September 30, 2020 - PBS NewsHour full episode

Wildfires are again devastating Northern California’s wine country, with dozens of homes and thousands of acres burning this week alone. More than 8,000 wildfires have raged across the state this season, destroying over 7,000 buildings and nearly 5,800 square miles. Weary fire crews are struggling to keep up the effort to contain the blazes amid difficult weather conditions. Stephanie Sy reports.

In our news wrap Wednesday, Boeing’s 737 Max jetliner is a step closer to returning to the air after two deadly crashes that killed nearly 350 people. Steve Dickson, head of the Federal Aviation Administration, took a two-hour evaluation flight near Seattle and reported progress. Also, Australian-born singer Helen Reddy, known for the feminist anthem "I Am Woman," died in Los Angeles at age 78.

In the past, President Trump has failed to denounce far-right extremist and racist groups and sentiments when prompted. He did so again during Tuesday night’s first presidential debate, telling members of the white supremacist Proud Boys group to “stand by.” William Brangham talks to the University of Chicago’s Kathleen Belew and Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Tuesday night’s face-off between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden was a presidential debate like none in recent memory. Were viewers actually able to learn anything about the candidates and their policies, or did the chaos overwhelm substance entirely? The Washington Post’s Dan Balz and Sewell Chan of the Los Angeles Times join Judy Woodruff to discuss how to move forward.

The first debate between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, held in Cleveland Tuesday night, quickly turned into a verbal brawl, with both candidates talking over each other at times. But Trump’s constant interruptions provoked particular frustration from moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News. Yamiche Alcindor and Lisa Desjardins join Judy Woodruff to discuss the political fallout.

Mixing art with criminal justice has become increasingly common in the U.S. The work often tackles complex subjects of redemption and reform. Jeffrey Brown traveled to Philadelphia to explore a program that brought art to an unexpected part of the justice system: the office of the city’s top prosecutor. Parts of this story were shot before the pandemic.