PBS NewsHour

A co-pilot on an Virgin Galactic test flight died in a crash days after a commercial rocket, bound for the International Space Station, exploded. Are government-sponsored space programs safer? Science correspondent Miles O’Brien joins Gwen Ifill to discuss how the disasters will affect the development of space tourism and whether the industry could eventually offer any scientific advancements.

How much does a having a popular family name matter in politics? At least three dozen members of Congress have had family members who've held office before them. And as numerous incumbents see their political futures in jeopardy, NewsHour's Jeff Greenfield explores whether the family business of American politics -- especially in key battleground states -- helps candidates today.

One of the most competitive and consequential Senate races this year is in Alaska, where voters give more than lip service to state identity and their suspicion of outsiders -- and President Obama. Liz Ruskin of Alaska Public Media offers a look at the two candidates and the political lay of the land in America’s last frontier.

The U.S. economy appears to be on the upswing, consumer confidence and growth are up and the jobless rate is down. But polls show that voters’ feelings about the economy lag behind the signs of improvement. Gwen Ifill talks to NewsHour political director Domenico Montanaro about some of the races that will most affected by the economy.

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, is the first Fortune 500 executive to come out. "I'm proud to be gay and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me," wrote Cook in an essay for Bloomberg Businessweek about his sexual orientation. Gwen Ifill speaks with Kara Swisher of re/code about the significance of Cook’s public acknowledgement.

Amir is a successful corporate lawyer living a version of the American Dream, who has turned his back on the Muslim faith of his parents. The Broadway play "Disgraced," by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, tells the story of how Amir’s world and identity fall apart. Jeffrey Brown interviews Akhtar about his work and the deeper questions he’s exploring.

Lame-duck presidents don’t usually fare well at midterm elections. President Obama has mostly stayed away from the campaign trail, but with less than a week until Election Day, he’s joined the final push in states he’s won twice. Dan Balz of The Washington Post and presidential historian Michael Beschloss join Gwen Ifill to discuss the influence of presidents nearing the end of their tenure.

In addition to recalibrating the balance of power on Capitol Hill, the upcoming elections will dictate important state policy around the nation. One battle is brewing in North Dakota, where environmentalists are seeking tax revenue for preservation. NewsHour political editor and reporter Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff for a closer look at ballot initiatives on the minimum wage and abortion.

Teen sexting is very common, and in many states it’s also a crime. When a teen sends a sexually explicit photo of themselves, is that child both the perpetrator and the victim of child pornography? As part of a collaboration between The Atlantic and the PBS NewsHour, Judy Woodruff interviews Hanna Rosin about a case in Virginia and the peculiar challenges raised by juvenile sexting.

For more on the deteriorating situation in Iraq, Hari Sreenivasan speaks to Jane Arraf, a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor and Al Jazeera, who is reporting from the ground in northern Iraq.

For gays living in Uganda, just walking outside of their homes can be dangerous. And today, long-standing prejudice has been institutionalized into law with the country’s “Anti-Homosexuality Act,” which calls for harsh sentences for gay acts. Offenders convicted of “aggravated homosexuality” face life in prison. NewsHour Weekend special correspondent Martin Seemungal reports from Kampala.

Animals and World Cup predictions have a storied history. In 2010, an octopus in a German aquarium named Paul became famous after correctly predicting 8 cup matches in a row, outperforming many soccer analysts.

How does the fighting in Iraq impact oil exports to Europe and the United States? Matt Bradley of the Wall Street Journal joins Hari Sreenivasan via Skype from the northern Iraqi city of Erbil to discuss the fluctuations in global oil markets.

The Pentagon confirmed Saturday that a U.S. aircraft carrier is being sent to the coast of Iraq in response to the advance of Islamic militants in the country. What are America's military options in Iraq? For more, Janine Davidson, a senior fellow for defense policy at the Council on Foreign Relations joins Hari Sreenivasan in New York.

Teams representing 31 countries have descended on Brazil hoping to bring home the World Cup trophy. But amid the excitement, scientists and health specialists are concerned that tourists and players may bring something else home with them: dengue fever, a disease with no immunization and no cure that has long been a problem in Brazil.