General John Allen led NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan and headed up the international anti-ISIS campaign. He now leads the Brookings Institution, and joins the show to react to President Trump’s military threats this week.

The most famous conflict resolution to emerge out of institutionalized racism came from South Africa. White supremacy was legally sanctioned under apartheid in the country until 1990, when Nelson Mandela led the majority black nation in a peaceful transition to democracy. Paul van Zyl and Vincent Warren discuss what lessons the U.S. can learn from South Africa.

"The Breakfast Club” radio show has become a must-stop for Democratic presidential contenders. But last month, it sent shockwaves through the VP Joe Biden's campaign when he said in an interview with co-host Charlamagne tha God that if voters choose Trump, they aren’t Black. questions were raised about whether the Democratic Party is taking the support of African American voters for granted.

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has launched an investigation into the practices of the Minneapolis Police Department over the past ten years. Is this enough -- or is there a need for more radical solutions to purge systemic racism from the nation’s police departments? Cedric Alexander is a former police officer who served on President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

President Trump’s threats to involve the military continue to provoke unease – most notably at the Pentagon, where Defense Secretary Mark Esper publicly broke with his commander-in-chief over the issue. Jim Clyburn grew up under segregation and rose to become the senior African American member of Congress.

President Trump is facing increasing criticism from his traditional supporters. What is his strategy -- and how will it play out come November, when Americans are called upon to choose their next president? Marc Lotter is strategic director for the president’s 2020 re-election campaign.

Addressing the root causes of racial injustice in America is fundamental to achieving lasting change. As a leading civil rights lawyer, Bryan Stevenson has dedicated his life to doing just that. He speaks with Walter Isaacson about solutions, from a change in the culture of policing to an embrace of truth and reconciliation.

Former Vice President Joe Biden gave an impassioned speech today, making the case, he said, for the soul of the American nation, traditional American values, and the unfulfilled promise that all are born equal. Democratic strategist Symone Sanders, a senior adviser to the Biden campaign, joins the show to discuss his plans to address racial inequality.

President Trump’s Bible-wielding photo opportunity has proved controversial. Many evangelical leaders have given it their full support. What do most Republicans make of the president’s handling of the ongoing crisis and his embrace of a "law and order" posture? Scott Jennings has worked for George W. Bush and Mitch McConnell and joins the show to discuss.

Today Joe Biden called on Congress to act now on systemic racism. For starters, he wants to see a bill outlawing police chokeholds on the president’s desk within days. Congresswoman Karen Bass is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and is coordinating the formulation of new policing legislation in the House of Representatives.

Amidst widespread images of police brutality were also striking clips of some officers kneeling and marching with the protesters. In Houston – George Floyd’s hometown – police chief Art Acevedo condemned Floyd’s death and, as an immigrant himself, spoke up for people of color. His impromptu speech went viral, and he joins the program to talk about why he felt compelled to join with the protests.

The images of protests rolling through more than 100 American cities since the death of George Floyd have stunned the world. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) is a feminist and civil rights leader who took part in the Freedom Summer of 1964. She joins the program from Washington, D.C., to reflect on this long, difficult weekend.

One of America’s leading human rights activists is urging people to make themselves heard at the ballot box this November. Martin Luther King III tweeted about why we are seeing the violence: “As my father explained during his lifetime, a riot is the language of the unheard.” King joins the program alongside prominent Black Lives Matter campaigner DeRay Mckesson.

Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones explains that racism is in America’s DNA, starting with the original sin of slavery over 400 years ago. She spearheaded the New York Times’ groundbreaking 1619 Project last year, which re-framed American history from the moment the first enslaved Africans were shipped over. She joins the program to reflect on that history and how it informs our present moment.

The theaters might be closed, but Oskar Eustis is bringing the theater to you. As artistic director at New York's Public Theater – which has hosted hits like Hamilton ­– Eustis has now made a Zoom-inspired drama called "What Do We Need to Talk About?", available for free online. He speaks with Michel Martin about how this might represent a return to the essence of the craft of theater.

Eric Fischl is a renowned contemporary artist whose most recent work includes the painting “American Hula.” He first became known for portraying the relationships and dynamics between people and communities in suburban America. He joins the program to talk about the place of art in tragedy and trauma.

After four days, protests continue to rage in multiple parts of the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white police officer pinned him down with his knee. Civil rights icon The Rev. Jesse Jackson joins the program to discuss institutional racism, policing, and inequality.

After four days, protests continue to rage in multiple parts of the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a white police officer pinned him down with his knee. Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul, Minnesota, joins the program to discuss the impact of these events on his community.

Being a teenager isn’t easy at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic, but pediatrician and parenting expert Dr. Cara Natterson believes lockdown isn't all bad. She’s been isolating with her own children and says enforced isolation might actually help teenagers find their voice. She speaks with Michel Martin to try and answer some of the burning questions that may be tormenting parents.

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."