PBS News Weekend full episode, Jan. 8, 2022
JOHN: GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN YANG. TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND. AT THE BORDER.
THE LATEST ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION REFORM PLANS -- AS THE PRESIDENT VISITS THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE TAKING OFFICE. THEN, AFTER THE SHOCKING COLLAPSE ON THE FIELD OF BUFFALO BILLS SAFETY DAMAR HAMLIN, WE LOOK AT EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE IN THE NFL. AND LONELY AMERICANS.
WHY ARE MORE OF US FEELING ALONE AND SPENDING LESS TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY? THERE ARE REAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS. >> INDIVIDUALS WHO REPORT FEELING LONELY ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THINGS LIKE DEMENTIA, HEART DISEASE, STROKE. IT ACTUALLY AFFECTS LONGEVITY, MEANING THAT PEOPLE WHO SELF-REPORT FEELING LONELY ARE EVEN MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN THOSE THAT AREN'T.
JOHN: GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT BIDEN IS MAKING HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER AS PRESIDENT TODAY, AFTER TWO YEARS OF REPUBLICAN CRITICISM THAT HE'S SOFT ON BORDER SECURITY. HE'S IN EL PASO, TEXAS, MEETING WITH BORDER OFFICIALS TO TALK ABOUT MIGRATION AND DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE TRIP COMES JUST DAYS AFTER THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED POLICIES DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE MIGRANTS FROM SEEKING ASYLUM AT THE BORDER. LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE WERE APPREHENDED AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ IS HERE. WHY NOW? THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TAUNTING HIM FOR TWO YEARS ABOUT GOING TO THE BORDER. WHY NOW? REPORTER: THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE STRIP IS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO SEE FIRSTHAND MIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, HE WANTS TO FIRSTHAND SEE HOW MANY MIGRANTS ARE COMING TO EL PASO. HE STOPPED AT THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS, ONE OF THE BUSIEST PORTS OF ENTRY ON THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER. BUT OF COURSE, THE TIMING IS KEY HERE. HE'S DOING THIS AT THE START OF HIS THIRD YEAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND ALSO AS THE HOUSE IS ABOUT TO BE TAKEN OVER BY REPUBLICANS.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE TRYING TO PUSH THE ADMINISTRATION AGGRESSIVELY ON THIS. IT COMES RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT. JOHN: AS WE SAID, THIS IS SORT OF THE SECOND SHOE THIS WEEK. HE DID ANNOUNCE NEW POLICIES EARLIER IN THE WEEK. WHAT WERE THOSE? REPORTER: THE ACTIONS TAKEN THIS WEEK WERE MODELED AFTER THE SAME PROGRAMS TAKEN FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES. WHAT THOSE ACTIONS ARE, ARE THAT THEY APPLY TO NICARAGUANS, HAITIANS, VENEZUELANS AND CUBANS.
THEY WILL BE BIT -- ABLE TO APPLY. 30,000 PER MONTH WILL BE ADMITTED TO APPLY TO THE UNITED STATES FOR TWO YEARS. IT IS ALSO PAIRED WITH ENFORCEMENT ACTION. 30,000 PER MONTH WILL BE EXPELLED TO MEXICO.
THE LAST PART HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF CRITICISM BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS ESSENTIALLY AN EXPANSION OF TITLE 42, A DEPORTATION POLICY IMPLEMENTED UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH PANDEMIC. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS CONTINUED ON SINCE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS AN EFFORT TO RELIEVE PRESSURE JOHN: WHAT HAS THE REACTION BEEN? REPORTER: WITHIN HIS OWN PARTY, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS FACING CRITICISM, FROM ANOTHER -- AND NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS WANTED TO SEE TITLE 42 ENDED WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE AND IMMIGRANT ACTIVISTS. I WAS TALKING TO A SOURCE ON THE GROUND TRAVELING WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY AT THE DIFFERENT VARIOUS STOPS, WHO SAID THAT THEY RELAYED TO WHITE HOUSE ADVISORS THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED THESE NEW ACTIONS MAKE IT SO PEOPLE HAVE TO STAY IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY TO APPLY, RATHER THAN MAKING THE DANGEROUS TRIP TO THE BORDER AND BEING ABLE TO APPLY AT THE BORDER.THIS IS
TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO APPLY IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES, BUT THE CONCERN IS THAT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES TO WAIT AND PEOPLE NEED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE WHITE HOUSE IS AGGRESSIVELY PUSHING BACK ON THE IDEA THAT IT IS EXPANSION OF TITLE 42. THE FACTS ARE THAT TITLE 42, THE DEPORTATION POLICY, INITIALLY ONLY APPLIED TO PEOPLE COMING FROM THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE OR MIGRANTS COMING FROM EXIT. NOW IT'S BEEN -- FROM MEXICO. NOW IT'S BEEN EXPANDED. JOHN: YOU MENTIONED REPUBLICANS TAKING OVER THE HOUSE IN A SPEECH EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING, HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY SAID ONE OF THE FIRST HOUSE HEARINGS WILL BE AT THE BORDER.
HE CALLED IT A CRISIS OF SAFETY AND SOVEREIGNTY. WHAT ARE THE POLITICS OF THIS? REPORTER: THE POLITICS HAVE BEEN FRAUGHT IN THE U.S. FOR A LONG TIME, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TRIED IN HIS SECOND TERM TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, AND THAT ULTIMATELY FAILED BECAUSE THE HOUSE GOP DID NOT WANT TO TAKE IT UP.
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE WOULD TRY TO AVOID WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT. SO HE SENT AN IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL TO CONGRESS SHORTLY AFTER HE TOOK OFFICE IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS. IT WAS THE FIRST BIG BILL HE SENT TO CONGRESS. BUT TWO YEARS HAVE GONE BY.
NOW DEMOCRATS DON'T CONTROL BOTH CHAMBERS AND HE'S FACED WITH THE SPLIT CONGRESS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE ALL ALONG DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS SAY THEY WILL LAUNCH INVESTIGATIONS, EVEN INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY, AND THAT THEY WILL HOLD HEARINGS AT THE BORDER. THE TIMING IS KEY HERE. THE WHITE HOUSE IS TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE AS THEY SEE CHAOS IN THE HOUSE GOP WE WITNESSED IN THE LAST WEEK.
THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS AND THAT IF REPUBLICANS WANT TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON INTEGRATION REFORM, OF COURSE -- IMMIGRATION REFORM, OF COURSE IT WOULD BE COUPLED WITH BORDER SECURITY MEASURES THAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. I THINK IT IS UNLIKELY. JOHN: THE PRESIDENT IS GOING ON TO MEXICO. REPORTER: MEXICO IS A KEY PARTNER IN THE NEW ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. THEY HAD TO AGREE. THE WHITE HOUSE HAD TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET THEM TO AGREE TO TAKE THESE NATIONALS WHEN THE UNITED STATES DECIDES TO EXPEL THEM IF THEY CROSSED ILLEGALLY, IF THEY CROSS THE BORDER ILLEGALLY.
THOSE WILL BE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AS MEXICO WORKS WITH THE U.S. O TRY TO TAKE THESE NATIONALS. JOHN: WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ IS HERE. , THANK YOU. IN BRAZIL HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS , OF FORMER PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONARO STORMED THE GROUNDS OF THE COUNTRY'S CONGRESS, PRESIDENTIAL PALACE, AND SUPREME COURT. THEY CLAIM WITHOUT FACTUAL BASIS THAT BOLSONARO SELECTION LAST YEAR WAS DUE TO FRAUD.
THE CROWDS CLASHED WITH POLICE IN RIOT GEAR, WHO FOUGHT BACK USING TEAR CAST -- TEARGAS. NEW BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA WAS INAUGURATED LAST WEEK. HE WAS IN A DIFFERENT CITY TODAY. BOLSONARO LEFT BRAZIL DAYS AGO. THE FAR-RIGHT EX-PRESIDENT HAD LONG SOWN DISTRUST OVER THE LEGITIMACY OF THE COUNTRY'S ELECTIONS.
THE U.S. SAYS IT CONDEMNS ANY EFFORT TO UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY. CHINA OPENED ITS BORDERS TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TODAY -- THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS. IN AIRPORT TERMINALS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS EMBRACED -- SOME OF THEM SEPARATED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN IN 2020.
EVEN AS THE COUNTRY BATTLES A SURGE IN COVID CASES, INCOMING TRAVELERS WILL NO LONGER NEED TO QUARANTINE UPON ARRIVAL. BUT THEY WILL STILL NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF A NEGATIVE TEST. IN CALIFORNIA, THEY ARE BRACING FOR ANOTHER WEEK OF TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND HIGH WINDS.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY WITHOUT POWER, AND MUDSLIDES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED BY DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN. AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE DIED IN LAST WEEK'S STORMS. THE NEXT WAVE OF STORMS ARE FORECAST TO ARRIVE TOMORROW AND COULD BRING BETWEEN 6 TO 12 INCHES OF RAIN -- STILL NOT ENOUGH TO END THE STATE'S DROUGHT. AND, A PASSING OF NOTE.
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR RUSSELL BANKS HAS DIED. THE CAUSE WAS CANCER. HIS CELEBRATED WORKS INCLUDE THE NOVELS CONTINENTAL DRIFT, CLOUDSPLITTER, AND THE SWEET HEREAFTER. IN 2011, BANKS SPOKE WITH CORRESPONDENT JEFFERY BROWN. >> THE PROCESS OF WRITING FICTION IS REALLY THE ONLY WAY I CAN PENETRATE THINGS THAT ARE TRULY MYSTERIOUS TO ME. AND WHAT'S TRULY MYSTERIOUS TO ME ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LIKE ME, WHO AREN'T PRIVILEGED IN THE SAME WAYS THAT I AM, AND WHO ARE THEREFORE LIKELY TO BE MARGINALIZED AND OUTCASTS, OR PEOPLE WHO WE TEND TO GENERALIZE AND STEREOTYPE.
JOHN: RUSSELL BANKS WAS 82 YEARS OLD. STILL TO COME ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND. WHY DO MANY AMERICANS FEEL LONELY, AND WHAT CAN THEY DO ABOUT IT? AND A YOUNG IMMIGRANT'S TAKE ON EMBRACING IMMIGRATION. JOHN: ON THIS FINAL WEEKEND OF THE NFL REGULAR SEASON, TEAMS ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR BUFFALO BILLS SAFETY DAMAR HAMLIN WITH WARM UP JERSEYS AND BY HIGHLIGHTING HIS UNIFORM NUMBER THREE OTHER 30 YARD LINE. DOCTORS SAY HAMLIN IS MAKING STEADY PROGRESS AFTER SUFFERING CARDIAC ARREST DURING A MONDAY NIGHT GAME. TODAY TWEETING FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED.
THE URGENCY OF THAT NIGHT IS EVIDENT IN RECORDINGS OF RADIO TRAFFIC. >> ALL CALL. WE NEED EVERYONE.
>> BRING EVERYBODY. WE NEED EVERYONE. JOHN: THE INCIDENT HAS PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON A TEAM THAT IS AT EVERY GAME BUT HOPES IT IS NEVER PUT ON THE FIELD, THE MEDICAL TEAMS.
JORDAN RODRIGUEZ A REPORTER FOR THE ATHLETIC LUMEN FIELD IN SEATTLE WHERE THE LOS ANGELES RAMS ARE PLAYING THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS. DOCTORS SAY THAT ON-FIELD CPR IS THE REASON THAT HAMLIN'S BRAIN FUNCTION HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL. BUT THAT RESPONSE WAS NOT JUST LOOK. HOW DID THEY PREPARE FOR THAT? >> IT IS CALLED AN EMERGENCY ACTION PROTOCOL AND THE NFL MANDATE THIS LEAGUE WIDE.
WHEN THE ATHLETIC TRAINING STAFF RUSHES OUT TO THE FIELD, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN SEVERE CASES OF TRAUMA TO ACTIVATE THIS EMERGENCY PROTOCOL, WHICH BRINGS IN TRAUMA SPECIALISTS FROM A VARIETY OF FIELDS. THIS IS JOINTLY AGREED ON BY THE NFL AND NFL PA AND REHEARSED EVERY YEAR AND GONE OVER IN DETAIL. JOHN: TALK ABOUT THAT PREPARATION. THEY DRILL JUST LIKE PLAYERS? >> EVERY GAME IS CALLED A 60 MINUTE MEETING. PROFESSIONALS FROM BOTH TEAMS AND INDEPENDENTLY APPOINTED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS PHYSICIANS FROM LOCAL FROM A CENTERS, PARAMEDICS AND EMTS, THEY MEET AT THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD OR THE TUNNELS TO GO OVER EVERY STEP. THESE TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO REHEARSE BEFORE THE FIRST PRESEASON BEGINS AND ALSO ON-SITE AT THE STATION AND PRACTICE FACILITIES.
JOHN: HOW MANY MEMBERS ARE ON THE TEAM? TODAY HOW MANY MEDICAL PERSONNEL ARE IN THE STADIUM AND ON THE FIELD? >> UP TO 30 AT EVERY GAME AND NO LESS THAN 20. THE MOST ADVANCED MANDATED AMBULANCE CARE, DESCRIBED AS A TRAVELING EMERGENCY ROOM. AIRWAY SPECIALISTS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL IN DAMAR HAMLIN'S SITUATION, HAVING A CERTIFIED AIRWAY SPECIALIST TO HELP IN THE INSTANCE OF THAT CARDIAC ARREST. SPECIALISTS RANGING FROM DENTISTS TO OPHTHALMOLOGIST.
IN THIS CASE A SEVERE INCIDENT LOVE SEVERE CARDIAC ARREST AND TRAUMA. JOHN: EVEN THE AMBULANCE AT THE STADIUM IS NOT YOUR GARDEN-VARIETY AMBULANCE. >> RIGHT, THEY HAVE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AND LIFE-SUPPORT EQUIPMENT IN THE AMBULANCE. PEOPLE WATCH FROM THEIR COUCHES IN ABSOLUTE ORDER -- HORROR, IT WASN'T JUST SITTING ON THE FIELD IT IS EQUIPPED WITH CARDIAC EQUIPMENT, OXYGEN EQUIPMENT AND ADVANCED SPECIAL CARE AND CERTIFIED EMT AND PARAMEDICS ON STAFF.
IT IS A TRAVELING LIFE-SUPPORT MACHINE. JOHN: HOW LONG HAS THIS PROGRAM BE IN PLACE? >> IT IS PERFECTED EVERY YEAR BY THE NFL. THEY HAVE THIRD-PARTY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS CONSULT ON HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROCESS.
IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY BECOME WAY MORE ADVANCED ESPECIALLY IN RECENT YEARS ESPECIALLY WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GET APPROVAL OF EVERY YEAR BY THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANTS TO MAKE SURE THE PROTOCOL IS UP-TO-DATE AND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO AS WAS THAT NIGHT. YOU HOPE IT NEVER HAS TO BE UTILIZED BUT MAKING SURE IT IS AS ADVANCED AND APPROVED BY THIRD-PARTY SPECIALISTS. JOHN: DESPITE ALL THE PRAISE THE MEDICAL TEAM IS GETTING FOR WHAT HAPPENED, ARE THEY GOING TO REVIEW THIS AND SEE IF THEY CAN MAKE IT EVEN BETTER? >> THEY WILL BECAUSE EVEN IN THE CASE OF A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION, AS I THINK WE CAN SAY NOW, AND DOCTORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI HOSPITAL WHERE DAMAR HAMLIN IS HAVE SAID THAT THIS PROTOCOL WAS WHEN GOING INTO PLACE WAS REALLY WHAT SAVED HIS LIFE AND RESTORED HIS NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTION. IT STILL WILL BE REVIEWED.
IT STILL HAS TO HAVE SEPARATE APPROVAL IN THE OFF SEASON BEFORE IT CAN BE REHEARSED AND THEN DEPLOYED. JOHN: JORDAN RODRIGUE OF THE ATHLETIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ♪ JOHN: PEOPLE WITH ROBUST SOCIAL CONNECTIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE LONGER, HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIVES. BUT ACCORDING TO CENSUS BUREAU SURVEYS, PEOPLE WERE SPENDING LESS TIME WITH FRIENDS AND MORE TIME ALONE.
EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WHICH ONLY INTENSIFIED THE SENSE OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS. LAURIE SANTOS IS A COGNITIVE SCIENTIST AND PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR AT YALE UNIVERSITY, WHERE HER CLASS, PSYCHOLOGY AND THE GOOD LIFE IS ONE OF THE SCHOOL'S MOST POPULAR COURSES. SHE'S TURNED IT INTO A PODCAST. THE HAPPINESS LAB.
LAURIE SANTOS, HOW PERVASIVE IS THIS PROBLEM IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW? LAURIE SANTOS: I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY BAD. IT'S OFTEN TALKED ABOUT AS AN EPIDEMIC. SOME SURVEYS REVEAL THAT AROUND 60% OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. RIGHT NOW REPORT FEELING LONELY ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS. AND THAT'S PRETTY DEVASTATING FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT? THIS IS WORSE THAN RATES OF OBESITY. THIS IS WORSE THAN RATES OF DIABETES.
AND EVERYTHING WE KNOW SUGGESTS THAT LONELINESS MIGHT BE AS BIG OF A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT IN TERMS OF LIKE THE EFFECT THAT IT HAS ON OUR BODIES AND OUR MINDS. JOHN: WHAT HAS BROUGHT THIS ON? OBVIOUSLY THE PANDEMIC AGGRAVATED IT. BUT EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS. >> YEAH. IF YOU LOOK AT RATES OF LONELINESS, THERE'S LOTS OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE BEEN INCREASING LINEARLY SINCE THE 1970S. YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S LONG BEFORE . THE OTHER CULPRITS, THINGSE LIKE CELL PHONES AND SO ON.
I THINK THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF CAUSES GOING ON AT ONCE. BUT THOSE THINGS ARE BRINGING ARE COMING TOGETHER TO REALLY MAKE US A MUCH MORE UNHAPPY AND A MUCH MORE ISOLATED KIND OF POPULATION RIGHT NOW. JOHN: WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CAUSES THAT ARE RUNNING TOGETHER? LAURIE: I THINK ONE OF THE BIG ONES THAT WE DON'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT IS JUST TIME, RIGHT? PEOPLE ARE BUSY. PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MORE TIME AT WORK. I THINK THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FREE TIME TO CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE CARE ABOUT.
I THINK THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING DEMANDS ON OUR TIME. BACK IN THE 1970S, THERE WASN'T NETFLIX AND ALL THESE VIDEO GAMES AND THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING BY OURSELVES TO ENTERTAIN OURSELVES. AND I THINK ALSO, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF SOCIAL MEDIA WASN'T AROUND IN THE 1970S, BUT I THINK IT IS HAVING A BIG EFFECT, RIGHT? OUR TECHNOLOGY IN THEORY, IS THERE TO CONNECT US SOCIALLY. BUT HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TO A RESTAURANT AND SEEN PEOPLE NOT TALKING TO THE FOLKS AT THEIR TABLE BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING DOWN AT THEIR PHONES? I THINK MORE AND MORE WE'RE CONNECTING THROUGH OUR TECHNOLOGY, BUT THAT MEANS MISSING OUT ON THE KINDS OF CONNECTIONS WE CAN EXPERIENCE IN REAL LIFE.
JOHN: WHAT ARE THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF LONELINESS? LAURIE: I MEAN, THERE ARE MANY AND SURPRISING. SO INDIVIDUALS WHO REPORT FEELING LONELY ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THINGS LIKE DEMENTIA, HEART DISEASE, STROKE. IT ACTUALLY AFFECTS LONGEVITY, MEANING THAT PEOPLE WHO SELF-REPORT FEELING LONELY ARE EVEN MORE LIKELY TO DIE THAN THOSE THAT AREN'T. VIVEK MURTHY, THE CURRENT SURGEON GENERAL, ESTIMATES THAT THE IS REPORTING THAT YOU FEEL LONELY IS LIKE SMOKING LIKE 15 CIGARETTES A DAY IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON OUR HEALTH AND OUR WELL-BEING.
JOHN: IT USED TO BE THAT A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT LONELINESS FOCUSED ON OLDER PEOPLE, BUT RETIRED PEOPLE LOSING THAT SORT OF SOCIAL CONNECTION OF WORK, THEIR SPOUSES OR PARTNERS MAY DIE. BUT ARE WE SEEING THIS MORE AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE NOW? LAURIE: I MEAN, THAT'S THE MOST STRIKING THING, ESPECIALLY FOR ME AS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR, ARE THE RATES OF LONELINESS THAT WE SEE AMONG OUR YOUNG PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. SO NATIONALLY, AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS, WE SEE LEVELS OF LONELINESS AROUND 60%, WHICH WAS SO STRIKING TO ME, RIGHT? THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO ARE YOUNG, WHO ARE LIVING ON CAMPUS, OFTEN IN THE DORMS WITH OTHER STUDENTS. YET 60% OF THEM ARE REPORTING FEELING VERY LONELY MOST OF THE TIME.
JOHN: AND EXPLAIN HOW TALK ABOUT THAT. THEY WERE LIVING IN A GROUP SITUATION, YET THEY'RE LONELY. WHAT SORT OF ALONE IN A CROWD. LAURIE: YEAH AND I THINK I THINK INTERACTING WITH THEIR TECHNOLOGY IN A WAY THAT PREVENTS CONNECTION IN REAL LIFE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE WALKED INTO MY DINING HALL AND SEEN A CROWD OF STUDENTS, EACH OF WHOM HAVE YOUR BIG HEADPHONES ON, LOOKING DOWN AT THEIR LAPTOP SCREENS, LOOKING DOWN AT THEIR PHONES. I THINK WE'RE REALLY MISSING OUT ON THE KIND OF CONNECTION THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU TALK TO A PERSON IN PERSON AND YOU HAVE THAT IN REAL LIFE. SOCIAL CONNECTION.
JOHN: WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO AVOID THIS? OR IF PEOPLE ARE FEELING LONELY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THEM? LAURIE: I THINK THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE IS JUST TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. I THINK LONELINESS CAN FEEL STIGMATIZING. IT CAN FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU IF YOU'RE FEELING LONELY. BUT IF YOU REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, UPWARDS OF 60% OF PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE FEELING THE SAME, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SUCH A BAD THING. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ADMIT TO. AND I THINK ADMITTING THAT YOU'RE FEELING LONELINESS IS PART OF THE FIRST STEP.
I THINK ONE THING TO DO IS THEN TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE REALLY CONNECTING WITH THE FOLKS WHO YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH BEING REALLY BUSY IS THAT WE DON'T OFTEN TAKE THE TIME WE NEED TO CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. BUT IT'S AS SIMPLE AS PICKING UP THE PHONE TO TRY TO RECONNECT WITH THEM.
I THINK THERE'S ALSO WAYS THAT WE CAN TRY TO MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE OFTEN FORGET TO DO. RIGHT. AGAIN, IT'S TOO EASY TO STAY IN OUR HOUSE AND WATCH NETFLIX. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WATCHING THE BASKETBALL GAME, COULD YOU HEAD OUT TO A PUB AND WATCH THAT BASKETBALL GAME? IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING, ENGAGING IN KNITTING OR EVEN ON A CRAFT, CAN YOU JOIN A CRAFT GROUP AND SO ON? THIS IS ANOTHER BIG CHANGE WE'VE SEEN SINCE THE 1970S IS THAT THESE SO-CALLED THIRD PLACES, PLACES THAT PEOPLE WOULD MEET WITH OTHER FRIENDS LIKE BOWLING LEAGUES AND SO ON, THESE KINDS OF THINGS HAVE GONE AWAY IN THE MODERN DAY. BUT WE CAN BRING THEM BACK.
WE CAN TAKE SOME ACTION TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF COLLECTIVE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AS WELL. JOHN: LAURIE SANTOS OF YALE UNIVERSITY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LAURIE: THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.
♪ JOHN: DEVASHISH BASNET IS A RHODES SCHOLAR STUDYING REFUGEE AND MIGRATION PATTERNS. HE WAS A REFUGEE HIMSELF -- LEAVING NEPAL AS A CHILD WHEN HIS FAMILY SOUGHT ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES. TONIGHT, HIS BRIEF BUT SPECTACULAR TAKE ON EMBRACING IMMIGRATION.
>> I LIVED UNDER ALMOST FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION STATUSES, INCLUDING DACA, WHICH IS THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVAL PROGRAM THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CREATED. MY IDENTITY AND MY PRESENCE IN THIS COUNTRY IS INHERENTLY POLITICIZED. ONE MORNING YOU'RE WAKING UP AND SEEING THE SUPREME COURT DEBATE OVER WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELONG IN THIS COUNTRY. THE NEXT MORNING YOU'RE SEEING, NEWS OF A CONGRESS PERSON DECLARING THAT DACA RECIPIENTS, YOU KNOW, ARE STEALING JOBS. SO IT'S, IT'S A HARROWING EXPERIENCE.
MY FAMILY AND I MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES FROM NEPAL WHEN I WAS ABOUT SIX YEARS OLD. THE COUNTRY WAS IN A TIME OF POLITICAL TRANSITIONS. IT CREATED A REALLY UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. AND SO MY FAMILY AND I CHOSE TO SEEK ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.
I GREW UP FASTER THAN A LOT OF MY PEERS AND I THINK A LOT OF IMMIGRANT CHILDREN HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS REALITY. I WAS PULLED OUT OF SCHOOL DAYS JUST TO GO TO IMMIGRATION COURT HEARINGS, JUST TO GO TO ASYLUM INTERVIEWS. AT A CERTAIN POINT, I KNEW MORE ABOUT IMMIGRATION POLICY THAN ANY 11 YEAR OLD SHOULD HAVE. BEING BLACK AND BROWN AND EXPERIENCING THE IMMIGRATION PROCESSING SYSTEM IS, IS NOT JUST A DIFFICULT JOURNEY, IT'S A RACIST AND RATHER DISCRIMINATORY JOURNEY. BLACK AND BROWN IMMIGRANTS TEND TO RESETTLE INTO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ALREADY PREDOMINANTLY BLACK AND BROWN.
AND SO NOT ONLY ARE THEY FACING THE SORT OF PERILS THAT I DESCRIBED IN THE IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO FACING THE SAME IMPACTS OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND INSTITUTIONAL DISCRIMINATION THAT U.S.-BORN CITIZENS ARE SUBJECT TO AS WELL. A FAIR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM LIES AT THE MIDPOINT BETWEEN ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL PATHWAYS. AND SO THE MORE LEGAL PATHWAYS YOU CREATE, THE MORE LIKELY MIGRANTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO FOLLOW THOSE LEGAL PATHWAYS. MIGRATION HAS BEEN A PERMANENT FEATURE OF HUMAN LIFE FROM LONG BEFORE NOW AND WILL BE A PERMANENT FEATURE LONG AFTER.
AS WE SEE MORE AND MORE CLIMATE DISASTERS, WAR, AND POLITICAL DISASTERS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE MIGRANTS. IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF, BUT IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN. THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BUILD A FLEXIBLE AND HUMANE IMMIGRATION PROCESSING SYSTEM.
FIRST START TO NOT TREAT MIGRATION AS A THREAT, BUT AS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE MISSING OUT ON TAPPING INTO POTENTIAL TO DRASTICALLY TRANSFORM OUR COUNTRY'S ECONOMY, TO DRASTICALLY TRANSFORM CITIES. MY LIVED EXPERIENCE BOTH GOING THROUGH IMMIGRATION AND EXPERIENCING THE CORE TENANTS OF -- TENETS OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, ALL OF THAT IS DIRECTLY INFLUENCED HOW I VIEW AND HOW I HOPE TO SHAPE POLICY IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEMS ARE THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE SOLUTIONS.
MY NAME IS DEVASHISH BASNET AND THIS IS MY BRIEF BUT SPECTACULAR TAKE ON EMBRACING IMMIGRATION. ♪ JOHN: NOW ONLINE, A FEDERAL APPEALS RULES TWO SIKH AMERICANS CAN WEAR TURBANS, BEARDS AND UN-CUT HAIR DURING MARINE BASIC TRAINING. IT IS PART OF THEIR SIKH RELIGION.
ALL OF THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR. FOR ALL MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US. HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
2023-01-11 05:21
