Chris Young was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 22 due to mandatory minimum laws, after a third nonviolent drug-related conviction in 2010. Kevin Sharp was the federal judge who handed down that sentence and who later resigned from his lifelong judicial appointment. He then worked with Young’s legal team to overturn the sentence. Sharp and Young join Michel Martin to tell their story.

Stuart Stevens is a veteran political consultant and strategist for past GOP campaigns like those of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. He has now broken away from his political home and joins the show to discuss the state of his former party.

2020 was the worst year for economic growth in the United States since World War II. Could 2021 provide an opportunity for a rethink? Economist Mariana Mazzucato believes moonshot thinking could help us meet our biggest challenges, as she explains in her new book.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled today that the four men convicted in the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl can go free. Pearl, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal investigating Islamist militants in Pakistan post-9/11, was kidnapped in Karachi in 2002 and beheaded. Pearl’s family say they are in shock and are appealing to the U.S. government for help. Pearl’s father joins the show.

Pixar’s holiday release "Soul" was an instant hit. The man behind that film’s memorable music was none other than Jon Batiste. He’s a familiar face to many as bandleader on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and has recently donned another hat in his “We Are” campaign – a series of protests that explore civil justice through music] He speaks with Michel Martin about his art and his activism.

In a flurry of executive actions, the new administration is hitting pause on new oil and gas leases on federal land and prioritizing help for minority communities that often bear the brunt of pollution. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) joins the show to discuss the new administration’s agenda, the potential for bipartisanship in Congress and the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

One of the many simple pleasures the pandemic has stolen is dancing -- and few bands get people dancing like the Bee Gees. The band dominated the airwaves in the 70s and 80s with hits like “Staying Alive” and “Night Fever,” and now a new HBO documentary traces their legacy. Barry Gibb, the band’s last surviving member, joins the program to discuss his career and his new album “Greenfields.”

As the new administration tackles an array of challenges, senior cabinet secretaries are getting to work. Today is the first full day in office for new treasury secretary Janet Yellen, the first woman in that position. What challenges lie ahead for her? Jack Lew, who held her position from 2013 to 2017, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss.

A new report from the International Monetary Fund projects global economic growth at 5.5% for the year. But this is far from certain, particularly if vaccines fail to keep up with new COVID variants. Moreover, the recovery is expected primarily to benefit the wealthy, marginalizing the poor and ignoring the issue of income inequality. Christiane discusses all of this with the IMG Managing Director

As the economic fallout from the pandemic perpetuates Americans’ suffering, many are arguing that President Biden should follow up on his promise to quickly put money into the pockets of the American people. One of those making the case is author and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, who launches his new podcast this week. He explains to Walter Isaacson his thoughts on bipartisanship.

The first big tennis event of 2021 is the Australian Open, beginning February 8. But some of the world’s top players will be warming up in their hotel rooms, under strict quarantine. World No. 2-ranked player Rafael Nadal is in that unenviable position as he prepares for competition. But, as Nadal explains to Christiane from his hotel room, he’s happy in quarantine, just as he is in life.

25 million coronavirus cases have now been reported in the U.S., with vaccines a rare light at the end of the tunnel – despite ongoing problems in their rollout. Two ER doctors on the front line join Hari Sreenivasan to explain how more lives can be saved through earlier diagnosis.

The Biden administration is already facing a major diplomatic test, as this weekend saw demonstrators in Russia coming out in huge numbers to protest the detention of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. What significance do these protests hold, and how should the Biden administration respond? International relations experts Evelyn Farkas and Nina Khrushcheva join Christiane to discuss.

Today, global leaders convened remotely for the Climate Adaptation Summit to share ideas on a response to the climate crisis, with the U.S. represented by President Biden’s new climate envoy John Kerry. But what is a possible route out of the crisis? Professor Michael Mann has a few ideas in his new book, which lays out a battle plan for saving our environment.

This week, the EU invited President Biden to a summit focused on shared multilateral goals, COVID, and climate. Prime Minister Micheál Martin, referring to Biden's Irish ancestry, has said, "He is one of us, part of our global family." Martin joins Christiane from Dublin to react to Biden's inauguration and discuss the state of the pandemic in Ireland.

A new documentary, "The Human Factor," looks at Israel-Palestinian peace efforts through the eyes of key American negotiators. The film examines the personal stories hidden within this complicated, historic conflict. Director Dror Moreh joins Christiane alongside two key players featured in the film: a veteran Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller and former senior policy adviser Gamal Helal.

President Biden has unveiled a new national strategy to replace the ad-hoc patchwork of policies from 50 states under the previous administration. The plan is to pick up the pace of distribution to meet the goal of 100 million vaccinations in Biden's first 100 days in office. Andy Slavitt is a senior advisor to the new response team. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to explain the team's upcoming goals.

President Biden comes to power pledging to put his whole soul into uniting America. History was also made, as Vice President Kamala Harris became the first African American, first South Asian, and first woman to ever hold that position. To discuss what this day means and where America goes from here, Christiane speaks with two eminent writers and thinkers on the American experiment.

The pandemic is President Biden’s immediate concern. But his presidency also marks a crucial pivot for America’s overseas alliances. Joining Christiane to assess the future of U.S. foreign policy are former UK diplomat Sir Peter Westmacott and former State Department, Defense Department, and National Security Council official Kori Schake.

Vice President Kamala Harris cracked the penultimate glass ceiling today, marking a historic moment in American politics. There is perhaps no more famous campaigner for women’s rights than Gloria Steinem, who speaks with Michel Martin alongside Farai Chideya, host of the podcast "OurBodyPolitic."