Pbs Newshour - Politics

The Supreme Court heard debate over one of its most consequential cases, whether a former president is immune from prosecution for actions taken while in office. Arguments were heard on an appeal brought by Donald Trump, who's being prosecuted for attempting to overthrow the results of the 2020 election. John Yang discussed more with William Brangham and Supreme Court analyst Marcia Coyle. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Thursday, the U.S. and 17 other nations issued a joint appeal for Hamas to release the hostages still believed to be held by the group, Ariel Henry resigned as Haiti's prime minister after months of gang violence, the FCC voted to reinstate net neutrality rules and a cargo ship exited Baltimore's harbor for the first time since the Key Bridge collapsed last month. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It was a charged atmosphere at the Supreme Court as justices heard arguments in a major abortion case. The court looked at whether a federal law requiring hospitals to provide abortion care in emergencies would apply to states with strict bans. More than two dozen states ban or severely restrict abortion and six states have no health exceptions. Geoff Bennett discussed the case with Sarah Varney. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Wednesday, Secretary of State Blinken arrived in China for three days of talks aimed at stabilizing relations, Hamas released video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli hostage who was abducted on Oct. 7, Arizona's Republican-led House voted to repeal the state's near-total ban on abortions and the Biden administration issued new protections for airline travelers. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Biden signed the massive foreign aid package after months of delay amid Republican opposition. The $95 billion measure includes assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Lisa Desjardins reports on what happens next. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Issues such as inequality, gender identity and education have become the subjects of national debate, with the focus often on what elected leaders in Washington say and do about them. Yet many of these issues play out on the local level in communities with their own histories and challenges. Judy Woodruff traveled to one such community in North Carolina for her series, America at a Crossroads. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Former President Trump's hush money trial continued Tuesday. On the witness stand, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker described the relationship between Trump and the tabloid during the 2016 campaign, where it would squash negative stories about him and publish critical ones about his rivals. But as William Brangham reports, the judge has to rule on Trump's behavior outside the court. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

TikTok might soon be banned or sold to new ownership in the U.S. with the Senate expected to approve legislation as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies. But TikTok doesn't plan to go down without a fight and says this is an unconstitutional violation of free speech. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with David McCabe of the New York Times. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Opening statements began Monday in the first criminal trial of Donald Trump. Prosecutors accused Trump and his associates of falsifying business records during his 2016 campaign to conceal an alleged extramarital affair. But the former president's attorney said he was not involved in the payments, which they argue weren't illegal, and did not commit a crime. William Brangham reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the most significant case on homelessness in decades. The case looks at challenges to laws in a small Oregon town fining homeless people up to $300 for setting up camps in public parks. The heart of the question is whether these laws classify as cruel and unusual punishment. Geoff Bennett and NewsHour Supreme Court analyst Marcia Coyle discussed the case. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

NPR's Tamara Keith and Andrew Desiderio of Punchbowl News join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the House passing foreign aid for Ukraine after months of debate and political gamesmanship and the turmoil surrounding Speaker Mike Johnson. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

On Friday, Capitol Hill saw one of the most significant votes of the year. In the House, the leaders of both parties worked together to oppose the most fiery voices in their caucuses, pushing aid for Ukraine and other allies over a key hurdle. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join William Brangham to discuss the week in politics, including Democrats helping Speaker Johnson get a foreign aid package through the House as he faces backlash from far-right members of his caucus and President Biden's role in easing tensions between Israel and Iran. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A full jury has been seated in Donald Trump's criminal trial, but jury selection had a rocky start with two previously selected jurors dismissed. One was excused after she said her personal information had been made public. The other was dismissed after prosecutors raised concerns that he may have not been honest in a questionnaire. William Brangham discussed more with Jessica Roth. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A new report reveals a historic amount of turnover within local elections offices, but also the resiliency of that workforce. Stephanie Sy takes a closer look. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

At the U.S. Capitol, there was another collision of the biggest issues facing the country and the world. In the House, Speaker Johnson made more moves in his attempt to pass aid for Ukraine and other allies. But in the Senate, the first-ever impeachment trial of a sitting cabinet official quickly ended. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case looking at an obstruction law used to prosecute hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters. The obstruction statute is also key to various legal challenges facing former President Donald Trump. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Politico's Kyle Cheney, who has been following the Jan. 6 legal fallout. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson spent the day juggling his foreign aid priorities for Ukraine and Israel with potential threats to his job from members of his own party. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Donald Trump's first criminal trial started Monday in New York City. In the first criminal trial of any former president, he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up an alleged extramarital affair that surfaced during his 2016 campaign. William Brangham has been covering the former president's legal cases and reports from New York. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It's tax day and millions of people are filing at the last minute. What many may not know is that the clock is ticking on some potentially big changes that will be decided by the outcome of the 2024 election. Lisa Desjardins has a closer look at what's at stake with Richard Rubin of The Wall Street Journal. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders