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

Fmr. Treasury Sec. Lawrence Summers: Is a Recession Coming?

16m 52s

The public health battle against Omicron is racking up staggering costs. Inflation is gathering steam and hitting people hard with rising food, housing and gas prices. Walter Isaacson speaks with former treasury secretary Larry Summers about how to right the ship.

Fmr. Google Insider on Whistleblowers, Unions and AI Bias

17m 56s

Timnit Gebru is among the most prominent Black women working in artificial intelligence today. Formerly co-leader of Google’s ethical AI team, Gebru says she was fired after speaking out about how AI systems can reinforce social inequalities. Google, however, claims Gebru resigned. Now she is tackling the problem head-on with a new research institute that gives voice to marginalized groups.

“Paid leave is a human issue. It's not a political issue”

17m 35s

Indra Nooyi is a trailblazing businesswoman who made her name as the first female CEO of soft drink giant PepsiCo, as well as the first woman of color and immigrant to run a Fortune 500 company. Now she’s looking back at the experiences that shaped her in a new book, "My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future." She speaks about her quest to bring paid leave to the American workplace.

Cecile Richards on Roe v. Wade

17m 43s

Cecile Richards was president of Planned Parenthood and is now co-founder of Supermajority, a new organization fighting for gender equality. She speaks with Walter Isaacson about what the recent Mississippi and Texas abortion cases before the Supreme Court mean for women’s rights, the law and politics.

A Reckoning with the History of Slavery in the U.S.

17m 26s

Clint Smith is an award-winning poet and author whose work examines America’s complex relationship with race. In his latest book, "How the Word Is Passed," Smith tours the country, examining the state of America’s racial reckoning as reflected in the country's best known monuments – as he explains to Walter Isaacson.

Barton Gellman: “Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun"

17m 38s

Barton Gellman was among the journalists who predicted in 2020 that President Trump would not admit defeat if he lost the presidential election. Now, in a cover story for The Atlantic, Gellman says the former president is in an even better position to seize power. He speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about why he believes democracy will be on trial in the 2024 presidential election.

What’s Surprising Scientists About the Omicron Variant

16m 50s

As at least 57 countries confirm cases of the Omicron variant, questions surrounding the latest strain remain unanswered. Moderna Chairman and co-founder, Dr. Noubar Afeyan is at the forefront of research and scientific development in the fight against Covid. He joined Walter Isaacson to discuss Omicron and the future of vaccines.

Why Day Care in America Costs More Than College Tuition

17m 19s

Childcare in America is widely recognized to be dysfunctional. Only 40% of 3-year-olds are in preschool, compared to over 90% in countries like France, Germany, South Korea, and the UK. Bloomberg Businessweek senior writer Claire Suddath examined why this is the case in a recent piece, and she speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about her findings and what can be done.

Father of Opioid Victim: DOJ Should Prosecute the Sacklers

15m 1s

In April, America reached a record 12-month high of 100,000 deaths by drug overdose. 200 protesters rallied outside the DOJ to demand prosecution of the Sackler family. One of the attendees was Ed Bisch, who founded Relatives Against Purdue Pharma after losing his son to an Oxycontin overdose in 2001. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the opioid crisis alongside "Dopesick" author Beth Macy.

Margaret Atwood: What Does U.S. Totalitarianism Look Like?

2m 50s

Margaret Atwood is renowned around the world for her dystopian novels, including "The Handmaid’s Tale." In her latest project she takes a turn, with a focus on utopian ideals and how we might do better. It’s all part of a new online learning experience on Disco called "Practical Utopias: An Exploration of the Possible."

Robert Plant Remembers His Time Playing For Led Zeppelin

2m 21s

One of pop’s great odd couples is returning for their first tour in more than a decade. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant – aka “The Queen of Bluegrass” and “Rock’s Golden God” – are back with a new album, “Raise the Roof."

The Impact of War on Syrian Families

18m 7s

"Simple As Water" is a new documentary that follows five Syrian families attempting to navigate asylum and civil war. Academy Award-winning director Megan Mylan tells Hari Sreenivasan about the project, which examines complex family bonds in a world of uncertainty and separation.

Stopping the Climate Crisis: Doerr Calls for “Speed & Scale"

16m 7s

John Doerr is a key figure in Silicon Valley’s clean tech movement. The New York Times bestselling author has just released a new book, "Speed and Scale," offering a comprehensive plan to achieve net zero by 2050. Doerr joins Walter Isaacson to explain his solution to one of the most daunting challenges in human history.

The Untold Story of Malcolm X

17m 30s

The biography "The Dead Are Arising" sheds much-needed light on the powerful but polarizing legacy of civil rights icon Malcolm X. Tamara Payne and her late father, Les, spent 30 years working on the book, which won this year's Pulitzer Prize for biography. She joins Michel Martin to reflect on Malcolm X's gripping life story and the recent exoneration of two of his convicted assassins.

Dr. Céline Gounder: “Herd Immunity Is Off The Table”

16m 41s

The Omicron coronavirus variant has the world on edge. At least 70 countries and territories have imposed travel restrictions on African countries since South Africa alerted the world to the variant. Epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist Dr. Céline Gounder was a member of the Biden-Harris transition COVID-19 advisory board, and she joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the latest.

“Writing With Fire:” Journalists on the Front Lines in India

16m 42s

A new documentary is being hailed as “the most inspiring journalism movie – maybe ever” by The Washington Post. "Writing With Fire" follows a group of journalists from India’s most marginalized caste, the Dalits, and their fight to keep India’s only female-led news outlet operating. The filmmakers discuss the project and what it reveals about India's relentless gender and caste discrimination.

Rep. Jackie Speier: The GOP Has Elements of a Cult

18m 5s

House Democrat Jackie Speier has announced she won’t seek reelection after nearly 14 years in Congress. Back in 1978, she narrowly survived the infamous Jonestown Massacre, and she explains to Michel Martin how it was that this moment inspired her life in public service—and why she has chosen to step back.

Microsoft to "Modernist Cuisine:" A Deep Dive Into Pizza

16m 2s

Nathan Myhrvold spent 14 years climbing the ranks at Microsoft to become the company's first CTO—and then he left the tech world behind to pursue his dream of attending culinary school. He went on to found Modernist Cuisine, a research lab and publishing house exploring the cutting edge of cooking. Myhrvold discusses his latest series of books, which explore the history and science behind pizza.

Tom Morello on How You Can Change the World

17m 42s

Tom Morello is best known as the guitarist of the rock band Rage Against the Machine, but you'll find his latest work in print. He's writing a series of essays on his music and social justice for The New York Times, all while preparing to release his new album next month -- as he discusses with Hari Sreenivasan.

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