Amanpour and Company

News and Public Affairs Series / 3 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

This Altadena Resident Watched His Community Go Up in Flames

18m 1s

In California, firefighters are slowly gaining control of the wildfires that have been raging since last Tuesday. Officials say the cleanup and rehabilitation process could take from three to six months. Kevin Williams is a long-time resident of Altadena, one of the areas hardest hit by the fires. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to tell his story and the story of the diverse community residing there.

Blinken and Amanpour Discuss Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal

6m 3s

A ceasefire-hostage release agreement has been reached by the Israeli government and Hamas. This deal has been a long time coming for hostage families in Israel as well as for Palestinians in Gaza, who have been under assault for more than a year. Christiane discussed the breakthrough with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking him what exactly the ceasefire means.

The Cost of the LA Fires: Will Insurance Cover the Devastation?

16m 48s

As Californians lose their homes and their livelihoods, finances will become a crucial issue for many people needing to rebuild and carry on. Bloomberg Business reporter Leslie Kaufman says this is an "existential test" for the state's insurance system. She tells Hari Sreenivasan what it might mean for Americans as we face a future of increasingly extreme weather events.

“Porcelain War:” Ukrainian Artists on Living, Fighting and Creating Amid War

18m 11s

The acclaimed documentary "Porcelain War" has reached the Oscar shortlist. It follows the Kharkiv-based artists Slava Leontyev and Anya Stasenko, who craft delicate porcelain figurines even amid the raging war Russia has inflicted on their homeland. Slava Leontyev — who co-directed the documentary — and filmmaker Brendan Bellomo discuss why they believe that art is vital to Ukrainian resistance.

Palantir Co-Founder Joe Lonsdale on Trump, Musk, and a New Vision for America

16m 51s

There has been a lot of discussion over how Silicon Valley has gone all in for Trump 2.0, by contrast with the distancing maintained by tech entrepreneurs during Trump's first term. It's not just Elon Musk. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg also has made the pilgrimage and has announced an end to content checking on his platform. Joe Lonsdale, a billionaire Silicon Valley investor, joins the show to discuss.

Pres. Jimmy Carter’s Biographer: “He Was A Prophet in the Wilderness”

16m 56s

Kai Bird is remembered for his Robert Oppenheimer biography, which was adapted into the Oscar-winning film "Oppenheimer." The author's Jimmy Carter biography, "The Outlier," follows the late President’s upbringing in the post-Civil War South and how it shaped his views on race and politics.

How Healthcare Woes Forced One of New York’s Top Restaurants to Close

17m 44s

Sommelier Yannick Benjamin recently poured wine for the last time at his celebrated New York restaurant Contento. In an opinion piece for The New York Times, Benjamin describes how inflation and unaffordable private health insurance brought about the restaurant's closure. He speaks to Michel Martin about the many hospitality workers across the country facing a similar plight.

Terrorism in New Orleans and the Threat of a Rebounding ISIS

18m 19s

A recent spate of activity by ISIS has caused Bruce Hoffman, Council on Foreign Relations' Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, to call 2024 the year of ISIS's "resurrection." The FBI has now confirmed that the suspect in the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans was inspired by the terror group. Hoffman joins the show to discuss.

Fmr Capitol Police Officer on Trump & Jan 6: “There’s Been No Accountability”

17m 14s

Today, as Trump's election victory is certified, the violent scenes that rocked Washington, D.C. four years ago still haunt many who defended the Capitol — and democracy — that day. These include former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who is now a prominent political advocate. Dunn joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss Trump's return to the White House.

The Rise of Crypto and What Donald Trump Has to Do with It

17m 40s

The influence of President-elect Donald Trump is already being felt in Washington, D.C. Charlie Warzel, a staff writer at The Atlantic, has covered the blockchain industry for years. Warzel believes that Trump's influence also is shaping the cryptocurrency arena. He joins the show to discuss the role of digital currency in an anti-establishment culture.

Nobel Prize-Winning Economist Paul Krugman on Retiring from NYT

18m 3s

After 25 years of sharp and often indispensable commentary on major issues shaping America and the world, economist and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman joins the show to discuss his final column for The New York Times. Krugman says he sees an erosion of optimism due to a collapse in trust of elites and institutions. The columnist sits down with Michel Martin for a fascinating look back.

What’s Behind the Lionization of Luigi Mangione?

18m 9s

United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead in New York earlier this month. After a six-day manhunt a suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was taken into custody and was charged with murder as an act of terrorism. The internet has meanwhile been buzzing with divisive conversations about the murder and what it says about America’s healthcare system. Jia Tolentino joins the show to discuss.

Homemade & Virtually Untraceable: The Rise of Ghost Guns

17m 21s

Wisconsin is recovering from a school shooting that killed three people. Another issue on the rise is so-called “ghost guns,” homemade, untraceable guns without serial numbers. The NYPD is investigating the possible use of a ghost gun in the murder of the United Healthcare CEO. Kris Brown, President of the nonprofit Brady, lays out an argument for balancing Second Amendment rights with gun reform.

Secretary of Energy on Whether Biden’s Climate Legacy Will Survive Trump

18m 18s

In the U.S., an incoming Trump administration raises concerns about the climate and clean energy. But Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is more optimistic. She joins the show to discuss significant advances under Biden, and how this progress might survive the transition of power.

Are We Ready for the AI Revolution? Fmr. Google CEO Eric Schmidt Says No

18m 12s

With the approach of a new year, and the prospect of accelerating technological advancement, all eyes are on AI. The new best-selling book "Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope and the Human Spirit" is putting the new tech under the microscope, taking a good look at how it could help us, and how we might stop it from hurting us. Co-author and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt joins the show.

Syrian Artist Mohamad Hafez on Art, Exile and the Fall of Assad

18m 12s

Artist Mohamad Hafez creates replicas of Damascus, capturing the beauty and spirit of the city in intricate 3D models. Having lived in the U.S. since 2003, Hafez has channeled his homesickness and anguish over Syria's devastating civil war into his work. Now, with Bashar Al-Assad gone, Hafez joins the show to share his hopes for this moment, and to talk about how his art has helped him to adjust.

SCOTUS and the Trans Rights Healthcare Case: Why It Matters

17m 19s

This week the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case from Tennessee concerning medical care for transgender minors. Masha Gessen, opinion columnist for the New York Times, listened to the oral arguments. They talk with Michel Martin about the salient issues.

Why Are FBI Checks on Trump Nominees Necessary? Fmr. Senate Counsels Explain

18m 13s

More than 75 Nobel laureates are urging Trump to ditch RFK Jr. as his choice for HHS Secretary. As Trump's picks get more pushback, his team has signaled that they are willing to go it alone and bypass the vetting process. Two former Counsels to the Senate Judiciary Committee -- Gregg Nunziata and Noah Bookbinder -- explain why the Senate confirmation process and FBI checks are essential.

Syrian Journalist Discusses What Led to the Rebel Takeover in Syria

5m 23s

Rebels swept into the capital city of Syria, at lightning speed and ended a half-century of oppressive rule by the Assad family. The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin has personally granted former dictator Bashar Assad safe haven in Russia. Rami Jarrah has reported for years on the human toll of violence in his country, often -- for his safety -- under a pseudonym. He joins Christiane today from Berlin.

20 Years Later, New Documentary Looks at Deadliest Tsunami in History

15m 30s

It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern times. Some 20 years ago a massive tsunami in southern Asia, triggered by a 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia, killed more than 200,000 people in 14 countries. A new documentary, "Tsunami: Race Against Time,” looks back at that devastating day -- December 20, 2004 -- with never-before-seen footage.

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