Plus, how one mans impossibly specific wish list for a prospective girlfriend raised eyebrows among online daters. Hello, im jane obrien in washington, Christian Fraser is in london. Donald trump will facejoe biden on stage for the final president ial debate in nashville tonight. The first one was, lets face it, a mess. Since then, the president has had coronavirus and joe biden is facing mounting allegations about his son. And in an effort to ensure there will be fewer than the 70 interruptions that marred the first debate, the rules tonight have been changed. It will be 90 minutes without any ad breaks split into six 15 minutes segments, and before the open discussion, each candidate will be given two minutes to respond, uninterrupted, to the moderators question. And this time the opponents mic will be off. Forjoe biden, its surely the same game plan do not drop the ball. Because right now in all the key Battle Ground states he leads in every one except ohio. Keep in mind, these are all States Donald trump won in 2016. Were joined now from outside the debate venue in nashville by chairman of the Democratic National committee tom perez. Thank you very much forjoining us. 43 Million People have already voted so 43 Million People have already voted so what does tonights debate achieve . Well, tonight is the opportunity for a Closing Argument. We expect somewhere between 140 and 150 Million People to vote so we still have 70 roughly left to vote. Closing arguments tonight, we have four crises in the United States, coronavirus, the economy, civil rights, the climate crisis. Joe biden has Closing Arguments about what he will do all of those. He will listen to the scientist, we will listen to the scientist, we will build back better, we will understand that you cant fix the economy until you fix the coronavirus. Joe biden can bring people together, he will re enter the paris climate accords and he will take chains seriously, as it should be. Donald trump has no Closing Argument on any of these things. Tom, the polls do show that your man is in the lead in all those key Battle Ground states at the moment but there is still that issue of 2016 and the way it scarred democrats. Lets take a listen to what president 0bama had to say in pennsylvania last night when he was campaigning on behalf ofjoe biden. We cant be complacent. I dont care about the polls. There were a whole bunch of polls last time and it didnt work out because a whole bunch of folks stayed at home and got lazy and complacent. Not this time. Not in this election. Tom, how complacent are you about the polls and how important is turn out to be in this race . There is not a complacent bone in any ones body on the biden dnc team. We understand that this is going to be close. You look at the polling in the Battle Ground states and those states are close. Someone is going to win florida by one or two points. I think it can be us but what we have to do is make sure we turn everybody out and that is why we have spent so much time talking to voters, making sure they go out and make a plan to vote. Im very heartened by the fact that of the 43 Million People who have voted so far the lions share oui have voted so far the lions share our democratic ballots. About 30 of those democratic ballots are people who didnt vote in the last two elections. So it is notjust people who are serial voters, it is people who are serial voters, it is people who are serial voters, it is people who are in fact going to vote every election but people who are sporadic voters. We cannot leave anything to chance. We all have the scars of four years ago and i think more importantly the American People have those scars. That is why you see people waiting in line for 11 hours in georgia to vote, that is why you see a liver city voting setting records, vote by mail setting records, vote by mail setting records, i think that will help us. Democrats like when we have large turnouts. Republican suppress the vote because they feel they do better when it is lower turnout. That is on democratic, unconstitutional and unconscionable. What dili met one of the major topics will be coronavirus and the effect on the economy. I want to talk to you about the stimulus package. There is a new poll out today which i want to show our voters. Our viewers. You will see it is the Speaker Nancy Pelosi who takes the hit. 31 think Mitch Mcconnell is to blame and only 16 think the president is to blame. Do you think Nancy Pelosis strategy of holding out for a bigger and better deal is backfiring . |j of holding out for a bigger and better deal is backfiring . I think what you fail to point out in that poll, which is the most overwhelming statistic in that poll, is people wa nt statistic in that poll, is people want the congress and the senate to focus on the relief package before the senate votes on the nominee for the senate votes on the nominee for the Supreme Court. 0ur the senate votes on the nominee for the Supreme Court. Our us senate is moving heaven and earth to get a Supreme Courtjudge moving heaven and earth to get a Supreme Court judge in. Moving heaven and earth to get a Supreme Courtjudge in. They arent doing a thing about coronavirus really. As a result, millions of people are suffering. Really. As a result, millions of people are sufferinglj really. As a result, millions of people are suffering. I get that but there is 1. 8 trillion on the table. Andrew young who was a candidate said nancy pelosi needs to take the deal because people need this money for the holidays. Nancy pelosi has been working 20 47 to try to get a deal but we need to make sure that it isa deal but we need to make sure that it is a deal that protects people. Donald trump. Leadership is about coming to the table and solving big problems. Past president s would have got to the table, they would have walked in the room, and they would have said we are not going to leave until we have a deal. Donald trump is nowhere to be found in these negotiations. Mitch mcconnell is nowhere to be found in these negotiations. The reason is because republicans actually dont want to deal in the United States senate. Mitch mcconnell has said that very clearly. He would just as soon get the Supreme Court justice clearly. He would just as soon get the Supreme Courtjustice confirmed and then call it a day. There is millions of people suffering and i applaud nancy pelosi because they passed a deal six months ago and the republicans sat on their behind and did nothing about it untiljust now. Im hopeful that we will get a deal because the American People need help. Donald trump ought to step forth, Mitch Mcconnell ought to step forth. That is what leadership is about. Nancy pelosi is the only leader of the three of them who is actively involved in the negotiation. Tom perez, really good to have you with us. Thank you for coming on. Pleasure to be with you. We hear President Trumps team have told him to be less aggressive but i think it is almost guaranteed he will bring up the issue of hunter biden. I was thinking one of the problems donald trump has had throughout the campaign as he has not been able to find a villain like Hillary Clinton. I was looking at the Fact Checkers today. They reckoned he has mentioned Hillary Clinton 340 times this year and the problem he has had is that in trying to castjoe biden as the villain, it is just not working, is it . To castjoe biden as the villain, it isjust not working, is it . No, it isnt because he is not running against Hillary Clinton and this feels too many people a rerun of 2016. The lines worked then but they are not working now because in 2016, Hillary Clinton was an unpopular candidate. Democrats didnt like. Joe biden has onejob this time candidate. Democrats didnt like. Joe biden has one job this time and thatis joe biden has one job this time and that is to beat donald trump. Attacking joe biden, it just that is to beat donald trump. Attacking joe biden, itjust doesnt seem attacking joe biden, itjust doesnt seem to be having the same impact. I dont know but we will be hearing a lot about it tonight for sure. Weve heard for a while now that there would be foreign interference in this years president ial elections. And last night Us National Security officials warned that iran is behind threatening emails that have been sent to democratic voters. The messages appeared to come from a far right pro trump group, the gist of it being you will vote for trump on election day or we will come after you. National intelligence director John Ratcliffe also said iran and russia had obtained some Voter Registration information. Both countries have denied the accusations. For more lets get the thoughts of the republican senator James Lankford who sits on the Senate Homeland security committee. Thank you very much for being with us. Thank you very much for being with us. In all our Audience Research that we do here at the bbc, one of the things they always say to us is vote and will votes count . Can you reassure them after what we heard from the National Intelligence chiefs last night . Yes, i can reassure them. We go back to 2016, there were no ballots altered or exchanged. The russians have tried to interfere as they have done around the world. They tried to put that misinformation full stop they clearly put up miss information in 2016 but they went able to get the votes. We have done a tremendous amount of work since 2016 to protect our voting systems, the ballot machines, everything else, to be able to make sure that stays secure. Clearly there are still avenues to put misinformation out as we have just seen the iranians do, the russians do. The best antidote to thatis russians do. The best antidote to that is to make it of these allegations laid out last night. There were some of it that seem night. There were some of it that seem to sit right to me, though. They were saying, that the e mails which were sent by iran were sent to her President Trump and yet they we re her President Trump and yet they were sent to democratic voters, so how does that follow . While they we re how does that follow . While they were sent to democratic voters from a group that is a White Supremacist Group. This group has been in the media quite a bit. 0bviously group. This group has been in the media quite a bit. Obviously there isa media quite a bit. Obviously there is a lot of focus on them to say that they are not accepted by the president and they are not part of his campaign. The iranians made it look like the president was involved with a White Supremacist Group suppress votes. That is clear. I have no doubt the iranians are not fa ns have no doubt the iranians are not fans of President Trump. He is the one who has put heavy sanctions on them. If you go back to the 0bama biden regime, they withdrew the sections and allowed over 1. 8 billion dollars to be just a bit of the leaders of iran. We know from intelligence and common sense to see who the iranians would prefer. I find it hard to believe that they would release anything to help present trip when he has been the toughest on them. Senator, so much misinformation on this information is actually coming from americans themselves. In terms of the that thatis themselves. In terms of the that that is having on peoples confidence in the system and the way this election is being debated, how does that misinformation compared with the foreign influence that we are talking about . Americans trying to be able to speak at their opinions to other americans is very different in a foreign influence trying to step in and influence our elections. We want to put all foreign voices out, unless People Choose to take that in. But american speaking to another american, is different. There is alsojust speaking to another american, is different. There is also just fake news. Americans could share that and voice out statements your previous gas just mentioned that i thought it it is patently not true would that is his opinion on those things. That is his opinion on those things. That is very different from a foreign influence. What i say is the closer we get to elections, the more you should check your facts on things. If you see something on social media that looks absurd, you should probably evaluate that and make sure it is accurate. It is the same challenge i would have to social Media Companies. Social Media Companies should be engaged and be able to help in all ways they can but they shouldnt suppress voices in blue because they disagree with those voices. We saw that recently with the new york posts series of arguments that social media widely suppress because it didnt fit their worldview. The more information that comes out, the more information validates those stories. American speaking to americans is very different. Thank you very much indeed forjoining us. As you can see, it is extremely contentious. The atmosphere continues to be pretty toxic here. The british chancellor has today unveiled new support for jobs affected by coronavirus restrictions. Until today businesses in tier two areas, the middle tier, complained that there was no Additional Support for them, even though they have been less busy because households are banned from mixing indoors. But now employers will benefit from more support. Workers will be asked to work at least 20 of their usual hours. They will be paid by their employee for this, along with 5 of their hours not worked. The government will pay up to 61. 6 of other hours not worked. The scheme will, as before, be open to all Small Businesses and larger businesses that can show an impact on revenues. It puts more pressure on the balooning deficit, just look at this graph the deficit is at a whopping 246 billion the highest its been since these records began in the 1980s. Changes to the job support scheme have been welcomed by Business Leaders the uk hospitality chief executive said it was a hugely generous package. But many Restaurant Owners still say they can only survive if the government lifts the restrictions discouraging people to eat out. One of those is Thomasina Miers shes the co founder of the uk mexican chain wahaca and joins us now. Thank you for being with us. Let me get your impression of the details we are pouring through tonight. Does it help businesses in tier 2 areas . 0bviously it help businesses in tier 2 areas . Obviously this new deal is hugely welcomed. In the difficult circumstances but unfortunately is numbersjust circumstances but unfortunately is numbers just dont stack up. Government policy is stopping people coming in and yet we have got huge fixed costs. 0h, coming in and yet we have got huge fixed costs. Oh, dear. Your line is breaking up. We are going to see if we can re establish that line. We will contact you if we can. We will move will contact you if we can. We will m ove over will contact you if we can. We will move over to something else. For those watching on bbc world news, we will be right back. Sticking with the impact of coronavirus on the uk, the latest figures show, there were over 21,000 new infections recorded in the latest 24 hour period. And 189 deaths were reported. 0ur Health Editor hugh pym takes a look at the figures. Lets look at one of the graphs that was shown, and it has got a bit more detail on those hospital admissions each day across the uk. That yellow line is where they were a month ago and you can see that they rose pretty steeply but in the last few days just levelling off a little bit, though there was no concession that there had been any turning of the corner. A slightly gloomy prognosis being made today by professorjason leech, scotlands National Clinical director. He said families should prepare for a digital christmas and there was no question of any normal seasonal festivities in terms of families meeting. Sir Patrick Vallance was asked about that and he simply said it was likely restrictions were going to be needed and to be in place for a while yet. In newly released Court DocumentsGhislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of the convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein, says she never witnessed any inappropriate underage activities. Ms maxwell made the comments in 2016, while giving evidence in a civil case that had been brought by one of his victims. Mr epstein, youll remember, killed himself in prison last year. Ms maxwells lawyers had fought to keep the papers secret, arguing they could jeopardise her right to a fair trial next year. Shes pleaded not guilty to helping epstein groom his victims, as well as perjury. Lets bring in the bbcs nada tawfik whos been following todays developments. How significant are these documents . Extremely significant. 0n how significant are these documents . Extremely significant. On one hand, they form the basis of the perjury charges in the criminal case, the trial, that is coming up injuly. 0n the other hand, we have heard so little from Ghislaine Maxwell who has been described by epsteins victim as the mastermind in the alleged six trafficking ring sex trafficking ring. For that to have so trafficking ring. For that to have so many pages looking at her answers and questions to some of the key issues, what she knew, how she was involved, if at all full stop she has of course denied that. It is pretty significant. This has been a legal challenge going for years. The miami herald, after a legal challenge going for years. The miami herald, aftera big legal challenge going for years. The miami herald, after a big expose that they had on how the legal system that they had on how the legal syste m ha d that they had on how the legal system had failed apps epsteins victims saying it was in the public interest, gives the public a clear picture of this whole scheme which has gripped around the world. Thank you very much for that. Just before we went to the break we were talking to thomasina myers. Shejoins us now. Lets go back to her. I think we have re established the line. You we re we have re established the line. You were telling us, before we were rudely interrupted, about your thoughts about what has been unveiled by the chancellor today. Thoughts about what has been unveiled by the chancellor todaylj was saying they are very. Mounting debt we have from rent and the fixed cost we have since march. Allow people from different households to mix. 0h, people from different households to mix. Oh, dear, oh, dear. What a shame. Lets move on, then. People have been looking for a dolphin. The tories industry in the town has been built up around his appearance. But their Star Attraction is now missing. Local say he is like a family member. It was the towns lighthouse keeper who was first to spot a solitary dolphin at the mouth of Dingle Harbour in 1983. In the years that followed fungie became a major draw for tourists as people flocked to see the friendly dolphin, who seemed to enjoy the interaction. The boats were initially small fishing boats then they developed and bought new vessels and invested heavily and fungie has been a huge boost and a vital part of the tourism. There are whole generations that have grown up and all they ever knew was that he lived in the harbour and so generous and so playful. For that to be gone, its like a light hasjust gone out. Since his disappearance a week ago, the town has taken part in a full scale search with boats, divers and sonar, but without success. He was still totally wild, so the only thing he ever got out of this was the company and now hes just off again and the choice was always his. There are various theories as to why he has now vanished as mysteriously as he came but people say they will continue to hope fungie is out there somewhere. Emma vardy, bbc news. Lets get some of the days other news. Nigerias Vice President has promised justice for people who were shot during protests against police in lagos. Amnesty International Says the Security Forces killed at least 12 people on tuesday. The Nigerian Army denies any involvement. Unrest has continued across the country, with further violence at prisons in various parts. France is extending a night curfew to new areas, to combat what the Prime Minister described as extremely high levels of coronavirus transmission. 46 Million People are liable to fines if they leave home without a valid reason between 9pm and 6am. Twitter has denied that a Cyber Security expert from the netherlands gained access to Donald Trumps account last week by correctly guessing the password. Victor gevers told dutch media he typed in maga 20 20 exclamation mark. Surely not, i dont believe it. |j find this very hard to believe. Twitter said it had seen no evidence of such a breach. Are we calling fake news here . I dont know. That is like changing password. No one has password any more. I dont know if that is true or not. It seems to be true but it sounds beyond ridiculous. Yeah. Its fair to say many of us have a type, you know, some float our boat more than others. Ive always had a soft spot for men in their mid forties with blond hair and blue eyes. Sorry, who wrote this . You wrote this, didnt you. No, i know your type, the dark brooding type but i will take that one. That is pathetic there is one man however who has some pretty exacting requirements this was spotted on the dating app tinder by tiktok user clara melappe no single mothers. Nothing over ten stone. No pansexuals. No mental health. Contract phone only with unlimited data. No homecare. No essential oils skinny coffee. And no bath bombs actually, the bath bombs is a good shout. Do you have bath bombs in in New Hampshire . In yourtin bath . In your tin bath . I didnt know what a bath bomb was. Ifreely admit in your tin bath . I didnt know what a bath bomb was. I freely admit it. I have never seen a bath bomb was. I freely admit it. I have never seen a a bath bomb was. I freely admit it. I have never seen a bath bomb. I thought it was like a zoom bomb which i have onlyjust heard of which i have onlyjust heard of which is when someone takes over your. In my experience, always blue. You put them in the bath and they face and you look like a crouton in blueberry soup. My daughter loves them. Im not surprised he doesnt want any, then. Moving on to another serious story. Its been a long week. Especially if youre covering the us election. So heres some light relief in the form of a cute puppy that happens to be. Green. Yes, italian farmer cristian malloccis dog gave birth to this tiny dig who was of course, immediately named pistachio. Of course. I suppose it is better than maga . He was part of a five dog litter born at theirfarm in sardinia. Pistachios brothers and sisters all had white fur, the same colour as their mother. Green fur is very rare on a dog. In case you were wondering, its believed to be a result of the puppy making contact with a green pigment while in the womb. Iam learning i am learning so much today yes. Always tune into this show, you get all the big stories. In the next half, we will focus on the debate. We promise. Lines dropping out, green puppies. What can you do . Today hello there. Today we had a brief respite from this very unsettled weather and there was even some sunshine across many parts of the country it was a fine autumn scene as well. The weather is changing again and for the foreseeable future looks very unsettled. All of the weather coming in from the atlantic and one vendor band cloud followed by another bed of cloud somewhat windy weather. First area of cloud beginning to arrive close to our shores later on this evening. Bringing some rain overnight into Northern Ireland later in the night into into western scotland. Scooping up ahead of that, bursts of rain heading into the south and east of england for a while. The cloud will tend to increase from the west. Lowest temperatures quite early into the night down to three or four degrees across eastern areas before the cloud arrives. The rain that we have got in Northern Ireland will not last long in the morning and will see patchy rain run eastwards across scotland. Heavier rain in the morning of the hills of northwest england and perhaps into wales the rain because later in the afternoon as he heads for the into Eastern England. Behind it we have some sunshine. Showers many for western scotland and Northern Ireland and temperatures struggling to around 11 degrees. Over the weekend very until the weather continuous and stronger winds particularly on saturday but in a band of rain followed again by sunshine and showers. Heres the band of rain got on saturday, and if dry start to the midlands in Eastern England with some sunshine. The rain pushes east but falling by sunshine and showers on scotland and Northern Ireland. Windy day cussing 60 mph through the irish sea and western scotland for a while. Dry until late in the day and temperatures could reach 17 degrees. That rian will arrive by the evening in these areas and the remaining driving force sits close to the northwest of the uk. The strongest winds on sunday and showers or longer spells of rain. So that it parts of england and wales the winds will be a strong away from the northwest with the air cooler. More with the air cooler. Unsettled weather to come as v head more unsettled weather to come as we head into next week. Youre watching bbc news with mejane o brien in washington, Christian Fraser is in london. 0ur top stories. 12 days out from election day, will tonights final debate help enlighten voters more than the last . The Us Senate JudiciaryCommittee ApprovesPresident Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, after Democratic Senators boycotted the hearing. Also in the programme. If the polls are correct, and joe biden wins the presidency, what next for us Foreign Policy after years of trumps ardent America First agenda . Booing and hissing, and shouts of hes behind you not a president ial debate but the great old christmas tradition of panto. Well be speaking to one if its most famous characters. If you believe the polls, then in 12 days time, donald trump is out. Of course democrats many of them still suffering ptsd from Election Night 2016 dont put any faith in polls. But it would seem the president is in a corner and tonight perhaps is his last chance to change the trajectory. Things can happen in the run in. But dont forget people are already voting. 44 million have cast their ballot already, that is 89 of the early vote in 2016 and 30 of the overall total in 2016. Some will be watching tonight and voting tomorrow. So what can President Trump do . Were joined by lanhee chen a fellow at Stanford UniversitysHoover Institution who was mitt romneys policy director during his 2012 president ial campaign. You president ial campaign. Were involved in some of ti crap. You were involved in some of that crap. We ask you, do you think you can change the tone and theme focused on one debates of the next . Well, you can in the traditional debate prep setting that would be an important piece of the puzzle. I knew he just changes in setting . Changes in the news, that would be something the candidate traditionally do. The problem of the situation as we all know, donald trump is not a typical candidate. Hes not somebody who takes the typical kind of debate prep. Hes not somebody who has a conventional playbook. The question is, will be trump team be able to impose upon president ial to change elements that did not work for him in the last debate . And to ensure that hes addressing but voters are still interested in hearing about. Hes found entities all over the place at the moment. The attorney general of the moment. The attorney general of the bar, the president ial debate commission, at the algae and now the tea m commission, at the algae and now the team from six to eight minutes. He walked off he the set. Lets just watch that. Lets just watch that. Your first statement was. Youre the president , dont you think you should be accountable. Excuse me, no, no, no. Listen, yourfirst statement to me this is going to be tough questions. I dont mind that but when you set up the interviews you didnt say that. You said oh lets have a lovely interview. Five minutes until the Vice President , is that all right . Well, i think we have enough. We have enough. I think were ready for the Vice President now. I think we have enough of the interview. Ok, thats enough. Lets go. Lets go meet for two seconds, 0k . And that was it. Hes been putting out today on twitter and others facebook feed his version of that interview unedited. Just put that we re interview unedited. Just put that were inside, but i really want to focus on is the fact that that is dominating the news cycle in the United States and what he needs people to focus on is that hes going to do for them for the next four years. Somehow he seems to be getting in front of himself at the moment. Excellent point. The president likes to focus on the things that president want to focus on. Even if those things arent necessarily what the experts would say his Campaign Needs to focus on. I believe firmly that what the president needs to do in the debate tonight is to articulate his vision for the next four years without instead were talking about an interview that has eight years for the night air. Frankly not flattering for the president. That is dominating the cycle ahead of the debate for the president. That is dominating the cycle ahead of the debate. The traditional way campaign would handle debate day is make sure you are disseminating a message but ever it is the campaign was to be talking about. I can guarantee you that there are very few within that campaign that would have chosen to have an argument about an interview with a journalist on the day of a very consequential debate. Lets talk about the button for a minute. How do you train a candidate to deal with that . So much of the debate lies upon the rich and the rep they think the first debate aside but the comeback rich. Ill be in danger of losing that if someone has control of the via . It needs to be applied selectively and not overly done. That will be the challenge for the moderatorfor done. That will be the challenge for the moderator for the team at the commission on president ial debates. Some of that back and forth is valuable. Some of that back and forth is very important. Thats where some of the most important, significant consequential debate moments in past history have come from. It is going to be a fine line. As training a candidate, from that perspective, its important to get your point insisting fully accessing food. Rock onjuly not give them a reason to cut you off. Thats the most important thing. Youve got to come at it from the right posture and approach. Its ok to have a little back and forth but when you get too aggressive thats when you get too aggressive thats when they can pull that out and really alter the debate. The president has pushed back against his button. There are some that think it will benefit him. He talked of the other inter 8 and dropped joe biden. Joe biden will have to set it up biden. Joe biden will have to set it up properly without donald trump talking all over him. There is a rule of thumb the more thatjoe biden has been allowed to speak the better it is for donald trump. Hes been known to put his foot in his multi hes been known to say things a little off covert, and givenjoe biden to walk into his own trap for the chunk team is certainly the view. We will have to see how this goes tonight. Can biden perform in debate reason i could be the beneficiary i think ill be sympathetic eye of some because donald trump is not going to be able to interrupt and stepped all over biden sublimed nearly as much. Thank you forjoining us. Expect the unexpected bear. Expect the unexpected bear. The path for Amy Coney Barrett to reach the Supreme Court bench is clear today her nomination was approved by the Senate Judiciary committe it now moves to a full vote on the senate floor which is all but guaranteed to go her way. It means judge barrett will be confirmed just 8 days before the election the democrats are crying foul and today boycotted the committee vote. All 10 empty democrat seats were filled with posters of people who risk losing their Health Insurance if the Affordable Care act is dismantled. The arguments over the aca begin in the Supreme Court on november 10th. Were joined now by kim wehle, a professor of law at the university of baltimore and author of what you need to know about voting and why. Nothing to see you again. Joe biden has been talking about the idea that the court needs fixing. That it is out of whack and hes talking about enlarging the court, putting more liberaljudges on the bench. Is that really the right way to go about this . I think his response and saying that he is going to impanel a commission of various thinkers from various points of you to look at this problem frankly is the most responsible response at this point. Hes getting criticism from like that from both sides of the african progressives are saying thats enough, conservatives are saying that its in the period of the court. At this point to things, one has too much power one in our democracy it can effectively amend the constitution by interpreting it blu ntly the constitution by interpreting it bluntly at the other. Whats different now is frankly, how under the Republican Leadership the last three justices have been appointed under dubious circumstances and because there is no longer a 60 majority filibuster for Supreme Court justices theyve all gotten majority filibuster for Supreme Courtjustices theyve all gotten on the bench your party line. Which is effectively cut any democrat in any democratic voters out of having any leverage whatsoever on these really, really important appointments. That does create a problem both pragmatically and for the legitimacy of the court. Weve got that interview from the cvs interview which talks about this committee. This is how to listen to what he said because i want to ask you something. Its not about Court Packing theres a number of other things thats debated and i look to see what recommendations that commission might make. So youre telling us youre going to study this issue about whether to pack the court . No, whethertheres a number of alternatives that are, go well beyond packing. This is a live ball . Yes, this is a live ball, and you have to do that. It isa it is a live ball. You can get down the road for 180 days, does that solve the problem . If the republicans will decided he wouldnt get things through anyway. To have his progressives not to say hang on, theyre going to be making important decisions over the next few months we need to get to grips with this now. As you indicate, if the senate stays in republican hands all of this is beside the point. The rate the court would actually be enlarged in terms of numbers with be through an act of congress. Biden doesnt have any unilateral power to do that. We will see that this six street majority we are going to see not only some troubling three. Not only troubling for the more progressive people in the United States on issues like individual rights lg g0 issues, perhaps abortion rights, etc. A conservative court has been quite vigorous in striking down Bipartisan Legislation that some would argue is progressive. Some we can see without a different configuration of the court a Democratic Controlled Congress flummoxed by him and elected Supreme Court. I think thats really the constitutional problem in this moment. If Hillary Clinton won the election in 2016 and the democrats took over the senate, the democrats took over the senate, the republicans would be crying foul at the same time. There is no resolution to this, is there . Well, pete republicans, the critical thing was Mitch Mcconnell his decision not to even give. I went a hearing let alone a vote. That was barack 0bama is appointing. That really politicize the entire process because of course article two of the constitution says shall any sexual say that is the president s product that prerogative which was politically taken from him. The counterargument is we will go back and depending on the president and trapping the court. Under the current version the hypocrisy of not allowing garland then pushing through his well, the this works is only a president controls a senate can appointa only a president controls a senate can appoint a Supreme Courtjustice. Under that version which is what we are operating under the could have vacancies on the court if you dont have a senate thats controlled by the president. The whole thing has really gotten, gone haywire a ways im sure the individualjustices who currently sit on the court are not happy about. Theres not much they can do about it other than perhaps bea can do about it other than perhaps be a little more moderate making decisions to represent all americans. That really is a concern given for example the last three justices participated on behalf of republicans and the bush versus gore litigation that handed the presidency to a republican. What this court does with election and Voting Rights is probably the biggest concern going forward. Thank you very much for that kim is right, the court has been politicized. And its not that a change. Even if you get things out for the if you get things out of this commission 180 days on the line, the electric, have think i know you dont want fixing. Right, exactly for that that is the problem. I dont know how you do fix it at this point. Know how you do fix it at this point. From the moment he walked through the doors of the oval office, President Trump was pursuing his America First agenda; lambasting the United States traditional allies, tearing up the treaties he didnt like or walking away from the unending wars that had cost america so dear. But its role as a reliable partner, a global leader, particularly in the eyes of the europeans, has been diminished. And so if the polls are correct and joe biden wins the presidency. What can we expect . One of President Trumps first decisions in office was to walk away from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Joe biden says the United States will be immediately returning to the deal. President trump withdrew from the iran nuclear agreement. And then imposed strict economic sanctions. Biden will face calls to return to the deal, but may want additional guarantees from tehran. The Biden Campaign has accused trump of being soft on russia. If elected, bidens first tasks will be to renegoatiate the new start agreement. A Nuclear Arms Reduction treaty president 0bama signed in 2010 as for the trade war with china, its not yet clear whatjoe bidens policy will be on the tarrifs imposed. And then there is europe. Joe biden has made no secret that he is keen to restore the postwar relationships that have faltered. But is it too late . Joining us from brussels is the New York Times chief Diplomatic Correspondent for europe, steven erlanger. Nice to see you again. When you talk aboutjoe nice to see you again. When you talk about joe ive nice to see you again. When you talk aboutjoe ive been the relations with the outcome of the problem is in the eyes of europe there is no consensus on Foreign Policy in washington anymore. They might be inclined to say yeah, sure things are going to go back to how they we re are going to go back to how they were both how long thats precisely the question. I think there will be stability restored. Some europeans would regard it as a return to civilization. Certainly joe biden is a traditional transatlantic assist. Thats been his whole career. But the world has changed since 2016. The rise of china, nothing do russias actions, trade wars the wars. Its a different river to step in. There is a sense that if you abide in he will be 78 years old. It is likely to be a long term president. Its also very possible that in four years from the at another republican but when could be another republican but when could be a better version of trump. And probably a more coherent version. As senator tom cotton or even light pens. So the consistency of american Foreign Policy, we used to say drastic politics and at the waters edge. That is no longer true anymore. Trump has turned over a lot of the deals and agreements 0bama made. And there is no reason to expect that another republican wouldnt do the same to whatever biden does. There is a contingency i think europeans welcome dividing presidency. They would be eight biden presidency. They wish to contribute rest on his behalf. President 0bama was Foreign Policy also attracted a bout of criticism particularly with his in action, underestimation on the rise of isis. Crime year, syria, Withjoe BidenForeign Policy be the same as 0bama is . I was looking at a return to that . I dont think so. What has been happening is a retrenchment of American Military interventions all around the world. There is a feeling that 0bama touched on but that truck the is really pressed on. Americans are tired there is the virus and the problems at home and the deficit is now 3 trillion. Europe is richer and bigger than the United States. So when trump and others say its time europeans start paying their own way and doing more for the collective defence, this is a strong feeling in america that wont change. Thats not going to go away. 30, 40 of trump days arent going away either. I do think biden has been eight very careful about use of force. He was opposed to the surge in afghanistan. That 0bama would have it. He was opposed to the intervention in libya which Hillary Clinton pushed and which 0bama, partly because david cameron, because he wanted to do it. And these are great friends. But biden was fairly cautious about the use of american troops, i think. I think he will be careful. It wont be the same. Thank you very much indeed for joining forjoining us. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come, theres nothing like a dame. As pantos gear up for a triumphant return well be talking to dame dolly. New research seen by the bbc suggests1 in 10 childrens play centres have closed over the past 2 months with thousands ofjobs lost. The organisation representing them warns the sector is on the brink; government says it regularly enagages with the sector after 16 years in business this popular play centre in leeds cannot survive another day. I just cannot believe whether another owner is found or not that it wont be mine any more. Seeing my customers every day and you know, baking cakes and just running my little business. She worked hard to reopen her centre after the lockdown led to six months of closure. I had rebooked all the parties in the next day boris introduced the rule of six. And you know, that killed us. That was sort of the beginning of the end. Now her company is in liquidation and her staff soon to be unemployed. Covid rules preventing people from mixing indoors are having a severe impact on soft play and in some tier 3 areas like south yorkshire, centres have again been ordered to shutdown. There are 1,100 soft play centres in the uk. Since august 107, or 10 , have permanently closed. With a loss of around 2,000 jobs. The organisation that represents indoor play operators says the industry is now on the brink of collapse. They have run out of cash, there is no money left. People have taken bounce back loans, but the money has dried up. Out of 1,100 centres you would see 50 to 70 of them closing if things dont improve. I dont know im going to do without it to be honest this is where i get my work done. This is where they form their first relationships. Just sad. Giving up her business hasnt been easy for vickie. 0n surviving ina been easy for vickie. 0n surviving in a socially distant world was impossible. After months of uncertaininty there are signs of life in the uks once thriving theatre industry. A number of theatre houses across the country have decided to lift the curtain for the pantomime season ino i no they havent. 0h i no they havent. Oh yes i have. Oh yes i have. Its a uniquely british tradition in which classic fairy tales are retold on stage, with plenty of audience participation. So as actors gear up for a season of booing and hissing and hes behind you, lets welcome to the show, dame dolly, whos starring in Dick Whittington at the Kings Theatre in portsmouth. Welcome to the show. Welcome to the real pantomime. 0ne damon one prince charming. Now then, tell me about your show. I know he isnt. Dont start on back. James darley, youre looking very splendid. This is great news, seriously. Its been so difficult and decent months for us pantomime of course is crucial to the bottom line, isnt it . It really is. We really push the boat out. Since we made the decision back in april that we were going ahead with our socially distance pans out. We are so our socially distance pans out. We are so excited that here in portsmouth we can actually bring that to our audiences. We are just so so that to our audiences. We are just so so grateful. How does it work if you like the england team are you in a bobbl . Do you have to be tested every day . And what happens if one of you go down, have you had a sub . With panto traditional there are no subs no understudies. You have to plough through and do the best you can. And once you get onto the stage, once you get on the front lights and the life that you, you are there and ready to go. Its fond of those things obviously have to get into some sort of bubble. Because we start harvesting two weeks before hand so we will be sharing the same room at the same airand sharing the same room at the same air and everything like that. We will be testing each of the cast members. He also got children which we are members. He also got children which we a re really members. He also got children which we are really excited about. We had to cut back to only six on each team where it would normally be 12. But we are still ploughing ahead with what we call the only traditional pantomime on the south coast. Thank dolly, ive been trying very hard to explain to my american colleagues exactly what pa nto explain to my american colleagues exactly what panto is. Why is panto so exactly what panto is. Why is panto so important . Its gateway theatre for a lot of people, isnt it . It is. Youve got a bit about pantomime happening at the moment, havent you . A really good run. Its a real uk and british tradition. Without it there is no christmas in the uk. It so there is no christmas in the uk. It so important. Whats interesting is its actually starting now to develop around the world. I think if i have a pantomime every year now. Which is a very strange place to put ona which is a very strange place to put on a pantomime. We love it. Its such a major tradition without panto there is no christmas. Do you need any there is no christmas. Do you need a ny extra there is no christmas. Do you need any extra cast members by any chance . Of course, iwas any extra cast members by any chance . Of course, i was hoping that christian might fancy coming down. And being one of the ugly sisters. Im always the back end of the cast. I know my place. Is that real . Has someone i know my place. Is that real . Has someonejust said that i know my place. Is that real . Has someone just said that ive just spotted that on screen. Well, i like the kimono. Im not sure about the leg. I wish i could say it. The kimono. Im not sure about the leg. Iwish i could say it. Somebody put donald trump of that was an accident. Its been lobbied to see you. Best of luck for the season. Com and see us in portsmouth thats it from us. Dont forget ill be with you later tonight. We will be there for the debate were going to bring you live coverage of that. Join us. Join us. Hello there. Thursday was a much drier day across the country there was even some sunshine around. But its just a brief respite from a very unsettled few days ahead. All our weather coming in from the atlantic one band of cloud and rain will be followed by another band of cloud and rain coming in from the west. And as we look ahead to friday, then, weve got this band of rain, the first band of cloud and rain pushing its way eastwards, the rain becoming light and patchy. Behind that, we get some sunshine coming in, but there will be some showers, particularly in western scotland and also Northern Ireland. Here, temperatures 11 degrees or so. Ahead of the rain in the south east in the afternoon, temperatures could make 15 celsius. That wetter weather moves through, whats left of it, and then the next area of cloud and rain sweeps in from the atlantic, maintaining this very unsettled theme. This time, the rain could be heavier, and the winds are likely to be stronger as well. Probably a dry start for the midlands and Eastern England, with some sunshine, but theres that rain coming in. Behind it, we get some sunshine and showers. Strong to Gale Force Winds across the uk for a while, gusts of 60mph through the irish sea and western scotland. Temperatures ahead of the rain, again in the south east and east anglia, up to 17 celsius. We get the rain by the end of the day, though, on that weather front. That does move through overnight, but the main driver of the weather, that deep area of low pressure, sitting close to the north west on sunday. This is where well have the strongest of the winds. Have showers or longer spells of rain. Elsewhere, some sunny spells, showers all across western parts of england and wales. The winds not quite as strong, i think, on sunday, but the airs a bit chillier, so temperatures are up to around 12 to 14 degrees. Thats the weekend, then. Heading into the beginning of next week, theres our area of low pressure, still sitting close to the north and north west of scotland, but its filling, so its not as deep and therefore the winds are not going to be as strong around it. Still some quite brisk winds, though, across scotland, where were going to find most of these showers. The odd shower around elsewhere as well, but on the whole it should be somewhat drier, and those showers tending to fade away during the course of the day. Temperatures still around 12 to 14 degrees on monday. But look whats coming in behind me. Weve got the next area of low pressure coming in. Now, this is a really deep area of low pressure, and a big one, too, and well look at that in more detail a little bit later on. But its pushing ahead bands of cloud and outbreaks of rain which could be a bit heavy at times over the hills. The winds in the south or south west, and later in the day, towards the north west of the uk, those winds will start to strengthen as well. Those temperatures very similar to the previous few days around 12 to 14 degrees. Now, that deep area of low pressure. If we look all the way into the atlantic at the moment, this area of cloud here is hurricane epsilon, getting close to bermuda. This is the forecast track that its going to take over the next few days ahead, and as it heads towards the uk, it combines with an area of low pressure and leaves us with that deep area of low pressure on tuesday, and into wednesday as well. Increasingly windy weather, actually, on wednesday, severe gales across the north. More weather fronts, more areas of low pressure follow on the back of that as well, keeping it very mobile, keeping it very unsettled. Strong jet stream across the atlantic thats steering areas of low pressure towards the north west of the uk, coming to rest around about iceland. But essentially, the outlook is very unsettled. Showers or longer spells of rain, wettest and probably windiest towards the north west of the uk, but all areas will see some wind and rain at times. Tonight at ten. The chancellor unveils billions of pounds of extra support for businesses and workers trying to survive under the tougher coronavirus restrictions. The changes to thejob support scheme come after protests from companies, particularly those in tier 2, who said they would have more support if they had been forced to close in the highest alert level. This is our plan a plan forjobs, for businesses, for the regions, for our economy, for the country, a plan to support the british people. As slough, stoke on trent and coventry are moved into tier 2, high alert, there are warnings the extra help may be too late for some. Its going very down, like, you can imagine, we used to have, like, ten different shops, like, in a different part of london, and outside london, and now weve