PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 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: S2024 E323

26m 45s

News Wrap: Irish singer Sinead O'Connor dies at 56

4m 53s

In our news wrap Wednesday, Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor has died at the age of 56, interest rates are headed higher again as the Federal Reserve resumes its fight with inflation, a jury in London acquitted actor Kevin Spacey on multiple charges of sexual assault and seven major car companies announced plans to build electric vehicle charging stations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Turmoil in Israel prompts new calls for U.S. to cut off bill

9m 14s

Israel’s current political turmoil, driven by the most far-right government in that nation’s history, has renewed the debate over America’s financial assistance to that country. The U.S. has been a supporter of Israel since its creation in 1948. William Brangham discussed the calls to change that with Daniel Kurtzer and Dennis Ross.

How the Fed uses higher interest rates to tame inflation

5m 32s

Interest rates are headed higher again, as the Federal Reserve resumes its fight with inflation. That effort is almost a year-and-a-half old now. At the same time, Fed Chair Jay Powell wants to tame inflation without tipping the economy into a recession. Economics correspondent Paul Solman breaks down the thinking behind the Fed's moves.

Biden adviser on pressuring insurers to cover mental health

6m 31s

President Biden has been hitting the road to sell his economic record, emphasizing pocketbook and consumer issues, including a new rule to crack down on insurers for inadequate coverage of mental health care. But his agenda also faces headwinds. William Brangham discussed some of those challenges with Neera Tanden, the White House domestic policy adviser.

Record high water temperatures bleach Florida coral reefs

5m 28s

As heat waves roll across so much of the world, oceans are also heating up with surface temperatures breaking records. Off the coast of southern Florida, surface water temperatures have topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit, triggering a massive bleaching event of some coral reefs. William Brangham discussed what's happening with NOAA researcher Katey Lesneski.

What's next for Hunter Biden's case after plea deal unravels

7m 27s

A plea agreement that would have kept Hunter Biden out of prison for tax and gun charges was unexpectedly put on hold, adding new questions to an already politically divisive deal. GOP attacks on President Biden and his son will almost certainly ramp up in the aftermath, which left Hunter Biden’s legal future unresolved. Laura Barrón-López discussed the developments with Glenn Thrush.

A look inside Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia

8m 45s

The fighting and dying continue along the 900-mile-long frontline in eastern and southern Ukraine. Russia has put up resistance to the Ukrainian counteroffensive with minefields, heavy artillery and rocket barrages slowing progress. Special correspondent Jack Hewson and filmmaker Ed Ram report with support from the Pulitzer Center. A warning: the accounts and images in this story are disturbing.

Vivek Ramaswamy says he plans to push Trump's agenda forward

7m 57s

In the crowded race for the Republican presidential nomination, there are governors, a senator and even a former president. Then there’s Vivek Ramaswamy, a first-time candidate who has spent millions of his own money to capture the attention of GOP voters and he's polling higher than many of his competitors who have more political experience. Ramaswamy discussed his campaign with Lisa Desjardins.

Steph Curry on his career and new documentary 'Underrated'

8m 41s

A new documentary gives insight into what turned NBA superstar Steph Curry into the generational game changer he is. With seemingly unlimited range, he has transformed how modern basketball is played. Geoff Bennett sat down with Curry and producer Ryan Coogler to discuss the film "Stephen Curry: Underrated" for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

News Wrap: Plane fighting Greek wildfires crashes, killing 2

6m 54s

In our news wrap Tuesday, wildfires raged on across southern Greece and the tragedy deepened when a tanker plane crashed and killed two pilots, backlash in Israel grew over the vote to weaken the country's supreme court, Russia rejected new calls from the United Nations to reinstate the Black Sea grain deal and UPS reached a tentative deal with the Teamsters likely averting a crippling strike.

Biden designates new national monument to Emmett Till

7m 30s

A new national monument dedicated to the murdered teenager Emmett Till and his mother honors three sites critical to Till's story, and central to the birth of America's civil rights movement. The announcement comes in the middle of a heated debate over how best to teach children about race and American history. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Human-caused climate change factor in heat waves, study says

6m 27s

A new analysis finds the brutal heat waves the world has experienced over the past month would be virtually impossible without the impact of human-caused climate change. It comes from an international group of researchers that are part of an initiative known as the World Weather Attribution. William Brangham discussed the assessment with meteorologist Bernadette Woods Placky of Climate Central.

Texas refuses to remove floating barriers in Rio Grande

6m 2s

Several legal fights are brewing over migration across the U.S.-Mexico border. A federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to limit asylum seekers after several immigrant-rights groups argued the policy was unfair, and the Department of Justice sued Texas for putting floating barriers on the Rio Grande to deter people from crossing. William Brangham discusses more with Uriel Garcia.

Impact of Israeli plan to overhaul judicial system

10m 59s

Israel is in an uproar after the country's parliament backed a controversial plan to overhaul the judicial system by passing a law that weakens the powers of the courts. The measure has divided that nation, sparked mass protests and drawn rare criticism from the White House. Stephanie Sy reports on the reaction and Geoff Bennett discusses the plan's impact with Yohan Plesner.

Success of 'Barbie' film adds to doll's cultural legacy

8m 55s

Barbie. The one name conjures up feelings for many generations of women and men across the world. The plastic wonder is now featured in a new film raking in about $155 million this past weekend, making it the highest opening of 2023. Jeffrey Brown looks at the global phenomenon and what it all may mean for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

How college admissions practices benefit richest applicants

6m 39s

A study shows how college admissions practices benefit the richest applicants. Opportunity Insights, a group of Harvard economists, analyzed data from 12 of the country’s top colleges from 1999 to 2015. They found that among students with the same test scores, applicants with families in the top one percent were 34 percent more likely to be accepted. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Raj Chetty.

UPS, workers resume negotiations before strike deadline

7m 45s

Next week, the contract between 340,000 unionized workers and UPS expires. Workers authorized a strike and say they are ready to walk if the Teamsters and UPS can’t reach a deal. The labor dispute could lead to the largest strike in U.S. history against a single employer and cause massive disruption in the shipping industry and beyond. Stephanie Sy reports on how the battle lines are being drawn.

Larry Hogan on possible third-party presidential ticket

7m 40s

The bipartisan organization No Labels is considering a third-party presidential ticket. That’s sparked concern among Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans that a moderate ticket could peel votes from Joe Biden and put Donald Trump back in the White House. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Larry Hogan, the former Republican governor of Maryland who's now a national co-chair of No Labels.

Most young Americans support stricter gun laws, survey shows

6m 53s

A new survey of people between the ages of 14 and 30 is believed to be the first of its kind to explore young Americans' attitudes on guns. It comes as gun violence has killed more than 24,000 people in the U.S. this year. Cynthia Miller Idriss of American University's Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab joined Laura Barrón-López to discuss the results of the study.

What Spain’s election means for far-right politics in Europe

5m 55s

Polls in Spain are closed and votes are being counted in a general snap election that could see the far-right return to power for the first time in nearly 50 years. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the early election after suffering big losses in local and regional elections in May. Bonnie Field, a political science professor at Bentley University, joins John Yang to discuss.

Supported by