This Thanksgiving, The Amanpour Hour focuses on the power of bridge-building. Following a contentious election, America feels more divided than ever. Renowned political scientist Robert Putnam joins Christiane to reflect on the reasons driving Americans apart and how to rebuild those communities. Former Israeli and Palestinian leaders Ehud Olmert and Nasser al-Kidwa join forces and discuss their shared vision for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Journalist Yuval Abraham and Palestinian c...
Dec 01, 2024•41 min
Syrian rebels say they've entered Aleppo for the first time since 2016. We bring you the latest from the region. Then, Pakistan's capital is turned upside down by anti-government protests. We speak to the former Pakistani ambassador to the US. Plus, "Sugar Cane" is a new documentary exploring the horrific abuse at indigenous boarding schools run by the Catholic church. The filmmakers join us to discuss. And five years after a fire destroyed parts of Notre Dame, the iconic cathedral reopens its d...
Nov 29, 2024•53 min
Some governors, led by J-B Pritzker of Illinois and Jared Polis in Colorado, are trying to strengthen their own state-level institutions to protect against the promised retribution of President Trump. Colorado Governor Jared Polis joins Christiane from Boulder. Also on today's show: former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk; James Beard Award-winning Chef Bryant Terry, author of "Black Food" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 27, 2024•59 min
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah appears within reach. A spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party says they have approved it, and Lebanon's government has agreed to the US-backed proposal, after the speaker of Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berry received Hezbollah's approval to move forward. Elias Bou Saab is the deputy speaker of Parliament, and he joins Christiane from Beirut. Also on today's show: actor Sharon Horgan on "Bad Sisters"; Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford Learn m...
Nov 26, 2024•59 min
It's been one year since the only hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas led to the release of over 100 captives taken on October 7th. Around 100 hostages are still believed to be held inside Gaza today. Aviva Siegel was released as part of that deal last November, but her husband Keith, an American-Israeli citizen, remains in captivity. Aviva Siegel joins the show from Israel. Also on today's show: Sir Geoffrey Nice, lead prosecutor at the trial of Slobodan Milošević; Joni Levin an...
Nov 25, 2024•59 min
The show opens with Bianna Golodryga speaking to David Scheffer, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, about the legal implications of the International Criminal Court’s unprecedented arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes. Plus, Bianna interviews Dan Osborn, a union steamfitter and former Senate candidate from Nebraska on why working-class Americans abandoned democrats, and how to get more of them elected to government . Then, Christiane discusses the adapt...
Nov 23, 2024•41 min
Vladimir Putin's assault on Ukraine, which now includes new medium range ballistic missiles, now appears to be getting a boost from Kim John Un. North Korean fighters are showing up alongside Russian forces, and the Kremlin is using North Korean-made missiles, but as correspondent Nick Paton Walsh reports, they're reliant on American components. Also on today's show: Laila El-Haddad, Palestinian-American journalist and author; musicians Scott & Seth Avett and actor John Gallagher Jr. on the ...
Nov 22, 2024•59 min
In a groundbreaking move, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, the first time the ICC has targeted the leader of a democratic country and a close ally of the United States. Israeli author and journalist for Haaretz Amir Tibon joins the show to dissect the ramifications and the mood in Israel. Also on today's show: David Scheffer...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr
"We have a very real opportunity to bring this conflict to an end" was the assessment of US envoy Amos Hochstein, who is bringing a ceasefire proposal to Lebanon and Israel. Both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah are said to have responded positively. In the meantime, Israel has been intensifying its air strikes, even inside Beirut. Nabih Bulos is Middle East Bureau Chief for the LA Times, based in Lebanon's capital, and he joins the show from there. Also in today's show: former US Ambassado...
Nov 20, 2024•59 min
Today marks 1,000 days of war in Ukraine and for the first time ever, Ukraine has fired long-range missiles into Russia. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is escalating its own campaign against Ukraine, blanketing the country with drone and missile attacks. Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger is concerned about what Donald Trump's return to the White House could mean for Kyiv and for American democracy. He joins the show from Texas. Also on today's show: Patrick Radden Keefe, author, "Say Nothing"...
