PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2024 E322

26m 45s

Americans face sky-high energy bills amid extreme heat

8m 6s

As summer temperatures have soared across the nation, so have electric bills as air conditioners work overtime. Every year, nearly 3 million American households have their electricity shut off because of unpaid bills. We hear from people dealing with this issue and John Yang speaks with Sanya Carley, professor of energy policy and city planning at the University of Pennsylvania, to learn more.

Paralympian Tatyana McFadden on her quest for a medal record

6m 25s

The 2024 Paralympics for athletes with disabilities is underway in Paris. One of the more than 4,000 competitors is closing in on a remarkable achievement: winning the most track and field medals in either the Olympics or Paralympics, for either men or women. John Yang speaks with Team USA wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden for our Weekend Spotlight series.

Why power outages raise carbon monoxide poisoning risk

6m 43s

Climate change is making extreme weather events like wildfires, floods and hurricanes more frequent and severe. Scientists now say that carbon monoxide poisonings are on the rise amid widespread power outages following those events. ProPublica’s Lexi Churchill joins Ali Rogin to discuss her recent reporting on this issue.

Families paying for school lunches grapple with online fees

4m 26s

Schools are increasingly turning to online payment systems for school lunches. Those systems are run by payment processing companies, which typically charge transaction fees. According to federal analysis, families qualifying for reduced-price meals may be paying as much as 60 cents in fees for every dollar spent. John Yang speaks with Associated Press business reporter Cora Lewis for more.

News Wrap: Harris fends off challenges in 1st interview

7m 27s

In our news wrap Friday, Kamala Harris fended off challenges to her policy positions in her first interview as the Democratic nominee, Donald Trump spoke to the right-wing Moms for Liberty group in Washington, a Russian guided bomb attack on Ukraine's second-largest city killed at least five and Israel said it killed a top commander and two associates during raids in the occupied West Bank.

Gaza polio case highlights collapse of health infrastructure

8m 18s

The World Health Organization, working with other UN agencies and the Palestinian Ministry of Health, will begin vaccinating children in Gaza against polio. Israel and Hamas have agreed to have three-day pauses in fighting so health workers can distribute the vaccine. It comes amid the massive destruction of Gaza's healthcare infrastructure. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr. Tammy Abughnaim.

Insurance system makes finding mental health care difficult

6m 38s

More than one in five adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness, but only about half receive treatment. Many struggle to find a therapist that will accept their insurance. An NPR/ProPublica investigation found that therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists who join insurance networks often leave because of challenges. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Annie Waldman of ProPublica.

Women in Afghanistan describe Taliban's brutal repression

4m 56s

This week marks three years since the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO allies from Afghanistan. It also marks three years of intensifying repression of women under the Taliban regime in what the UN has described as a "striking erasure of women from public life." Producer Zeba Warsi spoke to Afghan women inside the country about their lives today. Amna Nawaz reports.

Activists secretly educating Afghan children amid crackdown

5m 28s

To discuss how the Taliban regime has impacted education, Amna Nawaz spoke with Afghan education activist Pashtana Durrani. She is the founder of Learn Afghanistan, a grassroots group working to expand education access there. Durrani is currently a visiting fellow at Wellesley College’s Centers for Women.

Brooks and Atkins Stohr on Trump's abortion narrative

11m 39s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Boston Globe columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including former President Trump tries to change the narrative on abortion access, Vice President Harris sits down for her first interview since launching her presidential campaign and the Trump's campaign's altercation at Arlington National Cemetery.

Young Afghan musicians showcase talent and resilience

8m 9s

Since its founding in 2010, the Afghanistan National Institute of Music has provided unique music training to Afghan children. In 2013, the group made a triumphant visit to the U.S. This month, three years after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan, they returned amid a changed world. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. For more information visit anim-music.org.

Guitarist Mdou Moctar gets political after coup in Niger

7m 32s

Guitarist Mdou Moctar has been bringing a new kind of music to the world steeped in his cultural heritage. His latest album strikes a decidedly political chord in response to upheaval and a military coup in his home country of Niger. Special correspondent Christopher Booker caught up with Moctar on his tour through the U.S. for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Nebraska's Supreme Court to decide if former felons can vote

6m 4s

The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments this week on whether a recently passed law, which allows former felons to vote, violates the state’s constitution. Nebraska is one of 26 states and the District of Columbia that have restored former felons’ right to vote. John Yang discussed the court case with Kassidy Arena of Nebraska Public Media.

Harris barnstorms Georgia and sits down for 1st interview

7m 2s

Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz are campaigning for a second day in the South, holding a rally in Savannah, Georgia. Harris and Walz also sat down for a highly anticipated interview on CNN. Laura Barrón-López reports.

News Wrap: Pentagon provides Secret Service military support

5m 55s

In our news wrap Thursday, the Defense Department will provide the Secret Service with military support for presidential and vice presidential candidates, Russian missiles and drones rained down on Ukraine for a third time this week, two editors of a now-defunct news outlet in Hong Kong were convicted of sedition and a listeria outbreak connected to Boar's Head meats has killed nine people.

Charges against Telegram founder sparks free speech concerns

5m 24s

The arrest of Telegram's CEO and founder has reignited concerns about the balance of free speech and responsibility that comes with running social platforms. Telegram has more than 900 million users, making it among the most popular messaging services in the world. The arrest of Pavel Durov has far-reaching implications for the industry at large. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Pranshu Verma.

Israel says it killed militant linked to 'numerous' attacks

8m 54s

Israel and Hamas agreed to pause fighting in Gaza to allow hundreds of thousands of children to receive polio vaccinations over three days. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, at least 16 people have been killed in what the Israeli military calls counterterrorism raids. Amna Nawaz discussed the situation in the West Bank with Steven Erlanger of The New York Times.

What's behind the recent surge in mosquito-borne illnesses

6m 52s

Parts of New England are on high alert after health officials in New Hampshire confirmed the first death from the rare, mosquito-borne virus known as eastern equine encephalitis. Another illness transmitted by mosquitoes, West Nile Virus, paralyzed a teenager in Missouri and hospitalized Dr. Anthony Fauci. Geoff Bennett discussed the risks with Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine.

Israel launches large-scale raids in occupied West Bank

3m 16s

Israel launched what it called a “counterterrorism operation” in the West Bank with hundreds of troops raiding the city of Jenin and other areas of the occupied territory. At least 10 Palestinians have been killed in the raids, either by airstrikes or gun battles on the ground. It’s the largest raid the West Bank has seen in months. Amna Nawaz reports.

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