The Assignment with Audie Cornish

Pastor Rich Villodas discusses the challenges of communicating across political divisions within the church, exploring the impact of fear in politics and society and the challenges of preaching in a fractured world. He emphasizes the importance of welcoming people of all political beliefs and spreading love, even to enemies.

“There is a dangerous undercurrent dragging Americans who wade into the political waters out toward the extreme.” Oliver Darcy wrote these words after 66% of Iowa Republicans said they did not think Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election in a CNN entrance poll on caucus night. Darcy tells Audie Cornish why he thinks the mainstream media has a duty to shine a light on the “propaganda machine supporting Trump.”Sign up for CNN's Reliable Sources newsletterOliver’s column, A dangerous undercurrent is pulling Americans toward the political extreme. The media is turning a blind eye to it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast explores the challenges and pressures faced by parents, including societal expectations and comparisons to online influencers. It discusses the concept of gentle parenting and the controversy surrounding it. The episode also delves into the challenges of teaching children independence while setting boundaries in the digital age.

If the poll numbers are to be believed, Donald Trump’s march to the GOP nomination will be hard to stop. And that has lots of political observers pondering who he would choose as a running mate. CNN contributor Alyssa Farah Griffin worked in Trump’s White House and she shares first-hand knowledge of the characters vying for vice presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs are facing a backlash, mostly from conservative commentators. This backlash came into sharp relief after Claudine Gay resigned as president of Harvard University. Some of her critics claimed it as a victory against the “DEI regime.” Audie talks to Celeste Headlee, a journalist and the founder of Headway DEI, about how this discourse is affecting those trying to continue their DEI work in corporations and organizations across the country.  Celeste is the author of several books, including: Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism—and How to Do It.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Today, we’re here to answer the most important of questions. Is democracy still America’s sacred cause?” President Biden said these words on Friday while kicking off his re-election campaign near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The location was steeped in Revolutionary War history and continued Biden’s theme of speaking in locations that signify turning points for American democracy. Phil Mattingly was CNN’s Chief White House correspondent at the Biden White House before moving to the anchor’s desk at CNN This Morning. He and Audie talk about the many layers of President Biden’s re-election strategy.Leave us your feedback or assignments: (202) 854-8802 or email theassignment@cnn.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all seen the headlines: Gen Z is “lazy.” “Entitled.” They’re constantly asking for raises, and they complain too much. But are these things really a “problem”? This week, Audie chats with two Gen Z’ers with some #thoughts on how we think about work: DeAndre Brown, TikTok creator and founder of Gen XL Consulting, and Maia Ervin, Chief Impact Officer at the Gen Z consulting company JUV. Then, Audie brings their thoughts to the researcher who literally wrote the book on generations, Jean Twenge.Call and leave us your assignments: (202) 854-8802 or email TheAssignment@CNN.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the political winds intensify, CNN Political Director David Chalian is here to answer the burning questions of this election year: why don’t Republican candidates take off the gloves and attack former president Trump? Can President Biden and his allies amplify good economic news? And what will the U.S. Supreme Court do when it takes up its central role in determining Donald Trump’s political future? Make sure to follow David’s podcast, the CNN Political Briefing. He releases a new episode every Friday.Call and leave us feedback and your Assignments: (202) 854-8802. We love hearing from you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we're bringing you an episode of All There Is with Anderson Cooper, a podcast about the people we lose, the people left behind, and how we can live on – with loss and with love.The Assignment team is taking a short holiday break. We'll be back with new episodes next week.-Katie Talman was grieving an unimaginable loss when she left a message for Anderson Cooper, one of more than a thousand voicemails he received from podcast listeners. Anderson called Katie back at her home in Texas and she agreed to share her story. When Katie was 23 weeks pregnant, her daughter Everly died. “Nothing could have prepared me to deliver a stillborn baby,” Katie says. The grief over her daughter’s death, the silence in the delivery room, the inability of some in her life to understand or even acknowledge the depth of her pain - Katie and Everly’s story is a moving testament to a family’s love and a mom’s courage in the face of the greatest loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, we present an episode of David Axelrod's CNN podcast, The Axe Files. Lifelong Republican Bill Gates was working as a lawyer and serving on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona’s most populous county when the 2020 election upended his life. Maricopa County became a hub of the Stop the Steal movement, and Bill, who defended the safety and legitimacy of the election, became a top target. Bill joined David to talk about navigating vicious attacks from those within his own party, the toll it took on his mental health and that of his family, and his hopes for the future of the Republican Party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices