AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

On the "News Hour" tonight: a# roller-coaster day.. as President Trump holds firm to# his tariffs and threatens more.

AMNA NAWAZ: We speak with business# owners concerned about how the## president's economic policies# will affect their bottom lines.

GEOFF BENNETT: And in the# face of escalating threats,## Taiwan works to prepare its citizens# for a potential invasion by China.

CHENG HSIN MEI, Showrunner, "Zero Day" (through# translator): We all need to protect the safety## of this land and the way of life we have here.# And that way of life is a free, democratic one.

(BREAK) GEOFF BENNETT:#Welcome to the "News Hour."

It was a day of wild swings on Wall# Street, as investors and.. sought clarity about the scope of new# tariffs and how long they might last.

AMNA NAWAZ: President Trump and his# team sent conflicting messages again,## including a threat by the president to ramp# up much larger tariffs of 50 percent against## China.

By day's end, the Dow finished a# bit down, just under 1 percent.

The Nasdaq## finished just above break-even, and the S&P# 500 was down about two-tenths of a percent.

But turmoil and confusion over the# president's goals defined much of the day.

Lisa Desjardins has our report.

LISA DESJARDINS: The opening bell on Wall Street,# the sound of alarm, with stocks bungeeing wildly## in the first hours and traders not able to find# a foothold in President Trump's tariff war.

The economic issues are# complicating diplomatic ones,## as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin# Netanyahu arrived at the White House.

QUESTION: Mr. President, will# you discuss tariffs on Israel?

LISA DESJARDINS: Reporters shouted questions after## the two leaders canceled their formal# news conference together.

Netanyahu's## war-battered economy now faces a# new 17 percent tariff from the U.S. DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: But we had great discussions today.

LISA DESJARDINS: In the Oval Office,## Israel's leader said his country# will meet Trump's econ.. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister: We# will eliminate the trade deficit with the United## States.

We intend to do it very quickly.

We think# it's the right thing to do, and we're going to## also eliminate trade barriers, a variety of trade# barriers that have been put up unnecessarily.

LISA DESJARDINS: The president used# the opportunity to dig in on tariffs.

DONALD TRUMP: This is America first.

It's## now America first.

And we didn't put# America first.

We put America last.

LISA DESJARDINS: Trump actually upped# the stakes, threatening China on social## media with another 50 percent tariff if the# world's second largest economy does not back## off its reciprocal tariffs by tomorrow, this# as words of warning are growing more urgent.

Across the Atlantic, European Commission# President Ursula von der Leyen accused the## U.S. of economic bullying and said it is# now talking with other trading partners.

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, President,# European Commission: So it's very## clear that we are open for negotiations and that,## in parallel, we are preparing a potential# list for retaliation and other measures for## retaliation if this is necessary.

We# prefer to have a negotiated solution.

LISA DESJARDINS: Back on Wall Street, billionaire# Trump backer and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman## urged Trump to delay large tariff deadlines,# writing: "Otherwise, we are heading for a## self-induced, economic nuclear winter# and we should start hunkering down."

And J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned the# bank's investors of higher prices in the## short term and adding: "Whether or not the menu of# tariffs causes a recession remains in question."

This after a morning of whiplash on the markets,## first plunging and then a sudden rise back# into positive territory based on a social## media-fueled rumor.

National Economic Council# chief Kevin Hassett was asked this on FOX News.

BRIAN KILMEADE, FOX News Anchor: Will you# do a 90-day pause?

Would you consider that?

KEVIN HASSETT, Director, National# Economic Council: The president is## going to decide what the presiden.. a nuclear winter or something like that,# it's completely irresponsible rhetoric.

LISA DESJARDINS: Some on social media mistakenly# proclaimed a 90-day tariff freeze was coming,## leading to a sudden positive# spike that quickly disappeared.

To the idea of a 90-day pause,# today Trump himself told reporters: DONALD TRUMP: Well, we're not# looking at that.

We have many, many## countries that are coming to negotiate deals# with us and they're going to be fair deals.

LISA DESJARDINS: That seemed to contradict# with other words of Trump's advisers,## including counselor Peter# Navarro yesterday on FOX.

PETER NAVARRO, Director, White House Office# of Trade and Manufacturing Policy: This## is not a negotiation.

LISA DESJARDINS: Today, the president was asked.

QUESTION: You're talking about negotiations,# and yet others in yo.. saying that these tariffs are actually# permanent.

What is the actual strategy?

DONALD TRUMP: Well, it can be -- it can both be## true.

There can be permanent tariffs# and there can also be negotiations.

LISA DESJARDINS: A few on Trump's team have## repeated a more specific phrase# about the length of the tariffs.

HOWARD LUTNICK, U.S. Commerce Secretary:# They are definitely going to stay in place## for days and weeks.

That is sort of obvious.# The president needs to reset global trade.

LISA DESJARDINS: The effect on# global trade long-term is not## yet clear.

But the world's stock# markets continue to reset to red.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, U.S. businesses are# already facing tough challenges as a## result of President Trump's sweeping new tariffs.

GEOFF BENNETT: We spoke with small# business owners across the country## to hear how they are being affected firsthand.

Here's some of what they told us.

WENDY BRUGH, Dry Ridge Farm: I'm Wendy Brugh.## I own Dry Ridge Farm in Madison# County in Western North ..

It will affect us on everything from fertilizer# to construction materials to tractors,## new equipment, but not just new equipment,## like tractor parts.

All farmers do their# own maintenance on their equipment.

PETER ANDREWS, Founder, Culture Wine# Co.: My name is Peter Andrews.

I'm## the founder of Culture Wine Co., an importer,# wholesaler, and focused on..

Right now, I have a container that's# leaving South Africa.

That alone will## probably be tariffed just because I missed it# by about a seven-hour window to get it out.

SUNNY KIM, Owner, American Made Apparel# Manufacturing: Hi.

My name is Sunny## Kim.

I own and manage American Made Apparel,# whic..

I would say tariffs, for the most part,# have been, for me, in the immediate realm,## more detrimental because I source a lot of my# materials, threads, and notions from China.## There's a lot more inquiries, and possibly I# could get more business from it.

But, for now,## I'm especially seeing a downturn as far as profit# margin because my costs have gone up as well.

CHRIS PENCE, Co-Founder and President,# Haand Ceramics: I'm Chris Pence,## and I'm the co-founder and president of# .. We work with a handful of restaurants and hotels# in Canada currently or have been.

Unfortunately,## the Canadian business that we# have has completely gone away,## and the Canadian companies that we have# been working with for many years are no## longer interested in buying our products# solely because we're an American company.

WENDY BRUGH: A lot of our markets have# been impacted by cuts to USDA grants## that used to allow farmers to sell to# local institutions, hospitals, schools,## that used to, like, incentivize# those institutions to buy locally.

And so it's been four months of# just one thing after the other.

SUNNY KIM: I do feel like it's going to cause# us to get more inquiries that potentially will## land bigger accounts in the future.

They do# affect my costs initially, but I'm hoping that,## in the long run, people will realize keeping# manufacturing in the U.S. will actually be## a better thing for the long run and also for# them to be able to offer an American-made line.

PETER ANDREWS: I want the wines to# be fairly priced to consumers in the## end.

And so what will happen# is, farmers will take a hit,## producers will take a hit, I will take a hit,# and then consumers will see higher prices.

CHRIS PENCE: These are supply chains that take# many, many years to create relationships.

These## are people's jobs.

Some of the impacts for us# have been that we have had to reduce some of## our work force.

And these are people who've# worked for me for many years.

And these are## real-life impacts.

These are real impacts to# me, to my family, and to my community that I## feel need to be really considered when# making these kinds of sweeping changes.

AMNA NAWAZ: For more on the impact of the# ongoing trade war, I'm joined by Erin McLaughlin,## senior economist at the Conference# Board.

That's a nonprofit research## organization whose members include over# 1,000 public and private companies.

Erin, welcome to the "News Hour."

I just want to begin with your# reaction to what we saw today,## this turbulent day in both global# markets and here in the U.S. What's your -- what's the headline to you# out of all of this?

What's your takeaway?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, The Conference Board:## Well, it's the word that everybody# keeps using, whi.. And many of your small businesses# sound very similar to our members,## which are mostly medium and large companies,# as you said, public and private.

They are## really struggling with how to plan, because# most companies plan their supply chains,## their capital infrastructure,# their investment years in advance.

So, such a quick change, such a dramatic change# leaves them to wonder how they should react.

AMNA NAWAZ: I want to ask you more# about those businesses in a moment,## but also the sensitivity of# the markets in this moment,## spiking as they did after a rumor of a 90-day# pause on tariffs, dropping back down again.

AMNA NAWAZ: What does that say to you about# how investors are looking at this moment?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: Well, it is very interesting.# I believe we had an 8 percent swing today, even## though we started and closed the market during the# day at about the same rate or at the same level.

And so clearly markets are looking for a pause# because that's when we saw the markets swing## up.

And that -- per your own reporting just# now, a pause does not seem likely to happen.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, as you speak to these business# leaders who are members of your organization,## do you get a sense from them there's a decision# about how to move forward in this moment?

Are## retailers, for example, certain they will have to# raise prices and pass that on to consumers?

Are## they waiting to see if the tariffs get rolled# back?

How are they making decisions right now?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: I think a lot of business# leaders are sort of really just taking a## beat to decide what happens,because the# -- some of them have built up inventories,## but for many industries, you cannot build# up a lot of inventories in advance.

They## have more just-in-time supply chain operations.

So I think, for a lot of leaders, they're# waiting to see what happens.

Earlier## in -- this administration put the# tariffs on imported goods from## Mexico and Canada and then withdrew# them.

And so I think there -- is has## been some hope that perhaps we would# see some alleviation of the tariffs.

But as each day goes by, sort of the fact that## they could remain in place# seems to be more likely.

AMNA NAWAZ: And is it just the# tariffs in this moment that's## fueling that uncertainty?

Are there other# policies or unknowns in the equation that## they're viewing that's making them sort# of hesitant to take action in the moment?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: That's a great question.

I think,## besides the actual tariffs, it# is the consumer uncertainty.

So, consumers make up 70 percent of our economy# here in the U.S. And a lot of our spending,## our success as an economy is based on consumer# confidence.

And at The Conference Board,## we have a very well-regarded leading economic# indicator where we measure confidence of the## consumer.

And their expectations within that index# dropped to its lowest point in March in 12 years.

And so if businesses feel that consumers# are going to pull back their spending, that## also gives them a lot of hesitance, because their# companies, especially if they're publicly traded,## their value is coming down.

And, at the same# time, they can't be sure that they're going## to have the sales and the profits that they# have in the future that they have in the past.

AMNA NAWAZ: Erin, I know your expertise in# particular lies around process of building## factories and infrastructure.

We know much of the# justification of these tariffs is that they will## do exactly that, that they can reshore jobs,# that they can drive American manufacturing.

