lisa desjardins reports. >> congresswoman, i am the acting attorney general. >> desjardins: the temporaryd of the department of justice faced a long-blding barrage from house democrats. >> congresswoman, i have not-- ( cross-talk )) ( gavel >> witness will... witness will answer the question as asked, please. >> desjardins: the focus? n,ecial counsel robert mueller's investigatnd whether the department of justice ever tried to help president trump or tried to target him. >> did you discussivr share your e opinions of the special counsel investigation with the chief of staff, trump d mily members hers? >> did rod rosenstein give the special counsel the authority to investigatspecific americans? >> desjardins: whitaker, who oversees mueller's insisted he has done it by the book. >> there has been no event, no decision, that has required me to take any action, and i have not interfered in any way with the special counsel's investigation. >> desjardins: democrats pressed on whether he's talked to the president... >> it's a "yes" or "no" question: have you communicated anything you learned in

for the pbs newshour, i'm lisa desjardins. >> nawaz: federal prosecutors are looking into whether thetionaenquirer's" parent company breached a cooperation agreement in how it handled a story about billionaire amazon c.e.o. jeff bezos. bezos says american media inc. tried to blackmail him, after he started investigating how the tetabloid obtained his pri texts and photos. a.m.i. insists it "acted lawfully," and pledged to investigate. we'll take a closer look athe blackmail allegations after the news summary. the supreme court has temporarily blocked a louisiana law that would have required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby o spitals. in a 5vote late thursday, chief justice john roberts split with conservatives on the bench to join the court's four liberals. the court also ruled last night to deny muslimnmate domineque ray's request to have an imam in the execution chamber with him in alabama. u.s. humanitarian aid meanwhile, headed for venezuela, has arrived at a colombian border city. the trucks, packed with much- needed food and medicine, have been blocked f

lisa desjardins.nd >> woodruff:amiche joins me now along with our congressional correspondent lisa desjardins. welcome both of you. lisa, i'll start with you. both republicans ae democrats aiming victory here. what do we know about who got what they wanted? >> rig there's a lot of spin and there's some truth to what's going on tonk ht. let's tarst of all the big-ticket item was the wall, as yamiche reported, $1.375 billion. democrats like the point out, that's just a little bit more an nancy pelosi said she offered last year, $1.3 billion. let's go tthe morcomplex matter, that is the detention beds or the number of detainees this bill would fund. let's start by explaining this, first of all, what the deal does. as yamiche reported, it would fund 45,000 average daily detainees for a year, that's the average population for a year. democrats say what they got out of that was a decrease from the current number of deainees in custody, average 49,000. they got a shift dn. republicans look at it this way: actually, it's an increase from what the average daily funding was last year, which was 40,000

lisa desjardins joins me now to dig into the details. hello, lisa. so another busy day at e capitol after yesterday. what would these two measures do? >> all rht, one pased yesterday and one passed tonight. first, the one that passed yesterday, this bill would basically require bacround checks for almost every gun sale or transfer in america, allowi exceptions for family members, hunting, sporting, if you want go to shooting arrange, and law enforcement, that would not necessarily require background checks. this in the background check bill that passed today would allow 20 days total for a background check. that's a big change, judy, from the current, which is just three days. now, that's considered the charleston loophhee. that'situation in which the massacre in charleston inn which e churchgoers were killed was because e background check did not come back for thr dys. they want to raise that to 20 days. legislators say the 20-day window for a background check is too long for victims of domestic violence, women in particular who may want to get a we

we'll see. >> woodruff: yamiche alcindor, lisa desjardins, thank you both.the day's other news, house democratic leaders condemned freshman congresswoman ilhan omar for a tweet accusing a powerful pro-israel lobbying group of paying members of congress to support israel the democratic leaders said the "use of anti-semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about israel's supporters is deeply offensive." later, the minnesota democrat took to twitter to "unequivocally apologize." a democratic delegate fromke virginia bdown on his threat to begin impeachment proceedings today against the state's lieutenant gr, justin fairfax. fairfax faces two allegations of sexual assault. he's denied them both. meanwhile, virginia's embattled democratic governor ralph northam acknowledged he considered resigning after a rast photo from his medica school yearbook surfaced. but, he told cbs he'll remain in office to help the state "heal." >> it's been a difficult week, and again i'm fine it'been mainly difficult for virginia and this country. so yes, i have thought about resign

lisa desjardins spent part of her day at the pentagon. and she joins me now. what are you learning about when the pentagon plans to try to implement what the president wants? >> i spoke to the same senior pentagon officials who briefed congress. they told me this -- right now, they are assessing exactly what projects that are needed at the border. they're working with the department of homeland security on that. they think, within weeks, they will have that list. then, judy, to my question about timing, they said they think, within months, they hope to be ready through an expedited process to begin some construction. >> reporter:. >> woodruff: so if they're going to take this money to use it to build a border wall, where is it coming from? >> well, there are two large parts from the department of defense. one has to do with how they fight trafficking. that is nebulous, we'll watch that closely. the other is specific. it deals with military construction projects that been banned but not yet begun. i was able to obtain a list of 400 projects that meet that decipt

congressional correspondent lisa desjardins begins r coverage. >> we're going to look at the legislation when it comes d i'll make a determination then. >> desjardins: f a second day, president trump would not say yes or no on the border deal negotiated in congress. as he met with the president of colombia, mister trump was cautious and complimentary both' >> be looking for landmines because you could have that. it's been known to happen before a people. i apprecia the work the republicans have done becauseoi they're really against a radical left. it's a radical left and they're >> desjardins: negotiators rtrked on final issues and tweaks to the bipaan deal. house speaker nancy pelosi acknowledged criticism of the bill, from the right and the left. >> as with all compromises, i say to people, i support the bill for what is it it. don'judge it for what is not in it. we can't pass it until it's ready and when it's ready we'll be ready to pass it. f >> desjardins: the chaire house democratic caucus, new york congressman hakeem jeffries, was equally optimiic. >> the overwhelming majority of

our lisa desjardins is hthe to help walugh what this all says about the democratic agenda. broadly spesaking, a, you've been looking at what the democrats want to focus on. explain what that is. >> right. nancy pelosi, the house speaker, is kind of e tting thground running on a few fronts. let's look at their overall agenda, what house democrats say they want to do. number one: election and government reform, judy. that's at the torch eir list. they have a sweeping bill that they have recently introduced. number two: we saw a horg this today, bac it's the beginning of what may do further on the idea of more n control. this is what they're doing now. later coming months democrats say they will also tackle infrastructure, health care-- that includes dru price miche mentioned, which of course is where they have oveprrlap with thident. one other item-- climate change. they are in the middle of establishing a new climate ange committee but it doesn't have jurisdiction.ic this is a t area for democrats because some want to go farther than others in their caucus. it's not clear wh

congressional rrespondent lisa desjardins begins, with this report. >> desjardins: in the ranate today, ar for president trump. >> let's all pray the president will have wisdom to sign the bill so government doesn't shutdown. >> desjardins: all eyes had been on the white house after leaders in congress agreed on a $330 billion spending deal. after hours of waiting, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell came to the floor. >> i've just had an opportunity to speak with president trump and he, as all my colleagues indicated, he is prepared to sign the bill. >> desjardins: as for border barriers mcconell said president will take other action. >> he will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time, and i've indicated to him that i'm goinge tore-- i'm going to support the national emergency declaration.s: >> desjardinutes later came the official word from the white house. clear, the senate then moved l.ickly to pass the bi >> the yays are quay, the nighs are 16. >> i it provides $1.4 billion fr 55 miles of new bariers in texas' rio grande valley. mso funds 45,000 immigr

. >> woodruff: our lisa desjardins was in the hring room today. miche alcindor has been tracking reaction from the white house. hello to both of you. so, lisa, you were there. we were just hearing michael cohen, in essence, warn the eerepublicans on the commiot to do what he was doing-- protect the president, followt. the presid what was the dynamic there? >> well, it was another intense and historic feeling here. and the lineo get in stretched for two city blocks inside this large office building on capitol hill. i think both sides came into it very aware of the akes here, that this is the first time we've seen someone come testify about what may be impeachable offenses if they're proven. and both parties clearly came, as we saw in those clips, with their messages and their scripts. but i think what happened, judy, is actually the tone was set by ,wo people this that room, o the chairman elijah cummings, ran a very tight ship an shut down both sides when they went too long and also when they seemed to get out of hand. the other, michael cohen msel

stacey abrams came the first african american woman to deliver the rebuttal to the presiden our lisa desjardinshere to help walk through what this alls bout the democratic agenda. so, broadl speaking, lisa, you've been looking at what the democrats want tfocus on. explain what that is. >> right. nancy pelosi, the house speaker, is kind f hitting the ground running on a few fronts. let's look at their overall agenda, wh house democrats y they want to do. number one: election andme gove reform, judy. that's at the torch their list. they have a sweeping bill that they have recently introduced. number two: we saw a horg this today, background cheguns. it's the beginning of what may do further on the idea of more gun control. ayis is what they're doing now. later we expect in the coming months democrats say they will also tackle inrastructure, health care-- that includes drug price dhz yamiche mentioned, which of course is where they haverlve with the president. one other item-- climate change. they are in the middle of establishing a new cmate change committee but it doesn't have jurithdiction. is

our own lisa desjardins has been keeping track of this entire swirl of news today on capitol hill. it doesn't get any busier than this week. let's talk about the emergency declaration. they're talkinabout it in the house. they're about to vote. >> i'm watching my phone. that vote should happen any minute. this is a vote that would terminate this rgency declaration, and congress does have that power. this is first step in trying to brock that declaration. it is believed this will pass.il and itpass easily. the question is how many republicans will be on board, judy, and many republicans are a haviery difficult time with this issue. i spoke tone from kentucky who said he is now going with democrats and saying hthinks this is an overreach by the president, however, i talked to another, fresh denver riggellman of virginia said he walked in thinking he too would agree with democrats then we received a briefing about t situation at the border and after that briefing he felt that it was enough of a crisis that he is struggling but he is now going to vote with the president in trying tkeep

but first, lisa desjardins takes a closer look at the political turmoil inside virginia's state capitolhas a preview of tomorrow's state of the union. >> desjardins: as calls for virginia's governor to resign grow louder, and back in washington, a second government shutdown on the horizon raises the stakes for president trump's state of the union. to discuss all this, i'm joined by our politics monday duo. amy walter of the cook political report and tamara keith of npr. all right, let's just jump right into this difficult story. tam, let's start with the embattled democratic governor of virginia. what do these calls for resignations tell us politically, especially about democrats? >> democrats have taken a position of they have a zero tolerance policy. they have a zero tolerance policy on racism and things that are overtly racist. they also have a zero tolerance policy in that they showed about a year ago when we were talking about all of this #metoo stuff, including with al franken, the democratic leaders made a choice, we are going to be the party that says we wasn't tolerate this and

lisa desjardins reports. changing the standard, yes. >> desjardins: this one-minute exchange, with virginia delegate kathy tran defending hered propegislation, sparked a firestorm wednesday. >> how late in the thirdul trimester a physician perform an abortion if he indicated it would ithe mental health of the of the woman? >> or ph oical health. y, okay. i'm talking about the mental health. >> so i mean through the thirde trimester ird trimester goes all the way up to 40 weeks. >> okay. but to the end of the third trimester. >> ye wp, i don't thihave a limit in the bill. >> where it's obvious that a woman is about to give birth, would that still be a point at which she could requf t an abortione was so certified? >> that would be a, you know, a decision that the doctor the physician and the woma >> i understand that. i'm asking if your bill allows that >> my bill would allow that. yes. >> desjardins: president trump reacted to tran's comments in an interview with the daily cdeler, assertincrats want to "rip b

. >> yamiche alcindor at the white house, lisa desjardins at the capitol. we will certainly come back to the two of you later tonight when we havealur spe coverage. thanks. we want the hear from lawmakers now. representative james clyburn of south carolina is the third highest ranking democrat in the u.s. house.om he joins us fapitol hill. representative clyburn, thank yosvery much for joining. >> thank you. >> woodruff: what are you looking for trump to say tonight? >> well, the president is asking us to choose greanatness i would hope that we hear some greatness from him. but, you know, i have been reading a lot of "democracy inla america" oe. it tells us that america's greatness is not because we are more enlightened tha other country, but because we have always been ablto repair our faults. i would hope that the president tonight will demonstrate that kind of greatness. suppose some things that we can do to repair our faults. they have been highlighted quite a bit in the last several months, and i am hopeful that whatever he says tonight will bring us t

and lisa desjardins here in the studio. we appreciate it. and to you watching, we are going to have more on chael cohen's testimony a little later in the program. >> woodruff: now to our other top story: the second summit between president trump and north korean leader kim jong-un. our nick schifrin is reporting on the summit with a newshour teamand sets the scene on da one from hanoi, vietnam. >> schifrin: in the capital of a former enemy, president trump once again extended his hand to a historic adversary, and said he was making kim jong-un an offer he can't refuse. >>as think that your country tremendous economic potential. unbelievle, unlimited. and i think that you will have a tremendous future with your countr a great leader. and i look forward to watching it happen, and helping it to happen. and we will help it to happen. >> schifrin: the 72-ye-old new yorker and 35-year-old north korean dictator displayed mutual warmth. and kim, whose country has never allowed a free press, told reporters the two leaders' mutual efforts to make this

our lisa desjardins is there at the capitol, and yamiche alcind is at the white house. yamiche, the president left the white house, he is just arrived at the capitol, what do we expect him to say? k >> well, ow that president is extremely excited to deliver ddthis state of the unionss in the house chambers important to note that the president at te point was looking ater locations outside washington, d.c. to deliver his state of the unn address, but instead decided that the house was where he wanted to deliver it because of all ofts grndeur and all of its history. we know the president is going to be talking about immigration, he is going to be casting immigration as a mal issue, and saying that the political class of dc that is safe and has gates on their homes, that they are going to deny that same sense of security to working class people, the president easels going to try to deliver a unifying mental and talk about prescription drugs and infrastructure, t the one thing to remember of course is that the president has some credibility issues on that because democrats

tonight lisa dejardins explores are various approaches to reforming healthcoverage that some prominent contenders are promoting. first, some background. >> desjardinsin the big-name, rg-field democratic race president, health care is the biggest issue. >> they want health care as a right, not a privilege! >> desjardins: ...much of it echoing one candidate. >> is health care a human right or is it not? >> desjardins: vermont senator bernie sanders "medicare for all bill" has the support of no less than five other senators and one congresswoman running for president. the sanders bill would create-r one governme health care system, ending private health insurance. medicare and medicaid enrollees would transition into the new system. it would not impact the veteran's affairs or indian healthervices coverage. but even as the mosntt democratc ders so far seem to agree, goking carefully, there is divide over how fao and how fast. the day announced his presidential run, new jersey senator cory booker, when asked, said he would not end private health insurance. >> en countries that have va access to publicly offered health care still ha private health care,

lisa dejardins begins our coverage with a look athe range of tax plans being pushed on the campaign trail. >> desjardins front and center on the 2020 democratic campaign trail: widening economic divide. >> reversing this administration's giveaways to big corporations and the top one percent. >> desjardins: it is a two-fold push. candidates' are outlining new plans to reduce poverty, which they argue will only exacerbate economic divides in america, blasting the republican taal cuts, especily the corporate cuts, as a giveaway to the rich. >> it is not moral, it is not acceptable, and it is not sustainable that the top one- tenth of one percent n owns almost as much wealth as the 9 bott. >> desjardins: vermont senator bernie sanders, newly announced as a candidate, sparked this latest drive in his 2016 run. he wants tprovide universal health care as well as fe pre- school and free tuition at public colleges. he'd raise money for that by raising estate taxes, on inheritance over $3.5 million,wi a top rate of 77% tax at over $1 billion.or >> we cannot ato just tinker around the edges with a tax credit he or

desjardins: happy to have your wittacoverage of the of the union. can listen to you on npr, tam.am tamera keith walter, thank you very much. >> you're welcome. you're welcome, lisa nawaz: the gland patriots long dynasty kept rolling along last night. it may not have been their most elegant super bowl winve but hem or hate them, the patriots' combination of bill belichik and tom brady remain the dominant force of this n.f.l. era. john yang looks at the secrets of their success.t >> yang:s not one for the ages. far from the high-scoring showdown many had predicd between the dest super bowl coach-quarterback duo-- the patriots bill belichick and tom brady-- and the youngest-- the rams sean mcvay and jason goff. both offenses struggled. it was the lowest-scoring super bowl ever. >> tom brady picked of the first series. >> yang: brady's first pass of the night was intercepted. the defenses dominated most of the game. >> goff is brought to his knees. brady throws it over the middle >> yang: and neither team scored a touchdown for the firsthree quarters. it was well into the fourth quarter, with the scortied at three, before new england's offense and brady finally came