April 30, 2021 - PBS NewsHour full episode

More than 575,000 Americans lost their lives to COVID-19. Although more than half of all U.S. adults have received at least one dose of a vaccine, there are still challenges to getting people to take the shot, especially in Texas. William Brangham explores the complexities behind the decrease in demand with a Galveston County local health authority, Dr. Philip Keiser.

A new report released Friday details a pattern of abuse of Chinese workers along Beijing’s global development initiative, the Belt and Road. The West also accuses Beijing of exploiting ethnic minority Uighurs, using forced labor to produce cotton. Nick Schifrin reports how that Western criticism sparked a nationalist backlash in China, directed at Western companies.

Almost 40 years of marriage to the late Senator John McCain gave Cindy McCain a front row seat to the adventure and challenges of life in politics. From navigating political scandals and a growing family, to taking on President Trump, she catalogues her experiences in her new book, "Stronger: Courage, Hope, and Humor in My Life with John McCain." She joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the read.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including Cindy McCain’s Republican ideals, President Joe Biden’s joint address to Congress, and his first 100 days in office.

Every Friday, we take a moment to memorialize five lives lost to COVID-19 using the stories their loved ones shared with us.

Like many extreme sports, big wave surfing is male-dominated. Portuguese surfer Joana Andrade is one of a handful of women trying to change that, and the documentary "Big vs. Small" follows her in her endeavor. Stephanie Sy gives us a look inside the world of elite big wave surfers — and Andrade's ambitions and fears. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.