Arts Dec 28 A look back at 2025's chart-toppers, best songs and standout artists Music in 2025 has had it all, from breakout new artists and big stars continuing to top the charts, to AI-generated artists igniting fierce debate online. To help us sift through the year in music, Stephanie Sy speaks with freelance…
Arts Dec 25 How the character and traditions of Santa Claus evolved over centuries This Christmas, many children welcomed a familiar visitor – a jolly man in a red suit and a sleigh full of gifts. But the bearded figure Americans recognize today as Santa Claus is a relatively modern creation, shaped over centuries…
Arts Dec 24 Why Christmas carols endure as popular music changes From “Silent Night” to “Jingle Bells,” Christmas carols are some of the most familiar songs of the season, and some of the oldest. Stephanie Sy explores why most popular music changes with time, but many of these old tunes have…
Arts Dec 23 Kennedy Center renaming highlights Trump's reshaping of Washington in his image Since reentering the White House earlier this year, President Trump has made quick work of reshaping Washington in his image, in some cases literally. That is on display at the recently renamed Trump-Kennedy Center. The performing arts center has roots…
Nation Dec 19 Investigators search for motive after shooter linked to Brown University, MIT found dead Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind two shootings in New England after the suspect was found dead. The man who killed two students at Brown University was located in a New Hampshire storage facility. Authorities say he's…
Nation Dec 19 News Hour West signs off We want to acknowledge a difficult change for us here at the PBS News Hour. Over the past six years, our bureau in Phoenix has provided excellent reporting from that part of the country and produced an updated broadcast for…
Nation Dec 18 Trump administration moves to restrict gender-affirming care for minors nationwide The Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a series of actions meant to effectively ban transition-related medical treatments nationwide for those under 18. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Selena Simmons-Duffin, who covers health policy for NPR.
Health Dec 08 Why Native Americans are facing high rates of mental decline It’s estimated that around 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, a number that’s expected to double by 2060. But researchers have found that some of the highest rates of cognitive impairment and dementia exist in a population that’s long been…
Nation Nov 28 Tips for holiday shopping in a year when prices are rising The internet has already revolutionized holiday shopping but worries about the labor market and the effect of tariffs are prompting even more Americans to search for holiday deals online. Annemarie Conte, deputy editor for The New York Times’ Wirecutter, joins…
Nation Nov 28 Long-overlooked marvel of ancient Indigenous engineering gets validation in Ohio On Native American Heritage Day, we examine a long-overlooked marvel of ancient engineering that had been tucked away beneath a golf course in Ohio. It is a place some archaeologists say is on par with Stonehenge. But its struggle for…