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

Artist Behind MLK Sculpture Responds To Critics

18m 11s

Heated debate has surrounded a new monument commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King. Unveiled in Boston earlier this month, “The Embrace” sparked backlash and even mockery. Now, artist Hank Willis Thomas is speaking out about his work, alongside the Rev. Liz Walker of Embrace Boston, the organization that funded the project. They join Michel Martin to discuss.

Reenvisioning U.S. Citizenship to Save Democracy

18m 3s

Richard Haass is proposing a way to heal internal divisions and safeguard American democracy. In his book, "The Bill of Obligations," Haass argues for reimagining what it means to be an American. A former diplomat, Haass has served under four presidents, both Democratic and Republican. He speaks with Walter Isaacson about his belief that the greatest threat to American democracy comes from within.

Delia Ephron on Her Personal Rom-com and Surviving Leukemia

17m 56s

A second chance at life is hoped for by many but granted to very few. Delia Ephron is the screenwriter behind blockbuster rom-coms like "You’ve Got Mail," directed by her sister Nora Ephron. In her new memoir, "Left on Tenth," Delia relates how her life has, at times, resembled one of these films. It’s about finding love after loss – and exploring this love during her treatment for leukemia.

LA Mayor Karen Bass on Homelessness Crisis

18m 34s

Los Angeles now has the largest homeless population in the country, overtaking New York City. Newly elected mayor Karen Bass ran on this issue, and one month into the job, she joins Michel Martin from the U.S. Conference of Mayors to discuss her plan for addressing this crisis.

“The Most Fringe Elements of the GOP Are in Control”

17m 32s

With extreme election deniers having been awarded key committee assignments this week, is there a place for pragmatic Republicans in this Congress? Charlie Sykes, conservative commentator and editor-at-large for the political website The Bulwark, joins Michel Martin to break down the current GOP landscape.

Rep. Ro Khanna: “We Made a Big Strategic Mistake”

17m 46s

The Biden administration says it will continue to cooperate with the Justice Department investigation of the president’s handling of sensitive material, after classified documents from Biden’s time as vice president were found at his former office and his home. Rep. Ro Khanna on this and his recent Foreign Affairs article on how the U.S. can regain its status as a manufacturing superpower.

Bernie Madoff Was “A Financial Serial Killer”

17m 52s

The $20 billion Ponzi scheme orchestrated by the infamous – and now deceased – Bernie Madoff was the largest financial fraud in history. Oscar-nominated director Joe Berlinger has turned his cameras on the crime that shook America. New details and never-before-seen footage are revealed in Berlinger's new Netflix documentary, "Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street."

Is Expediting Ukrainian Refugees' Migration Fair to Others?

17m 42s

“Uniting for Ukraine” is a private refugee sponsorship program created by the Biden administration in response to Putin’s war. It bypasses the conventional admission system, allowing refugees to be settled within weeks. George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin has sponsored Ukrainian refugees under this program.

Long COVID Doctor: “We Don’t Know What We’re Dealing With”

17m 1s

China’s reversal on its Zero COVID Policy has produced a wave of infection that has overwhelmed many hospitals. Symptoms can persist beyond the initial infection, lasting for weeks, months, or even years. Dr. Francesca Beaudoin, director of the Long COVID Initiative at Brown University, joins Hari Sreenivasan to explain why the disease is so difficult to diagnose.

Buttigieg on FAA and Southwest Meltdowns

16m 58s

In the year since President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill was signed into law, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has awarded several billion dollars to local projects across the country. To break down the progress of this law, and to discuss the pressures on the travel sector, the Secretary speaks with Walter Isaacson.

Fmr. NFL Player on Damar Hamlin and the Violence of Football

17m 5s

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin was discharged from hospital today. His collapse and cardiac arrest on the football field last week underlined concerns about player safety in the NFL. Nate Jackson played for the Denver Broncos for five years before injury ended his career in 2009. Jackson has spent his retirement raising awareness of the dangers of the game.

New Congress “A Feud Between Two Very Extreme GOP Groups”

16m 28s

Just two years after the pro-Trump insurrection that shook American democracy to its core, Congress is finally getting down to business after a chaotic scramble to elect a speaker. For a look at the root cause of the events that unfolded in the House over the past week, Michel Martin talks with Susan Glasser, co-author of "The Divider: Trump in the White House."

Fmr. Pres. of the NAACP Ben Jealous on Reconciling America

17m 52s

Ben Jealous has worn many hats -- scholar, philanthropist, former president of the NAACP, and even a former Democratic nominee for governor of Maryland. Now, the New York Times bestselling author has a new memoir set for release tomorrow. To discuss this and his journey navigating life as a biracial man in America, Jealous speaks with Walter Isaacson.

Top 10 Global Political Risks in 2023

18m 12s

Putin’s war in Ukraine is not the only global political risk looming over 2023. A series of international challenges lie ahead as China u-turns on its zero-COVID policy amid continuing protests in Iran. Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, tells Walter Isaacson what to expect on the world stage this year.

Racing to Photograph Glaciers Before They’re Gone

18m 8s

An unseasonably warm winter is shattering records in Europe, forcing many ski resorts to close.Temperatures in the new year are already several degrees higher than usual, and 2022 has been declared the hottest year on record by France, Spain, Ireland and the UK. Garrett Fisher is an ordinary man who has been flying around in a tiny plane, photographing rapidly disappearing glaciers.

The Complex Life of J. Edgar Hoover

18m 3s

J. Edgar Hoover held the FBI in an iron grip during nearly 50 years as its director. Once popular, Hoover left behind a troubling legacy. Yale historian Beverly Gage examines his dominance over the agency in a major new biography. She speaks with Michel Martin about the man, his career, and his lasting influence.

"Stolen Focus:" Are You Having Trouble Paying Attention?

17m 51s

How long can you focus on a thought – or anything – without being interrupted by your flashing phone? With a powerful distraction inches away, many people find their ability to focus has dwindled to a matter of minutes, according to our next guest. New York Times bestselling author Johann Hari explores the importance of attention and how it has been “stolen” in his latest book.

From Musk to Crypto to Meta, a Look at the Top Tech Stories

17m 31s

From Elon Musk’s Twitter to Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, many tech giants have recently laid of thousands of employees. Deputy editor of The Verge Alex Heath joins Hari Sreenivasan for a year-end conversation about 2022 in tech.

Senator Chris Murphy on “The Politics of Loneliness”

18m 11s

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, is pushing to reform America’s election laws to prevent another January 6th, and is also backing legislation to confront the epidemic of gun violence. He speaks with Walter Isaacson about why he believes more Republicans are now willing to cross the aisle to get things done.

Law Prof Discusses the Ethics of Involuntary Hospitalization

17m 35s

Professor Elyn Saks has dedicated her career to how people with mental illness are cared for, focusing on the important ethical issues surrounding their treatment. Saks speaks with Michel Martin about this, her own struggles with schizophrenia, and how best to help others.

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