Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files

The Trump administration has finally published its National Security strategy - and it's left Christiane and Jamie baffled. This week, they discuss why, at a time of war in Ukraine, the President seems so keen to welcome Russia back into the fold, while criticising America's European allies.Plus, Christiane reflects on her recent exclusive interview with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and, one year on from the overthrow of the tyrannical Assad regime, asks how much hope Syrians can have for their future. Can the country's new leader unify a fragmented nation and rescue its dire economy? Christiane and Jamie also discuss what al-Sharaa has to say about his terrorist past, and explain why he's furious with Israel. Later, it's time for this week's Recommendations!Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked about Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to the Israeli president for a pardon from the long-running corruption trial he faces, for which he’s pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and fraud. Is a pardon really in the Israeli public interest, as he claims? They’re also quizzed on the increasingly discussed possibility of another global financial crash. How likely is such a crash and what would its impact on global geopolitics be? Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com  For more content, please follow us:  Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod X: https://x.com/AmanpourPod= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social 

With Congress now formally looking into accusations that the War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has asked US forces to carry out illegal orders in the Caribbean, Christiane and Jamie explain the background to the story and examine those allegations in detail. Why does the Trump administration seem so obsessed with launching a full-blown military campaign against Venezuela? And what are the consequences if Hegseth has been ordering his troops to commit war crimes? Christiane also gives her reaction to President Macron's controversial announcement that he is reintroducing military service in France. Decades after most Western nations ended conscription and compulsory national service, she and Jamie discuss whether this is a step that other nations, such as the US and the UK, should follow, given the ongoing threat posed by Russia. Jamie also reveals what Andriy Yermak - Zelensky's recently departed Chief of Staff - was like to work with, and he and Christiane assess whether we are any closer to reaching a genuine peace deal for Ukraine. And as always, they wrap up with this week's Recommendations! Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, in the wake of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia’s meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, Christiane and Jamie are asked how the US should best deal with regimes that, despite condemnable human rights records, remain important strategic allies.They’re also asked why President Trump gets away with his consistently rude treatment of journalists, Christiane noting a recent but already infamous incident in which the President angrily hushed a female journalist: “Quiet, piggy”.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPod=Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Aman

Why does Trump think he can force Ukraine to accept a “peace plan” that hands Putin almost everything he wants? In this episode, Christiane explains why the latest US-backed proposals and Trump's pressure campaign are so problematic - and gives her very personal reaction to the fast-moving negotiations.And as high-stakes talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US take place in Abu Dhabi, Christiane and Jamie look at how Europe and Zelensky are fighting back against the Trump-Russia plan - and whether the US can be convinced to continue supporting Ukraine if the war drags on into next year. Later, Christiane and Jamie react to Trump and Mamdani's surprising first meeting in the Oval Office, plus they explore how tech bros have muscled their way into US politics, and they wrap up with this week's recommendations!Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked to explain the potential rationale behind Donald Trump’s U-turn on the Epstein files. The bill ordering the release of the files has passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate, with Trump’s blessing… despite him recently labelling congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene a “traitor” for supporting the motion.They’re also asked about the “dark money” used by donors to control politicians and influence policy. What can be done to increase the transparency of policy decision-making and reduce any potential conflicts of interest?Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPod=Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

Christiane reflects on the 30th anniversary of the end of the Bosnian War, revealing why current world leaders could learn valuable lessons from how that conflict ended when it comes to Ukraine and the Middle East. She and Jamie also explain what made the US military intervention in Bosnia so successful, and why it didn't turn into a repeat of the Vietnam War, as some had claimed it would. Plus, as Trump continues his crackdown on immigration, has the president just run into his toughest opponent yet? With hundreds more arrests made by ICE officials in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend, Christiane and Jamie discuss what the impact could be of Catholic and Christian leaders across America joining the Pope in criticising Trump as he attempts to continue his mass deportations. And don't miss this week's recommendations!Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked about the events that led to Donald Trump threatening to sue the BBC for $1bn. How serious an act is it to edit a video of the President in a way that could be considered misleading?Also posed are questions about the recent success of the Democrats in the US, at the forefront of which is Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Will he succeed as the Mayor of New York and how can the Democrats balance ambition with pragmatism?Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

This week, the famed couples' therapist Esther Perel joins Christiane for a special episode. Ahead of the Holiday season, they discuss why families and world leaders seem to be more polarised than ever by politics and an inability to resolve their differences - and Esther explains what people can do to heal divisions in their own lives at this difficult time.Esther also reveals to Christiane what she thinks of her starting a podcast with her ex-husband, Jamie Rubin - plus she has a book, a film, and a play to recommend!Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked how NATO states would react, militarily, if Donald Trump’s America were to invade Canada. Assuming Article 5 would be invoked, would NATO then allow US allies to come to Canada’s defence and go to war with America?Christiane is also joined by Ernest Moniz, physicist, former United States Secretary of Energy, and Co-Chair and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative. They discuss the NTI’s progress towards global nuclear disarmament via policy solutions, partnerships and innovation.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

Putin says Russia has just successfully tested a new type of nuclear-powered weapon. China has doubled the size of its nuclear arsenal in the last five years - and shows no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, Trump is promising to restart US nuclear weapons tests. After a week of sabre-rattling from world leaders, Christiane and Jamie discuss whether we're entering a new Cold War, and analyse how seriously the West should take the nuclear threat posed by Russia and China.Christiane also explains how the world has gone backwards on nuclear disarmament since her trip to North Korea in 2008 - while she and Jamie debate how accurate the new film "A House of Dynamite" is, and what would really happen if a nuclear missile was fired at the US. Later, Christiane reveals what insiders have told her about Trump's recent threat of a military intervention in Nigeria, while Jamie breaks down why we should be worried by the growing influence of China, Russia, and the UAE in Africa.Plus: which country is number 1 in the world for gender equality? Find out in this week's Recommendations! Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked what they think about the announcement from Kamala Harris that she’s considering running for president again - and how they think she’d do. Christiane and Jamie are also asked who they think will win the upcoming New York Mayoral Election and whether the 34 year old favourite, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, has provided a political template for the whole party to follow.Christiane also answers a question about her experience of dealing with ovarian cancer for a third time - something she opened up about on a recent podcast called Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story, which you can listen to or watch here. Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

The US Defence Secretary is asking journalists to "make a pact with the devil" says Christiane this week, as she and Jamie discuss why Pete Hegseth seems so intent on censoring the Pentagon Press. Does the former Army Major have something to hide? Or is this just another sign of authoritarianism creeping into the Trump administration? Christiane explains what the consequences of this move could be - and why it might backfire on the man who likes to style himself as the Secretary of War.Plus, as Trump prepares to meet with President Xi at a summit in South Korea, Christiane and Jamie predict whether the era of tariffs and trade wars might finally be coming to an end. Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie tackle your questions about the growing “No Kings” protests and the viral video of President Trump wearing a crown. Why isn’t there more outrage over a president who seems to see himself as a monarch?They also explore what’s next for Syria following Assad’s overthrow last year and revisit why President Obama ultimately failed to enforce his famous “red line” on chemical weapons.Send us a question at: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

As the Trump administration's strikes on 'narco-terrorist' boats in the Caribbean continue, Christiane and Jamie discuss whether this is the start of a full-blown conflict with Venezuela - and ask whether Trump is going for regime change in the Latin American country.Christiane highlights previous US attempts at regime change - in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan - and explains why those went wrong, while Jamie questions the legality of the recent strikes in the Caribbean, pointing to the shock resignation of the Admiral in charge of the US military in South America. Later, Christiane speaks to Emily Maitlis - the presenter of The News Agents podcast who conducted the infamous Prince Andrew interview in 2019 - about the Prince being stripped of his remaining titles, and this week's release of Virginia Giuffre's memoirs. Christiane asks Emily whether she thinks there is still more fallout to come from Andrew's friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Plus - don't miss this week's Recommendations!Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked why, despite widespread opposition to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, no one was able to stop the conflict until now. Also, is Tony Blair really a sound choice for the Gazan "Board of Peace"?They also address whether the U.S. Supreme Court could reverse its ruling that granted President Donald Trump immunity from criminal prosecution.Send us a question at: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

The guns have fallen silent in Gaza, and the surviving hostages have returned to Israel — but will this ceasefire lead to real, lasting peace?Christiane and Jamie unpack the complex diplomatic road ahead, examining the two biggest obstacles standing in the way of lasting peace.Christiane shares exclusive insights from key figures across the Middle East about their concerns for phase two, while Jamie breaks down how Trump managed to broker this deal where Biden couldn’t.Plus, they discuss whether Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week's Q&A episode, Christiane and Jamie are asked why the US federal government is currently in a shutdown, what impact it’ll have on the country and why the Trump administration blames the Democrats.They’re also asked how the media can help to raise awareness of femicide - given that UN statistics show rates of violence against women are growing annually across the world. Christiane and Jamie also explain the positive sides of AI, and why Israel was allowed to arrest hundreds of people aboard an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. Send us a question at: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

Trump claims to have a plan which could lead to lasting peace in the Middle East - but is this any more than a framework for a fragile ceasefire? This week, Christiane and Jamie clash over how strong this plan is - and how good a chance it has of leading to meaningful peace. Jamie also explains why this deal could have been struck so much earlier if Trump had been willing to put more pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu - and Christiane reveals the concerns which Arab leaders have been expressing to her about it in private.Later, Christiane and Jamie debate whether the Democrats are right to hold firm on the issue of healthcare as the US Government shutdown shows no sign of coming to an end. Plus Christiane expresses her fears that Trump's rhetoric on immigration is spreading further into mainstream British political conversation. Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

In this week's Q&A episode, Christiane and Jamie address whether science can prevail against the rising numbers of climate change deniers and anti-vaxxers - including some within the US Government. They're also asked whether they think American journalism is likely to suffer from more censorship - in light of the recent free speech row and the cancelling of Jimmy Kimmel. Plus they give their view on whether the US should lose the honour of being the home of the UN in light of President Trump's controversial speech to the General Assembly last week. Send us a question at: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social