
News Wrap: Pope warns of 'tyrants' spending billions on wars
Clip: 4/16/2026 | 6m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
News Wrap: Pope warns of 'tyrants' spending billions on wars
In our news wrap Thursday, Pope Leo is warning of a world "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" who spend billions on war, the Senate voted to lift a federal ban on mining upstream from Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and police say former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife before killing himself.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by...

News Wrap: Pope warns of 'tyrants' spending billions on wars
Clip: 4/16/2026 | 6m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
In our news wrap Thursday, Pope Leo is warning of a world "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" who spend billions on war, the Senate voted to lift a federal ban on mining upstream from Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and police say former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife before killing himself.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch PBS News Hour
PBS News Hour is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipIn today's other headlines, Pope Leo is warning of a world ravaged by a handful of tyrants who spend billions on war.
His comments came during a visit to Cameroon, where the government is mired in a long-standing conflict with separatist fighters.
But his message also comes amid ongoing tensions with the Trump administration over its war in Iran, which the pontiff has openly criticized.
Today, the Pope took particular aim at those using Christian theology to justify violence.
destroy.
Woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.
His remarks follow criticism by Vice President JD Vance that Leo should quote be careful when he talks about matters of theology.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegath has frequently invoked scripture to justify America's military efforts in Iran.
In Virginia, police say that former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife last night before killing himself.
This has been an ongoing domestic dispute uh surrounding what seems to be a complicated or or messy divorce.
Authorities said Mr.
Fairfax was facing a court-order deadline to move out of his family's home and that the couple's two teenage children were in the house during the shooting.
Fairfax was once a rising star in the state's Democratic party, nearly succeeding Governor Ralph Northam in 2019.
His political career was derailed by sexual assault allegations, which he denied.
President Trump nominated Erica Schwarz to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
She served as deputy surgeon general during Trump's first term and was directly involved in the federal response to the CO 19 pandemic.
Her nomination comes after a year of leadership shakeups at the agency and a number of controversial policy changes overseen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Those include an overhaul of childhood vaccine recommendations.
Schwarz will need Senate confirmation before taking on the role.
The meantime, Secretary Kennedy spent the day defending his health agenda in two appearances before lawmakers.
Speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee, Kennedy justified a 12% cut to his department's budget.
Republicans on the committee praised him as a breath of fresh air.
But Democrats challenged him on a number of fronts, including vaccines.
You think a deadly measles outbreak in Texas killed an unvaccinated six-year-old, the first such death in a decade.
Do you agree with the majority of doctors that the measles vaccine could have saved that child's life in Texas?
It's possible.
Certainly.
At one point, the longtime vaccine skeptic conceded that a vaccine could have prevented a deadly case of the measles, but otherwise, he largely held his ground.
Today's hearings were the first of seven appearances for Kennedy over the coming week.
The Senate voted today to lift a federal ban on mining upstream from Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The AE 50, the NASA 49, and the joint resolution is passed.
The Republican le measure now goes to the president for his signature.
It's a major win for a Chilean company which wants to mine nickel and copper from forests near the US Canada border.
Environmentalists warn it will contaminate the ecosystem of lakes and bogs, one beloved by motans and one Native American tribes rely on for fishing and rice harvesting.
The mining project still needs state permits and could face court challenges before construction begins.
Officials on the northern Marianas say some communities may not have power or water for weeks after a monster typhoon tore through the Pacific Islands this week.
Super typhoon Sinaku, the strongest tropical cyclone this year, left roads impassible for repair crews.
Back stateates side, Wisconsin is under a state of emergency after days of heavy rains, submerged streets, and stranded cars leading to multiple water rescues.
The water is up here to me.
You know what I'm saying?
And I'm I'm 51, so the water is up here to me.
Flood watches and warnings remain in effect across much of Wisconsin and neighboring Michigan through tonight.
Elsewhere, hail hammered parts of nearly a dozen states, including Iowa.
And a possible tornado tore through Clinton, Missouri, toppling homes and power lines.
In the meantime, across much of the southern and eastern US, midspring will feel like the height of summer well into the weekend.
An abnormal heat wave is shattering records in places like New York City and Washington DC.
Russia launched its deadliest attack on Ukraine this year, killing at least 16 people overnight and today.
Huge fires erupted in the capital of Kev after an hoursl long aerial barrage.
More than a 100 people were injured.
Russia's defense ministry said it was in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on targets inside Russia.
It comes as Ukrainian President Vladimir Zalinski has been visiting European nations seeking more air defense systems to block these attacks.
On Wall Street today, stocks ticked higher as investors search for clues on when the Iran war will end.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 115 points on the day.
The Nasdaq closed at another new record, adding around 80 points.
The S&P 500 posted its 11th gain in the last 12 sessions.
And a British scholar has solved a mystery around where exactly Shakespeare bought his only home in London.
King's College professor Lucy Monroe says this 17th century property plan found in London City Archives shows the exact location of the house he bought in 1613.
The home was already marked by this sign saying that Shakespeare purchased lodgings near this site.
Turns out the house was not near but right there after all.
It's believed the property was destroyed in the great fire of 1666.
The discovery raises new questions about how Shakespeare spent his final years before his death in Stratford upon Avon in 1616.
Still to come on the NewsHour, a growing number of small private liberal arts colleges closed their doors.
We look at the Trump family's business dealings during this administration.
And Dave Chappelle discusses his support for his local public media.
This is the PBS NewsHour from the David M. Rubenstein studio at WETA in Washington, headquarters of PBS News.
Support journalism you trust.
Support PBS News.
Donate now or even better, start a monthly contribution today.
Dave Chappelle on backing his local public radio station
Video has Closed Captions
Dave Chappelle on investing in his Ohio town and backing its local public radio station (10m 8s)
Hampshire closure highlights strain on liberal arts colleges
Video has Closed Captions
Hampshire College closure highlights financial strain on small liberal arts schools (5m 26s)
How much of Project 2025 has Trump enacted?
Video has Closed Captions
How much of Project 2025 has Trump enacted? (5m 38s)
Israel agrees Lebanon ceasefire as U.S. pushes for deal
Video has Closed Captions
Israel agrees to 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon as U.S. pushes for broader peace deal (4m 33s)
Tracking the Trump family’s deals, profits in his 2nd term
Video has Closed Captions
Tracking the Trump family’s business deals and profits in his 2nd term (8m 59s)
UN official warns Hormuz dispute disrupting food supply
Video has Closed Captions
UN official warns Strait of Hormuz dispute is disrupting global food supply (5m 35s)
Will Hezbollah abide by Israel-Lebanon ceasefire?
Video has Closed Captions
Why the Israeli and Lebanese governments accepted a ceasefire – and will Hezbollah abide? (4m 45s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
- News and Public Affairs

FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.

- News and Public Affairs

Today's top journalists discuss Washington's current political events and public affairs.












Support for PBS provided by:
Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by...






