PBS News Hour - Politics

Democrats appear headed for a one-night September presidential debate with 10 candidates. Wednesday marks the Democratic National Committee's deadline for candidates to meet stricter polling and fundraising criteria than for the first two debates -- prompting complaints from some of the field. Judy Woodruff talks to Howard Dean, former Vermont governor, presidential candidate and DNC chair.

Joe Walsh, a former Illinois congressman who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, recently announced he'll take on the president in the 2020 GOP primary. The Tea Party member served one term, lost his reelection bid and subsequently hosted a conservative talk radio show. Walsh talks to Judy Woodruff about why he now thinks President Trump is "unfit," immigration, climate change, abortion and more.

The G-7 summit that just concluded was held in coastal France, but the U.S. will be hosting the next meeting -- and President Trump has suggested his Miami golf resort as a possible venue. The remark immediately drew questions and concerns from ethics experts about possible overlap between personal profit and politics. Lisa Desjardins reports and talks to The Washington Post's David Fahrenthold.

In the wake of two departures from the 2020 Democratic field, it's likely that only half of the remaining candidates will meet both polling and donor requirements for the next round of debates. But it's no coincidence that the top five names in polling results and fundraising numbers are the same. Lisa Desjardins reports on how the 21 candidates who are left are competing for money and attention.

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Lisa Desjardins to discuss the latest political news, including recent poll and fundraising numbers for the remaining 2020 Democrats, whether former Rep. Joe Walsh can mount a serious primary threat to President Trump and what the economy and trade tensions mean for Trump's favorability ratings.

After a contentious meeting with some of the world's wealthiest democracies last year, President Trump on Sunday made a volley of comments at the 2019 G-7 summit in France, on everything from the trade war with China to Brexit to North Korea's weapons tests. NewsHour White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, who is covering the G-7 meeting, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss.

Next August, the Republican National Convention will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina. NewsHour Weekend traveled there this week for a look ahead at how changing state demographics might impact the 2020 presidential election. Hari Sreenivasan spoke with Adam Hochberg, an instructor at the University of North Carolina School of Media and Journalism and former NPR correspondent, to learn more.

North Carolina stood as a Democratic stronghold until shifting demographics and a surge in the number of independent voters turned it into a swing state. Race has also played a factor in recent presidential elections, including in Donald Trump's 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton in the Tar Heel State. Hari Sreenivsan spoke with longtime Republican strategist Carter Wrenn to learn more.

Billionaire and conservative mega donor David Koch has died. After expanding the Kansas-based Koch Industries into one of the world's largest privately held corporations, Koch and his brother contributed hundreds of millions to GOP candidates through their Americans for Prosperity PAC. David Koch also supported many philanthropic causes and declined to endorse President Trump. John Yang reports.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Ramesh Ponnuru of The National Review join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump's trade war with China and attacks on the Fed and how they're affecting the U.S. economy, three recent Democratic departures from the 2020 presidential race and the legacy of billionaire GOP donor David Koch.