PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E331

56m 45s

How a vocal minority of social media users distort reality

6m 7s

Researchers at New York University have concluded that social media is not an accurate reflection of society, but more like a funhouse mirror distorted by a small but vocal minority of extreme outliers. It's a finding that has special resonance this election season. John Yang speaks with psychology professor Jay Van Bavel, one of the authors of the paper that reported the research, to learn more.

Why Ohio’s state Supreme Court election is one to watch

6m 14s

This past week, a county judge in Ohio struck down the state’s near-total abortion ban, saying it violated a voter-approved constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights. The ruling is likely to end up before the state Supreme Court, underscoring the importance of races on many state ballots that are flying under the radar this fall. John Yang reports.

Scientists search for ways to battle a bat-killing fungus

5m 56s

The association between bats and Halloween dates back thousands of years, based on the superstition that the flying mammals are omens of death. But for nearly two decades, North American bats have been facing a deadly threat themselves: a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome. Ali Rogin speaks with New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer for more.

How Israel’s strikes on Iran affect Gaza, Lebanon conflicts

6m 26s

After Israel’s first-ever open attack on Iranian soil, Iran is saying that it might not respond in kind if there’s a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon. A senior Biden administration official said efforts will soon resume to end the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza and secure the return of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. John Yang speaks with Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution for more.

Why more doctors are treating youth with weight loss drugs

8m 7s

Physicians are increasingly using weight loss drugs to treat obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions in young patients. In the last three years, the number of people between the ages of 12 and 25 using drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic has surged nearly 600 percent. Ali Rogin speaks with Dr. Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, to learn more.

How Harris and Trump are trying to reach Michigan voters

6m 56s

Saturday is the first day of statewide early voting in Michigan, and both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are in the state trying to energize their supporters. Chad Livengood, politics editor and columnist at The Detroit News, joins John Yang to discuss the neck-and-neck race for Michigan’s 15 electoral votes.

Gen Z voters could be deciding factor in who wins N.C.

8m 36s

Recent polls show Vice President Kamala Harris leading former President Donald Trump by double digits among voters under the age of 30. But underneath that data lies important signals about the gender divide and the issues that matter to young Americans. Laura Barrón-López reports from the critical swing state of North Carolina.

Harris, Trump detour from swing states to campaign in Texas

4m 48s

With just 11 days to go, both Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump veered away from battleground territory and into the deep-red state of Texas. A lineup of presidents and pop stars are joining Harris on the trail as Trump has escalated his rhetoric in the final stretch of the race. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Israel launches retaliatory strikes on targets in Iran

2m 24s

There are reports of explosions in Iran's capital believed to be an Israeli strike in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack earlier this month. Israeli and U.S. officials have indicated that Israel was expected to strike Iranian intelligence and military targets, and not Iranian nuclear and energy facilities, following a U.S. request. Nick Schifrin reports.

Biden issues apology for Indigenous boarding schools

6m 55s

President Biden apologized for a U.S. policy that forcibly separated generations of Indigenous children from their families and sent them to boarding schools for forced assimilation into white society. An investigation uncovered abuse at the schools and the deaths of at least 973 Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dana Hedgpeth.

Gaza crisis worsens as hospitals are overwhelmed amid war

6m 12s

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians, including 13 children, in Khan Younis. In northern Gaza, the UN said Israeli soldiers raided the final working hospital. As Nick Schifrin reports, the raid and limited humanitarian aid have created a medical crisis. A warning, the images in this story are disturbing.

Why The Washington Post decided to opt out of an endorsement

5m 56s

For the first time in 36 years, The Washington Post will not endorse a presidential candidate. Publisher and CEO William Lewis explained, "We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.” It comes after The Los Angeles Times publisher blocked a planned endorsement of Vice President Harris. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Sewell Chan of Columbia Journalism Review.

Brooks and Granderson on the presidential race deadlock

10m 6s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Los Angeles Times opinion columnist LZ Granderson join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including why the presidential race is deadlocked, Harris' strategy of calling Trump a fascist and newspapers presidential endorsements.

The creator of LGBTQ History Month on sparking a movement

3m 27s

St. Louis teacher Rodney Wilson founded LGBTQ History Month 30 years ago. He recently spoke to communities correspondent Gabrielle Hays about coming out to his students in 1994 and his hope for a more understanding society.

How the racial makeup of colleges has changed

4m 28s

Universities are disclosing the racial makeup of the first class of students admitted after the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action. The numbers give a detailed look at the impact of the ruling. While there’s variation, analyses show Black enrollment is down at several colleges. Geoff Bennett discussed more with David Leonhardt of The New York Times for our series, Rethinking College.

Harris paints Trump as threat to democracy as election nears

3m 56s

With the presidential election just 12 days away, new polling shows the race neck and neck. It's adding urgency to Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, who is now consistently painting her opponent as an existential threat to democracy. Donald Trump is focusing on the key issue of immigration. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Boeing union rejects contract, complicating CEO's plans

4m 16s

Boeing is no closer to ending a six-week strike after its latest contract offer to workers was rejected by a stunning margin. The results of that vote came just hours after the company announced a huge quarterly loss and acknowledged it has a long way to go to earn back customers' trust. Stephanie Sy reports.

Where Harris and Trump stand on key foreign policy issues

7m 47s

It is among the most consequential decisions presidents can make, when to go to war and how to support America’s partners in their wars. As part of our series looking at the candidates’ policies, Nick Schifrin explores Kamala Harris' and Donald Trump's positions on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the promises they’ve made on what they would do if elected president.

'The Price of Power' explores McConnell's complex legacy

5m 47s

Mitch McConnell is the longest-serving Senate leader in history and set to step down from that position next month. Over nearly two decades, he has become one of the most consequential and powerful senators in history. Geoff Bennett sat down with Michael Tackett, author of “The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America and Lost His Party.”

Trump's rambling raises questions about mental decline

9m 14s

If he wins the election, Donald Trump would be the oldest president ever elected. After several appearances where his remarks were rambling or incoherent, and one event in which he swayed silently to music on stage for close to 40 minutes, questions are being raised about possible cognitive decline. Amna Nawaz discussed those concerns with author and clinical psychologist Dr. Ben Michaelis.

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