On Thursday, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will debate each other live on CNN, the earliest general election debate in US history. The debate is being held at a CNN studio in the key swing state of Georgia, which helped deliver the presidency to Biden in 2020. In this episode, we go inside the debate studio to preview the event and hear from Atlanta-area voters about what they want to hear from the candidates (if they'll even be watching). Guest: David Chalian, CNN Politi...
Jun 26, 2024•25 min
As extreme heat blankets large parts of the US, a war is looming between the US and Mexico over water. Under an 80-year-old treaty, both sides are expected to share resources from key rivers. However, extreme drought conditions have put Mexico well behind in delivering its share. In this episode, we examine how the shortfall is impacting American farmers and look at what can be done to factor climate change into future agreements. Guest: Laura Paddison, CNN Senior Climate Writer Learn more about...
Jun 23, 2024•15 min
A new push from some of America’s top companies are prioritizing skills over college degrees in hopes of diversifying the workforce and narrowing the racial wealth gap. Some young people are choosing shorter periods of specialized training so they can enter the workforce more quickly. In this episode, we hear what’s behind the growing dissatisfaction with the traditional college process and how it could upend the higher education industry. Guest: Athena Jones, CNN Correspondent Learn more about ...
Jun 19, 2024•18 min
Five years after the fall of the self-declared caliphate, tens of thousands of ISIS followers and their families are being held in dozens of detention facilities in Syria that human rights groups describe as a ‘legal black hole.’ In this episode, CNN gets unprecedented access to some of these facilities and hears from mothers and children facing dire conditions and uncertain futures. Guest: Clarissa Ward, CNN Chief International Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...
Jun 16, 2024•21 min
Hunter Biden was found guilty on three federal felony gun charges on Tuesday, becoming the first child of a US president to be convicted of a federal crime. In this episode, we examine how the fallout could impact the presidential race and look ahead to Hunter’s next trial in September. Guest: Marshall Cohen, CNN Reporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 12, 2024•14 min
With less than five months until Election Day, coverage of the campaign is about to heat up. In this episode, we explain how candidates are calibrating their media footprints in key swing states. Plus, we have a guide to navigating potential disinformation and AI-generated content on social media. Guest: Hadas Gold, CNN Media Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 09, 2024•19 min
Donald Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony. So, what happens now? Audie Cornish is joined by CNN Correspondent Kristen Holmes from outside Trump Tower to walk us through the next steps in the case and the potential impact this verdict could have on the election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 02, 2024•20 min
Note: This episode contains descriptions of domestic violence. Outrage has rippled through the entertainment industry ever since CNN exclusively obtained disturbing surveillance video showing Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016. After initially denying the incident and others alleged ever happened, Diddy apologized for his actions in the video. In this episode, we explore why many say the apology falls short and look at how the case fits into the wider #MeToo...
May 26, 2024•20 min
Donald Trump’s ex-attorney and fixer Michael Cohen took the stand this week in the former President’s New York criminal hush money trial. During cross-examination, Trump’s lawyers appeared to strike a blow against Cohen’s credibility. In this episode, we examine how the testimony could swing the trial as we near the end of the prosecution’s case. Guest: Kara Scannell, CNN Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
May 19, 2024•19 min
Earlier this month, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called on President Joe Biden to drop out of the race, insisting he is the only one who can beat former President Donald Trump. Despite running well behind Biden in the polls, some experts believe he will pull enough support from both candidates to impact the election. In this episode, we explore Kennedy’s controversial candidacy and how voters, Biden and Trump are responding to it. Guest: Aaron Pellish, CNN Campaign Re...
May 12, 2024•20 min
In recent weeks, several colleges have called in police to break up pro-Palestinian encampments that have popped up on campuses across the country. While demands from students vary from school to school, one of the most common is for universities to divest from Israel-linked businesses and entities. In this episode, we hear about the history of divestment protests at Columbia University and how these campaigns would play out in practice. Guest: Matt Egan, CNN Business Reporter Learn more about y...
May 05, 2024•19 min
10 years ago, hundreds of Chibok schoolgirls in Nigeria were abducted and held hostage by the terrorist group Boko Haram. The quest to rescue them captured the world’s attention, aided by pleas from high-profile figures and a viral hashtag online. But a decade later, those who escaped are still dealing with the fallout and others are left wondering if they will ever see their loved ones again. In this episode, we hear the story of one survivor and look at the state of girls’ education in the cou...
Apr 28, 2024•17 min
Two top scientific bodies recently announced that coral reefs around the world are experiencing a mass bleaching event for just the fourth time. It comes amid surging ocean temperatures over the past year, which has been the warmest on record. In this episode, we examine how a number of extreme climate change-fueled events – including coral bleaching – are on display in Australia and whether they could provide lessons in climate resiliency for the rest of the world. Guest: Ivan Watson, CNN Senio...
Apr 21, 2024•19 min
More than a year after being charged, the hush money criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is set to begin this week in New York City. It comes amid numerous delays in his other criminal cases, with time ticking down until the presidential election in November. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In this episode, we examine the challenges of seating a jury in an unprecedented case like this and look at both sides’ legal arguments. Guest: Paula Reid, CNN Chief Legal Affairs Cor...
Apr 14, 2024•17 min
Millions of eyes will be on the sky Monday when the last total solar eclipse in the contiguous United States until 2044 arrives. Tourists from all over the country are flocking to the path of totality in hopes of getting the clearest view, but it remains to be seen if the weather will cooperate. In this episode, we answer some common questions about the event and examine whether space phenomena can unite Americans like it did decades ago. Guest: Kristin Fisher, CNN Space & Defense Correspond...
Apr 07, 2024•16 min
After the Tennessee legislature expelled state representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for protesting inaction on gun violence last year, more people became aware of how the state’s Republican supermajority operates. However, there are Republicans and Democrats who say the current way of doing business is making it hard to get any kind of legislation passed. In this episode, we hear from grassroots lawmakers about how the gridlock is impacting their constituents and what it can tell us a...
Mar 31, 2024•18 min
The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments this week in a case that could restrict access to a widely used abortion pill - even in states where the procedure is still allowed. It is another major moment in the battle over reproductive rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and a controversial ruling in Alabama which cast doubt on the future of IVF treatment. In this episode, we hear what the justices will be considering and look at how the current state of abortion access is impact...
Mar 24, 2024•18 min
Earlier this week, Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry announced he would resign amid spreading gang violence and instability. The United Nations estimates that gangs control nearly 80% of Haiti’s capital, brutalizing civilians and attacking police. Meanwhile, a Kenyan-led force is set to take over security on the island once a presidential council is in place, but there are major questions about how effective it will be. In this episode, a CNN team describes what they heard from residents about ...
Mar 17, 2024•19 min
Despite efforts from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to increase diversity, many groups still feel more could be done. In January, hundreds of Hollywood figures urged the Academy to include Jews in its representation and inclusion standards, saying the omission “erases Jewish peoplehood and perpetuates myths of Jewish whiteness.” In this episode, we examine the history of antisemitism in Hollywood and whether diversity initiatives are making a meaningful impact beyond the Oscars....
Mar 10, 2024•18 min
As opioid overdose deaths continue at a near-record pace, many cities are seeing the problem play out on public streets. In Oregon, state leaders recently teamed up to declare a 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland which will direct resources to help combat the fentanyl crisis. In this episode, we examine why fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have become such a danger to drug users, and whether Portland’s approach can be a model for other cities across the country. Guest: Josh Campb...
Mar 03, 2024•19 min
In the two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, thousands of soldiers on both sides have been killed and multiple cities have been destroyed. Recently, Ukraine has been forced to retreat from the city of Avdiivka amid dwindling ammunition supplies. Meanwhile, Western unity has started to show cracks and billions of dollars in US aid have been held up amid hesitation from congressional Republicans. In this episode, we hear from soldiers on the frontlines about what it’s like to fight with a lack o...
Feb 25, 2024•18 min
In the aftermath of special counsel Robert Hur’s report stating that President Joe Biden would present to a jury as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” age and mental competency are once again being talked about on the campaign trail. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has continually attacked Biden and former President Donald Trump over their age, while also proposing politicians over age 75 take a mental competency test. In this episode, we examine how older voters in South C...
Feb 18, 2024•18 min
Despite blockbuster jobs numbers, robust consumer spending, and easing inflation, many Americans do not feel good about the US economy. The negative feelings are especially strong amongst young people struggling to pay their bills. Meanwhile, many are finding it hard – if not impossible – to imagine they will ever own a home. In this episode, we examine how Gen Z is turning to TikTok for financial advice and whether these negative feelings could impact President Joe Biden’s reelection chances. G...
Feb 11, 2024•15 min
In December, the Colorado Supreme Court shocked the political world when it removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist clause.” The US Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case this week following a fast-tracked appeals process. In this episode, we examine the untested legal theory, Trump’s defense, and how the justices’ decision could reverberate well beyond this year’s election. Guest: Joan Biskupic, CNN Senior S...
Feb 04, 2024•15 min
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, igniting a massive inferno which spewed poisonous chemicals in the air. In the days and weeks after, some residents who had evacuated wondered whether it would ever be safe enough to return to their homes. Nearly a year later, that sentiment remains along with anger pointed at the federal government and Norfolk Southern over what some see as an inadequate response. In this episode, we hear fr...
Jan 28, 2024•18 min
After former President Donald Trump’s resounding win in Iowa, the Republican primary shifts to New Hampshire. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are banking on undeclared voters to swing their way as Trump sharpens his attacks against the only two candidates left in the race. In this episode, we hear how those independents could change the dynamic of the race and why President Joe Biden’s campaign is quietly concerned about the Democratic primary in the state. Gue...
Jan 21, 2024•17 min
Iowa Republicans will gather this week to pick a nominee for president in the first party event of the 2024 primary. While former president Donald Trump holds a large lead in the polls, undecided voters have been weighing whether his multiple criminal indictments and efforts to overturn the last election mean it’s time to move on. In this episode, we hear from a group of Iowans about how they feel about the rest of the field and examine what to watch for on caucus night. Guest: John King, CNN Ch...
Jan 14, 2024•18 min
Border crossings along the US-Mexico border reached a record high last month, overwhelming resources in border communities and adding urgency to immigration reform negotiations on Capitol Hill. While migrant encounters have dropped in recent days, the issue will remain a lively political issue as presidential primaries get underway and House Republicans begin impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. In this episode, we examine the reality on the ground a...
Jan 07, 2024•17 min
As we enter 2024, all eyes will be on the Iowa caucuses later this month to see if Republican voters have any appetite for moving on from former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the Republican frontrunner continues to make statements on the campaign trail that experts say sound increasingly authoritarian. What should we make of the stark rhetoric? In this episode, we hear a conversation between CNN’s Audie Cornish and Kristen Holmes about what exactly Trump has planned for a possible second te...
Dec 31, 2023•31 min
We do our best on this show to stay on top of the news – but even we couldn’t cover everything in 2023. In this episode, we hear from a group of CNN correspondents and reporters about what we missed - and what we should be looking out for in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 24, 2023•27 min
