GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm# Geoff Bennett.

Amna Nawaz is away.

On the "NewsHour" tonight: movement on# a crucial sticking point, whether Iran## should be allowed to enrich uranium.

The# latest on the nuclear talks with the U.S.,## as the two countries teeter on the brink of war.

Former President Bill Clinton testifies# before a GOP-led congressional committee,## saying he had no knowledge# of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.

And with a growing number of people# detained in the Trump immigration crackdown,## the Trump administration looks to an# unexpected place to house them, warehouses.

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN, The Washington# Post: These places were built to## hold goods and ship goods.

They were not# meant to hold human beings.

So there's## a pretty significant renovation# process that has to go under way.

(BREAK) GEOFF BENNETT:## Welcome to the "News Hour."

President Trump said today he was unhappy# with the progress of d.. and suggested he may, as he put it, have to# use the military.

That came in contrast to## a statement from the mediator of the talks, who# said they're making progress.

And's as the U.S.## has deployed the largest military presence# in the Middle East in more than two decades.

Here's Nick Schifrin.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, as the U.S.# prepares for the prospect of war,## President Trump did not hide his# disappointment in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the# United States: We're not happy## with the negotiation.

Th.. we're not going to have a nuclear# weapon.

They have to say, we're## not going to have a nuclear weapon.# And they just can't quite get there.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And President# Trump stuck to his demand that## Iran not be allowed to create any nuclear fuel.

DONALD TRUMP: They want to enrich a# little bit.

You don't have to enrich## when you have that much oil.

So,# I'm not happy with the negotiation.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The man in the# middle of that negotiation,## mediating between Americans and Iranians, has been# Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

Today, he met with Vice President J.D.# Vance and other U.S.

officials and## afterward told CBS' Margaret Brennan# the talks were making progress.

BADR BIN HAMAD AL BUSAIDI, Omani Foreign# Minister: So there would be zero accumulation,## zero stockpiling, and full verification.

NICK SCHIFRIN: That suggests Iran has# agreed not to store any nuclear fuel,## but not necessarily to stop enriching entirely.

Al Busaidi also said that, for the first time,## Iran would agree to Americans# verifying Iran's nuclear program.

BADR BIN HAMAD AL BUSAIDI:# If I was President Trump,## my only advice is just to give those# negotiators enough room and enough space## to really close these remaining areas# that we need to discuss and agree upon.

MARGARET BRENNAN, Host, "Face the# Nation": And if Israel carries out## a strike, or if the U.S.

carries out even# a limited strike on the ball.. do you think that you could# still get a nuclear deal done?

BADR BIN HAMAD AL BUSAIDI: Well,## diplomacy can reach a deal.

I don't think any# othe.. NICK SCHIFRIN: But the momentum# appears to be toward a strike.## White House senior adviser Dan# Scavino posted on social media a## row of B-2 bombers, the same plane# used in last summer's Iran strikes.

And, overnight, also precautions for possible# war.

The U.S.

Embassy in Israel told its staff## to consider leaving the country immediately.

U.S.# Ambassador Mike Huckabee wrote an internal e-mail## obtained by the Associated Press that said there# was no need for panic, but -- quote -- "Those## wishing to take authorized departure should do# so TODAY," "today" written in capital letters.

And the U.S.

official confirms to "PBS News# Hour" the military's top Middle East commander,## Admiral Brad Cooper, briefed President# Trump yesterday on options for a strike.

There are negotiations scheduled for# next week after yesterday's meeting in## Geneva.

Iran says technical# talks are supposed to begin## Monday.

But the U.S.

has assembled what# President Trump has called an armada,## the largest deployment of warships and# aircraft in the Middle East in decades.## And despite the mediator claiming progress,# the U.S.

has set the theater for an attack.

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

GEOFF BENNETT:## Bill Clinton became the first former president# compelled to testify to members of Congress## today.

At a closed-door session in Chappaqua,# New York, the House Oversight Committee heard## from Clinton about his connections to the# late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr.

Clinton said he did nothing wrong, adding --# quote -- "I saw nothing that ever gave me pause."

Republican Chairman James Comer# spoke late this afternoon.

REP.

JAMES COMER (R-KY): I will have to say that# President Clinton answered every question or## attempted to answer every question.

Now, we can# talk about some of his answers in more detail.## And I'm sure once the video is released to the# transcript is released, not only will you, but a## lot of people in America will have more questions# about some of the answers that were given.

GEOFF BENNETT: The former president's testimony# comes a day after the committee questioned## his wife, former U.S.

Secretary of State# Hillary Clinton, for more than six hours.

She said she had no new information# about Epstein and had never met him.

Joining us now is our congressional# correspondent, Lisa Desjardins.

So, Lisa, what did President Clinton# say today behind closed doors?

LISA DESJARDINS: This was extraordinary.

The# former president testified for nearly seven hours.## He did say, as you indicated,# that he knew of no wrongdoing.

And specifically, in his opening statement, I# want to read another quote that he had.

He wrote:## "Not only would I have not flown on# Epstein's plane if I had known any## inkling of what he was doing.

I# would have turned him in myself."

Now, photos in the Epstein files, though,# show some of the relationship between the## two men.

Clinton flew on Epstein's plane# roughly two dozen times.

That was part## of the work for the Clinton Foundation that he# was doing after leaving the Republican office.

Now, Democrats on the committee both defended the# former president, but also sharply questioned him.

REP.

MELANIE STANSBURY (D-NM): President Clinton,# as of today, has not been accused of a crime.## There are not public files available that accuse# him of a crime, whereas there are publicly## available documents that do allege a crime of# President Trump.

But it is very well-established## that President Clinton had a relationship# with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

LISA DESJARDINS: We will return# to the Trump question in a minute.

But one other thing that Republicans said today# was that they're investigating whether Epstein was## part of some foreign intelligence operation# targeting some public officials in America.

GEOFF BENNETT: So what is known about# Clinton's relationship with Epstein?

LISA DESJARDINS: Right.

Now, this is something that's importan.. had a brief acquaintance with Epstein.

But we know# that they knew each other at least 10 years, going## back to when President Clinton was in office in# 1993.

Ghislaine Maxwell said she introduced them.

There was something transactional.# President Clinton, with his foundation,## needed wealthy donors.

He also# needed a way to travel around the## world.

Epstein and his plane provided# some of those things.

But it wasn't## all business.

There are photos in the# Epstein files that show, for example,## President Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose# face has been Blacked out to keep her anonymous.

Clinton did also write a note in that infamous# 2003 birthday book for Epstein talking about## friendship in that.

And to this idea that# Clinton never had any inkling that there## was anything wrong, the actor Kevin# Spacey was on one of those flights,## on several flights in Africa# with Epstein and Clinton.

And he said in an interview a few years ago that# he saw young girls on those planes with Clinton## and Epstein, and he was worried about the public# risk for Clinton.

Clinton says he never saw that.

GEOFF BENNETT: On the politics of this, you have# the Republicans who lead this committee trying to,## in some way, make the Clintons the face# of this.

You also have Democrats now## trying to subpoena President Trump,# which would be unprecedented.

LISA DESJARDINS: Right.

There are civil court examples where Clinto.. as president or as former presidents.

But# the subpoena aspect of this is interesting## if President Trump is subpoenaed.

Really,# it could be a constitutional question.

But there's more to it now, because# Republicans are not even asking President## Trump to testify.

We know that he had a long# association with Epstein.

And whether he did## wrongdoing or not -- the Republicans# say no -- they're not saying Clinton## had any accusations of wrongdoing.# They just want to answer questions.

There are questions about why Republicans# still refuse to call President Trump.

GEOFF BENNETT: Any other officials# who could be forced to testify?

LISA DESJARDINS: Yes, Commerce Secretary Howard## Lutnick.

He is a billionaire who had a lot# of association with Epstein... he told Congress that he was mistaken# in at one point saying he didn't speak## to Epstein after his arrest.

And, in fact, we# know that he saw him in 2012 on his island.

So there are questions from Congress about him,# and it does look like he could be subpoenaed.

GEOFF BENNETT: Lots of questions, lots to track.

Lisa Desjardins, always on top# of all of it, thanks so much.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

GEOFF BENNETT:## In the day's other headlines: Pakistan's defense# minister says his country is engaged in an open## war with Afghanistan after the neighboring# countries exchanged attacks last night.

Pakistan accused the Taliban government in# Afghanistan of harboring militant groups,## which it says launched strikes# across the border in Pakistan.## For its part, Afghanistan denies# enabling terrorism and says Pakistan## broke a previous cease-fire agreement# the two sides reached back in October.

ZABIHULLAH MUJAHID, Taliban Spokesman (through# translator): Whenever aggression has occurred## against Afghanistan, the Islamic emirate has# always tried to resolve the issue through## dialogue and mutual understanding.

However,# each time, the aggression has persisted.

GEOFF BENNETT: In Pakistan's# largest city, Karachi,## residents there voiced support for the strikes.

AKHTAR SHAHEEN, Karachi, Pakistan, Resident# (through translator): The point is,## when faced with aggression, you have to respon.. Pakistan is a sovereign state.

And# our nation expects us to defend it.

GEOFF BENNETT: Tensions between# the two sides have been boiling## for months after border clashes in October.

Israel's high court ruled that aid groups# can continue operating in the Gaza Strip.## The ruling reverses an earlier# government decision that barred the## groups for refusing to comply with new# Israeli rules.

It comes as five people## were killed in Israeli drone strikes on# two separate police checkpoints today.

Israel says they were in response to a violation## of the fragile cease-fire by Hamas.

At a# funeral today for some of those killed,## family members said that the truce# has done little to stop the violence.

AHMED GOUDA, Relative of Palestinian# Killed (through translator):## Those three dead are among a number that continues# to rise every day.

As Israel.. they have not stopped since the# signing of the truce agreement.

GEOFF BENNETT: Meantime, some Palestinians from# the West Bank were denied entry into Jerusalem## for the second Friday of Ramadan prayers.# Israeli authorities had said they would## only allow up to 10,000 Palestinian worshipers# and they'd tighten security across the city.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth# says that Scouting America will## change several policies to# maintain Pentagon support,## including one targeting transgender youth.

The# Texas-based organization is keeping its new name,## rather than returning to Boy Scouts, and it will# continue its service for some 200,000 girls.

But in a video posted to social media,# Hegseth said the group will require its## members to use their -- quote -- "biological# sex at birth and not gender identity" and## that the Pentagon will end its support of# the organization if it fails to comply.

PETE HEGSETH, U.S.

Defense Secretary: These# and other changes that Scouting America's## leadership committed to will hopefully result in# a rededication to the foundational ideals that## have defined scouting for generations,duty to God# and country, leadership, character and service.

GEOFF BENNETT: Meantime, in Kansas today, two# transgender men are suing the state over a new## law that requires that gender markers on a# driver's license or birth certificate match## a person's sex at birth.

The Kansas law# is the first such measure in the nation.

Democratic lawmakers say they are stunned# and deeply alarmed following yet another## instance of a laser being used to shoot down a# drone near the U.S.-Mexico border.

It happened## yesterday near Fort Hancock in West Texas.

The# drone belonged to Customs and Border Protection,## and the incident prompted the FAA# to temporarily suspend flights.

In a joint statement, the agencies# and the Pentagon described the drone## as a -- quote -- "seemingly threatening# unmanned aerial system operating within## military airspace."

It follows a# similar incident earlier this month## that grounded commercial flights# in nearby El Paso for a few hours.

