July 23, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In the U.S., child care was expensive and difficult to obtain long before the pandemic. But coronavirus has closed schools, forced parents to work from home and shuttered some care facilities for good. With COVID-19 surging in much of the country, many parents may not be able to return to the workforce full-time. Paul Solman reports on the dilemma they face -- and its economic repercussions.

In our news wrap Thursday, as confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. top 4 million, another 1.4 million Americans have filed for unemployment. But Senate Republicans say they have a tentative agreement with the White House for a new aid package in response to the crisis. Also, a federal judge in New York ordered that Michael Cohen, President Trump's former lawyer, be released from prison again.

President Trump is sending federal law enforcement into cities he claims are being overrun by violence -- even as local officials tell him the officers are not needed or welcome. Many of the agents are dressed in military-style gear that obscures their identity, and their treatment of peaceful protesters has drawn criticism and sparked backlash. Yamiche Alcindor reports.

The divide between President Trump and local leaders in places where he has deployed federal agents is widening. This week, 15 mayors asked Trump to withdraw federal forces from their cities, citing “fundamental constitutional protections.” Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he disavows Trump's action.

Weeks before George Floyd's death fueled national protests over racism and police violence, the killing of Breonna Taylor sparked outrage in Louisville, Kentucky. Her case has now become a national touchpoint for protesters, who often chant, “say her name.” As John Yang reports, the city of Louisville’s response to the incident, in which police shot Taylor to death, is a flashpoint all its own.

Writer and performer Aasif Mandvi has made his way through the entertainment industry with memorable stops at “The Daily Show” and on Broadway. He currently stars in the CBS series “Evil,” which returns later this year. But navigating Hollywood as a South Asian and a Muslim hasn't always been easy. Mandvi shares his Brief But Spectacular take on furthering his career while staying true to himself.

Months after the start of spring training, the first pitch of the 2020 Major League Baseball season will be thrown Thursday night. Opening Day gets underway with the Washington Nationals hosting the New York Yankees. But the season will be very unusual, with no fans present at stadiums, and many questions about it remain unanswered. Amna Nawaz reports and talks to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

President Trump announced late Thursday that the 2020 Republican National Convention will no longer be held in Jacksonville, Florida, in August. While some local officials expressed appreciation for the decision, Democrats argued it came much later than it should have. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss Trump’s alternative plans.

Both President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have set records with their 2020 campaign fundraising. But the pandemic has drastically altered how that money is spent, with events moving from in-person to online. Guy Cecil, political director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential run, and John Brabender, senior advisor for Rick Santorum’s 2016 bid, join Judy Woodruff to discuss.