PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

Millions of Americans turn to PBS for the solid, reliable reporting that has made PBS News Hour one of the most trusted news programs in television.

Watch Latest: S2025 E55

57m 46s

GOP Sen. Schmitt says 'FBI ripe for real reform'

7m 8s

While many Trump nominees have been confirmed at a break-neck speed, FBI director nominee Kash Patel will have to wait. Democrats on the Judiciary Committee forced a delay over objections to Patel’s plans to further purge agents from the FBI who investigated Jan. 6 and President Trump’s handling of classified documents. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri.

Engineers turn to beavers for insights into managing water

7m 39s

Beavers and the dams they build are not always embraced in the areas where they do their work. But there's a growing recognition that they also are building a kind of natural infrastructure that helps with water management and the climate. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien went to see the beavers at work during their busy season and has the story for our ongoing coverage of Tipping Points.

Deadline for federal workers to resign delayed by judge

3m 32s

Multiple judges have temporarily blocked efforts by President Trump to dramatically gut the federal government, and more lawsuits are yet to come. Laura Barrón-López reports on the latest.

Trump working to dismantle efforts to fight climate change

5m 53s

Among the many big moves taken by the Trump administration, boosting fossil fuel development has been a priority. In a series of actions, President Trump is following through on his promise not just to ramp up oil and gas production, but to sharply curtail any effort to deal with climate change. William Brangham reports.

News Wrap: Panama's president rejects U.S. canal fee claim

4m 38s

In our news wrap Thursday, Panama's president is pushing back on U.S. claims that a deal over transit fees for the Panama Canal was reached, the NCAA updated its transgender policy to limit women's competition to athletes who were assigned as female at birth and there are growing concerns over the spread of bird flu after dairy cattle in Nevada became infected with a new variant of the disease.

Funding freeze impacts community health, Head Start programs

6m 35s

A broad federal funding freeze announced by the Trump administration last week, and blocked by a pair of judges, is destabilizing a wide range of programs despite the court interventions. Some Community Health and Head Start programs have sporadically been blocked from funding, forcing some to shut down. Political correspondent Lisa Desjardins has been investigating what’s happening and reports.

Democracy advocate examines Trump changes to government

7m 22s

The first two weeks of the Trump administration have brought dramatic proposals and unprecedented changes to the government. Our new series, On Democracy, is taking a step back to look at big questions about the changing laws, institutions and norms. For our first interview, Amna Nawaz spoke with Barton Gellman, a longtime journalist and senior adviser at the Brennan Center for Justice.

'Poet of Havana' uses music to address pain of politics

9m 1s

As Cuba stands to become even more isolated, many Cubans continue to leave and those who stay remain cut off from family in the United States. Carlos Varela, a singer known as “The Poet of Havana,” has been addressing the pain politics causes. Jeffrey Brown reports from Havana for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Alton Brown brings humor to the page in 'Food for Thought'

9m 1s

Fusing cooking, chemistry and comedy, Alton Brown has made a name for himself as a TV host and Food Network fixture. His creative eye and quick wit captivated audiences of "Good Eats," "Cutthroat Kitchen” and “Iron Chef America.” Now, he brings that same humor to the page in his new book, “Food for Thought.” Geoff Bennett sat down with Brown to discuss more.

Resignation offer creates confusion for federal workers

9m 39s

More than two million civilian federal workers across the country are facing a deadline. They can either accept an offer from the Trump administration to resign and keep pay and benefits through September, or they can pass on the offer and take a gamble that they may be laid off soon. Lisa Desjardins reports on the latest and discusses the legality of the offer with attorney Michelle Bercovici.

Former USAID administrator on global impact of dismantling

8m 2s

The Trump administration is continuing to dismantle USAID, placing personnel on administrative leave globally. A post on the agency's website claims that travel back to the U.S. for staff stationed in other countries will be arranged and ends with a “thank you for your service.” Amna Nawaz discussed more with Andrew Natsios, the administrator for USAID during the George W. Bush administration.

News Wrap: Swedish police trying to find gunman's motive

4m 45s

In our news wrap Wednesday, police in Sweden are trying to figure out the motive of a gunman who carried out the deadliest mass shooting in the country's history, Argentina is withdrawing from the World Health Organization, the racial gap in maternal mortality rates widened last year and Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart Jr. died at 100.

Trump signs order banning trans athletes from women's sports

2m 23s

President Trump took his first meeting at the White House with a Democratic foe, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, with federal aid for wildfire-stricken communities hanging in the balance. And with more executive actions, Trump took steps to restrict transgender rights in sports. Amna Nawaz reports.

Protests erupt as Elon Musk moves to gut government agencies

6m 47s

The Trump administration is targeting agencies and slashing the federal workforce and one man is orchestrating it all, Elon Musk. The richest man in the world has been given access to critical systems across the federal government. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee attempted to subpoena Musk but were blocked by Republicans. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Mideast leaders reject Trump idea to take control of Gaza

10m 42s

Shockwaves continue to reverberate around the world following President Trump’s remarks about seizing control of Gaza and turning the war-ravaged area into a "Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump repeated his idea that two million Palestinians from Gaza should relocate to other countries. William Brangham discussed the reaction with Marwan Muasher of the Carnegie Endowment.

Sen. Johnson says Musk's USAID closure 'tip of the iceberg'

7m 58s

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services cleared the Senate Finance Committee with senators voting along party lines. It now heads to the full Senate for a final vote. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin sits on that committee and discussed the hearings with Geoff Bennett.

China responds to Trump with retaliatory tariffs

4m 16s

President Trump continued to push his agenda on tariffs and immigration. China responded to Trump’s sweeping tariffs with counter-tariffs on certain American imports and an antitrust investigation into Google. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration would consider an offer from El Salvador to accept deportees from the U.S. of any nationality. Amna Nawaz reports.

News Wrap: Around 10 people killed in shooting in Sweden

5m 33s

In our news wrap Tuesday, a gunman opened fire and killed about 10 people at an education center for adults in Sweden, crews recovered the remains of all 67 victims from last week's aircraft collision in Washington, Maryland officials unveiled the redesign of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and the UN is warning that Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid could lead to a nuclear accident.

Committees clear path for Gabbard, RFK Jr. confirmations

5m 44s

Two of President Trump’s most embattled nominees cleared major hurdles on their paths to confirmation. The Senate Finance Committee voted along party lines to send Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead Health and Human Services to the full Senate and the Senate Intelligence Committee advanced Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Netanyahu 'an impediment’ to release, hostage's niece says

7m 51s

On Saturday, American Keith Siegel was brought on stage in Gaza City and paraded in front of a crowd and quickly escorted away. He had been held hostage by Hamas for 484 days. Siegel and his wife were kidnapped from their home during the Oct. 7 attacks. Aviva Siegel was released in November of 2023 during a week-long ceasefire. Amna Nawaz discussed the release with Keith Siegel’s niece, Hanna.

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