Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files

This week's historic elections in Israel are the first time the country has voted since the October 7th attacks, and the election may ultimately turn on a single question: will voters hold accountable the politicians responsible for the security failings which led to that atrocity? Christiane and Jamie look at Netanyahu's fight for survival and the challenge from Gadi Eisenkot, and ask whether security is now the only issue on the ballot, with almost every prominent party sitting on the right. They also ask: if Netanyahu loses, does anything actually change? Can Israel be brought back in from the international cold, or will the alternative mean more of the same in Gaza and the West Bank? Did Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu move a single vote? And is it time for the US to reappraise its relationship with Israel, regardless of who the next Prime Minister is? Then: was Pete Hegseth's recent meeting with Netanyahu a precursor to a new round of the US-Israeli war with Iran? Is that conflict likely to restart as…

Are protests in France spiralling out of control, or do they point to a deeper breakdown in trust between the public and its political leaders? Christiane and Tina examine what lies behind the unrest and what it reveals about France's political climate. They also look at America's relationships with its allies. Can the US rebuild their trust, or will repairing the damage require more than a change of president? And how dependent is Ukraine on Elon Musk's Starlink network to coordinate military operations and maintain its advantage against Russia? Plus, Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action. Does this raise serious questions about freedom of expression? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us:…

After Katie Zacharia lasted just 5 days as White House Press Secretary, Christiane and Tina Brown ask: is this story part of a wider pattern that shows Trump and his administration have a problem with women? They discuss why Zacharia was given a job she was never qualified for in the first place, whether she was treated more harshly than her incompetent male colleagues, and whether Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles could be the next high profile woman in the Trump team to lose her job. Christiane and Tina are also joined by Kai Bird, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, to talk about his recent biography of Trump's mentor, Roy Cohn. They examine the influence Cohn had on a young Trump, and how much of that influence is still in evidence today. Plus, Christiane reacts to Trump's continued approach of criticising President Zelensky, while try to flatter and do business with Vladimir Putin. You can read Tina's Substack 'Fresh Hell' here. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production,…

Why has JD Vance condemned the idea of livestreaming Nidal Hasan’s execution, and what does it reveal about divisions within the Republican Party? Christiane and Jamie examine the debate and how it sits alongside the party’s stance on the right to life. They also look at the Houthis’ strike on a Saudi airport. Does this signal a widening conflict, and could Saudi Arabia be drawn back into a direct confrontation with the Houthis? Meanwhile, MI5 says threats from Russia and Iran have quadrupled in the last decade. With AI creating new risks, from cyber-attacks to bioweapons, are Britain’s intelligence services equipped to deal with a new era of hybrid warfare? Plus, why are Republican politicians so reluctant to cross Trump, even when his popularity appears to be falling? What keeps them loyal to him? This episode was recorded on 14th October. Christiane is up for Best Host in the Signal Awards Listener's Choice. If you love the show, take ten seconds to vote:…

President Trump has announced a deal with Russia, lifting his own diesel sanctions and committing to spend $4bn of American money to Russian fuel, in return for a ceasefire on energy infrastructure. As Zelensky calls it a gift to Russia's war machine, did Trump just sell out Ukraine for cheaper diesel? Christiane and Jamie unpack the logic behind it and examine Trump's claim that Zelensky should be replaced. Later Christiane reports from Reykjavik's Hofdi House, 40 years on from where Reagan and Gorbachev came within touching distance of abolishing nuclear weapons, and walked away. Jamie, who worked on arms control at the time, explains why that "failure" broke the back of the Cold War, and why both now argue the same leap of thinking is needed to govern AI before it governs us. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Christiane is up…

Christiane and Tina answer your questions on Trump's threats to make Canada the 51st state. Canada has reportedly prepared for the possibility of a US invasion- but how realistic is that threat, and is Mark Carney right to take it seriously? The Cornell 7 case has raised questions about how universities and law enforcement respond to sexual assault allegations. Why do major institutions so often fail survivors, and what needs to change? Plus: Tina weighs in on Prince Andrew's legal action against the police, as well as the latest row between Charles Spencer and King Charles over Princess Diana. Please note: this episode was recorded on the 5th October. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

The gruesome botched execution of Christa Pike has prompted an international debate about the use of the death penalty. Should it prompt America - the only major western democracy which still uses capital punishment - to finally scrap the death penalty? Christiane and guest co-host Tina Brown dissect the 'barbaric' attempts to execute Pike, explain why prison doctors are so poorly trained and reveal why there is a shortage of lethal injection drugs in the US. They also ask: what does this extraordinary case say about America? Christiane talks about her personal experience of visiting a death penalty facility in person and she and Tina discuss whether anything is likely to change as a result of this story. Plus, they look ahead to the midterms. Are these elections simply a referendum on Donald Trump? Christiane asks why so many senior Republicans still won't criticise the President by name and they discuss whether candidates would do better if they did. Plus Tina explains her theory on how Trump has lost his…

Christiane and Jamie answer your questions on the five men arrested over a suspected plot at RAF Fairford, one of the military bases the UK let the US use to bomb Iran. Is Iran's war now spilling into Britain and Europe more generally? A Baltic foreign minister recently told Christiane that Europe had been "a fat, lazy cat" until now - and credited Trump with finally getting the continent spending on defence. So why didn’t Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, agree? Plus: is the UN worth anything without leverage over Washington, Moscow or Beijing? What did Trump actually gain in Greenland? And are Ukraine's strikes inside Russia backfiring? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram:…

Xi got the pomp, the pageantry and a trip to see the US Constitution. America got a promise of two pandas. In this episode, Christiane and Jamie ask what Trump's summit with Xi actually achieved? Why was there no AI agreement? Is the Taiwan arms sale dead or just delayed? And why is Trump pushing hardest on America's friends while reaching for its adversaries? Plus Christiane gives her reaction to her exclusive UNGA interviews with Brazil's President Lula and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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:…

Saudi Arabia wants to take the fight to the Houthis, so why is Washington so reluctant to help? Christiane and Jamie unpack what's holding the US back, and what it means for the relationship if America is no longer willing to act as Saudi Arabia's security guarantor. Could Riyadh start looking to Europe, or even China, for better protection from Iran and its proxies? They also tackle a challenge from a listener who asks why Jamie is so focused on the threat from China and Russia - when the US and Israel stand accused of devastating actions of their own. Then, to Afghanistan, where the question is whether the international community has any real leverage left. Could diplomatic, trade and economic engagement, or the easing of targeted sanctions, be made conditional on genuine improvements in women's rights and their place in Afghan society? And is there any prospect the Taliban would accept that bargain? Plus, after another dreadful set of election results, is Chancellor Merz's position in Germany now…

How do you negotiate with a government you can't predict? That's the question preoccupying presidents and prime ministers this week, as leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly with every major global crisis in the same building at the same time. Christiane and Jamie ask whether wars are solvable and alliances can be strengthened while the world's superpower keeps moving the goalposts. Christiane brings the view from the very top. Fresh from interviewing Brazil's President Lula, and with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney building a political reputation for standing up to Trump, she and Jamie examine how major nations are quietly engineering workarounds for dealing with the Trump administration. Is this a sustainable new model of diplomacy? They also look ahead to two meetings that will test this fragile system: Trump and Xi, with AI now a national security question rather than a tech issue, and Trump and Zelensky, with Kyiv increasingly frustrated by reduced American support. Later,…

Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei has called the US–China AI race his "toughest dilemma", Christiane and Jamie ask – how worried should we be that artificial intelligence is becoming the next arms race? Plus, they look at Russia's reported strike on a train near Ukraine's border with Poland, shortly after European security officials had travelled through. Is it a warning to Europe, and could it mark a new escalation in the war? And, 25 years after 9/11, Christiane reflects on Gander’s heartfelt welcome to stranded passengers and the bond it created between the US and Canada. Can that relationship be repaired despite the ongoing trade war? Finally, given America’s role in the Good Friday Agreement, how significant are Trump’s recent comments about a united Ireland? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media…

Is Trump's war with Iran making America weaker? Christiane and Jamie examine what the conflict is costing the US – from military resources and its position in Europe and Asia to the risk of spreading America's power too thinly. They also examine how the war is affecting Iran, as pressure mounts on its economy and the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz intensifies. With the US reportedly running down its stocks of defensive missiles, could the conflict give Iran greater leverage? Plus, two crucial elections are coming up. Christiane and Jamie discuss what the US midterms could mean for Trump, and why Israel's election in October could become a reckoning for Benjamin Netanyahu. After sanctions were introduced on West Bank settlers, they ask, is Israel becoming increasingly isolated internationally? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an…

The AfD has won the Saxony-Anhalt state election - the first far-right win in a German election of this kind since the Nazi era. Christiane explains why it's so dangerous, and why Germany's "firewall" against the far right is now the thing to watch. Plus, has Witkoff and Kushner's trip to Moscow and Kyiv achieved anything? Jamie doubts they're the right negotiators, and explains what would actually bring Russia to the table. The hosts also tackle the foiled Russian plot at Leipzig airport, and Ratko Mladić's burial in Serbia with full military honours, which Christiane calls a 'disgrace'. Finally, Barbara on YouTube asks why they're so biased against Trump. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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

Twenty-five years after 9/11, Christiane and Jamie dedicate a special episode to their memories of the day the world changed forever. Christiane becomes emotional as she recalls the first time she saw the images of planes hitting the Twin Towers. She also reveals how it took her so long to hear about the attack in the first place, given she was thousands of miles away on assignment in Sierra Leone, cut off from phones and pictures. She describes the scramble to get word to her, the long journey back to London to broadcast, and her fear that Jamie might also have been a target for the terrorists. Meanwhile, Jamie explains how he instinctively declared the incident 'an attack on the world' as he went on air to react - and unpicks what the US Government got right and wrong in its immediate response to 9/11. Later, Christiane & Jamie turn to what those attacks set in motion. Why did the world unite behind the war in Afghanistan, and how did that consensus collapse in Iraq? They explain how the Iraq War began the…

The CIA director has just been to Moscow, just as his predecessor did weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. That warning was ignored. Will this one be? Channel 4 & LBC Presenter Matt Frei joins Christiane to explain why Putin might try to test NATO in the Baltics, and why European leaders aren't sure Trump would come to their defence. Then: Estonia's spy chief says Putin could face a coup from his own inner circle. Christiane looks at the growing signs of unease around the Kremlin, and why what happened to Yevgeny Prigozhin is a warning to anyone who might try to oust the Russian President. Plus: Mark Carney says Trump's trade demands amount to economic war, and most Canadians agree. Why has a former central banker stood up to Trump when other world leaders haven't? And with 30 countries now caught up in the Iran-US war, is this a 21st century world war? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get…

Why have Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin both surrounded themselves with advisers who tell them only what they want to hear? And is this same fatal flaw the reason that both the Ukraine War and America's conflict with Iran are both still dragging on with no end in sight? Christiane is joined by Matt Frei - a foreign correspondent with three decades covering the world's biggest stories - to discuss the cost of the Presidents' major blind spots. They also dig into the resignation of US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and ask whether Trump's administration is beginning to turn on itself. Matt describes a "Game of Thrones" unfolding behind the President's back, with rival figures such as JD Vance, Marco Rubio & Pete Hegseth jostling for position and influence. So how much longer can Trump keep his 'Court' together? Plus: the death of Ratko Mladic, the "Butcher of Bosnia". Christiane and Matt both covered the Balkan wars and both interviewed Mladic, and they explain why his death matters now, as Serbia grows more…

Five years after the Taliban swept back into Kabul, just how devastating has the impact been on the lives of Afghanistan's women and girls? And is the world simply choosing to look away? Christiane is joined by the BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, who has just returned from reporting in Kabul. Having covered Afghanistan for decades, Lyse tells Christiane what she found on her latest visit, describes the systematic erasure of women and girls from public life, and answers the hardest question of all: is Afghanistan any better off now than it was before the allied invasion in 2001? Plus, is it time for Trump to be given more of the blame for the chaotic allied withdrawal in 2021? Then the two of them turn to Iran. Lyse is one of only a handful of Western journalists to have reported from inside the country this year, following the regime's crackdown on its own people in January and the outbreak of the US-Israeli war in February. She gives listeners a rare picture of life inside Iran right…

Tens of thousands of people breached Spain's North African border and Europe is reliving the nightmare of 2015. Christiane and Jamie unpack why this moment has rattled European leaders, why Spain's carefully managed immigration model is suddenly on the defensive, and whether the far right will exploit the crisis all over again. Netanyahu has publicly rejected Trump's Gaza peace plan. But with Israel's election and the US midterms falling within a week of each other, could defeats for both Netanyahu and the Republicans finally shift the balance of power in the Middle East? Plus: AOC is freezing her eggs - does that mean she's running for president? Jamie explains why he believes a far-left nominee would lose the general election, and why the centrist-vs-progressive battle is the defining question for Democrats heading into 2028. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you…

Maggie Haberman is one of the few journalists to have been granted behind-the-scenes access to Trump's second term. This week, she joins Christiane to talk in depth about what she found. Drawing on her new book Regime Change, Maggie reveals what day-to-day life in this White House is really like: the chaos, the confusion, and what it tells us about the man at the centre of it all. What actually motivates Donald Trump: is it money, fame, power, or some combination of all three? Is there any genuine strategy behind his decisions, or is it simply governance by impulse? And after decades of covering him, what has Maggie learned about his personality that doesn't come across to those watching from afar? Christiane also asks Maggie about Trump's treatment of women, his extraordinary personal attacks on her - including calling her "Maggot" - and what to expect from the Midterms if things go badly for the Republicans. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and…

A leaked US intelligence assessment suggests Putin is considering an attack on a NATO country and America's weapons stockpile is dangerously depleted after the Iran war. Christiane and Jamie assess whether the threat is real and why Russia's hybrid warfare is already testing NATO's limits. After Netanyahu has publicly rejected Trump's Gaza peace plan, Jamie explains why Hamas likely agreed to it knowing Israel would say no and why this pattern of rejection stretches all the way back to the 1990s. Plus: should Ukraine be allowed to bomb Russian cities in self-defence? The strategic attacks on Russia's economy are already escalating, but will it be enough to change Putin's mind or will he keep doubling down on a losing hand? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us:…

Did the capture of President Maduro give Trump the confidence to start a war with Iran? Christiane and Jamie trace how January's Venezuela gamble led directly to a disastrous conflict - and ask whether 'might makes right' has become the defining doctrine of this Presidency. They examine whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio is effectively running Venezuela as America's 'Viceroy', whether the US has colonised a sovereign nation and what that means for how it is viewed around the world. Plus, Christiane explains how Obama succeeded in making a deal with Iran where every other president failed, and Jamie gives his take on what The Odyssey can teach us about modern diplomacy. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod…

How do you challenge a president who calls you fake news and walks out? Christiane reflects on the futility of confrontational questioning, and why she'd rather ask Trump how he became who he is. Jamie argues the Iran war is the most unpopular US military conflict he can remember, with no rally-around-the-flag effect and no stated objective successfully achieved. Could it lead to an uprising or ‘Arab Spring’ in the US, with Trump’s actions driving a potential midterm reckoning? Plus, Hamas has signalled willingness to disarm as part of a Gaza deal, but is this a sign of real progress or another false dawn in the peace process? Jamie unpacks what Tony Blair's Northern Ireland playbook might look like in Gaza and why none of it matters without an Israeli government willing to allow a Palestinian state. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an…

Imran Khan - the legendary cricketer and former Prime Minister - has now spent three years in a Pakistani prison. The UN says he is being held in solitary confinement in 'inhumane' conditions, something the Pakistani government denies. His supporters insist the charges are politically motivated. In this episode, Christiane speaks to Khan's son, Kasim, about what it's like to go months without hearing from a father known to be suffering serious health problems. She and Jamie are also joined by Zulfikar Bukhari, a former Minister in Khan's government, on the geopolitics of his imprisonment and why President Trump hasn't done more to help. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram:…

A 22-year-old international student launched India's "Cockroach Party" and has successfully forced the education minister to resign. Christiane and Jamie unpack how a tongue-in-cheek protest movement exposed widespread exam corruption, won government reparations, and may signal the beginning of the end of Modi's unchallenged power. They also explore whether Putin's apparent weakness makes NATO membership for Ukraine more realistic. Jamie explains why the answer is still no, but why Kazakhstan's president telling Putin to "freeze the war now" matters more than people realise. Plus, Trump wore a "Trump 2028" cap to the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Even if he was joking, does floating a third term normalise the erosion of constitutional limits? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more…

Has Trump fired the starting gun on a nuclear arms race in the Middle East? His controversial deal with Saudi Arabia has sparked alarm - but is it already on the brink of collapse, after the President said it hinges on the Gulf nation normalising relations with Israel? Christiane and Jamie unpick the agreement and its long-term consequences for the region and the world. They highlight how Iran will weaponise the deal for propaganda - asking why Riyadh should be allowed to enrich uranium while Tehran cannot - and look at whether Trump's standoff with Iran risks becoming another Forever War. Plus, Christiane reveals the growing desperation of ordinary Iranians who are struggling to afford to eat as they live under the continued threat of US airstrikes. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For…

The ICC is in crisis. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has threatened to dismantle the International Criminal Court 'brick by brick', and with Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan now facing sexual misconduct allegations and a vote on his future, the institution has never looked more vulnerable. Christiane and Jamie discuss whether the Trump administration really might try to destroy the court, and what that would mean for international justice. They also tackle Pete Hegseth's decision to introduce testosterone screening for all US servicemen. Is there an irony in policing hormone levels when transgender troops were forced out of the military just last year? Plus, Christiane responds to her critics on Iran: why do some accuse her of being too sympathetic to the Islamic Republic, while others say she's too close to the exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi? And is there any realistic prospect of the UK rejoining the EU, a decade on from Brexit? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every…

Ukrainian President Zelensky has shocked allies by sacking his Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, just as his country seemed to be gaining momentum in its grinding war with Russia. Christiane and Jamie discuss whether this is a reckless gamble that could fracture Ukraine's war effort at the worst possible time, and what it signals both to Kyiv's Western backers and to Moscow. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has delivered a speech heavy with accusations of historic election interference ahead of the Midterms. Christiane and Jamie ask whether the President is already building a 'rigged election' narrative to explain away a poor Republican result. Is this a repeat of the 2020 playbook, and do any American voters still believe him? Plus Christiane gives her take on the latest developments in the US-Iran conflict which is in danger of becoming a full-blown hot war once again. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you…

With the death of Lindsey Graham, Christiane and Jamie examine what's been lost - and what his career revealed about the bargain so many Republicans have made: suppress what you believe to stay relevant, and hope it's worth it. On the Iran war, they discuss that promise made by the US and Israel for Iranian liberation - so why is the regime now more entrenched than ever? Plus, as Andy Burnham prepares to become Britain's seventh Prime Minister in ten years, what kind of relationship can he realistically have with Trump? Christiane and Jamie also discuss Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's resignation over an undeclared £5 million “gift” and the upcoming by-election that he’ll be contesting against Count Binface. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

How real is the alleged Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump? Is it a genuine assassination plan, or another case of Israeli intelligence getting it wrong? Christiane and Jamie unpick the story and ask whether this reporting is accelerating the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire and Memorandum of Understanding. They also explain why the two sides have started firing on each other again, how long the Strait of Hormuz might stay closed, and whether the unexpected death of Lindsey Graham could shift the trajectory of Trump's foreign policy. Plus: Christiane's verdict on last week's NATO summit and why the rise of the far right in Europe poses a direct threat to the future of the alliance. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us:…

Trump says the Iran ceasefire is over - so how worried should we be about a return to full-scale war? Christiane and Jamie break down the latest tit-for-tat strikes and explain why the Iran War is even more humiliating for the US than Vietnam or Afghanistan. Plus, Christiane and Jamie discuss Trump’s interference in the World Cup… and how the US still lost to Belgium! They also assess the far-right Marine Le Pen's path back to eligibility for the French presidency, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's resignation over an alleged £5 million “gift”, and Denmark's pointed reminder at the NATO summit that it will defend "every single inch" of its territory - Greenland included. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

America has just marked 250 years of independence, but how much does the world's superpower really have to celebrate? Christiane explains how Trump is remaking the Land of the Free in his own image, and she and Jamie ask whether the President is doing irreversible damage to the US at home and abroad. They examine how the First Amendment right to free speech is under attack, and why America's closest allies are losing trust in a President whose behaviour they can't predict. But it's not all doom and gloom: Christiane reveals why the World Cup is giving her cause for hope. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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:…

Nearly four months after the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted, how are the many Asian countries dependent on its oil managing? Christiane and Jamie also discuss the US's potential decline as a world power, and its success as host of the FIFA World Cup - despite the odds. Also, given the UN inquiry that declares Israel as the perpetrators of genocide, at what point does the US reconsider its "special relationship" with a country facing such charges from international bodies? They also move into the philosophical: in politics, is a true believer more dangerous than an opportunist - or does it make no difference if they vote the same way? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram:…

Putin has publicly admitted that Ukraine's strikes are causing real damage inside Russia. With fuel being rationed in Siberia and supplies in Crimea running out, Christiane and Jamie discuss how worried Putin is, and whether this is the beginning of real pressure on Moscow. They also discuss Venezuela's devastating earthquake which has exposed a country incapable of dealing with crisis. With the US doing the bare minimum to help - and effectively took control after removing Maduro - Christiane and Jamie ask: if you break it, do you own it? Next they turn to Colombia, where a far-right multimillionaire with no political experience has just been elected president. Abelardo De La Espriella calls himself 'El Tigre', models himself on Trump, and has already threatened mass military operations and mega-prisons. Is Latin America turning Trumpian? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure…

Christiane and Jamie contrast the political accountability between presidential and parliamentary systems - why does Donald Trump remain while Keir Starmer falls? Plus, could Syria, Lebanon, and Israel ever cooperate to eradicate Hezbollah? Or has that moment already passed? And, what of Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal? Christiane and Jamie also discuss the far-right threat sweeping Europe, from Germany's AfD to France's Marine Le Pen, before discussing the likelihood of America returning to anything resembling normality, post-Trump. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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:…

The US and Iran have held their first round of peace talks, but has there really been any progress? Is Tehran actually likely to allow nuclear inspectors back in? And has Trump's approach left America in a weaker negotiating position than when this all started? Christiane and Jamie cut through the diplomatic noise and explain what's really happening behind the scenes as both sides try to reach a deal. They also unpack why Trump and JD Vance are turning the screws on Benjamin Netanyahu, and discuss whether Bibi now regrets going into coalition with two far-right politicians, one of whom recently called for Lebanon to "burn". Plus, Keir Starmer has resigned as Britain's Prime Minister. Christiane and Jamie react to his departure, ask whether Andy Burnham can succeed where Starmer failed, and reflect on the long shadow Brexit is still casting over British politics, a decade on from the referendum. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global…

Elon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire - but should we celebrate or worry? Christiane and Jamie debate how his leap from electric cars and SpaceX into owning the public square, gutting USAID, and bankrolling Europe's far right represents a concentration of power no single individual should hold. They also examine whether Trump's final-term decisions are driven by ideology or personal business interest, and why "might makes right" seems to define every corner of this presidency. Plus, with hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers now in the West Bank and a campaign of violence forcing Palestinians from their homes, is the two-state solution already dead? And as the UK announces an Australia-style social media ban for children, Christiane and Jamie discuss why it's urgently needed – and why America will probably never do it. This episode was recorded on the 15th June 2026. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player,…

The war in the Middle East has stopped, but can either the US or Iran genuinely claim victory? Christiane and Jamie unpick what the Memorandum of Understanding actually includes, what it conspicuously leaves out, and why the deal could still collapse if the two sides can't agree on the nuclear question long-term. Christiane reveals what her contacts inside Iran are telling her about the potential for peace, and she and Jamie ask whether the Islamic Republic's new regime is actually more hardline than the one it replaced. Plus: Russia has just launched devastating airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and cultural sites in what some see as a sign of Putin's growing desperation. With world leaders gathering at the G7 this week, can they persuade Trump to turn his attention to ending that war now the Iran crisis is on hold? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you…

Is the gutting of 60 Minutes leading us down a dangerous path? Christiane doesn't hold back on what CBS's parent company is doing to one of the most successful news programmes in television history. Plus, a Lebanese listener asks the question at the heart of the Middle East crisis: is it cheaper to pay off Iran and its proxies than to keep fighting? Christiane and Jamie unpack why the war in Lebanon won't end while Israel refuses to deal, and whether the Trump administration has the diplomatic expertise to broker real peace. Christiane and Jamie also discuss whether Mayor Mamdani is really delivering for New York, and explain why the UN can't act on America's energy blockade of Cuba. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us:…

Christiane was in Beirut until last Sunday. By the time she arrived back in London, the Lebanese capital was once again under Israeli bombardment and the Middle East ceasefire appeared on the verge of collapse. In this episode, Christiane reveals what Lebanese President Joseph Aoun exclusively told her about Israel's ongoing war with Hezbollah and Iran's continued grip on his country. She and Jamie trace Hezbollah's history as an Iranian proxy force, its decades of conflict with Israel, and whether Lebanon now holds the key to a wider peace deal in the region. They also react to reports of furious recent phone calls between President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, and ask whether the US-Israeli relationship has been permanently damaged by the ongoing conflict. And you can watch Christiane's recommendation for this week here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G4lEEqEzpQ Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever…

On this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked whether Donald Trump’s self-styled reputation as a master dealmaker stands up to scrutiny, as US-Iran talks drag on with bold claims but little progress. They also discuss the French navy’s interceptions of Russian oil tankers accused of skirting sanctions, and whether others should follow suit. They explore the effect that gerrymandering, and the wider capitalist system, has on American democracy, both politically and morally, before analysing claims that Elon Musk interfered in the 2024 election. What can democracies realistically do to protect themselves from the billionaires? Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram:…

After a Russian drone struck a building inside NATO member Romania, Christiane and Jamie ask the question on every western leader's mind: does Putin actually want a direct confrontation with the alliance? They examine whether the incident was a reckless accident or a calculated provocation, potentially a deliberate test of NATO and Europe's willingness to respond. What does it tell us about Russia's escalation strategy, and how should the West react? Later, they turn to US domestic politics and the growing debate within the Democratic Party over Israel. With criticism of Israeli military operations and settler violence intensifying, Christiane and Jamie discuss whether Democrats should adopt a significantly tougher stance, and what the political consequences of doing so might be. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on…

This week, Christiane and Jamie discuss Pope Leo’s warning that AI could end up starting more wars, and ask whether the technology now poses a genuine threat to the future of humanity. They also look at the politics around this summer's FIFA World Cup - which will see Iran play matches in the US - as the war in the Middle East shows no sign of ending. Christiane & Jamie also revisit Russia’s interference in the 2016 US Presidential election and discuss whether Moscow is still meddling in American politics today, even while at war with Ukraine. They also unpack the long-running ambiguity of US policy on Taiwan, before turning to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s current political troubles and whether a change in leadership could strengthen the UK on the world stage. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media…

The Iran ceasefire hangs by a thread after the latest round of US strikes on Iranian military sites and IRGC boats. Is this a sign that Trump is about to restart the war? Or is it that the President is becoming increasingly desperate to end the conflict he probably regrets starting three months ago? Christiane & Jamie unpick how Trump has backed himself into such a tight corner, and whether it's now inevitable that the US emerges from this war in a weaker position than when it started. Later, Christiane delivers a powerful reaction to a recent report that the US & Israel originally planned to install the former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the new leader of Iran - and she explains why this proves that there was no proper strategy for this conflict. Christiane & Jamie also discuss why Bibi Netanyahu is putting so much pressure on Trump to keep fighting, and whether Trump still has the authority to tell Israel what to do. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available…

With growing numbers of doctors and experts publicly questioning the president's mental fitness, Christiane and Jamie tackle the most uncomfortable question in American politics: is Donald Trump losing it? Then, Christiane and Jamie are asked about the Epstein files and why justice for the women and children who were abused is yet to be served. They also examine Israel's controversial new death penalty law for Palestinians and debate whether the October 7th attacks can justify such a measure. And to mark their first podcast anniversary, Christiane and Jamie revisit a row from their marriage over Iraq sanctions. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

After a bruising few months of war, and with his ratings at an all-time low, could Trump be about to target Cuba? Christiane & Jamie dissect the President's recent visit to China and explain why he was unable to make any progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, plus they reveal why he might be planning to indict the former Cuban President Raul Castro. They also look at Trump's ongoing struggle to end the Iran War, and unpick whether other world leaders are still paying any attention to his threats. Later, Christiane reacts to reports that the US is demanding a major role in running Greenland and explains why this has the potential to reignite long-running tensions with America's European allies. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us:…

Christiane and Jamie tackle the question of why so many MAGA supporters still trust President Trump despite rising costs, broken promises and foreign wars. They also address whether Americans truly understand how much damage has been done to the country's standing in Europe. Plus, Christiane and Jamie break down Iran's surprisingly effective Lego-style propaganda videos, explaining why humour has become the Islamic Republic's most potent weapon against the Trump administration. They also tackle a question close to Christiane's heart - why devastating humanitarian crises, such as those in Sudan and Ethiopia, continue to be ignored by the world's media - and reflect on the most important stories they've covered as The Ex Files turns one! Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

What's been happening in Ukraine while the world has been watching the Iran War? Something has shifted - and not in Putin's favour. This week, Christiane and Jamie examine why Putin suddenly pushed for a ceasefire ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Was it a diplomatic gesture, or a sign of fear? They explore growing reports that Putin has become paranoid about his own security, and make the case that Ukraine may be doing far better on the battlefield than the world realises. Christiane and Jamie also discuss the latest developments in the Iran War, and look ahead to Trump's imminent visit to China. Can President Xi help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz? What would he want in return? And finally, they pay tribute to the late Ted Turner, the man who founded CNN and who changed the way the world consumed news. Christiane and Jamie explain the influence he had on them both and the legacy he leaves. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on…

Christiane and Jamie answer your questions on the global fallout from the conflict in the Middle East - is anyone paying attention to the millions in sub-Saharan Africa facing displacement as a direct consequence of the Iran War? And will China or major European nations ever apply enough pressure on Trump to end it once and for all? Plus, with millions of Americans having voted for Trump, will the attitudes that put him in power will simply produce more candidates like him? Christiane and Jamie also assess the emerging competition between JD Vance and Marco Rubio for the next Republican Presidential nomination. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social media: @amanpourpod

Are the US & Iran really getting closer to a peace deal, as Trump claims? With the American blockade in the Strait of Hormuz now suspended, and talks between the two sides apparently imminent, Christiane and special guest Tina Brown unpick whether Trump finally has an exit plan, or whether this could be yet another false dawn in negotiations. Christiane & Tina also discuss the challenges and the risks of holding power - and particularly President Trump - to account in the modern age of social media and disinformation. Later, they explain the impact of King Charles's recent state visit on the Special Relationship, plus they talk Putin, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and Tina reveals what's coming up at her annual Truth Tellers' Summit. You can read Tina's Substack 'Fresh Hell' here. Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow us on social…