Learn more about your world through in-depth analysis and on-the-ground reports. (Updated periodically)

Vice President JD Vance makes his first major foray onto the world stage as America's top negotiator with Iran. He's the most prominent isolationist in the Trump administration and his assignment puts him front and center on an issue with enormous consequences. Compass Points guest moderator Lisa Desjardins discusses more with Heather Conley, Matthew Kroenig, Curt Mills and Jeffrey Rathke. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Iran declared that it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial sea traffic, which President Trump eagerly supported in a social media post. But Trump also declared that the U.S. blockade of Iran's ports could continue. Meanwhile, the day-old truce between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to hold after weeks of disastrous fighting. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

To discuss the status of the Strait of Hormuz and if it's really open to all ships, Amna Nawaz spoke with Ian Ralby. He is president of Auxilium Worldwide, a non-profit organization that focuses on ocean governance and maritime law and security. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump announced a ceasefire deal that would suspend fighting between Israel and Hezbollah for ten days. Hezbollah has not said whether it will abide by the ceasefire. Trump also says leaders from Israel and Lebanon are expected to meet soon in hopes of reaching a broader peace agreement. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For insights on the announced ceasefire by the U.S., Israel and Lebanon, Amna Nawaz spoke with author and journalist Kim Ghattas. Her recent book, "Black Wave," is about the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and she is now a visiting professor at Dartmouth College. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

To discuss the global stakes of the impasse in the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on deepening humanitarian crises, Geoff Bennett spoke with Jorge Moreira da Silva, the executive director of the UN's Office for Project Services and head of the UN task force on the strait. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Thursday, Pope Leo is warning of a world "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" who spend billions on war, the Senate voted to lift a federal ban on mining upstream from Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and police say former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife before killing himself. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

International mediators are pushing for new peace talks between the United States and Iran, and they're seeking to extend the fragile ceasefire that's set to expire next week. But nothing is set in stone, and the sides remain far apart on issues like the fate of Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The toll of the wider war in the Middle East has been severe in Lebanon. Israel has invaded the country's south again and is demanding that people vacate more land. The United Nations' top refugee official, Barham Salih, is there on a mission to survey the crisis and he sat down with special correspondent Simona Foltyn. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Mediators are racing to bring the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table amid a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz and a precarious ceasefire. Historic talks, however, did happen on Tuesday. The U.S. hosted the first face-to-face meeting between Israel and Lebanon in decades to discuss the shared goal of ending the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

To discuss how Iran's civilians are reacting to the latest developments in the Middle East conflict, Amna Nawaz spoke with special correspondent Reza Sayah in Tehran. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

To discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Amna Nawaz spoke with Barbara Leaf. She was assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs during the Biden administration. She's now a senior international policy advisor at the law firm, Arnold & Porter. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The U.S. began a blockade of Iranian ports on Monday, less than two days after a first effort at peace talks between the Americans and Iran failed in Pakistan. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For perspective on the situation with Iran, Amna Nawaz spoke with Alan Eyre and Miad Maleki. Eyre was part of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the Iran nuclear deal and is now at the Middle East Institute. Maleki was born and raised in Iran and is now at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The incoming prime minister of Hungary struck a hopeful tone on Monday. Peter Magyar called for a swift transition of power and began to chart an ambitious course to reverse central pillars of Viktor Orbán's rule. Stephanie Sy discussed how the results could reverberate around the globe with Kim Lane Scheppele, a professor at Princeton University who lived and worked in Hungary. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump finds an off-ramp to the five-week war in Iran, but at what cost? He began the week threatening Iran's "whole civilization." But when Pakistan presented a plan to temporarily halt hostilities, Trump embraced it. Can the U.S. and Iran make a long-term deal? Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses that with Danielle Pletka, Dana Stroul, Ray Takeyh and Alex Vatanka. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Vice President JD Vance is heading to Pakistan, where he's set to meet Iranian officials in a bid to end the nearly six-week U.S.-Israel war with Iran. The demands are steep, trust is thin, and President Trump said he's unsure he'll support further talks after this round. In Lebanon, residents are still digging out from this week's Israeli strikes. Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Hungarians will go to the polls this Sunday in one of the most closely watched elections this year. Longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of both President Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin, is facing the most serious challenge to his 16 years in office. As Lisa Desjardins reports, the White House also has a lot riding on Hungary's vote. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Holy sites in Jerusalem are open again after being largely closed for 40 days during the war in Iran. Producer Karl Bostic and Nick Schifrin visit Palestinian Christians who weren't able to access their holiest sites during their holiest days. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Israel agreed to negotiations with Lebanon as its continued strikes are jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. It comes as American and Iranian diplomats are set to meet in Pakistan, but a wide gulf of trust and lack of clarity threatens this possible end to five-plus weeks of fighting. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In recent days, the focus has been on the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon. But less attention has been paid to the people inside Iran, those who have borne the brunt of U.S. and Israeli attacks. For that perspective, Geoff Bennett spoke with Holly Dagres. She spent her teenage years in Tehran and now curates "The Iranist." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ukraine's military is facing a growing problem of desertion. An estimated 150,000 service members may be missing from their units as the war grinds through its fifth year. Soldiers cite fatigue caused by long deployments, anger at orders seen as suicide missions and forced mobilization. Special correspondent Jack Hewson reports on one young soldier who says he was pushed beyond his breaking point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This year, Easter and Passover coincided, not only with each other, but with the war in Iran. That led to subdued holidays in Israel. Gatherings were restricted in size, and access to Jerusalem was severely limited. Producer Karl Bostic and Nick Schifrin report on Passover under fire in Israel. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For the first time in more than five weeks, the U.S. did not launch widespread attacks on Iran, and Iran did not strike American targets. Even as the ceasefire between the two nations largely holds, it's being tested by what appears to be Iran's ongoing chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Israel's war in Lebanon. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

White House Correspondent Liz Landers spoke with President Trump on the phone Wednesday morning. She asked him about Israel's ongoing strikes on Lebanon and how that impacts the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The war against Iran is a fight that Israel has wanted for decades. How did Netanyahu convince President Trump to act? Can a war launched together be ended together? And is there a limit to the U.S.-Israeli partnership? Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses these questions with Ronen Bergman of The New York Times, one of the premier investigative journalists in the Middle East. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. could achieve its goals in Iran without ground troops. That's despite the deployment of thousands of Marines to the Persian Gulf and reports that more personnel could soon be on the way. Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, a pro-Iranian and pro-Palestinian hacking group claims it breached an email account belonging to FBI Director Kash Patel, lawyers representing Fulton County asked a federal court to order the FBI to return 2020 election ballots and records seized in a January raid and stocks closed out their worst week since the Iran war began, the fifth straight losing week. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Earlier this month, President Trump told journalists he didn't want Ukraine's assistance with drone defense, saying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the last person he'd ever ask for help. But during the Iran war, Gulf countries have been lining up to request Ukraine's guidance on how to counter drones. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky reports from Ukraine. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The war in Ukraine is providing a real-time testing ground for nations defending against drones. But unidentified drones are also an ongoing concern in the United States. This month, a swarm of drones repeatedly hovered around Barksdale Air Force Base in northwest Louisiana. Liz Landers discussed more with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Earlier this week, President Trump said Friday was the deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face a resumption of attacks on energy infrastructure. Late Thursday, Trump said he's extending his deadline until April 6. The extension came after a Cabinet meeting that included an update on the war. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Airstrikes continue in Iran as the U.S. says it's negotiating with the Islamic Republic. John Yang spoke with special correspondent Reza Sayah for the view from Tehran. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As President Trump says he's working on a deal to end the Iran war, more troops are heading to the region. John Yang discussed the capabilities of the forces and how they could be used with Joel Rayburn and Frederic Wehrey. Rayburn is a retired Army colonel and is now at the Hudson Institute. Wehrey is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The debate over social media use by teens is raging on. In the U.S., Meta and Google were just handed back-to-back losses in lawsuits against them. Germany is looking to ban social media, or at least make it harder to access, for young people, something Australia did last year. From Berlin, special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports on warnings from psychologists for the younger generation. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Now in its fourth week, there were more diplomatic efforts on Wednesday to end the war with Iran. But airstrikes and counterstrikes continue unabated throughout the Middle East. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, a Democrat has won the special election for a Florida state House district that's home to Mar-a-Lago, police in the United Kingdom arrested two men in connection with the arson attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity and the Justice Department settled a lawsuit with President Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Blowback to social media and its effects on young people are reverberating across the globe. Many countries have announced plans to enact measures restricting social media access for children and teens. Australia was the first to implement a ban last year, setting an example that other nations are now closely monitoring. Stephanie Sy reports on what that pioneering ban looks like for teens today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

To discuss the state of the war with Iran and the diplomatic efforts to end it, John Yang spoke with Ray Takeyh and Alan Eyre. Takeyh was a senior State Department adviser on Iran during the Obama administration and is now at the Council on Foreign Relations. Eyre was part of the Obama administration's negotiating team for the Iran nuclear deal and is now at the Middle East Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah has claimed more than 1,000 Lebanese lives, including 40 emergency workers. The latest victims include two young civil defense workers killed in Nabatieh, a town the Israel Defense Forces have placed under forced evacuation orders. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn and videographer Adrian Hartrick report. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Since retaking office, the Trump administration has deported more than 675,000 people. Even though the administration alleges that it's removing the worst of the worst, some fleeing political violence and some with strong asylum claims are getting swept up as well. William Brangham spoke with one of those individuals and her lawyer. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Israel pounded Tehran and Beirut on Tuesday as Iran sent waves of missiles and drones throughout the Middle East, targeting Israel and Gulf nations. President Trump again touted efforts toward a diplomatic solution even as the U.S. continues its attacks. Nick Schifrin reports from Israel. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, Markwayne Mullin took office as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, some Republican Senators believe they've reached a deal to end the DHS shutdown, President Trump cast a mail-in ballot in Florida as he publicly calls the method "mail-in cheating" and Hawaii is assessing the full scope of the damage caused by the worst flooding there in decades. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy