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

Michael Specter on "Higher Animals" & the Biotech Revolution

18m 1s

The COVID-19 vaccine was made possible by breakthrough MRNA technology -- just one development in an ongoing scientific revolution. New Yorker writer Michael Specter is the author of a new audiobook, "Higher Animals: Vaccines, Synthetic Biology, and the Future of Life." He speaks with Walter Isaacson about the possibilities and the risks of these latest scientific breakthroughs.

Financial Expert on the Collapse of SVB and Credit Suisse

17m 57s

Banking stocks were hammered again this week by anxiety we haven’t seen since the 2008 global financial crisis. Confidence has crumbled since the collapse of two regional U.S. banks, resulting in last-minute emergency measures to bail out Credit Suisse. The Federal Reserve nudged interest rates higher on Wednesday, calling the situation "uncertain." Walter Isaacson speaks with William Cohan.

Fmr. Google CEO Eric Schmidt on the AI Revolution

17m 52s

Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. How it is being applied—and, perhaps more importantly, regulated—are now the crucial questions to ask. Walter Isaacson speaks with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt about A.I.’s impact on life, politics, and warfare, as well as what can be done to keep it under control.

Over 400 Anti-LGBTQ Bills Proposed in 2023

18m 21s

In Uganda, the parliament applauded passage of a bill making it illegal to identify as LGBTQ. In the U.S., the Georgia legislature just passed the latest in a string of anti-trans bills. Imara Jones is the founder of TransLash Media, an independent news site focusing on transgender issues. She breaks down what’s behind the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ laws across America and around the world.

Sarah McCammon on Reproductive Rights in the U.S.

16m 41s

Any day now, a judge is going to decide whether an abortion pill which has been approved for years should be outlawed in America. If it is, critics say 40 million women would lose access to the drug mifepristone. NPR reporter Sarah McCammon joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the fate of reproductive rights in America.

Did Pres. Bush’s Invasion of Iraq Pave the Way for Trump?

17m 54s

Former president Bush has never admitted his war was a mistake, but the same cannot be said for some of his former officials. Professor Melvyn Leffler raises the issues of responsibility and accountability in his new book, "Confronting Saddam Hussein: George W. Bush and the Invasion of Iraq." He discusses with Walter Isaacson.

New Research on Long COVID

17m 53s

This month marks the third anniversary since coronavirus became a global pandemic and the world went into lockdown. Millions still suffer the symptoms of Long COVID-19, a condition doctors are trying urgently to understand. In a new piece for Scientific American, neuroscientist Stephani Sutherland says, “Long COVID now looks like a neurological disease."

Over 70K Afghan Allies in U.S. Are at Risk of Deportation

18m 12s

Afghan refugees who managed to escape to the U.S. face the real prospect they may be shipped back to live under the Taliban’s thumb. The Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill to extend their stay in the U.S., is stalled in Congress. If it fails, almost 80,000 Afghan evacuees risk their freedom and their lives. Krish Vignarajah is a refugee herself and runs the Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service.

Can You Become a Master? Adam Gopnik Says Try It

17m 43s

Next we turn to the art of achieving greatness. How do the experts reach for excellence -- and attain it? The answers may be found in bestselling author Adam Gopnik’s new book, "The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery," in which he studies the methods of the masters in a variety of fields -- from art and dance to magic, boxing, and even driving instruction.

Obesity Doctor on Everything You Need to Know About Ozempic

17m 44s

Now we turn to a drug that our next guest says could “change the conversation” about an often stigmatized medical condition. Nearly 2.3 billion people globally – and more than two in five American adults – hover between overweight and obese. But with the help of breakthrough weight loss drugs, Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford is seeing some patients lose as much as 16% in weight.

Why the COVID-19 Lab-Leak Theory Has New Credibility

17m 37s

A hearing on Capitol Hill this week explored the potential causes of the COVID-19 outbreak. Jamie Metzl, who attended the hearing, warned U.S. lawmakers to not dismiss the hypothesis that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab. He speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about the importance of examining this theory.

Michael R. Gordon on the New Era of "Great Power" Conflict

18m 13s

The world could be entering an era of great power conflict, with the United States in a face-off against China and Russia. Michael R. Gordon, the Wall Street Journal's national security correspondent, has reported on the U.S. military for decades. He tells Walter Isaacson why he believes the United States is unready for such a conflict and needs to come up with new ways of waging war.

EXCLUSIVE: An American Imprisoned in Iran Pleads For Help

5m 58s

Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi has been imprisoned in Iran's notorious Evin Prison for seven years. In an exclusive interview, he tells Christiane that he desperately needs President Biden's help.

Are the Humanities in Crisis?

18m 5s

In the decade following 2008, the share of people in the U.S. graduating with bachelor's degrees in humanities dropped by a third. What's at play here, and why does it matter? Andrew Delbanco is a professor of American studies at Columbia University and the recipient of a National Humanities Medal from President Obama. He discusses the importance of reversing the humanities decline.

Adrienne LaFrance on "The New Anarchy"

17m 38s

In recent years, domestic violent extremism has been designated a national priority by the Department of Homeland Security. Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor of The Atlantic, traces political violence in the U.S. over the past century in her latest article. She joins Walter Isaacson to discuss what's different about "the new anarchy."

COVID-19 Three Years Later: How A Vaccine Was Created

17m 8s

Three years ago, as the World Health Organization was preparing to declare COVID-19 a pandemic, scientists were already weeks into developing a vaccine. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett was part of the groundbreaking team that produced the mRNA vaccine for Moderna. She joins Walter Isaacson to reflect on the early days of the pandemic and the future of vaccine research.

“Playing With Dynamite:” How Chatbots Will Change the World

18m 3s

What might the rise of chatbots reveal about the future of artificial intelligence? Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are developing these digital assistants to simulate conversation with human users, changing the way we interact with technology. Steven Levy, Editor at Large of the tech magazine Wired, joins Walter Isaacson to discuss this phenomenon.

These Ukrainian Children Shelter Apart From Abusive Parents

17m 51s

Director Simon Lereng Wilmont's latest documentary, “A House Made of Splinters," has received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination. Its subject is Ukrainian children living in a halfway house after their parents are no longer able to care for them. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Simon tells Hari how he made this powerful film.

Jeh Johnson: No Quick Fix to Migration Woes

17m 25s

The Biden administration is planning to roll out a set of new asylum restrictions that critics say resemble those of the Trump administration. The policy would deny some migrants asylum if they cross the border illegally, or if they fail to first apply for safe harbor in another country. Jeh Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama, joins Michel Martin to discuss the crisis.

How Do You Serve a Friend in Despair? David Brooks on Loss

17m 45s

New York Times columnist David Brooks lost his lifelong friend Peter to suicide last April, three years after he was diagnosed with clinical depression. Brooks has detailed what he learned from Peter’s journey in his latest column, “How Do You Serve a Friend in Despair?” He joins Hari Sreenivasan to share some of these lessons.

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