PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

Millions of Americans turn to PBS for the solid, reliable reporting that has made PBS News Hour one of the most trusted news programs in television.

Watch: S2024 E317

57m 46s

Pandemic aid helped students, but research shows gaps remain

5m 44s

It's well known there were some big gaps in student learning tied to school shutdowns during the pandemic and difficult transitions with hybrid classes. But how much did federal aid help students recover from those academic losses? We now have some answers from new research. Jeffrey Brown reports.

Reviewing the consequential Supreme Court term

9m 48s

The justices of the Supreme Court considered more than 60 cases this term before rendering their final decisions this week. Their rulings on abortion access, presidential immunity and the limits of executive branch agencies could have long-lasting impacts. They also showcased sharp divides among the justices. Amna Nawaz sat down with two Supreme Court watchers to reflect on this historic term.

Exit polls show Labour landslide in U.K. election

4m 54s

Exit polls in the United Kingdom show a Labour landslide with the center-left party winning a massive majority in Parliament in the first general election in nearly five years. The Conservatives' loss marks the end of 14 years in power. Labour leader Keir Starmer will be Britain's next prime minister. News Hour special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports from London.

How Democratic lawmakers feel about Biden staying in race

5m 40s

It’s been one week since President Biden’s poor performance in the first debate of the 2024 campaign caused a political shockwave. The president says he’s staying in the race. But even on this Fourth of July holiday, concerns continue to grow inside the Democratic Party about whether Biden is the best person to sit atop the ticket in November. Lisa Desjardins spoke with lawmakers and voters.

Flossie Lewis's Brief But Spectacular take on her birthday

4m 44s

Many will remember Flossie Lewis, who was among our earliest profiles on Brief But Spectacular. She spoke to us in 2016 about growing old and living well, earning millions of clicks and shares online. She joined Brief But Spectacular series creator Steve Goldbloom to celebrate a very special occasion, her 100th birthday.

Ukraine's railroad workers create lifeline during war

5m 49s

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainians desperately tried to board trains to leave the country. Since then, the Ukrainian railroad has played a crucial role in evacuating people from frontline cities, transporting world leaders and moving cargo and Ukrainian troops. Special correspondent Volodymyr Solohub and videographer Pavel Sookhodolskiy reports.

Why Gary's lawsuit against gun industry may soon be over

9m 1s

Thirty years ago, Gary, Indiana, was declared the murder capital of the U.S. Following the example of other cities, Gary sued gun makers and sellers for their part in fueling the city’s violence. Gary’s case is now the last one still active as this industrial city works to get a handle on gun violence. Jeffrey Brown reports.

Proposed rules would protect workers from extreme heat

6m 56s

More than 90 million Americans are under heat advisories this week. Many may not realize it but heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the U.S. The triple-digit temperatures in the days ahead come as President Biden unveils long-awaited regulations designed to protect workers from excessive heat. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Hayley Smith of The Los Angeles Times.

Tories brace for defeat with Labour set for election victory

9m 4s

Britain goes to the polls Thursday for an election in which the center-left opposition Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is expected to claim victory. The Conservatives, who’ve governed since 2010, fear a landslide victory for Labour could force them out of power for a generation. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports from Britain’s south coast.

Democratic Rep. Doggett calls for Biden to drop out

7m 3s

In the days following President Biden’s poor performance on the debate stage, Democrats have pondered how to approach the future of his reelection campaign. Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas was the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to call on Biden to drop out of the presidential race. Rep. Doggett joined Amna Nawaz to discuss his concerns.

Jamaica pounded by winds and rain from Hurricane Beryl

3m 55s

Residents of Jamaica hunkered down as heavy rains and punishing winds from Hurricane Beryl pounded the island. The center of the Category 4 storm passed just south of Jamaica Wednesday afternoon. At least six deaths have been attributed to Beryl since it began its march through the Caribbean earlier this week. Amna Nawaz reports.

Scottish oil town hopes to be Europe’s green energy capital

8m 28s

A major issue in Britain’s general election is the cost of living crisis, caused by spiking inflation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That has put pressure on the country’s pledge, written into law, to become carbon neutral by 2050. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from Aberdeen, Scotland, in partnership with the Pulitzer Center.

Laws on tracking gun sales highlight divide between states

6m 34s

Conflicting laws around the purchase of firearms are taking effect across different states. In California, credit card companies must provide banks with retail codes for gun stores in order to help track their sales. But the opposite is happening in four states where it is now illegal for banks and credit card companies to track that information. Stephanie Sy discussed more with David Leib.

Abortion restrictions disproportionately impact Black women

8m 57s

It’s been more than two years since the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion. Since then, nearly two dozen states have banned or restricted access to the procedure and abortion pills. Special correspondent Sarah Varney traveled to Tennessee to report on the disproportionate impact abortion bans are having on Black women. It's part of our series, Race Matters.

Historian discusses Supreme Court's immunity decision

6m 6s

The Supreme Court's landmark decision on former President Trump's immunity from some legal prosecution has the potential to transform the powers of the presidency. Jeffrey Brown and Heather Cox Richardson of Boston College discussed how the ruling fits with history.

Israel launches new assault on Khan Younis

7m 34s

Israel launched air strikes into Khan Younis overnight, a part of Gaza it had already assaulted and left a few weeks ago. A ground operation now seems likely. It's not the first time Israeli forces claimed to clear Hamas from an area, only to return weeks or months later. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Daniel Byman, author of "A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism."

Grateful Dead drummer on the role rhythm plays in his art

6m 6s

Prominent musicians from George Gershwin and Miles Davis to John Lennon were also crossover artists in another medium. The Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart is now on that list. He's combining his music and paint and fans are flocking to see his art. Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

A Brief But Spectacular take on dreaming of home

3m 19s

Priyanka Mattoo is an L.A.-based writer and filmmaker whose new memoir, "Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones," chronicles her peripatetic search for home, from Kashmir to England to Saudi Arabia to Michigan to Rome and, finally, to Los Angeles. She gives her Brief But Spectacular take on dreaming of home.

History of reality TV chronicled in new book 'Cue the Sun!'

8m 30s

Reality TV dominates television today. It’s estimated that almost 80 percent of adult viewers watch reality TV shows. But how did we get here? Amna Nawaz spoke with Emily Nussbaum, author of the new book, “Cue the Sun!” that traces the rise of reality television and its broader impact on society.

Oklahoma education head on mandating the Bible in schools

6m 48s

A new directive from Oklahoma’s top education official requires all public schools to teach the Bible and the Ten Commandments. It comes weeks after Louisiana mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Ryan Walters, the author of the order and Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public education.

Supported by