PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch: S2025 E77

56m 44s

South Carolina executes convicted murderer by firing squad

6m 8s

A South Carolina man was put to death by a firing squad Friday after being convicted of a 2001 double homicide. The execution of Brad Sigmon, 67, marks the first time since 2010 that a firing squad has been used in the U.S., and comes as the Trump administration works to expand capital punishment. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.

How Black musicians have influenced punk music

7m 24s

Punk music is known for its raw, aggressive sound, edgy fashion and mosh pits. It’s also known for being predominantly white, but that's changed a lot in recent years. Resurfaced music from its earliest days underscores that punk has always been influenced and shaped by Black artists as well. Stephanie Sy has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Justice Department drops challenge to Idaho abortion law

5m 3s

The Trump administration moved to dismiss a lawsuit against the state of Idaho seeking to allow abortions in medical emergencies. Idaho is one of 12 states with a near-total abortion ban. The Biden administration sued Idaho arguing that federal law requires doctors to perform an abortion if a patient’s life is at risk. Mary Ziegler of U.C. Davis School of Law, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.

How Social Security cuts could affect millions of Americans

7m 1s

President Trump continues to claim his administration won’t touch Social Security. But as Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency look to slash federal jobs and spending, the Social Security Administration has plans to cut 12 percent of its workforce. Martin O’Malley, who was the commissioner of SSA during the Biden administration, joins Laura Barrón-López to discuss.

Trump's push to fire workers and cut spending hits barriers

4m 39s

President Trump said Thursday that Elon Musk will now need to consult with Cabinet secretaries before firing more federal workers. Trump's announcement was made after a meeting with Musk and his Cabinet. Lisa Desjardins joins Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest on government layoffs and the court challenges surrounding them.

European leaders coalesce around new defense plan

4m 2s

The Trump administration once again put Europe on notice Thursday, as European leaders met to try and unite around a new defense plan. President Trump said he would selectively abide by Article 5, which commits the U.S. to defend NATO countries, while a senior official blamed Ukraine itself for the U.S. pause on military and intelligence support. Nick Schifrin reports.

News Wrap: House censures Rep. Al Green for Trump disruption

5m 39s

In our news wrap Thursday, the House voted to censure Democrat Rep. Al Green for disrupting President Trump's address to Congress with 10 democrats joining Republican members in passing the resolution, a pair of fighter jets in South Korea accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area, a hospitalized Pope Francis released an audio broadcast and jazz musician and composer Roy Ayers has died.

As Trump delays tariffs, businesses brace for repercussions

5m 47s

President Trump has temporarily suspended new tariffs on most goods coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, two days after he set them into motion. The delay gives both countries a one-month reprieve. But the beginnings of what seems to be a trade war, and the sudden swings in policy, are continuing to rattle markets. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's, joins Geoff Bennett to discuss.

What to know about Trump's cryptocurrency plans

8m 58s

President Trump is holding the first crypto summit at the White House Friday, featuring investors, CEOs and founders of crypto companies. Many in that world also hope Trump spells out a clearer path involving little regulation in the future, while Trump says he will announce the details of a new crypto reserve for the federal government. Paul Solman reports.

Art initiative examines how science and art collide

2m 58s

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is featuring two exhibitions that explore the relationship between movies and technology as part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide. PBS Student Reporting Labs Ebonie Shelley has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Analyzing Trump's speech and support for his policies

8m 32s

President Trump touted his accomplishments in his first six weeks in office during his address on Tuesday to Congress, in a speech that also highlighted the glaring political divide among Americans. Tiffany Smiley, a former U.S. Senate candidate in Washington state, and Jamelle Bouie, a columnist for The New York Times, join Amna Nawaz for some perspective.

News Wrap: Trump spoke to automakers before pausing tariffs

4m 30s

In our news wrap Wednesday, President Trump spoke with major automakers before announcing a one-month pause on new tariffs for vehicles coming to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, severe weather is battering a large chunk of the U.S., LA County is suing Southern California Edison stating the utility's equipment caused the deadly Eaton Fire and NBA superstar LeBron James hits a new milestone.

Trump takes a victory lap in fiery address to Congress

6m 44s

The nation is taking stock after President Donald Trump's marathon address to Congress. It was a speech reminiscent of one of his liveliest campaign rallies, full of applause lines for Republicans. But the night also escalated into one of the nastiest partisan fights in the history of the stately annual tradition, with unprecedented breaches of decorum. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Fact-checking Trump's claims during his address to Congress

5m 23s

Many of President Trump's statements during his address to Congress on Tuesday on a multitude of issues have been called into question. PBS News Hour's White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López joins Amna Nawaz for a deeper dive and fact check.

U.S. suspends intelligence sharing with Ukraine

4m 10s

The U.S. and Ukrainian national security advisors spoke on Wednesday, with both sides stating that talks are moving in a positive direction to secure a minerals deal and accelerate peace talks with Russia. But U.S. officials also confirmed the U.S. has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which it has relied on in the battlefield. Nick Schifrin has the latest.

VA Secretary Doug Collins on the cuts to his department

9m 59s

The Trump administration announced it's planning to fire thousands more employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs as part of the White House effort to dramatically downsize the federal workforce. A quarter of the VA's workforce comprises veterans themselves and critics argue the cuts would impact VA services. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins joins Geoff Bennett to discuss.

Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to freeze foreign aid

4m 41s

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s request to freeze billions of dollars in foreign aid for work that has already been done. The administration asked the court to block a lower-court ruling ordering the government to release the funds. It remains unclear when the aid will now be distributed. John Yang has the update.

Ukraine scrambles to salvage fractured alliance with U.S.

8m 24s

President Zelenskyy expressed regret Tuesday for how his Oval Office meeting with President Trump melted down Friday, and he echoed Trump's language about hoping to end the war and sign an economic deal. But Zelenskyy made the statement after the Trump administration paused military aid to Ukraine. Nick Schifrin reports and Doug Lute, a retired Army lieutenant general, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.

What to expect from Trump's address to Congress

4m 10s

President Trump's high-profile speech before Congress comes on the first day of a new trade war he started with America's top trading partners, and as Europe tries to fill the void in aid for Ukraine, now that Trump has ordered an end to U.S. military support. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins join Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz to discuss.

Businesses hit by new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China

9m 27s

The White House is implementing two new policies with global consequences ahead of President's Trump's address to Congress. The Trump administration is halting military aid to Ukraine and it's imposing new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. Roben Farzad, economic analyst and host of public radio's "Full Disclosure," joins Geoff Bennett for perspective.

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