PBS News Hour

GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Mass firings# begin at g.. including people in key leadership positions.

GEOFF BENNETT: As the window narrows to find# survivors of the Myanmar quake, aid groups## warn of the next threat, the overwhelming# need for food, water and health care.

AMNA NAWAZ: And how a decades old# effort to provide cheap rice to## Haiti has made it difficult for# the nation to produce its own.

THOMAS DEVILLE, World Food Program: We# can't ignore the more than five million## Haitian people, so half of the country, that# is facing high levels of food insecurity.

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

The Trump administration began terminating# thousands of staff.. top leaders today at the Department of# Health and Human Services.

That included## several key agencies, including the FDA, the# CDC and the National Institutes of Health.

GEOFF BENNETT: Hundreds of HHS# employees waited in line this morning,## some for as long as an hour, to get into the# building and find out if they still had a job.

Between layoffs and buyouts, HHS# Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.## says he plans to fire about 20,000 workers.

Matthew Herper is following all of# this for STAT News and joins us now.

So, Matt, fill in the picture about# the scope of what's happening here,## the range of staffers who are being cut.

MATTHEW HERPER, STAT News:# Oh, it's very, very broad.

I mean, in the CDC, we're talking tobacco# control, injury prevention, workplace safety,## birth defects, reproductive health, basically# everything that is not infectious disease.## And at the FDA, the cuts are, I think, a# lot deeper than a lot of people expected.

People who review new medical products, the# people who actually look at a new drug or device,## mostly seem to have been safe, but a lot of# expertise.

Late last week before the layoffs,## the top vaccine official, also in charge of gene# therapy and the blood supply was removed.

Today,## a director of the Office of New Drugs and# the head of the Tobacco Center were removed.

The former -- several former FDA# commissioners expressed concern,## including Scott Gottlieb, who was FDA# commissioner under the Trump administration,## worrying about a return to delays in drug# approvals.

And Robert Califf saying that## the FDA as we know it is finished with# most of the leaders, with institutional## knowledge and deep understanding of product# development and safety no longer employed.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, the HHS secretary said in# a statement that the firings were intended to## reduce what he called bureaucratic# sprawl.

HHS is among the largest## federal agencies in terms of spending,# given the kind of work that it does.

Prior to this, had bloat or# bureaucratic inefficiencies## been an issue that people were focused on?

MATTHEW HERPER: Oh, well, it's certainly a# problem and something that anyone who's worked## in the agency will tell you that there is a# lot of bloat and efficiency and that it can## be maddening with all the different fiefdoms in# such a large and sometimes bureaucratic agency.

But, I mean, some of the same people, I# mean, another former FDA commissioner,## Margaret Hamburg, said it was horrifying,# thoughtless and very shortsighted,## but also pointed out that she had seen# similar problems in terms of bloat.

I think a big question here is going to be# whether these changes actually do increase## efficiency or whether there were some# back office or procedural functions## that were important to the smooth running# of the agency that may be hard to replace.

GEOFF BENNETT: To what extent do# these cuts reflect RFK Jr.s' desire## to change the government's# approach to public health?

MATTHEW HERPER: Well, I think they# certainly reflect that.

I mean,## the CDC is being refocused very# much on infectious disease.

A lot of -- already before this, through the cuts# from the Department of Government Efficiency,## a lot of those cuts were -- we# did see cuts focused on things,## including vaccines.

So I think we are starting to# see a picture emerging, particularly at the FDA,## which people had kind of thought might be# insulated from Secretary Kennedy's ideas,## that a lot of those are in play, and# also a lot of the idea is that this whole## agency is not efficient, that it's really# beholden to industry, and changes in focus.

I think what Secretary Kennedy means# when he talks about food safety,## where he's talking about additives,# and whereas the FDA is often focused## on things like whether you're going to# catch diseases from your food, right.

GEOFF BENNETT: Matthew Herper, senior writer# with STAT News, thanks for being with us.

MATTHEW HERPER: Thanks for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: Meantime, President Trump is# set to reveal a .. which has the American public and# U.S. trading partners anxiously## waiting to see which countries and which# industries will be taxed the hardest.

President Trump is set to begin the biggest# gamble of his second term so far, a sweeping## round of reciprocal tariffs on imports,# a move he's branding as liberation day.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: I always say tariffs is the## most beautiful word to me in the dictionary.

GEOFF BENNETT: Tariffs have long been central# to the president's economic vision.

Now,## by taxing imports from some of the# country's biggest trading partners,## he's hoping Americans will favor American-made# goods to revitalize U.S. manufacturing.

DONALD TRUMP: The automakers are going to# make a lot of money, the American automakers.

GEOFF BENNETT: Despite economists'# warnings about the president's## tariff plan triggering higher prices, a# possible recession and a global trade war,## the White House press secretary today# reiterated Mr. Trump's confidence.

KAROLINE LEAVITT, White House Press Secretary:# They're not going to be wrong.

It is going to## work.

And the president has a brilliant team# of advisers who have been studying these## issues for decades.

And we are focused# on restoring the golden age of America.

GEOFF BENNETT: A similar# message from House Republicans.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): You have# to trust the president's instincts## on the economy.

It may be rocky in the beginning,## but I think that this will make sense for# Americans and it will help all Americans.

GEOFF BENNETT: But across the aisle,# Democrats in both chambers are unconvinced,## accusing the Trump administration of playing# fast and loose with Americans' finances.

REP. PETE AGUILAR (D-CA): Hardworking# Americans just want a little breathing## room and some stability in# their busy lives.

But what## they have received from Donald Trump# is chaos, confusion and corruption.

GEOFF BENNETT: Democratic Senator Tim Kaine# of Virginia even introduced a resolution to## end the emergency tariffs on Canada that# the president signed earlier this year,## arguing tariffs on Canada have a damaging# ripple effect through the U.S. economy.

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): We need to stand strong# against a tax increase, the largest tax increase## in American history on our consumers.

We need# to stand strong for a strong relationship with## a good ally, Canada.

And that's why I'm really,# really excited we have this vote coming up.

GEOFF BENNETT: Kaine's effort has picked# up support from some GOP lawmakers,## like Maine Senator Susan Collins,## who worries her constituents will# bear the burden of higher prices.

Meantime, America's allies# are preparing for the worst.## European Commission President Ursula von der# Leyen today said the E.U.

is ready to act.

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, President, European# Commission: We do not necessarily want to## retaliate, but if it is necessary, we have a# strong plan to retaliate and we will use it.

AMNA NAWAZ: ## In the day's other headlines:# Attorney General Pam Bondi has## directed federal prosecutors to pursue# the death penalty for Luigi Mangione,## the accused shooter of UnitedHealthcare's# CEO.

That is in line with President Trump's## day one executive order compelling DOJ to# seek capital punishment whenever possible.

Mangione faces both state and federal murder# charges.

His state trial is expected to go## first and would carry a maximum punishment# of life in prison.

President Trump's first## term saw more federal executions than under any# president in modern history.

His predecessor,## Joe Biden, prohibited federal executions.

In Lithuania, the fourth and final# U.S. Army soldier who went missing## in Lithuania last week along with# three others has been found dead.## Their armored vehicles submerged in a swamp during# a training exercise near the Belarus border,## spurring a difficult weeklong recovery# operation.

The U.S. army is notifying## next of kin and investigating what caused the# incident jointly with Lithuanian authorities.

In the Middle East, Israel struck the# Lebanese capital of Beirut today for## the second time since a cease-fire# with Hezbollah took effect last## November.

It hit a building in the city's# southern suburbs, killing four people.## Israel says its target was a Hezbollah# member who was helping to plan an attack## against Israeli civilians.

Residents of the# area say the strike came without warning.

MOHAMMAD NASSERDDINE, Beirut Resident (through# translator): We were sleeping.

We hear a sound## and a powerful strike hit.

My daughters# asked me what was going on.

I told them,## "Don't be afraid."

You can't tell a child# these are strikes.

They have lived through## them.

We asked around what had happened.

They# said the strike hit our neighbor next to us.

AMNA NAWAZ: In the meantime, in Gaza, as Israel# cut off all imports to Gaza in recent weeks,## today, a U.N. food agency says# that has led to the closure of## all of its bakeries in the territory.# The World Food Program says hundreds of## thousands of Palestinians relied on their# bread and warned of dire food insecurity.

Severe storms brought torrential rain and# gale-force winds to several Greek islands.## Roads resembled rivers in Mykonos and Crete, while# floods swept cars into the sea on the island of## Paros.

Schools were closed and all traffic has# been banned, except for emergency vehicles.

Meantime, in Iceland, a volcano began erupting in# the country's Southwest this morning.

It happened## just hours after the remaining residents in the# nearby village of Grindavik were successfully## evacuated.

The volcano became active again# in 2023, after lying dormant for 800 years.

Back here at home on Capitol Hill, House# Speaker Mike Johnson tried to use a rare## parliamentary maneuver to squash a proposal for# proxy voting by two new mothers in Congress.

The## move failed.

Nine Republicans joined all# House Democrats to sink Johnson's effort.

The bipartisan proxy voting plan by Florida# Republican Anna Paulina Luna and Colorado## Democrat Brittany Pettersen means new parents# in Congress wouldn't need to vote in person.

Pettersen, with her newborn in her# arms, spoke on the House floor today.

REP. BRITTANY PETTERSEN (D-CO): It is# unfathomable that, in 2025, we have not## modernized Congress to address these very unique# challenges that members face, these life events.

AMNA NAWAZ: Speaker Johnson is# very much against proxy voting,## calling it unconstitutional.# President Trump has pushed for## more people to return to in-person work# in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To the other chamber now, Senator Cory Booker has# been speaking on the Senate floor in a marathon## speech that's lasted all night and continues# to this hour.

The New Jersey Democrat said## he's responding to the -- quote -- "grave and# urgent threat" the Trump administration poses.

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ): In just 71# days, the president of the United## States has inflicted so much harm on# Americans' safety, financial stability,## the core foundations of our democracy.# These are not normal times in America.

AMNA NAWAZ: It's not a filibuster.

It's# a floor speech.

And Booker approaches the## record of 24 hours for that kind of speech,# held for nearly 70 years by Strom Thurmond,## who was arguing against the Civil Rights# Act.

Booker has yielded questions from## fellow Democrats, but he's stayed standing# the entire time to comply with Senate rules.

On Wall Street today, stocks finished mixed ahead# of President Trump's anticipated tariff action## tomorrow.

The Dow Jones industrial average barely# budged, while the Nasdaq posted a gain of more## than 150 points, or nearly 1 percent.

The S&P# 500 also notched a slight increase on the day.

And while we're on the topic of money, the# United States has added a few household names## to "Forbes" magazine's annual billionaire list.# Music legend Bruce Springsteen made the cut at## $1.2 billion.

Movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger and# comedian Jerry Seinfeld each tallied $1.1 billion;## 103 Americans became new billionaires this year,# and that is the most of any country on the list.

It should be noted too that just 15# percent of this year's class are women.

Still to come on the "News Hour":# the nominee to lead the Joint Chiefs## of Staff goes before Congress; the impact of# private equity's expansion into health care;## the Trump administration slashes an agency that# supports libraries and museums; plus much more.

GEOFF BENNETT: Recovery efforts# from the earthquake last week in## Myanmar are slow-moving.

The country# is grappling with a natural disaster,## plus an ongoing humanitarian crisis amid# a civil war that started four years ago.

AMNA NAWAZ: The death toll# has now risen past 2,700,## with more than 4,500 people injured# and at least 440 still missing.

Stephanie Sy has this report.

STEPHANIE SY: As sirens wailed, rescue# workers in Mandalay stood still,## a one-minute pause to honor the thousands# of victims of Friday's earthquake,## and then back to work.Teams are still# sifting through the rubble for survivors.

Officials said a 63-year-old woman# was found alive today in a collapsed## building in Naypyidaw.

She'd been trapped# for almost four days.

But hopes for finding## more survivors dim with each hour,# said the head of Myanmar's military.

SENIOR GEN. MIN AUNG HLAING, Myanmar Military# Leader (through translator): Among the missing,## most are assumed to be dead.

There is a# narrow chance for them t.. as it has been over 72 hours.

STEPHANIE SY: The army took control# of the country in a 2021 coup,## sparking a civil war and humanitarian crisis.

MELISSA HEIN, Head of Communications, World# Food Program Myanmar: Before the earthquake,## people had been dealing with four# years of conflict in Myanmar.

STEPHANIE SY: Melissa Hein works for the World# Food Program in the Southeast Asian nation.

MELISSA HEIN: So there were some# 20 million people already needing## humanitarian assistance and 3.5 million# people displaced.

And that was before Friday.

STEPHANIE SY: The epicenter of the# 7.7-magnitude earthquake was near Mandalay,## Myanmar's second largest city.# The impact area is widespread,## including rural areas with scarce# communication infrastructure.

The cities are overwhelmed.

Patients wait## to be seen in overcrowded hospitals and# makeshift wars have been set up outside.## International organizations are surging# resources into the country.

But the supply## of basic necessities like food and water# is scarce, handed out in single portions.

Recent cuts to American aid# may leave a gap, says Hein.

MELISSA HEIN: I think about 40 percent of## humanitarian assistance for Myanmar# was thanks to the U.S. government.

STEPHANIE SY: Under the Trump administration,# which has gutted USAID, the umbrella## organization for American aid abroad, the U.S.# response to the disaster has been limited.

Yesterday, the State Department# said it was sending a handful## of humanitarian workers and $2 million.

MELISSA HEIN: We expect that this earthquake# response will cost around $20 million at least.

STEPHANIE SY: Other countries have# stepped in to fill the vacuum.## Russia sent rescue teams and# established a mobile hospital.

SERGEI VORONTSOV, Leader, Russian Rescue# Team (through translator): Today, we## launched operations... STEPHANIE SY: And China, which shares a border# with Myanmar, was the first to send rescue teams,## trumpeting its efforts on state TV.

This interview# was first broadcast by China News Service.

WOMAN (through translator): I wish all the rescue## team members a safe and healthy# life, and I appreciate.. STEPHANIE SY: At least 10,000 buildings have# collapsed.

Residents are encamped along the## streets, in fear of aftershocks that continue# to convulse their already fragile nation.

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

AMNA NAWAZ: ## President Trump's pick to be the# chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,## the president's most senior military adviser,# told senators during his confirmation hearing## today that he would give the president# candid guidance and stay out of politics.

GEOFF BENNETT: But he also said he was# willing to push back if ever asked to## do something unconstitutional.

And# he signaled concern about recent## messages sent by senior national security# leaders over an unclassified messaging app.

Here's Nick Schifrin.

MAN: Committee will come to order.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, in front of the Senate# Armed Services Committee President Trump's## chairman of the Joint Chiefs nominee promised# to keep himself and the military apolitical.

SEN. MARK KELLY (D-AZ): Are you# willing to get fired from this## job for doing the right thing# and following the Constitution?

LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET.

), Chairman of# the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nominee: I am.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But, immediately,.. nicknamed Razin', was dragged# into a partisan fight.

Democratic senators raised messages sent# by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on## the unclassified app Signal the two# weeks ago revealed the exact timing## in weapon systems before U.S. strikes on Yemen.

LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET): We should# always preserve the element of surprise.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI):# Is discussing the kinds of## matters that were discussed on Signal# preserving the element of surp.. LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET): Given the fact# that the chairman and ranking member have## asked for an investigation, I don't# want to comment on the particulars.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO: I would say that, if# you're truly speaking truth to power,## that the answer would obviously be, no, it# does not preserve the element of surprise.

SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY): If you see# classified information or war plans information## or tactical information an unclassified chain,# what would you do to stop the conversation?

LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET): Well, I# think I would weigh in and stop it## if I was a part of it, but in this case I wasn't.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Caine, like his father,# was a decorated fighter pilot, whose last## position was the senior military liaison# to the CIA.

He spent much of his career## in special operations forces, including# in the counter-ISIS campaign in Iraq,## where in 2018 he briefed President Trump,# as the president recounted last year.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: So I# walked down and this is where I met general Razin'## Caine.

And what's your name?

General, what's your# name?

And he gave me his name.

What's your name?## Sir.

Yes, sir.

And I love you, sir.

I think# you're great, sir.

I will kill for you, sir.

(LAUGHTER) DONALD TRUMP:## Then he puts on a "Make America .. SEN. ROGER WICKER (R-MS): General Caine, did# you wear a MAGA hat in front of the president?

LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET): No, sir.

SEN. ROGER WICKER: Did you# wear a.. LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET): No, sir.

I think# -- I went back and listened to those tapes,## and I think the president was actually# talking about somebody else, and I have## never worn any political merchandise# or said anything to that effect.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO: If you did wear a MAGA hat,## would that constitute partisan political# activity by a uniformed officer?

LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET): I think# it probably would, yes, senator.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Caine's two predecessors have# both run a fowl of President Trump.

Air Force## General C.Q.

Brown, chosen by President# Biden, was fired.

And General Mark Milley,## chosen by President Trump, but# later deeply critical of him,## now faces post-retirement investigations and# his portraits at the Pentagon have been removed.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO: General# Brown's dismissal reveals,## once again, President Trump's# intention to install yes-men## and women with fealty to him and not to# the Constitution or the American people.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But Republican# senators praised Caine's experience,## which does not include commands# of a military service or regional## headquarters.

That will require Caine# to receive presidential exemptions.

SEN. KEVIN CRAMER (R-ND): While I agree that the# dismissal of your predecessor was unfortunate,## it's behind us.

And I think -- I cannot think of# a better person to replace General Brown than you.

SEN. JONI ERNST (R-IA): We are in very challenging## times.

We all recognize this.

We# need a change.

You are that change.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And even some Democrats said at the## end of the day, they wanted Caine to give# the president his best military advice.

SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI): Will# you push to be in that room?

LT. GEN. DAN CAINE (RET): Yes, ma'am.

SEN. ELISSA SLOTKIN: Good.

We want you there.

NICK SCHIFRIN: For the "PBS# News Hour," I'm Nick Schifrin.

GEOFF BENNETT: It's a small federal agency# few have heard of, but with a large impact## across the country.

That's the Institute# of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, yesterday, the# Trump administration placed roughly## 80 percent of its staff on administrative leave.

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

JEFFREY BROWN: Libraries# are for checking out books,## of course, but these days they serve# a variety of other functions as well,## providing residents with access to computers# and the Internet, refuge during extreme weather,## a place to vote, and a variety of# classes, including language and fitness.

For their part, major museums with blockbuster# exhibitions may get the most attention, but,## around the country, museums come in# all sizes and themes, many focused on## aspects of local life.

The main source of# federal funding for libraries and museums,## the Institute of Museum and Library# Services, or IMLS, established in 1996.

Its 2024 budget of over $290 million was larger# than two other better-known culturally-focused## agencies, the National Endowment for the Arts# and National Endowment for the Humanities.## But a recent executive order by President Trump# named the IMLS as one of seven small federal## agencies to be -- quote -- "eliminated to the# maximum extent consistent with applicable law."

In a statement provided to the "News Hour,"# an administration official said yesterday's## action is "part of a mandate to reduce# bureaucracy and is a necessary step to## fulfill that order and ensure hard-earned tax# dollars are not diverted to discriminatory## DEI initiatives or divisive anti-American# programming in our cultural institutions."

And for a response to all this, I'm# joined by Cindy Hohl.

She's a Kansas## City librarian and current president# of the American Library Association.

So thanks for joining us.

So this is an agency few of us know about,## but important to you and your members.

How# important?

What kind of role does it play?

CINDY HOHL, President, American# Library Association: Absolutely.

The Institute for Museum and.. to improve and support the nation's public# libraries and museums.

And so this funding## has been critical to especially small and# rural libraries all across the country.

We have seen IMLS monies going towards# research and policymaking and grants.## And this funding has been critical to Americans.

JEFFREY BROWN: In the statement we received from# the administration about yesterday's action,## it referred to DEI or anti-American programming.

Do you know what that might be referring# to?

What's your response to that?

CINDY HOHL: Well, libraries are here to connect# all people to information and ideas.

We believe## that all Americans should have equal rights to# access accurate information from credible sources.

And so it's so important that Americans continue# to be able to have access to programs that enrich## their lives, educational programs.

And, of# course, if we're talking about libraries,## it's going to be literacy-based.

And so the# focus of programming in any public sector is## to always be able to provide information# to people that is credible and trusted.

JEFFREY BROWN: I understand it's different# with different libraries in different states,## but is it possible to say how much of the funding# would be impacted by the loss of this agency?

CINDY HOHL: It's so important that# everyone has access to IMLS funding.

So, the current IMLS funding is funneled# down through the state library agencies.## And these state library agencies# provide funding allocated across## their state for libraries to be able to# offer programs such as summer learning## and reading.

And that's something that# has been so important to Americans.

JEFFREY BROWN: One argument you could# imagine against the IMLS right now,## there has to be budget cuts.# This agency's only been around## since 1996.

Why not go to a time before# that?

What's the need for the agency now?

What would be your response to that?

CINDY HOHL: We have never needed information## accessible and accurate in# a more greater time period.

When you look at libraries providing# essential services to the public,## they should be open, and everyone should have# unfettered access to those library spaces,## and museums as well.

When we look# at the history of this country,## it's important that Americans are able to# read about the history of the people who## help founded this nation and those who continue# to work in these public spaces in present day.

When we look to the strength of libraries,# it's always important that we look at all## of the different ways that libraries provide# services to people.

There are many people who## cannot afford Internet access in their homes.# And they rely upon their local public library## to be able to access Internet services, so# that they can apply for jobs and benefits,## so that they can even have access to telehealth# appointments with their health care provider.

When you look at all of the things that# libraries offer, we always need more service,## and we need to invest in our communities,# so that everyone has access to information.

JEFFREY BROWN: And, very briefly, how much are you# able to push back with -- along with the museums## to fight this?

Do you anticipate# that this agency will soon be gone?

CINDY HOHL: We encourage every American# to reach out to the representatives and## to let them know how important# libraries are in their community.

With 125,000 libraries in this country,## we have many opportunities here to# help our representatives know that## Americans love their libraries and that# we expect to have access to information.

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, Cindy Hohl is the## president of the American Library# Association.

Thank you very much.

CINDY HOHL: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: ## Steward Health Care was at one point the largest# private hospital system in the country.

When the## private equity-backed network filed for bankruptcy# last year, it devastated providers and patients.

GEOFF BENNETT: In Massachusetts, five of the eight## Steward-owned hospitals were salvaged# by the state, but two were shuttered.

Economics correspondent Paul Solman# went to see what and how it happened.

PAUL SOLMAN: At first, hope.

AUDRA SPRAGUE, Former Nurse at Nashoba Valley# Medical Center: We thought when they c.. great, we're going to have a bigger# company.

They're going to put .. PAUL SOLMAN: Money from a rich and# supposedly savvy private equity firm,## Cerberus, and the new hospital# network, Steward Health Care,## would be run by a noted heart surgeon,# Ralph de la Torre, for struggling hospitals,## an injection of cash, plus medically-minded# leadership.

A good match, right?

ELAINE GRAVES, Former Nurse at Carney Hospital:# It was just run so poorly and so mismanaged.

PAUL SOLMAN: Elaine Graves was a nurse# at Carney hospital in Boston's relatively## poor Dorchester for nearly 50 years before# its being shuttered last summer, because,## says Graves, after Cerberus# bought the hospital in 2010: ELAINE GRAVES: Things were being broken,## elevators.

They weren't working.# We're down to one elevator.

PAUL SOLMAN: Audra Sprague was a nurse# at another Cerberus Steward hospital.

AUDRA SPRAGUE, Former Nurse at Nashoba Valley# Medical Center: Over the years, it was one## cut after the other and staffing cut.

We were on# credit holds because we weren't paying our bills.

PAUL SOLMAN: The M.O.

of private equity,# leverage buyouts, the buyer, in this case,## Cerberus Steward, goes to a lender for a# many-million-dollar loan, gets the money,## that's the leverage, which just means debt, which# it then uses to buy properties like a hospital.

The property then has to pay off the debt.# One way to do that, cut costs, ignore bills.

ELAINE GRAVES: People will come in for# surgery.

They couldn't get the equipment.## So they had to send them home.

Sorry.# It happened all the time.

They owed so## much money to creditors for equipment# That they wouldn't give them anymore.

PAUL SOLMAN: We heard it time and again,## unpaid bills, cuts in resources.

And yet# a Boston Globe investigation found that## CEO de la Torre traveled by private jet# and managed to buy a $40 million yacht.

Steward's bankruptcy made national headlines.# Private equity Cerberus which sold Steward for## an $800 million profit, was blamed.

Cerberus# wouldn't go on the record to us, but provided## additional background last fall, claiming# complaints and lawsuits -- quote -- "appear## to be overwhelmingly related to the post-Cerberus# ownership period, and portray a stark contrast to## Cerberus' ownership period, during which# Steward was delivering high-quality care## to millions of patients and employing# thousands of hardworking professionals."

But nurse Elaine Graves, who does# seem like a hardworking professional,## began to notice cuts soon after the buyout,# years before the private jet.

And then?

ELAINE GRAVES: They just kept chopping and# chopping, and until there was nothing left.

PAUL SOLMAN: Does she blame# private equity ownership?

ELAINE GRAVES: Yes, because that's the one that## took everything away from these# patients and from the community.

PAUL SOLMAN: So where do patients go# since the hospital closure in Dorchester?

ELAINE GRAVES: They're going into the Boston# hospitals and overwhelming those hospital## emergency loans.

Infants are waiting# out in the parking lot for an hour,## hour-and-a-half just to get into the hospital.

PAUL SOLMAN: No surprise, as, 40# miles northwest of Boston, in Ayer,## same story.

Nashoba Valley Medical Center,# also part of the takeover, also shut its doors.

ROBERT PONTBRIAND, Ayer Town Manager,# Massachusetts: We have had a hospital## in Ayer for over 120 years, in# the current site for 60 years.

PAUL SOLMAN: Town manager Robert Pontbriand.

ROBERT PONTBRIAND: We lost the# health care not only for Ayer,## but for the Nashoba Valley region; 600 jobs# are gone, and we're still feeling the pain.## The impact to the emergency management# system has put it into a crisis threshold.

PAUL SOLMAN: That would be# the town fire department.

JEREMY JANUSKIEWICZ, Ayer Fire Department:## Most of our calls are EMS.

The vast majority# of time we spend on a day is prepping for EMS.

PAUL SOLMAN: How long for an# emergency when Nashoba was open,## call to delivery at the hospital?

JEREMY JANUSKIEWICZ: We could do that# all in about 30, 30 to 40 minu.. PAUL SOLMAN: Now?

JEREMY JANUSKIEWICZ: Anywhere from an hour# .. PAUL SOLMAN: And when the ambulance does get# to nearby hospitals, they're now swamped.

AUDRA SPRAGUE: It's been chaos here.

PAUL SOLMAN: Nashoba nurse Audra Sprague.

AUDRA SPRAGUE: There's another hospital.. 15 miles from where Nashoba was, but# it's already overwhelmed.

And they## have seen a 20 percent increase in their# emergency room visits since we closed.

PAUL SOLMAN: And it's not just a loss of the E.R.

CHRIS MARTIN, Professional Tree Trimmer:# Ended up getting pulle.. PAUL SOLMAN: Professional# tree trimmer Chris Martin.

CHRIS MARTIN: And then when I let go, the limb# came down, c.. and then fell sideways, breaking two ribs# on this side, all my ribs on this side,## punctured the lung, gave me a brain bleed,# destroyed my ear, fixed my ankle with pins.

And then trying to get into rehab because Nashobah# closed, and it's taken me nine weeks just to get## into a slot, because they're also inundated# with all the people coming from Nashobah.

PAUL SOLMAN: And while he# had to wait, he got worse.

CHRIS MARTIN: I'm getting more and more headaches# and that's why I ended up going to the emergency## room last week because my headaches.# They usually only lasted about an hour,## and they have been lasting longer# and longer and longer.

We had to## drive all the way out to Worcester# because the hospital's closed.

So we got there in the afternoon, 2:30, 3:00,# and then we didn't get home until 2:30... ALLIE MARTIN, Wife of Chris Martin: One-thirty.

CHRIS MARTIN: ... 1:30 in the morning.

PAUL SOLMAN: And that's just# for neurology, says his wife,## Allie, who was a receptionist at Nashobah.

ALLIE MARTIN: If you have one injury, you# get discharged, you have one doctor you're## following up with.

Well, he's got seven# different doctors he's following up with.

PAUL SOLMAN: Scattered all across the region.

ALLIE MARTIN: All of his follow-up, we probably# could have done at Nashobah.

So the chaos of## trying to do everything at a hospital where our# primary care isn't affiliated is one difficulty,## and spending nine hours at an E.R.

just to get a# CAT scan to make sure his head bleed didn't start## again or there was something acute that was# happening.

It just shouldn't take that long.

PAUL SOLMAN: Meanwhile, a sudden call to# deliver another man who fell from a tree## to a medevac helicopter to get him to# the nearest hospital quickly.

But the## copter was grounded.

A seven-minute# ride became a 45-minute ordeal.

So is what happened in Ayer and Dorchester a# one-off, one company with an unscrupulous CEO,## or is it not that unusual when# private equity gets into health care?

Stay tuned for our next report.

For the "PBS News Hour," Paul Solman# in Dorchester and Ayer, Massachusetts.

AMNA NAWAZ: The Trump administration said# yesterday it's reviewing about $9 billion## in federal grants to Harvard, citing the# school's response to antisemitism.

And,## today, Princeton said several dozen# of its federal grants had been halted.

They are just the latest moves targeting colleges.# Last week, Columbia agreed to policy changes after## the administration pulled $400 million in federal# funding.

Partly in response, Yale University## philosophy professor Jason Stanley announced he's# leaving not only his school, but the country,## to teach at the University of Toronto in Canada.# Stanley said he's making the move so he can --## quote -- "raise his kids in a country that's# not tilting towards a fascist dictatorship."

For more on his decision,# Jason Stanley joins me now.

Professor Stanley, welcome to the# "News Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

JASON STANLEY, Yale University:# Thank you for having me on.

AMNA NAWAZ: So you have authored two# books on fascism.

It's a topic.. spend a lot of time studying.

Your# decision to leave has been framed## as you fleeing the U.S. That's the word# people are using.

Is that how you see it?

JASON STANLEY: No, but that has resonance# with Jewish intellectuals fleeing## Nazi Germany in the 1930s, so it's kind of# interesting to see the use of that word.

I made my decision for both political reasons## and personal reasons.

It's clear to me that# it's time to go for an academic and a critic## of the Trump administration who has the# privilege to have an opportunity to leave.

AMNA NAWAZ: We have seen universities come# under attack of this administration.

Is this## just -- your decision, is it just about what you# have seen happening at universities and colleges?

JASON STANLEY: Well, that was what sealed it.

I had an offer from the University of Toronto# and had gone back and forth about th.. had thought -- I'd assigned like 50 percent# probability to taking it.

But when Columbia## folded, that's when I thought, OK, I'm just# going to look at the probabilities of our## institutions folding, of our democratic# institutions folding.

And by that,## I mean not just the universities,# but the media and our legal system.

And I thought, well, maybe they can hold the# line, but this is an opportunity.

It's a great## opportunity.

And I think the probabilities# are not in the favor of U.S. democracy.

AMNA NAWAZ: If Columbia had responded# differently, what do you think would## be different now?

In other words, what# would you have wanted Columbia to do?

JASON STANLEY: I would have wanted all# of our universities to collectively band## together and loudly call B.S.

on the# charge that somehow intellectuals and## universities by allowing free speech and# protest are threatening Jewish students.

AMNA NAWAZ: And why do you think they didn't# do that and universities aren't doing that now.

JASON STANLEY: I mean, I think one# reason is that they don't see the## situation for what it is.

They don't see# the antisemitism charge as just an excuse.

And I would like universities to see that this is# a war, that the Trump administration is going to## take -- try to take them down come what may.

It# just doesn't matter what excuse they use.

So to## watch these universities sit there and go, oh,# this is such a -- $9 billion for antisemitism,## when there were many, many Jewish students in# the anti-war protests who are somehow being## erased both by the media, the Trump# administration, and the universities.

So they're kind of acting like hostages## who are sort of repeating the lines that# they're told.

So I would like to see them## band together collectively and recognize# what they're facing, which is a war.

AMNA NAWAZ: Universities also argue that# the threat of these funding cuts are really## existential in some cases.

They wouldn't be# allowed to continue to do the work if those## cuts came through.

Isn't there something to# that, they have an obligation to survive?

JASON STANLEY: No, there's# no survival.

A university is## a democratic institution.

And if you give# up the democratic nature of a university,## then there's no university there.# There's a name and some buildings.

And that's what we risk.

Sure, you# could leave some names and a building,## but that's not the survival of a university.

AMNA NAWAZ: At the same time, Professor Stanley,# this is the country you were born in.

It's the## country you call home.

It's a university you have# worked at for more than a decade.

If you believe## in this democratic system and this country, why# not stay?

Why not do all you can to defend it?

JASON STANLEY: Well, believe me,# I will be doing a lot to defend it## in Toronto, where we're going to be# organizing to defend democracies.

But this administration wants me to love my# country like the National Socialists wanted## Germans to love Germany, because it's# a powerful nation that can punch other## nations in the nose.

That's not why I love my# country.

I love my country because we don't## have kings.

And if my country decides to adopt# a king, then it's no longer really my country.

Like, if universities decide that they're no# longer going to allow protest, free speech,## critical inquiry into history,# they're no longer universities.

AMNA NAWAZ: You also have two young# children.

So I wonder what you're## telling them about why you're# moving to a different country?

JASON STANLEY: Well, my kids are Black and# Jewish.

So there's a lot of issues for facing.

But I'm telling them, you're American.

We love# our country.

Our -- you have lots of family here.## But these are risky conditions.

My parents are# Holocaust survivors.

This is something that my## family has discussed.

My kids are not politically# ignorant.

They can recognize what's going on.

AMNA NAWAZ: Do you expect that you will come back?

JASON STANLEY: It's very hard to move# as an academic.

But this is my home.## I hope our universities fight back.# But I'm going to do whatever I can to## help American democracy wherever I am.

AMNA NAWAZ: That's Professor Jason# Stanley, currently with Yale University,## soon to be of the University# of Toronto, joining us tonight.

Professor Stanley, thank# you.

Good to speak with you.

JASON STANLEY: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: ## As we discuss new tariffs here in the U.S., a look# now at how tariffs can make or break an economy,## in this case, Haiti, where U.S. trade policies# forced the government to bring down tariffs on## foreign goods, which allowed American# farmers to export their crops cheaply.## But that made it too expensive for Haitians# to eat the food grown domestically.

Special correspondent Marcia Biggs# and videographer Eric O'Connor have## a look now at how this helped lead to# decades of dependence on foreign aid.

MARCIA BIGGS: It seems like a world away from the## typical scenes of violence that have# ravaged Haiti's capital.

The northeast## region of the country is home to some of# Haiti's safest and most fertile lands.

But rice farmers here are fighting their own# battle, struggling to compete with cheap imports.

EXCELLENT TASSIS, Haiti Rice Farmer (through# translator): Miami rice has lowered our prices,## which means we don't have any advantage.

MARCIA BIGGS: Miami rice is what the Haitians# call imported American rice that has flooded## their market since the 1980s, selling at a# fraction of the price of rice grown in-country.

It all began in 1986, when the International# Monetary Fund agreed to provide Haiti with huge## loans in exchange for slashing tariffs on imported# goods.

At the same time, the U.S. government began## subsidizing American rice farmers, allowing# them to export very cheap rice overseas.

Albert Pierre Joseph is the son of a rice farmer.

ALBERT PIERRE PAUL JOSEPH, Rice Farmer# (through translator): I grew up in a## family that lived off the land.. is with this land that he educated# all 15 of us.

Since I was a child,## my father produced a lot of rice and many# traders used to come and buy rice from him.

The customs tariff that was reduced on# rice throughout my childhood affected me## a lot.

It meant that the amount of money# my father used to make to meet our needs,## well, he couldn't bring that in anymore.

MARCIA BIGGS: Like Albert's father, many farmers# were unable to keep up and abandon the land.

BILL CLINTON, Former President of the United# States: Today, we come together as friends.

MARCIA BIGGS: Under President Bill# Clinton, another deal was made to## lower tariffs on imports to Haiti from# 35 percent to just 3 percent as part## of a plan to help the country industrialize;# 15 years later, Clinton famously apologized.

BILL CLINTON: Since 1981, the United States has# followed a policy that we rich countries that## produce a lot of food should sell it to poor# countries and relieve them of the burden of## producing their own food, so thank goodness they# can leap directly into the industrial era.

It has## not worked.

It's may have been good for some of# my farmers in Arkansas, but it has not worked.

It was a mistake.

I did that.

I have to live# every day with the consequences of the lost## capacity to produce a rice crop in Haiti to feed# those people, because of what I did, nobody else.

MARCIA BIGGS: Efforts to change the tariff policy# failed, and cheap American rice continues to flow## into the country to this day.

It's even# changed the dietary habits of Haitians,## who used to eat rice two to three# times a week, but now consume it every day.

MARCIA BIGGS: International aid groups# try to support local farmers.

USAID helped## Albert Pierre to build this mill# for a collective of almost 1,000## farmers that wouldn't otherwise have the# resources to mill and sell their crop.## And the collective sells much of its rice to the# World Food Program, also recipient of USAID funds.

It's part of the World Food Program's overall# strategy to source as much of its food locally## as possible, and it relies significantly on# cash-based assistance and development projects,## but it also receives what is# called in-kind assistance,## bags of food grown in the# U.S. and shipped overseas.

Thomas Deville is the head of WFP's# School Feeding Program in Haiti,## which receives much of its funding from USAID.

THOMAS DEVILLE, World Food Program: We would# prefer to rely 100 percent of local production,## for sure, but Haiti is not self-sufficient yet.# It takes time to get to a 100 percent local## procurement.

It takes programs such as our# resilience, the capacity-building programs.

It takes training with the local farmers and it# takes intervention to improve irrigation systems.## And it takes a lot of work with the# Ministry of Agriculture to make sure## that we have ambitious policies# to promote local production.

MARCIA BIGGS: Would it be more helpful to receive# aid in that arena, rather than rice grown abroad?

THOMAS DEVILLE: We need both.

We can't ignore# the more than five million Haitian people,## so half of the country, that is facing high levels# of food insecurity.

This is staggering levels.

MARCIA BIGGS: But even if they didn't need# it, they are also required to bring in some## food from the U.S.

The United States provides# international food aid through two main programs,## the first, the Emergency Food Security# Program, allows more flexibility.

Implementers like the WFP can buy local# food or provide, direct cash assistance## to those in need.

But the other, Food for# Peace, requires that 100 percent of aid## be commodities produced in the United States, a# caveat originally meant to help American farmers.

STEPHANIE MERCIER, Agricultural# Policy Consultant: There were some## years in the 1950s.. which U.S. commodities were shipped# for things like wheat, for example.

MARCIA BIGGS: Stephanie Mercier is a former# chief economist for the Democratic staff of## the Senate Agriculture Committee# in charge of food aid legislation.

STEPHANIE MERCIER: But, today, U.S.# food aid accounts for a little bit## less than 2 percent of all total U.S.# exports.

So it's a much smaller share## of what's going on than it was at the beginning.

MARCIA BIGGS: So who's the biggest# winner in the food aid industry?

STEPHANIE MERCIER: The biggest winner are# the companies that own U.S.-flagships that## carry U.S. commodities for# food aid programs overseas.

MARCIA BIGGS: Mercier and her colleagues# at the American Enterprise Institute,## a Washington think tank, studied the# effect of a 1950s law that requires## half of all food aid be shipped# on American-flagged vessels,## which she says typically charge at least# 60 percent more than foreign carriers.

STEPHANIE MERCIER: But our estimate overall was# that that's at least $50 million a year that goes## to these shipping companies that otherwise could# be used for buying food to feed hungry people.## And that means that we feed one to two million# fewer hungry people around the world every year.

MARCIA BIGGS: So where do you# think that money is going?

STEPHANIE MERCIER: Into the# company coffers of those## U.S. shipping companies that we talked about.

MARCIA BIGGS: If you look again at# Haiti, last year, USAID spent over## $35 million food aid.

Of that,# Mercier says $10.6 million was## spent on shipping food to a country that# has the ability to produce its own food.

Would you like to see the imports stop?

ALBERT PIERRE PAUL JOSEPH (through# translator): If we block imports and## this rice can't enter the country, Haitians# will not be able to get .. don't forget, we have an extremely poor# population; 78 percent of Haitians are## living on less than one U.S. dollar per day,# which was why many of them buy imported rice,## even though they know imported rice# is not the best rice for them to eat.

MARCIA BIGGS: Just after his inauguration,## President Trump paused all# foreign aid for 90 days.## Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government# Oversight shut down USAID shortly thereafter,## writing on the X platform that he spent the# weekend feeding it into the wood chipper.

In-kind food shipments to organizations# like the WFP are supposed to be protected## by the emergency food assistance waiver.

But the# abrupt dismantling of USAID has created chaos,## putting at risk shipments of food not# already in the pipeline.

Development## projects like Albert Pierre's# aren't covered by the waiver.

He says he was supposed to receive a transfer# in funds from USAID by the end of January,## but the money never came and the project was# canceled.

He hasn't had to shut his mill just yet,## but he's slowed down operations, and he's# looking to other organizations for help.

He still believes that the way to make# Haiti food independent is a delicate## balance between increasing tariffs slowly# so that American rice isn't dirt-cheap,## while also investing in infrastructure# and providing loans to local farmers.

ALBERT PIERRE PAUL JOSEPH (through translator):# I believe we can solve this, but in order to## solve it, we need to have a visionary state.

We# need to have a private sector that is committed,## a private sector that is productive# and believes in national development.

MARCIA BIGGS: But with 85 percent# of the capital controlled by gangs,## the state is more concerned with daily# survival than a vision for the future.

To fill that void, a grassroots effort to increase## production came from local farmers.

They# needed irrigation, so they dug a canal.

WIDELINE PIERRE, Spokesperson, Ouanaminthe Canal#Managem... they came with shovels, pickaxes,## with whatever they had, and they dug it# by hand.

T.. Haitian population, a work that brought hope,# that still brings hope for the Haitian people.

MARCIA BIGGS: The hope in the dignity,# against all odds, of providing for themselves.

I have picked up that there's a real sense of# pride among Haitians for their rice.

Is that true?

ALBERT PIERRE PAUL JOSEPH (through translator):# Oh, yes, Oh, yes.

We have a sense of pride for## the local rice.

Even if you hear people eating# imported rice, they buy imported rice to eat## during the week, but they buy the local rice# to eat with the family on Sundays.

I think## it's that sense of pride that should motivate# us to invest a lot more in the rice industry,## so we can produce more rice for the# country and also to sell abroad.

MARCIA BIGGS: But in a state# mostly overrun with violence,## corruption and poverty, it's a# vision reaching far into the future.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Marcia# Biggs in Fort Liberte, Northeast Haiti.

AMNA NAWAZ: Remember, there's always# a lot more online, including where## you can sign up for our "Here's the# Deal" weekly politics newsletter that## takes a look at three things to watch for# this week.

Subscribe at PBS.org/NewsHour.

GEOFF BENNETT: And that is the "News# Hour" for tonight.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

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