PBS NewsHour - Segments

What trends distinguished the U.S. economy over the past decade?

As the year comes to a close, we look back at the past decade in the American economy -- the first without a recession since record-keeping began in the 1950s. While unemployment remains at a historic low, wage growth has been sluggish, and inequality continues to divide the country. David Wessel of the Brookings Institution and The Washington Post's Catherine Rampell join Jeffrey Brown.

Why fewer Americans are donating to charity

Thanks to large checks from the wealthy, financial contributions to the 100 largest charities in the U.S. rose 11 percent in the past year. But the share of Americans who give to charity overall continued its long-term slide, with nonprofits getting hit the hardest. A number of factors are at play -- including a 2017 tax law. Lisa Desjardins talks to the Chronicle of Philanthropy's Stacy Palmer.

Is 2017 tax law responsible for declining share of U.S. charitable donors?

Thanks to large checks from the wealthy, financial contributions to the 100 largest charities in the U.S. rose 11 percent in recent months. But the share of Americans who give to charity overall continued its long-term slide, with small nonprofits hit the hardest. A number of factors are at play -- including the 2017 tax law. Lisa Desjardins talks to the Chronicle of Philanthropy's Stacy Palmer.

'Trust Exercise' author Susan Choi on power dynamics and timely fiction

Susan Choi's novel "Trust Exercise" takes place in a high school for the performing arts in an unnamed southern city. But the subjects examined, including consent, power and memory, are universally relevant. "Trust Exercise" won the 2019 National Book Award for fiction, and Jeffrey Brown spoke with Choi at November's Miami Book Fair about why she decided to set the story in a high school.

News Wrap: Taliban attack in northern Afghanistan kills 14

In our news wrap Monday, an attack claimed by the Taliban killed 14 people in northern Afghanistan. Hours earlier, Taliban officials had said they agreed to a temporary cease-fire -- but gave no details. Also, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared to escalate threats of renewed confrontation with the U.S., calling for "positive and offensive measures" to ensure North Korean security.

Attacks on rabbi's home, Christian church prompt questions about hate crimes

Religious communities across the country expressed shock and sorrow after two weekend congregation attacks. The incidents, at a New York rabbi's home and a Christian church in Texas, raise concerns that violence toward religious groups may be rising. Tree of Life Congregation's Rabbi Jeffrey Myers and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention's Reverend Ted Elmore join Nick Schifrin to discuss.

How U.S. airstrikes could affect ongoing tensions with Iran

Words and actions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating. On Sunday, U.S. military strikes on an Iraqi militia group backed by Iran killed 25 fighters in what the U.S. said was retaliation for rocket fire that killed an American defense contractor. Brian Hook, the State Department's special representative for Iran, and Vali Nasr of Johns Hopkins University join Nick Schifrin to discuss.

How 2020 Democrats are making their year-end push

In the final weekend of the year, candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination traversed Iowa and New Hampshire to rally support for primary contests that are now only weeks away. The end of 2019 also comes with a fundraising deadline. Meanwhile, former Vice President Joe Biden changed his stance on whether he would testify in a Senate impeachment trial. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Susan Page and Domenico Montanaro on the decade in politics

USA Today's Susan Page and Domenico Montanaro of NPR join Lisa Desjardins to discuss the latest political news, including the outlook for 2020 Democrats not making it to the debate stage, campaign dynamics in Iowa and New Hampshire, how senators running for president will handle a potential impeachment trial, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's impeachment strategy and the year in review.

'Circe' author Madeline Miller answers your questions

Madeline Miller, author of our December pick for the NewsHour-New York Times book club, Now Read This, joins Jeffrey Brown to answer reader questions on "Circe," and Jeff announces the January book selection.

Making NewsHour Weekend: A year of covering resilience and hope

This year, NewsHour Weekend's Ivette Feliciano and Zachary Green reported on stories that epitomized human resilience, including a Haitian doctor's fight against HIV and AIDS, how the Jewish community in Pittsburgh is healing a year after the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, and a community of immigrants who arrived in Houston from Venezuela. They join Hari Sreenivasan to discuss their work.

Making NewsHour Weekend: Tuning into bigger conversations through music

This year, NewsHour Weekend's Christopher Booker and Tom Casciato reported on the notion of masculinity through the lens of music and also profiled musician Carlos Santana. They join Hari Sreenivasan to discuss their mutual love for music and how it informs their reporting -- and why some of those stories are "unconventional" for television.

Making NewsHour Weekend: A year of reporting on the "Future of Food"

This year, the NewsHour Weekend special series "Future of Food" covered global efforts to produce and consume food sustainably and ethically. The producers behind the series, Megan Thompson and Melanie Saltzman, joined Hari Sreenivasan to discuss their reporting and how it impacted their own views on food. The series is supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Making NewsHour Weekend: Filming in challenging locations, tracking climate change

This year, NewsHour Weekend producers Sam Weber and Connie Kargbo's reporting took them from a slave rebellion reenactment in Louisiana to a moon landing 50th anniversary celebration in Houston to covering climate change's effects on mangroves in Florida. They recently sat down with Hari Sreenivasan to discuss their best stories from 2019 and the challenges of filming while on the road.

News Wrap: Plane carrying 98 crashes shortly after takeoff in Kazakhstan

In our news wrap Friday, at least 12 people died after a passenger jet in the central Asian country of Kazakhstan crashed shortly after take-off. The Bek Air plane, with 98 people aboard, smashed into a concrete wall and building. Also, an American contractor died in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that houses U.S. forces. Multiple U.S. service members and Iraqi personnel were injured.

How Iranian military exercises, mass protests are connected to U.S. sanctions

While the United States keeps up its maximum pressure campaign on Iran, tensions are building within Iran as mass protests there continue to grow. Meanwhile, for the first time, Iran is engaged in joint naval exercises with both Russia and China simultaneously. Amna Nawaz talks to Rand Corporation's Ariane Tabatabai about how these events are connected to U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear treaty.

What ongoing Indian protests say about the country's secular identity

Mass protests continue in India over a new citizenship law the government says will protect non-Muslim immigrants -- but critics see as a thinly veiled attack on Muslims. Many of the demonstrations have remained peaceful, but in some areas, police beat back protesters and the government shut down mobile internet services. Lisa Desjardins talks to Alyssa Ayres of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Shields and Brooks on 2019 in review, 2020 predictions

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week's political news, including the battle between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over rules for a Senate impeachment trial, how the presidential primary race is shaping up among 2020 Democrats and the year's most surprising political developments.

New film 'The Two Popes' explores Catholic ideology's 'gray areas'

When Pope Benedict resigned in 2013, it was the first papal resignation since 1415 -- nearly 600 years. At the time, his successor, Pope Francis, was perceived as essentially Benedict's opposite. But in a new film, "The Two Popes," director Fernando Meirelles imagines the relationship between the two men and discovers that the Catholic figures are not "black and white." Jeffrey Brown reports.

News Wrap: Hong Kong protesters target shopping malls for 3rd straight day

In our news wrap Thursday, businesses in parts of Hong Kong were at a standstill as anti-government protesters targeted shopping malls for a third consecutive day. Riot police stepped up their presence, at times confronting crowds and escorting people out of buildings. Also, at least 20 people are dead after a powerful typhoon barreled through the Philippines, bringing misery on Christmas Day.

Why Iraq's government has been unable to find a new prime minister

Months-long protests in major Iraqi cities have led to the prime minister's resignation, but leaders have been unable to secure a replacement, and those demanding reform remain as animated as ever. Lisa Desjardins reports and speaks to the Atlantic Council's Abbas Kadhim about what protesters are seeking, why the political elite have been unable to deliver it and where the average Iraqi stands.

2 years later, U.S. island territories still hurting from Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Although 2020 is only days away, Americans in the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still recovering from devastating storms that hit back in the fall of 2017. Hurricanes Maria and Irma flooded and leveled parts of the Caribbean islands, and residents say the FEMA response has been painfully slow and inadequate. Amna Nawaz talks to The New York Times' Zolan Kanno-Youngs.

How climate and corruption have combined to create Zimbabwe's food crisis

How these 2 Nobel winners are challenging popular economics

Author Sarah Broom on 'The Yellow House' and putting New Orleans East on the map

Sarah Broom's 2019 memoir, "The Yellow House," won the National Book Award for non-fiction. Jeffrey Brown sits down with Broom to discuss her mother and how an obsession with houses passed down two generations to the author herself, why Broom doesn't appear until 100 pages into the book and the larger story she is telling about New Orleans East.

