PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch: S2025 E36

57m 46s

Why decades-old PFAS is still contaminating Michigan waters

8m 20s

The Defense Department missed a deadline this fall to stop using a toxic firefighting foam that has caused widespread contamination across the country. In the small town of Oscoda, Michigan, a group of citizens has been fighting to hold the Air Force accountable for polluting their waterways. Special correspondent Megan Thompson reports in the first of a two-part series.

What Trump’s picks mean for the future of U.S. health policy

6m 22s

Trump has made his picks for key public health roles in his administration, nominating family medicine doctor and Fox News contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to be the next surgeon general, Johns Hopkins surgeon Dr. Marty Makary to lead the FDA, and former Florida congressman Dr. Dave Weldon as director of the CDC. Politico reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein joins Laura Barrón-López to discuss.

The long-term effects of major storms on kids’ mental health

5m 58s

It’s been nearly two months since Hurricane Helene devastated communities across the Southeast. Experts say the storm’s effect on children might last for years to come. Ali Rogin speaks with Lori Peek, director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, to learn more.

Examining the record of Pam Bondi, Trump's new pick for AG

5m 53s

President-elect Donald Trump’s new pick to lead his administration’s Department of Justice is receiving a much warmer reception on Capitol Hill and within his party. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's nomination came just hours after his first choice – scandal-plagued former Congressman Matt Gaetz – withdrew his name from consideration. Laura Barron Lopez has more on Bondi’s background.

Leguizamo aims to remedy Broadway' lack of Latino stories

7m 20s

John Leguizamo has appeared in more than 100 films while also telling a distinctly Latino story in documentaries, one-man shows and now, full-scale dramas. Jeffrey Brown met him recently at the arena stage in Washington to talk about his latest work, his larger goals and his response to the recent election. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

New course work in Texas schools to include Bible passages

5m 49s

Texas school board officials have approved new course materials that schools are incentivized to incorporate into their classrooms. Called “Bluebonnet Learning,” parts of these materials include religious lessons that critics say undermine religious freedom, and could isolate non-Christian students. William Brangham explores the issue with Texas Tribune education reporter Jaden Edison.

The scope and potential pitfalls of Trump's spending cuts

6m 15s

Among President-elect Trump’s promises for his second term is a pledge to slash federal spending. He appointed Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech company founder, to run an advisory commission. This week, the pair said they’re aiming to cut $500 million in annual spending, but there are big questions about that. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Maya MacGuineas.

Brooks and Capehart on Trump’s anti-institutionalist Cabinet

10m 30s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including President-elect Trump's initial pick to serve as attorney general backs out of consideration and other controversies surrounding Trump’s potential Cabinet.

Boys forced into gangs, girls face sexual abuse in Haiti

10m 17s

Gang warfare in Haiti has displaced about 700,000 people, more than half of them are children. The fighting has sent poverty and hunger skyrocketing and children are caught between the gangs and their tenuous futures. Special correspondent Marcia Biggs and videographer Eric O'Connor report. A warning, accounts of abuse and sexual violence in this story may disturb viewers.

Gaetz ends AG bid amid sex trafficking allegations

5m 33s

Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from the running as Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general. Sexual misconduct allegations against Gaetz fueled intense scrutiny, threatening his chances of being confirmed. Laura Barrón-López reports.

World’s top war crimes court issues warrants for Netanyahu

5m 11s

The world’s top war crimes court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court said they committed crimes against humanity for intentionally depriving Gazans of food and directing attacks against civilians. Israel called it an anti-semitic attack on democracies trying to defend themselves from terrorism. Nick Schifrin reports.

Sen. Brown says Democrats must focus on workers to win

10m 20s

With Republicans winning the White House and both chambers of Congress, there's been much discussion within the Democratic Party about what went wrong and what it should do to win back voters. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio is one of the incumbents who came up short this year and has argued the party needs to do more to champion the issues of the working class. He joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.

Trump team defies norms of presidential transfers of power

5m 48s

As President-elect Trump prepares for a return to the White House, the aides and allies running his transition team have avoided many of the rules guiding the process. So far, the transition has not collaborated with the General Services Administration, the government agency tasked with handing power from one administration to the next. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Max Stier.

Feds push Google to sell Chrome to break search monopoly

7m 19s

The Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell off its popular web browser, Chrome. It comes after an antitrust case this past summer that found Google had illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. William Brangham discussed the potential impacts both for the company and the internet with Bobby Allyn of NPR.

Osprey crash victims' families question its safety

10m 28s

The Osprey aircraft was grounded for three months across the military after a crash in Japan last November killed all eight airmen on board. That crash was the fourth by an Osprey in the last two years. The military says it mitigated the problem that caused these accidents, but families of those killed are not convinced. Nick Schifrin and producer Dan Sagalyn have the story.

Ethics Committee fails to agree on releasing Gaetz findings

5m 5s

President elect-Trump's controversial pick for attorney general, former Congressman Matt Gaetz, met with Republican senators on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The meetings come amid mounting pressure on the House Ethics Committee to release a report looking into several allegations against Gaetz, including sexual misconduct. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Claudia Grisales of NPR.

Ethics committee member says Senate needs Gaetz information

5m 36s

The House Ethics Committee largely operates in secret. Democrats and Republicans are equally represented on the panel regardless of which party is in power. They conduct investigations behind closed doors and generally avoid sharing details outside of finalized reports. The probe of former Rep. Gaetz is straining those norms. Amna Nawaz discussed more with committee member Rep. Mark DeSaulnier.

What McMahon is likely to prioritize as education secretary

6m 32s

President-elect Trump’s pick of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education is already raising alarm bells among critics who feel the role should go to someone with more experience in education. But it has also been met with praise by supporters of parental rights and school choice. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Jon Valant of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution.

How gang warfare in Haiti has devastated daily life

10m 11s

Despite a UN-approved security mission that deployed in June to try and restore some order, large swaths of the country remain under gang control and violence is endemic. Special Correspondent Marcia Biggs and videographer Eric O'Connor traveled there for a look at the depth of the crisis.

Transgender Americans share concerns about rights rollback

10m 16s

President-elect Trump made rolling back transgender rights a key issue in his campaign. He promised to limit access to gender-affirming care and to prevent trans athletes from participating in school sports. His election has communities of trans people and allies fearful of widespread discrimination and a loss of health care access. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Orion Rummler of The 19th.

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