WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Good evening.

I'm William# Brangham.

Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett are away.

On the "News Hour" tonight: A judge once again# presses the Trump administration for answers## on why it hasn't tried to bring back a# man wrongfully deported to El Salvador.

The federal government freezes billions# of dollars in grants to Harvard University## after the Ivy League institution refuses# to give in to President Trump's demands.

And China cuts off exports of rare# earth minerals used in automobiles,## aerospace and other critical technology as# part of this escalating global trade war.

GRACELIN BASKARAN, Center for Strategic# and International Studies: We're highly## dependent on China.

I me.. consider that we don't have any heavy rare# earth processing.. (BREAK) WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Welcome to the "News Hour."

Inside a Maryland courtroom today, another# escalation in the legal battle over the.. wrongfully deported to El Salvador.

Judge# Paula Xinis says she's not yet holding Trump## administration officials in contempt,# but she said she would not tolerate## gamesmanship or grandstanding.

She is ordering# the administration to produce details about what,## if anything, is being done to bring Kilmar# Abrego Garcia back to the United States.

Our White House correspondent,# Laura Barron-Lopez, has the latest.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: William, Judge# Xinis scolded the Trump administration## for doing -- quote -- "nothing" to# facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia's## release from El Salvador's custody# and return to the United States.

The judge also said that comments# made by El Salvadoran President## Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office were not# evidence.

President Bukele said that he## would not return Garcia to the United States.

For more, I'm joined now by Mary# McCord, executive director of the## Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and# Protection at Georgetown University and## former acting assistant attorney# general for national security.

Mary, thanks so much for joining us this evening.

You wrote in The Washington Post that Judge# Xinis should order senior officials to testify## what they're doing to facilitate Garcia's# return.

It appears as though the judge## maybe did just that today.

She launched# this intense two-week inquiry phase## and said that she would allow for deposition# of up to six administration officials.

What's your reaction to that?

And what do you make## of the administration's repeated claims# that this is in President Bukele's court?

MARY MCCORD, Former Justice Department Official:# So, obviously, we have two separate things there.

And I think Judge Xinis did exactly# what she had to do at this point,## because last Friday she ordered daily# progress reports -- not progress reports,## a daily declaration by a person with# individual knowledge, a government## official with individual personal knowledge,# answering the three questions she had.

Where## is Mr. Abrego Garcia?

That question# did finally get answered on Saturday.

What is the government doing to facilitate# his return?

And what additional steps will## the government take to facilitate# his return?

Those two questions,## what they're doing, what they have already done# to facilitate, and what they're continuing to do,## are still not answered, because each# declaration was really obfuscation.

So what she's saying now is, I'm going to# allow there to be discovery with depositions,## meaning live testimony under# oath by government officials,## to get to the bottom of what they actually# are doing to facilitate his release.

The government, at the same time, is arguing a# couple things.

They're arguing that facilitate## should be interpreted so narrowly that it simply# means that, if the president of El Salvador## decides to release Mr. Bukele -- excuse me --# Freudian slip there -- release Mr. Abrego Garcia,## that the government will receive him# here, the government will accept him.

Of course, they have also said they would# put him into immediate custody and initiate## new deportation proceedings.

The other thing# they're saying is that it's out of our hands to## even request that the president of El Salvador,# Mr. Bukele, do anything, because this matter is## now in his hands that Mr. Abrego Garcia is being# held under the domestic authority of El Salvador.

But, mind you, he was not extradited there## pursuant to some criminal charges or# anything like that.

So these things,## these are constantly shifting explanations,# and the court is getting to the bottom of it.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: On the lack of those# criminal charges,in the last 24 hours,## senior administration officials like# Secretary of State Marco Rubio have## repeatedly accused Garcia of being a member# of the MS-13 gang and a terrorist.

White House## Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt# accused him of human trafficking.

And, so far, the administration has appeared to# provide no evidence to back up those allegations.## They also said what you noted,# which is that, if he's returned,## they will try to deport him to another# country.

What is the typical pathway,## legal pathway, for deporting someone who# had protected status like Mr. Garcia did?

MARY MCCORD: So, in deportation proceedings# -- and this all goes to the same type of## notice and opportunity to be heard, due# process under our law, that the Supreme## Court said that those who were deported to# El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act,## it's the same thing he's saying, that# they get a chance to challenge that.

Here, deportation proceedings would be different# than what the Venezuelans might do in terms of## bringing a habeas corpus petition in the# federal court.

Deportation proceedings,## there would be a chance for the person whose# ability to stay here is being questioned for## them to put on evidence about anything they can# do to support that they are lawfully present.

And in terms of what he had achieved in 2019,## he was able to testify before an immigration# judge that he had left El Salvador because he## was persecuted by gangs.

He was a teenager.# His mother sold pupusas.

Gangs were trying## to extort her and threatening her children# and wanted her to put them into the gangs.

He was sent here by his family.

He's never# broken any laws here.

There are no criminal## convictions here.

And he fears that he would be# persecuted if he were deported to El Salvador.## That is where a judge held in 2019 that# he may not be deported to El Salvador.

So, in order to reverse that order, the government# would have to go back into immigration court and## prove up something that would suggest why# that needs to be reversed.

They're saying## he's a member of MS-13, newly designated# a foreign terrorist organization in late## February by the Trump administration, but they# have not proved that he is a member of MS-13.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: In another front# of Trump's anti-immigration agenda,## a Columbia student, Mohsen Mahdawi,# who is a legal permanent resident,## was detained yesterday while appearing# for a citizenship interview in Vermont.

The administration is trying to remove# him under the same immigration provision## that they're using against students who# engaged in pro-Palestinian protests.

Mahdawi## has not been charged with a crime.

Is this an# escalation on immigrants who have legal status?

MARY MCCORD: There's no question.

I mean, just like with Mahmoud Khalil,# also.. also a lawful permanent resident or# green card holder, that's the same as## the student who was taken into custody# just today, or maybe it was yesterday.

This is what we're starting to see# on different campuses.

Students,## in some cases even faculties, here# lawfully, sometimes on student visas,## but these two men were -- had a much higher# level than that.

They are lawful permanent## residents.

They have the right to be# here.

They have a right to work here.

It doesn't mean you have your citizenship.

You# are on a path towards citizenship when you have## your green card.

And after being here a certain# number of years without any criminal charges,## you can oftentimes obtain your naturalization# to citizenship.

And that's my understanding,## what this young man thought he was going to see# immigration to talk about, his naturalization.

And, instead, he's being told essentially that his## privileges are being revoked because# the secretary of state has decided## that he is a national security threat.# He has filed -- just like Mr. Khalil,## he has filed suit in federal court, alleging First# Amendment retaliation and due process violations.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Mary, with# the limited time we have left,## on another deportation effort front, President# Trump is planning to convert a stretch of the## U.S.-Mexico southern border to an Army base, with# the intention of using it to deport migrants.

Could this potentially be a# violation of the Posse Comitatus Act?

MARY MCCORD: Well, let's just be clear.# The U.S. military may not engage in## domestic law enforcement, including directly# arresting and detaining and deporting people,## under federal immigration laws# without violating Posse Comitatus Act.

There would have to be an Insurrection Act# invocation based on the things that are## in the predicate for Insurrection Act# that would allow the U.S. military to## engage in domestic law enforcement, things# like arrest, seizure, search, detention.

However, on a military base, military officers,# military police could detain trespassers and pass## them off to law enforcement, and I think that's# what is at risk of happening along this border.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Mary McCord of# Georgetown, thank you for your time.

MARY MCCORD: My pleasure.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## In the day's other headlines:# Iran's supreme leader said## initial talks with the U.S. over# his country's rapidly developing## nuclear program were taken well.

But# he downplayed prospects for a deal.

In his first comment since negotiators met last# Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he's neither## overly optimistic nor overly pessimistic about the# new dialogue.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration## has walked back comments that suggested a# willingness to allow Tehran to enrich uranium## at a low level.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff# made that suggestion last night on FOX News.

STEVE WITKOFF, U.S. Special Envoy to# the Middle East: This is going to be## much about verification on the enrichment# program, and then ultimately ve.. weaponization.

We're here to see if we can solve# this situation diplomatically and with dialogue.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Taking to social media today,# Witkoff called on Iran to dismantle its nuclear## program altogether.

The next round of talks# is expected this weekend, either in Rome,## as U.S. officials initially indicated, or in# Oman, where last week's meetings took place.

Russia today said that recent talks# with the U.S. were constructive,## but they wouldn't give any sort of timetable# for a peace agreement on Ukraine.

Kremlin## spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that:# "There is -- there are no clear outlines,## but there is a political will# to move towards this agreement."

Kyiv and some of its European allies# have accused Moscow of dragging## out talks because it's not serious# about wanting to end the war.

Today,## NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited# wounded soldiers in Ukraine with President## Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He indicated a willingness# to give the discussions time to progress.

MARK RUTTE, NATO Secretary-General: These# discussions are not easy, not least in the## wake of this horrific violence.

But we all support# President Trump's push for peace.

Other allies,## including through efforts led by France# and the United Kingdom, are ready, willing,## and able to shoulder more responsibility in# helping to secure peace when the time comes.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Meantime, Russian authorities# say a barrage of Ukrainian drones hit homes and## buildings in its cursed border region.

One# person was killed.

Nine more were hurt.## It comes days after a devastating Russian attack# on Ukraine's Sumy region that killed dozens.

New data from the CDC shows nearly one# in 31 children in the U.S. has autism.## That's up from the last count in 2020 that# showed one in 36 children suffered from## the disorder.

The data shows boys are# diagnosed at a higher rate than girls,## and it's more common among children of color.# The report said the recent increase was likely## due to better screening and awareness.# The causes of autism are still unknown,## but ample studies have ruled out# childhood vaccines as a factor.

Also on public health, both Arkansas and Indiana# have moved to ban soda and candy from the food## stamp programs in their states.

They're the first# to ask the Trump administration to remove those## items from SNAP, which helps low-income Americans# pay for groceries.

Indiana's Republican governor## made his state's announcement alongside Dr.# Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare## and Medicaid Services, as well as Trump's# health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. GOV.

MIKE BRAUN (R-IN): More snap money# is spent on sugar drinks and candy than## on fruits and vegetables.

That changes today.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., U.S. Health and Human# Services Secretary: We need to change our## food system in those countries, so that we# start giving our kids fo.. to actually make them healthy and imbue# them with vigor and ambition and a dream.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The Department of Agriculture,# which oversees SNAP, says it is fast-tracking## the state's requests.

Candy and beverage# companies called the approach misguided.

And it was a down day on Wall Street, but without# any tariff bombshells, it kept market movements## moderate.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost# just over 150 points, while the Nasdaq had a## negligible loss of just eight points.

The S&P# 500 followed suit, also down by less than 10.

Still to come on the "News# Hour": the plight of hundreds## of thousands of Sudanese refugees# who have fled to neighboring Chad;## why abortions are rising in the U.S.# despite more restrictions; plus much more.

Yesterday, Harvard University became# the first major school in the U.S. to## push back against the Trump administration's# efforts against colleges and universities.

Last week, the administration told Harvard that# nearly $9 billion of its federal funding would## be in jeopardy if it didn't change its hiring# practices and address allegations of antisemitism.## But Harvard rejected that request, writing# that -- quote -- "Neither Harvard nor any## other private university can allow itself# to be taken over by the federal government."

The administration immediately froze $2# billion in federal grants to the school,## and President Trump suggested the school# should lose its tax-exempt status "if it## keeps pushing political, ideological, and# terrorist-inspired or supporting sickness."

Joining us now is someone from Harvard# who supports the university's position.## Cornell William Brooks is a professor at# the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Professor Brooks, very good# to have you on the program.

Alan Garber, who's the president of the# university, separately wrote -- quote -- "Although## some of the demands outlined by the government# are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority## represented direct governmental regulation# of the intellectual conditions at Harvard."

Is that how you see it?

CORNELL WILLIAM BROOKS, Professor, Harvard Kennedy# Scho.. And I have to commend President Garber for taking# a financia.. a politically difficult decision, but one that# was made morally simple by the fact that the## Trump administration essentially demanded that# Harvard essentially welcome the government into## the regulation of Harvard, the management of# Harvard, the hiring and firing of Harvard,## the admitting of students at Harvard# in a way that would be unprecedented.

To be clear about, this would be like# alleging some violation of the law in terms## of a company or a corporation, and thereafter# the government demanding to run that company,## run that corporation.

And that is unlawful, it's# unconstitutional, and it is profoundly unfair.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I hear everything that# you're saying, but, as you mentioned,## this could be a fiscally very risky# proposition.

I mean, some argue that## it might be -- it's easy to support this# idea now, but what happens if there is a## suddenly $9 billion hole in your budget for# all of that academic and scientific research?

Won't that make it very difficult# to do your essential mission?

CORNELL WILLIAM BROOKS: Oh, most definitely.

Harvard does research on all manner of# illnesses and diseases and conditions## afflicting human society, certainly the country.# Harvard trains teachers that go into classrooms,## public servants that twirl away# in communities to address poverty,## to address education, to address# inequities in our society.

To lose $9 billion or to have $2 billion# frozen affects the mission of the school.## But the magnitude of the pain, the size# and scope of the risk is an indication of## the threat.

and it is also a measure# of the character of this university.

So, in other words, to have a school that's so# committed to doing its work, it is willing to## risk its financial existence, that's a measure of# the threat that we face.

Let's be very, very clear## about this.

When you look at the letter that the# -- that was sent to Harvard, this list of demands## are very loosely related in many cases and most# instances, not related to antisemitism at all.

It has everything to do with literally# poll testing, surveying the faculty,## staff and students as to their political views,# a clear violation of the First Amendment.

It## would invite the government into choosing# faculty, admitting students, choosing staff.

No university, no college, should be willing# or can be willing to do such a thing.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: In his letter to the# administration, President Garber did say the## university is addressing issues of antisemitism.# I hear your point that it was a minor part## of the Trump administration's claim, but how# serious a problem is antisemitism at Harvard?

Many people believe it is a very serious problem.

CORNELL WILLIAM BROOKS: I take the matter# of antisemitism seriously.

There have been## instances at Harvard in which Jewish# students have felt threatened.

Jewish## students have experienced mistreatment.# Jewish students have been treated in## ways that are not commendable, as we# have seen elsewhere in the country.

But the fact of the matter is, Alan Garber and his# colleagues, people and the faculty and students,## I might add, have taken steps in terms of# addressing policies, coming up with programs,## creating a body to study, analyze and# propose responses to antisemitism at Harvard.

But note this.

The demands placed upon Harvard# have nothing to do with antisemitism.

And as## a civil rights lawyer, I'm going to be# very clear about this.

I think it is an## insult to the victims of discrimination to use# their harms, to use their hurt to accomplish## essentially an ideological, partisan# political agenda at their expense.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: You do have a significant# slice of the population that believes that## elite universities are liberally biased and that# they're inculcating this world view into students.

How do you go about addressing# that larger concern, separate## from what the Trump administration is doing?

CORNELL WILLIAM BROOKS: Well, one of the things# that you can do is that you can make sure that## your hiring process is one in which you# reach out to all parts of the country,## all parts of the political spectrum and represent# the full range of ideas in terms of hiring## teaching faculty, research faculty and certainly# everyone who is a part of this academic community.

Can we have more of that?

I suspect so.

But is# anyone screening anybody else -- anybody out?## I don't think so.

And I want to be very clear.

I# teach students from every corner of the country,## all parts of the world, all across the# political spectrum.

And it is an absolute joy.

So if there are ways in which Harvard can improve,## big government, intrusive government and# academic takeover are not the way to do it.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: That is Cornell William Brooks# at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Thank you so much for being here.

CORNELL WILLIAM BROOKS: Thank you.

Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So to get a# different look at the unease## at colleges and universities right now,# both from the threats to federal funding,## as well as the arrests of international# students, we spoke to a trio of editors at## student newspapers about what they're seeing# and how campus communities are reacting.

MAVEN NAVARRO, "The Crimson White":# I just feel like it's instance after## instance that national news outlets are paying# attention to things going on college camp.. SHEA VANCE, "Columbia Daily Spectator": It is## an incredibly unique.. ZHANE YAMIN, "The Michigan# Daily": When DEI was cut,## I think then it really kind of hit home# for a lot of.. OK, this thing is real, this thing is# here and this thing is affecting us.

My name is Zhane Yamin.

I am a junior at# the University of Michigan and I'm one of## the co-editors and chief of "The Michigan Daily."

MAVEN NAVARRO: My name is Maven# Navarro.

I am a junior.

I attend## the University of Alabama and I'm the# editor in chief of "The Crimson White."

SHEA VANCE: My name is Shea Vance.# I am a junior at Barnard College of## Columbia University and I'm the editor in# chief of "The Columbia Daily Spectator."

The news coming out of Columbia is so frequent and# also so deeply impactful for so many people.

A lot## of people are raising concerns about the state# of academic freedom at Columbia and what many## people are identifying as an acquiescence# to the Trump administration's demands.

A lot of people are worried about their visas# potentially getting revoked or even Mahmoud## Khalil, who is here on a green card, was detained.# So I do think it is having its impact on people's## daily lives.

It's definitely a main topic of# conversation right now at Columbia, the federal## funding cuts, the ICE activity around campus,# and the scrutiny that's been facing our campus.

MAVEN NAVARRO: We have had a lot of# protests on campus.

There's been a lot## of discourse going on between# students, so kind of chaotic,## to be honest.

I would say maybe like 50/50# Republican and Democrat divide on campus.

I kind of see it on both extremes.# So I do see people that did vote## for President Trump that are kind# of starting to regret their vote,## especially with the tariffs going on now.

There's# a lot of students that do say things like, oh,## well, I didn't know that this would happen.# I didn't know it would actually be like this.

There are students that didn't vote for# him that are kind of continuing the,## I told you so, that this was going to happen# and are frustrated with the people that might## have voted for him.

And then you have the people# that did vote for Trump and do not regret their## vote.

They're glad that he is doing the# things that he said he was going to do.

ZHANE YAMIN: When we broke the news that the# University of Michigan was announcing cuts to DEI,## we haven't seen such a large influx# of op-eds and letters to the editor## about one specific topic since October 7.

I think a lot of people aren't angry necessarily# that the programs themselves were cut, but## more so that the university is sort of# capitulating or aligning itself with the## Trump administration and its broader# initiatives and its broader goals.

So I think one thing that's been key in# covering this thing has been finding all of## these perspectives and finding the perspectives# to sort of illuminate the breadth of opinions.

SHEA VANCE: There's definitely been a# chilling effect, I would say.

Protests## are still happening.

They're getting smaller.# Even if they're not less willing to be going## to protest, people are less willing to# be identifying themselves at protests.

Our reporters are as aware as anybody# about what the risks are right now.## I think that student newsrooms# have a right to be a bit concerned## about the ability to report on campus and# the ability to do so completely safely.

MAVEN NAVARRO: My job is to tell the truth and# to share the truth.

And so sometimes that has## been challenging as well this year.

Students# and the community have not always been super## welcoming of things going on.

And even if it's# not our fault, I mean, we're the messengers of it.

And we are sharing what is going on in the# world.

And so sometimes we do kind of take## the brunt of their frustrations, instead# of the thing that we are reporting on.

ZHANE YAMIN: People have come# to us and they have asked, like,## hey, can I be anonymous?

I'm an international# student.

I know I said t.. but I'm uncomfortable because my safety, my# physical safety, I might be harmed if this is up.

Those have been conversations of that our# organization, "The Michigan Daily," has been## having and will continue to have with people# as it comes up.

When you think about what it## means to be a college student now, I think it# is sort of being altered.

Like, what is your## relationship between the administration and# how much do you trust it and how much do you## trust it to look out for you and how much do you# take it upon yourself to look out for yourself?

SHEA VANCE: The past few years have really eroded# the trust between Columbia's administration## and Columbia's student body.

And# that's for a variety of reasons.## There's a lot of consensus that there is# lacking communication and transparency.

This transparency issue also impacts student# press.

Student journalists at Columbia,## just like student journalists at any university,## have a real stake in their institution.

And we# very openly want what's best for our community,## because we're members of this community and we# know our campus better than any other journalist.

And so we tend to approach stories with# more care, with more attention to detail,## with more attention to the truth, with more# nuance, definitely.

And that impacts everything## we do.

And it certainly impacted the coverage# that we have done over the past couple of years.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## Tonight, President Trump launched a new# national security investigation that could## lead to tariffs over critical minerals, the# vast majority of which are processed by China.

The president's announcement comes after# Beijing restricted exports of those minerals,## which are essential for everything# from cell phones to fighter planes.

Nick Schifrin reports that the trade wars are# playing out as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is## touring Southeast Asia, portraying Beijing# as the region's most reliable partner.

NICK SCHIFRIN: In Vietnam, they brought the# pomp and circumstance to welcome Xi Jinping,## and two communist leaders walked# the red carpet so Beijing could## portray itself as a benevolent# source of regional stability.

LIN JIAN, Chinese Foreign Ministry# Spokesperson (through translator):## China will insist on joining hands,# .. tearing down walls instead of building# barriers, connecting, instead of decoupling.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Xi's Southeast Asia tour was# preplanned, but he's using it to confront the## U.S. for what Beijing calls an irresponsible# trade war and recent sanctions on Hong Kong,## China's top official there said today.

XIA BAOLONG, Director, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs# Office (through translator): The repeated attempts## of the U.S. to contain and suppress Hong# Kong will backfire a.. peasants from the U.S. will soon be crying tears# in front of China's 5,000 years of civilization.

NICK SCHIFRIN: That confrontation at the U.S.# now extends to critical minerals.

Beijing is## restricting the export of rare earths and magnets# that are almost entirely refined by China,## those minerals vital for everything from the# U.S. military's most advanced fighter jets to## missiles to every single cell phone# and electric vehicle on the planet.

For perspective on all this,# we turn to Gracelin Baskaran,## a mining economist and director of the# Critical Minerals Security Program at the## Center for Strategic and International# Studies, a think tank in Washington.

Thanks very much.

Welcome to the "News Hour."

GRACELIN BASKARAN, Center for Strategic and# International Studies:.. NICK SCHIFRIN: Let's start with a# basic fact.

The Whit.. that 70 percent of U.S. imports# of rare earths come from China.

Translate that for me.

How dependent is U.S. and# allied military and civilian technology on China?

GRACELIN BASKARAN: We're# highly dependent on China.

Consider that we don't have any heavy rare# earth processing facilities here at home.

So, ultimately, while we have reserves of# rare earths, even when we extract them,## they actually go back to China for the# midstream processing and potentially the## manufacturing of magnets.

And these rare# earths are absolutely vital for all of our## defense technologies and civilian uses,# from MRI scanners to electric vehicles.

So it's extremely consequential to our security.

NICK SCHIFRIN: We have been talking# for years, of course, about critical## minerals as vital to all technology.# But what we're talking about here today,## what China is trying to restrict are very# specific subset of critical minerals,## rare earths, things like scandium, terbium,# things that most people have never heard of.

So explain how these particular# rare earths are so critical and why.

GRACELIN BASKARAN: So rare earths# are actually a bit of a misnomer,## because they're not rare.

They're# actually everywhere.

However,## they're often found in small quantities# and then they get separated out of the rock## before they get processed and manufactured# into the critical goods that we discuss.

Now, the big difficulty that we have is# that we have fallen behind in critical## minerals.

And rare earths have often been --# have long been weaponized.

So I think back## to 2010.

China and Japan got into a fishing# trawler dispute and then they were cut off.

What happened with this new announcement is that## heavy rare earths were targeted.# So we have critical minerals,## we have rare earths and then we have heavy# rare earths.

And these heavy rare earths## all go to China.

So 100 percent of separation# for these rare earths are being done there.

NICK SCHIFRIN: So Beijing in the past# has restricted some of these exports,## as you just mentioned, but they're# taking additional steps in the## last week in response to the U.S.# pressure when it comes to trade.

What are these additional steps# and are the actual restrictions?## Or can companies apply and actually# get China to approve these exports?

GRACELIN BASKARAN: So, as you said,## there's a kind of a runway of poli.. First of all, there's going to be a pause# in exports while they get a licensing system## in place.

Second, it is -- a licensing# requirement is actually a dynamic tool,## which means that I can change who# gets licenses and how much they're## licensed to export, which gives# them a lot of negotiating power.

And then the third thing to note about licensing# is, it could be tightened quite significantly as## the trade war escalates and it could ultimately# come down to a ban.

We have already seen that 15## defense and aerospace companies in the U.S. are no# longer able to access dual-use goods from China,## which means they will not be able to use# these rare earths that come from there.

NICK SCHIFRIN: The flip side is, how dependent is# China itself on these exports?

Do we know whether## China might use this as a negotiating ploy when# it comes to the Trump administration and trade## pressures, or is there an interest from Beijing# in having these export controls be permanent?

GRACELIN BASKARAN: It's going to# be a negotiating tool.

Everything## feels like a negotiation in the new political era.

The reality is that a ban would be very# consequential to the Chinese economy,## because not only is it a mining and# processing.

It's the entire economic## ecosystem in infrastructure services that go# with it that would ultimately come to a halt.

What it does do is, it gives# them power in a tariff war,## because they actually have an absolute# advantage here.

It's not comparative.## So the idea is that, by -- if the tariffs# come back down to a more reasonable level,## it stimulates their economy, but ensures that# we have access to this very critical material.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Let's talk about future# possible alternatives to Beijing.

The## United States government is investing# in facilities here in the U.S.

It's## invested in a facility in South Africa.# It's considering investing in Brazil.

Is there an alternative when it comes# to these rare earths to Beijing?

GRACELIN BASKARAN: We're probably not going to# decouple any time soon.

We have been mining rare## earths for some years in the United States,# but we have never built separation facilities## that are -- and so, even though the U.S.# government has spent over $400 million## through the Defense Production Act over the last# five years, these facilities are not ready to go.

And when they are online, they're only going# to be able to produce a small fraction of what## China produces.

Ultimately, for the U.S., what# determines whether the U.S. fails or succeeds## here is twofold.

One will be, can we get these# facilities online quickly?

And the second is,## at the end of the day, geology# is where geology is.

And we have## less than 1.5 percent of the world's# rare earths here at home in the U.S.

So there's going to be a need to link this# up to our foreign policy to secure rare## earths from other countries.

We have# seen it feature quite prominently in## the discussion in the last few months in# the context of potential engagement with## Ukraine and Greenland.

There are# many other sources of rare earths.

And as we have seen, even with the# Chinese president in Vietnam and Malaysia,## they are looking to do the same thing to# cement a certain dominant.

So there's a## larger strategy that's needed.

And# there's no doubt the Department of## Defense recognizes this as# a critical vulnerability.

They have prioritized what we call the# mine-to-magnet supply chain and building## it here at home by 2027.

But it takes time, it# takes capital, and it takes a lot of willpower.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Gracelin# Baskaran, thank you very much.

GRACELIN BASKARAN: Thanks for having me.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Access to abortion has# changed dramatically in the three years## since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v.# Wade.

Twelve states currently ban the procedure## with limited exceptions, and another four have# outright bans after six weeks of pregnancy.

Stephanie Sy looks at a new report that examines## whether these bans have led to a drop# in abortions, as supporters had hoped.

STEPHANIE SY: William, according to the# latest data from the Guttmacher Institute,## a research organization that# advocates for abortion rights,## there were just over a million# clinician-provided abortions in## states where it was legal in 2024.

The numbers# were up slightly from the previous year.

The data further shows that the# number of people who crossed state## lines for the procedure dropped nearly 9 percent.

For an update on the current state of# abortion access, I'm joined by Mary Ziegler,## professor at U.C.

Davis.

She's written# several books on abortion rights,## including "Personhood," which# is out later this month.

Mary Ziegler, thank you so much# for joining the "News Hour."

So three years out from the Dobbs decision,# several states have outright bans, and yet## the number of abortions tallied# by a Guttmacher has held steady,## and other data shows abortions have# increased more than 10 percent since 2020.

What is your reaction to this latest data?

MARY ZIEGLER, University of California, Davis,# School of Law: It isn't surprising, in a sense.

We have seen that passing a ban and enforcing# a ban are two very different things,## particularly when both pills and people# are crossing state lines in the way we## have seen since 2022.

And I think# the real question going forward is## either whether states can project their# power across state lines, for example,## by prosecuting people in states where abortion# rights are protected, or whether instead the Trump## administration is going to impose some sort# of national limit that changes the calculus.

Otherwise, I think we will likely continue# to see data like these in the years to come.

STEPHANIE SY: And the Guttmacher# Institute says the total number## of abortions it tallied is likely an# undercount because it doesn't reflect## self-administered medication abortions# in states where that practice is banned.

Is there any way to get a true sense of how# many abortions are occurring in the current## landscape?

And I ask this because the states# that have banned abortions have the clear## intent of reducing the number of abortions.# But can we really tell how many are occurring?

MARY ZIEGLER: Not really, right?

I mean,# and this is not -- also not a surprise.

It was historically very hard to evaluate how# many abortions were happening in America before## Roe v. Wade.

And that's no surprise because,# even if it's not a crime to take abortion pills,## it can be a crime to facilitate the taking of# abortion pills.

So even if someone in a state## where abortion is a crime isn't themselves going# to get in criminal trouble for taking those pills,## they might be exposing other people in their# lives to criminal charges if they say anything.

So this is almost certainly an undercount.

And# it's very hard to get data when the penalties## for doing these acts in some states are serious,# right, up to life in prison in some instances.

STEPHANIE SY: I want to give you another# data point of the example of Florida,## where a six-week ban went into effect in# May of 2024.

They saw the most dramatic## drop in the procedure, with abortions# in the state down by 12,000 last year.

Mary, is Florida an instance where the# restrictions may be having the intended effect?

MARY ZIEGLER: Absolutely, in part because# Florida was not just a place where people## from the state were having abortions.# Florida was similar to New Mexico or## Illinois.

It was a regional hub for people# who lived in states that already had bans.

And so while we may see some Floridians# circumventing the state's abortion ban## by going elsewhere or ordering pills, we're# not seeing people traveling to Florida for## abortions because of the state's ban.

Also, I# think the Southeast in particular is a place## where travel for abortion is much harder.

There# really are no nearby states geographically that## logically come to mind as places one would go,# which is why Virginia is the next on the list.

But Virginia is, of course, much more# remote to some of these states than## Illinois would be to certain states# or New Mexico.

So that's I think part## of what you're seeing.

Florida is no# longer a regional hub in the same way.

STEPHANIE SY: I want to touch on# the legal landscape.

We have seen## years now of back-and-forth between# state laws and courts.

In Idaho,## a court recently expanded medical exemptions,# as you know, to the state's ban.

And even## Texas' legislature is looking at reworking# language on medical exemptions in its ban.

Is there, Mary, a general# pivot toward moderating some## of the more strict abortion bans at this point?

MARY ZIEGLER: I think it's -- the pivot has been,## as both the Texas legislature and the Kentucky# legislature have put it, to clarify the bans.

There's not really an attempt so much to make# abortion more available in those states as to## clarify that legislatures already wanted it# to be available under certain circumstances,## and they believe physicians didn't# know what those circumstances were.

We even saw that in the Idaho litigation# where the Idaho attorney general's office## essentially said, we have allowed# some of these abortions all along.

I think we will continue to see# back-and-forth about that, though,## because it's still very hard to write laws# that are actually clear and actually cover## all the circumstances in which a pregnancy# would become dangerous enough for the law## to kick in.

That's especially true in the# penalties we see authorized by these laws## are so high that physicians are going# to be really reluctant to take risks.

So I think these attempts at clarification are# growing, but I'm not convinced they will work.

STEPHANIE SY: To that point, you also# have proposed laws that some would say## go to the extreme.

Again, in Texas, a# bill has been filed that would force## municipalities to test the water for the# presence of hormones and mifepristone.

Are you seeing a lot of political will,## especially in conservative states,# for those types of efforts?

MARY ZIEGLER: I think there's a lot of# frustration in conservative states about## the inability to enforce these laws and the# inability to stop abortions from happening.

And, of course, states can do but so much without# the intervention of the Trump administration.## So there's a lot of spitballing happening# in conservative states now about ways to## make bans more effective than they currently# are,all of them focused on abortion pills.

I don't know if the testing the groundwater# solution is going to get off the ground in## particular, but I think we will almost# certainly see some legislation coming## out of this session from the states that# tries to shut down access to pills either by## targeting out-of-state actors or in-state# actors in ways we haven't seen before.

STEPHANIE SY: That is Mary Ziegler at U.C.

Davis.

Mary, thank you so much for# joining us with your perspective.

MARY ZIEGLER: Thanks for having me.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## For two years now, Sudan has been# torn apart by civil war as the## Sudanese Armed Forces have fought with# the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Millions of Sudanese have fled, many# to neighboring Chad.

The U.N. says## it is now one of the worst humanitarian# crises in recent memory, and caring for## the millions in need has been made harder by# the Trump administration's shutdown of USAID.

Correspondent Neha Wadekar and filmmaker Zoe# Flood, with the support of the International## Women's Media Foundation, traveled last year to# document the crisis on Chad's eastern border,## where hundreds of thousands fled# violence, but then faced starvation.

They report now that the# situation is, if anything, worse.

And a warning: Accounts and images# in this story are disturbing.

ABDUSSALAM MOUSTAPHA, Displaced From Sudan:# I come from Sudan, but now in Chad a refugee.

(through translator): In Sudan, we were# always happy.

We played football with friends,## but since we arrived here,# we were not really happy.

NEHA WADEKAR: At 10 years old, Abdussalam# Moustapha has already experienced more## trauma than many adults ever will.# I met Abdussalam and his mother,## Mounira, in a refugee camp# on the Chad-Sudan border,## where they live in the corner of a large# tent partitioned among dozens of families.

MOUNIRA OUMAR MAHAMAT ABDALLAH, Displaced From# Sudan (through translator): It was difficult## to move around.

We set off to go.. We went late at night, but we were attacked on the## road.

People were killed.

Some were hit by# cars.

Everyone was running for their lives.

NEHA WADEKAR: Abdussalam and his# family are among many thousands of## non-Arab civilians who fled brutal attacks# by the Arab Rapid Support Forces, or RSF,## on West Darfur's capital city, Al-Junaynah.# The nonprofit Human Rights Watch described## the waves of violence by the RSF and allied# militias as a systematic campaign to remove,## even by killing, members of# the Masalit ethnic group.

ABDUSSALAM MOUSTAPHA (through translator):# When I was coming back with my brother,## we saw people killed on the road.

Some were# slaughtered, some were beaten and tied up,## and then, as we were walking, we were shot.

NEHA WADEKAR: Abdussalam's 5-year-old brother was# shot dead while the boys were still holding hands.## Mounira found Abdussalam with a gunshot wound# in his belly, his stomach covered with blood.

MOUNIRA OUMAR MAHAMAT ABDALLAH (through# translator): My son could not walk,## so I took him on my back.

In our family,## more than 38 people were killed.

They raped# women in front of us.

We were also beaten.

NEHA WADEKAR: Over 765,000 new Sudanese refugees# have fled to Chad since fighting broke out in## April 2023.

Already one of the poorest countries# in the world, Chad is hosting one of the## largest refugee populations of all of Sudan's# neighbors.

Most escaped with almost nothing.

Many, like Bachir Sinin Barra, a used car dealer# who also fled Al-Junaynah are deeply traumatized.

BACHIR SININ BARRA, Displaced# From Sudan (through translator):## I was walking, and then I was shot.# I fell down and I stayed.. days.

Now my arm is not working, nor# is my leg.

And now, I can't walk.

NEHA WADEKAR: And it's a crisis that# shows no sign of abating.

When we visited,## an average 1,000 to 1, 500 people were# crossing at the Adre border post every day.

Behind me is the border of Chad and Sudan,# and over here is the line of new arrivals## that are waiting to be screened.

We have# been here all morning, and this line has## stretched all the way back to the wall, even# though they have been processing all morning.

We have been told that 72 percent of the new## arrivals coming through this# border point are children.

RAWDA YAYA IBRAHIM, Displaced From Sudan# (through translator): My child is only## 21 days old.

He was born after# we had already fled our home..

The Arabs attacked us and took our luggage.# Eight people were killed.

Some went missing.

NEHA WADEKAR: Many new arrivals end up in# makeshift shelters at a transit camp outside## the small border town of Adre, which used to# have a population of just 40,000 people.

Today,## Adre itself is hosting more than 235,000 refugees,# as Ying Hu from the U.N.'s Refugee Agency told me.

YING HU, UNHCR: You can see the conditions are# very dire.

There is no adequate basic services,## such as water or health services, and they live# in shelters that cannot withstand the weather.

So,## what UNHCR is trying to do is to relocate# them from the border area to safer locations.

NEHA WADEKAR: The U.N.'s Refugee Agency,# UNHCR, can't work fast enough to build## news sites with actual infrastructure.# Not only are more people arriving daily,## but UNHCR's operations in Eastern# Chad are chronically underfunded.## They have received just 17 percent of# their $246 million appeal so far this year.

All aid agencies are stretched then across# the globe, but humanitarians told me that## it's especially bad here.

People leaving Sudan# are fleeing not only war, but hunger as well.## Last year, famine was officially declared in a# refugee camp in North Darfur.

Over 25 million## people in Sudan faced acute hunger, and many# refugees are arriving here already malnourished.

At this outpost in the Adre transit camp, health# care workers assess children for malnutrition.

DONAIG LE DU, Chief of Communication, UNICEF Chad:# This morning only, the team screened about 70## children, and one in four was actually severely# acute malnourished.

And what does that mean to## be severely acute malnourished?

It means their# life is at stake, so they have to get treatment.

NEHA WADEKAR: The nonprofit Doctors Without# Borders, known by its French acronym, MSF,## has set up a pediatric malnutrition# ward to treat serious cases.

SACHIN DESAI, Pediatrician, Doctors Without# Borders: What we're entering here is our## emergency or our kind of triage area.

And this# actually will be expanding because we're in that## period of the hunger season, as well as even kind# of getting ready for a malaria season as well.

NEHA WADEKAR: Aziza Mahamat's 7-month-old baby# had been ill for nearly a month when we met,## since the family arrived in Chad.

He was# hospitalized for severe malnutrition.

AZIZA SOUMAIN MAHAMAT, Displaced From Sudan# (through translator): Since we arrived here,## we haven't had enough food because we# don't have any m.. for the baby to drink.

I'm not# happy about it.

I'm not happy.

NEHA WADEKAR: And while clinicians here# are doing their best, MSF said that,## when "News Hour" visited, between three to# four children were dying of malnutrition## and associated illnesses each# week in this unit in Adre.

Meanwhile, aid agencies are already working# around the clock to keep everyone fed.

This## is a major food distribution site run by the# World Food Program and its partners.

On average,## they say between 15,000 and 20,000 people are# served here per day.

These food distributions## are supposed to happen monthly, but this one# has been delayed due to funding constraints.

As you can see, people arrive here early and some# of them have to wait all day in temperatures that## are reaching above 110 degrees for their food# rations.

WFP says that last year's lean season,## which extended from June until August, was the# worst in Chad's history so far.

The agency says## it expects 2025 to be even worse, bringing a# record number of people into food insecurity.

Maryam is looking after seven children on her own.## Her husband was killed in an# attack in Darfur in late 2023.

MARYAM IBRAHIM SAIF ADDINE, Displaced From# Sudan (through translator): I came here to## wait for food early in the mo.. four or five days since my children# last ate any vegetables or meat.

NEHA WADEKAR: Added to the pervasive hunger,## the specter of disease here in the overcrowded# and often unsanitary temporary settlements.

ARISTIDE KENGNI, Doctors Without# Borders: The main disease is for## now because it's the dry season the# respiratory tract infection, li.. due to the dust and everything, and# followed by diarrhea and malaria.

NEHA WADEKAR: Aid agencies are also racing to# provide access to safe drinking water to avoid## the spread of waterborne diseases in the camps.# Beyond the basics, the residents of these camps## are doing all they can to rebuild their lives# in what are seemingly impossible conditions.

Many children in the transit camp, where# there is little formal infrastructure,## have been out of school since the# conflict started.

Some adults,## such as these brothers who were lawyers back# in Darfur, are taking the situation into## their own hands, teaching children with# whatever school materials they can get.

Older students are also finding ways to# fill their time and reconnect with friends## outside of the safety of the classrooms they left# behind in Sudan.

But for too many young people,## the trauma they have experienced means they're# not able to return to normal life just yet.

ABDUSSALAM MOUSTAPHA (through translator): I# can't play alone.

I don't have anybody to play## with.

My friends say that, because I have# had an operation, they cannot play with me.

NEHA WADEKAR: All of the young survivors# of Sudan's violence have to try to heal,## both in body and in mind.

Their parents can only## hope that they will have the chance# to feel young and free once again.

For "PBS News Hour," I'm# Neha Wadekar in Adre, Chad.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Remember, there is more online,## including a look at the upcoming deadline for# getting your REAL IDs, what you need them for,## and how long you have before the federal# mandate kicks in.

That's on our YouTube page.

And that is the "News Hour" for# tonight.

I'm William Brangham.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour"# team, thank you so much for joining us.