PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 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: S2025 E159

24m 9s

Facing Trump ban, trans troops reflect on military service

9m 33s

Friday marks the deadline for the estimated 4,200 active-duty transgender military members to accept what the Defense Department calls "voluntary separation." Those who volunteer to leave may be eligible for separation pay while transgender troops who don’t leave voluntarily will be kicked out. Nick Schifrin spoke to two transgender service members about the choice they face.

News Wrap: DOGE allowed access to Social Security systems

5m 53s

In our news wrap Friday, the Supreme Court allowed members of the Department of Government Efficiency to access Social Security systems that contain personal information on millions of Americans, the Trump administration is asking the court to allow its plans to dismantle the Department of Education to proceed and the U.S. economy added fewer jobs in May but the pace of hiring remained steady.

Afghan girl accepted to U.S. colleges faces uncertain future

3m 9s

President Trump's travel ban potentially affects thousands of people, including one young girl from Afghanistan. We’re calling her Saira, blurring her face and altering her voice to protect her identity for her safety. She spoke with producer Zeba Warsi from Pakistan where she traveled for her U.S. visa appointment. Now, she doesn’t know where to go. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Commencement speakers share advice with the Class of 2025

4m 8s

Commencement speakers across the country are passing on key advice to the Class of 2025, sharing their recipes for success and life lessons learned. We take another moment to reflect on the words of wisdom being passed down to the next generation.

GOP Sen. Johnson on opposing Trump's budget in current form

5m 36s

One of the biggest sticking points in the Trump budget bill is its projected impact on the national debt, a concern shared by several key Republican lawmakers. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson is among them and he joined Geoff Bennett to discuss why.

Breaking down Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' and its impact

4m 57s

The Republican tax cut and spending bill could add trillions to the already massive deficit. Lisa Desjardins breaks down what President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” means for the national debt.

Explaining the national debt and how we got here

8m 3s

Republicans in Congress are hashing out a new tax cut and spending bill that's projected to add trillions to the national debt. Economics correspondent Paul Solman explains the ballooning national debt, how we got here and what it means for our economy and future generations.

News Wrap: Mexico's suit against gun manufacturers blocked

5m 20s

In our news wrap Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that Mexico cannot pursue a $10 billion lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers for allegedly fueling cartel violence, President Trump says trade talks with China will resume following weeks of rising tensions and a Massachusetts high school student who was arrested by immigration officials while on his way to Volleyball practice is now free.

Germany's chancellor visits Trump as alliance is fracturing

4m 39s

President Trump met with German Chancellor Merz in the Oval Office on Thursday. Merz urged Trump to increase pressure on Russia, but the president made no commitments and instead compared Ukraine and Russia to two fighting children who needed to work out their differences. Nick Schifrin reports.

Trump defends his new travel ban as feud with Musk erupts

9m 4s

An extraordinary feud erupted into public view between President Trump and his one-time ally, Elon Musk. Trump said he was very disappointed in Musk for criticizing the GOP's massive domestic policy bill. It came as the president also defended his sweeping new travel ban on citizens from 12 countries and restricted entry from seven more. White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports.

What's ahead for U.S. as global market reacts to tariffs

6m 34s

The Congressional Budget Office released an analysis of the impact of President Trump’s tariffs. It projects current policies would reduce the deficit by $2.8 trillion over the next decade, but raise inflation and shrink the size of the economy. It comes as Trump issued new tariffs on steel and aluminum overnight, doubling them from 25 to 50 percent. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Babak Hafezi.

News Wrap: Trump says Putin vows to respond to drone attack

5m 57s

In our news wrap Wednesday, President Trump said Putin told him Russia would respond to Ukraine's drone attack on airfields, an aid group in Gaza temporarily paused food deliveries today at its three distribution sites, a stampede outside of a cricket stadium in India killed at least 11 people and injured more than 30 others.

White House revokes guidance on emergency abortions

5m 11s

The Trump administration rescinded federal guidance that required emergency rooms to provide an abortion if the procedure would save a patient’s life. The Biden-era guidance argued the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act required hospitals to provide treatment during a medical emergency, even in states with near-total abortion bans. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Sarah Varney.

Georgia teen says ICE detention was 'life-altering'

4m 41s

The Trump administration is continuing its crackdown on immigration through enforcement raids, arrests and deportations. That has included some teenagers being taken into custody by immigration officials. Laura Barrón-López spoke with Ximena Arias-Cristobal, a Georgia teenager fighting deportation after ICE officials detained her following a mistaken traffic stop.

Miles Taylor fights back against Trump's order targeting him

9m 5s

In 2018, an anonymous Trump administration official delivered a stark warning about the threat he said the president posed with his erratic behavior. The author was later revealed to be Miles Taylor. When Trump returned to office, he claimed Taylor’s actions could be treasonous and ordered DHS and other agencies to launch an investigation. Taylor joined Amna Nawaz to discuss his legal response.

Local arts groups face budget gaps as NEA pulls grants

8m 36s

On May 3, the National Endowment for the Arts sent emails to hundreds of arts organizations around the country terminating their grants. The abrupt loss of federal support has organizations scrambling to make up for budget shortfalls. Jeffrey Brown reports for our series, Art in Action, and our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS.

The words of wisdom delivered to the Class of 2025

4m 49s

As graduates celebrate the end of the academic year and the beginning of a new journey, leaders, celebrities, thinkers and dignitaries have been delivering commencement speeches. We share some words of wisdom passed on to the class of 2025.

Candace Parker on 'The Can-Do Mindset' and finding success

7m 9s

Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker knows a thing or two about success and how to achieve it. Since announcing her retirement last year after 16 seasons, the seven-time all-star and two-time MVP has stepped into a new role as an author. Amna Nawaz spoke with Parker about her first book, “The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions."

Democratic, Republican mayors team up to address housing

7m 48s

A bipartisan group of mayors and business leaders are teaming up to tackle housing and homelessness issues nationwide. They’re meeting as the Trump administration looks to slash assistance programs amid record-high homelessness. Amna Nawaz spoke with two mayors leading the effort, Long Beach, California, Mayor Rex Richardson, a Democrat, and Clearfield, Utah, Mayor Mark Shepherd, a Republican.

Ehud Olmert on why he says Israel is committing war crimes

10m 32s

One of the strongest condemnations of Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza has come from its own former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, who served from 2006 to 2009. Last week, he wrote a scathing op-ed in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz with the headline “Enough Is Enough. Israel Is Committing War Crimes.” Geoff Bennett spoke with Olmert to discuss more.

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