PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E311

56m 58s

Popular new literary genre mixes romance and fantasy

7m 25s

TikTok's popular BookTok channel has been buzzing about a new genre called "romantasy'' that is spawning whole sections in bookstores. Jeffrey Brown visited the stacks and talked to author Rebecca Yarros to see what’s driving this trend. It’s part of our arts and culture series, "CANVAS."

Lawmakers accuse Big Tech of failing to protect children

11m 24s

Senators interrogated CEOs of top social media companies about online child safety Wednesday in an emotional and contentious hearing, as they tried to get them to back proposed legislation. But much of the focus was on questions of accountability. Lisa Desjardins reports on what took place and Amna Nawaz speaks with Christine McComas, whose daughter died by suicide after being bullied online.

Panama Canal drought causes global disruptions

6m 4s

An extreme drought in Panama is forcing authorities to substantially scale back shipping through the Panama Canal, one of the world’s key shipping channels. This comes at a time when traffic through the Suez Canal has been significantly disrupted. Ilya Espino de Marotta, the Panama Canal Authority’s deputy administrator, joins Stephanie Sy to discuss.

Conservative Trump critic discusses his impact on the GOP

8m 21s

Primary season is in full swing as a seemingly unstoppable GOP nomination approaches for former President Trump. Judy Woodruff explores what another Trump nomination and presidency could mean for the Republican party and for the country. It’s part of her series, “America at a Crossroads.”

Former NFL players denied compensation for brain trauma

4m 11s

In a landmark 2015 settlement, the National Football League promised to compensate former players who developed dementia and other brain diseases tied to concussions. The NFL has since awarded $1.2 billion to more than 1,600 athletes. But The Washington Post found the league saved hundreds of millions of dollars by rejecting payouts. Will Hobson, who reported the story, joined Amna Nawaz for more.

U.S. blames Iran-backed militia for deadly attack in Jordan

10m 16s

The United States on Wednesday blamed an umbrella group of Iranian-backed proxies for the weekend attack that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan, further raising Middle East tensions. Vali Nasr, a former State Department adviser and professor at Johns Hopkins University, and Reuel Marc Gerecht, a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, join Nick Schifrin to discuss.

A Brief But Spectacular take on the art of dance

3m 6s

Wynette Smith is the long-time owner of Starlet Dance Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Despite facing a range of challenges, she says she keeps the studio alive for the generations of dancers who keep coming back. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on the art of dance.

Stories of women who used violence to fight abuse

8m 2s

In Greek and Roman mythology, the “Furies” are three goddesses who punish the wicked, delivering vengeance to an unfair and unlawful world. William Brangham talks with journalist Elizabeth Flock, a former NewsHour reporter and author of a new book that paints a portrait of three modern-day women who similarly used violence when they had no other option.

Why manufacturers are slowing electric vehicle production

4m 56s

Last year was a record for electric vehicles in the U.S., with more than 1.2 million sold. That was 50 percent higher than in 2022, yet there are signs that demand for EV’s appears to be slowing and may not be quite as intense as either automakers or the Biden administration had expected. Jessica Caldwell of Edmunds.com joins Geoff Bennett to break down the reasons why.

Michigan mayor snubs meeting with Biden over Gaza

6m 44s

President Biden on Thursday is planning to stop in Dearborn, Michigan, a place with one of the largest Muslim and Arab American populations in the United States. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and several other Arab American leaders there have turned down an opportunity to meet with the president amid calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Hammoud joins Laura Barrón-López to discuss.

Protesters pressure city councils for U.S. action on Gaza

7m 38s

As Hamas weighs a new proposal for a temporary truce in Gaza, protesters in the U.S. calling for a ceasefire have disrupted everything from commutes in New York City to a parade in Los Angeles. In cities across the country, groups have also now taken their fight to city halls, where in some cases, the topic is overtaking other priorities. Stephanie Sy reports.

House Republicans move to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas

5m 23s

The House of Representatives is on the cusp of impeaching a Cabinet secretary for the first time in 150 years. Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee advanced articles of impeachment Tuesday against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The full chamber is expected to take up the question as soon as next week. Lisa Desjardins, who was at the hearing, joins Geoff Bennett with more.

Qatar mediates for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

12m

As the U.S. moves closer to retaliating for a drone attack that killed three American troops in Jordan, leaders from Egypt, Israel, Qatar and the U.S are negotiating for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson, joins Nick Schifrin to discuss the latest.

Minneapolis chamber group plays music written at Auschwitz

8m 1s

Observances were held across the world over the weekend for the annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Fred de Sam Lazaro has the story of one effort to preserve and honor the music performed by prisoners in orchestras that were a fixture in the concentration camps. His report is part of our arts and culture series, "CANVAS."

Psychiatrist pushes for reforms on U.S. gun safety approach

7m 36s

Already this year, there have been more than 3,000 firearm deaths in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive. Dr. Jonathan Metzl, director of Medicine, Health and Society at Vanderbilt University and author of the new book, “What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms,” joins William Brangham to discuss how America tackles gun violence.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on a border deal, the 2024 race

8m 23s

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 a potential deal on the border and immigration as the U.S. Senate nears a vote, Nikki Haley’s presidential run after New Hampshire and the Democrat’s next primary in South Carolina.

White House halts natural gas, exports over climate concerns

6m 46s

The Biden administration is hitting the pause button on new projects involving the export of natural gas. While the U.S. is currently the largest exporter of natural gas in the world, the White House argues the climate effects of these projects are too great to ignore. Coral Davenport, who covers energy and environmental policy for The New York Times, joins William Brangham to discuss.

NATO chief discusses future of western support for Ukraine

9m 57s

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine will soon enter its third year as U.S. support for Ukraine is coming into question because of Republican resistance on Capitol Hill. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is in Washington this week, joins Nick Schifrin from the Pentagon to discuss the war in Ukraine and western support for the beleaguered country.

Biden vows to respond to drone attack on U.S. base in Jordan

7m 23s

The White House says President Biden is considering options to strike back against the Iran-backed militia that killed three American soldiers on Sunday in Jordan. In Yemen, Iraq, Syria and now Jordan, American forces are engaging Iranian-supported groups. Nick Schifrin joins Geoff Bennett to discuss the escalations, the U.S. response and new developments in Gaza.

LGBTQ Ugandans fight to survive under country’s anti-gay law

8m 36s

Uganda’s constitutional court is expected to rule soon on a law that threatens fines, life imprisonment and even death for being gay. Ugandan civil rights groups challenged the Anti-Homosexuality Act in December amid international pressure to repeal the law. Ali Rogin speaks with two Ugandan LGBTQ+ activists for more.

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