PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 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: S2025 E41

57m 46s

Baltimore bridge collapses after cargo ship rams support

3m 14s

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday after being struck by a cargo ship. Officials say six people remain unaccounted for as rescue and response efforts remain underway. As William Brangham reports, investigators are still seeking answers to what happened.

A Brief But Spectacular take on crying in public

2m 33s

Brandon Stosuy is the author of several books on creativity and the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Creative Independent. His latest book, "Sad Happens: A Celebration of Tears," began when Brandon noticed someone crying in public and decided to tweet about it. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on crying in public.

Baseball's biggest star entangled in gambling investigation

6m 2s

Gambling and theft allegations are swirling around baseball star Shohei Ohtani as his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is under criminal investigation accused of using millions of dollars of Ohtani's money to pay off gambling debts. Ohtani hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing and denies any involvement in gambling. William Brangham discussed more with Andy McCullough of The Athletic.

Podcast industry faces challenges after explosive growth

7m 42s

An estimated 505 million people will listen to podcasts in 2024, the most in the medium’s short history. Since the term podcast was coined in 2004, the format has grown into a $25 billion industry. But the industry's expansion has also come with major growing pains. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

War reporter Rod Nordland on his memoir and facing death

8m 21s

After decades of covering war, traveling the world and being estranged from his family, journalist and author Rod Nordland was in New Delhi when he was struck by a grand mal seizure and given a diagnosis of incurable cancer. Nick Schifrin sat down with Nordland to talk about facing death and his discovery of a grace and love that he had never felt before.

FAFSA overhaul causes delays for students seeking aid

8m 42s

Students waiting on financial aid will have to wait even longer after the Department of Education found a calculation error on hundreds of thousands of FAFSA applications. Laura Barrón-López has reaction from students questioning when and if they will get aid and discusses the problem with Ted Mitchell of the American Council on Education.

U.S. presents alternative to Israel’s plan to assault Rafah

3m 52s

At the Pentagon Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin presented an alternative vision to Israel’s stated plan to assault Rafah, the city in southern Gaza where more than one million Gazans have fled. The discussion between Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant came as negotiations over a cease-fire and hostage release hit an apparent impasse. Nick Schifrin reports.

Abortion pill access at stake in Supreme Court case

6m 43s

The Supreme Court heard arguments in a major case that could further limit when and how women in America can get an abortion. The case centers on access to the most widely used abortion pill mifepristone. It's the latest in the ongoing legal battle over reproductive rights. William Brangham discussed the arguments with NewsHour Supreme Court analyst Marcia Coyle.

Families slip into poverty after child tax credit expires

10m 16s

During the pandemic, lawmakers dramatically, but temporarily, expanded the social safety net, including more money for families with children. The impacts of those changes are still being felt and debated to this day. Amna Nawaz and producer Sam Lane report on that for our series, America’s Safety Net.

Stephen Breyer on new book 'Reading the Constitution'

10m 30s

For as long as America has had a constitution, there's been debate over how to interpret it. That’s particularly true when it comes to hot-button Supreme Court cases. For nearly 30 years, Stephen Breyer served on the nation’s highest court, deciding on cases with ramifications still being felt across the country today. Amna Nawaz spoke with Breyer about his new book, “Reading the Constitution."

Tamara Keith and Susan Page on Trump's legal issues

6m 58s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and USA Today's Susan Page join William Brangham to discuss the latest political news, including Trump getting a reprieve and a trial date, Congress steps back from the brink but that might have triggered another speaker fight and the Supreme Court takes up abortion, again.

Fate of abortion pill mifepristone goes before Supreme Court

7m 48s

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday over whether to restrict access to mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions. The case will be the first the court has heard on abortion since it overturned Roe v. Wade. Special Correspondent Sarah Varney reports on what's at stake.

Trump hush money trial set for April 15

5m 11s

The first criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is set to begin in April after a judge rejected Trump’s claims of prosecutorial misconduct. That comes as a New York appeals court reduced the amount he needs to post in bond for a nearly $300 million civil fraud ruling and granted him 10 more days to secure that money. William Brangham discussed the latest with Andrea Bernstein of NPR.

Rift between U.S., Israel widens over cease-fire resolution

4m 46s

There is a public break between the United States and Israel after the U.S. refused to veto a UN Security Council resolution that calls for a cease-fire in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the U.S. of changing its policy on the war in Gaza and canceled a planned visit of his top aides to Washington. Nick Schifrin reports on the latest developments.

How 2024 election could shape the future of abortion rights

6m 34s

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday in a case challenging FDA rules that make it easier to get mifepristone, the medication that accounts for more than half of all U.S. abortions. John Yang speaks with legal historian Mary Ziegler about the role executive branch agencies can play in a post-Roe world and the potential consequences of the 2024 election for reproductive rights.

How the Israel-Hamas war has devastated education in Gaza

6m 2s

The World Health Organization says the future of an entire generation in Gaza is at risk, with children dying of the effects of malnutrition and disease. Another casualty is Gaza’s education system — more than 800 schools are estimated to have been bombed or destroyed in five months of war between Israel and Hamas. David Skinner from Save the Children joins William Brangham to discuss.

Intense fighting in the Congo sparks fear of regional war

6m 12s

Violent conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is worsening the humanitarian crisis there, the World Health Organization warned this past week. As armed rebels close in on Goma, hospitals are overwhelmed and hundreds of thousands civilians have been displaced. Now, there are fears of a wider regional conflict. John Yang speaks with Jason Stearns to learn more about the situation.

Why D.C.’s beloved Stumpy is seeing its final peak bloom

2m 16s

An annual, celebrated event took place this past week in Washington, D.C., and it didn’t have anything to do with politics. It’s known as peak bloom, the day 70 percent of blossoms are open on Washington’s iconic cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. But for 158 of the trees, this year will be their last bloom. John Yang reports.

What we know so far about the deadly terror attack in Russia

9m 4s

Russian President Putin has vowed to punish those responsible for the terror attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people. In the capital, people are remembering the dead after one of the worst acts of terror in Russia in decades. Journalist Michael Weiss joins John Yang to discuss the Islamic State branch that claimed responsibility for the attack and Putin’s response.

Immigrant workers face harsh conditions on U.S. dairy farms

7m 8s

Advocates of legal immigration say foreign-born workers have long been a key factor in U.S. economic growth. But are they sharing in the benefits of their contributions? For more than a year, ProPublica has been investigating the harsh realities of life for immigrant workers on Midwest dairy farms. John Yang speaks with ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez about what she’s found.

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