GEOFF BENNETT: Good evening.

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Hillary Clinton# testifies to.. the Epstein files, while the# Justice Department looks into## whether documents mentioning President# Trump were withheld from the public.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Trump administration halts## Medicaid funding to Minnesota# over allegations of fraud.

AMNA NAWAZ: And a whistle-blower warns that# ICE recruits are not receiving proper training.

RYAN SCHWANK, Former ICE Academy Instructor:# It is a recipe for someone else to die,## potentially for multiple people to# die.

And it's going to be done by## officers who deserved better from this government.

(BREAK) GEOFF BENNETT:## Welcome to the ".. Members of the Republican-led House Oversight# Committee ques.. than six hours today as part of its investigation# into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The## former secretary of state told lawmakers she had# no information on Epstein's criminal activities.

AMNA NAWAZ: During a closed-door session,# Clinton said she also did not recall ever## meeting Mr.

Epstein and never flew on his# plane or visited his island, homes or offices.

Today's meeting was the first of two days# of closed-door depositions for the House## Oversight Committee of both Clinton and# her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

REP.

JAMES COMER (R-KY): There were a# lot of questions that we asked that we## weren't satisfied with the answers that we# got, but we will continue to move forward.

AMNA NAWAZ: Democrats on the committee argued## their Republican colleagues did# not take the deposition seriously.

REP.

YASSAMIN ANSARI (D-AZ): Today, we are sitting## through an incredibly unserious clown# show of a deposition where members .. Congress in the Republican Party are more# concerned about getting their photo-up of## Secretary Clinton than actually getting to# the truth and holding anyone accountable.

AMNA NAWAZ: Neither Bill nor Hillary# Clinton have been accused of wrongdoing## in connection with Epstein's crimes, but# Bill Clinton has said he previously had## a professional relationship with# the convicted sexual offender.

For more on today's testimony, I'm joined# now by justice correspondent Ali Rogin.

So, Ali, today's session was behind closed# doors between Clinton and members of the## committee.

What did we learn today about any# ties between Secretary Clinton and Epstein?

ALI ROGIN: Well, Amna, Hillary Clinton# just came to the microphones and spoke## to the media following today's proceedings.

She# said she answered questions as best she could.## She called the day long and repetitive,# maintained that she has never met Jeffrey## Epstein and that she had no knowledge# of his or Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes.

She also said that, towards the# end of the questioning today,## it took an unusual turn and she spoke# about -- she was asked about things## like UFOs and Pizzagate, that scandal# from the first Trump campaign season.

We want to play for you a# piece of what she said today.

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, Former U.S.

Secretary of# State: I answered every one of their questions as## fully as I could based on what I knew.

And what I# knew is what I said in my statement this morning.

I never met Jeffrey Epstein, never had# any connection or communication with him.

ALI ROGIN: Amna, committee members also# said that Hillary Clinton today gave them## suggestions for other people to try to depose.# And Committee Chairman James Comer said that## repeatedly she answered questions by saying:# "I don't know.

You'll have to ask my husband."

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, we've heard the Clintons and the# representatives argue House Republicans here are## operating in what they call partisan political# theater.

At one point today, there was some## back-and-forth between them, the Clintons and the# Republicans on the committee.

Tell us about that.

ALI ROGIN: That's right.

During -- right before the meetin.. snapped a picture of Clinton, apparently# sent it to MAGA influencer Benny Johnson,## who posted it on X. Oversight Committee# Ranking Member Robert Garcia said,## everyone in the room was taken aback by# this clear breach of committee rules.

So proceedings did temporarily pause,# and then they did get back on track.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, this testimony,# this session comes after months of## negotiations with the Clintons.

Just# remind us how we got to this moment.

ALI ROGIN: This hearing took a# long time to schedule.

Initially,## the Clintons sought to argue that this# subpoena was invalid and could not be enforced.

Then the committee moved towards a full House of# Representatives vote on contempt of Congress.

Then## the Clintons said they would testify, but only# in public.

Oversight Committee Chairman James## Comer said that he would interview them the same# way everyone else has been interviewed on that## committee, which is closed-door, videotape, with# the video and transcript released subsequently.

Clearly, they arrived at a resolution, Amna,## because these members made their way to# Chappaqua, New York, for today and tomorrow.

AMNA NAWAZ: So they heard from# Secretary Clinton today.

Tomorrow,## they hear from former President# Bill Clinton.

Is that right?

ALI ROGIN: That's correct.

And, though, of course, be.. Bill Clinton indisputably had a closer# relationship with both Jeffrey Epstein## and Ghislaine Maxwell than did Hillary.

Epstein# visited the White House while Clinton served in## office.

Clinton traveled and socialized with# the two of them, as is evidenced from many of## the photos that have been released over the# months from the Epstein files, as a Clinton## spokesperson has maintained that Bill Clinton# knew nothing of either individuals' crimes.

As for the rest of the witness schedule,# this committee is also going to hear from## Epstein's accountant and his lawyer.

We also# learned today that Chairman Comer is open## to requesting that Commerce Secretary Howard# Lutnick testify.

Lutnick has had to revise his## statement several times about the nature of his# relationship with the White House with Epstein.

So it makes sense that the committee# would want to hear from him.

AMNA NAWAZ: While we have you, another piece# of related news I want to ask you about.

We## have seen reporting from multiple outlets this# week that the Justice Department withheld and## removed some of the Epstein files related to# President Trump.

What do we know about that?

ALI ROGIN: Yes, this is related to# notes from four interviews that the## FBI conducted with one woman in# 2019 after Epstein was arrested.

The DOJ did release notes# from one of those interviews,## in which the woman accuses Epstein of# sexually assaulting her when she was## as young as 13 years old.

But several media# outlets noted that the notes from the three## other interviews were missing and that, based# on other documents that they could triangulate,## there was information implicating potentially# President Trump in those missing documents.

In response to this, the DOJ has said# that it is reviewing those files and## that -- quote -- "Should any document be found to# have been improperly tagged in the review process,## the department will, of course, publish# it, consistent with the law," Amna.

AMNA NAWAZ: That's our justice correspondent# Ali Rogin beginning our coverage tonight.

Ali, thank you.

ALI ROGIN: You bet.

AMNA NAWAZ: We start the# day's other headlines in Cuba.

A U.S.

official tells the "News Hour" that at# least two individuals involved in yesterday's## speedboat shooting were U.S.

citizens and# that the owner of the vessel claims it had## been stolen by an employee.

Four people were# killed, including one of the U.S.

citizens.

The incident took place in the waters# off the island's north coast.

Cuba's## government said earlier the 10 people# aboard the Florida registered boat were## Cuban nationals who aimed to# carry out a terrorist attack.

On social media, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel# vowed -- quote -- "Cuba will defend itself against## any terrorist or mercenary aggression that# seeks to undermine its sovereignty," while,## on the streets of Havana today, locals expressed# their support for yesterday's shooting.

ROBERTO HENRY FIGUEREDO, Havana Resident# (through translator): What they're doing## is testing our strength to see.. But the fire we gave them was good.# If they come, we will shoot at them.## If they shoot at us, we will eat bullets.# We will open fire if there are problems.

AMNA NAWAZ: From the U.S.

side, Secretary of# State Marco Rubio said last night the U.S.## government was in no way involved and# that it is investigating the incident.

In New York City, a Columbia University# student was detained by ICE agents in## her campus apartment today, then released# hours later.

Ellie Aghayeva is a senior from## Azerbaijan and a self-described# content creator.

This morning,## she wrote on Instagram -- quote -- "DHS# illegally arrested me.

Please help."

PROTESTER: Immigrants are welcome here~!

PROTESTERS: Immigrants are welcome here!

AMNA NAWAZ: Within hours, dozens had gathered at# the campus gates in protest.

Federal officials## described Aghayeva as an illegal alien# whose student visa was terminated in 2016.

Her release came after New York City# Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he discussed## the arrest with President Trump during# an unrelated meeting at the White House.

Police in Buffalo, New York, are investigating the# death of a nearly blind refugee from Myanmar days## after Border Patrol agents dropped him off# alone at a coffee shop miles from his home;## 56-year-old Nurul Amin Shah# Alam, who spoke little English,## had been jailed for a year on charges later# resolved with a misdemeanor plea deal.

Last week, he was released to Border Patrol# agents, who found he was -- quote -- "not amenable## to removal."

According to us Customs and Border# Protection -- quote -- "Agents offered him a## courtesy ride" and -- quote -- "He showed no signs# of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities."

A medical examiner ruled out exposure and# homicide, saying his death was health-related.## But Buffalo's Mayor Sean Ryan said the decision# to leave him was unprofessional and inhumane.

In Geneva today, Ukrainian and U.S.# officials gathered for talks aimed at## ending Russia's war in Ukraine now in# its fifth year.

Just hours earlier... (SIRENS BLARING) AMNA NAWAZ: ... Ukraine's President Volodymyr# Zelenskyy says Russia launched a barrage of## more than 400 drones and dozens of missiles# across several regions.

Officials say the## bombardment targeted critical infrastructure and# injured dozens of people, including children.

In the southeast city of Zaporizhzhia,# an elderly couple say their apartment was## destroyed when their building was hit.

They say# there's little hope that the war will end soon.

TROSHKO MYKOLA, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Resident# (through translator): We don't believe it.## It won't end and Ukraine will be blown to# pi.. but they don't.

And now we don't know where# to go or what to do.

Everything is destroyed.

AMNA NAWAZ: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy# said today the next round of trilateral## talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the U.S.

will# likely take place in Abu Dhabi in early March.

In Afghanistan, the sound of explosions rang# out tonight in the capital city of Kabul,## though there's been no word yet on casualties.

It## comes just hours after Afghanistan# launched an attack on Pakistan,## which it claims was retaliation for Pakistani# airstrikes on border areas earlier this week.

Afghanistan claims to have seized more# than a dozen Pakistani army posts in## the latest escalation between the two# neighbors.

Pakistan called Afghanistan's## attack unprovoked and dismissed claims# that any army posts had been captured.

The FBI has reportedly fired more agents who# worked on President Trump's classified documents## case.

The Associated Press and others report that# at least 10 employees were terminated for helping## investigate Trump's hoarding of documents at his# Mar-a-Lago home after he left office in 2021.

It's just the latest purge under FBI Director# Kash Patel, who's fired dozens of employees## for working on Trump-related cases or# for being seen as disloyal.

The FBI## Agents Association condemned the firings,# saying they -- quote -- "weaken the bureau## by stripping away critical expertise# and destabilizing the work force."

Warner Bros.

Discovery said today that# paramount's revised bid for the company## is superior to its existing deal with# Netflix.

Paramount raised its price for## Warner Bros.

to $31 a share this week# as a best and final offer.

In response,## Netflix said it would not raise its offer for# Warner Bros., saying the deal is -- quote -- "no## longer financially attractive."

Ahead of that# news, shares of Warner Bros.

ended slightly lower.

Elsewhere on Wall Street, stocks struggled# after a blockbuster earnings report from## A.I.

giant Nvidia failed to win over investors.## The Dow Jones industrial average managed to# end a few points higher, but mostly flat.## The Nasdaq lost nearly 275 points on the day.# The S&P 500 also closed in negative territory.

Still to come on the "News Hour":## negotiations take place between the U.S.

and# Iran in an attempt to avoid an all-out war.

;## actor Rose Byrne discusses her Oscar-nominated# performance in "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You";## and our "Settle In" podcast challenges# us to rethink the idea of Black history.

GEOFF BENNETT: Vice President J.D.

Vance announced# yesterday that the federal government would hold## back $259 million in Medicaid funding for# Minnesota over fraud concerns.

The state and## its welfare fraud scandals have become# a target for the Trump administration,## which deployed thousands of immigration# agents to the Twin Cities in recent months.

The vice president spoke in# neighboring Wisconsin today.

J.D.

VANCE, Vice President of the United# States: The job of your government is not## to open your borders and allow fraudsters# to come in and take advantage of you.

The## job of your government is to shut# the border and shut off the fraud,## and that's exactly what we're# doing in the Trump administration.

(APPLAUSE) GEOFF BENNETT: Democrats, including# Mi.. says the defunding was politically motivated.

GOV.

TIM WALZ (D-MN): The sense of retribution,## no state has experienced this before.

How# does taking and puni.. have anything to do with fighting fraud, when# that's not where this issue was taking place?

GEOFF BENNETT: To break this all# down, we're joined now by Matt Sepic,## reporter from Minnesota Public Radio.

Matt, thanks for being with us.

And for folks who might be# confused by some of this,## first, we should explain, where exactly# do these fraud allegations stem from?

MATT SEPIC, Minnesota Public Radio:# Well, they go back several years.

And they really began with a scandal known here# as the Feeding Our Future fraud.

In that case,## dozens of people, 79 at last count, have# been charged.

Most of them have already## been convicted -- and this began -- it# became public in 2022 -- of stealing around## $300 million from taxpayer-funded# child nutrition programs.

That investigation has since morphed into# Medicaid fraud.

And that brings us to today.## A former assistant U.S.

attorney who investigated# this case estimated back in December that as much## as $9 billion may have been stolen from# Minnesota's Medicaid program since 2018.

GEOFF BENNETT: So there is something to this.

This $259 million figure, though, put# that in the context of how much money,## Medicaid money, the state gets# from the federal government.

MATT SEPIC: Well, Minnesota gets# about $21 billion in Medicaid funds## every year.

That's according to the latest# figure that we have, which is from 2024.

So this is a not-insignificant chunk of money.# And there remains some confusion over how this## is all going to play out.

Minnesota Medicaid# Director John Connolly said today that the## way this is structured means that the state will# actually owe the federal government $260 million## for the final three months of 2025 and will not# see a future installment for the current quarter,## the first three months of this year,# until this halt on spending is lifted.

GEOFF BENNETT: So who's# affected by these cuts, Matt?

MATT SEPIC: Primarily people who rely on 14# programs that had been flagged previously as## being susceptible to fraud.

These# include autism services for children,## a housing stabilization program that# Governor Walz in fact shut down last## year because there was so much fraud, as well as# things like nonemergency medical transportation,## so reimbursements for someone# driving you to the doctor.

What it doesn't appear to affect at# this point are what we normally think of## as core Medicaid services, such as physician's# visits, checkups, and that sort of thing.

GEOFF BENNETT: So when President Trump, as# he did at the State of the Union address## earlier this week, said that members# of the state's Somali community have## quote -- this is -- these are his words# -- pillaged an estimated $19 billion from## the American taxpayer, what do we know# about the accuracy of a claim like that?

MATT SEPIC: That number is wildly inflated.

The 14 programs that I mentioned# that have been susceptible to fraud,## according to Medicaid officials in the# federal government, the state has spent,## or the federal government has spent about $18# billion on those in total since 2018.

About half## of that -- and this is an estimate -- and it's# important to note that this is only an estimate.

This has not been proven yet, but a top federal# fraud prosecutor who used to work at the Minnesota## U.S.

attorney's office, Joe Thompson, estimated# back in December that about half of that could## be fraudulent.

And that's based on the exponential# growth in taxpayer outlays for those 14 programs.

GEOFF BENNETT: Has the state# done anything to address this## so it can't happen again, this level of fraud?

MATT SEPIC: Well, it's a hot topic at# the legislative session over in St.## Paul that just got under# way.

Lawmakers, Democrats,## and Republicans are considering a# number of proposals to combat fraud.

One of those is setting up a new inspector# general's office on the state level.

They're## also talking about more site visits to ensure# that Medicaid providers are providing what they## say they are.

State Attorney General Keith# Ellison, a Democrat, is also asking state## lawmakers to pay for fraud prosecutors in his# office specifically to go after Medicaid fraud.

GEOFF BENNETT: Matt Sepic of Minnesota Public# Radio, thanks again for joining us this evening.

MATT SEPIC: You're welcome.

AMNA NAWAZ:## In Geneva today, the U.S.

and# Iran concluded a third round## of indirect and at times direct# negotiations.

Iranian officials## announced that technical talks will begin# on Monday with the U.N.

nuclear watchdog.

That suggests some possible# progress, as the United States## deploys the largest military presence to# the Middle East in more than 20 years.

Stephanie Sy begins our coverage.

STEPHANIE SY: In Geneva today, U.S.# envoy Steve Witkoff and President## Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner# held crucial negotiations with Iran,## at first indirect through Oman's# foreign minister and then direct.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas# Araghchi signaled positive momentum.

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, Iranian Foreign# Minister: We made a very good## progress.

We were able to define the# main ele.. and we discussed about those elements.

Of# course, there are still differences, but in## most of the cases we have at least a general# understanding how to resolve those questions.

STEPHANIE SY: That despite an official# brief on the talks telling "PBS News## Hour" that the U.S.

demanded Iran destroy# its three main nuclear enrichment sites,## Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz, the same sites# struck by American bombers last summer.

And the officials said the U.S.

team demanded# Iran get rid of its highly enriched uranium,## which Iran says was buried during the# strike on the Fordow enrichment plant.## Iran announced that technical talks would# start on Monday in Vienna and a fourth## round of political negotiations# would be scheduled in a week.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: They want to start all over## again and at this moment again# pursuing their sinister ambiti.. STEPHANIE SY: This week, in# his State of the Union address,## President Trump vowed that he would not# allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

DONALD TRUMP: My preference is to solve# this problem through diplomacy.

But one## thing is certain.

I will never allow the# world's number one sponsor of terror,## which they are by far, to have a# nuclear weapon.

Can't let that happen.

STEPHANIE SY: And President Trump# went further than public intelligence## estimates and accused Iran of pursuing# intercontinental ballistic missiles.

DONALD TRUMP: They have already developed missiles# that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas,## and they're working to build missiles that# will soon reach the United States of America.

STEPHANIE SY: Tehran has repeatedly# denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and## has long claimed its uranium enrichment# activities are for civilian purposes.

Just before the talks, Araghchi# reiterated that Iran's right to## nuclear enrichment is nonnegotiable and# vowed retaliation if the U.S.

attacks.

ABBAS ARAGHCHI: We are ready to remove# concerns, but we are not ready to give## up our rights for peaceful use of# nuclear technology.

If, God forbid,## the U.S.

decides to attack us, then their bases# in the region would be a legitimate target.

STEPHANIE SY: Wartime preparations are ramping# up.

Today, the largest U.S.

aircraft carrier,## the Gerald Ford, left the Greek island# of Crete in the Eastern Mediterranean,## adding to the Abraham Lincoln and its# accompanying ships already in the Arabian Sea.

Fighter jets and support aircraft, as well as# air defense, are deployed across the region.## And for the first time outside of a training# mission, the U.S.

has deployed F-22 fighter## jets to Israel.

Israel has made it clear# it would respond to any Iranian attack,## even if it follows a U.S.

strike# with a larger war than last summer.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister# (through translator): I passed on and## clarified to the regime of the ayatollahs that,# if.. history and attack the state of Israel, we will# respond with a force they cannot even imagine.

STEPHANIE SY: The ongoing talks could be a last# chance for diplomacy before a potential war,## a moment that could define the# future of peace in the Middle East.

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

AMNA NAWAZ: For perspective on today's talks## and President Trump's handling# of Iran, we get now two views.

Alan Eyre a four-decade career in U.S.

government,# including in the Foreign Service focusing on Iran.## He was part of the Obama administration's team# that negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of## Action, or JCPOA, agreement with Iran.# He's now at the Middle East Institute.

And retired Colonel Joel Rayburn had# a 26-year career in the Army.

During## the first Trump administration, he was# on the National Security Council staff,## focusing on Iran in the Middle East.

He's# now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Welcome to you both, gentlemen.# Thanks for being here.

(CROSSTALK) COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

), Former Trump National# Securi.. AMNA NAWAZ: Alan.. Just give us your assessment of how th.. President Trump has been handling this approach# dealing with Iran, demanding it gives up a nuclear## program, assembling a massive military force,# and threatening strikes if there's no deal.

ALAN EYRE, Middle East Institute: I think# that, again, based on what we heard today,## there has been progress.

And I think if# there were enough time given to the problem,## to the process, there could, in fact, be a nuclear# agreement between Iran and the United States.

They made progress, but there's still key red# lines.

The problem is you have all that military## hardware in the Persian Gulf and nearby, and# you can't keep that there indefinitely.

So,## I mean, the most salient fact of# all of this is that the red lines## for either side have not really shifted,# not just since last year's 12-year war,## but since the beginning of the negotiations# between the Trump administration and the Iranians.

So we can reach an agreement, but# it depends on whether we're willing## to allow indigenous enrichment in Iran.

In# terms of how President Trump is handling it,## it's all a question of whether he# wants to give enough time to the## two sides to negotiate to reach# a deal.

And that's his decision.

AMNA NAWAZ: Colonel, how do you see it?

COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

), Former Trump# National.. think what's different this ti.. really.

If you listen to the president, if# you listen to Secretary Rubio in particular,## it's the other aspects of the Iranian regime's# destabilizing and aggressive behavior.

It's the ballistic missile and drone production# and proliferation, including, for example, into## the Ukraine war through the Russians.

It's the# support for the terrorist proxies like Hezbollah,## Hamas, and so on, and the Houthis, which# exploded on October 7 and October 8.

So I think what the administration is after# right now, it does seem the Iranian negotiators## will always try to sequester it down to the# narrow issue of nuclear enrichment, leaving## the rest of the aspects of the Iranian# regime's aggressive policies unaddressed.

And, frankly, that was one of the fatal# flaws of the 2015 JCPOA that the Obama## administration negotiated.

It became just# an agreement about the nuclear enrichment## file and left Qasem Soleimani# and Quds Force and Hezbollah's## behavior across the region unaddressed,# the missile and drone aspect unaddressed.

And that's what began to blow# up in 2017, 2018, and so on.

AMNA NAWAZ: Alan, to the point, this is what# we have heard from the Trump administration,## have they made a convincing case about# why there is an imminent threat from## Iran that would warrant a military# strike?

Have you heard that yet?

ALAN EYRE: I have not heard it.

I obviously# listened to the State of the Union speech.

Joel is right.

Iran is -- presents a# type of threat to the United States,## in that it is antagonistic to what# we're trying to do in the region,## to what we're trying to do in the world.# But in terms of it being an imminent threat,## other in the sense of its nuclear program,# its missile programs or its decimated,## if not destroyed networks of proxies,# no, no threat, no imminent threat.

And what's most interesting is that now Iran# has lost almost all of its deterrence that it## had before the October 7 attacks.

So, finding# an agreement with Iran on the nuclear issue## is theoretically possible.

If you put missiles# on the table, if you put proxies on the table,## the odds of reaching an agreement with Iran is# null, null set.

It's just not going to happen.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, Colonel, if the goal is a deal,## then why the military buildup?

Why the expedited# talks with the threat of a strike on the back end?

COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

): I think we're in a# different world in a post-October 7 and October 8.

Remember, October 7 was the Hamas attacking# against Israel.

October 8 was the Iranian## regime and Hezbollah decision to enter that# war, which they didn't have to do.

That## was a war of choice on the Iranian regime's# part, the supreme leader's decision-making.

So I think we're in a different world post-October# 7 and 8.

Their use of militant proxies,## the ballistic missiles and drones which they# provided that have done so much damage in Ukraine,## the Houthis shutting down the Red Sea,# for example, against commercial shipping,## that's not tolerated anymore.

That kind of hybrid# threat from the Iranians is not tolerated anymore.

AMNA NAWAZ: And many of those proxies# have been degraded now, right?

COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

): They have been degraded.# They have been degraded and the Iranian regime's## own capabilities have been degraded, but# the intention still seems to be there.

And I think what the president and the# administration are responding to is,## after the 12-day war last June, I think there# was an expectation that the supreme leader's## regime would abandon that aggressive policy,# they would they would abandon their ambitions## to get back to nuclear enrichment, to continue# to produce and proliferate drones and missiles,## and then they would they would be willing to# sever ties or wind down the militant proxies.

And that just hasn't happened.

The# evidence has been in the other -- in## the other direction.

I think that's# what's been compelling this action.

AMNA NAWAZ: Are you concerned this will# end with the U.S.

military strike?

And,## if so, what do you think that strike# looks like?

What form could it take?

ALAN EYRE: I'm not concerned it will# end with a U.S.

military strike.

I'm concerned it will start with the U.S.# military strike, in the sense that Iran has## made it known that, unlike previous# responses, were it to be attacked,## either what we would characterize as a limited# attack or decapitation, any type of attack,## Iran has said, largely because it feels its# deterrence has been eradicated and it needs## to restore it, that it will respond# aggressively and disproportionately.

So I'm concerned that despite the huge# imbalance in military power between the## U.S.

and Israel were to join and Iran, that Iran# will strike out and try to destabilize the region,## strike at our allies, strike# at our forces in the region,## strike at Israel.

And that would lead to# events in the region that can't be helpful.

AMNA NAWAZ: Colonel, 30 seconds left.# I will give you the last word here.

COL.

JOEL RAYBURN (RET.

): I just# think, in a military confrontation,## if it comes to that, between# the United States and Iran,## it's not really a fight.

It's not even just a# fair fight.

There really won't be a contest there.

The Iranian regime has adopted a security# doctrine in which they essentially don't have## conventional defenses.

They don't really# have an air force, a navy, an army.

They## barely have missile and air defense.

So this# would be a short contest.

It could be sharp,## I think, in the first couple of days, as it was in# their confrontation with the Israelis last year.

But the military disparity there is just# vast, I think more than people understand.

AMNA NAWAZ: We will see what happens.

We'd# love to have you back as things develop.

Colonel Joel Rayburn and Alan Eyre,# thank you so much for your time.

ALAN EYRE: Thank you, Amna.

GEOFF BENNETT: A former ICE lawyer and# training instructor who resigned this## month is warning that the agency# has scaled back training hours for## new recruits and is instructing# them to violate the Constitution.

Ryan Schwank told Democrats in Congress this past# week that the academy where he trained cadets## is -- quote -- "deficient, defective, and broken.

"# He says it's part of an effort to turn out new## officers and increase arrests as part of the# Trump administration's crackdown on immigration.

Ryan Schwank is here and joins us now# with his attorney, David Kligerman.

DAVID KLIGERMAN, Attorney for# Ryan Schwank: Pleasure to be here.

RYAN SCHWANK, Former ICE Academy# Instructor: Thank you for having us.

GEOFF BENNETT: Ryan, you have testified# that ICE dramatically shor.. training program for new recruits# from 72 days to 42 days.

Exactly how## much training was removed and what# type of classes were eliminated?

RYAN SCHWANK: So, out of a 584-hour# program, they cut about 240 hours.## And the classes they cut included# classes on the fundamentals of## the Constitution and the officers' duties# within the structure of our legal system.

They cut out classes on -- multiple classes# on use of force, multiple classes on how to## use their firearms safely.

They took# out testing requirements that were set## to allow us to measure whether or not# the cadets that were coming out of the## academy could actually exercise their# authority in a safe and lawful fashion.

They took out classes that tied# back to our understanding of## due process within the legal system really.

GEOFF BENNETT: DHS, in response to your testimony,## issued a statement that reads in part: "No# training hours have been cut.

Our officers## receive extensive firearm training, are# taught de-escalation tactics, and receive## Fourth and Fifth Amendment comprehensive# instruction," to which you would say what?

RYAN SCHWANK: Well, I would start by# breaking that into a couple pieces.

They said Fourth and Fifth Amendment# instruction.

And that's true,## there is some of that in the curriculum.

But# notice that they don't say anything about the## removal of the First Amendment protections.# They don't say anything about the due process,## right?

They won't deny that part# in the statement they issued.

And, frankly, in that statement, they said no# hours have been cut.

That's simply untrue.

You## can look at the curriculum, which, by the# testimony of Todd Lyons was 42 days out## of a 72-day program, 42 days in the public# statement they issued in January.

And now,## all of a sudden, in the same statement# you're citing to, they say it's 56 days.

They suddenly added two weeks of training# magically the day after I testified.

GEOFF BENNETT: How well prepared do you# believe new recruits are to distinguish## between lawful enforcement activity and# actions that could potentially violate## constitutional protections# like the Fourth Amendment?

RYAN SCHWANK: Well, I will tell you that the# cadets themselves brought their concerns with this## to me.

I had cadets who told me they were not sure# of what their role was or what their duties were.

And to answer your question, no one can tell# you right now that these cadets are fully## prepared to understand the difference between# a lawful and an unlawful order because no test,## no measurement exists for the new cadets# of how they would apply it in practice,## because they specifically removed all of# the testing that would have told us that.

GEOFF BENNETT: At what point did you believe# that it was necessary for you to speak out?

RYAN SCHWANK: I realized the day I arrived# at the academy and I was shown an unlawful## memo that authorized officers and told me# to teach officers to go into homes without## a judicial warrant to make arrests# that there was a serious problem.

And from that day, my goal was to make sure# that I could document and track and see what was## happening with that memo and then to see what was# happening with the academy itself, because it was## kind of like an avalanche.

It started with this# and then thing after step after step after step.

I just saw this massive degradation and# destruction of our training requirements## and the things that we owe to these cadets.

We --# there's a lot of conversation and immigration law## about the rights of the immigrant, and that's# a very important conversation.

But these law## enforcement officers themselves are being done# a terrible disservice, because we are sending## them out into the world without the training# they need to do the job they signed up to do.

GEOFF BENNETT: Generally speaking, who# are these new recruits?

And I asked the## question because one of the Democrats# during your testimony this past week## said that ICE and its recruitment# is appealing to white supremacists.

RYAN SCHWANK: When I was at the academy,# certainly, there were probably people at## the academy who would fit that description.

But# the vast majority of the cadets I worked with## were first- or second-generation immigrants.

They# were average people from across the United States.

I had many cadets for whom English isn't even# necessarily their first language.

In fact,## I remember one particular training scenario, I had# six cadets and not one of them had English as a## primary language.

And it's very hard to argue that# cadets coming into the academy who come from such## a diverse background set are white supremacists,# when most of them are in fact not white.

GEOFF BENNETT: David, what legal# protections does your client have## as a whistle-blower?

And are you# prepared for potential retaliation?

DAVID KLIGERMAN: Yes, unfortunately.

And we see this a lot at WhistleblowerAid.org.# .. environment, the game has changed.

It used to# be that you could come forward to an inspector## general or an Office of Special Counsel.# But those mechanisms have been swept away## by the Trump administration.

In fact, they have# been weaponized against our whistle-blowers.

So clients like Ryan ordinarily could just go# through the ordinary process.

They could remain## anonymous.

There'd be an independent person within# the system who was checking and balancing these.

With that gone, the only option is really to go# to Congress.

And that's suboptimal for a lot of## reasons.

First of all, it's a separate branch# of government, so it becomes adversarial.

And,## secondly, not all the information can be# revealed.

There are certain things that## ultimately clients have that may# be privileged or there are other## things that need to be protected.# So they're only getting a snapshot.

And Ryan's revealed a lot, but it would be# really ideal to go through the agency directly.

GEOFF BENNETT: Were you ever reprimanded,## pressured, or warned about speaking# up internally before you resigned?

RYAN SCHWANK: When I was shown the memo, it was# given to me by a supervisor who made it clear that## the consequence for disagreeing with it was going# to be the loss of my job, loss of my position.

And you could see it in the way the academy# operated.

There was a culture of fear with## all the officers I talked to.

I could have# conversations with officers about the program,## about our concerns, but we wouldn't do# it where other people could hear us.

You could literally see officers who wanted to# talk about the way they thought training was## going turn their heads, look over their shoulders,# and make sure there weren't other people around to## hear them.

And it would be -- literally, I would# have one officer do this, and then maybe the next## day I'm talking to the officer, another officer,# who was the officer he was worried about, right?

One looks over his shoulder# and sees the guy behind him,## and the next day I talk to the guy behind# him, and he's looking over his shoulder at## the guy I talked to the day before, right?# No one trusts anyone in that academy.

No one's willing to put faith in each other# to recognize the problems they have there,## because I think if they did, I think a lot of the# faculty would say, hey, maybe I don't know what## the legal department is doing or the firearms# department is doing, but I know in my unit,## in practical training, we're not measuring# things correctly.

Or I know in my unit,## where we teach the use of our computer# systems, we're rushing through it too fast.

And I think if they all sat down and# talked about it, they would recognize that,## step by step by step, the academy's graduate# and cadets who -- don't have the raw hours,## the raw practice they need# to do the job correctly.

GEOFF BENNETT: Do you see# a link between the training## quality and the fatal shootings# of Nicole Good and Alex Pretti?

RYAN SCHWANK: I do, but it's an indirect# link, and here's why I say that.

The officers involved in those shootings are not# recent graduates.

They're experienced officers.## The officer in the Renee Good# shooting is a member of the SRT team,## the -- essentially the special response team# that they have at ICE.

That's a difficult## position to get.

You have to have a# good deal of experience to get that.

The officers who are coming out of this academy# have half the training.

And yet they're being## sent to some of the most contentious# and difficult operations ICE has ever## undertaken.

Never in the history of the agency# have they done what they're doing in Minneapolis.

And when you put officers who don't know the# law and don't know use of force policies and## don't have all the training they need# on their firearms into that situation,## it is a recipe for someone else to die,# potentially for multiple people to die.## And it's going to be done by officers# who deserved better from this government.

GEOFF BENNETT: Ryan Schwank, David# Kligerman, thank you both for being here.

DAVID KLIGERMAN: Thank you for having us.

RYAN SCHWANK: Thank you.

I appreciate it.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Known for both comedic and dramatic roles, Rose# Byrne has already won a Golden Globe for best## actress this award season for the psychological# drama "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You."

She's## been acting professionally for more than 30# years, and now she's up for her first Oscar.

Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown recently## joined her in New York for our# arts and culture series, Canvas.

JEFFREY BROWN: It's a portrait of a woman# coming undone, under so much pressure,## it's breaking her.

In the film "If I Had Legs I'd# Kick You," Rose Byrne plays Linda, with a severely## ill daughter hooked up to a feeding tube,# an often absent second-guessing husband.

Things are so bad, the roof of# her home literally collapses.## a therapist herself, she's in therapy.# Conan O'Brien, in a dramatic turn,## plays her unhelpful therapist.

And she's# begging someone, anyone, to tell her what to do.

ROSE BYRNE, Actress: But I'm asking# you a thing, an actual thing,## a problem to fix that I need help with# this.

Am I supposed to just sit around## and watch her fail and this is just# going to go on forever?

What do I do?

CONAN O'BRIEN, Actor: OK, that# means there's no drinking,## there's no drugs, there's no -- you have to... ROSE BYRNE: Are you listening# to me?

Can you hear me?

JEFFREY BROWN: What this# woman is going -- what your## character is going through can be hard to watch.

ROSE BYRNE: I know.

(LAUGHTER) JEFFREY BROWN: Y.. ROSE BYRNE: There's an element of# just -- like, of trying something,## being on a dangerous tightrope every day.

She's# unraveling.

But when -- how the unraveling looks## and at which parts, so she's trying to keep# it together and when she really falls apart,## so it was challenging, yes.# I didn't want to mess it up.

(LAUGHTER) JEFFREY BROWN: Now, 46, the Australian-born#.. including 2004's "Troy," horror# in the "Insidious" series,## and comedy foiled to Kristen Wiig# in the 2011 film "Bridesmaids"... ROSE BYRNE: Can you stop?

Stop.

JEFFREY BROWN: ... and to Seth Rogen on# the current Appl.. "Legs" is based in part on director Mary# Bronstein's real-life experience with## her daughter's illness.

Byrne says# she and Bronstein spent hours and## hours before production talking about the# character, trying to get a grasp on her.

You have said that you like to# know everything about a character,## who she was before the moment# we're seeing you on camera.

ROSE BYRNE: Yes.

I was just obsessed with who she was before# she was a parent, when she was a teenager,## like -- and everyone's going to respond# differently to a crisis.

And why is she## responding like that?

What is her# temperament?

What happened to her?## What's her story?

And that actor's homework# stuff that's so sort of boring, but that I... JEFFREY BROWN: Yes, but not# all actors like that.

I mean,## some actors just want to be dropped -- right?

ROSE BYRNE: Absolutely, absolutely.

Oh, I have worked with actors who don't want# .. and they don't want -- they want# to be completely authentic and in## the moment and spontaneous.

But I was# just -- I was less interested in, like,## relating it to myself than relating# it to this character of who she was.

ACTRESS: Mommy, Addie (ph) scares me.

She# only eat Nutella.

I need you, to be with you.

JEFFREY BROWN: One of the most# striking things about this film## is your face is on camera, but in real close-up.

ROSE BYRNE: I know.

(LAUGHTER) JEFFREY BROWN: We're sitting pret.. ROSE BYRNE: Yes, it was like a# few inches from my face, yes.

JEFFREY BROWN: The camera was right there?

ROSE BYRNE: I could hear it going# click, click, cl.. we were shooting on film, on 35.

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes.

Yes.

ROSE BYRNE: And so it's an ac.. And so I was contending with technically just# drowning out the noise and giving Mary what she## would need, but also trying to be also in the# moment, so not -- it's a balance, right, that## tightrope of, like, acting for the camera.

But# never have I had the camera that close to my face.

JEFFREY BROWN: But I'm curious# and I'm imagining.

Most people## don't know how this works for you as an# actress with -- vis-a-vis the camera.

ROSE BYRNE: Yes.

JEFFREY BROWN: You know it's.. ROSE BYRNE: Yes, that's a great question.

It was# like, I guess, I think every actor has a good,## decent power to disassociate, for better# or worse.

And in this case, I dove deep## into my ability to disassociate, because it's so# close, so everything is magnified 1000 percent.

It's like, OK, what don't you need?

Just# it's just going to be minimal when it's## that close.

And that was something I hadn't# really been required to do before on screen.

You keep telling us that it isn't our fault.

ACTRESS: Yes.

ROSE BYRNE: But it is.

JEFFREY BROWN: In other words, how much# to withhold as well as let loose,and how## much to use moments of dark comedy to# leaven the pain of a woman questioning## whether she should be a mother and whether# she's to blame for her child's problems.

ROSE BYRNE: She's failed and that I failed.

JEFFREY BROWN: Byrne, herself the mother of# two young boys with her longti.. fellow actor Bobby Cannavale, says the film taps# into larger cultural issues around motherhood.

ROSE BYRNE: It's such a varied# experience.

And that is what's## so wonderful about this script is that# it really showed a side that we don't## really see of a woman who's like I# don't think I should be doing this.

And I was so fascinated with that.

And who# was she?

Again, back to, like, I can relate,## of course, to the relentless nature of being a# parent, and she captures that raw kind of feeling## when you're really struggling.

But I have not had# a child with a serious illness, thank God, I mean,## knock on wood, like that.

And hopefully 99 percent# of parents won't go through what she went through.

We spoke to mothers who have# children with special needs,## and that was fascinating to see their# varied experiences and what that was like.

JEFFREY BROWN: You mean as# part of your preparation?

ROSE BYRNE: Yes, part of the pr.. to me from both -- from all different worlds# who've just said, I feel seen.

I feel seen.

JEFFREY BROWN: Also to that end, Byrne# co-founded Dollhouse Pictures with## Australian friends and colleagues to# prioritize female-driven storytelling.

ROSE BYRNE: A lot of it is really also, I think,## as an actor trying to find your own agency,# because often you don't have any and you're## sort of waiting for things to happen, and# things come your way and things don't.

So, I have been really inspired by other# actresses who've done that before me,## who just try to source material# and find stuff and develop it.

JEFFREY BROWN: But are you satisfied# with where you're at right now?

ROSE BYRNE: Oh, my gosh, I feel -- and# it's funny.

Yes, at a moment like this,## you sort of naturally take# stock a bit and reflect.

JEFFREY BROWN: Yes.

ROSE BYRNE: I think I'm just still# myself.

But I feel very, very gr.. JEFFREY BROWN: You're going home from this# interview, you said, to pick up the kids.

ROSE BYRNE: Exactly, going to pick up kids.

JEFFREY BROWN: Right.

ROSE BYRNE: But .. feel very honored.

And it's surreal.

And, again,## the film is -- it's a small movie and it's a# challenging film, so it feels extra magi.. JEFFREY BROWN: Rose Byrne goes# for her first Oscar on March 15.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Jeffrey Brown in New York.

GEOFF BENNETT: This month marks 100 years since## Americans first celebrated what would# eventually become Black History Month.

On our video podcast, "Settle In," we# marked the centennial with award-winning## journalist and writer Michael Harriot.

We# talked about the ongoing fight over how## history is taught and his bestselling book# "Black AF History," which argues that Black## history isn't a counternarrative to the# American story, but the narrative itself.

Here's part of that conversation.

There's so much reverence around America's# founding story, and your take on Jamestown## stands out because it was so irreverent and# biting and you portray the English settlers## not as these heroic figures, but as these sort# of bumbling founders.

Tell me more about that.

MICHAEL HARRIOT, Author, "Black AF History: The# Un-Whitewashed Story of America": Yes, well, first## of all, like, of the 109 people who came here,# .. other.

They starved to death because they ate all# their provisions.

They didn't know how to plan.

They thought they could, like, climb in the# tree and see the Pacific Ocean.

Remember,## these were investors.

People came# here to make money.

They weren't## people who explored other nations.

And they# perished because of their incompetence.

And that reframing objectively, right, instead# of a mythology of these rugged individualists who## came here looking for freedom, we know that that's# not what they came here for.

And to tell that## truth, not just through the eyes of Black people,# but through an objective lens, is important.

GEOFF BENNETT: And then there's what transpired# in 1619, which gets a lot of attention now## because of the book.

But you look at this not# as a symbolic moment, but as a structural one,## the point at which the American colonies# became viable because of slave labor.

MICHAEL HARRIOT: And even the term# slave labor insinuates that it was## like the muscles and the brawn and the# hard work of those enslaved people.

But it is important to understand the# intellectual capacities of these people,## the intellectual know-how, the skills that# they brought to this country really kind## of made America a viable proposition# for the investors in Europe, right?

They didn't have an edible cash crop# until the enslaved people in South## Carolina started growing rice, and that# rice-growing culture, through language,## through the ability to eat and through the# average life expectancy that created this country,## and not this idea of like white people came here# and worked hard and made this country what it was.

GEOFF BENNETT: How do you respond to# people who might suggest that your take## on this is in some way controversial# or in some way revisionist history?

MICHAEL HARRIOT: Well, so, if I'm being honest,# I fortunately haven't kind of encountered that,## because no one has ever argued about the# contents of the actual history in this book.

The only argument against it is, well, why do# you have to bring up that version of history?## Don't you think that is divisive?

And I always# wonder, what part of the truth is divisive, right?## What part of recognizing everyone's humanity and# telling everyone's side of the story is divisive?

For most Black children in America, we have been# educated to revere men who are white supremacists.## We have been educated to respect men who saw us# as less than human.

And to tell those children,## to give those children a story about# their past that shows their humanity,## that shows that they are worthy of respect, that# shows that their parents and their grandparents## and their great-grandparents did great things and# contributed to this country is important to me.

And I don't think it's divisive.

And# I think that we can respect all of it,## right?

There's never been one side arguing that# we shouldn't revere Thomas Jefferson or think## that he is a founding father.

We are saying that# you should contextualize everything that he did.

And if you choose to respect the# documents and the stuff that he wrote,## rather than the stuff that he did, that is# perfectly fine.

But don't hide the stuff## that he did and say the stuff that# he wrote is all that we should know.

GEOFF BENNETT: If there's a chapter in# this book that you could lift out and have## included in every history book in this country# that schoolkids are given, what would it be?

MICHAEL HARRIOT: Oh, that's a great question.

I think the chapter on Reconstruction and the# idea that it was the Black American revolution,## right?

And what I did is kind of mirror the# ideas of the American Revolution and saying,## like, this was Black people's chance.# There were founding fathers.

There was## a Constitution with ideals.

I think that's one.

And then there's an excerpt on the Stono# Rebellion, which kind of is the genesis## of the treatment of Black people, formed# our slave laws, formed the slave codes,## it formed the Black Codes after 1865.

And# it reached into Reconstruction and until## the civil rights movement.

I think that's# one of the things that we should understand.

GEOFF BENNETT: You can watch# that full episode of "Settle## In" and others on our YouTube page# or wherever you get your podcasts.

Well, before we go tonight, we want# to bid farewell to our dear friend## and colleague Richard Coolidge.

Richard# is retiring after 11 years as a senior## producer here at the PBS "News Hour"# and 26 years at ABC News before that.

AMNA NAWAZ: Richard has guided us# through countless election nights,## political conventions, debates, and State of# the Union addresses.

Richard oversaw our "News## Hour" West bureau, traveled around the country# and overseas for stories in Uganda and Nepal.

He produced high-profile interviews and he's# overseen and enhanced our daily operations## to ensure we can bring you, our viewers, the# highest-quality broadcast every single night.

All of this comes after an award-winning career# at ABC, where he reported from some 50 countries,## including war zones, natural disasters, and some# of the biggest stories of the last few decades.

GEOFF BENNETT: But what we'll remember the most is# the steady voice in our ears during breaking news,## the steady hand in the control room when the# unexpected happened, the quiet behind-the-scenes## problem-solving that most never see, but# that makes everything you do see possible.

Richard, you have made us better journalists and# better colleagues, and you will be deeply missed.

AMNA NAWAZ: Richard is easily one of the# best in the business, someone we're all## lucky to have worked with and learned from,# but he's also just simply one of the best.

He will drive the team minivan in the field.

He# will keep us laughing during very long days and## very late nights.

And he will insist that we# make time to put our toes in the sand during## a nearby shoot.

Richard cares about the# stories and about getting it right, but## he also cares very deeply about this team, these# people, who will all miss him very, very much.

GEOFF BENNETT: The best of the best.

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

I'm Geoff Bennett.

AMNA NAWAZ: And I'm Amna Nawaz.

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