PBS NewsHour - Segments

A House subcommittee held hearings Wednesday morning to discuss paying reparations to African Americans for slavery. The idea is shaping up to be an issue with some of the candidates running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, too. Novelist Sarah Blake has considered why past attempts to secure reparations failed, and she shares her humble opinion on why this time is different.

Another personnel disruption is rocking the White House, as Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan withdrew from consideration for the permanent role Tuesday amid reports of domestic violence in his past. The Washington Post’s Aaron Davis spoke with Shanahan about the allegations. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss, and Judy gets reaction to the news from Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor.

Although tensions between the U.S. and Iran are high, officials from both countries insist they don't want a military confrontation. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran will resist sanctions but not wage war, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called sending more U.S. troops to the region a "deterrent." Meanwhile, U.S. allies in Europe are sharply divided on Iran. Nick Schifrin reports.

In our news wrap Tuesday, Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, issued an apology but did not withdraw the extradition bill that has sparked mass demonstrations. Millions have protested the proposal, which would allow China to extradite people from Hong Kong to the mainland for trial. Also, President Trump says he will hold trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Japan's G-20 summit.

President Trump announced Tuesday that Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan will not seek confirmation for the permanent version of the role. Reports then surfaced about possible incidents of domestic violence in Shanahan’s past. Judy Woodruff talks to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., about the “troubling” allegations, why not having a permanent Secretary of Defense is risky and tensions with Iran.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are inflamed, with the U.S. sending more troops to the Mideast amid what it calls provocation by Iran. Now, a new disruption: Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan is stepping down amid reports of domestic violence in his past. Former Pentagon comptroller Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

On Twitter Monday night, President Trump announced plans for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to step up removal of undocumented immigrants from the U.S. next week. How will these people be located and what happens to them next -- especially the families? Amna Nawaz talks to ICE Acting Director Mark Morgan, who served as chief of U.S. Border Patrol during the Obama administration.

Ahead of a Florida rally President Trump is calling the kickoff for his 2020 reelection campaign, live music, food trucks and Trump swag adjoined Orlando’s Amway Center. Some supporters waited in line overnight to get into the event. Meanwhile, undocumented workers once employed at Trump properties gathered to criticize his immigration stance. Yamiche Alcindor reports and updates Judy Woodruff.

Despite the availability of vaccines, the flu still kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. each year, and hundreds of thousands more worldwide. But public health officials fear that an even graver threat lies ahead: the emergence of a new, much more deadly flu virus. As William Brangham reports, the scenario has occurred before.

In our news wrap Monday, Iran warns that it will exceed its limit on stockpiling uranium in the next 10 days. A spokesman for the country’s atomic energy agency said it is “suspending” the commitments established by the 2015 nuclear accord. Meanwhile, former Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi died after collapsing in court. The Muslim Brotherhood leader had been imprisoned since his 2013 ouster.

Huge demonstrations in Hong Kong protesting a proposed Chinese extradition law seem to have paid off, as the city’s chief executive has indefinitely suspended the controversial legislation. What does the backtracking mean for Hong Kong and Beijing? Nick Schifrin talks to Lee Cheuk Yan, a co-founder of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, and Doug Paal of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The New York Times reported over the weekend on U.S. military attempts to infiltrate the Russian power grid. The effort represents the latest offensive in an increasingly digital conflict with Russia, whose 2016 election interference is well documented. John Yang talks to R.P. Eddy, a former National Security Council official and founder of an intelligence consulting firm, about this new frontier.

Several candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination appeared at a forum in Washington, D.C., on Monday, to discuss issues of poverty, race and inequality. Raising the minimum wage was a high-profile topic there, as well as at other campaign events around the country. Meanwhile, candidates also emphasized voting rights and closing the racial wealth gap. Yamiche Alcindor reports.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump’s Tuesday rally in Florida, campaign stops and strategy among 2020 Democrats and what to expect from the first Democratic debates.

U.S. pedestrian deaths are at their highest level since 1990. Possible explanations include wider roads, sprawling cities, heavier traffic in residential areas due to navigation apps and increasing distractions from digital devices. And according to victims’ families and safety advocates, the problem is a crisis state and local governments have been slow to address. Arren Kimbel-Sannit reports.