PBS News Hour - Politics

Six Democratic presidential candidates face off Wednesday in Las Vegas, and for the first time, Michael Bloomberg will be on the debate stage. Nevada, home to the next contest in the primary season, is also more diverse than the last two states where the Democrats competed. Judy Woodruff gets a preview of the debate and the stakes behind the upcoming caucuses from Amna Nawaz.

Michael Bloomberg is many things: activist, billionaire, established politician from a big city. Now he's also a presidential race disrupter. Before the former mayor takes the Democratic debate stage in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Lisa Desjardins talks with Eleanor Randolph, author of "The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg," to understand his complicated and sometimes controversial record.

On Tuesday, President Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of 11 people he said had served enough time or been treated unfairly. The moves come as the president has sharply criticized the Department of Justice for its handling of the case of longtime Trump advisor Roger Stone. William Brangham talks to two former judges, Harvard Law School's Nancy Gertner and University of Utah's Paul Cassell.

Six Democratic presidential candidates will debate Wednesday night in Nevada, with a new face joining onstage. Michael Bloomberg will participate for the first time this primary cycle, as scrutiny over his record intensifies. Lisa Desjardins reports on the candidate's efforts to appeal to minority voters ahead of the Nevada caucuses, and Judy Woodruff talks polling with NPR's Domenico Montanaro.

President Trump is appealing to black voters ahead of November's general election, touting his economic record and arguing Democrats haven't delivered for African American communities. But some of his methods, and those of his supporters, have drawn scrutiny. Judy Woodruff talks to Yamiche Alcindor and Donald Sherman of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington for details and analysis.

In the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, most of the candidates have fanned out across Nevada, whose caucuses will be held February 22nd. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar, as well as Pete Buttigieg, are aiming to build on their momentum, while former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren hope to push their campaigns in a new direction. Judy Woodruff reports.

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including the stakes for 2020 Democrats in the upcoming Nevada caucuses, technical concerns for tabulating caucus results after Iowa's confusion and whether Mike Bloomberg's advertising blitz is delivering him voter support.

Nevada Democrats on Sunday participated in a second day of early voting ahead of Saturday's presidential caucuses. But voters expressed concerns this weekend over long lines and confusion about voting rules after the state allowed early caucus voting for the first time. Nevada Independent reporter Megan Messerly joins Hari Sreenivasan for more on the voting process and a look at the week ahead.

North Macedonia's government has in recent years erected hundreds of statues and monuments in the capital city of Skopje. But while the project, called Skopje 2014, was meant to give the city a facelift and boost national pride and tourism, it has also stirred up controversy. NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Christopher Livesay reports.

The year 2020 marks the centennial anniversary for women's suffrage, when the 19th amendment took effect giving some women the right to vote in U.S. elections. And on Saturday, one of the movement's key figures, Susan B. Anthony, would have turned 200. In honor of the famed activist and the women's suffrage movement, a unique event is kicking off this weekend in New York. Karla Murthy reports.