PBS News Hour - Politics

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week in politics, including the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the battle over filling her Supreme Court seat, President Trump's continuing rhetoric about the integrity of voting by mail and concerns over election confusion or dissent. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The U.S. presidential race is preoccupied Thursday with a stunning question: might President Trump refuse to abide by the results of an election he loses? So far, Trump has declined to confirm he would accept defeat, prompting widespread criticism and disbelief. But Republican lawmakers are insisting that if Trump loses, a peaceful transition of power will occur. Amna Nawaz reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power is tied to his criticism and false statements about voting by mail, which is expected to reach record levels in this election. Trump insists it can't be trusted -- but many state and local election officials disagree. Miles O'Brien reports on how voting by mail works -- and what past experience indicates about its reliability. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Amid President Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election, new scrutiny is being applied to the security and integrity of American voting. Kathleen Hall Jamieson is director of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center, and she joins Judy Woodruff to discuss Trump's "deeply problematic" statements and what they say about U.S. democracy.

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Amid coronavirus and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, health care is becoming an even more prominent issue in the presidential race. The Affordable Care Act's fate could be determined by the Supreme Court right after the election. Now, President Trump has issued two health-related executive orders. But do they have real impact? William Brangham talks to The Washington Post's Paige Winfield Cunningham.

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Michael Pack, CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, ignored a congressional subpoena over concerns he has politicized and mismanaged media outlets that helped the U.S. win the Cold War. One of those outlets is Voice of America. Nick Schifrin reports and talks to Jamie Fly, formerly the president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who was fired by Pack. He is now at the German Marshall Fund. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer were friends and longtime allies in their approach to the law. In a conversation with Judy Woodruff, Breyer remembers his friend's brilliance, attention to detail and dedication to her work. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed cautious optimism during a Senate hearing about the outlook for a reliable coronavirus vaccine. But when Republican Sen. Rand Paul argued that herd immunity is working, Fauci shot back, "if you believe that...you are alone." Also, in Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in for his sixth term after weeks of protest.

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Wednesday marked a somber day at the U.S. Supreme Court, where Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lay in repose. Her former law clerks lined the building's steps. Inside, her eight fellow justices gathered with family and friends to honor her contributions to the realm of American law and her personal spirit. Meanwhile, a political battle over her seat flares on Capitol Hill. Yamiche Alcindor reports.

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Amid memorials for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the political fight over confirming her replacement is already in full swing. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's second-highest ranking Democrat, is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He joins Lisa Desjardins to discuss why he thinks Republicans are being inconsistent about filling this Supreme Court vacancy and what happens next.

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