CNN One Thing

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Starting August 2, 2026 all new episodes can be found over in the ⁠CNN 5 Things feed.⁠ Search "CNN 5 Things" wherever you get your podcasts.

You’ve been overwhelmed with headlines all week – what's worth a closer look? One Thing takes you beyond the headlines and helps make sense of what everyone is talking about. Host David Rind talks to experts, reporters on the front lines and the real people impacted by the news about what they've learned – and why it matters.

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369 episodes
Updated Sunday

Episodes369

Newest first

Oct 19, 2025 · 19 min
Cartels, The CIA, and Trump’s True Intentions in Venezuela
President Donald Trump publicly admitted he has authorized he authorized the CIA to operate inside Venezuela to crack down on flows of illegal drugs and migrants to the US. It comes as Trump continues to authorize deadly strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean. But is this really about drugs – or regime change? Guests: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent & Steven Dudley, co-director, InSight Crime --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Dan Bloom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 15, 2025 · 19 min
Trump Wants a Peace Prize. Is a Gaza Ceasefire Enough?
President Donald Trump hailed the “historic dawn of a new Middle East” after Hamas freed all living hostages from Gaza and Israel released Palestinian prisoners as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal. But while many have commended his peace efforts, critics say it’s unlikely he will take the same approach with his domestic moves. We break down what might be coming next and whether he has a chance at winning the Nobel Peace Prize next year. Guest: Stephen Collinson, CNN Politics Senior Reporter --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 12, 2025 · 20 min
How the AI Boom Is Costing You More at Home
As the appetite for artificial intelligence rises, so does the need for power-hungry data centers. While residents who live near them complain of the noise and pollution, data suggests they could spike utility bills far and wide. We hear from an electricity law expert on why regulators are thinking of reforms – but will it be too late? Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Ari Peksoe, Director, Harvard Law School Electricity Law Initiative --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 8, 2025 · 21 min
What’s Really Going on with Protests in Chicago?
President Donald Trump’s move to deploy National Guard troops to Portland and Chicago has been met with outrage from locals and pushback from judges. We hear what’s really happening on the ground in Chicago and why community leaders say the ingredients for dangerous escalation are already in place. Guests: Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf, Senior Minister, Lake Street Church of Evanston & Omar Jimenez, CNN Anchor & Correspondent --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Whitney Wild Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 5, 2025 · 21 min
Bad Bunny Is Everywhere. Not Everyone Is Happy About It.
The announcement that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February has angered some right-wing voices due to his LGTBQ advocacy and criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. It comes amid another SNL appearance and an upcoming world tour that will skip the continental US. We explore why he is so beloved in Puerto Rico and how the NFL is banking on his star power as it looks to grow. Guest: Vanessa Diaz, Professor of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Loyola Marymount University --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Sofía Hanalei Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 1, 2025 · 19 min
At Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon, Looking Tough Is the Mission
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth summoned US generals and admirals from around the world for an extraordinary meeting in Virginia on Tuesday, where he railed against ‘woke’ policies and stressed the need for stricter physical fitness standards. But what kind of ‘warriors’ does he actually want in uniform? Guest: Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, US Army (Ret.) --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 28, 2025 · 19 min
How Trump’s Immigration Agenda Could Spark a US Brain Drain
The Trump administration’s surprise announcement that it will boost H-1B visa application fees to $100,000 has caused widespread fear and confusion among foreign workers. The proposed changes are also sparking concerns for American businesses that won’t be able to foot the bill. Is American innovation at risk? Guest: Aizada Marat, Alma CEO --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 24, 2025 · 24 min
Are You a Bad Mom for Taking Tylenol?
Major medical groups are speaking out against claims made by President Donald Trump linking Tylenol use to autism. So where should pregnant people and parents of autistic children turn for guidance? We hear why a search for answers could lead vulnerable parents to blame themselves. Guests: Meg Tirrell, CNN Medical Correspondent & Shannon Rosa, senior editor of Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 21, 2025 · 23 min
Disney Caves to Trump’s FCC. What Does it Mean for the Rest of Us?
Disney’s decision to yank ABC host Jimmy Kimmel off the air following FCC pressure has outraged fans, performers and Democratic politicians. Will other prominent anti-Trump voices be next? We hear from someone who used to be in charge of the FCC who says the regulator is going overboard. Guest: Tom Wheeler, former FCC Chairman --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 17, 2025 · 19 min
Is Kash Patel’s Bro-Coded FBI Dropping the Ball?
In the days since the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel has been scrutinized for a series of missteps some believe hindered the investigation. However, experts say a series of other shakeups at the agency could have an even greater impact on US law enforcement going forward. Will President Trump stick with him? Guest: Evan Perez, CNN Senior Justice Correspondent --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 14, 2025 · 19 min
Charlie Kirk Was Killed. Now What?
The apparent assassination of Charlie Kirk has both sides of the aisle calling on Americans to ‘lower the temperature’ of political rhetoric. But we’ve been here before – is there actually any chance that happens? We hear why Kirk was so effective in motivating young conservatives and look at what could happen next. Guest: Alex Stone & Lilliana Mason, SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins Professor of Political Science --- Host: David Rind Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Donie O’Sullivan & Sean Clark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 10, 2025 · 21 min
Can Mass Deportations and ‘Made in America’ Coexist?
A massive immigration enforcement operation at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in Georgia is being described as one of the most extensive immigration raids in recent US history. But the incident has ensnared South Korea, a key US ally, which is learning a lesson that doing business with the Trump administration is much more complicated than expanding investment. Guests: Charles Kuck, founding partner at Kuck Baxter Immigration & Allison Morrow, CNN Business Senior Writer --- Host: David Rind Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 7, 2025 · 18 min
Deployed and Dejected: The National Guard in DC
As President Donald Trump threatens to send National Guard troops into other cities to fight crime, troops from at least six GOP-led states continue to patrol Washington, DC. We hear why the unorthodox mission is weighing on some guard members and their families back home. Guest: Isabelle Khurshudyan, CNN Senior Enterprise Reporter/Writer --- Host: David Rind Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 3, 2025 · 20 min
Can You Trust the CDC?
What’s next for the CDC after its director was fired? Have politics fully infiltrated public health? And where should Americans turn for reliable health guidance? We turn to someone who used to run the agency for answers. Guest: Dr. Richard Besser, former acting CDC director Have something you think we should know? Call us at 202-240-2895. --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Jamie Gumbrecht Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 31, 2025 · 22 min
Devastated by Katrina, Rescued by Music
20 years after the levees broke, New Orleans continues to feel the impacts from Hurricane Katrina. We hear from three generations of Katrina survivors about how music has helped the city recover and move forward. Guests: Michael White, Keith Frazier, Jaron “Bear” Williams --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 27, 2025 · 20 min
Why Trump’s Attempt to Reshape the Fed Could Backfire
President Donald Trump continues to insist that his aggressive tariff policies will not raise prices for consumers. But little by little, customers are starting to see the opposite. We hear about the phenomenon called ‘sneakflation’ (and why it may not actually be so sneaky) and how Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook could impact the entire economy. Guest: Justin Wolfers, University of Michigan Professor of Public Policy and Economics --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 24, 2025 · 20 min
Might at the Museum: Trump Targets the Smithsonian
Critics say President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Smithsonian museum system amount to an attempt to whitewash American history. A historian tells us why the administration's claims about ‘overemphasizing’ slavery do a disservice to all Americans. Guest: Leah Wright Rigueur, political historian & associate professor, Johns Hopkins University --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Support: Piper Hudspeth Blackburn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 20, 2025 · 21 min
He Used to Lead ICE. He Doesn’t Love What He’s Seeing.
Recent incidents involving aggressive ICE tactics have outraged critics of President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda. We hear from a former ICE official about whether its reputation as a lawless agency is warranted – and what it could mean for future recruiting efforts. Guest: John Sandweg, former acting ICE director Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895. Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 17, 2025 · 19 min
What Trump’s DC Takeover is Really About
As President Donald Trump’s takeover of Washington, DC law enforcement continues, some critics are questioning just how much safer it will make the streets – and whether the tactics will soon be replicated in other cities. We hear from an expert who believes there may be other motivations behind Trump’s unprecedented actions in the capital. Guest: Trevor Gardner, Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895. Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 13, 2025 · 19 min
Will a Trump Meeting Help Putin Take More of Ukraine?
President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska for a high-stakes meeting about the war in Ukraine. But will the country Russia invaded have any say into how it ends? A Russia expert explains how Putin’s time in the KGB has prepared him for this moment and why he will likely consider the meeting a success before it even begins. Guest: Jill Dougherty, former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895. Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Support: Emily Williams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices