PBS NewsHour - Art Beat

The U.S. altered the course of history 80 years ago when it dropped the atomic bomb on Japan. It was an audacious move that ultimately led to the end of World War II. The motivation and secrecy surrounding its development and the devastating consequences of its use are the focus of a new oral history from Garrett Graff. He sat down with Amna Nawaz to discuss “The Devil Reached Toward the Sky.” PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

For decades, legendary photographer Platon has been taking portraits of some of the world’s most prominent people. He recently started filming his photo shoots in which he gets his subject talking in a disarming way. We share Platon’s dialogue with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a Pakistani filmmaker and political activist who highlights gender inequality, for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The title of the musical “Maybe Happy Ending” might leave you guessing about the storyline, but there’s no doubt the show itself is getting its due. It recently won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown has a look for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Some 100 years after prohibition, a distillery in Providence is serving up local liquor. But it's not your run-of-the-mill alcohol, it’s both organic and oceanic. Pamela Watts of Rhode Island PBS Weekly reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The world of K-pop has fresh new faces: the band 1VERSE with a debut album and lead single, “Shattered.” The boy band has an improbable origin story that includes two North Korean defectors. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The work of artist Ruth Asawa, who died in 2013, is back in the spotlight with a major traveling exhibition. It’s a celebration of not only her work, but also an extraordinary life. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

It’s been a successful few months for 40-year-old writer Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and his play, “Purpose,” which won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown spoke with him recently at Broadway’s Hayes Theater for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With summer in full swing, you may be wondering what books to take along on vacation or enjoy right at home. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown has answers to that question from two of our regulars, Ann Patchett and Maureen Corrigan. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Broadcast TV’s highest-rated late-night talk show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," is being cancelled. Paramount called it a financial decision, but the timing is raising questions. Stephanie Sy discussed the cancellation of the show with NPR television critic Eric Deggans. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Congress is moving toward revoking a billion dollars in already approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the entity that steers funds to public media stations. William Brangham discussed the potential impact on PBS with one of the network's most acclaimed filmmakers, Ken Burns. His documentaries covered subjects like the Civil War, baseball, Vietnam, country music and more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Ten years ago, marriage equality became the law of the land when the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional. A symphony piece now honors the love story of Jim Obergefell and husband John, and how the fight to prevent an overturn of the case continues. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Comedy has long been a way to bring a different, lighter lens to heavy topics. That holds true for Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid, who has taken to the stage to spotlight the pain of the war in Gaza. Amna Nawaz sat down with Obeid for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Superman, one of the summer’s most eagerly anticipated blockbusters, delivered with a big opening weekend. Jeffrey Brown sat down with a pair of film critics to share their top picks on the big releases, comedies and some lesser-known choices. It’s part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Presidential advisor and former News Hour contributor David Gergen died at 83 after being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. Throughout his career, Gergen served four presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, and he spent many Friday nights offering his insights and analysis here on the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. Geoff Bennett has this remembrance. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

At an Omaha, Nebraska, festival this summer, new work explores the intersection of art, disability and technology, asking questions like "who has a voice?" and "who gets to be heard?" Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports on this unusual undertaking for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

From college stardom at Iowa to shattering attendance records and becoming a top financial driver for the WNBA, Caitlin Clark’s rise has also come with its fair share of controversy. Clark is in many ways just getting started and a new book takes a deeper look at how she got there. Amna Nawaz spoke with Christine Brennan about “On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf are out with a new book unpacking the twists and turns of the 2024 presidential election. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with insiders, the book offers a revealing look at the circumstances that led to Trump’s return. Amna Nawaz spoke with the writers about “2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.” PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

An artist who was once uprooted from her homeland has spent decades transforming works of nature into works of art. Michelle San Miguel of Rhode Island PBS Weekly has the story from the woods of New England for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Virgil Abloh was a boundary-breaking designer who made streetwear luxurious and luxury feel accessible. Abloh was the first Black artistic director at Louis Vuitton and the visionary behind Off-White. Beyond the runways, he built bridges between worlds that rarely touched. Geoff Bennett sat down with Robin Givhan, who traces the deeper meaning behind Abloh’s work in the new book, "Make It Ours." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Sean “Diddy" Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, but found guilty of prostitution offenses. The mixed verdict brings an end to one of the most closely watched trials in the country. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Moira Penza, a former assistant U.S. attorney who led the prosecution that resulted in the sex trafficking conviction of NXIVM leader Keith Raniere. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, jurors in the sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs reached a verdict on four of the five counts and will return for deliberations, 165 international charities and aid organizations are calling for a shutdown of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that has been plagued by violence and USAID was officially closed and absorbed into the State Department. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Colum McCann's Narrative 4 organization is bringing the power of story to students in a time of division. The project helps young people around the world share their stories and bridge divides in politics and culture. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports 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

Growing up in South Africa, internationally celebrated opera singer Pretty Yende hadn’t even heard of opera until she was almost out of high school. Now, she’s hailed as one of her generation’s most accomplished coloratura sopranos. Ciaran Jenkins of Independent Television News reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Arthur Sze, one of the most acclaimed poets of our time, is celebrated for exploring the natural world, the human condition and connections between cultures. A second-generation Chinese American based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sze’s work invites readers to deepen their sense of place and reflect on the world around them. Jeffrey Brown spoke with Sze for our Arts and Culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Millions of Americans are expected to go on a European vacation this summer. Many of those going for the first time are likely to be following the advice of travel writer Rick Steves, host of “Rick Steves’ Europe” on PBS stations. John Yang sits down with him for our Weekend Spotlight series. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Dr. Carla Hayden, a trailblazing librarian of Congress, was fired by President Trump in May. Geoff Bennett recently spoke with her about being blindsided by the decision, the administration’s ongoing efforts to reshape key institutions and why she intends to keep speaking out. It’s 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

Unless you’re a longtime jazz aficionado, you might only know the names and music of a handful of stars and legends. But what about all those who’ve built a life working in this art form? A new fellowship honors them and offers financial support in their final years of music and life. Jeffrey Brown has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Comedian and illustrator Mo Welch has built a career blending sharp humor with emotional honesty. Her recent special, "Dad Jokes," explores her childhood with a largely absent father, culminating in a road trip to reunite with him after 20 years. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A new biography, "Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson," tells the story of the Black transgender pioneer’s fight on the frontlines of history as a leader in the early LGBTQ rights movement. Amna Nawaz spoke with author Tourmaline for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A week ago, 11 of the 12 members of the board overseeing the prestigious Fulbright Program, which promotes international educational exchanges, resigned, citing political interference by the Trump administration. Geoffrey Bennett speaks with David Price, one of the former members of the Fulbright Board and former Democratic Congressman from North Carolina. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

How lost are we without our devices? Or putting it more simply, as novelist Colum McCann might: just how isolated are we? His new novel "Twist" asks big questions through a story of characters literally at sea. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown has this profile of the book and its writer for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Smithsonian’s board of regents issued a statement on Monday declaring that “all personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of the secretary, with oversight by the board.” It comes amid President Trump's efforts to fire one of its leaders. Jeffrey Brown discussed more with Philip Kennicott for our series, Art in Action, and our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Broadway hit a record-breaking box office haul of $1.9 billion this season driven by renewed interest in the Great White Way and boosted by star-studded shows. At the Tony Awards, there was a call to celebrate acting on stages big and small. Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown peeks behind the curtain for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Sarah Silverman is known as one of the sharpest, most fearless voices in comedy, pushing the art form in new directions. In her new Netflix special, "Postmortem," she talks about losing her father and stepmother just weeks apart. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on saying goodbye. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

At 37 years old, Jacinda Ardern was the world’s youngest female head of government when she became prime minister of New Zealand. She was also just the second to give birth while in office and led her nation through crises, including a devastating mass shooting and the pandemic. Ardern joined Amna Nawaz to discuss her memoir, “A Different Kind of Power," and the documentary, “Prime Minister.” PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

On May 3, the National Endowment for the Arts sent emails to hundreds of arts organizations around the country terminating their grants. The abrupt loss of federal support has organizations scrambling to make up for budget shortfalls. Jeffrey Brown reports for our series, Art in Action, and our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker knows a thing or two about success and how to achieve it. Since announcing her retirement last year after 16 seasons, the seven-time all-star and two-time MVP has stepped into a new role as an author. Amna Nawaz spoke with Parker about her first book, “The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passions." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Kalina Silverman is a storyteller who's transforming how we connect with each other. Her "Big Talk" project turns simple conversations into profound exchanges and has reached millions. Recently, Silverman turned her attention to documenting the stories of California wildfire survivors, helping raise millions in relief. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on big talk. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

After decades of political and social progress, women’s rights are now the subject of renewed debate and policy change, amid a broader backlash on the goals of modern feminism. Atlantic staff writer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Sophie Gilbert joins Ali Rogin to discuss her new book, "Girl on Girl," which argues that pop culture of the 90s and early 2000s may have set back a generation of women. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is opening its Galleries of the Arts of Oceania to the public for the first time since 2021. It comes after a major renovation that allowed curators to reimagine how to present art from the vast region. Senior Arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The violin has a storied place in so much of European classical music. But sometime in the 17th century, it began to intrigue maestros from a very different and ancient music tradition. Fred de Sam Lazaro has the story of one American violinist who sought to explore what’s become known as the Carnatic violin. It's for our arts and cultures series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders