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In the 21st century, the United States and other allied countries, often in conjunction with the United Nations, have imposed economic sanctions on Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and other authoritarian countries that have violated international law or acted inappropriately. These sanctions have ranged from freezing assets to imposing trade bans, travel restrictions, and full embargoes. But do sanctions work in deterring aggression and fighting repression? Supporters of sanctions argue that they are a nonviolent way to force dictatorial governments to obey global norms and pressure autocratic regimes to reform. Opponents of sanctions argue that they can harm civilians, worsen humanitarian crises, and impede regime change. Are sanctions an effective policy tool?

Could the love of your life be … ChatGPT? People who have either found dating in the "real" world more challenging and difficult or are feeling lonelier than ever are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to fill the void and find romance and companionship. To them, AI provides a new opportunity to experience those feelings without judgment or encountering rejection. As romantic love increasingly straddles the digital and physical realms, could AI connections rival, or even surpass, traditional human relationships? Supporters of dating an AI chatbot argue that it can offer empathy, safety, and romance, especially for people frustrated by traditional dating. Opponents of dating an AI chatbot argue that real intimacy can't be coded, and that love is evolutionary, complicated, and deeply human. Could dating an AI be better than dating a human?

Launching its first trailblazing issue in 1972 and still publishing today, Ms. magazine revolutionized the feminist movement, igniting provocative conversations about issues that impact women, from politics to harassment, race, sex, and abortion. This program looks at a selection of iconic cover stories to explore the complexities of creating a magazine that was unafraid to wrestle with challenging, and often polarizing, issues. More than 50 years since its genesis, Ms. magazine's editors and contributors—including co-founders Gloria Steinem, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Pat Carbine, and it’s first editor Suzanne Braun Levine—reveal the origin story of this trailblazing publication. They talk about how it defied the odds, transformed its readers, and continually fought to uphold its ideals in the face of resistance. An HBO Production.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump (R) has launched an unprecedented assault on Harvard University, freezing more than $2 billion in federal research grants, slashing another $450 million, threatening $100 million in contracts, and warning that the government might revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. The Trump administration has attacked Harvard for ignoring allegations of campus antisemitism, promoting "anti Americanism," and implementing diversity programs. Harvard has vehemently rejected these charges, arguing that the Trump administration's actions will cripple critical scientific research, chill academic freedom, and hurt students. In this debate, two prominent university figures, former Harvard president Larry Summers and Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz, discuss the administration's actions and whether they are justified. Did Harvard have it coming?

Since Donald Trump (R) began his second term as president in January 2025, he has taken several actions that some charge have placed pressure on freedom of speech. These actions include threatening state and university funding, restricting press access, defunding public media, and targeting campus protests. The Trump administration has also urged schools to dismantle diversity programs, limit international student enrollment, and add more conservative voices to their faculties. Supporters of these actions argue that they will cut down on "political correctness" and restore "viewpoint diversity." Opponents call the actions a threat to free speech, with the government punishing institutions and voices that don't align with its agenda. As President Trump starts his second term in the White House, what is the status of free speech in the Trump 2.0 era?

On May 8, 1970, construction workers in NYC violently clashed with students protesting the Vietnam War, signaling the emergence of a new kind of class divide. Hard Hat Riot chronicles a struggling city, a flailing president and a bloody juncture when the nation diverged -- culminating in a new political and cultural landscape that radically redefined American politics. FROM AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. Distributed by PBS Distribution.

For decades, the United States has stood as a stable, predictable, and committed global power—one its allies could count on in times of crisis. Thanks to the nation's extensive network of alliances, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe, bilateral security pacts in Asia, and numerous partnerships in the Middle East and beyond, the United States has helped anchor the global order. Under President Donald Trump (R), however, the reliability of that leadership is being tested. Recently, the Trump administration demanded that NATO members raise their defense investment to 5 percent of gross domestic product and cast doubt over whether the United States would defend allies that spend too little. The U.S. Department of Defense is considering a proposal to reduce its military footprint in Europe in favor of prioritizing the Indo-Pacific region and countering China. With President Trump back in the White House, some question whether the world can still count on the United States. Those who believe that the United States is still a reliable ally under Trump argue that NATO and other countries have depended too much on America’s geopolitical power. Pushing allies to take more responsibility will ultimately strengthen international security, they contend, and ensure a more balanced global order. Those who believe that the United States is no longer a reliable ally under Trump argue that other countries will now feel uncertain and exposed, giving rise to questions over whether future Trump-era foreign policy will be based on enduring commitments or transactional politics. This could force them to reevaluate and fortify their security, they contend, and weaken the global order. Is Trump’s America a reliable ally?

This documentary explores the modern crisis of social connections, putting it into historical context. Through interviews with such experts as anthropologist and evolutionary biologist Robin Dunbar, the video explores the complex tapestry of human relationships, offering viewers a poignant look at the essence of friendship and advice on how to nurture it in an age of technology and social media.

This program follows the inspiring stories of three young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system to transform the way they produce food. It shows how they champion regenerative farming to heal the soil and build viable businesses. By focusing on local food systems and shorter supply chains, the farmers find ways to provide for their communities sustainably, becoming part of a new agrarian renaissance.

As a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1994 to 2022, Stephen G. Breyer wrote dozens of decisions on landmark cases. How did he and fellow justices interpret the U.S. Constitution to reach their decisions? In this conversation, Breyer discusses his book Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism and why he thinks justices and judges should take a pragmatic approach when interpreting and applying the Constitution.

As he did in this first term as president from 2017 to 2021, President Donald Trump (R) has continued to signal closer alignment with Russian president Vladimir Putin. This has included a tense White House meeting in February 2025 with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, where President Trump claimed that Ukraine was responsible for the Russia-Ukraine War, which Putin had started in 2022 by invading Ukraine. The United States also joined Russia in voting against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's action in Ukraine, and Vice President J.D. Vance has called for reevaluating the United States' relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Might these actions and others help chart a return to improved U.S.-Russia diplomatic relations or lead the United States toward defeat in Europe and beyond? Supporters of Trump's Russia policies argue that they signal a return to normalcy. Recent years of antagonism have failed to alter Russian behavior, they contend, and European security should be Europe's responsibility under a more self-sufficient NATO. Opponents of Trump's Russia policies argue that they mark a defeat for the United States. Trump's warming up to Putin will only encourage Russian aggression and hurt Ukraine, they contend, as well as erode the trust of U.S. allies in NATO. Do Trump's Russia policies signal a return to normalcy or defeat for America?

Although Congress passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025 with broad Republican support, not all conservatives lined up behind it. This sweeping law revived key elements of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; overhauled spending on Medicaid, green energy, and immigration; and raised the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Supporters called it a bold push for economic growth and renewed American leadership, crediting it with preserving huge tax cuts and encouraging investment. Democrats uniformly opposed the law. So did some conservatives, who argued that it was fiscally irresponsible and will raise the national deficit by trillions of dollars. In this debate, two conservatives—Jessica Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and former staff director of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, and Diana Furchtgott-Roth, an economist and director of the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment at the Heritage Foundation—discuss the law's merits and drawbacks. Is the Big Beautiful Bill a disaster?

This series of short videos provides quick advice and tools for dealing with common workplace issues, and for developing your skills.

This series reveals the hidden engine of our modern world; the global supply chain. From everyday essentials to extraordinary events, it examines the pivotal items and unseen systems that make life as we know it possible. The Chain is the story of how the world works.

Inspired by Henry Hampton's legendary 1987 documentary series, this illuminating new installment showcases the bold stories of people and communities who have continued to work towards equity and racial justice, covering the late 1970s through the 2010s.

In his own words, actor Paul Reubens recounts his life story and the creation of his beloved alter-ego Pee-wee Herman.