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

Clint Smith on His New Poetry Collection "Above Ground"

13m 8s

A new book of poetry explores the complexity of parenthood. In "Above Ground," author Clint Smith, staff writer at The Atlantic, examines the emotional ups and down of raising a family in today’s world. He speaks with Michel Martin about documenting his fatherhood experience through his poetry.

Inside the Pentagon Leak

17m 58s

Jack Teixeira, a low-ranking 21-year-old National Guardsman, is facing charges over the most significant leak of U.S. military secrets in a decade. The Pentagon is in damage-control mode, calling the leak a “deliberate criminal act.” Among the reporters who first broke the story is Shane Harris of The Washington Post. He explains to Walter Isaacson how he helped track down the suspect.

The Moon, Mars, and Beyond: Nicola Fox's Big Plans for NASA

17m 29s

NASA is using AI to sift through years of data, finding connections that would be impossible for a human to detect. Our next guest is in charge of exploring those secrets. Dr. Nicola Fox is NASA’s newly named associate administrator for the space agency’s science mission directorate, and she joins Walter Isaacson to discuss future space missions – including the recent Artemis II crew announcement.

David Axelrod on Chicago’s Progressive Mayor Victory

18m 15s

In a noteworthy week for the Windy City, Biden and his party have picked Chicago to host the 2024 DNC Convention. The city also has elected a new mayor. Brandon Johnson campaigned against racial and economic disparities, winning by a margin of fewer than 20,000 votes. He inherits a city struggling with soaring crime rates. David Axelrod discusses Johnson’s victory and the many challenges ahead.

"The People's Hospital:" Can Healthcare For All Work?

17m 56s

Millions of Americans are uninsured and unable to pay for medical help. Dr. Ricardo Nuila works at a Texas hospital where cost is secondary to care. In his new book, Nuila chronicles the lives of five patients facing financial barriers who turned to him for help. Dr. Nuila joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss what America needs to do to fix its healthcare crisis.

Why Are Teachers Quitting?

17m 51s

Staffing shortages, burnout, funding cuts, and debates over the curriculum are adding to the pressures on America's educators. In her new book, bestselling author Alexandra Robbins followed three teachers to see how these issues are changing the way they work. Robbins joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the state of teaching.

Expert Analysis of the Trump Arraignment

6m 9s

History is made as Donald Trump is placed under arrest and arraigned in Manhattan. The first former president to face criminal charges, Trump also is the current front runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. The 34 charges against him are now out in the open as the indictment is unsealed, with Trump pleading not guilty to all of them.

“I am Debra Lee:” Former BET CEO on Shaping Black Culture

16m 24s

Debra Lee, known as the godmother of Black entertainment, was a pioneering leadership figure as former CEO of Black Entertainment Television. In her new memoir, Lee reflects on her time at BET and what it means to be a cultural symbol. She explains all to Michel Martin.

Matthew Desmond on America’s Poverty Crisis

17m 4s

The U.S. -- the richest country in the world -- has a higher rate of poverty than any other advanced democracy. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond examines the dire situation in his new book, and he joins Michel Martin to explain why the problem persists. Their conversation is part of Chasing the Dream, our going initiative about poverty, jobs, and economic opportunity in America.

Rep. Maxwell Frost: Florida Govt. Abusing Its Powers

18m 24s

Democrat Maxwell Frost made history in 2022 when he became the first person from Generation Z to win a seat in Congress. Formerly one of the leaders of the March for Our Lives movement, he speaks with Michel Martin about this and the recent shooting in Nashville.

Fmr US Amb to Israel: Judicial Reform Compromise “Difficult"

18m 14s

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, having paused his controversial plan to overhaul Israel’s independent judiciary, claims the country will overcome what he calls a “great debate.” Protesters are still gathering, with the bills set to return to parliament next month if no compromise is reached. Former U.S. ambassador Martin Indyk discusses what's at stake.

Michael Specter on "Higher Animals" & the Biotech Revolution

18m 1s

The COVID-19 vaccine was made possible by breakthrough MRNA technology -- just one development in an ongoing scientific revolution. New Yorker writer Michael Specter is the author of a new audiobook, "Higher Animals: Vaccines, Synthetic Biology, and the Future of Life." He speaks with Walter Isaacson about the possibilities and the risks of these latest scientific breakthroughs.

Financial Expert on the Collapse of SVB and Credit Suisse

17m 57s

Banking stocks were hammered again this week by anxiety we haven’t seen since the 2008 global financial crisis. Confidence has crumbled since the collapse of two regional U.S. banks, resulting in last-minute emergency measures to bail out Credit Suisse. The Federal Reserve nudged interest rates higher on Wednesday, calling the situation "uncertain." Walter Isaacson speaks with William Cohan.

Fmr. Google CEO Eric Schmidt on the AI Revolution

17m 52s

Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. How it is being applied—and, perhaps more importantly, regulated—are now the crucial questions to ask. Walter Isaacson speaks with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt about A.I.’s impact on life, politics, and warfare, as well as what can be done to keep it under control.

Over 400 Anti-LGBTQ Bills Proposed in 2023

18m 21s

In Uganda, the parliament applauded passage of a bill making it illegal to identify as LGBTQ. In the U.S., the Georgia legislature just passed the latest in a string of anti-trans bills. Imara Jones is the founder of TransLash Media, an independent news site focusing on transgender issues. She breaks down what’s behind the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ laws across America and around the world.

Sarah McCammon on Reproductive Rights in the U.S.

16m 41s

Any day now, a judge is going to decide whether an abortion pill which has been approved for years should be outlawed in America. If it is, critics say 40 million women would lose access to the drug mifepristone. NPR reporter Sarah McCammon joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the fate of reproductive rights in America.

Did Pres. Bush’s Invasion of Iraq Pave the Way for Trump?

17m 54s

Former president Bush has never admitted his war was a mistake, but the same cannot be said for some of his former officials. Professor Melvyn Leffler raises the issues of responsibility and accountability in his new book, "Confronting Saddam Hussein: George W. Bush and the Invasion of Iraq." He discusses with Walter Isaacson.

New Research on Long COVID

17m 53s

This month marks the third anniversary since coronavirus became a global pandemic and the world went into lockdown. Millions still suffer the symptoms of Long COVID-19, a condition doctors are trying urgently to understand. In a new piece for Scientific American, neuroscientist Stephani Sutherland says, “Long COVID now looks like a neurological disease."

Over 70K Afghan Allies in U.S. Are at Risk of Deportation

18m 12s

Afghan refugees who managed to escape to the U.S. face the real prospect they may be shipped back to live under the Taliban’s thumb. The Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill to extend their stay in the U.S., is stalled in Congress. If it fails, almost 80,000 Afghan evacuees risk their freedom and their lives. Krish Vignarajah is a refugee herself and runs the Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service.

Can You Become a Master? Adam Gopnik Says Try It

17m 43s

Next we turn to the art of achieving greatness. How do the experts reach for excellence -- and attain it? The answers may be found in bestselling author Adam Gopnik’s new book, "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery," in which he studies the methods of the masters in a variety of fields -- from art and dance to magic, boxing, and even driving instruction.

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