PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2025 E138

26m 45s

U.S. may move marijuana to lower-risk drug category

5m 54s

The Department of Health and Human Services is recommending a major change in the way the federal government treats marijuana, but stops short of saying it should be decriminalized under federal law. HHS says marijuana should no longer be classified as Schedule One, which the law defines as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. John Yang discussed more with Natalie Fertig.

Connecting the decline of local news and political division

11m 28s

Judy Woodruff recently examined how the loss of thousands of local newspapers across the country is depriving communities of some of the glue that holds them together and fueling division. She now looks at how some news outlets are managing to hang on and whether what they’re doing is sustainable. It’s part of her series, America at a Crossroads.

Frances Tiafoe's journey to becoming a top tennis player

8m 31s

Some say tennis is a metaphor for life, involving anticipation, problem-solving and incredibly hard work. For 25-year-old Frances Tiafoe, now one of the top 10 players in the world, those were lessons learned early, both on and off the court. Amna Nawaz caught up with Tiafoe at the U.S. Open in New York for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

UNC newspaper shares messages sent during campus shooting

6m 21s

A shooting at the Univ. of North Carolina this week left one professor dead and a community reeling. A campus lockdown lasted three hours, alarming students and staff who barricaded themselves for safety. The school's paper, The Daily Tar Heel, published a front page showing messages sent between friends and loved ones throughout the event. Amna Nawaz discussed more with editor Emmy Martin.

Gabon's military ousts president in latest coup in Africa

7m 2s

In the last two years, six countries across western and central Africa suffered what the UN has called an epidemic of coups. That number is now seven. Wednesday, soldiers in Gabon seized power immediately after election results were announced. Gabon is an oil-rich country and one of France’s most important allies in Africa. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Oge Onubogu of the Wilson Center.

McConnell freezes up during news conference for 2nd time

2m 32s

For the second time this summer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze up while answering questions during a press conference. The Republican stared blankly for about 30 seconds Wednesday afternoon in Kentucky. There was a similar moment for the Senator on Capitol Hill last month. Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports.

News Wrap: Maui receives grant to strengthen electrical grid

4m 27s

In our news wrap Wednesday, the White House announced a grant of $95 million to strengthen the electrical grid on the island of Maui following the wildfires there, a federal judge ruled Rudy Giuliani defamed two Georgia election workers by accusing them of ballot fraud in the 2020 vote and the U.S. says intelligence shows Putin is trying to buy weapons from North Korea for the war in Ukraine.

FEMA administrator on federal response to Hurricane Idalia

4m 57s

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is heading to Florida to assess Hurricane Idalia’s damage first-hand. Before departing Washington, she joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the federal response.

A look at the damage after Hurricane Idalia slammed Florida

7m 2s

Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday blasting Florida with winds near 125 miles an hour and a wall of water that caused heavy flooding. Thousands chose to get out of harm's way, while others hunkered down for the first major storm to strike the state this year. So far, officials reported two rain-related traffic deaths. Geoff Bennett reports.

Meadows' testimony in Georgia could shape case against Trump

5m 47s

In a surprising move Monday, former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows took the stand in a Georgia federal court in hopes of moving his high-profile case on conspiracy to subvert the 2020 election from a state court to a federal one. Geoff Bennett discussed more with former federal prosecutor Chuck Rosenberg.

Landscape architect's goal of nature-based infrastructure

7m 33s

If you think of landscape architecture, you might conjure gardens and plantings. But in a rapidly changing climate fueled by intense heat, flooding, fires, smoke and hurricanes, architect and designer Kate Orff is helping redefine her field and push us all toward new climate adaptation solutions. Jeffrey Brown has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

New podcast reveals how female patients' pain often ignored

6m 36s

A new podcast is bringing to light the abuses suffered at a fertility clinic at Yale. In 2020, a nurse secretly replaced vials of an opioid used to reduce pain during egg retrievals with saline solution. That meant the women felt the procedure, some describing excruciating agony while the clinic downplayed or ignored them. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Susan Burton, host of “The Retrievals.”

Conservatives fight socially conscious investments

8m 51s

The extreme weather events that hit the U.S. and other countries have cast a sharp spotlight on the role of climate change. In recent years, those concerns have been a key part of significant changes in the way investment firms and companies do business. But now a backlash is brewing against what conservative politicians call "woke capitalism." Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports.

Jacksonville mayor discusses racist shooting that killed 3

6m 21s

A federal hate crime investigation is underway after a gunman who embraced racist, white supremacist ideology shot and killed three Black people at a Dollar General store in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida. The victims of Saturday’s shooting include Angela Carr, A.J. Laguerre and Jerald Gallion. Amna Nawaz discussed the tragedy with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

Medicare price negotiations could save government billions

6m 38s

President Biden announced the first batch of drugs designated for Medicare price negotiations that would make them more affordable for older and disabled Americans. But drug manufacturers are attempting to block the effort. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Stacie Dusetzina.

Hurricane Idalia intensifying ahead of Florida landfall

6m 46s

Hurricane Idalia is gaining strength and barreling toward Florida where it is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday morning. Forecasters are warning of a catastrophic storm surge along with destructive winds, flooding rain and tornadoes. Amna Nawaz discussed the storm with Jamie Rhome of the National Hurricane Center.

Why some lawmakers want to reform the Endangered Species Act

7m 16s

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. It was the most comprehensive legislation for preserving species at risk of extinction and made the United States a global leader in environmental law. But today, Congress is divided over how far its protections should go. William Brangham reports on the act’s legacy and uncertain future.

Shakeups looming for college football powerhouse conferences

5m 50s

The 2023 college football season is officially underway with some big changes looming. Starting next year, USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington will move to the Big Ten while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah will go to the Big 12, leaving just four schools in the PAC-12. Amna Nawaz discussed what these moves mean and what prompted them with Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated.

Tamara Keith and Errin Haines on Trump's trial date

9m 54s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Errin Haines of The 19th News join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including the date set for former President Trump's federal trial and his Republican opponents hoping for some new attention from voters after the first debate.

Where race issues stand 60 years after March on Washington

9m 54s

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 was one of the most consequential racial justice and equality demonstrations in U.S. history and helped till the ground for passage of federal civil rights legislation. This weekend, thousands gathered for the 60th anniversary to remind the nation of its unfinished goals. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Lonnie Bunch and Janai Nelson.

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