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.

This month, the New Orleans jazz legend and patriarch Ellis Marsalis died at age 85 after contracting coronavirus. In a heartfelt conversation about grief and the healing power of music, Walter Isaacson speaks with Ellis’ son Wynton – a jazz legend in his own right – about losing his father, what he thinks Ellis’ legacy will be and how jazz can help us all right now.

Few know more about infectious diseases than Dr. Dennis Carroll. He directed the Pandemic Influenza and Emerging Threats Unit at USAID for 15 years. During that time, he helped identify more than 2,000 animal viruses that can make humans sick. He also featured in the hit Netflix series "Pandemic," which predicted an outbreak well before COVID-19 spread around the world.

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is renewing his call for a coordinated global effort against the pandemic and its aftershocks.

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson recovers from COVID-19, his absence from Downing Street coincides with a harsh attack on his initial response to the virus. A bombshell investigation by the London Sunday Times reveals that Mr. Johnson missed the first five emergency cabinet meetings when the disease was first beginning to spread. The country's former Health Minister joins the program to discuss.

Over 1.5 billion children and youth remain out of school worldwide. Former U.S. Secretary of Education John King says that this will represent a lasting impact of the pandemic. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to talk about the challenges faced by some 50 million American students--and to share how a place of learning became a shelter when tragedy hit his home.

As we learn more about the coronavirus, we’re also discovering who’s being hit hardest. Early stats show that men are at least 50% more likely to die from the disease than women. Continuing a conversation interrupted last week by technical difficulties, Christiane speaks with physician and author Dr. Sharon Moalem.

Anti-lockdown demonstrators took to the streets across America this weekend. Protesters in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Washington, and other states demanded governors reopen their frozen economies. It’s a sign of the times, as coronavirus becomes part of the fabric of President Trump’s re-election campaign. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) joins Christiane to discuss the situation.

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan has been personally affected by coronavirus: in March, the virus caused the death of her brother. She tells Michel Martin how Native Americans -– like Hispanic and African American communities -– are being disproportionately hit by this crisis.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that this year the global economy will experience its worst recession since the Great Depression. The IMF’s Managing Director joins the program to assess the world’s economic outlook and discuss whether there is cause for hope.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber’s world famous musicals, including “Phantom of the Opera," were playing on stages the world over before the pandemic brought down the curtain. Now they’re streaming online each Friday as free lockdown entertainment. Lloyd Webber joins the program to discuss his efforts to keep art alive in these challenging times.

Economic fears, health anxieties and relationships –- all generate pressure, piling onto people who are trapped indoors. For advice on how to deal with it all, Christiane turns to one of the most widely recognized relationship gurus, Esther Perel. The psychotherapist has been talking to couples under lockdown for her podcast, “Where Should We Begin?,” and offers advice for this trying time.

Sheila Bair was formerly the chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the agency designed to make banking safer for consumers – indeed, she was once called “the little guy’s protector in chief.” Bair joins Sheelah Kolhatkar to discuss how not to repeat the mistakes of the 2008 bailout.

Historian Archie Brown wants to debunk the theory that the West won the Cold War through military and economic might. In his book "The Human Factor," Brown argues that success was really rooted in stellar leadership that seized the day and changed the course of history. He dwells on three strong characters at the center of this drama: Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher.

In Germany, despite a high number of coronavirus cases, the death rate is notably low, and now the government plans to ease the lockdown and re-open some schools in early May. So what is Germany doing right? Christiane speaks with the country's Health Minister to find out.

If there is a silver lining in the coronavirus pandemic, it’s this: the economic shutdown is bringing temporary relief from air and water pollution. Could this be the harbinger of a low-carbon future? Or could economic and political pressure turn back the clock on climate regulation? Renowned climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe joins the program.

President Trump is facing an avalanche of criticism over his decision to halt funding for the World Health Organization, the UN body directing the global fight against COVID-19. To discuss the ramifications of the president’s decision, Christiane speaks with WHO adviser and author of “Hacking Darwin,” Jamie Metzl.

The Democratic Party is uniting around Joe Biden as its nominee for the presidential election, with Senator Elizabeth Warren joining President Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders today in endorsing the former vice president. But will this unity be enough? Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, joins the show to discuss.