Sam Lane

Originalism is often countered by the idea that the Constitution is a living, breathing document meant to be interpreted and changed along with the times. Jill Lepore is a historian at Harvard University and author of the new book, “We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution.” Geoff Bennett sat down with Lepore for our series, On Democracy.

This week marks 238 years since the signing of the U.S. Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The language of the document has been debated ever since. In our first of two conversations about that debate, Amna Nawaz sat down with John Malcolm, executive editor of the “Guide to the Constitution” from the conservative Heritage Foundation. It's part of our series, On Democracy.

Photojournalist documents arrests outside of immigration hearings

The Trump administration has made sweeping changes to the country’s immigration system. In recent months, ICE agents have been arresting migrants outside courtrooms and courthouses. William Brangham spoke with Father Brian Strassberger, a Jesuit Priest who serves migrants on both sides of the border, about what he saw at an immigration court hearing in Harlingen, Texas.

In Minnesota, a person posing as a police officer shot two Democratic state lawmakers and their spouses in what Gov. Walz called an “act of targeted political violence.” Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed early Saturday morning in their home. The gunman also wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in their home. John Yang speaks with Minnesota state Rep. Leigh Finke for more.

A curfew in downtown Los Angeles remains in effect and more than 350 protesters have been arrested there since the weekend. The National Guard said some troops may be deployed with immigration agents as well. Special correspondent Marcia Biggs reports from Los Angeles.

The Trump administration is walking away from police settlements in two major cities and closing investigations in six others. It comes days before the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. His killing sparked intense protests with calls for racial justice and police reform. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on what’s changed, and what hasn’t, for our coverage of Race Matters.

Recent threats to federal funding and arrests of international students have created a sense of unease on many college campuses. A trio of editors at student newspapers across the country share a unique perspective about what they are seeing on the ground and how campus communities are reacting.

The Supreme Court upheld Biden-era regulations on ghost guns. Those are firearms that can be put together at home with partially assembled kits, making them nearly impossible to trace. Sales of those guns exploded after they came onto the market and their use in gun crimes also rose significantly. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Jennifer Mascia of The Trace, which covers gun violence in America.

President Trump voiced his support for defunding America's public broadcasters. It comes a day before the heads of PBS and NPR testify before a House subcommittee. The hearing will examine public media with calls for federal funding cuts growing louder. That funding, in part, helps support the work of PBS News. William Brangham explains how public media is funded and how we got to this point.

We continue our look back at the COVID-19 pandemic, five years after the virus began spreading in the United States. Our latest reflection is from someone who spent much of his life working at his family's restaurant, only to have to shut it down when COVID hit.

It’s been over five years since COVID-19 began spreading across the U.S. The virus killed more than a million Americans and reshaped our entire society. Our new series will bring reflections from people, in their own words, who lived and worked through the pandemic. We start with Dr. Colleen Bridger, who oversaw the public health response in San Antonio for nearly two years during the pandemic.

In December, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified that out of more than 500,000 total college student athletes, he believed fewer than 10 were transgender But last month, President Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López looks at the debate around this issue.

The ACLU announced legal action against the Trump administration’s executive order which targets gender-affirming care for minors. The lawsuit says Trump’s actions are withholding lawfully appropriated funds and violating the rights of trans youth by depriving them of medical care "solely on the basis of their sex and transgender status.” White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports.

U.S. sees sharp decline in murders and other crimes in 2024

Two years ago, Leigh Finke became the first trans person elected to the Minnesota state legislature. Even though she endured numerous threats, she leveraged her position, and a Democratic majority, to help pass legislation protecting other trans people in her state. Finke joined William Brangham to discuss the triumphs and the vitriol surrounding transgender rights in America.

Two weeks ago, many parts of the country saw dramatic political shifts to the right. Even places that were once considered democratic strongholds flipped red. Special correspondent Christopher Booker reports from one such area in Texas near the southern border.

With the election days away, there is no shortage of reflections on American politics and democracy. Photographer Paul Shambroom has a unique view. His “Purpletown” project uses photos to examine the cities and towns most evenly divided politically. We spoke with Shambroom for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and for our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS.

It’s been more than three weeks since Hurricane Helene battered parts of the Southeast. The hardest-hit state was North Carolina, where more than 90 people died, 81 people remain unaccounted for and residents face a long road to recovery. Laura Barrón-López reports from Asheville.

Hurricane Helene’s death toll has climbed to at least 50 across five states from Florida to Virginia. Remnants of the massive storm are causing record flooding across the Southeast, while more than 3 million people are without power. John Yang speaks with PBS News special correspondent Christopher Booker for more on the aftermath in Big Bend, Florida, where Helene made landfall.