PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E323

26m 45s

Native Hawaiians share concerns as wildfire recovery starts

9m 20s

The grim and grueling search operation across Maui's fire-ravaged communities has now entered a new phase. The confirmed death toll stands at 115 people, but hundreds more are still missing. Stephanie Sy reports on the search and Geoff Bennett discusses the tragedy with Kaniela Ing, a seventh-generation Indigenous Hawaiian from Maui and former state legislator.

Tenn. legislature opens special session over gun reform

7m 36s

Tennessee lawmakers returned to the state capitol this week for a special legislative session in response to the Covenant School shooting, where three children and three school staff members were killed in March. Laura Barrón-López discussed what lawmakers will or won’t do amid public outcry with Nashville Public Radio’s Blaise Gainey.

Experts try to reverse the rise in Black maternal mortality

7m 30s

For too many American women, giving birth can be deadly. The United States has the highest rate of maternal mortality among developed nations, but the risk is even higher for Black American women who are three times as likely to die from labor complications. Amna Nawaz reports on the people working to help Black women have safer pregnancies.

Ukraine's ambassador to U.S. on counteroffensive setbacks

11m 3s

On August 24, 1991, Ukraine issued a declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. But 32 years later, Ukraine is fighting to be free of Russian attacks and occupation. Nick Schifrin spoke with Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova on a solemn Independence Day.

News Wrap: Putin acknowledges Prigozhin's presumed death

5m 36s

Russian President Putin offered his first public acknowledgment of Yevgeny Prigozhin's presumed death as investigators comb through the wreckage of his jet that crashed outside Moscow, a Russian court ruled American journalist Evan Gershkovich must remain in jail until at least November 30 and Tropical Storm Franklin killed two after unleashing floods and landslides in the Dominican Republic.

The next steps in Trump's Georgia case after his surrender

4m 23s

Former President Donald Trump is turning himself in at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Georgia. He faces 13 felony counts tied to his attempts to overturn the state's 2020 election result. It's the fourth time this year Trump has faced criminal charges. Geoff Bennett discussed the case with Sam Gringlas of WABE Georgia Public Radio.

Breaking down GOP debate and where candidates now stand

12m 29s

Donald Trump's legal issues were one of the many topics featured in the first Republican presidential debate, even though the former president skipped it. Eight other candidates took the stage in hopes of establishing themselves as viable contenders for the nomination. Lisa Desjardins recaps the event and discusses it with Geoff Bennett and Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.

A Brief But Spectacular take on making and remaking identity

3m 15s

Hala Alyan is an award-winning poet, author, and clinical psychologist. She was born in Illinois but spent time in several other states as well as in Kuwait and Lebanon. Alyan shares her Brief But Spectacular take on how those experiences formed what she calls a hyphenated identity.

Northwest Syria faces slow recovery after earthquake

8m 38s

In February, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked northwest Syria, killing more than 7,000, injuring thousands more and destroying livelihoods. Cut off from the rest of the world by the Assad regime, survivors have struggled to rebuild. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen traveled to some of the worst-affected areas to speak with survivors coping with the emotional and physical scars.

A look at Japan's plan to release Fukushima's water into sea

8m 34s

Japan is expected to release treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant as soon as Thursday. The government and the utility operating the facility say it is safe and the release is being closely monitored, but nearby countries oppose the move. It's also a concern for Japanese fishermen. Miles O'Brien has his latest report in a series of stories with access to Fukushima.

Who will benefit from the new plan to relieve student debt

5m 59s

Student loan borrowers might find relief under the Biden administration’s income-driven repayment plan. Launched this week, the SAVE plan, which stands for saving on a valuable education, could help borrowers with the potential for lower or no monthly payments. But there are questions about who will benefit from the plan and who it leaves out. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Cory Turner of NPR.

Canada struggles to combat devastating wildfires

3m 2s

It's been a very difficult summer in Canada as that country has battled wildfires endlessly. More than 37 million acres have burned and smoke from those fires significantly affected air quality in the U.S. A new analysis out this week found that warmer conditions from climate change made those fires more likely to break out. Dan Rivers of Independent Television News reports.

The significance of India's landing on the moon’s south pole

6m 15s

It was a historic day for India as it became the fourth country to land on the moon. It comes after a failed attempt in 2019 and just days behind a failed Russian lunar landing. Prime Minister Modi watched alongside the team at the Indian Space Research Organization as the Chandrayaan-3 touched down in the moon’s south polar region. Amna Nawaz and Miles O'Brien discussed the monumental moment.

How alleged death of Prigozhin impacts Russia's stability

9m 46s

Russia's aviation agency says Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, was on board a plane that crashed near Moscow. The crash comes two months after Prigozhin's attempted coup against the Kremlin. Amna Nawaz discussed the development with Angela Stent and Candace Rondeaux.

What to expect as GOP candidates debate without Trump

5m 14s

Republicans are kicking the 2024 election into its next gear with their first presidential debate. But even as the party hosts its most important event yet, its frontrunner, former President Trump, is notably absent. Lisa Desjardins is at the debate venue in Milwaukee and has a preview of what’s to come.

How the hold on military promotions impacts troop readiness

7m 34s

The Constitution assigns to the Senate the power to approve the president's nominations of officers of the United States. This includes general and flag officers at the Defense Department. But this year, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville has held up all the promotions, including to some of the highest jobs in the military. Nick Schifrin discussed the hold with retired Admiral Mike Mullen.

Buffalo shooting witnesses sue over trauma they endured

8m 3s

Last year, a white gunman killed ten people in a racist shooting at a grocery store in a predominantly Black area of Buffalo, New York. The gunman, now serving a life sentence, drove 200 miles to target that community. Last week, 16 witnesses of the tragedy filed a lawsuit over the trauma they endured. Geoff Bennett discussed the case with Fragrance Harris Stanfield and attorney Eric Tirschwell.

Judge hears arguments over floating barrier on Rio Grande

6m 5s

The battle over floating barriers on the Rio Grande reached a courtroom Tuesday. A federal judge in Austin heard arguments from the state of Texas and the Justice Department over Gov. Greg Abbott’s use of giant buoys to deter migrants from crossing the river. The DOJ sued the state saying the barrier violates federal law and must be removed. Laura Barrón-López reports.

How a Massachusetts town helped shape Edward Hopper

5m 37s

Edward Hopper stands as a mythical figure in American art. As a new exhibition at the Cape Ann Museum reveals, the artist known for rendering the haunting isolation of urban life mastered his craft by spending summers by the sea. Special correspondent Jared Bowen of GBH Boston reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Climatologist on heat wave and record high temperatures

6m 17s

A heat wave is baking much of the country, leading to record highs and triple-digit temperatures in the Midwest and the South. It’s the latest in a series of extreme weather events that have led to damage, destruction and death this summer. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Michael Mann of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the forthcoming book, “Our Fragile Moment.”

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