From her perch as “token conservative” on The View to viral posts on Instagram, Meghan McCain has long been a favorite lightning rod for liberals and conservatives alike. The daughter of legendary war hero and Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, her last name has been derided by some on the MAGA right who believe a “McCain Republican” is the equivalent of a RINO. But as a staunch conservative, she has no place on the left either. It’s not necessarily an enviable vantage point, but it is a...

Jen Psaki knows a thing or two about politics. The former Obama communications director and Biden press secretary has spent nearly 20 years in politics–now she’s breaking down what happened in the 2024 election and what she thinks the next Trump administration could look like. Katie and Jen talk about how the media ecosystem impacted the election results, what can be done at the state level to protect against some of Trump’s policies, and the future of the Democratic party. Their conversation...

The 2024 presidential race has finally come to a close, but the conversation and questions about how things unfolded have just begun. For this election debrief, Katie is joined by Democratic consultant and friend of the pod Brian Goldsmith to examine the surprising dynamics of Trump’s 2024 victory, including the conventional-wisdom-smashing voter coalition that delivered him a second term. With the Democratic Party now facing tough questions about its future, Goldsmith explores what Harris’s...

In this sobering conversation, Katie Couric sits down with comedian Samantha Bee and political commentator Van Jones to unpack the turbulence surrounding the final days of the 2024 Presidential election. From campaign strategies to media responsibility, they explore how humor, outrage, and disinformation shape the home stretch.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this one-on-one conversation with Katie, Gwen Walz opens up about bringing storytelling, shared values, and listening back to political conversations. Drawing on her background as a teacher, she reflects on confronting Trump’s bullying and explains how empathy and authenticity shape her vision for the campaign and her connections with voters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Next Question, Katie is joined by Astead Herndon of The New York Times and Charlamagne tha God from The Breakfast Club for a pulse check on the polls, the rationale behind Kamala Harris’s campaign strategy, the struggles Democrats face to engage young Black voters, and the risks of relying on anti-Trump sentiment to win. We are down to the wire–buckle up for the final two weeks of the race! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Next Question explores how internet culture, and platforms like TikTok, X, and Instagram have transformed voters’ perception of the candidates, and the way candidates interact with voters. Joining Katie is pop culture expert Evan Ross Katz and political analyst Molly Jong-Fast. Together, they’ll discuss how memes and online trends are shaping the 2024 election, if viral posts are swaying voters, and why traditional outlets (and their fact checking and gatekeepers) are...

Jessica Valenti has been one of the leading voices on abortion rights in America, and this week Katie and her plus one Cindi Leive, CEO of The Meteor, sit down with her to talk about the reality of a post-Roe America. Katie and Cindi ask Jessica about abortion’s place at the top of the voters’ agendas this year, what’s happening in states with strict abortion bans, and how the anti-abortion movement is operating in unexpected ways.   You can buy Jessica's Book - Abortion: Our Bodies, Their...

In this special live recording of Next Question in New York City at the Paley Center for Media, Katie Couric enters her "Comfort Zone" for a powerful conversation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in partnership with comfort footwear brand, Easy Spirit! Katie shares her personal experience as a breast cancer survivor alongside the surgeon who treated her, renowned breast cancer researcher Dr. Lisa Newman. They are joined by Sharon Joseph, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, who...

Katie Couric is back with a supercharged new season of Next Question, kicking off with her Plus-One, journalist Liz Plank, and guest, New York Times journalist and political analyst Ezra Klein. As we approach the home stretch of the campaigns, the three discuss the divide between male and female voters, the lasting impact of Roe’s reversal, the VP picks, and why Katie thinks the candidates should be taking more risks.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The election is in the homestretch right in time for a new season of Next Question with Katie Couric, starting October 3rd.    This season is for people who need a little perspective and insight–and maybe an occasional sedative. We’re bringing in some FOKs (friends of Katie's) to help out. We'll have some of the best minds in the business, like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, and Astead Herndon.   But we're also going to have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like...

In this second half of this special episode of Next Question, Katie sits down with Hillary Clinton for an intimate conversation recorded live at DAR Constitution Hall. In this candid and wide-ranging chat, Clinton pulls back the curtain on the current political scene, sharing sharp insights on President Biden’s decision to step aside, Kamala Harris' campaign so far, and the seemingly unshakeable presence of Donald Trump. And for the record, yes, Hillary’s a Swiftie—deal with it.    They...

In this special episode of Next Question, Katie sits down with Hillary Clinton for an intimate conversation recorded live at DAR Constitution Hall. In this candid and wide-ranging chat, Clinton pulls back the curtain on the current political scene, sharing sharp insights on President Biden’s decision to step aside, Kamala Harris' campaign so far, and the seemingly unshakeable presence of Donald Trump. And for the record, yes, Hillary’s a Swiftie—deal with it.    They also discuss Clinton's...

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   Twenty-four years ago, Katie Couric aired her first colonoscopy on the ‘Today Show.' It was an up-close and personal experience that helped demystify a still-taboo health procedure.    A study would later find that colonoscopies increased by 20 percent as a result of Katie airing her personal business on national television. It was called...

Katie (a total Deborah) is joined by KCM producer Adriana Fazio (Katie’s Ava) to chat with the creative team behind the acclaimed show "Hacks"—Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs. The trio opens up about how their own path to comedy writing, including their love for classic TV like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and time spent waiting tables, inspired the characters of Deborah and Ava. From casting newcomer, Hanna Einbinder, opposite national treasure, Jean Smart, to the process of...

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a neuroscientist and in addition to his on-air work and a daily podcast (Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction), Sanjay also found the time to write a book called “Keep Sharp: Building a Better Brain at Any Age,” which is out now. On this episode, Katie and Sanjay talk about how to keep the brain healthy with tips you can use right...

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   On this episode, Katie explores the subject of happiness. Because as a culture, we seem to be obsessed with achieving it. Just look to higher ed. Some of the most elite universities tout courses on happiness — the science of it, the value of it, the history and future of it. But the search for happiness has also seeped into our regular podcast...

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   There have been some scary headlines going around about the climbing rates of alcohol use, particularly among women, during the pandemic. One study found that heavy drinking among women increased 41 percent! What’s behind these numbers and how do women find the help they need? On this episode, Katie Couric, Katie invites her friend and award...

Katie sits down with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for this special Next Question bonus episode. It’s an intimate, urgent conversation that leaves no issue off the table – from her thoughts on President Biden’s decision to end his campaign and what she believes Vice President Kamala Harris must do to win in November to the increasingly bitter divisions that threaten our democracy and the devastating rise in political violence that has affected her on a deeply personal level, they cover...

Katie Couric joins Alyssa Mastromonaco on her podcast Hysteria for a chat about Kamala Harris fundraising (featuring white people on Zoom calls), the Veepstakes, and calling MAGA Republicans like JD Vance “weird.”  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is presented by Midi Health, a virtual care clinic dedicated to providing expert menopause and perimenopause care to women in midlife.   For so many women, menopause is a mystery. Its symptoms can be wide-ranging and last for years, and information about treatments can be confusing - where it exists at all. To make things even more challenging, healthcare providers are often less-than-helpful when it comes to finding solutions.  Our guests today are here to help: New York Times...

Already missing Next Question in your podcast lineup? Good news: There’s more where that came from. Join me next month as we dive back into some of our most important and informative conversations around women’s physical and mental wellness.   With the help of the women’s health experts at Midi Health, we’re bringing you a five-episode miniseries, Wellness Check, focused on issues that affect our daily lives — from the science of happiness, to the ins and outs of menopause.   You can find...

Katie Couric co-hosts Hysteria with Alyssa Mastromonaco, diving into Biden dropping out of the race, Kamala Harris, potential VP picks, and misogynistic political media. Then, for some levity: Sani-Petty (Celine Dion! The Olympics!). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In January of this year, Katie sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris for a rare one-on-one interview in her ceremonial office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. At the time, a Trump-Biden rematch seemed inevitable. But then, in the weeks following his poor performance in the first presidential debate in late June, President Biden’s future as his party’s candidate was suddenly anything but certain. After increasing calls for him to drop out of the race, he announced he would end...