PBS Newshour Season 2019 Episode 38 February 21, 2019

In the PBS NewsHour episode of February 21, 2019, the program covers a number of stories about current events across the country and world. Leading headlines covered in the show include a new development in the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. Correspondent Nick Schifrin reports on the latest round of talks between the two global superpowers. Viewers will also hear a report on a major overhaul of the rules surrounding sexual misconduct at universities in the United States. William Brangham speaks with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos about these new regulations and discusses how they aim to help both survivors of sexual assault and those wrongly accused of such crimes. In another report, correspondents Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins focus on the recent congressional vote to terminate President Trump’s declaration of national emergency on the nation’s southern border. The program features discussions with some of the lawmakers and the advocates who oppose the declaration, as well as those supporting the President’s action to build a wall on the US border with Mexico. Additionally, NewsHour covers the heated debate on the impact of digital platforms on media and democracy. This debate covers Facebook’s decision to allow political ads to run on its platform despite concerns over disinformation, as well as the introduction of a new bill by Sen. Amy Klobuchar that aims to protect online users’ privacy. Finally, this episode features a number of other stories of interest to viewers, including new research that sheds light on the global epidemic of air pollution and its impact on human health. The NewsHour team reports on this research by highlighting specific cases and the devastating health consequences of living in areas with high levels of pollution. Overall, the February 21, 2019 episode of PBS NewsHour is an informative and thought-provoking look at the important issues and events of the day, ranging from global politics to public health and beyond.