November 2, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Pennsylvania could be a critical milestone in any path to victory during this presidential contest. Daniel Bush is on the ground in the swing state, and he joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs are so important to both candidates, how local election officials are preparing for the vote count and when we might have an understanding of the state’s results.

Several U.S. public health leaders warned this weekend that the coronavirus is spreading unchecked throughout the country -- and likely to become significantly worse in the coming days and weeks. Unlike in the spring and summer, virus cases are rising in 49 of 50 states. William Brangham looks at the urgency of the situation with Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health.

In our news wrap Monday, Islamic State attackers stormed Kabul University, touching off a gun battle that killed at least 22 people. Security officials said three gunmen struck during a book fair; all of them were killed after the hours-long fight. Also, Germany began a four-week partial shutdown due to the pandemic, with Chancellor Angela Merkel declaring that “the autumn has crashed in on us.”

President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are making their final pitches to voters in the presidential campaign’s closing hours. We check in with representatives for each: Erin Perrine, communications director for Trump’s reelection campaign, and Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to Biden. They join Judy Woodruff to discuss strategies and messages for the lead-up to Election Day.

In most recent American elections, about four in 10 eligible voters didn’t cast ballots. Tens of millions are poised to do the same this year. What are non-voters saying about their rationale for sitting out the election -- one that both candidates and many Americans consider the most important in the country’s modern history?

The pandemic and the potential for record voter turnout are setting the stage for an election like no other we have seen. But what happens after the polling places close? The NewsHour has always relied upon the Associated Press to call race winners. Amna Nawaz reports on the news organization’s process for evaluating and announcing election results.

Election security, voter intimidation and foreign interference have represented major concerns during this 2020 campaign. William Brangham and Nick Schifrin have been following these issues closely, and they join Judy Woodruff to discuss preparation measures, law enforcement’s role and why most election authorities are urging voters to have confidence in the results.

Paul Tough is the author of “Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why,” the October selection for the NewsHour-New York Times book club, Now Read This. The coronavirus pandemic has upended American life. What are its consequences for the education realm, which is already characterized by major inequalities? Tough joins Jeffrey Brown to discuss troubling trends in K-12 and higher education.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest in politics, including which voter demographics will be critical in the 2020 election, how President Trump is reaching out to his supporters during the campaign’s final days and the key Senate races to watch.