PBS News Hour full episode, March 24, 2026

The NTSB investigation into the LaGuardia collision uncovered a cascade of failures, including air traffic controllers performing duties of two positions, a runway warning system failing, and a fire truck lacking a transponder. This points to deep-seated issues beyond individual error, suggesting a need for systemic improvements in staffing, equipment, and operational procedures.

The controllers in the tower there, two of them, were dealing with an emergency... only 20 seconds before it was to touch down, gave it clearance to cross the runway. That is extremely tight, and the controller later said, quoting him now: 'I messed up.' But it's not so much an individual's responsibility in this case when you look at the whole system and how it failed. The air controller in charge was doing the duties of two positions. The fire truck that was involved in this collision didn't have a transponder.

President Trump is actively transforming Washington D.C.'s architectural landscape, notably demolishing the White House East Wing for a new ballroom and proposing a 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery. This challenges a century-old norm of presidential deference to expert advisory panels, as Trump has appointed all new members to key commissions, asserting direct control over federal design.

The demolition of the East Wing was definitely the wake-up call for everyone. Suddenly, the building was no longer there and the whole sense of the world was torn down as well. The ballroom and its latest planned 90,000 square feet... is just one among a number of projects that would change the look and feel of the capital. Trump appointed all seven members of the Commission of Fine Arts and named his assistant... as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission.

Despite a federal judge striking down its media credentialing rules, the Pentagon issued a revised policy that The New York Times' attorney claims brazenly defies the order. New restrictions include mandatory escorts for credentialed reporters and presuming wrongful conduct for promising source anonymity, which are seen as direct violations of First Amendment rights and established journalistic practices.

The judge's opinion powerfully found that the Pentagon's policy was meant to engage in viewpoint discrimination... That violated the First Amendment. Instead of abiding by and following the judge's order... they're defying it, brazenly defying it. They for the first time in history have barred reporters with press credentials from going into the Pentagon without an escort... they have said that it's presumptively evidence that a reporter is violating the policy... if they promise anonymity or confidentiality to a source.

The escalating Middle East conflict, particularly oil price spikes and supply chain disruptions, presents a "stagflationary shock" where both employment and inflation worsen simultaneously. This situation lacks a clear central bank playbook, making policy responses complex and uncertain, as traditional tools for combating inflation might exacerbate unemployment, and vice-versa.

The price of oil goes up, the price of gasoline is going to go up... you're likely to see some downturns in consumer sentiment. Shocks to the energy market... can drive down employment while simultaneously driving up inflation... that's the worst thing that a Central Bank ever has to deal with, because there's not an obvious playbook for what you do.

Jakarta, Indonesia, the world's largest city, is rapidly sinking (up to six inches/year) due to decades of groundwater depletion from massive development and the immense weight of concrete high-rises. This, combined with rising sea levels, leads to catastrophic flooding and necessitates a controversial plan to relocate the capital, highlighting the severe consequences of unsustainable urban growth and climate change.

Jakarta... is sinking rapidly, as climate change and overdevelopment collide. About 40 percent of Jakarta is below sea level, and it's estimated nearly half of the city could be inundated and uninhabitable by 2050. The capital city has been sinking as much as six inches per year... Decades of growth has depleted groundwater, slowly hollowing out the land and causing it to sink.