Pope Francis is making the first visit to Iraq in the history of the papacy. Iraqi Christians have been targets of persecution at the hands of Al Qaeda and ISIS, with thousands having fled the country. Correspondent Ben Wedeman is on the ground in Baghdad, and joins the show with an update on the visit.

A new campaign out today on YouTube aims to remedy the fact that the Black community is both hardest hit by COVID-19 and least likely to get vaccinated. “The Conversation: Between Us, About Us” is a series featuring Black doctors, nurses and scientists providing credible information about the vaccine. Dr. Rhea Boyd co-developed the series, while Dr. Joia Crear-Perry is one of the doctors featured.

We recently discussed the New York Times documentary “Framing Britney Spears,” which exposed Spears' exploitation at the hands of media outlets. It’s an experience familiar to other female child stars – including Mara Wilson, a familiar face from 90s hits like “Matilda” and “Mrs. Doubtfire." The documentary prompted Wilson to write about her own experience.

Security has been stepped up outside the U.S. Capitol today, after intelligence revealed that a militia group might be plotting to breach the building yet again. The threat appears to be inspired by a false statement planted by QAnon that former President Trump will be re-inaugurated today. To discuss this and the Democrats’ legislative agenda, Christiane speaks with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

The film "Judas and the Black Messiah" tells the true story of how the FBI persuaded an informant to betray the 21-year-old Black Panther Fred Hampton, ultimately leading to his murder in a deadly police raid. To discuss the film and its timely relevance, Christiane speaks with director Shaka King and actress Dominique Fishback, who portrays Hampton’s girlfriend Deborah Johnson.

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio was just 18 months old when her parents left her behind in Ecuador to move to the U.S. Although the family was reunited a few years later, Karla still lives with the consequences of the move, and worries for other children who are without their parents. She joins Aarti Shahani to discuss her book "The Undocumented Americans."

In the Syrian town of Kobani, an all-female Kurdish militia defeated ISIS in 2014. This story is at the heart of the New York Times bestseller "The Daughters of Kobani." The book's author, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, joins the show alongside retired General John Allen, who led the global coalition against ISIS and was commander of international security forces in Afghanistan.

A $1.9 trillion stimulus package to help those hit hardest by the pandemic has passed the House of Representatives, clearing the first hurdle toward this top priority of President Biden's. Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan was among those who voted in favor of the plan. He speaks with Michel about his role in investigating the Capitol riot and the challenges in getting the COVID relief bill passed.

Novelist Kazuo Ishiguro is perhaps best known for his Booker Prize-winning period drama "The Remains of the Day" and his bestselling dystopian novel "Never Let Me Go." "Klara and the Sun" is his first novel since he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2017. Christiane speaks with Ishiguro about his wife and daughter -- his toughest and most valued critics -- and about what it is to be hu

Cuba’s remarkable achievement is now leading many to wonder what other medical advances it could share with the world. Candace Johnson is president and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York. She has worked closely with Cuban scientists to bring their lung cancer vaccine to the U.S. for trials.

Though wracked by shortages of bread and even pain medication, Cuba is on the cusp of a scientific breakthrough with its Sovereign 2 COVID-19 vaccine. Correspondent Patrick Oppman brings us this special report.

Global warming and the climate crisis call ever more urgently for dramatic action. But could our attempts at saving the environment end up exacerbating the problem? Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert's new book looks at some of the unique efforts to combat climate change. She speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about climate intervention ideas and their possible, unintended consequences.

On Friday, the White House released a declassified report on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate. The release prompted criticism of the Biden administration for not directly punishing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ben Hubbard is a biographer of the Crown Prince and the Beirut bureau chief for the New York Times. He joins the program to analyze the situation.

This weekend saw another brutal escalation in the crackdown on protesters in Myanmar, as people returned to the streets to protest the military coup. According to the United Nations, state security forces killed at least 18 protesters. The U.N.’s Special Envoy on Myanmar is Christine Schraner Burgener, and she joins the show from Switzerland.

Sunday's Golden Globes winners included numerous women, such as Chloe Zhao -- the first woman to win as Best Director since Barbra Streisand in 1984, and the first Asian woman ever to win this award -- for her film "Nomadland." Still, the Globes faced withering criticism for the lack of diversity among their nominees and in their own ranks. Nischelle Turner joins the program to discuss.

New York’s Governor Cuomo is under fire for his lack of transparency about the number of COVID-19 deaths in the state's nursing homes. While the governor insists there was no cover-up, he does acknowledge that the information should have been released sooner. Errol Louis, a seasoned political host for "Inside City Hall" on the NY1 channel, joins Michel Martin to discuss this unfolding story.

Documentary filmmaker Deirdre Fishel took her camera inside the Minneapolis Police Department to explore the question: Does the inclusion of women police officers on the force lead to better policing? The result is "Women in Blue" for the PBS series "Independent Lens." Fishel joins the show alongside CJ Johnson, a former MPD inspector who appears in the film.

News of last night's airstrike on Iran-backed militia groups in Syria would seem to further complicate America's diplomatic position in this volatile area. To assess the geopolitical implications of the intelligence report, Christiane speaks with former Republican Senator and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

It is official: in a newly declassified report, the U.S. government concludes the gruesome murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was approved by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In the aftermath of the report’s release, Christiane speaks with Khashoggi’s widow in an exclusive phone interview, and hears from of a longtime friend of Khashoggi, Sarah Leah Whitson.

Earlier this week Christiane spoke with Mohamedou Ould Slahi, the real life protagonist of an extraordinary story portrayed in the new film "The Mauritanian." He was detained for more than 14 years without charge at Guantanamo Bay. To delve deeper into the film, Christiane speaks with Mohamedou’s real life lawyer Nancy Hollander alongside actress Jodie Foster, who plays Hollander.