GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm# Geoff Bennett.

Amna Nawaz is away.

On the "NewsHour" tonight: JOE BIDEN, President of the United States:# Their brutal ordeal is over.

They're free.

GEOFF BENNETT: High-profile Americans held in## Russia are released as part of the biggest# East-West prisoner swap since the Cold W..

Emergency crews struggle to contain# rapidly spreading wildfires burning## through large swathes of the Western U.S. And former President Donald Trump# doubles down on the remarks he made## about Vice President Kamala Harris at# a convention for Black journalists.

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

The waiting, the worrying, and the dreadful# wondering are over tonight for .. who were jailed in Russia and their families.# Journalists Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva,## and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan# are heading home tonight after an## extraordinary deal struck among the U.S.,# its allies, and the Russian government.

A fourth person, a U.S. green card holder,# Vladimir Kara-Murza, was also released.

Nick Schifrin starts our coverage.

NICK SCHIFRIN: In 80 years of U.S.-Russia and U.S.# Soviet spy swaps, today's was the most complex,## two dozen people on one Ankara, Turkey, tarmac,# Russian dissidents, convicted Russian spies,## and detained Americans who will be coming# home and spoke to their family members in## the Oval Office on a day President# Biden called historic diplomacy.

JOE BIDEN, President of the United States:# This is an incredible relief for all the## family members gathered here.

It's a# relief to the friends and colleagues## all across the country who have been# praying for this day for a long time.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Among those released, 32-year-old# Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich,## the first journalist since the Cold War# sentenced in a Russian court for spying.

PAUL WHELAN, Released From Russian Prison: I# got a medical condition that prohibits this.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Former American Marine Paul# Whelan detained by Russia six years ago.## Russian-American Radio Free Europe/Radio# Liberty correspondent Alsu Kurmasheva,## sentenced to six-and-a-half years# for spreading false information.

They posed for a photo with U.S. officials# as they flew home.

Also released, American## resident and Russian-British# activist Vladimir Kara-Murza.

VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA, Russian Opposition# Activist: This personal accountability## may well be the only thing that# will make them think twice.

NICK SCHIFRIN: He's a Pulitzer# Prize-winning journalist and## pro-democracy activist who lobbied Congress# to create the Magnitsky Act, the U.S.' most## well-known human rights sanctions.

He was# twice poisoned, but kept returning to Russia## to try and create the democratic future# he envisioned, as he told me back in 2016.

VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA: We believe in the rule# of law.

We believe in human rights.

We believe## that Russia should enjoy the same democratic# institutions that the rest of Europe enjoys.

NICK SCHIFRIN: To get them out, the U.S. worked# with Germany, Slovenia, Norway, and Poland that## held Russian intelligence agents convicted# of crimes, who are now handed back to Russia,## most notably Vadim Krasikov, who murdered# a Russian dissident in a German playground.

President Vladimir Putin lauded# his work to Tucker Carlson.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President# (through translator): That person,## due to patriotic sentime.. NICK SCHIFRIN: Slovenia is releasing Russian# sleeper agents Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva,## who posed as Argentineans.

The administration# says their part of today's deal was finally## secured in a phone call between President# Biden and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert## Golob on July 21, just hours before President# Biden withdrew from the presidential race.

The U.S. is releasing what a senior administration# official says are three Russian intelligence## officials, each convicted by U.S. courts for# cyber crimes, hacking or sanctions evasion.

JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. National Security Adviser: It# is difficult to send back a convicted criminal to## secure the release of an innocent American.

And# yet, sometimes, the choice is between doing that## and consigning that person basically to live out# their days in prison in a hostile foreign country.

NICK SCHIFRIN: A U.S. official tells PBS "News# Hour" the Central Intelligence Agency tried to## secure earlier versions of this deal, in January# 2023, the Slovenian sleeper agents for Whelan, in## March 2023, the Slovenian sleeper agents and two# other Russian agents for Whelan and Gershkovich.

Each was rejected by Russian intelligence,## which each time demanded Krasikov.

Germany's# willingness to send Krasikov began as an attempt## to try and release former opposition# leader Alexei Navalny.

That deal was## initially agreed to by President Biden and# Chancellor Olaf Scholz in early February.

But before Navalny's name could be formally# offered to Russia, Navalny died in a Russian## penal colony.

U.S. officials say they negotiated# for months, including a letter from Biden to## Scholz, and Germany finally agreed to# release Krasikov in return for some of## Navalny's former allies in Russian detention,# including Lilia Chanysheva and Ksenia Fadeyeva.

Russia is also releasing well-known# Russian human rights defender Oleg Orlov## and political prisoners Sasha# Skochilenko and Ilya Yashin,## jailed for criticizing the war in Ukraine,# all of whom get new lives in Germany.

JOE BIDEN: They stood up for democracy# and human rights.

Their own leaders## threw them in prison.

The United States# helped secure their release as well.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But not all Americans got out.# Army Staff Sergeant Gordon Black,.

who's been## sentenced to nearly four years in prison# for theft, will remain in Russian detention,## as will American teacher Marc Fogel, convicted# and sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2022.

His mother, Malphine, met with former# President Donald Trump in Butler,## Pennsylvania, the same day of his failed# assassination attempt.

As for those released,## Putin welcomed the Russian spies and their# families home.

And the American families## felt relief.

They will soon see their# loved ones for the first time in years.

And Miriam, Alsu Kurmasheva's younger# daughter, will celebrate her 13th birthday.

JOE BIDEN: Now she gets to celebrate with# her mom.

That's what this is all about,## families able to be together again,# like they should have been all along.

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

GEOFF BENNETT: Jon Finer is President# Biden's deputy national security adviser,## and I spoke with him about# the prisoner swap moments ago.

Jon Finer, welcome back to the "News Hour."

JON FINER, U.S.

Principal Deputy National# Security Adviser: Thanks.

Good to be here.

GEOFF BENNETT: All told, this was among the most# complex prisoner swaps.. War.

The deal was in the works for the last two# years, as I understand it, and ultimately came## together in the last two weeks.

What were the# key inflection points?

How did this all happen?

JON FINER: Look, I think there are# a few key aspects of this deal that## really speak to the approach that# our administration and President## Biden have taken to foreign policy# since we got here.

One is diplomacy.

We have said from the very beginning diplomacy# would be the hallmark of our foreign policy,## and that includes diplomacy at the level# of the president.

He made a call to## a fellow head of state, the prime minister of# Slovenia, one hour before telling the country## and the world that he was no longer going# to be running in this year's election to## try to free up one more aspect of this# deal that was ultimately successful.

It's that sort of face-to-face and# person-to-person diplomacy that's at## the core of our policy.

Second is allies and# partners.

The president has said his world## view was predicated on rebuilding, revitalizing# America's alliances, and you saw a half-dozen## allies come together today with different aspects# of this deal, which ultimately led to get it done.

And the third is execution.

As you said, this# was highly complex.

It involved a wide range## of countries, complicated logistics,# all coming together on the same day,## and it was executed without a# hitch.

And as a result of that,## a large number of people who would otherwise# be held captive are going to be coming home,## including three Americans and one legal# permanent resident of the United States.

GEOFF BENNETT: A question about the timing.

Why## now?

Why did Vladimir Putin view this# deal as being in his best intere.. JON FINER: Well, I'm the last# person who's going to speak## to the mind-set of Vladimir Putin.

That# would be a question better placed to others.

But one of the things that you realize, having# worked now on a number of these deals, even## though this one was the most complex, is that they# sort of move on their own speed.

They're a long,## very agonizing sometimes periods in which# it feels like not a lot is getting done.

You continue to beat your head against# it, continue to try to be creative,## come up with new solutions,# problem-solve, have conversations,## and then ultimately things can end up# moving much faster than anyone anticipates.

And that's what happened here.

We wish we# could have done this sooner.

Ultimately,## we got it done, we believe, in a timely# fashion that has led people to now be home## spending time with their families before too# much longer.

And we're quite happy about that.

GEOFF BENNETT: To what degree does# this signal any sort of breakthrough## of tensions between the U.S. and Russia,# and might any of this successful diplomacy## be put to use in helping bring an# end to Russia's war in Ukraine?

JON FINER: To be honest, I would caution# anybody against drawing too many broader## conclusions about the U.S.-Russia# relationship based on this deal.

That is not the course we're on, what# you just described.

We are obviously## in a very difficult place, completely on# opposite sides of the conflict in Ukraine,## and I don't see that changing any time# soon unless Russia makes a significant## set of changes to its approach and its# world view, and we don't anticipate that.

What we had here was a target of opportunity,# an opportunity to get some people home who## otherwise would be continued to be held# in a just unconscionable situation.

We## took that opportunity.

But, otherwise, we are# continuing with our approach, certainly with## the Ukraine war, into our broader approach to# the world, on its current course and speed.

GEOFF BENNETT: While this nightmare is certainly# over for those released, there were other## Americans, as you well know, who were left out# of this exchange, namely Marc Fogel, an American## sentenced to 14 years of hard labor in Russia,# and a U.S.-Russian citizen, Ksenia Karelina,## who's facing charges of treason for allegedly# donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity in the U.S. What is the administration doing to# secure their release at this point?

JON FINER: There continue to be# a number of Americans held under## very difficult circumstances, including the# two Americans you just mentioned in Russia,## including Americans in Syria and Afghanistan# and other places around the world.

And this administration has made an enormous# commitment from before the time we came into## this office, from the transition# to the Biden/Harris administration,## to do what we could to get these people home.# I think the president has now an extraordinary## track record of doing just that.

We're going# to continue to work on those cases and all## cases of Americans held who shouldn't# be until the end of this administration.

GEOFF BENNETT: Deputy National Security Adviser# Jon Finer, thanks for joining us this evening.

JON FINER: Thanks again.

GEOFF BENNETT: Now let's get some# additional perspective on the prisoner swap.

Nick Schifrin has that -- Nick.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Geoff, to discuss the# larger implications of today's events,## we turn to Andrew Weiss.

He's a former# State Department official who served in## the George H.W.

Bush and Clinton administrations,## and is now the vice president for studies at# the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Thanks very much, Andrew Weiss.

Welcome back... ANDREW WEISS, Carnegie Endowment for# International Peace: Great to be here.

NICK SCHIFRIN: ... t.. As we just showed a few minu.. and time welcomed home all these Russian spies and# their families on a big red carpet, big flowers.

What messages is he sending?

ANDREW WEISS: So Vladimir Putin goes to# great lengths to wrap hi.. of the Russian security establishment, but# all of that covers up a pretty unpleasant## and embarrassing fact, which is that Russian# spies have been arrested all over the world## or caught red-handed doing bad stuff, including# the hit man in the Berlin case, Vadim Krasikov.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Krasikov, right.

ANDREW WEISS: So what Vladimir Putin is doi.. frankly, for the continued underperformance# of his security establishment and acting## like they're big heroes.

They're# screw-ups.

They're not heroes.

NICK SCHIFRIN: As I reported earlier, the U.S.# offered two different trades before today,## for Whelan by himself and then Whelan, Evan# Gershkovich, including those two Russian## so-called illegal sleeper agents that had been# caught in Slovenia, but both were rejected.

And the message that the U.S. got was,## call us back when we have Krasikov.

So# why is Krasikov so important to Putin?

ANDREW WEISS: So there's indications that they# know each other personally.

The Wall Street## Journal has a wonderful long piece that appeared# some time today that says they potentially worked## together back when Vladimir Putin was the# deputy mayor of St. Petersburg in the 1990s.

So this is a career Russian intelligence# operative who's presumably conducted a## variety of assassinations and targeted killings in# various parts of the world, including in Moscow,## and who claims to have gone to shooting ranges and# done other things with Vladimir Putin personally.

So there seems to be a connection between# the two men -- the two men, rather.

And you## saw when he came down the jetway today at the# airport of Moscow, Vladimir Putin hugged him.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And you and I have# talked multiple times about how## the different parts of the national security# apparatus in Russia often fight each other.

Could there also be a dispute within the# intelligence agencies inside of Russia over## who to release?

And would the FSB -- Putin being a# former KGB colonel, would the FSB win that fight?

ANDREW WEISS: So Russia has a sprawling# national security apparatus, which is## big by design.

It's intended to kind of# avoid power consolidating in any corner,## so that Vladimir Putin can# kind of divide and rule.

But what we have seen, rather than the# Russian security establishment backing## away from confrontation with the West, is# leaning in.

And so we have seen reports of## the Russian intelligence services trying# to assassinate the CEO of a senior German## defense manufacturer.

We have seen# them conduct sabotage operations.

When Vladimir Putin says he's at war with the# West, I think we need to take him at his word.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Why would# Putin agree to this deal now,## three months before the U.S.# election,instead of waiting.

ANDREW WEISS: Vladimir Putin is a cold-blooded## operator who is tactical and who# believes in being transactional.

So for him to get what he thinks is a pretty# good deal -- for ages, they have been pushing## to get the hit man in the Berlin case released.# This is a person who is serving a life sentence## for conducting a murder, a targeted killing, in# broad daylight.

So, for them, this is a good deal.

And if you look at the other Russians# who are coming out of detention,## these are people who Russians wanted back, who are# intelligence operatives that have been rolled up## in Poland and Norway and in Slovenia, as# well as people conducted in U.S. courts.

But what is -- all these debates about a deal come# down to are the numbers, and the counting game is## really complicated.

So U.S. officials today# are at pains to say we're getting 16 people## out and the Russians are getting eight back.# So it's not an apples-to-apples comparison.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And yet Putin# did not release other Americans,## as Geoff was just highlighting, Marc Fogel# included.

Why might he withhold some of them?

ANDREW WEISS: They're bargaining chips.# So there are other Russians that they want## back.

There are people that the Russians# will continue to take into attention.

Any American who's foolish enough to go# to visit Russia, even for family reasons,## is at risk.

President Biden today made a point of# that in saying the underlying message of today's## good news is also that people need to steer clear# of travel to dangerous destinations like Russia.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And quickly, in the moments we# have left, you have had an extensive career## in government.

How complicated would it# have been to coordinate all the European## countries and all the U.S. agencies and# Russian intelligence to get this deal?

ANDREW WEISS: I'm glad you brought that up.

That's# what's truly unprecedented about today's news.## It's a multidimensional problem that wasn't just# negotiated between the United States and Russia.

The German role was absolutely# critical because, as you pointed out,## that was the key demand from the Russian# side.

So without the German support,## this deal would not have come together.

And# then you had lesser roles played by our allies.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Andrew Weiss, thanks# very much -- Geoff, back to you.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, thank you both.

And, Nick, as you mentio.. Marc Fogel, who was sentenced to 14 years in# a Russian penal colony back in 2022.

He was## arrested in 2021 at a Moscow airport for# carrying medically prescribed marijuana.

Earlier this evening, before I spoke with# the deputy national security adviser,## Marc Fogel's sister, Anne,# joined us from her Montana home.

Anne Fogel, thank you for being with us.

ANNE FOGEL, Sister of Marc# Fogel: Thank you for having## me.

It's really important# that I t.. GEOFF BENNETT: While some families are rejoicing# today as they have been reunited with their## loved ones, your family still has to wait.# How are you doing?

How are you holding up?

ANNE FOGEL: It's been a heart-wrenching 36# hours.

I spoke with Marc yesterday morning## on the phone.

And he -- when I realized# that he was still in Rybinsk and everyone## else had been pulled out of their penal# colonies, it was -- my heart really sank.

But it's really hard to give up hope.

And for# the entire day, I roller-coastered, around## thinking that Rybinsk is about# four-and-a-half-hours from Moscow.## And I thought that maybe they would be driving him# down or I -- it was just really hard to let it go.

GEOFF BENNETT: When you spoke with him, what did# he say?

What did he tell you?

How is he doing?

ANNE FOGEL: He was kind of in the dark.

He knew## that something was going on.

And then# he saw a little bit of news about Paul.

They're constantly playing the television and# news stations in the penal colony that he's## in.

And so he knew something was going on,# but he doesn't speak Russian.

So he wasn't## exactly sure.

And he called.

And I didn't# want to -- I know this is crushing him.

So I didn't want to tell him what I knew.

But# we -- at that point in time, we were calling## our senators and calling the ambassadors that we# have been in touch with.

And we were trying to## get something activated for him.

And so it was a# crazy day of phones and messaging and e-mailing.

And it's all for naught.

GEOFF BENNETT: The national# security adviser, Jake Sullivan,## said today that the administration is working# to secure your brother's release from Russia.

Have you heard anything from the administration?

ANNE FOGEL: No, we have never heard# from the administration.

I did ta.. to -- my sister-in-law and I did talk# to Jake Sullivan about two years ago.

But Marc has never been prioritized.

He# had -- he was convicted under the same## code as Brittney Griner, but he was never# designated as wrongfully detained.

And we## don't have the NBA behind us and we don't# have The Wall Street Journal behind us,## so it's been very difficult# for us to get our man out.

GEOFF BENNETT: Your mother, your 95-year-old# mother, filed a lawsuit in June against the## U.S. State Department over its failure to# declare Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained.

Why do you think he hasn't# received that designation## and how has it complicated efforts,# in your view, to secure his release?

ANNE FOGEL: I don't think he's been# designated because I don't think he's## important enough.

As I said, we just don't# have the notoriety, the celebrity status.

And, believe me, the worst part of# this process is being pitted against## other Americans.

I don't want that.

No# one wants that.

Marc doesn't want that.

GEOFF BENNETT: When we started our# conversation, you said you wanted## to get your brother's story out.

What do you# want folks to know about your brother Marc?

ANNE FOGEL: I want you to know that Marc# has had an outsized impact on the world,## essentially, because he has taught# internationally for so many years.

He has thousands of students that he has taught,# and he is -- there's not a hall of fame for## teaching, but he is the best of the best.

And# you have one of his students in your newsroom,## as we speak.

He has students all over the# world writing to him, praying for him,## making movies about him.

We need justice.

He needs# to come home.

He needs to be with his family.

His life and sons need him.

And this# is absolutely unfair that they did not## bring him home with the greatest historic# prisoner swap since the World War.

I wish I## could be more steady perhaps in saying these# things, but I feel very wronged for Marc.

And he needs to come home, and the# Biden administration has nothing## to lose.

They should have brought him home.

GEOFF BENNETT: Anne Fogel,# our thoughts are with you,## your family and your brother Marc.

Thanks again# for your time this evening.

We appreciate it.

ANNE FOGEL: Thank you for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: Concerns about a growing conflict## in the Middle East start# our day's other headlines.

That's after Israel's military confirmed an# airstrike last month had killed the leader of## Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif.

Also# today, Iran's supreme leader attended the## funeral in Tehran for another Hamas leader,# Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in an attack## this week.

Israel has not claimed responsibility,# while, in Beirut, mourners paid their respects for## Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in# an Israeli strike in Lebanon's capital on Tuesday.

Addressing the crowd, Hezbollah's# leader threatened retaliation,## saying the conflict had entered# a new phase.

For his part,## Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu# said his country is ready for any response.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister# (through translator): Israel is highly## prepared for any scenario, both# defensively an.. will exact a very heavy price for any act# of aggression against us from any arena.

GEOFF BENNETT: In Tel Aviv, Israelis took# to the streets to mark 300 days since the## October 7 attack and called for an immediate# release of hostages still being held in Gaza.

The U.S. Air Force has concluded that a deadly# Osprey crash off the coast of Japan last year## was caused by a -- quote -- "catastrophic# failure" in a gearbox.

The investigation## also found that the pilot ignored warnings# to land the aircraft.

The crash killed eight## service members and led to a monthslong# grounding of all military Ospreys.

It## was one of several Osprey crashes in recent# years that killed 20 service members overall.

A New York appeals court has rejected# Donald Trump's attempt to have the gag## order in his hush money case lifted.

A# panel found that the judge in the trial,## Juan Merchan, was right to extend parts of the# order until Mr. Trump is sentenced in September.

Separately, Mr. Trump's defense team# has asked that Merchan be recused from## the case for a third time.

In a court# filing, they cited an alleged conflict## involving the judge's daughter and her# ties to Vice President Kamala Harris,## who is now likely to be Mr. Trump's# opponent in the November election.

Senate Republicans today blocked legislation# that would have expanded the child tax## credit for low-income families and extend# some corporate tax breaks.

In doing so,## they torpedoed a bipartisan $79# billion tax bill that the House## had overwhelmingly approved.

Republicans# are betting that they can push through a## more conservative tax bill next year if they# win control of Congress and the White House.

The U.S. Department of Transportation# proposed a rule today that would ban## airlines from charging parents to sit# with their children.

Under the proposal,## children 13 years or younger must be allowed# to sit with their parent or guardian for## free.

If adjacent seats aren't available# when booking, families can opt for a full## refund or wait for a seat to open up.

And# if one doesn't, they can rebook for free.

The Biden administration says the rule could# save a family of four up to $200 in seat fees.

On Wall Street today, stocks dropped after# recent data sparked worries of an economic## slowdown.

The Dow Jones industrial# average fell nearly 500 points,## or more than 1 percent.# The Nasdaq lost 400 points,## falling back toward the 17000-point level.

The# S&P 500 also ended sharply lower on the day.

And spoiler alert, we have more results# from the Paris Olympics.

The all-around## final for women's gymnastics was packed# with stellar performances, but, in the end,## gold went to the greatest of all time.# Simone Biles can now add a record sixth## Olympic gold to her resume.

Another# American, Suni Lee, got the bronze.

And swimmer Katie Ledecky made history by# capturing silver in the 4x200 freestyle## relay.

That's Ledecky's 13th Olympic medal, making# her the most decorated U.S. female Olympian ever.

Looking at the overall medal count, and Team# USA has solidified its lead with 37 medals,## including gold medals today in# swimming, rowing and fencing events.

Still to come on the "News Hour": we speak# with voters about how the shakeups in the## presidential race have shifted their# views; key conspirators of the 9/11## attacks now held at Guantanamo Bay are# set to plead guilty, what's in the deal;## and a new book on the international strongmen# who work together to end democracies.

An especially active fire season is exacting# a huge toll across several Western states.

A series of fires have turned deadly in# Colorado, where at least one person was## found dead.

In California, more than 5,800# personnel, 500 fire trucks and 40 helicopters## are battling a fire that's larger than all# of Los Angeles.

The Park Fire, as it's known,## is the country's largest and has ballooned# to historic proportions in just over a week.

Stephanie Sy has the latest.

STEPHANIE SY: This is the view for# firefighters on the front lines of## California's Park Fire.

The blaze, believed# to be started by a local man's burning car,## is now the fifth largest in state history.

SERGIO ARELLANO, Cal Fire: I have not personally## seen a fire grow so fast in# such a short.. STEPHANIE SY: In just a week, nearly# 400,000 acres burned across four counties,## forcing thousands of evacuations and# destroying hundreds of structures.

In rural Cohasset, California, Dave Tehan and his# son Jonathan are both members of the county fire## department.

While they battle to protect their# town, their own homes were lost to the flames.

DAVE TEHAN, Volunteer Firefighter: I feel# luckier than some of the people here,## because we do have a few things, not very# much, but a few things to hold in our hands## that survived.

The friends from --# that I have known for so many years## have just stepped up and shown so# much support.

I feel rich in that.

STEPHANIE SY: Kristy Michael Daneau also# live in Cohasset.

They lost their house## to another fast-moving fire six years ago# in Paradise, California.

Now this is all## that remains of the home where they rebuilt# their lives.

They had no fire insurance.

KRISTY DANEAU, Wildfire Evacuee: The# most important things I grabbed was## me and my brother and sister have my mom's ashes,## along with my dad.

And so I was able to# grab a few little pictures and her ashes.

STEPHANIE SY: The Park Fire's explosive# expansion is nearly unprecedented,## says UCLA climate scientist Daniel SWAIN.

DANIEL SWAIN, Climate Scientist, UCLA: This# is definitely a top-tier event in terms of## how quickly it moved across the landscape in those# initial days, some of the vastest rates of spread## over that initial 24-to-48 hour period that we# have seen on a wildfire in this part of the world.

STEPHANIE SY: Nearly 100 fires are# currently burning across the West## and 4.5 million acres have already burned# this year, about a million above average.

This week, multiple blazes broke# out across Colorado's Front Range,## killing at least one person and forcing# residents to flee their homes near Denver.## Governor Jared Polis has now activated the# National Guard to assist with logistics.

Meanwhile, in Oregon, crews are stretched# thin, battling more than 30 separate fires.

DON CAPE, Oregon Resident: I have lived here# all my life and never, never seen it this way.

STEPHANIE SY: To make matters worse,## another brutal heat wave is forecast to# turn up the temperature this weekend,## a dynamic that Swain says continues to drive# the intensity of this year's fire season.

DANIEL SWAIN: It has become a very# active season.

And a big part of the## reason for this is that nearly the entire# western half of the country as well,## as the western half of Canada, have# experienced, much like California has,## record-breaking heat in recent weeks# over a very long and sustained period.

So all of that extra heat, even following what# was a relatively wet winter in some places,## has really dried out the vegetation, in# some cases to near-record dry levels.

STEPHANIE SY: And that means there's# plenty of fuel for the fires yet to burn.

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

GEOFF BENNETT: Former President Donald# Trump is facing backlash for calling## Vice President Kamala Harris' racial identity into## question when he addressed a Black# journalists convention yesterday.

That's as the vice president# herself wrapped up a series of## events aimed at speaking directly to Black voters.

Our Laura Barron-Lopez has more.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Delivering the eulogy# before hundreds of mourners at Fallbrook## Church in North Houston today, Vice President# Kamala Harris bid farewell to a friend,## the late Texas Representative Sheila# Jackson Lee, who served in Congress## for nearly three decades and became one# of its most influential Black members.

KAMALA HARRIS, Vice President of the United States# (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: To honor## her memory, let us con.. a promise of freedom, opportunity and# justice, not just for some, but for all.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Harris remembering# a fellow Black woman trailblazer,## as her own racial identity is being# attacked by her rival, Donald Trump.

Speaking to a historically Black# sorority yesterday, Harris slammed## her opponent hours after the Republican# nominee questioned her racial identity.

KAMALA HARRIS: Donald Trump spoke at# the annual meeting of the National## Association of Black Journalists,# and it was the same old show,## the divisiveness and the disrespect.

And let me# just say, the American people deserve better.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Trump was asked if Harris,## who is poised to be the first Black and South# Asian woman to.. was a DEI or diversity hire, as some# of his Republican allies have said.

DONALD TRUMP, Former President of the#United States (R) ... promoting Indian heritage.

I didn't know# she was black until a number of years ago,## when she happened to turn black, and# now she wants to be known as black.

DONALD TRUMP: So, I don't know.# Is she Indian or is she black?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: In spite of the backlash,## Trump is digging in, posting this# to his social media plat.. thanking Harris for the -- quote -- "nice picture"# that showed the "love of your Indian heritage."

And at a rally in Pennsylvania last# night, the Trump campaign displayed## news headlines that referred to her as# an Indian-American senator.

The former## president accused Harris of faking her identity.

DONALD TRUMP: In her speech in Atlanta last night,## Kamala Harris even tried to outbrand a new# Southern accent.

Did you hear a new accent?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Harris is biracial, the# daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father,## and her Black identity a key part of her# history as the member of a historically## Black sorority while a student# at a historically Black college.

Today, at the U.S. southern border, Trump's# running mate tried to put the spotlight back## on policy, namely, immigration.

Vice presidential# nominee J.D.

Vance toured an unfinished section## of border fence in Arizona and blamed Harris# for the Biden administration's border policies.

SEN. J.D.

VANCE (R-OH), Vice Presidential# Candidate: Has Kamala Harris done anything## you have asked her to do?

She is the# border czar.

Has your border czar done## anything you have asked her# to do?

And the answer is no.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Harris, however,## was never charged with overseeing bor.. addressing root causes of migration and# why people flee their countries of origin.

And with 96 days until Election Day, the breakneck# pace of campaigning for Harris and Trump is just## beginning.

The Trump campaign said today# it raised nearly $140 million last month,## trailing the $200 million Harris raised# in the first week of her campaign.

Harris could be the official Democratic# nominee by Monday and will hold her first## rally with her yet-to-be-named running# mate next Tuesday in Philadelphia.

For the PBS "News Hour," I'm Laura Barron-Lopez.

GEOFF BENNETT: And for those voters who# have not firmly decided which presidential## candidate to support, the events of the# last month, including an assassination## attempt and a new Democratic candidate,# have dramatically reshaped the race.

Lisa Desjardins connected with the type of voters## likely to decide the election# before and after those shakeups.

LISA DESJARDINS: We heard from thousands of# voters across the country, different ages,## politics and walks of life,# all dreading this election.

MAN: I'm wishing for something, like, normal.

MAN: I feel despondent.

I feel# that there is no good choice.

WOMAN: I just feel overall really# disappointed and really hopeless.

LISA DESJARDINS: We will highlight a# few now.

In June, they were unhappy.

CARLYN PINKINS, New Mexico Voter:# Frustrated, disappointed, let down.

ANA FERNANDEZ, Florida Voter: A little dejected.

LISA DESJARDINS: But just weeks later... LISA DESJARDINS: ... extraordinary events# changed the race.

An assassination attempt## raised a new image of Trump, followed# shortly by a new partner in the race,## with Trump choosing Ohio Senator# J.D.

Vance as his running mate.

And just days later: JOE BIDEN, President of the# United States: I have decided## the best way forward is th.. LISA DESJARDINS: Biden was out of the# race.

Vice President Kamala Harris was in.

But what did all this mean for voters?# From our deciders, we have a snapshot## of the change.

It was large for Ana Fernandez, a# 22-year-old in Miami, about to go to law school.

Here's how she felt over a month ago.

ANA FERNANDEZ: I have not a lot# of confidence that things are## going the way that they should in this# country, but trying to maintain hope.

LISA DESJARDINS: But her feelings now?

ANA FERNANDEZ: Like, I feel joyful,# excited, like so hopeful, so exci.. LISA DESJARDINS: Ana, who's finishing a gap year# before law school, is herself an immigrant from## Cuba.

She crossed the border as a 4-year-old and# sees her family as part of the American dream.## But she also sees immigration policy that is# failing both migrants and the border itself.

A Democrat, she trusts Harris more than Trump to# improve things.

She has questions about Harris,## but she's ready for a new generation and# all the memes that Harris has sparked.

KAMALA HARRIS, Vice President of the United#States (D) and U... ANA FERNANDEZ: She's definitely energizing me.# While I love to think that I'm a serious consumer## of news, I also love when Charli XCX tweeted that# Kamala is brat.

Like, that made me very happy.

CARLYN PINKINS: It was almost# like a cloud had lifted.

LISA DESJARDINS: In New Mexico, Carlyn Pinkins# has a sense of hope too, but it may not help## Harris.

Pinkins is a graduate student and# working multiple jobs.

She has a full life,## trivia nights and getting outdoors, but# rent is high and she barely gets by.

She believes both parties are failing people# like her.

She wants to vote third party,## but in June was worried about that# helping Trump.

This was her then.

CARLYN PINKINS: We have these two# candidates that don't care about## people in my situation.

And I'm# steadily year after year watching## things for me and my friends and# people in my community get worse.

LISA DESJARDINS: And now?

CARLYN PINKINS: I feel a lot better voting#.. are putting up a candidate that has a# good -- a really good chance, I think.

LISA DESJARDINS: What about a# group Trump especially needs,## unhappy and critical Republicans?

So a few things have happened# since we last talked.

ZACH HORN, Pennsylvania Voter: They# have.

It's been quite an experience## here so far.

I told you I wasn't too# excited for this election cycle.

And## I guess it's probably been the most# exciting one we have had in a while.

LISA DESJARDINS: Zach Horn is a teacher in# Western Pennsylvania, a family man and sports## fan with two kids.

He's highly tuned in to# the election.

In June, he was undecided.

ZACH HORN: This is the first year where# I'm just not as excited as I would have## been in the past.

So I think that's where# that disappointment feature comes in.

LISA DESJARDINS: But three weeks# later, the assassination attempt,## just an hour from his home, put# Trump in a more human light for him.

ZACH HORN: It just -- it helped to make him more# personable, I guess is what you would say.

So, in## a way, like, in terms of the vote and things like# that, it kind of moved me closer to a Trump vote.

LISA DESJARDINS: He watched the Republican## Convention thinking perhaps# Trump would be a unifier.

DONALD TRUMP, Former President of#the United States (R) ... LISA DESJARDINS: And for 25 minutes, Zach heard a## candidate he could support.

But then the# speech and Zach's thoughts changed again.

ZACH HORN: It became a stump speech.

And# it was a lengthy stump speech, at that.

And## that lost me, to be quite# honest.

I was going to say,## I was hoping for the call for unity.

It# didn't happen the way that I expected it## to.

And so that initial move closer kind of# got washed with some of those things later.

LISA DESJARDINS: Now he's looking at# Harris, considering her seriously,## and saying her V.P.

decision could make# the difference.

Zach's experience with## Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has been good.

ZACH HORN: If Josh Shapiro# gets selected as the V.P.,## I'd probably go from a lean-Trump# position currently to a lean-Harris## position at that point.

But I still# want to hear what everybody has to say.

Another unsure Republican.

STEVE BECK, Alabama Voter: If it was tomorrow, it# wo.. LISA DESJARDINS: Steve Beck runs his own travel# agency in Alabama.

In June, he had mixed feelings.

STEVE BECK: On one hand discouraged, but,# on the other hand, just encouraged because## we have a process that has been around a# while, and it still does a very good job.

LISA DESJARDINS: He remains disappointed,# but he's trying to move past it,## even as he still doesn't love the# candidates or how they got here.

STEVE BECK: I wish Kamala Harris had gone through# a process.

I wish there was someone other than## Trump.

But this is where we're at.

And it's up# to me as a voter to continue to look deeper.

LISA DESJARDINS: One more# decider in a swing state.## This was Georgia voter Lauren Capie in June.

LAUREN CAPIE, Georgia Voter: Frustrating.

LISA DESJARDINS: She felt neither Trump nor Biden## listens to voters.

And now# with Harris as a candidate?

LAUREN CAPIE: I feel differently.# I feel more positive.

I feel like## maybe she's more in touch than he is.

Of# course, she's younger, and she's female.

LISA DESJARDINS: Capie works for the Social# Security Administration and finds joy in## travel.

And while she had been more anti-Trump# before, she now sees reasons to like Harris.

LAUREN CAPIE: Something feels different.

I don't## know what that is.

But, yes,# I'm a little more hopeful.

LISA DESJARDINS: Something# feels different.

For voters,## for the deciders especially, the# race is not over.

It's restarting.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.

GEOFF BENNETT: The man accused as# the mastermind behind the September## 11 terrorist attacks and his# two accomplices have agreed## to plea -- have agreed to a plea deal in# exchange for avoiding the death penalty.

The development comes 16 years# after their prosecution started.

Ali Rogin has the latest.

ALI ROGIN: The three men, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed,## the alleged leader behind the attacks, and# Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash and## Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, all agreed to# plead guilty in exchange for life sentences.

The men have been in custody since# 2003 and initially charged in 2008,## but there have been years of legal delays due## in part to the brutal torture the men# were subjected to while in detention.

In a letter, government prosecutors said# they recognize the deal would be met with## mixed reactions among thousands of# family members who lost loved ones,## but they called it the best path to# finality and justice in this case.

For a closer look, I'm joined by Wall# Street Journal reporter Jess Bravin.## He's the author of "The Terror Courts," an# account of military trials at Guantanamo Bay.

Jess, thank you so much for joining us.

How did this deal come to be# and why is it happening now?

JESS BRAVIN, The Wall Street Journal: Well,# this deal was under negotiation since 2022,## and it wasn't the first time a# deal like this was considered.

For years, prosecutors and officials in the# military commission apparatus thought that a## deal for life sentences in exchange for guilty# plays was -- pleas would be the only way out.## So an earlier effort was quashed by higher-ups in# the Pentagon.

This one began, as I said, in 2022## and has continued as some of the detainees, some# of the defendants, KSM, as we have called him,## and the other two decided they were ready to get# some finality for their own fate and move forward.

So it really accelerated in the last# two weeks.

There was a court session## at Guantanamo Bay.

Prosecutors and the defense## attorneys said they were ready to wrap# it up and try to get this case closed.

ALI ROGIN: Prosecutors had# sought the death penalty,## but the alleged torture that# the defendants underwent for## years complicated those proceedings.

How# did that all factor into this decision?

JESS BRAVIN: Well, it was# really essential, because,## right after 9/11, when reports began emerging# about brutal treatment of enemy prisoners,## torture, as in fact President# Obama called it at one point,## began to emerge, there were questions about# how would this affect any future trials?

And there were legal experts then who# warned that it would make it very difficult,## if not impossible, to prosecute people# if they were severely mistreated by the## government while in custody.

And# that is exactly what has happened.

These detainees wanted to bring in evidence# of how they were treated by the CIA.

Mohammed## had been water-boarded.

They'd been beaten.# All kinds of things had been done to them## that the United States would not tolerate for# its own citizens.

And they wanted to bring in## evidence saying that any statements# they made were infected by torture.

So a lot of the pretrial wrangling# over more than a decade has been over,## what can the defendants introduce about their# treatment?

And then there was a second factor,## which is that under a doctrine# sometimes called unclean hands,## the government is punished by courts# when it commits misconduct in a trial.

And abusing defendants in custody is# misconduct.

So it is possible that,## even if they were convicted and sentenced to# death, on appeal, a higher court might sanction## the government by taking the death penalty off the# table.

So the death penalty seemed to be really a## bridge too far, given the mistreatment of these# prisoners after they were captured by the U.S. ALI ROGIN: And what do we know about how the# families of 9/11 victims are responding to this?

JESS BRAVIN: It is a total mixed# bag.

There are thousands of families## of victims.

And as you would expect,# there are opinions across the gamut.

There are some who feel that nothing# short of death is appropriate for## these defendants.

And based on their# actions, it would be hard to say,## if the death penalty is appropriate for# anyone, it wouldn't be appropriate for## them.

Others simply oppose the death penalty.# Many Americans and people around the world## just philosophically are morally opposed# the death penalty period for anybody.

And some of those are among the victims' families.## And then there are those who really# take the prosecutor's point of view,## which is that, ideally, they could pursue# capital punishment for these defendants,## but it's just time for closure and it's time# to end this proceeding and move forward.

One of the features of the deal is that# there will be a sentencing hearing,## where the defendants can testify, but# they will have to answer questions## from the victim's families.

And for many of# those families who are looking for answers,## who are looking for some sense of these# accused perpetrators, that hearing will## be the substitution for a full trial on# what happened in the lead-up to 9/11.

ALI ROGIN: In the moments we have left,## what happens next?

Where do these# defendants spend.. JESS BRAVIN: Well, again, it hasn't fully been# approved by all the proceedings that have to## happen.

But the plan is that they will next enter# a plea probably within a week or a month of now.

Next year, there will be the sentencing# hearing.

And after their sentence is confirmed,## they likely will spend it right where# they are now at Guantanamo Bay.

The## technical status of their detention will# change.

They will be sentenced prisoners,## but in terms of their day-to-day lives, probably# not much will change.

They will be looking at## the same four walls that they are looking# at right now for the rest of their lives.

ALI ROGIN: Jess Bravin, covering this every step# of the way, thank you so much for joining us.

JESS BRAVIN: You bet.

Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: Today's historic prisoner release# from Russia was thanks to the diplomatic work of a## group of democracies, freeing over a dozen people# from the autocratic regime of Vladimir Putin.

But, as William Brangham reports,## a new book examines how autocracies are gaining# power and what they're doi.. WILLIAM BRANGHAM: In her new book,# Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum## punctures the commonly held image# of an isolated autocrat.

Instead,## she documents the often interconnected# ways these strongmen rise to power,## how they bolster each other, and then# work in tandem to undermine democracy.

The book is called "Autocracy, Inc.: The# Dictators Who Want to Run the World."

And Anne Applebaum joins us now.

Welcome back to the "News Hour."

ANNE APPLEBAUM, Author, "Autocracy, Inc.: The# Dictators Who Want t.. WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Can we start with a def.. communist, often without knowing# what those terms really mean.

What is an autocrat, and who are the# autocrats out there that we would know?

ANNE APPLEBAUM: An autocrat is someone who# seeks to rule with no checks and balances,## with no checks on his authority, with no judges,# no media, no intermediary figures or institutions,## who wants to control everything that happens# in the state and to make all of the decisions.

And I -- the autocrats who I'm most interested# in are the ones who not only want to have that## system at home, but who are interested# in protecting people who want to create## those systems abroad.

So, the book# is mostly about Russia, China, Iran,## North Korea, Venezuela, and a host of others,# Zimbabwe, Azerbaijan.

There's a list of them.

And, increasingly, they operate as a network.# They seek to protect each other and also## to disrupt the democratic world.

And that's# because the language of the democratic world,## meaning rights, laws, rule of law, justice... WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Accountability.

ANNE APPLEBAUM: ... accountabi.. that's the language of their# own internal oppositions.

And so they need to undermine the# people who use it and, if they can,## discredit it.

And that's part of what# we're seeing happen now around the world.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: One of the stereotypes# that you try to puncture here is this idea## that they really don't have shared interests,# that they work individually to oppress and## terrorize their own citizens, but don't really# care so much about what happens elsewhere.

What is it that they do see as the value in# helping -- what does Xi see in helping Putin,## or Putin in North Korea, for instance?

ANNE APPLEBAUM: Well, some of it is pragmatic.# So Putin gets ammunition from North Korea,## and he gets drones from Iran, and he gets# components for his defense industry from Xi.

And some of it is a little bit more than that.

So# Xi may have an interest in not seeing Putin fail,## because, if Putin fails, that speaks badly# of autocratic systems.

It speaks badly of the## kinds of leaders who rule with absolute power.# And it might have a negative impact on him.

They worry a great deal about the# autocratic club and the fate of its members.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Your book is# dedicated to the optimists out there.

And I wonder, when you look at how the West and# NATO stood up to Putin's aggression in Ukraine,## does that give you a sense# of optimism that the forces## of democracy can be martialed against autocracy?

ANNE APPLEBAUM: It really did.

I mean, it was a# moment nobody was really sure what would happen## when Russia invaded Ukraine in full-scale# invasion in 2022, and the degree to which not## just the old West, Europe and America, not just# NATO, but the entire democratic world rallied.

There's something like 50 countries# who've participated in the defense of## Ukraine or the aid of Ukraine.

The# flip side is that I don't think we## fully understood at the beginning of# the war the degree to which there was## going to be an autocratic network# that was going to support Putin.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Supporting him... ... with arms# and money and al.. ANNE APPLEBAUM: Arms and money# and support of other kinds.

And we need to now begin thinking about how# to counter that.

And people are beginning to## think about it, but a little --# like everything, a little late.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: This is not a# book about Donald Trump.

I mean,## he gets a few passing mentions and a# good chunk of the last page of your book.

But you do write that, if he were# reelected and uses the tools of## executive power against his perceived enemies,# that it would -- quote -- then it would be:## "The blending of the autocratic and# democratic worlds will be complete."

Do you think that Donald# Trump wants to be an autocrat?

ANNE APPLEBAUM: He certainly# says so.

I mean, sometimes,## he says so in a kind of jokey way:# I will be dictator for one day.

Sometimes, he says so in the language he uses# about -- whether it's about President Xi,## who he admires, or President Putin, who he# admires, or even the dictator of North Korea,## who's driven his country into poverty# and isolation, who he also admires.

So he's telling us what kinds of people# are around -- and he rarely -- he has## very few kind words for American# allies or for fellow democracies.## It's really the absolute -- people with# absolute power that he wants to be like.

And you can also hear in the language he uses,# whether it's about judges, or whether it's## about the media, or whether it's about American# institutions of other kind, about the electoral## system, that he has great disdain for the# institutions of democracy and the rules that## were set up to make sure that power is checked in# our country and that the executive isn't a king.

And those are disturbing traits.# And they would be -- they would be## disturbing at any time in history, but# they're particularly disturbing now,## when we have the rise of so many leaders# with absolute power around the world who## would love to have a transactional# American president to do deals with.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: People who live# in democracies love to think that,## when pressed, that the system will be robust# and stand up to this.

I mean, that was what## many people thought of -- happened during the# first Trump administration, that the system held.

Do you think that that's naive?

ANNE APPLEBAUM: It can be naive.

I mean, there is a pattern.

You .. who lose elections, people like Donald Trump who# believe they are owed power, they deserve power,## who lose elections and who come back in a second# term and say, right, this time, I'm not going to## make that mistake again, and who then change their# electoral system, or, in Orban's case, change the## constitution, change the judicial system,# in order to make sure that they never lose.

The attention that's paid,# for example, to Project 2025,## which is a project of The Heritage Foundation,# which describes exactly how you would do that## and which sounds remarkably like what's# happened in other countries, including,## by the way, in Venezuela -- that# was how Hugo Chavez took over.

This isn't necessarily a right-wing# or a left-wing project.

It's just an## antidemocratic project.

And the fact that he will# be surrounded by people like that is disturbing.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The book is called "Autocracy,# Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World."

Anne Applebaum, great to# see you.

Thank you so much.

ANNE APPLEBAUM: Thank you.

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

I'm Geoff Bennett.

For all of us here at the "PBS# News Hour," thanks for joining us.