August 19, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

As Democrats gear up for the third night of their convention, they are looking to clarify policy positions and emphasize the role of women in the party. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss Sen. Kamala Harris’ upcoming historic speech, controversy over how much time has been allocated to progressive speakers and what to look for as Wilmington, Delaware, welcomes convention events.

Democrats are currently favored to maintain control of the House, but gaining a Senate majority is another matter entirely. The party would need to pick up three new seats if Joe Biden wins the presidency, and four if President Trump is reelected. The Democrat seen as the most vulnerable of those senators up for reelection is Alabama’s Doug Jones, who joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the party.

The pressure on doctors, nurses and other health care professionals has been constant throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Tara Rynders, a registered nurse in Colorado, has created an arts-based workshop designed to alleviate the stress and compassion fatigue that many medical providers experience. Rynders shares her Brief But Spectacular take on caring for those who care for us.

Donald Trump won the White House in 2016 by taking several key swing states that former President Barack Obama had won in 2008 and 2012, including Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Each of these is expected to be a battleground again this year. Democratic Reps. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, Tim Ryan of Ohio and Val Demings of Florida join Judy Woodruff to discuss their states’ political landscapes.

With tens of millions of Americans reeling financially from the coronavirus pandemic, the future of the U.S. economy is on the minds of many. Both President Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are seeking to convince voters they can revive the country. But what do their respective policies suggest? Paul Solman analyzes some of Biden’s key economic proposals -- and how he would pay for them.

In our news wrap Wednesday, wildfires are raging across California, forcing a statewide emergency, stretching crews to their capacity and leaving thousands under evacuation orders. Fires in the Bay Area and Napa’s wine country exploded overnight. Also, in Mali, soldiers who ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita are promising timely elections as the country faces an Islamist insurgency.

In Belarus, riot police dispersed protesters from the streets of Minsk Wednesday in a show of force, albeit a less brutal one than they were met with after last week's disputed presidential election. Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is calling for a new vote -- but the country's workers are divided over whether to strike in protest. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky reports.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is the chairman of the Democratic Caucus and one of the youngest members of the party’s congressional leadership team. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss how the Democratic National Convention has gone so far, why he believes the Biden-Harris ticket is the right choice for this moment, the politics of the postal service and prospects for more coronavirus relief.

Throughout the week, we have heard from a number of Joe Biden’s former rivals who have now come to support him in his bid for the White House. One of them, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss how she thinks the Democratic National Convention is going so far, why this is a “personal” election, the challenges of virtual campaigning and Biden's chance of winning Minnesota.