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

Wagner Group: The Private Army Fighting Putin’s War

17m 55s

There are new signs that the battle in Ukraine is encroaching on Russian territory. The Kremlin are calling the situation in Belgrod "alarming" after a strike wounded four people. The Russian war effort has so far relied heavily on the Wagner Group. Professor Candace Rondeaux is an expert on on this paramilitary organization. She joins us to discuss its influence on the war.

Stacey Abrams on Her New Novel and the State of Democracy

5m 55s

Activist Stacey Abrams, former Democratic candidate for Georgia governor, is continuing her quest to make democracy stronger in the United States. With the 2024 presidential election drawing near, Abrams is on a mission to make voting free and fair, after her 2020 push in Georgia paid off for the Democrats. She joins discusses her latest thriller "Rogue Justice" and the state of American politics.

Héctor Tobar Debunks the Myth of Latino Passivity

18m 6s

A new book explores the Latino experience and identity in modern America. "Our Migrant Souls" by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor Héctor Tobar draws on his own experience as the son of Guatemalan immigrants and what he calls the pain, confusion and pride of being Latino. He talks about fallacies in the conversation on race, harmful stereotypes in the media and teaching Latinx students.

Personalized AI Tutors? Sal Khan on Transforming Education

17m 9s

The dangers of AI have prompted global calls for regulation, but Sal Khan also sees an upside, and says AI is potentially “the biggest positive transformation that education has ever seen.” He’s the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, an online tutoring service that recently piloted an AI tutor and teaching assistant. He tells Walter Isaacson how he thinks AI can supercharge world-class education.

New Report: Abortion Bans Cause Serious Medical Harm

18m 6s

South Carolina’s governor has just signed into law a bill banning abortions after six weeks, making South Carolina the latest state to tighten its grip on abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned last June. Now a new study, "Care Post-Roe," reveals that laws blocking female reproductive rights are putting lives at risk. The co-authors of the report discuss with Michel Martin.

Uvalde Survivor's Parents: She Was "Robbed of Her Childhood"

16m 28s

Today marks 1 year since 19 elementary school children and 2 teachers were killed in Uvalde, Texas. While the security failures that enabled the attack are still under study, Caitlyne Gonzales, a 10-year-old survivor, has been speaking out against gun violence in the hope that similar tragedies can be prevented. Her parents speak with Hari about their daughter and the community's ongoing recovery.

Can DeSantis Beat Trump? Rich Lowry Weighs In

18m 39s

Candidates are stepping up to be recognized in the Republican presidential race, but so far, the GOP primary field is still dominated by former president Donald Trump. Rich Lowry, editor-in-chief of the conservative editorial magazine National Review, tells Walter Isaacson what it will take for a Republican candidate to beat Trump to the 2024 nomination.

Congressional Stock Trading Under Scrutiny

18m 2s

Congressional insider trading was outlawed in 2012. But this law has not stopped members of Congress from buying and selling shares of companies affected by the legislation they write. Reporter Rebecca Ballhaus, a Pulitzer Prize winner, has reported extensively on the issue and joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the moves underway to hold lawmakers and government employees accountable.

WWII Historian Says G7 Leaders Need to Remember the Lessons

17m 31s

Hiroshima, site of the G-7 summit, remains a living reminder of the unthinkable horror of using nuclear weapons....often bandied about these days as legitimate battlefield armament. In his new book, Evan Thomas concludes the United States had no other option than to drop the atomic bombs on Japan.

Fmr. Amb. to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch on the Ukraine War

17m 23s

Marie Yovanovitch served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine after Moscow invaded Crimea. Removed from the post by President Trump, Yovanovitch later testified in his first impeachment trial about the withholding of U.S. aid from Ukraine. She joins Walter Isaacson to discuss how this war can end and why the West must not repeat the mistakes of Crimea.

Scholar Says SCOTUS Could Become a “Pointless Institution"

18m 4s

Growing numbers of Americans no longer trust the Supreme Court, and Stephen Vladeck argues that part of the reason is the rise of the so-called “shadow docket.” This refers to cases that are decided quickly, without written opinions or oral arguments. In his new book, Vladeck traces the transformation of the Supreme Court. He explains all to Hari Sreenivasan.

Mayor of El Paso: The U.S. Immigration System Is “Broken”

15m 49s

Days after the expiration of Title 42, migrant crossings at the southern U.S. border show a slight decrease, but officials are still preparing for a potential surge. The mayor of El Paso, Oscar Leeser, declared a state of emergency as the pandemic-era policy was coming to an end. He joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the situation at the border.

The Future of Jobs: The Impacts of AI, the Green Transition

17m 30s

The World Economic Forum has published its latest employment report, showing that 25% of jobs are expected to change in the next four years. With AI and automation altering the landscape, what might the future hold for workers? To discuss sectors that may expect to see the most significant change, WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi joins Hari Sreenivasan.

U.S. Surgeon General on America’s Epidemic of Loneliness

16m 36s

Even though the COVID-19 global health emergency is officially over, the U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy is warning the U.S. faces a loneliness epidemic in its wake. Vivek Murthy joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss his mission to foster a culture of human connection.

Caitlin Dickerson on the Expiration of Title 42

5m 54s

We unpack the expiration of Title 42 and the impact on those entering the U.S. illegally with journalist Caitlin Dickerson, who recently won a Pulitzer Prize for her extensive reporting on immigration.

Amb. Tai: “We’ve Got to Change Our Approach” to Trade

16m 30s

China’s foreign minister has called for stabilizing relations with the U.S., amid the possibility of a meeting to reset economic ties between the two countries later this month. Amb. Katherine Tai serves as the U.S. Trade Representative and is the child of Chinese immigrants. Tai joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the Biden administration’s approach to trade and how her heritage influences her work.

Ashlee Vance on the Race "to Put Space Within Reach”

18m 10s

Next to space, where the modern-day fight for the skies could turn science fiction into reality. It’s the tech boom that promises to take over, as private companies compete in the race to commercialize space. It’s all chronicled in Ashlee Vance’s new book "When the Heavens Went on Sale, and he joins Walter Isaacson to explain this new era of exploration.

Geoffrey Hinton Warns of the “Existential Threat” of AI

17m 54s

Geoffrey Hinton is considered the godfather of Artificial Intelligence and made headlines with his recent departure from Google. He quit to speak freely and raise awareness of the risks of AI. To dive deeper into the dangers and how to manage them, he joins Hari Sreenivasan.

Gretchen Morgenson: Private Equity Runs and Wrecks America

17m 50s

According to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gretchen Morgenson, elite Wall Street financiers are undermining the country’s economy for their own benefit. In her latest book, Morgenson traces the history of corporate takeovers and the private equity companies that cause newly acquired companies to be burdened with debt. The author speaks on the impact of all this on American workers.

Global Hunger Hits Crisis Levels: WFP's Cindy McCain

5m 43s

At the helm of the World Food Programme during this tense time is Cindy McCain, former ambassador and widow of Senator John McCain. She’s just one month into the job, and the challenges go way beyond Sudan. The number of people facing acute food insecurity worldwide has more than doubled to 345 million since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, regional conflict, and climate change.

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