PBS NewsHour - Segments

The case of Lizzie Borden, accused of brutally murdering her father and step-mother with an ax, has remained a source of fascination for more than 125 years. A new book examines the trial of Lizzie Borden, the historical context of this brutal crime, and how it continues to be reimagined. Megan Thompson recently spoke with Cara Robertson, the author of "The Trial of Lizzie Borden."

For years, Italy has been a major gateway for migrants entering Europe. But a new law passed in 2018 under the country's anti-migrant, populist government has been pushing migrants out. Many are now fleeing the crackdown high up into the Alps as they attempt to cross into France, often through treacherous and potentially fatal conditions. Special correspondent Christopher Livesay reports.

In our Friday news wrap, President Trump said the U.S. intends to withdraw support for the UN Arms Trade Treaty, which President Obama signed in 2013 but which the Senate never ratified. Trump told the NRA’s annual meeting the pact threatens Second Amendment freedoms. Also, Sri Lanka’s president said the suspected ringleader of the Easter Sunday attacks died in one of the hotel suicide bombings.

State and local officials are taking strong steps in response to the largest U.S. measles outbreak since 2000. In California, staff and students at UCLA and California State-Los Angeles were required to stay home after an outbreak there. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss how to achieve measles immunity.

A DHHS inspector general’s report found it likely thousands more children and parents were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border than previously thought. The Trump administration said it needed up to two years to identify the families, but a federal court granted six months instead. The ACLU’s Lee Gelernt tells Yamiche Alcindor why the judge's decision prompts the issue's "most important moment.”

Baltimore is once again beset by allegations of corruption. The city’s mayor, Catherine Pugh, is accused of bestowing contracts and political favors on companies and organizations that purchased large orders of her book. The scandal, plus rising crime and a lack of economic opportunity, keep Baltimore residents cynical about government. William Brangham talks to Paul Jay of the Real News Network.

Manal al-Sharif inspired Saudi Arabian women to defy their country's ban on female drivers by posting a video of herself behind the wheel. The act saw her jailed but was ultimately influential in the 2018 lifting of the ban. Now based in Australia, al-Sharif is raising awareness of female activists detained by Saudi authorities. Amna Nawaz talks to her about the state of Saudi women’s rights.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week’s news, including Joe Biden’s entrance into the 2020 presidential campaign, Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s policy proposal on student loans and the adversarial dynamic between the White House and Congress over investigations into the Trump administration.

PBS "Masterpiece" has a new spin on an old story, with a six-hour serial version of “Les Miserables.” Unlike recent Broadway and film presentations, this one is not a musical, and its length offers the audience more time to connect to characters. Jeffrey Brown talks to stars Dominic West, David Oyelowo and Lily Collins and Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton about the hero story's current relevance.

In our news wrap Thursday, President Trump denied he tried to have special counsel Robert Mueller fired. Though the Mueller report says Trump asked former White House counsel Don McGahn to get rid of Mueller, Trump tweeted that he “never told” McGahn that. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports Trump approved paying $2 million to North Korea for American captive Otto Warmbier's release in 2017.

After months of speculation, former Vice President Joe Biden officially entered the 2020 presidential race. In his announcement, Biden characterized the Trump presidency as existential “threat” and said he felt compelled to try to prevent it from lasting an additional term. Judy Woodruff reports on Biden’s long, occasionally controversial political career and the personal tragedy that shaped him.

How will Democrats respond to Joe Biden’s campaign announcement, and can he move past the persistent questions about his treatment of Anita Hill and women more generally? Judy Woodruff talks to Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., who endorsed Biden’s candidacy Thursday, and Aimee Allison, president of She the People, a group that advocates for women of color, about Biden's past, present and future.

Although the conviction of a Florida police officer for killing an African American motorist is currently making headlines, a wide-ranging investigation into police misconduct finds that most incidents are never publicly revealed. Amna Nawaz talks to the Cincinnati Enquirer's James Pilcher, who helped compile the report, about how law enforcement made it difficult to obtain this critical data.

The deadly Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka have refocused attention on the Islamic State, which claims connection to the eight believed suicide bombers. Judy Woodruff talks to Rukmini Callimachi of The New York Times about indicators of the terror group’s influence on the Sri Lanka attacks and how ISIS maintains robust media presence and recruiting levels.

Louisiana’s abundant natural resources represent enormous wealth, yet the state consistently ranks at or near the bottom nationally for many quality-of-life indicators. Like other states, Louisiana grants tax exemptions to businesses it wants to attract, but some are questioning whether its unusually high rate of corporate subsidy is really paying off. Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports.