

Anderson Cooper 360
CNN Podcasts
Anderson Cooper brings you highlights from CNN's premier nightly news program AC360.
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Sep 3, 2021 • 42min
Death toll rises to 46 after historic flooding pounds Northeast
Remnants of Hurricane Ida unleashed dangerous flash floods and tornadoes across the Northeast, killing at least 46 people. Camilla Akbari was traveling on a New Jersey transit train trying to get home when the water started coming onto the train. She walks AC360 through the 12-hour journey that usually takes just one hour. Plus, New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul tells Anderson Cooper search and rescues are still underway in New York City.
Airdate: September 2, 2021
Guests:
Camilla Akbari
Gov. Kathy HochulTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 2, 2021 • 46min
White supremacist praise of the Taliban takeover concerns U.S. officials
White supremacist and anti-government extremists expressed admiration when the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, which has worried U.S. officials who have been grappling with the threat of domestic violent extremism. Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe tells Anderson Cooper we’ve seen over time that the domestic extremist community “cherry pick facts,” “take them out of context” and “weave them into their grievances and conspiracy theories to make a point.” Plus, Roe v. Wade is in jeopardy as the Supreme Court and a federal appeals court failed to rule on a controversial Texas law that bans abortions at six weeks. Cecile Richards is the former president of Planned Parenthood. She joins AC360 to discuss the Texas law and says “it’s a tragic day for women not only in Texas but across the country.”
Airdate: September 1, 2021
Guests:
Andrew McCabe
Cecile Richards
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Sep 1, 2021 • 43min
Biden praises military evacuation of Kabul, calling it an "extraordinary success"
President Biden defended his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan saying he refused to start another “decade of war.” Biden said that the U.S. government believes there are about 100 to 200 Americans remaining in Afghanistan and Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. remains committed to help Afghan partners who have fought alongside the U.S. She specifically thanked an Afghan interpreter, Mohammed, who was part of the 2008 rescue mission for then Sens. Joe Biden, Chuck Hagel and John Kerry. According to the Wall Street Journal, Mohammed currently has a Special Immigrant Visa stuck in processing. He tells Anderson Cooper he “trusts” Biden to get him out. Plus, CNN National Correspondent Gary Tuchman brings AC360 to Grand Isle, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida devasted the town. Gary and his team are the first television crew to reach barrier island.
Airdate: August 31, 2021
Guests:
Mohammed
Gary TuchmanTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 31, 2021 • 47min
U.S. announces completion of Afghanistan withdrawal
The Pentagon announced the last U.S. military plane left Afghanistan, marking the end of the United States’ longest war. The evacuation met President Biden’s withdrawal deadline but has been marked by chaotic and bloody events, including the killing of 13 U.S. servicemembers in last week’s Kabul airport attack. Alena Knauss lost her husband that day, Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss. She joins AC360 to remember Ryan and says she wants people to know “if he would have known the outcome he would have still done it” because “he was doing what he wanted to be doing.” Plus, Louisiana state officials are conducting search and rescue efforts as more than 1 million people are still without power after Hurricane Ida made landfall as a powerful category 4 storm. Mike Foster is president of Tidewater Disaster Response and has been aiding with the rescue. He tells Anderson Cooper the biggest challenge is gaining access to the neighborhoods because of all the flooding.
Airdate: August 30, 2021
Guests:
Alena Knauss
Mike FosterTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 28, 2021 • 51min
Biden is warned “another terror attack in Kabul is likely”
President Biden and Vice President Harris were warned by their national security team that “another terror attack in Kabul is likely” as the mission enters its “most dangerous period to date.” The names of the 13 U.S. servicemen who were killed in the suicide bombing outside the airport are starting to come out. The family of U.S. Marine Rylee McCollum confirmed to CNN that he died in the attack and said he was “an amazing man with a passion for the Marines.” Rep. Adam Kinzinger is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard. He tells Anderson Cooper “while it’s extremely tragic that these 13 people were killed” they were killed “saving lives.” Plus, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward was able to evacuate Kabul last week. Before leaving she sat down for an exclusive interview with a commander of ISIS-K, the terror group that claimed responsibility for the Kabul airport attack.
Airdate: August 27, 2021
Guests:
Rep. Adam Kinzinger
Clarissa Ward
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Aug 27, 2021 • 56min
At least 13 U.S. service members killed in Kabul airport attack
President Biden vowed to “hunt” down the terrorists who attacked Kabul’s airport that killed at least 13 U.S. service members and more than 60 Afghans. The President said the U.S. will “respond with force and precision” to the deadly attack. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling tells Anderson Cooper it will be difficult to hunt down the terrorists responsible since there are less troops on the ground which means less intelligence. Plus, Matthieu Aikins is a journalist for The New York Times and lives in Kabul. He was at the scene of the attack less than an hour after it happened and joins AC360 to describe the chaotic scene.
Airdate: August 26, 2021
Guests:
Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling
Matthieu AikinsTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 26, 2021 • 46min
U.S. embassy warns Americans at certain Kabul airport gates to "leave immediately"
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul advised U.S. citizens at a number of gates at the airport to “leave immediately,” noting “security threats outside the gates.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there are approximately 1,500 people who may be Americans stuck in Afghanistan. Anderson Cooper spoke to Najibullah, a permanent resident of the U.S who traveled to Afghanistan for his father’s funeral but is now trying to evacuate. He describes the chaos at the airport. Plus, Johnson & Johnson says their booster shot for their one-shot vaccine generated a big spike in antibodies. CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins AC360 to discuss J&J’s booster shot data.
Airdate: August 25, 2021
Guests:
Najibullah
Dr. Sanjay GuptaTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 25, 2021 • 47min
Biden: 70,000+ people evacuated from Afghanistan in 10 days
President Joe Biden said the U.S. is on track to complete its evacuation mission by August 31 and doesn’t plan to have troops stay in the country past that date. The President also said the U.S. has helped more than 70,000 people evacuate Afghanistan in the last 10 days. Leon Panetta is the former Defense Secretary under President Obama. He tells Anderson Cooper we made a promise to U.S. citizens who are in Afghanistan and to Afghans who helped us that “we would do everything we could to evacuate them. I think we’ve got to still keep that promise.” Plus, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Floridians largely support mask mandates and oppose Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to block them in schools. Dr. Aileen Marty is an infectious disease expert at Florida International University and a Miami-Dade County Public Schools medical task force member. She joins AC360 to discuss the important of masks in schools and says “the governor” and “all leaders should be working with us to do everything possible to slow down transmission.”
Airdate: August 24, 2021
Guests:
Leon Panetta
Dr. Aileen MartyTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 24, 2021 • 54min
FDA grants full approval to Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older. Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He tells Anderson Cooper if most eligible people get vaccinated, the U.S. could have control over Covid-19 entering Spring 2022. Plus, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward joins AC360 to give an update on the situation in Afghanistan and describes just how chaotic it was trying to get out of Kabul.
Airdate: August 23, 2021
Guests:
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Clarissa WardTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 21, 2021 • 48min
Desperation grows as thousands still wait to evacuate Kabul
Chaotic scenes played out at the Kabul airport as thousands desperately sought to reach evacuation flights out of Afghanistan. President Joe Biden pledged to get Americans who are still trapped in the country out. The President also extended that promise to Afghan translators who risked their lives to help U.S. troops and diplomats over the 20-year U.S. presence in Afghanistan. CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward and her team were among some of the evacuees who were able to get out of Kabul. She joins AC360 to describe the chaotic scene at the airport. Plus, a senior federal official tells CNN full FDA approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is “imminent.” Dr. Jerome Adams is the former U.S. Surgeon General. He tells Anderson Cooper if the vaccine gets full approval, it “will pave the way for organization to have more aggressive tactics in terms of getting their employees vaccinated.”
Airdate: August 20, 2021
Guests:
Clarissa Ward
Dr. Jerome AdamsTo learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices