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.
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Early Saturday morning, US forces struck targets in Caracas and abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to face new drugs and weapons charges in New York. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the US is “going to run” Venezuela in the aftermath of the brazen operation. We break down what this seismic moment could mean for US troops and the people of Venezuela.
For more: Trump’s snatching of Maduro shows a new level of unrestrained global power
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Guests: Mary Triny Mena, freelance journalist & Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent
Host/Producer: David Rind
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Caroline Paterson
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If you binge-watched “The Diplomat” or “Death by Lightning” this year, you’re not alone. These politics-centric dramas have united audiences at a time when real-life politics can feel toxic and fractured. Why is this genre so resilient? And could Washington, DC itself become a new home for Hollywood storytelling? We hear from someone who is banking on it.
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Guest: David Beaubaire, Founder & CEO, Sunset Lane Media
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Liam Reilly
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President Donald Trump’s second term has been norm-busting and extraordinarily consequential, but cracks are starting to form in Trump’s base. As 2025 comes to a close, we take stock of whether his political pull is reaching its limit and how discontent with his policies could shape the midterms.
For more: Americans have a new thing to worry about: A stuck job market with no quick fix
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Guest: Aaron Blake, CNN Senior Reporter
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
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The killing of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner has shocked Hollywood and movie fans alike. What made his films timeless? And what does his political activism say about our current moment? We hear why his first major role provided the blueprint for the rest of his career – and his life.
For more: Trump’s reaction to Reiner’s murder is indefensible — but America has been here before
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Guest: Alan Sepinwall, TV critic, “What’s Alan Watching”
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that blocks states from enforcing their own regulations around artificial intelligence, arguing that a “single national framework” will help boost innovation. However, some GOP-controlled state legislatures are pushing back, arguing it infringes on states' rights. We explore what’s driving this wedge and how it could impact the 2026 midterms.
For more: Pro-AI super PAC launches first candidate ads
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Guests: Utah state Sen. Heidi Balderree (R) & Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
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Netflix has a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s (CNN’s parent company) Hollywood assets. Paramount thinks they have a better offer for the entire business and is hoping to have President Donald Trump in its corner as it launches a hostile takeover bid. But what does this corporate clash mean for your streaming bill? Or your local movie theater? We hear from an antitrust lawyer who believes that no matter who wins, the average consumer is set to lose.
For more: Battle of the Davids: The future of Hollywood is playing out before our eyes
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Guest: Alvaro Bedoya, former FTC commissioner
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: David Goodman
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Green card holders. Refugees. Asylum seekers. Even naturalized citizens. Fear and confusion are gripping immigrants of all stripes across the country as President Donald Trump expands his restrictions on legal immigration in the wake of the National Guard shooting in Washington, DC. Is this about public safety, or something else? And could Trump’s xenophobic “garbage” comments about Somalis encourage more hateful rhetoric? We hear why the recent moves could jam up a system that’s already plenty clogged.
For more: How Trump is intensifying his crackdown on every form of immigration to the US
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Guests: Elissa J. Taub, immigration lawyer & Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Correspondent
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Rob Kuznia
Episode art: Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/AFP/Getty Images
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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for investigations into reports that the Trump administration carried out second strike killing survivors on a suspected drug boat off the coast of Venezuela that had already been attacked. While the administration continues to insist it is operating legally, experts are raising concerns about what will happen if it starts ground operations amid a pressure campaign against Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. We hear how average Venezuelans are reacting, and then David talks to a former military lawyer who says the campaign against alleged drug boats is degrading the long-term effectiveness of the military.
For more: Trump is threatening to attack a country with more oil than Iraq
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Guests: Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Contributor & Michael Schmitt, Professor of International Law at the University of Reading
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Caroline Paterson
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The eyes of the international soccer world will be on North America next summer when the FIFA World Cup comes to the US, Mexico and Canada. President Donald Trump has been intimately involved with the planning – going so far as to threaten to move games from cities that don’t cooperate with his policies. Ahead of the tournament draw, we examine what’s behind Trump’s fascination with the tournament and whether international fans will want to come amid stories of detention and deportation.
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Guest: Don Riddell, CNN World Sport Anchor and Correspondent
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Kyle Feldscher, Jennifer Bernstein
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If the thought of holiday shopping stresses you out, you’re not alone. Some of America’s top retailers also aren’t sure how to navigate economic pressures like tariffs that are taking a bite out of consumer confidence. We hear how Macy’s, Old Navy, and Walmart are adjusting ahead of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and beyond - and whether President Donald Trump has an answer to Americans’ affordability concerns.
For more:One of America's last department stores is betting on in-store shopping this holiday
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Guests: Tori Lightcap & Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Business & Politics Correspondent
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Kate Trafecante, Allison Cho, Jeremy Moorehead
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