Transcripts For KQED PBS NewsHour 20170224

I mean, these kids need somebody. You cant just turn away and say, okay, its not my problem. Woodruff all that and more, on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. Xq institute. The ford foundation. Working with visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide. And with the ongoing support of these institutions and friends of the newshour. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff the spotlight was on President Trump today, as he took the stage at the annual conservative Political Action conference outside washington. He touted his agenda and called some news outlets the enemy of the people, before a crowd of activists who have at times viewed him with a skeptical eye. John yang reports from the conference. Our victory was a vicotry for our values. Reporter President Trump moved today to put his brand on the conservative movement, stressing his populist, nationalist vision of america first. There is no such thing as a global anthem, a global currency, or a global flag. This is the United States of america that im representing. Im not representing the globe, im representing your country. Reporter speaking at the conservative Political Action conference or cpac in a packed hotel ballroom, the president said he is transforming the Republican Party. The g. O. P. Will be, from now on, the party also of the american worker. If you look at how much bigger our party has gotten during this cycle millions and millions of people were joining. I wont say it was because of me, but it was, okay . Reporter mr. Trump told the enthusiastic crowd he would soon sign a new temporary travel ban a Signature Campaign pledge replacing an executive order the federal courts put on hold. And in a matter of days we will be taking brand new action to protect our people and keep america safe. You will see the action. I will never, ever apologize for protecting the safety and security of the American People. I wont do it. Reporter while some Conference Attendees said they have reservations about another key trump policy opposition to multinational trade deals it doesnt dampen their support for the president. Everything he said, i agree with, you know . With the exception of maybe some of the trade stuff, so you know, i cant get 100 from him, cant get 100 from anyone, but, but overall, i was very pleased. Reporter others said mr. Trumps election is redefining the Republican Party. I think theres a lot of people that have the conservative values. I mean, they just havent come out of the closet. You know, they were kind of keeping low before, but theres a lot of people ive talked to that said theyve come out since trump won, you know, since the election. Reporter the president also devoted much of todays speech to a favorite topic lambasting what he calls the fake media. Im against the people that make up stories and make up sources. They shouldnt be allowed to use sources unless they use somebodys name. Reporter his latest target a cnn report that f. B. I. Officials refused the white houses request to knock down reports of alleged conversations between Trump Associates and russian intelligence officials during the 2016 campaign. Before this mornings speech, the president tweeted the f. B. I. Is totally unable to stop the National Security leakers that have permeated our government for a long time. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on u. S. This afternoon, the trump administrations relationship with the White House Press corps hit another stumbling block several news outlets, including the New York Times, cnn, and the los angeles times, were excluded from an informal, off camera briefing with press secretary sean spicer. Conservative News Organizations were allowed in. White house officials offered no immediate explanation. For the pbs newshour, im john yang, at cpac in oxon hill, maryland. Woodruff theres been much reaction late today to the decision to ban some Media Outlets from the briefing in the press secretarys office, often called a gaggle. Two prominent organizations, the Associated Press and time magazine, chose to boycott attending the briefing in solidarity with those News Organizations. Sally buzbee is the executive editor and Senior Vice President of the Associated Press. She joins me now. Sally, thank you for being here. Why did the a. P. Not attend that briefing . We think the public deserves as much access to the president and other governing officials as possible. When we find ourselves in a situation where National News organizations seem to be being deliberately excluded with, we k thats dangerous territory. Woodruff are these behaviors, rules different from Previous White House rules . There is always physical limitations on access. There is always compromises that we make and sort of concessions that are made for physical limitations and other things. I think when you get to the point where there are News Organization that seem to be being deliberately excluded, we think thats different. We felt today is different. Woodruff that hasnt happened before, to your knowledge . I cant speak for all of history. In the access fight we have been engaged in for many decades, this felt very different today. Woodruff for those who dont know the news media, whats the problem for the press if the white house says well talk the some News Organizations and not to others . Obviously the white house has the right to do what it wants, and in situations where there might be individual reporters that makes sense to talk to if its economic news, but this was a general briefing where they are talking about issues that cover a wide range of topics, and i think the thing that the public should think about is, if there start to be exclusions and favorites picked and things like that, essentially all access in the end is probably going to suffer. Woodruff sally buzbee, i want to ask you about something the president said in his speech at the conservative conference. He talked about was critical of the news media. He said some reporters make up news and they make up sources. He went on to say reporters should not use sources unless they name those sources. I want to ask you about that in context. Say for a story that ran late today by the a. P. , an internal report done by the department of homeland security, saying there was insufficient evidence to show that citizens from the seven muslim majority countries named in the president s travel ban pose a Terror Threat to the u. S. Now, your organization ran that story late today. There were no named sources. So is this a story you stand by and how do you explain this to people . Absolutely we stand by that story, we think its an important story. Reporters attempt at all times to talk to them with their names attached because that obviously is the gold standard. If there is information that you cannot get any other way and you know that its factual information, not spin, but someone is in a position to know what theyre talking about, we think that information is critically important and the public needs to know about it. Its actually very difficult to get the government to tell you what theyre doing. We fight for information and facts every day. We have for decades. Its really a struggle to get factual information ability what the government is doing. It really is our mission to find out what the government is doing, the thoughts theyre having, the decisions theyre mull i didnt think, and express that mulleying and impress that to the public and thats why we use anonymous sources. We dont like it but sometimes thats the only way to get facts to the public. Woodruff does the a. P. Have a plan of what to do if President Trump continues to be as tough as me is on the news media right now, talking about fake news, saying reporters are making up stories and sources . I think we think a fight between the government and any Government Official and the media is unfortunate because we think people should be focused on the the actual factual things that are going on. I will say that we are going to do what we always do, which is we are going to fight like mad to find out whats going on in terms of facts, and we are going to report that to the public and we are going to do that every sinkle day and we are not going to stop. Thats our plan. Woodruff sally buzbee, executive editor of the Associated Press. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Woodruff in the days other news, at least 68 people are dead, after a pair of Islamic State bombings in syria. They happened near the northern town of albab, which turkish and syrian fighters retook from isis just yesterday. In one attack, a suicide car bomb exploded outside a security checkpoint. Most of the dead were civilians, who were lined up for permits to return home. Iraqs air force struck Islamic State targets in syria for the first time today. Warplanes hit two towns, in response to recent isisclaimed bombings in baghdad. Iraqi forces are also battling isis back in their own country. Troops pushed into the first neighborhood of western mosul, as part of a nowsixday offensive. The u. N. Says about 750,000 civilians are trapped in the area. Malaysian toxicologists have now determined that a chemical weapon was used to assassinate north Korean Leader kim jong uns halfbrother. He was attacked at a crowded airport in kuala lumpur. Margaret warner has our report. Reporter its the latest stunning twist in a murder case already brimming with mystery. Malaysian police now say kim jongnam, estranged half brother of north Korean Leader kim jong un, was killed by the deadly nerve agent v. X. Two female assailants, caught on surveillance cameras, allegedly rubbed the poison on kims face in an airport, two weeks ago. Theyre both under arrest, along with several North Koreans living in malaysia. translated the chemical is illegal. It is a chemical weapon. We are investigating how it entered the country. Reporter the discovery of the nerve agent has deepened speculation that the north korean regime was behind the apparent hit a charge pyongyang has denied. According to the centers for disease control, v. X. Is among the most potent nerve agents in the world. It is odorless, and tasteless; tiny amounts can kill in minutes. Producing it requires sophisticated equipment. Experts say that points to north korea, which has reportedly stockpiled the chemical. Jean lee is the former Pyongyang Bureau chief of the Associated Press. She spoke to us via skype from seoul. The other thing that it obviously confirms to us, if it indeed is the work of the North Koreans, is that they are making chemical weapons and that they are willing to use them reporter malaysian authorities said they began to suspect v. X. Was used after one of the attackers fell ill. So who was their target . Kim jongnam was the eldest son of former north Korean Leader kim jongil, and once considered his heir apparent. But after he was caught trying to enter japan illegally in 2001 reportedly to visit disneyland he fell out of favor. His halfbrother kim jongun ascended to power when their father died in 2011. Kim jongnam had been living in exile. Jean lee says the young north Korean Leader might have seen his halfbrother as a threat to his legitimacy perhaps he was angry that his halfbrother had been speaking out against the regime. This of course is illegal under north korean law. And it could have been a strong message that he was sending to North Koreans overseas, including his brother, including defectors. Reporter the younger kim has purged relatives within north korea in the past. He had his uncle executed in 2013. Malaysian Officials Say they will decontaminate the airport to eliminate any residual trace of the nerve toxin. For the pbs newshour, im margaret warner. Woodruff so far, there have been no reports of any innocent bystanders in the airport falling ill. Back in this country, the f. B. I. Is investigating a possible hate crime, following a shooting in kansas this week. 51yearold Adam Purinton has been charged with killing an Indian American engineer wednesday night. A second Indian American man was wounded. Purintan is accused of opening fire at a bar outside kansas city. A bartender said he used racial slurs. Today, the victims brother called on Indian Officials to act. Government should voice out this strongly because our brothers, sisters and our relatives are there. And if you really look into this incident, this is not done by a teenager or a burglar, or Something Like that. Woodruff after the shooting, purinton was found and arrested in missouri. Today he was extradited back to kansas. And, stocks edged higher on wall street today. The Dow Jones Industrial average gained 11 points to close at 20,821. The nasdaq rose nearly ten, and the s p 500 added three. For the week, the dow gained a percent. Both the nasdaq and the s p 500 added a fraction of a percent. Still to come on the newshour a look at the future of the Democratic Party; Grassroots Efforts to derail the trump agenda find inspiration in tea party tactics; mark shields and david brooks take on the weeks news, and much more. Woodruff novembers president ial defeat, along with years of losses in congress, governors mansions and statehouses have left the Democratic Party with less power at the federal and state level than it has had in more than 80 years. As the Democratic National committee prepares to elect its new leader this weekend, we want to assess the state of the party, with jaime harrison, the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and, until yesterday, a contender for the job himself; and Symone Sanders, shes a political strategist for priorities u. S. A. And former National Press secretary for senator Bernie Sanders president ial campaign. And we welcome both of you to the newshour. Im going to start with you, jaime harrison. What should the message of the Democratic Party be right now . Well, hopefully tomorrow, judy, the message is a unified one. We really need to have a chair right now to help lead the resistance, to push back against donald trump and the rabber rab rubbing stamping Republican Congress we have right now. We have seen unprecedented things over the course of the past few weeks. The first time in the history of this country a Vice President had to pass a tiebreaking note for a nominee h. For the first time we have someone like Jeff Sessions in the Justice Department leading that effort. An Antisemite Steve Bannon in the white house with the president s ear. Time and time again weve had these issues with this administration. The democratic message is enough is enough. It is time to really put america back on the right track and that means eventually getting rid of donald trump and the Republican Congress. Woodruff that is mostly an antitrump message. Symone, is there a positive message for democrats . Definitely. I think there is tremendous opportunity for democrats now. You can see in the streets across the country, whether its the airports, whether the womens march, town halls during this recess, people, democrats, republicans, independents, are standing up and saying they want to hold elected officials accountable and they care about the issues. So democrats need to focus on the overall message of explaining who we are as drnlings what does it mean to be a progressive and now democrats will fight for the American People. I believe we have to beat back donald trump, but we did that during the general. Priorities, their role with you to make donald trump unpopular and they succeeded but we know Hillary Clinton is now not the 45th president of the United States. So folks want to hear more than the other guy is bad, they want to know what democrats will do for them. Thats the challenge the party sees Going Forward. Woodruff looking forward to the results in november, whats more important for democrats, winning back working class white voters or to shore up Democratic Base among africanamericans, Labor Union Members and so forth . Judy, its not an either or thing. We need to work on and fight for working people in this country. The same issues that working class africanamericans, working class latinos, working class white people are dealing with, they are the same issues. They are all struggling to make sure they put food on the table, theyre all struggling to make sure there is a living wage so they can provide for their family, theyre all struggling in schools that are crumbling, driving on roads that are falling apart, and, so, if we can address all those issues, as symone said, if we can come up with what our message is and not only talk about that message but demonstrate that, i think we can make great inroads with the American People regardless of their ethnicity, their background or religion, and thats what has to be the focus over the course of the next few years. Woodruff cy mornings you agree its not either or, the democrats have to do both or is it time to turn focus toward more working class americans which some democrats say it is. I think its a false choice. For democrats who say its time to turn focus toward the White Working Class americans, they have to take a hard look at our message. Bernie sanders was successful because he talked about the issues, he talked about the fact folks want to know what youre going to do to put more money in my pockets, for more food on the table, keep kids safe and good schools and jobs. Folks in mcdowell county, West Virginia have the same issues and concerns as white urban folks in downtown chicago. That is where democrats need to go. This argument about whether we move to the coasts or we come to the middle, look, im from ohm harks nebraska, okay, and i dont think many people think about black people when you think of omaha, nebraska. But thats where we need to focus, the message, not necessarily the coast or the White Working Class. Woodruff we expect to know tomorrow who the party will choose as its new chair. Yesterday, jaime harrison, awrp candidate yourself, youve thrown yourself to tom perez, quickly tell us why. Listen, judy, i think the next chair has to one of the reasons i dropped out is, in the end of the day, i saw the votes were not there. You know, it would have been great to go on the floor and get a number of votes and, you know, based on our count, i was in third place at the time. But that wasnt for the best interest of this party. We need to have a very unified message coming out of the vote tomorrow that were all on the same page. So wrather than drag three and four and five ballots so it looks like the Democratic Party was divided and didnt know where we were going, there are two people in the race i want to win and ive respected an known both for a while now, but at the end of the day, i know the next chair has to be a builder, organizer, visionary and fighter and i thought tom perez fit that mold and thats why im supporting him. Woodruff Symone Sanders, youve not endorsed anyone for chair. Do you think any candidate is equally qualified to lead the Party Going Forward . Absolutely. I think the democrats are in great hands regardless of who wins tomorrow. Were going to have to come together and unify and each candidate for chair will have real work to do if elected democratic chair of the national committee. I and my peers across the country are poised to hold the next chair accountable fivment you boil down the democratic message to one sentence, jaime harrison, what is it . We are the party that believes in opportunity for all. Regardless of your background, reling, who you love, we believe you should have the ability to live in american dream. Woodruff Symone Sanders . I cosign that. We are a party for the people, by the people and all about the people. Woodruff well leave it there and watch for tomorrows votes. Thanks to both of you. Thank you. Woodruff members of congress have been on recess this week. Usually, that would mean a number of constituent town halls in their home districts. But fewer than 30 republicans are holding those meetings, as protests grow outside some district offices, and constituents rally inside the town halls that are scheduled. Our team traveled to one of them in northern new jersey, near new york city, to see the dynamics in play. Lisa desjardins reports from the garden state. Reporter fiveterm new jersey congressman Leonard Lance is about to hold his 41st town hall, but tonight, the mood feels different. He walks out to face more than a thousand people ready to let him hear it, and still scores more are protesting outside. Im very concerned with what trump is doing with our country, and what our congressman is allowing him to do. We should do something. We should change whats going on, and we should do it now. Thank you very much for choosing my lucky number. Reporter it is polite tension. Those at the microphones give their local hometowns and ask questions that strike deep into national territory. Again, i cant see the questioner, but that might not be too much of a problem. Why repeal . Why not reform the Affordable Care act . Reporter lance sometimes surprises the crowd by agreeing reporter but more often, he differs i dont believe the house ways and Means Committee should look at a private citizens tax returns. audience boos hes the president hes a Public Citizen reporter this fury has been building since the election, and it exploded across the country in the past Week Congress first week of recess in the trump presidency. In arkansas, senator tom cotton heard about the Affordable Care act. I can tell you three members of my family, including me, that would be dead; dead, and homeless, if it was not for Affordable Care act. Reporter in iowa for senator chuck grassley, immigration and religion i am a person from a muslim country, and i am a muslim. Who is going to save me here . Reporter for Senate Leader mitch mcconnell, at a luncheon, there was concern about miners. The last i heard, these coal jobs are not coming back, and now these people dont have the insurance they need because theyre poor reporter the outcry is in some liberalleaning areas, but also in places where the clear majority of voters is republican or moderate. Here in new jerseys 7th district, congressman lance is particularly on the radar because hes been seen as moderate in the past; and because Hillary Clinton narrowly won this district in november. National democrats are now targeting lances seat. And unless hes a check against President Trump, voters like these want their Republican Congressman out, too. Meet westfield 2020 an activist group only a few months old, today writing postcards to lawmakers. Most have never done anything like this before. That includes founders Marci Bandelli and lillian duggan, democrats and working moms who were casual acquaintances, and then, suddenly, allies. It was the election. After the election, the devastating election, lillian reached out to me. It just occurred to me that, you know, even though i was very sad, that we needed to do something. And i thought, people need to figure out how this happened and start organizing. Being from the new york and new jersey area, we know donald trump. Donald trump is a showman. Reporter theirs is one of nearly a dozen new antitrump groups in the Congressional District since the election. This one started on facebook, and is now more than 1,600 members strong. Its important that our representation in congress is thinks critically about what donald trump is doing, and is able to stand up to his policies. We never knew that this was in our community. We never knew the passion and the, these caring people, were here. Its really rescued us from this pit that were really in, and, and everybodys motivated. Reporter 200 miles away, from his living room in washington d. C. , ezra levin is trying to galvanize all that local motivation into a National Strategy for the left. The theory of change here is that Donald Trumps agenda doesnt depend on donald trump it depends on whether or not individual members of congress choose to rubber stamp that or resist it. Reporter hes executive director of indivisible, a Progressive Group with growing numbers of chapters and a borrowed game plan. The inspiration for the guide strategy and tactics is the tea party. They understood back in 2009 that they didnt have Agenda Setting power. They didnt have the house or the senate or the presidency. They had the power to respond and resist, and they did. Through going to town halls, through meeting with their members of congress in person. Reporter rutgers Political Science professor ross baker says the tea party comparison so far is only superficial. The real question is can it be sustained . The tea Party Managed to, managed to get that going and, and sustain it over a long period of time, because, i think, their focus was much more targeted on the Affordable Care act and, and subliminally, at least, on, on president obama personally. Reporter the longtime representative lance senses a new tone. I think there are loud voices at the moment across the country. Reporter a lot of folks mention the word anger. Do you think theres anger going on right now . I observed some anger, of i think thats definitely the case. And, i try never to be angry. Its much better to try to, to reason with people, listen to their concerns, and to have a constructive dialogue back and forth. Reporter on that much, his constituents agree. Im not angry. Im motivated. Were sort of, sort of like were, weve started a business, right . And at the same time weve started the business, were offering a product, which is activism, and i think camaraderie as well. Reporter this group stresses none of them is paid they buy their own stamps despite what the White House Press secretary has said about organizations like theirs. People are clearly upset, but there is a bit of professional protester, manufactured base in there. Reporter President Trump weighed in, tweeting the socalled angry crowds are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Back at the new jersey town hall, the volume rises in the final 30 minutes. I believe, when the president misstates the facts you mean when he lies boooooo. Reporter . With calls for lance to oppose the president. The congressman holds his own and tries to look ahead. He tells the crowd that to meet demand, hell hold another town hall saturday. Marci, watching quietly, is also making plans her group will be here, too. For the pbs newshour, im Lisa Desjardins in westfield, new jersey. Woodruff and, to the analysis of shields and brooks. Thats syndicated columnist mark shields, and New York Times columnist david brooks. Gentlemen, lets talk about this right now. Whatdeau see this what do you see this energy or emotion and anger, what does it mean coming at these republican town halls . First of all a shoutout for congressman lance for doing it and for a thoughtful interview with lisa having another town meeting because several of his colleagues have tucked tail and run and ducked it. So the energy, judy, is real. Theres no doubt about it. But i think ross baker put the point well, political philosopher and teacher, when he said i it isnt as focused. Its quite diffused. There are those who want to impeach donald trump. Donald trump, i hate to tell people who are concerned about it, is not going to be impeached. American people believe in giving somebody a fair chance. Hes a new president. There have been troubles, there have been problems, and the stock market just set ten days in a row of new records, whether because of him or in spite of him. So thats but the energy is real and the question is can it be focused, can it be disciplined, can it be sustained . Woodruff how do you answer all those questions . First of all, donald trump is not going to be impeached this month. Lets not close our possibilities. I want so say a couple of things. I do think whats happening is great and people are active and involved in the democratic process. The party thing is only apt in some ways. The activism of the town hauls looks Something Like it. But the tea party went after the Republican Party as their vehicle and parties is how you change history. Its fine to be an activist but if youre not putting up candidates, not political, not in your party your understand probably wont have longterm change, you will probably dissipate. Its tempting to remember the tea party had a peak and the Republican Party establishment beat it back down. Tapet fed into the philosophy donald trump embodies so they had a different view of how the world should be governed. They had a lot of things we didnt appreciate Going Forward for them as time went by. Woodruff it led to something. It led to republican takeover in 2010. Kevin mccarthy was open in going out and recruiting candidates who emerged from that move thive movement and the republicans of the house paid for it ever since because they cannot pass anything comprehensive or real because of the Freedom Caucus which is the child, the product, the prodigy to have the tea party. Woodruff but to both of you quickly, youre hearing some republicans and the white house saying a lot of this is orchestrated. Its been somebody sitting there sort of pulling the strings. Yeah. Woodruff how genuine is this . Its genuine. Judy, the argument of those who are being criticized anytime, the viects movement forward, the Antiwar Movement forward, is its always outside agitators doing it. The wall street journal had a good piece this is organic, its not organized, its real. Are there people nationally working on it . Sure. But people emerging from those districts when tom cotton hears a woman stand up in arkansas and said three members of my family would be dead but for aca include meg, and where do you get your insurance, senator . Theyre all going to be asked that. Its genuine. Nothing wrong with being organized. The changes in history tend to be organized. What the tea party also had was obamacare and the unpopularity of that, at least at the time, and whether there is something equally unpopular and equally galvanizing that is almost selfdestructive from the administration thats another factor, well wait and see. Woodruff meantime, we talked about it a few minutes ago on the show, democrats are about to choose a new party chair. Were talking about the message of the party. Do you hear a clear message coming from the democrats . Do you think it matters whether nay come together around any message now . Sure, it will, judy. But, no, i dont hear any clear, coherent message. When youre a party out of power, its the time to be a National Party chair. When the party holds the white house all political decisions are made in the white house and being a party chair youre just an artifact but off chance to make a difference. What the democrats have to do is recognize and accept the fact theyre the lowsest point since 1928 in the house of representatives and since 1925 in states. They have to start winning elections. That involves not just a great idea but recruiting candidates. Rahm emanuel, mayor of chicago, who gave obnoxiousness a new definition in his behavior and often in his dealings with the press had a good point, recruit veterans and recruit football players, business people. I think thats what the job of the new party chair has to be. To me, the fundamental thing well, i guess i see a lot of people debating this in the wrong way. A lot of the debate is should we go to the coast, the center, the left, the right, but trump is instructive here actually. You figure out what is the crucial issue facing the country right now, and for trump it was that the Global Economy and the International World order were failing regular people. So he said thats the crucial issue, im going to take a clear stand on that issue. He did, its internally consistent and he won with it. For the democrats, theyre trying to avoid having the sandersclinton debate over again. Clinton much more embracing the Global Economy and the International World over, sanders and warren much less so, and they have to figure out which side the party is on to have a clear message. I think this is one you probably cant straddle. Woodruff so when you her as we heard earlier, when they say, well, opportunity for all, youre saying its got to be more specific. Youve got to have Franklin Roosevelt set a pretty clear line, Ronald Reagan had a clear line, people who rescue parties. It subject have to be the same line as in the last 40 years because that clearly isnt working, but you have to have a clear line on capitalism, support it or opposed, International Order supported or proposal . Republicans have taken a very clear line. Democrats can have a different version of the hein or say, no, we are the party of International Peace and activism and were the party whos going to have a civilized capitalism. Two points, thats way above the Job Description and definition of a party chair. That will be fought out in the primaries in 2020, before that in 2018 as well. But Franklin Roosevelt also ran on a balanced budget in 1932, and the greatest president , certainly, of the 20t 20th century. So, you know, the idea that you lay out a predicate right now, donald trump has recreated the Republican Party in his image. We saw that at the cpac convention. That was a total surrender of the reagan era. Ronald reagan is gone, nothing but a decent memory. He stood up and said, you finally have a president , i am the future and what did he get . Hosannas and azazs and je jenuflection. A conservative movement has been an annex of the trump campaign. I disagree. Woodruff do you think the two are one . I dont know if forever but at this moment, for sure. Steve bannon went to the cpac this week and said there is a very important historical turning point, getting raid of the t. P. P. The Republican Party stood for that for as long as i have been alive. Then trump today, you know, buy american, buy american, antifree trade and got big cheers. Theyre waving russian flags, partly probably as a joke, but still the party has become an ethnic nationalist partiers and i dont think its just because they agree with trump on some things and not others, i do think over the last ten years a lot of republicans decided its not working, what the party believed in, free trade, open borders. They looked at basically the failed wars and said, oh, us being the policeman of the world is not working, so something really serious shifted in the minds of republicans and certainly others. Woodruff but arent there still republicans who say cpac doesnt represent me, that im not part of the conservative movement . Im a republican but im not there . Absolutely. This is a group that gave its president ial straw balance to ronde paul and rand paul so theyve abandoned the libertarian values and instincts to embrace trump. Judy, gone is any mention of american exceptionalism. I happen to believe that twice, three times in the 20t 20th century, the United States saved western democracy, both world wars and the cold war. Woodruff ary r were hearing about american first. America is the exception. American model, the American Values are something that end at the border, theyre something that are just for us, and the american responsibility is there is no mention of it. We have the clip earlier in the program of trump saying im not president of the globe, im president of the United States. Reagan would have never said that. Eisenhower would have never said that because he would have said, yes, im president of the United States but its in our interest to be securing world order. A citizen of the world. Nd the two are intricately linked. Its a different mindset. Important to cpac is they have always been an outsider, culture, protest style, a little rude than most republicans, and this goes back all the way to reagan, lee atwater, reagan strad gist, had no use for cpac because he thought they were wild and mature. So thats been a strain. Its interesting how identity politics and culture style politics blossomed. But they were always there in cpac. Woodruff we are careful about how we talk about President Trump and the news media because we think you can quickly get into a situation, mark, where you are looking at yourself and being a little too selfreferential. What i want to ask both of you quickly is is this something thats going to begin to define the press, the president s constantly, daily saying fake news, the press is dishonest, the press makes things up . Well, judy, hes moved from the enemy being barack obama, now fading is Hillary Clinton, and is no question hes chosen the enemy. I thought what steve bannon said yesterday was probably more chilling or nor threatening than anything the president says, i mean, because he said its a constant day. We have to defeat the press. President kennedy after the bay of pigs said of the New York Times, i wish you had written more and investigated mo because it may have saved the country the cataclysm of the bay of pigs. You know, thats the job of the press is to hold the lamp up, to investigate, to hold accountable, and denying access as sean spicer did today is the first step toward a dictatorship. Its both strategic to get peoples minds off other things, and to pick an internal enemy. Its part of his psychodynamics to cover his press coverage intensely, hes more interested in that than anything else. Will it tend to stick . I tend to think not, the fake media. Im sure marco and crooked hillary didnt think it would stick, these labels have a certain power and well see how it plays out. Woodruff we will see. David brooks, mark shields, thank you both. Thank you, judy. Woodruff now, the story of a good man on a quiet, and heartbreaking, mission, one that many people would never consider undertaking. He worked for years in obscurity, until recent notice brought this remarkable man, and his remarkable story, to light. From los angeles, special correspondent gayle ztemach lemmon brings us this profile. Reporter Mohamed Bzeek has become something of a local hero here in los angeles recently. I am not an angel. I am not a hero. Its just what we are supposed to do, as a human being, you know. Reporter in 1978, bzeek, then a former marathon runner, came to the u. S. From libya to study engineering. He met his wife here in the u. S. , and became a citizen in 1997. But today, he is a different kind of champion. His distinction he is the only Foster Parent in this city of four million, who cares solely for terminally ill children. What happens if you get sick . Father doesnt get sick day. Reporter it is not a glamorous job. You have to do it from your heart, really. If you do it for money, youre not going to stay long. Reporter over almost three decades, he and his wife cared for scores of children. Ten have died in his care. Most of the children hes taken recently are born with terminal illnesses. Sometimes they are abandoned, or born to parents with drug addiction. Once they enter the foster care system, the county works to connect them with Foster Parents like mohamed. The memories of the children, he says, still live with him every day. This is my kid who died with the cancer. He has a cancer. He died. They operate on him and they find the cancer separated all of his organs, so the doctor said, lets stitch him back, and said, theres nothing we can do for him. Reporter today, he lives with a sixyearold foster daughter born with microcephaly, a rare disorder in which a babys brain doesnt fully develop. She cannot see or hear; she responds only to touch. At seven weeks old, the county took her from her biological parents. They called bzeek, and he agreed to take her in. He also cares for his biological son, adam, who himself was born in 1997 with brittle bones, dwarfism and other physical challenges. Taking in critically ill children is a painful process he knows at the start, their time together will be short. I know its heartbreak. I know its a lot of work. I know its going to hurt me sometimes, you know, i feel sad. But in my opinion, we should help each other, you know. Reporter much of his dedication, he says, derives from his faith. Bzeek is a practicing muslim. And his story gained special notice recently, after President Trump issued an executive order seeking to bar immigrants from seven majoritymuslim nations, including his own home country of libya. Bzeek says he sees the negative stereotypes out there. But he is not deterred. As a muslim, i dont hate nobody. I love everybody. I respect everybody. Reporter his faith has continued to guide him through many heartbreaks. His wife passed away in 2015. After your wife died, did you ever think, this is actually too much for one person to do . Sometimes. But i know somebody who needs help. I will do it as long as i am healthy. Reporter now, he has a nurses aide that helps with care on weekdays from 8 00 to 4 00. But still, its a fulltime job, one he handles by himself every night and every weekend. With his foster daughters seizures happening more and more often, he usually sleeps near her, on the couch. Just in case. He says he hasnt had a day off since 2010. And the challenges have continued to mount. In november, the caregiver became the patient i find out in november i have colon cancer. And they told me they have to operate on you in december. I said, i talk with the surgeon, i said, doctor, i cant. You have to give me time, because i have a foster kid who is terminal and i have my son, he is handicapped. There is nobody for them, you know. Reporter did anyone go with you to the hospital . No. That was the scary part, you know. I felt about the kids whos been sick for the rest of their for if i am an adult, 62 years old, and i feel this feeling that i am scared, and nobody tells me its okay and it will be fine. This experience humbled me. Reporter theres so much heartbreak and yet you keep doing it. I mean, these kids need somebody. Reporter even if theres that much heartbreak. Even though my heart is breaking. To me, death is part of life, and im glad i help those kids go through this period of time, you know, and i helped him, i be with him, i comfort him, i loved him or her, and until he pass away, i am with him and make him feel he has a family and he has somebody who cares about him and loves him. Reporter that theyre not alone. No. Reporter bzeek underwent a successful cancer surgery in december, and treatment is ongoing. His story has received wide attention. That led to an Online Fundraising drive that has already raised over 200,000, which he says he will use for a new roof, air conditioning and maybe even a replacement for his 14yearold van. I was reading all of the comments people put on the internet. Really, i was crying because of their kindness and the nice words they said. Reporter and in the end, he says he has been humbled by just how much his story has brought out others heart and humanity. I cant describe the feeling, you know. I mean, you see how many nice people around us, but we dont see them because of this turmoil and this time, we dont see how many nice and kind people around us. Reporter do you think you see more of them now . Yes. There is always good in this world, you know. More than the bad, always. Thats what i believe. Reporter for the pbs newshour, im Gayle Tzemach lemmon, los angeles. Woodruff on the newshour online right now, a classic toy goes virtual. We look at the Science Behind the latest barbie toy a hologram, part of a new generation of techinspired playthings. All that and more is on our website, www. Pbs. Org newshour. Coming up later on Washington Week just one month into office, is the trump doctrine redefining what it means to be a republican . Get insight from the Washington Week panel, later tonight on your pbs station. On pbs newshour weekend saturday the Brexit Effect on Northern Ireland will it challenge two decades of peace . Nobody wants to return to the borders of the past. Reporter british Prime Minister theresa may has tried to assuage concerns by stating her preference for a frictionless border. But gerry adams, a towering figure among catholic republicans, and a key player in the peace process, isnt buying it. For 34 years, adams has led sinn fein, the Political Party historically tied to the irish republican army, which fought to separate Northern Ireland from the united kingdom, and from a British Government adams contends still doesnt have Northern Irelands best interests at heart. I dont think they give a fig about people here. I dont think they ever have. Woodruff thats tomorrow night, on pbs newshour weekend. And before we go tonight, we want to mark the passing of ward chamberlin. He was a longtime friend of the newshour, and served as president and c. E. O. Of our home tv station, weta, from 1975 until 1989. He was a strong voice for the importance of public media. And he will be missed. And thats the newshour for tonight. Im judy woodruff. Have a great weekend. Thank you and good night. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by bnsf railway. Xq institute. Supporting social entrepreneurs and their solutions to the worlds most pressing problems skollfoundation. Org. And the william and flora hewlett foundation, helping people build immeasurably better lives. And with the ongoing support of these institutions this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Captioning sponsored by newshour productions, llc captioned by Media Access Group at wgbh access. Wgbh. Org youre watching pbs. Toobin welcome to the program, im jeffrey toobin, filling in for charlie rose who i am pleased to report is very much on the mend. We begin this evening with new York State Attorney general eric schneiderman. I do see myself and other democratics ag in playing a leading role in several distinct ways. First of all, were in a position to fill in 23 the federal government retreats from its, what we believe to be its duties to enforce the law. If they dont want to enforce the civil rights laws aggressively they dismantle the and arent states can fill in that gap. Second. If they take inaction as with this ban on immigration that actually causes harm to the people we represent, he can want chal cant challenge them in court. Toobin we conclude with a conversation about povertiy, fill an threey and the