PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E323

26m 45s

Brooklyn library opens exhibit celebrating Jay-Z's writing

8m 4s

In New York City, you can find the unlikely pairing of two Brooklyn icons. At the Brooklyn Public Library, one of the largest library systems in the country, a new exhibition highlights the work of hip-hop’s elder statesman, Jay-Z. Special correspondent Christopher Booker reports on the timely show as part of this 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Dred Scott's struggle for freedom honored with new memorial

3m 59s

The name Dred Scott is synonymous with the struggle for freedom. Now, 165 years after the Supreme Court case that bears his name, Scott’s gravesite is a memorial befitting that legacy. NewsHour Communities Correspondent Gabrielle Hays reports.

Decriminalization reveals challenges addressing addiction

10m 1s

It’s been more than two and half years since a first-of-its-kind law went into effect in Oregon that decriminalized small possession of most drugs, including opioids and methamphetamines. Stephanie Sy reports from Portland on what’s working and what’s not working with a law that advocates hoped would change the paradigm around drug enforcement.

Candidates for House speaker make their cases for the gavel

4m 59s

House Republicans gathered behind closed doors to try to pick their next speaker. Candidates for the job made their case why they should be entrusted with the gavel. Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins spent the day polling GOP members and reports from Capitol Hill.

Survivors of Hamas assault on music fest describe horrors

5m 19s

One of the most notorious incidents of this weekend’s Hamas attack on Israel was one of its first. Gunmen killed more than 250 people and took an unknown number of hostages during an assault on an all-night music festival in southern Israel. Nick Schifrin spoke with two survivors of this terror in the desert.

Fears of bigger war grow as Israel-Hamas fighting continues

15m 22s

Fighting between Israelis and Palestinians continues as airstrikes and artillery pound Gaza after the Hamas attack on Israel. Among the dead are 14 Americans killed by Hamas and an unknown number are being held hostage by militants. Special Correspondent Leila Molana-Allen has the latest from Israel and Laura Barrón-López reports on how the war has upended President Biden’s foreign policy efforts.

Native Hawaiians push to preserve heritage after wildfires

5m 34s

On this Indigenous Peoples' Day, we're taking a closer look at the cultural heritage lost in the devastating Maui fires. Amna Nawaz spoke with Rosalyn Lapier, a professor of history at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, about what Native Hawaiian communities want and need to rebuild.

Israel levels parts of Gaza in retribution for Hamas attack

5m 43s

A third day of brutal fighting between Israelis and Palestinians centered on Gaza Monday. Israel hammered the besieged region with air strikes and artillery as retribution for Saturday's bloody surprise attack by Hamas. An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza is widely expected to commence in the coming hours and days. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports from Israel.

NSC spokesman says no evidence Iran helped plan Hamas attack

7m 39s

The Biden administration is watching the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians very closely. Geoff Bennett discussed the latest developments and where the U.S. stands with John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council.

Israeli woman describes how Hamas kidnapped her husband

7m 21s

One facet of Saturday's Hamas attacks in Israel never seen before on this scale is the taking of civilian hostages. Dozens of men, women, children and the elderly were reportedly kidnapped and forcibly taken to Gaza. Their locations within the densely packed enclave are unknown. Nick Schifrin spoke with two women now enduring the horror of missing loved ones.

News Wrap: Thousands killed in Afghanistan earthquake

5m 41s

In our news wrap Monday, people across western Afghanistan struggled for a third day to find survivors after a catastrophic earthquake, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy now says he'd serve in that post again if his fellow Republicans want him and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he's ending his bid for the Democratic nomination and will run as an independent.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on pressure to elect new speaker

9m 14s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including the lack of leadership in the House of Representatives and the pressure mounting on Republicans to elect a speaker amid calls for Ukraine and Israel aid.

Simone Biles cements status as greatest gymnast

6m 37s

Simone Biles has made history with an incredible comeback after a two-year hiatus, cementing her GOAT status by becoming the most decorated gymnast of all time. Biles competed in the World Artistic Gymnastic Championships in Belgium where she took home four gold medals bringing her to a total of 37. Geoff Bennett discussed Biles' return to competition with Christine Brennan of USA Today.

Deaths mount as Israeli military retaliates against Hamas

3m 16s

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the ability of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to govern and carry out attacks, an effort he warns will be long and difficult as the death toll continues to climb on both sides. John Yang has more on the latest developments in the escalating conflict.

Israeli ambassador to U.S. shares reaction to Hamas attack

5m 51s

Saturday’s unprecedented attack by Hamas militants had a devastating effect on Israel, Israeli citizens and their leaders. John Yang speaks with Michael Herzog, Israeli ambassador to the United States, for his perspective on what happened and Israel’s response.

What the Palestine-Israel crisis means for the Middle East

5m 47s

For more analysis on the war in Israel and the regional ramifications of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, John Yang speaks with Shibley Telhami, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Middle East Policy and the Anwar Sadat professor for peace and development at the University of Maryland.

China’s role in the U.S. crackdown on global fentanyl trade

6m 38s

The Biden administration has made recent moves against China-based firms and executives blamed for supplying chemicals used to make fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It’s part of the U.S. government’s effort to disrupt the global illegal drug trade and stem the opioid epidemic. Brookings Institution senior fellow Vanda Felbab-Brown joins Ali Rogin to discuss.

Why medication to treat alcoholism is ‘vastly underutilized’

6m 24s

Nearly 30 million Americans struggle with alcohol addiction. Medication used to treat alcohol-use disorder have been on the market for decades, but is rarely prescribed. Dr. Sarah Wakeman, medical director of the Substance Use Disorder Initiative at Mass General Brigham, joins Ali Rogin to discuss medication’s potential for treating this disease and why it’s underused.

War erupts as Israel retaliates after surprise Hamas attack

6m 8s

In an unprecedented surprise attack, the militant Hamas rulers of Gaza sent dozens of fighters into Israel by land, sea and air. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians are reported dead between the attack and Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza cities. John Yang speaks with special correspondent Nurit Ben for the latest developments.

Advocates push for oversight to prevent chemical disasters

8m 47s

Eight months after a train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, people are still waiting for answers about long-term health and environmental consequences. What happened isn’t uncommon — on average, there’s a chemical incident in the U.S. every two days. John Yang reports from North Carolina, where one city is trying to move forward after a chemical disaster in 2022.

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