At their unconventional convention, the Democrats are sending a clear message: The stakes -- for the country and for the world -- have never been higher. John Kerry knows what it is to be a Democratic nominee battling a Republican incumbent, having faced off against President George W. Bush in 2004. He joins the program to weigh in on this year's convention and current events.

Throughout history, the party conventions have generated moments that still burn bright to this day. As veteran journalists for CBS and Time Magazine respectively, Dan Rather and Margaret Carlson are perfectly placed to curate a retrospective of conventions past. They speak with Walter Isaacson about some of the standout moments in their memories.

Amid a global pandemic, with a polarized political electorate, and with protesters crowding the streets, one wonders if the American Era might be coming to an end. Wade Davis certainly would argue that it is. In a recent article for "Rolling Stone," he wrote about COVID-19 as a factor in “the unraveling of America." Davis shares his thoughts with Hari Sreenivasan.

In the new documentary "Coup 53," Taghi Amirani details how the CIA conspired with Britain’s MI6 to overthrow Iran’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh. Amirani joins the show alongside his co-writer, legendary Hollywood editor and sound engineer Walter Murch.

This week marks the start of a political convention unlike any other, as the Democratic National Convention gets underway – via videoconference. Speakers are drawn from a roster of high-profile Democratic names, but there are Republicans in the mix too. Most prominent among them is former Governor of Ohio John Kasich, who is crossing the aisle to make his argument for Joe Biden.

Iran has denounced the deal between Israel and the UAE, calling it strategically stupid, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has deemed it “an aggression on the Palestinian people.” But European powers like France have called it a “positive step.” To discuss the deal and its impact in the region, Christiane speaks with the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash.

The peace deal struck yesterday between Israel and highlights the shifting political dynamics in the region. With the possibility of a signing ceremony taking place at the White House in the coming weeks, President Trump gets a foreign policy boost during a tough re-election campaign. To discuss the new peace agreement and the latest domestic challenges, Christiane speaks with Jared Kushner.

Global approval of U.S. foreign policy has taken a hit during the Trump presidency, according to multiple polls. Could the deal between Israel and the UAE mark a shift on this front? To assess this and U.S. foreign policy more broadly, Christiane speaks with two experts, Vali Nasr and Marietje Schaake.

South Carolina could possibly break precedent this election year. For the past 17 years, the state has been red through and through, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham running virtually unchallenged – until now. Jaime Harrison, the first African American Democratic contender for the South Carolina senate seat, joins the program from the state capital.

The 26-year-old musician Jacob Collier exploded onto the scene with his 2016 album "In My Room," which was recorded – you guessed it – in his room. He uses multiple tracks and plays most of the music himself, in a recording process that has even extended into his bathroom. On Friday, the Grammy Award winner is releasing his latest album "Djesse Vol. 3," and he joins the show from his home studio.

After years of security cooperation, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have struck an historic peace deal. The move was announced in a joint statement with President Trump, who said it would bring together two of America’s strongest allies in the region. Former Israeli Foreign Minister and veteran peace negotiator Tzipi Livni discusses what this means for the future.

Sports has been sideswiped by COVID-19. Now, the pandemic looks likely to cancel American college football, as multiple conferences pull their teams for the fall. Sportswriter Dave Zirin and retired NFL defensive end and activist Michael Bennett co-authored the book "Things That Make White People Uncomfortable." They join Hari Sreenivasan to discuss Black Lives Matter and the future of sports.

Historian Rutger Bregman argues that humans are often so steeped in cynicism that we often miss the truth hiding in plain sight. In his new book "Humankind," Bregman argues that humans are the dominant species not because we are cold, ruthless predators, but because precisely the opposite is true. He joins the program to offer his refreshingly optimistic perspective.

As the pandemic lays bare social, legal, racial and financial injustice in America, it is vital to examine how the system got its start. Kurt Andersen is a best-selling author and journalist whose latest book examines the origins of America’s hyper-capitalism. He speaks with Walter Isaacson about the genesis and propagation of the system--and the need to take a step back.

A core criticism of Harris during the race for the Democratic nomination concerned her career as a prosecutor in California. Having earned a reputation for being tough on crime, she now says that she is determined to combat systemic racial injustice. Activist DeRay Mckesson has spent years drawing attention to institutionalized racism, and he joins the show to discuss Harris' place on the ticket.

A historic choice in American presidential politics at a historic time in America: Sen. Kamala Harris becomes the first Black female vice presidential candidate in American history. Valerie Jarrett, former adviser to President Obama, responds to this development.

The world urgently needs an effective COVID-19 vaccine. Behind much of the research is Bill Gates, who is dedicating billions of dollars to helping ensure that when a vaccine arrives, it will be affordable and accessible to those most in need. He speaks with Walter Isaacson about his belief that much of the testing being done in America is a complete waste.

President Trump, still fighting to hide his financial history, now demands that the Manhattan District Attorney reveal why he issued a subpoena for eight years of tax returns and other documents. Trump’s lawyers argue the president is being “harassed.” Christiane speaks with legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin to discuss this as well as Toobin’s new book on the Mueller Investigation.

Upon filing a complaint about vote rigging on Sunday, Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was arrested and held for seven hours by authorities. She then fled to neighboring Lithuania, citing concern for the safety of her children. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister played a role in ensuring safe haven for Tikhanovskaya. He joins the program to assess these alarming developments.

Andrei Sannikov was once Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s deputy foreign minister, but they are emphatically no longer allies. Sannikov ran against the president in 2010 and came in second, only to be jailed shortly afterwards and subjected to horrifying treatment. He joins the program from Warsaw, Poland, where he is living in exile.