April 21, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

On Tuesday, the Senate renewed its effort to mitigate economic pain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers approved a $483 billion relief package including money for hospitals, testing and small business lending -- especially targeted to business categories less successful in securing funding through previous legislation. Amna Nawaz reports, and Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Late Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed a $483 billion bill providing additional relief and aid amid the COVID-19 pandemic. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was instrumental in developing this legislation. She joins Judy Woodruff to discuss how the bipartisan deal evolved, what’s different about it and the “impediment” President Trump has represented to the federal pandemic response.

The collapse of the global oil market reflects a broader drop in demand across all areas of the economy, as business activity during the pandemic remains near a standstill. What caused this historic decline in oil prices, and what does it mean for other sectors? The New York Times’ Neil Irwin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss a sudden drop in consumption and what might happen to the oil market next.

In our news wrap Tuesday, a bipartisan Senate report reaffirms that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election -- and will try it again this year. The findings contradict President Trump’s claims of a hoax and reiterate the intelligence community’s consensus. Also, South Korea and China are casting doubt upon earlier reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is gravely ill.

Although the novel coronavirus is known for causing respiratory symptoms, there are new questions about its impact on other parts of the body. COVID-19 may be linked in some patients with increases in inflammation of the heart as well as injury to other organs and tissues. William Brangham talks to Yale University's Dr. Alan Kliger about one of the concerning trends: serious kidney damage.

Science correspondent Miles O’Brien has spent the past few weeks in Seattle, reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and producing a film for FRONTLINE about how things unfolded in the city where the disease made its U.S. debut. He joins William Brangham to discuss the global push to find an effective vaccine and therapeutic treatments, plus shares a preview of the FRONTLINE special on the pandemic.

In his daily White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing, President Trump discussed his new push to limit U.S. immigration via a forthcoming executive order. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the details of the expected 60-day partial suspension, why some critics are arguing it’s “a step too far” and how legal challenges to the order might ensue.

As much of the globe continues to stay home to practice social distancing, vibrant cities have gone quiet, and animals are freer to roam. The rare absence of human activity grants us a special glimpse of what the world might be like without us in it. Jeffrey Brown has the story for ongoing coverage of arts and culture, Canvas.