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A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke. Winner of the 2019 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Innovation.
Episodes
October 27, 2020 • 26 min
With one week to election day, experts weigh the significance of massive early vote numbers. Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice. And scientists discover there is far more water on the moon than previously thought.
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October 26, 2020 • 26 min
With eight days to election day, several aides around Vice President Mike Pence have tested positive for COVID-19. Pence still might appear tonight at Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation vote in the Senate. And intensive care units grow crowded as coronavirus cases surge in rural areas.
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October 23, 2020 • 31 min
In their final presidential debate, President Trump and former Vice President Biden follow the rules, while still delivering blistering attacks on each other's records. Congressional leaders say a stimulus deal is still not close, while more Americans lose jobs and businesses. And officials reveal new disturbing information about Iran and Russia's capabilities leading up to election day.
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October 22, 2020 • 27 min
President Trump and Former Vice President Joe Biden prepare for their final debate, and their first in which mics will be disabled. The Department of Justice reveals a big settlement with Purdue Pharma over opioid production. And Pope Francis signals a seismic shift on LGBTQ rights in the Catholic church.
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October 21, 2020 • 28 min
On the same day a Louisville police officer gives ABC his first public reaction to the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, a grand juror reveals what options were outlined by prosecutors. The Department of Justice files a lawsuit against Google that could threaten its position on phones. And El Paso hospital staffers are in tears as COVID cases surge.
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October 20, 2020 • 28 min
In a revealing phone call with campaign staffers, President Trump pits himself squarely against "Fauci and these idiots," leading to questions about his role as a leader and candidate in his final weeks on the trail. Early voting has ramped up nationwide, so what can we glean from the numbers so far? And a leading scientist says the next 6-12 weeks could be the "darkest" days of the pandemic.
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October 19, 2020 • 27 min
A surge of hospitalizations have confirmed fears that a third coronavirus wave is happening across nearly 40 states. President Trump escalates rhetoric against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan, after men were arrested for planning to kidnap her. And a horrific murder in France prompts vigils... and new questions about whether educators can safely teach children about extremism.
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October 16, 2020 • 29 min
With President Trump refusing to participate in a virtual debate, both candidates participate in televised town halls with voters. A nationwide "third surge" of COVID-19 cases has economists concerned about continued layoffs. And the 2020 census has ended.
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October 15, 2020 • 26 min
As Judge Amy Coney Barrett completes her testimony on Capitol Hill, our Supreme Court contributor Kate Shaw breaks down what hints she gave on her potential tenure - and where opportunities were missed. COVID cases continue to surge in the US, and now parts of Europe are seeing a bona fide second wave. And Facebook and Twitter had plans in place for the final days of the campaign, but now they're instituting last minute rules f...
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October 14, 2020 • 27 min
Amy Coney Barrett fields pointed questions about election issues during the second day of her Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Coronavirus hospitalizations are on the rise in Wisconsin, fueled by a "perfect storm" of factors. And as Americans get out the early vote....the Trump campaign is getting out the poll watchers.
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October 13, 2020 • 30 min
Judge Amy Coney Barrett gives her opening statement, with a senate Q&A beginning today. The first day of early voting in Georgia yields wait times upwards of 5 hours. And with President Trump back on the campaign trail, an infectious disease doctor explains how long it takes the coronavirus to enter and leave your body.
FiveThirtyEight Voting Guide
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October 12, 2020 • 31 min
Supreme Court confirmation hearings get underway for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. A pair of dueling protests in Denver end with one man shot dead. And ESPN investigates what really killed dozens of horses at Santa Anita Park.
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October 11, 2020 • 26 min
A new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Joe Biden leading President Trump by 12 points. In a bonus episode of "Start Here," we go behind the scenes to learn how a national poll comes together.
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October 9, 2020 • 28 min
The FBI says it foiled a plot to attack the Michigan state house and kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Commission on Presidential Debates says it won't allow President Trump to participate in person. And another hurricane is about bear down on a stretch of land already ravaged this year.
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October 8, 2020 • 28 min
Vice President Mike Pence & Senator Kamala Harris, separated by plexiglass, sit down for a toned-down debate. A Texas officer gives his version of events after being arrested for the murder of an unarmed black man. And a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan threatens to become a bloody proxy war involving Turkey and Russia.
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October 7, 2020 • 29 min
Two dozen people have now tested positive after spending time at the White House, forcing quarantines in top government and military positions. Political strategists question the president's decision to stop negotiating a relief deal. And voters grapple with glitches, warnings, and shifting rules as registration deadlines arrive.
FiveThirtyEight Voting Guide
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October 6, 2020 • 30 min
Moments after returning to the White House, President Trump worries medical experts by taking off his mask, declaring "maybe I'm immune." Testing timelines and positive results have thrown campaigns and Congress into chaos. And after eyeing a re-start, movie theaters plan for a prolonged shutdown.
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October 5, 2020 • 31 min
In a special edition, Brad walks through the week of gatherings and protocols leading up to President Trump's hospitalization. A naval doctor gives flat-out false statements describing Trump's condition. And while still presumed contagious, the president decides to leave his quarters for a quick drive.
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October 3, 2020 • 19 min
After experiencing what the White House calls "mild symptoms" of COVID-19, President Trump is transported to Walter Reed Medical Center. As the world tries to decipher the president's condition, new positive results have prompted questions about how far the implications could reach.
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October 2, 2020 • 22 min
Hours after we learned an aide had been infected with coronavirus, President Trump announces he and the First Lady have also tested positive. Our White House reporters, along with ABC's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, break down what's next for the White House.
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