News

The year 2025 makes the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. One of the youngest survivors was an eight-year-old Polish girl named Rutka. She moved to Canada after the war and took the name Rachel Hyams. Decades later, she died by suicide. This NewsHour production with Malcolm Brabant follows Rachel’s daughter as she retraces her mother’s steps.

Behind President Joe Biden’s fateful decision to withdraw from his bid at reelection, are decades of challenges and controversies, triumphs and tragedies. This Frontline program tells the inside story of Biden’s rise to the presidency, the personal and political forces that shaped him, and that led to his dramatic decision to step aside. Distributed by PBS Distribution.

Technology is fast changing our world, transforming how we live, work, and think. This debate examines three critical questions facing humanity in the 21st century relating to money, truth, and power: 1) Money: "Is the Future of Currency Fiat or Crypto?"; 2) Truth: "Will Artificial Intelligence Change the Nature of Truth?"; and 3) Power: "Is It Time to Give More Power to Tech Companies?"

Join UC Davis School of Law's Aaron Tang as he guides a panel of experts through some ethical dilemmas. The special, featuring thoughtful debate on a hypothetical election storyline, promotes civil dialogue and critical thinking about polarizing issues. Distributed by PBS Distribution.

Alcoholism, like other dangerous addictions, can damage health and ruin lives. In 1935, two individuals who struggled with alcohol addiction founded Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), an organization that developed a 12-step program to help those with drinking problems. Part of the program includes acknowledging one's own inability to manage alcohol consumption and attending meetings where people share their experiences and provide support for others with similar issues. Active in some 180 countries around the world, AA has helped many people confront their alcoholism and become sober. But is AA the best approach for curbing alcoholism, and does it address its root causes? Supporters of Alcoholics Anonymous emphasize the merits of its peer-driven, community-based approach and note that membership is free and only requires a desire to stop drinking. Opportunities for fellowship can be found nearly anywhere, they point out, even in communities with limited access to health care or treatment facilities. Critics of Alcoholics Anonymous argue that its long-term success rates vary widely and that better ways to sobriety might exist. They note concerns with the program's focus on abstinence rather than moderation and contend that other approaches and interventions, such as harm reduction therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, might be more effective. Does Alcoholics Anonymous work?

Set against the remote Andes in the Chilean Atacama desert and New York City, this award-winning film tells an intimate story behind one of science's most competitive races: the hunt for the origins of our cosmos. In a unique, lyrical parallel, it also delves into the lives of several Atacameno elders who bring an original and intriguing vision of the cosmos, offering viewers a mysterious, magical, and philosophical perspective that will captivate them.

Cybernetics is the study of the structure and behavior of complex systems, as well as their control and communication. It has its origins in the work of mathematicians, engineers, and biologists of the 1940's. Norbert Wiener coined the term in 1948, when he wrote the book, "Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine." This documentary examines the history and development of this interdisciplinary field, outlining the key players and discussing their intellectual contributions.

At Stanford Social Neuroscience Laboratory, scientists have spent years studying kindness, connection and empathy. But those can all seem in short supply at a time of deep divisions. The NewsHour production offers data-driven reasons to be hopeful, featuring a conversation with Jamil Zaki about his latest book, Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness.

Longevity science aims to extend our healthy years, and advances in new technologies, such as CRISPR and cellular reprogramming might enable human beings to live much longer lives. Private companies and philanthropists are investing heavily in these technologies, but should the government help fund such efforts? Supporters of government funding for longevity science argue that such research could revolutionize public health and reduce the economic burden of age-related illnesses. It could also keep aging populations productive in the workforce, they contend, and give people many more years to live. Opponents of government funding for longevity science argue that true life extension beyond a decade might be unachievable, and it will take many years before results are measurable. When and if such advances are achieved, they may only be available for a smaller, affluent population, they contend, and it would be far better to expend scarce government funds on encouraging people to make proven behavior choices, like good nutrition and frequent exercise, that improve health and extend life naturally. How long would you like to live, and could government funding of science and technology make it possible?

A tsunami of cheap electric vehicles from China could lead to a nightmarish de-industrialization in Europe and elsewhere. Dr. Peter Tom Jones, a well known climate author, is convinced that Europe has to take the full value chain back in its own hands, from mine to electric vehicle. This program follows Jones on a road trip in the Nordic countries to visit iconic mines and show best practices for Europe to stay competitive in this industry. It also features his discussions with indigenous Sami people and European leaders on this topic.

In this documentary, journalist/filmmaker Sean Langan and his local fixer Sasha embark on a road trip through Russia’s heart of darkness: the Russian-occupied Donbas region, starting in Donetsk, where he’s greeted with suspicion. But this remarkable film also shows the human face of the other side of this war — civilians living under siege, including young students and old babushkas who invite him for refreshments — as well as gives a view through the eyes of Russian soldiers.

Buying has almost always been favored over renting when it comes to housing. For generations, the prevailing wisdom has been that renting is a waste of money. But what about now, with a tough real estate market characterized by elevated listing prices and interest rates? In this NewsHour production, Geoff Bennett discusses these issues with David Leonhardt, author of "Ours Was the Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream."

This film tells the story of the legendary art educator behind the beloved '80s and '90s shows The Secret City, Draw Squad, and Imagination Station. Mark Kistler became a well-known face on classic PBS alongside Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, Bob Ross, and Reading Rainbow. He helped shape a pivotal era of instructional programming for children in the pre-Youtube world, teaching 3D drawing before CGI.

The national minimum wage today is just over $7 an hour. But a provision in a landmark labor law from nearly 90 years ago allows employers to pay certain workers with disabilities less than that. In this NewsHour production, Ali Rogin speaks with Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, for the series “Disability Reframed” to highlight the issues.

In 2000, author Malcolm Gladwell published "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference," a groundbreaking book that explored how small ideas can create lasting changes in everyday life through a phenomenon he called the "tipping point." Over the next two decades, however, Gladwell reconsidered his ideas. In 2024, he published "Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering," another groundbreaking work that questioned some of his original theories and argued that evolution of thought was a sign of growth. In this conversation, Gladwell discusses both books and what he learned about changing one's views and ideas.

After discovering their child’s life-altering sensitivity to synthetic dyes, parents and first-time filmmakers Brandon and Whitney Cawood set out to uncover the widely unknown impacts of these additives. They journey to meet with some of the world's leading synthetic dye experts, conducting in-person interviews with scientists, researchers, and impacted families. This exploration reveals a series of shocking stories and surprising discoveries about physical and behavioral effects of dyes.

Physicians are increasingly using weight loss drugs to treat obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions in young patients. In the last three years, the number of people between the ages of 12 and 25 using drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic has surged nearly 600 percent. In this NewsHour production, Ali Rogin speaks with Dr. Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, to learn more.

This series explores the transformative impact of Black migration on American culture and society. From the waves of Black Americans to the North–and back to the South–over the last century to the growing number of immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean today, the film shows how movement is a defining feature of the Black experience.

This documentary series showcases authentic stories that unearth the spirit of the South today. The series explores layers of Southern life across themes of social justice, cultural experience, environmental challenges, and more. Reel South aims to leverage our region’s rich storytelling tradition as a catalyst for positive change — in the American South and beyond.