AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm Amna# Nawaz.

Geoff Bennett is on assignment.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Congress votes# to release Justice Department files related## to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with# bipartisan support and the president's approval.

The White House welcomes Saudi# Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,## prompting renewed scrutiny of Trump# family business in the kingdom.

And former Secretary of State John# Kerry discusses the latest United## Nations climate summit that the# United States decided to skip.

JOHN KERRY, Former U.S.

Secretary of# State: When the United States pulls back,## as we have, it really releases other# countries from the pressure of doing## the things that they promised they would do.

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

Two major stories tonight from the nation's# capital.

At the White House, Pr.. welcomed the leader of Saudi Arabia.

That's# Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

And,## on Capitol Hill, Congress approved a measure# requiring the release of the Epstein files.

Congressional correspondent Lisa# Desjardins begins our coverage.

LISA DESJARDINS: A rare nearly unanimous# House vote to release the Epstein files,## significant especially for one group.

JENA-LISA JONES, Jeffrey Epstein Survivor:# This was me at 14 years old.

I was a child.

WOMAN: This is me at 16.

WOMAN: This was me at 17 years old.

WOMAN: I was 16 and she was 25.

That's how old we# were when we were abused by Epstein and Maxwell.

LISA DESJARDINS: Survivors of Epstein's abuse# came in person to urge passage of the measure.

JENA-LISA JONES: We are here as American# survivors of a man who used his wealth## and power to hurt young girls and women.# The world should see the files to know## who Jeffrey Epstein was and how the# system catered to him and failed us.

LISA DESJARDINS: The bill forces the Justice# Department to release Epstein file documents## within 30 days.

It includes protections for the# personal information of survivors and allows the## attorney general to block information that# could harm current specific investigations.

REP.

MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): We# have to do it in the right way.

LISA DESJARDINS: House Speaker Mike# Johnson voted yes, despite saying he## didn't like the measure, and charging# that Democrats had political motives.

REP.

MIKE JOHNSON: They're# using that as a political## weapon to try to distract from their# failures as a party and to try th.. best to try to tie President Trump# somehow into this wretched scandal.

LISA DESJARDINS: But as he and# President Trump realized large## numbers of Democrats and Republicans backed this,## Trump dramatically reversed himself on the# bill, saying yesterday he would sign it.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the# United States: Sure I would.## Let the -- let the Senate look# at it.

Let anybody.. LISA DESJARDINS: Survivors criticized# Mr.

Trump directly today for his long## opposition to the bill and# for calling their case a hoax.

HALEY ROBSON, Jeffrey Epstein Survivor: I am# traumatized.

I am not stupid.

I am traumatized.## I am not stupid.

You have put us# through so much stress, the .. the halt of these procedures that were supposed# to have happened 50 days ago, and then get upset## when your own party goes against you, because# what is being done is wrong.

It's not right.

LISA DESJARDINS: Today, as he sat# with the visiting Saudi crown prince,## ABC News asked President Trump: QUESTION: Mr.

President, why wait for Congress to# release the Epstein files?

Why not just do .. DONALD TRUMP: As far as the Epstein files is,# I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein.

I## threw him out of my club many years ago# because I thought he was a sick pervert.

LISA DESJARDINS: ABC asked a series of# questions on the Trump family businesses## and the crown prince, and Trump# ultimately issued a vague threat.

DONALD TRUMP: I think the license should be taken## away from ABC because your news# is so fake and it's so wrong.

LISA DESJARDINS: This is the latest in a week of# defiant and sharp comments from the president.

DONALD TRUMP: I know nothing about that.

LISA DESJARDINS: Including# Friday on Air Force On.. when a different reporter asked about Epstein.

QUESTION: Sir, why not -- why not... DONALD TRUMP: Quiet.

Quiet, piggy.

LISA DESJARDINS: Trump has asked# the attorney general to launch an## investigation into Epstein's relationships with# other people who knew him, naming high-ranking## Democrats like former President Bill Clinton# and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.

E-mails have shown Summers flew with Epstein and# kept close with him for years.

And last night## Summers told The Harvard Crimson -- quote -- "I# am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the## pain they have caused."

And he added -- quote --# "I will be stepping back from public commitments."

Today, another Democrat was# also forced to answer questions.

DEL.

STACEY PLASKETT (D-VI): I# got a text from Jeffrey Epstein.

LISA DESJARDINS: Virgin Islands# Delegate Stacey Plaskett.

Last week, The Washington Post found that# Jeffrey Epstein, a donor to her campaigns,## texted her a question to ask in a# Trump-related hearing.

And she did.

Today,## House Republicans pushed to censure Plaskett# and remove her from the Intelligence Committee.

REP.

RALPH NORMAN (R-SC): She made a mistake here,## a bad mistake.

She took advice# from a convicted pedophile.

LISA DESJARDINS: Democrats decried a lack of# due process and Plaskett defended her actions.

As the Epstein fallout continues, the bill to# release the Epstein files now is in Senate hands.

And this evening, the Senate has already# taken action.

Using a rare procedure,## senators unanimously decided# that, once they get this bill,## it will be considered as if they have# already passed it.

So, essentially,## right now, senators are waiting technically# for the bill to move over across the Capitol.

But, basically, all of Congress has now gotten on## board this.

And this bill will make it# to the president by tomorrow -- Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: Lisa, thank you.

For more on today's vote, I'm joined now by an## attorney representing multiple survivors# of Epstein's abuse.

That's Spencer Kuvin.

Spencer, welcome to the# show.

Thanks for joining us.

SPENCER KUVIN, Attorney Representing Epstein# Survivors: Thank you for having me today.

AMNA NAWAZ: So you have been representing# Epstein su.. think it's fair to say this moment has been# a long time coming for you and for them.

Just give us a sense of what you're hearing## from your clients about this moment# and how they're feeling right now.

SPENCER KUVIN: Well, first of all, I# represented the first young girl that## went to police here in Palm Beach.# And when the state attorneys failed## to prosecute the claim and it went to# the federal investigators back then,## they were promised justice back then in 2008, only# to be denied that over and over and over again.

So to be able to have the world see# the full breadth and scope of this## sexual pyramid that Jeffrey Epstein had built over# the years, it is a breath of fresh air, hopefully,## that finally the world will get to see exactly# who was involved, and not just Jeffrey Epstein## and Ghislaine Maxwell, but everyone that# was involved in this or complicit in this.

AMNA NAWAZ: We saw after the release of# these latest e-mails some action, right,## triggering of new questions, the president calling# for a probe into many, including Bill Clinton,## former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers# apologizing and stepping back from public eye.

Do your clients see this as# some kind of a reckoning?

Do## they believe that there will# be full transparency here?

SPENCER KUVIN: Well, trust but verify,# right?

I think a wise man once said that.

At the end of the day, my clients are# hopeful, as they always have been,## that ultimately truth will set free and they# will allow the world to see the full breadth## and scope of this information.

But at the end# of the day, they're very skeptical of anything## that the government tells them because# they have been denied justice for so long.

But what's important is, I think,# for the general public to see the## full nature of this and the people that# were complicit in what was happening.

AMNA NAWAZ: I hear you saying the# full nature again and again.

And## I want to note that we have seen files# from the investigation released before## and they have been heavily redacted, page# after page of blacked-out information.

Do you think the same thing could happen again or## the Department of Justice could# just withhold several documents?

SPENCER KUVIN: Oh, I have no# doubt.

I don't put it past the## government to withhold whatever# they think is damaging to them.

But at the end of the day, we have to# keep pushing.

And my clients want the## government and the people behind this to# keep pushing to release everything.

And## the most important thing that needs to# be released are the photographs and the## videotapes surveillance that was taken# inside the mansion at Epstein's home.

The FBI and the Department of Justice are# currently sitting on hundreds of hours of## videotapes, hundreds of hours of videotapes# that show people that were going in and## out of Jeffrey Epstein's home.

That's what's# going to be significant for the world to see.

AMNA NAWAZ: Spencer, what do you make# of the president's U-turn on this issue,## first asking Republicans not to vote to release# these files and then coming around and saying## they should vote to release them?

How# do you and your clients look at that?

SPENCER KUVIN: Well, we# actually see it as a W-turn.

Remember that President Trump said that# he would stand with the victims and was## demanding the release of the Epstein# files during the election campaign.## He then saw apparently what was in# those files or was briefed on it,## and then he changed his tune and told# them not to release the information.

When it looked like that the vote was going# to go overwhelmingly in the favor of turning## over this information and the Republicans were# going to vote for the turnover of information,## he then switched again and now# said, release the information.

What I think is so significant, though,# is, President Trump has said in the past,## when it came to the documents that were found# in his home here in Palm Beach in Mar-a-Lago,## that he could declassify records and documents at# the stroke of a pen.

I think his own quote was,## even if he was thinking about# it, he could declassify it.

So we didn't need this law.

If President# Trump had just abided by his campaign## promise to release this information, he# could have released this information at## the stroke of a pen.

So let's get# it done.

Let's see the documents.

AMNA NAWAZ: I'm sure you have# seen the reports, of course,## of Epstein's convicted co-conspirator,# Ghislaine Maxwell, reportedly getting## special treatment in prison, seeking to have# her sentence commuted by President Trump.

How do your clients feel about that?

SPENCER KUVIN: Disgusted.

I mean,# in a word, absolutely disgusted.

This is a convicted sex trafficker multiple# times over and a convicted perjurer,## liar under oath.

There is absolutely no person in# the jail system that gets this type of treatment## with this type of conviction, unless there is# some favor to be curried to the government.

She gave them something# they wanted.

And, in return,## they gave her a favor by transferring her to# this facility and giving her these privileges.

AMNA NAWAZ: Fair to say a lot# of questions still unanswered.

That is attorney Spencer Kuvin joining us tonight.

Spencer, thank you.

It's good to speak with you.

SPENCER KUVIN: Thank you for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: Now to our other lead story.

President Trump welcomed the de facto leader# of Saudi Arabia to the White House today and## dismissed the U.S.

intelligence community's# finding that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman## approved the plan to kill Washington Post# columnist Jamal Khashoggi back in 2018.

The Saudi leader and President# Trump also discussed a range## of agreements they plan to unveil,# from Saudi plans to invest billions## of dollars in the United States# to a joint security agreement.

White House correspondent Liz Landers reports.

(MUSIC) LIZ LANDERS: Today, the White House pulled# out all the .. a cavalcade on horseback, aircraft# flying in formation over President## Trump, who literally rolled out the red# carpet to welcome Mohammed bin Salman.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# We have an extremely respected man in the Oval## Office today and a friend of mine for a# long time, a very good friend of mine.

LIZ LANDERS: Trump heaping praise on the# young de facto leader from Saudi Arabia.

DONALD TRUMP: We have always been# on the same side of every issue.

LIZ LANDERS: Highlighting the# close personal relationship## the two men have cultivated# during Trump's second term.

MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, Saudi Arabian Crown# Prince: The agreement that we are signing## today in many areas, in technology,# A.I., in rare earth materials, magnet,## et cetera, that will create a# lot of investment opportunities.

DONALD TRUMP: So you are doing that now.

You're## saying to me now that the $600# billion will be $1 trillion?

MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN: Definitely, because what# we are signing will facilitate that.

And... DONALD TRUMP: I like that very much.

LIZ LANDERS: It's the first time the crown# prince has been invited to the White House## in more than seven years and the first visit# since the killing of Washington Post journalist## Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Both leaders were# asked about his murder in the Oval Office.

DONALD TRUMP: You're mentioning somebody that# was extremely controversial.

A lot of people## didn't like that gentleman that you're talking# about.

Whether you like him or didn't like him,## things happen.

But he knew nothing# about it, and we can leave it at that.

LIZ LANDERS: But the U.S.

intelligence community# later concluded that Mohammed bin Salman approved## the operation that resulted in Khashoggi's murder# in a Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

The crown prince saying today: MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN: About the journalist, it's# really painful to hear anyone that been lo.. his life for no real purpose or no -- not in# a legal way.

And it's been painful for us in## Saudi Arabia.

We did all the right steps of# investigation, et cetera, in Saudi Arabia.

And we've improved our system to be sure that# nothing happen like that.

And it's painful## and it's a huge mistake.

And we're doing# our best that this doesn't happen again.

LIZ LANDERS: The two men making# several policy announcements,## including a long-sought military advantage for# the Saudis, the advanced F-35 fighter jets that## the president agreed to sell to the kingdom and# showed off the planes during the arrival ceremony.

In addition, the Saudi crown prince# described a short-term investment of## $50 billion in U.S.-manufactured# semiconductor chips to keep up with the## country's -- quote -- "huge demand" for computing# power and billions more promised long term.

And President Trump indicating that a civil# nuclear deal could happen in the future,## saying it wasn't urgent and remarking that Saudi# Arabia has large oil and gas reserves for energy.

But Muhammad bin Salman made it clear he# would not yet sign on to the Abraham Accords,## the regional peace deal Trump brokered# during his first administration,## normalizing relations between# Israel and several Arab states.

MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN: We want to# be part of the Abraham Accord,## but we want also to be sure that we secure# a clear path of two-state solution.

We want## peace for the Israelis.

We want peace# for the Palestinians.

We want them to## coexist peacefully in the region, and# we will do our best to reach that day.

LIZ LANDERS: The Saudi crown prince# also indicating that Saudi Arabia## will financially contribute to# the rebuilding process in Gaza,## though declining to put an exact# number figure on what that will be.

AMNA NAWAZ: And Liz Landers joins# us now from the White House,## where President Trump and Mohammed bin Salman# are having a formal black-tie dinner tonight,## and it sounds like the rain is beginning to fall.

But, Liz, we should note this was the# first time that MBS, as he's known,## was on U.S.

soil since that murder of# Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

We heard the## president there defend the crown prince,# say things happen, say he doesn't hold him## responsible for the killing.

What does all of# this say about the president's priorities here?

LIZ LANDERS: Amna, this was certainly# the most surprising moment in that Oval## Office meeting earlier today, and# the president even admonishing the## reporter who asked the question# of both him and the crown prince.

The president's comments directly contradict what# the U.S.

intelligence community has concluded,## that bin Salman did approve the killing# of Khashoggi back in 2018 and that the## prince also viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the## kingdom and supported using violent# measures if necessary to silence him.

Now, this comes as the kingdom is trying# to position itself towards the future,## towards modernization.

Bin Salman has# been a big part of that policy shift,## but this moment, I think, underlines some of the# human rights problems that still dog the nation.

And the president coming to the defense of# the crown prince there in the Oval Office## earlier today I think underlines# how he views their relationship,## how he values their relationship.

This whole# meeting today, the whole visit has shown that,## the pomp and circumstance that is usually# reserved for America's closest allies.

And, as you mentioned, Amna, we# have this black-tie dinner that's## going to be happening shortly here at the# White House and the events even continue## even tomorrow with a large event that is# expected at the Kennedy Center as well.

AMNA NAWAZ: Liz, let me ask you about# your reporting on the U.S.

intention to## sell those F-35 fighter jets to the Saudis.# We're talking about the U.S.'

most advanced## and sophisticated jets.

We have heard# some security concerns from analysts## about giving these to the Saudis.# What more can you tell us about that?

LIZ LANDERS: Well, this has been the big question# in the lead-up to this meeting today is whether or## not the United States was going to sell those# F-35s, and the president saying yesterday,## making the news that he would sell these# very sophisticated stealth fighter jets## that are used in the most secretive missions# that the United States military carries out.

And that is what worries experts like Fred Wehrey## of the Carnegie Endowment for# International Peace.

Listen.

FREDERIC WEHREY, Carnegie Endowment# for International Peace: This system## is -- has so many incredible capabilities# in.. its stealth, its countermeasures, and# those are, quite frankly, closely guarded## secrets for the United States.

And the concern# is whether or not the Saudis will be able to## safeguard that technology and prevent# it from falling into the Chinese hands.

LIZ LANDERS: Wehrey saying that# he's concerned that China could## borrow this technology, steal# it and reverse-engineer it,## and then potentially use it against the# United States in future military conflicts.

And one more thing too, Amna, to add# to the overall picture of the region,## of the Middle East region too.

There# is also concern that Saudi Arabia## having these F-35s will erode Israel's# advantage that it has in the region.

AMNA NAWAZ: Liz, we also heard the# president was asked about his family's## business dealings in Saudi.

There are# at least four Trump-branded real estate## developments planned in the kingdom.# Tell us about his response to that.

LIZ LANDERS: Yes, the president said that he has## nothing to do with the family business.# He said he has left and he has handed## over the daily management of the Trump# Organization to his sons Eric and Don Jr.

But the Trump Organization has expanded greatly# in the Middle East, and especially in Saudi Arabia## in just the last few years, so the president# distancing himself from this.

But ethics experts## still have concerns about the Trump family's# business dealings in the Middle East -- Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: Liz Landers reporting live# for us from the White House tonight.

Liz, thank you.

In the day's other headlines: A federal judge# ruled that Facebook's parent company, Meta,## does not have an illegal monopoly over social# networking.

It's a huge win for the social## media giant and means that Meta won't have to# spin off its Instagram and WhatsApp platforms.

In his ruling, Judge James Boasberg said# times have changed since the government## first brought its case five years ago, with# competitors like TikTok mixing things up in## the market.

Today's decision is a sharp# contrast to recent rulings that found## Google engaged in an illegal monopoly# in both search and online advertising.

The Internet infrastructure company# Cloudflare says it's resolved an outage## that disrupted thousands of Internet users# earlier today.

ChatGPT, New Jersey Transit,## Spotify and even the online game League# of Legends were affected.

The company## says the outage was caused by a file# that triggered a -- quote -- "crash## in the software system that handles# traffic" for a number of its services.

Cloudflare helps Web sites secure and# manage their Internet traffic.

The company## says it's monitoring for any further problems,# adding, there is no evidence of a cyberattack.

A federal court is blocking Texas from using# its new congressional map in next year's midterm## elections.

A three-judge panel sided with civil# rights groups today, finding that -- quote --## "Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially# gerrymandered the 2025 map."

Governor Greg## Abbott called that claim absurd and said Texas# would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

It's the latest blow to President Trump's efforts## to push states to redraw their maps# ahead of next year's vote.

Last week,## Republicans in Indiana said they would# not be taking up a similar effort there.

Federal investigators say two electrical blackouts# disabled controls on the ship that crashed into## Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge last year,# killing six people.

At a hearing today, the NTSB## revealed one blackout was caused by a loose# wire, the other by problems with a fuel pump.

Investigators said the crew did# periodically inspect the wiring system,## but there were no instructions# on how to check individual wire## connections.

The NTSB chair said# today that would be a tough task.

JENNIFER HOMENDY, Chair, National Transportation# Safety Board: Our investigators routinely## accomplish the impossible, and this investigation# is no different.

Locating a single wire that## is loose among thousands of wires is like# looking for a loose bolt in the Eiffel Tower.

AMNA NAWAZ: Today's findings come# after Maryland officials more than## doubled the estimated cost to replace# the bridge to at least $4.3 billion,## and they say it won't be completed until# 2030, which is two years later than expected.

The Trump administration is accelerating its# plans to dismantle the Department of Education.## Six new agreements announced today will move# billions of dollars in grants to other federal## agencies.

Among these is a plan for the Labor# Department to oversee some of the largest grant## programs for K-12 schools.

That includes money# for schools serving low-income communities.

Critics say such actions put vulnerable# students at risk.

President Trump called for## the elimination of the department in March,# but that requires approval from Congress.

Turning overseas, Palestinian attackers# stabbed and killed an Israeli man in the## occupied West Bank today.

They also# wounded three others, one seriously,## before Israeli soldiers shot and killed# them.

Today's violence follows a rash of## Israeli settler attacks against# Palestinians in the West Bank.

MAN: The draft resolution has been adopted.

AMNA NAWAZ: And it comes a day after the# U.N.

Security Council voted in support of the## U.S.-backed plan for Gaza's postwar future.

That# includes an international security force for Gaza.

Palestinians in Khan Yunis today said they# are hopeful, but also skeptical of the plan.

SADEQ ABU TAEMA, Gaza Resident (through# translator): From our previous experiences,## Israel doesn't commit to international# resolutions.

We pray to God that this## time there will be real pressure from# the West and the U.S.

to pressure Israel.

AMNA NAWAZ: Both Israel and the Palestinian# Authority welcomed the U.N.

vote,## but Hamas rejected it, saying the# proposed security force would allow## Israel to maintain a firm hold on the territory.

On Wall Street, stocks struggled# again today amid lingering worries## about excessive A.I.

optimism.

The Dow Jones# industrial average lost nearly 500 points.## The Nasdaq dropped 275 points on the day.

The# S&P 500 also closed firmly in negative territory.

And Britain's Royal Mint is honoring Freddie# Mercury with a new coin four decades after his## iconic Live Aid performance.

It captures the# Queen front man mid-performance, head back,## microphone in hand, with a musical staff to# represent his remarkable four-octave vocal range.

(MUSIC) That voice was on full display during what# many consider one of the greatest rock sets## of all time.

Mercury's coin follows similar# tributes by the Royal Mint to legends like## David Bowie and Paul McCartney.

It goes on sale# today with prices starting at about $25 each.

Still to come on the "News Hour": how# the Trump administration's priorities## are creating challenges for community# colleges; a Catholic bishop on why## he and his counterparts are pushing for# less aggressive immigration enforcement;## and a Brief But Spectacular take# on cooking and finding community.

The United Nations climate summit in# Brazil, known as COP 30, will wrap up## later this week, and its achievements# will likely be more muted this year.

Tens of thousands of delegates from nearly# 200 countries are meeting near the Amazon## rain forest, but among those not there, any# official delegation from the United States,## the country that's emitted more carbon# dioxide than any nation on Earth.

William Brangham has more for our# ongoing climate coverage, Tipping Point.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The Trump administration's# decision to give COP 30 the cold shoulder follows## other similar dismissals of any efforts# to combat climate change.

The president,## again, pulled the U.S.

out of the# landmark 2015 Paris agreement,## which sought to keep global temperatures# from rising to increasingly dangerous levels.

So to help us understand where things sit# today, we turn to someone with decades## of high-level experience in this realm.# John Kerry was secretary of state under## President Obama and was President Biden's# special presidential envoy for climate.

John Kerry, thank you so much for being here.

You used to lead large delegations# to these COP meetings.

This year,## the U.S.

administration sent no one.

President# Trump says, as you know, that climate change is## the greatest con job in history.

What does it# mean when the American government is absent?

JOHN KERRY, Former U.S.

Secretary of State:# Well, I think it means, first of all,## that the United States is hurting itself, that# the absence of U.S.

leadersh.. just put it at presence, really# defeats the fundamental purpose## of these meetings to some degree, because no# one country can solve this problem by itself.

No country has enough money to# solve this problem by itself.## That's why it's so critical, and we# did in Dubai, in Glasgow, in Paris,## we brought private sectors at the table# to be part of the solution.

We can only## solve this if we galvanize our economies on# a global basis to be curbing carbon dioxide,## to be curbing greenhouse gas pollution, and to be# building out the new energy systems of the future.

What's interesting is, other countries are making# me -- what is it about this issue that one person## in one country in one government says it's a hoax,# and thousands of scientists around the world,## presidents of countries, monarchs,# finance ministers, defense ministers,## environment ministers are all agreeing we must# move urgently and rapidly to cope with this issue?

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: One of your key# victories was the Paris agreement,## which set this goal of keeping additional# warming below two degrees Celsius.

It looks like we are going to blow# through that target.

By most measures,## other countries have failed to meet their# promises made at previous COPs to cut## their emissions.

So does it really matter,# though, if America is not in this arena,## given that we are still so struggling# to get our hands around this problem?

JOHN KERRY: Yes, it does matter.

And let me share with you why.

When President# Obama star.. secretary of state, one of his priorities was# trying to deal with the climate crisis.

Well,## guess what?

You just said it a moment ago.# Countries aren't doing what they promised to do.

And when the United States pulls back, as we have,## it really releases other countries from# the pressure of doing the things that## they promised they would do.

So emissions are# going up, not down.

And what we have done is,## we have seen an unconscious and in some cases# purposeful turning away from the promises made.

For what reason?

Greed, for money, because# there's a reality that the existing system## has revenue streams to oil and gas companies, to# other folks who are arguing against doing things,## and that really just stops things in their track.# So what we need to do is renew our commitments.

Belem is an opportunity to raise the# national efforts, which we did almost## in every year from Paris.

If we go backwards# now, it is going to cost every nation in the## world far more than it would cost to be# moving forward and keeping the promises.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Help me understand# a disconnect that I'm seeing here.## There is remarkable progress being# made on solar and wind.

One recent## report indicated that China's emissions,# the biggest current polluter in the world,## might be tapering off or even reducing# largely because of solar and wind.

Given the evidence of how powerful these# technologies are, that they are cheap and## clean, why is it that we are still seeing# a seeming reluctance to embrace them fully?

JOHN KERRY: Because there's a distinct# group that want to continue the status quo.

I mentioned a moment ago the revenue stream.# They're making money.

And now, with energy## demand up, they think they're going to be there to# be the major provider of that new energy.

I don't## think that's the way the world sees it, frankly,# the economies of the world.

The fact is that,## last year, $2.2 trillion went into the venture# capital and the investments of the new energy## economy of solar, wind, and other renewables,# versus one trillion that went into fossil fuel.

That's the first time in human# history there's been that turnaround,## that imbalance.

And I think# that what you see now is many,## many new technologies poised to come online.# Solar is obviously gaining every single year.## Solar is absolutely and wind absolutely# cheaper than fossil fuel production.

So we're really witnessing -- this is a# major moment for the world.

The fact is,## we made promises that could keep the Earth's# temperature increase near the 1.5 degrees, 1.6,## 1.7.

The International Energy Agency says,# if we followed through on the promises that## were made in Glasgow and in Sharm el-Sheikh and# Dubai, if we did the things we promised to do,## we can win the battle, we can hold# the Earth's temperature increase.

We're just not choosing to do that.

Just look at# what's happening in the economy.

Two days ago,## Bloomberg carried a headline saying, you know# who believes in climate change?

The stock market.## And if you look at the stock market,# you will see incredible profits## being made by the deployment of the new# technologies that are not oil and gas.

So if you look across the board at where# we're heading, I think those technologies## are going to win.

I think they win because# new technologies beat old commodities.

And## that is exactly what the marketplace# is beginning to see and experience.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Bill Gates,# who you know has long been a## champion of action on climate change,# recently made a little bit of a pivot,## arguing that we could innovate our# way out of the climate crisis and## that we should focus more on human health and# protecting children and deal with diseases.

He also argued seemingly that some of the rhetoric# around climate change, the what he argued was too## apocalyptic language, had harmed the movement# overall.

And I wonder what you think about that.

JOHN KERRY: Well, I understand exactly what# he's saying, and I don't disagree with the## fact that the terminology that has been# used for years has run its course, I think.

To some degree, the efforts to coalesce# action to deal with the climate crisis## has been tarnished by branding that has# purposefully taken place to sort of make## it seem like all people care about is# ESG or it's just a matter of wokism.

And that's because not enough argument# has been made, which I was just making,## about the benefits to the# economy and the strategic## directions that people are taking# on the planet.

Let me be specific.

China.

President Trump and others say, well,# we want it to be -- with China, we want to win## that competition.

We're going to be number one.# Terrific.

But you can't do that by just turning## your back and walking away from the battlefield.# And the battlefield is in the production of## those innovations and technologies that Bill# referred to that are going to win the battle.

Today, China is the largest deployer and# manufacturer of renewables in the world.## China has deployed more renewable energy than# all of the rest of the world put together.## They know this is the new market.

And China# is killing it in that market right now because## they don't have the competition, after all# these years of the predictions of the bad## things that didn't happen that are in fact# happening now, storms, more intense floods,## fires, you name it, all predicted, and# directly relatable to the climate impact.

But we could be addressing all of those things# if we were moving faster to create the jobs and## pursue the technologies that will provide clean# energy.

And if we do that, we're going to win.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is# former Secretary of State and former## Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

Thank you so much for being here.

JOHN KERRY: Thank you, sir.

AMNA NAWAZ:## The Trump administration's battles# over higher education have mostly## focused on elite and some public# universities.

But the president's## policies are also creating challenges for# some community colleges.

And they could## undermine those schools' plans to create# more economic opportunities and jobs.

Paul Solman has a report for# our series Rethinking College.

PAUL SOLMAN: We have been following this story# for years.

Where will more skilled workers in## the trades come from, the plumbers, electricians,# construction workers?

More than ever, it seems,## from community colleges, like# North Carolina's Durham Tech.

So the students built this?

J.B.

BUXTON, President, Durham Technical# Community College: Yes.

Our instru.. probably built a frame and then our studen.. PAUL SOLMAN: College President J.B.# Buxton says, like all community colleges,## his goes all out to get anyone# and everyone through the door.

J.B.

BUXTON: What we're working# to do is expand the population## of people who are coming in# to the construction trades.

PAUL SOLMAN: And the class is here, a full# teaching economic essentials for the region.

GEOFF DURHAM, President, Greater Durham# Chamber of Commerce: When you start## talking about what growing a successful eco.. exists between work force development and job# recruitment and expansion is a critical one.

PAUL SOLMAN: Chamber of Commerce President# Geoff Durham, no relation to the 19th century## physician for whom the city was named, says the# companies here are desperate for skilled workers.

GEOFF DURHAM: Question one from any company# looking to expand or relocate or start up here is,## where is the talent coming from?

What# does that pipeline look like?

Durham## Tech is a key entity to help prepare our# broader community for those opportunities.

PAUL SOLMAN: By training construction# workers, for example.

Now, happily,## this jibes with the administration's# populist agenda.

Here's the problem,## though.

The push against the Harvards# and Columbias is to target DEI programs,## defunding diversity, equity and inclusion# to punish the hoity-toity elitists.

But that directly threatens the blue-collar# community colleges and their mission of## expanding the work force.

For instance, Durham# Tech needed permission from the National Science## Foundation to extend unspent funds for a# program to get more women into the trades.

J.B.

BUXTON: What we got back was,# that's fine, submit the paperwork,## just don't put women or diversity in the# request to extend the funds.

The program## is for women, expanding the pool of# potential workers and the talent.

PAUL SOLMAN: They had to comply.

And# one of the school's nonprofit partners## focused on getting more women and nonbinary# individuals into the trades had its federal## funding completely killed, despite# the fact that, says President Buxton: J.B.

BUXTON: Women make up about 4# percent of the construction trades## and about that of the skilled trades.# So you have got half of the population## not really participating in# this sector of the economy.

PAUL SOLMAN: The trigger phrase I heard was# women and nonbinary or gender-expansive.

J.B.

BUXTON: It could be.

I mean, I don't want# to speak for the administration on that.

It's## still the same issue.

You're trying to# expand the pool of eligible workers.

If## we have a not-for-profit organization# that is trying to figure out how to## get more people into the skilled# trades, we want to work with them.

If the Baptist men came to me, who do great# disaster recovery and construction work,## and said, we need you to train# men in the skilled trades so## we can be better responsive in# disaster, we'd work with them.

PAUL SOLMAN: The administration didn't respond to# a request for comment.

However, the Department of## Education has previously said that it's -- quote# -- "taken action to eliminate harmful diversity,## equity and inclusion initiatives, reorienting# the agency toward prioritizing meaningful## learning ahead of divisive ideology in our# schools," to which Gretchen Bellamy responds: GRETCHEN BELLAMY, Student, Durham# Technical Community College: I am## eternally grateful for this program.

PAUL SOLMAN: Bellamy was a# lawyer before she became one## of the women who walked through the doors# at Durham Tech and transformed her career.

GRETCHEN BELLAMY: Not only have I learned# how to fix things and think creatively and## be a risk-taker -- lawyers aren't risk takers.

Me# actually cutting a hole into my own bathroom wall,## it was a little nerve-racking.

So it# gave me, like, the audacity to try.

PAUL SOLMAN: Try and complete.

GRETCHEN BELLAMY: I renovated my# whole bathroom, my son's bathroom,## put it in a new floor, removed the vanity,# removed the toilet.

That's just in my own house.

PAUL SOLMAN: Bellamy is one of 10.5 million# community college students in the U.S.,## some 40 percent of all higher ed students.

Of# Durham Tech's 18,000 students, the majority## are nonwhite and working class.

And the problem# isn't just funding cuts for targeted programs.

For the community college student body, it's cuts# in general, like for food stamps and Medicaid.

J.B.

BUXTON: Three-quarters of our# students are working.

Health care,## food assistance may be the things that# prevent them from enrolling or from staying.

JAKE DEUTERMAN, Coordinator, Campus Harvest Food# Pantry: Works just like a normal grocery store.

PAUL SOLMAN: Jake Deuterman runs# the food pantry at Durham Tech,## which serves 700 unique students every# month.

The number is shooting up.

JAKE DEUTERMAN: In recent months,## we have been seeing at least a few hundred# more people .. PAUL SOLMAN: Is that because of cuts# in benefits like SNAP, do you think?

JAKE DEUTERMAN: Yes, I believe so.

PAUL SOLMAN: Students like Eddith Ogola, who's# working on her third associate's degree.

.. from Kenya, she and her husband have two# boys, one a 7-year-old with special needs.

EDDITH OGOLA, Student, Durham Technical# Community College: Being a student,## a mother, and I don't have a full-time# job.

I can only work here like five hours,## the reason being I have an autistic# child.

Working for five hours,## that money's not enough for me to pay# my bills and also go grocery shopping.

PAUL SOLMAN: Does she use the pantry?

EDDITH OGOLA: Every time we get food in here,## I have to carry something home that I# think I need -- not I think I need, I need.

PAUL SOLMAN: Need, she says,# in order to attend school.

EDDITH OGOLA: You can't tell me# I will come here in the morning## without breakfast and I don't have# lunch and I don't know where my## next meal is coming from and you think I# can function in class.

I don't think so.

KATESHIA BURNS, Student, Durham Technical# Community College: Pantry has saved me## of plenty of days, especially in between# tests and finals and such from starvi.. PAUL SOLMAN: Same for Kateshia Burns.

KATESHIA BURNS: .. but then they want to eat your# breakfast just because you're mom.

PAUL SOLMAN: Burns intends to become a midwife.

KATESHIA BURNS: You need schooling to further# any in career that you're serious about.

PAUL SOLMAN: The administration said of# its cuts to food assistance that SNAP## had -- quote -- "become so bloated that# it's leaving fewer resources for those## who truly need help.

We are committed# to preserving SNAP for the truly needy"## and of cutting Medicaid that it --# quote -- "removes illegal aliens,## enforces work requirements and protects# Medicaid for the truly vulnerable."

But the effect, says Durham Tech President# Buxton, fewer students for trade jobs, which,## with immigrants leaving the country, are ever# more in demand from consumers and employers alike.

J.B.

BUXTON: We're trying to# be demand-responsive to them.## We need a level of certainty about how# we can plan to be demand-responsive and## what the nature of that labor market looks# like and the resources we're going to use.

We don't just dream up some courses we# can offer and see who comes and teach## them.

We're purpose-built to serve this# part of the economy in Durham and Orange## County's in the Greater Triangle region.# So the less certainty we have about what## the nature of our labor market looks like# the, less effective we are in providing## that support and the less effective pathway we# are for people trying to improve their lives.

PAUL SOLMAN: Support now being withdrawn from# community colleges and their would-be students.

For the "PBS News Hour," Paul Solman.

AMNA NAWAZ: Pope Leo spoke out today# about the Trump administration's## approach to mass deportation and the# treatment of some immigrants.

The pope## was asked about Catholic bishops who# have been critical of those policies.

In a so-called special pastoral message,# the U.S.

Conference of Catholic Bishops## decried the -- quote -- "indiscriminate# deportation campaign" and said they## are -- quote -- "praying for an end to# the dehumanizing rhetoric and violence."

The pope offered his support# for that message this evening.

POPE LEO XIV, Leader of Catholic Church: I# appreciate very much what the bishops have## said.

I think it's a very important statement.# I would invite especially all Catholics,## but people of good will, to listen carefully# to what they said.

I think we have to look for## ways of treating people humanely, treating# people with the dignity that they have.

If people are in the United States illegally,## there are ways to treat that.

There are# courts.

There's a system of justice.

AMNA NAWAZ: Before the pope's remarks, I# spoke with one of the bishops behind that## immigration message.

That's Bishop Mark Seitz of# El Paso, Texas, who met with the pope this fall.

Bishop Seitz, welcome to the "News# Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

REV.

MARK SEITZ, Catholic Diocese of El# Paso: It's great to be with you, Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, as we noted there, this# kind of mess.. you and other bishops see that said to you it's# necessary to deliver this message and right now?

REV.

MARK SEITZ: Well, I think# probably there were a lot of## people that would have liked to have# heard from us as a body even sooner.

But it's a complicated matter with 300-plus# bishops in the United States to come together## around a statement.

Even though there is a high# deal of unanimity in terms of the issue itself,## to come together on the words is challenging and# we undertook that process at our last meeting.

AMNA NAWAZ: Now, I should note that# President Trump is not mentioned by## name anywhere in the statement, but this is# in response to his policies and his approach.

And his border czar, Tom Homan, responded to your## message by saying the Catholic Church# is wrong.

What's your response to that?

REV.

MARK SEITZ: Yes.

Well, he has a right to his## opinion, but he needs to realize he's# disagreeing with the Catholic Church.

Our role in the church is that we are to speak# according to the Gospel and the teachings of## the church.

And certainly when you find this# degree of unanimity between the Holy Father## and the entire body of bishops of the United# States, there ought to be something that causes## people to look up and say, wow, this must# have something to do with church teaching.

AMNA NAWAZ: You also say in the statement,# you're grateful for the chance to dialogue## with public and elected officials.

Have you had# that chance?

Are you or any of your colleagues## speaking to the White House or to DHS?

And what# is it specifically you would like to see change?

REV.

MARK SEITZ: Well, we're constantly seeking# to be in communication with the government.

And## we see ourselves as having a role of# conscience formation, you might say,## just speaking the basic principles that# we believe that we have gotten from the## Gospel and through the history of the# church's reflection on these issues.

We believe we have something to offer to# the polity, to the state.

And we do that## wherever we are.

So we have been in contact,# but we haven't had the level of contact to## this point that we would like, that we have seen# in the past with the leadership of our country.

AMNA NAWAZ: If you had a chance to speak directly## with someone in the White# House, what would you say?

REV.

MARK SEITZ: Well, I'd certainly want# to have a conversation with them.

But we## would express our great concern about# some of the rhetoric that's been using,## characterizing whole large groups of people, and# giving the impression that they're criminals,## that they're rapists and all of these# kinds of things that have come along.

We would also want to remind# them that this country has## signed on to a law that is our own in this# country, but also according to international law,## that says that we will accept people into this# country who are fleeing for their lives.

And the## law establishes a way to do that that recognizes# the urgency of that acceptance in some cases.

So we would remind them about that.

We would# ask that they be very careful when they consider## actions that could result in the division# of families and the separation of families## or sending people, individuals or families# into situations that are really threatening## to their very life in some of the countries# that we're considering sending people to.

AMNA NAWAZ: Bishop, I have to ask you.

At the same Baltimore conference where# you approve this immigration message,## I know bishops also agreed on a# statement and a decision around## the treatment of transgender people# by the church, made the decision to## officially bar Catholic hospitals from providing# gender-affirming care for transgender people.

Can you explain why, what's behind that decision?

REV.

MARK SEITZ: Well, first of all, let# me say that we believe that we should## love and care for every human being,# and that is the goal of the church.

But, sometimes, actions that a person might# request might not be in their best interest, from## our understanding of the human person, according# to what we have received from Scripture, from## the teaching of the church.

And so we couldn't# go along with doing something that we believe## would be harmful to a person and in fact would# not -- would harm them for life in many cases.

AMNA NAWAZ: I should note that the# gender-affirming care is backed by## medical professionals and by years of study.

But I will also note we heard from other faith# leaders this week saying -- from Episcopalian## faith, from Presbyterians, Reform Jews# saying they feel their faiths compel## them to treat transgender, intersex# and nonbinary people with respect,## love and equal rights.

They're reading from the# same holy text here, right, so why the divide?

REV.

MARK SEITZ: Well, there's always been# differences based on the interpretation of## the Scriptures, and I don't think# that's going to end right away,## although we would love to see it happen.

But we read it differently than they do.

And,# again, we have tremendous respect and care for## people who are going through this struggle.# We want to support them, walk with them,## but we wouldn't want to do anything# that we would believe would hurt them.

AMNA NAWAZ: Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas,## we thank you so much for your time, for making# the time to speak with us.

Appreciate it.

REV.

MARK SEITZ: You're welcome.# God bless you and your listeners.

AMNA NAWAZ: Sometimes, the right learning# environment can change everything.

For Courtney Irwin, that place was a# youth development center in Salinas,## California.

Tonight, she shares her# Brief But Spectacular take on how## cooking and community helped her to find her way.

COURTNEY IRWIN, Restaurant Manager:# My earliest memory of cooking,## I believe I was probably about# 12 years old.

I had told my dad,## I was like: "Oh, I want to go to Olive# Garden.

They have chicken Alfredo."

And he was like: "We have so many kids in# the house.

We're going to make it at home.

"## And we made it for the whole house.

We probably## made like five pounds of pasta.

And# I was like, oh, I like to do this.

My childhood growing up in Salinas, it# was rough.

I ran into a lot of problems## in school.

I was constantly ditching.

I# was bullied.

And when I did make friends,## they were not the best of friends.# It leaded me to getting into trouble.

First, I ended up expelled and then I# ended up on probation.

So the person## who ran me to Rancho Cielo, his# name was David.

He was my truancy## probation officer at the time.

I would# always bring banana bread and cookies.

And he was like: "You know what, I think I# found a good -- the perfect place for you to## be where you could bake and get away from all# the people that you're interacting with now."

I definitely think by coming to the ranch it# stopped me from continuing to get myself in## trouble, where I would have ended up# in jail.

It gave me a safe place and## a sense of myself.

One week, you're in# the kitchen getting hands-on training## and the next week you're in the classroom# working on your credits and catching up.

Not having to be in the classroom all week, every# week is such a drastic change.

They send you out## to do big events, Meals on Wheels.

You work in# different hotels.

I remember one time I made## these lemon pound cake cupcakes and I filled them# with the lemon curd with the cream cheese frosting And, like, still to this day, I dream about# those.

If I had the opportunity to talk to## 16-year-old Courtney, I would tell her to stop# and listen.

You still have a lot of growing to do.

My name is Courtney Irwin,## and this is my Brief But Spectacular# take on finding my place where I belo.. AMNA NAWAZ: And you can watch more Brief# But Spectacular videos on our Web site.

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

I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour"# team, thank you for joining us.