CNN One Thing

FEMA Is in Tatters. Here Comes Hurricane Season. 03.06.2026 28min

Early on in his second term, President Donald Trump called for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eliminated. Now, the White House appears to be cleaning up the mess left behind at the agency by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who sources say fostered a culture of fear, distrust, and operational chaos (an official who claims he teleported to a Waffle House also made an appearance). But with Atlantic hurricane season upon us, will FEMA be ready to answer the call after the next big disaster? For more: Exclusive: Power struggles and paralysis: Inside FEMA’s lost year as storm season approaches --- Guest: Gabe Cohen, CNN Correspondent Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Al Drago/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why Erin Brockovich is Setting Her Sights on AI Data Centers 31.05.2026 28min

Erin Brockovich rose to fame after the release of a 2000 Hollywood movie, starring Julia Roberts, which told the story of her real-life fight to bring justice to a small town affected by a utility company’s pollution. Now, she is lending her voice to the growing opposition to AI data centers, which tech companies say are needed to fuel economic growth and national security. But who is the true villain in this story? For more: Why Utah residents are protesting a massive AI data center project backed by Kevin O’Leary --- Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Alan Freed/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The World Cup Spoiler No One Wants: Ebola 27.05.2026 21min

FIFA expects more than 6 million soccer fans will descend on North America in less than 3 weeks for the 2026 World Cup. But amid cuts to public health programs under the Trump administration, will Ebola, hantavirus or measles join the crowds? We hear from an infectious disease specialist leading a new initiative that will track public health threats during the tournament. For more: Exclusive: Trump admin shutting key US researchers out of global virus response talks, documents and sources reveal --- Guest: Rebecca Katz, Director of Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science & Security Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Deidre McPhillips Photo By: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why Comedians Say Colbert’s Exit is No Joke 24.05.2026 22min

Stephen Colbert signed off from the “Late Show” for the final time Thursday after CBS ended the iconic late night franchise. While many believe his criticism of President Donald Trump played a factor, the network insists it was purely a financial decision. But can political comedy and media consolidation coexist? And how will pressure from Trump’s FCC influence broadcasters going forward? A working comedian weighs in. For more: watch ‘The Last Laugh: Stephen Colbert’ --- Guest: Michael Ian Black, “Have I Got News for You” team captain Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Support: Sophie Tran Photo By: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A School Shooting’s Long Shadow 17.05.2026 33min

After a gunman killed two children and injured 27 others at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis at the start of the school year, parents, teachers, and students have been left to pick up the pieces. It is a process that might feel familiar to countless other communities who have encountered school shootings, but what does it look like for these families? How do you live the rest of your life after everything changes? CNN went to Minneapolis to find out. For more: The shooting finally stopped. Then came everything else. --- Guest: Michelle Krupa, CNN Editor Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Emily Smith Photo: Liam James Doyle for CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does Trump Need China to End the War with Iran? 13.05.2026 23min

From tariffs to tough talk, President Donald Trump has long positioned himself on being tougher on China than any US president. Now, he heads to Beijing for a high-stakes state visit needing their help on a massive political problem: the war with Iran. We look at how both sides might navigate this moment and how Trump's pressure campaign may have helped China prepare for this moment of global instability. For more: The shadowy network of Chinese oil refineries funding Iran --- Guest: Simone McCarthy, CNN Senior China Reporter Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What the Redistricting ‘Race to the Bottom’ Actually Looks Like 10.05.2026 23min

At the urging of President Donald Trump, multiple Republican-led states in the South have move quickly to redraw congressional maps in the wake of the Supreme Court decision last month that critics say will significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In Louisiana, the Black congressman who represents the district at the heart of that Supreme Court case says Democrats can't stand by and need to act. So what happens now? And with the midterms less than six months away, how could it impact voters across the country? For more: How the Republicans pulling ahead in the redistricting war affects the midterms --- Guest: Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA) Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Ethan Cohen Photo by: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remembering Ted Turner 06.05.2026 13min

In this special episode of CNN One Thing, we look back on the life and legacy of CNN founder and media pioneer Ted Turner. Photo: CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Missing Scientists, Assassination Attempts, & Conspiracy Theories Under Trump 2.0 06.05.2026 26min

President Donald Trump has amplified (and been the subject of) many conspiracy theories during his time as a public figure. Online speculation, without evidence, that recent assassination attempts against him in Butler, Pennsylvania and the White House Correspondent’s dinner were staged have only grown in recent weeks. But the conversation around the death and disappearance of multiple top government scientists is perhaps the most curious item to grab Trump’s attention – in part because of the path it took to get to his desk. We look at how the story reached the White House and why conspiracy theories continue to fester in the age of Trump. For more: How a speculative story about dead and missing scientists went from the fringe to the White House --- Guest: T.M. Brown, CNN Senior Reporter Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ICE Wants to Be NICE. Will Americans Buy It? 03.05.2026 23min

After the killings of two American citizens in Minneapolis and the firing of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation is attempting a bit of a reset. From calling ICE agents “NICE” agents on social media to reducing visible presence on the streets, it’s clear new Secretary Markwayne Mullin wants federal agents out of the spotlight. But are the goals of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation push any different? Plus, we hear from someone caught in the middle of the administration’s crackdown on legal immigration. For more: Exclusive: Trump moves to accelerate deportations of migrant children in US custody --- Guest: Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Correspondent Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ‘Special Relationship’ Is Strained. King Charles to the Rescue? 29.04.2026 20min

King Charles is in the midst of a four-day state visit to the US to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. The visit comes at a time when US-UK relations are notably strained, thanks to the war with Iran and calls for greater Jeffrey Epstein-related accountability. But President Donald Trump is usually receptive to royalty – so will this trip help mend fences, or give European allies more to worry about? For more: Epstein scandal lingers in background of King Charles’ visit to Washington --- Guest: Jack Blanchard, POLITICO Playbook Author/Managing Editor Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Henry Nichols/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Musk vs. Altman & The Battle for The Soul of AI 26.04.2026 21min

Tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman are set to face off in court this week in a case centered on OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model. Musk alleges Altman and his company have strayed from their founding mission to develop artificial intelligence for the good of humanity rather than corporate profit (OpenAI denies the allegations). But is this just petty billionaire beef, or could it tell us something about our own AI futures? --- Guest: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Carlos Barria/Kenny Holston/Pool/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump’s Psychedelic Order: Breakthrough...or Bad Trip? 22.04.2026 22min

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday aimed at beefing up research of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine that could be used in mental health treatments. Some veterans and people who have struggled with addiction who have used ibogaine say this could be a breakthrough that could lead to wider access, but some medical experts are warning approvals shouldn’t be rushed. We hear why a leading advocate group says while it’s a good start – much more has to be done. For more: Trump accelerates research on psychedelic treatments and asks, ‘Can I have some?’ --- Guests: Samantha Juan & Melissa Lavasani, Psychedelic Medicine Coalition Founder/CEO Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Katherine Dillinger Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Former NASA Scientist Turns Anger Into Action 19.04.2026 23min

Roughly 95,000 employees left federal science agencies between September 2024 and December 2025, according to the Partnership for Public Service. Former NASA climate scientist Kate Marvel recently joined that group, citing the administration’s funding cuts and attacks on climate and environmental regulations in her resignation letter. However, she remains hopeful about the future of the study of climate change – if her fellow scientists are willing to get angry about it. For more: Trump admin is pulling supercomputers out of key weather and climate research center --- Guest: Kate Marvel, former NASA climate scientist Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Andrew Freedman Photo: Reid Wiseman/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vance Gets His Time in the Spotlight. Did He Drop the Ball? 15.04.2026 19min

Last week, US Vice President JD Vance was dispatched abroad for a pair of high-profile assignments. But after stumping for Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister suffered a huge election loss and marathon talks Vance led to end the war with Iran wrapped up without a deal. So what does this say about the political power of the MAGA movement’s heir apparent? And how does someone shaped by Catholicism feel about President Donald Trump’s beef with the Pope? For more: How Vance is navigating peace talks with Iran — and his own political future --- Guest: Alayna Treene, CNN White House Correspondent Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside Trump’s Fight for Your Voter Data 12.04.2026 28min

The Trump administration’s effort to build a national citizen database is running into roadblocks in court and alarming some election officials on both sides of the aisle. But what is this data for? And how could it be used? We hear from one election official about why he’s pushing back, and look at how election integrity concerns are playing out in other parts of the country. For more: Trump is trying to build a massive voter database. Election officials are afraid of what he’ll do with it --- Guests: David Yates, Jefferson County (KY) Clerk & Tierney Sneed, CNN Reporter Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Carlos Osorio/Reuters/File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s Behind Hegseth’s Latest Pentagon Shakeup? 08.04.2026 23min

The firing of the US Army chief of staff and two other generals is just the latest personnel shakeup under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But why do this during wartime? We examine whether disagreements between Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll are behind the move, and how Hegseth’s ongoing fixation on so-called “culture wars” and loyalty could impact service members. For more: Trump and Hegseth on Iran war: ‘God is good’ --- Guest: Haley Britzky, CNN National Security Reporter Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘This Lost a Lot of People’: RFK Jr.’s Broken Pesticide Promise 05.04.2026 24min

Amid a stalled Surgeon General nomination, a federal court ruling striking down vaccine overhauls (at least for now), and anger from ‘Make America Healthy Again’ activists, some are wondering whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lost his grip on the movement that helped propel President Donald Trump back to the White House. We hear from one activist outraged by an executive order about weedkiller who says some voters “will not be coming back.” Plus, what’s going on with all the whole milk hype videos? For more: How RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda keeps hitting roadblocks --- Guests: Kelly Ryerson, ‘Glyphosate Girl’ & Sarah Owermohle, CNN Health Policy Reporter Host/Producer: David Rind Senior Producer: Matt Martinez Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can NASA Make Americans Look to The Stars Again? 01.04.2026 23min

A crew of four astronauts are preparing for a historic mission that will take them around the far side of the moon and back, the furthest human space travel in more than 50 years. Like any space mission, the run-up has been filled with delays and safety concerns, but experts say this mission is a key part of an ambitious plan from the Trump administration to establish a lunar colony and eventually visit Mars. But is any of this feasible? And can Americans still be inspired like they were during the Space Race of the 1960s? For more: Why haven’t humans been back to the moon in over 50 years? --- Guest: Pam Melroy, former astronaut & NASA Deputy Administrator Host/Producer: David Rind Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Sam Lott/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is This Social Media's Big Tobacco Moment? 29.03.2026 25min

A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable on all counts in a case that accused the tech giants of intentionally addicting a young woman and injuring her mental health. Experts say the landmark decision could open the door to a flood of other litigation that could reshape how these companies operate. But will anything actually change? We also hear from one of the hundreds of other plaintiffs suing social media companies who are hoping this verdict bodes well for them. Note: this episode contains discussions of eating disorders. For more: Listen to CNN’s “Terms of Service” podcast --- Guest: Caroline Koziol & Clare Duffy, CNN Tech Reporter Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices