JOHN: TONIGHT ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND," AIR TRAVELERS COPE WITH REDUCED AIRLINE SCHEDULES, AS THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO WITHHOLD FOOD BENEFITS FOR TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FOR NOW.

THEN, HOW A NEW FEDERAL INVESTMENT MAY HELP STRUGGLING RURAL HOSPITALS KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.

AND, WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA'S LATEST VIRAL RELATIONSHIP TEST REVEALS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE'S LITTLE MOMENTS.

>> WHEN WE NOTICE SOMETHING AND WE RAISE SOMETHING AND OUR PARTNER TURNS TOWARD US INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE AND SAYING UH-HUH, IT FEELS REALLY GOOD.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING.

I'M JOHN YANG.

WHATEVER OPTIMISM THERE MAY HAVE BEEN THAT LAWMAKERS WOULD REACH A DEAL THIS WEEKEND TO END TO THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ON RECORD HAS FADED.

AS SENATE DEMOCRATS DEMAND A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INSURANCE PREMIUM SUBSIDIES, PRESIDENT TRUMP FLOATED AN IDEA OF HIS OWN -- "TERMINATE, PER DOLLAR SPENT, THE WORST HEALTHCARE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, OBAMACARE" -- CLEARLY, A NON-STARTER FOR DEMOCRATS.

THE SENATE HELD ITS FIRST SATURDAY SESSION SINCE THE 39-DAY SHUTDOWN BEGAN, BUT NO VOTES WERE SCHEDULED.

TONIGHT, WE'RE FOLLOWING TWO OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD EFFECTS FELT BY AMERICANS -- AIR TRAVEL AND NUTRITION BENEFITS.

ON THE SECOND DAY OF REDUCED FLIGHTS AT 40 AIRPORTS, THE AVIATION DATA COMPANY CIRIUM SAID NEARLY 4% OF FLIGHTS WERE CANCELLED AND ABOUT 2.5% HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR TOMORROW.

RANDY BABBITT WAS FAA ADMINISTRATOR IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

MR.

BABBITT, IS THIS WORKING?

ARE REDUCED FLIGHTS REDUCING DELAYS?

RANDY: NO, THEY'RE REDUCING THE FLIGHTS FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE AND A GOOD PURPOSE OF MAKING THE SYSTEM SAFE.

THEY'RE SUFFERING A LOSS OF CONTROLLERS AT THE VARIOUS STATIONS.

THEY'RE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.

AND TO ENSURE THE SYSTEM OPERATES SAFELY, YOU JUST HAVE TO REDUCE TRAFFIC DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE NUMBER OF CONTROLLERS YOU CAN PUT UP.

JOHN: IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?

RANDY: NO, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

THE LONGER WE ASK PEOPLE TO WORK WITHOUT A PAYCHECK, THE LONGER WE ASK PEOPLE TO WORK 10, 12, 14-HOUR SHIFTS, YOU JUST CAN'T SUSTAIN THAT.

PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN SICK, THEY'RE TIRED.

IT'S AN INTENSE JOB, THE CONTROLLERS ARE WELL-TRAINED, AND THERE'S A LOT OF STRESS IN THAT JOB, AND YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING IT.

WE HAVE THE STAFFING LEVELS WHERE THEY WERE FOR A GOOD REASON.

AND WE'RE NOT ACHIEVING THAT LEVEL OF CONTROLLERS, YOU KNOW, ON SITE AND ON THEIR STATIONS.

JOHN: I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE POINT YOU MADE ABOUT CONTROLLERS NOT BEING INTERCHANGEABLE.

IT'S NOT THAT YOU CAN SORT OF SEE HOW MANY CONTROLLERS ARE WORKING NATIONWIDE.

IT DEPENDS ON EACH AIRPORT, EACH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER.

RANDY: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING AN EN ROUTE CONTROLLER OR A TOWER CONTROLLER OR AN APPROACH CONTROL PERSON.

THOSE ARE DIFFERENT JOBS AND THEY'RE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.

SOMEONE WHO'S WORKING IN ROUTE CANNOT GO THE NEXT MORNING AND BE IN THE RICHMOND TOWER.

YOU KNOW IT TAKES MONTHS OF TRAINING TO MAKE THOSE TRANSITIONS.

JOHN: AND CONTROLLERS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE SORT OF BEING STRESSED NOW, NO PAY, MANY OF THEM HAVING TO CALL OUT TO WORK OTHER JOBS TO GET PAY.

THEY WERE ALREADY STRESSED.

EVEN BEFORE THIS BEGAN, THE SYSTEM WAS ALREADY STRESSED, WASN'T IT?

RANDY: YES, WE'VE HAD, WE'RE STILL RECOVERING POST-COVID.

YOU KNOW, THEY LET, LIKE A LOT OF COMPANIES DID, THEY LET PEOPLE GO BECAUSE THE SYSTEM WAS ONLY OPERATING AT 30% AT THE PEAK OF COVID.

BUT YOU DON'T JUST CALL THEM BACK.

A LOT OF THEM ARE EARLY RETIRED.

AND SECOND, IF YOU HAVE TO HIRE THEM, IT TAKES SEVERAL YEARS TO TRAIN A CONTROLLER TO BE FULLY UP TO SPEED AND BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE DIFFERENT CONTROL POSITIONS.

JOHN: FORMER FAA ADMINISTRATOR RANDY BABBITT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

RANDY: THANK YOU, GOOD LUCK.

JOHN: AND NOW, THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR SNAP, WHICH PROVIDES PAYMENTS TO 40 MILLION LOW-INCOME AMERICANS.

LAST NIGHT, THE SUPREME COURT BLOCKED FOR THE TIME BEING A JUDGE'S ORDER THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PAY FULL SNAP BENEFITS FOR NOVEMBER.

AMY HOWE OF "SCOTUSBLOG" IS PBS NEWS' SUPREME COURT ANALYST.

SO, EXPLAIN WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT DO LAST NIGHT?

AMY: NOT SURE THERE'S A WAY TO PUT IT SIMPLY BUT I WILL DRIVE.

LAST NIGHT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CAME TO THE SUPREME COURT AROUND 6:45 ASKING THE JUSTICES TO PAUSE A RULING BY A FEDERAL JUDGE IN RHODE ISLAND THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO FULLY FUND THE SNAP PROGRAM FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

THE U.S.

SOLICITOR GENERAL, THE GOVERNMENT'S TOP LAWYER IN THE SUPREME COURT, SAID YES, THIS IS A CRISIS BUT IT IS A CRISIS THAT ONLY CONGRESS CAN FIX.

HE ASKED THE JUDGES TO ACT QUICKLY, TO ISSUE AN ADMINISTRATIVE STAY WHICH WOULD PUT THE JUDGE'S RULING ON HOLD TO GIVE THE JUSTICES TIME TO RULE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUEST BY 9:30 LAST NIGHT.

THE GOVERNMENT CAME TO THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE IT MADE A SIMILAR REQUEST FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT WHICH IS BASED IN BOSTON AND HEARS APPEALS FROM RHODE ISLAND.

THE FIRST CIRCUIT DECLINED TO ADMINISTER THE STAY BUT SAID WE WILL ACT QUICKLY TO PUT THE RULING ON HOLD WHILE YOU APPEAL.

SHORTLY BEFORE 9:30 LAST NIGHT, JUST THIS BROWNED -- JUSTICE BROWN JACKSON ISSUED THAT STATE.

SHE'S KNOWN AS THE CIRCUIT JUSTICE FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT SO ALL THE EMERGENCY REQUESTS GO INITIALLY TO HER.

AND SHE SAID THE REASON I AM ISSUING THIS STAY NOW IS BECAUSE WE EXPECT THE FIRST CIRCUIT TO ACT QUICKLY.

SO, SHE PUT THE FEDERAL JUDGE'S RULING ON HOLD FOR 48 HOURS AFTER THE FIRST CIRCUIT ACT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS GOING TO BE BUT IT COULD BE THIS WEEKEND.

IT COULD BE ON MONDAY.

BUT IT MEANS ONCE THE FIRST CIRCUIT DOES ACT, THEN THE RULING WILL ONLY BE ON HOLD FOR 48 MORE HOURS.

THIS IS GOING TO MOVE REALLY QUICKLY, I THINK, BUT THE READER'S DIGEST VERSION OF IT IS THAT AT LEAST FOR NOW, THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT FULLY FUND THE NOVEMBER SNAP PROGRAM IS OFF.

JOHN: YOU SAY THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE STAY TO GIVE THE COURT TIME.

DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS E SUPREME COURT'S VIEW OF THE MERITS OF THE ARGUMENTS ON EITHER SIDE?

