Newsweek columnist hosts CNN’s new talk show

CNN is starting a weekly talk show on international issues, led by Newsweek’s Fareed Zakaria, that debuts Sunday with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as an interview subject.

“Fareed Zakaria – GPS,” which stands for “global public square,” will air Sundays at 10 a.m. (cable channel 44 in Spokane, 27 in Coeur d’Alene).

Zakaria, a columnist and editor of Newsweek International, said he’s frustrated when he turns on American news networks to hear endless discussions about why Hillary Clinton should or shouldn’t leave the presidential race, because there is legitimate news elsewhere.

He fears a vicious circle is at work: Networks don’t show much international news because they fear viewers aren’t interested, and viewers aren’t interested because they get so little of it.

Zakaria also said he understands the need to make a compelling program that won’t seem like the college seminar you tried to skip.

“People instinctively think they’re going to be bored by this, and you have to grab them by the lapels,” he said.

The hour-long show will have a centerpiece interview, about 20 minutes long. Blair, now an international peace envoy, will be the first subject.

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour will be among the panelists to appear frequently.