AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "NewsHour he's immune from criminal charges# stemming from his time in office.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Pentagon reveals Defense# Secretary Lloyd Austin is being treated for## prostate cancer.

The fallout from his undisclosed# surgery and subsequent hospitalizat AMNA NAWAZ: And 2023 blows past the# last record for the hottest year and## nears a critical global warming threshold# that countries have been trying to avoid.

RADLEY HORTON, Columbia University Climate# School: There's growing concern among scientist## that we may have underestimated# just how sensiti the Earth's temperature is to# greenhouse gases as they increase.

(BREAK) AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "NewsHour."

Donald Trump was in court in Washington, D.C.,## today, while his attorneys argued# the former preside federal prosecution connected to the# January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

GEOFF BENNETT: The three-judge appeals panel# seemed skeptical of the Trump legal team's## argument that Trump was acting in his official# capacity as president to -- quote -- " election integrity" when he undermined the# results of the 2020 presidential election.

JUDGE KAREN HENDERSON, D.C.

Circuit Court# of Appeals: I think it's paradoxical to## say that his constitutional duty# to take be faithfully executed allows# him to violate criminal laws.

GEOFF BENNETT: NPR justice correspondent Carrie## Johnson was at the courthouse Carrie, thanks so much for being with us.

And we should say the case is the presidency and the powers of the# presidency.

How did Mr. team argue that he should be immune# from criminal charges related to his## efforts to overturn the election?

What# was the case that made in court today?

CARRIE JOHNSON, NPR: Trump lawyer,# John Sauer, made a number of arguments.

One is that the role of judges to review some of# these issues should be, in Another essential argument he made was that# presidents can only be prosecuted if they have## already been impeached and convicted by the U.S.# Senate, even in the most extreme of circumstances.

And Sauer also pointed out that were these# judges to disagree and open an avenue for## criminal liability for former presidents,# that that would open the floodgates to lots of## recriminations and tit for tat from administration# to administration of differing political parties.

GEOFF BENNETT: And the judges peppered# Trump's legal team with questions trying## to test this immunity theory, with one# judge asking if a president could or the killing of a political rival and# get away with it as an official act.

JUDGE FLORENCE PAN, D.C. Circuit# Court Of Appeals: Could a president## who ordered Seal would he be subject to criminal prosecution?

JOHN SAUER, Attorney For Donald Trump:# If he were i JUDGE FLORENCE PAN: So your answer is no?

JOHN SAUER: My answer is qualified yes.# ha ve to occur under our -- the# structure of our Constitution,## which would require impeachment# and conviction GEOFF BENNETT: So, Carrie,# there's no precedent here.

Donald Trump is the first fo criminal charges.

What will# inform these judges' CARRIE JOHNSON: Well, history# is a guide here, Geoff.

No former president has been charged, b a pardon from his successor, Gerald# Ford, which acknowledges some sense## of criminal liability on his behalf and# concern about potential criminal action.

And one of the judges in this case, Michelle# Childs, also asked Trump's lawyer in this case## why Trump's lawyer in the impeachment over January# 6 conceded that he shouldn't be impeached there,## but that there should be a role for the# justice system to play criminally thereafter.

Judge Childs couldn't get the lawyer to understand# the distinction there or acknowledge it.

And there is a real contradiction the judges were# grappling with today over the sweeping nature of## Trump's arguments versus the reality on the ground# in some of these very extensive hypotheticals.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, Carrie, you# mentioned earlier that Trump's## lawyers argued that prosecuting Mr.# of inditing former presidents for# actions they took while in office.

How did the special counsel's team# respond to that argument in particular?

CARRIE JOHNSON: The special counsel# lawyer, James Pearce, basically said,## this has never happened before in a couple hundred# years of America happened now is because of the unprecedented# actions of former President Donald Trump,## who now faces two federal indictments,# this one in D.C. over January 6,## and another in Florida over materials he# allegedly refused to return to the FBI and## stored at his resort in really unsecure# areas of that facility, Mar-a-Lago.

And so James Pearce said that were the court# to accept Trump's view of his sweeping power,## even post-presidency, it would present a really# frightening, astonishingly frightening future for## the country, that presidents would have a license# to commit crimes and get away with it, basically.

GEOFF BENNETT: We should note that Donald# Trump attended this hearing today.

It's## an indication of how his campaign strategy# is intertwined with You see a courtroom sketch of him there.# What was it like inside the courtroom?

CARRIE JOHNSON: Yes, Trump entered a few# minutes before the hearing began around 9:30.

He was relatively quiet.

He wrote some# notes to his attorneys.

The only thing## people could hear him say was "Should I# sit here or is this where I sit?"

to his## legal team.

And he held his fire until# after he left the courthouse.

He went## to a hotel and then raised concerns about# the political nature of his prosecution.

Of course, there's no evidence that# the current president, Joe Biden,## played any role in this case, none whatsoever.

GEOFF BENNETT: And a ruling could# come within days, as I understand from this three-judge panel.

What happens next?# The lo CARRIE JOHNSON: That's right.

matters how quickly the court directs him# to act to take up an appeal either with a## full D.C.

Circuit Appeals Court or at the Supreme# Court.

Remember, this trial was set to start March 4.

That seems unlikely now.

But prosecutors# do want to get it going before the election.

And how quickly the appeals court rules# and what they say Trump can and can't do## next could determine whether Trump# faces any trials before November.

GEOFF BENNETT: NPR's Carrie Johnson.

Always a pleasure to CARRIE JOHNSON: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: The Pentagon and Walter# Reed medical center today revealed## that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin# is suffering from prostate Au stin's doctors say it was detected early,# and his prognosis is -- quote -- "excellent.

"## But there remains a chorus of criticism# about why Austin withheld his diagnosis## and much of his treatment for so long# from the public and the president.

Nick Schifrin has been following this story.

Nick, let's start with the secretary's# doing?

And why are we just learning# about this cancer diagnosis now?

NICK SCHIFRIN: So, on your first question,# Austin's doctors say they expect a full recovery although they also said -- quote# -- "This can be a slow process."

But there is no real answer to the second# question, and that is why all of this criticism that you just# referenced.

And to understand that,## let's go through the timeline# again, as we did last night.

In early December -- that's one month# ago -- Austin learned he had ca ncer.

On December 22, he underwent a# prostatectomy, the removal of part or## all of the prostate under general anesthesia,# and transferred his authorities to his deputy.

On January 1, he was admitted to the ICU# at Walter Reed with what his doctors would## diagnose as a urinary tract infection# and fluid in his abdomen.

On January 2,## he again transferred his authorities to his# deputy, but didn't say why.

And on January 4,## he informed the National Security Council# and his deputy about the hospitalization.

And, finally, January 5, he makes his# first public statement, and at no point## during that entire process, Amna, did he say# or admit that he had prostate cancer.

Take listen to the spokespeople today of the Defense# Department and the National Security Council,## Major General Pat Ryder and John Kirby,# admitting how in the dark they have been.

MAJ. GEN. PATRICK RYDER, Pentagon# Press Secretary: As soon as we had## this it.

We got it this afternoon and provided it# literally minutes before JOHN KIRBY, NSC Coordinator For# Strategic Communications: Nobody## morning.

And the president was informed# immediately after we were informed.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The Pentagon has cited the# fact that Austin -- that Austin's chief## of staff had the flu for the reason why# some of the delay, but t an explanation for why Austin did not admit# he had cancer at any point in the last month.

AMNA NAWAZ: We're so glad he# has an excellent prognosis.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Yes.

there seems to beg a lot more questions.

What's been the response among lawmak NICK SCHIFRIN: Very, very House Armed Services Chairman Republican Mike# Rogers today launched a formal inquiry.

He accused## Austin of -- quote -- "concealing" the fact that# he was incapacitated.

Today, the top Senate Armed## Services Republican, Roger Wicker, accused Austin# of a -- quote -- "clear violation of the law."

Even Democratic Chairman of the# Senate Armed Services Committee## Jack Reed today called for transparency and# accountability from th AMNA NAWAZ: So, bipartisan criticism there.

What's the administration NI CK SCHIFRIN: The administration is releasing# of the concerns.

The White House released a memo# obtained by "PBS NewsHour" by the chief of staff## laying out requirements for any Cabinet secretary# to inform the chief of staff as -- if he or she,## those Cabinet secretaries, are# unable to perform their duties.

The Pentagon last night issued new# requirements expanding the list pe ople who have to be informed when the# secretary has to transfer his duties## and also requiring the disclosure of the# reason.

Those were not required before.

And## both the White House and the Pentagon are# launching reviews that will last 30 days.

But congressional officials I talked to# today said that that is not enough and## there is still no answer, as we said, for# why the second in the military chain of## command withheld the fact that he had# prostate cancer for the last month.

AMNA NAWAZ: Looks like we will# be following the story ahead.

Nick Schifrin, thanks, as al NICK SCHIFRIN: Thanks very AMNA NAWAZ: In the day's other headlines:# Winter storms battered much of the country,## with everything from tornadoes to blizzards.# One system killed at least three the south.

Heavy rain and several reported# twisters struck the floor at a Panhandle.

Hurricane-force winds peeled roofs off# homes, downed trees and knocked out## power to thousands.

In the Midwest, more than# half-a-foot of fresh snow fell in some areas,## disrupting travel.

Interstates and# schools were closed in several states.

Senate Republicans signaled today that Congress# will need to pass another short-term funding bill## to avoid a partial government shutdown.

They have# agreed on overall spending, but need more time## to pass 12 individual appropriations bills.# Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said## a short-term continuing resolution would get# them passed the looming January 19 deadline.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): They have a top-line# agreement.

In the meantime, we need to prevent a## government shutdown.

And so the obvious question# is, how long does the C.R.

need to be?

And that## will be up to the majority leader and the# speaker to determine the length of the C.R.

AMNA NAWAZ: Republican House Speaker# Mike Johnson has said he would oppose any## further short-term funding bills.

He did not# immediately comment on today's develo The president of Ecuador says his nation# is in a state of internal armed conflict## tonight.

That comes after masked men broke# into a public television station with guns and## shouted they had bombs.

Police said later they'd# arrested all the intruders.

The president said## he's designating 20 drug gangs as terror groups# and ordering the military to neutralize them.

In Ukraine, the power grid operator reports# more than 1,000 towns have lost power## amid Russian attacks on the electrical# grid.

Scenes of damage are widespread,## and authorities say more than 500 drones and# missiles struck Ukraine just over New Year's## weekend.

A Ukraine air force official# says air defenses are stretched thin.

A new South Korean law will ban the# centuries-old practice of raising and## selling dogs for food.

Parliament voted today# to ban the production and sale of dog meat.## Animal rights groups pushed for the change, but# reactions among the general public were mixed.

