PBS News Hour full episode, May 5, 2026

The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to U.S.-Iran tensions has severely disrupted global supply chains, leading to significant economic and humanitarian consequences. The World Food Program reports food prices in Central and Eastern Africa have surged by up to 50%, threatening an additional 9 million people with food insecurity if oil prices remain high.

Nick Schifrin reports that 20% of the world's oil and natural gas traveled through the strait before the war. Matthew Hollingworth of the World Food Program states food prices in Central and Eastern Africa increased by up to 50% and predicts 9 million more people will be food-insecure if oil prices stay above $100 a barrel.

A recent Supreme Court decision against drawing congressional maps to protect Black or other minority voters has ignited a new phase in redistricting, particularly in the U.S. South. This shift is expected to significantly increase Republicans' chances of gaining seats and will likely result in fewer Black and brown members of Congress.

Lisa Desjardins explains that four more states are interested in remapping due to the Supreme Court decision, focusing on the South. Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL) states this will 'suppress minority votes in the halls of Congress' and 'erode minority representation in statehouses, city councils, and even school boards.' Desjardins' 'super screen' visuals demonstrate how blue (Democrat, often minority-majority) districts could disappear.

A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship off West Africa has led to three deaths and nearly 150 quarantines. The World Health Organization is investigating evidence of human-to-human transmission, a rare occurrence for hantavirus, typically spread by rodents, but known to occur with the Andes virus strain found in Argentina and Chile.

William Brangham reports three deaths and 150 quarantined, with the WHO investigating human-to-human transmission. Dr. Celine Gounder confirms two confirmed and five suspected cases, and explains that the Andes virus, circulating in Argentina and Chile (the ship departed from Ushuaia, Argentina), is known for person-to-person spread.

Four weeks after April 8, dubbed 'Black Wednesday,' Israeli military strikes in Lebanon killed over 350 people in minutes, with victims' families and local residents disputing Israeli claims of targeting Hezbollah operatives. The attacks hit densely populated civilian neighborhoods without warning, resulting in numerous women, children, and elderly casualties.

Simona Foltyn reports on the April 8 strikes, killing 'more than 350 people in a matter of minutes.' Ali Aboud, brother of a victim, states, 'This is not a Hezbollah area. This is a mixed area from different sects. There were 22 bodies. All those pulled from the rubble were women and children and my aunt's husband, who was 82 years old.' Wael Lazkani, a restaurant owner, adds, 'You don't hit 20 sites at 2:30 when schools get out, when everybody's out for lunch targeting Hezbollah. You actually -- you're -- here, you're aiming for civilians.'

The Trump administration implemented a rule revoking commercial driver's licenses for approximately 200,000 immigrants with temporary status, including DACA recipients. While framed as a safety measure following a few high-profile crashes involving non-citizen drivers, critics argue it is a discriminatory move to advance an immigration agenda, impacting long-term safe drivers and the trucking industry's workforce.

Lisa Desjardins reports that 200,000 immigrants began losing their commercial driver's licenses in March. Mynor Solares, a DACA recipient and former truck driver for 12 years, states, 'They use the word safety. You're using it as a disguise. I believe your intentions are different.' Wendy Liu of Public Citizen Litigation Group adds, 'There is no data to support the notion that immigrant status has anything to do with whether somebody is a safer driver.' Bill Jones of Waste Pro notes, 'I've got people that have driven free for 15, 20 years, been safe, won all sorts of safety awards with the company, and suddenly they can't drive.'