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

Behind Trump’s Hold Over the GOP

18m 11s

Support for Trump in Iowa is stronger than ever. The question must be raised: What keeps Republicans so loyal? Zeynep Tufekci is a columnist at The New York Times, and she joins us to reflect on Trump’s appeal at this critical moment.

Inside Iowa: Donald Trump’s Success and the State of the GOP

16m 37s

Martin Luther King Day is also Iowa Caucus Day for GOP presidential candidates. Despite facing multiple criminal charges, former president Donald Trump entered as the frontrunner, with Governor Ron DeSantis and former governor Nikki Haley competing to be an alternative contender. New York Times National Politics Reporter Astead Herndon joins Hari Sreenivasan to speak about what is at stake.

“Gaza is on the Brink of Famine:” WFP’s Cindy McCain

17m 46s

Gazans are facing a desperate humanitarian crisis, with food shelves empty, and around 85% of the enclave's population displaced since October 7 according to the U.N. The World Food Programme’s executive Cindy McCain says we’re at a tipping point. She speaks to Walter Isaacson about the dire situation and why food insecurity is a global concern.

Ukraine Amb. on Stalled US Aid: “We Have Faith in..Congress"

19m 17s

Russian missiles hit Kharkiv late Wednesday, destroying a hotel and injuring 11 people, in yet another reminder of conditions in Ukraine as the war approaches the two-year mark. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, joins the show to discuss the ongoing conflict.

“Io Capitano" Captures the Hope and Danger of Migration

17m 26s

2023 saw a record number of migrants crossing the Atlantic to the Spanish Canary Islands, with many lives lost at sea, European governments are responding to the flood tide of migrants with harsh crackdowns. But rarely do we hear from the people making these treacherous journeys. Italian film director Matteo Garrone plans to present their side of the story through his new film “Io Capitano."

Haaretz Columnist Gideon Levy on Israel's Conduct in Gaza

6m 2s

Palestinian authorities say one in every 100 residents of Gaza have been killed over the past three months, nearly two-thirds of them women and children. This human toll is front and center as Western officials visit the region expressing increased concern about the crisis. Haaretz Columnist Gideon Levy says there’s no way to explain Israel’s conduct in Gaza. He joined the program from Tel Aviv.

Trump, Antisemitism, Art: A Conversation with Tony Kushner

18m 42s

A film Tony Kushner co-wrote nearly 20 years ago is getting a second look amid this war: Stephen Spielberg’s "Munich." It’s the story of the assassination of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games -- and Israel’s secret mission to hunt down and eliminate each of the assassins. Kushner discusses the war, antisemitism and the role of art in this climate.

The Unseen Faces of Jan. 6

17m 59s

Almost three years after a mob of insurgents stormed the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6 continues to hang over American democracy. According to polling, Republicans are more sympathetic to the rioters and more loyal to Donald Trump than they were in 2021. Robert Pape is Director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats. He joins Walter Isaacson to discuss how political violence has become mainstream.

Jennifer Doudna on FDA Approval of First CRISPR Treatments

18m 9s

More than a decade ago, pioneering biochemist Jennifer Doudna co-invented CRISPR, the gene editing technology which earned her the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Now, the very first treatment based on CRISPR has been approved in the U.K. and the U.S., a landmark decision for the treatment of sickle cell disease and for the potential of this rapidly advancing field. Dr. Doudna joins to discuss.

Lenny Kravitz on His New Song "Road to Freedom"

5m 17s

After 35 years in the music business and four Grammy Awards, soulful superstar Lenny Kravitz is now eyeing Oscar glory as his new song "Road to Freedom" hits the shortlist. It was written for the acclaimed film "Rustin," which tells the story of pioneering civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Lenny Kravitz joins the program to discuss all this -- and new projects on the horizon.

Grammy Winner Rhiannon Giddens on Her New Album

18m 11s

Rhiannon Giddens is currently carving out an impressive legacy as a singer, songwriter, banjo player and actress who keeps adding strings to her bow. "You’re the One" is the title of her latest Grammy-nominated release and her first full album of original songs. She received the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her opera "Omar." Giddens joins the show to discuss her unstoppable career.

Do People Really Hate the Media? A Suprising New Study

16m 43s

With an upcoming U.S. presidential election and ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, trust in news organizations is commonly assumed to be at record lows. Jennifer Benz and Mariana Meza Hernandez from NORC at the University of Chicago speak to Michel Martin about a recent op-ed for The Washington Post, "Actually, people don't hate the media as much as you think."

Renée Fleming on Her Kennedy Center Honor

17m 48s

It’s the prize of a lifetime, even for the most honored of performers. World-renowned opera star Renée Fleming was recognized in the prestigious 2023 Kennedy Center Honors, alongside Billy Crystal, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick. The Grammy Award-winning singer talked to Michel Martin about that meaningful moment, her illustrious career, and her surprising love of science.

Masha Gessen Responds to Controversy Over Gaza Comments

17m 59s

Masha Gessen recently was awarded the prestigious Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought — in a scaled-back ceremony after a very public spat. The author and staff writer at The New Yorker faced backlash after comparing Gaza to Nazi-era Jewish ghettos in the essay "In the Shadow of the Holocaust." Gessen joined Michel Martin to discuss the difficulty of exercising critical thought.

Adam Driver on Playing Enzo Ferrari in New Biopic

5m 30s

In Modena, Italy, the 1950s were a time when motor racing was a particularly deadly pursuit. Director Michael Mann’s "Ferrari" follows the travails of company patriarch Enzo Ferrari as he deals with the death of his son and struggles to ensure the survival of his organization, even as the bodies pile up. Christiane spoke with actor Adam Driver about the making of the film.

David Brooks on Facing Harsh Times with “Defiant Humanism"

17m 14s

In his new book "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen," David Brooks asks if it’s time to reassess how to foster stronger connections at home, at work and throughout our lives. He joins the show to explore what it means to practice empathy in an increasingly lonely world.

Half the World Has Elections in 2024 & Democracy Is at Stake

18m 12s

As 2023 comes to a close, we look to a new year that is set to bring a world of challenges -- from turmoil in the Middle East and war in Ukraine to growing tensions over Taiwan, and more than half the global population heading to the polls. Deputy Editor of The Economist Tom Standage joins the show to discuss his article "The Ten Trends to Watch in 2024" and the "World Ahead 2024" series.

How Will SCOTUS Rule On Donald Trump’s Jan. 6. Legal Case?

18m 5s

The U.S. Supreme Court is facing several landmark cases while their approval ratings remain at a record low. Professor of law Stephen Vladek joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the cases attracting attention -- from the trials awaiting Donald Trump to a vital reproductive rights decision -- and whether we are witnessing a constitutional crisis in the nation's highest court.

Inside One of the Worst Leaks in U.S. History

18m 5s

21-year-old guardsman Jack Teixeira allegedly shared hundreds of classified documents online. He’s currently pleading not guilty as he awaits trial. The new Frontline documentary "The Discord Leaks" explores how the gaming platform became a center not only for security breaches, but also for unmoderated extremism. Washington Post investigative reporters Samuel Oakford and Shane Harris discuss.

Tariq Trotter Opens Up About Childhood and Forming The Roots

18m 22s

Tariq Trotter, better known as Black Thought, is a Grammy Award-winning artist and co-founder of The Roots. Music critics place him among the greatest rappers of all time. Now Black Thought is out with a memoir reflecting on his life -- from childhood tragedy and loss to finding solace and freedom in the arts. The book is called "The Upcycled Self" and he joins Hari to discuss it.

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