August 24, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The Gulf Coast is facing a very rough weather forecast. A strengthening Tropical Storm Laura could be a Category 3 hurricane when it makes landfall later this week. It’s expected to hit the Louisiana and Texas coasts, potentially with 100 mile-per-hour winds. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Marco is still bringing rain to the region. Judy Woodruff talks to Ken Graham of the National Hurricane Center.

In our news wrap Monday, the World Health Organization urged caution in treating COVID-19 patients with plasma from people who have had the virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the treatment at President Trump’s urging, but top WHO scientists reiterated it is still experimental. Also, doctors in Germany say tests indicate Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was poisoned.

Republicans have opened their downsized party gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina -- and already renominated President Trump and Vice President Pence. The first day of the convention included a surprise appearance from Trump, who addressed 336 social-distanced delegates. On Monday night, party leaders and other speakers will emphasize a theme of “Land of Promise.” Amna Nawaz reports.

A deadly and unprecedented wave of wildfires is burning across California. They have claimed at least seven lives, damaged 1,200 structures and led to nearly a quarter million evacuations. Especially in Northern California, small fires sparked by lightning have merged into monstrosities. Stephanie Sy reports and talks to Jeff Lemelin, battalion chief of the Sonoma County Fire District.

Protests in Belarus have not let up, two weeks after an election denounced as a fraud by the U.S., the European Union and the opposition to authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Now, leaders of that opposition movement, including Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich, have been summoned for questioning. Special correspondent Simon Ostrovsky reports.

Kenosha, Wisconsin, has become the latest flashpoint in ongoing national unrest over racism and police violence. Protests erupted Sunday night after an incident caught on video in which Jacob Blake, a Black man, appears to be shot by police, who said they had responded to a domestic disturbance. John Yang reports and talks to Zach Rodriguez, a member of the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought members of Congress back to work over the weekend to develop legislation concerning the U.S. Postal Service, which Democrats believe is being undermined ahead of the November election. The agency’s new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, testified on Capitol Hill again Monday and rejected those accusations. William Brangham reports.

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., one of his party’s top-ranking members of Congress, is addressing the Republican National Convention Monday night. He also represents the first district of Louisiana, where residents are bracing for not one, but two tropical storms this week. Scalise joins Judy Woodruff to discuss those topics, plus the USPS, passing coronavirus relief legislation and health care.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest in politics, including last week’s Democratic National Convention and whether Joe Biden achieved his objectives during it and how President Trump will approach this week’s Republican National Convention in response.

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt is a member of the GOP’s Senate leadership team. He’s currently in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the Republican National Convention. Blunt joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the approach he wants to see from President Trump during the RNC, how Trump has handled the coronavirus pandemic and what to do about the threats presented by Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

In 2016, Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination for president in front of a roaring crowd of thousands. But the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the GOP’s plans for a similar event this year. Instead, a greatly reduced crowd of delegates has gathered at the RNC site in Charlotte, and Trump will accept the nomination from the South Lawn at the White House. Amna Nawaz reports.

Throughout the Republican National Convention, we’ll be talking to prominent members of the party. One of them is Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who was scheduled to participate in convention activities but decided to stay home in Little Rock as his state grapples with coronavirus. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what he’s hoping for at the RNC, coronavirus relief legislation and racial healing.