March 8, 2021 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday issued new guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated, outlining what they can do safely and providing a small window into what life in the U.S. may look like in the months ahead. Dr. Richard Besser, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the former acting CDC head, joins John Yang to discuss what the recommendations mean.

House Democrats are waiting to give final approval to the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package that was backed along party lines Saturday in the Senate. They are pressing to get the bill to President Biden to sign before federal unemployment benefits expire on March 14. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss some of the details.

During the weekend, all 50 Senate Democrats voted to pass the COVID relief bill. One of them is Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, who joins Judy Woodruff from Capitol Hill to discuss how it will affect his state, Republican opposition to the bill, immigration and raising the federal minimum wage.

In our news wrap Monday, a task force called for extensive changes in U.S. Capitol security including a quick-reaction force and a permanent, retractable fence. Also, President Biden ordered a review of how colleges and universities handle sexual assaults, demonstrations continue in Lebanon, three more protesters were shot dead in Myanmar, and Pope Francis is back at the Vatican after Iraq tour.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including the American Rescue Plan, what passage of the massive aid package will mean for President Biden, the risks for Democrats and Republicans moving forward, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's future.

We are now one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and the virus has altered our lives in many ways. The NewsHour launched a new podcast series called, "America Interrupted: The Longest Year." Hosted by Amna Nawaz, she speaks to Americans from all walks of life about what they have faced during the pandemic. Here is a clip from one conversation with an ICU nurse in New York City.