'America First' aid policy reshapes how U.S. delivers global health assistance

President Trump is not the first to push the boundaries of his power as commander in chief. The law on war powers gives presidents 60 days to conduct military operations without congressional approval. That timeframe for Iran is about to end. Will Congress assert power and push back? Guest moderator Lisa Desjardins discusses that with former Sen. Ben Cardin and former Rep. Connie Mack IV. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

An American delegation is headed to Pakistan to continue talks geared toward ending the two-month war with Iran. One of the focal points of any discussion will be the Strait of Hormuz, where vital maritime traffic remains largely frozen. While Iran's foreign minister is already in the Pakistani capital, his spokesman said there is no meeting planned with the Americans. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

During a meeting in the Oval Office on Thursday, Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks. But on the ground, the truce has been unravelling, with multiple violations by both Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports from southern Lebanon. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Forty years ago, the world's worst nuclear power disaster exploded into history at the Soviet Union's Chornobyl nuclear plant in what is now Ukraine. The ensuing cover-up and clean-up operation made Chornobyl a byword for dereliction and mismanagement. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky and cinematographer Amanda Bailly report from the Chornobyl exclusion zone. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Two days after President Trump extended his two-week ceasefire with Iran, the prospect of talks is giving way to more tensions and brinksmanship from both sides. Iran released video of forces taking control of two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and President Trump wrote that he ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill any boat" that threatens the strait by laying mines. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Officials from Israel and Lebanon met in Washington to build on last week's agreement for a 10-day ceasefire. Both sides pledged to halt offensive operations, while Lebanon committed to taking meaningful steps to prevent Hezbollah from launching attacks on Israel. Geoff Bennett spoke with Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Since the dismantling of USAID, the Trump administration has been revamping aid policies, focusing on smaller deals with recipient governments. Countries receiving American aid will be required to finance part, and eventually, the entire program. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from Kenya and Uganda, two nations that have signed agreements under the new America First Global Health Strategy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Iranian forces attacked and seized at least two ships in the contested Strait of Hormuz as a standoff over when or whether to return to negotiations continued. The Trump administration said it did not consider the attacks violations of a ceasefire that President Trump extended on Tuesday. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

An investigation is underway after four officials, including two Americans, were killed in a car crash in Mexico. It's being called an accident by the local government, but it happened after an operation to destroy drug labs in a mountainous area. It's been widely reported that the two Americans were CIA officers. Amna Nawaz discussed more with John Feeley, a former U.S. ambassador to Panama. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In 2025, the Trump administration dissolved the $40 billion U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. Days later, an exemption for "life-saving humanitarian assistance" was issued. But what that included was not specified and aid for health programs has been drastically reduced. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from Uganda where there has been a spike in disease-related deaths since the cut. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy