January 15, 2024 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The same deep freeze that's put Iowa on ice has millions of other Americans in its grip as well. Most of the country shivered through a long day of power outages and flight cancellations, with at least six deaths blamed on the weather. William Brangham reports.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s military response in Gaza, Iranian-backed militias in the region have escalated attacks. Hezbollah and the IDF have traded barrages while the Houthis have lobbed missiles and attacked ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Amna Nawaz discussed Iran’s objectives and influence with Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Following the death of a woman and two children in the Rio Grande along the southern border, a dispute between Texas and federal officials has intensified. The migrants drowned while attempting to cross into Eagle Pass at a section of the border recently seized by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents a Texas border district.

The United Negro College Fund received a $100 million grant to help increase endowments for historically Black colleges and universities. The donation from the Lilly Endowment is the single largest unrestricted private grant in the organization's history and its purpose is to increase funding for its 37 member institutions. Geoff Bennett discussed more with UNCF President and CEO Michael Lomax.

Where do we come from and how did we evolve into the beings and bodies we are today? The new book "Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution" argues for a better understanding of our origins with critical implications for our present. Jeffrey Brown spoke with author Cat Bohannon for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the Iowa caucuses and what the GOP candidates need to accomplish to stay in the race.