♪ >> TONIGHT, IRAN WARNS OF RETALIATION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO UNDERTAKE TREACHEROUS JOURNEYS.

AND SCIENTISTS ARE USING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK INDIVIDUAL MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ON THEIR TRANSCONTINENTAL MIGRATIONS.

>> AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MIGRATION OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, NOW WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE GOING.

♪ > MAJOR FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ♪ HE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

ND FRIENDS OF THE NEWS HOUR.

THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING.

AS ANTIGOVERNMENT PROTESTS AND IRAN AND THE RULING REGIMES BLOODIED CRACKDOWN ON THEM BOTH INTENSIFIED, TEHRAN WARNS THE U.S.

TO STAY OUT OF IT.

WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR'S ARE WEIGHING A BROAD RANGE OF POTENTIAL RESPONSES INCLUDING DIRECT MILITARY STRIKES TO PRESENT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO SAYS HE STANDS READY TO HELP THE PROTESTERS.

TODAY THE HARDLINE SPEAKER OF THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENT SAID U.S.

INTERVENTION WOULD HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

>> AND I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE DELUSIONAL AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

IN ORDER TO AVOID MISCALCULATIONS, BE AWARE THAT IF YOU TAKE ACTION TO ATTACK IRAN, ALL CENTERS AND BASES AND SHIPS IN THE REGION WILL BE CONSIDERED LEGITIMATE TARGETS BY US.

JOHN: NUMBERS ARE HARD TO KNOW WITH ANY CERTAINTY BECAUSE THE INTERNET AND PHONE SERVICE ARE BLOCKED.

BUT I HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHDOG GROUP TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THAT MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND 10,000 DETAINED.

A PROSECUTOR SAID RIOTERS WOULD BE DEALT WITH WITHOUT LENIENCY, MERCY, OR APPEASEMENT.

THE GUITARIST AND SONGWRITER AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD HAS PASSED.

♪ EIR CO.

ROAD ONE CLASSIC SONG AND SAYING LEAD VOCALS ON ANOTHER.

HIS INVENTIVE TIMING ON GUITAR HELPS TO FIND THE GROUP'S SOUND, WHICH BECAME THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE 1960'S COUNTERCULTURE.

IN A STATEMENT, HIS FAMILY SAID HE HAD BEATEN CANCER BUT DIED AS A RESULT OF UNDERLYING LUNG ISSUES.

BOB WEIR WAS 78 YEARS OLD.

BY SOME ESTIMATES, ABOUT 90% OF ALL PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE U.S.

ARE FILLED WITH GENERIC DRUGS.

INSURANCE COMPANIES ENCOURAGE THEIR USE OVER BRAND-NAME MEDICATIONS TO REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS.

THE FDA SAYS THAT ALL AGENCY APPROVED GENERIC DRUGS HAVE THE SAME HIGH QUALITY STRENGTH, PURITY, AND INSTABILITY AS BRAND-NAME DRUGS BUT A PRO PUBLIC AT INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE FDA RARELY TESTS THE QUALITY OF GENERIC DRUGS.

MANY OF THE MANUFACTURED OVERSEAS.

OUR NATIONAL REPORTER WAS ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THAT INVESTIGATION.

THE FDA DOES NOT TEST THESE DRUGS BUT YOU INDEPENDENTLY TESTED SOME OF THE MOST WIDELY USE GENERIC DRUGS.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

REPORTER: THE FDA IS NOT REGULARLY TESTING DRUGS.

WHAT WE FOUND IN THE TESTING IS THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN VERSIONS OF WIDELY PRESCRIBED GENERIC DRUGS THAT HAVE CONCERNING RESULTS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DISSOLVE PROPERLY IN THE BODY.

JOHN: HAVE PATIENTS OR OTHER PEOPLE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE DID THE TESTING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BECAUSE DOCTORS, PHARMACISTS, CONSUMERS, ACADEMIC RESEARCHERS, EVEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SOME OF OUR GENERIC DRUGS.

DESPITE ALL OF THAT THE FDA DOES NOT HAVE A REGULAR TESTING PROGRAM.

THE AGENCY DOES NOT REGULARLY TEST FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUES.

JOHN: DO THEY DO THAT WITH BRAND-NAME MEDICATIONS?

REPORTER: NO, THE FDA PUBLICLY REPORTS THE NAMES OF THE DRUGS THEY TEST BUT THERE IS NO REGULAR TESTING PROGRAM.

THEY SAY THEY TEST BASED ON RISK BUT WHAT WE FOUND IT IS THEY ARE NOT REGULARLY TESTING DRUGS COMING IN FROM SOME OF THE MOST TROUBLED FACTORIES OVERSEAS.

JOHN: WHAT IS THE FDA'S RATIONALE FOR THIS?

REPORTER: THEY JUST DID NOT THINK IT WOULD WORK RIGHT BECAUSE THEY WOULD ONLY BE TESTING A SAMPLE.

A SMALL SAMPLE.

A MOMENT IN TIME.

THEY WERE NOT NECESSARILY PICK UP ON TRENDS.

AND WIDER CONCERNS.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS NOW TESTING OVER 40 DRUGS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CONTAMINANTS AND OTHER THINGS I CAN GO WRONG.

NOT ALL GENERICS ARE THE SAME AS BRAND-NAME DRUGS.

DOCTORS AND PATIENTS HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR YEARS.

JOHN: TALK ABOUT WHAT PATIENTS HAVE BEEN SAYING.

HAVE THERE BEEN SPECIFIC CASES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THE GENERIC DOES NOT FEEL THE SAME AS THE BRAND-NAME OR THEY WONDER ABOUT THE EFFECTS?

REPORTER: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS WHAT STRUCK US AS REPORTERS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAY SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS DRUG.

ONE OF THE DRUGS WE HAVE TESTED WAS AN ANTIDEPRESSANT.

SO MANY PEOPLE SAID FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT WHEN THEY SWITCH FROM THE BRAND OF WELLBUTRIN TO A GENERIC OR ONE VERSION OF THE GENERIC TO ANOTHER, THEY GET ALL KINDS OF FUNNY SYMPTOMS OR WORSE.

THEY FEEL THE DRUG IS INEFFECTIVE.

DOCTORS MIGHT SAY THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, IT IS JUST YOU OR IT IS YOUR BODY OR IT IS MOTHER NATURE OR IT IS BAD LUCK.

BUT IT ACTUALLY MIGHT BE THAT THAT VERSION OF THAT DRUG DOES NOT WORK THE SAME AS THE BRAND.

FOR TOO LONG WE HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.

JOHN: IN ADDITION TO TESTING THESE GENERICS YOURSELF, YOU ALSO CREATED A TOOL WHERE PEOPLE CAN CHECK WHAT IS IN THEIR MEDICINE CABINETS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

REPORTER: WE REALLY WANTED TO EMPOWER CONSUMERS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE.

BY CREATING A TOOL WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THE INFORMATION ON THE LABELS OF YOUR PILL BOTTLE AND STICK IT IN THIS TOOL AND THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU DRUGS WERE MADE.

THE FACTORY THAT MADE IT AND WHETHER THAT FACTORY HAS EVER BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE FDA FOR SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.

JOHN: WHERE DO PEOPLE GO TO GET THIS TOOL?

>> ON THE WEBSITE OF PRO PUBLIC CODE.

WE ARE FREE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT EVEN IF YOU FIND SOMETHING, A BAD INSPECTION FOR A FACTORY THAT MAKES YOUR DRUG, THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU'RE GENERIC IS UNSAFE AND YOU SHOULD STOP TAKING THE DRUG.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

WE REALLY FELT THAT THIS WAS INFORMATION THAT HAD NEVER BEEN MADE PUBLIC BEFORE.

NOT BY THE FDA AND NOT BY THE DRUGMAKERS THEMSELVES.

SO WE SPENT MANY MONTHS PUTTING THIS TOOL TOGETHER FOR CONSUMERS.

JOHN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

REPORTER: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JOHN: STILL TO COME, HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CAN AFFECT PEOPLE ON THE MOVE AROUND THE GLOBE.

AND A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT IS HELPING SCIENTISTS BETTER UNDERSTAND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

♪ >> THIS IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FROM OUR STUDIO IN WASHINGTON, HOME OF THE NEWS HOUR WEEKNIGHTS ON PBS.

JOHN: MANY PEOPLE USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO DOCUMENT THE THINGS WE MOST ENJOYED OUR LIVES, VACATIONS, MEALS, OR EVEN THE LATEST TIKTOK DANCE BEAR BUT IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEEK BETTER LIVES OFTEN THROUGH DANGEROUS JOURNEYS THAT CAN HAVE TRAGIC RESULTS.

THIS REPORT WAS PRODUCED FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE GLOBAL REPORTING PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

♪ >> THESE PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING MAKING IT TO EUROPE.

THE END OF A LONG JOURNEY AND THEY HOPE THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE.

FOR MANY, THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS REACH FOR THEIR PHONES TO SHARE THEIR LIFE-CHANGING NEWS ON APPS LIKE TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM, AND FACEBOOK.

>> PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE FACEBOOK AND ALL OF THAT.

PEOPLE ARE ALSO ON TIKTOK.

WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE USE NOW.

>> THIS 24-YEAR-OLD IS AN AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYER WHO LIVES ON THE SPANISH CANARY ISLANDS.

HE SAW THAT LIKE THESE WHEN HE WAS LIVING IN SENEGAL HOPING TO ONE MAY MAKE HIS DAY TO SPAIN.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE JOURNEY WHO TAKE VIDEO AND SHOW PEOPLE THAT THIS PATH IS FINE, THEY ARE NOT AFRAID.

IT IS NOT VERY DANGEROUS.

ANY PERSON CAN TAKE THIS ROUTE.

>> WHAT HE DISCOVERED WAS VERY DIFFERENT.

THE VIDEOS RARELY SHOW THE REALITY OF THE JOURNEY IN THESE OVERLOADED, FAIRLY SEAWORTHY BOATS WHERE URINE AND DIESEL FUEL/AROUND AND VIOLENCE IS COMMENTARY WHEN HE MADE HIS DECISION TO CLIMB ABOARD, HE HAD NO IDEA HE WAS EMBARKING ON WHAT THE UNITED NATIONS CALLS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AND DEADLIEST MIGRATION ROUTES IN THE WORLD.

FOR HIM, IT TURNED INTO A WEEK LONG NIGHTMARE.

>> I WAS THROWING UP.

EVERYTHING I ATE I THREW UP.

THE LAST THREE DAYS I DID NOT GET UP FROM WHERE I SAT.

I SLEPT THERE AND SPENT THE NIGHT THERE BECAUSE I HAD A BUCKET THAT HAD EVERYTHING IN IT.

I DID NOT STAND UP FOR THREE DAYS.

>> HE SPOKE -- HIS BOAT WAS SPOTTED BY THE SPANISH COAST GUARD AND TOWED INTO TO THE MAIN PORT ON THIS ISLAND.

IT IS POPULAR WITH DIVERS BUT IT IS NOT A BEACH DESTINATION.

IT IS THE MOST SOUTHWESTERLY OF THE CANARY ISLANDS AND IT IS EXPOSED TO THE POWERFUL ATLANTIC WAVES.

IN 2025, NEARLY 18,000 MIGRANTS ARRIVED ON THE CANARY ISLANDS.

MOSTLY FROM WEST AFRICA.

THIS ISLAND RECEIVES MORE PEOPLE THAN THE ENTIRE POPULATION.

SHE IS WITH THE RED CROSS.

SHE SAID MOST TO ARRIVE HERE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THE JOURNEY.

>> WHEN WE SEE IT ON TELEVISION, IT MIGHT SEEM CALM OR A JOY FOR THE IMMIGRANTS.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE REALITY.

MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING ON A SINGLE VOTE.

MANY OF THEM DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM.

IF AT ANY MOMENT OF THE BOAT WERE TO CAPSIZE, WE WOULD BE FACING A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.

>> IT IS ESTIMATED THAT LAST YEAR ALONE MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE WENT MISSING OR DIED IN THE ATLANTIC WHILE TRYING TO REACH SPAIN.

THE SEAS ARE ROUGH AND BOATS CAN RUN OUT OF FUEL OR VEAL OFF COURSE -- VEER OFF COURSE.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND ON THE COAST AMONG THE FIVE.

THEY DRIFT OFF COURSE AND THEY END UP IN SOUTH AMERICA.

>> THE VIDEOS POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOCUS ON THE DREAM OF A BETTER LIFE.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO USED TO ORGANIZE ILLEGAL EFFORTS TO CROSS BORDERS.

IN 2024, A GROUP OF MIGRANTS USE FACEBOOK TO RUSH THE BORDER.

AT A SET TIME, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE RAN FOR THE HEAVILY GUARDED, BARBED WIRE TOPPED FENCE.

MANY MANAGED TO FORCE THEIR WAY INTO EUROPE.

BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS GAMBLE.

OFFER -- OFTEN THEY END IN FATALITIES.

SMUGGLERS ALSO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIND CUSTOMERS.

A UC BERKELEY LAW PROFESSOR IS AN EXPERT ON MIGRATION.

SHE TOLD US THAT SMUGGLERS HAVE LEARNED HOW TO LEVERAGE THESE PLATFORMS MANY -- BETTER THAN MANY OFFICIAL ORGANIZATIONS.

>> WE SEE THE MODE OF TRANSPORT WRITTEN IN ARABIC.

AN ENGLISH SCRIPT.

AND A DOLLAR SIGN INDICATING HOW MUCH THEY SHOULD EXPECT TO PAY FOR EACH DAY.

T IS FAR MORE COMPREHENSIVE SO IN THE BEST INFORMATION GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE.

>> SHE TOLD US THAT SMUGGLERS ARE WELL PRACTICED.

THEN THERE IS A SMUGGLER WHO WILL TELL YOU I HAVE DONE THIS JOURNEY MYSELF.

I AM PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND I DECIDED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

I WILL HELP YOU GET A HAIRCUT TO LOOK WESTERN.

I WILL HELP YOU WITH ALL THE TRANSITION POINTS.

YOU WILL PAY ME SOME AMOUNT NOW AND SOME AMOUNT OF THE END.

TAKE THE RISK.

>> HE HOPES FOR THE DAY WHEN DESPERATE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER FACING THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES THAT MOTIVATE THEM TO TAKE THESE RISKS.

>> WE REALLY DREAM OF THE TIME WHERE THIS NO LONGER EXISTS BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN WE HAVE A BETTER WORLD AND THESE PEOPLE NO LONGER NEED TO COME IN SEARCH OF A NEW LIFE.

>> HE KNOWS THAT.

AND THE LURE OF A NEW LIFE IS SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT HE URGES PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS THEY FACE.

>> I DO NOT ADVISE ANYONE TO DO THIS.

IT IS HARD TO STOP SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE IS SO TOUGH.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA IS FILLED WITH THE FACES OF THE MISSING.

THE MANY POSTS WE FOUND ONLINE FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS SEARCHING FOR LOVED ONES THAT REVEAL THE HIDDEN TRAGIC REALITIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONVINCED TO EMBARK ON DANGEROUS JOURNEYS ONLY TO DISAPPEAR IN THE WATERS OF THE ATLANTIC.

♪ OHN: MONARCH BUTTERFLIES MAKE ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY MIGRATIONS IN THE NATURAL WORLD, OFTEN TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

SCIENTISTS ARE USING NEW TRACKING TECHNOLOGY TO GET A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE JOURNEYS.

WE SPOKE WITH A PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING JOURNALIST WHO TEACHES SCIENCE JOURNALISM AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY AND IS WRITING A BOOK ABOUT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

REPORTER: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I HAVE TO BE HONEST, I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE COMPLICATED AND LONG JOURNEY THAT THESE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES TAKE WHEN THEY MIGRATE.

TELL US ABOUT THEIR MIGRATION PATTERNS.

>> IT IS KIND OF AMAZING WHAT THEY DO.

THEY LIVE ONE WAY DURING THE WARM WEATHER MONTHS WHEN THOSE OF US IN THE U.S.

ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.

WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COOLER, THEY CHANGE.

INSTEAD OF JUST LIVING A FEW WEEKS, THEY LIVE THE ENTIRE WINTER IF THEY ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SURVIVE.

THEY UNDERTAKE THIS AMAZING MIGRATION.

IN THE EASTERN U.S.

THEY GO TO MEXICO.

IN THE WEST THEY GO TO THE CALIFORNIA COAST.

THEY GO THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE.

THEY CANNOT SURVIVE IF IT IS TOO COLD OR TOO HOT.

THEY HAVE FOUND THESE HAVENS WHERE THEY CAN SAFELY STAY OVER WINTER.

THAT IS WHAT THEY DO EVERY YEAR.

REPORTER: YOU HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT THESE NEW TINY SENSORS THAT SCIENTISTS HAVE CREATED TO BE ABLE TO TRACK INDIVIDUAL BUTTERFLIES?

>>.

HOW DOES>> THIS WORK IT IS REALLY AN AMAZING DEVELOPMENT.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING PAPER TAGS AND STICKER TAGS ON MONARCH BUTTERFLIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

80 YEARS.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE MONARCH STARTED AND WHERE IT ENDED BUT YOU HAD NO IDEA WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN IN BETWEEN.

WHICH IS SORT OF LIKE TRYING TO READ A BOOK BUT ONLY READING THE FIRST AND LAST PAGE.

NOW THANKS TO THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED BY A STARTUP COMPANY, THEY CREATE RADIO TAGS AND THEY HAVE NOW FIGURED OUT HOW TO MINIATURIZE THESE RADIO TAGS SO THEY ARE SMALL ENOUGH THAT EVEN A BUTTERFLY CAN HANDLE.

NOW FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MIGRATION OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, WE REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE GOING.

IT IS QUITE FASCINATING.

REPORTER: TO BUILD ON YOUR BOOK ANALOGY, NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORY, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

>> WE KNEW THAT MONARCHS ARE AFFECTED BY WHETHER.

BUT WE DID NOT REALLY REALIZE UNTIL WE HAVE THESE NEW TRACKS JUST HOW FAR OFF COURSE THEY GET BLOWN WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING THE WRONG WAY.

OR IF THERE IS A RAINSTORM.

THEY CAN BE BLOWN HUNDREDS OF MILES OFF COURSE.

THE AMAZING THING IS THERE NAVIGATIONAL ADAPTATIONS.

ONE THAT WORKS ON THE SUN AND WHEN IT IS NOT.

THOSE ARE SO ACCURATE.

HEY CAN RECOVER.

AND HEAD BACK DOWN IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION.

ALL THE WAY TO MEXICO.

ANOTHER THING THAT REALLY WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD WAS WE KIND OF ASSUMED THAT ALMOST ALL OF THESE BUTTERFLIES WENT TO THE SAME SMALL AREA AND ALSO SOME SPECIFIC AREAS IN CALIFORNIA.

WE ALSO KNOW THEY ARE GOING LOTS OF OTHER PLACES AS WELL.

THAT SUGGESTS THAT MAYBE THE MONARCH WILL BE RESILIENT.

REPORTER: POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN DECLINING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LEADING FACTORS IN THAT AND WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING?

>> MONARCHS NEED TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT NARROW TEMPERATURE RANGE TO SURVIVE IN THE WINTER.

AND IN THE SUMMER.

LIMATE CHANGE IS CHANGING TEMPERATURES, HABITAT, MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM TO FIND THAT NECTAR THAT THEY NEED.

YOU ASKED ME WHY WE SHOULD CARE.

HAT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES REALLY ARE IS THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

THEY DO FASCINATING THINGS.

IT WOULD BE JUST INCREDIBLY SAD TO LOSE THE MIGRATION.

WHICH IS SUCH AN AMAZING NATURAL PHENOMENON.

NOT DUPLICATED ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

REPORTER: THE FACT THAT THEY ARE GORGEOUS IS QUITE ENOUGH.

THANK YOU FOR WRITING ABOUT THOSE.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

JOHN: FINALLY TONIGHT, SOME NEWS ABOUT US.

THIS IS THE LAST BROADCAST OF NEWS WEEKEND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

PBS CANCELED THE SHOW DUE TO THE LACK OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

WE ARE GRATEFUL YOU HAVE SHOWN - - CHOSE US OVER THE YEARS AS THE PLACE TO GET THE NEWS.

WE BROUGHT YOU BREAKING NEWS.

T BEGAN AS A ROUTINE SCENE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS HE IS DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE AND ENDORSING HARRIS.

ON THE SCENE REPORTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

>> THIS REALLY WAS A NEW FRONT IN THE WAR.

>> HE IS GONE.

>> THE BROADCAST BEGAN IN 2013.

IT WAS PRODUCED IN NEW YORK.

N 2022, WITH A NEW NAME, A NEW ANCHOR, FROM A NEW CITY, THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

HE WAS A WEEKEND CORRESPONDED.

THEN I MOVED BEHIND THE ANCHOR DESK.

WE REPORTED FROM THE WEST COAST.

THIS LIGHT IS GOING OUT 17 MILES IN THIS DIRECTION.

TO THE EAST COAST HAVE PLACES IN BETWEEN.

>> THIS VACANT LOT IS ALL THAT IS LEFT.

RESIDENTS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WORRY ABOUT WHAT HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

>> THIS MOVEMENT HAS LARGELY BEEN DRIVEN BY MOTHERS.

>> I HAVE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.

JOHN: WE WENT TO THE U.S.

MINT TO LEARN ABOUT QUARTERS.

IT WAS PART OF OUR SERIES HIGHLIGHTING OFTEN OVERLOOKED FIGURES FROM AMERICA'S PAST.

NEW TECHNOLOGY ALLOWED US TO SPEAK WITH THREE SCOTTISH BROTHERS WHILE THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

THEY ARE BACK THERE DOING THE WORK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US ON.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

JOHN: OUR REACH WAS FURTHER EXTENDED BY STORIES FROM OUR PARTNER STATIONS.

>> THESE RANCHERS ARE ABOUT SURVIVAL.

>> IF WE ARE NOT TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE LAND, WE WILL NOT BE HERE ANYMORE.

>> AT THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF THE DEATH, PARENTS ARE LEARNING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

JOHN: WE SHINED OUR WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT ON FAMILIAR FACES.

>> IT IS EASY TO TRAVEL WHERE YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR HOME IS.

JOHN: OUR TRAVEL GROUP.

>> IT IS A VERY OLD FARMHOUSE.

1728.

JOHN: A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR.

THERE WERE WELL-KNOWN MUSICIANS.

♪ >> I DON'T THINK OF THE SONG IS I'M GOING TO WRITE A HIT.

OCCASIONALLY I THINK THIS COULD BE A HIT.

♪ JOHN: AND A POPULAR TRIO WHO CAN BE HARD TO DESCRIBE.

>> PEOPLE STILL ASK ME WHAT YOU ARE IN A BAND, WHAT GENRE DO YOU PLAY?

I DON'T KNOW.

JOHN: THERE WERE ALSO NEW FRESH FACES LIKE A 14-YEAR-OLD WHO CAME UP WITH A SOAP THAT FIGHTS SKIN CANCER.

>> MY MAIN GOAL WAS TO NOT ONLY FIGHT AGAINST CONTENTS OF A FIND A MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE APPROACH.

JOHN: A NINE-YEAR-OLD WHO FOUND A PREHISTORIC FOSSIL THAT WAS THE ENVY OF EXPERTS.

>> IT IS A SHARK.

HE SAID IT WAS TO FIND OF A LIFETIME.

JOHN: WE COVERED THE CORKY -- UIRKY.

>> I DO NOT HAVE A MOM FOR SOME OF THESE BIG EVENTS LIKE HOLIDAYS AND WHATNOT.

I WONDER WHO I WANTED AS A MOTHER.

JOHN: WITH OUR SERIES OF UNEQUAL TREATMENT WE DEVOTED TIME TO WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES.

>> WE KNOW THAT 70 TO 80% OF ALL WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH THIS BY THETIME JOHN: THEY ARE AGE 50.

AND OUR SERIES SAVING SPECIES BROUGHT ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST VULNERABLE CREATURES.

>> SHE HAS SEVEN BABIES.

JOHN: IT HAS ALL BEEN THE PRODUCT OF A LOT OF HARD WORK BY A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS.

PRODUCERS IN THE NEWSROOM.

AND THE TECHNICAL WIZARDS IN THE CONTROL ROOM IN THE STUDIO.

ALL STRIVING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST, MOST INTERESTING PROGRAM THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

TARTING NEXT WEEK, NEW PROGRAMS WILL BE IN THIS TIMESLOT.

A PBS NEWS SHOW FOCUSING ON SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND TECHNOLOGY.

AND ANOTHER SHOW WITH A FOCUS ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

FOR NOW I WANT YOU TO MEET ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD WEEK IN AND OUT TO BRING YOU THE SHOW.

THEY USUALLY BEHIND-THE-SCENES.

I HOPE YOU CAN STICK AROUND TO SEE ALL OF THEIR NAMES ON THE ON SCREEN CREDITS.

IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH EACH OF THEM.

ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THEM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US OVER THE YEARS.

GOOD NIGHT.

>>MAJOR FUNDING FOR PBS NEWS WEEKEND HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- ♪ THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS.

♪ HIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR STATION BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG] ♪