AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

Geoff Bennet On the "News Trump can be kept off the 2024 ballot.

A longtime leader of the National Rifle Association steps down, future influence on gun laws in America.

And marking three years since the January 6 insurrection, President Biden ca mpaign speech that rising political violence poses a grave threat to the nation's democracy.

JOE BIDEN, President of the United States: Today, we are here to answer the most important questions: Is democracy still America's sacred cause?

(BREAK) AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "NewsHour.

There is a major development in a case that could upend the 2024 presidential election.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether Donald Trump can be barred from the ballot.

The former p While many have been dismissed, Maine and Colorado have disqualified him under the Insurrection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The justices will hear arguments in the Color For more on what this means for the former president, for the courts and for vo I'm joined now by former federal prosecutor Sarah Krissoff.

Sarah, walk us through what you expect to see now.

The Supreme Court has decided to take up this case.

The Colorado State Supreme Court was decided narrowly, Did you expect the court to take up the appeal?

And what's the question that they're seeking SA RAH KRISSOFF, Former Assistant U.S. Attor to address this case.

It is -- and they're g They have moved quickly here.

They're going to expec national importance.

And we have So I'm not surprised they're going to address this.

The problem is, they have a lot to address.

There are a lot of open ques There's very little case law for them t And so there's a lot of work for them to be doing in the next month AMNA NAWAZ: You say they should be moving quickly.

Oral arguments are expected to begin on February What does that mean for a timeline?

How soon after could we see a decision SARAH KRISSOFF: Listen, by the a decision drafted.

They may hav decision in the courtroom.

So, they may be able to issue a It just depends sort of how much -- I think they're going to devote a lot of time and attention to this between now and then.

And they can -- they surely can get it don AMNA NAWAZ: So there are a number of other states weighing this Would the Supreme Court decision impact those other states?

If they uphold Colorado's decision, would that mean it opens the doors for other state Supreme Courts to also remove him from their ballot?

SARAH KRISSOFF: It could.

So, I mean, they haven't -- the Th ey can make an -- they can issue a narrow decision.

They could make it -- they could issue a decision simply on the narrow interpretation of something of Colorado law, or they could issue a much broader decision that would have broader application.

I expect, sort of gi they will endeavor to issue a broader decision to give some guidance to these other states about ballot access.

AMNA NAWAZ: Sarah, when you has been made, they were made in very different ways, right?

The Colorado decision to remove him was made by the state's Supreme In Maine, it was the Democratic secretary of state who made the decision to disqualify him, also on the basis of that Insurrection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Is there a common standard or a common question being answered as each state weighs this same question?

SARAH KRISSO This ballot access issues and election laws is so state-specific.

So, we have really different processes in each state to -- in each, frankl individual locale, small towns, villages, things like that, to determine access.

All of a sudden, that is coming to a head here.

And so we're seeing very different processes play out.

But I expect the Supreme Court is going to try to issue a bro some of these other decisions, some of these other actions coming out of different states as well.

AMNA NAWAZ: One is enforceability.

The appeal says that -- quote the United States is properly reserved for Congress, not the state courts, to consider and to decide."

And the other argument, Sa They argued the president is not technically an officer of the United States, as t specifies, that it wasn't an insurrection, so he didn't engage in insurrection.

Do those arguments hold water, in your view?

SARAH KRISSOFF: Listen, I think there are -- to make.

And there's There is not a lot of law on these issues, so they are free to make new law, and I expect them to do so.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, in on?

This is the to ultimately decide.

SARAH KRISSOFF: Listen, I th They may sort of punt this back to the voters and say, this was not the purview of the states to block the former president from the ballot here.

But they're -- I think they may interpret the Section 3 of the 14th Amendmen a way to punt this back to the voters.

AMNA NAWAZ: We will be waiting and watching, for sure.

That is former federal prosecutor Sarah Krissoff joining us ton Thank you so much for your time and insights.

SARAH KRISSOFF: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: In the day's other headlines, the U.S. economy has turned in another strong showing, despite higher interest rates.

The Labor Department reports employers added analysts expected.

The unemployment rate held at It's now been under 4 percent for 23 straight months.

Those upbeat numbers contrast sharply with polls showing widespread public discon with the economy.

Prices are on the rise again in Europe a Inflation in the Eurozone rose to 2.9 percent in December.

That is up from 2.4 percent in November, and it could prompt the European Central Bank to delay cutting interest rates.

In the Middle East, Israeli planes and tanks pounded sending more people fleeing south.

And in Jordan, thousands of demonstrators rallie They demanded an end to Israel's offensive and its Western support.

That came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey on his latest trip to the region.

Security forces in Iran have St ate group.

Wednesday's attack kil At a mass funeral today, mourners wept over the victim's coffins.

The crowd chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America," and officials claimed both countri are linked to ISIS.

MAJ. GEN. HOSSEIN SALA of the Islamic State group on the world's Th ey have been hiding and can't be seen.

They are holed up in their nests.

You see no clear image of this power.

They can only act as agents and mercenar AMNA NAWAZ: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi vowed to take revenge, but he said Tehran will decide when and where that happens.

Iraq is launching a process to shut down the U.S. coalition that's in the country fighting ISIS.

That comes a day a with Iran.

The Iraqi prime mi airstrike.

MOHAMMED SHI our firm and principled position in ending the existence of the in after the justifications for its existence have ended.

This is a commitment which the government will not back down from, and w any matter that completes national sovereignty over land, sky and waters of our dear Ira AMNA NAWAZ: The announcement calls for a committee, including U.S. representatives, to begin making the arrangements.

There are currently The death toll in Japan has risen to 94 after earthquakes shook the country's west coast this week.

But there was on An elderly woman was rescued after almost three days under the rubble.

Teams are still searching for more than 200 people listed as missing.

Back in this country, a former Aurora, Colorado, policeman convicted of killing Elijah McClain was sentenced to 14 months in jail.

Randy Roedema had been found guilty of criminally negl McClain died in 2019 after a struggle with Roedema and two other officers, and after being injected with an overdose of the sedative ketamine.

The number two Republican in the House, Steve Scalise, will have a stem ce as he battles blood cancer.

The Louisiana congressman's office said to until February.

That makes the House Republic aid and government funding.

And, on Wall Street, stocks drifted into t The Dow Jones industrial average added 25 points to close at 37466.

The Nasdaq rose 13 points.

The S&P 500 was up eight.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": the Food and Drug Admin import pharmaceutical drugs from Canada; David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on the week's political headlines; extreme drought threatens to create a crawfish shortage; and a new musical on Broadway explores the connections among autistic adults.

The longtime leader of the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, is stepping down after more than three decades.

His announcement came ahead of a civil corr Letitia James, alleging fraud and mismanagement.

James was seeking his removal as part of the case.

For more on this and what it means for the future of the Mike Spies, senior writer for The Trace.

And I asked him why LaPierre is stepping down now.

MIKE SPIES, The Trace: Well, we can only really speculate at the mom He cited health reasons, but I have never heard of him having any health issues.

It seems more likely that the trial is supposed to start on Monday, and that it's not looking super great for the NRA.

The organization's, interestingly, had several year It probably would have saved it quite a bit of money had it made it at any point before now.

We're talkin But I suspect that the one thing the A.G. is seeking o was seeking of significance at this stage, was to remove Wayne LaPierre from power.

So, by taking that off the table, it could possibly be an offering of some kind.

AMNA NAWAZ: Tell us a little bit more about that corruption trial, though.

What is it that Attorney General Letitia James is alleging that W MIKE SPIES: Well, she's really alleging that he's done a host of things.

But, in short, he is alleged to have presided over and engaged in an incredible culture of self-dealing and corruption that's essentially pervaded every aspect of the organization's executive ranks over a period of 30 years and cost the NRA many, many, many tens of millions of dollars that got shelled out for sweetheart deals, other very luxurious personal expenses, using vendors for trips on yachts to the Bahamas, endless private jet usage.

There's really -- obviously, everyone heard about the hundreds of thousands of dollars on custom suits.

There was really no -- nothing that it in over the -- over the time that the NRA was bringing in lots of money.

AMNA NAWAZ: So Mike, Wayne LaPierre is 74 years old.

He's been at the helm for more than three decades and re transformed gun culture in America, including making it a major political force.

This is the guy who, after the Sandy Hook shooting, in which 20 children were killed, he said the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

Does LaPierre stepping down change the influence that the NRA has had politically?

MIKE SPIES: Yes, it does change the influence that it's had politically, because Wayne was the last symbol that carried any meaning for Americans.

The rest of the organization that people interfaced with over the last bunch of years is all gone.

Its messaging infrastructure is dead.

Its ability to spend money on political el And so the last recognizable face was his, and he's gone now.

And so its ability to effect change in the moment, I think, is more or less nonexistent.

But its presence is still felt every day because the machine that it created over a period of decades and its success at resocializing a portion of America and the Republican Party is not going anywhere.

And, effectively, we have a It's either you're sort of an absolutist, in you're a member of the Republican Party, or you're in favor of regulation, in which case you identify with Democrats.

And so a group like the NRA do because the machine's already working on autopilot, if you will.

AMNA NAWAZ: That civil corruption trial was scheduled to begin next week.

Does him stepping down shield him from prosecution in any way?

MIKE SPIES: No, it doesn't.

He's -- in addition to the NRA, An d it's hard to know what's in store for him.

I mean, one of the things, in ad a range of financial penalties, money that would, by the way, just redound to the NRA.

It's not money that would go into the state of New York's coffers, because, as she's alleging, it's money that was wrongly taken from members and used for personal benefit.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is Mike Spies, senior writer for The Trace, joining us tonight.

Mike, thank you.

Appreciate your time.

MIKE SPIES: Thanks so much for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: Speaking today near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, a pivotal site in America's Revolutionary War, President Biden framed the stakes of the 2024 election.

JOE BIDEN, President of the United States: Whether democracy is still America's sacred cause is the most urgent question of our time.

And it's what the 2024 election is all about.

AMNA NAWAZ: Marking the three-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection in h campaign speech of the year, Biden condemned political violence.

JOE BIDEN: I will say what Donald Trump won't.

Political violence is never, ever acceptable in the United never, never.

(APPLAUSE) JOE BIDEN: I AMNA NAWAZ: White House correspondent Laura Barr closely, joins me now.

Laura, it's go LAURA BARRON AMNA NAWAZ: to sacrifice democracy.

Why is the president making LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Because he really believes that this is the most important issue facing the country right now, that it's an existential threat, and that President Biden run in 2020 because of the neo-Nazis that he saw marching on Charlottesville.

And he and his campaign see a through line from that to now.

And they picked Valley Forge, a senior Biden adviser told me, because it was the pl that George Washington united the Continental Army, emerged stronger.

They also wanted to draw a contrast between George Washington and Donald Trump, essentially showing that George Washington was someone who gave up power twice, first the Continental Army, which he led, and then also gave up the presidency after two terms.

AMNA NAWAZ: Now, your sources told you he was also meeting with historians before this speech.

We'd love to And, also, d with voters?

LAURA BARRON Amna, I know And these are historians that have met with presidents in the past.

And they say that their meetings with Biden are much more urgent, given the moment that they see the country facing.

The president asks a lot of questions.

He wants to understand potent I spoke to Princeton's Eddie Glaude Jr., who said that he sees this moment as a second lost cause, that lost cause being the myth that was perpetuated after the Civil War that romanticized the South, that tried to revise the history of slavery, and drew that parallel to the revisions of January 6.

President Biden's campaign, a senior adviser told me, January 6 could be motivating, particularly for Democrats and independents.

And they also said that they have been hearing from more and more voters more voters as they have started campaigning about fears of political violence.

So they see this as a very salient issue.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, tomorrow does mark thr January 6.

You have bee What are they saying about this moment in time and what is ahead in 2024?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: They're very concerned about the in And a lot of them cited some recent polling that we have seen from The Washington Post -- or sorry -- excuse me.

They cited p asked if they agreed with the statement that true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country, 23 percent of all Americans agreed; 33 percent of Republicans agreed, compared to just 13 percent of Democrats.

So we see that -- and that's an increase, Amna, from past years, where more and more Americans believe that violence may be justified.

And I spoke with Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld of the Carnegie End violence and threats.

And she said that she does not believe that there wi 6, but that the country is at risk of heightened violence.

DR. RACHEL KLEIN directed violence at the people involved in the court cases ag the judges, the juries.

We're likely to see broad viol by really ugly campaign rhetoric.

We're likely to see a lot of violence in schools, becaus of their parents, but they're much more impulsive and more willing to act.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: The other type of violence she told me that she believes is something known as stochastic terrorism, Amna.

And what that is that, when an individual hears former P migrants, attack Colorado judges, attack anyone that he perceives as a political enemy and essentially places a target on their back, that then that individual may then go out and act on it, and that that is something that they are seeing more and more frequently.

And also they said that it doesn't mean that person is a lone wolf, that that's a bit of a myth, that these individuals are part of a larger ecosystem where they're watching disinformation across online channels and are influenced by extremist groups in a way that wasn't really possible before we had social media in the way that we do.

AMNA NAWAZ: I mean, the question it begs is, is, there anything that can be done, more that can be done to stop that kind of political violence before we get to that point?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld said that there are some small steps that can b taken.

She thinks o is solid, but small steps like removing addresses and names of election workers that sometimes are public on Web sites for people to see that then leads to them being doxxed and to them being attacked, safety trainings, educating the public more on how our elections work.

But she did say, Dr. Kleinfeld said that there is one thing that would be more effective than anything else.

DR. RACHEL KLEIN The biggest actor that needs to reduce violence is the political leaders that -- whose side is fomenting violence.

Right now, that's Republicans.

It might not always be, violence from their side.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: So, speak out more, then it would have the greatest effect.

And she's not just saying that because she believes that it wou It's because studies have shown, repeated studies have s specific political ideology hears from a leader or an officeholder that has the same political affiliation that they do, then they are much more likely to be impacted.

It would mean that they are less likely to try to seek out and commit acts of violence.

And so she has hope that maybe more Republicans, like we have seen from Senator Mitt Romney, like we have seen from Congresswoman Liz Cheney, would go -- come out and forcefully condemn violence.

But, at this AMNA NAWAZ: Our White House correspondent, Laura Barron-Lopez, th for your great reporting.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: After years of pressure from lawmakers and consumer advocates, the Food and Drug Administration today gave the go-ahead to allow a state to import drugs from Canada for the first time.

Lisa Desjardins lo want.

LISA DESJARD C, among others.

That would lower state spendin Florida officials believe it can save them as much as $150 million a year.

State proposals to import drugs finally gained traction in 2020, after President Trump pushed to make it easier for states to do so.

The following year, President Biden issued to move forward.

To help assess what this all of this at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Stacie, this decision, as we said, has taken 20 years to get to this point.

But how significant is it?

STACIE DUSETZINA, Vanderbilt some substantial challenges, but it is a big step forward for people who have been interested in doing drug importation in the United States, for states who are thinking about this policy.

You could think of it as maybe a door with multiple locks, and this is unlocking one of those first big locks with the FDA suggesting that there is a path forward for importation of drugs for Florida.

LISA DESJARDINS: I think we're going to get to those.

One of those I wonder about is Florida says it will save them, but will this mean cost savings for patients in Florida?

STACIE DUSETZINA: Not directly.

So one of the things that I thin and that really focuses squarely on people on Medicaid, in the state prison systems, for example.

These are in filling their prescriptions, so it won't exactly provide direct financial relief to people filling their drugs.

It could potentially have savings for the on the scope of how many drugs we're talking about and how much savings we really do see once you put in place all of the protections that are required to get this program off the ground, which could be pretty substantial.

LISA DESJARDINS: As you're saying, the details matter h Let's try and import drugs that are less expensive from Canada.

But how about Canada?

What does Canada think of this?

Will they go along?

STACIE DUSET to move forward legislation to prevent some sharing of drugs or allowing for importation of drugs to the United States through Canada.

So I think this always is my first question when historically we have seen this come up a couple of times over the years, even with the Trump administration, as you mentioned at the outset, is, what does Canada think of the plan to import drugs from Canada?

And often that's a nonstarter.

So this would be another one of th and really dampens my enthusiasm for thinking that this would be a way for the U.S. to save money, for states to save money any time in the near future.

LISA DESJARDINS: Your enthusiasm may be dampened, but there are other stat If you look at the map, right now, we know of eight states at least that are considering or have made it legal to try and engage in this sort of program, and I'm sure many others are considering it.

What you're saying here is that this at the pharmacy for most people.

But could a snowball effec from Canada?

STACIE DUSET the drugs through Canada.

And maybe one of the are really opposed to this type of importation plan, because the U.S. pays more than Canada for those same products from those same companies.

So manufacturers may limit the supply of drugs they sell to Canada, whe have to take from their own population's supply if they were going to allow for importing -- us to import drugs from them.

So it makes me really skeptical, given the opposi that these plans would move forward.

There may be many opportunities for stat reason that this is so popular is that the public really does view importing drugs -- it seems very clear-cut that you should be able to get drugs from other countries, because those prices are lower and they're the same drugs sold by the same companies.

So, from a political standpoint, it's a very popular idea.

It's just very difficult to operationalize.

LISA DESJARDINS: At the same time, something Th e U.S. is about to be allowed to directly negotiate with drug manufa drugs because of the Inflation Reduction Act.

How much bigger of an effect could that have, do you think, briefly?

STACIE DUSETZINA: I think it's going to be a much bigger effect.

And one reason is, is that, even though it's a smaller number program.

Medicare is a It covers older adults and those with permanent disabilities.

So that ends up being a group of Americans who use more prescription drugs.

So I think that, in total, the negotiations from the Inflation Reduction Act will be a cost savings for the U.S. and will lower our spending on some very commonly used drugs, which are the target of that legislation.

LISA DESJARDINS: Stacie Dusetzina, STACIE DUSETZINA: Thank you so much.

AMNA NAWAZ: The question of whether former President Donald Trump can remain on the ballot in Colorado is in the hands of the Supreme Court.

On that and the other political issues driving the start of the new year, we analysis of Brooks and Capehart.

That is New York Times columnist The Washington Post.

Good to see DAVID BROOKS (CROSSTALK) JONATHAN CAP AMNA NAWAZ: You have the appeal of the Colorado state Supreme Co That was on the basis of the Insurrection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

This, Jonathan, puts the highest court in the land squarely in the center the hottest political battles this year.

What's your reaction to them taking this case up JONATHAN CAPEHART: They have to take it up, because this is one of those questions.

This ballot access question, primary ballot access question and the immunity question has never been tested in our lifetimes or in recent memory.

And the fact that Colorado and Maine have booted him from the ballot, Illinois is trying to join the effort, Minnesota and one other state that skips -- Michigan have said no, you have a patchwork of states state decisions.

And I think the prosecutor who you had on earlier makes a good point.

What we have to look for now is whether the Supreme Court does a big, broad, universal decision or goes very, very narrow.

For a court that puts a lot of emphasis and a lot of emphasis on the Constitution and what the framers meant and strict originalist interpretation, I'm looking forward to seeing them maybe upholding the Colorado decision.

AMNA NAWAZ: A lot of this does come down to the wording, right?

That is part of the appeal argument Mr. Trump's lawyers have laid How do you look at this, David?

DAVID BROOKS I would be completely stunned.

I look at this -- I'm not a legal sc I look at this through the crisis of legitimacy A lot of Americans have no faith in any of our systems.

A lot of Americans have no faith in the other half of the country.

And so we're in danger, in my view, of coming apart at the seams, of reall era of violence even, political violence.

And so, in my view, if some lawyers took Donald Trump off the ballot, half the country would say, that's it.

We're done h This is a to So I'm hoping the Supreme Court In my view, we have to let the voters handle this one.

But, then, the Supreme Court is not exactly without its AMNA NAWAZ: Right.

DAVID BROOKS If it becomes a partisan decision, then their pa Supreme Court is even more in trouble.

So I'm hoping and expecting or 7-2 or something like that, and maybe, if not restore some legitimacy, at least not have a legitimacy freefall, which I think is what we're looking at.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, I want to read to you part of a s Trump campaign and, Jonathan, get your reaction to wha They say in a statement from Steven Cheung, Mr. Trump's spokesman: "We hearing at the Supreme Court."

They argue this is a bad faith th e ballot.

I'm paraphra And, at the affirm the civil rights of President Trump," basically allowing him to Jo nathan.

JONATHAN CAP voter suppressing, Democrat-backed and Biden-led 14th Amendment-abusing decision, blah, blah, blah.

I focus on t These challenges are being brought by Republicans in those states challenging his ability to be on the Republican primary ballot.

This is -- this has nothing to do with Democrats.

I mean, Democrats are surely cheering what's happen behind this.

And the former it, and put it on Democrats, when the call is coming from within his own party.

AMNA NAWAZ: Is there a way for the Supreme Court to weigh in on this and have it not be perceived as political?

(LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS I mean, some is whether they think he should be thrown off the ballot, with a few honorable exceptions.

And so, of course, people are going to think it's political.

But if it's a 9-0, then I think we h And if it's 8-1, 7-2 -- as I say, if it's 6-3, it'll just be another step toward the fragility of our system.

AMNA NAWAZ: I wa 6 insurrection.

I'm sure you Forge in Pennsylvania.

He is making What did you make of the speech, and also him centering that message for voters right now?

JONATHAN CAP First, this was his fifth speech This is going back to the beginning, because when he announced he was running for president in 2020, he zeroed in on Charlottesville and talked about, this was a fight for the soul of America.

This speech today did not That's what he talked about today.

That's what he's been ta And I think it is right for him to do this, to focus on that, because, none of the other things that Americans want will get done.

And to make a focus on the potential Republican nominee, someone who has said, even today, saying that I'm only going to be a dictator for one day, and all of the other plans that we know he wants to put in place if he wins election again, democracy as we know it will end if Donald Trump is reelected.

And that was a message that the president pu He did it powerfully.

He did it in a Joe Biden kind of w And I think, once you set the table with that, all the other things he will talk about on the campaign trail,from the good economy to all the other things that he's been doing for four years, will, I think, gel into a bigger message that by the time we get to the election there will be a reason to vote for him that goes beyond fearing for American democracy.

AMNA NAWAZ: I mean, the econom And even though the data show it is doing really w picture numbers, you have got 216,000 jobs added in December, the inflation rate is down at 3.1 percent, unemployment below 4 percent -- 4 percent, rather, for nearly two years, and yet that isn't catching on with voters.

Is this message going to resonate?

DAVID BROOKS: It's importa I thought it was a powerful speech.

I think, when he conti the idea that he's out of it, that he's some doddering old gran He's clearly an energetic guy with passion, with fervor and with for He's the guy running this administration.

But there are a couple things.

I have got this little AMNA NAWAZ: Oh.

DAVID BROOKS Republicans have a 14-point advantage over Democrats.

Who do you trust to keep the country prosperous?

Republicans have a 14-point advantage over Democrats.

So it's super hard to win an election when the vote on the biggest issues, let alone immigration, where the Republicans have a huge advantage.

So he's got to start with this.

He's got to talk abo on.

But, somehow under him.

AMNA NAWAZ: Go ahead, Jonathan.

JONATHAN CAP listening to you talk about those Gallup numbers, because it takes me back.

It took me back to 2022 and the midterm elections.

President Biden did the speech at Independence Hall that everyone focused on, because, oh, my God it looks so dark with the red and the blue, and why is he talking about to democracy when gas prices are high, inflation is high, so on and so forth?

He doesn't have his finger on the pulse of America.

He's not talking about what Americans are ta And then we find out from the 2022 midterm elections They did care about threats to democracy.

And so I see that -- I listen to the numbers that you -- that you point who aren't Republicans think that they will be better on this, that or the other.

Same thing was said in 2022.

And I would argue that the Amer to hold both things equally and then decide, which is better, which is better, which person is better for my safety and security, writ large.

AMNA NAWAZ: It did strike me the number of times he mentioned forme by name, which is new and different in many ways.

And... JONATHAN CAP AMNA NAWAZ: Thank you fo (LAUGHTER) AMNA NAWAZ: test stop for Republican primary voters be their nominee.

Ambassador Nikki H I just want to play for you quick sound bites of how they weighed in were asked about him in town halls last night on CNN.

NIKKI HALEY (R), Presidential Candidate: I agree with a lot reality is, rightly or wrongly, chaos follows him.

And we all know that's true.

Chaos follows him.

And we can't have a of chaos.

GOV.

RON DESANTIS get to run against a candidate that is the Democrats an advantage.

Don't have to agree with any of That's just the reality.

AMNA NAWAZ: DAVID BROOKS: Yes, I mean, I think those are good arguments.

It's a little of the polls.

So Trump can I was all gearing up for, like, in the last weeks, t Now, I do think that's true.

We have seen sur Obama surged in '08.

Mike Huckabee, that was a wond But then I read a statistic that depre than 12 percentage points in the last month in Iowa.

And so these -- the number two and three are way below 12 point So it's looking pretty likely that Donald Trump is going to win there.

AMNA NAWAZ: How are you seeing it, Jonathan?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Yes I see it tha And that's w versus his lead in the polls?

And if he's leading my 50 points in the polls, but he only wins by 12 does that tell us as we move into New Hampshire?

That's what I'm looking for.

AMNA NAWAZ: Days David Brooks, Jonathan Capehart, thank you so much.

Always great to see you.

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Thanks, Amna.

DAVID BROOKS: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: Louisiana leads the nation in crawfish production, but heading into this year's season, months of high temperatures and dry conditions have devastated crawfish farms.

Geoff Bennet GEOFF BENNETT: Nearly 80 percent of Louisiana remains in a severe drought, which will lead to fewer crawfish and higher prices for the state's multimillion-dollar crawfish industry.

Our communities correspondent, Roby Chavez, has been talking to farmers and joins us now from New Orleans.

So, Roby, quantify the How significant is this expected to be?

ROBY CHAVEZ: Well, Geoff, look, for now it's a We're all waiting for those tiny crustaceans to emerge from their underground burrow but it has been slow.

Some have dug down way too de Others have had the tunnels collapse on them.

And,in the meantime, the rice fields whe on, have been damaged as well.

The crawfish is a staple of Louisiana cuisine, Bu t this year, there is worry on crawfish farms across t The problem, mudbugs, as they are sometimes called, they don't have enough water to grow and thrive, and temperatures have been way too hot.

Predictions are that crawfish farmers could lose nearly $140 million.

Drought stress will impact all of the state's 1,600 farmers and a third of the state's 250,000 acres of crawfish ponds.

Now, the culprit, rainfall in Louisiana ha rose three degrees from May through October compared to the four-year average.

As a result, there is some concern in the crawfish capital of the world that they will take a significant financial hit, Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: And the peak season, as I und running out.

How are farm ROBY CHAVEZ: Well, the pond since he was in high school.

He can't remember anything like th Josh Trahan says he normally will farm 800 acres on his land.

He's already lost half of that.

And he says the financial loss JOSH TRAHAN, Crawfish Farmer: In the past, without a crawfish, we couldn't survive.

Crawfish was our backbone.

The crawfish Without a crawfish income this year, it's going to be a struggle, kind of financial help down the road.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, look, Roby, you could argue that crawfish gift to this country.

How does the shortage af ROBY CHAVEZ: Look, Geoff, in the short term, it's hard to imagine a spring without crawfish, but that looks like where we're heading at this point.

As you know, right after Christmas, people start planting these boils that start at Carnival.

It lasts all the way through Easter We got a glimpse of what it would look like without these crawfish gatherings d pandemic, when the social gatherings were halted.

Many people, including a lot of the farmers, worry that this problem wi door to cheap imports.

With nearly eight inches of rain in Decemb they say it may be too little, too late.

They're not seeing the new hatches, nor are they seeing th attached under the tail of the crawfish.

Trahan says, this time of year, he'd be pulling in 60 he says he's lucky if he gets five pounds.

The crawfish are just not there.

JOSH TRAHAN: We lost 35, 40 percent of our po had this summer.

I'm very worried This is my living.

ROBY CHAVEZ: climate patterns, they may need more protections from Congress, similar to those gi farmers and wheat farmers -- Geoff.

GEOFF BENNETT: Communities corresponden Roby, thanks so much.

ROBY CHAVEZ: AMNA NAWAZ: A new musical recently debuted on Broadway that puts the stories of seven autistic young adults front and center as they face the challenges of leading independent lives.

Adapted from a documentary, Jeffrey Brown talks to the creators behind the musical and some of its stars.

It's for our a (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) ACTOR: Welcome!

We are going to do a show for you.

JEFFREY BROWN: It's a musical with an unusual openin themselves.

ACTOR: The s for dramatic purposes.

JEFFREY BROW their community.

ACTOR: There person.

You are now (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE MADISON KOPE and just be like, this is what's going on.

IMANI RUSSELL, Actor: We're also establishing that t is welcome and accepted.

JEFFREY BROWN: Twenty-year-old Madison Kopec and 27-year- are two of the stars of "How to Dance in Ohio."

IMANI RUSSELL: The experience of being autistic is so different from per And you see that in the show and people connect with that in the audience.

But it is really important to understand that, like, whatever ideas that people might have going into the show about what it means to be autistic, we're here to be like, that's one idea.

That's one e ACTOR: When I have trouble making facial expressions.

It's not that I don't care about what you're saying.

Sometimes, I don't.

(LAUGHTER) JEFFREY BROW social connections, especially as they strive to be more independent as young adults.

Madison Kopec, who was diagnosed with autism at age 17, portrays Marideth, who often turns to facts to avoid emotions and potentially disturbing personal contact.

This focus on social interaction and the difficulties of that... MADISON KOPEC: Yes.

JEFFREY BROW MADISON KOPE I wish I could be like Marideth sometimes, where she just kind of says, no thanks and leaves.

And I do, to a point.

But, also, I think the journey li ke, block herself out from having any sort of, like, interactions because she's afraid.

DOCUMENTARY PARTICIPANT: A lot of times, people can't read my emotions because I don't put any expression into my face.

JEFFREY BROWN: The character name by director Alexandra Shiva, which captured a real-life counseling clinic for teens and young adults with autism in Columbus, Ohio, as they prepared to hold a spring formal dance.

For composer Jacob Yandura, himself from Ohio and with a younger sibling with autism, turning it into a musical was deeply personal.

JACOB YANDURA, Composer: My sister Maria has be I mean, she was the first person I told about, like, there's this documentary.

I think it's a musical.

And we watched And we immediately cried.

And she was That's what I hope.

And it's the most -- it' And I'm getting emotional thinking about it.

JEFFREY BROWN: When she said that, you thought, JA COB YANDURA: I have to make this.

Yes, I have to make this.

JEFFREY BROWN: For for the autistic actors and some members of the larger team meant adjusting her role.

SAMMI CANNOLD, Director: The main piece of feedback in terms of direction that I got from mostly our artistic performers was that what they wanted from me was very clear and very specific direction, not can you go over there by the door?

Can you go to eight and turn left and then go to 10?

So very, very specific.

And that... JEFFREY BROW SAMMI CANNOLD: The script, yes.

And I think that absol work and preparation that I'm thrilled to do, because it allows our performers to do their best work.

JEFFREY BROW plenty familiar to them.

It's how they and many autistic people get through even the most routine interactions.

IMANI RUSSELL: Even, like, with friends being like, OK, I got to practice what I'm going to say.

I'm going to prepared.

MADISON KOPE of people and then be scared to perform in front of three family members JEFFREY BROWN: Or even go to the store or... (CROSSTALK) MADISON KOPE JEFFREY BROW MADISON KOPEC: Because I know this character that I'm playing.

And even when it does come down to a little bit of improv, which I hav with over the years, like, I have still got this character.

So I have a basis for how she would react in certain situations.

IMANI RUSSELL: And it's not like we don't know how to adapt.

We have had to adapt for our entire MADISON KOPEC: Right.

IMANI RUSSEL MADISON KOPEC: Yes.

IMANI RUSSELL: I don Also, I just I don't like going to the store.

It doesn't bring me any joy.

(LAUGHTER) MADISON KOPE IMANI RUSSEL JEFFREY BROWN: For thi of aids and cool-down spaces for those who need to step away due to sensory sensitivities.

Imani Russell hopes "How to Dance in Ohio" not only helps people in the autistic community feel represented, but also fuels change in theater inclusivity more broadly.

IMANI RUSSELL: We're really doing something that is connecting with people who are coming and being like, I have never thought that I could do this.

And seeing the seven of you on stage is giving me h which already feels like a home to a lot of autistic people, but that they can actually do it, which feels really, really important to me.

JEFFREY BROWN: In that sense, says director Sammi Cannold, this is entert also a form of advocacy.

SAMMI CANNOLD: What's important is that I th ey think maybe people picketing on the street or, like, someone lecturing at you about what you should care about.

And I think th street and you know nothing about it, you're probably not going to leave and say, I just saw advocacy, right?

But you are understanding of before.

Or, if you a on stage.

JACOB YANDURA: Represent JEFFREY BROWN: "How to Dance in Ohio" is For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Jeffrey Brown in New York.

AMNA NAWAZ: Great to see those stories on a big, joy-filled stage.

And be sure to tune into "Washington Week With The Atlantic" later tonight right here on PBS.

Jeffrey Goldberg and his p And watch "PBS News Weekend" tomorrow for how to stay safe and healthy during this latest COVID surge.

And that is the "New I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the e