The Delta variant is surging in the U.S. and around the world, and it's even more troubling than was first thought. That's according to an internal document from the CDC. The public health agency now believes the strain is as contagious as the chickenpox. Dr. Reed Tuckson joins the program to unpack this news.

Over 100 CEOs have come together to form the organization CEO Action for Racial Equity. Its goal: addressing systemic racism and creating lasting change through public policy. The CEO of this initiative, Roy Weathers, and Denny's CEO John Miller are determined not to let politics stand in their way. They speak with Hari Sreenivasan about their plan.

After days of uncertainty, an important act of diplomacy has finally taken place, as announced to the world on President Biden’s Twitter feed. Biden posted a photograph of his meeting with Belarus’s opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, saying he was honored to meet with her at the White House. Tikhanovskaya has been touring the U.S. to raise awareness of her people’s struggle for democracy.

In Russia, President Putin’s efforts to suppress journalism show no sign of abating. Just yesterday, Russian security officers raided the home of Roman Dobrohotov, editor of the independent news site The Insider. Alexey Kovalev knows what it’s like to report from under the heavy hand of the Russian state and joins the show to discuss.

American gymnast Suni Lee celebrated her gold medal in women’s gymnastics in Tokyo today. Lee’s teammate Simone Biles cheered her on from the sidelines after withdrawing from competition earlier this week to protect her mental health. Dr. Colleen Hacker is a mental skills coach for Olympic athletes and an authority on the psychology of peak performance.

Today President Biden announced a vaccination requirement for federal workers, as vaccine hesitancy persists despite the rapid spread of the Delta variant. In Tennessee, only 39% are inoculated and even Republican senators are urging people to get protected. Two Tennessean doctors join the show to discuss.

Chesa Boudin was elected in 2019 on a progressive platform aimed at ending mass incarceration and addressing the root causes of crime. Now, just two years into his tenure, Boudin faces a recall effort to remove him from office. Michel Martin speaks with Boudin about a rise in violent crime and how the jailing of his parents informed his views on criminal justice.

Action on climate must come not just from individuals, but also from companies and governments. Lawyers and the courts are also playing their part, something James Thornton is particularly aware of. He's the CEO of ClientEarth, a team of environmental lawyers dedicated to representing and defending the oceans, forests, air, and the very survival of our natural world. The team has 166 active cases.

The U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on Cuban officials accused of human rights abuse during the crackdown on protestors. Cuba, in turn, blames the protests, as well as the country's wider problems, on the U.S. and its sanctions. Carlos Fernández de Cossío is the most senior Cuban official in charge of Cuban/U.S. relations and joins the show for a rare interview.

Theologian Russell Moore is one of the most influential figures in evangelical Christianity today, but back in May he sent shockwaves through his community after resigning his leadership in the Southern Baptist Convention. A leaked letter alleging “raw racist sentiment” was one of the many damning reasons he walked away, and he speaks with Michel Martin about the Church and these troubling issues.

The world’s greatest gymnast, the USA’s Simone Biles, has pulled out of the Olympic team final in Tokyo. The four-time Olympic gold medalist said she has to focus on her mental health. As a former teammate, Aly Raisman knows Biles well, and the six-time Olympic medalist and former USA Gymnastics captain joins the show to reflect on Biles’ decision.

In Tunisia, after months of quarrelling over a dire economic situation and botched handling of COVID-19, the country’s president has sacked its government. There were celebrations in the street, but many called it a coup. A curfew is now in place and public gatherings are banned. Ten years ago, Tunisia was the first country to call for democracy in what became the Arab Spring. What went wrong?

Today four police officers recounted their efforts to stop the Capitol rioters on January 6. It was a day that saw lives lost and over 100 officers injured, yet many Republicans have downplayed the incident and obstructed the House investigation. To discuss the committee and how the investigation will proceed, Christiane speaks with Tom Kean about this.

Evanston, Illinois is the first state in the U.S. to make reparations available to some of its Black residents, and is now working out how best to make payouts. Robin Rue Simmons proposed the program and joins the show alongside Professor Robert Beckford who has long documented the legacy of colonialism and slavery in the UK.

As the pandemic unfolded, the role of social media in spreading distrust, division and misinformation appeared to become increasingly indisputable. Now a new book by reporters Cecilia Kang and Sheera Frenkel reveals what they claim are Facebook’s deliberately dark strategies in the “battle for domination,” as they explain to Hari Sreenivasan.

Despite all the promises of vaccine sharing, the rich world has used up over 80% of the global supply. This week, Africa finally starts receiving doses of Johnson & Johnson’s offering, at a time when the continent is experiencing its deadliest wave. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti and Jeremy Farrar join the program to discuss.

A recent study by UCLA shows that minority women make up just one quarter of film writers and one fifth of directors. Actress Poorna Jagannathan speaks with Aarti Shahani about her role as a tiger mom in the hit Mindy Kaling Netflix show "Never Have I Ever," and discusses why diversity is so important in this golden era of streaming.

It was an Olympic opening ceremony like no other: athletes in masks marching in a mostly empty stadium. COVID-19 cases are rising in Japan, the host country, whose population remains largely unvaccinated. Olympic officials hope to shift public focus away from the public health crisis to the competition, and to creating great sporting moments for the history books. Selina Wang reports.

In the past 18 months, millions of children have fallen out of the education system due to the pandemic, and experts warn many may never return. Next week the U.K. and Kenya are co-hosting a high-level global education summit to call for action. Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be taking part, and joins the show from London to talk about making up the education shortfall.

How will the athletes handle these unprecedented Olympic Games? Briana Scurry is an Olympic legend, having won two gold medals as goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s soccer team in both 1996 and 2004.