The Assignment with Audie Cornish

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NEWS COMMENTARY
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

6 DAYS AGO

Are Progressive Groups Hurting Democrats?

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

29 min
14 NOV

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

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

31 min
6 NOV

Latino Men Wanted Trump. Why?

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

38 min
4 NOV

The Pennsylvania Voters Who May Decide the Race

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

34 min
31 OCT

What To Expect on Election Night

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

31 min
28 OCT

Why the Race Is So Close In the Rust Belt

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

38 min
24 OCT

Election Workers Under Siege

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

35 min
17 OCT

The Grieving Father Who Took Down Alex Jones

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

40 min

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TRAILER

Introducing: The Assignment

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

04/11/2022

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3 min

Audie Cornish

Host

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.