Pentagon leaders brief lawmakers on U.S. boat strikes, fueling debate over legality

White House envoys met again with Ukrainian officials on Saturday to discuss Trump’s proposed path to peace. The administration’s national security strategy released this week says ending the war in Ukraine is a “core” U.S. interest, reflecting a shift from the stance of previous administrations, including Trump’s first term. John Yang speaks with the Atlantic Council’s Matthew Kroenig for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Saturday, Arab leaders gathering in Qatar said it’s time to move forward on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, newly released 911 calls shed light on the desperation felt during July’s flash floods in Texas, the family of a National Guard member shot near the White House said they’re optimistic about his recovery, and the countdown to the Winter Olympics in Italy has begun. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A new bipartisan divide has broken open after senior U.S. military officers showed Congress video of multiple strikes on a boat in the Caribbean in early September. Republicans backed the decision by a Special Operations commander to target survivors of the first strike, while Democrats accused the commander of targeting a shipwreck. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A classified briefing on the Pentagon's strike of an alleged drug boat opened partisan divides over whether the act constituted war crimes. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Democratic Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee. He was among the members of Congress briefed by military leaders. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A sprawling energy-sector scandal is rocking Ukraine. Last week, the country was shocked by the exit of President Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. Ukraine's second most powerful man resigned after the state anti-corruption body raided his home. As Jack Hewson explains, it's a crisis striking at the heart of the government as the country fights for survival against Russia's invasion. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ukrainian officials met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to continue negotiations over an American plan to end the war. Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week, where the Russian president said he endorsed only parts of the plan. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, Israel received remains believed to be those of one of the last two hostages still in Gaza, President Trump proposed rolling back fuel efficiency standards set by the Biden administration and a dozen former FDA commissioners say they're "deeply concerned" about proposed changes that would create a far stricter process for vaccine approvals. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

One year ago, Lebanon and Israel signed a ceasefire that was supposed to end a war between the militant group Hezbollah and Israel, a war that left more than 4,000 Lebanese and more than 100 Israelis dead. But with near-daily Israeli attacks still taking place, life for civilians in Lebanon's south remains dangerous. Special Correspondent Simona Foltyn reports from that tense border. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The first attack in the Trump administration’s campaign in the Caribbean has become the most contentious. A U.S. official tells PBS News the military struck an alleged drug boat four times on September 2. President Trump and Pete Hegseth defended the attack, but also distanced themselves from the follow-on strike that targeted people who weren’t killed by the first strike. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Tuesday. They were there for the latest round of negotiations on a plan to end Russia's war with Ukraine. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy