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

Expert: Biden Plan Doesn’t Fix The Student Loan Catastrophe

18m 26s

President Biden recently announced student loan debt relief for millions of Americans, attracting both praise and criticism. How did American students become so burdened with debt in the first place? Josh Mitchell is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and his new book "The Debt Trap" traces the roots and explosive growth of the $1.7 trillion student debt behemoth.

Keeping Trump from Office Won’t Stop Threat to Democracy

18m 18s

Historian Nicole Hemmer says the dissolution of the USSR created a vacuum in American politics when America emerged as the sole global superpower. Hemmer’s latest book "Partisans" focuses on the conservatives who remade U.S. politics in the 1990s. Hemmer speaks with Walter Isaacson about how that decade's politics paved the way for Donald Trump’s presidency.

Adam Entous: The Untold History of the Biden Family

16m 51s

President Biden is very much a product of his family history – but it’s a history we know little about. Investigative reporter Adam Entous has looked into the president’s ancestors in a piece for The New Yorker, and he speaks with Michel Martin about what shaped the man in the Oval Office.

Rise of the Black Quarterback: What It Means for America

18m 15s

Diversity in leadership remains a problem for football in America: a significant majority of coaches, owners and quarterbacks are white. NFL writer and columnist Jason Reid explores the history of racism in the game in his latest book. The author joins Michel Martin to elaborate on breaking these barriers.

Racially Profiled, Sentenced to Die: Who Was Chol Soo Lee?

17m 27s

A victim of racial profiling, Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee was sentenced to life in prison for a San Francisco murder he did not commit. In 1970s America, his case inspired a grassroots social justice movement within the Asian American community. A new, critically acclaimed documentary traces Lee's story and the movement that led to his release.

“I’m Glad My Mom Died:” Jennette McCurdy on Her New Memoir

17m 22s

Jennette McCurdy was a child actor in Nickelodeon shows like "iCarly" and "Sam & Cat," starring alongside Ariana Grande. In a new memoir, McCurdy opens up about her struggles with addiction and eating disorders as well as her troubled relationship with her mother. She speaks with Michel Martin about all this and why she is choosing to speak out.

Jane Mayer: The GOP “Can’t Lose” in Ohio’s State House

17m 52s

With midterm elections fast approaching, swing states are the focus across the U.S. Author and journalist Jane Mayer has long covered national and international affairs for The New Yorker. In her latest piece, Mayer investigates state house politics and the fascinating bellwether state of Ohio.

Cross-Class Friendship Key to Rising Out of Poverty

18m 3s

A new study reveals that cross-class connections are key to lifting children out of poverty. Behind the research is Raj Chetty, professor of economics at Harvard University and director of Opportunity Insights, an organization studying ways to give disadvantaged children a better chance at success. Chetty speaks with Walter Isaacson about his research and how to restore the American dream.

From 2019, David McCullough on Final Book "Pioneers"

16m 35s

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough passed away Sunday at 89. In 2019, he sat with Walter Isaacson to discuss what would be his final book, a unique experiment in the early days of our nation, and how we can return to original American ideals.

NASA Admin on Russia Leaving the ISS & China’s Space Secrecy

16m 47s

Earthly political tensions between Russia, China, and the U.S. have now overflowed into space. China is currently assembling its own space station, while Russia, having withdrawn from the ISS, plans on doing the same -- indicative of the deterioration of international cooperation in the thermosphere. NASA administrator Bill Nelson discusses the American position on space diplomacy.

Lessons for the World on Nuclear Weapons

17m 37s

77 years ago this weekend, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, snuffing out 70,000 lives in an instant and announcing the arrival of the atomic age. All these years later, the world is struggling with the legacy of the bomb’s invention. Historian Evan Thomas discusses Hiroshima and its implications with Walter Isaacson.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Remembers NBA Legend Bill Russell

17m 14s

This week the sporting world lost a hero. Bill Russell, basketball legend and civil rights activist, passed away at the age of 88. An 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, Russell was an inspiration to many, including fellow basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem speaks with Walter Isaacson about the man he called a friend, mentor, and role model.

NYC Health Chief: We Need Emergency Monkeypox Resources Now

18m 2s

The rapid spread of monkeypox has caused a state of emergency to be declared in New York, Illinois and California. New York City, according to Mayor Eric Adams, is the “epicenter of the outbreak.” New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the effects of the virus and what can be done to prevent its spread.

Summers Was Right About Inflation. What About a Recession?

16m 18s

The senate is expected to vote this week on the climate and healthcare bill known as the Inflation Reduction Act. A group of top economists has penned a letter praising the bill, saying it will lower prices for American consumers. Larry Summers agrees – and even helped convince Sen. Manchin to support it. Summers speaks discusses this bill and how to fight inflation without triggering a recession.

Dem Insider Talks John Edwards, Eliot Spitzer, Andrew Cuomo

17m 36s

Political strategist Lis Smith has worked behind the scenes in 20 political campaigns – including that of former President Barack Obama. Now she’s hoping to help young women follow in her footsteps with her new book, "Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story." In it, the author charts the ups and downs of her professional and personal journey, as she explains to Michel Martin.

COVID-19 Will Fuel Humanity’s Search For Meaning

17m 32s

With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise in the United States, health experts are predicting a winter wave. Nicholas Christakis, a professor of social and natural science at Yale University, speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about the current phase of the pandemic.

Sen. Chris Coons on Joe Manchin, Dem Breakthrough on Climate

16m 47s

Senate Democrats have reached an agreement to kickstart President Biden’s long-stalled economic agenda. Democratic Senator and close Biden ally Chris Coons played a key role in advancing the talks, and he joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the new plan and its potential to survive the congressional gauntlet.

Rep. Moulton on the New 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

17m 12s

A new initiative for suicide prevention is already changing lives. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is accessible at an easy-to-remember 3-digit dialing code: 9-8-8. The new hotline saw a 45% increase in calls and messages in its first week. Rep. Seth Moulton co-wrote the bill to change the number after revealing his own experience with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tom Nichols: Goal of Today’s GOP Is Minority Rule

17m 45s

What does it mean to be a conservative in the Trump era? Our next guest,Tom Nichols, asked this question in his latest piece for The Atlantic. With midterm elections approaching, Nichols joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the current state of the Republican Party.

Condoleezza Rice on the Record

17m 1s

Iran hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, as the two countries look to bolster relations while under strict sanctions from the West. It’s one example of how the war in Ukraine is influencing foreign policy worldwide. For more on this, Walter Isaacson speaks with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

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