LEE SOO-JIN, South Korea Resident: I'm# raising my children and a dog together.## The dog is my third child.

I'm so glad# the bill was dog meat should never happen again in the future.

KIM BONG-OK, South Korea Resident (through# translator): I don't eat dog meat,## but it's been It's not like everyone is consuming# it.

It's just a matter of preference.

AMNA NAWAZ: The law is set to take# effect after a three-year grace period.

NASA has decided to delay sending astronauts# to circle the moon until 2025.

That's a year## later than planned.

An attempt at a human# landing on the moon is also being pushed## back to 2026.

Meanwhile, a Pittsburgh# company gave up today on trying a moon## landing with a robotic craft.

It launched# Tuesday, but a fuel leak ended its chances.

On Wall Street, stocks lost Monday's momentum.# The Dow Jones industrial average shed nearly 158## points to close at 37525.

The Nasdaq rose# 14 points, but the S&P 500 slipped seven.

And Michigan is polishing its first college# football championship trophy since 1997.

The## Wolverines cemented an undefeated season last# night, beating the Washington Huskies 34-13.## Afterward, white and gold confetti showered# the field in Houston, as coach Jim Harbaugh## and his players celebrated.

Back in Ann Arbor,# bars filled with students erupted in cheers.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": the increasing# risk of criminal charges for women who experience## a miscarriage; a revelatory eyewitness account# of the Ukrainian resistance against Russia's## invasion; and how women's sports are# breaking into mainstream media coverage.

GEOFF BENNETT: Secretary of State Antony Blinken# is back in Israel for his fourth visit since the## war with Hamas started three months ago.

It's# part of a long regional tour that has Blinken## walking an increasingly narrow diplomatic line,# as he tries to keep the conflict from spreading.

William Brangham reports.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: When he arrived in Israel,## the secretary of state bore a smile, b East are demanding an end to the fighting in# Gaza and a clearer focus on what comes next.

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. Secretary# of State: I have just come from,## a number of countries in the Sa udi Arabia, and I want to be able to share# some of what I heard from those leaders with## the president, as well as with the prime# minister and the Cabinet later today.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: But in Tel Aviv, Israeli# leaders aren't ready t Defense secretary Yoav Gallant told Blinken# that while military strategies in the north of## Gaza have shifted, operations in the south and# center of the strip will intensify.

Displaced## Gazans in Khan Yunis, desperate to escape the# fighting, sent a plea to Blinken for help.

ENAAM IBRAHIM HIJAZI, Displaced Palestinian# (through translator): My message to the U.S.## secretary of state even if to a tent.

It's better than here.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Blinken received promises from# Middle E but only if an eventual Palestinian# state can exist alongside Israel,## something Prime Minister Netanyahu# has said he will not allow.

ANTONY BLINKEN: Israel must be# -- must stop taking steps that## undercut Palestinians' ability to govern# violence carried out with impunity,# settlement expansion, demolition,## evictions all make it harder, not easier, for# Israel to achieve lasting peace WI LLIAM BRANGHAM: Defending Israel# to the global community has become## an increasingly lonely position for the# U.S. Today, the U.K.'s for David Cameron, said Israel might# have committed war crimes in Gaza.

DAVID CAMERON, British Foreign# Secretary: If you're asking,## am this particular premises has been bombed or# whatever, yes, of course, I'm worried about## that.

And that's why I consult the Foreign Office# lawyers when giving this advice on arms expo WILLIAM BRANGHAM: As Israel continues# its assault on Southern and Central Gaza,## Palestinians seeking shelter# have nowhere left to go.

ABU YOUSSEF ABUEL-SOUD, Displaced Palestinian# (through translator): This is the fourth time## I have dismantled the tent children and my grandchildren.

We are# leaving.

We do not know what awaits us.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: As fuel supplies dwindle, donkey## carts have become one of the only ways Gazans# can tr On a bench outside Central# Gaza's Al-Aqsa Hospital,## this aunt grieved the death of her 2-year-old# nephew, Ahmad Issa Shahin (ph).

The li boy was brought lifeless to the hospital.# The rest of her family's fate is unknown.

SUHAD, Displaced Palestinian (through translator):# I don't know if my sister, or her children or my## if my father is coming.

I'm waiting for them, but# DR .

JAMAAL NAIM, Lost Family in Airstrike# (through translator): We found only some## skin from my d We didn't find anything else.

May God# rest her soul.

She was a top WI LLIAM BRANGHAM: Dr. Jamaal Naim carried the# remains of his dead daughter here.

He's lost three## children, three grandchildren, and his mother, all# killed in their sleep when their home was bombed.

DR JAMAAL NAIM (through translator): We have# no one except Allah.

On the day of judgment,## we're going to hold the Israelis to account,## the Arabs and all the Muslims in front of# WI LLIAM BRANGHAM: Nearby, another# burial for another child.

Dr.## Mohammad Abu Jayyab's sister's home# was bombed, killing her 3-year-old son.

MOHAMMAD ABU JAYYAB, Displaced Palestinian# (through translator): They say leave midtown## and go to Deir.

People don't know where to go and what to do.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: "Hand him to me, I# won't cry," his sister promised.

But## no amount of kisses are enough# for a mother's final farewell.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm William Brangham.

AMNA NAWAZ: 2023 was the hottest# year on record, by a long shot.

Europe's top climate agency released# data today showing global temperatures## averaged 1.48 degrees Celsius or 2.66# degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial## levels.

Record high temperatures# are expected to continue this year.

For more on the implications of this record heat,## I'm joined by Radley Horton.

He's professor# Radley, welcome back.

So, the planet didn' shattered previous records.

Did we expect# to see that kind of increase this quickly?

RADLEY HORTON, Columbia University# Climate School: No, we did not.

At this point, w gotten used to hearing this is the ninth# straight, the nine last years have been the## nine warmest on record.

But what we had happen# this year is that, over the last six months,## we were half-a-degree Fahrenheit height# warmer than any of those previous years.

So you could think of it like all the# previous years were stacked pretty close## together.

And along comes a year in# 2023 where the last six months were a## full half-a-degree warmer than any of those# previous years.

So this was not expected.

AMNA NAWAZ: So how do we account for that?# What drove that increase this past year?

RADLEY HORTON: Yes, well, we have# to start -- there's a few factors,## but we have to start with human# activities, the We're putting so much more heat in the system,# and there's growing concern among scientists## that we may have underestimated# just how sensitive the climate,## the Earth's temperature is to greenhouse gases as# they increase.

Are models missing some pro But there are some other things going on# besides that -- those human activities.## We had a very -- a moderately strong# El Nino that's under way right now.## That can be responsible for some warming of the# planet, but not this much.

And then, simi we had a volcanic eruption under the ocean that# actually put water vapor up into the atmosphere,## which, unlike most volcanoes, is effective# to some degree at warming the planet, but,## again, couldn't anywhere come close to explaining# this degree of shattering of previous records.

AMNA NAWAZ: So we know global# warming doesn't just mean more## heat and hotter records.

We know it also# means more ext have we been seeing those?

Where is it# becoming real for these communities?

RADLEY HORTON: Yes, and there's so many examples.

I will highlight some of the ju st as the global average temperatures# did.

You look at the degree of so these heavy rain events, these tragic# floods in 2023, like we saw in Libya,## for example, in Greece, certainly# heat waves front and center, right?

We saw exceptional heat across# Southern Europe, across China,## across the Southern U.S.

So this is# hugely impactful for our economies,## for our ecosystems.

How about the forest fires# that we saw across Canada?

By some estimates,## four times more burned area than ever before# seen in Canada.

It's directly related to the## planet warming, more than we thought it could,# causing the air to dry out and essentially suck## moisture out of that vegetation, priming# the pump for these really extreme fires.

AMNA NAWAZ: And we should underscore,## we're ta I want to point out the U.S. alone had 28# weather disasters last year.

The combined## damage killed 492 people and caused# nearly $93 billion in damage.

In short,## can we afford to continue at this pace?

RADLEY HORTON: Well, no, we can't.

We have to urgently reduce our We can see it by looking at the damages# this past year, economic and loss of life## and some of those things that don't# get captured by metrics like GDP.

But the additional concern, as you note,# because this year was so much warmer tha prior years and because of growing evidence# that we may have underestimated how vulnerable## we as a society are to a little bit higher# temperatures, it's becoming clear that,## if we want to avert these worst-case scenarios# and possible really catastrophic outcomes that are## beyond what our climate models or our financial# models or our crop models tell us is possible, we## need to urgently reduce emissions and we have to# adapt to these climate changes that are under way.

AMNA NAWAZ: Radley, that 1.48 degree# increase is just barely below the## 1.5 degrees limit that the world agreed# upon as what they would like to avoid to,## as you mentioned, avoid those worst-case# scenarios and the most severe outcomes.

We talk about the tipping point a lot.

Is this it?

RADLEY HORTON: Well, I'd say we don't# need to focus exactly on Really, the key takeaway, I think, is that we# are failing terribly at reducing our emissions.## But you're right that it's becoming# more and more clear than it was just,## say, five years or so ago that getting to# 1.5 degrees is catastrophic for We have underestimated how vulnerable# our systems are.

We have underestimated## how quickly these extreme events like heat# waves and heavy rain are going to change.

So, in that sense, whether it's a tipping point or# not, we're way more vulnerable than we and it's even more urgent than we thought# that we dramatically reduce our emissions.

AMNA NAWAZ: Radley Horton, professor at# Columbia University's Climate School,## thank you so much for joining us.

RADLEY HORTON: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: We are learning more about# what went wrong when a door panel blew## off an Alaska Airlines flight midair.# Officials are looking into whether fo bolts that were supposed to hold the# panel in place were actually missing.

The investigation grounded at least 170# other planes from Alaska and United Airlines,## and it's leading to many questions# about Boeing and the role of the FAA.

Jon Ostrower covers this all closely as# the editor in chief of The Air Current.## That's a site with reporting on the# aerospace and aviation industries.

Thanks so much for being with us.

And, Jon, we should sa loose bolts during its early inspections# of the 737 MAX 9.

Alaska Airlines said it found what it called loose# hardware.

Based on your reporting,## what accounts for this, faulty# installations or poor design?

JON OSTROWER, Editor in Chief, The# Air Current: Well, I think you're## How did these bolts become loose?# Did it happen during flights?

Did## it happen during manufacturing?

Did it# happen during assembly?

And getting to## the bottom of that is really the key# question about what actually caused## this door on the Alaska Airlines flight# to depart the aircraft at 16,000 feet.

GEOFF BENNETT: The CEO of Boeing today# acknowledged the company's mistake.## This was during a company-wide town hall meeting.

What more can you tell us about that# and what all this means for Boeing,## which has come under fire for a series of# safety issues connected to this JON OSTROWER: Well, yes, today's -- the town# hall in the factory in Renton, Washington,## where Boeing builds the 737, was a moment# for Boeing to pause and talk to its employees## about what they know, what they don't know,# what they can say, and what they're doing to## make sure that any issues in the factory# don't become safety issues in the field.

And I think that's something# that they're going to continue## to reiterate publicly.

I thi as we look at this and look at the span of the# history that has befallen Boeing over not just## the last five years with the grounding of the 737# MAX and twin accidents in Ethiopia and Indonesia,## is that coming off of that and rolling through# the pandemic, there was really a major shift in## how Boeing was producing the airplane, which was# that production had halted during the grounding.

And then the pandemic caused a huge turnover# of staff.

And those are both discrete events.## But I think what's really important to put into# context is that Boeing has tried to move beyond## that -- the tragedies that befell Ethiopian# Airlines and Lion Air back in 2019 and 2020.

But what they -- keep what keeps recurring is a# series of quality missteps that are not nearly## as severe as what we saw in the crashes# in 2019 and 2020, but certainly have not## mitigated these quality escapes, so to speak,# that cause tremendous disruption for Boeing,## for the airlines, in this particular case, a# very cute safety situation, safety crisis for the## MAX -- for Alaska Airlines and the 171 people,# passengers that were on board that airplane.

I think when Boeing looks at# how they move forward from this,## I think it's important to put into context# that Boeing's strategy fundamentally as a## company has not changed.

They have# adopted new safety procedures,## an ombudsman and reemphasized various tactical# moves in terms of how they approach safety.

But I think, fundamentally, the company's# strategy in terms of its goals for its -- both## its shareholders and its customers has not# changed in the last 20 years.

And so that## strategy currently is not, by all accounts in# the conversations that we're having with senior## leaders all across the aviation industry,# whether it be it Boeing's best customers## or their suppliers or other stakeholders who are# interested in their success as a national asset,## are looking at a strategy that is producing# the opposite results that they want to achieve.

And so that's going to be really the legacy# of this immediate issue once the aircraft is## expected to reenter service when more is known# and the initial investigation takes place.

GEOFF BENNETT: And in the minute we have left,# there are also questions about what this all means## for the FAA, that United and Alaska, which are# the two ai that they have both found loose parts in their# early inspections of the grounded aircraft.

It leads to questions about the FAA's inspection# processes and its overall oversight.

I mean,## what does accountability look# like for the FAA right now?

JON OSTROWER: Well, certainly,# Congress is going to be asking## questions about that in the weeks to com It's really important to remember that while the# conversation has focused on Spirit Aer the supplier to Boeing, and Boeing itself,# when the MAX returned to service in the end## of 2020 following the grounding, the FAA took# back responsibility for key delegated tasks,## including the final inspection and airworthiness# ticketing of each and every delivery.

So the FAA has played a role and been integrally## involved in Boeing's factories and their# deliveries since then.

So, certainly, how they have approached this is going to# be an important question going forward.

GEOFF BENNETT: Jon Ostrower of The Air# Current, thanks so much for being with u JON OSTROWER: Thanks so much.

Appreciate it.

AMNA NAWAZ: The case of an Ohio woman has# garnered national attention after she had# a miscarriage and now faces criminal# charges; 34-year-old Brittany Watts was## 22 weeks pregnant, and her pregnancy had# been deemed nonviable just days earlier,## when she miscarried in the bathroom# of her home in September of 2023.

Two weeks later, she was arrested on# charges of felony abuse of a corpse## for how she handled the remains.

If found# guilty, she faces up to a year in prison.

Joining me now is Mary Ziegler, a law# professor at the University of California,## Davis.

Her most recent book is called# "Roe: The History of a National Obsession."

Mary, welcome back, and thanks for joining us.

Help us understand this charge,# abuse of a corpse.

What are prosecutors# accusing B MARY ZIEGLER, University of California,# Davis: Abuse of corpse charges are from## very old laws that almost never# apply in thi So, if you think about abuse of a corpse, you're# thinking of people mistr experimentation, or you're thinking of people,# after a homicide, dismembering bodies to hide## the crime.

This almost never would be a charge# you would see applied in a miscarriage case.

So, essentially, I think what prosecutors are# faulting Brittany Watts for is not grieving## in the way they thought was appropriate following# her miscarriage.

Essentially, they're faulting her## for the way she disposed of the fetal remains# and the way she behaved after she did that.

AMNA NAWAZ: We should note miscarriages this# late in a pregnancy are rare.

Most occur in## the first trimester, but up to 30 percent# of all pregnancies do end in a miscarriage.

In Ohio or anywhere else, are there laws# around this in terms of how you should## be handling that miscarriage# or reporting that miscarriage?

MARY ZIEGLER: No.

I me experience a miscarriage, the only information# you're likely to find is what you should do to## protect your own health, essentially,# when you should seek medical attention,## when you may be experiencing a complication versus# when you can handle whatever's Th ere's no kind of how-to guide about# what you should do if you experience## a miscarriage at home.

So it's also, I think,# unusual for prosecutors to be holding Brittany Watts to a standard that wasn't written down# anywhere when she made the choices she did.

AMNA NAWAZ: So critics have looked at# this case and said this represents a## criminalization of pregnancy we have# seen an increase in ov Do you agree with that?

Have# we been seeing that trend?

MARY ZIEGLER: We have.

group Pregnancy Justice has documented, of laws# criminalizing the actions of pregnant patients,## particularly usually actions that were# taken by low-income people, people of color,## particularly substance abuse, sometimes of illegal# drugs, sometimes of legal drugs like alcohol.

You almost never, or, to my knowledge, never see# a prosecution of someone like Brittany Watts.## Everyone has conceded that this pregnancy# was already nonviable when the actions she## took that have led to charges began.

So this# is, I think, both a continuation of a trend,## but also an acceleration of a trend.

This# is something we haven't seen much before.

AMNA NAWAZ: That group you mentioned is# an advocacy group, Pregnancy Justice.

In their last year's report, they found there# were more than including pregnancy loss, was used in a# criminal investigation or prosecution.## That was from 2006 to June of 2022, the# month that Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Tell me about what we have seen# since then.

Where do these kinds of## prosecutions fit into the larger effort# to further roll back abortion access MARY ZIEGLER: The U.S. anti-abortion# movement's goal from its -- really## since the 1960s onward has been not just# the undoing of a rig but the recognition of a fetus or an# unborn child as a rights-holding person.

And in pursuit of that goal, they have# sought to write this idea of a fetus## as a rights-holding person into as many# areas of law as possible.

The ultimate## goal here is essentially to make the law# of abortion, which doesn't treat a fetus## as a rights-holding person, or the law of# the Constitution, the interpretation of the## Constitution that doesn't treat a fetus as# a rights-holding person, an outlier, rig to make it weirder and weirder to say, well,# this fetus doesn't have constitutional rights,## but we treat it as a person for# the purposes of abusing a corpse.

We treat it as a person for the purposes of# fetal homicide law, or wrongful death law,## or intestacy law, to sort of put incremental# pressure on a conservative Supreme Court to## move toward the recognition of personhood.# So this is very much playing the long game.## This is not a movement that thinks it's# going to get the recognition of fetal## personhood through Congress or through# the Supreme Court in the near term.

But it's worth remembering, of course, that it# took 50 years to u this, in some ways, for the anti-abortion movement# is the new Roe v. Wade.

It's th AMNA NAWAZ: While we have you, I would like to ask## you about the la The Supreme Court late last week allowed Idaho to# continue to enforce its The court is going to hear the case in their April# session.

But from what you have seen in other## states in terms of women traveling out of state# or having to file legal case right to terminate pregnancies, what do you expect# to see?

What's the impact on the ground in Idaho?

MARY ZIEGLER: Well, what we're seeing, I# think, in Idaho is likely to be of the most## serious import for people experiencing# complications in wanted pregnancies,## people who may have been able to fit in# under the kind of understanding of a medical## emergency that the Biden administration# has championed under this federal law,## the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor# Act, but who may not under Idaho's law.

I think it's also likely to have an effect# on physicians, who are not going to want to## risk the kind of criminal consequences that# Idaho's law authorizes for making t decision.

It's not unlikely that we will see# the Supreme Court maybe uphold this law or at## least reject the Biden administration's# interpretation of federal law and permit## Idaho's interpretation to take effect come# June, when the court renders a decision.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is Mary Ziegler,## law professor Mary, thank you.

Always good to see you.

MARY ZIEGLER: Thanks for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: The all out war in Ukraine# will enter its third year next month,## the battle lines nearly as frozen as the# nation itself during this frigid winter, but, two years ago, there was concern# that Kyiv wouldn't even last a week.

Nick Schifrin brings us a book# that explores how Kyiv survived,## written by a foreign correspondent covering# the war in the country of his birth.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Ukraine's national anthem is# a dark, but determined call for freedom.

It## begins with the line, "Ukraine has# not yet perished."

But it continues,## "Fate shall smile on Ukraine# and our enemies will vanish."

"Our Enemies Will Vanish," that is the# title of a new book out today about## the war by Yaroslav Trofimov, The Wall Street# Journal's chief foreign affa whose reporting from Ukraine before and# since Russia's full-scale invasion has## been indispensable, helping define# our understanding of the war.

And Yaro joins me here in the studio.

It's such a pleasure to have you.

YAROSLAV TRO NI The book's extraordinary be specifics in a second.

But it's also extraordinary# because it is personal.

You Th is is actually a photo of you.

That's you in the# glasses right down there in art class as a kid.

And you write in the book: "It felt wrong# to wear on the streets of my hometown the## vest and helmet by the botanical garden where I# used to go on dates, by the museum where I used## to spend afternoons.

The Russians thought it was# theirs in a country they believed didn't exist,## part of a nation they told themselves had# been invented.

How dare they, I thought."

How personal is this story for you?

YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: Very much so And I have spent m in other countries.

And I always# prided myself of thinking of, oh,## you know, Ukraine is such a peaceful# place.

It will never happen there.

And then one day it did.

And# I was prepared for that.

But,## still, there's sort of this sense of# personal insult, like, why?

This is## a city that is being bombarded, destroyed.# And its people have done nothing to Russia.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Beginning with before the# war, something that you reveal is that## there was a difference between Ukrainian# and U.S. intelligence before the war.

The## Americans had intelligence of what senior# officials around Putin were telling Putin.

But the Ukrainians had lower-level intelligence.# And they knew that those generals, those senior## officials, were actually lying to Putin.# Explain that.

And how did that play out?

YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: Well, basically, the# U.S. had a very high-grade intelligence.## So they knew what the generals were telling P And the generals were telling Putin that# the Russian army with all the money that was poured into it in the# previous decades, has a capa very quickly.

And also they were telling him# the Ukrainians will not be resisting very much.

What the Ukrainians knew from contacts in lower# levels of the Russian military was that a lot## of that money had been stolen, that the Russian# forces were not really as strong as advertised,## and also a lot of the Russian spy network# in Ukraine that was meant to facilitate## this rapid takeover was actually# not going to work for the Russians.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You were there# before the full-scale invasion,## the day of, and, of course, for mont And you write extensively about how# close so to downtown Kyiv at one point.

You point out# the Russians had a 12-to-1 troop advantage right## outside of Kyiv.

How close did the Russians# come to their initial goals in the capital?

YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: Well, they got pretty close.

The main Russian p and it was a pretty small Ukrainian National# Guard detachment made up of co managed to prevent the Russians from# landing planes with the reinforcement## there.

That was a really pivotal moment# in the very first morning of the war.

And then the Russians were there.# They were there for almost a month.## They had crossed the river of Irpin# to the east -- to the we and established a foothold.

And it was a# tremendous effort by everyone, the police,## firefighters, volunteers, everyone who could# hold a gun, to repel them at a very high cost.

NICK SCHIFRIN: One of the success stories# that Ukrainians had by October 2022 is## outside of Kharkiv and specifically in Lyman.

What did you see when you were one# of the first reporters into these areas liberated by the Ukrainian soldiers?

YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: Me and Manu Brabo, the Spanish# photographer who was wit drove very early in the morning# into Lyman and were really among## the first to enter.

There were# a few Ukrainian special forces## just clearing the center of the city# that were burning Russian vehicles.

And so I'm driving on the road, and we# saw blown-up Russian armored vehicles,## one another, another, another.

And we stopped,# thinking, is it safe not to go there?

And we saw## a man crawling from behind one of his vehicles# without a leg bleeding.

He clearly was either## part of the Russian forces or one of the# looters trying to steal items from there.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You write about and# reported extensively from Bakhmut as well.

And even a year ago, you spoke to# soldiers who were criticizing the## Ukrainian focus on Bakhmut in Eastern# Ukraine as taking away some of the focus## from more strategic goals in the south.# Why do you think President Zelenskyy had## a sense that he could ignore some of# the military advice he was getting?

YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: I think,# for President Zelenskyy,## it was a polit And the whole idea was, Ukraine is going ahead,# it's not retreating.

And it was at a big cost to## the Ukrainian military, for sure.

But it was# also a big cost to Russia.

If you remember,## the main Russian force that was --# the only Russian force that was on## the ground in Bakhmut was Wagner,# which was the only Rus that was capable of offensive operations in# Ukraine in the -- since the An d Wagner was destroyed in Bakhmut.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The book's subh And you write, looking back on the one-year# anniversary of the full-scale invasion:## "It was clear Ukraine had won the# war for its independence.

Ukraine## wasn't going to disappear# from the map once again."

That is, of course, still true today,# two years almost after the full-scale## invasion.

But I wonder if you# think that it's good enough,## or whether Ukraine and Ukrainians who you# talk to think that that is YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: Well, it's# never good enough, obviously.

And Ukrainians do want to regain t rule.

There are many Ukrainians living there in# terrible conditions under occupation.

But the## country has survived.

And it is continuing# to survive at a tremendous cost, because,## though the front line hasn't# moved much in the last year,## there are battles every day,# and people are dying every day.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And so the war continues.

YAROSLAV TROFIMOV: So the wa NICK SCHIFRIN: Yaroslav Trof Thank you very much.

YAROSLAV AMNA NAWAZ: The NCAA announced a new# eight-year broadca last week for over $900 million, with women's# college sports making up the bulk of the deal.

While women's athletics have traditionally# been on the sidelines of sports media,## in recent years, they have scored some# big wins with mainstream audiences,## effectively tripling their# coverage in the process.

Stephanie Sy dives into the rise of women's# sports and the JILLIAN HISCOCK, Women's Sports Fan: So, yes,# like I was at this championship game 2017.

STEPHANIE SY: Minnesota resident Jillian# Hiscock is a die-hard fan of women's sports.

JILLIAN HISCOCK: I'm a huge WNBA fan# and women's basketball fan in general,## but I follow everything.

STEPHANIE SY: But catching JILLIAN HISCOCK: So many women's sports# fans' experience has been walking into a bar,## looking around at the 20-plus TVs and knowing## that it is very likely the game# you want to watch is not on TV.

STEPHANIE SY: That is, until she# took a trip to Portland Oregon and## walked into The Sports Bra, the# world's first women's sports bar.

JILLIAN HISCOCK: It was literally# transformative walking in and just## knowing that this is a place# where my fandom is celebrated.

JENNY NGUYEN, Owner, The Sports Bra: It's not a## sports bar for wom STEPHANIE SY: Owner Jenny Nguyen# opened the Bra in 2022.

There,## she maintains the sports bar aesthetics,# but keeps the TVs tuned only to women's## sports coverage.

But keeping those screens# filled with women's sports took a game plan.

JENNY NGUYEN: If it was just what# was on TV and what was on cable,## there would not be enough to open The Sports# Bra.

So I reached out to women's sports media brands that do their# own YouTube channels, that kind of thing.

WOMAN: Welcome to the "Just# Women's Sports Super Show."

STEPHANIE SY: While traditional# broadcast media has often treated## women's sports as a benchwarmer,# new media has given it SHELLEY PISARRA, Executive Vice President of# Global Insights, Wasserman: Streaming platforms## have completely ch STEPHANIE SY: By including all# the ways fans now consume sports,## media and marketing researcher Shelley# Pisarra says women's sports grew from## just 4 percent to 15 percent of all# sports coverage in the past four years.

SHELLEY PISARRA: It is amazing.

And,## yes, it's triple w CHRISTINE BRENNAN, USA Today: When we look back,## we will look at STEPHANIE SY: The rise in coverage# comes as no surprise to veteran sports## journalist Christine Brennan.

It's# the fruition of a landmark piece of## legislation known as Title IX signed by# Richard Nixon in 1972 giving women and## girls the right to equal opportunity# in sports in publicly funded schools.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: We are now in the# beginning of the next 50 years of Title## IX.

It makes complete sense that we would# be seeing this explosion STEPHANIE SY: Brennan herself was a high# school athlete just after Title IX was passed,## but she didn't get to enjoy the benefits,# as the new rules took years to be enforced.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: I'm honored to have# been kind of at the very beginning,## just getting that first glimpse of what# would come in STEPHANIE SY: And what followed are big# headline-stealing moments, like the showdown## between Iowa's Caitlin Clark and Louisiana State# University's Angel Reese in the NCAA basketball## final, Katie Ledecky beating Michael Phelps# for most individual world swimming titles,## and Simone Biles' comeback to become# the most decorated gymnast in history.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Today is the greatest# day to be a woman in sports until tomorrow,## but the mainstream sports media has not caught up.

STEPHANIE SY: While few women's# sports receive prime-time slot their ratings have continuously# exceeded expectations.

The 2023 WNBA Finals were the most watched in# 20 years.

The National Women's Soccer saw a 20 percent increase in TV ratings# this season.

Women's college volleyball## is continuously shattering its own viewership# ratings, and that NCAA women's basketball final,## it averaged 9.9 million viewers, more than the# five-game average for last year's World Series.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: The rise of social media# has been a fabulous turn of events for women's## sports and women's sports fans, because, in# the old days, it just wouldn't be covered.

ELLIE CARSON, Women's Soccer Fan: Things that live## rent-free STEPHANIE SY: Eighteen-year-old# Ellie Carson is active on TikTok,## where she posts exclusively about# her favorite sport, wo ELLIE CARSON: I just posted a video, and then a# lot of people were commenting.

And I was, like,## blown away, because I really didn't have other# people in my life who liked women's soccer,## and I was like, oh, my God, there's other people?

STEPHANIE SY: Carson was first drawn# to the sport during the 2019 World Cu PROTESTERS: Equal pay!

Equal pay!

STEPHANIE SY: When the U.S. women's team was campaigning to earn as much# as their ELLIE CARSON: It definitely draws you to a team## when they stand for more than# JA QUINDA JACKSON, Women's Sports Fan: I love all## thin STEPHANIE SY: For South Carolina# resident Jaquinda Jackson,## watching female ballers is empowering,# and, for her sons, enlight JAQUINDA JACKSON: Showing two little# boys that women can and will compete,## it diminishes that whole stereotype# of women are like just one way.

BRENT ROWE, Women's Basketball Fan:# They're playing at such a high level,## it makes it really easy and# really entertain STEPHANIE SY: Brent Rowe has been a sports fan his# whole life, the men who make up roughly half the audience for# women's sports.

He's now a season ticket holder## for his local WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces and# a fan of their championship-winn ng A'ja Wilson.

BRENT ROWE: The Aces were the first professional# sports team to bring a championship to the city,## and the first ones to have a parade on# the Las Vegas Strip.

How cool is that?

I'm rocking an A'ja Wilson Jersey# when I'm walking down the street.

STEPHANIE SY: Men like Rowe represent a sea change## for women's sports and are key# to its growth, CHRISTINE BRENNAN: These are Title IX males who# were raised very differently than t or grandfathers, and they will be fighting to# make sure there's advertising for women's sports.

STEPHANIE SY: While college sporting# events are, thanks to Title IX, split## evenly between men and women, professional# sports are dominated by men's leagues.

But Jillian Hiscock is banking on that changing.

JILLIAN HISCOCK: In here, we will have all# kinds of memorabilia, art on th STEPHANIE SY: Inspired by her visit to The# Sports Bra in Portland, she's getting ready## to open A Bar of Their Own, the Midwest's# first female sports bar in Minneapolis.

JILLIAN HISCOCK: I was that young girl athlete# that never really had representation in any## kind of professional sports, in sports# bars, and the ability to really expose## our younger generation to these women# athletes is really important to me.

STEPHANIE SY: A Bar of Their Own# will open its doors this March in## what is expected to be another# banner year for women's sports.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Stephanie Sy.

GEOFF BENNETT: Later this evening on PBS,## "Independent Lens" presents a "B eyond Utopia" focuses on a pastor helping# families as they embark on a dangerous,## treacherous journey across China and Southeast# Asia, leaving their homelands behind.

SUE MI TERRY, Former CIA Analyst:# There is no freedom of religion,## there's no freedom of thought, there's no# freedom of one radio station.

There's one TV station.

BARBARA DEMICK, The Los Angeles Times:# North the world that completely bans outside broadcasts GWANG IL JUNG, No Chain USA:## GEOFF BENNETT: "Beyond Utopia" airs on PBS tonight## at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Check# your PBS station listings.

And that is the "NewsHour" for# tonight.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the