Settle In with PBS News

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones wrote a now-viral essay about her decision to send her daughter to high-poverty, predominantly Black public schools in her New York city neighborhood — and how they both feel about that choice 10 years later. In this episode of Settle In, she talks with Geoff Bennet about the immediate backlash to her essay, whether she regrets her choice and how to do better by kids in public schools. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ari Emanuel is the powerhouse Hollywood agent who inspired Ari Gold on HBO's "Entourage." In this episode of Settle In, he talks with Amna Nawaz about his new memoir, "Roll the Calls," his childhood struggles with dyslexia, his relentless drive, and his famous brothers, Rahm and Ezekiel Emanuel. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Why are men falling behind? That's the question at the heart of author Jon Ronson's new book, "The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men." In this episode of "Settle In," Ronson sits down with Geoff Bennett to discuss why so many men have become unmoored from purpose and why the phrase "toxic masculinity" falls short. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

California Gov. Gavin Newsom thinks Democrats took their eyes off the ball on state-level races. Now, he's campaigning across the South to drive turnout in states where Republicans have tried to redraw congressional maps. In this episode of "Settle In," recorded during a recent visit to South Carolina, Newsom talks to Amna Nawaz about what Democrats need to compete in rural America and what he's considering as he weighs a presidential campaign in 2028. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Journalist Rozina Ali says the level of Islamophobia in America right now is the highest she's ever seen. In this episode of "Settle In," she talks with Amna Nawaz about her book, "Seasons of Fury," which explores how Islamophobia shaped the stories of four American families, from FBI surveillance in the 1960s to the post-9/11 era. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Craig Fugate led the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through record-breaking disaster years during the Obama administration. In the latest episode of "Settle In," he speaks with Amna Nawaz about how climate change has upended our models for disaster response, criticism that the agency has been politicized and how to prepare for hurricane season. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Award-winning actress Poorna Jagannathan is known for her roles in the Netflix coming-of-age show "Never Have I Ever" and the Hulu comedy "Deli Boys." In the latest episode of "Settle In," she speaks to Amna Nawaz about her unexpected acting career and the power of later-in-life success. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Sam Roberts has written 1,600 obituaries in his decadeslong career as a reporter for The New York Times. In this episode of "Settle In," he speaks to Geoff Bennett about his new book, "Are They Dead Yet?" and what he's learned about life. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A weaponized biological pathogen could be "man's last invention' according to Annie Jacobsen, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author. Jacobsen sits down with Geoff Bennett to discuss her latest book, Biological War: A Scenario - which examines how deadly pathogens that have been weaponized could lead to a civilization-ending event. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Emilee Hackney grew up in small-town Appalachia in a church that taught her men were meant to lead. In this episode of Settle In, she spoke with Amna Nawaz about her debut memoir, "All That's Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir," the world she grew up in and reconciling it with everything she encountered since. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ben Wikler chaired the Democratic Party of Wisconsin for six years, leading to victories in numerous key contests in the battleground state. In this episode of Settle In, Wikler talks to Geoff Benett about his new book, "This is the Plan," which details his prescription for "saving" America's democracy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Simon Kuper is one of the few sports journalists who has now attended 10 World Cups. The author of "World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments" and co-author of "Soccernomics" joins Geoff Bennett to share the highs and lows of this year's World Cup. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Historian and Smith College professor Elizabeth Pryor has spent much of her career studying the history of the N-word. Her father, legendary comedian Richard Pryor, made the word central to his work before renouncing it altogether. In this episode of "Settle In," Elizabeth Pryor sits down with Geoff Bennett to discuss her father's legacy and her new book, "Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Dave Portnoy is the founder of Barstool Sports, a media goliath he started as a free gambling newsletter in the early 2000s. His new book, "Cancel Me If You Can," details his rise – and the controversies he's faced along the way. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tressie McMillan Cottom says the second Trump administration has revealed uncomfortable truths about power in America. Today, we're revisiting her episode of Settle In with Geoff Bennett about trust in institutions and how to keep your sense of purpose in an onslaught of news. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We're revisiting our episode with comedian Dave Chappelle, who sat down with Amna Nawaz in Yellow Springs, Ohio, for a wide-ranging discussion on his concerns around free speech, the importance of local journalism and why he doesn't regret his controversial decision to perform last year in Saudi Arabia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We're revisiting our episode with award-winning journalist and writer Michael Harriot, who spoke with Geoff Bennett about his best-selling book, "Black AF History," and what we can learn from Black history today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Journalist Michael Edison Hayden spent years tracking extremism in America. His book, "Strange People on the Hill," is about what happened when a far-right group moved its headquarters to a small town in rural West Virginia. We're revisiting our conversation with Hayden, who spoke with Amna Nawaz about the story and what it can teach us about politics in the U.S. right now. Hayden also shared the personal toll this work has taken on his own mental health and  relationships. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Settle In is going on a brief summer break. We're gearing up to return later this summer with more of the candid interviews you've come to enjoy. Until then, here are five of our favorite moments from Settle In so far with Dave Chappelle, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Jon Meacham, Michael Harriot and Lena Dunham. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Soman Chainani's young adult novel series, "The School for Good & Evil," has sold more than 4.5 million copies around the globe and became a hugely popular Netflix movie. In the latest episode of Settle In, he joins Amna Nawaz to talk about what's changing for young people right now — and how to engage them in both reading and the political process. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It's not just your kids. Author and historian Helen Zoe Veit's latest book, , "Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History," explores how U.S. culture has shaped selective palates. In this episode of Settle In, she sat down with Amna Nawaz to discuss what she's learned, including tips and tricks to parents hoping to teach their kids to learn to love more food. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Douglas Stuart won the coveted Booker Prize in 2020 for his debut novel, "Shuggie Bain," about a boy in 1980s working-class Glasgow caring for his mother as she struggled with alcoholism. Geoff Bennett spoke to Stuart about his latest book, "John of John," which follows a young man as he returns to his home in the islands off the coast of Scotland. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Journalist Michael Edison Hayden spent years tracking extremism in America. In this episode of Settle in, he talks with Amna Nawaz about his new book, "Strange People on the Hill," about what happened when a far-right group moved its headquarters to a small town in rural West Virginia – and what it says about U.S. politics right now. Note: This episode was recorded before the April 25 shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Comedian Dave Chappelle sits down with Amna Nawaz in Yellow Springs, Ohio, for a wide-ranging discussion on his concerns around free speech, the importance of local journalism and why he doesn't regret his controversial decision to perform last year in Saudi Arabia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Lena Dunham rapidly rose to fame more than a decade ago as the comedic force behind HBO's breakout hit, 'Girls.' In a new memoir, Dunham candidly, hilariously, and sometimes painfully explores how she balanced celebrity with her struggles with chronic illness, addiction, and trauma. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Award-winning New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe is the author behind best sellers like "Say Nothing" and "Empire of Pain." His latest book, "London Falling," is a deep dive into the mysterious death of a teenager – and the secret life that came to light after he was gone. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jon Meacham is hopeful about the future of America. The presidential historian and bestselling author spoke with Amna Nawaz about why he wrote his latest book, "American Struggle,." which looks back at historical texts and speeches to explore more about who we are today. They spoke about Joe Biden's legacy, the one piece of historical text he thinks we all should read, and how he still finds hope as America marks 250 years. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

