August 20, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The Democratic National Convention concludes Thursday night. Delegates and the nation will hear from Joe Biden, the party’s presidential nominee for 2020. His appearance follows a night when Biden’s former boss, former President Barack Obama, and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, set the stage for the campaign. Amna Nawaz reports on Wednesday’s events and previews the convention’s finale.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was one of several high-profile women to address the country Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention. The California Democrat shared her support for the Biden-Harris ticket -- and her concerns about President Trump. Pelosi joins Judy Woodruff to discuss her reaction to the first virtual convention, legislative action on the U.S. Postal Service and more.

California has suffered a devastating week, with a blistering heat wave, intense lightning storms and raging wildfires overwhelming firefighters and forcing residents to evacuate in the middle of a pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state’s resources are being pushed to their breaking point. Meanwhile, thick smoke is causing dangerous air pollution in San Francisco. Stephanie Sy reports.

Thursday marks the final day of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, after a week of speakers, discussions and celebrations. To conclude the event, the party’s presidential candidate, Joe Biden, will formally accept his nomination. But President Trump is wasting no time in criticizing Biden's policies. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest campaign news.

Russia’s leading opposition figure is seriously ill in a Siberian hospital, the victim of a possible poisoning. Alexei Navalny is a crusading anti-corruption activist and aspiring politician who has been a thorn in President Vladimir Putin’s side for years. Nick Schifrin reports and talks to Catherine Belton, investigative correspondent for Reuters and author of a recently released book on Russia.

In our news wrap Thursday, Greenland’s ice sheet lost a record 586 billion tons of ice last year -- more than double the annual average. A new satellite study reported the finding, which researchers blame on a combination of climate change and an occasional weather effect that sends warmer air over Greenland. Also, Dr. Anthony Fauci had outpatient surgery to remove a polyp on his vocal cord.

The United States formally demanded Thursday that the United Nations “snap back” all sanctions on Iran. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited Iranian violations of the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the Trump administration withdrew in 2018. But several European signatories of the agreement disputed U.S. legal authority for the move and said they won’t enforce the sanctions. Nick Schifrin reports.

The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, exposed major health and environmental concerns for residents and prompted new scrutiny of access to clean drinking water in the U.S. But Flint is still grappling with the consequences of its crisis, including financial and legal liability. John Yang reports and talks to Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician who helped sound the alarm about Flint’s water.

One of the goals of this year’s Democratic National Convention is to unite a divided party. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was former Vice President Joe Biden’s biggest challenger during the Democratic primaries, and some of his supporters have vowed not to support Biden. Sanders joins Judy Woodruff to discuss working with Biden on policy proposals and progressive representation at the DNC.

Former Vice President Al Gore is among the few people who know what it’s like to deliver an acceptance speech for a major party’s presidential nomination. In a year when we might not learn the results on Election Day, Gore has a unique perspective. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the DNC, his history with Joe Biden and why he believes Biden’s climate platform is critical to “saving the future.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden has spent decades in public office. On Thursday night, he will finally accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. We look back at Biden’s personal story, fraught with tragedy and resilience, and his long political career as he arrives at this professional milestone. Lisa Desjardins reports.