PBS NewsHour - Segments

A young journalist was shot and killed during a riot in Northern Ireland last week, on the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that ended decades of sectarian conflict there. After the riot, fears are mounting that dormant hostilities and violence could reappear. William Brangham talks to reporter Leona O’Neill about the New IRA and how Brexit could push tensions to the breaking point.

New teacher strikes and walkouts are making headlines this year, but the issues they are raising are familiar. Educators are especially concerned about pay, school resources, growing responsibilities, testing policies and the role of charter schools. John Yang talks to two of the 2016 Teachers of the Year, Nate Bowling and Shawn Sheehan, about challenges and frustrations facing their profession.

Omar Ibn Said was 37 years old when he was taken from his West African home and transported to Charleston, South Carolina, as a slave in the 1800s. Now, his one-of-a-kind autobiographical manuscript has been translated from its original Arabic and housed at the Library of Congress, where it “annihilates” the conventional narrative of African slaves as uneducated and uncultured. Amna Nawaz reports.

A wave of suicide bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday has the country grieving, on edge and under a national emergency. At least 290 people died in the attack, which the government blamed on a little-known Jihadist group. Police arrested multiple suspects and worked to disarm additional bombs, as officials admitted they had ignored warnings of an attack weeks before. Judy Woodruff reports.

In our Friday news wrap, Attorney General William Barr will give Congress a partial version of the Mueller report by mid-April, according to a letter he sent the chairs of both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees; Democrats insist it be delivered sooner. Meanwhile, President Trump threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border entirely if Mexico doesn’t stop people from crossing it illegally.

Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal for a third time Friday, though by a smaller margin than in the prior two votes. While May vowed to keep trying to secure her deal’s approval, both the UK government and its people remain divided. Judy Woodruff talks to Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, a London think tank, about the lack of consensus and May’s outlook.

This week saw President Trump resurface the political debate over health care, as he declared his intention to repeal the Affordable Care Act. At the same time, a federal judge blocked work requirements the administration had tried to implement on Medicaid benefits in two states. Amna Nawaz reports and talks to The Washington Post’s Catherine Rampell about health care policy and legal challenges.

Despite the ongoing immigration debate, with its polarization and publicity, thousands of migrants are still embarking daily upon the arduous trip to the U.S. border. Why are families fleeing Central America, knowing the journey will be dangerous -- and very likely futile ? Special correspondent Marcia Biggs reports on the gang violence and so-called “war tax” driving Hondurans from their homes.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to analyze the week's news, including Attorney General William Barr’s handling of the Mueller report, President Trump’s “bewildering” announcement on the Affordable Care Act and how Democrats should approach health care policy.

Singer-songwriter Patty Griffin has developed a faithful following as well as critical acclaim for her folk and Americana music. But after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she formed a new perspective on telling her personal stories through song. Jeffrey Brown sat down with Griffin at a music festival in Texas to discuss the "reality check" and her inspiration for becoming more introspective.

In our Thursday news wrap, the House passed a non-binding resolution to oppose the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people serving in the military. Democrats called the policy “targeted discrimination.” Also, reporting that special counsel Robert Mueller’s findings exceed 300 pages sparked fresh criticism of Attorney General William Barr, who summarized them in a four-page letter.

Federal immigration officials in El Paso say they're overwhelmed by a massive influx of families seeking asylum. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has responded to the surge by moving personnel in from other areas, but that could exacerbate the problem by further slowing processing of asylum requests. Amna Nawaz reports and talks to Bob Moore of Texas Monthly about the ‘completely new’ situation.

The U.S. is serious about making peace with the Taliban, but some experts question whether Afghanistan is ready for the U.S. withdrawal that would accompany an accord. As Nick Schifrin reports, Afghanistan currently relies upon American firepower, training and financial support, and it faces risks of renewed violence, government collapse and loss of progressive gains if those resources disappear.

More than 400,000 people in the U.S. have died from opioid use in the past two decades. As the country tries to contain the crisis, many states and cities are challenging the drug manufacturers in court. The latest lawsuit, brought by New York against Purdue Pharma, comes as the company considers filing for bankruptcy. William Brangham talks to Barry Meier, author of a book about Purdue Pharma.

From the Mueller investigation's end to renewed debate about health care, it's been a busy week in Washington. But how are these political issues resonating outside the nation's capital? Judy Woodruff talks to Kent State University professor and columnist Connie Schultz and Chris Buskirk, editor of conservative journal and website American Greatness, about what the Americans they talk to think.