May 19, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode

Former President Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Among men in the U.S., prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Geoff Bennett spoke with Dr. Jay Raman, chair of the Department of Urology at Penn State Health.

The Israeli military allowed humanitarian aid into Gaza for the first time in more than 11 weeks. It came after Britain, France and Canada threatened to sanction Israel if it did not provide assistance. Israel also ordered Gaza’s second-largest city evacuated, part of a new ground operation that Israel says will not only clear Hamas, but also hold “all of the Gaza Strip.” Nick Schifrin reports.

The growing size of the U.S. debt, and the concerns over how much more it will increase, is very much on the minds of investors, markets and lawmakers. The developments were tied in part to Moody’s announcement that it was downgrading the U.S. credit rating over concerns about large annual deficits, debt and rising interest costs. Amna Nawaz discussed more with David Wessel.

Nearly one out of every three physical products made in the world today comes from China, including many items we use in our daily lives. Economics correspondent Paul Solman invites us into his home for a look at what tariff turbulence means for the products we rely on.

A federal judge heard arguments in a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to AmeriCorps. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia argue the administration overstepped its authority in slashing the program. Lisa Desjardins spoke with nonprofit organizations facing budget cuts and conservatives who want their funding slashed.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including former President Biden’s cancer diagnosis has led to an outpouring of sympathy but comes at a time of renewed questions about the full picture of his health during his presidency and the battle on Capitol Hill over President Trump's budget plan.

Fabiola Jean-Louis has been researching and exploring her Haitian heritage to create art that reimagines history and identity through a deeply personal lens. That work is now on display in Boston in the exhibit "Waters of the Abyss." Special correspondent Jared Bowen takes us there for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.