The Taliban’s return to power has raised fears about hard-won rights for Afghan women and girls over the last two decades. On Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 2:00pm ET, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, and Najla Ayoubi, chief of global programs at Every Woman Treaty and a former Afghan judge, join Washington Post Live to discuss the future for women in the country.

Philip D. Zelikow led the congressionally chartered inquiry into the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Now, he is laying the groundwork for a national commission to investigate the COVID-19 pandemic and propose forward-looking policy recommendations. The attorney, diplomat and University of Virginia professor joins Washington Post deputy editorial page editor Karen Tumulty to discuss the Covid Commission Planning Group. This group is planning a large investigative effort along multiple lines of inquiry, including the origins of the pandemic, failures of pandemic preparedness and response, the impact of COVID-19 on at-risk communities and the development and distribution of vaccines and therapeutics. Join Washington Post Live on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 9:00am ET.

Seth Berkley, MD is the CEO of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, a leading global health organization racing against the clock to get poorer countries vaccinated against COVID-19 while the delta variant rages. GAVI, along with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organization, is leading COVAX, a partnership dedicated to providing free COVID-19 vaccines to at least 20 percent of the population in the world’s 92 poorest countries by the end of 2021. Berkley will highlight the challenges around supply, delivery, vaccine hesitancy and poor health infrastructure in recipient countries. Join Frances Stead Sellers, senior writer on the Americas desk on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 11:30am ET for the conversation.

“The Good Fight” is known for creating story content inspired by recent headlines. In its fifth season, the well-reviewed streaming series draws storylines from the death of George Floyd, the trials and tribulations of the Trump administration and the Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol Building, among other headlines, and weaves issues surrounding racial inequalities in America into its subplots. Join opinions writer Jonathan Capehart on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 4:00pm ET in conversation with “The Good Fight” co-creators and executive producers Michelle and Robert King alongside series’ stars Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald as they discuss the series’ success in tackling social justice issues through its creative portrayal of current events.

The Miss America Organization celebrates its 100th birthday this month. What started as a local event meant to extend the tourism season past Labor Day turned into a heralded nationwide pageant and scholarship program that has survived its own history of sexism and misogyny. Washington Post writer Amy Argetsinger’s retrospective book “There She Was” takes readers on a journey through American feminist history, sexism, racism, politics, the end of the swimsuit competition and the pageant’s recent steep decline in viewership. Join Washington Post Live on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 10am ET for a discussion with the author about the Organization’s century of tiaras and talent competitions.

Jodie McLean is the CEO of EDENS, one of the nation’s leading private owners, operators and developers of retail real estate. McLean has focused on transforming brick-and-mortar shopping malls into lifestyle destinations that reflect consumer preferences. As people return to in-person experiences, retailers are hitting some challenges. McLean joins Washington Post deputy editorial page editor Karen Tumulty to discuss how staffing and supply chain issues, as well as continued health safety concerns, are changing the retail experience post-COVID. Join Washington Post Live on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 2:00pm ET.

It is America’s longest war with over 2,300 dead and more than 20,000 casualties. Washington Post reporter Craig Whitlock, author of the new Washington Post book, “The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War,” will discuss stunning revelations about the war in Afghanistan and offer powerful, inside perspective on new evidence that the recent Afghan collapse was years in the making. Whitlock will be joined by former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker and former U.S. Army Lieutenant General Douglas Lute (Ret.). Join the conversation on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 12:00pm ET.

Common has often explored racial and social justice in his work as an artist, actor, author and activist. His new album, “A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2,” asks what comes next after the events of the past year and a half. On Monday, Aug. 30 at 4:00pm ET, Common speaks with Washington Post opinions writer Jonathan Capehart about the message behind his latest music and his advocacy work on issues from mass incarceration to voting.

Washington Post Live’s “First Look” offers a smart, inside take on the day’s politics. Jonathan Capehart will host a reporter debrief followed by a roundtable discussion with Washington Post columnists.

“The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap” chronicles the rise and impact of the genre as a cultural and social movement. Spanning four decades, the anthology weaves in selections of music, reflections from artists including Chuck D and MC Lyte and archival material. On Thursday, Aug. 19 at 1:00pm ET, Kevin Young, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Dwandalyn R. Reece, the museum’s associate director for curatorial affairs, join Washington Post Live to discuss the expansive new project.

As the delta variant continues to surge in the United States and around the world, frontline responders are working to increase vaccination rates and ensure the equitable distribution of resources to the most vulnerable communities. CORE co-founders Sean Penn and Ann Lee join Washington Post reporter Geoff Edgers to talk about working with local governments to coordinate COVID-19 frontline efforts in major U.S. cities, across the Navajo Nation and around the world. They will assess the path forward in this global crisis, discuss COVID-19 strategies focused on resilience and future preparedness and share an update on relief efforts in Haiti following the recent earthquake. Join the conversation Thursday, Aug. 19 at 11:00am ET.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) will share mounting concerns in Congress over the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan with Washington Post Congressional correspondent and Power Up anchor Jacqueline Alemany on Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 4:00pm ET. The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee will also discuss the latest on the bipartisan infrastructure deal and the Biden administration’s approach to those negotiations.

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the way both employees and employers are considering benefits. As employees return to the workplace, there are calls for increased flexibility, family-friendly policies, and additional health and wellness options packages. The pandemic also affected many Americans’ concerns and plans for retirement. On Wednesday, Aug. 18, Washington Post Personal Finance Columnist Michelle Singletary talks to industry leaders about how businesses in different sectors and companies of different sizes are approaching this new landscape that impacts employees’ personal finances.

Former world tennis champion and social activist Billie Jean King is one of the most iconic athletes in American history. With 39 Grand Slam titles and 20 career wins at Wimbledon, King was named one of the “100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by LIFE magazine. King joins Washington Post opinions writer Jonathan Capehart to share stories from her remarkable life and her ongoing commitment to equality, penned in her new book, “All In: An Autobiography.”

After two decades of U.S. military involvement and the swift collapse of the central government, the Taliban has retaken control of Afghanistan. The Biden administration continues to defend its decision to withdraw from the country though the pace of the Taliban’s advances has stunned many American and foreign officials. On Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 5:00pm ET, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s ranking Republican, joins congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor to discuss the United States’ strategy in Afghanistan, the future of the country and what the Taliban’s victory means for the fight against terrorism.

With growing demand around the world, countries and companies are rethinking the energy sources that fuel our lives. As newer technologies emerge, Chevron Chair and CEO Michael Wirth is not only leading the oil giant’s efforts to curb its current carbon output, but he is also spearheading their investments into alternative energy sources. Wirth sits down with Washington Post columnist David Ignatius to discuss the future of energy in a rapidly changing world. Join Washington Post Live on Monday, Aug. 16 at 2:30pm ET.

The coronavirus pandemic forced thousands of restaurants to close their doors, scale back operations or shift business models altogether. From New York City restaurateur Danny Meyer recently mandating vaccinations to New Orleans chef Nina Compton rapidly building a successful take-out business, the pandemic forced difficult decisions about their enterprises and illuminated the role that restaurants play in job creation, local economies and the broader economy. On Monday, Aug. 16 at 11:00am ET, the restaurateurs join Washington Post Live to discuss a path forward for the restaurant industry after the pandemic, measures to keep customers safe and the industry’s role in the broader economy.

Washington Post Live’s “First Look” offers a smart, inside take on the day’s politics. Jonathan Capehart will host a reporter debrief followed by a roundtable discussion with Washington Post columnists. Tune in for news and analysis you can’t get anywhere else on Friday, August 13 at 9:00am ET.

The history of legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey is captured in the new documentary, “Ailey.” On Thursday, Aug. 12 at 12:00pm ET, senior critic-at-large Robin Givhan explores Ailey’s legacy of telling the Black American story through dance with director Jamila Wignot and Sylvia Waters, one of his former principal dancers.

As one of the first people in her community to contract COVID-19, Diana Berrent scrambled to find medical information and testing, and she knew others must be struggling too. The COVID-19 long hauler created Survivor Corps, a grassroots patient advocacy group, to support the increasing number of coronavirus patients to push the CDC and medical researchers to connect with and learn from patients. Join Washington Post Live on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 1:30pm ET when Berrent sits down with Washington Post senior writer Frances Stead Sellers to discuss the growing number of long haulers and the mounting medical challenges they face.

At a time when many restaurants have scaled back or closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chipotle has experienced soaring growth. The company is also employing new incentives to compete for workers. Join Washington Post Live on Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 11:30am ET for a conversation with Chipotle Chair and CEO Brian Niccol about the path forward for restaurants and the state of the labor market.

The mayor of Baltimore recently announced an expansive five-year violence reduction plan. The city has recorded over 190 homicides so far this year, compared to 183 in the same period last year. On Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 10:00am ET, Washington Post criminal justice reporter Tom Jackman speaks with Baltimore police commissioner Michael S. Harrison about strategies to keep communities safe and the role of policing.

Evangelical Christians represent the largest religious group in America. Their votes and endorsements are coveted by both political parties, and leaders of the movement continue to impact the national discourse. But as the COVID-19 rages on in the U.S., nearly one-quarter of White evangelicals are refusing to get vaccinated, fueling a pandemic of vaccine skepticism that health experts worry could lead to a dangerous fourth surge. Renowned theologian Russell Moore joins Washington Post senior writer Frances Stead Sellers for a conversation focused on the future of the Evangelical movement in the U.S., its outsized influence in American politics and efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy in the Bible Belt. Join the conversation on Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 11:30am ET.

Washington Post Live’s “First Look” offers a smart, inside take on the day’s politics. Jonathan Capehart will host a reporter debrief followed by a roundtable discussion with Washington Post columnists. Tune in for news and analysis you can’t get anywhere else on Friday, August 6 at 9:00am ET.

With recent reports that the Pentagon is taking sightings of UFOs seriously making headlines, a new docuseries called "UFO" is premiering on Showtime. Join Washington Post Live to hear from Mark Monroe, one of the series’ directors, and Greg Eghigian, a Pennsylvania State University history professor and one of the experts featured in the series, as they explore the phenomenon of unidentified flying objects, examine why the U.S. government often prefers to keep some information secret and learn what we currently know about UFOs. Join the conversation on Thursday, August 5 at 4:00pm ET.