PBS News Hour - Segments

President Donald Trump's second term in the White House began with a flurry of unilateral actions and he's showing no signs of slowing down. Day by day, the president's hardline immigration policy is taking shape. A new executive order targeting migrants at the southern border comes as the U.S. military is poised to beef up its presence there. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 03:26

For perspective on President Trump's order sending 1,500 active-duty troops to the Mexican border, Amna Nawaz spoke with retired Rear Admiral James McPherson. He served as undersecretary of the Army and as the Army's general counsel during the first Trump administration. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 06:08

In our news wrap Wednesday, a massive winter storm left record-breaking amounts of snow across the Gulf Coast, Southern California is facing dangerous weather as it battles new fires, a female student was killed and another student injured during a shooting at a Nashville high school and the Trump administration is halting some communications from federal health agencies to the public. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 05:29

The Trump administration ordered all federal employees who work in diversity, equity and inclusion roles to be placed on paid leave. Agency supervisors were also asked to submit a written plan by the end of the month for dismissing the employees. It's part one of the administration's efforts to upend DEI efforts nationwide. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Jeff Green of Bloomberg News. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 04:35

President Trump's executive order suspending all refugee admissions into the U.S. has far-reaching consequences. Tens of thousands of Afghans, including family members of active-duty U.S. service members, are now in limbo despite some already receiving approval to relocate to the U.S. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Shawn VanDiver of AfghanEvac. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 06:09

Within hours of taking office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency as part of his plan to push for more oil and gas drilling and to heavily boost fossil fuels. He also started a process to reverse much of what the Biden administration did on greener energy. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Scott Waldman of Politico's E&E News. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 07:13

President Trump's Middle East envoy said he would soon travel there and be part of a team of "outside observers" to ensure safety during the days-old ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Nick Schifrin reports on the relative quiet in Gaza and what people are finding as they return home. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 05:21

The fire danger in Southern California is far from over. As crews continue their battle, incarcerated firefighters part of a long-running state program are on the frontline. Supporters say the program offers a pathway out of prison, but critics say the work and pay are exploitative. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Sam Lewis of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 06:31

At least 28 are now confirmed dead from the Los Angeles area wildfires. At least two of the victims' families have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison alleging negligence and that the utility's equipment may have sparked a fire. As we learn more about the victims, we are taking a moment to focus on the legacies they leave behind. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 03:07

During the pandemic, a project called "Artists and Elders" was formed to connect artists to isolated older adults in their community. The founders share their Brief But Spectacular take on the art of bringing people together. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/22/25 • 03:16

In less than 24 hours, President Trump unleashed a wave of executive actions, some that take effect immediately, some that will be challenged in court and some whose potential impacts are more vague. He promises more executive actions as his Cabinet takes shape and as he moves to purge the federal government of those disloyal to him. Geoff Bennett reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 04:36

President Trump signed executive orders to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents and declare cartels terrorist organizations. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports on the latest. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 06:19

President Donald Trump made good on his promise to pardon or commute the sentences of Jan. 6 rioters. Geoff Bennett discussed what this means for the years-long investigations into the insurrection with former congressman and advisor to the Jan. 6 Select Committee, Denver Riggleman. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 07:08

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said he was surprised by the scope of President Trump's pardon of Jan. 6 rioters. Lisa Desjardins reports on that reaction and a Republican strategy meeting at the White House. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 02:54

In our news wrap Tuesday, a prisoner swap between the U.S. and the Taliban secured the release of American Ryan Corbett from Afghanistan, two top Israeli generals resigned over the military's failure to stop the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, Turkey is investigating a hotel fire that killed at least 76 people and a rare winter storm is hammering the northern Gulf Coast. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 05:04

As part of his blitz of executive orders, President Trump delivered on a promise to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization. The Trump White House accuses the WHO of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and bias toward China. Amna Nawaz discussed potential implications with Lawrence Gostin of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 05:24

President Trump has signed several executive orders making sweeping changes to the immigration system. Immigration was one of voters' top issues in the election, with many supporting Trump's message that the current system is broken. But how did we get here? Laura Barrón-López takes a deep dive into the history of immigration policies and laws that led to the complex system we have today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 10:10

It's been two weeks since the wildfires began ravaging parts of Southern California. Firefighters are making progress, but the biggest fires are not yet fully contained. At least 27 people have lost their lives and officials say the full death toll is not yet known. As we learn more about the victims, we remember some of those who were lost and the legacies they leave behind. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/21/25 • 03:03

Donald Trump has returned to office as the 47th president of the United States. His second term kickstarts an ambitious, and controversial, agenda that will bring mass deportations, aggressive tariffs on imports from competitors and allies alike, and a promise of 'retribution' against political foes that led to last-minute pardons from outgoing President Biden. Laura Barrón-López reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/20/25 • 16:53

President Trump promised a record number of executive orders on his first day in office. For a closer look at the power of these orders and their limits, Amna Nawaz spoke with Andrew Rudalevige, professor of government at Bowdoin College and author of "The New Imperial Presidency." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/20/25 • 04:30

President Trump is reportedly planning to issue a sweeping series of pardons for defendants charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. That's as Joe Biden, in one of his final acts as president, issued preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated Jan. 6. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Mary McCord. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/20/25 • 06:12

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including how the perception of President Trump has changed over four years, who Trump has surrounded himself with for his second term in office and how much Congress has changed since 2016. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/20/25 • 06:03

President Trump vowed that the State Department will have an "America first" foreign policy. Nick Schifrin discussed how the world is responding to Trump's inauguration with Jens Stoltenberg, the most recent secretary general of NATO who will become the chairman of the Munich Security Conference next month. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/20/25 • 06:07

In our news wrap Monday, Israeli hostages have been reuniting with loved ones as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be holding, humanitarian aid trucks are flowing into Gaza as part of the agreement, a British teen pleaded guilty to murdering three girls at a Taylor-Swift-themed dance class in England and rare winter storm warnings are in place along a large part of the Gulf Coast. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/20/25 • 04:19

In 1987, journalist Juan Williams helped illuminate the Civil Rights Movement with "Eyes on the Prize," a groundbreaking book that brought history to life and became an essential chronicle of the fight for racial equality. Nearly four decades later, he returns with "New Prize for These Eyes," a powerful update looking at the 21st-century movement. Geoff Bennett discussed the work with Williams. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/20/25 • 07:32

Three women are back on Israeli soil for the first time in 15 months since they were kidnapped in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and held captive in Gaza, as a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect Sunday. Two U.S. citizens are on Hamas' list of hostages to be released in the deal's first phase. John Yang speaks with the father of one American hostage who is not on that list. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/19/25 • 05:30

In our news wrap Sunday, Biden spent the final full day of his presidency visiting supporters in South Carolina, Trump laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, TikTok restored service to U.S. users after temporarily going dark due to a federal ban, a polar vortex is bringing dangerously cold conditions south from the Arctic, and Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Garvey. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/19/25 • 02:19

President-elect Trump's inaugural committee has smashed fundraising records, racking up more than $200 million in pledges. Donations have come from some of the world's biggest companies, and top tech CEOs will be front and center at the festivities. Ali Rogin speaks with ethics and campaign finance expert Craig Holman and New York Times technology reporter Cecilia Kang for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/19/25 • 05:43

As Trump returns to the White House with Republicans in charge of the House and Senate, Democrats are searching for a way forward. Ron Wyden, the second-most senior Senate Democrat, offers strategies in a new book, "It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change." Amna Nawaz recently sat down with Wyden. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/19/25 • 05:31

Monday's change of Oval Office occupants is a ritual full of traditions and customs. One of the more modern ones began in 1989, when Ronald Reagan left a note for George H.W. Bush on stationery with a whimsical bit of advice. John Yang speaks with Lindsay Chervinsky, executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library, to learn more about this tradition. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

1/19/25 • 04:21