Amanpour and Company

News and Public Affairs Series / 3 Seasons

Featuring conversations with global leaders and decision makers on the issues affecting the world today, Amanpour and Company adds to the long tradition of public affairs programming that has been a hallmark of public media for decades.

Watch: S2023 E6121

26m 46s

The US Pays Some of the Highest Drug Prices in the World. Can Trump Fix That?

18m 35s

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

18m 47s

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

17m 36s

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

17m 45s

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”

17m 54s

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”

17m 7s

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

17m 49s

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

18m 7s

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”

18m 9s

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.

Elie Mystal: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America

17m 45s

Amid the escalation of the Trump administration’s battle with the courts, one legal expert is taking a step back to imagine what a truly representative U.S. legal system could look like. Bestselling author Elie Mystal tells Hari Sreenivasan about the unconventional theory that he explores in his latest work.

How Are Universities Trying to Fight Back Against Trump’s Mandates?

15m 46s

Elite colleges are standing up to pressure from the White House as President Trump suggests he may stop giving grants to Harvard University. What are the implications of this pushback? Hari Sreenivasan explores the issues with Wall Street Journal reporter Douglas Belkin.

Presidential Historian: Trump Has Tried to Introduce Fear in First 100 Days

18m 11s

President Trump, taking a victory lap to mark the first 100 days of his second term, said his success surpasses any in U.S. history, "according to many, many people.” Presidential historian Timothy Naftali places the Trump presidency in context for Walter Isaacson.

Tariffs, History and Healing: U.S.-Vietnam Relations 50 Years After the War

17m 48s

This week marks 50 years since the fall of Saigon. It is also the 30th anniversary of normalized relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, which made them partners in trade. With proposed tariffs now increasing tensions, Daniel Kritenbrink, the former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam during President Trump's first term, joins Walter Isaacson to reflect on where this complex relationship might be headed.

Sextortion, Suicide, Drug Dealing: How Social Media Is Harming Our Teens

17m 43s

Every new digital advancement means a new way to impact the lives of children. The new documentary “Can’t Look Away” exposes the real-life consequences of these kinds of technologies. Filmmaker Perri Peltz and lawyer Matthew Bergman join Hari Sreenivasan to share the stories of the parents taking social media companies to court.

The Archbishop of Chicago Reflects on the Life and Legacy of Pope Francis

5m 9s

Pope Francis, a voice for the poor and a catalyst for change in the Catholic Church, has died. The Vatican announced his passing on Easter Monday. The Pope's burial service will take place later this week, followed by a conclave to choose the next leader of the Church. Cardinal Blase Cupich will be at both the funeral and the conclave, and joins the program from Chicago.

Simon Schama Uncovers New Histories in “The Holocaust, 80 Years On”

18m 46s

In the new PBS documentary "The Holocaust: 80 Years On," historian Simon Schama travels across Europe to speak to survivors and arrive at a better understanding of this dark period of history. As a British Jew with ancestral roots in Lithuania, Simon experiences this as a deeply personal story. He joins the show to discuss what he learned on his journey.

“Total Chaos” and Price Hikes: Two American Businesses Facing Trump Tariffs

18m 5s

Trump's tariffs are sending shockwaves around the world, with radical changes in operating costs for thousands of American business owners. Among them are Debbie Wei Mullin, founder of a coffee company with roots in Vietnam, and Sarah LaFleur, who owns a clothing brand reliant on overseas factories. Mullin and LaFleur speak with Michel Martin about the impact of the tariffs on their businesses.

“Godstruck:” Inside Seven Women’s Journeys to Religious Conversion

18m 2s

Journalist and author Kelsey Osgood decided to explore the stories of millennial women who have discovered organized religion at a time when many are turning away from it. Osgood joins the show to discuss her new book "Godstruck: Seven Women's Unexpected Journeys to Religious Conversion."

He Fears the Definition of Antisemitism He Wrote Being Used to Silence Others

18m 31s

Kenneth Stern helped draft the working definition of antisemitism, used by multiple governments and universities worldwide. Stern is Director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate, and he is now worried the definition he helped create is being weaponized. Stern joins the show to explain how his words are being used to harm everyone, including Jewish students.

The World’s First De-Extinction? George Church on Bringing Back the Dire Wolf

17m 57s

This week marked a major scientific breakthrough: the resurrection of the dire wolf, a species that went extinct over 12,000 years ago. A Dallas-based biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, is behind the project and Walter Isaacson speaks to its co-founder, Harvard University geneticist George Church.

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