NASA's plan to send astronauts back to the# moon is getting a revamp.

The agency says## it's adding an extra practice mission# to its Artemis flight lineup next year,## with the goal of one or even two# lunar landings in 2028.

The shakeup## comes just days after NASA's Artemis II moon# rocket returned to its hangar for repairs.

JARED ISAACMAN, NASA Administrator: We# shouldn't be comfortable with the current## cadence.

We should be getting back to# basics and doing what we know works.

GEOFF BENNETT: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman# said the new plan will inject momentum into the## program by reducing yearslong gaps in between# flights.

In that way, it will be similar to NASA's## fast-paced Apollo program, the first that brought# humans to the moon more than a half-century ago.

The financial technology company Block is# cutting 4,000 of its 10,000 employees as it## embraces the use of artificial intelligence.

The# 40 percent cut is one of the most dramatic steps## taken by a tech company directly because of# the use of A.I.

Investors welcomed the news,## though, with Block's shares# ending nearly 17 percent higher.

Elsewhere, on Wall Street today,# stocks slumped amid worries about A.I.,## inflation and a possible war with Iran.

The# Dow Jones industrial average fell more than## 500 points.

The Nasdaq dropped more than 200# points.

The S&P 500 also ended the week lower.

And there was an unusual scene at Washington's# Reagan National Airport today, as a former U.S.## president joined with his fellow travelers in# waiting out a flight delay.

Joe Biden's Secret## Service detail gave him away as people lined up# to take pictures with the nation's 46th president.

Mr.

Biden was flying to South Carolina for an# event.

The flight was delayed by fog.

Once on## board, the former president greeted his# fellow passengers as they filed past.

His## seatmate only realized who he was when she sat# down.

She told a reporter she felt like she was## about to cry as she shook hands with the former# president.

The two chatted throughout the flight.

And we have a passing of note from the world of# music.

Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka has died.## Known for his hits, including "Breaking# Up Is Hard to Do," "Calendar Girl," and## "Oh!

Carol," Sedaka's work was a staple# of radio stations in the '60s and '70s.

A Brooklyn native, Sedaka initially pursued# classical music, but as a teenager fell in love## with the pop songs of the era.

He went on to forge# a six-decade career in the business, racking up## hits and five Grammy nominations.

Luminaries like# Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra covered his work, And Sedaka continued performing# well into his 80s.

His family## said they are devastated by his sudden# passing.

Neil Sedaka was 86 years old.

Still to come on the "News Hour": Paramount# outbids Netflix, paving the way to take over## the Warner Bros.

media giant; a leading# A.I.

firm pushes back on the Pentagon,## why the tech company refuses# to remove safety guardrails;## and David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart# weigh in on the week's political headlines.

The standoff between the artificial# intelligence firm Anthropic and the U.S.## government escalated sharply today.

President# Trump lashed out at the company's leadership## and directed all federal agencies to# stop using Anthropic's products.

And## the Pentagon designated the company a# supply chain risk to national security.

William Brangham joins us# now with more -- William.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: That's right, Geoff.

Anthropic had long said that it didn't want the# U.S.

military usin.. fully autonomous weapons systems or for any mass# surveillance of American citizens.

Negotiations## were ongoing this week, but the president's# order seems to have brought them to an end.

The Pentagon's designation would bar# any company that does business with## the Department of War from doing any# commercial business with Anthropic.

For more on what this could mean, we are# joined by the University of Pennsylvania's## Michael Horowitz.

He previously# worked in the Defense Department,## where he wrote the Pentagon's policy on# artificial intelligence weapons systems.

Michael Horowitz, so good to have you here.

I wonder if you could just give me your first --# your reaction to this, to the president saying,## we are wiping Anthropic completely out# of the federal government and that any## Pentagon contractor that also has dealings# with Anthropic has to stop those as well.

MICHAEL HOROWITZ, Former Defense# Department Official: What a day.

I think that the -- my initial thought, frankly,# .. seemed like a needless dispute between Anthropic# and the Pentagon has hit crisis proportions.

I say needless dispute because Anthropic# was the first of the frontier A.I.

labs## willing to work with the Defense --# willing to work with the Pentagon in## a classified environment.

And all of# the projects that the Pentagon has## asked the Anthropic to work in,# Anthropic was happy to work on.

This was a theoretical dispute about future# possibilities that between -- between Anthropic## and the Pentagon that has now really escalated.# The president's order, in combination with the## order from Secretary Hegseth, could not just# be devastating to the Pentagon's ability to## use Anthropic's technology, but could be# devastating to Anthropic's core business,## depending on how it's interpreted by the# markets and whether Anthropic is able to## get -- I'm not a lawyer, but Anthropic is able# to get a stay of the supply chain designation.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: What does this do to# America's ability to keep up a robust defense?

I mean, Anthropic was already being# used in many parts of the Pentagon,## according to reports.

So, now# if the president is saying,## get it all out of there, what does that# do to our ability to maintain a defense?

MICHAEL HOROWITZ: Anthropic's technology# wasn't just being used in parts of the## Pentagon.

It was being used in other# parts of the government as well.

So this could be pretty devastating in some ways.## The only thing that mediates that is the# six-month time period that appears both## in the president's announcement and in the# supply chain designation by Secretary Hegseth.

If you wanted to be an optimist about the# chances that the two sides will come to a deal,## the optimistic read would be, in some ways,## this sets a six-month clock for negotiations# between Anthropic and the government.

But## that -- you have got to squint real hard# in some ways to see that optimistic read.

And the winner, in some ways, if Anthropic# and the Pentagon can't make it work, frankly,## is China, because the -- in a world where there's# been intense A.I.

competition between the United## States and China, and that includes the military# realm, it should be all hands on deck for the## American frontier A.I.

labs to work with the# Pentagon to improve American national defense.

And Anthropic's have been willing to do# that.

Over a six-to nine-month period,## then you would imagine some of the other# A.I.

labs will try to cycle in and pick## up some of that business if nothing can# be done.

Note that Elon Musk's xAI has## already stepped up to the plate and# said last week that they were willing## to now work in the classified environment# with the Pentagon on defense challenges.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: That's right.# It's hard to imagine that there's## not a whole slew of other companies# willing to step into the breach there.

I want to ask you about this request, though,# that Anthropic was making.

They were saying,## we're happy for you to use our product,# except in these two instances.

And I wonder## what you make of that request.

It's hard# to think of another defense contractor,## a Northrop Grumman, saying, we will sell you# jets, but you can only use them in certain ways.

MICHAEL HOROWITZ: Absolutely.

I mean, this was what really escalated the# dispute .. was Anthropic's insistence that their technology# not be used for mass surveillance or autonomous## weapon systems, although, to be clear,# this did not bother the Pentagon when## Anthropic -- when they signed the original# contract with Anthropic less than a year ago.

This is something that really escalated# after Anthropic asked Palantir,## actually another leading technology company,# about whether Anthropic's technology was used## in the Maduro raid in January, where some -- where# Palantir's Maven Smart System technology was used,## and that platform incorporates# some of Anthropic's technology.

And so we were off to the races from there.

In# some ways, this is a dispute about personalities## and about the role of government masquerading as# a policy dispute, because, in a normal atmosphere,## Anthropic would decide they want to# work on some issues for the Pentagon,## but not other issues, and the Pentagon# would hire Anthropic to work on some things,## but not other things.

It would find other vendors.

But this escalated to the point where the# department was threatening to either compel## them with the Defense Production Act or# impose that supply chain designation.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: As you said, what a day.

Michael Horowitz from the University of# Pennsylvania, thank you so muc.. MICHAEL HOROWITZ: Thanks for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT:## Paramount and Warner Bros.

Discovery reportedly# signed an agreement today on a $110 billion deal,## a merger that will make Paramount one of# the largest media empires in the world.

It happened after a dramatic turn of events and# after Netflix walked away from its proposal to buy## out Warner Bros.

Paramount could now control two# key movie studios, multiple streaming platforms,## major intellectual property brands,# along with television and cable channels,## and two of the biggest news operations# on television.

That's CBS and CNN.

But this isn't a done deal yet, as it's now under# investigation and awaiting regulatory approval.

For more on all of this, we're joined now by Roben# Farzad, host of public radio's "Full Disclosure."

It's always great to see you, Roben.

ROBEN FARZAD, Host, "Full# Disclosure": Thank you, Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: So we will ge.. but on the specifics of the deal itself,# when Netflix said that this offer was no## longer attractive, what was that really# about?

Was it just about the price or## deeper concerns about taking on Warner# Bros.'

debt and its market exposure?

ROBEN FARZAD: I think Netflix got every# signal from this White House and the FCC## and Donald Trump being explicit in# both with background persuasion that## by far he prefers Paramount and# the Ellisons taking this over.

He's obviously cast aspersions on CNN,# which is a small part of the economics of## the broader Warner Bros.

Discovery franchise,# but it's a lightning rod for him.

And he'd## like to see CNN under new ownership, ideally# friendly to the persuasions of Donald Trump.

GEOFF BENNETT: So this wasn't# about the offer price.

It was## about Trump putting his thumb on a scale.

ROBEN FARZAD: Yes, because Netflix# has so much money.

And, by the way,## this ceased to be uneconomic a# while ago, like a bidding war.

And it's happened in the history of LBOs and# massive mergers and acquisitions.

Indeed,## Warner Bros.

Discovery itself is like -- they say## there's something about Mary.# There's something about Warner.

For 25, 26 years, everybody has been mega-merging,# acquiring, stripping, flipping it off to other## people.

It was AOL.

It was AT&T.

It was AT&T,# this Discovery disaster, and now it's being## sold off to another multibillionaire.

It's# been certainly an ill-starred asset to own.

GEOFF BENNETT: So what does# Paramount get by acquiring it?

ROBEN FARZAD: You get this Holy# Grail of a mega streaming app,## right?

Paramount+ or whatever it# is, and it's predecessors' app,## Showtime and the other things, they're# known as the kind of the third-tier apps.

But if you smash HBO Max or whatever# they're going to call it into this,## think about "Game of Thrones," "Sex and the# city," "The Sopranos," that superior I.P.,## you suddenly have a value proposition vis-a-vis# a Netflix or an Amazon or an Apple to say, hey,## we're big players, we deserve your 25 or 30 bucks# a month.

You should cancel the other players.

So this is something that Disney is# currently duking out.

It had acquired## massive FOX assets.

Amazon and Apple obviously# have unlimited amounts to play in this, Google,## which owns YouTube.

It's a whole different# Hollywood than it was just even 10 years ago.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Ellisons' close# proximity to President Trump drawing## scrutiny, could that relationship# shape the regulatory process?

ROBEN FARZAD: I think it could, in that every# indication has been that it's going to get## smooth sailing, right?

The FCC is OK with it.

You saw what the acquisition of Paramount and# maybe kind of the hush money paid out, what it## was for CBS News.

And there are potentially some# scalps that are going to have to be delivered in## this with CNN.

There's fear there.

Again, CNN by# itself is hugely profitable.

It's diminishing,## but its competitive bogey right now is The# New York Times.

It's not these other issues.

It's not this bottleneck of leadership# or ownership or big tech money coming in.## The bigger perception is that this was done for# political reasons, to fast-track the acquisition## of much more important and profitable# film and studio and streaming assets.

GEOFF BENNETT: And what does it mean that## one family potentially could own# so m.. ROBEN FARZAD: And to say nothing else of TikTok,## which Larry Ellison and# Oracle control 15 percent of.

GEOFF BENNETT: Right.

ROBEN FARZAD: We.. about Elon Musk coming in and making# an uneconomic acquisition of Twitter,## did it matter in the end?

Did it bankrupt him?# He might have a trillion-dollar SpaceX IPO.

Washington Post and Jeff Bezos, was $250 million# supposed to be meaningful to a person maybe worth## $200 billion?

He still gutted that.

It's# a really treacherous time.

As you see with## the stewardship of the Ellisons and CBS# News, they're willing to cut where others## didn't cut before.

And there's going to be# no shortage of debt and cost saving synergy## expenses in this and a tremendous amount# of fear and loathing in Hollywood, in CNN.

It's just been a pretty lost decade# for all of media and entertainment.

GEOFF BENNETT: Roben Farzad,# always good to speak with you.

ROBEN FARZAD: My pleasure.

GEOFF BENNETT:## For months now, ICE has been quietly buying# industrial warehouses around the country,## reportedly with plans to turn# them into a network of immigration## detention and processing centers to# hold tens of thousands of detainees.

Our White House correspondent, Liz Landers,# begins our coverage with a look into how the## national and at times local controversy is# playing out in one small Maryland community.

LIZ LANDERS: A national controversy lands on the## agenda of a small Maryland city during# an otherwise mundane weekly meeting.

The Hagerstown City Council and mayor# represent about 45,000 residents, but## the broader community is bracing for the arrival# of as many as 1,500 mostly undocumented migrants.

This huge warehouse right here was# recently purchased by Immigration and## Customs Enforcement as a detention facility.# This is more than 800,000 square feet, and,## if it opens, it could be one of the largest# detention facilities of its kind in the country.

During a couple of visits over a week, we saw# anti-ICE vandalism, but no visible signs of## ICE itself.

We ran into Doris Keil-Shamieh# and her husband, Greg, as we left the site.

DORIS KEIL-SHAMIEH, Maryland Resident: The# administration is ruining this country,## and it's tearing apart communities,## tearing apart communities that we need.

And# they're good people.

This has got to stop.

LIZ LANDERS: Locally, the facility# will be primarily regulated by the## Washington County Board of Commissioners.

MAN: All in favor by saying aye.

MAN: Aye.

(BOOING) LIZ LANDERS: Protesters interrupted# their meeting earlier this month## shortly after the board unanimously# agreed to a resolution welcoming ICE.

MAN: Nobody ever expected it# to become a place of residence.

LIZ LANDERS: We listened last week# as the city's utility director## briefed the council on its limited, but# critical role governing the facility.

WOMAN: Our authority starts# and stops with the water.

LIZ LANDERS: In the audience, community members on# both sides of the national and now local debate.

ARTHUR LARUE, Hagerstown, Maryland,# Resident: I don't think it's a good## thing for Hagerstown if we get .. JANE PAGE THOMPSON, Hagerstown,# Maryland, Resident: I think it's## a great thing.

Hag.. the income per person.

Having this# facility will do that with jobs.

LIZ LANDERS: If there are people that are# being held in this facility who haven't broken## the law other than being in this country# illegally, are you OK with that happening?

JANE PAGE THOMPSON: I am engaged to a man who was## a political refugee from Bolivia who was# naturalized as an American citizen.

So,## for me, it's really personal that# people come to this country legally.

ARTHUR LARUE: With the things I have heard that# are going on in some of the other ICE facilities,## I definitely don't want that in my community.# I'd love to see the city do everything they## can to fight this.

Given our council and# our mayor, I'm not sure that they will.

LIZ LANDERS: ICE already spent $102 million# purchasing the warehouse.

The Department of## Homeland Security responded to our questions# with a statement touting its economic benefits## and reading in part -- quote -- "These will be# very well-structured detention facilities meeting## our regular detention standards.

Sites will# undergo community impact studies and a rigorous## due diligence process to make sure there is no# hardship on local utilities or infrastructure."

BILL MCINTIRE, Mayor of Hagerstown,# Maryland: We know who bought it,## but we don't know what is# actually going to ha.. LIZ LANDERS: Bill McIntire, Hagerstown's# nonpartisan mayor, notes that, while the city## does have limited authority over water and the new# facility will almost certainly need to secure a## greater allowance, he's not eager to pick a fight# between his small town and a giant federal agency.

BILL MCINTIRE: We have never denied water to# anyone, so if you do deny this, does the federal## government look at this as a political move# and are we opening ourselves up to litigation?

LIZ LANDERS: Earlier this week, Maryland's# attorney general sued the Department of Homeland## Security and ICE, saying that the administration# failed to conduct an environmental review or seek## public input or provide explanation for# the purchase, which is required by law.

Joining us now is Douglas MacMillan,## a reporter for The Washington Post who's done# extensive reporting about these ICE facilities.

Thank you for joining us.

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN, The Washington# .. LIZ LANDERS: Let's start with# the .. Can you give us an idea of ICE's efforts to## create this system of detention# centers throughout the country?

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN: Yes, so they're# going all around the country.

We're seeing this happen all the way from# all the way up in New Jersey, New Hampshire,## all the way down to Orlando and Florida, all# the way out West.

They're trying to build## places in Kansas and Oklahoma.

This# is all over the country.

They're## focusing on warehouses they can find# a little bit outside of large towns.

So we're finding these about 45 minutes to an# hour outside of large city centers.

And they're## trying to fix these near logistics hubs, where# it's easy to move people in and out of the city.## So we think that they want to -- they# have -- ICE officials have stated that## their objective is to make the system of# detention and deportation more efficient.

And the current acting director of ICE, Todd# Lyons, has actually compared his aspiration## to Amazon's system of moving packages.

He said,## we want to be able to move humans around the# country as efficiently as Amazon ships packages.

LIZ LANDERS: What's the overall cost of this?

How## much is the Department of Homeland# Security and ICE spending on this?

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN: So they're# projecting to spend $38 billion.

That involves buying the warehouses.

Many of# them cost around $100 million.

That involves## significant upgrades in retrofitting these# warehouses to basically turn what are empty,## vacant shells of buildings into a# kind of functioning detention center## with housing units, recreation areas,# kitchens, outside basketball courts.

They want to kind of, like, build# these out and spending a lot up to## $150 million for a single facility in some cases.

LIZ LANDERS: Many of these warehouses are# currently just massive empty buildings.

We saw## this one in Hagerstown.

And, apparently, there are# four toilets in this huge 800,000-square-foot-plus## facility.

What is the process going to look# like for making these habitable for people?

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN: Yes, I mean, these# places were built to hold goods and ship## goods.

They were not meant to hold human# beings.

So there's a pretty significant## renovation process that has to go under# way.

And ICE wants it done really rapidly.

So it's going to be a challenge.

For one# example, a lot of these are distribution## centers built for a company like Amazon# where a lot of trucks would have been## pulling up to these large bay doors.# And so many of these facilities have## dozens of bay doors around the perimeter# of the building.

That's not a very secure## feature if you want a detention center to hold# people who are not going to be able to escape.

So one of the first things they might have# to do is brick up all those bay doors.## Another thing that a lot of these facilities# have that is going to be a challenge is that## they are built on a thick concrete slab,# which is going to make it extra hard to## install plumbing and to install wiring# and to install kind of the workings of a## building that you're going to need when you're# talking about holding thousands of people.

So it's going to be a pretty complex job.

LIZ LANDERS: What's your reporting on# the timeline that ICE has for this?## How long is it going to take them to# be able to convert these warehouses?

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN: So it's really rapid.# They want this whole system of up to## 24 facilities to be up and running# by the end of the year essentially.

And we have heard internally there's been# a lot of debate over that time frame and## that even some companies that they have# worked with for many years like GEO Group## and CoreCivic, who are the two largest# detention contractors in the country,## that they have been pushing back and saying# that this timeline is too aggressive.

LIZ LANDERS: The administration has found some# of these warehouses that they have purchased## in areas that are Republican communities.# What has been the reaction in those places?

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN: Yes, so I spent time in# one of these facilities down in Social Circle,## Georgia.

It's a small town# 45 minutes east of Atlanta.

It's projected to be one of the first# mega-detention centers.

Like, they're going## to turn one of these warehouses and turn it into# a detention center holding up to 8,500 people.## The people there were really worried and scared# and nervous about what this means for their town.

A lot of them say that they support the president# and they voted for the president, and they## generally agree with his immigration agenda and# they agree that illegal immigrants should be## locked up and deported from the country, but that# they don't think that this makes sense for them.

LIZ LANDERS: And, just quickly,## how has the administration ha.. DOUGLAS MACMILLAN: So, very# different.

In some places,## they have just been completely quiet and# they have gone about their business just## simply buying the facilities and moving# forward with their plans to put these up,## not really kind of being any mind, giving# any mind to the protests and the pushback.

In other places, it sounds -- it seems like they# have acquiesced and they have actually come to## the table.

We have seen a few examples now.# Just this week, Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee## announced that ICE was canceling its plans# to host a detention center in her state in## Tennessee.

We have seen similar announcements from# state leaders in New Hampshire and Mississippi.

So it looks like that some Republican# leaders who have juice with DHS are## striking deals to get these facilities# not in their areas.

But in other places,## including many Democrat-led areas, there# isn't kind of that ability and that the DHS## has not really come to the table and# meaningfully engaged with the local community.

LIZ LANDERS: Doug MacMillan, thank you# so much for sharing your reporting.

DOUGLAS MACMILLAN: Thanks for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT:## President Trump is visiting Texas today, where# three of his supporters are battling it out in## that state Senate primary election# set for next week.

That's as the## president also considers military# action in Iran.

Lots to discuss.

And we turn now to the analysis# of Brooks and Capehart.

That's## with "The Atlantic"'s David Brooks# and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW.

It's good to see you both.

So, as we said, President Trump in Texas, where# three Republ.. Cornyn, they're locked in this competitive# GOP primary.

The president has yet to make## an endorsement.

The fact that he's inserting# himself early and forcefully in this race, does## that suggest that he's still the GOP kingmaker# or that he's trying to demonstrate that he is?

DAVID BROOKS: A little of both,# maybe a little more of the latter.

The Texas race to me is the most# interesting Senate race in both parties,## because it gets at the core debate right at the# middle of both parties.

On the Democratic side,## you have Jasmine Crockett, who's an aggressive,# progressive fighter.

And then you have James## Talarico, who is more moderate, is# trying to revive the religious left.

And so the argument on the Democratic side# is, do we want somebody who will just go to## the mat and take down these Republicans, or# do we want somebody who will be conciliatory## and win over people from the center?

And that# is the core debate in the Democratic Party.

On the Republican side, you have got Ken Paxton,# who has been scandal-plagued since nursery school.

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: And he's -- and# then you have got John Cornyn,## who is not the most exciting bulb in the# Senate, but a standard-issue Republican.

And so the Paxton race in particular,# and he will probably come out first,## but not -- but force a run-off -- shows# that there's still some juice if he does## really well in MAGA.

If he doesn't do really# well, and if Wesley Hunt or Cornyn do well,## then that's a sign the Republican# Party is beginning to move on.

GEOFF BENNETT: So, Jonathan, what stands out# to you in the Crockett v. Talarico matchup?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Well, look,# the one thing I will say is that,## no matter which candidate wins the Democratic# nomination, they will be infinitely better## than whomever the Republicans decide to# nominate.

So I will just put that out there.

But, in this race, the polls seem to be a# bit all over the place.

There was one poll## that came out from U.T.

Tyler that had# Congresswoman Crockett up by 12 points,## but the sample size is small.

And other# polls that I just took a look at have## state Representative Talarico up by single# digits, maybe six points, eight points.

I think both candidates are trying to win in two# different ways, but I think in two legitimate## ways.

Congresswoman Crockett, she is going for# disaffected voters, African American voters,## voters who may not have voted in previous# elections.

In a lot of ways, she's taking a page## out of Donald Trump's book, playbook, when he ran# in 2016, when he what I called fracking for votes.

He pulled people out who had not voted before.# That's who Congresswoman Crockett's trying to go## after.

But then state Representative Talarico,# he's going after more middle-of-the-road,## but really setting his sights on# disaffected Republican voters who## might not be too keen on what the president# is doing, and they might be gettable.

So, on Tuesday, I'm looking to# see which tactic actually won,## and whether they can win enough votes to# not be in a primary -- in a primary run-off.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, let's shift our# focus back to this previous Tuesday,## the State of the Union address.

David, was there anything# in that speech that stands## out to you as meaningfully changing the# landscape or President Trump's standing?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I mean,# the question I'm asking is,## has Trump -- is he losing the country?# A lot of people have been waiting since## 2016 for him to lose the country.

But# there's clearly some sign of slippage.

My colleague Ross Douthat issued a# video at The New York Times saying## he's losing the country and conservatives# have to adjust.

Is he losing the country,## or is this just another wish fulfillment# for people who don't like him?

I think there's evidence that he is, that# if you look at particularly at independents,## they have swung sharply away from him.# And then if you look at Republicans,## does -- there's a Pew Research, does# he -- does Donald Trump respect the## country's democratic values?

The number of# Republicans who say that is down sharply.

Should Republican members of Congress# feel obligated to support Donald Trump?## Sixty-one percent of Republicans say they# do not have any responsibility to support## Donald Trump.

These are all changing# numbers.

And so clearly there's a sense,## whether it's Minnesota, whether it's just# general mishegoss, which is Yiddish for crazy.

(LAUGHTER) GEOFF BENNETT: I'm familiar.

DAVID BROOKS: Just for the -- for Jona.. (LAUGHTER) JONATHAN CAPEHART: No, oh, I know.

Oh, come on.

DAVID BROOKS: No, Jonathan's a New Yorker.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: I know.

GEOFF BENNETT: Tha.. DAVID BROOKS: He.. (LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS: And so.. it's not going anywhere, but# it's getting demoralized.

GEOFF BENNETT: Yes.

Yes.

Jonathan, I will say the contrast in that# spee.. one way sounding like a conventional# policymaker talking about making tech## companies pay for their own electricity bills# because of the A.I.

plants that they operate,## and then, in the next breath, he# would be shading the Supreme Court## or calling Democrats crazy.

There was# governance and grievance side by side.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Geoff, I think you're being# charitable.

I had actually forgotten about what## he had said about A.I.

paying its own electricity# bills, because the rest of the speech was nothing## but a variety show where he trotted people out,# used them as prompts, handed out medals like PEZ.

Now, that's not to take away from the# people who got the medals.

They deserve## them.

They deserve to be celebrated by# the American people, but not like that,## not in the way that the president# did it.

And, also, I thought there## was a meanness to his address, and also the# dabbling in just the language of violence,## getting into just infinite detail about what# people went through, their horrors and the trauma.

I came away from the, was it 107 minutes of that# speech, just feeling worn down and wanting the## 107 minutes back and longing for the days of,# what, that long State of the Union address that## President Bill Clinton gave in the way, way back# that was just chockful of policy proposals and## ideas, to the point where Washington reporters# were like, my God, this guy is so boring.

I long for that kind of boring.

GEOFF BENNETT: In the time that remains,## I want to have you both weigh in on Warner# Bros.

Discovery reportedly agreeing to be## acquired by Paramount Skydance.

This is after# Netflix walked away from the negotiations.

And if the deal closes, it means that one family,# in this case, the family that has been so far## deferential to President Trump, would control# CBS, CNN, HBO, and TikTok.

How do you see it?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I have found media business# incredibly boring and pointless.

And I have## been able to do that because I worked at Dow# Jones, News Corp, New York Times, PBS.

I have## worked at all these agencies.

And the business# structure of the business had no effect on me.

There's never been a moment in my career where I# had the sense that somebody on the business side## of things was going to try to influence anything# I ever did.

But that seems to be changing.## And the malefactor here is Donald Trump.

Once# Trump starts playing political favorites among## whether it's Anthropic versus OpenAI or# whether it's Netflix versus paramount,## then, of course, the companies# have to be mindful of that.

And I'm a guy who -- I don't know Bari# Weiss particularly, but I support what## they're trying to do.

I think it's time to mix up# the media, that we got a little too progressive,## a little too elite, and if Bari Weiss can# change the mind-set, all power to her.

But if this is being done# for lobbying and business,## which it sure looks like it is, then that's the# real deterioration in the business we're in.

GEOFF BENNETT: How do you see it, Jonathan?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Well, I would argue that the# media isn't necessarily liberal, when you look at## the fact that the number one cable channel and the# number one viewing channel is FOX News Channel.

This idea that there are liberals# out there running around through## the media indoctrinating people and# changing -- setting the narrative,## I just think is wrong.

I think bringing# a FOX-like mentality and demeanor to CBS## News and potentially to CNN, I think in the# end makes the American people worse off.

Our job as journalists -- and I'm speaking# specifically of CNN in this case in this## deal.

Folks turn to CNN for news.

They# turn to them for just what is happening## in the country.

And if what's happening at# CBS is bound -- could happen at CNN, then## our country and our profession# will be in worse shape.

GEOFF BENNETT: David?

DAVID BROOKS: Well, the one reason# FOX exists is because all the other## mainstream networks don't have Trump supporters.

I do think we have made a mistake over decades# in shutting out working-class folks and in not## letting more Trump voices -- and it's hard to# get Trump voices on the air.

I understand that.## But if you tell half the country that your# voices aren't worth heard, they will rebel.

And that's a bit on us.

Trump is not to be# defended, but he's never completely wrong.

GEOFF BENNETT: David Brooks and# Jonathan Capehart, thank you both.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Thanks, Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: And now a# lighter story to end the week.

In a zoo outside Tokyo, one monkey# has pulled heartstrings around the## world after forming an unexpected friendship.

Stephanie Sy has the story.

STEPHANIE SY: It's a story# of rejection, vulnerability,## and the animal instinct for companionship.

It helps that the central character is an# terribly cute monkey, a seven-month-old## macaque in Japan's Ichikawa City Zoo named Punch.# Abandoned by his own mother shortly after birth,## zookeepers handed Punch a stuffed animal.

Never## mind that the orangutan is a different# species, he's hardly let go of it since.

KOSUKE SHIKANO, Zookeeper (through# translator): This soft toy has quite## long fur and several easy places to hold.# And it looks like a monkey.

We thought that## it looking like a monkey might help Punch# integrate back into the troop later on.

STEPHANIE SY: Watch as baby Punch# is dragged around like a chew toy,## escaping to the comfort of his# protector, using him for cover.

Videos like these have sparked an outpouring## of love and sympathy from the# more evolved primates among us.

WOMAN: Nobody wants to be a friend.

STEPHANIE SY: But he has plenty of friends# on TikTok.

#HangInTherePunch has gone viral.

The spectacle has drawn massive crowds to the zoo,# and there's a run on the stuffed animal at Ikea.

MIYU IGARASHI, Nurse (through translator):# He's become such an idol-like figure already,## so I hope he stays lively# and continues being an idol.

ALISON BEHIE, The Australian National University:# It's not by any means a replacement for a mother,## and it's not going to give the animal the# attachment that it sort of needs in order## to develop.

But it does give sort of an avenue to# retreat to that might in the moment reduce those## stress responses a little bit, allowing him to# feel a little bit less of that anxiety and stress.

STEPHANIE SY: Alison Behie is a primatology# expert at Australian National University.## She says the other monkeys' ornery# attitude toward Punch tracks.

ALISON BEHIE: Japanese macaques, they live in# very strict matrilineal dominance hierarchies,## which means there are dominant families and# there are subordinate families.

Dominant animals## show aggression.

Subordinate animals respond# appropriately with sort of a subordinate signal,## and then everyone stays happily# in their place in the hierarchy.

So while it does look like bullying, and# it looks quite confronting because it's an## infant and because their mother has rejected# or abandoned them, it is just a sort of a## normal part of a macaque society to have that# sort of aggression as normal social behavior.

STEPHANIE SY: But there are# reasons to hope.

More recently,## Punch seems to have made a breakthrough.# He's starting to make actual monkey friends## and taking cues from adult monkeys# on how to shelter from the rain.

ALISON BEHIE: It's actually really reassuring that# Punch is already sort of shown -- being groomed,## being integrated into the group's# structure, because it does suggest## that hopefully any potential negative impacts of# the abandonment will in fact sort of dissipate.

STEPHANIE SY: Zookeepers say Punch# is showing signs of resilience.

KOSUKE SHIKANO (through translator): It depends# on how Punch is confidence develops going## forward.

But, recently, he's been spending# less time with the stuffed toy day by day,## and he's interacting with the other# monkeys more.

If things carry on like this,## I think there will come a day when# he no longer needs his stuffed toy.

STEPHANIE SY: As cute as their relationship is,## they will know Punch is really OK when he# finally gives up his beloved surrogate.

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

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, be sure to tune into## "Washington Week" tonight, a look# at the growing calls for one of## President Trump's top Cabinet members to# testify about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

This week on "Horizons," our William Brangham## and his panel examine the risks and# rewards of having an A.I.

companion.

And coming up on "Compass Points" this# weekend, Nick Schifrin sits down with## President Trump's former envoy to Ukraine,# the retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg,## as the war starts its fifth year.# Here's part of that conversation.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You often argue that Russia is not# winning in Ukraine, and you recently said that## Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking# for a way out, but he can't psychologically## get there.

Why do you think Putin's looking# for a way out and what could that look like?

LT.

GEN.

KEITH KELLOGG (RET.

), Former Special# Envoy to Ukraine and Russia: Well, I think## when you look at just the sheer# numbers alone, f.. when I say he can't get his way out of it, he's# not winning.

And what I mean by not winning is,## he's really never gone beyond# the land he's got right now.

He's suffered between 1.2 and 1.4 million# casualties, dead and wounded.

So I think## he's got himself to a problem where he can't# really get out based on the losses he's taken,## the equipment he's taken, and he's driven himself# to be a regional power, not a full power.

So I## think he does want to become a Nicholas II, the# last czar of Russia, where somebody shoots him.

But I think he's worried about the fact# that he's had those losses.

The people## haven't turned on him yet.

But if you keep# sustaining losses like that, eventually,## you're going to move into the area which we# call White Russia, which is west of the Urals.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Yes.

LT.

GEN.

KEITH KELLOGG (RET.

): And then# the people are going.. hey, what's going on here?

And you start to# see the military blogg.. what's going on and what's our strategy?

And I think they have reached a point after# four years of war where their frontline units## have been mauled.

They don't have the military# capacity to be able to continue the offensive## beyond where they have gone.

And it's sort of# like a trap.

And he's going to say, well, I have## got to get a victory.

If I don't get a victory,# somebody's going to probably try to eliminate me.

GEOFF BENNETT: A fascinating# conversation.

You can watch the## full discussion on "Compass Points" on your# local PBS station or on our YouTube page.

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

I'm Geoff Bennett.

For all of us here at the "PBS News Hour," thanks## for spending part of your evening# with us, and have a great weekend.