>> TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND, THE DEADLY CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND A RIM ENTERS A SECOND WEEK ASIRAN WARNS U.S. MILITARY INVOLVEMENT COULD TRIGGER RETALIATION.

THEN THE IMPACTS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DECISION TO END SPECIALIZED SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH.

AND TRAVEL GURU RICK STEVE'S GOAL OF GETTING MORE AMERICANS TO CHOOSE TRAVEL AND TRANSFORM THEIR WORLDVIEW.

>> I WANT TO EMBRACE CULTURE SHOCK AS A GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE THING, NOT SOMETHING TO AVOID, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS A VALUABLE PRODUCT OF TRAVEL.

IT IS THE GROWING PAINS OF A BROADENING PERSPECTIVE.

♪ JOHN: GOOD EVENING, I'M JOHN YANG.

THE SECOND WEEK OF THE ISRAEL-IRAN WAR BEGAN WITH A FRESH ROUND OF ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ON MISSILE SITES AND A NUCLEAR FACILITY IN IRAN AND IRANIAN COUNTER STRIKES AND DRONES INTO RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF ISRAEL.

AS B2 BOMBERS ARE PURPORTEDLY BEING REPOSITIONED, THERE IS A NEW WARNING TO THE U.S.. IRANIAN BACKED HOUTHI REBELS IN YEMEN SAID THEY WOULD ATTACK U.S.

VESSELS IN THE RED SEA IF PRESIDENT TRUMP JOINS ISRAEL'S MILITARY CAMPAIGN.

AFTER HIS TALKS WITH EUROPEAN OFFICIALS WERE INCONCLUSIVE, IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THERE WOULD BE NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AS LONG AS ISRAELI ATTACKS CONTINUE.

>> WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN IN THIS AGGRESSION FROM THE BEGINNING.

THEY DENY, THEY KEEP SAYING THEY ARE NOT INVOLVING, BUT WE HAVE MANY INDICATIONS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FROM DAY ONE.

JOHN: AS ISRAEL BROADENS ITS TARGETS IN IRAN, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS REGIME CHANGE IS NOT AN EXPLICIT GOAL, BUT COULD BE A RESULT.

AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SEEMS TO BE SAYING THAT THE ISRAELI ATTACKS HAVE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IRANIANS WHO OPPOSE THE REGIME TO RISE UP.

HOW LIKELY IS THAT?

>> THAT AT LEAST AT THE MOMENT SEEMS TO BE QUITE UNLIKELY, MOSTLY BECAUSE FIRST THIS IS A FOREIGN INVASION.

IT WAS AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK AT A TIME WHEN IRAN WAS IN THE MIDST OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES.

FROM THE CITIZENRY, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE ANGRY AT THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY, BUT TO RESPOND BY AN UPRISING WHERE BOMBS ARE LANDING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS ACROSS CITIES, THAT SEEMS TO BE A TALL ORDER TO WANT IN THIS MOMENT.

IT IS NOT TAKEN PLACE AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL.

INSTEAD THERE IS A RALLYING AROUND THE FLAG EFFECT.

JOHN: YOU HAD A RECENT ESSAY AND WROTE THE IRANIAN STATE IS STRUCTURED FOR SURVIVAL.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC CAME ABOUT THROUGH A REVOLUTION, AND ON THE HEELS OF IT IRAQ INVADES IRAN IN 1980 WITH THE FULL BACKING OF THE WEST AT THAT POINT.

IRAN LEARNED IN ITS INFANCY THAT TO WIN THESE KINDS OF WARS OF ASSAULTS TO THE HOMELAND, IT IS THROUGH PERSEVERANCE AND DOING A WAR OF ATTRITION.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT, THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC BUILT INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO ENSURE IRAN'S SOVEREIGNTY AGAINST THOSE WHO DO NOT SEE EYE TO EYE WITH IT.

JOHN: IT IS REPORTED THE SUPREME LEADER HAS NAMED SUCCESSORS NOT ONLY TO THE MILITARY LEADERS WHO MAY BE KILLED, BUT CANDIDATES TO SUCCEED HIMSELF IF HE IS KILLED.

IN THE SAME ESSAY YOU WROTE THE DEATHS OF INFLUENTIAL LEADERS WOULD RENEW THE SYSTEM.

>> FIRST OF ALL, IRAN HAS WITNESSED ISRAEL'S ASSASSINATION OF LEADERS, HAS BELOW, OF -- HEZBOLLAH, OF THE SYRIAN ARMY, AND ITS OWN MILITARY APPARATUS.

IT HAS CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR THE VARIOUS LEADERS THAT MAY BE KILLED.

MORE IMPORTANT, THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS HAD INSTITUTIONS FOR MANY GENERATIONS.

IRAN IS NOT IRAQ.

IT HAS INSTITUTIONS THAT SPAN GENERATIONS THAT WILL WITHSTAND AERIAL BOMBARDMENTS.

JOHN: PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE'S PUT OFF A DECISION WHETHER TO JOIN THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN FOR TWO WEEKS.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT IRAN WOULD START OR RESTART NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE CURRENT CONDITIONS, MUCH LESS GIVE UP THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM?

>> IRAN HAS LEARNED AGAIN FROM THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE REGION, SADDAM HUSSEIN GAVE UP HIS WEAPONS, HE WAS INVADED.

GADHAFI GAVE UP HIS WEAPONS, HE WAS OVERTHROWN.

IN THAT INSTANCE, IRAN IN THIS SITUATION IS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ALL OF ITS ENRICHMENT, NOR DEMILITARIZED.

IT IS GOING TO NOW WANT TO MAINTAIN MILITARY DETERMINEDS WITH ISRAEL -- DETERRENTS WITH ISRAEL IN THE BATTLEFIELD.

JOHN: WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECTS BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM IF THE UNITED STATES WERE TO JOIN THIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IRAN IS 4.5 TIMES THE SIZE OF GERMANY.

IT IS A VAST COUNTRY.

IT WILL MAKE THE INVASION OF IRAQ LOOK LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK IN MANY WAYS.

IT HAS A POPULATION OF 92 MILLION, WHICH ALSO MEANS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY HOW BIG THE COUNTRY IS, BUT ALSO THE TYPE OF HUMAN CAPITAL THAT IT HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL.

THE OTHER POINT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT IRAN IS A STATE THAT HAS BUILT MILITIAS THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO BLEED AND CREATE CHAOS FOR AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN IRAQ.

THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IRAQ WAS SUCH A DIFFICULT WAR FOR THE AMERICANS BECAUSE OF THE ROLE IRANIAN MILITIAS PALYED -- PLAYED.

THESE FORCES HAVE BEEN WEAKENED, BUT IRAN HAS THE CAPABILITY TO FOMENT THEM AGAIN.

JOHN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IN TONIGHT OTHER NEWS, ACTIVIST MAHMUD KHALIL IS BACK HOME TONIGHT WITH HIS WIFE AND INFANT SON AFTER A JUDGE ORDERED HE RELEASED ON BAIL FROM A FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER.

FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS ARRESTED HIM MORE THAN THREE MONTHS AGO, THE FIRST PERSON DETAINED IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CRACKDOWN ON PRO-PALESTINIAN STUDENT PROTESTS SPIRIT THE 30-YEAR-OLD FORMER COLOMBIAN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENT IS A LEGAL U.S. RESIDENT.

HE SAID HE WAS TARGETED BECAUSE HE'S AN IMMIGRANT WHO CRITICIZED THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> WHETHER YOU ARE A CITIZEN, AN IMMIGRANT, ANYONE, ON THIS LAND YOU ARE NOT ILLEGAL.

THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU LESS OF A HUMAN.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO, TO DEHUMANIZE ME, THE IMMIGRANTS, DEHUMANIZE ANYONE WHO DOES NOT AGREE.

JOHN: IN ORDERING HIS RELEASE, THE FEDERAL JUDGE SAID IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE TO DETAIN KHALIL, BECAUSE HE IS UNLIKELY TO FULLY AND HAS NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF VIOLENCE.

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE UNDER AN EXTREME HEAT WARNING TONIGHT WITH EVEN HIGHER TEMPERATURES AHEAD.

THE FIRST HEATWAVE OF THE YEAR IS FORECAST TO STRETCH FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE EAST COAST THIS WEEKEND AND THROUGH NEXT WEEK.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTS TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES IN SOME CITIES.

THE WEATHER SERVICE WARNS THIS HEATWAVE COULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST OF THE SUMMER AND OUR BODIES ARE NOT COMMITTED TO THE HEAT YET.

THEY ADVISE EVERYBODY TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.

>> GENERAL FATIGUE, HEADACHES.

PEOPLE MIGHT START TO GET CONFUSED OR DIZZY.

THEIR MUSCLES MIGHT START TO CRAMP UP OR FEEL NAUSEOUS.

THAT IS WHEN YOU NEED TO START GETTING INSIDE, STARTING TO HYDRATE.

YOU CAN USE COLD ICE PACK OR TOWELS OF COLD WATER TO COOL DOWN.

JOHN: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALSO SAYS HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY BEGIN IN THE MORNINGS THAT WILL MAKE THE DAYS FEEL OPPRESSIVELY HOT.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS HAVE HIT A BIG ROADBLOCK IN THEIR PLANS TO REFORM AND CUT SPENDING FOR THE SNAP PROGRAM, COMMONLY CALLED FOOD STAMPS.

IT'S PART OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SO-CALLED BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT THE SENATE IS CONSIDERING.

OVERNIGHT THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN SAID A PROVISION FORCING STATES TO PAY A BIGGER SHARE OF THE FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DOES NOT MEET BUDGET RULES.

THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES THE PLAN WOULD CUT BENEFITS FOR MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE.

SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO PASS THE BILL BY A SELF-IMPOSED DEADLINE OF THE FOURTH OF JULY.

SELVAGE WORKERS RAISED THE WRECKAGE OF A SUPER YACHT AS INVESTIGATORS SEEK ANSWERS OF WHY IT SANK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN LAST SUMMER, KILLING MANY ONBOARD.

IN AUGUST, STRONG STORMS AND EXTREME WIND FLOODED THE BOAT.

INVESTIGATORS SAY HIT SANK WITHIN A FEW MINUTES.

TODAY IT WAS LIFTED OFF THE WATERS OFF SICILY FOR EXAMINATION.

A BRITISH TECH MAGNET AND HIS DAUGHTER AND FIVE OTHERS DIED ON THE VESSEL.

YOU MAY RECALL THE OLYMPIC CAULDRON TOOK THE FORM OF A HELIUM BALLOON FLOATING OVER THE CITY.

NOW IT HAS BEEN REBRANDED THE PARIS CAULDRON AND WILL BE ALOFT THIS SUMMER OVER A GARDEN OF PUBLIC SPACE NEXT TO THE LOUVRE.

THE CAULDRON WILL RISE AGAIN FOR THE NEXT THREE SUMMERS.

STILL TO COME ON PBS NEWS WEAKENED, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PULLS THE PLUG ON A SUICIDE HOTLINE FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH.

AND RICK STEVE'S TAKES US ON A JOURNEY THROUGH HIS CAREER AS A TRAVEL WRITER.

JOHN: NEXT MONTH, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL END A SPECIALIST SUPPORT ON THE 988 NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE FOR YOUNG LGBTQ+ CALLERS, A GROUP THAT HAS THIS PROPORTIONATELY HEIGHT SUICIDE RATES.

THE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THE CHANGE BY SAYING THE HOTLINE WILL NO LONGER SILO LGB+ YOUTH SERVICES, OMITTING THE T FOR TRANSGENDER.

LINDSAY DAWSON IS DIRECTOR OF LGBTQ HEALTH AT KFF.

HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN AN OPTION ON THE SUICIDE HOTLINE?

HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?

>> THIS BECAME AN OPTION EARLY ON WHEN CONGRESS STARTED 988.

THEY INCLUDED DIRECTIONS TO HAVE A REPORT TO STUDY HOW TO BEST SERVE LGBTQ PEOPLE WHO DO FACE THIS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, INCLUDING HIGHER RATES OF SUICIDALITY.

THEY FIRST PILOTED THE LINE IN 2022, AND IN JULY 2023 LAUNCHED THE SURFACE NATIONWIDE.

JOHN: WHAT IS THE ARGUMENT FOR HAVING THESE SPECIALIZED SERVICES?

>> THE ARGUMENT FOR THE SERVICE IS BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER RATES OF SUICIDALITY AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES MORE GENERALLY DUE TO EXPERIENCES LIKE STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION, HIGHER RATES OF VIOLENCE AND LONELINESS, THAT LGBTQ YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS COULD BENEFIT FROM A SERVICE THAT SPECIFICALLY MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

JOHN: HOW MANY USERS DO WE KNOW?

>> SINCE THE LINE LAUNCHED, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 1.3 MILLION CONTACTS THROUGH THE SERVICE.

THOSE INCLUDE CALLS, CHATS, AND TEXTS.

JOHN: WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION SAYING ABOUT WHY THEY ARE DOING THIS?

>> TWO REASONS THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING THIS LINE IS BEING CUT.

THE FIRST IS 988 OVERALL CAN HANDLE THE CALLS THE LGBT SURFACE WOULD OVERSEE.

THE SECOND IS THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING THE SERVICE WAS FOSTERING GENDER IDEOLOGY BELIEFS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND TRYING TO CONVINCE YOUNG PEOPLE OF GENDER IDEOLOGIES.

THIS IS PATENTLY NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

WHEN SOME BUDDY CALLS THE LINE, IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN CRISIS, AND THE LINE IS HELPING RESOLVE THAT MOMENT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

JOHN: WHAT DOES THE ADMINISTRATION MEAN WHEN IT SAYS GENDER IDEOLOGY?

>> THAT SOMEONE HAS A GENDER IDENTITY THAT DIFFERS FROM THEIR SEX DEFINED AT BIRTH.

THEY BELIEVE THERE ARE ONLY TWO SEX, WHICH ERASES TRANS PEOPLE AND IDENTITIES.

WE KNOW TRANS PEOPLE ARE A FABRIC OF THE SOCIETY.

JOHN: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY THING THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING TO PULL BACK ON ACCESS TO SERVICES AND HELP FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN HEALTH.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION MORE BROADLY IS SEEKING TO CHALLENGE LGBTQ PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

ONE AREA THAT RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ATTENTION IS YOUTH ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE.

JOHN: WITH THIS GOING AWAY AT THE 988 CALL, ARE THERE OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LGBTQ+ YOUTH?

>> THEY CAN STILL CALL THAT 988 NUMBER AND WILL GET THE SAME SURFACES THAT ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS CALLING WOULD GET.

THEY MAY NOT GET AN OPERATOR WHO WAS ESPECIALLY TRAINED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS OR UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCES.

THEY CAN ALSO CALL THE SURFACES THAT THE -- SERVICES THAT THE TREVOR PROJECT HAS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ISSUES BEYOND SUICIDE IDEATION OR SUICIDALITY.

HOWEVER SOME OF THESE PROJECTS LIKE THE TREVOR PROJECT RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THIS SERVICE.

TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES IS SOMETHING TO WATCH MOVING FORWARD.

JOHN: THE FUNDING IS NOT CHANGING FOR 988 OVERALL?

>> THE FUNDING OVERALL FOR THE LINE IS GOING TO MAINTAIN AT $520 MILLION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SAYING THE FUNDS FOR THE LGBTQ SERVICE HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED FOR THIS YEAR.

ANOTHER AREA IMPORTANT TO WATCH IS WHAT CONGRESS APPROPRIATES IN THE FY26 BUDGET.

JOHN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

♪ ILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO GO ON A EUROPEAN VACATION THIS SUMMER, AND MANY OF THOSE GOING FOR THE FIRST TIME OUR LIKELY TO BE FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF TRAVEL WRITER RICK STEVES ON PBS STATIONS.

I TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON STATE TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM FOR OUR WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT.

YOU'VE GOT GARGOYLES.

RICK: THESE I THINK ARE THE ONLY FUNCTIONING GARGOYLES THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

[LAUGHTER] JOHN: THESE STONE CARVINGS WOULD FIT RIGHT IN ON NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS, BUT THIS IS RICK STEVES MULTIMILLION DOLLAR TRAVEL COMPANY IN A SEATTLE SUBURB.

RICK: GARGOYLES DO TWO THINGS.

THEY SCARE AWAY THE EVIL SPIRITS OF COURSE, AND ALSO PROVIDE A STORM DRAIN FOR WHEN IT RAINS HARD.

ON A GOOD RAINY DAY, SPLOOSH.

AT RICK STEVES.

JOHN: STEVES SPENDS THREE MONTHS EVERY YEAR IN EUROPE, FILLING NOTEBOOKS WITH HIS OBSERVATIONS.

WHAT TO SEE, WHERE TO EAT, WHERE TO STAY.

RICK: THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN 2016.

I DID FLORENCE, PARIS, BARCELONA, MADRID, VENICE.

MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO VISIT THE PLACES IN THE BOOK WITH OTHER PEOPLE HELPING, AND I WOULD ALWAYS HAVE MY MOLESKINE.

I WOULD JOT ALL MY NOTES.

I STILL CANNOT BEGIN TO READ THAT.

I COULD READ MY WRITING FOR 24 HOURS AND THEN IT EXPIRES.

[LAUGHTER] I COULD READ THAT SHORTHAND.

JOHN: HERE, A STAFF OF ABOUT 100 WORKS ON HIS BEST-SELLING GUIDEBOOKS AIMED AT FIRST-TIME TRAVELERS.

RICK: UP NEXT, WE ARE GOING TO THE ITALIAN RIVIERA.

JOHN: ON HIS PODCASTS -- RICK: THIS IS TRAVEL WITH RICK STEVES.

JOHN: AND ON HIS LONG-RUNNING TV SERIES ON PBS STATIONS WORLDWIDE.

RICK: HERE IN ICELAND WE EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF NATURE AND NATURE.

JOHN: IN EUROPE, ABOUT 240 GUIDES LEAD DOZENS OF BUS TOURS EACH YEAR.

STEVES SAID HE DISCOVERED THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF TRAVEL IN 1978 WHEN HE WAS 23.

THAT SUMMER, HE AND A FRIEND SPENT SIX WEEKS GOING FROM TURKEY TO NEPAL.

THE STORIED HIPPIE TRAIL.

RICK: IT WAS THE EPIC ROAD TRIP.

THIS TEMPLE TO KATHMANDU -- ISTANBUL TO KATHMANDU.

IT WAS A PERFECT TIME IN MY LIFE.

I REMEMBER THIS IS THE LAST YEAR PEOPLE COULD DO THE HIPPIE TRAIL, 1978.

THE NEXT YEAR THE SHAH WELL AND AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI TURNED INTO -- TURNED IRAN INTO A THEOCRACY.

SO THERE IS NO MORE HIPPIE TRAIL.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT AT THE TIME.

I WAS CLUELESS ABOUT EVERYTHING POLITICAL AT THE TIME.

I WAS JUST A 23-YEAR-OLD LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE IN THE WORLD.

IT WAS MY COMING-OF-AGE TRIP.

JOHN: HE KEPT A JOURNAL ON THAT TRIP AND PUT IT AWAY YEARS AGO, BUT HE DUG IT OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

RICK: I READ IT, AND IT WAS VIVID.

IT WAS CANDID.

IT WAS RAW.

IT WAS BEFORE I WAS A TRAVEL WRITER.

AND EVERY MOMENT I WOULD BE CAPTURING VIVID DETAILS.

TO ME IT WAS LIKE SOMEBODY NETS BUTTERFLIES.

WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING FAR FROM HOME AND SOMETHING COOL HAPPENS, THIS IS WHAT MAKES MY TRIP SPARKLE, BUT IT IS GONE.

THERE IS ANOTHER ONE.

I FELT THIS NEED TO WRITE IT DOWN SO I COULD SAVE IT.

JOHN: IT WAS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY.

ON THE HIPPIE TRIP, THE MAKING OF A TRAVEL WRITER, MADE IT TO THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST.

RICK: I HAVE STRONG MISSION IN MY TEACHING.

I HAVE STRONG IDEAS OF WHAT C ARVES A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE, HOW AND AMERICAN CAN BEST BROADEN THEMSELVES THE TRAVEL.

IN THIS JOURNAL I CAN SEE THE ROOTS OF THAT PASSION.

IT IS A FASCINATING EXPERIENCE TO HAVE WRITTEN A JOURNAL LIKE THAT AND DISCOVERED IT 45 YEARS LATER.

THIS HAS BEEN MAIN STREET FOR ME SINCE SEVENTH GRADE.

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

JOHN: HIS FAMILY MOVED TO THIS QUIET CITY ON PUGET SOUND WHEN HE WAS 12.

IT IS WHERE HE PRACTICES HIS OWN BRAND OF PHILANTHROPY AND ACTIVISM.

>> WE WILL GO THERE UNTIL THE POLICE TELL US WE CANNOT DO IT ANYMORE.

[LAUGHTER] YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SIT HERE?

RICK: WE WILL BE ALLOWED TO SIT HERE WHEN THIS IS A TRAFFIC FREE P OUTSET IN THE CENTER OF -- PIAZA IN THE CENTER OF OUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN.

JOHN: YOU ARE DOING AS LITTLE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

[LAUGHTER] RICK: HELLO!

I LIKE TO SIT AND IMAGINE IT WAS TRAFFIC FREE.

I CALL IT THE PIAZA.

IN AMERICA, WE NEED THE PIAZA.

WHY IS ITALY MY FAVORITE COUNTRY?

COMMUNITIES COMING TOGETHER.

JOHN: FOR STEVES, THAT IS THE POWER OF TRAVEL.

AND HIS MESSAGE TO ENCOURAGE IT.

RICK: WHEN YOU TRAVEL, YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN COMMON WITH PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ACROSS THIS GLOBE LOVE THEIR GELATO.

JOHN: HE MAKES NUMEROUS PUBLIC APPEARANCES LIKE THIS ONE IN BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON.

>> WE HAVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

NOT EVERYBODY HAS OUR DREAM.

I USED TO THINK THAT WOULD BE INSULTING TO US, BUT IT IS NOT.

SRI LANKANS HAVE THE SRI LANKAN DREAM.

CANADIANS HAVE THE CANADIAN DREAM.

AND IT IS NOT JOINING US.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] JOHN: YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TOURIST AND A TRAVELER.

RICK: A TOURIST TO ME, I GOT A BUCKET LIST, YOU ARE GETTING NICE SELFIES, HAVING A GREAT TIME ON THE BEACH.

YOU ARE HANGING OUT WITH YOUR OWN FRIENDS.

YOU ARE CHANGING THE WEATHER BUT NOT YOUR CULTURE.

THAT IS A LEGITIMATE KIND OF TRAVEL, BUT YOU HAVE A PRETTY LOW BAR IF THAT IS WHY YOU ARE TRAVELING.

AS A TEACHER, I WANT TO EMBRACE CULTURE SHOCK HAS A GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE THING, NOT SOME THING TO AVOID, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS A VALUABLE PRODUCT OF THOUGHTFUL TRAVEL.

IT IS THE GROWING PAINS OF A BROADENING PERSPECTIVE.

I LOVE THIS NOTION THAT YOU CAN LEARN A LOT ABOUT YOUR HOME BY LEAVING IT AND LOOKING AT IT FROM A DISTANCE.

JOHN: THERE IS A MOMENT IN THE JOURNAL WHERE YOU DESCRIBE A SERENDIPITOUS EVENT IN INDIA, AND YOU SAY THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT MAKES YOU CHOOSE TRAVEL.

RICK: THIS IS REALLY A MOMENT.

ON THE ROAD OUT OF TOWN, WE CAME UPON FOUR BEAUTIFUL WOMEN CARRYING HUGE BASKETS OF GRASS ON THEIR HEADS.

I GOOFED AROUND WITH THEM A BIT, DISCOVERING THEY HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR, AND THEN I MADE MY MOVE.

CROUCHING UNDER THE GIANT HAT OF HAY, I LOOKED A WOMAN RIGHT IN THE EYE, SHARING THE SHADE OF ALL THAT HAY, SO SUDDENLY SO CLOSE TOGETHER, FROM OPPOSITE WORLDS, YET SHARING THE SAME PLANET WITH OUR NOSES JUST INCHES APART, IT WAS THE KIND OF MOMENT THAT MAKES ME CHOOSE TRAVEL.

JOHN: CHOOSE TRAVEL.

RICK: YEAH.

CHOOSE TRAVEL.

THAT IS THE KIND OF MOMENT THAT TRAVEL SHOULD BE.

GETTING UP AND CLOSE.

JOHN: EVEN THEN, HIS BREEZY WRITING AND KEEN OBSERVATIONS WERE EVIDENT.

THERE WERE OTHER DUSTY JOURNALS HE HAD NOT LOOKED AT IN YEARS.

WE ASKED HIM TO READ A PAGE FROM ONE OF THEM.

RICK: THIS IS MY JOURNAL FROM THE YEAR BEFORE THE HIPPIE TRAIL, JULY 27, CAIRO.

WE SPENT TWO HOURS POKING IN AND OUT OF MARKETS, STEALING PHOTOGRAPHS, IGNORING WHAT TIME IS IT NOW, AND CONSTANT HELLOS.

AFTER A WHILE WE TENDED TO FORGET THAT WE HAD EVERYONE'S ATTENTION AND EVEN DISTANT HONKS AND HELLOS WERE DIRECTED AT US.

IF BEING FAMOUS IS LIKE THIS, I'M GLAD I'M OF SECURE.

- - I'M OBSCURE.

[LAUGHTER] THAT IS A GOOD LINE.

THIS IS GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] I'VE NEVER LOOKED AT THIS EITHER.

HONESTLY.

WOW.

SO MAYBE THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK THERE.

JOHN: IN AUGUST 2024, STEVES SET OUT ON AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.

HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER.

IT IS SOMETHING HE TALKS ABOUT OPENLY.

RICK: MY PERSONALITY IS TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS.

I THOUGHT I DON'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE, THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME, I'M GOING TO BE OK. AND IF I'M NOT, I'VE HAD A GOOD LIFE.

JOHN: HE WAS DECLARED CANCER FREE IN, FEBRUARY JUST AS HIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED.

RICK: THE SHIPS GOT HERE.

NEXT STOP, TOKYO.

IT IS A REMINDER OF A BIG WORLD.

JOHN: FROM HIS HOME OVERLOOKING PUGET SOUND, STEVES SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO PREACH HIS MESSAGE THAT TRAVEL IS MORE THAN JUST BUCKET LIST'S AND SELFIES.

RICK: YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, CREATE A SITUATION WHERE SERENDIPITY IS CONSTANTLY KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR.

AND YOU HAVE TO SAY, YES, COME ON IN.

THAT IS WHERE YOU GET THOSE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES.

THAT IS THE BEST SOUVENIR.

STAYS WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

♪ OHN: THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEK AND FOR THIS SATURDAY.

I'M JOHN YANG.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.