PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2025 E61

24m 8s

How Hegseth's religious views could affect U.S. military

7m 17s

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, all of which he denies. Laura Barrón-López and Brad Onishi discussed something else that’s drawn scrutiny, the influence of Hegseth’s religious beliefs and how they may impact his leadership at the Pentagon.

Colorado community braces for mass deportations under Trump

8m 17s

President-elect Trump said he is willing to enlist the military to deport migrants and is open to new detention camps to facilitate those deportations. The comments are the latest on his key campaign pledge, mounting the largest deportation operation in American history. Stephanie Sy reports from Colorado, a state that found itself at the center of the immigration debate during the campaign.

Experts working to understand why overdose deaths dropped

5m 26s

New data from the CDC shows a drop in drug overdose deaths, down nearly 17 percent compared year-over-year. The annual death toll dropped from approximately 113,000 to just over 94,000. It’s a rare bit of good news after decades of rising fatalities. Overdose deaths have nearly quadrupled since 2002 and spiked to record highs during the pandemic. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Brian Mann of NPR.

Gwen Ifill featured in 'Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum'

2m 27s

The animated PBS Kids series, "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum," follows Xavier as he, his sister and friend meet historical figures portrayed as children. In a recent episode, they meet a person very dear to us, Gwen Ifill.

Longtime court sketch artist Bill Hennessy Jr. dies

1m 28s

Longtime court sketch artist Bill Hennessy, who captured history with his sketchbook for more than 40 years died on Monday at the age of 67. Hennessy took us where cameras could not. He offered the first draft of high-profile legal moments, from the Clinton impeachment, trials at Guantanamo Bay and arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Evidence at CEO murder scene linked to suspect, police say

4m 25s

Police said fingerprints and shell casings collected at the scene of last week’s murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson are directly connected to their prime suspect, Luigi Mangione. The fingerprints match the 26-year-old and the casings match the gun found on him when he was arrested earlier this week in Pennsylvania. William Brangham reports.

Can the nation unite after the election? Analysts weigh in

10m 59s

For the past two years, Judy Woodruff has been exploring the deep divisions we see playing out every day in the country. As we wrap up the year, she recently sat down with a panel of noted thinkers to talk through their concerns, and their hopes, following the election. It’s part of her series, America at a Crossroads.

Trump nominees visit Capitol Hill to build support

5m 40s

Christopher Wray's resignation comes as President-elect Trump’s pick for the position, Kash Patel, met with senators to gain support for his nomination. He was just one of several Trump nominees on Capitol Hill Wednesday. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Stevenson reflects on inequities 10 years after 'Just Mercy'

7m 36s

Bryan Stevenson, the prominent lawyer and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, has blazed a trail representing the poor, wrongly convicted and those on death row. Geoff Bennett sat down with Stevenson to discuss his career and the re-release of his best-selling book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption."

Fall of Assad sparks hope but some Syrians remain concerned

5m 14s

The sea change toward tenuous hope in Syria over the last two weeks has been tempered with a grim accounting of the last 14 years of war and a half a century of authoritarian rule under the Assad family. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports from Damascus.

Wray resignation paves way for Trump's new pick to lead FBI

5m 28s

In a highly unusual move, the director of the FBI is stepping down. Christopher Wray announced he intends to leave his position when President-elect Trump takes office in January. It comes after Trump named Kash Patel as his nominee to run the FBI. Wray is serving a ten-year term that wasn’t set to end until 2027. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Syrian leaders promise unity while holding Assad accountable

3m 25s

Syria's new leaders vowed to create unity, but also hold to account the people who facilitated a half-century of Assad rule. Those calls for revenge added to the unease of many Syrian minorities, including U.S. partners in the fight against Isis who had to give up hard-won territory. Nick Schifrin reports.

Researchers report stunning surge of misogyny post-election

6m 51s

Researchers have documented a stunning rise in misogynistic rhetoric and attacks after the election. Laura Barrón-López discussed what’s behind that surge, and how experts are combating it, with Cynthia Miller Idriss, a professor at American University and director of the school’s Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab.

Remembering the fierce and lyrical voice of Nikki Giovanni

5m 7s

Nikki Giovanni, a fierce and lyrical voice of the Black experience, has died. Giovanni's work illuminated love, liberation and the unyielding power of self-expression. Tributes are pouring in from across the country as admirers and friends mourn the passing of a literary legend. Geoff Bennett reports.

Syria's new leaders work to keep rebel factions united

6m 27s

After 14 years of war, Syria is seeking stability. The country's caretaker prime minister, appointed by the fighters who overthrew Bashar al-Assad, said the government transition process is expected to last until March. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports from Damascus.

Investigators reveal possible motives in CEO killing

3m 34s

The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been charged with murder in New York after he was found and arrested Monday in Pennsylvania. At his first court hearing Tuesday afternoon, Luigi Mangione struggled with deputies and shouted something to reporters as he was led into the building. Amna Nawaz reports.

Can Biden issue preemptive pardons to protect Trump critics?

6m 44s

After President Biden gave his son, Hunter, an expansive pardon, legal experts have questioned how a president’s pardon power could be used moving forward. That includes questions about the possible use of preemptive pardons. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Kim Wehle, author of "Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works-and Why."

News Wrap: Thousands ordered to evacuate Malibu wildfire

5m 30s

In our news wrap Tuesday, thousands in Southern California are under evacuation orders as a wildfire burns near Malibu, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu took the stand for the first time in his long-running corruption trial and U.S. wildlife officials are aiming to add monarch butterflies to the endangered species list.

The controversial vaccine policy changes RFK Jr. could make

7m 59s

More than 75 Nobel laureates signed a letter asking the U.S. Senate not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, citing his opposition to vaccines among their concerns. William Brangham takes a deeper look at Kennedy's record on that issue and what impact he could have leading the nation's health agencies.

Cotton from Central Asia helps fuel Russia's war in Ukraine

8m 58s

It's been nearly three years since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and despite huge losses on both sides, there is no sign that Putin's war machine is letting up. Cotton is used to make gunpowder and explosives and Russia has a steady supply from one of its former Soviet republics. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky investigated why that is, and who's trying to stop it.

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