PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2024 E324

57m 46s

Ohio voters work to bridge the widening partisan divide

13m 29s

On the heels of Independence Day celebrations across the country, most Americans feel the nation is more divided today than in the past, according to a recent YouGov poll. To find out why, Judy Woodruff sat down with a group of Republican and Democratic voters trying to bridge the partisan divide in northeastern Ohio. It's part of her series, America at a Crossroads.

Supreme Court limits how prisoners can challenge convictions

5m 30s

Amid the flurry of Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action, student loans and election law, the justices also handed down a decision on what seemed to be a rather technical question of law. It has big consequences for federal prisoners trying to challenge their convictions. John Yang discussed the case with Daniel Medwed, author of “Barred: Why the Innocent Can't Get Out of Prison.”

Skyrocketing cost of living threatens Austin's music scene

7m 1s

For more than a decade, the Austin area has been the fastest-growing large metro region in the country. That explosion has brought sweeping changes to the Texas capital and its renowned music scene. Laura Barrón-López reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Philadelphia DA on what can be done to curb gun violence

6m 11s

A mass shooting on the eve of the Fourth of July left five people dead in Philadelphia. It was just one of several U.S. cities that saw violence on the holiday. The suspect, 40-year-old Kimbrady Carriker, was arraigned Wednesday on a host of charges, including five counts of first-degree murder. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Israeli operation leaves Palestinian camp in shambles

5m 12s

After days of intense combat, Palestinians found the Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank in shambles. Israel's military operation, which it says targeted militants, laid waste to vast swaths of the camp. Twelve Palestinians were killed, including nine that militant groups claimed as their fighters, and one Israeli soldier died. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports.

Judge limits government contact with social media companies

11m 22s

Questions about information and misinformation spread on social media made their way to the federal courts. Several Republican state attorneys general argued the Biden administration went too far to suppress conservative views online. Amna Nawaz discussed the judge's ruling with Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill and Genevieve Lakier, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School.

"Spies" chronicles war of espionage between U.S. and Russia

7m 10s

For decades, the U.S. and Russia have been locked in a war of espionage and compelling new details about the stealth operations between the two countries are coming to light. Geoff Bennett asked author Calder Walton about those revelations in his new book, "Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East and West."

Many current U.S. leaders have slaveholding ancestors

7m 50s

Although America declared its independence in 1776, it would take nearly 90 years for those enslaved to obtain their freedom. And despite the abolishment of slavery 158 years ago, Reuters found some of the country's most powerful politicians today are descendants of slaveholders. Amna Nawaz spoke with editor Tom Lassiter about the report and his own family’s history with slavery.

Fourth of July celebrations marred by mass shootings

2m 16s

This Fourth of July has brought all of the annual festivities and fireworks. But it's all happening in the shadow of more mass shootings, including two Monday night in Philadelphia and Fort Worth, Texas. President Biden branded the attacks "tragic and senseless" and renewed his plea for new gun laws. Amna Nawaz reports.

How the American Revolution became a political tool

8m 5s

The American Revolution and the founding founders are two parts of U.S. history celebrated on July 4. But two centuries later, 1776 was a rallying cry for rioters disrupting a national election at the Capitol. It's an example of how the politics and rhetoric around the founding have become ideological tools and can eclipse the actual history involved. Lisa Desjardins reports.

A look at the Wagner Group's activities in Africa

6m 46s

More than a week after the failed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries in Russia, there are lingering questions about the future of the paramilitary group. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on gold companies suspected of funding the group’s activities, including in Africa, where thousands of Wagner fighters have been deployed since 2017. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Kimberly Marten.

Drug shortages make treatment decisions difficult

5m 53s

The U.S. is in the midst of an ongoing prescription drug shortage with more and more medication in short supply for longer stretches of time. Those medications include chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, ADHD medication and more. It’s making treatment decisions difficult for doctors and patients. Laura Barrón-López discussed the shortages with Erin Fox.

Podcast explores sugar industry's mistreatment of workers

6m 1s

Sugar plays an outsized role in what many eat every day with the average American consuming more than 100 pounds in a year, according to the USDA. The multi-billion dollar sugar business is the subject of the new podcast "Big Sugar." Stephanie Sy spoke with host Celeste Headlee about the industry's political power and the impact that's had on workers and public health.

A Brief But Spectacular take on knowing your power

3m 44s

Ben Sheehan is a comedian on a mission to educate the public on civics. A former executive producer in the entertainment industry, he took a pivot to politics when he realized how little people knew about how government works and he wrote the book "OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say?" Sheehan shares his Brief But Spectacular take on knowing your power.

The effort to ban hairstyle discrimination nationwide

4m 38s

CROWN Act Day is celebrated on July 3 in honor of the date when legislation prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture or style was first passed at the state level. NewsHour Communities correspondent in St. Louis Gabrielle Hays reports on what this means in her city.

Cases of malaria transmitted in U.S. prompt concerns

6m 57s

For the first time in 20 years, malaria has been locally transmitted within the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified five cases, four in Florida and one in Texas. William Brangham spoke with infectious disease epidemiologist Catherine Troisi about what we know and how concerned we should be.

Ohio faces votes that could decide abortion access

6m 21s

It's been a year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the nationwide right to abortion access. Since then, six states have voted on abortion-related ballot measures and in each case, voters have supported abortion rights. Laura Barrón-López discussed a new effort underway in Ohio with Dr. Lauren Beene, co-founder of Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights.

Israel launches largest attacks on West Bank in 20 years

7m 27s

Months of clashes between Israel and Palestinian militants have come to a head in the occupied West Bank. The heaviest fighting in years raged in Jenin, leaving at least eight Palestinians dead and dozens wounded. The surge in violence raises further concerns about a renewed uprising against Israel's occupation, settlers and right-wing government. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Josef Federman.

Katty Kay discusses book 'The Power Code' on women and power

6m 37s

"The Power Code" is a revealing look at women in leadership and how they view and use their power differently compared to their male counterparts. It's the latest collaboration from journalists Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. Amna Nawaz sat down with Kay to discuss the book.

Lebanon struggles to emerge from economic crisis, corruption

9m 16s

Lebanon has become, for all intents and purposes, a failed state. Its government is rife with corruption and unable to care for its people who suffer chronic and crushing poverty from economic mismanagement and a banking collapse. As special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports, the divide between the ruling class and everyone else grows by the day.

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