June 11, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The top U.S. military officer, Gen. Mark Milley, apologized for joining President Trump in a June 1 photo op amid protests over racial violence. Authorities had forcibly cleared protesters near the White House. In a recorded commencement address to the National Defense University, Milley called the decision “a mistake that I’ve learned from.” Nick Schifrin talks to retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges.

In our news wrap Thursday, the pandemic continues to surge in other parts of the world. Brazil and India have reported major infection increases, and the World Health Organization reiterated that “the threat of a resurgence remains very real.” Also, protesters in the U.S. are pulling down more monuments linked to white supremacy, including statues of Jefferson Davis and Christopher Columbus.

The number of weekly jobless claims is the lowest since the economic shutdown began in March, but it remains far above what the U.S. has experienced during other financial crises. Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, said earlier this week that he expects unemployment to remain elevated for years to come. David Wessel of the Brookings Institution joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

The killing of George Floyd has led to racial reckonings far beyond the U.S. In France, protesters point to incidents of police violence against black people and complain the government hasn’t done enough to address systemic racism. Activists in the United Kingdom say their national history is “whitewashed.” And in Berlin, Black Lives Matter is calling for reparations. Nick Schifrin reports.

Shutting down the U.S. economy in an effort to control the coronavirus outbreak came at enormous cost to American businesses. But the damage borne by African American entrepreneurs has been especially significant. Paul Solman reports on how black business owners face additional challenges -- from racism among customers to a lack of financial support -- even when economic circumstances are strong.

Stay-at-home orders posed a special challenge to Americans who struggle with addiction and rely on the support of in-person recovery meetings. Many others found their alcohol consumption patterns changed significantly during the pandemic. William Brangham reports on the impact COVID-19 has had on Americans’ substance use -- including consequences that could long outlast the virus.

Two years ago, the 240-year-old American Academy of Arts and Sciences created a bipartisan commission to analyze the state of American democracy. The group is now issuing a report detailing 31 recommendations for how to strengthen it. Two of the three commission chairs, Harvard University’s Danielle Allen and Stephen Heintz of the Philanthropic Foundation, join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Chinatown is typically a vibrant and bustling staple of New York City. But as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the area became a ghost town, and some people there experienced xenophobic attacks. In response, longtime resident Karlin Chan created a neighborhood community patrol to keep everyone safe. Chan offers his Brief But Spectacular take on the Chinatown Block Watch.