Amanpour and Company

News and Public Affairs Series / 2 Seasons

Featuring conversations with global leaders and decision makers on the issues affecting the world today, Amanpour and Company adds to the long tradition of public affairs programming that has been a hallmark of public media for decades.

Watch: S2023 E6121

26m 46s

Rebecca Hall on "Passing" and Her Family's Racial Secrets

2m 23s

Rebecca Hall's new film "Passing," based on the 1929 novel by Nella Larsen, tells the story of mixed-race childhood friends who reunite as adults – one firmly ensconced in the African American community of Harlem, and the other now “passing,” or living her life as a white woman. It’s a subject Hall felt driven to confront because of her own family’s history of racial secrets.

Hospitals in Crisis: Why Nurses Are Burned Out and Quitting

17m 56s

The U.S. healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, say our next guests. According to one poll, almost one in five healthcare workers have quit their jobs during the pandemic. Rachel Ellsworth is one such person. She abandoned her 12-year career because of burnout. Traveling nurse Chelsea Walsh has seen what hospitals are facing all across the country. They speak with Hari Sreenivasan.

Tom Stoppard on "Leopoldstadt"

2m 51s

In 1993, the celebrated playwright and Oscar-winning screenwriter Tom Stoppard was told both of his parents were Jewish and that all his grandparents and other relatives had perished in the Nazi death camps. Reckoning with his Jewish identity informs his latest play "Leopoldstadt," about the devastating impact of World War II on a family in Vienna.

WA Gov. Jay Inslee Work to Combat Climate Crisis

2m 53s

Today, the U.N. said CO2 levels in the atmosphere stand at the highest level in 3 million years. Meanwhile, California was hit over the weekend by a “bomb cyclone." Scientists say climate change increases the frequency of such weather events. The storm also hit Washington state, where Gov. Jay Inslee has been in the forefront of efforts to combat the climate crisis. He joins the show to discuss.

Max Boot: "Extremists" in Control of the Republican Party

17m 3s

A recent poll suggests that nearly 80% of Republicans want former President Trump to run in the 2024 election. Washington Post columnist and former conservative Republican Max Boot blames Trump for leading the growing extremism within the party. Boot speaks with Walter Isaacson about why so many Republicans are in Trump’s thrall and whether it will help or harm the GOP in upcoming elections.

Can the U.S. Make Good on its Climate Goals?

2m 46s

Senator Joe Manchin continues to block a significant part of Biden’s climate legislation. Upcoming are two important summits, where the U.S. will be expected to put forward bold climate commitments. Can the world’s second largest polluter make good on its climate goals? Christiane puts the question to climate expert Leah Stokes.

Martin Indyk: Heny Kissinger's role in the Middle East

2m 56s

A new book, "Master of the Game," looks at Henry Kissinger’s role in the Middle East and what we can learn from his political philosophy. The author is Martin Indyk, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and former special envoy for Israel-Palestine peace negotiations in the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Retrospective of Painter Paula Rego's Work at Tate Britain

2m 39s

A major retrospective of the painter Paula Rego’s work is underway at London’s Tate Britain museum. Born in Portugal, Rego grew up under a fascist dictatorship in the 1930s and 40s and eventually made England her home. Known for her uncompromising attitudes, Rego fiercely took on fascism and explored women’s rights. Her son, filmmaker Nick Willing, joins the show from Rego's studio in London.

Author Who Inspired “Maid” on Netflix on Surviving Abuse

17m 58s

A new Netflix show exposes the harsh realities of living below the poverty line in America. Based on Stephanie Land’s memoir, "Maid" follows a young mother’s fight to escape an abusive relationship. The series has attracted a huge audience. Land speaks with Michel Martin about her journey.

Crackdown on Democracy in Nicaragua

2m 39s

Carlos Fernando Chamorro is one of Nicaragua’s foremost journalists and a member of a leading opposition family. His mother, Violetta Chamorro, defeated Daniel Ortega to become president in 1990, making her Latin America’s first elected female leader. Three of Chamorro's relatives were arrested in the latest Ortega crackdown. The journalist himself escaped to Costa Rica.

A Mission to Rescue 500 Afghans

3m

One group of volunteers has launched a mission to rescue nearly 500 Afghan students, artists, and others, with support from the governments of Canada, Ecuador and Pakistan. These volunteers call themselves the Thirty Birds Foundation, and Abuzar and Simin Royesh helped lead the efforts. They both join the show from the U.S., where Simin is being processed for resettlement at a military base.

#MeToo Founder Feared Movement Might Drift From Intent

2m 27s

The term “Me Too” went viral in 2017, but activist Tarana Burke had already been using it for a decade to help survivors – particularly young women of color – empower themselves and connect to others. For Burke, watching #MeToo go viral wasn’t necessarily a cause for celebration. Instead, she feared the movement might drift away from its original intent. Her new memoir documents all this and more.

GOP Colleagues “Accountable for Destruction of Democracy"

18m 9s

The investigation into the January 6 insurrection is heating up on Capitol Hill, where the House committee leading the investigation voted to hold Steve Bannon in criminal contempt for defying a subpoena. Committee member Adam Schiff is the author of a new book, "Midnight in Washington." He speaks with Michel Martin about why he believes the January attack fundamentally weakened the United States.

Peter Marki-Zay: Hungary's Unexpected Opposition Candidate

2m 52s

Lukashenko’s antipathy towards migrants is shared by another European strongman, Hungary’s Viktor Orban. The increasingly autocratic prime minister has run the country for over a decade. Will his time soon be over? Engineer-turned-mayor Peter Marki-Zay believes so –- and wants to be the one to oust him. Marki-Zay pulled off a big victory this weekend, becoming the unexpected opposition candidate.

The Everyday Heroes of the Pandemic

2m 44s

A new Netflix documentary focuses on the everyday heroes who gave their all on the front lines of the pandemic. "Convergence: Courage in a Crisis" is directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, whose credits include such hit documentaries as "The White Helmets" and "Virunga." Featured performer Hassan Akkad is co-director. He fled Syria as a refugee before working on the front lines of COVID-19.

Update on the Abductions in Haiti

2m 33s

In Haiti, the FBI has joined the investigation into the abduction of American and Canadian missionaries. The kidnappers are now demanding $17 million in ransom – one million for each victim. Kidnappings are a daily occurrence in Haiti, where food and fuel shortages are common and where basic government services are virtually nonexistent. Yvens Rumbold works with a non-partisan think tank in Haiti.

One Hedge Fund Guts Local Newsrooms

17m

To explore the inner workings of America’s newspapers, journalist McKay Coppins has been investigating the hedge fund Alden Global Capital and its years-long work gutting newspapers. Coppins' latest piece for The Atlantic is titled “The men who are killing America’s newspapers,” and he speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about the destructive impact of all this on American communities.

Former Soccer Player Speaks Out About Abuse

2m 46s

NWSL player Kaiya McCullough came forward this summer with allegations of emotional abuse by Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke, a move that set in motion the reckoning we see now. Burke denies the claims, but McCullough says she quit the team after he made her “hate soccer.” At 23, McCullough is both a veteran player and a veteran sports activist, and she joins the show to explain her decision.

How New Orleans Planned for the Next Big Hurricane

15m 27s

Now we turn to a city familiar with devastating natural disasters: New Orleans. Ramsey Green, the city’s Chief of Infrastructure, speaks about lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina in redefining the way cities respond to extreme weather. The interview is part of The WNET Group’s second annual virtual conversation series American Cities Rebuilding.

Robert Draper: "To Start a War" and Colin Powell

2m 56s

For more on Powell’s legacy, Bianna speaks with journalist Robert Draper, whose recent book "To Start a War" chronicled the decisions and key players that led to invasion.

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