PBS News Hour - Politics

After President Trump acknowledged that he spoke to Ukraine's president about investigating possible 2020 rival Joe Biden, he spent the day at the U.N. fending off questions about the potential abuse of power. Meanwhile, the administration's refusal to share a whistleblower's complaint is pushing some Democrats closer to the question of impeachment. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff for more.

As the Democratic presidential candidates angled for attention in Iowa, new polling suggested a shifting political reality. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has stepped into first place in that state, over former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. For candidates who didn't make the top slots, the new numbers are making them rethink their strategies. Lisa Desjardins reports.

Iowa plays an outsized role in presidential politics, and new poll numbers from that state could influence how different Democratic candidates' focus their campaigns. The poll by The Des Moines Register and CNN puts Sen. Elizabeth Warren two points ahead of former Vice President Joe Biden, with Sen. Bernie Sanders in third. Judy Woodruff breaks down the numbers with J. Ann Selzer of Selzer & Co.

Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report and NPR's Tamara Keith join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's political news, including a new poll that shows Iowa voters favoring Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Cory Booker's scramble to raise enough campaign money, and why a whistleblower complaint withheld from Congress may make some reluctant Democrats reconsider formal impeachment proceedings.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's political news, including reports of a whistleblower complaint that might involve President Trump, the debate about whether a sitting president can commit a crime and the U.S. response to attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

After a series of shooting massacres over the summer and renewed calls for stricter gun regulation, Senate Republicans have indicated some willingness to consider new legislation. But according to Sen. Mitch McConnell, President Trump has not yet weighed in on what type of proposal he would support, leaving the congressional GOP feeling pressure without a plan. Lisa Desjardins joins Amna Nawaz.

President Trump has announced that states will no longer be able to set their own fuel mileage and emissions standards, as they previously were empowered to do. California, for example, had an agreement with several automakers for voluntary adherence to tougher standards. Its Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why the policy change could be "catastrophic."

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Ahead of his appearance, the White House had instructed Lewandowski to discuss only matters covered in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report -- and indeed, Lewandowski refused to answer numerous questions from members of the committee. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

In the aftermath of recent mass shootings, calls for expanding gun safety regulations have increased. Although some of these ideas are popular among Americans overall, how do gun owners specifically feel about them? William Brangham talks to gun owners in Odessa, Texas, site of an August mass shooting, about what legislation they would support and how else they think we can reduce gun violence.

Stu Rothenberg of Inside Elections and NPR's Domenico Montanaro join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including how gun policy is factoring into the 2020 presidential campaign, another sexual assault allegation against Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the contest between Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren for progressive voters and how helpful the Democratic debates are.