking Russia what## it thought of this move, hearing a very# negative reaction from President Putin,## and then moving against an idea that# he had been contemplating because he## didn't like how Russia reacted to it and# because he doesn't want to sour the mood## in advance of an upcoming summit meeting with# President Putin in Hungary in the coming days.

And so the rationale almost seems, in# this case, is damaging as the fact itself,## which is that he doesn't seem to want# to cross the wishes of Vladimir Putin.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, say more about that,# because the Kremlin reportedly requested## yesterday's call between Presidents# Trump and Putin.

And, as you say,## now Trump says that he's open to meeting Putin# for a second summit, potentially within weeks.

What's the play here, Putin requesting this# conversation on the eve of Zelenskyy's visit?

JON FINER: Well, with the caveat that obviously# I'm not on the inside of any of this anymore,## but it seems pretty clear just from observing and# because we have seen this play run once before.

You will remember that, a few months ago,## President Trump for the first time# started to grow frustrated with Russia,## started to believe actually that it wasn't# Ukraine that was responsible for this war being## continued against President Trump's wishes,# but Ukraine actually saying yes to a bunch of## the president's cease-fire request and Russia then# saying that it wasn't interested in a cease-fire.

That got President Trump irritated.

He said# that he would impose severe consequences on## Russia.

And he said that even just hours before# meeting with President Putin in Alaska.

Then,## during that meeting, he treated President Putin# with a high degree of respect, almost reverence,## the red carpet.

You will remember President Putin# riding in the back of President Trump's limousine.

And then coming out of that meeting, all of# a sudden there was no more talk of severe## consequences, economic consequences in# that case.

And the president went back to## musing about negotiations to try# to end the war in a different way.

I think the Russians learned a lesson from that# case, that these big grand meetings in some ways## are something that President Trump covets, that he# likes being seen on the big stage with someone he,## for reasons I can only speculate about, respects,# President Putin, and that offering another one of## those sessions would be a way to turn down# the temperature in the United States and in## this administration and prevent them from moving# forward with a more aggressive policy position.

It seems to be working for now, and we will see# what happens during this meeting in Hungary,## which I guess will be the next step.# They will send some staff out before## that to prepare the meeting, but the next# big step is going to be President Putin and## President Trump getting together again,# and we know how that ended last time.

GEOFF BENNETT: On the battlefield,# this war appears largely stalemated,## with neither side making significant# territorial gains.

What does that## say about where this conflict stands# and how realistically it might end?

JON FINER: Well, I think it's worth just# acknowledging that, in and of itself,## what you have just described, is an extraordinary# accomplishment, first and foremost, for the people## of Ukraine and the Ukrainian military, that they# have held off a, by all estimations much larger,## much stronger military force, who people believed# before this war began would march all the way## to Kyiv and possibly even conquer# all of Ukraine in a matter of weeks.

And now here we are three years on, with the# war still being fought in the extreme eastern## part of Ukraine, and at great cost.

The# Ukrainian people have paid an enormous## price for the stalemate that has# been achieved, and they deserve,## I think, a tremendous amount of respect and# admiration for holding off the Russian army.

The cost being imposed, by the way, on# the Russians is extraordinary as well.## We estimate now more than a million casualties# dead and wounded on the Russian side.

And so,## given the developments in the Russian# conversations with the United States and## the fact that the presidents will be seeing each# other, given what happened at the White House## today and the idea that the U.S.

is not going to# be, it looks like, ramping up support for Ukraine## any time soon, it does appear this conflict# will be stalemated for the foreseeable future.

GEOFF BENNETT: Jon Finer, thanks, as always,# for your perspective.

We appreciate it.

JON FINER: Thanks.

AMNA NAWAZ:## In the day's other headlines: John Bolton# pleaded not guilty today to federal charges## that he mishandled classified documents.# The former national security adviser during## President Trump's first term did not speak to# reporters as he left a Maryland courthouse.

He faces 18 counts, including transmission# and retention of top secret national defense## information.

It's the third criminal# case the administration has pursued## in recent weeks against critics# of the president.

In response,## Bolton said the charges are part of Trump's --# quote -- "effort to intimidate his opponents."

At the White House today, President Trump# appeared to confirm recent reports that## Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro had offered the# U.S.

a stake in the country's oil wealth## and other natural resources.

That# offer was first reported by The New## York Times and was seen as an effort to# ease tensions between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters as he hosted# Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,## Trump used coarse language to# describe Maduro's motivations.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: He has offered everything.

He's## offered everything.

You're right.

You know why?## Because he doesn't want to (EXPLETIVE# DELETED) around with the United States.

AMNA NAWAZ: Those comments come as the# Associated Press and others are reporting## that the U.S.

military has captured# the survivors of yet another strike## on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean.

It's# believed to be at least the sixth strike on such## vessels since August.

The administration# has not publicly acknowledged the strike.

The New York Times is pushing back against# President Trump's latest legal action against the## paper.

Yesterday, his team refiled a $15 billion# lawsuit alleging that The Times, along with## two reporters and book publisher Penguin Random# House, had defamed him during the 2024 election.

A judge in Florida threw out the# original complaint last month,## calling it -- quote -- "decidedly improper and# impermissible."

A spokesperson for the paper## said the latest filing has no merit, adding that# -- quote -- "Nothing has changed today.

This is## merely an attempt to stifle independent# reporting and generate P.R.

attention."

Britain's Prince Andrew says he will# give up his royal titles after renewed## attention to his friendship with the late# sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement,## the younger brother of King Charles said# -- quote -- "The continued accusations## about me distract from the work of# His Majesty and the royal family."

His announcement comes after the release# this week of excerpts from a posthumous## memoir from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who# claims she was trafficked by Epstein and## had sex with Prince Andrew at the# age of 17.

Andrew has long denied## the accusations.

He will no longer be known# as the duke of York, but remains a prince.

In Madagascar, the army colonel who led a# military coup was sworn in as president today.## Colonel Michael Randrianirina replaces# former leader Andry Rajoelina, who was## forced to flee the country after weeks of# youth-led protests against his government.

Colonel Randrianirina took his oath# of office just three days after armed## forces took control of the island# nation of some 30 million people.## He promised to respect and safeguard# the Constitution and the rule of law.

MICHAEL RANDRIANIRINA, President of Madagascar# (through translator): I call upon everyone to## uphold peace, unity and solidarity so that we may# quickly restore our social and economic systems,## which have fallen into distress.

We will# protect and rebuild the entire system of## governance and administration, aligning it# with the true aspirations of the people.

AMNA NAWAZ: Randrianirina has said he will# remain in charge for at least 18 months## before any new elections are held.

The United# Nations has condemned the military takeover## as unconstitutional, and Madagascar has# been suspended from the African Union.

Back in this country, Ford Motor is recalling# more than 600,000 vehicles in the U.S.

in two## separate actions.

The first involves more than# 330,000 Ford Mustangs which may have seat belts## that don't properly restrain people during a# crash.

The second involves certain F-Series# Super Duty from 2020 to 2022.

Those could# have problems with their rear-view cameras.

Ford has issued a record number of recalls# this year as it works to address a range## of safety issues.

The automaker says# owners should bring their cars in to## have them checked, and that related# repairs will be done free of charge.

on Wall Street today, stocks cruised to a solid# end to the week after President Trump once again## tried to ease worries over his China tariffs.# The Dow Jones industrial average added nearly 240## points on the day.

The Nasdaq rose more than 100# points, and the S&P 500 also posted decent gains.

And Japan's former Prime Minister# Tomiichi Murayama has died.

He led a## coalition government in the mid-1990s, but# is perhaps best remembered for issuing an## unprecedented apology on the 50th anniversary# of Japan's surrender in World War II.

In 1995,## he said Japan's -- quote -- "mistaken# national policy caused tremendous damage## and suffering to the people of many countries,# particularly to those of Asian nations."

He resigned the following year,# but the Murayama Statement,## as it became known, became a part of# Japan's political fabric.

Officials## say Tomiichi Murayama died today in# his hometown.

He was 101 years old.

Still to come on the "News Hour": we take a closer# look at the man President Trump has tasked with## slashing thousands of federal government jobs;# David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on## the ongoing government shutdown; and actor John# Lithgow reflects on his long career and process.

GEOFF BENNETT: Last night, we brought you# the story of the lingering trauma affecting## so many Israelis since October 7.

Tonight,# we turn to Gaza, where the Health Ministry## says nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been# killed over the last two years of fighting.

The scale of the death has been staggering# and the toll on children overwhelming,## tens of thousands killed and thousands# left with grievous wounds of war,## often treated with near medieval# means due to a lack of supplies.

Over the last year, Leila Molana-Allen and# our colleagues have followed treatment for## some of these children and have this report.

A warning: The story includes# graphic images that are disturbing.

LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: No sight, no speech, no sound;## 4-year-old Nayel (ph) has had all# his senses stolen by an airstrike,## and it's getting worse.

In May, Nayel and his# 6-year-old brother were playing in the dusty## pathways of Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp, when# an Israeli strike hit the tent next to them.

HANI ABU SHALABI, Father of Injured Child# (through translator): They were playing## around me when the missi.. and beautiful moments we once had in our life.

LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: Mohamed was killed instantly.# Pieces of shrapnel lodged deep in Nayel's brain,## causing brain damage that's stolen his# vision, his hearing and his speech.

With## barely any food or access to clean water,# Israel has mostly blocked the delivery of## eggs since earlier this spring, he's# suffering from severe malnutrition.

The filthy conditions in the hospital mean he's# now caught meningitis too.

Unable to chew or move,## what food they can get him is through a feeding# tube.

His tiny body can't hold out much longer.

HANI ABU SHALABI (through translator): Before the# war, Nayel was one of the most active children.## He loved to play a lot and we used to go to the# beach together.

He's in pain right now, silently## in pain, and cries without tears.

The doctors# here told us they don't know what to do anymore.

LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: Nayel's only chance is# to be evacuated from Gaza for specialist## treatment.

Without it, he will die soon.

He# has the travel permit and foreign surgeons## desperate to help him.

But the Israeli# authorities won't let him cross the border.

Thousands more children have sustained# life-changing injuries, which Gaza's hospitals,## overwhelmed with the wounded, lacking in basic# medical supplies and often under bombardment## themselves, simply can't handle.

A lucky few# make it across the border into Egypt, but,## even there, the most severe# cases need specialist help.

Five-year-old Adam (ph) is one of# those lucky ones,lucky to be alive,## unlucky to have suffered many months of agony# and be facing permanent disability because of## how long his evacuation was denied.

Displaced# three times in the first few weeks of the war,## Adam's father and sister were killed# when the house they were sheltering in## was hit by an Israeli airstrike.

Adam was# crushed by the rubble, shattering his arm.

It would have been a fairly# simple surgery outside,## but with the health care system in Gaza in# full collapse, doctors could do little for him.

EID AFANA, Uncle of Injured Child (through# translator): I saw many horrific scenes that broke## my heart when I entered the hospital, children# with limbs amputated.

What did those children do?

LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: For two months,# Adam waited in suffering.

Four times,## they requested medical# evacuation,each request denied.

EID AFANA (through translator): His arm's# condition remained critical.

They did daily## cleaning operations on his hand without# anesthesia.

His condition was excruciating.

LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: Finally, the border opened and# Adam was taken to Lebanon.

Because of the delay,## he'd developed a chronic bone# infection.

It was so advanced,## he was now suffering from a related# brain injury.

Adam's surgeon, Ghassan## Abu Sittah, is a British-Palestinian doctor# who's campaigned tirelessly to bring injured## Gazan children to Beirut's American University# Hospital, one of the best in the region.

DR.

GHASSAN ABU SITTAH, Plastic and# Reconstructive Surgeon: The worst thing## is that the kids that we are treating,# we.. long-term neglect for these injuries# that have not been properly treated.

Let's put it this way.

A friend of mine who's# an orthopedic surgeon still left in Northern## Gaza tells me that half of the amputations# that he's doing could have been saved,## those limbs could have been salvaged if# they had been treated at the right time.

LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: Adam has had to endure more# than 60 surgeries on his arm to fix the damage## from the infections.

It will never be fully# functional again.

And with his mother severely## injured and the rest of his immediate family dead,# his mental scars may be just as debilitating.

EID AFANA (through translator):# For the rest of his life,## he will continue to relive the horrors he# saw.

He's witn.. LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: The system exists# to evacuate and treat these children,## but Israel controls who can cross# the border to access it.

Barely 100## children have managed to leave in the# past 18 months.

Many die while waiting.

A year ago, the world watched in horror as# 19-year-old Shaaban Al Dalu burned to death,## an I.V.

line still in his arm,# when Israel struck the Al-Aqsa## Martyrs Hospital compound.

His# father, Ahmed, on fire himself,## could do nothing to save him, but he managed# to drag his other children from the flames.

AHMED SHAABAN AL DALU, Father of Deceased# Children (through translator): It was so hard## seeing them burning alive.

It te.. LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: Desperate to save his# 10-year-old son, Abud (ph), from the same fate,## Ahmed called on the international# community to help force his son's## emergency evacuation.

But no help came.# Days later, Abud died of his burns too.

AHMED SHAABAN AL DALU (through# translator): He was the youngest## of my kids and the one I spoiled the .. LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: Helpless,## the clock is ticking for N.. HANI ABU SHALABI (through# translator): We have already## lost our first child.

.. LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: All they need# is for a lifesaving gate to be## unlocked.

There's little hope# those prayers will be answered.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Leila# Molana-Allen in Beirut, Lebanon.

AMNA NAWAZ:## This week, the Trump administration# authorized a $20 billion financial## lifeline for Argentina as it faces# a deepening economic crisis.

But the## justification of the deal has raised major# questions and criticism about its merits.

John Yang helps to break it down.

JOHN YANG: Amna, the United States is# exchanging dollars for Argentine pesos## to prop up that currency, which has been losing# value recently.

President Trump announced the## move on Tuesday as he met with Argentine# President Javier Milei at the White House.

And he made clear that this# is contingent on Milei's party## winning legislative elections later this month.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: I'm with this man because his## philosophy is correct.

And he may win or# he may not win, but I think he's .. win.

And if he wins, we're staying with# him, and if he doesn't win, we're gone.

JOHN YANG: In addition, Treasury Secretary Scott# Bessent has said the administration is trying to## secure an additional $20 billion for Argentina# through private banks and sovereign wealth funds.

Monica de Bolle is an economist at the# Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Monica, first of all, what's going on in Argentina## that makes this necessary or# they're trying to react to?

MONICA DE BOLLE, Peterson Institute for# International Economics: So Argentina is## facing the kind of problem that it# usually faces.

It's an economy that## functions with both the peso and the# dollar.

So Argentina is a partially## dollarized economy.

It uses the dollar# like -- as if it were its own currency.

And oftentimes what happens is that they# run into a shortage of dollars.

So whenever## they run out of dollars, they fall into# crisis, which is what's happening now,## and the U.S.

is stepping in to provide# the dollars that Argentina needs.

JOHN YANG: But, as you say,# this happens periodically.## This isn't going to fix it, is it?

MONICA DE BOLLE: No, it's not going to fix it## because the underlying problem that Argentina has# is precisely the fact that it uses two currencies,## rather than one.

So they have their own# currency, but they also use the dollar.

And that's what always trips them up.

So whenever# there is a shock of confidence in the system,## whether because of some domestic problem# that popped up or because of an external## or international problem, they run out# of dollars, they fall into trouble,## and then somebody has to step in to rescue them.

That somebody has usually been the# International Monetary Fund.

But as## we have seen in the past few weeks, now we# have the United States stepping in as well.

JOHN YANG: Is there a danger here# of this crisis spreading through## the region that the administration is# trying to stop, or what's at risk here?

MONICA DE BOLLE: So that's a very good# question, because the answer is no.

Argentina is not a country that poses# any risks to either its neighbors,## its surrounding -- the surrounding# countries, or to the United States,## or to the global economy.

Argentina is# not a systemic country in that sense.

So, in the past, when the U.S.

has acted in# sort of similar ways to what it's doing in## Argentina right now, it has done so because the# country in question was systemic.

In other words,## it had the potential of having# negative -- the crisis in the## country had the potential of having# negative consequences on others.

But this is not the case with Argentina right# now.

So there is no real economic rationale## for the United States to be stepping# in and doing this at this juncture.

JOHN YANG: No economic rationale.

The president# said this is contingent on President Milei's## party winning the legislative elections# later this year.

What is the president## trying to advance?

What interest is# he trying to advance by doing this?

MONICA DE BOLLE: He's trying to advance# two interests.

So, on the one hand,## he's trying to prop up what he sees as a# political ally.

So Milei is very much perceived## as a political ally of the administration.# So there's an interest in keeping him in## power and keeping him in office.

He still has# two years to go as president of Argentina.

And the other -- the other driving# motive here is geopolitical,## because China is very much involved# in Argentina.

It is actually very## much involved in the region as a whole.# Argentina has a lot of lithium reserves.## It also has a lot of rare earth reserves.# So there is an interest, the geopolitical## interest on the part of the U.S., in sort of# confronting China, so to speak, in the region.

So I see this move by the administration as being## completely geopolitical and political# in nature, not economic at all.

JOHN YANG: You mentioned China.

A lot of# soybean farmers in the Midwest are angry## because China stopped buying their# product because of the trade war## and are buying -- is buying soybeans# from Argentina.

They see them that## this is a lifeline being thrown to a# competitor.

What do you say to that?

MONICA DE BOLLE: Yes, it is problematic# because that is happening.

China has## stopped buying soybeans from the United States.# It's buying soy from Argentina and from Brazil,## which Brazil is the largest producer# in the region.

But Argentina also## produces a lot of grains and a lot of soybeans.

And China has just stepped up its purchases# of these products from both countries,## but notably in our case here Argentina.

So, yes,## U.S.

farmers have very much a right# to be angry at this situation.

JOHN YANG: You say there's no economic reason# why the government has to do this, the United## States has to do this.

Is there a risk# to the United States by doing this?

MONICA DE BOLLE: There surely is, because# this is the situation that the U.S.

is## walking into without any endgame in sight.# So, in other words, the U.S.

is stepping## in to provide a lifeline for Argentina,# but it doesn't really know how this ends.

And, with Argentina, the story usually goes# like this.

You lend to them.

They usually## don't pay back.

So you face a situation --# this is what's been going on with the IMF## for the past 20-something years.

And so what# happens is you either have to keep lending## to Argentina in order to keep them afloat# and in order for you to repay yourself,## or you stop lending to Argentina, in# which case you throw them into crisis.

So with the U.S., it's kind# of a no-win situation here,## because the moment the U.S.

steps in to# provide Argentina with this lifeline,## it either has to commit to staying in Argentina# and keep providing Argentina lifelines if it## faces further problems down the road, or the# U.S.

at some point will have to step back.

And when they do, Argentina will fall into a# crisis and guess who will be blamed?

The U.S.

JOHN YANG: Monica de Bolle# of the Peterson Institute## for International Economics, thank you very much.

MONICA DE BOLLE: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: As the government shutdown# enters its third full week, the Trump## administration is freezing billions of dollars# in infrastructure funding across the country.

Office of Management and Budget director# Russell Vought announced on social media## today that his office is halting more# than $11 billion in projects nationwide,## many of them in Democratic-led cities.

As our Liz Landers reports, it's the latest# in a series of controversial moves by Vought,## who has used the shutdown to advance# the president's political agenda and## oversee mass layoffs of federal workers.

LIZ LANDERS: The chief of the White House budget# office is rarely in the spotlight, but Russ## Vought, who leads the Office of Management# and Budget, has become a key figure in the## government shutdown and even the star of a meme# video shared by the president on social media.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: They call him Darth Vader,## but he's actually a very nice person.

LIZ LANDERS: Vought has been a key# power broker during the shutdown,## using his X account to announce the# government will freeze projects in## blue states and sharing veiled# threats to fire federal workers.

RUSSELL VOUGHT, Director, Office of# Management and Budget: If there's no## funding for these programs,#.. Yes, I called for trauma within the bureaucracies.# Bureaucracies hate the American people.

LIZ LANDERS: How influential has he been# in this shutdown, from what you have seen?

DAMON LINKER, University of Pennsylvania: I think# very influential.

Any time you see a story about## funding being halted, he's the one at the head# of that chain of command making those calls.

LIZ LANDERS: Damon Linker teaches political# science at the University of Pennsylvania.## He compares Vought to an air traffic controller.

DAMON LINKER: He knows where# the money is coming from,## where it's supposed to be going, who the# key players in the administration and in## the government are to ensure that the money# gets to where it's supposed to be.

And it## also means he knows exactly where to go if# he wants to stop money, to claw it back.

LIZ LANDERS: During Mr.

Trump's first term, he# initially served as deputy director of the OMB.## In 2019, he defied congressional subpoenas,# refusing to testify in House Democrats'## impeachment inquiry.

Vought then led OMB for# the final two years of Trump's first term... RUSSELL VOUGHT: We have many, many programs that## are wasteful and inefficient# that we can no longer afford.

LIZ LANDERS: ... and, at the president's# direction, called on federal agencies to## stop racial sensitivity trainings, referring# to them as divisive anti-American propaganda.

Many of Vought and Trump's policy priorities# were easily reversed by the Biden administration,## fueling frustrations and plans for more# permanent changes.

Vought launched the## Center for Renewing America, a# conservative think tank aimed at## confronting what they call the woke and# weaponized agenda of the ruling class.

It provided research and policy ammunition to# lawmakers and Vought an organizing vehicle for## four years to workshop policies that# could be swiftly enacted in a future## conservative presidency and be harder to# undo.

Vought penned an essay during this## time describing the country as# in a post-constitutional moment.

RUSSELL VOUGHT: We did a lot of# things in the first term.

We had## a ton of paradigm shifts.

But# one of the things we did not do## was reductions in force.

And we honestly# learned about it in our years of exile.

LIZ LANDERS: The Center for Renewing America# features religious underpinnings, a guiding## principle for Vought and his world view.

Their Web# site describes their mission to -- quote -- "renew## a consensus of America as a nation under God# with unique interests worthy of defending."

Vought embraces what he's# called Christian nationism.

RUSSELL VOUGHT: We need to be a# country that is for God.

We need## to be for country and for community, in# the sense that we want to really reflect## on the fact that we are a nation that's# built on a Judeo-Christian world view.

LIZ LANDERS: Vought wrote a key chapter of# the conservative policy proposal Project## 2025 that advocated for centralizing# government power to the White House,## giving political appointees more authority# and slashing government jobs and spending.

DAMON LINKER: It very clearly lays out exactly# what he planned to do if he ended up back in## that office.

And so far he's been following# it pretty much to a T. And, if anything,## I have been surprised only by the# aggressiveness with which he's done it.

LIZ LANDERS: After Trump's win, Vought was# back in a position to enact those changes,## appointed to lead the OMB again.

Vought's view, Linker says, gives Trump# more power to shape government staffing... DAMON LINKER: Everyone who works under him --# this is tens of thousands of employees -- are## his employees.

He can hire them and fire# them at will.

He can tell them not to do## something or to do something and they must# obey under threat of losing their jobs.

LIZ LANDERS: ... and would allow the# executive branch to wield more power## to enact their political agenda, including# overstepping Congress on government spending## and advocating for the administration to not# follow court rulings they view as overreaching.

DAMON LINKER: Russ Vought believes that, in# very crucial areas of the federal government,## the president is in effect# superior to the other branches.

LIZ LANDERS: After being installed# as acting director of the Consumer## Financial Protection Bureau, he halted most# of the agency's work.

Vought was also the## architect of the administration's# rescissions package to Congress,## cutting billions in foreign aid and defunding# the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

His moves have earned praise from the president.

DONALD TRUMP: He's become very# popular recently because he can## trim the budget to a level that# you couldn't do any other way.

LIZ LANDERS: Vought has used the shutdown# to further push the president's agenda,## freezing funding to so-called Democratic# projects, including green energy efforts in## more than a dozen states, and halting funding for# infrastructure projects in New York and Chicago.

DONALD TRUMP: We will be cutting some very# popular Democrat programs that aren't popular## with Republicans, frankly, because that's# the way it works.

They wanted to do this,## so we will give them a little# taste of their own medicine.

DAMON LINKER: If you didn't vote for him, you# are his enemy, and he will hurt you when and## where he can, and Vought is perfectly content# to help him enact that vision of governance.

LIZ LANDERS: Vought has also# enabled government agencies## to fire more than 4,000 workers in recent days,## including thousands at the Department of Health# and Human Services and the Treasury Department.

And according to a memo obtained by# "PBS News Hour," Vought had charged## the lead counsel at OMB to explore the# possibility of not paying furloughed## federal workers back pay, an idea that# even Speaker Mike Johnson batted down.

DAMON LINKER: You would expect Congress to# rise up in opposition to this and say, you## are usurping legislative powers, Mr.

President.# You cannot do this.

It's in the Constitution.

But this Congress is in the hands of a# Republican Party that will not defy Trump.

LIZ LANDERS: As the shutdown# continues into another week,## the administration has warned more layoffs could# come soon and that OMB's cuts will continue.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.

AMNA NAWAZ: For more on the week's political# headlines, we turn now to the analysis of Brooks## and Capehart.

That is New York Times columnist# David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC.

Great to see you both.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Hey, Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: Can I get you.. late today commuted the sentence of former# New York Republican Congressman George Santos,## who reported to prison this summer after pleading# guilty to a laundry list of federal charges,## including wire fraud, identity# theft, and money laundering?

The president said: "At least he always had the# courage and conviction to Vought Republican."

Jonathan, what do you make of# that decision by the president?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: It's Friday.# So it's the theater of the absurd## in the extreme.

This guy stole# from people.

He did all sorts of## horrible things.

He was held -- he# was being held accountable for it.

And the president, as we have seen# many, many times, just used this as## an opportunity to just stick his finger# in the eye of justice, of accountability,## of everything that we used# to think was normal and sane.

AMNA NAWAZ: David, what do you make of it?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I picked up on the sentence# you read that .. And that was -- that's the operative# thing here, sin, crime, but he voted Republican.

It made me think, is there any Republican that# Trump would not commute or not pardon?

And he's## turned it into a partisan game the granting# of pardons, and Santos is going to claim he## broke out of prison like "Shawshank Redemption" or# something, I don't know what story he will tell.

(LAUGHTER) AMNA NAWAZ: Well, look, let's turn now# to what we saw this week, which was big## news for the president overseas, able to muscle# through a major peace deal in the Middle East,## and we saw still working to# broker some kind of peace deal,## hosting Zelenskyy at the White House# and calling Putin this week as well.

But, meanwhile, it is day 17 of the government# shutdown back here at home.

The rhetoric has## not changed from either side, Jonathan.

And the# president hasn't really engaged in the kind of## brokering we traditionally see presidents# do.

Can he be a dealmaker back here too?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Yes, we have seen it.We have# seen it.

So if the president were to turn his## attention to the government shutdown and figure# out what both sides wants and then just say,## this is what I want to do, of course, we# have seen time and again Republicans will## do whatever the president tells them to do,# even if they have held an opposing position.

So -- but he hasn't seemed like he wants to get# involved, which makes me think he likes what's## happening.

Maybe he likes what's happening.

Maybe# given what we -- the package on Russell Vought,## maybe this shutdown does give him the# opportunity, him and Russell Vought,## the opportunity to slash at the federal government# in ways they couldn't do under regular order.

And I don't know.

It's a terrible game.

It's# a terrible game for the president to play,## because real people, Americans are getting hurt.

AMNA NAWAZ: David, Jonathan raises# a good point.

Is there incentive## for the president to want to end the shutdown?

DAVID BROOKS: Not particularly.

The Republicans# are not the party of government.

They're the party## of shrinking government.

And under the shutdown# right now, he's been blocked from really getting## rid of what he calls Democratic programs,# but he is able to fund the things he likes.

And so they have managed to wrangle some# funds for the servicemen.

They have for TSA,## for ICE, those sorts of people.

And so they get to## fund the things they like and don't# -- and everybody else gets nothing.

It's -- two things that are astonishing to me,# one, how everybody's blase about it.

The whole## -- not in the DMV, in our area, but everywhere# else in the country, it's like, what do you do?## And the capacity to be shocked by our politics is# clearly going away.

And so that's the first thing.

The second thing is I'm curious to know# what happens over the next three weeks,## because the notifications for the health# care costs, those letters are going out.

November 1, they really begin# to kick in.

And so maybe then we will see## something.

But I would not assume that this# is going to end any time in October.

I think## when that November number comes out, we# will see how the public reacts, if at all.

AMNA NAWAZ: You think this could break the last# record for the shutdown then?

That was 35 days.

DAVID BROOKS: Oh, yes, quite easily, yes.

AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan, you agree with that?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Oh, I agree with that.

And# Nove.. I think, for Democrats, November 1 is the date.

To David's point, that's when the things# that they have been warning about kick in.## And so if that doesn't bring people to the# table, if that doesn't get the president to say,## all right, jokers, let's get into a room# and hammer this out, I don't know what will.

AMNA NAWAZ: That's when the enrollment will open,## right?

And we know the subsidies expire at the end# of the yea.. The other thing the Republican Party is# wrestling with, as I'm sure you have seen,## the contents and the coverage of that# leaked group chat among leaders from## the Young Republican groups that was# first reported, of course, by Politico.

You have seen Vice President Vance's response to# that.

He was dismissive of it and said this is## what kids do.

He also pointed towards the violent# text messages that were from Democrat Jay Jones,## who's running for attorney general in Virginia,# who apologized last night, but is still running.

And today we should note that the New# York chapter of the Young Republicans## was suspended after some of its members# were revealed to be a part of that group.

David, how did you look at this story# and what the chat reveals to us?

DAVID BROOKS: Well, it's sort of logical# extension of either the alt-right or MAGA,## which is the whole idea of MAGA is to be# transgressive, to shock the middle class,## shock the Protestant, the -- not the# Protestant elite, the progressive elite.

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: I like the Protestant elite.

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: And when you do that and.. online are going to say things like "I like# Hitler" because the norms have been taken away.

And, in France, the Bohemians used to call# it epater la bourgeoisie, like shock the## bourgeoisie.

And so you get this rolling nihilism# that all norms are gone, and the most offensive## thing you can say suddenly becomes cool.

And# that's what's happened when you erode norms.

And you can't just do what Elise Stefanik# did, which is, this is appalling.

Like,## it is the simplest thing# to say.

This is appalling.

AMNA NAWAZ: Right.

DAVID BROOKS: J.D.

Vance could have said that, but he's been so long in these circles# that he doesn't want to burn his .. AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan, what do you make of it?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: The whole situation# is deplorable.

The people making those## comments are deplorable.

The vice president of the# United States and what he had to say about, well,## these are just kids, I'm sorry, there's# a 34-year-old kid, a 24-year-old kid?

No, these are not children.

These are adults.# And the idea that the vice president of the## United States couldn't set a moral example and# say, this is unacceptable, this is not who we## are as a party -- you know why he can't say it?# Because this is who they are right now as a party.

And you know what?

We shouldn't even be talking# about the vice president.

We should be talking## about the president.

We have a president who# dabbles in this language, who campaigned not## in this exact language, but in that atmosphere, in# that milieu, if we're going to use French words.

And so if the president of# the United States is doing it and can do it,## well, why should we be surprised that you have got# 20-somethings, 30-somethings, people -- there's## -- one of them was an elected official, people# who are young leaders in the Republican Party.

Why are we surprised that they're# engaging in this kind of conversation,## even when they acknowledge like, hey,# if these leak, we will be in trouble,## ha, ha, ha.

Twenty -- what is it, 2,900# pages' worth of these text messages?

Come on.

This#is terrible.

It's deplorable.

AMNA NAWAZ: We will say excellent# French pronunciation by you both## on that.

I really do appreciate that.

