The Assignment with Audie Cornish

It’s a very special New Year episode for The Assignment: a conversation with Emmy-winning comedian and writer Samantha Bee about the state of politics and how she’s engaging with the political moment. Bee is known for her time as a correspondent on The Daily Show and her own late-night show, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. She is now the host of the podcast Choice Words.  Audie invites back her podcast friends for this conversation: Kara Swisher, host of On with Kara Swisher and co-host of Pivot, and Van Lathan, co-host of The Ringer’s Higher Learning podcast. They also share their “Word of the Year” for 2024, and give a predictive word for 2025.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Jan 52min

The cost of your clothes could go up if Donald Trump implements promised tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. Audie talks with Christina Binkley, editor-at-large for Vogue Business, about the possibility of costlier clothes, whether we should adjust our holiday shopping lists, and what it means for 2025 fashion trends.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Dec 202429min

The killing of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson, and the arrest of his alleged killer, has been met with online memes, TikTok songs, and even celebration. So how does the response to this brazen murder reflect a wider cultural phenomenon? Audie talks with journalist Samantha Cole, the co-founder of 404 Media, to understand how the reaction to the killing is echoing both on and offline.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12 Dec 202421min

Senator-elect Andy Kim’s rise in politics has been anything but conventional. In 2020, he was one of seven Democratic congressmen who won a district also won by Donald Trump. In 2024, he took on the New Jersey political machine after Senator Bob Menendez was convicted of federal corruption charges. He sits down with Audie to talk about his political journey, how Democrats can earn back voters’ trust, and what winning in the Trump era has taught him about humility and authenticity.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Dec 202430min

Anthony Scaramucci is synonymous with the rough and tumble world of an incoming Trump Administration, and the perfect person to talk with about what it’s like to be in Donald Trump’s orbit. This episode is a bit of an experiment with a couple of fellow podcasters. Audie is joined by Kara Swisher, the co-host of Pivot and On with Kara Swisher, and Van Lathan, the co-host of Higher Learning. They talk with Scaramucci about Trump world, why he took the White House Director of Communications job in Trump’s first term, and his thoughts on Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Dec 202434min

New technologies like artificial intelligence, facial recognition and social media algorithms are changing our world so fast it can be hard to keep up. That’s why The Assignment is excited to bring you CNN’s new podcast, “Terms of Service with Clare Duffy.” Audie sits down with Clare to talk about how she hopes her pod can move past the hyper-optimism and fearmongering that often dominates tech coverage. Instead, she wants to empower listeners with a deeper understanding of how these technologies shape our lives.  In this episode we’ve selected for you, Clare explores the impact of a new generation of kids growing up with their childhoods posted online for the world to see – and what parents can do about it.  Follow Terms of Service, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 Nov 202431min

Would you prefer to feel morally righteous, or to win? Audie talks with Adam Jentleson, who wants all Democrats to consider that question and adjust their tactics accordingly. He’s worked for U.S. Senators Harry Reid and John Fetterman, and in a recent New York Times op-ed, Jentleson prescribes his party a heavy dose of skepticism toward “the groups” on its left flank and a focus on making progress for all working people instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

21 Nov 202427min

Lifelong Republicans who passionately resisted Trump are now grappling with how to move forward. Audie talks with political strategist and publisher of The Bulwark, Sarah Longwell, about the future of the 'Never Trump' movement and how politics may evolve in the years ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Nov 202430min