Civics and Government

How Prop. 187 Transformed the Immigration Debate and California Politics

Today’s immigration policies echo an anti-immigration movement from the 1990s in California. 

09:06

1 lesson plan

Hurricane Katrina’s Aftermath and Lessons in Dealing with Disaster

Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, and Louisiana’s troubled housing recovery has shaped the response to every major disaster since, including Hurricane Sandy. 

11:15

2 lesson plans

How Today’s Debates on Immigration Were Shaped by a 1980s Church-Led Refugee Network

Churches once led a refugee rescue effort that shapes U.S. immigration policy today. 

09:45

1 lesson plan

How the Federal School Lunch Program Became a Spicy Political Debate

A 1940s child nutrition program has been a subject of debate for decades, reflecting shifting political priorities. 

09:37

1 lesson plan

The Minneapolis Bridge Collapse that Sounded the Alarm on US Infrastructure

At the height of rush hour on August 1, 2007 a bridge carrying eight lanes of I-35W traffic over the Mississippi River suddenly collapsed, sending cars and trucks plunging into the water below. 

09:55

1 lesson plan

Fights Over American Democracy Reach Back to the Founding Era

In early America, the soaring ideals behind establishing a new democracy were marked by cycles of progress and backlash. 

09:28

1 lesson plan

Raising Doubts About Evolution… in Science Class

A skepticism of science has seeped into the classroom, and it’s revived attacks on one of the most established principles of biology – evolution. 

10:57

1 lesson plan

Citizen Nation: Chasing Victory

In Episode 1 of “Citizen Nation,” a four-part coming-of-age story, we begin to follow teenagers from across the U.S. with diverse personal and political backgrounds as they come together to compete in the nation’s premier civics competition, We the People.    

54:20

Citizen Nation: Symbolism in D.C.: It’s All Done With a Purpose

Students from Wyoming and Wisconsin arrive in Washington D.C. for the We the People national finals. 

02:50

1 lesson plan

Civics Skills: Sweeten Your Argument

Which candy bar deserves to be the official candy bar of America? Students present arguments in a classroom hearing.  

05:16

2 lesson plans

Citizen Nation: Preparing for Success

Intense practice, camaraderie and learning lift high school students on a journey toward state-level civics competitions. 

05:01

1 lesson plan

How Nixon’s 1972 China Visit Set the Stage for Today’s Tensions Over Taiwan

President Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to China, an unexpected pivot in U.S. foreign policy, helped end the Cold War. But it left Taiwan’s fate uncertain.  

09:35

1 lesson plan

Picking a Partner: The V.P. Relationship

The relationship between presidents and vice presidents is unique and often personal. Sometimes, internal divisions spill out into public life. 

06:38

1 lesson plan

Inside the Saturday Night Massacre: Nixon, Watergate and the Fight for Accountability

Nixon’s 1973 firing of a Watergate prosecutor raised questions about executive power, accountability and the limits of the law. 

08:17

1 lesson plan

The Secret C.I.A. Operation That Haunts U.S.-Iran Relations

A 1953 C.I.A.-backed coup that ousted Iran’s Cold War leader has colored U.S.-Iran relations for decades. 

14:00

2 lesson plans

She Rocked the Pentagon

After a sexual assault scandal at the Tailhook convention rocked the Navy in 1991, one female officer, Paula Coughlin, launched a campaign to change military culture. 

11:57

Putin’s Nuclear Threats Evoke Cold War Tensions of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Russia’s recent nuclear threats have revived Cold War animosity with roots in the Cuban missile crisis. During ​a standoff in 1962, a tense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union nearly resulted in a nuclear war. 

11:22

2 lesson plans

How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan

Officials who drove the decades-long war in Afghanistan look back on the strategic mistakes and misjudgments that led to a 20-year quagmire. 

11:59

2 lesson plans

How the Korean War Changed the Way the U.S. Goes to Battle

In the Cold War, North Korean Communists invaded South Korea. President Truman’s decision to intervene had consequences that shape the world today. 

06:35

2 lesson plans

Impeached: How Presidents Handled it — Trump vs. Clinton.

How can a president continue to govern with an impeachment trial looming? President Clinton and President Trump adopted very different strategies. 

03:34

Lessons From the Challenger Tragedy

Normalization of deviance, the process of becoming inured to risky actions, is a useful concept that was developed to explain how the Challenger disaster happened. 

18:04

2 lesson plans

Send In the Special Ops Forces

The rise of special operations units today can be traced to two historic military missions: one a legendary success, the other a spectacular failure. 

07:38

Runaway Plane

For decades the United States has been on a quest to perfect stealth technology, but development of the F-35 fighter jet shows just how complicated dreams can become. 

08:25

How the Supreme Court Ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges Legalized Same-Sex Marriage

This story revisits the landmark Supreme Court decision from the perspective of the two named participants, Jim Obergefell and Richard Hodges. 

10:11

1 lesson plan

How Gun Violence and the Supreme Court Have Shaped Second Amendment Rights

Supreme Court rulings on gun laws highlight the struggle to balance individual rights and public safety. 

10:28

1 lesson plan

As SCOTUS Examines School Prayer, Families Behind a Landmark Ruling Speak Out

Ruling in favor of a high school coach who knelt to pray on the football field, the Supreme Court opened the door to challenges on school prayer, 60 years after a landmark ruling in Engel v. Vitale. 

