April 14, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In our news wrap Tuesday, former President Barack Obama ended months of neutrality and endorsed his vice president, Joe Biden, for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama said Biden has the character and experience to guide the nation through one of its darkest times. Also, the U.S. Senate appears to be at a stalemate over adding another $250 billion to aid small business amid the pandemic.

More than 3,600 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are believed to be linked to nursing homes and assisted living centers. The number is only an estimate -- likely an undercount -- because the federal government has not released details of what is happening in these facilities. Amna Nawaz hears personal stories of people affected by the phenomenon and talks to Harvard Medical School’s David Grabowski.

Questions about when Americans can resume a semblance of normal life are not easy to answer, but the governors of some states are working together to prepare a plan. Among them is Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the current status of COVID-19 in his state and why he needs more testing and PPE to inform his decision about sending Connecticut residents back to work.

When businesses and organizations resume activity after COVID-19, it will be in a changed economic landscape. Suzanne Clark is president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose 3 million members include all sectors, geographies and sizes. She is planning how they will tackle post-coronavirus challenges, including social distancing and health requirements, and joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the academic year of some 20 million college students as campuses are shuttered nationwide. Many of these young people are continuing their studies through online classes -- but the transition is not easy for all of them. John Yang reports on the logistical, emotional and economic consequences of this interrupted school year.

President Trump announced at the daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Tuesday that the U.S. will halt funding of the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump contends that the group mismanaged the health crisis and wasted precious time -- some of the same criticisms that have been leveled at him. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

For a moment of diversion from difficult news, we have another look at -- and listen to -- some of the music being posted across social media using #SongsOfComfort. Jeffrey Brown has our selections from Yo-Yo Ma’s ongoing project.