September 10, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

As Congress returns to Washington, three deadly mass shootings in August have reignited the debate over gun regulation. Meanwhile, some House Democrats are feeling pressure to step up impeachment inquiries. And with federal spending at record-high levels, settling on a funding bill to avoid another government shutdown will be critical. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff.

How will the departure of John Bolton affect U.S. foreign policy, and was Bolton successful as national security advisor? Harvard University’s Wendy Sherman, a former foreign policy official under former Presidents Clinton and Obama, and the Hudson Institute’s Michael Doran, who previously worked in national security under former President George W. Bush, join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

As they return to Washington from their summer break, congressional Democrats want to make new gun safety legislation one of their top priorities. The House has already passed a law expanding background checks to private gun sales, but the GOP-led Senate has never voted on it. In the aftermath of three deadly August mass shootings, will the outcome be different now? Lisa Desjardins reports.

Harvey Weinstein was a film industry titan, but behind the scenes, he amassed a long list of alleged abuses toward employees and others -- as well as an intimidation campaign to keep them quiet. New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey broke the story in 2017 and have now published a book on the subject. They join Judy Woodruff to discuss the news that launched the #MeToo movement.

Robert Frank was among the most influential photographers of the 20th century, known for vividly capturing the quirks and social divisions of everyday American life. His work was distinguished by a unique artistic style as well as a focus on what was “beneath the surface.” Frank, who befriended Jack Kerouac and provided art for a Rolling Stones album, died Monday at age 94. Amna Nawaz reports.

From Angola to the former Yugoslavia, land mines are a lethal legacy of wars over long ago. Cambodia is among the most affected countries, with millions of buried explosives that kill and maim people each year. Now, an organization is deploying an unexpected ally to find mines: the giant pouch rat, whose sharp sense of smell can detect explosives. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports.