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

HERE IS WHAT'S COMING UP.

DEVASTATION IN VENEZUELA AS RESCUERS SCRAMBLE TO SAVE VICTIMS OF THE NATION'S MOST POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN OVER A CENTURY.

THEN.

>>> IRAN IS BEING VERY NICE, THEY ARE AGREEING TO EVERYTHING I WANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO.

>> WASHINGTON AND TEHRAN STRUGGLED TO SHAPE THE NARRATIVE AROUND PEACE TALKS.

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO REACH A DEAL ON TIME?

ALSO.

>> GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS ABOUT CHOICES AND IT IS CLEAR TO ME A FULL BAN IS THE RIGHT CHOICE.

>> WITH WEEKS LEFT IN OFFICE COULD THE PRIME MINISTER'S SOCIAL MEDIA LAW BECOME HIS DEFINING LEGACY?

THE NEW BOOK AND THE FIGHT TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE.

>>> INSIDE AMERICA'S UGLY BIRTHDAY BATTLE HOW THE NATIONS 250th ANNIVERSARY IS DEEPENING DIVISION THE ATLANTIC JOINS MICHELLE MARTIN.

>> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT, JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM EVERYONE.

IT IS A RACE AGAINST TIME FOR VENEZUELA RESCUE TEAMS ARE FRANTICALLY SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS AFTER TWO BACK-TO- BACK EARTHQUAKES, SOME OF THE WORST AND STRONGEST EVER RECORDED IN THE COUNTRY.

AT LEAST 164 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED ACCORDING TO THE ACTING PRESIDENT, BUT THE NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO RISE AS CREWS REACH HARD-HIT AREAS AND THE FULL SCALE OF DEVASTATION BECOMES CLEAR .

SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS LIKE THIS ONE SHOW THE TERRIFYING SCENES AS PEOPLE RUSHED TO THE STREETS TO ESCAPE FALLING BUILDINGS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE AROUND 6:00 LOCAL TIME.

THE HEAVIEST DAMAGE APPEARS TO CAPITOL WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HEARD CALLING FOR HELP NEED THE RUBBLE.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS MOST IT DEVASTATED BY THE EARTHQUAKES THAT TOOK PLACE IN VENEZUELA.

ACTIVE SURVIVOR RESCUE AND THERE ARE RESCUE TEAMS TRYING TO LOCATE PEOPLE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING LIKE THIS.

HE IS TRYING TO GET IN WITH A LADY IN THAT BUILDING HE IS WAVING AT US.

EVERY TIME CARLOS TALKS TO HER SHE IS TRYING TO WAVE HER HAND WITH A RED FLAG.

MANY PEOPLE FROM YESTERDAY ARE TRYING TO GET THE SENSE OF THE TIME THAT THEY ARE BEING STUCK THERE AND MAKE THE EFFORTS TO BRING MORE RESCUE TEAMS TO THIS AREA THAT IS STILL WITH MANY PEOPLE ALIVE AND THEY WANT OUT OF THE SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS MOST DEVASTATED IN VENEZUELA.

ESPECIALLY AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT , THAT'S LOCATED HERE.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT OF RUBBLE AND DEBRIS IN THE BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW.

ENTIRE COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS ARE DEVASTATED.

>> NOW, THE U.S.

HAS OFFERED TO SEND HELP TO VENEZUELA WITH HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS AND SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES BRAZIL, NEXT, THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND IRAN AND IF THERE WERE NOT ALREADY MAJOR STICKING POINTS NOW THE TWO SIDES CANNOT SEEM TO AGREE ON WHAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DESCRIBING OUTCOMES AS CONCRETE DEALS AND TEHRAN DISPUTING CLAIMS SO LETS US THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT THIS DYNAMIC.

HE WAS A KEY NEGOTIATOR OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S NUCLEAR DEAL AND LATER AS THE CLIMATE ENVOY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HE IS ATTENDING CLIMATE ACTION WEEK IN LONDON.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> CAN I FIRST ASK THE SUCCESS OF MARCO RUBIO HAS HAD HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR THE UNITED STATES.

GIVEN THAT VENEZUELA IS PRACTICALLY A U.S.

PROTECTORATE STATES DO?

WHAT IS IT CAPABLE OF DOING IN THIS CASE?

>> WE CAN DO AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT AND WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO DO SO, THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE WILL RUN IT MEANING THE ADMINISTRATION AND THIS IS A DIRE SITUATION SO TRADITIONALLY THE UNITED STATES HAS STEPPED UP TO HELP NATIONS WHEN THEY ARE UNDER DURESS AND OBVIOUSLY VENEZUELA IS.

>> DO YOU THINK, LET'S SAY THERE ARE SO MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE, THEY WILL MAYBE BE REFUGEES SHOULD THE U.S.

LET THEM IN?

>> WE HAVE A REGULAR PROCESS AND A REGULAR PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE IMMIGRATING TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WE OFTEN TAKE PEOPLE IN.

WE HAVE DEALT WITH AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQ WHEN WE WERE LEAVING WE SAFETY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE SITUATION IN VENEZUELA.

YOU HAVE A FUNDAMENTALLY HUMANITARIAN CRISIS BASED ON NATURAL DISASTER AND I WOULD HOPE NATIONS ALL AROUND THE WORLD WILL ASSIST.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD DO IS BE COORDINATING THAT.

YOU SHOULD NOT SIT AND WATCH YOU NEED TO PULL OTHER NATIONS TO THE TABLE TO HELP PARTICULARLY IN THE AMERICAN SPHERE.

>> LET ME MOVE NOW TO WHAT IS ALSO IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE AND THAT IS THE WHOLE SITUATION IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

SECRETARY RUBIO IS IN THE GULF AND IS TRYING TO REASSURE OR CONVINCE REGIONAL ALLIES THAT WHATEVER HAS BEEN AGREED TO BETWEEN PREISDENT TRUMP AND IRAN WILL NOT BE AT THEIR EXPENSE.

FROM WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS AND KEEPING ALLIES ON YOUR SIDE HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING POINTS?

>> THE STICKING POINTS ARE THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT BECAUSE MANY COUNTRIES IN THE REGION WANTED THE PRESIDENT TO FINISH THE JOB, THAT REQUIRES DIFFICULT DEFINITION BUT THEY'RE WORRIED THEY WILL BE LEFT WITH SOMETHING OR IRAN WILL HAVE FREEDOM TO DO SOME THINGS THEY HAD NOT BEFORE AND THAT IS WHY SECRETARY RUBIO IS THERE TO ASSURE THEM THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN , BUT WE KNOW SECRETARY RUBIO THOUGHT THE FOUNDATION OF THIS WAR INITIALLY , HE THOUGHT , HE DID NOT BELIEVE IN IT AND THOSE ARE THE REPORTS THAT CAME OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS IN A TOUGH PLACE IT IS NOT A PEACE AGREEMENT IT IS A CEASE-FIRE AND TRY TO FIND AN AGREEMENT ON THE PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS WHETHER THEY FIND OTHER INGREDIENTS FOR PEACE WITH THE MISSILE ISSUES, HAS BELOW ISSUES IS TOUGH PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE THE DECISION THAT THE URGENCY OF DEALING WITH A NUCLEAR WEAPON AT THE TIME WE FACED THIS CHALLENGE WAS THERE WAS A TWO-WEEK BREAK OUT TIME TO HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON AND IF WE SPEND OUR TIME TRYING TO DEAL WITH OTHERS WE WOULD HAVE LEFT THEM FREE TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY HAD BEEN DOING AND WE DID NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN SO WE FOCUSED ON THE BIGGEST DANGER FIRST, THE NUCLEAR THE POTENTIAL OF THEM BECOMING NUCLEAR.

AND WE PUT TOGETHER THE MOST INTRUSIVE COMPREHENSIVE ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENT IN HISTORY WHERE WE WERE PRECISE ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD ENFORCE IT, WE HAVE THE RIGHT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL AGENCY OF ATOMIC ENERGY ENTITY TO GO INSPECT ON DEMAND WITH THE ABILITY TO SPRING BACK THE SANCTIONS WE HAD A VERY ELABORATE SCREEN SCHEME WHICH DESTROYED THOUSANDS OF THEIR CENTRIFUGES, DESTROYED PLUTONIUM REACTORS WITH 130 ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS ON THE GROUND IN IRAN THEY ARE GONE NOW.

THE .2 HERE IS THAT IT TOOK TIME APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS OF OPEN NEGOTIATIONS AND SOME TIME WHEN WE WERE FEELING IT OUT TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE WERE SOMETHING REAL TO BE DONE.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE NEGOTIATION YOU TALK ABOUT IN THE DEAL HAS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER AS PEOPLE COMPARE WHAT TO TRUMP HAS DONE AND WHAT YOUR ADMINISTRATION DID SO LET ME PLAY TO YOU WHAT PREISDENT TRUMP HAS SAID HAS HAD ABOUT THE IDEA OF GOING TO WAR AGAINST IRAN.

>> FOR 47 YEARS NO PRESIDENT WAS WILLING TO DO WHAT I AM DOING AND THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A LONG TIME AGO.

NO PRESIDENT WANTED TO DO IT AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO A CERTAIN PRESIDENT WHO I LIKE A FORMER PRESIDENT WHO SAYS I WISH I DID IT BUT THEY DIDN'T DO IT.

I AM DOING IT.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR SPOKESPEOPLE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT DENY RECENTLY SPEAKING TO PREISDENT TRUMP AND THAT WAS IN MARCH.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, DID YOU GET TEMPTED , WAS YOUR ADMINISTRATION ANYWHERE CLOSE TO GOING TO WAR TO DEGRADE THE IRAN UNITARY ABILITIES AND THEN THE WAR GAMES.

>> PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS PREPARED TO DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND TO PROTECT OUR ALLY ISRAEL.

AT THAT POINT AND TIME THERE WERE REAL DANGERS BUT THEY WERE NOT READY TO EXPLODE AND THE PRESIDENT WISELY MADE THE CHOICE NOT TO AGREE TO THE REQUEST TO GO IN AND BOMB AND EVEN JOIN IN THE BOMBING PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID WE WILL TRY DIPLOMACY THAT'S THE WAY TO DO THESE THINGS, BUILD SUPPORT AND INDEED DIPLOMACY BROUGHT CHINA RUSSIA FRANCE GERMANY THE UK, THE EU, ALL CAME TO THE TABLE AND THEY WERE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROCESS.

IN THE END WHEN PREISDENT TRUMP DECIDED I WILL PULL OUT OF THE AGREEMENT AND TEAR IT UP, THE WORST AGREEMENT ALLOWING THEM TO GET A NUCLEAR WEAPON, NO MR.

PRESIDENT IT DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO GET A NUCLEAR WEAPON IT ALLOWED THEM TO GET THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE IF THEY WANTED TO AND WITH ONE YEAR OF AVAILABLE TIME WE MOVED IT FROM TWO WEEKS TO ONE YEAR WE HAD THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER TO NEGOTIATE BASED ON THE PREMISE YOU HAVE TO EXHAUST POSSIBILITIES OF PEACE BEFORE YOU GO TO THE WAR AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN HERE, THAT DISTINCTLY DID NOT HAPPEN EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE OFFERINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ON A SATURDAY MORNING THE PRESIDENT WENT TO WAR AND DID NOT CONSULT WITH ALLIES, WE HAD NONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES WITH US IN THIS INITIATIVE THE WAY THEY HAD BEEN.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO WAR SURELY THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND THE MILITARY COMMUNITY THE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNITY WILL EXPLAIN WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL PITFALLS TO WHICH THERE IS OBVIOUS AS A POTENTIAL CHOKEHOLD WHAT WERE YOU TOLD ABOUT THE PERILS OR THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE WAR?

WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD TO PREISDENT TRUMP ABOUT THIS BECAUSE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CAME UP AND IT BIT EVERYBODY IN THE YOU KNOW WHAT.

>> YEAH, WELL I DON'T KNOW PRECISELY WAS TOLD TO HIM.

I HAVE READ SOME EXCERPTS ABOUT CONVERSATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE BUT LET ME SAY THIS WE WERE PREPARED TO DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES BUT NOT TO RUSH TO WAR AS A FIRST CHOICE OR EARLY OPTION.

WE ALWAYS HAD THE CHOICE TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE USING FORCE BUT PRESIDENT OBAMA COMPLETELY PROPERLY STAYED AWAY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT RIGHT AND IT WAS NOT THE MOMENT TO DO THAT NOW THIS ADMINISTRATION NEVER CONSIDERED NETANYAHU AT HIS WORD THAT PEOPLE WOULD RISE UP AND TAKE BACK THEIR COUNTRY.

IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE WAR, THE RATIONALE WAS WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO TAKE OVER SO WE HAVE TO HELP THEM THEN THERE WAS THE RATIONALE THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS THE RATIONALE THAT THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO STOP THEM MIGHT BE CHANGE BECAUSE ISRAEL DECIDED TO GO BY ITSELF SO THE PRESIDENT DECIDED TO GO.

THAT INITIALLY CAME FROM SECRETARY RUBIO AND FINALLY THE PRESIDENT REVERTED TO THE NOTION THAT THE REASON THEY HAD TO BOMB WAS TO PREVENT THEM BECAUSE THEY HAD A NUCLEAR WEAPON DESPITE THE FACT THAT MONTHS BEFORE THEY HAD OBLITERATED THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM NOW THEY HAVE TO GO BACK AND OBLITERATE AGAIN WHEN IT WAS NOT THE THREAT THAT REQUIRED THAT.

THEY DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME UP WITH A BOMB IN THE NEAR-TERM AND IT SEEMS TO ME THE PRESIDENT RUSHED TO PASS DIPLOMACY AND WOULD COMMON SENSE DICTATED WOULD BRING OUR COLLEAGUE NATIONS AND ALLIES TO THE TABLE TO SUPPORT US AND INDEED WITH RESPECT TO THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WHAT DID THEY SAY ABOUT THAT?

WE KNEW THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WOULD BE WEAPON ICED IF YOU GOT INTO A CONFLICT.

PREISDENT TRUMP AT LEAST SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT WE DID NOT KNOW THEY WOULD DO THAT OR THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT.

I REMEMBER WARNING BEFORE THE WAR TOOK PLACE AT AN EVENT IN FLORIDA THAT THE IRANIANS KNOW HOW TO DO ASYMMETRIC WARFARE AS WELL AS OR BETTER THAN MOST ON THE PLANET AND THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE AT GREAT COST TO THE WORLD IN TERMS OF PRICES AND INFLATION UP, DISRUPTION, PEOPLE AGAIN MOVING REFUGEES AND SO FORTH.

I THINK IT WAS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY, THE PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TORN UP THIS DOCUMENT WHICH RUSSIA CHINA EVEN ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE AND EUROPE ALL SAID THAT IT IS WORKING LEAVE IT AND IF YOU HAVE CHANGES PRESENT THEM TO IRAN AND TELL THEM I DON'T LIKE WHAT OBAMA DID HERE IS WHAT I DEMAND AND THEN THEY COULD NEGOTIATE BUT THEY COMPLETELY BYPASSED THAT LEGITIMATE EXHAUSTIVE TRANSPARENT DIPLOMACY THAT WOULD MAKE THE WORLD A MUCH BETTER PLACE IF WE HAD NOT HAD TO GO TO WAR THE WAY WE DID.

>> NOW LET ME ASK TO PIVOT TO THE ENERGY AND CLIMATE CRISIS IN THE UK WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A REALLY UNPRECEDENTED HEAT WAVE AND ONE OF THE EVENTS THE LONDON CLIMATE WEEK WAS CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE.

YOU SPENT SO MANY YEARS ON THE CLAIMANT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TAKING THIS ISSUE ON.

WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

>> RIGHT NOW AS I SIT HERE PARTS OF THE EARTH ARE BURNING UP AND BLOWING UP AT THE SAME TIME AND IT APPEARS AS IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS WILLING TO IGNORE SCIENCE AND IGNORE THE FACTS ON THE GROUND FOR THE WAY PEOPLE ARE BEING IMPACTED ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

AFTER 40 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING THE FIRST DECADE WAS THE HOTTEST EVER AND THEN THE NEXT DECADE AND THEN THE NEXT, NOW THE ONE WE ARE IN IS THE HOTTEST EVER.

EVERY DAY THE HOTTEST DAY IN JUNE AND TODAY SO THIS WILL GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER BECAUSE IT IS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE AND PHYSICS THAT'S DEFINING WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WHEN YOU BURN FOSSIL FUELS WITHOUT CAPTURING EMISSIONS YOU WARM THE PLANET AND THE WARMING IS COMING HOME TO ROOST IN COUNTLESS WAYS THAT ARE COSTLY.

WE ARE SPENDING TRILLIONS TO CLEAN UP AFTER STORMS THAT ARE MORE INTENSIVE BECAUSE OF GREATER HUMIDITY IN THE AIR AND THE HEAT MAKES A GREATER MORE INTENSE STORM.

WE HAVE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN THE SOUTH ALABAMA LOUISIANA MISSISSIPPI TEXAS CALIFORNIA , INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE PULLING OUT OF ENSURING.

WHAT KIND OF GOOD BUSINESS PLAN IS THAT?

SECONDLY YOU ARE SEEING PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD BEING IMPACTED AND NOW IN SOME PLACES THEY CANNOT BUY INSURANCE TO PROTECT THEIR HOME.

AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THE FACTS.

MORE PEOPLE I WOULD SAY YESTERDAY IN LONDON I WAS WITH THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION BRIEFING THAT SHOWS PEOPLE ARE NOT RETREATING FROM CONCERN ON CLIMATE CHANGE THEY ARE JUST NUMBED BY THE KIND OF LANGUAGE THAT IS USED BUT IF YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO FOOD PRICES, WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AS A RESULT OF FLOODS OR OTHER DISASTERS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE THINGS HAPPENING PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I SEE THAT PLAY OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE, THE MARKETPLACE IS TURNING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT IS INDEPENDENT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ BEING OPEN, COUNTLESS COUNTRIES HAVE TAKEN THE WARNING FROM WHAT HAPPENED IN THE WAR AND THE GREAT MOVEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO CLIMATE HAVE COME HISTORICALLY LIKE 1973 AFTER THE OIL CRISIS, 1979 WHEN CHINA DECIDED IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE SHOULD DO IT FOR THE CLIMATE WE NEED TO DO IT FOR SECURITY TO HAVE A GUARANTEE ABOUT OUR FUEL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE GAS OR THE ABILITY TO BE INDEPENDENT IN THE SAME WAY.

NOW CHINA IS THE LARGEST MANUFACTURER AND DEPLOYABLE OF RENEWABLES IN THE WORLD DOING MORE DEPLOYMENT AND MANUFACTURING THAN ALL THE REST OF THE WORLD PUT TOGETHER AND THEY OWN THE MARKET.

90% OF SOLAR PANEL MARKET AND A HUGE PROPORTION OF WIND POWER AND THEY MAKE REALLY GOOD CARDS TO BE HONEST BUT CANNOT SELL IT IN OUR COUNTRY BUT PEOPLE ARE BUYING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES ARE GOING UP BECAUSE OF GAS PRICES SO THERE IS A NATURAL THE MARKETPLACE.

CEOS OF COMPANIES WILL NOT BUY THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HURT THEM OR HEARD COMMUNITIES OR FIND ENERGY FOR THINGS THAT ARE DESTRUCTIVE, THEY WILL MAKE DECISIONS THAT IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTS, ABILITY TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS AND IMPROVE ABILITY TO AVOID DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> WELCOME FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

NOW IT WOULD BE ONE OF HIS FINAL MAJOR POLICIES AND PERHAPS THE ONE THAT COULD DEFY HIS LEGACY, THE OUTGOING BRITISH PRIME MINISTER WITH A BAN ON CHILDREN ACCESSING SOCIAL MEDIA.

IS IT THE BEST SOLUTION WITH A SIMILAR BAN IN AUSTRALIA HAVING LITTLE EFFECT WITH RESEARCH SHOWING 80% OF CHILDREN HAVE RESTRICTIONS NOW EXPERTS SAY THE FOCUS SHOULD BE HOLDING TECH GIANTS TO ACCOUNT , SHE MADE HER NAME AS A FILMMAKER BEFORE TURNING HER ATTENTION TO CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ONLINE.

A JOURNEY SHE HAS CHRONICLED IN HER NEW BOOK AND SHE IS JOINING ME FROM LONDON.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> LOVELY TO BE WITH YOU.

>> LOOK LET'S START WITH THE USERS.

TELL ME ABOUT THE NAME.

WHO IS THE NAME AIMED AT?

>> THE USERS IN THE BOOK ARE REALLY THE STORY OF HOW THE TECH COMPANIES HIJACKED SOCIETY AND TOOK OVER OUR PERSONAL LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND IT IS THAT STORY ABOUT HOW WE WERE ALL INTIMATED AND WHAT THE COSTS ARE AND IT OFFERS A FRAMEWORK FIGHTING BACK I SUPPOSE.

SO THE USERS THEY ARE THEM NOT US.

>> EXACTLY NOT THE ATTICS.

LOOK, WE SAID IT COULD BE THE PRIME MINISTER'S LASTING LEGACY BUT THERE IS A BIG BUT HIS AUSTRALIAN COUNTERPART WHO DID THIS IN THEIR COUNTRY ACCORDING TO RESEARCH THEY FOUND THE CURRENT GENERATION OF 16 AND UNDERS ARE FINDING WORKAROUNDS LIKE 80% OF THEM.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU?

>> WELL I THINK THE FIRST THING TO SAY IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA DID THE WORLD A HUGE FAVOR HE SAID NOT ON MY WATCH, NO TOXIC PRODUCTS I WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SOMETHING NOW A LOT OF US DID NOT THINK HE CAME AT IT THE RIGHT WAY BUT HE HAS PUT THE ISSUE AT THE CENTER OF POLITICS AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN CONDOM FROM THE FIRST BAN PARENTS ARE SAYING WE WANT A BIT OF THIS AND POLICYMAKERS ARE NOW SAYING WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOES NOT WORK AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY TO GET WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO RATHER THAN DOING IT THE WAY HE SUGGESTED.

>> SOME SUGGEST THIS GENERATION WOULD DO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO FIND THE WORKAROUNDS BUT THE BAN WILL REALLY BE DIFFERENT FOR THE KIDS WHO GROW UP UNDER A BAN RATHER IT BEING IMPOSED WHEN THEIR OLDER TEENAGERS.

I WANT TO ASK SOME OF THE HORROR STORIES YOU OUTLINED IN THE BOOK ABOUT CHILDREN STRANGERS CAN ACCESS YOUNG PEOPLE'S LOCATIONS AND PHOTOS, CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO DAMAGE CONTACT AND INTERACTIONS AND THEY ARE JUST WHOLESALE ROBBERY OF CHILDHOOD AS YOU SAY.

EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> THE FIRST THING BEFORE WE GET INTO BAN OR NOT IS HOW WE GOT HERE.

IN PLAIN SIGHT OF PARENTS AND POLITICIANS AND THE MEDIA TO THIS SITUATION WHERE HALF THE KIDS IN THE UK HAVE SEEN A BEHEADING, GIRLS ARE ANXIOUS AND UPSET ABOUT THEIR BODIES, THAT I HAVE TO WORK WITH POLICE SPECIALIST POLICE FORCE TO TRY TO WORK A WAY AROUND SEXUAL ABUSE BEING CREATED AT SCALE SO THE FIRST QUESTION TO ASK IS WHAT WE WANT FOR THE KIDS?

IS THIS RIGHT?

YOU LOOK AT IT AND GO HANG ON A MINUTE THIS IS A PRODUCT SOMEONE IS RUNNING A COMPANY MAKING MONEY AND THEY'RE MAKING MONEY ON THE BACK OF THIS EXPERIENCE OF OUR KIDS.

SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TECH COMPANIES WE CANNOT DO THIS BY SAYING PARENTS POLICE KIDS KIDS DO NOT DO TRANSGRESSIVE THINGS AND WE KNOW WHAT KIDS ARE LIKE WE KNOW IT WILL TRY AND THIS LOT ARE ADDICTED ON THESE PRODUCTS.

WE WILL TRY TO GET BACK TO THEM BUT WE HAVE TO DO TWO THINGS.

KEEP THE TECH COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IF THIS WAS A AIR FRYER WE WOULD HAVE RECALLED IT BY NOW.

THE SECOND THING WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE AGE OF THE PARENTS SAY COMPANIES IF WE FIND 16- YEAR-OLDS IT'S YOU WHO WILL BE IN TROUBLE NOT THE KID SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE BAN I THINK OF IT AS HOW DO WE BAN TECH COMPANIES FROM PUTTING TOXIC PRODUCT IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN.

>> IN THE BOOK YOU DESCRIBE ENCOUNTERS WITH THESE TECH TITANS AROUND BOARDROOM TABLES ACTUALLY I CANNOT BELIEVE WHEN I READ ABOUT THE ONE THAT INVOLVED PRINCE WILLIAM.

I THINK HE WAS AT THE MEETING AND YOU HAD THE AMERICAN TECH HONCHO YELLING.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I HAVE TO SAY THE ROYAL FAMILY WERE VERY QUICK TO THE ISSUE.

THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD.

IN 2017 FORCE TO LOOK AT THE TIME AT THE ISSUE OF BULLYING AND AT THE TIME EVERYONE THOUGHT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS AND WE WILL BRING EVERYONE AROUND THE TABLE AND IT WILL BE FINE BECAUSE WHEN WE EXPLAIN HOW TOXIC IT IS THE TECH COMPANIES WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

WE MET 18 MONTHS AGAIN AND AGAIN IN PALACES AND HEADQUARTERS AND AT EVERY POINT THE TECH COMPANY INVOLVED BLOCKED ALL THE THINGS WE WANTED TO DO TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR KIDS AND EVENTUALLY BECAUSE I AM A POLITICIAN AND I SIT IN PARLIAMENT I PUT DOWN A REGULATORY RESPONSE AND THEY TOOK ME UP ARE IN PUBLIC AND HE SAID WE WILL NOT BE REGULATED FROM A SMALL TIME IN ENGLAND AND THE SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT THAT THEY WERE BEYOND IT WAS PALPABLE IN THE ROOM WHAT WAS VERY FUNNY IT'S GOT A LOT OF SYMPATHY IN THE ROOM FROM BROADCASTERS WHO ARE THERE OTHERS , CIVIL SOCIETY AND SOME OF THE OTHER TECH COMPANIES AND I DID GET THE REGULATION PASSED.

WE DID REGULATE THEM FROM A SMALL TOWN IN ENGLAND AND PEOPLE MUST REALLY THE TECH COMPANIES HAVE TO BE REGULATED BY OUR DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WHAT THEY CALL NO REGULATION IS NOT NO REGULATION IT IS REGULATION BY THEIR TERMS OF SERVICE AROUND THE WORLD.

>> THIS TECH EXECUTIVE IS FROM FACEBOOK AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS ACCOUNTABILITY HEARINGS IN COURT AND YOU REMEMBER THE CALIFORNIA COURT THAT ISSUED THE LANDMARK RULING AGAINST META AND RISKS THAT PRODUCTS PROPOSE SAYING THAT THEY WERE ADDICTIVE AND YOU SAY THIS MOMENTUM COULD BE TOBACCO MOMENT WHEN THE TOBACCO COMPANIES DISCOVERED TO HAVE LIED ABOUT THE ADDICTIVE NATURE OF THEIR PRODUCTS, THEY WERE OUTED IN A BIG WAY AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THAT DOMAIN.

DO YOU THINK WE ARE THERE YET?

THE FIGHT BACK IS REACHING A CRITICAL JUNCTURE?

>> I THINK IT IS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS FIRST OF ALL COURT CASES IN THE U.S.

ARE CENTRAL TO WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH JUST LIKE IN THE TOBACCO IT STOPPED BEING ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ITS HOW DID YOU DESIGN YOUR PRODUCT WHEN DID YOU KNOW IT AND WHY ARE YOU HURTING PEOPLE AND THAT IS A CLEAR DIFFERENTIATION IN THE U.S.

COURTS APPEAR TO BE REALLY TO LOOK AT THE DESIGN OF THE PRODUCT AND THERE'S SOMETHING CHILDREN BUT WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE DOES NOT STAY ONLINE AND WHAT HAPPENS TO CHILDREN EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO THE REST OF US AND IT GOES TO THE QUESTIONS OF INFORMATION SECURITY , JOB DISPLACEMENT AND SO ON AND AS YOU BUILD UP AND YOU THINK HANG ON A MINUTE THIS IS COSTING ME MY JOB AT CHILDHOOD THIS IS COSTING ME ANY SEMBLANCE OF SHARED TRUTH IN THE WORLD AND ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE WILL SEE OUT OF THAT PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO GO I'M NOT SURE FREE WAS SUCH A FABULOUS DEAL.

>> YOU KNOW THAT EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF ALL THIS HORRIBLE MATERIAL SOME STATS HAVE THE A.I.

GENERATED PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES OF CHILDREN HAVE RISEN IN 2025 IN 20 25/3000 A.I.

GENERATED SEXUAL ABUSE VIDEOS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR ALONE.

THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION.

HOW CONVINCED ARE YOU THAT A.I.

CAN BE PREVENTED FROM ACCELERATING HARM?

>> LISTEN, IT ABSOLUTELY CAN AND I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE GODFATHERS OF A.I.

LAST WEEK AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID WHICH REALLY CAUGHT MY IMAGINATION, HE SAID YOU KNOW WHAT , TO GET RID OF 95% IS VIRTUALLY MARGINAL .

IT WOULD BE SO EASY , THE LAST 5% WOULD BE DIFFICULT BUT WORTH DOING ANYTHING THAT 95% WHERE WE NOT ALREADY AT 95%?

WHY ARE WE ROLLING OUT PRODUCTS WITHOUT CHECKING OR INSISTING THEY TEST FOR THE CREATION OF A.I.

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?

WHY IS IT WE ARE PUTTING PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN, BUT FOR ALL OF US THAT CREATE THESE THINGS AND NOT GOING HANG ON A MINUTE IS THIS THE WORLD WE WANT TO LIVE?

I HAVE TO TELL YOU LAST WEEK I GOT A LETTER FROM A PARENT WHOSE CHILD , HER IMAGE WAS SCRAPED AND SENT TO A MISOGYNIST GROUP WHO USED IT FOR COLLECTIVE MASTURBATION.

IT CANNOT BE THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE CHILDREN CANNOT HAVE THEIR IMAGE POSTED IN PUBLIC BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL THEN THE SAME THINGS HAPPEN TO WOMEN , TAKE WOMEN OUT OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE AND IN THE END IT IS NOT PUBLIC SQUARE IF WE CANNOT BE THERE SO THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS NOW LOT OF MONEY OUT OF THE DARK SIDE OF THEIR BUSINESS , THEY ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF THE UNTRUTH OUT OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE OUT OF ACTUALLY GETTING RID OF OUR JOBS AND OUR FUTURE AND I TALK TO A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO SAY OUT OF THE WORDS OF THE YOUNG , WISDOM BECAUSE THEY SAY I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS SO EFFICIENT PUTTING US OUT OF WORK TAKING OUR FUTURE AWAY, TAKING ALL THE TRUTH AND THE COMMONALITY OF LIFE AND THEN PUTTING ALL THE MONEY INTO SILICON VALLEY , THAT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE AN EFFICIENCY.

>> YES I MEAN IT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC IN A WORD?

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

I AM AND I TRY TO SHOW IT IN THE BOOK.

THERE ARE SOME PRETTY HARD STORIES BUT THE LAST CHAPTER IS ABOUT WHAT WE INSIST WE DO LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY A LOT OF US AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS RECENTLY, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I ASKED DID THEY VOTE ON TECH POLICY LAST TIME?

NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY PUT THEIR HAND UP SO WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS A PUBLIC ISSUE AND REMEMBER IN THIS ATTENTION ECONOMY OUR ATTENTION IS THE FUEL.

>> YOU HAD A GOOD LAST WORD THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NOW FIELD OVER HOW TO BEST MARK AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY THIS FOURTH OF JULY WILL MARK 250 YEARS SINCE ITS FOUNDING BUT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS TASKED WITH SELLING THE CELEBRATIONS ARE IN A DISPUTE THE ATLANTIC JOURNALIST HAS BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING HOW IT IS UNFOLDING IN WHAT HE CALLS AMERICA'S UGLY BIRTHDAY BATTLE AS HE MICHELLE MARTIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US.

YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS ISSUE AROUND FESTIVITIES AND HOW WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250th.

BEFORE WE GET INTO THE CONFLICTS TELL US THE ORIGINAL IDEA.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING CONGRESS CREATED THE COMMISSION A DECADE AGO.

>> YOUR VIEWERS MIGHT REMEMBER THE BICENTENNIAL WITH PRESIDENT FORD COMING OUT OF WATERGATE AND THERE WERE NATIONWIDE CELEBRATIONS REMEMBERED FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS IN 2016 CONGRESS SAW THE 250th COMING UP A QUARTER MILLENNIA AND DECIDED TO FUND A SIMILAR CELEBRATION WITH THE IDEA TO COME UP WITH EVENTS AND BRANDING GET THE AMERICAN PEOPLE INVOLVED ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEN THE PLANNING PROCEEDED EIGHT YEARS UNTIL PREISDENT TRUMP WAS REELECTED AND WHEN HE WAS REELECTED HE WAS ON A PLATFORM THAT INCLUDED HIS OWN IDEAS FOR WHAT THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE DOING FOR AMERICA'S 250th CELEBRATION AND THAT'S WHERE THE CURRENT STORY BEGINS.

>> AMERICA 250 AND FREEDOM 250 IS AMERICA'S --PREISDENT TRUMP'S IDEA WHAT WAS HIS VISION?

>> THE TEAM WANTED TO WORK WITH CONGRESSIONAL GROUPS SO FREEDOM 250 COMES INTO EXISTENCE LATE LAST YEAR, THE VISION HE HAD HE WAS INTERESTED IN BIG SPECTACULAR EVENTS.

HE TALKED DURING THE CAMPAIGN OF THE GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR WITH THE PLANNING IN IOWA INVOLVING 50 STATES PARTICIPATING.

HE HAS TALKED ABOUT PATRIOT GAMES HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS WITH THE GARDEN OF AMERICAN HEROES.

OBVIOUSLY HE WANTS A BIG PARTY IN WASHINGTON FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS PRESIDENCY PLANS SHIFTED THE IOWA STATE FAIR IDEA WAS NOT PRACTICAL SO HE TOOK OVER A CELEBRATION OF THE NATIONAL MALL PLAN BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND THEN HE HAD A BUNCH OF OTHER RANDOM EVENTS, THE UFC FIGHT ON HIS BIRTH DAY WE HAVE THE INDYCAR RACE.

A NUMBER OF CABINET AGENCIES ARE DOING FREEDOM 250 EVENTS WITH EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD DURING THEIR, BANNERS WITH HIS FACE ON A HAVE BEEN UNFURLED ACROSS BUILDINGS ACROSS D.C., PARK EMPLOYEES ARE TOLD TO WEAR FREEDOM 250 PINS SO AS WE GET CLOSER THE PLANS HAVE STARTED TO EXPAND AND THE PRESIDENT HAS INCREASINGLY PUT HIS MARK ON THEM.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AMERICA 250 THIS WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT RIGHT?

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS DREAMED UP THE AMERICA 250 COMMITTEE ALL OF IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN BIPARTISAN SO WHAT HAPPENED?

>> AT THE VERY BEGINNING THEY WERE GETTING ALONG THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF 2025.

THE PRESIDENT TELLS AMERICA 250 HE WANTS TO HAVE A NUMBER OF EVENTS TO SET OFF A YEAR OF CELEBRATIONS INCLUDING A VISIT TO FORT BRAGG TO CELEBRATE THE ARMY'S 250th BIRTHDAY AND HE WANTS A PARADE ON HIS BIRTHDAY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

TO CELEBRATE THE ARMY 250th.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER SPEAKING BIPARTISAN GROUP SAID SURE WE WILL WORK WITH YOU.

THEY ALLOWED PREISDENT TRUMP TO RAISE MONEY FROM PRIVATE DONORS THROUGH AMERICA 250 APPARATUS SO COMPANIES LIKE COIN BASE OR OTHERS PAID FOR THE PARADE GIVING MONEY TO AMERICA 250 AND THEY WORK TOGETHER TO GET 150 MILLION IN APPROPRIATION AS PART OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.

AND THEN JULY LAST YEAR THE PRESIDENT GOES TO IOWA TO KICK OFF THE CELEBRATION AND AT THE SPEECH SAYS SPEAKING OF CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS I HATE THEM.

>> ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE GIVEN AND THEY WOULD NOT VOTE BECAUSE THEY HATES TRUMP BUT I HATE THEM TOO I REALLY DO.

AND HE WAS PARTICULARLY UPSET BUT THAT WAS RATHER ALARMING FOR THE AMERICAN 250 SUPPORTERS AS PEOPLE WERE WAVING SIGNS IN THE AUDIENCE WHEN THAT HAPPENED IN THE EVENT WAS PAID FOR BY AMERICA 250 SO IT BEGAN THE PROCESS WHERE AMERICA 250 ORGANIZERS SAID WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS BECOMING POLITICAL WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT SO YOU FOCUS ON CERTAIN EVENTS AND WE WILL FOCUS ON OTHER EVENTS AND WE AGREE ON HOW TO DIVIDE THE MONEY CONGRESS HAS APPROPRIATED LATE SUMMER 2025 THEY CAME TO AN AGREEMENT ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING HOW THE MONEY WOULD BE DIVIDED AND WITHIN MONTHS THE AGREEMENT HAD FALLEN APART.

>> WHY DIDN'T FALL APART?

IS IT ABOUT THE MONEY OR JUST TO BE BLUNT THAT PREISDENT TRUMP DOES NOT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS?

>> MONEY WAS A BIG PART OF IT AS THE PLANS FOR CELEBRATIONS EXPANDED IT BECAME CLEAR HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY HE WANTED THAT WAS BUDGETED FROM PRIVATE SOURCES AND THERE WAS A $150 MILLION POT SO INITIALLY WHEN THE BILL PASSES THE WORKING AGREEMENT IS 100 AND MILLION GOES TO AMERICA 250 AND 50 MILLION GOES TO THE WHITE HOUSE PROJECTS.

LATE LAST YEAR THAT FLIPPED AND AMERICA 250 ONLY GETS 50 MILLION, THEY SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AND UNDER THE AGREEMENT THE INTERIOR WOULD TRANSFER 50 MILLION TO THE AMERICA 250 FOR PROGRAMMING DOWN FROM THE HOPE OF 100.

AND EVEN THAT FALLS APART WITH 25 MILLION TRANSFERRED IN EARLY JANUARY BUT THE OTHER 25 MILLION NEVER COMES IN WHEN I WENT TO THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO ASK WHY HAVE YOU BROKEN THE AGREEMENT THEY STARTED QUESTIONING THE SPENDING OF AMERICA 250 AND STARTED ATTACKING THEIR INTEGRITY.

THIS IS WASTEFUL, CONSULTANTS WERE TAKING THE MONEY , THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE THE MONEY ON FIRE.

IRONICALLY SUPPORTERS OF AMERICA 250 SAY FREEDOM 250 IS DOING THAT, THE TRUMP CONSULTANTS AND CAMPAIGN VENDORS WERE TAKING IN THE MONEY TO THE FREEDOM 250 PLANNING EFFORTS SO NOW WE HAVE THIS WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN THE GROUPS WHO BOTH SAY THEY'RE FOCUSED ON UNITING THE COUNTRY OVER THE COMING WEEKS TO CELEBRATE THE NATION'S BIRTHDAY.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE FACT THE AMERICA 250 GROUP IS BIPARTISAN SET UP TO BE A PARTISAN.

THERE ARE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS SO WHAT DID THEY SAY ABOUT THIS?

A LOT OF THEM ARE INVOLVED AND SOME OF THEM AS I UNDERSTAND, THE COMMISSIONERS WERE TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

>> THERE ARE TWO TIERS, ELECTED LEADERS AND THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MADE UP OF APPOINTEES OF THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE SO THE SPEAKER GETS A CERTAIN NUMBER AND THE MINORITY LEADER GETS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF APPOINTEES.

REPUBLICANS THE MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT MONEY NEVER BEEN DELIVERED, LISA MURKOWSKI WHO HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED THE SENATOR FROM ALASKA QUESTIONED BERG HIM ABOUT WHY THE 25 MILLION HAD NOT BEEN DELIVERED THE INTERIOR SECRETARY.

BERG HIM BASICALLY SAID IT'S NOT UP TO ME THE WHITE HOUSE IS HANDLING THIS I WILL TALK TO THEM AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THIS IS A WHITE HOUSE MATTER.

SO THERE IS CONCERN FROM ELECTED REPUBLICANS AND THEN APPOINTED MEMBERS THERE IS FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE ATTACKS ON BASIC INTEGRITY ON THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE PUBLIC MONEY WITH A LOT OF ANGER FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS INSIDE OF AMERICA 250 AT ANY SUGGESTION THAT ANYTHING THEY'RE DOING IS DIVISIVE OR PARTISAN OR NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE TAXPAYER WHOSE MONEY THEY ARE SPENDING.

BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH HAPPENING IN PUBLIC BECAUSE WE ARE A WEEK AWAY OR SO FROM THE PINNACLE OF CELEBRATIONS AND WE WILL HAVE AMERICA 250 EVENTS IN NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA LOS ANGELES LOTS OF SMALLER EVENTS ARE IN THE COUNTRY WITH OTHER FREEDOM 250 EVENTS WITH CELEBRATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON AREA BEING PUT ON BY FREEDOM 250 SO EVERYONE IS BITING THEIR TONGUE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

>> ARE THEY?

ATTENTION WHO MAY NOT BE FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY WAS THE CONCERT THAT THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO PUT ON FREEDOM 250 AND A NUMBER OF ENTERTAINERS WELL ACTUALLY I THINK MOST OF THEM WITHDREW, THEY WITHDREW WITHIN DAYS IN SOME CASES HOURS HAVING BEEN ANNOUNCED.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENS AND WHY DID IT UNFOLD THAT WAY?

>> ONE OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT FREEDOM 250 IS THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MIMIC AMERICA 250 IN ALMOST EVERY WAY, AMERICA 250 HAS A PRETTY EXTENSIVE ONLINE STORE WHERE YOU CAN PRINT MERCHANDISE, FREEDOM 250 MIRRORS THAT EXACTLY WITH ALMOST EVERY PIECE OF MERCHANDISE WITH THE AMERICA 250 LOGO YOU CAN GET WITH THE FREEDOM 250 LOGO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN VENDORS ARE PRODUCING THE ITEMS SO I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION, THIS EVENT ON THE NATIONAL MALL WAS ORIGINALLY SMITHSONIAN, WHEN THE PRESIDENT REALIZED HE COULD NOT HAVE HIS YEAR-LONG STATE FAIR HE MOVED IT TO THE NATIONAL MALL TO MAKE IT A FEW WEEKS AND TOLD THE SMITHSONIAN I WILL USE YOUR PERMIT REPLACING WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE SMITHSONIAN FESTIVAL AND AS PART OF IT LIKE ANY OTHER STATE FAIR THERE WOULD BE MUSICAL ACTS, THE MEMO NEVER GOT TO THE MUSICAL ACTS THAT THIS WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT PUTTING IT ON ANYMORE OR A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION IT WAS THE PRESIDENT'S TEAM AND THIS NEW NONPROFIT CALL AMERICA 250.

ONCE THEY REALIZED THAT WITH THE POLITICAL OVERTONES THEY STARTED TO BACK OUT THE PRESIDENT BECAME UPSET CANCELED THE MUSICAL ACTS OR CONFIRMED HE WOULD HOLD A KICKOFF RALLY INSTEAD THAT HE WOULD CALL THE MAGA POLITICAL TRUMP RALLY.

>> SO HERE IS THE THING I AM CURIOUS ABOUT .

WHY?

DID HE JUST HAVE A DIFFERENT VISION OF WHAT HE THINKS THE CELEBRATION SHOULD BE ABOUT?

>> A LOT OF IT IS SIMILAR ON THE OUTSIDE AND THE DIFFERENCES ARE IMPORTANT TO SOME PEOPLE.

TRUMP IS AT THE CENTER OF FREEDOM 250 THE BANNER SHOW HIS FACE RIGHT NOW.

TRUMP WILL BE THE STAR ATTRACTION OF THE NEW CONCERT AS OPPOSED TO THE MUSICAL ACTS .

THERE HAS ALSO BEEN MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED BY FREEDOM 250 THAT GIVES A PLAYBOOK FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TO HAVE THEIR OWN CELEBRATION AND IN THAT PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO FOCUS ON ELECTION INTEGRITY AND SCHOOL CHOICE AND CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN ISSUES SO THE WAYS IN WHICH THERE ARE POLITICAL OVERTONES ADDED MAKE IT CONTROVERSIAL IN THE NATIONAL MALL THERE IS A SMALLER MODEL OF THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH THAT DEMOCRATS OPPOSE.

THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE IF AMERICA 250 WAS DURING THE EVENT.

LIKE I SAID NOBODY WOULD HAVE GUESSED THE AMERICA 250 EVENT THE PRESIDENT WOULD SAY I HATE DEMOCRATS >> THE FUNDING WAS ALREADY APPROPRIATED SO HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THE PRESIDENT CAN JUST DECIDE NOT TO SPEND IT?

>> THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF FUNDING, ANNUAL APPROPRIATION WERE 10 OR 15 MILLION STARTING IT SOUGHT SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.

A ONE-TIME PAYMENT TO PAY FOR THE EVENTS THIS YEAR AND THAT WAS ADDED TO THE ONE BIG PITIFUL BILL ACT, THAT WAS PASSED BY THE WHITE HOUSE WITH REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS AND THE WAY THE LAW WAS WRITTEN IT SAID $150 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON THE CELEBRATIONS AND HE DID NOT NAME THE ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD GET THE MONEY SO THAT GAVE INTERIOR AND THE WHITE HOUSE POWER OVER HOW IT WAS SPENT.

>> SO CONGRESS HAS NO RECOURSE THEY APPROPRIATE THE MONEY, MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE THERE 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THE COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO SAY ANYTHING.

>> CONGRESS RECOURSE THEIR LEVERAGE HIS FUTURE APPROPRIATION SO THEY HAVE THE LEVERAGE AND IT IS WILL HAVE A LAWSUIT ABOUT THE INTERIOR NOT GIVING THE SECOND HALF OF THE 50 MILLION THEY AGREED TO SO THAT'S ANOTHER AVENUE OF RECOURSE.

THE THIRD THING TO MENTION IS DEMOCRATS HAVE BEGUN THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION.

IF DEMOCRATS WERE CAME CONGRESS IN NOVEMBER IT'S VERY POSSIBLE NEXT YEAR YOU HAVE HEARINGS AND INVESTIGATION ABOUT HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT, WHERE DID THE MONEY GO, THERE'S A LOT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY IS MOVING AROUND AND HOW THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE SPENDING IT AND IT'S POSSIBLE DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND DECIDE TO MAKE THIS AN ISSUE NEXT YEAR.

>> BACK TO THE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN PARTICIPANTS ALL ALONG.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH KELLY AND CONWAY A VERY CLOSE TRUMP SHE IS THE AMERICA 250 COMMISSIONER AND SHE SAYS THE BIRTHDAY PARTY WILL BE EPIC AND SHE HAS WITNESSED MORE COLLABORATION THAN CONFRONTATION.

IS THAT SPIN OR HOW DO YOU HEAR THAT?

>> HER ROLE IS THE BRIDGE BUILDER BECAUSE SHE IS CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT AND SHE HAS TRIED TO LOWER THE TENSIONS AND SHE WAS TRYING TO DO IT WHEN I SPOKE TO HER AS WELL.

TRYING TO DEEMPHASIZE THE DIVIDE.

THERE IS STILL HOPE FROM PEOPLE IN THE AMERICA 250 COMMISSION THAT TRUMP WILL ATTEND SOME OF THEIR EVENTS.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION THAT WILL HAPPEN AND I DOUBT IT WILL HAPPEN BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT PLAY OUT AND WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THE PRESIDENT WILL BEHAVE OVER THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF.

HE HAS TWO BIG SPEAKING EVENTS ON JULY 4, HE COULD MAKE UNIFYING SPEECH IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE COUNTRY AND BRING IN THE COUNTRY TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF GERALD FORD 1976 HE CAN REPEAT WHAT HE SAID IN IOWA AND SAY I HATE DEMOCRATS AND THOSE WOULD GIVE A DIFFERENT SHEEN ON THE EVENT AND THERE IS NO WAY OF PREDICTING WHAT HE WILL DECIDE TO DO.

>> FINALLY, MEET MERLIN, THE VIRAL SENSATION AND UNOFFICIAL MASCOT OF MEXICO'S WORLD CUP TEAM THIS FRIENDLY FEATHERED HAS WADDLED INTO THE HEARTS AND THE MINDS OF MILLIONS OF FANS WORLDWIDE BUT PARTICULARLY IN HIS HOME COUNTRY SPORTING PATRIOTISM LOUD AND PROUD IN HIS MINIATURE SHIRT AND TINY SOCKS.

NOW HIS FAME HAS REACHED NEW HEIGHTS TRADING THE MEXICO CITY FOR THE GRAND HALLS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AFTER HE AND THE PET OWNERS WERE INVITED FOR A VERY SPECIAL MEETING WITH NONE OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENT HERSELF TODAY MEXICO CELEBRATES A PERFECT PASS OUT OF THE GROUP STAGES AFTER THREE WINS WITH NO GOALS CONCEDED, NO DOUBT MERLIN WOULD BE A WELCOME CHEERLEADER FOR THE NEXT GAME IF NOT FOR A BAN ON ANIMALS INSIDE OF THE STADIUM.

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THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOODBYE FROM LONDON.