March 24, 2021 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The nation's first government-backed reparations initiative was green lit this week in Evanston, Illinois, a Chicago suburb where about 16 percent of its 75,000 residents are Black. The city council has promised $10 million over 10 years. John Yang discusses how the program could serve as a model for the rest of the country with Ron Daniels of the National African American Reparations Commission.

One thing the pandemic has made clear is our need for essential workers. The NewsHour has heard many of their voices during this last year. On this "Equal Pay Day," Ai-jen Poo, Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance gives her Brief But Spectacular take on the importance of caregivers and how we can protect and value their work in America as we navigate the pandemic.

In our news wrap Wednesday, Senators clashed over an elections bill to expand ballot access and head off attempts to limit voting access at the state level, with Republicans saying it's partisan overreach. U.S. health officials pointed to progress in the pandemic with rising vaccinations, but warned that new infections remain high. Also, Myanmar released people jailed for protesting the coup.

The Pentagon on Wednesday announced a commission that will investigate sexual assault and harassment in the military. Nick Schifrin reports on how sexual assault and harassment infects the military’s most prominent units and how members of one corps are trying to find innovative solutions born of personal experience.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand joins Judy Woodruff to discuss solutions for what she believes is an "epidemic" in the military - sexual assault. Gillibrand says the best way to reduce sexual assault cases in the military, on top of training, is to "convict predators" and install independent investigation boards.

Between the tragedies in Atlanta, Georgia and Boulder, Colorado there were several other mass shootings — in Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Stockton, California and Gresham, Oregon. Two people died and 26 were wounded. How can Americans prevent the next gun tragedy? Colorado State Assemblyman Tom Sullivan, who lost his son to a mass shooting in 2012, joins William Brangham to discuss the issue.

President Biden regularly touts the promise of his COVID relief legislation, but there are significant problems in the job market that may not be easily solved as more than 9 million Americans remain out of work, and the unemployment numbers remain high. Newly appointed Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the administration's plans for the job market.