>>> HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO "AMANPOUR & COMPANY. "

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> WE HAVE OUR DEAL DONE WITH IRAN.

AND SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> AS G-7 LEADERS LOOK TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR CLARITY ON IRAN, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY WORKS TO KEEP UKRAINE ON THE AGENDA.

I SPEAK TO CANADA'S FORMER -- DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FREELAND NOW IN A -- >> IN BRITAIN, THE FAR RIGHT MOVES TO THE MAINSTREAM.

AMIDST A LEADERSHIP CRISIS FOR PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER.

WE ASK WHERE IS THE COUNTRY HEADED?

>>> THEN -- >> THEIR ENTIRE RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT FEELS UNDER ASSAULT AND IS IN JEOPARDY.

>> SHE SPEAKS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CRUSADER ERIN BROCKOVICH WHO'S NOW TAKING ON AI DATA CENTERS.

>>> "AMANPOUR & COMPANY" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY --THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

CANDACE KING WEIR.

POITA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE STRAUSS FAMILY FOUNDATION.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANTD COONEY FUND.

CHARLES ROSENBLOOM.

MONIQUE SHOWEN WARSHAW.

PATRICIA EWEN.

COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

> >> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM EVERYONE.

I'M BIANNA GOLODRYGA IN NEW YORK SITTING IN FOR CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR.

TODAY IN EVIAN WORLD LEADERS MEETING HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT FOR THE G-7 SUMMIT.

FIRST UP, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE U. S. PEACE AGREEMENT WITH IRAN.

WHICH OF COURSE THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WILL BE FULLY OPENED BY FRIDAY.

ALSO IN EVIAN UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IS LOOKING TO JUMP-START PEACE TALKS WITH RUSSIA.

>> OF COURSE EUROPE --EUROPE WANTS NEGOTIATIONS WITH COORDINATION WITH THE UNITED STATES.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE TERMS AND BETWEEN US IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE NEED USEFUL TRACTS TO STOP PUTIN.

NOW I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN DO IT AND EUROPE ALSO WILL DO IT.

>> ON THE BATTLEFIELD, KYIV CLAIMS IT RECAPTURED MORE TERRITORY LAST MONTH THAN IT LOST AMID SIGNS THAT RUSSIA IS LOSING MORE TROOPS THAN IT CAN RECRUIT TO SHORE UP ITS FORCES BUT ON THE HOME FRONT UKRAINE CITIES ARE WEATHERING DEVASTATING ATTACKS.

KYIV'S HISTORIC CATHEDRAL WAS STRUCK MONDAY AND ATTACK PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY CALLS A CRIME AGAINST CHRISTIAN CULTURE.

CRIST YEA FREELAND IS INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT HAPPENS AT MEETINGS LIKE THE G- 7.

SINCE JANUARY SHE'S BEEN ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY AND SHE JOINS US NOW FROM LONDON.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> I CAN.

GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.

LET'S START WITH NEWS OF THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT'S BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN LAUDING THIS MOU, THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT WHAT'S IN IT.

OTHER THAN IT'S A PAGE AND A HALF ACCORDING TO THE VICE PRESIDENT.

WE'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF EUROPEAN LEADERS BEGIN THIS G-7 SUMMIT BY CONGRATULATING THE PRESIDENT ON COMING TO TERMS WITH IRAN AND IT IS SAID TO BE FINALIZED ON FRIDAY.

AS I SAID THOUGH, NOBODY HAS SEEN THE TEXT.

THERE'S A LOT OF AMBIGUITIES HERE.

AND A LOT OF CONFLICTING REPORTING FROM BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND IRAN.

WHERE ARE YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR COMFORT RIGHT NOW WITH THIS DEAL?

>> I --ABSOLUTELY SHARE YOUR CAUTION.

I THINK SOMEONE COUNTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN 50 ANNOUNCEMENTS ALREADY OF A PEACE DEAL.

SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL AND RECOGNIZE THAT UNTIL WE ABSOLUTELY SEE WHAT IS IN THE DEAL, UNTIL WE SEE A SUSTAINABLE PEACE, WE SHOULD NOT, YOU KNOW, ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING IS OVER.

HAVING SAID THAT I THINK WE CAN ALREADY DRAW TWO CONCLUSIONS.

THE FIRST ONE IS THIS HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE SHOW OF AMERICAN WEAKNESS.

I THINK IAN BREHMER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO CALL IT AMERICA'S SUEZ.

THE MOMENT WHICH --THAT WAS THE MOMENT WHEN THE EUROPEAN GREAT POWERS WERE SHOWN TO NO LONGER BE ABLE TO EXERCISE AUTHORITY IN THE WORLD.

AND I WOULDN'T GO THAT FAR WITH UNITED STATES, BUT THIS IS REALLY A REMARKABLE OWN GOAL.

EVEN IF THE DEAL HOLDS, WE'RE BASICALLY WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE WAR STARTED, PROBABLY IN A WEAKER POSITION.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST CONCLUSION.

IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.

I THINK THE SECOND CONCLUSION IS EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT, EVEN WITH THE UNCERTAINTY, EVEN WITH THE FACT THAT THIS WAS AN UTTERLY UNNECESSARY, UTTERLY COSTLY WAR OF CHOICE, EUROPEAN LEADERS WOULD REALLY LIKE THE WAR TO END.

BECAUSE THIS IS CAUSING HUGE VOLATILITY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

IT'S CAUSING HUGE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FOR EUROPE.

SO IF YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING THE AMERICANS THERE TO GET THE DEAL DONE.

>> YEAH, YOU REFERENCED IAN BREHMER.

ONE OF THE TOP EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD HAS CALLED THIS A MEMORANDUM OF MISUNDERSTANDING.

AT THIS POINT.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OPENING HERE FOR PUTTING FOCUS BACK ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SO MANY RESOURCES, SO MUCH ATTENTION, SO MUCH CAPITAL THAT HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TOWARD THE WAR IN IRAN.

THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY AND OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS COMING AT THE EXPENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN UKRAINE.

AND IT IS GIVING RUSSIA MORE OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY TO ENRICH ITSELF WITH THE SPIKE IN OIL PRICES, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE UNLEASHING DEVASTATING ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS.

IN UKRAINE.

DO YOU THINK THAT NOW THIS IS THE OPENING THAT PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAD BEEN HOPING FOR?

EVEN IF THIS IS A SHORT 60 DAY PAUSE?

HOWEVER LONG THIS MOU IS?

TO PUT DIRECTION BACK WHERE PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE AND THAT IS ON THE WAR IN HIS COUNTRY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYONE IN UKRAINE AND EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WOULD LIKE THE WAR TO END.

EVERYONE WOULD LIKE A JUST PEACE.

I THINK WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT HAS HAPPENED REALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IS THE UKRAINIANS HAVE NOT BEEN SITTING ON THEIR HANDS.

THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.

THEY ARE NOW MANUFACTURING NOT ONLY THEIR OWN DRONES BUT THEIR OWN MID AND DEEP STRIKE MISSILES AND I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER THAT AWFUL DEGRADING SCENE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY WAS INSULTED BY TRUMP.

ONE OF THE INSULTS WAS YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CARDS.

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW CARDS WAS THAT UKRAINE RIGHT NOW HAS A LOT OF CARDS.

UKRAINE RIGHT NOW IS WINNING THE WAR.

WHEN ZELENSKYY ANNOUNCES THE STRIKES IN UKRAINIAN, HE CALLS IT OUR SELF-SANCTIONED PROGRAM.

AND WE ARE SEEING AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT UKRAINE TODAY IS NOW RETAKING SOME TERRITORY AND CRUCIALLY UKRAINE IS DEGRADING RUSSIAN MILITARY FORCES MORE QUICKLY THAN RUSSIA CAN CONSCRIPT SOLDIERS.

AND THAT COMES FROM A, YOU KNOW, SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

SUPERIOR STRATEGY.

AND UKRAINIANS --STRATEGY THAT IS PUTTING HUMAN LIVES FIRST.

SO I THINK THE UKRAINIAN --I THINK THAT THERE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW AND THAT OPPORTUNITY HAS CREATED FIRST AND FOREMOST BY UKRAINIAN PROWESS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

FLUSH AND I WOULD GIVE THE EUROPEANS A LOT OF CREDIT TOO.

THEY HAVE STOOD BY UKRAINE AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO UKRAINE AND THEY'RE PROVIDING MILITARY SUPPORT TO UKRAINE TOO.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

WHICH IS UKRAINE AND EUROPE REALLY STANDING UP TO PUTIN.

>> YEAH AND THROUGH ITS INNOVATION IN DRONE TECHNOLOGY, UKRAINE HAS PROVEN THAT IT IS LITERALLY REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF WARFARE.

BUT THEY ALSO ARE --IN DESPERATE NEED OF CONTINUED AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS.

AND THAT --ZELENSKYY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

DO YOU KNOW IF ANY INROADS ON THAT FRONT WERE MADE?

>> I CAN'T SAY.

BUT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

ONE OF THE REALLY UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR OF CHOICE IN IRAN IS IT MEANS THERE ARE FEWER OF THE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS AVAILABLE AND THAT DOES MAKE IT EASIER FOR PUTIN TO CONTINUE TO STRIKE UKRAINIAN CIVILIAN TARGETS.

AND THAT IS A REALLY --YOU KNOW, THESE ARE WAR CRIMES THAT ARE BEING COMMITTED AND WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, A STRATEGIC SHIFT THAT I AM SEEING PEOPLE ARE REALLY RECOGNIZING IS WE'VE GONE FROM THINKING ABOUT UKRAINE AS THE RIGHTEOUS VICTIM AS SORT OF A CHARITY CASE.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT.

AND CERTAINLY THE EUROPEANS ARE NOW SEEING UKRAINE AS A POWERFUL ALLY.

AS A SHIELD AND AN ARSENAL.

THAT CAN HELP THEM DEFEND THEMSELVES.

I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN THE GULF STATES UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.

AND YOU ARE NOW SEEING DEALS BEING DONE BETWEEN THE GULF STATES AND UKRAINE WHEN IT COMES TO PARTICULARLY TO DRONE TECHNOLOGY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE BALANCE OF POWER IS REALLY, REALLY SHIFTING AND IT'S SHIFTING FAST.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY BROUGHT YOU IN WAS TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND REBUILD THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY.

ONCE THE WAR --WHENEVER IT COMES TO AN END.

IT IS NOW LONGER I BELIEVE AS OUCH LAST WEEK THAN WORLD WAR I IN TERMS OF DURATION.

YET IT IS NOTABLE THAT UKRAINE'S AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT, SHARPEST ECONOMIC WEAPON APPEARS TO BE MAKING THE WAR QUITE EXPENSIVE FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN TO SUSTAIN.

YOU HAVE SEEN DAY AFTER DAY CONSTANT TORCHING OF RUSSIA'S REFINERIES, THERE APPEARS TO BE A FUEL BLOCKADE AROUND CRIMEA RIGHT NOW.

HIS GOLDEN JEWEL.

ANY INDICATION THESE TYPES OF OFFENSIVES WILL GIVE KYIV THE LEVERAGE TO FINALLY BRING PUTIN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE IN EARNEST?

>> I THINK THERE IS.

I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A SORT OF TWO PRONGED ATTACK FROM UKRAINE.

ONE IS SPECIFICALLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

THIS IS BUILDING THE UKRAINIAN DRONE WALL.

THIS IS REALLY SOPHISTICATED EFFORTS AT THE LINE OF CONTACT.

AND THEN THE SECOND EFFORT IS DEEP STRIKES WITHIN RUSSIA TO WEAKEN RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC CAPACITY.

TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR RUSSIA TO KEEP FIGHTING THE WAR.

AND ALSO TO MAKE REGULAR RUSSIAN PEOPLE AWARE THAT THE WAR IS HAPPENING.

IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE WAR, IT WAS QUITE POSSIBLE IF YOU LIVED IN MOSCOW OR ST.

PETERSBURG NOT TO REALLY FEEL YOUR COUNTRY IS AT WAR.

THESE DEEP STRIKES ARE CHANGING THAT SITUATION.

AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT SAY TELEGRAM AT WHAT RUSSIAN MILITARY BLOGGERS ARE SAYING, THERE'S STARTING TO BE SOME CONCERN AND CRITICISM OF HOW THE WAR IS BEING CONDUCTED.

THERE'S STARTING TO BE A REALIZATION BY I'M NOT GOING TO SAY REGULAR RUSSIAN PEOPLE.

MORE YOU KNOW, YOUR AFFLUENT MIDDLE CLASS PROFESSIONALS IN MOSCOW AND ST.

PETERSBURG, THAT THIS IS REALLY COSTLY.

AND IT'S SMALL THINGS LIKE YOU KNOW, THE INTERNET IS BEING DISS RESPECTED.

WELL, THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING A REAL IMPACT IN THEIR LIVES.

YOU KNOW, THE AIRPORTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAFE.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING SCARED TO TRAVEL.

EVEN THE ATTACKS THAT YOU MENTIONED ON CRIMEA.

YOU KNOW, CRIMEA WAS BEING TOUTED AS THIS WONDERFUL HOLIDAY DESTINATION.

NOW PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO TRAVEL THERE.

I THE THINK THE UKRAINIAN STRIKES ARE NOT ONLY BEING EFFECTIVE ON THE FRONT LINES BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO CHANGE THE CALCULUS INSIDE RUSSIA.

AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TERRIBLE WAR.

FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE DYING.

IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR UKRAINE AND THE WORLD IF THE WAR COULD END SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT --THIS OUR FINAL MOMENTS -- YOUR NEW BOOK WHICH IS TITLED "UNRELIABLE BOYFRIEND. "

YOU USED THAT PHRASE ON BILL HAMMER'S SHOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

YOU CALL IT THE UNRELIABLE BOYFRIEND.

WE HEARD PRIME MINISTER CARNEY TAKE IT A STEP EVEN FURTHER DESCRIBING THE RELATIONSHIP AS RUPTURED.

YOU ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED THE NAFTA REWRITE I WOULD SAY OR RENEGOTIATION, UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST TERM.

WHEN YOU ARE ADVISING PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WEST AND WELL --THE WESTERN COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE U. S --ARE RUPTURED OR DO YOU THINK THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SPECIFIC DEALS LIKE YOU WERE ABLE TO?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IN THE WORLD.

TODAY.

WHEN I WAS FIRST STARTING AS A JOURNALIST IN THE EARLY '90s, WE WERE FOCUSED ON EMERGING MARKETS AND THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE HELP THESE COUNTRIES WITH RULE OF LAW AND HOW CAN WE HELP THEM FIGHT CORRUPTION AND TO BE FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACIES.

AND THE COUNTRY WHERE WE NEED TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, TRAGICALLY, IS THE UNITED STATES AND ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS THAT THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO ASK ITSELF IS DOES IT WANT ALLIES?

DOES IT WANT PARTNERS IN THE WORLD?

I THINK THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD --WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD NEEDS TO DO IS HAVE A SORT OF THREE PRONGED STRATEGY.

I THINK YOU DO FIND THE AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE COMMON GROUND.

AND COLLABORATE ON THOSE.

I THINK YOU ALSO APPLY WHAT DURING NAFTA NEGOTIATIONS WE CALLED THE DOUGHNUT STRATEGY.

THAT MEANT RECOGNIZING THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE UNITED STATES.

AMERICA IS A HUGE COUNTRY.

I THINK AMERICANS ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD AS CANADIANS TO TAKE OUR STORY TO AMERICANS.

REGULAR AMERICANS.

AND TO SAY GUYS, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE A FIGHT WITH CANADA?

I THINK ALL OF US NEED TO BE DOING THAT BUT THEN THE FINAL THING IS I THINK WE HAVE TO BE STRONG.

I THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE ESCALATING BUT WE SHOULD NOT CAPITULATE.

WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH A BULLY YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IF YOU GET HIT, YOU HAVE TO HIT BACK.

OTHERWISE, THE PUMMELING CONTINUES.

SO THAT'S HOW I THINK WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW.

>> CHRISTY FREEDLAND, GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

> >> NEXT TO BRITAIN WHERE A SPECIAL BIELECTION ON THURSDAY COULD DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE COUNTRY.

GREATER MANCHESTER'S MAYOR ANDY BURNHAM IS CAMPAIGNING TO WIN A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT AND HOMING FROM THERE TO CHALLENGE PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER FOR THE TOP JOB.

BUT THE NORTHERN CONSTITUENCY OF MAKERFIELD TYPIFIES THE CHALLENGE WITH NOT ONE FAR RIGHT PARTY IN THE RACE BUT TWO, REFORM AND RESTORE BRITAIN.

IT'S A BIG MOMENT FOR THE COUNTRY WHICH HAS SEEN FRAUGHT POLITICS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS WITH SIX, SIX DIFFERENT PRIME MINISTERS.

STEPHANIE PHILANDERS IS HEAD OF THE ECONOMICS AND POLITICS AT BLOOMBERG NEWS AND JOINS ME NOW FROM LONDON TO DISCUSS WHY THIS BY-ELECTION IS TO IMPORTANT FOR BRITAIN.

STEPHANIE, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

MAKERFIELD IS ONE SEAT OUT OF 650.

A BAILOR STRONGHOLD AS THAT AND YET IT'S BEING CALLED THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL BY-ELECTION IN A CENTURY.

WHY DOES THIS ONE CONSTITUENCY CARRY SO MUCH WEIGHT?

>> SO YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN WAITING IN THE WINGS AS A POTENTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR SIR KEIR STARMER WHO HAS BEEN REMARKABLY UNPOPULAR AND WHAT MANY WOULD SAY INEFFECTIVE GIVEN THAT HE CAME IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AFTER THIS LONG PERIOD OF CONSERVATIVE RULE WITH A VERY LARGE MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT AND SEEMINGLY A MANDATE FROM THE PEOPLE.

BUT HE HAS BEEN SORT OF CONSISTENTLY IN FACT, EVEN VERY SOON AFTER BEING ELECTED, HAD LOST POPULARITY PARTICULARLY TO REFORM.

YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THE RIGHT WINGS POPULIST CHALLENGING PARTIES.

AND ANDY BURNHAM IS SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY HAD WORKED IN THE BLAIR GOVERNMENT AND HAS WORKED IN NUMEROUS LABOR ADMINISTRATIONS.

IS NOT NECESSARILY A KIND OF EDGY NEW FACE IN BRITISH POLITICS.

BUT HE HAS DONE SOMETHING INTERESTING HE'D GONE TO BE A MAYOR IN MANCHESTER.

IN A COUNTRY WHERE RELATIVELY NEW TO HAVING ELECTED MAYORS WHO BECOME POLITICAL LEADERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY COMMON IN THE U. S. AND AND PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.

IT'S ONLY A RELATIVELY RECENT THING IN THE UK BUT IN MANCHESTER HE CAME INTO A SITUATION WHERE THERE HAD BEEN A VERY STRONG ADMINISTRATION.

HE BUILT ON THAT AND HAS THE STORY HE CAN TELL ABOUT EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT WHICH SEEMS LIKE A REAL CONTRAST WITH WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN WHITE HALL.

HE'S NOW THROUGH A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS ENDED UP QUITTING HIS JOB --SAYING RUNNING FOR A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN THE SEAT, IF HE WINS THE SEAT HE WILL QUIT HIS JOB AS MAYOR OF MANCHESTER AND HE'LL BE SITTING THERE VERY OBVIOUSLY IN PARLIAMENT AND VERY MUCH EXPECTED TO CHALLENGE THE PRIME MINISTER FOR THE TOP JOB.

SO THAT'S THE VERY OLD WAY IN WHICH YOU HAVE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND POTENTIALLY ELECTING THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER OF THE UK.

>> AND ANDY BURNHAM SAYS A VOTE FOR HIM IS A VOTE TO CHANGE LABOR.

HERE'S WHAT ELSE HE SAID.

>> I KNOW MY OWN PARTY NEEDS TO CHANGE.

WE NEED TO BE BETTER THAN WE'VE BEEN.

WE'VE NOT BEEN GOOD ENOUGH AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE PEOPLE IN NO DOUBT TODAY.

A VOTE FOR ME IN THIS BY- ELECTION CAMPAIGN A VOTE TO CHANGE LABOR.

>> STEPHANIE, SOME OF HIS OWN ALLIES SAY THAT HIS POLICY PROGRAM IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

SO IS THIS SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE OR IS IT LITERALLY JUST A CHANGE OF FACE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE DIFFICULT THINGS BECAUSE THE FACT HE'S HAVING TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE IN THIS PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY, AT THE SAME TIME AS POTENTIALLY SPEAKING TO A MUCH BIGGER AUDIENCE AS THE POTENTIAL FUTURE PRIME MINISTER, MEANS IT'S VERY HARD FOR HIM TO SOUND TOO RADICAL RIGHT?

HE HAS TO SAY I'M GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM KEIR STARMER AND I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE HIM BUT STILL VOTE LABOR, VOTE FOR HIS PARTY.

JUST DON'T VOTE FOR HIM AND VOTE FOR ME AND I WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE SAYS TRIES TO BE EXCITING TO THOSE --THOSE LECTORS IN THAT ONE SEAT, HE HAS TO BE REASSURING TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS ON WHOM THE UK IS EXTREMELY DEPENDENT.

WE HAVE KNOW A HIGH BUDGET DEAF AND IT A LOT OF OUR DEBT YOU KNOW, LIKE THE U. S. IN FACT IS OWNED BY FOREIGN INVESTORS WHO ARE OFTEN IN FACT IN MANY CASES CURRENTLY REQUIRING A VERY HIGH RATE OF INTEREST TO PARK THEIR MONEY IN THE UK.

SO HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO THEM BECAUSE WE KNOWS THE MORE MARKETS ARE SPOOKED THE MORE EXPENSIVE THAT DEBT IS GOING TO BE.

THE LESS ROOM FOR MANEUVER HE WOULD HAVE AS AN INCOMING PRIME MINISTER BUT AS YOU SAID HE HAS TO KIND OF SOUND RADICAL.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SQUARE THAT CIRCLE MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID.

>> KEIR STARMER APPEARS QUITE FRUSTRATED BY THIS AND THE ATTENTION NOW ON ANDY BURNHAM TO SAY THE LEAST.

HE CONTINUES TO REMIND THE PRESS AND EVERYONE THAT WILL LISTEN THAT HE WON A MANDATE AND HE HAS A JOB TO FINISH AND YET WE SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW JUST DISILLUSIONED MEMBERS OF HIS OWN CABINET LEAVING.

AND IN THE BY-ELECTIONS IN MAY IT BECAME PRETTY CLEAR THAT TRADITIONAL PARTIES IN THE UK --AND WE'RE SEEING THAT TREND AROUND THE WORLD.

THE POLAR EXPRESS LET'S PUT IT.

LET'S LISTEN.

>> I WILL BE --FORCED TO --IN THIS TIME FOR REFORM AND VERY GOOD REASON.

I'M 78 YEARS OF AGE NEXT MONTH.

ALL MY VOTING LIFE, THERE'S ONLY BEEN TWO PARTIES WHO ARE FROM THIS COUNTRY.

LABOR AND CONSERVATIVES.

LOOK AROUND YOU.

IT'S A MESS.

EVERY TIME ONE PARTY GETS IN, THEY SPEND TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS CRITICIZING WHAT THE LAST PARTY LEFT THEM.

WHAT A MESS IT WAS IN.

YOU KNOW, AND THE --THEY'RE AS BAD AS EACH OTHER.

IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

>> SO IS THIS A PROTEST VOTE OR ONE OF PERMANENT REALIGNMENT AND HOW MANY --HOW MANY VOTERS DOES THAT ONE THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM SPEAK FOR?

>> I MEAN, THEST INTERESTING.

THAT QUOTE ACTUALLY DOES CAPTURE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AS I SAID, YOU LAD LABOR PARTY COME IN AND IT FELT LIKE FINALLY AFTER 14 YEARS OF CONSERVATIVES IN OFFICE AND THEN THE POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE LABOR PARTY.

MANY CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS WOULD SAY THAT'S BEEN BAD FOR THEM AS WELL BECAUSE IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THESE TWO MAIN PARTIES.

NEITHER OF THEM CAN DELIVER.

AND THEN PEOPLE ARE THEN LOOKING FOR PEOPLE ON THE EXTREMES AND I MEAN YOU HAVE NOT MENTIONED IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT SUCH A FEATURE OF THE MAKERFIELD CONSTITUENCY BUT LABOR IS ALSO BATTLE WITH THE GREEN PARTY WHICH HAS NOW GOT A VERY CHARISMATIC LEADER A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF LEADER WHO HAS TAKEN THE GREEN PARTY AWAY INTO A VERY KIND OF FAR LEFT POSITIONS ON MANY THINGS.

SO WE HAVE SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED IN MY LIFETIME IN THE UK.

FIVE PARTIES WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, ON DOUBLE DIGITS HIGH DOUBLE DIGITS OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, 20 OR 30% IN THE POLLS, WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE AN ELECTION BASED ON A FIRST PAST THE POST SYSTEM IS REALLY GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING THING TO WATCH.

BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE --YOU COULD HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT WAS ELECTED ON A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE.

JUST BEEN SLIGHTLY MORE IN ENOUGH CONSTITUENCIES TO GIVE THEM A MAJORITY.

OUR SYSTEM WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT KIND OF FRAGMENTATION OF POLITICS.

>> AGAIN, THIS IS INDICATIVE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OVER COUNTRIES TOO.

IT'S NOT JUST ISOLATED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT DOES THE THEORY THAT THE TRADITIONAL PARTIES HAVE REALLY LOST THE ABILITY TO TELL VOTERS WHAT THEY STAND FOR AND HOW MUCH --HOW MUCH DOES THAT WEIGHT CARRY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE FOR SOME WHO DIDN'T PARTICULARLY WANT BRITAIN TO LEAVE THE EUROPEAN UNION, THERE WAS A FEELING WELL, AT LEAST YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF POPULIST EXSERUM WHICH IS NOW WIDELY FELT TO HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED, HAS KIND OF --UK AGAINST SOME OF THE POPULISM YOU HAVE SEEN ON THE CONTINENT AND OF COURSE THAT YOU SAW WITH THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP.

BUT THAT HAS NOT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CASE AND I THINK YOU HAVE JUST ENDED UP SEEING A MUCH MORE IRASCIBLE ELECTORATE WHO JUST CHANGE THEIR MINDS ABOUT PEOPLE THE MOMENT THEY DON'T DELIVER IT'S ON TO THE NEXT THING.

THAT'S WHAT'S MOST CORROSIVE.

THE CENTER HASN'T HELD IN THE UK OR IN EUROPE DESPITE HAVING A VERY --OR ANY PARLIAMENT OR ANY POLITICIANS TO REALLY BREAK THROUGH AND TO SHOW VOTERS THAT THEY CAN DELIVER IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE GIVEN SO LITTLE SPACE TO DO IT.

>> REFORM --IS NOW BEING OUTFLANKED ON ITS RIGHT BY RESTORE BRITAIN.

AND HAS SENT YOUSEF TO WASHINGTON TO COURT MAGA.

INCREASINGLY LINKED ON THE RIGHT IN BRITAIN?

>> I THINK THERE'S A NORMALIZATION OF QUITE FAR RIGHT DISCUSSION AND TALKING POINTS AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE OVERON WINDOW THAT SORT OF WINDOW OF WHAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE RANGE OF CONVERSATION IN MAINSTREAM POLITICS OR MAINSTREAM DEBATE.

AND IT'S SHIFTED IN THE U. S. AND FOR SURE IT HAS SHIFTED ALMOST AS DRAMATICALLY IN THE UK AND SOME CASES EVEN MORE DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOW THIS RUPERT LOWE WHO IS YOU KNOW A SIGNIFICANT POLITICIANS IN HIS OWN RIGHT AND IN FACT HAS MORE FOLLOWERS NOW ON X THAN ANY OTHER POLITICIAN IN PARLIAMENT, AND HE IS -- ALIGNING HIMSELF WITH QUITE FAR RIGHT INDEED NAZI SYMPATHIZING PEOPLE.

AND IS ALSO TALKED ABOUT REMIGRATION WHICH I HAVE TO SAY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE UK DEBATE IN THE PAST.

BUT IT'S AGAIN SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAW IN THE BREXIT VOTE WHICH IS -- PEOPLE WHO FELT FOR THEM AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE DID FEEL LEFT OUT.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT'S COME UP WHICH IS MUCH MORE WELL- KNOWN AND ESTABLISHED IN THE U. S. IS THAT THE SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY, THAT'S JUST NOT BEEN ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA FOR 50 YEARS IN THE UK.

AND YET IT'S SOMETHING THAT THESE LEADERS ARE BRINGING BACK.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE POPULATION HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THESE 50 YEARS AND THEY HAVE NOT FELT REFLECTED IN POLITICAL DISCUSSION.

SO THE FRINGES ARE HAVING THEIR SAY AND THEY'RE GETTING BIGGER.

>> IT'S ONE THING TO CAMPAIGN AS A FRENCH PARTY.

IF REFORM ACTUALLY WON POWER, WHAT WOULD ITS GOVERNING POLICIES LOOK LIKE?

>> YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTING THING AND I GUESS WHAT YOU WOULD HEAR MAINSTREAM POLITICIANS ON THIS IS WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE A SERIOUS CAMPAIGN.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT MENTIONED THE IRONY OF REFORM'S POPULARITY --THE MOST UNPOPULAR THINGS IN THE U. S. AND UK AT THE MOMENT APART FROM THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD BE DONALD TRUMP REALLY NOT A POPULAR FIGURE.

AND BREXIT IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN A FAILURE.

AND YET ONE PERSON WHO'S MOST ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH OF THOSE TWO THINGS IN THE UK I MEAN, UNTIL RECENTLY, WAS VERY CLOSE TO DONALD TRUMP, WAS ALSO THE SINGLE PERSON WHO DID MOST TO ACHIEVE THAT -- FOR LEAVING THE EU IS NIGEL FARRAGE THE LEADER OF THE REFORM PARTY.

EVEN SOMEONE WITH A PROVEN RECORD OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THINGS THAT ARE VERY UNPOPULAR IS NOW STILL THE --SORT OF EXCITING PERSON TO TURN TO BUT WHEN WILL THE VOTERS REALIZE THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A POPULAR MANDATE OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, EFFECTIVE POLICY IDEAS?

WE'LL SEE.

I MEAN, HE'S A VERY EFFECTIVE POLITICIANS AND HE DOES HAVE A THEORY OF THE CASE.

IT'S JUST VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE MAINSTREAM POLITICIANS HAVE HAD OVER THE YEARS.

>> AGAIN, HE HAS A LOT MORE LEE WAY CAMPAIGNING ON A LOT OF THESE POLICIES.

THAN ACTUALLY GOVERNING ON THEM.

THAT'S QUITE A DIFFERENT CHAPTER.

>> YEAH.

>> CHALLENGE AND QUITE A DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITY.

STEPHANIE FLANDERS WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE YOU DISCUSSING BRITAIN'S POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IS SEEING THE COUNTRY TILT TO THE RIGHT.

IT'S A TREND THAT'S BEEN SNOWBALLING SINCE THE BREXIT REFERENDUM IN 2016.

TODAY ACTUALLY MARKS EXACTLY TEN YEARS SINCE THE LABOR MP JOE COX WAS MURDERED BY A FAR RIGHT EXTREMIST.

FIRST -- [ INAUDIBLE ] AS HE ATTACKED HER.

NOW HER SISTER --CORRESPONDENT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE GROWING POPULARITY OF FAR RIGHT POLITICIANS IN THE UK AND BRINGS US THIS REPORT.

[ CHANTING ] >> Reporter: THERE'S A MAGMA CHAMBER OF ANGER UNDERNEATH BRITISH SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.

>> BRITAIN HAS BEEN SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT.

>> Reporter: I HAVE SPENT THE PAST FEW MONTHS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> NO ONE SPEAK TO THE MEDIA HERE.

>> Reporter: ATTENDING FAR RIGHT PROTESTS INCLUDING UNITE THE KINGDOM.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST FAR RIGHT RALLIES EVER ON THE STREETS OF THE UK.

WHERE TENS OF THOUSANDS RESPONDED TO THE CALL OF THE MAN.

ANTI-ISLAM ACTIVIST TOMMY ROBINSON.

A CONVICTED CRIMINAL --AND ANTIESTABLISHMENT FIGURE.

>> ARE YOU READY FOR THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN?

[ CHEERING AND APPLAUSE ] >> Reporter: BUT IT'S NOT JUST ON THE STREETS AND IT'S NOT JUST THE EXTREME RIGHT THAT'S ON THE UP.

THE POPULIST RIGHT WING PARTY REFORM UK LED BY LONGTIME TRUMP ALLY NIGEL FARRAGE MADE MASSIVE GAINS IN LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MAY.

THIS RIGHTWARD SHIFT ISN'T ONE SINGLE MOVEMENT.

THE DIFFERENT GROUPS REPRESENT DIFFERENT SHADES OF RIGHT WING POLITICS.

BUT THEY ALL SEEM TO BE FEEDING OFF OF A DIVIDED BRITAIN.

THE HEART OF THOSE DECISIONS IS --DIVISIONS IS THE ISSUE OF MIGRATION.

JUST LAST WEEK A HORRIFIC ATTACK BY A SUDANESE MAN ALMOST TURNED INTO THE LATEST I TOLD YOU SO MOMENT FOR THE FAR RIGHT MOVEMENT.

TRANSFORMING A LOCAL TRAGEDY INTO A NATIONAL RALLYING CRY.

POWERFUL ALLIES AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE AND FANNING THE FLAMES OF HATE.

>> PEOPLE IN BRITAIN ARE ANGRY.

>> Reporter: JOE MALLHALL INFILTRATED FAR RIGHT GROUPS UNDERCOVER HERE IN THE UK AND IN THE U.S.

HE'S ONE OF THE UK'S TOP EXPERTS ON THESE MOVEMENTS.

>> YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THAT PEOPLE'S LIVES HAVE BEEN.

LACK OF JOBS AND HOUSES AND SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS AND STAGNATED WAGES.

LIVING STANDARDS GOING DOWN OR STAGNATING FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

AND THEY FEEL THAT MAINSTREAM POLITICAL PARTIES HAVEN'T MET THEIR MATERIAL NEEDS.

GOING TO THE PEOPLE AND THEY TURN UP AND THEY SAY YOU ARE RIGHT TO BE ANGRY AND GIVE THEM A SCAPEGOAT.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT REDIRECTING PEOPLE'S ANGER FROM WHERE IT SHOULD BE DIRECTED.

>> Reporter: I HAVE SEEN EXACTLY WHAT JOE IS TALKING ABOUT.

THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE PAST YEAR ACCORDING TO ACTIVIST TRACKING FAR RIGHT MOVEMENTS.

IT'S MOSTLY BEEN ABOUT MIGRATION AND HOW CONSECUTIVE GOVERNMENTS HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE.

AND WITH THE CENTER LEFT LABOR PARTY BACK IN POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO DECADES, THE FAR RIGHT SENSES CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR A RESURGENCE.

IT'S IN TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS ONE IN THE SLEEPY MARKET TOWN OUTSIDE LONDON WHERE WE SAW IT ALL PLAY OUT LATE LAST YEAR.

WALKING THROUGH TOWN WITH A PROTEST ORGANIZED BY A FAR RIGHT ACTIVIST, YOU SEE THOSE DIVISIONS AND FEEL THE ANGER.

>> HEY, HEY.

>> SHAME ON YOU.

SHAME ON ME?

[ SIRENS ] >> RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE MARCHING TOWARDS THIS FACILITY WHERE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ASYLUM SEEKERS, HAVE BEEN HOUSED IN THIS TOWN.

>> BE STRIKE.

>> Reporter: THEY'RE A LOUD CROWD BUT IT'S CLEAR THEY'RE MORE NOISE THAN NUMBERS AND YOU DO SEE LOCALS COMING OUT TO CONFRONT THEM.

THE MAIN EVENT KICKS OFF WITH A RAMBLING MIX OF FEAR MONGERING AND WHITE SUPREMACIST CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

>> TEACHING ABOUT MUHAMMAD ALI.

WE'RE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN AND PRONOUNS AND BELIEF -- [ INAUDIBLE ] KEEP UP THE PRESSURE AND ONE DAY, YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS.

>> Reporter: AT THIS ONE TINY TOWN'S PROTEST, WE FIND ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE UK'S EXTREME RIGHT.

>> COUNTRY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY MASS IMMIGRATION.

WE'RE FED UP.

THIS IS NOT THE FUTURE THAT OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS FOUGHT FAR.

IT'S WHO IT WAS BUT THEY DIDN'T FIGHT FOR THIS TO BE DONE TO OUR COUNTRY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] WE WANT OUR COUNTRY TO BE --LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THIS IMMIGRATION INVASION WAS FOISTED ON US.

FAR RIGHT NEO-NAZI A MINUTE AGO --THAT DOESN'T HOLD ANY POWER ANYMORE.

YOU MUST HAVE LEARNED THIS WITH TRUMP'S VICTORY.

NO ONE CARES IF THEY'RE CALLED NEO-NAZIS ANYMORE.

THOSE TERMS ARE JUST USED TO SILENCE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE RE-ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP HAS NOT ONLY INSPIRED THE ONE EXTREME RIGHT FIGURE, EVERY FAR RIGHT EVENT I HAVE BEEN TO, IT'S A CONSTANT THEME.

TRUMP'S MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN HAS COME TO THE UK.

>> THIS IS M.E.G.A., MAKE ENGLAND GREAT AGAIN.

>> I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE IS -- >> DONALD FUND.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS IT THAT'S GOING ON?

HOW MUCH --OF THIS IS REALLY INFLUENCE FROM THE U.S.?

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THERE'S THE HUGE INFLUENCE.

WHEN THE FAR RIGHT IS SMALL LITTLE FRINGE POLITICAL PARTIES THAT SOUNDS FANCIFUL.

WHEN YOU HAVE GOT DONALD TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE WORLD, THEY CAN THEN POINT TO SOMEONE AND STAY LOOK IT'S HAPPENED THERE.

IF IT HAPPENED THERE, IT CAN HAPPEN HERE.

>> Reporter: ARE WE HEADED TO A DIRECTION WHERE THE FAR RIGHT IS TURNING INTO A SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL FORCE IN BRITAIN?

>> I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

RIGHT?

THE FAR RIGHT IS NO LONGER SOMETHING THAT SITS ON VERY MARGINS OF OUR POLITICS IN BRITAIN AND ANNOYANCE TO THE RIGHT.

IT'S INCREASINGLY SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HAS THE REAL CHANCE OF TAKING -- >> Reporter: BE MOVING INTO THE MAINSTREAM.

IT'S A SMALL BUT VOCAL MINORITY THAT'S THREATENING TO CHANGE THE FACE OF BRITAIN NOW THEY BELIEVE THEIR MOMENT HAS ARRIVED.

>> NOW 5 MILLION GALLONS THAT'S HOW MUCH WATER A LARGE DATA CENTER IN THE U. S. CAN USE ON AN AVERAGE DAY.

THAT SHOCKING STATISTIC ACCORDING TO THE NONPARTISAN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY STUDY INSTITUTE.

THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO COOL DOWN SERVERS RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THE HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF RUNNING THESE CENTERS.

OUR NEXT GUEST IS CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY ON THE IMPACT TO NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES FROM PERSISTENT NOISE POLLUTION TO DWINDLING WATER SUPPLIES.

RENOWNED ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST ERIN BROCKOVICH DISCUSSES HER LATEST CAMPAIGN.

>> THANKS.

ERIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US YOU KNOW MOST PEOPLE WATCHING HAVE WILL HAVE HEARD YOUR NAME PROBABLY FROM A MOVIE WHERE JULIA ROBERTS PLAYED YOU FOR A VERY FAMOUS LAWSUIT THAT CAME AGAINST PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC AND THIS WAS A SETTLEMENT BECAUSE YOU REALLY WERE FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED BUT NOW WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY DATA CENTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

YOU HAVE BUILT THIS AMAZING CROWDSOURCE TO MAP AROUND THE COUNTRY.

YOUR SITE CRASHED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND YOU HAVE GOT WHAT?

NOW 5,000 REPORTS FROM 49 STATES.

>> SO IT'S OVER 10,000 SUBMISSIONS AND EACH SUBMISSION THAT COMES IN I HAND READ.

AND THEN THAT GETS MOVED TO ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER WHO HAND READS AND VETS AGAIN.

ZIP CODE.

LOCATION, ALL OF THAT KIND OF INFORMATION AND THEN IT GOES TO EXCEL AND IT'S PUT ON TO THE GOOGLE MAPS.

AND SO WHAT WAS VERY INTERESTING IS QUICKLY THAT I WAS LEARNING WHILE IT WAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EVERYBODY HAD THE EXACT SAME CONCERN.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THEY WERE NOT INFORMED.

IF THEY DID SHOW UP, THEY COULDN'T SPEAK.

THEY WERE ASKED TO LEAVE.

AND SO THAT BECAME A REAL PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO START BECOMING CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I AM CLEARLY LEARNED FOR 30 YEARS THAT COMMUNITIES HANDLE THE TRUTH WAY --LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

THEY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

BUT WHEN SOMETHING IS DONE IN SECRET, OR THEY'RE LIED TO, IT BECOMES A DIFFERENT GAME.

SO --VERY QUICKLY THAT WAS MY FIRST CONCERN THAT I COULD SEE ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WAS HAPPENING FOR EVERYBODY.

>> WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE WRITING TO YOU ABOUT?

I MEAN, SOMEBODY AT THE COMMUNITY --SORT OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE SO TO SPEAK OR WHOEVER DOES THE PERSONALITIING FOR THOSE THINGS, WHETHER IT'S A CITY OR STATE GOVERNMENT.

SOMEONE IS IN A CONVERSATION WITH A HYPERSCALER DATA CENTER COMPANY OR ONE OF THE BIG SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES THAT USES THESE.

RIGHT?

OR THE AI COMPANIES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE DEAL, WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DEALS THAT ARE BEING DONE?

>> WELL, IN THE BEGINNING, AND AGAIN, AS THIS GETS BIGGER AND MORE INFORMATION COMES IN, WE START LEARNING FOR ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

FOR MANY OF THEM, IT WAS JUST BLANKET --THEY HAD NO IDEA.

JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS CONSTRUCTION WAS STARTING IN THEIR BACKYARD.

SO WHEN THEY WOULD GO INTO CITY COUNCILS AND THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT ON THE MEETING.

IT WAS NOT SCHEDULED.

THEY WERE NOT NOTIFIED.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP.

AND THAT THIS WAS DONE UNDER NONDISCLOSURES' AGREEMENTS.

SO THESE COMPANIES JUST CAME IN AND MADE DEALS.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW AS PEOPLE ARE KNOWING MORE AND GETTING INTO CITY COUNCIL WHAT HAPPENED, A LOT OF TIMES, ZONING WAS CHANGED TO PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR THE LARGER DATA CENTERS TO COME IN.

SO THEY WILL TELL YOU AND THEIR VERBIAGE TO ME IS SECRECY.

COVER-UPS.

LIES.

DENIED WHAT THEY FEEL WAS THEIR RIGHT TO SHOW UP TO A MEETING AND HAVE A SAY ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THEIR BACKYARD.

SO IT WAS LIKE --NOTHING WAS DONE WITH ANY NOTICE.

THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES DONE.

THEY WERE CONCERNED ARE THERE ANY REGULATIONS.

THE WATER --ALL OF THAT.

AND SO THAT IS WHAT REALLY I THINK BEGAN THIS HUGE CONVERSATION WAS SECRECY AND IT --IT WAS NOT ONE TOWN.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT REALLY IS SURPRISING ME.

YOU KNOW, HINCKLEY WAS ONE TOWN.

ONE AQUIFER.

ONE CHEMICAL.

THIS IS A HINCKLEY IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES AND CITIES AND EVERY SINGLE STATE AND IT WILL FACT THAT ALL OF IT WAS JUST IN SECRET IS KIND OF SHOCKING.

>> IN YOUR EXPERIENCE NOW, HAVING LOOKED AT AND ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AND SEEN SO MANY DIFFERENT LAWSUITS AT LEAST IN THE WATER POLLUTION SPACE, ARE THERE LEGAL TACTICS THAT YOU HAVE FIGURED OUT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE TO EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO TRY TO GET MORE INFORMATION WHEN THERE ARE THESE LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENTS IN PLACE THAT PRESERVE THE SECRETS?

>> I THINK WE'RE WATCHING THAT PROCESS HAPPENING.

SO THESE COMMUNITIES ARE VERY SMART.

AND THEY WILL START JOINING ONE NEIGHBOR AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER AND MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES THEY HAVE LOCAL ENGINEERS THAT WORK THERE.

PEOPLE THAT COULD --EXPLAIN THINGS TO THEM.

AND THEN THEY START TO ORGANIZE IN A THOUGHTFUL, MEANINGFUL WAY.

AND SHOWING UP AT THE CITY COUNCILS TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION AND THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE WATCHING IN THE PROPOSAL.

SO THERE'S MANY STAGES HAPPEN HANDGUN IS PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCTION TO UP AND RUNNING.

AND SO THEY GET ORGANIZED.

THEY NETWORK AND THEY START GETTING FACTS, INFORMATION, AND THEY INFORM THEMSELVES AND SO WE ARE SEEING SOME LAWSUITS HAPPENING AND AGAIN, THE REASON I LIKE THE MAPPING AND THIS IS SELF-REPORTING.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING, BREATHING AND EXPERIENCING A SITUATION AND WHO BETTER TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM THAN THEM?

AND SO NOW CITY COUNCILS AND THERE HAS BEEN BIG TURN WHERE THEY'RE DOING PAUSES, MORATORIUMS, BANS, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP AND NOW THESE COUNCILS ARE BEING SUED FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY THE COMPANIES FOR BREACH OF NDA AND A CONTRACT.

AND SO I ACTUALLY GET EMAILS FROM MAYORS AND COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT TYPE OF LAWSUIT.

SO THEN THEY KIND OF BACK AWAY.

SO THOSE TYPES OF LAWSUITS ARE OCCURRING, THERE'S MANY OUT THERE.

THEY --THIS IS SUCH A LOCAL THING.

STATE BY STATE.

YOU ARE SEEING LOCAL ATTORNEYS SHOW UP TO HELP SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY AND THEN NOW YOU HAVE ATTORNEYS DEFENDING THESE COUNCILS AND THESE CITIES.

WHO ARE BEING SUED BECAUSE THEY BROKE THE CONTRACTS.

>> THERE WAS A RECENT PIECE IN THE ATLANTIC ATLANTIC TALKING ABOUT LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA WHICH IS HOME TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT DATA CENTERS AND LOOK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND LEADERS THERE SAY LOOK, WE'RE PROTECTING $1.

3 BILLION IN REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THE TAXES --FROM THESE PLACES.

YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY HAYSEEDS THAT HAD MONEY TO BUILD # 32 SCHOOLS AND 16 FIRE STATIONS AND THEY'VE CUT PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS BY A THIRD RIGHT?

THERE'S THIS ENORMOUS PILE OF MONEY THAT PEOPLE SEE AND I DON'T KNOW.

LIKE --SO WHEN YOU GET THESE EMAILS FROM PEOPLE, ARE THEY TAKING THOSE SORT OF COSTS AND BENEFITS INTO CONSIDERATION?

>> YES.

THEY ARE.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY.

BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS SPILL OVER INTO THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE WATCHED THIS HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN YOU KNOW.

THIS CITY COUNCIL GETS MONEY BUT THEY DON'T PUT IT TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS THAT THEY NEED.

IT GOES TO SOMETHING ELSE.

OR IT'S MISAPPROPRIATED OR MISBUDGETTED.

WE'VE SEEN THAT GO ON FOREVER.

SO THEY ARE THOUGHTFUL OF THAT.

BUT HERE'S WHAT I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT.

THEY WERE LEFT OUT OF EVERY EQUATION TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND GIVE US A BOUNDARY.

HOW ABOUT WE START THERE?

AND NOT PUT THEM IN OUR LITERALLY BACKYARD.

THEY'RE RIGHT THERE.

GIVE US A SPACE.

WHAT?

# 25 MILES, 30 MILES, SO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

THEY DO APPRECIATE THAT UNDERSTAND THAT BUT IT'S COMING AT A COST TO THEM.

WHERE I NOW AM SEEING UTILITY BILLS DOUBLE.

TRIPLING.

WATER BILLS DOUBLE.

TRIPLING.

THEY'RE EXTRAORDINARILY CONCERNED FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON WELL WATER.

THEY'RE LOSING THEIR WATER PRESSURE AND HAVING BROWNOUTS AND THEY'RE HAVING FLICKERING AND THEIR WI-FI IS GOING DOWN.

THE NOISE IS DEAFENING AND THAT COMES AT A GREAT COST.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EACH OF THESE SEPARATE COSTS THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING TO YOU ABOUT.

AND POINTING OUT TO YOU.

LET'S START WITH ELECTRICITY AND LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LAB ESTIMATED THAT U. S. DATA CENTERS ARE USING ABOUT 4% OF ALL THE ENERGY THAT'S BEING JUNE GENERATED IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DOES THAT NUMBER MEAN?

THAT'S REALLY ABSTRACT BUT WHAT'S THE COST OF THESE DATA CENTERS AND HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO PERSONAL LIVES?

>> YOU KNOW, SO LIKE --I PULLED OUT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT HAD JUST WRITTEN IN RECENTLY.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL STATES.

SO THIS IS THE PERSON OUT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AREA WHO NORMALLY HAD --THIS IS THEIR WATER BILL.

AROUND $22 A MONTH THAT'S NOW SPIKED TO OVER $350 A MONTH.

THERE'S OTHER REPORTS HERE ON ELECTRIC.

THIS PERSON IS REPORTING THAT THEIR SUMMERTIME ELECTRIC BILL WENT FROM ABOUT $50 A MONTH TO IN EXCESS OF $300 A MONTH.

THESE ARE BIG JUMPS.

AND IT'S A HUGE STRAIN FOR THEM.

AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A CONVERSATION FOR THE COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING TO COME IN.

YOU PAY FOR THE ELECTRIC, WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY THAT COST?

AND THEN WE HAVE A FACILITY AND OUR BACKYARD THAT IS STRAINING OUR OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES.

AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE IMPACT OF THEIR HEALTH.

SO I EVEN JUST RECEIVED AN AND AGAIN, I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW.

WE READ EACH SUBMISSION AND TRY TO VET AND VERIFY THAT INFORMATION COMING OUT OF TEXAS WHERE THEY GOT A NOTICE FROM THE UTILITY THAT THEIR ELECTRIC RATES COULD INCEASE 75% -- INCREASE 75%.

>> LET'S TALK ALSO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WATER USE AND THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

MOST PEOPLE WATCHING MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS A LOCAL AQUIFER HAVE TO DO AND WHAT'S THE WATER COMING OUT OF THE SINK AND WHAT'S THE WATER GOING INTO THE DATA CENTER.

HOW ARE THESE ALL CONNECTED?

IS THERE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

>> THERE'S THE MUNICIPAL SIDE AND THERE'S PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN WELL WATER.

THE WELL WATER BECAUSE THE BIG CENTERS ARE COMING IN RURAL AREAS.

THE OLD DATA CENTERS AND WE KNOW WERE SMALLER.

AND THEY WERE MOSTLY IN SUBURBAN AREAS.

BUT NOW THEY'RE ENCROACHING OUT INTO THE RURAL AREAS OF FARMLAND WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ON THEIR OWN WELL WATER.

SO THEY REPORT A FIRST OFF --A REDUCTION IN WATER PRESSURE.

THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY PRESSURE AND THEIR WATER IS JUST DRILLING INTO A BUCKET.

THEY'RE STARTING TO REPORT ESPECIALLY DURING CONSTRUCTION PHASES, AND THESE ARE VERY, VERY LARGE CENTERS.

I MEAN, YOU ARE TALKING IT COULD BE 20 SUPERSIZED WAL- MARTS IN ONE LOCATION.

IN A BIG FARMLAND AREA.

THE AQUIFERS CAN BE DISTURBED AND THEY START SENDING IN PICTURES SAYING WAIT A MINUTE, WHY IS MY WATER THIS MURKY BROWN?

YOU CANNOT DRINK IT AT THAT POINT TILL YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN IT.

THEN THEY REPORT WALTER PRESSURE LOSSES AND THEY REPORT THEY'RE HAVING TO DRILL NEW WELLS AND THEY'RE STARTING TO REPORT THAT THEY'RE ALREADY IN A DROUGHT STRICKEN LOCATION.

AND THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT THE AI DATA CENTERS NEED, THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY COULD LOSE THEIR AQUIFERS AND THEY COULD LITERALLY BE OUT OF WATER.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME PUSHBACK TO THIS IDEA PARTLY BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY HEY YOU KNOW WHAT?

LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF GOLF COURSES THERE ARE AND WHAT KIND OF WATER WE USE THERE.

AND THE AI CENTERS USE MUCH, MUCH INCREDIBLY SMALLER FRACTION.

RIGHT?

IT'S LIKE --WHERE --WHAT'S THE PRICE OF OUR PROGRESS?

WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH?

SHOULD WE BE ASKING PEOPLE TO WALTER THEIR LAWNS LESS OR SHOULD WE BE MAKING KIND OF BIGGER STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN OUR SOCIETY TO TRY TO ENABLE THESE?

I MEAN, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT IDEA THAT THIS ISN'T THAT MUCH WATER IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT CONSIDERING HOW MANY ARE COMING UP AND THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS 30 MILLION LITERS AND ET CETERA.

OF WATER THAT'S BEING USED ON TOP OF AN ALREADY STRAINED SYSTEM.

I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD.

BECAUSE WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.

WE HAVE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

AND WE HAVE ANT KUWAITED AGED OUT INFRASTRUCTURE.

EVERYWHERE.

AND IT COMPARES TO A GOLF COURSE OR A DATA CENTER.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SEEN THE STUDIES WHERE THEY SAY THEY'D RATHER LIVE NEXT TO A NUCLEAR FACILITY THAN A LARGE DATA CENTER.

BECAUSE THIS ISN'T ABOUT ONE ISSUE.

IT'S ALL OF OUR RESOURCES.

IT'S EVERY RESOURCE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THEY FEEL THAT THIS IS A STAKE THAT'S TOO HIGH.

YOU ARE NOT TALKING JUST WATER.

YOU ARE WALKING WATER AND YOU ARE TALKING LAND AND YOU ARE TALKING AIR AND YOU ARE TAKING HEALTH AND YOU ARE TALKING THEIR ENTIRE RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT FEELS UNDER ASSAULT AND NO JEOPARDY WITH NO CONVERSATION TO BE HAD.

>> ARE THERE SPECIFIC COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO WHAT THEY'RE SEEING THROUGH YOUR MAP?

THE NUMBERS OF LETTERS THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT'S THE RESPONSE BEEN?

>> WE'VE SEEN ONE SITUATION WHERE MICROSOFT CAME OUT AND EDUCATED THE PUNT AND THEY DID SHOW UP.

WE HAVE A TRUST FACTOR AT THIS POINT RIGHT?

BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT THEY DID SHOW UP.

THEY START TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE SEEING SOME SHIFTS.

I BELIEVE THERE'S ABOUT 79 MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE NOW PUT ON BANS, MORATORIUMS, OR A PAUSE.

GIVE US THE DATA.

GIVE US AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY AND LET THE COUNCIL AND US RELOOK AT THIS AGENDA.

SO LET'S HAVE A PAUSE BEFORE WE COME BACK AND MAKE A VOTE.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALSO STARTED COLLECTING HEALTH REPORTS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HEALTH, THERE WAS A MODEL IN 2024 LED BY CAL TECH AND UC RIVERSIDE THE ASK THE RESEARCHERS THERE ESTIMATED THAT THE DATA CENTER COULD, COULD, CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED NUMBERS OF OF ASTHMA SYSTEM CASES AND PREMATURE DEATHS.

THIS PUBLIC HEALTH COST COULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $20 BILLION.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, WHAT ARE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT MOST?

>> THE NOISE FOR ONE.

LET'S START RIGHT THERE.

THEY SAID IT --LITERALLY IT MAKES THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING MAD.

I HAVE HEARD FROM RANCHERS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THIS LONG 24 HOUR HUMMING.

HISSING AND IT'S PRETTY HARD TO DESCRIBE BUT IT'S PRETTY IRRITATING IF YOU HAVE TO LISTEN IT TO IT 24/7.

[ HUMMING ] AND AGAIN, THIS INFORMATION COMES AND AND WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

BUT THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CATTLE HAVEN'T HAD ONE LIVE BIRTH.

SO --WHAT IS THAT?

SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

THEY TALK ABOUT HEADACHES FROM THE NOISE.

DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, THIS IS A HUGE JOB.

AND IT COMES OUT OF NOWHERE WHETHER IT BE THE DUST INCREASED ASTHMA, CONGESTION BEING DELAYED TO WORK, WATERY EYES.

ITCHY SKIN.

ALL THOSE TYPES OF HEALTH ISSUES ARE THERE.

SO WE KIND OF MONITOR WHAT IT IS FROM DURING CONSTRUCTION, TO AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT'S UP AND RUNNING.

AND IT DOES TAKE TIME FOR THESE THINGS TO SHOW THEMSELVES ONCE SOMETHING IS UP AND RUNNING.

>> SHOULD THERE BE DIFFERENT RESPONSE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

RIGHT NOW THE ADMINISTRATION, PRESIDENT PASSED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER SAYING QUOTE, MY ADMINISTRATION WILL UTILIZE FEDERALLY OWNED LAND AND RESOURCES FOR THE EXPEDITIOUS AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT OF DATA CENTERS AND IT GOES ON TO INSTRUCT THE EPA TO CHANGE THE CLEAN WATER AND CLEAN AIR ACT REGULATIONS TO GET THESE FACILITIES BUILT FAST.

SO WHAT --WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO?

>> OH.

WELL, THAT'S A REALLY DIFFICULT QUESTION FOR ME TO ANSWER.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE DONE THIS FOR 30 YEARS.

AND WATCHED FEDERAL OVERSIGHT THAT GOES DOWN TO STATE AND THEN STATE GOES DOWN TO LOCAL.

AND I THINK WE'RE JUST ON A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT.

AND WE PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE AND I HAVE LEARNED COMMUNITIES HAVE LEARNED I THINK WE ALL HAVE, THAT ONCE WE DO THAT PROCESS, AND THEN THE STUDIES COME, WE COME TO FIND OUT TEN YEARS LATER, WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION ON THE UP FRONT SO WE DON'T MAKE THAT TYPE OF MISTAKE AGAIN.

THIS IS EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE.

THAT MATTERS.

OUR WATER.

OUR ELECTRICITY.

OUR LAND, OUR FOOD.

OUR WILDLIFE.

OUR ANIMALS.

AND OUR HEALTH.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR GOVERNMENT TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND DO THE RIGHT THING ON THE UP FRONT.

WE'RE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.

>> ERIN BROCKOVICH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

> >> AND FINALLY, ROMEO, ROMEO, WHEREFORE ART THOU ROMEO?

THIS CAT SHOWED NO SIGN OF STAGE FRIGHT MAKING THE UNEXPECTED ENTRANCE DURING THE PERFORMANCE OF "ROMEO AND JULIET. "

THE FELINE SAUNTERED ON STAGE DURING THE PIVOTAL SCENE OF THE NOTORIOUS TRAGEDY.

STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT.

IT WAS NOT THE TRADITIONAL ENDING TO THE SHOW, THE STAR CROSSED PERFORMERS WERE A REAL CROWD PLEASER.

SHOUT-OUT TO VIOLET FOR WRITING THAT FOR US.

WE LOVED --WE LOVE THIS VIDEO.

WHAT A GREAT STORY.

AND THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

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ORG/AMANPOUR.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "AMANPOUR & COMPANY" ON PBS.

JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.

>> Announcer: AMANPOU R & COMPANY" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT.

JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

CANDICE KING WEIR.

THE SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI- SEMITISM.

THE STRAUSS FAMILY FOUNDATION.

CHARLES ROSENBLOOM.

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COO AND PATRICIA EWEN COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR PBS STATION BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.