Next Question with Katie Couric - podcast cover

Next Question with Katie Couric

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Tired of political headlines that feel like déjà vu? Wondering if you actually need to care about every controversy? This season, Katie’s asking those same questions—and talking to the people who have real answers. From political insiders to sharp-eyed journalists, she’s breaking down what’s worth your attention (and what’s not), with smarts, sanity, and even a little humor. Because none of us can be tuned in 24/7—but we can stay informed without losing our minds. 

Tune in every Thursday and join Katie Couric and her guests for a conversation on NEXT QUESTION.

🎉 Big news! Next Question with Katie is nominated for Best News & Politics Podcast at the @TheWebbyAwards!

These awards are fan-voted—and we need YOUR help to bring it home 🏆🎧🗳️

Voting’s open now through April 17th. Hit that vote button 👉 https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/shows/music

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Episodes

Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right with Arlie Hochschild

Arlie Hochschild, a sociologist from Berkely, has spent a chunk of the last decade in ruby red areas of the United States. During that time she’s written two books: Strangers In Their Own Land (which was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2016) and now, Stolen Pride. Arlie interviewed dozens of people from Pike County, Kentucky–the whitest and second poorest district in the country–to better understand what’s happening in the rust belt and why those voters are so drawn to Donald Trump. In...

Dec 05, 202446 minSeason 10Ep. 12

Will Our Political Guardrails Hold? With Steve Schmidt

Republican strategist, vocal Trump critic, and host of “The Warning,” Steve Schmidt poses the million dollar question: Can America’s political guardrails withstand Trump’s chaos? As the President-elect continues to fill his cabinet with a number of controversial picks, Steve warns us of just how dangerous these appointments could be and how cultural amnesia has led us to this moment. Yet while some of the country’s most self-evident processes may now feel uncertain, Steve has faith in the resili...

Nov 27, 202450 minSeason 10Ep. 11

America at a Crossroads with Meghan McCain

From her perch as “token conservative” on The View to viral posts on Instagram, Meghan McCain has long been a favorite lightning rod for liberals and conservatives alike. The daughter of legendary war hero and Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, her last name has been derided by some on the MAGA right who believe a “McCain Republican” is the equivalent of a RINO. But as a staunch conservative, she has no place on the left either. It’s not necessarily an enviable vantage point, but it is a cr...

Nov 21, 20241 hr 7 minSeason 10Ep. 10

Election Reflections with Jen Psaki

Jen Psaki knows a thing or two about politics. The former Obama communications director and Biden press secretary has spent nearly 20 years in politics–now she’s breaking down what happened in the 2024 election and what she thinks the next Trump administration could look like. Katie and Jen talk about how the media ecosystem impacted the election results, what can be done at the state level to protect against some of Trump’s policies, and the future of the Democratic party. Their conversation wa...

Nov 14, 20241 hr 4 minSeason 10Ep. 9

Why Voters (and Which Voters) Returned Trump to Power with Brian Goldsmith

The 2024 presidential race has finally come to a close, but the conversation and questions about how things unfolded have just begun. For this election debrief, Katie is joined by Democratic consultant and friend of the pod Brian Goldsmith to examine the surprising dynamics of Trump’s 2024 victory, including the conventional-wisdom-smashing voter coalition that delivered him a second term. With the Democratic Party now facing tough questions about its future, Goldsmith explores what Harris’s cam...

Nov 07, 20241 hr 6 minSeason 10Ep. 8

Five More Days with Samantha Bee and Van Jones

In this sobering conversation, Katie Couric sits down with comedian Samantha Bee and political commentator Van Jones to unpack the turbulence surrounding the final days of the 2024 Presidential election. From campaign strategies to media responsibility, they explore how humor, outrage, and disinformation shape the home stretch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 31, 202458 minSeason 10Ep. 7

Getting Real with Gwen Walz

In this one-on-one conversation with Katie, Gwen Walz opens up about bringing storytelling, shared values, and listening back to political conversations. Drawing on her background as a teacher, she reflects on confronting Trump’s bullying and explains how empathy and authenticity shape her vision for the campaign and her connections with voters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 27, 202451 minSeason 10Ep. 6

The Democratic Disconnect with Astead Herndon and Charlamagne tha God

In this episode of Next Question, Katie is joined by Astead Herndon of The New York Times and Charlamagne tha God from The Breakfast Club for a pulse check on the polls, the rationale behind Kamala Harris’s campaign strategy, the struggles Democrats face to engage young Black voters, and the risks of relying on anti-Trump sentiment to win. We are down to the wire–buckle up for the final two weeks of the race! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Oct 24, 20241 hr 13 minSeason 10Ep. 5

The Meme-ification of Politics with Evan Ross Katz and Molly Jong-Fast

This episode of Next Question explores how internet culture, and platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram have transformed voters’ perception of the candidates, and the way candidates interact with voters. Joining Katie is pop culture expert Evan Ross Katz and political analyst Molly Jong-Fast. Together, they’ll discuss how memes and online trends are shaping the 2024 election, if viral posts are swaying voters, and why traditional outlets (and their fact checking and gatekeepers) are increasingl...

Oct 17, 202451 minSeason 10Ep. 4

Abortion, Every Day with Cindi Leive and Jessica Valenti

Jessica Valenti has been one of the leading voices on abortion rights in America, and this week Katie and her plus one Cindi Leive, CEO of The Meteor, sit down with her to talk about the reality of a post-Roe America. Katie and Cindi ask Jessica about abortion’s place at the top of the voters’ agendas this year, what’s happening in states with strict abortion bans, and how the anti-abortion movement is operating in unexpected ways. You can buy Jessica's Book - Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, a...

Oct 10, 202453 minSeason 10Ep. 3

Entering the Comfort Zone: Breast Cancer Awareness and Research with Easy Spirit

In this special live recording of Next Question in New York City at the Paley Center for Media, Katie Couric enters her "Comfort Zone" for a powerful conversation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in partnership with comfort footwear brand, Easy Spirit! Katie shares her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor alongside the surgeon who treated her, renowned breast cancer researcher Dr. Lisa Newman. They are joined by Sharon Joseph, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, who is...

Oct 09, 20241 hr 1 minSeason 10Ep. 2

The Election Home Stretch with Liz Plank and Ezra Klein

Katie Couric is back with a supercharged new season of Next Question, kicking off with her Plus-One, journalist Liz Plank, and guest, New York Times journalist and political analyst Ezra Klein. As we approach the home stretch of the campaigns, the three discuss the divide between male and female voters, the lasting impact of Roe’s reversal, the VP picks, and why Katie thinks the candidates should be taking more risks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Oct 03, 20241 hrSeason 10Ep. 1

Season 10 of Next Question Starts October 3rd!

The election is in the homestretch right in time for a new season of Next Question with Katie Couric, starting October 3rd. This season is for people who need a little perspective and insight–and maybe an occasional sedative. We’re bringing in some FOKs (friends of Katie's) to help out. We'll have some of the best minds in the business, like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, and Astead Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like an oxymoron....

Sep 26, 20241 min

Hillary Clinton One-On-One with Katie Couric - PART 2

In this second half of this special episode of Next Question, Katie sits down with Hillary Clinton for an intimate conversation recorded live at DAR Constitution Hall. In this candid and wide-ranging chat, Clinton pulls back the curtain on the current political scene, sharing sharp insights on President Biden’s decision to step aside, Kamala Harris' campaign so far, and the seemingly unshakeable presence of Donald Trump. And for the record, yes, Hillary’s a Swiftie—deal with it. They also discus...

Sep 18, 202435 minSeason 9Ep. 20

Hillary Clinton One-On-One with Katie Couric - PART 1

In this special episode of Next Question, Katie sits down with Hillary Clinton for an intimate conversation recorded live at DAR Constitution Hall. In this candid and wide-ranging chat, Clinton pulls back the curtain on the current political scene, sharing sharp insights on President Biden’s decision to step aside, Kamala Harris' campaign so far, and the seemingly unshakeable presence of Donald Trump. And for the record, yes, Hillary’s a Swiftie—deal with it. They also discuss Clinton's latest b...

Sep 17, 202453 minSeason 9Ep. 19

Wellness Check: How the ‘Couric Effect’ -- 20 years later -- inspired Sen. Klobuchar to share her cancer story

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife. Twenty-four years ago, Katie Couric aired her first colonoscopy on the ‘Today Show.' It was an up-close and personal experience that helped demystify a still-taboo health procedure. A study would later find that colonoscopies increased by 20 percent as a result of Katie airing her personal business on national television. It was called “The Couric Ef...

Aug 29, 202433 min

Wellness Check: Dr. Sanjay Gupta on how to build a better brain

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a neuroscientist and in addition to his on-air work and a daily podcast (Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction), Sanjay also found the time to write a book called “Keep Sharp: Building a Better Brain at Any Age,” which is out now. On this episode, Katie and Sanjay talk about how to keep the brain healthy with tips you can use right now to ...

Aug 22, 20241 hr 2 min

Creating Comedy Gold with the creators of “Hacks”

Katie (a total Deborah) is joined by KCM producer Adriana Fazio (Katie’s Ava) to chat with the creative team behind the acclaimed show "Hacks"—Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs. The trio opens up about how their own path to comedy writing, including their love for classic TV like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and time spent waiting tables, inspired the characters of Deborah and Ava. From casting newcomer, Hanna Einbinder, opposite national treasure, Jean Smart, to the process of develo...

Aug 22, 20241 hr 2 minSeason 9Ep. 18

Wellness Check: Happiness expert Arthur Brooks on why we're all so desperately chasing down happiness

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife. On this episode, Katie explores the subject of happiness. Because as a culture, we seem to be obsessed with achieving it. Just look to higher ed. Some of the most elite universities tout courses on happiness — the science of it, the value of it, the history and future of it. But the search for happiness has also seeped into our regular podcast consum...

Aug 15, 202450 min

Wellness Check: ‘Addiction is a spectrum’: Meet the women centering themselves and rewriting the recovery narrative

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife. There have been some scary headlines going around about the climbing rates of alcohol use, particularly among women, during the pandemic. One study found that heavy drinking among women increased 41 percent! What’s behind these numbers and how do women find the help they need? On this episode, Katie Couric, Katie invites her friend and award winning ...

Aug 08, 20241 hr 11 min

Katie’s One-On-One with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi

Katie sits down with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for this special Next Question bonus episode. It’s an intimate, urgent conversation that leaves no issue off the table – from her thoughts on President Biden’s decision to end his campaign and what she believes Vice President Kamala Harris must do to win in November to the increasingly bitter divisions that threaten our democracy and the devastating rise in political violence that has affected her on a deeply personal level, they cover it a...

Aug 06, 202449 minSeason 9Ep. 17

Wellness Check: Demystifying Menopause with Susan Dominus and Dr. Rebecca Brightman

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife. For so many women, menopause is a mystery. Its symptoms can be wide-ranging and last for years, and information about treatments can be confusing - where it exists at all. To make things even more challenging, healthcare providers are often less-than-helpful when it comes to finding solutions. Our guests today are here to help: New York Times writer ...

Aug 01, 202448 min

Introducing Our New 5-Part Series: Wellness Check!

Already missing Next Question in your podcast lineup? Good news: There’s more where that came from. Join me next month as we dive back into some of our most important and informative conversations around women’s physical and mental wellness. With the help of the women’s health experts at Midi Health, we’re bringing you a five-episode miniseries, Wellness Check, focused on issues that affect our daily lives — from the science of happiness, to the ins and outs of menopause. You can find these conv...

Jul 29, 20241 min

Katie Couric One-On-One With Vice President Kamala Harris

In January of this year, Katie sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris for a rare one-on-one interview in her ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. At the time, a Trump-Biden rematch seemed inevitable. But then, in the weeks following his poor performance in the first presidential debate in late June, President Biden’s future as his party’s candidate was suddenly anything but certain. After increasing calls for him to drop out of the race, he announced he would end hi...

Jul 22, 202441 minSeason 9Ep. 15

Remembering JFK Jr. and Carolyn: 25 Years Later - Part One: John

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since John F Kennedy Jr, his wife Carolyn Bessette, and her sister Lauren Bessette, died in a plane crash. On July 16, 1999, the plane, piloted by John, went down off the coast of Massachusetts–shocking the world. Just a few months prior, Katie sat down with John for what would be his last television interview. Now, for a special two-part remembrance, she reflects back on that fleeting moment in time when John and Carolyn captivated the public’s imaginatio...

Jul 16, 20241 hr 5 minSeason 9Ep. 13

Remembering JFK Jr. and Carolyn: 25 Years Later - Part Two: Carolyn

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since John F Kennedy Jr, his wife Carolyn Bessette, and her sister Lauren Bessette, died in a plane crash. On July 16, 1999, the plane, piloted by John, went down off the coast of Massachusetts–shocking the world. Just a few months prior, Katie sat down with John for what would be his last television interview. Now, for a special two-part remembrance, she reflects back on that fleeting moment in time when John and Carolyn captivated the public’s imaginatio...

Jul 16, 202452 minSeason 9Ep. 14

Listening Is Gretchen Whitmer’s Superpower

In 2020, Joe Biden stood on stage with Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and our guest today, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and declared himself a “bridge” candidate, hinting at a single term. Now, as he runs for reelection amid heavy scrutiny, the low rumble of approval that has met Whitmer’s term at Michigan’s helm has amplified into a clamor by some for her to step into a larger leadership role in the future Democratic party. Sitting down with Next Question during the Aspen Ideas Festival, Wh...

Jul 11, 202457 minSeason 9Ep. 12

How to Save Democracy with Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor of Pod Save America

Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor, co-hosts of Pod Save America and founders of Crooked Media, remember when politics felt hopeful. Their latest venture, after working for Obama, starting Crooked Media, and launching a slew of great ventures and podcasts, is a user's guide to American government: Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps. They are some of the most informed, level-headed, and hilarious political voices around, and their book is the antidote to feeling stressed out, beat ...

Jun 21, 202459 minSeason 9Ep. 11
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