Amanpour and Company

News and Public Affairs Series / 1 Season

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.

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“Rustin” Brings a Civil Rights Hero Out of the Shadows

17m 41s

The new Netflix film "Rustin" tells the story of a man central to the civil rights movement, but relatively unknown today. Bayard Rustin was a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, a confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., and a tireless advocate for equality. Lead actor Colman Domingo speaks with Hari Sreenivasan about the film.

Roxane Gay on Her New Essay Collection "Opinions"

17m 47s

Roxane Gay, best-selling author and contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, has been sharing her thoughts on a wide range of topics since 2014. She recently published a compilation of her works in the new book “Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business.” Gay joined Michel Martin to discuss the power of speech.

Roger Ross Williams’ Work Is Personal

18m 47s

The film industry is still falling short on diverse representation, both onscreen and off-screen. According to UCLA's latest report, only 16% of last year's top Hollywood releases were directed by people of color. Roger Ross Williams was the first African American director to win an Oscar. He now has a collection of Emmy and Peabody awards to his credit, but his journey has been an uphill battle.

Holocaust Survivor Nina Gottlieb Breaks 80 Years of Silence

16m 35s

The Israel-Hamas war has caused a global spike in hate crime. Filmmaker Daniel Lombroso's latest film, “Nina & Irena," follows his interviews with his Holocaust-surviving grandmother, who reveals that her older sister perished during the war. Hari Sreenivasan spoke to them both about the importance of this film and its release in the world of today.

Attorney: Elon Musk’s X “Is Unable to Rein in Hate"

17m 52s

In times of war, disinformation and extremist rhetoric can spread like wildfire. Tech mogul Elon Musk is often criticized for fanning the flames on his platform X. Recently, Musk personally endorsed an antisemitic post. Nora Benavidez, senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights at Free Press, joins the show to discuss why content moderation is crucial for democracy.

Life After “Maid:" Stephanie Land on Her New Book “Class”

18m 22s

Author Stephanie Land became an overnight sensation with her debut memoir "Maid," a long, hard look at her impoverished beginnings and the trials she faced as a single parent. Her book became a bestseller and was turned into a hugely successful Netflix series. Now Land is back with a sequel, "Class," which picks up her story where "Maid" left off.

From Trump’s Speech to Israel-Gaza: The Politics of Language

17m 43s

As grief and anger cascade across Israel and Gaza, language can be weaponized to polarize, spread propaganda or advance agendas. And it doesn't stop there. From the radical speeches of Donald Trump to the extreme rhetoric of Russia, language plays an often dangerous role in politics. Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss his new book, "The Politics of Langauge."

Climate of Hate: Muslim Americans Face Rise In Islamophobia

18m 19s

Palestinian American journalist Laila El-Haddad is concerned about possible genocide in Gaza. She is part of a lawsuit filed against the Biden administration which alleges it has failed to prevent genocide. She argues that the government’s reluctance to call for a ceasefire is not only hurting Gazans on the ground, but also Arab and Muslim Americans who are subject to heightened Islamophobia.

New Book Explores the Push for the ERA & the Women of NOW

17m 20s

Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) laid the groundwork for challenging gender discrimination in the U.S. In her new book "The Women of NOW," historian Katherine Turk details the founding and legacy of the influential feminist organization. The author joins Michel Martin to discuss how lessons from the past can inform activism today.

How the Israel-Gaza Crisis Is Dividing American Jews

17m 39s

As American Jews face an unprecedented surge in antisemitism, they are also grappling with division in their own communities. The debate over support for Israel is playing out among Jews across the country, with some calling for a ceasefire while others unequivocally back the Israeli government. Journalist and author Emily Tamkin explains this moment of division.

She Was Demoted & Threatened. Then She Won the Nobel Prize

17m 13s

Katalin Karikó is making an extraordinary impact in the medical field. With her research partner she was awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine last month for groundbreaking work on Messenger RNA technology, a vital ingredient in COVID-19 vaccines. Karikó joins the show to discuss this milestone and her new memoir "Breaking Through: My Life in Science."

An Arab-Israeli Paramedic Was Killed, His Cousin Speaks Out

17m 55s

Mohammad Darawshe is an Arab citizen of Israel, and in a recent article says he feels as though his state is fighting its own people. Mohammad’s cousin, Awad, was killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7th whilst still working as a paramedic at the Nova musical festival. He shared his story with President Biden recently during his visit to Israel and joins the show to tell us more.

Election Analysis: Why the GOP Is Losing Winnable Races

17m 57s

In the U.S., Democrats defied the pollsters, holding their ground in last night’s elections. In Virginia, the party gained full control over the state legislature, while Democrat Gabe Amo made history as Rhode Island’s first Black congressman. Astead Herndon, New York Times national politics reporter, joins the show to discuss what these results could mean for next year’s presidential race.

Colorado Secretary of State on Trump Disqualification Trial

17m 30s

A trial in Colorado which seeks to disqualify Donald Trump from running for re-election in the state is currently underway. Six GOP and Independent voters have filed a lawsuit arguing that the former president is ineligible to hold office due to his actions surrounding the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Hari Sreenivasan speaks with Colorado secretary of state Jena Griswold.

Israel-Gaza on Campus: How Dartmouth is Fostering Dialogue

18m 19s

As tension and division mount in much of the world, university campuses in the United States have become a focal point of anger and dissent. But two Dartmouth professors — Susannah Heschel, chair of Jewish studies, and Tarek El-Ariss, chair of Middle Eastern studies — set out to create a forum for students to discuss their thoughts. The professors discuss this response and what it achieved.

Why War in MidEast Means “Off the Charts” U.S. Threat Levels

17m 49s

Across America, antisemitic threats have reached historic levels and anti-Arab sentiments are on the rise. College campuses are struggling to manage an outbreak of protests and an uptick in hate. Hari Sreenivasan talks to national security expert Juliette Kayyem about how the conflict is dividing America.

Reunifying Families Separated Under Trump’s Zero Tolerance

17m 57s

Illegal border crossings are reaching record highs, and New York is grappling with an influx of migrants – over 126,000 since last spring. If elected president again in 2024, Donald Trump is promising a further crackdown on immigration. It comes in the wake of the Biden administration settling a lawsuit over Trump’s controversial child separation policy. Caitlin Dickrson discusses.

Kinzinger: GOP is a “Dysfunctional and Destructive Force”

18m 4s

The Republican Party continues to be plagued by division. The Senate GOP is still split over the question of a tie-in between aid for Israel and funding for Ukraine. Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger knows this dysfunction all too well. His new memoir "Renegade" details his service on the January 6 House Select Committee as an outcast in his own party. He joins the show to discuss.

Is America Becoming an “Overstretched Superpower”?

17m 26s

From Ukraine to Israel and beyond, the United States is currently involved in several perilous international situations. In a recent article, The Economist’s diplomatic editor Anton La Guardia argues the U.S. could be overstretched. He gives Hari Sreenivasan a view of America from abroad.

Inside Jan. 6: Officer Harry Dunn on Defending Democracy

18m 9s

A handful of Republican and independent voters are trying to ban former president Donald Trump from ever entering the White House again, over his role in the January 6th insurrection. Officer Harry Dunn was defending the Capitol when the riots took place, and now he’s written a book about the experience called "Standing My Ground." He tells Michel Martin how he tried to save America that day.

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