AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.

I'm# Amna Nawaz.

Geoff Bennett is away.

On the "News Hour" tonight: President Biden# acknowledges mistakes in last week's debate,## but insists he will stay in# the race for the White House.

We report live from London, as exit polls# in the United Kingdom show voters likely## elected a center-left Labor government after# 14 years of center-right Conservative rule.

And a look back at a Supreme Court term full# of consequential and controversial decisions.

STEPHEN VLADECK, Georgetown University# Law Center: This court seemed to be very## comfortable with the president himself# exercising an awful lot of power,## perhaps not being as accountable as the# founders would have wanted him to be.

(BREAK) AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "News# Hour," and happy Independence Day.

Well, it's been one week since President# Joe Biden's poor performance in the first## debate of the 2024 campaign caused a political# shockwave.

The president insists he is staying## in the race.

But even on this Fourth of July# holiday, concerns continue to grow inside the## Democratic Party about whether Mr. Biden is the# best person to sit atop the ticket in November.

"News Hour" political correspondent# Lisa Desjardins has been talking to## lawmakers and to voters.

She# joins me now with the latest.

Good to see you, Lisa.

LISA DESJARDINS: Hi.

AMNA NAWAZ: So you have be.. we have seen two Democratic lawmakers come# out publicly, only two so far, to publicly## call for Mr. Biden to step aside.

Your reporting# shows that many more could be considering that.

Who are we talking about here?

LISA DESJARDINS: Amna, the texts and phone calls## from Democratic lawmakers concerned# have not waned in the last week.

And talking to about a dozen or so House# members in particular and top staffers in## Congress who are Democrats in the last# couple of days, I can report that there## are two movements to write letters asking# the president to step aside as the nominee.

These are from two groups that are# trying to form, one, veteran lawmakers## generally who are in safe seats, like Lloyd# Doggett, who you interviewed here on this## program.

The other is from front-line# members who are much more vulnerable,## who believe they have much more# to risk if Biden is on the ballot.

So, these two groups right now are trying# to get text together, trying to move these## letters ahead.

Now, would they actually# publicly call for the president to do## this?

Unclear.

They're talking about it.

How big# are these groups?

Also unclear.

It's very fluid.

But I can report from having these conversations# that we are talking about scores of House## Democrats, not a handful, scores who want the# president, privately, they say, to step aside.

AMNA NAWAZ: So those who think# they may step forward to say that,## why are they waiting in this moment to do so?

LISA DESJARDINS: Exactly my question.

There are a few reasons.

One, wording of# the letter is .. front-liners.

Some of those front-liners,# I'm told, would like letter that says, this## is -- he has been a good president.

They would# like praise for the president in this letter.

Other front-liners are nervous# about signing that kind of letter,## because President Biden may not have won in# their district before, may not win again.

So,## wording is one issue.

Another,# of course, is the politics here.

There is a lot of calculation about, how do# you influence this president.

Some believe## that publicly coming out, asking him to step# aside, is exactly the kind of thing that would## have this president feel more embattled, more# likely to dig in.

There's a discussion about that.

Then there's also the politics for members.

Some# are worried that, if they come out publicly,## there will be retribution later, should# he win.

Some are worried that, if they## don't come out publicly now, if he loses, there# could be retribution for missing this moment.

AMNA NAWAZ: How does all of# this compare to what you're## hearing from voters who are watching all# this unfold?

What are they tell.. LISA DESJARDINS: There is a# complete disconnect here, Amna.

Talking to dozens of voters through# our project to reach out to voters,## as well as voters in Maine, where I just came# back from vacation, family members, and voters## here in Virginia this morning at a Fourth of July# parade, Democratic voters are not just concerned.

It's beyond that.

Let's take a listen.

ELLIS JOHNSTON, Minnesota Democratic# Voter: I am feeling panicked.

Certainly,## like, laying in my bed at night, like, overcome# with fear.

I do not think that Joe Biden is the## best person to be running in this election.# I don't know who that person is, but I don't## feel confident in Joe Biden's ability to win# this election.

And that makes me very afraid.

LISA DESJARDINS: Now, are there Democrats# that still support him, still want him there?

Of course there are.

But this is the vast# majority of the response I'm getting,## including a text just in the last hour or so# from Darren, an undecided voter in Milwaukee,## who voted for Biden in 2020.

He says he# has lost whatever desperate hope he had,## and it's well past time for Democrats# to face reality about Biden.

AMNA NAWAZ: Lisa, as you well know, there's been# a sense of the White House and the campaign have## kind of circled the wagons around the president# since the debate.

He won't sit for his first## major interview until tomorrow, more than a# week after the debate.

How is that playing?

LISA DESJARDINS: This has been a difficult week# for the White House, but they have again and## again, said, no, he's not stepping aside, and# they have been getting their supporters out,## as we saw last night, when governors from# across the country came to the White House.

Three of them came up to the microphone to# say that they still support the president## and that their meeting reinforced that# view.

And then we had another today,## this from a very popular Democratic governor# among progressives, Gavin Newsom of California.

GOV.

GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): There was no# one that walked out of that and said,## we have got you back, Mr. President.

No one.

Not# one.

And so,again, for all the hand-wringing,## all the navel-gazing, time to step up and step in.

LISA DESJARDINS: That is again a disconnect# from what I'm hearing from Democrats here## in Washington, who actually are angry,# especially House Democrats, for two reasons.

One, the campaign came# after them in the last week,## calling them bed-wetters.

They say that# ignores the reality.

They think there is## a real political problem here for Biden# that they're ignoring and potentially a## governing one.

They are concerned about# what he will be like in three years.

So where does this leave all of this?

A lot# of those House Democrats who are figuring## out how they express concern and do they# are waiting for a big interview tomorrow,## President Biden speaking to# ABC.

Time is of the essence,## and this may be the most important# interview of his political career.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, Lisa Desjardins# with the latest on this ongoing story.

Lisa, thank you.

LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.

AMNA NAWAZ: In the day's other headlines:# Hurricane Beryl is now a Category 2 storm,## down from a Category 5, but it# remains powerful as it churns## towards Mexico.

At least nine people# have been killed across the region.

In Jamaica, Beryl knocked down trees and# power lines as it brushed the island's## southern coast.

And in the Eastern Caribbean,# 95 percent of homes on a pair of islands in## Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have been# damaged or destroyed, while, in Barbados,## boats were tossed like toys.

Sailors say there's# likely even more destruction beneath the surf.

EVERTON BRATHWAITE, Fisherman: All the# vessels in here have damage.

All have damage,## structural damage.

But we have got a good few# vessels that is underwater.

We don't know how## much the toll is right now, but we estimate# about 30 or maybe 40 vessels is under the water.

AMNA NAWAZ: The National Hurricane# Center expects Beryl to weaken further,## but to remain a dangerous hurricane# until it reaches Mexico's shores## tomorrow.

Southern Texas is forecast to# see impacts from Beryl early next week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu# told President Biden today that he's sending## a delegation to renew cease-fire talks# with Hamas.

The two spoke by phone after## Hamas sent a response to a three-phase proposal# pushed by the U.S., Israel and other nations.

In the meantime, Northern Israeli# hillsides are ablaze amid heavy## rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon.# The group says it's launched hundreds## of projectiles in response to Israel's# killing of one of its top commanders.

At the funeral FOR Mohammed# Naame Nasser today in Beirut,## a Hezbollah leader, vowed that# the retaliation will continue.

HASHEM SAFIEDDINE, Hezbollah Executive# Council (through translator): The response## to the assassination of ..

The series of responses is targeting new# sites the enemy never imagined would be hit.

AMNA NAWAZ: Israel has not reported any# casualties.

The Israeli Defense Forces say## it struck back today, hitting Hezbollah# military structures in Southern Lebanon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out# a cease-fire in Ukraine until Kyiv takes## steps that are -- quote -- "irreversible and# acceptable" to the Russian Federation.

Putin## made the comment in Kazakstan on the final# day of a regional security conference.

He## also weighed in on the U.S. election,# particularly former President Trump's## repeated claims that, if reelected, he could# end the fighting in Ukraine in a single day.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (through# translator): The fact that Mr. Trump declares## that he is ready and wants to stop the war# in Ukraine, we take this quite se..

I am not, of course, familiar with his possible# proposals regarding how he is going to do this,## but I have no doubt that he means it# sincerely, and we will support it.

AMNA NAWAZ: In the meantime, Ukraine's# military said its troops retreated from## the outskirts of Chasiv Yar.

That's a town# in the eastern Donetsk region.

Commanders## say Russia has deployed scorched-earth# tactics there for months.

Its fall## would put nearby cities in jeopardy and# threaten critical Ukrainian supply routes.

A court in Moscow convicted U.S. citizen# Robert Woodland of drug-related charges## today.

He was sentenced to 12.5 in# prison.

Woodland, who was born in Russia,## was in court today to hear his sentence.# He's one of a growing number of Americans## arrested in Russia as relations between# the two nations sink to Cold War lows.

His lawyers say Woodland has been# suffering from unspecified mental## health issues.

They plan to appeal the verdict.

The International Swimming Federation says# its executive director has been ordered to## testify in a U.S. criminal probe into alleged# doping by Chinese Olympic swimmers.

American## officials want to know how 23 Chinese# swimmers were allowed to compete in## the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, despite testing# positive for a banned heart medication.

It comes just three weeks ahead# of the Olympic Games in Paris,## where 11 of those same# athletes are set to compete.

Millions across America have been celebrating# the July 4 holiday, and it's been a hot one;## 134 million people in the South and in# the West have been under heat alerts.## That didn't stop the celebrations, of course,# with parades and cookouts across the nation.

On New York's Coney Island, the Nathan's Hot Dog# Eating Contest gobbled on today without 16-time## champion Joey Chestnut, who couldn't compete# because of a sponsorship conflict.

Instead,## Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago took the men's# title, downing 58 dogs in 10 minutes.

And## defending women's champion Miki Sudo retained# her crown, eating a women's record of 51 franks.

And for all of you salad eaters out there,# here's a fun fact.

This July 4 also happens to## be the 100th birthday of the Caesar salad.

The# culinary staple has its roots not in America,## but in Tijuana, Mexico.

That is where, in 1924, an# Italian immigrant named Caesar Cardini is said to## have thrown together some leftover ingredients# after his hungry patrons emptied the shelves.

The result was the dish that we know and love# today.

So, something for everyone this July 4.

Still to come on the "News Hour": billions of# dollars in federal pandemic aid for schools## help students catch up academically, but# gaps remain; a look at an effort under way## in Missouri to enshrine abortion access in# the state's constitution; and the climate## cost of artificial intelligence and# the energy required to power it.

Exit polls in the United Kingdom show# a Labor landslide in today's election,## with the center-left party winning# a massive majority in Parliament in## the first general election in nearly five years.

This video from Sky TV shows the results# of those exit polls.

The Conservatives'## loss marks the end of 14 years in power# and Rishi Sunak's prime ministership.## Labor leader sir Keir Starmer will# be Britain's next prime minister.

"News Hour" special correspondent Malcolm Brabant## is in London covering the# election and joins us now.

So, Malcolm, what more can you tell us about these# results.

Were they a surprise or to be expected?

MALCOLM BRABANT: No, people were saying right# at the start that the election was called## that it was over virtually then, that people# were expecting a substantial Labor majority,## because the nation really has declared that# it's sick and tired of the Conservatives.

And this has been borne out tonight.

These# early sort of exit polls are usually extremely## accurate.

And what they're saying is that Labor# will have 410 seats in the 365-seat Parliament,## giving them a majority of 170 seats, and the# Conservatives have lost 241 seats, which is one## of the worst performances by a Conservative# government in recent political history.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, a landslide# victory, it seems like,## there.

What does that margin of victory# mean, both for the Labor Party and how## Sir Keir Starmer's priorities# can actually be put into place?

MALCOLM BRABANT: Well, this is exactly# what he wanted to be able to do,## to be able to carry out all# of his legislative programs.

And he's been rather vague about some# of the things that he's going to do,## but he now has absolutely really no opposition to# worry about when it comes to putting through the## things that he wants to do.

That is basically# trying to get growth, stabilizing the economy.

He wants to improve the National Health# Service.

He also wants to set up border## controls to stop all of the -- a new sort# of border force to stop all the boat people## coming across from France.

And he also wants# to bring in new teachers and things like that.

And the Conservatives have concerns that what# he might even do with this supermajority is to## introduce voting for 16-year-olds, so that Labor# can stay in power for generations.

We will have## to wait and see if that one comes true.

But,# certainly, there's been a lot of scaremongering## by the Conservatives about what this is going to# do with such a powerful majority for Sir Keir.

AMNA NAWAZ: Malcolm, what about those# Conservatives?

After 14 years in power,## where does this leave the# Conservative Party and Rishi Sunak?

MALCOLM BRABANT: Well, they're in total disarray.

This is a dreadful performance on their part.

And# they have been -- they have suffered a.. of there being COVID and also there being a war# in Ukraine.

But, also, their own irresponsibility## in government and incompetence has been one of the# things that's actually brought about their demise.

Rishi Sunak is thought to be a sort of very nice# guy, a technocrat, pretty -- and pretty competent,## but he's just not been able to get over the# kind of history that the people of this country## have with the Conservatives.

And after 14# years of it, people have just had enough.

Even though they don't particularly sort# of trust everything Keir Starmer says,## they just want change.

They are fed up with# the cost of living being absolutely abominable.## And one of the things, for example, that Keir# Starmer is going to do which the Conservatives## would never do, is to hit the labor --# is to hit the oil companies with extra## revenue with all the profits they have been# making and to pour that into green energy.

And that's -- people are fed up with their## bills for gas and their electricity# going up, and they just want change.

AMNA NAWAZ: Malcolm, there's another# political force at play here.

That## is a man named Nigel Farage many people may know,## the leader of the right-wing populist party# Reform U.K. Where did he come out in this race?

MALCOLM BRABANT: Well, he's done pretty well.

I mean, we don't know just how many votes# he's managed to get.

And he's only going## to get 13 seats, by the looks of things,# in Parliament.

But he's basically setting## himself up in -- for five years' time.

I# mean, he's going to be a rabble-rouser in## Parliament.

He's going to be the loudest# voice possibly against Keir Starmer.

And what he's going to be trying to do is# to unite the right wing behind him so that,## in five years' time, he will be# in a position to challenge Keir## Starmer perhaps as prime minister.# But that's going to be his main role.

And he's going to -- I think he will be quite# content with what he's got, because if he wins his## seat in Eastern England, he will be in Parliament,# and he will be a thorn in Keir Starmer's side.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, that is "News# Hour" special correspondent Malcolm## Brabant reporting live for us from London tonight.

Malcolm, thank you.

Good to see you.

The nine justices of the Supreme Court# considered more than 60 cases this term,## before rendering their final# decisions earlier this week.

Their rulings on abortion access, presidential# immunity and the limits of federal agencies## could have long-lasting impacts.

They also# showcased sharp divides among the justices.

I sat down with two Supreme Court# watchers to reflect on this historic term.

Steve Vladeck is a professor at# Georgetown University's Law Center,## and Joan Biskupic is CNN's senior Supreme Court# analyst and author of the book "Nine Black Robes."

Welcome to you both.

Thanks for being here.

JOAN BISKUPIC, Author, "Nine# Black Robes": Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ: Joan.. the court's most anticipated decision# on Monday, deciding that presidents## are entitled to some immunity from prosecution.

How consequential is that decision, given# how it could reshape the presidency?

JOAN BISKUPIC: Consequential for this year,# but consequential for many, many years.

This was such a robust reading of executive power.# It was a very bold statement by this court, the## 6-3 supermajority conservative court.

So I think# it gave us a new insight into the court under## John Roberts.

And in terms of going forward, it's# certainly already affecting prosecutions against## former President Donald Trump and will affect# presidential powers and authority down the road.

AMNA NAWAZ: Steve, this undeniably leaves# us with a more powerful executive after## that decision.

How does that decision square# with the trend you saw from the justices and## how they viewed the power of executive# branch agencies and other decisions?

STEPHEN VLADECK, Georgetown University# Law Center: Yes, I mean, I think, Amna,## it makes sense if you distinguish between the## power of the presidency as an institution# versus the power of executive branch agencies.

This court seems to be very comfortable with# the president himself exercising an awful lot## of power, perhaps not being as accountable# as the founders would have wanted him to be,## while still reining in the power# of lower-level agencies and reining## in the power of Congress to even# give authority to those agencies.

That might seem like a tension at first.

I# actually think it has the same core goal,## which is enhancing the power of the presidency,# enhancing the role of the courts, and actually## weakening as much as any other institution# in American government the legislature.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, Joan, as we know, the issue of# abortion loomed large over this term as well,## two years after the Dobbs decision overturned# that constitutional right to abortions.

But this court basically punted on two# related cases that came before them,## one related to abortion medication, the other on## access to emergency abortions.

How# did you look at those decisions?

JOAN BISKUPIC: Well, the first one, the one that## ensured that women would still have access# to mifepristone, the abortion medication,## that was a logical outcome when they said# the challengers there, the anti-abortion## physicians who didn't even engage in any kind# of abortion or prescription of this drug,## that they didn't have what's known as legal# standing, that they couldn't bring that case.

The other case from Idaho involving the# ability to get emergency abortions for## women who had complications in pregnancies,# that one was a surprise.

First of all,## it was a surprise even the way the# justices took it.

They reached out to## take that case.

They allowed this Idaho# law, a complete ban, to take effect.

They sidestepped that with an unusual compromise# in the end, but I think that compromise that they## had, saying that they were going to put it off# for a while, that they should not have granted## it in the first place, that they shouldn't have# reached out, I think it just showed, though,## that they're kind of champing at the bit to have# another bite and a case that could really diminish## access to abortion, what's left of it after they# have rolled back constitutional abortion rights.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, Steve, you have# noted in your analysis before that,## when the justices weren't# unanimous in their decisions,## we often saw this 6-3 split, which# is clearly along ideological lines.

What does that say to you about the# evolution of this Roberts court?

STEVE VLADECK: Well, I think what's# striking, Amna, is, remember that the## justices are choosing virtually all of their# cases.

And so it's not like this is a random## cross-section of cases from lower courts that# are just happening to split them ideologically.

What it shows, and I think what# the Idaho abortion case shows,## is that the six conservative justices# know what they want to do and are taking## the cases where they are going to be able# to stake out what really are in the main## ideological positions that are going to provoke# the dissents of the three Democratic appointees.

We shouldn't be surprised by that,# but I think it's striking that there## were twice as many of those 6-3 ideological# splits this year as last term.

It suggests,## as in the Idaho case, the court is just taking# whatever the conservatives want to take,## even if in some of these cases it is# coming to regret that down the road.

AMNA NAWAZ: I also wanted to ask# what you make of some of the tone## we have seen in the dissents in# these cases from those liberal## justices.

What do you make of that?# We have seen stronger language there.

JOAN BISKUPIC: Certainly stronger# language, and it was escalating.

It had been building on the part# of Justices Sotomayor, Elena Kagan,## and Ketanji Brown Jackson, our newest# justice.

The anger, the passion,## and I felt like when I was hearing some of those# earlier dissents, it revealed what was to come.

They just are not able to make any kind of# inroads.

The six-justice conservative majority is## really flexing its muscle.

And I think Steve and# I have observed that there is such a difference## between a five-justice conservative majority and# six, because they have got wiggle room.

Somebody## can drop off, and they can still be pretty# bold in where they're going toward the right.

AMNA NAWAZ: Steve, we should also note this is# a court that's faced the same decline in public## trust that all other American institutions have# seen.

Pew Research tracked a more than 30-point## drop in Supreme Court's favorable ratings# since 1987.

That was as of summer of 2023.

And then we saw this slew of# reports, many from ProPublica,## raising questions about ethics concerns.

The# court adopted an ethics code late last year,## but how do you look at that?

Can# they win back the public's trust?

STEVE VLADECK: I mean, Amna, yes, they can.# I don't know that anything the court has done## in the last couple of weeks has been in# any way taking steps in that direction.

And it's really striking.

Joan mentioned the# voices of the three liberal dissenters.

I## think we have also heard the emerging voice# of Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

She is marking## out position in between herself and the other# conservative justices, Amna, where I think she## actually is perhaps the most cognizant of the# need to not look like they're jumping the gun.

In the Colorado ballot disqualification case,## she wrote specifically about what message# the court was sending to the American people.## She seems worried about that.

The problem, as Joan# points out, is, there are now six.

And so one's## not enough.

The fact that Chief John Roberts has# really gone more over to the Thomas/Alito/Gorsuch## win is part of why I think we're going to# see this credibility gap continue to grow.

AMNA NAWAZ: We have described this# term as historic so many times,## I have lost count.

But, Joan, how would# you briefly sort of describe the impact## of some of their decisions and how# you look ahead to the next term?

JOAN BISKUPIC: Where it was a turning# point, I think, is in the immunity decision,## the justices' regard for the presidency# and the justices regard for themselves.

Even though they certainly protected the# executive branch much more than any court## has ever in American history, it also leaves# to the court itself what are official acts,## what are not official acts, which is the crucial# question coming out of the immunity thing.

We talk about the imperial presidency.# There was a certain imperial kind of## oomph to what the justices did for# the judiciary.

And, also, I think,## for John Roberts -- Steve mentioned# that Amy Coney Barrett is a little bit## more in the center than how we would have# regarded John Roberts once upon a time.

John Roberts, in this immunity case, in the# regulatory movement of the justices against## protections for environment, for labor, for# public health, he has really shown himself to## be much more vigorous in moving to the right and# enforcing a certain kind of conservative agenda## that he started his career with in Washington# when he first worked in the Reagan administration.

AMNA NAWAZ: Steve, what about you?

How do you## reflect back on this term and what# are you looking fo.. STEVE VLADECK: Yes, I mean, I think there's no# question that this term saw the most aggressive## restructuring of the federal government since the# New Deal, since 1937, we had a slew of Supreme## Court decisions that really had helped to set# the stage for the modern administrative state.

Whether that restructuring is going to be a good# thing in the long term, Amna, very much remains to## be seen.

The early returns are not especially# inspiring.

And looking ahead to next term,## they know as much as anyone that# there's an election coming in November.

And how we are talking and looking at the Supreme# Court next year is going to depend a heck of a## lot, I think, on who wins in November and on# whether we have a second Trump administration,## where the question is, how much will# that court stand up to a President Trump?

Or Joe Biden or another Democrat wins in# November and we have more of the same.

I## think that's really very much all the play# for.

The problem is that the real watchword,## the real takeaway is, all of these decisions# in the cumulative are going to destabilize## settled understandings of law, are going to# destabilize the power of the federal government.

And in the long term, Joan is right,# it's about the imperial judiciary## and how much more judges are going to be# deciding features of our everyday lives.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, that is# Steve Vladeck and Joan Biskupic.

