Amanpour

A hundred years since Paris last hosted the Olympic Games, the torch is once again making its way through the city, ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday. Andy Murray, the British tennis star and only man to win gold twice in the men’s singles, joins Christiane in Paris.  Also on today's show: French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra; author Michael Waters (The Other Olympians)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kamala Harris is in full campaign mode as the Democratic party’s presumptive nominee. In just over 100 days, we’ll know the outcome of this sprint to the electoral finish line. So how will the race unfold, and what does the next president of the United States really face? Leon Panetta, who has held many different positions of power, including White House chief of staff, CIA director, secretary of defense, and congressman, joins the show alongside Susan Glasser, longtime journalist who co-wrote The Divider, which chronicles the first term of Donald Trump.  Also on today’s show: Correspondent Stefano Pozzebon reports from Caracas, Venezuela on that country’s upcoming election, followed by Venezuelan opposition politician David Smolansky; Tim Alberta, staff writer for The Atlantic  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just two days since President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the race, Vice President Kamala Harris has all but guaranteed she will be the Democratic nominee. But the GOP isn't wasting any time either, lining up attack ads against the VP. Now, some believe this campaign could take an ugly turn. Prominent Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saying that people will have to brace themselves for misogynistic and potentially explicit racist attacks. Joining the program is a trailblazer who’s had to walk a similar path, Carol Moseley Braun who became the first Black woman to reach the Senate in 1992.  Also on today's show: CNN Jerusalem Correspondent Jeremy Diamond; Aziz Abu Sarah, Palestinian peace activist & Maoz Inon, Israeli peace activist; author Kristin Kobes Du Mez  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world’s attention turns to Kamala Harris after President Biden dropped out of the race. Endorsements for the VP are coming in fast and furious from heavyweight Democrats including potential rivals who hope Harris is their best chance to defeat Donald Trump in November. There appears to be little appetite for a contested convention, and so far no one else has announced their candidacy. Former US Senate Democrat Mary Landrieu joins Bianna to talk about this unprecedented moment.  Also on today's show: political scientist Norm Ornstein; President Biden's personal attorney Bob Bauer; former Republican strategist Sarah Longwell  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Republican National Convention reached its conclusion late Thursday night, capping off proceedings with a whopping 90-minute speech from Donald Trump. Though the former president promised to speak on the theme of unity after his assassination attempt, the tone quickly shifted back to his familiar tropes, falsehoods and head-scratching references. Sarah Longwell is a longtime Republican strategist-turned-Trump critic, who regularly speaks to average GOP voters to understand their state of mind. She joins the show to discuss.  Also on today's show: former Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan on why Kamala Harris should replace Joe Biden; Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Brody Mullins  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Republicans fall in behind the former president, will Trump’s VP choice alienate swing voters? And can the divide in Democrats bounce back? Also, this hour, Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter on political violence surrounding her father’s term and why he chose not to run for reelection.  Then, a week out from the Olympics, the Ukrainian athletes training despite violence and tragedy back home.  From my archives, 55 years since the moon landing. Spaceman Michael Collins on having the right stuff.  And, still having fun at 71, pop icon Cyndi Lauper on a life well lived, as she embarks on her farewell tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Republican National Convention wraps up its final day, it's feeling like a grand old party in more ways than one. A jubilant mood is spreading throughout the RNC as a newly unified GOP rallies behind candidate Trump just after he survived an assassination attempt. It's very different within the Democratic party, where President Biden is facing growing pressure to drop out of the race as concerns around his age and health persist. Joining the program to discuss is former communications director for Trump’s 2020 campaign, Marc Lotter, and Karen Kinney, who was a senior advisor for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential bid.  Also on today's show: musician Cyndi Lauper; University of Michigan Law School professor Leah Litman  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On day three of the Republican National Convention, one thing is crystal clear – Donald Trump is king of the GOP. Even former rivals who attacked him in the primaries, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, have now pledged their allegiance. David Frum, a staff writer for The Atlantic who was once a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, joins the show to discuss the risks of erasing important context about the presidential race.  Also on today's show: Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu; Luci Baines Johnson, Daughter of President Lyndon Baines Johnson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is day two of the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin, and a sense of dread is descending here across the pond since former President Trump named as his running mate, the ultra-isolationist Senator JD Vance. The former president, his ear bandaged, was greeted like a hero in his first appearance since the assassination attempt this weekend. “Fight, fight, fight!,” the crowds cheered and chanted, “We love Trump!” Correspondent Jeff Zeleny joins the program from the convention.  Also on today's show: Former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker; political scientist and author Robert Putnam; Astead Herndon, National Politics Reporter, The New York Times  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is a testament to the increasingly fractious, furious and fatal state of this presidential race. He’s since said: “I want to try to unite our country, but I don’t know if that’s possible. People are very divided.” Correspondent Jeff Zeleny joins Christiane from Milwaukee to discuss the events of this weekend, and the mood at the convention.  Also on today's show: Frank Lavin, Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution / Former Reagan White House Aide; Neal Katyal, Former US Acting Solicitor General / Georgetown Law Professor; Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Director, Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University; Halla Tomasdottir, President-elect of Iceland  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America's most recognizable doctor - Anthony Fauci - on what he's witnessed about Trump and Biden's fitness to serve. Political insiders David Frum and Alastair Campbell discuss how Biden can change the conversation, and concerns about Trump’s rambling rallies.  Then exclusive new CNN reporting reveals Israeli forces deemed abusive by the US are now shaping the campaign in Gaza.  Ahead of the Wimbledon finals, Christiane’s 2022 interview with Serena Williams a few months before her retirement.  And hip hop meets highbrow, in a collaboration nearly three decades in the making.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pressure is building for President Joe Biden to quit the race, and yet he’s made it clear he’s not giving up on his campaign for re-election. Speaking for almost an hour at a NATO press conference Thursday, President Biden put on a competent show, but his blunders remain the most memorable take away, like accidentally referring to his own Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump,” and calling Ukraine’s President Zelensky “President Putin.” Now at least 18 Democrats in Congress are calling for Biden to withdraw from the White House race, including Jim Himes, the widely respected ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. Long-time political analyst Paul Begala joins the program to discuss the Democrats’ unprecedented challenge.  Also on today's show: Rescued Israeli Hostage Andrey Kozlov; Charlie Sykes, Founder, The Bulwark  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

That's the message from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization this week as it marks its 75th anniversary at a Washington summit. President Zelensky is using his time in Washington to drum up a sustainable support pipeline for his country, where US weapons have proved crucial in recently stabilizing Ukraine’s frontlines. Meantime, in a striking development, NATO has called out China for the first time, criticizing Beijing as a "decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba joins the program from the NATO summit to discuss all of this.  Also on today's show: Dr. Anthony Fauci; Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As world leaders gather in Washington to mark NATO'S 75th anniversary, unprecedented challenges face the alliance. As Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock reckons with the many challenges facing Western democracy. She spoke with Christiane Amanpour from the NATO summit about Russia’s aggression, the rise of extremism in Europe, and the threat of an autocratic America under Donald Trump.  Also on today's show: Hezbollah Lawmaker Ibrahim Moussawi; Sacha Nauta, Social Affairs Editor, The Economist  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As world leaders descend on Washington for NATO’s 75th anniversary summit, the alliance faces threats from foreign antagonists and from within. The stakes could not be higher as gruesome images keep coming of Russia’s latest missile barrage against Ukraine- including strikes on a children's hospital- a clear message from Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky will be pushing hard for accelerated NATO membership. Meantime, the alliance is already trying to "Trump-Proof" support for Ukraine, should the former president return to power. Veteran diplomat Victoria Nuland joins the program to discuss.  Also on today's show: Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti; former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark; author Ruth Whippman  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russia today launched one of its heaviest missile barrages yet in Ukraine, killing at least 36 and wounding more than 100. Even a children's hospital that performs 7,000 surgeries on sick children every year was hit hard, according to local officials. Christiane spoke to former Supreme Allied Commander for Europe Wesley Clark about what is at stake for Ukraine and for NATO in its face-off with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Also on today's show: Clément Beaune, former Deputy of the French National Assembly; Sanam Vakil, Director of Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Program; author Adam Moss  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Labour of love. A fresh start for Britain as voters called time on the Tories.  Also this hour, my exclusive interview with the woman at the epicenter of Europe's lurch to the far right, Marine Le Pen.  Then, historian Heather Cox Richardson on the false equivalence created over a disastrous debate performance versus a violent threat to democracy.  And from my archive, former President Barack Obama on whether the idea of America can even survive a second Trump term. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Labour has won the UK general election in a landslide. The new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, pledged to steer the country towards “calmer waters” in his first address to the nation. Starmer is starting to form his cabinet, appointing the UK’s first ever female finance minister. We get reaction from London Mayor Sadiq Khan and former Tory MPS David Goal, and explore what this dramatic shift in leadership means.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the fallout from last Thursday's disastrous debate performance continues, we ask what President Biden might do next. Plus, as Israel and Hezbollah inch closer to war, Colombia knows how difficult the path to peace is. We speak to the country's foreign minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo.  Also on today's show: Venezuelan classical music maestro Gustavo Dudamel  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a decisive moment for America and for how the world views what's at stake for them in this battle for the presidency. Former Pentagon official Evelyn Farkas joins Christiane to discuss Joe Biden's candidacy following his disastrous debate performance.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: We discuss the Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity with veteran US diplomat Richard Haass.  Plus: What does Europe's drift toward the hard-right mean for the world? We're joined by former Swedish PM Carl Bildt.  And: The latest on the dangerous hurricane through the Carribean.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court finally delivers its verdict on Trump's immunity. We get analysis from America's former acting solicitor general Neil Katyal.  Also on today's show: Biden campaign advisor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Marine le Pen spokesman Philippe Oliver  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the dust settles from the US presidential debate, how can the Democrats manage the fallout from Joe Biden's faltering performance? Trumper Marc Lotter and Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg discuss. Then, from the Amanpour Archive, flashback to Iran's Green Revolution when citizens shouted 'death to the dictator', accusing the Ayatollahs of stealing the 2009 election and locking up the reformist leader. Meantime, as the UN takes flack for giving the Taliban a seat at the table but leaving Afghan women out in the cold, Anna Coren updates us on a young girl's second chance at life, after she tried to escape the Taliban's misogynistic rule. And finally, how panda diplomacy is making a comeback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last night, a fumbling Joe Biden faced serial liar Donald Trump in the first live debate of the campaign. Now, America faces a choice: a visibly aging man who failed to live up to that moment, or an authoritarian convicted felon facing even more courtroom trials ahead. Few people are as well placed to discuss than veteran Democratic party strategist Simon Rosenberg and Marc Lotter, who served as special assistant to President Trump and was director of strategic communications in his 2020 campaign. They join Christiane from Atlanta, where the debate was held last night.  Also on today's show: CNN senior correspondent Fred Pleitgen & New York Times reporter Farnaz Fassihi; columnist and author Francis Barry  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

France heads to the polls this weekend, and the far right looks set to come out on top. President Emmanuel Macron threw the dice with this snap election after his Centrist party was trounced by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in recent European Parliament elections. Correspondent Melissa Bell has more on how Le Pen has reshaped the party’s dark origins into an apparently palatable mainstream alternative.  Also on today's show: Legal analyst Carrie Cordero on today's US Supreme Court abortion ruling; Simon Kuper, author of Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century; singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc; Civil rights leader Carmen Perez-Jordan; Imara Jones, Founder, TransLash Media  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After 15 months in a Russian prison on trumped up charges of espionage, American journalist Evan Gershkovich is finally facing trial. The 32-year-old reporter faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. Apart from a brief photo-op today, Gershkovich is unlikely to be seen until the process ends. Correspondent Matthew Chance brings us a report with the details, followed by analysis from Russian historian Nina Khruscheva.  Also on today's show: Columbia Journalism School professors Ari Goldman & Gregory Khalil; New York Times columnist David French  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As American voters look ahead to the first Biden-Trump Presidential Debate on Thursday, coverage is mostly focused on domestic issues. But an array of global challenges could have the greatest impact on American's daily lives. Until a few weeks ago, David Satterfield was America's special envoy to the Middle East for humanitarian issues. He joined Christiane for a wide-ranging conversation about these foreign policy flashpoints facing America's next president.  Also on today's show: Raja Shehadeh, Palestinian author and human rights lawyer; Nate Halverson, Investigative Journalist, “The Grab” / Senior Reporter, The Center for Investigative Reporting & Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Director, “The Grab”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new phase of the war that has sparked fears of a full-blown war with Hezbollah, which the US has warned could be disastrous. Netanyahu also made comments that appeared to be a death knell for any Gaza peace deal which is backed by President Biden. One of Netanyahu’s fiercest critics is Ami Ayalon, the former head of the Israeli internal security agency Shin Bet. He speaks to Christiane about what hopes Israel could have of ending the war and returning all of the hostages.  Arwa Damon, Founder and CEO, INARA; Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Author, “The Myth of Making It”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Russia and North Korea's outcast autocrats put on a splashy show of mutual back-scratching, how will America’s next president challenge the anti-US axis? Biden and Trump insiders make their case. Then from the Amanpour Archive, the time The Star-Spangled Banner rang out in North Korea, in a bygone age for musical diplomacy. Also this hour, the doctor who saved the Hamas leaders’ life, and the Palestinian struggle seen through the eyes of an award-winning author and fearless human rights champion. And finally, legendary designer Diane von Furstenberg on rockstar threesomes and zero regrets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, the US Supreme Court offered a boost to the Biden administration by backing a federal gun ban for domestic abusers. But all eyes are on some key decisions which are yet to be released. These include whether former President Trump is protected from prosecution for actions taken while he was president, whether the prosecution of January 6th rioters via an obstruction statute is lawful, and if a restrictive Idaho abortion ban, which is preventing some patients from getting treatment, can continue. Jessica Roth, Professor of Law at the Cardozo Law School, and Steven Mazie, the Supreme Court Correspondent for The Economist, joined the show to discuss today’s rulings, as well as what lies ahead.  Also on today's show: Dr. Radley M. Horton, Professor of Climate, Columbia Climate School; Dr. Rev. William J. Barber II, Founding Director, Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, Yale Divinity School / Author, “White Poverty”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel’s military appears to be countering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's goals for the war in Gaza. In an interview, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari acknowledged what many observers have been arguing for months, saying, “Hamas is an idea. Those who think we can make Hamas disappear are wrong.” Israeli Doctor Yuval Bitton agrees; he probably knows the senior level of Hamas better than anyone.  Also on today's show: Designer Diane von Furstenberg; Ebony Reed & Louise Story, Co-authors, "Fifteen Cents on the Dollar"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in nearly 25 years, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is in North Korea to visit its leader, Kim Jong-un. The leaders have signed a new strategic partnership agreement – a reflection of how important this burgeoning alliance has become to both countries, as Putin increasingly relies upon North Korean weaponry to support his war in Ukraine. Correspondent Mike Valerio walks us through the visit so far, joining the show from Seoul.  Also on today's show: Sue Mi Terry, Former CIA Senior Analyst / Senior Fellow for Korea Studies, Council on Foreign Relations; Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative; Bryant Terry, James Beard Award-winning Chef / Author, “Black Food: Stories, Art and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in 24 years, Vladimir Putin is heading to Pyongyang to meet with Kim Jong-un, raising concern in Washington. Five years ago Donald Trump became the first US president to meet the North Korean leader when he briefly stepped across the DMZ. With American elections five months away, people at home and abroad are starting to consider what a second Trump term could bring. In a new article for foreign affairs, Trump’s former National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien argues his case for a policy of peace through strength, and he joined the program for an exclusive interview.  Also on today's show: Lisa Nandy, UK Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development; Audrey Tang, Former Minister of Digital Affairs of Taiwan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein came to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urge de-escalation on the Lebanon border. Correspondent Ben Wedeman reports on how a wider war could erupt there. Ben's report is followed by Christiane's interview with the new leader of Israel's once-powerful Labor Party, former IDF Commander Yair Golan.  Also on today's show: UNICEF global spokesperson James Elder; Candice Carty-Williams, author and Executive Producer of the new TV series "Queenie"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Divine intervention. Pope Francis makes history, weighing in on ethical AI at the G7 summit. This hour, the risks and rewards of Artificial Intelligence with a panel of industry leaders. Managing misinformation in a critical election year and how technology is changing what it means to be human. Also this hour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus on confronting death and a giant parrot in her new movie, "Tuesday." Then, from the archive, why Narendra Modi's resounding rejection by India's most oppressed caste comes as no surprise. Finally, the new documentary taking us behind the scenes for the tearful final days of Roger Federer's tennis career.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A grim milestone in Afghanistan this week as the country marks a thousand days since girls were banned from attending secondary school. This as the Taliban continue to tighten their grip on the country, despite promising moderation after taking power in August 2021. It's a reality Malala Yousafzai calls “gender apartheid” - a term she calls on world leaders to recognize as a crime against humanity. Malala of course is a survivor of that violence against girls, shot by the Pakistani Taliban on her way home from school when she was just 15. She has since become the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, and a fierce advocate for the rights of girls and women around the world. Bianna discusses with Malala her foundation’s announcement today of another $1.5 million to keep girls’ education alive in Afghanistan.  Also on today's show: Ofir Amir, survivor of October 7th; A.J. Jacobs, author, “The Year of Living Constitutionally”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

G7 world leaders gathering in Italy today have agreed to loan Kyiv some 50 billion dollars backed by the profits from Russia's frozen investments. Political scientist and former advisor to the EU's foreign policy chief, Nathalie Tocci joins the show from Rome and Senior International Correspondent for the French channel BFMTV, Thierry Arnaud joins the show from Paris.   Also on today's show: actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus, journalist Nicholas Kristof. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last month was the hottest May ever, marking the 12th consecutive month that records were broken. In a major new cover article for The Atlantic, journalist George Packer spent months reporting from Phoenix, Arizona exploring the quixotic growth fueling urban expansion, even as the water runs dry and the heat kills hundreds. Packer joins the program along with climate expert Leah Stokes.  Also on today's show: Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia, co-directors of "Federer: Twelve Final Days"; Leah Rigueur, Associate Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in more than eight months of war, the United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The security council says Israel has accepted the proposal, and US officials are now pressuring Hamas to do the same. But, there are few signs of concrete commitment to ending the war. Joining the show to discuss are Daniel Kurtzer, former US ambassador to Israel and Egypt, and Audrey Kurth Cronin, author of "How Terrorism Ends."  Also on today's show: Harvard law professor Noah Feldman; New York Times reporter Sheera Frenkel  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the biggest exercises in democracy this year is filling 720 seats from 27 countries in the European Parliamentary elections. As results continue to flood in, a split-screen image is emerging. Establishment parties did well in many countries and EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen's centrist European People's party will remain the largest group. But in France, Marine Le Pen and her far-right allies won twice as many seats as centrist President Emmanuel Macron's party. Italy's former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, whose centre-left party failed to win any seats, joins the show from Rome, and journalist and author Christine Ockrent joins the show from Paris.   