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 E323

26m 45s

A Brief But Spectacular take on New York City’s family tomb

3m 40s

New York City's Hart Island is the final resting place for more than a million unclaimed bodies. In 2018, artist Melinda Hunt launched the Hart Island Project, which has mapped the entire island and published the stories of more than 68,000 people buried there. Hunt shares her Brief But Spectacular take on New York City's family tomb.

People in prison struggle to survive unrelenting heat waves

8m 54s

The extreme heat scorching much of the country is particularly brutal for incarcerated Americans. In Texas, more than two-thirds of prisoner living areas lack air conditioning. Earlier in 2023, an effort to include funding for prison air conditioning in the state’s budget failed in the Texas Senate. Maurice Chammah, a writer for the Marshall Project, joins John Yang to discuss.

Rural shortages lead to worsened ambulance deserts

5m 56s

Nearly 4.5 million Americans live in “ambulance deserts” — in a medical crisis, they have to wait as long as 25 minutes or more for an emergency medical crew to arrive. Nick Nudell, president of the American Paramedic Association, joins Ali Rogin to discuss what’s causing these shortages and what’s at stake for people in these regions.

A look inside the ancient sport of falconry

5m 23s

Falconry is considered to be the oldest sport known to man. Its participants, called falconers, train birds of prey to hunt game. As Pamela Watts of Rhode Island PBS reports, it’s also a chance to help preserve these noble creatures of the skies.

Carpenter's new book offers lessons on life and good work

7m 38s

Mark Ellison, the author of the new book “Building,” is a carpenter who knows his way around tools. But rather than a how-to book, this is about developing any kind of craft and skill, along with a few hard-earned lessons for living a good life. Jeffrey Brown has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Brooks and Capehart on Biden's achievements at NATO summit

11m 2s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including President Biden's trip abroad for the NATO summit, the GOP's defense policy and the 2024 campaign.

Link between lack of reproductive rights, domestic violence

5m 11s

Long before the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, researchers noticed a link between women having abortion access and a reduced risk of violence from men. In the wake of the court's decision, the opposite is happening and abortion restrictions have led to a significant uptick in intimate partner violence. Amna Nawaz discussed more with NewsHour health reporter Laura Santhanam.

Why aspartame is listed as a possible carcinogenic

4m 13s

The World Health Organization has classified the artificial sweetener aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans. That has led to some concerns and confusion about the risks. Besides diet sodas, aspartame can also be found in a variety of foods, including breakfast cereals, chewing gum and some desserts. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Allison Aubrey of NPR News.

House GOP adds culture war issues to defense spending bill

6m 34s

The U.S. House passed a nearly $900 billion budget for the armed forces largely on partisan lines. Most Democrats voted no after Republicans added anti-abortion and other provisions to the bill. Amna Nawaz discussed the vote with New York Times Congressional Correspondent Karoun Demirjian.

A Brief But Spectacular take on second acts

3m 15s

As a TSA agent, Benni Latham brought lots of joy to her job. However, after a violent incident at work, she felt the need to pivot. Today, Benni has found rewarding success in pursuing her dream job through commercials and various voice acting projects and commercials. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on second acts.

Over-the-counter birth control pill approved for U.S. sale

5m 38s

U.S. regulators approved the nation's first over-the-counter birth control pill. The FDA signed off on Opill, a once-a-day tablet available by prescription since 1973 that will soon be readily available online and in stores. The move is being applauded by medical societies and women's health groups who pushed for wider access. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr. Jennifer Villavicencio.

Israelis describe living with the threat of violent attacks

7m 42s

Earlier in the week we brought you stories from the occupied West Bank where Palestinians spoke of the struggles of daily life amid the recent wave of violence. Now we have the perspectives of Israelis in this dangerous new moment. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen begins the report at a protest against new government measures.

Reaction to Watergate tapes contrasts with today's response

10m 43s

Fifty years ago, a White House aide revealed that then-President Nixon’s conversations had been recorded. The tapes included Nixon working to cover up the Watergate break-in connected to his campaign and became a point of no return as he slid to political downfall. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks and Stuart Streichler of the University of Washington.

Supreme Court ruling prompts push to end legacy admissions

5m 37s

The Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions has renewed the debate over legacy admissions. A Boston-based nonprofit filed a complaint alleging Harvard’s legacy and donor-based admissions favors white students, and the NAACP called on 1,600 public and private universities across the country to end legacy admissions. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Derrick Johnson.

Biden vows security for Finland, newest NATO member

7m 6s

President Biden will soon land back in the United States after traveling to three European countries in five days. His last stop Thursday, after two days of NATO meetings, was the newest alliance member, Finland. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López traveled with the president and reports from Helsinki.

Why Hollywood actors decided to go on strike

9m 21s

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing 160,000 television and film actors, will go on strike after four weeks of failed negotiations with the studios. Jeffrey Brown spoke with Anousha Sakoui of The Los Angeles Times for a look at what’s behind the decision and how Hollywood will be affected. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

News Wrap: Flooding in India kills more than 100 people

5m 13s

In our news wrap Thursday, severe flooding in northern India has killed more than 100 people in the last two weeks, a mass grave with at least 87 bodies has been found in Sudan's West Darfur, a federal jury in Pittsburgh found the gunman who killed 11 people at a synagogue is eligible for the death penalty and the Secret Service has no leads and no suspects in the White House cocaine case.

NATO promises aid to Ukraine but no timeline for membership

7m 8s

President Biden is in Finland after an eventful two-day NATO summit in nearby Lithuania. Finland is the newest member of the trans-Atlantic alliance and Biden will celebrate that Thursday. But there was still much to do on the second day of the summit as the alliance expands in the face of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Former ambassador on what was accomplished at NATO summit

5m 55s

For a look at the NATO summit and what was and wasn't accomplished, Amna Nawaz sat down with Ivo Daalder. He was the U.S. ambassador to NATO during the Obama administration and is now the president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

House Republicans grill FBI director over claims of bias

5m 37s

The director of the FBI sat on the other side of an interrogation Wednesday, taking sharp criticism before Congress, mostly from the right, but at times from the left as well. Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins sat in on the House Judiciary hearing and breaks down the many layers of politics and policy that erupted.

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