PBS News Hour - Politics

A sweeping new housing bill is set to become law, even without the president's signature. The measure passed Congress with bipartisan support, but President Trump refused to sign it in protest of the GOP Senate's failure to approve his election legislation, known as the SAVE Act. Barring a last-minute veto, the bill will usher in new housing regulations and incentives. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS...

There are questions surrounding the health of Sen. Mitch McConnell after the Kentucky Republican's hospitalization on June 14. Lisa Desjardins reports on what we know. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

With planning for the midterm elections well underway, President Trump has ousted the remaining members of a bipartisan federal agency that helps state and local officials run smooth elections and certify voting equipment. White House correspondent Liz Landers explains what happened at the Election Assistance Commission and the impact it could have in November. PBS News is supported by - https://w...

The Supreme Court wrapped up one of its most consequential terms for shaping LGBTQ rights. In one of the major decisions, the justices upheld state bans on transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports. But more challenges are already emerging. Liz Landers reports on the legal battle ahead. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the fallout from this week's shakeup in the Maine Senate race, President Trump's comments at the NATO summit and Rahm Emanuel's criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on...

Maine Democrats are scrambling to pick a new Senate candidate as the scandal-plagued winner of last month's primary says he's withdrawing from the race. Graham Platner announced his decision to step away following new allegations of sexual assault. The Democrats have just 18 days to name a replacement nominee to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Ashley Etienne. PBS...

Rahm Emanuel delivered a pointed message in Tel Aviv about the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. It comes as American public opinion, and the Democratic Party itself, are increasingly divided over support for Israel. Emanuel criticized Netanyahu's government, called for a new approach to military aid and renewed efforts toward Palestinian statehood. He joined Geoff Bennett to discuss more. P...

From Benjamin Franklin to The Onion, satire has long been a part of how Americans process politics and power. In this episode of "In Pursuit of Happiness," Judy Woodruff talks to Sophia McClennen of Penn State University and Joshua Johnson of The Onion about the history of satire and its relationship with news and democracy today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funde...

In our news wrap Wednesday, a federal judge ordered that $5 million in damages be released to E. Jean Carroll stemming from her sexual abuse lawsuit against President Trump, former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel called for the U.S. to end unconditional support for Israel and the International Monetary Fund lowered its global growth forecast for this year as the war in Iran drives up energy prices. PBS...

The Department of Justice is threatening to arrest more than a dozen state election officials if a single vote is cast in their states by a noncitizen. The threat was part of a letter giving election officials five days to detail how they will comply with laws on noncitizens voting. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Jessica Huseman of Votebeat, who obtained the letter. PBS News is supported by - http...

For the past few weeks, visitors have flocked to the National Mall for the "Great American State Fair," part of the celebration marking the nation's 250th anniversary. But in this milestone year, President Trump's approach to commemorating the anniversary has injected a more partisan tone into events meant to bring Americans together. Liz Landers reports from the fair. PBS News is supported by - h...

The Trump administration has fired more immigration judges as it moves to reshape the court system that polices deportations. Immigration courts are overseen by the Department of Justice itself. That means judges are required to answer to the administration whose policies they're ruling on. Ali Rogin spoke with Holly D'Andrea, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges. PBS News i...

In our news wrap Tuesday, a federal judge rejected the Trump administration's attempt to collect the names and contact information of Fulton County, Georgia, election workers, New York City officials warned a high-rise is at risk of collapsing and Reform UK party leader and Trump ally Nigel Farage says he's resigning from Parliament over questionable donations. PBS News is supported by - https://w...

The list of Democrats calling for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw continues to grow a day after a woman he once dated accused him of sexual assault. Platner denies the allegation and said he was reflecting on his path forward. Amna Nawaz discussed the future of the race with Steve Mistler of Maine Public Radio. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders...

More changes are underway for federal student loans with major implications for current and future graduate students. It comes after a federal judge temporarily blocked some new loan limits from the Department of Education, including limits affecting some professional degrees. William Brangham discussed the changes with Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of The Washington Post. PBS News is supported by - ht...

For more than 60 years, the federal government has relied on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce laws against workplace discrimination. The Department of Justice is now challenging a legal framework that has underpinned that work for decades. Geoff Bennett discussed the policy shift and its implications with Jenny Yang, a former chair of the EEOC. PBS News is supported by - http...

The United States takes on Belgium Monday with star striker Folarin Balogun on the pitch. Balogun was given a red card in last week's game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning he would miss the next game. But President Trump intervened and FIFA reversed Balogun's suspension. Amna Nawaz discussed the World Cup controversy with Liz Landers and Leander Schaerlaeckens, author of "The Long Game." PB...

During his race for the White House, President Trump pledged to expand Second Amendment rights nationwide. Now his administration is taking major steps to roll back gun restrictions put into place for public safety. Justice correspondent Ali Rogin discussed the administration's efforts with Chip Brownlee, a staff writer at The Trace, covering federal gun policy. PBS News is supported by - https://...

NPR's Tamara Keith and Carrie Dann of the Cook Political Report join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including Democrats in Maine scrambling and calling on Graham Platner to drop out of the Senate race as a sexual assault accuser comes forward, the direction of the Democratic Party into the midterms and what happened in Washington during the nation's 250th anniversary. PBS News is...

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including major Supreme Court decisions and more primary upsets in a busy lead-up to the nation's 250th anniversary. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As President Trump attempts to wield greater power over election administration ahead of the midterms, dozens of legal battles are currently underway across the country. Their outcomes could shape how elections are run this fall. Liz Landers discussed more with Ben Ginsberg. He has spent decades working as a Republican election lawyer, including on the landmark 2000 Bush v. Gore dispute. PBS News...

A new book by veteran reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan is offering one of the most revealing looks to date inside the second Trump White House. It's called "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump." Amna Nawaz spoke with Haberman and Swan about why those close to the president were willing to speak, and what those sources wanted readers to understand. PBS News is s...

President Trump's latest financial disclosure shows his various businesses generated more than $2 billion in income in 2025, his first year back in the White House. That is more than triple his reported income from the year before. The biggest gains came from the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Eric Lipton of The New York Times. PBS News is supported by - htt...

Progressive challengers scored upsets against Democratic establishment names up and down the ballot in Colorado. It's part of a mounting trend in some races across the country. To discuss where the Democratic Party stands ahead of the midterms, Lisa Desjardins spoke with Mo Elleithee, a former DNC communications director who now leads the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service. PBS Ne...

With celebrations for the nation's 250th anniversary well underway, the country's mood can be summed up as complicated, according to a new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll. Most Americans say the nation has drifted from its founding ideals, and a growing number believe violence may be necessary to set the country on the right path. Liz Landers has insights from the poll and its respondents. PBS News is su...