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 E54

26m 45s

Johnson retains speakership, faces narrow GOP majority

5m 26s

It was a dramatic beginning to the 119th Congress as Republicans prepare for unified control in Washington. Despite a handful of initial holdouts, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was re-elected speaker on the first ballot. He will now have to wrangle the narrow Republican majority to implement President-elect Trump’s agenda. Lisa Desjardins reports.

French Quarter begins return to normalcy after attack

6m 37s

The city of New Orleans is inching back to normalcy after the New Year's Day truck attack that killed 14 in the famed French Quarter. Laura Barrón-López reports on how the area’s residents are coping with the tragedy and what comes next.

Why Biden blocked a Japanese bid to buy U.S. Steel

8m 11s

President Biden said he would block the sale of one of America’s most iconic companies to a Japanese firm. In December 2023, Nippon Steel announced it would buy U.S. Steel for more than $14 billion. Nick Schifrin discussed the president's decision with David Wessel of the Brookings Institution and Sheila Smith of the Council on Foreign Relations.

U.S. surgeon general calls for cancer warnings on alcohol

5m 36s

Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States behind tobacco use and obesity. Alcohol consumption contributes to roughly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 deaths each year. A new advisory says alcoholic beverages should have a warning label about the risks. Amna Nawaz discussed more with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

Brooks and Capehart on Johnson's fight to remain speaker

10m 50s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including Mike Johnson’s reelection as House speaker revealed a small but loud minority in his conference that could threaten Republican priorities, the reaction to the terror attack in New Orleans and President Biden blocking the sale of U.S. Steel.

What leads veterans or service members to extremism?

4m 49s

Law enforcement says there is no evidence of any connection between the New Orleans truck attacker and the man who drove a Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas, but their military service overlapped. So is there a pattern that we can discern and what are some of the possible reasons veterans or active duty soldiers could turn to extremism? Nick Schifrin discussed that with Heidi Beirich.

FBI says New Orleans attacker was inspired by ISIS

8m 9s

Answers are beginning to trickle out in the deadly New Year's truck attack in New Orleans. Officials revised the death toll to 14 victims plus the suspect. They also gave more details about his activities in the hours before the attack. Laura Barrón-López reports from New Orleans.

Police say Green Beret drove truck that exploded at hotel

4m 14s

Investigators identified the man driving the Cybertruck that exploded in front of the Trump hotel in Las Vegas as Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty member of the Army’s elite special forces. Police said he shot himself before a device detonated a combination of fireworks, gas and camping fuel in the vehicle. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Joe Schoenmann of Nevada Public Radio.

Biden's legacy as 50 years in public office comes to an end

8m 47s

President Biden’s five-decade-long tenure in public service comes to an end later this month. To examine the president’s time in office and his legacy, Amna Nawaz spoke with two reporters who have covered his career extensively, Dan Balz of The Washington Post and Annie Linskey of The Wall Street Journal.

Community colleges gear up to train manufacturing workers

6m 42s

In the next decade, millions of manufacturing jobs will open up in the U.S. as workers retire. Meanwhile, the sector is also supposed to add more jobs with help from federal subsidies. But by some current estimates, only half of those jobs will be filled. So where will the needed workers come from? Economics correspondent Paul Solman visited a two-year college in search of answers.

Physician outlines weight loss drug effectiveness, downsides

6m

For weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, 2024 was a big year. More patients are relying on them to manage their weight, treat diabetes, or prevent heart attacks and strokes. And while they are highly effective, they also come with some concerns. William Brangham reports on the rising demand for these drugs.

Barnes and Noble makes a comeback with new philosophy

6m 55s

Last year, Barnes and Noble opened nearly 60 stores around the country and plans for 60 more to open in 2025. It’s the latest twist in a long-running saga for a company that’s been a bellwether for the book business. Jeffrey Brown continues our ongoing reporting on the book industry for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Death toll rises in New Orleans after New Year's Day attack

7m 58s

A deadly attack in New Orleans early New Year’s Day killed at least 15 people and left dozens injured after a man driving a truck barreled through the city's French Quarter. Authorities say they found an ISIS flag and weapons in the truck. The suspect, a U.S.-born citizen, is dead. Laura Barrón-López reports and speaks with Bruce Hoffman of the Council on Foreign Relations to learn more.

Examining possible security lapses in New Orleans attack

6m 8s

For a closer look at how things unfolded from a security perspective in the New Orleans attack, Laura Barrón-López spoke with Juliette Kayyem, a former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the Homeland Security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Examining Jimmy Carter's global health legacy

6m 53s

President Jimmy Carter channeled his work on the world stage through his non-profit Carter Center for more than four decades after leaving the White House. One of his key achievements was the near-eradication of Guinea worm disease that once affected 3.5 million people. William Brangham speaks with Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine to discuss Carter’s work on global public health.

Legal challenges delay result for North Carolina court

5m 51s

It's been nearly two months since Election Day, but control of a seat on the North Carolina state Supreme Court is being held up in the courts. As Stephanie Sy explains, the trailing candidate is asking for more than 60,000 votes to be invalidated.

How exercise may be the best medical intervention ever known

7m 35s

It's been well known for many decades that exercise provides many benefits to our health. But a new scientific consortium is revealing new insights into just how profound exercise can be for the human body. William Brangham discussed more with Euan Ashley, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and genetics at Stanford University and the newly named chair of its department of medicine.

A Brief But Spectacular take on loving what you play

4m 29s

Lang Lang, one of the world's most famous classical pianists, discovered his passion for piano while growing up alongside other musicians in China. Today, he stands as a globally acclaimed classical pianist whose extraordinary talent has led him to perform with diverse musical legends. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on loving what you play.

A Brief But Spectacular take on being amazed at the world

3m 42s

Mark Rober discovered his passion for engineering as a kid, tinkering with gadgets and building creative contraptions. A former NASA engineer turned YouTube sensation, he now runs CrunchLabs, where he develops hands-on science kits to spark curiosity and innovation in young minds. Rober shares his Brief But Spectacular take on being amazed at the world around us.

New mothers face barriers getting mental health care

9m 13s

Maternal mortality rates have soared in the U.S. to nearly three times those of other high-income countries. Over 20 percent of deaths among new mothers are from suicide and overdose. Researchers and service providers have made progress in addressing postpartum depression and anxiety, but barriers to care remain. Ali Rogin reports as part of our Race Matters coverage.

Supported by