Stay ConnectedStarting 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.
Copyright: © 2023 CNN
Millions of eyes will be on the sky Monday when the last total solar eclipse in the contiguous United States until 2044 arrives. Tourists from all over the country are flocking to the path of totality in hopes of getting the clearest view, but it remains to be seen if the weather will cooperate. In this episode, we answer some common questions about the event and examine whether space phenomena can unite Americans like it did decades ago.
Guest: Kristin Fisher, CNN Space & Defense Correspondent
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After the Tennessee legislature expelled state representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson for protesting inaction on gun violence last year, more people became aware of how the state’s Republican supermajority operates. However, there are Republicans and Democrats who say the current way of doing business is making it hard to get any kind of legislation passed. In this episode, we hear from grassroots lawmakers about how the gridlock is impacting their constituents and what it can tell us about our national politics ahead of the election in November.
Guest: Van Jones, CNN Political Commentator
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The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments this week in a case that could restrict access to a widely used abortion pill - even in states where the procedure is still allowed. It is another major moment in the battle over reproductive rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and a controversial ruling in Alabama which cast doubt on the future of IVF treatment. In this episode, we hear what the justices will be considering and look at how the current state of abortion access is impacting women in Republican states.
Guests: Meg Tirrell, CNN Medical Correspondent
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Earlier this week, Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry announced he would resign amid spreading gang violence and instability. The United Nations estimates that gangs control nearly 80% of Haiti’s capital, brutalizing civilians and attacking police. Meanwhile, a Kenyan-led force is set to take over security on the island once a presidential council is in place, but there are major questions about how effective it will be. In this episode, a CNN team describes what they heard from residents about the terrors they’ve faced and what they want for the future.
Guests: David Culver, CNN Senior National Correspondent & Caitlin Hu, CNN Senior Editor
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Despite efforts from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to increase diversity, many groups still feel more could be done. In January, hundreds of Hollywood figures urged the Academy to include Jews in its representation and inclusion standards, saying the omission “erases Jewish peoplehood and perpetuates myths of Jewish whiteness.” In this episode, we examine the history of antisemitism in Hollywood and whether diversity initiatives are making a meaningful impact beyond the Oscars.
Guest: Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Entertainment Correspondent
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As opioid overdose deaths continue at a near-record pace, many cities are seeing the problem play out on public streets. In Oregon, state leaders recently teamed up to declare a 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland which will direct resources to help combat the fentanyl crisis. In this episode, we examine why fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have become such a danger to drug users, and whether Portland’s approach can be a model for other cities across the country.
Guest: Josh Campbell, CNN Correspondent
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In the two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, thousands of soldiers on both sides have been killed and multiple cities have been destroyed. Recently, Ukraine has been forced to retreat from the city of Avdiivka amid dwindling ammunition supplies. Meanwhile, Western unity has started to show cracks and billions of dollars in US aid have been held up amid hesitation from congressional Republicans. In this episode, we hear from soldiers on the frontlines about what it’s like to fight with a lack of ammo and how two years of war have changed the country.
Guest: Ivana Kottasová, CNN International Senior Producer
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In the aftermath of special counsel Robert Hur’s report stating that President Joe Biden would present to a jury as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” age and mental competency are once again being talked about on the campaign trail. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has continually attacked Biden and former President Donald Trump over their age, while also proposing politicians over age 75 take a mental competency test. In this episode, we examine how older voters in South Carolina feel about age as a campaign issue ahead of the state’s Republican primary.
Guest: Kylie Atwood, CNN Correspondent
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Despite blockbuster jobs numbers, robust consumer spending, and easing inflation, many Americans do not feel good about the US economy. The negative feelings are especially strong amongst young people struggling to pay their bills. Meanwhile, many are finding it hard – if not impossible – to imagine they will ever own a home. In this episode, we examine how Gen Z is turning to TikTok for financial advice and whether these negative feelings could impact President Joe Biden’s reelection chances.
Guest: Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Business and Politics Correspondent
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In December, the Colorado Supreme Court shocked the political world when it removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist clause.” The US Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case this week following a fast-tracked appeals process. In this episode, we examine the untested legal theory, Trump’s defense, and how the justices’ decision could reverberate well beyond this year’s election.
Guest: Joan Biskupic, CNN Senior Supreme Court Analyst
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