December 10, 2024 - PBS News Hour full episode

It's been nearly three years since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and despite huge losses on both sides, there is no sign that Putin's war machine is letting up. Cotton is used to make gunpowder and explosives and Russia has a steady supply from one of its former Soviet republics. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky investigated why that is, and who's trying to stop it.

Researchers have documented a stunning rise in misogynistic rhetoric and attacks after the election. Laura Barrón-López discussed what’s behind that surge, and how experts are combating it, with Cynthia Miller Idriss, a professor at American University and director of the school’s Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab.

More than 75 Nobel laureates signed a letter asking the U.S. Senate not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, citing his opposition to vaccines among their concerns. William Brangham takes a deeper look at Kennedy's record on that issue and what impact he could have leading the nation's health agencies.

After President Biden gave his son, Hunter, an expansive pardon, legal experts have questioned how a president’s pardon power could be used moving forward. That includes questions about the possible use of preemptive pardons. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Kim Wehle, author of "Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works-and Why."

In our news wrap Tuesday, thousands in Southern California are under evacuation orders as a wildfire burns near Malibu, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu took the stand for the first time in his long-running corruption trial and U.S. wildlife officials are aiming to add monarch butterflies to the endangered species list.

The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been charged with murder in New York after he was found and arrested Monday in Pennsylvania. At his first court hearing Tuesday afternoon, Luigi Mangione struggled with deputies and shouted something to reporters as he was led into the building. Amna Nawaz reports.

After 14 years of war, Syria is seeking stability. The country's caretaker prime minister, appointed by the fighters who overthrew Bashar al-Assad, said the government transition process is expected to last until March. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn reports from Damascus.