CNN One Thing

CNN One Thing

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. New episodes every Wednesday and Sunday.

Episodes

January 18, 2026 24 mins
President Trump has not backed down on his threats to take control of Greenland, potentially by military force. Danish officials have also not backed down on their insistence that their territory is not for sale. So where does this go from here? How could things play out if Trump does follow through? And how do Greenlanders feel about being caught in the middle? CNN went to the island to find out. For more: Worried Greenlanders fe...
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Tensions in Minneapolis remain high after an ICE agent killed Renee Nicole Good in her car last week. Despite widespread outrage, the Trump administration is sending in hundreds more law enforcement agents to enforce immigration orders. So what does this mean for activists keeping tabs on ICE? And why are federal agents using such aggressive tactics?  For more: New documents shed light on Renee Good’s ties to ICE monitoring effort...
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The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in a case that could decide whether states may ban transgender students from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. It comes as President Donald Trump has moved to punish institutions that are inclusive of trans athletes. We break down the legal case and hear from a transgender former college athlete who says this is about way more than a game.  For more:...
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After US forces executed the stunning seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Máduro, President Donald Trump said American companies would work to rebuild Venezuela’s crumbling oil industry. But energy experts say that work will be costly, complicated, and dangerous – if any companies want to do it at all.   For more: Trump said Venezuela stole America’s oil. Here’s what really happened  ---  Guest: Francisco Monaldi, director of t...
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January 4, 2026 29 mins
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 unrestrai...
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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.  ---  Guest: David Beaubaire, Founder & CEO, Sunset Lane Media  Host: Davi...
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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  ---  Guest: Aaron Blake, CNN Senior Reporte...
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December 17, 2025 19 mins
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  ---  Guest: Alan Sepinwall, TV cr...
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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 launche...
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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 co...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 wil...
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November 26, 2025 21 mins
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 Ameri...
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As fears of an artificial intelligence bubble mount, one company is being scrutinized above all the rest: Nvidia. As the AI chipmaker's valuation continues to soar, some experts are wondering whether the whole industry is built on a shaky foundation. We hear why its CEO has become cozy with President Donald Trump – and what it all could mean for you.  For more: The world’s biggest company just told everyone to chill out⁠ ---  Gu...
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Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is breaking with President Donald Trump and apologizing for “taking part in toxic politics,” after years of divisive comments of her own. Is this contrition, or posturing for a post-Trump future? We hear from someone who has covered Greene for years who says a GOP revolt over the Jeffrey Epstein files could signal more trouble for Trump in the months ahead.  For more: The key issues tha...
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President Donald Trump has pardoned more than 1,600 people who played significant roles in matters involving him personally across his two terms, including dozens who worked to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Presidents always flex pardon power, so what makes these so unusual? We hear from a constitutional law expert who says part of the answer lies in the man in charge of the review process.  For more: Trump’s pa...
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Chicago remains on edge as immigration enforcement operations in recent weeks have sparked tense standoffs and legal questions over federal agents’ use of force. However, local resistance groups have taken it upon themselves to (loudly) alert neighbors of ICE’s presence. We hear from some of them and then look at the controversial Border Patrol official in charge of ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ and where he might be heading next. For ...
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Ever since Tucker Carlson interviewed White nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, Republicans have been at odds over how to deal with what some see as a growing embrace of hateful voices like Fuentes’ within the party. But experts say voices like his might hold too much sway with young, disaffected Republicans to easily remove from the picture.  For more: Fierce backlash within GOP after Tucker Carlson gives White nationa...
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Oz Pearlman insists he reads people, not minds - and don't call him a magician. But as corporate titans, celebrities, and pro sports teams continue to pay him tens of thousands of dollars to reveal intimate personal details for parties and team-building events, he thinks the average person can use his skills to get ahead in business and life. David goes one-on-one with one of the internet’s favorite mentalists - and walks away with...
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