July 26, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Although “build the wall” was one of President Trump’s most-recognized campaign chants, he has found other ways to limit immigration and expand enforcement while in office. This past week included an ICE crackdown on undocumented immigrants who have removal orders, several court rulings about Trump’s proposed changes to asylum rules and new headlines about detained migrants. Amna Nawaz reports.

In our news wrap Friday, the U.S. economy is showing signs of losing some steam, with growth rate down sharply in the second quarter from its level in the first. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow blamed Fed interest rate hikes. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, pro-democracy protesters flooded the airport, trying to focus international attention on their cause. They plan another march Saturday.

Gaelynn Lea is transforming our cultural understanding of who can be a musician. A congenital disability called osteogenesis imperfecta caused her bones to break more than 40 times while she was in the womb. But the violinist is known for her haunting original songs, innovative interpretations of traditional folk music and growing role as an advocate for disability rights. Jeffrey Brown reports.

Issues of criminal justice reform and systemic racism dominated the 2020 Democratic campaign conversation over the past week. Candidates appeared at the NAACP convention in Detroit to pitch related policy proposals -- and several demonstrated an increasing willingness to go after each other’s political records. But they were united in criticizing President Trump. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week’s political news, including the aftermath of Robert Mueller’s congressional testimony, the current legislative landscape around election security, changing dynamics within the 2020 presidential race and the fiscal significance of the bipartisan budget deal.

Election security was in the news this week, as former special counsel Robert Mueller testified before Congress about the level to which Russia interfered in the 2016 election -- and plans to do it again. Now the Senate Intelligence Committee is releasing its own report on the problem. John Yang talks to the Democracy Fund’s Tammy Patrick about whether U.S. election authorities are prepared.

Former Soviet bloc nations are bracing for a fight with the European Union over how they govern. Recent behavior by Hungary and Poland concerns EU officials, who warn they will crack down on member states that fail to uphold modern European democratic values. But experts say Poland’s special relationship with President Trump may induce it to resist. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports.