Full Episode
Friday, Sep 4
PBS NewsHour
  • Episodes
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletters
  • The Latest
  • Politics
    Politics
    • Brooks and Capehart
    • Politics Monday
    • Supreme Court
  • Arts
    Arts
    • CANVAS
    • Poetry
    • Now Read This
  • Nation
    Nation
    • America at a Crossroads
    • Supreme Court
    • Race Matters
    • Essays
    • Brief But Spectacular
  • World
    World
    • Agents for Change
    • Compass Points
  • Economy
    Economy
    • Making Sen$e
    • Paul Solman
  • Science
    Science
    • The Leading Edge
    • ScienceScope
    • Basic Research
    • Innovation and Invention
  • Health
    Health
    • Horizons
    • Long-Term Care
  • Education
    Education
    • Teachers' Lounge
    • Student Reporting Labs
  • For Teachers
    Education
    • Newshour Classroom
  • About
    • Feedback
    • Funders
    • Support
    • Jobs
PBS News

Get news alerts from PBS News

Turn on desktop notifications?

national debt

  • Full Episodes
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletters
  • Live
A screen displays the total U.S. National Debt in New York

Economy Aug 19

The U.S. national debt now stands at $40 trillion

By Fatima Hussein, Associated Press

Politics Aug 19

Peter G. Peterson Foundation National Debt Clocks in Atlanta
7 questions about the national debt hitting $40 trillion

There is a lot to unpack about the national debt. Here's a starter guide to what's happening with the national debt right now.

By Lisa Desjardins

Nation Aug 17

growingdebt
Watch 5:33
National debt nears $40 trillion: How we got here and why it matters

The national debt is expected to hit a record high as soon as this week, crossing a major threshold of $40 trillion. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins explains why that milestone is a warning sign for many economists.

By Lisa Desjardins, Ali Schmitz

Economy Sep 18

National Debt Clock in New York City
Watch 7:41
How debt interest is becoming a bigger problem for the U.S. government

The national debt has grown to more than $37 trillion. There is mounting concern in some quarters over how soon the ballooning debt will impact the lives of everyday Americans. As Paul Solman explains, simply paying the interest on that…

By Paul Solman, Ryan Connelly Holmes

Nation Jun 05

National Debt Clock in New York City
Watch 8:03
Explaining the national debt, how we got here and what it means for future generations

Republicans in Congress are hashing out a new tax cut and spending bill that's projected to add trillions to the national debt. Economics correspondent Paul Solman explains the ballooning national debt, how we got here and what it means for…

By Paul Solman, Sam Weber

Jun 05

Watch 4:57
Breaking down Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' and its impact on the deficit and national debt

By Lisa Desjardins, Ali Schmitz

The Republican tax cut and spending bill could add trillions to the already massive deficit. Lisa Desjardins breaks down what President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” means for the national debt.

Continue watching

Jun 05

Watch 5:36
GOP Sen. Ron Johnson explains why he opposes Trump's budget in its current form

By Geoff Bennett, Doug Adams, Kyle Midura

One of the biggest sticking points in the Trump budget bill is its projected impact on the national debt, a concern shared by several key Republican lawmakers. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson is among them and he joined Geoff Bennett to…

Continue watching

Jun 02

Can Trump fix the national debt? Republican senators, many investors and even Elon Musk are skeptical

By Josh Boak, Associated Press

The White House has viciously lashed out at anyone who has voiced concern about the debt snowballing under Trump, even though it did exactly that in his first term after his 2017 tax cuts.

Continue reading

May 19

Watch 4:57
Credit rating downgrade triggers warning signs for U.S. economy

By Amna Nawaz, Karina Cuevas

The growing size of the U.S. debt, and the concerns over how much more it will increase, is very much on the minds of investors, markets and lawmakers. The developments were tied in part to Moody’s announcement that it was…

Continue watching

Oct 07

Nonpartisan analysis suggests national debt could increase under Harris, but surge under Trump

By Josh Boak, Associated Press

The analysis released Monday by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget suggests a Harris presidency could increase the national debt over 10 years by $3.5 trillion, while former President Trump's ideas could heap another $7.5 trillion onto the…

Continue reading

Jump to the First Page Previous Page
1 2 3 4
Next Page Jump to the Last Page

Support Provided By: Learn more

Educate your inbox

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Form error message goes here.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

Full Episode
Friday, Sep 4
  • BNSF Railway
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Raymond James
  • Friends of the News Hour
PBS News

© 1996 - 2026 NewsHour Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved.

PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Sections

  • The Latest
  • Politics
  • Arts
  • Nation
  • World
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Health
  • Education

About

  • About Us
  • TV Schedule
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Funders
  • Support
  • Newsletters
  • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • X
  • TikTok
  • Threads
  • RSS

Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins

Form error message goes here.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

Support our journalism

Support for News Hour Provided By

  • BNSF Railway
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Raymond James
  • Viewers Like You