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

Giving “James” a Voice: Percival Everett on His Reimagining of Huck Finn

17m 35s

The work of Percival Everett landed in the spotlight when his novel "Erasure" was adapted into the film "American Fiction." Hard on the heels of its success, Everett is back with a new book. "James,” is a reimagining of "Huckleberry Finn," putting Jim, Huck’s enslaved sidekick, front and center. Everett joins the show to discuss how he gave the iconic character a powerful new voice.

National Security Expert: If Trump Loses Election, Expect Violence

18m 23s

Looking ahead to the 2024 election, some fear upheaval should Donald Trump lose again. National security expert Juliette Kayyem argues, "The government isn't ready for the violence Trump might unleash." She joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss what President Biden must do to plan for the worst.

Sen. Bernie Sanders: U.S. Must Threaten to Cut Off Funding for Israel

5m 33s

After October 7th, when Hamas murdered 1,200 Israelis, Senator Bernie Sanders spoke out in favor of Israel’s right to defend itself. Now he says Israel is violating international law, arguing that “the United States cannot continue to be complicit in the horror that is taking place now." Senator Sanders joins the program from Capitol Hill to discuss America’s politics at home and abroad.

Is There Selective Outrage With Who Dies in the Israel/Gaza Conflict?

15m 48s

The Gaza Ministry of Health reports a death count of 33,000 since October 7th. Author and global affairs journalist Emily Tamkin has been writing about this war for the online magazine Slate. Her most recent article explores the reaction to the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. Tamkin joins us to discuss why she believes this incident provoked worldwide condemnation.

Michael Douglas on “Franklin” and “Endangered” Democracies

17m 49s

A new Apple TV series turns back the clock on American foreign policy to someone many know as America’s first diplomat. "Franklin" tells the story of Benjamin Franklin's mission to France in 1776 to secure support for the American independence movement. Academy Award winner Michael Douglas speaks to us about taking on the role of a founding father.

AI Could Actually Help Rebuild the Middle Class, Says MIT Economist

17m 13s

As artificial intelligence catches on in America, fears of general unemployment are growing. Elon Musk called AI "the most disruptive force in history” and 75 percent of U.S. adults believe it will lead to job losses, according to a recent Gallup poll. But MIT Economics Professor David Autor says this fear is misplaced. He joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the opportunities AI could bring.

Mushroom Leather? 3D-Printed Homes on Mars? “A Brief History of the Future”

18m 1s

In a new documentary series, "A Brief History of the Future," renowned futurist Ari Wallach travels the world to meet the people finding solutions and laying the foundation for a better world for the generations to come. Ari Wallach joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss how we might become the great ancestors the future needs us to be.

New Book “The Exvangelicals:” Inside the Church and The Movement to Leave It

17m 59s

A national political correspondent for NPR, Sarah McCammon digs into her own past in her first book, “The Exvangelicals." In it she explains why many children of evangelicalism are growing up and fleeing the fold. She joined Michel Martin to discuss the increasing influence of evangelical Christians on right-wing U.S. politics.

Charlie Sykes: GOP, Toxic Narcissists and a Fundamentally Broken Congress

18m 13s

Congress is broken. So say staffers and an unprecedented number of elected representatives quitting mid-term. A recent survey by the nonprofit Congressional Management Foundation found that a large majority of senior staffers believe the legislative body is no longer functioning. Conservative political commentator Charlie Sykes joins Michel Martin to discuss "The Great Resignation."

Justice Breyer Says SCOTUS Risks Creating “A Constitution That No One Wants”

18m 21s

Interpreting the Constitution for modern America is of course the divisive legal dilemma of the times, and retired Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer tackles it head-on in his new book “Reading the Constitution,” which he speaks about with Walter Isaacson.

“The Anxious Generation” Author: Social Media Is Spreading Mental Illness

17m 52s

Smartphones and social media have taken a toll on young people's development. But one man has an idea about how to fix Gen Z. In his new book, "The Anxious Generation," social psychologist Jonathan Haidt investigates the sudden collapse of mental health among adolescents. The author joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss ways for parents to head off the damage.

IAEA Head on Iran’s Expansion of Its Nuclear Abilities

17m 6s

At a time of growing concern about Iran’s and China’s nuclear capabilities. In part two of this conversation with Walter Isaacson, the Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, discusses what we should and shouldn’t be worrying about.

Haitian Journalist: Half the Country in Hunger, Dead Bodies in the Street

18m 33s

Haiti is on the brink of collapse amid escalating gang violence. The U.N. reports a death toll of 1,500 so far this year. Widlore Mérancourt is a reporter at the Washington Post and editor-in-chief of the Haitian publication AyiboPost. He joins Hari Sreenivasan from Port-au-Prince to discuss the deteriorating situation.

Save the Children CEO from Gaza: “Starvation Is Already Happening”

17m 58s

A senior U.S. defense official says that there has been a "significant increase" in the amount of aid flowing into Gaza, with an average of 200 trucks entering a day — almost double what it was in February. However, according to a recent IPC report, Gaza is on the brink of famine. The situation is clearly desperate. Janti Soeripto, the head of Save the Children U.S., joins the show from Rafah.

Charles Duhigg on the Power of “Supercommunicators”

17m 37s

Communication is crucial in all of our daily lives: in the workplace, in our personal relationships and, more than ever, online. How can we communicate better? And how can we make that a force for positive change? Author Charles Duhigg explores these questions in his new book, "Supercommunicators,” and he discusses what he’s learned with Walter Isaacson.

Regina King on her New Netflix Film “Shirley”

18m 30s

The brand-new biopic "Shirley" spotlights the remarkable story of a presidential candidate and political trailblazer. Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to Congress, and in 1972 became the first to run for president. Academy Award-winning actor and director Regina King takes on the challenge of portraying this American icon. She joins Michel Martin to talk about it.

Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Gaza: A Look at U.S. Foreign Policy

18m 20s

As the prospect of a new Trump presidency casts a shadow over Ukraine's future on the battlefield, Michael Froman, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Walter Isaacson to discuss how shifts in U.S. foreign policy are resonating in Washington and beyond.

IAEA Head on Nuclear Weapons at “The Frontline of War”

18m 1s

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency discusses ongoing safety issues at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Rafael Grossi met with Putin earlier this month and is now in Brussels, where leaders gathered for the first-ever nuclear energy summit, and stressed the importance of the summit in the face of “undeniable tensions” around the globe.

Knesset Member: Gaza Crisis “Could Not Happen” Without U.S.

18m 19s

Left-wing Israeli lawmaker Ofer Cassif is a passionate opponent of West Bank settlement, and of Netanyahu's handling of the war. Cassif strongly believes a political solution is needed. He joins Michel Martin to explain why, and how, he survived a recent effort to impeach him.

"A Failure of Humanity:" IRC CEO on Impending Famine in Gaza

5m 58s

Israeli military action continues to devastate the civilian population in Gaza. A three-day siege of Al-Shifa Hospital is in progress despite the fact that thousands are sheltering there. The bombardment is pushing Gaza towards the brink of catastrophic hunger. David Miliband is President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and joins the show.

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