PBS News Hour - Politics

The debate over the Mueller report and its political fallout continue. More than three months after the investigation concluded, the former special counsel himself will testify before two congressional committees on July 17. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the format of the appearances, why Democrats are hoping for a "breakthrough moment" and what Mueller won't be able to discuss.

The U.S.-Mexico border continues to drive political turmoil. After reports of miserable conditions for detained migrant children, John Sanders, acting head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, resigned. Meanwhile, Congress is scrambling to reach a border funding deal. Lisa Desjardins talks to reporter Bob Moore of the digital news organization El Paso Matters about the problem's origins.

Recently, another woman stepped forward to credibly accuse President Trump of a forcible, violent sexual assault -- one that meets the legal definition of rape. Why hasn't there been any political fallout, or even much discussion of the allegations made by E. Jean Carroll? William Brangham talks to The Guardian's Lucia Graves about the new accusation and the broader trend of which it's a part.

After tensions with Iran nearly resulted in U.S. airstrikes last week, President Trump has fired a different type of weapon, levying new economic sanctions specifically targeting the Islamic Republic's supreme leader. At the same time, top U.S. officials pursued diplomatic measures while visiting the Middle East. But Iran said the U.S. is the aggressor. Nick Schifrin reports.

Republican Paul Ryan, former speaker of the house and congressman from Wisconsin, has kept a low profile since his departure from national politics earlier this year. Judy Woodruff sat down with Ryan during a Sunday event in Colorado to discuss which 2020 Democrat is the biggest threat to President Trump, why more Republicans don't challenge the president and the "polarized" state of the country.

Most of the contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination attended South Carolina Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn's weekend fish fry. Clyburn is the highest-ranking black member of Congress, and his event is perceived as critical for connecting with voters of color. Since then, several candidates released new policy proposals -- and yet another entered the race. Lisa Desjardins reports.

NPR's Tamara Keith and Thelisha Eaddy of South Carolina Public Radio join Lisa Desjardins to discuss the latest political news, including Pete Buttigieg's response to a shooting in his city, how Joe Biden's comments about working with segregationists were received by black voters in South Carolina and reaction to another sexual assault allegation against President Trump.

In Oregon, 11 important people are missing: Republican state lawmakers, who are nowhere to be found amid a partisan standoff now in its fifth day. The legislators walked out to stop the state Senate from acting on a contentious climate bill that would put in place a so-called cap-and-trade system to limit carbon emissions. As William Brangham reports, there's no end to the conflict in sight.

This week the top 20 Democratic presidential candidates are facing off over two nights in Miami. It's the first official debate of the 2020 primary season. Special correspondent Jeff Greenfield talks with bipartisan strategists to learn what the candidates can do in such a big field, and joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss whether a debate held months before the first votes can make a difference.

President Trump caused a flurry by announcing he canceled a planned military strike on Iran only minutes before it was scheduled to occur. Will the U.S. will be seen as weak or indecisive as a result? Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, talks to Judy Woodruff about Trump's "anguish" over the choice and what Risch hopes Iran will learn from the incident.