PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E319

57m 46s

Voting rules in swing states could affect election results

8m 1s

As we wind our way to Election Day, some key states are still debating and battling over new election rule changes. In some prominent cases, these are Republican-led and pushed by former President Trump himself. In the past few weeks, the Georgia Election Board passed changes that could affect this year’s results. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Jessica Huseman of Votebeat.

People with disabilities face extra hurdles for housing

10m 26s

Millions of Americans are priced out of homes and apartments. For people with disabilities, finding an accessible place they can afford can be even more challenging. Judy Woodruff reports on the affordable housing shortage for our series, Disability Reframed.

Israel rescues hostage from Hamas tunnel in Gaza

2m 53s

After 326 days in captivity, a hostage was found in the Hamas tunnels underneath Gaza and brought to safety by the Israeli military. Qaid Farhan Alkadi is the eighth hostage to be rescued from Gaza, but dozens more wait to be freed in a potential cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. Stephanie Sy reports.

Why the special counsel filed a new indictment against Trump

4m 36s

The fallout from the Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity continues. Special counsel Jack Smith filed a new indictment against former President Trump in federal court. The charges against the Republican nominee remain the same: four counts related to alleged actions he took to stay in power after the 2020 election. Geoff Bennett broke down the new indictment with Carrie Johnson of NPR.

How NASA plans to bring stranded astronauts home

6m 35s

NASA's initial launch with the Boeing Starliner capsule has not worked out well. The space agency announced this weekend it has finally decided the two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station will come back on a SpaceX Dragon capsule next year. The pair were initially sent on an eight-day mission in early June. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with science correspondent Miles O’Brien.

Stephen King on his iconic career and 'You Like It Darker'

8m 34s

Fifty years ago, a 26-year-old rural Maine school teacher wrote the horror novel “Carrie.” That man, Stephen King, has gone on to write more than 60 books and many have been turned into such films as “The Shining” and “Shawshank Redemption.” Jeffrey Brown spoke with King about his latest book, “You Like It Darker,” and the long arc of his career. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

How Americans hit by extreme weather feel about the future

6m 27s

The punishing heat hitting much of the U.S. this week, and the downpour that Hawaii is enduring, are just the latest in what has been a relentless drumbeat of extreme weather this summer. We spoke with people in different parts of the country about the impacts of these events and how they’re thinking about the future.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Harris' convention bump

9m 17s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including the post-convention bump for Kamala Harris, the Trump campaign's response to the Harris surge and how Robert Kennedy Jr.'s endorsement of Trump could impact the race.

Campaign enters final stage as both conventions conclude

3m 13s

With both party conventions in the rear-view mirror, the 2024 presidential campaign enters its final stage. Donald Trump turned his attention to national security and Kamala Harris’ record and there are new questions about if the candidates will debate. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Sudanese families describe search for sanctuary amid war

12m 3s

In total, 11 million Sudanese have been forced from their homes because of the country's bitter civil war between the army and a rogue militia. Up to 150,000 are feared dead and millions more face unimaginable trauma. In her third report from the front lines and with support from the Pulitzer Center, special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen followed some families searching for sanctuary.

The new challenges to the influence of American megachurches

7m 8s

There are hundreds of thousands of religious congregations across the United States. Some of the biggest, known as “megachurches,” are facing challenges as the culture around organized religion changes. Scott Thumma, a professor of sociology of religion at Hartford International University, joins Lisa Desjardins to discuss.

Funding and staffing shortages strain wildland firefighters

7m 10s

As climate change causes wildfires to become more frequent and devastating, wildland firefighters are often the last line of defense protecting homes and communities. But these crucial public servants are stretched thin and underpaid, and a temporary pay raise for federal firefighters will expire at the end of September unless Congress acts. Stephanie Sy reports.

Study: More Americans are self-managing abortions post-Roe

6m 25s

According to a new study, the percentage of people who say they’ve tried to end a pregnancy outside of the medical system has gone up since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. John Yang speaks with Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter for The 19th News, for more.

The future of debt relief for Black farmers in America

6m 58s

According to federal data, there were about 925,000 Black farmers in 1920 in the United States. A century later, that number has declined to only about 42,000. John Boyd Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, joins Ali Rogin to discuss efforts by the Biden administration to help farmers who have been historically excluded from government assistance programs.

Residents try to save Tangier Island amid rising sea levels

3m 11s

Rising waters due to climate change and erosion are diminishing the landmass of Tangier Island, Virginia, a tiny speck of land in the Chesapeake Bay, and threatening a centuries-old culture fostered by the island’s isolation. PBS News Student Reporting Labs’ Sabrina Tomei reports on how the community is trying to restore their land and preserve their history and traditions.

How extreme heat is contributing to a U.S. blood shortage

5m 11s

The American Red Cross says there’s an emergency shortage of blood for transfusions. In July, the national supply dropped by more than 25 percent. The Red Cross says the only solution is more blood donors. Jessa Merrill, director of biomedical communications at the Red Cross, joins John Yang to discuss.

What a COVID vaccine program’s end means for the uninsured

4m 13s

As new, highly contagious mutations are making this summer’s COVID surge significantly bigger than expected, the FDA approved updated COVID vaccines on Friday. But funding runs out this month for a federal program providing free vaccines to uninsured and underinsured Americans. John Yang speaks with PBS News digital health reporter Laura Santhanam for more.

Fed chair says ‘time has come’ to cut interest rates

6m 59s

Financial markets rallied Friday after Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said that it’s time to start cutting interest rates. The question now is by how much, and how quickly fed policymakers will act. Powell said inflation is low enough and that the bigger threat to the economy is now a weakening jobs market. John Yang speaks with Rachel Siegel, who covers the Fed for The Washington Post, for more.

3 things to know about RFK Jr. suspending his campaign

3m 18s

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Friday that he is suspending his campaign and that he wants to help former President Donald Trump win the election. Lisa Desjardins joins Geoff Bennett to discuss the announcement and what’s next.

Harris accepts her party’s nomination on final night of DNC

5m 8s

Kamala Harris is now the first woman of color to become a major party’s presidential nominee. That history was made Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Speaking to an energetic crowd, Harris formally accepted her party’s nomination and made her case for why she should be the next president of the United States. Lisa Desjardins reports.

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