>>> HELLO EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO AMANPOUR AND COMPANY.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

COULD A WAVE OF PROTESTS IN INDIA WIPE OUT PRIME MINISTER SUPPORT?

NEW YORK TIME SOUTH ASIA BUREAU CHIEF JOINS US FROM NEW DELHI.

> >> REPORTS ON THE FAMILIES IN GAZA AS THEY SCOUR THE RUBBLE SEARCHING FOR REMAINS OF THEIR DEAD.

>> I KNOW.

I'M SO BLESSED.

>> SCHOOLGIRLS OR THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY.

A DEEPLY FUNNY, DEEPLY SERIOUS NEW SHOW COMES TO BROADWAY.

I SPEAK TO ACTRESS PATINA MILLER AND DIRECTOR WHITNEY WHITE.

>>> ALSO AHEAD.

>> I CANNOT RULE OUT THE FACT THEY HAVE THE MATERIAL A AVAILABLE.

THE NUCLEAR MATERIAL FOR A NUCLEAR BOMB.

>> WALTER ISAACSON SPEAKS ERNEST MONIZ ABOUT THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION AS THE IRAN WAR DRAGS ON.

> >> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, MONIQUE SCHOEN WARSHAW, THE SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM, THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

> >> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE, I'M IN NEW YORK SITTING IN FOR CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR.

PROTESTS AND MASS DETENTIONS SWEEP THROUGH INDIA AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRACY IS ROCKED BY MAJOR DEMONSTRATIONS.

MORE THAN A DOZEN LEADERS OF THE CJP, INDIA'S COCKROACH PARTY WERE DETAIN TODAY AFTER THEY JUMPED POLICE BARRICADES AND JOINED A PROTEST.

DEMONSTRATORS ARE DEMANDING THE RESIGNATION OF INDIA'S TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL AFTER A PURGE OF MORE THAN $100 MILLION VOTERS FROM ELECTION ROLES.

A MOVE THAT CRITICS SAY BENEFITS PRIME MINISTER MODI'S RULING PARTY.

THE GOVERNMENT DENIES THE ACCUSATIONS, SAYING THE DELETIONS LARGELY COVER THE DEAD OR THOSE WHO ARE OTHERWISE INELIGIBLE.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE COCKROACH PARTY HAS COME FOR MR.

MODI'S GOVERNMENT.

THE EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR RESIGNED AFTER SWEEPING DEMONSTRATIONS DEMANDED MAJOR REFORMS TO THE COUNTRY'S EXAM SYSTEM.

COULD THIS GEN Z LED MOVEMENT BE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO PRIME MINISTER MODI AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE IN POWER?

SOUTH ASIA BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES JOINS US NOW FROM NEW DELHI.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

SO AS WE'VE NOTED THE LAST FEW DAYS, WE'VE SEEN HUGE PROTESTS IN INDIA.

THOUSANDS TAKING TO THE STREETS.

I KNOW YOU'VE REPORTED FROM THE FRONTLINES OF THESE PROTESTS AS WELL.

THEY'VE GROWN QUITE DIVERSE?

I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST STUDENTS TAKING TO THE STREETS HERE, IT'S WELL-KNOWN OPPOSITION LEADERS, EVEN BALL I BOLLYWOOD ACTORS.

WHAT ARE THEY DEMANDING NOW?

>> Reporter: WELL, IT DOES FEEL LIKE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE PRIME MINISTER MODI HAS FACED IN HIS 12 YEARS IN POWER SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSE NATURE OF THE PROTESTERS ON THE STREETS.

IT IS NOT JUST THE OPPOSITION.

IN THE PAST, HE COULD DISMISS THE OPPOSITION OF SAYING THEY'RE SORE LOSERS.

BUT THIS IS A CROSS CUTTING OF SOCIETY.

IT'S A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THE ISSUES ARE DIVERSE AS WELL.

YES, THE TRIGGER IS ANGER OVER THE REVISION OF THE ELECTORAL ROLES.

THIS FEAR THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DELIBERATELY DISENFRANCHISED.

THAT'S A TRIGGER.

BUT WHAT'S COMING OUT ON THE STREETS IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, FRUSTRATION OVER ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, FRUSTRATION WITH LACK OF JOBS.

A LOT OF THINGS ARE COMING OUT AT ONCE.

AND THE FACT NON-PARTISAN YOUTH, AS WELL AS THE OPPOSITION ARE SORT OF COMING TOGETHER.

THAT IS WHAT'S CREATING QUITE A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER.

>> AND HAVING COVERED PROTESTS OVER THE SUMMER AS WE NOTED FROM THE SAME MOVEMENT AND PARTY.

WHEN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE ON THE STREETS TODAY, WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU NOW?

>> I THINK ONE THING THAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE SUMMER BROKE THE SPELL.

THERE WAS FEAR IN INDIA.

IT'S A COUNTRY WITH DEMOCRACY.

THE WAY PRIME MINISTER MODI HAS BEEN RUNNING THE COUNTRY IS SORT OF LARGELY IN HIS STRONG MAN IMAGE.

THAT MEANS THE SPACE WOULD DESCEND YOUR VOICE HAS SHRUNK A LOT.

WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER IS THAT KIND OF FEAR BROKE.

PEOPLE CAME OUT, PEOPLE VOICED THEIR OPINION VERY OPENLY, AND PEOPLE GOT THE PRIME MINISTER TO CONCEDE.

HE DOES NOT CONCEDE FREQUENTLY.

THAT WAS THE BIGGEST SETBACK HE HAD FACED WHEN PROTOASTERS FORCED HIM TO RESIGN.

SO THAT HAS KIND OF OPENED THE CRACK HERE.

YOU CAN TELL TWO MONTHS LATER WHEN THE YOUNG PROTESTERS ARE COMING BACK TO THE STREETS, THEY SEE NEW POSSIBILITIES.

THEY SEE THAT MAYBE THEY'VE OPENED A WINDOW FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

BUT THE POLITICAL EQUATION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT BEEN FOR SO LONG IN ONE DIRECTION THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WILL WIN ELECTIONS AND THEN GOVERN HOWEVER HE WANTED.

MAYBE THAT WILL CHANGE WITH THE PUBLIC PRESSURE ON THE STREETS.

SO AT THIS TIME AROUND, I THINK THEY ARE GALVANIZED BY THE WIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, BUT IT HAS GROWN A MUCH MORE COMPLEX PROBLEM NOW BECAUSE THEIR DEMAND IS THE RESIGNATION OF SOMEBODY WHO HOLDS A INSTITUTIONAL OFFICE RATHER THAN A POLITICAL OFFICE, AND THAT IS COMPLICATING THE KNOCK RIGHT NOW.

>> THIS IS INDIANA'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER, CORRECT?

>> YES.

THIS IS THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER WHO IS APPOINTED THROUGH A COMMITTEE WHERE PRIME MINISTER MODI HAS OUTSIZED INFLUENCE.

IT'S A COMMITTEE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, A CABINET MINISTER, AND THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION.

SO A TWO-IN-ONE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT.

THAT LAW WAS CHANGED TO MAKE IT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.

SO THEY'RE SAYING THERE HAS BEEN A BUNCH OF STEPS OVER THE YEARS THAT HAS KIND OF GIVEN THE PRIME MINISTER, THE GOVERNMENT OUTSIDE INFLUENCE OVER THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND THIS REVISION ROLE OF THE WAY THE REVISIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED.

IT IS KIND OF LOCKING IN THE RULING PARTY'S ADVANTAGE FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND PROTESTERS ARE ALLEGING DELIBERATE DISENFRANCHISEMENT BY THE REMOVAL OF THE CALLING OF SOME 130 MILLION NAMES HERE.

THIS STEMMING FROM AN INVESTIGATION THAT LED ALL OF THIS OUT TO THE FOREFRONT.

NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING WE SHOULD NOTE, THE REMOVAL OF THESE NAMES, THAT AND IN OF ITSELF DOESN'T INDICATE WRONG DOING.

THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED OR WERE INELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

BUT THESE PROTESTERS ARE SAYING THIS IS DELIBERATE DISENFRANCHISEMENT.

HAVE YOU FOUND ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THEIR CLAIMS THUS FAR?

>> ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THIS PROCESS IS THE PROCESS OF REVISION.

IT WAS VERY RUSHED, VERY SUDDEN.

AND IT HAS BEEN VERY CHAOTIC.

SO IN THE LEAST, PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED DUE PROCESS.

THEIR NAMES HAVE BEEN STRUCKOFF, AND SORT OF THE BURDEN OF DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN SO ENORMOUS IN THE FACE OF THAT BURDEN, PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR DUE PROCESS.

THEIR EXAMPLES, THERE IS A STATE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER MODI'S PARTY HAD WANTED TO WIN FOR A LONG TIME, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THERE, AND THEY HAD FAILED TO DO SO.

THEY GOT THE STATE THROUGH THE REVISION PROCESS.

AS THE REVISION PROCESS WAS AT ITS TAIL END, THEY ANNOUNCED A LOCAL ELECTION THERE.

THERE WERE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES WERE STRUCK OFF.

THEY WERE STILL IN THE APPEAL'S PROCESS WHILE THE ELECTION WENT AHEAD.

SO THE POSSIBILITY THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WERE DISENFRANCHISED, THEY COULD NOT EXERCISE THEIR VOTE WAS VERY REAL.

WHAT IS EVEN INCREASING THE SUSPICION IS THAT OFF THOSE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT VOTE IN THAT ELECTION.

AS THEIR APPEALS ARE BEING HEARD NOW, A VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN FOUND LEGITIMATE, AND THEY NEED TO GO BACK ON THE VOTER ROLES.

THERE ARE EXAMPLES THAT SUGGEST AT LEAST THE CHAOS LED TO THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT, BUT THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE PILING UP THAT SOME OF THAT WAS DELIBERATE.

THEIR EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE MEMBERS, LOCAL ACTIVISTS CONNECTED THE RULING PARTY WERE ACTIVELY IN BULK, TRYING TO DISPUTE THE EXISTENCE OF PEOPLE AND TRYING TO GET THEIR NAMES OFF THE ELECTORAL ROLES.

THERE'S ENOUGH CONCERN AND ENOUGH EVIDENCE.

THE SCALE OF THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT IS HARD TO TELL HOW MANY OF THE 130 MILLION WERE ACTUAL PEOPLE ACTUAL DUPLICATE PEOPLE OF WHO HAVE DIED.

THIS CLEANING UP OF THE ELECTORAL ROLES ARE SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN BEFORE EVERY ELECTION.

IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE A ROUTINE THING.

HOW CAN ALL OF A SUDDEN TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE FOUND DEAD, RIGHT?

HOW CAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE ARE TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THE ELECTORAL ROLES?

PARTICULARLY WHAT RAISES THE QUESTION IS IT IS THESE ELECTORAL ROLES THAT JUST TWO YEARS AGO IN WHICH THE PRIME MINISTER WON HIS THIRD HAD TERM.

AND IT IS THESE SAME ROLES THAT HIS PARTY HAS WON MULTIPLE STATES.

SO PEOPLE ARE SAYING EITHER THE ROLES WERE NOT FAIR BASED ON WHAT YOU WANT FROM THE PREVIOUS ELECTION OR THE CHANGE IS SO DRAMATIC AND SO MASSIVE THAT WE QUESTION YOUR INTENTION OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

>> SO AT THE VERY LEAST AT THIS POINT, THE GOVERNMENT'S JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS PROCESS IS NOT BEING TRUSTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO ARE COMING OUT TO THE STREETS AND PROTESTING?

THIS MOVEMENT AS WE KNOW IS BEING LED BY THE COCKROACH PARTY.

ITS FOUNDER SPOKE WITH CHRISTIANE RECENTLY ABOUT THE NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT BY HIS OWN GOVERNMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO PLAY FOR YOU SOME OF WHAT HE HAD SAID.

>> I WAS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, AN INDIAN STUDENT IN THE U. S. I WAS ON AN INDIAN PASSPORT.

MY OWN GOVERNMENT WAS CALLING ME A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT.

SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED HIS ENTIRE LIFE IN INDIA.

AND WHO HAD JUST COME TO THE U. S. IN JUST LAST TWO YEARS.

SO I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND VERY DISHEARTENED, MORE THAN I WAS HEARTBROKEN THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF MY OWN COUNTRY WAS CALLING ME A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT, AND THAT IS WHY I CHOSE TO COME BACK TO MY COUNTRY AND TO PROVE I'M NOT A NATIONAL THREAT.

IF ANYTHING, I'M A PATRIOT, AND I LOVE MY COUNTRY, JUST NOT IN THE WAY THIS GOVERNMENT EXPECTS ME TO, BUT I DO LOVE MY COUNTRY.

>> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PARTY ITSELF?

>> SO THE PARTY IS A BUNCH OF YOUNG ACTIVISTS WHO CAME TOGETHER AND A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WHAT KIND OF GAVE THE TRIGGER WAS AN OFFHANDED COMMON BY THE COUNTRY'S SUPREME COURT, WHERE HE DISSED YOUNG PEOPLE AS COCKROACHES WHO WERE NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE.

AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE SAW THAT COMMENT AS SORT OF THE BEHAVIOR, THE ATTITUDE OF THE RULING ELITE THAT DISMISSES THEM, THAT DOES NOT LISTEN TO THEIR GRIEVANCES AND TALKS DOWN TO THEM.

DURING A GRADUATE DEGREE.

AND THAT ONLINE CAMPAIGN TOOK OFF MASSIVELY.

THEN IT TURNED INTO AN OFFLINE MOBILIZATION.

SO IT BEGAN AS SORT OF AN ACTIVIST CAMPAIGN OF THINGS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

AT THAT TIME, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS.

THERE'S BEEN REPEATED SCANDALS IN THIS COUNTRY AROUND COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES.

AT A DISCOUNT RATE.

THE COMPETITION FOR THOSE SEATS IS ENORMOUS, AND THE TESTS ARE OFTEN LEAKED, SO THAT CAUSES A LOT OF PAIN.

AROUND THE LATEST, YOU KNOW, A ROUND OF SUCH LEAKS, THERE IS A LOT OF ANGER, AND THE COCKROACH SORT OF PARTIED, OH, THEY CALL THEMSELVES A PARTY, A NAME, THEY ARE A MOVEMENT.

NOT A REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTY.

THEY JUMPED INTO THAT ISSUE.

THEY GALVANIZED PEOPLE, MOBILIZED PEOPLE, AND THEY GOT THE PRIME MINISTER TO CONCEDE BY GETTING HIS EDUCATION MINISTER TO QUIT.

SO THAT WAS THE FIRST ISSUE THEY RALLIED AROUND.

NOW THEY'RE RALLYING AROUND THE ISSUE OF THE ELECTORAL ROLES.

BUT THE ANGER AS I WAS SAYING EARLIER IS MUCH MORE THAN THE ELECTORAL ROLES.

THE ELECTORAL ROLES ARE ACTUALLY QUITE COMPLICATED IN TERMS OF THE LAYERS OF COMPLEXITY, DOCUMENTATION IN THE WAY IT CONNECTS TO PEOPLE.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ANGRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IF YOU LOSE YOUR VOTER CARD IF IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU COULD LOSE THE WELFARE BENEFITS OR THE ACCESS.

SO IT IS A VERY TANGIBLE THING TO PEOPLE.

SO THEY ARE RALLYING AROUND THIS ANGER AS WELL, BUT THE BIGGER CAMPAIGN THEY HAVE MADE, YOU KNOW, THEIR MISSION IS TO INJECT SOME ACCOUNTABILITY INTO GOVERNANCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> YEAH, YOU WROTE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES A PIECE TITLED INDIA IS YOUNG.

PUT THEIR BODIES ON THE LINE TO BE HEARD.

A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT HOW SOME OF THESE PROTESTERS WERE MET AND HANDLED BY POLICE.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEMOCRACY HERE.

AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT THREAT IN YOUR VIEW TO THE PRIME MINISTER HIMSELF?

AND DO YOU EXPECT HE WILL BE ADDRESSING PUBLICLY?

SOME OF THEIR DEMANDS?

>> IT'S A GIFTED ORDER, BUT HE ALSO HAS THIS PERSONALITY WHERE HE TRIES TO KEEP DISTANT.

DETAINED BY THE THOUSANDS.

THE PRIME MINISTER'S SOCIAL FEED WAS LIKE BIRTHDAY GREETINGS AND FESTIVAL WISHES.

HE DOESN'T DO PRESS CONFERENCES.

HE RARELY ADDRESSES ANY NEGATIVE ISSUES HEAD ON.

HE SORT OF WHEELS OUT HIS LIEUTENANTS, WHO JUST ATTACK.

SO THE BEHAVIOR OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTERS, AND HOW LARGE THE MOBILIZATION OF THE OPPOSITION WAS YESTERDAY ON THE STREET.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

AFTER THE CRACKDOWN.

SO THAT TELLS ME AND IN CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH SORT OF PEOPLE CLOSE TO THE GOVERNING COALITION THAT IT HAS GROWN QUITE A DIFFICULT POLITICAL CHALLENGE FOR HIM.

I DON'T THINK IT IS AT ANY POINT A THREAT TO HIM.

HE HAS WEATHERED OTHER STORMS.

BUT IT IS A UNIQUE CHALLENGE BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, HE DOESN'T LIKE TO CONCEDE.

SECONDLY, THIS WOULD BE CONCESSION AROUND AN ISSUE THAT IS VERY SENSITIVE.

IF PEOPLE ARE SAYING YOU ARE RIGGING THE VOTER ROLES.

YOUR MANDATE IS IN QUESTION.

AND YOU ALLOW THE ELECTION CHIEF TO RESIGN.

YOUR OPPOSITION CAN EASILY SPIN THAT AS YOUR MANDATE IS ALWAYS QUESTIONABLE.

>> OR ACKNOWLEDGING SOMETHING IS WRONG.

RIGHT.

>> EXACTLY.

BECAUSE THE ISSUE IS SO COMPLEX.

BUT THE RESIGNATION WILL GIVE THEM SORT OF THE RECEIPT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.

>> GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON SOUTH ASIA BUREAU CHIEF WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES.

APPRECIATE IT.

> >> WE TURN NOW TO GAZA WHERE A FRAGILE YEAR OLD CEASE-FIRE CONTINUES TO STRETCH AT THE SEAMS.

ISRAEL HAS BEEN STEPPING UP ITS ASSAULT ON HAMAS ACCUSING THE GROUP OF REBUILDING THEIR ARSENAL AND PLANNING ATTACKS.

HAMAS SAYING ISRAEL IS UNDERMINING THE CEASE-FIRE BROKERED BY THE U. S. ACCORDING TO THE GAZA HEALTH OFFICIALS.

AT LEAST 1,400 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ISRAELI FIRE SINCE THE TRUCE BEGAN.

ISRAEL SAYS FOUR OF ITS SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY MILITANTS IN THE SAME SPAN OF TIME.

MEANWHILE INSIDE GAZA, THE DESPERATE SEARCH GOES ON FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL MISSING.

CORRESPONDENT HAS THE STORY AND A WARNING.

HER REPORT CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES.

>> Reporter: THROUGH THE TRENCH OF REMAINS, IDENTIFYING THE DEAD.

LIKE THE CLOTHES THEY WORE THAT DAY, THREE YEARS AGO.

THIS IS WHAT IT HAS COME TO IN GAZA.

THOSE WHO SURVIVED, TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHO DID NOT.

THREE YEARS IN, THE SMALLEST DETAIL CARRIES THE MOST WEIGHT.

A SCRAP OF CLOTHING ENOUGH TO BRING A FAMILY ANSWERS AND THE DECEASED, THEIR DIGNITY.

TODAY SPIT OUT BY GAZA'S CITY ONLY EXCAVATOR, FINALLY HERE TO REMOVE THE RUBBLE FROM THE 2023 ISRAELI BOMBING THAT KILLED DOZENS OF HIS FAMILY.

ISRAEL SPANS THE ENTRY UNTIL IT SAYS HAMAS IS DISARMED.

LEAVING THE WHOLE DEVASTATED STRIP WITH ONLY TWO EXCAVATORS ACCORDING TO LOCAL OFFICIALS.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT, AND SO MANY ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR WHAT'S LEFT OF THEIR LOVED ONES.

THE THE PALESTINIANS CIVIL DEFENSE SAYS MORE THAN 8,000 ARE MISSING.

BELIEVED TO BE BURIED BENEATH WHAT GAZA HAS BECOME.

TRYING TO LOCATE THEIR REMAINS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE.

OVER 60% OF GAZA IS UNDER ISRAELI CONTROL AND OFF LIMITS FOR PALESTINIANS.

FOR THREE LONG YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN SEARCHING, LOOKING FOR HER BOYFRIEND.

SHE SAYS HER SON WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN FRONT OF HER IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.

DURING ISRAELI MILITARY'S FORCED EVACUATION OF GAZA CITY.

SHE HAD TO LEAVE THEIR BODY BEHIND IN THE HOSPITAL AND FLEE.

SHE HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR HIM EVER SINCE.

>> Reporter: OUR CAMERAMAN MET THEM LAST YEAR AS THEY GATHER THE MAKESHIFT GRAVEYARD AT THE HOSPITAL.

>> Reporter: SHE SPOTTED THIS BLANKET.

SHE IS CERTAIN IT'S THE ONE HE WAS CARRYING THAT DAY.

A YEAR ON, WE FOUND HER STILL LOOKING FOR HER SON.

BUT IN THIS PLACE, IT SEEMS THERE IS NO PIECE.

NOT FOR THE LIVING, NOT EVEN FOR THE DEAD.

>> NOW FROM THE FAMILIARITY OF SCHOOL CLICKS TO EXPLORING GIRLHOOD, COLORISM, AND CAPITALISM.

THIS PLAY HAS IT ALL, ALSO BOB BIBROWN.

SCHOOLGIRLS OR CHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY IS BELOVED AND BACK IN NEW YORK ON BROADWAY GETTING RAVE REVIEWS.

SET IN 1980s GHANA, WHOSE CLICK IS UP ENDED BY THE ARRIVAL OF AN AMERICAN TRANSFER STUDENT.

HERE IS A TASTE OF THE QUEEN BEE, PAULINA, WHO IS HOPING TO BE SELECTED TO COMPETE IN THE MISS GHANA PAGEANT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, LADIES.

I WILL BE WEARING MY VERY OWN CALVIN KLEIN DRESS.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THAT IS.

I'M SO JEALOUS OF YOUR LIFE, PAULINA.

>> OH, I KNOW.

I AM SO BLESSED.

>> YEAH.

YOU REALLY ARE.

>> OH, DON'T WORRY.

I KNOW YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A NICE DRESS FOR YOURSELF, SO I WILL LET YOU WEAR ONE OF MY OPTIONS.

I'M SURE ONE OF THEM WILL FIT YOU.

>> THANKS, PAULINA, BUT I THINK I'LL BE OKAY.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> I MEAN, YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND, AND I REALLY NEED YOU TO LOOK GOOD.

>> HILARIOUS, HEARTWARMING, AND WHIP SMART.

IT'S A PROPER EXPLORATION OF THE UNIVERSAL PROBLEMS AND GLARING DIFFERENCES FACING TEENAGE GIRLS EVERYWHERE.

THE PLAY IS DIRECTED BY WHITNEY WHITE WHO IS JOINING ME ALONGSIDE ONE OF ITS STARS, PATINA MILLER.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU.

I HAVE TO SAY THE BOBBY BROWN PART, IT MADE ME LAUGH AND BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE 80s MYSELF GROWING UP.

THERE WAS SO MUCH HERE THAT REFLECTED GIRLS FELT AROUND THE WORLD WHETHER THEY ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND AS WE NOTED IN THE INTRODUCTION, THIS PLAY, BRILLIANTLY HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFERENCES AS WELL, DIFFERENCES WE DON'T DISCUSS NEARLY ENOUGH.

LET ME START WITH YOU, WHITNEY.

THE TITLE OF THE MEAN GIRLS.

WE RECOGNIZE THE CLICKS, OBVIOUSLY THE QUEEN BEE, WE SAW PAULINA THERE.

WHAT STRUCK YOU WHEN YOU FIRST READ THIS PLAY?

AND WHAT IS SETTING IT IN GHANA BRING TO THE FAMILIAR ASPECT OF THIS STORY AS WELL?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I MEAN, WHEN I FIRST READ THE SCRIPT, I WAS JUST STRUCK BY ITS HONESTY.

IF YOU'RE A YOUNG WOMAN AND YOU'VE SURVIVED YOUR TEENAGE AND TWEEN YEARS, THOSE ARE BRUTAL YEARS.

NOSE ARE THE YEARS YOU DUST COVER WHAT IT TAKES TO BE IN THE GROUP OR OUT THE GROUP, AND GROUP POLITICS COULD BE BRUTAL ON SOMEONE'S COMING OF AGE EXPERIENCE, AND JOCELYN BIOH WAS SO HONEST ABOUT THOSE FRAGILE INTIMATE MOMENTS THAT CAN HAPPEN WITHIN A GROUP OF PEERS, YOU KNOW?

I THINK WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THE SETTING OF GHANA ABOUT WHAT THEY BRING AND ALSO 1986 IS THAT IT'S A PRE-PHONE TIME, YOU KNOW?

SO THE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION IS SO DIRECT AND FULL OF NEED.

THEY CAN'T GO TO THE INTERNET.

THEY HAVE TO EXPRESS EVERYTHING WITH EACH OTHER ALL AT ONCE, AND I THINK IT MAKES IT PARTICULARLY RICH TO BE IN A PRE-SOCIAL MEDIA ERA AND LOOKING AT THESE ISSUES.

>> AND ALSO THE OBSESSION, THE ADMIRATION OF THE U.S., RIGHT?

WHETHER IT IS WHITE CASTLE OR CALVIN KLEIN OR CLEAN.

I MEAN, THERE IS A VIEW OF AMERICA AS MAKING IT IN LIFE IF SOMEBODY HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE.

PATINA, LET ME BRING YOU IN, YOU PLAY ELOISE.

NEVER LETS ANYONE FORGET SHE HELD A VERY IMPORTANT TITLE, MS.

GHANA 1966.

I THINK WE HEAR IT THIS THROUGHOUT THE PLAY, MULTIPLE TIMES.

LET'S WATCH A CLIP OF YOUR CHARACTER.

>> WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

HEY!

MS.

GHANA PAGEANT.

>> OH.

ISN'T THAT A COINCIDENCE?

WE WEREN'T EXPECTING YOU UNTIL TOMORROW.

AND SO I DECIDED TO COME UP EARLIER, GO SEE MY MOM AND SOME FAMILY, AND MAKE A TRIP OF IT, YOU KNOW?

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> YES, I CAN.

>> ANYWAY, I AM SO EXCITED TO BE A RECRUITER THIS YEAR.

I FEEL VERY COMMITTED TO FINDING A WINNING GIRL.

AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T MEAN TO BRAG.

>> YOU?

OF COURSE, NOT.

>> BUT IF ONE OF MY RECRUITS BECOMES MS.

GHANA 1986, I WILL GET A BIG PROMOTION.

>> REALLY?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

>> A BIGGER CROWN?

>> NO.

IT MEANS BIG MONEY FOR BOTH MYSELF, THE WINNER, AND A GENEROUS DONATION TO THE SCHOOL.

>> NOW, ELOISE FAVORS ERICA, WHO SHE CALLS HAVINGth HAVING COMMERCIAL APPEAL.

HOW DOES ELOISE JUSTIFY ENFORCING A BEAUTY STANDARD THAT REALLY FAVORS A GIRL WITH LIGHTER SKIN THAN HER OWN?

>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST HEARTBREAKING THING IS SHE RECOGNIZES WHAT THE WORLD IS, YOU KNOW?

HER HAVING GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD AND SEEING HOW HARSH IT IS, AND THE HARSH REALITIES OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BROWN GIRL WALKING IN THE WORLD.

WHAT THAT MEANS.

AND SO AS MUCH AS SHE HATES IT, SHE KNOWS IN ORDER FOR GHANA TO BE PUT ON THE MAP, GET RECOGNITION, SHE KNOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE OBSESSED WITH, YOU KNOW, PROXIMITY TO WHITENESS OR BEING LIGHT IS BETTER.

SO IN HER MIND, SHE IS DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY FOR GHANA, OBVIOUSLY FOR HERSELF, AND SOMETHING THAT WILL CHANGE THE COURSE OF THESE GIRLS, THESE YOUNG GIRLS LIVES.

BUT SHE KNOWS IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, ERICA FIRST DOING IT.

>> AND SPEAKING OF PAULINA, WHAT A DYNAMIC CHARACTER, WHITNEY.

IT IS HARD TO LOVE HER.

VERY EASY TO HATE HER.

BUT YOU CAN'T FORGET ABOUT HER EITHER.

>> YEAH.

>> JUST TALK ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF SOMEONE WHO COULD BE SO CRUEL AND WRITTEN IN SUCH AN INTENSE THREE-DIMENSIONAL WAY THAT YOU'LL SEE THROUGH THE FLAWS, AND YOU'RE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE IS COMING FROM, DESPITE THE HATE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S BEAUTIFULLY PUT.

SHE HAS RENDERED A CHARACTER, AGAIN, THAT IS JUST VERY REAL.

AND SOMETHING WE SAID TO EACH OTHER A LOT IN REHEARSALS IS HURT PEOPLE END UP HURTING PEOPLE.

PAULINA, OUR QUEEN BEE, OUR GIRL AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN ABANDONED BY HER FATHER.

SHE IS ONE OF MANY CHILDREN.

SHE NOTES SHE'S THE DARKEST IN HER FAMILY.

SHE NOTES THAT.

HER MOTHER WOULD HAVE GIVEN HER BLEACH INSTEAD OF FOOD AND BLEACHING CREAM.

SO HERE IS A GIRL WHOSE ONLY GOOD THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO HER IS THE ADMISSION TO THE SCHOOL, AND SHE JUST HAS EVERYONE BY THE NECK.

SHE'S TREATING PEOPLE.

SHE IS MODELING, YOU KNOW, BEHAVIOR THAT HAS BEEN MODELED TO HER.

AT THE SAME TIME, SHE IS STILL A CHILD, YOU KNOW?

AND THAT IS WHY EVEN THOUGH YOU HATE HER AT TIMES, YOU FEEL FOR HER AT THE END.

I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT OF THE WAYS WE CAN UNKNOWINGLY INFLICT PAIN ON CHILDREN AND WHAT THEY WILL DO IN THEIR OWN SYSTEMS.

IT IS A PORTRAIT OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE'RE NOT TALKING TO CHILDREN THE RIGHT WAY ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY PRESENT IN THE WORLD.

>> AND SOMEBODY WHO DOES THAT AND WHO WE SHOULD NOT FORGET IN TERMS OF CHARACTERS IN THIS RICH PLAY IS THE SCHOOL MASTER, THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL.

>> YES.

>> SHE IS ABLE TO SEE IT IN PAULINA WHAT SO MANY OF US REALLY DON'T WANT TO AT TIMES.

SO FOR YOU, PATINA, JUST TALK ABOUT THE DYNAMICS YOU'VE BUILT IN NOT ONLY ESTABLISHING ELOISE AS A CHARACTER, BUT YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH THESE OTHER GIRLS?

>> I MEAN, FIRST OFF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH SOME AMAZING ACTRESSES.

AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT,, WE ALL BROUGHT SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THE PROCESS.

SOMETHING THAT IS SO PERSONAL TO ALL OF THESE CHARACTERS THAT ARE SO RICH.

THERE IS SUCH A CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL OF THEM, AND I KNOW FOR MYSELF AS ELOISE, THERE IS A CONNECTION TO HEAD MISTRESS, FRANNIE, THEY WERE FRIENDS.

THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME OF THE SAME THINGS.

SO WHEN ELOISE COMES IN WITH THIS NEW JOB, SHE DOES SOMETIMES TURN INTO A KID WHEN SHE IS WITH HER FRIEND THAT HAS KNOWN HER THE LONGEST THAT KNEW HER BEFORE HER ACCENT CHANGED AND SHE NOW HAS A BRITISH ACCENT, YOU KNOW?

SO THERE ARE SO MANY DYNAMICS THAT YOU'LL GET TO SEE ELOISE AND HEAD MISTRESS AS THE TWO ADULTS IN THE PLAY OR SOMETIMES THEY REVERT BACK TO THEIR SCHOOLGIRL.

>> CHILD SELFS.

BUT THEN YOU SEE THEM BOTH TRYING TO HAVE THE POWER, YOU KNOW, IN TAKING THE POWER AND SORT OF GOING BACK AND FORTH.

AND JUST WITH THE GIRLS.

I THINK THAT IS A LOVELY DYNAMIC.

EVERYONE IS SO ON THEIR GAME, AND THE CHARACTER IS JUST SO CONNECTED AND RICH.

I'M HAVING THE BEST TIME.

>> OH, IT'S OBVIOUS IN WATCHING THIS PLAY.

WHITNEY, ANOTHER UNIVERSAL THEME THAT WE SEE IN ADULTS TOO, BUT ESPECIALLY IN YOUNG GIRLS IS ALWAYS THINKING SOMEONE ELSE IS BETTER THAN THEM, ENVYING THEM, BEING JEALOUS THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

IN THIS STORY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SORT OF ASPIRATION OF AMERICA ITSELF AND WHAT ERICA REPRESENTS AS BEING A BIRACIAL GIRL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HER ENTRANCE INTO THE SCHOOL AND HOW HER PEERS REACT TO HER PHYSICALITY AND HER HAIR.

>> WHERE SHE A CLIP AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT AFTER.

>> I'M SORRY, ERICA.

BUT I HAVE TO ASK, WHAT DID YOU USE TO GET YOUR HAIR THAT LONG?

>> OH, THIS IS JUST NATURAL.

>> WOW.

YOU ARE SO LUCKY.

>> THANKS, BUT HEAD MISSTRESS SCHEDULED MY HAIRCUT FOR NEXT WEEK.

>> I MEAN, MINE IS THAT LONG TOO.

WHEN I STRAIGHTEN IT, YOU CAN SEE.

>> I WISH MY HAIR WAS EASY ENOUGH TO MANAGE.

>> WELL, I HAVE TON OF PRODUCTS YOU COULD TRY, LIKE A BUNCH OF THINGS I GOT IN AMERICA.

>> LIKE WHAT?

>> HAIR GREASE?

>> OILS?

>> LOTION?

>> ALL OF THAT.

YOU CAN COME TO MY DORMITORY AND CHECK IT OUT.

WE COULD HAVE A MAKEUP PARTY OR SOMETHING.

>> A MAKEOVER PARTY TO GET A MAKEOVER.

COUNT ME IN.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO TRY EVERYTHING.

>> YOUR STUFF MUST BE TOP QUALITY.

>> WHITNEY, FOR AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT A SCENE LIKE THAT MEANS AND FOR THOSE WHO PERHAPS DON'T UNTIL THEY SEE AN EXCHANGE LIKE WE JUST PLAYED.

WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO WALK AWAY WITH?

WHAT'S THE MESSAGING HERE?

>> I WANT THEM TO WALK AWAY WITH THE PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF AMERICAN CULTURAL POLITICS.

THAT HAS --THE THINGS WE VALUE HERE FOR GOOD OR BAD.

IT RIPPLES AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THAT IS A TIME, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMING OUT OF THE COLD WAR.

WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT.

SO THE WALLS WERE COMING DOWN ACROSS THE WORLD.

SO WHITNEY HOUSTON TAPES WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

BOBBY BROWN WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND SIMILARLY WAS THIS UNDERSTANDING OF EXTERNAL VALUE BASED ON COLOR.

SO HERE COMES THIS LITTLE GIRL WHO IS KIND OF A WALKING SYMBOL OF EVERYTHING THESE LITTLE SCHOOLGIRLS READ ABOUT AND DREAM ABOUT AND LISTEN TO, YOU KNOW.

SHE LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE WHITNEY HOUSTON, YOU KNOW?

BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT HER WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE KIND OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT SHE EMBODIES, YOU KNOW?

>> AND PATINA, THE ACTRESS WHO PLAYS ERICA BRILLIANTLY DISPELS THIS IDEA SHE HAS THIS UTOPIAN PERFECT LIFE.

AND DESCRIBES GROWING UP IN A SOCIETY WHERE PERHAPS THE BLACK COMMUNITY HASN'T FULLY EMBRACED HER, AND THE WHITE COMMUNITY HASN'T.

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THAT SCENE IN THAT MOMENT?

>> OH MY GOSH.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE BOTH SIDES, RIGHT?

LIKE THESE GIRLS ARE ALL THERE.

SO JUST THINKING SHE HAS THE WORLD AT HER FEET AND EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND SHE IS DEALING WITH HER OWN BATTLES AT HOME, NOT FEELING GOOD ENOUGH OR BEING DISCONNECTED TO HER FATHER AND, YOU KNOW, GHANA, COMING INTO THIS PLACE AND HAVING TO LIKE FEELING SO OTHERRED IN THE OTHER WAY.

SO I MEAN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHED LIGHT ON THAT AS WELL OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP BEING MIXED RACE, WHAT THAT MEANS, AND HOW PEOPLE THINK YOU HAVE IT ALL.

BUT YOU KNOW, ERICA IS THE CHARACTER THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, STRUGGLING LIKE ALL OF THEM.

NOTHING IS PERFECT ABOUT HER LIFE AT ALL.

SHE SAYS IT MANY TIMES IN THE PIECE.

AND SHE IS SHOCKED WHEN THE GIRLS ARE ALL MAKING, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE SORT OF IDOLIZING HER IN A WAY WHEN THEY FIRST MEET HER.

AND YEAH.

SO I THINK THE PLAY, YOU GET TO SEE BOTH SIDES.

>> YOU GET TO SEE BOTH SIDES.

AND I JUST IMAGINED FOR YOU, PATINA.

PLAYING A ROLE OF JUDGING OTHERS WHEN YOU'RE IN A BRUTAL FIELD.

I'M SURE YOU WERE ABLE TO CHANNEL A LOT OF YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES ABOUT BEING JUDGED AS AN AUDITION AFTER AUDITION THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.

SO SADLY I WOULD EXPECT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO DIG TOO DEEP ON THAT END?

>> NO.

>> YOU LADIES WENT THERE.

BOBBY BROWN, HOW COULD I FORGET, WHITNEY HOUSTON, THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL.

ALL THE HITS ARE IN THIS PLAY.

YOU HAD ME LAUGHING, YOU HAD ME GASPING.

THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP.

I LOVED THIS.

WHITNEY WHITE, PATINA MILLER, CONGRATULATIONS.

BRINGING BACK 1986.

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

> >> IRAN IS STRENGTHENING ITS NUCLEAR AND MILITARY FACILITIES AS IT PREPARES FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF RENEWED FIGHTING WITH AMERICA.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO A WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORT RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT REMAINS OF TEHRAN'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES.

INSPECTORS HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD HOW MUCH ENRICHED URANIUM SURVIVED LAST YEAR'S ATTACKS OR HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO VISIT THE DAMAGED SITES.

ERNEST MONIZ WAS THE U. S. ENERGY SECRETARY UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, AND HE JOINS WALTER ISAACSON TO DISCUSS WHERE AMERICA STANDS NOW AND WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REACH A NEW NUCLEAR AGREEMENT.

>> THANK YOU, BIOH AND SECRETARY MOW NOISE.

WELCOME TO THE MONIZ.

YOU WERE A PART OF THE 2015 NUCLEAR DEAL WITH OBAMA WITH IRAN.

TRUMP CALLED IT A TERRIBLE DEAL AND PULLED US OUT.

DID THAT MAKE IT HARDER OR EASIER FOR IRAN TO DEVELOP NUKES?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL I THINK THE DEAL WAS FRANKLY TERRIFIC.

BUT I GUESS I'M A BIT BIASED.

CERTAINLY IF THEY WERE STILL SOMETHING WE AGREED WITH TODAY, IRAN WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE BUILDING A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

WOULD NOT BE CLOSE TO IT.

IN FACT, THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUCLEAR DIMENSIONS OF THE IRANIAN PROGRAM WOULD BE IN PLACE UNTIL 2031.

WE ARE STILL FIVE YEARS AWAY FROM THAT.

BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, WALTER, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS IN MORE DETAIL.

THE REALLY DISTINGUISHING PART OF THE 2015 AGREEMENT WERE THE EXTRAORDINARY VERIFICATION AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES.

I BELIEVE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO RECREATE.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID THE ATTACKS ON THE IRANIAN FACILITIES THAT HE DID, AND THE ATTACKS WITH ISRAEL OBLITERATED IRAN'S NUCLEAR CAPACITY.

>> TONIGHT, I CAN REPORT TO THE WORLD THAT THE STRIKES WERE A SPECTACULAR MILITARY SUCCESS.

IRAN'S KEY NUCLEAR FACILITIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY OBLITERATED.

>> IS THAT TRUE?

AND DO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ENOUGH URANIUM EVEN IF IT IS NOT FULLY ENRICHED THAT THEY COULD MAKE A BOMB NOW?

>> WELL, THE IT HAS SOME ELEMENTS OF TRUTH AND SOME EXAGGERATIONS.

CLEARLY THINGS LIKE CENTERFUGES WERE KNOCKED OFF.

I THINK AFTER THE BOMBING, THERE WERE STILL PLENTY OF ROOM TO NEGOTIATE SOMETHING I WOULD NOT SAY FOLLOWING THE ALL-OUT WAR THAT STARTED THIS YEAR.

BUT GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION.

LOOK, THE FACT IRAN HAD CROSSED IN MY VIEW A RED LINE IN GOING TO HALF A TON OF URANIUM.

THE STATEMENT IS OFTEN MADE THAT 60% ENRICHMENT IS NOT QUITE WEAPONS GRADE.

THAT'S TRUE BECAUSE WEAPONS GRADE BY DEFINITION IS 90%, BUT IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE TO ASSUME THAT 60% CANNOT BE USED DIRECTLY IN A NUCLEAR BOMB.

IN FACT, THE BOMB WE DROPPED, WE, THE UNITED STATES DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA IN 1945 WAS NOT WEAPONS GRADE BY THAT DEFINITION.

SO THE REALITY IS THAT MATERIAL STILL EXISTS.

NOW, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ALL BURIED UNDER THE RUBBLE.

THEREFORE AT LEAST AT THE MOMENT, UNUSABLE.

I PERSONALLY DO NOT AGREE WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS.

IRAN HAD A STRUCTURALLED NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM UNTIL 2003.

THE ONLY THING IT WAS REALLY MISSING WAS THE MATERIAL TO MAKE A BOMB.

WELL, THEY HAD IT IN 2025.

THEY STARTED IN 20221.

BY 2025, THEY HAD MORE THAN 440 KILOGRAMS OF THAT MATERIAL.

SO MY ANSWER TO THAT IS, YES.

I CANNOT RULE OUT THE FACT THEY HAVE THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE, THE NUCLEAR MATERIAL FOR A NUCLEAR BOMB NOW.

>> WHY IS IT NOT POSSIBLE TO JUST KEEP SETTING BACK THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM TO AIR ATTACKS?

>> WELL, I GUESS IT'S POSSIBLE.

SO-CALLED MOWING THE LAWN.

BUT THAT IS JUST NOT A VERY CREDIBLE LONG-TERM PHILOSOPHY IN MY VIEW.

I'VE NOTED IN THE PAST, WE DON'T HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD OF LONG DRAWN OUT MILITARY AFFAIRS.

VIETNAM DID NOT END WELL.

AFGHANISTAN DID NOT END WELL.

I DON'T THINK IRAN WOULD END WELL IF WE CONTINUE THIS MOWING THE LAWN PHILOSOPHY.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK IRAN AS THEY'RE APPARENTLY ALREADY DOING WITH SO-CALLED PICK AXE MOUNTAIN IS PUTTING THEIR PROGRAM DEEPER AND DEEPER UNDERGROUND, AWAY FROM AT LEAST MOST ATTACKS FROM THE AIR.

SO I JUST --I WOULD MAINTAIN, WALTER, THE ONLY REAL PATHWAY TO RESOLVING THE ISSUE FOR THE LONG TERM IS GOING TO BE DIPLOMACY.

>> DO YOU THINK DONALD TRUMP COULD MAKE A DEAL?

>> I'M VERY, VERY SUSPECT THAT THAT'S POSSIBLE.

FIRST OF ALL, HE DID AS YOU NOTED EARLIER A WITHDRAW FROM THE AGREEMENT IN 2018 THAT DID NOT EXACTLY SEE A LOT OF TRUST.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS WAR HAS MADE IT HARDER?

>> YES.

AGAIN, NOT THE BOMBING LAST YEAR IN 2025, BUT THE WAR IN 2026 I BELIEVE HAS MADE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

IN FACT, IRAN IS NOT SURPRISING.

ELEVATED THE QUESTION OF THE FREE NAVIGATION THROUGH HORMUZ.

A NATION THAT WASN'T EVEN PRESENT BEFORE THE WAR.

THAT'S GOT TO BE RESOLVED.

SO I JUST THINK IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, AND I DON'T THINK THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A GOOD DEAL.

THEY COULDN'T NEGOTIATE A BAD DEAL, OF COURSE.

FOR EXAMPLE, A DEAL BASED UPON THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP TRUMP SIGNED WITH THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT IN JUNE OF 2026.

THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF A FOUNDATION FOR NEGOTIATING A BAD DEAL.

IT HAS MANY FEATURES IN IT, WHICH ARE VERY, VERY PROBLEMATIC.

I'LL MENTION JUST ONE.

IN 2015, WHEN THE ORIGINAL IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL WASN'T NEGOTIATED, THE SANCTIONS THAT WERE LIFTED AND CONTRAST OF WHAT MANY WOULD THINK TODAY.

IT SON-IN-LAW A PIECE, MAINLY THOSE SPECIFICALLY PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM.

SO THE LEVERAGE WAS STILL THERE TO NEGOTIATE ON MISSILES, ON REGIONAL PROXIES, ON HUMAN RIGHTS, ETC.

BUT IN JUNE, THE MOU WAS NEGOTIATED A FINAL DEAL NOT REACHED.

IN THAT MOU, IT SAID THE UNITED STATES UPON REACHING A FINAL DEAL WOULD LIFT ALL SANCTIONS.

THAT'S A TERRIBLE MISTAKE TO LIFT ALL THE SANCTIONS.

WE NEED A FRESH START.

IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO REQUIRE A NEW ADMINISTRATION, WHICHEVER POLITICAL PARTY TO SIT DOWN AND START DENOVO WITH A CONSTRUCTION OF A GOOD DEAL.

>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS NEGOTIATED A CIVILIAN NUCLEAR DEAL WITH SAUDI ARABIA.

WHERE DOES THAT STAND?

AND DO YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA?

>> WELL, THE AGREEMENT, FIRST OF ALL, STANDS BEFORE CONGRESS.

ANY OF THESE PEACEFUL USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY AGREEMENTS HAS A PERIOD IN WHICH THEY STAND BEFORE CONGRESS.

IF CONGRESS DECLINES TO ENDORSE THE DEAL, OF COURSE, THE PRESIDENT COULD ALSO VETO THAT AND STILL PUSH IT THROUGH.

NOW, WHETHER IT IS A GOOD IDEA?

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A NUCLEAR AGREEMENT FOR PEACEFUL USES WITH SAUDI ARABIA.

IT FITS INTO THE WHOLE POTENTIAL RENAISSANCE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.

IT FITS IN WITH THE UNITED STATES DESIRE TO BE A PART OF THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FOR NEW NUCLEAR BUILDS, SHOULD THEY OCCUR.

SO I THINK THAT IS ALL VERY GOOD.

HOWEVER, I DO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE AGREEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY IT GOES BACK TO OUR EARLIER DISCUSSION OF IRAN.

IT SEEMS TO ME WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING ANY NUCLEAR ISSUE IN THE GULF REGION AS A REGIONAL ISSUE.

THE AGREEMENT WITH SAUDI ARABIA FAILS TO REQUIRE THE SAUDIS TO JOIN THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS, FOR EXAMPLE.

IT'S SILENT ON VERIFICATION ISSUES.

NOW, IN THE REGIONAL CONTEXT, I FIND IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GO BACK TO IRAN AND REESTABLISH THE VERIFICATION MEASURES LIKE THE FINAL PROTOCOL WHEN THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE GOLF ARE NOT BEING REQUIRED TO DO SO.

THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL IS WHAT ALLOWS THE INTERNATIONAL INSPECTORS TO GO TO SUSPECTED COVERT SITES.

THE INSPECTORS ARE LIMITED TO THOSE PLACES THAT IRAN OR SOME OTHER COUNTRY WOULD DECLARE TO BE NUCLEAR FACILITIES.

SO I THINK THE SAUDI AGREEMENT IS GOOD IN TERMS OF ESTABLISHING NUCLEAR RELATIONSHIPS.

BETWEEN THE SAUDIS AND OUR COUNTRY, BUT I THINK IT FALLS SHORT ON VERIFICATION, AND WILL VERY MUCH COMPLICATE ANY POSSIBILITY OF A NEW NUCLEAR AGREEMENT WITH IRAN.

>> WELL, THEY'RE SAYING THE SAUDI DEAL WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE IF IT WAS A PART OF COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR THE MIDDLE EAST.

YOU SAID THIS IS AN IDEAL MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES BY FORGING A NEW APPROACH TO NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

HOW WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING COMPREHENSIVE?

>> THE FIRST THING IS SITTING DOWN WITH PARTICULARLY THE SAUDIS, THE EMIRATES, AND THE IRANIANS, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IDEA OF THE REGIONAL, WHAT'S CALLED NUCLEAR FIELD CYCLE.

MEANING ALL THE ELEMENTS YOU WOULD NEED TO MAKE NUCLEAR ENERGY, NOT JUST THE REACTOR ITSELF, BUT ALSO THE FUEL, THE INSTANT REACTOR, TO GO INTO THE FUEL.

THE ENRICHMENT, THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL THAT WILL COME OUT OF THE REACTOR.

WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD HAVE A NEGOTIATION IN WHICH ESPECIALLY THOSE THREE PARTIES, THERE COULD BE OTHERS INVOLVED WOULD AGREE ON DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT SUPPLY CHAIN BEING IN ALL OF THEIR COUNTRIES.

SO NO ONE COUNTRY WOULD CONTROL ENOUGH OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN TO MAKE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.

>> LET ME GET IT STRAIGHT.

YOU THINK IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA COULD DO THIS TOGETHER?

I MEAN, WHY WOULD THEY TRUST EACH OTHER TO DO THAT?

>> WELL BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE INTEREST.

IRAN, FIRST OF ALL, I SHOULD SAY IN 2015, WHEN WE WEREN'T NEGOTIATING THE IRAN AGREEMENT, THE IRANIANS PROPOSED A REGIONAL FUEL CYCLE.

IT WAS PREMATURE AT THAT TIME.

I THINK THE TIME COULD BE RIGHT NOW.

BUT SECONDLY, THE SAUDIS, AND BY THE WAY, THE SAUDIS AND THE EMIRATES HAVE THEIR OWN INTERNAL PROBLEMS AS WELL.

NOT ONLY WITH IRAN.

HOWEVER, THE SAUDIS AND THE EMIRATES, AND ALSO QATAR AND SOME OF THE OTHER REGIONAL COUNTRIES, THEY HAVE A DESPERATE NEED TO HAVE A SECURE AND ESSENTIALLY PEACEFUL SITUATION IN THE GULF REGION.

THE EMIRATES AND THE SAUDIS HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO DIVERSIFYING THEIR ECONOMIES.

ATTRACTING TOURISM.

THEY CAN'T DO THAT WHEN THERE IS A WAR GOING ON.

SO THEY HAVE A STRONG INTEREST.

THE IRANIANS HAVE A STRONG INTEREST, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE SO BADLY DAMAGED.

THEIR NEED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AGAIN, WHICH WAS THERE BEFORE THE WAR AND NOW, OF COURSE, IT IS WITH THE WAR.

SO YOU KNOW, THE ARAB COUNTRIES IN THE GULF REGION ALSO HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.

THEY COULD, IF THEY WERE PROPER RISK, THEY COULD INVEST IN PART OF THE REBUILDING OF IRAN.

BUT I MEAN INVEST FOR A RETURN.

THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF INTERNAL REFORMS IN THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.

SO THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE THING.

BUT I DO THINK IF YOU TAKE ALL THE INTEREST OF ALL THE GULF COUNTRIES TOGETHER, I BELIEVE THERE'S A STRONG INTEREST IN TRYING TO REBUILD A PEACEFUL FUTURE.

>> YOU RECENTLY COCHAIRED A BIPARTISAN TASK FORCE.

IN OTHER WORDS THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

TELL ME WHAT YOU ALL DECIDED AND WHAT YOU RECOMMENDED?

>> IT IS ONE THAT'S PUT TOGETHER, I WAS THE CEO OF THAT AT THE TIME.

AND THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND AT THE HAZARD KENNEDY SCHOOL.

SO THE THREE OF US PUT TOGETHER A COMMISSION, BIPARTISAN COMMISSION THAT WAS INSPIRED BY A COMMISSION THAT PRESIDENT LBJ HAD PUT TOGETHER IN 1965 CALLED THE GILL PATRICK COMMISSION.

AND WE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION, FIRST.

SHOULD THEY REMAIN A KEY PILLAR OF U. S. SECURITY POLICY?

AND THE ANSWER WAS, YES.

THE SAME IT WAS IN '65.

PEOPLE FROM VERY, VERY DIFFERENT SECURITY BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE AGREEING ON THAT.

HOWEVER, WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION SCENE IS A VERY DIFFERENT ONE.

CHINA IS SCALING UP ITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL VERY DRAMATICALLY TO BECOME A PEER STOCKPILE COMPARED TO RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES.

THAT DYNAMIC IN AND OF ITSELF MEANS THE HISTORICAL APPROACH TO ARMS CONTROL BETWEEN THE U. S. AND THE USSR AND THEN RUSSIA IS KIND OF NO LONGER OPERABLE WITH A THIRD MAJOR ARSENAL.

WE HAVE, OF COURSE, THE IRANIAN SITUATION.

WE HAVE NORTH KOREA HAVING TESTED AND BUILT UP A STOCKPILE OF MANY TENS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN THIS CENTURY.

WE HAVE THE ONGOING RETENTION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN.

IT'S JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD.

AND SO WE DID CONCLUDE WHILE THEY REMAIN IMPORTANT, IT MUST BE ADDRESSED BY THE UNITED STATES IN A NEW WAY, SPECIFICALLY, OH, I SHOULD HAVE ADDED ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT FEATURE, AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, OUR ALLIES AND FRIENDS OF THE UNITED STATES, EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, ETC., HAVE COME TO QUESTION MUCH MORE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE UNITED STATES COMING TO THE DEFENSE OF THOSE COUNTRIES SHOULD IT BE REQUIRED.

SO THAT UNCERTAINTY IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

OUR SUGGESTION WAS THAT WE CONTINUE WITH SO-CALLED EXTENDED DETERRENCE.

THAT IS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A NUCLEAR UMBRELLA OVER THESE COUNTRIES.

HOWEVER, THAT SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SUBSTANTIAL AND COORDINATED BUILD UP OF THE CONVENTIONAL DEFENSES OF THESE COUNTRIES.

THE LINE BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS, HAD ANYTHING GOTTEN MORE BLURRED, CERTAINLY WITH THE DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND THE LIKE.

AND SO WE WOULD ARGUE THAT AS IT IS HAPPENING WITH NATO AND EUROPE, THAT NATO, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, PERHAPS OTHERS NEEDS A MUCH STRONGER INTEGRATED CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM, BACKED UP BY THE NUCLEAR DETERRENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS ONE ELEMENT OF A CONTINUUM OF DETERRENCE.

IT SHOULD NO LONGER BE THOUGHT OF AS A NUCLEAR ISSUE.

>> SECRETARY MONIZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, WALTER.

> >> AND FINALLY, OUT OF THE ASHES, EIGHT ORANGUTANS RETURNED TO THE WILD IN INDONESIA.

IN RECENT MONTHS, FIRES TORE THROUGH THE ENDANGERED APES NATURAL HABITATS, BUT NOW THEY MOVED TO A SAFE LOCATION.

AMONG THOSE HEADING HOME ARE MAMA AND HER THREE CHILDREN.

THEY WERE RESCUED FROM A COCONUT AND RUBBER PLANTATION LAST MONTH.

INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES RESCUED A TOTAL OF 46 ORANGUTANS OVER THE COURSE OF THE DRY SEASON.

> >> AND TO BE SURE TO TUNE IN LATER THIS WEEK FOR CHRISTIANE'S ON STAGE INTERVIEW WITH THREE FEMALE PRESIDENTS.

40 YEARS ON FROM THE FAMOUS SUMMIT BETWEEN REAGAN.

CHRISTIANE SAT DOWN WITH THE PRESIDENT OF ICELAND AND SLOVENIA AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRELAND TO DISCUSS LEADERSHIP, DIPLOMACY, AND THE THREATS FROM A. I. THEY SPOKE AS PART OF THE IMAGINE FORUM, AN ANNUAL SUMMIT DEDICATED TO PEACE AND DIALOGUE.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TO THAT.

> >> THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S COMING UP ON THE SHOW EACH NIGHT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT PBS.

ORG/AMANPOUR.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOODBYE.

> >> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, MONIQUE SCHOEN WARSHAW, THE SYLVIA A. AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTISEMITISM.

THE STRAUS FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.