Thank you so much for your time and# for your insights.

We appreciate it.

JOAN BISKUPIC: Thank you.

STEVE VLADECK: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## It's well-known that there were some# big gaps in student learning tied to## school shutdowns during the pandemic and# difficult transitions with hybrid classes.

But a big question remains, how much# did federal aid help students recover## from those academic losses?

We now# have some answers from new research.

And Jeffrey Brown dives into the latest.

JEFFREY BROWN: A pair of new studies show that# the $190 billion the federal government gave## in pandemic aid for schools helped students# catch up academically.

But big gaps remain.

Here to tell us about them is Laura Meckler,# national education writer for The Washington Post.

Thanks for joining us, Laura.

So, in general terms, first, we did see some# gains, even if m.. LAURA MECKLER, The Washington Post:# Yes, some -- we did see some gains.## There were deep losses from the# pandemic between 2019 and 2022.

And we just saw those were across the board, rich# districts, poor districts, but especially poor## districts saw big, steep losses.

But we did start# to see some improvement between 2022 and spring of## 2023.

We don't have the results from this last# testing in spring 2024.

So we don't know.

But,## obviously, people are hoping that they# will see continued improvement then.

But, as of what we know right# now, kids are still behind.

JEFFREY BROWN: So, that's a lot of money to spend.## What kind of specific steps made# the most difference?

Do we know?

LAURA MECKLER: Well, unfortunately,# we don't really know, because they## wanted that money out the door, and# there were very few strings attached.

Districts were not required to say how# they were spending the money, and districts## used it for a wide range of purposes.

Now,# let's remember that, in the spring of 2021,## when this money was first allocated, people# were talking about reopening schools, and## there was money spent on nurses.

There was money# spent on COVID testing, on ventilation systems.

Some school districts used money for# facilities improvements.

But then it## became clear over -- pretty quickly, it became# clear that really the biggest problems American## schools were facing was this loss of# learning, this academic regression.

So there were -- definitely money spent# on that, on tutoring, on summer programs,## on additional staff to help maybe# put another teacher in the room## to go around and help kids who# are struggling with a problem.

JEFFREY BROWN: Now, my understanding is# that poorer districts got more of the## aid.

Did differences show up between# poorer and better-off school systems?

LAURA MECKLER: Yes, they did.

And, even more interestingly enough, with# .. got more money than others due to a quirk in the# formula that they used in distributing this aid.

So researchers were able to really look# and see, what impact did the aid have?

Now,## everybody improved, but was it that# they were going to improve anyway,## or do we credit this federal money?

And# what they were able to determine was that,## for every $1,000 that was spent per people,# they saw about 3 percent of a grade improvement.

So is that a lot or a little?

I guess it# depends on whether you're feeling like this## glass is 3 percent full or maybe 50 percent# empty.

But they did, in fact, have an impact.

JEFFREY BROWN: And, to be clear, when# you talk about grade improvement,## we were talking about math or# reading scores, that kind of thing?

LAURA MECKLER: Yes, so that's in math scores.

If we're looking at math in particular,# what we found was that there was a drop## in student test scores between 2019 and# 2022 of about half-a-grade in math.

So## students lost about half-a-grade's worth# of learning in math.

And so they needed to,## like, catch up by quite a bit, and because# you need to learn the new material for the## next year that you're in school, plus# what you lost from the previous year.

So that was a huge challenge.

And so, again,# this -- if you're thinking about, say, a## 50 percent loss, a half-a-grade, for every $1,000# spent, 3 percent improvement.

So if you spent,## say, $8,000 per student in this pandemic aid, you# would get maybe a quarter-of-a-grade improvement.

JEFFREY BROWN: Now, this federal# funding is coming to an end soon,## right?

What happens then?

What are# you hearing from schools themselves?

LAURA MECKLER: Districts do have to# spend the money by this fall.

And## there are a lot of concerns about# cutbacks that will come with that.

Some districts are intent on# trying to maintain as much of## the new interventions that they put in# place as possible.

But, in other places,## they are definitely facing cuts.

For instance,# in the city of Cleveland, they developed a## robust summer program that served more than# 5,000 kids a year for the last few years.

But, this summer, they only have# about half that many enrolled,## because they just don't have# funding for the full program.

JEFFREY BROWN: So, just summing up as# we end here, with all the talk about## these gaps and the losses and studies like# this, how much do we know at this point?

LAURA MECKLER: Well, you know, we know a good bit.

We know that the losses were steep.

We know# that the comeback is under way.

But we just## don't know how far we have gotten yet.

And# it'll be -- one thing I will be looking for## and a lot of people will be looking for is,# what were those test scores this last spring,## just a couple months ago?

How# much of an improvement did we see?

Did we see another big jump like we did from# '22 to 2023?

Or did the pace of improvement## lag?

So I think that there's still a bit that# we don't know.

But we certainly know that the## American education system has been trying,# trying to make up for these deep losses.

And now that the money is gone, we will just# have to see, will there be further sliding## or will they find a way to continue helping# kids catch up to where they're supposed to be?

JEFFREY BROWN: All right, Laura Meckler of# The Washington Post, thank you very much.

LAURA MECKLER: Thanks so much for having me.

AMNA NAWAZ: In Missouri, abortion# was banned almost immediately## after Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Now, two# years later, there's an effort to enshrine## abortion access in the state's constitution by# putting it on the ballot this election cycle.

I recently spoke to our communities# correspondent, Gabrielle Hays, in St. Louis.

Gabby, great to see you.

Help us understand here now.

In the# two years .. what has that meant for people in Missouri# and providers in the surrounding areas?

GABRIELLE HAYS: You know, Amna, a lot of what we# know about how this has impacted Missouri and what## this looks like for Missourians comes from the# data and the information that we're able to gather## from other states who are monitoring how# many people are coming from states with## more extreme bans, such as Missouri,# how those folks are being impacted.

