January 22, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

For decades, coal miners have been inhaling silica dust on the job. The extremely fine particles, generated when the quartz-rich limestone surrounding coal seams is cut, lodge in the lungs, obstructing respiration. According to a Frontline/NPR report, both the industry and the government understood the hazard for decades but did little to contain it. Howard Berkes of NPR joins John Yang.

The FBI Agents Association has released a report warning that the government shutdown, which has left thousands of agents working without pay, is reducing the organization's ability to execute critical intelligence gathering and law enforcement tasks. Thomas O’Connor, president of the association, joins Judy Woodruff to explain why agents' "financial insecurity equals a national security issue."

The Supreme Court dealt with some of the most politically charged issues in the nation on Tuesday. National Law Journal’s Marcia Coyle joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why the Court's removal of the injunction on banning transgender military service people was "a little surprising," as well as an upcoming gun case with broad implications for public carry of weapons.

Megan Winters, a transgender sailor, says being able to transition while maintaining her Navy role left her personally and professionally “rejuvenated." Although the military cites little evidence that the presence of transgender service members jeopardizes military readiness, the Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to ban them. Nick Schifrin reports.

On day 32 of the government shutdown, some signs of progress. The Senate will vote Thursday on proposals by both Republicans and Democrats to reopen shuttered government agencies at least temporarily. Still, neither proposal is expected to pass. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss what may be largely "symbolic" moves and the latest on the State of the Union.

Funded by the Department of Homeland Security, which is affected by the government shutdown, the U.S. Coast Guard is the only branch of the U.S. military currently working without pay. But crews have still been deploying, and as Judy Woodruff reports, that can mean their families are left at home for months without a paycheck.

There are approximately a million children of active duty military in the U.S. Most attend public school, move six to nine times before finishing high school and must cope with a parent being absent for extended periods of time. Schools don't always know how to offer support to these children, but new initiatives are trying to change that. Special correspondent Kavitha Cardoza reports.