PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch: S2025 E55

57m 46s

Fall of Assad sparks hope but some Syrians remain concerned

5m 14s

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

5m 28s

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

3m 25s

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

6m 51s

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

5m 7s

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.

Syria's new leaders work to keep rebel factions united

6m 27s

After 14 years of war, Syria is seeking stability. The country's caretaker prime minister, appointed by the fighters who overthrew Bashar al-Assad, said the government transition process is expected to last until March. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports from Damascus.

Investigators reveal possible motives in CEO killing

3m 34s

The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been charged with murder in New York after he was found and arrested Monday in Pennsylvania. At his first court hearing Tuesday afternoon, Luigi Mangione struggled with deputies and shouted something to reporters as he was led into the building. Amna Nawaz reports.

Can Biden issue preemptive pardons to protect Trump critics?

6m 44s

After President Biden gave his son, Hunter, an expansive pardon, legal experts have questioned how a president’s pardon power could be used moving forward. That includes questions about the possible use of preemptive pardons. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Kim Wehle, author of "Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works-and Why."

News Wrap: Thousands ordered to evacuate Malibu wildfire

5m 30s

In our news wrap Tuesday, thousands in Southern California are under evacuation orders as a wildfire burns near Malibu, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu took the stand for the first time in his long-running corruption trial and U.S. wildlife officials are aiming to add monarch butterflies to the endangered species list.

The controversial vaccine policy changes RFK Jr. could make

7m 59s

More than 75 Nobel laureates signed a letter asking the U.S. Senate not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, citing his opposition to vaccines among their concerns. William Brangham takes a deeper look at Kennedy's record on that issue and what impact he could have leading the nation's health agencies.

Cotton from Central Asia helps fuel Russia's war in Ukraine

8m 58s

It's been nearly three years since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and despite huge losses on both sides, there is no sign that Putin's war machine is letting up. Cotton is used to make gunpowder and explosives and Russia has a steady supply from one of its former Soviet republics. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky investigated why that is, and who's trying to stop it.

LA arts program gives addicts and ex-cons escape to new life

6m

A tried and true program in East L.A. helps former gang members, drug users and those leaving incarceration build a new life. Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports on the Homeboy Art Academy for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

What to expect from the Syrian opposition coming to power

6m 20s

For perspective on the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the opposition that's coming to power, Amna Nawaz spoke with Murhaf Jouejati. He’s a distinguished visiting professor at the U.S. Naval Academy and the former chairman of The Day After, a nonprofit organization that's been working toward building democratic institutions in Syria.

Jury acquits man charged after NYC subway chokehold death

7m 1s

A jury in New York found former Marine Daniel Penny not guilty in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely. The killing, which took place on a subway car last spring, has provoked intense reactions. Some painted Penny as a savior who protected people while others see him as a reckless vigilante who went too far. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Samantha Max of WNYC.

Trump lays out agenda on border, tariffs in interview

7m 4s

Over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump sat down for his first formal interview since winning a second term in the White House. Trump spoke to Meet the Press about his plans for his new administration, doubling down on campaign promises around mass deportations, threatening political rivals and praising Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Laura Barrón-López reports.

What we know about man detained in health care CEO killing

8m 3s

Police detained a person of interest in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The murder's connections to the health insurance industry have touched a nerve, sometimes with ugly results, in the days since the shooting. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Nicholas Florko of The Atlantic who wrote the recent piece, "Murder Is an Awful Answer for Health-Care Anger."

White House: Future of Syria depends on 'choices they make'

6m 6s

U.S. officials say they are closely monitoring the situation in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. It could have widespread ramifications for the region and the world. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer.

Syria seeks to build government after fall of Assad

5m 31s

After 13 brutal years of war, Syrians breathe free after the fall of the autocratic Assad dynasty. Bashar al-Assad and his family are now in Russia, which extended them asylum. The seizure of the nation by insurgents rocked the region and the world. But for many Syrians, the task after the fall of Assad was to take stock of the catastrophic damage and what the future holds. Nick Schifrin reports.

Half-century of iron rule ends as rebels seize Syria

8m 24s

For more than half a century, Syria had been ruled with an iron fist by the Assad regime. It all came to an end this weekend with lightning speed, as rebels took control of the capital city of Damascus, and with it, the country. What lies ahead now for Syria and the Middle East is an open question. Hassan Hassan, founder and editor in chief of New Lines magazine, joins John Yang to discuss.

How governments use spyware to monitor citizens’ phones

7m 16s

This past week, the White House detailed the scope of a massive Chinese hacking campaign that reaped information from American cell phone networks. But an HBO original documentary, “Surveilled,” says some governments use commercial spyware to monitor their own citizens. To learn more, John Yang speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Ronan Farrow, who produced the documentary.

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