PBS News Hour

With the dismissal of the two federal cases against him, President-elect Donald Trump has bypassed some of the most serious legal jeopardy he faced. He’s now assembling a Cabinet to carry out his agenda. New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart, associate editor for The Washington Post, discuss that and other matters shaping the transition to a second Trump term.

Five years after a devastating fire gutted a world icon, Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral is just days away from reopening. French president Emmanuel Macron toured the monument and his visit provided some first glimpses of this extraordinary restoration. Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant met some of the expert artists and artisans whose skills have preserved "Our Lady" for centuries to come.

The ruling party of the country of Georgia has suspended talks to join the European Union, a decision that the opposition calls the culmination of a pro-Russian effort to rig recent parliamentary elections and turn the former Soviet Republic back toward Moscow. Nick Schifrin reports on the future of a country that plays a pivotal role in U.S. influence across the region.

While this season’s politics and headlines may lead to heated exchanges over the Thanksgiving table, economics correspondent Paul Solman looks at the history of a different controversy that is ubiquitous during the holidays: pumpkin spice.

With winter setting in around much of the country, many people are also gearing up for cough and cold season. But the Food and Drug Administration now says that phenylephrine, a long-used ingredient in many over-the-counter medicines, is ineffective and should be removed. Stephanie Sy speaks with Randy Hatton, a professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, to learn more.

In our news wrap Thursday, the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah held for a second day, more than a million homes in Ukraine lost power after a massive Russian attack, Australia’s Senate passed a first-of-its-kind social media ban for children under 16, travelers returning home this weekend may have some issues with weather, and Biden and Harris celebrated Thanksgiving with acts of service.

Thanksgiving Day is about coming together with family and friends, enjoying delicious food and, of course, giving thanks. This holiday, we wanted to take a moment to hear from viewers like you, so we asked people across the country what they were grateful for this year. Here’s what some of you told us.

It’s been two months since Hurricane Helene cut a path of deadly destruction across the Southeast. Ahead of the holiday season, PBS News returned to the hard-hit region of western North Carolina, where despite the challenges they face rebuilding their lives, residents described being overwhelmed with gratitude for a renewed sense of community. Laura Barrón-López reports.

In our news wrap Wednesday, this year's Thanksgiving travel rush is expected to be the busiest ever, the FBI is investigating incidents of alleged bomb threats and swatting attacks against several of President-elect Trump's Cabinet picks and appointees and three Americans who've been imprisoned in China were released in a rare diplomatic breakthrough with Beijing.

Visual art is a subjective experience, but what draws one person into an artwork and turns off another? A new exhibit, "Brains and Beauty: At the Intersection of Art and Neuroscience," explores that question by examining how the brain processes aesthetic experiences. Stephanie Sy reports from Arizona for our look at the intersection of art and health, part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

A U.S. official said Ukraine should consider dropping the age of military conscription from 25 to 18. It's a stark acknowledgment that Ukraine doesn't have enough troops to fight the seemingly endless volume of Russian soldiers, especially now that they're being bolstered by North Korean troops. Special correspondent Jack Hewson looks at Ukraine's dilemma and the country's harsh solutions.

Residents of southern Lebanon began returning to their homes as the U.S. brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. The agreement calls for Israel’s withdrawal, for Hezbollah to move its fighters, and the Lebanese armed forces deployment to conclude within 60 days. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Amos Hochstein, President Biden’s special envoy who led the negotiations.