May 22, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

On Friday, President Trump declared houses of worship “essential," calling on governors to reopen them. Some beaches and lakes are also allowing visitors as Americans mark the Memorial Day holiday. But as the pandemic rages on, flags across the country are currently at half-staff for a different somber milestone: the more than 95,000 people in the U.S. killed by COVID-19. William Brangham reports.

According to the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, Hong Kong is an autonomous Chinese territory. But in recent years, pro-democracy activists there have resisted Beijing’s efforts to bring it under tighter control. Now, a proposed Chinese law seeks to ban what it considers “subversive” activity in Hong Kong. Amna Nawaz talks to Bonnie Glaser of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Trump administration has emphasized the possibility that the novel coronavirus was accidentally released by scientists at a Chinese lab. While that accusation remains unproven, China’s oversight of such scientific research has come under scrutiny in the past, and now, an area in which the U.S. and China previously collaborated has grown fraught with tension. Nick Schifrin reports.

Scientists say antibody testing could be a key tool in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Still, many questions remain about the accuracy of antibody testing. The Food and Drug Administration has tried to crack down on inaccurate tests, but scientists aren’t even sure yet what a positive test means for immunity. John Yang reports.

In our news wrap Friday, a passenger jet crashed into a crowded residential district in Karachi, Pakistan. Most of the 98 people aboard were feared dead, but at least two survived. Rescuers combed the wreckage for signs of life. Also, the sons of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi say they have forgiven their father’s killers -- a move that spares those convicted of the murder from execution.

We close the week with an uplifting tale from the United Kingdom. Amid shortages of essential supplies during the coronavirus era, a picturesque water mill of the medieval period has been pressed back into service -- to provide bakers and grocers in the county of Dorset with fresh flour. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump’s call to reopen houses of worship despite the pandemic, controversial comments from Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, public opinion on reopening the country, the battle over mail-in voting and Trump’s firing of inspectors general.

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has climbed past 95,000 this week. As the staggering numbers reverberate, we take a moment to remember five people killed by the disease, including an opera singer, a father of six and a 25-year-old budding therapist.