09:45

1 lesson plan

Why the Supreme Court Endorsed, Then Limited Affirmative Action

Ruling in a case that challenged practices that colleges use to select a diverse student body, the Supreme Court reverses itself. 

13:28

1 lesson plan

Why Supreme Court Confirmations Have Become So Bitter

The defeat of Robert Bork’s nomination to the Supreme Court in 1987 changed the way justices are confirmed today. 

10:16

2 lesson plans

Habeas Corpus and the Limits of Presidential Power: The Right to a Day in Court

Habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention, is at the center of a debate over presidential power. 

05:39

2 lesson plans

Citizen Nation: Exploring Judicial Independence

Students tackle tough questions on the judiciary’s role in democracy. 

02:19

1 lesson plan

Who Controls the Purse? Presidential Power and the Fight Over Spending

The Trump administration is reviving a controversial budget tactic, putting a Nixon-era fight over presidential power and congressional authority back in the headlines. 

11:25

1 lesson plan

“No” on Impeachment Unites Today’s GOP. In the 1950s, a Renegade Dared to Break Ranks

Breaking with party unity can be costly. In the 1950’s, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine faced backlash after she condemned Joseph McCarthy, a fellow Republican. 

03:07

1 lesson plan

When Politicians Blame Bad Behavior on Pop Culture

Every so often, Congress holds a hearing on the perils of pop culture. The “peril” has evolved from comic books, to rock and hip hop music, to violence in video games, but the proceedings follow a script. 

02:24

Her Vegetative State Caused Congress, President Bush and Even the Pope to Weigh In

The controversy over Terri Schiavo’s case elevated a family matter into a political battle that continues to frame end-of-life issues today. 

12:54

How Activists Fought for Rights for People With Disabilities, and Made Them the Law

How activists pushed for the A.D.A., establishing rights for people with disabilities in the United States. 

12:08

1 lesson plan

Habeas Corpus and the Limits of Presidential Power: The Right to a Day in Court

Habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention, is at the center of a debate over presidential power. 

05:39

2 lesson plans

Decades After Displacement, Linnentown Families Seek Recognition

In the 1960s, Athens, Ga., used federal urban renewal funds to demolish Linnentown, a thriving Black neighborhood. Decades later, former residents are demanding recognition and redress.

12:49

1 lesson plan

Students Led a 1960s Free Speech Movement. Colleges Are Grappling With Its Legacy.

As universities face increasing legal and political pressures, free expression on campus, a right established through student activism in the 1960s, is once again capturing headlines.  

09:27

1 lesson plan

How Tinker v. Des Moines Established Students’ Free Speech Rights

A silent protest led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that defined students’ free speech rights. 

07:41

2 lesson plans

The Lasting Impact of a Lynching

This excerpt examines the lynching of Cleo Wright in 1942, reflecting the racial violence and societal tensions of the time. 

06:07

1 lesson plan

Attacks in New York City Renew Questions About Forced Mental Health Treatment

New York City’s renewed efforts to tackle homelessness and untreated mental illness is raising complex questions about civil liberties, public safety and effective care. 

12:57

1 lesson plan

Crisis On Campus

An examination of how outrage ignited by the devastating October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the catastrophic war in Gaza has deeply divided American college campuses. 

53:18

Beyond the Battlefield: Double V and Black Americans’ Fight for Equality

With the Double V campaign, Black Americans demanded fair treatment, both during and after World War II. 

12:00

1 lesson plan

Ida B. Wells and the Long Crusade to Outlaw Lynching

Ida B. Wells, a journalist, civil rights activist and suffragist, dedicated her life to documenting injustices against Black Americans and calling for change. 

10:14

2 lesson plans

The 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz Was a Catalyst for Indigenous Activism

American Indian tribes have long used activism in their struggle for justice and the preservation of their lands and culture. 

13:33

2 lesson plans

Who Gets to Regulate #*%& Free Speech in Popular Culture?

When speech offends, who decides where boundaries should be drawn?  

11:22

2 lesson plans

When Art Fuels Anger, Who Should Prevail?

Controversial artworks are flashpoints when artistic freedom and religious sensitivities collide. 

10:35

2 lesson plans

In the Long Fight to Protect Native American Families, a Law Stands Guard

For generations, Native American children were removed from their homes and placed with white families. A recent Supreme Court ruling affirms the rights of Native families and tribes, giving them preference in adoption and foster care placement. 

11:44

1 lesson plan

Generations Stolen

For decades, Native children were forcibly separated from their families – today, communities are working to overcome generations of trauma. 

23:21

Why Are Schools Still Segregated? The Broken Promise of Brown v. Board of Education

The history of racial integration in public schools, and what happened after the buses stopped rolling. 

10:03

3 lesson plans

How a 1968 Student Protest Fueled a Chicano Rights Movement

This Emmy-nominated video explores a massive protest by Mexican American high school students that became a milestone in a movement for Chicano rights. 

11:09

3 lesson plans

Transgender Rights, Won Over Decades, Face New Restrictions

More than 50 years after the Stonewall uprising marked the birth of a movement for LGBTQ+ rights, transgender activists continue to push for inclusion. 

10:55

1 lesson plan

Forced Into Federal Boarding Schools as Children, Native Americans Confront the Past

Native Americans demand accountability for a federal policy that aimed to erase Indigenous culture. 

11:00

3 lesson plans

The Crime That Fueled an Asian American Civil Rights Movement

The 1982 attack against Vincent Chin redefined hate crimes and energized a push for today’s stronger legal protections. (Mural by Anthony Lee.) 

10:13

2 lesson plans

Amazon Rainforest Defenders Confront Violence, Encroachment and Politics

Debates over development in the world’s largest rainforest have led to deadly conflicts, threats to its indigenous people and harm to the global atmosphere. 

08:28

2 lesson plans

Whites-Only Suburbs: How the New Deal Shut Out Black Homebuyers

Race-based federal lending rules from New Deal programs in the 1930s kept Black families locked out of suburban neighborhoods, a policy that continues to slow their economic mobility. 

10:21

2 lesson plans

Extremism in America (full film)

This 28-minute special looks at the roots and rise of hate groups in America. It is released in collaboration with WORLD Channel and The WNET Group’s reporting initiative Exploring Hate. 

26:01

1 lesson plan

How a 1944 Supreme Court Ruling on Internment Camps Led to a Reckoning

The U.S. government ordered 120,000 people of Japanese descent, most American citizens, imprisoned during World War II. An admission of wrongdoing and reparations payments came decades later, but a Supreme Court ruling had lasting impact. 

10:15

3 lesson plans

A New Housing Program to Fight Poverty Has an Unexpected History

Some cities are trying to help poor children succeed by having their families move to middle-income, so-called “opportunity areas” – an idea that was once politically impossible. 

12:45

2 lesson plans

Presidents v. Press: How the Pentagon Papers Leak Set Up First Amendment Showdowns

Efforts to clamp down on White House leaks to the press follow a pattern that was set during the Nixon era after the publication of the Pentagon Papers. 

12:21

1 lesson plan

In El Salvador, a Journalist Faces New Limits. ‘We Want to Continue Shedding Light.’

Nelson Rauda, an independent journalist, told us that El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, is putting the squeeze on press freedom. 

03:16

1 lesson plan

Special Education: The 50-Year Fight for the Right to Learn

Today’s special education system was shaped five decades ago, when parents fought for disabled children’s right to learn. 

07:58

The Cold War on TV: Joseph McCarthy vs. Edward R. Murrow

In the heat of the Cold War, Joe McCarthy’s anti-communist crusade became a media sensation. 

08:13

2 lesson plans

Burden of Richmond Evictions Weighs Heaviest in Black Neighborhoods

An eviction moratorium has slowed filings in cities like Richmond, but it hasn’t stopped them, and Black tenants are at highest risk. 

06:49

How Decades of Housing Discrimination Hurts Fresno in the Pandemic

Decades of discrimination in Fresno laid the groundwork for a housing crisis today. 

05:47

New York Tenants Are Organizing Against Evictions, as They Did in the Great Depression

Activists concerned about pandemic-related homelessness are seeking rent relief. In the 1930s, tenants banded together against evictions. 

06:25

Racial Inequality Was Tearing the U.S. Apart, a 1968 Report Warned. It Was Ignored.

Anger over policing and inequality boiled over in 1967 in protests and violence across the United States. A landmark report warned that without major changes, it would happen again. 

05:17

1 lesson plan

From Women’s Suffrage to the ERA, a Century-Long Push for Equality

The Equal Rights Amendment, proposed in 1923, sparked debate from its very beginning, even among many of the women who had worked together for suffrage. 

07:43

2 lesson plans

Do Whistleblower Protections Work? Ask This One.

A whistleblower case from 2010 reveals the peril faced by whistleblowers seeking to expose wrongdoing. 

07:35

1 lesson plan

AIDS: From Ryan White to Today’s Silent Epidemic

Rates of H.I.V. infection have fallen in many places, but the AIDS crisis persists in some parts of the country. What can be learned from history – and specifically the story of Ryan White? 

11:45

1 lesson plan

Combating the Myth of the Superpredator

In the 1990s, a handful of researchers inspired panic with a dire but flawed prediction: the imminent arrival of a new breed of “superpredators.” 

10:09

1 lesson plan

The Birth of Free Agency

The drama of modern free agency has become as much a part of professional sports as the games themselves. But it wasn’t always that way. Today’s free agents owe a big debt of gratitude to Curt Flood. 

12:32

1 lesson plan

DNA Clues Solve Crimes . . . With a Privacy Cost

DNA information that is available on genealogy websites is doing more than satisfying curiosity – it’s solving crimes. 

14:08

Athletes vs. Injustice: Protests in Sports

When N.F.L. players, starting with Colin Kaepernick, took a knee during the National Anthem to protest they ignited an uproar over injecting politics onto the playing field. 

11:14

3 lesson plans

How Segregation Influenced Evangelical Political Activism

While abortion is often cited as the motivation behind evangelical Christians becoming politically active in the 1970s, there’s another little-known reason that involves the IRS and segregated schools. 

02:24

How an Underground Abortion Network Got Started

It started with one request. A friend’s sister was pregnant and suicidal. Before long a clandestine group called Jane was created to help women in Chicago with illegal abortions. 

01:24

Genetic Screening: Controlling Heredity

With every new advance in prenatal genetic screening, the ability to prevent suffering has also sparked difficult questions about what should count as “a disease” versus “a difference,” and whether we’re in danger of wiping out certain segments of the population. This story was produced in collaboration with PBS, American Experience. 

11:13

Abortion Was Illegal. This Secret Group Defied the Law

The Supreme Court has reversed Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion. We tell the story of the Jane Collective, which provided thousands of illegal abortions from 1969 to 1973. 

08:08

For Private Prisons, Detaining Immigrants Is Big Business

An inmate population surge in the 1980s led to the growth of for-profit prisons. Today, despite their mixed record, private prison companies are overseeing the vast majority of undocumented migrants. 

10:01

1 lesson plan

Trump Administration Sued for Torpedoing Enforcement of Landmark Housing Law

Ben Carson, Secretary of HUD, is being sued for not enforcing the Fair Housing Act – landmark legislation that was passed 50 years ago during the Civil Rights era. 

04:06

She Derailed the Fight for Equal Rights for Women

Even in the #MeToo era, many people don’t know that the Equal Rights Amendment never passed…because of one woman. Her name is Phyllis Schlafly. 

13:09

2 lesson plans

The Rise of SWAT: How Cops Became Soldiers

As police have become more militarized, the role of SWAT teams has morphed – from use in emergency situations to fighting the drug war. 

02:58

Reproductive Rights and the Women Who Sparked a Movement

As the U.S. tightens restrictions on women’s reproductive health, the new season of The Handmaid’s Tale seems more relevant than ever. We look back on a group of women who broke sexual taboos in the 1970s, and how the fight over women’s bodies continues today. 

04:14

Forever Prison

Guantanamo Bay has become a symbol of the war on terror, but its story actually begins a decade before, when it was first used to detain thousands of Haitians outside the reach of U.S. law. 

14:26

1 lesson plan

How ‘Zero Tolerance’ Blurred the Lines Between Schools and Criminal Justice

Over the last 30 years, schools across the country have enacted tough new discipline policies. Some of those schools say they went too far. 

11:39

1 lesson plan

Fair Housing

Has the government done enough to stop housing discrimination? 

03:00

Legendary Cartoonist Al Jaffee Recalls Comic Book Censorship

Cartoonist Al Jaffee has been causing mischief at MAD Magazine for decades and at 94-years-old, he’s as irreverent as ever. A new series of Retro Report short docs produced for Facebook. 

03:00

Why Waco Is Still a Battleground in the Second Amendment Debate

In 1993, state and federal law enforcement agents conducted a siege on the headquarters of an apocalyptic religious group in Waco, Texas. The deadly episode generated a legacy that continues to shape anti-government groups today. 

14:50

1 lesson plan

Wrongly Accused of Terrorism: The Sleeper Cell That Wasn’t

Six days after 9/11, the FBI’s raid on a sleeper cell signaled America’s resolve to fight terrorism. But, despite a celebrated conviction, there was one problem–they were wrong. 

11:39

1 lesson plan

He’s the only CIA Contractor to be Convicted in a Torture-related Case

The story of the first and only interrogator connected to the CIA to be convicted in a torture-related case. 

13:07

1 lesson plan

A Right to Die?

Should doctors be allowed to help suffering patients die? In 1990, with his homemade suicide machine, Dr. Jack Kevorkian raised that question. It’s an issue Americans still struggle with today. 

14:26

How Geography Drove MLK’s Fight for a Ferry in Alabama

Weeks before Selma’s Bloody Sunday in 1965, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. urged residents of Gee’s Bend, Ala., to vote, and fed a continuing fight over a small ferry that would last for decades. 

08:16

2 lesson plans

How the Shootout at Ruby Ridge Resonates in the Gun Debate Today

When armed suspects stand off against the law today, one event continues to cast a shadow on both sides of the police line: the 1992 siege at Ruby Ridge. 

12:44

Stealing J. Edgar Hoover’s Secrets

Long before Edward Snowden, there was the greatest heist you’ve never heard of. On March 8, 1971, a group of eight Vietnam War protestors broke into a Federal Bureau of Investigation field office in Media, Pennsylvania and stole hundreds of government documents that shocked a nation. 

13:34

1 lesson plan

Civics Skills: Strategies for Analyzing Challenging Texts

Discover effective research and fact-checking techniques to use online. 

06:24

3 lesson plans

Citizen Nation: How the Media Shaped the Narrative of Civil Rights and Disobedience

Journeylove Taylor reflects on the power of representation as she prepares for and competes in the national We the People finals. 

02:48

1 lesson plan

Civics Skills: How Students Stood Up for the Right to Protest

Understand students’ rights that are protected by the First Amendment. 

05:40

3 lesson plans

Book Bans, Student Rights and a Fractured Supreme Court Ruling

Island Trees v. Pico tested student rights, free expression and the limits of school boards. 

07:03

2 lesson plans

Students’ Tiananmen Protest Turned Deadly, Transforming U.S.-China Relations

Students in Beijing rallied for free speech and democratic reforms in 1989. The crackdown that followed altered U.S.-China relations. 

12:37

2 lesson plans

The 2008 Financial Crisis Explained: Housing Bubble to Bailout

Risky loans, regulatory gaps, and Wall Street practices fueled the 2008 financial crisis and led to the Great Recession. 

10:26

2 lesson plans

What the World War II-Era Bracero Program Reveals About U.S. Immigration Debates

A conflict between labor needs and immigration laws has long shaped families, fears and today’s debates. 

09:50

1 lesson plan

What Japan’s Atom Bomb Survivors Have Taught Us About the Dangers of Nuclear War

Japanese survivors recall the day the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and warn of future risks. 

10:05

2 lesson plans

‘Another Player Down’: How Concern About Injuries Is Changing Sports

Americans love contact sports. But what should be done when the violence becomes too much to ignore? 

12:38

1 lesson plan

The Case of the Missing Park Posters: An Ex-Ranger Hunts for New Deal-Era Art

A former park ranger is on the hunt to complete a collection of posters by artists commissioned by the government celebrating national parks. 

05:09

1 lesson plan

Healing the Ozone: First Steps Toward Success 

A worldwide effort to heal damage to the ozone layer is showing early progress. 

12:33

3 lesson plans

Fighting Drought With an Ancient Practice: Harvesting the Rain

Ancient methods of collecting and storing rainwater are being used to address severe drought today. 

11:12

3 lesson plans

How the U.S. Has Treated Wartime Refugees

What obligation does the United States have toward people who are uprooted by war? 

10:24

3 lesson plans

Nuclear Meltdowns Raised Fears, but Growing Energy Needs May Outweigh Them

Catastrophic accidents at power plants like Three Mile Island and Fukushima Daiichi have heightened fears about the safety of nuclear energy, but environmentalists and others are giving it renewed attention as a way to fight global warming. 

11:16

1 lesson plan

Unprepared: Lessons From Two Massive Oil Spills

A disastrous oil spill off the coast of Alaska and massive explosion of a rig in the Gulf of Mexico revealed a pattern of unsettled standards and inconsistent oversight that cast doubt on the oil industry’s preparedness for future accidents. 

11:38

1 lesson plan

Extremism in America: The Oklahoma City Bombing

Anti-government propaganda, military deployment and the F.B.I. raid in Waco, Texas, radicalized Timothy McVeigh and led to the Oklahoma City attack. This is the second episode of a five-part series produced in collaboration with The WNET Group’s reporting initiative Exploring Hate. 

07:10

Dictators and Civil Wars: The Cold War in Latin America

Driven by fears of the rise of communism, the United States adopted a policy of containment, intervening in the politics of countries across the globe. In Latin America, the consequences of those efforts are still unfolding. 

06:30

1 lesson plan

9/11 Heroes: Surviving the Biggest Attack on U.S. Soil

First responders who survived 9/11 don’t want the day to be forgotten. 

11:52

3 lesson plans

Why the Cold War Race for Nuclear Weapons Is Still a Threat

Russian President Vladimir Putin controls the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, and his invasion of Ukraine is a reminder that Russia, the U.S. and many other countries have thousands of nuclear missiles, even as safeguards once in place have fallen away. 

06:05

2 lesson plans

Trump and Biden Both Want to Repeal Section 230. Would That Wreck the Internet?

Today’s heated political arguments over censorship and misinformation online are rooted in a 26-word snippet of a law that created the Internet as we know it. 

09:13

1 lesson plan

Health Risks of Vaping: Lessons From the Battle With Big Tobacco

Like cigarette manufacturers decades ago, e-cigarette makers have pitched their products as fun and safe. But nobody knows what the risks are. 

13:01

1 lesson plan

Tenants Facing Eviction Over Covid-19 Look to a 1970s Solution

An idea from a tenant rebellion in the 70s could help renters facing eviction. 

10:57

What the Bungled Response to H.I.V. Can Teach Us About Coping With Epidemics

Politics, public health and a pandemic. What we didn’t learn from H.I.V. 

12:14

1 lesson plan

American Samoa Dodged a Pandemic in 1918. Here’s What We Learned.

Two territories, two wildly different outcomes as a pandemic terrorized the world. 

06:04

From Napster to Netflix: The History and Impact of Streaming Services

After Napster, many consumers got used to entertainment on demand. There was no turning back. 

09:42

1 lesson plan

Could We Geo-engineer Ourselves Out of Climate Change?

Is geo-engineering the climate an answer to global warming? Cold War science has some lessons. 

10:35

1 lesson plan

Lingering Peril From Lead Paint

About half a million children have dangerously high lead levels in their blood, mostly from exposure to peeling paint and contaminated dust. The fight over who should clean it up has lasted for decades. 

14:30

1 lesson plan

Vaccine Skepticism Is Reviving Preventable Diseases

Diseases once near eradication are re-emerging. Here’s how science and federal policy are squaring off. 

12:58

1 lesson plan

Horses: Wild, But Not Free

There are now so many wild horses on public land – nearly 100,000 – that they have become caught in a battle between the government, ranchers and environmentalists. 

08:40

1 lesson plan

A Barge Full of Garbage Helped to Fuel a Recycling Movement

In the 1980s, rising public awareness about waste was fueled by a bizarre news story about a meandering New York City garbage barge. 

10:56

1 lesson plan

Thalidomide: From Tragedy to Treatment

How a pill that led to drug safety guidelines became a case study for rising drug prices. 

11:20

2 lesson plans

This Snake Is Eating the Everglades

Burmese pythons released into the wild by well-meaning pet owners have created a reptilian nightmare in the Everglades. 

10:34

1 lesson plan

Can We Teach Cars to Drive? It’s an Uphill Challenge.

Autonomous vehicle technology has gotten better, but how close are we really to a time when a robot chauffeur will be able to safely drive us? 

10:33

Space Law: The Next Generation

An international treaty laid out the basics of space law in 1967. But without a lot of case history to go on, lawyers today have looked to maritime law and Arctic exploration as they lay the groundwork for how space will be governed. 

06:01

Trump, Measles, and a Study That Fueled Fear

President Donald Trump has long been a critic of childhood vaccines – but then he suddenly changed course, urging parents to vaccinate their children. 

04:11

Future of Aging

Across the globe, more and more people are living longer lives and that’s redefining what it means to be over 65, and what the future might mean for retirement. 

09:49

1 lesson plan

Future of Water

The increasing scarcity of drinking water is beginning to capture the world’s attention – but surprisingly, an innovative solution might just be found in one of the Earth’s driest places. 

10:11

2 lesson plans

Future of Cities

In the latest installment of our “What Happens Next” series examining the future of society, we visit Medellín, Colombia—a city that has reinvented itself over the past few decades, turning its violent past into a sustainable future by transforming its slums. 

10:44

2 lesson plans

A Trusted Pill Turned Deadly. How Tylenol Made a Comeback

How do some companies regain public trust after something goes seriously wrong, while others fail? A look at how Tylenol responded after someone spiked its pills with poison in the 1980s sheds some light. 

08:41

1 lesson plan

From Y2K to 2038, Lessons Learned from First Computer Crisis

The Y2K bug threatened to wipe out computers and disrupt modern society at the end of the 20th century. We all remember the doomsday hype, but what really happened? 

09:23

Where the Debate Over “Designer Babies” Began

Genetic technology is advancing, and critics are warning of a slippery slope. We speak with the scientists working at the forefront of the research, families who have benefited and the first-ever “test-tube” baby to understand the debate. 

11:30

Why We Can’t Have a Civil Conversation About Guns

In the 1980s, the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan and the shooting of his press secretary, Jim Brady, led to the Brady Bill. Decades later, are there lessons from that fight for the Parkland students? 

11:07

1 lesson plan

Selling the Code: Can Genetic Testing Services Really Predict Your Future?

Today, companies market genetic tests for everything from cancer to diet and exercise. But how much can tests like 23andme really predict? 

10:57

Fixing the Code: Genetically Engineering Your DNA to Cure Disease

For the past 20 years, scientists have been trying to cure disease by altering DNA. We examine how with CRISPR Cas-9 gene editing and the revival of gene therapy, they’re closer than ever. 

13:09

1 lesson plan

Future of Money

Future of Money, the first in a 5-part series, looks at what ancient stones on a tiny Pacific island can teach us about Bitcoin, blockchains and the future of money. 

11:27

1 lesson plan

Trump’s Medicaid Positioning Echoes the Controversial Welfare Reform of the 90s

During his campaign, Donald Trump vowed not to cut to entitlements, but then reversed himself saying he would, and additionally would turn more control over to the states. 

03:13

Rachel Carson’s Warning on D.D.T. Ignited an Environmental Movement

Author Rachel Carson’s strike against the pesticide DDT turned her into both an environmental hero and a foil for those who believe regulation has gone too far. That fight is more relevant than ever. 

12:31

1 lesson plan

Could You Patent the Sun?

Decades after Dr. Jonas Salk opposed patenting the polio vaccine, the pharmaceutical industry has changed. What does that mean for the development of innovative drugs and for people whose lives depend on them? 

11:24

Princess Diana Brought Attention to Land Mines, but Their Danger Lingers

In the late 1990s, Princess Diana brought public attention to land mine victims. But since her death, how much progress has been made in the worldwide fight against leftover munitions? 

09:33

1 lesson plan

The Populist Politician and California’s Property Tax Revolt

In 1978, voters passed Proposition 13, lowering taxes for millions of California homeowners. Decades later, what has it meant for California? 

12:13

1 lesson plan

Life After Welfare

In 1996, welfare reform was signed into law, promising needy families a path out of poverty. This is the story of Tianna Gaines-Turner, a former welfare recipient, who still struggles to make ends meet. 

01:52

Atomic Vets

The story of the veterans who witnessed secret atomic testing and how their decades-long struggle for recognition affects soldiers today. This story is a coproduction with Reveal, from The Center for Investigative Reporting. 

13:34

2 lesson plans

Welfare and the Politics of Poverty

Bill Clinton’s 1996 welfare reform was supposed to move needy families off government handouts and onto a path out of poverty. Years later, how has it turned out? 

13:25

1 lesson plan

How Heroin Addiction’s Rural Spread Changed the War on Drugs

From time to time over the past 40 years, efforts were made to treat heroin addiction as a public health instead of a crime problem. But they were not successful. 

13:59

1 lesson plan

Lessons from Columbine About School Shootings and Media Misinformation

The killing of twelve students and a teacher at Columbine High School in 1999 continues to shape how we view and understand school shootings today. 

12:10

1 lesson plan

How a Standoff with the Black Panthers Fueled the Rise of SWAT

S.W.A.T. teams, specially trained police teams, have been used increasingly in routine matters like serving drug warrants, sometimes with disastrous results. 

09:50

1 lesson plan

E. Coli Outbreaks Changed Food Production, But How Safe Are We?

A 1993 E. coli outbreak linked to Jack in the Box hamburgers acted as a wake up call about the dangers of food-borne illness. Decades later, how far have we really come in terms of food safety? 

10:49

1 lesson plan

Fire Safety and Chemicals in Our Clothing

There are over 80,000 chemicals in use today. The story of Tris, a fire retardant that was once used to treat children’s pajamas, but was banned as a carcinogen in the 1970s, illustrates the challenge of regulating chemicals. 

12:57

1 lesson plan

Reintroducing Wolves to Yellowstone was a Success. That’s When Trouble ​Began.

In the 1990s, the federal government reintroduced the gray wolf to Yellowstone National Park. It was considered a big success. And that’s when the real fight began. 

11:25

1 lesson plan

The Surprising Technological Revolution Launched by the Air Bag

How did cars become “computers on wheels,” so automated that some are about to start driving themselves? The story begins forty-five years ago with a quest to make cars safer and the battle over the air bag. 

14:16

Agent Orange: Last Chapter of the Vietnam War

The use of the defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War continues to cast a dark shadow over both American veterans and Vietnamese citizens. 

09:59

3 lesson plans

The Fly That Quarantined California and Pitted Environmentalists Against Farmers

In the summer of 1981, the Mediterranean fruit fly spread through California’s Santa Clara Valley, infesting backyard fruit trees and threatening the state’s $14 billion agricultural industry. 

10:29

1 lesson plan

Crime and Punishment: Three Strikes and You’re Out

After the 1993 murder of a California child, many states passed laws to lock up repeat offenders for life, but those laws have raised new questions about how crime is handled in America. 

11:19

1 lesson plan

Toxic Waste in the Neighborhood: The Love Canal Disaster

In 1978, toxic chemicals leaking from an old landfill thrust an upstate New York community called “Love Canal” into the national headlines, and made it synonymous with “environmental disaster.” 

11:01

1 lesson plan

Blackout: Understanding the US Power Grid’s Vulnerability from the 2003 Failure

In 2003, a blackout crippled areas of the U.S. and Canada, leaving some 50 million people in the dark. Years later, we are still grappling with concerns over the vulnerability of our power grid. 

09:21

Nixon and the Long, Somewhat Successful, War on Cancer

When President Richard Nixon vowed to make curing cancer a national crusade, many anticipated quick results. But decades later, what have we really accomplished? 

12:50

Walter Reed: The Battle for Recovery

In 2007, mismanagement and mistreatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center made national headlines. Today, after major reforms, what has changed for America’s injured soldiers? 

12:11

Freeing Willy

In the wake of the 1993 hit movie Free Willy, activists and fans campaigned to release the movie’s star – a captive killer whale named Keiko – and launched a story Hollywood couldn’t invent. 

11:41

1 lesson plan

Us vs. Them: From George Wallace to Donald Trump

Donald Trump has used populist politics to appeal to voters who are fed up with the status quo. We look at another politician who tapped into America’s divisions decades ago: George Wallace. 

07:48

1 lesson plan

Shirley Chisholm Was a Trailblazer for Change

Explore the groundbreaking career of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to seek the U.S. presidency. 

13:00

1 lesson plan

How Trump’s Red Wave Builds on the Past

Donald Trump’s resounding 2024 victory echoes electoral shifts of the past. 

09:22

2 lesson plans

Campaign Missteps: Gaffes on the Trail

Political gaffes have shaped elections from the Gilded Age to today. 

06:35

1 lesson plan

The Culture Question: How Hot-Button Issues Divide Us

Culture wars have a long and divisive history in American politics, with gender, race and religion continuing to inflame public opinion. 

06:34

1 lesson plan

Charm Offensive: Why Politicians Reach for ‘Relatable’

For American politicians, the obsession with appealing to the everyman dates back to the raucous campaign of 1840. 

00:00

1 lesson plan

Mud-Slinging and Deadly Duels: How Negative Campaigning Evolved

Explore the history and impact of negative campaigning in U.S. presidential elections. 

06:34

1 lesson plan

Lessons From the 1976 Republican Convention: Why Ronald Reagan Lost the Nomination

In 1976, Ronald Reagan found owning the soul of a party wasn’t the same as taking home its nomination. 

06:22

1 lesson plan

Daisy: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House

Perhaps the most famous political ad of all time, this early television spot ran on air just once, but generated enough media coverage to become a real factor in the 1964 presidential election. 

04:23

1 lesson plan

Lessons from the 1924 Democratic Convention: An Immigration Debate’s Impact

Immigration has been a defining issue in a campaign before, and the consequences transformed the Democratic Party. 

06:06

1 lesson plan

Lessons From the 1964 Republican Convention: Declaring War on the Establishment

Donald Trump’s candidacy wasn’t the first time the Republican Party was split by an outsider declaring war on the establishment elite. 

05:34

1 lesson plan

The Birth of the U.S. Political Convention in 1831

In 1831, a radical third party had a new idea for selecting a presidential candidate, and it’s still in use today: the national nominating convention. 

04:24

1 lesson plan

Labor Union Activism Is on the Rise, Recalling the Great Depression

Spurred by the pandemic, new groups of workers are pushing to form unions in activism not seen since the 1930s. 

08:13

3 lesson plans

Midterm Elections: How 1994 Midterms Set Off an Era of Divisive Politics

Midterm elections, often a referendum on the sitting president’s agenda, can set the stage for future policy debates. Economic and social issues with roots in the 1994 midterms are still being debated today. 

10:35

2 lesson plans

Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.

Both parties play the redistricting game, redrawing electoral boundaries to lock down power. 

11:07

2 lesson plans

Poll Watchers and the Long History of Voter Intimidation

President Trump has called on supporters, including law enforcement officers, to monitor election sites. Voter intimidation tactics have a long history. 

05:06

1 lesson plan

Bush v. Gore: How a Recount Dispute Affects Voting Today

The dramatic controversy surrounding the 2000 presidential election led to sweeping voting reforms, but opened the door to a new set of problems that continue to affect elections today. 

11:24

1 lesson plan

Enemies of the People: Trump and the Political Press

In this hour-long film, nominated for two 2021 Emmy Awards, journalists who covered Donald Trump during the 2016 race for the White House critique their role in the former president’s rise to power. 

64:00

2 lesson plans

Political Debates: What the Unforgettable Moments Reveal

High-stakes debates put candidates in the hot seat. But are they helpful to voters? 

09:53

1 lesson plan

How Black Women Fought Racism and Sexism for the Right to Vote

African American women played a significant and sometimes overlooked role in the struggle to gain the vote. 

10:02

1 lesson plan

How Biden vs. Sanders Echoes a 1964 Republican Party Split

Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are the icons of an ideological split among today’s Democrats, echoing a similar split in the Republican party of 1964. 

05:34

Memes, the New Political Cartoon, Are Transforming Social Commentary

Online memes are influencing politics, sometimes fueling misinformation and shaping what young people learn. 

04:01

1 lesson plan

The Roots of Evangelicals’ Political Fervor

White evangelical Christians are among President Trump’s most important supporters. But more than 40 years ago, they were on the margins of American politics. 

11:16

1 lesson plan

Conspiracy Theories and Fake News from JFK to Pizzagate

Retro Report explores decades of conspiracy theories – from the John F. Kennedy assassination to Pizzagate – and what they can tell us about how we view the world today. 

12:33

1 lesson plan

Lessons From the 2004 Democratic Convention: Obama’s Speech

Sometimes the most important speech at the convention isn’t delivered by the nominee. 

05:58

1 lesson plan

Upheaval at the 1860 Democratic Convention: What Happened When a Party Split

Some issues are too fundamental for a party to withstand, and the consequences can last for a generation. 

04:18

1 lesson plan

Lessons from the 1912 Republican Convention: Birth of the Modern Primary

The animosity between William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt changed the primary process forever. 

04:57

2 lesson plans

Lessons from the 1968 Democratic Convention: Under the Shadow of Protests

There are important lessons to be learned from the Democrats’ 1968 Chicago convention. 

05:59

2 lesson plans

How Watergate and Citizens United Shaped Campaign Finance Law

The Watergate campaign finance scandals led to a landmark law designed to limit the influence of money in politics. Decades later, some say the scandal isn’t what’s illegal, it’s what’s legal. 

13:11

1 lesson plan

Smoking Man: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House

In the 2012 Republican primary, Herman Cain’s campaign produced an unusual video featuring Cain’s chief of staff, Mark Block, giving a pep talk while smoking a cigarette. 

04:01

1 lesson plan

The Rock: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House

In 2007, long-shot Democratic candidate Mike Gravel released one of the strangest ads in political history. 

04:09

1 lesson plan

Willie Horton: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House

The infamous Willie Horton ad placed a nail in the coffin of Michael Dukakis’ 1988 presidential run. 

04:43

1 lesson plan

Morning in America: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House

Future “warm and fuzzy” ads can trace their lineage to this one. For his reelection campaign, Ronald Reagan employed a team of advertising all-stars, resulting in one of the most famous catchphrases in American politics. 

04:01

1 lesson plan

It’s 3 A.M.: Political Ads That Shaped the Battle for the White House

After a string of critical losses in the 2008 Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton’s campaign put out a hard-hitting ad that questioned Barack Obama’s readiness for the White House. 

03:59

1 lesson plan

Citizen Nation: Thinking About the Value of Public Service

A student learns about public service through the example set by his father, a teacher and state delegate. 

03:43

1 lesson plan

Citizen Nation: The Hustle

In Episode 3, the stakes are high as teams across the country prepare for their state competitions. 

54:27

Citizen Nation: Finding Your Political Identity 

A We the People participant reflects on how family, society and his experiences shape his political beliefs. 

04:48

1 lesson plan

Citizen Nation: Citizenship Responsibilities

Caden’s 18th birthday coincides with Election Day, and he casts his first vote for his dad. 

03:17

1 lesson plan

Citizen Nation: Agree to Disagree

In Episode 4, the series wraps up at a thrilling championship showdown in the heart of Washington, D.C. 

55:23

Citizen Nation: In the Fray

In Episode 2, the pressure heats up. One participant from Virginia becomes eligible to vote in an election where his father, the coach of a rival team, is a candidate. 

54:20

Civics Skills: Engaging Your Community Through Voter Education

Explore ways to become an engaged citizen. 

04:50

3 lesson plans

Civics Skills: How to (Respectfully) Disagree

Learn to discuss contentious topics with civility and respect for differing opinions. 

05:36

3 lesson plans