February 12, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In our news wrap Wednesday, the World Health Organization voiced hope that the outbreak of novel coronavirus may be slowing, as Beijing enforces public health measures. Also, Syrian government supporters attacked U.S. troops, who shot and killed one of the Syrians. The U.S. military said the troops returned fire in self-defense; an investigation is underway.

There's a dire need to repair aging infrastructure in the U.S., and an innovative building material could be a game changer. Embedded with steel fibers, ultra-high performance concrete is about five to 10 times stronger than standard concrete -- and unaffordable for most government-funded projects. Special correspondent Cat Wise reports from Iowa on how researchers are working to bring costs down.

Tuesday's New Hampshire primary was another big night for former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who came in a close second. But can he compete in more diverse key states like South Carolina, where his poll numbers are low? Buttigieg sat down with Judy Woodruff the morning after to discuss what distinguishes him from other candidates, as well as one critique of his fundraising.

Outrage over the Justice Department's new, shorter sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, an ally of President Trump, bubbled over on Wednesday on Capitol Hill, where congressional critics of the president say he unfairly interfered to help a friend. Are the Justice Department's moves justified? Yamiche Alcindor talks with two former Justice Department officials, Mary McCord and James Trusty.

What's the state of the Democratic presidential primary as candidates leave New Hampshire and set their sights on Nevada and South Carolina? Judy Woodruff gets reaction from Lauren Chooljian of New Hampshire Public Radio, Jon Ralston of the Nevada Independent and Thelisha Eaddy of South Carolina Public Radio.

"A Long Petal of the Sea," a new historical novel by renowned writer Isabel Allende, draws upon events spanning from the Spanish civil war to the 1973 coup in her native Chile - and with resonance for the experience of refugees today. Allende sits down with Jeffrey Brown to discuss how she drew on facts to tell her story, and why her last three books have dealt with the fates of displaced people.