AMY: NO, IT REALLY JUST SAYS BECAUSE WE EXPECT THE FIRST CIRCUIT TO ACT, GIVEN THAT IT WILL ACT QUICKLY, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PUT THIS ON HOLD FOR NOW.

THINGS WERE MOVING VERY FAST AND I THINK IT WAS AN EFFORT TO GIVE THE JUSTICES TIME TO DECIDE.

FOR THE JUSTICES TO ACT, THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO GETTING REQUEST ON THE EMERGENCY DOCKET BUT TO ACT THAT QUICKLY IS REALLY A VERY EXPEDITED POSITION.

JOHN: AMY HOWE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AMY: THANK YOU.

JOHN: IN TONIGHT'S OTHER HEADLINES, THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS ORDERED THE GROUNDING OF MD-11 CARGO PLANES AFTER THIS WEEK'S DEADLY CRASH IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

UPS AND FEDEX ALREADY VOLUNTARY GROUNDED THEIRS.

A UPS MD-11 CRASHED WEDNESDAY AFTER TAKING OFF, KILLING ALL THREE PILOTS ON BOARD AND 11 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

INVESTIGATORS SAID THE PLANE'S LEFT ENGINE DETACHED FROM THE WING.

MD-11'S MAKE UP LESS THAN 10% OF THE TWO CARGO AIRLINES' FLEETS.

THEY ARE NO LONGER IN SCHEDULED PASSENGER SERVICE.

A FEDERAL JUDGE IN OREGON HAS SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP CANNOT DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND.

THE CASE CENTERED ON WHETHER FEDERAL INTERVENTION IS WARRANTED BY PROTESTS AGAINST IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES IN PORTLAND, WHICH THE PRESIDENT CALLED "WAR-RAVAGED."

IN HER OPINION, JUDGE KARIN IMMERGUT, A TRUMP APPOINTEE, SAID "THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THESE SMALL-SCALE PROTESTS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPEDED THE EXECUTION OF ANY IMMIGRATION LAWS."

IT'S THE FIRST DEFINITIVE RULING AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION'S USE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TO DEAL WITH PROTESTS.

IT WILL LIKELY BE APPEALED.

IN GAZA, PALESTINIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY MORE BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE RUBBLE, RAISING THE DEATH TOLL TO MORE THAN 69,000.

CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND REMAIN BLEAK.

THOSE SHELTERED IN TENTS HAVE TO CONTEND WITH PILES OF GARBAGE, SEEPING SEWAGE, AND HAZARDOUS WASTE THAT'S BEEN ACCUMULATING SINCE THE WAR BEGAN.

>> PEOPLE HERE HAD TO LIVE IN THIS PLACE BECAUSE THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE IN GAZA.

THIS PLACE IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

IT IS FULL OF DISEASES AND EPIDEMICS BECAUSE OF WAR REMNANTS.

ALL THAT IS THERE NOW ARE PEOPLE COEXISTING WITH DISEASES, INSECTS, FLIES, AND MOSQUITOES.

JOHN: EARLY TODAY, ISRAEL TURNED OVER THE REMAINS OF 15 PALESTINIANS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BODY OF AN ISRAELI HOSTAGE HAMAS RELEASED YESTERDAY.

A BLAST OF COLD, DRY ARCTIC AIR FROM CANADA IS SWEEPING SOUTH THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK, SENDING TEMPERATURES PLUNGING IN THE MIDDLE AND EASTERN UNITED STATES.

PARTS OF THE MIDWEST AND NEW ENGLAND COULD SEE THE SEASON'S FIRST SNOW ACCUMULATION.

THE CHILL IS EXPECTED TO EXTEND TO THE SOUTHEAST, WHERE OVERNIGHT LOWS COULD DIP TO FREEZING.

AND GEOLOGISTS SAY ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES MAY SOON BEGIN SPEWING FOUNTAINS OF LAVA.

A GLOWING VENT SPLATTERING MOLTEN LAVA AND OVERFLOWS FROM THE KILAUEA VOLCANO ON HAWAI'I'S BIG ISLAND, ALL SIGNS THAT THE NEXT EPISODE IS IMMINENT.

THE VOLCANO HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR NEARLY A YEAR, ERUPTING PERIODICALLY IN HOURS-LONG INTERVALS.

THE LAST BIG ERUPTION WAS IN OCTOBER WHEN LAVA SHOT INTO THE AIR NEARLY 1300 FEET.

THAT'S TALLER THAN THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND," STRUGGLING RURAL HOSPITALS COMPETE FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND, WHAT A VIRAL TEST ON TIKTOK MAY REVEAL ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

JOHN: HEALTH SYSTEMS IN RURAL AMERICA ARE STRUGGLING.

MANY ARE LOSING MONEY, AND OVER THE PAST DECADE, MORE THAN 100 HAVE CLOSED.

DURING THE DEBATE OVER THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BUDGET BILL, SOME LAWMAKERS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT MEDICAID CUTS WOULD THREATEN RURAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, WHICH RELY ON THOSE PAYMENTS TO KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN.

>> RURAL PROVIDERS, ESPECIALLY RURAL HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES, ARE UNDER GREAT FINANCIAL STRAIN RIGHT NOW.

WHEN THESE FACILITIES SHUT THEIR DOORS, THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE ARE OFTEN LEFT WITHOUT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

JOHN: TO ADDRESS THOSE MEDICAID SHORTFALLS, CONGRESS APPROVED ONE OF THE SINGLE BIGGEST INVESTMENTS IN RURAL HEALTH -- A $50 BILLION RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION FUND.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE FUND WERE DUE THIS WEEK.

ALI ROGIN SPOKE WITH CARRIE COCHRAN-MCCLAIN, CHIEF POLICY OFFICER FOR THE NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, ABOUT HOW STATES HOPE TO USE THE MONEY.

ALI: CARRIE, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

FIRST, CAN YOU REMIND US WHY THIS RURAL HEALTH FUND WAS INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET BILL?

CARRIE: WELL, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES TO MEDICAID THAT WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE NOT ONLY COVERAGE OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THE PROVIDERS WHO CARE FOR THEM.

SO, AS THE ANALYSIS AND THE DEBATE CONTINUED IN CONGRESS, WE REALIZED THAT RURAL HOSPITALS WOULD BE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED.

GIVEN THAT ABOUT HALF, IF NOT A LITTLE MORE, OF THE RURAL HOSPITALS IN THIS COUNTRY OPERATE WITH NEGATIVE MARGINS, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THE ROOM TO TAKE ADDITIONAL CUTS THAT WERE BEING PROPOSED IN THE MEDICAID CHANGES.

SO, CONGRESS DEVELOPED THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM, WHICH WAS REALLY INITIALLY DISCUSSED AS A WAY TO OFFSET SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS IN FUNDING AND REIMBURSEMENT THAT THESE HOSPITALS WERE INTENDING OR WILL BE RECEIVING.

ALI: SO, THIS FUNDING IS $50 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.

HALF OF THAT FUNDING IS DISTRIBUTED EVENLY AMONG THE STATES.

THE OTHER HALF IS OPEN TO THESE APPLATIONS.

I WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU WHAT CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID DIRECTOR MEHMET OZ SAID RECENTLY ABOUT WHAT HE'S HOPING TO SEE IN THESE APPLICATIONS.

DR.

OZ: WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PAYING BILLS AND ROUNDING THE EDGES.

WE WANT TRANSFORMATIVE BIG IDEAS THAT WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE OUR EXPECTATIONS OF THE RURAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

ALI: SO, HOW DOES THAT MATCH UP WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT THE RURAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS FACING AND WHERE THE MONEY WOULD BEST HELP THAT SYSTEM?

CARRIE: WE REALLY HAVE DECADES OF MINIMAL MARGINS, NOT A LOT OF FUNDING THAT HAS KEPT RURAL AMERICA FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE OTHER TRANSFORMATION WE'RE SEEING IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

THIS FUNDING IS AN AMAZING ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.

TO KIND OF EVEN THAT PLAYING FIELD AND HELP RURAL AMERICA MOVE FORWARD IN ADDRESSING A LOT OF THOSE REALLY TOUGH CHALLENGES WE SEE IN OUR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND LIFE EXPECTANCIES.

HOWEVER, OUR CONCERN IS, WELL, THIS MONEY IS GREAT AND A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.

WE STILL NEED THE DAY-TO-DAY REIMBURSEMENT TO BE ABLE TO PAY THESE PROVIDERS FOR THE SERVICES THEY'RE GIVING.

ALI: AND TO THAT POINT ABOUT REIMBURSEMENTS, MANY OF THE LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY WERE DEBATING THIS BILL, INCLUDING REPUBLICANS, SUSAN COLLINS OF MAINE, JOSH HAWLEY OF MISSOURI, THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE WORRIED THAT IF THESE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS WERE TO DIMINISH FOR DOCTORS AND PROVIDERS, THAT IT MIGHT FORCE SOME RURAL HOSPITALS TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS.

AND YET, IN THE FINAL VERSION OF THIS BILL, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THESE SYSTEMS CAN TAKE TO GO TO PAYMENTS.

IT CAPS OUT AT 15%.

THAT SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF A DISCREPANCY THERE BETWEEN THE PROBLEM AND THIS PROPOSED SOLUTION.

CARRIE: YEAH.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAN WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE CONGRESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS.

AND SOME OF THAT IS IN STATUTE, AND SOME OF THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN WITH THE FUNDING.

THEY ARE NOT WRONG THAT I THINK ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO GET TO THIS PLACE WHERE WE ARE FOCUSED ON VALUE AND OUTCOME, AND THAT WE ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT PAYING FOR WIDGETS.

BUT IN ORDER TO GET THERE, WE STILL HAVE TO SUSTAIN THE PROVIDERS WHO ARE PROVIDING CARE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY.

ALI: WHAT SORT OF PROGRAMS ARE YOU SEEING STATES PROPOSE IN ORDER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE FUNDS?

CARRIE: SO, THE FUNDS ARE FOCUSED IN FIVE STRATEGIC AREAS.

THOSE BEING SHORING UP A HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE TO TAKE CARE OF INDIVIDUALS, HELPING TO SUPPORT THE MAHA AGENDA, SO DEALING WITH CHRONIC DISEASE AND FOOD INSECURITY AND OTHER THINGS IN RURAL AREAS.

HELPING SUSTAIN RURAL HOSPITALS, SO HELPING RURAL HOSPITALS RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY AND HELP THEM BUILD KIND OF VOLUMES AND ECONOMIES OF SCALE.

AND THEN, THE OTHER TWO AREAS REALLY FOCUS ON INNOVATION.

SO, MOVING TOWARDS VALUE AND QUALITY AND THEN ALSO FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE BRING TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS LIKE AI AND REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING INTO THE RURAL CONTEXT.

SO, STATES ARE PUTTING FORWARD PROPOSALS THAT ADDRESS ANY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

ALI: THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID RELEASED THE INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY FOR THIS FUNDING JUST IN MID-SEPTEMBER, AND THEN THE DEADLINE FOR THESE APPLICATIONS WAS JUST THIS WEEK.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME TO COME UP WITH THESE GAME-CHANGING PROPOSALS.

CARRIE: YES, SO THE WAY THAT THE LAW WAS WRITTEN, THE FUNDS HAD TO BE DISTRIBUTED BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WHICH MEANT A SCRAMBLE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS THAT THESE PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD IN RURAL HEALTH CARE, THEY'RE NOT NEW.

SO, STATES ARE ASKED IN SIX WEEKS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO TOTALLY TRANSFORM THEIR RURAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE IT'S A PLAN THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT AND IS ACTIONABLE, BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT, THEY MAY HAVE SOME OF THAT MONEY PULLED BACK OR THEY MAY NOT HAVE MONEY MOVING FORWARD.

SO, AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE CMS AS THEY REVIEW THESE AND GET THE FINAL DECISIONS OUT.

IT'S GOING BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING THE FUNDING ACCOUNTABLE TO GOING TO RURAL PROVIDERS, RURAL PATIENTS, RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS REALLY ENDS UP MOVING THE NEEDLE IN RURAL AMERICA.

ALI: CARRIE COCHRAN-MCLEAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CARRIE: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

JOHN: ONE OF THE LATEST RELATIONSHIP TESTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO GO VIRAL IS THE BIRD THEORY.

IT STARTS WITH A CASUAL COMMENT.

>> YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WERE INSIDE, I SAW A REALLY PRETTY BIRD.

>>.

BIRD -- >> A BIRD?

>> I SAW A BIRD TODAY.

>> I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT I SAW A BIRD.

JOHN: THE TEST IS HOW THE PARTNER RESPONDS.

>> WAIT.

I SAW A BLUE JAY THE OTHER DAY, TOO.

NO, FOR REAL, I SAW ONE ON MY RUN.

JOHN: DO THEY ENGAGE?

>> POINTED BEAK?

ROUNDED BEAK?

JOHN: OR NOT?

>> WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT?

JOHN: THESE TESTS HAVE RACKED UP MILLIONS OF VIEWS.

THEY'RE BASED ON A THEORY DEVELOPED BY COUPLES RESEARCHER JOHN GOTTMAN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGING WITH PARTNERS WHEN LOOKING FOR A CONNECTION.

BUT, WHAT DO THEY REALLY TELL US?

ALEXANDRA SOLOMON IS A LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, AND THE HOST OF A PODCAST CALLED "REIMAGINING LOVE."

ALEXANDRA, HOW VALUABLE IS THIS TEST?

WHAT DOES IT REALLY REVEAL?

ALEXANDRA: YOU KNOW, THESE TESTS COME AND GO, AND I TELL YOU WHAT, THIS ONE IS PARTICULARLY SNEAKY BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE GOTTMAN'S RESEARCH BEHIND IT.

AND THERE'S A WISH THAT ALL OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS COULD BOIL DOWN TO ONE LITTLE TEST LIKE THAT.

SO, ALTHOUGH THERE'S VALIDITY, IT'S PUTTING TOO MUCH WEIGHT IN ONE LITTLE MICRO-MOMENT.

JOHN: WELL, TELL US ABOUT GOTTMAN'S THEORY.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

ALEXANDRA: WHAT GOTTMAN SAYS IS THAT ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT MADE UP OF THE GRAND SWEEPING GESTURE, THE ROSE PETALS ON THE BED AND ALL OF THE SORT OF FAIRYTALE IDEAS THAT WE GROW UP WITH.

IN FACT, ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS, THE HEALTHY ONES, ARE MADE UP OF A SERIES OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS OF MICRO-MOMENTS OF CONNECTION THAT BUILD TRUST AND SAFETY AND AUTHENTICITY BETWEEN PARTNERS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THIS TEST IS ABOUT.

IT'S A BID FOR CONNECTION.

JOHN: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLS THIS SOCIAL MEDIA'S RELATIONSHIP YARDSTICK DU JOUR.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THESE COME AND GO.

WHY ARE WE SO DRAWN TO THIS?

ALEXANDRA: WE'RE DRAWN TO IT BECAUSE THERE ARE A FEW THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT MAKE US FEEL QUITE AS VULNERABLE AS OUR INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS DO.

THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

THE CONSEQUENCE OF LOSING THE PERSON THAT WE LOVE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A BREAKUP, THROUGH DIVORCE, CERTAINLY THROUGH DEATH, THOSE CONSEQUENCES ARE VERY, VERY BIG.

YOU KNOW, WE RISK HEARTBREAK.

AND SO, I THINK WE ARE FOREVER LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, ARE WE OK, YOU KNOW?

ARE WE OK, ARE YOU WITH ME?

DO YOU HAVE MY BACK?

DO YOU SEE ME?

DO I MATTER TO YOU?

JOHN: AND WHAT'S THE MOTIVATION FOR PEOPLE TO PUT THESE ONLINE AND HAVE STRANGERS DISCUSS IT?

ALEXANDRA: WELL, JOHN, HERE'S WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.

I DO THINK THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THESE SCENARIOS, WE'RE SEEING WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TAPED THEIR PARTNER WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A KIND OF BOUNDARY VIOLATION.

AND I THINK THAT IF SOMEBODY IS TEMPTED TO TEST THEIR PARTNER IN THIS WAY, THE FIRST STEP IS TO CHECK IN WITH THEMSELVES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

AND WE REALLY HAVE NORMALIZED THAT WE SORT OF LIVE THESE TWO LIVES.

WE LIVE THE FLESH AND BLOOD LIFE OF OURS AND WE LIVE THIS ONLINE LIFE.

SO, I THINK WE REALLY HAVE NORMALIZED IT.

IT SEEMS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ORDINARY OR NO BIG DEAL RIGHT NOW TO BE SHOWING LITTLE WINDOWS INTO OUR WORLD ONLINE.

BUT, I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM AND I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL.

JOHN: THIS DOES SHOW A WILLINGNESS TO SORT OF LET THE OTHER PARTNER'S WORLD IN, SOMETHING THAT THEY VALUE IN THE WORLD THEY FOUND INTERESTING.

DOES THAT TELL US ANYTHING?

ALEXANDRA: ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, IT FEELS REALLY GOOD WHEN WE NOTICE SOMETHING OR WE RAISE SOMETHING AND OUR PARTNER TURNS TOWARD US INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THEIR PHONE AND SAYING, UH-HUH, OR NOT RESPONDING AT ALL.

IT'S REALLY PAINFUL.

THOSE BREAKS IN CONNECTION ARE REALLY PAINFUL FOR US.

AND THOSE MOMENTS OF ATTUNEMENT WHERE OUR PARTNER TURNS THEIR ATTENTION TOWARD US FEEL REALLY GOOD.

SO, THAT'S WHERE THE VALIDITY IS.

THE VALIDITY IS THAT OUR DESIRE TO CONNECT WITH OUR PARTNER IN THESE SMALL, SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT WAYS, THOSE MATTER.

IT MAKES SENSE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THE PARTNER ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS LITTLE BIRD THAT WE SAW.

JOHN: WE SEE MOSTLY IN THESE WOMEN TESTING MEN.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

ALEXANDRA: WELL, IT TELLS US A LOT OF THINGS.

IT TELLS US THAT WE TEACH LITTLE GIRLS AND WOMEN THAT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO'VE GOT THEIR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR FINGER ON THEIR PULSE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT ACTUALLY BY THE AGE OF THREE, WE PARENTS TALK LESS TO OUR LITTLE BOYS AND WE TOUCH OUR LITTLE BOYS LESS.

SO, WE BASICALLY SOCIALIZE INTO OUR BOYS WHO THEN GROW UP TO BECOME MEN, THE IDEA THAT COMMUNICATION IS LARGELY TRANSACTIONAL.

IT IS A MEANS TO AN END.

IT IS GOAL-ORIENTED.

BY CONTRAST, WE TEACH OUR GIRLS AND OUR WOMEN THAT TALKING IS HOW I SHOW YOU MY WORLD.

TALKING IS HOW YOU INVITE ME INTO YOUR WORLD.

SO THEN, WHEN A MAN AND A WOMAN COME TOGETHER IN INTIMATE PARTNERSHIP, THERE'S THIS FUNNY SORT OF PARADOX WHERE SHE REALLY VALUES THIS INTERACTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND HE MAY NOT BE QUITE AS ACCUSTOMED TO THAT.

SO, THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BIRD, IF HE CAN'T SEE THE POINT OF WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BIRD, HE MAY BE NOT BE TRYING TO IGNORE HER OR SHUT HER DOWN, HE JUST ISN'T QUITE SURE WHAT THE POINT IS.

JOHN: HOW DOES THAT SHOW UP IN YOUR PRACTICE, WHEN YOU SEE PATIENTS IN YOUR PRACTICE?

ALEXANDRA: WELL, I'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

AND WHEN I'M SITTING WITH A, YOU KNOW, A HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE, I CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE THAT PART OF OUR WORK IS GOING TO BE HELPING HIM DEVELOP THE CAPACITY FOR THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE GOING ANYWHERE WHERE THERE ISN'T A GOAL IN MIND, BUT WHERE THE COMMUNICATION IS TRULY JUST BUILDING INTIMACY.

YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES, SHE WANTS MORE UNDERSTANDING FROM HIM.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF HIS HEAD.

AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HER IS THAT HE'S HOLDING OUT ON HER.

HE'S NOT OPENING UP.

BUT ACTUALLY, IN FACT, AS HE STARTS TO OPEN UP IN COUPLE THERAPY, NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, WHATEVER HE'S SHARING WITH HER IN THE COUPLE THERAPY SESSION IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME HE SAID IT OUT LOUD, MAYBE EVEN THE FIRST TIME HE'S THOUGHT IT.

SO, THAT'S VERY OFTEN THE CASE IN COUPLE THERAPY THAT WE'RE HELPING MEN DEVELOP THAT CAPACITY FOR CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE INTIMACY DRIVEN AND THAT DEEPEN INTIMACY.

JOHN YANG: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST ALEXANDRA SOLOMON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALEXANDRA SOLOMON: THANK YOU.

JOHN: NOW ONLINE, AS AMERICANS SHOP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS, EXPERTS SAY DON'T PANIC, STAY VIGILANT AND EXPECT TO PAY MORE FOR HEALTH CARE.

ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR.

AND THAT IS "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" FOR THIS SATURDAY.

I'M JOHN YANG.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.