The FRONTLINE Dispatch

Jesse Jackson, longtime civil rights leader and Baptist minister, gives a firsthand recounting of the forces behind Barack Obama's rise. He remembers Obama’s 2004 breakthrough, Chicago’s political landscape, debates over racial identity, Michelle Obama’s grounding, the Reverend Wright controversy, and how coalition-building and generational shifts reshaped American politics.

Sebastian Walker, journalist and filmmaker who reported from Iran, and James Jacoby, filmmaker chronicling U.S.–Israeli strategy, unpack rising tensions with Iran. They probe post-strike signs of renewed nuclear and missile activity. They trace the conflict’s roots, Iran’s endurance strategy, Israel’s shifting security doctrine, and how attacks on proxies could lead toward wider regional confrontation.

A recent FRONTLINE documentary investigates the aftermath of the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran's nuclear program. In this episode of The FRONTLINE Dispatch, the filmmakers discuss combining on-the-ground reporting with cutting-edge visual forensics to understand the precision of the strikes, the civilian toll and the status of Iran's nuclear expertise.

A Ukrainian battalion fights to reach and reclaim a Russian-held village in 2000 Meters to Andriivka, the new documentary from the Oscar-winning team behind 20 Days in Mariupol. Host and filmmaker Raney Aronson-Rath speaks with filmmakers Mstyslav Chernov and Michelle Mizner about this unflinching, intimate portrait of modern warfare and the human cost of every advance.

RFK Jr. ascends to the top ranks of government. Raney Aronson-Rath and filmmaker Michael Kirk examine his alliance with President Donald Trump, his rise to Secretary of Health and Human Services, and his efforts to turn his long-held beliefs into federal policy—concluding FRONTLINE’s serialized adaptation of The Rise of RFK Jr.

Michael Kirk, a documentary filmmaker known for his in-depth storytelling, discusses how COVID-19 propelled RFK Jr. from the fringes to national prominence. They explore how the pandemic unified Kennedy's views on vaccines and government overreach. Kirk highlights Kennedy's rise via engaging livestreams and social media, despite facing deplatforming and backlash from his family. The talk also covers his populist rebranding efforts, controversies surrounding his presidential run, and the implications of his nomination to HHS, raising crucial questions about public health.

Michael Kirk, a renowned documentary filmmaker, shares the tumultuous journey of RFK Jr. from a troubled youth to an environmental advocate. Kirk delves into the contradictions of Kennedy's polished public persona against his personal struggles, including a heroin possession arrest and family tragedies. They discuss Kennedy's recovery, his rise within environmental advocacy, and the impact of his late wife Mary Richardson's tragic death. The conversation also explores Kennedy's controversial shift towards vaccine criticism and the ensuing backlash, revealing a complex figure caught between legacy and turmoil.

In this discussion, filmmaker Michael Kirk delves into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s transformative journey from a privileged childhood at Hickory Hill to aligning with the Trump administration. Kirk explores the concept of a 'savior complex' influenced by RFK Jr.'s tumultuous family legacy and discusses how witnessing his father's 1968 campaign shaped his ambitions. The conversation touches on his struggles with addiction, public grief, and ultimately, his reinvention within the political landscape, teasing future explorations of his complex evolution.

In this episode of The FRONTLINE Dispatch, host Raney Aronson-Rath speaks with longtime FRONTLINE correspondent Evan Williams, director of The Rise of Germany’s New Right. Together, they unpack how the hardline Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has surged in popularity, drawing young voters on TikTok, capitalizing on economic anxiety, and reframing nationalism for a new generation.

What happens when you grow up poor in America—and stay in touch with the same filmmaker for more than a decade? FRONTLINE filmmaker Jezza Neumann and documentary participant Kaylie Hegwood reflect on “Born Poor,” a film following three children, including Kaylie, from their lives as “Poor Kids” into young adulthood. Fourteen years after filming began, Neumann and Hegwood discuss poverty, perseverance, and what it really takes to break the cycle. Produced by Joel Patterson. Hosted by Raney Aronson-Rath.Watch the full documentary, Born Poor, on FRONTLINE’s YouTube channel and PBS.org.Want to be notified every time a new podcast episode drops? Sign up for The FRONTLINE Dispatch newsletter.