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 E368

57m 46s

"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.

'Central Park Five' member on his historic city council race

6m 52s

In 1989, Yusef Salaam was one of five teenagers arrested and wrongly imprisoned after the brutal rape of a jogger in New York’s Central Park. They were exonerated in 2002 when DNA evidence linked another person to the crime. Now, some three decades later, Salaam has declared victory in a race for a New York City Council seat. Salaam joined Geoff Bennett to discuss the win.

The biggest takeaways from the Supreme Court’s latest term

7m 21s

The U.S. Supreme Court ended its term this past week with the six conservative justices again flexing their supermajority to make big changes in law and society. Marcia Coyle, the PBS NewsHour’s Supreme Court analyst, joins John Yang to discuss how the new court is shaping up and what its most recent term can tell us about its future.

The environmental and human costs of fast fashion

6m 38s

The fast fashion industry is valued at over $100 billion, producing affordable, trendy clothes that are popular with young consumers. But the industry is under scrutiny for poor working conditions and using cheap textiles that quickly end up in landfills. Journalist Iman Amrani joins Ali Rogin to discuss her investigation of Shein, one of the fastest-growing fast fashion brands in the world.

Chess is surging in popularity among all ages. Here’s why

7m 19s

Chess is a centuries-old game that’s enjoying new popularity with young people. The renewed interest has created demand for more online content, and international chess master and commentator Levy Rozman is one of those providing it. He joins John Yang for our Weekend Spotlight to discuss the game’s big boom.

Rising interactions between bats, humans pose health risks

7m 31s

The search for the origin of COVID-19 has highlighted the risks of viruses transmitted by certain species of bats. In the wild, they can incubate and spread diseases to other animals and humans. Dr. Neil Vora, a physician with Conservation International, joins Ali Rogin to discuss the global health concerns posed by an increasing number of interactions between humans and bats.

AM radio is fading. Here’s why some critics are concerned

5m 22s

In recent years, podcasts and streaming internet content have been challenging AM radio for listeners. Now, there’s another threat: electric automakers are installing radios without the AM band in new vehicles, citing interference from EV motors. But critics say limiting AM radio’s reach will have repercussions for politics and public safety. Journalist Katie Thornton joins John Yang to discuss.

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