PBS News Hour - Politics

Christa Pike, the Tennessee woman who survived a botched execution, has reportedly taken a few steps in her hospital room six days after she received two lethal injections. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin discussed questions surrounding the state of capital punishment with Austin Sarat, author of "Lethal Injection and the False Promise of Humane Execution." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Israel is barreling toward elections in less than three weeks, which could extend Benjamin Netanyahu's already-record tenure as its leader. The Trump administration has worked in near lockstep with Netanyahu since the president's return to office. Amna Nawaz discussed what Israeli voters are considering with Dan Shapiro, the U.S. ambassador to Israel during the Obama administration. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Fusing faith and politics is almost a no-brainer for many Republicans hoping to hold public office. But this election cycle, 12 pastors, seminarians and former clergy ran as Democrats, with about half securing nominations. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with NPR religion correspondent Jason Derose, who recently spent time on the campaign trail with several of these candidates. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Elon Musk remains one of the more powerful and controversial figures in business, science, tech and politics. He played a central role in the early days of the second Trump administration. Now, a new documentary is chronicling Musk's rise to power and embrace of right-wing politics. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As AI continues to reshape arts and entertainment, it's also creating a new type of producers and content providers. A Silicon Valley start-up founded by a YouTube co-founder could change video storytelling as dramatically as he changed video distribution. Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports for our arts & culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Protests are continuing in France, a day after more than 250,000 people took to the streets across the country to demand education reforms. Demonstrations began in mid-September, fueled by frustrations over classroom sizes and poor building conditions. Special correspondent William Denselow reports from Paris. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, Christa Pike's lawyers say she is "angry and confused" after regaining consciousness following her botched execution, a congressional candidate in Arizona says she was raped while trying to repair campaign signs and Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

While much of the focus this midterm season is on congressional races, there are also 36 states across the country holding elections for governor. One of those is Georgia, a purple state where the former Democratic mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Republican businessman Rick Jackson held their first and only televised debate. Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Republicans hold a massive financial advantage, but it's Democrats making gains in the polls in the final month of the midterm elections cycle. To discuss each party's closing strategy, Amna Nawaz sat down with Democratic strategist Faiz Shakir and Republican strategist and media consultant Melik Abdul. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Israel is marking the third anniversary of one of its darkest days. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 more. Nick Schifrin reports on one survivor and his determination to create, out of the horrors, a new generation of Israeli leadership. A warning: This story includes disturbing images. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

More than a quarter-million people poured into the streets across France on Tuesday, a dramatic development in a student-led movement that began at a single high school. In some cities, police and protesters clashed. French officials condemned what they called "extreme violence." Deema Zein reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

British police arrested a 22-year-old on suspicion of terrorism offenses connected to a possible plot against the RAF Fairford air base. Over the weekend, the U.S. Air Force evacuated bombers from that base, for fear of an attack. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Taliban's return in Afghanistan has brought economic collapse and deep uncertainty, especially for young people. Afghans are still trying to flee in search of safety. At the same time, more than six million who had escaped are now returning, many of them deported from neighboring countries. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen and videographer Eric O'Connor report. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Brett McGurk served under four presidential administrations, ultimately working as President Biden's lead on foreign policy in the Middle East. During that time, Hamas attacked Israel, killing over a thousand people and taking hundreds hostage. Amna Nawaz sat down with McGurk to discuss the negotiations he led to secure the hostages' release and new book, "Brink." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, Cornell named former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of how the school handles sexual assault reports on campus, lawyers for Christa Pike said she's awake and speaking after surviving a botched execution attempt last week and President Trump is facing backlash after he suggested that Iran could "take out" two cities in California. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ahead of the midterm elections, the Department of Justice is leading a high-profile effort to catch and prosecute people they say illegally cast ballots, sometimes holding televised press conferences to make the announcements. But there is no evidence to support President Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud that skews election results. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Over the weekend, the family of Pierre Damas Bel laid him to rest. The 20-year-old Haitian student lost his legal immigration status in July after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end temporary protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians. Bel died by suicide a month after immigration authorities required him to wear an ankle monitor. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Supreme Court justices heard arguments in a major climate change case that could shape how communities hold industries accountable. Officials in Boulder, Colorado, are seeking compensation from energy companies for the costs of natural disasters they say are caused by climate change. Ali Rogin discussed more with News Hour Supreme Court analyst and SCOTUSBlog cofounder Amy Howe. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Monday, students at Cornell are staging protests over the university's handling of an alleged fraternity house gang rape in 2024, President Trump said a threat linked to Iran was the reason the U.S. withdrew its bombers from the Fairford airbase in the UK and Dennis Hastert, the disgraced former House Speaker who later went to prison, has died. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The U.S. is closely monitoring a potential case of pneumonic plague in Russia after a laboratory worker who studied the disease fell ill and died. Russian authorities insist there is no cause for alarm, but officials have imposed quarantines and other measures at several medical facilities in Siberia. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Annie Jacobsen, author of "Biological War: A Scenario." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A U.S. Marine has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of robbing and murdering a woman. The Japanese government has lodged a complaint with the U.S. and is demanding full cooperation with the investigation. From Okinawa, special correspondent Patrick Fok explains how the case threatens to revive tensions over America's military presence there, one of the most critical strategic outposts in Asia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump continuing to promise payouts to voters if Republicans win in the midterms, the GOP spending campaign money and playing defense in typically Republican districts and the White House again barring a media outlet from the press pool. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Pope Leo XIV made history as the first American to lead the Catholic Church. But the path that brought him there stretched from Chicago's South Side to decades of missionary work in Peru and ultimately to the highest ranks of the Vatican. "American Pope" traces that journey and offers a fuller portrait of the man behind the papacy. Geoff Bennett spoke with authors Scott Detrow and Daniel Burke. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

U.S. hiring slowed in September as employers added just 29,000 jobs. The disappointing jobs report has wide-reaching implications for consumer prices and interest rates, and it comes a month before Americans head to the polls for midterm elections. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Beth Hammack, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed the state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over the Cornell University rape case, the U.S. is sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East as President Trump weighs further action against Iran and this year's Kennedy Center Honors will take place at Washington, D.C.'s Capital One Arena. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Spending for this year's midterms is accelerating as we get closer to Election Day. Political correspondent Lisa Desjardins makes sense of the billions spent to influence who controls Congress next year. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Defense Secretary Hegseth directed military commanders to have a one-day "stand down" this month so service members have time to vote in the midterms. In King County, Washington, ballots are already being processed from service members and Americans living abroad. Some arrive by mail. Some by email. Liz Landers takes a look at how those ballots are verified and counted and how secure they are. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Kimberly Atkins Stohr of The Boston Globe join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump hitting the campaign trail in a string of reliably Republican states, GOP vulnerabilities heading into the midterms and the administration's strategy on artificial intelligence. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Mandatory cuts from the federal government on water from the Colorado River will soon take effect in Arizona, Nevada, and California. Now, some water managers in the region are spending billions to prepare for a drier future. Special correspondent Ben Tracy with Climate Central reports for our series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tennessee officials failed to carry out the lethal injection of death row inmate Christa Pike on Wednesday. Her attorneys say she is alive and in critical condition after being given two separate doses of pentobarbital meant to kill her. Pike was sentenced to death for the gruesome murder of her classmate in 1995. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Deborah Denno, a professor at Fordham School of Law. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Investigators across the Middle East are hunting for answers after a co-pilot stabbed his captain and allegedly attempted to crash a FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel. President Trump claimed the attack could be linked to Iran, but did not provide evidence. Geoff Bennett discussed what we do and don't know with Juliette Kayyem, a former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed to review the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy for migrants, UK police arrested a British-Iranian citizen on suspicion of planning a terror attack following a security incident at an air base and a Russian drone slammed into a school in Kyiv as the capital endured yet another day of aerial attacks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

There are new revelations about how authorities handled an alleged gang rape at Cornell University in 2024. New reporting out today finds Cornell police left out key information in a statement given to local law enforcement. That includes Jane Doe's statement, "I can say with 100 percent confidence I was raped." Amna Nawaz discussed more with Sharon Otterman of The New York Times. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he is fundamentally reshaping the culture of the U.S. military. He's removing senior officers, dismantling diversity initiatives and putting a new emphasis on religious faith and what he calls a "warrior ethos." Beyond the cultural changes, Hegseth is accelerating autonomous weapons and other emerging technologies. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Peter Feaver. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

After 48 years, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon is nearing the end of its mandate. Its planned withdrawal comes at a time when the Israeli military occupies around 6% of Lebanese territory. Special Correspondent Simona Foltyn and videographer Adrian Hartrick gained rare access with the peacekeepers, traveling south of Israel's "yellow line." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Karl Rove is known for his hardball politics promoting the GOP. But in the past two weeks, he announced that this year he is voting for a Democrat. Lisa Desjardins sat down with Rove and another architect of modern politics, Democrat David Axelrod. Their conversation covered election security, whether Rove will vote for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton and their midterm predictions. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In 2024, Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich was freed from detention in Russia, as part of a complex prisoner swap that included 16 people from seven countries. Gershkovich sat down with Amna Nawaz to discuss his arrest, his time in prison and his new book, "This Cursed Beautiful Land." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In the aftermath of the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox emerged as a prominent voice calling on Americans to step back from the political hatred and violence gripping the country. Now, the Republican governor is expanding on that message in a new book, "Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt." Cox joined Geoff Bennett to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The American Dream. The phrase has been a national ethos for generations. But what does it mean today, and how achievable is it? Judy Woodruff has a look for her series, Crossroads: America at 250. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

About 170 people aboard a terrifying flight to Tel Aviv are safe and on the ground after one pilot stabbed the other in an apparent attempt to crash it. Israeli officials say passengers and crew sprang into action and prevented a disaster. The attacker has been arrested in Saudi Arabia. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, the Federal Reserve's Inspector General found no criminal activity by former Chair Jerome Powell related to the renovation of the central bank's headquarters, Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will cut the number of its generals and admirals by roughly 20% and Ukraine officials say Russian strikes killed at least seven people, including a child. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

U.S. forces formally withdrew from Iraq today, marking the end of a long and turbulent military presence. The withdrawal brought celebrations in the capital -- but also concern about what comes next. For insight and analysis, Geoff Bennett spoke with James Jeffrey and Feisal Istrabadi. Jeffrey was ambassador to Iraq under President Obama, and Istrabadi served as Iraq's ambassador to the UN. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Top tech executives met with President Trump on Tuesday to discuss the future of artificial intelligence amid growing concerns over AI models losing control. Researchers and lawmakers are calling for stronger safeguards, but Trump said the technology is transforming the economy and that the U.S. cannot afford to lose its lead over China. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Gary Marcus. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The prosecutor who led criminal investigations of President Trump for the Department of Justice faced questions from Senate Republicans on Tuesday. Former special counsel Jack Smith handled two probes. One focused on the president's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the other on Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, the Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to continue deporting migrants to countries other than their own for now, federal prosecutors charged a Venezuelan delivery driver who was shot by an ICE officer with assaulting a federal officer and Dutch police arrested a suspected member of the ShinyHunters group that claims it hacked the FBI's jobs database. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The latest polling shows Democrats with a solid shot of regaining control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections. If they do, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries could become Speaker of the House, with debates over the economy, government spending, and President Trump's agenda all unfolding. Jeffries joined Geoff Bennett to discuss those issues. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Estonia formally accused Russia of an arson attack on a robotics company this past August that it said was part of a wave of Russian sabotage across Europe. In Poland, leaders are warning that Russia is planning a major attack to test NATO. Malcolm Brabant reports from Poland's border with Russia's Baltic enclave, Kaliningrad. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For decades, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones has reported on race, inequality and the deep divisions in American education. In a new essay, she turns the lens on a choice she made for her own family: sending her daughter to a high-poverty, low-performing school in Brooklyn. Geoff Bennett spoke with Hannah-Jones about the decision on our PBS News podcast, "Settle In." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones wrote a now-viral essay about her decision to send her daughter to high-poverty, predominantly Black public schools in her New York city neighborhood — and how they both feel about that choice 10 years later. In this episode of Settle In, she talks with Geoff Bennet about the immediate backlash to her essay, whether she regrets her choice and how to do better by kids in public schools. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Monday, UK police are investigating five British nationals in connection with a possible plot at an American airbase, prosecutors in New York say they are reopening a criminal investigation into an alleged sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity in 2024 and officials in Ukraine say at least seven people were killed and more than 80 were wounded in Russian strikes. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is back above 7% for the first time in twenty months. It's rough news for the housing market and homebuyers already struggling with rising prices elsewhere. It comes as Treasury yields, which impact borrowing costs across the economy, hit multi-decade highs. Amna Nawaz discussed more with David Wessell of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The nation's top federal law official is drawing scrutiny for his recent political appearances. With just five weeks left until the midterms, some experts say Attorney General Todd Blanche is blurring lines meant to keep the Justice Department free of partisan bias. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the U.S. government paying for TV advertisements promoting President Trump, what voters think about Trump's handling of the economy and tight races in typically GOP-safe districts. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The United Nations recently announced a new executive director for the World Food Programme. Luke Lindberg was a Trump administration Agriculture Department official and inherits one of the UN's toughest jobs. Hundreds of millions around the world go hungry every day, and reaching as many as possible is a monumental task. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Carl Skau, the acting director of the WFP. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jessica Tarlov has made a career out of disagreeing, often while outnumbered. As the liberal voice on Fox News' "The Five," she spends her days debating people who see the world very differently than she does. In her new book, she argues that disagreement doesn't have to mean disdain. Geoff Bennett sat down with Tarlov to discuss "I Disagree." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Supreme Court revived a controversial voter-citizenship database less than two months ahead of the midterm elections. In the ruling, the court sided with the Trump administration, which is seeking to use the Department of Homeland Security's SAVE database to review state voter rolls for potential noncitizens. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Jessica Huseman of Votebeat. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Chinese President Xi wrapped up a three-day state visit with President Trump that was heavy on pageantry and light on policy announcements, tens of millions of people along the East Coast could see flooding, rough surf and high winds due to a powerful nor'easter and New Jersey's lieutenant governor stepped down amid accusations of sexual harassment and ethics violations. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump struck the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in his first term, but threw out that trade agreement after retaking office last year. He imposed steep tariffs on both neighbors and even started a trade war with Canada. To discuss trade talks between the countries, Amna Nawaz spoke with Mexico's foreign secretary, Roberto Velasco Álvarez. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Health care is at the center of a political debate as millions of Americans struggle with rising costs. Enrollment in the marketplaces created by the ACA dropped this year, mainly due to the expiration of federal credits. Vice President Vance also announced plans to cancel coverage for nearly 760,000 people, citing claims of widespread fraud. Geoff Bennett discussed with Larry Levitt of KFF. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This week marks two years that Iranian American journalist Reza Valizadeh has been detained in Iran. For a decade, he worked for Radio Farda — an independent, but U.S.-funded Farsi-language news service. During a trip to Iran to visit family, Valizadeh was arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison for "collaborating with a hostile government." Amna Nawaz spoke with his attorney, Ryan Fayhee. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Texas Republicans redrew the state's congressional map last year, making a bet that Latino voters who broke for President Trump in 2024 could be the foundation for victory in 2026. But as Liz Landers reports, immigration crackdowns and rising everyday costs in South Texas may be splintering the GOP's new coalition. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit, President Trump's warm welcome for the Chinese leader and Trump banning some journalists from the White House. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ahmad Joudeh is a ballet dancer of unusual grace and grit. He was born stateless in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, Syria. He has traveled far on the power of his dreams and the elegance of his dance. He survived a traumatic childhood, much of Syria's civil war and constant threats of execution by ISIS. We met Joudeh in his new home in San Diego. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump hosted Xi Jinping at the White House on the Chinese leader's first trip to Washington in more than 10 years. The pair held two meetings, and while the status of the press pool was still in doubt, they delivered remarks. Trump and the First Lady will host a State Dinner on Thursday. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

To discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington, Amna Nawaz spoke with Nicholas Burns and Samm Sacks. Burns is a former U.S. ambassador to China and is now at Harvard University. Sacks is a senior fellow at the Institute for America, China and the Future of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fiery speech at the U.N. General Assembly and dismissed allegations of genocide in Gaza, eight people were killed in the latest barrage of Russian drones and missiles in Ukraine and Texas election officials are scrambling to clear a backlog of voter registration applications caused by an error at the state level. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A rapid surge in the price of diesel fuel is straining businesses and threatening to raise costs across the economy. It's also putting pressure on President Trump to bring relief at the pump, including through a diesel export ban that's been pushed by some Republican lawmakers ahead of November's midterm elections. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As prediction markets continue to expand, they are drawing attention in Washington and states across the country. Companies like Kalshi and Polymarket allow people to trade contracts tied to the outcomes of real-world events, including elections. Liz Landers discussed the growing calls for more regulation with Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Researchers say they have the most conclusive proof of Thomas Jefferson's paternity of Sally Hemings' children. A strand of hair found in Jefferson's Bible launched an investigation involving DNA scientists, historians, genealogists and descendants of both Jefferson and Hemings. The story of that investigation and what it reveals is told in Richard Kurin's new book, "History by a Hair." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy