In the two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, thousands of soldiers on both sides have been killed and multiple cities have been destroyed. Recently, Ukraine has been forced to retreat from the city of Avdiivka amid dwindling ammunition supplies. Meanwhile, Western unity has started to show cracks and billions of dollars in US aid have been held up amid hesitation from congressional Republicans. In this episode, we hear from soldiers on the frontlines about what it’s like to fight with a lack of ammo and how two years of war have changed the country.  Guest: Ivana Kottasová, CNN International Senior Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the aftermath of special counsel Robert Hur’s report stating that President Joe Biden would present to a jury as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” age and mental competency are once again being talked about on the campaign trail. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has continually attacked Biden and former President Donald Trump over their age, while also proposing politicians over age 75 take a mental competency test. In this episode, we examine how older voters in South Carolina feel about age as a campaign issue ahead of the state’s Republican primary.  Guest: Kylie Atwood, CNN Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite blockbuster jobs numbers, robust consumer spending, and easing inflation, many Americans do not feel good about the US economy. The negative feelings are especially strong amongst young people struggling to pay their bills. Meanwhile, many are finding it hard – if not impossible – to imagine they will ever own a home. In this episode, we examine how Gen Z is turning to TikTok for financial advice and whether these negative feelings could impact President Joe Biden’s reelection chances.  Guest: Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Business and Politics Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In December, the Colorado Supreme Court shocked the political world when it removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist clause.” The US Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case this week following a fast-tracked appeals process. In this episode, we examine the untested legal theory, Trump’s defense, and how the justices’ decision could reverberate well beyond this year’s election.  Guest: Joan Biskupic, CNN Senior Supreme Court Analyst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, igniting a massive inferno which spewed poisonous chemicals in the air. In the days and weeks after, some residents who had evacuated wondered whether it would ever be safe enough to return to their homes. Nearly a year later, that sentiment remains along with anger pointed at the federal government and Norfolk Southern over what some see as an inadequate response. In this episode, we hear from affected residents and business owners about their uncertain futures.  Guest: Jason Carroll, CNN Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After former President Donald Trump’s resounding win in Iowa, the Republican primary shifts to New Hampshire. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are banking on undeclared voters to swing their way as Trump sharpens his attacks against the only two candidates left in the race. In this episode, we hear how those independents could change the dynamic of the race and why President Joe Biden’s campaign is quietly concerned about the Democratic primary in the state.  Guest: Kasie Hunt, CNN Chief National Affairs Analyst  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iowa Republicans will gather this week to pick a nominee for president in the first party event of the 2024 primary. While former president Donald Trump holds a large lead in the polls, undecided voters have been weighing whether his multiple criminal indictments and efforts to overturn the last election mean it’s time to move on. In this episode, we hear from a group of Iowans about how they feel about the rest of the field and examine what to watch for on caucus night.  Guest: John King, CNN Chief National Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Border crossings along the US-Mexico border reached a record high last month, overwhelming resources in border communities and adding urgency to immigration reform negotiations on Capitol Hill. While migrant encounters have dropped in recent days, the issue will remain a lively political issue as presidential primaries get underway and House Republicans begin impeachment proceedings against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. In this episode, we examine the reality on the ground and hear how the impacts of policies in Texas are being felt in communities across the country.   Guest: Ed Lavandera, CNN Senior National Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we enter 2024, all eyes will be on the Iowa caucuses later this month to see if Republican voters have any appetite for moving on from former President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the Republican frontrunner continues to make statements on the campaign trail that experts say sound increasingly authoritarian. What should we make of the stark rhetoric? In this episode, we hear a conversation between CNN’s Audie Cornish and Kristen Holmes about what exactly Trump has planned for a possible second term.  Listen to “The Assignment with Audie Cornish” here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We do our best on this show to stay on top of the news – but even we couldn’t cover everything in 2023. In this episode, we hear from a group of CNN correspondents and reporters about what we missed - and what we should be looking out for in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to Washington DC earlier this week to plead with Congress to come together on $61 billion in new aid for the country in its war against Russia. His visit comes amid a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive and improved Russian performance on the battlefield. In this episode, we hear how Ukrainian forces are adapting to waning Western support and why this is a moment Russian President Vladimir Putin may be able to seize on in Moscow.  