What is your view on the prospects# and the likelihood of that?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: You know, there's really four# strong impediments.

I do think onshoring is## beneficial when it's targeted.

And# many economists feel the same way.

What we're seeing with these broad tariffs# is that it's not a targeted strategy from## our policymakers.

However, when it's# targeted and we're able to onshore## for national security, for health care# security, that is certainly beneficial.

But building a factory and reshoring or onshore# in your supply chain takes anywhere between three## and 10 years and is expensive.

And also you need# the qualified labor to work in these facilities.## So these are not business planning activities# that can take place within weeks or even months.

AMNA NAWAZ: I know, in addition# to tracking consumer confidence,## Conference Board also tracks CEO# confidence, their perceptions## of the current and expected business# conditions.

Where does that sit right now?

And given the president's# comments that these tariffs## could be permanent or they could be negotiated,## where do you see that confidence going if the# tariffs continue and the trade war ramps up?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: Right.

Now, all of our indexes ar.. not forwards-looking.

Our CEO confidence# after the new president took office remained## very high due to excitements over# deregulation and continuous tax cuts.## But I believe confidence has certainly come# down quite a bit in when our -- and that is a## quarterly index that we take when that -- we do# expect the next one to show a significant drop.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is Erin McLaughlin,## senior economist at The Conference# Board, joining us tonight.

Erin, thank you so much for your# time and insights.

We appreciate it.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: Thank you.

GEOFF BENNETT: We start today's other# headlines with a surprise statement from## President Trump that the U.S. will engage# in direct high-level talks with Iran.

But,## tonight, there is no confirmation from Tehran.

Seated alongside Prime Minister Benjamin# Netanyahu, Trump said the talks,## which he claimed will occur Saturday, would try# to reach a -- quote -- "stronger agreement" than## the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Mr. Trump withdrew# the U.S. from that deal in his first term.

The## president warned of consequences if talks fail,# and he would not rule out military confrontation.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: I# think if the talks aren't successful with Iran,## I think Iran is going to be in# great danger.

And I hate to say it,## great danger, because they can't# have a nuclear weapon.

It's not## a complicated formula.

Iran cannot have# a nuclear weapon.

That's all there is.

GEOFF BENNETT: Netanyahu's visit to meet# with President Trump comes as a wave of## Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed more than# 30 people, according to health officials.

Outside## a hospital in Southern Gaza, a strike killed a# local reporter and wounded six more journalists.

The Israeli military said it was targeting a# Hamas militant posing as a journalist.

Meantime,## Israel has expanded more of its# military buffer zone inside Gaza,## doubling its size in recent weeks.

Israel now# controls more than 50 percent of the territory.

In Myanmar, the death toll from the devastating# March earthquake has climbed past 3,600 people.## Rescue efforts are giving way to relief and# recovery operations as hope for survivors## fades.

People across the country cleared# mounds of debris today.

World powers,## including China, sent new emergency# aid this weekend for survivors.## The U.S. has pledged $9 million of relief so# far.

But relief efforts have been notably absent.

As PBS News was first to report, the Trump# administration last week notified the three-person## disaster team from USAID of their terminations# while they were on the ground in Myanmar.

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily# paused a midnight deadline tonight that## the Trump administration faced to bring# home a man they deported by mistake.## The administration admitted that Kilmar Abrego# Garcia of Maryland should not have been sent## to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.# A judge's order from 2019 prohibited such a## move.

But the administration also argued it# had no way to get him back because Garcia,## who they accuse of MS-13 gang# ties, is no longer in U.S. custody.

Garcia's lawyers have until# tomorrow afternoon to respond.

A days-long downpour has finally let up across# the Southern U.S., but it's sent some rivers## overflowing to near-record levels, posing serious# flood threats, especially across Kentucky.

In the## state capital of Frankfort today, the Kentucky# River was so swollen that bridges just barely## cleared the waterline.

Officials say it# crested less than a foot shy of a record.

The murky floodwaters inundated businesses## downtown and forced residents to abandon# their belongings and flee their homes.

JEFF QUAMMEN, Frankfort, Kentucky,# Resident: You're used to seeing storms## last a couple days if it's a bad storm,# a day or two.

But this was s.. days of heavy torrential downpour.

And,# again, with already saturated ground,## there's just nowhere for it to go.# And so it's got to go up.

And it did.

GEOFF BENNETT: Last week's storms# dumped heavy rain from Texas up to## Ohio and in some places spawned# devastating tornadoes.

At least## 20 people have been killed.

Ten# of them were in Tennessee alone.

And a passing of note.

Actor Jay# North has died.

As a young boy,## he starred as the overalls-wearing# mischief-making Dennis the Menace on TV.

JAY NORTH, Actor: Whoops.

You have got# your foot in the paint, Mr. Wilson.

GEOFF BENNETT: North was just 6 years old# when he landed the role of Dennis Mitchell,## the well-intentioned troublemaker whose antics# especially tested the patience of his next-door## neighbor, George Wilson.

The sitcom ran# for four seasons.

North would go on to## appear in several other TV shows and feature# films, but he struggled with being typecast.

He talked openly throughout his career about# the challenges that come with being a child## star.

North died Sunday after a battle# with colon cancer.

He was 73 years old.

Still to come on the "News Hour":## Tamara Keith and Amy Walter break# down the latest political headline.. actor Noah Wyle discusses "The Pitt," the new# hospital drama receiving widespread acclaim;## and Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin# becomes the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.

AMNA NAWAZ: We return now to our coverage of# Taiwan and the threats it faces from China.

We reported last week about the# Taiwanese military's efforts to## modernize and prepare for a# Chinese invasion or blockade.

GEOFF BENNETT: Tonight, Nick Schifrin# reports on how Taiwan's government wants## the island and its citizens to become# more resilient and more ready for what## the government is increasingly# willing to warn might be coming.

It's part two of our series# "Taiwan: Risk and Resistance."

NICK SCHIFRIN: It begins with a manufactured# military crisis, then a manipulated broadcast.## Citizens become collaborators.# Society collapses into chaos.

MAN: Behind me, we see many American citizens# of Taiwanese heritage in line for evacuation.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And then invasion.

It's a TV series## called "Zero Day," as in the# day China takes over Taiwan.

CHENG HSIN MEI, Showrunner,# "Zero Day" (through translator):## When we're facing an authoritarian invasion,# everyone should set .. and identity and come together to# protect the way of life we cherish.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Cheng Hsin Mei# is "Zero Day"'s showrunner.## The series was supported by Taiwan's government,## which allowed filming in the President's House# and on a Navy warship.

The National Security## Council helped provide the plot.

So it's in# part a government attempt to wake Taiwan up.

CHENG HSIN MEI (through translator):## We want everyone to understand that war is# already happening in Taiwan, with fake news,## misinformation and even severed underwater cables.# These are all signs that war is getting closer.

NICK SCHIFRIN: It's sensitive to# depict that war on Taiwanese TV.## More than half the crew asked to stay anonymous,## fearing Chinese retribution.

But the threat# and the willingness to call it out is rising.

CHENG HSIN MEI (through translator): The fact is,## the really dangerous thing is not the# movie.

The real dangerous thing is Chi.. We're not trying to divide Taiwan.

Instead,## we want to unite them.

We all need to# protect the safety of this land and## the way of life we have here.

And that# way of life is a free, democratic one.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Since the inauguration of President# Lai Ching-te, Taipei has been much more willing to## call out China's threat to Taiwan's democracy.# And Lai has insisted civilians prepare for war,## part of those preparations, training exercises# like this, simulating a missile strike.

Taiwan has long prepared for natural# disasters.

But now that preparation is## tied to resisting Chinese influence or invasion.

LAI CHING-TE, Taiwanese President (through# translator): We hope Taiwan's society can be## resilient.

We should rely not on the enemy not# coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.

LIU SHYH-FANG, Taiwanese Interior Minister:# We don't want to be isolated by China.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Liu Shyh-Fang# is Taiwan's interior minister.

LIU SHYH-FANG: If the kind of gray# area attack by China or by some other## enemy happens, we have to have well preparedness.

NICK SCHIFRIN: You mean, if there# is some kind of attack from Beijing## or another adversary, you will be ready for it?

LIU SHYH-FANG: We hope so.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Taipei is planning to stockpile# blood, food, even nationalized buses and taxis## if they have to transport soldiers.

And# they're creating some 80,000 shelters,## this one in the basement of a metro station.

The metro manager and the deputy# interior minister show us a site## that can withstand a 500-pound bomb and# hold 12,000 people with emergency power,## water and cell reception.

They say, the better# they can prepare, the longer they can hold out.

MAA SHYH-YUAN, Taiwanese Deputy Interior# Minister (through translator): Taiwan is## preparing for large-scale ea.. attacks or enemy air raids, that's# when this space would be opened.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Are you trying to scare people?

LIU SHYH-FANG: Scare?

Why?

NICK SCHIFRIN: Are you trying to --# yes, are you trying to motivate people?

LIU SHYH-FANG: We try to motivate them, but we# don't want to scare them.

I just want to tell## them it will be happened, but we didn't know when# or why, but we still have to be well-prepared.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And, of course,## that makes it more challenging .. LIU SHYH-FANG: Sure.

That's right.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But Taiwan's fi.. energy and communications are vulnerable# to Chinese blockade and cyberattack,## and critics worry Taiwan isn't doing enough# to prepare for social and economic disruption.

There are also internal divisions.

Last# week's drills were designed in part to## win over cities led by the opposition party# that's accused the government of scare tactics.

Do you think people still# think of this as warmongering?

LIU SHYH-FANG: Well, in Taiwan, we have many# opposition parties.

We have to tell them,## you have to face it.

We have to be prepared.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Some Taiwanese are# concerned the island isn't prepared,## so they're getting ready themselves.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, young men# practiced clearing a building from would-be## invaders.

They're civilian volunteers.

Their# guns fire plastic.

Their tactics are basic.## But these weekend warriors believe the island's## future is at risk.

And they doubt# the military can protect them.

Do you think there will be war?

MAN (through translator): I think so, yes.

I think# there's a high chance that there will be a war.

NICK SCHIFRIN: This active-duty soldier# asked we keep him anonymous.

He leads## this team because he says the military needs help.

Do you think Taiwan is ready for war?

MAN (through translator):# Personally, I don't think so,## because Taiwan hasn't fought a war for 70 or# 80 years.

I think what we lack is experience.

NICK SCHIFRIN: All Taiwanese men serve compulsory# military service, and, on paper, Taiwan's reserves## appear large.

But these men say military training# is insufficient, so they do it themselves.

They practice a shoot-out and tend to# the wounded.

They call themselves a## band of brothers, but acknowledge# the family isn't large enough.

MASON, Civil Defense Volunteer (through# translator): Many young people today are## reluctant to join the armed forces.

There's also a## general lack of awareness among civilians# about the importance of national defense.

NICK SCHIFRIN: That's 33-year-old Mason,## a former army engineer lieutenant.# He too fears Taiwan is not ready.

Is the military doing enough# to prepare for an invasion?

MASON (through translator): It's still not# enough.

If we can improve the overall defense## skills of the general public, it will certainly# be helpful to the military during times of war.

MAN (through translator): Understanding# the stakes is crucial.

If we consider## the political consequences of Taiwan going to# war, losing the war, losing its sovereignty,## we'd be risking one of our most# valuable assets, our democracy.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And so they train, knowing# the peril, knowing what's at stake.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Nick Schifrin in Taipei, Taiwan.

GEOFF BENNETT: Let's delve further# now into the political fallout from## President Trump's tariffs and his decision# to threaten China with even more penalties.

On that and other news we're watching this# week, we're joined now by Amy Walter of The## Cook Political Report With Amy# Walter and Tamara Keith of NPR.

Much to discuss on this Monday.

Let's# start with these tariffs, shall we?

Because, Amy, President Trump has described# these tariffs as medicine that the country## needs.

How sustainable is that framing# politically if economic indicators worsen?

AMY WALTER, The Cook Political# Report: That's right.

So the place we have t.. anybody or anything that can rein in# the president on these tariff decisions,## it is Congress.

They have the constitutional# ability to do so.

Will they do it politically?

No, for this reason.

If you are in Congress# right now, especially you're a House member,## you have been in Congress, you have# been watching Donald Trump since 2016,## what have you noticed?

You have# noticed that he has defied political## gravity time and time again.

And those# Republicans who stepped out and said, oh,## I don't think this is going to work out,# or who criticized the president on things## like "Access Hollywood" or January 6 or others# found themselves getting ahead of their skis.

And the president, weeks or months later, ends up# being fine.

The risk that many of these members## find themselves is that either, one, they get# out now, try to push back on the president.## That doesn't succeed.

He remembers this and# punishes you.

Your voters in your district## who are Republicans remember this and punish# you.

And there's also the chance that things## do end up working out OK, that there is not the# economic disaster that many have been forecasting.

One Republican strategist said this to# me today.

He said: "There are millions## of reasons for Republicans to blink, but none# of them are better than just giving this time."

So I think House Republicans, especially, are# willing to give the president political time.

GEOFF BENNETT: And, Tam, on the underlying# strategy, I mean, senior Trump officials were## on the Sunday shows yesterday.

You had Howard# Lutnick, the billionaire commerce secretary,## striking an aggressive note, saying that# tariffs are here to stay.

Two other Cabinet## members were on other Sunday shows saying# that, oh, no, these can be negotiated.

President Trump on the Oval Office today# said, both things can be true.

They can be## permanent and they can be negotiated.

How# much of this is a structured strategy and## how much of this is just the administration# reacting to real-time events on the ground?

TAMARA KEITH, National Public# Radio: Well, so as we know,## President Trump announced this on# Wednesday.

Even based on public statements,## we know that a decision had not been# finalized as of Tuesday afternoon.

So this was not a well-planned rollout.# Since then, there's been a lot of reacting.## But there are a couple of underlying and# also conflicting messages.

One is this idea## that President Trump is this great dealmaker# and somehow he's going to get deals.

Today,## he put more of that out into the bloodstream.

He had Prime Minister Netanyahu in the# Oval Office and talked about the things## that Netanyahu was going to do for the United# States.

He's talking about talking to Japan## and other countries and everybody wants a deal.# Then, at the same time, he is also saying that he## doesn't want to give time for deals to take# place.

He wants these tariffs in place now.

He's saying that the U.S. -- this is# a great opportunity for the U.S. to## reset the table on the global# economy and global trade and## that it's going to be painful, but# he's the man who can take the pain.

Now, there's pain to go around; 62# percent of Americans have some money## in the stock market either directly or# indirectly.

And I think that's sort of## the political challenge that the president# faces.

Because he's taking all the positions,## it's not clear exactly where this is going.

It's# not clear to the markets where this is going.

And so far, there hasn't been sort# of a moment where the president## sits down with the American people# and says, OK, this is our policy.## There are going to be sacrifices.

I understand# that.

You need to understand that.

We all need## to come together as Americans and accept# these sacrifices, which in theory is what## would have to happen for him to weather# what could be months or years of turmoil.

AMY WALTER: Well, and where voters are on this,## you can see that what they think of# as the economy is what stuff costs.

AMY WALTER: Now, what the president and# many others think about the economy is## just structurally what the economy is and how# that is going to be upended by these tariffs,## we're going to bring in a new sort# of order of things that will be very## different from what we have had# since the end of World War II.

But for voters, that is not what many# of them actually want to see from## the economy.

They want to see# the price of things go down.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, let's shift our# focus to what happened on Saturday,## because we saw coast-to-coast opposition# to President Trump's second term with## more than 1,300 events across the country# organized largely by Democratic activists.

Tam, are these Hands Off protests, that's what# they were called, Hands Off -- you got that.## You have got Senator Booker's marathon# speech.

Are these really early signs of## an activated Democratic base or are these# mostly episodic expressions of frustration?

TAMARA KEITH: These are definitely# expressions of frustration,## but it could also be the seeds of something more.

What happens when you have big events like# this is, people who are angry and frustrated## realize they're not alone in being angry and# frustrated.

There are lots of people around them.## Sometimes, these sorts of events# cause people to then decide to run## for office or to volunteer for people who# are running for office or build connections.

It can be the seeds of something.

And we have# certainly seen that in the past.

But are these## rallies, are these protests, is Cory Booker's# long talk on the -- record-breaking talk... GEOFF BENNETT: It can't be# called a filibuster, but... TAMARA KEITH: I know I'm getting hung up on the# filibuster thing, long talk on.. Is that all a sign that Democrats# are no longer in the wilderness,## they have figured out their# messenger and their message?

TAMARA KEITH: No, no, not at all.# They still have a lot to figure out.

If you looked at the signs, they didn't all# say the same thing.

And that's often the case,## especially with Democrats and protests.

But# certainly Democrats have to take some solace## in the fact that people are willing to go out of# their homes and get together in the streets.

And## that shows that people are not just completely# depressed, that that energy still exists.

But I don't know that the party has# figured out how to harness that.

AMY WALTER: No.

And even if you look at, say, Wisconsi.. Supreme Court race, even as the Democratic# candidate there won by 10 points, opinions## of the Democratic Party in the state are much# more negative than even opinions of Donald Trump.

So voters are coming out and voting for the# Democratic candidate or against the Republican,## despite the fact that they really don't think# any better of Democrats.

So in the short term,## yes, if you're the Democratic Party now,## you say the energy that's coming from the# anti-Trump -- the anti-Trump energy could## be enough to take us where we need to go# in the midterm elections to flip the House.

And that's where that would go.

It# doesn't mean that they have solved## all of their problems going into 2028# and who they are and what they stand for.

GEOFF BENNETT: Amy, you answered my question# before I asked it, so Tam, I will put it to you.

AMY WALTER: See, it's the mind-meld thing.

GEOFF BENNETT: There you go.

Because the# question is, how did Democrats thread thi.. needle between resistance and persuasion,# because resistance, as Democrats saw,## is not enough.

It's not enough to name# and shame Donald Trump.

That doesn't work.

GEOFF BENNETT: How do they persuade those voters# who, as Amy points out, they have issues with## Donald Trump, but they don't see Democrats as# the ones necessarily providing the answers?

TAMARA KEITH: Right, and we saw that Democrats# really were just resisting Trump in 2017,## when there were big rallies in the# street.

There were anti-Trump rallies.## That was an anti-Trump backlash# in 2018 with those midterms.

In terms of harnessing this into# something that they are also,## that the party -- I think the distinction# is between voters and the party,## because the party does have a really# bad name, even with Democratic voters.

AMY WALTER: Yes, and I do think a lot of# this will center around the economy.

I mean,## we are now talking about nothing# but the state of the economy.

This is an opportunity.

Democrats don't like# what they're seeing from Donald Trump, to say,## this is who we are and this is what our economic# vision is.

We know what Donald Trump says.

GEOFF BENNETT: The Nancy Pelosi approach.

AMY WALTER: There we go, right.

GEOFF BENNETT: All right.

Amy Walter and Tamara Keith, th.. AMY WALTER: You're welcome.

TAMARA KEITH: You're welcome.

GEOFF BENNETT: The new medical# drama "The Pitt," streaming on Max,## has its season finale this Thursday.

The show tackles urgent issues, like the impact# of gun violence, hospital staffing shortages,## and the lasting effects of the# pandemic, earning praise from both## audiences and critics for its raw, realistic# portrayal of life inside American hospitals.

I spoke with Noah Wyle, who executive produces## and stars in "The Pitt," for our# arts and culture series, Canvas.

Noah Wyle, welcome to the "News Hour."

NOAH WYLE, Actor/Writer/Execut...

Thank you very much for having me.

GEOFF BENNETT: "The Pitt" plays# out over the course of a single## shift inside the emergency department# at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center,## with each episode representing# a single hour on the job.

What's remarkable about this show is nearly# every moment plays out on the E.R.

floor,## and that format really adds to the urgency.

What# was the creative intention behind that approach?

NOAH WYLE: To give that exact desired effect.

We# wanted to come up with a device that felt intimate## and created a sense of tension, analogous# to doing kind of a ride-along with a police## officer in the back seat of a cruiser or being# embedded with a combat unit as a journalist.

ACTRESS: What's going on?

ACTOR: We were discussing the# options for treating your son.

ACTRESS: He already looks better.

NOAH WYLE: He is not.

And by refusing the# spinal tap, we don't know how to help him.

You can turn your head, but you can't# really leave.

And you're going to be## sort of stuck witnessing everything in real# time while these practitioners go about their## duties and get a sense of the aggregate toll# that a day can take on a practitioner and,## extrapolate that over decades, a career can take.

GEOFF BENNETT: I understand it# was during the pandemic where,## as you described it, you# were feeling pretty useless,## that you decided to embark upon this# project.

Is that right?

Tell me about that.

NOAH WYLE: I wasn't working.

Nobody was working.# And I get a lot of my sense of balance from## going to work every day and being creative and# working with creative people and telling stories.

And I didn't realize how much I# really needed that until I didn't## have an opportunity to do it.

And at# that same time, I was getting a lot## of attention or mail from first responders# who were thanking me for inspiring them to## go into a career in medicine or thanking# me for continually keeping them inspired.

And I was sort of overwhelmed by that.

I# was sort of overwhelmed by old work having## resonance and poignancy in a way that I didn't# feel like I was able to contribute anymore.

And## so I thought maybe there's another story to tell# here that's more contemporary that reflects what## these guys are going through now.

And that began# the conversation that got us where we are here.

GEOFF BENNETT: Is it true that you# shoot "The Pitt" hundreds of feet## away from where you shot "E.R.

"# on the same Warner Bros. lot?

NOAH WYLE: It feels like farther# than 100 feet.

It feels like a## million miles and a million# years and about 25 pounds.

NOAH WYLE: But, yes, geographically,# it couldn't be closer.

GEOFF BENNETT: How does the experience of filming## the first season of "The Pitt" compare# to filming the first season of "E.R."?

NOAH WYLE: Well, the difference is,# I'm not 22 anymore doing this for the## first time.

I'm 53 doing it for another# time.

And I'm watching all these young## performers come in and have their John# Carter experience.

And it's been amazing.## It's been amazing to just have the perspective of# longevity and to be able to be a resource to them.

ACTRESS: Yellow.

We're good.

ACTRESS: How did you do that?

NOAH WYLE: Bubble intubation.

You# gave the compression.. the air bubbles.

More than one way to tube a cat.

But mostly just be kind of a# good team leader, cheerleader,## player-coach and friend and collaborator.

This place will break your heart.# But it is also full of miracles,## and that is a testament to all of you# coming together and doing what we do best.

GEOFF BENNETT: The character you portray on# "The Pitt," Dr. Robby, he is really the calm,## steady, empathetic center of chaos, even# as he battles his own internal struggles.

How do you go about crafting that character and# ensuring that the depth really comes through?

NOAH WYLE: Well, this is a different# animal entirely than usually a normal## working experience.

Telling a story# in real time and shooting in real## time and shooting in real time affords# you a lot of interesting opportunities.

Oftentimes, you're shooting out of sequence# and you have to remember where you were and## where you want to be in a certain moment.# Shooting in sequence allows every moment## to build on each other.

Big open set,# no marks on the floor, two cameras,## no dolly, no dolly track, no# lights, no flags, no C-stands.

Everything is preset.

So we come in# and we rehearse and then we shoot and## we have a freedom to move that I have# never experienced before working with## a camera.

So it feels more like# doing a play.

It feels very live.

On "E.R.," it was a very egalitarian set.# There was no foreground, background, cast,## crew.

We were just a sense of company trying to# go and do really good hard work.

And that's what## I wanted to build this time around too.

And I# think we were really successful on that front.

GEOFF BENNETT: And the thing that sets "The# Pitt" apart from other medical dramas is the## way medicine is practiced on the show.# I mean, the authenticity is unmatched.

How do you go about scripting a show like this?

NOAH WYLE: Well, we're in the process of writing# season two now.

And the process begins with a lot## of interviews, talking to experts from# every vector of the health care system.

We talk to people that specifically help# practitioners get back their medical degrees## after they have gone on a road of recovery# for a drug and alcohol substance abuse## problem.

We have talked to people that deal# in human trafficking, people that deal with## ICE and immigration and how that's# going to affect emergency rooms,## which are no longer considered# safe spaces, sanctuary spaces.

And the last question we ask of these people is,## what do you want to see on TV?

What's not on# TV that needs to be, from your perspective?

And## we write all the talky-talky stuff, and# then we give it to the doctors and say,## how would this work?

And then they write all the# technical mumbo jumbo and what the procedures are## and who would be doing what.

And we take that and# marry it together and somehow end up with a show.

GEOFF BENNETT: What do you think# it says about the times in which## we live that "The Pitt" is finding so much# success almost entirely by word of mouth?

NOAH WYLE: Well, it's funny.

I'm in New York# right now, and I went to go see George Clooney## in 'Good Night, and Good Luck" last night.

And# I got a chance to see him afterwards.

And he## was being very congratulatory about my show and# I was being very congratulatory about his show.

And we both acknowledge that, if# the election had gone the other way,## we would be in very different shows.

Right now,# "The Pitt" is standing out as almost a lighthouse,## reminding everybody of the hard work that# these experts and practitioners are doing,## reminding of the heroism of these everyday walk of# life individuals who work in the service industry.

Let me go check on triage.

ACTOR: We will save a spot for you.

ACTRESS: A wheelchair.

NOAH WYLE: Hey, Ahmad, what numb.. ACTOR: Eighty-five patients so far.

NOAH WYLE: Similarly, George is doing a show# about Edward R. Murrow and the speeches that## he's making.

Couldn't feel more contemporary,# relevant today.

And him standing there center## stage and delivering it to an American audience# eight times a week is an act of protest.

Sometimes, stars align to reframe what# you're doing in a totally different## context than what you even imagined# it would be.

I think that everybody's## feeling a sense of hopelessness# and feeling really scared.

And## it seems like things that we used to be able# to rely on are crumbling before our very eyes.

And then you turn on a show like# "The Pitt" and you go, oh, OK,## well, at least there's still smart people out# there who are dedicated that are helping those## who can't help themselves or finding that it's# really hard to get resources available to them.

GEOFF BENNETT: Noah Wyle is the star and executive# producer of "The Pitt" streaming now on Max.

Thanks so much for your time.

NOAH WYLE: Entirely my pleasure.

Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## In an historic moment for hockey# yesterday, Washington Capitals star## Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky's# all-time record for most career goals.

In a game against the New York Islanders,## Ovechkin scored his 895th goal, a# record once thought unbreakable.

ANNOUNCER: Ovechkin fires!# Scores!

The chasing days are done.

AMNA NAWAZ: With his trademark shot from# the spot on the ice known as his office,## 39-year-old Alex Ovechkin officially cemented# himself as the NHL's all-time leading scorer.

The goal broke one of the# sport's legendary records,## held by Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for 31 years.

AMNA NAWAZ: Gretzky was in New York to witness# it and congratulated Ovechkin on the ice.

WAYNE GRETZKY, Former NHL Player: I can tell you## firsthand I know how hard it..

I said I'd be the first guy to shake your hand# when you broke the record.

And I wore this pin.

AMNA NAWAZ: The Russian-born Ovechkin made# his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals## in 2005 and has been the leader of the team ever# since, eventually becoming captain.

He scored 50## or more goals for nine seasons and was named one# of the top 100 NHL players of all time in 2017.

He's also been named league MVP# three separate times in 2008,## 2009 and 2013.

After Sunday's game, Ovechkin# said he was still processing the moment.

ALEX OVECHKIN, Washington Capitals: When I# was tying the record, I still can't believe## it.

And it was so emotional.

It was such a great# night, but this is something crazy.

I just said## I'm probably going to need a couple more days or# maybe a couple weeks to realize what does it mean## to be number one, but what# I can say?

I'm very proud.

AMNA NAWAZ: For more now on Ovechkin and this# record-breaking achievement, I'm joined by Joe## Beninati, who's been doing play-by-play announcing# for the Capitals on the Monumental Sports Network.

Joe, welcome to the "News# Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

JOE BENINATI, Monumental Sports Network: Amna,## thank you for the invita.. JOE BENINATI: I'm not sure exactly# what the subject matter is.

Holy smokes, the last three,# four days have been phenomenal.

AMNA NAWAZ: Holy smokes indeed.

Joe, this is a record that stood for over 30# years before Ovechkin .. Just put it into perspective for us.

Where# does this put Ovi in the pantheon of greats?

JOE BENINATI: Well, the procession, there's# -- since 1917, when the NHL first began,## there's only been 10 people all time to have# the title of all-time goal scoring leader.

And the procession from Rocket Richard to# Gordie Howe to Wayne Gretzky to Alex Ovechkin,## I get the shivers just thinking about it because# you are speaking of a pantheon of all-time greats.

And most people will tell you that Wayne# Gretzky is the greatest hockey player to## ever live.

Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe,# Bobby Orr might also suggest that they## earned that title.

We're not saying that# Alex is the greatest player of all time,## but I think genuinely you can call him# the greatest goal scorer of all time.

With the achievements yesterday on Long# Island, this is a player who has done it## for 20 years and done it in such a way that he# has endeared himself to hockey fans worldwide.

AMNA NAWAZ: Joe, what about for you# to be there in that moment to make## that call we all just saw there?

What# was that like for you in the moment?

JOE BENINATI: Amna, I'm still shaking.

It's# pure adrenaline.

And as a professional, you## think about these moments and this is a player and# this is a hockey team or an organization that's## treated me to these types of moments, Alex for# 20 years, the organization going back 30 years.

I'm used to it, but you can't be conditioned# for something like the last three,## four days.

Friday at Capital One Arena was# magnetic.

It was as close to Stanley Cup## final level buzz as you can get without the# apprehension, without the fear of losing.

It## was a party that was there specifically to# see a player get his crowning achievement.

And he almost did it in one night.

And# then to do what he did on Long Island on## Sunday in front of so many Capitals fans who# made their way to New York and so many New## York hockey fans who recognized the greatness# that they were seeing unfold before them, they## treated themselves, with the Islanders as hosts,# obviously stopping the game for almost 25 minutes## to celebrate this man's achievement -- just a tip# of the cap to them, a job extremely well done.

But, for me, I don't know# that I will be treated to## more exhilarating moments than# that.

And as a professional,## what you're conditioned to try and do is stay in# that moment, deliver it with an adrenaline rush,## do it succinctly and get out of the way.

And# for the most part, I hope we did it well.

AMNA NAWAZ: You have watched Ovechkin# over all of those years as well.

This## is a man who's 39 years old in a league where the## average player is 27.

He missed a lot of# games this year because of a broken leg.

And as our resident hockey guru and Caps super# fan, our colleague Morgan Till tells me too,## he's not built like a classic# goal scorer.

He's built more## like a linebacker.

How was Ovechkin able# to do what so many couldn't for so long?

JOE BENINATI: Amna, this isn't a dainty hockey## player by any stretch.

This is# a middle linebacker on skates.

I have heard him referred to as a Mack truck on# skates.

And for him to do what he's done over## the last 20 years, more than anything,# and I have said this from time to time,## maybe the greatest ability of superstar# athletes is availability.

He's been## available 95 percent of the time that he# could have laced them up for the Capitals.

And this is playing through an assortment of# injuries.

In his younger days, he flexed them away## without even thinking about it, in his 20s and# early 30s.

Now that he's pushing 40 years of age,## those injuries linger a little bit longer.# And yet still he fights through them until## you get an episode like you did in November,# where he breaks his leg in Salt Lake City.

And, Amna, were it not for that injury, at age# 39, he could conceivably, with all these young## tigers running around on the ice, he could# conceivably be leading the league in goals,## again, had he not missed those 40 days, had# he not missed those 16 games.

He is having a## truly remarkable season when it comes to goals# per games played.

It's through the roof at 39.

Think of it.

AMNA NAWAZ: He's been a joy to watch.

It's a# joy to listen to you as .. That is Joe Beninati, the voice of the Washington# Capitals on the Monumental Sports Network.

Joe, thank you so much.

Really# a pleasure to talk to you.

JOE BENINATI: Amna, this was great.

Any time.

GEOFF BENNETT:## There's a lot more online, including# a look at why the National Weather## Service is halting its foreign language# forecasts as severe weather bears down## on large portions of the U.S.# That's at PBS.org/NewsHour.

AMNA NAWAZ: And that is the "News# Hour" for tonight.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.

For all of us here at the "PBS News Hou..