PBS NewsHour - Politics

Raúl Castro, the brother of the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, was indicted by the U.S. Justice Department. The 96-year-old has held many senior positions, including the presidency. Castro and four others were charged in the 1996 killings of Americans seeking to aid Cubans at sea. Ali Rogin reports and Geoff Bennett discusses more with Michael Bustamante. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, two police officers who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot filed a lawsuit to try to block the Trump administration's "anti-weaponization fund," the World Health Organization says there are now more than 600 suspected cases from an Ebola outbreak in central Africa and former Congressman Barney Frank, a trailblazer for gay rights, has died. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump's grip on the Republican Party was on display in primaries across the country, with several Trump critics losing after the president targeted their campaigns. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Melik Abdul, a Republican strategist and media consultant. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Trump administration permanently banned the IRS from auditing the president's tax returns, and those of his sons, his company or any affiliated trust. That move was announced a day after the creation of a $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies of Trump who claim they were mistreated by the Biden Justice Department. Geoff Bennett discussed more with former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the government will drop any tax claims and audits of President Trump, Blanche also defended the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund and President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in next week's Senate runoff, rather than the Republican incumbent John Cornyn. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Since the start of President Donald Trump's second term, the administration has detained nearly half a million immigrants, according to a new report. But the number of children they leave behind and what happens to them, most of whom are U.S. citizens, is largely unknown. White House correspondent Liz Landers discussed more with Tara Watson of the Brookings Institution. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Soman Chainani's young adult novel series, "The School for Good & Evil," has sold more than 4.5 million copies around the globe and became a hugely popular Netflix movie. In the latest episode of Settle In, he joins Amna Nawaz to talk about what's changing for young people right now — and how to engage them in both reading and the political process. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Justice Department said it is creating a nearly $1.8 billion fund that could compensate Trump supporters who say they were wrongly investigated or prosecuted by previous administrations. The announcement came as part of a settlement with President Trump to drop a $10 billion lawsuit he filed against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns in 2019. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Former FBI Director James Comey faces a trial on charges he threatened President Trump's life. The case stems from an Instagram post of shells spelling out "86 47." It is the second indictment against him and one of several investigations involving people Trump sees as political enemies. Geoff Bennett spoke with Comey about the case and his new book, "Red Verdict." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump successfully ousting Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican who voted to convict him in his impeachment trial five years ago, and the president's power in upcoming GOP primaries. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is commuting the prison sentence of 2020 election denier Tina Peters, the Justice Department announced the arrest of an Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 terror attacks in retaliation for the war in Iran and Africa's leading public health agency says an Ebola outbreak has killed at least 65 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jerome Powell's eight-year role leading the Federal Reserve is over. His term will be remembered as one of the most turbulent and politically charged in the central bank's history. William Brangham discussed Powell's impact and legacy with Jason Furman. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Louisiana primary voters could boot a sitting U.S. senator for the first time in nearly 100 years. Backing the insurgency against Sen. Bill Cassidy is President Donald Trump. The pair have been at political odds since Cassidy voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial more than five years ago. Liz Landers looks into the tight, three-way race. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump's trip to China, Congress rejecting a war powers resolution on the Iran war and Trump's comments on Americans' financial situation. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Thursday, the Senate voted to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns, the CDC says 41 people are currently being monitored for hantavirus in the U.S., rare protests have broken out in Cuba over fuel shortages and crippling blackouts and soul legend Clarence Carter has died. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, his wife and their children filmed a reality show that is set to be released in the lead-up to the nation's 250th anniversary. It is a return to form for the Duffys, who first met filming for MTV in the 1990s. Now, a new batch of reality TV stars are hoping to transition into elected office. Ali Rogin reports on how their campaigns could change politics. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" camp for detained migrants in Florida is expected to close. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports on the Trump administration's immigration policies amid recent developments. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, the Senate voted to confirm Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve, the Trump administration is freezing some new Medicare enrollments and health officials in Spain and Italy say at least 17 people have tested negative for possible hantavirus infection. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump is traveling halfway around the world for a state visit to China, and he's bringing a host of top American executives with him. Talks there are expected to encompass the complex economic and security postures of both nations. Nick Schifrin reports from Beijing. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, FDA head Marty Makary is resigning after an uneven tenure at the agency, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is refusing to resign despite growing pressure from within his own party, and FBI Director Kash Patel pushed back against accusations that he drinks to excess on the job and is at times unreachable by his staff. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

