October 27, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The country is seeing record turnout for early voting, as well as some late legal challenges around when -- and if -- all those votes get counted. Almost 70 million people have already cast their ballots, with Election Day still a week away. William Brangham reports and talks to the University of Florida’s Michael McDonald, who runs the United States Election Project, about what the numbers show.

t has been a long day on the campaign trail, with appearance after appearance for President Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden and their running mates. The candidates are in an all-out sprint to the finish line of Election Day next Tuesday. But record numbers of American voters have already cast their ballots, uneasy about the pandemic and electoral legal challenges. Yamiche Alcindor reports.

In our news wrap Tuesday, Amy Coney Barrett was formally sworn in as the newest member of the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath in private, a day after Barrett’s Senate confirmation. Also, firefighters in Southern California are making scant progress against wind-blown wildfires forcing thousands to flee. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the conditions are unprecedented.

The fatal shooting of a Black man by police in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon sparked large protests overnight. Walter Wallace Jr., whose family said he suffered from mental health issues, brandished a knife at officers Monday, refusing to obey their orders to drop it. They shot him multiple times. It’s only the latest police killing in recent months to provoke public outrage. John Yang reports.

With a week to go before Election Day, cases of COVID-19 are rising across the country, and economic stimulus talks appear to be stalled. Brooke Rollins is acting director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. She joins Judy Woodruff to discuss where negotiations stand on providing another round of federal pandemic relief and President Trump’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.

Chicago was hit hard by coronavirus earlier this year and is now suffering through a second surge. In addition, state and local budgets have fallen significantly due to the pandemic. With federal stimulus talks stalled, mayors like Lori Lightfoot are on their own. Lightfoot joins Judy Woodruff to discuss COVID-19 numbers, possible new state restrictions and her reaction to the federal response.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the world has become reliant on personal protective equipment, or PPE. Most of this essential gear, from masks to gowns to goggles, comes from China -- and experts in the U.S. say this foreign dependence is problematic. Bur for now, the country where the virus originated is producing much of what's needed to fight it off. Special correspondent Patrick Fok reports.

This year, more women are running for Congress than ever before, shattering records set in 2018. But this time, the increase in female candidates is driven in part by Republican women on the ballot. Lisa Desjardins reports on what the GOP has done to attract women -- and what they still need to do to close the wide gender gap in the House.

The arts have been devastated by the pandemic, with consumer spending in the sector dropping significantly this year. Now, a pilot program in the mountains of western Massachusetts is looking to ideas from the past to ensure artists’ futures. Special correspondent Jared Bowen of GBH reports as part of our American Creators series and ongoing coverage of arts and culture, Canvas.