The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper - Season 3

CNN Senior Investigative Correspondent Kyung Lah presents an in-depth look at the unusual star-making K-Pop industry in South Korea. 

K-Pop idol bands have fan bases all over the globe, hugely popular musicians and songs originating from South Korea.  But these bands are molded and created in a way unlike anything else in the music industry. Aspiring young stars take on rigorous vocal, dance and fitness training from early morning to late at night, some even leaving school and living in dorms away from their families. In "K-Pop: A Star is Made" Lah embeds in the strenuous training process of seven aspiring K-Pop stars in a small studio in the heart of Seoul, South Korea when they are just one week away from auditioning for the studio's premiere idol group.

"As a Korean American growing up in Chicago, I never imagined my native language would be streamed across platforms in the US as a multi-billion-dollar industry," said Lah. "It still shocks me to this day. What I wanted CNN's audience is to see and experience how this happened, through the intimacy of the struggle of the K-pop trainees you'll meet in our hour. They're more than perfect young men and women of the TikTok era — they're utterly human, some as young as 14, and as vulnerable as the young fans who listen to them."

The episode features interviews with Amber Liu, Megan Moon and Min who talk about the global impact of this explosive industry, which also comes with international scrutiny for its stars. Lah also speaks with the trainees about the pressure to maintain a certain appearance, and how extreme dieting and plastic surgery are common amongst K-Pop hopefuls.

CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper returns with a timely special report on the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County.

This week in Los Angeles, whole neighborhoods have been devastated, and tens of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate since the blazes began. Building on CNN's comprehensive reporting on the ground throughout the week, Cooper traces the origins of these deadly wildfires, examining the conditions that led to this outbreak and the stories of those who have lost everything. Millions are living in trying conditions with dangerous air quality and the threat of new windstorms and fires ahead. Cooper also examines how the state of California and the city of Los Angeles have handled this unprecedented emergency and how this week will impact the future of life in the state.

Senior National Correspondent David Culverhas exclusive special access to the return of giant pandas to America, an important symbol of conservation and friendship between the United States and China.

Timed to this week's grand reopening of the panda exhibit at Washington's Smithsonian National Zoo, "Operation Panda" has exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the journey of Bao Li and Qing Bao, two giant pandas who became the first of their kind China has sent to Washington in 24 years. Culver reports from Dujiangyan Panda Base, where CNN was the sole US based media present to witness their departure, and he also gets an early look at how the pandas are settling into their new home in the nation's capital. 

"Returning to China for this story felt both deeply personal and profoundly unique", said Culver. "The exclusive access – from the meticulous planning for the giant pandas' send-off to trekking into the wild to explore the landscapes they call home – revealed a side of this journey few ever see. It's a story that goes beyond borders, capturing the remarkable efforts, cultural ties, and raw beauty that these iconic animals inspire. I'm excited for viewers to experience these rare, unforgettable moments firsthand."

In "Operation Panda," Culver also explores the Sichuan Mountains of southwest China, where researchers are focused on reintroducing pandas to their natural habitat. He unearths the history of panda diplomacy starting with President Nixon in 1972 and speaks with researchers, Chinese citizens and American panda fanatics about why these animals inspire such widespread devotion around the world.

CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper returns with a timely special report on the current state of aviation safety.

"Flight Risk" examines the circumstances leading up to and tragic aftermath following the collision of Flight 3452 with a US military black hawk helicopter at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC and the failed Learjet angel flight mission which crashed in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The special report surveys the bigger safety issues plaguing the airline industry in recent years, from human error to environmental and mechanical issues, and explores how an understaffed workforce and record numbers of travelers continue to strain the U.S. air travel system.

"Flight Risk" features notable aviation experts including CNN correspondent Pete Muntean, former National Transportation Safety Board Chair Peter Goelz, CNN Aviation analyst Miles O'Brien, former Inspector General of the United States Department of Transportation Mary Schiavo, former American Airlines pilot Les Abend, CNN Safety Analyst David Soucie, and former black hawk pilot Elizabeth McCormick.

CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper returns with a special one-on-one interview with Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.

In this wide-ranging sit-down, Gates tells Cooper about the moments that shaped him, from his childhood in Seattle to co-founding Microsoft at age 20, fueling the personal computer revolution that has become part of our everyday lives. Gates unpacks the stories revealed in his new book Source Code: The Origin Story of Bill Gates.

Gates speaks with emotion about the influence of his parents on his life and his unique way of thinking as a child. He visits his alma mater, Lakeside School, an elite all-boys private institute at the time of Gates's enrollment, and a place he credits with his transformation into an engaged student and fanatical computer programmer by the age of 13. It would also be the place where he would befriend his Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. After reflecting on his past, Gates discusses his thoughts on the future, including his recent meeting with President Donald Trump, Elon Musk intervening with USAID, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence.

Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir returns with an exploration into how human life as we know it is adapting to our changing climate. He seeks answers to how humankind can survive and thrive in an age of heat, drought, flood, and fire. His quest to find the heroes and innovators on the frontlines of this issue takes him across the globe, where he finds heroes building happier, healthier, and stronger communities built to withstand extreme weather in any form it takes.

"When I became a new dad in 2020," Weir said, "I looked down at my son and thought ‘Where will he be safe? 'What kind of shelter will he need? Who is building the smartest, safest, and most resilient communities?' His arrival helped spark this worldwide hunt for inspiration and in the end, I returned with a lot more hope than fear."

From a new "policy of shade" in scorching Phoenix to a floating neighborhood outside of Amsterdam to the rise of disaster-proof construction, Weir finds those on the cutting edge of adapting our way of life. With visits to London and Silicon Valley, he reveals the inventions and startups that have the investment blessing of Bill Gates and Tom Steyer.

He returns to Paradise, California, five years after the deadliest mainland fire in the last century and gets lessons from survivors on how to build a fireproof town with stronger shelter but an even stronger community. And he tours Florida's first solar-powered town, built in harmony with nature and to withstand modern storms. Babcock Ranch has now survived two major hurricanes without flooding or losing power and their design secrets are more relevant than ever.

The result of over two years of on-the-ground reporting, Bolduan embeds with those most impacted by America's opioid overdose epidemic. As the crisis enters its "third wave," Bolduan engages with emergency medical technicians, physicians at treatment centers and people struggling with addiction themselves, all seeking new solutions to a decades-old problem. 

"These past two years have been a uniquely powerful and educational experience for our team. I am grateful to all our interviewees who bravely allowed us in and shared their stories," said Bolduan. "We witnessed first-hand the extraordinary challenges that come with breaking free from the cycles of addiction, and I am hopeful this project will illuminate the human element of the crisis and encourage others who are struggling to seek treatment." 

"Fentanyl in America" features remarkably candid and intimate interviews with people struggling with addiction. Pregnant women, families, and even drug dealers reveal to Bolduan the harsh realities of illicit fentanyl, a crisis that has propelled new treatment programs. She rides along with the first emergency medical service in the nation to carry buprenorphine, a treatment for fentanyl withdrawal that a study has associated with a nearly sixfold increase in the odds of engagement with addiction treatment. Bolduan also visits a center providing methadone treatments, where some people must visit every day for their daily dose.

CNN Senior Correspondent Donie O'Sullivan returns with a new installment in his Emmy® nominated MisinfoNation series as he investigates the rise of extremism in "MisinfoNation: Extreme America."

Over the last two years, O'Sullivan has traveled the country investigating the pervasive surge of misinformation targeting Americans and has reported everywhere from the Republican and Democratic national conventions to Mike Lindell's pillow factory, a QAnon church, and a JFK conspiracy convention. In his new report on the 30-year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, O'Sullivan looks at the changing face of extremism in the United States. Thirty years ago, radical ideas and the search for like-minded extremists took time and effort, but now – with just a click – hate and paranoia is served to millions of Americans every day through algorithms and social media.

"From the pardoning of January 6 rioters to the celebrating of the murder of a healthcare CEO, how Americans are talking about violence is changing," O Sullivan said.  "In this episode we look at how the media we are consuming is radicalizing us."

In "MisinfoNation," O'Sullivan travels across the country meeting far-right extremists with a long history of hate, talks to pardoned January 6 rioters, and encounters a new generation of radicalized Americans justifying the murder of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.  He examines how the ongoing revolution in technology and information consumption is radicalizing us, meets a UFC fighter turned podcaster who platforms white supremacists, and visits a Texas man helping people print 3D guns at home.

CNN Anchor Abby Phillip premieres a deep dive into the first 100 days of President Trump's administration. In Trump's second term, he has moved with astonishing speed to issue a record number of executive actions, impacting immigration, the economy, and empowering the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. As he approaches his first 100 days back in office, Phillip takes a closer look at these actions, the extraordinary number of legal challenges his administration faces, and the real-world impact of his decisions on Americans today.

CNN Chief International Security Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh returns with a rare glimpse at a world deep in the Amazon jungle as it gets its first experience of the internet. In a remote corner where the protected indigenous lands of Brazil meet the volatile borderlands of Peru, he embeds with a group of activists as they introduce space-based internet via Elon Musk's Starlink satellite dishes to the indigenous Kanamari community for the first time. The full force of a technology that over decades has transformed every part of Western life is suddenly unleashed on this village – with all the benefits and dangers that come along with it.

"We were taken aback by how fast these communities realized the damaging nature of the internet on their lives," said Paton Walsh. "Yes, the jump from their time-honoured ways to an online world was huge. But they wasted no time in realizing there had to be an off button to keep their kids safe – something the urban world doesn't really see yet. It was a remarkable learning experience. I am old enough to remember a world without cellphones, and seeing that sense of calm – the ability to be still and disconnected again – really hammers home how much our lives have been accelerated and invaded by a technology we now all depend on for nearly everything."

As Paton Walsh watches the transformative effect on village life as the young quickly take to WhatsApp, Facebook and especially a Chinese Tiktok-like app called Kwai, he also bears witness as the elder community members try to control the internet's seductive grasp on its youth by switching it off. Paton Walsh also observes the benefits of being online, as they can report illegal fishermen who poach on their protected lake, prohibited loggers and miners. The team also fly over gold miners as they ravage the rainforest, leaving a trail of devastation in which little natural can survive.

CNN Anchor and National Correspondent Erica Hill takes a deep dive into the future of Venice, a city threatened by rising sea levels and the millions of tourists desperate to visit while they still can. 

Much of the world fears that climate change and rising sea levels will soon sink the ancient city of Venice, a misconception that is causing millions of tourists to visit each year while they still can. In "Saving Venice," Hill discovers that the more imminent threat to Venetians' way of life is this overwhelming flood of tourists, transforming the city's culture, housing and local economy. Hill speaks with a collective of locals interested in promoting a more ethical tourism industry with respect for Venice's unique and delicate environment. She learns about the innovative ways a new generation of Venetians are working to preserve the city's traditions, mitigate the effects of climate change, and taper the city's dependance on massive amounts of tourists.

"The rich history of Venice is one of innovation, evolution and entrepreneurship," said Hill. "That legacy is being tested now more than ever, but there are sustainable, thoughtful solutions to save this beautiful city, its culture, and most importantly, its community. With unique access to the Venice many visitors don't see, I am hopeful this hour will introduce audiences to a city - and a story - that is also a critical wake-up call for others around the world."

The episode features interviews with local Venetian restauranteurs, artisans, oceanographers, city planners and more. Hill even gets a rowing lesson in the canals of Venice from a competitive rower whose family has been competing in the city for generations.

CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates examines the rise and fall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who established himself not only as a hip hop artist but a legendary entrepreneur and media mogul in the 1990s.  Behind his huge success were a string of controversial incidents and legal issues, culminating in the allegations from dozens of women of violence and rape.  Coates, who has covered the trial since the beginning, explores the key moments from the prosecution and the defense, and speaks with an alternate juror in the case.

CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller uses his investigative experience to dive into the murders of four University of Idaho college students in November of 2022.  The brutal killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin shocked the community and the world, especially since there was no known motive for the attacks. Miller examines the evidence in the case and unpacks how investigators tracked the crime to Bryan Kohberger, who had been fighting the charges for two years before finally pleading guilty this week. With unanswered questions about the case still lingering, Miller goes behind the headlines to explore the loose ends that remain. 

CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir returns with a look at some of the biggest stars working to revolutionize the eco footprint of live music. 

Featuring Billie Eilish and her mother Maggie Baird, Bonnie Raitt, Jack Johnson, AJR's Adam Met and Perry Farrell formerly of Jane's Addiction, Weir traces the legacy of stars who are working to reform a live music industry that demands massive amounts of energy and produces tons of waste. From refillable water stations, plastic-free shows and even kinetic dance floors that turn the crowd's energy into electricity, eco-conscious musicians are leading a movement to make caring about the climate cool. Their influence is catching on, with Lollapalooza now operating its main stage with a battery-powered hybrid system that gets cleaner every year, and Coachella implementing their first zero carbon stage.

"As so many politicians and corporate leaders slink away from leadership on climate issues while the cultural influence of live music explodes, I set out to understand how a handful of devoted artists have managed to clean and green their industry in astounding ways," Weir said. "A music festival is like a temporary, disposable city so the lessons learned can be applied across society, and the connections being made with fellow fans have sparked a surprising new wave of grass roots connection and action."

Weir speaks with Billie Eilish behind-the-scenes during her stadium tour where she implements several eco-friendly initiatives, and meets up with her and Maggie Baird in the hills of Los Angeles where nonprofit Tree People plants shade in underserved communities and after wildfires. He also visits with Jack Johnson on his Kokua Learning Farm in Hawaii, created to connect kids with nature and fresh, healthy food.

CNN Senior National Correspondent David Culver returns with an immersive dispatch from inside the brutal cocaine trafficking system which has made Ecuador the deadliest country in Latin America. 

Since 2018, Ecuador's homicide rate has surged by 580%, with 2025 on track to be Ecuador's deadliest year on record. With roughly 70% of the world's cocaine moving through Ecuador, gangs are at war for control of an underground global economy worth tens of billions of dollars a year. In "Ecuador: The Narco Superhighway," Culver goes deep inside a system that pulls in the poor, empowers the brutal and protects the powerful, all to indulge the habit of a global addiction with local Ecuadorians caught in the undertow.

"We spent more than two weeks in fishing villages, border towns, major cities and ports… places where the violence isn't just a headline, it's part of daily life. We met grieving families, fishermen pulled into the trade, even gang members who claim they had no other option but to commit horrific acts, which they openly admit to," said Culver. "This isn't just a story about drugs. It's about how power, poverty, and global demand collide in Ecuador."

From coastal villages and jungle borderlands to banana plantations and bustling ports, and even to the Galapagos islands, Culver follows the chain of smuggling, extortion and violence. He rides along with Ecuador's navy as they train to chase down drug runners off the vast Pacific coast and speaks with a high-ranking gang commander reflecting on the impact of his trade on his community.

CNN National Correspondent Nick Watt premieres an incisive look at the now booming sports gambling industry in America.

Last year, Americans bet around 150 billion dollars on sports. Point spreads, prop bets and parlays have entered the vernacular of a burgeoning new generation of young gamblers, a group particularly susceptible to addiction. In states where sports betting has become legalized, overall credit scores have gone down and bankruptcy filings have gone up, and athletes are facing harassment and threats from losing gamblers. Now, attorneys are filing a class action lawsuit claiming that sports betting apps were designed to create and feed addiction.

"I'm not a gambler, so diving into this world is fascinating," said Watt. "We see the pleasure and the pain, and I'm blown away by how far this industry has come since the Supreme Court unleashed the beast and legalized this back just seven years ago. This isn't your grandad dropping a couple of bucks at the horse track."

In "Sports Betting: America's Big Gamble," Watt seeks answers from those at the forefront of America's sports betting industry, including President of the American Gaming Association Bill Miller, President of the NCAA Charlie Baker, Executive Vice President of NFL Communications, Public Affairs and Policy Jeff Miller, and more. He also speaks with the everyday people who have been impacted by the legalization of sports betting, including professional sports gamblers and recovering gambling addicts.

CNN Anchor/Senior National Correspondent Sara Sidner returns with a powerful portrait of a multi-racial Southern family  that confronts and explores its painful shared history— and comes together in spite of it. 

In York County, South Carolina, two halves of the Simril(l) family exist: the white side, descended from slave holders, and the Black side, descended from people enslaved on the Simril plantation. The two were segregated for over a century— unaware of their shared background— until Spenser Simrill began reaching out to others with the same last name 11 years ago, in the hopes of learning more about his family's clouded history. What he and his newfound relatives uncovered was a complicated legacy built around slavery, Reconstruction Era racial terrorism, and the unbelievable villains and heroes at the center of it.  

As they prepare for their 2025 reunion celebration, Spenser Simrill and Michael Simril continue their search to unearth more of the Simril(l) story. They investigate their ancestors' violent run-ins with Klansmen in the county, as well as their family's 1871 migration to Liberia in pursuit of economic prosperity.  Together, the Simril(l)s of today consider how their blended families can share resources moving forward, enrich each other's lives, and serve as a blueprint for racial healing.  

"The Simril(l) lineage is full of remarkable characters who were unafraid to challenge power at fraught times in our nation's history," said Sidner.  "I was so taken not only with their story, but also their ability to embrace it with such grace and dignity. As we look to the Juneteenth holiday, I see this family as a model for how we can all reckon with our pasts to forge a better, more united future." 

CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper returns with an examination of how Jimmy Kimmel ignited a fiery First Amendment debate across the country. 

In this episode, Tapper traces the extraordinary events that led to this precarious moment for free speech in America. The episode centers around the murder of Charlie Kirk, which shocked a nation. Tapper explores how the Trump administration's reaction to Kirk's death culminated in comedian Jimmy Kimmel's multi-day suspension from the air; and he explains the lesser-known business considerations at play that may have contributed to the decision. Tapper helps viewers make sense of this moment: examining the history of political comedy in late night, how both parties have made attempts to censor the media and control the narrative, and what President Trump's unprecedented actions could spell for the future of the First Amendment.

CNN Anchor and Correspondent Omar Jimenez premieres an inside look at how the Trump administration's crackdown on academic institutions came to a head at Harvard University.

Harvard, a monument to America's higher education system and the oldest, wealthiest, and most influential American university, has become a figurehead for an emerging conservative focus on reshaping academia in recent years. DEI policies, critical race theory, and affirmative action became partisan rallying cries against universities like Harvard.

"This is really a battle between two of the world's most powerful institutions in their respective categories," Jimenez said. "What happens with Harvard will likely set the tone for what other universities do if faced with similar headwinds. That's why this story is so important," Jimenez added.

In this episode, Jimenez reports on the ground from Harvard's campus, finding a range of perspectives among the student body and faculty, tracing how the political drama has unfolded on campus and its impact. He investigates how Harvard quietly made changes aligning with the conservative agenda, even as they publicly fought what they considered government overreach into a private university. Jimenez also uncovers why the world's richest university needs federal funding, and the devastating consequences on potentially life-saving scientific research when that funding was cut off.

CNN Senior National Correspondent Ed Lavandera returns with a harrowing look at the rise in violent incidents at sporting events around the world. 

70% of professional stadium security officials surveyed said they felt sports fan behavior is worse now than it was five years ago. Lavandera investigates how the adrenaline and frustration of sports, combined with the extreme hive mentality that comes with team fandom, can lead to violent conflict.

"There's nothing quite like finding yourself in the middle of an exhilarating sports drama. The passion. The energy. But all too often there is a dark side to these moments," said Lavandera. "This journey explores the violent consequences when the action spills off the field."

In "Bad Sports: When Fans Turn Violent," Lavandera speaks with sports lovers, local authorities, and stadium officials who have been impacted by poor fan behavior across the country, from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. He reports from Detroit during the NFC Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL playoffs, and even crosses the pond to London, the most notorious city in the world for rabid fans.

"The Hidden Homeless" provides an intimate portrait of the forgotten victims of New York City's worst housing shortage in half a century – homeless youth. In 2024, 1 in 8 New York City public school students experienced housing instability — approximately 146,000 students. This episode traces the daily lives of some of the 70% of people in shelters who are families with children, most led by single, working women who earn too little to afford the city's high costs of rent, groceries, and childcare. As affordability continues to be a key issue in the NYC mayoral election, "The Hidden Homeless" delivers perspectives directly from the public schools, shelters, and streets most impacted by this crisis, showcasing the constant grit and determination of young families and teens trying to change their circumstances against near-impossible odds.

CNN Senior Correspondent Donie O'Sullivan returns with a new chapter in his Emmy®-nominated series of investigations into the pervasive surge of misinformation and its impact on American politics.

O'Sullivan investigates why the narrative of an alleged "White genocide" in South Africa has gained traction among some Americans who fear changing demographics that are projected to soon make White people a minority in the U.S. The claim has even reached the White House, where President Trump cited it as justification for granting refugee status to White South Africans. Traveling to South Africa himself, O'Sullivan seeks out local voices to explore the country's deep-seated racial tensions and reveal the more complex reality behind the sensationalized rhetoric.

"The mainstreaming of White nationalist talking points in American discourse in recent years has centered on the conspiracy theory that White people in the U.S. are being deliberately 'replaced,'" said O'Sullivan. "Claims about purported White persecution in South Africa have played a major role in stoking these fears and have been used as an attempted justification for major changes in the U.S. refugee program. We wanted to separate fact from fiction in what Americans are being told about post-apartheid South Africa and to understand what it means for all of us."

In this episode, O'Sullivan meets a cross-section of South Africans grappling with their nation's legacy of apartheid and the racial inequalities that endure today. Among them is Errol Musk, Elon Musk's father, whose outspoken views mirror themes that have surfaced in American political discourse. O'Sullivan also travels to two communities built exclusively for White residents: one in South Africa's Orania and another in the Ozark Mountains of the United States, uncovering how these parallel movements reflect a shared ideology across continents.