PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch: S2024 E326

57m 46s

Why experts are concerned about RFK Jr.'s HHS nomination

7m 27s

President-elect Trump’s decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services is sparking concern. There are worries too about his history of false statements and beliefs in debunked conspiracy theories. At the same time, he’s pushing hard on some major problems that experts say are real. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina.

What the polling got right and wrong in the election

5m 45s

Donald Trump is likely to be the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote in the last 20 years. Pre-election polls have consistently underestimated his support since he first ran eight years ago. That’s left some folks spending the last week trying to figure out what happened. Geoff Bennett and NPR’s Domenico Montanaro discussed what the polls got right and what they missed.

Ruby slippers stolen in museum heist now up for auction

6m 54s

If you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of Hollywood history, now’s your chance. A pair of Dorothy's ruby slippers are up for auction and just like Dorothy, this pair of shoes has been on its own long and very strange journey. Special Correspondent Megan Thompson reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Women face prosecution for what they do while pregnant

8m 32s

In the first year after the Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion, 210 women faced charges for behavior related to pregnancy, abortion, pregnancy loss or birth. The decision emboldened prosecutors to develop aggressive strategies to charge and imprison pregnant women and mothers. But even prior to the overturning of Roe, hundreds of women faced such charges. Sarah Varney reports.

News Wrap: Syrian media says Israeli strikes killed 15

6m 15s

In our news wrap Thursday, Syrian state media says Israel carried out two airstrikes killing at least 15 people near Damascus, suicides within the U.S. military increased last year continuing a long-term trend, New Jersey declared a drought warning as parts of the northeast see the driest conditions experienced in nearly 120 years and the Pentagon poured cold water on reports of alien sightings.

U.S. Marines reflect on battle for Fallujah 20 years later

9m 2s

Twenty years ago this month, U.S. Marines began fighting the largest urban battle since the Vietnam War. More than 12,000 American, British and Iraqi troops fought for Fallujah, which had become an insurgent stronghold. In collaboration with The War Horse, Nick Schifrin spent time with the Marines who still remember and feel that battle like it was yesterday.

Trump selects RFK Jr. to lead nation's health agency

6m 39s

President-elect Trump continues to name nominees to his cabinet and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy was first a Democratic then independent candidate in the 2024 election before dropping out and endorsing Trump. He's also an anti-vaccine activist and has pushed several conspiracies about the COVID-19 virus. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Republicans secure control of House and Senate

5m 23s

House Republicans will maintain their hold on the lower chamber next year, giving the GOP a political trifecta in Washington, controlling both chambers of Congress and the presidency come January. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Jeffries says Democrats must 'address economic challenges'

9m 1s

Plans for Trump’s return to Washington, and the Republican Party’s return to power, are well underway. But for Democrats in the minority, the path forward is not as clear. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is the House Democratic leader and the author of the new children’s book, "The ABCs of Democracy." Jeffries joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.

Why Trump's nomination of Gabbard is controversial

6m 2s

If confirmed as Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard would oversee 18 intelligence organizations including the CIA and NSA. Her nomination could set off a fight since Gabbard has no intelligence experience and is accused of defending dictators and parroting disinformation. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Michael Leiter, former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center.

Trump to nominate loyalist Matt Gaetz as attorney general

5m 10s

President-elect Trump nominated one of his most prominent loyalists in Congress to lead the Department of Justice. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is the former president’s pick to serve as the nation’s top prosecutor. The right-wing firebrand is well known for leading efforts to oust former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Carrie Johnson of NPR.

Trump returns to D.C. as Senate Republicans choose leader

8m 20s

President-elect Trump took a victory lap in the nation’s capital, bouncing from meetings with House Republicans to President Biden in the Oval Office. It comes as critical roles are being filled, from more members of Trump’s cabinet to new leaders in the Senate. Lisa Desjardins reports.

What Biden and Trump discussed during White House meeting

4m 4s

President Biden hosted President-elect Trump at the White House for nearly two hours on Wednesday, a familiar ritual in the peaceful handoff of power. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports on the transition meeting.

Democratic governors leading efforts to 'protect democracy'

8m 37s

Donald Trump isn’t the only one preparing for his return to the White House. Several Democratic governors are uniting, they say, to protect democracy at the state level during Trump’s second term in office. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced the launch of Governors Safeguarding Democracy. Pritzker joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.

News Wrap: Blinken pledges to rush aid to Ukraine

5m 13s

In our news wrap Wednesday, Secretary of State Blinken pledged to rush aid to Ukraine in the Biden administration's final months, a U.S. government employee has been charged with leaking classified information about Israel's plans to attack Iran, the FBI revealed Chinese affiliated actors targeted telecommunications companies and drug overdose deaths appear to be showing a sustained decline.

How Hegseth could reshape the Defense Department under Trump

6m 57s

For perspective on President-elect Trump's pick of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, Nick Schifrin spoke with James McPherson. He served as under secretary of the Army and as the Army's general council during the first Trump administration. He also had a 25-year career in the Navy and served as that service's top lawyer in uniform.

Foreign policy nominees signal direction of Trump’s plans

4m 54s

President-elect Trump announced his picks to lead the bulk of the expansive, American security and diplomatic apparatus. A senator, a soldier-turned-television host and a former member of Congress have been chosen by Donald Trump to lead, respectively, the State Department, the Defense Department and the Directorate of National Intelligence. Nick Schifrin reports.

Exploring why more Latinos voted for Trump and what it means

7m 11s

While a majority of Black and Latino voters turned out for Vice President Kamala Harris this election, President-elect Donald Trump made significant inroads with both groups. Voter surveys from the Associated Press show Trump won 43 percent of the overall Latino vote, an eight-point increase from 2020. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Pastor Samuel Rodriguez.

How Iranians are reacting Trump's election

6m 45s

With President-elect Trump's national security team coming into focus, one priority will be confronting and increasing pressure on Iran. So how does that look and feel to ordinary Iranians? Special Correspondent Reza Sayah in Tehran has been speaking with people there and sent us this report.

Congressman-elect Bresnahan on flipping Democratic district

5m 6s

Newly-elected House members won’t take their seats until January but they are on Capitol Hill this week for congressional orientation. Republican Congressman-elect Rob Bresnahan is among them. He flipped his district in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania from blue to red. Bresnahan joined Geoff Bennett to discuss more.

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