PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch: S2025 E35

57m 46s

U.S. military services musicians perform 'Jingle Bells'

2m 54s

This Christmas Eve, we continue a tradition we started a few years ago with members of the U.S. military presenting a holiday song. This year, musicians from the military services perform the Christmas classic "Jingle Bells." This video was produced by the Pentagon's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

Must-see Hollywood hits in 2024 and a few lesser-known gems

9m 9s

The holidays are a great time to catch up on the year’s best films, whether streaming at home or heading to the theater. To highlight some of the best movies of the year, Jeffrey Brown sat down with two film critics who shared their top picks. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

A look at the origins of NORAD's Santa tracker

3m 1s

During the Cold War, Air Force Col. Harry Shoup was one of the commanders in charge of an early warning radar system based in Colorado. It had been set up to detect a possible soviet missile attack on the United States. In this animated conversation from our colleagues at StoryCorps, three of Shoup's children recall a surprising phone call their dad received back in 1955.

Mass graves in Syria shed light on Assad regime's brutality

8m 35s

With the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the scale of his regime's mass killings and executions are coming to light more and more each day. The United Nations said this week the new Syrian government was receptive to receiving help gathering evidence and prosecuting individuals responsible for war crimes. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports.

Concerns swirl over impact of wind farms on fishing industry

8m 52s

With the growth of offshore wind farms there are many questions surrounding their impact. In the second of two stories about what researchers are finding, science correspondent Miles O'Brien takes us to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where local officials are trying to strike a balance between greener, renewable energy and a potential impact on the critical fishing industry in that region.

New FDA rules aim to redefine what's considered 'healthy'

5m 59s

The Food and Drug Administration has issued new rules for food labels for the first time in three decades, an update the agency says will help empower consumers to make healthier choices in the grocery store. Lindsey Smith Taillie, a nutrition epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, joins William Brangham to discuss the changes.

House report on Matt Gaetz alleges rampant illegalities

4m 25s

A highly-anticipated House Ethics Committee report details a litany of allegations against Matt Gaetz, the former Republican Florida representative. Prosecutors previously declined to charge him, but Gaetz’ former peers found evidence that he paid several young women for sex -- including an underage girl -– and partook in drug-fueled sex parties. Lisa Desjardins joins William Brangham to discuss.

Candy Cane Lane lights up St. Louis

2m 37s

For more than 20 years, one street in St. Louis, Missouri gets transformed every holiday season into a show of lights. But behind the sparkle of Candy Cane Lane there is an underlying motivation, demonstrating what many believe is the true meaning of Christmas. New Hour's Community correspondent Gabrielle Hays explains.

Arturo Sandoval on falling in love with music

9m 33s

Famed musician Arturo Sandoval was among those celebrated at the 47th Kennedy Center honors in early December. But as a young boy in Cuba, Sandoval's rise to the top of the music world was inconceivable. He has now won 10 Grammy awards and performed the world over. Geoff Bennett met up with Sandoval to talk about a life filled with music. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

News Wrap: Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to CEO's murder

4m 26s

In our news wrap Monday, the man accused of gunning down the head of United Health Care pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of murder, former President Bill Clinton is hospitalized in Washington, D.C. after developing a fever, automakers Nissan and Honda announce plans for a merger, and a man is facing murder and arson charges for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train.

Why Biden commuted the sentences of 37 people on death row

5m 29s

President Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 prisoners on federal death row who will stay in prison for life but will not be subject to executions. Biden's move is likely motivated by the incoming Trump administration's expected hard line policy shift on federal executions. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, joins William Brangham to discuss.

Researchers race to answer questions about wind energy

8m 49s

The Biden administration just approved a wind farm project off the coast of Massachusetts. It's the eleventh commercial-scale wind project of its kind to get approval and comes at a key moment for the sector, as President-elect Trump, a frequent critic, prepares to take office. Miles O'Brien reports.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Biden's moves, GOP's fissures

8m 27s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join William Brangham to discuss the latest political news, including President Biden's big decisions with just weeks left in office and how a funding fight reveals potential cracks in the GOP as Republicans prepare to take power.

China's adoption ban leaves children and families in limbo

9m 22s

China’s announcement in September that it was ending international adoptions was a crushing blow for families awaiting the arrival of their adopted children. The policy change has now left more than 270 American families in limbo, unsure of where their adoption journey will lead. Stephanie Sy reports.

How to keep your package deliveries safe from porch pirates

6m 34s

With Christmas and the beginning of Hanukkah just days away, many online shoppers are having last-minute gifts delivered to their homes. While it can be more convenient than brick and mortar stores, it also offers an easy target for criminals. Ali Rogin speaks with safety reporter Rebecca Edwards about how you can protect the items on your wishlist this year.

The painful toll of family estrangement during the holidays

9m 37s

The picture-perfect image of happy families at holiday gatherings isn’t reality for everyone. According to a Harris poll conducted in November, about 18 percent of those surveyed said they had only limited interactions with their immediate family. Some of our viewers share their stories of alienation from family, and John Yang speaks with family therapist Whitney Goodman for advice.

Seasonal vendors bring Christmas trees to NYC sidewalks

5m 2s

Every year, the smell of spruce around New York City announces the arrival of as many as 200,000 Christmas trees. The seasonal workers who sell those trees often live in on-site trailers, vans and even plywood shacks. We hear from one group of Christmas tree sellers at their sidewalk market in Brooklyn.

Major takeaways from the chaotic funding deal in Congress

4m 52s

President Biden on Saturday signed the spending bill that prevented a government shutdown, ending days of chaos that saw President-elect Trump clashing with House members of his own party. Congressional approval of the bipartisan deal came just past the midnight deadline, with lawmakers refusing Trump’s core demand to raise the nation’s debt limit. John Yang speaks with Lisa Desjardins for more.

Middle East crisis leave millions of children in dire need

7m 3s

As the humanitarian crisis affecting children in Gaza continues to deepen, UNICEF says there’s also a great need in Lebanon and Syria. John Yang speaks with UNICEF spokesman James Elder about what he saw on a recent trip to the region.

Warming planet threatens tiny deer in the Florida Keys

4m

A type of white-tailed deer unique to the Florida Keys has been on the endangered species list for nearly 60 years. Only about 800 Key deer remain, and their habitat is under growing threat from rising sea levels. William Brangham reports for our series, “Saving Species.”

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