How does this year's DNC fit in with the history of party conventions past? Doris Kearns Goodwin is perhaps the nation's best known presidential historian. For decades she has studied the highest office in the land -- and at one time viewed it from up close, as a young aide to Lyndon Baines Johnson. She recently wrote the book "Leadership in Turbulent Times" and she joins Christiane from Boston.

Political conventions are the stage upon which Presidential candidates need to employ one skill above all others: the art of persuasion. Jonah Berger, Professor at the Wharton School of Business, is an expert on such matters. His latest book, "The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone's Mind," argues that removing barriers is the key to changing the way people think. He speaks with Hari Sreenivasan.

The Democratic National Conventionmade history this week when Kamala Harris officially accepted the nomination to be Joe Biden’s running mate -- making her the first Black woman and the first Asian American on a major party ticket. One who helped pave the way for this moment is Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman to become a U.S. senator. She joins the show to discuss the significance.

In 2018, at the remarkable age of 23, Tyler Mitchell became the first Black cover photographer in the 126-year history of Vogue Magazine. His cover girl? None other than Beyoncé. Now at the grand old age of 25, he has released a new book entitled “I Can Make You Feel Good.” Mitchell sits down with Christiane to discuss his sources of inspiration, and the role of racial identity in his work.

Pramila Jayapal was the first South Asian woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. Congresswoman Jayapal, an outspoken progressive member of the Democratic Party, has referred to her strong bond with Harris. She joins the show to discuss the future of her party and her country.

Michael Chertoff served as Secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush and speaks with Michel Martin about the looming specter of yet more election interference.

Tensions have heightened between Greece and Turkey over oil exploration in the Mediterranean and reports of a crackdown on migrants seeking refuge in Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joins Christiane to discuss the state of his country.

COVID-19 may have forced a virtual delivery of Joe Biden's Party nomination acceptance speech, but we can still get a unique perspective on the Democratic candidate with Ron Klain. He served as President Obama’s Ebola czar. Before that, Klain was Vice President Biden’s chief of staff and remains one of his closest advisers. Klain speaks with Walter Isaacson about the election and the pandemic.

In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko still clings to power after claiming victory in elections that were widely condemned as fraudulent. The EU is calling for new elections – something Lukashenko says won’t happen, unless “you kill me.” But his support seems to be slipping away. The country’s ambassador to Slovakia has tendered his resignation and joins the program from Bratislava.

On Day Three of the Democratic National Convention, the party is continuing to make a case for change. Decency and normalcy are the pitch leading up to Joe Biden’s big speech on Thursday, but the convention itself is highly unconventional: speeches via videoconference and keynotes by 17 speakers rather than just one. DNC chair Tom Perez joins the show to discuss his party's platform.

At their unconventional convention, the Democrats are sending a clear message: The stakes -- for the country and for the world -- have never been higher. John Kerry knows what it is to be a Democratic nominee battling a Republican incumbent, having faced off against President George W. Bush in 2004. He joins the program to weigh in on this year's convention and current events.

Apart from its format, the most striking feature of this Democratic National Convention is its unity. Joe Biden’s former rivals are standing up to show their support, including Sen. Cory Booker, whose own campaign for the nomination was all about reconciliation. As he prepares to speak on the final night of the convention, Sen. Booker joins the show to reflect on the stakes in this election.

Throughout history, the party conventions have generated moments that still burn bright to this day. As veteran journalists for CBS and Time Magazine respectively, Dan Rather and Margaret Carlson are perfectly placed to curate a retrospective of conventions past. They speak with Walter Isaacson about some of the standout moments in their memories.

This week marks the start of a political convention unlike any other, as the Democratic National Convention gets underway – via videoconference. Speakers are drawn from a roster of high-profile Democratic names, but there are Republicans in the mix too. Most prominent among them is former Governor of Ohio John Kasich, who is crossing the aisle to make his argument for Joe Biden.

Amid a global pandemic, with a polarized political electorate, and with protesters crowding the streets, one wonders if the American Era might be coming to an end. Wade Davis certainly would argue that it is. In a recent article for "Rolling Stone," he wrote about COVID-19 as a factor in “the unraveling of America." Davis shares his thoughts with Hari Sreenivasan.

In the new documentary "Coup 53," Taghi Amirani details how the CIA conspired with Britain’s MI6 to overthrow Iran’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh. Amirani joins the show alongside his co-writer, legendary Hollywood editor and sound engineer Walter Murch.

The peace deal struck yesterday between Israel and highlights the shifting political dynamics in the region. With the possibility of a signing ceremony taking place at the White House in the coming weeks, President Trump gets a foreign policy boost during a tough re-election campaign. To discuss the new peace agreement and the latest domestic challenges, Christiane speaks with Jared Kushner.

Iran has denounced the deal between Israel and the UAE, calling it strategically stupid, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has deemed it “an aggression on the Palestinian people.” But European powers like France have called it a “positive step.” To discuss the deal and its impact in the region, Christiane speaks with the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash.

Global approval of U.S. foreign policy has taken a hit during the Trump presidency, according to multiple polls. Could the deal between Israel and the UAE mark a shift on this front? To assess this and U.S. foreign policy more broadly, Christiane speaks with two experts, Vali Nasr and Marietje Schaake.

South Carolina could possibly break precedent this election year. For the past 17 years, the state has been red through and through, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham running virtually unchallenged – until now. Jaime Harrison, the first African American Democratic contender for the South Carolina senate seat, joins the program from the state capital.