PBS News Hour - Health

PBS NewsHour
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Sep 20, 2025 • 7min

Federal funding cuts to pediatric brain cancer research ‘taking away hope’ from families

Brain tumors are the leading cause of pediatric cancer-related death. In August, the Trump administration announced it would stop supporting a federally funded network dedicated to researching these deadly cancers. Misha Mehta, president of the Neev Kolte & Brave Ronil Foundation, and Dr. Paul Graham Fisher join Ali Rogin to discuss the implications of the loss of funding. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Sep 19, 2025 • 5min

News Wrap: Vaccine panel declines to recommend COVID shots this fall

In our news wrap Friday, Health Secretary Kennedy's overhauled panel of vaccine advisers declined to recommend COVID shots for this fall, Estonia says three Russian fighter jets violated its airspace in the third attempt by Moscow to test NATO's eastern flank this month and the UN is set to reimpose tough sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Sep 14, 2025 • 5min

Comedians use laughter as a new tool for suicide prevention

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming more than 49,000 lives in 2023 alone, according to the latest CDC data. One organization has found an unconventional tool to combat those grim numbers: laughter. Lisa Desjardins speaks with Brad Bonar Jr., founder of the 1 Degree of Separation suicide prevention program, 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
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Sep 13, 2025 • 6min

States face hard choices after major cuts to federal health care funding

The Trump administration is planning sweeping cuts to health care funding across the country. Some of those cuts have already taken effect, while others will roll out over the next few years. KFF Health News senior health policy correspondent Stephanie Armour joins Lisa Desjardins to discuss what this means for states, which will have to shoulder more of the costs of health programs. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Sep 9, 2025 • 5min

A look at what’s in RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ report – and what’s missing

The Trump Administration released its plan for improving health outcomes and tackling chronic childhood illnesses. The strategy came from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again Commission he oversees. The plan focuses on everything from reducing the consumption of highly processed foods to reviewing vaccines. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Sep 9, 2025 • 5min

MAHA report ‘not about actions,’ food policy expert says

For a deeper dive into the implications that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again report could have on the U.S. food system, Geoff Bennett spoke with Marion Nestle, one of the nation’s foremost food policy experts and professor emerita at New York University. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Aug 31, 2025 • 6min

What to know about ‘AI psychosis’ and the effect of AI chatbots on mental health

The parents of a teenager who died by suicide have filed a wrongful death suit against ChatGPT owner OpenAI, saying the chatbot discussed ways he could end his life after he expressed suicidal thoughts. The lawsuit comes amid reports of people developing distorted thoughts after interacting with AI chatbots, a phenomenon dubbed “AI psychosis.” John Yang speaks with Dr. Joseph Pierre to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Aug 30, 2025 • 8min

Protein is everywhere amid a new cultural obsession. How much do we really need?

It used to be that only fitness buffs and bodybuilders thought about how much protein they were getting. But now, everybody seems to be looking for more of it in their diet, and just about every food product has added protein, from pancakes to popcorn. But how much protein do we really need? Ali Rogin speaks with New York Times health reporter Alice Callahan for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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Aug 20, 2025 • 6min

Why the American Academy of Pediatrics is diverging from CDC vaccine guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics released new COVID vaccination guidelines, and for the first time, they diverge significantly from the recommendations from the CDC. The changes leave parents with competing guidance as we head into fall. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and 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
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Aug 16, 2025 • 5min

How a White House plan to overturn a key EPA regulation threatens children’s health

In July, the Trump administration proposed revoking a landmark 2009 finding that’s been the basis for EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. If the proposal is finalized, experts warn that it could jeopardize the health of millions of Americans, especially children. John Yang speaks with pediatrician and clinical professor Dr. Debra Hendrickson for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

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