What sparked the explosion of Black sitcoms in the 1990s, and why didn't it last? Those are some of the questions PBS News Hour co-anchor Geoff Bennett explores in his new book, "Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to '90s Sitcoms." He joins Amna Nawaz for a special episode of Settle In. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The media and entertainment industries face a period of great turmoil, including unprecedented business and political pressures. Evan Shapiro, the so-called "Media Universe Cartographer," speaks to Geoff Bennett about those challenges and the future. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Americans legally bet close to $167 billion on sports last year, a dramatic increase since states began to broadly legalize it in 2018. Author and journalist David Hill speaks with Geoff Bennett about the rapid rise of sports gambling and prediction markets — and where regulation is falling short. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Pioneering digital forensic expert Hany Farid talks with Amna Nawaz about the dangers of artificial intelligence being deployed irresponsibly, why social media companies prioritize engagement over authenticity and how to sift through what's real and what's not. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This Black History Month, award-winning journalist and writer Michael Harriot speaks with Geoff Bennett about his best-selling book, "Black AF History," and what we can learn from Black history today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

"What would Lincoln do?" Author and historian Matthew Pinsker's substack uses this question as a framework to explore modern politics. He talks with Geoff Bennett about his latest book, "Boss Lincoln," which examines how Lincoln still shapes our country today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Legendary sportscaster James Brown speaks to Amna Nawaz about his childhood, his faith and how he uses his platform to encourage the NFL community to confront controversial issues. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Olympics are here. Sports journalist Christine Brennan talks with Amna Nawaz about covering 22 consecutive Olympic Games, big moments in Olympic history and the sports and athletes to watch this year. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It's been 40 years since the space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff. Geoff Bennett speaks with science correspondent Miles O'Brien, who covered the aftermath of the disaster, about how it affected the U.S. space program. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tressie McMillan Cottom says the second Trump administration has revealed uncomfortable truths about power in America. She talks with Geoff Bennett about trust in institutions and how to keep your sense of purpose in an onslaught of news. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

So you want to change a habit — or maybe start something new. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Charles Duhigg's book, "The Power of Habit," explores how habits are made, and the cues and rewards that shape our behavior. He spoke with Amna Nawaz about how to make habits that actually stick as well as his most recent book, "Supercommunicators." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun first came to the U.S. as a child after growing up in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands. After stints in finance, he found himself leading restaurant chain P.F Chang's and last year was appointed CEO of Red Lobster just as it emerged from bankruptcy. In this episode of "Settle In," Geoff Bennett speaks to Adamolekun about his journey from being an immigrant to a CEO, the expectations that come with being a young Black executive and how he's leading Red Lobster out of bankruptcy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Author Malcolm Gladwell doesn't trust people who don't change their minds. He sits down with Amna Nawaz to discuss what he's learned through revisiting his first book, The Tipping Point, 25 years later, and how he handles hateful comments online. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, who writes the "Health Nerd" blog, talks with Geoff Bennett about bad scientific data, misconceptions around what we eat, and RFK's "Make America Healthy Again" crusade. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Journalist Irin Carmon was eight months pregnant when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, returning the right to an abortion back to state lawmakers. In this episode of Settle In, Carmon tells Amna Nawaz about how her own experience informed her book "Unbearable," which follows five other pregnant women in New York City and Alabama, and how the history of labor and delivery helps explain the fractured health care systems we have today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Geoff Bennett talks with comedian and actor Nick Offerman about his love of woodworking, how it shapes his acting, and his dream role. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Wall Street titans, politicians and a stock market astrologer star in financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin's new book, "1929." In this episode of Settle In, Sorkin talks with Amna Nawaz about what led to the crash, what we can learn from the aftermath, and the similarities between the tech boom of the Roaring '20s and today's excitement over artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Today, we're dropping a sneak peek of our new PBS News podcast, Settle In. Tune in each week for in-depth conversations with people we think you should know on topics that help explain the world around us. Here's a preview of our conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don't miss the full episode when it drops in the coming weeks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy