PBS NewsHour

Russia has effectively taken control of the Crimean region in Ukraine, despite efforts by the international community to isolate Russia with condemnation and economic penalties if it doesn’t back down. Judy Woodruff talks to Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken about how the U.S. is mobilizing international support to persuade Russia to change course.

On Dec. 28, 1.3 million Americans lost their unemployment insurance when an emergency federal unemployment insurance program expired. Critics of extended unemployment benefits say the benefits raise jobless numbers by allowing people to stay unemployed longer instead of taking an available job. But people like Trista Selmar-Steed, a 38-year-old former medical biller who lost her job in 2012, say the benefits have kept her family above water while she looks for work. Special correspondent John Carlos Frey reports from Georgia.

To outsiders, Russia carries a near mythic reputation. Gregory Feifer, whose mother grew up during communism and lived there himself as a news correspondent, teases out an understanding of Russian character through observations of daily life in his new book, “Russians: The People Behind the Power.” Feifer joins Jeffrey Brown to discuss how Russian behavior is reflected in the Sochi Olympics.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to analyze the week’s news, including the instability in Ukraine, disagreement among Democrats on trade policy, the influence of governors in an era of Washington gridlock, plus how boosting the minimum wage might affect jobs and poverty.

At Rikers Island, New York City’s main jail complex, about a quarter of the underaged teenagers who are awaiting trial are in solitary confinement, spending 23 hours a day in a 6 by 8 ft cell. Daffodil Altan of the Center for Investigative Reporting takes a look at concern from city officials and others about the psychological effects of isolation on young inmates.

In comparison to the dysfunction of Congress, how productive are state leaders, and how willing are they to work across party lines? With the nation’s governors gathering in Washington for their annual meeting, Democrat Pat Quinn of Illinois and Republican Bill Haslam of Tennessee join Judy Woodruff to discuss the minimum wage, organized labor, education and other agenda priorities.

The Ukrainian Parliament tabled the impeachment of President Yanukovych, but protesters are still calling for him to step down immediately. Jeffrey Brown speaks with Adrian Karatnycky of the Atlantic Council to discuss the new changes in Ukraine’s power structure and the outlook for Yanukovych’s fragile political future.

In our news wrap Friday, American Mikaela Shiffrin became the youngest athlete to win gold in Olympic slalom skiing. Also, Ukraine’s pro-Russian President Yanukovych negotiated a deal with pro-Western opposition leaders to limit his power and hold earlier presidential elections. Protesters are supposed to disarm and withdraw, but it is unclear if they will do so after the bloody week in Kiev.

A one-day summit in Mexico between President Obama and his North American counterparts marked the 20th anniversary of NAFTA, a trade agreement designed to eliminate cross-border duties and other barriers. What’s the legacy, effect and the future of NAFTA? Jeffrey Brown gets debate from former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills and Lori Wallach of the Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

At Hinkley High School in Aurora, Colo., students, parents and administration are meeting face-to-face to resolve student conflict with conversation. The number of physical altercations has taken a nosedive as this new type of disciplinary action, called “restorative justice,” replaces suspension. Hari Sreenivasan has the story.

In Egypt, three journalists who work for the Al-Jazeera network have pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding a terrorist group and endangering national security. The Egyptian authorities have accused them of having illegal contact with the Muslim Brotherhood and manipulating the media. Paul Mason of Independent Television News offers some background on the court proceedings.

In four years of existence, the messaging service WhatsApp has attracted hundreds of millions of users around the globe. Now Facebook is buying WhatsApp -- which charges long-term users just $1 per year -- for $19 billion, a value that eclipses most every startup deal in recent memory. Judy Woodruff talks to The Verge’s Ellis Hamburger for why Facebook believes the app is worth the price tag.

World powers have watched as the Ukrainian conflict has escalated to unrestrained battle. How can they help ensure stability for this country that’s in the heart of Europe while tightly connected to Russia? Gwen Ifill talks to William Taylor, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, and Matthew Rojansky of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Fighting in the streets of Kiev stalled European diplomats from reaching the presidential palace, where they met with Ukraine's President Yanukovych in an attempt to broker a deal to stop the bloody crackdown. E.U. foreign ministers placed sanctions on key members of the Ukrainian government, who are regarded as responsible for the violence. Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News reports.

In our news wrap Thursday, at least 70 people may be dead from violence between police and protesters in Kiev, many by gunshot. James Mates of Independent Television News reports on the deadliest day so far since an anti-government backlash began in Ukraine. Also, Iran and six world powers wrapped up a first round of nuclear talks in Geneva.