Nov 19, 2024•59 min
The stakes in Ukraine have again been laid bare. A Russian ballistic missile hit Odesa today, killing at least eight people, with children among the seriously injured. So the news that President Biden will allow the use of powerful long-range American weapons inside Russia may feel timely, although Russia says the decision will throw "oil on the fire." Dara Massicot is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for international peace, and joins us from Washingto...
Nov 18, 2024•59 min
As President Trump transitions into the White House for a second term, some of his cabinet appointments—stacked with MAGA loyalists—are shocking even Republicans and raising questions about their implications for U.S. policy at home and abroad. This week Christiane examines how these staffing decisions could reshape America’s role on the global stage, with Richard Haass weighing in on the risks Trump 2.0 poses to U.S. foreign policy. Washington Governor Jay Inslee discusses the stakes for climat...
Nov 16, 2024•41 min
The changing direction in US foreign policy is becoming abundantly clear, even with Donald Trump months away from taking office. Kori Schake has served at the State Department, the Pentagon, and the National Security Council. She joins the show from DC to discuss. Also on today's show: Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the controversial selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Services; political philosophy professor Michael Sandel on his new book, “Democracy’s Discontent” Learn...
Nov 15, 2024•59 min
Donald Trump will be inaugurated in two months’ time, but will he get the cabinet he wants heading into his second term? Senator Marco Rubio looks set to be secretary of state, but some of Trump’s other picks are raising eyebrows, even within his own party. Critics are concerned that some of these selections are not just ardent loyalists, but lack crucial qualifications for the high-ranking positions. For more on this, Christiane speaks with correspondent Jeff Zeleny. Also on today's show: UNRWA...
Nov 14, 2024•59 min
Keeping with tradition, Joe Biden welcomes Donald Trump to the White House amid some unorthodox Cabinet picks. Christiane speaks with former Pentagon official and Trump backer Eldridge Colby. Plus, we explore what the GOP's stranglehold on the US government means for the world with veteran diplomat Richard Haas. And analyst Oliver Darcy joins the show with a warning: our information society is dangerously polluted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 13, 2024•59 min
As the incoming Trump administration rapidly fills up with loyalists, can Democrats do any more than watch it all unfold? James Carville was the architect of Bill Clinton's decisive victories in the 1990s who popularized the line, "It's the economy, stupid." Now he's the subject of a new documentary on MAX, he joins the program from New Orleans. Also on today's show: Rafael Grossi, Director General, IAEA; Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, co-creators of "Warriors" Learn more about your ad choic...
Nov 12, 2024•59 min
World leaders are game planning for a Trump 2.0 new world order. In Azerbaijan, global delegates trying to mitigate climate change at the annual COP summit remember with dread former President Trump pulling out of the landmark Paris climate accords. Democratic governor of Washington state Jay Inslee has dedicated much of his political career to combat the climate crisis. He joins Christiane from Bainbridge Island, Washington. Also on today's show: Director Alfonso Cuarón and actor Cate Blanchett...
Nov 11, 2024•59 min
After Donald Trump's stunning comeback, Christiane Amanpour explores the global implications of Trump's second term in the White House. She speaks with former U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland on Trump’s likely approach to governing without constraint, favoring mass deportations and tariffs. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb joins Christiane to discuss how Europe is viewing what Trump's election will mean for NATO support and U.S. alliances around the globe, and Europe's need to take more respon...
Nov 09, 2024•41 min
The reality of a second, more emboldened term for President-elect Donald Trump is sinking in. Leaders from across the globe are flooding him with congratulations and trying to get his ear on issues from the Middle East to Ukraine, to wide-ranging tariffs, and of course, the climate. All these topics that will be on the docket up at the G20 Summit in Brazil later this month, where host Brazilian President Lula will no doubt be seeing parallels between Trump's return and his own country's history ...
Nov 08, 2024•59 min
Back in January, Joe Biden kicked off his aborted presidential campaign by accusing Donald Trump of sacrificing democracy to put himself back in charge. This week the American people, knowing exactly who Trump is, returned him to the White House. For more on how Washington prepares to shift back to a Trump presidency, US national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny joins the program. Also on today's show: Finnish President Alexander Stubb; Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk; Seni...
Nov 07, 2024•59 min
In the end, it wasn’t even close. Pollsters told us for months that it was a coin toss, that it could take days to count – before Donald Trump took most of the swing states and the popular vote in a single night. It was a near clean sweep for Republicans, taking back control of the Senate, and with the possibility remaining that they could hold on to the House. With all that plus a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, analysts and party stalwarts say President-elect Trump can now govern unconstra...
