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CNN Podcasts

Every Thursday on The Assignment, host Audie Cornish explores the animating forces of this extraordinary American political moment. It’s not about the horse race, it’s about the larger cultural ideas driving the conversation: the role of online influencers on the electorate, the intersection of pop culture and politics, and discussions with primary voices and thinkers who are shaping the political conversation.

The Assignment with Audie Cornish

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.

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This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta. 

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez 

Technical Director: Dan Dzula 

Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig 
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How Politics are Driving Families Apart

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. 

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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 Pop Culture: AI, Gay Hockey, and Rage Bait

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.

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This episode was produced by Lori Galarreta. 

Senior Producer: Matt Martinez Technical Director: Dan Dzula Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig 
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Spirituality in America, from AI Jesus to Wicca

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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Putting the 'Giving' Back in Thanksgiving

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

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. 

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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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Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Next Act

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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“Love is Blind” Is About More Than Dating

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

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

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 Everyone Started Paying Attention to the WNBA

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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LeVar Burton on Optimism During Hard Times

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