January 7, 2022 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In our news wrap Friday, three white men convicted of chasing and murdering Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia were sentenced to life in prison. A Michigan judge refused to lower the bond penalty for the parents of a teenager who allegedly killed 4 students at his high school. The number of children under 5 who are hospitalized in the U.S. after testing positive for COVID-19 continues to sharply.

Kazakhstan’s president on Friday vowed to “shoot to kill” protestors after a week of demonstrations. Kazakhstan lies at the strategic crossroads of Russia, China and Central Asia, and has large energy reserves— with billions invested by U.S. companies. Yet many Kazakhs live in poverty. Economic woes are boiling over into demands to upend the country’s authoritarian politics. Nick Schifrin reports.

NewsHour correspondents who were covering the events of last Jan. 6 include Lisa Desjardins, who was inside the Capitol, Amna Nawaz, who was outside the building as the crowd gathered, and Yamiche Alcindor, who was at the White House. They spoke with Judy Woodruff this week about how the country has changed in the year since.

Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier has died at the age of 94. Poitier transformed how Black characters were portrayed on screen and became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance. Throughout his life, the star carved a path for generations of black actors to come. Geoff Bennett looks back at his life and legacy.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including President Joe Biden’s address marking the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol assault, and the status of Democrats’ voting rights legislation.