PBS News Hour

The kind of deep-sea mining that we've examined this week is only legally permitted inside a country's territorial waters. The only country on earth to allow it so far is Papua New Guinea. Videographer Edward Kiernan and special correspondent Willem Marx report on how difficult it is for the impoverished Pacific nation to monitor deep-sea mining activities.

With the race for the White House as close as ever, the election could come down to a small number of undecided voters. But in a hyper partisan political climate, who are those people that are still unsure? NPR's Domenico Montanaro spoke to a handful of undecided voters who have responded to our regular PBS News/NPR/Marist poll and joined Amna Nawaz to discuss what they’re thinking.

One of the nation’s largest unions, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, says it won't make an endorsement in the 2024 presidential election. It’s the first time the union has skipped an endorsement in a presidential race since 1996, having supported the Democratic nominee in each election since. Geoff Bennett discussed the decision with Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien.

The election looms, but first, lawmakers face another deadline to keep the government open and funded. With just under two weeks to go, the House of Representatives is taking a risk by voting on a government funding patch with controversial election reform attached to the bill. That combination is expected to fail and for now, Republicans say they don’t have a backup plan. Lisa Desjardins reports.

We’re learning more about the effects of abortion restrictions enacted after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. ProPublica found at least two women in Georgia who died after being unable to get either a legal abortion or timely medical care. Committees examining pregnancy-related deaths concluded that both were preventable. John Yang discussed more with ProPublica's Kavitha Surana.

For the second time in as many days, there was an unprecedented attack on Hezbollah. Tuesday, pagers exploded. Wednesday, it was two-way radios. At least 20 more people died and hundreds injured on top of at least 12 killed and nearly 3,000 wounded on Tuesday. Israel is assumed to have infiltrated supply chains to implant explosives in the devices. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Hanin Ghaddar.

The companies that create technology used on a daily basis often run into traditional cultures and the environment that sustains them. In a previous report, videographer Edward Kiernan and special correspondent Willem Marx introduced us to the new and potentially lucrative industry of deep-sea mining. They return to Papua New Guinea and report on locals fighting to save a vanishing way of life.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are pressing ahead with a very busy campaign schedule. For Trump, that included his first campaign appearance since the latest apparent assassination attempt against him. Lisa Desjardins reports on the increasing calls for civility in this contentious election season.

Lindsey Hilsum is an award-winning correspondent with Britain’s Channel 4 News who has contributed to the News Hour with reports from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and more. Her new book, "I Brought the War with Me," marries her life as a war correspondent with poetry. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant discussed more with Hilsum for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in four years with an aggressive move that lowers its benchmark rate by a half percentage point. The Fed also said it intended to lower interest rates by a full point before the year is out. Amna Nawaz discussed the decision and what it could mean, with David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy.

With Election Day just seven weeks away, Vice President Kamala Harris sat down for a high-profile interview in Pennsylvania and former President Donald Trump is gearing up for a town hall just days after an alleged attempted assassination effort was stopped by the Secret Service. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Dr. Francis Collins has been at the forefront of the world’s most advanced biomedical research. He led the Human Genome Project and was the longest-serving director of the National Institutes of Health. He is drawing on his career to focus on what he sees as the core pillars of wisdom during a time of deep polarization. Geoff Bennett sat down with Collins to discuss his book, “The Road to Wisdom."