JOHN YANG: Good evening.

I'm John Yang.# Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz are away.

On the "News Hour" tonight: Investigations# into the shooting of two National Guard## members in Washington, D.C., reveal# new details about the suspect,## an Afghan who worked with the# CIA before the Taliban takeover.

President Trump tries to put his# stamp on the NFL with mixed results,## including pushback from some fans.

And we answer your questions about how to remain## civil with family and friends# during this year's holidays.

R. ERIC THOMAS, Author, "Asking Eric": See# your loved ones as real people, as humans,## and talk to the human and not to the headline.

(BREAK) JOHN YANG: Welcome to the "News Hour."

Tonight, investigators say the suspect# in the brazen daylight shooting of two## National Guard members in Washington, D.C.,# drove cross-country to carry out the attack,## but they're still searching for a# motive.

The two victims remain in## critical condition and the accused# shooter is also in the hospital.

Prosecutors say the suspect,# who's an Afghan national,## will be charged with three counts of# assault with intent to kill.

And the## Trump administration is further restricting# immigration in the wake of the attack.

Our coverage begins tonight with# White House correspondent Liz Landers.

LIZ LANDERS: Caught on camera, the# moment after an attack that shattered## the pre-holiday calm near the White# House, the suspect, already wounded,## tackled to the pavement, surrounded# by law enforcement.

Within moments,## officers take him into custody, ending what# authorities describe as a deliberate ambush.

Just minutes earlier, officials say,# he opened fire on two National Guard## members as they waited at a Washington,# D.C., bus stop, the victims, 20-year-old## Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe,# both from the West Virginia National Guard.

JEANINE PIRRO, U.S.

Attorney for the District of# Columbia: They answered the call.

They took the## charge.

They volunteered.

They put their lives# on the line for people they don't even know.

LIZ LANDERS: Law enforcement identified the# suspect as an Afghan national and said he## drove across the country from his home north# of Seattle with a plan to commit the attack.

JEANINE PIRRO: The suspect he has been# identified is Rahmanullah Lakanwal,## a 29-year-old Afghan who entered the# United States under Biden's Operation## Allies Welcome, a program following the# disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

LIZ LANDERS: The alleged# shooter used a .357 revolver,## shooting a Guard member and then firing# again after the soldier fell to the ground.## The shooter then turned to fire# at the second Guard member.

The CIA director, John Ratcliffe, confirmed# the suspect had worked with an agency-backed## paramilitary unit during the U.S.

war in# Afghanistan and entered the United States## through a Biden era immigration program# for Afghans fleeing the Taliban takeover.

President Trump framed the shooting# as an act of terror and launched a## broadside against immigration, vowing to# redouble his mass deportation efforts.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# We must now reexamine every single alien who has## entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.# And we must take all necessary measures to ensure## the removal of any alien from any country who does# not belong here or add benefit to our country.

LIZ LANDERS: He also ordered 500 more National# Guard troops to Washington, in addition to about## 2,000 already there, though it was unclear when# they would arrive or where they would come from.

The agency that oversees immigration in# the United States says it had stopped## processing immigration applications# from Afghanistan effective immediately.

SHAWN VANDIVER, Founder, AfghanEvac: This# is one deranged man committing terrible## crimes against our service members,# and he should be held accountable.## The entire Afghan community should# not be held accountable for this.

LIZ LANDERS: Shawn VanDiver is# the president of AfghanEvac,## a U.S.-based nonprofit working with Afghan# refugees.

He said the Trump administration## was already working on closing pathways for# legal Afghan migrants even before this incident.

SHAWN VANDIVER: On day one, they shut down the# ongoing relocation through our safest, most secure## immigration pathway in history.

And it's just# so worrisome to see them jump to conclusions.

LIZ LANDERS: According to AfghanEvac, the accused## gunman was evacuated by the U.S.

military# in August 2021 after the fall of Kabul.## He first arrived under humanitarian parole# after a thorough vetting process under the## Biden administration and was granted asylum# earlier this year by the Trump administration.

SHAWN VANDIVER: I don't think the vetting is# where the failure occurred here.

I think this man## is being used as a political cudgel by# the administration to impact an entire## community.

And that's not fair.

If a school -- if# a shooter is from Missouri, they're not trying to## do something that impacts all Missouri.# This is prejudice disguised as policy.

LIZ LANDERS: The director of the# U.S.

Customs and Immigration Services## said today in a statement that he is# directing a -- quote -- "full-scale,## rigorous reexamination of every green card for# every alien from every country of concern."

When "PBS News Hour" asked which of these# countries will be impacted, the administration## pointed us, John, to an executive order listing# 19 countries, including Afghanistan and Yemen.

JOHN YANG: Liz, the National Guard's# been in D.C.

for months now.

They came## in August.

There's a court fight going# on about this.

What's going on there?

LIZ LANDERS: This has been a contentious issue# for months now here in the nation's capital.

The D.C.

deployment started back in# August, when the president declared## a crime emergency here.

That has now# been extended several times since.## The president does have the ability,# he has the right as the commander in## chief to mobilize the National Guard in# D.C.

because it is a federal district.

However, the D.C.

attorney general has been# challenging this deployment in federal court,## saying he's overstepping his authority.

Last# week, a federal district judge ruled in favor## of the attorney general here in Washington,# saying that the deployment was likely## illegal and that it violated the# city's rights to self-government.

That ruling, though, was paused for three weeks to## give the Trump administration time to# respond and appeal, which they have.

JOHN YANG: White House correspondent# Liz Landers, thank you very much.

The shooting has intensified focus# on the administration's use of the## National Guard to crack down on# crime in cities led by Democrats.

Earlier, I spoke with Juliette Kayyem,## faculty director of the Harvard University# Kennedy School's Homeland Security Project.## She was an assistant DHS secretary during# the Obama administration and oversaw the## Massachusetts National Guard when she was# that state's homeland security adviser.

Juliette, this morning you wrote for "The# Atlantic," where you're a contributing writer,## that this was a terrible and# avoidable tragedy.

Explain that.

JULIETTE KAYYEM, Former U.S.

Department of# Homeland Security Assistant Secretary: Well,## for the last several.. there's been a number of assessments by# the military, including the commanding## officers of the National Guard, that these# units were essentially sitting targets,## that they were vulnerable to nefarious# actors, whether criminals or terrorists.

And there was growing concern about# this within the National Guard.## Part of that had to do with that they were# fully clothed, that they were in uniform,## that they were visible to someone who may# want to harm them, but that their mission,## right, either walking the streets,# doing beautification programs,## just sort of paying attention, which generally# was the mission, was nebulous enough to make it## very difficult to protect them in the way that you# might protect troops either in a war or on a base.

JOHN YANG: The president almost# immediately announced he's sending## 500 more National Guard troops to Washington.

JULIETTE KAYYEM: Yes.

JOHN YANG: Is that a solution?

JULIETTE KAYYEM: It's really not.

I# mean, it's a sort of fallacy to think## more is better, especially when it comes# to deployments anywhere by the military.

The question isn't really about whether# the force can be protected.

The question## is whether the mission -- what the mission is# and how it is defined.

Then you can figure out## what force protection is about.

The president, as# we all know, wanted the National Guard in D.C.,## despite decreasing crime rates there, because he# viewed it as a war zone or too much crime there.

We now know, over the last couple months,## these National Guard units have been really been# used for roaming patrols, visibility patrols, or,## in many instances, sort of landscaping,# picking up trash.

None of that's bad,## per se, but none of that is unique to the National# Guard, nor is it what they're trained to do.

And it's in that sort of gray area# that you create these vulnerabilities,## as we saw for the National Guard.

Adding# more doesn't really solve the problem of,## what is the mission and how is it defined# for the troops, who we all want to protect?

JOHN YANG: Talk about a little bit# about that, what's the mission?

JULIETTE KAYYEM: Yes.

JOHN YANG: Is th.. JULIETTE KAYYEM: No.

I mean, I have worked# with the National Guard all my career.## The National Guard supports civilian efforts in a# disaster or in a homeland or is deployed abroad.

This, as we all know, is a unique, and some# say illegal use by the president of the## National Guard in D.C.

The National Guard# is essentially federalized automatically.## It reports to the president.

And so# the deployment of the National Guard,## a unit that's not trained, units that are# not trained to work in civilian areas and## urban areas as armed, without any# standards of what the metrics are.

Like, what is success for this mission?

All# of that creates sort of a loose understanding## of what the mission is, the potential# for mission creep, and then, of course,## vulnerabilities because there is# no notion of force protection.

I mean, I sort of describe it as like neither# war nor peace.

The politics have thrust the## National Guard into this gray zone that they're# not built for, but that has made them vulnerable.

JOHN YANG: Administration officials are making# much of the fact that the alleged shooter entered## the United States under a Biden era program# for Afghans who were fleeing the Taliban,## and that he was never vetted, that there were# no background checks.

What do you say to that?

JULIETTE KAYYEM: What we understand now is that## the alleged shooter had actually# a number of vetting moments.

Some occurred in Afghanistan.

What the# CIA director, the present CIA director## is saying now is that he did assist the# CIA.

We don't know in what exact capacity,## but that he was assisting in intelligence# and intelligence gathering efforts.

He then is brought to the United States as# Kabul is falling in a special visa program.## That does not grant permanent status.

It# was just a program that brought people in.## They are then vetted during that process.

And# then, again, as he's regularizing his process,## he was granted asylum under the# Trump administration this year.

There is another vetting process.# So, at three different moments,## he's examined by the United States, and either# they missed something or something happened## since he was granted asylum a few months# ago that radicalized him relatively quickly.

So I think it's premature to say this# administration was wrong and this one's right## or that agency was wrong and this one's right.# I think we don't know.

But what we do know is,## he's had strong ties to the United States# for much of his life during the Afghan war,## and only -- and in the last# couple of months, at least,## as he was granted asylum, he then begins# to plan at least an attack on the National## Guard that no one quite knows -- no one# can explain that yet, as far as we know.

JOHN YANG: The administration has paused# immigration from Afghanistan.

And they## also say they're going to reexamine# all the asylum grants under the## Biden administration.

What do you make of that?

JULIETTE KAYYEM: I think, in some ways, the Trump# administration doesn't quite know what happened,## and so they want to look and see# whether this Special Immigrant Visa## program that allowed Afghans to come in who# supported us during the war is picking up## the right sort of metrics for radicalization.

That might be necessary at this stage, but the# idea that you're going to pause indefinitely all## Afghans who have come to the United States# or their ability to come here permanently I## think is at this stage sort of overblown and# also undermines our attempts to support the## Afghans who were so instrumental in# supporting us during the Afghan war.

This is one person who did something absolutely# heinous.

We need to find out how we either got## through the vetting process or what happened# in terms of radicalization more recently.## But the notion that this is about all Afghans# is one that is undermined by the reality.

Most Afghans are here lawfully and here because# they supported our war effort in Afghanistan.

JOHN YANG: Juliette Kayyem, thank you very much.

JULIETTE KAYYEM: Thank you.

JOHN YANG: In the day's other headlines:# The death toll from yesterday's massive## fire at a high-rise apartment complex in# Hong Kong has risen to at least 94 people.

Debi Edward from ITV News has this report.

DEBI EDWARD: A ferocious fire raged on in one# apartment and flames could still be seen in## several other buildings in the Wang Fuk estate# more than 24 hours after the blaze had started.

The worst fire in Hong Kong's history has# claimed dozens of lives and taken a massive## amount of manpower to bring under control.

What's# left is a scene of total devastation.

Some of the## skyscrapers caved in, becoming shells of# blackened concrete, billowing with smoke.

Lisa and her husband, Sam, escape from# the ninth floor of building five.

There## was no fire alarm.

They just got# a call telling them to get out.

LISA CHU, Wang Fuk Resident (through# translator): The firefighters made a## path for us to run.

After that,# we weren't able to go back.

.. didn't take anything with me except this# bag.

And my husband only took his phone.

DEBI EDWARD: At its height, the inferno# engulfed all but one of the eight buildings## in the complex.

The night sky filled with# a terrifying mass of orange and black.

Whatever sparked the fire, it spread quickly# across the bamboo scaffolding and construction## netting that encased the buildings.

Police say# several materials being used in the renovations## did not meet fire-resistant standards,# including highly flammable styrofoam.

Three men from the construction company involved# have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

The Wang Fuk day has been undergoing# renovations since last summer,## upgrades which were meant to make# these buildings safer and prevent## a disaster like this.

With more# than 200 people unaccounted for,## firefighters went floor by floor in the buildings# they could access to search for survivors.

Do you feel angry that this has happened or... PEARL CHEUNG, Wang Fuk Resident:# Of course, because, as I know is## that they -- at that moment, they# say the material, the green one,## actually that can block the# fire, but you can see it didn't.

DEBI EDWARD: While the cause of this deadly fire# is already implicated in a criminal investigation,## firefighters vow to remain at the scene,## doing what they could to preserve# evidence and any sign of life.

Debi Edward, ITV news, Hong Kong.

JOHN YANG: Also today, a 16-year-old Palestinian## American was released from an Israeli prison# after spending nine months in captivity.

Mohammed Ibrahim was reunited with his father# on a road in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.## The Florida native was only 15 when he# was arrested in February during a raid## on his family's home.

He was charged with two# counts of throwing objects at moving vehicles.## His family says he pleaded guilty and is now# receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

Separately, the Israeli military says it's# investigating the West Bank shooting of two## Palestinian men as they appeared to# be surrendering.

Video aired on Arab## TV stations show them being led back# into a garage before they were shot.## A Palestinian official says the men were# executed in cold blood.

Israel says it's## been stepping up its offensive# against militants in the area.

Pope Leo kicked off his initial international# trip today as head of the Catholic Church.## The first U.S.-born pontiff arrived in# the Turkish capital of Ankara to start## a three-day visit to the country.

Turkey has# played a vital role in global peace efforts,## hosting talks between Russia and Ukraine# and offering to help with Gaza peacekeeping.

After meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,## Leo urged Turkey to be a source of# stability during an era of conflict.

POPE LEO XIV, Leader of Catholic Church:# We are now experiencing a phase marked by## heightened level of conflict on the global# level fueled by prevailing strategies of## economic and military power.

This is# enabling what Pope Francis called a## Third World War fought piecemeal.# We must in no way give in to this.

JOHN YANG: The pope's visit to the Muslim-majority# country marks 1,700 years since the Council## of Nicaea, a pivotal event in the history of# Christendom.

His next stop in Turkey is Istanbul,## where he will visit the Blue Mosque# and preside over an interfaith meeting.

As the pope calls for peace, Russia's# President Vladimir Putin said today that## U.S.

proposals to end the war in Ukraine# could form the basis of a future deal.## Speaking to journalists in Kyrgyzstan,# Putin said hostilities would cease## as soon as Ukrainian troops withdraw# from areas that he says they occupy.

But he said it would be pointless# to sign any deal with Ukraine's## current leadership.

Putin claims# that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr## Zelenskyy lost his legitimacy by not holding# elections when his term ended last year.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (through# translator): Of course, we ultimately want to## reach an agreement with Ukraine, but that's# practically impossible right now.

Legally,## it's impossible.

Anyone who can, whoever# wants, can negotiate with them.

We need## our decisions to be internationally recognized# by the major international players.

That's all.

JOHN YANG: Officials in Kyiv say# that elections were impossible## at a time of martial law and war with Russia.

Meanwhile, U.S.

special envoy Steve# Witkoff is doing Moscow next week for## talks.

He's been under fire recently# because of a leaked transcript that## appeared to show him coaching a Kremlin aide# on how to deal with President Trump.

Today,## Putin dismissed any suggestion that Witkoff was# being too friendly with his Russian counterparts.

A joint U.S.-Russian crew took# off earlier today headed for## the International Space Station.

Their# Soyuz booster rocket lifted off from a## facility in Kazakstan this afternoon local# time.

American physicist Chris Williams,## along with his two Russian crewmates,# docked at the ISS about three hours later.

This is Williams' first space flight.# He's due to spend about eight months## orbiting the Earth and carrying out# tasks, including scientific research.

And back here on Earth, it's been a# long day for millions who braved the## Thanksgiving travel rush and a harsh winter# storm.

Residents of Upstate New York woke up## to fresh snow.

Midwesterners have been# navigating icy interstates for days,## and forecasters say conditions# could get worse over the weekend.

Fortunately, the airports were less busy# today, with fewer delays than yesterday,## but things are expected to get busier# at the end of the holiday weekend.

Meantime, Philadelphia hosted the nation's oldest# Thanksgiving Day parade, dating back to 1920.## In New York, the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving# Day Parade featured fan favorites like Spider-Man## and Dora the Explorer, plus some newcomers,# including KPop Demon Hunters and a Labubu or two.

Still to come on the "News Hour": tips for# remaining civil with family and friends this## holiday even if you disagree with them; a tiny# chef leaves a big impression for millions of## people online; and a camp for Native American# children gives them a chance to be rock stars.

Chances are that at some point in# the next few days, a couch in your## house will be occupied by someone watching# football.

It's America's most popular sport.

The National Football League unites much# of the country in a shared passion, but,## as Lisa Desjardins reports, the league faces# a tricky potential threat to that, politics.

LISA DESJARDINS: The National Football# League is in the middle of a ratings and## profit boom.

At the same time, it is also# in the center of something else notable,## the way President Trump engages with# and wants to influence American sports.

Joining me to talk about# this is Christine Brennan,## a sports columnist for USA# Today and friend of the show.

Christine, let's start with the NFL# itself.

Roger Goodell, the commissioner,## is experiencing an all-time all-star# era.

What is behind it right now?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, USA Today: America has# really fallen in love with the new national## pastime.

It's no longer baseball.

It's football.# It is about the cadence of the game.

Obviously,## we love that, versus baseball as our# attention spans gets shorter and shorter.

Also, it's a sport, high school,# college, Americans grow up with,## not only the day of the week Sunday, as# we all know, but now prime time.

That## has been going on.

A public relations man# named Pete Rozelle was the commissioner## who just saw the NFL explode back in the# '70s.

You had "Monday Night Football."

And, again, it's the violence.

It's# the -- it's a very national game.

LISA DESJARDINS: The violence, the aggressiveness.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Absolutely, and because of# its success, having mark.. but also, of course, the big cities,# and the superstars.

Go all the way back.

I think everything about# it is a marketing success,## and it fits perfect American psyche and# what we want, which is quick action,## violent action, and then the opportunity to# run to the refrigerator before the next play.

LISA DESJARDINS: I do want to come back to# President Trump himself.

He himself is a showman.

We know he's had a love for sports his whole life.## He was at the Washington Commanders game# just two weeks ago.

Let's listen to this.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# By the way, they're going to build a beautiful## stadium.

That's what I'm involved in.

We're# getting all the approvals an.. you have a wonderful owner, Josh and his group.# And you're going to see some very good things.

LISA DESJARDINS: A little name-dropping there,## because he actually wants his name put on# that stadium.

.. CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Yes.

LISA DESJARDINS:.. Now, billionaire owners of the NFL seem# to generally like kind of stoking this## relationship.

Fans are mixed.

But how has Roger# Goodell navigated this attention from Donald## Trump?

We know, when he gives something# attention, he wants to be in control.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Exactly.

Roger Goodell,# the son of a senator, Charles Goodell,## has been with the league his entire# career.

I think he understands this## tiptoeing through the tulips, so to speak,# with the president of the United States.

For example, there was the announcement that# the NFL draft is going to be held in Washington,## D.C., in 2027.

So, of course, Roger# Goodell was there with one of the## owners of the Washington Commanders and# the president.

And how do you say no to## the president about being a part# of some kind of show like that?

LISA DESJARDINS: Any president, much less Trump.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Exactly.

And presidents have# been linked with football,.. play advice to the Washington football# team's coach at the time, George Allen.

RICHARD NIXON, Former President# of the United States: Well, maybe## you can put Nock in .. GEORGE ALLEN, Washington# Head Coach: I hope so, yes.

RICHARD NIXON: Who'd you lose?

GEORGE ALLEN: We lost -- this hasn't even# been ann.. RICHARD NIXON: Yes.

GEORGE ALLEN: We lost Malinchak.# He's goi.. on either tonight or tomorrow morning.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: So this is not just -.. not the first president, but he has certainly# put it on times 100 in terms of his involvement.

And I think, for Trump, he understands football,## the NFL is that common denominator.

All# Americans love it.

They all can talk about it,## the watercooler or the virtual watercooler, Lisa.# It is a game that all -- everyone understands.

And so Trump is going there to try# to change the national conversation## or put his imprint on those issues and, of course,## make the points that he wants to make, some# of them seemingly just kind of fun, like,## OK, the NFL draft is going to be in D.C., some# of them much more serious, like racial issues.

LISA DESJARDINS: And let's get to that, because# this is a league, especially a commissioner, who## has pushed for diversity, pushed for DEI ideas.# This is a president who has pushed against that.## How has that worked now?

Is the NFL continuing# its DEI effort now in the era of Trump 2.0?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: We saw this with the# Super Bowl.

By the way, the president,## President Trump, was the first sitting# president to ever attend a Super Bowl,## which really surprised me, as# someone who's covered a lot of them.

LISA DESJARDINS: Yes.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Again, Trump unde.. incredible national pastime.Highest# rated television show every year,## of course, is the Super Bowl.

So you have that.

So then the NFL changes.

They no longer# have "End Racism" in the end zone,## but "Choose Love."

Coincidence?# Not.

Whatever.

Of course,## there had been the terrible terrorist# attack in New Orleans, the fires in L.A.,## the terrible plane crash right off -- at DCA.# So it made sense.

That was what the NFL said.

Nonetheless, "End Racism" was gone.

This is# a league that is a majority-Black league,## a significant majority-Black league.# There is no way on earth you cannot## have some semblance of DEI in the# thinking of the NFL because Black## players are such a huge part of it# and so popular with so many fans.

Again, it's that tightrope wire, tight-wire act# that Roger Goodell and the owners are doing.

LISA DESJARDINS: Right.

But they have kept the DEI program in place.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Well, they have.# They have got the Rooney Rule.

Every## big opening with an NFL team, there needs to# be a minority who's considered for the job.

LISA DESJARDINS: But they have dialed# down that messaging of end racism,## no longer those words now.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: Yes, it was "Choose# Love" in the case of the Super Bo.. LISA DESJARDINS: "Choose Love."

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: I t.. this era, while also understanding# that the people who make the league,## it's a majority-Black league.

So you# cannot just fall in line completely## with Trump on that, because you would lose# the players, you would lose the coaches.

We have seen that, of course, with Trump going# back to 2017, when he said kick the SOBs,## without saying SOBs, off the field, fire them when# they were kneeling for the national anthem.

Well,## two days later, you had incredible kneeling# by many, many players throughout the league.

So, already, we have seen that# these players will speak out.

LISA DESJARDINS: This is about American# culture.

It's also about big business.

Quickly, on other sports, the president knows# that the World Cup is coming in this country,## the Olympics are coming in this country,# and he's made some sort of vague threats,## sort of political, about where# they should go.

Let's listen.

DONALD TRUMP: If we think there's any# reason that -- whether it's Boston or## anywhere else, that they're not doing their job,## we're going to take -- those World Cup# games and move them someplace else.

LISA DESJARDINS: Are those serious# threats?

Are that -- what is that?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: No, it's not# serious.

They -- those tickets## are already sold.

He even said it's sold out.

This is a good signal, I think,# for many people who are going to## watch the two biggest sports events in the# world, men's World Cup soccer next year,## the Olympic Games in 2028 back in Los Angeles.# We're going to see Trump do this time and time## again.

It will be fascinating to watch# how these leaders try to deal with him,## but also sidestep him and do the things that they# were planning to do before Trump opened his mouth.

LISA DESJARDINS: Christine Brennan,# thank you so much for joining us.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN: My pleasure, Lisa.

Thank you.

JOHN YANG:## Talking politics with relatives around# the holidays can be tricky territory.

Amna Nawaz has more on how to handle conversation# if it veers too far in that direction.

AMNA NAWAZ: Millions of Americans are# spending more time gathering with family## and loved ones this Thanksgiving.

But more# time together can also mean more tension,## especially when conversations drift# into politics or other touchy topics.

In fact, our latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll# found Americans find it increasingly difficult## to talk politics with each other; 85 percent of# Democrats describe Republicans as closed-minded;## 82 percent of Republicans said# the same thing about Democrats.

Here's what a few of our poll# respondents shared with us.

BRANDON TILLOTSON, Wisconsin: I do find it# difficult to talk politics with anyone who## is on the other side of the aisle, for lack# of a better way to say it.

I don't feel like## very many people have very much civility# when it comes to politics these days.

DEIRDRE SALINSKY, South Carolina: It feels like# we're living in completely different realities.## Like, they're living somewhere else where I'm# not living.

Like, the facts aren't aligning.## The world is not the same, which# makes it really frustrating.

DAVE DEMORE, Wisconsin: People feel# really strongly in their views one## way or another.

And I think that I# have noticed that more than ever.## People are really dug into how they# feel.

And there's not much persuasion## taking place.

There's a lot of griping# and, I would say, a lot of division.

LARRY CLEVELAND, New Jersey: Because you seem# to walk on eggshells when you talk because## it's going to cause a rift or it's going to be# contentious or they're going to say something## that's going to make me angry or I'm going to# say something that's going to make them angry.

If they're going to be -- have their heels dug in,## I'm going to have my heels dug in.# So it's automatically contentious.

NICK MANUPELLA, New York: My household is a# two-party household.

So we talk about it all## the time, and we're used to talking about it.# We can get -- sometimes, we can get pretty bad,## where it's like, all right, this is# really bad.

And it's just like, OK,## we got to just move on.

You know what I mean?# Let's get out of this and we will move on.

LETRA PERCY, Texas: I feel that some people# are very closed-minded to the other side## of the table and what those views may be.

I# believe that everyone has an opinion and that## both of us from both sides should be able to# state our opinions and still be able to get## along with each other.

But it seems that that's# getting harder and harder these days to do so.

AMNA NAWAZ: Joining us with some# advice on how to navigate some## of these challenging conversations we# may have over the holidays is R. Eric## Thomas.

He's the author of the nationally# syndicated advice column "Asking Eric."

Eric, welcome to the "News# Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

R. ERIC THOMAS, Author, "Asking Eric": Thanks# so much for having me.

It's a pleasure.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, before we jump into some of# the questions, just big picture, you're in## the business of offering advice.

You heard some# of the concerns people just shared there.

Are## you getting more of these questions of people# grappling with these issues coming your way?

R. ERIC THOMAS: I am, especially this year.

Every year around this time, people# are looking toward the holidays,## looking toward family dinners and asking# questions like, how do I have the meaningful## time that I want to have without getting# bogged down by political difference?

I mean,## the advice is always a little bit the# same, which is to see your loved ones## as real people, as humans, and talk# to the human and not to the headline.

AMNA NAWAZ: Well, let's hear# from a few of those viewers now.

The first question comes to us# from Brandon of Madison, Wisconsin.

BRANDON TILLOTSON: Take a listen.

I guess my# question would be, how do you get someone to## listen to reason or even hear your side of# the argument when their heels are so dug## in that they are just waiting for you to# stop talking so they can say their part?

AMNA NAWAZ: Eric, there's a related question# that comes to us from Scott in Newcastle,## Washington.

He writes: "How do you separate## the person and your relationship to# them from the views that they have?"

What would you say to them?

R. ERIC THOMAS: I think looking at the word# choice here is so in.. respondent talks about an argument# and getting another person to hear## their side.

And then the second# person talks about relationships.

Arguments and relationships are a little bit# at odds with each other.

You can obviously## argue with people you have relationships with.# But what is the goal of the conversation that## these people are trying to have?

Are they trying# to win a debate or -- and get one person to say,## I admit it, you're right, I was wrong,or# are they trying to maintain a relationship?

If it's the latter, then what they're# looking toward is actually saying,## I see that we don't agree.

There's probably a# better venue for us to have this discussion.## In the meantime, can you acknowledge that# I'm a human who cares about certain things,## and I know that you are human# who cares about certain things,## and can we find a common ground# about what we actually do care about?

And maybe that's each other.# Maybe that's the meal.

Maybe## it's something completely unrelated# to the political issue at hand.

AMNA NAWAZ: I love that, bring# it back to the shared humanity.

Sometimes, the question, though, Eric, as# you know, is not about how to engage on## the issue with friends and family, but# whether to engage at all.

That leads## us to a question that comes from Dave# and Mequon, Wisconsin.

Take a listen.

DAVE DEMORE: The question I would ask is, is it# worth having the conversation?

Are we better to## just not have it at all?

Or should we have# a strategy to how to deal with disagreement?

AMNA NAWAZ: Eric, is it better# to just avoid some topics?

R. ERIC THOMAS: You know, I think, sometimes, it# is.

And I don't say that lightly, because I do## know that politics is personal, and so the ways# that the headlines affect us in our daily lives## can rise at any moment and can be an ever-present# source of frustration or concern or fear.

That said, if you are sitting with# relatives, friends with whom you## don't share certain alignments, really ask# yourself what you're trying to get out of## this exchange.

What is the point of engaging# in this debate right now?

And ask yourself,## is there a different way that we can# structure the rules of our conversation?

We act like gathering with family or with anybody# is something that just naturally happens.

And,## yes, it does, but it is always important# to think about how we gather and what are## the guardrails of our gathering.

And it is OK to# say, this is a lightning rod in our conversation,## so, for the next two hours, we're# going to stay away from this topic.

And if it comes up, it's OK to sort# of raise a hand, blow a whistle,## wave a flag, and say, hey, we agreed# that we were going to steer clear,## and we're -- because there are a# million other things to talk about.

AMNA NAWAZ: We got a lot of questions as well# about people asking for specific tips and tricks,## like this one that comes to us from# Deirdre in Charleston, South Carolina.

DEIRDRE SALINSKY: My question would be,# what sort of emotion regulation skills do## you recommend for in the moment when you're in# a heated debate?

How can we calm ourselves down?

AMNA NAWAZ: Phil from Fort Myers,# Florida, sent a similar question,## writing: "Sometimes, there are triggers and# longtime behaviors with family members.

What## tactics would you suggest for not falling# into those same behaviors every time?"

What would you say, Eric?

R. ERIC THOMAS: I mean, it is so easy to fall# into tho.. know you, that know where all your buttons# are because they installed them themselves.

(LAUGHTER) R. ERIC THOMAS: .. And so to go in and say to yourself, to# the person you're with, your partner,## your -- even your children, to say like,## there are certain things that come up for# me when I'm with my parents, my siblings,## and I don't always want to respond in the way# that I respond.

Can you help me to be an off-ramp?

Mindfulness is going to be very important,# acknowledging what you are feeling as you## are feeling it.

I'm feeling frustrated.# I'm feeling fearful.

I'm feeling not## heard.

Acknowledge that to yourself and then# give yourself the opportunity to step away.

AMNA NAWAZ: We're talking a lot about# the potential pitfalls and the tensions## around this moment, but this is also# a wonderfully warm time to gather with## your friends and family.

It's supposed# to be about gratitude and being thankful.

So how can we remind ourselves# about the spirit of the season?

R. ERIC THOMAS: It is really, really important# to make gratitude an active practice,## as opposed to something you just# sort of acknowledge that you feel.

We say, oh, I'm grateful for my family, my house,## my home, whatever it is.

But it is really# important to start your day, start your week,## start a holiday by making a list in your head# or on a piece of paper or on your phone of the## things that you are grateful for.

And they don't# have to be completely unqualified gratitudes.

You can say, I'm grateful for my# home, but I wish the roof didn't leak.

(LAUGHTER) R. ERIC THOMAS: That is totally fine.

But# .. that you acknowledge is not a# guarantee will help you to see## the people around you and the conversations# that might come up in a different light.

You can even say, I'm grateful for the# opportunity to spend time with this relative## who gets on my nerves, because, even though# we don't agree on this part, I value them.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is R. Eric Thomas,# the author of the nationally syndicated## advice column "Asking Eric," with# some very useful advice for us all.

Eric, thank you so much.

Happy# Thanksgiving to you and yours.

R. ERIC THOMAS: Thanks so much.

Happy# Thanksgiving to you and yours as well.

JOHN YANG: On this holiday# centered around food and gratitude,## we bring you some lessons in life# and cooking from a Tiny Chef.

The Instagram sensation, who# also happens to be animated,## has gained millions of fans of all ages, while# whipping up vegetarian meals with a side of heart.

Stephanie Sy has our encore report, which is# part of our arts and culture series, Canvas.

STEPHANIE SY: He makes a mean vegan taco without# missing a beat.

His DIY projects are legendary.## And he loves to share beachside snaps while# on vacation.

In many ways, he's like any other## social media influencer, sharing the minutia of# his daily life and occasionally baring his soul.

MATT HUTCHINSON, Actor: I'm home.

STEPHANIE SY: But Tiny Chef, a furry green# 6.5-half-inch tall puppet who lives .. tree stump strikes a different chord in# a sea of noise.

It's not hard to see why.

MATT HUTCHINSON: Don't blame yourself, Ruby.

RACHEL LARSEN, Co-Creator, "The Tiny# Chef Show": He's not cynical.

He's## just so genuine and like optimistic.# And he sees good.

He just sees good.

STEPHANIE SY: Tiny Chef is the brainchild of# co-creators Rachel Larsen and Ozlem Akturk.

OZLEM AKTURK, Co-Creator, "The Tiny Chef Show":# We made it actually -- like, we made it for us.## And every time we laugh about a topic or want to# do this, it's because we test it on ourselves.

RACHEL LARSEN: Yes, it kind of is true.

Like,## you kind of make something to your own# taste.

And you're going to ho.. speak to people who have some more taste# or the same humor and kind of get it.

STEPHANIE SY: A lot of people get it.

"The Tiny# Chef Show" Instagram account has almost six## million followers.

Today, a team of 11 in this Los# Angeles studio work to bring his universe to life.

Everything in the stop-motion# animated videos is custom-made,## from the tiny sets built and designed# by creative director Jason Kolowski.

JASON KOLOWSKI, Creative Director,# "The Tiny Chef Show": Everything is## purely functional.

D.. STEPHANIE SY: To his belongings.

RACHEL LARSEN: The first video we ever shot# of Chef, this was the banjo he's playing.

STEPHANIE SY: Oh, my God.

RACHEL LARSEN: Yes.

STEPHANIE SY: It's a labor of.. met in London working on the animated# film "Isle of Dogs" by Wes Anderson.

ACTOR: We're a pack of scary,# indestructible alpha dogs.

STEPHANIE SY: Larsen worked on the# stop-motion animation, a process which## involves painstakingly manipulating physical# objects to be photographed frame by frame,## creating the illusion of movement.# Akturk was part of the film crew.

RACHEL LARSEN: We became really# good friends and we were just like,## we should do our own project at some point,# so that's where the seed kind of got planted.

STEPHANIE SY: That seed sprouted in 2018,## when Larsen started sharing images on# Instagram of tiny food she sculpted for## fun.

That gave Akturk an idea.

She remembered# a green puppet Larsen had shown her years ago.

OZLEM AKTURK: And I was like, he has to# be the chef.

He's perfect for it.

I have## to contact her and tell her we need to do a# stop-motion cooking show.

And she loved it.## And in an instant, we figured# out the name, the Tiny Chef.

STEPHANIE SY: Credit for the pint-sized# performer's pipes is due to Matt Hutchinson,## Larsen's brother-in-law.

He sent them# his rendition of a classic by "Queen."

(SINGING) RACHEL LARSEN: Once he sent# the song, it all came together,## and we were laughing and we were like, we# have to animate it.

So we just animated him## packing up a pie to that voice, which# was on his phone.

It was so lo-fi.

STEPHANIE SY: Their early animations,# created in a makeshift studio in New## Zealand where Larsen was working# at the time, took off on Instagram.

RACHEL LARSEN: We went from zero to# 20,000 or something.

It was like... OZLEM AKTURK: It was 50,000.

RACHEL LARSEN: Was it?

OK.

Yes.

STEPHANIE SY: When Penguin offered the duo# a book deal, they decided to work on their## tiny green character full-time.

Since# then, his followers have watched Cheffy## move to Los Angeles and score his dream job,# hosting a kids cooking show on television.

But Chef is more than that to his fans.

RACHEL LARSEN: We get a lot of messages from# fans who have kids with speech impediments and## say that Chef has given them self-esteem.

Chef# has made it not a bad thing.

And that is very## meaningful to us because we just always felt Like# Chef is from a different place.

And this is his## second language.

And we shouldn't try to hide that# or fix him or do anything to him.

He's perfect.

STEPHANIE SY: He's relatable, perhaps# never more so than in this clip from June,## when he learned that his cooking show# on Nickelodeon wouldn't be renewed.

MATT HUTCHINSON: Canceled?# What do you mean canceled?

Bye.

STEPHANIE SY: Who hasn't felt# that?

The moment when he starts## trying to go back to work and then it hits him.

RACHEL LARSEN: Yes, I honestly feel genuinely# bad for Chef.

We have more practical, logical,## OK, what's next?

How do we keep going?

You know,# when I think of his experience of someone who just## wanted to have this cooking show for so many# years, it's like, that would break his heart.

STEPHANIE SY: The cancellation made headlines and## the video inspired an outpouring of care# and donations from his worried followers.

Dionne Warwick was downright livid.

"Are you proud## of making this thing cry?

Who's in charge# over there?

I want a name," she posted.

As for Tiny Chef, he's taking# things one day at a time,## playing his trusty banjo and meditating.# He's currently on a road trip finding## himself and doing an occasional interview,# but only with really big news organizations.

Chef, I know this is your first TV interview# since your show is canceled how are you doing?

MATT HUTCHINSON: Well, I'm not going to lie.# Things were a little tough there for a while,## but sometimes you have got to pull yourself# up by the bootstraps, look around at all## the wonderful things in the world.

I said:# "Cheffy, you got to find the next adventure."

STEPHANIE SY: What did you think about the huge# outpouring of support you got from your fans?

MATT HUTCHINSON: Well, Ms.

Stephanie,## I don't even have the words for how# much the support from the fans mean## to me.

I don't even call them fans really.# They're just friends that I haven't met yet.

STEPHANIE SY: Well, Hollywood can be tough.## Do you have any advice for anyone# going through similar hard times?

MATT HUTCHINSON: Number one, feel your feels.# Number two, have a cry.

Number three, find## your friends.

Number four, then go on your next# adventure.

Who knows what's next?

I sure don't.

(LAUGHTER) STEPHANIE SY: While they cook# up his.. and Akturk say Chef's not going anywhere.

RACHEL LARSEN: I think what's really important# to us is really taking the next step sort of## slowly just and really making sure if we bring# in another partner that that's what we want.## Right now, we're just enjoying just focusing on# social media.

But I think Chef's best chapter## is coming up.

I just feel really strongly in# my heart that the best of Chef is to come.

STEPHANIE SY: In the meantime, the joys of# Tiny Chef continue to capture our hearts.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm# Stephanie Sy in Los Angeles.

Bye-bye.

(LAUGHTER) JOHN YANG: Finally tonight, an encore report#.. It's about summer camps in South Dakota# and Minnesota for indigenous children.

As special correspondent Megan Thompson tells us# there's a little rock star treatment thrown in.

MEGAN THOMPSON: The sound of drums, guitars# and keys drift from a building on the east## side of St.

Paul, Minnesota.

But peek inside# and you'll see this is no ordinary garage band.

This is Rock the Rez, a summer camp for# indigenous girls and gender diverse kids.

APRIL MATSON, Rock the Rez Executive# Director: We want them to feel strong## and let them know that they have a voice.

Get the snare going and then# we'll get the hi hat going.

MEGAN THOMPSON: April Matson, who# was Sicangu Lakota and Athabascan,## has been the executive director here since 2019.

APRIL MATSON: Indigenous two spirit# LGBTQ girls.

They're so overlooked## and representation is low to none.

And so# this is our way of helping them to take## up space and hopefully they take that courage# and they put it into everything that they do.

MEGAN THOMPSON: Ten campers from around the Twin# Cities attended the session we visited in August.

MAUREEN O'BRIEN, Rock the Rez Camp# Coordinator: Could you hear yourself better?

MEGAN THOMPSON: Maureen O'Brien was teac.. in South Dakota when she came up with# the idea to start the camp in 2016.

MAUREEN O'BRIEN: Music really wasn't# like an extracurricular very much,## at least at the school that I was at.# So like music wasn't as accessible.

MEGAN THOMPSON: O'Brien, a self-taught musician,## also wanted to promote the idea that# anyone can pick up an instrument and jam.

MAUREEN O'BRIEN: So it's kind of like breaking# down the third wall of you can't do this.## Maybe you don't see folks that look like you or# you're not trained classically.

I liked that.

MEGAN THOMPSON: There are# now five Rock the Rez camps,## including three new camps in Minnesota that# this summer.

The program is free of charge,## thanks to grants and donations, and# the band coaches are mostly volunteers.

APRIL MATSON: Most of the campers who# come in have no music experience or## they've played another instrument, but# they've never played this instrument.

MEGAN THOMPSON: The campers we met formed two# bands and spent a few hours each day learning## the instruments and parts they chose, working# up to a public concert at the end of the week.

REINA SPEARS, Rock the Rez Camper: Well, a# little bit scary, but it's more fun actually.

MEGAN THOMPSON: Reina Spears, who was Ojibwe in# Dakota, was the lead singer of the younger band,## which called itself Little Rockers with Spirit.

REINA SPEARS: I just get sometimes too# excited that I try to go really fast,## but I know I have to follow the other# instruments, and they have to follow me too.

MEGAN THOMPSON: Spears wrote# the lyrics for her band's song.

REINA SPEARS: Got to write how I get into# the light.

And what I mean by that is,## got to write how I get, like, courage so# you can, like, show who you really are.

ALEYHA HANSON, Rock the Rez# Camper: Three, four.

We're kind,## like, fighting for our voices# to be heard and for a change.

MEGAN THOMPSON: Aleyha Hanson, who is Red# Lake Ojibwe, led her band called Kimimila,## which means butterfly, in Dakota.

Their song# was filled with historical and social messages.

ALEYHA HANSON: This is where it started.

We# are taken from our homes.

When we come back,## we have nowhere to go.

Frame us as addicts,## blame us and laugh.

But when the white# man leaves, you better hope he don't come## back.

I think it's very powerful, and# it goes very deep in today's culture.

WOMAN: I wrote some things down.

MEGAN THOMPSON: The songs were written collaboratively by the campers.

The band coaches encouraged and facilitated,# but otherwise got out of the way.

ELYSSIA SALAZAR, Rock the Rez Camper: We all# are seen equally, and we're all respected.

I'm## an introvert, so it's hard speaking up,# but here I think I'm pretty loud here,## and I like that I get to, like, actually# interact with people and not feel afraid.

MEGAN THOMPSON: This is the only urban# Rock the Rez camp.

The others are held## on or near reservations.

So some of these campers## come from communities where there# aren't a lot of other native kids.

REINA SPEARS: At school, I just feel kind of left## out on my culture.

So here# I feel like I belong more.

ELYSSIA SALAZAR: When people think# of native, they think of, like,## those, like, old photos that are,# like, yellow and, like, wearing,## and it's some chief guy.

But we're not# that anymore.

We're still here, you know?

MEGAN THOMPSON: Workshops held each day# like this Dakota language lesson gave the## kids a chance to dive deeper into indigenous# cultures.

And there were musical performances## every day after lunch.

Lakota recording artist# Tiana Spotted Thunder sang the day were there.

TIANA SPOTTED THUNDER, Artist: Showcase# your skills.

Showcase your talent.

MEGAN THOMPSON: Then, after a week of pep# talks and practicing, the final day arrived.## The campers got themselves and each other# all glammed up and headed to a park down## the street to perform the final showcase# for their friends, family, and community.

APRIL MATSON: Welcome to# the Rock the Rez Showcase.

GIRL: The name of our song# is Singing to Our Hearts.

MAUREEN O'BRIEN: Empowerment's# a huge part of it.

I hope that## they are proud of themselves and feel,# like, accomplished by the end of it,## because it's a pretty big feat to write a# song and perform it in a matter of one week.

GIRL: Being lost in history,# being cheated on our treaties.

MAUREEN O'BRIEN: And, if anything, they# can look back and say, oh, I performed## in front of a bunch of people because it can# be really scary, but they are being so brave.

GIRL: Thank you for coming.

(CHEERING) MEGAN THOMPSON: For "PBS News Weekend,"# I'm Megan Thompson in St.

Paul, Minnesota.

JOHN YANG: A sad update to tonight's lead story.

One of the National Guard members shot in# Washington, D.C., yesterday has died.

President## Trump announced this evening that 20-year-old# Sarah Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries.## The other victim, Andrew Wolfe, is still# hospitalized, as is the alleged shooter.

And that's the "News Hour"# for tonight.

I'm John Yang.

For all of us at "PBS News Hour,"# thanks, and happy Thanksgiving.