Politics Feb 05 What to expect from Biden’s State of the Union address Tuesday A Chinese surveillance balloon, the federal debt ceiling and Tuesday’s State of the Union address are the topics for today’s Weekend Briefing with congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins and NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith.
Health Feb 05 Why American cities are struggling to supply safe drinking water Residents of Jackson, Mississippi; Flint, Michigan; and parts of New York City, Baltimore and the state of Hawaii have all dealt with contaminated water supply over the years. Why are so many cities having problems with their drinking water? Shannon…
World Feb 04 Fear, violence and chaos grip Haiti as gangs seize control The island nation of Haiti has moved closer to the brink of collapse. Heavily armed gangs have taken over the capital and are targeting police after the country has been without a single elected official since early January. Jacqueline Charles,…
Nation Feb 04 How a trailblazing Black lawyer took down a top New York City mafia boss This Black History Month, PBS News Weekend is highlighting stories of Black Americans whose lives and work are lesser known — their accomplishments all the more significant because they were made in the face of injustices and discrimination. In the…
World Jan 29 Why more Rohingya refugees are making desperate journeys by sea It’s been five years since hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled the brutality of government security forces in Myanmar, ending up in camps in Bangladesh or setting out to sea in hopes of reaching Malaysia or Indonesia. Last week, Indonesia’s…
Health Jan 29 Why Oregon is the worst-ranked state for youth mental health Depression and anxiety among adolescents was already at crisis levels before the pandemic, but it surged amid the isolation, disruption and hardship of COVID. For our new series, "Early Warnings: America’s Youth Mental Health Crisis,” William Brangham traveled to Oregon…
Nation Jan 28 Tyre Nichols’ death puts spotlight back on excessive police use of force People across the nation are struggling to come to grips with the shocking display of excessive force by Memphis police in the beating death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols. Thaddeus Johnson, professor of criminal justice and criminology at Georgia State University,…
Nation Jan 28 Ohio lawmakers work to fund 988 suicide prevention hotline Since its launch last July, the nationwide 988 hotline for people experiencing a mental health crisis has received more than 2 million calls, texts and chats. The launch got a boost from the federal government, with future funding expected to…
World Jan 27 Why so many Americans know little about the history of the Holocaust International Holocaust Remembrance Day comes at a moment when there is growing worry about antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world. There's also been concern that too many people don't know enough about what happened during the Holocaust. John…
Nation Jan 26 Former Memphis police officers charged with murder in death of Tyre Nichols Five fired police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, have been charged with second-degree murder in a killing that has echoed across the country. The victim, Tyre Nichols, died after a confrontation during a traffic stop earlier this month. Attorneys for Nichols'…