July 19, 2024 - PBS News Hour full episode

It’s the midpoint of a WNBA season that’s been like no other with record-setting numbers on the court, in the stands and on television. Now a big television deal may signal a new era for the league. John Yang discussed more with Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic.

Millions of moviegoers are expected to see "Twisters" this weekend, a sequel to the 1996 blockbuster. It's a summer escapist thriller that you might say goes well beyond the science and true boundaries of tornado prediction. Miles O'Brien spent some time during this busy tornado season with actual chasers and meteorologists to understand the latest research.

After a rushed, secretive trial, a Russian court convicted American journalist Evan Gershkovich in a case the U.S. dismisses as a sham. The Wall Street Journal reporter was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony. He is the first American journalist arrested by Russia on espionage charges since the Cold War. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour.

The pressure is mounting on President Biden to step aside from his campaign. Ten more congressional Democrats called for Biden to exit the race, but his campaign insists he’s staying in and remains committed to staying at the top of the ticket. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports.

A tech outage around the globe halted flights, disrupted emergency services and created headaches for businesses. The underlying problems behind the glitch were fixed by Friday afternoon, but the ripple effects lasted throughout the day and may continue into the weekend. William Brangham discussed what went wrong and the risks with Bruce Schneier, an expert in computer security and technology.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including former President Trump formally accepting the Republican nomination after his assassination attempt and President Biden vowing to stay in the race amid pressure from Democrats.