PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E306

57m 46s

Methodist pastor on shift in church over LGBTQ inclusion

8m 15s

There has been a seismic shift within the United Methodist Church after it voted to lift bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriages. The move led some 7,600 conservative Methodist congregations, located mostly in the South, to leave the church. Geoff Bennett discussed the changes with Rev. Valerie Jackson of Park Hill United Methodist Church in Denver and the Reconciling Ministries Network.

News Wrap: Intense storms slam Houston area

8m

In our news wrap Friday, Houston and other parts of the Gulf Coast are dealing with the aftermath of intense storms, the Israeli military says troops in Gaza found the bodies of three people killed by Hamas at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, Russia carried out multiple strikes on Ukrainian territory and employees at two Mercedes facilities in Alabama voted against joining the UAW.

What's behind the record stock market highs

4m 19s

This has been a big week for the stock market. The Dow Jones, the much broader S&P 500 and the NASDAQ all reached record highs with the Dow crossing the 40,000 threshold for the first time. The markets have rallied back from the recent lows of 2022 and the Dow is about 40 percent higher than when the pandemic started. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Roben Farzad of Full Disclosure.

What led to Texas pardon of man who killed protester

5m 44s

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned a man convicted of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in the summer of 2020. Daniel Perry was serving a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of Garrett Foster, an armed white man who was attending a racial justice protest with his Black fiancee. Abbott had faced pressure to issue the pardon from conservative media figures. Stephanie Sy reports.

'World on the Brink' argues U.S. failing to deter China

7m 2s

This week, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin inaugurated a “new era” of partnership, just before Taiwan inaugurates a new president on Monday. The new book, "World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the 21st Century," argues Taiwan is at the center of China’s challenge to U.S. power and influence in Asia. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Dmitri Alperovitch.

Capehart and Johnson on the unusual Biden-Trump debate plans

9m 53s

Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart and Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including President Biden and former President Trump agree to face off on the debate stage, Michael Cohen testifies in Trump's criminal trial and Justice Alito’s home flew a U.S. flag upside down after Jan. 6.

College course examines depiction of drinking in film

7m 13s

As college students wrap up the year, many reflect on what they learned in the classroom and what it means for their lives. At the University of Notre Dame, a popular course offering has very real-life implications. Special correspondent Mike Cerre takes a look for our reporting on the intersection of art and health, part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

ER doctor reflects on treating trauma, preventing violence

5m 58s

A new book offers a firsthand look at the root causes and potential solutions to a critical issue plaguing communities across the country, violent crime. Dr. Rob Gore created a prevention program to keep young people from acts of violence. He sat down with Geoff Bennett to discuss his book, “Treating Violence: An Emergency Room Doctor Takes on a Deadly American Epidemic.”

The lasting legacy of Brown v. Board and ongoing challenges

9m 12s

This week marks 70 years since the Supreme Court's landmark civil rights ruling of Brown v. Board of Education integrated public education. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Annette Gordon Reed of Harvard Law School and the first Black student to enroll in an all-white school in her Texas hometown in 1963, and Kevin Young of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

FDIC audit reveals toxic culture, chair faces calls to quit

6m 46s

More than 100 million American households have money in bank accounts protected by the FDIC. The agency’s chairman, Martin Gruenberg, is facing calls to resign after a recent audit and major news investigation found serious problems with the FDIC’s workplace culture. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Rebecca Ballhaus, an investigative reporter who broke this story for The Wall Street Journal.

Cohen testifies for 3rd day in Trump hush money trial

4m 43s

Former President Trump's one-time lawyer, Michael Cohen, spent his third day on the stand Thursday in a Manhattan courthouse. Cohen is now the key witness in the case against his former boss, and he again faced hours of scrutiny over many lies and misstatements he’s made. William Brangham was in the courtroom reports on the latest.

Outgoing UN humanitarian chief on handling global crises

8m 24s

The U.N. warns the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is growing more acute. In southern Gaza, a quarter of the population faces catastrophic levels of food insecurity and in northern Gaza, nearly one in three children are severely malnourished. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Martin Griffiths, the U.N.'s top humanitarian official, about what he calls one of the worst years for humanitarian crises.

U.S. families working to save Gaza child with rare disorder

6m 17s

Among the families caught in the war between Israel and Hamas is the Abu Zaiter family. Three-year-old Julia suffers from alternating hemiplegia, or AHC, an extremely rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness, seizures and paralysis. Several families with children who have AHC have rallied to help Julia. Among them is Simon Frost, who discussed those efforts with Amna Nawaz.

Biden blocks GOP access to special counsel interview audio

3m 49s

President Biden used executive privilege to deny House Republicans access to audio from his interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The October 2023 interview centered on the president’s handling of classified documents. Republicans requested the audio and planned to hold Attorney General Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to provide it. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Carrie Johnson.

Music group spreads Mandela’s message of reconciliation

6m 23s

South Africa is celebrating 30 years since apartheid ended and Nelson Mandela became the nation’s first Black president. In the U.S., a South African musical group is spreading Mandela’s message of racial reconciliation and healing while reminding us that the fight for equality in both nations is far from over. Special correspondent Megan Thompson reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Understanding the politically diverse Latino community

8m 38s

Latino Americans make up nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population and will be a critical constituency for both Republicans and Democrats in swing states. But the idea of Latinos voting as a bloc betrays the diversity of history, culture and perspectives within that community which may also help strengthen it against polarization. Judy Woodruff reports, for her series, America at a Crossroads.

Scientists concerned about transmission of bird flu to cows

7m 47s

The outbreak of bird flu in the U.S. has alarmed researchers and prompted new efforts to track the virus that’s already killed millions of birds from Europe to Antarctica. As H5N1 continues to jump into mammals, many scientists are concerned that we’re not watching closely enough as this virus spreads. William Brangham reports. A warning: This story contains scenes of animals in distress.

Zelenskyy pleads for support amid Russian offensive

4m 24s

Ukrainian troops fell back to defensive lines amid one of Russia’s largest offensives since the beginning of the full-scale invasion more than two years ago. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has postponed all foreign travel, and U.S. Secretary of State Blinken announced new weapons deliveries while visiting Ukraine. But as Nick Schifrin reports, in Kharkiv, the front is fragile.

Inflation cools but prices still dominate view of economy

4m 23s

Inflation cooled somewhat in April, according to new numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The consumer price index rose at an annual rate of 3.4 percent, in line with expectations. But overall, inflation hasn't yet come down quite to the levels that many people have been hoping for. Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports.

Israel defense minister criticizes Netanyahu's Gaza strategy

5m 53s

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against criticism of his Gaza strategy from within his own government. Israel's defense minister accused Netanyahu of “indecision” and leading Israel down a “dangerous course.” The public infighting comes as the Biden administration said Israel did not have a political plan for what’s next in Gaza. Nick Schifrin reports.

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