Episodes

  • 06/22/2025: Navalny, Our Mistake is Your Responsibility, Kate Winslet

    06/22/2025: Navalny, Our Mistake is Your Responsibility, Kate Winslet
    Jun 23 2025
    Months after anti-Putin activist Alexei Navalny died in a Russian prison, his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, now the leading figure of his political movement, spoke with correspondent Lesley Stahl in Navalnaya’s first U.S. interview about her late husband’s posthumous memoir. Navalnaya discussed the book – Navalny’s last act of defiance against the Kremlin, which chronicles his final three years behind bars under often brutal conditions – and his death, which she blames on Russian president Vladimir Putin. She details Alexei’s clandestine operation for penning the memoir inside a high-security prison and then smuggling it out; why the couple decided to return to Russia after Navalny was poisoned; and her daring campaign for justice in the wake of his death. Each year, about 2 million Americans receive a bill from the Social Security Administration, saying they were paid too much in benefits and must pay it back. Even if the error is not their fault, they often still have to pay. Correspondent Anderson Cooper reports on how some elderly and disabled people have been burdened with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Correspondent Cecilia Vega travels to the U.K. for an intimate portrait of actor Kate Winslet, Hollywood’s most non-Hollywood A-lister, and discusses her transformative journey to starring in and producing her film, “Lee.” Winslet, who has been a vocal advocate against the insults and inequalities facing women in the film industry, relies on this experience for the role, portraying American photographer Lee Miller, who worked for Vogue as one of the few female war correspondents on the frontline of WWII. As Vega discovers, Winslet and Miller share a resilience and see the world through a similar lens, making her connection more than just a role. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • 06/15/2025: Unintended Consequences, Wood to Whiskey, Finding Cillian Murphy

    06/15/2025: Unintended Consequences, Wood to Whiskey, Finding Cillian Murphy
    Jun 16 2025
    After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, 20 states immediately banned or severely restricted abortion while six protected access to it. Since this piece first aired last November, voters in six additional states have amended their constitutions to safeguard abortion rights. But for many women and doctors living in places with strict abortion bans, fear and confusion over these new laws is growing. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi travels to one of those states, Texas, and speaks with doctors who say the restrictive abortion laws are creating unintended consequences, hurting women with desired pregnancies and the people who care for them. With a history spanning 2,000 years and still playing a vital role in global commerce, the oak barrel, as correspondent Bill Whitaker discovers, is much more than just a container. Barrels are a vital ingredient, especially in the production of Bourbon whiskey – giving it all of its distinctive color and much of its taste. Whitaker takes us inside the largest maker of wooden barrels to glimpse the magic and mystique of this essential tradition. Just weeks before Cillian Murphy won the 2024 Oscar for Best Actor in the film “Oppenheimer,” correspondent Scott Pelley sat down with him for a candid interview. Murphy talked about how he transforms for roles, acts on instinct and how his Irish identity has defined him. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • 06/08/2025: The Pager Plot, A Psychedelic Journey, Mr. Clooney Goes to Broadway

    06/08/2025: The Pager Plot, A Psychedelic Journey, Mr. Clooney Goes to Broadway
    Jun 9 2025
    For the first time, ex-Mossad agents who led the exploding pager and walkie-talkie plot against Hezbollah, which garnered worldwide attention in September, detail their 10-year undercover op in an interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl. Meeting in Israel, the agents, who recently retired from service, share never-before-known details that caught Hezbollah fighters by surprise and ultimately spurred change across the region from Lebanon to Syria to Iran. Last year, the Veterans Administration announced it would begin funding clinical trials to explore the use of psychedelic drugs for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction. However, these trials are small, and even if successful, it will likely be years before veterans can access psychedelics at the VA. Many U.S. veterans struggling with PTSD aren’t waiting. Thousands of them are traveling overseas seeking relief at psychedelic retreats where these substances are legal to use, mostly in indigenous ceremonies. Correspondent Anderson Cooper follows nine veterans on a psychedelic journey to the west coast of Mexico, where they hope to find healing. Correspondent Jon Wertheim goes behind the scenes as George Clooney makes his Broadway debut, starring in an adaptation of the 2005 Oscar-nominated movie “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Clooney co-wrote both the original screenplay and this play, which tell the story of pioneering journalist Edward R. Murrow, who took on Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clooney calls it a fight for the ages and says the plot, which revolves around themes of truth, intimidation and courage in corporate media, resonates today. Now 64, the actor tells Wertheim why he finally feels ready to take on the role of Murrow himself. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • 06/01/2025: Cuban Spycraft, Robo, Dua Lipa

    06/01/2025: Cuban Spycraft, Robo, Dua Lipa
    Jun 2 2025
    For decades, prolific Cuban spies working in the U.S. government, serving in high profile positions with top security clearances, have evaded American intelligence officials. Correspondent Cecilia Vega reports from Washington, D.C. and Miami on the stories of two such undercover agents, former U.S. Ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha and onetime Pentagon official Ana Montes. Cuba continues to supply one of the most dangerous exports to American adversaries around the world: American secrets. For centuries, the giants of the art world, like Michelangelo, have made a beeline for the world-famous Carrara marble quarries of Northern Tuscany, turning the white stone into masterpieces. Now, a fleet of robots has moved in, carving with pinpoint precision and sparking an art world fracas. Correspondent Bill Whitaker travels to Carrara and jumps into the fray: can a robot make art? While many contemporary A-listers are turning to robots for help, many of Italy’s hammer-and-chisel brigade are up in arms. They claim Italy’s artistic heritage is on the line. Many teenagers want to become pop stars, but few convince their parents to let them pack their bags and move to another country to make it big. That’s precisely what Dua Lipa did when she was 15 years old, trading Pristina, Kosovo, for London. Correspondent Anderson Cooper talks with her about her journey from unknown songwriter to international sensation. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 05/25/2025: Larkin’s War, Left Behind, Indian Relay

    05/25/2025: Larkin’s War, Left Behind, Indian Relay
    May 26 2025
    Frank Larkin’s commitment to America is remarkable. A former Navy SEAL, he served in the Secret Service, at the Pentagon and as sergeant-at-arms of the U.S. Senate. However, as correspondent Scott Pelley reports, Larkin’s most significant contribution may be what he’s done since his son, Ryan, took his own life. Ryan was, like his father, a decorated Navy SEAL, and his death by suicide was attributed to depression. But Frank Larkin did not accept this explanation, and when pathologists discovered Ryan suffered from scarring in his brain, likely due to repeated low-level blast exposure, this father campaigned for a change in how Special Operations and the rest of the military train and protect their service members. When wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods of Los Angeles this winter, 9 billion pounds of toxic ash and debris were left behind. Now, a massive cleanup effort is underway to clear the 13,000 properties destroyed in the fire. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi goes behind the scenes with the Environmental Protection Agency as it completes the first step: removing the hazardous waste. The rest of the debris is in the hands of the Army Corps of Engineers. Despite expedited cleanup efforts, some residents say they still don’t feel safe returning home. Bill Whitaker reports from the chaotic and high-speed racetrack of “America’s original extreme sport” - Indian Relay. As horse nation tribes unite for an exciting and dangerous bareback horse race, Whitaker looks at how the sport continues to grow and offer new opportunities of pride to the next generation of Native American youth. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • 05/18/2025: China’s Spies, The Future of Warfare, Sounds of Cajun Country

    05/18/2025: China’s Spies, The Future of Warfare, Sounds of Cajun Country
    May 19 2025
    Chinese hackers have infiltrated U.S. government systems, the private sector, and critical infrastructure, but hacking has not replaced Beijing’s pursuit of old-fashioned human intelligence, aka: spying. Norah O'Donnell reports on Chinese covert agents who monitor and influence events outside their own borders and surveil and intimidate Chinese dissidents right here in America. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi travels to Costa Mesa, CA, to meet with Palmer Luckey, the 32-year-old tech billionaire who founded Anduril, a defense products company that makes autonomous weapons, some already in use by the U.S. military and in the war in Ukraine. Alfonsi explores the artificial intelligence that powers Anduril's systems and reports on some of the company's most advanced weapons, including a submarine that operates without sailors. While several international groups refer to lethal autonomous weapons as "killer robots," Luckey says that these innovations represent the future of warfare. Correspondent Jon Wertheim visits southwest Louisiana, where the sounds of Cajun and Zydeco music - long the soundtrack in this singular pocket of America - are experiencing a remarkable revival. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • 05/11/2025: Fraud, To Walk Again, Jamie Lee Curtis

    05/11/2025: Fraud, To Walk Again, Jamie Lee Curtis
    May 12 2025
    Correspondent Cecilia Vega reports on rampant fraud in government programs like unemployment, food stamps, disaster aid and more. With few safeguards at state and federal levels, taxpayers are falling victim to complex schemes carried out by scammers, hackers and transnational criminal organizations, costing the government hundreds of billions of dollars each year. For people who’ve suffered traumatic spinal cord injuries that have caused paralysis, positive news has been scarce. However, as correspondent Anderson Cooper discovers, innovative technology now in an early clinical trial is allowing participants to stand up and walk or move their arms – by thinking about it. Cooper reports from the NeuroRestore research lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he meets the team leading this groundbreaking research and hears the stories of patients enrolled in the trial. Jamie Lee Curtis has been making movies for almost 50 years. Not surprising for a child born into Hollywood royalty. But to hear her tell it, leaving school as a teenager, only to graduate into an A-list movie star before she was 30, was never the plan. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi talks with Curtis in Los Angeles about her long career in tinsel town and about her recent wave of award-winning performances that came to her in her 60’s. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • 05/04/2025: The Rule of Law and Freezing the Biological Clock

    05/04/2025: The Rule of Law and Freezing the Biological Clock
    May 5 2025
    On the campaign trail, President Trump vowed to wield the power of the presidency to go after his perceived enemies. Now in the White House, Trump is using Executive Orders to target some of the biggest law firms in the country that he accuses of “weaponizing” the justice system against him. Correspondent Scott Pelley reports on the law firms picked out by the President and the different ways they’re responding to White House pressure. Fertility rates in the United States are currently near historic lows, largely because fewer women are having children in their 20s. As women delay starting families, many are opting for egg freezing, the process of retrieving and freezing unfertilized eggs, to preserve their fertility for the future. Does egg freezing provide women with a way to pause their biological clock? Correspondent Lesley Stahl interviews women who have decided to freeze their eggs and explores what the process entails physically, emotionally, and financially. She also speaks with fertility specialists and an ethicist about success rates, equity issues, and the increasing market potential of egg freezing. This is a double-length segment. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins