June 29, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The United States is struggling to hold back the coronavirus. More than 30 states are reporting a rise in infections, and several are now reconsidering their plans to loosen restrictions and reopen economic activities. William Brangham talks to Dr. Tom Frieden, who previously led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and now heads a global health initiative called Resolve to Save Lives.

In our news wrap Monday, the man known as the Golden State Killer pled guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder. Former police officer Joseph DeAngelo will be spared the death penalty but will serve life in prison without parole. Also, in Afghanistan, an attack at a busy market in Helmand province killed at least 23 people. The Taliban and the Afghan military blamed each other for the violence.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that placed restrictions on doctors who perform abortions. Chief Justice John Roberts provided the swing vote to form a 5-4 majority. John Yang reports on the implications of the decision for abortion rights and how Roberts’ role on the Court has evolved.

Former U.S. military and intelligence officials say Russia has been offering Taliban fighters money to target U.S. troops. But the White House denies that President Trump was briefed on this alleged intelligence. Nick Schifrin reports, and Judy Woodruff talks to Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chair of the House Intelligence Committee, about potential implications for U.S. policy toward Russia.

Reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban fighters to kill American troops in Afghanistan have caused uproar on Capitol Hill. The highest-ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what lawmakers heard at Monday’s intelligence briefing and how the U.S. should respond if the reports are true.

The United States has no greater ally in Afghanistan than the United Kingdom, and the British-American partnership is critical to U.S. foreign policy around the world. The new British ambassador to the U.S., Karen Pierce, joins Nick Schifrin to discuss intelligence reports of Russian bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the coronavirus pandemic and Israeli annexation of the West Bank.

The young African nation of South Sudan is facing two growing challenges: the coronavirus pandemic and ethnic violence. The dual threats mean little time or investment is left for athletes looking to compete in the Olympics -- so Japan, the host of the now-postponed 2020 Games, offered to help. NewsHour producer Ali Rogin reports on how five runners are training to keep their Olympic dreams alive.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Errin Haines of The 19th join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including the implications of the racist video President Trump recently shared, the U.S. debate over wearing masks and what it says about politicization of the pandemic and how Trump’s coronavirus response could shape his support among voters.