The Assignment with Audie Cornish

Allison Morrow, a senior writer at CNN Business, dives into the unsettling realities of the U.S. economy. She discusses the alarming disconnect between official data and everyday struggles, like rising grocery prices and increased miss payments. Morrow highlights how ‘affordability’ has shifted in political discourse and the nuances of consumer spending amidst economic disparity. With insights on crowdfunding essentials and the impact of corporate AI investments, she sheds light on the financial fragility many experience, even as markets seem steady.

Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and author of the memoir A Different Kind of Power, discusses her transformative leadership during crises, including the Christchurch shooting and a global pandemic. She opens up about battling imposter syndrome, the challenges of parenting in the spotlight, and the importance of empathy in political discourse. Ardern emphasizes the need for kindness in politics, reflects on her early influences, and advocates for raised children to be engaged citizens in a complex world.

Anne Helen Petersen, culture writer and host of the Culture Study podcast, joins Audie to dive deep into the social ramifications of "Love Is Blind." They explore the show's rapid dating arc and why it captivates viewers. Discussion includes the ethics of casting conventions, the show's emotional grip, and how it reflects today's gender and economic issues. They also debate the potential for AI in reality TV and examine international adaptations. It's a rich conversation that reveals much about our cultural landscape.

Tananarive Due, an award-winning horror writer and UCLA lecturer, dives into the evolution of horror in modern culture. She discusses how horror has transformed from cheap thrills to a reflection of systemic oppression and collective trauma. Due links her work, like The Reformatory, to contemporary fears, particularly around policing children. She explains how horror serves as both a vehicle for racial stories and a rehearsal for survival instincts. With insights into how grief intertwines with horror, Due reveals the genre's surprising depth and relevance today.

With New York City’s mayoral election fast approaching, one candidate in particular has managed to break through the noise — even outside the five boroughs. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist-backed progressive whose campaign videos have gone viral, has become the face of a growing leftist wave. But is it a one-city phenomenon, or the beginning of something bigger? Audie talks to CNN Contributor Astead Herndon. His story about Mamdani’s campaign was just published in the New York Times Magazine. He is now a host and Editorial Director at Vox.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The WNBA just wrapped its most-watched season in history, with soaring team valuations and unprecedented public interest. But the league is preparing for possible labor tension as players push for greater revenue sharing and ask who really benefits from its success. Audie turns to CNN contributor and host of Naked Sports, Cari Champion, to talk about what the next era of the WNBA could look like: the economics of the game and how a new competitor could redefine ownership, competition, and opportunity for female athletes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Film director Raoul Peck grew up in Haiti and the Congo, and is no stranger to authoritarianism. So it was an easy “yes” when he was offered access to author George Orwell’s entire body of work, from the original manuscript of “1984” to letters and journals. The result is “Orwell: 2+2=5,” a documentary about how a man named Eric Arthur Blair became the timeless face of truth. Peck talks to Audie about his take on Orwell’s legacy and what it still has to teach us.   --  This episode was Produced by Madeleine Thompson and Lori Galarreta Senior Producer: Matt Martinez  Technical Director: Dan Dzula   Executive Producer:  Steve Lickteig  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week The Assignment presents the first episode of CNN’s powerful narrative series, Tortured Justice with Omar Jimenez. It’s the story of systemic torture carried out by the Chicago police department over many years starting in the 1980s. The series focuses on James Gibson, who was wrongly convicted and tortured, Andrew Wilson, whose guilt for killing two police officers has not been questioned even as people learned of his torture, and Jon Burge, a police commander who oversaw torture.  Subscribe to the podcast to hear all the episodes. And read more about how Omar reported the story.   --  Producers: Graelyn Brashear, Madeleine Thompson, Emily Williams, Kyra Dahring, Sofia Sanchez, and Lauren Kim    Editor: Lacy Roberts   Technical director: Dan Dzula    Executive producer of CNN Podcasts: Steve Lickteig    Production help from: Jake Sorgen, Joe DeCeault, David Guggenheim, Jessica Pupovac  Special thanks to: Ferlon Webster, Jr. and Ed Kelly  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV after being suspended for his comments on Charlie Kirk's assassination. It was the latest sign of political pressure shaping the media landscape into something that may have been unrecognizable a decade ago. So how did we get here, and where are we headed? Axios media correspondent and CNN contributor Sara Fischer talks about the forces at play and how they’re influencing everything from talk shows to social media algorithms.  This episode was Produced by Lori Galarreta and Madeleine Thompson Senior Producer: Matt Martinez  Technical Director: Dan Dzula   Executive Producer:  Steve Lickteig  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Kirk’s assassination may be part of a larger “political realignment” in America, that’s according to Rachel Kleinfeld, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a leading scholar on political violence. She explains what it is, why it's violent, how it could get worse, and possible paths out. This episode was Produced by Lori Galarreta and Jesse Remedios Senior Producer: Matt Martinez  Technical Director: Dan Dzula   Executive Producer:  Steve Lickteig  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices