In March, Eric Ripert -- co-owner and executive chef of New York's prestigious Le Bernardin restaurant -- laid off his entire team. Since then, he's been helping City Harvest, a nonprofit organization feeding those in need. Though the future is uncertain, he tells Michel Martin that he is optimistic his restaurant will serve diners again.

This week, the U.S. government reopened the pipeline for small business loans, but there are reports of delays and problems with the approval process. Heidi Heitkamp, a businesswoman and former senator, joins today's program from conservative North Dakota, where she has had years of experience working with rural communities and local businesses.

Many countries' coronavirus stories have attracted little attention -- one such example being Barbados. The Caribbean island, a favorite vacation spot, is suffering acutely due to the sudden cessation of global tourism. Prime Minister Mia Mottley speaks frankly about the dangers facing Barbados "due to its small size and vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks."

Dr. Richard Levitan, an airway specialist who has practiced emergency medicine for over 30 years, is well aware of the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the virus began to overwhelm New York City at the end of March, he rushed from his home in New Hampshire to volunteer at Bellevue Hospital. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to explain what he learned on the front lines.

Despite the very real financial pain, polls find that most people don’t want economies to open up unless COVID-19 is under control--but also that a huge majority of Americans fear the crisis will trigger economic collapse. To discuss this dilemma, Christiane is joined by Tim Phillips, who heads up the powerful Koch Family’s conservative advocacy group “Americans for Prosperity."

For most Americans, Dr. Anthony Fauci has become the face of the pandemic-- a regular presence at White House briefings. Michael Specter knows Fauci well, having reported on his work for more than three decades, and he joins the program to discuss the doctor’s career and his leadership during this pandemic.

Bill Frist has worked as both a surgeon and the former Senate Majority Leader. He raised the alarm about preparing for pandemics 15 years ago. As Majority Leader, he helped pass PEPFAR, the Bush administration’s landmark emergency plan for AIDS relief that provided more than $80 billion in funding for HIV treatment. Frist speaks with Michel Martin about President Trump's approach to COVID-19.

Imagine writing a novel about a deadly new virus that emerges in Asia and spreads worldwide – only to then watch it all come true. That’s what happened to renowned journalist and author Lawrence Wright, whose new novel "The End of October" follows an epidemiologist for the World Health Organization in his quest to stop a pandemic. Wright joins the program to talk about his prophetic imagination.

We all know Kevin Bacon from his popular roles in Hollywood hits like "Footloose," "A Few Good Men" and "Apollo 13." Now, he’s using his platform to help our hard-working healthcare forces through his charity SixDegrees.org. Through his name and his connections, Bacon is spreading the primary message of the age: Stay home.

Christiane speaks with Dr. Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, the renowned medical journal that published the first paper on COVID-19 back in January, about what the UK got wrong and where it goes from here.

A pioneering mathematician and geneticist, Eric Lander helped lead the Human Genome Project, and now--in just two weeks--he has transformed the renowned MIT and Harvard Biomedical Research Lab into a mass testing facility. Lander explains to Walter Isaacson exactly what it will take to scale up the essential testing that will enable our exiting severe pandemic restrictions.

A new documentary on Netflix called "Crip Camp" looks at an historic summer camp for the disabled community that launched a generation of activists. It’s the latest film from the Obamas’ production company, and the co-directors join the show to discuss.

While many are suffering from the economic and health devastation caused by COVID-19, some governments are taking the opportunity to grab more power, undermining fragile democracies. To assess the rise of autocracy under COVID-19, Christiane speaks with David Rohde, whose new book examines the possible existence of a shadow government in the U.S.--alongside historian and journalist Anne Applebaum.

The black community has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 – so much so that the U.S. Surgeon General is urging African Americans to adopt healthier habits. But former state legislator Bakari Sellers says it’s not that simple. He tells Michel what he thinks the Surgeon General got wrong and discusses his new memoir about growing up in South Carolina during the civil rights movement.

In times of crisis, we often turn to culture for comfort – getting lost in a museum or visiting a place of beauty. It’s harder these days: Spain’s Alhambra, India’s Taj Mahal, the UK’s Blenheim Palace, Yellowstone National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are closed during the pandemic. How can our cultural life continue to flourish? Christiane is joined by the head of UNESCO to discuss.

Jonathan Van Ness is part of the Fab Five on the hit Netflix show "Queer Eye." More recently, he has also spoken out about living with HIV and being a recovering addict and survivor of sexual abuse. He joins the show from Austin, Texas to discuss grooming tips and coping strategies under lockdown.

Former Israeli political rivals rivals Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz have agreed to form a national emergency government whereby Prime Minister Netanyahu – who has been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust – remains in charge for 18 months. Ofer Shelah was part of Gantz’s Blue and White Party and now heads up the Israeli Knesset’s committee to tackle coronavirus.

Madeleine Albright once called America the “indispensable nation” when it comes to leading global action. As the first female U.S. Secretary of State, Albright spent her career using American diplomacy to solve international crises. Walter Isaacson speaks with the former diplomat about the urgent need for a return to that model and her new book "Hell and Other Destinations: A 21st Century Memoir."

Last year, when Jay Inslee competed for the Democratic nomination for president, he placed climate change at the heart of his campaign. As governor of Washington State he also saw the first cases of coronavirus in America. He joins the program to discuss the twin threats of COVID-19 and the climate crisis.

Earth Day usually brings people together. But today, on its 50th anniversary, worldwide lockdowns mean the holiday is being celebrated at a distance. Naturalist Sir David Attenborough joins Christiane from his home to reflect on the wonder and fragility of our planet.