August 27, 2021 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In our news wrap Friday, a judge in Florida ruled that school districts in the state can impose mask mandates in the classroom, reversing an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis banning such mandates. The Texas House easily passed a restrictive new voting rights bill despite months of protests by state Democrats. California officials ordered more fire emergency evacuations in the Lake Tahoe area.

The Tokyo Paralympic Games kicked off this past Tuesday with — for the first time — a prime-time slot on American network television. As William Brangham reports, it's part of the increasing interest and growth in these games. Motoko Rich, The New York Times' bureau chief joins Brangham to discuss why, and which athletes to keep an eye on.

The Supreme Court ended the Biden administration's COVID-related ban on evictions, siding with landlords who said the ban put them at risk of irreparable harm. Congress has authorized some $46 billion in rental assistance relief. But Stephanie Sy reports only a fraction of it has been distributed. As many as 1.2 million households say they are "very likely" to face eviction in the next two months.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including the bombings in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed U.S. service members, the commission investigating the Jan. 6 riot, and voting rights legislation.

The death toll in Thursday's suicide bombing outside Kabul's airport has risen. At least 169 Afghan civilians were killed, along with 13 U.S. service members. The Defense Department said Friday it was the work of one Islamic State bomber, not two as originally reported. Meanwhile, the U.S. and allies flew out 12,500 more people. More than 105,000 people have been evacuated. Jane Ferguson reports.

For more on the evacuation operation in Kabul and the challenges the U.S. military faces in light of Thursday's attacks, Amna Nawaz turns to retired Col. Mark Cancian. He had a 38-year career in the Marine Corps and was involved in the evacuation of Saigon in the early 1970s. He's now a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C. think tank.

Jeffrey Brown talks to Sean Penn and his daughter, Dylan, about their real-life family ties, and those on-screen in their new film "Flag Day." They also discuss Sean Penn's relief work as he's on the ground in Haiti this week. It's part of NewsHour's arts and culture series, CANVAS.