January 18, 2022 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In our news wrap Tuesday, a congressional committee subpoenaed former Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani in the Jan. 6 investigation. A federal judge approved a debt restructuring plan that ends Puerto Rico's struggle to emerge from bankruptcy. Warnings flew back and forth between Russia and NATO powers over Ukraine. Verizon and AT&T agreed to delay activating 5G cell towers near major U.S. airports.

COVID-19 cases are surging in many parts of the country with nearly 800,000 new cases a day. Hospitalizations and deaths are up significantly compared to two weeks ago. There are close to 140,000 people currently admitted to a hospital with confirmed COVID, and the country is reporting more than 1,700 deaths a day. We look into growing calls to alter the country's pandemic response strategy.

As the omicron variant continues to spread, children under the age of five are still ineligible for vaccinations — leaving many families in limbo and wondering how best to navigate everyday life. We hear from some parents across the country about how they are coping nearly two years into the pandemic, and Stephanie Sy tackles some of the burning questions surrounding the subject.

The U.S. Senate officially began debate Tuesday on a key Democratic priority — voting rights legislation. But without support from 60 senators, final passage is impossible. Democrats met Tuesday evening for an update on the path forward from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports on the latest.

It's been five months since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, and a hard, cruel winter has descended. Millions are in dire need across the country. John Ray of Independent Television News reports from Kabul.

Microsoft announced plans Tuesday to buy Activision Blizzard — a huge leader in game development — in a deal valued at $75 billion. But the acquisition comes with significant issues. There have been numerous allegations of sexual misconduct in the Activision workplace. Geoff Bennett looks at those concerns and others behind the deal.

The first satellite images of the Pacific nation of Tonga after Saturday's volcanic eruption emerged Tuesday. The photos show the islands coated in ash. Despite the violent explosion, the Tongan government has reported just three deaths. The status of two smaller islands in its chain is still unknown. John Yang takes a closer look at the science behind the volcano, its explosion and aftermath.

Tania Maree Giordani founded NourishNYC, an organization that began with the goal of providing support to Black Lives Matter protests, and has grown to provide broader grassroots services to her community year-round. Tonight, she shares her Brief But Spectacular take on building a community based on love.