In focus tonight: Dr. Natalie Dougé, one of the subjects of the harrowing documentary "The First Wave," by director Matthew Heineman. The film takes viewers inside one of New York's hardest-hit hospitals. Dougé and Heineman join Hari Sreenivasan to share their memories from the early stages of the pandemic.

Rachel Vindman was thrust into the national spotlight after her husband, Alexander, blew the whistle on President Donald Trump's alleged abuses of power. In her new podcast, Vindman talks about her breakup with the Republican Party -- and a larger trend of suburban women following suit.

Billy Porter made his name as Lola in "Kinky Boots" before going on to become the first openly gay Black man to win an Emmy as lead actor for "Pose," and a key figure in the movement to de-gender fashion. Porter’s new autobiography, "Unprotected," is a powerful reflection on race, sexuality, art, and healing. He speaks about fame and grappling with the structures surrounding masculinity.

Carlos Santana is a musician who needs little introduction. His music blends a unique mix of rock, jazz and influences from his Mexican heritage. His band recently released their new album called “Blessings and Miracles.” He joins Walter Isaacson to explain what inspired this latest album and the people and experiences that shaped the artist he is today.

John McWhorter is a bestselling author and linguist, and he's out with a new book called "Woke Racism." Here he is with Walter Isaacson discussing his theory and solutions for a more just and equitable America.

The Washington Post has conducted an extensive investigation into January 6 called "The Attack: Before, During and After." It included more than 75 journalists and interviews with over 230 people, showing a firm commitment to establishing the facts. Michel Martin speaks with Post reporters Amy Gardner and Aaron Davis about the cascade of warnings received before January 6th.

The new Hulu drama "Dopesick" tells the story of Purdue Pharma's highly addictive painkiller Oxycontin and its tragic ripple effect on communities throughout the country. Actors Peter Sarsgaard and John Hoogenakker join Hari Sreenivasan to discuss their roles in the project and the urgency of the opioid crisis.

Best known as a correspondent for "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah," stand-up comic Roy Wood Jr. is noted for satire that confronts the tough topics head-on. His new hour-long special for Comedy Central, "Imperfect Messenger," takes on everything from race and police reform to mass shootings and celebrity activism. Here is Roy Wood Jr. talking to Hari Sreenivasan.

We take a look at how one man shook the foundations of American democracy by tearing up the Constitution in a time of deadly peril. Harvard Law professor and Bloomberg columnist Noah Feldman's new book "The Broken Constitution" examines President Lincoln’s thought processes as he rewrote the rulebook and grappled with challenges from both political rivals and passionate abolitionists.

Tsedale Lemma is an Ethiopian journalist and the founder of the Addis Standard magazine. She has testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has written for The New York Times. She joins the program to discuss what could come next for her country.

The father and daughter duo Chase and Tokata Iron Eyes were key figures in the 2016 protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. They speak with Hari Sreenivasan about how their tribe’s demonstrations moved the dial and why their fight for indigenous justice continues.

What is it like to walk alongside history? As Hillary Clinton's top aide, Huma Abedin knows all too well. She usually prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but Abedin’s private life became a public scandal around the actions of her then-husband, Anthony Weiner – a scandal that some say ultimately cost Clinton the presidency in 2016.

In a major shift today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would reverse course and include paid family and medical leave in the social spending package. One of the provision’s key backers is New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. She speaks with Michel Martin about how she plans to convince fellow Senator Joe Manchin to get on board.

The first major election since Biden took office has fueled speculation that the Democrats’ razor-slim congressional majorities are in danger, while Biden’s spending bills still hang in the balance. Those bills, says Janet Yellen, are critical for economic growth. The treasury secretary and former chair of the Federal Reserve is attending the climate summit, and joins the show from Glasgow.

Are last night’s election results an early verdict on the Biden presidency? That’s how some are framing it. The president won VA easily last year, but now voters have chosen a Republican governor, while the race in NJ was far closer than expected. To dig into all this, Bianna speaks with former Mitch McConnell advisor Scott Jennings and political analyst Larry Sabato.

Back in Glasgow, youth activists are urgently reminding world leaders of their responsibilities to future generations. Ugandan campaigner Vanessa Nakate has become a superstar for her work in the movement for climate justice, a struggle that she depicts in her new book, "A Bigger Picture: My Fight to Bring a New African Voice to the Climate Crisis." She joins the show from Glasgow.

Director of the National Institute of Health Dr. Francis Collins, who has guided the U.S. through the COVID-19 crisis, recently announced he will step down after 12 years and three presidents. He tells Walter Isaacson how vaccine resistance and conspiracy theories presented one of his most difficult challenges as director.

A U.S.-led alliance at the COP26 summit has pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% by the end of the decade. The pledge is non-binding, but it is being touted as an early win for this climate summit and for its host -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He sat down with Christiane for an exclusive interview from the summit.

The urgency at this year's COP26 summit is palpable, and few are more aware of this than former Secretary of State and President Biden's climate tsar John Kerry. Kerry sits with Christiane to discuss efforts to lower carbon emissions in India and China.

At the COP26 summit today, there was a passionate plea from Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Her tiny nation is among those bearing the brunt of climate change. She’s calling on rich nations and major polluters to step up and help nations like hers. Mottley joined Christiane for a frank discussion in Glasgow after she addressed the plenary of national leaders.