Amid the pandemic, many people are having difficulty finding purpose in life -- and imagining the future. Yet these things are essential, according to New York Times columnist David Brooks. He explores these issues in his latest book, "The Second Mountain."

As the country re-opens freedom is under threat both at home and abroad. Minneapolis is burning after the tragic death of George Floyd, while on the other side of the world, protests have erupted once again in Hong Kong, after the Chinese parliament passed a new law that undermines the city’s autonomy. To discuss, Christiane speaks with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Matt Ridley is a British journalist, member of the House of Lords, and science writer whose books have sold over one million copies. His latest book explores the most effective ways of cultivating new and creative technologies in medicine and other fields. He speaks with Walter Isaacson about the fascinating history of innovation--from Post-it notes to vaccinations.

In order to combat the coronavirus pandemic, it is crucial to test and track the virus, and to warn citizens who may be infected to self-isolate. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is donating $10 million to this effort. His close aide and former presidential campaign manager Kevin Sheekey joins the show to discuss.

Martha McSally, junior senator in the swing state of Arizona, faces a tough re-election battle in November against former astronaut Mark Kelly. She joins the program to discuss the space launch that was scheduled for today, politics, and her new book, “Dare to Fly,” about her time as America’s first female fighter pilot to see active duty.

French street artist JR, known for giant photographs of faces in urban centers, has taken the art world by storm. "Chronicles," his first major exhibition in the U.S., featured two decades of his work at the Brooklyn Museum. He tells Hari Sreenivasan how he is finding inspiration in the time of the pandemic.

A new documentary airs on HBO Max. "On the Record" chronicles allegations of sexual assault against hip hop mogul Russell Simmons by former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon -- charges Simmons denies. At the heart of the documentary are harsh realities of the music world and the black community, and prejudice against black women within the #MeToo movement.

The UK government's missteps came into focus this week thanks to Dominic Cummings, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s closest adviser, who admitted to driving 300 miles to his family farm knowing his wife had COVID-19 symptoms. Cummings refuses to apologize. Is there one set of rules for the people, another for the elite? The New York Times' Mark Landler and former Conservative MP Anna Soubry discuss.

If you’re on a waiting list for an elite top tier university, you might be getting a call this year. That’s the prediction from NYU professor Scott Galloway. He’s the host of a new show on Vice called “No Mercy, No Malice,” which pulls back the curtain on the decisions and players driving America’s economy. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to explain why this might be a good chance to take a gap year.

On Memorial Day, President Trump continues to court controversy: taking and defending unproven anti-malarial drugs, refusing to wear a mask, and choosing to be seen playing golf on a weekend that sees the number of coronavirus deaths in the United States approach 100,000. To analyze the president’s thinking, Christiane speaks with Trump biographer Michael D’Antonio and Trump adviser David Urban.

In her new novel "Rodham," author Curtis Sittenfeld imagines a counterfactual history in which Hillary Rodham never marries Bill Clinton, instead pursuing her career -- and eventually runs for president. Sittenfeld joins the program to discuss this intriguing "what-if."

Over the past few months we have seen people of color disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. A report reveals that the COVID-19 mortality rate for black Americans is almost two and a half times higher than the rate for white Americans. Dr. Helene Gayle, the former director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, joins Michel Martin to discuss the root causes of this.

Among the hundreds of thousands who have died from the coronavirus are music world luminaries Alan Merrill, Ellis Marsalis, and sax legend Manu Dibango -- whose passing deeply affected his good friend Angélique Kidjo. It moved her to give Miriam Makeba’s famous South African hit “Pata Pata” a COVID-themed rewrite. She joins the program to talk about the song -- and her friend.

As America reels from the pandemic, the vote in November appears all the more pivotal, pitting as it does Trump against Biden – candidates with vastly different visions for the future. With six months to go, what is the current state of the race? Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report and host of “The Takeaway," joins the show to discuss.

This is a time of stress -- the world over. In New York, the U.S. city worst hit by the pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo is trying to get citizens to open up about their mental health with the “How Are You Really?” campaign. Professor Jack Saul, psychologist and author of “Collective Trauma, Collective Healing," joins the show from New York to discuss treating trauma on a massive scale.

The pandemic has prompted many to reflect on how the world works and, importantly, for whom it works. This is at the heart of a new program on Vice TV called “Seat at the Table,” hosted by best-selling author Anand Giridharadas. He has made a career of questioning the seat of power and money in America, and explains to Hari Sreenivasan why society must adapt or fail.

Peter Piot is one of the world’s leading epidemiologists who co-discovered Ebola back in 1976. More than 40 years later, he was nearly felled by COVID-19--a grueling experience from which he is still in recovery. He explains what he learned.

More than a quarter of the coronavirus deaths in the UK have been in care homes. Rose Mitchell was one of those who succumbed to the virus. She died in a London care home last month, and afterwards her sister, Dorothy Duffy, wrote a powerful poem to memorialize her life. Duffy joins the program to remember her sister and read an excerpt from her poem.

Mental health is more important than ever, and studies show that connecting with nature can lift our spirits. Psychiatrist Sue Stuart-Smith is the author of “The Well-Gardened Mind,” while Ron Finley – who calls himself “the Gangsta Gardener” – has inspired dozens of community gardens around Los Angeles. They join the program to discuss the therapeutic power of gardening in these uncertain times.

We live in a complex and interconnected world. What happens in China or Russia can impact the lives of people thousands of miles away. Former State Department official Richard Haass highlights this connection in his new book, “The World: A Brief Introduction," in which he argues that we need to abandon rivalry and embrace global cooperation. Haass speaks with Walter Isaacson.