PBS’ ‘Finding Your Roots’ looks into political leaders’ past

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., says he hopes this season of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots” helps a divided U.S. see how all Americans have unique family mysteries.

This season’s series takes advantage of advancements in genealogy and genetics. It also uses diverse subjects like former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and “Game of Thrones” author George R. R. Martin to investigate the past family histories of a number of American celebrities.

Gates says investigators were able to locate some of Ryan’s ancestors in Germany back in the 1500s. They also found that the former Republican leader is a descendant of Ashkenazi Jews.

The show on Ryan and Gabbard, who is running for president, airs on most PBS stations on Tuesday.