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 E331

56m 45s

Ninth grader helps restore Mississippi’s oyster reefs

4m 17s

In the past two decades, the oyster population in Mississippi’s Gulf waters has been devastated by both natural and manmade disasters. Among those working to restore oyster habitats is ninth grader Demi Johnson, who was recently recognized by the National Geographic Society for growing more than 1,000 oysters, which are likely to spawn millions more. John Yang speaks with Johnson about her work.

Why little is known about what causes many miscarriages

4m 4s

Every year, about 1 million pregnancies in the U.S. end in a miscarriage. In as many as half those cases, doctors are at a loss to explain why, and experts say stigma and shame are hampering efforts to learn about what causes miscarriages. PBS News Hour’s Courtney Norris reports.

How to reduce the number of teens aging out of foster care

5m 7s

More than 400,000 children in the U.S. are living in foster care. Each year, nearly 20,000 become adults and are left without the support of a guardian or the government. John Yang speaks with Darcy Olsen, CEO of the Center for the Rights of Abused Children, about a pilot project in Arizona designed to help teenagers in foster care find safe and permanent homes before they age out of the system.

Bowel cancer is on the rise. How immunotherapy could help

6m 8s

Bowel cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, killing nearly 1 million people per year, and cases of colorectal cancer have been on the rise. But there are glimmers of hope after two studies found that using immunotherapy drugs before surgery dramatically increased the chance of curing bowel cancer in certain patients. John Yang speaks with Dr. Vikram Reddy to learn more.

The big environmental costs of big data for the internet

6m 27s

The rise of artificial intelligence is requiring faster and bigger computations for even simple tasks compared to, say, a Google search. It’s adding to the demand for more internet data centers, but these facilities come at a big environmental cost, especially for the communities that host them. Science journalist Sachi Kitajima Mulkey joins Ali Rogin to discuss.

Why Austin renters are struggling to find affordable housing

6m 36s

Rents nationwide have cooled from historic highs, according to the latest inflation figures. Austin, Texas, is one of the places where rents are showing a downward trend, but lower-income families say their rents are often staying the same or even increasing. Blair Waltman-Alexin of Austin PBS reports.

India's Muslims face discrimination after Modi's win

8m 47s

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a third term, but his party lost its majority in parliament. Modi portrays himself as a strong leader of a rising nation, but his ten years in office have been marked by a fierce crackdown on dissent and India's ethnic and religious minorities. Zeba Warsi reports with support from the Unity Productions Foundation.

The summer movies likely to sizzle at the box office

7m 50s

It’s officially summer, which means it’s a great time to go to the movies. This season had a slow box office start with “Furiosa" and “The Fall Guy'' underperforming expectations. Jeffrey Brown looks ahead with Aisha Harris of NPR and Mark Olson of the Los Angeles Times. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

News Wrap: EU sets membership talks for Ukraine, Moldova

6m 10s

In our news wrap Friday, the European Union set a date to begin membership talks for Ukraine and Moldova, health officials in Gaza say Israeli airstrikes on tent camps near Rafah killed at least 25, reports in China say at least 47 people have died amid catastrophic flooding and landslides and the FDA approved the first menthol-flavored electronic cigarettes for adult smokers.

British journalist backs out of top Washington Post job

5m 49s

There's more turbulence in the top rungs of one of the nation’s leading media outlets. The Washington Post is again looking for a top editor after Robert Winnett, the British journalist set to take the position, withdrew. It comes after a year marked by staff cuts, a high-profile resignation and mounting red ink. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with former Post columnist Margaret Sullivan.

Presidential campaigns, super PACs receive massive donations

5m 43s

The 2024 campaign was already shaping up to be the most expensive election of all time, but now several high-profile billionaires are dumping massive amounts of money into the presidential race. Laura Barrón-López discussed where the money is coming from and where it’s being spent with Anna Massoglia, the editorial and investigations manager at Open Secrets.

Ban on domestic violence abusers owning guns upheld

7m 4s

The Supreme Court handed down a major victory for gun control advocates, ruling that domestic abusers can be barred from owning guns. In an 8-1 decision, the court rejected a 2nd Amendment challenge to the federal law that makes it illegal for people with domestic violence restraining orders to possess firearms. William Brangham discussed the case with News Hour Supreme Court analyst Marcia Coyle.

Brooks and Capehart on Biden's immigration order

10m 46s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join William Brangham to discuss the week in politics, including a Supreme Court ruling over access to guns, President Biden's latest order protecting migrants and Donald Trump's mixed messages on immigration.

How Scotch whisky producers are aiming to go carbon neutral

6m 32s

The UK became the first country to set a deadline to become a carbon-neutral economy with zero emissions of greenhouse gasses. Britain’s target is 2050. Scotland’s is even earlier, by 2045. Fred de Sam Lazaro looks at the effort of the industry responsible for Scotland’s best-known export.

News Wrap: Putin sign deals with Vietnam to bolster support

8m 13s

In our news wrap Thursday, Vladimir Putin signed deals with Vietnam during his trip to bolster support in Asia, the trial of a Russian American woman accused of treason began in Moscow, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is set to be the next NATO Secretary General and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced sanctions against Mexican drug cartel members in a push to address the opioid crisis.

Our critics pick their favorite new books for the summer

8m 5s

Whether you’re on vacation at the beach or find yourself with a little more time for reading, summer is always a good time to pick up a new book. Jeffrey Brown has recommendations from two News Hour regulars for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

New Mexico's 'Earthships' offer unique living off the grid

7m 6s

This summer’s extreme heat and the demand for air conditioning are putting a big strain on the electricity grid in many parts of the nation. But for more than 40 years, a pioneering architect in New Mexico has been building a unique kind of home that can be heated and cooled without using any electricity at all. Special Correspondent Megan Thompson reports.

Louisiana law raises separation of church and state concerns

6m 28s

Louisiana will now require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom. Similar bills have been proposed in Texas, Oklahoma and Utah, raising questions about the constitutional separation of church and state. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Charles Haynes of the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation promoting First Amendment freedoms.

Netanyahu faces doubts from IDF leaders over war in Gaza

7m 29s

A diplomatic spat between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Biden administration comes amid tensions between Netanyahu and his own military. The Israel Defense Force’s top spokesman made public the military’s concerns about Netanyahu’s claim that Hamas can be destroyed. Nick Schifrin discussed the criticism and how it plays into the strains between Netanyahu and Biden with Laura Blumenfeld.

Right-wing disinformation fuels election conspiracy theories

7m 31s

It’s been more than three years since baseless claims about the 2020 election inspired an attack on the Capitol, but the lies haven’t stopped. With less than five months until November, Donald Trump is at it again with help from right-wing media. Laura Barrón-López discusses the conspiracy theories and their impact with David Becker of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research.

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