this is "nightline." >> tonight, hunter biden. a dramatic showdown in a federal courtroom as a judge puts the president's son's plea deal on hold. what happens now?

plus, classroom clash. >> we live in such an outrage culture that anything you do or say in your classroom could be second-guessed. >> a group of tennessee teachers suing over a state law limiting what they can teach. >> we cannot teach the next generation to feel guilt simply because of the color of their skin. >> juju: why lesson plans are the new battleground in the culture wars. her dade mania. from "the little mermaid" to social media. fans can't get enough of the mythical sea creatures. >> mermaids, they are mysterious, they're talented, they're powerful. >> juju: fueling a $150 million industry. >> our mission is to teach people how to swim safely in mermaid tails and also to bring awareness to ocean conservation. >> juju: making sure the fantasy is open to all. >> this world is big enough for all of us to thrive and grow and be happy and be beautiful. ♪ nothing compares ♪

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courtroom involving president joe biden's son, hunter. his plea deal agreement unexpectedly collapsing during a court hearing after a federal judge raised questions about the deal. here's abc's senior national correspondent terry moran. >> reporter: hunter biden came to the federal courthouse in wilmington expecting to put his legal troubles behind him. but it was a day of unexpected courtroom drama and an twist. for five years, david weiss, the u.s. attorney in delaware appointed by donald trump, had been investigating the president's son until finally, last month the prosecutors and hunter biden cut a deal. biden agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges for failing to file taxes in 2017 and 2018, and prosecutors agreed not to prosecute biden for lying about his drug use when he purchased a gun in 2018. as long as biden remained drug-free for two years. but today inside the courtroom, a federal judge, appointed by

president trump, peppered lawyers on both sides with questions and repeatedly took issue with the negotiated plea deal, calling it not straightforward, atypical, saying she would not rubber stamp it, and asking, is this even constitutional? at one point, the judge asked prosecutors if the proposed deal would give hunter biden immunity from prosecution for any other possible crimes he may have committed, including in his business dealings in other countries, such as ukraine and china. when a prosecutor answered no, biden's lawyer, chris clark, shot back that in that case, the deal was null and void. that set off a flurry of tense negotiations, some during brief recesses, some right out in open court. at one point, biden's lawyer walking across the courtroom, arms outstretched, threatening to rip it up. really bad for everyone. no good, he was heard saying, moments later. hunter biden clearly agitated. ultimately, judge noriega asking

prosecute percent there was an ongoing investigation into hunter biden. the prosecutor responded, there is will be the judge ordering both sides to talk again and return in about 30 days, adding, i'm not going to say i'm going to accept the agreement, i'm not going to say i'll deny it. hunter biden pleaded not guilty to the tax charges while negotiations continue, and he left the courthouse with so much still unresolved. >> juju: thanks to terry. joining me, abc's executive editorial entrepreneur, john santucci, and news reporter olivia ruben. thank you both. you were inside that courtroom. high drama. give us a sense of how this deal unraveled. >> well, juju, it began to unravel almost immediately, i would say, from the moment that hunter and the department of justice walked inside of that courtroom. the judge was ready to pepper them with questions. she was ready to go through line by line every single detail of that plea deal. she had issues almost in every

paragraph, almost on every page. so you could feel her trying to tease out what exactly the issues were. eventually it was the department of justice and hunter biden's own team that were no longer on the same page. >> juju: things got heated? >> things did get heated, especially when the department of justice said they were still investigating hunter, that this was not a closed matter. you can see hunter at times getting up from his chair, he was pacing around the room. you could really feel that frustration from him. >> juju: the judge asked both parties to hash it out, but in really escalates it? >> this keeps it going, juju, this keeps it a key factor right on the campaign trail. we know the white house did not want to engage. the white house press secretary calling it the news in delaware, not wanting to mention the words hunter biden in the same sentence. this is a gift for republicans. a gift for donald trump. he's not the only one still facing the department of justice. i spoke to one republican up on

capitol hill today. they said to me, this was a great day for us. >> juju: we know you'll stay tuned, thanks. now the culture wars in the classroom. a growing number of states placing restrictions on what students learn about race, gender, and bias. but a group of tennessee teachers now pushing back, taking the fight over curriculum into court. here's abc's stephanie ramos. >> teaching in tennessee before the prohibitive concept ban was very different. teachers could teach without fear of having their lessons reviewed and possibly facing consequences for what they taught. >> reporter: for katherine vaughn, a public school teacher in tipton county, tennessee, her classroom has become a battleground for america's culture wars. the 17-year teaching veteran and visual arts educator says she's now afraid to do her job, all because of a skate law known as the prohibited concepts act.

>> as a teacher, i want to create lessons that connect to my students and to their lives. when i bring in artists from different or diverse backgrounds, i also have to think, will this alienate other students? will someone in the community think that this is inappropriate? >> reporter: the measure signed into law by republican governor bill lee in 2021 prohibiting educators from teaching what they call divisive concepts dealing with race, gender, and other subjects in public schools. any violation could result in schools losing valuable state funding and teachers losing their jobs or even their licenses. >> it's an incredibly scary and daunting time to be an educator, teaching under laws like this. we live in such an outrage culture, anything you do or say in your classroom could be second guessed. >> reporter: the law the target of a new federal lawsuit filed by katherine for other public educators and the tennessee teachers association arguing the

ban makes the teachers' task impossible because such concepts are inextricable from pivotal moments in history, including slavery, the holocaust, or any9/11. >> we must be a color-blind society, and we must be color-blind in our schools. >> reporter: the legislation introduced two years ago, sparking fierce debate across both sides of the aisle. supporters of the bill argue that certain lessons on race and oppression may alienate some students. >> we cannot teach the next generation to feel guilt and anguish simply because of the color of their skin. >> reporter: those who oppose the bill say it promotes revisionist history. >> we can't suppress the horrific or the bad because it makes us uncomfortable. >> reporter: and that dark historical events must be faced he' head-on. >> how do you be impartial when discussing adolf hitler and his

involvement in the holocaust? >> the impartiality is adolf hitler was elected chancellor of germany and later assumed supreme leadership of that country, led into world war ii, led to the holocaust. those are facts. there's no discussion beyond that. >> reporter: according to the measure teachers aren't allowed to include or promote 14 concepts in lessons, like how an individual by virtue of their race or sex bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex. and individuals should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual's race or sex. or that the state of tennessee or the united states is fundamentally racist or sexist. how have you changed what you present in class? >> as an art teacher, i love teaching the history of artists. one of my favorite artists is frida kahlo.

my students love her work and connect to it. but once divisive concepts was passed, i withheld my khalo lesson for two years because i was worried people might question her as an artist, might question her revolutionary politics or her fluid gender identity. >> if you want to tell a story of america that is a straight, direct line upward, no nation's history has a line like that. history is a zig-zag. there will be progress, there will be setback. understanding those problems, we are able to address them and make this nation better. >> reporter: what's happening in tennessee is just one example of what's happening in school districts across america. at least 17 states have passed laws restricting school curriculum in some shape or form. >> it's troubling to see the way america is understanding education. instead of broadening the mind, the goal is to close the mind.

>> reporter: in florida, the state legislature has passed some of the most restrictive laws. just last week, the florida board of education approved new controversial guidelines for teaching african american history in public schools. >> these are the most robust standards in african american history, probably anywhere in the country. >> reporter: including a requirement that students learn how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. >> how is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization? i do believe this is not only about the state of florida. there is a national agenda afoot. >> something as simple as "the scream" -- >> reporter: back in tennessee, with the school year around the

corner, educators are left concerned about the long-term impact this ban will have on their students. >> well, i'm a teacher, but i'm also a mom. and i want my child to have a very well-rounded education. i want him to have freedom to learn, and i want his teachers to have freedom to teach. teachers are incredibly well-trained, we know what we're doing in our classrooms. i just wish politicians would trust us more. >> our thanks to stephanie. coming up, mermaid mania. the mythical sea creatur making a big splash online and in real life. tri-zone. ozempic® in my ozempic® tri-zone, i lowered my a1c, cv risk, and lost some weight. in studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. and you may lose weight. adults lost up to 14 pounds. ozempic® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes.

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>> juju: okay on, so they're human with fishtails. the mythical creatures of the sea now making waves on the big screen, social media, and in real life. abc's janai norman takes a deep dive into mermaid mania. >> reporter: mermaids are having a moment. from disney's live action "little mermaid" star halle bailey showing off red carpet looks inspired by her character, ariel, to netflix's docuseries "mer people." #mercore is trending on social media. >> we got stuck at the bottom of the sea, now we're wearing it as a shawl. >> reporter: many mesmerized by the mythical sea creatures. >> they are mysterious, they're powerful, and they are also serve as a symbol of the ocean and protecting the ocean. >> reporter: but it turns out this isn't just a fishy

fairytale. it's big business, too, as people are turning their obsession into a serious hobby. some even making a career out of it. the mermaid industry now worth over an estimated $150 million. can you explain what cosplay is? >> so it's short for "costume play." it is dressing up in character in a community of other people who are doing something similar. >> the community of mermaids has grown exponentially since i started. >> reporter: hanna burgess is just one of those enthusiasts riding the wave. we first met in 2017 when she was "mermaiding" for social media accounts and private gathergs. >> mermaiding is being the bridge between fantasy and reality. >> reporter: now taking the plunge as a mermaid performing like shows like this one at the new jersey adventure aquarium.

>> performing in aquariums is a dream come tru for every mer personut there in the water with the animals, interacting with children and adults. >> reporter: hanna also works on shore, making custom silicone tails at a north carolina company called finfolk. it can take over a month to create them and can cost upward of a few thousand dollars. >> back in the day when i started, i made all of my tops and accessories in my bedroom apartment with a hot glue gun. >> reporter: hanna says her most important job is helping raise awareness about ocean conservation. >> little steps that we take in our lives, whether it be performing as a mermaid or recycling or choosing sustainable seafood. all of those go into being a symbol of the ocean. >> reporter: that mission a driver behind what's become one of the most popular mermaid gatherings in the world.

the key west mermaid festival. >> our mission is to teach people how to swim safely in mermaid tails, and also to bring awareness to ocean conservation. a lot of people don't know things like, styrofoam takes 500 years to go away. >> reporter: for others, the best part of being a mermaid is the community they found. >> you are never too old to be mer-mazing. i'll be 70 in three months. >> i believe there's a little mermaid in all of us. >> i have autism. with autism, we have sensory issues. so the water's very soothing and very comfortable. >> as a mermaid, your mindset can be whatever motivates you or anything. but my mindset is just to have fun and be confident. >> i'm intrigued by the idea that there is a lot of

self-expression in cosplay, even as it's aspirational or inspirational in being someone or something else. >> we all have alter egos. i think what cosplay does is it gives a carer opportunity for some part of you to come out that may not be in the forefront for you. or to aspire to develop that part of you that may not be developed. >> reporter: the tales of mermaids fascinating people for millennia, from mythology to the afro-caribbean legend of mami wada, that inspired keri wada. >> she's the mother of water, protector of the seas. once i read about her, i realized throughout my research, people of color were the very first water people. >> reporter: bringing back that narrative is part of the mission of her pod, afro-me hifafro-mer

>> even though my company is based off of caribbean and african descent, we very much highlight and celebrate mermaids of all cultures. it's kind of like a multicultural fiesta. >> reporter: afro-mermaids seeks to bring representation to aquatics. >> growing up, i didn't know how to float on my back. i just knew how to swim, to get to the other side, and not die. once i started going deep in the water, learning how to hold my breath and learning how to float and just be weightless on top of water, it's a feeling that you just can't describe. it's so healing. it's about being free. it's about finding your freedom. we can all share this space. this world is big enough for all of us to thrive and grow and be happy and be beautiful. >> juju: our thanks to janai.

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finally tonight, fans mourning the loss of singer sinead o'connor. ♪ nothing compares ♪ >> juju: her haunting cover of prince's "nothing compares to you" made her a superstar. but controversy and personal struggles often overshadowed her music career. >> fight the real enemy! >> juju: speaking openly about her mental health, o'connor was