March 23, 2023 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Three years into the pandemic, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all declining. But questions remain about new variants and whether some people may need a spring booster shot, and there are many concerns about the impact of long COVID. Epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina joined William Brangham with an update on the state of COVID in the U.S.

The number of self-identified Black farmers in the United States has dwindled over the last century, in part because of overt discrimination by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency is the economic backbone for most American farmers through its financing, insurance, research and education programs. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on a push to help Black and other underserved farmers survive.

A new report released by the Anti-Defamation League reveals antisemitic incidents increased 36% in 2022, the highest level recorded since 1979. The report comes as the FBI and human rights groups warn about the growing number of hate crimes in the U.S. Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League joined Geoff Bennett to discuss the alarming findings.

New CDC data revealed an increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in the U.S. The report shows in 2020, one out of every 36 children in America was diagnosed with autism. In 2018, that figure was one in 44, and in 2010, it was one in 68. Amna Nawaz discussed the findings with Dena Gassner of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. Gassner was diagnosed with autism at age 40.

TikTok is the fastest growing app on the planet with more than 150 million monthly users in the U.S. alone. But that popularity does not extend to Capitol Hill where its defenders are in the minority. Laura Barrón-López looks into the potential personal, political and international fallout should the government outlaw the platform.

In our news wrap Thursday, the U.S. military's top leaders warned it will take higher defense spending to head off a conflict with China, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to pursue judicial reforms, the largest demonstrations yet rocked France after the government raised the retirement age without a vote and the death toll from Tropical Cyclone Freddy topped 600 in Africa.