The United Nations General Assembly week has kicked off in New York amid a tense global climate. France’s foreign minister is accusing the U.S., Australia and Britain of stabbing his country in the back with their recent deal on nuclear-powered submarines. To discuss all this, Christiane speaks exclusively with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

After the U.S. and NATO left Afghanistan, other governments are trying to figure out how to deal with the Taliban. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is just back from a three day trip there and is sounding the alarm bells. He joins the show from the United Nations to explain how desperate the humanitarian situation has become.

Rising star Yola was born and raised in Bristol on England’s west coast, but her love of great classic pop inspired her to set down roots in Nashville. Her first album out of that city, "Walk with Fire," earned her four Grammy nominations, and her latest album," Stand for Myself," is on course to break out even bigger. She joins the show from Nashville.

Journalist Evan Osnos has spent much of his career covering global turmoil for The New Yorker. In his new book, he turns his attention to his home country. In "Wildland: The Making of America’s Fury," Osnos compares the U.S. to a dried-out forest, where – after years of political and institutional failure – a single spark can erupt into a raging inferno.

SpaceX made history this week with the launch of Inspiration4, the first-ever all-civilian mission to orbit the Earth. This milestone initiative offers a glimpse into the future of space exploration, and few are better qualified to speak on the new era than NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. The former senator is one of just a handful of members of Congress ever to travel to space, as he explains to

The World Health Organization is making an urgent plea for global vaccine equality, as rich nations post vaccination rates more than 60 times higher than those of poorer countries. According to Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, wealthy countries must commit to a “new global charter” in order for humanity to overcome the challenges ahead. He joins the show.

Are Americans being consumed by discontent? Vaccine mandates, abortion laws, and disagreement about the very notion of freedom are widening the political divide. What does all this mean for the pursuit of happiness? It’s the focus of Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will’s new book, and he speaks with Walter Isaacson about his insights on resentment in today’s America.

A new film, "A La Calle," zeroes in on ordinary people in Venezuela and their daily struggle to find food and medicine and to earn the money they need to get by. Featured in the film is exiled opposition leader Leopoldo López, who spent more than three years in prison for speaking out against President Maduro. He joins the show from Madrid, where he and his family are seeking asylum.

Instagram says it's looking to discourage users from focusing on their physical appearance in the wake of a major Wall Street Journal investigation, which revealed that researchers repeatedly found the app was toxic for teenage girls in particular, yet publicly downplayed its mental health implications. Georgia Wells reported the story for the WSJ and is joined by tech ethicist Tristan Harris.

Extreme weather events have laid bare the threats posed by the climate crisis, yet while activists rally to save the planet, many of them face increasing violence. 227 environmental activists were murdered last year, according to Global Witness, which says most of the killings happened in Latin America. Global Witness CEO Mike Davis and activist Margarita Campuzano join the program to discuss.

Gavin Newsom beat a recall challenge last night, in part by emphasizing his commitment to mask and vaccine mandates. It’s a stark contrast to Republican governors in states like Texas and Florida. Former GOP strategist and Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt says their anti-science stance is a selfish ploy to woo the far right. Schmidt joins Michel Martin to discuss the current climate.

Many wealthy nations are preparing to start rolling out booster shots. In the UK, the most vulnerable will be offered a third dose from next week, while in the U.S., the Biden administration is pushing to make them widely available by Monday. Yet in poorer countries, many are still waiting for their first shot. Dr. Hans Kluge joins Christiane to discuss vaccine inequity.

Colin Kaepernick helped ignite a movement when he took a knee during the national anthem, a silent protest against police brutality and racial inequality in America. Sports writer Dave Zirin examines the lasting impact of this moment in his new book, "The Kaepernick Effect," as he explains to Hari Sreenivasan.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali risked jail, being stripped of his titles and financial ruin, all to defend his faith and Black rights. Now his legend has drawn the eye of award-winning historian and filmmaker Ken Burns, whose new documentary traces the arc of Ali’s life and the history he lived.

Tennis can be a hard and solitary sport, so it’s no wonder that center court has become a beacon for vital conversations around mental health. Seven-time Grand Slam Champion John McEnroe knows all about the pressures of the game. He joins Christiane to react to this year's tournament and reflect on his career.

The U.S. is racking up 1,500 COVID-19 deaths each day, almost entirely among the unvaccinated. Anti-vaxxers are finding success by zeroing in on the word “freedom,” a usage explored in a recent New York Times piece by science journalist Tara Haelle. She joins the show alongside infectious disease specialist Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo.

North Korea is claiming a successful test-firing of new cruise missiles, bringing renewed focus to the Korean peninsula. It’s a region Matt Pottinger knows well, having reported extensively from Asia as a journalist before he became deputy national security advisor to President Trump. Pottinger speaks with Walter Isaacson about the threat to the region and why he resigned from the White House.

68-year-old Kenneth Chamberlain was at his home in White Plains, New York, when he accidentally triggered his medical alert device, prompting a visit from the police. What should have been a simple check-in ended with Chamberlain's death. A new film takes viewers through his final hours. Morgan Freeman, the executive producer, joins the show alongside Kenneth Chamberlain, Jr. and Frankie Faison.

On the morning of 9/11, FDNY Assistant Chief Joe Pfeifer led his firefighters to investigate a possible gas leak reported in downtown Manhattan. He had no idea what was coming. Pfeifer documented his experience as the first fire chief to reach Ground Zero in his memoir, "Ordinary Heroes." He spoke to Hari Sreenivasan about the day everything changed.

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, as chief of staff to the Secretary of State, helped prepare the now infamous 2003 speech at the U.N. Security Council in which Secretary Powell falsely claimed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. The speech led the U.S. into Iraq and left Wilkerson with a lifetime of regrets. Wilkerson joins the program to discuss.