August 13, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

President Trump has announced a deal normalizing relations between United Arab Emirates and Israel. The two countries will open embassies and sign bilateral agreements over trade and technology. Trump hailed the deal as a historic moment, marking only the third Arab country to have full diplomatic ties with Israel. But the move sparked outrage from Palestinian authorities. Nick Schifrin reports.

The remote Darien Gap cuts across Central America, serving as a critical but perilous path for migrants desperate to make the journey to North America. Many people fleeing poverty, persecution and violence feel it’s their only option. But even for those who survive the ordeal, arrival in Panama brings new hurdles. Special correspondent Nadja Drost reports and joins Nick Schifrin to discuss.

The United States has reported its highest daily death toll from COVID-19 since mid-May, with nearly 1,500 lives lost Wednesday. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the lag between rising cases and deaths, how schools can decide if it’s safe for in-person learning and why he feels confident about a vaccine.

The pandemic is pushing more voters to cast ballots by mail. While most evidence shows that voting fraud is extremely rare, President Trump has been claiming the opposite. Now he's criticizing the idea of more funding for the U.S. Postal Service, which congressional Democrats say is needed to support the increase in mail-in voting. William Brangham talks to ProPublica’s Jessica Huseman.

As announced Thursday by the Trump administration, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will begin normalized relations, opening embassies and signing agreements on trade and technology. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the “remarkable accomplishment," what comes next for the Middle East and how the U.S. is combating foreign election interference.