ALI: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND, A FLURRY OF NEW TARIFFS IMPOSED THIS WEEK BY PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOOK MARKETS, ALONG WITH WEAKER THAN EXPECTED JOBS NUMBERS THAT COST A KEY LABOR DEPARTMENT FIGURE HER JOB.
THEN, WE EXPLORE THE PHENOMENON OF SUPER AGING AND THE SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES THAT MAY HELP TRANSFORM HUMAN LIFESPANS.
AND, HOW A GROUP OF KIDS IN INDIANA ARE USING THEIR SUMMER VACATION TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO GET OFF THEIR SCREENS AND GET OUTDOORS.
>> I'M MICHAEL.
>> I'M LOU.
>> I'M SAM.
>> I'M JACKSON.
>> I'M DEX.
>> I'M MIGUEL.
>> I'M RUTHIE.
>> AND WE'RE THE CREEK CRAWLERS.
THIS IS DAY 25 OF TRYING TO GET TO ONE MILLION FOLLOWERS BY THE END OF THE SUMMER.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO UPGRADE THE FORT AND ALSO SWIM AND PLAY GAMES IN THE CREEK.
ALI: GOOD EVENING.
I'M ALI ROGIN.
JOHN YANG IS AWAY.
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE FACING A FLURRY OF STEEP NEW TARIFFS ON GOODS SENT TO THE UNITED STATES.
THE WHITE HOUSE'S ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY THAT IT WILL IMPOSE HEFTY TAXES ON IMPORTS FROM NEARLY 70 COUNTRIES NEXT WEEK TRIGGERED THE WORST DAY ON WALL STREET IN OVER A MONTH.
THOSE ECONOMIC JITTERS WERE COMPOUNDED BY WEAKER THAN EXPECTED JOBS NUMBERS, WHICH PROMPTED PRESIDENT TRUMP TO FIRE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMMISSIONER WHO PRODUCED THEM.
EARLIER I SPOKE WITH WITH ERNIE TEDESCHI, FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST FOR THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE AND THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMICS AT THE BUDGET LAB AT YALE UNIVERSITY.
WE DISCUSSED THE SWEEPING TARIFFS, BUT I BEGAN BY ASKING HIM ABOUT THE DISMISSAL OF THE LABOR STATISTICS COMMISSIONER, ERICA MCENTARFER.
ERNIE: ERICA MCENTARFER IS ONE OF THE MOST DEVOTED PUBLIC SERVANTS IN GOVERNMENT AND AMONG ECONOMISTS ONE OF THE MOST DATA FOCUSED AND RIGOROUS PEOPLE I HAVE MET.
ALI: YOU HAVE WRITTEN ON X THAT THIS WAS POLITICAL INTERFERENCE AND IT SETS A BAD PRECEDENT.
WHAT IS YOUR CONCERN?
ERNIE: THE U.S. HAS SOME OF THE MOST TRUSTWORTHY ECONOMIC DATA IN THE WORLD, LABOR DEPARTMENT AND GDP.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD RELY ON IT FOR MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
IF SUDDENLY THAT DATA IS POLITICALLY MANIPULATED AND IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY, THESE PEOPLE THAT USE AND RELY ON THE DATA MAY HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE TO LESS RELIABLE SOURCES FOR DATA AND MAY MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT AS SOUND, NOT AS DATA FOCUSED.
ALI: YOU HAVE BEEN TRACKING TARIFFS CLOSELY SINCE THE BEGINNING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS LATEST TRENCH OF TERRENCE WILL -- TARIFFS WILL DO TO THE PRICES OF EVERYDAY PRODUCTS?
ERNIE: OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS YOU WILL SEE OVERALL PRICES RISE BY UNDER 2% OVERALL.
THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT TO A NORMAL PERSON, LIKE LET'S KEEP IN MIND THAT 2% IS THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S ANNUAL INFLATION TARGET SO IT IS LIKE AN EXTRA YEAR'S WORTH OF INFLATION ON TOP OF WHAT WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN.
FOR THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF $2400 PER HOUSEHOLD PER YEAR SO THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND IT WILL HURT LOWER INCOME FAMILIES MORE THAN HIGHER INCOME FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO TARIFFS.
I THINK EVEN IN THE SHORT RUN, BY THE END OF THE SUMMER YOU MIGHT NOTICE PRICE INCREASES IN KEY IMPORT SENSITIVE ITEMS, ESPECIALLY DURING BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING.
ALI: LONG-TERM AFTER THE FIRST SPIKES IN BACK-TO-SCHOOL PRODUCTS, WHERE ARE THE OTHER PRODUCT CATEGORIES WHERE YOU THINK WE MIGHT SEE THE BIGGEST IMPACT FROM THE TARIFFS?
ERNIE: OTHER THAN ELECTRONICS AND CLOTHING THE OTHER AREAS WHERE WE MIGHT SEE LARGE EFFECTS WOULD BE CROPS, AUTOMOBILES EVENTUALLY GOING UP IN PRICE BY 10% TO 12% EVEN IN THE LONG RUN AND THE THING WE FIND, EVEN AFTER MANY, MANY YEARS WHEN CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES TRY TO FIND DOMESTIC ALTERNATIVES OR IMPORTS NOT TERRORIST -- NOT TARIFFED AS MUCH AND EVEN IF WE HAVE REASSURING, PRICES ARE CONSISTENTLY HIGHER AFTER FIVE TO 10 YEARS WHICH IS A SIGN THAT VERY LITTLE OF THIS PRODUCTION IS GOING TO COME BACK TO THE U.S. AND THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE THAT MANY SUBSIDIES THAT CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND WHEN IT COMES TO THE HIGHER TARIFF ITEMS THEY FIND NOW.
A LITTLE SAVINGS TO COME IN THE LONG RUN WITH CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR BUT TARIFFS WILL MAKE CONSUMER PRODUCTS CONSISTENTLY MORE EXPENSIVE EVEN IN THE LONG RUN.
ALI: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID THESE TARIFFS WILL STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY, LOWER THE TRADE DEFICIT, BUT IN YOUR ANALYSIS IS THAT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE MEDIUM AND LONG TERM?
ERNIE: WE FIND THAT IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS THE TARIFFS SHAVE HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT OFF OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE U.S., LIKE SHAVING A QUARTER OFF OF OUR EXPECTED ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT SPIRIT HE GETS BETTER IN THE LONG RUN BUT WE STILL FIND THAT OVER 5, 10 YEARS THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IS PERSISTENTLY SMALLER.
ALI: STILL A FEW DAYS BEFORE THESE TARIFFS ARE SET TO GO INTO EFFECT.
WHAT IF ANYTHING WILL YOU BE LOOKING FOR IN THE TIME BETWEEN THEN AND NOW?
ERNIE: THE KEY PIECE OF DATA I LOOK AT MOST OFTEN NOW IS GOVERNMENT REVENUE DATA ON TARIFFS.
THAT REVENUE DATA SUGGESTS TARIFFS ARE BITING.
BUT WE ARE NOT COLLECTING AS MANY TARIFFS AS WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED BEFORE HAND GIVEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT PAIRED WE ARE COLLECTING TARIFFS AT A RATE MORE LIKE 10%.
WE STARTED THE YEAR AT 2.5% BUT IT IS NOT AS HIGH AS WE WOULD'VE EXPECTED GIVEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT PAIRED I WILL BE FOCUSING A LOT ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND INFLATION DATA.
ALI: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ERNIE: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
ALI: IN TODAY'S OTHER NEWS ISRAELI FORCES OPENED FIRE NEAR , TWO AID DISTRIBUTION SITES RUN BY THE US-BACKED GAZA HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION, KILLING AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES AND HEALTH WORKERS.
ANOTHER 19 AID-SEEKERS WERE SHOT DEAD NEAR A NORTHERN BORDER CROSSING AND OTHERS WERE REPORTED KILLED IN AIR STRIKES THAT HIT TENTS AND HOMES.
ISRAEL SAYS IT IS CONTINUING TO STRIKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO ERADICATE HAMAS BUT HAMAS SAID SATURDAY THAT IT WOULD NOT DISARM UNLESS A PALESTINIAN STATE IS ESTABLISHED.
IN TEL AVIV, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY STEVE WITKOFF MET TODAY WITH FAMILIES OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES WHO ARE CALLING ON THEIR GOVERNMENT TO END THE WAR AND BRING BACK THEIR LOVED ONES.
RUSSIA CLAIMS ITS FORCES CAPTURED A VILLAGE IN UKRAINE'S DONETSK REGION.
MEANWHILE, UKRAINE SAYS IT STRUCK RUSSIA'S RYAZAN OIL REFINERY, CAUSING A FIRE.
THE RECIPROCAL STRIKES HIT A DAY AFTER UKRAINE MOURNED 31 PEOPLE KILLED IN KYIV IN RUSSIA'S DEADLIEST ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL SO FAR THIS YEAR.
RUSSIA HAS STEPPED UP ATTACKS DESPITE PRESSURE FROM THE U.S. TO COME TO A CEASEFIRE DEAL BY AUGUST 8TH OR FACE NEW SANCTIONS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE'S ORDERED TWO U.S. NUCLEAR SUBMARINES TO MOVE CLOSER TO RUSSIA AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV SAID THE CEASEFIRE ULTIMATUM IS A STEP TOWARDS WAR.
MEDVEDEV IS KNOWN FOR HIS INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS.
TRUMP SAID, "WORDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND CAN OFTEN LEAD TO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES."
AND FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE WAS SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS OF HOUSE ARREST FOR WITNESS TAMPERING AND BRIBERY.
URIBE IS A POLARIZING FIGURE IN COLOMBIA AND HIS TRIAL HAS GRIPPED THE COUNTRY FOR NEARLY SIX MONTHS.
DURING HIS PRESIDENCY, HE WAGED A MLITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST LEFTIST INSURGENTS AND BROUGHT SECURITY THE COUNTRY HADN'T SEEN IN YEARS.
BUT CRITICS SAY HE SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR BOLSTERING RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARY GROUPS AND FOR THE MILITARY'S KILLING OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS FALSELY IDENTIFIED AS REBELS.
URIBE SAID HE WILL APPEAL THE VERDICT.
AND A CREW OF FOUR ASTRONAUTS ARRIVED AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TODAY ABOARD A SPACEX ROCKET.
AFTER A SPEEDY 15-HOUR TRIP, THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THE CREW ALREADY ON BOARD.
NORMAL MISSIONS LAST ABOUT SIX MONTHS, BUT THE LATEST NASA CREW COULD BE THE FIRST TO SETTLE INTO A NEW EIGHT-MONTH ROTATION DESIGNED TO LINE UP BETTER WITH RUSSIA'S MISSION SCHEDULE.
STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" -- LIVING LONGER AND BETTER LIVES - - THE SCIENCE OF SUPER AGING.
AND, THE "CREEK CRAWLERS" -- A GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS IN INDIANA WHO ARE DOCUMENTING THEIR SUMMER ACTIVITIES AND INSPIRING OTHERS ALONG THE WAY.
ANNOUNCER: THIS IS THE PBS NEWS WEEKEND FROM THE DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN STUDIO AT WETA IN WASHINGTON, HOME OF THE PBS NEWS HOUR WEEKNIGHTS ON PBS.
ALI: LAST MONTH, A 3-COUNTRY DEAL RELEASED 238 VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD ROUNDED UP AND IN MARCH SENT DIRECTLY TO A NOTORIOUS MEGA-PRISON IN EL SALVADOR.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS AIDES CLAIMED THOSE MEN WERE "SAVAGES", "MONSTERS", AND "THE WORST OF THE WORST."
BUT A REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT DATA BY PROPUBLICA, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, AND A TEAM OF VENEZUELAN JOURNALISTS SUGGESTED THAT OFFICIALS KNEW AT LEAST 197 OF THE MEN WERE NOT CONVICTED OF CRIMES IN THE U.S. WE REACHED OUT TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR COMMENTS.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON ABIGAIL JACKSON SAID: "THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PRESIDENT BUKELE TO HELP REMOVE THE WORST OF THE WORST VIOLENT, CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM AMERICAN COMMUNITIES."
NOW, SOME OF THE FREED MEN ARE SPEAKING OUT, SAYING THEY ENDURED PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE WHILE LOCKED UP.
THIS IS JUAN JOSE RAMOS RAMOS.
>> [SPEAKING SPANISH] LI: PROPUBLICA'S MELISSA SANCHEZ IS ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THIS REPORT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE JUST HEARD FROM JUAN JOSE RAMOS RAMOS ABOUT HOW HE WANTED TO END HIS LIFE RATHER THAN STAY IN THE PRISON.
IS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD?
MELISSA: YES, UNFORTUNATELY PARADISE SPOKE TO SIX OF THE MEN WHO WERE RELEASED AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SAID AT SOME POINT WHILE THEY WERE THERE FOR FOUR MONTHS AND THAT PRISON THEY THOUGHT ABOUT KILLING THEMSELVES AND WISH THEY WERE DEAD INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO BE TORTURED.
THAT WAS THE WORD THEY USED OVER AND OVER, TORTURE.
ALI: HOW DID THEY DESCRIBE THE CONDITIONS IN THE PRISON?
MELISSA: FROM THE DAY THE PLANE LANDED IN EL SALVADOR WHEN THEY WERE BUSSED TO THE PRISON THEY SAID THEY WERE BEAT CONSTANTLY BY THE GUARDS, THEY WERE HIT AND KICKED IN THE FACE, CHEST, WALKED ON TOP OF, PUNCHED, THEIR HEADS WERE GRABBED, BANGED AGAINST WALLS OVER AND OVER.
THE WORD THEY USED, THEIR HEADS WERE SPLIT OPEN.
IT WAS CONSTANT PAIN AND BLOOD.
ALI: YOU SPOKE WITH ANOTHER DETAINEE NAMED LEONARDO.
WHAT BROUGHT HIM TO THE U.S. AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM SUBSEQUENTLY?
MELISSA: HE HAD COME TO THE U.S. LAST SUMMER, 2024, AND BECAUSE HIS MOTHER HAD COMPLICATED MEDICAL ISSUES AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT IN VENEZUELA, HE WAS A SOCCER COACH FOR KIDS AND WAS NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.
AT THE TIME DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THERE WAS A PROGRAM WHERE YOU COULD USE A PHONE-BASED APP TO APPLY TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO GO TO THE BORDER AND MAKE YOUR CASE FOR ASYLUM.
HE DID THAT.
HE DID NOT WANT TO TRY TO CROSS ILLEGALLY, HE WANTED TO DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
AT HIS APPOINTMENT IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR HE SAID THAT OFFICIALS SORT OF SET HIM ASIDE AND ASKED HIM WHETHER HE HAD HAD TATTOOS AND HE SAID YES.
THEY SAID HE WOULD GO THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROCESS.
FROM THAT DAY IN OCTOBER HE WAS IN U.S.
DETENTION UNTIL MARCH 15 WHEN HE WAS SENT TO PRISON.
ALI: ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID, LEONARDO STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH I.C.E.
UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
THEY TOOK HIM ASIDE FOR HAVING TATTOOS, WHICH SEEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE HEARING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DO, THOUGH OF COURSE BIDEN DID NOT THEN DEPORT THEM TO THIRD COUNTRIES.
WERE YOU SURPRISED TO LEARN OF THE PRACTICES ALSO EMPLOYED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION?
MELISSA: NO, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING IT FOR SOME TIME.
THERE IS AN ISSUE WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM A COUNTRY WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS TO RELIEVE THAT THEIR CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS.
WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS, THIS IS THE CASE WITH VENEZUELA, ESPECIALLY AT THE BORDER, THEY USED WHATEVER THEY COULD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO LET SOMEBODY IN OR NOT.
ONE OF THE OBVIOUS THINGS WAS TATTOOS.
THERE IS A GANG IN CENTRAL AMERICA, MS-13, WHICH PROMINENTLY USES TATTOOS AS GANG MEMBERSHIP, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WITH THE GANG TRUMP WAS SAYING THESE GUYS ARE PART OF.
UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THEY WERE USING THIS SO-CALLED EVIDENCE OF TATTOOS, BUT THEY WERE NOT IMPRISONING PEOPLE TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
ALI: WHERE ARE THEY NOW, WHAT ARE THEY DOING AND HOW ARE THEIR FAMILIES DOING?
MELISSA: THEY ARE BACK IN VENEZUELA.
THE MEN I HAVE SPOKEN TO CAN'T SLEEP.
LEONARDO AND OTHERS HAVE TOLD ME THEY CLOSE THEIR EYES AND REMEMBER BEING BEAT CONSTANTLY.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF NIGHTMARES.
SOME OF THE MEN, THEY ARE DESPERATE TO LOOK FOR WORK.
OTHERS ARE THINKING ABOUT MIGRATING SOMEWHERE, MAYBE NOT THE U.S.
MANY NEED PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP.
ALI: MELISSA SANCHEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT STORY.
♪ LI: IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE THE AGING PROCESS CAN BE DELELED AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE LIVE ACTIVE, HEALTHY, DISEASE FREE LIVES WELL INTO THEIR 90'S.
THAT REALITY MAY BE SOONER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK ACCORDING TO DR ERIC TOPOL, AUTHOR OF THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOK, "SUPER AGERS: AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO LONGEVITY."
I TALKED TO HIM EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT THE RAPIDLY ADVANCING SCIENCE OF HEALTH AGING.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WHAT IS A SUPER AGER?
ERIC: A SUPER AGER WE COULD DEFINE AS SOMEONE OVER AGE 85 WHO HAS NEVER HAD CANCER, HEART DISEASE, OR ANY SIGN OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE.
ALI: WHAT RESEARCH WHERE YOU UNDERTAKING TO COIN THE TERM AND IDENTIFY THE POPULATION?
ERIC: WE CALLED THEM THE WELLDERLY.
A LONG STUDY OF SEVEN YEARS TO FIND 1400 PEOPLE AND WE DID GENOME SEQUENCING OF THESE -- THIS GROUP AND WE FOUND VERY LITTLE GENETIC UNDERPINNINGS TO EXPLAIN THE REMARKABLE HEALTH SPAN.
ALI: WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO BECOMING A SUPER AGER AND IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO TRY TO BECOME ONE?
ERIC: PEOPLE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, WHO HAVE A HEALTHY DIET, WHO SLEEP WELL, STAY CONNECTED WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
THESE ARE ALL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED.
SOME OF IT IS LUCK.
SOME OF IT OF COURSE IS GENETICS, BUT THAT IS NOT A DOMINANT THING.
THE BIGGEST THING WE UNCOVERED BEYOND THAT STUDY WAS, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS PLAYING A CRITICAL ROLE IN KEEPING PEOPLE HEALTHY AT AGE NINE AND 10 DECADE OF LIFE.
MAJOR AGE-RELATED DISEASES LIKE CANCER, NEURODEGENERATIVE, CARDIOVASCULAR, THEY TAKE 20 YEARS TO INCUBATE IN OUR BODY BEFORE THEY SHOW CLINICALLY.
SO WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT RUNWAY AND SO MANY WAYS TO HELP PREVENT THESE DISEASES OR DEFER THEM FOR A LONG TIME FROM EVER OCCURRING.
ALI: YOU WRITE ABOUT A HEALTH SPAN.
HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM A PERSON'S LIFE SPAN?
ERIC: THAT IS THE BIGGEST GAP WE HAVE TO GET OVER.
WE DON'T WANT TO GO AFTER LONGEVITY PER SE, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE ALZHEIMER'S OR ARE FRAIL WITH SO LITTLE QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT IS NOT THE OBJECTIVE.
BUT IF WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE YEARS OF HEALTHY AGING, HEALTH SPAN, THAT IS THE PRIMARY GOAL.
ALI: HOW LONG DO YOU THINK HUMANS ARE CAPABLE OF PROLONGING THAT HEALTH SPAN?
ERIC: I THINK IF WE GET PEOPLE INTO THEIR LATE 80'S AND 90'S FULLY HEALTHY WITHOUT AGE-RELATED DISEASES, THAT OUGHT TO BE THE GOAL.
SOME OF THESE FOLKS MIGHT EVEN GET BEYOND 100 YEARS OLD.
BUT IF WE GET OVER AGE 85, THAT IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE AVERAGE PERSON 60, THESE PEOPLE HAVE AT LEAST ONE CHRONIC AGE-RELATED DISEASE IF NOT MULTIPLE DISEASES.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO FLIP FROM THE ILLDERLY TO THE WELLDERLY SUPER AGER PEOPLE.
ALI: HOW IMPORTANT ARE GENES AND FAMILY HISTORY, THE FACTORS WE CAN'T CONTROL, TOWARD PREDICTING HEALTH OUTCOMES?
ERIC: NO QUESTION OUR GENES HAVE SOME ROLE, BUT IT HAS BEEN OVERESTIMATED.
IT IS MUCH MORE THESE CRITICAL LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORAL FACTORS THAT PLAY SUCH AN ESSENTIAL ROLE.
ALI: THE NOTION OF LONGEVITY HAS BECOME A BUZZWORD WITHIN THE WELLNESS INDUSTRY.
THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET.
WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST FOR CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE?
ERIC: NOISE IT IS, IT IS REALLY A CIRCUS WHEREBY LONGEVITY COMPANIES ARE MARKETING ANTIAGING SUPPLEMENTS THAT HAVE NO DATA.
THERE ARE NO DEFINITIVE STUDIES TO SHOW THESE THINGS BEING MARKETED RIGHT NOW, THESE VARIOUS SUPPLEMENTS, COMPANIES, SCANS, HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE - - THE COURSE OF A PERSON'S HEALTH SPAN.
WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF PREVENTING AGE-RELATED DISEASES RATHER THAN BE PROMOTING THINGS THAT HAVE NO BASIS OR DATA TO BACK THEM UP.
ALI: THE BOOK IS SUPER AGERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
ERIC: THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH YOU.
♪ LI: FINALLY TONIGHT WE LEAVE , YOU WITH A GROUP OF INTREPID KIDS IN INDIANAPOLIS WHO SET AN AMBITIOUS GOAL THIS SUMMER AND HOPE TO MEET IT.
ALONG THE WAY, THEY'RE INSPIRING OTHERS TO GET OFF THEIR SCREENS AND GET OUTDOORS.
THIS GROUP OF NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS HEADS OUT ALMOST EVERY SUMMER DAY ON A NEW ADVENTURE.
SEVEN BOYS AND ONE GIRL AGES 10 TO 15, THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE CREEK CRAWLERS.
>> I'M MICHAEL.
>> I'M LOU.
>> I'M SAM.
>> I'M JACKSON.
>> I'M DEX.
>> I'M MIGUEL.
>> I'M RUTHIE.
>> AND WE'RE THE CREEK CRAWLERS.
THIS IS DAY 25 OF TRYING TO GET TO 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS BY THE END OF THE SUMMER.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO UPGRADE THE FORT AND ALSO SWIM AND PLAY GAMES IN THE CREEK.
ALI: THEY DOCUMENT THEIR ADVENTURES TO POST ON INSTAGRAM AND SOME OF THEIR REELS HAVE REACHED MILLIONS, EVEN TENS OF MILLIONS OF VIEWS.
>> THAT ONE, THAT ONE.
OUR FIRST FISH.
>> THAT'S A NICE ONE!
>> WE DIDN'T REALLY THINK IT WOULD TURN OUT LIKE THIS.
WE DIDN'T THINK THAT WE HIT OUR FIRST GOAL OF 10,000 FOLLOWERS.
WHEN WE FIRST HIT OUR GOAL OF 10,000 FOLLOWERS, I WOULD'VE BEEN FINE WITH A THOUSAND.
LIKE, I'D HAVE BEEN AT LEAST FINE IF A COUPLE PEOPLE WATCHED US, BUT ONCE WE HIT 10,000, IT WAS CRAZY.
ALI: THEY STARTED POSTING IN LATE JUNE AND NOW, THEY'RE CLOSE TO 800,000 FOLLOWERS.
THEIR ADVENTURES CAN LAST AN HOUR -- OR ALL DAY.
>> I THINK WE NEED A BIGGER STICK IN THE MIDDLE.
ALI: THEY PROBLEM SOLVE.
THEY GET CREATIVE.
HERE THEY USED PIECES OF BARK THAT HAD FALLEN OFF THE TREES TO SPELL OUT "CREEK CRAWLERS" AT THE ENTRANCE TO THEIR FORT.
THERE'S USUALLY A "COOL FIND OF THE DAY" THAT'S INCLUDED IN EACH REEL.
>> THE COOL FIND OF THE DAY ARE THESE RIPPED UP CHAMPAGNE PANTS.
ALI: AND SINCE IT'S INDIANA, BASKETBALL PLAYS AN ALL IMPORTANT ROLE.
THE GROUP CLEARED OUT SPACE FOR A COURT UNDER THE TREES IN THE SHADE.
♪ ALI: EACH CREEK CRAWLER HAS A JOB.
FOR JACKSON KINNETT, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TUNES.
>> I'M THE MUSIC PERSON SO I DO A LOT OF OLD-SCHOOL AND IT'S LIKE I LIKE DOING IT A LOT.
ALI: YOUR MUSICAL TASTES RUN RETRO.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
>> I LIKE TO SEARCH UP SONGS AND IF I LIKE IT I PLAY IT AND I KNOW A LOT OF SONGS SO I MAKE A PLAYLIST FOR SOME SONGS TO PLAY EACH DAY.
ALI: AND FOR RUTHIE DINWIDDIE, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS.
>> I HELP THE INTERIOR DESIGN, I HELP MAKE EVERYTHING LOOK RIGHT SO IT WON'T LOOK MESSED UP.
>> THEY LEAVE AND COME BACK THEN THEY LEAVE AGAIN.
I JOKE, THEY REALLY HAVE A JAM PACKED SCHEDULE FROM SUNUP TO SUNDOWN MOST DAYS.
ALI: PARENTS MEREDITH FREDRICKSON AND JESSICA DINWIDDIE ARE AS SURPRISED AS THE KIDS AT HOW THE CREEK CRAWLERS PROJECT HAS TAKEN OFF.
>> I'VE BEEN KIND OF BLOWN AWAY THAT PEOPLE ARE SO INTERESTED TO BE HONEST.
PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, SO LIKE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
AND I'M LIKE, PLAYING IN CREEKS, AND JUST BEING KIDS, NOTHING MORE THAN THAT.
>> IT'S WHAT WE DID, YOU KNOW.
>> EXACTLY.
PRETTY SIMPLE.
ALI: YEAH, AND TO THAT POINT, I WONDER WHAT YOU BOTH THINK ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WHY YOU THINK THIS HAS RESONATED SO MUCH WITH SO MANY PEOPLE?
>> I THINK BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLE, TO BE HONEST.
I THINK IN TODAY'S WORLD WE'RE CRAVING THAT IN A LOT OF WAYS.
>>THE WORLD AND LIFE IS COMPLICATED AND I THINK PEOPLE, WHEN I STOPPED AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT I THOUGHT, IT MAKES SENSE.
WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE AND JOYFUL.
>> IS NOSTALGIC, TOO.
I THINK A LOT OF THE AGE RANGE OF THE VIEWERS ARE 45 AND UP, YEAH, AND I THINK THERE IT'S JUST BRINGING THEM BACK TO A SIMPLE TIME IN THEIR LIVES, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE ALL THESE BIG WORRIES.
ALI: THE COMMENTS ON THEIR POSTS BACK THAT IDEA UP.
ALL OF US OUT HERE REMEMBERING THE BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES WHILE WATCHING BEARS.
THANKS FOR LETTING US RELIVE OUR CHILDHOOD.
I WAS A ROOF -- RUTHIE!
LOVE HOW THEY ARE BRINGING BACK BEING KIDS, NO VIDEO GAMES, OUTSIDE PLAYING, EXPLORING.
I'M HAVING A GREAT SUMMER JUST WATCHING!
AND THEIR FOLLOWERS SPAN THE GLOBE.
AS FOR WHAT THEY'LL DO WITH ALL THE ATTENTION AND ANY MONEY THEY MAY EARN FROM MERCHANDISE SALES, CREEK CRAWLER FOUNDERS MICHAEL FREDRICKSON AND LOU DINWIDDIE HAVE A CAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP.
>> A PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY WE MAKE WE WILL DONATE TO CANCER RESEARCH.
>> WE DON'T NEED THE MONEY NECESSARILY BUT WANT TO PUT IT TO A GOOD CAUSE.
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT FOR OURSELVES ONLY SO WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING GOOD WITH MONEY WE GET.
>> I THINK EVERYONE OF US HAS HAD A FAMILY MEMBER THAT DIED FROM CANCER SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY WE WANT TO DO THIS.
ALI: THE CREEK CRAWLERS PLAN TO KEEP ON CRAWLING -- UNTIL THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN A FEW WEEKS WHEN THEY'LL POST LESS.
>> "KEEP CRAWLIN' BOYS,AND GIRLS.
ALI: AND WHILE THEY'D LOVE TO HIT THEIR GOAL OF A MILLION FOLLOWERS, THEY SAY THE MEMORIES THEY'VE MADE THIS SUMMER ARE THE REAL REWARD.
♪ ALI: THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M ALI ROGIN.
FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
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