“Go Back to China:” How a Racist Encounter Sparked a Journey Through History
Michael Luo discusses his new book "Strangers in the Land."
Inside the Future of College Sports: NCAA Pres. Breaks Down Major Reforms
There is big money is U.S. college sports. Top athletes could potentially early millions each year for the value of their name, image and likeness. Now for the first time ever, a new agreement called the "house settlement" will allow for schools to pay players directly. NCAA President Charlie Baker calls it "a win for student athletes." He joins the show to explain why.
GOP Congressional Leader on Tariffs, DOGE and the “Big Beautiful Bill”
A court has blocked Trump's controversial tariffs, while his massive budget package — dubbed by Trump the “big, beautiful bill” — passed the House last week. Blake Moore, a Republican representative from Utah, was a key figure in shaping the legislation. He joins Walter Isaacson to talk about its priorities and to answer critics who say the bill favors the wealthy and expands the deficit.
Leah Litman on SCOTUS: “Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories & Bad Vibes”
A series of decisions over the last few years have led University of Michigan Law School Professor Leah Litman to believe that the U.S. Supreme Court is no longer upholding constitutional law, but rather is running on personal bias. This is detailed in Litman's new book "Lawless." The author joins Michel Martin to discuss this worrying development.
“Welcome to Wrexham:” Inside the Team’s Historic Third Promotion
Four years ago, stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney decided to buy a struggling football team in a town in North Wales. It was their mission to make the club flourish again. The team has been climbing up the rankings ever since. You can watch the team's success in the hit docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham." The club's executive director, Humphrey Ker, and goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo join the show.
Breakthrough Prize-Winning Biochemist on the Deadly Cost of Funding Cuts
For decades the United States has been at the forefront of medical research. But now the Trump administration is cutting billions of dollars in funding for universities, hospitals, and other scientific institutions that carry out that research. David Liu is a biochemist and biologist who developed two exceptionally precise gene-editing tools that offer new hope for untreatable cancers.
Is It Safe to Fly? NYT Reporter on What’s Behind the Aviation Chaos
From Newark Airport's recent air traffic control outages to the January plane crash in Washington, D.C. that claimed 67 lives, there is rising concern about air travel safety in the U.S. Kate Kelly, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, has been examining the problems plaguing American aviation, and she joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss possible solutions.
Higher Ed Under Fire: Gov. Mitch Daniels on Reform, Accountability & Trump
It is graduation season in the U.S. and as college students across the nation celebrate their big milestone, the friction between universities and the Trump administration continues to heat up. Mitch Daniels is President Emeritus of Purdue University and a former Governor of Indiana. Daniels joins the show to explain why higher education needs urgent reform.
Ian Bremmer on Trump’s Mideast Trip and What It Means for the U.S.
President Trump may have opened the door for the Gulf to become the next global AI hotspot. Years ago Ian Bremmer laid out the idea of a "technopolar world" - increasingly shaped by a handful of powerful tech companies rather than solely by states. Bremmer is the founder of the Eurasia Group, and joins the show to discuss how Trump's visit to the Mideast could be taking us closer to that vision.
Renowned Biographer Ron Chernow on the Life of Mark Twain
Mark Twain has been called the greatest humorist the United States has produced. A courageous activist for racial equality throughout the 1800s, Twain entertained and informed his audiences through his lectures, essays, and books. Now, the renowned author's fascinating life is the topic of Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow's latest book. Chernow joins the show to discuss.
A New Era in Higher Education? Why One Professor Is Taking Her Course Online
Journalist Karen Attiah discusses what she alleges was behind Columbia University's decision to cancel her popular course on race, media and international affairs. It's a characterization that Columbia denies. Attiah joins Michel Martin to discuss why she's taken the course online to create "The Resistance Summer School."
The US Pays Some of the Highest Drug Prices in the World. Can Trump Fix That?
This week, President Trump issued an executive order aiming to reduce high prescription drug prices and insisting that drug companies ensure Americans pay the same price as other countries. Dr. Jerry Avorn is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss why the cost of medication in the U.S. is so high, and what Trump can do to bring prices down.
NYT’s Tom Friedman: This Israeli Government Is Not Our Ally
President Trump's trip to the Middle East this week does not include a stop in Israel, raising the question of whether there might be a growing divide between the two allies. NYT columnist Thomas Friedman says the alliance is unsurprisingly frayed, given this Israeli government's approach to the war against Hamas. He joins Michel Martin to discuss his most recent op-ed on the topic.
Kelsey Grammer on the Tragic Murder of His Sister and the Road to Healing
Since he shot to fame through popular American sitcoms "Cheers" and “Frasier," the award-winning actor Kelsey Grammer has built a celebrated career across TV, film and Broadway. But his personal life has been marked by tragedy and loss, including the rape and murder of his beloved younger sister Karen. Grammer speaks to Michel Martin about his memoir, "Karen: A Brother Remembers."
Pres. of the American Federation of Teachers: Not Everyone Needs College
With the U.S. Department of Education facing the threat of billions of dollars in proposed cuts. Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, wants to offer an alternative future for American public education. In her view, it's one that should prepare some students for pathways besides college. Weingarten discusses her vision and the obstacles standing in its way.
NYT Reporter on Trump’s Crypto Empire: “No Precedent in Modern U.S. History”
Since his swearing-in, President Trump has launched a crypto firm with his sons called World Liberty Financial and has been selling a personal meme coin. The New York Times' technology reporter David Yaffe-Bellany tells Hari Sreenivasan about his investigation into the Trump family's newest business ventures.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley: Detained Tufts Student Is a “Political Prisoner”
Tensions continue to run high on U.S. campuses, with international student visas being revoked and some students even facing arrest. One such case is that of detained Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk, a constituent of Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. The House Democrat spoke to Michel Martin shortly after visiting Öztürk in an ICE detention center in Louisiana.
Higher Prices and Empty Shelves: The Effects of the U.S.-China Trade War
Higher prices, empty shelves and orders delayed, this may soon become a lasting reality for American consumers. Trump now warns that people may have to cut back since his tariffs have brought most trade with China to a halt. This week the U.S. and China will finally hold talks, but New York Times reporter Ana Swanson joins Hari Sreenivasan to explain that much of the damage has already been done.
Catherine Coleman Flowers on the Future of Environmental Justice Under Trump
President Trump's climate and civil rights rollbacks are only making life harder for environmental activists. Catherine Coleman Flowers spent years leading the charge for a landmark settlement to address the sewage crisis crippling rural communities in Alabama, only for the agreement to be killed last month. But Flowers isn't giving up. She joins the show to discuss her new book, "Holy Ground."
Fmr. Federal Prosecutor: “DOJ Is Bleeding Out Its Credibility Very Quickly”
In his latest piece for Slate magazine, former federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou points out that in Trump's first 100 days he has "ignored judges, extorted law firms, and fired lawyers." Ballou discusses the mass exodus of employees from the Department of Justice, how the MAGA base might be positioning itself to take over the D.C. bar, and what all this might mean for the future of law in America.
Supported by
