Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not been shy about how his Christian faith has shaped him. However, some activists fear his views could be encroaching on the secular military in unprecedented ways and influencing how commanders are framing the war in Iran. We explore a controversial pastor connected to Hegseth who is leading a growing movement rooted in Christian nationalism and the idea that women should be “submissive” to their husbands.  For more: Inside one pastor’s crusade for Christian...Show more domination in the age of Trump  ---  Guests: Pamela Brown, CNN Anchor/Chief Investigative Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Shoshana Dubnow Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Mar 18, 2026

Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took a chainsaw to the federal government, slashing jobs and cutting programs in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. While it did not reduce spending, current and former government officials tell CNN that some of the cuts are hampering government readiness amid the Iran war. Now, the government is looking to ramp up hiring again – but only with workers who align with the Trump administration’s priorities. We hear from a form...Show moreer federal worker about how last year’s cuts impacted her, and from an expert who says he's concerned about adding more political appointees to the mix.  For more: ‘A shell of our former self’: How Trump and Musk’s spending cuts are hampering US government readiness amid the Iran war  ---  Guests: Melissa Patsalides & Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service President and CEO  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images

Mar 15, 2026

The war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil. As a result, ships are stuck and gas prices are climbing in the US. We look at the Trump administration’s possible solutions, and the key psychological benchmark that could push their political problem to a breaking point.  For more: The grim choice facing the Trump administration: Economic or naval collapse?  ---  Guests: Martín Izaguirre Salgado & David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Vanessa Yurkevich Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Mar 11, 2026

Anger directed at OpenAI is spreading after it struck a deal with the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after its rival, Anthropic, refused. OpenAI said it had shared Anthropic’s concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, so why did they sign? And what does this mean for other companies looking to do business with the Trump administration?  For more: Some OpenAI staff are fuming about its Pentagon deal  ---  Guests: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent & Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: WH Pool

Mar 8, 2026

As Iran continues to retaliate against the US and Israel, civilians in major Gulf countries are caught in the crossfire. Will these nations be forced to respond? And do they have the military firepower needed to keep up? We break down what we can learn from the military operations thus far and look at how an Iranian power vacuum could complicate the endgame.  For more: The rationale for striking Iran was already a mess. Trump just made it worse.  ---  Guests: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Chief Inter...Show morenational Security Correspondent & Mark Kimmitt, Brigadier General (Ret.)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Natasha Maguder, Natalie Wright Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images

Mar 4, 2026

After months of planning, the US and Israel struck Iran as part of a massive operation aimed at unseating the hardline Iranian regime. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, according to Israeli sources. Iran has retaliated, hitting US military bases and major population centers across the region. So how long will the conflict last? And is regime change even feasible? We break down what we know as of Saturday afternoon.  For more: Trump launches the regime-change effort in Iran that he pledged to avoid  ---  Guest: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: AP

Feb 28, 2026

The killing of Mexican cartel boss Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes shocked the country and set off cartel violence in the streets, trapping American tourists in the process. However, experts say the operation could say even more about President Donald Trump’s war on drugs than Mexico’s.  For more: The death of ‘El Mencho’ exposed the reach of Mexico’s cartel crisis. Will US tourists stay away?  ---  Guest: Steven Dudley, InSight Crime co-founder  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: @morelifediares via REUTERS

Feb 25, 2026

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein say the historic arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles III, is a step in the right direction. But high-profile figures in the US still have not faced similar consequences, weeks after the Justice Department released more than 3 million documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. We hear from a group of survivors who say this feels like the beginning of the story, not the end.  For more: ‘This is not over.’ Corporate ...Show moreAmerica’s Epstein reckoning gathers steam  ---  Guest: MJ Lee, CNN Senior National Enterprise Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson Photo: Kent Nishimura/Reuters

Feb 22, 2026

A raft of resignations from some of Silicon Valley’s top AI companies came with some dire warnings about user safety and potential impacts on the American workforce. Are these concerns worth paying attention to, or overhyped? We hear from one former safety researcher who says companies are not fully grappling with the implications of advertising within chatbots.  For more: AI researchers are sounding the alarm on their way out the door  ---  Guest: Zoë Hitzig, former OpenAI researcher  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Hadas Gold Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Feb 18, 2026

"I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Those words from ICE attorney Julie Le to a federal judge earlier this month underscores the toll the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis is taking on the Justice Department. But what happens now that the surge is winding down? And will any new prosecutors want to sign up for this work?  For more: Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his Justice Departmen...Show moret and judges  ---  Guest: Doug Kelley, former Assistant US Attorney  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katelyn Polantz Photo: Steve Karnowski/AP

Feb 15, 2026