PBS News Hour - Politics

As of Wednesday, Texans can work and gather without a statewide mandate for masks or social distancing, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order earlier this month that declared the state "100 percent open." Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Democrat and head of Harris County's governing body, which includes Houston, joins Lisa Desjardins to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden's nearly $2 trillion COVID aid bill is one step closer to becoming law as the House of Representatives scheduled a final vote on the legislation. In advance, Democrats and Republicans jousted again over the details of the bill. New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the Republican perspective. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The situation at the U.S.-Mexico border is increasingly challenging the Biden administration, with the number of detained migrant children tripling in recent weeks, according to the New York Times. Almost half are being held longer than permitted by law. Theresa Cardinal Brown, director of immigration and cross-border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, joins Yamiche Alcindor to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday issued new guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated, outlining what they can do safely and providing a small window into what life in the U.S. may look like in the months ahead. Dr. Richard Besser, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the former acting CDC head, joins John Yang to discuss what the recommendations mean. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

House Democrats are waiting to give final approval to the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package that was backed along party lines Saturday in the Senate. They are pressing to get the bill to President Biden to sign before federal unemployment benefits expire on March 14. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss some of the details. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

During the weekend, all 50 Senate Democrats voted to pass the COVID relief bill. One of them is Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, who joins Judy Woodruff from Capitol Hill to discuss how it will affect his state, Republican opposition to the bill, immigration and raising the federal minimum wage. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Monday, a task force called for extensive changes in U.S. Capitol security including a quick-reaction force and a permanent, retractable fence. Also, President Biden ordered a review of how colleges and universities handle sexual assaults, demonstrations continue in Lebanon, three more protesters were shot dead in Myanmar, and Pope Francis is back at the Vatican after Iraq tour. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including the American Rescue Plan, what passage of the massive aid package will mean for President Biden, the risks for Democrats and Republicans moving forward, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's future.

PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden's COVID-19 relief plan passed in the Senate with a vote along party lines. Special Correspondent Jeff Greenfield joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the significance of the bill and what this means for the president's legislative agenda and the party's political position ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In southern Arizona, the proposed site of a new mine is pitting the mining company, Resolution Cooper, against the San Carlos Apache people. The site sits above one of the largest untapped copper reserves in North America and is worth billions of dollars, but is also a sacred site for the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Special Correspondent Benedict Moran reports from Oak Flat, Arizona. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders