October 15, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

The power to impeach a federal official such as the president has been exercised rarely in American history, and the U.S. Constitution mentions the word only a handful of times. What were the founders thinking when they included that power, and how have public views of these powers evolved over time? Judy Woodruff looks back with presidential historian Michael Beschloss.

Olive Kitteridge is overbearing and hard to love, as well as complicated and compelling. The character at the center of Elizabeth Strout's 2009 Pulitzer-winning novel is also back -- in a new book called "Olive, Again." Strout takes Jeffrey Brown on a tour of some of the small towns in Maine that she's called home and have inspired her work.

For many college students, living costs may exceed the cost of tuition and fees, as affordable housing options are becoming increasingly hard to find. Some find they struggle with debt, or paying for meals; others are at risk for homelessness. As part of our series Rethinking College, Hari Sreenivasan travels to Philadelphia to see how students there are coping.

In our news wrap Tuesday, violence erupted for a second night in Catalonia after nine separatist leaders were convicted of sedition. The night before, more than 170 people were hurt in clashes with riot police. Also, actress Felicity Huffman reported to federal prison in California in the wake of a college admissions scam.

Twelve candidates will take the debate stage in Westerville, Ohio, Tuesday night. The event comes soon after former Vice President Joe Biden's son spoke publicly about his former role as a board member of a Ukranian gas company. Will it come up in the debate? Yamiche Alincdor joins Judy Woodruff for a preview.

Atatianna Jefferson was playing video games with her nephew when police arrived to check on a door left ajar. According to her nephew, Jefferson heard noises outside and pointed her gun at the window. Officer Aaron Dean shouted and immediately fired, killing Jefferson. Amna Nawaz discusses police training, race and the use of force with Seth Stoughton of the University of South Carolina.

Lawmakers from both parties are angry with Turkey for its military campaign inside Syria against Kurdish forces, and at President Trump for withdrawing U.S. forces. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., one of the lead authors of legislation that would sanction Turkey, tells Nick Schifrin that Trump's decision is having "a devastating impact" and has handed Russia "a lot more leverage in the region."

Despite the White House's efforts to block the impeachment inquiry process, depositions from long-time diplomats have shed new light on the Trump administration's approach to Ukraine, and how officials were concerned about the actions of President Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to take stock of the latest developments.