PBS News Hour - Politics

Former President Donald Trump's final hours in office included one final sweep of pardons and commutations -- involving 144 people in all, many who are notable Trump political allies. Stephanie Sy spoke with Dan Kobil, a Capital University law professor, to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

There were major confirmation hearings on Tuesday in the Senate for President-elect Biden's nominees for three top national security posts as well as Treasury secretary. The hearings come a day before Biden's inauguration and at a time when his new administration will face historic challenges on multiple fronts. Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, the U.S. reached 400,000 deaths from COVID nearly equaling the number of Americans killed in World War II, President-elect Biden had an emotional departure from his home state of Delaware on the eve of inauguration, Biden will offer a sweeping immigration bill once in office, and the incoming Senate majority leader says President Trump's impeachment trial is a priority.

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As Congress looked ahead to governing under President-elect Biden, President Trump was said to be considering a volley of potential pardons before he leaves office. And Democrats continued to figure out what an impeachment trial for the outgoing president may look like. Lisa Desjardins and Yamiche Alcindor join Judy Woodruff to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As President Trump leaves office, a new PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll shows that just 38 percent of Americans approve of his presidency, while 57 percent disapprove of his job performance. Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center who served in the last three Republican administrations, joins Judy Woodruff for a bigger look at Trump's four years in the White House. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Monday, opposition leader Alexei Navalny will spend 30 days in jail after a Russian court hearing in Moscow, the U.S. neared 400,000 deaths from COVID-19, President-elect Biden names his choices to lead two major regulatory bodies, and hundreds of migrants bound for the U.S. are at a standstill in southeastern Guatemala. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

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 legacy, President-elect Biden's first days in office, and how Biden will be received by Republicans. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Donald Trump spent his final weekend in office in the White House. Reports are that he plans to leave Washington D.C. on Wednesday morning, just hours before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. For more on the president's plans, including potential pardons, last-minute staff appointments or a goodbye bash, NewsHour White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor joins Hari Sreenivasan. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As states across the nation tighten security for possible demonstrations ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, downtown Harrisburg, which houses Pennsylvania's State Capitol, is filled with police on horseback, guards and the press with businesses boarding up and locals largely staying away. Christopher Booker reports.

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With what is sure to be a historic week ahead of us, NewsHour Weekend's Jeff Greenfield joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss Donald Trump's impending second impeachment trial in the Senate, President-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' swearing in under extraordinary conditions, and the number of inauguration conventions being broken in 2021: No parade, procession, crowds, or predecessor handshake will happen, but thousands of troops will be present. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders