December 13, 2024 - PBS News Hour full episode

She has painted portraits of Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor. But much of Amy Sherald’s work is about filling in absent images of everyday Americans. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown talks with the artist and takes us to the first major exhibition covering her career for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has revealed a simmering anger with the American healthcare system in the spotlight. William Brangham discussed more with Wendell Potter. He spent decades working for the health insurance company, Cigna, before leaving and dedicating his career to reform.

Congressional lawmakers told Apple and Google to be ready to remove TikTok from U.S. app stores on Jan. 19. The app is used by 170 million Americans and lawmakers argue the Chinese government’s relationship with TikTok's parent company threatens data privacy and national security. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Frank McCourt, one of the investors trying to buy the U.S. part of TikTok.

Turkey announced it would reopen its embassy in Damascus after closing it 12 years ago as Bashar al-Assad began the murderous campaign against his own people. Turkey and Syria's other neighbors could play a critical role in rebuilding the country. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Ambassador James Jeffrey. He served during the Trump administration as a special representative for Syria engagement.

In our news wrap Friday, consulting firm McKinsey and Company will pay $650 million to settle a federal investigation into its work for the opioids maker Purdue Pharma, the state of Texas has sued a doctor in New York for mailing abortion pills to a patient in the Dallas area and Russia launched a barrage today of 200 drones and nearly 100 cruise and ballistic missiles all across Ukraine.

Barely a week after Bashar al-Assad fled the country he destroyed, Syrians welcomed the first Friday prayers. There are many unanswered questions about this new Syria, but one thing is for certain, there is unfettered jubilation. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports from Aleppo.

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement that he will be stepping down, what to expect from the FBI under Kash Patel and what Trump voters are expecting from his second term.