News

What happens when a pope dies? Who picks the next one — and how? From locked doors to smoke signals, this program with religion scholar Andrew Mark Henry examines the secretive process behind the papal conclave. It looks at the history of the selection process established by Pope Gregory X, who is eligible to vote for the next Pope, the process and rules of voting, and what happens when a Pope is selected.

As the U.S. imposes new tariffs, this NewsHour production looks at how tariffs can make or break an economy. It discusses how U.S. policies in Haiti forced the government to bring down tariffs on foreign goods, allowing American farmers to export crops cheaply, making it expensive for Haitians to eat food grown domestically and leading to dependence on foreign aid. Special correspondent Marcia Biggs and videographer Eric O'Connor report.

For some women, leaving the workforce to care for children or family is a choice. For others, it’s a necessity. In this NewsHour production, Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled, explains that a career pause doesn't have to mean putting aside professional ambitions. Ali Rogin speaks with Ruch about what inspired her new book, The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids — and Come Back Stronger Than Ever.

Santa Claus is a genuine icon of popular culture - a secular figure taking a central place at the heart of a religious celebration. Yet, very few people know the story of his origin. This program traces the evolution of modern day Santa Claus from a strange myth that combined ancestral pagan rites with the legend of a Turkish Saint, St. Nicholas, who became a patron Saint of many European cities and a protector of children. Every year, on December 6, he would parade the streets, giving away sweets and gifts to the good kids. In the Netherlands, he was named Sinterklaas. The settlers brought him to America with them. In the 1800s, in New Amsterdam, later renamed New York City, two poets and a caricaturist invented the modern Santa Claus. In later years, he was even exploited by the Nazis. The video looks at the good side and the dark side of Santa over the years and across countries.

As the average cost of college in the United States soars, more young people are being drawn to skilled trades. This NewsHour production with special correspondent Christopher Booker looks at this career rethink among members of Gen Z, who have been called the “toolbelt generation.”

Illuminating the process of diagnosing and categorizing mental disorders, this series defines and explains the major diagnoses as categorized in the DSM-5 TR and explains how they relate to the categories in the World Health Organization's ICD-10 system. For each of the diagnoses covered, the series explains the diagnostic criteria, specifications, risk, prevalence, and functional consequences of the disorder. It also discusses comorbidity and differential diagnostics and considers some of the intervention and care strategies that are indicated.

This series is a super-charged journey through the history of everything from iconic brands like Nike, Domino's and Nintendo to enthralling topics like the mob, UFOs and the secret lives of billionaires. It’s all the surprising, eye-opening and innovative moments that make these stories meaningful and instructive; all delivered in 30 minutes or less.