PBS News Hour - Politics

The issue of whether to provide states and cities with additional federal funding is one of many challenges confronting Congress during the coronavirus pandemic. South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss that question, the safety precautions the Senate is taking amid COVID-19 and "broad support" for the Paycheck Protection Program.

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 prediction of an economic resurgence after the pandemic, the difference in campaign strategies between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden and how public perceptions of the COVID-19 threat vary according to political identity.

Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden continues to face an allegation of sexual assault from Tara Reade, who worked for Biden 27 years ago in his Senate office. Biden has denied the allegation. The Associated Press this weekend published a story on Reade's recollection of a report she says exists but does not possess. One of the authors, Alexandra Jaffe, joins Karina Mitchell with more.

Former Vice President and likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden made his first public statements Friday about a sexual assault allegation against him. A woman who served as a Senate staffer says Biden assaulted her in the 1990s. In his remarks, Biden denied the accusation but says that women alleging such abuse have a right to be heard. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including former Vice President Joe Biden's new public denial of a sexual assault allegation against him, congressional action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and where the country stands on lifting business restrictions and stay-at-home orders.

As the debate over reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the country, many states are beginning to lift restrictions. Wyoming is one of them -- with a relatively low number of cases, businesses there will start to open Friday. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who is also a physician, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the pandemic and why it's "too early" to talk about state bankruptcies.

In our news wrap Wednesday, the U.S. Navy is widening its investigation of the COVID-19 outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt. The announcement delays the potential reinstatement of Brett Crozier as the ship's captain. Also, former Vice President Joe Biden has won Ohio's Democratic primary, which was delayed from March due to the pandemic. Most of the voting was done by mail.

Although the House has decided it's not safe for members to return to the Capitol at this stage of the pandemic, the Senate will resume work next week. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, whose state has suffered the country's highest death toll from COVID-19, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss that decision as well as ongoing issues with small businesses getting federal pandemic relief.

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including the evolution of the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing, President Trump's shifting approval ratings and possible electoral implications for Senate races this fall.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including President Trump's controversial medical commentary, the respective roles of federal and state governments in the crisis, American public opinion on pandemic restrictions, congressional pandemic relief and how they're handling social distancing.