News and Public Affairs

Breaking the Deadlock

TRUTH UNDER FIRE is a bold new episode of BREAKING the DEADLOCK, the PBS series where top voices tackle America’s toughest issues through fictional yet realistic scenarios. Legal expert Aaron Tang moderates spirited, solutions-driven debate. Civil discourse meets real-world stakes.

BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire

56m 5s

Facing a gripping hypothetical dilemma—disinformation about a controversial school board decision spreading rapidly on social media—a panel of experts grapples with what is true, and what truth even means today. Watch BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire.

Episodes

  • BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire

    S2025 E2 - 56m 5s

    Facing a gripping hypothetical dilemma—disinformation about a controversial school board decision spreading rapidly on social media—a panel of experts grapples with what is true, and what truth even means today. Watch BREAKING the DEADLOCK: Truth Under Fire.

  • BREAKING the DEADLOCK: A Power Play: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    BREAKING the DEADLOCK: A Power Play

    S2025 E1 - 55m 42s

    BREAKING the DEADLOCK: A Power Play sparks civil dialogue in polarized times. Guided by UC Davis Law Professor Aaron Tang, a diverse panel explores ethical dilemmas in a fictional tale of executive power—told through two fictional U.S. Presidents from opposing parties. Complex, timely, and thought-provoking.

Extras + Features

  • BREAKING the DEADLOCK: A Power Play – Open: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    BREAKING the DEADLOCK: A Power Play – Open

    S2025 E1 - 1m 9s

    Watch a preview for BREAKING the DEADLOCK: A Power Play sparks civil dialogue in polarized times. Guided by UC Davis Law Professor Aaron Tang, a diverse panel explores ethical dilemmas in a fictional tale of executive power—told through two fictional U.S. Presidents from opposing parties. Complex, timely, and thought-provoking.

  • Power and Loyalty in the Balance: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Power and Loyalty in the Balance

    S2025 E1 - 4m 11s

    From BREAKING the DEADLOCK: A Power Play, a hypothetical scene unfolds. A potential campaign finance violation sparks tension between the "president" and the "U.S. Attorney General." Questions arise about political motivations, legal thresholds, and the limits of executive power. As roles shift and decisions are made, the balance between justice and loyalty is put to the test.

Schedule

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