Amanpour and Company

News and Public Affairs Series / 2 Seasons

Featuring conversations with global leaders and decision makers on the issues affecting the world today, Amanpour and Company adds to the long tradition of public affairs programming that has been a hallmark of public media for decades.

Watch: S2023 E6121

26m 46s

Tariq Trotter Opens Up About Childhood and Forming The Roots

18m 22s

Tariq Trotter, better known as Black Thought, is a Grammy Award-winning artist and co-founder of The Roots. Music critics place him among the greatest rappers of all time. Now Black Thought is out with a memoir reflecting on his life -- from childhood tragedy and loss to finding solace and freedom in the arts. The book is called "The Upcycled Self" and he joins Hari to discuss it.

Republican Voters “More Abortion Friendly” Than We Thought

17m 54s

Abortion has been a central issue in American politics ever since Roe v. Wade gave women the right to choose in 1973. The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court will be a major issue in the 2024 Presidential election. Liz Mair is a GOP strategist and she joins us to discuss the fallout for Republicans at the ballot box.

Why a Rabbi Resigned From Harvard’s Antisemitism Committee

16m 58s

Harvard University's highest governing body announced that Claudine Gay will remain as president. This follows an uproar about the university's handling of antisemitism on campus, and controversial testimony on the matter in front of Congress. Rabbi David Wolpe was on Harvard’s Antisemitism Advisory Group, but resigned over what he calls the university's failure to take its advice.

If Trump Wins: "Inviting the Dark Ages Across the Planet"

16m 1s

Jeffrey Goldberg is Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic. He recently launched a special edition of the magazine, warning of the grave and extreme consequences if Trump were to become president again. He tells the show why a second term would be even more dangerous than the first.

Fmr NSC Official: Halting US Aid Means “Ukraine Loses"

17m 1s

With wars raging around the world, American foreign policy is in the spotlight. It's something Kori Schake says should be an urgent priority for the United States. Her latest piece for the magazine Foreign Affairs outlines her vision for a Republican foreign policy, as she explains to Walter Isaacson.

Jefferson Davis Wasn’t Tried, Why It Matters In Trump Case

18m 42s

Donald Trump made history as the first U.S. president to be criminally indicted. But he is not the first ex-president to undergo prosecution. In her latest piece for The New Yorker, Jill Lepore argues that the failure of the American government to prosecute Jefferson Davis, former president of the Confederacy, more than 150 years ago, could hold lessons for America as Trump awaits

Tom Hanks on His Documentary Experience "The Moonwalkers"

5m 28s

A new immersive documentary experience takes us back 55 years to the story of the Apollo space program and the first of humankind to walk on the moon. "The Moonwalkers" was narrated and co-written by Tom Hanks, alongside writer-director Christopher Riley. Christiane joined them at the exhibition to discuss what inspired this project.

Houston Cut Homelessness by 60%: How the U.S Can Follow

18m 3s

Homelessness is an ongoing problem in the United States and around the world. According to Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times, the city of Houston may have found a solution. For his latest piece Kristof visited Houston and Dallas to learn how both cities are addressing the issue. He tells Hari Sreenivasan he found differing levels of success.

Fmr State Dept Official on His Decision to Leave After Oct 7

5m 31s

Soon after October 7, Josh Paul resigned from the State Department in protest of what he called unscrutinized U.S. arms transfers to Israel. In his resignation letter, Paul said the Israeli response and American support "will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.”

Inside Puerto Rico’s Crumbling Healthcare System

18m 2s

Puerto Rico is in the midst of a healthcare crisis after a series of natural disasters hit its rapidly aging population. The Washington Post's Arelis Hernández writes that "more people are dying in Puerto Rico as its healthcare system crumbles." Hernández tells Hari Sreenivasan that Puerto Rico's crisis could be a warning of what's to come in the United States.

“Dying Broke” Reporters on Long Term Care

18m 12s

End-of-life care in the United States is an emotional topic. Many are pushed into financial ruin by the imperatives of long-term care. Reporters Reed Abelson (New York Times) and Jordan Rau (KFF Health News) talked to dozens of families and experts about the reality of caring for the aged and dying in a country with no coherent elder care system.

Walter Isaacson on the Life and Legacy of Henry Kissinger

5m 29s

Henry Kissinger, one of the most famous American Secretaries of State, died on Wednesday at 100. Kissinger wielded great diplomatic power. But he was reviled by many for the bombing of Cambodia and the rise of repressive regimes in Latin America. Historian and journalist Walter Isaacson, author of “Kissinger,” knows Kissinger’s life story inside and out and joins Bianna to reflect on his life.

Youmna ElSayed on Being a Reporter and a Mom in Wartime

19m 8s

Living conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate as the World Health Organization warns that more people could die from disease than from bombings. Youmna ElSayed, an Al Jazeera English correspondent in Gaza and mother of four, has been reporting – and experiencing personally – these conditions. Michel Martin asked her what it’s like working as a journalist while navigating day-to-day survival.

Tom Nichols on Trump’s Recent Rhetoric

17m 52s

In a new article for The Atlantic, staff writer Tom Nichols sounds the alarm on former President Trump’s fascist rhetoric. In his article “Trump Crosses a Crucial Line," Nichols lays out his increasing concern about the language showing up in Trump's speeches -- language which Nichols argues is aligning more and more with the history and methods of fascism. He joins Michel Martin to discuss.

“Rustin” Brings a Civil Rights Hero Out of the Shadows

17m 41s

The new Netflix film "Rustin" tells the story of a man central to the civil rights movement, but relatively unknown today. Bayard Rustin was a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, a confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., and a tireless advocate for equality. Lead actor Colman Domingo speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about the film.

Roxane Gay on Her New Essay Collection "Opinions"

17m 47s

Roxane Gay, best-selling author and contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, has been sharing her thoughts on a wide range of topics since 2014. She recently published a compilation of her works in the new book “Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business.” Gay joined Michel Martin to discuss the power of speech.

Roger Ross Williams’ Work Is Personal

18m 47s

The film industry is still falling short on diverse representation, both onscreen and off-screen. According to UCLA's latest report, only 16% of last year's top Hollywood releases were directed by people of color. Roger Ross Williams was the first African American director to win an Oscar. He now has a collection of Emmy and Peabody awards to his credit, but his journey has been an uphill battle.

Holocaust Survivor Nina Gottlieb Breaks 80 Years of Silence

16m 35s

The Israel-Hamas war has caused a global spike in hate crime. Filmmaker Daniel Lombroso's latest film, “Nina & Irena," follows his interviews with his Holocaust-surviving grandmother, who reveals that her older sister perished during the war. Hari Sreenivasan spoke to them both about the importance of this film and its release in the world of today.

Attorney: Elon Musk’s X “Is Unable to Rein in Hate"

17m 52s

In times of war, disinformation and extremist rhetoric can spread like wildfire. Tech mogul Elon Musk is often criticized for fanning the flames on his platform X. Recently, Musk personally endorsed an antisemitic post. Nora Benavidez, senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights at Free Press, joins the show to discuss why content moderation is crucial for democracy.

Life After “Maid:" Stephanie Land on Her New Book “Class”

18m 22s

Author Stephanie Land became an overnight sensation with her debut memoir "Maid," a long, hard look at her impoverished beginnings and the trials she faced as a single parent. Her book became a bestseller and was turned into a hugely successful Netflix series. Now Land is back with a sequel, "Class," which picks up her story where "Maid" left off.

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