Next Question with Katie Couric

Republican strategist, vocal Trump critic, and host of “The Warning,” Steve Schmidt poses the million dollar question: Can America’s political guardrails withstand Trump’s chaos? As the President-elect continues to fill his cabinet with a number of controversial picks, Steve warns us of just how dangerous these appointments could be and how cultural amnesia has led us to this moment.  Yet while some of the country’s most self-evident processes may now feel uncertain, Steve has faith in the resilience of America and is grateful to be part of this chapter in our history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From her perch as “token conservative” on The View to viral posts on Instagram, Meghan McCain has long been a favorite lightning rod for liberals and conservatives alike. The daughter of legendary war hero and Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, her last name has been derided by some on the MAGA right who believe a “McCain Republican” is the equivalent of a RINO. But as a staunch conservative, she has no place on the left either. It’s not necessarily an enviable vantage point, but it is a crucial one. As America wades into the unknowns of a second Trump term, we will need to find a way to speak to one another, and McCain has some ideas about how to go about that–and how not to.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jen Psaki knows a thing or two about politics. The former Obama communications director and Biden press secretary has spent nearly 20 years in politics–now she’s breaking down what happened in the 2024 election and what she thinks the next Trump administration could look like. Katie and Jen talk about how the media ecosystem impacted the election results, what can be done at the state level to protect against some of Trump’s policies, and the future of the Democratic party. Their conversation wasn’t all doom and gloom–Jen has some words of wisdom that will leave you hopeful about the weeks and years to come. (PS–Tune into her show on MSNBC, ‘Inside with Jen Psaki’, which airs Sundays at 12pm ET and Mondays at 8pm ET.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 presidential race has finally come to a close, but the conversation and questions about how things unfolded have just begun. For this election debrief, Katie is joined by Democratic consultant and friend of the pod Brian Goldsmith to examine the surprising dynamics of Trump’s 2024 victory, including the conventional-wisdom-smashing voter coalition that delivered him a second term. With the Democratic Party now facing tough questions about its future, Goldsmith explores what Harris’s campaign could have done differently and the soul-searching needed for Democrats to reconnect with an evolving American public. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this sobering conversation, Katie Couric sits down with comedian Samantha Bee and political commentator Van Jones to unpack the turbulence surrounding the final days of the 2024 Presidential election. From campaign strategies to media responsibility, they explore how humor, outrage, and disinformation shape the home stretch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this one-on-one conversation with Katie, Gwen Walz opens up about bringing storytelling, shared values, and listening back to political conversations. Drawing on her background as a teacher, she reflects on confronting Trump’s bullying and explains how empathy and authenticity shape her vision for the campaign and her connections with voters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Next Question, Katie is joined by Astead Herndon of The New York Times and Charlamagne tha God from The Breakfast Club for a pulse check on the polls, the rationale behind Kamala Harris’s campaign strategy, the struggles Democrats face to engage young Black voters, and the risks of relying on anti-Trump sentiment to win. We are down to the wire–buckle up for the final two weeks of the race!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Next Question explores how internet culture, and platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram have transformed voters’ perception of the candidates, and the way candidates interact with voters. Joining Katie is pop culture expert Evan Ross Katz and political analyst Molly Jong-Fast. Together, they’ll discuss how memes and online trends are shaping the 2024 election, if viral posts are swaying voters, and why traditional outlets (and their fact checking and gatekeepers) are increasingly left out of candidates’ schedules.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessica Valenti has been one of the leading voices on abortion rights in America, and this week Katie and her plus one Cindi Leive, CEO of The Meteor, sit down with her to talk about the reality of a post-Roe America. Katie and Cindi ask Jessica about abortion’s place at the top of the voters’ agendas this year, what’s happening in states with strict abortion bans, and how the anti-abortion movement is operating in unexpected ways.   You can buy Jessica's Book - Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win   Sign up for Jessica's Newsletter - Abortion, Every DaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special live recording of Next Question in New York City at the Paley Center for Media, Katie Couric enters her "Comfort Zone" for a powerful conversation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in partnership with comfort footwear brand, Easy Spirit! Katie shares her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor alongside the surgeon who treated her, renowned breast cancer researcher Dr. Lisa Newman. They are joined by Sharon Joseph, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer herself. Together, they discuss their personal journeys, the importance of early detection, and the groundbreaking research funded by Marc Fisher’s Easy Spirit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.