PBS News Hour full episode, Jan. 1, 2026

The top 100 richest Americans spent over $1 billion on federal elections in 2024, a staggering increase from $46 million in 2004. This spending now accounts for one in every 13 dollars in elections. This surge is attributed to the growing billionaire class (902 in the U.S., double a decade ago) and loosened campaign finance regulations, particularly through Super PACs. A significant shift shows 80% of this spending in 2024 went to Republicans, largely due to the tech industry's move right, exemplified by Elon Musk's nearly $300 million contribution. Billionaires are drawn to politicians like Donald Trump for his business background, 'distaste for government,' and dismantling of regulatory structures, leading to an unprecedented 'brazenness' in their White House access.

Washington Post analysis, Forbes data on billionaires, Elon Musk's $300M spending in 2024, Beth Reinhard's reporting.

College athletics are experiencing a fundamental transformation, with more change in the last four years than the preceding 50-60. The NCAA v. House settlement allows schools to directly pay athletes up to $20.5 million, and the transfer portal permits players to move freely between schools. This has led to significant frustration among coaches like John Calipari, who describe the system as 'fugazi' due to roster instability and players making millions without necessarily completing degrees. Court rulings have stripped the NCAA of power to restrict player movement, deeming such restrictions antitrust violations. While athletes are making professional-level money, they are still considered 'student-athletes' with academic requirements, though pressure is growing for them to be recognized as employees.

NCAA v. House settlement, Coach John Calipari's comments, West Virginia judge's antitrust ruling, Stewart Mandel's analysis.

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek's 'Out of Eden Walk,' tracing ancient human migration paths, has provided unique insights into global trends. His 2.5-year, 4,000-mile trek through China highlighted the country's sheer diversity and allowed interaction with ordinary people. In South Korea and Japan, he observed startling depopulation in rural areas, forcing him to revert to camping and carrying food due to the emptiness. His journey across the Pacific on a container ship offered a rare glimpse into the mechanics of globalization. In Alaska, the 'Lost Coast' revealed wild, pristine landscapes but also served as a 'laboratory' for climate change, with melting glaciers and changing river courses impacting salmon ecology.

Paul Salopek's personal accounts and observations from his 'Out of Eden Walk' dispatches.

Temple Grandin, honored with a Portrait of a Nation Award, has profoundly impacted animal welfare and public perception of autism. As an 'extreme object visualizer' who thinks in pictures, she used her unique perspective to design humane cattle handling facilities, observing what cattle saw to eliminate fear triggers. Her principles now guide nearly half of North American cattle handling. Grandin advocates for developing the strengths of autistic individuals, whether they are visual thinkers (good at art, mechanical, animals) or mathematical thinkers. She expresses concern that current educational systems screen out visual thinkers with unnecessary higher math requirements, leading to a shortage of skilled tradespeople crucial for practical tasks that AI cannot replace.

Temple Grandin's work on cattle facility design, her 'squeeze machine' invention, her book 'Visual Thinking,' and her advocacy for diverse thinkers.

The number of new vehicle models available for under $25,000 in the U.S. has drastically shrunk from 36 in 2017 to just five today. This trend is primarily driven by a shift in American buying habits, with cars priced over $75,000 now outselling those under $30,000. Automakers have pivoted to producing SUVs, which offer higher profit margins despite similar production costs to cars. Inflation and tariffs, particularly President Trump's policies, also contribute to rising prices, as seen with the Chevy Trax. While policy changes like rolling back fuel emissions standards or safety regulations are proposed to lower costs, experts believe their impact will be limited. The rollback of EV incentives, however, could theoretically push U.S. companies back towards developing affordable gas models, though this would take years.

Cox Automotive data, Kelley Blue Book's Sean Tucker, MotorTrend's Christian Seabaugh, examples of Chevy Trax pricing and EV incentives.