Cnn Talk With Max Foster

It's a case that's been making headlines for days, and yesterday it came to a dramatic head. The actor Jussie Smollett, who claimed to have been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack, was arrested yesterday for filing a false report about the attack. Chicago police now say the actor staged the whole thing in a bid for a higher profile and higher salary on his series, "Empire." Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said actor Jussie Smollett "took advantage of the pain and anger in racism to promote his career." So why would Smollett do this? Is he taking advantage of a culture where victims are automatically believed? Is that culture problematic? How might this impact other cases like this? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Ayesha Hazarika, Brian Klaas and Liam Halligan. via Knit

It's an issue that's been grabbing headlines all week: What to do with foreigners who traveled abroad to join ISIS, and now want to return home? The case of Shemima Begum has dominated here in the UK, after the government took action to strip the 19 year old of her British citizenship. And now U.S. President Donald Trump has waded into the fray. He has tweeted about an American ISIS bride and propagandist - Hoda Muthana - and vowed that she won't be allowed back, despite her pleas of remorse. So what should be done with these women, and other foreigners who played a part in the caliphate? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Nina Schick, Andrew MacDougall and Iain Dale. via Knit

The abuse scandals plaguing the Catholic Church haven't been far from the headlines in recent weeks. As Pope Francis prepares to convene a historic summit in Rome on how to deal with clerical child abuse, survivors are attacking the pontiff for not doing enough. Also this week, news emerged that the church has internal guidelines on how to deal with priests who father children, despite their vows of celibacy. And CNN tracked down women who were abused as nuns, who say they struggle every day with the betrayal of trust and faith by the priests they worked with. So, can the Catholic Church still be redeemed? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Andrew MacDougall, Ayesha Hazarika and Iain Dale. via Knit

He's back in - the Independent Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, has declared he's running to be U.S. President in 2020. Sanders gained a massive following during the 2016 campaign and inspired slogans like "Feel the Bern" - but still failed to take the nomination from rival Hillary Clinton. So can he do better this time? What's changed? And will the proudly socialist Sanders be a worthy adversary for Donald Trump? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Bonnie Greer, Stig Abell and Liam Halligan. via Knit

It's the biggest political split in the UK in decades. This morning, seven British Labour MPs broke with their own party, saying they could no longer tolerate the internal disarray over Brexit and what they called "institutional" anti-Semitism. But with only 39 days to go until the UK leaves the EU, is this a well-timed move? How will this affect the Brexit process? And why can't Labour get its own house in order? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Iain Dale, Liam Halligan and Ayesha Hazarika. via Knit

Donald Trump is set to declare a national emergency in the United States, in order to free up the funding for his border wall. He says it's critical to ensure national security at the U.S.-Mexico border. But Trump's critics say there is no immigration emergency, and that he's just aiming to fulfill a campaign promise at any cost. So what do you think? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Liam Halligan, Iain Martin and Ayesha Hazarika. via Knit

A measles outbreak in Washington State has brought the issue of vaccines squarely back into the spotlight. Many of the cases have appeared in an area with relatively low rates of vaccinations, and where some ascribe to the "anti-vaxxer" movement - a fringe group that believes vaccines are linked to health problems and developmental disorders, such as autism. Why has this movement gained traction now? And what can the medical community do to dispel these harmful myths? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Nina Schick, Rachel Shabi and Iain Dale - featuring a special appearance by CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. via Knit

There are major controversies in the West about how returning fighters and their family members can re-integrate into society, and whether they might radicalize others or carry out attacks at home. Is it legally possible to strip them of their citizenship and show we? Today, we're asking the question: What Should Be Done With Foreign ISIS Members? CNN's Max Foster anchors a conversation with Ayesha Hazarika, Iain Dale and Liam Halligan. via Knit

We are still 21 months out from the next U.S. Presidential election. But you wouldn't know it. President Donald Trump is back to hosting campaign-style rallies, and eight Democrats have already declared their candidacies and hit the campaign trail. There are lots of questions over how this fresh race for the White House will play out. Will Trump's challengers raise or lower the tone to match his own combative style? How will the President expand on his base of supporters to try to win again? Max Foster tackles these and more, with Bonnie Greer, Greg Swenson and Kate Andrews. via Knit

It's a war of inches at this point. U.S.-backed forces inside Syria are battling to take control of a tiny sliver of land from the brutal militant group ISIS. It's all that remains of the caliphate, which once stretched across large swathes of Iraq and Syria. But is this battle really the end of the story? Already there are warnings that "thousands" of ISIS fighters have dispersed. Could they be ready to regroup? Max Foster tackles the subject with CNN's Senior International Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, Brian Klaas, Ayesha Hazarika and Liam Halligan. via Knit

He's one of Hollywood's best known actors, and now he's at the center of a firestorm of controversy. Liam Neeson made global headlines this week, after sharing a highly troubling story from his past. Neeson detailed how he wanted to seek violent revenge against a random black man, after a female friend of his was assaulted by a black man. The actor said he has learned from the incident and is not a racist person. But that didn't stop critical voices from arguing Neeson should pay a price for his shocking actions. What do you think? Max Foster anchors a discussion with Bonnie Greer, Iain Martin and Ayesha Hazarika. via Knit

It was certainly the sort of quote to make you do a double take: European Council President Donald Tusk condemning Brexit leaders to a "special place in hell" for having no plan on how to actually leave the EU. That incredibly inflammatory language is splashed across the British front pages, and the tough language comes at a super awkward time. Theresa May is in Brussels today, meeting with Tusk himself. Who wouldn't like to be a fly on the wall inside that meeting? Max Foster dissects the latest Brexit controversy, with Kate Andrews, Iain Dale and Ayesha Hazarika. via Knit

It's a major annual event on the U.S. President's calendar: the State of the Union address to Congress. And the reviews of Donald Trump's speech on Tuesday night are ... mixed. Many applauded his message of unity and bipartisan outreach, but he paradoxically also doubled down on his anti-immigration, pro-border wall rhetoric. Trump made news by announcing his next summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would happen later this month in Vietnam, but also angered some at home by taking a dig at the Mueller investigation. Max Foster dissects all the biggest lines and reaction, with Iain Dale, Nina Schick and Liam Halligan. via Knit

American-made military vehicles, in the hands of rival militia groups. U.S.-manufactured guns, openly offered for sale inside war-torn Yemen. Sensitive technology, in the hands of America's enemies. These shocking images are at the core of exclusive new CNN reporting from inside Yemen. Our team uncovered evidence that U.S. military equipment sold to allies is ending up in the hands of a wide range of militia groups fighting in that country's civil war. But how does this happen? Who is responsible? And can the global arms trade be better managed? Max Foster anchors a conversation with CNN Senior International Correspondent Nima Elbagir, Bonnie Greer and Greg Swenson. via Knit

Are we approaching a tipping point in the crisis in Venezuela? Today, multiple European countries came out in support of self-declared President Juan Guaido - but incumbent leader Nicolas Maduro says he's not going anywhere. In fact, after ignoring an international ultimatum for new elections, Maduro warned U.S. President Donald Trump that he'll have "blood on his hands" if he intervenes with force. Max Foster takes on this fast-moving story, with Iain Dale, Ayesha Hazarika and Liam Halligan. Also joining the panel today, CNN's Senior International Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, who reported from inside Venezuela just last week. via Knit

Huawei out front as a world leader in the 5G tech race. But the firm has been hit by indictments by the U.S. as Washington accuses it of stealing trade secrets in the U.S.. Other nations have also expressed concerns about its technology. Canada has confirmed it received an extradition request from Washington for the Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou. This all complicates U.S.-China trade talks which have just wrapped up. President Trump met with China's Vice Premier Thursday in DC for talks aimed at resolving the ongoing trade war. So we ask: "Trump's Trade Talks: Do You Trust Chinese Tech?" CNN's Max Foster speaks to Ayesha Hazarika, Political Commentator and Comedian, George Pascoe-Watson, Senior Partner & Chief Adviser, Portland Communications and Bonnie Greer, Playwright and Columnist for The New European. via Knit

Ever since Juan Guaido stood up and swore himself in as self-declared President of Venezuela - in direct opposition to incumbent President Nicolas Maduro - countries around the world have declared their support for one man or the other. And those alliances have broken down along very familiar lines, raising the specter of Cold War tensions once again. So is the crisis in Venezuela a domestic, humanitarian one? Or does it risk becoming the center of an international tug-of-war for influence? Hannah Vaughan Jones anchors a conversation with Iain Martin, Rachel Shabi and Bonnie Greer. via Knit

We are 58 days away from Brexit and all eyes are now on Brussels. British Prime Minister Theresa May got a mandate to renegotiate her deal from parliament last night, and says she'll go back to Europe to reopen talks on the controversial Irish backstop. But the EU says the agreement is final as stands, and is flat-out rejecting further discussion. So what do you think should happen next? Should the European Union come back to the table, or stick to its guns? Max Foster anchors a conversation with Ayesha Hazarika, Liam Halligan and Iain Dale. via Knit

It's a day that could determine the shape Brexit takes. British MPs will vote on a series of measures that will affect how Prime Minister Theresa May proceeds with delivering on Brexit. Among the options on the table for parliament - delaying the whole thing, getting rid of the controversial Irish "backstop," or wresting control away from government and into the hands of MPs. It's all to play for in Westminster today, and that's where we find Max Foster, in conversation with Brian Klaas, Bonnie Greer and George Pascoe-Watson. via Knit

Tomorrow marks two months until Brexit day - the day the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. And, with just weeks to go, there are still major questions about what that departure will look like. Will Theresa May's tweaked plan gain parliamentary approval this week? Will MPs seize control of the process? Will Britain leave with no deal? And if that happened, would it really be so bad? Max Foster anchors live from the streets of London, with Nina Schick, Liam Halligan and Ayesha Hazarika. via Knit