May 12, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode

Nearly 60 white South Africans were admitted into the U.S. as part of President Trump’s resettlement program. Afrikaners, largely descendants of Dutch and French colonial settlers, led the apartheid government until it ended. The White House claims a new South African law is racist and the white minority is being persecuted. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Bill Frelick of Human Rights Watch.

In the U.S., pharmaceutical companies set the prices of drugs with few restraints. In many cases, Americans pay a lot more compared to Canadians or Europeans. President Trump signed an executive order directing that Americans will pay the lowest price available worldwide on prescription drugs. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Stacie Dusetzina of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

President Trump says the U.S. government is poised to accept an airplane from Qatar valued at nearly $400 million. He claims the 747 aircraft will replace the 40-year-old Air Force One. But the announcement has raised ethical and national security concerns. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert and professor at Washington University School of Law.

The final living American hostage held by Hamas is free. Edan Alexander entered Israel from Gaza in a deal made directly between Hamas and the United States. His release came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went further than before on his plans for Gaza, calling for its reoccupation. Nick Schifrin reports.

As the U.S. and China announced a surprising pause on tariffs, we're taking a look at what's behind it and where things go in the weeks ahead. To discuss the trade negotiations, Geoff Bennett spoke with Derek Scissors of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, who closely follows the Chinese economy and U.S.-China relations.

There's been a big breakthrough in the battle over tariffs. The United States and China have paused many of their most punishing tariffs, for the time being, while they try to reach a larger deal. It's a major thaw in the trade war between the world's two biggest economies. Lisa Desjardins reports.