The Assignment with Audie Cornish

TMZ is Turning Heads on Capitol Hill

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Capitol Hill has a new kind of journalist: TMZ, the tabloid news powerhouse known for its scoops and celebrity paparazzi coverage. Audie sits down with Jacob Wasserman, co-managing editor of TMZ DC, to discuss his first few weeks on the job—and why both government insiders and legacy media can’t look away.

Producers: Lori Galarreta, Jesse Remedios, Graelyn Brashear

Senior Producer: Dan Bloom

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Ramy Youssef Wants Everyone to Laugh

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Ramy Youssef has spent the past decade building a career that spans TV, stand-up, film and has even landed some big awards. Now, with the release of his third comedy special, In Love, he joins Audie to reflect on what it means to tell Arab American stories today vs seven years ago and why aiming to make everyone laugh is both a choice and a challenge.

Then, Audie’s longtime friend and soon-to-be-coworker Ari Shapiro stops by to talk about Ramy— and also what's ahead for The Assignment.

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Producers: Jesse Remedios, Lori Galarreta and Graelyn Brashear

Senior Producer: Dan Bloom

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Tell Me How to Feel About Space

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Artemis II returns from its historic mission to the far side of the moon, inspiring millions during an otherwise tense news cycle. Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi joins Audie to unpack the mix of awe, hope, and unease shaping this new era of space exploration.

Oluseyi is the author of ‘Why Do We Exist? The Nine Realms of Universe that Make You Possible.’

Producers: Lori Galarreta, Jesse Remedios, Graelyn Brashear

Senior Producer: Dan Bloom

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Is the Manosphere Finally Collapsing?

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

The manosphere isn’t fringe anymore. It’s mainstream, political and hard to ignore. Louis Theroux’s latest Netflix documentary “Inside the Manosphere” arrives after a decade-long rise, from the gamergate controversy to personas like Andrew Tate. Audie speaks with New York Times Opinion writer Jessica Grose, who’s followed the movement since its beginning. They explore the state of the manosphere, the downfall of “alpha-male influencers” and how women fit —or don’t— into this world.

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Producers: Elizabeth Corallo, Jesse Remedios, Lori Galarreta, Graelyn Brashear

Senior Producer: Dan Bloom

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Astrology Isn’t Just a Vibe, It’s a Booming Industry

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:10:00 -0000

From birth charts to astrology apps, we have an enduring fascination with what the stars can tell us. Audie sits down with Astrologers Jennifer Freed and Chani Nicholas to talk about why this obsession has turned into big business. And, what we’re really looking for when we look up.

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When the Bookie Is in Your Pocket

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

One man’s journey from suburban dad to self-described “degenerate gambler.” The Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins joins Audie to recount how he spent $10,000 of his employer’s money betting on the NFL over the course of a season. They discuss how online sports gambling reshaped his habits, what it reveals about a rapidly expanding industry, and how betting has seeped into everyday culture. Plus, the manosphere of it all.

Producers: Jesse Remedios & Lori Galarreta

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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From JFK to RFK Jr.: How the Kennedys Track American Culture

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:10:00 -0000

From Camelot-era glamour to RFK Jr.’s viral moments, the Kennedys have a way of reflecting the cultural mood of any given time. That pattern is resurfacing again—with a buzzy FX series on JFK Jr. and a fresh wave of online fascination. Audie Cornish sits down with comedian and The United States of Kennedy co-host George Civeris to unpack how the family evolved from political dynasty into cultural barometer—and what their latest chapter reveals about where America is right now.

Produced by Jesse Remedios and Lori Galarreta

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Oscars 2026: Chalamet, Sinners ... and Our Predictions

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:10:00 -0000

This year’s Oscars race has been great for film and weird for discourse. There’s the friendly Best Picture duel between two crowd-pleasing films from the same studio. The acting categories are stacked with talent. And yet the final week of campaigning has been dominated by talk about Timothée Chalamet’s apparent disrespect to opera and ballet. Audie sits down with film critic and influencer Megan Cruz (aka @j.stoobs) to talk about the biggest night in movies at a moment when Hollywood is worried about its future.

This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta and Jesse Remedios

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Why Work Spouses Can Be a Secret Weapon | Engagement Party

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Are work spouses actually a thing? And what turns a desk-mate into a ride-or-die?

In this special episode of The Assignment, Audie Cornish reunites with former work husband and longtime co-host of NPR’s All Things Considered, Ari Shapiro. They dive into the stories that defined their careers, the push and pull of competition in the newsroom, and the ways creative collaborators develop shared languages—from Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Taped live at On Air Fest in Brooklyn, New York.

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Ken Leung on Playing One of TV’s Most Toxic Bosses

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:10:00 -0000

Actor Ken Leung is no stranger to the toxic male archetype. He embodies it as Eric Tao, the ruthless baseball-bat-carrying trading floor bully he plays on HBO’s “Industry.” Leung talks with Audie about what pushes characters like Eric—on screen and in real life—over the edge from family man to a name you could see in the Epstein files. They also discuss why women of color don’t get the “anti-hero” treatment, and how “Industry” has evolved into a portrait of the greed, corruption, and class conflict defining this moment.

This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta and Jesse Remedios

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Behind the Sex Scenes...with an Intimacy Coordinator

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:10:00 -0000

Let’s talk about professional sex. Audie sits down with Yehuda Duenyas, a SAG-AFTRA Hollywood intimacy coordinator, to go behind the scenes of how physical romance is choreographed, why stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Sean Bean are skeptical of the position, and what depictions of sex on screen reveal about our culture.

This episode was produced by Sofía Sanchez.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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Did Bad Bunny Win the Culture War?

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:10:00 -0000

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show is still resonating as fans celebrate his history-making rise from Puerto Rico to global dominance. Audie is joined by journalist Suzy Exposito to talk about the power of Benito's unique brand of authenticity--and how he's wielding it in the culture war. Exposito has covered Bad Bunny from the beginning. She is an editor at De Los, the Latin culture wing of the LA Times.

This episode was produced by Sofía Sanchez.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

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It’s Super Bowl Season... for Fashion

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:10:00 -0000

The fashion season is officially underway. Celebrities are strolling the award show red carpets and models are strutting the runways in Paris and Milan. CNN Senior Style Reporter Rachel Tashjian joins Audie to talk about the complicated politics in the fashion world, fashion vs style, and which designers are getting the most notice for dressing celebrities.

Producer: Lori Galarreta

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Techincal Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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The Millennial Internet, from Buzzfeed Quizzes to Filming ICE

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:10:00 -0000

This year marks a milestone for Millennials: the youngest of the cohort finally turns 30. So what comes next for the first generation of true digital natives now that they have achieved “unc” status? Audie talks with Sam Sanders, host of KCRW’s The Sam Sanders Show, about the generation that watched media transform from Buzzfeed quizzes into AI slop. They also discuss Millennial activism taking over the generation’s Instagram feed as ICE protests continue in Minneapolis.

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Is the U.S. the Villain of the Winter Olympics?

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 08:10:00 -0000

The Winter Olympics kick off Feb. 6 in Northern Italy—and the politics may steal the show. The U.S. may face boos, especially as it squares off with Denmark in hockey amid Trump’s Greenland threats. But there’s joy, too: Lindsey Vonn is back, and the U.S. figure skating team is stacked. New York Magazine’s Will Leitch breaks down the geopolitics and must-watch storylines from Milan and Cortina.

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Breaking Down the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Fame Machine, and More | Engagement Party

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Audie is joined by longtime friend and former NPR colleague Ari Shapiro for a special episode they’re calling Engagement Party – a chance to finally talk on-mic about the culture stories they’ve been obsessing over. They kick things off with the question of the moment: Can the Heated Rivalry boys, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, turn their meteoric rise into lasting careers like other breakout stars from the past? They also unpack why the internet has committed to “frictionmaxxing” in 2026, quiz each other on the year in pop culture so far, and share what they’ve been loving off-line lately.

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The Real Pain Behind That “Toxic Moms” Essay

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:10:00 -0000

Arguably the first viral moment of 2026 is an essay about a “toxic” group of mom friends. Actor and singer Ashley Tisdale French wrote an essay for New York Magazine’s The Cut about being iced out of her circle of fellow moms and – celebrity intrigue aside – it struck a nerve. Dr. Noelle Santorelli is a mom and a clinical psychologist who tells Audie there’s deep suffering wrapped up in establishing community around your family. She and Audie discuss the vulnerability of needing support, making friends for yourself and your kid, and the dysfunction of group dynamics.

This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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All the Things We’re Saying About Heated Rivalry

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:10:00 -0000

It may be a new year, but one of 2025's most unexpected hits isn’t done with us yet. Heated Rivalry, the TV adaptation of a spicy romance novel about two hockey players, has turned two unknown actors into overnight stars and sparked outsized conversations about sex on screen, queer representation, and masculinity in sports. Writer and culture critic Ira Madison III joins Audie to talk about how a low-budget Canadian series became a cultural flashpoint—and what its popularity reveals about the moment we’re in.

This episode was produced by Madeleine Thompson.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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The Year in News: Deepfakes, MAHA & AI

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

After a head-spinning year in the worlds of health and technology, Audie invited Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the host of Chasing Life, and Clare Duffy from Terms of Service, to break down the stories that ended up on all their podcasts this year.

Producer: Dan Bloom

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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How Politics are Driving Families Apart

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:10:00 -0000

As families gather for the holidays and political differences resurface, we revisit Audie's conversation with psychologist Joshua Coleman, who breaks down why partisan divides are driving family estrangement, how generational dynamics intensify the conflict, and what it looks like to navigate, or repair, these fractures from either side.

This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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The Year in Pop Culture: AI, Gay Hockey, and Rage Bait

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:10:00 -0000

What was this year in pop culture like? A scrappy Canadian gay hockey romance becomes the internet’s obsession while big-budget, star-packed shows are dwindling. AI rage-bait memes (some from government accounts) keep hijacking the national conversation. These are just some of the pop culture moments that defined 2025. Audie and New York Magazine staff writer Rebecca Alter break it down.

This episode was produced by Madeleine Thompson.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Spirituality in America, from AI Jesus to Wicca

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Audie talks with CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan about how people are reshaping their spiritual lives -- from Wicca to aliens -- and searching for new sources of meaning. Donie is exploring all of this in a new docuseries called “Devoted.” It’s available on CNN All Access.

This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Putting the 'Giving' Back in Thanksgiving

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Will an uncertain economy lead to less charitable giving this holiday season? And what if you want to give back but don’t have a lot of money? Audie talks with Sara Herschander, who covers philanthropy for Vox’s Future Perfect, about all the ways you can help.

Producer: Madeleine Thompson

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Is the Economy OK? Why It Might Not Feel Like It to You

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Missed car payments, crowdfunding for groceries, prices rising on everything from rent to hummus — everyday signs that something in the economy feels...tense. But the official numbers, and even the White House, keep insisting things are steady. Audie unpacks the strange gap between how the economy looks and how it feels with CNN Business’s Senior Writer, Allison Morrow.

This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez

Technical Director: Dan Dzula

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Next Act

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern led her country through some of its greatest crises: the Christchurch mass shooting, a deadly volcano eruption, and a global pandemic. A new CNN documentary takes an intimate look at Ardern’s political career, filmed over seven years. Audie met Ardern at Oxford University to talk about the film, parenting in the spotlight, empathetic leadership, and what’s next.

CNN Films will broadcast the television premiere of “Prime Minister” on Sunday, November 16 at 9pm ET/PT on CNN. “Prime Minister” will be available to stream the next day for subscribers of CNN’s All Access streaming offering.

This episode was produced by Madeleine Thompson and Osman Noor

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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“Love is Blind” Is About More Than Dating

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:10:00 -0000

This week, Audie sits on the other side of the mic and talks about her favorite show, “Love is Blind.” Her conversation is with Anne Helen Petersen on her podcast “Culture Study.” Yes, “Love Is Blind” is reality television, but it has a lot to say about this moment in history and politics. They talk about what works and doesn't work about these shows, and what they say about us as viewers.

Learn more about Anne Helen Petersen’s Culture Study newsletter and podcast.

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Horror Used to Be Escapism. Now It’s a Mirror

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Over the past decade, horror has evolved from cheap thrills to cultural reflection—tackling everything from systemic oppression to collective trauma. Audie talks with writer and filmmaker Tananarive Due, who explains how we got here. And why, in an age defined by fear, horror might just be the healthiest thing to watch.

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What Zohran Mamdani’s Rise Says About the Future of the Left

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 07:10:00 -0000

With New York City’s mayoral election fast approaching, one candidate in particular has managed to break through the noise — even outside the five boroughs. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist-backed progressive whose campaign videos have gone viral, has become the face of a growing leftist wave. But is it a one-city phenomenon, or the beginning of something bigger? Audie talks to CNN Contributor Astead Herndon. His story about Mamdani’s campaign was just published in the New York Times Magazine. He is now a host and Editorial Director at Vox.

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Why Everyone Started Paying Attention to the WNBA

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:10:00 -0000

The WNBA just wrapped its most-watched season in history, with soaring team valuations and unprecedented public interest. But the league is preparing for possible labor tension as players push for greater revenue sharing and ask who really benefits from its success. Audie turns to CNN contributor and host of Naked Sports, Cari Champion, to talk about what the next era of the WNBA could look like: the economics of the game and how a new competitor could redefine ownership, competition, and opportunity for female athletes.

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Why Orwell's '1984' is having a moment in 2025

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Film director Raoul Peck grew up in Haiti and the Congo, and is no stranger to authoritarianism. So it was an easy “yes” when he was offered access to author George Orwell’s entire body of work, from the original manuscript of “1984” to letters and journals. The result is “Orwell: 2+2=5,” a documentary about how a man named Eric Arthur Blair became the timeless face of truth. Peck talks to Audie about his take on Orwell’s legacy and what it still has to teach us.

This episode was Produced by Madeleine Thompson and Lori Galarreta

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Uncovering the Story of Police Torture in Chicago

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:10:00 -0000

This week The Assignment presents the first episode of CNN’s powerful narrative series, Tortured Justice with Omar Jimenez. It’s the story of systemic torture carried out by the Chicago police department over many years starting in the 1980s. The series focuses on James Gibson, who was wrongly convicted and tortured, Andrew Wilson, whose guilt for killing two police officers has not been questioned even as people learned of his torture, and Jon Burge, a police commander who oversaw torture.

Subscribe to the podcast to hear all the episodes. And read more about how Omar reported the story.

Producers: Graelyn Brashear, Madeleine Thompson, Emily Williams, Kyra Dahring, Sofia Sanchez, and Lauren Kim

Editor: Lacy Roberts

Technical director: Dan Dzula

Executive producer of CNN Podcasts: Steve Lickteig

Production help from: Jake Sorgen, Joe DeCeault, David Guggenheim, Jessica Pupovac

Special thanks to: Ferlon Webster, Jr. and Ed Kelly

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How MAGA and Billionaires Are Reshaping What Media You Consume

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV after being suspended for his comments on Charlie Kirk's assassination. It was the latest sign of political pressure shaping the media landscape into something that may have been unrecognizable a decade ago. So how did we get here, and where are we headed? Axios media correspondent and CNN contributor Sara Fischer talks about the forces at play and how they’re influencing everything from talk shows to social media algorithms.

This episode was Produced by Lori Galarreta and Madeleine Thompson

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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How to Break the Cycle of Political Violence

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Charlie Kirk’s assassination may be part of a larger “political realignment” in America, that’s according to Rachel Kleinfeld, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a leading scholar on political violence. She explains what it is, why it's violent, how it could get worse, and possible paths out.

This episode was Produced by Lori Galarreta and Jesse Remedios

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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How Algorithms Are Rewiring the Way We Talk

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Social media doesn’t just decide what you see — it shapes how you speak. Audie talks to linguist, author and educational influencer, Adam Aleksic to explore how the way we communicate is mutating in the age of TikTok, Trump, and ChatGPT.

Adam’s book is called, “Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language.”

This episode was Produced by Lori Galarreta

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Why Are Shows Like ‘Hunting Wives' and ‘Yellowstone’ So Popular Now?

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:10:00 -0000

One of the biggest shows of the summer was Netflix’s “Hunting Wives,” a raunchy, soapy thriller about gun-toting Texas housewives. It’s the latest hit in a growing wave of so-called “red state entertainment” finding audiences everywhere. Audie calls up comedian and longtime television producer Larry Wilmore to find out what’s driving Hollywood’s pronounced shift away from the hard lean into wokeness we saw just a few years ago. Is this a lasting change, or just another spin of the wheel in studios’ chase for the next big thing?

This episode was Produced by Jesse Remedios

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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The Generation That Inherited Hurricane Katrina

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:10:00 -0000

It’s been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. But for many, the storm is not just a memory, it’s an inheritance. At Be Loud Studios, an after-school program that helps young people tell their stories through radio, educator Alex Owens created Born After the Storm a podcast where local teens reflect on Katrina’s legacy. Audie sits down with high school senior Amari Walton, one of the storytellers, and Alex, who leads the program, to hear how the storm’s impact lives on through those who never lived it.

This episode was Produced by Lori Galarreta

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Dating Apps and the Demise of American Romance

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Dating apps are reporting record breaking numbers. Yet surveys show people across generations and sexualities are partnering less, having less sex, and are feeling increasingly pessimistic about the state of American romance. So what’s going on? Audie sits down with Faith Hill – staff writer at The Atlantic, who closely covers ‘The Slow, Quiet Demise of American Romance’ – for a breakdown of the uniquely modern challenges and consequences of searching for love on your phone.

This episode was Produced by Jesse Remedios and Lauren Kim.

Senior Producers: Matt Martinez and Dan Bloom
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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The Offline Rebellion of the Most Online Generation

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Audie talks with artist and organizer Kennedy McDaniel about how she, and others in her generation -- Gen Z -- are finding connection and power offline through an old school medium: zines.

This episode was Produced by Lori Galarreta.

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez
Technical Director: Dan Dzula
Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig

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Are Respectability Politics Over?

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Kamala Harris is stepping back. And Jasmine Crockett – the fiery Texas congresswoman known for viral clapbacks – is turning heads. This week, Audie asks: are “respectability politics” still the price of power for Black politicians, or are the rules finally changing in the age of Trump? NOTUS White House Correspondent Jasmine Wright and GOP Strategist Melik Abdul to help her parse it out.

The Assignment is a production of CNN Podcasts. This episode was Produced by Jesse Remedios and Sofia Sanchez. Our Senior Producer is Matt Martinez. Dan Dzula is our Technical Director and Steve Lickteig is Executive Producer of CNN Podcasts.

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What the Recent Obsession with Yachts Says About Class in America

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:10:00 -0000

We’re living in a golden age of yachts, bunkers, and ultra-wealth – and social media is eating it up. Audie talks with journalist and author Evan Osnos about what this era reveals about American culture and class. His book is called, “The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich.”

The Assignment is a production of CNN Podcasts. This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta and Grace Walker. Our Senior Producer is Matt Martinez. Dan Dzula is our Technical Director and Steve Lickteig is Executive Producer of CNN Podcasts.

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How Early 2000s Pop Culture Pitted Women Against Each Other

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 07:10:00 -0000

In the early 2000s, girlhood became a spectacle. It was sold through reality TV, tabloid scandals, and the early Internet. And it’s still shaping the way we see women today. Audie talks with Sophie Gilbert, culture critic and author of “Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves.”

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What ICE’s Rapid Expansion Could Mean for Your Community

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 07:10:00 -0000

President Trump's megabill sets Immigration and Customs Enforcement up to be the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency. Journalist Garrett Graff tells Audie how a relatively new federal agency rose to the top and why people should “get used to” seeing ICE agents in their community.

Garrett Graff writes the newsletter Doomsday Scenario and hosts the Long Shadow podcast.

For more CNN reporting on ICE’s expansion: https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/politics/ice-cbp-police-los-angeles-immigration

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Will Tariffs Bring Trouble to Toyland?

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:10:00 -0000

These days, the toy industry isn’t all fun and games. Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks sits down with Audie to talk about how trade wars and culture wars are shaping the state of play in America.

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George Takei’s Journey Through Fear, Silence, and Activism

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Star Trek legend George Takei has spent a lifetime confronting injustice: his family was sent to internment camps during World War II, he fought for civil rights in the 60’s, and later in life he became an activist in the LGBTQ+ community. Takei talks with Audie about his new graphic book, “It Rhymes with Takei,” a story about the experiences that shaped him, and what they say about patriotism, protest, and the state of American democracy.

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Alaska’s Senator: 'You’re Roadkill in the Middle’

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski spent the past two decades making a name for herself as a Republican who regularly straddles party lines. In a new book, Far from Home, Murkowski delves into her journey navigating hyper-partisan politics -- from the Tea Party to the Trump era. She sits down with Audie Cornish for a conversation about whether there’s still room for pragmatism and consensus-building in the modern-day GOP.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

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Can Weight Loss Drugs and Body Positivity Coexist?

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Just a few years ago, ‘body positivity’ was everywhere. Then came Ozempic. Audie talks with Virginia Sole-Smith, who spent the past decade writing about ‘diet culture.’ She weighs in on the future of the body positivity in an Ozempic world, and whether the movement and the revolutionary new class of weight loss drugs can coexist.

Virginia Sole Smith’s book is called “Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture.”

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Can Protestors Manufacture a Tipping Point?

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Protest has long been a tool for change in American life. But in an age of political gridlock and viral outrage, what actually works? Leah Greenberg, co-founder of Indivisible— one of several progressive groups organizing “No Kings Day” protests —joins Audie to talk about their strategy, and how they are preparing considering the Trump Administration’s reaction to ICE protests in Los Angeles.

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Is OpenAI Building an Empire or a Religion?

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Some companies just build products. Others build empires — with innovative leaders who inspire fierce devotion. But when does innovation become something more like faith? Tech journalist Karen Hao joins Audie Cornish to talk about the rise of Sam Altman, the near-religious culture growing around AI, and what it all means for our future — whether you’re feeling hopeful, skeptical, or somewhere in between.

Karen Hao’s book is called Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI

Listen to our interview with the CEO of Microsoft AI, Mustafa Suleyman.

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Klarna's CEO On Why You Should Buy Now, Pay Later

Thu, 29 May 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Should you put your DoorDash burrito on a payment plan? Probably not. But Klarna co-founder and CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski argues the rise of "buy now, pay later" -- or BNPL -- services like his are a good thing. He joins Audie to talk about his “healthier” credit alternative, and whether the rise of BNPL is a sign of larger economic strain.

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Explaining Diddy’s Domination and Downfall

Thu, 22 May 2025 07:10:00 -0000

As Sean “Diddy” Combs stands trial in New York, the music industry is reckoning with a hard truth: how did he stay untouchable for so long? Music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy—who once interned at Bad Boy Records—joins Audie to unpack how hip-hop missed its Weinstein “Me Too” moment.

Krishnamurthy is the author of Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion.

Get a recap of the Combs trial in your podcast feed, subscribe to "Trial By Jury: Diddy” from CNN Audio.

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Why We Believe Crazy S**t —And What We Can Do About It

Thu, 15 May 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Conspiracy theories are not new. They’re as old as time itself. But if you feel like they’re everywhere right now, you’re not alone. So, what do you do when somebody you love has fallen down a rabbit hole? CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan has been covering the world of misinformation for more than a decade, but now he's less interested in what people believe than why they believe it. So, he’s trying to find out.

Listen to Persuadable and follow The Account from CNN here.

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Catholicism Is So Hot Right Now. Why?

Thu, 08 May 2025 16:56:00 -0000

Catholicism is having a moment. The election of a new pope set social media buzzing with silly songs and comedy sketches, fantasy pope drafts and power rankings, and last year’s Oscar-winner ‘Conclave’ provided an imaginary reference point for what was happening behind the Sistine Chapel’s closed doors. But the interest goes beyond the papal election: Reports point to a rise in young converts, from JD Vance to Shia LaBeouf to a wave of Zoomers. Audie talks with Christine Emba of the American Enterprise Institute to unpack what’s driving this renewed fascination.

Editorial note: This episode was updated on 5/8/25 with language describing the election of a new pope.

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Why Does Dating Feel So Hard Right Now?

Thu, 01 May 2025 07:10:00 -0000

It’s been called a ‘romantic recession.’ Has love and dating always been this hard? Orna Guralnik, a psychoanalyst and star of Showtime’s Couples Therapy, says she’s seeing political polarization take a toll on modern-day romance. She sits down with Audie for a session on repairing America’s divided relationships, and steps we can all take to find connection.

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Who’s Laughing in Trump’s Second Term?

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The White House Correspondents Dinner takes place this weekend with at least one notable absence: comedy. Standup comic W. Kamau Bell visits Audie to talk about the tough decisions facing artists in the Trump era—and what institutional power plays, like the president’s takeover of the Kennedy Center and the abrupt cutting of Amber Ruffin from the White House Correspondents Dinner, mean for the future of comedy.

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A Wonk-Free Conversation About Tariffs

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:10:00 -0000

The fallout continues from the president’s so-called “Liberation Day,” with the on-again off-again global tariffs and the rising tensions with China. This all has the financial markets bouncing like a yo-yo. Audie talks with CNN Business Senior Writer Allison Morrow about what this means for you and your finances, and whether we’re heading for a recession.

Allison writes the CNN Business Nightcap, subscribe here.

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Can We Trust AI, or the People Building It?

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Artificial Intelligence can be difficult to understand, but a few things are certain: it's here, it's reshaping entire industries, and it's making a lot of people nervous. Audie sits down with Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI and a cautious optimist about our technological future. They unpack what AI is already changing, what it can do next—and how we can prepare for what’s coming.

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College Arrests: “A Kind of Policy That Ends Democracies”

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Detaining foreign students over their activism is the “kind of policy that ends democracies.” That’s what Jameel Jaffer tells Audie this week. He’s a law professor and Executive Director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. We also hear from Franziska Wild, student senior editor at The Georgetown Voice, about the chilling effect the detentions are having on campus.

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Is the Windy City Charting a Course for the Left?

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 07:10:00 -0000

What’s the way out of the political wilderness for Democrats? The mayor of Chicago says look to his city “leading the way in this moment around the value system that the people of America want to see carried out in governance.” Audie talks with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson about his political path forward.

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Are College Athletes Cashing In and Killing the Game?

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:10:00 -0000

For decades, college athletes made millions for everyone but themselves. Now, the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness policy, NIL, has changed the game. Audie dives into the chaos of NIL with former All-American gymnast Savannah Schoenherr and Washington Post writer Jesse Dougherty to find out who’s winning, who’s losing, and what it's like navigating America’s latest “wild west.” And will it change the way you experience college sports?

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How DOGE Cuts May Affect Your Summer Vacation

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 07:10:00 -0000

Sweeping cuts are throwing America’s national parks and forests into uncertainty. With fewer rangers, trail crews, and wildfire fighters, the effects could be immediate — closed campgrounds, neglected trails, and a fire season primed to be more dangerous than ever. Audie talks with veteran wildland firefighter Riva Duncan and CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir about what these cuts mean for public lands, outdoor tourism, and the communities—and economies— that depend on them.

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Where Did #MeToo Go?

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned from office in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal. Now, he’s back and running for mayor of New York City. And he’s not the only one, other so-called “canceled” men from Hollywood, media and politics are being welcomed back to the public sphere. So what’s happened to the Me Too Movement? Audie talks with the founder of ‘Me Too’, Tarana Burke, and former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, about backlash, regrets, and the work they’re doing to move forward.

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Why Elon Musk Wants You to Have More Kids

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:10:00 -0000

A growing number of tech leaders, conservatives, and social influencers believe falling birthrates pose an existential threat to civilization, and this “pro-natalist” movement wants Americans to start having more babies. Audie talks to Brad Wilcox, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia. His book is called, “Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization.”

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And the Oscar Goes to… the Best Campaign?

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:10:00 -0000

The Oscars aren’t just about the movies—they’re about politics, too. Audie talks with New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman, author of Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears. They break down the high-stakes world of Oscar campaigning including who’s pulling the strings behind the scenes, and what this year’s race reveals about the shifting dynamics of the industry.

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Why Crunchy Conservatives Love RFK Jr.

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Raw milk, seed oil skepticism, and...coffee enemas? The rise of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the conservative “Make America Healthy Again” movement is reclaiming what it means to be ‘crunchy’ -- a term previously associated with health-conscious liberals. Audie talks with Kiera Butler, a Mother Jones senior editor and reporter deeply embedded in the world of the conservative right's wellness trends.

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The United States of Elon

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:10:00 -0000

President Trump put Elon Musk in charge of government efficiency and the result has been nonstop chaos and trauma for civil servants. Audie talks with WIRED reporter Vittoria Elliot about how he is doing it and who is helping him. Audie also talks with someone who’s gone through an Elon purge -- former Twitter executive Dr. Rumman Chowdhury. She offers advice on how to get through it.

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A Pastor's Stand on Trump's ICE Raids

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:10:00 -0000

In the wake of Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration, Audie talks with Rev. Gabriel Salguero about how faith leaders are navigating the call to provide support and guidance to undocumented immigrants in their congregations. Rev. Salguero is the pastor of The Gathering Place in Orlando, Florida, and president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition.

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The ‘Sober Curious’ Revolution

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 08:10:00 -0000

"Dry January" is evolving into something more than a 4-week virtue signal. American attitudes about drinking are changing, especially among younger generations who are drinking much less. So, what’s behind this cultural shift, and why now? Audie talks with Derek Brown, the founder of Positive Damage a newsletter about “drinking mindfully.” And Chris Marshall, the founder of Sans Bar, the first non-alcoholic bar in North America.

For more on what alcohol does to the body, listen to Dr. Sanjay Gupta's podcast, Chasing Life. "Your Shame-Free Guide to Cutting Back on Booze.”

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Meet the Man Who Saw the LA Fires Coming

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Peter Kalmus left California two years ago in part because of his concerns about hotter days and increasing wildfires. Today, his former neighborhood of Altadena is one of the many communities left scorched by the wildfires. And he says more are coming. Audie talks with Kalmus, who studies future extreme heat impacts on human health and ecosystems at NASA, about how the Los Angeles wildfires are part of a greater climate crisis, and how our grief can be channeled into preventing the next disaster.

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How Political Divides Are Destroying Families

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 08:10:00 -0000

Donald Trump’s reelection has some people putting politics over family. Audie talks with psychologist Joshua Coleman about the forces driving family estrangements over political differences, how generational differences can play a part in broken family ties, and what to do if you find yourself on either side of an estrangement.

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Samantha Bee Is Done with Democrats (For Now)

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 08:15:00 -0000

It’s a very special New Year episode for The Assignment: a conversation with Emmy-winning comedian and writer Samantha Bee about the state of politics and how she’s engaging with the political moment. Bee is known for her time as a correspondent on The Daily Show and her own late-night show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. She is now the host of the podcast Choice Words.

Audie invites back her podcast friends for this conversation: Kara Swisher, host of On with Kara Swisher and co-host of Pivot, and Van Lathan, co-host of The Ringer’s Higher Learning podcast. They also share their “Word of the Year” for 2024, and give a predictive word for 2025.

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Trump’s Tariffs Could Mean Costlier Clothes

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 08:15:00 -0000

The cost of your clothes could go up if Donald Trump implements promised tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. Audie talks with Christina Binkley, editor-at-large for Vogue Business, about the possibility of costlier clothes, whether we should adjust our holiday shopping lists, and what it means for 2025 fashion trends.

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What a CEO's Murder Tells Us About America

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:15:00 -0000

The killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, and the arrest of his alleged killer, has been met with online memes, TikTok songs, and even celebration. So how does the response to this brazen murder reflect a wider cultural phenomenon? Audie talks with journalist Samantha Cole, the co-founder of 404 Media, to understand how the reaction to the killing is echoing both on and offline.

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How to Build a Politics of Humility

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 08:15:00 -0000

Senator-elect Andy Kim’s rise in politics has been anything but conventional. In 2020, he was one of seven Democratic congressmen who won a district also won by Donald Trump. In 2024, he took on the New Jersey political machine after Senator Bob Menendez was convicted of federal corruption charges. He sits down with Audie to talk about his political journey, how Democrats can earn back voters’ trust, and what winning in the Trump era has taught him about humility and authenticity.

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Scaramucci on Being in Trump’s Orbit

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:00:42 -0000

Anthony Scaramucci is synonymous with the rough and tumble world of an incoming Trump Administration, and the perfect person to talk with about what it’s like to be in Donald Trump’s orbit. This episode is a bit of an experiment with a couple of fellow podcasters. Audie is joined by Kara Swisher, the co-host of Pivot and On with Kara Swisher, and Van Lathan, the co-host of Higher Learning. They talk with Scaramucci about Trump world, why he took the White House Director of Communications job in Trump’s first term, and his thoughts on Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

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Should You Post About Your Kids Online?

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:15:00 -0000

New technologies like artificial intelligence, facial recognition and social media algorithms are changing our world so fast it can be hard to keep up. That’s why The Assignment is excited to bring you CNN’s new podcast, “Terms of Service with Clare Duffy.” Audie sits down with Clare to talk about how she hopes her pod can move past the hyper-optimism and fearmongering that often dominates tech coverage. Instead, she wants to empower listeners with a deeper understanding of how these technologies shape our lives.

In this episode we’ve selected for you, Clare explores the impact of a new generation of kids growing up with their childhoods posted online for the world to see – and what parents can do about it.

Follow Terms of Service, wherever you get your podcasts.

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Are Progressive Groups Hurting Democrats?

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 08:15:00 -0000

Would you prefer to feel morally righteous, or to win? Audie talks with Adam Jentleson, who wants all Democrats to consider that question and adjust their tactics accordingly. He’s worked for U.S. Senators Harry Reid and John Fetterman, and in a recent New York Times op-ed, Jentleson prescribes his party a heavy dose of skepticism toward “the groups” on its left flank and a focus on making progress for all working people instead.

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Trump Owns the GOP. What’s Next for the Party?

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:15:00 -0000

Lifelong Republicans who passionately resisted Trump are now grappling with how to move forward. Audie talks with political strategist and publisher of The Bulwark, Sarah Longwell, about the future of the 'Never Trump' movement and how politics may evolve in the years ahead.

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Latino Men Wanted Trump. Why?

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 23:58:00 -0000

The Republican Party had the strongest showing among Latinos in decades, particularly Latino men. CNN’s national exit poll found Trump won 54 percent of Latino men compared to Harris’ 44 percent – that's an 18-point increase from 2020. Audie talks with Democratic strategist and founder of Solidarity Strategies, Chuck Rocha, about this shift. Why did so many Latino men go for Trump this time around? And what will the Democratic party do about it?

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The Pennsylvania Voters Who May Decide the Race

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 05:15:00 -0000

With just hours before election day, we’re returning to a handful of people who represent a crucial voter segment: unhappy Pennsylvania Republicans. John King interviews three people who voted for Nikki Haley in the state’s primary back in the spring — long after she’d dropped out. How they and others like them fill out their ballots this week may decide the next president of the United States.

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What To Expect on Election Night

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Every four years, millions of people tune into news networks for real-time election results, but there is much more happening behind the scenes before the final call is aired. Audie talks with CNN Vice President and Political Director, David Chalian. He leads the team responsible for making high-stakes calls under intense pressure — all while ensuring accuracy, especially in today’s politically charged era. They talk about what goes into making the calls, and when we can expect a presidential election result.

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Why the Race Is So Close In the Rust Belt

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 04:15:00 -0000

Wisconsin and Michigan, the big bricks of the former Blue Wall, are considered must-wins for Kamala Harris. They’re also both toss-ups at this point. This week, John King talks to voters in Milwaukee and Detroit who have a lot in common: They’re both Black men, about the same age, born and raised in their respective Rust Belt cities, and steeped in a culture that always voted for Democrats. One is voting for Harris. The other is going for Trump. Their choices — and how they got there — tell us a lot about the very tight election math in the upper Midwest.

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Election Workers Under Siege

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Elections officials across the country are preparing for a potentially bumpy election night. Audie travels to Arizona to talk with one of those officials: Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates. He is a lifelong Republican who faced death threats and harassment from election deniers after he certified the results of the 2020 election. They discuss why election centers now look like forts – surrounded by barbed wire and shatterproof glass – all in the name of protecting election integrity.

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The Grieving Father Who Took Down Alex Jones

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Is it really possible to fight conspiracy theories? Robbie Parker says yes. After his daughter Emilie was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in 2012, Parker became the target of conspiracy theories -- amplified and monetized by Alex Jones. Audie talks with Parker about how he helped sue Alex Jones’ Infowars and won, and what he thinks of gun politics in an election where candidates brag about being gun owners.

Robbie Parker’s new book is called, “A Father's Fight: Taking on Alex Jones and Reclaiming the Truth About Sandy Hook.”

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In Purple Georgia, The Election Math Is Not So Simple

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 04:30:00 -0000

Vice President Kamala Harris’ goal in Georgia is to turn out the coalition that barely tipped the newly purple state to Joe Biden in 2020. That means firing up the base, convincing the unconvinced, and driving turnout as high as possible. Donald Trump, meanwhile, is hoping Georgians think the shift left was a mistake. There's no question that women of color are a huge part of the Georgia equation. John sits down with two who show it would be a mistake to think they’re voting as a bloc.

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Can We Build Our Way Out of the Housing Crisis?

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Owning a home is the cornerstone of the American dream, but an affordability crisis is making it a distant fantasy for many. The presidential candidates are taking notice. Sonja Trauss is a key activist in the YIMBY movement (“Yes in My Backyard”), and says the solution is pretty simple: Build more homes. Getting that done isn’t so easy. Audie sits down with Trauss in Southern California — ground zero for the housing shortage — to talk about the origins of the problem and potential solutions.

Watch a version of our conversation here.

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The UFC is Trump's Not-So-Secret Weapon

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 07:15:00 -0000

This week, Audie steps into the cage, literally, to learn why mixed martial arts is America's latest political battleground. As young men and women drift further apart politically, mixed martial arts has proven fertile ground for a changed GOP looking for fresh supporters. Retired Ultimate Fighting Championship star Jorge Masvidal is a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, as are many other fighters and UFC CEO Dana White. Audie talks with him and journalist Luke Thomas to learn about the growing connection between fight fans and the former president.

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Why Nevada’s Economic Woes Make It an Election Wildcard

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 04:15:00 -0000

Nevada — especially Clark County, home to Vegas and almost 75 percent of the state’s population — is a political bellwether in a very specific way. The pandemic gutted the tourism-based economy, and the recovery has been slow. John King speaks with two voters in Las Vegas with centrist political views who show us why Nevada is very much up for grabs in this election.

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The Gen Z Group Making Politics Fun

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

“I vividly remember Donald Trump winning the election and waking up shocked the next day because I was told by everyone...this was impossible.” For Lakshya Jain, 2016 was a major wake-up call, and he decided to use his skills to address the gaps in understanding left by traditional political media. Together with a group of fellow Gen Z engineers and political enthusiasts, he founded Split-Ticket.org, a nonpartisan website that uses creative framing and interactive games to tell a new kind of political story.

You Be The Campaign Manager game

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Why Black Sororities Matter in Georgia’s Close Race

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

The historically Black sororities and fraternities known as the Divine 9 have a long legacy of political activism, though it’s traditionally been nonpartisan. Now that Vice President Kamala Harris — a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the country’s oldest Black sorority — is at the top of the Democratic ticket, the organizations are mobilizing in a whole new way. And nowhere is that more evident or more consequential than in Georgia. Audie Cornish travels to Atlanta to sit down with two other AKA members: Democratic Congresswoman Nikema Williams and Maisha Land, creator of the viral Stroll to the Polls campaign.

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Desert Demographics: Arizona in Play

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0000

In a presidential race destined to come down to a handful of swing states, Arizona is a political puzzle: a Sun Belt state that’s historically gone red, but went for Biden in 2020. Do the changing demographics prime it for Harris, or will it turn back to Trump? John King talks with two swing voters who exemplify how Arizona defies stereotypes — and represent exactly who the parties are trying to win over.

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What Did Colleges Learn from Campus Protests?

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Colleges and universities are still dealing with the political fallout of last spring’s campus protests and encampments. It’s a political fight that’s led to the ouster of high-profile university presidents and generated national debate and even Congressional hearings. Audie talks with Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University, about how campus protests over Gaza offer a lens on wider arguments about academic freedom. And we hear the perspective of Sam Hilton, a Wesleyan student and executive editor of the student newspaper.

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LeVar Burton on Optimism During Hard Times

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Audie talks with actor and producer LeVar Burton about the political events that shaped his life and informed the way he guided younger generations, especially as they grappled with the political and cultural events of their own time.

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How Campaigns Use (And Misuse) Music

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Kamala Harris has “Freedom.” Donald Trump has “God Bless the USA” (and a lot of cease-and-desist letters). What makes for a good campaign song? And why do we respond so viscerally to the ones that work? Audie talks with DJ Cassidy, who DJ'd the DNC Roll Call. And Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, who studies the use of music in political campaigns.

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The DNC and the Passing of the Torch

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 22:26:21 -0000

We've watched Democratic leaders hand the reins to the next generation at their surprisingly lit convention in Chicago this week. Audie sits down in with CNN’s Van Jones and Evan McMorris-Santoro of the nonprofit news site NOTUS (News of the United States) to talk about who’s taking the stage and changing the party.

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Trump, Elon, and Silicon Valley’s Political Sway

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:36:07 -0000

Audie talks with journalist Kara Swisher about the rise of Silicon Valley’s big donors and how Trump won some of them over. Plus, how Kamala Harris’ California roots have worked to her advantage with tech donors.

Kara is the author of “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story.”

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Nazis, Nihilism, and the Evolution of the Fringe Right

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 07:15:00 -0000

CNN’s Elle Reeve did her best-known reporting during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, when she followed neo-Nazis over a weekend of violent protests. Seven years later, her new book looks at how that movement — born in online communities of mostly white men — gave rise to extremist thinking that is now threaded through today’s political discourse.

Audie talks with Reeve about reporting on Nazis, the mainstreaming of their ideology, and why she started “Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics” with a story about a dead cat.

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Can Donald Trump Pivot?

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 07:15:00 -0000

How will Donald Trump and Republicans talk about Kamala Harris without walking into a buzzsaw of accusations and potential backlash over attacks on her race and gender? This week Audie talks with two people with some answers: Kevin Madden is a CNN Political Commentator and was a senior advisor to Mitt Romney on his presidential campaigns, and Doug Heye was the head of communications for the RNC and for the House Majority Leader.

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Coconuts, brat, and Kamala Harris: What Does it Mean?

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Every presidential campaign eventually finds ways to take advantage of the cultural moment. Vice President Harris’s current moment in the viral sun happened as soon as she became the frontrunner of the Democratic ticket. How and why did it happen? Audie talks with two observers: researcher Nina Jankowicz, who studied online gendered abuse and disinformation against women in political life. And Deja Foxx, who worked on Harris's 2019 campaign when she was just 19 years old, leading the digital team’s influencer and surrogate strategy.

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Inside Biden's Decision

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:30:21 -0000

After three weeks of battling an intense debate from within his own party, President Joe Biden made a surprise announcement on Sunday, ending his re-election campaign. Shortly after, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Audie talks with Phil Mattingly, CNN’s Chief Domestic Correspondent. He takes us inside Biden’s historic decision and tells us what to expect from here.

CNN: Inside Biden’s unprecedented exit from the presidential race

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Why JD Vance is Trump’s VP Pick

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Former President Donald Trump thrilled the Republican National Convention by entering the arena with a bandage on his right ear, evidence of the assassination attempt from two days prior. With fervor running high, Trump announced that his running mate would be bestselling author and Senator JD Vance from Ohio. Meredith McGraw covers the Trump campaign for POLITICO and she’s here to explain how this choice impacts the presidential race. Her book, out in August, is titled “Trump in Exile.”

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Trump’s Close Call Re-Shapes the Race

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:11:00 -0000

America was shaken on Saturday as former president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. It’s an event of historical significance that’s already re-shaping the presidential race. Kristen Holmes is here to explain how. She’s the CNN correspondent assigned to the Trump campaign, and Kristen and Audie met up on Monday at the CNN-POLITICO Grill on day one of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

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Why We Can’t Look Away From Reality TV

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Reality television has turned into a sprawling industry of pimple-poppers, amazing racers, the broken hearted, docusoaps, and sooo many housewives – people willing to share the good and bad of their lives with an audience that by design is meant to judge them for it. It also gave us a president. Audie talks with Pulitzer Prize winning New Yorker writer Emily Nussbaum about how and why reality shows have become must-see TV. Her new book, “Cue The Sun! The Invention of Reality TV.”

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The Cracks in the Blue Wall

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Michigan and Wisconsin are Midwestern swing states with the power to make or break the election. They’re crucial bricks in the Democrats’ “Blue Wall” strategy, a wall that’s starting to crack. On this third installment of “All Over the Map,” John King and his team visit Milwaukee, site of next week’s Republican convention and home to a Black liberal base increasingly disaffected with a President and party they feel abandoned by. In Detroit, many, especially in the Arab-American community, are heartbroken and angry over President Biden’s response to the war in Gaza. Two voters, Eric and Ibrahim, give us their takes — and remind us why we’re traveling “all over the map”.

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What It Means to Be Patriotic

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:15:00 -0000

This Independence Day, as we gather around the grill and watch fireworks with our friends and families, we wanted to revisit a conversation Audie had with Baratunde Thurston, writer at Puck News and host of the PBS show America Outdoors.

What does it mean to love this country despite its divisions? How can we come together and hold space for the complexity of the American story? And what would those conversations sound like if we did?

Baratunde Thurston is a writer, host and executive producer of the PBS television series America Outdoors, creator and host of How To Citizen, and a founding partner of the new media startup Puck. His comedic memoir, How To Be Black, is a New York Times best-seller.

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Georgia’s Swing-State Spotlight

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0000

During the 2020 election, there was perhaps no bigger upset than Joe Biden carrying Georgia. This was the first time a Democrat had won the reliably red state in three decades — in years past, Democrats didn’t even think to campaign in the state. So, how do Georgia voters feel about their newfound swing state status? And will this change the way they vote in November? On this second installment of our series “All Over the Map,” John King and his team visit with two small-business owners aware of their electoral power.

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What It’s Like to Be a Diplomat

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Between Russia's war with Ukraine and Israel's war with Hamas, it feels like we're seeing the limits of diplomacy. Can we still depend on global alliances and good old-fashioned negotiations to solve the problems of today, or are we better off trying a different approach? Audie speaks with Julianne Smith, United States Permanent Representative to NATO, about the state of U. S. diplomacy and what it looks like when diplomacy works and when it doesn't.

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The Key to Pennsylvania? Nikki Haley Voters

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0000

More than 158,000 Republicans cast Pennsylvania primary votes for Nikki Haley nearly two months after she quit the race for president. That’s enough votes to swing a state critical to victory in November – and Haley had similar showings in other battlegrounds. So, how do these critical swing voters choose between Joe Biden and Donald Trump – two candidates they do not like? In the first installment of a three-part series, CNN Chief National Correspondent John King travels to Pennsylvania to hear Haley voters share their doubts about Biden, Trump, and the future of the Republican Party.

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A New Generation of Storytellers

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 07:15:00 -0000

What does it mean for a news story to matter? To have impact on YOU, the audience? Does it have to be about a person who has been wronged? An institution caught in a cover up? Do you need to feel like it could affect your life personally? Audie wrestled these questions while serving as judge for this year’s Livingston Awards, which recognize impactful journalism by reporters under the age of 35. She calls up this year’s winners: Allison Behringer and Lila Hassan, for their work covering medical mysteries for the Bodies podcast, and Samantha Hogan for her deep dive into probate and guardianship in Maine.

You can check out more of their award-winning reporting below:

Early Birds episode of Bodies

The Fight for Abortion Training episode of Bodies

Calls to overhaul Maine probate courts have stalled for half a century. The most vulnerable people may be at risk by Samantha Hogan

Eight deaths raise questions about oversight of Maine’s public guardianships by Samantha Hogan

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How Popular Is Election Betting?

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 21:31:00 -0000

What can we learn about the future of our elections from political prediction markets? Audie calls up Thomas Gurca, Director of Iowa Electronic Markets (IEM), an online futures market that includes political betting. He explains what makes prediction markets different from traditional gambling and how IEM continues to predict presidential elections with better accuracy than the polls.

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Documenting the Golden Age of Hip-Hop

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Filmmaker and journalist dream hampton’s new documentary, “It Was All a Dream,” chronicles the “the golden age of Hip-Hop" in the early 1990’s. She talks with Audie about the film, which is made up of footage she shot in the 90’s that’s been in storage for 30 years: hanging out with Biggie Smalls in the studio, Lil’ Kim in the neighborhood, and interviews with a before-he-was famous Snoop Dog. Through her writing at publications like The Source, Vibe, Essence, and The Village Voice, dream became a critical activist voice — committed to the music and to the artists that she was constantly demanding more of.

Learn more about “It Was All a Dream” and watch the trailer.

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Steve Bannon is Heading to Prison

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 21:11:24 -0000

Steve Bannon, the standard-bearer of “MAGA media,” is set to report to federal prison on July 1st for refusing to comply with January 6 Committee subpoenas. He’s the latest in a growing list of Trump allies to face legal prosecution in defense of the former president. Bannon used the moment to paint himself as a martyr, a strategy which CNN Political Reporter Sara Murray says is in line with Donald Trump’s own plans to foment a wave of grievance through his sentencing in the Manhattan “hush money” trial.

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Preparing for a Water Crisis

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Each of the last 12 months has become the hottest ever on record and the UN Secretary General has warned that countries must act on the climate crisis within the next year and a half. This week Audie talks to Bill Weir, CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent, about how the climate crisis will affect water supply, and why we should all be thinking about what the future of sustainable water usage looks like. Then, Audie chats with two water experts: Fabiola Sosa Rodriguez, Head of Economic Growth and Environment at the Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City, where they could run out of water this month. And Christine Colvin, Water Policy Lead at the World Wildlife Fund, she was in Cape Town during a water crisis that almost turned off the taps.

For more on Mexico City’s water crisis check out this story by Laura Paddison: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/25/climate/mexico-city-water-crisis-climate-intl

Bill Weir’s book, “Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World” is available now.

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What Polls Do (And Don’t) Tell Us

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 21:00:00 -0000

How will the trial of Donald Trump affect voters? There’s been a lot of partisan messaging from all sides about the numbers and what – if any effect – that’s going to have in November. How do we make sense of all of this? CNN polling and analytics editor Ariel Edwards-Levy joins Audie to discuss the power – and limitations – of surveys and polls.

Read Ariel’s latest: What the polls can’t tell us about the Trump verdict’s effect on the election

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The Economy’s Bad Vibes

Thu, 30 May 2024 07:15:00 -0000

We’re seeing conflicting messages about the state of the economy, especially from political leaders. And we’re getting truly mixed message about what – if anything – can be done, at least in the short term. A listener from L.A. understands this first-hand, and calls in with an assignment. Audie brings in Dr. Gary Hoover, Executive Director of The Murphy Institute and Professor of Economics at Tulane University, to talk about the economy’s bad vibes, and what hope – if any – lies ahead. Audie also dives into the mailbag and gets an unusual email from a special listener.

Call or text us at (202) 854-8802

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Where Trump’s Trials Go Now

Mon, 27 May 2024 21:00:00 -0000

With Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial heading into final arguments, it’s the perfect time to have Katelyn Polantz, CNN’s Senior Reporter for Crime and Justice, give a full review of the many trials of the former president.

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Should Schools Ban Phones?

Thu, 23 May 2024 07:15:00 -0000

What happens when you take away a kid’s phone during school hours? In a word: drama. Some schools around the country are trying to completely remove smartphones from classrooms, requiring students to place them in pouches. Audie talks with Carol Kruser, Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services at Chicopee Public Schools in Massachusetts. She successfully advocated for a district-wide ban on phones. We also hear from Suzanna Kopans, a high school senior who willingly parted with her phone. She’s part of an organization called Phone-Free Schools Movement.

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Corruption or “Just Politics”: Sen Menendez on Trial

Mon, 20 May 2024 21:58:28 -0000

A mere 500 feet away from the site of People of New York v. Trump, another political legacy is on the line in a courtroom. Democrat Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who sidestepped corruption charges due to a mistrial in 2017, is under federal indictment again, and the timing couldn’t be worse for Senate Democrats trying to maintain control of the chamber. Gregory Krieg is covering the Menendez trial for CNN and he’ll highlight this blockbuster case that’s been completely overshadowed by the Trump show next door.

CNN: 4 big questions as Bob Menendez’s corruption trial enters its second week

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How Social Media Amplified the Drake-Kendrick Rap Beef

Thu, 16 May 2024 07:15:00 -0000

What can we learn from the first great rap battle of the streaming age? Like the ones that came before, the recent rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake is defined by lyrical dexterity and sheer intensity. But UNLIKE past battles this one was remarkable for its speed. Both rappers released songs within hours and even minutes of each other. Audie talks with CNN Entertainment Reporter Lisa Respers France about this moment, and how social media pushed this beef to a fever pitch.

Read Lisa’s reporting on the feud :

Kendrick Lamar and Drake gave us an epic hip-hop beef weekend. Here’s what to know

Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s beef: ‘Nobody won the war’

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How Kamala Harris is Finding Her Voice

Mon, 13 May 2024 21:34:09 -0000

Vice President Kamala Harris thinks about everything as a lawyer first. That's an observation CNN Senior Reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere has made after many interviews with the Veep. Audie talks with Dovere about how Harris has deployed her prosecutorial skills against Wall Street CEOs, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and even President Biden in a debate moment that nearly derailed his campaign. And they talk about how she is using those same prosecutorial skills this election year, especially around the issue of abortion.

Dovere is the author of “Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump.”

Dovere: Harris is making unprecedented Black outreach efforts as Biden campaign looks to her to bolster support

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The Power and Promise of Psychedelics in Therapy

Thu, 09 May 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Bad trips, anti-drug PSAs, and the crackdown under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 helped stigmatize psychedelics in the U.S. But now, there’s renewed clinical inquiry into whether these drugs can ease emotional trauma. To understand the future of psychedelics, Audie calls up Ernesto Londoño, reporter at the New York Times and author of the new book, “Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics.” They discuss his own mental health and psychedelic journeys and why he thinks there’s good reason for both hope and skepticism.

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How Speaker Mike Johnson Has Survived So Far

Mon, 06 May 2024 21:00:00 -0000

When Mike Johnson worked with Democrats to pass Ukraine war funding, he knew it would enrage the extreme right-wing and threaten his speakership. So far, Johnson has survived the challenge to his job, and as Doug Heye puts it, “survival is strength.” Heye has worked for Republicans in the House and Senate and is a former communications director for the Republican National Committee. He’ll describe the tightrope Mike Johnson must walk in order lead House Republicans back to a majority in November.

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How Do We Talk About Campus Protests?

Thu, 02 May 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses have been met with suspensions, expulsions, and arrests. This week, Audie talks with two people in the middle of the story to understand how they view and talk about this moment. We hear from Krasimir Staykov, a junior and an activist at Pomona College in Claremont, California. He and others were arrested for staging a sit-in in the university president’s office. We also hear from Michael Roth, the president of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, about his approach to campus protest, and his response to protest language he finds offensive.

Read all of CNN’s coverage on campus protests.

Read all of Pomona College’s statements about protests on campus.

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Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett of Pod Save America

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett were speechwriters in the Obama White House who, along with Tommy Vietor, decided to venture into media with a podcast now called Pod Save America. The show became a hit, so they founded a whole company around it called Crooked Media. Now, they produce a plethora of podcasts, host a full schedule of live shows, and even write books like their new title, Democracy or Else. Favreau & Lovett go behind the fights over messaging in the Democratic party, parse Joe Biden's campaign strategy, and explain the challenges of running a progressive media company in the age of Trump.

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Does Beyoncé Need Country?

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 07:15:00 -0000

And does Country need Beyoncé? The likely answer to both of those questions is no. But the discussion Beyoncé sparked seems to be the larger point of her new album, Cowboy Carter. Sidney Madden is a reporter for NPR Music, and has delved deep into the intricate dynamics of race, genre, and industry politics addressed on the album. Audie and Sidney talk about these bigger themes and explore the conversation that's been started by Beyoncé's latest bold venture.

Sidney Madden is also co-host of the podcast Louder Than a Riot.

Watch, “Call Me Country: Beyoncé & Nashville’s Renaissance,” available to stream in the U.S. on Friday, April 26 on Max (subscription required). The documentary examines this reckoning in the genre, straight from the country music capital of the world.

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Why Trump Would Rather Be at The Supreme Court

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 21:00:00 -0000

While the political world fixates on Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial, the Supreme Court is weighing two decisions that could re-define the November election and invalidate charges for hundreds of January 6th defendants. CNN’s Senior Supreme Court Analyst Joan Biskupic is here to explain what’s at stake and read the tea leaves as to which way the justices are leaning. Joan’s book, Nine Black Robes, is now out in paperback.

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Pediatricians on the Frontlines of Gender-Affirming Care

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 07:15:00 -0000

This week, the Supreme Court ruled that Idaho could temporarily enforce a law that would ban providing gender-affirming care to minors. That means doctors who administer puberty blocking-drugs, hormone therapy, and perform certain surgeries could face up to 10 years in prison. It’s the latest move to prevent doctors from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth. With politicians passing anti-trans bills and hospitals and doctors facing vitriol and threat, is this care on the line for trans kids? In this episode from the early days of our podcast, Audie speaks with two gender-affirming care providers to discuss the negative attention they’ve faced and understand the lifesaving care at risk.

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Why Arizona Matters So Much

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:04:00 -0000

When Arizona’s Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law reinstating a near-total ban on abortion, it took most of the country by surprise. For plugged-in journalist Jim Small of AZ Mirror, this was the expected result of a deliberate effort by Republicans to arrive at precisely this outcome. Now that the great backpedal is underway, Small tells Audie how we got here and how Arizona politics will affect the elections in November.

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What Would a Second U.S. Civil War Look Like?

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:15:00 -0000

The new movie “Civil War” asks: what could happen if the system of checks and balances that hold the United States together falls apart? Audie talks with the writer and director of the film, Alex Garland. It follows journalists as they make their way through a war-torn American landscape, one where Texas and California have gone to war against a three-term president who has disbanded the FBI and deemed journalists enemy combatants who may be shot on sight.

The Assignment has been nominated for two Webby Awards in the categories of Best Host and Interview/Talk Show! Please click on the links and vote for us. Thank you!

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Why Don’t Third Parties Work?

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Last week, “No Labels,” the centrist group seeking to field a “unity ticket” for the presidential election, announced that despite raising $70 million and securing ballot access in key states, they had failed to secure a candidate and would drop their effort for the 2024 cycle. This news elicited sighs of relief all over Washington, including at Third Way, a center-left think tank. Kate deGruyter is communications director at Third Way, and she argues that any third-party candidate in this race disproportionately hurts Joe Biden by muddying the otherwise clear choice between Biden and former president Donald Trump.

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Is Online Gambling a Public Health Threat?

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:15:00 -0000

What is driving the concern over online gambling? The lawyer who took on Big Tobacco, Richard Daynard, says it is an addictive product. The Public Health Advocacy Institute, which he heads up, is suing the sports betting platform DraftKings for deceptive advertising. Audie talks with Daynard, who’s made a career of bringing lawsuits in pursuit of public health, a strategy he calls “wholesale” rather than “retail.” We also hear from NBA star Rex Chapman, author of the memoir, “It’s Hard For Me To Live With Me.” Chapman gives us insight into both the world of sports and the world of gambling. While he’s never participated in sports betting himself, he reflects on his experiences gambling millions on horse racing and blackjack.

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Read DraftKings’ statement in response to Daynard’s Public Health Advocacy Institute’s lawsuit:

"As a customer-first organization, DraftKings takes consumer protection and responsible gaming seriously. DraftKings respectfully disagrees with the claims and allegations made by the Public Health Advocacy Institute. The disclosures and explanations provided to customers before they make an initial deposit are detailed, clear, conspicuous and informative. Multiple examples are provided. Regrettably, the Institute ignored our multiple attempts to engage in an in-person dialogue to carefully examine their concerns in light of these disclosures and, instead, filed suit.”

The company also said in a statement:

“DraftKings is committed to educating consumers about the importance of playing responsibly. We have created tools like “My Stat Sheet” an innovative feature that gives players the ability to assess, track and interact with their personal stats through intuitive charts and information that can help empower players to make data-driven decisions on their own play, as well as offer customers the ability to control how they engage with our app through cool-off periods, deposit and wager limits. Furthermore, we collaborate with organizations such as the National Council for Problem Gaming, Responsible Online Gaming Association, Kindbridge Behavioral Health and the American Gaming Association. A core priority for DraftKings is ensuring that customers are using our products as intended, for safe and responsible entertainment.”

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“Preachy Females” of the Democratic Party

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 21:00:00 -0000

When James Carville criticized the “preachy females” at the forefront of Democratic politics, he kicked off a firestorm of outrage and perhaps a little introspection. Did “The Ragin’ Cajun” have a point, however impolitely made? Do Democrats have a problem with men? Especially Black men and other men of color? Jamil Smith is an award-winning writer and the new editor-in-chief of The Emancipator, a nonprofit newsroom run by the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, co-founded by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi.

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The Assignment Presents: All There Is with Ashley Judd

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:15:00 -0000

We're taking a short break on The Assignment, and today we’re bringing you a powerful episode from the latest season of All There Is with Anderson Cooper. Following Naomi Judd's death by suicide in 2022, her daughter Ashley discovered her body. In a poignant and candid discussion, Ashley Judd opens up about the challenges she has confronted in addressing her own mental health struggles, the profound sense of loss she experiences, and the enduring presence of her mother's spirit in her life.

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Why Republicans Stick with Trump

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Sarah Longwell always felt she could argue the big issues with her fellow Republicans and still have a place in the “big tent” party. That all changed with the emergence of Donald Trump, who espoused policies and politics Longwell could never accept. Instead of sulking over her lost party, Sarah got to work, trying to bridge the gap between the Republican party she knew and what it’s become. Longwell is publisher of the center-right publication, The Bulwark, and hosts podcasts, including “The Focus Group,” where she hears directly from Republican voters about their opinions.

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The Assignment Presents: Chasing Life on IVF

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:15:00 -0000

We're taking a short break on The Assignment, and we want to bring you an episode of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s excellent CNN podcast Chasing Life. It's a special episode he put together about IVF after the Supreme Court of Alabama declared embryos as children, potentially subjecting those who discard frozen embryos to wrongful death charges. This decision raises questions about the implications for fertility doctors and patients in the state, as well as potential ramifications on a national scale. Dr. Gupta interviews IVF expert Dr. Eve Feinberg from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Dr. Feinberg elaborates on the handling of embryos during the IVF process and discusses the controversial nature of the ruling for fertility care providers. Additionally, CNN Correspondent Isabel Rosales shares insights into the reactions of families and fertility clinics in Alabama.

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What It's Like to Cover a Presidential Candidate Up-Close

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 23:11:26 -0000

Audie talks with journalists Amy Chozick and Abby Phillip about being a reporter on a presidential campaign bus. Amy is the creator and executive producer of the new Max dramedy “The Girls On The Bus,” which follows a group of four women on a fictional campaign trail. Amy covered Hillary Clinton’s campaigns for the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. CNN’s Abby Phillip was a consultant on the show, she is the host of NewsNight with Abby Phillip.

“The Girls On The Bus” is streaming on Max (which, like CNN, is part of Warner Brothers Discovery).

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Kara Swisher’s Big Tech Burn Book

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:15:00 -0000

Kara Swisher is a journalist turned entrepreneur, a podcast star with high wattage guests, a punchy interviewer who never backs down, and now an important voice in the public debate over whether and how to regulate tech companies.

Audie talks with Kara about her new memoir, “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story.” Their conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at American University’s Sine Institute of Policy & Politics, where Kara is a 2024 Fellow.

Kara Swisher is the host of “On with Kara Swisher,” and co-host of “Pivot” with Scott Galloway. She is also a CNN Contributor and regular panelist on The Chris Wallace Show, Saturdays at 10a ET on CNN.

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Katie Britt, IVF, and the Fight for Women's Votes

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 21:00:00 -0000

When the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that fertilized embryos should be treated as “extrauterine children,” they threw IVF procedures into the abortion rights fight. In his State of the Union speech, President Biden warned Republicans that they “have no clue about the power of women.” And Senator Katie Britt — from the state that has put IVF in peril — was chosen to give the Republican response. Audie talks with writer Ana Marie Cox about how this fight is guiding both parties in their attempt to draw women voters in this year’s presidential election.

Ana Marie Cox is the host of the podcast Getting Better with Ana Marie Cox.

Mentioned in our conversation: Voter Suppression Is the Anti-Abortion Movement’s Secret Sauce

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Counting Votes, Facing Threats: What It's Like to Run an Election

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:15:00 -0000

There are people in communities big and small around the country who dedicate their working lives to making sure that if you’re an eligible voter, you get to cast a ballot.

And their vital role in American democracy has gotten much harder in the last few years.

Audie talks with Defiance County, Ohio Board of Elections director Tonya Wichman and Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Commonwealth, Al Schmidt, about how they have experienced increased scrutiny, how they built dealing with harassment into their day-to-day work, and why they still do the job as many others in the field – fed up with fear – have walked away.

Share your thoughts or questions with us – we'd love to hear from you! Text or leave a voicemail at 202-854-8802. We may use your note in a future episode of the show.

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A Week of Political High Drama, with Kasie Hunt

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:00:00 -0000

It’s a massive week in politics: The Supreme Court ruling on whether Trump can be on the Colorado ballot, Super Tuesday, and the State of the Union address. And swirling around these events are issues like IVF, immigration, and Israel – all roiling the national political debate. Audie talks with Kasie Hunt, host of CNN This Morning, about the state of the race in this crucial moment.

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Polyamory Is Having a Moment

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:15:00 -0000

What's driving the current conversation around polyamory? How do people fall into it? What are the misconceptions about how it works? And what do you do if you find yourself at the crossroads of considering a polyamorous relationship? Audie asks Kevin Patterson, author of Love's Not Color Blind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities and sex therapist Dr. Lexx Brown-James.

Share your thoughts or questions with us - we'd love to hear from you! Text or send a voice memo to: 202-854-8802.

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Biden, Trump, and the Border Crisis

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 22:00:00 -0000

This week, both President Biden and former president Trump will head to the US-Mexico border, underscoring just how central immigration policy has become to this year’s election. CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez covered immigration during the Trump administration and now covers the Biden White House. She and Audie talk about Biden and Trump at the border this week, and how Texas Governor Greg Abbott has successfully elevated the border issue by bussing over 100,000 undocumented migrants to northern cities as part of his “Operation Lone Star.”

Read more from Priscilla and National Political Reporter Eric Bradner: Gov. Greg Abbott’s border tactics force Democrats to confront migrant crisis in their own backyards

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Jake Tapper on American Political Scandal

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:15:00 -0000

American politicians are responsible for some of the wildest scandals in the history of our country.

CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper looks back on six of the most iconic political controversies of the modern era in his new series United States of Scandal with Jake Tapper.

Audie and Jake talk about what motivates politicians to break the rules, why they think they won’t get caught, and how the public’s reaction to these moral and legal mishaps has changed over the years.

Watch United States of Scandal with Jake Tapper here, and catch it on TV, it airs on Sundays, at 9pm ET/PT on CNN.

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Where Does Fani Willis Go From Here?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 22:00:00 -0000

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis pushed back hard after having her personal life dragged into the spotlight. Lawyers for Donald Trump are trying to dismiss her from the Georgia election subversion case she brought against the former president. They argued that she and Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired to lead the case, engaged in an improper romantic relationship which financially benefitted her.

Audie chats with journalist George Chidi about the hearing and what’s next for Willis. Chidi is a politics and democracy reporter for The Guardian, based in Atlanta. Chidi himself was subpoenaed in this case after exposing the Republican fake electors plot. Chidi was in the courtroom for Willis’s testimony, and he paints an audio courtroom sketch of this jaw-dropping moment.

George Chidi is co-host of the podcast King Slime: The Prosecution of Young Thug and YSL.

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Gen Z In the Workplace: Rethinking Business Etiquette

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 08:15:00 -0000

The landscape of workplace etiquette has undergone a seismic shift in the wake of the pandemic. Gen Z entered the workforce and influenced already evolving social norms, from the dilemma of camera on or off, to the choice between calling or texting, and the blurred lines between what constitutes professional attire. Audie talks with Kate Zabriskie, the founder of Business Training Works, about the change in modern workplace norms.

We're diving deeper into the ever-evolving landscape of workplace etiquette, especially with Gen Z stepping into the forefront. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the workforce, we want to hear from you. Share your thoughts or questions. Text or send a voice memo to: 202-854-8802.

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Mitch McConnell’s Critics Grow Louder

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0000

Mitch McConnell is facing open criticism about his leadership among some in the Senate GOP, and that criticism is being egged on by Donald Trump. All comes after bitter disputes over immigration legislation and Ukraine aid. Audie talks with CNN Congressional Correspondents Manu Raju and Lauren Fox about this moment of peril for the longest-serving Senatorial party leader in US history.

Read all of Manu and Lauren’s reporting here: ‘McConnell’s GOP critics grow louder as party descends into feud over Ukraine and immigration’

Also mentioned in this episode: House Mouse, Senate Mouse

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: Cultural Supernova

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:57:32 -0000

There is no bigger cultural story right now than the romance between NFL superstar Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. The reaction to their relationship has been so extreme that parody is almost indiscernible from reality. It’s a potent mix of celebrity culture, sports, and extreme politics.

Audie brings together Cari Champion and Anne Helen Petersen, to dissect why all of this is happening. Why have Travis and Taylor generated a supernova of fans, haters, and overwhelming scrutiny?

Cari Champion is the host of the podcast Naked with Cari Champion and former anchor of ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Anne Helen Petersen is the author of Culture Study on Substack, and the host of the Culture Study podcast.

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Clyburn on Power and Compromise

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:00:00 -0000

“We know Joe. But most importantly, Joe knows us." Congressman James Clyburn spoke those all-important words four years ago while giving his crucial endorsement to Joe Biden in his home state of South Carolina. With Biden now in the White House, Clyburn wields the power to spur lots of change, including an alteration to the Democratic party’s primary calendar, placing South Carolina at the head of the line. Audie sat down with Clyburn to learn how he thinks about power, what Biden needs to do to protect his, and how someone who’s been in his office since 1993 makes decisions about the future.

Leave us a voicemail: (202) 854-8802. Send us an email: theassignment@cnn.com.

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Roy Wood Jr. on The Daily Show and the Future of Comedy

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:15:00 -0000

Jon Stewart is returning to The Daily Show, putting the spotlight back on this influential institution of political comedy. Today, Audie talks with a breakout star of the show’s very recent past, comedian Roy Wood Jr. He pulls back the curtain on his time at The Daily Show, schools us on the economics of entertainment for a creative, ambitious, working parent, and dives into whether comedians should fudge facts to get to a higher truth.

Find out if Roy is on tour near you.

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What is Nikki Haley Doing in South Carolina? With Eva McKend

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:00:00 -0000

Donald Trump is leading in the polls for South Carolina GOP primary, by a lot. But it’s also Nikki Haley’s home state and she refuses to go quietly, ramping up her attacks on Trump even as most of her fellow Republicans call on her to drop out. Eva McKend is national political correspondent for CNN and she checks in with a view from the ground.

What did you think of this episode? Send us your feedback and assignments. Leave a message at (202) 854-8802 or email us at TheAssignment@CNN.com.

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Healing Political Divisions in the Pews

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:15:00 -0000

During these divisive times, political fault lines are everywhere – including among members of the same church. So for people who live, work, and worship in divided spaces, what have they learned about how to communicate with people they love but don’t seem to understand?

Audie sits down with Pastor Rich Villodas of New Life Fellowship in Queens. They talk about “God, Politics, and the Church,” what division – and listening – looks like, why criticisms of candidate and party feel so personal, and why he’s welcoming people – no matter who they’re voting for – in 2024.

Pastor Villodas is the author of several books, including: Good and Beautiful and Kind: Becoming Whole in a Fractured World.

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The “Dangerous Undercurrent” in American Politics

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:40:00 -0000

“There is a dangerous undercurrent dragging Americans who wade into the political waters out toward the extreme.” Oliver Darcy wrote these words after 66% of Iowa Republicans said they did not think Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election in a CNN entrance poll on caucus night. Darcy tells Audie Cornish why he thinks the mainstream media has a duty to shine a light on the “propaganda machine supporting Trump.”

Oliver’s column, A dangerous undercurrent is pulling Americans toward the political extreme. The media is turning a blind eye to it

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"Am I Doing This Right?" How To Be a Parent Today

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:15:00 -0000

If you google the word “parenting” today, headlines include TikTok trends, celebrity mom secrets, and heated debates on parenting methodologies. Parenting is done privately and judged publicly. Audie talks with The Washington Post’s outgoing “On Parenting” Deputy Editor Amy Joyce. She gives Audie her views on the evolving landscape of parenting shaped by mommy blogs, fleeting parenting fads, and the overarching question that echoes in the minds of many caregivers: "Am I doing this right?"

Read Amy’s final column: The 5 absolute truths I’ve learned in 10 years as a parenting editor

We want to talk more about the issues that affect parents and kids. So we want to invite you — kids and parents alike — to weigh in with your ideas and questions, and the people you’d like to hear from. Text or send a voice memo to: 202-854-8802.

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If Trump's the Nominee, Who's his Veep?

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 21:38:49 -0000

If the poll numbers are to be believed, Donald Trump’s march to the GOP nomination will be hard to stop. And that has lots of political observers pondering who he would choose as a running mate. CNN contributor Alyssa Farah Griffin worked in Trump’s White House and she shares first-hand knowledge of the characters vying for vice presidency.

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The Backlash Against DEI

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:30:00 -0000

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs are facing a backlash, mostly from conservative commentators. This backlash came into sharp relief after Claudine Gay resigned as president of Harvard University. Some of her critics claimed it as a victory against the “DEI regime.” Audie talks to Celeste Headlee, a journalist and the founder of Headway DEI, about how this discourse is affecting those trying to continue their DEI work in corporations and organizations across the country.

Celeste is the author of several books, including: Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism—and How to Do It.

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Biden's Re-Election Argument, with Phil Mattingly

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 21:22:59 -0000

"Today, we’re here to answer the most important of questions. Is democracy still America’s sacred cause?” President Biden said these words on Friday while kicking off his re-election campaign near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The location was steeped in Revolutionary War history and continued Biden’s theme of speaking in locations that signify turning points for American democracy. Phil Mattingly was CNN’s Chief White House correspondent at the Biden White House before moving to the anchor’s desk at CNN This Morning. He and Audie talk about the many layers of President Biden’s re-election strategy.

Leave us your feedback or assignments: (202) 854-8802 or email theassignment@cnn.com.

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Gen Z Is Challenging How We Think About Work

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:30:00 -0000

We’ve all seen the headlines: Gen Z is “lazy.” “Entitled.” They’re constantly asking for raises, and they complain too much. But are these things really a “problem”? This week, Audie chats with two Gen Z’ers with some #thoughts on how we think about work: DeAndre Brown, TikTok creator and founder of Gen XL Consulting, and Maia Ervin, Chief Impact Officer at the Gen Z consulting company JUV. Then, Audie brings their thoughts to the researcher who literally wrote the book on generations, Jean Twenge.

Call and leave us your assignments: (202) 854-8802 or email TheAssignment@CNN.com.

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The Year Ahead in Politics with David Chalian

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 19:21:09 -0000

As the political winds intensify, CNN Political Director David Chalian is here to answer the burning questions of this election year: why don’t Republican candidates take off the gloves and attack former president Trump? Can President Biden and his allies amplify good economic news? And what will the U.S. Supreme Court do when it takes up its central role in determining Donald Trump’s political future? Make sure to follow David’s podcast, the CNN Political Briefing. He releases a new episode every Friday.

Call and leave us feedback and your Assignments: (202) 854-8802. We love hearing from you!

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The Assignment Presents: All There Is

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 08:30:00 -0000

Today we're bringing you an episode of All There Is with Anderson Cooper, a podcast about the people we lose, the people left behind, and how we can live on – with loss and with love.

The Assignment team is taking a short holiday break. We'll be back with new episodes next week.

Katie Talman was grieving an unimaginable loss when she left a message for Anderson Cooper, one of more than a thousand voicemails he received from podcast listeners. Anderson called Katie back at her home in Texas and she agreed to share her story. When Katie was 23 weeks pregnant, her daughter Everly died. “Nothing could have prepared me to deliver a stillborn baby,” Katie says. The grief over her daughter’s death, the silence in the delivery room, the inability of some in her life to understand or even acknowledge the depth of her pain - Katie and Everly’s story is a moving testament to a family’s love and a mom’s courage in the face of the greatest loss.

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The Assignment Presents: The Axe Files

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 08:30:00 -0000

Today, we present an episode of David Axelrod's CNN podcast, The Axe Files. Lifelong Republican Bill Gates was working as a lawyer and serving on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona’s most populous county when the 2020 election upended his life. Maricopa County became a hub of the Stop the Steal movement, and Bill, who defended the safety and legitimacy of the election, became a top target. Bill joined David to talk about navigating vicious attacks from those within his own party, the toll it took on his mental health and that of his family, and his hopes for the future of the Republican Party.

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We’re Taking Your Assignments: Drug Shortages and Ageism

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:30:00 -0000

How does ageism impact all of us? What is causing the chemotherapy drug shortage?

These questions come from you, our listeners, who call in week after week with ideas for our next assignment. This week Audie speaks with CNN Health reporter Jacqueline Howard and Gerontologist Dr. Tracey Gendron about the future of ongoing pharmaceutical drug shortages and the impact ageism could have on the 2024 presidential election.

If you have an assignment you’d like us to look into, leave us a voicemail at 202-854-8802 and you might just hear your voice on an upcoming episode!

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CNN Political Briefing: Are Young Voters Tuning Out 2024?

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0000

Today, we're sharing the latest episode of CNN Political Briefing with David Chalian: What will it take to win the youth vote in 2024? John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, recently led a survey of voters between the ages of 18 and 29. He discovered that fewer of them are planning on voting this time than in the last election cycle. CNN Political Director David Chalian talks to him about other surprising finds, and how this year’s candidates might persuade young people.

Harvard Youth Poll, Fall 2023

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Why More Black Moms Are Choosing Home Births

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 08:30:00 -0000

Black women are three times more likely than white women to die of pregnancy-related causes.

CNN anchor Abby Phillip wanted to know why maternal mortality rates for Black women remaining stubbornly high – and who are the people trying to change that.

She joins Audie to talk about her newest report, where she goes to Los Angeles to meet mothers who are opting out of traditional hospital births, and the communities, midwives, doulas, and nurses working to make them feel heard and supported.

“Homebirth Journey: Saving Black Moms” will premiere on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper on Sunday, December 17 at 9 pm ET/PT.

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How to Cover Politics with Tara Palmeri

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:00:00 -0000

Audie talks with journalist and podcaster Tara Palmeri about the tactics, frustrations, and the purpose of political journalism. The stops on Palmeri’s career journey prepared her well for this moment. She covered Brexit for Politico Europe, she was White House correspondent at ABC News, and early in her career, she learned all about former president Trump when she worked for his favorite place to appear in print, Page Six of the New York Post. Today, Palmeri is senior political correspondent at Puck News and she’s the host of one of our favorite podcasts, “Somebody’s Gotta Win,” a collaboration between Puck and The Ringer.

We’d love to hear from you. Call and leave us your Assignments: ‪(202) 854-8802‬ or write to theassignment@cnn.com.

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Ken Burns on History, Truth, and Storytelling

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Ken Burns has been called “America’s Storyteller.” Audie spoke with him live on stage about his process, and about trying to get to the truth of a subject, especially in a political and cultural climate that actively challenges the very idea of truth. Their conversation was part of The Connecticut Forum's season of live, unscripted conversations among renowned experts and celebrities.

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Can the Biden/Harris Coalition Hold?

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 23:00:00 -0000

The Obama/Biden ticket’s historic victory in 2008 was the result of massive turnout from Black voters, young voters, and college-educated Americans. Audie talks with Ashley Allison, a CNN commentator and former National Coalitions Director for Biden-Harris 2020 campaign, about the challenge Democrats face holding that coalition together.

Call and leave us your Assignments: (202) 854-8802 or email TheAssignment@cnn.com.

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The Creative Path to Climate Solutions

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, begins this week. As global leaders convene to address the urgent challenges of our planet's changing climate, two creative minds join Audie to explore how we process the climate crisis. She explores how these creators infuse hope into their narratives, envisioning a world where art and storytelling inspire action and solutions.

For all of CNN’s COP28 coverage, go to cnn.com/RoadToCop

GUESTS

Sam Alfred is a video game designer from Cape Town, South Africa, who created Terra Nil, a mobile strategy game that challenges players to transform desolate landscapes into flourishing ecosystems.

Sequoia Nagamatsu is an author and professor. His book "How High We Go in the Dark," explores a future shaped by environmental crisis and generational resilience.

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Trump’s Second Term Plans

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 22:00:00 -0000

Mass deportations, a weaponized justice department, purges of civil servants: these are among the plans that former President Trump and his allies are making for a second term in the White House. CNN national correspondent Kristen Holmes has been traveling to Trump’s rallies and she has an analysis of what’s in the works for MAGA 2.0.

Call and leave us your Assignments: (202) 854-8802 or email TheAssignment@cnn.com.

Reporting from Kristen Holmes: Trump’s radical second-term agenda would wield executive power in unprecedented ways

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What Does It Mean to Be Patriotic?

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The number of Americans who would say that they’re “extremely proud to be American” is at a record low, according to a recent Gallup poll. Perhaps that’s not surprising, given widespread political divisiveness across the country. Today – in time for Thanksgiving – Audie sits down with writer, comedian, and activist Baratunde Thurston to talk about what it means to be patriotic in an age of growing disillusionment. And more importantly — why does it matter?

Baratunde Thurston is the host and executive producer of the PBS television series America Outdoors, creator and host of How To Citizen, and a founding partner of the new media startup Puck. His comedic memoir, How To Be Black, is a New York Times best-seller.

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Can Anyone Beat Trump?

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:00:00 -0000

New polling shows that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has moved into second place in New Hampshire, behind Donald Trump. Haley's momentum hasn’t gone unnoticed by the anti-Trump fundraisers looking for a horse to back. Audie talks with CNN Political Commentator Kevin Madden about the state of the race, and what Haley needs to do to maintain her momentum. Madden has worked on several Republican campaigns, including Mitt Romney’s 2012 bid for the White House.

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Meet The Students Challenging Book Bans

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

We are revisiting the public school culture wars – this time, from the perspective of students. What have we learned from the kids who are fighting against book bans? How has the war over books sparked a backlash to the so-called parents’ rights movement?

We call up two busy teen activists – Da’Taeveyon Daniels in Texas and Eliza Lane in Florida – to find out. And CNN correspondent Elle Reeve, who covers how extremism percolates into everyday life, puts the board room debates over what kids should and shouldn’t read into a national context.

To hear from the perspective of two concerned parents, check out our very first episode “Meet The Parents Taking Over School Boards,”which we released one year ago today.

Thank you for calling in with your assignments for us at (202) 854-8802. And thank you for listening.

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China’s Disinformation Campaign Against Americans

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 22:00:00 -0000

Ahead of President Biden's meeting with Chinese President Xi, CNN spoke to Americans who are being hounded and harassed by the Chinese government's brazen online disinformation campaign. Correspondent Donie O’Sullivan reported the story and joins Audie to walk through the lengths Beijing will go to silence online critics, even those on US soil.

Donie O’Sullivan is a CNN Correspondent. Read his full story here.

And we’d love to hear from you! What do you want us to cover? Call and leave us your Assignments: (202) 854-8802.

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The Army's Recruitment Challenge

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Last year the Army missed its recruitment goal; it had 65,000 spots to fill and came in 10,000 short. Audie talks with a former recruiter about what he saw as some of the challenges the Army faces when it comes to recruitment, including cultural shifts around everything from marijuana use to mental health. And we hear from Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth about how the Army is responding to recruitment shortfalls.

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Should Biden Bow Out? Axelrod Weighs In

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 23:23:00 -0000

New polling shows President Biden trailing Donald Trump in key battleground states, and that has many Democrats worried about his re-election prospects. Can anything be done to turn the numbers around? Or should the President bow out? Audie talks with CNN Senior Political Commentator and longtime Obama advisor David Axelrod who’s said that the President must decide whether it’s wise to run given the political headwinds he’s facing.

David Axelrod is the host of CNN’s The Axe Files. Download it wherever you get your podcasts.

And we’d love to hear from you! What do you want us to cover? Call and leave us your Assignments: (202) 854-8802

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How Ordinary People Exposed January 6th

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Dive into the world of online detectives tracking down January 6th insurrectionists. How did a dedicated community of digital sleuths help the FBI bring thousands to justice? Audie sits down with Ryan Reilly, the author of "Sedition Hunters: How January 6th Broke the Justice System," for a journey through the realm of modern digital investigations.

Call us with your Assignments: ‪(202) 854-8802‬.

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Why Trump’s Ex-Lawyers are Flipping

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Lawyers who represented former President Donald Trump face a tough choice: cooperate with prosecutors or face the wrath of the MAGA movement. CNN’s senior reporter of crime and justice Katelyn Polantz is here to break down the different factions of Trump associates and their perilous paths ahead. What’s to become of "The Kraken," "The Pound Sand Club," and... Mark Meadows?

Call and leave us your political Assignments: (202) 854-8802.

Polantz: Mark Meadows walks tightrope, complying with Trump prosecutors while maintaining GOP influence

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The Serious Business of Romance Novels

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Book sales — in general — are down, but one genre is bucking that trend: romance. Romance novel sales surged a whopping 52% in 2022. So what’s behind the popularity? How did romance become the reigning champion among fiction genres in America? To find out we talk with Leah Koch and Bea Hodges-Koch, owners of The Ripped Bodice, a single-genre bookstore focused on romance novels.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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How The Young Guns Lost the GOP

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 21:00:00 -0000

More than a decade ago, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor pitched themselves as the future of the Republican Party. They even gave themselves a nickname: The Young Guns. Now those dreams are dashed, The Young Guns are scattered to the wind, and House Republicans are rudderless, unable to elect a Speaker ten months into their majority. How did we get here?

S.E. Cupp, a conservative political commentator for CNN, breaks down what happened to the Young Guns – and why being called “the future of the party” is really a curse.

Video: They were the future of the GOP. Then MAGA came.

Call and leave us your Assignments: ‪(202) 854-8802‬.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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What It's Like to Evacuate in Gaza

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Thousands of people have already been killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict. And Israel has told residents of northern Gaza to evacuate roughly 20 miles to the south for their own safety. This week Audie talks with CNN’s Yahya Abou-Ghazala as he shares the stories of the people who have been told to flee, and what it’s been like trying to get stories out of Gaza right now.

Read Yahya’s recent stories:

They followed evacuation orders. An Israeli airstrike killed them the next day.

In Gaza, Palestinians have no safe place from Israel’s bombs

Listen to CNN’s daily podcast about the conflict, Tug of War “Israel at War”.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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How Americans Feel About Israel

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 21:02:00 -0000

How do Americans feel about Israel? Broadly, there is deep sympathy for Israel and its response to Hamas in Gaza. But polling shows that among America’s more diverse, younger generation, attitudes toward both Israel and Palestinians are more complicated.

Harry Enten, Senior Data Reporter at CNN, is here to parse the numbers and tease out some conclusions.

Oct. 15 CNN Poll: Americans are deeply sympathetic toward Israelis and see their military response to Hamas attacks as justified

Call and leave us an Assignment: ‪(202) 854-8802‬

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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Roxane Gay Reflects on 10 Years of Opinions

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Writer Roxane Gay comes from a generation of what you might call “very online.” She gained international fame because she had a distinctive voice that stood far from the madding crowd on social media. This week Audie talks with Roxane about her new collection of essays, “Opinions,” how her opinions have changed, what it's like to become famous for sharing them, and how social media changed the way we all think about criticism and professional opinion.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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Does Fact-Checking Work?

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:00:00 -0000

The political landscape has never been more confusing, and to some, even overwhelming. How do we determine fact from fiction? What keeps fact-checkers up at night? And what’s a democracy to do when even the professionals aren't believed?

Today, we have Daniel Dale, a CNN senior reporter who rose to prominence for fact-checking former President Donald Trump, and Matthew Facciani, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame. He studies people who fall victim to misinformation and how to best engage with them in a compassionate way.

Call us with your political Assignments: ‪(202) 854-8802‬.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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A New Assignment: Diving into Politics

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Big news: The Assignment is expanding to twice a week! Starting October 10th, The Assignment takes on politics. Every Tuesday we will go beyond the horserace — talking with journalists with a sharp understanding of this political moment. This is in addition to our regular Thursday podcast, where we talk with people whose lives intersect with the headlines.

To kick off our weekly political pod, we’ve invited CNN Political Director David Chalian to talk about how he covers this tumultuous political moment, the role of the media as truth tellers, and how he’s revamped his weekly podcast, The CNN Political Briefing, which drops every Friday.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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An Epic Translation for a Modern Audience

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

How do you take a story everyone thinks they know, and look at it through a new lens? What role – if any – does the identity of the translator play in the retelling of a story? And what is it like telling your own story after spending much of your career interpreting – and being interpreted by – others?

This week, Audie chats with Emily Wilson. Wilson is the translator of Homeric epics like “The Odyssey.” She is a professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and a frequent subject of headlines and stories herself. Her translation of The Iliad came out September 26.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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The Free Speech Wars on Campus

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Between student protests, controversial speakers, and debates over “safe spaces,” complaints about free speech on campus are louder than ever. How do school leaders respond to these gripes? And how do they balance freedom of expression – and the idea that speech can be violence?

We have two college presidents from the front lines of this debate: Roslyn Clark Artis of Benedict College and Michael Roth of Wesleyan University. Both schools are part of the so-called “Campus Call for Free Expression.”

Leave us an Assignment: theassignment@cnn.com or call (202) 854-8802‬.

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Greek Life Gone Viral

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In recent years, Greek life faced a crisis as the pandemic cast a shadow on recruitment, and the “abolish Greek life” movement grew across campuses. But then came #RushTok — a flurry of TikToks documenting the sorority recruitment process among university campuses, especially in the South. One tag, in particular, soared to remarkable heights: #BamaRush. It chronicled the rush process at the University of Alabama and has garnered an astonishing 3 billion TikTok views (and counting).

This week we speak to writer, journalist, and former sorority sister Anne Helen Petersen, who has been documenting the phenomenon. Why are the videos dominating our feeds? And what does RushTok’s popularity say about its stars... and its biggest stans?

Anne Helen Petersen is a writer and journalist whose writing has appeared in BuzzFeed News, The New York Times, Vox, The Atlantic, and more. Her books include Out of the Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working From Home and Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation. She writes a Substack newsletter called Culture Study.

To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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We’re Taking Your Assignments: Money, Marijuana, and Montana

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Is there a coin shortage in the U.S.? Is there an increase in kids smoking weed at school? And: what’s the deal with Montana politics?

All of these questions were asked by you, our listeners. Throughout the life of this podcast, we’ve asked you to pick up the phone and leave us Assignments – and you have delivered. We love getting these messages. We took these three Assignments and called up three reporters who could give us some answers. Joining us this week, CNN Business reporter Clare Duffy @claresduffy, CNN Health reporter Jacqueline Howard @JacqEHoward, and Montana Free Press editor, Brad Tyer.

Read the Montana Free Press at MontanaFreePress.org and follow them at @mtfreepress.

We're only getting started with your Assignments, so if you want to leave us one, please do! You can send an email to theassignment@cnn.com or leave us a voicemail: 202-854-8802

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Hollywood’s Hot Strike Summer

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

For Labor Day — the unofficial end of summer and the official holiday celebrating the American worker — we are checking in on the state of the striking actors and writers demanding more from the studios they work for. When the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike earlier this year, no one was sure how long the first dual strike in over 60 years would last. Six weeks later both unions are still on the picket line. This week we speak to industry insider, Franklin Leonard, about the state of the strikes and how this could change the way Hollywood works, and how we watch movies and TV.

Franklin Leonard is a film and television producer and the founder of The Black List, a platform for film and television writers to showcase their work to industry professionals.

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The Fight Against Digital Hate

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Imran Ahmed is a man in the middle of the disinformation wars. He is the CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), an organization dedicated to researching online hate speech and disinformation. Audie talks with him about how he came to the work, the lawsuit filed against him by Elon Musk’s X Corp. (formerly Twitter), and what it all means for the debate over “free speech” versus “hate speech” online.

For more context on today’s conversation, read CNN’s reporting here. And read X Corp’s response to CCDH here.

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Fighting Fires on the Frontlines of Climate Change

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Devastating wildfires like the ones in Maui could become more common in our future due to a host of several factors, including climate change. But what about the folks who are already grappling with the fact that climate change is here? This week, we break down the connection between climate change and wildfires with climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain. Then, Audie talks with former wildland firefighters Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan and Riva Duncan about how climate change is shifting the way fires are fought, and how the work is getting more demanding, more difficult, and more dangerous.

GUESTS:

Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan is currently a Program Manager at Firewise USA, which teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses. She is a former wildland firefighter.

Riva Duncan is the vice president of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, a nonprofit advocacy group fighting for reforms for federal wildland firefighters. She retired from wildland firefighting in 2020 after more than 30 years.

Dr. Daniel Swain is a climate scientist focused on the dynamics and impacts of extreme events—including droughts, floods, storms, and wildfires—on a warming planet. He blogs at Weather West, which provides real-time perspectives on California and western North American weather and climate.

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Sex and Sensibilities: Let’s Talk About Puriteens

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Have you heard about the “puriteens”? That’s the nickname for Gen Z’ers who are uncomfortable with sex and sexuality, and discuss that discomfort, largely online. Well, the media is obsessed with them and what their #thoughts mean for the state of their sex lives. But how accurate is that label? Is this a real thing? Our Assignment this week: unpacking the “puriteen” label.

We called up Constance Grady, who is both a millennial and the Vox senior correspondent behind The Purity Chronicles, and Izzy Ampil, the Gen Z writer who reported “People Think Gen Z Is Sex Negative, But The Truth Is More Complicated” for Buzzfeed News.

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The Assignment presents The Axe Files with David Axelrod

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

When Audie Cornish first crossed paths with David Axelrod, she was a young radio reporter with no clout and he was the big-shot campaign manager of then-candidate Barack Obama. No wonder she couldn't get an interview. Today as colleagues at CNN, they can finally sit down and compare a few notes on that historic time in American politics. This conversation leads us into a special episode of The Axe Files featuring an interview with former president Barack Obama, presented in full. We'll be back with new episodes of The Assignment soon.

Subscribe to The Axe Files

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The Assignment presents Chasing Life with Sanjay Gupta

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Why is there such stigma attached to getting older? How can we prepare to transition through the different stages of life? Those are some of the questions CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is exploring on the latest season of his podcast Chasing Life. Audie sits down with Sanjay to talk about his approach to this season, and we’ll hear the first episode which features a lovely interview with Sanjay and his parents. The team at The Assignment is taking a short break to do more reporting, we’ll be back soon with more episodes. Thanks for listening!

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TikTok Is Changing Music, One Song at a Time

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

TikTok has turned the traditional music industry on its head. Users on the platform are dictating hits before they reach the charts and revolutionizing the way artists are discovered. But what happens to the creative process when "going viral” takes center stage? This week, Audie talks with songwriter Kaydence and Hip-hop artist Armani White about the TikTok-ification of music, hooking listeners, and what works — and doesn’t — in the never-ending quest to make a good song. Plus, how is TikTok changing the way we listen to music? Music industry expert and consultant Tatiana Cirisano weighs in.

Kaydence is a two-time Grammy-Award winning songwriter and artist who has written songs for Ariana Grande, Brandy, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and ZAYN, among others.

Armani White is a rapper known for his N.O.R.E.-sampling viral hit, “Billie Eilish.” which first made waves on TikTok in 2022. Since then, he has signed with Def Jam Records and released his second EP, Road to CASABLANCO. in May.

Tatiana Cirisano is a senior music industry analyst and consultant at MIDiA, where she specializes in emerging consumer trends and the intersection of music and technology.

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Courting Controversy: Inside the Supreme Court

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The Supreme Court just completed a historic term that sent the country spinning and CNN’s own Joan Biskupic is here to help make sense of it all. Joan’s 30-year career reporting on the court has afforded her a front row seat to its profound changes. Her newest book is titled Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences.

Transcripts and previous episodes

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Larry Wilmore: A Candid Conversation on Television, Culture, and Creativity

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Larry Wilmore’s influence as a writer and producer spans shows from “In Living Color” to “The Bernie Mac Show” to “The Daily Show.” He’s acutely aware of the role that television plays in our lives and in shaping our understanding of American identity. Today’s Assignment: Larry Wilmore on his prolific career in television, mentoring younger writers, dapping up President Obama, and what he’s working on next. Larry is also the host of his own podcast “Black on The Air.” We highly recommend it.

Many of the shows Larry wrote for are part of the new five-part CNN Original Series, “See It Loud: The History of Black Television.” It airs Sundays at 9p ET/PT starting July 9. “See It Loud” will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com and CNN OTT and mobile apps under “TV Channels” or CNNgo where available. The series will also be available On Demand the day after the broadcast premiere to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN apps, and Cable Operator Platforms.

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Meet the New Homeschoolers

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The pandemic kicked off a dramatic rise in homeschooling. And who had the largest increase? Black families. This week, Audie talks with two parents who chose to homeschool their children, Carlos Birdsong and Sherri Mehta. They talk about what it’s like to be a part of the Black homeschooling movement, how they’re altering the public image of homeschooling, and whether they see themselves as part of the “parents' rights” movement.

Athena Jones's report: ‘A form of resistance'

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After Roe: Navigating the Legal Landscape of New Abortion Laws

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

One year after Roe v Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, we were wondering: what is happening to people caught up in the web of changing law? It's been a tumultuous and uncertain era for reproductive rights, so this week The Assignment checks in on the activists at the frontline defending women who are being criminally prosecuted under state laws that restrict or ban abortion. Amanda Allen, Senior Counsel and Director at the Lawyering Project, and Dana Sussman, Acting Executive Director at Pregnancy Justice, speak to Audie about their work in this post-Dobbs world.

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Gratuitous Gratuity? The Truth About Tipping

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, Audie visits a restaurant that got rid of tipping, and looks into the movement to get rid of the practice all together. Our guests are Amanda Cohen, chef and owner of Dirt Candy, a no-tipping restaurant in Manhattan, and David Stockwell, co-owner of Faun in Brooklyn. We talk about the value – versus the cost – of good service, what the pandemic revealed about how customers really feel about tipping, and what happens when your ideals clash with your economic reality.

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Wired for Trouble: Kara Swisher on Big Tech

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, we explore the perils of social media on kids and the way families are fighting back against big tech. First, how the experience of Candace Wuest and her daughter CeCe show the consequences of social media on kids. Then, journalist Kara Swisher takes us through the long view on big tech companies, and finally, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talks us through his potential solution: the Kids Online Safety Act.

This is a companion podcast to the CNN Original “Wired for Trouble,” debuting in June on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. Past episodes of The Whole Story are available to stream now on Max.

Kara Swisher is the host of two podcasts: On with Kara Swisher and Pivot.

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Flying This Summer? Pack Your Patience

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Staffing shortages caused major disruptions for air travelers last summer. Now air crew unions are pushing back against their bosses and losing patience with customers. From "no toe nail clipping" to "leave the crying babies alone," we hear advice on how to make everyone’s flight experience better this summer. Our guests are Keturah Johnson, international vice president of the Association of Flight Attendants, and former flight attendant Angie Andrechyn, whose passionate resignation letter from American Airlines went viral.

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What’s Your Sign? Astrology's Modern Renaissance

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Why is astrology having such a moment? The business of astrology — estimated to be worth more than $2 billion — is booming: apps, classes, conferences, startups. All being fueled by the social media age. This week Audie looks to the heavens with two world-renowned astrologers, Jennifer Freed and Chani Nicholas. They explore astrology’s popularity as well as the meaning and history of this ancient personality system. (Oh, and they read Audie her chart.)

Jennifer Freed Ph.D. is a psychological astrologer and author of ten books, including: Use Your Planets Wisely and A Map To Your Soul: Using the Astrology of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water to Live Deeply and Fully She has served as the clinical director of Pacifica Graduate Institute and is national consultant for EMDR (Post Traumatic Growth Therapies). She is a regular contributor to goop.

Chani Nicholas is an astrologer and author of You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance. She’s been a counseling astrologer for more than twenty years and is the proprietor of the wildly popular CHANI app, which offers users a personalized, daily understanding of their birth chart.

Special thanks this week to the fantastic TikTokers we featured: @tobiasthoth, @jkitscole, and the hilarious @mamaa.arii

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Navigating Misinformation at the Border

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

How has technology reshaped the migrant journey? When the Trump-era immigration policy called Title 42 expired, misinformation proliferated on social media platforms that migrants use to communicate and to navigate their way to the U.S. Audie talks with CNN's Rosa Flores about the reality on the ground, and how migrants are navigating sometimes conflicting and confusing messaging.

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The Rise and Fall of “Woke” with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Thu, 11 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

What’s it like to be at the forefront of a cultural backlash? Academic and author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi certainly knows. His books, “How to Be an Antiracist,” and its follow-up, a youth-friendly version called, “How to Be a (Young) Antiracist,” teach readers how to actively fight racism instead of passively acknowledging it. Audie talks with Dr. Kendi about the backlash around “wokeness,” antiracism, and what it’s like to live in the middle of cultural maelstrom. They spoke in front of a live audience at the Crosscut Ideas Festival in Seattle.

Ibram X. Kendi is a historian and antiracist scholar. He is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities and the Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. He is the author of 14 books, including, "Stamped From The Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America." His forthcoming book is, "Stamped From The Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America."

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AI in the time of Loneliness

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, the Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy addressed the epidemic of loneliness Americans are facing. As a way of combatting the feelings of isolation, Dr. Murthy laid out a six-pillar plan rooted in social connection. What's not mentioned in his plan... artificial intelligence or chatbots. But that hasn't stopped folks from turning to them in times of distress. In this episode, we explore the communities that are leaning on AI and chatbots for comfort and the ripple effects this could have on how we connect with one another.

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Yes, We're All Being Spied On

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Remember the Chinese spy balloon? Since then, we’ve seen leaked Pentagon spy documents on Discord and the discovery of fake Chinese police stations used for surveillance in the U.S. The line between espionage and everyday surveillance/data collection is more blurred than ever, thanks to the integration of technology into our daily lives. All of us are walking pieces of data being gobbled up and analyzed by spy agencies around the world. All of this spy news is a reminder of how high the stakes are, and how little we really know about the global fight for information. Audie talks with CNN Anchor and Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto, and former FBI intelligence official Javed Ali about what can spy balloons, leaked documents, and AI tell us about the state of spying today.

Jim Sciutto is co-anchor of “CNN News Central” weekday afternoons from 1 to 4. His latest book is “The Shadow War: Inside Russia's and China's Secret Operations to Defeat America.”

Javed Ali is an associate professor of practice at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Thanks to the Hayden Center at George Mason University for letting us use audio from their panel on “Counterintelligence Today.”

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Clickbait Fashion Is Taking Over Your Feed

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Are we cycling through fashion trends faster than ever? Cores, aesthetics, and those big red boots! Our Assignment this week is a deep dive into how the social media algorithm is turning each of us into mini-fashionistas, and whether fashion trends can help us understand the state of the economy. Audie’s guests are trend forecaster Agustina Panzoni and culture critic Terry Nguyen.

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Louder Than Guns

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Can Country music help lead the U.S. out of the gun debate? There is a long history of famous country musicians using their platforms to comment on social and political issues. But since the lead singer of The Chicks, Natalie Maines, was ostracized after criticizing then President George W. Bush, country music stars have felt safer keeping their political views out of the public eye. Musician Ketch Secor of the band Old Crow Medicine Show is trying to change that. After the shooting at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, Ketch wrote an Op-ed in The New York Times calling for country music stars to let go of the fear of retaliation from their fanbase, and to break their silence on the gun debate. Audie talks with Ketch about what it’s like to be a musician and a parent in Nashville right now and what he thinks country musicians can do to help prevent another mass shooting.

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Holding Space for Therapy Speak

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Why is everyone talking about their “attachment style” or “boundaries” and “triggers”? Therapy speak, both online and IRL, has become a normal part of our daily discourse – especially since the pandemic brought mental health issues to the forefront. Audie talks to two psychologists, Dr. Arianna Brandolini and Dr. Luana Marques, about how widespread use of the language of their profession can both increase access to certain resources, and at the same time be a poor substitute for treatment.

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Run, Hide, Fight

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We have trained a generation of people how to think about, respond to, and survive a mass shooting, including children. Educators and law enforcement officials have developed curricula for schools to help teachers and students survive a shooting. The foundation for this teaching comes in large part from the work of Katherine Schweit. She is a former FBI Agent, author of the book, “Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis,” and co-host of the podcast Stop the Killing. At the time of the Sandy Hook shooting she realized that training and education would be key in preventing more deaths. She developed the active shooter training program for the FBI. Its mantra of “Run, Hide, Fight” is now an essential element in mass shooting education. Audie talks with Katherine about how she came to this work, and what it’s like to do it in the midst of political paralysis.

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Yes, This Economy Is Confusing

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The past few weeks have been head spinning: U.S. job numbers? Solid... except for those layoffs in the tech sector. Inflation? Slowly dropping... but still high. Not to mention the bank failures...

It all has made us wonder: Why was it so hard for economists to predict this? What will happen next? And what does it mean for folks caught in the middle of high inflation? Audie gets an assignment from a listener and asks economists Gary “Hoov” Hoover, Executive Director of the Murphy Institute at Tulane University, and Alfredo Romero, Associate Professor at North Carolina A&T University, to make this economy make sense.

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The Assignment Returns March 23rd

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The Assignment is returning with new episodes every Thursday, and we're taking some of our assignments from you, including: trying to figure out our baffling economy, the rise of therapy speak online and in our daily lives, and delving into the world of absurdist fashion trends.

New episodes start dropping March 23rd. Thanks for listening!

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The Assignment presents Story of the Week

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The Assignment is hard at work reporting more stories about the people living the headlines. We’ll have new episodes in the feed starting March 23rd. In the meantime, here’s a special episode of another podcast that we think will bring a smile to your face. It’s called Story of the Week. Each week, journalist Joel Stein chooses an article that fascinates him, convinces the writer to tell him about it, and then interrupts a good conversation by talking about himself. In this episode, Choire Sicha, the editor of the New York Magazine piece on the new rules of etiquette that went viral in early February 2023, discusses the almost 200 dos and don’ts that will supposedly help us be better behaved in modern, polite society. Listen to new episodes of Story of the Week every Thursday at https://apple.co/3IRfQIE. You can read the full list from New York Magazine here: https://www.thecut.com/article/tipping-rules-etiquette-rules.html

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The Assignment presents Chasing Life with Sanjay Gupta

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The Assignment is taking a short break, we’ll be back with new episodes on March 23rd. In the meantime, we want to highlight the good work of some our colleagues and partners. This week, Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. In this sixth season, he explores how technology has disrupted our lives, the ways we interact with each other, work, learn, and even grow up. This season looks at the impact all this technology is having on young people. Like many parents, this topic is personal for Dr. Sanjay Gupta. We hear Sanjay speak with one of the people most directly impacted by it all: his daughter Soleil. Plus, a conversation with Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, about how social media is affecting youth mental health.

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Politics, But Make It Puppets

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Can puppets help us bridge the political divide? Probably not. But there’s one guy in Arizona who’s trying. If you saw Audie on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, you might have heard her mention a listener who called in about his R-rated puppet theater. His name is Shaun McNamara, and he’s the director of the All Puppet Players in Phoenix. His pitch: doing political humor in a red state. But with puppets. So, we called him up for chat.

We’re taking a short break with this episode. We’ll be back in your feeds in a few weeks. If YOU have an assignment for us, just like Shaun, you can give us a call and leave us a voicemail at 202-854-8802. You can record a voice memo on your phone and email that to us at: theassignmentcnn@gmail.com.

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The New State of Unions

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Do new unions need “Big Labor”? There is a new generation of labor organizers in the United States: baristas, warehouse workers, and grocers. They are organizing shop-by-shop and relying less on traditional big labor unions. Audie talks with longtime labor activist Erica Smiley, executive director of Jobs with Justice, and Nabretta Hardin, a Starbucks union organizer in Memphis, about legacy unions and their place in the new labor movement. Also: what can this new generation of activists learn from the old guard about sustaining a movement?

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Kicking the Football Habit

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

When Buffalo Bills tight end Damar Hamlin collapsed of cardiac arrest after making a tackle, it set off a flurry of think pieces and debates about the safety and future of football. But with over 100 million viewers expected to watch the Super Bowl this year, it seems like football’s future is pretty clear. So, if a player almost dying on the field isn't enough to stir a longer, sustained debate about safety in the sport -- then, what is? Audie sits down with former NFL player Nate Jackson and sociologist Daniel Sailofsky — who quit the NFL after a decade of being a super fan — to talk about football's hold on the country and the moral quandary of supporting the sport.

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Life After the Traffic Stop

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

What is it like to survive a violent police encounter? As the world processes the beating and death of Tyre Nichols, we hear from two men whose encounters with police changed their lives: Leon Ford is an author, speaker, and co-founder of The Hear Foundation. He was shot by Pittsburgh police in 2012 after being pulled over for a traffic stop. And Tim Alexander is a lawyer, politician, and former Detective Captain for the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office. He was “shot at, assaulted, and falsely arrested because of misidentification” by police officers in Newark in May 1985.

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‘I’m kind of lazy.’ Why We Aren’t Going Back to the Movies

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The pandemic, along with the rise of streaming services, shifted the way we experience movies. Theater ticket sales are still down, and many folks prefer to watch from the comfort of their own home. Is staying home bad for the movies? Will studios simply bombard us with sequels and superhero movies to get us back? We hear from Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List, about the state of cinema and the cultural necessity of going to the movies. And he tries to convince a very reluctant Audie Cornish to go back to the movie theater.

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The Prince and the Press

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In the last few years, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have traded their broken relationship with the UK press system for the celebrity industrial complex of the US. This week on The Assignment, Audie turns to two insiders from each media ecosystem to discuss how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are using the press to reshape their narrative. We hear from Los Angeles Times culture critic Mary McNamara and Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston.

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The Long Arc of Long Covid

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Millions of people are now disabled because of a long Covid, leading to what some are calling a “mass disabling event.” In this episode, Audie speaks with Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, who has been diagnosing and treating patients with long Covid, to unpack this new terminology. Audie also hears from Imani Barbarin, a disability advocate, and Alexis Misko, who is struggling with long Covid, about what it means to be disabled in the United States and discusses whether long Covid could change the way we think about disability.

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New Year, New Assignments

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Happy New Year! We’re still on our holiday break but wanted to take a moment to reflect and set some new goals. In this episode, Audie listens to your voicemails, feedback, and ideas for future assignments. Thank you for being part of this community, and we can’t wait to keep the conversation going. We are reading all your assignments – so please keep them coming. You can leave us a message in a voicemail at 202-854-8802. Or record a voice memo on your phone and email that to us: theassignmentcnn@gmail.com

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The Assignment presents All There Is with Anderson Cooper

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

The Assignment is taking a short, holiday break. We’ll return with new episodes in January. Today, we invite you into a warm, gracious conversation between CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Late Show host Stephen Colbert. It’s from Anderson’s podcast All There Is, a deeply personal exploration of loss and grief and finding community. Download the entire season of All There Is wherever you get your podcasts.

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Journalism on the Ropes

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

The debate among journalists over how to regain the public’s trust is increasingly centered around the idea of objectivity. In this episode, Audie turns the spotlight on herself and the media. She invites journalists to help her reckon with the idea of objectivity: what it is? Does it still work? And, what’s the way forward for both the press and the public? You’ll hear from Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia Journalism School; Margaret Sullivan, former media columnist at the Washington Post, and Maggie Haberman, reporter for The New York Times.

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When the Chanting Stops

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 set the stage for people across the country to demand change within the criminal justice system. Calls to “defund the police” gained mainstream attention and paved the way for the election of “progressive prosecutors.” But more than two years later, the momentum for the movement has slowed down and some of these prosecutors are facing backlash and, in some cases, even recall efforts. This week, we hear from Sarah George, Chittenden County State’s Attorney in Vermont and Jose Garza, District Attorney for Travis County Texas, about how their offices are adjusting without the support of a strong protest movement and increasing headlines about rising crime.

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Pediatricians Caught in a Political Crossfire

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

After Roe v. Wade legalized abortion 50 years ago, abortion clinics and providers saw waves of violence, protests and lawsuits. Recently, a new group of healthcare providers has come under attack— the doctors providing gender affirming care for transgender kids. With politicians passing anti-trans bills, states blocking medical care altogether, and hospitals and doctors now facing vitriol and threats, is this care on the line for trans kids? In this episode, Audie speaks with two gender affirming care providers to discuss the negative attention they’ve faced and understand the lifesaving care at risk.

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My Bread and Butter: The OnlyFans Economy

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In the early days of the pandemic, OnlyFans made headlines as both celebrities and regular people made large sums of money selling sexually explicit content on the site. In this episode, Audie hears from the people who have made OnlyFans their career. What do their days look like? How do they make their money? And do they see a future for themselves on OnlyFans?

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Trauma, Trauma Everywhere

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

From viral TikToks to pandemic think-pieces, it feels like trauma is everywhere. The world seems more aware than ever of how much past traumas can affect us, especially for people of color. In this episode, Audie talks with psychologist Dr. Thema Bryant, the incoming president of the American Psychological Association, about what trauma really means and whether you can “get over it.”

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Meet The Parents Taking Over School Boards

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

For decades, parents have been passionate about what their children learn in school. In 1970s West Virginia they protested over diverse textbooks, in 2022 it’s the handling of the pandemic and issues of gender and race. In this episode, Audie talks to two parent activists turned elected school board officials about what motivated them to run for office and the changes they hope to make while in power.

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Introducing: The Assignment

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 19:33:45 -0000

Fiery Twitter threads and endless news notifications never capture the full story. Each week on The Assignment, host Audie Cornish pulls listeners out of their digital echo chambers to hear from the people who live the headlines. From the sex work economy to the battle over what’s taught in classrooms, no topic is off the table.

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