PBS News Weekend full episode, Feb. 25, 2024 - VoiceTube: Learn English through videos!

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JOHN: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS
WEEKEND, THE STATE OF HEALTHCARE
FOR CHILDREN OF LOW-TO-MODERATE
INCOME FAMLIES IN FLORIDA, AND
WHAT A FEDERAL LAWSUIT COULD
MEAN THERE AND THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY.
THEN, HOW VACCINE HESITANCY AND
MISINFORMATION ARE PLAYING INTO
RISING RATES OF MEASLES AND
COVID.
AND THE STORY OF A BLACK MIDWIFE
WHO SERVED THE COMMUNITY WHERE
SHE'D BEEN ENSLAVED.
>> IF SOMEBODY NEEDED HELP,
GRANNY WAS GOING.
BLACK AND WHITES ALIKE.
IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE TO HER.
SHE WAS FEARLESS.
♪
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR PBS NEWS
WEEKEND HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY --
>> CONSUMER CELLULAR.
THIS IS SAM.
HOW MAY I HELP YOU?
THIS IS POCKET DIAL.
THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW
THAT WITH CONSUMER CELLULAR, YOU
GET NATIONWIDE COVERAGE WITH NO
CONTRACT.
THAT IS KIND OF OUR THING.
♪AVE A NICE DAY.
>> 10 WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND
INSTITUTIONS.
-- AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND
INSTITUTIONS AND FRIENDS OF THE
NEWSHOUR.
THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING AND BY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS
STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I AM JOHN YANG.
DONALD TRUMP'S DECISIVE VICTORY
IN YESTERDAY'S SOUTH CAROLINA
PRIMARY -- IN NIKKI HALEY'S HOME
STATE -- MOVED THE FORMER
PRESIDENT THAT MUCH CLOSER TO
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.
WITH NEARLY ALL OF THE VOTES
COUNTED, TRUMP LEADS HALEY BY 20
PERCENTAGE POINTS.
AND HE'S WON AT LEAST 44 OF THE
STATE'S 50 DELEGATES, BRINGING
HIS OVERALL TOTAL TO MORE THAN
100.
DESPITE THE LOSS, HALEY TOLD
SUPPORTERS LAST NIGHT THAT SHE'S
NOT GIVING UP.
>> I'M AN ACCOUNTANT.
I KNOW 40% IS NOT 50%.
BUT I ALSO KNOW 40% IS NOT SOME
TINY GROUP.
THERE ARE HUGE NUMBERS OF VOTERS
IN OUR REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES WHO
ARE SAYING THEY WANT AN
ALTERNATIVE.
JOHN: THE NEXT PRIMARY IS
MICHIGAN ON TUESDAY -- IT'S THE
LAST MAJOR CONTEST BEFORE MORE
THAN A DOZEN STATES VOTE IN
MARCH WITH MORE THAN A THOUSAND
DELEGATES UP FOR GRABS.
IN ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS,
THERE ARE SIGNS OF SLOW PROGRESS
TOWARD A DEAL FOR A CEASE-FIRE
AND RELEASE OF BOTH ISRAELI
HOSTAGES AND PALESTINIAN
PRISONERS.
AN EGYPTIAN OFFICIAL TELLS THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT THE DEAL
THAT'S EMERGING FROM TALKS IN
QATAR WOULD CALL FOR A SIX-WEEK
PAUSE IN FIGHTING, INCREASED AID
DELIVERIES TO THE GAZA STRIP,
AND THE RELEASE OF 40 ISRAELI
HOSTAGES, AND HUNDREDS OF
PALESTINIAN PRISONERS.
IN ISRAEL, PROTESTERS ARE
KEEPING UP PRESSURE ON THE
GOVERNMENT FOR THE HOSTAGES'
RETURN.
ON CBS'S "FACE THE NATION,"
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU SAID GETTING AN
AGREEMENT WAS UP TO HAMAS.
>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'RE ALL
WORKING ON IT.
WE WANT IT, I WANT IT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU IF WE'LL HAVE
IT.
BUT IF HAMAS GOES DOWN FROM ITS
DELUSIONAL CLAIMS AND GOES DOWN-
CAN BRING THEM DOWN TO EARTH,
THEN WE'LL HAVE THE PROGRESS
THAT WE ALL WANT.
JOHN: THAT IN YAHOO! SET A
CEASE-FIRE DEAL WITH DELAY BUT
NOT CANCEL AN OFFENSIVE IN RAFA
WHERE MORE THAN HALF OF GAZA'S 2
MILLION RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN
REFUGE.
A MAN SET HIMSELF ON FIRE
OUTSIDE THE ISRAELI EMBASSY IN
WASHINGTON.
THE MAN WAS TAKEN TO THE
HOSPITAL WOULD LIVES EARNING
INJURIES.
THE TIMES OF ISRAEL REPORTS NO
EMBASSY STAFF WAS INVOLVED.
STILL TO COME, HOW
MISINFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES IS
CONTRIBUTING TO A RISE IN SOME
PREVENTABLE DISEASES AND A BLACK
MIDWIFE'S STORY IS TOLD BY HER
GRANDDAUGHTER TO HER
GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER.
♪
>> THIS IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FROM
WETA STUDIOS IN WASHINGTON, HOME
OF THE PBS NEWSHOUR ON PBS.
JOHN: THE END OF PANDEMIC-ERA
PROTECTIONS FOR MEDICAID
PARTICIPANTS HAS MEANT THE END
OF COVERAGE SO FAR FOR MORE THAN
SEVENTEEN MILLION LOW-INCOME
AMERICANS.
AND STATES ARE STILL CHECKING TO
SEE IF MORE RECIPIENTS ARE NO
LONG ELIGIBLE -- A PROCESS KNOWN
AS "UNWINDING."
NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT
PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT
COMES TO CHILDREN.
IN DECEMBER, THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SENT
LETTERS TELLING NINE STATES WITH
THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF CHILDREN
LOSING COVERAGE THAT THEY MUST
DO MORE KEEP CHILDREN IN THE
PROGRAM.
ONE OF THOSE STATES IS FLORIDA,
WHICH IS CONSIDERING OTHER
CHANGES TO THE WAY IT PROVIDES
HEALTH INSURANCE TO CHILDREN
FROM LOW TO MODERATE INCOME
FAMILIES, EXPANDING ACCESS FOR
SOME, LIMITING IT FOR OTHERS.
ALI ROGIN HAS MORE.
ALI: SINCE THE MEDICAID
UNWINDING BEGAN LAST SPRING,
FLORIDA HAS REMOVED 420,000
CHILDREN FROM THE ROLLS OF BOTH
MEDICAID AND CHIP.
THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
CHIP INSURES CHILDREN FROM
FAMILIES WITH MODEST INCOME, BUT
THAT MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TO
QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.
FLORIDA IS ALSO CHALLENGING A
FEDERAL LAW THAT WENT INTO
EFFECT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
YEAR, REQUIRING STATES TO
PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH 12 MONTHS
OF CONTINUOUS MEDICAID OR CHIP
ELIGIBILITY.
BUT FLORIDA ALSO TOOK STEPS TO
EXPAND CHIP ELIGIBILITY VOTING
LAST YEAR TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT
OF INCOME A FAMILY CAN HAVE
BEFORE THEY NO LONGER QUALIFY
FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAMS.
DANIEL CHANG IS A CORRESPONDENT
BASED IN FLORIDA FOR KFF HEALTH
NEWS.
HERE TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN FOR
US.
SO DANIEL, WE HAVE THE MEDICAID
SITUATION.
WE HAVE FLORIDA'S CHIP
SITUATION.
CAN YOU TELL US BROADLY WHAT IS
THE STATE OF HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR CHILDREN IN FLORIDA RIGHT
NOW?
AND IF YOU CAN, HOW DOES IT
COMPARE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
OTHER STATES RIGHT NOW?
DANIEL: SO FLORIDA HAS A
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM LIKE PRETTY MUCH EVERY
OTHER STATE DOES RIGHT NOW.
AND LAST YEAR, IT HAD ABOUT
120,000 CHILDREN IN ITS PROGRAM
FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME
FAMILIES.
AND AH WHAT FLORIDA IS DOING IS
IT'S IT'S CONTESTING THE FEDERAL
-- AND WHAT FLORIDA IS DOING IS
IT'S CONTESTING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S AUTHORITY TO
ESSENTIALLY CHANGE THE RULES OF
HOW KIDS STAY ENROLLED IN THE
PROGRAM.
WHAT FLORIDA IS SAYING IS THAT,
IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DIS
ENROLL CHILDREN FROM THE
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM IF THEIR PARENTS DON'T
PAY PREMIUMS.
THEY GET A 30 DAY GRACE PERIOD
AFTER THAT.
VACCINES HAVE PROVEN TO BE AN
EFFECTIVE WEAPON AGAINST MANY
DISEASES.
YOU CAN ONLY REQUIRE THEM TO PAY
THE FIRST MONTH.
AFTER THAT, IF THEIR PARENTS DO
NOT PAY, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THEM
ON FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 11
MONTHS.
FLORIDA SAYS THAT IS NOT FAIR
AND WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO
DISENROLL KIDS FROM CHIP IF
THEIR PARENTS DID NOT PAY THEIR
PREMIUMS.
WE NEED THAT MONEY TO FUND THE
PROGRAM AND IT IS ACCUSING THE
FEDS OF BASICALLY NOT FOLLOWING
THE PROCESS THAT IS REQUIRED FOR
CREATING NEW RULES LIKE THIS.
ALI: ARE THERE ANY OTHER STATES
WHO ARE BRINGING UP THE SAME
CONCERNS AS FLORIDA IS OR ARE
THEY OUT ON THEIR OWN ON THIS
ONE?
DANIEL: FLORIDA IS THE ONLY
STATE AS FAR AS I AM AWARE THAT
HAS CHALLENGED THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S NEW RULE ALTHOUGH
THERE ARE 18 OTHER STATES THAT
DO USE THE SAME PROCESS, MEANING
THAT THEY WILL DISENROLL
CHILDREN FROM CHIP IF THEIR
PARENTS DON'T PAY THE MONTHLY
PREMIUMS.
THOUGH THOSE 18 OTHER STATES
WILL HAVE TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT
TO FOLLOW THE NEW FEDERAL RULES
OR JOIN FLORIDA IN ITS LAWSUIT.
ALI: HOW IS THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION RESPONDING TO
FLORIDA'S SUIT?
DANIEL: THEY FILED THE FIRST
RESPONSE IN THIS WEEK AND
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING IS THAT
THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS
ACT OF 2023 CHANGED THE RULES IN
TWO FUNDAMENTAL WAYS.
ALI: THAT IS THE BILL THAT
ESTABLISHED THIS 12 MONTH
CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY PERIOD.
DANIEL: THAT IS CORRECT.
THE NEW RULES UNDER THAT LAW
WENT INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING IS THAT
THE LAW NO LONGER ALLOWED
CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY TO BE
OPTIONAL.
IT IS NOW MANDATORY FOR MEDICAID
AND CHIP.
WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS
SAYING IS ESSENTIALLY THAT
STATES WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO
DISENROLL PEOPLE FROM MEDICAID
FOR NONPAYMENT OF PREMIUMS
DURING A CONTINUOUS ELIGIBILITY
PERIOD AND NOW THE SAME HAS TO
APPLY TO KIDS IN CHIP.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT SAME
PROTECTION AND THAT IS
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION IS DOING.
ALI: AT THE SAME TIME, THIS CHIP
STUFF IS HAPPENING, FLORIDA HAS
ALSO COME UNDER SCRUTINY FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR
DISENROLLING WHAT THE HH S SAYS
IS A VERY HIGH PROPORTION OF
CHILDREN FROM THE MEDICAID
ROLLS.
WHY IS FLORIDA COMING UNDER
SPECIFIC SCRUTINY FOR THIS AND
DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
THE FACT THAT IT IS ONE OF 10
STATES THAT DID NOT EXPAND
MEDICAID COVERAGE DURING THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?
DANIEL: FLORIDA HAS DISENROLLED
A LARGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN FROM
ITS MEDICAID PROGRAM.
IT'S CLOSE TO 460,000 AS OF THE
REPORT FROM JANUARY AND HHS
SECRETARIES SENT A LETTER TO
FLORIDA AND THE GOVERNORS OF
EIGHT OTHER STATES EXPOSING
CONCERN ABOUT THAT AND
SUGGESTING MEASURE STRATEGIES
THESE STATES COULD TAKE TO KEEP
THEIR KIDS COVERED.
ONE OF THEM RELATES TO JUST
ELIMINATING PREMIUMS IN THE CHIP
PROGRAM.
OTHERS INVOLVED IN PERSUADING
STATES TO TAKE UP WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CALLS
FLEXIBILITIES FOR THIS UNWINDING
PROCESS SO FOR INSTANCE,
ALLOWING STATES TO JUST
DETERMINE A KIDS ELIGIBILITY AND
REENROLLED THEM IN THE PROGRAM.
THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF
DISENROLLMENT'S DURING FLORIDA'S
MEDICAID UNWINDS THAT ARE DUE TO
PROCEDURAL REASONS WHICH IS WHEN
PEOPLE DO NOT RESPOND.
MEDICAID EXPANSION IS ANOTHER
STRATEGY THAT THE SECRETARY
CITED IN HIS LETTER TO GOVERNORS
AS HELPING TO IMPROVE COVERAGE
FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE WHEN
PARENTS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE,
IT IS A LOT MORE LIKELY THAT
THEIR KIDS WILL ALSO BE INSURED.
ALI: THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
VOTED TO RAISE THE FAMILY INCOME
LIMIT TO QUALIFY FOR KID CARE
WHICH IS BASICALLY THE
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM IN FLORIDA SO WHAT IS
THE STATUS OF THOSE EFFORTS AND
HOW MANY CHILDREN WOULD THAT
STATE LEGISLATURE ACTION
POTENTIALLY PROVIDE COVERAGE TO?
>> GOVERNOR DESANTIS DECIDED
THAT SHE CITED THAT SHE SIGNED
THAT EXPANSION INTO LAW IN JUNE
AND IT RAISED THE INCOME
ELIGIBILITY LEVEL SO ABOUT
ANOTHER 40,000 OR SO CHILDREN
WOULD BE NEWLY ELIGIBLE ONCE
THAT SHIP EXPANSION TAKES EFFECT
BUT IT HAS NOT YET BECAUSE THERE
IS A COMPLICATED PROCESS FOR
STATES TO DO THIS AND IT
INVOLVES HAVING STATE AND
FEDERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS
IN FLORIDA HAS NOT DONE THAT AND
NOW THEY HAVE TO.
THE STATE WANTED TO START THE
EXPENDED POPULATION FOR CHIP
THIS YEAR.
IF THEY DO, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE
MUCH LATER IN THE YEAR.
RIGHT NOW, THEY JUST STARTED
RECENTLY THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
>> PEOPLE HEARING THIS MIGHT
WONDER TO THEMSELVES FLORIDA IS
TAKING SOME MEASURES TO EXPAND
ELIGIBILITY VIS-A-VIS INCOME BUT
CHOOSING OTHER OPTIONS THAT
WOULD EFFECTIVELY KEEP OTHER
CHILDREN DISENROLLED.
>> WHAT FLORIDA IS CLAIMING IS
THAT THOSE PREMIUMS HELP FUND
THE CHIP PROGRAM AND THEY ARE
COUNTING ON IT TO FUND THE
COVERAGE FOR THE EXPENDED
POPULATION.
FLORIDA COLLECTS ABOUT $30
MILLION A YEAR IN CHIP PREMIUM
PAYMENTS AND THEY ARE ESTIMATING
THAT THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF THIS
PROGRAM UNDER THE EXPANSION
WOULD COST ABOUT $90 MILLION SO
THAT REMAINDER WOULD BE PAID
BETWEEN THE STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS AND YOU KNOW, ABOUT
3000 KIDS IN ANY GIVEN MONTH ARE
DISENROLLED FROM CHIP FOR THEIR
PARENTS NOT PAYING THE PREMIUM
SO PART OF WHAT CMS WANTS TO DO
WITH THIS NEW RULE OF CONTINUOUS
ELIGIBILITY AND CONTINUOUS
COVERAGE IS TO REDUCE WHAT IS
CALLED CHURN, KIDS FALLING IN
AND OUT OF COVERAGE, HAVING
INTERRUPTIONS IN OUR COVERAGE
WHICH IS NEVER GOOD.
ALI: DANIEL CHANG, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
♪
JOHN: VACCINES HAVE PROVEN TO BE
AN EFFECTIVE WEAPON AGAINST MANY
DISEASES.
MEASLES, FOR INSTANCE, WAS
DECLARED ELIMINATED FROM THE
UNITED STATES IN 2000.
AND, MORE RECENTLY, VACCINES
HAVE HELPED CURB THE SPREAD OF
COVID.
BUT THIS YEAR, BOTH OF THOSE
DISEASES ARE ON THE RISE: THE
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION SAYS THERE'VE ALREADY
BEEN 35 CASES OF MEASLES SO FAR
THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH 58 IN
ALL OF 2023.
NEWSHOUR DIGITAL HEALTH REPORTER
LAURA SANTHANAM HAS BEEN LOOKING
INTO THIS.
LET'S TAKE THE CASE OF MEASLES.
THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE
MEASLES VACCINE FOR DECADES.
WHY ARE CASES CLIMBING?
LAURA: IT BOILS DOWN TO AN
ANSWER AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST GAVE ME
RECENTLY WHICH IS A VACCINE IS
NOTHING IF IT IS NOT
ADMINISTERED AND THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
THE PANDEMIC AND MISINFORMATION
HAVE COMBINED TO SORT OF
RELEASEE THIS DECLINE IN
VACCINES FOR BOTH OF THESE
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
THINKING ABOUT JUST SORT OF THAT
CHAOS THAT THE PANDEMIC YOU GAVE
US, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE
WERE NOT GETTING, YOU KNOW,
SCHEDULED CHILDHOOD VACCINES FOR
THEIR KIDS.
PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO SIT IN
WAITING ROOMS AND EXAM ROOMS AND
WE SAW THAT AND WE ARE STILL
SORT OF WORKING OUR WAY OUT OF
THAT.
AND THEN THINKING ABOUT THE ROLE
THAT MISINFORMATION HAS PLAYED
IN SORT OF UNDERMINING PEOPLE'S
CONFIDENCE IN THAT WE ARE STILL
DEALING WITH THAT MESS.
>> SOME VACCINES HAVE BEEN WITH
US FOR GENERATIONS BUT LOOKING
BACK AT HISTORY, WHEN THEY WERE
FIRST INTRODUCED, WAS THERE THE
SAME SORT OF MISINFORMATION THEN
OR IS THAT A NEW PHENOMENON?
>> IT IS KIND OF WILD TO THINK
INFECTIOUS DISEASE HAS BEEN
SOMETHING HUMANITY HAS BEEN
DEALING WITH STUDENTS BEFORE WE
WERE ABLE TO RECORD HISTORY AND
SOME OF THESE DISEASES, YOU
KNOW, WE ARE JUST STARTING TO
WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND.
TAKE POLIO, FOR EXAMPLE.
THE ANCIENT INJECTIONS WERE
DEALING WITH POLIO AND IT WASN'T
UNTIL THE 1950'S THAT DR. JONAH
STARTED TO DEPLOY A VACCINE
STARTING IN A SCHOOL IN
PITTSBURGH AND THAT CAMPAIGN
WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY, AROUND
THE GLOBE, AND GENERATIONS
LATER, MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS
ARE MORE LIKELY TO LEARN ABOUT
POLIO IN HISTORY BOOKS THAN THEY
ARE IN LENOX HERE IN THE U.S.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THAT
WORK.
IT DID NOT JUST GO AWAY BECAUSE
WE WISHED IT AWAY BUT BECAUSE OF
THESE VACCINE CAMPAIGNS.
>> HOW DID ALL THE
DISINFORMATION SPREAD AND THE
MISTRUST THAT SPREAD AROUND THE
COVID VACCINE, HOW IS THAT
AFFECTING OTHER VACCINES?
LAURA: WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH
MISINFORMATION FOR QUITE SOME
TIME WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES.
STARTING IN THE LATE 1990'S, YOU
KNOW, THINKING ABOUT THE
MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA VACCINE.
TO THIS DAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO WITHHOLD THAT VACCINE FROM
THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY
THINK IT MIGHT CAUSE PROBLEMS
THAT JUST EVIDENCE, STUDIES
CONDUCTED OVER SO MANY YEARS AND
SO MANY COUNTRIES, JUST THEY
CONTINUE TO DEBUNK THAT SINCE
RETRACTED STUDY BUT THAT HAS
LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR SOME OF
THE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS WE
ARE SEEING ABOUT THE COVID
VACCINE NOW WHETHER IT IS
TALKING ABOUT HOW QUICKLY IT WAS
DEPLOYED OR WHEN POLITICS ARE
GETTING INVOLVED IN SOME OF
THOSE CAMPAIGNS, IT MAKES IT A
MESS TO DISENTANGLE.
AND I TALKED TO CLINICIANS ABOUT
THIS, THEY RECOMMEND PEOPLE ASK
THEIR DOCTORS IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COVID
VACCINE, MEASLES VACCINE, ANY OF
THESE VACCINES THAT ARE
RECOMMENDED THAT ARE APPROVED
INFECTED BY THE CDC, BY THE FDA,
YOU KNOW, HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR DOCTORS,
BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, EQUALLY
IMPORTANTLY, DOCTORS SHOULD BE
READY TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A
DOCTOR IN SOUTH ALABAMA WHO WAS
SAYING, YOU KNOW, PHYSICIANS
SHOULD BE WELCOMING THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
THEY SHOULD BE READY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AND SHOULD NOT
DISCOURAGE PATIENTS FROM HAVING
THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AN EXPERT TOLD ME THAT PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO MISS INFORMATION
FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS BUT SOME
OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT
ABLE TO GET ANSWERS WHEN THEY
NEEDED THEM FROM THEIR HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS IN THE FIRST
PLACE SO JUST BE READY TO HAVE
THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WELCOME
THEM.
>> WHAT ARE THE FEARS THAT YOU
HAVE HEARD FROM DOCTORS AND
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ABOUT
THIS, ABOUT DISEASES THAT WE
THOUGHT WE HAD CONQUERED BUT --
THAT HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT LIKE
MEASLES?
>> IN THE U.S., WE HAVE SEEN
VACCINATION RATES AMONG
KINDERGARTNERS DECLINE TO 93%
AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 95%.
THAT IS THE RECOMMENDED
THRESHOLD TO PREVENT COMMUNITY
TRANSMISSION AND A LOT OF
SUFFERING AND HARM.
TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS MIGHT NOT
SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT ACCORDING
TO THE CDC, THAT TRANSLATES TO
TWO JUNTA 50,000 KIDS WHO ARE
LEFT AT HIGHER RISK FOR
DEVELOPING MEASLES.
THEY COULD BECOME DEATH AS A
RESULT, DEVELOP ENCEPHALITIS,
AND IN MOST TRAGIC CASES, DIED.
PHYSICIAN, PEDIATRICIANS WHO
HAVE TALKED TO IN MY REPORTING,
THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT WE
WILL GIVE IT WILL GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PREVENTABLE
DEATH TO RISE IN THIS COUNTRY.
JOHN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU CAN READ MORE OF LAURA'S
REPORTING ON THE RISE IN MEASLES
CASES IN THE MISINFORMATION
AROUND THE MEASLES VACCINE AT
PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR.
FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, OUR
PARTNERS AT STORY CORPS ARE
AMPLIFYING BLACK VOICES WITH
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ACTIVISM,
LOVE, JOY, AND LEADERSHIP.
TONIGHT, THE STORY OF MARY STEPP
BURNETTE HAYDEN.
SHE WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY ON A
PLANTATION IN BLACK MOUNTAIN,
NORTH CAROLINA.
AFTER SHE WAS FREED IN 1865,
WHEN SHE WAS 7, SHE REMAINED
THERE, GOING ON TO BECOME A
MIDWIFE.
AT STORYCORPS, HAYDEN'S
GRANDDAUGHTER, MARY OTHELLA
BURNETTE, TOLD HER GREAT
GRANDDAUGHTER, DEBORA HAMILTON
PALMER, ABOUT THEIR FAMILY
MATRIARCH.
>> SHE PROBABLY WEIGHED NOT MORE
THAN 110 POUNDS.
SHE WAS ABOUT FOUR FEET 11IN
TALL AND HER HAIR HUNG WELL
BELOW HER WAIST.
SHE HAD DEEP SET EYES AND A
FIERCE LOOK, AS IF SHE WERE
LOOKING RIGHT THROUGH YOU.
WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
HER LIKE WHEN SHE DELIVERED ME?
-- >> RELATIONSHIP WITH HER
LIKE?
>> SHE DELIVERED ME.
A FEW MINUTES AFTER IT WAS MINE.
BY OPENING MY EYES AND TURNING
MY HEAD TO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM
AND SHE SAID, GOD, LOOK AT THAT.
MY GRANDMOTHER LOVED TO TALK.
AND MOST OF OUR STORIES WERE
BAD, BUT GRANNY STORIES WERE
REAL LIFE STORIES.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
HANSEL AND GRETEL.
HERE WAS THIS WOMAN, A FORMER
SLAVE, WALKING AROUND DELIVERING
BABIES AND HELPING PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT BACK
WHEN GRANNY STARTED, THERE WERE
NO HOSPITALS FOR BLACK PEOPLE TO
GO TO, AND POOR PEOPLE HAD NO
MONEY TO PAY FOR PROFESSIONAL
MEDICAL CARE.
SO IF YOU HAD A DISEASE THAT
COULD NOT BE TREATED BY A
MIDWIFE, YOU DIED AT HOME.
HOUSES COULD BE SEVERAL MILES
APART, AND BEARS COMMONLY ROAM
THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT WHAT IF SOMEBODY NEEDED
HELP?
GRANNY WAS GOING.
BLACK AND WHITES ALIKE.
IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE TO HER.
SHE WAS FEARLESS.
YOU KNOW, SHE NEVER BOASTED
ABOUT WHAT SHE DID, BUT SHE
PROBABLY CAUGHT SEVERAL HUNDRED
BABIES, IF NOT MORE.
HOW OLD WAS GRANNY HAYDEN WHEN
-- >> HOW OLD WAS GRANNY HAYDEN
WHEN SHE STOPPED HER PRACTICE?
>> SHE WAS ABOUT 90 YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS A VERY STRONG LITTLE
WOMAN.
YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE THINK
ABOUT SLAVERY, THEY THINK ABOUT
HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, NOT ABOUT
SOMEBODY WHO DIED IN 1956.
SHE WAS A PILLAR NOT ONLY IN OUR
FAMILY BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND
I ASSUMED SHE WOULD ALWAYS BE
THERE.
LIKE WHEN YOU'RE CHILD.
YOU ASSUME EVERYTHING'S GOING TO
BE THERE.
BUT I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE
DESCENDED FROM SOMEONE LIKE MY
GRANDMOTHER.
VERY, VERY PROUD.
♪
JOHN: AND FINALLY TONIGHT, WHAT
COULD BE THE BRIGHTEST KNOWN
OBJECT IN THE UNIVERSE,
ESTIMATED BY SCIENTISTS TO BE
EMITTING LIGHT THAT'S A
MIND-BOGGLING 500 TRILLION TIMES
MORE INTENSE THAN THE SUN.
ACCORDING TO A PAPER PUBLISHED
THIS PAST WEEK IN THE JOURNAL
"NATURE ASTRONOMY," IT'S A
QUASAR PRODUCED BY A MASSIVE AND
VORACIOUS BLACK HOLE THAT
DEVOURED THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE
OF EARTH'S SUNS EVERY DAY - A
COSMIC STAR DESTROYER.
QUASARS ARE WHIRLPOOLS OF MATTER
BEING SUCKED INTO BLACK HOLES -
SWIRLING LIKE WATER CIRCLING A
DRAIN.
THE LIGHT IS THE RESULT OF THE
GLOWING HEAT CREATED BY THE
FRICTION OF ALL THAT MATTER
RUBBING TOGETHER.
THE BLACK HOLE AT THE CENTER OF
THIS QUASAR IS MORE THAN 17
BILLION TIMES MORE MASSIVE THAN
OUR SUN - WHICH ITSELF ACCOUNTS
FOR 99.8 PERCENT OF ALL OUR
SOLAR SYSTEM'S MASS.
CHRISTIAN WOLF OF THE AUSTRALIAN
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND THE
STUDY'S LEAD AUTHOR, SAYS IT'S
THE MOST VIOLENT PLACE IN THE
KNOWN UNIVERSE.
AND IT'S SO FAR, FAR AWAY, THAT
THE LIGHT SCIENTISTS ARE
STUDYING NOW TOOK 12 BILLION
YEARS TO REACH EARTH, AND THE
BLACK HOLE STOPPED GROWING A
LONG TIME AGO.
AND THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FOR
THIS SUNDAY.
I'M JOHN YANG.
FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS
FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
>> A PROUD SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC
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A WORLD OF LEISURE.
AN BRITISH STYLE.
ALL WITH OUR WHITE STAR SERVICE.
>> AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT
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INSTITUTIONS.
THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC
BROADCASTING AND BY
CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS
STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
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WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.]
♪
>> Y