david brooks, we immediately go after a tragedy like this to the gun control debate. more than a mental illness debate. as we look at the faces of these killers, in these recent incidents, what is the common thread that you find throughout them? they all appear to be young males, mentally at the very least mentally unbalanced. why do we so quickly move to the gun debate? >> first on the profile, we have had enough of this cases, we don't on this specific guy, but we've had enough cases to get a profile what they tend to be like. they are highly intelligent. something happens to them that damages that high estimation of themselves. they feel they are not being recognized by the world at large and decide they are going to do something to make the world recognize them. and so they go out and do these terrible things. and at the moment they're doing them this is the happy of their lives. they feel the world is uncontrolled, and suddenly they are in control. and they are the hero in their own life story. and so we should acknowledge, a, they are extremely determined to do

which may be a message. >> i will keep watching that one and everything else. >> mark shield, david brooks, thanks as always. and if you want even more, mark and david keep up the talk on the "doubleheader" recorded in our newsroom. that will be posted at the top of the "rundown" later tonight. >> warner: we'll be back shortly with a look at efforts to pinpoint the age of the grand canyon. but first, this is pledge week on pbs. this break allows your public television station to ask for your support. >> warner: finally tonight, just how old is the grand canyon? the conventional wisdom holds that this natural wonder of the world was shaped by the colorado about five or six million years ago. but there's been a long-running debate over whether it's much older. yesterday, researchers published a study in the journal "science," arguing these majestic formations were formed by two much older rivers cutting through the landscape some 70 million years ago, during the age of the dinosaurs. we have newshour science correspondent miles o'brien here to tell us what the debate is all about. so miles f

new york times column newscast david brooks. sociologist, michael eric dyson and the president of the american federation of teachers, randi weingarten. >> from nbc news in washington, the world's longest running television, this is meet the press with david gregory. >> a very difficult day for a small town in connecticut as we grief over the loss of life at sandy hook elementary. this morning we get a first look of the names and faces of some victims. 20 school children, eight boys, 12 girls, all first graders and six adults who died trying to protect them. including this heart breaking video of a 6-year-old anna marquez green singing a hymn with her brother last summer. ♪ president obama will travel to newtown this afternoon to console victims families and attend a community vigil. the washington post headline sums up where we are nearly 48 hours after the shooting wrenching details but few answers. that's where we want it start this special hour this morning with our justice correspondent nbc's pete williams with what more we

which may be a message. >> i will keep watching that one and everything else. >> mark shield, david brooks, thanks as always. and if you want even more, mark and david keep up the talk on the "doubleheader" recorded in our newsroom. that will be posted at the top of the "rundown" later tonight. >> warner: we'll be back shortly with a look at efforts to pinpoint the age of the grand canyon. but first, this is pledge week on pbs. this break allows your public television station to ask for your support. and that support helps keep programs like ours on the air. >> brown: for those stations not taking a pledge break, we take an encore look at president abraham lincoln and his evolving legacy in politics and culture. earlier this year, hari sreenivasan toured the ford's theatre center for education and leadership in washington, d.c., with historian richard norton smith. >> sreenivasan: walking into the theater center is like taking a step back in time to the cobblestone streets of washington on april 16, 1855, the day after president abraham lincoln's death. newspaper headlines cover the walls

"new york times" columnist david brooks. sociologist michael eric dyson. and the president president president. -- president of the american federation of teachers randi weingarten. >>> from nbc news in washington, this is "meet the press" with david gregory. >>> good sunday morning on a very difficult day for a small town in connecticut and for the entire country as we all grieve over the loss of life at sandy hook elementary. this morning we're getting a first look at the names and faces of some of the victims. 20 schoolchildren, eight boys, 12 girls, all first graders, and the six adults who died trying to protect them, including this heartbreaking video of a 6-year-old, anna marquez green, singing a hymn with her brother last summer. ♪ >> president obama will travel to newtown this afternoon to console victims' families and attend a community vigil. "the washington post" headline this morning sums up where we are nearly 48 hours after the shooting. wrenching details but few answers. that's where we want to start this special hour this morning with pete

mark shields, david brooks. >> thank you >> warner: finally tonight, to egypt. egyptians will go to the polls tomorrow to vote on whether to approve a newly drafted constitution. but the path to that vote has deeply polarized the country. it's been nearly two years since exuberant egyptians, backed by their own military, forced out hosni mubarak after three decades in power. but in recent weeks, the streets outside the palace he once occupied have been the site of counter-demonstrations and clashes between egyptians who'd joined forces in early 2011. seven people died last week, with hundreds more injured, in hand-to-hand fighting between secular and liberal egyptians and members of islamist groups, like the muslim brotherhood. they were fighting over what the new man in the palace-- former muslim brotherhood figure, now president muhammad morsi-- has done to bring about tomorrow's vote on a new constitution, including a late-november decree granting himself unchecked power until the vote. that led many to compare him to his reviled predecessor. >> ( translated

." >> warner: plus, mark shields and david brooks analyze the week's news. >> brown: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> support also comes from carnegie corporation of new york, a foundation created to do what andrew carnegie called "real and permanent good." celebrating 100 years of philanthropy at carnegie.org. >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: the final weekend has now arrived before the fiscal cliff hits on new year's day and with it, more than $600 million in tax hikes and spending cuts. in a last bid for a deal, president obama stated his terms face-to-face to top republicans and democrats. >> congressional leaders arrive ted white house this afternoon for their first group meeting with the president since november 16th. vice president biden and treasury secretary timothy geithner also attend. but there was

and columnist for "the new york times" david brooks. welcome to all of you.wife and are trying to shield our young kids from news of this event, we realize that it's futile. this is not an exception. we cannot wish these events away. and i mention this robust social networking conversation that unites the country. and if there is one feeling, it is enough. so in that spirit, i want to have this conversation. here is the recent history of school shootings in this country, public rampages. not all at schools. and the number of victims going back to columbine in 1999 all the way to portland, oregon, at a mall. three people killed there. so the context is just so alarming. senator feinstien, we talk about guns. it often overshadows the debate about mental illness. but in the vein of gun control in this country and presidential leadership, you heard from mayor bloomberg. this is how "the washington post" described the president's leadership back in july. i'm not going to take away your guns, obama promised in september of 2008. however, he advocated closing a loop

." >> warner: plus, mark shields and david brooks analyze the week's news. >> brown: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> support also comes from carnegie corporation of new york, a foundation created to do what andrew carnegie called "real and permanent good." celebrating 100 years of philanthropy at carnegie.org. >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> brown: the final weekend has now arrived before the fiscal cliff hits on new year's day and with it, more than $600 million in tax hikes and spending cuts. in a last bid for a deal, president obama stated his terms face-to-face to top republicans and democrats. >> congressional leaders arrive ted white house this afternoon for their first group meeting with the president since november 16th. vice president biden and treasury secretary timothy geithner also attend. but there was

that is david brooks writing that in the new york times. your thoughts? >> absolutely. republicans have managed to box themselves into exactly the stereotype that democrats presented about republicans and have been for a long time, which is that they only care about protecting the top 2%. protecting those top 2% is the hill they will die on and only thing that matters. it's interesting and you try to get grover norquist to, you know, explain whether or not ending loopholes and deductions which they won't be specific about is the same as a tax hike this is the same guy a year ago, grover norquist, said letting the bush tax cuts expire does not violate his pledge. the republicans could do that. i'm wondering what changed? now all of a sudden it's about protecting the top rates. at the end of the day, if he used to think it was okay to let him expire and now he doesn't, it must be about the top 2%. >> grover, i want to let you respond to that and know this senate is going to be bringing a vote to the floor about just raising rates for the top marginal tax rates and letting

mark shields, david brooks. and mark and david will keep up the talk on the doubleheader recorded in our newsroom and that will be posted at the top of the rundown later tonight. >> brown: finally tonight, doling out history lessons on twitter. gwen ifill has that. >> ifill: newshour regular michael beschloss has written eight books and count its commentaries on the american presidenciment but recently he's discovered a new way to engage a different audience. taking us back to the nation's contemporary history in 140 characters or less. michael joins us now. michael, what is with the 140 character chunks, when did you start dolling out history this way. >> it is an antidote to the wrong looks i write. it was actually during one of the debates right here in the studio we were watching, as you remember. and christina arc, countries tina saw me looking at a search engine with twitter comments. and she said why don't you just go on twitter yourself. i said essentially i hadn't thought of that, why don't i try ooirz s

maybe david brooks will let you braid his hair.ughter) next up the recession hit men particularly hard and this mansession has affected traditional gender roles. with the collapse of home building former construction workers are staying home with their kids and according to the "new york times" some retailers are taking advantage of this trend. >> barbie has a new accessory and it's a tool belt. the "new york times" reports mattel is introducing a construction set for barbie. >> stephen: folks a construction set is no place for barbie, those erector set workers are going to cat call her and ask her to back it up like a tonka truck. (laughter) which brings me to threat number one: foreman barbie. i'm sorry but i'm against this new megablocks construction set barbie. she can't operate heavy machinery. barbie's ankles aren't even load bearing. (laughter) besides, ken has more carpentry experience. remember, he lost his genitals in a table saw accident. and folks that's -- okay, i'll tell you why there's a mansession, barbie here is ho

and columnist for "the new york times" david brooks. welcome to all of you.wife and i are trying to shield our young kids from news of this event, we realize that it's futile. this is not an exception. we cannot wish these events away. and i mention this robust social networking conversation that unites the country. and if there is one feeling, it is enough. so in that spirit, i want to have this conversation. here is the recent history of school shootings in this country, public rampages. not all at schools. and the number of victims going back to columbine in 1999 all the way to portland, oregon, at a mall. three people killed there. so the context is just so alarming. senator feinstien, we talk about guns. it often overshadows the debate about mental illness. but in the vein of gun control in this country and presidential leadership, you heard from mayor bloomberg. this is how "the washington post" described the president's leadership back in july. i'm not going to take away your guns, obama promised in september of 2008. however, he advocated closing a lo

and columnist for "the new york times" david brooks. welcome to all of you.e and are trying to shield our young kids from news of this event, we realize that it's futile. this is not an exception. we cannot wish these events away. and i mention this robust social networking conversation that unites the country. and if there is one feeling, it is enough. so in that spirit, i want to have this conversation. here is the recent history of school shootings in this country, public rampages. not all at schools. and the number of victims going back to columbine in 1999 all the way to portland, oregon, at a mall. three people killed there. so the context is just so alarming. senator feinstien, we talk about guns. it often overshadows the debate about mental illness. but in the vein of gun control in this country and presidential leadership, you heard from mayor bloomberg. this is how "the washington post" described the president's leadership back in july. i'm not going to take away your guns, obama promised in september of 2008. however, he advocated closing a loophol

david brooks is off tonight. gentlemen, good to have you with us. >> good to be with you. >> woodruff: so mark, the fiscal cliff, it's still with us. it's still out there. the president made a last minute statement late this afternoon. where does everything stand? >> nobody knows, judy. what happened last night in the republican caucus is precedent shattering. i mean it really is. that john boehner could not get a majority of his own caucus to support what had become the republican position, endorsed not simply by him but by republican whip kevin mccar three an republican majority leader eric cantor. and it's a real problem. i think it puts at risk boehner's own leadership and his ability to deliver republicans. it weakens the bargaining position for republicans in the final negotiations. but i don't know how much closer we are because i think it strengthens the liberals in the democratic caucus, which is going to make it tougher for the republicans to accept it. because a weakened republican means a strengthened

health which will be some interest one the culture of video games and so on and the fourth one, david brooksought town his credit is the copy cat issue. after columbine, there was a mean in the media, don't mention their names and give no credit and notoriety. after virginia tech in 2007 the american psychological association says it's a mistake and harmful to mention this killer's name and copycats. that idea of not mentioning the killer disappeared in a frenzy to get every last detail about the guy. at wayne laperriere said, you can see the next copy cat making his plans now based on the notoriety this young man in connecticut received. >> jon: judy, you're one who applauds the concept of gun control. do you think the media made this turn too quickly of this story? >> no, i think the politicians they were covering made that turn and i think it's inevitable turn after so many incidents of this -- tragedies of this nature and i want to point out that there was eaks lent story, i believe on npr, about a rampage in a china school in which a madman went after children in a school with a knife a

that is what "new york times" columnist david brooks says.ity where he'll teach a class on humility saying it will examine the premise that human beings are blessed with many talented burdened by sinfulness, ignorance and weakness. brooks told the magazine that the course is designed to look at certain philosophical strategies as a guide for life and politics and everything else. >> you know what's sad? we need to teach humility. people don't espouse it. we have to instruct them by sending david brooks to yale to teach yale students how to be humble. >> bill: isn't it sort of a contradiction to be teaching a class on humility? isn't it sort of -- a prideful thing to do to say i'm so humble -- >> i'm so humble i can teach your class on humility? >> bill: i think it shows a lack of humility. we'll see what david brooks does with it. so meredith, first, let's start with the president. i was at the white house when the president announced his task force. >> then we had five questions on the fiscal cliff. >> bill: don't get me started. the white h

you know, i-- i read david brooks all the time. i think he's brilliant but i don't know where he came up with that. shame on me if i'm, as an american with the wherewithal to do something. i have the bully pulpit, i have some money to spend to support candidates. shame on me if i don't go and do something. how can i explain to my kids that i didn't do something when i, you know, i had the ability to change the world. >> rose: there are those who also argue prohibition, this is jim fowlers as you know, prohibition didn't work with alcohol, it isn't working with drugs and with to the work as guns. main hope of minimizing damage lies in a practical measure to increase gun safety. >> you know, there's always-- we're going to, in cities that they've hired counselors to go out and work with gangs. one mayor said don't do your stuff on the streets, gangs, do it in the back alleys. i mean those cities, the crime rate is through the roof. ours is down 20% this year, our murder rate. these are kids who understand one thing. enforcement of th

david brooks, let me start with you. my big takeaway, the president is setting the tone here, putting them on notice that yes, taxes are going to gun, and he's going to drive a pretty hard bargain on a lot of different issues rather than try to bring them into the fold. he doesn't feel like compromise is going to work. >> let's just say that what is happening at the congress right now is pathetic. we are asking not to bankrupt our children. we've got a dysfunctional process. now, i think most of the blame still has to go to the republicans. they have had a brain freeze since the election. they have no strategy. they don't know what they want, and they haven't decided what they want. but if i had to fault president obama, i would say sometimes he has governed like a visitor from a morally superior civilization. he comes in here, and he will not -- he'll talk with boehner. he won't talk with the other republicans. he hasn't built their trust. boehner actually made a pretty serious concession, $800 billion in tax revenues.