PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch: S2025 E53

26m 44s

U.S. sees sharp decline in murders and other crimes in 2024

6m 43s

The number of murders in the U.S. is declining at a rapid pace. While crime was a central focus of the election, with President-elect Trump alleging it was out of control in many cities, other crimes also saw declines. William Brangham discussed what the data tells us with Jeff Asher, the co-founder of AH Datalytics and creator of the Real-Time Crime Index.

Social media trend encourages young people to buy less

6m 49s

Last-minute sales, limited-time offers and half-off deals can be hard to resist for some holiday shoppers. This season, Americans were projected to spend seven percent more than 2023. But a social media trend is urging eager consumers to hit pause before pressing the purchase button. Paul Solman reports.

Critics reveal their picks for the best books of 2024

9m 3s

It's the season for year-end lists and we’ve got you covered when it comes to the best books of 2024. Jeffrey Brown sat down with two of our regular literary critics, Maureen Corrigan and Gilbert Cruz, to highlight their favorites. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Remembering the extraordinary life of Jimmy Carter

16m 27s

Former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. The 100-year-old, known for his humble beginnings and unlikely road to the White House, was the longest-living American president. Special correspondent Judy Woodruff looks back at his towering life.

South Korea reels from airliner crash that kills 179 people

3m 9s

South Korea is in mourning following the deadliest air disaster ever on the nation’s soil. Jeju Air Flight 2216 was landing in the southwestern city of Muan following a five-hour trip from Bangkok, Thailand, when tragedy struck. Ali Rogin reports.

Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban. What’s next?

5m 8s

President-elect Donald Trump has urged the Supreme Court to block a law that would force the popular social media app TikTok to be sold or shut down. In a legal filing Friday night, Trump told the justices that a delay would allow his administration to “negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing national security concerns.” NPR’s Bobby Allyn joins Ali Rogin to discuss.

A look back at deadly Indian Ocean tsunami 20 years later

7m 55s

This week marks 20 years since one of the worst natural disasters in modern history. In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the island of Sumatra in western Indonesia triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed more than 220,000 people across 12 countries. Ali Rogin speaks with Daniel Bogado, director and executive producer of the new documentary “Tsunami: Race Against Time,” for more.

The chart-toppers and breakthrough music artists of 2024

8m 13s

However you listened to music this year — streaming on an app or the old-fashioned way on a radio — 2024 saw breakthrough artists, chart-topping hits and a return of some top-tier legacy performers. Freelance music writer and critic Maura Johnston and The Root senior writer Candace McDuffie join Stephanie Sy to discuss the music that had us hitting repeat this year.

Syrian rulers try to calm tensions involving Assad loyalists

9m 15s

Unrest is brewing in Syria’s coastal plains, home to the Assad family’s Alawite sect. Earlier this week, a group of regime loyalists staged an ambush on the now-governing rebel forces, killing 14. With the Shia Alawite sect making up only 10 percent of the population in the majority Sunni country, Syria’s de-facto ruler is trying to keep tensions from boiling over. Simona Foltyn reports.

U.S. sees dramatic rise in homelessness among families

6m 28s

Homelessness in America reached record-high numbers in 2024. A government report shows that in January, people experiencing homelessness shot up by 18 percent to roughly 770,000. The annual survey pointed to economic problems like rising housing costs and a migrant influx in some cities. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Shaun Donovan, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

News Wrap: South Korea parliament impeaches acting president

6m 18s

In our news wrap Friday, South Korea's parliament impeached acting president Han Duck-soo after he decided against appointing three judges to the court reviewing the impeachment of his predecessor, the White House sees signs Russian defense systems may be to blame for a plane crash and Palestinian health officials say Israeli soldiers raided one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza.

Brooks and Capehart on Trump allies clashing

9m 31s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Lisa Desjardins to discuss the week in politics, including tensions in Trump's circle over immigration policy, President Biden’s pardons and commutations and polling shows that Americans are feeling deeply fatigued after the turbulent year in politics.

Expert details best ways to prevent house fires

6m 49s

Winter is a time that brings a heightened risk of fires inside the home. The vast majority of those fires can be prevented with some simple steps. Jason Patton is a firefighter and paramedic at Riviera Beach Fire Rescue in Florida and runs the wildly popular YouTube channel “Fire Department Chronicles.” He joined William Brangham to discuss fire safety tips.

A look at the biggest stories of 2024 through images

6m 21s

As 2024 comes to a close, we take a look back at some of the year’s biggest stories through the images of photojournalists. We spoke with four photographers who documented the presidential campaign, the protests over the war in Gaza, the Paris Olympics and much more.

Claressa Shields on new film 'The Fire Inside'

7m 27s

One of the biggest names in women’s boxing, Claressa Shields, is getting the Hollywood treatment in a new biopic. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown discussed "The Fire Inside" with Shields, director Rachel Morrison and actress Ryan Destiny for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Russian system may have downed airliner, U.S. official says

9m 57s

There are early indications a Russian air defense system may have hit the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan, a U.S. official says. Some of the speculation focuses on damage to the plane's tail section that could have been caused by shrapnel from an exploding missile. Stephanie Sy reports and William Brangham discusses the crash with retired Army Col. Robert Hamilton.

Assad regime made billions producing, exporting party drugs

8m 31s

Now that the Assad regime in Syria has fallen, the full scale of that government’s production and distribution of illicit drugs is coming to light. Leila Molana-Allen reports from the drug factories in Syria.

Colleges advise students to return before Trump takes office

8m 10s

Most college students are on their winter break gathering with family and friends. But some from outside the United States may return to campus early this holiday season after several universities and colleges are advising them that the incoming Trump administration may make it more difficult for them to return later. Lisa Desjardins explains.

Investigation finds more deaths at Native boarding schools

6m 53s

More than 3,000 Native American children died in the custody of the U.S. government after being forced to attend so-called Indian boarding schools, according to an investigation by The Washington Post. That is three times the number of lives lost that the government documented in its own investigation released earlier this year. William Brangham discussed more with Dana Hedgpeth.

As Arctic warms, communities face dramatic changes

3m 57s

Since the 1980s, temperatures in the Arctic have risen at nearly triple the global rate. This past summer was the wettest on record, while a heatwave in August set records in northern Alaska and Canada. Digital producer Casey Kuhn explains how the warming affects those who call the Arctic home.

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