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

Congressional Stock Trading Under Scrutiny

18m 2s

Congressional insider trading was outlawed in 2012. But this law has not stopped members of Congress from buying and selling shares of companies affected by the legislation they write. Reporter Rebecca Ballhaus, a Pulitzer Prize winner, has reported extensively on the issue and joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the moves underway to hold lawmakers and government employees accountable.

WWII Historian Says G7 Leaders Need to Remember the Lessons

17m 31s

Hiroshima, site of the G-7 summit, remains a living reminder of the unthinkable horror of using nuclear weapons....often bandied about these days as legitimate battlefield armament. In his new book, Evan Thomas concludes the United States had no other option than to drop the atomic bombs on Japan.

Fmr. Amb. to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch on the Ukraine War

17m 23s

Marie Yovanovitch served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine after Moscow invaded Crimea. Removed from the post by President Trump, Yovanovitch later testified in his first impeachment trial about the withholding of U.S. aid from Ukraine. She joins Walter Isaacson to discuss how this war can end and why the West must not repeat the mistakes of Crimea.

Scholar Says SCOTUS Could Become a “Pointless Institution"

18m 4s

Growing numbers of Americans no longer trust the Supreme Court, and Stephen Vladeck argues that part of the reason is the rise of the so-called “shadow docket.” This refers to cases that are decided quickly, without written opinions or oral arguments. In his new book, Vladeck traces the transformation of the Supreme Court. He explains all to Hari Sreenivasan.

Mayor of El Paso: The U.S. Immigration System Is “Broken”

15m 49s

Days after the expiration of Title 42, migrant crossings at the southern U.S. border show a slight decrease, but officials are still preparing for a potential surge. The mayor of El Paso, Oscar Leeser, declared a state of emergency as the pandemic-era policy was coming to an end. He joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the situation at the border.

The Future of Jobs: The Impacts of AI, the Green Transition

17m 30s

The World Economic Forum has published its latest employment report, showing that 25% of jobs are expected to change in the next four years. With AI and automation altering the landscape, what might the future hold for workers? To discuss sectors that may expect to see the most significant change, WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi joins Hari Sreenivasan.

U.S. Surgeon General on America’s Epidemic of Loneliness

16m 36s

Even though the COVID-19 global health emergency is officially over, the U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy is warning the U.S. faces a loneliness epidemic in its wake. Vivek Murthy joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss his mission to foster a culture of human connection.

Caitlin Dickerson on the Expiration of Title 42

5m 54s

We unpack the expiration of Title 42 and the impact on those entering the U.S. illegally with journalist Caitlin Dickerson, who recently won a Pulitzer Prize for her extensive reporting on immigration.

Amb. Tai: “We’ve Got to Change Our Approach” to Trade

16m 30s

China’s foreign minister has called for stabilizing relations with the U.S., amid the possibility of a meeting to reset economic ties between the two countries later this month. Amb. Katherine Tai serves as the U.S. Trade Representative and is the child of Chinese immigrants. Tai joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the Biden administration’s approach to trade and how her heritage influences her work.

Ashlee Vance on the Race "to Put Space Within Reach”

18m 10s

Next to space, where the modern-day fight for the skies could turn science fiction into reality. It’s the tech boom that promises to take over, as private companies compete in the race to commercialize space. It’s all chronicled in Ashlee Vance’s new book "When the Heavens Went on Sale, and he joins Walter Isaacson to explain this new era of exploration.

Geoffrey Hinton Warns of the “Existential Threat” of AI

17m 54s

Geoffrey Hinton is considered the godfather of Artificial Intelligence and made headlines with his recent departure from Google. He quit to speak freely and raise awareness of the risks of AI. To dive deeper into the dangers and how to manage them, he joins Hari Sreenivasan.

Gretchen Morgenson: Private Equity Runs and Wrecks America

17m 50s

According to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gretchen Morgenson, elite Wall Street financiers are undermining the country’s economy for their own benefit. In her latest book, Morgenson traces the history of corporate takeovers and the private equity companies that cause newly acquired companies to be burdened with debt. The author speaks on the impact of all this on American workers.

Global Hunger Hits Crisis Levels: WFP's Cindy McCain

5m 43s

At the helm of the World Food Programme during this tense time is Cindy McCain, former ambassador and widow of Senator John McCain. She’s just one month into the job, and the challenges go way beyond Sudan. The number of people facing acute food insecurity worldwide has more than doubled to 345 million since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, regional conflict, and climate change.

Oklahoma’s Domestic Abuse Problem

16m 45s

In Oklahoma, new legislation is being worked out to protect women who kill their abusers in self-defense. There are currently hundreds of women in jail on murder charges, because their history of trauma and abuse wasn’t taken into account when they were sentenced. State representative Toni Hasenbeck (R) tells Michel Martin how she hopes to change that.

Sen. King on SCOTUS Ethics: “Who Will Guard the Guardians?"

18m 17s

Lawyers and lawmakers are calling on the Supreme Court to adopt a code of ethics, in light of ethical violation accusations against Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch. Now, Sen. Angus King has introduced new bipartisan legislation, The Supreme Court Code of Conduct Act. To discuss the bill and its aim -- to help restore trust in the institution -- Senator King speaks with Walter Isaacson.

Is Britain Ready for an Imperial Reckoning?

18m 8s

Soon the eyes of the world will be on Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Britain’s new king, in a ceremony meant to reflect the country’s modern and multicultural society. But behind the pomp and pageantry lies the shadow of Britain’s colonial legacy. Michel Martin talks with Sathnam Sanghera, whose book “Empireland” is an examination of Britain’s complicated past.

How Early Digital Media Led to Trump and Alt-Right

18m 17s

The social media news revolution appears to be coming to an end. Buzzfeed News, one of the first to harness the power of social media, is shutting down, while Vice Media also reportedly is preparing for bankruptcy. Ben Smith, founding editor-in-chief of Buzzfeed News, explores the history of online journalism in his new book. He joins to discuss what the past decade of digital news has shown us.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma on His Latest Profect, "Our Common Nature"

5m 58s

Can we enhance our humanity by deepening our ties with the natural world? Perhaps we can -- through music. The ever-inventive world-class cellist Yo-Yo Ma explores this union in his latest project, “Our Common Nature,” in which nature becomes his concert hall. Yo-Yo Ma joins Christiane from Chicago.

How Libraries Became a Political Battleground

18m 8s

Libraries are at the center of another polarizing debate dividing the U.S. in the ongoing culture wars. Efforts by elected officials and activist groups to censor books have escalated to levels unseen since tracking began decades ago. Librarians are now on the front lines of a battle for intellectual freedom. The President of the American Library Association speaks about the year of the book bans.

The Future of Fertility

17m 51s

Questions about having children took writer Emily Witt to the limits of reproductive research. In her latest piece for the New Yorker – “The Future of Fertility” – Witt reveals her discovery. She explains to Michel Martin how a few bio-tech start-ups could be about to change the game.

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