Frank Carlson

Washington, D.C., United States

Senior Coordinating Producer, America at a Crossroads at PBS NewsHour

Producing “America at a Crossroads” for viewers like you @Newshour.

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Articles

Ex-NIH director and truck driver explore how to bridge divisions deepened by the pandemic

4 weeks ago | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Mar 26, 2025 6:20 PM EDT Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio Americans were sharply divided over the public health response to COVID-19, including masking, remote learning, business closures and vaccines. Five years after the start of the pandemic, Judy Woodruff sat down with two people on opposing sides of that divide, trying to figure out how to move forward. It's part of her series, America at a Crossroads.
Michigan community attempts to heal political divisions deepened by the pandemic

1 month ago | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Five years after the pandemic, the impacts on our politics, public health and civic life continue to be felt across communities. Judy Woodruff spoke to community members in Southeastern Michigan to explore how divisions that emerged during the public health emergency continue to play out today. It's part of her ongoing series, America at a Crossroads.
How Elon Musk gained so much power in the Trump administration

2 months ago | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Feb 20, 2025 6:40 PM EST Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio President Trump has tasked Elon Musk with an enormous job of searching the federal government and rooting out inefficiencies and waste. But Musk’s initial, often chaotic, infiltration of various departments has set off alarm bells. It’s also put the tech entrepreneur at center stage of the conservative movement. William Brangham looks at the history of the man behind this effort.
Robert Putnam reflects on how America became so polarized and what can unify the nation

2 months ago | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

For over two years, Judy Woodruff has traveled the country exploring the roots of America’s divisions over race, religion, culture, wealth and more for America at a Crossroads. The series returns with political scientist Robert Putnam, who has spent decades studying these divides and how we might find our way back to a more unified nation. Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.
Study reveals financial impact of the sports betting boom

2 months ago | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Feb 7, 2025 6:25 PM EST Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio This Sunday in New Orleans, the Philadelphia Eagles will try to block the Kansas City Chiefs from taking home a historic third consecutive Super Bowl title. But there will also be a historic $1.4 billion riding on the game. Paul Solman reports on the snowballing and potentially perilous sports betting craze.
Democracy advocate examines how Trump is changing the U.S. government

2 months ago | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Feb 6, 2025 6:35 PM EST Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio The first two weeks of the Trump administration have brought dramatic proposals and unprecedented changes to the government. Our new series, On Democracy, is taking a step back to look at big questions about the changing laws, institutions and norms. For our first interview, Amna Nawaz spoke with Barton Gellman, a longtime journalist and senior adviser at the Brennan Center for Justice.
Can the nation unite after the divisive election? Political analysts share insights

Dec 11, 2024 | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

For the past two years, Judy Woodruff has been exploring the deep divisions we see playing out every day in the country. As we wrap up the year, she recently sat down with a panel of noted thinkers to talk through their concerns, and their hopes, following the election. It’s part of her series, America at a
The controversial changes RFK Jr. could make to vaccine policy as HHS chief

Dec 10, 2024 | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Dec 10, 2024 6:35 PM EST Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio More than 75 Nobel laureates signed a letter asking the U.S. Senate not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, citing his opposition to vaccines among their concerns. William Brangham takes a deeper look at Kennedy's record on that issue and what impact he could have leading the nation's health agencies.
Examining the major changes RFK Jr. could make to federal food regulations

Dec 6, 2024 | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Dec 6, 2024 6:45 PM EST Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio President-elect Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has raised a number of questions in the public health community about Kennedy’s long history of opposing vaccines. It’s also put a spotlight on a number of other comments he’s made, including about what millions of Americans eat and drink each day. William Brangham reports.
A look back at the 1968 Democratic convention and its relevance today

Aug 18, 2024 | pbs.org | Frank Carlson

Aug 18, 2024 5:35 PM EDT Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio Chicago has hosted more presidential nominating conventions than any other U.S. city, going back to Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The notorious and consequential 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago occurred when divisions over the Vietnam War sparked major protests in the city. Judy Woodruff traveled to the city for her series, America at a Crossroads.