May 27, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The American death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic passed the 100,000 milestone on Wednesday. Dr. Anthony Fauci is one of the country's leading public health officials and a key member of President Trump’s Coronavirus Task Force. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the country’s “terrible ordeal,” how we can contain the virus moving forward and why he is cautiously optimistic about a vaccine.

Lawmakers agree struggling Americans need another economic relief package due to the pandemic’s fallout. But congressional Republicans and Democrats differ over who should receive that assistance. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joins Judy Woodruff to discuss a new House proposal for COVID-19 testing, being more “prescriptive” about how federal aid is spent and whether to hold an in-person convention.

In our news wrap Wednesday, NASA had to scrub the first launch of astronauts from U.S. soil in nearly a decade due to bad weather. Storms kept the SpaceX rocket stalled at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but the crew will try again Saturday. Also, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has stepped up criticism of President Trump for refusing to wear a mask in public, calling Trump a “fool.”

Playwright and pioneering AIDS activist Larry Kramer has died of pneumonia at age 84. He fought for greater resources and awareness of HIV, as well as for gay rights, during the 1980s and 1990s. Kramer was also a novelist and nonfiction writer who was taking on the topic of the coronavirus pandemic at the time of his death. Jeffrey Brown looks back at Kramer’s life.

It has been a painful two days in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd in police custody. The incident, captured on video, raises questions about the conduct of the specific police officers involved, as well as the department’s broader relationship with citizens of color. Yamiche Alcindor reports, and Amna Nawaz talks to Andrea Jenkins, vice president of the Minneapolis city council.

In Hong Kong, demonstrations have intensified as the threats from China mount. Beijing said recently it would make behavior that it deems anti-Chinese illegal, in a move that is prompting the Trump administration to consider rescinding certain trade and travel privileges for the territory. But how far will the U.S. go? Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what’s next for Hong Kong.

Who will care for the children of working parents when they return to their jobs, if schools and many child care providers remain closed? The CARES Act allocated $3.5 billion to support child care programs, but a national organization says many providers have yet to receive any funding. Special correspondent Cat Wise reports from Oregon, where a shortage of child care slots preceded the pandemic.