With its House primary contests off the calendar for now, Louisiana is taking another step to redraw its political battle lines. The move comes after the Supreme Court once again pared back landmark civil rights protections. Once the lines are settled in Louisiana, the impacts will be visible in blue and red, and Black and white. Liz Landers reports for our series, Race Matters. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The House and Senate returned to session this week with deadlines looming on everything from DHS funding and a farm bill to an almost-expired national security and foreign intelligence law. Lisa Desjardins reports on the long to-do list for Congress. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A non-profit group suing to stop President Trump's Reflecting Pool renovation on the National Mall claims the project breaks federal law. Last month, the president announced the pool would be repainted blue. The New York Times is also reporting that its initial cost of less than two million dollars has now ballooned to seven times that figure. Amna Nawaz discussed more with David Fahrenthold. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the legal battles over the partisan redistricting efforts, President Trump wanting to suspend the federal gas tax as Americans continue grappling with rising prices at the pump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's road trip reality show. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Virginia's Supreme Court has struck down a voter-approved plan to redraw the state's congressional maps to benefit Democrats. It was a major setback for Democrats, as both parties wage a war of mid-decade redistricting. David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter joins Amna Nawaz to discuss Friday's ruling and the national context. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Ruth Marcus of The New Yorker join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including the Virginia Supreme Court's decision to strike down a voter-approved congressional map and developments in the war with Iran. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Justice Department pressed forward on Trump's top legal and political priorities on several fronts Thursday. That includes relitigating the 2020 election by investigating voting records in Georgia and legally targeting lawmakers and groups seen as hostile to the president's agenda. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin joins Amna Nawaz with the latest. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Early voting continues in Louisiana even as the status of the state's primary elections remains in flux. Last week, the Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's congressional map and the state's Republican governor suspended primary elections for the U.S. House so new districts could be set. But voting for the U.S. Senate race is proceeding. Liz Landers has more from Baton Rouge. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll shows that six in 10 Americans disapprove of how President Trump is handling Iran. Lisa Desjardins joins Amna Nawaz to offer insights on the poll with a closer look at how Americans are seeing the war in Iran and rising gas prices. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The FBI has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into whether information was leaked to a reporter for The Atlantic, who wrote that FBI Director Kash Patel's quote "excessive drinking" was causing deep concern in the bureau. Carol Leonnig, a senior investigative reporter for MS NOW, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Candidates running for office in Texas primaries have made Muslims and what they call the "Islamification of Texas" the center of their campaigns. The state's top Republicans have also passed legislation and made policies targeting Muslim organizations and developments. Stephanie Sy reports on the rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies in the Lone Star State impacting Muslim communities. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, Senate Republicans are requesting $1 billion to fund security improvements for Trump's White House ballroom, Ukrainian and Russian forces are observing a temporary ceasefire for Victory Day celebrations, a fireworks plant explosion in central China killed at least 26 people, and the Trump administration is investigating Smith College's admission of transgender students. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Supreme Court ruling against drawing congressional maps to protect Black or other minority voters has sparked a new wave in the ongoing redistricting war. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins joins Amna Nawaz to discuss where things stand and what it means. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In March, around 200,000 immigrants began losing their commercial driver's licenses, which are required to operate large vehicles like semi-trucks, buses and tractor-trailers. It's part of a series of moves by the Trump administration to limit who can drive those vehicles after some high-profile truck crashes involving foreign-born drivers. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For the second time in as many weeks, a U.S. Secret Service agent fired a gun at an armed suspect in Washington D.C., less than a mile from the White House. The agency said an agent returned fire at a man carrying a gun. A bystander, a juvenile, was also injured. White House correspondent Liz Landers joins Amna Nawaz with more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Lawmakers from both parties are raising concerns about the Trump administration's spending decisions. In the latest example, the administration said it will pay nearly $1 billion to energy companies to abandon plans to build two wind farms off the U.S. coast. Liz Landers joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

More than three dozen former federal workers who quit or lost their jobs last year, in the wake of cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, are now running for political office. Most, but not all, are Democrats who say the assault on public service led them to seek change by standing for office. We spoke with three candidates running for Congress in the upcoming midterms. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including the 2026 elections, the Supreme Court's abortion pill ruling and the push by some states to redraw their congressional maps. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It has been 60 days since the Iran war began, which means Friday is a legal deadline for the Trump administration to seek congressional authorization. But the White House informed Congress that it didn't need approval because the war had been "terminated" during the current ceasefire. Nick Schifrin joins Amna Nawaz with the latest developments. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Justice Department has released video showing the moment an armed man stormed past security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The incident is raising serious questions about security surrounding the president at high-profile public events. Geoff Bennett speaks with Juliette Kayyem of the Homeland Security Project at the Harvard Kennedy School to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Trump says he's raising tariffs next week on cars and trucks from the EU, the Pentagon says it has made deals with seven major tech companies to use their AI tools, a former Miami congressman with ties to Rubio was convicted of secretly lobbying for Venezuela, and events have been taking place around the world to mark May Day, also known as International Workers' Day. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A total of 35 Senate seats will be on the ballot this November, with only 11 rated as remotely competitive by the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Republicans are on defense in more of those seats than Democrats, but Democrats need a longshot sweep to take control of the chamber. Lisa Desjardins speaks with Jessica Taylor, senate and governors editor at the Cook Political Report, for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy