ALI ROGIN: Tonight on PBS News Weekend,## government cuts to funding for childhood# brain cancer research leaves parents and## patients in search of answers and losing hope.# Then, the impacts of reductions in diversity,## equity and inclusion programs on college# campuses across the country.

And how does## your public garden grow in Michigan?

It's with# a lot of love and a nearly all volunteer crew.

WOMAN: What consistently boggles my mind about# this is just the incredible complexity of it.## This palette changes every 10 days.

It's# just this constant series of moving parts.

(BREAK) ALI ROGIN: Good evening, I'm Ali Rogin.

John# Yang is away.

Tech companies scrambled today## to get their foreign workers back to the U.S.# after President Trump announced a drastic hike## in visa fees.

It applies to the H-1B visa for# high skilled jobs, which previously cost $215.## The President's proclamation requires a hundred# thousand dollar fee.

Microsoft, JP Morgan and## Amazon all told their employees on those visas and# not to leave the country and if they're currently## overseas to get back by midnight tonight.

That's# according to internal emails reviewed by Reuters.

India and China account for the highest# number of H-1B visa applications.

And India,## some saw a silver lining to the move.

SUNIL RAO, Mumbai Resident: It's# a big hit for the tech talent,## but also the other side.

I think# it will be good for India because## it could be a reverse brain drain in# the likes where people can work here.

ALI ROGIN: The Trump administration# argues companies use H-1B visas to## hire foreign born workers for cheaper wages.

Overnight, the U.S.

conducted its third# strike this month on a boat alleged to## be smuggling drugs.

President Trump# announced it in a social media post## along with unclassified video.

He said three# narcoterrorists were killed.

The president did## not reveal where it happened except to say it# was in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility,## which includes the Caribbean# and Central and South America.

The prosecutor involved in the# mortgage fraud investigation## against New York's attorney general# is leaving his post.

Erik Siebert,## the U.S.

attorney for the Eastern District of# Virginia, handed in his resignation shortly## after President Trump told reporters# Friday evening he wanted Siebert out.

Siebert was in the middle of# investigating Letitia James,## but it had not resulted in criminal charges.# On social media, the president said he fired## Siebert because the attorney had, quote,# unusually strong support from two Democrats.

The Trump administration has imposed new rules# for how journalists can cover the Department## of Defense, now renamed the Department of War.

The# Pentagon sent a memo requiring reporters to sign a## pledge vowing not to gather or use any information# that isn't formally cleared by the department,## even if it's unclassified.

Those who do not# comply will be stripped of their credentials.## Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media, the# press has to, quote, follow the rules or go home.## The National Press Club called the move a,# quote, assault on independent journalism.

And in Hong Kong, police ordered a massive# evacuation after construction workers unearthed## a piece of history.

Thousands of people were# ordered to leave their homes after a World War II## era bomb was discovered.

Police say the five# foot long, 1,000 pound bomb was found at a## construction site in a residential# and business district on the island.## Teams worked through the night and into# the morning, eventually deactivating it.

Still to come on PBS News Weekend,# what's the future of DEI in higher## education after many schools shut down# programs and closed centers and a public## garden for all seasons and all types# of gardeners in the heart of Detroit.

(BREAK) ALI ROGIN: Each year, close to 5,000 children# are diagnosed with brain tumors, which are the## leading cause of pediatric cancer related death.# Last month, the Trump administration announced it## would stop supporting a federally funded network# dedicated to researching these deadly cancers.

Starting in March 2026, the Pediatric Brain Tumor# Consortium will no longer receive funds from the## National Cancer Institute, which is the federal# government's principal agency for cancer research.

To discuss the implications of this, I'm joined# by Misha Mehta.

She is the president of the## Neev Kolte and Brave Ronil Foundation, which she# founded in honor of her late son who was diagnosed## with a rare brain tum in 2020.

And Dr.

Paul Graham# Fisher, a professor of neurology and pediatrics at## Stanford University and co-investigator in the# PBTC.

Thank you both so much for joining us.

First to you, Paul, what makes pediatric brain## tumors unique and challenging?

And why# are these clinical networks important?

DR.

PAUL GRAHAM FISHER, Stanford University:# They're challenging in that these are tumors, not## only in little kids, that are tumors of childhood,# but the brain is obviously a very tricky part## where sometimes surgery is very challenging.

And# then the effects of therapies, radiation, drugs,## other therapies, they have profound implications# on who the child is.

So that's one aspect.

The other aspect you highlighted that brain# tumors in children are really the hardest or## most difficult to cure in childhood.

And# we just don't have effective therapies.## That's why having investigational# groups, a consortium, is just so darn.

ALI ROGIN: And Paul, there's a lot that we# don't know about the future of this research.## But one thing we do know is that the network# has paused enrollment in its ongoing clinical## trials.

What does that mean for families who# are waiting to get their kids into these trials?

PAUL GRAHAM FISHER: It means a lot# of things for families.

One is all## new entries are on hold or suspended, so no# new entries could be made on these trials.## There's a little bit of uncertainty# about how these trials will be handled,## whether they'll be transitioned to# children's oncology group, in part.

ALI ROGIN: And that is another body that is run# by the National Cancer Institute, is that right?

PAUL GRAHAM FISHER: That's true.

Correct.

The# Children's Oncology group is also under the NCI,## the National Cancer Institute, but it will# also likely face some sort of budgetary cuts,## too.

It's not going to be exactly a one# for one.

This is going to be very hard## to families because there are families not only# who want to get their children on these trials,## but there'll be certain trials that now just are# not available.

They'll have to seek other sources,## other sites, other ways to try to find novel# treatments for very hard and refractory cancers.

ALI ROGIN: Misha Mehta, you represent# some of those families who are going## through this with a child.

Your# pin has your beautiful son Neev,## who was diagnosed and passed away# due to a pediatric brain tumor.

As a parent who's gone through this, what does# it mean to have access to trials like this?

DR.

MISHA MEHTA, Neev Kolte and Brave# Ronil Foundation: Yeah.

Thank you for## my son.

Neev participated in four phase one# clinical trials.

Right.

Similar to what the## consortium puts out for families like us,# for kids like Neev, they translate into## hope.

Right.

Then there is the standard of care# is radiation and a phase one clinical trial.

And if you're taking away hope, what are you# going to do?

You have no path forward.

This## is hope for us.

That's the only way we# get to save a chance to save our kids.

ALI ROGIN: You have been in touch with# leaders at the National Cancer Institute## about the future of the research# that's being done.

What is your## understanding and what have they told# you about why they're doing this now?

MISHA MEHTA: So the understanding is# that the consortiums is run out of 16## different hospitals.

When rolling under# the larger Children's Oncology group,## it will have access to about 40 more different# institutes that are part of that larger phase## clinical trials.

I think that idea sounds# good, but the point is that there is no clear## path forward as to what happens to kids# right now who are looking for treatment,## or I say looking for hope when they're diagnosed# or battling these deadly brain cancers.

ALI ROGIN: Paul, I want to put# to you the position that we're## hearing from the federal government on# this is that moving this work into a## larger body will be a more efficient# use of resources.

How do you see it?

PAUL GRAHAM FISHER: There may be some areas# where there's efficiency, but there's innately## in treating cancers that are very refractory.

With# the earliest treatments, phase one treatments,## there's going to be a lot of drugs that# sometimes or treatments that are not successful.

I think the other thing to point out is the# children's oncology group is a Wonderful## Group.

These 16 Centers of Excellence see# somewhere on the order of about a third to## up to half of all children with brain tumors# and in the United States.

So these are centers## that are extremely specialized, that bring a# lot more to the consortium in terms of their## science and their other early initiatives in# terms of translating science into treatments.

ALI ROGIN: And Misha, this conversation is# broader than this one consortium.

There are## many changes happening in the field of pediatric# brain tumor research, pediatric oncology more## broadly.

Tell me about what's happening# and how it's affecting your community.

MISHA MEHTA: As a parent advocate right# now, I am fighting for other kids that## come after my son Neev, and we've# seen this time and time again that## they've been sustained funding that has# been removed from pediatric cancer in## general in research.

Right.

Parents that# came before me advocated for the last 10## years to get the funding from NIH from 4# percent to 8 percent.

That's where were.

But repeated cuts that we are seeing that# is leading to decrease the funding.

Like Dr.## Fisher said, this is a hard disease to study.# It is hard for people to be convinced enough## to come and study this disease, but the rewards# are very little.

But the need is extraordinary.

So if you remove the funding around it, you're# going to lose the talent or train the next## round of scientists and doctors like Dr.

Fisher# into this field.

Right.

So it's like, for me,## it's a systematic issue where we are losing# piece by piece in an already a community that## has seen so little amount of infrastructure# that is coming into from federal funding.

ALI ROGIN: Misha Mehta, Dr.

Paul Fisher,# thank you both so much for your time.

MISHA MEHTA: Thank you.

PAUL GRAHAM FISH.. ALI ROGIN: College campuses are buzzing with# activity as students return after summer break.## But change is also in the air.

At more than# 400 colleges and universities, programs and## centers that promote diversity, equity and# inclusion have been eliminated or rebranded.

DEI programs have been under a microscope# since state laws and President Trump's## executive orders labeled them as discriminatory.# So what's the future of DEI in higher education?## Paulette Granberry Russell, president and CEO of# the National Association of Diversity Officers## in Higher Education, is here to tell us more.# It's part of our Rethinking College series.

Paulette, thank you so much for joining us.# Your organization is more than 20 years old,## which seems to underscore the fact that# these efforts to promote diversity on## college campuses is not new.

But do you think# that history is reflected in the current## national conversation we're having about DEI?

PAULETTE GRANBERRY RUSSELL, President and CEO,## NADOHE: As you reference, the organization that# I helped to lead has been around for 20 years,## but that is not representative of the effort# within our colleges and universities to become## a more welcoming, supportive environment# for students based on diverse backgrounds,## identities, lived experiences.

So we've had quite a bit of work over the,## I'd say the last 60 plus years to create a more# supportive environment for all of our students.

ALI ROGIN: And some of them have told# us about the ways in which these types## of programs help them get access# to specific scholarships program## centers designed to encourage diversity.# We spoke to one student at the University## of Texas Dallas to find out what these# programs on his campus meant to him.

ALEXANDER DE JESUS, Student, University of Texas# at Dallas: When I did have access to DEI programs,## they helped me a lot in being able to# find a community where there was none.## It's very easy as a Latino to feel very# lost, especially if it's -- you're coming## from a low income background like me.

That# helped me find a lot of common community## with people who genuinely cared about what# was going on around them and also helped me## find access to conferences and programs# that I wouldn't have known otherwise.

ALI ROGIN: So what are some of those# real world changes that you're seeing## now or anticipate happening in the future now# that some of these programs are going away?

PAULETTE GRANBERRY RUSSELL: I think across# the country we've seen efforts both at the## state level and certainly more recently with# the executive orders to dismantle diversity,## equity and inclusion efforts.

We are seeing# women's centers, we're seeing centers for## members of the LGBTQ community, other cultural# spaces that are being closed or defunded.

And it's clear, I think, as represented by# the student, that these spaces were built over## decades as a direct response to student needs.# And their disappearance is deeply troubling.

ALI ROGIN: And those disappearances, do you# anticipate that those are going to lead,## or perhaps they already have# to demographic shifts as## incoming students consider# where they want to apply?

PAULETTE GRANBERRY RUSSELL: Well, it# could.

And if those individuals do## not feel that campus is either respectful# or supportive of their needs, then it is## possible that they will seek support in other# colleges and universities across the country.

But what should be noted is that these centers# are not extras to campus life.

They act as vital## resources that ensure that all students, not just# some students, are supported in their education.

ALI ROGIN: The Trump administration this# week announced a $500 million increase## in funding to historically black colleges# and universities, while at the same time## cutting funding for colleges that mainly serve# Hispanic students.

How does that change fit into## this administration's agenda when it comes# to promoting diversity on college campuses?

PAULETTE GRANBERRY RUSSELL: At its core, our# perspective is that this is not a win for## students.

It is a zero sum approach.

Funding# resources are already scarce and potentially## results in these institutions being pitted# against each other.

And all of these institutions,## whether they are HBCUs, tribal colleges,# Hispanic serving, minority serving institutions,## they play a vital role in expanding# access and opportunity for all students.

ALI ROGIN: The Trump administration has# also said that getting rid of some of these## initiatives will lead to a society of, quote,# colorblind and competence based workplaces.## How do you think about that vision as# articulated there and what does it mean to you?

PAULETTE GRANBERRY RUSSELL: Well, I think# a colorblind employment environment,## while a noble goal, that is# not the reality of individuals,## lived experiences or their sense of community.# Our communities are diverse.

People are not## necessarily uncomfortable extending themselves# across communities.

But there are times when## in fact we do not anticipate, nor should we# expect that every community is going to be## welcoming and supportive.

That is not# the country that we live in currently.

We have a long ways to go and I think to# achieve a colorblind society or country,## while noble, I don't think that's# the reality, nor do I think## somehow diminishing culture and experiences# is truly what is valued about this democracy.

ALI ROGIN: Paulette Granberry# Russell with the National## Association of Diversity Officers in# Higher Education.

Thank you so much.

PAULETTE GRANBERRY RUSSELL: And# thank you, Ali, for this opportunity.

ALI ROGIN:## Finally tonight, as the end of summer nears,# a public garden in Michi.. with the seasons thanks to its meticulous# design and an army of volunteer gardeners,## John Yang went to Detroit for our# arts and culture series Canvas.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): There are birds# chirping, bees buzzing, flowers waving in## the breeze.

Tucked away on Detroit's Belle Isle,# just minutes from downtown, sits a three acre## public garden.

It's tended to by a grounds crew# that is almost entirely made up of volunteers.

LINDA MCKENZIE, Native Detroiter: I would say# it's one of the retirement loves of my life.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): Native Detroiter## Linda McKenzie recently traded her# stethosc.. LINDA MCKENZIE: If I were to# describe what I did as a physician,## it was really about shepherding people# to a better, you know, level of health.## And so with gardens, it's shepherding the# environment to a better level of beauty.# Plants will tell you exactly how they feel.# You plant something and you can tell when## the soil is right and it's happy with the# amount of sun.

And if it's not happy, yeah,## it's going to die.

So they don't scream at you,# they don't argue, they just do what they do.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): But where in# Audolf Garden, Detroit, they would do## it was carefully plotted by Piet Oudolf, the# world renowned garden and landscape designer.

In 2019, Aldo showed PBS News Jeffrey Brown the## plans for the garden during a visit# to his studio in the Netherlands.

PIET OUDOLF, Landscape Designer: If you look at# this drawing, see the groups of plants, and this## is one particular grass that may understood all# these groups.

So it feels more like a meadow.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): He was# already a big fan of the city.

PIET OUDOLF: I was always sort# of intrigued by Detroit.

Found so## much energy and so many people that# were just the one was doing this,## the other one was doing that.

So you see,# I felt that the whole city was vibrating.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): The roots of# Oudolf Garden Detroit reach back to## 2016 with a letter.

Three members of# the Michigan Garden Club asked Oudolf## if he'd design a garden in Detroit, just as# he had done in Chicago with the Lurie Garden## and in New York with the High Line.# Please, they implored him, say yes.

Maura Campbell was one of those behind# the letter.

For years, she led efforts## to make the garden a reality.

She# died last year, but her husband,## Duncan, was there every step of the way,# including for Aldo's first visit in 2017.

DUNCAN CAMPBELL, Volunteer, Oudolf Garden# Detroit: We called it our first date.

So we## picked him up at the airport and we drove# him all over Detroit, Southwest Detroit,## the train station, the depopulated east side# of Detroit.

And he fell in love with Detroit.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): The path from a# plant on paper to plants in the ground## wasn't easy.

In 2019, a harsh winter and# heavy rain raised the Great Lakes water## levels to historic highs.

The Detroit# River, which surrounds Belle Isle and## connects with Lake Erie, flooded# the planned site for the garden.

DUNCAN CAMPBELL: I came out here# with a yardstick and a GPS unit,## and one third of the garden was underwater.# Piet was very flexible on it, but we had to## go completely back to the drawing board.# So we pulled it back from the shore,## and we basically raised it up, and that way# it insulated us from high water in the future.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): Then came the# pandemic, delaying planting until the## fall of 2020.

The garden opened in August 2021,# paid for entirely with private donations.

There## are four distinct the main garden, a rain# garden, the bird border, and the meadows.

There are nearly 80,000 plants in the garden,## and horticulturist Richard Thomas oversees,# faithfully carrying out Oudolf vision.

RICHARD THOMAS, Horticulturist, Oudolf# Garden Detroit: His goal is to excite## an emotional response and the same# kind of response that you would have## if you were coming across natural# beauty, a meadow that's blooming.

JOHN YANG: Designing the plants# or choosing the plants and the## colors.

Is it almost like an artist# figuring out what goes on the painting?

RICHARD THOMAS: That's really astute, because# it very much is, and he's often referred to as## painting with plants.

And that's# where his genius really shines out,## because very few people can see a# plant through all the seasons and add a## layer of time and understand how# that garden is going to look.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): Part time# Horticulturist Alexandra Sarkozy assists Thomas.

ALEXANDRA SARKOZY, Assistant Horticulturist,# Oudolf Garden Detroit: What consistently boggles## my mind about this is just that incredible# complexity of it.

Planting a garden.

Yeah,## you want something in bloom in May, June,## July.

Whereas this palette changes every 10 days.# It's just this constant series of moving parts.

PIET OUDOLF: That one is called Fatal# Attraction.

Isn't that fun?

And the## other one that we have is called Hula Dancer.# Great name plants.

And this Dahlia purpurea,## which is a prairie plant and it's just finished# blooming.

Plus fatal Attraction, the echinacea.## And then there is an accidental butterfly# weed plant with Sclepius tuberosa right there.

JOHN YANG: You say that's# accidental.

What do you mean?

PIET OUDOLF: It seeded here, but its color# matches the intensity of everything else## that's here.

And when it's all in# bloom together, it's fiesta time.

JOHN YANG: So you leave it there.# He's seated there by itself?

PIET OUDOLF: Right.

So even within the# script, there's room for improvising.

WOMAN: I've looked at this a# bunch of times it means air drops.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): But still,## volunteers carefully c.. MEREDITH SIMPSON, Volunteer, Oudolf# Garden Detroit: It's hard for even## seasoned gardeners to see the# plants sometimes from the weeds.

JOHN YANG: Meredith Simpson manages# the roster of nearly 300 volunteers,## keeping in mind what each has to offer.

MEREDITH SIMPSON: We have all kinds# of activities for our volunteers.

Not## everyone is a gardener.

Some folks love to mow# lawns.

They're our amazing green team.

We have## folks that will work on pathways.

Maybe they# can't bend down and work in the soil.

You know,## we have folks absolutely who are# bed captaining these amazing beds## and learning every single plant in those beds.# But there's everything in between as well.

JOHN YANG (voice-over): As# the day draws to a close,## volunteers gather to take a look at the results# of their labors, with spot quizzes thrown in.

PIET OUDOLF: You say Culver's# root.

Well, then you were right.

JOHN YANG: Their efforts attract many of the more# than 5 million annual visitors to Belle Isle.

MEREDITH SIMPSON: To have access to# nature out here, right in the city,## to have this beautiful, emotional, sort# of ephemeral, always changing garden,## you see people simply relax and just exhale# and truly enjoy.

Touches you very deeply.

ALI ROGIN: And that's our program for tonight.# I'm Ali Rogin.

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

See you tomorrow.