September 22, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

President Trump has said he will announce his choice to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Supreme Court this Saturday. And although it appears the Republican-led Senate will have enough votes to move forward with confirmation hearings for the nominee, the timeline for them to approve the appointee before Election Day is tight. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss.

The United Nations General Assembly is underway -- but it looks very different this year. For the first time in the body’s history, the meeting is being held virtually due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, unity among member nations appears to be in short supply. President Trump used the summit to blast China and the World Health Organization over their coronavirus handling. Nick Schifrin reports.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death has left an opening on the Supreme Court only weeks before Election Day. President Trump and the Senate GOP say they plan to fill the vacancy before the country votes. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the Senate’s third-highest ranking Republican, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he supports moving forward with confirmation hearings for Trump’s choice of successor.

Our understanding of how the novel coronavirus spreads is still evolving. Early in the pandemic, there was great concern about the potential for infection from surface contact. But since then, evidence has pointed to human-to-human transmission as the primary vehicle of infection. Yet this research is not necessarily being broadly communicated to the American public. Stephanie Sy reports.

A growing body of evidence indicates that airborne transmission is the main way people are becoming infected with the novel coronavirus. Given that understanding, how should we change our behavior to reduce our risk of infection? William Brangham talks to Virginia Tech’s Dr. Linsey Marr about aerosols vs. droplets, ventilation and more.

As shown by the case of Daniel Prude, who was killed by police in Rochester, New York, in March, there can be challenges when law enforcement is called to deal with someone who may have mental health issues. But a lack of funding for mental health support can mean the criminal justice system is the only way for those needing services to access them. John Ferrugia of Rocky Mountain PBS reports.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many academic institutions across the country are dealing with outbreaks -- or offering only virtual learning in an attempt to prevent them. But one liberal arts school in Maine is seeking to avoid either fate. In partnership with Maine Public, Jeffrey Brown reports on Colby College’s efforts to manage the virus through a robust testing and tracing plan.