PBS NewsHour - Art Beat

Music in 2025 has had it all, from breakout new artists and big stars continuing to top the charts, to AI-generated artists igniting fierce debate online. To help us sift through the year in music, Stephanie Sy speaks with freelance music writer and critic Maura Johnston and freelance music journalist Candace McDuffie. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The holidays are a great time to catch up on the year's best films, whether streaming at home or heading to the theater. Jeffrey Brown sat down with two film critics who shared their top picks. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Pantomime, or panto, is a family comedy filled with fairy tales, music, slapstick and audience participation and is a holiday season staple across the UK. This year, one production is selling out a retelling of "Snow White" that blends classic panto with Muslim culture and humor, and even teases its online trolls. Independent Television News correspondent Minnie Stephenson reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A beloved symbol of the holiday season, The Rockettes are celebrating a big anniversary. Founded in 1925, the famous dance company is marking 100 years on stage. Julia Griffin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

David Baldacci has written more than 50 suspense and legal novels. His latest is "Nash Falls," a story about a successful businessman recruited by the FBI to expose a global crime network. But Baldacci and his wife are now tackling a major real-world problem: how to combat toxic political discourse. Geoff Bennett sat down with them both to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We continue with a News Hour holiday tradition in which we ask members of the armed forces to record a holiday song. For Christmas Eve, we bring you "Joy to the World." This video was produced by the Pentagon's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Watching the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life" has become a holiday tradition for millions of families. One small town in Rhode Island believes it helped inspire the beloved movie. Pamela Watts of Ocean State Media has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Paramount is engaged in a battle to buy Warner Bros., but Netflix's proposed $83 billion offer is still considered the favorite, for now. Talk of this deal has triggered widespread fears in Hollywood about what this could mean for the creative industry. Jeffrey Brown has perspective from one of the leading unions for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Four new portraits have gone up at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, showcasing this year's recipients of the Portrait of a Nation award for their transformative contributions to American history and culture. One of them is Temple Grandin, who has transformed animal welfare around the world and affected public perception of autism. John Yang speaks with Grandin for our Weekend Spotlight. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It’s been said that nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless they've had a dog. Billy Collins agrees, and he recently released his 12th volume of poetry, called “Dog Show." Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown spent time in New York City with Collins, and dogs, exploring this enduring relationship. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Authorities in California arrested the younger son of Rob and Michele Reiner after the couple was found dead this weekend. The "When Harry Met Sally" director and his wife were found with stab wounds Sunday in their Los Angeles home. Senior Arts Correspondent Jeffrey Brown looks back at the life and work of Reiner, who entertained millions. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It's a News Hour tradition to ask members of the armed forces to record a holiday song. To celebrate Hanukkah, we bring you the song "Rock of Ages," which was composed in the 13th century. This video was produced by the Pentagon's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For more than 40 years, Beverly and Dereck Joubert have lived with, photographed and filmed African wildlife. Their images bear witness not just to the majesty of life on the continent, but also the host of threats that confront both the animals and the wilderness. John Yang speaks with the Jouberts about their new book, “Wild Eye: A Life in Photographs,” and their decades of work. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The video game industry is getting ready to celebrate its top achievements at the annual Game Awards, an awards show dedicated to honoring the very best in game design, storytelling, music and more in gaming. The show draws millions of viewers from around the world to see which of their favorite games will win any awards. Jeffrey Brown has more for our arts and culture series, Canvas. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It’s that time of the year when PBS News Hour invites two of our regular literary critics, Ann Patchett and Maureen Corrigan, to highlight their favorite books of the year. Jeffrey Brown picks up the conversation for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Netflix has struck a nearly $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max, beating out Paramount and Comcast after a bidding war. If finalized, it would unite the world’s largest streamer with one of Hollywood’s oldest studios. The move raises questions about the future of theatrical releases and concerns about market concentration. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Matthew Belloni of Puck. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In the latest episode of our podcast, "Settle In," Geoff Bennett speaks with actor Nick Offerman. Since playing the curmudgeonly libertarian Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks & Rec, he’s avoided being typecast, most recently portraying President Chester Arthur in Netflix’s “Death by Lightning.” They discussed that role, his latest book, “Little Woodchucks,” a guide to woodworking for kids, and much more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

"Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” is an exhibition celebrating the contributions of Black contemporary artists, spanning 20th-century icons to today’s emerging talent. Geoff Bennett spoke with the musical power couple behind the exhibition about the meaning behind this expansive collection. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Lacrosse is a uniquely American sport. We spoke with sports reporter Scott Price about his book, "The American Game: History and Hope in the Country of Lacrosse," for our series, Race Matters. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In Boston, music therapy is being used to enrich the well-being of people hoping to overcome trauma. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports for our look at the intersection of art and health, part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is just a few months short of the four-year mark. PBS's Frontline, working with the Associated Press, will air "2000 Meters to Andriivka," a relentless portrait of life and death on the frontlines. Nick Schifrin spoke with filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A new documentary on HBO Max looks at how gun violence has led to lockdown drills in schools becoming a universal part of childhood in America. Those drills and the creation of active shooter preparedness products, now a $3 billion industry, are the focus of “Thoughts and Prayers.” Amna Nawaz discussed more with filmmakers Zackary Canepari and Jessica Dimmock. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff has died. His family said it was from a “seizure followed by pneumonia.” The native son of Jamaica, two-time Grammy winner and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame helped turn his country's signature sound into a global phenomenon. Geoff Bennett reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Congressman James Clyburn has spent more than three decades in Congress. In his new book, he turns his attention to the trailblazing Black men who were the first to walk those halls. Geoff Bennett sat down with Rep. Clyburn to discuss "The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Andrew Gn, the pioneering Singaporean fashion designer known for his uncompromising attention to detail, is featured in a new retrospective at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. Jared Bowen of GBH Boston takes us there for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Sometimes, the right learning environment can change everything. For Courtney Irwin, that place was a youth development center in Salinas, California. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on how cooking and community helped her find her way. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For decades, David Kelley has helped people unlock their creativity. A pioneer of design, he founded the Stanford d.school as a place for creative, cross-disciplinary problem solving. He reflects on the journey that shaped his belief that everyone has the capacity to be creative and his Brief But Spectacular take on creativity and design. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

"The American Revolution," the latest work from filmmaker Ken Burns, begins this Sunday on PBS. The six-part, 12-hour history of the war of independence from Britain and the beginnings of the American experiment in democracy comes at a moment of deep divisions. Jeffrey Brown has our look for our series Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy as part of our CANVAS coverage. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Booker Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious literary awards, given annually to a single novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. This year’s winner is David Szalay's novel, “Flesh.” Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown spoke with him for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This week marks 50 years since the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank while crossing Lake Superior. The shipwreck, which killed all 29 men aboard, became the most well-known wreck to ever occur on the Great Lakes. William Brangham recently spoke with the author of a new book that explores both the tragedy and the enduring legend it inspired. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

More than 30 years after his death, the work of artist and public television icon Bob Ross continues to engage audiences across the world. When Congress rescinded $1.1 billion allocated for public broadcasting, Bob Ross Inc. saw an opportunity to help fill some of the funding shortfall by auctioning 30 of his paintings. Deema Zein reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, has been analyzing the rise of autocracies and the threats they pose to democracy for decades. Amna Nawaz sat down with McFaul to discuss his new book, “Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder.” PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This week’s top-streaming film on Netflix tackles a long-running Hollywood theme. The threat of a nuclear attack and the discourse around "A House of Dynamite" has struck a nerve with audiences and with military defense experts. Geoff Bennett spoke with the film's writer, Noah Oppenheim, for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. A warning: this segment includes spoilers. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In their new book, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists Carol Leonnig and Aaron Davis offer an investigation into the unraveling of the U.S. Justice Department. They reveal how, under Donald Trump, the nation’s top law enforcement agency was transformed from an institution built to protect the rule of law into one pressured to protect the president. They joined Geoff Bennett to discuss "Injustice." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman has been hailed as one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the American South in recent years. Raised in the small river town of Hickman, Kentucky, Goodman blends country, rock and folk into songs that wrestle with faith, identity and the meaning of home. Geoff Bennett spoke with her for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A previously unknown work by one of the great French impressionists has come to light and will soon go on the auction block. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

On Halloween night, chances are you'll be watching something spooky, and you’re far from alone. Horror is the fastest-rising film genre in the U.S., more than quadrupling its market share in the past decade. The new book, "Morbidly Curious," delves into our fascination with the macabre, arguing that a little fright might be good for us. Stephanie Sy spoke with its author, Coltan Scrivner. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ben Folds’ piano-powered pop music earned him a cult following and made him one of the most respected songwriters of his generation. He also held an influential role in classical music as artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra. Folds resigned after President Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center. Amna Nawaz spoke with him for our series, Art in Action, as part of our CANVAS coverage. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In his new book, ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl offers a behind-the-scenes look at key moments on the 2024 campaign trail that ended one party's hold on the White House and brought another back to power. Geoff Bennett sat down with Karl to discuss "Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Sudan’s civil war has become a humanitarian catastrophe of staggering scale, marked by famine, ethnic cleansing and sexual violence. Over three years, an estimated 150,000 people have been killed, and nearly 13 million have been forced from their homes. But the destruction of Sudan’s cultural heritage has drawn far less attention. Jeffrey Brown reports for our art and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Rev. Jesse Jackson is a towering figure in the civil rights movement, but his political legacy is less often remembered. The issues he championed in the 1980s still echo in today’s politics, and his influence is the subject of Abby Phillip’s new book, "A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power." Geoff Bennett sat down with Phillip to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The News Hour has been marking our own milestone this week, the 50th anniversary of this program. Stephanie Sy has a look at the program's beginnings, its evolution over the years and how our journalism has both grown and stayed consistent with the original ideas behind the broadcast. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy