As the Trump team scrambles to contain the fallout over the signal scandal, former Republican Senator and U.S. Defense Secretary under President Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, talked to Christiane about the far-reaching consequences of this blunder. Then she speaks with best-selling author Michael Lewis and satirist W. Kamau Bell, about their new book called, "Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service.," which profiles the civil servants being targeted by the new administration in their ...
Mar 29, 2025•41 min
In a week in which the security of internet communications is in the spotlight, a new novel captures the murky world of undersea internet cables: essential, indispensable and incredibly vulnerable. Author Colum McCann captures the real-world drama in his highly anticipated new book, “Twist.” Also on today's show: Iranian-Kurdish rapper Saman Yasin; actor Julie Andrews (from the archives) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 28, 2025•41 min
After the arrest of a green-card-holding Columbia graduate, President Trump said it's the "first arrest of many to come." Now immigration officials have detained and arrested Rumeysa Ozturk in Somerville, Massachusetts, a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University with a valid student visa. Ozturk has been forcibly transported to detention in Louisiana. Vincent Warren is Executive Director at the Center for Constitutional Rights, and he joins Christiane from New York. Also on today's show: aut...
Mar 27, 2025•56 min
In what would mark a small but significant diplomatic breakthrough, the White House says Ukraine and Russia have agreed to stop using military force in the Black Sea. But, Russia says that will only go into effect once sanctions are lifted on its financial institutions. As Ukraine's future hangs in the balance, and for other countries on the front line with Russia, the fear of an emboldened Putin and an absent U.S. is all too real. Baiba Braže is Latvia's Foreign Minister, and she joins the show...
Mar 25, 2025•56 min
A delegation from the US is meeting with Kremlin representatives in Saudi Arabia today for negotiations on a partial ceasefire in Ukraine. It comes one day after a US team met with Ukrainian negotiators for what officials are calling "productive" talks. Dara Massicot is an expert on Russia with the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace and she joins the show from Washington, DC. Also on today's show: Özgür Özel, Leader, Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP); Nashville Councilmember Olivia ...
Mar 24, 2025•56 min
First: Now that USAID is gutted, we hear from frontline humanitarian David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee. Then: The Netflix hit sparking an important conversation: Adolescence—it’s about young minds, male rage, and the dangers of social media. Star of the show Stephen Graham joins me. Plus: Fear in the occupied West Bank as Israeli settlers, often violently expand their illegal outposts. CNN is there. Then: High stakes for Europe and the limits of Trump’s Ukraine-Russia di...
Mar 23, 2025•41 min
The legal battle over the Trump administration's gutting of USAID began this week with a federal judge ruling against DOGE-initiated cuts. Though Elon Musk insists "no one has died as a result" of DOGE's actions, the reality on the ground is already painting a very different picture. Health workers in the developing world have said people are already dying from the cutoff. And a new study by the Center for Global Development says millions more could die within a year. International Rescue Commit...
Mar 21, 2025•56 min
Can anti-corruption protests in Serbia take down a populist president? Democracy activist Maja Stojanovic joins the show from Belgrade. Then we go to Gaza, where the end of the ceasefire could also mean ending any chance of an education for hundreds of thousands of children there. And we take a look at the harrowing Netflix hit series that takes on toxic masculinity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 20, 2025•56 min
The result of Donald Trump's heavily hyped negotiating session with Vladimir Putin yesterday is no to an unconditional ceasefire, and Russia immediately launched air attacks overnight and so did Ukraine. Moscow however did agree to exchange more prisoners of war with Kyiv, 300 in all today, and the US says more talks are planned. At the Pentagon, Celeste Wallander oversaw US military assistance to Ukraine during the Biden administration. In her latest Foreign Affairs article, she says that with ...
Mar 19, 2025•56 min
Hundreds of people have been killed in Gaza after Israel broke a ceasefire and unleashed a huge bombardment across the territory on Tuesday morning. Israel says it was a "pre-emptive strike" targeting military commanders, leadership officials and terrorist infrastructure. Israel's Foreign Ministry adddd that Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire. Correspondent Jeremy Diamond has the details. Also on today's show: Olga Cherevko, Spokesperson, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs...
Mar 18, 2025•56 min
As peace talks drag on, the crisis in Gaza gets worse and worse. It's now two weeks since Israel shut off electricity, food, fuel and medical supplies, in a bid to pressure Hamas to accept an extension of the preliminary ceasefire. Gavin Kelleher is the humanitarian access manager in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council. He joins the show from Gaza City. Also on today's show: Elizabeth Goitein, Senior Director, Liberty and National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice; Noubar Afeyan, C...
Mar 17, 2025•56 min
As Trump’s global trade war rattles markets and allies prepare for a post-America world, and just after President Putin weighed in on the U.S. Ukrainian ceasefire proposal, Christiane spoke with Trump's former EU ambassador Gordon Sondland about his global realignment. Then, Christiane speaks with exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar who explains why the Kremlin is celebrating the chaos ushered in by Trump, seeing it as accelerating America's demise. Plus, the ACLU’s Cecillia Wang breaks down...
Mar 15, 2025•41 min
G7 foreign ministers are meeting against the ever-changing landscape of President Trump’s policies, and there's no better example of his administration's impact than in the host country: Canada. Which is still reeling from the shock of its neighbor starting a full-blown trade war. Meantime, Europe faces a triple whammy: Trump tariffs, plus the shockwaves of suddenly being forced to fend for themselves, plus Ukraine’s fight for survival. On Ukraine, Russian President Putin says he supports 'the p...
Mar 14, 2025•59 min
For the first time since Ukraine and the US agreed a ceasefire proposal, Vladimir Putin has reacted, saying he's "for this ceasefire," but with "reservations." Gordon Sondland, who served as US Ambassador to the EU during Trump's first term, joins the show from DC for an insider view. Also on today's show: Baher Azmy, Legal Director of the Center of Constitutional Rights / Attorney for Mahmoud Khalil; NYT journalist Farnaz Fassihi; Eric Lascelles, Managing Director, RBC Global Asset Management L...
Mar 13, 2025•59 min
Russia has not yet said if it will accept a ceasefire with Ukraine, after President Zelensky put the ball in Putin's court, saying he will enter a 30-day temporary truce. The Kremlin says it's waiting for a briefing from US officials on the terms of the ceasefire. Kurt Volker was President Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine during Trump's first term, and was also Ambassador to NATO for George W. Bush. Also on today's show: Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director, ACLU; Scott Galloway, Host, The Pr...
Mar 12, 2025•59 min
As fears of an economic downturn grow in the US, President Trump today posted that he will raise tariffs on all Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% and threatened to shut down the Canadian automobile industry. This comes as the Dow and S&P 500 each posted their worst day of the year. Former Vice Chair of the Fed Richard Clarida joins the show to discuss this all. Also on today's show: Alina Polyakova, CEO & President, Centre for European Policy Analysis; Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS E...
Mar 11, 2025•59 min
This could be a crucial week for the war in Ukraine, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky each in Saudi Arabia for talks on the future of the war. It comes at a fraught time, after the Trump administration dealt Kyiv a number of serious blows, all while Kyiv is still fending off Russia’s aggression. Admiral James Stavridis, formerly NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, joins to discuss. Also on today's show: Rim Turkmani, Director, LSE Syria Conflict Re...
Mar 10, 2025•59 min
First: As Trump turns the world order on its head, cutting off Ukraine and cozying up to Russia, we get the view from Kyiv with former defense administrator Andriy Zagorodnyuk. Then: Trump’s opposition weighs in. Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton. And: As the Supreme Court rules Trump must unfreeze foreign aid, a reality check on the most desperate: the women and children of Afghanistan. Plus: Two states, one homeland. A path forward in the Middle East with Palestinian and Israeli peace activi...
Mar 08, 2025•41 min
First, we explore Donald Trump's admiration for authoritarian leader Victor Orban with a former US ambassador to Hungary. Plus, "Kyoto" is London's hot new play. We're joined by the play's cowriter and star, who explain how they turned climate talks into a must-see political thriller. And we head down the hippie trail with the famous travel writer Rick Steves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 07, 2025•59 min
President Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs have prompted Canadian store owners to take American products off the shelves, and sports fans are booing the US national anthem. Canadians are also outraged by Trump's repeated taunt to make their country the 51st state, and there are even reports the US might kick it out of the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance. To discuss all this, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly joins the show from Toronto. Also on today's show: former Ukrainian Defense Mi...
Mar 06, 2025•59 min
In his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, President Trump acknowledged that there will be "a little disturbance" ahead. The theme was meant to be the "Renewal of the American Dream," but instead he doubled down on his plan to break up the global economic order. One of the attendees of last night's address was Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton and he joins the show from Washington. Also on today's show: former Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron; author Elaine Wei...
Mar 05, 2025•59 min
The Trump administration is pausing all shipments of military aid to Ukraine, potentially crippling the country's war effort against an invading Russia. Concurrently, the White House is pausing offensive cyber operations against Moscow and even mulling sanctions relief. Joining the program to discuss is former NSC Director of European Affairs Alexander Vindman, who in 2019 blew the whistle on Trump's threat to suspend military aid to try to get Zelensky to investigate Hunter Biden. Vindman's new...
Mar 04, 2025•59 min
In the course of one week, America has appeared to pivot in foreign policy, from an unprecedented vote with Russia at the United Nations to President Trump's angry exchange with Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted an emergency summit and announced that the UK and France were assembling a "coalition of the willing" to enforce a peace deal for Ukraine. Sir Malcolm Rifkind was foreign secretary in John Major's government and joins t...
Mar 03, 2025•59 min
First: Zelensky joins a parade of European leaders at the White House this week, wheeling and dealing over the security of Ukraine and the whole continent. Then: With the future of the US-European alliance on the line, Britain’s former defense secretary, Ben Wallace, discusses what happens when you’re played by Putin. And: Grief and pain as Israel buries the Bibas family, finally at home. Plus: Behind the scenes thriller, "Kyoto," brings the high-stakes drama of climate diplomacy to the stage. A...
Mar 02, 2025•31 min
In the five weeks since his second inauguration, President Trump has been flooding the zone with executive order after executive order, while slashing federal agencies with help from Elon Musk. But is this style of governing finally reaching resistance? Marc Short, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Mike Pence, brings an insider view. Also on today's show: playwright Joe Murphy and actor Stephen Kunken on "Kyoto"; ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project Co-Director Chase Strangio Learn more abo...
Feb 28, 2025•59 min
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with US President Donald Trump today in Washington. The stakes were high, with European security, and indeed prosperity in the balance. As UK Ambassador to the US during the Obama presidency, Sir Peter Westmacott helped steward the US-UK special relationship, a unique alliance dating back to World War II. He joins the show to make sense of where it may be headed. Also on today's show: Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov; grief expert David K...
Feb 27, 2025•59 min
For the past week, Donald Trump has publicly aligned the United States more with America's adversary, Vladimir Putin, than with its allies, Ukraine and the rest of the Europe. With the next German chancellor talking about having to seek security independence from the United States, NATO leaders are already ramping up their defense spending. Ben Wallace was the UK's Defense Secretary during Russia's invasion in 2022 and has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine. He joins Christiane in London. Also ...
Feb 26, 2025•59 min
The FBI is undergoing the most radical transformation of its leadership in its history. It's new director, Kash Patel, an ardent Trump supporter, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate last week and he will now be joined by Dan Bongino as deputy director, a former secret service agent turned right-wing podcaster. The modern FBI is meant to be apolitical, but can it remain so with two ideologues at the helm? Brian Todd reports on the latest controversial appointment. Also on today's show: former FB...
Feb 25, 2025•58 min
European leaders are gathered in Kyiv today to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine. And for President Zelensky, the show of European support could not come at a more important time: after President Trump shocked allies by adopting Russian talking points, calling President Zelensky a dictator and falsely claiming he started the war. Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh reports the latest from Kyiv. Also on today's show: Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov; Constanze Stelzenmüller Senior ...
Feb 24, 2025•59 min
As Trump launches a jaw-dropping 180 on Russia-Ukraine policy, Biden’s number two at the State Department, Wendy Sherman, joins me to discuss Putin’s playbook and what Trump needs to know about dealing with him. Then, democratic institutions at home are under unprecedented threat. M. Gessen, who lived through similar events in Russia, joins the program. Plus, Madeleine Albright's words from my archives still resonate today. Also ahead, alarm bells are sounding over the threat to democracy. A new...
Feb 22, 2025•41 min
