Nation Sep 23 What's making it harder for American family farms to survive For generations, the family farm has been central to the American story. But these days, farmers are struggling with sharply higher costs and crushing debt on top of the same economic pressures the rest of the country feels. Judy Woodruff…
Nation Sep 09 The lasting psychological impact of 9/11 on America Judy Woodruff recently visited the September 11 Memorial in New York for a look at how the attacks, 25 years ago, continue to shape our lives today. It's part of her series, Crossroads: America at 250.
Nation Aug 06 How American English evolved from its British roots How did American English become so distinctly American? On her “In Pursuit of Happiness” podcast, Judy Woodruff sat down with linguists Anne Curzan and Valerie Fridland. They look at how Americans from the very beginning reshaped the English language by…
Arts Jul 30 How music has helped tell America's story from the very beginning Music has helped tell America's story from the very beginning, reflecting our triumphs, struggles and the many cultures and traditions that have shaped the country. On her “In Pursuit of Happiness” podcast, Judy Woodruff sat down with music historian Ted…
Nation Jul 30 The music that's shaped America Music has long been one of America's most influential cultural exports. In this episode of “In Pursuit of Happiness,” Judy Woodruff talks with music historian Ted Gioia and journalist Sidney Madden about the Black and Indigenous roots of American music,…
Nation Jul 28 On 'Settle In,' Emilee Hackney and Amna Nawaz discuss Appalachian stereotypes Appalachia is often stereotyped as a region defined by struggling coal towns and substance abuse. Writer Emilee Hackney says those portrayals don’t reflect her life growing up in southwestern Virginia. Her debut memoir, “All That’s Unseen,” covers growing up inside…
Nation Jul 22 Thomas Jefferson's complicated legacy 250 years after the Declaration of Independence It's been 250 years since Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, a document that declared all men equal even while hundreds of thousands of people remained enslaved. Judy Woodruff traveled to his Virginia home of Monticello to learn more…
Nation Jul 17 The surprising role of conspiracy theories in the American Revolution Conspiracy theories may seem like a modern phenomenon, but they've been a part of America's story since the nation's founding. On Judy Woodruff's "In Pursuit of Happiness" podcast, she speaks with journalist and author Jesse Walker about the surprising role…
Nation Jul 16 How conspiracy theories have shaped America From the American Revolution to today, conspiracy theories have been part of the American story in ways that may surprise us. In this episode of Judy Woodruff’s “In Pursuit of Happiness,” she sits down with Jesse Walker, author of “The…
Arts Jul 09 What political satire can reveal about the strength of a democracy Satire plays a powerful role in challenging authority, exposing hypocrisy and testing the boundaries of free expression. It's among the forces Judy Woodruff explores in the podcast, “In Pursuit of Happiness.” She sat down with The Onion Network’s Joshua Johnson…