PBS News Hour - Politics

President Trump's Coronavirus Task Force held another news briefing on Thursday evening, at which Trump reiterated his desire to sign the Senate's new pandemic economic aid package into law. But Trump continues to differ from state governments and health officials regarding a timeline for relaxing physical distancing. Yamiche Alcindor was there, and she joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Congress is reviewing a $2 trillion economic stimulus package to support U.S. businesses and workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been central to the negotiations, and she joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why she is satisfied with the bill's provisions for unemployment compensation and corporate oversight amid a crisis the country hasn't experienced in 100 years.

In our news wrap Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that a political feud in Afghanistan is jeopardizing peace efforts. He met with President Ashraf Ghani and rival Abdullah Abdullah earlier this week but failed to break their impasse over forming a government. Also, in Kabul, at least 25 people died when Islamic State gunmen raided a Sikh temple in a siege that lasted for hours.

President Trump held another news briefing on COVID-19 Wednesday evening, this time announcing his intention to sign the pandemic aid package the Senate drafted in conjunction with his administration. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what Trump said about that bill as well as progress on coronavirus testing in the U.S.

Wall Street soared Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining a record 2,100 points. The gains came as the Senate continued to debate the details of a possible economic recovery package for Americans suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

The economic relief bill the Senate is debating would be among the most expensive pieces of legislation in U.S. history. Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., joins Judy Woodruff to discuss which provisions are still being negotiated and why, unlike President Trump, he believes government should prioritize health concerns over economic ones in the national fight against coronavirus.

The Senate and the White House continue to deliberate over another coronavirus economic relief bill. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he would support the measure's "unprecedented expansion" of unemployment compensation, how to get needed medical resources to American health care workers and the need to expand coronavirus testing before resuming economic normalcy.

As the global spread of the novel coronavirus accelerates, over a fifth of the world's population is being asked to stay home. More than 35,000 cases and at least 400 deaths are confirmed in the U.S. Meanwhile, Congress is struggling to come to agreement on a bill to provide economic relief to Americans in the pandemic's wake. Amna Nawaz reports and Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join John Yang to discuss the latest political news, including where former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders stand in a Democratic presidential primary essentially frozen by the coronavirus pandemic and the potential political ramifications of the crisis for President Trump.

On Monday evening, the White House held another briefing to update the country on national measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Once again, President Trump was flanked by members of the team leading the effort, including Vice President Mike Pence. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what Trump said.