>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, STATE LAWMAKERS FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

WHY WAS THERE ANOTHER DELAY?

AND WHEN WILL THEY RETURN TO TALLAHASSEE TO AGREE ON A DEAL?

7 MONTHS HELD CAPTIVE BY THE TALIBAN?

WE TALK WITH AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST DAVID ROHDE ON HOW THE TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED HIM PROFESSIONALLY AND UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNKNOWN.

WE SPEAK WITH A LEADING UFO RESEARCHER TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY SIGNS OF LIFE IN THE COSMOS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THE 2026 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL END OF THIS FRIDAY WITHOUT A STATE BUDGET BEING PAST THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REQUIRES LAWMAKERS TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

BUT RIGHT NOW THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE IN A BUDGET STALEMATE.

FLORIDA.

DEMOCRATS BLAME INFIGHTING BETWEEN THEIR REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS.

>> THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LAST WEEK OF THE 60 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE THE BUDGET WILL BE DONE ON TIME.

REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE HOUSE.

THEY CONTROL THE SENATE.

THEY CONTROL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND YET THEY CAN'T STOP FIGHTING TO DO ANYTHING SERIOUS TO TACKLE THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT FLORIDIANS ARE STRUGGLING WITH EVERY DAY.

WE HEAR ABOUT THIS FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

FLORIDIANS DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CULTURE WARS.

THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT REPUBLICAN INFIGHTING AND THEY DO NOT CARE WHO WAS RUNNING FOR WHAT OFFICE NEXT.

THEY WANT THEIR GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING THEIR LIVES.

>> WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED HOUSE AND SENATE IN A DEADLOCK OVER A NUMBER OF KEY PROPOSALS.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU REPORTER AND HOST JOHN DAVIS TO SORT THINGS OUT ON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

OF COURSE, IT SOUNDS LIKE LAWMAKERS RIGHT NOW IN TALLAHASSEE.

THEY ARE STUCK ON A BUDGET AND IT WILL NOT PASS CORRECT BY FRIDAY.

>> THAT'S THE ONE THING WE KNOW FOR SURE.

THERE'S A 72 HOUR MANDATED COOLING-OFF PERIOD.

ONCE A BUDGET PROPOSAL IS PRESENTED IN ORDER FOR SESSION TO END ON TIME BY THIS COMING FRIDAY THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED BY MONDAY.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

SO WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET PASSED BY THE SCHEDULED END OF SESSION THIS FRIDAY.

NOW LAWMAKERS COULD GO INTO OVERTIME WHERE THEY SIMPLY EXTEND THE SESSION OR THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, SHUT THINGS DOWN ON FRIDAY AND THEN COME BACK AT SOME POINT BEFORE JULY.

FIRST FOR A SPECIAL SESSION JUST TO HAMMER OUT THE BUDGET.

AND AGAIN, THIS HAS TO HAPPEN BY JULY.

FIRST IS THE ONLY THING LAWMAKERS ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED TO PASS.

IF THEY DON'T PASS IT BY JULY.

FIRST, WE WILL ENTER A STATE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AT LEAST PARTIALLY.

>> AND THERE ARE BILL BILLION DOLLARS OFF.

>> IS THAT CORRECT?

YEAH, IT HASN'T REALLY CHANGED.

SINCE THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE TO HOUSE AND SENATE BUDGET PROPOSALS ARE ABOUT A BILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS OFF.

AND HOUSE SPEAKER DANIEL PEREZ SAYS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT BUDGING ON THE SENATE AS FAR AS HE'S CONCERNED, WANTS TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH.

SO AGAIN, THAT HASN'T REALLY CHANGED SINCE WE LAST SPOKE.

>> IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF ANY SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION STILL BEING PASSED BEFORE THE SESSION ENDS ON FRIDAY?

ONE SIGNIFICANT PIECE THAT I THINK THERE ARE DEALS STILL CHANT, MUCH STAND A CHANCE OF PASSING IS A BILL THAT'S SPONSORED BY.

>> I FORT MYERS, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JENNA PERSONS-MULICKA AND THIS WOULD ENACT TOUGH NEW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING.

THIS COULD LEAD TO ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS FOR FOR POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF VOTERS.

AND THE MOVE IS STAUNCHLY OPPOSED BY DEMOCRATS.

BUT AGAIN, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CLOUT IN EITHER LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER TO KEEP ANYTHING FROM PASSING.

AND IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY OF SECRETARY OF STATE CORD BYRD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

IT WOULD REQUIRE PROOF OF U.S.

CITIZENSHIP FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, USING SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS LIKE BIRTH CERTIFICATES, PASSPORTS, NATURALIZATION PAPERS, AND IT WOULD RESTRICT WHAT ID'S.

AND THAT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE AS PHOTO IDS AT THE POLLS IN THE PAST.

THINGS LIKE A STUDENT 90'S FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, FAR FEWER COLLEGE STUDENTS THESE DAYS ACTUALLY HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES THEM DEAD IN THE PAST.

SO YOU MIGHT BE THINKING THAT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.

BUT FOR YOUNGER VOTERS, IT REALLY COULD BE SO AGAIN, THAT'S STILL JUST A WAIT AND SEE IT PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

BUT IN THESE FINAL 3 DAYS OF SESSION, IT COULD PASS IN THE SENATE.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET.

>> AND WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THIS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT HAS TAKEN SO MUCH OF THE FOCUS OF THE OF THE LEGISLATURE'S THIS SESSION SO FAR.

>> SO THIS IS ONE OF THE MEASURES THAT HAS PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

THEY PASSED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD, AGAIN, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BEFORE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER TO ACTUALLY TAKE A FACT.

BUT WHAT IT PROPOSES IS INCREMENTALLY REDUCING NON-SCHOOL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD UNTIL THEY'RE ELIMINATING IT.

NOW, THE SENATE HASN'T TAKEN THIS UP YET.

SO GIVEN THAT THIS HAS BEEN PRIORITY LEGISLATION OF THE GOVERNOR, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL IF WE SEE YET ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION CALLED JUST TO DEAL WITH PROPERTY TAXES.

AND THAT'S ON TOP OF THE SPECIAL SESSION.

DESANTIS HAS ALREADY CALLED FOR LATE NEXT MONTH, BUT WOULD DEAL WITH CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE I WAS GOING TO TOUCH ON.

WE HAVE THIS SPECIAL SESSION ALREADY SET UP.

WHEN DOES THAT START?

>> THAT STARTS IN LATE APRIL.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A SHORT FIVE-DAY SESSION BECAUSE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING AS THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THEIR DOCKET.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN TO THE VOTERS?

DO YOU THINK VOTERS ARE SORT OF LOSING I DON'T KNOW.

THEY'RE FOCUSED.

THEY'RE SAYING LEGISLATE OUR LEDGE.

OUR LEGISLATORS ARE NOT GETTING.

>> MUCH DONE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IN YEAH, THAT'S BEEN THE STORY OF THE SESSION.

YOU HAVE BILLS THE I BILL OF RIGHTS.

>> AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN PASSED BY THE SENATE, BUT IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE IN THE HOUSE AND IT'S BEEN A BACK AND FORTH LIKE THAT WITH A LOT OF PRIORITY BILLS WHERE ONE CHAMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE ALL AND THEY PASS IT ON TO THE OTHER CHAMBER AND THEN IT DOESN'T EVEN GET A COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> AND YOU HAD MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE IS NO EXTRA PAY FOR OUR LAWMAKERS ONCE THEY DO GO INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

MOST LAWMAKERS MAKE AROUND A LITTLE LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR.

SO, YOU KNOW, TRULY A SERVICE POSITION.

BUT IF AND UP GOING INTO OVERTIME, THEY ARE STILL COMPENSATED THEM AND THEIR LEGISLATIVE AIDE.

SO THE LAWMAKER PLUS 2 OR 3 AIDES FOR THINGS LIKE MEALS, HOTELS AND TRAVEL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA POLITICAL SCIENTIST DR AUBREY JEWETT ESTIMATES.

AND THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE THAT THAT WOULD COST TAXPAYERS AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 A DAY.

GOODNESS, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THAT REALLY IS A SHOT IN THE BUCKET.

WHEN YOU PUT THAT UP AGAINST WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH, WHICH IS PROPOSING A 100 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

BUT AGAIN, TO YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE PERSON JUST TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ESPECIALLY WITH, YOU KNOW, THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS BEING WHAT IT IS TODAY.

>> IT'S THE OPTICS.

IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

ALL EYES ON TALLAHASSEE, FOR SURE.

AND WE WILL BE WATCHING AND TRACKING ANY UPDATES.

THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR JOINING US TODAY.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, PULITZER PRIZE WINNING JOURNALIST DAVID ROHDE JOINS US TO SHARE HIS STORY AFTER BEING KIDNAPPED BY THE TALIBAN.

HIS STORY OF SURVIVAL.

COMING UP NEXT.

IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, THE TALIBAN KIDNAPPED NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER DAVID ROHDE, HIS DRIVER AND A TRANSLATOR.

THEY WERE HEADING TO AN INTERVIEW OUTSIDE OF KABUL, AFGHANISTAN WHEN THE TALIBAN CAPTURED THEM HELD HOSTAGE FOR MORE THAN 7 MONTHS.

HE FINALLY ESCAPED CLIMBING OVER A WALL OF THE TALIBAN'S COMPOUND.

RHODES MOTHER LIVES IN NAPLES AND ON A RECENT VISIT TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

I HAVE THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH HIM ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE AND HOW IT CHANGED HIS LIFE.

>> WE HAVE AN AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST WITH US TONIGHT.

DAVID ROHDE, WHO IS >> THE NATIONAL SENIOR REPORTER FOR MS NOW AND ALSO A PULITZER PRIZE WINNING JOURNALIST JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT HONOR TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU FIRST GOT INTO INTERNATIONAL REPORTING?

>> IT ACTUALLY LINKS TO A PBS STATION, THE PBS STATION IN BOSTON.

SO I WAS IN COLLEGE.

I WAS AN INTERN AT WGBH.

THEY HAD A LOCAL SHOW CALLED THE 10 O'CLOCK NEWS.

THAT WAS LOCAL NEWS HERE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO GREAT.

THIS EXPANSION IS HAPPENING HERE.

AFTER I GRADUATE, I GOT A JOB AT THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, WHICH WAS ALSO IN BOSTON.

AND THEN THEY NEEDED A REPORTER TO COVER THE WAR IN BOSNIA WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

1994 AND I WENT TO BOSNIA AND COVER THE WAR.

THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

I WANT TO PULL SURPRISE THERE FOR HELPING EXPOSE A MASSACRE AND THEN WENT ON TO NEW YORK TIMES AND OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS.

>> AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MIGHT KNOW OR HAVE HEARD OF YOUR STORY WHEN YOU WERE KIDNAPPED BY THE TALIBAN IN 2008?

YES.

AND YOU ARE REPORTING TELL TELL US WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

SO I WAS A REPORTER FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES.

I COVER 9.11 I WAS IN NEW YORK THAT DAY AND I WAS SENT OVER TO COVER AFGHANISTAN.

I COVERED THE FALL OF THE TALIBAN.

>> AND THEN SPENT SEVERAL YEARS THERE.

I MOVED OVER AND WAS BASED IN THE REGION.

I'D BEEN THERE ABOUT THIS WAS 2008.

SO I'VE BEEN COVERING AFGHANISTAN FOR 7 YEARS.

I WAS READING A BOOK AND I WANTED AS PART OF MY BOOK TO HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE OF A TALIBAN COMMANDER.

AND I HEARD ABOUT IT.

ALLEN COMMANDER HAD DONE INTERVIEWS OF THE FRENCH JOURNALIST AND A GREAT JOURNALIST.

I MET THE FRENCH AROSE.

PRI WENT OFF FOR MY INTERVIEW AND SHE SAID YOU'LL BE IN MORE DANGER IS AN AMERICAN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE MET HIM TWICE AND HE LET ME IN DOING WRONG.

WHEN I SHOWED UP THE NEXT MORNING FOR MY INTERVIEW WAS ME AN AFGHAN JOURNALIST, AN AFGHAN DRIVER.

THEY MAINLY CAN AT THE 3 OF US.

WE WERE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF KABUL, THE CAPITAL OF AFGHANISTAN.

THEY TRANSPORT US ACROSS 3 PROVINCES IN TOOK US INTO PAKISTAN, THE MOUNTAINS ON THE BORDER THERE.

AND ONCE WE WERE OVER THE BORDER INTO PAKISTAN, U.S.

TROOPS COULD COME RESCUE US.

SO WE WERE HOLD TOTAL FOR 7 MONTHS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

I WAS VERY WE'RE IN THE BEGINNING.

THEY WERE ALL GOING TO BE KILLED, THAT THEY HATED THE AFGHAN JOURNALIST IN THE AFGHAN DRIVER.

MORE THAN ME BECAUSE THEY MS TRADERS.

BUT AS TIME WENT BY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET VERY LARGE RANSOM.

THEY WERE PRETTY DELUSIONAL ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD GET.

THEY WANTED LIKE 20 MILLION OR A CAMERA, 50 MILLION AND YOU KNOW, PRISONERS FROM GUANTANAMO BAY FREE.

NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.

AND I, YOU KNOW, WAS PROTECTED BY THIS AFGHAN JOURNALIST AFGHAN DRIVER AND EVENTUALLY THE AFGHAN JOURNALIST HELPED ME ESCAPE.

>> THAT'S WHAT WAS GOING TO ASK.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THE 2 EVENTUALLY ESCAPE?

>> SO WE WERE MOVED AROUND ALL THE TIME.

THEY WERE U.S.

DRONES OVERHEAD.

LOOKING FOR US BEEN WORTH IT THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES AS ONE EXPLAIN ONE THEY HAD WAS THAT THEY THOUGHT THE 9.11 ATTACKS WERE STAGED BY THE CIA.

ASIDE TO CREATE EXCUSE FOR THE U.S.

AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO INVADE MUSLIM COUNTRIES LIKE AFGHANISTAN AND CONVERT MUSLIMS TO CHRISTIANITY.

NONE OF THAT WAS TRUE.

THEY BELIEVE THAT U.S.

SOLDIERS WERE FORCING AFGHAN WOMEN TO WORK AS PROSTITUTES.

THAT WAS FALSE AS WELL.

SO AFTER THE 7 MONTHS WE WERE JUST SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE CRAZY DEMANDS AND ALL THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THIS AFGHAN JOURNALIST, WE MOVED TO A HOUSE THAT WAS RIGHT NEAR A PAKISTANI MILITARY BASE AND THE PACKERS TIE.

SO THE MILITARY KIND OF TOLERATED THE PAKISTAN, THE START OF THE TELETHON AND IN THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT, WE GOT UP.

I FOUND A CAR TOW ROPE.

WE USED IT TO LOWER OURSELVES FROM THE ROOF DOWN ONTO THE STREET AND THIS VERY BRAVE AFGHAN JOURNALIST LED ME THEN TO THIS PAKISTANI BASE.

WHEN NEARLY GOT SHOT, I DON'T LONG YEARS.

BUT THE PACKETS NI OFFICER IN CHARGE, YOU KNOW, WAS TOLD THERE'S, YOU KNOW, WINNING A RADIO CALL THIS SOMEONE SAYING THEY'RE AMERICAN JOURNALIST STANDING OUT HERE AND THAT PAKISTANI CAPTAIN BROUGHT ME INSIDE AND AND THE AFGHAN JOURNALIST AND SAVED OUR LIVES.

>> HOW HAS THIS SHAPED HOW YOU COVER NEWS?

>> THERE'S GOOD PEOPLE AND I WAS TELLING ALL THAT DETAIL ABOUT THE BRAVE AFGHAN JOURNALIST THAT OFFENDS ME FOR 7 MONTHS IN AND HELPED ME ESCAPE THE BRAVE PRACTICE I KEPT.

AND THAT BRINGS ME ON TO HIS BASE, YOU KNOW, AND THEY THERE WAS A BIG THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AFGHANISTAN, EVEN PAKISTAN WHO ARE PROUD OF BEING MUSLIM, BUT THEY WANT TO BE MODERN MUSLIM.

THEY WANT THEIR COUNTRY TO MOVE MORE LIKE DUBAI OR MORE LIKE TURKEY.

THEN WHAT THE TALIBAN WANT.

OBVIOUSLY, THE TALIBAN ARE IN CONTROL NOW, BUT SO I COVER THE NEWS TRYING TO SORT OF LOOK FOR THE GOOD SIDES.

AND I I WORRY ABOUT TOO MUCH HEATED RHETORIC LEADING TO TOO MUCH DIVISION AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND AND POLITICAL MILES.

I'VE SEEN WHERE CONSPIRACY THEORIES CAN LEAD TO CIVIL WAR.

AS I SAW THAT IN BOSNIA BETWEEN PEOPLE THERE, I SAW TOM IN AFGHANISTAN AND SO I WANT TO BE REALLY FAIR AND FACTUAL AND HAVE POSITIVE STORIES.

ALSO FOR THIS COUNTRY AS WE NOW WRESTLE WITH OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ROLE, YOUR NEW ROLE.

IT.

NOW I NOW WORK AND MS.

NOW IT WAS FORMALLY CALLED MSNBC.

IT'S A SPLIT OFF FROM NBC NEWS.

WE'RE AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY.

AND SO I COVER NATIONAL SECURITY.

I WAS AT THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE LAST WEEK WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN UKRAINE.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN IRAN WHEN COVERING CLOSELY THIS U.S.

MILITARY BUILDUP AND IRAN AND, YOU KNOW, WAITING TO SEE WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DECIDES.

SO IT'S A BUSY TIME IN THE NEWS.

BUSINESS IS, YOU KNOW, AND I'M EAGER TO JUST TRY TO GET WE'RE JUST IN MUNICH.

I WAS JUST IN MUNICH AND IT WAS.

AND THERE WERE TALKS ALSO IN GENEVA RIGHT AFTER THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE.

NOT MUCH PROGRESS IN TERMS OF THE TALKS THAT HAPPENED IN GENEVA ABOUT UKRAINE.

THAT WAS A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT FOR EUROPEANS AND UKRAINIANS.

THEY WERE HOPING FOR SOME PROGRESS THERE.

THEY WANT MORE PRESSURE.

THEY THEY FEEL ON VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THEN IN TERMS OF IRAN, IT'S NOT CLEAR.

I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GIVING THE RIGHT THE CHANCE TO JUST GIVE UP THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAM.

THAT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS THEY'RE WAITING FOR AN ANSWER WRITTEN PROMISES FROM AROUND.

I THINK IF IRAN DOESN'T MAKE THOSE PROMISES TO GET RID OF ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, I DO HAVE THE SENSE THAT THE U.S.

WILL ATTACK IRAN.

IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

DAVID, THERE ARE NEW RULES THAT ARE IN PLACE IN THE PENTAGON FOR JOURNALISTS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THESE?

>> AND SO IT'S IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC, THE MOST OR ALL SUPPOSE WHAT WAS WAS DONE.

SO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH CREATE A NEW RULE WHERE JOURNALIST THAT WE'RE GOING TO COVER THE PENTAGON HAD TO AGREE TO NOT REPORT ANYTHING WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE PENTAGON ITSELF.

THIS WAS A BRAND NEW CHANGE.

THE PRESS CORPS HAS VOLUNTARILY ABIDED ABOUT NOT REPORTING ANY INFORMATION THAT PUTS U.S.

TROOPS IN DANGER.

I EMBEDDED WITH U.S.

TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.

I WOULD NEVER REPORT WHERE THEY WERE THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE AN AMERICAN EVER EVER LOSE A LIFE BECAUSE OF REPORTING.

BUT THESE ARE THESE ARE SWEEPING RESTRICTIONS ON REPORTING ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY GET YOUR STORIES APPROVED BY THE PENTAGON BEFORE YOU PUT THEM OUT.

EVERY MAJOR NEWS ORGANIZATION REJECTED THOSE NEW GUIDELINES AND THEY WERE FORCED TO MOVE OUT OF THE PENTAGON.

THERE WAS A ROOM.

THERE WAS THE PRESS ROOM WHERE EVERY MAJOR NETWORK WORK AND THERE WAS AGREEMENT AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DIVIDE AMERICAN MEDIA, BUT FOX NEWS IS, YOU KNOW, SIGN ON TO THIS AND SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ABIDE BY THESE NEW RULES.

SO DID NBC NEWS.

SO TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.

SO THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY MAINSTREAM NEWS OUTLETS WORKING IN THE PENTAGON.

THEY WORK OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, STILL COVER THE MILITARY.

BUT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF NEWS ORGANIZATIONS SET UP AND SAID NO, YOU'RE NOT GONNA CONTROL.

WE REPORT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICE MEMBERS ARE GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED THE LEADERSHIP, THE EQUIPMENT, THE TRAINING BECAUSE THEY'RE RISKING THEIR LIVES TO AMERICAN PUBLIC.

AND WE WANT TO REPORT THAT INDEPENDENTLY AS MEMBERS OF THE PRESS.

>> AND HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS IMPACTS JOURNALISM?

>> IT'S LIMITED ACCESS.

I MEAN, WE KNOW LESS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE PENTAGON AND WE DID BEFORE.

AND THAT'S THAT'S A BIG CHANGE.

AGAIN, WE'D WE WOULD NEVER REPORT ANYTHING THAT WOULD RISK AMERICAN LIVES.

BUT WE FEEL WE AS AN INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SOLDIERS ARE GETTING THE SUPPORT, THE TRAINING IN THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY DESERVE AS THEY RISK THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY AND TRANSPARENCY.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DAVID, FOR JOINING US AND FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, ARE THERE ALIENS AMONG US?

>> WE CHAT WITH AN EXPERT ON U F O'S TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

ARE WE REALLY ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE?

COMING UP?

UNIVERSE?

COMING UP?

>> A COUPLE QUESTIONS HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

WING IN ISRAEL.

>> THE REAL BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM AND THEY'RE NOT BEING KEPT IN MESA AREA FOR THE AREA.

51, THERE'S NO UNDERGROUND FACILITY UNLESS THERE'S THIS ENORMOUS CONSPIRACY AND THEY THEY HEADED FROM THE PRESIDENT UNITED STATES.

>> WHAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION YOU WANTED ANSWERED WHEN YOU BECAME PRESIDENT?

>> THAT WHERE SO FOR THE HITS.

>> WAS IT IN COMMENTS MADE IN JEST OR SOMETHING MUCH MORE.

FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA CREATED AN ONLINE FRENZY AFTER SUGGESTING THAT ALIENS ARE REAL, DESPITE NOT HAVING DIRECT EVIDENCE.

THE REMARK MADE ON A PODCAST HOSTED BY BRIAN TYLER COHEN LEAD MANY TO JUMP STRAIGHT INTO CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE TAKES A DIVE INTO THE TO SEE IF THERE COULD BE SOMETHING WATCHING US BEYOND THE STARS.

>> WELL, FOR MORE ON UFO'S ALIENS AND MORE OF THE UNKNOWN, WE ARE JOINED BY RON JAMES, A FILMMAKER AND DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS WITH THE MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, MR.

JAMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

THANKS A LOT FOR HAVING ME ON.

WELL, NOT SO AS WE JUST HEARD A RECENT PODCAST, FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAID THAT IN REGARDS TO ALIENS, THEY'RE REAL, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM.

BUT NOW FOR UFO BELIEVERS WHEN THEY HEAR A FORMER HEAD OF STATE MAKING THESE SORT OF COMMENTS REGARDING POTENTIAL EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THIS MOVEMENT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WAS A GENUINE SLIP UP.

OBAMA GOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND HE KIND OF LET THAT SLIP.

BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THAT INTERVIEW IS WHAT HE SAID AFTERWARDS WAS THAT UNLESS THERE'S SOME VAST CONSPIRACY WHERE PRESIDENTS AREN'T EVEN READ IN AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT'S ACTUALLY CORRECT THAT TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MANAGING THIS INFORMATION, WHICH GOES BACK AS FAR AS RECORDED HISTORY AND IN THE MODERN ERA, BACK TO THE 30'S THE PEOPLE THAT MANAGE THIS INFORMATION ARE VERY, VERY DEEP, WILL NEVER KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF REVEALING THIS INFORMATION TO SITTING PRESIDENTS WHO THEY CONSIDER TO BE TEMPORARY.

HELP.

SO I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING COMMENTS THAT HE MADE AND IT TRIGGERED A RESPONSE FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AND WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN TRYING TO GET DISCLOSURE.

THERE'S CONGRESS PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE.

SO I THINK THE THE FAMOUS OBAMA SLIP UP OF WHICH I'VE COME TO CALL IT, MAYBE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CATALYSTS FOR THE NEXT STEP OF DISCLOSURE.

>> AND THEN THAT DOES FOLLOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

WHERE WAS REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF HELD CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS?

NOT MUCH WAS REALLY.

CAME FROM THAT.

A LOT OF THEM WERE MORE OF PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY OR JUST DIFFERENT WAYS THAT MAYBE THAT YOU CAN IGNORE THE CONVERSATION WHILE STILL HAVING IT IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

SO WHEN THESE KIND OF TOPICS GET BROUGHT UP AND NOTHING COMES FROM THIS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR ANY TRUE EVIDENCE OF ALIEN LIFE?

>> WELL, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT >> THIS KIND OF PROCESS LIKE WE'RE SEEING UNFOLD IN WASHINGTON HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN THE 50'S.

WE HAD VERY, VERY SIMILAR PUBLIC INTEREST AND WE HAD VERY SIMILAR GOVERNMENT ACTION.

THERE WERE PANELS.

THERE WERE HEARINGS.

THERE WERE WITNESSES THAT CAME FORWARD FROM THE MILITARY.

AND THEN IT JUST ALL KIND OF FIZZLED AND NOTHING CAME OF IT.

THERE WAS DEFINITIVE.

AND IN 2017 WHEN THE NAVY VIDEOS OF OF UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS WERE REVEALED IN LOUISVILLE AS JOHN DOE CAME FORWARD WITH CHRISTOPHER MELLON FROM THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND STARTED SAYING THAT, YES, WE'RE SEEING UFO'S.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A DECADE SINCE THAT HAPPENED AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DEFINITIVE DISCLOSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN COUNT ON.

AND SO REALLY, IT SEEMS TO ME AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND IT'S INCLUDED IN MY FILMS.

THE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS AN ORGANIZED ROLL OUT, A VERY LIMITED INFORMATION BEING CONTROLLED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KEEPING THIS IN A SHROUD OF SECRECY.

>> AND THEN, WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN RESPONSE TO THESE COMMENTS HAS OPENLY SAID THAT ALL DOCUMENTS REGARDING ANY RESEARCH OR ANYTHING DONE REGARDING EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE SHOULD BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.

I MEAN, IF HOW DOES THAT WORK?

THEN IF AGAIN, NOTHING IS.

STEADY OR HAS ACTUAL EVIDENCE TO ANY ACTUAL ALIEN LIFE.

IS THIS JUST KIND OF A A FARCE THAT PEOPLE WOULD TAKE THAT S?

>> THE THEORY THAT I PUT FORTH MY FILMS AND WHAT I'VE COME TO BELIEVE IS THAT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF NON-HUMAN INTELLIGENT BEINGS THAT ARE INTERACTING WITH HUMANITY AND THEIR ORIGINS CAN BE ANY NUMBER OF PLACES.

IT CAN BE EXTRATERRESTRIALS FROM OTHER PLANETS.

THE THEORY THAT'S GETTING A LOT OF GROUND NOW IS THAT THERE COULD BE A HIDDEN CIVILIZATION, ESPECIALLY HERE ON THE PLANET THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ITS VERY ADVANCED.

THAT HAS BEEN HERE A LOT LONGER THAN WE HAVE.

AND THEN THERE'S INTER DIMENSIONAL BEINGS.

THERE'S TIME TRAVEL.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER ESOTERIC POSSIBILITIES THAT EXIST.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL AS INFORMATION AND KEEPING IT FROM HUMANITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN ONLY KEEP IT UNDER WRAPS FOR SO LONG AND THAT THE HUMAN RACE NEEDS TO BE INFORMED OF THE TRUTH THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE.

BUT THERE ALSO FACED WITH THE DILEMMA OF HOW DO WE DO THIS?

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS UP FOR SO LONG HAVE LITERALLY COMMITTED SOME SAY CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY FOR COVERING THE INFORMATION AND DEPRIVING US OF THIS KNOWLEDGE.

SO THEY'RE BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME OFF SOME OF THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL CIVILIAN TECHNOLOGY IS ABLE TO DETECT THESE THINGS.

IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A ROCKET LANDS ON MARS AND DISCOVERS DEFINITIVE SIGNS OF LIFE.

SO THEY'VE GOT TO GET AHEAD OF IT.

BUT THEY'VE ALSO GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

>> WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO SOME SORT OF CONFIRMATION OF SOMETHING BEYOND OUR PLANET AND WHETHER THAT IS EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE OR MAYBE SOMETHING OF THE PAST, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING COMING IN WITH YOUR EXPERTISE AND HAVING DONE RESEARCH AND STUDYING AND TALKING WITH PEOPLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION WOULD BE IF THERE WAS ANY ACTUAL CONFIRMATION OF ALIEN LIFE, WOULD IT CHANGE THE WORLD OR WOULD THIS BE JUST THE NEWS OF THE DAY AND WE WOULD MOVE ONTO THE NEXT THING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CONTEXT OF IT.

>> OF PEOPLE ASKED THAT QUESTION ALL THE TIME.

IS HUMANITY READY FOR THE TRUTH AND WE CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THE REVELATION IS, HEY, WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE, THERE'S OTHER INTELLIGENCE OF.

THAT.

THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH US.

WE DON'T PERCEIVE A THREAT.

AND FOR MOST PEOPLE LIVES GOING TO GO ON, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE, YEAH, WELL, WE'VE BEEN WATCHING TELEVISION FOR A LONG TIME WHERE THE ANCIENT ALIENS GENERATION.

SO WE'RE NOT SURPRISED.

KEEP US POSTED.

BUT IF THE REVELATION WERE TO BE, HEY, THERE'S NON-HUMAN INTELLIGENCE, THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH US.

THEIR TECHNOLOGY IS FAR SUPERIOR THAN OURS.

AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEIR AGENDA IS AND THEY COULD POTENTIALLY BE A THREAT.

WELL, THAT WOULD CHANGE THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE ON HOW HUMANITY REACTED TO IT AND HOW PEOPLE TOOK THE NEWS PERSONALLY.

SO IT'S IT'S NOT A BLACK OR WHITE ANSWER.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CONTEXT OF HOW IT'S DELIVERED.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE AT THIS POINT AND I STATISTICS WILL BACK IT UP.

MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF OTHER LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE.

AND MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS MORE THAN THEY'RE TELLING.

AND MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT.

YOU KNOW, NOT HUMAN INTELLIGENCE EXISTS.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE A BIG SURPRISE.

WELL, FINGERS HALL FINGERS CROSSED THAT THEY COME IN PEACE.

>> SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US ABOUT THIS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTIFIC MINDS ARE THRIVING IN OUR BACKYARDS.

WE INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO IS USING HER EDUCATION AND CULTURE TO CREATE A UNIQUE PATH IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND EXTENDED INTERVIEWS.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.