Before we go, I do want to ask# you about another remarkable moment this week,## which I'm sure you saw this video, scores# of Pentagon reporters who refused to sign## the new rules that were introduced by# Secretary Hegseth turned in their badges,## packed up their offices, and# they walked out en masse.

Just watching those scenes,# David, what did you think?

DAVID BROOKS: Well, I thought of the First# Amendment.

I mean, there's a reason there## is a First Amendment, because -- and# for 200-some-odd years of our history,## people acknowledged that the press actually plays# a role and that it's a useful and necessary role,## and the politicians don't like# it, but they appreciate the role.

And this administration clearly does# not appreciate the role.

Their M.O.## is to get -- go after anything that# might restrain them.

And the press## is a restraint and the Constitution is a# restraint.

They're a bunch of restraints.

And so when I saw those pictures,# I just saw Trump being Trump,## but the reporters, including all our new# organizations really, they had no choice,## because this criminalized journalism.

The# rules they were imposing, if you were digging## for a story that they didn't want you to# have, they could in theory prosecute you.

And so of course they had to say no.# It was the easiest call in the history## of journalism.

But I just thought# about restraint and the lack thereof.

AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: It was the free pre.. on parade out of the building.

And# it was a wonderful thing to see.

And also this is the 21st century.

They# don't need to be in that building.

And## actually maybe it will make their# jobs a little easier because, oh,## you're not in the Pentagon.

I'm going# to meet with sources.

The sources will## come to you outside without having the# eyes of other people looking at them.

I just think journal -- our jobs as journalists# aren't -- isn't meant to be easy.

We get big## stories and we break big stories by busting# our butts and working our sources and making## it possible for people to come to us and# tell the stories that change history.

And so what those folks did at the Pentagon,# I applaud them.

And, quite honestly,## there others in our profession who# should look at them as an example.

AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan Capehart, David Brooks,## always great to end the week# with you both.

Thank you so much.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Adieu.

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: Adieu.

Au revoir.

GEOFF BENNETT: For decades, renowned# photographer Platon has captured portraits## of some of the world's most influential figures.# Now he's turning the camera in a new direction,## filming his sessions as he draws out candid,# revealing conversations with his subjects.

We share Platon's dialogue with famed actor John# Lithgow for our arts and culture series, Canvas.

WOMAN: Everyone, please make sure# your phones are on silent, please.

JOHN LITHGOW, Actor: I guess maybe# I should do that.

Wouldn't that## be mortifying?

Where did I put my# phone?

All right, ask me anything.

PLATON, Photographer: All right, come on then.

What does it mean to be a storyteller?

JOHN LITHGOW: So much of telling the story# of emotions happens in the face.

That's## why the close-up is what practically defines# moviemaking.

That's what you do as a photographer,## a sudden moment of cheerfulness descending# into uh-uh, doubt.

Boom, boom, boom, boom.

Storytelling is entertaining.

It takes people# out of themselves.

They identify with certain## characters.

They hate certain other characters.# They want the story to have a beginning,## middle and end, and they want the end to# leave them with something, truth.

Essential.

You're venturing into what's going on right now.# We're living in this very, very troubling time## when truth is devalued.

We share the language# of disinformation, and it throws everybody off.

I feel like I'm a sort of intermediary as an# actor, because I'm acting out various struggles,## and very often that struggle has to do# with big ideas like truthfulness and## duplicity.

People are drawn to drama# for that reason.

They are drawn to## seeing the conflicts acted out that# they very often feel in themselves.

Good people do bad things, and bad people do# good things.

All of us are capable of both.## There are moments when I experience real grief# in a performance where I'm enacting grief.

We## actors have a verb, I was ambushed.

And,# in those moments, I myself, it catches me.

Deeply communicating with a group of total# strangers and creating a bond with them,that's## an incredible privilege.

It just makes me feel# so useful in this world.

Human connection is the## opposite of loneliness, and loneliness is the# hardest thing to live with: Nobody wants me.

Everybody experiences it at some point.# And yet one phone call with good news,## like upending an hourglass, it can replenish# you.

Oh, I'm going to be all right.

JOHN LITHGOW: My name is John# Lithgow, and I'm a storyteller.

I will tell you my favorite Churchill quote.# A woman pointed out to him that his fly## buttons were undone, and he said: "It's not a# problem.

A dead bird never leaves its nest."

PLATON: You just became Churchill.

I have# never seen that in front of me before.

AMNA NAWAZ: Be sure to watch "Washington# Week With The Atlantic" tonight right## here on PBS.

Jeffrey Goldberg and his# panel discuss President Trump's push for## peace overseas and the punishment# of political opponents at home.

GEOFF BENNETT: And watch "PBS News Weekend"# tomorrow for a look at how the company that## helped create China's restrictive Internet# firewall is selling the system to other countries.

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#..