PBS News Hour full episode, Feb. 26, 2026

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified for over six hours to the Republican-led House Oversight Committee regarding Jeffrey Epstein. She stated she had no information on his criminal activities, never met him, and never used his plane or visited his properties. Democrats on the committee accused Republicans of conducting a 'clown show' and engaging in partisan political theater, exemplified by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert taking and leaking a photo of Clinton during the closed-door session.

Clinton's testimony, Committee Chairman James Comer's statements, Rep. Yassamin Ansari's criticism, and Ali Rogin's reporting on the photo incident.

Multiple media outlets reported that the Justice Department withheld notes from three of four FBI interviews conducted in 2019 with a woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual assault. These missing documents allegedly contained information implicating former President Trump. The DOJ stated it is reviewing the files and would publish any improperly tagged documents consistent with the law.

Reporting from multiple outlets and the DOJ's official statement in response to the allegations.

The Trump administration announced it would withhold $259 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota, citing widespread fraud concerns. This stems from a scandal known as 'Feeding Our Future' and an estimated $9 billion in potential Medicaid fraud since 2018. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the defunding as politically motivated, arguing it punishes vulnerable populations rather than targeting the source of fraud. The state is considering legislative proposals to combat future fraud, including establishing a new inspector general's office.

Vice President J.D. Vance's announcement, Governor Tim Walz's response, and Matt Sepic's reporting on the 'Feeding Our Future' scandal and estimated fraud figures.

Ryan Schwank, a former ICE Academy instructor, resigned and testified to Congress that ICE drastically shortened its training program for new recruits from 72 to 42 days, cutting approximately 240 hours. Eliminated classes included fundamentals of the Constitution, use-of-force, and firearm safety, along with critical testing requirements. Schwank warned this creates a 'recipe for someone else to die' by sending unprepared officers into contentious situations. DHS denied the claims, stating no training hours were cut and comprehensive instruction is provided.

Ryan Schwank's testimony to Congress, his direct statements in the interview, and the DHS statement.

The U.S. and Iran concluded a third round of indirect and direct negotiations in Geneva, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaling progress on a possible deal. However, significant red lines remain, particularly Iran's non-negotiable right to nuclear enrichment. The talks occurred amidst the largest U.S. military presence in the Middle East in over 20 years, including aircraft carriers and F-22 fighter jets. Experts debated whether the U.S. military buildup is a leverage tactic or a precursor to conflict, with concerns about Iran's potential disproportionate response to any attack.

Reporting by Stephanie Sy, statements from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Donald Trump, and analysis from Alan Eyre and Colonel Joel Rayburn.

Author Michael Harriot, in his book 'Black AF History,' argues that Black history is not a counternarrative but the central narrative of America. He reframes early English settlers at Jamestown as 'bumbling founders' who cannibalized each other due to incompetence, challenging the mythological portrayal. Harriot emphasizes that the American colonies became viable due to the intellectual capacities and skills, such as rice cultivation, brought by enslaved people, not solely their physical labor. He asserts that telling this objective truth is essential for recognizing everyone's humanity and providing Black children with a history that shows their worth and contributions.

Michael Harriot's statements about Jamestown, 1619, and the intellectual contributions of enslaved people.