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 E319

57m 46s

A look inside the business of Christmas music

5m 53s

Christmas music is a big part of the music industry. John Yang speaks with Nate Sloan, an assistant professor of musicology at the USC Thornton School of Music and co-host of the podcast Switched On Pop, about what makes Christmas music so popular at this time of year and the staying power of these holiday hits.

‘Glory to the Heroes’ shows resilience amid war in Ukraine

8m 10s

With aid for Ukraine caught in a partisan fight on Capitol Hill, it can be easy to lose sight of the human toll of the war. In a new documentary “Glory to the Heroes,” director Bernard-Henri Lévy turns the focus back on those he calls the heroes, from the fighters on the front lines to the civilians who remain in Ukraine in an act of defiance. Ali Rogin speaks with Lévy about the film.

The ‘perfect storm’ causing a sharp rise in homelessness

6m 8s

The number of Americans experiencing homelessness is now at its highest since records started being kept in 2007, according to estimates in a new report from the federal government. 2023 saw a 12 percent increase in homelessness over the previous year, the biggest one-year jump on record. John Yang speaks with Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, to learn why.

News Wrap: Hundreds killed in airstrikes, combat in Gaza

3m 3s

In our news wrap Sunday, Gaza saw some of the most intense and bloodiest fighting of the war this weekend, the streets of Bethlehem stood empty of crowds and festivities on Christmas Eve as celebrations were canceled amid the Israel-Hamas war, Germany tightened security after a terror alert at Cologne Cathedral, and Christmas Day is expected to be unseasonably warm for much of the United States.

‘Live to 100’ explores people in ‘blue zones’ live longer

7m 16s

Many people try all sorts of things to have long and healthy lives, from complex diet plans to expensive supplements. But in the Netflix series “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones,” bestselling author Dan Buettner says a lot of that is misguided. He traveled to places where people live much longer than average to figure out how they’re doing it. John Yang speaks with Buettner about the series.

What sustainable aviation fuel means for airline emissions

5m 40s

Studies estimate that air travel accounts for about 4 percent of human-induced climate change, and the UN warns that airplane emissions will triple by 2050. The aviation industry’s quest to cut emissions recently took a step forward with the world’s first airliner flight using completely sustainable fuel. The Washington Post’s climate solutions reporter Nicolás Rivero joins Ali Rogin to discuss.

As communities test basic income, here’s how one city fared

7m 21s

Guaranteed basic income, the concept of no-strings-attached payments to provide people with a financial floor, is being tested in dozens of pilot programs across the country. Stockton, California was one of the first cities to launch a pilot program in 2019. John Yang speaks with Michael Tubbs, Stockton’s mayor at the time and the founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, to learn more.

News Wrap: Israeli forces near ‘full’ control of north Gaza

2m 29s

In our news wrap Saturday, Israel’s military says they are close to having “full operational control” of northern Gaza and will soon shift their focus to southern Gaza, two Colorado paramedics were convicted of criminally negligent homicide in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, and the Czech Republic observed a minute of silence in mourning for the 14 victims of the nation’s worst mass killing.

Inside the store that sells lost and unclaimed baggage

5m 55s

This year, the Transportation Security Administration says it screened a record number of passengers, and if the past is any guide, it will handle millions of bags this holiday season. But a small fraction of them will go missing and unclaimed. So where do all those lost bags end up? Stephanie Sy visited the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, to find out.

U.S. abstains from UN vote calling for more aid in Gaza

4m 36s

The United Nations Security Council came together Friday to approve a resolution calling for more humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza after a week of delays. The U.S. abstained from the vote, which did not demand a ceasefire. Meantime, American officials are saying Iran was involved in the planning of attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea. John Yang reports.

News Wrap: Supreme Court won't expedite Trump ruling

3m 55s

In our news wrap Friday, the Supreme Court won't expedite a ruling on Trump's claim of presidential immunity for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, Wisconsin's Supreme Court overturned the state's Republican-drawn legislative maps and President Biden issued pardons for thousands of people convicted of using and possessing marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia.

Recording further reveals Trump effort to overturn election

5m 56s

A report from Michigan further peels back the curtain on Trump’s efforts to nullify the results of the 2020 election. The Detroit News listened to a partial recording of Trump and RNC chair Ronna McDaniel reportedly pressuring the Republican chair and another member of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers not to certify the results there despite no evidence of fraud. William Brangham reports.

Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha on hopes for his homeland

7m 46s

Award-winning Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha has lost his home, friends and family in the last two months. He was also detained by Israeli forces in Gaza and released only after international outrage. He's now out of Gaza and in Cairo with his wife and kids. He joined Amna Nawaz to reflect on all that he's lost and his hopes for his homeland.

Brooks and Capehart on the overwhelmed immigration system

11m 14s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including the overwhelmed immigration system and the Colorado ruling to keep Donald Trump off the primary ballot.

Critics recommend their must-see movies of 2023

8m 17s

Over the holidays, you might have some time to catch up on new films at home or to venture to the theaters. To help guide us on the best ones to add to your list, Jeffrey Brown speaks to two film critics on their top picks of the year. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

U.S. military members perform 'O Come, All Ye Faithful'

3m 52s

Heading into Christmas weekend, we close the week with a NewsHour tradition. Each year, the Pentagon's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service produces a holiday song with members of the military singing. This holiday season we bring you, "O Come, All Ye Faithful."

George Clooney on the true story behind his new film

8m 14s

"The Boys in the Boat” is an improbable story of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the meaning of true grit at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Now the New York Times bestselling book has been adapted into a film directed by George Clooney. Stephanie Sy sat down with Clooney and author Daniel James Brown for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Israel and Hezbollah trade fire in escalating conflict

8m 23s

Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire in a limited but slowly escalating conflict. So far, the skirmishes have killed nine Israeli soldiers, four civilians and more than 100 Lebanese, most of them Hezbollah fighters. Israeli officials have said they are prepared to invade southern Lebanon, raising fears of a regional war. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports.

Fugitive defense contractor returned to U.S. from Venezuela

6m 29s

Leonard Francis, known as "Fat Leonard," was a defense contractor at the center of a huge scandal within the U.S. Navy. He is part of a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Venezuela announced Wednesday and was returned to the U.S. So who is Francis, what did he do and who was implicated? Amna Nawaz discussed that with Craig Whitlock, author of “Fat Leonard: The Con Who Corrupted the U.S. Navy.”

How attacks on ships in Red Sea are disrupting global trade

5m 47s

One of the world’s top trading routes, the Suez Canal, is essentially closed for business to many shipping companies. That’s because Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking ships in response to Israel’s war in Gaza. It's a major route for oil and gas shipments so prices edged up this week. John Yang discusses the implications for international commerce with Ryan Petersen of Flexport.

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