WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Good evening.

I'm William Brangham.

Amna Nawaz and Geoff Ben On the "NewsHour" tonight: The United Auto Work facilities, putting further pressure on the Big Three nationwide.

Congress is mired in gridlock, as a government shutdown draws nearer and Senate lawmakers try to work around a Republican's blockade on military leadership.

And Ukraine's national security adviser discusses the ongoing counteroffensive and the uncertain future of their fight against Russia.

OLEKSIY DANILOV, Ukrainian National Security Ev ery day, we're inching forward.

What I mean, is that, unfortunat A lot depends on other factors.

Which, unfortunately, we have no c (BREAK) WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Welcome to the "NewsHour."

I'm William Brangham On Capitol Hill find a way around a monthslong block on military promotions.

More on those developments in a moment.

But, first, the United Auto Worker Three auto manufacturers today.

Workers at 38 more sites in 20 different states are now joinin of a move designed to get the attention of car buyers and owners.

Ali Rogin reports.

ALI ROGIN: From GM facilities Te xas, autoworkers have taken their walkouts nationwide, following the union's latest rallying cry.

SHAWN FAIN, distribution facilities at General Motors and Stellantis are being called to stand up and strike.

ALI ROGIN: U the 13,000 already on strike against the Detroit Big Three manufacturers.

UAW is now targeting GM and Stellantis and their parts distribution facilities for dealerships.

But it spared Ford from any additional work stoppages for now.

Fain said the union made -- quote -- "real progress" with Ford this week on cost of adjustments, profit-sharing and job security.

But a deal is far from done.

SHAWN FAIN: We still have seriou that Ford is showing that they're serious about reaching a deal.

At GM and Stellantis, it's a different story.

ALI ROGIN: Those two automakers fell short on cost of living allowances, providing zero increases over a four-year term.

They also rejected the union's profit-sharing and job that would convert temps into permanent positions.

UAW has other demands for all three companies, most notably, wa four years.

So far, the carmakers the board.

The union has also pension plans and the end of tiered wages, all aimed at getting back some of what workers lost during the 2008 financial crisis.

The automakers argue they cannot meet many of the union's demands, largely due to t industry's expensive shift to electric vehicles.

Earlier this week, Detroit Free Press published an op-ed by GM Preside -- quote -- "Eighty-five percent of current represented employees would earn a base wage of approximately $82,000.

The UAW's demands can be described in one word, untenable."

Late today, the White House announced President Biden will travel to Michigan on the union dialed up the pressure by inviting him to the picket lines.

While the president has expressed support for the workers, he has steered clear of too involved, including in the negotiations.

Just one day later, former President Donald Trump is also expected to meet with u workers, instead of attending the second presidential debate.

The former president is trying to peel off union workers to support him.

For its part, the union leadership has said a second Trump presidency would be a disaster.

In the meantime, UAW says consumers will feel the impact of this strike expansion, as the attention turns from production plants to distribution centers.

Workers say they're prepared for a lasting standoff.

TAMMY SLAYTON, Chair, Union 2083: We w If they are willing to come back and negotiate, we will be r ALI ROGIN: For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Ali Rogin.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Turning from the auto industry to the headline-making day with a series of developments, including news this morning that New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat and powerful committee chairman, has been indicted on bribery charges.

Our congress And she joins us now.

Hi, Lisa.

LISA DESJARD WILLIAM BRAN Can you help us understand what the accusations are?

LISA DESJARDINS: Not just against him, but al There are three counts here.

They are all bribery c relationship with three businessmen they knew, took bribes, including money, and we will get into other things in a minute, in order to help, in some cases, deal with potential prosecutions of those businessmen, and also foreign governments.

Here's what the prosecutor of the district in New York said today about the case.

DAMIAN WILLIAMS, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York: The indictment alle through that relationship, the senator and do llars of bribes, in exchange for Senator Menendez using his power and influence to protect and to enrich those businessmen and to benefit the government of Egypt.

LISA DESJARDINS: Menendez has fired back today in a lengthy statement, said that this is a smear campaign against him.

Here's some of what he wrote.

He said: "Prosecut On top of that, not content with making false claims against me, they have attacked my wife for longstanding friendships she had before she ever met me."

Let's go through some of the details in that indictment, though, because it ph otos that were significant.

Prosecutors alleged that found at Menendez' dollars in cash and gold bars in some cases, I think two large gold bars, over $100,000 worth.

They said th with that cash in hand.

Now, this is the third investigation that The last one in 2015 ended in a hung jury.

He was not convicted.

He kept his job in But now, tonight, the New Jersey governo Menendez to resign.

He has, because of Senat WILLIAM BRANGHAM: A really striking, striking development.

Another major setback here that I know you're following is a major setback in th to fund the government.

Speaker McCarthy basic on the precipice of a shutdown.

What is happening on that front?

LISA DESJARDIN know.

Essentially, gone home, but the four days that they come back -- they will come back next Tuesday and Wednesday -- to try and figure this whole mess out.

They were not able to pass a short -- or figure Republicans could agree to.

So, instead, what are They're trying to recreate the enti appropriations bills that are due.

That is something that takes weeks Yet that is what House Republicans are trying sp ending bill in negotiations down the road with the Senate.

It's quite a wild idea.

It's something we have never seen So, a lot of folks are saying, all right, the shutdown is coming next we Why not just agree with some Democrats on a clean, easy short-term deal?

Speaker McCarthy was asked about that today.

How about working with Democrats?

REP. KEVIN MCCART solve this.

This is the So, you know what?

It might tak LISA DESJARDINS: He, in other words, was saying, no.

I think Republicans have a majority here.

This will take a little longer.

What does that I asked Rosa DeLauro, who is how I also figure -- think of this.

To do what the Republicans are trying to do with these app thing through, minimum of six weeks.

So think of what's going on here right now as this.

I know you have covered hurricanes before.

Think of the shutdown as a coming We know it's coming.

Republicans, instead of moving of the hurricane, they're trying to just start building a new house from scratch.

In other words, everyone is getting ready for a shutdown.

They're sort of leaning into the shutdown, unless something dramatic changes, r by a legislative miracle next week.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Really incredible m Third development that is happening this week, there was action o The Senate was able to confirm a few military leaders.

This circumvents the block that we have seen that Senator Tuberville has been holding up on this.

How did that What does th LISA DESJARD This was sig These are ma Let's look at exactly who was confirmed this week, so people understand the gravity here.

Look at this, nothing less than the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff nominee, the Army's chief of staff, the commandant of the Marine Corps.

Those two offices there on the right have been open, filled in acting co nfirmations this week.

These are the top military It's significant.

But what hap of Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

It's not a long-term breakthrough, to be honest.

Tuberville, as we have discussed on this program nominations because he objects to the military's policy helping to fund abortion and reproductive travel for people who are in the military and unable to get that care where they live.

Now, what's going on now?

Tuberville still says he is not to move.

He is still But I will tell you, Tuberville did allow these nominations to move a little bit more quickly than he could have.

That's very kind of Senate proc It was the first crack that we have seen.

I know from behind the scenes Republicans are This is a problem.

And I know, in t all of those levels that are waiting for their promotions and waiting to take command.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Lisa Desjardins, as always, thank you so much for getting us through all this.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: In the day's other headlines: Tropical Storm Ophelia is barreling towards the East Coast, raising the risk of flooding and tornadoes.

It's expected to strengthen before making landfall Saturday morning in North Caro and then moving north through the mid-Atlantic.

Authorities are warning of li A judge at Guantanamo Bay has declared one of the defendants in the 9/11 attacks case unfit for trial.

A military medical panel f lastingly psychotic.

The prosecution will c No trial date has been set.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Isr with Saudi Arabia.

It would be the fifth Arab so-called Abraham Accords in 2020.

Netanyahu made the announcement at the U.N. General Assembly today, wh about the future of the region.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israel blessing, the blessing of a new Middle East between Israel, Saudi Arabia and our other neighbors.

We will not We will build a new corridor of peace and prosperity.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: There are still several obstacles to the agreement that Israel has not publicly addressed, including Saudi Arabia's demand for progress creating a Palestinian state.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Armenian forces in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region have started handing over their weapons to Russian peacekeepers.

There have been several cease-fire violations, but no deaths since Azerbaij the region this week.

Meanwhile, in Armenia, protest Dozens of demonstrators were arrested after demanding their prime minister step down over the offensive.

Pope Francis is denouncing what he cal greets migrants who are searching for a better life in Europe.

He did so while visiting in France, visiting the Mediterranean port of Marseille am huge influx of migrants from Africa.

The pontiff spoke at a memorial to migrants and sailors POPE FRANCIS, Leader of Catholic Church (through translator): Before us is the sea, a source of life, yet this place evokes the tragedy of shipwrecks, which cause death.

Let us not get used to seeing disasters at sea as mere news stories and those dying at sea as numbers.

No, they are nam They are faces and stories.

They are broken lives and shattered dreams.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: The pope's visit comes days af small Italian island of Lampedusa in just one day.

And Wall Street wrapped up its worst week in six months by adding to its losses.

The Dow Jones industrial average slid 106 points to close at 33964.

The Nasdaq fell 12 points.

The S&P 500 slipped 10.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": the White House announces the firs of Gun Violence Prevention; new ethics allegations are brought against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas; David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart weigh in on the week's political headlines; and the husband-and-wife duo behind the blues rock Tedeschi Trucks Band reflect on their career.

President Biden today announced the creation of the first ever federal Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

It aims to c So far this year, there have been more than 500 mass shootings in this country, and some 25,000 people have died because of guns.

That's roughly 118 deaths per day, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The president said that toll was far too high.

JOE BIDEN, President of the United States: I determined to send how important this issue is to me and to the country.

After every mass shooting, we hear a simple message -- the same message heard all over the country, and I've been to every mass shooting: Do something.

Well, my administration has been working relentlessly to do something.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Our White House correspondent, Laura Barron-Lopez, joins us do wn what we can expect from this new office.

Hi, Laura.

LAURA BARRON WILLIAM BRAN What is this new office hoping, intending to do?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: This new office is going to be a central hub, essent coordination, public outreach.

As you well know, William, last th at cracked down on background checks, essentially trying to enhance background checks.

And so they're going to be coordinating aggressively with states to make sure t There's also billions of dollars that were allocated in that bill to tackle gun violence prevention, mental health, school safety.

And so a lot of the people I have spoken to, including the White House, say is going to make sure that all of that is enforced and implemented, that those communities realize that there's that money there for them to use.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And Vice President Kamala Harris is going LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: That's correct.

So, Harris i There's going to be a specific director that is als And they brought in two people who had worked for a long time as gun safety advocates on the legal side, as community organizers also into this office.

But Harris, the vice president, brings a lot of visibility to it that necessarily would not have been there if they had just appointed other civil servants or brought in lower-level people.

And so she's show that the administration is focused on this issue.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, as you well know, gun vi arguing that there needs to be a federal office like this for years.

So, why is the White House doing this now?

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: The gun safety advocates recently as March, the White House was not going to appoint any director of -- or create this new office at all, but that they feel as though, because the election is around the corner and because of the very public campaign that they waged to get the Wh House to do this, that, essentially, the president, the vice president came around, because they have been talking to a lot of voters.

Now, one thing, I did speak there -- and she said that she really wants to make sure that this new office talks much more frequently to survivors of gun violence, to young people who have experienced it in some way, as well as also making sure that law enforcement is doing what they need to do to crack down on guns.

WILLIAM BRANGH LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: They do.

The White House very 2024 election cycle.

And I spoke to Senator Chr As you know, that's where the Sandy Hook mass shooting took place.

And he told me that: "My party got it wrong for 20 years.

After 1994, Democrats stopped talking about guns and gun laws, and that was a huge mistake.

You can't win in the suburbs or the cities if you have no answers to the gun violence mass shooting epidemic."

And other sources that I spoke to tol that guns is the second top issue for young voters right behind student debt.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: You mentioned some of this before.

