October 20, 2025 – PBS News Hour full episode

Friday on the News Hour, the U.S. escalates regional tensions with another strike on an alleged drug boat off the coast of Venezuela. Experts warn against the dangers of manipulating economic data after President Trump replaced the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Plus, the government shutdown continues, leaving many critical workers unpaid and needing to resort to food banks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Thursday on the News Hour, current and former NBA stars are accused in a sprawling illegal gambling scheme that allegedly involved faked injuries, rigged poker games and ties to organized crime. Congress fails to agree on proposals to pay federal workers affected by the government shutdown. Plus, Pennsylvania's top election official responds to the DOJ's repeated efforts to obtain voter data. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Wednesday on the News Hour, President Trump sanctions Russia's two biggest oil companies after efforts to end the war in Ukraine falter. Pressure mounts to end the government shutdown as furloughed federal workers struggle to make ends meet and millions of Americans face a spike in health care costs. Plus, the mother of a teen mistakenly arrested by immigration agents speaks out. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tuesday on the News Hour, President Trump's push to end foreign wars faces a test as cracks show in the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire and a meeting with Putin is called off. The president faces growing calls to withdraw a nominee who reportedly referred to himself as having a “Nazi streak.” Plus, another university refuses the Trump administration's demands for higher education. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Monday on the News Hour, Ukraine turns to European leaders for military support after President Trump urges Kyiv to cede territory to Russia. Trump spars with the president of Colombia over U.S. strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean. Plus, how Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts and further dismantle the Voting Rights Act may disenfranchise Black voters. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Sunday on PBS News Weekend, the week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is strained as Israel says it launched strikes inside Gaza in response to Hamas attacks on its troops. How the Education Department is spurring dramatic change in the nation’s public schools. What to know about a painful side effect of breast cancer treatment. Plus, a rare bloom in one of the driest places on Earth. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Saturday on PBS News Weekend, millions turn out in what organizers call an historic flood of nationwide protests to push back against Trump’s policies. A little-known company that helped create China’s infamous internet firewall is quietly selling the system to other countries. Plus, a former CDC director’s new book offers an insider’s formula for defeating the world’s worst diseases. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Friday on the News Hour, Ukraine's president visits the White House amid tensions over long-range missiles and discussions with Vladimir Putin. The disfigured, injured, and traumatized children and parents of Gaza begin the long road to recovery as the tenuous ceasefire holds. Plus, the Trump administration provides a $20 billion lifeline to Argentina's flailing economy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Thursday on the News Hour, John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser turned critic, is indicted over classified documents in the latest retribution against his perceived enemies. The Trump administration authorizes covert CIA operations in Venezuela as maritime strikes on alleged drug boats continue. Plus, Israelis work to process the collective trauma of the Oct. 7 attacks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Wednesday on the News Hour, aid trucks enter Gaza as the tenuous Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal holds, and both Gazans and Israelis take stock of what they've lost. The Supreme Court hears a Louisiana redistricting case that challenges a key part of the Voting Rights Act. Plus, how students and teachers are faring in Arizona's school voucher program that could soon be adopted across the nation. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy