Some of the world’s most vulnerable people are paying the price in a bust-up between the European Union and Belarus. Migrants are reportedly being “weaponized” by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko as retaliation against EU sanctions. It’s led to a sharp and deadly rise in migrant crossings into Poland, Latvia and Lithuania over the summer. MMargaritis Schinas joins the program to discuss.

Venture capitalist Peter Thiel had a hand in the success of many of the most profitable tech companies around today, from Facebook to SpaceX. He’s also on a quest to live forever, investing millions in life extension research. Max Chafkin’s new biography lays bare all this and more, and he speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about the man behind the money.

For the first time since June, the number of projected COVID-19 deaths is dropping in the U.S. This as the CDC predicts hospitalizations will also decrease – but there’s no time to rest, according to Ed Yong, science and health writer for The Atlantic. He warns in his latest piece that “we’re already barreling toward the next pandemic,” and the time to prepare for it is now.

The hit Netflix comedy Sex Education finds laughs and drama in all manner of human intimacy and its third season just released. The show, set in a British high school, takes a deep and nuanced look at shame, empowerment, desire, and identity. Its creator is Laurie Nunn and she joins the show from Wales.

Among the nine Americans privileged with a seat on America’s highest court is Stephen Breyer, appointed in 1994 by Bill Clinton. Since the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, progressives have pushed for him to retire during the Biden presidency, but so far he has not revealed his plans. In a rare interview, Justice Breyer speaks with Christiane about his new book and more.

Colson Whitehead is renowned for such novels as "The Underground Railroad" and "The Nickel Boys." Critics are now praising his new book, "Harlem Shuffle" -- the tale of a furniture salesman contending with heists and double crosses in 1960s New York. Whitehead has twice been honored with the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction -- for consecutive novels -- and joins the show from New York.

The nation's top military leaders are in their second day of testimony before Congress about the withdrawal from Afghanistan. General Mark Milley has revealed that President Trump originally ordered the withdrawal of all American troops by January 15, before walking that decision back some days later. As all this unfolds, the legendary reporter Bob Woodward speaks with Walter Isaacson.

Ten days after 9/11, Rais Bhuiyan was shot at point blank range by a white supremacist while he was at work. The near-death experience inspired him to set up World Without Hate, dedicated to breaking the cycles of violence – he even campaigned to save his attacker from death row, as he explains to Michel Martin.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified today before the Senate on the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, with Gen. Milley also being asked about reports he told the Chinese he would warn them if then-President Trump was about to launch a war against them. Military historian Richard Kohn joins Christiane to discuss the testimony.

Anita Hill has dedicated her life to tackling gender violence, after coming to national prominence 30 years ago with her testimony that then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her. She joins Christiane to discuss her new book "Believing: Our Thirty Year Journey to End Gender Violence."

Despite pleas from the World Health Organization, the U.S., the U.K. and other wealthy nations are moving forward with COVID-19 booster shots. In America, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed the recommendation by outside advisers to offer boosters to people over 65 and with underlying conditions – but in a rare step, she broke with the panel and decided also to include frontline workers.

Democrats have three days to fund the government or face a shutdown. Moreover, President Biden’s economic agenda faces crucial votes this week in the House and the Senate. These bills face organized opposition from lobbyists and dark money campaigns. For a look at how dollars can damage democracy, Christiane speaks with The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer.

In Germany, the center-left Social Democrats have scored a slim victory in the race to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor. Her more conservative party suffered its worst defeat in decades. But Germans likely won’t be saying “auf wiedersehen” to Merkel any time soon: negotiations to form a new government could take weeks, if not months, leaving her in charge in a caretaker capacity until then.

As the pandemic continues, the role of misinformation and disinformation in perpetuating the spread of COVID-19 is of increasing concern. Neal Mohan, YouTube's chief product officer, is in charge of combating this issue on the platform. He speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about striking the balance between free speech and dangerous lies.

In New York this week, climate change has been the primary focus at the U.N. General Assembly. The U.N. Secretary General said the world is “light-years away from reaching our targets,” while Britain's prime minister called for world leaders to step up and take responsibility. Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe joins Christiane to discuss what's at stake.

Angela Merkel’s nearly 16 years as chancellor of Germany are coming to an end. She has led her country through four U.S. presidencies -- George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and now Joe Biden – and multiple global crises. How will history remember her time in power? And whom will Germans turn to now? Journalist Katrin Bennhold joins the show from Berlin to discuss.

As climate change, COVID-19, and migration crises hit the Americas, Colombia’s outgoing president finds himself defending his legacy. Having campaigned on economic growth, Iván Duque saw his country’s economy and employment hit hard by the pandemic. Meanwhile, a surge of migrants from Haiti and Venezuela are seeking refuge in Colombia. President Duque joins Christiane to discuss.

Kathryn Sherman has seen the story unfold in front of her eyes, working as a critical care nurse in Tennessee -- the state with the most COVID-19 cases per capita. In a piece for The Scientific American, Sherman wrote that “the patients don’t stop coming.” She speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about her experience caring for the sickest coronavirus patients.

President Biden’s multitrillion-dollar agenda is now in doubt as the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party clash. At stake is a bipartisan infrastructure bill plus a spending package covering everything from climate to healthcare. Bianna speaks about this with former Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala and economist Betsey Stevenson.

“Only socialism can save China.” These were the words of Chinese leader Xi Jinping when the country’s Communist Party celebrated its centennial this summer. It’s now becoming clear that this vision is accompanied by a crackdown on the private sector and an effort to redistribute wealth. Lingling Wei has covered all this for The Wall Street Journal and joins the show to explain what's happening.