The Assignment with Audie Cornish

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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

How Political Divides Are Destroying Families

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

27 min
2 JAN

Samantha Bee Is Done with Democrats (For Now)

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

54 min
19/12/2024

Trump’s Tariffs Could Mean Costlier Clothes

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

30 min
12/12/2024

What a CEO's Murder Tells Us About America

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

22 min
05/12/2024

How to Build a Politics of Humility

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

32 min
02/12/2024

Scaramucci on Being in Trump’s Orbit

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

35 min
28/11/2024

Should You Post About Your Kids Online?

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

32 min
21/11/2024

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

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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.