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Capehart

The Washington Post
Opinion writer Jonathan Capehart talks with newsmakers who challenge your ideas on politics, and explore how race, religion, age, gender and cultural identity are redrawing the lines that both divide and unite America. "Capehart" is a podcast from Washington Post Opinions, with conversations adapted from Washington Post Live events.
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Episodes

Pete Berg on the Sackler family and his new series, ‘Painkiller’

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Aug. 11, director Pete Berg talks about his new limited series, “Painkiller,” which details the efforts by the Sackler family to aggressively profit from OxyContin by expanding the availability and marketing of the prescription opioid.

Aug 17, 202329 min

Alicia Roth Weigel on new documentary about intersex community

In this conversation recorded on July 19 for Washington Post Live, Alicia Roth Weigel, an activist profiled in “Every Body," a new documentary exploring the lives of intersex people who are born with a combination of male and female biological traits, joins The Post’s Jonathan Capehart for a conversation about the intersex community, gender identity and the state of LGBTQIA+ rights in the country.

Aug 11, 202330 min

Paul Ortiz on Florida’s efforts to curtail the teaching of Black history

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Aug. 2, University of Florida professor of history Paul Ortiz discusses the state’s efforts to curtail the teaching of African American history, including new curriculum standards to teach how enslaved people benefited from skills gained during slavery.

Aug 03, 202329 min

Christine Emba and Richard Reeves explore masculinity and modern men

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on July 12, Washington Post opinion writer Christine Emba and Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, discuss Emba’s essay, “Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness,” how to address issues facing the modern American male and why the phrase “toxic masculinity” is a problem.

Jul 27, 202333 min

Colson Whitehead on ‘Crook Manifesto’ and his Harlem trilogy

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on July 20, Colson Whitehead discusses his new book, “Crook Manifesto,” how the novel fits into the Harlem trilogy, his writing process and what genres he plans to conquer next.

Jul 20, 202331 min

How Ruth E. Carter brings Black style to the big screen

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on June 22, two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter discusses her new book, “The Art of Ruth E. Carter: Costuming Black History and the Afrofuture, from Do the Right Thing to Black Panther,” dives deep on her creative process, and reflects on how her work has helped define Black style and culture.

Jul 06, 202329 min

Gov. Roy Cooper on fighting for abortion rights in North Carolina

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on June 15, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) talks about his fierce opposition to the his state’s recently passed 12-week abortion ban, contending with the Republican supermajority in the state legislature, Donald Trump’s second indictment and why he thinks President Biden can “absolutely” win North Carolina in 2024.

Jun 22, 202329 min

Best of: Demetre Daskalakis on the quest for an HIV vaccine

In this Pride encore presentation of Capehart recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 22, Demetre Daskalakis, a career HIV specialist and advocate currently serving as the deputy coordinator for the White House National Mpox Response, discusses the search for an HIV vaccine, the role stigma plays in viruses propagating and whether eradicating HIV is possible in the near future.

Jun 15, 202322 min

Carlos Simon on composing music to honor George Floyd’s life

In this Washington Post Live conversation recorded on May 17, composer Carlos Simon digs into his new work inspired by George Floyd’s life, “brea(d)th,” discusses the process of composing the work with librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph and how it reflects the promise of an equitable future in America.

Jun 08, 202330 min

Keith Ellison reflects on the third anniversary of George Floyd’s murder

In this Washington Post Live conversation, first recorded on May 24, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison talks about the third anniversary of George Floyd's murder, his role in holding former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin accountable, how Floyd’s death fits into a horrific pattern of violence in American life, and his new book, “Break The Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence.”

Jun 01, 202327 min

White House domestic policy adviser Susan Rice’s exit interview

In this Washington Post Live conversation first recorded on May 24, Susan Rice, the only person to serve as both national security adviser and domestic policy adviser in the White House, talks about her decision to leave her role, how her work in national security helped her in domestic policy as well as her greatest accomplishments and regrets.

May 25, 202329 min

Oscar Munoz’s ‘quintessentially American’ story - that started in Mexico

In this Washington Post Live conversation from May 10, Oscar Munoz, the executive chairman of United Airlines, talks about his new memoir, “Turnaround Time,” in which he reveals that he was undocumented when he first came to the United States and recounts his journey to the c-suite of one of the country’s top four airlines.

May 18, 202333 min

Chasten Buttigieg has something to say about coming out and acceptance

In this Washington Post Live conversation from May 10, Chasten Buttigieg discusses the new edition of his memoir, “I Have Something to Tell You,” which he rewrote for young adults, why he thinks the far right is going after LGBTQ Americans and what he hopes for his two children when they are old enough to read his book.

May 11, 202329 min

Kristina Ishmael on digital barriers to equitable education

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on April 28, Kristina Ishmael, deputy director of the Education Department’s Office of Educational Technology, discusses the barriers to closing the digital divide, the importance of reliable internet access in providing equitable education and the obstacles to distributing financial assistance where it’s needed most.

May 04, 202321 min

Ned Blackhawk on ‘The Rediscovery of America’

In this conversation first recorded for Washington Post Live on April 27, Yale University professor Ned Blackhawk discusses his new book, “The Rediscovery of America: Natives Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History,” which explores the foundational role Native Americans have played in U.S. history, including in the formulation of our country’s Constitution, and how their presence and contributions are frequently overlooked, or worse, erased.

Apr 27, 202329 min

Joan Biskupic on the rise of the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority

In this conversation first recorded for Washington Post Live on April 17, CNN senior Supreme Court analyst Joan Biskupic discusses her new book, “Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court’s Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences,” which explores the rise of the court’s 6-3 conservative supermajority, the role of the Federalist Society in shaping it, and the complicated roles of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Apr 20, 202329 min

Best of: Nikki Giovanni is against banning any book

In this Washington Post Live conversation from Oct. 5, 2022, famed author and poet Nikki Giovanni discusses her children’s book, “A Library,” explores the freedom books give our lives and explains why she’s against banning any book.

Apr 13, 202330 min

Mickalene Thomas on Black women’s place in the western art canon

In this conversation first recorded for Washington Post Live on April 6, artist Mickalene Thomas discusses her work celebrating the beauty of Black women, her exhibitions around the world and the power of seeing Black people engaged in leisure and relaxation.

Apr 06, 202331 min

Anna Deavere Smith and Arne Duncan on their new opera ‘The Walkers’

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on March 27, renowned playwright Anna Deavere Smith and former education secretary and creator of Chicago CRED Arne Duncan discuss their new opera, “The Walkers,” which explores Chicago CRED’s engagement and collaboration with people throughout the city most at risk of gun violence.

Mar 30, 202328 min

Richard Parsons pushes to make asset management more equitable

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on March 23, Richard Parsons, former CEO of Time Warner, discusses his work as chair of Equity Alliance, the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, accusations of “woke capitalism” and the actions taken by the federal government.

Mar 23, 202324 min

Elizabeth Way and Elena Romero on how hip-hop transformed fashion

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on March 16, Elizabeth Way and Elena Romero, co-curators of the “Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous” exhibition at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, discuss hip-hop’s enduring influence of fashion, the history of high-fashion brands appropriating streetwear and what it really means to wear your “Sunday best.”

Mar 16, 202329 min

Demetre Daskalakis on the quest for an HIV vaccine

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 22, Demetre Daskalakis, a career HIV specialist and advocate currently acting as the deputy coordinator for the White House National Monkeypox Response, speaks about the search for an HIV vaccine, the role stigma plays in viruses propagating and whether eradicating HIV is possible in the near future.

Mar 09, 202322 min

Mitch Landrieu’s plan to bring manufacturing back to the United States

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 9, Mitch Landrieu, the White House infrastructure implementation coordinator, discussed President Biden’s ambitious plans to bring manufacturing back to the United States, the new jobs the administration’s programs have already created and why racism in America “continues to be its Achilles’ heel.”

Mar 02, 202327 min

Mayor Levar Stoney on preserving history while tearing down Confederate statues

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 15, Levar Stoney, the mayor of Richmond, talks about why he ordered his city to remove statues commemorating the Confederacy, the various efforts to whitewash American history in states across the country, and what guides him as a leader.

Feb 23, 202329 min

Vanita Gupta on police reform, accountability and culture

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 9, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta examines the state of police accountability nationwide as well as how department culture can override policy and blunt the effectiveness of changes intended to improve community relations.

Feb 14, 202328 min

Mark Whitaker on 1966 – the year Black Power challenged the civil rights movement

In this conversation recorded for Washington Post Live on Feb. 8, former Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker discusses his new book, “Saying It Loud: 1966 – The Year Black Power Challenged the Civil Rights Movement,” how the year transformed the way in which Black Americans viewed their lives and lessons for activists organizing today.

Feb 08, 202330 min

Maya Moore Irons and Jonathan Irons on ‘Love & Justice’

In this conversation first recorded for Washington Post Live on Jan. 19, Maya Moore Irons and Jonathan Irons discuss their new book, “Love & Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts,” their journey to get him released from prison after a wrongful conviction and their view on reforms to the criminal justice system.

Jan 31, 202332 min

Best of: Wes Moore on becoming Maryland’s first African American governor

In this conversation first recorded for Washington Post Live on Nov. 30, then-Gov.-elect Wes Moore of Maryland discusses his victory and plans for the first 100 days, the state of national politics, and how being the first African American governor of Maryland (and only the third in U.S. history) weighs on him.

Jan 24, 202328 min
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