>>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> I'M ANNOUNCING HISTORIC ACTION TO RESCUE ISLAND NATIONS CAPITAL FROM CRIME, BEDLAM, AND SQUALOR.

>> TRUMP DC TAKEOVER.

I ASK ANDREW McCABE ABOUT TESTING THE LIMITS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER.

>>> THEN -- >> AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT WITHOUT A UKRAINIAN THERE COULD POTENTIALLY GIVE THIS BUSTLING TOWN TO THE RUSSIANS AFTER THEM FIGHTING FOR IT FOR SO MANY YEARS.

>> AS THE WORLD AWAITS THE TRUMP-PUTIN MEETING THE PEOPLE THAT IT WILL IMPACT.

A SPECIAL MEETING FROM KRAMATORSK, UKRAINE.

>>> FOUR YEARS SINCE THE FALL OF KABUL, THE FIGHT FOR EDUCATION.

>>> STILL AHEAD, HOW PROJECT 2025 IS RESHAPING AMERICA.

DAVID A. GRAHAM TELLS HARI SREENIVASAN WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE BLUEPRINT FOR TRUMP 2.0.

>>> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT, JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS, CANDACE KING WEIR, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM, LEILA AND MICKEY STRAUS FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST, MARK J. BLECHNER, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, SETON J. MELVIN, PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN -- COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES HOPE ZUCKERBERG, JEFFREY KATZ AND BETH ROGERS AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

I AM SITTING IN FOR CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR.

>>> TAKING THE CAPITAL BACK.

THAT'S HOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS FRAMED THE CRACKDOWN ON CRIME.

STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C. WAS TO --SOON BE PATROLLED BY NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS.

THE POLICE WILL BE CONTROLLED BY FEDERAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY AND HOMELESS WILL BE FORCED TO LEAVE.

ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP IT IS ALL NECESSARY TO TACKLE A REPORTED WAVE OF LAWLESSNESS.

>> OUR CAPITAL CITY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY VIOLENT GAMES -- GANGS AND CRIMINALS, DRUGGED OUT AND HOMELESS PEOPLE.

WE WILL NOT LET IT HAPPEN ANYMORE.

>> WHILE CRIME IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY TOLD A THE STATISTICS.

THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN A DECREASE IN CRIME WITH VIOLENT CRIME HAD A 30 YEAR LOW.

IS THIS REALLY THE RIGHT SOLUTION MARK WITH TRUMPETING THAT WASHINGTON IS JUST THE FIRST TO FACE THESE MEASURES, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT HIS EXERTION OF EXECUTIVE POWER?

LET'S BRING IN ANDREW McCABE WHO IS THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE FBI DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TRUMP TAKING OVER CONTROL OF THE WASHINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO FOR UP TO 30 DAYS.

EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW SO.

WALK US THROUGH AND DESCRIBE SECTION 740 OF THE DC HOME RULE AND THAT GIVES HIM THE POWER.

>> THE DC HOME RULE ACT WAS PASSED IN 1973 AND RESTORED TO THE CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THE ABILITY TO VOTE FOR AND ELECT THEIR OWN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY ARE NOW ABLE TO VOTE PRAY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO TOGETHER THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT, LIKE SELECTING THE CHIEF OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS THE DC POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE HOME RULE ACT DOES GRANT THE PRESIDENT THE ABILITY TO ESSENTIALLY MARSHAL THE RESOURCES OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES ANY TIME THE PRESIDENT DECLARES A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE CAPITAL.

THAT IS USUALLY LIMITED TO ABOUT 48 HOURS UNLESS HE ALSO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS, THE COMMITTEES THAT OVERSEE THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IF HE DOES THAT HE CAN STRETCH THAT TO 30 DAYS, THAT IS IT.

AFTER 30 DAYS IF THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO CONTINUE TO CONTROL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR TO FEDERALIZE THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND TAKE CONTROL OF THE ENTIRE PLACE, THAT REQUIRES AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

WE HAVE TO PASS A NEW LAW GIVING THE PRESIDENT THOSE SORTS OF POWERS.

>> SO 30 DAYS TO TAKE FULL CONTROL OF THE CITY POLICE BY HAVING 800 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ROAMING THE STREETS, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW IN LOS ANGELES.

IN ADDITION TO FBI AGENTS, I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE DONE?

EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A DROP OF CRIME EVEN IF IT'S AT A 30 YEAR LOW.

WHY NOT GO EVEN LOWER.

WHY DON'T --WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NATIONAL GUARD AND FBI AGENTS WILL DO TO EFFECTIVELY CONTINUE TO BRING THE RATE DOWN.

>> IN 30 DAYS THE ANSWER IS VERY LITTLE.

THE PROBLEMS REDUCING THE CRIME RATE IN DC OR ANY OTHER CITY, SOMETHING PEOPLE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE MYSELF THEIR CAREERS FOCUSED ON TRYING TO DEVISE STRATEGIES, COMPLICATED WORK.

IT RELIES ON MANY DIFFERENT FACT THERE'S.

SOME ARE ECONOMIC, CULTURAL ISSUES OF POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, ALL KINDS OF INTERVENTIONS GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO TRY TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON CRIME.

DC HAS BEEN DOING WELL.

THEY HAD THEIR LOWEST CRIME RATE IN 30 YEARS LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR THEY ARE DOWN ANOTHER 25%.

THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

THE CONDITION OF EMERGENCY THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBED YESTERDAY IS ESSENTIALLY FICTITIOUS.

IT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

HOWEVER, AS YOU SAID, DO WE ALWAYS WANT THE CRIME RATE TO GO DOWN?

SURE.

BUT BRINGING IN FEDERAL TROOPS WHO BASICALLY HAVE NO LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE, TAKING FEDERAL AGENTS LIKE FBI, DEA, WHO ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING IN POLICING THE STREETS OF A METROPOLITAN CITY, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE CRIME RATE ESPECIALLY OVER 30 DAYS.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REALLY SIGNIFICANT THINGS THE PRESIDENT COULD DO BUT IS NOT DOING.

ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE TO RETURN THE $1 BILLION OF FUNDING THAT WAS TAKEN AWAY BY CONGRESS JUST THIS YEAR.

$1 BILLION WOULD ACTUALLY PAY A LOT OF POLICE OVERTIME AND CAN GET YOU A LOT OF ADDITIONAL PATROLLING AND POLICE PRESENCE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CHALLENGED PARTICULARLY BY CRIME.

POLICING BY THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE CITY, WHO KNOW THE CRIMINALS, WHO KNOW THE PLAYERS AND ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO DO IT.

THEY NEED THE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE OVERTIME AND DEPLOYMENT OF THOSE RESOURCES.

THE PRESIDENT COULD ALSO WORK WITH CONGRESS TO ADDRESS THE HORRIBLE PATCHWORK QUILT OF GUN SAFETY LAWS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY TO TRY TO STEM THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS IS, BUT HE'S CLEARLY NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.

HE COULD ALSO TRY TO FILL THE NINE JUDICIAL VACANCIES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.

THAT WOULD BE NINE ADDITIONAL JUDGES THAT COULD BE PUTTING PEOPLE ON TRIAL AND SENTENCING PEOPLE TO JAIL TIME.

HE DID NOT MENTION ANY OF THAT.

HE'S MUCH MORE IT SEEMS INTERESTED IN THIS VERY SPLASHY MEDIA WHERE THE PERFORMATIVE POLITICAL GESTURE OF SENDING IN THE TROOPS TO DO SOMETHING FOR A MONTH.

>> LET'S PLAY WHAT HE DID MENTION THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT IN HIS WORDS WHAT A TERRIBLE RECORD DC HAS AS IT RELATES TO CRIME AND HOW IT'S ONLY INCREASED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> THE NUMBER OF CAR THEFTS HAS DOUBLED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

THE NUMBER OF CARJACKINGS HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED.

MURDERS REACHED THE HIGHEST THEY SAY 25 YEARS BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE IT JUST GOES BACK 25 YEARS.

>> LET'S GO THROUGH THOSE NUMBERS.

YOU NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF THEM DISCREDIT THOSE FIGURES THE PRESIDENT JUST LAID OUT.

WE WILL PUT UP A GRAPHIC.

VIOLENT CRIME IS DECLINING AFTER A SPIKE DURING COVID.

IT IS DOWN 35% 2023.

HOMICIDES ARE DOWN 32%.

CARJACKINGS ARE DOWN 53%.

WE DO KNOW THAT YOUTH CRIME IS A REAL PROBLEM IN THE CITY, TRUANCY AS WELL.

IT IS ONE THING TO LAY OUT STATISTICS AND SAY WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING IS WRONG, CRIME IS DOWN, WASHINGTON IS A SAFER CITY.

IT'S ANOTHER THING AS IT RELATES TO HOW PEOPLE FEEL.

THAT IS SOMETHING PRESIDENT BIDEN EXPERIENCED WHEN HIS ADMINISTRATION WAS POINTING TO NUMBERS SHOWING THAT INFLATION WAS DECREASING AND THE ECONOMY WAS HEALTHY AND THE AMERICAN VOTERS DID NOT FEEL THAT WAY.

IS THE PRESIDENT PLAYING TO A CERTAIN AUDIENCE HERE, PERHAPS DEMOCRATS ALSO THAT MAYBE NOT PUBLICLY BUT AT LEAST PRIVATELY FEEL THAT IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA TO SEE MORE POLICE PRESENCE ON THE STREETS?

>> THERE IS NO DOUBT HE'S DOING THAT.

I THINK YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT THERE'S SOMETIMES A VARIANCE BETWEEN WHAT THE NUMBERS TELL US IS HAPPENING AND PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION, THE WAY THEY FEEL ABOUT THE CRIME RATE OR ECONOMY WHAT HAVE YOU.

MUCH OF WHAT PEOPLE'S FEELING AND PERCEPTION IS BASED UPON IS THE COMMENTS THAT THE PRESIDENT MAKES.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES THIS AS SOME LAWLESS HELLSCAPE PATROLLED BY ROVING BANDS OF MURDEROUS YOUTH, THAT IS CLEARLY A GROSS OVERSTATEMENT OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE AND WORK AND COMMUTE THROUGH DC EVERY DAY.

YES THERE IS TOO MUCH YOUTH CRIME.

CARJACKING, SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING AND WORKING ON.

AGAIN, THERE ARE PRODUCTIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT.

IT TAKES RESOURCES.

YOUTH CRIME IS OFTEN AMELIORATED TO SOME EXTENT BY PUMPING IN MORE YOUTH RESOURCES TO THE CITY.

PROVIDING PLACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GO AND BE MEANT TOWARD AND ENGAGE IN SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES INSTEAD OF BEING LEFT TO THEMSELVES TO WANDER THE STREETS.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF WAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN HELP.

I THINK IT IS CURIOUS AND ALSO QUESTIONABLE AS TO WHETHER THIS METHOD WILL ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPACT.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD TO REACH BACK TO 2023 TO FIND THE NUMBERS HE WANTED TO USE TO DESCRIBE DC IN 2025.

>> HE ALSO SAID THIS TYPE OF AUTHORITY COULD EXTENT BEYOND WASHINGTON, D.C. NEW YORK, CHICAGO OUR NEXT.

NOTABLY BIG CITIES, NOTABLY DEMOCRATIC CITIES.

THE CRIME STATISTICS COMPARED TO SOME CITIES LIKE MEMPHIS, HE DID NOT KNOW THAT, THERE ARE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CITIES THAT HAVE HIGHER LEVELS OF CRIME.

WHAT MESSAGES THE PRESIDENT SENDING IN YOUR VIEW, BECAUSE THIS HAD BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, KAREN BASS, WHO HAD PREDICTED THIS WOULD BE WHAT WE SAW PLAY OUT IN LOS ANGELES WOULD BE PLAYING OUT IN OTHER DEMOCRATIC- CONTROLLED CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, THE PRESIDENT SEEMINGLY ACKNOWLEDGING AS MUCH YESTERDAY.

>> I THINK THAT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES IS ON TO SOMETHING THERE.

YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT HE DID NOT MENTION PLACES LIKE MEMPHIS OR ST. LOUIS, BIG CITIES AND REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATES THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM MUCH THAN DC OR CHICAGO FOR THAT MATTER.

THE PRESIDENT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT SELECTION OF ONLY CITIES THAT ARE ADMINISTERED OR LED BY DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS IS ALSO QUITE CURIOUS.

IT RAISES THE INEVITABLE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH OF THIS IS JUST A POLITICAL PERFORMANCE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRIKE OUT AGAINST HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES AND PROVE SOME KIND OF POINT VIS-A-VIS REPUBLICAN APPROACH TO CRIME VERSUS DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO CRIME.

THAT IS FOR THE POLITICAL ANALYST.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO PLACE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS THE SAME UNIQUE LEGAL STANDING THAT DC HAS.

THE PRESIDENT ENJOYS MUCH MORE POWER AND OPPORTUNITY TO DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD IN DC THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

IT WOULD BE HARDER TO DO IT IN CHICAGO OR NEW YORK.

LOS ANGELES SHOWS US IT IS NOT BEYOND THE PALE.

DOING IT AGAIN AND AGAIN EVEN IF IT IS JUST IN DC WHERE IT'S EASIER HAS THE EFFECT OF MAKING IT NORMAL FOR PEOPLE.

IT'S NORMALIZING THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE UNITED STATES MILITARY PERSONNEL ON THE STREETS CONDUCTING LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY WHICH IS FUNDAMENTALLY CONTRARY TO OUR CONSTITUTION, TO THE WAY CIVILIAN RULE HAS BEEN SET UP AND EXECUTED IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT DENIES PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES THEY VOTED FOR AND WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM MAKING THESE DECISIONS ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT ON.

I THINK IT IS VERY CONCERNING AND SOMETHING THAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON.

>> DEPLOYING THE NATIONAL GUARD, THERE'S A MIXED HISTORY OF HOW EFFECTIVE THAT CAN BE.

SOMETHING EVEN MORE ACUTE -- UNUSUAL IS THAT APPOINTMENT OF FBI AGENTS.

THAT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO DO.

EVEN MORE ALARMING AND WORRISOME IS BY DEPLOYING FBI AGENTS IT TAKES THEM AWAY FROM THEIR VERY IMPORTANT DAY JOBS WHICH IS PREVENTING TERRORISM AND OTHER WORK THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS TO KEEP THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS SAFE.

TALK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.

>> THAT IS REALLY CONCERNING TO ME.

FBI AGENTS ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS.

MOST OF THEM DON'T COME TO THE FBI FROM A BACKGROUND AS POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING AND SKILL SET AND EXPERIENCE OF DOING THAT WORK WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS BOTH FOR THEM AND THE PEOPLE THEY WOULD BE POLICING.

THEY ARE HARD-WORKING, SMART PEOPLE WHO WILL TRY TO DO THE JOB WELL.

I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

IT IS PUSHING THEM WELL BEYOND THEIR AUTHORITY AND COMFORT ZONE.

MUCH MORE CONCERNING IS THE FACT THAT IF YOU ARE SENDING 200 --I HEARD YESTERDAY 180 MAYBE 200 FBI AGENTS FROM WASHINGTON AND PHILADELPHIA TO PATROL THE STREETS EVERY NIGHT, THAT IS 200 AGENTS WHO ARE NOT FOLLOWING SPIES AROUND THE NATION'S CAPITAL KEEPING TRACK OF EFFORTS TO STEAL TOP SECRET INFORMATION.

THEY ARE NOT FINDING AND UNCOVERING AND INVESTIGATING AND INCARCERATING TERRORISTS FOR TRYING TO STAGE ATTACKS.

THEY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR CHILD PREDATORS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVING CHILDREN FROM THAT SORT OF VICTIMIZATION.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

THERE'S NO OTHER AGENCY THAT DOES THAT WORK IF THE FBI IS NOT DOING IT.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY A LIMITED RESOURCE OF FBI AGENTS.

EVERY TIME YOU DISTRACT THEM INTO DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS WE KNOW THEY HAVE ALREADY DRAWN SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE.

THOSE ARE AGENTS THAT WORK ON TASK FORCE AROUND THE COUNTRY INVESTIGATING TERRORISM.

THEY'VE TOLD MANY OF THOSE AGENTS THEY HAVE TO SPEND AT LEAST 30% OF THEIR TIME SUPPORTING I.C.E.

AGENTS EXECUTING IMMIGRATION DETENTION.

THE TRAINS ON THE TRADITIONAL FBI WORK, THE WORK THAT WE DEPEND UPON THESE AGENTS TO DO EVERY DAY I JUST MOUNTING.

THEY ARE BUILDING AND BUILDING.

IF WE HAVE A TERRORIST ATTACK IN THIS COUNTRY THERE SHOULD BE SOME VERY DIRECT AND POINTED QUESTIONS AT FBI LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP ABOUT WHY SOME OF THOSE THOUGHTS DID NOT GET CONNECTED OR SOME OF THOSE INVESTIGATIONS WERE NOT PURSUED THE WAY THEY SHOULD HAPPEN.

WE WILL SEE.

I HOPE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN BUT WE MIGHT WIND OURSELVES THERE.

>> I GUESS WE WILL SEE YOU IN 30 DAYS TIME.

SOMETHING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME AND IS UNIQUE THAT YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT BACK IN THE OVAL OFFICE JUST A FEW YEARS PRIOR TO HIS FIRST TERM, A LOT OF THESE PLAYERS IS WORKING WITH INCLUDING THE MAYOR ARE THE SAME PEOPLE.

YET, THE TONE AND APPROACH TO SOME OF THESE POLICIES ARE QUITE DIFFERENT.

MURIEL BOWSER, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY.

HER TONE HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 2020 WHEN THE PRESIDENT REALLY TOOK A SHARP TURN AGAINST THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST IN THE CITY AND THEN REPORTS LATER THAT HE HAD WANTED TO TAKE OVER CONTROL LIKE HE IS DOING NOW BACK THEN AND WAS STOPPED BY SOME OF HIS TOP ADVISERS.

HERE IS WHAT THE MAYOR SAID THEN.

>> WE SAW THE AMERICAN MILITARY MOVED AROUND OUR COUNTRY LIKE TOY SOLDIERS TO INTIMIDATE AMERICANS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE FINEST MILITARY IN THE WORLD SHOULD NEVER BE USED IN THAT WAY.

AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY >> THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE IN NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT MAYBE POSITIVE.

IF PEOPLE ARE --IF IT IS A POSITIVE ACTION.

THAT IS WHAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYS.

>> THAT SECOND SOUNDBITE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE, THAT WAS FROM YESTERDAY.

WHAT A CHANGE IN TONE FROM THE MAYOR TOWARD THE PRESIDENT.

I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU MAKE OF THAT.

IS IT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO TRY TO WORK AND COOPERATE WITH THE PRESIDENT FOR THE SAKE OF RESIDENCE THERE.

THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF SAYING HE LIKED THE MAYOR OF DC.

>> WELL, MAYOR BOWSER IS AN ASTUTE POLITICIAN.

SHE HAS OBVIOUSLY CHOSEN THIS COURSE, THE WAY TO HANDLE THE SITUATION VERY SPECIFICALLY.

FROM THE CLIPS YOU SHOWED IT IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM HER REACTION BACK IN 2022 THE DEPLOYMENT OF FEDERAL TROOPS.

SHE IS ALSO SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO RUN A CITY WITH 1 BILLION LESS DOLLARS THAN SHE HAD IN HER BUDGET.

SHE'S HOPING, I WOULD ASSUME, TO GET THAT MONEY RESTORED FROM CONGRESS.

THERE IS SOME MOTION THAT THE SENATE IS SUPPORTIVE BUT THE HOUSE IS NOT.

I CAN'T SAY HOW SHE'S MAKING THESE CALCULATIONS, BUT I WILL SAY THAT OVER THE WEEKEND IT WAS SHOCKING TO ME THAT SHE WAS NOT OUT ON EVERY SINGLE CABLE NEWS SHOW AND ANYPLACE SHE COULD GET INTERVIEWED REALLY PUSHING BACK STRONGLY.

I THINK AS WITH MANY OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S ACTION SINCE JANUARY, SOME OF THEM ARE OVERWHELMING.

SOME HAVE CLEARLY TAKEN OUR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP BY SURPRISE AND BACKED PEOPLE INTO A CORNER.

SOMETIMES COOPERATION AND CAPITULATION IS BEING CHOSEN AS THE MOST EXPEDIENT PATH TO GET THROUGH THE CRISIS.

MY CONCERN WITH THAT IS LONGER- TERM WHEN WE SEE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS BEING DEPLOYED ACROSS DEMOCRATIC CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AT SOME POINT PEOPLE HAVE TO STAND UP AND START STANDING FOR DEMOCRACY, DEFENDING THEIR ABILITY TO CHOOSE THEIR FUTURE, TO CHOOSE THEIR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, TO LIVE IN THE CITY THAT IS RUN BY THE PEOPLE THEY ELECTED AND NOT THE PRESIDENT THAT DECIDES TO TAKE IT OVER BECAUSE SOMEBODY FROM HIS STAFF ENDED UP GETTING ASSAULTED IN THE CITY WHICH IS A TERRIBLE THING BUT MAYBE NOT THE BEST REASON TO MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANDREW McCABE WE GOT THROUGH A LOT TODAY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> A QUICK UPDATE ON THE STORY THAT WE SAW YESTERDAY.

RUSSIANS SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES ARE FACING MORE DETENTION TIME, LEGAL HURDLES, ISOLATION AND RISK AND SENT BACK TO RUSSIA.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY GOT BACK TO US AFTER IT AIRED.

THEY SAID, ALL DETAINEES ARE PROVIDED WITH MEALS, MEDICAL TREATMENT AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH LAWYERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

>>> THE COUNTDOWN TO THE TRUMP- PUTIN SUMMIT CONTINUES.

WITH OUR FEARS THAT TRUMP COULD CALL FOR KYIV TO MAKE CONCESSIONS.

AS IT STANDS, UKRAINE HAS NOT BEEN INVITED.

FOR THE PEOPLE THE FUTURE MAY BE OUT OF THEIR HANDS.

WE HAVE THIS REPORT FROM KRAMATORSK IN EASTERN UKRAINE.

>> Reporter: WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKED ABOUT WHICH PARTS OF UKRAINE TO SWAP WITH RUSSIA THIS IS GROUND ZERO.

REAL TOWNS WERE BOMB SHELTERS LOOM OVER BEACHES.

>> I FEEL LIKE I JUST FLOATED AWAY FROM THIS REALITY.

>> Reporter: DIPLOMACY HAS TURNED DARK AND SURREAL.

IT THREATENS A LOCAL JOURNALIST'S MEDICINAL SWIM.

WHAT YOU THINK OF THE IDEA OF TRUMP AND PUTIN MEETING SO FAR AWAY IN ALASKA IN DECIDING THE FATE OF A PLACE LIKE THIS?

>> WE, ALL PEOPLE I KNOW, WILL HAVE TO LEAVE.

I DO NOT THINK IT WILL HAPPEN.

WHAT TRUMP DID WRONG, JUST PUT HIM OUT.

HE TOOK THEM OUT AND SAID I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

I LIKE YOU.

HE DID NOT CARE THAT EVERY DAY UKRAINIANS DIED.

>> THEY ALL PERSIST.

THEY HAVE DUG THE FENCES AROUND IT TO STOP THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE BUT NEVER IMAGINED HIGH-LEVEL DIPLOMAS MAY GIVE THEIR TOWN AND FUTURE AWAY.

SHE GAVE BIRTH YESTERDAY.

THE CALM OF HER MATERNITY WARD RIDDLED WITH COMPLICATIONS SHE NEVER SAW COMING.

STAYING HERE HAS BEEN FOR MANY AN ACT OF DEFIANCE AND BRAVERY.

IT DID NOT SPARE THEM PAIN.

THIS IS THEIR DAUGHTER SOPHIA WITH HER HUSBAND AND GRANDSON.

THEY MOVED FOR SAFETY.

RUSSIAN AIRSTRIKE KILLED THEM AND 28 OTHERS.

THERE THREE BODIES FOUND TOGETHER IN RUBBLE.

>> THEY HAD BEEN DUE TO VISIT DAYS LATER BRINGING NEWS THAT SOPHIA WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT.

THEY CAME TOGETHER TO BE BURIED ON THE TOWN OUTSKIRTS.

NO CALM FOR GRIEF.

THE UKRAINIAN JET ROARS OVERHEAD.

AT THE NEAREST TRAIN STATION MANY ARE COMING AS ARE GOING.

HE WAS ALLOWED TWO DAYS OFF FROM HIS TANK UNIT TO SEE TATIANA, HIS WIFE.

SIRENS GREAT THE TRAIN.

>> SOLDIERS WORRIED IF THEY WILL SEE THEIR LOVED ONES AGAIN.

FAMILIES TORN APART BY THE WAR.

IMAGINE SCENES LIKE THIS.

IN THE EVENT OF WHAT SEEMS TO SO MANY PEOPLE TO BE THE SURREAL IDEA THAT A DEAL ON FRIDAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EARTH ALMOST AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE IN ALASKA BETWEEN AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT WITHOUT A UKRAINIAN THERE COULD POTENTIALLY GIVE THIS BUSTLING TOWN TO THE RUSSIANS AFTER FIGHTING FOR IT FOR SO MANY YEARS AND FAILING TO TAKE IT.

SO MANY LIVES LOST.

THESE TRAUMAS BORN OUT ON THIS PLATFORM EVERY TIME A TRAIN COMES IN.

>> THAT WAS NICK PATON WALSH REPORTING FROM KRAMATORSK.

>>> THIS WEEK MARKS FOUR YEARS SINCE THE TALIBAN TOOK BACK CONTROL OF AFGHANISTAN.

THIS COMES WITH A WARNING FROM UNICEF THAT 4 MILLION GIRLS COULD BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHT TO EDUCATION BY 2030.

THEY ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO BAR COURT --GIRLS FROM STUDYING PAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

IT'S PART OF A REGIME THAT SEEKS TO REMOVE WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM PUBLIC LIFE.

THOSE WHO HAVE MADE IT OUT FACE INCREASED RICK --RISK OF BEING SENT BACK.

VICTORIA FONTAN, MUMTAZ ISLAMZAY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

VICTORIA, ME ASKING WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED WITH THE USAID SCHOLARSHIPS?

WHY ARE SO MANY AFGHAN WOMEN AT RISK OF BEING SENT BACK?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US ON THE SHOW.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS WERE FROZEN IN JANUARY ON JANUARY 30.

AS A RESULT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DID NOT REALLY KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE STUDYING ONLINE OR FACE-TO-FACE AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD WHERE THEY WERE.

THEY WERE LEFT WITH A CHOICE WHETHER TO FIND OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHERE THEY COULD STUDY OR GO BACK TO AFGHANISTAN.

>> MUMTAZ, HOW DID YOU LEARN YOUR SCHOLARSHIP WAS ENDING?

WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.

I WAS ON A SCHOLARSHIP.

AT THE SAME TIME I WAS GETTING WITH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OTHER THAN IS DOWN.

FIRST, THEY ABANDONED OUR SCHOLARSHIP.

WE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM THE SCHOLARSHIP THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES ANYMORE.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE QATAR AND GO TO AFGHANISTAN.

AT THE SAME TIME, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST HOPE THEY TOLD US THAT YOU COULD CONTINUE EDUCATION WITH US IF YOU HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP OR IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL BE STAYING IN QATAR WITH US AND WE WILL SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY.

>> IF YOU ARE SENT BACK TO AFGHANISTAN, WHAT WILL YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE?

>> I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT BECAUSE IF WE GO BACK I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO US.

OUR HIGH EDUCATION IS AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.

THEY MIGHT PUT US IN JAIL, KIDNAP US, THEY HAVE OUR INFORMATION.

N.L.

OUR FAMILY.

THERE IS NO WAY BACK TO AFGHANISTAN FOR US.

>> VICTORIA, YOU'VE CALLED THE USAID CUTS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR SOME STUDENTS.

WALK US THROUGH THE STAKES HERE.

IT IS NOT JUST THE RISK OF LOSING AN EDUCATION, IT IS SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND IN TERMS OF RIGHTS THAT ARE INSTANTLY TAKEN AWAY FROM WOMEN IF THEY GO BACK TO AFGHANISTAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOT BEING ABLE TO STUDY FROM LIFE IN GENERAL, THE POSSIBILITY TO HAVE INTERACTIONS THE POSSIBILITY TO LEARN AND TO PLAN A FUTURE IS REALLY WHAT KEEPS A WHOLE GENERATION OF WOMEN HOPEFUL NOT JUST FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THE PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY.

MEDIATING THAT WHICH IS GREAT.

WE HAVE FOUND THE PATHWAY FOR MANY WOMEN WHO ARE STRANDED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD TO ACTUALLY COME IN THE STUDY IN MALTA FOR THEM TO CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEY AND ALSO TO INTEGRATE WITHIN THE WORKFORCE THAT DOES NOT SEE THEM AS VICTIMS, REFUGEES.

IT'S HE'S THEM AS EQUAL PARTNERS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> MUMTAZ, YOU WERE IN CLASS WHEN THE TALIBAN ARRIVED.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU RECALL FROM THAT DAY AND HOW YOUR EDUCATION AND THE PROCESS OF GOING TO SCHOOL INSTANTLY CHANGED FOR YOU.

>> YES.

I REALLY REMEMBER SO CLEARLY THAT I WAS IN THE UNIVERSITY IN THE MIDST OF A FINAL EXAM WHEN THE PROFESSOR TOLD US TO LEAVE THE UNIVERSITY FOR YOUR SAFETY AND GO HOME.

BE SAFE.

UNIVERSITY I SAW A BUNCH OF TRAFFIC WHICH I SAW PEOPLE TRYING TO GO TO THE AIRPORT TO GET ON A PLANE AND GET OUT OF THE MOTHERLAND.

IT WAS A SCARY SCENE.

I REMEMBER THAT EVERY DAY HOW THE COUNTRY IS TAKEN OVER BY SOME GROUP THAT WE DON'T KNOW THEM WELL.

THAT WAS SO SCARY.

THE FIRST DAY THAT I REALIZED THAT MY PLAN THAT WE ARE MEANT TO BE IN AFGHANISTAN THEY HAVE CHANGED.

>> WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING NOW, MUMTAZ.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BE PROFESSIONALLY?

>> I GOT MY BACHELOR DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE SPECIALIZATION IN DATA SCIENCE.

I WILL DO MY MASTERS DEGREE IN A.I.

AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.

>> YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT BRINGING A.I.

TOOLS TO AFGHANISTAN SO THAT GROWS THERE AT LEAST FOR THE TIME WITH THESE OPPRESSIVE LAWS CAN KEEP OR --LEARNING IN SECRET.

THAT IS AMAZING.

>> I HAVE THIS LAND TO CREATE A SPECIAL A.I.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

FROM GRADES 6 TO 12 I WANTED TO CREATE A SPECIAL A.I.

FOR THOSE LEFT BEHIND FROM SCHOOL, THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH A.I.

AND THEY CAN LEARN WHAT WAS LOST DURING THESE YEARS AND IN THE UNIVERSITY ONLINE OR EVERYWHERE.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE A 12th GRADE CERTIFICATION FIRST.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE AND NO DOUBT RISKY AS WELL.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS FROM THE UNITED STATES SPECIFICALLY THAT WILL PREVENT AND KEEP THESE GIRLS FROM BEING SENT BACK TO AFGHANISTAN.

>> MANY PARTNERS ARE WORKING ON SAFE PATHWAYS.

WE ARE ABLE TO STUDY IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD PRESSURING THE TALIBAN.

NOT GIVING UP ON RIGHTS THAT SO MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE AFGHAN POPULATION HAVE GAINED FOR THE 20 YEARS OF THE AFGHANISTAN REPUBLIC.

I THINK THAT WAS AT THIS PARTICULAR STEAK ALL THESE WOMEN ARE FACING AT THE MOMENT NOT JUST IN AFGHANISTAN BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

>> WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT GIVING UP ON THIS STORY, MUMTAZ.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING AND RISKING.

THANK YOU, VICTORIA FONTAN, AS WELL.

>>> WE RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DEPLOYING THE NATIONAL GUARD TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

WHILE HE SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION AIMS TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS, SUMMER ASKING IF THE MOVE IS PART OF PROJECT 2025.

IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL BLUEPRINT FOR TRANSFORMING EXECUTIVE POWER.

JUST 200 DAYS TO RETURN, ONE ONLINE TRACKER SAYS THE AGENDA IS NEARLY HALFWAY THROUGH COMPLETION.

WE JOIN HARI SREENIVASAN TO DISCUSS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS AND FOREIGN POLICY.

>> DAVID GRAHAM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOUR WORK IS CALLED THE PROJECT.

HOW PROJECT 2025 IS RESHAPING AMERICA.

FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH IT, DURING THE CAMPAIGN SEASON WE HEARD ABOUT THIS REPORT THAT WAS WRITTEN BY A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK.

FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION WHAT WAS THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT?

>> THE GOAL OF PROJECT 2025 WAS BASICALLY TO HAVE AN AGENDA IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT WHOEVER THAT WOULD BE.

THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION GATHERED A BUNCH OF WRITERS AND THINKERS FROM ACROSS THE TRUMP FRIENDLY RIGHT TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

THE ATTITUDE WAS THAT THE FIRST TRUMP PRESIDENCY HAD UNDERACHIEVED BECAUSE OF POOR STAFFING AND POOR IDEAS.

THEY WANTED TO PUT IN PLACE A PLAN FOR HOW TO ACHIEVE POLICIES AND A LIST OF POLICIES HE WOULD WANT AT A GRANULAR LEVEL ACROSS EVERY PART OF THE GOVERNMENT SO THAT A PRESIDENT WHETHER TRUMP OR SOMEBODY ELSE COULD HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON JANUARY 20, 2025.

>> THE PRESIDENT THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN DISAVOWED AND DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM THE PROJECT ITSELF.

HE SAID, QUOTE, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO IS BEHIND IT CALLING THE ABYSMAL.

YET THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THE AUTHORS THAT ARE IN THIS ARE PEOPLE THAT SERVED IN HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

IT IS FULL OF FORMER AIDES.

RUSSELL VOTE WAS THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AT THE END OF THE FIRST TERM.

HE WENT TO WORK ON PROJECT 2025 AND SORT OF DESIGNED THE EXECUTIVE TAKEOVER PORTIONS.

HE SERVED AS THE HEAD OF THE POLICY PLATFORM COMMITTEE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN 2024 AND IS THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT DRIVER FOR MANY OF THESE PRIORITIES.

THE PROOF IS AND WHAT HE'S DOING AND WHO HE HAS APPOINTED TO THESE TOP RULES.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT YOU DESCRIBED THIS AS A SKELETON KEY FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY IS GOING TO WORK.

HOW SHOULD WE LOOK AT IT?

SIX MONTHS WERE REALLY ABOUT TAKING OVER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE SAW ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OR FIRING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVIL SERVANTS OR ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OVER THE INDEPENDENT REGULATORY AGENCIES, THE ALPHABET SOUP AGENCIES THAT HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE PRESIDENT WE HAVE SEEN HIM HIRE AND FIRE LEADERS OF THOSE AGENCIES.

ALL OF THESE ARE PART OF GETTING THE POWER THEY NEED TO DO THE THINGS THEY WANT.

AS WE MOVE TO A SECOND PHASE, YOU SEE THE ADMINISTRATION STARTING TO WORK THROUGH A LOT OF THE POLICY GOALS THAT WERE MADE OUT.

THOSE WERE HARD TO DO WHEN THEY DID NOT HAVE POWER AND PEOPLE IN PLACE BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO GET A TEAM IN THE TOP OFFICES THAT ARE DOING THOSE THINGS.

>> WHAT IS THE VISION OF AMERICA THAT PROJECT 2025 IS HARKENING BACK TO, FORWARD TO.

IN AN IDEAL WORLD, AMERICA WOULD LOOK LIKE BLANK IN TERMS OF SOCIAL VISION?

>> THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE TRADITIONAL FAMILY, NUCLEAR FAMILIES WITH FATHERS WORKING ON MOTHER'S MOSTLY CARING FOR CHILDREN.

VERY HETEROSEXUAL VISION.

THEY WANT TO WRITE TRANS-PEOPLE OUT OF THE LANGUAGE OF GOVERNMENT BY SAYING THEY DO NOT EXIST.

IT'S A GENDER IDEOLOGY AS THEY CALL IT.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE RELIGIOSITY AND SCHOOLS.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ABORTION BEYOND.

ACROSS THE BOARD, THEY WANT TO BRING ABOUT THIS VISION.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY RETURNING TO ANY ONE THING IN PARTICULAR BUT AN IDEALIZED THING OF WHAT THEY WISH THE PAST HAD BEEN LIKE.

>> THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED HE WILL PLACE THE DC POLICE UNDER DIRECT FEDERAL CONTROL AND ROLLOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD AND HIS EFFORTS TO TRY TO DECREASE CRIME.

IS THIS AN IDEA YOU WOULD FIND IN PROJECT 2025?

>> THIS SPECIFIC IDEA OF DC IS THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES WHERE THIS DOVETAILS CLOSELY WITH IT.

ONE OF THEM IS THE IDEA THAT FEDERAL TROOPS ARE USEFUL WAY TO ENFORCE THE LAWS.

THERE'S A STRONG ADVOCACY IN PROJECT 2025 FOR USING FEDERAL TROOPS AT THE BORDER BUT ALSO PLACES WITH HIGH CRIME.

SECOND OF ALL, A WAR ON CITIES AND STATES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD FOR CITIES AND STATES TO DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS AND USE WHATEVER MEANS ARE AT THE WHITE HOUSE DISPOSAL.

THIRD, THIS WAS AT PEACE WITH THE GENERAL IDEA THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE VERY BROAD POWER TO DO WHAT HE WANTS.

WE SEE TRUMP DOING THAT USING EMERGENCY POWERS WITH THIS DECLARATION.

>> ASSESS THE INFLUENCE OF THIS PROJECT ON, FOR EXAMPLE, IMMIGRATION WHERE WE'VE SEEN NOT JUST A FLURRY OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS BUT WE'VE SEEN RESTRUCTURING OF GOVERNMENT, NEW AUTHORITIES.

LOTS OF THINGS THAT SEEM LIKE THEY WOULD COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PLAN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN A FOCUS FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT PROJECT 2025 DOES IS THINK ABOUT HOW TO USE THE GOVERNMENT POWER MORE EFFECTIVELY.

IT'S NOT SIMPLY THEY WANT TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION USING FOR EXAMPLE NATIONAL GUARD OR OTHER TROOPS AT THE BORDER BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO REDUCE LEGAL IMMIGRATION.

THAT IS SOMETHING YOU SEE THE ADMINISTRATION DOING WHETHER IT IS CUTTING DOWN ON STUDENT VISAS, MAKING IT HARDER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO STUDY HERE, A FEE FOR A TOURIST VISA, THEY WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VISAS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THE KINDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

THEY ENVISION A COUNTRY THAT IS MUCH MORE SHUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD AND HAS THE POPULATION THAT EXISTS NOW RATHER THAN WITH A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS COMING IN.

>> IN TERMS OF FOREIGN POLICY, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE IMPACTS OF IDEAS THAT WERE EXPRESSED IN PROJECT 2025.

WHETHER IT'S OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD, WHAT KIND OF AID WE SHOULD BE GIVEN.

>> IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE PROJECT 2025 HAS A FLAT VISION OF THE WORLD.

IN THEIR VIEW CHINA IS THE MAJOR THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES.

AN ECONOMIC THREAT AND A MILITARY THREAT.

THEY WANT TO REORIENT THE WORLD AROUND TAKING CHINA ON.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS KIND OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST.

THEY DO ENVISION TAKING A LOT OF THE EXISTING HUMANITARIAN APPARATUS AND DIRECTLY PUSHING AMERICAN GOALS.

THE DISMANTLEMENT OF USAID IS A LITTLE OF AN EXAMPLE OF THAT ALTHOUGH THE AUTHORS THE PROJECT 2025 DON'T GO THAT FAR.

THEY WANT TO CREATE COALITIONS TO TAKE ON CHINA.

TRUMP ACTIONS TO LEVY TARIFFS ON A LOT OF ALLIES HAS PUSHED THEM AWAY AND MADE IT HARDER TO CREATE THE COALITION THE ENVISION TO TAKE CHINA ON.

>> THE EPA ANNOUNCED IT WILL ROLLBACK OBAMA ERA REGULATIONS ON OMISSIONS.

I WONDER, IS THAT CONSISTENT WITH SOME OF PROJECT 2025 RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT TO DO FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THEIR VIEWS ON CLIMATE SCIENCE.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

PROJECT 2025 IS OF THE VIEW THAT CLIMATE SCIENCE SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT DOES NOT DENY THAT THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING BUT THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE SOLVED BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

THEY TREAT THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AS A SORT OF OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION DEPARTMENT.

THEY WANT TO REDUCE A LOT OF REGULATION.

THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE POLLUTION, CARBON DIOXIDE AND GREENHOUSE GASES, FOREVER CHEMICALS, THE VIEW IS THAT THEY TELL THE STORY OF THE ONE TIME THAT THE WATER WAS DIRTY, THE AIR WAS SMOGGY IN THE 1970S BUT WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IS HOLDING US IF WE WANT TO PROSPER AS A NATION WE NEED TO GET RID OF THESE REGULATIONS.

>> YOU MENTIONED PRIVATIZATION AS A SOLUTION.

WHAT KINDS OF AGENCIES, WORK THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES TODAY DOES THE PROJECT AUTHORS THINK SHOULD BE PRIVATIZED?

>> I THINK THE BEST EXAMPLE IS CLIMATE SCIENCE.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE LARGE PARTS OF THE NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC ADMINISTRATION PRIVATIZED.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO MONITOR RESEARCH INTO THAT SECTOR.

ALSO MOVING OUT OF EDUCATION.

MOVING THOSE THINGS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THE FEDERAL RESERVE, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT ELIMINATED AND MOVE TO A SYSTEM MORE LIKE WHAT WE HAD IN THE EARLY 19th CENTURY WHERE BANKS CAN ISSUE THEIR OWN CURRENCY.

>> HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE THESE IDEAS?

WE ARE SIX, SEVEN MONTHS INTO THIS ADMINISTRATION, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT, HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN SET IN MOTION OR ALREADY COME TO PASS?

>> I THINK IT IS HARD TO QUANTIFY.

THERE'S SO MANY GOALS, SOME OF WHICH ARE GRANULAR AND SPECIFIC, SOME OF WHICH ARE SWEEPING.

IT IS HARD TO SAY FOR SURE.

WE'VE SEEN PROGRESS ON THINGS LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT BUT IN TERMS OF THE GOAL OF TAKING EXECUTIVE POWER AND TRANSFORMING THE WAY THE PRESIDENCY WORKS THEY HAVE MADE A HUGE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS.

MAYBE MORE THAN THEY ANTICIPATED.

ELON MUSK WAS HELPFUL IN GETTING SOME OF THOSE THINGS DONE.

ONE OF THE LEADERS OF PROJECT 2025 SAID THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN --SUCCEEDED BEYOND HIS WILDEST DREAMS.

SO EVERYTHING NOW DEPENDS ON THE PRESIDENT HAVING THE POWER THE SUPREME COURT IS RULING ON THINGS THAT COULD GIVE HIM MORE POWER.

>> HAS THE SUPREME COURT MADE ANY INDICATIONS ON WHICH WAY IT MIGHT RULE?

WE HAVE THE FIRING OF THOUSANDS OF CIVIL SERVANTS, THE DISMANTLING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER CASES THAT WILL WIND UP IN FRONT OF THE JUSTICES.

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE COURT IS DECLINING TO BLOCK THINGS.

WHETHER IT'S THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OR THE ABILITY TO FIRE THE HEADS OF THESE AGENCIES.

WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY WILL RULE BUT BECAUSE THEY'VE DECIDED NOT TO BLOCK THEM SEEMS THEY ARE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT SYMPATHETIC AND MAY RULE IN FAVOR OF HIM.

>> ONE OF THE TENANTS INSIDE THE PROJECT, AROUND THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY AND THE SOCIAL VALUES THAT THE PROJECT WANTS TO SEE IN AMERICA WAS A DECIDEDLY ANTIABORTION STANCE.

I WONDER, WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT TAKEN NEARLY AS MANY STEPS IN THAT REALM AS IT HAS IN SO MANY OTHERS?

>> I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED.

I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS GOING ON.

ONE, TRUMP HIMSELF SEEMS TO HAVE BACKED AWAY.

I THINK HE CONCLUDED THAT HE HAD GOTTEN THE POLITICAL PUNCH OUT OF IT HE COULD GET AND HE MIGHT RISK BACKLASH.

ALSO BY APPOINTING ROBERT F KENNEDY JR.

HE HAS PUT IN PLACE SOMEBODY WHO HAS A KIND OF MURKY STANCE AND IS NOT FOCUSED ON IT.

HE'S MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN THE AGENDA WE HAVE SEEN.

I ALSO DON'T THINK IT WILL GO AWAY QUIETLY.

FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED TO ARE NOW SCATTERED THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT, THIS IS A REALLY ESSENTIAL MORAL QUESTION, ONE OF THEIR MOST FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF LEVERAGE THEY BAN ON ABORTION.

THEY ARE INTERESTED IN TRACKING IT AT THE STATE LEVEL, OR PREVENTING THE MAILING OF ABORTION DRUGS OR ATTEMPTING TO WITHDRAW FDA APPROVAL.

THERE IS A LOT OF LEVERAGE.

FOR THEM IT IS A LONG RUN.

OBVIOUSLY, THE PRO-LIFE RIGHT WAS WILLING TO WORK FOR DECADES AND I THINK THEY ARE CONTINUING TO WORK FOR A FULL BAND NATIONALLY.

>> IS THERE A COUNTER MOVEMENT.

WE HAVE HAD THESE KIND OF SOUL- SEARCHING CONVERSATIONS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHO SAY WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN PROJECT, HERE'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.

>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A PROJECT 2029.

I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE WAYS IT DOES NOT MATCH UP.

DEMOCRATS ARE TALKING ABOUT WHICH VOTERS TO TARGET.

PROJECT 2025 IS NOT A POLITICAL PROJECT.

THEY SAY IT IS SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB TO GET A PRESIDENT ELECTED.

THEY START WITH THE WORLDVIEW.

SOME DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE ATTACKING THIS FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

IF YOUR CONCERN IS A PRESIDENT THAT IS TOO POWERFUL, ONE PLACE TO FOCUS IS THE ROLE OF CONGRESS.

I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT HOW CONGRESS CAN SERVE AS AN EFFECTIVE COUNTERWEIGHT.

>> YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AUTHORS, DOING THE RESEARCH AND READING THROUGH, WERE YOU SURPRISED OF THE TONE OR TENOR, THE WAY THAT SOME OF THESE GRIEVANCES THAT THEY HAVE, I'M THINKING THERE'S A PHRASE, WE WANT THE BUREAUCRATS TO BE DRAMATICALLY AFFECTED.

THAT SORT OF SETS POLICY ASIDE.

THAT SEEMS PERSONAL.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

YOU HAVE HEARD RUSSELL SAY THINGS LIKE WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF A MARXIST TAKEOVER.

THE HEAD OF HERITAGE LIVES -- LAST SUMMER SAID WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN AMERICAN REVOLUTION WHICH WOULD REMAIN BLOODLESS.

THERE IS A REAL GRUDGE.

AT THE PART OF IT IS A FEAR THAT AMERICA AS THEY KNOW AND LOVE IT IS DISAPPEARING AND IF THEY DO NOT TAKE DRASTIC ACTION THEY WILL LOSE GRIP OF THAT.

THAT GIVES THEM A FEELING THAT THEY CAN AND SHOULD DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HOLD ONTO POWER.

>> WHEN YOU START TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF AN INSTITUTION, YOU INCREASE THE POTENTIAL POWER HELD BY THE PRESIDENT, THE AUTHORS HAVE TO KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY THE PRESIDENT COULD BE ELECTED INTO OFFICE THAT IS COUNTER TO ALL OF THEIR OWN INTERESTS, BUT THAT POWER AND INFRASTRUCTURE STILL REMAINS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

I THINK IT IS AN INTERESTING FLAW IN THE ARGUMENT A PHRASE A LOT OF THESE THINGS IN STRAIGHTFORWARD CONSTITUTIONAL TERMS.

THEY ARGUE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH SHOULD BE MORE UNDER THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THAT WAY THE CONSTITUTION IS WRITTEN.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW THEY WOULD RESPOND IF A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WAS USING A LOT OF THESE POWERS THAT TRUMP IS USING.

PART OF IT IS ABOUT THE DESPERATION AND PART OF IT IS THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE LONG TIMELINE, DOING THINGS NOW, THERE WERE WORKING FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS.

THEY ARE WORKING FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS BEFORE THE MIDTERMS, THEY ARE ALSO TRYING TO SHIFT THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT WORKS AND THE WAY SOCIETY WORKS MUCH LONGER DOWN THE ROAD.

WHEN YOU ARE WORKING ON THAT KIND OF TIMELINE, YOU ARE LESS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT PRESIDENT WILL LOOK LIKE AND MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THINGS WILL BE.

>> WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AN IMPACT.

IMMIGRATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS IS THE BATTLE OVER FEDERAL FUNDS.

WE SEE IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH INSIST THEY CAN IMPOUND FUNDS, REFUSE TO SPEND THINGS THAT HAVE AN APPROPRIATE IT.

WE'VE SEEN TALKING ABOUT POCKET RESCISSIONS WHICH IS NOT SPENDING THE MONEY AND WE SAW THE WHITE HAS COME TO CONGRESS WITH A BILL ON IT.

I THINK FUNDING AND WHETHER THE PRESIDENCY IS USING THE FUNDS CONGRESS HAS LAID OUT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I'M LOOKING ACROSS A RANGE OF POLICY AREAS.

WE SAW TRUMP TAKING ON BANKS, ACCUSING THEM OF DISCRIMINATION.

THE IDEA THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATING THE CHOICES DISMISSES MAKEUP WHO THEY SERVE IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

NOT A TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE FEEL THAT SOMETHING WE WILL SEE MORE OF.

YOU WILL LIKELY SEE IT IN CLIMATE SCIENCE AND FAMILY POLICY.

THERE'S SO MANY IDEAS AND PLACES FOR PROJECT 2025 TO TRY TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

>> THE BOOK IS CALLED THE PROJECTS.

HOW PROJECT 2025 IS RESHAPING AMERICA.

DAVID GRAHAM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>> FINALLY, ONE MAN'S MISSION TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS FROM HIS BACKYARD.

A GARDENING VOLUNTEER ANY RACK DELIVER SEEDLINGS TO MAKE HIS CITY GREENER COLLECT TEEN SEEDS THAT HAVE FALLEN.

HE SAID HE TURNS THEM INTO FREE OXYGEN, A VITAL EFFORT IN ONE OF THE MOST CLIMATE VULNERABLE COUNTRIES.

HE WAS INSPIRED TO START HIS WORK FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN HE NOTICED RESIDENTS FLEE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR FRESH AIR.

LOCALS HAVE EMBRACED THE IDEA, COMING TOGETHER TO PLANT TREES ACROSS THE CITY, MAKING THE AIR CLEANER ONE SEAT AT A TIME.

GOOD FOR HIM.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR THE PROGRAM TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS COMING UP SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT PBS.ORG/AMANPOUR.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.