PBS NewsHour - Segments

The Trump administration is responsible for the largest reduction of federally protected land in U.S. history, according to a recent study by the journal Science. And in the wide expanses of the American West, Trump's encouragement of industry and development has conservation advocates concerned for the future of public lands intended for varied use. Jeffrey Brown reports from central Montana.

A handful of interns is spending this summer in primitive conditions on a tiny, treeless island several miles off the coast of Maine. Their job? To monitor Atlantic puffins and other vulnerable seabirds. While the interns occasionally fend off predators like gulls, the biggest one, climate change, is much harder to dispel. Susan Sharon of Maine Public reports.

In our news wrap Tuesday, hundreds of people in Kabul, Afghanistan, paid tribute to the dozens who died in a suicide bombing. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack on a wedding celebration. Also, the dominant militant group in Syria's Idlib province retreated from a key town under heavy bombardment and airstrikes.

President Trump on Tuesday acknowledged that he is considering cutting taxes, but said the idea is not in response to recession fears. During an Oval Office meeting with the president of Romania, Trump touted the strength of the economy and said that he was confronting China on its trade policies because "somebody had to." Yamiche Alcindor joins John Yang to discuss the White House's thinking.

For decades, the driving goal for corporate America has been maximizing stockholders' profits. So what made nearly 200 of the country's most prominent companies issue a joint statement this week, representing a major philosophical shift? John Yang talks to Steven Pearlstein of The Washington Post and author of "Can American Capitalism Survive?"

For months, Palestinians in Gaza have protested their conditions along the border fence with Israel. The demonstrations have often turned violent -- even deadly. Doctors and international observers say they're disturbed by the devastating sniper injuries that further limit the young protesters' prospects. Special correspondent Jane Ferguson reports.

Legendary spy power couple Jonna and Tony Mendez met while working for the CIA in the Soviet Union, building the tools of espionage: the disguise kit, the camera that could hide anywhere, the cyanide pen. There they followed guidelines they called the "Moscow Rules" -- now the name of a new book they co-wrote before Tony's death. Jonna Mendez talks with Nick Schifrin about their work and mission.

Common, the award-winning musician, actor, activist, and now author, says that in a world of division and anxiety, he wanted to offer solution-oriented resources for healing that have helped him overcome trauma and tough times in his life. Common joins Amna Nawaz to discuss his new memoir, "Let Love Have the Last Word," and his creative process.

In our news wrap Monday, the white police officer involved in the 2014 death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man, has been fired. New York's police commissioner said Daniel Pantaleo could no longer perform his job effectively, but Garner's daughter said the fight for justice continues. Also, attacks in eastern Afghanistan wounded at least 66 people, days after a Kabul suicide bombing killed 63.

In Hong Kong, nearly two million people took to the streets in a sweeping show of support for democracy in the Chinese territory. The demonstrations remained peaceful, and Hong Kong police praised the absence of violence. But Chinese military forces are still gathering on the Hong Kong border, and Beijing continues to cast the protesters as criminals. Special correspondent Bruce Harrison reports.

The Trump administration continues to restrict reproductive health care through federal law. Planned Parenthood, which provides reproductive health services to 1.5 million low-income women nationwide, is a central target, and new rules governing federal funding could mean a major drop in the money that organization receives. Yamiche Alcindor reports and talks to Sarah Varney of Kaiser Health News.

People who were sexually abused as children often need years to process what they've endured. By then, it's often too late to take legal action against those responsible. But New York and a dozen other states are exploring changing the statutes of limitations. Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to Gail Coleman, a plaintiff in one of the New York sex abuse cases, and her attorney, Jennifer Freeman.

On the 2020 presidential campaign trail, Democratic candidates are striving to stand out within a crowded field. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, now polling second to former Vice President Joe Biden, sought Monday to restore her credibility with Native American voters. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, released a sweeping proposal for criminal justice reform. William Brangham reports.

NPR's Tamara Keith and Joshua Johnson join William Brangham to discuss the latest political news, including policy proposals among 2020 Democrats, rumors of an upcoming recession and how a weakening economy could affect President Trump's reelection and momentum for new gun security measures after El Paso and Dayton massacres.

Portland, Oregon, has a troubling history of racial discrimination and tensions between police and African American communities. But now, a theater company is attempting to change the city's racial ecology through the arts -- and perhaps create a model for how communities can bridge the divide over other culturally fraught issues. Special correspondent Cat Wise reports.