Sunday show preview: Can Nixon save face in Ferguson?

The response to the protests in Ferguson over a police officer’s killing of an unarmed black teenager will dominate the Sunday shows. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) will seek to counter the criticism he has faced for not stepping in sooner when police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protestors. 

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights leader, will offer thoughts, as well as Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), who represents Ferguson.

{mosads}Separately, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is seeking to save his image and possible presidential hopes after an indictment against him was revealed Friday. 

Pushed from the forefront of the conversation by a flurry of news in the last few days, the crisis in Iraq still looms, and lawmakers will weigh in on the threat from the ISIS militants.

Here’s the lineup:

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) will face questions about his handling of the police response to protests in Ferguson, Mo., after a police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown. He has faced criticism for the tactics of St. Louis County police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to clear the streets of people. Nixon eventually replaced the department with the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights leader, will also discuss the events in Ferguson.

Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), the chairman of an Armed Services subcommittee, will weigh in on the situation in Iraq.

CBS’s “Face the Nation”: Nixon will also face questions on CBS. He could face pushback from another guest, NAACP President Cornell William Brooks.  

In addition, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) will provide insight on the threat posed by ISIS.

CNN’s “State of the Union”: Nixon will appear on CNN as well. Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), who represents Ferguson and has been critical of some aspects of the police response, will also weigh in. 

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) will give his thoughts on the threat from ISIS.

“Fox News Sunday”: Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) will face questions about his recent indictment for allegedly abusing his veto power to force the resignation of a Democratic prosecutor.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will discuss Iraq. 

ABC’s “This Week”: Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) will also give their views on Iraq’s latest developments. Both are veterans of the Iraq War.

The Obama administration said last week that a mission to rescue members of the Yazidi religious sect trapped on a mountain in Iraq is less likely because U.S. air strikes have helped break the siege by the militant group ISIS.