PBS News Hour full episode, Oct. 21, 2026

Description

Wednesday on the News Hour, Russia releases an imprisoned American and agrees to resume negotiations to end its war in Ukraine. How Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has gained such power over U.S. security interests. Plus, abortion rights are on the ballot in Idaho, where the state's near-total ban has dramatically reshaped reproductive health care. WATCH TODAY’S SEGMENTS: Russia frees American prisoner as Witkoff meets with Putin  https://youtu.be/HIcQbk6AZVI  How Musk gained so much power over U.S. security interests https://youtu.be/U9WaI1vu3_U  News Wrap: Vulnerability prompts race to protect websites https://youtu.be/VNNP5x59feM  Democratic, GOP strategists on personal attack ad in Ohio  https://youtu.be/FkINzRvWQ5Y  How Idaho's abortion ban reshaped reproductive care  https://youtu.be/DxkuAqRoQSg  The state ballot measures voters will decide in the midterms https://youtu.be/vgkGDOkuEKo  Investigation finds hundreds of citizens detained by ICE https://youtu.be/E8Ymn3IYW6c  Beasley says Trump's demeaning rhetoric pushed him from GOP  https://youtu.be/kLXtpFHfSoA Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show. Sign up for Here's The Deal with Lisa Desjardins: https://to.pbs.org/41q6E8i Subscribe for exclusive content in our newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe PBS News podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG Find more from PBS News at https://www.pbs.org/newshour Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2HfsCD6 Follow us: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pbsnews X: http://www.twitter.com/newshour Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/newshour Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newshour 00:00 - INTRO 02:49 - Freed from Russia 05:55 - Musk’s Power 14:20 - News Wrap 21:10 - Vote 2026 28:31 - How Idaho's abortion ban reshaped reproductive care  37:06 - The state ballot measures voters will decide in the midterms 42:03 - Detaining Americans 48:34 - Party Lines 54:45 - Goodnight