Episodes
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As Trump shifts Iran strategy, Gulf allies pursue diplomacy with Tehran
As President Trump says he's focused on economic pressure on Iran, Gulf allies are united against the war and hedging their bets by talking with Iran about regional security. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses the Middle East's pivot point with Hussein Ibish, Danielle Pletka, Dana...
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Bessent accuses Lutnick of failing to prevent China from obtaining Nvidia chips
The fallout of Jensen Huang's downfall expanded into a public fight between two of President Trump's top advisers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of failing to prevent China from obtaining Nvidia's most advanced chips. Nick Schifrin looks at the...
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In Somalia, USAID cuts have life-or-death consequences
Since the Trump administration began its reductions to foreign aid, we've brought you reports from around the world on the consequences. Wracked by conflict for decades and suffering the cruel effects of the climate crisis, Somalia is perpetually in need. In partnership with the Pulitzer Center,...
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Indictment sheds light on alleged Iran-backed plots across U.S. and Europe
Iran's top national security official warned that it would strike American bases beyond the Gulf, including in Europe, if the United States resumes air strikes against the Islamic Republic. The warning comes one day after indictments in New York against three men who allegedly conspired to attack...
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News Wrap: U.S. charges 3 with plotting attacks
In our news wrap Tuesday, the U.S. charged three men with being Iran-backed operatives who planned attacks on Jewish communities and an attack at a British air base, Russian and Ukrainian representatives met for peace talks for the first time in nine months and Israel's parliament was sworn in...
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Nvidia's Jensen Huang faces scrutiny over alleged affair with Chinese spy
Lawmakers, investors and tech leaders are assessing bombshell revelations about Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang. Huang admitted to an affair with a woman accused of being a Chinese spy. Nvidia designs chips and processors that power artificial intelligence and underpin much of the enormous...
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What China stands to gain from Nvidia's CEO's alleged affair with spy
To discuss the national security risks of Nvidia's CEO having an affair with a possible foreign intelligence agent, Amna Nawaz spoke with Christopher Johnson. He spent 20 years in the U.S. intelligence community focusing on China. He now runs his own consulting firm, China Strategies Group. PBS...
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How the Nvidia revelations could ripple through the AI industry and global economy
Jensen Huang, the CEO of chipmaker Nvidia, admitted to an affair with a woman accused of being a Chinese spy. The economic stakes extend well beyond Nvidia itself. With a market value still exceeding $4 trillion, the company has become a major driver of the stock market and a central force in the...
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Gaza students work toward college degrees after years of war and displacement
In Gaza, more than half a million students are back in school after three years. The picture has been equally bleak for post-secondary education, which has been virtually non-existent since the start of the war in Gaza. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on an unusual partnership...
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How the world is reacting to America's midterm results
After nearly two turbulent years, Americans send a clear message – it's time for a check on President Trump's power. But will that actually happen? And what does a Democratic-controlled Congress mean for Trump's foreign policy? Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses that and more with...
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After midterms, world leaders await Trump's next move in Iran
Tuesday's election results were not just closely watched in the U.S. American elections, in many ways, have become global events and the Democratic wave led to an extraordinary outpouring. Nick Schifrin gauges that reaction. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders.
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Refugee influx and foreign aid cuts strain South Sudan's health care system
There are few places where the consequences of the Trump administration's cuts to global aid programs are more apparent than South Sudan. With a raging civil war in Sudan to its north, South Sudan is contending not just with its own underserved people, but with more than a million Sudanese...
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Zelenskyy on his 'emotional' relationship with Trump and fighting Russia
A Russian strike on an aid station and shelter killed at least 26 people in southern Ukraine on Monday. It was the latest in an unceasing series of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and the civilians living there. Before the bombing, Amna Nawaz spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy...
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Advocates warn Afghans deported by U.S. will face 'certain death' under Taliban
The Trump administration is preparing to deport at least 150 Afghans over the next 48 hours, first to Pakistan and then to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Many of those facing deportation are relatives of those who worked alongside the United States. They could face severe retaliation from the...
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What Israel's election deadlock means for Netanyahu and the region
After one of Israel's most consequential elections, the path forward for the country and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is uncertain. On a special edition of Compass Points, Nick Schifrin speaks with Netanyahu biographer and one of the sharpest analysts in Israel, Anshel Pfeffer of The...
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Inside a Ukrainian city hit by Russian drones during the Starlink disruption
In Ukraine, President Zelenskyy made the clearest indication yet that a disruption of Starlink technology contributed to civilian deaths. Elon Musk admitted last week to ordering the slowdown of the service. The intentional hindrance of Ukrainian defenses led to bipartisan anger in Washington....
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Retired Israeli general on what the election results tell us
Israel is facing political uncertainty after an election that produced no clear governing majority. But what do the results reveal about how Israelis want leaders to confront the country's challenges? Nick Schifrin discussed that with Tamir Hayman, former chief of Israeli military intelligence…
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What's next for Israel after election produces political gridlock
In Israel, nearly all the votes have been counted in Tuesday's election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies emerged as the largest bloc, but lost seats and fell short of the majority needed to form a government. The results leave Israel facing the prospect of political gridlock.…
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Shock, anger and mourning in Spain after 2nd major train crash this year
There is shock, anger and mourning in Spain after the second fatal train crash this year. At least 68 people have died in what is now the deadliest collision there in more than a decade. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders.
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Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro flees to U.S. after election loss
Another member of Brazil's Bolsonaro family has found haven from possible prosecution by fleeing to the U.S., where they have an ally in President Trump. Just three days after losing Brazil's presidential election, Flávio Bolsonaro, who faces multiple criminal investigations, defied a Brazilian...
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Projections show no clear winner in Israel's election
Israelis turned out in record numbers for their first election since the Oct. 7 attacks and the war in Gaza. Projections show opposition parties won more seats than the coalition led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, potentially setting the stage for a change in government. But Netanyahu's opponents…
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School principal documents Indonesia's worst wildfires in a decade
Indonesia is battling its worst wildfires in more than a decade, made worse by El Niño. Many were deliberately set to clear land for farming, including palm oil plantations. More than 12,000 schools across Indonesia have closed because of the toxic haze. Natanael Undas, a school principal and...
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Netanyahu faces Israeli voters in first election since Oct. 7 and Gaza war
Israelis will go to the polls on Tuesday in what many describe as the most consequential election in years. It's the first vote since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Israel's war in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been campaigning that he'll keep Israel safe. But the opposition says Netanyahu…
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Lula prevails in Brazil but Flávio Bolsonaro refuses to concede
In a closely watched election, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated right-wing and Trump-aligned challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. Transport and weather disruptions in parts of Brazil led to a chaotic final stretch at the polls. Bolsonaro is refusing to concede, and President Trump...
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Student-led movement ousts Serbia's right-wing ruler in historic election
Brazil is not the only country to have had dramatic election results this weekend. In Serbia, longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic lost a historic election that brought down his government. William Brangham discussed the results with Heather Conley. PBS News is supported by -...
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Why some U.S. allies view Trump's America as an 'Unreliable Boyfriend'
Behind closed diplomatic doors, some of the U.S.'s closest allies view Donald Trump's America as an "unreliable boyfriend", a "security threat," and open to corruption. A Canadian official warns that the world's disappointment with the U.S. will have long-lasting consequences. Compass Points...
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News Wrap: White House says Melania Trump brokered localized ceasefire deal in Oleshky
In our news wrap Friday, the White House says Melania Trump brokered a localized ceasefire deal in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, Romania's president blamed Russia for a drone strike that sank a cargo ship in the Black Sea and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the army there to prepare for…
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Brazil's high-stakes presidential runoff could reshape country's future
This weekend, voters in Brazil head to the polls in a high-stakes presidential runoff that could reshape that country's political future. Will Brazil join a rightward shift across parts of the Americas, or stick with its left-wing leadership? Voting is compulsory for most adults, and the race has...
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Inside the race to build Patriot missiles as stocks run low
Ukrainians are desperate for more defense systems to repel Russia's relentless onslaught of drones and ballistic missiles. For the missiles, no system is more valuable than the U.S. Patriot interceptor. But years of use in Ukraine and by the U.S. and allies in the war with Iran have depleted thin...
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American imprisoned by Russia released as Witkoff meets and praises Putin
Russia freed an American imprisoned for the last four years. Stephen Hubbard was captured in Eastern Ukraine and convicted of fighting against Russia. The 74-year-old retired teacher was reportedly freed without a swap. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff greeted Hubbard in St. Petersburg. He also…
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How Elon Musk gained so much power over U.S. security interests
According to reports, Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of Ukraine's Starshield defense systems. Nick Schifrin reports, and Amna Nawaz discusses how the world's richest man gained such power over U.S. security interests with Charles Galbreath, a retired Air Force colonel who focused on space...
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Zelenskyy seeks to mend ties with Trump ahead of Witkoff-Putin meeting
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and European officials in Norway in a bid to avoid a further diplomatic rupture with President Trump. Over the past week, Trump has criticized Zelenskyy over Ukraine's efforts to inflict heavy losses on Russia. The meeting was aimed…
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Tightening sanctions on Russia is 'the way to end this war,' says David Kramer
To discuss the tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Geoff Bennett spoke with David Kramer. He held a number of senior positions at the State Department during the George W. Bush administration. He's now the executive director of the George W. Bush Institute in…
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News Wrap: Britain sending air support to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
In our news wrap Tuesday, British authorities say they're sending air support to Saudi Arabia to protect against missiles and drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, Vice President Vance says he's not endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections and voters in Alberta...
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Ukrainian refugees face growing hostility in Poland
Poland has been one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. But many of its people are slowly turning against the one million Ukrainian refugees given sanctuary over the past four years. Divisions between Poles and Ukrainians are being exacerbated by...
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Trump escalates clash with Zelenskyy as Russia continues deadly attacks on Ukraine
The war of words between President Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy reached another fever pitch on Monday. Trump again excoriated the embattled Ukrainian leader, putting more pressure on Zelenskyy than on the man in Moscow who started this war, Vladimir Putin. The president's comments come...
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U.S. must put pressure on Russia so Putin ends the war, Ukrainian official says
As Ukraine and Russia trade attacks, President Trump has exempted Russia from sanctions, widening his rift with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. To discuss the latest developments, Geoff Bennett spoke with Denys Sienik, Ukraine's Deputy Ambassador to the U.S. PBS News is supported by -...
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French authorities impose curfews after weekend rioting
Curfews are in effect in parts of Paris and other French cities as authorities try to restore order following widespread rioting this weekend. Government officials have acknowledged "failures" in their handling of the unrest and say an investigation is underway to track down those responsible....
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The mystery of Havana Syndrome and claims of a government cover-up
Unsolved mystery or cover-up? What started out as reports of sonic attacks on American diplomats evolved into a phenomenon affecting at least 1,500 people across six continents. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses more with Michael Rey and Oriana Zill de Granados, authors of "The...
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Ukraine resumes strikes on energy targets, saying Russia never stopped its attacks
The tense alliance between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and President Trump is nearing a new low point. After days of bitter back-and-forth between the two leaders, Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian energy targets. Trump had demanded an "energy ceasefire" this past Sunday between the two....
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Ukraine less reliant on U.S. as Trump-Zelenskyy rift deepens, former ambassador says
For perspective on the tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Amna Nawaz spoke with former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor. He's now a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders.
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News Wrap: Iran says cargo ship sank after hitting a mine in Strait of Hormuz
In our news wrap Wednesday, Iran says a cargo ship sank after hitting a mine in the Strait of Hormuz, the Vatican says Pope Leo is eating and walking again following surgery to remove a cancerous portion of his lung, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a privacy case rooted in the era of VHS…
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How Starlink disruptions affected Ukraine's battlefield operations
A key component of Ukraine's communications network was partially disabled on Wednesday. The Starshield satellite network, funded by the Pentagon and operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, was not operating at full capacity, hampering communications within the Ukrainian military. Liz Landers reports and...
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Saudi conflict with Houthis escalates with new strikes
The threat of a widening war on the Arabian Peninsula is accelerating. Houthi rebels in Yemen are again targeting Saudi infrastructure and military sites, escalating a conflict which may yet draw in other regional powers. The Saudi-led coalition launched new airstrikes on oil facilities across...
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Former U.S. ambassador on Saudi Arabia's struggle to defend against Houthi attacks
To discuss the escalating war between the Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, Amna Nawaz spoke with Michael Ratney. He served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia during the Biden administration and is now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. PBS News is supported…
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Climate change gives Swedish winemakers an unexpected boost
Record high temperatures this year forced European wine producers to harvest grapes much earlier than usual. French wineries fear it will lead to the worst season in 30 years. But Nordic newcomers to the world of wine are toasting what they believe will be a vintage harvest, thanks, in no small...
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News Wrap: Riyadh airport closed after Houthi strikes that killed at least 13
In our news wrap Monday, Houthi strikes on Riyadh's airport killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds more, a federal judge says she is 'furious' with Justice Department lawyers after hundreds of trees were removed from a local golf course and a fire destroyed the oldest covered food market…
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Ukraine disputes Trump's claim of energy ceasefire as Russian diesel deal draws fire
President Trump blames high energy prices on Ukraine, not his war in the Middle East, and made a surprise decision to suspend sanctions against Russia on Friday. William Brangham discusses the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia war with Andrew Weiss. He's a former State Department official...
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Inside the U.S. negotiations to free the Oct. 7 hostages
Before the Oct. 7 attacks, the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia were on the brink of a historic agreement. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses how close they were to normalization, the rush to release hostages and the U.S. response to the war in Gaza with Brett McGurk. He served across...
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News Wrap: Trump announces diesel deal with Russia
In our news wrap Friday, Trump says he struck a deal with Russia for millions of tons of diesel in a bid to lower U.S. energy prices, Katie Zacharia will replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, the Pentagon's plans to livestream an execution has drawn strong reactions, Trump...