now anyone over 16 can get a jab. we'll hear from a doctor in a remote area about how they're doing it. we shall meet again, and thunder, lightning _ we shall meet again, and thunder, lightning or rain. and all the world's a stage even the virtual world of zoom, we'll talk to actor simon callow about bringing shakespeare to a new generation. hello, i'm katty kay, in washington, christian fraser is in london. it's the first major victory of the biden presidency, a whopping $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, that in the last few hours cleared a final vote in the house of representatives, in the house of representatives. the american rescue plan, as it's called, will now head to the president's desk for his signature. we're expecting him to sign on friday afternoon, and the cheques will roll out soon after. so what's in this bill, and where's all that money going? well, among other things, there's a new round of means—tested payments of up to $1,400 for most american adults. democrats say as many as 85% of households should see some form of that money. there's also money for state and local governments — and schools. and a major increase in tax credits for people with children. there is something in the bill for everyone — but the bulk goes to poorer people. it is an agressive attempt to curb the worst economic effects of the pandemic; but also to reshape american society into something just a little closer to the european model of a social welfare state. let's bring in our north america correspondent nick bryant. he's also author of the new book, when america stopped being great. nick, thank you forjoining us. joe biden wanted a big win with a big stimulus package. there were a few tweaks, but basically he got what he wanted, didn't he?— wanted, didn't he? promise made, romise wanted, didn't he? promise made, promise kept- _ wanted, didn't he? promise made, promise kept- a — wanted, didn't he? promise made, promise kept. a big _ wanted, didn't he? promise made, promise kept. a big victory - wanted, didn't he? promise made, promise kept. a big victory for - wanted, didn't he? promise made, promise kept. a big victory forjoe | promise kept. a big victory forjoe biden— promise kept. a big victory forjoe biden early— promise kept. a big victory forjoe biden early on in his presidency, taking _ biden early on in his presidency, taking the — biden early on in his presidency, taking the oath of office, celebrating in capitol hill, this walking, — celebrating in capitol hill, this walking, hey, big spender, as he said recovery package. but what is so striking — said recovery package. but what is so striking about this bill is the polarisation on capitol hill that is exposed — polarisation on capitol hill that is exposed. not a single republican senator— exposed. not a single republican senator voted for this measure, in the upper— senator voted for this measure, in the upper house, not a single republican lawmaker voted for this measure _ republican lawmaker voted for this measure in the house of representatives. and that is out of kitter— representatives. and that is out of kitter with— representatives. and that is out of kilter with the country as a whole. there _ kilter with the country as a whole. there was— kilter with the country as a whole. there was broad support, surprisingly, these polarised times for this— surprisingly, these polarised times for this piece of legislation, but the republicans voted against it nonetheless. find the republicans voted against it nonetheless.— the republicans voted against it nonetheless. �* ., , ., ~ , nonetheless. and do you think this is true what _ nonetheless. and do you think this is true what we _ nonetheless. and do you think this is true what we were _ nonetheless. and do you think this is true what we were saying, - nonetheless. and do you think this i is true what we were saying, america has so long resisted any notion of moving to a bigger welfare state. you and i have been on campaign trails endlessly every time it is brought up, republicans will slam it as socialism, but particularly in this child tax credit, which is basically money for children and america, just for being a child, there are hints here of a much more progressive country, something that looks a little bit more european. the lesson of recent history is that at times— the lesson of recent history is that at times of— the lesson of recent history is that at times of national crisis, and this is— at times of national crisis, and this is a — at times of national crisis, and this is a moment of national crisis, conservatives tend to become operational estate. that is, people who tend _ operational estate. that is, people who tend to resist government and the good _ who tend to resist government and the good times actually look to benefit — the good times actually look to benefit in the bad times. and maybe that explains some of the support at the grassroots level, but obviously if you _ the grassroots level, but obviously if you are — the grassroots level, but obviously if you are a — the grassroots level, but obviously if you are a blue—collar worker, whoever — if you are a blue—collar worker, whoever you voted for, the idea of getting _ whoever you voted for, the idea of getting a _ whoever you voted for, the idea of getting a $1400 check in the post is going _ getting a $1400 check in the post is going to _ getting a $1400 check in the post is going to be very good. and what is interesting — going to be very good. and what is interesting is how the republicans are playing this, they are trying to setup _ are playing this, they are trying to set up an— are playing this, they are trying to set up an issue ahead of the midterm elections _ set up an issue ahead of the midterm elections in _ set up an issue ahead of the midterm elections in less than two years time _ elections in less than two years time. they're trying to say this is a tiberat— time. they're trying to say this is a liberal trig _ time. they're trying to say this is a liberal big spending, this is a tiberat— a liberal big spending, this is a liberal overage and historically, as you know. — liberal overage and historically, as you know, that argument has been very effective in the past. in the clinton — very effective in the past. in the clinton administration they lost controt— clinton administration they lost control of congress after two years and in _ control of congress after two years and in the — control of congress after two years and in the 0bama administration they lost controt— and in the 0bama administration they lost control of congress after two years _ lost control of congress after two years and — lost control of congress after two years. and that is what the republicans are trying to do, trying to replicate that saying the democrats are just splurging on spending — democrats are just splurging on spending and hoping the benefits. nick has _ spending and hoping the benefits. nick has a — spending and hoping the benefits. nick has a new book out called with america stopped being great, and i dare say you focus a little bit on the states and how they have changed. and i know among democrats are concerned about losing blue—collar workers, are concerned about losing blue—collarworkers, in are concerned about losing blue—collar workers, in a way, supporters have inverted and republicans are looking to pick up those working—class workers. yesterday action in the house came from tim ryan, how to listen to this. in the late 70s, a ceo made a 35. times the worker, today it is 300 — 400 times the worker. our friends on the other side, running around . with their hair on fire. heaven forbid we passl something that is going to help the damp workers - in the united states of america. heaven forbid! we tilt the balance that has been going in the wrong - direction for 50 years. we talk about pensions, you complain, we talk. about the minimum wage increase, you complain. i we talk about giving them the right to organise, you complain. - but if we were passing a tax cut here, you would be getting - a line to vote yes for it. now stop talking about doctor seuss land start working with us on behalfl of the american workers. i love a bit of passion. which underlines, it underlines that this is very un—american, as we sat in the introduction, this is a big part of the european social welfare state and i wonder how place for republicans. because if they are going to win these blue—collar workers that are part of the base, they can't just oppose workers that are part of the base, they can'tjust oppose everything. one of the things that is been interesting for the past 50 years is how political polarisation has reatty — how political polarisation has really narrowed income polarisation. economic— really narrowed income polarisation. economic polarisation, the idea that your average american doesn't really believe _ your average american doesn't really believe or— your average american doesn't really believe or have any more confidence in the _ believe or have any more confidence in the american dream in a globalised economy, especially economic castaways in a digitised economy — economic castaways in a digitised economy. that was always a something donald _ economy. that was always a something donald trump benefited from enormously. at the history of this is that— enormously. at the history of this is that the — enormously. at the history of this is that the republicans have been reaching — is that the republicans have been reaching out to blue—collar workers successfully for many years now. we've _ successfully for many years now. we've been talking about the reagan democrats for instance and it wasn't necessarily— democrats for instance and it wasn't necessarily an economic message, it was sometimes a cultural message. they looked on cultural ground, that was why— they looked on cultural ground, that was why he — they looked on cultural ground, that was why he was talking about dr. seuss— was why he was talking about dr. seuss there and the latest row over the depiction of african—americans and chinese americans in those books — and chinese americans in those books it— and chinese americans in those books it is— and chinese americans in those books. it is cultural to —— cultural terrain— books. it is cultural to —— cultural terrain that — books. it is cultural to —— cultural terrain that the republicans look at, terrain that the republicans look at. but _ terrain that the republicans look at. but we — terrain that the republicans look at, but we know the donald trump benefited — at, but we know the donald trump benefited as well. he established a strong _ benefited as well. he established a strong connection, he made himself a working _ strong connection, he made himself a working class hero, even though he was a _ working class hero, even though he was a been — working class hero, even though he was a been a very —— billionaire and a beneficiary— was a been a very —— billionaire and a beneficiary of the economy. one of the things— a beneficiary of the economy. one of the thingsjoe biden did was reclaim the thingsjoe biden did was reclaim the rust— the thingsjoe biden did was reclaim the rust belt with the democratic party. _ the rust belt with the democratic party, one of the things he managed to do _ party, one of the things he managed to do. . ~ party, one of the things he managed to do. ., ,, i. party, one of the things he managed to do. ., ~' ,, , party, one of the things he managed todo. ., , . to do. thank you very much, i will aet to do. thank you very much, i will net to to do. thank you very much, i will get to the — to do. thank you very much, i will get to the book, _ to do. thank you very much, i will get to the book, and _ to do. thank you very much, i will get to the book, and what - to do. thank you very much, i will get to the book, and what do - to do. thank you very much, i will get to the book, and what do you | get to the book, and what do you think, given that i got zero republican votes? where you think that lisa politics? —— leaves the politics? what is next, infrastructure? . , ., infrastructure? infrastructure is a bi . infrastructure? infrastructure is a big spending _ infrastructure? infrastructure is a big spending one. _ infrastructure? infrastructure is a big spending one, but _ infrastructure? infrastructure is a big spending one, but also - infrastructure? infrastructure is a big spending one, but also police perform and voting rights. those are the two big ones that progressives are very interested in in the democratic party and are desperate forjoe biden to throw his weight behind changing the congressional rules to get us past. i think with the body and a ministration are hoping is, we get a big win, the body and a ministration are hoping is, we geta big win, we the body and a ministration are hoping is, we get a big win, we get popularity, this bill is likely to grow in popularity as people start receiving the checks, it will not shrink, more people are going like it when they start getting the money from it and that would then give him some political leverage over his republican colleagues to say, ok, we have to support other things because the president has its amount of popularity. but the president has its amount of pepuiarity-_ the president has its amount of --oulari . �* ,, ,., popularity. but he has the likes of the senator _ popularity. but he has the likes of the senator from _ popularity. but he has the likes of the senator from west _ popularity. but he has the likes of the senator from west virginia - popularity. but he has the likes of. the senator from west virginia who went the bipartisanship and aren't going tojust go went the bipartisanship and aren't going to just go through next time. yeah. let's see whether he manages to get any of that. i think he has realised he is not going to get much bipartisanship. let's get some of the day's other news. hundreds of soldiers in myanmar have started expelling railway workers from their homes in yangon in an attempt to break up an indefinite strike called in protest at last month's coup. the workers were living on a state—owned housing compound. an appeal has gone out to help them find food and shelter. health systems in most of brazil's largest cities are close to collapse because of covid—19 cases. that's the warning from the country's leading health institute. fio—cruz said more than 80% of intensive care beds are occupied in the capitals of 25 of brazil's 27 states. on tuesday the country recorded nearly 2,000 covid deaths — a new daily record. us secretary of state antony blinken will meet with top chinese officials on next week, the state department said today. it's the first high—level in—person contact between the two countries under the biden administration. significant, that? look, this is clearly the big challenge, that they need to sort out the relationship with china going into this period of extraordinary competitiveness on so many levels. i think it is also the area where you are probably going to see leased daylight between the trump administration and the body and the ministration. i know we are going to see an end to economic populism around things like tariffs, the trump administration introduced, little sign that the body ministration is going to drop a lot of that —— biden administration, but it is the... of that -- biden administration, but it isthe... , of that -- biden administration, but itisthe... . of that -- biden administration, but it is the- - -— it is the... maybe we are getting to that a bit this — it is the... maybe we are getting to that a bit this week. _ it is the... maybe we are getting to that a bit this week. when - it is the... maybe we are getting to that a bit this week. when they - it is the... maybe we are getting to| that a bit this week. when they had that a bit this week. when they had that meeting _ that a bit this week. when they had that meeting op — that a bit this week. when they had that meeting up in _ that a bit this week. when they had that meeting up in alaska. - that a bit this week. when they had that meeting up in alaska. we - that a bit this week. when they had that meeting up in alaska. we are l that meeting up in alaska. we are ttoin to that meeting up in alaska. we are going to alaska — that meeting up in alaska. we are going to alaska later— that meeting up in alaska. we are going to alaska later in _ that meeting up in alaska. we are going to alaska later in the - going to alaska later in the programme, stay tuned for that. the brother of the ghislaine maxwell — ian maxwell — has described her treatment in jail in new york as "degrading", and says it "amounts to torture". 59—year—old ms maxwell is seeking bail, ahead of her trial on charges she helped the convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein groom young girls — a charge she denies. this report from our new york correspondent nada tawfik. jeffrey epstein and ghislaine maxwell shared an intimate relationship. to epstein's alleged victims, the pair were a dangerous combination. ghislaine maxwell, they say, was the chief enabler of the sex offender. and now, herfamily is finally speaking out. ian maxwell defended his sister in an interview with the bbc. he said she was being treated in a fashion that amounted to torture. physically, as a 59—year—old woman, we understand that she is losing her hair and that she is also having trouble with her eyesight and her ability to concentrate. because this is a tremendous pressure to be under. his comments come under as his sister is seeking bailfor a third time, desperate to leave that federal prison here in brooklyn and to wait out the trial under home confinement. the georgia has previously ruled that she is a flight risk, ghislaine maxwell says she is innocent. ghislaine is not a suicide risk, she has never been a suicide risk. there are daily mental evaluations of her and she has shown no indication that that is her intention, she has been completely over managed, and why is that? because jeffrey epstein, who was under federal custody at the time of his death, died in federal custody. so this is a grotesque overreaction. for her alleged victims, though, it is not. women that i represent, these 20 victims, many of them have suffered for so many years. they have, some of them, engaged in self blaming, feel ashamed, they are understanding now that it is not their fault, but this has been a long process. ian maxwell says that he met jeffrey epstein once fleetingly and that he only saw him and his sister together once. there are numerous photos, including this infamous one with prince andrew, which he was asked about in his bbc interview. i don't know anything about the photograph, other than i have seen it as being published. do you recognise the setting of that, was it set in her house in london? i do recognise that setting. he believes his sister still consideres prince andrew a friend. the prince, meanwhile, has stepped back from royal duties to reduce his public profile. with the trial drawing near, the world may finally get to uncover the truth about epstein, his associates and what has been called the most notorious sex trafficking ring in us history. for those watching on bbc world news — we'll be right back. the government has extended the ban on evictions enforced by bailiffs in england until the end of may. the ban has already been extended several times. our political correspondent jonathan blake has more. when the housing secretary robertjenrick said, as the first lockdown was introduced in england, around this time last year, that nobody should lose their home as a result