August 5, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode

The U.S. fertility rate hit another record low last year, with families having fewer children and a growing number of women opting out of motherhood altogether. A new large-scale study might offer some clarity. It shows U.S. mothers have seen a stark drop in their mental health. Stephanie Sy reports.

President Trump has a habit of courting unfounded conspiracies. That includes QAnon, the belief that some hidden figure in the government is explaining how Trump is waging a secret battle against dark, nefarious forces. His amplification of QAnon has also fueled speculation about the Jeffrey Epstein case. William Brangham discussed more with Will Sommer, author of “Trust the Plan."

In our news wrap Tuesday, the Texas Attorney General is ramping up pressure on Democrats who left the state to block a vote on a new congressional map, a central California wildfire exploded in size to nearly 130 square miles and the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The U.S. altered the course of history 80 years ago when it dropped the atomic bomb on Japan. It was an audacious move that ultimately led to the end of World War II. The motivation and secrecy surrounding its development and the devastating consequences of its use are the focus of a new oral history from Garrett Graff. He sat down with Amna Nawaz to discuss “The Devil Reached Toward the Sky.”

One year ago, a popular uprising in Bangladesh led to the deposal of its long-serving prime minister. It came as the country faces multiple long-term challenges related to climate change, public health and now, political instability and the threat of tariffs. In partnership with the Pulitzer Center, Fred de Sam Lazaro reports.

This weekend, Hamas released a haunting video of 24-year-old Evyatar David, an Israeli hostage abducted from the Nova Music Festival during the Oct. 7 attacks. In the video, David appears so emaciated and pale that his father said he didn’t recognize him. David's family is pleading for urgent international intervention. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Matan Eshet, a cousin of Evyatar David.