America, Interrupted

In 1920, Americans were reeling from a flu pandemic, recovering from an economic crisis and grappling with violence against Black people, creating political divisions and debates that are similar to the ones we're having today. Yale University professor Beverly Gage walks us through how the Republican and Democratic conventions have changed since 1920, what promises politicians made then and what questions we face now. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Since the first U.S. case was reported in late January, the new coronavirus has turned our lives upside down. But how did we get here? And what can we do to protect ourselves? Peter Daszak, a zoologist who has studied outbreaks like the coronavirus pandemic for more than a decade, and PBS NewsHour health and data producer Laura Santhanam join PBS NewsHour correspondent Lisa Desjardins for a closer look at the origins of the virus, and what comes next. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Police unions are under the microscope like never before. Though police unions play a critical role in protecting officers rights, experts say they can also block reform and prevent officers from being held accountable in cases of misconduct. In this episode, Amna Nawaz explores how police unions became so powerful and what unions do for officers, good and bad, especially when things go wrong. Plus, Mike Williams, the president of the Memphis Police Association, talks about what he would and would not like to see change as calls for reform continue. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Protesters across the country are continuing to fill the streets, looking to turn their outrage over police violence against black people into action. Many point to the city of Camden, New Jersey, as an example of what reforming a police department can look like. But is it a success story? PBS NewsHour Weekend's Hari Sreenivasan talks to Scott Thomson, the city’s former police chief, and Keith Eric Benson, a resident and educator who says the reality is different than it seems. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Amid the largest pandemic in a century, we're also experiencing the biggest protest movement in a generation. In this episode, protesters in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., tell White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor and Political Reporter Daniel Bush about why they’ve taken to the streets after the death of George Floyd -- and why this moment feels different. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders