PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E324

57m 46s

Alabama’s plan to execute man using nitrogen raises concerns

5m 37s

Unless the courts intervene, a death-row inmate in Alabama is scheduled on Thursday to become the first person in the U.S. to be executed using an untested method: nitrogen hypoxia. Alabama’s solicitor general has called it “painless and humane,” but the UN Human RIghts Office says it could amount to torture. John Yang speaks with the Death Penalty Information Center’s Robin Maher to learn more.

Travelers feel the pinch as airlines cash in on added fees

7m 4s

What was once a budget airline tactic has now become common practice, as passengers face an increasing number of fees for services like checking a bag, picking a seat in advance or getting something to eat or drink. Worldwide, fees account for about 20 percent of airline revenue. Oriana Pawlyk, POLITICO's aviation reporter, joins William Brangham to discuss.

Montanans fish for answers amid mysterious trout decline

6m 28s

The number of brown and rainbow trout in some of Montana’s best-known and most scenic fishing rivers is at historic lows. With experts at a loss to explain it, state agencies, fishermen, businesses and concerned citizens are all trying to find answers. Montana PBS’s Joe Lesar reports.

What to know about abortion issues on state ballots in 2024

6m 49s

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, attempts to use the ballot box to enshrine the right to access abortion services into state constitutions have proliferated. This November, the issue could be on the ballot in as many as a dozen states, including some where abortion is banned or severely restricted. John Yang speaks with legal historian Mary Ziegler to learn more.

Annette Bening on her new role as a famed swimmer Diana Nyad

7m 49s

One of the year’s most acclaimed acting performances, now receiving Oscar buzz, came from Annette Bening, a four-time Academy Award nominee known for such films as “The Grifters,” “American Beauty” and “The Kids Are Alright.” In her latest performance she portrays another formidable woman: famed long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, "CANVAS."

Family fights for release of American held by the Taliban

6m 25s

For more than 500 days, an American citizen has been wrongfully detained in Afghanistan. Ryan Corbett lived in Afghanistan for 12 years, where he worked with local NGOs and advised small Afghan businesses. Amna Nawaz sat down with his wife, Anna Corbett, after she met this week with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to push for her husband's release.

New Hampshire Gov. Sununu works to stop Trump's renomination

9m 12s

With election year 2024 now fully underway, the effort to understand what is dividing Americans politically has become even more urgent. For her "America at a Crossroads" series, Judy Woodruff turned to New Hampshire for a look at how popular Republican Gov. Chris Sununu is going all out to persuade voters to stop what looks to some like the inevitable renomination of former President Trump.

Brooks and Capehart on Biden's differences with Israel's PM

9m 17s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the New Hampshire primary, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott's endorsement of Donald Trump, the differences between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the future of newspapers.

Clashes at legacy newspapers draw concerns on wider industry

6m 57s

This week has brought fresh questions about the futures of some of the country’s most storied newspapers. The Baltimore Sun has a new owner with a political background that's sparked concerns and Los Angeles Times staffers walked off the job to protest planned layoffs. Anne Marie Lipinski, curator of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism, joins Geoff Bennett to discuss.

How Biden is canceling student loan debt for millions

6m 31s

President Biden on Friday announced another $5 billion in student loan forgiveness for 74,000 borrowers. It’s the latest batch of student debt cancellations after the Supreme Court struck down his larger forgiveness plan last year. John Yang reports on Biden's efforts and speaks with Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, who covers the economics of higher education for The Washington Post, to learn more.

American doctor describes dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza

9m 10s

More than 60,000 Palestinians have been wounded during the Israeli air and ground campaigns. Nick Schifrin reports on the state of medical care in the warzone and speaks with Dr. Seema Jilani, an American doctor who just returned from Gaza. A warning, some of the images and descriptions in this story are disturbing.

Congress passes temporary funding bill to avert shutdown

5m 40s

Congress dodged a partial government shutdown with just one day to spare. A temporary funding bill passed with strong bipartisan support, but a long-term fix and tougher debates remain. Lisa Desjardins reports on what this means and what it doesn't.

News Wrap: Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood after war

4m 48s

In our news wrap Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed talk of Palestinian statehood after the Gaza war ends, the Hamas-run health ministry reported the Palestinian death toll has passed 24,600, the U.S. military hit Houthi rebels in Yemen for the fifth time and severe drought forced authorities to cut shipping traffic through the Panama Canal by 36 percent.

DOJ issues review of police response to Uvalde shooting

6m 31s

The Justice Department released a report on how law enforcement failed in its response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead. The nearly 600-page report lays out a series of “cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy, and training.” Geoff Bennett discussed the findings with Tony Plohetski of the Austin American-Statesman.

What's in the bill to expand the child tax credit

4m 21s

The federal child tax credit may soon be expanded as part of an effort by some lawmakers to ensure that more American families can access the benefit. If the proposal becomes law it would gradually increase the credit and allow lower-income families to receive a refundable tax credit for each child. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Sharon Parrott of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Health advocates press White House to ban menthol cigarettes

7m 16s

Activists and health advocates are pressing the Biden administration to ban menthol cigarettes ahead of an FDA deadline. Black community leaders and public health advocates marched toward the White House and staged a mock funeral for the 45,000 Black lives lost from tobacco-related illnesses each year. But there's a battle over whether the administration should enact a ban. Stephanie Sy reports.

Tourism industry responding to women drawn to solo travel

6m 30s

A majority of people traveling abroad alone these days are women, and demand for women-led tour groups is rising. Stephanie Sy takes a closer look at the reasons why women are drawn to solo travel and how the hospitality industry is taking notice.

Michele Norris discusses new book 'Our Hidden Conversations'

7m 50s

In 2010, journalist Michele Norris started “The Race Card Project.” She asked people around the world to send her a postcard, and in just six words, share their thoughts, questions, experiences and aspirations about identity and race. Geoff Bennett and Norris discussed the project and her new book, “Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity.”

Case involving a fish could curtail federal regulations

6m 34s

The Supreme Court heard arguments about whether a group of East Coast fishermen should be required to pay for a costly monitoring system on their boats. The fishermen are being supported by industry groups who want to curtail government regulation and the outcome could have enormous impacts far beyond the fishing industry. William Brangham discussed the case with Carrie Johnson of NPR.

Artist reflects on natural beauty with a knife and paper

7m 21s

Paper cutting is an art form that possibly dates back to the invention of paper itself in China around 2,000 years ago. Since then, many cultures have developed their own unique styles. Special correspondent Cat Wise visited an artist whose paper cutting reflects the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the lives of those who live there. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

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