The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper

Station:
CNN (US)

Status:
Running

Start:
2023-04-16

Rating:
0/10 from 0 users

The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper is a collection of unique and immersive single-subject, one-hour episodes from CNN's Emmy®  and Peabody Award-winning long-form storytelling team.  The recurring weekly series will be hosted by Cooper and showcase character-driven stories, special interviews, profiles, and investigative deep dives featuring reporting from CNN's anchors and correspondents.

The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper Next Episode Air Date

Next Episode is 'Ben Sasse is Going Home: Lessons on Life and Death' (Season 4 Episode 8) and airs on 26 Jul 2026 19:00 (CDT).

The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper Images

List of episodes

S4E5 - Immigration Crackdown: A Year of Enforcement

CNN Anchor and Correspondent Omar Jimenez traces the dramatic escalation of enforcement tactics by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement since Donald Trump took office. Traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago, to Minneapolis, and ultimately to the border between Guatemala and Mexico, Jimenez examines how federal immigration policies are unfolding on the ground and reshaping communities across the United States, even affecting migration patterns.

In "Immigration Crackdown: A Year of Enforcement," Jimenez speaks with people who say they have suffered directly at the hands of ICE, and families now living in fear of leaving their homes even for groceries. In Chicago, the episode reveals extensive body-camera footage from police and federal agents that captures an unfiltered look at ICE tactics during on-the-ground operations. In Minneapolis, Jimenez traces the economic impact on Latino businesses where both customers and workers have stopped showing up.

"I've been reporting in many of these communities for months now and the fear is unmistakeable, but there's also a lot of anger at the tactics employed by the federal government," Jimenez said. "These are the human stories behind the policy decisions in Washington DC and I really wanted to show the wide-ranging implications of those policies both here in the United States and beyond."

Air Date: 29 Mar 2026 19:00 (CDT)

S4E6 - 50 Years of Apple

CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir provides an illuminating look inside a company that has helped reshape modern life. Fifty years after its founding in a California garage, Apple has grown into one of the most influential, profitable, and iconic companies in history, with more than 2.5 billion users worldwide. Weir takes viewers inside Apple's past and present, from the breakthrough launch of the Macintosh to the cultural dominance of the iPod and iPhone, and the company's transition from the Steve Jobs era to the leadership of Tim Cook. Through interviews with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, former iPod division SVP Tony Fadell, and veteran tech journalists Kara Swisher, David Pogue, and Walt Mossberg, the episode offers a comprehensive look at the visionaries, decisions, and turning points that defined the company.

"When my college newspaper got a Macintosh in the 80's, I had no idea I'd eventually cover the launch of the iPhone, become the first reporter to see their products being made in China and see Apple screens come to dominate my family's waking hours. So this golden anniversary seems a fitting time to reflect both on what Apple has given the world AND the unintended consequences," said Weir.

Beyond the products themselves, "50 Years of Apple" examines the company's broader impact on culture and society, from how we document our lives to the role smartphones play in civic movements and revolutions worldwide. The episode also examines what may come next, as a real-time backlash against screen dependency gains momentum and a new wave of technologies begins to shape the future.

Air Date: 04 Apr 2026 21:00 (CDT)

S4E7 - UFC at the White House

CNN Anchor and Senior National Correspondent Sara Sidner returns with an inside look at the decades-long relationship between the UFC and President Donald Trump. As the UFC prepares for a historic fight card on the South Lawn, Sidner examines the sport's unlikely rise from its controversial beginnings to a powerful cultural and political force. In a wide-ranging and candid interview, UFC President Dana White discusses the evolution of his relationship with Trump, the criticism surrounding the perception of UFC as a MAGA-aligned brand, and the unprecedented logistics and cost of staging a fight event at the White House. Sidner also goes inside UFC headquarters and speaks with fighters Michael Chandler and Steve Garcia as they prepare for the landmark event. Along the way, she explores how the UFC's predominantly young male fanbase has become an increasingly powerful political demographic, and how Trump and his allies have embraced the sport and broader "manosphere" culture to connect with younger male voters.

"A sport once banned in 36 states for its no-rules brutality has morphed into the fastest-growing sport in the world over the past 20 years, and its power has seeped into politics," said Sidner. "I wanted to dive into this world to see all its facets, from those inside the UFC machine to its critics. One thing is clear: this isn't just a fight night on the South Lawn. It's much bigger than that."

Air Date: 07 Jun 2026 19:00 (CDT)

S4E8 - Ben Sasse is Going Home: Lessons on Life and Death

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper returns with an intimate and deeply personal portrait of life, faith, and love in the face of mortality, through the eyes of former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, who is living with a terminal cancer diagnosis at the age of 54.

In this special hour, Tapper, who has known and interviewed Sasse for more than a decade, travels to Sasse's beloved home of Nebraska to spend time with Sasse and his family as they navigate this uncertain, yet profound, chapter of life together. Their candid conversations explore how Sasse has approached the weight of a terminal diagnosis, how his perspective on life and death has evolved, and the unexpected moments of joy and gratitude that remain.

"We'll all face our own mortality one day, but most of us will never do it as publicly and openly as Ben Sasse," said Jake Tapper. "Amidst immense physical pain, Ben's ability to assign a higher meaning to it all, and to do it with so much grace, left a deep impact on me. I know others will feel the same, and I hope anyone who watches this hour gains a new perspective on what's truly important in this one life we are given."

The episode features the first interview with Sasse's wife, Melissa, since his diagnosis, as the couple reflects on the role of faith in sustaining their family. Tapper also joins Sasse and his son at the College World Series, where baseball serves as both a backdrop and a reminder of the traditions and memories the family continues to cherish. Throughout the hour, Sasse opens up about the experimental treatment that has extended his life, offers candid reflections on the state of American politics, and considers the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

Air Date: 26 Jul 2026 19:00 (CDT)