PBS News Hour full episode, May 29, 2026

Dr. Craig Spencer criticizes the Trump administration's approach to the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, stating that the primary focus is on preventing Ebola from entering the US, rather than dedicating sufficient resources to end the outbreak at its source in Congo. He views the plan to open a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans as an 'abdication of responsibility,' especially when specialized treatment centers in the US are underutilized. This strategy, he argues, diverts attention and resources from where they are most needed to effectively combat the epidemic globally.

Dr. Craig Spencer stated, 'We have heard that the first priority is to keep Ebola out of the country at all costs, and the second priority is to end the outbreak in Congo. The problem is, of course, is, is that we're not going to be able to truly prevent Ebola from coming to the U.S., even with all travel restrictions, any other type of ban, if we're not able to actually end the outbreak on the ground in Congo.' He also noted, 'I would like us to focus on raising the floor and improving the quality of care for everyone that is impacted by Ebola in the region.'

The significant primary victory of Ken Paxton over long-serving Senator John Cornyn in Texas, with a nearly 30-point margin, underscores President Trump's continued and powerful influence within the Republican Party. Political analysts Jonathan Capehart and Matthew Continetti agree that Trump's endorsement is the 'most valuable commodity in politics,' indicating a shift towards a conservative populist party highly suspicious of establishment figures. This trend suggests that even incumbents with strong conservative voting records can be vulnerable without Trump's backing.

Jonathan Capehart stated, 'what it says is that President Trump is king of MAGA in that specific, core base. But it also says he is the ruler of the Republican Party.' Matthew Continetti added, 'The Trump endorsement is the most valuable commodity in politics.'

Both Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket and SpaceX's Starship program have experienced major failures, significantly impacting NASA's ambitious Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon. Blue Origin's rocket exploded during a test, destroying its only launchpad, which could take over a year to rebuild. SpaceX's Starship underperformed in its 12th flight, losing control during descent. These incidents mean that two critical commercial heavy-lift vehicles, integral for transporting cargo and landers for Artemis, are currently non-operational, casting doubt on the feasibility of NASA's 2027 Artemis III mission and long-term lunar base plans.

Miles O'Brien reported, 'the destruction of the launchpad. That is a big deal... at least a year, maybe 15 months to build a new one. And this is the only launchpad that the New Glenn rocket has to get to space.' He also noted, 'The Starship vehicle is also nonoperational now. So these two big vehicles that the commercial players are trying to build right now can't do anything for NASA.'

While the Anti-Defamation League reported an overall decline in antisemitic incidents like vandalism and harassment in 2025, physical assaults against Jews in America reached their highest level since 1979. Daniel Lischinsky, whose son was killed in an antisemitic attack, highlights that people connect this hate to the Gaza war, but he views antisemitism as an 'old virus' that resurfaces, drawing parallels to historical propaganda. This indicates a concerning trend of increasing violence even as other forms of antisemitic acts may be less frequent.

Amna Nawaz reported, 'physical assaults against Jews in America reached their highest level since 1979, with over 200 such attacks reported.' Daniel Lischinsky stated, 'What we hear is that the cause is the war in Gaza, the Gaza war. But antisemitism is an old virus. It's an old demon that sometimes awake and begin to make the bad work.'

The traditional Chinese game of mahjong is undergoing a significant resurgence across the US, attracting new players of all ages for its social and mental benefits. Yelp reported a 4000% increase in searches for mahjong clubs and lessons last year. This renewed popularity also brings discussions about cultural appropriation, particularly concerning modernized tile sets that remove traditional Chinese symbols. Advocates emphasize the importance of acknowledging the game's origins and its role in connecting people to their heritage.

Deema Zein reported, 'searches for mahjong clubs and lessons were up more than 4000 percent last year.' Nicole Wong, author of 'The Mahjong Project,' stated, 'Mahjong really makes people think about certain family members or a physical place... And it is the game that really builds this sense of connection and community.'