PBS News Hour

President Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 prisoners on federal death row who will stay in prison for life but will not be subject to executions. Biden's move is likely motivated by the incoming Trump administration's expected hard line policy shift on federal executions. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, joins William Brangham to discuss.

China’s announcement in September that it was ending international adoptions was a crushing blow for families awaiting the arrival of their adopted children. The policy change has now left more than 270 American families in limbo, unsure of where their adoption journey will lead. Stephanie Sy reports.

Famed musician Arturo Sandoval was among those celebrated at the 47th Kennedy Center honors in early December. But as a young boy in Cuba, Sandoval's rise to the top of the music world was inconceivable. He has now won 10 Grammy awards and performed the world over. Geoff Bennett met up with Sandoval to talk about a life filled with music. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

A highly-anticipated House Ethics Committee report details a litany of allegations against Matt Gaetz, the former Republican Florida representative. Prosecutors previously declined to charge him, but Gaetz’ former peers found evidence that he paid several young women for sex -- including an underage girl -– and partook in drug-fueled sex parties. Lisa Desjardins joins William Brangham to discuss.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join William Brangham to discuss the latest political news, including President Biden's big decisions with just weeks left in office and how a funding fight reveals potential cracks in the GOP as Republicans prepare to take power.

For more than 20 years, one street in St. Louis, Missouri gets transformed every holiday season into a show of lights. But behind the sparkle of Candy Cane Lane there is an underlying motivation, demonstrating what many believe is the true meaning of Christmas. New Hour's Community correspondent Gabrielle Hays explains.

The Biden administration just approved a wind farm project off the coast of Massachusetts. It's the eleventh commercial-scale wind project of its kind to get approval and comes at a key moment for the sector, as President-elect Trump, a frequent critic, prepares to take office. Miles O'Brien reports.

In our news wrap Monday, the man accused of gunning down the head of United Health Care pleaded not guilty to multiple charges of murder, former President Bill Clinton is hospitalized in Washington, D.C. after developing a fever, automakers Nissan and Honda announce plans for a merger, and a man is facing murder and arson charges for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train.

With Christmas and the beginning of Hanukkah just days away, many online shoppers are having last-minute gifts delivered to their homes. While it can be more convenient than brick and mortar stores, it also offers an easy target for criminals. Ali Rogin speaks with safety reporter Rebecca Edwards about how you can protect the items on your wishlist this year.

Every year, the smell of spruce around New York City announces the arrival of as many as 200,000 Christmas trees. The seasonal workers who sell those trees often live in on-site trailers, vans and even plywood shacks. We hear from one group of Christmas tree sellers at their sidewalk market in Brooklyn.

In our news wrap Sunday, the U.S. military says an American fighter jet was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea in a friendly fire incident, Israeli airstrikes killed nearly two dozen people in Gaza, the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany reopened two days after a car plowed into a crowd there, and more than 100 million Americans are expected to travel for the holidays.

The picture-perfect image of happy families at holiday gatherings isn’t reality for everyone. According to a Harris poll conducted in November, about 18 percent of those surveyed said they had only limited interactions with their immediate family. Some of our viewers share their stories of alienation from family, and John Yang speaks with family therapist Whitney Goodman for advice.