Recently, the small Israeli town of Nir Oz, devastated by the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, held a unique concert. The singer was not a professional musician, but an American Israeli man who was kidnapped by Hamas and held in Gaza for nearly 500 days. Producer Karl Bostic and Nick Schifrin report. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that aims to speed up safety measures for AI, including a possible 'kill switch' for advanced models, President Trump announced that all 50 states will participate in a new Medicaid drug pricing program and Russians are voting in the country's first parliamentary elections since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

When the Taliban swept back into Kabul in 2021, millions of Afghans suddenly faced an uncertain and dangerous future. Among them were two young sisters whose ambitions to study medicine and law were threatened. Their escape and the lives they built afterward are at the heart of the new book, "The Last Free Women." Geoff Bennett sat down with the authors, Rebecca Blumenstein and Diana Kapp. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Professional wheelchair tennis players are competing for their countries this week in the World Team Cup at the U.S. Tennis Association's National Campus in Orlando. It's part of the 50th anniversary of the sport's creation and comes at a time when popularity is growing. Amna Nawaz reports for our ongoing coverage of the culture of sport, part of our CANVAS series. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jon Ronson's new book, "The Castle," asks questions about what young men are being taught about what it means to be a man. Ronson joined Geoff Bennett on our PBS News podcast "Settle In" and discussed why certain visions of masculinity are proving so powerful right now. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson says the U.S. House will head to recess a day early amid an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, fencing has gone up around the Kennedy Center a day after President Trump's hand-picked board voted to close it for repairs and a news helicopter crash in Los Angeles killed three people. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The debate over Palestine, Gaza and Israel continues to reverberate throughout politics and pop culture. Anger erupted after Macklemore was kicked off of Ed Sheeran's tour. Sheeran said Macklemore was dropped as an opening act because venue owners objected to his pro-Palestine comments on stage. Sheeran's other supporting acts dropped out in protest. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Ben Sisario. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

History buffs heading to Greece are mostly drawn to the country's wealth of classical temples and amphitheatres. But now the culture ministry has opened a stunning, restored palace from the Byzantine era in the 1300s. Greeks claim the UNESCO World Heritage Site is a model of bringing ancient treasures back to life. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports from Mystras. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would have introduced sweeping regulations for cryptocurrencies saying it needs stronger safeguards to prevent the president and other officials from profiting while in office, Kash Patel defended his handling of the FBI during a nearly five-hour Senate hearing and the U.S. military has confirmed it has weapons in space. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The board of the Kennedy Center in Washington voted to temporarily close the iconic performing arts center, citing financial issues and a need for structural repairs. That came shortly after a federal judge blocked the board from adding President Trump's name to the center's building or grounds. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy