LISA DESJARDINS: Tonight on BBS News# Weekend, Charlie Kirk's widow speaks out## about the future of his organization.# And we look at rising concerns about## political violence and following the# conservative leader's assassination.

Then, health care cuts are already# here.

How state and local governments## are making tough decisions now in the# wake of major cuts in federal funding.

And, your presence is requested.

The# final Downton Abbey movie is now out.## We speak with show creator Julian# Fellows about the much loved drama.

MAN: I suppose if I'm honest, there is a# kind of longing for order.

Really.

I don't## know that I long for a victory way of life# and all of that stuff.

I don't think I do.## But I do long for a world of order# and good manners and where people## are pleasant to each other and everyone# stops getting so angry about everything.

(BREAK) LISA DESJARDINS: Good evening.

I'm Lisa# Desjardins.

John Yang is away.

The assassination## of American conservative leader Charlie Kirk is# drawing reaction and concern around the world.## In London, a massive crowd today, estimated# at over 100,000 people, gathered in a march## organized by anti-immigration activists# who remembered Kirk as part of the event.

This as the 22-year-old suspect in the killing# is being held without bond due to appear in court## Tuesday as the investigation into the shooter's# motives goes on, Kirk's widow Erika spoke for## the first time last night, vowing that his# movement will not only continue, but will grow.

ERIKA KIRK, Widow of Charlie Kirk: You have# no idea the fire that you have ignited within## this wife.

The cries of this widow will# echo around the world like a battle cry.

LISA DESJARDINS: Concerns about security for# political figures and of political violence## in general continue to rise.

Cynthia# Miller-Idriss is the director of the## Polarization and Extremism Research Innovation# Lab at American University and she joins me now.

Cynthia, looking at the pattern# of violence in recent years,## what fits into that pattern# from this and what might be new?

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS, American University: Well,# we've been seeing rising political violence,## rising hate fueled violence for several# years now.

We're at a level that we haven't## seen since the 1970s and over the last# couple of years in the U.S. in particular,## we've seen rising assassination# attempts and assassinations as a## tactic within that political extremism.# And that's also been happening overseas.

So, you know, I think it's -- it was to# be expected that political assassinations## would continue if weren't able# to tamp down the rhetoric.

LISA DESJARDINS: To be expected to hear# those words is really quite stunning.## But you are the one doing the research,# and you're talking about the rhetoric,## which is a big part of the conversation right# now.

And how much is rhetoric responsible for## political violence, and especially that moment# where someone isn't just expressing anger,## as we see online everywhere,# kind of a toxic culture online.

How much does political rhetoric influence# someone to move from saying words to doing## something violent?

Or does it?

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS: Yeah, I mean,## one of the things we'd seen, and I# said this a year ago after Trump,## the first assassination attempt against President# Trump, was that it was only a matter of time## with the kind of rhetoric that we see, that# were going get to political assassination.

So, you know, that's what I mean by# expected.

It sounds very cynical,## but it was very predictable.

You know, shocking# but not surprising is the way that I think of it.

When you have political rhetoric that# consistently positions us versus them## in existential terms, when people online# are celebrating the assassination of a## United Healthcare executive, for example,# that kind of violence being valorized,## not just seen as a last type of solution,# but as an acceptable or even preferable one.

LISA DESJARDINS: There was# also celebration online of## this assassination.

And at the same time,# we also know there are some supporters of## Charlie Crook who are using more and# more sort of warlike kind of talk.

After a tragedy like this, there are# all sorts of ways that people deal## with the grief.

But where do you think we are# right now in the rhetoric about this event?

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS: I think we're# at a really very risky moment.

I will## say that the elected officials rhetoric, the# bipartisan and mostly bipartisan condemnation## of the violence and of, you know, the# idea that no one deserves to be shot,## no matter how much you disagree with# them, I think has been very clear.

But among ordinary people, especially# young people on social media,## we have seen much more divisive rhetoric,# both calling for civil war and celebrating## the death of the killing of someone with# whom people often vehemently disagreed.

And so I think one of the things I've# been urging people is to not just look## to political leaders for solutions, but# look across the dinner table.

That's## a moment to engage with dialogue and# really try to walk back that rhetoric.

LISA DESJARDINS: One thing I've noticed in# the past few days is a rise in conservatives## doxing or publishing the personal information of# people -- individuals who are not remotely famous,## who may have in some cases celebrated# the death of Charlie Kirk.

As you said,## that's something obviously deplorable to do.

But some -- in some cases, maybe not gone# that far, just offended some folks.

We spoke## to someone from Wired magazine who's covering# this, talking about specifically this moment.

DAVID GILBERT, Wired: I've spoken to multiple# people this week who have had, you know,## their employment terminated as a result# of what they posted online.

In some cases,## they were celebrating Charlie Kirk's# death.

In other cases, it was much,## much less than that.

And they were just# making points about device of your society.

LISA DESJARDINS: This has been# not just about shaming people,## but about affecting their lives.

And in some# case, we know there's been death threats as## well.

I wonder what you make of this tactic.# Not just something a few people are doing,## but people are collecting# databases to do this now.

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS: Yeah, doxing is a very# dangerous tactic from.

We've seen it from the## left and from the right.

And what we've seen# over the years is that often when someone is## doxxed their personal information, leaked, there# have been cases where people show up at the wrong## address where they used to live, let's say, and# threaten a kind of innocent family who lives## there.

You're putting at risk family members,# children, others who might live at that address.

So, you know, one of the things I would really# urge people to do is avoid that temptation,## whatever the motivation to look for# accountability.

This is a moment to## allow the rule of law, to allow social# media policies to allow to handle that.

LISA DESJARDINS: In the few seconds we have left# here.

We've seen these moments in history before## where we have assassination attempts happening# over a decade or two decades kind of thing before.

But I wonder, you mentioned people need to# talk to each other across the dinner table.## What else gets the country# out of moments like this?

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS: Well, one of the# things we really need is more serious and## systematic investments in prevention, which# is something that other countries have.

We in## this country tend to rely on after the fact# increases in security, better barricades,## better security detectors.

And that's expensive# and it requires a perfection every time.

But you can also invest in helping people# be less persuaded by propaganda online,## less persuaded by manipulative efforts# that say violence is the solution and## help people know how to recognize warning# signs and know where to get more help.

LISA DESJARDINS: Cynthia Miller-Idriss,# thank you so much for joining us.

CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS: Thanks for having me.

LISA DESJARDINS: In tonight's other headlines,# President Trump is ramping up pressure on NATO## to stop purchasing Russian energy.

In a letter to# NATO allies that he also posted to social media,## the president vowed to place major sanctions on# Russia when those in the alliance stop buying## oil from Russia.

Mr. Trump said NATO's# reliance weakens its bargaining power.

The post comes as tensions rise in Europe# over the war in Ukraine.

Russia announced## today it completed a joint military# exercise with Belarus force in the## Baltic Sea just two days after# Russian drones flew over Poland.

More airstrikes and more deaths overnight# as Israel's military operation in Gaza## intensifies.

More than 30 people were killed# in Gaza City, including 12 children.

Israel## hit some residential buildings that it# says Hamas used to spy on troop movements.

The Jewish state calls Gaza City the last# Hamas stronghold.

But Palestinians argue## there's no safe place for them to go,# and relocating is out of reach for many.

ABDEL HAMEED AL-ATRASH, Displaced Resident# (through translator): There is no safe place## in Gaza.

From Rafah in the south to Zikim,# there is no safe place.

Those who say there## are empty areas, it's empty talk.

There is bombing# everywhere.

What can we do?

Where should we go?

LISA DESJARDINS: Israel has told civilians# to evacuate to Al Mawasi in the south,## which it has designated as a humanitarian zone.

Authorities in Nepal's capital today lifted# a curfew that was put in place after protests## killed 51 people and led to the collapse of the# government.

The move comes after some calm return## to Kathmandu Friday with the appointment of a# new placeholder, Prime Minister Sushila Karki.## She was formerly a Supreme Court chief justice# and was known for standing up to corruption.

And in England, fans of Jane Austen gathered# to celebrate the author's 250th birthday.

The## Jane Austen Festival in Bath, which started as a# weekend celebration, now lasts 10 days.

Travelers## from around the world are united by their love of# empire, waist, tailcoats and bonnets, all to honor## the author of Pride and Prejudice, who they say# provides a time capsule into 18th century culture.

The festival ends next week, leaving# plenty of time for fans to promenade## along the streets that Austen# and her characters stroll.

Still to come on PBS News Weekend, the hard# choices states are making in the wake of## billions of dollars of cuts in federal# funding for health.

And saying goodbye## to the Crawleys, the family at the center of# the beloved historical drama Downton Abbey.

(BREAK) LISA DESJARDINS: The Trump administration is# planning sweeping cuts to health care funding## across the country.

Some of those federal# funding cuts have already taken effect.## Others will be rolling out in the next few years## as President Trump's so called One# Big Beautiful Bill Act is implemented.

That law will reduce what the# federal government expects to## spend on Medicaid by more than# $900 billion over a decade.

KFF Health News looked at# what that means for states,## which will have to shoulder more# of the costs of health programs,## and they found they're being forced to make# tough choices about what they can afford.

Stephanie Armour is the senior health# policy correspondent at KFF News and## joins me now.

Stephanie, first of all,# help our viewers understand which of## these health cuts have already happened# and which ones are coming down the road?

STEPHANIE ARMOUR, KFF Health News: That's actually# a really important question because states are## grappling with what's already happened.

They've# already seen tens of millions of dollars cut.## For example, the Trump administration# is clawing back about $11 billion just## in funding that was given to states# to help them cope with the pandemic.

And a number of states had earmarked# those funds for public health programs,## and now they're having to cut that.

Also what's looming is even more troubling for# states because it's about almost a trillion## dollars in reduced Medicaid spending is# coming in the next year or two.

So right## now you're seeing states grappling not only# with the cuts that are happening right now,## but what are they going to down the line.

LISA DESJARDINS: Your work has really looked# at the ups and downs across the country and## it varies by quite a lot.

By your analysis, for# example, Texas expects to lose some $40 billion## in Medicaid funding.

Delaware's already seen# almost 40 million in public health funds cuts.

What do you see as the most painful# decisions going on out there right now?

STEPHANIE ARMOUR: Yeah, I think what's really# hard for states right now is they were kind of## going through a good time financial,# and they gave a lot of tax breaks to## residents in their state.

That's# been something that's been going on## across the country.

So that's really# eaten into states revenue already.

So on top of the fact that revenues are kind of# down because of that, they're seeing the cuts## that have already happened, plus the cuts that are# coming.

And for some states, there's not much they## can do.

They don't have a lot of other resources,# so they're going to have to cut programs.

Other states are trying to do what they can to# kind of bulk up what still exists.

For example,## New Mexico, creating a trust fund to try to keep# Medicaid going like so it will be there for the## years to come.

But by and large, for states,# this is a really tough time.

And they're just## now kind of getting the sense of the scope# of how big these cuts are really going to be.

LISA DESJARDINS: You know, Republicans, when# they passed the Big Beautiful Bill Act into law,## they insisted that this was about trying# to stabilize the Medicaid system overall## and that it would not hurt the vulnerable.# We've done a lot of work on that on the show,## and that's a debate remains# to be seen what happens.

But how do states view that problem# potentially?

Are states worried about## more uninsured on their rolls, or do they# think this could make the system more stable?

STEPHANIE ARMOUR: Well, I think it's both.

I think# a number of states sort of welcome some of the## oversight in terms of, you know, cracking down# on fraud and abuse, that's certainly an issue.## But I think states right now they're having to# put into place a lot of bureaucracy for this.

Like, one of the things that's going to be# required under the Big Beautiful Bill Act## is a work requirement.

And for enrollees, this is# going to be a lot more bureaucracy and paperwork.## And there's a lot of concern that's what's# going to cause people to drop off the roles,## that they're just not going to be# able to contend with the paperwork,## which we saw earlier with some states# when they imposed work requirements.

So I think states are kind of# both ways.

In some ways they## kind of welcome the additional# oversight, but it's also going## to be a big financial conundrum for# them right now just setting it up.

LISA DESJARDINS: This area of American# health care is really among the most## complex problems this country has, and# it's confusing to many people.

But can## you help people understand if you're not on# Medicaid, maybe if you don't have a direct## connection to these health programs.

Could# this still affect you, all of these cuts?

STEPHANIE ARMOUR: Absolutely.

The Congressional# Budget Office estimates we'll see more than 7## million people uninsured compared to what we# have now.

And that's a significant number.## And what happens when that occurs# is hospitals, for example, they're## still required under federal law to treat# anyone who comes in their emergency room,## but you're going to have more people# who don't have insurance coming in.

So what that's going to do is add to what they# call uncompensated care.

The hospitals are going## to have to cover this one way or another.# So what you'll see is premiums potentially## rising for everybody who has private insurance# or employer insurance to help make up that gap.

So it definitely is going to affect everyone,# regardless of whether they're on Medicaid or## another federal program.

This is something that's# across the board.

Everyone's going to feel this.

LISA DESJARDINS: Such important and# smart reporting.

Stephanie Armour,## thank you so much for joining us.

STEPHANIE ARMOUR: Oh, thank you.

LISA DESJARDINS:## Downton Abbey, the beloved# historical drama of charm and wit,## is coming to an end.

At its peak, it# drew more than 13 million viewers,## the most watched drama in PBS history,# and it's going out with some flair.

The movie Downton Abbey Grand Finale is out in# theaters now.

Stephanie Sy spoke with Downton## Abbey creator Lord Julian Fellowes.

He's also the# creator of the HBO series the "Gilded Age" and an## Academy Award winning writer for "Gosford Park.

"# It's part of our arts and culture series Canvas.

STEPHANIE SY: Julian Fellowes, you know, since# Downton Abbey first aired in the U.S. on PBS,## it really feels like you and the Crawleys are part## of the PBS family.

So it's so good# to have you on the PBS NewsHour.

LORD JULIAN FELLOWES, Creator,# "Downton Abbey": Well, it's very## nice to be here.

And of course,# you can imagine after 16 ye..

I shall also feel rather strange# when I'm separated from the Crawleys.

STEPHANIE SY: Well, let's get into the grand# finale of the Crawleys, hopefully without## spoiling the movie, because it begins with Lady# Mary looking gorgeous as always, but shortly after## getting kicked out of a party, she's divorced# and now is still stain on the Crawley name.

WOMAN: I'll go.

I'm very sorry, Lady# Petersfield.

I shouldn't have come.

STEPHANIE SY: Why did you choose that as one# of the central conflicts of this final chapter?

JULIAN FELLOWES: For me, the acceptance of# divorce is really about accepting that the## Victorian age is finished and that they have# moved on to a new world.

And that, I think,## is an important step for the Crawley# family, but also as it was for everyone,## really, that they had been sort of running# on Victorian values, and yet now at last,## they had to accept that times had changed# and the world was a different place.

MAN: Good afternoon, ladies and# gentlemen, and welcome to 1930.

STEPHANIE SY: It seems like the film places# a lot of emphasis on family loyalty and love.## Grudges are overlooked.

They kind of get# past them.

Why was that important to you?

JULIAN FELLOWES: Well, I think that# family is about loyalty and I think## the show is about two things,# really.

One is it's about family,## the power of family and so on.

And the# other is about accepting change and And the fact is that if you live through a period# of change, and all periods are periods of change,## then you must learn to change with it and to get# on with it and to move into the new world.

And## if you refuse to do that, then you're stuffed.# And that's really what I feel the show is about.

It's true that the family.

I mean, I don't know# that they approve of Mary getting divorced,## but nevertheless, when the chips are down, they# are loyal to each other, and that's important.

STEPHANIE SY (voice-over): One such loyal# family member, played by the late Maggie## Smith, was Violet Crawley, the tough and dry# matriarch known for her scene stealing zingers.

WOMAN: There's nothing simpler than avoiding# people you don't like, avoiding one's friends.## That's the real test .# STEPHANIE SY: With the death# of Maggie Smith last year,## Julian, did it feel like you had a vacuum to fill?

JULIAN FELLOWES: You know, when you work# together, you pick up how the other one## works.

And she knew how to say what# I'd written and I knew how to write## what she'd say.

And together it was quite a# strong partnership, I don't think.

You know,## it wasn't a great friendship.

We didn't take# a house by the sea together and sit there## eating supper in the late night.

That wasn't it# at all.

It was that we knew how to work together.

And I feel very blessed having enjoyed# that for as long as I did with Maggie## and not having to explain things, you# know, not having to explain why this## line is funny.

She just always understood# the people I wrote.

And that was something.

STEPHANIE SY: Besides the dame Maggie Smith,# all along, you've had an ensemble cast of an## extremely high caliber, not to mention cameos from# the likes of Shirley MacLaine and Paul Giamatti.

MAN: Perhaps I'll move here.

Sure.

I'd# be more English than Robert in a trice.

STEPHANIE SY: How much did you interact# with the actors in the process,## and do they have input into what# happens to their characters?

JULIAN FELLOWES: You gradually come# to the point when you're writing## for a performance you've already# seen, and so you're not guessing## how they're going to be acting.

You# know how they're going to be acting.

MAN: What's that?

WOMAN: I don't know.

The family upstairs.

MAN: The family upstairs.

JULIAN FELLOWES: And the longer the show goes on,## and went on quite a long time, you gradually# understand which actors can make you cry,## which actors are very funny.

Which actors# are both, which, of course, Maggie was.

And you start, in a way, if you like,# to write for that.

And in that sense,## I feel that the characters were created# by me writing and the actors together to## make these people happen.

And I enjoyed# that very much.

And I loved the cast.## They worked together very well.# They were a very strong ensemble.

I think there were a lot of very# good friendships that came together## and I think will outlast the show, you# know, which is just as it should be.

STEPHANIE SY: The theme of change,# which you mentioned earlier,## bearing down on tradition in good ways# and bad, has been there, as you said,## since the series started.

And by the end, we# have not only a divorced woman in high society,## but a former servant who ends up in a# gay relationship with a Hollywood actor.

MAN: I suppose you think Lady Mary's# lost her moral compass, Mr. Carson?

WOMAN: Perhaps we should all have# a different compass these days.

STEPHANIE SY: When you conceived of the Crawleys,## Julian, did you envision you would be making# these cultural, maybe even moral statements?

JULIAN FELLOWES: I think the statements are# cultural.

With the gay character of Thomas,## I wanted to remind people of how tough it# was, you know, I mean, we had letters from## people saying.

Are you seriously saying# that homosexuality was illegal in 1912?

Well, it was illegal in my day, in the early 60s.## I remember when it became legal.

And one# of my brother's godfathers was a gay peer,## which was quite wild in those days, and he lived# with his other half in a house near Sloane Square.

And I remember it well.

I used to go there as a# child all the time.

So I think, to some extent,## I had witnessed how hard all this was, and now# I had the chance to put it into my own writing,## you know, which is one of the great# luxuries, of course, of being a writer.

STEPHANIE SY: You yourself, I understand, Julian,## came from an aristocratic class that would be# foreign to most of us Americans.

I don't know## if you ever had a Crawley kind of life,# but there is a sense of longing I sense## in the Downton story.

I wonder if that's your# longings in any way that you're expressing.

JULIAN FELLOWES: Well, it's quite# an interesting question, really,## and I'm not sure I'm absolutely clear about# the answer.

I come from a much more modest## family than the Crawleys, and certainly# the great days of my forebears was way## back in the 19th century, so we don't# have to waste too much time on that.

But I think there was a sort of order in the# world that seems to be missing at the moment.## I don't know that I long for a Victorian way# of life and all of that stuff.

I don't think## I do.

But I do long for a world of order and# good manners and where people are pleasant to## each other and everyone stops getting so angry# about everything.

I suppose that is true.

Yes.

STEPHANIE SY: That is Julian Fellowes,# thank you so much for joining us.

JULIAN FELLOWES: Thank you for having me.

LISA DESJARDINS: And that's our program# for tonight.

I'm Lisa Desjardins.

For## all of my colleagues, thanks for# joining us.

See you tomorrow.