JOHN: TONIGHT ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" -- U.S.

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON THE MADURO REGIME AS THE COAST GUARD GOES AFTER ANOTHER OIL TANKER OFF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA.

THEN THE RISING COSTS OF MEDICATIONS.

AND THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES WHEN HEALTH COVERAGE FALLS SHORT.

AND A LOOK AT HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AS CHRISTIANS PREPARE TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.

>> ALL NATIVITY SCENES DEPICT JESUS AS SCRIPTURE DICTATES.

AND THIS DIFFERS FROM ALL OF THEM AND A CRISIS BORN IN A PALACE FABRICATED IN THE MINDS OF THE NAY ACTIVITY SCENE MAKERS.

ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND STEWSES.

AND FRIENDS OF THE "NEWSHOUR."

ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

JOHN YANG: GOOD EVENING I'M JOHN YANG.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PRESSURE ON VENEZUELAN LEADER NICOLAS MADURO MOUNTED TODAY AS THE COAST GUAR WENT AFTER ANOTHER OIL TANK THAT ARE U.S.

OFFICIALS SAY WAS HELPING VENEZUELA GET AROUND SANCTIONS.

IF THEY INTERCEPT IT, IT WOULD BE THE THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN - - IN TWO WEEKS AND THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEKEND.

THE COAST GUARD BOARDED A PANAMANIAN TANKER CARRYING VENEZUELA CRUDE OIL TO ASIA.

VENEZUELA CALLED IT THEFT AND HIJACKING.

LAST WEEK, PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED TANKERS HEADED TO AND FROM VENEZUELA.

IDREES ALI IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPOND FOR REUTERS.

IDREES, WHAT'S THE LATEST AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT TODAY'S PURSUIT?

IDREES: YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN A PRETTY BUSY WEEKEND WHEN IT COMES TO COAST GUARD ACTIVITY AROUND VENEZUELA.

AND SO WHAT WE KNOW QULIB IS THAT EARLIER TODAY ON SUNDAY, THE U.S.

COAST GUARD WITH HELP FROM THE U.S.

NAVY TRIED TO INTERDICT A VESSEL THAT WAS SANCTIONED BY THE UNITED STATES AND HAS HISTORICALLY CARRIED OIL TO AND FROM VENEZUELA.

THE LATEST REPORTING WE HAVE IS THAT ITS PURSUIT IS STILL ONGOING BECAUSE VESSEL IN QUESTION HAS NOT GIVEN UP, HAS NOT ALLOWED THEM TO COME ONBOARD AND SO A PRETTY ACTIVE SITUATION.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO GET RESOLVED.

BUT IT IS IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS AND IT IS SANCTIONED.

AND SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THE U.S.

WOULD BE DOING WHICH IS GOING AFTER SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS THAT ARE CARRYING OIL TO AND FROM VENEZUELA.

JOHN: IS THIS -- THIS ALL STARTED WITH DRUG BOATS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND EASTERN PACIFIC BUT HOW MUCH OF AN ESCALATION DOES THIS REPRESENT?

IDREES: YOU KNOW, FROM THE OFFICIALS I'VE TALKED TO, AND THE EXPERTS WE'VE TALKED TO, THIS DOES REPRESENT AN ESCALATION BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO BE STRIKING SUSPECTED DRUG BOATS THAT ARE IN AND AROUND VENEZUELA AND ANOTHER THING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE ECONOMIC LIFELINE OF VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT MADURO AND THAT'S OIL.

IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT BRINGS IN MONEY FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

AND WHEN YOU GO AFTER THAT YOU ARE REALLY SENDING A MESSAGE THAT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT DRUG BOATS, DRUGS, IT'S ABOUT CUTTING OFF REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE SCARCE RESOURCES MADURO RELIES ON AND SEND A MESSAGE TO THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE THAT THE UNITED STATES IS REALLY FOCUSED NOT JUST ON GOING AFTER DRUGS BUT POTENTIALLY GETTING RID OF MADURO.

AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT IN ACTION.

JOHN: WHAT'S THE LEGAL BASIS OR INTERNATIONAL LAW BASIS FOR WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING?

IDREES: SO MUCH LIKE MOST LEGAL THINGS, THERE IS A DEBATE, AND NOT EVERYONE AGREES ON WHAT THE LEGAL BASIS IS.

SO BY DEFINITION, THE COAST GUARD HAS DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES.

AND SO THEY DO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GO AFTER STATE VESSELS OR VESSELS THAT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, SUSPECT ARE CARRYING GOODS LIKE NARCOTICS AND REALLY CHECK THE REGISTRIES.

THE COAST GUARD HAS QUITE A BIT OF LEEWAY.

THAT'S WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING.

LOOK, THESE ARE VESSELS THAT THE U.S.

HAS SANCTIONED.

THEY COULD BE CARRYING DANGEROUS GOODS.

AND THEY'RE CARRYING SANCTIONED OIL IN MANY CASES OR THAT'S THE ALLEGATION.

LEGAL EXPERTS DISAGREE.

THEY SAY JUST BECAUSE THE VESSEL IS SANCTIONED BY A COUNTRY DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU CAN BOARD IT.

SO THERE'S A LEGAL SORT OF JOSTLE GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

AND IT REALLY COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF WHAT THE PRECEDENT MIGHT BE, RIGHT?

SO IF YOU HAVE THE CHINESE SANCTIONING A VESSEL, U.S.

OR ALLIED AND THEY SAY WE'RE GOING TO GO -- BOARD THIS VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT'S SANCTIONED I THINK LEGAL EXPERTS ARE SAYING LOOK, YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT AND THE RULES ARE -- INTERNATIONAL ORDER DOESN'T ALLOW THAT.

SO THERE'S A REAL DEBATE ABOUT WHAT THE LEGAL BASIS IS.

AND AGAIN, THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN WE'VE SEEN SINCE SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN LEGALLY QUESTIONABLE.

THE STRIKES AGAINST SUSPECTED DRUG VESSELS HAS REALLY BEEN UNDER A MICROSCOPE WHEN IT COMES TO LEGALESE.

CAN YOU REALLY STRIKE A BOAT THAT'S CARRYING ANY DRUGS?

CAN YOU REALLY KILL SOMEONE FOR THAT?

AND MOST OF THE LEGAL EXPERTS SAY NO.

JOHN: ARE ALL THREE SHIPS INVOLVED IN THIS, ARE THEY ALL ON THE SANCTIONED LIST?

U.S.

SANCTION LIST?

IDREES: SO THE FIRST ONE WAS ON THE SANCTION LIST.

THE ONE TODAY IS ALSO ON THE SANCTIONED LIST.

THE ONE ON SATURDAY WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE ACTUALLY IT WAS NOT ON THE SANCTIONED LIST.

IT WAS -- WHAT'S KNOWN AS A SHADOW VESSEL.

SO IT'S NOT SANCTIONED.

BUT IT'S A VESSEL THAT IS ESSENTIALLY SPOOFING ITS LOCATIONS, CHANGING ITS NAME, CHANGING ITS LOCATION TO GET AROUND SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS BUT IT WAS NOT SANCTIONED AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT RAISED A LOT OF EYEBROWS FOR PEOPLE.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAID -- MIGHT NOT BE SANCTIONED BUT CARRYING SANCTIONED OIL.

THAT ISN'T WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID WOULD BE HAPPENING.

HE SAID THE U.S.

WOULD BE GOING AFTER SANCTIONED TANKERS AND TWO OUT OF THE THREE MET THE CRITERIA.

THE ONE YESTERDAY ON SATURDAY DID NOT.

AND I THINK THAT'S USING A LOT OF -- RAISING A LOT OF CONCERNS BECAUSE SOME OF THAT OIL WAS DESTINED FOR CHINA SO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

JOHN: IN ABOUT THE 45 SECONDS LEFT WE HAVE LEFT PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKS ABOUT TAKING THIS ONSHORE IN VENEZUELA.

REMIND US WHAT THE MILITARY BUILDUP HAS BEEN LIKE IN THE REGION.

IDREES: YEAH.

THE MILITARY BUILDUP HAS BEEN HUGE.

IN THE PAST WEEK, WE HAVE SEEN THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU KNOW, REALLY LAY OUT ITS STRATEGY AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY DOCUMENT SAYING THEY WANT TO RETURN TO THE MONROE DOCTRINE WHICH IS BASICALLY SAYING THE U.S.

IS GOING TO LOOK AFTER THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

EVERY OTHER COUNTRY SHOULD STAY OUT AND TO THAT END THEY HAVE DEPLOYED AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER ABOUT 20F-35 JETS AND AT LEAST 11 OTHER WARSHIPS.

AND SO THE BUILDUP IS JUST MASSIVE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE JUST FOR STRIKES AGAINST SUSPECTED VESSELS OR GOING AFTER SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS.

IT REALLY IS IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE NOT JUST A REGIME BUT REALLY THE WAY THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE CURRENTLY IS AND HOW THE U.S.

IS INTERACTING WITH IT.

JOHN: IDREES ALI OF REUTERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IDREES: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IN TODAY'S OTHER HEADLINES.

AT LEAST 16 OF THE EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED FRIDAY HAVE DISAPPEARE FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S W ONE OF THEM WAS A PHOTOGRAPH OF AN ARRAY OF PICTURES IN A DESK DRAWER, INCLUDING ONE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE MATERIALS CONTINUE TO BE REVIEWED AND RED ON NBC'S MEET THE PRESS TODAY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE SAID IT WAS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO SHIELD MR.

TRUMP.

TODD BLANCHE: WE DON'T HAVE PERFECT INFORMATION.

AND SO WHEN, WHEN WE HEAR FROM VICTIMS-RIGHTS GROUPS ABOUT THI TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPH, WE PULL IT DOWN AND INVESTIGATE.

WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING THAT PHOTO.

THE PHOTO WILL GO BACK UP, AND THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE WILL BE REDACTIONS ON THE BLANCHE HAS SAID THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS MORE MATERIAL WILL BE RELEASED.

ABOUT A DOZEN GUNMEN OPENED FIRE AT A PUB IN SOUTH AFRICA, KILLING AT LEAST 9 PEOPLE AND WOUNDING 10.

THERE'S NO KNOWN MOTIVE.

THE BAR IS IN AN AREA WEST OF JOHANNESBURG WHERE ILLICIT MINING OPERATIONS HAVE LED TO A RISE IN GUN VIOLE IT'S THE SECOND MASS SHOOTING I SOUTH AFRICA IN THREE WEEKS.

THE COUNTRY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HOMICIDE RATES IN THE WORLD.

IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE THAT MAS SHOOTING IN AUSTRALIA TARGETING A JEWISH CELEBRATION AT THE ICONIC BONDI BEACH.

TODAY, MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE GATHERED TO SUPPORT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND REMEMBER THE FIFTEEN VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK.

THE CROWD PAUSED FOR A MINUTE O SILENCE AT SIX FORTY-SEVEN P-M - - THE EXACT TIME THE MASSACRE AND TODAY IS THE WINTER SOLSTIC - - THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER AND DAY WITH THE YEAR'S SHORTEST PERIOD OF DAYLIGHT.

AS THE SUN ROSE THIS MORNING AROUND THE WORLD, THERE WERE CELEBRATIONS.

AT STONEHENGE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CHEERED AND DANCED.

AND IN THE EGYPTIAN CITY OF LUXOR, VISITORS STOOD WATCH AS THE SUN ALIGNED WITH THE AXIS OF AN ANCIENT TEMPLE.

AFTER TODAY, DAYTIME WILL GET A LITTLE LONGER EACH DAY.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS WEEKEND" SCHOOLS USING HIP-HOP TO TEACH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL AND, HOW CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD ARE CELEBRATING THIS CHRISTMAS WEEK.

ANNOUNCER: THIS IS "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" FROM THE DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN STUDIO, HOME OF THE "PBS NEWSHOUR," WEEK NIGHTS ON PBS.

YEAR-END POLLS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ALL REPORT THAT THE RISING COST OF HEALTHCARE I AMONG AMERICANS' BIGGEST WORRIE.

INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS HAS BEEN DECREASING AS THEIR PRICES HAVE BEEN INCREASING.

AS PBS WISCONSIN'S MARISSA WOJCIK LEARNED, NOT ALL HEALTH PLANS ARE CREATED EQUAL.

MARISA WOJCIK: COLE SCHMIDTKNECHT WAS JUST 22 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS RUSHED TO THE E-R BY HIS ROOMMA UNABLE TO BREATHE.

BIL SCHMIDTKNECHT: WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL, HE WAS ALL LIF HE HAD NO PULSE.

AND THEY HAD TO RESUSCITATE HIM.

MARISA WOJCIK: BY THE TIME HIS PARENTS BIL AND SCHMIDTKNECHT GOT TO COLE'S BEDSIDE, DOCTORS HAD SHATTERING BIL SCHMIDTKNECHT: WHAT WE GOT TOLD ON IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, JUS SIMPLY THAT HE WOULD NEVER WAKE SHANON SCHMIDTKNECHT: THEY HAD TOLD US THAT ESSENTIALLY WHAT W SAW LAYING IN THE HOSPITAL OF OUR SON WAS ALL THAT HE WOULD EVER BE.

MARISA WOJCIK: COLE HA A DEVASTATING ASTHMA ATTACK.

FOR HIS PARENTS, THE CAUSE OF DEATH ONLY ADDED TO THEIR STUNNED DIS.

SHANON SCHMIDTKNECHT: COLE HAD HAD ASTHMA HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE WAS ON A GREAT MEDICATION THAT STABILIZED HIS ASTHMA FOR THE PAST DECADE OR MORE.

SO WE WERE LIKE, THIS CANNOT BE.

MARISA WOJCIK: AS THEY TRIED TO PIECE TOGETHER COLE'S FINAL HOURS, HIS ROOMMATE REMEMBERED THAT COLE DID GO TO THE PHARMACY DAYS BEFORE HE DIED.

SHANON SCHMIDTKNECHT: HIS ROOMMATE HAD SAID, I DON'T KNOW.

WE TRIED TO GET IT A FEW DAYS AGO AND HE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

IT WAS LIKE MARISA WOJCIK: THAT PRICE SHOCKED COLE'S PARENTS SINCE HI COPAY HAD ALWAYS BEEN LESS THAN 70 DOLLARS.

BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT A RECENT SHIFT IN HOW HIS COMPANY PROVIDED HEALTH COVERAGE WOULD CAUSE, WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THE OUT-OF-POCKET PRICE OF THE INHALER HE NEEDED TO SKYROCKET 800% - WELL BEYOND HIS BUDGET.

WHAT WAS THE SHIFT?HIS EMPLOYER HAD MOVED FROM TRADITIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE TO A FORM OF COVERAGE KNOWN AS A SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN.

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS GET THEIR COVERAGE THIS WAY.

BUT HEALTH ADVOCATES SAY PATIENT CONFUSION AND IGNORANCE ABOUT THE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO TYPES OF COVERAGE CAN HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACTS FOR PATIENTS LIKE COLE.SHANON SCHMIDTKNECHT: I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT LEAVIN PHARMACY AND BEING LIKE, MY GOD THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO C.

>> IT GETS OLD AFTER A WHILE.

MARISA WOJCIK: KEVIN VOLTZ RAN INTO SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH HIS SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN.

IN HIS CASE, HE WAS BATTLING CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA - A TYPE OF BLOOD CANCER.

KEVIN VOLTZ: ALL OF A SUDDEN MY NUMBERS WERE AT LIKE 167,000 COMPARED TO LIKE 4 OR 5000.

MARISA WOJCIK: HE WAS IN URGENT NEED OF TREATMENT.

HIS ONCOLOGIST HAD A PRESCRIPTION THAT WAS PROMISING• BUT WOULD COME AT A PRICE.

KEVIN VOLTZ: SHE SAID, WE NEED.

WE NEED $13,000 BEFORE WE CAN SHIP THIS AND I SAID, $13,000.

YES, THAT'S WHAT THIS DRUG COSTS TO BE DELIVERED WITHOUTINSURANCE.

MARISA WOJCIK: 13-THOUSAND DOLLARS• PER MONTH.

KEVIN'S SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN WOULDN'T COVER A DIME OF THE MEDICATION, CALLING IT A NON-PREFERRED SPECIALTY DRUG - WHICH MEANT HE WAS ON THE HOOK FOR 100 PERCENT OF THE COST - NEARLY 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

KEVIN VOLTZ: NOBODY COULD DO THAT.

I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE.

MARISA WOJCIK: HIS MEDICAL CARE TEAM SENT APPEAL AFTER APPEAL PLEADING WITH HIS HEALTH PLAN TO COVER SOME PORTION OF HIS MEDICINE.

KEVIN VOLTZ: THEY GOT LOTS OF DENIAL LETTERS AND STUFF OVER THE MONTHS SAYING THAT THERE WA NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

AND I'M RUNNING LOW ON MY MONTH'S SUPPL AND WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NEXT MARISA WOJCIK: TRADITIONAL, FULLY INSURED HEALTH PLANS ARE SUPPOSED TO EASE THOSE KINDS OF THEY MUST FOLLOW ALL FEDERAL AN STATE LAWS.

INCLUDING NOTIFYING PATIENTS OF CHANGES TO THEIR PR COVERAGE, AND LIMITING HOW MUCH A PATIENT CAN BE FORCED TO SHOULDER OUT OF POCKET.

BY CONTRAST, SELF-FUNDED PLANS LIKE COLE SCHMIDTKNECHT'S AND KEVIN VOLTZ'S, ARE REGULATED ONLY UNDER FEDERAL LAW - NOT STATE INSURANCE LAWS, WHICH ARE USUALLY MORE STRINGENT.

SARAH DAVIS: A SELF-FUNDED PLAN IS NO.

>> SARAH DAVIS IS THE COR OF -- A RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON.

SHE SAYS IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO EVEN KNOW WHAT KIND OF PLAN THEY HAVE.

IT TAKES ADVOCATES AND PATIENTS SOMETIMES QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO PARSE OUT AND FIGURE OUT THAT IT IS NOT I IF THERE ARE CLAIMS BEING DENIED, THE PROTECTIONS THAT THAT CONSUMER HAS ARE REDUCED I SELF-FUNDED PLANS.

MARISA WOJCIK: IN RECENT YEARS, THESE SELF FUNDED PLANS HAVE BECOME THE MOST PREDOMINANT FORM OF EMPLOYER-PROVIDED HEALTH COVERAGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SOME 63% OF PLANS ARE SELF-FUND.

WHY THE GROWTH?

AS HEALTH CARE COSTS RISE, THESE PLANS SAVE EMPLOYERS MONEY BY OFFERING GREATER COST CONTROL AND FLEXIBILITY COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL INSURANCE.

MIKE ROCHE: SELF-FUNDING LETS THE EMPLOYER TAKE CONTROL OF THE SECOND OR THIRD BIGGEST LINE ITEM ON THEIR BUDGET.

THE LAST FEW YEARS, THAT'S BEEN A DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE.

>> MIKE ROCHE IS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AT THE ALLIANCE AND HELPS DESIGN SELF--FUNDED PLANS FOR COMPANIES ACROSS THE MIDWEST.

WHAT EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW IS THAT YOUR EMPLOYER HAS BECOME THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

MARISA WOJCIK: AFTER EXHAUSTING NEARLY EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE TO PAY FOR HIS CANCER MEDICINE, KEVIN VOLTZ RECEIVED GOOD NEWS FROM HIS CLINIC'S DRUG INSURANC KEVIN VOLTZ: SHE KEPT CALLING M AND CALLING ME AND CALLING ME.

AND SHE COULDN'T TELL ME THE NEWS FAST ENOUGH THAT THEY HAD COME THROUGH.

MARISA WOJCIK: TH MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CLINI THEY WOULD PROVIDE THE REMAININ DOSAGE OF HIS TREATMENT, AT NO COST, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE AN EX.

>> DON'T LET ANOTHER PARENT STAND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

ONE YEAR AFTER THEIR SON'S PASSING, BIL AND SHANON SCHMIDTKNECHT AR SEARCHING ANSWERS, AND ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE.

SHANON SCHMIDTKNECHT: THE FACT THAT SOMEONE HAS TO PASS AWAY BECAUSE HE CAN'T AFFORD HIS MEDICATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS UNACCEPTABLE.

BIL SCHMIDTKNECHT: NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, IT WAS TOTALLY PREVENT I MEAN, LIKE IT WAS PREVENTABLE SHANON SCHMIDTKNECHT: THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN.

THIS CANNOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY.

MARISA WOJCIK: FOR PBS NEWS WEEKEND, I'M MARISA WOJCIK IN MADISON, W. JOHN YANG: NATIONWIDE, SCHOOLS ARE LOOKING FOR BETTER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THEIR EMOTIONAL WELLBEI A RECENT YALE UNIVERSITY STUDY FOUND THAT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS -- OR S-E-L - CAN IMPROVE STUDENTS' SENSE OF BELONGING AND BOOST ACADEMIC PE WHILE BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT FEELINGS OF ISOLATION FROM THEI PEERS, MANY S-E-L MODELS DON'T REFLECT THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES A BALTIMORE BASED ORGANIZATION CALLED "WE DO IT 4 THE CULTURE" IS CHANGING THAT.

IT USES HIP HOP AND STORYTELLING TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN EMPATHY AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

ALI ROGIN SPOKE TO JAMILA SAMS -- THE FOUNDER OF "WE DO IT 4 THE CULT ALI ROGIN: JAMILA, IT'S SO NICE TO TALK TO YOU.

MANY TEACHERS SAY THAT THE PANDEMIC EXACERBATED MANY STUDENTS' FEELINGS OF LONELINESS.

SO WHAT WERE YOU HEARING FROM THEM THAT MADE YOU REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A GAP IN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING THAT?

JAMILA SAMS: WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH AROUND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS NOT CENTERED IS THAT SINCE THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT 61% OF OUR YOUN PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY DO NOT FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING IN SC AND THAT'S ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

CURRENTLY, THE UNITED STATES IS EXPERIENCING ITS LOWEST ACADEMI LEVELS IN 30 YEARS.

AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, THE ART OF NOT ONLY NAMING OUR EMOTIONS, BUT MANAGING OUR EMOTIONS AND LEVERAGING OUR EMOTIONS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

WHEN STUDENTS DO NOT FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING, WHEN THEY DO NOT AS THOUGH THEIR IDENTITIES AND THEIR CULTURES ARE BEING CENTERED IN AN ACADEMIC SPACE, THEN THEY BECOME DISCONNECTED.

AND AS A RESULT, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.

ALI ROGIN: AND YOUR PROGRAM IS NOW IN MORE THAN 150 SCHOOLS ACROSS 16 STATES.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT A TYPICAL LESSON LOOKS LIKE?

JAMILA SAMS: ABSOLU SO WE TRY TO ANCHOR CONTENT THA STUDENTS ARE ALREADY ENGAGING WITH, AND WE TRY STAY UP TO DAT WITH YOUTH CULTURE, POP CULTURE HIP HOP CULTURE.

AND SO A TYPICAL LESSON MAY INVOLVE LOOKING AT SOME LYRICS FROM KENDRICK LAMAR AND ANALYZING THE LYRICS TO FIND THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES THAT EXIST WITHIN THOSE LYRICS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, STUDENTS MAY FIND LYRICS THAT RELATE BACK TO SELF-AWARENESS, LYRICS MAY HAVE A SOCIAL AWARENESS LENS, AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO EXTRACT THAT.

AND SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS TAKE CONTENT THAT THEY'RE ALREADY INTERESTED IN, AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT HELPS THEM TO KIND O TAKE DOWN THEIR GUARD, AND OPEN UP AND SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH THEIR PEERS AND ADULTS.

ALI ROGIN: AND I WANT TO ASK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HIP HOP HAS BEEN SUCH A POWERFUL CONDUIT FOR THIS LEARN HOW DID YOU DECIDE THAT THIS WA GOING TO BE THE THE STRUCTURE AROUND WHICH YOU WERE GOING TO BUILD THIS PROGRAM?

JAMILA SAMS: YEAH, I AM WHAT I WOULD DEEM TO BE A CERTIFIED HIP HOP HEAD.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED AND ANCHORED HIP HOP CULTURE.

I FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU LIVE, NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT LISTEN TO.

AND SO HIP HOP HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SPACE FOR EMOTIONAL REGULATION, STORYTELLING, AND CRITICAL REFL SO WE DO IT FOR THE CULTURE, DIDN'T CREATE SOMETHING NEW.

ALL WE DID IS THAT WE TRANSLATED A LANGUAGE BASED ON EXPERIENCES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE.

AND SO WHEN STUDENTS FEEL AS THOUGH THEY CAN TAKE DOWN THEIR GUARD, THEY'RE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT RELATE TO THEM, BUT THEN THEY'RE TO ANCHO IT IN SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH.

THEN THAT'S WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS.

THEY TAKE DOWN THEIR GUARD, THE OPEN UP, THEY SHARE THEIR STORI AND WHAT THEY FIND IS THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN COMMON WITH THEIR PEERS.

ADULTS ARE FINDING THEY HAVE THINGS IN COMMON WITH THEIR STUDENTS, AND IT JUST HELPS TO BUILD A STRONG COMMUNITY IN CLASSROOMS.

ALI ROGIN: YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THESE COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

THEY ARE SE SELF-MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL AWARENESS, RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING WHY IS A FOCUS ON THESE SKILLS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR BLAC AND BROWN STUDENTS RIGHT AND BROWN STUDENTS RIGHT NOW?

JAMILA SAMS: THOSE COMPETENCIES ARE COMPETENCIES THAT WE ALL HAVE AS HUMAN BEINGS.

UM, AND THEY'RE CENTERED, UH, FOR ALL STUDENTS.

THERE'S SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS NO JUST FOR STUDENTS, IT'S FOR ADULTS AS WELL.

UH, BUT AS IT PERTAINS TO STUDENTS THAT HAVE TYPICALLY MARGINALIZED, WHEN THEY ARE FACED IN SITUATIONS LIKE WHERE WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW, POLITICALLY, WHERE DEI IS UNDER ATTACK, SOCIAL-EMOTION LEARNING IS UNDER ATTACK, ANYTHING THAT REALLY ANCHORS.

YOUNG PEOPLE'S CULTURES IS BEIN IN QUESTION.

BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH THE ADVERSITIES THAT ARE BEING DIRECTED TOWARDS THEM.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE SELF-AWARENESS AND YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, WHO YOU BELONG TO, THEN YOU HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE THE CONFIDENT TO BE TO ASK QUESTION YOU HAVE A CONFIDENCE TO ABLE T PUSH BACK WHEN EVERYONE IS TELLING YOU THAT, YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT WORTHY.

AND SO THAT IS WHY THOSE EMOTIONAL SKILLS ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WAN YOUNG PEOPLE TO FEEL EQUIPPED T BE BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE INTENTIONAL HARM THAT IS OFTEN DIRECTED TOWARDS THEM.

ALI ROGIN: JAMILA SAMS, THE FOUNDER OF WE DO IT FOR THE CULTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

JAMILA SAMS: THANK YOU HAVING ME.

JOHN YANG: AND BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT ON THIS CH WEEK, WE WANT TO TAKE LOOK AT HOW CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD ARE CELEBRATING THE SEASON.

ACROSS EUROPE, THERE ARE CHRISTMAS MARKETS FILLED WITH GIFT STALLS, HOT DRINKS AND TWINKLING LIGHTS.

IN MEXICO CITY, VIBRANT DISPLAYS OF POINSETTIA - THE PLANT'S ASSOCIATION WITH CHRISTMAS IS SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED WITH A MEXICAN LEGEND.

AROUND THE WORLD, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TAKES MANY FORMS.

SOME CHRISTMAS TREE CELEBRITIES: NEW YORK CITY'S ICONIC ROCKEFELLER PLAZA CHRISTMAS TREE.

CHICAGO'S OFFICIAL TREE IN MILLENNIUM PAR AND IN WASHINGTON DC, THE CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE -- OR PEOPLE'S TREE -- CUT EACH YEAR FROM A NATIONAL FOREST -- A GIF FROM THE PEOPLE, TO THE PEOPLE.

THIS YEAR'S CAME FROM NEVADA'S HUMBOLDT TOIYABE NATIONAL FORES AND NOT ALL CHRISTMAS TREES ARE NATURAL -- AN ENVIRONMENTALIST IN GHANA USED HUNDREDS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES TO BUILD A GLOWING TREE.

INTRICATE AND ELABORATE NATIVITY SCENES ARE ON DISPLAY IN KRAKOW, POLAND -- WHICH HOLDS AN ANNUAL COMPETITI ANDRZEJ KOCEK: I'VE BEEN WORKIN ON THIS LARGER NATIVITY SCENE FOR PRACTICALLY A YEAR, WELL, 1 MONTHS, SO A YEAR.

IN THIS CRECHE, IT'S NOT EXACTLY A STABLE WHERE JESUS IS BORN.

MAREK MARKOWSKI: ALL NATIVITY SCENES DEPICT JESUS AS SCRIPTUR DICTATES: BORN IN HUMBLE CIRCUM THE KRAKOW NATIVITY SCENE HOWEVER DIFFERS FROM ALL OF THEM, IN THAT CHRIST IS BORN IN A PALACE.

BUT IT'S NOT A REAL PALACE, IT'S A FANTASY PALACE, COMPLETELY IN THE MINDS OF THE NATIVITY SCENE MAKERS.

JOHN: THESE PALACES DEPICT THE HOLY FAMILY -- MARY, JOSEPH AND THE BABY JESUS IN A MANGER.

SOME POLISH NATIVITIES INCLUDE A WAWEL DRAGON -- A LEGENDARY BEAST FROM POLISH MYTHOLOGY.

AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT MATERIAL IS USED IN SPAIN'S CANARY ISLANDS.

ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD CARVE DETAILED NATIVITY SCENES INTO THE SANDS OF LAS CANTERAS ADAY RODRIGUEZ: WE HAD A SUPER STRONG STORM WITH A LOT OF WIND AND WATER.

WE FACED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, WHICH MAKES IT ALL TH JOHN: DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, MORE THAN 200-THOUSAN PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO VIEW THE SCENES, CRAFTED BY ARTISTS OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL WEEKS.

AND IN UKRAINE'S CAPITAL, KYIV, FOR A FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, CELEBRATIONS GO ON EVEN AS AIR RAID SIRENS WARN OF IMMINENT RUSSIAN ATTACKS.

THERE ARE DECORATIONS AND LIGHTS, DESPITE ONGOING POWER CUTS RESULTING FROM RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON THE COU AND IN BETHLEHEM, THE BIBLICAL BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS, THERE ARE PUBLIC CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE ISRAELI-HAMAS WAR IN GAZA.

NOW THEY'VE RETURNED, PERHAPS IN HOPES OF ACHIEVING WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS THE ANGEL PROCLAIMED WHEN ANNOUNCING JESUS' BIRTH: "PEACE ON EARTH AND GOODWILL TO MEN."

>> THAT IS "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" FOR THIS SUNDAY.

I'M JO YANG FOR ALL OF MY QULEETION, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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WITH NO LONG-TERM CONTRACTS, NAIKSWIDE COVERAGE, AND 100% U.S.-BASED CUSTOMER SUPPORT.

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

THANK YOU.

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