Washington Week (video) | PBS

President Trump is optimistic about reopening the U.S. but health experts who testified on Capitol Hill this week warn it could be dangerous. The panel also discussed negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over the next round of coronavirus relief funding and President Trump’s tweets about the Michael Flynn case.

There are fewer than 6 months left until the 2020 presidential election. The panel discussed Joe Biden’s search for a running mate, the Trump campaign’s strategy to win during a pandemic, and the latest polling data.

Molly Ball, author of “Pelosi,” a new biography of the speaker of the House, discussed Nancy Pelosi’s history, her leadership of the party and key moments from her career. The discussion was part of “The Washington Week Bookshelf.”

President Trump started the week off with a visit to the battleground state of Arizona to tour a mask factory, as many governors are still struggling with securing supplies. And the country reported a staggering jobs loss, at levels not seen since the Great Depression. The panel discussed what’s going on behind the scenes at the White House, where things stand as the states begin to get back to business, and the tensions between the White House and scientific community.

Former vice president Joe Biden was under pressure this week after more reporting was published about a former staffer’s sexual assault allegation. The panel also discussed how the allegations might affect Biden’s vice presidential search and looked ahead to the key stories to follow next week.

Economic and political pressures mounted for President Donald Trump and the number of coronavirus cases in the United States hit one million, leaving a nation on edge. The country also faced a mounting financial crisis as numbers showed the economy shrinking by 4.8%, the largest reduction since the Great Recession of 2008. The panel also discussed tensions over states deciding how and when to reopen and the latest on a sexual assault allegation against former vice president Joe Biden.

The 2020 presidential race continues, largely in the background of the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump has used his daily briefings in lieu of rallies, while former Vice President Joe Biden has appeared on local and late night shows and held virtual town halls from home. Also: who is Biden considering as a possible running mate?

As the death toll in the United States surged past 50,000 people, President Donald Trump’s assertions about how to treat the novel coronavirus continue to roil his administration. That grim threshold capped a week of tensions between the president and his health experts. The panel also discussed the most recent jobless claims, the push by some states to reopen and the federal government's most recent aid package.

Former President Barack Obama endorsed his vice president, Joe Biden, as Democratic nominee, joining former candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren in trying to unite the party. But while Biden is self-isolating at his home in Delaware, President Trump has been dominating headlines and holding regular on-camera briefings.

President Trump unveiled his plan for states to shoulder the brunt of the burden on deciding when to reopen. The panel also discussed the effort among Congressional Republicans and Democrats and the White House to negotiate more funding for the small business lending program, which has maxed out.

Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his presidential campaign, telling supporters he could not amass enough delegates to win. The panel discusses the 2020 race for the White House.

Over 400,000 people in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 and data shows that African Americans are disproportionately affected by the disease. The panel discussed the federal government and Congress's response to this crisis and President Trump's decision to fire two inspectors general.

President Trump said today that he does not support the use of mail-in ballots even though many states postponed elections due to COVID-19. The panel discussed how the virus is already impacting the 2020 election.

A record 6.6 million Americans filed for unemployment this week, bringing an to end to a decade of job creation. This comes as state and federal authorities prepare for new hotspots in the widening outbreak. The panel discussed how Washington is responding to this pandemic and its financial fallout.

Earlier today, the House approved a $2 trillion economic stimulus package. That vote comes as the economy is shuddering due to COVID-19. The panel discussed how the White House and governors across the nation are responding to the virus.