About Sam @samkweber
Sam Weber has covered everything from living on minimum wage to consumer finance as a shooter/producer for PBS NewsHour Weekend. Prior joining NH Weekend, he previously worked for Need to Know on PBS and in public radio. He’s an avid cyclist and Chicago Bulls fan.
Sam’s Recent Stories
Politics Oct 01
Supreme Court to hear case testing the limits of partisan gerrymanderingIn the 2012 elections, Republicans in Wisconsin won 60 of the 99 Assembly seats, despite Democrats having a majority of the statewide vote. The disparity lead to the federal lawsuit Gill v. Whitford, in which plaintiffs alleged that voting districts…
Nation Jun 24
Private prisons help with overcrowding, but at what cost?The Obama administration last year announced it would phase out privately-run prisons, citing little benefits to public safety and higher rates of assault and violence on the inside. The Trump administration reversed that decision while pointing to potential increases in…
Nation Jun 11
A year after Pulse shooting, survivor reflects on recoveryIn the early morning of June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen opened fire at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It was the worst mass shooting of civilians in American history, leaving 49 people dead and dozens injured. NewsHour…
Nation Jun 10
How online social movements translate to offline resultsIn recent years, social media has played a key role in organizing and getting protesters into the streets in the U.S. and around the world. Though these tools can help rally people to action, a new book, "Twitter and Tear…
World May 20
Kenya races toward goal of electrifying every householdKenya has made rapid gains in connecting households across the country to the electrical grid, as part of a goal to achieve universal access to power by 2020. Over the past three years the East African country has connected 12.4…
World Apr 30
Drones keep elephants away from people in TanzaniaIn the Serengeti region in Tanzania, conflict can arise between humans and the elephants that graze on their crops. The U.S.-based nonprofit RESOLVE is testing a new way to reduce these clashes while protecting both elephants and humans: drones. NewsHour…
World Apr 08
Group gives cash aid to rural Kenyans, then studies its effectsSince it was founded in 2011, U.S.-based nonprofit GiveDirectly has given cash unconditionally to villagers in eastern Africa, particularly Kenya and Uganda. The nonprofit’s most recent project involves providing a basic income consisting of cash payments to every adult in…
Nation Feb 18
Gold Butte National Monument is controversial for some localsThe newly-designated Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada contains fragile wildlife habitat, important sites for native tribes and thousands of ancient rock etchings. While local indigenous tribes, environmental advocacy groups and Democrats cheered former President Obama’s decision to bring the…
Politics Nov 06
This system calls for popular vote to determine winnerFour times in U.S. history, the winner of the nationwide popular vote has lost the Electoral College and the general election. But a proposal called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact would automatically allocate participating states' Electoral College votes to…
Politics Oct 23
GOP incumbent walks line in PA on supporting TrumpEven if Hillary Clinton wins the White House, she could face difficulties on Capitol Hill, if Republicans continue to control the House of Representatives and Senate. One of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents is Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. NewsHour…