PBS News Hour - Health

PBS News Hour - Health

The latest medical news, analysis and reporting. (Updated periodically) PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Episodes

December 23, 2025 8 mins
The murders of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, allegedly by their son, have renewed difficult conversations for families struggling with mental illness and addiction. Someone who traveled that path is Virginia state Sen. Cree Deeds. His 24-year-old son, who struggled with bipolar disorder, attacked his father before taking his own life. William Brangham sat down with Deeds to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.p...
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In the latest episode of our podcast, "Settle In," Geoff Bennett speaks with Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, an epidemiologist and author of the "Health Nerd" blog. He's spent years helping people understand the data behind the news they see about their health. He spoke about bad science, misconceptions around what we eat and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" campaign. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newsh...
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The rising cost of health care is among Americans' biggest worries, according to recent year-end polls. Insurance coverage for prescription drugs has been decreasing as their prices have been increasing. As PBS Wisconsin's Marisa Wojcik reports, not all health plans are created equal. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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With the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire, we're taking a closer look at one of the main Republican alternatives to help Americans pay for their health care. As Lisa Desjardins reports, the plan is centered on health savings accounts. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not call for a vote on extending enhanced subsidies for people buying insurance through the Affordable Care Act. That effectively guarantees the subsidies will expire at the end of the month and premiums will spike substantially for some 20 million Americans who get their coverage this way. William Brangham reports on the subsidies and alternative ideas. PBS News is supported by - https://www...
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Sen. Bill Cassidy is a key player in the Capitol Hill debate on health care subsidies, and he's also a physician. The Louisiana Republican joined Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, who writes the "Health Nerd" blog, talks with Geoff Bennett about bad scientific data, misconceptions around what we eat, and RFK's "Make America Healthy Again" crusade. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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At a rehabilitation facility in Kyiv, some of Ukraine's wounded warriors are working hard to learn how to use their new limbs. As John Yang reports, a very special dog named Lavr is giving them inspiration to persevere. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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It's estimated that around 7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, a number that's expected to double by 2060. But researchers have found that some of the highest rates of cognitive impairment and dementia exist in a population that's long been one of the most difficult to study: Native Americans. Stephanie Sy recently traveled to Seattle to understand why. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders...
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Last year, 1 in 10 U.S. babies was born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, which is considered preterm. That's one of the highest premature birth rates among developed nations, according to the March of Dimes. We hear from parents of preterm babies about their experiences, and Ali Rogin speaks with an entrepreneur who's using AI to help doctors predict when preterm births are likely. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newsho...
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The federal vaccine advisory panel, all appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to drop the universal recommendation that children should get vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth. William Brangham discussed this and other changes under consideration for vaccines with pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. PBS News is supported by - https://www....
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Many people associate colon cancer with old age, but that's not the case anymore, as the number of young people being diagnosed is on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 154,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 2025. One in five will be under the age of 55. Deema Zein reports on the latest research and patients' experiences. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs....
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Communities across the globe commemorated World AIDS Day, reaffirming a commitment to end an epidemic that has killed more than 44 million. But this year, for the first time in decades, the U.S. government decided not to mark the occasion, and the Trump administration has reportedly barred agencies from commemorating or participating. William Brangham discussed more with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. PBS News is supported by - https://ww...
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The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving faith-based pregnancy centers in New Jersey. The organization is hoping to block the state from investigating whether they misled women into believing the centers offered abortions. The case highlights an effort to crack down on so-called crisis pregnancy centers. Special correspondent Sarah Varney reports for our series, The Next Frontier. PBS News is supported by - https:/...
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As friends and family gather this holiday season, there's a warning for new parents. The CDC says cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, remain elevated this year. An unvaccinated infant died from the illness in Kentucky this week, while other states across the country are also experiencing a surge of cases. Ali Rogin speaks with pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Lorne Walker for more. PBS News is supported by - https://w...
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In Boston, music therapy is being used to enrich the well-being of people hoping to overcome trauma. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports for our look at the intersection of art and health, part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Lead is a key element in your car battery and is expensive to produce domestically. U.S. automakers often use recycled lead produced overseas, a practice long framed as an environmental success story. But a new investigation has found that the recycled lead used by U.S. auto and battery manufacturers is not safe and is linked to dangerous lead poisoning. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/...
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This week, the CDC changed its website to suggest that vaccines may cause autism, even though there's no scientific evidence to prove such a link. It's the latest change to vaccine guidance under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In response, some Democratic-led states have taken steps aimed at protecting access to vaccines and pushing back on misinformation. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs...
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We're weeks away from 20 million Americans seeing a massive spike in their healthcare premiums. That's if no deal can be struck to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. We heard from some of those being affected. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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If the Affordable Care Act subsidies are allowed to expire at the end of the year, premiums would double for the average enrollee, with some paying over $1,000 more every month. The subsidies were at the heart of the recent government shutdown, but Democrats were not successful in securing a deal. William Brangam spoke with Jonathan Cohn and Brian Blase for their views on the debate. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/n...
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