Where does this effort fit in wi LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: There was the big crackdown on those guns, which are those kits that are sold online that don't have serial numbers or background checks.

But that regulation that is currently in place changed that.

Biden pushed for that, as well as, right now, just around the corner, the Justice Departme regulation is likely soon to be finalized.

And what that does is expand who actually is defined as a And so, in effect, once that is actually finalized, it would also expand background checks.

Now, the one thing that Democrats and a number of gun advocates still want to see from the administration is, they think there could be executive actions on changing who has oversight of the export of firearms from the Commerce Department, which is where it currently is, over to the State Department.

They want to see that happen.

They also think that the memo essentially saying that they will only -- that they only want to buy firearms from manufacturers that sell to the military and not to civilians.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Laura Barron-Lopez, thank you so much.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: For years, the influential Koch network, the conservative political organization founded by billionaires Charles and David Koch, has held a fund-raiser in Palm Springs.

It attracts wealthy conservative donors from around the country.

In 2018, Justice Clarence Thomas attended this fund-raiser, one of several he alleged attended over the years.

That's according to another new investig Like their previous reports, this raises serious questions over Jus connections to powerful people who have brought cases before the Supreme Court, including one of the most watched cases in the court's upcoming term.

We are joined now by one of the reporters who helped break this story, ProPublica's Joshua Kaplan.

Joshua, very g Before we get to Thomas and his role here, can you just tell us a little the Koch network and its aims?

JOSHUA KAPLAN, ProPublica: Yes.

So, the Koch network was founded by America toward their libertarian vision for the country.

And it's one of the most powerful and influential political groups of the last half-century.

So, to name a couple things, they helped cultivate the Tea Party movement in the Obama years.

They're credited for helping stamp out GOP support for combating climate change.

And behind that influence is a huge fund-raising operation.

And the marquee fund-raising event is this annual donor summit that they have out in Palm Springs, which is what Thomas attended.

To score an invite to that event, donors have to give a lot more than that.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: a private jet to this fund-raiser.

He didn't disclose that.

We don't kno But beyond that, what else is the conf Are there members of the Koch network who had business before the court?

JOSHUA KAPLAN: Yes, so they have had multiple cases at the Supreme Court.

It's a pretty extraordinary position he's been in, having served as a fund-raising draw for this network.

I mean, and it's also judges Th ey -- the judiciary has very lofty ethics rules to govern -- to protect their independence and impartiality.

You have -- there's -- political activity So is participation in fund-raising.

We talked to one former federal im agine Thomas would think it was appropriate to go to the Koch donor summit, that it took his breath away.

He said that, if he had done have gotten a letter starting a disciplinary process.

But those ethics rules only apply to the lower courts.

At the Supreme Court, the justices decided what's appropriate for themse WILLIAM BRANGHAM: There was a spokesperson for Koch's group, which is known as Stand Together.

They were ci And their report -- their statement said, in part -- quo of public officials, including Supreme Court justices, sharing their experiences, ideas and judicial philosophy with members of the public at dinners and other events.

Our events are no different."

How accurate is that?

Is there a distinction to be made h JOSHUA KAPLAN: Yes, I mean, I think there is a dis This is a political organization.

And it is also -- I mean, like I said, I mean was shocking.

And, yes, as they said, many But I'm not sure -- I mean, certainly, the experts we talked to, the judges we talked to, the judiciary's rules itself consider that very different than attending an event for political donors.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: We h your reporting has further sort of incensed the Democratic Party, in particular, saying that there needs to be any reform.

Do you have any sense that the Supreme Co Congress or the Senate will do anything about this?

JOSHUA KAPLAN: I mean, for the Supreme Court, it's hard to say from th But John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh have both said that they hope the court will take concrete steps at some point in the near future.

I mean, its -- members of the court had been publicly saying that the court will adopt a code of ethics for four or five years now, at least.

It hasn't happened yet.

But -- and I think the And how does one get that consensus?

In terms of Congress, ther Committee that would require the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct and also implement some other -- a couple of other ethics rules that so far is not going nowhere.

I believe the majority -- Senator Schumer has said that he thinks it would be filibustered, and so he's not advancing it to the floor.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All right, Joshua Kapla here.

JOSHUA KAPLA WILLIAM BRANGHAM: One day after visiting Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met today with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

And Ukraine claimed responsibility for another attack in Russian-occupied Crimea the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea naval fleet.

Today, Nick Schifrin sat down with Ukraine's national security adviser in th e possibility that Congress will not approve a vital aid package and the course of Ukraine's counteroffensive to free Russian-occupied territory.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Outside, Bakhmut Ukrainian soldiers advance through a moonscape.

They won this battle for what was once the village of Andriivka.

And in the last few days in Southern Ukraine, they pushed thro But the counteroffensive'S cost and challenge are great, says Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov.

How do you think the counteroffensive is going?

OLEKSIY DANILOV, Ukrainian National Security Difficult.

Hard.

But every da What I mean A lot depends on other factors, which, unfortunately, we have no control over.

JOE BIDEN, President of the United States: Mr. President, it's an honor to welcome you back to the White House.

NICK SCHIFRI President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a warm welcome yesterday at the White House, but he also walked through a Congress fighting over the administration's next Ukraine aid package.

Danilov says OLEKSIY DANILOV (through translator): You see, t on what would be Ukrainian victory.

They talk about assistance, but These are two different things.

If we do not have victory, then and grandchildren would have to fight is only a matter of time.

That's why we need victory.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Y U.S. aid package, we will lose the war."

Can you explain that?

Why would yo OLEKSIY DANILOV (through translator): Keep in mind that it is very painful for him to review reports that we receive every morning on how many of our boys and girls have died.

And if we had had the capabilities to end this war as quickly as possible, I mean, military capabilities, they would still be alive.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But what did he me OLEKSIY DANILOV (through translator): I NICK SCHIFRIN: So far, the U.S. has sent weapons, vehicles and ammunition worth more t billion.

Danilov sugg What are you doing to prepare for the possibility of not having as many American weapons systems and ammunition as you have been using?

Is there a Plan B?

OLEKSIY DANILO about some Plan B.

We have no desire to engage NICK SCHIFRIN: Yesterday, after an expanded meeting with Zelensk went even further.

JOE BIDEN: I'm counting on the There's no alternative.

NICK SCHIFRI and today's front line in the most critical direction toward Crimea.

Are you trying to move farther down in this area to be able to threaten Russian supply lines?

OLEKSIY DANI We have to go to the sea.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, Ukrainian in Sevastopol, Crimea.

Ukraine appears to have increased its attacks and occupied Crimea, including wa rships last week.

OLEKSIY DANILOV (through transl trying to destroy the military potential in the temporarily occupied territory of our Crimea.

Several times, w gateway for the Russian Federation.

We have achieved results in attacking Russia NICK SCHIFRIN: And Ukraine has also increased attacks deep inside Russia, including the Chkalovsky Air Base that hosts specialist military aircraft and VIP transport planes.

OLEKSIY DANILOV (through translator): These airfields house support planes from missile launch jets that fire rockets into our cities.

So why should we not destroy them?

We have been attacking from our territory.

NICK SCHIFRIN: As for th remains determined.

OLEKSIY DANILO sure that we will win.

And it will be a happy It cannot be otherwise, because, if the darkness that case, our country will be first, and yours will be next.

NICK SCHIFRIN: National Security Adviser Danilov, thank you very much.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Washington is bracing for busy days ahead, as the deadline for a government shutdown quickly approaches.

To discuss that and more, we turn to the anal That's New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart, associate editor for The Washington Post.

Gentlemen, w So nice to s JONATHAN CAPEHAR (CROSSTALK) WILLIAM BRAN I guess they think it' But we are awfully close to this government shutdown How close do you think we really are?

DAVID BROOKS: Quite close.

Well, in time terms, it's In probability terms, there's a very high probability that the government will shut down, and we will be where we have been before.

And the core cause is that there are a group of members of Congress in practical governance.

They're right that our deficits ar but they have no strategy to get there.

And so they're basically a bunch of nihilisti And... WILLIAM BRAN (LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS (LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS And the core, simple truth should be, well, we don't allow performance artists to have power.

And he's giv to cut a deal with the Democrats and sort of freeze out the people on the right.

And, in my view, he should take them on right now, because his power fear is, he will lose his job as speaker.

But I think his -- if he wants to keep the He will be weaker in three weeks, when everyone's upset about a government shutdown, than he is right now.

And so, in my view or stick to the deal he cut with Joe Biden, actually.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I mean, David is describing the idea that McCa in all of this.

But it seems of his own caucus.

JONATHAN CAP Let's not forget -- and it's now a mantra -- it took 15 ballots for gavel to begin with.

But I agree with David.

The speaker needs to He has a five-seat -- five-seat majority.

Get it.

Totally unde Speaker Pelosi also had a similar majority, And why?

Because she ex Speaker McCarthy absolutely should tell this rump facti it.

I have gover We have gove We can't allow the government And this is the fork in the road that the Unfortunately, I have no confidence that the speaker will choose -- will -- won't choose holding onto the gavel versus showing real governance, passing a C.R., getting these budget bills passed.

He's going to keep that WILLIAM BRANGHAM: David, you mentioned this idea that the Republicans feel like they have to now reach out to the Democrats to try to get this done.

Do you think the Democrats will do that, and at what price might they w him?

DAVID BROOKS deal.

Like, we don And so that's our price.

Let's just s And the problem fo fringe in his party, who really do care about spending, and so they less spending than the deal that Biden cut.

And, to me, that's probably a political nons And they have got to get serious.

If you reall Let's throw tax cuts on the table.

Let's throw entitlements Let's throw defense on the But thinking you can make some di scretionary spending, that's just crowd cuckoo land.

So they're just not serious.

I sympathize with the id WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Jonathan, do you think the Democrats in offering this potential, t they want to see McCarthy twist in the wind more than they want to see the government shut down?

JONATHAN CAP I mean, he's twisting in the wind rig now, that the government is going to shut down.

And it's going to shut down because Speaker McCarthy wou to work with Democrats.

There is an easy solution to Wo rk with Democrats, come up with a bill, and then have that bill pass ou by huge numbers, thereby sending a signal to the Senate, but also to the rest of the country that you know how to do the job you are entrusted with.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: I want to turn to Ukraine.

We saw President Zelenskyy here again pleading more aid.

And he's arg plenty of supply, but Western aid.

And we saw that he really got a frosty reaction from Republicans.

McCarthy wouldn't even have his picture taken with him.

Is this skepticism within the GOP really gro DAVID BROOKS: Tremendously, yes.

I mean, if you had in it and they're the ones who are actually suffering, and that Western Europe would b strongly supportive, no wavering there, and that the wavering would be in the Republican Party, I probably wouldn't believe that.

But that's exactly where it is.

There's always been want support.

They don't t They have their reasons.

That number is maybe doubling, Nobody knows exactly.

But it's significantly And so that's happening.

And at the s should we admit Ukraine into NATO?

And the hope is that if we admit them into Ukraine -- Ukr want to attack a NATO country, and that will prevent a forever war.

And so the two parties are going in very different directions, where the wa lking away.

And some Democra and give them this alliance, so they can stand up to Putin.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: How do you see that unfolding?

JONATHAN CAPEHART: Well, one, I want to go wo uld not even allow himself to be photographed with a wartime president.

And what I find so galling... WILLIAM BRANGHAM: What do you attribute that to JONATHAN CAPEHART: Fear of the far right in his caucus tha Ukraine, along with a lot of other things that they want to do.

That's what I think that's about.

It all goes But the other thing that -- why I find that move so galling, as speaker, he is three in line to the presidency, which automatically makes him a statesman.

And so you have a wartime president coming to this country begging for our help and our continued support, and he won't even show him that.

Thankfully, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Schumer an showed him America's resolve.

But I'm with David.

I am astound I'm old enou the Western alliance, and particularly a country where the battle is between democracy and autocracy, and, if they lose, then the whole enterprise, the whole experiment that is democracy would be on its last leg.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Do you think that -- as Jonathan i Party will prevail and keep America funding?

DAVID BROOKS: I think so.

But if you're Vladimir Putin, because they're weakening over there.

And then I'm thinking, well, I'm because his best hope of victory is not anything that happens on the battlefield in Ukraine.

It's Donald Trump getting elected, in which case he's going to do very well in t And we should say, in both these issues tonight, the budget deal and in Ukraine, Donald Trump is the four-time indicted elephant in the room.

And he's been saying, don't cut a deal.

And he's been saying And the rest of the Republicans are lookin WILLIAM BRANGHAM: David, before we g this week where -- and we can put this up on screen.

You posted this tweet that showed a dinner that you were having at an airport, and tha it cost $78.

And you wrot You got roughed up a little bit online about this.

But I'm just curious more about what you were DA VID BROOKS: Yes, well, first, it was -- it started out hatched in my mind as a joke, because, if you looked at what I was eating, it was bourbon and a very fattening hamb and fries.

WILLIAM BRAN DAVID BROOKS WILLIAM BRAN DAVID BROOKS (LAUGHTER) DAVID BROOKS it seem like I was oblivious to something that is blindingly obvious, that an upper-middle-class journalist having a bourbon at an airport is a lot different than a family living paycheck to paycheck.

And when I'm getting sticker Wh en they're getting sticker shock, it's a disaster.

And so I was insensitive.

I screwed up.

I should not I probably s But... WILLIAM BRAN DAVID BROOKS: Yes.

But I made a And I -- it But the one can experience inflation as a chart with downward slope, inflation's coming down, but the way we experience inflation day to day is as that moment of sticker shock.

You're in the grocery store.

You're at the gas station, and And for people who are less fortunate than I am, that is a disaster.

And so we have to understand why we say inflation's coming down, but, for people living and seeing those sticker shock moments, it doesn't feel that way.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: David Brooks, Jonathan Capehart, so nice to see you b Have a great weekend.

Thank you.

JONATHAN CAPEHAR DAVID BROOKS: Thank you.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: While the pandemic caused heartbreak for millions, it also provided a chance for some artists to reset.

I recently spent time with the musicians behind the Te time in lockdown, plus a centuries-old poem, with not only opening new creative paths, but with fusing their band even more tightly.

It's part of our arts and culture series, Canvas.

In the world of musical marriages, there's none quite like this one, Susan Tedeschi's and Derek Trucks'.

As the creative duo behind the 12-member Tedeschi Trucks B called two of the best roots musicians of their generation.

But before joining together musically, they each had successful solo careers.

Susan's first major label record, "Just Won't Burn," now being reissued for its 25th anniversary, went gold, rare for a debut blues album.

With her soulful voice and guitar, she got five Grammy nominations and toured with some of the greats, Buddy Guy, B.B.

King, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones.

Derek is considered one of the greatest living blues guitarists.

He began touring at age 12, a sneaker-clad prodigy talented enough to take on Eric Clapton's "Layla."

At 20, he jo His blend of blues, jazz, Indian styles made him the youngest player named to "Rolling Stone"'s list of the 100 greatest guitarists, at number 16.

SUSAN TEDESCHI, Musician: And this, this up here, there's an osprey nest over there.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So, after years of passing each other on the road, these two solo artists met, fell in love, and started a life together.

DEREK TRUCKS, Musician: Having a bit of a crash.

So, Sue calls.

Yes, we did It was a pregnancy SUSAN TEDESCHI: Well, we bough DEREK TRUCKS: House.

(LAUGHTER) SUSAN TEDESC DEREK TRUCKS SUSAN TEDESC DEREK TRUCKS SUSAN TEDESC DEREK TRUCKS SUSAN TEDESC DEREK TRUCKS WILLIAM BRAN (LAUGHTER) SUSAN TEDESC DEREK TRUCKS SUSAN TEDESC life schedule.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM and launched a new chapter.

Their band, including horns, do and spent 10 long years touring the globe.

By any measure, they were a success.

But it was draining.

Then, when beloved band me the beating heart of the band, they began to reassess.

JUDY WOODRUFF: The main story we are following, and that is the co WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And then came the pandemic and subsequent lockdown that brought life to a standstill.

DEREK TRUCKS Like, we were really at a point of we were about to take time off to kind of... SUSAN TEDESCHI: Deal with the loss of Kofi.

DEREK TRUCKS: To deal we want to do and what is this thing?

SUSAN TEDESCHI: And then J.J. had left, right, DEREK TRUCKS: And it was a h WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Longtime band member Mike Mattison says it w MIKE MATTISON, Musician: The tank was pretty low.

I mean, we had been touring pretty hard for An d we had achieved what we wanted to achieve.

But I think what we realized, in going down this wormhole, is that we hadn't said wh we wanted to say.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So Mattiso During lockdown, everyone in the band would read a 12 century Persian poem Layla and Majnun.

It's an Arab Romeo and Juliet story about two lovers held apart by a male-dominated society.

Heartbroken Majnun w Layla gets locked in a tower and forced to marry another man.

That poem inspired Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominos record "Layla," a record that the Tedeschi Trucks Band had recently recorded live.

But Mattison wanted to go back to the centuries-old source, all 258 pages of it.

MIKE MATTISON: The thing I was most concerned about is that I would be just shunned for being a nerd.

(LAUGHTER) MIKE MATTISO WILLIAM BRANGHAM: homework.

MIKE MATTISO DEREK TRUCKS flip the perspective.

Instead of -- like, the "Lay he desires.

And his was, Like, what was her perspective?

And we're like, well, that's WI LLIAM BRANGHAM: So, mid-pandemic, the band gathered at Tedeschi studio and began writing.

An enormous number of songs poured out.

Multiple band members contributed ideas.

Some, but not all, of the songs touched on themes from th SUSAN TEDESCHI: I like when the music comes like that.

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: It sounds like a pretty beautiful experience.

SUSAN TEDESCHI: Yes, because you It is more like, if the muse is there that day and it just pours out of in the moment where you can be receptive and write it down or feel it or play bandmates or whatever.

WILLIAM BRAN principally about the man and the woman at the center of this story that's basically you guys, and have everybody in the group reading about this central relationship?

(LAUGHTER) DEREK TRUCKS There were tim (LAUGHTER) WILLIAM BRAN DEREK TRUCKS But it's -- one of the big takeaways from me in readin to this in a few of the tunes he wrote -- is, when you're in a relationship, the -- what's going on doesn't just affect the two people in the relationship.

Like, it can really spill out in positive ways or negative (CROSSTALK) SUSAN TEDESC (CROSSTALK) DEREK TRUCKS And we see i SUSAN TEDESC MIKE MATTISO You know, there's so much more going on.

And in the poem, you hear from Layla, and she has very specific things how she feels about this guy.

And not all of them are great.

And also her treatment at the hands of her father and picked up on that.

I think a lo she's in and the genre that we do.

SUSAN TEDESCHI: I see, as a woman, and all and women really trying to stand up and have a voice in a different way, even though women are more vocal, that doesn't mean we -- our rights are more equal.

It's kind of interesting.

There's a lot of things that I mean, obviously in America, we're much But there are plenty of countries in the world that a WILLIAM BRANGHAM: It was a remarkably fruitful period.

The band recorded four albums and released them sequentially, "I Am the Moon," volumes one through 4, each with accompanying films by director Alix Lambert.

The Tedeschi Trucks Band continues their tour, a community on stage, 12 members' strong.

They are playing music inspired by a centuries-old poem, but, in this telling, the star-crossed couple made it, and the woman's not locked away in a tower, but commands center stage.

Later this evening on PBS, "American Masters" presents a film about legendary attorney Floyd Abrams.

The document define free speech as it is known today.

"Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely" premieres tonight at 9:00 Check your local listings.

And for more on the Republican infighting an forget to watch Jeffrey Goldberg and his panel tonight on "Washington Week With The Atlantic.

And tomorrow on "PBS News Weekend": Driverless taxis, are they the way of the future or a dangerous venture?

That is the "NewsHour" for to I'm William Brangham.

Thanks for spendin