Jan 13 Watch Poet Elizabeth Alexander Reflects on Inaugural Reading Only a few poets have participated in the swearing-in ceremony for our nation's highest office, and on Jan. 20, Elizabeth Alexander will become just the fourth to hold that honor when she will recite an original poem at President-elect Barack… Continue watching
Jan 05 Minn. Election Board Certifies Franken Ahead in Senate Race By Admin, PBS News Hour After a two-month recount process, Democrat Al Franken has been certified with more votes than Republican Norm Coleman for one of Minnesota's seats in the U.S. Senate, but legal challenges from Coleman could keep the race unresolved for weeks. Continue reading
Dec 26 Watch Shields, Gerson Reflect on Historic Year, Challenges Ahead After a year that saw a global economic crisis develop and a historic presidential election take place, Mark Shields and Michael Gerson look back on 2008's news highlights and discuss what to expect in the year to come. Continue watching
Dec 11 Watch Navigating New Definitions of a Multiracial Identity Essayist Richard Rodriguez reflects on how Americans view multiracial and multicultural identities in the wake of Barack Obama's election to the presidency. Continue watching
Nov 04 Watch Political History Takes New Course in ’08 Election Elections from both the 1930s and the 1990s have centered on the economy, but the 2008 presidential race featured a unique combination of economic, racial and foreign policy issues. Historians discuss the events and offer some parallels from past elections. Continue watching
Nov 03 Watch Polls Indicate a Tightening Race as Election Day Arrives A Pew poll shows Barack Obama with a narrowing lead in the hard-fought presidential race. Andy Kohut and Amy Walter examine the shape of the race on the eve of Election Day. Continue watching
Oct 30 Watch Viewers Flock to Comedy Shows for Dose of Campaign Humor Sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live has seen its ratings soar in recent weeks as viewers have tuned in to watch skits about political candidates and campaigns. SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels and head writer Seth Meyers discuss political comedy. Continue watching
Sep 01 Watch Experts Mull Historical Context of GOP’s Convention Postponement The Republican Committee decided to delay convention events on Monday due to Hurricane Gustav -- a first in party convention history. Historians discuss the decision and its political significance in the context of past conventions. Continue watching
Aug 25 Watch President Carter Mulls Historical Significance of Barack Obama President Jimmy Carter sits down with Jim Lehrer, Mark Shields and David Brooks to reflect on the race for the White House, Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy, and the historical significance of the moment. Continue watching
Jul 16 Watch Candidates Address NAACP, Reach Out to Black Voters Unlike in previous elections, both Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., reached out to black voters at this year's annual NAACP conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Representatives from both parties weigh the race factor in this year's campaign. Continue watching