Amanpour and Company

News and Public Affairs Series / 3 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

Are We Ready for the AI Revolution? Fmr. Google CEO Eric Schmidt Says No

18m 12s

With the approach of a new year, and the prospect of accelerating technological advancement, all eyes are on AI. The new best-selling book "Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope and the Human Spirit" is putting the new tech under the microscope, taking a good look at how it could help us, and how we might stop it from hurting us. Co-author and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt joins the show.

Syrian Artist Mohamad Hafez on Art, Exile and the Fall of Assad

18m 12s

Artist Mohamad Hafez creates replicas of Damascus, capturing the beauty and spirit of the city in intricate 3D models. Having lived in the U.S. since 2003, Hafez has channeled his homesickness and anguish over Syria's devastating civil war into his work. Now, with Bashar Al-Assad gone, Hafez joins the show to share his hopes for this moment, and to talk about how his art has helped him to adjust.

SCOTUS and the Trans Rights Healthcare Case: Why It Matters

17m 19s

This week the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case from Tennessee concerning medical care for transgender minors. Masha Gessen, opinion columnist for the New York Times, listened to the oral arguments. They talk with Michel Martin about the salient issues.

Why Are FBI Checks on Trump Nominees Necessary? Fmr. Senate Counsels Explain

18m 13s

More than 75 Nobel laureates are urging Trump to ditch RFK Jr. as his choice for HHS Secretary. As Trump's picks get more pushback, his team has signaled that they are willing to go it alone and bypass the vetting process. Two former Counsels to the Senate Judiciary Committee -- Gregg Nunziata and Noah Bookbinder -- explain why the Senate confirmation process and FBI checks are essential.

Syrian Journalist Discusses What Led to the Rebel Takeover in Syria

5m 23s

Rebels swept into the capital city of Syria, at lightning speed and ended a half-century of oppressive rule by the Assad family. The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin has personally granted former dictator Bashar Assad safe haven in Russia. Rami Jarrah has reported for years on the human toll of violence in his country, often -- for his safety -- under a pseudonym. He joins Christiane today from Berlin.

20 Years Later, New Documentary Looks at Deadliest Tsunami in History

15m 30s

It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern times. Some 20 years ago a massive tsunami in southern Asia, triggered by a 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia, killed more than 200,000 people in 14 countries. A new documentary, "Tsunami: Race Against Time,” looks back at that devastating day -- December 20, 2004 -- with never-before-seen footage.

Is Your Phone Spying on You? Ronan Farrow on His New Doc “Surveilled”

18m 22s

It's the one thing we never leave home without. Could it be our smartphones are spying on us? After becoming a target of hacking himself, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow made it his mission to shine a light on the shadowy world of cyber surveillance. Farrow joins Michel Martin to discuss his new documentary "Surveilled" and the frightening reality of spyware.

America’s Lonely Future: David Frum on Trump’s “Predatory” Foreign Policy

17m 36s

With Trump's inauguration on the horizon, conversations continue about the impact of the President-elect's policies both at home and abroad. David Frum is a political commentator and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. In his latest piece for The Atlantic, “America's Lonely Future," Frum warns that the U.S. could become a global bully. He joins Walter Isaacson to discuss.

Fmr. South Korean FM on Pres. Yoon's Now Reversed Declaration of Martial Law

5m 57s

South Korea is in turmoil after the president's shocking decision to declare martial law. Protests broke out in Seoul, the capital city. Kyung-wha Kang was South Korea's Foreign Minister and she joins from New York.

Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes and Kenny Leon on Broadway’s “Our Town”

18m 23s

For the first time in over 20 years, "Our Town" has returned to Broadway with a star-studded cast. The Thornton Wilder play follows the lives of two families in a small town in New Hampshire at the turn of the 20th century. Now, Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon is reimagining it for a modern audience. He joins Michel Martin alongside actors Jim Parsons and Katie Holmes to discuss.

America’s Obesity Crisis: Dr. Explains Problem Plaguing 75% of U.S. Adults

18m 10s

A new Biden proposal for coverage of obesity drugs by Medicare and Medicaid coincides with a report finding that 75% of American adults are overweight or obese. The numbers have been trending upward since 1990. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford is an obesity medicine physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. As medications like Ozempic become household names, Stanford joins the show to discuss.

Forest Fires in the Northeast? The New Realities of Climate Change

17m 57s

As wildfires spread across North America with increasing intensity, climate policy and human habits of thought appear not to be keeping up with reality. Author John Vaillant joins Hari Sreenivasan in discussion about what the second Trump administration might mean for the global climate.

Making The Case For Trump’s Tariffs

18m 5s

From tariffs to tax cuts, President-elect Donald Trump promises he'll revitalize the United States economy. Economist Oren Cass runs the conservative think tank American Compass, which aims to emphasize the importance of family, community and industry to the nation's prosperity and liberty. Cass joins the show to discuss changing Republican fiscal policies and what he thinks of Trump's plans.

Reagan Insider Peggy Noonan on Trump, COVID-19 and Masculinity

18m 9s

Donald Trump's return to the White House comes at a divisive time in American society and politics. Back in the 1980s, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author Peggy Noonan was President Ronald Reagan's speechwriter. Noonan reflects on the nation's evolution in her new book, "A Certain Idea of America." She discusses all this with Walter Isaacson.

Should Biden Pardon Trump’s Critics? Former G.W. Bush Official Makes the Case

18m 12s

Trump is returning to the White House as the next president and has vowed to go after political enemies — potentially threatening individuals who have spoken out against him. In an article for The Atlantic, Rosensweig argues that President Biden has an obligation to protect these people from Trump's revenge. Rosensweig joins the show from Washington.

“How Ivy League Admissions Broke America:” David Brooks Explains

17m 59s

The U.S. election has highlighted a general distrust in American institutions. Many working-class voters opted to vote Republican due in part to a belief that the Democrats are the party of the educated elite. For The Atlantic's December cover story, contributing writer David Brooks argues that the nation's top schools are trapped in an outdated system of meritocracy that needs to be redefined.

Art, Science and the Human Experience: Ken Burns on Leonardo da Vinci

18m 24s

The renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci is known the world over as the painter of the Mona Lisa. Leonardo also was an influential inventor, scientist and philosopher. Now, da Vinci is the subject of a new documentary directed by the father-daughter duo Ken and Sarah Burns. It's a fascinating exploration of da Vinci's life and achievements. The pair join the show to discuss the making of the film.

Philosopher Michael Sandel on What Trump’s Win Says About American Society

17m 42s

To make sense of the election, we must first understand the discontent that gave Donald Trump the victory. This is the theory of Harvard professor and political philosopher Michael Sandel. He joins the show to discuss the polarization that fueled Trump's campaign, and the failure of the Democrats to present themselves as the party of change.

What Will Trump’s Economic Plan Mean for American Wallets?

17m 33s

The economy was a key issue for American voters. Trump has promised to make incomes “soar” and make the cost of living come down. But economists — like Financial Times columnist Rana Foroohar — aren't convinced. She says that Trump's plans for deregulation, tax cuts and tariffs will likely bring an economic downturn. She joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the practicalities of the Trump agenda.

Trump’s Win: How a “Polluted Information Environment” Shaped the Election

18m 26s

Trump has identified certain media as the enemy, and has threatened reporters with imprisonment for coverage he doesn't like. Trump is also the first convicted felon to win the presidency and enter the White House. How did this happen? Oliver Darcy, founder of Status Media, cites the rise of non-traditional news outlets that can rapidly flood huge, targeted audiences with disinformation.

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