November 19, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Unless more federal aid is approved soon, COVID-19 relief measures like unemployment assistance will expire by Christmas. More than 10 million jobs have been lost since the pandemic began, and many Americans are facing food and housing insecurity. Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the pandemic’s toll on public health and economic wellbeing.

In our news wrap Thursday, Hurricane Iota’s death toll has passed 40 across Central America. Search teams continue to find bodies in landslides triggered by flooding. Entire communities in Honduras and Nicaragua were overwhelmed, with thousands left homeless. Also, a badly damaged giant space telescope in Puerto Rico is shutting down. The iconic Arecibo radio telescope was built in the 1960s.

Failing to prove any widespread fraud, President Trump’s allies have turned the post-election spotlight to the people who canvass and certify votes. Now, Wisconsin officials formally ordered a recount in two heavily Democratic counties. Stephanie Sy reports and William Brangham talks to Yamiche Alcindor and Nate Persily of the Healthy Elections Project.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo became the first American of his position to visit the Golan Heights and a settlement in the occupied West Bank. While there, Pompeo also announced major shifts in U.S. policy regarding Israel. Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Political polling is under scrutiny once again. While pre-election surveys set expectations of a Democratic landslide, the presidential contest and many Senate and House races came down to the wire instead. In fact, Republicans gained ground in the House. To understand what went wrong, Judy Woodruff talks to pollsters J. Ann Selzer of Selzer and Company and Chris Kofinis of Park Street Strategies.

CRISIS POINT Ethiopia is confronting what the United Nations calls a “full-scale humanitarian crisis.” The federal government has been fighting a war with the government of the Tigray region in the country’s north. It’s unclear how many people have died, and the conflict has also exacerbated longstanding hunger issues. Special correspondent Coletta Wanjohi joins Nick Schifrin to discuss.

The worsening pandemic continues to mean millions of Americans out of work. For older employees in particular, this kind of long-term unemployment can represent the end of a career -- especially when they may be facing age discrimination and bias. Economics correspondent Paul Solman looks at the problem as part of his series Unfinished Business.