GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "News Hour" tonight: New economic data# show a slo.. but Americans remain concerned# about the cost of living.

GEOFF BENNETT: We fact-check the claims President# Trump made in his year-end White House address.

AMNA NAWAZ: And the United States announces# a multibillion-dollar weapons sale to Taiwan,## prompting condemnation from China.

BAO WEIZHONG, 99th Marine Brigade (through# translator): I think the Russia-Ukraine war is## a wake-up call for Taiwan.

Like Ukraine,# we have a powerful adversary nearby.

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

Inflation is showing fresh signs of cooling,# ticking up 2.7 percent year over year,## nearly half-a-point lower than many# economists had expected.

The new data## follows the release this week of# a long-delayed jobs report that## showed weak growth and the highest# unemployment rate in four years.

GEOFF BENNETT: Taken together, the numbers could# bolster the case for more rate cuts in 2026,## though, economists caution data# collection for both reports was## significantly affected by the government shutdown.

Last week, the Federal Reserve cut# interest rates for the third time in## four months, citing downside risks in the# employment market as its major concern.

For a perspective on the economy,# we're joined now by Austan Goolsbee,## president and CEO of the# Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Welcome back to the program.

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE, Former Chairman, Council of# Economic Advisers: Thank you for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: So let's start with today's## inflation report.

What stands# out to you in these numbers?

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE: Well, there's a lot to# like in the report that we saw today.

If you remember, because of the government# shutdown, we just literally went dark on## inflation data.

And what we saw right before# it went dark was a little bit disturbing.

There## were some categories of inflation that looked# like they were going up or not coming down.

This report today, what struck me overall is that# the headline numbers were much below where they## were expected, and that was pretty broad-based,# and it wasn't just concentrated in one freak## thing.

Now, one-month data is no months, as I# like to say, because there's a lot of variability,## and that's especially true when you're kind# of reaching down and pulling the bottle out.

We got to brush the dust off of it.

There are# imputations and things.

We would want to see## this sustained, but there was encouraging news,# the improvements that we saw in inflation today.

GEOFF BENNETT: Encouraging news.

For months now, the economy has# been sending.. inflation easing, but the labor market# showing real signs of weakness.

When## you step back and look big picture,# what concerns you the most right now?

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE: Well, what concerns# me the most is if we were to get## more readings like the ones we were# getting before the data turned off,## where both sides of the so-called dual# mandate for the Fed, which the law says,## when we set monetary policy, we're trying to# maximize employment and stabilize the prices.

If both sides are getting worse at the same# time, that's a very uncomfortable position for## the Central Bank to be in.

And that's where# we were, progress on inflation stalled out,## but the job market weakening slowly, showing# some stability, but weakening pretty steadily.## If we return to a circumstance like# that, that'd be the biggest concern.

The more we get readings like the price# readings that we got today on inflation,## the more confidence we would have.

Now,# look, we're on -- we could be on path## back to 2 percent.

And then, in my view,# rates could start going back down again## to some settling point that's below# where we are today by a fair amount.

GEOFF BENNETT: Yes.

So is there enough information# that would support cuts?

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE: I don't -- for me, one# month is not enough information, certainly.

But the more information you get, you# just want to have some assuredness that## we are on path back to 2 percent.

If we make# progress like this multiple months in a row,## that gives you that kind of confidence.

You# just want to be a little careful one month.

There were -- as I say, if you get down# into the weeds of these inflation readings,## there are a lot of imputations where they said,# well, we didn't have any information in October,## so let's assume it was zero kind# of thing.

You wouldn't want to rely## just on one month's number when# the number is noisy like that.

But as I describe it, there's a lot to# like in this inflation report.

Let's## get some more reports like that, and# then we will be feeling much better.

GEOFF BENNETT: Got it.

Bottom line, affordability remains Americans'.. prices are the single biggest issue for voters# across the political spectrum; 70 percent of## those people who were polled said that the# cost of living in their area is not affordable.

What realistically can the# Fed do to ease that burden?

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE: Seventy percent is a big number.# That matches out here in the heart of the Midwest,## the Seventh District of the Fed.

All# the businesspeople I'm talking to,## all the consumers that I'm talking to, they're# mentioning prices as a major component.

The nature of what does affordability# mean, there's some aspect of that that## has to do with incomes too, not just what# the price level is.

And all of those things## in the economy are mostly not under the# Fed's direct control or intervention.

You got to remember, the Fed is taking# the lead on economic stabilization.## We're trying to figure out, where are we in the# business cycle?

If there's danger of recession,## then we want to consider loosening to try to# ease those dangers.

If the economy looks like## it's overheating and inflation is getting# up too high, we're going to work on that.

But what we do is not directly# about long-run economic growth,## long-run incomes.

We're just trying to stabilize# inflation and get it back to 2 percent.

That's## what we have stated as our goal.

And we're# going to do that.

It's just been -- we have## been elevated for a long time now, and it's# not as easy as you would hope it would be.

GEOFF BENNETT: Austan Goolsbee, president and## CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of# Chicago, thanks again for your time.

AUSTAN GOOLSBEE: Yes, wonderful to see you again.

AMNA NAWAZ:## In the day's other headlines: Police# in North Carolina say retired NASCAR## driver Greg Biffle and his family# were among seven people killed when## their private jet crashed this# morning outside of Charlotte.

Officials say the Cessna C550 had tried# to land shortly after taking off from a## regional airport used by several NASCAR teams# and Fortune 500 companies.

Eyewitness video## captured the fiery crash and a large plume# of smoke.

The NTSB and FAA are investigating.

The "News Hour" spoke to Biffle# last year, when he used his own## flying experience to deliver supplies# to communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

GREG BIFFLE, Former NASCAR Driver: For me,## it's people helping people.

Our motto in this# country is, we.. And I had the opportunity in front of me to# help more people and bring awareness.

I would## expect someone to do that for me.

That's# why I want to do that for these folks.

AMNA NAWAZ: Biffle won more than 50# races across NASCAR's three circuits,## including 19 at the Cup Series# level.

He was 55 years old.

The U.S.

government has admitted to liability# in January's deadly air collision in Washington,## D.C.

In its official response to a lawsuit# from one of the victims' families, the Justice## Department said -- quote -- "The accident# could have been avoided" if the helicopter## pilot -- quote -- "had maintained visual# separation by seeing and avoiding the airliner."

Sixty-seven people were killed when an# Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into## an American Airlines plane as# it was coming in for a landing.## Today's filing opens the door for families to# seek damages in the deaths of their loved ones.

The White House announced today that# Washington, D.C.

's leading performing## arts center will bear the president's name# and be known as the Trump-Kennedy Center.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# I was surprised by it.

I was honored by it.

AMNA NAWAZ: This afternoon, Mr.

Trump spoke# about his reaction to the renaming.

He## handpicked the board and is himself chairman.# Members of the Kennedy family fired back.

Maria Shriver, who's the niece of John F. Kennedy,# wrote -- quote -- "It's beyond wild that he would## think adding his name in front of President# Kennedy's name is acceptable.

It is not."

And House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said## the board has no authority to rename# the center without legislative action.

The Democratic National Committee says it# won't issue its report on the party's poor## showing in last year's elections.

DNC Chair Ken# Martin says that dwelling on the past would be## a -- quote -- "distraction," adding that# Democrats are -- quote -- "already putting## our learnings into motion.

We're winning again,# even in places that haven't gone blue in decades."

The decision comes after Democrats# have enjoyed a string of recent wins## in special elections and off-year statewide# votes.

It also spares top figures like Joe## Biden and Kamala Harris from further# scrutiny of their failed campaigns.

New York has a new archbishop after# Pope Leo tapped 58-year-old Bishop## Ronald Hicks to serve the areas more# than two million Catholics.

Like Leo,## Hicks is from the Chicago area.

He will# replace the retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan,## who recently confirmed a $300 million plan# to compensate victims of sexual abuse.

Today, the outgoing Dolan introduced# Hicks at a press conference,## where he pledged continued -- quote --# "accountability, transparency and healing."

BISHOP RONALD HICKS, Archbishop-Designate# of New York: As a church, we can never## rest in our efforts to prevent abuse, to# protect children and to care for survivors.

AMNA NAWAZ: Hicks is widely seen as a# moderate whose style is similar to that## of the pope's.

He largely avoids political# matters, though last month he endorsed a## condemnation from his fellow bishops of the# Trump administration's immigration raids.

The Islamic State group today praised last# weekend's attack on a Hanukkah celebration## at Australia's Bondi Beach in which 15# people were killed.

The group called## the killings a -- quote -- "source of# pride," but did not claim responsibility.

This comes as the youngest victim, a 10-year-old# girl named Matilda, was laid to rest.

At a vigil## today, mourners sang the Australian folk tune# that shares her name in tribute to her and all## the victims of Sunday shooting.

Elsewhere,# a funeral was held for the oldest victim,## 87-year-old Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor# who died shielding his wife from gunfire.

In corporate news, TikTok has# signed a deal to sell its U.S.

unit,## meaning it can continue operating in this country.## That's according to a memo seen by the AP# and others.

It says that Oracle, Silver Lake,## and Abu Dhabi-based MGX would together# control about 45 percent of the new entity.

The sale would end years of efforts to force the# company's Chinese parent, ByteDance, to divest its## U.S.

business over national security concerns.# The deal is expected to close in January.

Meanwhile, the parent company of President Trump's# TRUTH Social platform says it's merging with a## privately held fusion power company.

They say the# combined company will be valued at more than $6## billion and will aim to provide the electricity# needed to power artificial intelligence.

Trump Media shares jumped more# than 40 percent on the news,## but they're still down sharply on the year.

Elsewhere on Wall Street, stocks ended# higher after that encouraging inflation## data.

The Dow Jones industrial leverage# posted a modest gain of about 65 points.## The Nasdaq jumped more than 300 points.# The S&P 500 also ended higher on the day.

And journalist Peter Arnett has died.# A high school dropout from New Zealand,## Arnett covered more than a dozen wars# over a four-decade career.

In 1966,## he won the Pulitzer Prize for his# reporting on the Vietnam War.

Later,## he was one of the few Western journalists to# stay behind after the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Arnett spoke to the "News Hour" about his decision# to stay while revisiting the country in 2015.

PETER ARNETT, Journalist: The reason I stayed# behind is that I'd been there at the beginning,## say, 1962, and I'd covered it throughout# those intervening years.

So I felt that## I just had to stay behind to see what would# happen to Saigon when the communists arrived.

AMNA NAWAZ: Arnett went on to join CNN,## where he won acclaim for his live updates# from Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War.

But his career was not without controversy.# He left CNN in 1999 after a flawed report## on a Vietnam War atrocity that# apparently never happened.

And## NBC later fired him after he said on# Iraqi state TV that the U.S.-led war## plan was failing.

He eventually# retired from reporting in 2014.

Arnett's family says he'd been suffering from# prostate cancer.

Peter Arnett was 91 years old.

Still to come on the "News Hour": President# Trump eases federal restrictions on marijuana;## the Trump administration's plans to cut funding## for hospitals that provide# transgender care for minors;## and the former ambassador to Venezuela weighs in# on the U.S.

blockade on sanctioned oil tankers.

GEOFF BENNETT: President Trump# addressed the nation last night## in a politically charged prime-time speech.

AMNA NAWAZ: In front of Christmas trees at# the White House, he blamed his predecessor,## Joe Biden, and the Democrats in general# for economic challenges and inflation.

Our White House correspondent,# Liz Landers, has this fact-check.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the# United States: Good evening, America.

LIZ LANDERS: As the first year of# his second term comes to a clos.. President Trump projected positivity.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: Over the past 11 months,## we have brought more positive change# to Washington than any administration## in American history.

There has never been# anything like it.

And I think most would agree.

LIZ LANDERS: The roughly 20-minute speech mostly# focused on the state of the economy, as new## polling shows Americans concerned about the price# of goods and souring on his handling of the issue.

In the latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll, 57# percent disapprove of the job he's doing on## the economy.

Just 36 percent of poll respondents# approve, a record low across both his terms.

Throughout the address, the president falsely# referred to inflation as a solved problem.

DONALD TRUMP: When I took office,# inflation was the worst in 48 years,## and some would say in the history of# our country.

Inflation has stopped,## wages are up, prices are# down, our nation is strong.

LIZ LANDERS: As we reported earlier# in the program, inflation has slowed,## but year-over-year inflation remains higher# than the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target.## Inflation was at a four-decade# high in 2022 under President Biden,## but had been higher at multiple points in the# 20th century, most recently around 1980 at## nearly 14 percent.

It had fallen to 3 percent# by the time Trump took office in January.

DONALD TRUMP: The last administration and their## allies in Congress brought in millions# and millions of migrants and gave them## taxpayer-funded housing while your# rent and housing costs skyrocketed.

LIZ LANDERS: The president repeatedly pointed# his finger at both the Biden administration## and immigrants for rising costs.

Deportations# have been a major piece of the second Trump## administration's agenda, at times receiving# criticism for using potentially illegal tactics.

There is no clear evidence# that immigration substantially## contributed to rising housing costs for citizens.

DONALD TRUMP: Democrat politicians also# sent the cost of groceries soaring,## but we are solving that too.

LIZ LANDERS: Consumer Price Index data# actually shows that more grocery items## have increased in price this year than decreased.

DONALD TRUMP: The price of eggs# is down 82 percent since March## and everything else is falling# rapidly, and it's not done yet,## but, boy, are we making progress.# Nobody can believe what's going on.

LIZ LANDERS: The wholesale price# of eggs has fallen more than## 82 percent, but retail prices have# fallen just 44 percent from March## to September.

And the Consumer Price# Index rose by 3 percent in September.

DONALD TRUMP: Gasoline is now under# $2.50 a gallon in much of the country.## In some states, it, by the# way, just hit $1.99 a gallon.

LIZ LANDERS: This is an exaggeration.# Estimates show that national gas prices## averaged closer to $2.90 per gallon,# and while some stations in certain## states have prices below $2, that's# including membership promotions.

DONALD TRUMP: I negotiated directly with# the drug companies and foreign nations,## which we're taking advantage of# our country for many decades,## to slash prices on drugs and# pharmaceuticals by as much as 400,## 500, and even 600 percent.

In other words,# your drug costs will be plummeting downward.

LIZ LANDERS: While costs for# some drugs may drop next year,## the price cuts the president talked# about are not mathematically possible.## A 100 percent cut would mean# prescription drugs would be free.

DONALD TRUMP: I have secured a record-breaking# $18 trillion of investment into the United States,## which means jobs, wage increases,# growth, factory openings and far## greater national security.

Much of this# success has been accomplished by tariffs.

LIZ LANDERS: President Trump's own# White House Press Office has tallied## half of that number in investments, $9.6# trillion.

But that includes many informal## pledges from foreign countries# and already announced projects.

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have# each pledged more than $1 trillion, but## that's more than their gross domestic products.# The president's speech included falsehoods and## hyperbole.

One of the only new initiatives he# announced was what he called a warrior dividend## for military service members.

But the money# comes from previously approved funds by Congress.

DONALD TRUMP: In honor of our# nation's founding in 1776,## we are sending every soldier $1,776.

Think of# that.

And the checks are already on the way.

LIZ LANDERS: He claimed that# tariffs and the Big Beautiful## Bill tax package will help pay for the dividends.

Senator Roger Wicker praised the move,# noting in a statement the $2.9 billion in## funding comes from the bill passed over# the summer.

It was allocated to offset## housing costs and cost of living increases# and meant to be doled out over two years,## instead of a lump payment.

But the funds# do not come directly from tariff revenue.

DONALD TRUMP: We're poised for an economic boom,# the likes of which the world has never seen.

LIZ LANDERS: The president ended his message# with defiance as he looked ahead to next year.

DONALD TRUMP: We are respected again# like we have never been respected before.

LIZ LANDERS: For the "PBS# News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, President Trump signed# an executive order today reclassifying the## federal status of marijuana, categorizing it as a# drug with less potential for harm and dependence.

GEOFF BENNETT: It's a major shift in policy that## could have wide-ranging effects# on cannabis use and research.

William Brangham joins us now with more.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: That's right.

For many years, .. meaning the government considered it dangerous# to use with no medical benefits.

Today's move## will slide marijuana down into Schedule III with# drugs like Tylenol with codeine and testosterone.

While this doesn't legalize marijuana, this shift# would allow for greater research about the drug,## which is something President Trump# touted during his announcement today.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: This# reclassification order will make it far easier## to conduct marijuana-related medical research,# allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers## and future treatments.

It's going to have# a tremendously positive impact, I believe.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So for# more on this policy shift,## we are joined again by Beau Kilmer.

He's# with the RAND Drug Policy Research Center.

Beau, thank you so much for being here again.

Let's walk through some of the impacts of this# shift, the first one being research.

We just heard## the president say this is going to open up the# floodgates for new scientific research.

Is that## true?

What kind of research will they be doing?# What kind of questions might scientists be asking?

BEAU KILMER, RAND Drug Policy Research Center:# Yes, well, so you can do research on Schedule I## drugs, but there's a lot of paperwork and# a lot of hoops you need to jump through.

So, traditionally, when you would move# from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug,## it would mean less bureaucracy to deal with, and# it should increase access to research.

However,## the Congressional Research Service put out a# report last year saying that, because of a law,## that they didn't think that rescheduling# cannabis was actually going to have that## much of an effect on research because of this# bill that had already been signed into law.

Now, look, on the margins, this could increase# access for research and maybe it will reduce## the stigma for some researchers.# But the bigger question I have is,## who's going to pay for the research?

Typically,# the National Institutes of Health would support## a lot of this research as trying to figure out the# benefits and the risks associated with cannabis.

And so the question is, will there --# will NIH continue to fund this research?## Will they prioritize it?

Will they put more# money into it?

That to me is the bigger question.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And what do you# think, any other major shifts this## categorization change might trigger?

BEAU KILMER: Oh, it's going to make## some cannabis companies a lot richer.

As part of the federal tax code,# there's a section called 280(e).

And## essentially what this -- which this part of the# code requires is that, if you are trafficking## in a Schedule I or a Schedule II drug, you# can't claim normal business exemptions on## your federal taxes.

And so that means there's# quite a burden for these cannabis companies.

But by moving cannabis from Schedule I to# Schedule III, that 280(e) part of the tax code## no longer applies.

So the cannabis companies# are going to be very happy with this shift.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: President Trump today said he# didn't want this to be seen as condoning the use## of marijuana, which he kept saying is bad, kids,# don't do it.

Do we know if that is true?

I mean,## we have had all these states legalizing# recreational marijuana.

Do we know,## is it a net benefit to society?

Are there# are there downstream health impacts?

BEAU KILMER: Yes.

I mean, we're still learning a lot about the# produc.. most of the health research that# goes on with respect to cannabis## isn't necessarily focused on the products# that you would get in the dispensaries.

So there are -- there's a lot of# research that still needs to be## done in terms of the potential# benefits, as well as the risks.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Do you have a sense as# to why this has taken so long?

I mean, drug## policy advocates have also argued for this for a# long time.

Many other administrations said they## would get to this, never did.

Are you surprised# it happened during the Trump administration?

BEAU KILMER: Well, look, I mean,## people have been debating reschedu.. But it was actually during the Biden# administration that they began to## make this move toward rescheduling.

And# there are two ways to reschedule drugs.## You can either pass legislation or you# could go through the executive agencies,## and it requires input from the Department of# Health and Human Services, as well as the DEA.

And so this process was started# during the Biden administration.## Health and Human Services put out this report.# And then the DEA put into the Federal Register## that they were going to be considering# this.

And then, based on that, there was,## I think, over 40,000 public comments, and# then there were supposed to be some hearings.

And then, in theory, after those hearings,# then the DEA would make a decision and then## put that into the Federal Register.

Well,# over the past couple of years, things got## really hung up with those hearings.

So it's not# entirely clear to me what's going to happen.

Are we going to skip those and just go# right to the DEA putting something into the## Federal Register about it being reclassified to# Schedule III, or will there be hearings, where## policymakers, as well as the public, will hear# more about the health implications of cannabis?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Is it your sense# that this change might prompt more## states to legalize recreational or medicinal use?

BEAU KILMER: I don't know.

I mean, we already# have about 40 states that allow cannabis to be## used for certain medical purposes.

And about half# the states have passed legalization for adult use.

Moving from Schedule I to Schedule III, the big# change there is, it -- to be a Schedule III drug,## it means that the federal government actually# recognizes that there's medical value.

Now,## whether or not that shift from I to# III is enough to kind of move public## sentiment enough to where you're going# to get more of these bills passed or## initiatives passed in different# states, I'm not entirely sure.

But this -- I mean, the thing to keep in mind# is that this isn't going to legalize what's## happening at the state level.

I mean, everything# you see with respect to medical legalization,## as well as adult use legalization, this# is still all illegal under federal law.

And just moving from Schedule I to Schedule# III doesn't necessarily make these things and## make any of this activity legal in# the eyes of the federal government.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is Beau# Kilmer at the RAND Drug Policy Research Center.

Beau, thank you so much for being here.

BEAU KILMER: Thanks for having me, William.

GEOFF BENNETT:## The Trump administration has approved the# largest single package of weapons sales## to Taiwan in U.S.

history.

Many of the systems# mirror those the U.S.

has supplied to Ukraine.

The move is part of a broader U.S.

effort# to help Taiwan, like Ukraine, deter and,## if necessary, defend itself against a far# larger neighbor.

Beijing has responded angrily.

Nick Schifrin reports.

NICK SCHIFRIN: In Taiwan, the military# prepares for war with American artillery## designed to sink Chinese invaders.

It's the very# same weapon the U.S.

provided Ukraine to target## Russian invaders.

Taiwan is ordering $4 billion# worth of this mobile artillery system, HIMARS,## and $4 billion worth of self-propelled# artillery also widespread in Ukraine.

Today's package also includes a billion# dollars worth of autonomous drones made## by U.S.

manufacturer Anduril.

For years, the# U.S.

has urged Taiwan to focus less on big,## expensive weapons systems that are# unlikely to survive a Chinese invasion,## and instead to fight like Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers used less expensive# mobile weapons like the Javelin to disable## Russian tanks.

After years of debate, Taiwan has# embraced the same weapons and idea of fighting## like a porcupine, making itself impossible or# fatal to swallow, including with the Javelin,## $375 million worth including in today's package.

BAO WEIZHONG, 99th Marine Brigade# (through translator): I think the## Russia-Ukraine war is a wake-up# call for Taiwan.

Like Ukraine,## we have a powerful adversary nearby.

That's# why we need more asymmetric weapons to## strengthen both our defense and ground forces# and counter a powerful air force such as China.

NICK SCHIFRIN: China's People's Liberation Army,# or PLA, has launched one of the fastest military## modernizations in world history.

The U.S.

says the# buildup is custom-designed to prevent U.S.

forces## to come to Taiwan's rescue, as demonstrated# in these propaganda videos, and to be able## to invade Taiwan by 2027, today's package of# weapons designed to stop this from happening.

BONNIE GLASER, German Marshall Fund: These# are weapons that will really prevent the PLA## or maybe even prevent Xi Jinping from making# a decision to send the PLA across the strait,## because they will impose very# high cost on an invading PLA.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Bonnie Glaser# is the Indo-Pacific program## managing director of the German Marshall Fund.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# It's a great honor to be with a friend of mine.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Glaser says there was no guarantee# President Trump would send Taiwan weapons,## when he's made clear he wants a deal with# Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

But the new## National Security Strategy declares# deterring a conflict over Taiwan,## ideally by preserving military# overmatch, is a priority.

BONNIE GLASER: Many people have suggested that# President Trump is softening his language toward## China, that he may be willing to use Taiwan as# a bargaining chip, and that he doesn't really## care very much about Taiwan's security.

But I# think that this language tells us otherwise.## He is not pursuing a more isolationist strategy# or pulling back from our commitment to Taiwan.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Which is exactly what angered# Beijing today, calling the weapons announcement## a violation of diplomatic agreements and an# attack on Chinese sovereignty and security.

GUO JIAKUN, Chinese Foreign Ministry# Spokesperson (through translator): The U.S.## side is already covering.. is China's core interest and the first# impassable red line in Sino-U.S.

relations.## No one should underestimate the firm will and# strong capability of the Chinese government## and people to defend its national# sovereignty and territorial integrity.

BONNIE GLASER: This is a bit# of a warning message.

However,## it is only rhetoric.

And this is the third# arms sale that has taken place since the## two leaders met.

And China's reaction# has been limited to tough rhetoric.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But the new head of# Taiwan's opposition party, Cheng Li-wun,## is worried about Chinese rhetoric, and# argues Taiwan should limit its defense## spending and says more weapons could provoke# the very war they're designed to avoid.

She## also recently told Deutsche Welle NATO# was to blame for the war in Ukraine.

CHENG LI-WUN, Chair, KMT (through translator):# Putin is a president-elected through democratic## votes.

You can't label him a dictator.

Pinning# that label on him is unreasonable and unfair.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But the Taiwanese government,# with the help of the Trump administration,## is trying to arm itself to avoid the# war that Ukraine has had to fight.

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

AMNA NAWAZ: The Trump administration# today took its most significant moves## yet in a wide-ranging effort to restrict# gender-affirming medical care for minors.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Department of Health and Human## Services unveiled a series of# actions meant to effectively## ban transition-related medical treatments# nationwide for those under the age of 18.

Stephanie Sy has more.

STEPHANIE SY: Geoff and Amna,# the moves announced today include## cutting off federal Medicare and Medicaid# funding from hospitals that provide those## treatments and prohibiting Medicaid# funding from paying for such care.

Here's what Secretary Kennedy had to say.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., U.S.

Health and# Human Services Secretary: This morning,## I signed a declaration.

.. treatment for children with gender# dysphoria.

These procedures fail to me## professionally recognize standards of care.# Medical professionals or entities providing## sex-rejecting procedures to children are out of# compliance with these standards of health care.

STEPHANIE SY: We will delve into those# controversial assertions in a moment,## but we should say that, before these policies# are enacted, there's a lengthy rulemaking## process that has to take place and groups such# as the ACLU are already threatening lawsuits.

To break some of this down, I'm# joined now by Selena Simmons-Duffin,## who covers health policy for NPR# and was at today's announcement.

Selena, thank you so much for joining us.

We know that about 45 percent of hospital# spending comes from Medicare and Medicaid,## so threatening to cut that off# would be existential, I imagine,## for most hospitals.

Even though these# are only proposed rule changes now,## are we going to see widespread stoppage# in this care?

What might the impact be?

SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN, NPR: Yes, I mean,# children's hospitals have been pioneers in## this treatment for transgender young people,## which can include puberty blockers, hormone# therapy.

Very rarely, it can include surgery.

But part of the reason why children's# hospitals are attractive to parents,## children who are considering this treatment,# is because they're interdisciplinary and they## have really high-quality teams,# that you can talk to therapists,## you can talk to psychiatrists, you can# really get that full spectrum of care.

And I think that if these rules are# enacted, this care will no longer## happen at hospitals across the country.

And# that includes in places where it is legal,## even though there are 25-plus states that# have banned the care at the state level.

STEPHANIE SY: Help us understand how unprecedented# it is to have the government tell hospitals## they won't have access to federal funding if# they provide a certain kind of medical care.

SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN: It# is extremely unprecedented.

This type of rule is called the condition# of participation.

And it's used to create## kind of a bare minimum of standards for# health and safety in hospitals normally,## so rules such as you must have a crash# cart available if you're providing care## for people in emergencies, you must have a# certain number of staff-to-patient ratio,## those kinds of things, very, very, very# basic, kind of the floor of health and safety.

And you could imagine that the same approach,# using conditions of participation, as you say,## this kind of existential tool# to -- over hospital budgets,## you could use it for any variety of care that any# health secretary now or in the future disfavors.

And we're talking about Robert F. Kennedy# Jr., the current health secretary,## who has talked skeptically about a host# of medical care that is regarded as the## standard of care and regarded as safe and# effective, from antidepressants to vaccines.## So it really opens up an enormous can of# worms if this -- these rules take effect## and are allowed to stand through the legal# challenges that will for sure be coming.

STEPHANIE SY: For all the talk of gold standard# science at the announcement today, there were a## few nonscientists who made declarative statements# dismissing gender dysphoria altogether.

I want to play what Jim O'Neill, deputy secretary# at HHS, who has no medical degree, had to say.

JIM O'NEILL, U.S.

Health and Human# Services Deputy Secretary: Men are men.## Men can never become women.

Women are# women.

Women can never become men.

(APPLAUSE) JIM O'NEILL: At the root of the evils we# face, such as the blurring of the lines## between sexes and radical social agendas,# is a hatred for nature as God designed it.

STEPHANIE SY: Both sides, Selena, of# the treatment debate claim to have## science on their side and accuse the# other side of acting ideologically,## in a way that harms children.

How# are we to separate the science## from ideology?

Is anything definitively# known about safe and effective treatment?

SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN: Well, I think you## can really hear ideology at play in# those stat.. I mean, he did not say that evidence doesn't# support the use of threat treatments among the## pediatric patients because they have these# side effects, et cetera, et cetera.

No,## he was saying men cannot become women, women# cannot become men.

He's speaking about adults.

And that is kind of the foundation of# understanding what it means to be transgender.## So there was that thread throughout the whole# event today that transgender people don't exist## in the world view that you were hearing from the# health officials in this Trump administration.

What you see in the materials from this HHS is# kind of a rejection of the premise that there## are people for whom there might be benefit# from this care.

And so I don't think that## there -- this is really a good-faith debate about# whether the care works or not or what the protocol## should be.

It's really kind of more of a bigger# picture conversation, like Jim O'Neill said,## about God and about gender and about sex# and what's changeable and what's not.

And so I do think that it is striking# that, even under immense pressure,## the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American# Medical Association, the Endocrine Society,## all of these organizations that are composed# of doctors that actually see these patients and## engage with this care don't agree and really# roundly reject this characterization and the## way that this administration and this health# department have been presenting the evidence.

STEPHANIE SY: That is Selena# Simmons-Duffin with NPR joining us.

Thank you.

SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN: You're welcome.

GEOFF BENNETT: Brazil's president said# today that his country is willing to help## prevent an armed confrontation# between the U.S.

and Venezuela.

The remarks come one day after the# Trump administration announced it## would block sanctioned oil tankers# traveling to and from Venezuela and## after weeks of escalating pressure# on the government of Nicolas Maduro.

Last night, we heard from a critic of# the Trump administration's approach,## tonight, a different perspective.

Jimmy Story spent 25 years in# the U.S.

State Department and## most recently served as ambassador to the# Venezuela Affairs Unit based in neighboring## Colombia.

He now works as a partner# at an international consulting firm.

Thanks for being with us.

JAMES STORY, Former U.S.

Ambassador for the# Venezuela Affairs Unit: It.. be here, Geoff.

Thanks for ha.. GEOFF BENNETT: You spent years on the ground# dealing with Venezuela.

From your vantage point,## how significant a turning point is this# moment in U.S.

policy toward Maduro?

JAMES STORY: Well, this is a significant moment.

And, particularly, the interdiction# of the ship, The Skipper,## who was falsely flying the flag of Guyana, is# a big move, because the Maduro dictatorship,## Maduro regime lives off of exporting oil# on the black market to certain markets## internationally.

So this is going to have# a chilling effect on both legitimate and## illegitimate traffic, something I advocated# for, frankly, for quite a number of years.

I think this is within international legal norms,## and certainly it was something that will# have a big impact on the Maduro regime.

GEOFF BENNETT: So walk us through# precisely why you think stopping## the sale of Venezuelan oil will lead# ultimately to the downfall of the regime.

JAMES STORY: Well, part of this is, we got to go# back to July of last year, when Nicolas Maduro## lost an election that was neither free nor fair,# but an election that he allowed to go forward,## not with a candidate that won the primary# of the opposition, Maria Corina Machado,## nor with her selected replacement, but with# her second choice, who was Edmundo Gonzalez.

They weren't anticipating that the Venezuelan# people would come out in droves and overwhelmingly## vote him out of office.

And he's just# refused to leave office.

So he remains## in office because he's supported by people who# are making money through various methodologies.## Narcotics trafficking is one of them.

Of# course, gold smuggling would be another.

And, finally, it's the export of oil, particularly# in the black market to certain markets in Asia,## that gives him the money that he needs to# pay off certain generals in his employ.

So## this will have a big impact on his# ability to pay to stay in power.

GEOFF BENNETT: What about the president's talk# of taking back Venezuelan oil?

Doesn't that hand## Maduro a ready-made narrative that the U.S.# is motivated by resources, not by democracy?

JAMES STORY: When I think about the issue# of Venezuela, the resource issue is like## number five or six on the list of reasons.# They are a failed state that provides safe## haven for foreign terrorist organizations such# as the FARC-D, the ELN, Hezbollah and others.

They allow the Russians to undermine# democracies across the region by## using Venezuela as a launching pad for# their online platforms.

They forced out## 25 percent of the population of Venezuela.

Some# nine million Venezuelans have left that country.

They're under indictment for narcotics# trafficking.

They're under indictment in the## International Criminal Court for crimes# against humanity.

So I was surprised that## the president focused on this piece of it,# when there's so many other issues to focus on.

GEOFF BENNETT: How should the administration# strike the right balance between pressuring## the regime without worsening conditions# on the ground for ordinary Venezuelans?

JAMES STORY: As a former diplomat, as a# retired ambassador, I fully believe in## the art of diplomacy and the art of the# possible when it comes to negotiations.

I think that framing needs to start with# Maduro's departure and then frame out,## well, how do you build a robust democracy# in a country where the institutions of state## have been undermined for so long?

But I# think our focus really needs to be on,## let's support what the Venezuelan people# have requested, getting an election.

Let's work on transitional government# and transitional justice.

And then how## can the international community come together to## make certain that democracy takes place# and stays in power there in Venezuela?

GEOFF BENNETT: So, with this Trump pressure# campaign, what does success actually look## like?

And how will we know that we haven't# traded one form of instability for another?

JAMES STORY: Well, one of the key indicators, are# people -- will people still be leaving Venezuela## or will they start to return?

Are people having# access to food and medicine, the things that## they were denied under a very corrupt, very# cruel criminal enterprise there in Caracas?

And, also, to what extent is Venezuela# presenting itself as a threat to its## neighbors, neighbors such as Trinidad# and Tobago, neighbors such as Guyana,## and even with Colombia, where they# share a very long, very unstable border,## where criminal organizations regularly# cross back and forth between the two?

So I think those are the kinds of things I'd# be looking at up front.

And then, finally,## I'd say what the role of the military is.# I think we learned a lesson in Iraq with## de-Baathification .

There are some bad actors# in the military, the Cartel of the Suns.

Some## of them are involved in that.

Others have# been involved with crimes against humanity.

To what extent, though, can the military be# brought in to this experiment or this process## of reinstitutionalizing the country?# I think that's going to be very key.

GEOFF BENNETT: Jimmy Story, thanks so# much for your insights.

We appreciate it.

JAMES STORY: Geoff, it's a pleasure# to be with you all.

Thank you.

AMNA## NAWAZ: It's been said that# nobody can fully.. the meaning of love unless they have had a dog.

Billy Collins agrees.

The former# U.S.

poet laureate is a literary## lion of the New York Public Library# and member of the American Academy of## Arts and Letters.

He recently released his# 12th volume of poetry called "Dog Show."

Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown# spent time in New York City with Collins## and with dogs to explore this enduring# relationship and how Collins translates## it to the page.

It's part of our# arts and culture series, Canvas.

BILLY COLLINS, Poet, "Dog Show" There's one.

Hey, buddy.

Hey, what's goin.. JEFFREY BROWN: Billy Collins, a dog lover and# owner who's been writing about them for decades,## he's now pulled together a selection of those# poems in a volume he's dedicated to 85 dogs,## those of friends as well as his own.

Watercolor illustrations by Pamela Sztybel help## show what's beguiled Collins ever since# he got his first dog as an only child.

All right, so you like this dog's life?

(LAUGHTER) BILLY COLLINS: I do, yes, yes.

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes?

BILLY COLLINS: Dogs like to be out.# .. JEFFREY BROWN: When you're# writing, you are part dog?

We talked recently in New York at# the American Kennel Club Museum of## the Dog about why dogs have been# such a compelling topic for him.

BILLY COLLINS: If you write long enough,## you discover these obsessions that# you might not have been aware of.

JEFFREY BROWN: Did it look like an obsession?

BILLY COLLINS: Well, it didn't until I raked# them together, until I went through all my## poems and picked out the dog poems.

Then it seemed# like, wow, that's a lot of dogs for one person.

JEFFREY BROWN: The young Collins only got a dog# of his own after much cajoling of his parents,## and his father's reaction has stuck with him.

BILLY COLLINS: When we got a dog# from the pound, my father said:## "We're going to get a dog, but, remember,# we're buying a heartache," which was,## the dog's going to die before we will,# which is a fact of dog and human life.

Somebody said, the only -- dogs are# flawless, except they die too soon.

JEFFREY BROWN: And this became a kind# of theme in some of the poems, right?

BILLY COLLINS: Absolutely.

One of the things about a dog poem or .. could be a goldfish, is, you really# have to avoid sentimentality.

So... JEFFREY BROWN: Which you want to avoid.

BILLY COLLINS: That's what we're trying# to avo.. and -- but I do have that poem of -- you# know, I think, "A Dog on His Master."

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes.

BILLY COLLINS: And so here the dog is quite# aware of his own mortality and .. if the owner see -- it reverses --# if the owner shares that awareness.

"A Dog on His Master."

"As young as I look, I'm growing older# faster than he.

Seven to one is the ratio## they tend to say.

Whatever the number, I# will pass them one day and take the lead,## the way I do on our walks in the woods.# And if this ever manages to cross his mind,## it would be the sweetest shadow I# have ever cast on snow or grass."

JEFFREY BROWN: It also goes# to the relationship of,## how much does the dog understand us or lead us?

BILLY COLLINS: Right.

And if we think of friends.. you don't want anything from me, I don't# want anything from you, we're just friends,## and the only thing we really want is to spend some# time together.

That's it in a pure friendship.

So many, many of the poems are just about# odd features of dog life.

One is about## when people dress up dogs in a soldier's coat# or a lab coat or something.

Another one is## trying to talk to a dog in Paris and explain# English idioms to the dog quite late at night.

And there's a poem where I wonder# why the dog gets up every once in## a while and moves from this room to the next room.

JEFFREY BROWN: I know you're asked all# the time, like, what starts a poem?

Now,## do you start thinking I'm going# to write a poem about a dog?

BILLY COLLINS: Yes, something about# a dog that I want to write about,## and I will have that much going into it.

There's a there's a poem called "Dharma" where# I am investigating the dogs.

I'm impressed by## the dog's lack of possessions, the fact# that the dog doesn't have any money or## clothing or they seem -- and that leads to# thinking that they are kind of Buddhists.## They're free of these encumberments of# money and jobs and all that the way.

"The dog trots out the front door every# morning without a hat or an umbrella,## without any money or the keys to her doghouse# never fails to fill the saucer of my heart with## milky admiration.

Who provides a finer example# of a life without encumbrance?

Thoreau in his## curtainless hut, with a single plate, a single# spoon?

Gandhi, with his staff and spectacles?

"Off she goes into the material world with nothing# but her brown coat and her modest blue collar."

JEFFREY BROWN: While endlessly intrigued by# what dogs can tell us about the human condition,## Collins has written on subjects of all# kinds, including, when he was poet laureate,## his poem for the nation entitled# "The Names" honoring victims of 9/11.

BILLY COLLINS: "Yesterday, I lay awake in# the palm of the night.

A soft rain stole in,## unhelped by any breeze, and when I# saw the silver glaze on the windows,## I started with A, with Ackerman, as# it happened, then Baxter and Calabro,## Davis and Eberling, names falling into# place as droplets fell through the dark."

JEFFREY BROWN: Your poetry in general# has a kind of simplicity to it,## a clarity to it, but a lot of craft goes into it.

BILLY COLLINS: I think the craft part comes# from having taught English literature for many,## many decades and having this# kind of Rolodex of poetic## stuff revolving and teaching semester after# semester, Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Hardy.

So the voice in my poems is very straightforward.# It's without guile and even kind of chummy with## the reader.

Someone said no line must# sleep.

Every line needs to be aware## of the lines around it, as opposed to prose,# where the sentences just drive forward.

Poetry is## a language that means more and sounds# better than other written expressions.

JEFFREY BROWN: And there's still# a place for it, even in this... BILLY COLLINS: Oh, absolutely.

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes?

BILLY COLLINS: There will always be a place# for it, yes.

It .. exercises of the imagination and gives us a new# sense of how to look at the world and intensifies,## I think, our sense of being in the world.# It makes us take ourselves more seriously.

JEFFREY BROWN: Meanwhile, back in# the dog park, the party went on.

BILLY COLLINS: It's like# a cocktail party.

You will## see people or dogs getting into different groups.

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes.

BILLY COLLINS: There's some loudmouth# barking bull.. barking.

I don't know.

It's just -- they're# socializing.

They're a social group, yes.

JEFFREY BROWN: So, you feel at home at the party?

BILLY COLLINS: Very much so.# I'm not sure what my role is,## except observer.

I feel at home,# yes.

I'm glad to be invited.

JEFFREY BROWN: For the "PBS News# Hour," I'm Jeffrey Brown in New York.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, that's the "News# Hour" for tonight.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour"# team, than..