Stories of the Week | PBS NewsHour Podcast | PBS

'The Information Diet': Should Americans Exercise More 'Conscious Consumption'?

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:44:00 EDT

Clay Johnson, author of "The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption", discusses with Hari Sreenivasan how abundant technology affects our health -- producing pulsing side effects such as "email apnea" or "reality dysmorphia."

Shields, Brooks on Campaign Ads, JPMorgan Losses, Debt Ceiling Debate

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:26:00 EDT

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week's top political news including a recent Obama campaign video that tries to debunk Mitt Romney's job creation claims, JPMorgan Chase losses and the expected renewal of the debt ceiling debate.

8th-Grade Journalist Spotlights Violence in School, Hopes Obama Will Notice

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:25:00 EDT

How does violence affect students' ability to learn? That's what eighth-grader De'Qonton Davis and his classmates set out to investigate as part of the NewsHour's Student Reporting Labs project in partnership with PBS station WEDU in Tampa. The students produced a unique video report that they hope President Obama will see.

Showdown Ahead? Analyzing the Politics Behind Renewed Debt Debate

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:03:00 EDT

Battle lines were being drawn again Wednesday for a new fight over raising the U.S. borrowing limit, foreshadowing a replay of last year's stalemate. Judy Woodruff, Todd Zwillich of "The Takeaway" and Roll Call's Steve Dennis discuss the renewed war of words and how a new debt battle might shape the presidential campaign.

What Ron Paul Wants If His Supporters Back Romney

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:45:00 EDT

Ron Paul announced Monday that his campaign would not spend any more money in the presidential primaries. But he's not suspending his campaign. Judy Woodruff looks at Paul's chances of continuing to impact the GOP -- and its upcoming convention -- with Jon Ralson of the Las Vegas Sun and Brian Doherty of Reason magazine.

Unemployment: Addressing a Worsening 'Human Disaster' in U.S.

Mon, 14 May 2012 18:44:00 EDT

Some 5 million Americans have been looking for work for more than six months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jeffrey Brown speaks with Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and Kevin Hassett of the American Enterprise Institute who say the "human disaster" has potential generations-long effects.

Boosting Reading Skills: Will 'Common Core' Experiment Pay Off?

Mon, 14 May 2012 18:34:00 EDT

Called the "Common Core," a new set of state guidelines spell out what young students are expected to learn and what books they're expected to read. Forty five states and the District of Colombia have already adopted the standards. Learning Matters' John Merrow reports on the design and the aim of the new guidelines.

Shields, Brooks on Obama, Romney Split on Gay Marriage, Austerity Backlash

Fri, 11 May 2012 18:30:00 EDT

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week's top political news including President Obama's new support for gay marriage, Mitt Romney's "subtle gradations" on the issue, the backlash over austerity in European elections and the House Republicans' votes on the defense budget.

After JPMorgan's Huge Loss, Is More Regulation Needed?

Fri, 11 May 2012 18:03:00 EDT

Shares in JPMorgan Chase fell 9 percent Friday on news that the bank lost $2 billion over six weeks due to "self-inflicted" mistakes. Jeffrey Brown, The Wall Street Journal's Liz Rappaport, Michael Greenberger of the University of Maryland School of Law and consultant Bert Ely discuss the details and calls for more regulation.

LBJ's 'Passage of Power': The Transformation of a 'Legislative Genius'

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:45:00 EDT

Historian Robert Caro has spent nearly four decades telling the story of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Gwen Ifill and Caro discuss the pivotal four years between 1960 and 1964 when Johnson rose from senator to an overshadowed vice president, and then to president -- the premise of his latest biography, "The Passage of Power."

FDA Urges Caution Over Long-Term Use of Bone-Density-Building Drugs

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:38:00 EDT

Millions of women grapple with whether to take bone-density-building drugs to treat or prevent osteoporosis, but the FDA this week warned that long-term use of bisphosphonates can lead to rare fractures and side effects. Margaret Warner and Maine Medical Center's Dr. Clifford Rosen discuss the risks outlined by the FDA.

Chimpanzee Testing: Is it the Beginning of the End?

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:26:00 EDT

Medical experiments on chimpanzees can be invasive, involving injections, blood samples and liver biopsies. But some say it's the only way to advance medicine. Miles O'Brien's report explores whether there are ever instances in which the scientific value of research should offset the moral cost of working with chimps.

Obama's Support for Gay Marriage: How Will it Help, Hurt Politically?

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:16:00 EDT

The political reverberations continued Thursday, a day after President Obama announced his support for gay marriage. Judy Woodruff, Politico's Charlie Mahtesian and The Grio's Perry Bacon discuss how the issue is likely to play out this election year with different voting blocs and voters in different areas of the country.

Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriage: Now What?

Wed, 09 May 2012 18:03:00 EDT

President Obama said Wednesday that he now believes "same-sex couples should be able to get married." Judy Woodruff and author Kerry Eleveld discuss the president's "evolution" on the subject, then Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry and the Rev. Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church debate the legal future of same-sex marriage.

The Best and Worst Places to Be a Mom

Tue, 08 May 2012 18:42:00 EDT

Norway is the healthiest country in the world to be a mother, according to a new report released by the international non-profit Save the Children. The worst: West Africa's Niger. Gwen Ifill and Save the Children President Carolyn Miles discuss what countries are best and worst at creating healthy children and mothers.

Will Obesity Reverse Rise in U.S. Life Expectancy?

Tue, 08 May 2012 18:18:00 EDT

Public health experts have long warned of a growing obesity epidemic in America. This week, the Institute of Medicine and others launched a major campaign in hopes of curbing the problem. Ray Suarez and Dr. Francis Collins of the National Institutes of Health discuss the personal and public consequences of obesity.

What Hollande's Win, Sarkozy's Defeat Mean for Future of Europe's Economy

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:07:00 EDT

French voters on Sunday elected Socialist candidate Francois Hollande to the presidency -- rebuking sitting leader Nicholas Sarkozy and austerity measures. Jeffrey Brown, The New York Times' Elaine Sciolino, Georgetown University's Charles Kupchan and The Globalist's Stephan Richter discuss the prospects of major policy shifts.

Shields, Brooks on Bin Laden Politics, Chen Guangcheng, Jobs Report

Fri, 04 May 2012 18:32:00 EDT

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week's top news including the political debates surrounding the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death, U.S. and China relations amid the saga of blind dissident Chen Guangcheng, new jobs numbers and structural problems in the U.S. economy.

Shields, Brooks on Gingrich's 'Skeletons,' Bill Clinton's 'Second Act,' Tax Cuts

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:40:00 EDT

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week's top political news, including the likelihood of Newt Gingrich being elected president, Bill Clinton's post-presidential work, lawmakers' struggles over the payroll tax cut extension and Rep. Barney Frank's legacy.

Bill Clinton on Obama: 'I Think He'll Be Re-elected'

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:28:00 EDT

In an interview with Judy Woodruff Friday, former President Bill Clinton discussed his new book, "Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy," his new collaboration with President Obama to promote energy efficiency and create jobs, his 2012 predictions and his relationship with GOP candidate Newt Gingrich.

For 'Soldiers' in Mexico's Drug War, 'More Murders Than They Can Count'

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:50:00 EDT

The death toll continues to mount in Mexico's drug war. Hari Sreenivasan and Ioan Grillo of GlobalPost discuss his new book "El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency," an account of his more than 10 years investigating the country's criminal cartels.

The Role of Rising Food Prices in Egypt's Revolution

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:37:00 EDT

Egypt's rising food prices are helping fuel the revolution that led to this week's parliamentary elections. In collaboration with The Center for Investigative Reporting, Homelands Productions and Marketplace, Sandy Tolan reports as part of a new series called "Food for 9 Billion."

Shields and Brooks on GOP Race After Perry Flub, 'Occupy' Movement

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:31:00 EDT

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week's top political news, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry's lapse at the latest GOP debate, Herman Cain's attempt to move past sexual harassment claims and the "Occupy" movement.

Safecast Draws on Power of the Crowd to Map Japan's Radiation

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:27:00 EDT

Eight months after a tsunami caused a nuclear accident in Japan, ordinary people are using new technology and the power of crowdsourcing to find radiation hotspots. NewsHour science correspondent Miles O'Brien reports from Japan.

'Shock' Continues Over Penn State Scandal, Paterno's Scarred Legacy

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:03:00 EDT

Thursday was the first day of the post-Joe Paterno era at Penn State, after a whirlwind of events that stemmed from sexual abuse charges against a former football coach. Jeffrey Brown discusses the continuing fallout.

Indiana Crafts Dropout Remedy Through Choice of Schools

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:28:00 EDT

Special correspondent John Tulenko reports from Indiana, where a voucher program allows families to choose religious schools, charter schools and public schools in neighboring districts for their children as part of an effort to provide more options when graduation rates are low.

49 Million Americans in Poverty, Census Calculates

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:26:00 EDT

The Census Bureau released a new unofficial count of poverty in America on Monday, showing about 16 percent of the population live at or below the poverty line. Ray Suarez discusses the new numbers with The Brookings Institution's Ron Haskins and the Institute for Women's Policy Research's Heidi Harrmann.

Stalling Economy Forces Pennsylvania Schools to Put Dreams on Hold

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:35:00 EDT

The weak economy is contributing to -- and magnifying the problems -- of some school districts around the United States. John Merrow, the NewsHour's special correspondent for education, reports on the problems one Pennsylvania district is facing.

Does U.S. Drone Use Set a New Precedent for War?

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:36:00 EDT

The U.S. has dramatically increased its use of unmanned aerial vehicles to go after targets in Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya and especially Pakistan. Jeffrey Brown discusses the use of drones with former Air Force lawyer retired Maj. Gen. Charles Dunlap and David Cortright of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

Romney: Voters Must Replace Obama to 'Keep America Strong and Get Back to Work'

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:28:00 EDT

After outlining his foreign policy proposals Friday in South Carolina, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney sat down with Judy Woodruff to discuss his vision for a new "American century," how he would handle relations with Israel, President Obama's jobs bill and his opponents economic plans.