PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2025 E32

26m 45s

How U.S. oil production reached an all-time high in 2023

7m 14s

As the year comes to a close, gas prices in the U.S are at their lowest point of 2023. And not coincidentally, domestic oil production is at a record level. But it comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to wean itself off fossil fuels. William Brangham examined the big changes and the implications with Clifford Krauss, the national energy correspondent for The New York Times.

State ballot measures could drive voter turnout in 2024

4m 35s

The 2024 race for the White House will take up a lot of time, attention and money over the next 11 months. But as Lisa Desjardins explains, other votes at the state level next year could significantly influence the presidential campaign and our day-to-day lives.

Israel and Hezbollah fight raises fears of a wider war

6m

With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza showing no signs of stopping, exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanese border are raising fears of a widening conflict. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Paul Salem, the president and CEO of the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based non-partisan think tank.

A Brief But Spectacular take on music empowering communities

3m 15s

Andrés González is a conductor, musician, and advocate for youth music education. He was trained from a young age through El Sistema, a renowned music program in Venezuela, before moving to the United States. He is a mentor at Play on Philly, providing access to music education to low-income and minority students. González shares his Brief But Spectacular take on how music empowers communities.

Physician discusses demand for weight-loss drugs and risks

7m 59s

One of the biggest health stories of this past year is the surge in demand for popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Those drugs are in such demand that there’s a nationwide shortage of them. Pharmaceutical companies are scrambling to keep up at a time of rising obesity rates in the U.S. Ali Rogin reports.

Israeli bombardment of Gaza cities and camps kills dozens

3m 27s

An Israeli American Canadian who was believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas was actually killed during the attack on Oct. 7, according to the Kibbutz Nir Oz where she was from. At the same time, Israel continues its assault on Gaza and the war of words between Israel and Hezbollah is heating up. Stephanie Sy reports.

Israeli ambassador to U.S. on war tactics, future of Gaza

10m 27s

As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the three-month mark, there are many questions about Israel's strategy and tactics and what the future of Gaza may look like. Amna Nawaz discussed that with Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog, who is also a retired IDF brigadier general.

Immersive exhibitions change the way people consume art

6m 23s

In recent years, immersive art exhibitions that place viewers amid the art have been a hot ticket. Popular ones featuring works from artists like van Gogh and Monet travel from city to city. But there are a growing number of permanent immersive art spaces, including a new one special correspondent Cat Wise recently visited in Portland, Oregon. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

How 'lab-grown' meat is made and will people accept it?

7m 18s

The Department of Agriculture recently approved the production of what’s known as cultivated meat, which is chicken grown in a lab. That approval clears the way for companies to begin selling poultry produced from animal cells rather than animals bred in factory farms and killed. But the industry still faces hurdles before Americans see it in their grocery stores. William Brangham reports.

U.S. asks Mexico to help stop migrants from reaching border

8m 38s

The Biden administration is closing out 2023 in much the same way it began, with headlines about a migrant crisis. Border patrol agents are encountering a record number of people entering the country and cities are struggling to keep up with asylum seekers. The president has dispatched three top advisers to Mexico in search of solutions. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Elliot Spagat.

Hostage affairs envoy on efforts to free detained Americans

6m 53s

While the United States was able to negotiate the release of detained Americans in Venezuela, there are at least four Americans in Russia and approximately seven held in Gaza. The U.S. government's point person working to get them all home is Roger Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Amna Nawaz spoke with Carstens about those still held captive.

Why congregations are leaving the United Methodist Church

5m 9s

One of the dominant Christian denominations in the U.S., the United Methodist Church, is experiencing a major split. Since 2019, more than 7,000 congregations have received approval to leave the church. The factions have disagreements in theology, namely how the church considers LGBTQ+ ministers and congregants. Amna Nawaz discussed more with communities correspondent Adam Kemp in Oklahoma.

Israel shows no sign of slowing down strikes in Gaza

3m 17s

Israel's ground offensive in Gaza continues to expand. As the death toll rises, Gazans still desperately need basics to survive. Aid trucks roll in, but many Palestinians are starving or without water and Israel announced it will now consider United Nations employee visas on a case by case basis, instead of automatic admission. Amna Nawaz reports.

Critics name their favorite TV shows of 2023

8m 4s

In the age of streaming, there's never a lack of something to watch. With the choices nearly overwhelming, Jeffrey Brown spoke with critics Lorraine Ali of The Los Angeles Times and Jen Chaney of New York Magazine and Vulture about their favorite shows of 2023. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Israelis volunteer on farms to save agricultural supply

7m 15s

When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel declared war, most foreign farm workers left the country and Palestinian workers were barred from entering Israel. Many Israelis were called to reserve duty, leaving the farming industry facing financial losses and in desperate need of workers. Jon Frankel reports.

How Long-term care planning is burdening the middle-class

7m 9s

Long-term care is already a huge problem in the United States, one that's growing as the baby boom population ages, and one with big financial costs. William Brangham explores the impact this is having on middle-class Americans and how they are having to rearrange their lives.

Teens reflect on how social media nearly ruined friendship

3m 8s

The addictive nature of social media doesn't just have parents, lawmakers and advocates worried. Last year, more than half of U.S. teens said it would be difficult to give up social media, including TikTok and YouTube. The latest episode of our Student Reporting Labs series "Moments of Truth" tells the story of one teen who faced this dilemma head-on with Instagram.

Meta accused of manipulating apps to make children addicted

7m 13s

Meta is the target of state lawsuits over allegations it has harmed the mental health of children and misled the public about safety. State attorneys general argue Facebook and Instagram deliberately manipulate their apps in ways that addict kids and failed to keep them off despite age limits. Stephanie Sy discussed the legal scrutiny of social media with Jeff Horwitz of The Wall Street Journal.

Egypt plan to end Gaza war meets resistance from both sides

7m 26s

The death toll in Gaza has crossed 20,000, according to Palestinian officials. Every day that the war goes on, more civilians are killed and the path to a real, political solution to end it seems far. Amna Nawaz discussed what this means for Palestinians trapped in Gaza with Palestinian political analyst Nour Odeh.

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