PBS NewsHour - Segments

With the northern islands of the Bahamas leveled by Hurricane Dorian, getting to people who are in danger and transporting them out of the ruins pose immense logistical challenges. William Brangham talks to Elizabeth Riley, deputy executive director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, which is coordinating the response and assessment teams to these hard-hit areas of the Bahamas.

In our Friday news wrap, U.S. businesses slowed their hiring in August amid global economic weakness and the tariff war with China. The Labor Department announced employers added a net of 130,000 jobs -- fewer than expected. Also, in Afghanistan, the Taliban staged another fatal assault as questions mounted about a potential peace deal. President Ashraf Ghani postponed an upcoming trip to D.C.

Medical professionals and children's welfare advocates have warned of health risks from detaining migrant children and separating them from family members. Now, a government agency has delivered a comprehensive report on the issue. Lisa Desjardins talks to Ann Maxwell, assistant inspector general for evaluations and inspections at the Department of Health and Human Services, who helped write it.

Following several mysterious deaths linked to vaping, the federal government is now warning Americans not to use e-cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control also said there are 450 reported cases of lung illnesses tied to vaping, in more than 30 states. William Brangham talks to Allison Aubrey of NPR about what is known, and what isn't, about the health risks of vaping.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including whether Democrats are taking a "politically risky" approach to climate change policy, President Trump's fixation with Alabama being hit by Hurricane Dorian, Trump's diversion of Defense Department funds for border security and "Trump fatigue" in the GOP.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., is expanding its vision and offerings as it enlarges its physical footprint for the first time in its 50-year history. The institution hopes to showcase a range of arts, provide a "campus" feel and illuminate art as it's created. Jeffrey Brown reports on "Reach," the effort housed in three newly constructed buildings.

Hurricane Dorian is inflicting damage in the Carolinas, where streets filled with water, 105 mile-per-hour winds knocked out power to more than 200,000 customers. Officials in both states warned people to heed the storm, which actually strengthened overnight. And in the Bahamas, relief efforts mobilized for the monumental task of restoring devastation. John Yang reports and joins Judy Woodruff.

The port city of Charleston is prone to flooding even in normal rain events, so local officials and residents prepared for the worst when awaiting Hurricane Dorian. In the end, the city saw less flooding and storm surge than they had feared, although the winds were actually stronger than anticipated. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg joins Judy Woodruff to discuss preparation and cleanup.

After causing calamity in the northern islands of the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian is just offshore from northern South Carolina and southern North Carolina Thursday. When will this storm conclude its path of destruction? The National Hurricane Center's Ed Rappaport joins Judy Woodruff to discuss Dorian's impending landfall and the life-threatening water it will bring.

In our news wrap Thursday, a Taliban car bombing in Afghanistan killed two NATO soldiers and 10 civilians. One of the soldiers was American -- the fourth to die in two weeks. Another deadly bombing occurred hours later. Also, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued to clash with Parliament over Brexit. Johnson said he "cannot see any other way" to resolve the crisis than holding elections.

President Trump is diverting some money for Defense Department infrastructure to instead construct or repair additional barrier sections on the U.S.-Mexico border. The 127 projects losing funding include Hurricane Maria recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and education and health services at military bases at home and overseas. Lisa Desjardins talks to Judy Woodruff about the details and the reaction.

In the Amazon rainforest, record-breaking forest fires and ongoing deforestation threaten the survival of thousands of plant and animal species that call the ecosystem home. Scientists seeking to save them are carefully evaluating which areas of the vibrant Amazon biome to preserve -- knowing many are already lost. Amna Nawaz reports from Brazil on the efforts to save Amazon inhabitants.

Modern Mexico faced profound change 100 years ago, when revolution toppled a dictatorship, and the country has remained in a state of political evolution ever since. Mexico City native Joaquin Segura draws inspiration from the growing pains of the region around him, weaving powerful social commentary into his contemporary art. NPR correspondent Lulu Garcia Navarro has Segura's story.

For some families, ensuring economic stability requires a wrenching choice: to leave children behind and find work abroad. Author Jason DeParle has written a book, "A Good Provider is One Who Leaves," that traces three generations of a single Filipino family as they move across the globe seeking a path out of poverty. He joins Amna Nawaz to discuss meeting the family and telling their story.

In 2015, artist Prumsodun Ok formed Cambodia's first all-male and gay-identified Khmer dance company -- in his living room. Part of his mission was to support the revival of an art form all but destroyed by the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Ok told his dancers they would need to be brave in order to give voice to a marginalized community. He shares his brief but spectacular take on honoring tradition.