As the election draws closer, America’s coronavirus death toll continues to climb. The devastating, ongoing crisis is a major test for America's healthcare system, and Andy Slavitt says that the election “will--yet again--be a referendum on health reform.”

The conventional wisdom goes that starting a conflict is much easier than ending one, and the opposite of war is not necessarily peace. This knowledge is the driver behind "Imagine: Reflections on Peace," a new project designed to encourage dialogue around this subject. Christiane speaks with photographer Gary Knight--who helped conceive the project--and veteran correspondent Robin Wright.

"Monty Python" co-founder Michael Palin is one of the world’s most beloved adventurers, whose exploits on the road and in writing and acting have made him a global sensation. He sits down with Christiane to reflect on his career.

Economist and author Mariana Mazzucato joins Christiane to discuss COVID-19's devastating economic impact and how to build a way out.

Dr. Joel C. Hunter was President Barack Obama’s spiritual advisor for eight years – but then voted for Donald Trump in 2016. This time around, he’s backing Biden, having formed a group called Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden. He speaks with Michel Martin about what changed his mind.

In day three of hearings over the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, Democrats focused primarily on what is at stake--with healthcare topping the list. It’s an issue that will come before the court just days after the election. Christiane discusses this with former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun.

In Europe, a Polish immunologist is warning “we are on the brink of disaster.” COVID-19 is raging through the continent again, with some 100,000 cases per day prompting new restrictions by governments from Paris to Prague. The World Health Organization’s Europe director Hans Kluge is deeply concerned about this second wave, but says another round of national lockdowns should only be a last resort.

One underestimated tool in the fight against the pandemic could be the way we sleep. For decades, science has shown the important role it plays in bolstering our immune systems against colds and respiratory infections. Yet studies suggest the pandemic has changed most people’s sleep cycles, both for better and for worse.

Black and minority communities continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic in America and worldwide, further exacerbating existing inequalities in both health and wealth. Marc Morial says that reimagining urban centers could be the key to closing those gaps. He is president and CEO of the National Urban League and a former mayor of New Orleans. He joins Walter Isaacson to explain his vision.

Satirists and novelists have grappled with how best to cover this most unusual administration. Its idiosyncracies are proving an excellent fit for Dave Eggers, renowned for his parable-like novels on issues from globalization to technology and political polarization. He discusses his newest novella, "The Captain and the Glory."

A key aspect of Barrett’s appeal to conservative activists is her adherence to the legal doctrine of “originalism.” What exactly does this entail, and how useful is it as a legal framework? Dahlia Lithwick, a columnist for Slate, warned recently that Barrett’s confirmation hearings represent an “erosion of representative democracy” in the United States.

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey has first-hand knowledge of the devastating impact of violence in the home. She was 19 when her former stepfather murdered her mother, and that excruciating pain is the subject of her new book Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir. Michel Martin speaks with Trethewey in a raw and often emotional conversation.

Day two of confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett and the stakes couldn’t be higher, with healthcare at the top of the list. Judge Barrett claims personal faith shouldn’t interfere with court rulings. But what do anti-abortion activists make of her nomination? As executive director for Heritage Action for America, Jessica Anderson is a strategist for conservative policies. She joins the show

Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to the Supreme Court would decisively tilt the balance of the court to the right, and would throw into question issues of healthcare, abortion, and voting rights. Angela Davis was there at the establishment of many of those rights, as a longtime activist in the segregated south. She joins the show to discuss.

The struggle for racial justice isn’t exclusive to America. In the UK it is currently Black History Month as the nation reckons with past and present injustice. The 2018 BBC documentary “Being Blacker” tells the story of south London record shop owner Blacker Dread. It’s an intimate portrait of a life shaped by inequality, racism, and also a deep sense of community.

Elizabeth Neumann was assistant secretary for threat prevention at the Department for Homeland Security under President Trump. She says her repeated attempts to flag the dangers of racist groups in the U.S. were ignored. A lifelong Republican, Neumann will not vote for the GOP this election cycle, as she explains to Hari Sreenivasan.

If there’s one thing that can get us through 2020, it’s laughter. This also happens to be a very effective way to get under the skin of the high and mighty. Cue Emmy Award-winning producer and comedian Larry Wilmore. The former "Daily Show" correspondent is returning to late night with “Wilmore,” a new series on NBC’s streaming service Peacock.

How has the country come to where it currently stands? Former CIA Director John Brennan, who spent nearly 30 years with the agency, joins the show to discuss the president, the state of the nation, and his new memoir.

13 people were charged in an alleged domestic terror plot to kidnap Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The state became a hotbed of right wing extremism during the coronavirus lockdown. Whitmer blames the president for encouraging the extremist groups, citing his infamous "Liberate Michigan" tweet. State Attorney General Dana Nessel joins the show to discuss the investigation.

The upcoming election will determine the country's response to the climate crisis. The issues of fracking, emissions, and energy demand are of particular interest to Daniel Yergin, who has served as an advisor on energy in the last four administrations. His latest book examines how energy shapes America’s position in the world, as he explains to Walter Isaacson.