PBS NewsHour - Health

The death of a Black midwife following complications from giving birth has renewed difficult questions surrounding inequities in Black maternal health care. Black women are still three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

One day after the Trump administration cut off billions in funding for mental health and addiction programs across the country, the White House is reversing course and restoring about $2 billion in federal grants. The decision, which impacted thousands of organizations and grant recipients, was reversed after bipartisan pushback. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Brian Mann of NPR. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

So you want to change a habit — or maybe start something new. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Charles Duhigg's book, "The Power of Habit," explores how habits are made, and the cues and rewards that shape our behavior. He spoke with Amna Nawaz about how to make habits that actually stick as well as his most recent book, "Supercommunicators." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

By some estimates, about 90% of prescriptions in the U.S. are filled with generic drugs. The Food and Drug Administration says that all agency-approved generic drugs "have the same high quality" as brand-name drugs, but a ProPublica investigation found that the FDA rarely tests the quality of generic drugs. John Yang speaks with investigative reporter Debbie Cenziper for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

HBO's medical drama "The Pitt" is back for season two, fresh off five Emmy wins. Its unflinching look at a single emergency room shift struck a deep chord with frontline healthcare workers. Geoff Bennett visited the actual "Pitt," the real Pittsburgh hospital that doubles as a key location in the show, for our ongoing series on the intersection of arts and health, 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 Trump administration released new dietary guidelines that will shape everything from school lunches to medical advice. The guidance puts a bigger emphasis on eating more protein and dairy, something Health Secretary Kennedy has long sought. William Brangham discussed the recommendations with Lindsey Smith Taillie, a nutrition epidemiologist and co-director of the Global Food Research Program. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In a major departure from past practice, the CDC is scaling back the number of recommended vaccines for children. The new schedule recommends that flu and COVID vaccines only be given after consulting with a healthcare provider and narrows recommendations for hepatitis A and B, RSV and bacterial meningitis to what it considers higher risk groups. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Dr. Sean O'Leary. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As the saying goes, we are what we eat. That age-old wisdom is behind the emergence of a new field in medicine. Ali Rogin brings us this report for our ongoing coverage of the intersection of arts and health, part of our CANVAS series. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In the first lawsuit of its kind, the city of San Francisco is suing 11 of the nation's top food companies, saying they sell ultra-processed food knowing they are harmful to health. By some estimates, more than 60% of food consumed in the U.S. is ultra-processed. John Yang speaks with Ashley Gearhardt, a University of Michigan psychology professor who studies addiction, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We are entering peak flu season, and a new variant known as subclade k is spreading quickly across the country, driving a sharp rise in illness and hospitalizations. Public health officials say this current wave may last for weeks to come. William Brangham discussed the variant and what to look out for this flu season with Dr. Andrew Pekosz of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Post-traumatic stress disorder is common among veterans, with 10% of men and nearly 20% of women reporting having symptoms at some point in their lives. But could exposure to more arts programming be the needed prescription for those who have served our country? Stephanie Sy 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 murders of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, allegedly by their son, have renewed difficult conversations for families struggling with mental illness and addiction. Someone who traveled that path is Virginia state Sen. Cree Deeds. His 24-year-old son, who struggled with bipolar disorder, attacked his father before taking his own life. William Brangham sat down with Deeds to discuss more. 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 Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, an epidemiologist and author of the "Health Nerd" blog. He's spent years helping people understand the data behind the news they see about their health. He spoke about bad science, misconceptions around what we eat and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" campaign. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The rising cost of health care is among Americans' biggest worries, according to recent year-end polls. Insurance coverage for prescription drugs has been decreasing as their prices have been increasing. As PBS Wisconsin's Marisa Wojcik reports, not all health plans are created equal. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

With the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire, we're taking a closer look at one of the main Republican alternatives to help Americans pay for their health care. As Lisa Desjardins reports, the plan is centered on health savings accounts. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not call for a vote on extending enhanced subsidies for people buying insurance through the Affordable Care Act. That effectively guarantees the subsidies will expire at the end of the month and premiums will spike substantially for some 20 million Americans who get their coverage this way. William Brangham reports on the subsidies and alternative ideas. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Sen. Bill Cassidy is a key player in the Capitol Hill debate on health care subsidies, and he's also a physician. The Louisiana Republican joined Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, who writes the “Health Nerd” blog, talks with Geoff Bennett about bad scientific data, misconceptions around what we eat, and RFK’s “Make America Healthy Again” crusade. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

At a rehabilitation facility in Kyiv, some of Ukraine’s wounded warriors are working hard to learn how to use their new limbs. As John Yang reports, a very special dog named Lavr is giving them inspiration to persevere. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It’s estimated that around 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, a number that’s expected to double by 2060. But researchers have found that some of the highest rates of cognitive impairment and dementia exist in a population that’s long been one of the most difficult to study: Native Americans. Stephanie Sy recently traveled to Seattle to understand why. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Last year, 1 in 10 U.S. babies was born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, which is considered preterm. That’s one of the highest premature birth rates among developed nations, according to the March of Dimes. We hear from parents of preterm babies about their experiences, and Ali Rogin speaks with an entrepreneur who’s using AI to help doctors predict when preterm births are likely. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The federal vaccine advisory panel, all appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to drop the universal recommendation that children should get vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth. William Brangham discussed this and other changes under consideration for vaccines with pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Many people associate colon cancer with old age, but that's not the case anymore, as the number of young people being diagnosed is on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 154,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 2025. One in five will be under the age of 55. Deema Zein reports on the latest research and patients' experiences. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Communities across the globe commemorated World AIDS Day, reaffirming a commitment to end an epidemic that has killed more than 44 million. But this year, for the first time in decades, the U.S. government decided not to mark the occasion, and the Trump administration has reportedly barred agencies from commemorating or participating. William Brangham discussed more with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving faith-based pregnancy centers in New Jersey. The organization is hoping to block the state from investigating whether they misled women into believing the centers offered abortions. The case highlights an effort to crack down on so-called crisis pregnancy centers. Special correspondent Sarah Varney reports for our series, The Next Frontier. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As friends and family gather this holiday season, there’s a warning for new parents. The CDC says cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, remain elevated this year. An unvaccinated infant died from the illness in Kentucky this week, while other states across the country are also experiencing a surge of cases. Ali Rogin speaks with pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Lorne Walker for more. 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

Lead is a key element in your car battery and is expensive to produce domestically. U.S. automakers often use recycled lead produced overseas, a practice long framed as an environmental success story. But a new investigation has found that the recycled lead used by U.S. auto and battery manufacturers is not safe and is linked to dangerous lead poisoning. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This week, the CDC changed its website to suggest that vaccines may cause autism, even though there's no scientific evidence to prove such a link. It’s the latest change to vaccine guidance under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In response, some Democratic-led states have taken steps aimed at protecting access to vaccines and pushing back on misinformation. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We’re weeks away from 20 million Americans seeing a massive spike in their healthcare premiums. That’s if no deal can be struck to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. We heard from some of those being affected. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

If the Affordable Care Act subsidies are allowed to expire at the end of the year, premiums would double for the average enrollee, with some paying over $1,000 more every month. The subsidies were at the heart of the recent government shutdown, but Democrats were not successful in securing a deal. William Brangam spoke with Jonathan Cohn and Brian Blase for their views on the debate. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This weekend is the halfway point for the 30th U.N. climate summit known as COP30. In a report issued days before the meeting began, the World Meteorological Organization said 2025 is “on track to be among the three warmest years on record.” New York Times international climate reporter Somini Sengupta, who just returned from COP30, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Last September, a chemical fire in Conyers, Georgia, sent a toxic cloud over the area. A Georgia Public Broadcasting podcast called “Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story” examined that day, what led up to it, and the immediate aftermath. Now, a second season of the podcast looks at health consequences for residents a year later. John Yang speaks with GPB’s Pamela Kirkland for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Nearly 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s and by 2060, experts say that number could be as high as 14 million. Scientists are trying to find out how one man has been able to stave off Alzheimer's for 25 years, despite having a rare genetic mutation that, doctors say, essentially guaranteed he’d develop the disease. Pam Belluck of The New York Times joins Ali Rogin to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

So-called forever chemicals are both harmful to our health and are everywhere. Studies have found them in women's breast milk and even in rain falling in Tibet. A new book tells the story of how these extremely durable chemicals became so ubiquitous through the eyes of a small community that decided to fight for some measure of justice. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

An outbreak of infant botulism, a rare but serious illness caused by toxins that attack the nervous system, is causing alarm among regulators and parents in the U.S. It's prompting an investigation and a nationwide recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The FDA announced it would begin asking drug companies to remove so-called “black box” warnings for hormones prescribed to treat symptoms of menopause. The FDA says the warning has dissuaded generations of women from taking advantage of the medication that could help them. Ali Rogin discussed more with FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Medical imaging, like X-rays and CT scans, are routine, non-invasive and painless tools used by doctors to make diagnoses. But a recent study of about 4 million children published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the radiation exposure from imaging could pose a risk for pediatric cancer. John Yang speaks with Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, the study’s lead author, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Southeast Asians have used kratom leaves as a home remedy for centuries. Recently, its popularity in the U.S. has exploded as a way to ease the effects of opioid withdrawal. But kratom is poorly regulated and synthetic versions contain high levels of a powerful compound that officials say should be restricted. Ali Rogin speaks with Tampa Bay Times senior politics reporter Kirby Wilson for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Health systems in rural America are struggling. Many are losing money and over the past decade, more than 100 have closed. To address Medicaid shortfalls in the “One Big Beautiful” budget bill, Congress approved a $50 billion rural health transformation fund. Ali Rogin speaks with National Rural Health Association chief policy officer Carrie Cochran-McClain about how states hope to use the money. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

One of the latest relationship tests to go viral is the “bird theory,” racking up millions of views on social media. It’s based on a theory developed by couples researcher John Gottman about the importance of engaging with partners when looking for a connection. John Yang speaks with licensed clinical psychologist Alexandra Solomon to learn more about the test and what it reveals. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Millions of Americans will soon have direct access to popular weight-loss drugs at far lower prices than they pay now. That’s due to a deal announced between President Trump and pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. William Brangham discussed the deal and its potential impact with Stacie Dusetzina of Vanderbilt University. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy