The headlines aren’t slowing down. Politics is a firehose, and most days it feels like we’re drinking straight from it. This season on Next Question, we’re turning velocity into clarity.

Each episode breaks down the headline overload so we can process–and commiserate–together. You’ll hear from people who actually know: reporters on the ground, legal scholars, policy pros, and bold faced names, so you get context, not chaos. 

No outrage Olympics. No performative punditry. Just news separated from the noise, with a little humanity, and even humor along the way.

Listen to Season 12 of Next Question with Katie Couric, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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End your summer with the most fun you’ll have on a podcast! Impressionist and comedian Matt Friend joins Katie for a star-studded tour of celebrity voices from Hollywood to the White House, from Barack Obama to Timothee Chalamet to Jennifer Coolidge. There’s even some singing! And, yes, he does his Trump impression–which is so good it might make you squirm. In between it all Matt shares what it’s been like to break out online during the pandemic, and end up taking the stage at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. It’s a trip!

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When Dr. Geoffrey Hinton left Google in 2023, it wasn’t because he’d lost faith in AI. It was because he wanted to speak freely about its dangers (and because, at 75, he says programming is “annoying”). The Nobel laureate joins Katie to unpack some of the riskiest aspects of this new technology: why government regulation lags behind innovation; why jobs are at risk and whether countries can work together to prevent an AI arms race. . But Hinton also sees a path forward: if we design AI that genuinely supports and protects humanity,  coexistence might be possible. This episode wrestles with the urgent question on everyone’s mind: will AI’s breathtaking potential transform our lives or threaten our very survival?

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It’s no secret that our lifespans – especially women’s – have drastically increased over the last several decades, but what about healthspans? How can we make those additional years healthier and happier? Speaking live at City Winery in NYC, join Katie and Dr. Krys Araujo-Torres, Head of U.S. Medical Affairs for Nature's Bounty, as they dig into the simple, effective steps we can take to live our best lives. #ad

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Robert Gates has worked at the highest levels of government, across eight presidential administrations, earning a reputation for pragmatism and integrity that feels increasingly rare in today’s political climate. In this thoughtful conversation with Katie, the former Defense Secretary reflects on the global crises now testing U.S. leadership—from the war in Ukraine to rising threats in the Middle East—and explains why diplomacy, consistency, and bipartisan cooperation are more essential than ever. As America grapples with a fractured political identity, Gates makes a compelling case for restoring experience and long-term thinking to our foreign policy playbook.

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Caitlin Clark is electrifying crowds and breaking records—and igniting a complicated national conversation. Christine Brennan joins Katie to dissect the making of a sports icon, the WNBA’s missed opportunities, and the fraught media narratives surrounding Clark, Angel Reese, and race. It’s the subject of Brennan’s new book, On Her Game, and one of the most urgent stories in sports.

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In a world flooded with information about women’s health - from TikTok trends to wellness influencers - separating fact from fiction has never been more challenging. This candid conversation between Katie Couric and gynecologist Dr. Karen Tang tackles the most persistent myths and misinformation surrounding women's health, with special focus on menstruation and incontinence.

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Katie heads to Capitol Hill for an in-person conversation with Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. In this unflinching interview, Murkowski reflects on her high-stakes political journey, her defiance of party pressure, and her growing alarm over the threats facing American democracy. Drawing from her new memoir Far From Home, she opens up about the personal toll of standing alone and why, in this moment, staying grounded has never been harder—or more critical.

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Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett is having a moment. The rising Democratic star sits down with Katie for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation about what drives her, what frustrates her, and why she refuses to play by the old political rules. From her viral moments on Capitol Hill to the serious challenges facing democracy, Crockett shares what’s on her mind and why this moment demands leaders who won’t back down.

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Eric Holder, AG under Obama from 2009 - 2015, has spent most of his life inside the Department of Justice. Now, he’s watching it unravel. He joins Katie to explain how the Trump administration is hollowing out institutions, targeting critics, and eroding democratic norms. He shares what it’s like to see the agency he loves weaponized—and why he believes citizen power, media courage, and legal resistance are more important than ever.

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