
Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 2m 1sVideo has Closed Captions
Supreme Court blocks Purdue settlement in major blow to local governments fighting opioids
The Supreme Court ripped up a controversial bankruptcy deal that would have provided billions of dollars to states devastated by the opioid epidemic and shielded the controversial family accused of pushing pharmaceutical painkillers in search of profit. Amna Nawaz explored the details and impact of the Purdue Pharma case with Brian Mann.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by...

Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 2m 1sVideo has Closed Captions
The Supreme Court ripped up a controversial bankruptcy deal that would have provided billions of dollars to states devastated by the opioid epidemic and shielded the controversial family accused of pushing pharmaceutical painkillers in search of profit. Amna Nawaz explored the details and impact of the Purdue Pharma case with Brian Mann.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch PBS News Hour
PBS News Hour is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWell, the decision to reject the opioid settlement is a major blow to states, to local governments, individuals, and tribes, all expecting more than $6 billion.
For more on the court's decision, we are joined now by Brian Mann, who covers this as NPR's national addiction correspondent.
Brian, it's worth underscoring here what you have reported on for a long time, that more than 300,000 Americans have died from opioid overdoses since the year 2000.
Just briefly remind us about the roles played by Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family in the making of that crisis.
BRIAN MANN, National Addiction Correspondent, National Public Radio: Yes, so when Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin under the leadership of members of the Sackler family, they pushed hard and marketed this medication as lower-risk, something that more doctors, more dentists, more people across the medical industry could prescribe almost casually.
And it turns out OxyContin was highly addictive.
It opened the floodgate to this addiction and overdose death crisis that we're still in the middle of now.
We're seeing 100,000 opioid and drug deaths every year in the United States.
And a lot of public health experts say the opening gate of that was Purdue Pharma marketing of OxyContin.
AMNA NAWAZ: So the tribes, the states, the families who all wanted to see this deal go through, now it is not.
What are you hearing from them in the way of a reaction?
BRIAN MANN: There's a really complicated, mixed reaction out there.
A lot of these people say, yes, they want members of the Sackler family, who deny any wrongdoing, held accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.
But, at the same time, the family was offering this $6 billion chunk of cash out there.
(INAUDIBLE) AMNA NAWAZ: Oh, I apologize to our viewers at home.
Brian, I'm so sorry.
We seem to have lost your audio.
We thank you so much for joining us tonight.
That's Brian Mann, NPR's national addiction correspondent.
Thank you.
Detroit showcases queer art in pioneering exhibition
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 5m 50s | Detroit showcases queer art in pioneering exhibition (5m 50s)
How Biden and Trump are approaching debate preparations
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 7m 37s | How Biden and Trump are approaching preparations for the CNN Presidential Debate (7m 37s)
Rising sea levels threatens farming along Chesapeake Bay
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 8m 4s | Saltwater from rising sea levels threatens future of farming along Chesapeake Bay (8m 4s)
Strategists on what Biden, Trump need to do to win voters
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 8m 42s | Strategists on what Biden and Trump need to do in the CNN debate to win voters (8m 42s)
Study: Infant mortality spiked in Texas after abortion ban
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 6m 17s | Infant mortality spiked in Texas after abortion ban, study reveals (6m 17s)
Supreme Court majority takes aim at 'administrative state'
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/27/2024 | 6m 55s | Conservative Supreme Court majority takes aim at 'administrative state' in latest rulings (6m 55s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
- News and Public Affairs
Amanpour and Company features conversations with leaders and decision makers.
Support for PBS provided by:
Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by...