Nov 06, 2024•59 min
As the world waits with baited breath for the results of the US presidential election, we look at one big issue rarely mentioned in this campaign: today's big power struggle between the United States and China. Plus, we take a look at unelected power, revisiting Christiane's conversation with biographer Robert Caro 50 years since he examined Robert Moses, who built - and even trampled over - New York. And Walter Isaacson speaks to historian David Rubenstein about his interactions with most livin...
Nov 05, 2024•58 min
While national polls continue to forecast a virtual tie in the US presidential race, a new one in Iowa showing Harris leading Trump by three points in that ruby-red state has raised the question of whether pollsters have been missing a critical voting bloc that could determine the outcome of this election. The widely esteemed Iowa pollster, Ann Selzer, says women are driving the late shift towards Democrats. Journalist Rebecca Traister, who writes about reproductive rights and women's voices for...
Nov 04, 2024•59 min
In just three days, America chooses it’s next president. Republican Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw joins Christiane to explain why Donald Trump is an easy choice when compared with Kamala Harris, and makes the case for why Trump’s policies will be better for Americans. Next, with control of congress also at stake on November 5th, Democrat John Avlon tells Christiane about his own campaign to flip seats in the New York race that could decide the balance of power in Washington. Then, CNN’s Tamara ...
Nov 02, 2024•41 min
In Europe, there is talk of "Trump-proofing": buttressing alliances, on-shoring support for Ukraine, and building up the continent’s military and defense capabilities. Debates about Trump's right-wing authoritarianism echo similar tensions in France, where Marine Le Pen's National Rally Party performed strongly in July parliamentary elections. Benjamin Haddad, France’s Minister Delegate for European affairs, joins the show to discuss. Also on today's show: actors Francesca Faridany and Norbert L...
Nov 01, 2024•59 min
The presidential cavalcades are hitting Nevada and Arizona as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump target key swing states just days before Tuesday’s election. So far across the US more than 60 million Americans have already cast their vote. So what votes are still winnable? And where are they? Correspondent Jeff Zeleny joins the program from Wisconsin to discuss. Also on today's show: Lebanese Author and Human Rights Activist Joumana Haddad; actor Keri Russell and Executive Producer of "The Diplomat"...
Oct 31, 2024•59 min
Speaking from the Ellipse in Washington last night, where Donald Trump had rallied his supporters on January 6th, Kamala Harris reminded voters of the Capitol insurrection and Trump's outspoken threats to democracy. The former president continues to stoke fears of widespread voter fraud, making unfounded allegations to assert that if he doesn't win, the whole thing is rigged. Congressman Dan Crenshaw was among a handful of Texas Republicans who voted to certify the 2020 presidential election. Bu...
Oct 30, 2024•58 min
Amid the chaos in Gaza, an unlikely pair of former senior officials - Israeli and Palestinian - are proposing what they argue is a way out of war. Ehud Olmert was Israel's Prime Minister while Nasser Al-Kidwa was Foreign Minister for the Palestinian Authority. Together, they have formulated an outline for peace, and they join the program to discuss. Also on today's show: American surgeon Dr. Samer Attar; reporter Kristen Holmes; Atlantic staff writer George Packer Learn more about your ad choice...
Oct 29, 2024•59 min
In Tbilisi, Georgia, voters have come out to protest the results of this weekend's elections, as opposition leaders claim the vote was tainted by Russian interference. Outside observers report "troubling" conditions, citing "pervasive intimidation" of voters inside and outside polling stations. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili is leading the opposition response. She says recognizing the elections "would be tantamount to legitimizing Russia’s takeover of Georgia." Also on today's show: Ali...
Oct 28, 2024•59 min
This week, Christiane explores why some former Donald Trump officials are backing him again, despite warnings from senior figures like John Kelly and General Mark Milley that a second Trump term would see him govern as a fascist. Gordon Sondland was Trump’s former EU Ambassador, testified against him during his impeachment trial, was fired, and is now backing him again. He joins Christiane to explain his change of heart. Legendary investigative journalist, Bob Woodward, discusses his new book “W...
Oct 26, 2024•29 min