AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

On the "News Hour" tonight: The# U.S.

Senate rejects propos.. plans to address a spike in health care# premiums under the Affordable Care Act.

AMNA NAWAZ: Ukraine pushes for# security guarantees against Russia,## as international pressure to# accept the peace plan grows.

GEOFF BENNETT: And economists warn of major# risks created by private credit that could## pose as large a threat as the housing# market did before the Great Recession.

MARK ZANDI, Chief Economist, Moody's# Analytics: One of the issues with private## credit is the lack of transparency.

It's# very opaque.

It'.. where it's highly regulated and# you know exactly what's going on.

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

The U.S.

Senate failed to pass two dueling# pieces of health care legi.. leaving Affordable Care Act tax credits all# but certain to expire at the end of the year.

AMNA NAWAZ: As lawmakers prepare for# year-end recess with no agreement in sight,## tens of millions of Americans who rely# on the ACA are being left in limbo.## The expired subsidies would lead to a sharp rise# in health insurance premiums starting next month.

Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins# was at the Capitol today and joins us now.

So, Lisa, walk us through what happened today.

LISA DESJARDINS: What we had today in the# Senate was Republicans and Democrats each## having one shot to put up a bill to deal# with these expiring enhanced tax credits.

Now, these are just -- these are enhanced# credits on top of what was originally in## Obamacare.

So we saw both parties put up# bills, but, frankly, Amna, those bills,## neither one of them seemed likely to pass.

Let# me go through what they proposed, first of all.

Now, the Republican plan is to limit the# enhanced subsidies and essentially move## them into health care savings accounts.# Now, that plan failed.

It got 51 votes,## but that's short of the 60 that was needed.# Democrats, they're planning a little bit## more straightforward, a three-year extension# of the enhanced subsidies as they are now.

That plan also failed, but, interestingly enough,# Amna, 51 votes.

So we had two plans today that## both got a majority vote, but both short of the# bipartisan 60 votes that's needed in the Senate.

And we have learned a couple of things.

The Senate# clearly is not at a point where there are even## having these bipartisan talks that are needed to# come up with a compromise plan.

The other thing we## learned today, as the leaders said on the floor,# that there is both political and policy divide.

SEN.

JOHN THUNE (R-SD): Democrats' so-called## plan is a three-year extension of the# status quo, no reforms.. no rethinking of the way that Obamacare works,# just a three-year extension of the status quo.

SEN.

CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): Republicans# will have to answer to the American people,## explain to the country why they chose# higher health care costs over real## solutions.

They must -- Republicans must# answer for why people will lose coverage.## Republicans must answer why families see# premiums double and triple over the next year.

LISA DESJARDINS: Not a great sign# when you get into the finger-pointing,## especially when millions of# Americans waiting for a solution.

I talked to Senator Thune, especially afterward.# He said there are senator-to-senator talks.

He's## not given up on some possible way forward,# but time is running out.

And Senator Schumer## seemed more in the attitude of he thinks this# might be it for the year, but we will see.

AMNA NAWAZ: So it's not clear# if the Senate's going to do## anything more on this.

What about# the House?

What's happening there?

LISA DESJARDINS: OK, the House, very interesting.

House leadership, the Republican# leadership, Speaker Johnson,## they are not putting forward a plan to extend# these health care subsidies right now.

However,## other Republicans are.

There is a group of# bipartisan members together.

There are 35 of them,## one example, last week, who -- there you# see them -- proposed a one-year extension.

There are a couple different versions of# that idea.

These groups are now trying to## do a run-around the leadership with a discharge# petition.

We have talked about this on the show.## That needs 218 signatures.

I just checked# a few minutes ago.

Neither one of these## extensions that these some few Republicans are# proposing is anywhere close to that number yet.

And they also may not have enough time to# get that done by the end of the year.

But## here's the tricky part.

This is very# political.

When I talk to Democrats,## I think there clearly is a majority# in the House for a one-year extension.

But the politics are such that that# may not come to the House for and## it certainly doesn't look like it will# come before next week.

So there's a will,## but not a way potentially in the House right now.

AMNA NAWAZ: So there's a lot of# competing dynamics at play here.

As you speak to your sources, give us your# analysis overall of where things stand right now.

LISA DESJARDINS: Well, let's# break this down simply,## because I know it is confusing.# And even for members in Congress,## they kept pulling me aside to say, help# me understand what's going on here.

So let's look at this in terms of three# major problems that are faced -- that's## facing Congress here.

First of all, Democrats, for# their point, Democrats, on their end, they oppose## the reforms in large form that the Republicans# want.

That's a problem in the Senate especially.

Now, Republicans, they're divided on an# extension.

There are a lot of moderate## Republicans who, frankly, are vulnerable# in the next election who want to extend## this and they want to do it now.# But the Republicans don't agree.

Finally, something that hasn't come up yet,# abortion policy, Amna.

This is a huge issue in## the Senate.

There are Republicans who want to# -- who are very nervous about the way forward## and want to make kind of more conservative# policy on abortion.

Democrats don't like that.

So that's a big hangup as well.

And all of this# leads to this point now.

Others say there's a## problem because none of this changes health care# costs in general.

It just moves money around.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, finally, Lisa, I know# that calendar is always a big issue here,## right?

Walk us through what's ahead.

LISA DESJARDINS: You know I love# doing -- looking at the cale.. Time is tight.

And, in fact, it's actually# even worse than people realize.

So let's## take a look really quickly.

Here we are today,# December 11.

Now, look, at the end of the month,## that's when these enhanced tax credits expire.# OK, so it seems like Congress would have time.

No, those days in that red-orange color, those# are the final days that Congress plans to be here## before leaving for the holiday.

Now, how about# January?

Another problematic deadline coming up,## at the end of January is when government# funding runs out for most government agencies.

So they're up against the clock on a couple# of issues, not ready to deal with either one## of them.

Now, we know from KFF that there# is a real moment here.

And I talked to one## of their experts today, Cynthia Cox,# about where she thinks things stand.

CYNTHIA COX, Program on the ACA Director, KFF: I# think it's looking more and more likely that these## enhanced premium tax credits are going to expire.# Even if there was some sort of last-minute deal.## We're probably looking at people's premium# payments going up significantly in January.

LISA DESJARDINS: A reminder of who that affects.# So that's not most Americans.

It is a smaller## portion of the American health care market, but# it is 24 million Americans who are on Obamacare## right now.

Most of them would see premiums go up,# Cynthia Cox saying double beginning in January.

And we also know from the Congressional Budget# Office that around two million people would just## fall off of insurance altogether.

And, Amna,# that's not just hypothetical.

That's already## happening.

We know in Massachusetts, where# open enrollment closes in just days from now,## that already 10,000 people have not# signed up again, won't have insurance.

And that is going to cause real health# care and financial problems ahead.

AMNA NAWAZ: Lisa Desjardins, thank you, as always.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

GEOFF BENNETT:## We start the day's other headlines with a rare## Republican rebuke of one of# President Trump's priorities.

Indiana's Republican-led Senate# voted this afternoon against a## plan to redraw its state's electoral map.

MAN: Nineteen ayes, 31 no's.# This bill has been defeated.

GEOFF BENNETT: Twenty-one Republicans# joined all 10 Democrats in voting down## the measure.

Outside the chamber, critics# of the redistricting plan celebrated.

The vote comes after months of pressure# from President Trump, who has been pushing## Republican-led states to redraw their maps# ahead of next year's midterm elections.

A grand jury in Virginia has again refused# to bring a new indictment against New York## Attorney General Letitia James for mortgage# fraud.

It's the second time in about a week## that the Justice Department has failed# to resurrect its case against James.

Last month, a judge threw# out an original indictment,## finding that the prosecutor in the case,# Lindsey Halligan, had been illegally## appointed to her role.

A similar case against# another of President Trump's perceived foes,## former FBI Director James Comey, was also# dismissed last month for similar reasons.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has left an immigration# detention center in Pennsylvania after a## federal judge in Maryland ordered his release,# saying his monthslong detention was troubling.## The native of El Salvador and Maryland resident# was mistakenly deported by the administration this## past spring and then returned to the U.S.

in June# to face human smuggling charges, which he denies.

The White House says it will# appeal his release.

It comes as## the administration's immigration policies# were under scrutiny by lawmakers today.

KRISTI NOEM, U.S.

Homeland Security# Secretary: Joe Biden left us... (CROSSTALK) REP.

DANIEL GOLD.. GEOFF BENNETT: In a contentious# House hearing, Homeland Security## Secretary Kristi Noem defended the Trump# administration's hard-line immigration policies.

KRISTI NOEM: We're ending illegal immigration,# returning sanity back to our immigration system.## We will never yield.

We will never# waver.

And we will never back down.

GEOFF BENNETT: And there was also# this moment when Secretary Noem## was asked how many U.S.

military# veterans her agency has deported.

KRISTI NOEM: Sir, we have not deported# U.S.

citizens or military veterans.

REP.

SETH MAGAZINER (D-RI): We are joined on Zoom# by a gentleman named Sae Joon Park.

He is a United## States Army combat veteran.

Will you join me in# thanking Mr.

Park for his service to our country?

KRISTI NOEM: Sir, I'm grateful for every single# person that has served our country and follows## our laws and knows that our law is important# and every one of them needs to be enforced.

REP.

SETH MAGAZINER: And can you please# tell Mr.

Park why you deported him?

GEOFF BENNETT: M.. top military officials over the legality# of troop deployments to U.S.

cities.

The## White House says the deployments are# necessary in fighting lawlessness,## while critics describe them as an abuse of# military power that violates states' rights.

The oil tanker that was taken yesterday by U.S.# forces off the coast of Venezuela will make its## way to an American port, where authorities will# seize the oil on board.

That's according to White## House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.# This afternoon, she described the tanker## as a sanctioned shadow vessel carrying what she# called black market oil, which she said justified.

KAROLINE LEAVITT, White House Press# Secretary: The United States currently## has a full investigative team on the# ground, on the vessel and individuals## on board the vessel are being interviewed,# and any relevant evidence is being seized.## The vessel will go to a U.S.

port, and the# United States does intend to seize the oil.

However, there is a legal process for the seizure## of that oil and that legal# process will be followed.

GEOFF BENNETT: Also today, the# U.S.

imposed sanctions on three## of Venezuelan President Nicolas# Maduro's nephews, among others,## as the Trump administration continues# to increase pressure on that country.

Meantime, the face of Venezuela's resistance# movement, Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado,## waved to a cheering crowd in Oslo late last# night, where she is being celebrated as this## year's Nobel Peace Prize winner.

It was# her first public appearance in 11 months.

MARIA CORINA MACHADO, Venezuela# Opposition Leader: Venezuela will be free.

GEOFF BENNETT: At a press conference today,## Machado vowed to keep fighting for her# homeland's democracy and credited what .. called the decisive actions of President# Trump for weakening the Maduro regime.

Here at home, state health officials are# reporting rising cases of the measles in two## separate outbreaks in the Eastern and Western U.S.# New cases are cropping up along the Utah-Arizona## border, as well as in South Carolina, where# more than 250 people have been quarantined.

Arizona has logged 172 measles cases since# August and Utah has seen 82.

In South Carolina,## 111 people have been sickened in# just the last two months.

Nationwide,## the number of measles cases is nearing# 2,000, the highest number since 1992.

Days of relentless rain have sent rivers rising# toward record levels in the Pacific Northwest.## The National Weather Service says the atmospheric# river began to subside today, but not before## dumping more than a foot of rain in some areas.# Washington is under a statewide emergency,## with tens of thousands under evacuation# orders, especially around the Seattle area.

Those who've stayed are doing what# they can to keep the floodwaters out.

MAN: We're just trying to build a wall, like a# little island perimeter around the property here,## to keep the water out from the house.

GEOFF BENNETT: Meantime, in# parts of Western Washington,## rivers are continuing to swell, prompting# numerous water rescues and road closures.

Disney announced a billion-dollar investment# in OpenAI today to bring iconic characters like## Mickey Mouse and Luke Skywalker to the Sora video# tool.

The three-year licensing deal will allow## fans to create and share videos with more than 200# Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said the agreement will# "extend the reach of our storytelling through## generative A.I.

while respecting and# protecting creators and their works."

The deal comes as Hollywood tries to navigate the## opportunities and challenges# that generative A.I.

presents.

Artificial intelligence is also gracing the cover# of "TIME" magazine, which named the architects of## A.I.

as its person of the year for 2025.

That# includes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI## boss Sam Altman, among others.

The publication# said this was the year when the potential for## A.I.

-- quote -- "roared into view" and that# there will be no turning back or opting out.

An A.I.

boom has, of course, been driving# a long-running rally on Wall Street.

And,## today, the Dow Jones industrial average jumped# more than 600 points to a new all-time high.## The Nasdaq lost ground, giving back about 60# points.

The S&P 500 managed a modest gain.

Still to come on the "News Hour": an# investigation delves into connections## between the misogynist influencers the# Tate brothers and the Trump inner circle;## the president's tariffs come with a steep# price for stores and restaurants that## import Italian pasta; and we explore some# of the best video games released this year.

Ukraine's president today floated# a possible compromise to a Russian## demand that Kyiv give up territory in# the Eastern Donetsk region.

Volodymyr## Zelenskyy spoke after he met with# senior administration officials and## sent new edits to the document at the heart# of the U.S.

push to end the war in Ukraine.

Nick Schifrin is here following all of this.

So, Nick, what does Zelenskyy say today about# this crucial question, the fate of Donetsk?

NICK SCHIFRIN: It is crucial, Geoff,# because any Ukrainian withdrawal from## territory it controls today would# be illegal under Ukrainian law.## And this is by far the most contentious# part of the peace plan for Zelenskyy.

So let's take a look at the map.

Zelenskyy# says and other European officials confirmed## to me that the current deal would# have Ukraine give up the portion of## the Donetsk region that it controls.# It's that white portion right there## inside the Donbass.

Russia has failed# to capture it through 11 years of war.

That would give Russia control over the entire# Donbass.

Zelenskyy said today that the U.S.## is now calling that area -- quote -- "free# economic zone."

Russia calls it demilitarized.

And in a meeting with the Americans that# included Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff,## Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth, Zelenskyy said# that he told the Americans -- quote -- "Our## position is to remain where we stand,"# meaning on the front lines, and later added:## "The Russians want the entire Donbass,# but we clearly do not accept this."

Zelenskyy said to the Americans:# "Who would govern this territory## if it's demilitarized?"

He quoted them# saying -- quote -- "They do not know."

But, later, when asked by journalists whether he# was willing to accept this proposal, he replied:## "This will be answered by the people of Ukraine,## whether in the format of elections# or in the format of a referendum."

And that suggests he's considering not# rejecting this proposal, and instead coming## up with a compromise and asking Ukrainians# this fundamental question: Are they willing## to give up territory in exchange for a U.S.# security guarantee and economic investment?

GEOFF BENNETT: So what then# are the other sticking points?

NICK SCHIFRIN: One of the major# sticking points is the fate of## the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.# This is Europe's largest power plant,## and Russia occupied it in the first# days after the full-scale invasion.

Zelenskyy said today and European# officials confirmed to me that## the U.S.

is now proposing that the plant be# jointly run by the U.S.

and Russia.

Ukraine,## of course, wants Russia to give up the# plant entirely.

Another major issue,## will the U.S.

recognize territory# that is currently occupied by Russia?

European officials tell me that the# U.S.

recently inserted a phrase of## legal recognition for territories that Russia# has occupied since 2014 or since the full-scale## invasion in 2022.

And now Ukraine and its# European allies in the most recent drafts## sent to the United States last night, they# have removed that language from the draft.

Zelenskyy also said this, that he# wants any security guarantee from the## United States to be a treaty, and that# would have to be approved by Congress.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian President: We# believe this document should be approved by## the United States Congress.

This would mean real,## solid, legally binding security# guarantees for our country.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Zelenskyy said there was no# -- quote -- "ultimatum deadline," Geoff,## but that the U.S.

wants a -- quote --# "understanding of where we stand" by Christmas.

GEOFF BENNETT: You mentioned# Ukraine's European allies.## What are they saying about all of this today?

NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, the coalition of the# willing, that's led by the United Kingdom## and France, they met virtually to talk about# how they can support Ukraine in the future,## including sending troops into# Ukraine to enforce a cease-fire.

And, afterward, NATO Secretary-General Mark# Rutte had a really stark warning that his## Europe -- to his European colleagues that we,# as in NATO, might be Russia's next target.

MARK RUTTE, NATO Secretary-General: I fear that# too many are quietly complacent.

Too many don't## feel the urgency.

And too many believe that time# is on our side.

It is not.

The time for action is## now.

Conflict is at our door.

Russia has brought# war back to Europe, and we must be prepared.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Geoff, that is a fundamental# divide.

You have a NATO secretary-general## talking about Russian invasion of Europe# possible and the White House releasing a## document, national security strategy,# talking about strategic stability with## Russia and creating economic investments# with Russia as part of a Ukraine deal.

That's a real divide right at the heart# of the transatlantic relationship.

GEOFF BENNETT: Indeed.

Nick Schifrin, our thanks to you, as always.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Lately, investors and economists are warning about# a piece of the financial system that could pose a## risk, potentially similar in ways to the housing# crash that preceded the financial crisis in 2008.

It's part of what's been called the shadow# banking system, the private credit market,## an alternative type of lending to companies# that doesn't involve traditional banks.

We asked economics correspondent Paul Solman# to explain how it works, what's at stake,## and why alarm bells are sounding in some quarters.

PAUL SOLMAN: Bought an aftermarket car part in## recent years?

Good chance# it came from First Brands.

JOHN BASQUILL, Senior Reporter, Global# Trade Review: First Brands was a large## supplier of auto parts, things# like wiper blades, spark plugs.

PAUL SOLMAN: Over a decade the# company borrowed heavily to grow,## gobbling up 20 companies employing# 25,000 people, until this fall, that is.

JOHN BASQUILL: The lenders had become a# bit concerned about some of the financial## goings-on at the company and requested some extra# information which First Brands couldn't provide.

PAUL SOLMAN: What happened?

Went# bust.

And who were its lenders?## Many came from the world of private# credit, a part of the global financial## system that's exploded in recent years and# has some key players in finance rattled.

JAMIE DIMON, Chairman, J.P.

Morgan Chase: I should# probably shouldn't say this, but when you see one## cockroach, there's probably more.

And so we should# -- everyone should be forewarned on this one.

PAUL SOLMAN: One such roach, First Brands.

JEFFREY GUNDLACH, CEO, DoubleLine Capital: I# have been saying this for probably two years now,## that the next big crisis in the financial# markets is going to be private credit.

PAUL SOLMAN: OK, but what# exactly is private credit?

MARK ZANDI, Chief Economist, Moody's Analytics:# Private credit is just lending by nonbanks,## financial institutions like pension funds,# insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds,## but not going through the banking# system, thus the word private.

It's grown very rapidly.

It's now a# sizable player in the financial system.

PAUL SOLMAN: Growing from a $40 billion market# in the year 2000 to nearly $2 trillion today.

NATASHA SARIN, President, Budget Lab at Yale# University: The reason for that growth is that,## after the Great Recession, regulators realized# that large financial institutions had been## really exposed to making relatively# risky bets without having enough of## a backstop internally in the form# of capital that they held that was## available for the bank to draw down on# in case some of those bets went sour.

And so the result of the aftermath# of the crisis and the post-crisis## regulation in Dodd-Frank was to say that,# in order to take those types of risks,## it would be more expensive# for banks going forward.

PAUL SOLMAN: As a result, most banks# pulled back from riskier lending.

NATASHA SARIN: And private credit# stood ready, in some sense, to take## advantage and meet the need of the market# to be able to make those types of loans.

PAUL SOLMAN: For investors, returns on# those loans were, well, mouthwatering,## nearly double the rate of government bonds# or other loans.

So what's the problem?

MARK ZANDI: One of the issues with private credit# is, the lack of transparency is very opaque.

It's## not like the banking system, where it's highly# regulated and exactly what's going on.

Here,## we don't know very much because it is private.

And# so that makes it a little bit more disconcerting.

PAUL SOLMAN: For example, private credit firms can# report the value of their loans according to their## own internal models, rather than the market price,# marking to model instead of marking to market.## Problem is, it's nearly impossible to verify that# the loans are worth what they're claimed to be.

MARK ZANDI: Most times, no big deal.

That's# probably just fine.

But when you get into## kind of a risk-off environment,# when things are moving quickly,## prices are falling rapidly, that's when# mark to model becomes more of an issue.

PAUL SOLMAN: A loan mark to model could# even become a loan marked to zilch.

So how serious is the risk posed by private# credit to the American economy as a whole?

MARK ZANDI: It's consequential, but# it's still on the small side.

And I## don't think it's at a place# yet where it could do us in.

NATASHA SARIN: In some sense, it's a yarn# that you start to pull and you're worried## that it's both potentially unraveling, but# also that it's potentially connected to all## the other parts of the financial system.

And# the system is still very much reliant on all## of these different pieces in a way that# regulators don't yet fully appreciate.## And I worry none of us fully appreciate the# possibility of cascading downturn risk as well.

MARC ROWAN, CEO, Apollo Global# Management: Most of the market## is investment grade.

Credit stats ar.. PAUL SOLMAN: Look, says Marc Rowan, CEO of# private credit giant Apollo Global Management: MARC ROWAN: There are good banks# and bad banks and good insurance## companies and bad insurance companies# and good asset managers and bad asset## managers.

But there's nothing# that I see that is systemic.

PAUL SOLMAN: Systemic risk,# that's the danger, which starts## with risk to, well, viewers like you.

TOM GOBER, Insurance Fraud Examiner: A## very large percent of the population is# affected by this higher risk without knowing.

PAUL SOLMAN: Insurance fraud examiner Tom Gober.

TOM GOBER: I look after policyholders and# annuitants.

If you have a life insurance## policy or an annuity, I'm trying to# help that you know you're going to## be safe.

But now there's a lot of# pensioners who are also counting## on the same insurance companies# that are taking all these risks.

PAUL SOLMAN: And suppose insurance policy# and annuity holders get skittish and start## withdrawing their, or, I should say, our money,## the money that backs up the private# credit loans, putting them in jeopardy?

In fact, recent headlines have featured# bankruptcies of firms financed largely by## private credit, Renovo, Tricolor and, where# the story began, First Brands.

A cockroach## operating in the dark accused of engaging# in blatant sleight of hand accounting.

JOHN BASQUILL: The company or group companies# would make a sale, generate an invoice,## and then sell that invoice or the sort of debt# that generates to a third-party investor.

And## there were huge, multibillion-dollar investments# in invoices that First Brands was generating.

PAUL SOLMAN: Those billions came# in large part from private credit,## that is, private loans backed# by invoices.

Unfortunately,## the head of First Brands was allegedly faking# those invoices and selling them more than once.

And, worse still: JOHN BASQUILL: We're talking about a company# that's now being accused.. billions of dollars to fund its founder# and CEO's personal extravagant lifestyle.

PAUL SOLMAN: That's why the new CEO of the# company is suing his predecessor for malfeasance,## while a spokesman for the old CEO says# he -- quote -- "categorically denies## the baseless and speculative allegations# contained in the First Brands complaint."

But the point is, First Brands, financed# in the so-called shadow banking industry,## was operating in the shadows, which leads to# the question of the day regarding the private## credit industry.

Were First Brands and its# fellow private credit failures anomalies or## an early harbinger of risks not unlike those# that triggered the financial crisis of 2008?

For the "PBS News Hour," Paul Solman.

GEOFF BENNETT: Now a new investigation into the## political maneuvers that led to the# release of Andrew and Tristan Tate,## right-wing influencers charged with# rape, human trafficking and other crimes.

The Tates, who are major players with big social# media followings in the so-called manosphere,## are facing criminal investigations in Romania# and criminal charges in the U.K.

for alleged sex## crimes.

The brothers had been barred from leaving# Romania for years as prosecutors built their case.## But, in February, the Romanian government# suddenly lifted the travel ban and allowed## the two to board a plane to Florida, which they# announced in this video recorded on the plane.

Both men have denied the criminal allegations.# A new report from The New York Times reveals## how the Trump administration and some# members of the president's family may## have been involved in a larger movement in# conservative circles to support the Tates.

For more, we're joined now by# New York Times investigative## reporter Megan Twohey, who helped break the story.

Thanks for being with us.

MEGAN TWOHEY, The New York# Times: Happy to be with you.

GEOFF BENNETT: So, for the unfamiliar,# tell us more about who the T.. are and the criminal allegations# they were facing in Romania.

MEGAN TWOHEY: So, Andrew Tate and his# brother Tristan to a lesser extent are## two of the most influential figures# in the so-called manosphere world.

They -- Andrew's a former kickboxer, who# has built a huge, massive online audience## by preaching brazen masculinity and chauvinism# to a young male audience.

He and his brother## also ran a porn business for about 10 years,# bragging about how they lured and steered women## into making sexual content for paying customers# online, and with them taking a lot of the profit.

And they have also sold courses to young# men on how to make money and exploit women.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, as we mentioned, the# Romanian courts originally required the## Tates to remain in that country as the# cases were built against them.

But then## seemingly overnight back in February, they# were seen on this plane headed to Florida.

Your reporting links that shift to# the relationships they cultivated## with influential figures on the political right,## to include members of Donald Trump's own family.# What did you learn about those relationships?

MEGAN TWOHEY: Yes.

So, Andrew and Tristan, they .. Romania since like the mid-2010s.

And in 2022,# they started to come under investigation.

There## ultimately have been under investigation in three# countries, in Romania, where they're accused of## trafficking dozens of women into their porn# business and Andrew's been accused of rape.

They also have been accused, they're# facing charges in Britain of rape and## trafficking.

They have also been under criminal# investigation here in the United States.

But,## remarkably, as they started to come under# growing numbers of criminal investigations,## they forged really close alliances with people# on the American right, ranging from media## figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace# Owens to members of the Trump family,## first starting with Donald Trump# Jr.

and then with Barron Trump.

And those -- we found in the course of our# reporting that those sort of strategic alliances## culminated in their release from# Romania in February of this year.

GEOFF BENNETT: How?

How did that all# happen?

How did the U.S.

involvement## in their case ramp up after Trump's reelection?

MEGAN TWOHEY: So, the prosecutors in# Romania had barred the brothers from## traveling.

They have been arguing as they# have been investigating these brothers## that they pose a public risk and a flight# risk, a public danger and a flight risk.

And so they have like repeatedly been# seeking to confine them in the country.## And that changed in February,# when the prosecutors -- like,## an extraordinary order came down from# the highest levels of the Romanian## government instructing prosecutors to# reach a compromise with the brothers.

And then those travel bans were lifted, which was# something that the prosecutors did not want to do,## according to our sources.

And what we have learned# is that was really a culmination.

Once Trump was## reelected, there were supporters of the Tates# here in the United States who ascended into## the administration, including a special diplomatic# envoy named Richard Grenell, who we found through## our reporting had at least two conversations# with Romanian officials about the Tates' case.

And then within days of that second# conversation, the order came down in Romania## ordering the compromise that led to the lifting# of the travel bans.

And we have been told that## the Romanian prime minister believed that# that would appease the Trump administration.

GEOFF BENNETT: What did your reporting find about## the involvement of Donald Trump# Jr.

and Barron Trump specifically?

MEGAN TWOHEY: Yes.

So, the -- so, Andrew Tate.. shrewd in cultivating these alliances# with people on the American right,## including in the Trump family.

And so his# relationship with Don Jr.

stretches back to 2017,## when Andrew had posted a positive tweet# about his father and Don Jr.

had liked it.

And, anyway, soon, they were hanging# out at Trump Tower here in New York.## And that stretched up through him# coming under investigation and## being placed on house arrest in Romania.# Don Jr.

was one of the people who posted## online supporting in defense of the Tates# and critical of the Romanian investigation.

