PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2025 E76

57m 46s

Problems plague Atlanta jail where Trump was booked

6m 12s

The Fulton County Jail in Atlanta became front-page news last week as former President Trump and his 18 co-defendants surrendered to authorities. Many spent just a matter of minutes there. It's a much different story for the jail's long-term residents and nine people have died in custody this year. William Brangham discussed more with Chamian Cruz of WABE.

Can a longer school year help students with learning loss?

9m 49s

More than three years ago, schools received the first installment in the biggest ever one-time infusion of federal money dedicated to education, about $190 billion to protect against COVID and reverse the academic setbacks that followed the pandemic. One district in Virginia used its funds to add more days in the school year. Geoff Bennett visited to see how that program is faring.

Ukrainian counteroffensive makes gains against Russia

8m 1s

For months, Ukraine’s military has been grinding through a counteroffensive designed to liberate territory occupied by Russia. Kyiv has admitted that it’s gone slowly, but this week, Ukrainian soldiers made what the U.S. called notable progress. Nick Schifrin discussed the state of the counteroffensive with former U.S. ambassador to NATO Doug Lute.

Texas ban on youth gender-affirming care takes effect

7m 34s

A ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth went into effect in Texas, making it the most populous state to date with such a ban. The law revokes the medical licenses of any doctor who provides minors with gender-affirming medical care like puberty blockers, hormone treatments or surgeries. Laura Barrón-López reports on families grappling with the potential consequences.

What the latest jobs report signals for American workers

5m 39s

The August jobs report portrays a labor market that’s steadily growing, but there are signs of cooling in the face of the Federal Reserve’s higher interest rates. Employers added 187,000 jobs in August while the unemployment rate ticked up from 3.5 to 3.8 percent. The report paints a complex picture of the current economy. John Yang discussed that with Catherine Rampell.

Residents in Florida's Big Bend begin recovery after Idalia

8m 1s

Tropical Storm Idalia is heading back out to sea, but in its wake, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are busy cleaning up. As a Category 3 hurricane, Idalia caused major damage in Florida's Big Bend region, but overall there was less damage throughout the Southeast than many feared. William Brangham reports from Florida where people say they want to stay and rebuild.

Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election case

3m 46s

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges in Georgia that accuse him and 18 allies of trying to upend the 2020 presidential election results in that state. The plea allows Trump to avoid an in-person arraignment next week. Geoff Bennett discussed the latest developments with Stephen Fowler of Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Can the 14th Amendment be used to block Trump from ballots?

6m 35s

Despite his legal troubles, former President Trump has a clear lead in the race for the Republican nomination. But is he qualified to run? A cohort of conservative legal scholars say no and a new lawsuit could put their theory to the test. They argue he violated the 14th Amendment with his actions on and before Jan. 6. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Ned Foley.

Commerce Secretary discusses trip to China amid tensions

8m 27s

This week, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo became the latest high-ranking U.S. official to visit China and engage with top Chinese leadership. She went during a time of security and trade tensions between the two global giants and China's ongoing economic slowdown. Raimondo joined Nick Schifrin to discuss the visit.

How the rise of hate is impacting the LGBTQ+ community

6m 36s

The murders of several LGBTQ+ people and allies in recent weeks are raising alarm across the U.S. O’Shae Sibley was stabbed to death in Brooklyn after police said he confronted a group who made homophobic slurs and Laura Ann Carleton was killed in California for apparently refusing to remove a Pride flag from her store. Geoff Bennett discussed more with GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.

Japan's problems developing stable energy after meltdown

7m 55s

While the world is focusing on the radioactive water released from the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, the country is grappling with other big questions about its use of nuclear energy. Japan dramatically changed its attitudes after Fukushima melted down in 2011. But since then, it's faced its share of problems with other energy sources and prices. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien reports.

U.S. may move marijuana to lower-risk drug category

5m 54s

The Department of Health and Human Services is recommending a major change in the way the federal government treats marijuana, but stops short of saying it should be decriminalized under federal law. HHS says marijuana should no longer be classified as Schedule One, which the law defines as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. John Yang discussed more with Natalie Fertig.

Connecting the decline of local news and political division

11m 28s

Judy Woodruff recently examined how the loss of thousands of local newspapers across the country is depriving communities of some of the glue that holds them together and fueling division. She now looks at how some news outlets are managing to hang on and whether what they’re doing is sustainable. It’s part of her series, America at a Crossroads.

Frances Tiafoe's journey to becoming a top tennis player

8m 31s

Some say tennis is a metaphor for life, involving anticipation, problem-solving and incredibly hard work. For 25-year-old Frances Tiafoe, now one of the top 10 players in the world, those were lessons learned early, both on and off the court. Amna Nawaz caught up with Tiafoe at the U.S. Open in New York for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

UNC newspaper shares messages sent during campus shooting

6m 21s

A shooting at the Univ. of North Carolina this week left one professor dead and a community reeling. A campus lockdown lasted three hours, alarming students and staff who barricaded themselves for safety. The school's paper, The Daily Tar Heel, published a front page showing messages sent between friends and loved ones throughout the event. Amna Nawaz discussed more with editor Emmy Martin.

Gabon's military ousts president in latest coup in Africa

7m 2s

In the last two years, six countries across western and central Africa suffered what the UN has called an epidemic of coups. That number is now seven. Wednesday, soldiers in Gabon seized power immediately after election results were announced. Gabon is an oil-rich country and one of France’s most important allies in Africa. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Oge Onubogu of the Wilson Center.

McConnell freezes up during news conference for 2nd time

2m 32s

For the second time this summer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze up while answering questions during a press conference. The Republican stared blankly for about 30 seconds Wednesday afternoon in Kentucky. There was a similar moment for the Senator on Capitol Hill last month. Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports.

News Wrap: Maui receives grant to strengthen electrical grid

4m 27s

In our news wrap Wednesday, the White House announced a grant of $95 million to strengthen the electrical grid on the island of Maui following the wildfires there, a federal judge ruled Rudy Giuliani defamed two Georgia election workers by accusing them of ballot fraud in the 2020 vote and the U.S. says intelligence shows Putin is trying to buy weapons from North Korea for the war in Ukraine.

FEMA administrator on federal response to Hurricane Idalia

4m 57s

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is heading to Florida to assess Hurricane Idalia’s damage first-hand. Before departing Washington, she joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the federal response.

A look at the damage after Hurricane Idalia slammed Florida

7m 2s

Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday blasting Florida with winds near 125 miles an hour and a wall of water that caused heavy flooding. Thousands chose to get out of harm's way, while others hunkered down for the first major storm to strike the state this year. So far, officials reported two rain-related traffic deaths. Geoff Bennett reports.

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