At rare J.M.W. Turner show, the watercolors are as fragile as they are many

British painter J.M.W. Turner was both prolific and peripatetic, producing more than 30,000 watercolors during a lifetime in which he traveled throughout Europe. But these works are extremely susceptible to light damage and can be shown only once in a generation. Now, they're on view at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut -- their only North American stop. Jared Bowen of WGBH reports.

Mike Love's Brief But Spectacular take on life as a Beach Boy

Singer and songwriter Mike Love is best known as one of the founding members of the Beach Boys, whose infectious harmonies and unique California sound first hit the airways nearly 60 years ago, in 1961. Through the ups and downs of a long career, Love still considers it a "precious miracle" the way fans connect with his music. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on his life as a Beach Boy.

News Wrap: Parts of Hong Kong paralyzed as protesters, police clash

In our news wrap Wednesday, another wave of anti-government demonstrations paralyzed parts of Hong Kong. Black-clad protesters descended on the streets of a busy shopping district, and riot police used tear gas to disperse crowds. Also, protests erupted in India's capital city over a controversial new citizenship law. Activists accused the government of violating the secular constitution.

Despite extreme weather and surging activism, 2019 saw political paralysis on climate

By almost any measure, 2019 was a year of especially sobering news on climate change, with grim warnings about what could happen in the future along with extreme weather events occurring now. The year also saw a global protest movement, initiated by young people, arise to try to tackle the problem. But as Miles O'Brien reports, the call for action was often divorced from political reality.

What's the outlook for U.S. foreign policy as a tumultuous decade ends?

The past ten years have seen both transformation and inertia in global politics. In many countries, as heads of government have changed, authoritarian leadership has not. Nick Schifrin sits down with the Hudson Institute's Rebeccah Heinrichs, the American Enterprise Institute's Kori Schake and Michele Flournoy of WestExec Advisors to discuss why the decade is concluding with a year of protest.

Author Laila Lalami's new book explores the experience of being an outsider

News Wrap: Trump downplays idea of North Korean missile test

In our news wrap Tuesday, President Trump is playing down the possibility of a "Christmas surprise" North Korean missile test. Pyongyang has warned of unspecified action if the U.S. does not ease sanctions by year's end -- but Trump said Kim Jong Un might send a "beautiful vase" instead. Also, Christmas celebrations around the world included a Bethlehem parade and midnight mass at the Vatican.

Intensified offensive in Idlib province puts Syrian civilians on the run

In Syria, forces loyal to the Assad regime -- and backed by Russian air power -- are advancing in the province of Idlib, the last remaining rebel stronghold. As the Syrian army and its allies try to secure a key highway to Aleppo, thousands of civilians are caught in the crossfire. Judy Woodruff reports and talks to Smith College's Steven Heydemann and the University of Oklahoma's Joshua Landis.

Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda

A month after the suspicious death of White Helmets co-founder James Le Mesurier in Turkey, British officials are being urged to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. Friends and colleagues fear Le Mesurier may have been murdered or driven to suicide by a relentless campaign of character assassination. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports on how propaganda maligned him.

How Trump's stance on energy-efficient appliances is connected to nostalgia

For years, Washington has seen a bipartisan push to change laws, regulations and incentives to make household appliances and goods more energy efficient. In a warming world, many scientists and advocates say even tougher standards should be set. But President Trump is moving to roll back some of those laws, arguing they've gone too far. John Yang talks to The Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin.

Pop culture 'game-changers' from the past decade

With the approaching end of 2019, we take a look back at important moments and major developments from the past decade. Arts and entertainment changed dramatically during this period, transformed in their creation, distribution and consumption. Jeffrey Brown talks to Wesley Morris of The New York Times and Lorraine Ali of The Los Angeles Times about pop culture trends and trend makers.

U.S. troops around the world sing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'

At the request of the NewsHour, the Defense Department produced a music video of service personnel around the world singing a seasonal favorite. It's an annual holiday tradition, and this year's song is "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."

News Wrap: McConnell, Schumer argue over Senate impeachment trial

In our news wrap Monday, Congress and President Trump have left Washington for the holidays, but the fight over a Senate impeachment trial goes on. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are arguing over witnesses and documents. Also, a U.S. soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility, even as peace talks are ongoing.

