December 17, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The House of Representatives will vote Wednesday on whether to impeach President Trump. Particularly for moderate Democrats in vulnerable congressional districts, the decision of whether to support impeachment could come at a significant political cost. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he will vote for the articles and what his Colorado constituents are saying.

Earlier this fall, Boeing said it expected its 737 Max jets to fly again in January 2020. But as a Federal Aviation Administration investigation continues and concerns about the plane’s safety persist, the aerospace giant has announced it is pausing its production instead. Miles O’Brien joins Judy Woodruff to discuss effects on the aviation industry and why the FAA itself has come under scrutiny.

Newly released court documents reveal that the family behind Purdue Pharmaceuticals, maker of highly addictive painkiller OxyContin, withdrew over $10 billion from the company as the opioid epidemic grew worse. The developments are increasing scrutiny of the Sackler family and its liability for the deadly crisis. William Brangham reports and talks to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

For the year that began in October, President Trump has capped the number of refugees who may enter the U.S. at 18,000 -- the lowest level since 1980. The policy is having a significant effect in what may seem like an unlikely place: Bowling Green, Kentucky, where a disproportionate number of refugees has settled in recent years, forming a crucial component of the local economy. John Yang reports.

Researchers are trying to better understand the biology of stress and its impact on child health. Now, data suggests those connections may form as early as the womb, with studies indicating frequent and prolonged adversity for pregnant women can affect the development of their babies. Stephanie Sy reports on a program aimed at easing the stress and struggles of mothers and their unborn children.

Author and illustrator Mo Willems has sold millions of children’s books and created beloved characters, including the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Elephant and Piggie. Now he’s the Kennedy Center’s first education artist-in-residence, making new kinds of work for both kids and adults. Correspondent Paul Solman talks to Willems about how he engages his audience.