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 E324

57m 46s

Climate change’s role in the Northeast’s wildfire outbreak

5m 21s

For years, wildfires across the American West have served as an urgent reminder of the threat posed by extreme weather, often made worse by climate change. But over the last few weeks, fires have engulfed parts of New York and New Jersey amid an unusually severe drought on the East Coast. Hilary Howard, a climate change reporter for The New York Times, joins William Brangham to discuss.

Report highlights killings of Indigenous environmentalists

8m 5s

Leaders at the United Nations’ COP29 climate change summit are being pressed this year to address the rising threats to environmentalists and defenders of human rights. Ali Rogin looks at the challenges facing these activists around the world and speaks with Laura Furones, a senior adviser at the environmental watchdog and advocacy group Global Witness, to learn more.

Brooks and Capehart on the 'chaos' of Trump's Cabinet picks

10m 53s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including President-elect Trump's key Cabinet appointments that offer a glimpse of what’s to come in his administration and Republicans secure the House, giving them control over Congress and the White House as they prep their agenda for the new year.

Speaker Johnson says Gaetz report should not be released

5m 28s

President-elect Donald Trump continues to stock his future cabinet with high-profile choices. He tapped one of his rivals in the presidential primary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, for interior secretary. Political correspondent Lisa Desjardins has more on how Burgum might redefine that role and what we’re learning about Trump's other nominees.

How 'donations' are inundating Ghana with toxic waste

9m 45s

When Americans no longer want a car, laptop or clothes, where do some of those goods go? Most end up in the Global South, where millions of people depend on repairing, dismantling or selling them for a livelihood. Environmental groups say this is a toxic trifecta of waste that inflicts damage to land, coastlines and health. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports in partnership with the Pulitzer Center.

News Wrap: Biden in Peru for APEC Summit

5m 25s

In our news wrap Friday, all eyes on President Joe Biden as world leaders gather at the APEC Summit in Peru for one of his final appearances on the world stage, climate experts are calling for an urgent overhaul of the United Nation's COP climate talks and Lebanon's caretaker prime minister has asked Iran to help secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Why experts are concerned about RFK Jr.'s HHS nomination

7m 27s

President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services is sparking concern. There are worries too about his history of false statements and beliefs in debunked conspiracy theories. At the same time, he’s pushing hard on some major problems that experts say are real. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina.

What the polling got right and wrong in the election

5m 45s

Donald Trump is likely to be the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote in the last 20 years. Pre-election polls have consistently underestimated his support since he first ran eight years ago. That’s left some folks spending the last week trying to figure out what happened. Geoff Bennett and NPR’s Domenico Montanaro discussed what the polls got right and what they missed.

Ruby slippers stolen in museum heist now up for auction

6m 54s

If you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of Hollywood history, now’s your chance. A pair of Dorothy's ruby slippers are up for auction and just like Dorothy, this pair of shoes has been on its own long and very strange journey. Special Correspondent Megan Thompson reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Women face prosecution for what they do while pregnant

8m 32s

In the first year after the Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion, 210 women faced charges for behavior related to pregnancy, abortion, pregnancy loss or birth. The decision emboldened prosecutors to develop aggressive strategies to charge and imprison pregnant women and mothers. But even prior to the overturning of Roe, hundreds of women faced such charges. Sarah Varney reports.

News Wrap: Syrian media says Israeli strikes killed 15

6m 15s

In our news wrap Thursday, Syrian state media says Israel carried out two airstrikes killing at least 15 people near Damascus, suicides within the U.S. military increased last year continuing a long-term trend, New Jersey declared a drought warning as parts of the northeast see the driest conditions experienced in nearly 120 years and the Pentagon poured cold water on reports of alien sightings.

U.S. Marines reflect on battle for Fallujah 20 years later

9m 2s

Twenty years ago this month, U.S. Marines began fighting the largest urban battle since the Vietnam War. More than 12,000 American, British and Iraqi troops fought for Fallujah, which had become an insurgent stronghold. In collaboration with The War Horse, Nick Schifrin spent time with the Marines who still remember and feel that battle like it was yesterday.

Trump selects RFK Jr. to lead nation's health agency

6m 39s

President-elect Trump continues to name nominees to his cabinet and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy was first a Democratic then independent candidate in the 2024 election before dropping out and endorsing Trump. He's also an anti-vaccine activist and has pushed several conspiracies about the COVID-19 virus. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Republicans secure control of House and Senate

5m 23s

House Republicans will maintain their hold on the lower chamber next year, giving the GOP a political trifecta in Washington, controlling both chambers of Congress and the presidency come January. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Jeffries says Democrats must 'address economic challenges'

9m 1s

Plans for Trump’s return to Washington, and the Republican Party’s return to power, are well underway. But for Democrats in the minority, the path forward is not as clear. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is the House Democratic leader and the author of the new children’s book, "The ABCs of Democracy." Jeffries joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.

Why Trump's nomination of Gabbard is controversial

6m 2s

If confirmed as Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard would oversee 18 intelligence organizations including the CIA and NSA. Her nomination could set off a fight since Gabbard has no intelligence experience and is accused of defending dictators and parroting disinformation. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Michael Leiter, former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center.

Trump to nominate loyalist Matt Gaetz as attorney general

5m 10s

President-elect Trump nominated one of his most prominent loyalists in Congress to lead the Department of Justice. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is the former president’s pick to serve as the nation’s top prosecutor. The right-wing firebrand is well known for leading efforts to oust former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Carrie Johnson of NPR.

Trump returns to D.C. as Senate Republicans choose leader

8m 20s

President-elect Trump took a victory lap in the nation’s capital, bouncing from meetings with House Republicans to President Biden in the Oval Office. It comes as critical roles are being filled, from more members of Trump’s cabinet to new leaders in the Senate. Lisa Desjardins reports.

What Biden and Trump discussed during White House meeting

4m 4s

President Biden hosted President-elect Trump at the White House for nearly two hours on Wednesday, a familiar ritual in the peaceful handoff of power. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports on the transition meeting.

Democratic governors leading efforts to 'protect democracy'

8m 37s

Donald Trump isn’t the only one preparing for his return to the White House. Several Democratic governors are uniting, they say, to protect democracy at the state level during Trump’s second term in office. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced the launch of Governors Safeguarding Democracy. Pritzker joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.

Supported by