January 12, 2024 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The U.S. strikes against Houthis in Yemen mark a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The world is now waiting to see whether the strikes will accomplish their goal to stop the Houthis from harassing ships in the Red Sea or raise the risk of a wider conflict. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Nadwa Al-Dawsari, a nonresident scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington.

The Iowa caucuses are now just three days away, which means the candidates are making their final pitches to a coveted group of voters: white evangelicals. Bob Vander Plaats is perhaps Iowa’s most recognizable and influential evangelical leader and is often called a kingmaker in Iowa politics. Lisa Desjardins sat down with him in Des Moines to discuss the GOP race.

In Taiwan, voters head to the polls on Saturday for presidential and parliamentary elections. The results will be as closely watched in Beijing and Washington as they will be in Taipei. China considers Taiwan a breakaway republic, and President Xi Jinping often speaks of reunification with the island. Nick Schifrin looks at the candidates and the stakes for the vote.

Houthi militants in Yemen promised retaliation after U.S. and U.K. airstrikes. U.S. officials said the strikes were not intended to widen the war in Gaza, despite Houthi claims that their missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea were designed to target Israeli-affiliated shipping. As Nick Schifrin reports, the U.S. said it could strike again if the Houthi campaign continues.

The U.S. and other parts of the world are in the midst of another COVID-19 wave. Infections and hospitalizations are on the rise this winter and a new variant is responsible for most of those cases. John Yang discussed these current trends and if the approach to the virus needs to change with Dr. Eric Topol.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, the dynamics of the GOP race and expectations heading into Iowa and Democrats concerned about the Biden reelection campaign strategy.