Saudi investigation into Khashoggi killing leaves 'full truth' unknown, says UN official

A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced five people to death for their involvement in the killing of columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The proceedings lasted nearly a year and were shrouded in secrecy, with only a select group of diplomats in attendance and no press. William Brangham reports on Khashoggi's brutal murder, and Agnes Callamard of the United Nations joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the ruling.

DOJ inspector general finds Russia probe was appropriately opened -- but Barr disagrees

A long-awaited report into the origins of the Russia probe found no evidence of a political conspiracy against President Trump. But the Justice Department's inspector general criticized the FBI's handling of wiretap applications used in the early stages of the investigation. William Brangham reports and Judy Woodruff talks to John Carlin, former assistant attorney general for national security.

House Judiciary Committee hosts combative hearing with counsels ahead of impeachment

In a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Democrats summed up their case for impeachment of President Trump, saying his handling of Ukraine policy represented a "clear and present danger" to American elections. Republicans pushed back on the integrity of the investigation, calling it a rush to judgment. Nick Schifrin reports and Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

News Wrap: Putin and Zelensky have 1st one-on-one meeting

In our news wrap Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held their first one-on-one meeting. It came in Paris, after the two met with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for broader talks at a peace summit. Also, North Korea fired hostile new words at President Trump, calling him "a heedless and erratic old man."

Remembering former Fed chair and economic giant Paul Volcker

Paul Volcker, who served as chair of the Federal Reserve for two presidents, died Monday. His passing came 40 years after he drove interest rates to record highs in an effort to tame double-digit inflation. Known for his height and his stubbornness, Volcker remained a trusted Washington resource into the Obama administration. Economics correspondent Paul Solman remembers Volcker's life and work.

Explosive investigative report says U.S. government misled public on war in Afghanistan

In a blockbuster story representing the culmination of several years of investigation and pursuit of government documents, The Washington Post reports that U.S. officials have been misleading the American public about the war in Afghanistan for the past 18 years. John Yang talks to The Washington Post's Craig Whitlock, lead reporter on the story, about what the classified document trove revealed.

2020 Democrats compete over transparency as next debate approaches

On the 2020 campaign trail, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg have been challenging each other over transparency and potential connections to corporate interests. Another major issue is support among African American voters, with whom former Vice President Joe Biden continues to lead. Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Booker lamented the all-white lineup for the upcoming debate. Amna Nawaz reports.

Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Warren vs. Buttigieg, candidates of color

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including campaign sparring between Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg and which candidates might leverage it, how much transparency matters to Democratic voters, lack of racial diversity in the next debate and reaction to the inspector general's report on the Russia probe.

In Broadway musical, Alanis Morissette's 'Jagged Little Pill' becomes modern-day metaphor

Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill," released in 1995, became the angry and raw soundtrack of a generation. Now, the Grammy-winning album -- which sold 33 million copies -- is the basis of a musical that just opened on Broadway. During the show's initial Boston run, special correspondent Jared Bowen explored how Morissette's music accompanies the story of a contemporary family's unraveling.

Introducing: Broken Justice

We're briefly interrupting your regular podcast feed to offer a sample of our newest podcast series: Broken Justice. In 1997, Ricky Kidd was sentenced to life without parole for a double homicide he says he didn't commit. And, he argues, his court-appointed lawyer is the reason. In the U.S. justice system, everyone has the right to an attorney, even if you can't afford one. But what happens when your lawyer is overworked, underfunded and unable to do their job? From the PBS NewsHour, a look i...

Ukraine, Russia prepare for peace talks after years of war

After nearly six years of war, the Ukrainian and Russian presidents are preparing to meet this week for the first time. The historic peace talks come as impeachment hearings continue in the U.S. Simon Ostrovsky reports from the frontlines of eastern Ukraine with a look ahead at the negotiations that could change the fate of those living in conflict. This report is supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Democrats may file impeachment articles as soon as this week

The next phase of the impeachment inquiry begins on Monday, as House Democrats are expected to stake their case on alleged abuses of power by President Trump. Special correspondent Jeff Greenfield joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss what's next in the impeachment process on both sides of the political aisle, where the road leads from here and how the inquiry may impact the 2020 Democratic race.