PBS News Hour - Segments

In our news wrap Wednesday, Germany's chancellor offered to help Ukraine build long-range missile systems that could strike deep into Russia, a judge ordered the release of a Russian-born scientist and Harvard researcher saying she was unlawfully held by immigration authorities, the White House says President Trump issued a full pardon for former Congressman Michael Grimm. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. is pausing new student and exchange visitor visa interviews while it looks to expand screening of applicants' social media posts, according to a State Department cable obtained by the News Hour. It's part of a crackdown on immigration and higher education by the Trump administration. Amna Nawaz has views on the effort from Simon Hankinson of the Heritage Foundation and Fanta Aw of NAFSA. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the CDC would drop the COVID vaccines from its list of recommended shots for pregnant women and children. That decision and other recent changes under Kennedy are leading to major worries and unease among medical and public health groups. Ali Rogin discussed more with Dr. Richard Besser. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

After World War II, nuclear power was heralded as the future of energy. Then the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979 marked a turning point and solidified opposition. In two decades, a dozen U.S. reactors have closed and only three have come online. But the site of America’s worst nuclear accident may now be the site of its rebirth. William Brangham reports for our series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As Republicans work to advance a massive bill containing much of President Trump’s domestic agenda, one of the central flashpoints is its potential cuts to Medicaid. Geoff Bennett discussed the impact on healthcare access for millions of lower-income Americans, the elderly and people with disabilities with Jennifer Tolbert, deputy director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

This week, Trump Media and Technology Group announced it is selling shares and bonds to raise $2.5 billion to create a "Bitcoin treasury.” It marks the Trump family’s latest addition to their cryptocurrency empire. Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, run the family’s multiple crypto ventures and spoke at the world’s largest Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas. Laura Barrón-López reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The violin has a storied place in so much of European classical music. But sometime in the 17th century, it began to intrigue maestros from a very different and ancient music tradition. Fred de Sam Lazaro has the story of one American violinist who sought to explore what’s become known as the Carnatic violin. It's for our arts and cultures series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The new aid distribution system in Gaza was quickly overwhelmed by Palestinians who for 11 weeks have been blocked from assistance. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the U.S. and Israel, says the old UN-led system allowed Hamas to flourish. But humanitarian groups say the new system is incapable of alleviating the suffering of Gazans. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Ciarán Donnelly. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the CDC will no longer recommend COVID vaccines for 'healthy' children and pregnant women, the Trump administration is directing federal agencies to cancel all remaining contracts with Harvard, King Charles opened Canada's parliament amid threats from Trump and stocks jumped as investors reacted to Trump's delay of EU tariffs. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In his second term, President Trump has moved to pardon many who are considered to be loyal to him, from local Republican officials convicted of fraud to Jan. 6 rioters. The New York Times reported that Trump pardoned a Florida businessman convicted of tax evasion after his mother attended a million dollar per-plate fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Liz Oyer. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders