judy: good evening. i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight. gun violence in america -- prosecutors pursue hate crime charges in the shooting that left five dead and dozens wounded at an lgbtq nightclub in colorado. then. somalia in crisis -- millions lack adequate food as a famine -- propelled by conflict and climate change -- looms over east africa. >> some people know the meaning of famine or the meaning of hunger or thirst, but for some people, it's just something they can imagine. but for me, i know the real meaning of the word firsthand. dy: and. health risks -- a legal battle ensues after a recent study suggests a link between chemical hair straighteners and

heightened chances of uterine cancer. all that and more on tonight's pbs newshour. ♪ >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by -- ♪ and with the ongoing support of these individuals and institutions. and friends of the newshour including -- >> the william and flora hewlett foundation. advancing ideas and supporting institutions to promote a better world. hewlett.org. ♪

♪ ♪ >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. judy: the suspect in the shooting at an lgbtq nightclub in colorado springs is being held by police on preliminary murder and hate crimes charges. anderson aldrich is accused of killing 5 people and wounding nearly 20 others on saturday night. stephanie sy begins our coverage. stephanie: police have released few details about the shooting. the suspected gunman is a 22-year-old who was said to have previously threatened his mother

and neighborhood with a bomb in 2021. there were no records of colorado's red flag laws being triggered, which would have allowed authorities to temporarily seize his weapons. colorado springs police chief -- among the victims -- daniel aston, a 28-year-old transgender man who worked as a bartender at club q. derrick rump, a 38-year-old bartender and club q co-owner. kelly loving, a 40-year-old transgender woman visiting from her home in denver. 22-year-old raymond green vance and 35-year-old ashley paugh. at least 18 others were injured -- some of whom remain in critical condition. witnesses recalled hearing gunshots, thinking at first they were a part of the music, before the reality of the situation hit. >> we saw bodies. it was horrible. stephanie: police started receiving 911 calls around 11:57

p.m. the gunman entered the club and immediately opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle. he had multiple firearms. at least one patron fought and disarmed the shooter, subduing him until officers arrived just minutes later. today, the mayor of colorado springs praised that bravery. >> it is an incredible act of heroism, when you look at this in the timeframe that act probably saved a lot of lives. there is no question about that. stephanie: saturday was the eve of transgender day of remembrance -- a day meant to memorialize trans victims lost to hate crimes. for colorado springs, the day now marks an unthinkable tragedy that happened in a space that was supposed to be safe. >> our community is shattered. this is the only lgbtqia+ space we have in the city of colorado springs. where are we going to go? stephanie: for residents of

colorado springs mourning those they have lost, the pain is still fresh and remains a grim reminder of violence aimed at lgbtq americans. during a press conference moments ago, prosecutors said the preliminary charges could change during the course of the investigation. but police did not release any major new details about the case or the motive. some reaction now to this shooting and the fear and anger many are feeling. nadine bridges is the executive director of one colorado, a leading advocacy group in the state working to advance equality for lgbtq individuals. thank you for joining the newshour during what must be a very difficult day for you and your community. when you learned about the location of this mass shooting, the fact that it was in colorado springs, that club is hosting a drag show to commemorate trans

day of remembrance the next day, what was your reaction? >> i was shocked. i recved a message from one of our partner organizations in oklahoma at 6:15 in the morning. i work very closely with some of the lgbtq+ leaders in colorado springs and i was absolutely heartbroken. i'm devastated. we all are. stephanie: i know you were actually at the vigil last night in colorado springs. you have been to other vigils and you are meeting with members of the community. what is the response shaping up to look like from mbers of the community? what d they want to do now? >> i was at the vigil yesterday afternoon and i think at this point, it has only been 36 hours and our community is really trying to come together to

ensure that all of our members who have been harmed, who are dealing with grief, that they have the resources they need. we want them to know that we care for them and we love them. for those local leaders, like the executive director of inside out in colorado springs, the only youth center in the area, we have provided them the resources they need and the support they need to get through in these next weeks and months. stephanie: we still don't know the motivations of the shooter, but investigators are looking at this through the lens of it possibly being a hate crime. as you learn the scant details that we know, is there any other way for you to see this attack? >> no, i mean i don't know the motives and i don't want to make assumptions, but what i do know is there is a lot of attacks on our community.

there has been a lot of anti-lgbtq rhetoric for political gain. we know that there are leaders in the community who have made it a point to harm our chance gender, non-binary, and gender expansive youth in our community. and when you have this type of rhetoric and you don't provide support to communities who may feel lonely, it breeds hate. there is no doubt in my mind that whether or not ts is deemed as a hate crime, i don't know, but what i do know is that when you have to kill five people and harm 20 other people and potentially could have harmed many more, that is hate and motivated by hate. stephanie: the last mass shooting targeting a gay nightclub was in florida several years ago, 49 were killed. i also understand that gay and trans people are killed every

year. there was a report out just a few days ago from the human rights campaign that at least 32 trans people have been violently killed already this year. what's what happened this weekend a wake-up call? >> i wish i could say that it was a wake-up call. we do transgender day of remembrance every year. we talk about the transgender women in particular, trans women of color in particular who are murdered in our communities, and yet we still have folks who think that it is ok to say harmful things and to make our community and butt of their jokes. we know that they are attacking our drag queen story times, saying negative things about youth who are just trying to be themselves. i wish i could say this is a wake-up call. but i don't know.

what i do know is that our community is beautiful and strong and they will continue to support each other. we will continue to push until our community members and our political leaders do what they need to do to protect our communities. stephanie: and i should add that your community members showed great bravery and heroism as well over the weekend. nadine bridges, the executive director of one colorado, thank you for joining the news hour tonight. >> thank you for having me. ♪ stephanie: in the day's other news. rolling blackouts spread across ukraine with half of the country's power systems knocked out by russian air strikes. kyiv set up hundreds of communal heating areas, amid frigid temperatures. and, in the south, the newly

liberated regions of kherson and mykolaiv ordered evacuations. authorities said with people lining up for water supplies -- and with no heat -- living conditions will be close to unbearable this winter. an earthquake shook indonesia, killing at least 162 people and injuring hundreds more. it struck the densely populated main island of java with a magnitude of 5.6, at a depth of just 6 miles. the shock waves toppled buildings and trapped people beneath the rubble. many of the dead were school children, leaving parents frantic with fear. >> i have seven children, and one of them hasn't been found. everything collapsed beneath me, and i was crushed beneath this child. one of my kids is still missing. my house is flattened. stephanie: the earthquake was also felt in the gater jakarta area, where it sent people fleeing into the streets. some 3.7 million people went into lockdown in china today -- facing a new covid-19 outbreak

in the southern city of guangzhou. residents are now required to have a negative test before being allowed to leave their homes. at soccer's world cup -- the u.s. men played to a 1-1 tie with wales in their opening match in qatar. but so far, much of the focus has been off the field -- with prests and other issues. john yang reports. >> outside the stadium before the iran-england game today, iranian fans had a message about the brutal crackdown at home. >> there is a lot of motivations for the reason i'm here with all the protests for the movements for freedom in iran. all of this made us come here and stand together for our rights. >> inside, iranian players refused to sing the national anthem. and english players knelt to protest racism and inequality. all signs of the controversies surrounding this world cup.

many of them stemming from host nation qatar's disturbing human rights recd including its treatment of migrant workers, women, and its lgbtq citizens. a group of european team captains abandoned plans to wear one love armbands to support inclusivity and lgbtq rights after fifa -- the world cup's governing body -- said that would subject them to on-field discipline. the head of germany's soccer organization slammed world cup officials. >> this is more than frustrating from our point of view and also an unprecedented event in the history of the world cup. >> you want to criticize someone? come to me, criticize me, here i am, you can crucify me. >> this past weekend, the head of fifa was on defense with remarks some found callous. >> for what we europeans have been doing in the last 3000 years around the world, we

should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people. >> the kick-off to a high-drama tournament, but perhaps not in the way fifa intended. for the pbs newshour, i'm john yang. stephanie: back in the u.s., oregon governor kate brown announced she will pardon an estimated 45,000 people previously convicted of simple possession of marijuana. $14 million in associated fines and fees will also be forgiven. last month, president biden issued a similar pardon for federal marijuana convictions. and nasa's unpiloted orion crew capsule reached the moon -- passing within 80 miles of the lunar surface. it marked a milestone in the new american program to put astronauts back on the moon in 2025. orion now heads into lunar orbit and will stay for almost a week before heading home. still to come on the newshour. tamara keith and amy walter analyze the latest political headlines. musician bartees strange pushes

the bodaries of the indie rock genre. president den issues pardons for two turkeys. and much more. ♪ >> this is the pbs newshour from weta studios in washington and in the west from the walter cronkite school of journalism at arizona state university. judy: somalia is suffering one of the most acute humanitarian crises on earth. a crushing combination of conflict and climate change has left millions in jeopardy of starvation, as famine again stalks the land. special correspondent tania rashid, producer luke hardy, and producer-videographer neil brandvold recently traveled to somalia and sent us this report, parts of which may disturb some viewers. >> a humanitarian crisis is rapidly escalating in somalia. the country is facing the worst drought in history after five

failed rainy seasons in over two years. livestock dying everywhere. crops drying up, along with many water resources. over half of somalia 7 million people now face chronic hunger. and current estimates forecast that the crisis will exceed the 2011 famine that starved 260,000 people to death. now, again, famine looms over this land. tens of thousands are deerately fleeing their villages in search of food and water. the ravages of climate change have contributed to the worst drought to hit somalia in 40 years. it is also the focus of the climate change summit known as cop27 -- tt ended last week in egypt. aden ibrahim aw hirsi is the minister of state for environment and clate change. we spoke with him just before cop27. >> somalia emits 0.03 million metric tons of greenhouse gas as

of 2021. yet we believe we are suffering 100%. >> our crew flew to the outskirts of the ethiopian-somali border town of dollow with the international organization for migration to see the situation on the ground at one of the largest camps for internally displaced people. every day, there are 50 to 60 households coming in where i'm standing here. there are about 1000 people and the numbers keep rising. it took murayo liban abdi 18 days by foot and donkey cart to make it to this idp campsite with her 5 malnourished children . >> on our way, we had issues related to water and food. we had a very scarce supply. we got a little money -- 2, 3 dollars from my husband's relatives. we migrated with idp groups, almost 80 people were moving to dollow. we have seen dead human bodies and remains of livestock that died because of drought.

we were fortunate and saved from harm. >> soon after reaching dollow she had to bury her brother's son and neighbors daughter who died from malnutrition. then just a week later she buried her youngest child, ruweyda, who grew weaker by the day without access to food and water. she was just two years old. >> now when i see children her age or have the same name, it reminds me of her, i get nostalgic. >> the unprecedented drought has taken its toll but so has political unrest. al-shabaab has been active here for more than 15 years. the government has recently declared a state of war against the al qaeda linked terrorist group following relentless attacks across the country and is a focus of u.s. counter-terror efforts in the horn of africa. majority rural areas are controlled by the terrorist group known widely for blocking access to proper humanitarian aid and even poisoning water wells.

hassan ali, a fifth generation pastoralist, trekked by foot for 8 days to make it here to this idp camp after all his livestock died. but he also had to reckon with al shabaab taking over his village. they shot off his arm, taxed him all on his crops, all while also actively recruiting his children for war. >> al-shabaab did not allow anyone to bring us medications, food, and they were against all aid from the ngo's and the government. they told us lah is the one who provides for his people. i believe, even if the entire world comes to our rescue, i do not think al-shaabab will never peacefully leave somalia. >> hassan anxiously waited for his wife and six children -- who were all due to arrive the next day. he had no shelter or food to offer them. but the safety of his family under this sky he said means everything to him. in addition to causing terror to somalis, al shabaab is also

waging campaigns that have a direct eect on the environment. al shabaab has also been behind an illicit charcoal trade now banned by the united nations. while it was a major source of income for the group it was also a primary cause for deforestation. for years, al-shabaab has been cutting trees for charcoal to fire hookah bars in the the united arab emirates, an industry worth billions. this deforestation has led to widespread failure of crops, livestock, and famine. the u.n. estimates ior to the ban al-shabaab was earning tens of millions of dollars from the illicit charcoal trade. despite a ban experts and our , local sources confirmed the trade continues. we spoke to an illicit charcoal trader who requested to remain anonymous. he confirmed that the charcoal trade has continued despite the ban and is a source of funding for terrorism. >> i know that situation. the deforestation. but there are other people who

will not stop cutting trees for charcoal. so why should i do it myself? it will not have an effect on deforestation. >> is it still happening today? >> yes, al-shabaab is directly invested in the charcoal trade and they are also taxing i they benefit from the charcoal and the emirates are the end-users of the charcoal. this is the way they buy ammunition. >> abdi salam guled, the former deputy director of the somalia national intelligence and security agency says the , charcoal trade has contributed to the climate disaster. >> if you are flying over somalia, it is a complete desert. i think charcoal has played a huge part. it's been a ge part of the climate change and deforestation and drought we have seen in somalia. >> we departed dolow on a un humanitarian flight to see the effects of the drought and war on urban areas in the capital , mogadishu. close to a million people have have been displaced across the

region. the situation in mogadishu has been deteriorating, since weve been here there have been multiple car bombs going off on a daily basis. this coincides with the government's declaration of war against al-shabaab. guled says the somali government has a small window to defeat al shabaab with current uprisings taking place against them across the rural areas. >> in my understanding that al-shabaab are not just rebels or insurgents. they have been there for many years. they are one of the richest organizations in the world. i do see less hope in somalia to be honest with you. with al-shabaab, no one can beat them. the community will not rise again because they will be punished by al-shabaab. there's financial fatigue in the international community. >> what is worrisome as there are suicide bombings happening quite frequently here. do you foresee this continuing? >> i do see that it will happen.

god forbid. i do believe al-shabaab still has the means and methods to carry out the same attacks. >> idp camps in the outskirts of mogadishu have also had a recent influx of people fleeing drought and insecurity. >> a community leader recalls the 2011 famine where she nearly starved to death. >> it did not kill me, but i almost died. some people know the meaning of famine or the meaning of hunger or thirst, but for some people, it's just something they can imagine. for me, i know the real meaning of the word firsthand. so when i hear that the people in this region are dying for that, it is a thorn to my flesh, a real lesson that i know, a lesson that i experienced. and the people sitting here experienced it. >> with the little she has, she is focused on helping new arrivals and making sure the youth don't get recruited by al-shabaab. >> there are families on the

outskirts of the city because you cannot keep the youth outside of this ghetto because al-shabaab is recruiting them. >> just a few block away doctors are dealing with the mos vulnerable victims, showing tell-tale signs of famine due to the crisis 1.5 million , children are now malnourished across the region. dr. mustafa yusuf is one of the leadg doctors at action against hunger in mogadishu. he has been seeing a rise in late stage cases of malnourished children this bid became in a couple of weeks ago. his mother brought him from an idp camp in the outskirts of mogadishu. she thought he was going to die. he runs a test to see his condition. >>'s arm is twisted. it's in the red zone. the red means severely malnourished. >> despite his condition the doctor is hopeful about his recovery. but he worries about the future.

>> these babies will get sicker and sicker and the number will keep increasing and the trage will become more and more. it is really overwhelming. it is really devastating. >> and as humanitarian groups sound the alarms with famine at the doorstep, an official declaration has not yet been made. but it is already overwhelming and that devastation will kill the most vulnerable first -- the children. for the pbs newshour, in mogadishu. ♪ judy: veral women diagnosed with uterine cancer are now suing l'oreal and other cosmetic companies after a recent study tied the illness to chemical hair straightening products. amna nawaz has more on the study and the concerns it has raised. amna: the study conducted by the

national institute of environmental alth safety found that women who reported frequent use of hair straightening products were me than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than women who did not. we spoke to several women who have been chemically straightening their hair since childhood and are now concerned for their health. >> for as long as i can remember, i have always had my hair in some form of perm or relaxer honestly i got my first one super early. like six or seven years old. >> i was probably maybe 10 or 11 years old. that was a parental decision. my mother had a chemical relaxer placed in my hair. she was a working parent, a sing mother. i'm certain her thought process was that a chemical relaxer would make it easier for her to be able to care for my hair. >> i think for black women essentially -- especially to

assimilate into corporate america or white america, we were told we had to straighten our hair. we are considering all the factors. it is not an easy decision. it i a tough decision with many layers. it is scary to be honest. hearing about cancer risk, not necessarily uterine, i think of her breast cancer risk over the past few years, just having those chemicals in our body for decades. >> it is pretty sad to know that it is a risk that myself, my mother, other black women can have. on the other side, everything we do in life seemingly can cause cancer. it is just kind of another thing added to the list. >> i do think it's really important for these companies and also any federal agenes like the fda that might have oversight over production of these types of chemicals to put really clear warning labels on all such type products.

>> if you have the opportunity to stop and prevented, you shou. i do appreciate the research and the tests coming out to bring more awareness. >> i hope it gets better and i do think it is getting better, but we have to go through a lot to get to where we are right now. it is not fair, to be frank. amna: we take a closer look now at hair straighteners and the ties to uterine cancer. dr. kemi dole is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the university of washington school of medicine. she joins us now. thank you for joining us. you heard what the women had to say. we want to point out that this is one study we are talking about that looks at that connection. what are the limits of a study like this and what does it tell us for sure? >> there are a few things to know in terms of the limits of the study. it was a survey study, so we are basing it on what women are reporting. we don't have information on

what kind of straighteners that were used, what kind of extend they were on the scalp. different air straightener products are not created equal, as we know as black women. the other thing that it is important about this study is that it was originally a group to study breast cancer. so every woman in the study had to have a biological sister who had breast cancer. that is not necessarily similar to the general public, so it raises some questions out to has -- as to how generalizable this is. this is a very important study. it asks a very important question. it starts to have us have more focus around the idea of being able to understand what is driving, what is causing uterine cancer in this country. >> we used the word frequent

when we talked about the use of hair straighteners, that was derived as four times in one year. how worried should any woman be watching this report who has previously used hair straightening products? what is the risk? > this study is the beginning of this question. there are some anymore questions to answer about what the link is and if it is something that is a causal link or something association. what is most important is women need to know the risks of uterine cancer and the signs of uterine cancer. regardless of whether you use hair straighteners, the risk of uterine cancer in this country is 3%, or about one and 32 women by age 80. symptoms the drive uterine cancer that allow us to diagnose it early is when there is postmenopausal bleeding or vaginally bleeding after the time of menopause. knowing that and being aware of your symptoms is what will make the difference in terms of

getting a diagnosis and ultimately your outcome. amna: are those rates the same for everyone? across all groups of women? would you recommend people stop using these products if they are concerned? > great question. the rates by race if we look at black women or white women, the likelihood of getting uterine cancer is very similar, which is why the study is interesting because black women use hair straighteners much more commonly. we don't see that black women have twice the rate of uterine cancer. i would say to a woman using hair straighteners, if you have been looking for a reason to stop using hair straighteners, if that was something in your plan, i think this is a great reason to pause and save something else works for me, let me stop using hair straighteners. if it is something that is really important to you and your sense of beauty, something you prefer, i would say you want to be aware of what kind of chemicals are in the hair straighteners used on your head.

then you can do some research to look at whether those have been related to cancer or not. some of them have and some of them have not. i thi that is responsibly what we can say right now. it is reasonable to have some concern and if you can stop and you desire to anyway, it is reasonable to go natural. i'm big natural fan. amna: you heard a few of the women going -- mention the pressure, and the pressure to conform to european beauty standards. when we talk about black women's health, we do find this from connection to structural racism. do you see that connection here? >> absolutely. that is one of my questions as a researcher in this space, is what we are seeing actually a proxy or a sign of women who are more at risk to be pressured in their environments to conform? women who did not have a choice about whether they have natural hair or not, who are more likely

to be in those scenarios where straightening their hair made a tangible economic difference. those women are probably more at risk of the pressures of structural racism. to sit those pressures causing weathering and stress on the body or the air straigener itself? i think it is absolutely related and it has to do why we need more studies that focus on what is going on with black men and reticular -- women in paicular, because their experiences are different and we know the diseases and outcomes can be different. amna: thank you for your time. >> thank you so much. judy: republican party leaders converge on las vegas this weekend, delivering speeches to

the republican jewish coalition on the future of the party. for many, including former president trump, it is an early test for presidential campaign messages in 2024. >> we have to choose candidates that can win not just a primary but also a general election. >> let's stop supporting crazy unelectable candidates in our primaries and get behind winners that can close in november. >> personality and celebrity are not going to get it done. >> the reason we are losing is because donald trump has put himself before everybody else. judy: here to discuss this and more, y wobbler of -- amy walter of the cook political report with amy walter and tamera keith of npr. politics monday. you here what these republicans are saying. let's stop supporting crazy,

unelectable candidates. donald trump puts himself above everyone else. what is the message? >> it is pretty subtle. [laughter] if we keep supporting donald trump, we will lose races that are winnable the person who got the most attention is ron desantis, who went up in front of the same voters, did not mention the name trump or talk about candidates who were unsuccessful. he talked about why he was so successful, how he is delivering for florida. basically the message. he said we had a really disappointing performance in 2022. we did not have that happen in florid in not-so-subtle reminder to these voters that they do have other choices who have a track record and then he spent the rest of the speech talking about the ways in which he, like

donald trump, going after wokeness, going after those who want to take away freedoms. touching those same cultural spots that trump does very well with primary voters. judy: so using some of the trump message to talk to these republican movers and shakers. how are these messages landing? >> i think we are in a phase right now where there are lot of people who are talking about running, but not yet running. and you have some of these very same people talking abt trump and unelectable who were talking about trump being unelectable and bad for the party in 2015 and 2016. some of the people who appeared there were running against him in 2015 and 2016 and endorsed him. i think what we don't know right now is is this going to be

another crowded field like 2015 and 2016, where donald trump has a titanium pie of the pie and nobody can break into that titanium piece of the pie? or will this be a completely different here? all of us in politics have a tendency to fight the last battle or fight the last war and see the last cycle, the next cycle as being like the last cycle. we don't know whether we are reliving 2015 and 2016 or whether this will be a completely different year and donald trump will not be the same factor that he was. maybe a ron desantis or who knows? a broadcaster promising young republicans of the next generation. judy: i'm going to remember titanium piece of the pie.

speaking of the remnants of this cycle, this runoff election in georgia between the incumbent and the democrat challenger. speaking of donald trump, where does that look? >> it is fascinating. it's coming right up after thanksgiving. december 6 is the runoff. herschel walker did not just underperform compared to say where donald trump was, but he underperformed the gubernatorial nominee and the current governor brian kemp by about 200,000 votes. ke got 200,000 more votes. the governor went out and campaigned with herschel walker over the weekend. the goal is to get some of those people w voted for kemp back on the herschel walker train. that would have been a lot easier if this were the race to determine control of the senate. you make the case to the voters that you may not really like

this guy, but he is the difference between democrats being in charge and republicans being in charge. they don't have that same message. where did walker underperform? not surprisingly, atlanta, the atlanta suburbs. did well enough in the red parts of the state. he needs to turn out that ba, but he did well there and he has to get the suburban voters that one for kemp and it is not clear he has the message to do that. judy: there is not the incentive for republicans right now. >> right. there were a lot of people lukewarm enough on herschel walker to not vote for him or to eith vote for raphael warnock and brian kemp or not vote at all in this senate race. for those people going to show up to an election where they have to go out of their way to vote when there was no one else on the ballot except for this person who they feel lukewarm about? the question on the democratic

side is the same incentive question. where if senate control is not at stake, are they going to be as motivated as they were earlier in november? clearly, the heavy hitters are coming out. former president obama is coming to rally them. there is no one who rallies democrats quite like the former president obama. judy: so a test of who has the greater incentive building? something we hate to even talk about, think about, but this latest tragic shooting, another lgbtq club. a few years ago, you had the shooting at pulse in orlando, florida. now this one. we don't even like to think about it, talk about it, but there has been a lot of conversation in the air in this political season about gay issues, same-sex marriage, transgender.

to what extent do we think that factors? >> i was thinking about this today and how these places and this especially recent times, quite frankly it is horrible to say just in the last couple of weeks, places that are supposed to be havens fo safety and security -- schools, uvalde, university of virginia, university in idaho, now this nightclub where everyone of the patrons said, this was our sanctuary where we felt safe, so the fact that our places of safety and comfort and security have been breached, that is where you just feel and so many americans feel this way, just that the country, our system, whatever it is, is so off-track. if we can't enjoy these places that should be peace and safety, then nowhere is safe.

that is a really sobering and pretty depressing thought. judy: it is. >> and reality. judy: and no solutions clear? >> certainly, there is talk again of trying to have an assault weapons ban among the president and democrats. that seems unlikely. there's a disconnect between congress, the senate passing bipartisan legislation, in support of same-sex marriage days before the attack happens on this nightclub. there's is a disconnect between the politics. there is growing acceptance of lgbtq communities and yet at the same time, and it is not clear what the motives were, but the sense of backlash at the same time. judy: ugly language in dark corners of where these conversations come from. tough subject.

but something we are all trying to live with right now. amy walter, tamera keith, thank you both. >> you're welcome. judy: professional musicians often chafe it being confined to categori and genres and some kinds an artist comes along to invigorate categories. bartees strange is one such musician. our alston culture series -- art's and culture series canvas. >> bartees strange operates in the world known as indie, or alternative rock, a space, he says, where black artists haven't always gotten their due. ♪ >> oftentimes we will be like,

black people are like the foundation of culture, but when you look at who is getting recognition and winning awards and the guitar driven space or the indie rock space, the contributions of black people are often forgotten. >>'s contributions are getting attention. they include r&b, rent -- rap, soul, and more, where the guardian recently wrote he is here to rewrite the rulebook. maybe he was made to mash multiple styles into a new one of his own. he was born bartees cox, jr. in 1989 in ipswich, england. >> my dad was an air force guy. he worked on planes. and my mom, she's an opera singer. the family bounced around until bartees, the oldest of three, found himself growing up in mustang, oklahoma. >> i grew up on garth brooks boulevard, literally. and we were one of the few black families there. >> he soaked up music,

especially that of the mostly white hardcore and emo scenes. but he also attended opera camp. and he loved books. >> i was an avid reader. philip roth was my favorite author. >> military father, opera singer mother, philip roth-reading black kid in a white town. >> strange, yes. >> is that how the name strange occurred to you? [laughter] >> the people at church would be like, he's kind of strange. which in the black community can mean, like, so many things. it's like a word you could use to describe the quiet kid, the kid you don't understand really, but you love him. people would always kinda be, like, he's in his own world. >> his dream was actually to play football. that is, until one late night he saw the group tv on the radio. ♪ >> and it's this band of mostly black guys. and they were wearing clothes that was like something i would wear. and they were making music that i had not heard by people that look like that. i was, like, i need to get a guitar. it changed what i thought was possible in my life.

>> good music would not take over right away. in fact, bartees cox went on to an entire career outside of music in washington, including a stint as deputy press secretary commission. as recently as last year he worked in communications for a climate change nonprofit. but he was making music all along. he began getting more attention with a 2020 release where he cored tunes by a prominent indie band that he adores -- the national. >> kind of wanted to make this a commentary on the artists that make it and the ones that don't, despite the history of black art in the scene. and, i was, like, why can't there be a band like the national that los like me? ♪ >> so he took songs by the national that sound like this -- ♪ >> and interpreted them like this -- ♪

but it was only in 2021 with the album live forever that he made music full-time. ♪ critics heralded work that it flows with past traditions and new sonic possibilities. it included a breakthrough track called boomer. ♪ >> that song, basically it's a moment in my life where i just like actualized. i was in brooklyn around a bunch of artists that i loved and respected who were black, who made me feel like i was a normal person and i was able to write and create music that was, like, so true to myself. ♪ i was always kind of like , but when i was making boomer,

writing that song, i was like, yo,'m good. >> his latest record, farm to table, has upped the stakes. a standout cut is called hold the line. he played it for his siblings and parents before the album's release. >> after george floyd died, i remember watching the news and seeing his daughter, gianna, talking to the press about what had happened. and everyone was like, oh, my god, this kid's so braveoh, my god. and i was like, no. we failed this child again. just like we failed so many black kids. i say, he's calling to h mother now, right? at the end of it i say, i'm calling to my moth now. >> ♪ i'm calling to my mother now. ♪ ♪ >> because man, george floyd looks like me, likhe's like a big black dude. my whole life i've had to, like, police what i do with my body, how loud i am, how i look, what i'm dressed like, who i'm looking likeyeah, you know, i was like, i could have easily been him. there's many times in my life

where thought i was going to be him. >> nowadays he sometimes appears onstage with the national. and new music has brought new fans. one invited bartees onto his podcast. >> it's a real privilege to talk to you. you music is so beautiful and it's a kind of jewel. >> i saw recently that you chatted with elton john. do you aspire to that kind of success in the business? >> yes, i do. 100%. but i'm really trying hard not to write that way. i'm trying hard not to say i need to make a hit. i'm just going to keep making sic. hits will come. i think that my journey is only just beginning. thank you. >> for the pbs newshour, this is tom casciato in new york city. ♪

judy: americans are expected to gobble up more than 40 million turkeys between now and the end of the year, but two massive birds will escape the holiday season thanks to a presidential intervention. stephanie sy is back with the history inside the turkey pardon. stephanie: turkey is not on the white house menu. at least not this plucky pair or should we say lucky pair? joe doled out a mercil of mercy. >> based on their temperament and their commitment to being number one members of society, i hereby pardon. stephanie: the president garnished his speech with dad jokes and strutted out a few zingers for good measure. >> devotes are in, they have

been countednd verified, there is no ballot stuing, there is no foul play, the only red wave this season will be a german shepherd commander knocking over the cranberry sauce on our table. >> it is in more than three decade long tradition of the white house, but how it got started, that question has ruffled feathers. >> president truman was the first prident to pardon a turkey. stephanie: actually, that is as false as tofurkey. he was the first to receive turkey from the national turkey federation, but there is no record of a pardon. according to the white house storical association, truman quipped that the birds would come in handy for christmas dinner. oh truman, that hawk. so who was the first president to save a turkey? let the record show it was honest abe lincoln. after his young son tad begged for the bird's life, the

christmas turkey became a pet. president john f. kennedy was the first to spare a thanksgiving bird in 1963 despite a sign hanging around its neck that read good eating, mr. president. kennedy sent the gobbler back to the farm. no official pardon for richard nixon's turkeys, but they were spared from scandal and the table, gifted to a nearby petting zoo. it was ronald reagan who carved out a sp in history by being the first to use the word pardon when talking turkey in 1987. the tradition became formalized in 1989 with president george h w bush. >> let me assure you that he will not end up on anyone's dinner table. not this guy. >> the event has become an annual white house ritual. >> this is the eighth i've had the privilege to meet and set free at the rose garden. >> some years, turkeys are more

domesticated than others, like jerry, who sported a white house pass around his neck and 2007. some years are more democratic, like in 2004 when the george w. bush white house let online voters choose the turkey posner names. >> this is an election year and biscuits had to earn his spot at the white house. biscuits and his running mate gravy. prevailed over the ticket of patience and fortitude. >> 2014 saw the turkeys upgrade their d.c. stay to this winky digs of the willard hotel. every set sense has enjoyed its four-star creature comforts. while runningfoul of any tradition is liable to cause a flap, the ben dimmick brought change to the white house in homes across the country in 2020. >> we give thanks for the vaccines and therapies that will soon end the pandemic. >> one year later with the pandemic still lingering, attendees kept their distance as

biden offered a side of dark humor with his first turkey pardon. >> instead of getting basted, these two turkeys are getting boosted. >> the lucky ducks were among 30 birds raised specifically for this day. they will return to the tar hill estate thankful to live out the rest of their lives on the campus of north carolina state university. that is the story and if you heated the ponds -- hated the puns, you can ask us to stuff it. judy: that is the only foul talk you will hear in of the newshour all year long. that's the newshour for tonight. join us online and again tomorrow evening. for all of us, please stay safe and we will see you soon. >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by -- serulvicecellku to helpr people communicate and connect.

we offer a variety of no contract plans and our service team can find one that fits you. visit consumercellular.tv. >> the landscape has changed. not for the last time. the rules of business are being reinvented with a more flexible workforce by embracing innovation, by looking not only at current opportunities, but ahead to future ones. resilience is the ability to pivot again and again for what happens next. >> people who know, know bdo. >> the kendeda fund. committed to advancing restorative justice and meaningful work through investments in transformative leaders and ideas. more at kendeda fun.org.

supported by the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. and with the ongoing support of these institutions. this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> this is the pbs newshour from weta studios in washington and in the west from the walter cronkite school of journalism at arizona state university. ♪ >>

♪♪ -"cook's country" is about more than just getting dinner on the table. we're also fascinated by the people and stories behind the dishes. we go inside kitchens in every corner of the country to learn how real people cook, and we look back through time to see how history influences the way we eat today. we bring that inspiration back to our test kitchen so we can share it with you. this is "cook's country." ♪♪ today on "cook's country," morgan makes roasted beef chuck roast with horseradish-parsley sauce. i talk about the medicinal uses for horseradish. adam reviews kitchen timers, and bryan makes torn and fried potatoes.

that's all right here on "cook's country."