Longtime court sketch artist Bill Hennessy Jr. dies
Longtime court sketch artist Bill Hennessy Jr. dies
What Biden's commutations mean for non-violent offenders
President Biden announced he's commuting the prison sentences of some 1,500 people and issuing pardons to 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes. That marks the largest number of commutations by a president in a single day. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Mark Osler, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis and an expert on presidential clemency.
News Wrap: White House says drones not a safety threat
In our news wrap Thursday, the White House says mysterious drones reported over New Jersey and other states are neither a security issue nor a safety threat, the Justice Department found there were no undercover FBI employees on the scene during the Jan. 6 attack and the DOJ reached a deal with Louisville on federal oversight to reform its police force following the killing of Breonna Taylor.
Daily life returning to Syria as new leaders build nation
Days after Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow, Syria's capital appears to be functioning. Streets are getting busier by the day and shops and government institutions are slowly returning to work. Apart from the joy and relief, the mundane but vital work of making a country function is job number one for many. Simona Foltyn reports on that huge task and the mess the Assad family left behind.
Freed Syrian prisoners describe the horrors they faced
The Assad legacy is one of horror with hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced or in exile. Perhaps nothing illustrates the depths of the depravity more than the archipelago of prisons and torture centers where tens of thousands were killed by the regime. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen takes us inside some of these now-liberated facilities as Syrians search for answers.
How Hegseth's religious views could affect U.S. military
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, all of which he denies. Laura Barrón-López and Brad Onishi discussed something else that’s drawn scrutiny, the influence of Hegseth’s religious beliefs and how they may impact his leadership at the Pentagon.
Colorado community braces for mass deportations under Trump
President-elect Trump said he is willing to enlist the military to deport migrants and is open to new detention camps to facilitate those deportations. The comments are the latest on his key campaign pledge, mounting the largest deportation operation in American history. Stephanie Sy reports from Colorado, a state that found itself at the center of the immigration debate during the campaign.
Experts working to understand why overdose deaths dropped
New data from the CDC shows a drop in drug overdose deaths, down nearly 17 percent compared year-over-year. The annual death toll dropped from approximately 113,000 to just over 94,000. It’s a rare bit of good news after decades of rising fatalities. Overdose deaths have nearly quadrupled since 2002 and spiked to record highs during the pandemic. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Brian Mann of NPR.
Gwen Ifill featured in 'Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum'
The animated PBS Kids series, "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum," follows Xavier as he, his sister and friend meet historical figures portrayed as children. In a recent episode, they meet a person very dear to us, Gwen Ifill.
Longtime court sketch artist Bill Hennessy Jr. dies
Longtime court sketch artist Bill Hennessy, who captured history with his sketchbook for more than 40 years died on Monday at the age of 67. Hennessy took us where cameras could not. He offered the first draft of high-profile legal moments, from the Clinton impeachment, trials at Guantanamo Bay and arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Evidence at CEO murder scene linked to suspect, police say
Police said fingerprints and shell casings collected at the scene of last week’s murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson are directly connected to their prime suspect, Luigi Mangione. The fingerprints match the 26-year-old and the casings match the gun found on him when he was arrested earlier this week in Pennsylvania. William Brangham reports.
Can the nation unite after the election? Analysts weigh in
For the past two years, Judy Woodruff has been exploring the deep divisions we see playing out every day in the country. As we wrap up the year, she recently sat down with a panel of noted thinkers to talk through their concerns, and their hopes, following the election. It’s part of her series, America at a Crossroads.
Trump nominees visit Capitol Hill to build support
Christopher Wray's resignation comes as President-elect Trump’s pick for the position, Kash Patel, met with senators to gain support for his nomination. He was just one of several Trump nominees on Capitol Hill Wednesday. Lisa Desjardins reports.
News Wrap: Wildfire near Malibu explodes in size overnight
In our news wrap Wednesday, California fire crews are working to contain a wind-driven wildfire that exploded in size near Malibu, Albertsons terminated its multi-billion dollar merger attempt and is now suing Kroger, Palestinian officials say Israeli strikes killed at least 29 people in Gaza and Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 2034.
Stevenson reflects on inequities 10 years after 'Just Mercy'
Bryan Stevenson, the prominent lawyer and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, has blazed a trail representing the poor, wrongly convicted and those on death row. Geoff Bennett sat down with Stevenson to discuss his career and the re-release of his best-selling book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption."
Fall of Assad sparks hope but some Syrians remain concerned
The sea change toward tenuous hope in Syria over the last two weeks has been tempered with a grim accounting of the last 14 years of war and a half a century of authoritarian rule under the Assad family. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports from Damascus.
Wray resignation paves way for Trump's new pick to lead FBI
In a highly unusual move, the director of the FBI is stepping down. Christopher Wray announced he intends to leave his position when President-elect Trump takes office in January. It comes after Trump named Kash Patel as his nominee to run the FBI. Wray is serving a ten-year term that wasn’t set to end until 2027. Laura Barrón-López reports.
Syrian leaders promise unity while holding Assad accountable
Syria's new leaders vowed to create unity, but also hold to account the people who facilitated a half-century of Assad rule. Those calls for revenge added to the unease of many Syrian minorities, including U.S. partners in the fight against Isis who had to give up hard-won territory. Nick Schifrin reports.
Researchers report stunning surge of misogyny post-election
Researchers have documented a stunning rise in misogynistic rhetoric and attacks after the election. Laura Barrón-López discussed what’s behind that surge, and how experts are combating it, with Cynthia Miller Idriss, a professor at American University and director of the school’s Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab.
Remembering the fierce and lyrical voice of Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni, a fierce and lyrical voice of the Black experience, has died. Giovanni's work illuminated love, liberation and the unyielding power of self-expression. Tributes are pouring in from across the country as admirers and friends mourn the passing of a literary legend. Geoff Bennett reports.
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