PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch: S2025 E125

57m 46s

Reports shows staggering spike in Louisiana prison deaths

5m 5s

A new report sheds light on a rise in the number of people dying behind bars in Louisiana prisons, jails and juvenile detention centers. The Incarceration Transparency Project at the Loyola University Law School says there's been a 50 percent jump in deaths from 2019 to 2021. Roby Chavez, NewsHour's communities correspondent based in New Orleans, joins John Yang to discuss.

Sister searches for Princeton student missing in Iraq

5m 44s

Princeton graduate student Elizabeth Tsurkov has been missing for six months. A dual Russian-Israeli citizen with family in the U.S., she was conducting research for her doctoral degree in Baghdad when she was believed to have been kidnapped by an Iraqi militia. Amna Nawaz spoke with her sister, Emma Tsurkov, about efforts to bring her home.

Ohio town looks for answers months after train derailment

7m 38s

In February, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in the Ohio village of East Palestine, leading officials to burn the toxic freight to avoid an explosion. Residents soon began to claim a range of health issues. Months later, as remediation efforts continue, concerns in the area remain. Alan Shaw, the CEO of Norfolk Southern, joins Geoff Bennett to discuss.

UAW strikes after deadline with automakers expires

5m 27s

The United Auto Workers launched a strike Friday, the first time it began a strike by picketing against the three big automakers simultaneously. The union, under new leadership, has also changed its traditional approach to a walkout by starting with a shot on the production of popular truck models. Automakers say the workers' demands will endanger their ability to compete. Amna Nawaz reports.

Brooks and Capehart on Biden's impeachment inquiry

11m 29s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including rising tensions in the House as lawmakers launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Iran tightens security before anniversary of woman's death

7m 23s

One year ago, a young Iranian woman died in police custody after she was arrested for taking off her headscarf, or hijab, required under the laws of the Islamic Republic. Huge protests followed, led by women. Tehran special correspondent Reza Sayah has the story of some of the women who participated in the protests and others who did not.

New Wrap: New England braces for impact of Hurricane Lee

4m 52s

In our news wrap Friday, New England residents are preparing for the impact of Hurricane Lee, climate change protests kick off worldwide, federal prosecutors say former President Trump is trying to intimidate potential witnesses in his Jan. 6 case and Birmingham, Alabama marked 60 years since the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church killed four young Black girls.

Devastation grips Libya after catastrophic flooding

3m 16s

The deadly floods that inundated eastern Libya earlier this week have now led to a tide of the dead, with a death toll of more than 11,000. This amid a race that pits dignity and respect for those lost, against the threat of disease and further calamity. Stephanie Sy reports.

New drone tech could help clear unexploded mines in Ukraine

8m 28s

Among the horrors of war, landmines and unexploded ordnances linger and kill for years afterward. Ukraine is littered with landmines and bombs from both sides. Clearing those explosives is a massive and complicated task, but two young Americans are working on a technological advancement that could make it easier. Special correspondent Jack Hewson reports with the support of the Pulitzer Center.

Flooding sparks scrutiny of Libya's divided government

4m 43s

In Libya, deep fears are becoming a horrific reality as the death toll from the devastating floods there has spiked to more than 11,000. Thousands are still missing, submerged in the muddy mire or washed out to sea. Stephanie Sy reports.

What led to Hunter Biden's indictment on firearms charges

4m 48s

Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on gun charges, setting up a high-profile legal battle ahead of his father's reelection campaign. The indictment comes days after House Republicans opened an impeachment inquiry into the president and his family’s business dealings. A plea deal for Hunter Biden collapsed in federal court in July. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest developments with Devlin Barrett.

'Tyranny of the Minority' writers say democracy is at risk

7m 25s

America’s democracy is in an uncharted and fragile place, according to two Harvard government professors. In their new book, “Tyranny of the Minority,” Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt say politicians are welcoming anti-democratic extremists into their party ranks and part of the problem lies in the Constitution. Laura Barrón-López spoke with the writers about how the country got to this point.

Biographer Walter Isaacson on what motivates Elon Musk

8m 36s

Elon Musk is one of the most famous people on the planet and one of the wealthiest. But Musk is also among the most controversial public figures because of his behavior, including the spread of misinformation, racist and sexist remarks and his political ideas. Now, the highly-anticipated biography of the tech mogul is on bookshelves. Amna Nawaz discussed the book with author Walter Isaacson.

Regional theaters fight to save historic art form

8m 34s

Regional theater has been a glory of the American cultural scene for many decades, bringing great plays and musicals to audiences in cities all across the country. But the pandemic and a host of other societal shifts have led to cutbacks, cancellations and closures of theaters. Jeffrey Brown has a look for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

What led to the rat boom and how cities are responding

5m 4s

Rats, the furry nuisance that once was a sometimes issue, have become a bigger problem over the pandemic years. Courtney Norris and Dorothy Hastings explore what led to the rise in the rat population.

White House responds to House GOP impeachment inquiry

6m 32s

After House Speaker Kevin McCarthy directed Republicans to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, the White House is urging a more aggressive pushback to the GOP and is dismissing the effort as “extreme politics at its worst." That description came from Ian Sams, a White House advisor working on congressional investigations. Sams joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the inquiry.

Pennsylvania Democrats discuss nation's political divisions

11m 42s

Over the summer, Judy Woodruff listened in as Iowa Republicans discussed their support for former President Trump following his indictments, the state of the country and what can be done to move forward. For a different perspective, Judy heard from Democrats in Pennsylvania on these topics and more. It's part of her series, America at a Crossroads, and was produced with help from PBS39 WLVT.

What autoworkers are demanding as strike against Big 3 looms

6m 49s

Nearly 150,000 auto workers could soon go on strike against the Big Three automakers in the U.S. The United Auto Workers are pushing for big changes, but the manufacturers say the costly transition to electric vehicles makes it too difficult to meet these demands. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Neal Boudette of The New York Times.

Kim Jong Un pledges support for Putin's war in Ukraine

9m 44s

In his first trip outside of North Korea since the pandemic, Kim Jong Un met Vladimir Putin in Russia to discuss whether they each had something the other wants. It’s a growing alliance that’s sparking concern from the U.S. and its allies. Stephanie Sy discussed what it means for Ukraine and the world with Jean Lee and John Sipher.

Aid workers struggle to reach flooded city in Libya

4m 55s

Scenes of biblical devastation, the dead stacked in the streets and aid for the living too slow in arriving. That is the situation in North Africa where at least 5,100 are dead from flooding in Libya. The mayor of one city says the toll could be as high as 20,000. And to the west in Morocco, nearly 3,000 are now officially counted among the dead from the Friday earthquake. Ali Rogin reports.

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