March 24, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Last week, the NewsHour joined master cellist Yo-Yo Ma in asking the public to join the #SongsOfComfort effort and contribute music both old and new. Chief arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown shares some of what we have received here -- moments of respite and zen in the age of coronavirus. You can post your own offering on social media platforms using the hashtag #SongsOfComfort.

Many families are finding it difficult to gauge how much news is too much when it comes to their children and teens. With TVs and other devices on around the clock, it’s tough to shield kids from a constant stream of reporting. At the same time, many teens still may not be taking the pandemic as seriously as they should. Author Kelly Corrigan shares her humble opinion on how to keep children safe.

Wall Street soared Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining a record 2,100 points. The gains came as the Senate continued to debate the details of a possible economic recovery package for Americans suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Confirmed U.S. cases of coronavirus have reached 50,000, with more than 600 deaths. But as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned of dire conditions in hospitals, Wall Street rallied and President Trump spoke of easing government restrictions soon in order to lessen the economic pain of the pandemic. Meanwhile, India has gone into lockdown. Amna Nawaz and special correspondent Neha Poonia report.

The economic relief bill the Senate is debating would be among the most expensive pieces of legislation in U.S. history. Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., joins Judy Woodruff to discuss which provisions are still being negotiated and why, unlike President Trump, he believes government should prioritize health concerns over economic ones in the national fight against coronavirus.

The Senate and the White House continue to deliberate over another coronavirus economic relief bill. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he would support the measure's “unprecedented expansion” of unemployment compensation, how to get needed medical resources to American health care workers and the need to expand coronavirus testing before resuming economic normalcy.

In our news wrap Tuesday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and rival Abdullah Abdullah traded blame for a possible $1 billion reduction of U.S. aid. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo made the threat after meeting with them in Kabul. Also, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal urged China not to expel journalists, saying the move would “deprive the world of critical information.”

With close to 7,000 deaths, Italy is the country hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic so far. Its health care system, one of Europe’s best, is mustering all its resources to respond to the flood of patients infected with COVID-19. But doctors and nurses are near their breaking points, and they warn the U.S. to learn from the Italian government’s mistakes. Nick Schifrin reports.

The tragedies we see playing out in Italy and around the world are why most public health officials say it’s far too soon to plan when people can return to work. But President Trump says he wants to see much of the country back to normal by April 12. Paul Solman speaks with True Health Initiative’s Dr. David Katz, and William Brangham talks to Marc Lipsitch, a Harvard University epidemiologist.

Olympic history was made Tuesday when Japan and the International Olympic Committee decided to postpone this summer’s games to 2021. John Yang reports and speaks with USA Today’s Christine Brennan, who has covered every Olympic Games since 1984.