January 22, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode

President Donald Trump's second term in the White House began with a flurry of unilateral actions and he's showing no signs of slowing down. Day by day, the president's hardline immigration policy is taking shape. A new executive order targeting migrants at the southern border comes as the U.S. military is poised to beef up its presence there. Lisa Desjardins reports.

At least 28 are now confirmed dead from the Los Angeles area wildfires. At least two of the victims’ families have filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison alleging negligence and that the utility’s equipment may have sparked a fire. As we learn more about the victims, we are taking a moment to focus on the legacies they leave behind.

The fire danger in Southern California is far from over. As crews continue their battle, incarcerated firefighters part of a long-running state program are on the frontline. Supporters say the program offers a pathway out of prison, but critics say the work and pay are exploitative. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Sam Lewis of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition.

President Trump’s Middle East envoy said he would soon travel there and be part of a team of “outside observers” to ensure safety during the days-old ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Nick Schifrin reports on the relative quiet in Gaza and what people are finding as they return home.

Within hours of taking office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency as part of his plan to push for more oil and gas drilling and to heavily boost fossil fuels. He also started a process to reverse much of what the Biden administration did on greener energy. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Scott Waldman of Politico's E&E News.

President Trump’s executive order suspending all refugee admissions into the U.S. has far-reaching consequences. Tens of thousands of Afghans, including family members of active-duty U.S. service members, are now in limbo despite some already receiving approval to relocate to the U.S. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López discussed more with Shawn VanDiver of AfghanEvac.

The Trump administration ordered all federal employees who work in diversity, equity and inclusion roles to be placed on paid leave. Agency supervisors were also asked to submit a written plan by the end of the month for dismissing the employees. It’s part one of the administration’s efforts to upend DEI efforts nationwide. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Jeff Green of Bloomberg News.

In our news wrap Wednesday, a massive winter storm left record-breaking amounts of snow across the Gulf Coast, Southern California is facing dangerous weather as it battles new fires, a female student was killed and another student injured during a shooting at a Nashville high school and the Trump administration is halting some communications from federal health agencies to the public.

For perspective on President Trump’s order sending 1,500 active-duty troops to the Mexican border, Amna Nawaz spoke with retired Rear Admiral James McPherson. He served as undersecretary of the Army and as the Army's general counsel during the first Trump administration.

During the pandemic, a project called “Artists and Elders” was formed to connect artists to isolated older adults in their community. The founders share their Brief But Spectacular take on the art of bringing people together.