August 25, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

President Trump and his supporters kicked off the Republican National Convention on Monday, with speakers characterizing a potential Joe Biden presidency as disastrous. Melania Trump will lead the lineup Tuesday night. Meanwhile, there is some controversy over Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to appear at the event. Yamiche Alcindor and Nick Schifrin join Judy Woodruff to discuss.

Former South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy has recently published a book, “Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: Using the Power of Questions to Communicate, Connect, and Persuade.” He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss its key messages, the Republican National Convention so far, a lack of persuasion in contemporary American politics and why he left Congress.

Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee and is leading the GOP’s efforts to win control of the House in November. Emmer joins Judy Woodruff from Minneapolis to discuss his reaction to the Republican National Convention so far and why he thinks his party will win a majority in the House this fall.

In our news wrap Tuesday, some hopeful news on the COVID-19 pandemic. Johns Hopkins University reports new infections have slowed to 43,000 per day nationwide -- down more than 20 percent from early August. Also, Texas and Louisiana ordered more than half a million people to evacuate the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Laura approaches. The storm already killed dozens in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

U.S. cities continue to struggle with policing, physical force and public outrage. In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency due to violence in Kenosha, where police shot Jacob Blake over the weekend. Blake, who is Black, is reported to be paralyzed below the waist. John Yang talks to investigative reporter Gina Barton of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for details and analysis.

In Oregon, the city of Portland continues to endure upheaval and violence, three months after the killing of George Floyd sparked unrest. Now, the Wisconsin shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black, has further ignited public outrage over police use of force and racial injustice. John Yang talks to Oregon Public Broadcasting's Jonathan Levinson about the ongoing dynamics and chance for a solution.

The social media giant TikTok has sued the U.S. government for threatening to ban the company from the country. The Trump administration’s targeting of the video-sharing platform is part of a larger effort to confront what the U.S. says are national security threats posed by Chinese technology. Nick Schifrin reports and talks to TikTok’s chief security officer, Roland Cloutier.

A key line of attack on Night 1 of the Republican National Convention was against what the GOP sees as extreme political correctness from the left. But the debate about so-called “cancel culture” extends beyond politics, and a recent Harper's Magazine letter that drew national attention reveals how blurry the lines are. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, Canvas.

When President Trump was officially renominated by the Republican Party on Monday, only 336 delegates were in the room. Most of the 2,500 people who had hoped to attend in person were instead watching from home. But their virtual participation didn’t mean they were any less excited about the GOP ticket. The NewsHour heard from a few of them before the Republican National Convention began.

Throughout the Republican National Convention, the NewsHour will be talking to prominent members of the party, including Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming. He joins Judy Woodruff to discuss his reaction to Night 1 of the RNC, President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, why Congress hasn’t passed new pandemic aid and what the Republican Party believes is on the ballot this November.

Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia is one of President Trump’s strongest defenders in the House of Representatives. He is also challenging Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler for her Senate seat this November. As the second night of the Republican National Convention continues, Collins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the party’s message, peaceful protests and his relationship with Trump.