PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 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: S2024 E332

57m 46s

'Click-to-cancel' would make it easier to end subscriptions

5m 55s

A proposed rule from the Federal Trade Commission aims to let consumers easily cancel unwanted subscriptions. It would require getting out of those plans to be as easy as it was getting in. But many businesses argue the move is unnecessary meddling that will harm consumers. William Brangham discussed more with Erin Witte of the Consumer Federation of America and a supporter of this rule.

Jimmy Breslin remembered in book as 'Man Who Told the Truth'

6m 28s

From JFK's assassination to the Son of Sam, Jimmy Breslin covered major events of the 20th century as a columnist for the New York Daily News. His plainspoken approach captured the country's attention, offering readers a poetic, and blunt, perspective on the issues that mattered most. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Richard Esposito, author of “Jimmy Breslin: The Man Who Told the Truth.”

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Trump's ground game

9m 10s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the Trump campaign's outsourcing of the ground game in key battleground states, Harris' efforts to win over "Nikki Haley Republicans" and what else to watch for with just two weeks remaining before Election Day.

How strikes on Hezbollah-linked bank could hurt civilians

4m 32s

Israel launched new attacks in Beirut despite U.S. requests to limit strikes in the Lebanese capital. The target was a financial organization that Israel and the U.S. call Hezbollah’s bank. But the bank also provides loans to Lebanese civilians, and human rights groups worry the strikes only worsen the country's financial and humanitarian crises. Nick Schifrin reports.

Navalny's widow reflects on her husband's legacy

10m 51s

In February, Alexei Navalny died in a Russian prison camp. Navalny was Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, an anti-corruption crusader who became a political threat to Putin's nearly quarter-century rule. Shepherded by his wife, Yulia, Navalny's memoir is being published posthumously. Amna Nawaz met with Yulia Navalnaya to discuss her husband's life and his work for his memoir, "Patriot."

Purdue works to revive liberal arts as key part of college

8m 43s

Call it “the death of the humanities.” Over the last decade or so, majors in English and history are down by a third and humanities enrollment overall is down by almost a fifth. Now an initiative is working to revive liberal arts as a key part of the college experience. Jeffrey Brown reports from Purdue University for our series, Rethinking College.

What's behind Elon Musk's massive effort to elect Trump

7m 41s

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is now a powerful mega donor for Donald Trump. Musk is using his vast resources to campaign for him in Pennsylvania and taking aggressive measures for Trump in other key battleground states. Some of those moves are raising major legal and ethical concerns as well. Geoff Bennett discussed more with New York Times investigative reporter David Fahrenthold.

Harris campaigns with Cheney as Trump deploys dark rhetoric

4m 48s

Nearly two weeks until Election Day, former President Trump traveled to North Carolina to see the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and urged his supporters to vote early, while Vice President Harris toured swing states alongside former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Laura Barrón-López reports.

The effect of anti-trans laws on LGBTQ+ youth mental health

7m 21s

This past week, the Texas attorney general sued a pediatrician for violating the state’s ban on gender-affirming care, enforcing that law for the first time. More than half of U.S. states now have laws targeting transgender people. Ali Rogin speaks with The Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black about a new study that looks at how these laws affect young people’s mental health.

Why overdose deaths involving antidepressants are rising

6m 28s

For the first time in decades, public health data shows a sharp drop in U.S. drug overdose deaths. But at the same time, numbers from the CDC show that fatal overdoses involving antidepressants have been on the rise for the past two decades. John Yang speaks with clinical psychologist and behavioral scientist Alison Athey for more.

How major storms take an economic toll far from their paths

6m 43s

Massive storms like Helene and Milton can devastate the people and properties that take direct hits, causing billions of dollars in damages. But the economic effects of these events can be felt thousands of miles away and for many months to come. John Yang speaks with Megan Leonhardt, senior economics writer for Barron’s, to learn more.

A look at Pennsylvania’s key races in the 2024 election

6m 29s

This fall, Pennsylvania is living up to its name as the Keystone State. Both the Harris and Trump campaigns see the state’s 19 electoral votes as key to reaching the 270 needed to win the presidential election, while contests there could also determine control of Capitol Hill. John Yang checks in with Julia Terruso, national political reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, for the latest.

Why executions are rising in America after years of decline

6m 18s

While the execution of a Texas man was temporarily put on hold this week, more than 2,000 people remain on death row across the country. The Texas case has highlighted a recent increase in executions and prompted questions about how capital punishment is applied in the United States. Maurice Chammah, a staff writer for The Marshall Project, joins Ali Rogin to discuss.

Election officials on the threats they’ve faced since 2020

7m 51s

With about two and a half weeks until Election Day, some parts of the country are still looking for people to work at polling places. One reason could be the threats and harassment that’s been aimed at election officials since the false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Current and former election officials from across the country share their experiences.

Art exhibit shows new perspectives on disability in the U.S.

7m 38s

“For Dear Life” is the first exhibition to survey the themes of illness and disability in American art from the mid-20th century to the COVID pandemic. It’s part of PST Art, an enormous collaboration of Southern California arts institutions around the theme of art and science. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown visited the exhibition for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

In Scotland, Afghan women fulfill dreams of becoming doctors

8m 7s

Nineteen talented Afghan women, whose university education was cut short by the Taliban, now have a chance to fulfill their dreams in Scotland. They’re all aiming to be doctors and have been given places at Scottish medical schools through a program created in memory of a Scottish aid worker killed in tragic circumstances in Afghanistan 14 years ago. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports.

North Carolina residents struggle to rebuild after Helene

7m 31s

It’s been more than three weeks since Hurricane Helene battered parts of the Southeast. The hardest-hit state was North Carolina, where more than 90 people died, 81 people remain unaccounted for and residents face a long road to recovery. Laura Barrón-López reports from Asheville.

Harris, Trump court voters ahead of early voting in Michigan

4m 29s

Both presidential candidates have their eyes on Michigan as early in-person voting starts Saturday in parts of the state. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris had busy schedules there on Friday. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Middle East conflict enters new phase after Sinwar’s death

7m 52s

If the U.S. wants to use the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an opportunity for peace, the warring sides are publicly resisting. On Friday, Hamas vowed to keep fighting, Lebanese Hezbollah announced a new phase of its war and Israel announced more military deployments to northern Gaza and the Israeli border with Lebanon. Nick Schifrin reports.

Brooks and Capehart on the final weeks before Election Day

10m 13s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including how the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar could mark a turning point in the war in Gaza, and key moments in the presidential race with less than three weeks to go before Election Day.

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