We got some data from Hope Clinic this week.# That clinic is located in Illinois right across## the river from St. Louis.

And providers there# tell us that 80 percent of the patients that## they are seeing are coming from states with# more extreme bans.

They say they are seeing## patients coming from 28 different states across# the country, five countries from around the world.

We were able to speak to Julie Burkhart over# at Hope Clinic, who was able to kind of paint## the picture for what this impact looks like# for patients coming to their clinic for care.

JULIE BURKHART, Co-Owner, Hope Clinic: Oftentimes,## they have to bring their children because they# don't have childcare or don't feel t.. can disclose to people why they would need to# maybe leave their children for a day or two.## People go to great lengths to get rides from# friends, to get a bus ticket, to get on a plane.

GABRIELLE HAYS: Now, Burkhart explained, for just# a bit of context, that, just last month alone,## 48 percent of the patients that they saw,# she says, came from the state of Missouri.

AMNA NAWAZ: Gabby, we did see in# other states, like Michigan and Ohio,## in reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade,# people launching successful ballot initiatives,## where voters then get to decide on# abortion access in their own states.

Tell us about the effort in Missouri.

GABRIELLE HAYS: Yes, Amna, there is an effort# currently unfolding here in the state of Misso.. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom launched# a campaign in hopes to get abortion the ballot## this fall.

Advocates who work with that# campaign tell us that they were able to get## the amount of signatures, in fact, twice# as many, in order to get on the ballot.

We were able to talk to Tori Schafer,## who is an attorney for the ACLU,# but also works on the campaign,## to kind of explain to us what getting abortion# the ballot could mean for the state of Missouri.

TORI SCHAFER, ACLU of Missouri: Missouri is# unique, in the sense that we're going to show## states across the country that, regardless# of the political dynamics in your state,## folks are with you.

And it doesn't# -- it's not a decision that's made## on political party or who's at the# top of the ticket in your state.

This is an issue that is very personal.# And we know that Missourians are with us.

GABRIELLE HAYS: Schafer pointed# out specifically that the impact## would be substantial, given, as I stated earlier,## that Missouri outlawed abortion so quickly after# Dobbs and has one of the more stricter bans.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, Gabby, we know that# there is a Republican majority in the## Missouri state legislature.

Has there# been any pushback to that effort?

GABRIELLE HAYS: Yes, there definitely has been,# but I think a little context is important.

So we saw state Republican legislators putting# forth legislation this year in hopes to make it## harder to amend the state's constitution.

I had# some Republicans telling me earlier this year## that they felt like it was too easy for people# to be able to change the state's constitution.

Now, that bill didn't go very far, but when# we talk about this in terms of abortion## specifically being on the ballot,# legislators have taken to social media,## Republicans encouraging people to not sign# the petition back when signatures were## being collected, encouraging people# to what they call decline to sign.

And so we have seen a little bit of that.

But# to zoom out a little bit, earlier this week,## I spoke to United States Senator Josh Hawley,# who spoke to me a little bit about this issue.## And he told me, though he is pro-life, he# said, the people should be able to vote.

If## they -- if it gets to that point and it# gets on the ballot, he essentially said## that the people should have the opportunity to# debate on it, if that is what they want to do.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, Gabby, what# about some context here?

I mean,## what are we seeing nationwide on this issue?# Is abortion on the ballot in other states?

GABRIELLE HAYS: Yes, it definitely is,## Amna.

And this is something that# we're learning more about this week.

Just for a little bit of context, we know# that at least six states will have some## type of abortion access language on the ballot# come this fall.

That's states like Nevada and## Florida.

But we also know that about five# of them, at least five other states, have## some sort of pending ballot measures that we're# waiting to see if they make it on the ballot.

Those are states like Missouri, but also Arizona.# We did get some news this week that both Arizona## and Nebraska, that organizers and advocates# there say that they have submitted and they## have enough signatures, in some cases twice# as many, to be able to get on the ballot.

So we're just waiting to see.

And, for# Missouri specifically, advocates tell us## that they believe that we should know whether# or not it'll make it on the ballot in August.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, that is our communities# correspondent in St. Louis, Gabrielle Hays.

Gabby, thank you.

Good to see you.

GABRIELLE HAYS: Thank you.

AMNA NAWAZ:## Google announced this week it is well# behind on a pledge to all but eliminate## its net carbon emissions by 2030.

Its emissions# are actually up nearly 50 percent since 2019.

One factor, artificial intelligence and the energy## required to power it via the# company's massive data centers.

As economics correspondent Paul# Solman reports, the A.I.

arms## race has experts worried about# its climate consequences.

PAUL SOLMAN: By now, you# have probably seen ChatGPT,## which economist Simon Johnson prompted# to substitute for me in a recent story.

SIMON JOHNSON, MIT Sloan School of# Management: "Good evening.

I am Paul## Solman reporting on a compelling new analys.. PAUL SOLMAN: Now meet Mary, a chatbot# avatar companion created recently for## us on the app Replika.

She is connected# to ChatGPT, but can also flirt on her own.

A.I.

COMPUTER VOICE: Are you# always this irresistible?

PAUL SOLMAN: And, finally, here is 3-D Ameca.

Albert Camus, in his book "Le# mythe de Sisyphe," "The Myth## of Sisyphus," writes "On peut# 'etre vertueux par caprice."

A.I.

COMPUTER VOICE: Ah, on peut 'etre vertueux# par caprice translates to, one can be virtuous## out a caprice.

Camus suggests that virtue need not# stem from deeper philosophies or moral systems.

PAUL SOLMAN: Ameca, too, is hooked up to# ChatGPT.

How quickly can Ameca respond?

Fifteen milliseconds, that's how long it took.

KATE CRAWFORD, University of Southern# California: Which is extraordinary,## but the next question would be, how much energy## does it take to make that whole process# work from ChatGPT to a robot and back?

PAUL SOLMAN: A whole lot, says research# professor Kate Crawford, and that poses a threat.

KATE CRAWFORD: What I'm most worried about is# that we're building an enormous infrastructure## for artificial intelligence that is# extremely energy- and water-intensive,## without looking at the very real# downsides in terms of the climate impacts.

PAUL SOLMAN: Like more brownouts in# Texas, say, wildfires in California,## stronger hurricanes in the Gulf,# 126 degrees in Delhi this spring.

Data centers had already been burgeoning with the## Internet and the so-called cloud# of data storage and exchange.

ALEX DE VRIES, Data Scientist: Then we suddenly## had cryptocurrency mining# adding a lot on top of that.

PAUL SOLMAN: Amsterdam-based# data scientist Alex de Vries.

And as the value of cryptocurrency has# multiplied, so have the data centers,## like those that mine Bitcoin in cheap# energy havens like Plattsburgh, New York.

MAN: This miner here will use as# much power as my house does a month.

PAUL SOLMAN: Says de Vries: ALEX DE VRIES: A.I.

might be# going in the exact same direction.

PAUL SOLMAN: And, notes Crawford, A.I.

is not# just going to stress the electricity grid.

KATE CRAWFORD: These large-scale# data centers, they use GPUs that are## enormously heat-producing.

And the water# to cool these GPU chips is freshwater.## So it's often coming from exactly the same# reserves that are used for drinking water.

BILL STRONG, Equinix: These are# basically customer deployments,## where they're running their critical# infrastructure and their applications.

PAUL SOLMAN: Bill Strong runs the data# centers in Silicon Valley for Equinix,## which operates 260 of the nearly# 11,000 centers that operate worldwide.

The company leases space to firms# like AT&T and Google Cloud to run## servers that power their cloud and A.I.# operations.

And Equinix is expanding.

This is where A.I.-like processors would go?

BILL STRONG: Correct.

This# is a high-density deployment,## liquid-cooled.

So, basically, we're# taking the building's chilled water.## It comes into here.

Each one of these goes# to an actual chip on a customer's server.

PAUL SOLMAN: These are nozzles?

BILL STRONG: Correct.

There's nozzles# wher.. that connects to the server, cools# the chip.

The hot air comes back,## ties into our chilled water system,# gets cooled.

And that's how we're able## to provide liquid cooling for these# higher-density A.I.-type deployments.

PAUL SOLMAN: This Silicon Valley complex# alone features 345,000 square feet of servers,## thousands of them operating 24/7, the company's# global energy budget, as of last year,## same as three-quarters of a million U.S. homes.

And what fraction of global energy use do# the world's 11,000 or so data centers use?

KATE CRAWFORD: We have had# estimates from 2 to 8 percent.

PAUL SOLMAN: But even at the low end?

KATE CRAWFORD: Two percent is around the# same energy budget as the Netherlands.

PAUL SOLMAN: And if, as widely# predicted, that doubles in two years?

KATE CRAWFORD: We could see the energy budget# be as high as a country the size of Japan.

PAUL SOLMAN: Even now, a data center complex# in Iowa owned and operated by Meta uses as much## power per year as seven million# laptops running eight hours a day.

And, of course: CHRISTOPHER WELLISE, Equinix: We're in the# very early days of art.. PAUL SOLMAN: But, as A.I.# taketh away, it may also giveth.

Christopher Wellise runs# sustainability at Equinix.

CHRISTOPHER WELLISE: What we# don't know yet, for example,## is, what will be the benefits to# society from a energy perspective.

PAUL SOLMAN: Such as?

CHRISTOPHER WELLISE: Air Canada is a# customer of Eq.. to optimize their flight pathways and save# fuel for them as a company.

A lot of focus## is on how much energy that A.I.

is going# to use, but the energy that's consumed,## for instance, in training these# large language models is not lost.

You can think of it as stored energy.# Once these models are trained,## if they're retained, they can be# used over and over and over again.

KATE CRAWFORD: There are# some signs that give me hope.

PAUL SOLMAN: Even Kate Crawford agrees.

KATE CRAWFORD: Researchers are now investigating# different sorts of technical architectures,## in particular, what are called small# language models.

These are models## that use much less data and therefore less energy.

We're also starting to see regulators# pay attention.

We have seen the first## bill be brought into Congress which is looking# specifically at A.I.

's environmental impacts.

BILL STRONG: The solar panels are# supplying a half-a-megawatt of power.

PAUL SOLMAN: Case in point, Equinix itself.

BILL STRONG: When the solar panels are active,# we're not pulling from the local utility source.

PAUL SOLMAN: OK, these panels fuel a# mere 3 percent of the facility so far,## but with solar capacity doubling every# three years, maybe the sky's the limit.

REID HOFFMAN, Creator, LinkedIn# Corporation: Ultimately,## I think that will all be very net-positive.

PAUL SOLMAN: Techno-optimist Reid Hoffman,## the creator of LinkedIn, puts# his faith in A.I.

itself.

REID HOFFMAN: A much earlier version, 10 years# ago, when it was applied to data centers,## figured out how to save power in# data centers by 15 percent in the## ongoing week-by-week operation of the data center.

So you go, well, if we're generating A.I.

's# that can help us with this kind of thing,## sure, it takes a bunch of electricity to train,## but then it helps us figure out how to operate# our electrical grids much better, right?

And that's already line of sight today.

And so,## ultimately, I think the electricity# worries is more of a red herring.

PAUL SOLMAN: Really?

REID HOFFMAN: Yes.

PAUL SOLMAN: But, near-term, warns Kate Crawford: KATE CRAWFORD: It's inevitable that# we're going to see price increa.. if we continue to have these sorts# of pressures on the electrical grid.

PAUL SOLMAN: And so the age-old horse race between# the cost of new technology and its benefits,## in the case of A.I.

perhaps, to solve# the problems it creates, or not so much.

For the PBS "News Hour," Paul# Solman in Silicon Valley.

AMNA NAWAZ: The American flag is one of# the world's most recognizable symbols,## but the responses it provokes# are anything but uniform.

A museum exhibit in Arkansas explores how such## a universal symbol can send# so many different messages.

In this encore report, Ali Rogin paid a visit# for our arts and culture series, Canvas.

ALI ROGIN: It flies over the halls of# justice, it's used to mark a solemn## sacrifice, and it's wrapped around shoulders# in celebration.

It's present at the proudest## and the darkest moments in the nation's# history.

The flag represents America,## but it can't represent all the experiences# of those who claim it as their own.

That's the idea behind the exhibit Flagged for## Discussion at the Crystal Bridges Museum# of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.

LARISSA RANDALL, Curator, Crystal Bridges# Museum of American Art: Every object## here reflects the artist's personal# relati.. ALI ROGIN: Curator Larissa Randall came up with# the idea for the exhibit while perusing items## in the museum's permanent collection.

There# were so many depictions of the American flag,## but each was so different, like this Norman# Rockwell portrait of Rosie the Riveter quite## literally eating Hitler's lunch, or this# wood carving by Leroy Almon making clear## that the transatlantic slave trade also# took place under the flag's auspices.

Or Ward by George Tooker, in which the flag# provides little comfort to ailing patients.

LARISSA RANDALL: I was struck by how artists# from across time, across walks of life,## of various backgrounds all use the flag to, like,# comment on issues that are important to them.

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD, Artist: This# is a flag Mexico and the U.S. as one,## but it's bigger than that.

It's, can we get along?

ALI ROGIN: For artists Consuelo Jimenez Underwood,## the flag is both message and medium.

Underwood# was born in Sacramento, California.

Her mother## was third-generation Mexican American.

And# her father was part of the Bracero Program,## which allowed Mexican seasonal workers to come# to the United States during both World Wars.

Her piece at Crystal Bridges is called Home of the# Brave.

It combines the American and Mexican flags,## evoking the strong ties between the two# countries, but also the deep divides.

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD: I# feel that the threads can join,## not just fabric, but people.

And# that's where I came in.

I wanted## to do something about the division# between our countries, Mexico and U.S. For me, that line is very arbitrary.

ALI ROGIN: Like many children of migrants at the# time, Underwood grew up picking crops with her## family, taxing her small body.

But with the help# of her parents, she nurtured her spirit and mind.

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD: I learned how# to appreciate the little that I had from my## dad.

And it was the hottest picking tomatoes in# Sacramento Valley in 110 degrees.

It was hard.

And he would sing.

And everybody would listen,## because he had a beautiful voice.

The other magic# that happened in those fields in those early,## early years were the book vans that came# to the fields for us kids that would miss## school the first two months and the# last two months of the school year.

And I made a promise to myself.# Because I'm getting behind.

I swear## I will not read fiction.

I'm only# going to read biography, science,## real stuff, so that I can make up# for the knowledge that I'm losing.

ALI ROGIN: America allowed children like# Underwood to labor alongside adults,## a practice that continues illegally today.

But as Underwood sees it, America# also allowed her to thrive.

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD: I lived# under the U.S. flag.

And I knew,## if I got an education, I could move# up the social, economic.

So, Consuelo,## don't cry.

You will be the first of 11# of 12 to get that high school education.

ALI ROGIN: She finds inspiration in the methods# of the indigenous Huichol people of Mexico from## whom she is descended.

Her flag rests on a# backdrop of intricate indigenous designs.

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD: Underneath# is a really important history that,## don't forget, it's the shoulders that we stand on.

ALI ROGIN: Her flag features raw# materials like plastic and barbed## wires.

Safety pins hold the two# flags' loose threads together.

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD: This flag# is in disarray because it's not perfect,## but it's beautiful, because the land# that it waves over is wonderful.

ALI ROGIN: What does it mean to you to have this## work in conversation with the# other pieces in this exhibit?

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD: It# really is wonderful.

I feel like## Crystal Bridges is embodying the best# of these artworks that make you jump,## go, oh, my God, I never seen something like that.

LARISSA RANDALL: I would see this# project as successful if someone## left thinking about the flag in a# different way than they walked in.

ALI ROGIN: That's the exhibit's other## common thread, each pieces' piece's# ability to provoke dee.. MARTIN GUERRA-WEST, Holiday Island,# Arkansas: It makes me proud.

It makes## me also thoughtful of our history and how# far we've come in expanding our civil rights.

JIM CHAMBERLAIN, Phoenix, Arizona: As my# cap shows, I was in the service in the## Army.

So the flag to me is the flag, freedom,# because that's what I went in to fight for.

TOR'E ALFORD, Wichita, Kansas: It's# kind of twisted now.

I feel like,## what's the flag?

How free are we,# really, when you really think about it.

LARISSA RANDALL: Some people might look at the# U.S. flag and see unity or fear or harmony or## freedom.

And whatever people see, I think# is valid, but also is worth investigating,## whose freedom are we talking about and# how -- as we move forward as a country,## what do we want this to sort of represent for us?

ALI ROGIN: Flagged for Discussion doesn't answer# those questions, but it starts the conversation.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Ali# Rogin in Bentonville, Arkansas.

AMNA NAWAZ: And before we go, a reminder# to stick around for PBS' very own July 4## concert.

"A Capitol Fourth" features# performances from musical guests and## fireworks from the nation's capital.

That is# tonight on PBS.

And check your local listings.

Remember, there's always a lot# more online at PBS.org/NewsHour,## including a livestream of tonight's# "Capitol Fourth" concert and fireworks.

And that is the "News Hour"# for tonight.

I'm Amna Nawaz.

On behalf of the entire "News Hour" team,# thank you for joining us, and Happy Fourth.