And then we found that, by 2024,# Barron Trump, the youngest son,## was also a fan of Andrew and that# they actually spoke by Zoom last year## with a mutual friend, who told me that# Barron is a big fan of the Tates and that,## on this call, they had actually discussed# the Romanian case and how they thought it## was just an effort to silence the Tates, a# politically motivated criminal investigation.

GEOFF BENNETT: Your reporting points to a network## of powerful conservative figures# who have championed the Tates,## but not everyone on the right shares# that view.

So what are the fault lines?

MEGAN TWOHEY: Within hours of the travel bans# being lifted, the brothers were on a private## plane to Florida.

And their arrival was, I think,# a little bit bumpier than they had expected.

While on the one hand, they have garnered a# lot of support from certain media and other## conservative figures and even members of# the Trump family here in the United States,## there were also a lot of conservatives, other# conservatives, more traditional conservatives## who were outraged that they had come back to# the United States, Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro.

The Republican Governor Ron DeSantis said# that they weren't welcome in his state.## And the Florida attorney general actually# launched an investigation of them there.

GEOFF BENNETT: Megan, how was the White# House responding to your reporting?

MEGAN TWOHEY: Well, we went to the White# House and Barron Trump and Donald Trump## Jr.

with a lot of detailed questions# and spelling out all of our findings.

Don Jr.

did not respond.

We got no response for# Barron Trump.

The White House basically gave us## one line, which was that they say the White House# has no involvement in the Tates' legal cases.

GEOFF BENNETT: Megan Twohey of The New York# Times, thanks for sharing your reporting with us.

MEGAN TWOHEY: Thanks so much for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Yesterday, Italian cuisine gained a new# honor, becoming the first gastronomic## style to be recognized as intangible cultural# heritage by UNESCO, the U.N.

's cultural body.

But, as Deema Zein, American cooks# face a new potential tariff that may## double the cost of an essential part# of that cuisine, pasta from Italy.

DEEMA ZEIN: For Diana Calcagno, pasta is part# of her family's history.

She manages Vace,## an Italian grocer and deli in Washington, D.C.,## and nearby Bethesda, Maryland, which# her parents founded almost 50 years ago.

DIANA CALCAGNO, Manager, Vace: It's a# lot of connection with our customers.## It's generation after generation, so their# fathers, and then they brought their children,## and then now they bring their# children for pasta and pizza night.

DEEMA ZEIN: But one of the store's staples,# pasta from Italy, may soon be under threat.

DIANA CALCAGNO: In spaghetti, bucatini.# Then I also ordered orecchiette.

DEEMA ZEIN: Forcing her to# stock up on what she can.

DIANA CALCAGNO: Some customers have asked us, oh,## are you going to still be carrying some pastas?# And we just kind of started.. writing down a bunch of things and trying to# figure out how we were going to handle it.

DEEMA ZEIN: Vace is one of many businesses# across the country making preparations## after a recent announcement from# the U.S.

Department of Commerce.

As early as January, pasta from 13 major Italian# producers will face a 92 percent tariff on top## of the existing 15 percent tariff on all goods# from Europe.

That's nearly 107 percent in all.

DIANA CALCAGNO: It's giving me goose bumps# thinking about that right now.

Like, when## I found out that -- that amount, it really did# hit a little bit, because I was just like, man,## it was uncertain being -- not knowing if people# were willing to pay it and.

We're still uncertain.

DEEMA ZEIN: For customers,## the news was pasta-tively frustrating# after years .. WOMAN: I don't know, it# just doesn't seem very fair.

MAN: Not to be able to buy# pasta is really terrible,## because pasta is a very primary# food that everybody should access.

CHIARA DONEGANI, Aston University: Pasta# is not a strategic product.

Pasta is## a basic product.

It's the iconic# symbol of the Mediterranean diet.

DEEMA ZEIN: Chiara Donegani is a researcher# and professor at Aston University in the## U.K.

She co-authored an article about# what she dubs "The Great Pasta War."

While the U.S.

government alleges that the# coming tariffs are in response to Italian## pasta makers dumping their product at# unfair prices in the American market,## Donegani has not found# evidence of that in the data.

CHIARA DONEGANI: The Italian pasta sold# to the U.S., it is usually priced higher,## not lower.

And the second indicator is the market# share, and Italian companies' market share are## broadly stable over that period, with no sign# of predatory pricing to squeeze out competitors.

DEEMA ZEIN: For Italian pasta makers,# the tariff could be a fatal blow,## especially for small and medium size producers.

Margherita Mastromauro is president of the## pasta makers sector of Unione# Italiana Food, a trade group.

MARGHERITA MASTROMAURO, Unione Italiana# Food (through translator): The United## states imports approxima.. worth around $700 million.

The duty would# essentially mean a halt to imports of this## pasta into the American market, because,# obviously, it would mean that the price## of pasta would more than double, making it# completely unprofitable and uncompetitive.

DEEMA ZEIN: Academic Donegani,# who is originally from Italy,## sees the tariffs as not about economic fairness.

CHIARA DONEGANI: It exerts political pressure# and basically it signals that no sector is safe.

DEEMA ZEIN: The tariffs are preliminary and# will be finalized by the 2nd of January.## While pasta from Italy only makes up# about 12 percent of the U.S.

market,## some grocers here are already seeing the impacts.

MAX EVANS, Owner, A. Litteri: Saturday was# the first day ever that reminded me of the## pandemic.

It was the same thing where I# just -- I looked at the shelves halfway## through the day and I could not believe# how much we had sold of just pasta.

DEEMA ZEIN: Max Evans owns A. Litteri, a small# Italian grocer in Northeast Washington, D.C.,## he's ordering more supply to keep up with customer# demand and he says not all pasta is created equal.

MAX EVANS: Italian pasta, it's like Italian# wine.

It's specific to the region where it's## produced.

There's such a vast array.# I mean, I don't think you're going to## find that from American producers in# the kind of numbers and availability.

DEEMA ZEIN: Ultimately, it's# his customers that will have## to fork out to keep Italian pasta on their plates.

MAN: Italian pasta, particularly Italian# pasta here, is the best in the city.## And the fact that it's getting tariffed that# much, A, is going to disincentivize people## from coming.

But then, B, it's just like, why are# we doing nonsense?

Like, so it's just ridiculous.

DEEMA ZEIN: Back in Maryland, Diana Calcagno says,# even though the tariffs haven't kicked in yet,## her suppliers are already raising prices,# which she worries will keep customers away.

DIANA CALCAGNO: People are not splurging as much# on, let's say, a $25 bottle of wine.

Instead,## they will focus on just the main meal.

I have had# some customers complain about pricing already.## And I'm a little scared of what it's going to# be like when the other stuff starts going up.

DEEMA ZEIN: For now, she's hoping that there# may still be a reprieve in the coming tariffs.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Deema Zein.

GEOFF BENNETT:## the video game industry is getting ready to# celebrate its top achievements at the annual## Game Awards, an award show dedicated to honoring# the very best in game design, storytelling, music,## and more in gaming.

The show, now in its 11th# year has grown into a major spectacle, drawing## millions of viewers from around the world to see# which of their favorite games will win any awards.

Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown has# more for our arts and culture series, Canvas.

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET, Actor: And the# game of the year is Baldur's Gate 3.

(CHEERING) JEFFREY BROWN: I.. biggest entertainment events of the year.

The# show, often described as the Oscars of gaming,## celebrates writers, performers and the# latest technology shaping the industry.

And it's not just game# developers taking the stage.

AL PACINO, Actor: We are# all trying to tell a story.

JEFFREY BROWN: Film, television and music stars# have all been drawn in, often called on to present## awards, promote upcoming big budget titles and# even showcase games they are helping create.

Major entertainment figures like Elle Fanning,# Keanu Reeves, Snoop Dogg, and Jordan Peele are## now acting in and producing games.

And the line# between gaming and film and TV grows more porous.## Think The Last of Us, which started as a video# game and then became an HBO series, or the film## adaptation of the popular survival game Minecraft,# one of the highest grossing movies of this year.

While action or shoot-em-up type themes# still get plenty of attention, other genres## are pulling in large audiences, such as slice# of life role playing games like Consume Me,## where you play as a teen struggling with# the pressures of dieting, or Expelled,## where you attempt to solve a mystery# in a 1920s British boarding school.

ACTRESS: The other girls won't play by the rules.

JEFFREY BROWN: And who's playing?

That's evolving# too.

Today, 60 percent of American adults play## video games every week,average age of players 36.# And women now make up the majority at 52 percent.

This year's Game Awards are expected to draw# millions of viewers rooting for favorites in## categories like best action game, best performance# and the night's top prize, game of the year.

And joining me now is James Mastromarino.

He## serves as gaming editor for NPR and is# a producer for the show "Here & Now."

Nice to have you.

JAMES MASTROMARINO, Gaming Editor,# .. JEFFREY BROWN: So we laid out# a lot of this .. but for those who are still not aware so# much of this world, how big a deal is the## industry?

How much change have you seen in# terms of the craft and the art behind it?

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Well, it's a massive,# massive industry.

By some counts,## it's bigger than Hollywood and# the recording industry combined.## And people spend dozens of hours each week playing# games that have come a long way since the arcade.

I mean, games, it's almost an insufficient# category, because it can encompass things## that are basically playable visual novels to# grand cinematic games like Death Stranding 2,## to classic sort of beat-em-ups# and other action sort of titles.

So really anything that you think could be# a game, there probably is a game about that.

JEFFREY BROWN: We're going to go through a# few categories and you can give some examples.

So, first, a narrative-driven# game that you love from this year.

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Sure.

Well I think the sta.. which comes from a French studio, an independent# studio that no one really saw this game coming.## And it's sort of like what you# would get if you crossed like an## existentialist novel with like a French# New Wave film and made it a video game.

ACTRESS: You're fighting to change things.

JAMES MASTROMARINO: With fantastical# characters and this really lovable## cast.

It really blew me away.

It# has so many twists and turns and## it's really trying to tell something# that's very heartfelt and compelling.

And then you also have something that has## like grand cinematic ambitions like# Death Stranding 2, which I mentioned.

ACTOR: Was it you, Higgs, huh?# Was it you that killed Lou?

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Its designer, Hideo Kojima,# has been making these games that really do feel## like playable movies.

It even stars Hollywood# actors like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux## and Elle Fanning.

So that's a rather ambitious,# really far-reaching kind of science fiction game.

JEFFREY BROWN: So, like the movie# industry you have got some of them## coming from big studios or big companies.

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Correct.

JEFFREY BROWN: A.. JAMES MASTROMARINO: Right.

Right.

Well, you# have your Microsofts.. We call these the AAA studios because# they make kind of like the top-line,## most expensive products.

Ironically,# they have been kind of faltering in## recent years.

We have seen lots of# layoffs as big tech has sort of gone## through some shakeups that's impacted the# entertainment industry associated with it.## It's the independent studios that have# been really getting a lot of traction.

Some of them come out, again, absolutely from# nowhere and take the world by storm.

And as an## example of that, at the Game Awards this year,# the kind of big premiere award ceremony for the## industry, half of the games of the year nominees# are from independent studios, so fully half.

JEFFREY BROWN: So how about what you refer to as## multiplayer games where you can# play with a friend or family?

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Oh, sure.

Yes,# I mean, getting back to the arcades.

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes.

Yes.

JAMES MASTROMARI.. is playing with your friends and family.

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes.

JAMES MASTROMARI.. which is a game about two writers that are thrown## in this sort of virtual reality# space based on their writings.

ACTRESS: So you want to go through# more of your crazy stories?

ACTRESS: My crazy stories?

JAMES MASTROMARINO: But it's exclusively playable# by two people.

You have to have a partner.

JEFFREY BROWN: You have to have a partner.

JAMES MASTROMARINO: There's no# way to pla.. a studio that specializes in this sort# of thing.

It blew a lot of people away.

And then you have also got your classics, like# Mario Kart, which got a new revised, updated## version, Mario Kart World, with the Nintendo# Switch 2, a new console.

And as always, Mario Kart## is just a great time for families.

I can attest# to that when I played a ton over the holidays.

ACTOR: Let's go.

Let's go.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, now,# you referred to this earlier,## the performances, the way that's been# growing.

And that includes a lot of## well-known actors coming into this world.# Give us some standouts from this past year.

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Yes, well, Clair Obscur:## Expedition 33 and Death Stranding 2# both pulled from Hollywood actors.

So you had Charlie Cox, Daredevil from# that series, who was in Clair Obscur,## and a really emotional performance from# Jennifer English, who is an actor that## really got famous from Baldur's Gate 3, one# of the biggest games of the last few years.

And then Death Stranding 2, so# much, so much Hollywood talent,## just -- and the very performances in the game are# modeled after the likenesses of these actors.

So,## Norman Reedus is the star of that# game from "The Walking Dead."

You have got another called Dispatch, which has# the voice talents of Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad."

AARON PAUL, Actor: That's not how bees work,# but if we kill the queen, we rot the hive.

JAMES MASTROMARINO: And Jeffrey# Wright, one of my favorite actors .

So these two industries are really converging.## They're more and more starting# to pull from the same talent.

JEFFREY BROWN: Now, I have to ask this, I feel,## that there's been a longtime reputation# for violence in video games.

I venture## to say some of the people watching this,# that's what they think of as video games.

To what extent is that still true?

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Well, I mean, violent# video games still do good numbers.

I mean,## if you go back, a lot of that reputation was## forged in the 1990s with ultra-violent# video games like Mortal Kombat and Doom.

Doom has a very celebrated sequel this year.# It's still going strong.

But as I have mentioned,## games can encompass so many different# categories of play now that it's not just## about shooting or swinging a sword.# It can be about running a bookshop,## or selling antiques, or just trying to# be a good neighbor in like a small town.

JEFFREY BROWN: And the meshing of media, whether# it's games to films, games to series, one of them,## of course, The Last of Us, and the meshing# of actors crossing over, that will continue?

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Yes.

Absolutely.

"The Last of Us," the HBO show,# ca.. So Jeffrey Wright, another name I have# mentioned, was in The Last of Us Part 2,## the video game, and is now in season two of# "The Last of Us" on HBO.

So a lot of actors## are basically cross-training.

They can do# whatever you want, whether it's being on## camera or in a sound stage hooked up with all# that motion capture gear to be in a video game.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, James# Mastromarino, thank you very much.

JAMES MASTROMARINO: Thank you so much.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Joseph Martinez is the longtime principal# of Carpenter Community Charter School in## Los Angeles.

And families know him# as the principal who literally picks## up trash in the morning and# dresses up for school plays,## but also as the steady hand through fires,# immigration fears, and lockdown drills.

In tonight's Brief But Spectacular,## Martinez makes the case for why public# education remains a smart investment.

JOSEPH MARTINEZ, Principal, Carpenter# Community Charter: Public education, to me,## is equivalent to our democracy.

If we don't# have a strong public education system that## will accept everyone, that will be competitive# with all the private schools in the area, then## I don't see our democracy thriving# as it has for the past 250 years.

I am the principal of Carpenter# Community Charter in Studio City,## Los Angeles, California.

I'm responsible# for approximately 900 students daily.## Whatever it takes to engage children at an# elementary school, I am game for it.

I have## been everything from Elliott from "E.T.,"# Willy Wonka.

I have been Woody, the cowboy,## setting the tone and embrace elementary# school for all that it has to offer.

There is no job that is above or below me,# if that's cutting the grass or if that's## picking up trash.

I hope that they# see that everybody has to pitch in,## that they have to participate in# order for their community to thrive.

So I'm born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.# Everybody in my family worked in the service## industry.

My mother and my grandmother both# worked in the kitchens at various hotels.

My## father was a bellman.

So I grew up watching# everybody in my family be service-oriented.

As a school administrator in Los Angeles now, I# try to have that same mentality.

I think of it as## a hotel to give everybody the greatest experience# in elementary school that they could have.

One of the reasons why I'm not in private# education is because we accept everyone.## LAUSD is a sanctuary school district and that# means that any family that enrolls their child## for school has a safe place for that child# to be at school so that they can learn.

We don't turn anyone away.

At all LAUSD public# schools, we have meetings and we have resources## for immigrant families that are facing a crisis# or any kind of a situation involving ICE.

My father came from Mexico.

He did not have# his citizenship until very late in his life.## So I understand the struggles and the challenges# of immigrant families and their children.

I love## building relationships.

I would go visit# my parents when they worked in hotels,## and I was always amazed at how much of a family# it really was with my mother and the people she## worked with in the kitchens or my father and# the people he worked with that were all bellmen.

Whatever job I was going to have in the future,## I wanted to have that.

So that's my favorite# part of my job is building community,## building relationships and building a# support network for our school community.

My name is Joseph Martinez, and this is my Brief## But Spectacular take on bringing# hospitality to public education.

AMNA NAWAZ: And you can watch more Brief But## Spectacular videos online# at PBS.org/NewsHour/Brief.

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

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

For all of us here at the "News Ho..