July 4, 2023 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Ben Sheehan is a comedian on a mission to educate the public on civics. A former executive producer in the entertainment industry, he took a pivot to politics when he realized how little people knew about how government works and he wrote the book "OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say?" Sheehan shares his Brief But Spectacular take on knowing your power.

Sugar plays an outsized role in what many eat every day with the average American consuming more than 100 pounds in a year, according to the USDA. The multi-billion dollar sugar business is the subject of the new podcast "Big Sugar." Stephanie Sy spoke with host Celeste Headlee about the industry's political power and the impact that's had on workers and public health.

Although America declared its independence in 1776, it would take nearly 90 years for those enslaved to obtain their freedom. And despite the abolishment of slavery 158 years ago, Reuters found some of the country's most powerful politicians today are descendants of slaveholders. Amna Nawaz spoke with editor Tom Lassiter about the report and his own family’s history with slavery.

The U.S. is in the midst of an ongoing prescription drug shortage with more and more medication in short supply for longer stretches of time. Those medications include chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, ADHD medication and more. It’s making treatment decisions difficult for doctors and patients. Laura Barrón-López discussed the shortages with Erin Fox.

More than a week after the failed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries in Russia, there are lingering questions about the future of the paramilitary group. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on gold companies suspected of funding the group’s activities, including in Africa, where thousands of Wagner fighters have been deployed since 2017. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Kimberly Marten.

The American Revolution and the founding founders are two parts of U.S. history celebrated on July 4. But two centuries later, 1776 was a rallying cry for rioters disrupting a national election at the Capitol. It's an example of how the politics and rhetoric around the founding have become ideological tools and can eclipse the actual history involved. Lisa Desjardins reports.

This Fourth of July has brought all of the annual festivities and fireworks. But it's all happening in the shadow of more mass shootings, including two Monday night in Philadelphia and Fort Worth, Texas. President Biden branded the attacks "tragic and senseless" and renewed his plea for new gun laws. Amna Nawaz reports.