October 17, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

A month-long strike by the United Auto Workers appears to be nearing an end. The organization’s leadership approved a tentative deal with General Motors on Thursday, but workers will remain on the picket line until rank-and-file members vote on it over the next week or so. William Brangham reports and talks to Micki Maynard, a journalist who covers the automotive industry, about the details.

Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday about Turkey’s military offensive in northern Syria. They agreed to a five-day pause in the operation, but disagreed about whether or not it constitutes a "cease-fire." Judy Woodruff reports and sits down with Serdar Kilic, Turkish ambassador to the U.S., to discuss.

In our news wrap Thursday, New England is cleaning up after a powerful nor’easter lashed the region with heavy rain and wind gusting to 90 miles an hour. Some 400,000 customers in Maine and Massachusetts lost power. Also, about 25,000 teachers and staff are striking in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest public school district. They're demanding better pay and smaller classes, among other changes.

There was confusion around the words of the Trump administration’s acting chief of staff Thursday. Mick Mulvaney first connected the delay of military aid to Ukraine with an investigation into a DNC server in 2016 but then said the two were unrelated. Meanwhile, EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland testified on Capitol Hill. Lisa Desjardins reports and joins Judy Woodruff and Yamiche Alcindor to discuss.

European Union leaders unanimously backed a Brexit deal with the United Kingdom on Thursday. The next major hurdle is for British Parliament to approve the agreement -- no easy feat for Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Nick Schifrin reports and talks to Chatham House’s Robin Niblett about how the deal would handle the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the outlook for passing it.

Veteran Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland died early Thursday at age 68, after suffering long-standing health problems. The Baltimore Democrat was a highly regarded figure in both political parties, known for his advocacy on civil rights issues. Cummings was chair of the House Oversight Committee and had been playing a central role in the impeachment inquiry. Amna Nawaz reports.