GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Global# fallout from the Eps.. as his accomplice pleads# the Fifth before Congress.

GEOFF BENNETT: The surge of immigration# enforcement into Minnesota leads many## residents there to forego vital health# care, for fear of being detained.

VALERIE CARRILLO, Canopy Mental Health &# Consulting: I think everyone in Minneapolis,## including my clients, every single one of them,## are experiencing collective trauma,# and I am too right there with them.

AMNA NAWAZ: And a reporter who gained# access to a Texas migrant detention## facility details the experiences# of children and families there.

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

The fallout from the recent release of#the Epstein files is continuing.

His longtime associate and convicted child sex#trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell declined today## to answer questions from a congressional# committee in a closed-door deposition.

GEOFF BENNETT: Maxwell, who was subpoenaed# by the House Oversight Committee last year,## said she was invoking her Fifth Amendment right to## avoid self-incrimination.

She appeared# by video from a prison camp in Texas,## where she's serving a 20-year prison sentence# for sex trafficking and other crimes.

Maxwell's deposition comes the same# day lawmakers were given access to## view the unredacted files.

That includes two# congressmen who led the congressional push## to release the Epstein documents.

That's# Congressmen Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna.

REP.

RO KHANNA (D-CA): It has exposed people in# the highest levels in technology, in finance, in## real estate.

It has exposed the establishment and# monarchies in other countries.

So our push is, how## do we expose this and have accountability, not how# do we score political points or have retribution?

GEOFF BENNETT: Our justice# correspondent, Ali Rogin,## has been tracking all of this and joins us now.

So, Ali, let's start with today's# developments.

What did we learn?

ALI ROGIN: There were a number of actions# today that really were efforts to pierce## through this shroud of secrecy that still# remains around many of these documents.

We did just hear from Congressmen Massie and# Khanna.

They said they have seen the names## of six men whose names were redacted# in the public version that they were## able to see today who they said would likely be# incriminated by their inclusion in these files.## They did not name the six men, but Massie said# one was a U.S.

citizen, one is a foreign national.

Four -- the other four, he said he could# not determine what nationality they were## based on their names.

He did say, though,# that one, presumably the one that we know## is a foreign national, is pretty# high up in a foreign government.

This is all happening as we're# learning that the FBI wrote a summary## in 2025 saying that there were -- quote --# "four or five Epstein accusers" who were## claiming abuse at the hands of men and# women.

Of course, we know that many more## survivors have come forward than four or# five, but that there was not enough evidence## to federally charge these individuals, so the# cases were referred to local law enforcement.

Meanwhile, as you mentioned, Ghislaine# Maxwell pleaded the Fifth today during## her deposition before the House Oversight# Committee.

But her lawyer did say that## she would -- quote -- "very much like to answer# questions if President Trump grants her clemency."

He added -- quote -- "Both President Trump# and President Clinton are innocent of any## wrongdoing.

Ms.

Maxwell alone can explain why# and the public is entitled to that explanation."

The last time, Geoff, President# Trump was asked about this,## he said he wouldn't rule in or out# granting Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, separately, we know that# President Clinton has agreed to appear before## this committee at the request of the Republicans# who lead it.

Have those details been worked out?

ALI ROGIN: That's right.

We know so far that former.. Hillary Clinton are slated to sit# for separate closed-door videotaped## interviews before the -- depositions# before the House Oversight Committee.

But now Bill Clinton is saying that he does# not want that deposition to be videotaped,## but that he would participate in a public# hearing that people can watch in real time.

But House Oversight Committee chair James# Comer said today that this is the way that## he's conducted all of the depositions in# this investigation so far.

And he told us## today that Hillary Clinton's is scheduled for# February 27 and Bill Clinton for March 11.

GEOFF BENNETT: And there is an international# aspect to this, because you have U.S.

allies## that are dealing with their own version of the# Epstein scandal.

How is this landing overseas?

ALI ROGIN: Very differently.

There seem to be far bigger consequences for.. here in the United States.

The fallout in the U.K.# centers around Peter Mandelson, who was serving as## the U.K.

ambassador to the United States.

He# was appointed to that role by Keir Starmer.

Police are now investigating Mandelson for# alleged misconduct in public office tied to## e-mails he sent Epstein in which he shared# government information.

Mandelson maintains## he did nothing criminal, but the fallout# is already centering around Prime Minister## Starmer.

He's facing calls to resign,# including from members of his own party.

Already, his chief of staff and communications# director have resigned over this.

And, today,## he met with members of his own Labor Party,# presumably to try to shore up some support.## Also under police investigation# is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,## King Charles' brother.

The king said today through# a spokesperson that he -- quote -- "stands ready## to support the investigation" and that,# Geoff, his thoughts remain with the victims.

GEOFF BENNETT: And yet no# such reckoning stateside.

Why?

ALI ROGIN: That's exactly right.

And it's really -- although we shou.. just being mentioned in these files is not# a suggestion that there was any wrongdoing.

But the split screen#that is playing out between the political crisis in the U.K.

and business# as normal in the U.S.

is really striking.

And that's as new details are coming out# about President Trump and Commerce Secretary## Howard Lutnick's connection to Epstein and# things that they have told investigators.## We now know that Lutnick had even more# social interactions with Epstein than## had previously been revealed.

We covered# that last week on this show a little bit.

Now we know that Lutnick and Epstein both# signed documents to invest in a private## company on the same day.

And they traded# cordial messages for years about Manhattan## real estate.

Lutnick invited Epstein to a# fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton in 2015.

A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce# says this is a distraction and that the two men## met in 2005 and had -- quote -- "very limited# interactions with him over the next 14 years."

And, Geoff, on Trump himself, there# are new files reported on tonight by## The Miami Herald that President# Trump, not then-President Trump,## told investigators back in 2006 that -- quote# -- "Everyone knows he's been doing this,"## referring to Jeffrey Epstein, which, of course,# contradicts many of the things we have heard## publicly over the years from President Trump about# the nature of his relationship and when it ended.

GEOFF BENNETT: So much to track, and yet we can't## lose sight of the survivors.

What# are they saying about all this?

ALI ROGIN: That's exactly right.

Yesterday evening, to coincide with Super# Bowl Sun.. nonprofit World Without Exploitation released# a 40-second PSA featuring Epstein survivors.

WOMAN: We're standing together.

WOMAN: Standing.

WOMAN: Standing together.

WOMAN: Because this girl deserves the truth.

WOMAN: Because she deserves the truth.

WOMAN: Because we all deserve the truth.

ALI ROGIN: Geoff, this clip concludes with a# Q.R.

code inviting viewers to sign a petition## urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to# release evidence they say exists and## to provide an explanation for why millions# of pages remain withheld from public view.

GEOFF BENNETT: Ali Rogin, thank you# for this reporting.

We appreciate it.

ALI ROGIN: You bet.

AMNA NAWAZ:## The day's other headlines begin in Arizona,# where the search for Nancy Guthrie,## mother of "Today Show" host Savannah# Guthrie, entered its second week.

And an apparent ransom# deadline is just hours away.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, Co-Host, "The Today Show": If# there's anything at all that seems strange to you,## that you report it to law enforcement.

We are in# an hour of desperation.

And we need your help.

AMNA NAWAZ: In a new plea today, Savannah Guthrie# credited law enforcement for working tirelessly,## but asked the public for# its help.

Over the weekend,## the Guthries said they are prepared# to pay for their mother's safe return.## Investigators to date have identified no# suspects or persons of interest in the case.

The U.S.

military boarded a sanctioned# oil tanker in the Indian Ocean today## after tracking the vessel from the# Caribbean.

The Pentagon posted video## of what it called a maritime interdiction# aboard the Aquila II, which experts say## departed Venezuela last month.

The Pentagon# did not say whether it had seized the ship.

Meantime, in Venezuela, opposition leader# Maria Corina Machado says an ally of hers## was kidnapped in Caracas less than 12 hours after# he was released from detention.

The country's top## prosecutor had called for Juan Pablo Guanipa to# be rearrested, but didn't say whether he had been.

Critics accuse Venezuela of backtracking# on its promises to the United States to## release political prisoners after# President Nicolas Maduro's removal.## The Trump administration left other# leaders of Maduro's regime in place.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is# pushing her conservative agenda forward## after her party secured a supermajority# in Sunday's parliamentary election.

SANAE TAKAICHI, Japanese Prime Minister (through# translator): The people of our nation gave us## a powerful push forward, urging us to carry# through with a shift in policy, no matter what.

AMNA NAWAZ: Takaichi will be able to# fast-track many of her priorities,## which include cracking down on immigration,# tax cuts, increased government spending,## and boosting defense capabilities to stand# up militarily to China.

President Trump## congratulated Takaichi on social media,# calling her -- quote -- "highly respected## and very popular."

The two leaders# will meet in Washington next month.

In San Francisco, teachers walked off the job# for the first time in nearly half-a-century## with no set end date, closing public schools# for more than 50,000 students in the city.

(CHANTING) AMNA NAWAZ: The teachers in one of# the nation's most expensive.. are demanding a 9 percent pay raise# and greater help to deal with rising## health care costs.

The strike comes# after nearly a year of stalled talks.

Meanwhile, clear across the country,# a breakthrough.

New York City nurses## on a nearly monthlong strike say they# have reached a tentative three-year## deal for better staffing and pay# with two major hospital systems.## Nurses remain on strike with a third# hospital.

That's New York Presbyterian.

On Wall Street, stocks added slightly# to their rally last week.

The Dow Jones## industrial average barely budged, but# did not just small gain.

The Nasdaq## climbed by nearly 1 percent.

The S&P 500 rose by a# half-percent, inching closer to record territory.

The Seattle Seahawks basked in the glow# of victory today after beating the New## England Patriots last night 29-13 to# claim their second Super Bowl title.

Coach Mike Macdonald and game MVP Kenneth Walker# III posed with the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara,## California, today before the team# returned to their hometown fans.## Walker's standout performance on the ground# and the Seahawks' stifling defense held the## Patriots scoreless until the fourth# quarter, denying New England a record## seventh championship.

The Seahawks Super# Bowl parade will happen on Wednesday.

And, in Italy, Team USA has racked up two gold# medals to start after the Milan-Cortina Winter## Olympics opening weekend.

In the women's downhill# ski, Breezy Johnson won the U.S.

its first gold of## the Games, but her teammate, 41-year-old# Lindsey Vonn, crashed on her run and was## airlifted off the course.

Vonn was racing despite# tearing her left ACL just nine days prior.

Meanwhile, on the rink, U.S.

figure# skaters eked out a team win over Japan,## anchored by the so-called Quad God, Ilia# Malinin, who landed five quadruple jumps in## one of his routines.

He will skate again# in the singles events later this week.

Still to come on the "News Hour": Hong Kong# publisher and democracy advocate Jimmy Lai## is sentenced to decades in prison; we examine# the cultural impact of Bad Bunny's Super Bowl## halftime show; and Tamara Keith and Amy Walter# break down the latest political headlines.

GEOFF BENNETT: Despite last week's# announcement of a drawdown in federal## immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota,# tensions remain high in the Twin Cities.

AMNA NAWAZ: Some communities say they# have seen little change in the numbers## of arrests or sightings of federal officers.

And, as special correspondent# Fred de Sam Lazaro reports,## the crackdown has impacted nearly every aspect# of daily life, including many residents' health.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: This is a new# routine for Viviana Salazar... VIVIANA SALAZAR, Volunteer:# I have already have a system.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: ... filling boxes at a## Minneapolis food pantry for families# now too afraid to .. For weeks, networks of volunteers have sprung# up across the Twin Cities to bring supplies to## community members who fear that even venturing# to a grocery store could lead to their arrest,## as part of the massive federal immigration# crackdown known as Operation Metro Surge.

VIVIANA SALAZAR: I received a# message from a teacher saying,## my student had a glass of water for# dinner.

So that to me was heartbreaking.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: When we met Salazar, she was# delivering food to a 45-year-old father who's been## in hiding for more than two months.

He declined# to be on camera, but spoke over the phone.

Day to day, what is the most difficult# things that you have to deal with?

MAN (through translator): The most# difficult thing is knowing what's## happening and not being able to go# out, locked in with fear that they## come knock on your door.

Because# of the fear and the worry, I cry.## It's the most heartbreaking thing to think about.# If you leave, you might not be able to come back.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: The fear that is# forcing people to shut themselves in## extends far beyond just grocery# shopping.

Children are not being## sent to school.

Adults are not going# to work, complicating the challenge of## paying the rent.

And entire families# are putting off going to the doctor.

MAN (through translator): I have# type 2 diabetes and I have my pills,## but they're about to run out.

I have to# go pick up more, but I'm afraid to go out.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: For years, researchers# have documented the possible health impacts## of immigration enforcement, from worsening chronic# conditions to poorer birth outcomes to heightened## anxiety.

The effects can be felt by both people# targeted in the raids as well as their neighbors.

At a press conference late last month,# dozens of Minnesota doctors spoke about## the challenge of providing# health care in this moment.

DR.

ROLI DWIVEDI, Minnesota Academy# of Family Physicians: I have been a## practicing physician for more th.. level of chaos and fear in the health care# for patients and for our health care teams.

DR.

BRYAN FATE, Children's Minnesota:# And it's not that people aren't sick.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Bryan Fate is a# pediatrician at Children's Minnes.. Emergency room visits at Children's are# down almost 25 percent, but when patients## do come in, they're often sicker.# Admissions have jumped about a third.

DR.

BRYAN FATE: I saw a girl who was about 5# years old last week.

She had sat at home for## essentially seven days with a fever# and an ear infection.

Pain was keeping## her up at night.

By the time that she had# presented to us, her eardrum had ruptured.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: He's received accounts# from colleagues that paint a similar picture.

DR.

BRYAN FATE: There are cases of appendicitis# that have showed up late.

There are terrible## asthma exacerbations that came in late as well so# that, by the time you get there, the kid is really## struggling to breathe, 15-year-old with autism# who came in with abdominal pain.

And it turned## out that his mother had been detained about a week# earlier.

So he had about three meals in five days.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: With the# number of families not coming in,## Fate says the situation is# eerily similar to the pandemic.

DR.

BRYAN FATE: This is not a virus causing# this.

It is an action of the government,## which can be redacted.

And I think there is a# feeling of helplessness there too.

We can do## our best to try and reach out to families and# to make things like telehealth more possible.

But, like vaccinations, kids are falling# behind on their healthy checkups.

When## families don't feel safe leaving the house,# when they have to balance the health of their## child with the safety of their family, no# family should have to make that decision.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Meanwhile,## fate says nonwhite hos.. At other hospitals, there are reports of federal## agents staying bedside with detainees and# trying to question or arrest patients.

WITNESS: I'm a physician.

MAN: I don't care.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Bystanders also# said officers prevented .. trying to treat Renee Good and Alex# Pretti right after they were shot.

The Department of Homeland Security told the "News## Hour" only that medics were -- quote# -- "on the scene" at both shootings,## but did not respond to other criticisms about how# Operation Metro Surge has impacted health care.

Across the Twin Cities, residents like Autumn## Brown say the crackdown has# strained their mental health.

AUTUMN BROWN, Minneapolis Resident: I# think most people's nervous systems are## really jacked up right now.

We're all living on# high alert.

And the human body can take a lot,## but our bodies aren't designed to be# on high alert for such a long stretch## of time.

It's absolutely wearing# on me.

It's wearing on all of us.

The terror is real.

And the care is# real.

And we feel that too every day.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: One of the people trying# to provide that care is Valerie Carrillo.## She's a therapist at Canopy# Mental Health & Consulting,## which works with underserved# populations in the Twin Cities.

VALERIE CARRILLO, Canopy Mental Health &# Consulting: Clients of immigrant descent## are very hypervigilant right now and are taking a# toll from everything that's ha.. a daily stress-out.

I have seen those clients# physically in my sessions come in crying and## shaking and going through the emotions of having# that safety kind of pulled underneath from them.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Carrillo, whose family is# from Mexico, has carried her passport for months.

VALERIE CARRILLO: I think everyone in Minneapolis,# including my clients, every single one of them,## are experiencing collective trauma.# And I am too right there with them.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: For Viviana Salazar,# also a U.S.

citizen of Mexican descent,## these food deliveries are how she's coping with# the realities of life in Minnesota right now.

Are you personally afraid for yourself?

VIVIANA SALAZAR: I am not afraid because I# don't look Mexican.

But my teenage daughter,## she has dark skin.

She has# black hair.

She has asked me:## "What am I going to do if they pull# me over?

Are they going to shoot me?"

And when she asked me that question,## my heart just broke.

I can't believe# we're living in this situation.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: For the "PBS News Hour,"# I'm Fred de Sam Lazaro in Minneapolis.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Hong Kong democracy advocate and former# media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is 78 years old,## has been sentenced to 20 years in# prison by a Beijing-backed court.

GEOFF BENNETT: It is the longest sentenced# handed down under China's national security law,## legislation that has effectively# silenced dissent in a city that## for decades operated under British rule of law.

The U.S.

called the sentence by the China-backed# court and Lai's earlier conviction for so-called## collusion with foreign forces unjust.# Lai's children called it a death sentence.

Nick Schifrin has more.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Inside a Hong Kong court that# once proudly protected Western liberties,## authorities took an icon of# democracy away and confirmed## that criticism in this city will be# crushed with Chinese characteristics.

For decades, Jimmy Lai struggled for# Hong Kong's freedoms, an ever-present## force fighting to preserve the city's rule of# law.

He arrived in Hong Kong at the age of 12,## escaping communist China by stowing away# on a fishing boat.

He worked his way up## to become a media tycoon, one of the city's# most successful and powerful businessmen.

But in the summer of 2020, Lai became the# most prominent person arrested under Beijing's## sweeping national security law, which allowed# Beijing-backed authorities to punish people## for -- quote -- "provoking the hatred of Beijing"# or receiving any support from a foreign country.

That was Lai's conviction for -- quote# -- "conspiring to collude with foreign## forces" and for publishing -- quote# -- "seditious articles," sentiments## echoed today by China's Foreign Ministry.

LIN JIAN, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson# (through translator): His actions have gravely## endangered national security and severely# harmed Hong Kong's prosperity, stability,## and the well-being of its residents.

And,## therefore, he deserved to be severely# punished in accordance with the law.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And that makes Lai's detention and# sentence about more than the man; 30 years ago,## he founded Apple Daily, a tabloid willing to# criticize the Hong Kong and Beijing governments.## Today, six of its former employees were# also sentenced, further extinguishing Hong## Kong's press freedom, says Edward Li, another# former employee who's now in exile in Taiwan.

EDWARD LI, Former Employee, Apple# Daily (through translator): A former## Apple Daily colleagu.. and now you don't even have# the slightest bit left."

MAN: That criminalizes the exercise of# freedom of association and expression.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, the sentencing condemned by## the United Nations, other governments# and Secretary of State Marco Rubio,## who called it a -- quote -- "unjust# and tragic conclusion to this case."

It is especially tragic for Lai's# children.

Lai's daughter Claire## called the sentence heartbreakingly# cruel, saying, if it's carried out,## he will die a martyr behind bars.

His son# Sebastien today called it a death sentence.

I interviewed Sebastien last fall.

As you know, I interviewed your father in August# 2020, and this is my last question to him.

Are you resigned on a personal level to# being found guilty and spending a long time,## even perhaps the rest of your life, in prison?

JIMMY LAI, Founder, Next Digital: I don't# think about this because I don't want to## put the psychological burden on myself until# the time comes.

I'm not worried just because## my life is about myself.

It will be# meaningless.

Only when I detach from## myself and thinking of my life is about# something bigger and not about myself## that my life becomes meaningful.# And that makes me going every day.

NICK SCHIFRIN: What's your# response to watching that?

SEBASTIEN LAI, Son of Jimmy Lai: It's -- yes,## it's obviously very emotional.

And he# knew that despite obviously the danger,## to his life that he had something mattered# more.

And so he stayed and defended his## principles and defended his colleagues.

And# I'm so proud to call this man my father.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And, today, Sebastien# Lai appealed to President Trump to once## again push for Jimmy Lai's release# during an April trip to Beijing.

For perspective on all this, we turn to# longtime career diplomat and former U.S.## Ambassador to China during the Biden# administration Nicholas Burns.

He's## now professor of the practice of diplomacy and# international relations at Harvard University.

Nick Burns, thanks very much.# Welcome back to the "News Hour."

We have talked for years about# the erosion of democracy,## freedom of the media and press in Hong Kong,# and that rule of law in the city looks like## rule of law in mainland China.

And so what# makes this 20-year sentence so significant?

NICHOLAS BURNS, Former U.S.

Ambassador# to China: Nick, this is a travesty of## justice.

Jimmy Lai is a great man.

He is# the strongest voice for freedom, de.. press rights, individual rights in# either Hong Kong or China today.

And he was not judged by a jury of his peers,# but by a kangaroo court of judges appointed and## beholden to Beijing.

And so that's why this is# important.

There's a climate of fear in China## today.

There's increased repression# in this authoritarian dictatorship.

And he is the most prominent case.

And I# think it's very positive that Secretary## Rubio issued the statement today, positive# that President Trump raised the case of Jimmy## Lai with President Xi Jinping when they met# last autumn.

And I hope very much that the## Chinese are now going to come under a lot# of pressure, the government of Beijing,## to issue a humanitarian release of Jimmy Lai to# live in his remaining years wherever he wants.

I think that's what the United# States should be pushing for.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Lai's children have# said that he is of ill health.

But remind us, what did Beijing promise when the# United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong back in 1997?

NICHOLAS BURNS: I remember very distinctly,# Nick.

I was with our secretary of state,## Madeleine Albright, in Hong Kong on June# 30, 1997, when the United Kingdom handed## over control and rule in Hong Kong# to the People's Republic of China.

And the Chinese leadership told us privately# and they told the world publicly that there## would be 50 years of autonomy for the people# of Hong Kong, that their individual rights,## like freedom of speech and freedom of the# press, would be guaranteed.

And so of course,## this sentencing and the national security# law that has taken place in Hong Kong has## made the Chinese renege on all of their# promises to the people of Hong Kong.

And it's a very, very bitter result.# So they have gone back on their word,## as many people suspected that they would.

And# that's a warning.

That's a warning to the people## of Taiwan.

When the government of Beijing blithely# says, we will let you have the same freedoms that## you enjoy now, that won't be the case if# the Chinese succeed in taking over Taiwan.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The Hong Kong office of China's# Foreign Ministry today issued a statement, saying## that foreign media should -- quote -- "respect# the independents of Hong Kong's judicial process."

Is there any doubt that Hong Kong's# judicial process is beholden to Beijing?

NICHOLAS BURNS: None whatsoever.

In fact,## Hong Kong today is a fully owned subsidiary# of the People's Republic of China.

I was there in 2024 while I was in China# as ambassador.

I went to Hong Kong,## in fact, during the week when this odious# national security law was strengthened,## and saw the fact that freedom of# speech had largely disappeared then## and that businesspeople had been cowed, both# Western, as well as Hong Kong business people.

And there was very little, if any,# freedom of the press.

And I think## today's sentencing has really put# the lid on what was once a great,## great role that the Hong Kong citizens had in# living in a free society next to mainland China.

NICK SCHIFRIN: As you mentioned and# as Sebastien Lai mentioned today,## President Trump did bring Jimmy Lai up to# Xi Jinping late last year.

President Trump,## of course, is going to visit Beijing# in April.

Do you think there is any## leverage that the U.S.

could push# for Beijing to release Jimmy Lai?

NICHOLAS BURNS: I think that there's a strong## outcry by the democratic world# and the United Kingdom, certainly,## and the United States and elsewhere that this# is unjust, that Jimmy Lai should be free.

He's already lived, Nick, five years in solitary# confinement, and he's not well.

And so I think,## if the outcry is strong enough, and if our# government and the British government push## strongly enough, there is a chance that the# government in Beijing will decide that a## humanitarian parole may be is in their best# interest because this really shines a light## on the fact that the government of Xi Jinping is# increasingly oppressive, increasingly autocratic.

You see the number of businesspeople, the# number of military people who've disappeared,## brought up on charges of corruption.# And so the climate in China is very,## very severe right now, much# more so than 10 to 20 years ago.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Well, as you say, it's not# only Jimmy Lai.It's not only Hong Kong or## democracy or press freedom.

Business# leaders, Communist Party members,## Christian Uyghurs, I mean, they have# all been targeted by Xi Jinping's China.

And now we have, as you just alluded# to, the equivalent of the chairman## of the Joint Chiefs of Staff basically.# You see him there, General Zhang Youxia,## essentially disappeared or he's been fired# all of a sudden.

What do you make of this?

NICHOLAS BURNS: This is the most important purge# of a military leadership in China since 1971,## when Lin Biao, who was the successor# to Mao Zedong, failed in a coup attempt## and died in a plane crash.

There's# been nothing like it in China since.

General Zhang was a close friend and associate# of President Xi.

And the fact that he's been## purged and that nearly the entire military# leadership of the country has been brought## up on corruption charges, these are really# uncharted waters for President Xi.

And it## indicates that he obviously wants full# and absolute control of his government.

Maybe there's a sense of paranoia here,# that he feels that he can't allow other## people to have any degree of power.

He# has not named a successor.

And, in 2027,## next year, he will very likely# decide to try to have a fourth## five-year term in office.

And that means# probably he will be president for life.

So this is a very significant development,# both the sentencing today, but also the## purge of the military.

And on top of that,# Nick, the Chinese in November and December## launched a major arrest of religious# leaders, Christian leaders in China.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Absolutely.

Nick Burns, form.. NICHOLAS BURNS: Thanks, Nick.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Last night's Super Bowl halftime show by# Bad Bunny delivered a powerful message## and made international headlines today.# The Grammy-winning Puerto Rican rapper,## singer and producer, whose full name# is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio,## is one of the most popular# musical artists on the planet.

His 13-minute set was historic, the very# first in Super Bowl history performed## nearly entirely in Spanish.

The# show was dense with symbolism,## including messages of Puerto Rican pride and# independence.

But it also quickly became a## magnet for criticism from the president# and others even before he took the stage.

To help us unpack it all, we're joined now by# Vanessa Diaz.

She's an associate professor at## Loyola Marymount University and the author of# the book "P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became the## Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance.

This is# all part of our arts and culture series, Canvas.

Vanessa, welcome to the# show thanks for joining us.

VANESSA DIAZ, Loyola Marymount University:# Of course.

Thank you for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: So you literally wrote# the book on Bad Bunny.

You teac.. a course on his cultural impact.

For anyone# unfamiliar, just how big a star is Bad Bunny?

VANESSA DIAZ: Bad Bunny right now is# the world's most streamed artist.

So## that just gives you a sense of the gravity.# This isn't someone who just is popular in his## hometown.

On a global level, Bad Bunny# is the number one artist.

And in fact,## he was three other years as well,# 2020 to 2022.

This isn't a new thing.

His popularity just keeps growing.

He# just recently got the first ever Grammy## Album of the Year for a Spanish-language album,## his album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos."

And he# won two other Grammys last week.

So he has## broken records we never imagined possible# for a Spanish-language artist.

And he's## been doing that for some time.

So on a global# level, Bad Bunny is a massive, massive star.

AMNA NAWAZ: So your book situates Bad Bunny in the# legacy of what you call Puerto Rican resistance.## Walk us through some of the moments in which we# saw that play out during yesterday's performance.

VANESSA DIAZ: I think one of the most profound# moments where Bad Bunny showed himself to be## not just a figure of resistance, but carrying# the long tradition behind him, is when,## just before he started the song "El Apagon,"# he emerges from the fields with a flag,## a Puerto Rican flag over his shoulder.

And if you notice, the triangle in blue# is actually the light blue.

And the light## blue is a symbol of Puerto Rican independence.# That's the color of the flag before the U.S.

in## 1952 changed the color to the dark blue to# mimic the colors of the American flag.

And## so that light blue is really symbolic of# advocating for Puerto Rican independence.

And as he walked out with that flag, we saw those## folks who were the cane field workers in# the beginning climbing these electrical## poles.

And that was a reference to what was the# longest blackout in American history following the## devastating Hurricane Maria in 2017 that left# Puerto Rico without power for almost a year.

So that song "El Apagon" means "The Blackout.

"# And so it was these workers, cane workers now## climbing the poles to repair electrical# issues.

And in the wake of the hurricane,## one thing that was really striking was that# the U.S.

was not responsive.

And Puerto## Ricans with no experience often climbed these# electrical poles to start reconnecting wires,## risking their lives to try to bring# their communities electricity.

And all of that was part of the meaning# behind these things that some might not know.

AMNA NAWAZ: There were some special guest stars# as well performing with him.

We saw Lady Gaga and## Ricky Martin.

Tell us in particular about the# song Ricky Martin sang.

Why is that important?

VANESSA DIAZ: Oh, so Ricky Martin# took the stage to perform the song## "Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii," which# is, "What Happened to Hawaii?"

And this song is perhaps the most# pointed political song on the entire## album "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos."

And it's# really about Hawaii and Puerto Rico as## two nations that were taken by the# U.S.

in 1898 and one became a state## and one is the commonwealth, some might# call it a colony, of Puerto Rico, right?

And so there's this tension around what should# happen to Puerto Rico.

And in that song,## Bad Bunny is saying he doesn't want us to be# like Hawaii, doesn't want Puerto Rico to become## a state.

And Bad Bunny had people at his residency# every Sunday night.

He had a guest sing that song.

And so this was a kind of nod to the residency and# also giving Ricky Martin, who had to cross over in## English to become the massive star that he became,# and to have him take the world's biggest stage and## be able to perform in his native language of# Spanish representing Puerto Rico and do this## political work he could never do as a mainstream# artist 25 years ago was very significant.

AMNA NAWAZ: We mentioned some of the criticism.# You saw the president describe the performance## as -- quote -- "an affront to the# greatness of America."

He said:## "Nobody understands a word this guy is saying."

As you also reported, Turning Point USA,# the conservative political group that was## founded by Charlie Kirk, held a counterprogramming# halftime show.

They billed it as the All-American## Halftime Show.

They saw upwards of some six# million viewers.

What do you make of that## sort of broader backlash both to his selection to# perform in the first place and the performance?

VANESSA DIAZ: I mean, from the moment Bad Bunny# was announced, there was immediate backlash.## And the reality is that has everything to do# not just with the current political moment,## but with the entire history of the U.S.# construing, in like a mainstream narrative,## construing Latinos as perpetual foreigners who# do not belong, who are a threat to the U.S.

And so this language of criticizing his# performance and calling him un-American## is just the perpetuation of these stereotypes,# despite the fact that he is an American citizen.## And I think that the fact that the halftime# show that Turning Point USA created was called## the All-American Halftime Show just goes to# show you that this isn't about citizenship.

This is actually about racism against Latinos.

And## that's just blatant to see because it# insinuates that Bad Bunny's halftime## show was not American.

And that was the# antithesis of what the performance was.

BAD BUNNY, Musician: God bless, America,# Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay.

VANESSA DIAZ: He talked about the fact that# not only do Latinos belong here in the U.S.,## we are an integral part of American# culture, and that America, America,## as he says, is actually more than just# the U.S.

It's all of the Americas.

AMNA NAWAZ: Despite the criticism, you# may have seen the embrace that he and## NFL commissioner Roger Goodell shared# backstage after his performance.

The## NFL even shared that moment online,# clearly happy about their choice.

From a business and cultural perspective,# why was Bad Bunny a good choice for the NFL?

VANESSA DIAZ: Well, the NFL is a business# organization.

Their primary concern is,## is this good business?

And there's no doubt,# I don't think by anyone's -- there's no## doubt from anyone that this was# the smartest business decision.

Bad Bunny is the biggest artist in the# world.

He's the most streamed artist in## the world.

He is selling out stadiums all# over the world.

So I think that Bad Bunny## was not just a natural choice.

He was the# best choice from a business standpoint.## And so this just happens to be a moment# with something very political coincided## with a strategic business decision.# And I'm really happy about that.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is Vanessa Diaz, associate# professor at Loyola Marymount University.

Vanessa, thank you so much for# your time.

Good to speak with you.

VANESSA DIAZ: You too.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Since it reopened in March of 2025, the# ICE family detention center in Dilley,## Texas, has held around 3,500 people,# more than half of them children.## The center was first opened# in the Obama administration,## shuttered by President Biden in 2021, then# reopened under President Trump last year.

As reports of contaminated food and the spread# of measles have made national headlines,## ProPublica went inside the facility, and# through phone calls, letters and e-mails,## spoke to two dozen detainees about# the treatment of minors inside.

Mica Rosenberg of ProPublica joins me now.

Mica, welcome to the "News# Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

MICA ROSENBERG, ProPublica:# Thank you so much for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, as you have been speaking with# these detainees for weeks now, half of them kids,## we should just point out these are some# of the kids you have been talking to,## 18-month-old Amalia and her family.

She's blowing# kisses to the screen here -- 13-year-old Gustavo.

I know they're sharing their experiences# with you.

Just tell us about what some## of the common threads are, some of the# common stories you have heard from them.

MICA ROSENBERG: Well, I think one thing# that really stands out in what's happening## in Dilley now is that, as you mentioned,# this facility opened up during the Obama## administration and families were housed# there, but they were mainly families who## were coming across the border and were# there supposedly for a short period of## time and hoping to be released into the United# States or to come here for the first time.

But what's happening now is, many of the# children that I spoke to are actually kids## who've been living in the United States for --# some for years, and their families were picked up## by ICE arrests in the interior,# some of them at regular check-ins.

And so a lot of the kids that I talked to had# really, in some cases, established U.S.

lives.## Some of them spoke perfect English.

Some of# them were in the middle of their high school## years when they were detained.

And so that's one# thing that was quite different than in the past.

AMNA NAWAZ: And we mentioned# those reports about measles## cases and some inedible food.

Did you# hear some of that from the kids inside?

MICA ROSENBERG: Yes, we heard -- one of the# things that we were trying to do with this## reporting was really to get the kids to talk# about their experiences in their own words.

And so one of the things that they did is,# some kids about what they were going through## drew pictures about their experiences, and# they talked about the repetitive food, some## of them saying that they were sick constantly or# getting sick, they maybe believed, from the water.

But some of the more vivid descriptions about# the conditions really came from their mothers,## who I spoke to over the phone or who e-mailed# me.

And they would talk to me about food that the## kids could see or they believed was contaminated# and that it was giving their children sickness.

And the administration says that these# conditions are not what they're described## as.

But this is from the firsthand experience# of the detainees inside.

One thing that we## did -- found is that there were over 300# kids who had been there longer than the## average of 20 days, which is what under a# longstanding legal settlement is supposed## to be the standard of how long kids# should be detained for and no longer.

AMNA NAWAZ: We know officials from the# administration have said the families## are getting top-notch care inside# Dilley.

They say they get medical## care and good food and learning# services, special caregivers.

You spoke with Alexander Perez,# 15-year-old from the Dominican## Republic who talked to you specifically# about school.

What did he tell you?

MICA ROSENBERG: Well, he said that# school is -- for the kids inside is## really only an hour a day.

There's -- the# classes are capped at 12 kids per class.

And they said that it really only# consisted of kind of worksheets, handouts,## and that because the different age groups are# mixed together -- and so a lot of the kids,## as I mentioned, who were sort of in# the middle of their school year were## really missing their education.

They# were worried about falling behind.

AMNA NAWAZ: Is it just a matter, Mica,# repetitive food and inadequate learning## or is there something more serious in terms# of the emotional or mental toll that you saw?

MICA ROSENBERG: I think their parents were# very worried that they were experiencing## more serious distress.

Mothers told me# about some kids who were self-harming,## who had cut themselves, other kids who had# spoken of suicide, kids who were very much## older than they should have been starting to wet# their bed, not being able to sleep well at night.

So these are more things that the mothers# told me about and the kids would talk## more generally.

So I think it's hard to# say what the long-term impact will be,## but I think it was -- it's been difficult on them.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I know you were able to speak# with some parents and kids after some of them## were released.

What did they tell you?

Were# they able to go back to their lives as normal?

MICA ROSENBERG: Well, a lot of it happened# relatively recently.

After I spoke to them,## they were released.

I did speak to one girl, Ariana, who was 14.. where she was welcomed by the# principal and her teachers,## who said that they had really missed her.

She# had worried about her grades and falling behind,## but they said that they would try and support her.

But she -- when she and her mother were detained,## they left behind two U.S.

citizen siblings,# a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old.

They were## detained in their regular check-in# and just didn't come home that day.

So## her siblings were really sort of traumatized by# that.

And her little brother said that he was## afraid to go to school because he was worried# that they wouldn't be there when he came back.

So I think it's a combination of how the# kids in detention are being impacted,## but also the ones who are left outside.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is Mica Rosenberg# of ProPublica joining us tonight.

Mica, thank you so much your# time and your reporting.

MICA ROSENBERG: Thank you so much for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: A new poll shows what Americans# think of President Trump and his policies,## and it's not good news for the White House.

For more, we turn to our Politics# Monday duo.

That's Amy Walter of## The Cook Political Report With Amy# Walter and Tamara Keith of NPR.

It's always great to see you both.

So, Amy, the latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll# .. the job that President Trump is doing,# with a majority strongly disapproving.

How significant is the intensity of that# opposition at this point in his term?

AMY WALTER, The Cook Political Report: Yes, well,## we also took this new poll fro.. Political Report poll tracker, which# is an aggregator of 21 national polls.

And what we found this week is# that the president actually is## at his lowest standing of his second# term at this point.

And it's really## driven by some key constituents that have# soured on him since he was first sworn in,## Latino voters, younger voters, independent voters.# Those were all critical to his success in 2024.

But the group that really is# the most fascinating to me,## and I think it's going to be really important# as we watch these next few months go forward,## are the voters that we always think# of as his core constituencies,## white working-class voters who have long# been very much behind the president.

We're seeing some significant slippage there, both# in the PBS poll and in The Cook Political Report## aggregator.

And these are the kinds of voters# that, you could argue that the slippage is really## driven by views on the economy, the frustration# about inflation and the cost of living.

And when you look at the battleground# states that are going to determine the## makeup of the House, but especially# the Senate, they run through places## where white working-class voters make up# a significant portion of the electorate.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, Tam, say more about that,## because President Trump expanded his# coalition in 2024, b.. expansion now appears to be slipping away.

Of# course, we don't know how enduring that is.

TAMARA KEITH, National Public Radio: Right.

GEOFF BENNETT: But it's a snapshot in time.

TAMARA KEITH: Right.

And the intensity of that di.. January 6 attack.

So there -- riot.

And so it's# pretty dramatic and it's a challenge for him.

And## as you say, he had expanded the base.

He didn't# win because of the base.

He won because of all## of these other people, independent voters, young# voters, Hispanic voters, as Amy's talking about.

On Air Force One over the weekend, we# reporters asked him a lot of questions## at one point.

He said something about# his base that I think really stands## out.

He is so focused on his base.# And with his base, the narrow base,## the titanium piece of the pie that he has had# since the beginning, he has strength still.

And what he says is "My base has# never been stronger.

My base is## me."

And then let's put an ellipsis# to get to the end of what he said.## "You could call it the America first# base.

They couldn't be more thrilled."

And that is who he's playing to.

And that is the# very reason that he's losing these other sort of## expansion voters that he had gotten.

And those are# -- the independent voters, these sort of expansion## voters, these are the people who are going to# decide the majorities in the House and the Senate.

GEOFF BENNETT: It sounds like the president is# trying to speak some support into existence?

AMY WALTER: Well, that's right.

That's right.

GEOFF BENNETT: This plays into a#.. AMY WALTER: Yes, which is, again, if# you are starting to lose -- he's not## doing worse with Republicans.

But his approval# rating among those white working-class voters## definitely has shrunk.

It's by about nine# points since the beginning of last year.

And, again, the economy is a big driver# of it.

The president likes to say the## economy is booming, everything's fine,# inflation has been tamed, it's a hoax,## this affordability thing that he's# been hearing about in the press.

But if you're a Republican on the ballot next# year, you can't afford that to be the message## that affordability is not such a big deal.# You want to talk about what you have done as## a Republican to help tame that.

Now, what# Republicans are hoping is that, in these## next few months here, as people filed their# taxes, they're going to get some nice refunds.

And there are studies out there showing# that Americans are going to get a bigger## refund this year than they did in 2025.# Are they going to remember that by the## time November rolls around?

That's a# really big question mark over that.

And our voters going to feel -- this is the other# frustration that they're having right now -- that## the president is rightly focused on affordability,# instead of being focused on a whole bunch of other## things that don't seem to have to do much with# bringing down the cost of stuff in their life?

GEOFF BENNETT: Yes, so the president# losing support on his handling of the## economy.

He's also losing support# for issues like the posting of that## racist meme on his social media# accounts attacking the Obamas.

I raise this because you mentioned# you were on Air Force One.

TAMARA KEITH: Yes.

GEOFF BENNETT: A.. the president all but admitted that it was he# who posted that meme online after the White## House initially denied wrongdoing and then# blamed it on a staffer.

Fill in the blanks.

TAMARA KEITH: Yes, so the White House was calling# this fake outrage.

It wasn't fake outrage.

There## were many Republicans who came to the president# and said, this is bad, you have got to remove it.

The fact that they removed it is an admission# of something they almost never admit, which is## that there was an error.

This was a mistake.

Now,# President Trump, his response was, yes, I saw the## beginning of the video, but I didn't see the end# of the video and, really, he thought he was just## posting what, based on viewing it, is an election# denial conspiracy theory from the 2020 election.

But that's what he said he wanted to post.# What he actually posted was that with this## racist meme sort of embedded in it.

And he# said, though, he told his staff to put it## out.

He also said, there's no reason to# apologize.

In an answer to me, he said,## no, he wasn't firing anyone.

He# said he didn't make a mistake.

And, in fact, he said he's the# least racist president that we## have had in a long time, which is quite a claim.

GEOFF BENNETT: This would not be the# first time where the White House seeks## to clean up something for the president# and then he undoes the cleanup job... which speaks to this question#of, if the White House comes up with messaging, how good is that messaging if# the president can't stick to it?

AMY WALTER: Right.

And there is -- they# need him to stay on message for their own,## but they also need him to be in# front to keep the base motivated.

GEOFF BENNETT: Amy Walter,# Tamara Keith, always a pleasure.

TAMARA KEITH: Thanks.

AMY WALTER: Thank you.

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

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

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