Also on today's show: Former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni; author Ernesto Londoño  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, a turning point in history, and a triumph of democracy over tyranny. Today, with war raging again in Europe, its legacy is more important than ever. We start the show with actor Tom Hanks, who has been pivotal in bringing Second World War stories to life. Christiane asks Hanks about the legacy of the Greatest Generation, and why it is so important to remember the price of freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Joe Biden spoke today from Pointe De Hoc in France, where 80 years ago, 225 US rangers faced withering gunfire to claim a small patch of territory that became a crucial step in reclaiming Europe from the Nazis. In Paris, Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky and apologized for delaying a critical aid package which was help up by Republicans in congress. Christiane Amanpour joins the show from Paris, where she has been reporting from the D-Day commemorations.  Also on today's show: Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown; Sudanese researcher Kholood Khair & New York Times correspondent Declan Walsh; Arizon Secretary of State Adrian Fontes  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On June 6th 1944, the allied forces landed on the Omaha Beach in Normandy, breaking through the Nazi’s Atlantic wall. At huge cost they turned the tide of World War II and began the liberation of Europe: a moment of time forever immortalised as D-Day. US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron led the 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy today and stood beside those world leaders were soldiers past and present – including members of that greatest generation who fought on the beaches all those years ago. Christiane is joined in Normandy by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, General Christopher Cavoli.  Also on today's show: D-Day veteran Jake Larson; actor/filmmaker Tom Hanks; sculptor Anilore Banon  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Biden's controversial executive action on migrants who cross the southern border illegally came into effect overnight. Biden says he was left with "no choice," blaming Republicans for blocking a bipartisan border deal. It's a huge shift for the democratic party, who for years criticized President Trump's policy on immigration. Andrea Flores was a former adviser to President Obama and President Biden on immigration policy and she joined the program from Washington.  Also on today's show: Correspondent Melissa Bell; "The Cranes Call" Director Laura Warner & Exec Producer Evan Williams; Debbie Walsh, Director, Center for American Woman and Politics  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Israel, any hopes for a ceasefire deal appear to be dwindling. President Biden announced on Friday that the latest ceasefire plan had come from Israel, and was welcomed by Hamas – and yet, Netanyahu is vowing to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed. All of this is creating an understandable air of confusion. Meanwhile on the ground in Gaza, the death toll has surpassed 36,400 and the situation for those held captive worsens. To unpack all of this, Haaretz columnist and Netanyahu biographer Anshel Pfeffer joins the show from Jerusalem.  Also on today's show: Washington Post columnist Barkha Dutt; correspondent Gustavo Valdes; author R. Derek Black  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a breakthrough moment for Mexican women as former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is elected the country's first female president. While the result is undoubtedly historic, many see her as the continuity candidate -- Sheinbaum is the protege of the popular outgoing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- and are concerned that while she will continue his popular anti-poverty measures, she may also inherit some of his anti-democratic efforts as well as his failure to rein in violence. Mexican scholar and public policy analyst Viri Rios joins the program to discuss.  Also on today's show: Tessa Dooms, Program Director for Rivonia Circle, a South African NGO; Åsne Seierstad, Author, "The Afghans"; TV host George Stephanapoulos  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the wake of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, her sisters set the record straight on her legacy in a new documentary and relive the moment O.J. was acquitted of her murder. Also, John Legend joins to discuss Afghanistan’s answer to American Idol and cultural revolution through music. Then our roundtable conversation on the big stories of the week. Plus, a retrospective on the development of the atomic bomb with one of the few remaining survivors from the Hiroshima blast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Splashed across newspapers the world over is the historic news of the first-ever criminal conviction of a former US president. Former US Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal joins the show to discuss the facts of the case and what happens next.  Also on today's show: Norm Eisen, former House Judiciary Special Counsel in Trump’s first impeachment trial; David Urban, Republican strategist; Sarah Longwell, Executive Director, Republicans Against Trump; Tim Naftali, Presidential Historian  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Israeli troops take control of Rafah’s strategic Philadelphi Corridor, correspondent Jeremy Diamond reports on the human toll of the military offensive.  Also on today's show: Nick Maynard, a British surgeon recently returned from Gaza; Grammy Award-winning musician John Legend; Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President/CEO Austan Goolsbee  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As humanitarian concerns abound regarding the dire situation in Gaza, satellite images show that a much-touted US pier intended to deliver aid has been completely broken up in rough seas over the weekend. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, has been a vocal critic of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and has repeatedly called for more humanitarian aid. He joins Christiane to discuss the US stance on the conflict.  Also on today's show: Marking the 30th anniversary of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, Christiane speaks with Nicole's sisters Denise, Dominique and Tanya  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eyewitnesses report Israeli tanks are moving in on central Rafah for the first time since the assault on the city began in early May. This comes after a deadly airstrike there that killed at least 45 people and injured more than 200, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “a tragic error." Global condemnation was swift: France, the EU and other governments call on Israel to immediately halt all Rafah operations. Correspondent Jeremy Diamond is in Jerusalem to discuss the latest from Rafah.  Also on today's show: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg; Songezo Zibi, Leader, Rise Mzansi party; Beeban Kidron, Member of the House of Lords; author Luis Miranda  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A "brutal attack." That's how Ukrainan President Volodymyr Zelensky described a deadly strike that killed at least 18 people in a busy shopping centre in Kharkiv this weekend. Russian troops continue their advance in the east, stepping up their bombing campaign and leaving a trail of destruction. Latvia shares a border with Russia, and the country's President Edgars Rinkēvičs joins Christiane in London.  Also on today's show: Matthew Hollingworth / WFP Palestine Country Director; Jelani Cobb / Dean, Columbia Journalism School  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Survivors, not statistics: We start with the persistent and pernicious violence against women, and the lack of action and accountability to protect them. This week two more women accused rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs of sexual assault. This comes after CNN obtained sickening video of Combs attacking his girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016. Christiane speaks with a transatlantic panel of women: attorney Gloria Allred, along with Lejla Dauti and April Hernandez Castillo, who are both survivors and advocates.  Then, how journalists “operate in a disinformation ecosystem” is a “defining issue,” as the world heads into a wave of critical elections, says Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb.  Meantime, Former US State Department Senior Advisor and historian Vali Nasr discusses the succession crisis in Iran after the sudden death of its president. “Moving towards the middle gives more room for the US to engage Iran,” he says.  From the Amanpour Archive this week: When ex-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic became the first sitting head of state to be tried by an international criminal tribunal.   And, in our Letter from London, the best-selling Israeli author and historian Yuval Noah Harari asks whether the Middle East can ever escape the "Israeli-Palestinian trap."    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Ukraine pleads for weapons, Russia has again struck Kharkiv with missiles, killing at least seven civilians. Kharkiv and the surrounding region is now the centre of this war. President Volodymyr Zelensky blames Western hesitation for the country's weakness, restricting where and how Kyiv can use NATO weapons. According to the New York Times, a debate is raging in the White House over allowing Ukraine to fire US weapons into Russia and after a “sobering” trip, US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, plans to change US policy. Earlier this month the United Kingdom gave Kyiv permission to target Russia with its weapons. Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior fellow and director at the Center for a New American Security, joins Bianna Golodryga to discuss the potential ramifications of these decisions.  Also on today's show: Susan Glasser, Staff Writer, The New Yorker; best-selling author Amor Towles; Meryl Streep & Tom Hanks (from the archives)   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Diplomatic isolation is mounting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This week began with the ICC seeking indictments for him and his defense minister. That was followed by Ireland, Norway and Spain formally recognizing Palestine as a state. Christiane speaks to the Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris on his nation’s policy and the intractable Israel-Palestinian catastrophe.  Also on today's show: Mustafa Barghouti, President, Palestinian National Initiative; Avner Gvaryahu, Executive Director, Breaking The Silence; Aaron Tang, Professor of Law, UC Davis  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Three European leaders today made a major diplomatic move, to recognize Palestinian statehood. Spain, Norway and Ireland say the decision is an important step toward peace. Israel reacted right away, recalling its ambassadors from all three countries. Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares joined the program from Madrid.  Also on today's show: attorney Gloria Allred, survivor/advocate Lejla Dauti, survivor/advocate April Hernandez Castillo; author Aisha Beliso-De Jesus  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yesterday's action by the ICC action targeting both Israeli and Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity has prompted furious condemnation from Israel and the United States, but France and Belgium have broken with these allies by supporting the court. Bestselling Israeli author and historian Yuval Noah Harari has been thinking deeply on his homeland and the possibility of peace between Israelis and Palestinians even now, asking in a Financial Times op-ed "Is there a way out of the Israeli-Palestinian trap?." He joins the show in London.   Also on today's show: Chef Fadi Kattan, Author, "Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food"; Steven Johnson, Author, "The Infernal Machine"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan told Christiane he is seeking warrants for three Hamas leaders for crimes committed during the October 7th attacks on Israel. The ICC is also seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing the subsequent war in Gaza. Karim Khan explains his decision to Christiane in an exclusive interview.  Also on today's show: Geoffrey Nice, lead prosecutor at the trial of Slobodan Milošević; Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the US  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Supported by China, armed by North Korea and Iran, Putin tightens his anti-America alliance. A former NATO chief says the West should make sure Ukraine doesn’t just hang on, but win the war. Plus, caught between Russia and the West, the president of Georgia says Putin is using Soviet-era subterfuge to pull her country back into the Kremlin’s orbit. Also, a Bethlehem-born chef on celebrating Palestinian food but struggling to cook while his people are starved in Gaza.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced that the Israeli army found the bodies of three hostages in tunnels in Gaza. It is thought over a hundred hostages are still held by Hamas. Correspondent Nic Robertson joins the show to tell us more. While the world’s attention is focused on the war in Gaza, there’s been a spike in violence in the occupied West Bank. Since October 7, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has recorded at least 800 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank that resulted in casualties or property damage. Now, a years-long investigation by the New York Times finds that violent factions within the Israeli settler movement have come to pose a threat to Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and to Israel’s democracy. Journalist Ronen Bergman helped to lead the investigation, spending years investigating extremist violence. He joins the show from Tel Aviv.  Plus, Walter Isaacson talks with author Kristin Hannah and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is wrapping up his trip to Ukraine. While there, America’s top diplomatic pledged two billion dollars of aid to help build up the country’s defense industry. And throughout his trip, he has been trying to reassure Kyiv of Washington’s support. Words that hide a bitter truth, the 7 months of U.S. delay in sending military aid has left Ukraine’s troops over-stretched and under-armed. And it couldn’t come at a worse time, with Russia pushing against multiple fronts including Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv.   President Zelensky has been on those front lines assessing the situation along with his Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who joined the program from his car. Plus, Retired US General Wesley Clark, Israeli author David Grossman and Anton Ptushkin, director of "Saving The Animals of Ukraine." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Palestinians have been marking the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, or catastrophe, when more than 700,000 were expelled or fled during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. This year's observations come amid acute pain for both, since the October 7th massacres in Israel, and the mass death and destruction in Gaza. Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh joins the show, to talk about this and brings us her report on her visit with injured children in Doha.  Also for today's show: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations; Geoff Duncan, Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor; Frank Bruni, Author, “The Age of Grievance”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Georgia's future is hanging in the balance. The former Soviet republic has seen mass protests for weeks, coming to a head today as riot police clashed with pro-European demonstrators after its parliament passed a controversial "foreign agents" bill which critics say mirrors a law in Russia used to crack down on any opposition, dissent, and NGOs. Georgia's president Salome Zourabichvili joins the program from Tbilisi.  Also on today's show: Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former Ukrainian Defense Minister; David Herszenhorn, Russia, Ukraine Editor, The Washington Post; Reza Aslan; Author, "A Kids Book About Israel & Palestine"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is Memorial Day in Israel, more solemn this year in the shadow of October 7th, when more than 1,200 people were killed and hundreds taken hostage by Hamas. But also, a more divisive time than usual, as government ministers are booed and heckled over their war in Gaza, now in its eighth month, where more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed. With no ceasefire or hostage deal in sight, it is unclear what the Israeli government’s plan is. Major General Amos Yadlin is the former Chief of Israeli Military Intelligence. He joins Christiane from Tel Aviv.  Also on today's show: Arwa Damon, President and founder, INARA; former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki; author Ray Suarez  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Correspondent Matthew Chance's exclusive report about allegations of abuse at a secret Israeli military prison.  Plus: A defiant Benjamin Netanyahu pushes back at Joe Biden as Palestinians flee Rafah in fear of a looming israeli attack.  And: A new Human Rights Watch report says militants have committed crimes against humanity in Sudan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Asked about Israel's expected incursion into Rafah, President Biden replied, "If they go into Rafah I'm not supplying the weapons they've used historically." Senator Chris Van Hollen gives us his reaction to this major policy shift.  Plus: Ukrainian defense is being bombarded from the air as it waits for crucial military aid. We get the latest from General Ben Hodges.  And: It's victory day in Russia as Putin begins his fifth term as president. But what's the mood like behind the pomp and propaganda?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US pauses a bomb shipment to Israel over their potential use in the Rafah offensive. As fears of a wider war between Israel and Iran persist, so do the nuclear concerns. Bianna speaks with the head of the International Energy Agency. And as the world remembers the victims of the Holocaust, she's joined by a survivor of that atrocity.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a ceasefire deal stalls, and fears of an Israeli incursion in Rafah, Bianna Golodryga speaks with Haretz journalist Amos Harel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just as today's show begins we receive breaking news that Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal by Egypt and Qatar which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We begin with the biggest anti-war protests on American college campuses since Vietnam. Christiane speaks with Afua Hirsch, a journalism professor at the University of Southern California, who questions whether some colleges really understand the concept of free speech.  Also on today's show: Rabbi Sharon Brous, Columbia University professor Tim Wu, former Reagan Republican Robert Kagan  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Paris to Sydney, students across the world are joining protests over the war in Gaza. Northwestern’s leader Michael Schill is one of the few who engaged with students and managed to strike a deal. The agreement is being hailed as a success by some, but also facing backlash. Schill joined the program from Evanston, Illinois.  Also on today's show: Jodie Ginsberg, CEO, Committee to Protect Journalists; acclaimed photographer Platon; Brad Wilcox, Author, “Get Married”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

College campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war have been spreading across the United States, and more than 1,800 people have been arrested. While the demands by students vary somewhat, they are calling for a ceasefire, and many demand their colleges divest from companies that support Israel. Senator Bernie Sanders has been outspoken about these protests and he joined the program from Washington, DC.  Also on today's show: Douglas Belkin, Higher Education Reporter, Wall Street Journal; author Sathnam Sanghera  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the US, police have again moved on campuses from coast to coast: over a thousand people have been arrested from more than 25 colleges. At the heart of it all is a mostly peaceful protest against a dire situation in Gaza and a deep dissatisfaction with US policy in the region. Rabbi Sharon Brous is the founder of IKAR, an influential progressive Jewish congregation in Los Angeles. Last week, she visited both Columbia and UCLA to visit the protests, and she speaks to Christiane from L.A. to share her experience.  Also on today's show: Sanam Vakil, Director, Middle East and North Africa Program, Chatham House; Kenneth Stern, Director, Bard Center for the Study of Hate / Author, “The Conflict over the Conflict”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the fate of Israeli hostages and a Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told hostage families that, deal or no deal with Hamas, Israel's offensive on Rafah is going ahead. With the prospect of a ceasefire dim at best, even as the US Secretary of State crisscrosses the region, Christiane reached Riyad Mansour in New York. He's the Palestinian Observer to the UN, appointed by the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.  Also on today's show: author Robert Kagan; Stuart Stevens, Senior Adviser, The Lincoln Project  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hamas is set to meet negotiators in Cairo, as Egypt’s foreign minister calls for both sides to accept the proposal on the table: a two-step process over several weeks, involving hostage prisoner swaps, and some sort of pause in the fighting. But Israel has not yet agreed to the proposal, and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being urged by his extreme right flank to send troops into Rafah. Christiane Amanpour speaks with Amit Segal, a right-wing political analyst close to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.  Also on today's show: Isabella Ramirez, Editor in Chief, Columbia University Daily Spectator; Cameron Russell, Author, "How to Make Herself Agreeable to Everyone"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They were scenes of utter desperation and chaos: thousands of Afghans crowded outside Kabul’s airport, as American troops withdrew and the Taliban swept the country in August 2021. In a congressional hearing last month, former Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley blamed the State Apartment for note ordering what’s known as a “noncombatant evacuation operation” sooner. It ended in tragedy for many at the airport, when an ISIS-K suicide attack killed more than 180 people, including 13 US servicepeople. For two years, the US military has maintained that these deaths were all from that single explosion – but new video evidence shows that there was far more gunfire than the Pentagon has ever admitted. Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh has this special report.  Also on today's show: actor Michael Stuhlbarg & Director Rupert Goold, "Patriots"; author Michael Arceneaux  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Hallelujah.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s reaction, after the US finally approved military aid for its fight against Russia. But the six-month delay has cost countless lives, and hard-fought territory. Kuleba tells Christiane that "the era of peace in Europe is over." Meanwhile, the struggle of balancing free speech with safety is roiling colleges across the US. Salman Rushdie knows the importance of free speech better than most, since he nearly lost his life defending it. Our Letter from London this week features one of the world’s best-known photographers. Platon has spent decades up close and personal with the most influential figures of our era. From the Amanpour Archive this week, 30-years to the day since Nelson Mandela cast his first ever vote, we revisit an inspirational conversation with his private secretary Zelda La Grange. And finally, from hostage to hero: remembering American journalist Terry Anderson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America’s legal system is once again being tested by former President Donald Trump, who is accused of breaking multiple laws in multiple jurisdictions. In New York, his trial over alleged hush money payments continues today. At the same time, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments over his claim of presidential immunity. Emily Bazelon is a lecturer at Yale Law School and writes for New York Times Magazine. She joins Christiane to break this all down.  Also on today's show: Rose Gottemoeller, Former NATO Deputy Secretary-General; UK Labour MP Harriet Harman; Kate Manne, Author, "Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny"    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After six months of Republican obstruction, President Biden today signed into law a massive foreign aid package with nearly $61 billion earmarked for Ukraine. But the months of inaction highlighted Ukraine’s vulnerability to western politics, as well as a worrying shortfall in defense production across NATO. That's why British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans to lift UK defense spending by almost a hundred billion dollars, investing 2.5% of GDP by 2030. Labour MP David Lammy could become the country's next foreign secretary and he's making a case for what he calls “progressive realism.” He joins Christiane to discuss.  Also on today's show: author Salman Rushdie; Anne Applebaum, Staff Writer, The Atlantic  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen. Amidst this crisis the US, the UK and others are still withholding funding to UNRWA, the main relief agency there. This was in response to Israel’s claims that some UNRWA staff members took part in the Hamas atrocities of October 7th. An independent review headed up by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has concluded that UNRWA’s neutrality must be strengthened. She joins Christiane from New York to discuss her findings.  Also on today's show: David Vardanyan, whose father is imprisoned in Azerbaijan; historian Doris Kearns Goodwin; Ukranian conductor Oksana Lyniv  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Opening arguments were heard today in the first ever criminal trial of an American president, as a jury of twelve detainees determines whether Donald Trump engaged in 2016 election interference over the payment of hush money to an alleged lover. This is happening just six months from the 2024 election where he is vying to get his old job back. Foes and allies of the United States around the world will be watching closely. To discuss all this, Christiane is joined by foreign policy experts Kori Schake and Nathalie Tocci.  Also on today's show: climate reporter/author Abrahm Lustgarten; Palestinian and Ukrainian Refugee / Peace Ambassador for One Young World Zoya El-Miari  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We begin the show with the wider war nobody wants and the chain reaction playing out in the Middle East. With Israel and Iran’s decades-long shadow war now playing out in the open, the rules of engagement are being completely re-written. Christiane spoke to Britain’s former top spy John Sawers about the volatile situation. Meanwhile, in the absence of vital US aid for Ukraine, other allies are stepping in to fill the vacuum. The Czech Republic is now leading an international effort to deliver a million and a half artillery shells to Ukraine within a year. Czech President Petr Pavel - a former army general, and senior NATO official – joins Christiane from Prague. The world's biggest democratic exercise is underway in India as nearly a billion eligible voters decide whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves a third term. CNN’s Will Ripley explains what’s at stake for this crucial US ally. Ukrainian Maestro Oksana Lyniv is a classical music trailblazer with a passion for conducting shaped by her life and the war in her homeland. Christiane met her at the New York Metropolitan Opera. From the Amanpour Archive this week, we revisit Christiane’s conversations with the stakeholders at the center of the aborted 2015 nuclear deal, which would have reshaped the Middle East as we know it. And, with military aid locked up in congress, Ukraine’s air defense crisis deepens by the day and Putin is pressing the advantage. Christiane asks Donald Trump's former Defense Secretary Mark Esper if he thinks GOP holdouts have fallen victim to Putin’s propaganda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just before sunrise in Iran, an Israeli strike targeted a military airbase in Isfahan, a retaliation against Tehran for attacking Israel over the weekend. Iran’s attack was itself a retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria which killed several Iranian commanders. To discuss all this, retired Israeli General Amos Yadlin, former Head of Israeli Defense Intelligence, joins the show from Tel Aviv.  Also on today's show: Ray Takeyh, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; 2022 Nobel Prize Laureate, Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk; climate expert/author Bill Weir  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a make-or-break moment for Ukraine, as the US Congress looks closer than ever to finally pushing through its long-stalled aid package. Without US support, Ukraine has had to rely on other allies – including the Czech Republic, which has pioneered an effort to buy ammunition for Kyiv from third countries. Last week, President Zelensky met with Czech President Petr Pavel in Vilnius. Since his election just over a year ago, Pavel has been one of the most outspoken European leaders on countering Russian aggression, warning that “if Ukraine fails, so will we.” As a former top NATO general, he knows the military realities and the threats from Russia better than most, and he joined the program from Prague.  Also on today's show: David Sanger, Author, “New Cold Wars”; Grammy award-winning composer Terence Blanchard  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Israel continues its war on Gaza, a strike on a refugee camp on Tuesday killed at least 13 people. Over half were children, according to hospital officials. The latest UN figures show that one child is injured or dies every 10 minutes there. Amongst all this, over the weekend in Gaza rumours of Palestinians being allowed to return home turned deadly. International correspondent Jomana Karadsheh reports on the chaos that unfolded as people attempted to go back north.  Also on today’s show: Tamir Hayman, Former IDF intelligence chief; Tareq Abu Azzoum, Correspondent, Al Jazeera English; Akbar Shahid Ahmed, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, HuffPost  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel's war cabinet met again today to weigh up a response to Iran's strike over the weekend. In Tehran, President Ebrahim Raisi warns even the smallest of actions would be met with a “severe, extensive and painful” response. The United States is urging caution and calm from both sides, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin telling his Israeli counterpart that the US goal is "regional stability". Joining the program to discuss is former US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who served under Donald Trump and has since become one of his fiercest critics.  Also on today's show: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani; Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Simon Harris; author Jonathan Vigliotti  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leaders from the US, UK and EU urge restraint as Israel mulls its response to Iran. America has made it clear it will not participate in a counterattack. Jordan accuses Israel of using this confrontation to take attention off Gaza. Iran’s missile and drone attack was heavily telegraphed and 99% intercepted by Israel and its allies, however it raises the question of how Israel would do in an all-out war, without allied participation. The United States remains desperate to prevent that region from descending into a much wider war. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt Daniel Kurtzer joins Christiane from Washington DC.  Also on today's show: Neal Katyal, Fmr U.S. Acting Solicitor General / Law Professor, Georgetown University; Eddie Glaude Jr., Author, “We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For” / Professor of African American Studies, Princeton University  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every week more and more Democrats are expressing frustration with American policy on Israel and the war in Gaza. Some heavyweights, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are now even joining the call for the U.S. to stop arms transfers to Israel. Senator Bernie Sanders has been one of the loudest voices on this issue. At 82 years old, he manages to be the voice of young liberals, and warns that if President Biden doesn't change tack on the Israel war, and doesn’t expand his economic policy for working families, he could lose in November. Senator Sanders joins Christiane from Washington. Then, the unbelievable life story of the newly elected New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam. He was just 15 when he, and four other teens, were falsely accused of raping a jogger in central park in 1989. The media went all-out, assuming their guilt and the group became known as the "Central Park Five.” Salaam spent nearly seven years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He and the others were exonerated after the real perpetrator confessed and submitted DNA to prove it. But Salaam refused to be beaten by bitterness, and began this year being sworn in as the councilor for Harlem. He speaks with Christiane about all of it as they sit down together in Manhattan. This Sunday marks a decade since terror became reality in Chibok, Nigeria, sparking a global cry to 'bring back our girls', when nearly 300 innocent students were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants. Many of those taken have yet to return home. And kidnapping has become a recurring horror in the country. Now, CNN’s Stephanie Busari takes us to where tragedy unfolded, as part of CNN’s ongoing series on gender inequality called As Equals. Also in this week's show, Bill Weir, CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent who has spent years covering our warming planet, says there is still room for hope, despite all the despair surrounding climate change. His book , ‘Life as we know it (can be)’, goes on sale on April 16th. He joins Christiane in New York. From the Amanpour Archive: With war raging in Gaza, the Israeli Palestinian conflict may feel more intractable than ever. Peace may feel like a distant possibility. But there was a time when Northern Ireland felt like that too. After decades of brutal sectarian conflict and terrorist violence, its leaders and its people bravely chose peace. And this week they celebrated 26 years since the Good Friday Agreement that secured it. It remains one of the United States' greatest diplomatic triumphs as President Bill Clinton and Senator George Mitchell brokered the talks. Along with British Prime minister tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, and of course Northern Irish leaders themselves, they got the deal over the line. And last year, on its 25th anniversary Christiane travelled to Belfast to speak to Clinton, Blair, and Ahern. A peacemaker’s reunion. We revisit some of that historic conversation. We end the hour with a little opera for the soul. And a history making show at the Met in New York. “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” by the Grammy-award winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard, made history as the first work by a Black composer at the Metropolitan Opera in its 138-year history. And now it's back. Christiane went to the Metropolitan Opera House to meet him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arizona has become a flash point for America’s abortion-rights battle, as the Supreme Court there votes to uphold a Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions. To discuss what happens now and how will this development impact people in Arizona and across America, law professor and author Mary Ziegler ("Abortion and the Law in America") joins the show.   Also on today's show: US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello; author Percival Everett  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OJ Simpson has died from cancer at age 76. The former NFL star was the center of American attention in the mid-1990s, accused of brutally killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Criminal defense attorney and legal analyst Joey Jackson and Ann Olivarius, an attorney who specializes in sexual harassment cases, join Christiane Amanpour to discuss.  Alson on today's show: Yusef Salaam, New York City Councilmember, former member of the Central Park Five; Juliette Kayyem, Former Assistant Secretary, Department of Homeland Security  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the wake of October 7th, when Hamas murdered 1,200 Israelis, Senator Bernie Sanders spoke out in favor of Israel’s right to defend itself. But now he says Israel is violating international law, arguing “the United States cannot continue to be complicit in the horror that is taking place now." Senator Sanders joins the program from Capitol Hill to discuss America’s politics at home and abroad.  Also on today's show: Michelle O’Neill, First Minister of Northern Ireland; global affairs journalist Emily Tamkin  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What leverage does America still yield, whether in Israel, in Ukraine, or beyond? And is it as good as its word? There is a rising sense that the values America says it represents in the world are not reflected in its actions. For decades, Wendy Sherman was at the center of the US foreign policy establishment. Serving under three Presidents and five Secretaries of State, Sherman was Antony Blinken’s top deputy until she retired last summer. She joins Christiane from Washington DC and helps us understand the answers to these questions.  Also on today's show: actor Michael Douglas; Judy Craymer, Director/Creator, "Mamma Mia"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Across the Americas people looked up today, as a total solar eclipse journeyed across Mexico, toward the United States and Canada. The skies above delivered a huge communal opportunity across what can only be described as a bitterly divided country. As it started to pass across the Americas, physicist, mathematician, and author Brian Greene joined the program to discuss what made it so special.  Also on today's show: Sharone Lifschitz, Father held hostage in Gaza; David Autor, Ford Professor of Economics, MIT  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend marks six months since the most deadly attack in Israel’s history roiled the region and the world. On October 7th 2023, hundreds of Hamas fighters poured across the border from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping some 250 men, women and children. Of the remaining hostages, 130 are still missing, with 34 of them presumed dead. Yyocheved Lifschitz and her husband Oded were just two of the Israelis taken captive. In an unforgettable moment seen around the world, Yocheved bid Shalom to her masked captor when she became one of the first Israelis to be released. But six months on, her 83-year-old husband's whereabouts and condition are unknown. Their daughter, Sharone Lifschitz, joins the show. Then, he’s dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab world. Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian satirist forced into exile after years mocking his country’s ruling elite. After rebuilding his life and public image as an American citizen, the heart surgeon-turned comedian has found a new focus for his increasingly dark sense of humor - the bloodshed in Gaza. He took time out from his stand-up world tour to speak with Christiane. From the Amanpour Archive: 30 years ago this week, the Rwanda genocide shocked the world. The West's inaction would become a stain on human history, despite repeated warnings from those on the ground. Christiane explains how a general's desperate pleas for help were ignored, as more than 800,000 people were slaughtered. The countdown is on as total eclipse mania shifts into high gear in North America. But despite best laid plans, it could be hit-or-miss for millions of people if mother nature spoils the show. CNN Space Correspondent Kristin Fisher explains how science is set to meet spiritualism on Monday. In our Letter from London this week, the musical that unleashed an ABBA-lanche on London's West End, and lit up hundreds of cities around the world. "Mamma Mia!" just passed a quarter-century milestone, making it one of London's longest running musicals of all time. Christiane asks the show's creator-producer Judy Craymer why audiences just can't get enough. We end the hour with a milestone birthday. Jane Goodall, the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, turned 90 this week. Her pioneering research in the 1960s in a male-dominated field revolutionized primatology, when she documented chimps making and using tools in the wild. We revisit Christiane’s 2017 interview with Goodall, as they reflect on her remarkable life and legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new IDF report blames "mistaken identification" for the airstrike on Monday that killed seven aid workers in Gaza. Joe Biden has given Benjamin Netanyahu an ultimatum - protect civilians and aid workers, or Washington could reign in its support. Within hours of their phone call, the Israeli leader announced additional aid routes. For Gazans, help cannot come fast enough as millions remain on the brink of starvation. Amid the growing international and domestic anger, Israeli economy minister Nir Barkat joined the show from New York.   Also on today's show: Temidayo Aganga-Williams, Former Senior Investigative Counsel, House January 6th Committee / Former Federal Prosecutor; Ari Wallach, Host, "A Brief History of the Future"  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Almost one million people murdered in just one hundred days. It seems unfathomable, but that was the reality in Rwanda back in 1994 when militias and civilians from the country’s majority ethnic group, the Hutus, killed their Tutsi neighbors. Thirty years on, we take a look back at one of Christiane’s reports from 2008, when she returned to Rwanda to speak with some of those who have managed to find forgiveness since the genocide.  Also on today's show: Rwandan Human Rights Activist Paul Rusesabagina; author Sarah McCammon (“The Exvangelicals")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tomorrow marks 75 years since NATO’s creation and this anniversary comes at a critical time for the alliance, as it grapples with how to continue supporting the country battling for survival on its doorstep. Kurt Volker is a former US Ambassador to NATO and former US Special Representative for Ukraine, and he joins the show from Poland.  Also on today's show: comedian Bassem Youssef, whose wife has family in Gaza; Charlie Sykes, Founder and Former Editor-in-Chief, The Bulwark  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Foreign aid workers feeding starving people are the latest to be killed in Israel’s war on Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deadly airstrike a “tragic accident,” which “happens in war,” and vowed to investigate. The seven who lost their lives worked for famed chef Jose Andres’ organization World Central Kitchen, they came from all over the world to help – Poland, Canada, Australia, the UK. One was Palestinian. As United Nations Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths has been a key figure in pressing for vital aid to Gaza. After three years in the role, advocating and acting all over the world’s conflict zones, he is stepping down in June due to ill health. His career with the UN, the British diplomatic service and many humanitarian organizations spanned decades. Martin Griffiths joined the program from Geneva, in his first interview since announcing his retirement from the UN.  Also on today's show: Evgenia Kara-Murza, Wife of jailed Russian Opposition Figure Vladimir Kara-Murza; Stephen Breyer, Retired Supreme Court Justice  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iranian media is reporting that the country’s consulate in Syria has been destroyed in an airstrike, killing a senior commander in the revolutionary guard’s Quds force. The Iranian ambassador to Syria is claiming that Israel was behind the attack that killed at least five people. It comes as thousands of protestors gathered in cities across Israel in the largest demonstrations since October 7th. New York Magazine staff writer Ronen Bergman, author of "Rise and Kill First," joins the show from Tel Aviv.  Also on today's show: Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha; CNN correspondent Scott McLean; author Jonathan Haidt (“The Anxious Generation”)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices