Amanpour

Countries around the world are asking whether it is in their best interest to align  more closely with China or the United States. Kurt Campbell helped guide US-  China policy through multiple administrations and was Deputy Secretary of State  under Joe Biden. He joins Christiane for his first TV interview since leaving  government.    Also on today’s show: Director Marcel Mettelsiefen discusses his new  documentary on the Israel-Palestine conflict, “A State of Rage”; business owners  Debbie Wei Mullin and Sarah LaFleur on the impact of the Trump tariffs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harvard University has refused to bow to President Trump's demands to drop DEI measures and punish student protesters. While some universities like Columbia buckled under the financial pressure and Trump's demands, Harvard is not alone in resisting. Among those fighting back is Wesleyan University, whose own federal funding has been threatened. School President Michael Roth joins Christiane from Connecticut.  Also on today's show: David Gibson, Director, Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University; author Kelsey Osgood ("Godstruck")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine is still reeling from a massive Russian attack on civilians after two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city of Sumy, killing almost three dozen people. Ukrainian MP and Chair of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Oleksandr Merezhko joins the show to discuss how Ukraine can navigate a fraught relationship with the White House amidst ongoing Russian attacks.   Also on today's show: Kholood Khair, Sudanese researcher and political analyst; director Alex Gibney and author Jane Mayer on "The Dark Money Game"; Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Art Spiegelman  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the hours between Friday and Sunday, the White House announced exemptions on some Chinese tech products, only for the Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to say these are just "temporary" and that the electronics will still face other levies. Greg Mankiw, a former economic adviser to President George W. Bush, and Ernie Tedeschi, who was chief economist under President Biden, join the show together to discuss.  Also on today's show: Vali Nasr, Professor, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University / Former U.S. State Department Advisor; David Culver, Senior US National Correspondent; Kenneth Stern, Director, Bard Center for the Study of Hate  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A week after the meltdown of markets everywhere and Trump's sudden pause on most new tariffs for 90 days - with the exception of China, economists say the trade war is still on, the damage has already been done and the likelihood of a recession remains. Long time allies now view America with suspicion and trust has been badly damaged. To contextualize what this moment means for America, Christiane spoke to renowned global historian Peter Frankopan. Then to find out how Beijing is viewing the Trump administration's actions, Christiane talked to Li Yuan who covers China and its foreign relations for the New York Times. Also, CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports on one IDF soldier who is blowing the whistle on a policy to purposely destroy everything in a massive buffer zone inside Gaza and even make it a kill zone. Afterwards, award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie speaks to Christiane about her new novel "Dream Count" - a tale of love, loss and female solidarity. Then, as Rwanda commemorates 31 years since the genocide there, Christiane revisits her 1994 report on the biblical retribution that befell the Hutu killers who were struck by a plague-like outbreak of cholera after fleeing Rwanda for neighboring countries. And finally, as "The Great Gatsby" turns 100, why it retains its relevance all these years later.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump has taken the global economy on a dangerous roller coaster, and it's not over yet. Chris Sununu was the Republican Governor of New Hampshire. He was a backer of Nikki Haley but ultimately endorsed Donald Trump. He's just ruled out a Senate run in the state, much to the President's disappointment. He joins the program from New York.   Also on today's show: author Ed Yong; economist Oren Cass; director Gints Zilbalodis  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump suddenly paused his new tariffs today on all effected countries ... with the notable exception of China. Before the pause, China announced plans to raise tariffs on American imports to 84%. Trump retaliated by raising tariffs on China to 125%. This all came after Vice President JD Vance offended Beijing by referring to “Chinese peasants” in an interview defending US policy. Trying to make sense of all this is Li Yuan, who covers China and its foreign relations for the New York Times. She joins to the program from New York.  Also on today's show: playwright Ryan Calais Cameron; recently detained Canadian actor Jasmine Mooney  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two Supreme Court rulings will impact critical Trump Administration deportation cases. First, the court allowed the White House to continue using the Alien Enemies Act, which gives them sweeping wartime authority to rapidly deport alleged gang members. In a second case, the Court extended a deadline for returning Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia from a Venezuelan prison back to the US.  Gregg Nunziata, a veteran of the conservative legal movement, joins the show to discuss the implications of these rulings.  Also on today's show: Jan Egeland, Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council; Dr. Tom Frieden, Former Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Markets continue to tumble across the world after President Trump said he won’t back down from his aggressive trade policies. Unlike previous economic crises, the pain is entirely self-inflicted. Betsey Stevenson is a former economic adviser to President Obama and a Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan. Justin Wolfers is also a Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan and they both join the show.  Also on today's show: Utah State Senator Nate Blouin; Turkish journalist Ece Temelkuran; NYT reporter Steven Kurutz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs going into effect on Saturday, world leaders are grappling with how to respond to the chaos hitting markets across the globe. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock joined Christiane from NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss how Europe plans to retaliate. Then, as Hungary withdraws from the International Criminal Court this week and Viktor Orban welcomes Benjamin Netanyahu, who's under an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, Christiane asks former U.S. ambassador David Pressman, who served there until this year, whether Trump's America is following Hungary's autocratic playbook. Also, after far-right politician Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement, Melissa Bell reports from Paris on what it means for France and the future of the National Rally party in the 2027 elections. Christiane also speaks with two aid workers who've seen the horrors in Gaza up close; American physician Tanya Haj-Hassan just left Gaza after spending almost 6 weeks there, and Arwa Damon, a former CNN journalist turned charity founder is desperately trying to get back in. From Christiane's archives, the search for Pope John Paul II's successor, twenty years after his death.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Donald Trump's historic tariffs trigger a global trade war, two former leaders join the show to discuss what this means for their countries and the world: Sanna Marin was Prime Minister of Finland-- she knows the threat posed by Russia all too well; and Juan Manuel Santos, the former president of Colombia, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for his role in bringing the country's decades long conflict to an end.  Also on today's show: actors Tom Basden and Tim Key on the new feel-good film "The Ballad of Wallis Island"; former US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world is now in a trade war after the White House imposed tariffs of at least 10% across all countries. Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock is at NATO HQ today, having just visited their ally in Kyiv. She spoke to Christiane from Brussels.  Also on today's show: author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is poised to declare sweeping new global tariffs, and across the world, leaders are bracing for impact, making it very clear that they will not take this lying down. While it's tariff day for Trump, it may just be resurrection day for Democrats, the opposition roaring back to life with a 25-hour speech by Senator Cory Booker, and a convincing win in Wisconsin's Supreme Court election. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy was in the chamber for Cory Booker's entire speech and asked the final question, and he joins Christiane from DC.  Also on today's show: Arwa Damon, Founder & President, INARA; Tanya Haj-Hassan, American physician who volunteered in Gaza; Tiya A. Miles, Professor of History, Harvard University / Author, "All That She Carried"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump and his team continue to test the boundaries of the US Constitution, from detaining students on visas due to their speech, to repeatedly floating the idea of a third term. Among his many executive orders, Trump has targeted major practices and their lawyers. Alberto Gonzales is the former White House Counsel to George W. Bush and the former US Attorney General, who warned in September that he viewed Trump as "perhaps the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation." He joins the show.  Also on today's show: Idit Ohel, mother of Israeli hostage Alon Ohel; Justin Levitt, Professor, Loyola Law School / Former Senior Policy Adviser for Democracy & Voting Rights, Biden Administration  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

French politician Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzlement, which means she now faces potentially years behind bars, a €100,000 fine and an immediate ban from running for public office. It's a shockwave for France, where Le Pen has run for the presidency in every election since 2012, with her support swelling in recent years. To unpack what this means, foreign policy advisor Nathalie Tocci and veteran French reporter Thierry Arnaud join the show.  Also on today's show: Dr. Sania Nishtar CEO, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance; Tina Fordham, Co-founder & geopolitical strategist, Fordham Global Insight; author Edward Fishman, "Chokepoints"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Trump team scrambles to contain the fallout over the signal scandal, former Republican Senator and U.S. Defense Secretary under President Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, talked to Christiane about the far-reaching consequences of this blunder. Then she speaks with best-selling author Michael Lewis and satirist W. Kamau Bell, about their new book called, "Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service.," which profiles the civil servants being targeted by the new administration in their federal government cuts. Plus, Ivan Watson reports on the hundreds of people trapped inside “scam compounds” in the warlord-controlled border region of Myanmar, the nexus of a billion-dollar scam industry, where hundreds of thousands of trafficked people have been working as modern slaves, conning victims around the world out of their savings. Then, as “The Sound of Music" turns 60, Christiane revisits her conversation with Julie Andrews about her legendary career and some behind-the-scenes moments. Plus, as the administration's foreign aid cut halt the critical cleanup of Agent Orange and other diplomatic efforts in Vietnam, Christiane's 60 Minutes report highlights the devastating impact of the toxic chemical on the local population and U.S. vets alike, and the reason for the much-needed U.S. assistance to this day.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a week in which the security of internet communications is in the spotlight, a new novel captures the murky world of undersea internet cables: essential, indispensable and incredibly vulnerable. Author Colum McCann captures the real-world drama in his highly anticipated new book, “Twist.”  Also on today's show: Iranian-Kurdish rapper Saman Yasin; actor Julie Andrews (from the archives)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the arrest of a green-card-holding Columbia graduate, President Trump said it's the "first arrest of many to come." Now immigration officials have detained and arrested Rumeysa Ozturk in Somerville, Massachusetts, a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University with a valid student visa. Ozturk has been forcibly transported to detention in Louisiana. Vincent Warren is Executive Director at the Center for Constitutional Rights, and he joins Christiane from New York.  Also on today's show: author Michael Lewis and host/comedian W. Kamau Bell; Jessica Chen Weiss, Professor of China Studies, John Hopkins University / Director, Institute for America, China & the Future of Global Affairs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In what would mark a small but significant diplomatic breakthrough, the White House says Ukraine and Russia have agreed to stop using military force in the Black Sea. But, Russia says that will only go into effect once sanctions are lifted on its financial institutions. As Ukraine's future hangs in the balance, and for other countries on the front line with Russia, the fear of an emboldened Putin and an absent U.S. is all too real. Baiba Braže is Latvia's Foreign Minister, and she joins the show from Washington DC.  Also on today's show: Makena Kelly, Senior Tech and Politics Reporter, WIRED; Shaima Al-Obaidi; Senior Media Manager, Save the Children UK; author Clay Risen, "Red Scare"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A delegation from the US is meeting with Kremlin representatives in Saudi Arabia today for negotiations on a partial ceasefire in Ukraine. It comes one day after a US team met with Ukrainian negotiators for what officials are calling "productive" talks. Dara Massicot is an expert on Russia with the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace and she joins the show from Washington, DC.  Also on today's show: Özgür Özel, Leader, Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP); Nashville Councilmember Olivia Hill; Asako Gladsjo & Dr. Le’Shauna Phinazee on the new documentary "The Calling"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Now that USAID is gutted, we hear from frontline humanitarian David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee. Then: The Netflix hit sparking an important conversation: Adolescence—it’s about young minds, male rage, and the dangers of social media. Star of the show Stephen Graham joins me. Plus: Fear in the occupied West Bank as Israeli settlers, often violently expand their illegal outposts. CNN is there. Then: High stakes for Europe and the limits of Trump’s Ukraine-Russia diplomacy. Former Pentagon official Celeste Wallander joins me. And: From the archive—on World Water Day, a warning from Sarajevo: painful echoes of water as a weapon of war, from Bosnia back then to Gaza and Ukraine today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The legal battle over the Trump administration's gutting of USAID began this week with a federal judge ruling against DOGE-initiated cuts. Though Elon Musk insists "no one has died as a result" of DOGE's actions, the reality on the ground is already painting a very different picture. Health workers in the developing world have said people are already dying from the cutoff. And a new study by the Center for Global Development says millions more could die within a year. International Rescue Committee chief David Miliband joins the show to discuss.  Also on today's show: Omar El Akkad, author, “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”; Carrie Besnette Hauser, President and CEO, Trust for Public Land  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can anti-corruption protests in Serbia take down a populist president? Democracy activist Maja Stojanovic joins the show from Belgrade. Then we go to Gaza, where the end of the ceasefire could also mean ending any chance of an education for hundreds of thousands of children there. And we take a look at the harrowing Netflix hit series that takes on toxic masculinity.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The result of Donald Trump's heavily hyped negotiating session with Vladimir Putin yesterday is no to an unconditional ceasefire, and Russia immediately launched air attacks overnight and so did Ukraine. Moscow however did agree to exchange more prisoners of war with Kyiv, 300 in all today, and the US says more talks are planned. At the Pentagon, Celeste Wallander oversaw US military assistance to Ukraine during the Biden administration. In her latest Foreign Affairs article, she says that with uncertainty hanging over American aid to Kyiv, Europe and Ukraine have more leverage than they think.   Also on today's show: Greg Swenson, Chairman, Republicans Overseas UK; author John Green ("Everything is Tuberculosis")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hundreds of people have been killed in Gaza after Israel broke a ceasefire and unleashed a huge bombardment across the territory on Tuesday morning. Israel says it was a "pre-emptive strike" targeting military commanders, leadership officials and terrorist infrastructure. Israel's Foreign Ministry adddd that Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire. Correspondent Jeremy Diamond has the details.  Also on today's show: Olga Cherevko, Spokesperson, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Oleksiy Goncharenko, Ukrainian Member of Parliament; Simon Harris, Irish Foreign Minister; Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein, co-authors of "Abundance"   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As peace talks drag on, the crisis in Gaza gets worse and worse. It's now two weeks since Israel shut off electricity, food, fuel and medical supplies, in a bid to pressure Hamas to accept an extension of the preliminary ceasefire. Gavin Kelleher is the humanitarian access manager in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council. He joins the show from Gaza City.  Also on today's show: Elizabeth Goitein, Senior Director, Liberty and National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice; Noubar Afeyan, Co-Founder & Chairman, Moderna; Mary McCord, Former Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, DOJ  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Trump’s global trade war rattles markets and allies prepare for a post-America world, and just after President Putin weighed in on the U.S. Ukrainian ceasefire proposal, Christiane spoke with Trump's former EU ambassador Gordon Sondland about his global realignment. Then, Christiane speaks with exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar who explains why the Kremlin is celebrating the chaos ushered in by Trump, seeing it as accelerating America's demise. Plus, the ACLU’s Cecillia Wang breaks down the case of Columbia graduate and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, explaininf its significance for first amendment rights. Also on the show, Nic Robertson reports from East Jerusalem on Israel’s crackdown on free speech. And from her archive, forty years since Mikhail Gorbachev became the last leader of the Soviet Union, Christiane revisits her 2012 interview with him.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

G7 foreign ministers are meeting against the ever-changing landscape of President Trump’s policies, and there's no better example of his administration's impact than in the host country: Canada. Which is still reeling from the shock of its neighbor starting a full-blown trade war. Meantime, Europe faces a triple whammy: Trump tariffs, plus the shockwaves of suddenly being forced to fend for themselves, plus Ukraine’s fight for survival. On Ukraine, Russian President Putin says he supports 'the proposal to cease hostilities’ but has 'reservations'. Kaja Kallas is the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and was Estonia’s Prime Minister until last year. She joined the program from Quebec where the G7 is taking place. Also on today's show: Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar; author Jonathan D. Cohen, “Losing Big: America's Reckless Bet on Sports Gambling”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time since Ukraine and the US agreed a ceasefire proposal, Vladimir Putin has reacted, saying he's "for this ceasefire," but with "reservations."  Gordon Sondland, who served as US Ambassador to the EU during Trump's first term, joins the show from DC for an insider view.  Also on today's show: Baher Azmy, Legal Director of the Center of Constitutional Rights / Attorney for Mahmoud Khalil; NYT journalist Farnaz Fassihi; Eric Lascelles, Managing Director, RBC Global Asset Management  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia has not yet said if it will accept a ceasefire with Ukraine, after President Zelensky put the ball in Putin's court, saying he will enter a 30-day temporary truce. The Kremlin says it's waiting for a briefing from US officials on the terms of the ceasefire. Kurt Volker was President Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine during Trump's first term, and was also Ambassador to NATO for George W. Bush.  Also on today's show: Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director, ACLU; Scott Galloway, Host, The Prof G Pod / Professor of Marketing, NYU Stern School of Business  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As fears of an economic downturn grow in the US, President Trump today posted that he will raise tariffs on all Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% and threatened to shut down the Canadian automobile industry. This comes as the Dow and S&P 500 each posted their worst day of the year. Former Vice Chair of the Fed Richard Clarida joins the show to discuss this all.  Also on today's show: Alina Polyakova, CEO & President, Centre for European Policy Analysis; Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director; Dr Ashish Jha, Dean, Brown University School of Public Health/ Fmr. COVID 19 Response Coordinator Under Pres. Biden  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This could be a crucial week for the war in Ukraine, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky each in Saudi Arabia for talks on the future of the war. It comes at a fraught time, after the Trump administration dealt Kyiv a number of serious blows, all while Kyiv is still fending off Russia’s aggression. Admiral James Stavridis, formerly NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, joins to discuss.  Also on today's show: Rim Turkmani, Director, LSE Syria Conflict Research Program; Ann Olivarius, Chair and Senior Partner, McAllister Olivarius; Reid Hoffman, Co-founder, LinkedIn  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: As Trump turns the world order on its head, cutting off Ukraine and cozying up to Russia, we get the view from Kyiv with former defense administrator Andriy Zagorodnyuk. Then: Trump’s opposition weighs in. Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton. And: As the Supreme Court rules Trump must unfreeze foreign aid, a reality check on the most desperate: the women and children of Afghanistan. Plus: Two states, one homeland. A path forward in the Middle East with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists. Also: It’s International Women’s Day. From the archive, the view from Afghanistan under the Taliban. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, we explore Donald Trump's admiration for authoritarian leader Victor Orban with a former US ambassador to Hungary. Plus, "Kyoto" is London's hot new play. We're joined by the play's cowriter and star, who explain how they turned climate talks into a must-see political thriller. And we head down the hippie trail with the famous travel writer Rick Steves.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs have prompted Canadian store owners to take American products off the shelves, and sports fans are booing the US national anthem. Canadians are also outraged by Trump's repeated taunt to make their country the 51st state, and there are even reports the US might kick it out of the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance. To discuss all this, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly joins the show from Toronto.  Also on today's show: former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk; May Pundak & Rula Hardal, co-directors of the NGO "A Land for All"; Frank Sesno, professor at the GW School of Media and Public Affairs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, President Trump acknowledged that there will be "a little disturbance" ahead. The theme was meant to be the "Renewal of the American Dream," but instead he doubled down on his plan to break up the global economic order. One of the attendees of last night's address was Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton and he joins the show from Washington.  Also on today's show: former Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron; author Elaine Weiss ("Spell Freedom")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration is pausing all shipments of military aid to Ukraine, potentially crippling the country's war effort against an invading Russia. Concurrently, the White House is pausing offensive cyber operations against Moscow and even mulling sanctions relief. Joining the program to discuss is former NSC Director of European Affairs Alexander Vindman, who in 2019 blew the whistle on Trump's threat to suspend military aid to try to get Zelensky to investigate Hunter Biden. Vindman's new book "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine" could hardly be more timely.    Also on today's show: Dr. Mary T. Bassett, Director, FXB Center for Health & Human Rights, Harvard University; Marc Short, Former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence; Gracelin Baskaran, Director, Critical Minerals Security Program, CSIS  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the course of one week, America has appeared to pivot in foreign policy, from an unprecedented vote with Russia at the United Nations to President Trump's angry exchange with Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted an emergency summit and announced that the UK and France were assembling a "coalition of the willing" to enforce a peace deal for Ukraine. Sir Malcolm Rifkind was foreign secretary in John Major's government and joins the show to discuss.  Also on today's show: Finland President Alexander Stubb; Ukrainian jounralist Nataliya Gumenyuk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Zelensky joins a parade of European leaders at the White House this week, wheeling and dealing over the security of Ukraine and the whole continent. Then: With the future of the US-European alliance on the line, Britain’s former defense secretary, Ben Wallace, discusses what happens when you’re played by Putin. And: Grief and pain as Israel buries the Bibas family, finally at home. Plus: Behind the scenes thriller, "Kyoto," brings the high-stakes drama of climate diplomacy to the stage. Also: From my archives, Bucha and what remains. Finally: The Oscars this weekend. The inability of one contender to find a US distributor.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the five weeks since his second inauguration, President Trump has been flooding the zone with executive order after executive order, while slashing federal agencies with help from Elon Musk. But is this style of governing finally reaching resistance? Marc Short, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence, brings an insider view.  Also on today's show: playwright Joe Murphy and actor Stephen Kunken on "Kyoto"; ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project Co-Director Chase Strangio  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with US President Donald Trump today in Washington. The stakes were high, with European security, and indeed prosperity in the balance. As UK Ambassador to the US during the Obama presidency, Sir Peter Westmacott helped steward the US-UK special relationship, a unique alliance dating back to World War II. He joins the show to make sense of where it may be headed.  Also on today's show: Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov; grief expert David Kessler  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the past week, Donald Trump has publicly aligned the United States more with America's adversary, Vladimir Putin, than with its allies, Ukraine and the rest of the Europe. With the next German chancellor talking about having to seek security independence from the United States, NATO leaders are already ramping up their defense spending. Ben Wallace was the UK's Defense Secretary during Russia's invasion in 2022 and has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine. He joins Christiane in London.   Also on today’s show: Gregg Nunziata, Executive Director, Society for the Rule of Law; New America senior adviser and retired naval officer Theodore R. Johnson    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI is undergoing the most radical transformation of its leadership in its history. It's new director, Kash Patel, an ardent Trump supporter, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate last week and he will now be joined by Dan Bongino as deputy director, a former secret service agent turned right-wing podcaster. The modern FBI is meant to be apolitical, but can it remain so with two ideologues at the helm? Brian Todd reports on the latest controversial appointment.  Also on today's show: former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe; International Crisis Group President/CEO Comfort Ero; Hermitage Capital Management CEO/Co-founder Bill Browder  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

European leaders are gathered in Kyiv today to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine. And for President Zelensky, the show of European support could not come at a more important time: after President Trump shocked allies by adopting Russian talking points, calling President Zelensky a dictator and falsely claiming he started the war. Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh reports the latest from Kyiv.  Also on today's show: Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov; Constanze Stelzenmüller Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution; David Broder, Europe Editor, Jacobin; human rights activist and author Kenneth Roth  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Trump launches a jaw-dropping 180 on Russia-Ukraine policy, Biden’s number two at the State Department, Wendy Sherman, joins me to discuss Putin’s playbook and what Trump needs to know about dealing with him. Then, democratic institutions at home are under unprecedented threat. M. Gessen, who lived through similar events in Russia, joins the program. Plus, Madeleine Albright's words from my archives still resonate today. Also ahead, alarm bells are sounding over the threat to democracy. A new series traces Mussolini’s rise to power, and I speak with director Joe Wright. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine is left looking on as America brings Russia back into the fold and Trump tests constitutional limits at home. New York Times columnist Masha Gessen joins Christiane to discuss the threats of rising authoritarianism in the US and abroad.  Also on today's show: Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas; Jordan Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi; Democratic congresswoman Jahana Hayes  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine has been fighting for its freedom for 1,093 days and must now contend not only with Russia but a reversal in US foreign policy, as the new administration welcomes Vladimir Putin back into the fold. Boris Bondarev was a diplomat who quit his post and denounced the Putin regime after the invasion of Ukraine. He joined the show from Geneva to give us the Russian view of things.  Also on today's show: US Senate Democrat Elissa Slotkin; author Bernadette Atuahene  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are seeing a shift in US and Russia's relations as high-level talks take place in Saudi Arabia, with both countries agreeing to "work through the conflict in Ukraine." Wendy Sherman was Deputy Secretary of State in the Biden administration and was among the last American diplomats to negotiate with Russian officials on the eve of their 2022 invasion. She joins Christiane from DC. Also on today's show: Ruth Margalit, Contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine; Brendan Ballou, Former Federal Prosecutor  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ssenior Russian and American officials are meeting to discuss what comes next. The exclusion of Kyiv and European allies at this early stage is causing concern in the continent most impacted by this war, and fears are growing that President Trump, eager for a quick deal, will give away too much. Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh joins the show from Kyiv to discuss, followed by Andrea Kendall Taylor, Senior Fellow and Director of the Transatlantic Security Program.  Also on today's show Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa; human rights advocate and author Loretta Ross  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Europe, Ukraine and much of the world is reeling after senior American officials sent a clear message at the Munich Security Conference: European security is no longer an American priority. The United States' new direction is already underway, as high-level Russian and American teams arrive in Saudi Arabia this week for bilateral talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Notably absent is Ukraine itself. President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia this week but he is not part of the negotiation. Christiane spoke with him about his plans to speak for Ukraine, even as the US and Russia try to keep him away from the table.  Also on today's show: Sen. Chris Coons; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte; Bill Gates  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As NATO allies and Ukraine wait anxiously to know exactly how President Trump plans to negotiate with Vladimir Putin, Christiane sits down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference, where the stakes this year couldn't be higher. With vital USAID activities on the Trump-Musk chopping block, Christiane speaks with James Kunder, former deputy administrator of USAID under George W. Bush about the global fallout of the gutting of America's largest foreign aid organization. Then, Ivan Watson reports on the real-world impact of Trump's overhaul to USAID from the Thailand-Myanmar border where refugees there are unable to access critical medical care. Also, Jeremy Strong talks to Christiane about his Oscar-nominated role, playing Roy Cohn, Donald Trump's villanous lawyer and early mentor in "The Apprentice."  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, President Donald Trump signed a directive "restoring maximum pressure" on Iran while signaling he's open to reaching a new deal with Tehran. Vali Nasr and Elliot Abram are two former state department officials who have served Democrat and Republican Presidents, and they join Christiane to discuss this issue.  Also on today's show: actor Fernanda Torres and director Walter Salles discuss the Oscar-nominated Brazilian film "I'm Still Here"; physician and contributing writer for The New Yorker Dhruv Khullar talks about the dangers of ultra-processed food in our diets.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than six million people could die from HIV and AIDS in the next four years if the US pulls its global funding for programs, according to the UN AIDS agency. Thandiwe Mhlambi is part of a program that reduces the risk of HIV among girls and empowers them economically. She joins Christiane from Johannesburg, South Africa.  Also on today's show: James Kunder, Former Deputy Administrator, USAID; Robert Lighthizer, Former US Trade Representative; Joe Wright, Director, "Mussolini: Son of the Century"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a 90-minute phone call, making him the first American leader to speak with his Russian counterpart Putin's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Meanwhile at NATO headquarters, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made clear the US no longer wants to take the lead protecting Ukraine and poured cold water on some of Kyiv's bottom lines for peace negotiations. Richard Haass served for years in senior positions at the State Department before heading up the Council on Foreign Relations. He joins Christiane from New York to discuss the new world order and "America first."  Also on today's show: Oscar-nominated actor Jeremy Strong ("The Apprentice"); "Death By Numbers" writer/subject Sam Fuentes and producer/director Kim A. Snyder   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump met with Jordan's King Abdullah today as the region faces yet another moment of crisis over the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, the US president is doubling down on his controversial proposal to permanently relocate the majority of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan. Correspondent Jeremy Diamond has the latest from Tel Aviv.  Also on today's show: veteran Egyptian diplomat Hossam Zaki; former White House health policy adviser Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel; Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman; director Mohammad Rasoulof ("The Seed of the Sacred Fig")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just one week after President Trump reached an agreement to delay a trade spat with neighbors Canada and Mexico, he announced 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. As America’s largest supplier of steel, Canada could be hit particularly hard. It's something we see firsthand in a special report from the manufacturing heart of Ontario.  Also on today's show: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear; director Shiori Ito ("Black Box Diaries"); author Marietje Schaake ("The Tech Coup")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump and Musk are all but razing the U.S. federal government. This week, USAID, a critical arm of U.S. soft power around the world was effectively dismantled and a purge of the FBI and CIA appear well underway. Christiane speaks with Matthew Bartlett, former Trump appointee to the State Department about the President's latest shake-up in Washington. Then, as the White House walks back some of Trump's comments about Gaza's future, while regional powers outright reject his proposal, Mustafa Barghouti, President of the Palestinian National Initiative Party joined Christiane from Ramallah with the Palestinian rresponse. And to explore whether there is any hope left for a two-state solution, Christiane sits down with Daniel Levy, president of the U.S.-Middle East Project and an adviser in the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who put forward the most far reaching Israeli proposal at the doomed Camp David Summit nearly a quarter of a century ago. Also, as Trump signals openness to Israeli annexation of the West Bank this weel, Christiane revisits her 2007 report about the rise of Israel's extremist religious settler movement. And finally, with less than a month until the Academy Awards, Mikey Madison joins Christiane to discuss her breakout performance in "Anora," where she plays a Brooklyn sex worker who falls in love with the son of a Russian Oligarch. She's up for an Oscar having already earned nominations for best actress at every major awards ceremony.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At midnight tonight, USAID puts almost all of its staff on administrative leave. Elon Musk says the agency, which is crucial to the survival of millions of people around the world, is being fed "into the woodchipper." This action would transform the US and its traditional role on the global stage. Matthew Bartlett was appointed to the State Department by President Trump during his first term, and he joins the show from DC.  Also on today's show: Oscar-nominated actor Mikey Madison ("Anora"); Jonathan Chait, Staff Writer, The Atlantic  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel is all in on President Trump's proposal to clear out and take over Gaza. But many Palestinians in Gaza are saying very clearly that they're not going anywhere. Tom Fletcher is the United Nations' top humanitarian official and joins from inside Gaza.  Jennifer Mittelstadt, Professor of History, Rutgers University; Gillian Metzger, Professor of Constitutional Law, Columbia Law School  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was the proposal heard, and roundly rejected, around the world: Hours after President Trump, with Benjamin Netanyahu by his side, said the United States should not only take control of Gaza, but with the Israeli Prime Minister at his side and called for the permanent removal of the Palestinian population. Mustafa Barghouti, President of the Palestinian National Initiative Party, joins Christiane from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.  Also on today's show: Prince Turki Al Faisal, Former Saudi ambassador to US and UK / Former Saudi Head of Intelligence; Daniel Levy, President, US/Middle East Project; criminal defense attorney Heather Shaner, who represented Jan 6 rioters  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The future of the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Donald Trump at the White House today. The US president is eager to see the war over, while Netanyahu, for various reasons, might be intent on continuing the fight. Amos Harel is a military analyst for Ha'aretz and he joins the program from Tel Aviv.   Also on today's show: Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim, Medecins Sans Frontieres; Director RaMell Ross ("Nickel Boys"); Karoun Demirjian, reporter, The New York Times  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is putting America's economy front and center, threatening sweeping tariffs on goods from America's three biggest trade partners. Trump has since reached a temporary agreement with Mexico to pause tariffs for one month in exchange for ten thousand Mexican troops being sent to the border. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Trump today and is expected to keep negotiating. Canada's former Foreign Minister John Baird joins the show from Toronto.  Also on today's show: Adam Boehler, US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs; Tom Malinowski, Former US House Democrat; Peter Beinart, Author, "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Less than two weeks into Donald Trump's second term, the president is flooding the zone with executive orders, testing the very institutions that uphold democracy. The question now is how far can Trump bend these democratic institutions before they break? To find out, Christiane spoke to Princeton Professor and autocracy expert Kim Lane Scheppele and Norm Eisen, a former counsel to the House Judiciary Committee and U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Then, as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians returned to what is left of their homes in northern Gaza this week, and while hostages are released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, Christiane sat down with Oliver Mcternan, a former Catholic priest turned hostage negotiator. They speak about possible next steps in the ceasefire deal and how to break the endless cycle of violence in the region. Plus, eighty years ago this week, Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz. It marked the beginning of the end of the Holocaust, the darkest chapter in human history. From her archives, Christiane's 2008 reported from Auschwitz for a documentary called "Scream Bloody Murder" which chronicled the stories of those few brave souls who tried to expose genocide.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump's unprecedented power grab since regaining the presidency challenges the strength of democratic institutions to act as checks and balances. It's the kind of struggle that Norm Eisen and Kim Lane Scheppele have observed closely outside America. Eisen was US Ambassador to the Czech Republic and served as a counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, and Princeton professor Scheppele worked as a researcher at the Hungarian constitutional court. They join the show to discuss their recent New York Times opinion piece, "Are We Sleepwalking Into Autocracy?"  Also on today's show: Ian Bonhôte & Peter Ettedgui, co-directors, "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story"; journalist/author Chris Hayes  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A massive recovery is underway in Washington's Potomac river after a passenger aircraft carrying 64 people collided midair with an army Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers on board. Authorities say there are no survivors. Aviation expert Miles O'Brien joins Christiane to discuss what happened and the rescue efforts. Also on today's show: Gina McCarthy, Former EPA Administrator/ Fmr White National Climate Advisor; actors Jessica Hecht & Bill Irwin ("Eureka Day"); Anne Neuberger, Fmr. Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump's attempt earlier this week to freeze all federal aid triggered chaos and confusion. As with many of the president's actions so far, it's unclear whether he even had the executive authority to make such an order. Today, the order was abruptly rescinded. But what does this tell us about Trump's strategy? Democratic Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen sits on the Appropriations Committee, and joins Christiane from Washington to discuss.   Also on today's show: Oliver McTernan, Co-Founder and Director, Forward Thinking; Chris Whipple, Author, "The Gatekeepers"   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Drill, baby, drill" is not just a slogan that Donald Trump ran on, but a clear policy goal his first week in office. With a flurry of executive orders, his administration is trying to yank the US out of the Paris Climate Accords again, undo Biden-era green investment, and undermine efforts to pursue environmental justice. Benji Backer is a conservative environmental activist who believes that climate should be a non-partisan issue, and Lisa Friedman reports on climate policy and politics for the New York Times. They join the show to discuss what this all means for the climate and environment.  Also on today's show: Nabih Bulos, Middle East Bureau Chief, The Los Angeles Times; Gabor Maté, Physician / Author, “The Myth of Normal”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

80 years ago today, Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz, the largest of the Nazi death camps, marking the beginning of the end of the Holocaust. Some of those who survived the Holocaust later survived the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, including Zvi Solow, who fled Poland, Italy, and Greece during World War II. He speaks to Paula Newton from southern Israel. Also on today's show: Zahra Joya, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Rukhshana Media; Jonathan Blitzer, Staff Writer, The New Yorker  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In his first week back in office, President Trump's strong arm is already making itself felt around the world — with the United States pulling out of the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Accords, imposing tariffs on China and the Americas, and pledging to end wars while threatening territorial annexations. Christiane talked to Sir John Sawers, former MI6 chief and UK ambassador to the UN, about what this shift means for where the world is headed. Then, as the State Department experiences a wave of resignations and retirements, and Marco Rubio proclaims Trump's will be the most pro-Israel administration in history, Christiane speaks with Josh Paul, one of the first Biden State Department staffers to resign over Biden's Israel policy. And as a fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza, Palestinian diplomat Husam Zomlot joined Christiane to discuss the uncertain future for Palestinians there. Plus, award-winning filmmaker Mike Leigh and actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste discuss their new film "Hard Truths." And finally, Sharone Lifschitz reflects on the anguish of Israeli families like hers, still waiting for loved ones held hostage by Hamas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As week one of Trump 2.0 wraps up, a new era of American diplomacy begins. Inside the State Department, one former ambassador reportedly describes "deep despair" over Trump loyalists being promoted regardless of age or experience, with a wave of long-serving senior diplomats either quitting or retiring. Former State Department official Josh Paul joins the program to discuss what this seismic shift means for America's standing in the world.   Also on today's show: Director Mike Leigh and actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste on "Hard Truths"; Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson, co-authors of "The Disengaged Teen"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration is moving with lightning speed to crack down on immigration in the US, effectively closing the country to asylum seekers while laying the groundwork to deport migrants already in the country. David Miliband, CEO of the International Rescue Committee, which assists people fleeing conflict and disaster, joins the show from Davos to discuss.  Also on today's show: Columbia School of Journalism Dean Jelani Cobb; Harvard Law School Professor Noah Feldman  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a sweep of his pen, President Trump is issuing executive orders, changing the federal government, fulfilling campaign promises and settling scores. It's only been two days, and Trump has already withdrawn, again, from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization. He's also ordered all government maps and documents to rename the Gulf of Mexico, and has threatened tariffs on Mexico, China, and now Russia. John Sawers, who formerly led Britain's spy agency MI6 and served as the UK's Ambassador to the UN, joins Christiane to discuss these security challenges and the inner workings of foreign policy.  Also on today's show: CNN Senior Global Affairs Analyst Bianna Golodryga; Husam Zomlot, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK; Paul Rosenzweig, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, Homeland Security Department / Founding member, Federalist Society  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're just two days into Donald Trump's second term, and the 47th President has already signed dozens of sweeping executive orders, targeting everything from climate regulations to TikTok, diversity equality and inclusion programs, to refugee admission. Trump has also issues pardons for more than a thousand people charged or convicted in the 2021 riots, including those who assaulted police and destroyed property. Correspondent Kevin Liptak is following all of this from Washington DC and joins the show from the White House.  Also on today's show: Immigration advocates Erika Andiola & Andrea Martinez; Palestinian English language teacher Asma Mustafa; US Senate Democrat Ron Wyden  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump is president once again, completing a remarkable political comeback. David Frum, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, and now staff writer at The Atlantic, joins the show from Washington DC to dissect President Trump’s inaugural address.  Also on today's show: Imani Perry, Professor of African & African American Studies, Harvard University; Ian Bremmer, President and Founder, Eurasia Group  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's an agonizing wait in Gaza and for Israeli hostage families, as a ceasefire proposal moves closer to reality. Former head of Israeli Military Intelligence Amos Yadlin joins the program from Tel Aviv to discuss. Also on today's show: Tim Wu, law professor, Columbia University; Derek Thompson, staff writer, The Atlantic; Joan Baez (from the archives)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just before a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas, Christiane sat down with Biden’s top diplomat, outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his final television interview. She asked him about the details of the deal, calls from Israeli ministers to resettle Gaza, criticism of IDF conduct, and America’s role in Vladimir Putin’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. Blinken also shares his concerns about passing the baton to Trump and Marco Rubio, just days before Donald Trump takes the oath of office for a second term. Then, Hanako Montgomery reports on a surge of crime among female pensioners in fast-aging Japan, landing themselves in prison where they are taken care of in their old age. And, oscar-winning, Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar joins Christiane to discuss his new film "The Room Next Door," his first English language feature portraying death among friends, starring Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, much of the focus is on Gaza. From her archive, Christiane revisits her 2007 report exploring the alliance between Christian evangelicals in the U.S. and Israel's settler movement. She highlights that evangelicals continue to influence president-elect Donald Trump and Republican politics to this day. Finally, “Babygirl” Director Halina Reign speaks to Christiane about the bold erotic thriller stirring up conversation and awards buzz, starring Nicole Kidman.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At least 77 Palestinians were killed in intense bombardment since the ceasefire deal was announced, Gaza's Civil Defense says. And in Israel, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to quit over the terms of the second phase of the agreement, a move that could threaten to collapse the Netanyahu government. The Biden administration "fully expects" the hostage deal to be implemented Sunday, while Hamas said it is "committed to the truce." Just as the ceasefire deal was being reached, Christiane sat down in Washington to discuss all this with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Also on today's show: former hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin; Altadena, California resident Kevin Williams  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A ceasefire-hostage release agreement has been reached by the Israeli government and Hamas. Christiane spoke about this breakthrough in an interview with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CNN Senior Global Affairs Analyst Bianna Golodryga.  Also on today's show: UN Humanitarian Relief Chief Tom Fletcher; Palestinian National Initiative President Mustafa Barghouti; Sharone Lifschitz, who's father is a hostage in Gaza  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, we bring you the latest on the contentious confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's nominee for US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Then, with fire weather risk at its highest, Christiane asks former California Governor Jerry Brown what more could have been done? And, is the world ready for the next pandemic? The director general of the World Health Organization joins the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The winds are picking up again and the death toll is rising in what could be the worst wildfires in California’s history. It's an all-out race against the environment as firefighters battle to keep the blazes contained and maintain what progress they've made in the past few days. More than 20 people are confirmed dead, dozens more are missing, over a hundred thousand people are under evacuation orders, and thousands of homes are destroyed. Correspondent Veronica Miracle has the details from Altadena. Also on today's show: Robert Kagan, Contributing Writer, The Atlantic; Director/writer Halina Reijn ("Babygirl"); Co-Directors Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo ("Porcelain War")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump may not be back in the White House yet, and he's already causing ructions overseas. Not just threatening to invade and annex allies, like Greenland, Panama, and Canada, but also allowing his unelected wingman, Elon Musk—using his X platform—to troll world leaders and interfere in democracies abroad. Christiane speaks with tech journalist Kara Swisher and the director of the British Future think tank, Sunder Katwala, about what’s driving Musk’s freelancing in international politics and how dangerous his influence on Trump is. She also gets into the specifics of the two decades old grooming scandal and why Musk's accusations against Keir Starmer are wrong. With wildfires raging in California, President Biden's outgoing DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas joined Christiane to talk about the extreme weather emergency, Trump's promise of mass deportations, and how the terror attack on New Years Day has been politicized. And, A new film by Oscar-winner Errol Morris, "Separated," based on Jacob Soboroff’s bestselling book, examines the lasting trauma of family separation under Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy during his first term. Christiane sits down with Morris and Soboroff to talk about about their film, the human cost and the chilling possibility of history repeating itself. And as President Jimmy Carter is laid to rest, Christiane revisits their 2007 interview, which explores the late president's reflections on faith and his complicated history with Israel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is ten days until Donald Trump reenters the White House and by his side will be the world's richest man - Elon Musk. In the UK, Musk has stoked the flames of the far-right and misinformation. Musk also sought to interfere in Germany's upcoming elections, posting that the only thing that could save Germany is the AFD. To discuss all things Musk, longtime tech journalist Kara Swisher and the director of British Future Sunder Katwala join Christiane.  Also on today's show: Director Pedro Almodovar, "The Room Next Door"; Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wildfires continue to rage out of control in Southern California. Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to flee and in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, and more than one thousand structures have been destroyed in Altadena, forcing most of the town to evacuate. Reporter Kyung Lah joins the program with the details. Also on today's show: James Fallows, former chief speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter; Abbas Milani, Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University; Kai Bird, author of the Jimmy Carter bio "Outlier"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're witnessing massive destruction and harrowing escapes in Southern California as out-of-control wildfires sweep across Los Angeles County. Extreme weather events are on the rise, and just one of the many threats across the desk of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Now preparing to hand over his brief to the incoming Trump administration, he joins the show from Washington, DC. Also on today's show: Director Ibrahim Nash'at, "Hollywoodgate"; Wine on Wheels founder Yannick Benjamin  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the world bids farewell to President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29. As a one-term President beset by crises, including high inflation and the Iranian hostage crisis, Carter's legacy for a long time seemed mixed at best. But throughout his long post-presidency, he devoted himself to peace-making, eradicating diseases, and public service in a way that gradually reframed his earlier accomplishments. Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat knew Carter well, having served as his chief domestic policy adviser, and argues he "was our most accomplished one-term modern President." He joins the show from Washington, DC.  Also on today's show: "Sing Sing" Director Greg Kwedar and actor Colman Domingo; Bruce Hoffman, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On January 20, Donald Trump will be inaugurated at the US Capitol, where four years ago today his supporters attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. On the world stage, the new administration will confront a slew of challenges from the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza to tense relations with China. David Petraeus is well known as a highly decorated four-star general and the former Director of the CIA. He recently joined Christiane to forecast the opportunities and pitfalls facing the new administration. Also on today's show: Former Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna; former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A special show for the holidays, looking back on some of the biggest events, cultural hits and Christiane's best interviews this year. One year after the outgoing Biden administration struck a deal to bring him and four other Iranian Americans back home, Siamak Namazi, the longest held American in Iran, speaks with Christiane about his captivity in Iran's Evin prison, the torture he underwent and what it feels like to be free. Then, Christiane sits down with Hollywood legend Tom Hanks and his co-writer Christopher Riley to discuss their unique documentary "The Moonwalkers," capturing humanity's obsession with space travel. She also revisits an exclusive report from Ukraine, where she gained access to a medical evacuation train used by the Ukrainian army to transport wounded soldiers from near the frontlines to hospitals around the country. Afterwards, "True Detective" stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis speak with Christiane about the latest season of the hit series released to critical acclaim. Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep and former Afghan politicians, negotiator Fawzia Koofi and Dr. Habiba Sarabi, also join Christiane to talk about their new documentary called "The Sharp Edge of Peace," following the doomed efforts to negotiate with the Taliban. And finally, in a moving interview during celebrations marking 80 years since the D-Day landings in Normandy, 101 year old U.S. army veteran Jake Larson speaks with Christiane about the shared values he and his fellow servicemen fought for during World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christiane's world exclusive with Iran's notorious women's rights activist, Narges Mohammadi, who last year was awarded the Nobel peace prize, and who has spent much of the past 20 years in Evin prison. She is accused of “spreading propaganda" and acting against the country's national security. Mohammadi was recently released on a 3-week medical furlough to recover from surgery and made the courageous decision to speak out—on this program— knowing she is gong back to jail. Plus, press freedom at risk in the United States and around the democratic world, former Washington Post Executive Editor, Martin Baron tells Christiane what’s in the Trump toolbox to legally assault the press and how to protect our constitutional right to free speech. Then, as 51 verdicts came down against Gisele Pelicot's abusers in the mass rape trial that stunned France and caught the world's attention, Saskya's Vandoorne's special report, with exclusive access to police records, on how dozens of men in one town became complicit in this horrifying crime. From Christiane's archive this week, the taxi driver who put aside ethnic divisions and became a hero to the needy during under siege in Sarajevo. And finally, Christiane speaks with Edward Berger, director of the film "Conclave," which depicts the knives out battle to elect a new pop in the Catholic Church.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America faces chaos in Washington, again, with the US government just hours away from shutting down. Barring an early Christmas miracle, the proverbial lights go off at midnight tonight. Norm Ornstein, veteran political observer, joins the show to discuss.  Also on today's show: Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director, Syrian Emergency Task Force; Charlie Warzel, Staff Writer, The Atlantic; Edward Berger, Director, "Conclave"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Donald Trump’s second term rapidly approaches, one domestic policy seems particularly clear and predictable: mass deportations. Family separation, you'll recall, was a highly controversial policy adopted by Trump in his first term. Forcibly removing children from their families was purportedly intended to act as a deterrent, but it shocked the country and divided even Trump’s own cabinet. Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris and journalist Jacob Soboroff join the show to discuss the powerful new documentary "Separated," adapted from Soboroff's book of the same name.   Also on today's show: Omer Bartov, Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Brown University; Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, the former longtime opinion columnist of The New York Times  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Iran, there are still those bravely speaking out on issues of human rights, democracy and women's equality. One is Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel Peace Laureate, who has now been imprisoned for the better part of the last 20 years. In a world exclusive interview, Mohammadi has made the extraordinary decision to speak to Christiane Amanpour while out on a temporary release from prison on medical grounds.   Also on today's show: former US Defense Secretary Mark Esper; New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Syria's new leaders are pushing for legitimacy on the world stage and have been meeting with United Nations and European officials this week. The United Nation’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, has been meeting Syria’s new authorities in Damascus. He joins the show from the Syrian capital.  Also on today's show: former Washington Post Exec Editor Martin Baron; Brady United Against Gun Violence President Kris Brown  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The defense of Ukraine is top of the agenda for European foreign ministers meeting in Brussels today. With a new year ahead, and a new American administration too, the urgent question is how to end the war soon. Few know better what those negotiations would look like, and the cost of any deal, than former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba, who joins Christiane from Kyiv.  Also on today's show: Mediha Ibrahim Alhamad & Hasan Oswald discuss their new documentary, "Mediha"; US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on The Amanpour Hour, Chrisitane explores the aftermath of the stunning fall of Syria’s Assad regime, unpacking its geopolitical ripple effects with the view from Europe and what Trump 2.0 might do, featuring EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and former Pentagon official Elbridge Colby. Then on the ground in Syria, Jomana Karadsheh reports from Daraya, the birthplace of Syria's anti-regime Arab Spring movement that simply called for reforms, speaking to one woman whose loved ones disappeared into Syria’s notorious prison system. Also on the show, from her archives, Christiane revisits her 2017 interview with the defector known as “Caesar” who documented the Assad dynasty's atrocities. Then, as Netanyahu takes the stand in his corruption trial, Alex Gibney and Alexis Bloom discuss their explosive film, The Bibi Files, featuring banned interrogation footage inside Israel. Finally, Christiane speaks with Mediha and Hasan Oswald about their film, "Mediha," which documents her harrowing story of survival in ISIS captivity through her own video diaries, offering a poignant look at healing and hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Syrian people are still celebrating what so many never thought possible, a country free of Bashar al-Assad. But amid the joy, there is much uncertainty about what lies ahead, and also deep pain, as the heinous atrocities from the past decades are coming more and more to light. Stephen Rapp has been laser-focused on bringing Assad to justice for years, gathering and documenting all the evidence possible. Rapp, who was the leading US official on war crimes, says he wants to see the brutal dictator face responsibility for the detention, torture and murder of tens of thousands of Syrians. He currently serves as distinguished fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Center for the Prevention of Genocide. He joins the show from Washington DC.  Also on today's show: "Daughters" Directors Angela Patton and Natalie Rae; Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO & Chairman  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Wednesday night the United Nations General Assembly demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and also condemned a new law in Israel that will ban the operations of the relief agency UNRWA. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini is on a tour of capitals that support the agency's work, trying to get that ban reversed. He joins Christiane in London.   Also on today's show: Golden Globe-nominated director Payal Kapadia ("All We Imagine As Light"); Syrian-American Artist and Architect Mohamad Hafez  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Both outgoing and incoming US administrations hope there’s momentum for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. Qatar has played the central mediator role throughout, and this weekend regional leaders gathered there to discuss an end to this war. Christiane Amanpour spoke in Doha to foreign ministers Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani from Qatar, Espen Bart Eideh from Norway and Subra-Manyam Jaishankar from India.  Also on today's show: The producer and director of the new Benjamin Netanyahu documentary "The Bibi Files"; New York Times opinion columnist Masha Gessen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early hours after Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad's fall, rumors flew of secret prison cells locked by fleeing guards, deprived of inside of food, water and even oxygen. Today, the Association of Detainees and the Missing say that the notorious Saydnaya prison is now empty, with the White Helmet rescuers confirming "no evidence of undiscovered secret cells or basements." But before that confirmation, fueled by fear and desperation, thousands of relatives went there in search of those who had been condemned to Assad's dungeons. Correspondent Clarissa Ward reports from Damascus.   Also on today's show: EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas; former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby; former Republican and Democratic Counsels to the Senate Judiciary Committee Gregg Nunziata and Noah Bookbinder  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a new reality in Syria and the road ahead is still unclear. After rebels swept into the capital Damascus in lightening speed and ended half a century of oppressive rule by the Assad family. Rami Jarrah has reported for years on the human toll of violence in his country, often under a pseudonym for his safety. He joins Christiane today from Berlin.  Also on today's show: UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen; US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices