September 16, 2021 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday tried to calm tensions with France over a new defense pact between the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia. Australia had scrapped a $40 billion submarine contract with France in favor of U.S. nuclear-powered subs. France's ambassador to the United States, Philippe Etienne, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Democrats are pressing to pass a $3.5 trillion piece of legislation called the "Build Back Better" plan that would address many issues including paid-family leave, child care and climate change. But as they started this week to move on important portions of the bill, their efforts also exposed major obstacles ahead. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Last week we heard how some hospitals in Idaho were overflowing and starting to ration care. That crisis has now spread statewide, and is forcing hospitals to start sending sick patients to neighboring states. William Brangham reports.

In the mountain top village of Ayahualtempa in Guerrero state Mexico, children are learning how to use firearms and preparing for an attack by a nearby drug cartel. In our third and final story on the ravages of the cross-border drug trade with Mexico, special correspondent Monica Villamizar and producer Zach Fannin report with support from the Pulitzer Center.

The social media giant Facebook is the subject of a Wall Street Journal investigative series out this week that highlights the ways in which Facebook handles -- or doesn’t handle -- a range of issues across its vast digital empire including misinformation and violent content. John Yang spoke with Jeff Horwitz, the series’ lead reporter, to learn more.

Riz Ahmed's acting and music careers have always gone hand-in-hand. And in his new film "Mogul Mowgli," which he co-wrote, the two art forms collide, with a story that hits close to home. Amna Nawaz speaks to Ahmed about his upcoming films, increasing Muslim representation in Hollywood and 9/11’s lasting impact on Muslims 20 years later.

Millions of students are heading back to school in person after a year of online learning. We asked students in our Student Reporting Labs network what returning to in-person learning looks and feels like amid new delta variant concerns, vaccinations debates and mask mandates.