Full Episode: Thursday, April 16, 2026

World News Tonight with David Muir delivers a high-stakes evening of breaking news, beginning with a severe storm system sweeping across the Midwest and Northeast, bringing deadly tornadoes, flash flooding, and a fatality in Wisconsin. The report highlights emergency responses in Milwaukee, Waukesha County, and Grand Rapids, with meteorologist Lee Goldberg warning of escalating risks including 80 mph winds and baseball-sized hail. The episode then shifts to international developments, focusing on President Trump’s conflicting statements about extending a ceasefire with Iran and his controversial remarks targeting Pope Leo, sparking backlash from the U.S. Catholic Church. A tragic domestic violence incident in Virginia is covered, detailing the murder-suicide of former Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and his wife, with their children present—underscoring the ongoing crisis of domestic violence in America. The emotional centerpiece of the broadcast is an exclusive interview with the four astronauts of the Artemis 2 mission, who recount their historic journey to the far side of the moon, the intense reentry experience at 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and the deeply personal moment of naming a lunar crater after Jeremy Hansen’s late wife. Their unity, courage, and humanity captivate viewers, offering a rare moment of global inspiration. The episode closes with lighter but still dramatic stories: a near-miss plane incident in New York, a horseback police chase, a bus crash with a pole impaling the windshield, and a public naming campaign for California’s famous eaglets. Throughout, the tone balances urgency, gravity, and hope.