April 28, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In our news wrap Tuesday, violent protests have broken out in Lebanon, as the pandemic intensifies economic desperation. Hundreds of people in Tripoli set banks on fire and threw stones at soldiers, and at least one man was killed. Also, Hillary Clinton, the Democrats’ 2016 presidential candidate, endorsed presumptive 2020 nominee Joe Biden, becoming the latest party leader to take that step.

Demand remains high for relief the federal Paycheck Protection Program is making available for smaller businesses. But the distribution of that money continues to be a source of controversy, and the program has been mired with technical problems. Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to the Main Street Alliance's Amanda Ballantyne and Brad Close of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Although the House has decided it's not safe for members to return to the Capitol at this stage of the pandemic, the Senate will resume work next week. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, whose state has suffered the country’s highest death toll from COVID-19, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss that decision as well as ongoing issues with small businesses getting federal pandemic relief.

New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced this week that the country has eliminated the novel coronavirus, but warned that residents must stay vigilant. Neighboring Australia has also experienced relatively high success in battling COVID-19. Nick Schifrin reports on how the Pacific nations have kept their losses from the pandemic low compared to other countries.

Misinformation and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 have spread rapidly online, creating what some experts are now calling an “infodemic.” Health officials across the globe are scrambling to refute a flood of bogus claims, some of which could have harmful consequences. John Yang reports on the dangerous course of falsehoods during this global health crisis -- and techniques to identify them.

Throughout the pandemic, restrictions on social gatherings have forced those who observe major religious holidays to find new ways to practice their faith. How is COVID-19 changing places of worship? Judy Woodruff talks to New York University’s Imam Khalid Latif, Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg of United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis and Rev. Tim Cole of Christ Church Georgetown in Washington, D.C.