PBS Newshour Season 2020 Episode 19 January 27, 2020

On January 27, 2020, PBS Newshour premiered their 19th episode of the 2020 season. The episode tackled the latest news surrounding the ongoing impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, as well as other top stories making headlines across the country and around the world.

The episode began with a report on the opening statements from the President's legal team in the Senate impeachment trial. Correspondent Lisa Desjardins provided a breakdown of the arguments made by the defense, including claims that the charges against the President are not impeachable offenses and that the House of Representatives did not follow proper procedures in their investigation.

Next, correspondent Yamiche Alcindor reported on the response from Democrats to the President's defense team, who argued that the Democrats had not provided sufficient evidence to support their charges. Alcindor spoke with several senators, including Senators Mazie Hirono and Debbie Stabenow, who expressed frustration with the Republican-led Senate's refusal to allow new witnesses or evidence to be presented during the trial.

The episode then shifted focus to the deadly outbreak of the coronavirus in China, which had already claimed dozens of lives and spread to other countries. Correspondent John Yang reported on the efforts to contain the virus, including the construction of a new hospital in just ten days to treat infected patients.

In addition to the impeachment trial and the coronavirus outbreak, the episode covered a variety of other stories making headlines at the time. Jeffrey Brown reported on the Sundance Film Festival, where a number of new films were premiering, including "Never Rarely Sometimes Always," a drama about a teenage girl seeking an abortion. Stephanie Sy reported on the latest developments in the ongoing conflict in Syria, including the Turkish military's offensive against Kurdish fighters in the region.

Finally, the episode concluded with a discussion of the upcoming Iowa caucuses, which would mark the first official votes of the 2020 election cycle. Correspondent Amna Nawaz spoke with political analysts Amy Walter and Tamara Keith about the state of the race, noting that it remained highly unpredictable as candidates continued to campaign across the state.

Overall, PBS Newshour's January 27, 2020 episode provided in-depth coverage of a wide range of pressing news stories, from the impeachment trial of President Trump to the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China and beyond. With expert reporting, insightful analysis, and thoughtful discussion, the episode served as a vital source of information for viewers across the country and around the world.