. >> lehrer: that's all coming up on tonight's pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> this is the engine that connects abundant grain from the american heartland to haran's best selling whole wheat, while keeping 60 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year. bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> what makes us an engine for the economy? plants across america. nearly 200,000 jobs created. we see beyond cars. monsanto. producing more. conserving more. improving farmers' lives. that's sustainable agriculture. more at producemoreconservemore.com.

hari. >> gwen, it is indeed a brand new day on the pbs newshour's web site. the address, though, remains the same, newshour.pbs.org. we've introduced a new design, better navigation, and we've launched a news blog, called the rundown, which will feature regular updates and insights from our reporting throughout the day, all of it rooted in the guidelines of macneil/lehrer journalism. jim read those on-air friday, if you missed it, you can find the guidelines posted on our web site. also online tonight, more on the series ray suarez is working on, patchwork nation. there's a video postcard about a mural project in philadelphia, and extra interviews to help explain the data that lies at the heart of the project. jeffrey brown's art beat blog, there's more from tonight's piece on the metropolitan opera, including performances at the met. also travelling this week, the newshour's margaret warner. she's filing regularly as she explores european attitudes toward afghanistan. we'll see you at newshour-dot- we'll see you at newshour.pbs.org. >> lehrer: and again, to

>> exactly. >> lehrer: that's all coming up on tonight's pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> this is the engine that connects abundant grain from the american heartland to haran's best selling whole wheat, while keeping 60 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year. bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> what makes us an engine for the economy? plants across america. nearly 200,000 jobs created. we see beyond cars. monsanto. producing more. conserving more. improving farmers' lives. that's sustainable agriculture. more at producemoreconservemore.com. chevron. >> chevron. this is the power of human energy. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. 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. >> lehrer: a wave of bombings across baghdad

. >> lehrer: that's all ahead on tonight's "pbs newshour."

. >> brown: that's all ahead on tonight's pbs newshour. >> major funding for the pbs newshour major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what the world needs now is energy. the energy to get the economy humming again. the energy to tackle challenges like climate change. what if that energy came from an energy company? everyday, chevron invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world to move us all ahead. this is the power of human energy. chevron. >> trial 11. >> let's do it again. we are intel. sponsors of tomorrow. >> and bank of america. and the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. 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: senate democrats cleared the way today to approve their health care reform bill. they did it with a middle of the night party-line v

. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's "pbs newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what the world needs now is energy. the energy to get the economy humming again. the energy to tackle challenges like climate change. what if that energy came from an energy company? everyday, chevron invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world to move us all ahead. this is the power of human energy. chevron. >> what makes us an engine for the economy? plants across america. nearly 200,000 jobs created. we see beyond cars. >> this is the engine that bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. 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. >> ifill: officials from washin

all that and more is on our web site, newshour dot pbs dot org. eff. >> brown: and that's the newshour for tonight. i'm jeffrey brown. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. we'll see you on-line and again here tomorrow evening with mark shields and david brooks, among others. thank you and good night. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what the world needs now is energy. the energy to get the economy humming again. the energy to tackle challenges like climate change. what is that energy came from an energy company? everyday, chevron invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world to move us all ahead. this is the power of human energy. chevron. >> what makes us an engine for the economy? plants across america. nearly 200,000 jobs created. we see beyond cars. intel. supporting coverage of innovation and the economy. >> and by bnsf railway. and the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. and with the ongoin

. >> ifill: that's all ahead o tonighs "pbs newshour."ajor nding for the pbs newshour iprovided by: ♪ ( laughter ) >> we are intel, sponsors of tomorrow. >>hevron. this ithe power of human energy. and by toyota. and moanto. the national sence foundation. supporting education and research acrosall fields of science and engineering. and withhe ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... is program was made possible by the corpotion for puic broadcasting. and by contributions to ur pbs station from viewers like yo thk you. >> ifill: president obama toy defeed the health care reform bill as the senate clearedhe y for a final vote tomorrow morning. he spoke to jim hrer in a wide-rangingnterview conducted in the white house m room this ternoon. here is at interview, in its entirety. welcome. >> tha you so much for having me. >>ehrer: so you are completely satisfyed with the health form bill that the sena is about to pass >> im never completely satisfied, but i am ve tisfied. look, when i madthat speech in the joint sessioof co

. >> brown: that's all ahead, on tonight's pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> this is the engine that connects abundant grain from the american heartland to haran's best selling whole wheat, while keeping 60 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year. bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> what makes us an engine for the economy? plants across america. nearly 200,000 jobs created. we see beyond cars. >> chevron. this is the power of human energy. >> intel. supporting math and science education for tomorrow's innovators. and the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. 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: president obama sharpened his criticism today of security failures that led to last week's attempted airliner bombing. he

major funding fothe pbs newshour iprovided by: >> what the rld needs now is energy. e energy to get e economy humminagain. the ener to tackle challges like climate change. what is that energcame from an engy company? everay, chevron invests $62 million in people, in eas-- seeking,eaching, building. eling growth around the worl toove us all ahead. this is thpower of human engy. evron. and monsanto. and by toyota. the national scien foundation. suppting education and research across all fields o sciee and engineering. and with the ongoi support of thesinstitutions and fodations. and... this program was madpossible by the cporation for puic broadcasting. and by contributions tyour pbs station om viewers like you. thank you. captioning sponsor by macneil/lehrer pductions captioneby media acce group at wgbh acce.wgbh.org

lehrer: that's all ahead on tonight's "pbs newshour." jor funding for the pb newshour is proved by: >> what the wod needs now is energy. the ener to get the econy mming again. the ergy to tackle challens like climate change. what if th energy came from an engy company? evy day, chevron invests $62 million ineople, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, blding. fueling growth around thworld to move usll ahead. this ithe power of human energy. chevron. >> what has de grant thornton a truly global aounting organization, withccess to resourcein more than 100 countries? it their global capabilitie or is it their psion for how they ser their clients? grant thornton. >> whamakes us an engine for the economy? plants aoss america. nearly 200,000 jobs created. we seeeyond cars. and monsanto. d the national science foundation. supporting education and research across all elds of science anengineering. and with t ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was madpossible by the cporation for public broadcaing. and by ctributio

. >> reporter: that's all coming on tonight's "pbs newshour." major funding r the pbs newshour is provided b monsan. producing more conserving more. improving farmers' les. that sustainable agriculture. more at producoreconservemore.com. >> chevron. is is the power of hum ergy. d by toyota. and the lliam and flora wlett foundation, working to solve social and eironmental proble at home and around the world. d with the ongoing support o these institutio and fodations. and... this programas made possible the corporation for public badcasting. and by contribions to your pbs ation from viewers like you. thank yo >> brown: this chrisas day with all the chrisas festivits and observances but it was also marked by quesons about the pope's secury and by misery in the american midwe. >> we need help. >> we needome help! >> bro: for many people in t nation's midsectn, there was no w to be home for christmas. a massive winter srm kept piling usnow and ice that clos down airports and made highways impasble. >> at some point you rea a breaking pointand you ju

. >> woodruff: that's all ahead on tonight's "pbs newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what the world needs now is energy. the energy to get the economy humming again. the energy to tackle challenges like climate change. what if that energy came from an energy company? everyday, chevron invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world to move us all ahead. this is the power of human energy. chevron. intel. supporting math and science education for tomorrow's innovators. >> bnsf railway. toyota monsanto. and by the alfred p. sloan foundation. supporting science, technology, and improved economic performance and financial literacy in the 21st century. 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. >> woodruff: christmas eve morning brought a landmark moment in the u.s. senate today: democrat

. >> lehrer: that's all ahead on tonight's pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> chevron. this is the power of human energy. and by toyota. and monsanto. grant thornton. >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. 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. >> lehrer: the climate change summit wound down today, and president obama claimed "an unprecedented breakthrough". it did not include legally binding targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. instead, the president said nations will set out goals with a way to verify their actions. he spoke this evening, in copenhagen, denmark. >> what i think is that some people are going to legitimately ask is well, if it's not legally binding what prevents us ten years from now looking and sayi

. >> lehrer: that's come >> lehrer: that's coming on tonight's pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> chevron. this is the power of human energy. and monsanto. and by toyota. grant thornton. 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. >> lehrer: president obama called the leaders of american banking to the white house today and laid on a challenge and a warning. newshour correspondent kwame holman begins our coverage. >> holman: the face-to-face at the white house lasted well over an hour, longer than expected. nine major bank executives attended, with three others conferenced in. >> i've just finished a candid and productive meeting with the ceos of 12 of our nation's largest financial institutions. >> holman: the president pointed out, many of the banks faced bleak prospects just a year ago and might not have survived without government help. >> when m

that's coming, on tonight's pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: monsanto. producing more. conserving more. improving farmers' lives. that's sustainable agriculture. more at producemoreconservemore.com. >> chevron. this is the power of human energy. intel. supporting coverage of innovation and the economy. and by toyota. and the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. 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. >> lehrer: the u.s. house today approved the most sweeping overhaul of financial regulation since the great depression. and pay limits were extended deeper into executive ranks at companies the government rescued. newshour congressional correspondent kwame holman begins our coverage. >> holman: the vote had been in the works for many mo

major fundinfor the pbs newshour is provided b >> whathe world needs w is energy. the energy to get the econy humming again. the engy to tackle challenges li climate change. what if that energy ca from an energy company? everyday, chevron vests $62 million in peoe, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling grth around the world to movus all ahead. this is the power human energy. chevron. >> what makes us aengine for the ecomy? plants across america. arly 200,000 jobs created. we see beyond cars. >> ts is the engine that bnsf, the engine tt connects us. >> and by e bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea at all people deserve t chance to live a healthy proctive life. and with the ongoing sport of these initutions and foundations. and... this program was made ssible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by conibutions to your pbs station from viewe like you. thank you. >> ill: officials from shington to amsterdam shed more light tod on the plot to destroy northwest flight 2. ray suarez begins our covera. >>eporter: there was new infor

. >> lehrer: thas all ahead on night's pbs newshour. major funding for thpbs newshour is provided by: >> chevron this is the poweof human energy. d by toyota. and monsanto. grant thornton. >> and by the bi and melinda gatefoundation. dedited to the idea that all people deserve the chae to live a healthy productivlife. and with the ongoi support of thesinstitutions and foundations. and... this program was made ssible by the corration for public broadcasting. and by contributions tyour pbs station om viewers like you. thank you. >> lehrer: the clima change summit wnd down today, and president obama claimed "an unprecedented breakthrou". it did not inclu legally nding targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissio. instd, the president said nations will set out goalsith a way to verify their tions. he spoke ts evening, in copenhagen, denmark. >> what i ink is that some peop are going to legimately ask is well, if it's not legally binding wh prevents us ten years fromow looking and saying everybody fell sho of these goals. and there's noonsequen

major funding for the pbs newshour is prided by: chevron. this ithe power of human ergy. and monsanto. and by toyota. grant thornton and with the ongoing suprt of these instutions and foundaons. and... this program w made possible byhe corporation for public broadcastg. and by contribions to your pbs ation from viewers like you. thank you. >> lehrer:resident obama call the leaders of american banking to the whiteouse today and la on a challenge and a warning. newshour correondent kwame holman begs our coverage. >> holman: t face-to-face at e white house lasted well ov an hour, longer than expted. nine major bank executives attended, with threethers conferenced in. >> i've just finished a cand d productive meetingith th ceos of 12 of ounation's largest nancial institutions. >> holn: the president pointed out, manof the banks faced eak prospects just a year ag and might not ha survived withougovernment help. >> when many of these institutions were on t verge of clapse, a predicament largely of the own making, ofntimes because they failed to manage ri properly, we took diffi

major funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: the national science foundation. supporting education and research across all fields of science and engineering. 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. >> lehrer: the health care debate in the senate reached a potential turning point today. democratic leaders reached agreement last night on dropping the so-called "public option" from the bill. "newshour" health correspondent betty ann bowser begins our coverage. >> reporter: president obama today praised democrats for trying to resolve a key stumbling block, even though their deal would drop something he's championed: a government- run insurance option. >> the senate made critical progress last night with a creative new framework that i believe will help pave the way for final passage and a historic achievement on behalf of the american people. i support this effort especially since i

major fundinfor the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what thworld needs now is energy. the ener to get the economy humming again. the energy to tackle chaenges like clima change. what is that energy me from an energy compa? evyday, chevron invests $62 million in people, iideas-- seeking,eaching, blding. fueling grth around the world to move us all ahead. this is the power of han energy. chevron. and toyota. and monsanto. and by the alfred sloan foundation supporting scien, technology, animproved economic performance and financial literacy in the 21 century. and with the ongoing sport of these initutions and foundations. and... this program w made possible byhe corporation for public broadcastin and by contributions to ur pbs station fr viewers like you. thank you. >> lehrer: presidentbama's address about war and peac as he formally receid the nobel priztoday in norway. judy woodruff begi our coverage. ♪ >> wdruff: the president walked into the city hall oslo, a wartimleader, on hand accept the most prestigious pre bestowed on peacemakers. it was paradox not lost on him.

major fundinfor the pbs newshour is ovided by: >> wt the world needs now is energy.he energy to t the economy humming again. the energy to tackle cllenges ke climate change. what is that energy ca from an energy company everyd, chevron invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- eking, teaching, building. fueling growth arod the world to move us all ahead. is is the power of human energy. chevron. >> what makes usn engine for the onomy? plants acrs america. nearly00,000 jobs created. we see beyond cars. intel. supporng coverage of novation and the economy. >> and bbnsf railway. the national scien foundation. suppting education and research across all fields o science and engineing. and with the ongoingupport of these stitutions and fodations. and... this program was me possible by theorporation for public broadcastin and by contrutions to your pbs station from viewers like yo thank you. captioningponsored by macneil/hrer productions caioning sponsored by macnl/lehrer productions captioned by media access groupt wgbh access.wgborg

. >> brown: that's all ahead, toght's pbs newshour. major funding for the s newshour is provided by: >>his is the engine that connects abuant grain from the american heartland to haran' best selling whole wheat, ile keeping 60 blion pounds of carbon out of e atmosphere every year. bnsf, thengine that connects us. >> what kes us an engine for the economy? plants across amera. nearly 200,000 jobcreated. we see beyond cars. monsanto. producing more. conserving more. proving farmers' lives. that's sustainable agrulture. more at producemorecservemore.com. >> chevr. this is the por of human energy. intel. supporting math and sciee education for morrow's innovators. >> and by the bill andelinda gates fountion. dedicated the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy produive life. and with the ongoing supportf these institutns and foundation and... this program w made possible byhe corporation for public broadcasting. and by contrutions to your pbs station from viewers like yo thank you. >> woodruff: small banks took their turn

major fundg for the pbs newshour is prided by: >> what thworld needs now is energy. the energy to get the econom humming again. the engy to tackle challenge like clite change. what is that eney came from an energy company everyday, chevn invests $62 million in people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, buiing. fuelingrowth around the world to movus all ahead. thiss the power of human energy. evron. >> ts is the engine that every year. bnsf, the gine that connects us. >>hat makes us an engine for the econy? plants across americ nearly 200,000 jobs cread. we see beyond cars. intel. supporting math d science educatn for tomorrow's novators. anmonsanto. grant thornton. d the william and flora hewlett undation, working to solve social and envirmental oblems at home and around th world. and with the ongoingupport of these institutions and foundaons. and... this programas made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributns to your pbs ation from viewers like you. thk you. >> lehrer: the u.s. tried toy to salvage an agreement athe u. summit on climate cha

maor funding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what the world needs now is energy. the energy tget the economy mming again. the energy to tackle challenges like clate change. what if that energy ca from an energy cpany? every day, chevron vests $62 millioin people, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, buildg. fueling growtaround the world move us all ahead. this is the power of human energy. chevron. >> we are intel, sponsors of tomrow. an bank of america. bnsrailway. toyota. and by the alfred psloan foundatio supporting science, technoly, and impved economic performance and financi literacy in the 21st ceury. and with the ongng support of thse institutions and foundations. and... this program was made posble by the corporation for public broadcasting. and byontributions to your pbs station from viewers le you. thank yo >> ifil the u.s. government launched a t-to-bottom search for answers after would-be bomber tried to stroy a u.s. airliner on chrimas day. but every dayas brought new questions, an today, a claim of respsibility. >> the prson interrupted a chrisas holiday v

major nding for the pbs newshour is provided by: >> what the world neednow is energy.le challenges like climate chae. what is that energcame from an energy compa? everyday, chevron insts $62 miion in people, in ideas-- seekg, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world move us all ahead. this is the poweof human energy. chevron. >> we are intel, sponsors of tomorrow. >> andy the bill and melinda gates undation. dedited to the idea that all people deser the chance to live a healthy pductive life. and withhe ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. an.. this program was made poible by the cporation for publicroadcasting. anby contributions to your pbs statn from viewers like you. thank u. captioni sponsored by macneil/lehrer produions captned by dia access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org

majofunding for the pbs newshour is ovided by: >> what e world needs now is energy.y to get the economy humming again. the energyo tackle challenges li climate change. what is thatnergy came from an energy company? everay, chevron invests $62 million in peoe, in ideas-- seeking, teaching, building. fueling growth around the world move us all ahead. this is the power of hum energy. chevn. bnsf, the gine that nnects us. intel. supporting coverage of innovationnd the economy. and by toyota. and monsanto. the william and fla hewlett foundation, working solve social and envonmental probms at home and around the world. and with thengoing support of these institutions and undations. and... this pgram was made possible the corporation for public broadsting. and by contributions tyour pbs statiofrom viewers like you. thank you. 3i- aptioning sponsoreby)x- acneil/lehrer productis #x aptied by2i- ed access group at wgbh<- ccess.wgbh.org

there's a real encroachment going on at the pbs newshour with regard the this which also raises the questionendently endowed, for example, so it does not have to cow to semimid verytizers still called understand writers. >> and remembering and that main immediate that, by going to say mainstream, but the main media are very much, in fact, us pent bl to the -- us pent bl. they certainly have pressure to deliver ratings and circulation, and it's sort of develops that the best way to do that is to have the bill o'reillys, the keith ownerman's -- ownerman's on the air. there's no appetite to find out why it is that people have lost their savings or their homes -- >> there's an appetite title. , the question is how broad is the appetite, and how do you turn -- i happen to love broccoli, so i don't like this -- ice cream into broccoli, how's that? [laughter] how do you do the various things that you'd need to do to appeal to a broader audience, how do you get it into the schools so that people are more receptive to it when they actually become consumers on their own and so forth. >> i would just p

pbs. >> no, no. that's why i stayed there all those years. i've been at the newshour or one of its incarnations or another since 1985 and literally it's true that within a couple of years of being there i thought i will never take another job anywhere else in television because it would be so confining and it would not allow me to do what i do. even so, the length of a typical newshour piece is shrinking. >> down to seven minutes now? >> no, we still go longer than that. [laughter] i think the piece you had on tonight was about seven. and that was all right for me. i felt as if i had a member lopped off, you know, to -- >> that's like my dream to -- >> you see why then i would continue to do this job forever. it's not singing to the deaf, it's singing to

pbs station from viewers le you. thank you. >> woodruff:hristmas eve morng brought a landmark moment in e u.s. senate today: democrats pued through their health care reform lislation. newshour health corresndent betty ann wser begins our coverage. >> reporter:enators began gaering before sunrise to make history. it was their fir session on christmas eve sinc1963. >> the senate ll resume consideratn of h.r. 3590. >> reporter:ice-president joe biden made aare appearance in his formal role as sene president. and senators also honored e memory othe late edward kennedy, aong-time champion of healthare reform who died in august. >> with nator ted kennedy's booming voe in our ears, with his paion in our hearts, we say, as said, "the work goes on, the cae endures." reporter: and then came the ng-awaited vote on the bill extend coverage 30 million people. >> mr. akaka. >> aye >> mr. akaka, aye. reporter: the outcome produced no surprises, fling along party nes, 60 to 39. >>r. alexander. >> no. >> mr.lexander, no. >>eporter: clearly exhausted from weeks of marathon negotiatio, majority leader harry re mistakenly voted no before realizing his mista and changing h vote. >> mr. reid nev