June 25, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The surge of new coronavirus infections is spreading wider and faster across the country, with 29 states reporting notable increases in cases. The head of the CDC also said it’s believed that at least 23 million Americans have been infected, which is 10 times higher than the number of confirmed cases. Amna Nawaz talks to Dr. Ashish Jha about how state officials can get control of their outbreaks.

In our news wrap Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Trump administration’s use of quick deportations for legal asylum seekers who fail initial screenings. The 7-2 decision reversed a lower court’s ruling that asylum seekers must first have access to federal courts. Also, President Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, won a round in her legal fight to publish a tell-all book about the family.

Ambassador John Bolton, who was President Trump's national security adviser, has deep familiarity with Republican administrations. But as he describes in a new book, "The Room Where It Happened," Bolton found Trump's divergence from presidential norms "stunning." Bolton's claims about Trump's foreign policy, in particular, have stirred national controversy. Bolton joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

A historic heat wave is occurring in the Arctic, already the fastest-warming place on Earth due to the increasing accumulation of greenhouse gases. Dr. Merritt Turetsky, director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado Boulder, has studied the Arctic for decades. She joins William Brangham to discuss causes and consequences of the Arctic's rising temperatures.

June 25 marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean War's start. South Korean President Moon Jae-in had hoped peace efforts over the past two years would have brought the two Koreas closer, perhaps enough to produce a treaty formally ending the war. But talks are stalled, and North Korea has returned to harsh criticism and threats against its neighbor. Special correspondent Bruce Harrison reports.

During the pandemic, Americans have replaced dining out with take-out and delivery meals. As a result, more customers and restaurants are relying on apps like Grubhub and Uber Eats to transport food. But restaurants say the apps consume their profits, customers find delivery fees too high and drivers can't earn a living wage. So what is the business model's viability? Paul Solman reports.

Throughout the pandemic, the NewsHour has highlighted courageous front-line workers who are keeping the country running in the face of unprecedented hardship. Bridget Rhodes is one of these essential workers, a 911 dispatcher in Portland, Oregon, who has offered a calm voice to many callers suffering with COVID-19. Rhodes offers her Brief But Spectacular take on her critical role.

House Democrats are set to pass a comprehensive police reform bill. Led by the Congressional Black Caucus, the measure would create a ban on some police practices, such as chokeholds and the use of no-knock warrants in federal drug cases. It would also make it easier to punish officers for misconduct. Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., who chairs the caucus.