CNN 5 Things

The sports world came to a standstill last Monday night after 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. In this week’s episode, a former NFL player weighs in on the league’s reaction and explains why he thinks this incident represents a turning point in the conversation around player safety and mental health concerns at all levels of the sport. Guest: Coy Wire, CNN Sports Anchor & CorrespondentTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The metaverse. Artificial intelligence. These technologies are here and already shaping our world in ways you may not realize. We take a closer look at how they are taking hold and tackle some commonly asked questions. See more on “Decoded”.  Guest: Anna Stewart, CNN ReporterTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier this year, CNN Films and HBO Max released “The Last Movie Stars”, a documentary detailing the love story and careers of legendary Hollywood icons Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Its director, Ethan Hawke, stops by to talk about the film, how streaming has changed Hollywood, and what to watch if you have some downtime this holiday season. “The Last Movie Stars” is now streaming on HBO Max.  Guest: Ethan Hawke, director of “The Last Movie Stars” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Bankman-Fried promised to revolutionize the cryptocurrency industry through his exchange, FTX. Last week, he was arrested and charged with fraud, capping a month-long saga which saw the collapse of FTX along with his personal wealth. We examine how customers' money was allegedly stolen and what it all could mean for the future of the industry. Guest: Allison Morrow, CNN Business Senior Editor To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thousands of central North Carolina residents spent much of last week in the dark following an attack on two electric substations. It follows years of warnings from the federal government that the power grid was an attractive target for extremists. We examine how this attack upended daily life and look at what can be done to protect the grid going forward.  Guest: Whitney Wild, CNN Law Enforcement CorrespondentTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

China has signaled it may adjust some aspects of its strict zero-Covid policy following a massive show of defiance in cities across the country, with some openly calling for the removal of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. We examine the financial and psychological ramifications of the restrictions and look at whether the protests could force more change. Guest: Selina Wang, CNN International CorrespondentTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the past few years, once-sleepy local school board meetings have become passionate and occasionally rowdy venues for debate over issues like the pandemic, race, gender and more. We’ve also seen school board elections become more partisan than ever. We hear from two parents about why they decided to run for office and what changes they hope to make while in power. Listen to “The Assignment” here.  Guest: Audie Cornish, CNN Anchor & CorrespondentTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former President Donald Trump has officially kicked off his 2024 presidential campaign amid multiple investigations into him, his business, and his allies. We examine if Trump’s grip on the party has weakened in recent years following his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and look at who may challenge him in the Republican primary.  Guest: Kaitlan Collins, “CNN This Morning” Anchor & Chief Correspondent To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While votes are still being counted in key states, it’s clear Democrats had a better midterm performance than most were expecting. We examine the biggest surprises and key takeaways for both parties. Guest: John King, CNN Anchor & Chief National CorrespondentTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As voters go to the polls this week, there are several states with key Senate races that could decide the balance of power in Washington. We go on a tour of these battleground states to unpack the key issues, hear how voters are feeling, and look at why election deniers continue to pose an active threat to democracy.  Guests:  Jessica Dean, CNN Congressional Correspondent  Eva McKend, CNN National Politics Reporter  Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Business & Politics Correspondent  Omar Jimenez, CNN Correspondent  Kyung Lah, CNN Senior National CorrespondentTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices