Retirement company. Additional support has been provided by and by the corporation for public broadcasting, and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. From the tisch wnet studios at Lincoln Center in new york, alison stewart. This is pbs newshour weekend. Stewart good evening and thank you for joining us. President donald trump will not release his tax returns, as promised during his campaign. Today, counselortothe president Kellyanne Conway said mister trump would not be moved by an online petition to make his returns public. Hes not going to release his tax returns. We litigated this all through the election. People didnt care. People voted for him. Let me make this very clear most americans are focused on what their tax returns will look like while President Trump is in office, not what his look like. Stewart mr. Trump had previously, repeatedly asserted he would release his tax returns once an irs audit of them was complete. On the administrations second full day in office, today mister trump and Vice President mike pence swore in senior staffers at the white house. None required senate confirmation, and his sonin law, jared kushner, was among them. Earlier, President Trump took to twitter to address yesterdays massive antitrump protests in cities large and small in all 50 states. Washington, d. C. Police said today its crowd estimate was 500,000 people. New york citys mayor said there were 400,000 protestors there. Saying he watched the protests, President Trump tweeted today that he was under the impression we just had an election. Why didnt these people vote . Ninety five minutes later in a more conciliatory tweet, he wrote peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if i dont always agree, i recognize the rights of people to express their views. His chief of staff, reince priebus, addressed the protests in an interview on fox news. President trump wants to be the president of all the people, including everyone of those marchers yesterday, and i think over time many of those people will be very proud of this president. Stewart two influential republican senators, john mccain of arizona and Lindsey Graham of south carolina, said today theyll vote for secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson when the Senate ForeignRelations Committee votes tomorrow. Republicans have only a one vote majority on the committee. All but two trump cabinet picks are still pending in the senate. Today Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said hes looking ahead to the vacancy on the supreme court. Im hopeful that maybe President Trump may nominate someone who is mainstream and could get bipartisan support. We shall see, but if they dont, yes, we will fight it tooth and nail, as long as we have to. Stewart President Trump is considering moving the u. S. Embassy in israel from tel aviv to the capital of jerusalem a controversial move, because the city is considered sacred by jews, muslims, and christians. And because palestinians consider jerusalem the capital of any future state. White House Press Secretary sean spicer said today we are at the very beginning stages of even discussing the subject. The embassy move is sought by conservative israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu, who spoke over the phone with President Trump today. Netanyahu also supports building more jewish homes in mostly arab east jerusalem, despite palestinian objections. Today, permits were issued for 566 homes in three settlements. The permits had been on hold during the Obama Administration, which opposed new settlements. Netanyahu said today the construction does not undermine prospects for peace with palestinians. The Trump Administration has apparently carried out its first drone strikes on terrorist targets overseas. Officials in yemen say the unmanned, missilecarrying drone struck a vehicle with two suspected alqaeda operatives yesterday in southern yemen. There is no official confirmation from the pentagon. The latest round of u. N. Led peace talks to stop the sixyear civil war in syria begin tomorrow in astana, the capital of kazakhstan. Syrian rebel groups today called on russia to help secure a new ceasefire. Russia is the main backer of syrian president bashar al assad. The talks are sponsored by russia, iran, and turkey. The only american official expected to be there is the u. S. Ambassador to kazakhstan. In india, rescue workers today searched for survivors of the countrys latest railroad disaster. Police say at least 36 passengers died and 50 were injured when nine coaches of a train derailed in southeast india last night. Many people today were trapped in the wreckage. The cause of the accident has not been determined. Just two months ago, some 150 people died in a derailment in northern india. In an interview with spanish newspaper el pais published today, pope francis says its too early to judge President Trump. The pope said, i think we must wait and see. We will see how he acts, what he does, and then i will have an opinion. The pope also warned against growing xenophobia and populism in europe saying fear and alarm can create conditions for the rise of dictator and he cited nazi germany as an example. Francis said hitler didnt steal the power, his people voted for him, and then he destroyed his people. Following lethal overnight storms, the National WeatherService Today issued high ris Severe Weather warnings today in parts of georgia, florida, and alabama. At least 11 people died in southern georgia near the Florida State line. Seven of them when an apparent tornado ripped through a mobile home park. Georgia governor nathan deal declared a state of emergency in seven affected counties. Yesterday, a tornado killed four people in mississippi. Native American Communities have seen significant decreases in rates of kidney failure. Learn why at www. Pbs. Org newshour. When he meets with the leaders of canada and mexico. Mexican president will be coming to washington on january 31st. He says he wants an open dialogue with mr. Trump whos vowed to build a wall along the u. S. Mexico border and make mexico pay for it for more analysis of this meeting i am joined by skype from mexico city by Washington Post reporter josh partlow. So josh, what is the Biggest Issue facing the mexican people as these two president s meet . I think the Biggest Issue that will affect most mexicans is the trade issue. First President Trump said hes going to scrap the north American Free trade agreement and for mexicans that is a huge deal. In the past two decades have been pretty extreme and thats something they dont want to lose. I think the wall while it may have a more symbolic or symbolic impact, the trade issues are really the ones that strike fear into the heart of. Lets talk about that mexican wall that mr. Trump says hes going to build and claims he is going to get mexican pay for it. Where has the mexican president come down on this. They have been clear all along they are not going to pay for the wall. That is one thing they have been consistent with. The Mexican Government said that over and over that mexican president neato said so including just a couple of days ago. So that is something that i dont think at least i dont think that is going to chng. Pena neatos Approval Rating has been in a downward spiral, at least by 12 in one account. How much has that had to do with how much he has handled things at home, and how much has that been how he has handled mr. Trump thus far . How he has handled mr. Trump has given his Approval Ratings another kick downwards. He hasnt been popular here for a couple of years. There have been a lot of scandals here in mexico during his administration. The economy is not doing very well. And hes not very popular. He has not been popular for a long time. But the trump visit, particularly august, was a big deal for a lot of mexicans. President neato invited donald trump to come visit while he was still a candidate. And they stood sidebyside and it was seen by many here as something that legitimized Donald Trumps campaign, even after trump had said numerous insults against mexicans. So that was seen that was something that really was unpopular for a lot of mexicans. Mexicos foreign minister said this about mexicos position in this negotiation about trade, that mexico will negotiate with quote great selfconfidence, without fear knowing the economic, social, and political importance that mexico has for the United States. That framing is very different than what we have been hearing. Is there truth in that, that we are so intertwined that mexico can come to these trade negotiations from a power, a position of power in some ways . I think it there is definitely truth that the two economies are extremely interconnected. There is Something Like 500 billion of trade each year back and forth between the two countries. But you know, its also clear that mexico is the weaker partner here. And they have a lot more to lose than the United States does. I dont think they have no leverage. They can impose tariffs on american goods, coming too mexico just to see the United States mexican imports going to the United States. Joining us from mexico city, josh partlow from the washton post. Thank you. Thank you. Stewart the americanled north atlantic treaty organization, or nato was formed in 1949 to protect europe from potential military aggression from the russianled soviet union. Its motto an attack on one nation is an attack on all. When the soviet union dissolved, and the cold war ended in the early 1990s, nato stayed in tact; then its membership expanded into Eastern Europe to include 28 nations. Given russias annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in ukraine three years ago and the rhetoric of russian president vladimir putin, the Obama Administration decided to send thousands of american soldiers to Eastern Europe to reinforce nato. In tonights signature segment, special correspondent Christopher Livesay follows the troops participating in that show of force to russia. Reporter in the port city of bremerhaven on germanys north sea coast, approximately 4,000 american troops and 2,500 vehicles began arriving in early january. Known as the iron brigade, theyre from the armys 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 4th infantry division, based in fort carson, colorado. This is the largest deployment of u. S. Forces in europe since the end of the cold war 25 years ago. Its part of the European Reassurance Initiative and Operation Atlantic Resolve a 3. 5 billion dollar effort paid for by the United States to reinforce nato. I am very proud that were a member of nato. Reporter at the start of the deployment, Army Major General tim mcguire joked by rushing to meet the deadline set by the Obama Administration, his units werent able to change their vehicle camouflage. To get them here as scheduled in january, just do not have time to paint them green. Reporter but the army is anxious to deliver a serious message to demonstrate to allies and adversaries alike the u. S. Is determined to assist nato in defending Eastern Europe from potential aggression from russia. The combat power here is a tangible sign of the continued commitment of the United States of america. It is one that enables us to work with our allies and send a message that we remain committed. Youve got tanks here. Reporter Brigade Commander colonel Christopher Norrie describes his unit as lethal. So were an Armored Brigade Combat Team. So as part of that team we have tanks, bradleys, we have indirect fire systems, paladins, we have a whole range of vehicles that make up our team here. You can see now, youve got one ship here, one ship there, both offloading all of our equipment in preparation for onward movement. Reporter norries troops spent the past year training for this mission. Whats up iron strong reporter Algenon Lewis and Thomas Rodriguez are army mechanics. This is my first time in europe, pretty excited to be here. Going to miss home, but its also nice to be here helping out our nato allies. Reporter these soldiers concede outside of their families few folks back home may know about their assignment. Probably not. Probably not, honestly. I dont think they do. I dont think a lot of them know what nato actually does. Reporter under nato, the u. S. , canada, and 26 other nations pledge to defend each other in case of attack. In 2014, russia annexed crimea from ukraine, which is not a nato member. But that sent jitters across europe, especially in the five nato countries bordering russian territory, poland, finland, and the former soviet republics of estonia, latvia, and lithuania. After International Sanctions were imposed on russia, then president obama pledged to beef up American Military presence in europe which had shrunk from its cold war level, over 300,000 troops to 120,000 in 2000 and 65,000 in 2015. Six days after arriving in germany, colonel norries military convoy reached the first of those nervous border states, poland, where u. S. Troops will begin the first of their nine month rotations planned for the next seven years. This is the first largescale continuous presence of u. S. Troops in poland. This army video shows the symbolic moment a polish flag was added to the lead u. S. Vehicle. Colonel norrie was officially welcomed by polish Major General jaroslaw mika. It is important for security not only for poland, for europe, and for all the world. Reporter why should the u. S. Care about what is happening so far away here in poland . Common cooperation, common training, and all these things provide more security for all countries. You have to be prepared for a war, yeah . Reporter prepared for a war . You would like to avoid any war, but you have to do a lot of training to be prepared. Reporter training is what these troops will be doing. Their Bradley Fighting Vehicles transported from bremerhaven by train were positioned in the snowy fields of poland in temperatures close to zero degrees. Its cold its beautiful, though. Reporter some american troops will remain in poland. Others will be sent farther east for training and war exercises in estonia, latvia, lithuania, romania, bulgaria, and hungary. Prepositioning equipment and ammunition in Eastern Europe can reduce the time needed for additional troops to deploy, if ever needed. Other nato members like the u. K. , france, and denmark, are deploying more troops to Eastern Europe as well. Many nato Member States are boosting their military spending, but only five countries, including the u. S. , the u. K. , and poland, meet the target of spending two percent of their Gross Domestic Product on defense. The rest, including france, germany, the netherlands, and italy, spend less. Overall, the u. S. Accounts for threequarters of natos military expenditures. In a formal ceremony in the western polish city of zagan, where some of the new american troops will be based, polands Prime Minister and defense minister welcomed the military help, saying it would help ensure freedom, independence, and peace. While Operation Atlantic Resolve might reassure leaders in Eastern Europe, it is angering russia, which has repeatedly denounced the buildup along its borders as a provocation that demands countermeasures. We consider this a threat to us, a kremlin spokesman said as the troops arrived. The Russian Military has been conducting military exercises of its own and last october, near the borders of poland and lithuania, russia placed missiles that could be armed with Nuclear Warheads and reach the german capital of berlin. Russia has called this build up a provocation. Is this a provocation . We are here to deter, and a part of that deterrence is putting this formation together as part of a really exceptionally strong team of teams. I would view it as a deterrent, and if i was looking a