Guest: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Chief International Security Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A high-profile criminal trial is underway in Atlanta that could have major implications for the music industry. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has alleged Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug is the cofounder of a criminal street gang responsible for violent acts and is pointing to his song lyrics as proof of the gang’s existence. In this episode, we examine the case and the controversy around the RICO statue used to charge it – the same law used to indict former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants in connection with their alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Guest: Ryan Young, CNN Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the last few years, Anderson Cooper has been going through boxes of things that belonged to belonged to his dad, who died when he was 10, his brother, who died when he was 21, and his mom, who died in 2019. He documented that journey in the first season of his podcast, “All There Is.” Now the podcast is back for a new season. In this episode, we hear from Anderson about what drove him to keep exploring grief and loss and how he brought what he learned with him to cover the Israel-Hamas war. Guest: Anderson Cooper, CNN Anchor Listen to “All There Is” here. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 to connect with a trained counselor, or visit the 988 Lifeline website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the COP28 climate conference kicks off this week, world leaders will gather to discuss potential solutions to the crisis. Experts are increasingly looking at how artificial intelligence can help address certain aspects, despite a lack of regulation around the emerging technology. In this episode, we examine how AI could be used and look at whether the infrastructure needed to run the programs may actually end up harming the environment.  Guests: Rachel Ramirez, CNN Climate Reporter  Clare Duffy, CNN Technology Reporter  Read more at CNN’s Road to COP28 here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Title 42 expired in May, some expected an influx of migrants to descend on communities along the US-Mexico border. While overall encounters dropped in October, some people say they are experiencing a growing number of migrants arriving on their properties. In this episode, we hear from some in the San Diego area about what they’re experiencing and explore why most migrants actually want to be encountered by border authorities. Guest: David Culver, CNN Senior National Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier this year, record-setting wildfires in eastern Canada sent plumes of unhealthy air over US cities normally unaccustomed to wildfire smoke. Experts say climate change is making fires like these more likely and more intense. In today’s episode, we hear how a previous blaze in Canada changed how firefighters do battle with the flames and what it can tell us about how the building industry needs to adapt.  Guest: John Vaillant, author of “Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World”  Read more at CNN’s Road to COP28 here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Israel moves troops into Gaza and continues to launch airstrikes as retaliation for the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack, thousands of civilians remain in the crosshairs. What does that mean for US support of Israel? In today’s episode, we explore how President Joe Biden is weighing humanitarian concerns with fears of a wider war in the region.  Guest: Phil Mattingly, CNN Anchor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four former allies of former President Donald Trump have pleaded guilty in the Georgia election subversion case in recent days, with all agreeing to testify on behalf of the prosecution at future trials. Meanwhile, a New York judge overseeing Trump’s civil fraud trial fined the former president $10,000 on Wednesday for violating a gag order. In today’s episode, we look at how the growing legal pressure could impact the former president as he balances the courtroom with the campaign trail.  Guest: Paula Reid, CNN Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new state law in Florida is making it easier for conservative groups to get certain books removed from school libraries. It has turned school board meetings into spectacles, with parents and outside voices reading out explicit passages from books without context to argue that they should not be available to minors. In today’s episode, we explore the tactics and hear from students about how they feel about the effort by adults to control which books they have access to.  Guest: Elle Reeve, CNN Correspondent To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hamas assault on Israel has shocked the world and sparked fierce retaliation from Israel. Thousands of people have been killed in both Israel and Gaza, while Hamas claims to be holding over 100 people hostage. In today’s episode, we hear from our teams on the ground in Israel and people living through the conflict.  Guests: Nic Robertson, CNN International Diplomatic Editor  Becky Anderson, CNN International Anchor  Clarissa Ward, CNN Chief International Correspondent  Listen to Tug of War here. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices