WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Good evening.

I'm William# Brangham.

Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett are away.

On the "News Hour" tonight:# Gas prices in the U.S.

top## $4 a gallon.

With mounting# pressure from the war with Iran,## President Trump lashes out at allies for# not helping reopen a key oil shipping route.

The Supreme Court sides with the therapist# challenging a state ban on the discredited## practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ children.

And some suspicious trades in# prediction and financial markets## regarding Trump administration policies raise# questions about who's really benefiting.

DAVID HILL, American Gambler Substack:# It's right for us to assume that there## is a lot of insider trading that# goes on, on prediction markets,## just as there's a lot of insider trading# that goes on in the stock market.

(BREAK) WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Welcome to the "News Hour."

President Trump said tonight that the war with# Iran will likely last anot.. but the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz# continues to be a problem for the U.S.,## and the president again lashed out# at allies for not doing more to help.

Iran's de facto blockade of that# waterway has driven up the cost## of oil worldwide and sent American gas# prices to their highest level in years.

Overnight, targets outside the ancient,## historic Iranian city of Isfahan were# set ablaze by U.S.

strikes, home to a## large ammunition depot in one of the country's# main nuclear complexes, now a towering inferno.

President Trump posted this# video to his social media,## projecting U.S.

strength before,# hours later, conveying frustration.## The president said that nations that were upset# by Iran's choking of the Strait of Hormuz,## through which a fifth of the world's oil normally# flows, should take matters into their own hands.

"Go to the strait and just take# it," the president wrote.

"You## have to start learning how to fight# for yourself.

Go get your own oil."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today# directed more blame on U.S.

allies,## who have so far refused to# participate in this war.

PETE HEGSETH, U.S.

Defense Secretary: This is an# international waterway that we use less than most,## in fact dramatically less than most.

So# the world ought to pay attention to be## prepared to stand up.

President Trump's been# willing to do the heavy lifting on behalf of## the free world to address this threat of Iran.# It's not just our problem set going forward.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Iran has allowed some ships to# pass through the strait, including from China,## India and Malaysia.

The U.S.

claims up to# 20 tankers are expected to pass through## in coming days.

But Iran's attacks# in and around the strait continue,## including a drone strike on a fully loaded# Kuwaiti oil tanker off the coast of Dubai.

The attack punctured its hull and set# the ship ablaze.

The crew managed to put## out the fire before it ignited its cargo# and no oil was spilled.

But attacks like## these have sent shockwaves through global oil# markets.

Dozens of oil and gas facilities have## been targeted and damaged by Iran's retaliation,# including fields, refineries, storage and ports.

And as fuel prices have soared worldwide, here in# the U.S., the price at the pump hit $4 a gallon,## the highest level since 2022, the national average# up more than a dollar since before the war began.

PETE HEGSETH: President Trump# will make a deal.

He is willing.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Secretary Hegseth said# talks were ongoing and gaining strength,## despite Iran's public denials.

But he# said the U.S.

was prepared to ramp up## the war if Iran didn't yield to U.S.

demands.

PETE HEGSETH: We don't want to have to# do more militarily than we have to.

But## I didn't mean it flippantly when I said in# the meantime we will negotiate with bombs.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs# General Dan Caine added that the U.S.

military## campaign was increasingly limiting Iran's# ability to replace what had been destroyed.

GEN.

DAN CAINE, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff:# We remain focused on interdicting and destroying## the logistical and supply chains that feed# these programs.

And this remains a truly## joint effort prosecuted around the clock# from air, land sea, space, and cyberspace.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Iran's Revolutionary Guard# hit back today with a new threat, saying it## will soon target U.S.

companies in the region,# including Google, Apple, Intel, and Boeing.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, the U.S.

State Department# said it's aware of the reported kidnapping of## an American journalist there, identified# as Shelly Kittleson by one of the outlets## that she worked for.

A U.S.

official said a# member of an Iranian proxy known as Kataib## Hezbollah was arrested on suspicion# of being involved in the kidnapping.

Today, a defiant Israeli Prime Minister# Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran could no## longer threaten Israel's existence and promised# to speak soon about new alliances in the region.## And the U.S.

is reportedly adding even# further to its forces, dispatching a## third aircraft carrier strike group to# the Middle East, the USS George H.W.

Bush.

But Secretary Hegseth would not stay today# if the U.S.

would deploy ground forces.

PETE HEGSETH: We're not going to# foreclose any option.

You can't## fight and win a war if you tell your# adversary what you are willing to do## or what you are not willing to do,# to include boots on the ground.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All options open# to a potentially open-ended conflict.

And so, for an on-the-ground perspective,## we turn to Reza Sayah.

He's the "News# Hour"'s special correspondent in Tehran.

Reza, thank you so much again for talking with us.

When U.S.

officials are talking about# these strikes, they keep stressing that## they are hitting military targets in Iran, not# civilian targets.

Is that your understanding?

REZA SAYAH: Well, I can tell you# firsthand that that's not the case.

Indeed, they are hitting military targets, but# they're also increasingly hitting non-military## targets.

Yesterday, airstrikes knocked out power# in parts of Tehran.

That happened again today,## and also in the island of Qeshm# along Iran's southern coast.

The power is back on, but that's two days in a# row where we have seen power outages.

And that## has many here worried because of President# Trump's threat to hit Iran's power grid.

This morning, state media reported an airstrike# hitting one of Iran's leading pharmaceutical## manufacturing companies.

And this adds to# the list of strikes on non-military sites.## We have seen airstrikes on universities,# fuel storage depots, port facilities,## event and steel factories, and# historical and cultural sites.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Reza, what is your# understanding of the diplomatic talks that## are under way?

We have heard conflicting# reports from the president and from the## Iranian government.

What are your sources# telling you about the status of those talks?

REZA SAYAH: Well, I think any real reasonable# person would say that many of Mr.

Trump's## statements about talks are often inconsistent.# One day, he's saying negotiations are happening## and he's winning the war.

The next day,# he's deploying troops, making threats.

So Tehran pretty much dismisses his# statements.

The Foreign Ministry is## often very polite, but military leaders# often mock him.

Tehran's position is,## this is a president that's twice attacked# Iran in the middle of talks.

So they don't## trust him and when it comes to# his claims about negotiations.

Their focus is on defending their# country against what they view as an## illegal attack.

At the same time, the# Foreign Ministry says they're always## prepared for talks if the talks are held# with respect and recognize Iran's rights.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Reza, at the beginning# of these attacks, President Trump said he## wanted to create the conditions where# Iranians themselves could rise up,## and thus weaken the Iranian government and allow# individual Iranians to rise up and take power.

How realistic does that seem to you?

REZA SAYAH: Well, at this point, I can tell# you that we're in the fifth week of this war,## and there's been no indication# of an anti-government uprising.

In contrast, almost every day, even on nights# where it's been raining, you have (AUDIO GAP)## of the population joining them, most of# the core supporters of the government,## religious and conservatives, but increasingly# you're seeing more progressive, liberal Iranians.

Obviously, many Iranians were dissatisfied# with this government, but they didn't want## their dissatisfaction to lead to an attack by# the United States in Israel.

So you're seeing## increasingly solidarity among different sectors# of the population for the military troops.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is Reza# Sayah joining us from Tehran in Iran.

Reza, great to talk to you.

Thank you.

REZA SAYAH: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The steep rise# in gas p.. is the second largest spike in three# decades, and it is hitting Americans'## wallets.

Many have told us how they're# now scrambling to fill their own tanks.

SAMANTHA LOTT, Texas Resident: My name is# Samantha Lott.

I currently live in Denton, Texas.

JAMES LAWRENCE, Nebraska Resident: I'm# Jim Lawrence.

I live in Omaha, Nebraska.

ALEXIS MIMS, Texas Resident:# My name is Alexis Mims.

JAMIE PARDAU, Hawaii Resident: My name is Jamie# Pardau.

And I live in.. JONATHAN TIPTON MEYERS, California# Resident: I'm Jonathan Tipton## Meyers.

I'm a full-time rideshare driver.

As soon as this war started, gasoline# prices jumped up minimum 50 cents,## but in certain areas it was a dollar as well too.

JAMIE PARDAU: My husband and I are making# an effort to combine any trips that we## take into town or to stores, so that we# aren't driving unnecessarily.

I don't## think it ever occurred to me that# our gas would be over $5 a gallon.

ALEXIS MIMS: We are -- we are struggling.

Now## it's not just the groceries that are expensive,# but now it's the gas that is out of control.

SAMANTHA LOTT: I am a community mental# health social worker.

As I'm sure you know,## I do not make a lot of money.

And so having# to use my own car and drive a lot around two## different counties, I'm buying a lot of gas.# Then, in order to make ends meet as well,## I have to deliver groceries on the# side in the evenings and the weekends.

I'm filling up my tank every other# day, and I'm having to pay like $40 to## $50 to do so.

Any money that I get from# my daytime job is usually a month late## for reimbursement.

And so I'm having to# figure out how to make that money stretch## and like what kind of food am I going# to eat this month, that type of thing.

It's really anxiety-ridden right now times for# me and a lot of other people, especially people## that are single and are having to pay all of their# household costs themselves.

It's really difficult.

JAMES LAWRENCE: Right now, my# income is tied to the market.

So,## it's in my retirement accounts.

And# so with the volatility of gas goes the## volatility of the market, and one goes# up, and your bank balance goes down,## and that really is the most concerning thing# about the future.

All of this needs to stabilize.

JAMIE PARDAU: In Hawaii, so much of what we# have purchased in the stores is imported,## and so it isn't really just the cost# of gas that is going to impact our## community.

It's going to be the# cost of just about everything.

JONATHAN TIPTON MEYERS: We're constantly trying# to calculate whether a ride can actually be## profitable for us.

So if you add on an increased# gas price, it just makes making those decisions## even more difficult.

And at the end of the month,# that's a significant raise in your actual price,## in your anxiety, in your ability to drive# safely and maintain your car and do your job.

ALEXIS MIMS: My son is three hours# away in college, and my daughter is## 30 minutes away.

The amount of gas is too# much to go ahead and travel at this time,## so we are forgoing plans for any type# of get-togethers.

But, thankfully,## we have modern technology, so for# now we just keep in touch that way.

SAMANTHA LOTT: I don't really do a lot of things# other than work, just because I can't afford to,## and that's really sad, because in# order to have a well-balanced life,## people need to be able to go do things,# support local businesses, hang out with## their friends.

And those are kind of luxuries# at this point that I just truly can't afford.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So how long are# gas prices expected to stay high,## and, more broadly, how bad a shock will# this war deliver to the global economy?

For that, we turn again to Cliff Kupchan.# He is chairman of the Eurasia Group,## which is an international consulting firm.

Cliff, so good to have you# back on the "News Hour."

So you have heard from these people about how# difficult it is for them just to fill their tanks.## Gas is over $4 a gallon, Brent crude at over 118# a barrel.

If this war continues, as the president## said tonight, even for a couple more weeks or# maybe longer, how much worse could this get?

CLIFF KUPCHAN, Research Director,# Eurasia Group: It could get a lot worse.

The Strait of Hormuz is so critical to the# international economy, for oil, for LNG, for## helium, for chips, for food, for fertilizer.

It is# just a choke point for the international economy.## I don't think that, for the foreseeable future --# I think this war, I think, is going to get worse.

Judge President Trump by his actions, which# is sending more equipment to the Gulf,## not by something he might have said today# about caring about opening the Gulf.

So I## think this is going to be a stranglehold on the# economy.

It's going to rise prices and raise## prices in many sectors and stoke inflation in# countries around the world.

It's a real problem.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: You touched on a few# of those other products that come through## the Gulf.

Apart from energy supplies, what# other industries will those mostly affect?

CLIFF KUPCHAN: Well, again, helium, which is# critical to making advanced chips for A.I.,## aluminum, petrochemicals, fertilizer,## and food prices.

Those are the# main ones.

But that's a whole lot.

And especially for countries that import food,## it's going to be a real battle to keep the books# balanced and to keep inflation under control.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Do you think that# consumers, or maybe even more importantly,## the market has taken on board this# idea that this could get so much worse?

CLIFF KUPCHAN: No.

Unfortunately, I think that markets, which I can# speak .. but markets have had their head in the sand.# I think markets still have their head in the## sand.

The market rally today, in part on# President Trump's comments that he could## end the war without opening the Strait of# Hormuz, that's just really wishful thinking.

President Trump also sent a third aircraft# carrier to the Gulf today.

He's sending more## troops to the Gulf.

It's -- I think markets are in# denial that there's a strong chance we get ground## forces in Iran and that prices go up even further# towards the $130 level, $130 a barrel for Brent.

It's going to get bad.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Do you really believe,# judging by what you're saying, that.. conflict will escalate, that, despite# what the president has been saying... CLIFF KUPCHAN: I do.

I do.

President Trump has -- again, I'm not going to put# a judgment on it, but he's now attacked Iran twice## in the middle of ongoing negotiations.

I think# that, as an analyst, it's just not useful to track## his day-to-day words.

It's much more useful to# track the administration's day-to-day movements,## which is putting men and a whole lot# of metal and hardware into the region.

So I -- yes, I think it's going to get worse.# It may not gone more than two or three weeks,## but I think we're going to see a lot# of combat and bombing before then.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The president# again reiterated this point that,## if nations are not willing to help reopen# the strait and they're thirsty for more oil,## that they ought to just buy that oil from the# United States.

Is that a realistic exchange?

CLIFF KUPCHAN: No.

Global markets a.. Energy prices are going to stay high as# long as the Strait of Hormuz is closed,## and alternative sources are hard to# come by, especially for LNG.

So the## president's comments really don't speak# to how energy markets work, unfortunately.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, that is# Cliff Kupchan of the Eurasia Group.

Always great to hear from you.# Thank you so much for being here.

CLIFF KUPCHAN: Thank you, sir.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## In the day's other headlines: A# federal judge today ordered the## Trump administration to stop construction of# its $400 million White House ballroom project.

District Judge Richard Leon sided with# a preservationist group that called for## further reviews and input from Congress.

In# his opinion, the judge wrote that Trump is## the steward of the White House, not its owner,# and that -- quote -- "No statute comes close## to giving the president the authority he claims# to have."

But the judge also delayed enforcement## of his order for 14 days and acknowledged# that the administration is likely to appeal.

Also today, a separate federal judge# ruled that President Trump's executive## order that barred federal funding# for NPR and PBS is unconstitutional.## Judge Randolph Moss said the order violated# those groups' First Amendment rights.

While PBS and NPR leadership both celebrated# today's decision, the ruling will likely have## little effect on their immediate financial health.# That's because the Republican-controlled Congress## voted to claw back the roughly half-a-billion# dollars in annual funding last year.

Still,## it could allow Congress to provide# future money should it choose to do so.

Turning overseas, a group of 12 top European# diplomats visited Ukraine today to mark four## years since Russia's massacre in# the town of Bucha outside Kyiv.## They placed candles on a memorial# to honor the more than 400 people## who were killed there.

Russia invaded Bucha# early on in its war, now in its fifth year.

In Russia today, thick smoke rose from# an oil storage facility at a port in the## Baltic Sea near St.

Petersburg.

Ukraine has# targeted energy infrastructure in that area## for the past week.

A Kremlin spokesperson# downplayed the strikes and vowed to respond.

DMITRY PESKOV, Spokesman for Vladimir# Putin (through translator): All critical## facilities important to Russia's.. protected.

If airspace is being made available# for hostile terrorist activity against Russia,## this obliges us to draw the appropriate# conclusions and take appropriate measures.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Ukrainian# officials are hoping their## long-range drone strikes in the region# will prevent Moscow from profiting off## its oil exports amid global concerns over# energy supplies brought on by the Iran war.

In Gaza, health officials say two# Israeli airstrikes killed at least## five people today.

Palestinians in Khan# Yunis mourned a father and his 2-year-old## son who died in one of the strikes.

Israel# has not yet commented on either incident.

Meanwhile, in Central Gaza, a# chaotic and emotional scene,## as a group of 11 toddlers were reunited with# their families.

They had been evacuated as## premature newborns back in late 2023 amid# violence brought on by the Israel-Hamas war.## One father described his reunion as -- quote# -- "the most important moment of his life."

SAMER LULU, Father of Evacuated Toddler# (through translator): Our feelings are## indescribable.

She is my first da.. because of the reality we live in.# We hope our children's future will## not be filled with the tragedy or suffering# they faced at the beginning of their lives.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: A total of 31 premature# babies had been evacuated to Egypt.

Doctors## say four died after arriving, though# the fate of the others remains unknown.

An update now on a story we brought to you# last night.

A Russian tanker carrying more## than 700,000 barrels of oil arrived in Cuba today.# It is the first such delivery in three months,## and it's expected to provide up to 10 days of# Cuba's energy needs.

The Trump administration## allowed the vessel to proceed despite# an ongoing oil blockade of the island.

That blockade has led to a series of blackouts# and further crippled the country's economy.## Despite this delivery, the White House says it# has not changed its broader policy towards Cuba.

A panel of high-level U.S.

officials# voted today to exempt offshore oil## drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from rules# related to the Endangered Species Act.

The## decision came at the request of# Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth,## who cited a threat to U.S.

energy# production during the ongoing war with Iran.

Critics say the move could threaten a# rare whale species and harm other kinds## of marine life.

The panel is chaired by the# interior secretary, and it's commonly called## the God Squad because its actions can# decide whether a species lives or dies.

NASA has begun its 24-hour countdown to# humanity's first flight to the moon in## more than half-a-century.

After weeks of# fuel leaks and other glitches, officials## say Artemis II is finally set to launch tomorrow# night from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

At a press event today, weather# experts said the odds of a favorable## condition tomorrow are at a promising 80 percent.

MARK BURGER, NASA Launch Weather Officer:# Weather has been a nuanced thing for us at## times here in the generation# phase of this mission.

But,## again, look outside right now.

Great# weather.

There's nothing here that## is screaming a no-go for the entirety of# the window for any one of these attempts.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The four astronauts# of the Artemis crew are set to become## the first lunar visitors since# Apollo 17 back in the early 1970s,## but they won't land on the moon's surface or# even orbit it.

Instead, they will zip past the## moon's far side and then head back to Earth in# a trip that's planned to last less than 10 days.

On Wall Street today, stock surged amid# hopes for an end to the Iran war.

The Dow## Jones industrial average jumped more than# 1,100 points.

The Nasdaq added nearly 800## points, or almost 4 percent.

The S&P 500# posted its biggest gain since last May.

And we have a unique passing of note.# Sugar "The Surfing Dog" has died.## The mixed breed rescue pup from Huntington# Beach, California, was a five-time dog surfing## world champion and the canine inducted into the# Surfers Hall of Fame.

Wearing a life jacket,## she often rode solo, but sometimes# alongside her owner, Ryan Rustan.

Sugar also spent time comforting# veterans as a therapy dog.

The## city of Huntington Beach called her a# local legend whose impact reached far## beyond the shoreline.

Sugar "The# Surfing Dog" was 16 years old.

Still to come on the "News Hour":# communities rebrand Cesar Chavez## Day following sexual assault allegations# against the late labor leader; pardons## and prediction markets raised questions about# who's making money during the Trump presidency;## and the next stage for the Washington National# Opera after its departure from the Kennedy Center.

A Colorado law that bans what's called# conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth hit a## potentially far-reaching roadblock# at the U.S.

Supreme Court today.

In an 8-1 decision, the justices sided# with a Christian counselor who argued## that the law violated her First Amendment rights.

Our justice correspondent, Ali# Rogin, has more on the ruling.

ALI ROGIN: William, the majority of# justices cast doubt on whether the## state of Colorado can ban licensed# therapists from talking to their## minor patients about their sexual# orientation or gender identity.

Supporters of the law argue the ban was# necessary to protect children from the## practice of conversion therapy that they say# is harmful.

In the court's majority opinion,## Justice Neil Gorsuch said -- quote# -- "Colorado may regard its policy## as essential to public health and safety,# but the First Amendment stands as a shield## against any effort to enforce orthodoxy# in thought or speech in this country."

Last fall, the "News Hour" spoke to Kaley# Chiles, the therapist at the center of the case.

KALEY CHILES, Licensed Professional# Counselor: The care that is at stake## in this lawsuit is that we are allowed to# speak freely and that we are allowe.. by the product of that, sort through# feelings, sensations, thoughts, beliefs.

ALI ROGIN: The ruling sends the case# back to a lower court to weigh in on## if the law is constitutional.# Colorado is about one of two## dozen states that have banned# conversion therapy for minors.

For more on today's decision, I'm joined now# by the "News Hour" Supreme Court analyst,## Amy Howe, co-founder of SCOTUSblog.

Amy, great to see you again.

AMY HOWE: Good to see you too.

ALI ROGIN: So, in this argument,# the therapist made the.. because she was doing talk therapy with her# clients, talking them through these issues,## that this really was a violation, this ban is# a violation of her First Amendment protections.

Did that seem to land with the majority?

AMY HOWE: It did indeed.

The state had argued that states have long# .. and so that the ban was part of an effort# to regulate conduct, rather than speech,## so that the First Amendment wouldn't apply.

And to# the extent that it regulated speech like Chiles',## it did so only incidentally, sort of# as part of the regulation of conduct.

But the majority didn't buy that# argument at all.

Justice Neil Gorsuch,## writing for the majority, said the# First Amendment is not a word game## and said that what she's doing is# speech, and the state is regulating that.

What this case was about was whether or not# the lower courts applied the correct standard,## the correct test to determine whether or not# the conversion therapy ban was constitutional.## Chiles argued that the lower court# should have applied a less deferential,## more stringent test called strict scrutiny# precisely because her conduct was, in fact,## speech, her talk therapy was speech, and# therefore the First Amendment was involved.

And the Supreme Court agreed with her.# It didn't go ahead and actually apply## that test.

Instead, it sent the# case back to the lower courts.

ALI ROGIN: The court kept coming back to# this idea of viewpoint discrimination,## that this law allows therapists to affirm a# person's identity, but not discourage that.

Why was that framing so important in this room?

AMY HOWE: It was essential, I think, in no small# part because you have, when you have viewpoint## discrimination, in the Supreme Court's view, you# have the state choosing a side in the debate.

And so you have the state saying you can affirm# a client's gender identity, but you can't work## with them to try to realign their gender identity# to the one that they were assigned at birth.

It## seemed pretty clear after oral argument that# Kaley Chiles was likely to win in some form.

It was a little bit of a surprise that it wound# up being 8-1, with justice Ketanji Brown Jackson## being the only dissenter.

Justice Elena Kagan# and Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined the majority.## Justice Kagan wrote a concurring opinion in# which she said, this might have been a different## case if we have a law that regulated content,# but didn't discriminate based on viewpoint.

ALI ROGIN: You mentioned Justice Ketanji# Brown Jackson, the lone dissenting voice.

And in her dissent, she really# focused on the harm that she## would argue is done potentially# to children who undergo conversion## therapy.

She wrote -- quote -- "Like it or# not, treatment standards exist in America,## and those standards necessarily reflect the# expert medical community's current beliefs## about the safety and efficacy of various medical# treatments, whatever those beliefs might be."

Beyond Justice Jackson's dissent,# how did the issues of the potential## harm and concerns about conversion therapy# play into this argument and this opinion?

AMY HOWE: It was an issue that came up at the# oral argument and then resurfaced again in## Justice Gorsuch's opinion, but relatively# briefly, and he acknowledged that there## is this debate.

The state had relied on it as# the rationale for the conversion therapy ban,## but the opinion sort of downplayed# the consensus among major medical## organizations right now on the idea that# conversion therapy is harmful to LGBTQ teens.

Justice Samuel Alito, I believe, at# the oral argument had pointed out,## and then the opinion made the same point,# that back in the '50s, '60s, and '70s,## major medical associations had called# homosexuality a mental disorder.

And## so the point that the opinion was making was# that these kinds of consensuses can change.

ALI ROGIN: So where does this go from here,## both in terms of this particular# case that gets put back to the## lower courts and the other approximately# two dozen states that have similar bans?

AMY HOWE: So this case will go back to the# lower court for it to apply strict scrutiny,## this very demanding constitutional test.

Both in this case and in the roughly 25 other# states that have similar bans, the Supreme Court## didn't -- sort of tiptoed right up to the line.# It didn't come right out and say that it believed## that the ban, at least as applied to Kaley Chiles,# someone doing talk therapy, was unconstitutional,## but it really strongly signaled that the eight# justices believed that a ban like this was.

And so I think that in the case of Colorado# and in other states that have similar bans,## it's going to be a really tough# sell to try to convince courts## that these laws can survive strict# scrutiny and are constitutional.

ALI ROGIN: Amy Howe, co-founder# of SCOTUSblog, thank you so much.

And we will see you back here tomorrow to discuss## the big birthright citizenship case# that is before the Supreme Court.

AMY HOWE: Looking forward# to it.

Thanks so much, Ali.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM:## Just two weeks ago, cities across# the country were finalizing plans## for celebrations of Cesar Chavez day.

Then an# investigative report from The New York Times## revealed allegations that Chavez sexually# abused women and girls for years, including## Dolores Huerta, with whom he co-founded# the United Farm Workers union, or UFW.

Now many of those cities# are canceling those plans,## and a day that was once a celebration has become# a painful reminder of his now tarnished legacy.

Stephanie Sy reports.

STEPHANIE SY: On a day that once celebrated# him, communities are now moving swiftly to## distance themselves from disgraced labor# leader Cesar Chavez, who died in 1993.

A New York Times investigation this# month uncovered evidence that Chavez## sexually abused women and girls for years# while leading the farmworkers movement.

LUVIAH ROBLES, Student, San Francisco State# University: Hearing about these allegations## is definitely a hard thing to digest,# but it's also a hard thing to ig.. STEPHANIE SY: Cities like Milwaukee and# Austin canceled celebrations entirely,## while others emphasized the movement over the man.# In Denver, where a Chavez statue was dismantled,## activists instead celebrated Si Se# Puede Day, in English, Yes We Can.

And the patch of grass that bore Chavez's name# for two decades had a new handwritten sign,## Dolores Huerta Park, after the woman who# co-founded the United Farm Workers union.## Huerta herself, now 95, was revealed by The# New York Times to have been raped by Chavez.

GERALDO CADAVA, Northwestern# University: I'm hoping that,## even though this is really difficult# news and devastating news to absorb,## that it might give some new life to the farmworker# movement to get out from under his shadow.

STEPHANIE SY: Geraldo Cadava is a professor of## history and Latino studies# at Northwestern University.

GERALDO CADAVA: I think historians have already# made the move toward recognizing that the United## Farm Workers was a broader social movement.# I think what placing Dolores Huerta at the## foreground of the movement now does, on the one# hand, it acknowledges women's contributions and## the idea that women have always been part of# the union and were central to its successes.

I guess I would only caution against just simply# replacing Chavez with Huerta and lionizing her,## coming to lionize her in the same way# that we lionized Cesar Chavez,because## to replace one hero with another hero could# also stunt the movement in some ways, I think.

WOMAN: Women who speak up.

STEPHANIE SY: Last week, both Minnesota and# California, which was the first state to## recognize Chavez's birthday as a holiday, quickly# passed new laws renaming March 31 Farmworkers Day.

STATE SEN.

SUZETTE MARTINEZ VALLADARES# (D-CA): This is not about one narrative.## It's about honoring generations of# sacrifice, of resilience and hope.

STEPHANIE SY: And the UFW itself# canceled its planned events,## calling the allegations against# Chavez shocking and indefensible.

Taken together, it marked a nearly unthinkable# fall from grace for the late civil rights icon,## once mentioned in the same breath as# Martin Luther King Jr.

and whose name## and image adorn schools, street signs# and murals nationwide, those tributes,## once a point of pride, now a source# of pain in cities like Los Angeles.

RAUL CLAROS, Founder, California Rising:# Cesar Chavez Avenue needs to be replaced.## I have a 10-year-old little girl who lives# in that building on Cesar Chavez, who today,## after school, I'm going to have to sit down# around the dinner table and explain to her## why we're out here doing this, what the# rumors, the allegations and the facts are.

STEPHANIE SY: There, the Board of# Supervisors has now voted to erase## Chavez's name from county streets and# buildings.

Phoenix has done the same.

Betty Guardado is a member of the city council.

BETTY GUARDADO, Phoenix City Councilmember: For# us to be able to act on this as fast as we did,## it just means that we're not going to tolerate# this type of behavior and that we're going## to continue to hold everyone accountable,# that we will continue to lift the victims,## that we will continue to do# the right thing as a city.

STEPHANIE SY: Still, what's next will likely# be tougher than removing street signs,## a full reckoning with Chavez's# legacy, both the vital role he## played in advancing civil rights and the# disturbing truth of his sexual abuse.

In a letter to the public this afternoon, the# Cesar Chavez Foundation said: "During this## time of painful internal reflection, we do not# want to lose sight of the very real threats our## community currently faces.

We cannot let# this moment fracture what so many worked## so hard to build," a sentiment echoed by the# current president of the UFW, Teresa Romero.

TERESA ROMERO, President, United Farm Workers:# You know, we have in one hand Cesar Chavez,## the man who committed horrible acts that we're# not going to justify, that we don't condone.

On the other hand, we have# Cesar Chavez, the organizer,## who brought thousands and thousands of people# together to be able to work for farmworkers.## And, unfortunately, those two# things came from the same man.

STEPHANIE SY: For the "PBS# News Hour," I'm Stephanie Sy.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The Pentagon today is strongly# denying a report by The Financial Times that## Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's stockbroker# was seeking to make large investments in major## defense companies in the days right before# the U.S.

and Israel first struck Iran.

That report is raising yet more# concern about the many people in## and around the Trump administration who# seem to be profiting in unusual ways.

White House correspondent Liz# Landers takes a closer look.

LIZ LANDERS: Early last week, as the United States# and Iran continued to exchange strikes in the## Middle East, there was a spike in the crude oil# futures trading volume around 6:49 a.m.

Eastern## time.

A few minutes later, at 7:05 a.m., the# president posted on his social media platform## that he was suspending strikes on Iranian power# plants and energy infrastructure for five days.

The stock market opened up and oil prices went# down.

A combined $800 million in trades was## made.

The timing of the market movement# could be coincidental, but it produced## a windfall all the same.

And traders aren't# just getting rich in traditional marketplaces.

Polymarket, a prediction marketplace# where individuals can bet on anything## from sports to politics, has seen several# users bet specifically on U.S.

military## action related to Iran and rake in money.# Before the president's latest announcement## claiming the U.S.

and Iran were actively# engaged in productive talks, several newly## created accounts bet nearly $160,000 that a# cease-fire will happen by March 31 or April 15.

After the president's comments, the value# of those bets doubled and stand to pay out## to $1 million if the cease-fire# happens by April 15.

Who's behind## these bets?

Polymarket and other online# prediction market sites like Kalshi allow## users to place bets anonymously so the# identity of the bettor remains unknown.

But potentially lucrative payouts like# these have raised concerns about the## possibility of insider trading, says# David Hill, a journalist who writes## about gambling for "Rolling Stone" and hosts# the podcast "American Gambler Book Club."

DAVID HILL, American Gambler Substack: I# think that it's right for us to assume that## there is a lot of insider trading# that goes on prediction markets,## just as there's a lot of insider trading# that goes on in the stock market.

You know,## lots of people know the outcomes of these things# prior to the public knowing them.

And so some## people are going to be opportunistic# about that and take advantage of it.

LIZ LANDERS: Polymarket, which calls itself# the world's largest prediction market,## announced new rules last week clarifying three# categories of prohibited insider trading conduct,## banning trading that involves# stolen confidential information,## illegal tips, and trading by# people who can influence outcomes.

They even specifically give an example about# military members betting on military operations,## advising that's banned.

It's raising questions# about the morality of betting on these actions,## which inevitably involve life-or-death situations.

DAVID HILL: I personally would not want to make a# bet on whether or not somebody would live or die.

I think that one of the things# that's a concern here is that,## if there is a market on something like death,# that there is sort of moral hazard involved,## right, and that people shouldn't be allowed# to wager on predicting somebody's death,## not just because it's moral, but also# because there may be -- that it creates## these sort of perverse incentives, and that# people's lives are involved and are at stake.

LIZ LANDERS: Kalshi told us that# government employees are not permitted## to place predictions on geopolitical# markets and said it does not comment on## potential investigations.

Polymarket did# not respond to questions from PBS News.

There are at least eight bills in Congress# seeking to regulate prediction markets,## including a bipartisan House bill that# would bar elected government officials,## senior federal staffers and their families# from trading in prediction markets.

But these platforms aren't the only way that# people are profiting off of politics these## days.

For others with ties to the president# or who claim to have connections to him,## there's another lucrative business opportunity# that's emerged, lobbying for presidential pardons.

Trump's prolific use of his clemency powers# has been controversial from the beginning.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# We hope they come out tonight, frankly.

LIZ LANDERS: Hours after he# was sworn in for a second term,## he pardoned more than 1,500 defendants# involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.## Dozens of other high-profile pardons have# followed, involving political figures,## business leaders and people with personal# connections to the president or his allies.

And lobbyists have stepped in# to help facilitate who can get## through to the administration, earning millions.

Ken Vogel is a reporter for The New York Times.

KEN VOGEL, The New York Times: In the first# year of Trump 2.0, we saw $5.2 million in## lobbying fees disclosed for pardon-related# or clemency-related lobbying efforts.

And## that was eight times more than what we saw in# the final year of the Biden administration.

LIZ LANDERS: Vogel says this has created## a sort of pay-for-play mentality# during the Trump administration,## where people with money and connections# can skip to the front of the pardon line.

KEN VOGEL: It's created this sort of pardon# industrial complex that in some ways seems to## turn on its head the idea that the people who# are most deserving All right,e the ones who## are going to get clemency, and instead# sort of reward people who either have## connections or the ability to pay people who have# connections to get directly to President Trump.

LIZ LANDERS: And while President Trump in## his speeches says attacking# fraud is a major priority... DONALD TRUMP: We're cracking# down on the Somali scams,## ending the brazen and shameless# theft of taxpayer dollars.

(CHEERING) LIZ LANDERS: ... his decisions about who gets# a pardon seem to be at odds with that.

More## than 50 of the pardons and commutations he# has made in his second term are for fraud.## White-collar offenses such as money laundering,## bank fraud and wire fraud are among the# most frequent crimes he has wiped clean.

In a statement, the White House press secretary,# Karoline Leavitt, said -- quote -- "President## Trump exercises his constitutional authority to# issue pardons and commutations at his discretion.## Anyone spending money to lobby for pardons# is foolishly wasting their money.

The Trump## administration has a robust pardon review# process, which includes White House counsel,## the Department of Justice and ultimately# the president himself as the final decider."

Many of the people granted clemency# by Trump had their financial penalties## and restitution forgiven, totaling tens of# millions of dollars.

But for their victims: KEN VOGEL: They're appalled.

To them, this is# sort of an, like, insult to injury.

And these## pardons and in some cases even the commutations# wipe away those obligations, those financial## obligations.

So this is sort of taking money out# of the victims' pockets, or at least stopping an## avenue that might otherwise result in them# getting at least some compensation for the## financial losses that they have incurred at the# hands of these people who have gotten pardons.

LIZ LANDERS: For people in the White House# orbit, there is potentially big money to be## made trading in the currency of access to either# information or to the ear of the president.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Earlier this month, the# board of what is now called the Trump-Kennedy## Center formally approved the president's# plan to close the center for two years.

Meanwhile, the Washington National Opera,## which is one of the center's largest arts# organizations, had already announced that it## was leaving.

That exit is one of the most# consequential in a year full of turmoil.

Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown# reports for our Art in Action series,## which explores the intersection of art and# democracy, part of our Canvas coverage.

JEFFREY BROWN: A rehearsal for "The# Crucible," a 1961 opera by Robert## Ward based on Arthur Miller's seminal# 1953 play about the Salem witch trials.

Miller wrote it as a warning about# injustice and mass hysteria in the## McCarthy era anti-communist trials of# his time.

Now, says Francesca Zambello,## artistic director of the Washington National# Opera, it has new relevance for ours.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO, Artistic# Director, Washington National Opera:## I think that everyone in this country,# whatever side of the fen.. is certainly wondering what is happening with our# legal system, what is happening with democracy,## are the -- is the Constitution still serving# us today, is it serving us right now?

And our democracy is on trial now.

JEFFREY BROWN: Few in the art world have been# quite so caught up in the political maelstrom## as the WNO and Zambello, whom we met recently at# the company's rehearsal studios in Washington.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: Let's focus# everybody, OK?

Great, thank you.

MAN: Places for top of show, please.

JEFFREY BROWN: Founded in 1956,# now celebrating its 70th season,## the opera company has performed at the Kennedy# Center since the center's opening in 1971,## bringing some of the world's greatest singers# to its grand Opera House and other stages.

In 2011, it signed a so-called affiliation# agreement to formalize its relationship,## making it one of the center's# tentpole organizations.## But everything changed with# Donald Trump's second term.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: This last year has been# something I could never have imagined.

I could## not have dreamt this up.

Last February, there was# literally a coup d'etat at the Kennedy Center.

JEFFREY BROWN: That's how it felt to you?

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: It absolutely# felt like a coup d'etat.

JEFFREY BROWN: The longtime leadership, respected# arts leaders fired.

New leadership put the## president himself as chair in its place, a new# requirement that arts groups break even or earn## a profit on every production, contrary to how# most opera, dance and theater groups operate,## with their need to plan far into the# future and experiment with their art forms.

Leading artists canceled performances.# Audience members stayed away.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: The building felt# politicized.

Everyone who worked in the building,## if they did not march in lockstep with the new# management, were fired.

The audiences felt this,## I think, incredible burden that everything# was about us or them, about the two parties,## whereas we have always been an apolitical# building, an apolitical arts institution.

JEFFREY BROWN: In the crucible, J'Nai Bridges,# one of today's leading mezzo-sopranos,## sings the role of Elizabeth Proctor,# falsely accused of being a witch.

When Bridges first signed on, she fully# expected to perform at the Kennedy Center,## even as she wrestled with going ahead.

J'NAI BRIDGES, Mezzo-Soprano: I was a bit# hesitant because it's a tricky thing to navigate,## you know?

Not everyone was for my choice of# performing at the Kennedy Center.

I felt that## the role in the opera is so relevant that# it was almost, in a sense, a protest.

So I## really felt like, OK, as uncomfortable# as this might feel, I'm ready for it.

But then things changed.

And I# have to say that I am relieved.

JEFFREY BROWN: You are relieved?

J'NAI BRIDGES: Yes, I'm relieved, .. JEFFREY BROWN: That stunning decision announced# in January by WNO leadership and its board,## to leave the newly renamed Trump# Kennedy Center and go out on its## own.

The drop in ticket sales and donor# support meant the shows could not go on.

And, says Zambello, there was more.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: I think that by# making the move away from the center,## we made a big statement.

JEFFREY BROWN: Which is?

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: Wh.. civil society.

But I was very concerned# knowing what it's like to be homeless.## A theater company, an opera company, a# ballet company, you can't be homeless.

JEFFREY BROWN: But you are,# in a sense, homeless now.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: I think we're# now part of a bigger picture,## where now we're part of a bigger community.

JEFFREY BROWN: You're changing the nature of home.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: I'm changing the nature of# home and I'm making it about geographic diversity.

JEFFREY BROWN: Now the WNO is performing# in theaters across the D.C.

area and## further afield in different size# halls for different productions.

"Treemonisha," an opera by Scott# Joplin, performed to a packed and## appreciative crowd at Lisner Auditorium in# Washington, the same venue as "The Crucible.

"## It's a full circle moment.

The company's# first ever performance was here in 1957.

A May production of "West Side Story"# will be put on in two different forms,## fully staged at the Lyric Baltimore and a## smaller production at Strathmore Music# Center outside Washington in Maryland.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: I'm thinking of this as a new# kind of creative freedom, that we are producing in## different venues that really are appropriate# for the works that we will be presenting.

JEFFREY BROWN: And she says the company will# continue its American Opera Initiative, which## fosters new operas by contemporary composers.# For its part, the new Trump-Kennedy Center board## recently formally approved an early termination# of its agreement with the WNO, having earlier## claimed the parting of ways was its decision# due to a financially challenging relationship.

What now?

Can the Washington National Opera# survive, even thrive independently?

Grand## opera now becomes a grand experiment.

When we met# Bridges during rehearsals, she was optimistic.

J'NAI BRIDGES: So many people are excited to# support what we're doing.

I know that theater will## be filled with an audience that wants to support# WNO, this great company, and art and artists.

JEFFREY BROWN: Francesca# Zambello sees even higher stakes.

FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO: I think that the arts# are certainly under attack right now.

I## think that many people don't believe# that they're necessary.

And if all of## us as artists and as people working# in arts organizations do not stand## up to the injustices that are around# us, then we are not doing our jobs.

JEFFREY BROWN: Zambello says the# Washington National Opera will## soon announce its productions# and venues for next season.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Jeffrey Brown in Washington, D.C.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And that is the "News Hour" for#tonight.

I'm William Brangham.

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