PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

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Watch Latest: S2024 E321

57m 46s

Life inside Gaza amid airstrikes and humanitarian crisis

5m 14s

Israel intensified its bombing of Gaza, launching 400 airstrikes Tuesday across the Palestinian territory. Foreign ministers from around the world met at the United Nations urging a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. With constant bombing and dwindling necessities, the crisis is only growing worse. Nick Schifrin reports on what life is like for the people facing the horrors of war.

Are Israel's military tactics abiding by the laws of war?

9m 41s

President Biden and the leaders of half a dozen European countries released a letter endorsing Israel’s right to defend itself but also called for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians. Nick Schifrin discussed those laws of war and whether they're being followed with Pnina Sharvit Baruch and Sari Bashi.

Jerusalem Youth Chorus performs 'Reason to Love'

1m 24s

Some international singers lent their talents to the virtual concert, “Voices of Peace in Times of War." The Jerusalem Youth Chorus, composed of Israeli and Palestinian singers, helped organize this after canceling its long-planned trip to the U.S. The group is intended to foster dialogue and empathy even in the worst of times.

'Romney: A Reckoning' explores fraught relationship with GOP

5m 47s

It wasn’t that long ago that Mitt Romney was the Republican presidential nominee. But today, the GOP he once led is dominated by Donald Trump. Romney shared his thoughts about the changes within the party and his own actions over his decades-long political career with journalist McKay Coppins. Lisa Desjardins sat down with Coppins to discuss his new book, "Romney: A Reckoning."

Israel-Hamas war causes college campus debate and protests

8m 2s

The attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians two weeks ago and the subsequent bombardment of Gaza by Israel has roiled college and university campuses across the country. Jeffrey Brown reports on how protests, backlashes and debates around free speech are reverberating on campus.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter the struggle to choose a speaker

7m 54s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including the potential political fallout of the House speaker's race and how it could affect U.S. aid for Israel and Ukraine.

Who are the 9 Republicans making a run for House speaker?

3m 26s

Nine Republicans are running to serve as House speaker after several failed votes and a weeks-long stalemate over the future of the chamber. The candidates are pitching their plan to unite a divided House Republican Conference in a closed-door forum. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Leigh Ann Caldwell of The Washington Post.

Israeli bombardment of Gaza persists amid calls for a pause

12m 34s

Hamas freed two more hostages, a pair of Israeli women, out of the 220 people believed to be held captive. Meanwhile, Israel's bombardment of Gaza continues and the health ministry there says more than 5,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel counts some 1,400 war dead. Leila Molana-Allen reports from Jerusalem. A warning: Images in this story are disturbing.

How faith groups are coming together during a time of war

7m 25s

The conflict in the Middle East has been a fraught subject for decades, including in the U.S., and especially within American Jewish and Muslim communities. And for almost as long, interfaith groups have sought to bring those communities together to find common ground. That doesn’t make witnessing and talking about the current war any easier. Ali Rogin reports.

What steps can be taken to secure U.S. elections

6m 28s

Last month, a group of election experts warned that American democracy is under great stress. Their report outlines 24 recommendations spanning law, media, politics and tech to protect American elections. Rick Hasen, the director of UCLA Law School's Safeguarding Democracy Project who convened the panel of experts that drafted that report, joins Lisa Desjardins to discuss.

A Brief But Spectacular take on Black women, sex and church

2m 57s

Deesha Philyaw is a writer whose debut short story collection, “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award. Her works touch on themes of race, sex, gender and pop culture. Philyaw shares her Brief But Spectacular take on Black women, sex and the Black church.

Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Syria

4m 38s

Prospects of a widening conflict in the Middle East grew on Sunday as the geography of the now two-week-old war expanded. Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria. This as the death toll is mounting with nearly 4,700 Palestinians and more than 1,400 Israelis now killed. Leila Leila Molana-Allen reports from Tel-Aviv.

Swim safety advocates aim to undo historic racial inequities

4m 49s

Learning how to swim is a rite of passage for many, but a surprising number of American children can’t swim. Part of that comes down to access and restrictions rooted in racism that have kept generations of swimmers out of pools. Isabella Jibilian of Rhode Island PBS reports.

Advice for talking with kids about the Israel-Hamas war

6m 12s

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, news and social media have been filled with horrific images and stories of civilians killed, wounded and taken hostage. This information can be especially tough for kids to digest. Duke University child psychologist Robin Gurwitch joins Yasmeen Alamiri to discuss how adults can talk about this difficult issue with kids.

UN aid chief hopes to increase flow of supplies to Gaza

6m 46s

Twenty trucks of humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, the first life-saving supplies to reach Gazans since the Israel-Hamas war began. Before the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, 450 trucks of aid arrived daily in Gaza. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths joins Lisa Desjardins to discuss what this new aid means for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Aid arrives in Gaza as Israel prepares to step up attacks

3m 53s

The first truckloads of supplies were allowed into Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, a small but significant aid delivery after nearly two weeks of war. Meanwhile, Israel’s military is vowing to increase its airstrikes against the Hamas-led territory and the possibility of an Israeli ground invasion still looms large. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports.

Michael Lewis on his controversial book on Sam Bankman-Fried

7m 11s

The man at the center of a major fraud trial in New York right now, Sam Bankman-Fried, is also the subject of a new book by the best-selling author Michael Lewis. Economics correspondent Paul Solman talked with him about “Going Infinite” and the reaction to a story that changed dramatically as he was writing it.

Darius Rucker reflects on his diverse and decorated career

8m 41s

Darius Rucker first achieved multi-platinum status with the band Hootie and the Blowfish, selling more than 25 million albums worldwide. As a solo artist, he's won big awards and just added more accolades to the list. Geoff Bennett caught up with him in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, to talk about his new album and outlook on life for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Brooks and Capehart on GOP struggle to elect House speaker

9m 53s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the search for a new speaker of the House and President Biden's plea for national security funding.

Palestinian in U.S. on struggle to contact family in Gaza

6m 19s

For many Palestinians living in the U.S., trying to reach loved ones in Gaza has become a constant and harrowing struggle. Dorgham Abusalim came to the United States in 2008 to pursue an academic scholarship and now works as a writer and communications professional. He spoke with Amna Nawaz about his family members who remain in the Gaza Strip and his fear for their safety.

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