July 12, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Tropical Storm Barry is poised to strike New Orleans with significant rainfall, posing a serious flooding threat in an area where a wet spring has left the Mississippi River unusually high. State officials are urging residents to take precautions but to stay in one place and avoid high water. John Yang reports and Judy Woodruff talks to Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center.

Labor Sec. Alex Acosta has resigned over criticism of his 2008 prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein for sex crimes. Acosta joined President Trump to make the announcement to reporters, two days after the Cabinet secretary had held a news conference to address the issue. Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is again gearing up for deportation raids. Judy Woodruff talks to Yamiche Alcindor.

In our news wrap Friday, two House committees are considering delaying the planned testimony of former special counsel Robert Mueller on July 17, saying they want a longer hearing to give lawmakers more time for questioning. Also, the House approved a defense policy bill that includes limits on President Trump’s authority to take military action against Iran. Trump has vowed to veto the measure.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and The National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest in politics, including brewing tensions between progressive and moderate House Democrats, President Trump’s executive action on acquiring citizenship data, the role of money in politics and remembering Ross Perot.

House Democrats are battling over their beliefs. A substantial policy divide has opened up between moderates, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and progressives--and it has recently grown personal. On the outs with Pelosi, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, all freshman women of color, are finding themselves increasingly ostracized. Lisa Desjardins reports.

After six decades performing, folk legend Joan Baez is saying farewell to music with a tour this summer. But before setting off, she sat down with Jeffrey Brown to talk about her long career in music and political activism, and how she’s looking to younger generations to carry the torch forward.