October 26, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

In our news wrap Monday, factory workers, students and businesses in Belarus staged a one-day national strike as President Alexander Lukashenko again defied calls to resign. Crowds filled the streets of Minsk in solidarity against Lukashenko and thousands of protester arrests in the past two months. Also, Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of violating a cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Amy Coney Barrett is poised to become the third Supreme Court justice chosen by President Trump, ensuring a judicial legacy that will be felt for years to come. And after her confirmation, Barrett will quickly have a chance to make her imprint on some important and timely issues, including voting access and the Affordable Care Act. John Yang reports on how Barrett could change the Supreme Court.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is the Senate's second highest-ranking Democrat and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which supported the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. Durbin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he has found the judicial confirmation process for Barrett “very troubling,” what he expects from her on the court and the “desperate” need for more coronavirus relief.

Coronavirus is spiking in parts of the U.S. spared the worst of the pandemic in its early days, as well as in states that already suffered. With an average of 75,000 new daily cases over the past week, hospital admissions are rising, straining health care systems and forcing very difficult decisions. William Brangham talks to Dr. Edward Stenehjem of the Intermountain Healthcare system in Utah.

Protecting the American voting process from outside interference is a top priority this election season. But public and political opinion are divided over the best voting systems to prevent tampering. Miles O’Brien takes a look at the latest technology being used in Georgia -- and whether it provides a stronger defense against meddling than the traditional paper ballot.

Protecting the American voting process from outside interference is a top priority this election season. But public and political opinion are divided over the best voting systems to prevent tampering. Miles O’Brien takes a look at the latest technology being used in Georgia -- and whether it provides a stronger defense against meddling than the traditional paper ballot.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump’s and Joe Biden’s campaign strategies in battleground states, Vice President Mike Pence’s decision not to quarantine despite a staff COVID-19 outbreak and predictions for the balance of power in the House.