March 27, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

South Carolina band Ranky Tanky is on a mission to revive and celebrate Gullah music and culture, which originated among descendants of West African slaves in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. The group earned a Grammy Award this winter, and Jeffrey Brown went to the Lowcountry for a listen as part of our American Creators series and ongoing coverage of arts and culture, Canvas.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including whether Americans are ready for the mounting coronavirus crisis, why the U.S. government wasn’t better prepared for the pandemic, the significance of the $2.2 trillion economic relief package and the status of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

In our news wrap Friday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lashed out at the Trump administration after he was indicted on U.S. drug-trafficking charges. In a televised address, Maduro called Trump a “racist cowboy” who was making “false accusations.” Also, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has announced a team to negotiate with the Taliban, in a possible step toward peace talks.

The coronavirus pandemic has struck the globe during an era of massive refugee crises, confrontation among the world’s great powers and armed conflicts in many countries. Under these circumstances, how do we coordinate an effective global response to an enemy we can't see? To answer that question and more, Judy Woodruff turns to Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations.

Louisiana is one of the country’s emerging coronavirus hot spots. New Orleans alone has over 1,100 cases and 119 deaths, and the city’s convention center is being converted into a makeshift hospital to provide care amid the outbreak. William Brangham talks to Dr. Julio Figueroa of Louisiana State University Health about why residents of the state may be at greater risk of becoming seriously ill.

The State Department says it has brought back 15,000 Americans who were stranded in more than 30 countries across the globe. But some 30,000 are still stuck abroad, growing increasingly worried about border closures, food shortages and health care systems that are becoming overwhelmed. Nick Schifrin reports on the immense challenge of trying to return home amid a global pandemic.

As coronavirus spreads across the U.S., there have been conflicting messages from the Trump administration, governors and medical professionals about the scarcity of critical medical resources -- especially ventilators. Amna Nawaz reports on the growing need for these lifesaving machines and talks to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who says her state will require many more of them.