June 17, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Japan has gone its own way on the coronavirus pandemic from its beginning, with a delayed response, limited testing and a gentler lockdown. But with cases of COVID-19 nearing 20,000 in the country, public health experts are asking whether Japan’s handling of the crisis should be applauded or criticized. Special correspondent Grace Lee reports from Tokyo.

Senate Republicans introduced their police reform bill Wednesday. Called the Justice Act, it includes grants for body cameras and incentives for police departments to ban chokeholds. It also increases disclosure requirements for no-knock warrants and the use of force. Yamiche Alcindor reports, and Sen. Tim Scott, who is leading the bill, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why it’s “an important step.”

In our news wrap Wednesday, a bombshell has landed at the White House, in a book by John Bolton, former national security adviser. Multiple news outlets report that Bolton accuses President Trump of asking Chinese President Xi Jinping for reelection help by buying more U.S. farm products. Also, new numbers show New York state has cut coronavirus transmission rates to the lowest in the country.

The U.S. is facing multiple competing and simultaneous challenges at home and abroad. How has the country dealt with similar periods in the past? Former defense secretary and CIA director Robert Gates has a deep familiarity with the topic. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss that and his new book, “Exercise of Power: American Failures, Successes, and a new Path Forward in the Post-Cold War World.”

In the three-plus weeks since George Floyd’s death, the protests that began in Minneapolis over policing, race and the use of force have grown into a national reckoning on these issues. Some areas of the country with few black residents are experiencing Black Lives Matter demonstrations for the first time. Stephanie Sy reports on how the coalition has widened among different races and ethnicities.

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed an act that provides funding for national parks and public lands. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the details of the legislation, including where the money will come from, and what else Congress is considering when it comes to action on protecting the environment.

American artists of all kinds are responding to the pandemic with new creations. As Jeffrey Brown reports, the art can serve as both a call to action and a means of healing -- for maker and audience alike. The story is part of our ongoing arts and culture series, Canvas.