PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E319

57m 46s

Examining Harris and Trump Social Security, Medicare plans

6m 49s

In the final days of this election, both presidential candidates are trying to win over older voters with their plans for entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is at risk of being depleted as soon as 2034 and Medicare could be insolvent by 2036. Lisa Desjardins has a look at how both campaigns say they'll tackle the issue.

The economic impact of Trump's mass deportation promise

9m 21s

Immigration is a key issue of this campaign. Vice President Harris says if elected, she will pass a bipartisan bill strengthening border security. Former President Trump promises a much larger crackdown including mass deportations. Paul Solman examines the potential economic impact of deportations and Trump's claims that immigrants take jobs and lower wages for other Americans.

Election workers fight back against bad actors

6m 42s

From rampant disinformation, foreign adversaries trying to sew chaos and ballot boxes set ablaze, there are many bad actors trying to undermine our elections process. There’s also an army of non-partisan election officials who are collecting ballots and pushing back, confident that this election, like the last, will be secure. William Brangham discussed more with Juliette Kayyem.

Harris, Trump campaign in N.C. with less than a week to go

5m 8s

The presidential campaign trail ran through the Tar Heel State on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both rallied in North Carolina, one of the crucial swing states that could secure a victory in next week’s election. Amna Nawaz reports.

Races that will determine the balance of power in Congress

6m 6s

While all eyes are on the presidential race, there also are several key down-ballot races that will determine the balance of power in Congress. Republicans in the House hold a razor-thin majority but Democrats are honing in on a handful of races to help them win back the lower chamber. Lisa Desjardins reports.

New airline refund rules could ease travel hassles

4m 32s

Just weeks before the holiday travel season, new airline refund rules went into effect across the country. They can mean big changes for when, and how, Americans get paid back for things like flight delays or mishandled baggage. They would also put an end to some haggling, communication breakdowns and frustration for passengers. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Brian Kelly of The Points Guy.

A look at Harris’ and Trump’s positions on healthcare policy

6m 40s

With less than a week until election day, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are making their final case to voters, laying out starkly different visions on a number of key issues. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López takes a deep dive into the candidates' positions on health care.

How a college degree is one of the best voter predictors

10m 3s

American politics are divided in many ways, including based on their education background. To explore this so-called diploma divide, Judy Woodruff visited two neighboring, but very different, counties in Michigan where both candidates have repeatedly made their case as this year’s campaign nears the end. It's part of her series, America at a Crossroads.

News Wrap: Catastrophic flash floods kill at least 95 in Spain

6m 14s

In our news wrap Wednesday, catastrophic flash floods killed at least 95 people in Spain, Israel is expanding its military campaign beyond Lebanon's south as it targets what it says are Hezbollah strongholds, North Korea’s top diplomat is in Russia for talks and authorities in Oregon say the suspect behind a series of ballot box fires is likely an experienced metalworker.

Americans in Ukraine on how election could change war

7m 8s

The U.S. election is being closely watched in Ukraine. Vice President Harris has promised to continue supporting Ukraine if she wins, while former President Trump has ridiculed military aid and claimed he could negotiate an end to the conflict. Special correspondent Jack Hewson met with American volunteer fighters who are considering whom to vote for and what their votes might mean for the war.

'Purpletown' documents what people still have in common

4m 51s

With the election days away, there is no shortage of reflections on American politics and democracy. Photographer Paul Shambroom has a unique view. His “Purpletown” project uses photos to examine the cities and towns most evenly divided politically. We spoke with Shambroom for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS.

Candidates race to get final messaging to voters

4m

Election Day is one week away and both candidates are racing to get their final messaging out to voters. Vice President Harris is delivering a major speech in Washington while former President Trump held events in Florida and Pennsylvania. Lisa Desjardins reports.

What to expect from Kamala Harris' closing argument

3m 43s

An estimated 52,000 people are expected to be in attendance on the National Mall for Vice President Harrris' speech Tuesday night, according to DC Metropolitan Police. White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports from The Ellipse with a preview of Harris’ closing message.

News Wrap: Hezbollah picks Naim Kassem as its new leader

6m 26s

In our news wrap Tuesday, Hezbollah has chosen cleric Naim Kassem as its new leader, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned that Russia's planned use of North Korean troops on the front lines would push the war "beyond the borders" of Ukraine and Russia and President Biden is awarding nearly $3 billion to reduce air pollution from the nation's ports.

Israel bans UNRWA as northern Gaza health system collapses

5m 35s

In northern Gaza, it was another day of mass death with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 88 people. Hundreds of thousands remain trapped and no substantial food or aid has been allowed into the besieged area for weeks. It comes as Israel's parliament passed measures that outlaw the UN agency charged with aiding Palestinians. Nick Schifrin reports. A warning, images in this story are disturbing.

Comparing Harris and Trump education policy proposals

6m 32s

The issue of education in America has barely been discussed in this campaign, despite there being very sharp differences between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on how best to teach children into the future. William Brangham looks into their positions on K-12 education for our promises and policies series.

Southeastern Georgia a focal point for both campaigns

7m 22s

Georgia is one of the most closely divided states in the country, where President Biden beat Donald Trump by fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020. This year, voters have shattered early voting records, casting more than 2 million ballots so far. Lisa Desjardins reports on how some of those voters are feeling in Savannah, the center of a growing region that’s in the national political spotlight.

Examining how Trump, Harris plans could affect inflation

5m 58s

The economy and concerns around costs remain the top issue for many voters. Both candidates want to extend tax cuts, but they also have some big differences. Donald Trump wants to impose broad tariffs and deport undocumented workers, Kamala Harris has focused on creating tax credits and tackling price gouging. Geoff Bennett discussed how these plans could affect inflation with Nick Timiraos.

Teen forced to collect her own evidence in sexual abuse case

10m 56s

We’re told if you’re a victim of a crime, to go to the police and report it. But what happens when they don’t believe you? From the Center of Investigative Reporting, Rachel de Leon tells how far one child had to go to prove her innocence. A word of caution, this story involves details of child sexual abuse.

Trump faces backlash for racist, sexist rhetoric at rally

4m 58s

In the final full week before Election Day, there's no indication of who has the edge in the race for the White House. Former President Trump, Vice President Harris and their running mates each campaigned at full-throttle in swing states today. Much of their focus was on controversial remarks made by speakers at a Trump rally Sunday night. Laura Barrón-López reports.

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