September 26, 2019 - PBS NewsHour full episode

A memorandum of notes from President Trump’s July phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy documents that Trump asked Zelensky for “a favor” by investigating the business dealings of Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. Kellyanne Conway, counselor to Trump, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why she doesn’t think Trump did anything wrong.

It was an explosive day on Capitol Hill, as a redacted version of the whistleblower letter was released publicly, and the acting director of national intelligence testified before the House Intelligence Committee about his handling of it. Lisa Desjardins reports on what the whistleblower complaint describes, the role of Congress and how President Trump is responding to the developments.

Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire testified in front of the House Intelligence Committee Thursday regarding an intelligence community whistleblower's complaint about President Trump’s interactions with a foreign leader. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss his concerns that Trump tried to cover up misconduct.

John Carlin, who previously served as the top national security official at the Justice Department, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he finds the details of President Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy so disturbing, and what it would mean if White House officials tried to suppress that information.

Amid a political swirl over his interactions with the Ukrainian president, President Trump is denying the July phone call between the two leaders included anything improper. But behind the scenes, Trump is “lashing out” in frustration that details of that call were communicated to the person who filed the whistleblower complaint. Yamiche Alcindor joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s philosophy has been written into the country’s constitution. He has sought to raise the standard of living at home, while boosting China’s power and influence across the globe. But critics accuse him of consolidating power and creating a campaign of oppression against the Chinese people -- especially those who disagree with him. Nick Schifrin reports from Beijing.

World leaders have been gathered in New York this week for the annual United Nations General Assembly. Among them is South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha, who joins William Brangham to discuss her country’s current dynamic with North Korea, how to reduce nuclear tensions and why South Korea is clashing with Japan.