Amanpour and Company

News and Public Affairs Series / 3 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

Trump, Antisemitism, Art: A Conversation with Tony Kushner

18m 42s

A film Tony Kushner co-wrote nearly 20 years ago is getting a second look amid this war: Stephen Spielberg’s "Munich." It’s the story of the assassination of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Olympic Games -- and Israel’s secret mission to hunt down and eliminate each of the assassins. Kushner discusses the war, antisemitism and the role of art in this climate.

The Unseen Faces of Jan. 6

17m 59s

Almost three years after a mob of insurgents stormed the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6 continues to hang over American democracy. According to polling, Republicans are more sympathetic to the rioters and more loyal to Donald Trump than they were in 2021. Robert Pape is Director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats. He joins Walter Isaacson to discuss how political violence has become mainstream.

Jennifer Doudna on FDA Approval of First CRISPR Treatments

18m 9s

More than a decade ago, pioneering biochemist Jennifer Doudna co-invented CRISPR, the gene editing technology which earned her the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Now, the very first treatment based on CRISPR has been approved in the U.K. and the U.S., a landmark decision for the treatment of sickle cell disease and for the potential of this rapidly advancing field. Dr. Doudna joins to discuss.

Lenny Kravitz on His New Song "Road to Freedom"

5m 17s

After 35 years in the music business and four Grammy Awards, soulful superstar Lenny Kravitz is now eyeing Oscar glory as his new song "Road to Freedom" hits the shortlist. It was written for the acclaimed film "Rustin," which tells the story of pioneering civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Lenny Kravitz joins the program to discuss all this -- and new projects on the horizon.

Grammy Winner Rhiannon Giddens on Her New Album

18m 11s

Rhiannon Giddens is currently carving out an impressive legacy as a singer, songwriter, banjo player and actress who keeps adding strings to her bow. "You’re the One" is the title of her latest Grammy-nominated release and her first full album of original songs. She received the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her opera "Omar." Giddens joins the show to discuss her unstoppable career.

Do People Really Hate the Media? A Suprising New Study

16m 43s

With an upcoming U.S. presidential election and ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, trust in news organizations is commonly assumed to be at record lows. Jennifer Benz and Mariana Meza Hernandez from NORC at the University of Chicago speak to Michel Martin about a recent op-ed for The Washington Post, "Actually, people don't hate the media as much as you think."

Renée Fleming on Her Kennedy Center Honor

17m 48s

It’s the prize of a lifetime, even for the most honored of performers. World-renowned opera star Renée Fleming was recognized in the prestigious 2023 Kennedy Center Honors, alongside Billy Crystal, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick. The Grammy Award-winning singer talked to Michel Martin about that meaningful moment, her illustrious career, and her surprising love of science.

Masha Gessen Responds to Controversy Over Gaza Comments

17m 59s

Masha Gessen recently was awarded the prestigious Hannah Arendt Prize for Political Thought — in a scaled-back ceremony after a very public spat. The author and staff writer at The New Yorker faced backlash after comparing Gaza to Nazi-era Jewish ghettos in the essay "In the Shadow of the Holocaust." Gessen joined Michel Martin to discuss the difficulty of exercising critical thought.

Adam Driver on Playing Enzo Ferrari in New Biopic

5m 30s

In Modena, Italy, the 1950s were a time when motor racing was a particularly deadly pursuit. Director Michael Mann’s "Ferrari" follows the travails of company patriarch Enzo Ferrari as he deals with the death of his son and struggles to ensure the survival of his organization, even as the bodies pile up. Christiane spoke with actor Adam Driver about the making of the film.

David Brooks on Facing Harsh Times with “Defiant Humanism"

17m 14s

In his new book "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen," David Brooks asks if it’s time to reassess how to foster stronger connections at home, at work and throughout our lives. He joins the show to explore what it means to practice empathy in an increasingly lonely world.

Half the World Has Elections in 2024 & Democracy Is at Stake

18m 12s

As 2023 comes to a close, we look to a new year that is set to bring a world of challenges -- from turmoil in the Middle East and war in Ukraine to growing tensions over Taiwan, and more than half the global population heading to the polls. Deputy Editor of The Economist Tom Standage joins the show to discuss his article "The Ten Trends to Watch in 2024" and the "World Ahead 2024" series.

How Will SCOTUS Rule On Donald Trump’s Jan. 6. Legal Case?

18m 5s

The U.S. Supreme Court is facing several landmark cases while their approval ratings remain at a record low. Professor of law Stephen Vladek joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the cases attracting attention -- from the trials awaiting Donald Trump to a vital reproductive rights decision -- and whether we are witnessing a constitutional crisis in the nation's highest court.

Inside One of the Worst Leaks in U.S. History

18m 5s

21-year-old guardsman Jack Teixeira allegedly shared hundreds of classified documents online. He’s currently pleading not guilty as he awaits trial. The new Frontline documentary "The Discord Leaks" explores how the gaming platform became a center not only for security breaches, but also for unmoderated extremism. Washington Post investigative reporters Samuel Oakford and Shane Harris discuss.

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.

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