Podcasts about axe files

This week marks a significant moment for The Axe Files: our final episode. We hope you have found these conversations to be as eye-opening and inspiring as we have, and we'll miss sharing stories with you each week. For the final episode, David talked with his friend, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who is finishing up his time abroad. Known for his brash, direct demeanor, some questioned his place as a diplomat in a country known for order and politeness. However, Amb. Emanuel had no problem putting his own spin on the job and grew to love Japan, as well. He joined David to talk about his time in Japan, China and the importance of America's relationships in the Indo-Pacific region; his thought on the situation in the Middle East; where the 2024 presidential election lands in history; and what comes next once he returns home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our own Scott Jennings joined his CNN colleague and friend David Axelrod this week on his "Axe Files" podcast to discuss his upbringing, his relationship with Senator McConnell and much more. See the full description from the episode below: Scott Jennings is well known as a conservative firebrand on CNN. From working for George W. Bush to being mentioned as a possible press secretary for Donald Trump, Scott has a deep background in Republican politics, yet he considers himself a journalist at heart. Scott joined David to talk about his early days in radio news, his childhood in rural Kentucky, his formative relationship with Sen. Mitch McConnell, his role at CNN and what he sees as the need for conservative voices in mainstream media, and the friendship Scott and David share.

This Thanksgiving, we're revisiting a conversation with historian and writer Jon Meacham on his book, “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle.” The book dives deep into Lincoln and the why behind the actions of America's 16th president, from personal to political. Jon joined David to talk about Lincoln's anti-slavery roots, what Lincoln can teach us about the current political moment, the moral decisions we face as a country, and what qualities make a great American president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, The Axe Files reaches a milestone: 600 episodes. For this anniversary show, CNN's Anderson Cooper sat down with David to talk about the origins of The Axe Files, some of the most memorable moments from the podcast, what David has learned about people and politics through the show, and what David will be watching for on election night.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has joined David on The Axe Files many times to talk about her life, policy, and politics. With the recent release of her book, “The Art of Power,” the two again met to talk at the University Club of Chicago during the Democratic National Convention. Although they spoke before an audience, it sounded more like a conversation between Pelosi and a roomful of friends as she reflected on the high points of her career, Joe Biden exiting the presidential race, and the importance of protecting the Constitution on Election Day.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to take the stage for the final night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention as the Democratic presidential nominee, we are re-airing a conversation David had with Harris back in 2017. At the time, she was the new senator from California. They sat down to talk about the prospects for criminal justice reform legislation in Congress, why she believes Supreme Court nominees must be approved with 60 votes, her stance on immigration, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Axelrod was one of the first prominent Democrats to suggest that President Biden should withdraw from the race. The former senior advisor to President Barack Obama earned Biden's ire in the process (and a colorful nickname to go along with it), but time proved him right. And now, he's calling on Democrat's to temper their “irrational exuberance.”  Kara talks to the Axe man about the Democratic National Convention (of course), his role in persudading President Joe Biden to drop out of the race, and his analysis of Vice President Harris's messaging and campaign strategy. To get more David Axelrod, watch him on CNN or listen to Hacks on Tap and The Axe Files. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find Kara on Instagram/Threads as @karaswisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ohio Sen. JD Vance made news this week when GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump selected Sen. Vance as his running mate. But Sen. Vance didn't start out a Trump fan. Once a harsh Trump critic, he slowly transitioned to all-out supporter. Sen. Vance spoke with David in 2017 about his life and bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy,” what it was that attracted working class voters to President Trump, and his political opinions on the social and economic difficulties facing everyday Americans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A special episode of The Odd Years: Amy and David catch up with David Axelrod in Milwaukee at the RNC. The three discuss what they're seeing on the ground, their thoughts on the selection of J.D. Vance as Trump's running mate, and the situation for President Biden and the Democrats as they head into their convention in a few weeks. David Axelrod is the founding director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago; former Chief Strategist and Senior Advisor to President Obama; senior political commentator at CNN; and host of the podcasts "Hacks on Tap" and "The Axe Files." **Subscribe to the Cook Political Report with our new $99 election season pass. Get the latest analysis, first, from our top-notch team for the next 4 months. Subscribe here: cookpolitical.com/subscribe**

Bill Walton, one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history and former basketball announcer, died this week. David talked with Bill back in 2016 about leadership, what he learned playing for John Wooden at UCLA, how his back troubles nearly drove him to suicide, his love of the Grateful Dead, and much more. We revisit that conversation this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to Fareed Zakaria, we are living in an age of revolution, kindled by the converging factors of technological advancement, information proliferation, globalization, and cultural shifts. He joined David during a live taping of The Axe Files at the University Club of Chicago to talk about what he discovered in researching his new book, “Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present,” how past revolutions inform today, how the US electoral system magnifies polarization, the ways in which the ideas of left and right politics have changed, and his mixed feelings on the upcoming trials of former President Donald Trump.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is a little different from the normal Axe Files. David sat down at Arizona State University with two legendary political strategists: Karl Rove, the architect of George W. Bush's campaigns, and David Plouffe, David's old partner and the brilliant manager behind the 2008 Barack Obama campaign. You can find their personal stories in past episodes of The Axe Files (Karl Rove episode #80, and David Plouffe episodes #43 and #418), but in this conversation, they talked about the Biden-Trump rematch, which they all agreed is the most unusual campaign of their lifetimes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we're revisiting a conversation from the early days of The Axe Files, way back in 2015, featuring Alastair Campbell. He served as the communications guru for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Campbell, a prolific author and speaker, shares poignant insights into his own struggles with mental illness, in addition to delving into political matters. They explore various topics, including the emerging candidacy of Donald Trump, who was embarking on his unlikely journey to the presidency at the time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For over four decades, Thomas Friedman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning luminary renowned for his insightful columns in The New York Times and a friend of The Axe Files, has been a steadfast voice delving into the intricate tapestry of the Middle East. His profound understanding of the region's nuances is unparalleled, making him an invaluable ally in navigating its tumultuous landscape. As the harrowing conflict in Gaza persists, David thought it was time to sit down for some wisdom from his old friend. With the omnipresent specter of social media threats and the ever-evolving challenges of modern diplomacy, their conversation couldn't be timelier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week The Axe Files team is sharing a special episode of Anderson Cooper's extraordinary podcast All There Is. It's a conversation about grief with President Joe Biden, who has faced more than his share in life. In it, he offers moving memories, lessons, and insights that are well worth hearing.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This holiday season, we are revisiting a conversation from March 2017 with Madeleine Albright, the trailblazing American scholar, diplomat, and Secretary of State. She passed away in 2022, but her inspiring personal story and her extraordinary insights into this complicated world are timeless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We want to learn more about you! Please tell us a bit about yourself by participating in a brief survey at cnn.com/audie -- and thank you! ---- 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We want to learn more about you! Please tell us a bit about yourself by participating in a brief survey at cnn.com/audie -- and thank you! ---- 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're bringing you a special episode of The Axe Files. In honor of the 15th anniversary of President Barack Obama's historic election, David assembled a group of key players who made the 2008 Obama campaign happen. Jon Favreau, Robert Gibbs, Reggie Love, and Alyssa Mastromonaco joined David to talk about their memories of the campaign, share stories from the trail, and reflect on the historic nature of Nov. 4, 2008.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're revisiting a 2015 interview with Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Then serving as House Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi spoke with David about her childhood in Baltimore, her tenure as Speaker of the House and all of its challenges, the key to building consensus, and politics and power.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

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

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 To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Adrian Perkins decided to forgo the traditional job at a top-tier law firm, instead opting to return to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana as a candidate for mayor. After one term, punctuated by the Covid-19 pandemic, Perkins fell short in his reelection campaign, but he hasn't lost his dedication to his hometown. On the latest Axe Files, Adrian talked about his “superhero” mother, his time in the military, his tenure as mayor of Shreveport, what motivates his service, and his mission to inspire young people.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

This week The Axe Files team is sharing an episode of CNN's The Assignment with Audie Cornish. 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.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

This week, we're revisiting a 2018 interview with Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition activist who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in April 2023 after speaking out against the war in Ukraine. Vladimir was just 10 years old during the Russian Democratic Revolution in 1991. Witnessing a revolution was a formative experience that led to a lifetime of pro-democracy activism. In 2018, Vladimir sat down with David to discuss Putin's Russia, the importance of the Magnitsky Act and what it's like to put his life on the line for democracy.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The U.S. District judge who will oversee the trial of former President Trump issued her first order since he pleaded not guilty to 37 charges related to alleged mishandling of classified documents. Judge Aileen Cannon gave “all attorneys of record and forthcoming attorneys of record” a Friday deadline for getting in touch with the Justice Department's litigation security group so that they can expedite “the necessary clearance process.” Former federal prosecutor Nick Akerman tells AC360 why he thinks the concerns about Judge Cannon's impartiality are overblown. Plus, former Senior Adviser to Pres. Obama David Axelrod sat down with his former boss on his “Axe Files” podcast to talk about the state of the Republican party and race in America.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

This week, we revisit a 2017 conversation with CNN Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour. She joined David in London to discuss growing up in Iran during the revolution, her experience covering the first Gulf War, her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr., the refugee crisis, and much more.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

A top TikTok executive attacked the House Energy and Commerce committee hearing on TikTok, accusing members of “xenophobia.” During an interview on CNN's “Axe Files” podcast released on Thursday, Jen Easterly, the Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) pointed to the differences in TikTok's American and Chinese versions and said she thinks the app “is part of a long-range strategy of, sadly, dumbing down the next generation and we are falling for it.” Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose administration is struggling to contain a worsening homelessness crisis despite record spending, is trying something bold: tapping federal health care funding to cover rent for homeless people and those at risk of losing their housing. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew admitted to Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks that the Chinese app tracks users' keystrokes during a House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the Hacks were joined by a superstar Hackeroo, the formidable Amy Walter, who is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Amy joined Axe and Gibbs (Murphy was busy voting in Chicago) to discuss the DeSantis book tour, Trump's standing in the Republican Party, the Michigan Senate race, and what and when to expect results from the Chicago Mayor's race.  Plus David previews his Axe Files interview with Peter Meijer.

This week The Axe Files team is sharing an episode of CNN's The Assignment with Audie Cornish. Each week Audie pulls listeners out of their digital echo chambers to hear from the people who actually live the headlines. From the sex work economy to the battle over what's taught in classrooms, no topic is off the table. For 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.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

This Thanksgiving, we're revisiting a conversation with Anderson Cooper from October 2021. Anderson is now a well-known CNN anchor and host of the new podcast, All There Is with Anderson Cooper, but he got his start in journalism armed with just a camcorder and a fake press pass. Anderson is also part of the storied Vanderbilt family, which he wrote about in the book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. He joined David to talk about the corrosive power of money and how its effects can ripple through generations, his mother's life and her capacity for overcoming trauma, losing his father at 10 years old, and how he hopes his book teaches his children to feel connected to something beyond themselves.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

John Heilemann welcomes David Axelrod, the former Senior Political Adviser to President Barack Obama and host of The Axe Files podcast on CNN Audio. As we approach the crucial midterm elections in early November, Axelrod offers his thoughts on the key races that may determine the fate of America's democracy going forward, including: whether or not recent political winds have shifted in favor of Republicans and what this means to their chances of taking over both the Huse and the Senate; the Democrats over-reliance on the issue of abortion and how they should change their messaging going forward to improve their standing with voters; the rise of Marjorie Taylor Greene and the possibility that she could be a presidential candidate one day; the effect John Fetterman's health is having on the Pennsylvania Senate race and whether he's vulnerable enough on crime to tip the outcome in Dr. Mehmet Oz's favor; will Black Democratic voters in Georgia show up in numbers large enough to keep Rafael Warnock's Senate seat secure from Herschel Walker; whether the Republican stalwarts Mike Lee and Chuck Grassley will safely hold their positions in the Senate; how Mandela Barnes should be attacking the Ron Johnson campaign in Wisconsin; that Kari Lake's performative abilities outstrip those of even Donald Trump; and the danger that the Democratic Party now caters too much to college educated metropolitans and has lost its touch with America's working and middle classes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nobel Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa faces 100 years in prison stemming from what she says are illegitimate charges, but that hasn't stopped her mission of exposing political malfeasance and lies in her home country of the Philippines. She joined David to talk about immigrating to the US as a child and later returning to the Philippines where she built a career, technology's corrosive impact on journalism and democracy, founding Rappler and finding herself a government target, and maintaining hope as she fights corruption and disinformation through her journalism.

This week we're sharing a conversation between Jon Favreau, host of Offline, a podcast from Crooked Media, and Ev Williams, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter. The two discuss Twitter's early years, including the design decisions behind some of the app's most important features. They dive into the promise of Twitter and attempt to make sense of what's changed. Ev also talks about Twitter's newest board member and largest shareholder, Elon Musk, and if Donald Trump should be allowed back on. Please note this conversation was recorded prior to Musk's attempt to purchase Twitter.   For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

This week The Axe Files team is sharing an episode of Hell & High Water with John Heilemann. This episode features a conversation with David Axelrod and was recorded in New York City in December 2021. Together they took a look back at the year in politics, from the Biden administration's successes and mishaps, Covid-19, the polarization and paralysis in Washington, and Donald Trump's continued stranglehold on the Republican Party. Axelrod reminisces about his storied career as a political reporter, Democratic strategist, and architect of Barack Obama's rise to the White House. Looking ahead to 2022, Axelrod lays out what he sees as the greatest challenges ahead for Democrats — and American democracy.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail and Google Canada.It's a helluva day here on The Herle Burly. Our 5th anniversary! We started this podcast 5 years ago not really knowing where it would take us. David Axelrod was generous enough to help us launch this thing in 2017, and I'm just so chuffed to welcome him back. David, as most of you know, is the host of The Axe Files and one of the people who make Hacks on Tap the must listen it is. He's the founder and Director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. He's a senior political commentator on CNN, and of course, he was chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaigns. So just a bit of success.Here's where we're going today:We'll discuss the state of democracy in the U.S. and the electoral implications of the January 6th hearings. How can you campaign against fascism or autocracy when voters can't define those concepts? Especially in the face of inflation.What are the mid-term prospects … post-Dobbs, post-IRA passage, post-tuition debt action. Will women and young people turn out?Who wins the DNC presidential primary in 2024? Replica of, or remedy for, Biden.Who wins the GOP primary? Trump or the replica? And then just some key observations as a political practitioner. In an era of media fragmentation and partisan divides … is a broad-based win a thing of the past?Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

In 2020, Alexis Ohanian, Co-Founder of Reddit & Founder of Seven Seven Six, broke ties with the $10 billion-dollar company he helped to build as an act of protest during the Black Lives Matter movement. In doing so, he stepped away from the business he'd known for most of his career, and instead decided to found a different kind of VC firm.   In this episode, Alexis tells Alex about the traumas he faced at the very start of his career, and how that has driven him towards the impact-focused mission he has today when it comes to 776, as well as how he approaches being as present as possible for both his family and his work.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

At 15, musician John Legend wrote an essay proclaiming he would one day become a famous singer and use his platform to advance civil rights. His words ended up being particularly prescient; he has since spent his life pursuing dual paths of artistry and social justice. For the 500th episode of The Axe Files, John talks with David about his musical roots in the church, his consulting gig at Boston Consulting Group while waiting for his big break, his focus on fighting for criminal justice reform, his disgust over the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and navigating the intersection of celebrity and political activism.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

David Axelrod, chief strategist for former President Barack Obama's presidential campaigns and host of The Axe Files and co-host of Hacks on Tap podcasts, joins Steve to tackle the complex questions about the midterm primary elections this week. What's up with the Democrat Party's tactic of funding extremist Republican candidates? And what is the outlook for the upcoming general elections? Plus: Axelrod gives listeners the big picture of what's happening in Kansas as well as what the abortion rights issue means to both sides of the political aisle. Show Notes:-The Axe Files with David Axelrod-TMD: Another Blockbuster Primaries Tuesday-The Dispatch: Peter Meijer Falls to Trump-Endorsed John Gibbs in Michigan-The Dispatch: Eric Schmitt Wins the Missouri GOP Senate Primary-The Sweep: What We Learned

As we prepare for the 500th episode of The Axe Files, we take a look back at the show's very first episode featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders. David spoke with Sen. Sanders in September 2015, just a few months after he announced his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. In this episode, Sen. Sanders talks with David about his childhood in Brooklyn, his presidential campaign, and his stance on selfies.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

With the recent nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, who, if confirmed, would be the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court, we revisit a conversation with another history maker, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She joined David in November 2018 to discuss her remarkable personal journey from the Bronx to the highest court in the land, how her background as a prosecutor and district judge helped to inform her perspective, the shifting dynamics on the Supreme Court, and more. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has already faced a series of unprecedented crises during her four year tenure in the nation's highest office. This week, we revisit our June 2021 conversation with the young, progressive Prime Minister who has led her country through a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, and most recently the Covid-19 pandemic. From her rural and working-class childhood to her nation's highest office, Prime Minister Ardern says her focus has always been on creating a more just society. She joined David to talk about her early introduction to politics, the difference between working with the Trump and Biden administrations, her government's response to Covid-19, New Zealand's relationship with China, and how she measures her success.   To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

This week, we revisit our May 2021 conversation with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Psaki didn't envision herself returning to the White House after serving as Communications Director under President Obama, but when President Joe Biden asked her to join his team, she agreed. She now speaks on behalf of the Biden administration and holds near-daily press briefings, which she called just the tip of the iceberg of her responsibilities. Jen joined David to talk about how the constant flow of information shapes her communication strategy, what the job of press secretary actually looks like, why comparisons between the Obama and Biden administrations miss the mark, and her expectation for a short-lived stint in her current role. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

With the Tokyo Olympics under way, we revisit a conversation from 2020 with Megan Rapinoe, captain of the U.S. women's national soccer team and Olympic gold medalist. At the time, Rapinoe was skeptical about the future of the 2020 games. Megan joined David to talk about growing up in a small conservative town, finding and forging her identity, her decorated soccer career and World Cup wins, and using her platform to engage in progressive activism: from LGBTQ and racial justice to equal pay, electoral politics, and more. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Antony "Tony" Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of State, first met Biden more than 15 years ago when he served as staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which Biden chaired. Blinken went on to serve as Deputy National Security Advisor and Deputy Secretary of State during the Obama administration, cementing his role as a member of Biden's inner circle. This week, we're revisiting a conversation David had with Blinken back in 2017. He joined David to talk about spending his formative years overseas, his relationship with Biden and the importance of engaging in diplomacy around the world. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Everybody knows Michael Phelps as the most decorated Olympian of all time. Phelps' hard work, determination, athleticism, and competitive drive were on full display in the pool as the world watched him smash record after record. Motived by his own battles with depression, Phelps is now a champion for a different cause: mental health awareness. This week, we revisit our 2018 conversation with Phelps about his tremendous career and why he decided to use his platform to destigmatize mental health. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Vladimir Kara-Murza was just 10 years old during the Russian Democratic Revolution in 1991. Witnessing a revolution was a formative experience that led to a lifetime of pro-democracy activism. In 2018, Vladimir sat down with David to discuss Putin's Russia, the importance of the Magnitsky Act and what it's like to put his life on the line for democracy.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy