PBS News Hour

News and Public Affairs Series / 9 Seasons

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Watch: S2025 E127

57m 46s

Families scramble as schools face bus driver shortage

9m

This Labor Day comes as unions and workers are flexing their power. Writers and actors are on strike, auto workers may take to the picket line soon and UPS drivers ratified a historic contract this summer. But employees still face significant battles and employers are coping with worker shortages, including school districts across the country that face a lack of bus drivers. Ali Rogin reports.

Illinois law protects money children earn on social media

6m 15s

Legislative efforts to protect children online typically center on their privacy. But thanks to the efforts of an Illinois teenager, the finances of some of the youngest digital workers could also be better protected in the future. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on labor's political power

8m 46s

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the political power of organized labor and the motivating force of abortion in elections.

Humanitarian crisis becomes more dire for Sudan

9m 17s

A report funded by the State Department paints a dire picture of the humanitarian situation in Darfur, in Western Sudan. Nearly five months ago, the Sudanese military and the insurgent Rapid Support Forces started fighting for power. Violence spilled into Darfur, where elements of the RSF were accused of genocide 20 years ago. As Nick Schifrin reports, history appears to be repeating itself.

Ukraine replaces defense minister amid corruption probe

5m 39s

In the middle of war, there's a shakeup at Ukraine's highest levels of government. Defense Minister Oleksii Reznkov submitted his resignation after President Zelenskyy announced plans to replace him. The move comes amid Zelesnkyy’s efforts to fight corruption in his government and inside the military. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Kateryna Ryzhenko of Transparency International.

New aid delivery method aims to send help ahead of disasters

6m 46s

Africa’s first climate summit begins Monday in Kenya with the goal of better preparing the continent for climate disasters. When these disasters strike, aid often pours in from around the world. A new method of delivering aid uses technology to help predict the greatest need and send it in advance. Babatunde Ojei, Nigeria director for the International Rescue Committee, joins Ali Rogin to discuss.

Why auto prices are on the rise in America

6m 23s

The average price of cars has soared in recent years, and buyers are being further squeezed by rising interest rates. It’s hitting Gen Z and millennials particularly hard — in 2022, people aged 18 to 39 had over $20 billion in auto loans more than 90 days overdue. Tom Krisher, who covers the auto industry for the Associated Press, joins John Yang to discuss.

Arkansas Medicaid recipients struggle to keep their coverage

8m 15s

Medicaid enrollments reached unprecedented levels when Congress temporarily blocked states from kicking people off of the health insurance plan during the pandemic. But that policy has ended, and now states have until 2024 to check people’s eligibility and remove those who no longer qualify. Ali Rogin reports from Arkansas, which is nearing the end of its Medicaid unwinding process.

Why shooting sports are on the rise among young people

8m 39s

Every year, millions of Americans use guns recreationally, not only for hunting, but also for target sports like skeet and trapshooting. A growing number of young people are participating in shooting sports, a trend that is raising concerns for some. Special correspondent Megan Thompson reports.

Why AI is a central dispute in the ongoing Hollywood strikes

5m 19s

This Labor Day weekend, Hollywood production remains shut down by writers and actors on strike. At the heart of negotiations is figuring out the role of artificial intelligence in the motion picture industry. Jules Roscoe, a reporter at VICE Motherboard, joins Ali Rogin to discuss the collision of labor and technology.

The evolving challenges of disaster management in the U.S.

6m 16s

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has responded to a record number of billion-dollar weather-related disasters so far in 2023. And in recent years, FEMA has been called on for duties beyond extreme weather events, from COVID vaccine distribution to helping settle refugees. Former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate joins John Yang to discuss the future of disaster management.

Brooks and Capehart on the politics of Trump's trial date

9m 58s

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join John Yang to discuss the week in politics, including fatal shootings that rocked the nation, the former president is at the center of unprecedented legal prosecutions and the Senate faces questions from within its ranks after another health scare.

Problems plague Atlanta jail where Trump was booked

6m 12s

The Fulton County Jail in Atlanta became front-page news last week as former President Trump and his 18 co-defendants surrendered to authorities. Many spent just a matter of minutes there. It's a much different story for the jail's long-term residents and nine people have died in custody this year. William Brangham discussed more with Chamian Cruz of WABE.

Can a longer school year help students with learning loss?

9m 49s

More than three years ago, schools received the first installment in the biggest ever one-time infusion of federal money dedicated to education, about $190 billion to protect against COVID and reverse the academic setbacks that followed the pandemic. One district in Virginia used its funds to add more days in the school year. Geoff Bennett visited to see how that program is faring.

Ukrainian counteroffensive makes gains against Russia

8m 1s

For months, Ukraine’s military has been grinding through a counteroffensive designed to liberate territory occupied by Russia. Kyiv has admitted that it’s gone slowly, but this week, Ukrainian soldiers made what the U.S. called notable progress. Nick Schifrin discussed the state of the counteroffensive with former U.S. ambassador to NATO Doug Lute.

Texas ban on youth gender-affirming care takes effect

7m 34s

A ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth went into effect in Texas, making it the most populous state to date with such a ban. The law revokes the medical licenses of any doctor who provides minors with gender-affirming medical care like puberty blockers, hormone treatments or surgeries. Laura Barrón-López reports on families grappling with the potential consequences.

What the latest jobs report signals for American workers

5m 39s

The August jobs report portrays a labor market that’s steadily growing, but there are signs of cooling in the face of the Federal Reserve’s higher interest rates. Employers added 187,000 jobs in August while the unemployment rate ticked up from 3.5 to 3.8 percent. The report paints a complex picture of the current economy. John Yang discussed that with Catherine Rampell.

Residents in Florida's Big Bend begin recovery after Idalia

8m 1s

Tropical Storm Idalia is heading back out to sea, but in its wake, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are busy cleaning up. As a Category 3 hurricane, Idalia caused major damage in Florida's Big Bend region, but overall there was less damage throughout the Southeast than many feared. William Brangham reports from Florida where people say they want to stay and rebuild.

Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election case

3m 46s

Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges in Georgia that accuse him and 18 allies of trying to upend the 2020 presidential election results in that state. The plea allows Trump to avoid an in-person arraignment next week. Geoff Bennett discussed the latest developments with Stephen Fowler of Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Can the 14th Amendment be used to block Trump from ballots?

6m 35s

Despite his legal troubles, former President Trump has a clear lead in the race for the Republican nomination. But is he qualified to run? A cohort of conservative legal scholars say no and a new lawsuit could put their theory to the test. They argue he violated the 14th Amendment with his actions on and before Jan. 6. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Ned Foley.

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