October 16, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode

The U.S. military destroyed a fifth boat in the Caribbean Sea this week that the Trump White House alleges carried narcotics bound for the U.S. Now, President Trump has raised the prospect of striking Venezuela on land. Amna Nawaz has two views on the actions from John Feeley and Sergio de la Pena.

Fallout is growing after a Politico investigation revealed offensive text messages exchanged in a private Young Republicans group chat. The report details racist, homophobic and antisemitic language shared among about a dozen members over several months. Geoff Bennett spoke with Politico reporter Emily Ngo to discuss what the messages reveal and how party leaders are responding.

The wounds of war are not just physical. They can be as severe mentally as any gunshot or explosive scarring. The levels of trauma across Israel following Oct. 7 have plunged it into a mental health crisis. With a shortage of mental health professionals, Israel’s leading hospital has begun conducting trials using AI to diagnose patients. With producer Karl Bostic, Leila Molana-Allen reports.

Rescue crews are airlifting hundreds of evacuees in rural Alaska after the remnants of a typhoon brought hurricane-force winds and record-breaking storm surge to the state's remote western coast. Geoff Bennett discussed the storm with Sage Smiley, the news director at KYUK in Bethel, Alaska, a town that has become a hub for the recovery effort in recent days.

On average, a woman’s risk of being killed in the U.S. increases by 20% when pregnant or after giving birth. Pregnant and postpartum women are more likely to be killed than to die from childbirth-related issues. Many killings are the result of domestic violence. Special correspondent Sarah Varney reports from Louisiana, where experts say abortion restrictions are putting women further at risk.